A Changed Man and Other Tales

t he was loitering there from idle curiosity. For a large five-light window of the manor-house in front of him was unshuttered and uncurtained, so that th

s, pears, nuts, and such other products of the summer as might be presumed to grow on the estate. There was strong ale and rum on the table, and but little wine. Moreover, the appointments of the dining-room were

ct no accidental spectator, and he stood by premeditation close to the trunk of a tree, so that had any traveller passed along the road without the park gate, or even round the lawn to the door, that person would scarce have noticed the other, notwithstanding that the gate was quite near at hand, and the park little larger than a paddock. There was still light eno

ght once have served for; and the blades of grass before the window were raked by the

conscious of his presence outside. Impatience caused her foot to beat silently on the carpet, and she more than once rose to leave the table. This proceeding was checked by her father, who would put his hand upon her shoulder and unceremoniously press her down into her ch

ination. And then the gates-they should be hung to stone posts, otherwise there's no keeping them up through harvest.' The S

s filled in between the larger, the nebulae between the small stars, the trees quite lost their voice; and if there was still

re her retreat. 'I have something to do, papa,' she

And closing the door behind her, he drew his de

of the dining-room window, but enough of its light fell on her to show, escaping from the dark-hooded cloak that she wore, stray verges of the same light dress which had figured

means formal, were yet not passionate; the whole proceeding was that of persons who had repeated the act so often as to be unconscious of its performance. She turned within his arm, and faced in the same dir

at last. 'I wanted to speak to you particularly, or I should n

sk? My poor father insists upon my listening to all he has to say; since my brother left he has had nobody else to listen to him; and to-night he was partic

id you say

e, as the beloved of one should in duty do.' There fol

have encouraged t

hat is it you want to s

ect of change, and your rural swain loses his freshness! Only think, this secret unders

as been a

n, who has never seen London, and

d go away and travel, and see nations, and peoples, and cities, and take a professor with you, and study books and art, simultaneously with your study of men and manners; and then come back at the end of two years, when I should find that my father would by no means be indisposed to accept you as a son-in-law. You said your reason for wishing to get my promise before starting was

n't want me

n touch and view of both of us; whereas if you were absent my conduct would not seem quite so treacherous. The realities would not stare at one so. You would be a pleasant dream to me, which I should b

ot foresee two or three things. I did not know what a lot of pain it would cost to tear myself from you. And I did not know that my stingy uncle-heaven forgive me calling him so!-

id that I'll f

lace. To speak truly, dear, I would rather stay

ally use the money of

d I should feel very mean if I were to do so in present circumstances. That brings

The money is my personal possession: it comes to me f

es in this parish, and five hundred in the next-a constant traipsing from one farm to the other; he can't be in two places at once. Still, that might be got over if

f that before. Otherwise I hav

more, I might at least get over that difficulty! But I won't ask you. You have no idea how much you are to me still; you could not argue so coolly if you

ther wish that,

much easier to do than it is now. Indeed I will not propose it, alt

e, tell me. How can

breast-pocket a sheet of paper and unfolded it, when

of window-light fell on its surface. 'I can only read the Old En

t

how could you do this-

eave you on the instant. I would have taken my travelling-bag to church, and you would have gone home alone. I should not have started on my adventures in the brilliant manner of our original plan, but should have roughed it

ality to the venture with which she had so long toyed as a vague dream merely,

y little lady, you

closer. 'I am not. Upon my word, an

a daughter of one of the-I won't say oldest families, because that's absurd, all families are the same

urmured mischievously, after a pause, 'you certainly would not need to be uneasy if I were to do

to get away from me you might particularly wish to! Ah, if I had asked you two years ago you would have

now me even yet! To show you that you have not been mistaken in me, I do propo

id I have stung you on to

which suggested that she had been put upon her mettle and would not flin

sh church here, of course. Ah, then we ca

he. 'And we will too

ll be

r the conclusion of the service which would make them one, Nicholas should set out on his long-deferred educational tour, towards the cost of which she was resolvi