The Fixed Period

he Town Flags, and many eloquent words were, no doubt, spoken. I did not go, of course, nor did I think it well to read

pposed to have quarrelled altogether, and very grievous it was to me not to be able to speak to the lad of a morning or an evening. But he did not seem to be much the worse for it. As for turning him out of the house or stopping his pocket-money, that would be

rounds once during these six weeks. He was always courteous to me, and would offer me tea and toast when I came, with a stately civility, as though there had been no subject of burning discord between us. Eva I rarely saw. That she was there I was aware,-but she never came into my presence till the evening before th

"It will be just the same whether you are here or not." Then I shook

e twelve months of Crasweller's period of probation were to be devoted to discussing the question, and I was told that my theory as to the Fixed Period would not in truth have been carried out merely because Mr Crasweller had changed his residence from Little Christchurch to the college. I had ordered an open barouche to be prepared for the occasion, and had got a pair of splen

to what some might think a premature death, the door was opened, and Eva Crasweller was announced. She had on one of those round, close-fitting men's hats whi

an anything you do b

end. I have come to you b

u had shunned

en you have been so anxious to depo

y anxious a fe

e. It was not that he ever had his heart in it, even when it was not near enough to alar

t is beautiful to he

broke his word even to save his own life. Is not that courage? It is not with him as it is with you, who have your heart in t

t all whether my name be remembered. I

because of his promise. Is it fair to keep h

the

a is to be sacrificed to the law to suit your pleasure. Papa is to be destr

, E

is t

it my

be sacrificed because, when thinking of other things, he did not care to differ with you." Then she paused, as though to see whether I might not yield to her words. And if t

ill the

could tell you! Your son ha

own that he has

be carried away to this fearful place. People would

it, Eva?" said I,

g me too. And Mr Exors, the lawyer, is spreading it about. It has become quite the common

exclaimed. "My son would marry n

od. There! I do love him better than any one in the world. But as things are, I

of the Dea

to watch him as day after day passes away, as the ghastly hour comes ne

has nothing in truth to d

t a fixed hour he will be destroyed just because you have said so! Can

nity would be used to the Fixed Period, I could understand that a daughter or a wife might leave the college, and go away into such solitudes as the occasion required, a week perhaps before the hour arranged for departure had come. Custom would make it comparatively easy; as custom has arranged such a period of mourning for a widow, and such another for a widower, a son, or a daughter

ut I could say nothing. "What do you intend to do, Mr Neverbend?" she asked. "It is altogether in your bosom. My father's life or death is in yo

to decide. It is

yield in this matter to me, your friend's daughter, because your vanity tells you that when you have once sai

mean personal ambition. I had thought that I had done it all in order that the failing strength of old age might be relieved, and that the race might from age to age be improved. But I now doubted myself, and feared lest that vanity of which Eva had spoken to me had overcome me. With my wife and son I could still be brave,-even with Crasweller I could be constant and hard; but to be obdurate with Eva was indeed a struggle. And when she told me that I did so through pride, I found it very hard to bear. And yet it was not that I was angry with the child. I became more and more attached to her the more loudly she spoke on behalf of her father. Her very indignation endeared me to her, and made me feel how excellent she was, how noble a wife she would be for my son. But was I to give way after all? Having brought the matter to such a pitch, was I to give up everything to the prayers of a girl? I was well aware even then that my theory was true. The

been taken away, and when her father should long since have been at rest, that softer thoughts would come across her mind. If it were only possible that I

ur, that I hardly saw what passed before my eyes. I only knew that the day had come, the terrible day for which in my ignorance I had yearned, and that I was totally unable to go through its ceremonies with dignity, or even with composure. But I observed as I was driven down the street, lying out at sea many miles to the

me in the hall. I came in and took his limp hand in mine, and congratulated

reath. He merely shook his head, and attempted to pass on. "Will you not take your g

? It will not be

r over." Then he turned upon me a look,-oh, such a look!-and went on and took his place in the carr

a come with

are proud of the pageant, and me because I do not fear it." This, too, added something to my sorrow. Then I looked and saw that

the spot I had before seen, and I was aware that some large ship was making its way into the harbour of Gladstonopolis. I turned my face towards it and gazed, and then a sudden thought struck me. How would it be with me if this were some great English vessel coming into our harbour on the very day of Crasweller's deposition? A year since I wo

f Gladstonopolis at the spot where one side of the street forms the quay, the vessel with extreme rapidity steamed in, and I could see across the harbour that she was a ship of war. A certain sense of relief came

young men, and that there was no contemporary of Crasweller to be seen at all. As we went up the town hill, I could espy Barnes gibbering on the doorstep of his house, and Tallowax brandishing

is man home for that last glorious year which he was about to pass in joyful anticipation of a happier life; and therefore I must be cheerful. But this was only the thing to be acted, the play to be played, by me the player. I must be solemn too,-silent as the churchyard, mournful as the grave,-because of the truth. Why was I thus driven to act a part that was false? On the brow of the hill we met a concourse of people both young and old, and I was glad to see that the lat

hey have to say to me?" I replied,

coachman. It would have been indecent to do so at such a moment, and something at any rate was due to the position of Crasweller. He remained speechless in the carriage; but I thought that I could see, as I

d ever!" said Mr Bunnit. "I knew th

dirty, frothy, meaningless foam at the top,-men like the drunken old bar-keeper, who had still clung submissive to the old country,-men who knew nothing of progress and civilisation,-who were content with what they a

e but to throw myself back and remain tranquil. I was, however, well aware that an hour of despair and opposition, and of defeat, was coming upon me. Up they came, and were received with three deafen

ed I; "and wh

nt officer, who, in the beginning of the century, had seated himself on a barrel of gunpowder, and had, single-handed, quelled a mut

r business with me,

. He is sure that Mr Crasweller won't mind." Then he took off his hat to my old friend. "The captain would have come up himself, but he can't leave the shi

n?" I s

n the ship lets go her anchor, to poin

off, will she?

y touched the spring, we about the locality here would be knocked into little bits in less time than it will take you to think a

icent modern theory. It was the malevolent influence of the intellect applied to brute force, dominating its benevolent influence as applied to philanthropy. What was the John Bright to me that it should come there prepared to send me into eternity by its bloodthirsty mechanism? It is an evil

don't!" said Cras

step," said Bunnit

other. "We know what our precious l

enant, I must hold you responsibl

age goes. Had all the town turned out in your favour, and ha

hat kind," sa

I would have said, only that it was much less palpable,-which had been dropped from the whistle as the lieutenant had come along, and which now communicated with the vessel. I had, of course, heard of this hair telephone, but I had never before seen it used in such perfection. I was a

n old assistant in my establishment, turned round and looked at me aghast. But he was soon put out of his trouble. Bunnit and the bar-keeper took out the horses and proceeded to l

with him. If I could only prevail on you, Mr President." On this I shook my head in eager denial. "Exactly so; but he will hope to see you on another occasion soon." I little thought then, how many

his carriage without means of locomotion! On looking round I saw Jack, and with Jack I saw also a lady, shrouded from head to foot in black garments, with a veil over her face, whom I knew, from the little round hat upon her head, to be Eva. Jack came up to me, but where Eva went I could not see. "Sh

ly, as you call it, they see

ted; at least not to my knowledge. Indeed I did not i

untry for aid against your country?" This I asked with m

England isn'

cution of our laws by threats of blowing us and

e it. I don't suppose tha

er position. She threatens

. They say that each shot costs two thousand five hundred pounds, and that the wear and tear to the vessel is two thousand more. There are things so terrible, that if

ld that in my present circumstances? "Jack," said I, "it is the sign of a noble mind to bear contumely without petulance. Since our horses have gone before us, and Craswell

e walked on, "I want t

t is

n so fortunate as to announce to you what I've now got to say. I hardly know whethe

dee

s happy by giving u

ought that she would

this morning, that his permission would go for nothing, as he was about to be le

hat right had

as her father's life was in danger. She altogether hated that wretch Grundle for wanting to get rid of him. I swore to her that

did yo

nce of good fellows; and he telegraphed to his uncle, who

not your h

ay we all s

at did

was sent out here. But it was only an acci

n of war was to be sent out to crush us unless we would consent to put down the cherished conviction of our hearts! As I thought of all, walking down the street hanging on Jack's arm, I had to ask myself whether the Fixed Period was the cherished conviction of our hearts. It was so of some, no doubt; and I had been able, by the intensity of my will,-and something, too, by the covetousness and hurry of the younger men,-to cause my wishes to prevail in the community. I did not find that I had reconciled myself to the use of this covetousness with the object of achieving a purpose which I bel

t a poor, stupid, lo

am," said J

erhaps make you a good wife,-and, again, may ma

ure about tha

about

ow in all Britannula will

e in love, you are to throw over-not merely your fat

I have thought s

position to the greatest movement made on behalf of the hum

he suggested, quoting my

, to you the schoolboy of twenty-one; I the thoughtful man, to you the thoughtless boy! I congratulate you; but I do not congratulate the world on the extrem