A Changed Man and Other Tales

ries and plantations along the banks of the Froom, accessible from the lawn of Froom-Everard House only, except by wading through the river at the waterfall or elsewhere. Near the bri

it was before she was aware of his approach that she looke

ed giving way to a tenderness for him-which perhaps she had not done with any distinctness-she regretted it now. Yet in the bottom of their hearts those two were excellently pair

nning from his boots; and, taking one of her hands

thought

ha

ain; you remember saying

d forgott

tried at all!' h

or the fact as for t

rum

e are alrea

ho

hurchyard early on that unfortunate foggy morning, and heard voices in the chancel, and peeped through the window as well as the dim panes would let him; and there h

!-what has

ly, "O yes, it is true enough. I have seen

licence?

eve, when your coat w

aunt's nature to make a brag of that sort; but worse than the brag was the fact that this was the first occasion on which Christine h

ht my wife, much less to be it.' He dr

fidelity, to the point of going to church, you should have so muddled-managed the matter that it has ended in

ddle. I'll go away for a few days and get

she said. 'I am sure I cannot! Besides, I promised Mr. Bealand. And yet how can

don't

ot for the prese

ha

ery dep

should have insisted upon her making the rumour true. Unfortunately, too, he had come to her in a hurry through brambles and briars, water and

courses-you repent that you ev

rst; and I also think that you ought to have known how it would be if you lived on here in your present position, and made no effort to better it. I can bear

its ways have

a point while

e policy.

ve gone away-yes-and made a name, and come back to cl

mily reasons, than to run a risk in seeing me for affection's sake? O what a cold heart it has gr

-you don't know what so

tleman of about seven-and-twenty I saw

who has seen an unusual extent of the world f

dee

lorer. He is ve

do

er so well that he could see she was not in the least in love with Bell

in life. Otherwise

e a great explorer

uld, I

's eyes. Thus the sad autumn afternoon waned, while the waterfall hissed sarcastically of the i

visible than a material one on surrounding objects, as sentiment must where life is but thought. Nicholas was as devoted

sat down to her work-table than he

without a word, went and stood on the hea

this terrible story? I was just

at him with

arried-Nich

fat

face of such facts as I hav

es

te to the rector-and

ined that their a

t, was it? By ---, it makes me ---. How

s wh

t, he is to be nothing more to you. You are not to see him. Cut him adrift instantly! I only wish his volk were on my f

I cut him

ou must, my

abroad to claim me. It would be gross perjury not to fulfil my promise. Besides, no woman can go to church w

nown while it had lain unformulated in her mind. For when she had done speaking she fell down on her knees before her father, cov

s moving about the room. 'You are within an ace of ruining yourself, ruining

am-yes-pe

ather such a har

y bad; but

a scou

obleman in the kingdom, if you come to that! Only-only'-she could not continue the argument on those lines. 'Now, father, listen

't taa

d unseemliness

empty, he was standing there as before, never having apparently moved. His manner had

st carry out this attempt at marrying Nicholas Long. Faith, you must! The rumour will become a scandal if you don't-that's my view. I have tried to look at the brightest side of the case. Nicholas Long is a young man superior to most of his class, and fairly presentable. And he

uite willing to wait, and so am I. We can wait for t

s to be done at all . . . And yet I did wish you could

eturned gently. His moderation had won her out of her

he said

se my conduct with Mr. Long

you may see it more clearly still; and yo

issed him in her anguish. 'Don't say t

he market and back-the carriage is at the door-and I'll try t

arriage bore her up the hill which divided