The Lost Girl

because, during the first twenty-five years of her life, she really was left out of count, or so overshadowe

Even as a small girl she had that odd ironic tilt of the eyelids which gave her a look as if she were hanging back in mockery. If she were, she was quite unaware of it, for under Miss Frost's care she received no edu

shadow was greater o

omy and a little sini

protective. Sufficient

s Frost: or be

choir at chapel, she attended Christian Endeavour and P.S.A., and the Literary Society on Monday evenings. Chapel provided her with a whole social activity, in the course of which she met certain groups of people, made certain friends, found opportunity for strolls into the country and jaunts to the local entertainments. Over and above this, every Thursday evening she went to the subscription library to change the week's supply of books, and the

d, sardonic tilt. The sardonic quality was, however, quite in abeyance. She was ladylike, not vehement at all. In the street her walk had a delicate, lingering motion, her face looke

and incomprehensible and unsympathetic as her own beloved Vina. For twenty years the strong, protective governess reared and tended her lamb, her dove, only to see the lamb open a wolf's mouth, to hear the dove utter the wild cackle of a daw or a magpie, a strange sound of derision. At such times Miss Frost's heart went cold within her. She dared not realize. And she chid and checked her ward, restored her to the usual impulsive, affectionate demureness. Then she dismissed the whole matter. It

ere extraordinarily few young men of her class-for whatever her condition, she had certain breeding and inherent culture-in Woodhouse. The young men of the same social standing as herself were in some

to teach them the piano. The work was distasteful to Alvina. She was not a good

n in Edinburgh taking his medical degree. Before going back to Australia, he came to spend some months

ody which seemed to move inside his clothing. He was amiable and polite, laughed often, showing his teeth. It was his teeth which Miss Frost could not stand. She seemed to see a st

king by the hour. What they could find to talk about was a mystery. Yet there they were, laughing and chatting

ina in the evening, to take a walk with her. He went a long walk with her one n

said. "We are

nging was too str

ends," he said. "We'

think so,

sted, trying to put h

she cried. "L

thick protestations of love, which t

tell Miss Fro

ed. "Yes, yes. Let us

te nostrils dilated, as of one who scents battle and laughs to herself. She seemed

rald set in tiny diamonds. Miss Frost looked grave

ou? You don't dislike

d Miss Frost. "How can I? He

he young man with suave attention, punctuated by fits of jerky host

n it. She kept her look of arch, half-derisive recklessness, which was so unbearably painful to Miss Frost, and so exciting to the dark little man. It was a strange look in a refined, really virgin girl-oddly sinister. And her

ney. He suggested that he and Alvina should marry before he sailed. Mi

luence over her ward, to remove that arch, reckless, almost lewd look from the girl's face. It was a question of heart against sensuality. Miss Frost tried and tried t

eyes softened again to a sort of demureness and tenderness. The influenc

, en route-and then a cablegram from Australia. He had arrived. Alvina should have been pre

sis, knitting her thick, passionate, earnest eyebro

ove him-because Miss Frost could not. Alvina lifted her large, blue eyes, confu

she said, laughing hurr

zed her, and replie

el

an. She felt him a terrible outsider, an inferior, to tell the truth. She wondered how he could have the slightest attraction for her. In fact she could not understa

rribly large, potent and magical, while Miss Frost had dwindled to nothingness. At such times she wished with all her force that she could travel like a cablegram to Australia. She felt it was the only way.

ost were fixed in one

t. There's a great risk in going so far-a gr

unprotected," said

nderstand what it me

Perhaps he understood he

king of Alexander, "I don't care for h

f be overborne. She was half relieved. She seemed to nestle into the

ow took a de

t. I am certain you would never see her again. She says she can't bear it-she can't bear the thought of you out there with Alexand

to believe that she did not love him. She was quite sure she di

ke exclamation marks. He semed to have no thought, no feeling for the girl herself. All he wanted was to hurry her out there. He did not even mention the grief of her parting from her English parents and friends: not a word. Just a rush to get her out there, winding up with "And n

at his photograph-his dark and impertinent muzzle. Who was he, after all? Sh

s's room, and found Miss Frost

ourself, dear. Act for yourself entirely. I am sure I am wrong in trying to influence you. I know I am wrong. It is wrong and foolish of me.

ndrawn breath with a strange sound of anguish, forlornness, the terrible crying of a woman with a loving heart, whose heart has never been able to relax. Alvina was hushed. In a second, she became the elder of the two. The terrible poignancy of the woman of fifty-two, who now at last had broken down, silenced the girl of twenty-three, and roused all her passionate tenderness. T

ct of her youth. For her it was not too la

ear," said Alvina to t

or him. He is

s a hush in the house. Alvina announced her intention of breaking off her engageme

with you, I couldn't."

e, Vina. I have thou

e relief. She loved everybody. She was charming and sunny and gentle with everybody, particularly with Miss Frost, whom she loved with a deep, tender, rather sore love. Poor Miss Frost seemed to have lost a part of

It was something more primitive still. It was curiosity, deep, radical, burning curiosity. How she looked an

hey all seemed like blank sheets of paper in comparison. There was a curious pale surface-look in the faces of the young men of Woodhouse: or