The Hero

rly what he had better do, feeling that he must make up his mind at once. Hesitatio

rees, which in his boyhood had been a favourite haunt. The day was fresh and sweet after t

with their delicate branches singularly black amid the young leaves of the spring, tender and vivid. The eye could not pierce the intricate greenery; it was more delicate than the summer rain, subtler than the mists of the sunset. It was a scene

nd there, in sheltered corners, blossomed the primrose and the violet He listened to the chant of the birds, so joyous that it seemed impossible they sang in a world of sorrow. Hidden among the leaves, al

habit, esteem? She was the only girl he knew, and they had grown up together. When he came from school for his holidays, or later from Sandhurst, on leave, Mary was his constant friend, without whom he would have been miserably dull. She was masculine enough to enter into his boyish games, and even their thoughts were common. There were so few people in Little Primpton that those who lived there saw one another continually; and though Tunbridge Wells was o

I shall do without

about us when you've

she found difficulty in speaking quite firm

those who stay-remember. We shall be always doing the same

pped out against t

!" he

er and began to cry. He kissed her, trying to stop her tears; he pressed h

"Mary, do you care for

it would make it so much better

you for a long time; but

smile throu

or you to the e

s future was comfortably settled. The engagement was a sort of ballast, and he felt that he could compass his journey without fear and without disturbance. James did not ask himself whether his passion was very ardent, for his whole education had led him to believe that passion was hardly moral. The proper and decent basis of marriage was simi

yes have but one point of interest, and she walks abroad, with her fashioning fingers, setting in order the only work she cares for. All th

o look upon her with doubtful eyes, her wit and her good looks for others counterbalanced every disadvantage; and she did not fail to have a little court of subalterns and the like hanging perpetually about her skirts. At first Mrs. Wallace merely amused James. Her absolute frivolity, her cynical tongue, her light-heartedness, were a relief after the rather puritanical atmosphere in which he had passed his youth; he was astonished to hear the gay contempt which she poured upon all the things

e things, but that it was man's first duty to protect them from all knowledge of the realities of life. To him they were an ethereal blending of milk-and-water with high principles; it had never occurred to him tha

discussed before. She was hugely amused at the embarrassment which made him hesitate and falter, trying to find polite ways of expressing the things which his whole training had taught him to

But you must take care, you know; you h

u thi

moral young man is rather funny for

e only to say so, and I

t get cross; it's very bad ma

t; he seemed only to live when he was with her. The mention of her name made his heart beat, and meeting her he trembled and turned cold. By her side he found nothing to say; he was like wax in her hands, without will or strength. The touch of her fingers sent the blood rushing through his veins insanely; and understanding his condition, she took pleasure in touching him, to watch the littl

ken, hating himself. He looked over the brink of the precipice at the deadly sin, and recoiled, shuddering. He bitterly reproached himself, taking for granted that some error

band, she was leaving in a month for England. He applied for leave. He could get away for a few weeks, and on his return Mrs. Wa

of hide-and-seek," she said, "I

and," replied Ja

o avoid me as if I were a dun, and inventi

he sweated with the agony of his love. It was an angry, furious passion, tha

m engaged to be marrie

d at him, smiling; she knew very well the power of her dark eyes, fringed with long lashes. "Don't be silly," she

of you. I don'

ou're reall

tremely

if I were asking you to do something qui

curious expression. It was the work of a country photographer, awkward and ungainly, with the head stiffly poised, and the eyes h

lterns should always get enga

It's not a very

graph badly," murm

think how good, and kind, and simple she is

id Mrs. Wallace. "But I can see she

y I came to se

you," said Mrs.

od-bye; I've got

be gone by the ti

t is for t

t him quickly, hesita

so bad

y heart and soul. I didn't know what love was till I met you. God help me, it was only friendship I had for Mary! This is so different. Oh, I hate myself! I can't hel

fine intentions flying before the wind. He lost command ov

ou thought me a fool because I ran away from you. It was all I could do. I couldn't help loving you. You unders

ched out

d as that," she said, looki

hat I couldn't speak; the words were dried up in my throat?" He sank into a chair weakly; but t

sob; now he lost command over himself entirely. He took her in his arms roughly, and kissed her mouth, her eyes, her hair-so

at are you doing? Let me g

tation to go beyond certain decorous lengths, an

he glass to put it in order, and when she turned back foun

ways between himself and his fellows a sort of barrier. He could not realise that deep and sudden sympathy was even possible, and was apt to look with mistrust upon the appearance thereof. He seemed frigid and perhaps supercilious to those with whom he came in contact; he was forced to go his way, hiding from all eyes the emotions he felt. And when at last he fell passionately in love, it meant to him ten times more than to most men; it was a sudden freedom from himself. He was like a prisoner who sees for the first time in his life the trees and the hurrying clouds, and all the various m

at she had entangled with her provoking glances and her witty tongue. The epithet by which his brother officers qualified her was expressive, though impolite. James repeated these things a hundred times: he said that Mrs. Wallace was not fit to wipe Mary's boots; he paraded before himself, like a set of unread school-books, all Mary's excellent qualities. He recalled her simple piety, her good-nature, and kindly he

her, he was never free from a sense of terrible anxiety. Doubt came to him, and he could not drive it away. The recollection of her was dim, cold, formless; his only hope was that when he saw her love might rise up again, and kill that other passion which made him so utterly despise himself. But he had welcomed the war as a respite, and the thought came to him that its chances might easily solve the difficulty. Then followed the mon

she left him cold, almost hostile. And with a m

ged to the same type of gir

ell?-in a day or two the old habit might render Mary as dear to him as when last he had wandered with her in that green wood, James sighed, and looked about him.... The birds still sang merrily, the squirrel leaped from tree to tree; even the bla