Beatrice Boville and Other Stories

Mechlin, Earlscourt and I, had been there six weeks. His brother peers-of who

rightly as a schoolboy. "Well, my dear fellow, you might have gone highe

ittle what any one thought or said. We all of us enjoyed that six weeks. Lady Mechlin lost to her heart's content at roulette, and was as complacent over her losses as any old dowager could be. Beatrice Boville shone best, as nice natures ever do, in a sunny atmosphere; and if she had any faults of impatient temper or pride, there was nothing to call them forth. Earlscourt, cold politician though he'd been, gave himse

g with some French ministers on some international project which h

zing, I dare say," said the old lady, whos

for he was a man who felt more than he told. He could not see her, and went through the rooms till he found her, which was in a small anteroom alone.

has anything

im with her ha

nnot tell you

tell me!

son. It is nothing of import to you, or yo

you is of import to me. To whom should you tell anythi

e reproof to a fractious child to suit B

nly of me if you can impute an

hat anything but concealment? If any one has offended or insulted you, I ought to be the first you c

ariability Earlscourt hardly understood, for it was utterly opposed to his own character

right to know? You might look into my heart; there would be no thought or feeling there I should wish to keep f

her a litt

onor, as I believe in my own, I should part from yo

m no longer worthy of your love; withdraw it, and I will never complain. But trust me you must and will

her eyes long

before mine. I trust you, Beatrice, ful

le as a lamb; mistrusted or misjudged, she was fiery as a young lioness, and Earlscourt, I thought, though originally won by her intellect, held her too much as a child to fully understand her character, and to see that, though she was his darling and plaything, she was also a passionate, ardent, proud-spi

e compelled all the rest of the family, to show Beatrice strict courtesy, disliked her, because she was not an advantageous match, was much too young in t

eason why it sh

dear Earlscourt, I could congratulate you more warmly; but

te myself, it matters very little whether you do or do not," sm

Mr. Boville, Beatrice's father. Do you know that he was in a West India regiment, but was deprived of his comm

that is but little, for Lady Mechlin took her long ago, when her moth

ittle too fr

irtue of your sex, but it is one, thank God! which she possesses in a rare de

rge into indiscretion,"

nk, for she has always the memory of silly th

you will wish your wife to be, that perhaps Beatrice might be, in pure insouciance, a little too careless, a little too candid for so prominent a position as she will occ

alous temperament, nor a curious one; his mind was too constantly occupied with great projects and ambitions to be capable of joining p

one of her acquaintances-probably one of mine also. I should have thought

ught you, of all men, would w

cant to rouse him before, but at this o

me. Unless you can mention her in terms of proper respect and reverence, never presume to speak he

to Beatrice, simply because Lady Clive had decided long ago that her brother was too voué to public life ever to marry, and that her son would succeed to his title. She was

, and he watched her unobserved, and smiled at the idea of associating anything deceitful with her-smiled still more at the idea when she came up to him, with her frank, bright, regard, lifting her face for a caress,

she said, laughingly. "Your sis

ng, perhaps, because she had decided for me that I should never do

ne reason; but she does not

ughed at her where, with her, he had better have admitted the truth. Beatrice had too much pr

thought you too proud to suppose

truth, ne

; but if you and I do n

sure you or myself by a few stops higher or lower in the social ladder. Your sister thinks me below you in rank, soit! She is right; I am quite ready to admit it; but that I am yo

to pieces and flung them away. Another time he would have thought how well her pride became her, and given her some fond reply. Just now the thorn rankl

al as long as your heart was mine, your mind as noble, a

ith the first indignant loo

ight say kno

'know,' and meant

Why am I less worthy your conf

she could scarcely have so soon forgotten their scene in the anteroom the previous night. They had now come into the salon; he left h

tten what we said in the anteroom last night. Nothing assumed e

ill the rings he had giv

eaven, how dare you s

child, Beatrice. When you are

her eyes, but she wo

day; I did not remember when I asked you. Had I done so I should never have simulated ignorance and surprise. Only last night you promised to trust me. Is this your trust, to ac

them; he only saw her indignant attitude, her flushed cheeks,

liation, sparring one moment and caresses the next. My life is one of grave pursuits and feverish ambitions; I am often harassed, annoyed, worn out in body and mind. What I hoped for from you w

rds touched her heart. Her passion was always short-lived, and no evil spirit possessed her long. She rebelled agains

nows, to make your life happy will be my only thought

nowledge error was worth fifty unerring and unr

sion!" And as he drew her to him and felt her soft warm lips on his, he thought, half uneasily yet

. Ce n'est que le premier pas qui co?te in quarrels as in all else. Dispute once, yo