Michael

part from those immediately connected with his work had worn a very shadow-like aspect. He had, it is true, written with some regulari

realised that there was nothing in detail about those things that could possibly interest her, and that nothing except them really interested him. She on

seemed to be independent of all that was not directly connected with it. But a letter which he received next morning from his mother stated, in addition to the fact that Petsy had another of her tiresome bilious attacks (poor lamb), that his father and she thought it right that he should come down to Ashbridge for Christmas. It conveyed the sense that at this joyful season a truce, probably limite

so then, and sequentially he remembered with a pang of self-reproach that he had not as much as indicated his presence in London to Aunt Barbara, or set eyes on her since their meeting in August.

e cordial. And I wish to meet some of your nice friends. Ask one or two, please-a prima donna of some kind and a pianist, I think. I want them weird and original-the prima donna

a was late, and came in talking rapidly about the various causes that had detained her, which her fruitful imagination had suggested to her as she dressed. In order, perhaps, to suit herself to the circle in which she would pass the evening, she had put on (or, rather, it looked as if her maid had thrown at her) a

side the door, "but Og had so much to say, and there was a bl

enough, but infinitely worse was she who was to have been the full-blown barmaid. Instead was this magnificent girl, nearly as tall as her brother, with her small oval face crowning the column of her neck, her eyes merry, her mouth laughing at some brotherly retort that Hermann had just ma

tremor in his voice; "and Mr. Hermann Falbe, Lady Barbara Je

it: shook hands in her jolly m

pected-but there were to be spectacles and velveteen coats and the general air of an afternoon concert at Clapham Junction. But it is nice to be made such a fool of. I feel precisely like an elderly and sour governess who h

and Aunt Barbara could not help enla

upposed you were leading some obscure kind of existence. Instead of which I find this sort of thing. My dear, what good soup! I shall see if I can't induce your cook to leave you. But

Mr. Falbe,"

yet. I may have to revise what I

got into his carriage as the train was

ylvia, "which was worse. Bu

ived the day before we left f

e I get. But in the interval

giving him music lessons. Mike, hav

are Variations?"

s you think about on the piano, Aunt Barbara, wh

Will Mr. Falbe play t

he can. But I though

ordinary music, because the person who made it doesn't matter to me. But

turned t

ve for something I have

don't gi

't tell you

never looked at anybody except her friends; if she was engaged in conversation with a m

ve you leave if otherwise I shan't know what you h

the Variations t

ushed wit

rling of you," she said. "Hav

'll all

he Variations are mine

at, she knew, had never been characteristic of Michael; indeed, it would not have been far from the truth to say that the fact that he was talking to a girl was sufficient to make his countenance wear an expression of polite boredom. Then for a while, as dinner progressed, she doubted the validity of her conclusion, for the Michael who was entertaining her to-night was wholly different from the Michael she had known and liked and pitied. She felt that she did not know this new one yet, but she was certain that she liked him, and equally sure that she did not pity him at all. He had found his place, he had found his work; he evidently fitted into his life, which, after all, is the surest ground of happiness, and it might be that it w

ave borne better than Baireuth, and when Mr. Falbe asks me there I shall probably go. Your Uncle To

nich for a day during them. He

k to him, I supp

In fact, he talked too much, because I

came infinitely

Michael," she said. "

gland, Ashbridge, armies, navies, music.

, his attitud

iendly, and most inquisitive. I was never

suddenly tu

asked. "Were yo

rbara. I had

turalised Engli

am Ge

wiftly off

defensive measure, you must observe, because even if I talked it quite slowly they would understand just as little. But they think it is the pace that stupefies them, and they leave me in a curious, dazed condition. And now Miss Falbe and I

Barbara's intentions, for she chiefly wan

she said as they settled themselves fo

t entirely with her eyes, using her mouth only when it

tell you for certain that Hermann and I are both very fond of him, b

en you-for I imagine it is you who have done it-between you you have m

ecame qu

s us," she said. "He i

ara

t. But then, as I said, Michael hadn't flowered. No one understood him, or was interested. Then he

," said she. "His father

you would know that the only things he a

s out to the blaze, warming

s-" she began. "Ah, I call

t time," remarked Barbara.

"There is nothing so awful as to speak of people formally to their faces, and i

ael alway

s THERE, if you know what I mean, and so few people are there. They walk about your life,

ful of appearing inquisitive about Sylvia's impression of Michael, wh

e idle people who have leisure to look at themselves in the glass and pose. And I feel

a little,"

ing you have said. I somehow fe

ara sudde

u, who drove London crazy with delight last

a lau

she said. "Isn't it dreadful to hav

own again, in a so

t, so don't deny it, and having humourously told Michael I wished to see a prima donna and a pianist, he takes me at my word and produces THE Miss Falbe. I'm glad I knew that in time; I should infallibly have ask

a lau

ara," she said. "When we met I couldn't h

the impression that you were a tremendous swell. You didn't. I

good enough for

ly became engrossed in reading the finished Variations. Some

ead what I could remember of a variation out of the Handel theme. That next one's, oh, great

ies, and she had a moment's cold horror at the thought of Falbe having said so miserably tactless a thing to him. But t

," he said. "I know you'

d to the p

id. "If Lady Barbara won't mind, pla

row that you can't hear anything else afterwards. Do sing, M

Miss Falbe," she said. "I am suffering from s

master's accompaniment he was perfectly sure that he preferred, if possible,

for you, Miss Sy

ou? Thanks,

n move

ra while Lord Comber plays for Miss Sylvia,

ing boldness

then,"

ael," answered t

the left of the pian

e going to have

both know, for I've bro

ght at their house. He knew it perfectly by heart, but stumbled a little over the difficult syncopated time.

you've got it." And Michael smiled s

ttle indication, as she had done before, but for the most part her fingers rested immobile on his shoulder, and he seemed to understand her perfectly. Somehow this was a surprise to him; he had not known that Michael possessed that sort of second-sight that unerringly feels and tra

said when the song was over. "W

shyness, as if he had been surpri

efore for Miss-I mean

urned to

said. "And I'm greedy.

cital in the summer, had grown in significance to him, even as she had. It had seemed part of her the

the fireplace at the end of

self. And she lays it on pretty thick, too, doesn't she? Now, Sylvia, if you've fin

we've got it? If Hermann once sits down, you know, we shan't get him away for the re

ook his sister by the shoulder

t come away from that piano, I shall take Sylvia home at once. Now you may all talk as much

omething that should tax his powers, and he gave a great crash of laughter when for a moment Hermann was brought to a complete standstill in an octave

ow to read that," he shouted.

asked you to read

rs-yes, I see. An orang-outang apparently can do it, so why not I? Am I not much better than they? Go away, please; or, rather, stop there and tur

o was evoked again. Then the little dirge wept for the memories of something that had never happened, and leaving out the number he disapproved of, as reminiscent of the Handel theme, Hermann gathered himself u

st chord, and jumped up from h

must all have been in you before. And you've come to the age you are without letting any of it out. I suppose that's why it has come with a rush. You knew it all along,

two off, Michael came upstairs again to Aunt Bar

id. "No wonder you had not time to come and see me. Do they alw

sank int

st think what it means to me! He's going to play my tune

him in the train?"

ion, with Sylvia on the platform.

e as to what his reception would be. She would hardly have said so plainly that she and her brother were devoted to him if she had been devoted to him with that secret tenderness which, in its essentials, is reticent about itself. Her half-hour's conversation with the girl had given her a certain insight into her; still more had her attitude

she said. "What are

cal heaven, while her brother, seven years her senior, had spent his time in earning in order to give her the chance which she had so brilliantly taken. Now it was

German?"

a toy soldier? But that's the natu

olled to th

entirely English, and then a word slips from him like that, which shows he is entir

chair a little neare

ear about th

was tremendously friend

med to you re

l cons

he said. "It all seemed to m

ities of questions,

t pheasants, and spent the afternoon in a steam launch, apparently studying the deep-water channel o

did not hee

Harwich," she asked, "of which th

ter the concert there was the torchlight proces

there. W

Michael. "But what are yo

silent a

n valet, and when he went down to Portsmouth the other day to see the American ship that was there, he took him with him. And the man took

el th

ing away all day," he said. "He

arked Aunt Barbara drily. "Really, for childish simp

o you

endly, Michael? Do you know, for instance, what is a very common toast in German regimental messes? They do not drink it when there are foreigners the

Day,'" said Mic

'Der Tag' will dawn suddenly from a quiet, peaceful night, when they think we are all as

seen his aunt so serious, an

s God and as deep as the sea. They are working, working, while our toy soldiers play golf. I agree with that adorable pianist; and, what's more, I believe they think that 'Der Tag' is

ood with Michael

hat they may be astoundingly wrong. The fact of the great foreign peril-this nightmare, this Armageddon of European war-may be exactly that which will pull us together. But their diplomatists, anyhow, are studying the Irish question very closely, and German gold, without any doubt at all, is helping the Home Rule party. As a nation we are fast asleep. I wonder what we shall be like when we

the Emperor-"

ip. He has a great eye for detail, too; it seemed to him worth while to assure you even, my dear Michael, of his regard and affection for England. He was always impressi

of her. She had the quality of mind which when occupied with one idea is occupied with it to the exclusio

him. You see, I am such a chatterbox that people think I let out things by accident, which I never do. I let out what I want to let out on purpose, and they think they are pumping me. I had a long conversation the other day with one of the German Embassy, all about Irish a

ing of the kind

olf. But I expect you'll be too busy thinking about that new friend of yours, and perhaps his sister. What did she tell me we had got to do? 'To her garlands let us bring,' was it not? You and I will both send wreaths, Michael, though not for her funeral. Now don'