Lucian the dreamer

was already full of plans for assuring bread and butter and many other things for himself and his bride, and had arranged their future on a cut-and

elf probably crowned with laurel at Rome, or Florence, or somewhere. He would be famous, and also rich, and he would then claim the hand of Haidee, who in the meantime would have waited for him with the fidelity of a Penelope. A

luring. No, thank you, my dear—I’m not so fond of Haidee as all that. But I will teach her

e Sprats of the sisterly, maternal, good-chum side; but Haidee was an ethereal being{72} though possessed of a sound appetite. He wished that Sprats were more sympathetic about his lady-love; she was sympathetic enough about hims

s if you were going to an old maid’s muffin-worry. I did get you out of all those bad ways—until the Dolly came along (she is a Dolly, and I don’t care!). You didn’t mind going about with a hole or two in your trousers and an old straw hat and dirty hands, and since then you’ve worn your best clothes every day, and greased your hair, and yesterday you’d been putting scent on your handkerchief! Bah!—if lovers are like that, I don’t want one—I could get something better out of the nearest lunatic asylum. And I don’t think much

’ said Lucian pityingl

might be playing cricket! You have degenerated, Lucian, though I expect you can’t help i

over, she had given him a lock of her hair, and he carried it about, wrapped in tissue paper, and he had promised to buy her a ring with real diamonds in it. Also, Haidee already possessed fifteen sonnets in which her beauty, her

square, you know—they always do in these cases. If it’s such a serious affair, you must play the part of a man of honour, and ask the p

ed disturbe

she’s a great heiress, or something, and she says it wouldn’t do. She wishes it to be kept secret until I’m twenty. Everything will be all right then, o

ble, too. Of course the earl would never look at you, and it’s very evident that Mrs. Brinkl

d the Aldobrandini in my veins! The earl?—why, your English noblemen are made out of tradesfolk—pah! It is but yesterday that they gave a baronetcy to a man who

Sprats, with imperturbable equanimity. ‘You yourself ought to go about with a turquoise cap on your pretty curls, and a hurdy-

the time which Haidee spent at the Castle she had to listen to many ravings, and more than once to endure the reading of a sonnet or a canzonet with which Lucian intended to propitiate the dark-eyed nymph whose image was continually before him. Spr

women of the village. ‘I don’t suppose the Dolly kid is nursing her sorrows like that. I saw Dicky F

demon of jealousy was aroused

you mean?

ckie has gone to spend the afternoon there. He’s a nice-looking boy, and

atred. The thought of his addressing the Object was awful; that he should enjoy her society was unbearable. He might perhaps be alone with her—might sit with her amongst the ruined halls of the Castle, or wander with her through the woods of Simonstower. But Lucian was sure of her—had she not sworn by every dei

soul is priso

lver chains that

nclude

world remainet

eart as I am

ention in the world, spoiled the whole thing. About noon Lucian and Sprats, having gone through several pages of Virgil with the vicar, were sitting on the gate of the vicarage garden, recreating after a fashion peculiar to themselves, when the earl and Haidee, both mounted, came round the corner and drew rein. The earl talked to them for a few minutes, and then asked th

g up the gate again when the earl

d the situation

about in the woods! However, I suppose I must contrive something for you, or you’ll groan and grumble all the way home. You and the Doll must lose yoursel

e middle of the road, and retreated into the garden, bidding him turn up with a clean face at half-past two. When that hour arrived she found him

with a thing like that? Stick a cabbage in your coat—it’ll give a finishing touch to your appearance. Oh, you miserable

s; he secretly anxious to bask in the sunlight of Haidee’s smiles. And at last they arrived, and there, sprawling on the lawn near the basket-chair in which Haidee’s lissome figure reposed, was the young gentleman who rejoiced in the name of Richard Feversham. He appeared to

the shamelessness of depraved youth. Haidee saw that Lucian was jealous, and encouraged Dickie’s attentions—long before tea was brought out to them the materials for a vast explosion were ready and waiting. After tea—and many plates of strawberries and cream—had been consumed, the thick-headed youth became childishly gay. The tea seemed to have mounted to his head—he effervesced. He had much steam to let off: he suggested that they should follow the example of the villagers at the bun-struggles and play kiss-in-the-ring, and he chased Haidee all round t

lous. But the other boy was too full of the joy of life to be jealous of anything; he gambolled about like a young elephant, and nearly as gracefully; it was quite evident that he loved horseplay and believed that girls were as much inclined to it as boys. At any other

t off capering and whistling; Lucian followed in sombre silence. And inside the vaulted hall, mystic with the gloom of the past, and romantic with suits of armour, tattered banners, guns, pikes,

a cad!’ s

orted Dickie. ‘Who

a stone figure of Justice. ‘I say you are a cad—a cad! You

r fellow had suddenly gone off his head, and if

ng up his face with honest amazement. ‘What the d

ttentions upon her all the afternoon, though she showed you plainly that the

y attention on her—we were only larking. Rude? Brutal? Good heavens!—I o

ame insane

he hisse

s well as physically. He bunched up his{80} fists and adv

e devil you are, you outrageous ass, but i

aid Lucia

a small battering-ram, and landed with a beautiful plunk on Lu

t, by the Lord, I’ll land you one there and spoil y

rdon!’ He swore a strange Italian oath that made Dickie

own a couple of light rapiers which hung

f!’ he said. ‘I

ry with a smiling face, but he had no taste for encountering an apparent lunatic armed with a weapon of w

getting stuck, you know, if you go dancing about with it like that. I’ll fight you as

d Lucian. ‘De

atter was obliged to pick up the other rapier a

ly games,’ he s

e was a rapid clashing of blades; then Dickie drew in his breath sharply, and his weapon dropped to t

be found out. Here—wipe up that blood with your handkerchief while I tie mine round my hand. We.... Hello,

to the hall on hearing the clash of steel and now stood gazing at the scene with dilated eyes. Behind them, ga

gh glasses balanced on the bridge of the famous Simonstower nose,

y nothing. We were larking about with these two old swords, and the

d?’ inquired the earl, looking keenly at

aced him

is not true, though he means honourabl

ith his glasses. ‘You appear to have effected

iers, the combatants, and the{82} blood, had drawn near and were starin

e earl sharply.

m I should punish him. Then he told lies—about her. I said I

thank you. Now,’ he continued, taking a seat and sticking out his gouty leg, ‘let me

or something—he’s jolly dotty, or carries on as if he were. You see, he called me a cad, and said I was rude and brutal to Haidee, just because I—well, because I kissed her beh

tainless honour to be satisfied. And how was it that gentlem

arl; Dickie professed to be busy with his impromptu

aid the earl. ‘Well, I su

ucian returned the gaze with anot

ll a liar!

you again, and on the nose this time, if you say I am,’ and he squared up

r?’ he asked, lo

stolen up to the earl’s chair and leaned against its high back, taking in every detail of the scene w

d, ‘this is one of those cases in which one may be excused if one appeals to the lady. It would

st out Dickie; ‘I—did

s that you have indulged him with the privileges of a lover. His word has be

of the coquette who mu

eathed, with a smile w

Mr. Damerel has had reason to believe that h

so serious and old-fashioned. And all boys like

the earl. ‘I have heard similar sentiments from other ladies.’ He

uded his forehead. He put aside his rapier, which until

ng—quite wrong. I offer you my sincere a

ncomfortable an

I—I’m awfully sorry, too. I didn’t know you were spoons on Haidee, you know—I’m a bit dense about things. Never mind, I shan’t thi

wer rose from his seat and returned it with equal ceremony. Without a glance in Haidee’s direction Lucian str

sacred to themselves, stretched full length on the grass, with his face buried in his arms. She sa

er. I believed in her ... and now I shall ne