Tales and Fantasies

hen he met his son, buckrammed with immortal anger; he asked after Dick's health, and discussed the weather and the crops with an appalling

nd now of slipping forth at night and coming back no more to Naseby House. He suffered from the sight of his father, nay, even from the neighbourhood of this familiar valley, where every corner had its legend, and he was besieged with memories of childhood. If he fled into a new land, and among none but strangers, he might escape his destiny, who knew? and begin again light-heartedly. From that chief peak o

shone brightly, and the air smelt of the pines and the grass. On a stone under the trees sat a young lady sketching. We have learned to think of women in a sort of symbolic transfiguration, based on clothes; and one of the readiest ways in which we conceive our mistress is as a composite thing, principally petticoats. But humanity has triumphed over clothes; the look, the touch of a dress has become

said, taking off his h

'for my own amusement

rned Dick. 'Besides, it's a freemasonry. I sk

at?' sh

am no very difficult critic; and second,

h both her hands. 'Oh no,

gh no artist myself, I have known many; in Paris I ha

eap of light into her eyes. 'Di

e not the Admiral's

ied. 'Oh, how nice, how nice of them! It is

Dick, some

nded pride, 'why it is I do not choose to show my sketch. Van Tromp's daughter! The

ten; we were even intimate. He m

ughing, 'that my father was a plainer man, whom I could help-to whom I could be a credit; but onl

em,' returned Dick; 'th

' she repeated. 'I see yo

know that many people are glad t

rs; and when I think'-there were tears in her eyes-'when I think of that, I feel incline to be a fool,' she broke off. 'And now I shall go home. You have filled me full of happiness; for think, Mr. Naseby, I have n

together; and when all was ready, she gave

said; 'we shall be great friends t

nclined him to a serious view. What was he, under the circumstances, called upon to do? Perhaps to avoid the girl? Well, he would think about that. Perhaps to break the truth to her? Why, ten to one, such was her infatuation, he would fail. Perhaps to keep up the il

little cottage where she lived alone with a maiden aunt; and to that lady, a grim, sixty ye

e aunt. 'What like is he? W

him to my house, and come he shall,' she said; and with that she walked off to her room, where she sat staring at the wall all

the garden, was somewhat darkened by foliage; but he could see her as she approached from the far end to meet him. This second sight of her surprised him. Her strong black brows spoke of temper

she said, 'has mad

, although somewhat mannered; and Dick felt himself among the gods. She le

aunt, 'see and make

spitable intent, the old woman crossed the ro

' she asked in an

' said Dick. 'Y

that's dead-but the bairn!' She had a note in her voice that filled poor

th Mr. Van Tromp is really very slender; I am only afraid that Miss Van Tromp has exaggerated our intimacy in her own imagi

nk of him?-what do ye think of him?' she repeated, with a different scansion, as R

ery agreeable co

id ye! And how doe

that Mr. Van Tromp has

before Dick could find more to

with the tea-thi

sily, 'tell me all

k, 'he is a very a

'I am his daughter, you forget. Begin at the beginning, and tell me all you have seen

ss was common to the Admiral, Michelangelo, and others; how they (Dick and Van Tromp) had struck up an acquaintance at once, and dined together that same night; how he (the Admiral) had once given money to a beggar; how he spoke with effusion of his little daughter; how he had once borrowed money to send her a doll-a trait worthy of Newton, she being then in her nineteenth year at least; how, if the doll never arrived (which it appeared it never did), the trait was only more characteristic of the highest order of creative intellect; how he was-no, not beautiful-striking, yes, Dick would go so far, decidedly striking in appearance; how his boo

rnoon it was

know, is narrow and too religious; she cannot understand an artist's life

what could be more obligatory than to keep alive in the heart of a daughter that filial trust and honour which, even although misplaced, became her like a jewe