Evan Harrington -- Volume 3

l Rose had encircled him with. Strange that he should have rushed into his dream with eyes open! But he was fully awake now. He would speak his

the circle more swiftly. Here was Evan mouthing his farewell to Rose, using phrases so profoundly humble, that a listener would have taken them for bitter

ears. A last gust from the opposing quarter shook the furzes and the clumps of long pale grass, and straight fell columns of rattling white rain, and in a minute he was closed in by a hissing ring. Men thus pelted abandon without protest the hope of retaining a dry particle of clothing on their per

oman gathered up with her gown over her head. Apparently, Mr. Evan Harrington was destined for these encounters. The thunder rolled as he stopped by her side

back her garment, and stand and give him up her a

g sob, as it seemed. And as if heave

ctly? The words he fancie

t bo

p and long from end to end, like

s shoulder, seized the soaked garment, and pulled it back, revealing the feat

ed at him p

; oh, ain't I punis

id resembled a w

m that abject sense of the lack of a circumference, which takes the pride out of women more than anything. Note, that in all material fashions, as in all mo

on, don't laugh a

t he was seriously e

' said Polly, giving up her arms, a

e up behind him, and Polly settled there, and squeezed h

ce the West became visible, and a washed edge of red o

ing to be punished? What b

llow field to see my poo

half

bring you here

nd I, to pay him out, I determined I'd walk it where he shouldn't overta

s the s

. Nicholas

will be very unhapp

ort,' said Polly ruef

nfidentially together in a very short time. His 'Are you cold?' when Polly shivered, and her 'Oh, no; not very,' a

Frim mustn't see us ri

v

I to get down, sir?' Pol

e jea

I make hi

ery naugh

are. Mother says, we never go righ

right from this

odley, and then at our cousin's at Hillford, and then she was off to Lymport to drown her poor self, I do believe, when you met

ok very

'I can see myself a fright, like my Miss Rose did, making a face in the looking-glass when I was

's t

. She'd neve

e so s

Miss Bonner 'd be in a fury to see my-though I'm sure we're quite respectable, Mr. Harrington-my having hold of you as I'm

aged?' c

from my lady, the Countess. We all think so at Beckley. Why, look h

ay of bringing out a word a

the hand of Miss Bonner. He said: 'Is it your mis

aid Polly. 'But I'm afraid I'm in

' said Evan. 'Make

t do?' as

ch the damp locks of hair straggled. The maid was fair

shing, and so earnestly that he had to regard it again, and compromised the case b

with a spasm of passion: 'Oh! I know the colours of my bo

iss Wheedle's mind easy with regard to her appeara

going to marry her some day, "She didn't like my lady, the Countess, taking Mr. Harry to herself like that." I can't a-bear to speak his name, but I suppose he's not a bit more selfish than the rest of men. So Mr. Laxley said-just like the

ng her to the subject-matter with

elled meditatively back.

handkerchief-it 's the only dry thi

test,' Polly replied, '

ck, if you'll stop, sir

can narrate when they feel

t some things"- What do you mean, Ferdinand," was her words, "I insist upon your speaking out." Miss Rose always will call gentlemen by their Christian names when she likes them; that's always a sign with her. And he wouldn't tell her. And Miss Rose got awful angry, and she's clever, is my Miss Rose, for what does she do, Mr. Har

an, 'I was on

ad to take such long br

s my arms are

they can do,' murmu

t, s

drown th

nd-worse or better; and she was silent, which made him savage, I could hear by his voice. And he said, Mr. Harrington, "You meant it if she did not." "No," says she, "I know better; he's as honest as the day." Out he flew and said such things: he s

say?' asked E

things of him,' Polly went on, 'she'd neve

e say?' Eva

ure, and means no more harm than he can help. Oh, I didn't hear what he said of you, sir. Onl

bout the loo

ressing of her. Miss Rose has a beautiful figure,

sake, stay w

hurt me. So when I had her nearly undressed, we were talking about this and that, and you amongst 'em-and I, you know, rather like you, sir, if you'll not th

The horse had reared

Evan. 'Hold ha

ord that seems to make you hate the idea. I shouldn't like

gallop Poll

said Eva

press you so,' cried Polly; 'and I'm

ell to a canter, and then trotted

and you never saw anything so funny. It was enough to make anybody laugh; but Miss Rose, she seemed as if she couldn't forget how ugly i

ur. Miss Wheedle to her great surprise was suddenly though safely dropped; and on her return to the ground the damsel instantly 'knew

beneath them? What has suddenly cut him short? Is he diminished in stature? Are

thed upon: you, too, are skinned alive: but this miserable youth is not only flayed, he is doomed calmly to contemplate the hideous image of himself burning on the face of her he loves; making beauty ghastly. In vain-for he is two hours behind the dinner-bell- Mr. Burley, the butler, bows and offers him viands and wine. How can he eat, with the phantom of Rose there, covering her head, shuddering, loathing him? But he must appear in company: he has a coat, if he has not a skin. Let him button it, and march boldly. Our comedies are frequently youth's tragedies. We will smile reservedly as we mark Mr. Evan Harrington step into the midst of the fair society of

illiard-room: Drummond is engaged in converse with a lovely person with Giorgione hair, which the Countess intensely admires, and

re she had wounded him, he had a curious desire to compare her with the phantom that had dispossessed her in his fancy. Unconsciously when he sa

d by any of the passions to wakefulness, may know more of the other than its owner. Why had Rose covered her head and shuddered? Would the girl feel that for a friend

ind to him in the morning? She had since tried to help him, and that had appeased her conscience, for in truth he was a good young man. Those very words she mentally pronounced, while he was thinking, 'Would she feel it for a friend?' We dare but guess at the puzzle young women pres

to find a vacant seat with a neighbour. Juley Bonner was curled up on the sofa, looking like a damsel who has lost the third volume of an exciting novel, and is divining the cli

ersation with the g

y brother!' thinks t

e it, even though she is not playing to the ear of William Harvey, for whom billiards have such attractions; but, at the close of the performance, Rose is quiet enough, and the Countess observes her sitting, alone, pulling the petals of a flower

when it has got a wound: for it will not go into a corner complaining, it will fight its duel on the field or die. Did the young lady know his origin, and scorn him? He resolved

pted speech in Fallow field, he was nerved to face the truth in the eyes of all save Rose. Now that the truth had enmeshed his be

th the general air was not to be endured -was death! This, I believe, is common in cases of injury by fire. So it befell that Evan, meeting Rose the next morning was playfully asked by her what choice he had made between the white and the red; and

owed himself to think, and he strolled out on the lawn with the

ung gentleman's unreflective face; after which Harry was drawn away by the appearance of that dark star, the Countess de Saldar, whom Rose was beginning to detest. Jenny glided by William Harvey

ear you,' causing her to close her perf

a girl talk with her own heart an hour, and she is almost a woman. Rose came down-stairs dressed for riding. Laxley was doing her the service of smoking one of her rose

him, for in his dim state of consciousness absence of the power of retort is the prominent feature, and when he has the suspicion of malicious tongues at their

ear friend Mr. Laxley appeared, by the ca

. 'Never mind! she'll bite at him

the Countess. 'Why are you not co

in possession. Besides-!' and

e about her,' sa

Evan were standi

going alone, Ros

ss you wish to join us

ur disposal

odded

he trees,' said Laxle

t come, F

ll up the gap. One do

she would not ride at all, and, gathering

d away, Evan st

precipitated by the dev

quit the field; if I go I

y. 'But if it 's what I suppos

know you

e tied m

under cover of s

to unsay-tell me you ha

in a flash, as Evan measured his qualities beside this

ooked the thing he ca

zzling shield to her br

indicator of him; though

his family that ni

noy me,' said Laxley. 'I can give you a l

or an appointed settlement. Harry rushed off to them with a shout, and they separated; Laxley speaking a word to Dru

y of her brother's recent handling of Laxley, and while her intense gratification at the success of her patient management of her mos

had said, in Fallow field, that he was not a gentleman, in order to escape the consequences. All the Jocelyns laughed at his tenacity, and 'gentleman' began to be bandied about in ridicule of the arrogant lean-headed adolescent. Evan was placable enough, but dogged; he decline

d still more the serious way in

having friends, Emil

gmatic philosophy. She said: 'Quelle enfantillage! I dare say Rose was at the bottom of it: she can settle it best. Defer the encounter betw

u, by all possible means, to keep the occurrenc

celyn; 'but I wager you she does. You can teach

urn for one of his jokes: an exchange so manifestly unfair, that Lady Jocelyn's womanhood, indifferent as she was, could not

since her residence in Beckley. She let him see that he must be on a friendly footing with everybody in the house, or go which latter alternative Evan told her he had decided on. 'Yes,' said the Countess, 'a

nded not to s

sighing a great sigh. She had, with violence, stayed her mouth concerning what she knew of the Fallow field business, dreading to alarm his sensitiveness; b

s, were accordingly lured to the billiard-room, and pushed together: and when he had succeeded in thrusting the idea of Rose from the dispute, it did seem such folly to Evan's common sense, that he spoke with pleasant

iled, and yet more, to have lied and fretted her conscience, for nothing, was as little her pri

n, who is coming, whom you would push here-will expose us, without a soul to guide his conduct, for I shall not remain. And Carry

ter Caroline, incidentally related to him an epis

e martinet for the discipline he upholds,' th

to recover from one bruise,' she ad

from the Countess to C

s content t

) her home was not very happy. She did not entreat him, but looking resigned, her lovely face conjured up the Major to Evan, and

ord about Lymport; called him a brewer already, and made absurd jokes, that were serviceable stuff nevertheless to the Countess, who deplored to this one an

shut his eyes while somebody else popped it into his mouth, and assumed his responsibility. Being man-driven or chicaned, is different from being managed. Being managed implies being led the way this other person thinks you should go: altogether for your own benefit, mi

n he wrote himself tailor, than w

ce and gaze, said: 'How generous of you to forgive my friend, dear Evan!' And the ravishing little glimpse of womanly s

ITOR'S B

delusions, just as a

her husband. But

f the lack of

being wilfully r

't abide praise

not re-assuring to a

now and then in

you are perfect with

tenance the Cou

the third volume o

re domesticated

married isn't in lo

not his own; but h

means no more har

enough the finer sta

frequently while I a

ubtle love will not b

ed Evan. 'I

'Only when I ma

o amuse him. He

ufacturer-bartered he

n above the hon

e frequently yo

give immeasu

e subject-matter wi

young men must fig

much behi

I done? 'Nothing

clever you ou

ship practicable be

the vanity accordi

mack of crabbed ag

late, so that al

nd was as much so as

n an instant on beha

you don't live to

wash it down, one

want

r mother wit