The Translation of a Savage, Complete

position she held towards her husband: that he had never loved her; that she was only an instrument for unworthy retaliation. So soon as she could speak after her accid

to care for her for herself, and when the months went by, and one day there was a hush about her room, and a

er motherhood there came to Lali a new purpose. She had not lived with the Armours without absorbing some of their fine social sense and dignity. This, added to the native instinct of pride in her, gave her a new ambition. As hour by hour her child grew dear to her, so hour by hour her husband grew away from her. She schooled herself against him.-At times she thought she hated him. She felt she could never forgive him, but she would prove to him that it was she who had made the mistake of her life in marrying him; that she had been wronged, not he; and that his sin would face him with reproach and punishment one day. Richard's prophecy was

nd tutelage. His days had been full, his every hour had been given a keen, responsible interest. As if by tacit consent, every incident or development of Lali's life was influenced by his judgment and decision. He had been more to her than General Armour, Mrs. Armour, or Marion. Schooled as he was in all the ways of the world, he had at the same time a mind as sensitive as a wom

t notice the change in himself. He only knew that his life was very full. He read later at nights, he rose earlier in the morning. But unconsciously to himself, he was undergoing a change. The more a man's sympathies and emotions are active, the less is he the philosopher. It is only when one has withdrawn from the more personal influence of the emotions that one's philosophy may be trusted. One may be interested in mankind and still be philosophical-may

lert. After breakfast he amused himself in playing with the child till the carriage was brought round. It was such a morning as does not come a dozen times a year in England. The sweet, moist air blew from the meadows and up through the lime trees with a warm, insinuating gladness. The lawn sloped delightfully away to the flowered embrasures of the park, and a fragrant abundance of flowers met the eye and cheered the senses. While Richard loitered on the steps with the child and its nurse, more excited than he knew, Lali came out and stood beside him. At the moment Richard was looking into the

of freshness and open-air vigour, it was not antagonistic to her past. Upon this sympathetic basis had been imposed the conditions of a fine social decorum. The conditions must still exist. But how would it be when she was withdrawn from this peaceful activity of nature and se

der of an awakened mind. She had intended many times of late saying to Richard all the native gr

ichard?" she said now. He st

answered. "My thou

id abruptly, "I w

what, Lali?"

or everything-since I cam

d-natured manner, caught her hand as he did the first night s

th too much time on my hands, reading a lot and forgetting everything; and here you came in, gave me something to do, made the little I know of an

d if I were to tell you all I thought in the language of my people-of my people, whom I shall never see again. Richard, can you understand what it must be to have a father whom one is never likely to see again-whom, if one did see again, something painful would happen? We grow away from people against our will; we feel the same to

d-"yes, I understand yo

I have. I cannot go back to the life in which I was born; I must go on as I am, a st

rest of the family were making their preparations inside the

t," he added; "we all f

s not feel me to be one

I don't wonder at your feeling a little shy; but then you will simply carry t

ut her ung

e white hands of the lad

have ever seen," he replied. "You c

y shiftless, for I don't care to look in a mirror. My only mirror used to be a stream of water in

aid, "if you do not use your mirror much. The re

out and touc

e?" she questioned, with

so suddenly, it had gone so quickly into a sensitive corner of his nature, that he lost command of himself fo

y, of course we all like to look at you. You

g her hands away, "is that

f. He laughed in his ol

e added, taking her arm and hurrying her down the steps. "Come

behind the question. But every problem which has life works itself out to its appointed end, if fumbling human fingers do not meddle with it. Half the miseries of this world are caused by forcing issues, in every problem of the affec

y," he said, "a perfect little gentleman. Like

the child looked like every one knew; but within the past year and a half Francis Armour's name had seldom been mentioned, and never

Frank," he said. "As

he said, "for

nd of helplessness. "Frank will be pretty proud of the youngste

Won't you be lonely withou

s behind and makes up the marks. You will find London a jollier master than I am, Lali. There'll be lots of shows, and plenty to do, and smart frocks, a

of feeling, though her words were scarcely audible: "I owe you everything, Richar

must not speak that way. L

door-step, and the carriage came wheeling up the drive. What Richard in

ll are, to be sure! Why, we're as happy as little birds in their nests out in the decent country, and yet we scamper off to a smoky old city by the Thames to rush along with the world, instead of sitting high and far away from it and watching it go by. God bless my soul, I'm old enough to know better! Well,

rful adieu, the horses were whipped up, and in a moment Richard was left alone on the steps of the house. He stood for a time looking, then he tur

e. It seemed the natural thing to do. But still he had n

e also. He wandered about in a kind of vague unrest. The hardest thing in this world to get used to is the absence of a familiar footstep and the cheerful greeting of a familiar eye. And the man with no chick or child feels even the absence of his dog from the hearth-rug when he returns from a journey or his day's work. It gives him a sense of strangenes

. If he came to see his family, or because he hungered for his godchild, or because-but we are hurrying the situation. It were wiser not to state the problem yet. The afternoon that he arrived at Cavendish Square all his family were out except his brother's wife. Lali was in the drawing-room, receiving a visitor who had asked for Mrs. Armour and Mrs. Francis Armour. The visitor was received by Mrs. Francis Armo

had never met her. She was not at heart wicked, but there are few women who can resist an opportunity of anatomising and reckoning up the merits and demerits of a woman who has ma

-room door to ascend the stai

ener than one woman's instinct regarding another woman, where a man is concerned. Mrs. Francis Armour received Lady Haldwell with a quiet sta

catastrophe, to be viewed without horror, maybe with pity. She had heard the alien spoken well of by some people; others had seemed indignant that the Armours should try to push "a red woman" into English society. Truth is, the Armours did not try at all to push her. For over three years they had let society talk. They had not entertained largely

fond of him after a fashion, always fonder of him than of Lord Haldwell. She had married with her fingers ho

ightest bit confused, but not outwardly. She had not expected it. At first Lali did n

her hand "I am Lady Haldwell. As Miss She

der spot. She knew she was had at an advantage. Before her was a woman perfectly trained in the fine social life to which she was born, whose equanimity was as regular as her features. Herself was by nature a creature of impulse, of the woods and streams and open life. The social convention had been engrafted. As yet she w

usband speak of you

in? No, I suppose your husband did

aldwell had been stung by Mrs. Armour's rema

of some of his frie

That is

essity," said Mrs

I suppose not. Bu

aps, not to anticipate the

for a little time, the visitor trying in vain to delicately give the conversation a pe

band as I am, I am hopeful y

our saw

e said conventionally,

nwisely. She was nettled at

ve been your friend for a

derstood. Her reply was not wanting. "Any one who has be

ed. There was a subtlety in the woman be

nemy?" she s

ickered across Mrs. Arm

lled, and was penitent, I sho

ch, I believe, is different, what would you do?" Mrs. A

mies do not compel

band told you of these things, so that you were not surprised. And when does he come? His stay is protracted. Let me see, how long is it? Ah yes, near fou

oman, in whose blood was the wildness of the heroical North. Perhaps she guessed the passion

his beautiful, exasperating woman by the throat. But after an effort at calmness she remained still and silent, looking at her visitor with a scornful dignity. Lady Haldwell presently rose,-she could not endure the furnace of that look,-and said good-bye. She turned towards the door. Mr

bear another name, and from a man it would be differently received." He came close to her. "You are a brave woma

guidly. "And w

k that my brother Frank's worst misfortune did not occur when Mis

lied. "You are trying, really. This seems almost mel

friend even to you

earnest! Do come back to the world, Mr. Armo

if only to see the 'engineer

husband's father had made his money out of torpedoes. She

the end of the season," he added,

still stood immovable. "Au revoir!" She left the room. Richard heard t

d drop on his breast. Then came a sudden impulse in his blood. Long after he shuddered when he remembered what he thought at that instant; what he wished

her. Then he sat down beside her, and all at once again, her face wet and b

r if I had not thought of you. I want you to stay; I am always better whe

ght, it's all right-my sister. Let us go and see the youngster. There, dry your eyes, and

break forth. But she dried her eyes, and together they went to the nursery. She dismissed the nurse and they were left alone by the sl

resently, "it is time Frank came home. I am going to write fo

angrily. "Promise that you will n

care." She shu

n he comes, and you-y

ot excitement of her cheeks. She said nothing, but l

, his lips twitching slightly. "You must care for him; it is hi

d, strange thought; and it had to do with the po

e did no

re should be no one-like the father of her child. And no woman ever loved

e child's. "I want Frank to be happy," he went on;

her look ran to confusion, and she seemed to read all that h

for Frank's sake, for all our sakes. I

e whispered, from

" She put out her hand to him, but did not look up.

and went slowly to the door. There he turned and looked back at her. He mastered the hot thought