The Hero

walked up the drive, and took off his spectacles. The front door was neither

smiling with pleasure, for he was

ill out, isn't he? I saw him pass our house. I wa

inking. He's grown v

et face lit up, too, as she greet

out, yo

Colonel. "She doesn't want us to fee

r Mary," replied Mrs. Parsons, stroking the girl's hair. "

itated a

hink Jamie h

s looked at

been through so much. And then he's a man

any more?" asked Mary, with

ar

ually," said Colonel Parsons, "and always

ted him from seeing in Jamie's behaviour an

that question, Mary?

; but she had been unwilling to think that it amounted even to coldness. Such a change could

don't know what it is, but I feel it in his whol

ith the Clibborns

ery well yet. His wou

s to force himself to speak to me. He's not natural. I'

Parsons to his wife, who

me. I look upon you already as my father and mother. I don't want to be unkind to mamma, but I co

parents, Mary. We both love you as we love Jamie.

so goo

r said anything

fal

away, she said she didn't

in your head! She has always been jealous of y

cried Mary, in a

your mother, and it's wicked of me to vex you

y that. It's

. Even we feel a little strange with Jamie sometimes; don't we, Frances? What children they are, Frances!" Colonel Parsons laughed in that irres

suggested. "Oh, he must see that I love him! Perhaps he finds me unresponsive....

ing you, either; you're so good and sweet. You're both of you fanciful, and he's not well. Be patient. Jamie is shy an

sons. "Who could help it? Why, if I were a

Richmond?" asked M

d have to commit bigam

ttle joke, happy to break through the

e old man, "and I'm a very silly girl. It's

ou're the wife of a V.C.," sai

gh he had done nothing that any man might not do. I think there can be no sight m

hing unkind or dishonourable. Trust him, and forgive his little faults of mann

e darkened

can't help it; I'm so frightened! I wish he'd say something-just one word to sho

his glance to say something that would comfort Mary

me for talking like

I'm sure when he understands that he's making you unhappy, he'll be different. He has

ry. "I daresay it's all nonsense. I don't w

in the trimness and in the careful arrangement, so that the landscape, in its formality, reminded one of those set pieces chosen by the classic painters. But the fields were fresh with the tall young grass of the new year, the buttercups flaunted themselves gaily, careless of the pitiless night, rejoicing in the sunshine, as before they had rejoiced in the enlivening rain. The pleasan

nest, and simple; anxious to do right; charitable according to her light; kindness itself. James felt sincerely grateful for the affectionate tenderness which Mary showed to his father and mother. He was thankful for that and for much else, and was prepared to look upon her as a very good friend, even as a sister; but he did not love her. He could not loo

y the Ten Commandments!

dly sin, who had killed it finally while, like a serpent of evil, it clung to his throat, drinking his life's blood, James knew what love was-a fire in the veins, a divine affliction, a passion, a frenzy, a madness. The love he knew was the love of the body of flesh and blood, the love that engend

thanked her from the bottom of his heart, for she had taught him love. She had caused him endless pain, but she had given him the strength to bear it. She had ruined his life, perhaps, but had shown him that life was worth living. What were the agony, the torture, the despair, beside that radiant passion which ma

sentimentalists, who have made the body unclean. They have covered the nakedness of Aphrodite with the rags of their own impurity. They have disembowelled the great lovers of antiquity till Cleopatra serves to adorn a prudish tale and Lancelot to point a moral. Oh, Mother Nature, give us back our freedom, with its strength of sinew and its humour! For lack of it we perish in false sha

nd though we do set up for prophets and the like, let us n

Jewess. He was the perfect dandy, even to his bejewelled fingers and his scented handkerchief. His manner was a happy mixture of cordiality and condescension, by the side of which Mary's unaffected simplicity contrasted oddly. She seemed less at home in an evening dress than in the walking costume she vastly preferred; her free, rather masculine movements were ungainly in the silk frock, badly made and countrified, while lace and ribbons suited her most awkwardly. She was out of place, too, in that room, decorated with

splaying to the full her very opulent charms. Her hair was l

aiting," she murmured. "I

They discussed Literature, by which they meant the last novel but one; Art, by which they meant the Royal Academy; and Society, by which they meant their friends who kept carriag

Mary with her most smilingly cruel expression. "Oh, Mary, why did you put on that dreadfully dowdy fro

y, looking down at it, lau

n turned aga

I'm an old woman now, but I always try to look my best. Re

ould become

fore James. He looks upon his

the end

wine. I shall be so dull wit

s wishes, which that lady considered undutiful, if not entirely wicked. It seemed nothing short of an impertinence that Mary should disapprove of theatres when there was nothing to which the elder woman was more devoted. And Mrs. Clibborn felt that the girl saw through all her little tricks and artful dodges, often speaking out strongly when her mother proposed to do something particularly underhand. It was

red, the Colonel handed

you some very special

James remembered Mary's story of the doctor, and having tasted the wine, entir

end, the Duke of St. Olphert's. 'Reggie, my boy,' he said-'Reggie, do you want some good port?' 'Good port, Bill!' I cried-I always called him

merchant, was h

St. Olphert's. He'd bought up the cellar of an Aust

ked James, gravely, holding

itiful inanities. He marvelled that a man should have spent his life in the service, and yet apparently be ignorant of the very elements of warfare; but having already learnt to hold his tongue, he let the Colonel talk, and was presently rewarded by a break. Something reminded the gallant cavalryman of a hoary anecdote, and he gave James that drear

ce! I tell you in confidence, I was a

made James sit beside her on the sofa. In a few minutes the Colonel, as was his habit, close

r in my work-basket or on the morning-room table. And if you can't see them

and look,

rs. Clibborn put her

very much, Jamie?"

e cont

r mother doesn'

ure sh

know why. I can't help it if I'm not

case must have an unexpected familiarity

all I could to prevent y

, thunderstruck. "

th me. It was for your own good. If I had had my way you would n

d'you mean-when i

on't approve of long engagements, and I thought you'd change your mi

y whether she knew or divined anything

e very

. "It sounds so middle-aged.... I always thought Mary was too ol

about it," in

thought it would benefit your morals. I was very much against it. I thi

oment Mar

nd your gla

miling softly; "I've just remembered that I sent