A Rogue's Life

thusiastic admiration for Alicia, I think I should have secretly distrusted my own opinion as soon as I was left by myself. Had I been in full possession of my senses, I might have questioned, on re

t on all my faculties, I feel inclined to alter the

day they had originally appointed, before I could make any excuse for calling again; and, as a necessary consequence of their departure, I lost all inter

ified President thought he had caught my eye, and made oratorical overtures to me from the top of the table, I was lost in the contemplation of silk purses and white fingers weaving them. I meant "Alicia" when I said "hear, hear"-and when I officiall

. I have nothing but the v

igure-dances, under the superintendence of an infirm local dancing-master-a mere speck of fidgety human wretchedness twisting about in the middle of an empty floor. I see, faintly, down the dim vista of the Past, an agreeable figure, like myself, with a cocked hat under its arm, black tights on its lightly tripping legs, a rosette in its buttonhole, and an engaging smile on its face, walking from end to end of the ro

oper interest in the affairs of the Institution. I replied to the remonstrance that the affairs of the Institution were so hopelessly dull that it was equally absurd and unjust to expect any human being to take the smallest interest in them. At this t

s accepted. I wrote a letter of resignation, received in exchange twelve pounds ten

ng, and Institution-managing; and now, with the help of Alicia, I was about to try how a little marrying would suit me. Surely, Shakespeare must have had me pr

was a famous fishing stream near Barkingham; and the first th

in availing myself of his offered hospitality. I put up, of course, at the inn-stuck a large parchment book of flies half in and half out of the pocket of my shooting-jacket-and set off at once to the doctor's. T

he famous fishing-stream. It was a lonely, old-fashioned red-brick buil

s and barred. I was let in by a man in livery; who, however, in manners and appearance, looked much more like a workman

room exactly like other mor

cientific inquiries. He was evidently not at all taken in by my story about coming to Barkingham to fish; but he saw, as well as I did, that it would do to keep up appearances, and contrived to look highly interested immediately in my parchment-book. I asked after his daughter. He said she was in the garden, and proposed that we should go and find her. We did find her, with a pair of scissors in her hand, outblooming the flowers that she w

angling intentions, and asked his daughter if she had heard wh

bout a quarter of a mile below her flower-garden. I risked everything in my usual venturesome way, and asked if she would show me where the p

room in the house being occupied by his chemical assistants, and by the lumber of laboratories. Even while he was speaking those few words, Alicia's face changed just as I had seen it change at our first interview. The downcast, gloo

in the hall, leaving the workma

d; and then there was a low heavy clang, like the sound of a closing door made of iron, or of some other unusually strong material; then total silence, interrupted by another

rnings to know more about the doctor's experime

d by persons actually occupied in the making of love-that oldest and longest-established of all branches of manufacturing industry-I could go into some very tender and interesting particulars on the subject of my first day's fishing, under the adorable auspices of Alicia. But as I cannot hope for a wholly sympathetic

into a punt, and went up the stream (with great difficulty), and down the stream (with great ease). We landed on a little island, and walked all round it, and inspected the stream attentively from a central point of view. We found the island damp, and went back to the bank, and up the stream, and over the bridge, and down the stream again; an

, and they turned away inquiringly up the stream. Was this angel of patience and kindness still looking for a fishing place? And was it up the stream, after all? No!-she smiled and shook her head when I asked

e least business-like man that ever lived becomes an eminently practical character in matters of love. I repeated my question. She looked away confusedly; her eye lighted on a corner of her father's red-brick house, peeping

me again, and held out her hand with such frank, fearless

say "Yes" to the question that

and turned again towa

"Yes"? Anything that I must not inquire into?

r, she shrank away from me and b

don't say a word more about it! I'm not distressed with you-it is not your fault. Don't

I led her back to the house-gate; and then, feeling that I could not go in to l

is evening?" I asked, as I

es!-do com

ed the door, and we parted befo