Robert Falconer

e subject, or rather object of my book, I will now record a fact which may serve to set forth his views more clearly. I gained a knowledge of some of the circumstances, not merely from

ion. And I would there were more of it. Only something better is coming instead of it-a recognition of the infinite brotherhood in Christ. All other relations, all attempts by churches, by associations, by secret societies-of Freemasons and others, are good

weet old bat,' was another epithet of Lady Georgina's. But she came to see her, notwithstanding, and did not refuse to share in her nice little dinners, and least of all, when Fal

ay be drawn from the person of Lady Georgina. She was at least as tall as Mary St. John, and very handsome-only with somewhat masculine features and expression. She had very sloping shoulders and a long neck, which too

for their virtues. If she had ever been humbled, and thence taught to look up, she might by this time have been a grand woman, worthy of a great man's worship. She patronized Miss St. John, considerably to her amusement, and nothing to her indigna

have made him her master, if he had cared for such a distinction; but nothing she could say attracted more than

Miss St. John was far from explicit, for she had no desire for such assistance as Lady Georgina's. What motives next led her to seek the interview I am

ore capacity than had ever been exercised, and was of a large enough nature to have grown sooner weary of trifles than most women of her class. She might have been an

ew world seemed to open before her longing gaze-a world, or a calenture, a mirage? for would she cross the 'wandering fields of barren foam,' to reach the green grass that did wave on the far shore? the dewless desert to rea

had plenty of good-breeding, and she trusted to her position i

into his sitting-room without even asking her name. She found him at his piano, apologized, in her fashionable drawl, for inte

to you, Mr. Falconer. Indeed it appears strange to

er to yourself, Miss-I beg your pardon; I know we ha

the visitor carelessly, hiding wh

ed. Lady Geo

sk, notwithstanding the natural desire to stand well in the opinio

e retreat of the sentence. Falconer bowed a

use me, Mr. Falconer-I cannot help thinking that you know more of

ies the possession of any secret which is not common property, I fear

ly some secret every

misunder

d, but the gilding is worn off. Life looks bare, ugly, uninteresting. I ask you to tell me whether there is any reality in it

ns whose very countenances prove that they

heir minds on the subject. Their satisfaction may only be that they have not tried to rub the varnis

ng, it is better it

eems such no longer, without consenting that it must and shall be so. Allow me to add, for my own sake, that I speak from the bitterness o

f the fact can only spring from harmony with that truth. It is not to be known save by absolute contact with it; and the

t.' But aware at once, with the fine instinct belonging to her mental organization, that she was thus shutting t

e. You are, and must remain, the sole j

just what I

of Falconer-that I believe she must have suspected what her duty

t dire

indicate the direction in which she w

ch to choose. The lower strata of society, you know, Mr. Falconer-so many channels! I want the advice of a man of ex

to give advice

Falco

. I subscribe to no so

u-people will talk, you know-are all inventions. They say you

chever you please. Whatever

at my own disposal: a gentleman who is his own steward, would find his labours

own, and of that I have quite as much as I can properly manage. It is f

e-hair furniture, its ragged array of books on the wall, its side-table littered with pamphlets he never re

think even this dingy old room an absolute palace of comfort.-But,' he added, checking himself, as

hough slight shadow crossing the disc of her resolution. 'I only meant it,' she went on, 'as a step towards

pa

to state the propo

culty as to the proper form in which to express her o

your efforts for the elevation

ny such efforts

.' If they knew how Falconer had to beware of the forwardness and annoyance of well-meaning women, they would not

orgina was trying to swallow a lum

ons with individual

me,' she said. 'Surely there are things a woman might be useful in that a man

whole person what numen abode in th

ly, you know. I will be a sis

on the garment of condescension, the most unchristian virtue attributed to Deity or saint? Could you-I must be plain with you, Lady Georgina, for this has nothing to do with the forms of so-called society-could your temper endure the mortifications of low opposition and misrepresentation of motive and end-wh

rgina wa

usions from which they could not protect themselves? Would you be in no danger of finding personal refuge in the horrid fancy, that these are but the slimy borders of humanity where it slides into, and is one with bestiality? I could show you one fearful baboon-like woman, whose very face makes my nerves shudder: could you believe that woman might one day become a lady, beautiful as yourself, and therefore minister to her? Would you not be tempted, for the sake of your own comfort, if not for the pride of your own humanity, to believe that, like untimely blossoms, these must fall from off the boughs of the tre

ent. Falconer's eloquence h

re my duty led me, and to sit down upon a stone in the street, so ill that I was in danger of being led away as intoxicated, only the policeman happened to know me. Twice

She confessed it afterwards to Miss St. John.

imself had to be thirty years in the world before he had footing enough in it to justify him in beginning to teach publicly: he had been laying the needful founda

Lady Georgina asked, more to break the awkwardness

relations to each other, and they talk about each other to me as if I were one of themselves, which I hope in God I am. I have been amongst them a good many years now, and shall probably spend my life amongst them. When I went first, I was repeatedly robbed; now I should hardly fear to carry another man's property. Two years ago I had my purse taken, but next morning it was returned, I do not know by whom: in fact it was put into my pocket again-every coin, as far as I could judge, as it left me. I seldom pretend to teach them-only now and then drop a word of advice. But possibly, before I die, I may speak to them in public. At present I avoid all attempt at organization of any sort, and as far as I see, am likely of all things to avoid it. What I want is first to be their friend, and then to be at length recognized as such. It is only in rare cases that I seek the acquaintance of any of them: I let it come naturally. I bide my

rstand you,' falt

the floor on which her eyes had rested all

uty? What is the thing

is just to determine what your next duty is.-Is there nothing you neglect? Is there nothing you know you ought

gh, 'I suppose it is something very commonplace, which wi

It will soon lead you to something more. Your duty will begin to comfort you

espair, looked at Falconer through ey

is. And the futility of everything is embittered by the consciousness th

them. You were not made for such things. They cannot fill your

akes me feel ill. I used to

e nothing more?" Concluding there was nothing more, and

ainting, modelling, reading-whatever I have trie

rgina, if you are not in harmony w

o you

ugh then, Lady Georgina. It is this that the Brahmin and the Platonist seek; it is this that the mystic and the anchorite sigh for; towards this the teaching of the greatest of men would lead us: Lord Bacon himself says, "Nothing can fill, much less extend the soul of man, but God, and the contemplation of God." It is Lif

ndescribable good, which so

atically. 'I should have said-"which so few

me how I am to find it; for I suppose there must

I could giv

is why I ca

ve you help. Go and a

more pl

f you call to him. If there be a father, he will

't know wh

nly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him!" But I wish you would read your New Testament-the Gospels I mean: you are not in the least fit to understand the Epistles yet.

coner too was moved. She held out her hand to him, and wit

ok her with her in some of her walks among the poor. By degrees she began to do something herself after a quiet modest fashion. But within a few years, probably while so engaged, she caught a fever from which she did not recover. It was not till after her death tha