Sophy of Kravonia

e that we should pass all our days in the humdrum occupations and the mediocre positions in which we have in fact spent them. Young ambitions are chronicled only when they have been fulfilled-unl

co-operated eagerly with Fate and made herself a partner with Opportunity, and she was quick to blame the other members of the firm for any lack of activity or forwardness. "You can't catch the train unless you're at the station-and take ca

rospect of which Basil Williamson had tried to console her. The Squire was an estimable man, but one of small mind; he moved among the little-the contented lord of a pin-point of the earth. Mrs. Brownlow was a profoundly pious woman, to whom content was a high duty, to be won by the performance of other duties. If the Squire detected in the girl signs of ingratitude to himself, his wife laid equal blame on a rebellion against Heave

he less, she allows herself more than once to speak of "that beast of a Smilker." Mere rectitude as such never appealed to her; that comes out in another rather instructive comment, which she makes on Mrs. Brownlow herself, "Me being what I was, and she what she was, thou

is time she had no friends outside the Hall to turn to. Julia Robins was pursuing her training in London, and, later, her profession in the country. Basil Williamson, who "amused" her, was at Cambridge, and afterwards at his hospital; a glimpse of him she may have caught now and then, but they had no further talk. Very probably he sought no opportunity; Sophy had passed f

n beings. It has been kept within the strict limits of legitimate inference, and accordingly yields meagre results. The return

hat with a white feather, a blue skirt, and a red "Garibaldi" shirt; her fair hair was dressed in the latest fashion. The sensation she made in Morpingham needs no record. But her head was not turned; nobody was ever less of a snob than Julia Robins, no friends

tchen, if not up-stairs. On the morrow she went into the avenue of old elms about twelve o'clock, conjecturing that her friend might have a few free moments about that hour-an oasis between the labors of the morni

g away, looked her over. Sophy was tall beyond her years, and her head was nearly on a level with Julia's. She was in her short print gown, with her kitchen apron on; her sleeves rolled up, her face red from the f

d so on for some time, no doubt. "Tell me about it; tell me ever

distance. Sophy heard them with ardent eyes; they availed to color the mark on h

"But I'm twenty!" she reminded he

the same in the kit

d his hat-and, maybe, his brows. But he stopped and said a few pleasant words to Julia. He had never pretended to approve of this stage career, but Julia had now pas

d approval. "Please don't unsettle the little one's mind, thou

nd Julia was squeezing her friend's arm very hard. But Sophy said nothin

le remonstrance would be accepted by her fiery and very unreasonable little friend; scullery-maids must not arraign social institutions

ates. Julia felt a sudd

hy, her eyes lighting

was perfectly dressed for the exercise. His features were clear-cut and handsome. There was a

" she said. "Why-" she laughed low-"I believe I

phy's question

s one of the officers there; he was in a

ye rest on Julia; did it rest in recognition? It almost seemed so; yet there was doubt. Julia blushed, but she forbore from smiling or from seeking to rouse his memory. Yet she was proud if he remembered her face from across the footlights. The young man, too-being b

in satisfied vanity. Sophy

t a salad! You'll be here to-morrow-do!" And she was off, up th

er my face," thought Julia as she

to the offices of the house. Diligently she washed, as Mrs. Smilker had taught her (whether rightly or not is nothing to the purpose here), but how many miles away was her mind? So far aw

eed, and-er-do you think you could be so good

zo?" s

ed to the handsome beast, wh

ou call h

magnificent. I dare say you never

Who w

He had begun to watch her face, an

dropped from her hands; she wip

k you could

I'll g

back of the room

asked, holding it ou

much

d got another. "T

mind if I stay an

N

zo! And than

ed and brought out a bowl of water. Lord Dunstanbury had lighted a

the other girl

mean you t

pse of you. I remembe

embered

now her na

a Rob

hed off that bone, hasn't he? Is

lightest note of chaff had crept into it; and t

t?" she

rained his tongue. He was scrupulously a gentleman-more so perhaps than, had sexes and places been rever

. She said no word. With a fling-out of her arms-a gesture strangely, prophetically foreign as it seemed to him in after-days-she exhibited herself-the print frock, the soiled apron, the

h and blood, too-and the blood was moving. He felt a little tightness in his throat; he was new to it. New, too, w

ave looked at any of that-and I sh

; subtly the eyes glowed

e, Lorenzo!" he cried; he raised his hat and turned

ttuces and carried t

you in a temper now?" asked Mrs. Smilker

rs. Smilker. I-I'm very happy to-day," she

ble cap? He would not have looked at them-no, nor at beautiful many-tinted Julia Robins in her pride! He had forgotten all these

Dunstanbury. If it were ever forgotte

more than she dreamed of. Her foot was near the lad