The History of Sir Richard Calmady

rap her about with tenderness and strengthen her in patience. But, though the spirit was willing, the flesh was weak. Daily she assured Mademoiselle de Mirancourt that she was better, that she

itted that she would never go forth on that journey to England at all; but only on that quite other journey,-upon which Richard Calmady had already set forth in the fulness of his manhood,-and upon which, the manifold uncertainties of human existence notwithstanding, we are, each one of us, so perfectly certain to set forth at last. Silently they agreed with her to treat her increasing weakness with delicate stoicism, to speak of it-if at all-merely as a pass

Calmady's child was born, towards the end of the following March, no more staid and responsible woman creatur

ords, usually reserved to another and somewhat greater advent-"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Good Mr. Caryll was innocent of the remotest intention of profanity. But his outlook was circumscribe

ystery surrounded the large state-bedroom,-where she lay, white and languid, slowly feeling her way back to the ordinary conditions of existence,-and the nursery next door. Mrs. Denny, who had taken possession by right divine of long and devoted service, not only did not encourage, but positively repulsed visitors.

use allowed, and wishing herself a thousand and one times safe back in Paris, where her devoted and obedient husband occupied a subordinate post at the English Embassy. But Mrs. Ormiston's tears were as easily staunched as set flowing. And now, in her capacity of hostess, with three gentlemen-or rather "two and a half, for you can't," as she remarked, "count a brother-in-law for a whole one"-as audience, she felt remar

agonising as to the uncertain sex of the baby, it did not matter. But now even that dear creature, Saint Julius, is beginning to pick up, and looks less as if his diet was mouldy peas and his favourite plaything a cat-o'-nine-tails. Scourge?-Yes,

displaying abnormal activity in respect of escape and independent action. Her eyes were round and very prominent, suggestive of highly-polished, brown agates. She was not the least shy or averse to attracting attention. She laughed much, and practised, as prelude to her laughter, an impudently, coquettish, little stare. And finally, as he sat on her right at dinner, her rattling talk and lightness of calibre generally st

ope. Well it's to be trusted her husband's some use for her-that's more than I have anyhow, so the sooner we see her off the premises the better. Suppose I shall have to fall bac

s cheese-plate away from him, while his shaggy eyebrows drew toget

nts knew what they were about in these awkward mat

nd medallions-is worked in neutral tints of brown, blue, and gray. The chimneypiece, reaching the whole height of the wall, is of liver-coloured marble. At the period in question, it was still the fashion to dine at the modestly early hour of six; and, the spring evenings being long, the

d been served and the servants had left the room, that Captain O

Ormiston had revised his position and decided on heroic measures of reform. He would rid himself of debt, forswear expensive London habits, and those many pleasant iniquities which every great city offers liberally to such handsome, fine gentlemen as himself. He actually proposed, just so soon as Katherine could conveniently spare him, to decline from the splendid inactivity of the Guards, upon the hard work of some line regiment under orders for foreign service. Ormiston was quite affected by contemplation of his own good resolutions. He appeared to himself in a really pathetic light. He would like to have told Mary Cathcart all about it and have claimed her sympathy and

mony of the evening, isn't it, Ella,

wers. You'll agree to that now, Mr. March, won't you?"-She took a grape skin from between her neat teeth and flicked it out on to her plate.-"So, for myself," she went on, "I curtsy nine times to the new

present mood Ormiston found her vivacity tedious, though he was usually willing enough to laugh at her extravagancies-then she wh

fully superstitious, Mrs. Or

no means anxious the time should pass too rapidly. He felt slightly self-contemptuous; but in good truth he would

rest of my many virtues. Charity begins at home, you know, and I would not like to keep any of the poor, dear crea

ther savagely. "The majority of my acquaintance have a ha

ied, laughing. "But to return to the matter in hand, to this hero of a baby-- I dote on babie

g her mother. Couldn't be otherwise than charming if she tried,

d then looked round the table, putting up one plu

mble me in the least, and therefore my reputation's everlastingly safe, thanks to her. Why, before the calumniating thought ha

g of the casements. Then Captain Ormiston broke into a rather loud laugh.

lla," he said. "You won't beat

her present tender age, she's the li

liam," Roger

d somehow. And this last jarred upon her cruelly. It opened the flood-gates of doubt which Mary-like so many another woman in respect of the man she loves-had striven very valiantly to keep shut. All manner of hints as to his indiscretions, all manner of half-told tales as to his debts, his extravagance, which rumour had conveyed to her unwilling ears, seemed suddenly to gather weight and probability, viewed in the moral light-so to speak-of that laugh. Great loves mature and deepen

ght. Iles has taken the man on as carter at the home-farm, and given the eldest boy a job with the woodmen. I told him to do w

ss without speaking; and as he fille

olish words or foolish actions. I don't pretend to share Ella's supe

er cheeks were still glowing. Her god might not be of pure gold throughout-such gods rare

as his own. There's been a pretty bad run of luck here lately, and it's time it changed. Wish him better fortune than his forefathers. I'm not superstitious, as I say, but Richard Calmady'

aker sharply.-"Oh! that occu

tly. "Some idiot raked the story up, and it was canvassed from one en

"and what is this wonderful story

on the part of Julius March had attracted his attention. "I have never manag

priest's cassock and awakened to newness of life. Much had happened since then; and Julius had ranged himself, accepting, open-eyed, the sorrows and alleviations of the fate he had created for himself. But to-night he was tired. The mental and emotional strain of the last few days had been considerable. Moreover, John Knott's presence always affected him. The two men stood, indeed, at opposing poles of thought-the one spiritual and ideal, the other materi

t as much as you would. And-it strikes me, if he pleased

n Julius, regardless of Ormiston

as Dr. Knott declares you do. I dote on terrifying stories-don't you, Mary?-that send the cold shivers all down my back. And if they deal with the history of

you will pardon my saying so, seems to me too intimate for mirth. A curse is suppos

o you to tell us something more,

and manner. He answered with an accentuation of his

ording to the old prediction, has the power, shou

n does this saviour put in an ap

s not r

e rose in protest against the half-sneering rationalism he seemed to read in that expression. Mrs. Ormiston, who had an hereditary racial appreciation of anything approaching a fight, turned her rou

es, "the saviour comes in so questionable a shape, that I fear, whenever the app

viours from the beginning to try the faith of ordinary mortals by presenting themselves under rather queer disguises." He paused again, drawing in his wide lips, moistening them with his to

h dignity. "A child who in person-if I understand the wo

clamation. Thought better of it and brought his jaws together with a kind of g

ooking at him, could have fancied that hi

d contained herself just as long as was possible. Now she c

rther investigation. What's our baby like, Dr. Knott? I've seen nothing but an indistinguishable mass of

rous. "This conversation has gone quite far enough. I agree with March, it may all be

be as solemn as nine owls. But you must excuse a momentary excitement. It's all news to me, you know. I'd no notion Katherine had m

h Captain Ormiston's leave, I think we'd better go back to the point we started from and drink

ass, and stared round the table with a fine

fellow," she said. "We

ass too. But his temper was not of the

nd good health, and," he added hastily, "pl

ulius sai

ly or absently it would have been difficult to decide. But all the harshness had

cation of that heartless jade, Dame Fortune. May he neve

e untasted. He had received a

roke in. "I wish the baby a long life and a merry one, in defiance of all prophecies and traditions belo

edge of the carpet, shivered into a hundred pieces, that lay glittering, like scattered diamonds in the lamplight. For the day had died altogether. Fleets of dark, st

e laughing from h

regardless of expense. Come, Mary, we will remove ourselves. Mind and bid me good-bye before you go, Dr. Knott, and report