Afterwards

a vision of blue, set in the fronds of a palm, and listeni

of Englishwomen, "that, I know you are tasting the luxury of a contrast. T

nd was stung with the remembrance of a young wife swathed in the dreary f

ries in the smoking-room, after a long day on the purple heather; and she did her best for Bertie at some watering-place, much frequented on account of its railway facilities and economical lodgings. Letters of invitation had generally a polite reference to his wife-"If Mrs. Trevor can accompany you I shall be still more delighted"-but it

"Mrs. Trevor is a hopelessly quiet person

Theosophist then, it's two years ago-was too amusing for

of Theosophy, and looked quite horrified

aid to me. So I changed to skirt dancing, an

ing remains but religion and the nursery. Why

sphere, that he was a brilliant man wedded to a dull wi

wife's face in its perfect refinement and sw

, beside women in spectacles who wrote on the bondage of marriage, and lead

her last letter; now

have a map of the Riviera, and found out all the places you have visited in the yacht; and we tried to imagine you sailing on that azure sea, and landing among those silver olives. I am so grateful to every one for being kind to you, and I hope you will enjoy yourself to the full. Bertie is a little stronger, I'm sure; his cheeks were quite rosy to-day for him. It was his birthday on Wednesday, and I gave him a little treat The sun was shining brightly in the forenoon

men write!' for it is almost the same as speaking to you, and I sh

name, for this comes w

devote

d Tr

rest; the doctor does not think that ther

siness ought not to be allowed to enter Paradise. Let's hope it's pleasure; perhaps s

, I suppose. Some millionaire's will case, and the Attorney-General ca

main here over Christmas at any rate, and help us with our theatricals.

g-car, but the thought of comfort made him wince on this journey, and he twice changed his carriage, once when an English party would not cease from badinage that mocked his ears, and again because a woman had brown eyes with her expression of dog-lik

addening regularity, each time with a larger trunk. One had X. Y. on it in big white letters. Why not Z. also? Who could have such a name? That is

of the gangway. They look like Bretons, and that fellow is laughing

ever to start? We're ha

ing up bags; so many people at Riviera in

hing always happened, an engagement of pleasure. There was a h

utiful, and you are an example to us all; but Mrs. Trevor will ex

er hand for a letter, to let it drop unopened, and bury her face in the pillow? Had she died waiting for a letter that never came? Those letters that he wrote from the Northern Circuit in tha

t it was, and what a success! He would be his own letter one day, and take her by surprise. "A letter, ma'am," the girl said-quite a homely girl, who shared their little joys and anxieties-and then h

r, and sees the guard trying to find a compartm

the station hearing, what an inconvenience it would h

w, and it's very important we should

t year? Yet he used to be angry if he were made late for dinner. They come into his

eter's at Rome. Her first visit to the Continent, evidently; it reminded them of a certain tour round the Lakes in '80, and she withdrew her hand from

aring on the bleak landscap

lf, but it has made me young again," and she said "Edward." Were

, M.P. for Pedlington, has been made a

clever fellow, I've heard. Do you know about hi

juries cannot resist him, a man told me-a kind heart goes

ndy? No? The passage was a little rough,

peace, and he drank

nd saving, for a seat meant society and the

he cage when he made his first s

you do everything well, and your wifi

the foolishness of love, dear, so don't look cross; y

w? There's no station. Did e

ly were conscious, and he could a

, he had nothing to declare; would they let him

r kneeling on the floor and packing that portmant

kle the straps even; but he insisted on doing that It gave him

things. 'I'll come to-morrow

a long stretch of open, glistening asphalt, hating unto murder the immovable drivers whose huge vans blocked his passage. If they had k

eyes to catch the first glimpse of home. Had it been day-time the

.. have mercy... then the blood came back to his

ill be well. Some one had been watching, for the door was

and beckoned him to

rds, and yet he heard the driver demanding his fare, and noticed that the doctor had been reading the e

long; with any other woman it would have been this mor

ever had; it was"-the doctor hesitated-a peremptory Scotchman hid

a side table, which took some time, he sat down opposite that

ve your mind; and Mrs. Trevor said you would wish to know, and I must

etfulness passed words; she thought of every one except herself; why, one of the last things she did was to give directions about

be sent for; but she pledged me not to write; you needed your

d unselfishness; how you wished her to go w

d I had Sir Reginald at once. We agreed that recovery

ginald said, 'Certainly; that woman has no fear, for she ne

nald came back himself unasked to-day, because he remembered a restorative that might sustain the failing strength. She thanked him so sweetly that he was quite sha

and only asked when you would arrive. 'I want to say

ng to do, and I was here nearly all day, for I

e and rest as the only chance; but she had your pho

she was sleeping; but she missed them, and we had to

I see; it is simply tortu

. let me recollect... No, I am not hiding anythi

detect the postman's ring. Once a letter came, and she insisted upon seeing it in cas

ex yourself; but I believe a letter would have

er at four full of hope. 'Two hours more and he'll be h

had come, and she said, 'It's

d him out-for he was weeping bitterly, poor little chap-she whispered to me to get a sheet of pa

nd, and so you will. She turned her face to the door and lay quite still till about six, when I hear

e was still on her face. It was the first time she did not colour with joy at his coming, that

etter and read it

are

rget me. My locket with your likeness I would like left on my heart. You will never know how much I have loved you, for I could never speak. You have been very good to me, and I want you to know that I am grateful; but it is better perhaps that I should die, for I might hinder you in

n, and he flung himself down by the

before; but now it i

t not because we do not love,