Love Eternal

in his future clerical career. The rest of the letter was full of complaints against the indignities that had been heaped upon him by Miss Ogilvy's executors and

d Godfrey to sign and return, authorizing

y, informing him that he had no power to sign such documents, he being in fact under age, and suggesting that he should refrain from doing so in the future. Enclosed were copies of th

early, and enclosed a draft for ￡25, which was more money than ever Godfrey had possessed before. This draft he was desired to acknowledge, an

would write again when he had anything to communicate, but that as yet he had not made up his mind as to his future, and proposed to stay where he was, continuing his studies, if his father would allow h

ng. Then, oppressed by memories of his kind friend into whose death chamber he had blundered, and, as it seemed to him, by a sense of her presence which he imagined was warning him of something, he left the house, telling the Pasteur, who was peering about him through his blue spectacles in a

jeweller's near by. There he acquired a necklace of amethysts set with great taste in local silver work, for Madame to wear, and a charming silver watch of the best Swiss make for Juliette. When he found that these objects involved an expenditure of fourteen sovereigns, he was a littl

rancs, and he coveted it greatly, but reflected with a sigh that having spent so much on others he could afford nothing for himself, for Godfrey was an unselfish soul. Instead he bought a collar of Swiss lace for Mrs. Parsons. Immediately after he left the

iselessly, except for the occasional crackle of a dead and frosted leaf beneath her foot. She wore a thick cloak of some sort with a black hood that framed her large, white face, making her look like a monk of the Inquisition as depicted in various old prints. Beneath the blackness of this hood and above the rigid line of the set m

, "so I have found you. I was walking through the town and a notion came to me that you were here, a-w

e wise to show fear of this woman, and greeted her as politely as h

a little while ago she will do, and she leaves you much money, though to me, her old friend, her sister in the speerit, she give not one sou, although she know I want it. Well, I think there some mistake, and I wish to talk to Sister Helen about this money business. I think sh

ead vigorously, but

sents, I think. Yes, yes, I see them in your pocket," and she fixed her e

smoke while he think of heaven, where one time he sit all day and do nothing for ever; lace for someone else, I know not who, and I think a charming ring for one who will not wear it just ye

abbled something about

my leetle friend. You come

y, "I have had en

ind her. But those dear speerits, they have not had enough of you; they very faithful souls, especially that pr

h me!

you come where I want and do what I wish. You do not believe me, eh? Well, now I show you.

him. In vain he struggled; he tried to step backwards, and instead went forwards, he tried to turn his head away, but those glowing eyes held and drew him as a magnet draws a needle. And as the needle rolls across the tabl

h. "Your dear godmamma thanks you, and you must run to catch that diligence. Au revoir till

elt like a spring which had been suddenly released. Next instant, still pu

d stammers offered them to the various members of the family. What rapture there was! Madame was delighted with her necklace, which she said and truly, was in the best of taste. Juliette kissed the watch, and looked as though she would like to kiss th

ning the ring, which inadvertently he had pulled out of his pocket with the other articles, although in truth she had observed it from the beginning. "Let us learn what it

y, overcome

myself,

ked at him a

he jeweller to make it big e

, and murmuring: "Quel mensonge! Quel bête mensonge!" while Madame broke into a low and melodi

noble pipe and becoming aware of what was passing. "We all have our presents, which are magnificent. What then is our affair with the ring? Par

of the stars, an occupation which absorbed Godfrey

at Juliette, who with her new watch held to her

rming," said Ma

liette, "so bright and e

d Madame. "When I

liette, opening h

English friend. I repeat

amma-after th

after tha

perhaps, and fond of what is far of

here is nothing nearer. At his ag

ther took a long step forward, for in truth she grew impatient with al

Madame as though to herself, "I do not

, would you

make sure that it

nd. She said nothing, but turned as red as Godfrey

oung, which is a fault that will mend," and she fixed her

ave a little si

o, at least, sometimes I think so, when he is

as the door cl

. Still, she is far away, and this one is near. But it could be wished that she were more experienced, for then, since she likes him well enough, all would be sure. What does a man count in

brace which she had forced him to impress upon her expansive forehead, haunted him for a while, also fears for the future. However, Sunday was s

ound his will, and drawing him towards Lucerne. As the day went on the tentacles grew stronger, till by evening there might have been a very octopus behind them. If this were so that night, he wondered what would happen on the following day, when the octopus began to pull. On one point he was determined. He would not go; never wou

s well aware that although he would not go-to Madame Riennes to wit-there was something stronger than himself which would make him go. It was the old story over again set out by St. Paul once and for ever, that of the two laws which make a shuttlecock of man so

emergency there rose the countenance of Miss Ogilvy's dying counsel, welcome and unexpected as light of the moon to a lost traveller on a cloud-clothed night. What had she told him to do? To resist Madame Riennes. He had tried that with lamentable results. To invoke the help of religion. He had tried that with strictly negative results; the Po

onfused, especially as Godfrey spoke in English, which the preceptor must translate into French in his own mind. By degrees, however, he became extraordinarily interested, so much so that he let the new pipe go out, and

at last I come in touch with the thing. Know, Godfrey, that you furnish me with a great occasion. Long hav

Succubi, and the developments of modern spiritualism, till Godfrey wa

impulse to go, go you shall, but I will go with you. Then we will see. Now to bed and sleep well. For me, I must study; I have many books on this subject, and there are points whereon I would refresh myself. Be not afraid. I know much of Madame Riennes and I will leave her flat as that," and with su

as might have been accessory to an incantation, repeated over him something in Latin, that, owing to the foreign accent, he could not in the lea

ct, were made by someone knocking on the door, perhaps to tell him there was a fire, and faintly murmured "Entrez." Then to his horror he became aware that they proceeded, not from the door, but from the back of his wooden

did not know where he had put the matches. He thought of flying to the Pasteur, but remembered that to do so, first he must get out of bed, and perhaps expose his bare legs to the assault of ghostly hands, and next that

pecially upon his hands, though he tried to protect these by placing them under his back. Now Godfrey knew something of the inadequate and clumsy methods affected by alleged communicating spirits, and half automa

the word "here" was spelt out, after which

determining that he would leave it at that. It was of no u

deed, he thought that this and other articles were being moved about the room. To stop this multiform assault

pirit girl here, in my bedroom! How can she? It is most

lothes tightly round him, and thrusting

his may have been fancy, were followed by a sound of ghostly laughter. What was more, the bedclothes suddenly slipped off him, or-oh ho

it was to see the daylight creeping into the room (never before had he appreciated so thoroughly the beauties of the dawn)

night and the cold had given him a chill "in the middle." They were very sympathetic, and dosed him with hot café-au-lait, but the Pasteur, studying him through the blue spectacles, said, "A

ed him to the observatory, where the stove was already lit, th

said, and Godfrey told him, feebly sugge

nt you, that is all. I thought she would. It is quite according to

s," said Godfrey, "I alway

d office among the High Alps. Also the Bible speaks of them often, does it not, and what was, is, and shall be, as Solomon says. Oh! why hesitate? Without doubt this wom

trange that she should have known about the things I had in my pocket th

in the villa you thought that the dead Mademoiselle was warning you against something? Well, perhaps she was, for she was a good woma

a little better," said Godfre

t is more, in a most inexplicable fashion his blue spectacles flew from his nose. Very solemnly he found and replaced them and then, with the utmost dignity, addressing himself

you sit under me where I can keep my eye on you. If you make one movement towards

t to move,"

ner we take a nice walk through the woods arm in arm. Yes, perhaps we go as far as Lucerne a

whole problem of the hidden influences which may, and probably do, affect the human soul. He gave a short but learned account of the history of demonology throughout the ages, which evidently he had at his fingers' ends. He distinguished between good and evil spirits, and while n

ange from his usual discourse upon their sins, since they at least had never practised demonology. But to Godfrey, to whom, indeed, it was addressed, it brought much comfort,

hat Godfrey began to feel very ill at ease. He fidgeted, h

" asked the Pasteur, who was keep

e. "Did not Monsieur Godfrey inform us tha

"Remain seated. In one minute I

me. "Never did I hear of such a thin

with a fixed and sickly smile upon his face. The Pasteu

e, with sympathy, "all da

e? A doctor in such a case perhaps, but a clergyman--! Mon Dieu! there they go, the two of them walking towards the woods. What a strange idea! And your father has

alone. Doubtless in time they will return. Pe

l! Stars a

hey are always there eve

come at night. The question

and gave it up, and so