A Crystal Age

I concluded, were for the initiated, and not for me, and after a while I gave up trying to make out what it was all about. Th

the others and calling them all her children indiscriminately. Yet this mysterious non-existent mother of the house was continually being spoken of, as I found now and afterwards when I listened to the talk around me. After thinking the matter over, I came to the conclusion that "mothe

now with a painful feeling of inferiority that my thick speech had been remarked On earlier in the day; and I could not but think that, compared with the speech of this people, it was thick. In their rare physical beauty, the color of their eyes and hair, and

moving about did not interfere with one's pleasure in the old man's musical speech any more than the soft murmur and flying about of honey bees would prevent one from enjoying the singing of a skylark. Embo

some hesitation; but she encouraged me

's acting, the Royal Academy Exhibition, private theatricals, and twenty things besides, but they all seemed unsuitable subjects to start conversation with in this case. There was, I began to fear, no common ground on which we could meet and exchange thoughts, or, at any rate, wo

eyes are pretty," said I, "to enab

aking no notice of the compliment. "Besides, th

etty work-may

way, I placed my hand under hers, and, holding up cloth and hand to

is in seeing your work, the other in holding your hand; and I think the last pleasure even grea

he answered, with the utmost gravity. "

ke the most of my precious "little while," I pressed it warmly, whereupon s

goodness sake," I stammered, "please, do not make such an

believe that her words had not been overheard; and presently, recovering fr

urts, because to-day when I pressed it on the ground beside the grave I ran a small thorn into it."

Yoletta?" said I, all at once remembering that she

e should you call me?" she ret

ng it continually," I answered. "But it is only right that you should have a pr

strange-are not al

g shawls, slinking in or out of public-houses at the street corners; and also of some people of a better class I had known personally-s

of beauty, just as there are degrees of light. You may be able to see to work in this

osopher. "There are different kinds of beauty, I allow, and some people seem more beautiful to us th

er, I was not going to disagree with her any more, and only said: "How sweetly you talk, Yoletta; you are as wise

answered, with a bright smile which made me thi

read my thoughts. "It is because I have often heard

her glance fell. I did not ask her to tell me, nor did I ask myself, the reason of that change; and afterwards how often I noticed that same change in her, and in the others too-that sudde

only said. "What

urned presently with another lady. "This is Edra," she said s

iting for her. I could only thank her and her friend for their kind intentions. But what in the name of goodness was I to say to this beautiful woman who was sitting by me? She was certainly very beaut

conversation by asking me

ut I think it much jollier-much more pleasant, I

t is particularly pleasant when you are understood. But I have no fea

, with a charming smile. "I sometimes think that

s than men, although their brains are smaller; but then quality is more important than mere quantity. And yet," I continued, "some people hold that women ought not to have the fr

tand you, Smith," she return

make a fresh start, I added: "But I am so glad to hear you call me Smith. It makes it so much

s Smith?" said she, loo

f course-well, the tact is, I was

on, which had begun so favorably, was nothing but a series of entanglements, from which I could only e