War to the Knife or Tangata Maori

f the county for untold generations. Standing in a fair estate of ten thousand acres, three roods, and twenty-eight perches (to be accurate), with a nominal renta

r, and inhabiting "The Court," the erstwhile residence of

ould have given his eyes to have p

t a place, what a

nty, had often reflected in appraising the matrimoni

g

s! Think of the floor of polished oak, the walls with their priceless oak panelling, with carved frieze and moulded cornice; the mullioned wind

nd nine deep, with windows glazed in lead squar

der light of an early summer morn, the while the chatelaine tripped down the broad oa

ning-room, were they not all there, admirably proportioned, in addi

esne, the suzerainty of which

head keeper's lodge and kennels; these last slated, wi

But, in this connection be it known, that for centuries past the lords of the manor have perm

g

f Tame; In meadows deep the heifer lows, The falco

t old time when "the forest laws were sharp and stern," and the Conqueror stood n

g animals were by no means scarce in "The Chase," wh

s the boundary, while, for fear the squire and his visitors might feel a soup?on of ennui in the season, the South Bo

ing provided for, his spiritual w

was reserved for the lords of Massinger and their assigns, by sale or lease, the whole of the south aisle and chapel. And as the church was withi

-looking, cultured, [Pg 4] athletic, think for one moment of fleeing to the deser

rd? If so, she was typified in the gu

land a sufficiency of marriageable damsels-even, as some have averred, a redundancy of that desirabl

den reason? The

t losing the estate which had come down from father to son since the Conquest, and would a

ago there had been a sudden-appearing re-incarnation of one of the most reckless spendthrifts-and there had been more than one in the annals of the family-tha

the age prescribed. He constructed a laboratory in one of the turret-rooms, which only he and his confidential servant, a grave, silent Italian, were suffered to enter. From time to time mysterious strangers of foreign habit and alien language arrived at Massinger, and were entertained with every mark of high respect. The villagers spoke with awe of midnight fires in the turret-room, of the strange sounds, the evil-smelling fumes thence proceeding, with other innovations proper in their untutored fancies to the occupation of a sorcerer. Seldom

, such had been the miraculous escapes from captivity and torture. [Pg 6] And yet, all suddenly relinquishing a career which promised unusual brilliancy in court and camp, he had for years shut h

s instance. He succeeded, in despite of a host of rivals and the opposition of her parents, in winning the hand of the beautiful Elinor de Warrenne, the daughter of a neighbouring baronet of lands and honours hardly inferior to his own. For a year or more the gloom which rested on his spirit seemed to have passed away. Happy in the possession of an heir, his conduct after marriage put to shame the ominous predictions of friends and foes. His wife was fondly attached to him. His stately manne

ventful morn, suspicion being aroused, search was made for him, when the turret was found to be vacant, save of broken crucibles, strange scrolls, and other remnants of the so-called "black art." The seasons came and went, Massinger Chase grew fair in early spring and s

tic statement of the death of Sir Rainauld reached England

mbitious youth, had promised his mother, of whom he was passionately fond, to break the entail. Contented with the field-sports and homely [Pg 8] pleasures which there was no present danger of his being forced to relinquish, he cared little for the future. Notwithstanding the sacrifice of the goodly acres which (in addition to his portrait in the costume of a Roumanian heiduck, hanging in King Edward's corridor) gave Sir Rainauld's descenda

se to the examination of accounts. The interest on the mortgage, with occasional loans, increased the liability notably before his death; so that when our hero, Sir Roland

rse, for abatement of rent. And with a [Pg 9] show of reason. What with the importation of cheap meat, butter, wheat, and oats-all manner of farm produce, indeed, produced in colonies and other countries-the English farmer found himself unable to continue to pay rents calculated on prices which seemed to have fled for ever. It was hoped that farm commodities would regain their val

o its former splendour, and the estate t

omfortable as he was. Even with his curtailed revenues, he found the position of a country gentleman pleasant and satisfactory. He was not expected

eir of Massinger. The ancient house m

nxious to confer the title of Lady Massinger. So, [Pg 10] matters might be worse. In this philosophical frame of mind, he told himself that he was conten

taken creditably guaranteed all reasonable literary attainment; at any rate, the means and method of further development. Fond of field-sports, he shot brilliantly and rode well. Vigorous and active, neither plain nor handsome, but having an air of distinction-that subt

nd Massinger, of Massinger Court, was unfamiliar to matrons with marriageable daughters, as we

title embellished, as his position could not fail to be, by the handsome settl

terested attention to his unstudied talk, conservatory lounges, country-house visits-all the harmless catalogue of the

to the princess of his dreams, could Fate but lead him into her presence. Not as yet had he encountered her. That was beyond doubt. He would await the voice of the oracle. In the meanwhile he was far from being ennuyé. There was a mildly pleasurable sensation in m

c, even now listening to t

nity once and for ever. One look, a brief study of her unrivalled graces, an introduction, an entrancing interchange of ideas after a deliriously thrilling dance-even a second w

ally stimulated, magnified in power and volume. As they separated conventionally, and he delivered her into the care of her chaperon, the parting smile with which she fav

e where he was staying, he examined

rain-seizures. But he was not the sort of man. He had never worked hard, though steadily at college. And, when a man's appetite, sleep, and general health were faultless, what could have caused this dire mental disturbance? He went to bed, but sleep was out of the question. Throwing open the window, he gazed over the hushed landscape. The moon, immemorial friend of lovers, came to his aid. Slowly and m

of mind. He was, however, rallied as to his sudden subjugation, which had not escaped the keen critics of a ball-room. In defence, he went so far as to admit that Miss Tollemache w

we all saw it. Why, you never took your eyes off her from the moment she came into the room, till you put her into the carriage. You forgot your dance w

ertainly handsome, or, rather, distinguished-looking; seems cle

t it from her talk; she is so unpretending in her [Pg 14] manner, and has a horror of showing off. Do y

ness or that of the man that marries her-if

ou make t

and frivolity. The heiress is besieged by suitors and toadies whose adulation fosters selfishness and arrogance. The third is perhaps the least evil, as after it is demonstrated that its possessor cannot l

eauty, have a fair chance of happiness? I was not quite sure of it before. And now, having unburdened yourself of all this 'philosophy in a country house,' you will das

back to Chester

to the ruins of St. Wereburgh's [Pg 15] Abbey; that she has been invited from the Wensleydales, and all the house

after such contending emotions as had almost "rent h

"'What a piece of work is man!' etc. I have be

ertain as to t

to drive the drag conveying the ladies of this household, including my insignificant self-not without value

u, with Lady Roxburgh's permi

l good faith and friendship, though I know you men don't believe in our capacity for that. Don't be too devoted. It's a mistake if you want to be successful; any girl could tell you.

ousand thanks

g

give away all your heart before you make sure of a fair return. She may lead you on-unconsciously, of course-which means she wouldn't be rude to you and all the rest of it. But my idea is,

oughts, no vulgar ideals. She is incapable of

of us like to go cheap, and the love in a cottage business, or even a man like yourself of good county family, but not rich, not distinguished-h'm-as y

don't talk like that. I

h coming downstairs, and I've talked enough nonsense for one morning, I'll go and get ready for the drag party. You'll know soon that I

g

evening. She verified Miss Branksome's information respecting the drag, and the responsible office of coachman which Sir Roland expressed himself most willing to accept. But all the time he was suitably attiring himself; and even during a visit o

as she no doubt is, can no more enter into the motives of a woman like Miss Tollemache than a milkmaid could gauge the soul of a duchess. In any case, I must take my c

ting himself to them. This, however, he admitted, was an exception to his rule of life. Rule of life? It was his life-his soul, [Pg 18] mind, body-everything. "Whatever stirs this mortal frame"-of course. What did Byron say about love? "'Tis woman's whole existence." Byron didn't kno

priest of "Venus Victrix," the great singer of "love, and lo

notes of thrushes in spring; the arranging of pairs, and the small difficulties in mounting to the high seats of the drag

e well-matched team, and, rattling down the avenue, swept through the park gates, and turned into th

it comes off, well and good; if it's a boil-over, pay and look pleasant. If you knew as much about girls as I do, you'd know there are as good fi

not to mention the charming company of Miss Branksome on the box seat, who wou

nacting the gay worldling with pronounced success. So much so, that between his prowess as a whip and his cheery returns to the airy badinage us

n they stopped within full view of the venerable ivy-clad ruin, of which a marvellous gateway and a noble

ther?" had been got through. "The Wensleydales have farther to come, and I doubt if their horses are as fast as ours. Oh yes! now I see them-just behind that waggon in the lane, near t

g

tenance to an expression of the requisite propriety, she advanced to the rival coach, and so timed her movements that he was

his horses, he thereupon walked away with the entrancing personage towards the assembled party, abandoni

tion of a "personage," Miss Tollemache confessed the exhilaration proper to that pleasantest of informal gatherings-a picnic

cords, and thereby in a position of superiorit

the clovers white and purple, mingled with the tiny fodder plants which

t be," said one of the Miss Wensleydales. [Pg 21] "Now, c

the verdict of several fem

ys intended to look it up. What do you say, Miss Toll

thing of beauty that it seems a pity to pick it to pieces. That south door with its round

red to. "Miss Tollemache is right; you will find its history in the Domesday Book. The manor was held by the sec

nksome, who may or may not have divined Sir

e point. The manor was held under the abbots by a family of the

?" asked Lady Roxburgh. "Real

[Pg 22] get by the sword they seem to have acquired by matrimony. It did not go out of the family, though, till the time of Edward the First. Thes

doubly interesting. I must get up this history business for future use, and M

ything by heart in my life. I don't mind writing it down, though, from Sir Roland's notes,

ould be a grand idea for house-parties-only now it must be lunch-time. I see they ha

th from the courtyard of the neighbouring castle, had ridden knight and squire and l

s Tollemache. "I should like to have lived then. Life wa

23] mental or otherwise, it would be such splendid opera business, would it not? But they must have been awf

ith an air of conviction; "they left little room

ark the opposite side of the shield. In that very castle-while the gay troop was riding out with pennons flying-the feudal e

onversation as well as occasions for heroic daring in the matter of climbing. The

t up, Miss Branksome playfully suggested that she and Miss Tollemache should change seats, as she wished to take a lesson from the opposition chariote

moments of joy, Bright dreams of t

g

hat wondrous instinctive insight into the inmost soul of hi

enger to appreciate the strong arm and steady hand of her companion; and when, after an hour, the lamps were lit and the star-spangled night appeared odorous with the s

t of possible companionship with so rarely-gifted a being, abandoned his usual practical and chiefly negative outlook upon the world, acknowledging the attraction of self-sacrifice and philanthropic crusade. His mental vision appeared to have received an illuminating expansion, and as those low, earnest, but melodious tones made music in his ear, emanating from the fair lips so closely inclined towards his own,

at fat

of earth's primal vigour, and yet informed with the lore of the ages, heightening her attraction

sual skilled and efficient fashion. Nor, indeed, did the fair comrade, or she would scarcely have emphasized the conventional remark, "Oh, Sir Roland, what a delightful driv