Stand Fast, Craig-Royston! (Volume II)

become vacant and devoid of charm. He had the high courage and impetuous will of youth; seeing no difficulties or dangers ahead, he refused to believe in any; Maisrie had not denied him her love, t

llustrations would have surprised and even shocked that Communist-capita

nd, after his frugal luncheon, a happy inspiration sprung into his head; for here was Hobson, the husband of the landlady across the way, coming along the pavement; and would i

bso

n look

s,

you for

was the shabby-genteel ex-butler, obsequiously waiting, with an e

oung man said. "You must be lonely over t

, and accepted a big cigar, and was prevailed on to draw in a chair to the fire. Vin

n your house?" the young man began, in a sort of tentative and

s me, sir. And that haffable, sir!-if he ave somethink on the table, he'll say, 'Hobson, bring two tumblers'-yes, sir-'Hobson, bring two tu

vacant sideboard. "The fact is, I haven't anything of the kind in th

obson, complacently, "being so

t that he should give advice, too, and encouragement, that was overwhelming. And as for the young lady-but here Hobson's language failed him. With tears in his eyes he declared that she was a hangel of sweetness-which did not convey much to Vincent's eager-listening ears. But when he went on to tell about all sorts of little acts of kindness and consideration-when he spoke of her patience with the old gentleman's temper, of her cheerfulness over small disappointments happening to herself, of her gentleness, and sunniness, and invariable good humour-here he was on more intelligible gr

ng they are to be a

an, sir, he says perhaps tw

a notice that the r

n't much use, not for

sudden fancy stru

you can get th

w,

let the

w,

and sensitive nature he did not like jokes, and was suspicious. However, the y

hter come back. Not to occupy them myself, you understand; but I don't

bson said, in a pathetic way. "Tha

pose I might go over and look at them

all tidied up, sir, against the chance of a lodger. And won't the missus be surprised!-for the women, sir, the women

nd showed Vincent into the little parlour, with which he was already abundantly familiar. There were few alterations. The old man's books, Maisrie's music, and similar personal belongings, had disa

to see the rooms

n hesitated

very

t landing; and there the first d

g lady's

t the implied invitation.

" said he. "I-I only wished

eemed so sacred-that seemed to shut him out. He could see the dressing-ta

could be done without letting Miss Bethune know who sent them? The looking-glass there-you know, that is not the ri

f a step or so, and rat

haps to conceal his incomprehensible diffidence and shyness. "She must have candles-one on each side of the mirror, for exa

nches further, and

erless like that; it should be a deep crimson satin-and there should be pretty things at the head of the bed-loops

wildered way: a crimson satin coverlet sounded a

he discussion of business affairs was a sort of profanation. Or perhaps he resented the intrusion of the amiable but gi

istinct condition that Miss Bethune is kept in absolute ignorance how they came there. One word to her-and out they come again, every rag and stick. Why, you can easily invent excuses! You can tell t

d," said Hobson, who seemed a little co

m going to send in a few things to smarten up that room; and they are yours so long as

p of the mirror?-he could not do that for himself. A little set of ornamental book-shelves he could buy, certainly; but how was he going to ask for the bows of ribbon, or the silk drapery, or whatever it was that ought to adorn the brass rods at the head of the bed? The more he considered the matter the more clearly he saw that he must consult a woman, and the only woman he could consult in confidence was his aunt, Mrs. Ellison, who had now returned to Brighton. And perhaps he strove to conceal from himself what it was that so easily and naturally drew his thoughts to Brighton; perhaps he was hard

had reached Grosvenor Place, the answer was there awaiting him; he was to go down at once. He put a few things in his bag; jumped into a hansom and drove to Victoria-station; caught the four-thirty

oked very snug and warm amid its magnificence-he found the tall and bright-eyed young

now I can always make room for yo

t at present: the fact is, I have come to you for advice and help," said he. "But first-my congratulations!

amp. "Congratulations? Well, I suppose there are no fools like old fools. But if grown-up people will play at being children, and amuse themselves by writing things in

ur being so old-you!-why, what girl of all your acquaintance h

and she turned round and f

lau

ry simple m

hings for him? There were plenty of bric-à-brac shops in Brighton: she would know what was most appropriate: her own house was evidence

things. I had imagined from the tone of your last letter that perhaps there might be a c

l it, aunt; and is likely t

rply. "And this last proposal is really too audacious. What business

taken aback-

erfect right to go into it. The room is not hers. It is mine. I have paid for it. When she come

good deal; but this is a little-a little too much. Do you consider it quite nice-quite becoming? A satin count

grew ve

t of feeling-if she has an

he

ything further, aunt; th

and failed; nay, she went to the door, and s

be any dissension? You are my own dear boy; I woul

e direction!" he r

ith appealing eyes, "good and true friends-

e in a narrow groove-you have your maid to talk to-your acquaintances to call in the afternoon-your friends to dinner-and what besides? That is your world. What do you know of the human beings outside it? Must they all be dishonest-because they have not been heard of by your handful of a set? Must they all be thieves and swindlers-because they are not in the Court Directory? But it is little matter. If this subject is debarred, then all is debarred, as between you and me. You can go your own

e was very fond of this proud and handsome boy; and s

very kind, Vi

g afternoon! And all of a sudden he seemed to recognise that his adversary here was a woman; she was akin to his beloved-and therefore to

than anything else shut out from mention. But I must say this to you, aunt: I do not see I am doing anything that t

is to be your wife, Vin?

" he mad

had been sitting; and there they had some further conversation about more or less indifferent things, with t

h three hundred years ago-those 'pretty country folks' who lived in a perpetual spring-time, with birds singing hey-ding-a-ding-a-ding to them through all the jocund hours. The tall and elegant young widow blushed and laughed like a maid; her eyes were sarcastic, playful, amused, according to her varying mood; the sunlight touched her pretty brown hair. There was, indeed, a sort of audacity of comeliness about her, that set Vincent thinking of a very different kind of beauty-the beauty that seems to be dowered with a divine and angelic sadness. He was walking with these two; but he did not take part in their frolic talk; nor did he pay much attention to the crowd of people, the butterflies of fas

e a Jew he would turn dentist, to have it out with the Christians for what they did in the Middle Ages. A horrid revenge, wouldn't it be?-and so me

ut round the neck, of course it was in imitation of the stag-as the stag becomes when he is supposed to captivate the fancy of the hinds; but you don't find the hinds with any similar ador

those two Italian girls; what English peasant-girl could choose

did not seem incl

nd," said he, "to have picked up a little of the It

roduction to the singing of her companion; whereupon Lord Musselburgh proposed that Mrs. Ellison should cross over to lo

books, and it was not likely that Maisrie would come wandering by herself through this fashionable throng. When at last the three friends got back to Brunswick Terrac

?" said she. "Busi

, "I only wanted to give you a li

or I am going out driving at thr

d enable them to do what hitherto had been impossible for either of them. Mrs. Ellison was fond of society; he had always looked forward to the formation of a political salon when once he got married; and now he thought he could afford to have a much bigger house, which would be necessary for that purpose, than his present one in Piccadilly. Then there wer

was standing in the hall of the hotel, waiting for Lord Musselburgh, who had momentarily gone upstairs; and he was idly looking out upon the passing crowd. Idly and absently; there was no one there to interest him; very different it would be (he was saying to himself) towards six or seve

nd the two in front?-one was a young man, to Vincent unknown: the other-a terrible misgiving told him that was Maisrie, though they were now some way off. What did it all mean? He had never heard of their knowing anyone in Brighton. They had come down for seclusion, for work; yet here they were in the midst of the fashionable crowd; and a young man-a stranger-was making ostentatious display of his acquaintance with them. A thousand wil

urgh came al

e kept you wa

al his agitation. "The fact is-I-I don't think I will go dri

garding him. "You look as if you had seen

Vin said, hastily. "I will see you late

ng through his brain. And sudden wrath, too: he would demand to know by what right any stranger was allowed to make Maisrie Bethune so conspicuous. Why, it was too public!-it was a boast; and hardly decent, either; ought not respect for age and white hair to have placed the old man in front, instead of inviting all the world to witness the flattering of a young girl? And as for Maisrie-

dog-cart came swiftly along: an unprejudiced spectator would have said that the young man who was driving was rather a good-looking young fellow, of the pink and white type, with a small yellow moustache carefully waxed at the ends, and clear

ed; her eyes were neither observant nor conscious: once or twice they were turned towards the sea. To Vincent she seemed so distinguished-looking, so refined, and noble, and self-possessed, as contrasted with that fresh-complexioned country clown who had the monstrous audacity to claim her as his companion! Then

f; but now these hideous questions rushed back upon him, demanding an answer where there was no answer. He did not attempt to reason himself out of this paroxysm of jealousy; that woul

side of the road, to look in at the glaring shop-windows on their way home. Vincent found himself more alone than ever; and knew not what to do or which way to turn. In his present frame of mind he dared not go near the house in Brunswick Terrace; he

nce, along with his granddaughter? Here in East-street, for example, were cafés, both French and Italian, where they could have a foreign dinner if they chose. Would he venture to address them? Would he confess he had seen them driving-in the hope they might volun

e room-a profusion of flowers-plenty of champagne-Hodge Junior gay and festive-cigarettes between the courses-Arry having learnt so much from the cheap society journals; and will not Miss Bethune be persuaded to join? Ah, well, perhap

ad, and wandered slowly along, glancing furtively into this or that hotel-especially where some coffee-room window happened to have been left with the blind up. It was a vain quest, and he was aware o

Musselburgh was shown into

hing of Vin?" she said

nor

ow he won't have time

burgh said. "Something very peculiar happened to him to-day-I

han its wont. "Something has indeed happened to him

e cabinet, and took

brother-in-law; I got it just a minute or two after you left. The ot

her, and read it carefully through, without a word of

R HA

ants to come down again, I shall be ready with such consolation as I can think of. I fancy from one or two things that those people are here in Brighton just now: all the more reason why you should summon him home at o

affecti

AD

, glancing now and again, but with a sort of hopelessness, at any little group of people that might