A Duet

g, Ju

o feel the touch of your hand! How can I be despondent, when in three weeks I shall be the husband of the dearest girl in England? That is what I ask myself, and then the answer

will perhaps take a great deal of the sunshine out of your life. What have I to offer you in exchange for the sacrifice which you will make for me? Myself, my love, and all that I have-but how little it all amounts to! You are a girl in a thousand, in ten thousand-bright, beautiful, sweet, the dearest lady in all the land. And I an average man-or perhaps hardly that-with little to boast of in the past, and vague ambitions for the future. It is a poor bar

d anxiety, never had to worry about the morrow. I can see all your past life so well. In the mornings, your music, your singing, your gardening, your reading. In the afternoons, your social duties, the visit and the visitor. In the evening, tennis, a walk, music again, your father's return from the City, the happy family-circle, with occasionally the dinner, the dance, and the theatre. And so smoothly on, month after month,

ntant of the Co-operative Insurance Office? It is indefinable. What are my prospects? I may become head-accountant. If Dinton died-and I hope he won't, for he is an excellent fellow-I should proba

of the long weary uphill struggle which lies before you. O Maude, my darling Maude, I feel that you sacrifice too much for me! If I were a man I should say to you, 'Forget me-forget it all! Let our relations be a closed chapter in your life. You can do better. I and my cares come like a great cloud-bank to keep the sunshine from your young life. You who are so tender and dainty! How can I bear to see you exposed to the drudgery and sordid everlasting cares of such a household! I think of your graces, your pretty little ways, the elegancies of your life, and how charmingly you carry them off. You are born and bred for just such an atmospher

ve my answer by the evening post. I shall meet the postman. How hard I shall try not to snatch the letter from him, or to give myself away. Wilson has been in worrying me with foolish talk, while my thoughts were all of our

rt-all the dearer when I feel tha

an

ans, Ju

to night. It is the very breath and heart of my life-unchangeable. I could not alter my love any more than I could stop my heart from beating. How could you, could you suggest such a thing! I know that you really love me just as much as I love you, or I should not open my heart like this. I should be too proud to give myself away. But I feel that pride is out of place when any mistake or misunderstanding may mean lifelong misery to both of us. I would only say good-bye if I thought your love had changed or grown less. But I know that it has not. O my darling, if you only knew

ud

of Tel

osse, to Miss

rels, S

ht-fifteen, a

e 1

read any suggestion about our parting, it upset me so dreadfully, that I was really incapable of reasoning about anything else. Just that one word PART seemed to be written in letters of fire right across the page, to the exclusion of everyt

Do you suppose a woman's happiness is affected by whether she has a breakfast-room, or a billiard-board, or a collie dog, or any of the other luxuries which you enumerated? But these things are all the merest trimmings of life. They are not the essentials. You and your love a

I wanted to talk about books with you. I played because you are fond of music. I sang in the hope that it might please you. Whatever I did, you were always in my mind. I tried and tried to become a better and nobler woman, because I wanted to be worthy of the love you bore me. I have changed, and developed, and improved more in the last three months than in all my life before. And then you come and tell me that you have darkened my life. You know better now. My life has beco

ate departure next morning. Dear old boy, it was so nice of you! But you won't ever have horrid black humours and think miserable thi

ud

, June

so much better, and to see so much more deeply into your nature. I knew that my own passion for you was the very essence of my soul-oh, how hard it is to put the extreme of emotion into the terms of human speech!-but I did not dare to hope that your feelings were as deep. I hardly ventured to tell even you how I really felt. Somehow, in these days of lawn-tennis and afternoon tea, a strong strong passion, such a passion as one reads of in books and poems, seems out of place. I thought that it would surprise, even frighten you, perhaps, if I were to tell you all that I felt. And now you have writte

e pleasure than that. It is splendid! It justifies me in aspiring to you. It satisfies my conscience over everything which I have done. It must be right if that is the effect. I have felt so

dy. The lady to please him worked hard at these subjects also. In a month she had shattered her nervous system, and will perhaps never be the same again. It was impossible. She was not meant for it, and yet she made herself a martyr over it. I don't me

light of their own, but are always the reflectors of some other light which you cannot see. He would allow that they were extraordinarily quick in assimilating another person's views, but that was all. I quoted some very shrewd remarks which a lady had made to me at dinner. 'Those

w walls seem in an instant to have fallen, and a boundless horizon stretches around me. And everything appears beautiful. London Bridge, King William Street, Abchurch Lane, the narrow stair, the office with the almanacs and the shining desks, it has all become glorified, tinged with a golden haze. I am stronger: I step out briskly and breathe more deeply. And I am a better man too. God knows there was room for it. But I do t

an

ing for Saturday, when I shall see you again! W

RTURE C

ans, Ju

But when he looked round expectantly, after asking whether there was any known cause or just impediment why we should not be joined together, it gave me quite a thrill. I felt as if some one would jump up like a Jack-in-the-box and make a scene in the church. How relieved I was when he changed the subject! I sank my face in my

you that it is not really so. I can't imagine how you came to think it! I suppose it was from seeing me so often beside papa. If you saw me near Nelly Sheridan, or any other really pretty girl, you would at once see the difference. It just happens that you like grey eyes and brown hair, an

or I have been cooking. Is it not absurd, if you come to think of it, that we girls should be taught the irregula

a bowl-you can't think what a mess an egg makes when it misses the bowl. Then we stirred them up with flour and butter and things. I stirred until I was perfectly exhausted. No wonder a cook has usually a great thick arm. Then when it had formed a paste, we rolled it out, and put the apples in the dish, and roofed it in, and trimmed the edges, and stuck flat leaves made of paste all over it, and the dearest little crown in the middle. Then we put it into the oven until it was brow

upon it were the letters M.C., I said, 'Oh, what a pity! They have put the wrong initials.' That made mamma laugh. I suppose one soon gets used to it. Fancy how you would feel if it were the other way about, and you changed your name to mine. They might call you Selby, but you would continue to feel Crosse. I didn't mean that for a joke, but

, you must bear in mind how quickly the years slip by, and how soon a woman alters. Why, we shall hardly be married before you will find me full of wrinkles, and without a tooth in my head. Poor boy, how dreadful for you! Men seem to change so little and so slowly. Besides, it does not matter for them, for nobody marries a man because he is pretty. But you must marry me,

ud

the window-cleaner and all his family were very ill. This was a joke, b

, June

e evening, and we shall have another dear delightful week end. I think of nothing else, and I count the hours. Now please

the Club. Then we can do some shopping together, and have some fun also. Tell your mother that we shall be back in plenty of time

the slices to give to your friend Nelly Sheridan when she gets married. They will always come in useful. And I have had two more presents. One is a Tantalus spirit-stand from my friends in the office. The other is a pair of bronzes from the cricket club. They

that one could live quite simply for a few months, and so set matters straight. But now it is more serious. The bills come to more than a hundred pounds; the biggest one is forty-two pounds to Snell and Walker, the Conduit Street tailors. However, I am orde

rets from you, or else I should not bother you about such things. I should have kept it for Saturday w

ce would have dismissed him, but as I knew his wife and his family, I became surety that he should not go wrong again, and so I saved him from losing his situation. His name is Farintosh. He is one of those amiable, weak, good fellows whom you cannot help loving, although you never can trust them. Of course we could give notice that we should not be responsible any longer, b

behind. A conservatory, if you please, dining-room and drawing-room. You can never assemble more than four or five guests. On your at-home days, we shall put up little placards as they do outside the theatres, 'Drawing-room full,' 'Dining-room full,' 'Room in the Conservatory.' There are two good bedrooms, one large mai

of how I have cause to be. I do hope that I shall make your day bright for you-the last day that we shall have together before the day. There have been times when I have be

an

eet yesterday afternoon, and I bought-what do you think? It looks so beautiful upon its snow-white cotton wadding. I like them very broad and rather flat. I do hope you will think it all right. It

ay! Saturday!

TWO

to arrive and not find him there! Every second of her company was so dear to him, that when driving to meet her he had sometimes changed from one cab to another upon the way, because the second seemed to have the faster horse. But now that he was on the ground he realised that she was very exact to her word, and that she would neither be early nor late. And yet, in the illogica

not enough to help him to earn a living, but it transformed itself into a keen appreciation and some ambitions in literature, and it gave a light and shade to his character which made him rather complex, and therefore interesting. His best friends could not deny the shade, and yet it was but the shadow thrown by the light. Strength, virility, emotional force, power of deep feeling-these are traits which have to be paid for. There was sometimes just a touch of the savage, or at least there were indications of the possibility of a touch of the savage, in Frank Crosse. His intense love of the open air and of physical exercise was a sign of it. He left upon women

nful; and so when their quarterly cheque arrived, they took it as a kindly but not remarkable act of duty upon the part of their wealthy grandson in the City, with no suspicion as to the difference which their allowance was making to him. Nor did he himself look upon his action as a virtuous one, but simply as a thing which must obviously be done. In the meantime, he had stuck closely to his work, had won rapid promotion in the Insurance

on clock, and on the very stroke she hurried on to the platform. How could he have strained his eyes after other women, as if a second glance were ever needed when it was really she! The perfectly graceful figure, the trimness and neatness of it, the beautiful womanly poise of the head, the

are

do yo

white at the side, and a white veil which softened without concealing the dark brown curls and fresh girlish face beneath it. Her gloves were of grey suède, and the two little pointed tan shoes peeping from the edge of her skirt were the only touches of a darker tint in her atti

delong way, with the bright mischiev

r, do you

is splendid

o fond of greys. Besides, it is cooler in th

that's a

solemn when f

id

you just

? I'm

hy

ry own, and never to show them to any one else at al

't such a big jump as all

ude, into the

ild sat waiting with the stolid patience of the poor in one corner. They were starting on some Saturday afternoon excursion, and had mistimed their train

Is that

ou li

e it is! Mother'

ar thin

iful. Shall

e is some supers

ose it wo

I measured it with

d give twenty-two guineas for a ring?-oh yes, sir, that was the price, for I saw

aved the

ot for

portant. But I had the other to th

ef, but with a depth of expression in the eyes, and a tender delicacy about the mouth, which spoke of a great spirit with all its capacities for suffering and devotion within. The gross admirer of merely physical charms might have passed her over unnoticed. So might the man who is attracted only by outward and obvious signs of character. But to the man who could see,

and a graver expression pa

mething tragic in it. It will be with me for ever. All

u afrai

me. It is really extraordinary, for by nature I am so easily frightened. But if I were with you in a railway accident or an

ll that,' said Frank. 'I expect I ha

d up and down. 'I know a

impostor. You imagine me to be a hero, and a genius, and all sorts of things, while I know that I am about as or

d with shi

hat,' said she. 'That is just w

when your disclaimers are themselves taken as

nly,' said he. 'Now, Maude, we have all day and all Lon

we do. I am content to sit

py holiday set th

he, 'we shall dis

o look at her as she passed. With the slight flush upon her cheeks and the light in her eyes, she seemed the personification of youth, and life, and love. One tall old gentleman started as

we have

learn to be econom

won't be econ

at a bad influence

we have not settled ye

matter, if we

al, the Australians against Surr

ar, if y

matinées at all

ather be in

that you should

r. I shall

all I vote that we g

and the four-wheelers, the hurrying travellers, and the lounging cabmen, there rose that lovely

r her whose memory was honoured by the king. Now the corduroyed porters stand where the knights stood, and the engines whistle where the heralds trumpeted,

or, and Frank imparted the little that he kne

poisoned dagger. She died somewhere in the north, and he had the body carried south to bury it in Westminster Abbey. Wherever it r

s upon their black chargers at the gate of the Horse Guards.

en of England,' said he. 'That w

so, F

out to the scaffold when his head was cut off. It was the first time th

He was so handsome, and such

ings who may be t

Fra

his duty, and so he causes trouble. Look at Charles, for example. He was a very good man, and yet he caused a civil war. George the Third was a most exe

ones. How anything so graceful came to be built by this tasteless and utilitarian nation must remain a marvel to the traveller. The sun was shining upon the gold-work of the roof, and the grand towers sprang up amid the light L

stood together l

cried. 'How the gilding lig

. 'Imagine how grand a gilded dome of St. Paul's would look, hanging like a rising sun ove

AIN'S V

on tickets, and the destiny of the universe-to say nothing of a small bottle of Perrier Jouet. It was reprehensibly extravagant, but this would be their last unmarried excursion, and so they drank to the dear days of the past, and the dearer ones of the f

said Frank, as he paid his bill. 'You h

w them at Clifto

nine of the present team who hav

ery good, a

put them off. The wickets are very fast over there. Giffen is their best all-round man, but Da

life in these islands. The sun had gone, a ragged slate-coloured cloud was drifting up from over the river, and the rain was

ssed and the grey cloud was thicker and the rain more heavy. The cheerless leaden river flowed slowly un

er done the

; I should

the British race, the most august and tremendous monument that ever a nation owned. Six hundred years ago the English looked upon it as their holiest and most national shrine, and since then our kings

est and they had but the one umbrella. Under its she

e Abbey belon

ou an

u are j

who came on board one of our battleships and asked to see the captain. "Who shall I say?" said the sentry. "On

lim as beautiful trees, until they curved off far up near the clerestory and joined their sister curves to form the lightest, most delicate tracery of stone. In front of them a great rose-window of stained glass, splendid with rich purples and crimsons, shone through a subdued and reverent gloom. Here and there in the aisles a few spectators moved among the shadows, but all round along t

eep the old ship before the wind. Canning and Peel were there, with Pitt, Fox, Grattan and Beaconsfield. Governments and oppositions moulder behind the walls. Beaconsfield alone among all the statues showed the hard-lined face of the self-made man. These others look so plump and smooth one can hardly realise how strong they were, but they sprang from those ruling castes to whom strength came by easy inheritance. Frank told Maude the little which he knew of ea

Isaac Newton who gave a new direction to astronomy. Here were old Ben Jonson, and Stephenson the father of railways, and Livingstone of Africa, and Wordsworth, and Kingsley, and Arnold. Here were the soldiers of the mutiny-Clyde and Outram and Lawrence,-and painters, and authors, and surgeons, and all the good sons who in their several degrees had done loyal service to the

ey noticed together how the moderns and the Elizabethans had much in common in their types of face, their way of wearing the hair,

nd a dead hero are of the same class as the pompous and turgid prose of Doctor Johnson. The greatest effects are the s

an effigy, whose feet had been knocked off, and whose features were bl

k at it now! The poor battered monument of a woman's love. Now, M

portals of his tomb. Tennyson, the last and almost the greatest of that illustrious li

and eve

lear call

n to write! I should put him second only to

so little,'

d at the grave of the man who wrote. That's Chaucer, the big tomb there. He is the father of British poetry. Here is Brown

ndid face!'

nscription. 'This bust was placed among the memorials of th

een that. I know his po

more read than an

at standin

at brain. There is Burns, the other famous Scot. Don't you think there is a resemblance between the faces? And here are Dickens, and Thackeray, and Macaulay. I wonder whether, when Macaulay was writing his essa

ess what i

rry you from the first day that I saw you, and yet it did not seem

you, Frank, or else that I

had it. Well, that i

, marvelling at the mysteries of their own small lives.

e kings,' said the voice. 'They

mall gentle wife, also an American father with his two bright and enthusiastic daughters, a petty-officer of the navy in his uniform, two young men whose attention was cruelly distracted from the monuments by the American

ement. He stopped beside a tomb upon which a lady with a sad worn face was lying. 'Mary, Queen of Sco

ctly sweet?' said one

pected more of her than t

through as much as that lady did, it would not tend to

e at the time of her ex

Maude lingered to have a further look at the unfortunate princess, the bright French butterfly

grace,' said Frank. 'She rode eighty miles and

or dear!' said Maude; 'I don't thin

of William the Third is beside her. And here is William himself. The king was very short and the queen very tall, so in the sculptur

mightiest of men, and now lumped carelessly together as thirty-eight Stuarts. So D

e ceiling. Never did the hand of man construct anything more elaborately ornate, nor the brain of man think out a design more absolutely harmonious and lovely. In the centre, with all the pomp of medi?val heraldry, starred and spangled with the Tudor badges, the two bronze figures of Henry and his wife lay side by side upon their tomb. The guide read out the quaint directions

so justified in death the reputation for philosophy which he had aimed at in his life. Then they inspected the great tomb of Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, as surprising and as magnificent as his history, cast a glance at the

has something which is not to be missed. 'You will stand upon the step to see the profile

g seen her, he would have understood that she was not safe to attack-this grim old lady with the eagle nose and the iron lips. You could understand her grip u

lendid,'

rrible,'

hat it was this lady who beheaded the other lady, Queen of

sir, s

this was the lady to see that it was put through with

, s

That woman's husband would have a m

ich, amid the ancient Plantagenet kings, there lies that one old Saxon monarch, confessor and saint, the holy Edward, round whose honoured body t

below was filled with precious relics, and the pilgrims used to kneel in these niches, which are j

te of the shrin

of Agincourt, is there. Those are the actual helmet, shield, and saddle which he used in the battle upon the crossbeam yonder. That king with the grave face and the beard is Edward the Third, the father of the Black Prince. The Black Prince never lived to as

square block of stone placed under an old chair. And yet as the g

rom time immemorial. When Edward the First overran Scotland 600 years ago, he had it br

Queen?' ask

which Jacob rested his head when he dreamed, but the geo

s other throne is the Scottish th

But at the time of William and Mary it was necessary to crown her as well

let it in. But I guess they might have taken better

would sleep among the tombs, and to prove that he

American. 'Well, I guess th

ry one tittered, but the guide hurried on with a grave

hat of Queen El

of Charing Cross,' said he. 'See how one li

time of his death the conquest of Scotland was nearly done, and he gave orders that his burial should be me

the pitying gaze which the English use towards the more excitable races when their emot

as an inscription, which said, "Here lies the hammer of the Sco

e Saxon saint. Abbots lay on one side of them as they passed, and dead crusaders with their legs cr

his soldiers that all America belongs to the English-speaking races. There is a picture of his Highlanders go

as the other. They passed the stately de Vere, his armour all laid out in fragments upon a marble slab, as a proof that he died at peace with all men; and they saw the terrible statue of the onslaught of Death, which, viewed in the moonlight, made

k, and one could imagine that one heard the harsh clang of the metal. Out of the black opening had sprung a dreadful thing, something muffled in a winding-sheet, one bony hand clutching the edge of the pedestal, the other upraised to

de. She had turned pale, as many

from it. 'What pluck that sculptor had! It is an effect which

,' said Maude, reading

nt which has impressed us with its genius and imagination is by a foreigner. We haven't got it in us. We are

ce the men who deserve them,' said Maude, and Fr

nt. But I think it is past praying for. It would be better to subdivide the work of the world, according to the capacity of the different nations. Let Italy and France embellish

they found him waiting impatiently and swinging his keys. But Maude's smile and word of thanks as she passed him broug

drops gleaming upon the grass. The air was full of the chirping of the sparrows. Across their vision, from the end of Whitehall to Victoria Street, the black ribbon of traffic whirled and circled, one of the great driving-belts of the huge city. Over it all, to their right, towered those glorious Houses of Parliament, th

take you to! Good heavens, we have one day together, and I tak

id her hand

o be forgotten. And you must not think that I am ever with you to be amused. I am with you to accompany you in whatever seems to you to be

ere are parts of your soul which will be like snow-peaks in the clouds to me. But you will be now and always my

to go to eith

nless

r down to the Embankment, and sit on one of the benches there, and watch the

LOS AN

who cared nothing about Frank's worldly prospects, but had given the match his absolute approval from the moment that he realised that his future brother had played for the Surrey Second. 'What more can you want?' said he. '

g up at the Langham. Frank stayed at the Metropole, and so did Rupton Hale. They were up ea

wet cabs, looking like beetles with glistening backs. Round black umbrellas hurried along the shining pavements. A horse had fallen at the door of the Constitutional Club, and an oil-skinned policeman was helping the cabman to raise it. Frank watched it until the harness had been refastened, and it had vanished into Trafalgar Square. Then he turned and examined himself in the mirror. His trim black frock-coat and pearl grey trousers set off his alert athletic figure to advantage. His glossy hat, too, his lavender gloves, and dark-blue tie, were all absolutely irreproachable. And yet he was not satisfied with himself. Maude ought to have somet

our, Crosse,' sa

nose was. It's very kind of

. We shall see it

ess proper to the occasion, were all combining to make Frank more and more wretched. Fortunately Jack Selby burst like a gleam of sunshine into the ro

old Christmas-tree in the hall wanted to send for you, but I knew y

little chi

buck him up, for they'll all be down on you if you don't bring your man up to time in the pink of condition. We certainly did ou

at the Langham?' a

nto parade order. But mother is full of beans. We had to take her

the slow-moving minute-hand

I might go round to th

t regulations. Stand by his

e, it really won't!

ing, and I might be of some use or en

boy! Keep him in hand,

to an armchair, and muttere

elped, my boy.

Two of our Johnnies are coming, regular fizzers, and full of blood both of them.

he light-hearted chatter of the boy-lieutenant, and the more deliberate an

't wait any longer. I must do somethi

n myself last month. Inspect his kit, Hale. See that he's according to regulations. Ri

e streaming streets, with the rain pattering upon the top of their four-wheeler, could not d

him in the last twenty-four hours has not been wasted. That's the sort I like-game as a pebble! You can't

dignity of the ancient front. The side-door was open, and they passed into its dim-lit interior, with high carved pews, and rich, old, stained glass. Huge black oak beams curved over their

g old church!'

-house. There's a friendly native coming down the

f tempers. 'It's at a quarter to

o, at

, I tell you. Th

's not p

them at a

e wh

ryi

s is a m

hought when I looked at you as you wa

heaven

at I can see the colour of your clothes, why of cours

Selby are

ulted an old cr

s Selby. Eleven o'clock, sir, sharp. The vicar's a terrible

d Frank nervously

, n

he talki

ome little conf

l we

nk that we

and made sure that the ring was in his ticket-pocket. He also took a five-pound note and placed it where he knew he could lay his hands upon it easily. Then he sprang

,' whispered Jack, and sniggered

the mother, still young and elegant, with something of Maude's grace in her figure and carriage. As the party came up the aisle, Frank was to be restrained no longer. 'Get to his head!' cried Jack to Hale in an excited whisper, but their man was already hurrying to shake hands with Maude. He walked up on her right, and they took their position in two little groups, the happy couple in the centre. At the same moment the clang of the church-clock sounded above them, and the vicar, shrugging his shoulders to get his white surplice into position, came bustling out of the vestry. To him it was all th

little vicar turned upon Frank-'Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?

ed Frank, wit

holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickne

id Maude, fr

woman to be mar

n Selby-her fa

ward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, a

ing!' sa

gins!' whisper

found. He remembered that he had put it in some safe place. Where could it have been? Was it in his boot, or in the lining of his hat? No,

rds,' whispered

rse it was for that very reason, that it might be alone and accessible, that he had placed it there. Ring and note were handed to the vicar, who deftly

thee worship (he paused, and made a mental emendation of 'wit

two hands, the muscular sunburned one and the da

er in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, either to oth

ble, so good, so beautiful, and all his, his sworn life-companion for ever! A gush of tenderness flowed through his heart for her. His love had always been passionate, but, for the instant, it was heroic, tremendous in its unselfishness. Might he bring her happiness, the highest which woman could wish for! God grant that he might do so! But if he were to make her unhappy, or to take anything from her beauty and her goodness, then

ratulations, Cr

Jack, kissing his sister. 'By Jove, it s

here and here. Thank you very much. I am sure that I wish you

tle and shy, while the organ thundered the wedding-march. Carriages were waiting: he handed in his wife, stepped in after her, and they drove of

marriage-service, with all its half-understood allusions and exhortations, had depressed and frig

lease?'

Fra

if you

you

y i

au

at

Crosse-

aren't the shining pavements lovely? And isn't everything splendid, and am I not the luckiest-the most incredibly lucky

t n

u w

u won't tire of me, will you? I s

I was doing while the parson was telling us about what S

at you were doing. And yo

s I doin

e starin

saw that,

elt

. But I was

you, F

been given into my keeping for life, and I prayed with all my heart that if I should ever

hat a dread

ower you, then remind me of this moment, and send me back to try to live up to our highest ideal again. And I for my part will try to improve myself and to live up to you, and to bridge more and more the gap that is between us, that I may feel myself not altogether unworthy of our love. And so we shall act and re-act upon each other,

d the two regimental fizzers, who had secured immortality for the young couple, if the deep and constant drinking of healths could have done it, had provided themselves with packages of rice, old slippers, and other time-honoured missiles. On a hint from Maude, however, that she would prefer a quiet departure, Frank coaxed the three back into the luncheon-room with a perfectly guileless face, and then locking the door on the outside, hande

UP APP

, and a surrounding bank of mashed potatoes. Beyond, from the very base of the window, as it seemed, there stretched the huge expanse of the deep blue sea, its soothing mass of colour broken only by a few white leaning sails upon the furthest horizon. Along the sky-line the white clouds lay in carelessly piled cum

de carried off her new character easily and gracefully. In her trim blue serge dress and sailor hat, with the warm tint of yesterday's sun upon her cheeks, she was the very picture of happy and healthy womanhood. Frank was also in a b

such an

ve I,

Have anoth

you,

tat

eas

t people on their hon

adful, Frank? We m

lose your way. One wants a healthy physical basis for a hea

u happy

ly and co

, quit

quite so sure

o happy to hea

d y

lden clouds in a dream. But your poo

a b

that hea

did, coming back in the moonlight with that silver lane flickering on the water in front of us? We were so completely alone. We might have been up in the i

ever for

o again

he bli

ll take some bait with us a

at

his afternoon, if you feel inclin

thank

ust speak very severely to you. I can't if you look at me like that.

, de

and no one will if we are reasonably careful. The fat waiter is convinced that

I, Fr

Now I have a kind of talent for that, as I have for every other sort of depravity, so it will be pret

h, I am so sorry! I tr

It was an error of judgment to ask

thing

Did I get them in

ear,

then

other!

"my." You must give that wo

e salt water had taken the curl out of the

t is our luggage, you know

h I am! Then the waiter know

sort of person. I had my eye on him all the time. Besid

spoke about our tra

es

id how lonely it was when we were t

spiration. That

of the Atlantic stateroom

eagerly to it all

noticed that the maids and the waiters se

o through life that every man will alwa

d, but was

se, d

e butter

much too nice to each other in public. Veterans don't do that. They take the small courtesies for gr

er occurr

and remove the last lingering doubt from his

to me,

ou won'

a b

n't-not even for s

en, I can

absurd. It is

. It is o

won't yo

won't

I've a shilling under my hand. Heads or tails

y we

r ca

ea

s ta

good

ude. Now mind you a

nd green Stilton with the beautiful autumn leaf heart shading away to r

ful Stilton,'

desperatel

t is so very beautiful,' was

surprising effect upon the wai

've shocked him

s he gone

he management abo

! Oh, I wish I hadn't been

Sit tight,

ront with a large covered cheese-dish. Behind him was another with two smaller

r. 'And there's Camembert and Gruyère behind, and powdered Parme

la and looked very guilty and un

not to the cheese,' said he, wh

, Frank. I con

shocking displ

he poor waite

logise to his Stilton be

bit more convinced that we ar

miniscences of mine must have settled him.

between the fat waiter and their chambermaid, for whom he nourished a plethoric

e maid, with the air of an expert. 'I don't know

fat waiter critically. ''E'd pass all right. 'E's

ong with '

t more full-flavoured myself. And as to 'er taste, why there,

ll, she seemed to me a very so

ueer couple, I tell you. It's a

hy

re'and. I 'ave it from their own lips, and it fairly

t say tha

uesday last, as we know well, and to-day's Times to prove it, and yet if yo

er,

e in a Sw

good

steam

'll never trust

m see as I knows it. I'll put that Times before '

d it from their own lips, John, I never could 'ave believed i

h?te over their walnuts and a glass of port wi

but did you see

e w

might be of interest to you an

forefinger upon an item in the left-hand top corner. T

ople have gone

marri

well, M.A., Vicar of St. Monica's, Frank Crosse, of Maybury Road, Woking, to Maude Selby, e

ar, does

It's simp

d much if th

the Tyrol! The Swiss Hotel! The Stateroom! Gr

rst out

conspirator than I am. There's only one thing you can do. Give the w

, and at which so many have failed. Take warning, gentle reade

OME-C

ming irksome. It was pleasant, as they rolled out of Waterloo Station that summer night, to know that their cosy little home was awaiting them just five-and-twenty miles down the line. They had a first-class carriage to themselves-it is astonishing how easy it is for two people to fit

em. They pictured her waiting at the door, the neat little rooms with all their useful marriage-presents in their proper places, the lamplight and the snowy cloth laid for supper in the dining-room. It would be ten o'clock before they got ther

wded train had preceded them, and there was not a single cab left

mind walk

ld pref

. In the meantime they started off together down an ill-lit and ill-kept road, which opened into that more i

will not be far from the station. Those windows among the trees are where Hale lives-my best man, you know! Now

a low but comfortable-looking little house. The night was so dark that one could only see its outl

blessed!' c

. They live at th

e hour. This is too

. What a dear little gate this is! T

ere was no answer, so he knocked violently. Then he knocked with one hand while he rang with the other, but no sound save that of the clanging bell came from the gloomy house. As they stood forlornly in front of t

tter for Mrs. Watson if she cannot

he poor wo

id not bring up our trunks, or we should have had to dump them down in the front garden. You wa

all fastened. He came back to the kitchen-door, poked his stick through the glass which formed the upper panel, and then putting his hand through the hole,

! What a dismal home-coming! What can I do to make amends? But good comes out of evil, you

There was no oil in it. He muttered something vigorous, and carried his burning vesta into the dining-room. Two candles were standing on the sid

walnut sideboard, and the bronzes from the cricket-club looked splendid upon each side of t

ay evening about ten." It was Tuesday evening, I said. That'

rawing-room. It was not a very good room, too square for elegance, but they were in no humour for criticism, and it was charming to see all the old knick-knac

didly,' said Maude, whose active fingers were alrea

t it is the absence of the servants which amazes me, for I u

ou hungry

y star

am

age and see if we canno

ed, though it was now out. In one corner was what seemed to be a pile of drab-coloured curtains. In the other, an armchair lay upon its side with legs projecting. A singular disorder, very alien to Mrs. Watson's habits, pervaded the apartment. A dresser with a cupboard over it claimed the first attention

ter in the k

are! Anyth

mall saucepan

okers,"' said he, sniff

right and nice. In with them! Now, if you will cut some

e. 'Besides, new bread is better in chunks. Here are some cloths and

scullery-maid. Get the cups down and put the cocoa in them. What fun

e sculle

he sugar for the cocoa out of the cupboard. The kettle is singing, so it won't be long. Do you know, Fr

rt of sibilant breathing, and they

Maude. 'Frank, I be

these curtains.' He approached them with his candle, and was suddenly aware of a boot

There could be no doubt either as to the woman or the sleep. She lay in an untidy heap,

haking her by the shoul

n slumbered

pulled her up into a sitting position.

l,' said Maude. 'O Frank,

st doll, with her arms swinging in front of her. He panted with his exertions, but she was serenely

I can make nothing of he

n to say, Fran

eed

horri

ling now. Suppose w

with that unfortunate woman lying there.

he inert lump. 'I really don't see why we should p

Frank. It woul

e we to

put her

t hea

is our duty to

. The woman weighs half a ton, and the bedrooms ar

f you took her head and I took

air, dear. She

' said Maude. 'I could have my supper, if

e prostrate form, and they returned to their boiling kettle and their uncooked eggs. Then they laid the table, and served the supper, and enjoyed this picnic meal of their own creating as no conventional meal could ever have been enjoyed. Everything seemed beautiful to the young wife-the wall-paper, the pictures, the carpet,

eps, of several steps, outside upon the gravel path. Then a key

for me to enter,'

ice, which Frank recognised as that of Mrs. Watson. 'She cha

d. Give me a warrant, and in I come. If you will bring h

Crosse, what a fright you gave me! Oh dear me, that you should have come when I was out, and I

maid out of the house, and then, while Mrs. Watson rushed for the police, she had drunk herself into the stupor in which she had been found. But now, in the nick of time, the station cab came up with t

G A C

ave to lay their own course, each for itself; and all round them, as they go, they see the floating timbers and broken keels of other little boats, which had once started out full of hope and confidence. There are currents and eddies, low sand-banks and sunken reefs, and happy the crews who see them ahead, and trim their course to a

he, 'I want to ha

rprise from the linen

r!' she

"oh d

somethi

g in th

ught you had been looking at the tr

u think it would be a good thing if we were to make some resolutions as

do! What fun

s seriou

, I am qui

ertain rules, then, whatever came upon us in the

the rule

set of rules, and ask you to submit to them. That is not my idea of a partnership. But if we f

! Do please tell me

y have-any ideas, you know, how to get the very highest and best out

k, how

going to live all our lives together. We must f

at is a

your life and never

with yo

e other, and they say ever so much more than they mean. Let us make a compact never both to be ill-humoured at the same time. If you are cross, then it is y

are the funni

ou ag

, of cours

said Frank, and scri

turn

ave not though

other point. Never take

you mean

heir wives are ladies. Some wives speak to their husbands with less courtesy and consideration than

ink we are

nsciously. Pull me up sh

sir, I

the other. People get slovenly and slipshoddy, as if it didn't matter now that they were married. If each w

en't practised for

is just perfect. But you know how often a woman grows careless. "He will love me anyhow

had no idea you

he did his sweetheart's. If she dislikes smoke, he should not smoke. He should not yawn in her presence. H

d make any dif

ou should stand out for the highest. When I ca

ou the cuff. But I agree to all you say. I think it

What

n interest in the o

course th

is not

, you take an intere

take as keen an intere

e been a littl

week or month, and he says, "Well, this is rather more than we can afford," or "This is less than I expected," but he never really takes any interest in his wife's efforts to keep

ht. I'll try to remember that. How

ests should

ave it down. Well

your

of the other and discourage the worse, that there should be a discipline in our life, and that we should brace each other up to a higher ideal. The love that says, "I know it is wrong, but I love him or her so much

you expres

is necessary f

ure that tha

e makes love soft and blind. Now I have another,

me he

way, "The tight cord is

do you

reedom. If they don't, one or other will sooner or later chafe at the restriction.

ke that at

, as a rule, freedom only for the man. He does what he likes, but still claims to be a strict critic of his wife. That, I am sure, is wrong. To take an obvious example of what I mean, has a husba

a horrid w

of friendships. Is a married man to be debarred fr

ooked d

o see the woman

? There is such a want of mutual confidence in such a view. People who are sure of each other s

so slack that it might as

s their boast that everything was in common with them. If he was not in, she opened his letters, and he hers. And then there came a most almighty smash

Fra

for some couples, I am sure that it is right. They reconsider

e for our guidance, not

e," as your brother Jack would say. But I am afraid

d charmingl

ation should be in common. I could never get as near to your heart and soul as I should wish to do. I want every ye

'The wisdom of the heart is greater than the wisdom of the brain,' said he. But the love of man comes from the brain, far

cratch out

be all right. The cord of which I speak is never held at all. The moment it is ne

mended his

ng more

t is that if ever you had to find fault with me

nd degrading than a public difference of opinion? People do it half in fun somet

aterial

her own arrangements for herself. It is degrading to a woman to have to apply to her husband every time she wants a sovereign. On the other hand, if the wife has any money, she should have

ything she has? If my little income would take one worry from your

fall back upon one's wife-since our interests are the same, but only that could

rrible q

st pleasures of life are absolutely inexpensive. Books, music, pleasant intimate evenings, the walk among

s to Jemima and the cook, it is really ex

s to become much too elaborat

ing to say something against that p

o you know what threepence a day comes to in a year? There is no use in having an accountant for

not seem

and all the world's literature to draw from. Now just picture it: on one side, all the books in the world, all the words of the wise

hall never have a se

pud

u always eat

of me. But if it were not there, I should neither eat it nor miss it, and I know

dear. Second vegetable o

y go

ou discuss economy in food. I wonder if you will feel the same when you

e have a reserve fund to meet any unexpected call. If you see any way in which I could save, or any money I spend

d golfin

t was idio

t. After all, it was only thirty shillings

ed at that dressmak

to pay for a good cut, and you said yourself that a wife must not become do

think the

was it

lining of

funny

a. Now, what can it matter if

t? Just you tr

know that it is

ar, every woman in it knows th

ured out of his depth, so h

ties. It is such a very cheap way of doing things. Not that I do much in that line-too little, perhaps. But to say that becau

t of foolscap. It was not a very brilliant production, but it might serve as a chart

for the

ried, you may as wel

maxims and try t

you fail. You will fail, but

ross at the same t

overs. If you cease, s

ady before you were husband

ur best. It is a compl

miss it, but it is better to miss

ish love. Encourage the b

y for a permanent mutual love. A woman c

cord is the ea

re be one l

ng worse than quarrels in

to happiness, but happy p

o sav

y of saving is to

then you had bette

e does not turn her into a mendi

e, save at you

y, prepare always for the

uld lay it. They may correct it by experience, and improve it

FES

id you ever love a

as so bad that he went off instantly into the dining-ro

bly until he had s

Frank?'

I w

ve any o

is the use of asking

here were no sec

re some things b

t I should c

f you make a

d

hing that you ask. But you must not bl

s she,

hi

, more t

hat you would

I had not

let us

ank. You have gone too far.

ryth

erything

sure tha

dreadful

is anothe

ll me,

t excused himself to his wife for all his pre-matrimon

e that!' she cr

ooking f

have looked

ound you

rst, Frank.' He said something about

e asked. 'Please don't joke about

se to tell

you w

could never feel

how many di

re are all sorts and degrees of love, some just the whim of a moment, and others the passion of a lifetime;

you love

thr

ur

ectly

on was interrupted. But in a few minu

-the first

n't, Maud

sir-her

tle too far. Even to you, I should

as she

ails. It is perfectly horrible.

a littl

But I won't be hard upon

ude, I was always in

e cloud

st be very ch

thy young man who has imagination and a warm hea

love was superficial, i

ad never seen you at the ti

ty to your own

it. What do you want to ask such questions

In his inmost heart Frank was glad that she should be j

said she

I go

ay as wel

only b

pained a little. But I do appreciate your frankness. I had

e an interest

interest

ces were favourable the interest deepened, unt

you take an

etty nearly

many de

don't

ent

more than t

irt

e thi

or

than forty

at the depths o

now, so you have loved four wome

id Frank, 'I am afraid that it

' said Maude, a

kissed her hands. She had sweet littl

aid he. 'Anyhow, I love you now wi

d, half laughing and half crying. The

ry when you tell me things of your own free will. You are not forced to tell me.

est men. They are either archangels upon earth-young Gladstones and Newmans-or else they are cold, calculating, timid, un-virile creatu

interested i

icer than me

ho

forty

urse not. Why ar

e, if the forty were all gathered into one room,

such extraordinary ideas of humour. Ma

e you as comic?'

n't,' he ans

ple of pretty contralto laughter. There is a soft, deep, rich la

he huffily. Her jealousy was much m

cry. I'm so sorry if I have annoyed you.' He had gone bac

qui

ow

t. I forg

after all these confessions. But you nev

ev

ear

swea

at do you call i

ne of

ver wil

ev

for ever

ver an

forty wer

Maude, I can

d and hun

ke them be

If I had liked one better,

aken a deeper interest in me than in the others,

you best. Let us drop the thing,

their ph

N

of t

N

you do w

had most

the o

d some when

e of you. Are

ght it was

dest of dark

. You know those lines I read you from Henley: "Handso

ing on your honour, that out of all these forty

talk of som

one as

you are to-n

answe

wered you

not hea

don't compare you quality for quality against every one in the world. That would be absur

de dubiously. 'How ni

've hu

frank. I should hate to think that there

ould you be equal

it to you after your confidence in me.

ou

nothing about them. What good can th

rather yo

on't b

-certai

t any emotion at the sight of another man, it is simple nonsense. There may be women of that sort about, but I never m

have loved s

been interested deeply i

ver

ad met you, dear.

loved se

quite superficial. There are many d

w many men inspired

ttracted by every young man. I know that you wish me to be frank and to return your confid

did discr

ting bitter. I w

too much. You m

s had a peculiar fascination for me. I don't know

married a man w

ing your tout ensemble, I like you far the best of all. You may not be the handsomest, and you may not be the cleverest-one can

deal, but I hoped always that the eyes of love transfigured an object and made it seem a

If I hadn't liked you best, I shouldn

other exp

d can it possibly do to discuss my old

ess in speaking out, although I acknowled

et wher

fore your marriage you had lov

it sounds,

d strike me

te what I said. I said that I ha

ark men thr

act

d that I wa

such a thing. You see I left school at seventeen, and I was twenty-three when I became engaged to you. There are six years. Imagine all the

interested

natural,

. And then I understand th

mes running, at a dance, then in the street, then in the garden, t

es

d t

t was the

u're not

y don't you keep the ke

pt Jemima. Sh

on! The next

ly interested some time, then

A

shout,

r mind. Go on! You

into d

d too much to stop. I insist

way, Frank.' Maude had a fine d

to have confidence in me, and t

h her eyes half closed, and a quiet

proof of my confidence and trust, I will tell you. Yo

ake every

t, and stands out very clearly in my memory. It all came through

es

lone in the room

yes, g

how pretty I was, and that he had never seen a sweete

d y

perienced, and I could not help being flattered and pleased at

sed

n't walk up and down the r

t stop. After this outr

lly want

ow. What d

citing you. Light your pipe, dear, and let us talk of somethi

oss. Go on. Wh

nce you insist-I

kissed

mima up if you

ssed hi

t may be wron

why did y

I lik

ark

he was

! Well, don't s

ssed me sev

u kissed him. What else co

nk, I

m ready for

on't run about the room.

n see that I am not agitated

f I would sit

ek

egan to

ou are croakin

o on! Go on! You yielded to his very moderat

Frank,

heav

e, dear. It was long

ll me in cold blood that you

lse cou

the bell, you could have struck him-you could have risen in the

sy for me to walk

held

he hel

I had be

was anoth

was

walking at that time. You see

a few minute

wretch!' he

d goose! I feel

hor

orty predecessors. You old Bluebeard!

It's a nightmare. O Maude, h

s lovely-b

s drea

s you were! Oh,

he put his arms round her, 'th

Jemima came in

ING MRS

unable to account. One Saturday afternoon he happened to come home earlier than he was expected, and entering her bedroom suddenly, he found her seated in the basket-chair in the window, with a

ou've bee

Frank

tears instantly.' He knelt down b

st, I am qu

s all

te g

then, e

n from her. 'I wanted to do it without your knowing. I thought it would be a surprise for you. But I begin to under

aded, 'General Observations on the Common Hog,' and underneath was a single large tear-drop. It had fallen upon

e you crying, though you never look more pret

keeping. To know as much as Mrs. Beeton. I wanted to

them,' said Frank

you see, is all about wills, and bequests, and homeopathy, and things of that kind. W

you wish to

you to be as hap

bet

s. Beeton must have been the finest housekeeper in the world. Therefore, Mr. Beeton must have been the happiest and most comfortable man. But w

he is

You think it right because I do it. But if you were v

rank, after an interval. 'I'll swear that the wise Mrs. Beeton never a

, you shoul

you shouldn't

till think th

shi

ll these

d nicer e

bit t

am tired of you, I s

erful it

s it

not a very good player, Mr. Crosse!"-"No, Miss Selby, but I sha

t is wo

s, I think that he is a great genius." How formal and precise

e to think of it, something of the same kind m

er quite

mblance, you know. Married people do usually end by knowing

ou think of

old you

tell me

e use when

like to

s just spo

to be

n, I believe I will do something in life yet. And I also thought-If I do

the very first

e very f

d t

ntil at last you swallowed up all my other hopes, and ambitions, and interests. I

d aloud wi

rhaps, but at the end of a week or so-you would suddenly give a start, like those poor people who are hypnotised, and you would say, "Why, I used to think that she was pre

you mustn't

Mrs. Pott

e blinds before you make

quiet and be

tell me what

were a very goo

hing

talked

h a stick in my life. I

who are very cool and assured. I saw tha

es

at perhaps it was I

ou lik

y interest

beauty, and your grace, and your rich father, and every young man at your fe

ir! Yes, you

e window! We've done it this time. Let u

d we le

ere does the hog come in? Why should you weep over him?

em for y

generic characters are a long, flexible snout, forty-two teeth, cloven feet, furnished with four toes, and a tail, which is small, shor

also. If once I began to skip, there would be no end to it. But it really is such a splendid book in other ways. It doesn't matter what you want, you will find it here. Take the index anywhere. Cream. If

I d

n. Here it is-paragraph 2847. It is a sort of

nd dropped it. It fell with

thing!' he cried, in sudden fury, aiming a kick at the squat volume. 'It is to you I owe all those sad, tired looks whi

on't know what I should do without it. You have no idea what a wise old boo

; it's de

so it is with the mistress of a house. Her spirit will be seen through the whole establishment, and,

id her husband, 'that Jemim

ly rising is one of the most essential qualities. When a mistress is an early

wn at nine-what m

that Mrs. Beeton w

protest too much. I should not be very much surprised

ave no reverenc

ve some mo

ithout which no household can prosper. Dr.

ares for a man's opinion. Now,

himself for years-and a

, but I will not be lectured by Dr. Johnson. Where was I? Oh yes-"'We must al

vegetable! No pudding on fish

oisy boy

xcites me. A

tily formed, nor the heart giv

ou at it! You don't mind my cigarette? Has Mrs

had known you, dear, she would have had to write an appendix to her bo

ase

nts, petty annoyances, and other everyday incidents, should never be mentioned to friends. If th

to the square inch than any work o

ould be cultivated by every mistress, as upon it

elle

ways best in the long-run to get th

hy I got y

ion, another upon engaging domestics, another about daily duties

hair. 'There is just time for nine holes at golf before it is dark, if you wilt come exactly as you are. But l

Frank,

eeton goes into the kitc

you don't en

nvy a man

ld I try to be

ind

sixteen hundred pages have just lain up

d downstairs for

AMUEL

hin their home brightened by those little jokes and endearments and allusions which make up that inner domestic masonry which is close-tiled for ever to the outsider. Five or six evenings a week, she with her sewing and Frank with his book, settled down to such enjoyment as men go to the ends of the earth to seek, while it awaits them, if they will but atune their souls to sympathy, beside their own hearthstones. Now an

nd. His tastes were healthy and obvious without being fine. Macaulay's Essays, Holmes' Autocrat, Gibbons' History, Jefferies' Story of my Heart, Carlyle's Life, Pepys' Diary, and Borrow's Lavengro were among his inner circle of literary friends. The sturdy East Anglian, half prize-fighter, half missionary, was a particular favourite of his, and so was the garrulous Secretary of the Navy. One da

stairs with a thick well-t

Pepys,' sai

'It makes me think of indigestion.

t seriously, dear, I think that now that we have taken up a course of reading, we sho

ear! I do hope I

d-consi

in my hand at the time-and you looked s

le wr

Mr. Pepys to me. And first of all, would you mind explaining all about the gentleman, from

't bel

od boy and do exactly wha

e, Mr. Pepy

s his fi

mue

re I should not

g, but it really doesn't matter, does it? He was born somewhere in six

remember what

official of the navy in the time of Charles the Second, and that he died in fairly good circumstan

racy about your i

s not matter. All this has nothi

on,

ndred years after the old boy's death, some enterprising person seems to have examined his books, and he fou

how very i

cipher? Imagine the labour of it! So some one set to work to solve the

world did

o solve. Anyhow, they did succeed. And when they had done so, and copied it all out clean, they foun

, and looked across with her lip

daily doings, and gives us such an intimate picture of life in those days, as could by no other means have been conveyed, but it is as a piece of psychology that the thing is so valuable. Remember the dignity of the man, a high government official, an orator, a writer, a patron of learning, and here you have the other side, the little thoughts, the mean

book with curiosity. 'Is it

e impossible places, he doubled and trebled his cipher, so as to make sure that it should never be made out. But all

you smili

ay of referrin

was ma

eet creature. He married her at fifteen on account of

they h

She was only twenty-

r gi

life-though he did b

rea

And kicked t

the b

good husband. He had a few

s he allude

f saying, "my wif

hat this odious Mr. Pepys says. Yes, you did! Don't deny it!

en. But how these passages take you b

ead s

rayers, to-morrow being washing-day." Fancy such

no pr

o get up early on washing-days, and

the same without as good

. He says, "An excellent dinner, but the venison

ole last week was palpable plaice. Mr.

we do." I dare say he was right, for they did things very well. When he dined out, he says that his host gave him "the meanest dinne

e umbles

ve no

to me a very good dinner. People mus

"Fricassee of rabbits and chickens, a leg of mutton boiled, three carps in a dish, a great dish of a side of lamb, a dish of roasted pigeons, a dish of four l

you that I associated

pretty well

oked al

helped in

re why they had such enormous grates in the old days. Naturally, if you have six pigeons, and a lamprey, and a lobster,

eir mind. His occasional shabbiness in money matters, his jealousies, his envies, all his petty faults, which are despicable on account of their pettiness. Fancy any man writing this. He is describing how he visited a friend and was reading a book

nderstand-you don't mind my being a little stupid, do you?-is, what object Mr

example, continually adding up how much money he had, or cataloguing and indexing his library, and so on. He liked to have everything shipshape. And s

is not. My exp

perience

, Frank!-tells me that they have funny little tr

! Have

ud to show it. That is the most subtle form of pride. Oh yes, I know perfectly well what I mean. But in this man's case, i

her

ld have found him out during his lifetime. But, very likely, he left a key to the cipher, so tha

is very

ir, and sat on the black fur rug, with her back agai

after the fashion of men, his thoughts flew away from Mr. Pepys and the seventeenth century, and all that is lofty and instructive, and could fix upon nothing except those dear little wandering tendrils, and the white column on which t

o doesn't miss

O MR. SAM

save the striking of a second match, which occasions so many burned fingers, and such picturesque language. And again, there is the desire to compress a telegraphic message i

some progress had been made with the reading of the

buttered toast suède glove

aude puzzled over it, and tried every possible combination of the words. The nearest approach to se

get for three and threepence a pair which would cost her three and ninepence in Woking. Maude was so conscientiously economical, that she was always prepared to spend two shillings in railway fares to reach a spot where a sixpence was to be saved, and to lavish her nerve and en

luxury, where Frank had already taken her twice to tea. And so leaving Mr. Pepys to explain himself later, Maude gave hurried orders to Jemima and the cook, and dashed upstairs to put on h

g a train to Waterloo, and another thence to the City, and so reached the Monument at five minutes to four. The hour was just striking when Frank, with his well-brushed top-hat

to come, dearest. How you

ntil you came. Nothing but d

your d

ank you

that pre

Fawn c

ooks charming. And so do you-by J

are we

s, Mark Lane, please!-No, that's for the west-e

ll dank and dark and gloomy. But little youth and love care for that! They were bubbling over with the happiness of this abnormal meeting. Both talked together in their delight, and Maude patted Fra

emn?' said Maude. 'Look

sands of years hence, they will think it was c

which sprang from the caprice of kings. The London and North-Western Railway is an

and sinister speed, they grew and grew until roaring they sprang out of the darkn

ty,' said Frank, with

think-' s

do,' cri

bove all other lines, and where could a loving couple be more happy, who have been torn apart by cruel f

e she could buy hairpins. As every lady knows, or will know, there

, about you

where I lead you, and you w

w street to the right. At the bottom lay an old smoke-stained c

aint Olave,' said Frank

ep crimsons which only go with age. It was a bright and yet a mellow light, falling in patches of vivid colour upon the brown woodwork and the grey floors. Here and there upon the walls were marble inscriptions in the Latin tongue, with pompous allegorical figures with trumpets, for our ancesto

id Frank, and fa

d comely face, with shrewd eyes and a sensitive mouth. The face of a man of affairs, and a good fellow, with ju

EL P

public su

8

he nice?'

bad-looking

ever could have struck his

alling hi

himself. Then I suppose he must h

he old heathen lady said when

did sh

long time ago, and we'll

ries in a church. Do you really sup

the monument m

f plaster loose. Do you

quite th

as she did so, for there came an indignant snort from her very elbow, and there was a queer little smoke-dried, black-dressed person who seemed t

young lady,' s

he palm of her hand. 'I am so sorry,' sai

rate,' said the clerk. 'You shouldn't 'ave done it, a

laster was hanging, and must have fallen in

eman and saw defiance in one of his

ot one in a hundred that comes to this church that ever 'eard of Pepys. "Pepys!" says they. "'Oo's Pepys?" "The Diarist," says I. "Diarist!" s

I thou

erk ch

n't pick another chunk off that. Well, then, it's there-beside the communion. I

saw

in' man could say, for there were only four of us,

us about it!

o examine to see 'ow much room there wa

at did

ou. When we first looked in I saw 'im lying quite plain-a short thick figure of a man-with 'is 'ands across 'is chest. And then, just as we looked at 'im, 'e crumbled in, as you might say, across 'is breast bo

band's and was surprised to find how cold it was. Women never realise that the m

e vicar-it was in old Bellamy's time-'e took a sniff into the grave, an' 'e sneezed an'

ave only

n the left o

oman leanin

hat's Mrs. P

woman; the sculptor had depicted her as leaning forward

b

ovem

tis

jug

Domin

r!' whisp

sful,' said Frank. 'She who had washed his shirts, and made up the coal fires, when

him, dear, she had a go

athed the whole group in its ruddy light. As Frank, standing back in the shadow, ran his eyes from the face of the dead young wife to that of his own sweet, girlish bride, with those sinister skulls between, there came over him like a wave, a realisation of

It must,

r, what is the matter

aude. I have had enough o

re was a time-and I can remember it-when folk used to spend their money where they made it, and the plate would be full of paper and gold, where now we find it 'ard enough to get coppers. That was fifty year ago,

ting. He also shook hands with him in a peculiar way as he held his palm upturned in the small of

r sympathetic eyes. It is at such moments that a man realises what

horrible things. Never mind, Maude! We are out for a

id Maude, and she

Buttered toast

Frank!'), to buy four yards of so-called Astrakhan trimming, a frill of torchon lace, six dear little festooned handkerchiefs, and four pairs of open

iling water, he recognised the healthy appetite of the married. And then, instead of going home like a good little couple, Maude suddenly got it into her head that it would cheer away the last traces of Frank's gloom if they went to see 'Charley's Aunt' at the Globe. So they loitered and shopped for a couple of hours, and then squeezed into the back of the pit; and wedged in among honest, hearty folk who were not ashamed to show their emoti

OU

ew that if it were for the best, he would tell her everything, and she had confidence enough in his judgment to acquiesce in his silence if he thou

ething to wor

I know you have

I bother y

ows! Anyhow, I had rather share sorrow with you than joy within any one e

u just before our marriage

er perfec

surance-agent, and I became surety fo

it was so no

w me, he turned on his heel and hurried out of the station. I rea

an ungrate

was all very well when I was a bachelor. But here I am as a married man faced with an inde

h is it,

. That is the

n office would not

fice. It is another

have you done a

o send down an accountant to examine Farintosh's books. He will be

nce. The really precious things, the things of the spirit, were permanent, and could not be lost. What matter if they lived in an eight-roomed villa, or in a tent out on the heath? What matter if they had two servants, or if she worked for him herself? All this was the merest trifle, the outside of life. But the intimate things, their love, their trust, their pleasures of mind and soul, these could not be taken aw

he accountant from London, arrived-a tal

this business, Mr

rimace. 'It ca

have warned Mr. Farintosh that his books will be ins

of other small brick houses. A sad-faced woman opened the door, and Farintosh himself, haggard and white, was seated

s of figures. Frank's heart turned to water as he saw the huge sums which had passed through this man's hands. How much had remained there? His whole future depended upon the answer to that question. How prosaic and undramatic are the moments in which a modern career is made or marred! In this obscure battlefield, the squire no longer r

ese figures?' asked

can,

ou, Mr. Crosse. I can only fin

which they had carefully invested! However, it was good

ck these figures,' said Wingfield. '

e round and l

plea

in upon his wife. 'It is not so very bad, dear-only fifty

e to his lunch wi

n I thought. We have entered some sums as unpaid which he has really received, bu

glanced at Frank, and saw his re

a hundred

arked the items down upon thi

eyes over the results of the

hin a hundred and twenty p

ok shows a balanc

as it m

Satu

e drawn it

rtainly p

und after lunch

y go

pany's money, don't you think we h

hink you

l glad when it was finished. Maude drew F

Keep a brave heart, my own laddie, for I know s

th returned to the agent's house. His white face tu

ield?' he pleaded. 'Won't you

it, sir, but we have trus

ey is there,

ny's money, and

ally if I draw out my whole

ill grace to the compromise, and they all started off for the bank. When

gentlemen. I could never

Mr. Crosse

sonable, Farintosh. Go in

had some mad hope of persuading the bank manager to allow him to overdraw to that amount. If

to you, Mr. Crosse, I h

lf to blame. He had incurred a risk with his eyes open, and he was not the man to whine now that the thing had gone against him. W

sale of their furniture would hardly meet it. It was the blackest hour of their lives, and yet, always a strange sweet undercurre

hen there came a

arintosh would like to see

him in

k, Frank, that

f he comes, let him face us both. I have n

ease. He laid his hat upon the floor, and crept hum

Farin

l would have gone right after that last time, but I've had to pay up back debts, and that's what has put me wrong. I've never had what one may

nly blame you for not coming to me w

t need to be troubled at all. And so it went from bad to worse until we find ourselve

before this

se I am respon

o pay the m

mebody mu

he wording of the

exact w

et your lawyer to read it. In my opi

rt had turned suddenly from a round-sh

hat bond less carefully than I did. There was a clause in it by which the Company agreed frequently an

cried Frank. 'We

r, they

t, they brought their own misfortunes upon themse

they did so

how

rteen m

and the cannon-ball bac

e held to ex

ly and periodically" does not me

might ta

usands of pounds were passing through my hands in that time, and therefore the

viction. 'Frank, we'll have the bes

your witness, whether the Company prosecutes me or not. And I hope that th

dark place. But it was not broadened by the lette

tosh's A

Insuranc

further discrepancy of seventy pounds. I am able, however, to assure you that we have now touched bottom. The total amount is three hundred and forty pou

Wing

and Maude in

osh. I am advised, however, that there have been certain irregularities in the matt

k Cr

Hotspur Ins

have been content to wait; but since you appear disposed to dispute your liability

ters, S

Frank a

en, of 14 Shirley Lane, E.C.,

legal English for 'Yo

to town as usual, while Maude played the more difficult part of waiting quietly at home. In his lunch-hour Frank

ead the document. I think that it would strengthen our case very materially if we had counsel's opi

d Owen waiting in very low spirits, for their relation

orry,'

n again

agains

o look as if

me se

he heading, 'The Hotspur Insurance

he Hotspur Insurance Company, Limited, are entitled to recover from Mr. Crosse under his guarantee, the sum of ￡340, being moni

ked Frank helplessly. The Br

ut, if I were you. Ther

nest with you. If this thing goes against me, I am ston

'After all, Manners is not infallible. Let us

rank found Owen radiant with

s this time

y, Limited, are not entitled to recover against Mr. Crosse the sum claimed by them or any part thereof, as there has been a breach on their part of an essential co

her, and try the best

ound man, and his opinion would weigh with any

think it

safe in the law. But we c

ul, jolting along with its absurd forms and abominable English towards an end which might or might not be just, but was most certainly ruinously expens

e day of such service, you cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit of the Hotspur Insurance Company, Limited.' If he didn't do so, Her Majesty remarked that several very unpleasant things might occur, and Hardinge Stanley, Earl of Halsbury, corro

rank, 'it means that in eig

heartily at

l begin to make preparations for something to happen in the future. That is about the me

ed three millions of pounds. He treated it lightly to Maude, and she to him, but each suffered horribly, and each was well aware of the other's real feelings. Sometimes there was a lull, and t

ed it, as if the documents were concealed, and they had to hunt for them stealthily with lanterns. Then each made remarks about the other's documents, and claimed to see the remarks so made. Then the lawyers of the Company made a statement of their claim, and when she read it Maude burst into tears, and said that it was all over, and they must make the best of it, and she should never forgive herself for that new d

her letter from Her Majesty, in which sub p?na (Her Majesty has not a gracious way of putting things in these documents), Mr. Frank Crosse had 'to attend at the

ost unexpected and fearsome st

makes me think that they are weak

id,' sa

hat game. We must

you mea

na all th

tspur office with a whole bundle of subp?nas, and served the

RE

wen in his most hopeful moods did not disguise from them that it might, they would have to pay the double costs as well as the original claim. All that they possessed would not cover it. On the other hand, if they won, th

the Society, came down to Woking. He had managed the case all

own law-costs,' said he, 'if yo

hat,' said Fr

t a furious rate, and some

hat it wi

y dear Crosse, I assure you that you are being misled,

e trial is abou

after Wingfield's departure, Maude saw

se,' said he. 'He would not spea

ook quite a

heir money in court, why should they

d chap-he wants t

s less t

ut if he thought it best to get behind his own lawyers and come down here, then he must have

only shook

sum would be, and so we may just as well see it through.' But for once Maude did not take his opinion as final, but lay awake all night and thought it over. She had determined to begin

up to town wi

p with him, so it did not surprise him. What would have surprised him was to kno

Street, E.C. Will call eleven

ud

. Please come up next train, meet me Fenchu

E.C. Will call twelve o'clo

opened he

as they travelled up together

is,' he answere

boy for a birthday present? N

ant,' said he,

ind something. I must look

church Street. It was something new for him to get telegram

tificate of character to your husband. Well, and how is all

in trouble. Now, my dear good dad, please see things from my point of view, and don't make objectio

sort of thing is allowed in the city of London, there is an end of all business.' Howev

ve him another squeeze before sitting down. 'Look here, dad

t raise it. Jack's ex

ant you to

do you

that this fifty pounds was the interest on

ve per cent.

ounds a year instead of fifty pounds, then I could take five

t your

aughed

eel that I have as much as that in case I need it. Now, my dear old daddy, do please not ask a

tell me why y

not-but I will

rave, clear eyes of his dau

your own little banking

s,

ndred pounds. I will sell half your debentures and charge you with brokerage. I believe in strict business

Then with a final embrace to her father, she hastened out to furth

girls think a soldier has nothing to do. It was so once, but we are all scientific blokes now. No,

im the whole story of Frank's misfortune, with some ac

dad say

. I thought Frank

n my life, and quite a small paper too, and I haven't heard the last of it yet. The thing wasn't much b

d no peace

d go on fizzing like I did. Now we'll put this thing through

n at home, and Mau

it. My husband is too proud to bargain with them, but I have no scruples. Don't you think that I might go t

come of it. But I should not like you to offer the whole sum. Simply say that you are prepared for a reasonable

I'll keep her on the rails. I am Number 1, Class A, at business. We'll take 'em up o

not take it too seriously in his company. They called at the Hotspur office and asked to see Mr.

is too late for any compromise of the sort. We have our costs to cons

nearly burs

that we wer

our to think it o

ook, his head

presently, and he will, of course, listen to any representations which you may have to

he door was shut, 'you were just going to offer to p

going to inqu

I couldn't stand that chap at any price. A bit too hairy in the f

you know

as piling it on so that when the next Christmas-tree comes along, he may find a soft job waiting for him. I tell you you want a friendl

had great sympathy with the Crosses, and no desire to wash the Company's dirty linen in

to see you. I should refer yo

aude. 'I believe that we are much more likely to c

shall be delighted to listen to anything which you may s

'if the Company will admit tha

that you admit some liability, that is a great step in advance. We have no desire to be unreasonable, but as long as no liability was admitted, we had no course open to us but litigation. We n

ds,' said J

ve the room. As he did not do so, nor show any

ok his

rosse, this is a

is our offer

t is this o

said Jack, 'and we find t

ld rose fro

ot say what view the directors may take of this proposal, but they wi

n shall

ound a line by hand

Jack. When he got outside, in the privacy of their hansom

ter hugged him also, so he was a much-embraced young man. 'Am I not a man of business, Maude? You can't buy 'e

good boy. You

I was a real fizzer and full of blood. One

ite weal all round his sunburned face to show where his ch

ffer forty pou

ave to begin

why f

rs, you know. It's a great thing to have a fixed rule in business. I never g

instructive show,' which proved to be a horse-sale at Tattersall's. They then drove back to t

that the directors have decided to stop the legal proceedings, and to accept your

ood Owen performed a t

never heard a better day's work in my life. Now, if you will give

the bond back with

rning of his birthday, perceived a pretty sil

for me, m

wee present f

aw such a lovely case. Why,

ttes, I

e instant to be able to shake that infernal thing off! How on earth did it get in there? Wha

e put her arms round him. 'Dear

OWNING

rred to Mrs. Beecher, fortified by a remark from the Lady's Journal that an internal intellectual life was the surest method by which a woman could preserve her youth. She turned up the article-for the conversation occurred in her drawing-room-and she read extracts from it. 'Shakespeare as a Cosmetic' was the title. Mau

eparated, so as to start fair upon the next Wednesday. Maude suggested Shak

aid Mrs. Beecher. '

,' said Mrs. Hunt Mortimer. She belonged to

e Shakespeare quite respect

much that might be dispensed with, and he o

o you

two copies and rea

that?' asked Mau

that they had been omitted,' sa

an invisible hairpin out of the

t he is so very suggestive. Th

any harm in them,

echer, I will undertake to make it abundantly clear to you that he is to be eschewed by those who wish to keep their

little kittenish person, with no apparent need of any

bout Shelley,'

ortimer sho

er a theist or an atheist, I cannot for the moment recall which-I t

,' Maude

great thinkers of our race. The lofty thought is necessarily obscure. There is

cried the

orm a little Brownin

ng! Cha

it was

gural meeting, which was, to choose the other ladies who should

one so,' said Mr

t her servants. And Mrs. Patt-Beatson always wanted to lay down the law. Perhaps on the whole it would be better to start the society quietly among themselves, and then gradually to increase it. The first meeting should be next Wednesday, at Mrs. Crosse's house, and Mrs. Hunt Mort

hings first,' said he. 'I should r

rming air of displeasure

u, Frank, that one of your little faults is that you always underrate a woman's intelligence. Mrs

mulat

you, you always do that and spoil everything. How would you like to discuss Browning if at the end of every sentence somebody came and kissed you? You wouldn

teur theatricals at the Dixons' at a quarter-past four. Mrs. Beecher did not appear until five minutes after the hour. Her cook had quarrelled with the housemaid, and given instantaneous notice, with five people coming

ortimer, looking up from the book w

y parlourmaid is really an excellent cook, and I shall rely upon her if Martha really goes. But she is limited, very limited, and entrées a

ing, so the problem interested her. Maude also began

aid Mrs. Hunt Mortimer, with the air of a Q.C. giving

out of season

rable presence of mind, 'that these entrées of oysters are in

and loat

se? All you want are chopped mushrooms, shalots, pa

er despairingly. 'Anne wou

. 'I am sure that they are simple enough. Cutlets

r that she is only a parlo

patties, croquettes of ve

o Browning after

, and I am so sorry. Now, Mrs. Hunt Mortimer, do

es sent down from the Stores,'

urse one can. That is really an admirable idea. There now, w

has up to now been rather superficial. Our ambition must be to so master him that he becomes from this time forward part and parcel of ourselves. I fanc

ventured upon a less diffident air now that it was clear that it might be done in safety. Maude frowned thoughtfully, and Mrs. Beecher

vow that we shall never pass a line until we understand it. W

h one of her little bursts of enthusiasm.

all me Nellie,' said

call you so, if you don't mind. It is such a

sn't it strange how names associate themselves with characters. Mary is always domestic, and Rose is a f

ing. 'Matilda has reason to be, seated here with an index

Mrs. Beecher reproachfully. 'Do let us have so

his immature genius,' remarked Mrs. Hunt Mortimer. 'I think that on thi

ow which is his b

title which suggests profundity-"A Pretty Woman

she say to him

that all these subjects ra

hs' experience of matrimony. 'A husband to a wife' would be intelligible, but how can you know what any husband wo

five years, and felt as competent to lay d

mitive instinct of some sort, at the root of their actions. But, seriously, we must really concentrate our attention

ttled down with anxious a

go on!' t

e Pied Piper

Maude, with her eyes shining with pleasure. 'Do plea

sked her tw

you know-came to a fancy-dress at St. Albans as the

r. 'We are invited to the Aston's dress ball

heles, you know, and a peaked hat with a bell at the top. Then he had a flute,

! How

so this rat followed Frank. He put it in his pocket when he danced, but once he

o the dress ball, and her thoughts fl

go, Mrs. Cros

t as "

with your b

en I had a silver half-moon over my head, and black veils round my hair, and stars all over my bodice and skirt, with a lon

Mrs. Hunt Mortimer. 'But I have no doubt, dear, that your dress was an exceedingly effe

ried Mrs. Bee

d'Alen?on lace which has been in the family for a century. I make it

sked Mrs.

hat perhaps a whit

ith pearl

with my lace

se. You

slin fichu com

tly sweet!'

leeves. And, of course, a picture hat-you kno

of course?' sa

ed in r

ll enough to carry it off, and you have the figure

you though

about "Ophelia." Do you

d you worked i

I should be so glad to have your opinion about it. I only saw Hamlet once, and the lady was dressed in white, with a gau

hine,' Maud

d never been heard of,' said Mrs. Hun

t what I had imagined. Of course it should be cut classically and draped-my dress

work,' s

ttern. Then a tiara of pear

ces pricked simultaneously. They looked at e

eading,' cried Mrs. Hunt Mortimer. 'How

said Mrs. Beecher

emember it all came from my saying that Fra

morselessly. 'I am afraid that it is almost time that I started, but we may stil

it mean?' a

Mrs. Hunt Mortimer. 'We shall take it line by line

w that the heat

' asked Mr

w. That's wh

e will explai

t on

o idea that Brown

ad it,

ng so. With your permission we wi

owed not

gin this next stanza, and hope for something better. The fi

ease r

d Setebos a

h other. 'This is worse than anything

skip th

skipping e

's name,' said

ree pe

y one, I

d he repeat it

empha

'it was Mr. Setebos, and Mrs.

I think we were wrong to say that we would take it l

ite

ch finishes the sentence. It is, "thinke

nly one Setebo

put it into ordinary language. This person Setebos was und

eproachfully. 'It is very easy to call everything which we do not understand "non

was it

timer looked

ere getting on so nicely-it is really most vexatious. You'll come to my house next Wednesday, Mrs.

passage before the Browning Society had been disso

. 'Two lines have positively made my

change

ty!' cried M

osity!' cr

retending to like him! Shall w

d be far

is quite simpl

fect

to discuss him if there

ight as well each r

it would

course

unt Mortimer's Mutual Improvement Society for th

NVES

our advic

a lace frill round her pretty, white, smooth throat. The buckle of her brown leather belt just gleamed over the edge of the table-cloth. In front of her

ear, wha

n. Then I need not hurry, an

ice of

that Dinton w

our of difference-

ose lines. An hour means a go

ondon! It is the only thing

rates a good many lovin

hing upon the sofa. When he had finished admiring her little, shining, patent-leather, Louis shoes and

dered a matter of business. But then her father was not hampered by having a young man's arm roun

me money t

how clev

nly fift

dear, it is

our fortunes. And so I want Her Majesty to lay it-mu

reat responsib

must not

nea pianos. Our dear old Broadwood was an excellent piano when I was a girl, but it i

ok his

promise you that when we have a little to turn round on, you shall have a beauty. But in the meantime we must not buy anything w

horrid you are

is where we can get it on an emergency, and where in the mea

ays bough

have not

little

t the s

tgage,

m is to

k, Frank-if you

nough. But the in

h should

pounds would bring us in ab

hillings!

less tha

ur fifty pounds and treating us like that. Ho

I w

they can make us a

'll try som

to thank. But you have some plan

the table. Then he folded it so as to

gold-mining. I only had a few minutes' talk, but he strongly advi

I wonder if they wo

ome misfortunes. First, there was no water, and then there was too much water, and the workings were flooded. So, of course, the price of the share

very dea

. The original price of each share was ten shillings, but as they hav

em much to pay for a share in

the Royal Bonanza and the Alabaster Consols. You see-El Dorado Proprietary! Then after it you have

d at the top of the colu

d of course they must have dropped with a flood in the mine, so that these figures m

ad for business

with our fifty pounds we could buy two hundred of them, and t

! But suppose t

are at four shillings and ninepence could go down very

riend said that

bout it. Well, what do you think,

ink it would be wiser to get a hundred shares, and then we could buy twenty-five poun

en we have had no information about it. I

ight,

tled. I have a te

them yourself whe

s yourself. You have to

as a horrid man, who came an

I promised Harrison that he should have any business wh

Street, E.C.-Buy two hund

se, W

und rather per

hat is mer

won't be

can answe

not said t

ttle higher or a little lower than yesterday. There cannot be much change, that is certain. Great Scot, Maude, it is ten-fif

anything

. Oh I am so glad to see

f that windo

o, it's all right. He was looking the oth

has tele

here i

Woking.-Bought two hun

ris

n. I shouldn't be surprised if he calls on his way from the sta

sure to

you hold

a pa

t pa

talks about wom

me se

must know, it is th

e world did

lly dry it was. So when you were gone I sent Jemima round and borrowed it, and I have read it right t

s there

her hands

Look here, it is under the heading of Australian Notes,' she h

it's pre

s prepo

us and not prosperous-"

e turned he

dear! What'

y pounds! And to think that I should ha

er may be wrong. Oh don't, Maude, please don't! It's not worth it-all the gold on the earth

y hat was coming through the garden. An

, Harr

Crosse? How are

l just order tea if

good deal of splashing water. Mau

ood paper, M

Whisper! No, the most

am so

hy

me shares to-day, and it call

land a preposterous institution if it thought it could bear Consols by doing so. Its opini

got back myself, and I saw by your wi

ou have your contract at once. Set

I will let you have a c

table. Frank Crosse's face grew whiter and his ey

ogmorto

Francis C

c Rules and Regulations

do Propriet

9

s and

mis

9

he 7t

here, Harrison,' said he, speak

ista

not at all wha

a thousand poun

f them to the other. He saw

ake. I tried to obey your instructions. You

four and

e! They are four p

y ten shillings originally, an

But they were as high as ten pounds once.

could the pape

sed, it always means

I have to find this

is settl

, Harrison. It

s the obvious

die. I will never

n turned stonily solemn as he me

ou have not done much

and by Heaven,

, I never dreamed of bankruptcy. All you have to do is to

I do

r. Why

d the diff

efly, and I don't profess to keep in touch with the mining market. We

is wife's little warm palm fal

ence is in

y fav

prices closing at the best. Out crops upon the Rand mark a general advance of one-sixteenth to one-eighth. The chief feature in the Australian

ell them for mo

two hundred of them, and a pr

he soda. Harrison, you must have a

han a h

my paying

a p

e Exchange op

le goes a

eleven, Harrison.

ld on and wat

e an easy moment un

t a cheque for your balance on Tuesday or Wednesday.

e adventure from the beginning. 'The joke of it is that we have still to find an inve

erhaps it would be the

usic enough in simply touching one here and one there, and listening to the soft, sweet, reverberant tones which came swelling from its depths. Her El Dorado piano, she called it, and tried to explain to lady visitors how her husband had been so clever at business that he had earned it in a single day. As she was nev

UNDE

le-cloth would hardly have given him a greater shock. Contradictory, incalculable, whimsical life! A year ago how scornfully he would have laughed, what contemptuous unbelief would have filled his soul, if he had been told that any letter of hers could have struck him cold with the vague apprehension of coming misfortune. He tore off the envelope and threw it into the fire. But before he could glance at the letter t

se the dressin

it. No, you mustn't

shall have the whole day to finish in when you are gone. There now-Jemima has forg

offee with Mau

vere. The reason is that the women who have met unpleasant men run about and make a noise, but the women who are happy just keep quiet and enjoy themselves. For example,

fraud when you

art of you

aude! It rea

t is the matter

ing,

re is. I can

am not qu

eve that you have a cold coming on. O F

heaven

se! P

here is nothing th

such sple

But really I d

ad any lett

s,

ng impo

dly glanced

e at i

train. Good-bye, dearest.

men are so proud and obstinate. Good-bye, darling.

folded his letter and read it. Then he read it again wit

u marry me, in spite of all you may know about my trivial life and adventures, but I thought it all over very carefully, and I came to the conclusion that it was not good enough. You were always a dear good chap yourself, but your prospects were not quite dashing enough for your festive Viole

It was only yesterday that I saw Charlie Scott, and he told me all about you, and gave me your address. Don't you bl

ims. Well, I've got a whim now, and I'll have my way as usual. I am going to see you to-morrow, and if you won't see me under my conditions in

n you like. You will drive to Mariani's, and you will find me at the door. We shall go up to our old private room, and we shall have tea together, and a dear old chat about all sorts

oes not read your letters, or this wi

et W

it was no empty threat. Violet was a woman who prided herself upon being as good as her word. She had laughingly said with her accustomed frankness upon one occasion that it was her sole remaining virtue. If he did not go to Mariani's, she would certainly come to Woking. He shuddered to think

ame more familiar to him, other emotions succeeded that of anger. There was an audacity about his old flame, a spirit and devilment, which appealed to his sporting instincts. Besides, it was complimentary to him, and flattering to his masculine vanity, that she should not

treet was not unfavourable to its particular class of business. Its customers were very free from the modern vice of self-advertisement, and would even take some trouble to avoid publicity.

som rattled into the narrow street, and there she sat framed in its concavity. A pretty woman never looks prettier than in a hansom,

ver,' said she, as

are

ou. Thirty-four yesterday. It's simply awful. Thank you, I ha

N

ou'll

ould like to

c manner, was standing in the passage. His strange life was spent in stan

ou for some

ave been

,' said

d the propriet

You used to li

uffins by

shillings each,' he whispered, as Frank passed him at the door. He was a new waiter, a

let in a dim London light. An armchair stood at each side of the empty fireplace, and an uncomfortable, old-fashioned, h

aiter rattled and banged and jingled with the final effect of producing a tea-tray and a hot-water

ng his cigarette into the fireplace.

ope you're

at

hould come down to W

angry if I thought

nt it righ

th what

too completely. Hang it all, she has three hundred and sixt

ut it. You see I came all right. Pu

d at me yet. I won't ta

but with more of Juno than of Venus, for she might perhaps err a little upon the side of opulence. There was a challenge and defiance dancing in those dark devil-may-care eyes of hers which might have roused a more cold

el

olet, you lo

el

ns are get

t is the matt

is the

el

scent of hers rose to his nostrils. There is nothing more insidious than a scent

he had himself in hand again in a moment. It gave him confidence to find how quickly and completely he

we'll have some tea, and I'll give

ice one to g

uch preacher as a

y are conv

milk, and very strong-how you keep your complexion I can't imagine. But

resentful eyes had draw

aid, with surprise as we

rse I am. I

er Charlie Sco

e Charlie

u have lost all your love for me.

e sensible

s it when he is going to do something cold-bloode

you want

lly! You call't think how hard I am with other people. Ask Charlie Scott. He will tell you. I've been so different since I have lost sight of you. Now, Frankie, don't be horrid to me!

ave a cigaret

y n

ntrol yourself. I don't want you to contro

wn, like a

rette

e absurd

ut with

leave i

rom his lips and thro

e of that? I ha

all follow

en, I won

e that y

he better are

be n

r chair and hav

ther th

you unless you sit dow

ow! Spea

gs are possible and some are impossible. This is absolutely, finally impo

did you com

you go

onic go

cour

te room at

y n

ghed bi

ays a little

arnestly ov

e chances are that we

two to s

t would be easier. But as it is I find it a little too much of a test. No, don't mistake me or th

if I have

garded h

friends, Violet. Why sho

ld we par

e so much easier if you would help me. If you were a very good and kind girl you would shake my hand, like any othe

nosyllables, while the occasional flash of her dark eyes as she raised them was like the distant lightning

' said she. 'Don't imagine that you are going to get out

and looked helplessly at her

egin it all over

his time, Master Frank. I'm not the sort of woman who lets a thing go eas

d,' he

or else I'll make such a row that you will be sorry that you ever put my back up. It's all very fine

ike this, Violet? What do yo

al, real love, you know. Any way, I don't intend to let you go, and if you go against

oodily into

begin to ride the high moral horse? You were just as cheerful as the rest of them when last I s

nged me,' said he, looking

ther yo

s new to her ca

t!' said

s your wife made thi

as his thoughts fl

her most intimate thoughts, how fresh and how sweet and how pure, you would understand that the thought of bein

if he had been less eloquent. The

cried. 'As inn

with eyes which were m

u talk against my wife! You ar

o Woking,'

th little sharp twitches. This was a new Frank Crosse to her. As long as a woman gets on very well with a man, she is apt, at the back of her soul, to suspect him of

ed, as they went down the sta

ng he looked back. She was standing by the curb, with her proud head high in the air, while the manage

your feelings,' said he

rom Woking,' she sneered.

' said he, as he han

NG

upon the fringes of her curls, and throwing two little epaulettes of the daintiest pink across her shoulders, sat in silence, glancing across from time to time with interrogative eyes at her husband. He ate his breakfast moodily, for he was very ill at ea

for saying anything. Conscience told him that it would be better to be perfectly straight with his wife. Instinct told him that though she would probably be sweet and sympathetic over it, yet it would rankle in her mind and poison her thoughts. And perhaps for once, Instinct may have been better than Conscience. Do not ask too many questions, you young wife! Do not be too free with your reminiscences, you young husba

ank,' said Maude at last, pee

ear, I

yesterday,

I know

kept at th

tea with

is ho

em. I can never tell by looking. Here they are. And my coat? Anything I can get you in

hold. Under the illustrious guidance of the omniscient Mrs. Beeton there is the usual routine to be gone through. The cook has to be seen, the larder examined, the remains cunningly transformed into new and attractive shapes, the dinner to be ordered (anything will do for lunch), and the new supplies to be got in. The husband accepts the excellent little dinner, the fri

the feather which was damped yesterday to be re-curled before the fire. That leaves just time before lunch to begin the new novel by glancing at the last two pages to see what did happen, and then the three minutes lunch of a lonely woman. So much for business, now for the more trying social duties. The pink dressing-gown is shed and a trim little walking dress-French grey cloth with white lisse in front and a grey zouave jacket-takes its place. Visiting strangers is not nearly so hard when you are pleased with your dress, and even entertaining becomes more easy when your costumi

be Mrs. Baker. Maude had no means of knowing who Mrs. Baker might be. The visitor seldom descended to an explanation. Ten minutes of desultory and forced conversation about pinewood

d that no one might visit her. The hours of danger were almost past, and

Jemima, opening the

itor, as she walked in

ant for all who were around her. Amiability was never artificial with her, for she had the true instincts of a lady-those instincts so often spoken

other sweet, girlish, and self-distrustful, but each beautiful and engaging in her own way. Lucky Master Frank, whose past and present could take such a form; but luckier still if he could have closed the pa

a tiring walk. It is still very warm in the aft

flickered upon

e to call!

it must be quite a task for the older inhabitants to welcome them.

u think that I live here. I have r

nation. As none was forthcoming, she added

uried in, alive or de

Maude that she had never before been alone with so singular a person. There was

lish life, among some of the highest of the high world, and some of the highest of the half world. It was new to Maude, and it made her uncomfortable, while mingled with i

questioning dark eyes played eagerly over her from her brown curls down to the little shining shoe-tips which peeped from under the grey skirt. Especially they dw

d in her own mind the life of the people who owned it. Maude ventured upon one or two conventional remarks, but her visitor was not to be diverted to the weather or to the slowness of the S

husband, Mr.

o you k

ous smile played across her face as she spoke

just after o

good little married man. Th

coldly. 'My own impression is t

course that would be yo

soul began to

e truth,'

hink so,' the other answered,

ery slightly if you can't

ave known him

yes, quite prepared to be very rude indeed to this eccentric woman who ventured to criticise her Frank in so free and easy a style. Her visitor watched her, and a change had come over her expression. Maude's evident anger seemed to

have such a warm littl

en them, and yet Maude felt that for some reason the conversation between them could not quite be upon equal terms. The quiet assurance of her visitor, whateve

him very m

love him. He

always

yourself. Don't

e's all right. Did you

not r

nk answer came naturally to them. It pleased her to lose that cold chill of dislike,

actually married the

iled and

I thought it only happened in

ry, very

ty. If ever you had a rival, I should think that it must be some conso

ghed at t

she. 'My husband never rea

n you were angry with me, but you are quite delightful with that little flush upon your cheeks. If I had been a man, your husband woul

s sensitive nature. She glanced up quickly and was surprised at the look of pai

of advice which I should like to give you, if you won't t

lfi

shness. People love each other, and they shut out the world, and have no thought for any one else, and the whole universe ca

speaking fast and hotly, like one whose bitter thoughts

ure never pays her debt. Remember the plain women. Remember the lonely women. Above all, remember your unfortunate sisters; they, the most womanly of all, who have been ruined by their own kindliness and trust and loving we

er forearm. In an instant Maude was by her side, the tears running down her cheeks, for the s

oothing, hesitating gesture over the coil of rich chestnut hair. 'Don't cry! I am afr

ration. She dashed her hand impatiently across her eyes, straightened

at, and arranged her hair with those quick little deft pats of the palm with which women can accomplish so much in so short a time. Rumpled fi

of myself. I don't err upon the sentimental side as a rule. I suppose it is about time that

th any woman I have ever met. How can it be? What bond can there be to draw us together like this? And it is the more extraordinary, because I felt that you disliked me when you entered the room, and I am sure that

it. But at the moment it came so naturally from her heart that she never paused to think of its oddity. Her enthusiasm was a little chi

I could ask you to visit me in London. I wanted to see you, a

in a way which it h

sh to see me, t

your husband. I thought it would be interes

appointed,' said Maude,

ry well-better

ch respect for

ys thought high

ut still I can see that you know the world very well. I often wonder if I am really

ttle at the gentle grace and dainty sy

is very highest. Don't be soft with him. Don't give way when you know that your way is the higher way. Pull him up, don't let him ever pull you down. Then his respect for you will

ion, that Maude glowed with pride and with pleasure. There was kn

say is true. I feel that that is what a wife should

or the love may soon follow it, even when duty keeps the man true. It is the commonest mistake which married women make. It has caused more unhappiness than any other. They do not realise it until it is too late. Be keenly watchful for your husband's wants and comforts. It is not the comfort but

feel that it is all so true.

u keep his love or not. And yet I don't know.' She suddenly put her arms round Maude, an

thering gloom along the vile, deeply-rutted road, which formed a short cut to The Lindens. Suddenly, with a sinking heart, he was aware of

ole

those tall hats and black overcoats make every

eart to do it! It is not for myself I speak, God knows. But to t

, there is nothing

ou been to

, I

seen

es

l th

athers of hers. You know you're not. And by Jove, Frankie, if you had stayed with me yesterday I should never have forgiven you-no, never! I'll resign in her favour. I will. But in no one else'

t-you have

the soonest mended. Give

He was wearing some withered flower in

d which leads to the station. A young golfer, getting in at Byfleet, was surprised to see a handsome woman weeping bitterly in the cor

o hear every detail about her. At first I thought she was mad, and then I thought she was odious, and then finally she seemed to be the very wisest and kindest woman that I had ever kno

ble, i

-oh! I can't repeat it-e

he is s

igh opinion o

she i

hat in a quiet, secret, retiring sort o

mes! I say, if we are going out for dinne

CHEY

he became keenly interested, and a passionate and unreasonable partisan. For Frederick and Cromwell and the other great issues her feelings were tolerant but lukewarm. But the great sex-questions of 'How did he treat her?' and of 'How did she stand it?' filled her with that eternal and personal interest with which they af

want you to ma

what

you gr

you when I hav

year ago you would have promis

ld married man now.

se me that you will

no, n

all

y and

swear

, I

That dear, good, helpful, little lady-it really made me

, th

castic and so unsympathetic. He never seemed to appreciate all that she did for him. He

and returned with a

hed the 'Life,' you

t is

or publication after her death, while he

e some one before whom it is not necessary to keep up appearances. Now, begin at

all liver and nerves, porridge-poisoned in his youth. No children to take the angles off them. Half a dozen little buffer states would have kept them at peace. However, to hark back to what I was about to say, he outlived her by

beside his knee

man? Why could not he show his love by kindn

udiced! And remember that no one has ever blamed Carlyle as bitter

ll,

r her death: "In about a week all was swept and garnished, fairly habitable; and continued incessantly to get itself polished, civilised, and beautified to a degree that surprised one. I have elsewhere alluded to all that, and to my little Jeannie's conduct of it; heroic, lovely, pathetic, mournfully beautiful as in the light of Eternity that little scen

tinate head

words,'

often taken in. Here's the heading of the next letter: "Mournfully beautiful is this letter to me, a clear little household light shining

hat. Yes, I do like him better

ll men the least likely to wear their hearts upon their sleeves; the other, that his mind was al

er lady, to be loving and thoughtful and sympathetic, it will be no consolation to me to know that you have written the grandest book that ever was. I should just hate t

s. Would you li

ere is anything I

w the Carlyles. Well, we could not spend a Saturday afternoon better, so if you will meet me to-morrow

hey treated themselves to one on the occasion of this, their little holiday. It is a delightful thing to snuggle up in, is a hansom; but in order to be really trim and comfortable one has to put one's arm round one's companion's waist. No one can obs

ght ahead of them was Chelsea Bridge, seen through a dim, soft London haze-monstrous, Cyclopean, giant arches springing over a vague river of molten metal, the whole

ckney, 'but I thought that maybe the lidy would like to see Mr. Carlyle's s

e and plain-an old man in a dressing-gown, with homely wornout boots, a book upon his knee, his eyes and thoughts far aw

, 'small as it is, I think

so na

usiasm which adequate work should cause. That old man, with his head shamefully defiled by birds, was a positive joy to hi

her one

n Trafalg

locks-to think that we could do no better than that for them

hested, dim-windowed houses stood in a line-theirs wedged in the middle of them. A poor medallion with a profile head of him had been clumsily let into the w

d the cheery matron. 'One shilling each-thank you, sir. F

od-panelled hall. In front of them rose the stairs wit

d then that they hobbled and limped down them, old and weary and broken, and now both dead and gone for ever, and the stairs standing, the very rail

Maude. 'I can feel that there have been sorrow a

hall. And so at her summons they followed her into the long, low, quaint room in which this curious couple had lived their everyd

e that he smoked his

the fi

e room. He often at night took hi

ving you into

g was looked upon much les

,' said the matron. 'This is consi

f passion both for good and evil in the keen, alert features. Just beside her was the

ar!' sai

she was from the north of the Tweed. 'He was gey ill to live wi'

, without window or skylight, openin

't ima

ss that they just had a room for nothing else. There was a hole in the door, and the man put his

agi-comedies within these walls. Wigs! Only the dressy people wore wigs. So people of fashion in the days of the early Georges trod these

ad passed up the stair, 'used to be

sofa,' sa

a that is mentione

f. And that, I suppose, is the screen. She was a great housekeeper-brought up a spoiled child, ac

en he died-something about the kings of Norw

't rea

e book has never been published. Those are the portrait

ther of the frog-like features of Frederick William, the half-mad recruiter of the big Potsdam grenadiers. W

they missed what we have got-what perhaps that good woman who showed us round has got-the only thing, as it seems to me, t

n said than that. Well, thank God, we have that anyhow!' And he kissed his wife, while six g

recount all the great men-'the other great men, as Maude said, half chaffing and half earnest-who had looked through

e past to think of the love which had written them, and that other love which had so carefully preserved them. On one was written: 'All good attend my darling through this gulf of time and through the long ocean it is leading to. Amen. Amen. T. C.' On another, dated 1850, and attached evidently to some birthday presen

bedroom,' sai

d Frank. It looked bare and gaunt a

plained. 'It's the same bed that Mrs. Carlyle talks about

ll it to pieces

ot inquir

m out. A cleaner woman than Mrs. Carlyle never came out of Scotland. This little room behind

hed upon one of the panes with a diamond

windows in this house, and painted

7th,

he?' as

as so gentle in her bearing that every one always took it for g

g aristocrat who had never done a strok

on was s

s you say

indow so, if he were not of the family? And why should he be so proud of his work, unless work was a new and wondrous thing to him. To paint

' said the matron. 'Now this, up here, is Carlyle's own room, in which he sle

on, half-bored and half-sympathetic, waited for them to move on. It was an aquiline face, very different from any picture which they had seen, sunken cheeks, an old man's toothless mouth,

be only equalled by Napoleon and by Gladstone. That'

eve that the true Thomas Carlyle without the dyspepsia, and the true Jane Wel

, I do hope that it is so! How dear death w

marriage nor giving in marriage,' said she, shaking her head. 'This is the spare bedroom, sir, whe

had ended in being unendurably hot in summer, impossibly cold in winter, and so constructed acoustically that it reverberated every sound in the neighbourhood. For once even his wild and whirling words could hardly match the occasion-not all his kraft sprach

'He had them all sent through to him from Glasgow.

k. It at least of all quill pens might rest content with having done

'This is a little bit of t

e only copy to a friend, an

"Well, Mill, poor fellow, is very much cut up about this." There is Carlyle at his best. A

sir,' said

ined work. 'Do not pity me,' said he; 'forward me rather as a runn

t of a crowing cock. How infinitely complex is the human soul-how illimitably great and how pitiably small! Now, if ever

clamation which h

serene plaster face down yonder gave force to the brave words

pottery seat upon which the unphilosophic philosopher had smoked his pipe-a singularly cold and uncomfortable perch. And here was where Mrs. Carlyle had tried to build a tent and to

weakness of humanity comes to break, for an instant, the routine of their constant labour, so limited in their hopes and in their pleasures, they are of all folk upon this planet those for whom a man's heart may most justly soften. So said Frank as he gazed around him in the dark-cornered room.

't have stood

quite shaken off the gloom of that dark, ghost-haunted house. 'After all, you are only twenty-seven,' she remar

then,

-seven I don't suppose he kne

on't sup

ere married then-woul

do

have I that you won

wh

out a secon

they turned laughing into their

NOTE OF

ntrated as before. That little pink thing with the blinking eyes will divert some of the love and some of the attention, and the very trouble which its coming has caused will set its mother's heart yearning over it. Not so the man. Some vague resentment mixes with his pride of paternity, and his w

was a nightmare-an actual nightmare which brought him up damp and quivering in those gray hours of the dawn, when dark shadows fall upon the spirit of man. He had a steady nerve for that which affected himself, a nerve which would keep him quiet and motionless in a dentist's chair, but what philosophy or hardihood can stee

holidays now, I think it would be a very good thing for you to accept tha

ed at her

t! N

ar, now-

w of al

bsolute obvious candour which a woman nev

thought it would brace you up f

the week

me so, if I knew that yo

form I am in. But in any cas

could g

easily

n do

you at su

you would

ude, I should never forgive myself. S

or my

gh, Maude. I

thud this time. With a curious double current of feeling, she was pleased and disappointed

you know best, and I should much rather have you

n it. She tried here, she tried there, through a friend, through her mother, but Frank was still immovable. The ordeal coming upon herself never disturbed her for an instant. But the thought that Frank would suffer was unendurable. She put herself in

home to her, but he, at her side, knew nothing of

t eaten anyt

k, I am n

after yo

thought of st

are n

keep very quiet until next week,

y give ten years of my li

think it would be wiser i

yes,

che. Nothing to speak

ordan had better give

you like. You might call as yo

t there. She had written a note for Frank the moment that he had left the house, and he found both it and a conspiracy of s

disturbed rest, but I will send down to you when I feel better. Until then I had best, perhaps, remain alone. Mr. Harrison sent round to say tha

have been the same sound. The hall and dining-room seemed unhomely without the bright welcoming face. He wandered about in a discontented fashion upon his tiptoes, and th

Harrison,' said h

whistle

ot

sturbed. We expect that next week. Come in here and smoke a

g back for

is some one moving about upstairs. It must be that heavy-footed Jemima. I hope

you, I've just had some tea. You look wor

hat can I do? I never knew how a man's nerves may be harrowed before. And she is such a sa

t, t

it was to occur-tried to get me out of the house on one pretext or another until it was all over. That was her plot, and, by Jove, she tried it so cleverly that she would have managed it if something had not put me on my guard. She was a little too eager

pretty guileless, Crosse,

ant that my instincts would not tell me when she had need of me. But none the less it

gs up too much. Your health will break down under it. After all, it

think

go to the City some fine morning, and when

t she first seems bad I will never stir from the house. For all she may say, I

know that it

ghed incr

ou think from your experience, Harrison

It soon

do you mea

ere six hours

k wiped his forehead. 'They

the garden. That's the tip. Keep on doing s

Well, perhaps it's my imagination. I dare say that my nerves are a bit strung up these days. But that is a capital idea of yours about having

son l

ulbs, and pot them then. By the way, I'll go round and get the others. Don'

se somewhere. It was a low sound, but persistent, coming in burst after burst. He took the rake and jabbed with the handle amongst the laurel bushes under their bedroom window. The beast might waken Maude, and so it was worth some trouble to

eavy boots over his head, there was no fear that he could do any harm. And yet she had said that she would ring or send word the moment she could see him, and so perhaps he had better wait where he was. He put his head out of the window and cried 'Shoo!' into the laurel bushes several times. Then he sat in the armch

the out-hou

he out

e sideboard, or in the coal-scuttle, or where yo

But Frank suddenly sp

nfernal kitten isn't s

fingers, and the whole limb giving circular waves, as if the owner were cheering lustily at his own successful arrival. 'Here am I, good people, hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!' cried the waving hand. Then as the slit in the shawl widened Frank saw that behind the energetic fist there was a huge open mouth

What'

e b

Whose

aby, of

ere-where di

an burst ou

rosse, your wife has been bad all day, but she's all right now, and here's your s

aring all his fears and forebodings away upon its crest, have dropped upon his knees in prayer. But prayer comes not from the knee but from the heart, and the whole strength of his nature breathed itself o

impatiently. 'I

t you take

she s

five minutes wo

e nurse who met him at the corner looks back on it as the escape of her lifetime. Maude lay i

ra

ear sweet

you, Frank? Tell me

is nature, fell suddenly to nothing, and Frank dropped with his head beside the white face upon the pillow, and lay with his arm across the woman whom he loved, and

had better go

, blushing hotly in his clumsy English f

done you an injustice. Meanwhile your son is about to be dr

ongst the laurels. Above he heard the shuffling of feet, the murmur of voices, and then amid it all those thin glutinous cries, his voice, the voice of this new man with all a man's possibilities for good and for evil, who had taken up his dwelling with them. And as he listened to those cries, a gentle sadne

E

er to the Author fro

on you say that in some ways it differs from any other baby. It is so true, but neither Frank nor I can imagine how you k

ou cannot think what a dear he is-but because he may wake up at any moment. After that happens I can only write with one hand, while I wave a feather fan with the other, and it is so difficult then to say exactly what you mean. In any case you know that I

l way of waving his fists. Then one eye is half opened, as if he were looking round to see if it were safe to open the other one, and then he gives a long, sorrowful wail as he realises that his bottle is not where he left it when he went to sleep. In a moment he is in my arms and quite happy again, playing with the lace round the neck of my pink dressing-gown. When he finds that his nice warm bath is all ready for him, he becomes quite jovial, and laughs and chuckles to himself. Something awfully funny must have happened to him before ever he came into this world at all, for nothing that has occurred since could account for the intense expression of amusement that one can often see in his eyes. When he laughs, Frank says that he lo

he bottle is not instantly forthcoming he will howl loudly, and beat the air with his fists until he gets it. He does remind me so of his father sometimes. He is always hunting for his bottle, and will seize my finger, or a bit of my dress, or anything, and carry it to his mouth, and when he finds it isn't what he wants, he throws it away very angrily. When finally he does get the bottle, he becomes at once the most contented being in the whole world, and sucks away with such great long pulls, and such dear little grunts in between. Then afterwards, a well-washed, well-fed atom, he is ready

it can never have looked into a baby's eyes. I love to watch them, and sometimes fancy I can see a faint shade of reminiscence in them, as if he had still some memories o

e Cr

t I may say, in case I omitted it before,

A. Constable, Prin

burgh Unive