Tales and Fantasies

ed to meet in the lane a fly from Thymebury, containing the human form of Miss M'Glashan. The lady did not deign to remark him in her passage; her face was suffu

Was Esther left alone, or had some new protector made his appearance from among the millions of Europe? It is the character of love to loathe the near relatives of the loved one; chapters in the history of the human race have justified this feeling, and the conduct of uncles, in particular, has frequently met with censure from the independent noveli

had fallen; the

olden transports of exultation which transcend not only words but caresses. She took him by the end of the fingers (reaching forward to take them, for her great preoccupation was to save time), she drew him towards her, pushed him past her in the doo

onfusion on both sides. Van Tromp was naturally the fi

all have a taste for home and the home-like, disguise it how we may. It has brought me here, Mr. Naseby,' he concluded, with an intonation that woul

,' sai

ping a little brandy-after my journey.) I was going down, Mr. Naseby; between you and me, I was décavé;

and here you are.'

s moment, re-e

in his ear, the pleasure in her voice alm

said Dic

she replied; 'I told

iral, 'help yourself; and let

ed the tumbler to his lips, but set it down unta

at you were never sure if there were tears in them or not; little voluptuous shivers ran about her body; sometimes she nestled her chin into her throat, sometimes threw back her h

ime, Van Tromp ra

ore. He was a man who had successes; I believe you knew I had successes-to which we shall refer no farther,' pulling down his neckcloth with a smile. 'That man exists no more: by an exercise of will I have destroyed him. There is som

hard, father,

when I was prosperous, and now I reap my reward, and can cut it with dignity in my declension. These are our little amours propres, my daughter: your father must respect himself. Thank you, yes; just a leetle, leetle, tiny-thanks, thanks; you spoil me. But, as I was saying, Richard, or was about to say, my daughter has been allowed to rust; her aun

that there were many good f

roduce us,' sa

r explained to herself by a fear of intrusion, and so set down to t

she cried. 'Never!

,' said the Ad

caress. 'I might wish to speak to my old friend about my new father. But you sh

lf to brandy. 'It is surprising how this journey has fatigued me. But I am

g to him; and Esther had already thrown on her hat, and was ready, while he was still stu

p.' He had invented a gait for this first country stroll with his daughter, which was admirably in key. He walked with fatigue, he leaned upon the staff; he looked round him with a sad, smiling sympathy on all that he beheld; he even asked the name of a plant, and rallied himself gently for an old town bird, ignorant of nature. 'This country life will make me young aga

he cried, '

ith happy tears; yes, here was the father of whom she had dreamed, whom Dick had described;

ide, and something depending over the house door which

d, pointing with h

gh he attached importance to the inquiry: Esthe

said

?' inquired

ndred times, but that

rld to learn. Now I, you see, find an inn so very near my own home, and my first thought is my neighbours

wards the inn, leaving Dick

favour. Imagine, he has come without a paint-box, without an easel; and I want him to have all. I want you to get them for me in Thymebury.

, in presence of the great and good being whom she called her father, had seemed both natural and praiseworthy. But now

ried, 'you do

,' he said

ou-you are not glad to see my father,' s

is to see you happy. Do you think I cannot enjoy your pleasures? Esther, I do. If I am uneasy, if I am alarm

assion which, even if only for the moment, she does not share. At another, she suspected him of jealousy against her father; and for that, although she could see excuses for it, she yet despised him. And at least, in one way or the other, here was the dangerous beginning of a separation between two hearts. Esther found herself at variance with her sweetest friend; she could