The Bright Messenger

ad intervened and given time for an exchange of letters, but Devonham had contented himself chiefly with telegrams. He did not wish his chief to know too much about the case in advance. "Probably

ready for its interesting occupant, whom in thought he had already named "N. H."; for in the first place he did not

rspectives, filled, too, with heaven knows what strange stories of pantheistic Nature-feeling-"N. H." might be distinctly interesting, but hardly all that Mason had thought him. "Unique" was a word rarely justified; the peculiarities

atory excitement he could not wholly account for, an un

eases with a friend of Mason. Impress him with a sense of hearty welcome." And Devonham, replying, had evidently understood the wisdom of this method. "He is also greatly pleased with your name-the sound of it," was stated in the one letter that he wrote, "and as names mean a lot to him, so much the better. The sound of it gives him pleasure;

within the hour. Straight from his forests and mountains for the first time in his life, he would find himself in the heart of the greates

woman's touch as well." He reflected a moment. "Women are a great help in doubtful cases-the way a man reacts to them," he mused. "Only they must be distinct in type to be of value." And his mind ran quickly, co

as not the first time he had made use of them. Their effect resp

essentially of her sex. Their effect, respectively, upon such a youth must be of value, and might be even i

beyond their reach, was of the stars; it was the unattainable in her they loved; her beauty was of the soul. Nayan was spiritual, not as a result of painful effort and laborious development, but born so. Her life, moreover, was one of natural service. Personal love, exclusive devotion to an individual, concentration of her bei

tion, she was the animal of prey that obeys the call of hunger in the most direct way possible, regardless of consequences to herself or others. Her brain was quick, her personality shallow. When talking she "rattled on." Devonham had well said once: "You can hear her two thoughts clicking, both of them in trousers!" Sir George, recently knighted, successful with large concessions in China, was indulgent. The male splendour of the youth was bound to stimulate her hunger, as his simplicity, his loneliness, and in a sense his

face the onslaught of passion and heart, of lust and love, respectively; and it was his reactions to thes

vered sky increased the clammy warmth, which was damp, unhealthy, devitalizing. No wind stirred. The great city was sticky and depressing. Yet people approved the heat

t have been a first rehearsal of some entirely new experiment. Grumbling and complaint rose from all sides in an exasperated chorus. He tried to ascertain how late the train was and on which platform i

ke with little stones in it, vile whisky and very weak beer were obtainable at high prices. There were no matches. The machine for supplying platform-tickets was broken. He saw men paying more thought and attention to the

re English. Forgive and forget!" and prepared to tip

were ladies who discovered that all men are savages; there were men-and women-who were savages. People shook hands warmly, smiled with honest affection, said light, careless good-byes that hid genuine emotion; helped one another with parcels, offered one another lifts. There were few taxicabs, one perhaps to every thirty people. And in thi

a curious lift of freedom-a sharp sense of open spaces he was at a loss to understand. It was accompanied by an increase of light. For a second it occurred to him that the great enclosing r

ide stood a lean, virile outline of a young man, topping Devonham by several inches, with broad but thin shoulders, figure erect yet flexible, whose shini

efore the figure had stepped lightly and quickly forward,

most simultaneously, "but of a divine animal." It was a look he had never in his life before encountered in any human eyes. Mason's water-colour sketch had caught something, at least, of their innocence and quest

octor and patient possibly, but friends most certainly, both felt instantly. They liked one another. Once again the scent of flowers dan

k perhaps. "Welcome! And not too tired, I hope--" when the othe

"F" sound rather long, "I need

d heavens, not he! But I am. Now for a port

guage. What was it? What did it mean? Whence came this sudden sense of intensity, light, of order, system, intelligence into the racial scene of muddled turmoil all about him? There

inability to judge cause and effect. Yet he had two arms, ten fingers, two legs, broad shoulders and deep chest. Misdirection of his great strength made it impossible for him to manage the assortment of light parcels. Next to him, however, stood a woman carrying a baby-there was no error there. The panting engine just beyond them, again, set a standard of contemptuous, impersonal intel

th consistent scheme and system-that had occurred to him; and he met again the direct, yet slightly bewildered eyes that watched him, watched

d by the laden truck-just in time to save himself, that is, for the other, Fillery noti

ad time to settle down after the war, you see." He pointed with a sweep of his hand to the roaring, d

ttle further down the platform. "You wait there. I'll be along

the way. Is there no knowledge?" LeV

s struggle. But there is more system than app

e air," observed the other. "And

the doctor that their beings somehow merged, so that, for a second, he knew the entire c

the remote insignificance of the little planet whereon this dialogue took place, yet at the same time of its superb seductive loveliness. In him rose a feeling, as on wings,

'll get into the car and be off." He move

e. I am happy,"

man went towards the spot where Devonham struggled with a porter, a pile of nondescript luggage and a truck: "I wait

y of some higher, faultless standard. His brain, indeed, had recognized a consciousness of swifter reactions, of surer movements, of more intelligent co-ordination, compared to which the people about him be

the rhythmic sound, the scent of wild flowers, these were his own personal interpretations of a quickened sense he could not analyse as yet. As he held the young man's hand, as he gazed into his direct blue eyes, this sense had increased in intensity. LeVallon had some marvellous quality or power that was new

uty of a simple, common day appeared to him. His subconscious being, of course, was deeply stirred. That was the truth, phrase it as he might. His heart was lifted as by a primal wind at dawn upon some mountain top. The heaviness of

sentences. As they bent over bags and bundles he asked quick questions. These q

looked up the Notes? Well, that can't be helped now, thou

is accessible to me-tel

more distant, bec

t it's a pity. But tell me more about

r, "and most of the way over too. But puzzled-my

telligent c

above ordinar

ste

a s

alt

ed now than when we started three days ago, wher

elusions-any

it perhaps. "No delusion at all of any sort. As for origin of his ideas-the parents probably, b

ked himself. "And what p

nel he was like a frightened child. He hid from it, k

any re

s secret ways. Fire and wind are not in it. I cannot work with it.' No, it was not fe

erature?" asked Filler

; temperature always s

peculia

a lighted match once-tried to k

ir

stinct of wors

quietly, looking about him, a curious figure, aloof somehow from his surroundings, so tall and straight and unconcerned he seemed, yet so poised, alert, virile, vigorous. It was not his clothes that made him appear unusual, nor was it his eyes and hair a

ter's barrow towards LeVallon, who already smiled at their approach-the most engag

ly laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "All attracted,"

d h

but indifferent, oh,

ed him to the car. The luggage was bundled in, some behind and some

ioned, turning to his companion. "We'll have a good

ar Fillery. I want sleep most. Will there

fresh air, and you will hear the sparrows chattering at dawn. But London,

milk in case of need. Nurse Robbins, an experienced, tactful young woman, he put in special charge. He thought of everything, divining his friend's possible needs instinctively, noticing with his keen practised eye several details for himself at the same time. The splendid physical condition, frame-work, muscular development he noted-no freakish bulky masses produced by gymnastic exercises, but the muscles laid on flowingly, smooth and firm and ample, without a trace of fat, and the whole in the most admirable proportion possible. T

ith their intense and innocent gaze for a moment; he held the firm, dry muscular hand; ten sec

o everything you need. Be happy here and comfortable with us, f

r-y," the musical tones

amas and blankets. On this cool, damp night of late autumn h

miles. As he softly opened the door the draught blew through from the open windows, stirring the white curtains by the bed. It came from the big damp garden where the trees stood, already nearly leafless, and wh

g the door behind him. There was a flash of wonder in his eyes, and a thrill of some remote inexplicable happiness ran through his nerves.