Demos

ge. It was the first time since his illness that he had left the grounds on foot. He was very thin, and had

posite, the orchard-patches, the flocks along the margin of the little river. To-day he viewed a very different scene. Building of various kinds was in progress in the heart of the vale; a great massive chimney was rising to completion, and about it stood a number of sheds. Beyond was to be seen the commencement

averted his eyes and walked on. He entered the village street and passed along it for some distance, his fixed gaze appearing studiously to avoid the pe

timer was at home. The reply being affirmative, he followed the servant up to the

as admirably starched; altogether he had a very fresh and cool appearance. His companion was astride on a chair, his arms resting on the back, a pipe in his mouth. This man was somewhat older than Mutimer; his countenance indicated shrewdness and knowledge of the world. He was dark and well-featured, his glossy black hair was parted in the mi

d his visitor easily inde

you are so much better. Will you sit down? I t

an introduction to the latter's friends had not been included in his anticipations. Mr. Rodman had risen and bowed slightly. His

nce and embarrassment. Rich

you?' he said to Rodman. 'Here, take t

ess,' interposed Hubert, with scrupulous pol

d, as his right-hand man moved to the door, 'don't forget to drop a line to Slater and Smith. An

nodded to Hubert, who paid no at

is chair again, and threw his legs into an easy position. '

; I feel n

at it was impossible for him not to regard with repugnance a man who represented the combative principle, even the triumph, of the uncultured classes. He was no hidebound aristocrat; the liberal tendencies of his intellect led him to scorn the pageantry of long-descended fools as strongly as he did the blind image-breaking of the mob; but in a case of personal relations temperament carried it over judgment in a very high-handed way. Youth and disappointment weighed in the scale of unreason. Mutimer, on the other hand, though fortune helped him to forbearance, saw, or believed he saw, the very essence of all he most hated in this proud-eyed representative of a county family. His own

this call with a

sy you have shown her during my illness. My own thanks likewise I ho

nd tone of this deliverance; he gathered

ry comfortable here. A bedroom and a pl

her the mention of work was meant to s

hope to leav

hat I hope she will take her own time.' On reflection this seemed rather an ill-chosen phr

' was Hubert's mental comment. 'H

nd of you. I foresee no difficulty i

his own constraint might carry the air of petty resentment Fear

ley,' he said, veiling by his tone the iron

nds in his pockets, and gave himself the pleasure of a glimpse

deal more. In a year or tw

ear

ced again at

e asked, with less c

your point of view. Pers

at his personal preferences mig

which he rested a foot. 'Well, I can't say that I do. The Wanley Iron Works will

ssented Hubert,

ded to ask, 'that this is not a

of your scheme. I trust

hose who care anything abou

er grain; Mutimer's intelligence made impossible the civil condescension which would have served with a

e said, 'to let you know as

nk y

g, nor did they now. Each felt reli

all, dark figure that approached him as he drew near to the churchyard gate. Mr. Wyvern had been conducting a burial; he had just left the vestry and was on his way to the vicarage, which st

see you walking,'

is own. Eldon seemed affected with a sudden surprise;

heir tributaries. It was the visage of a man of thought and character. His eyes spoke of late hours and the lamp; beneath each was a heavy pocket of skin, wrinkling at its juncture with the cheek. His teeth were those of an incessant smoker, and, in truth, yo

bert asked; 'or did yo

ent. Will you walk to

ed side

sant weather, I trust?' the vic

s. I shall be glad when she

vern led the way to his study. When he had taken a seat, he appeared

ed impatien

e by chance that m

s on either arm of his round chair, he sat leani

I was abroad shortly after daybreak. I was near the edge of t

gether,' Hub

who seemed in a hurry. He was startled at finding himself face to face with me, but didn't stop; he s

ert; 'and both aimed our best. I

an leaving you on the wet grass an indefinite time. Your overcoat was on the ground; as I took hold of it, two letters fell from the pocket. I made no scruple about reading the addresses, and was astonished to find that one was

rt n

o her as soon a

was no immediate danger.-The letters, I

he speaker had the effect of imposing self-command on the youn

of your interview

riefest; my Fren

peaks Engl

lay. I made inquiries next day, and found that she was still giving you her care. As you were doing well, and I had to be moving homewards,

d me,' remarked Hube

n drew in

stamped letter and Wanley

s a brie

e vicar resumed. 'It is with

ve every right

your-accident.' Mr. Wyvern savoured the word.

e-two day-I

ioned with his

verting his eyes for the first time,

ated, with a poor affec

me that he was the man who met me at the edge of the wood that morning. I suppose he remembered me, for he looked away and moved from me. I left the bank, and found an op

e breathed through his nostr

one in speaking with you, and it is because I know that anything of the kind would only alienate you. It appeared to me that chance ha

as Hubert's repl

tamped for Wanley Manor. I thought of

e I could explain the neces

t be, useless, especially when commented on

. Among other things, he was wondering how it was that throughout this conversation he had been so entirely passive.

s-your own plans?'

ave

e will be no mate

ve four hun

graduated ye

y think I can go

n things over. I should

sha

de a hollow resonance in all parts of the house, for everywhere the long wonted conditions of sound were disturbed. The library was already dismantled; here he could close the door and walk about withou

art's home. Hubert had entertained no thought of either. The romance which most young men are content to enjoy in printed pages he had acted out in his life. He had lived through a glorious madness, as unlike the vulgar oat-sowing of the average young man of wealth as the latest valse on a street-organ is unlike a passionate dream of Chopin. Howev

ing of the luncheon-bell. Since his illness Hubert had taken meal

t fear had been added to what she suffered from the estrangement between the boy and herself. Her own bodily weakness had not permitted her to nurse him; she had passed da

r her, and she interpreted Hubert's silence in the saddest sense. Now they were about to be parted again. A house had been taken for her at Agworth, three miles away; in her state of health s

n exchanged few words. Afterwards, Mrs. Eldon had her chair

ad cast frequent glances at her pale, nobly-lined countenance, as if something h

ow did he i

ose he is the better kind of artisan. He talks with a good deal of the

but illiterate. I feel I ought to ask

ondence sure

ressed m

ientio

e interview rather

man is well enough, of his kin

to Socialism?' asked his mo

rms,-quite within the bounds of civility. Shall I tell you how I felt in talking with him? I s

long way o

he stood for Demos grasping the sceptre. I am glad, mo

not see that sid

tieth century will leave one gre

ways be necessary to

not be one inch left to nature; the very oceans will somehow be tamed, the snow-mountains will

on sighe

l not s

g chestnut. Hubert was watching her face; its look and

e said unde

de

es which marked the hair on either side of her brows. He could see tha

me to do when we h

two quiverings of the throat; hi

ur own consider

r counsel

coun

ollow it. I wish t

is mother pressed his

, she

l also on th

ok his

ou not do

that must

ct was no

t spink's nest, the shadowed mossy bank whence had fluttered the hapless wren just when the approach of two prowling youngsters should have bidden her keep close. Boys on the egg-trail are not wont to pay much attention to the features of the country; but Hubert remembered that at a certain meadow-gate he had always rested for a moment to view the valley, some mute presage of things unimagined stirring at his heart. Was it even then nineteenth century? Not for him, seeing that the life of each of us reproduces the successive ages of the world. Belwick, roaring a few miles away, was but an isolated black patch on the earth's beauty, not, as he now understood it, a malignant cancer

. For the first time he was fully conscious of what it meant to quit Wanley for ever; the past revealed itself to him, lovelier and more loved because parted from him by so hopeless a gulf. Hubert was not old enough to rat

tween high banks and hedges. To gain the very highest point he had presently to quit the road by a stile and skirt the edge of a small ri

He stayed his step and observed her with eyes of recognition. Her attitude, both hands raised to hold the glass, displayed to perfection the virginal outline of her white-robed form. She wore a straw hat of the plain masculine fashion; her brown hair was plaited in a great circle behind her head, not one tendril loosed from the ma

his eyes fixed upon her face, waiting for her to turn But several

ou let

tinctive movement of guarding against a stroke; the falling of her arms was the only abrupt motion, her head turning

! How silently

th the richer garden blooms, and the subsiding warmth left

ely gloved, warm; the whole of it

oking at so atten

again in that quarter. 'My brother's train ought to

es

ght, his look resting upo

n,' Adela said with natural kindn

tiresome affair. I

, than

our br

tter with him in his life, I beli

ow! Will you le

me moment her straying eye caught

claimed. 'You will be able to s

d the glass to her, but s

rom Agworth?' was Hu

m good after a w

ference between Belwick and Wa

there was sympathy a

uld grieve yo

ng? Do you rejoice in the c

sorry to have our beautiful v

sharpness of scrutiny; the l

asked. 'You find

ontinued with a little embarrassment 'He insis

been to a man of Mr. Mutimer's activity

a bl

giving my own opinion; Alfred's is always on the side of the working people; he seems to forget everybody else in his zeal for thei

an idea

nk them

me. That seems to disappoint you, Miss Wal

Adela just raised her eyes from their reflective gaze on

ion. 'The principle seems a just one. Devotion t

e met Mr

de his acquaintance,

his scheme to

t it. He, of course, is delighted with it

to join?' Huber

hether they w

that of a bird that sings. How significant the la

ubert, 'are to be speedily enriched

a replied with some earnestness,

ed, least of all Mr. Mutimer himself. The workmen will receive just payment, not mer

ave gone deeply into these matters. How strang

redd

ngely, Mr

it has such a terrible canting sound. I hope you will

. Please don't think,' she added rather hastily, 'that I have become a Socialist. Inde

ritan maidenhood. From lips like Adela's it is delicious to hear such moral babbling. Oh, the gravity of conviction in

reply, she again raised the field-gla

brother on the roa

sitting in it! Oh, it is Mr. Mutimer's trap I see. He must

re great friends,

After gazing a litt

ome before I

o take leave. But Hubert prepared to walk by

aughing. 'I can't ask you to join in such childishne

replied soberly. 'We had better say good-bye. On

Mond

l becam

go to Agworth

n at Agworth. I am

to s

r, I don't quite k

to say good-bye

to-morrow afternoon, a

; the ve

l come to s

say it now, need we? It

to walk do

ere going to run

mer, piping behind the hedge. Till the turn of the road she continued walking, then Huber