Love Me Little, Love Me Long

to-day." She made no remark; she respected her uncle's preference; besides-the pony! Of these trios Mr. Fountain was the true soul. He

e started them they can go on." Besides, he had seen pictures in the

syllables dropping out at intervals like minute-guns, or to find Lucy gone and Talboys reading the coals. Then the schemer sig

ster to tea thrice a week on the off-nights; this joyous pair amused the old gentl

at he bade her invite them. "I hardly know how t

ery night. Am I to have no amusement?" he added,

rgot; for

too, pray? Why, you are as dull

r, dull

er taking it at all. "I am never dull with you, dear uncle," said she; "but a third person, however estimable, is a certain restraint, and when th

; what do I ask them for to

Talboys

expression that the old gentl

hen, to turn it off, he said hastily,

forget that, and then perhap

d him to bring i

said Lucy

so warmly; so that was only your extravagant politeness after all.

ed on Mr. Fountain to ask David to bring his violin next time. Lucy had shivered internally. "Now, of all the screeching, whining things that I d

then, the Dodd

one sketch I gave of his manner and matter must serve again and again. Were I to retail to the reader all the droll, the spirited, the exciting things he told his hearers, there would be no room for my own little story; and we are al

story-teller always about them-a live story-teller. Would

le-one to make me la

al to your brother's. Pray go on, Mr. Dodd. It

they observing, came ever with their tails soaped like pigs at a village feast; and how some foolhardy sailors would venture into the town at the risk of their lives; and how one day they had to run for it, and when they got to the shore their boat was stolen, an

quarterdeck had been issued that no man should leave the ship: what was to be done? It was a moonlight night. They met, silent as death, between decks-daren't speak above a whisper, for

and cries, "Messmates, I've

awkwardness, introduced the Dodds to Mr. Talboys: he bowed a little stiffly, and there was a pause. Eve could not repress a little movement of

body that likes these sea-yarns as you do, Eve. No

than most story-telle

lacency, politeness, and tout m'est egal. Eve could have beat her for not taking David's part. "Doubleface!" thought she. She then devo

s a first-rate freezer. He was one of those men who cannot shine, but can eclipse. They darken all but a vain man by c

discordant with the rising sentiment. Was he droll, Talboys did a bit of polite gravity

sed and Talboys conquered-"spell" benumbed "charm." The sea-wizard yielded to the petrifier, and "could no more," as the poets say. Talboys smiled superior. But, as his art was a purely destructive one, it ended with its victim; not havi

his fiddle," said she, sha

it?" asked Mr. F

him" (with a glance o

n her chair, wore her "tout m'est egal face," and Eve watched her like a cat. First her eyes opened with a mild astonishment, then her lips parted i

lyre of Orpheus, a fiddle the harp of David, a chisel a hewer of heroic

mighty, but the sweet soul of pathos is absent; doleful, not nice and tearful. Then comes the Heaven-born fiddler,* who can make himself cry with his own fiddle. David had a touch of this witchcraft. Though a sound musicia

ion of the Heaven-b

ker and celestial v

iciency on that in

ddler "till he can

dd

layed so well he

othing but their

tire is! Don't they

il

s and one master of the rolls, and, they declining, pity them without a shade of anger, and substitute three chairs; then sit unabashed and smiling at the past; and the nex

ace would have interested

he said to herself: "Well, David is right, after all; she is a lovely girl. Her features are nothing out of the way. Her nose is neither one thing nor the other, but her expression is beautiful. None of your wooden faces for me. And, dear heart, how her neck rises! La! how he

, pianoforte and violin. Miss Fountain objected, "Why spoil the violin?" David objected too, "I had hoped to

ct? But it does not matter; I feel s

eing secretly convinced he could. "Ca

Fountain?" Lucy ne

looked promising, and the performanc

Eve, concealing her uneasiness under

ned David to Miss Fountain,

id Lucy, c

, more or less

ou forget

all means, Mr. Dodd. I a

ay be the instrument that is out of t

d, simply, "I w

Play me a few bars first in

etting too fast; 'ri tum tiddy, iddy ri tum ti;" then, by stamping and accenting very strongly, he kept the

you a great deal o

s a great deal of pleasu

piano-forte players play so much by themselves,

y by themselves," said Mr. Talboys. "Be merciful, and l

d the reque

piano by a pianist of the day. David sat on her

lboys did a bit of r

is pla

have seen her beautiful fingers thread in and out among the keys; it was like white fir

. Dodd," said

You see I heard it by the eye, and that was all in its f

av

me to think? Up and down the gamut, and then down and up. No more sense in it than a b c-a scramble to t

eles!" said

d Talboys; "play no more; punis

book. "This was my mother's. Her taste was pure in music, as in every

, evoked the soul of her instrument, as David had of his, and she thought of her mother as she played. These were those golden strains from which all mortal dross seems purged. Hearing them so played, you could not realize that he who writ them had ever eaten, drunk, smoked, snuffed,

ked round a

applaude

in David's eye, a

eproachfully, "I'm sure if

"more shame for me if it does not. Please is n

k your heart for that: h

antly, and blew his nose-promptly, with

lows its nose to hide its sensib

laying too, and an instrument he hated-second fiddle. He rose and

, exulting, "we ha

ed her uncle and Mr. Talboys. Eve whispered David: "Gone to smoot

is manners. Look! it is the old gentleman she is bein

kind to you if you are ever mad enough to let he

there is to see, I'll wage

they take a fancy; their sister is nothing to

that, Eve-now

, instead of that, if it was so, she would more likely be shy and half afraid to come near them. David, you are in a fool's paradise. In company, and even in flirtation, all sorts meet and part again; but it isn't so with marriage. There 'it is beasts of a kind that in one are

murmured David, humbly; "but" (his eye glowing

on her. She is a lady-a perfect lady-and that is why she is above giving herself airs. No, David, she is not the one to treat us with disrespect, if we don't forg

old you I was in

? Who asked you to tell me? I

gly, "I don't hear of any

g men everywhere. If she was a milkmaid, they'd turn to look at her with such a face and figure as that, much mor

for David's face quivered, and he sighed like one

though at a considerable distance, compelled both brother and sister, though anything but calm, to speak sotto voce. But in the h

pirited, be a man! Don't throw away such a treasure as your affection. For my

t bitters. Yes. Thank you, Eve. I do admire her v-very much," and his voice faltered a little.

s right

pe she will be-happy-ah!-whoever she fancies. But, if I am never to command her, I won't carry a willo

ook now. Is it a promise, David? for I know

my hand on

out to withdraw his, Eve's soft but vigorous little hand cl

ve

de

't you b

is sad, not cro

Eve-dea

speak your mind to

ning her, as old as Adam, and as stale as bilge-water? You that are so keen, how comes it you don't notice her eyes at these times

and you tell them like a book. You came all fresh to this lady, and, as she is very quick, she had the wit to see the merit of your descriptions directly. I can see it myself now. All young women like to be amused, David, and, above all, excited; and your stories a

is some little feeling for me inside th

ou she is so to all the world. She isn't the first I've

an fathom one another better than any m

interesting a story as ever was. You

? What was

the sailors was in danger of his life, and so on. You never told me the story before; I was no

ll him a fin

eyes, she was hot after your story; the moment he did come, she didn't care a pin for you nor your story. I gave her more than one opening to bring it on again; not she. I tell you, you are nothing but a pass time;* you suit her turn so long

as the lady though

t

, suddenly remembering where he was, and that this was an attitude to attract attention, he tried to laugh-a piteous effort; then he ground h

ke. I am only waiting to catch her eye

ggedly on the ground. "I won't look at her if I can help it,"

id," whis

her group. Miss Fountain turned at their approach. Somewhat to

re to

at

de me a

w," said David

you see her gi

t what has that

y, Please stay a little longer;

Heav

d her to put me in the way of getting one ma

her heart. I saw her look up, but that was all. How is a poor fellow to make out such

, he is going

in's face seemed to catch fire. Her sweet complacency gave way to a half-joyous, half-irritated small energy. She came gliding swiftly

hat is it?" and he turne

eans in these narratives-have we, Miss Dodd?) 'and cried, "I have it, messmates. Tom isn't dead yet."' Now, Mr. Dodd, between that sentence and the one that is to

she would like some mo

character and manner in the last sentence struck the sister as very droll-seemed to the brother so winning, that, scarcely master of himself, he burst out: "You shan't ask me twice for that, or anything I can give you;" and it was with

ve went hom

te, but waited for Eve to con

refrain no longer. "

too good to be wast

convoy to close up. Would

re you go pelt

canvas, with a cargo of angels'

nshi

t to do; you keep your head free, and come on under easy sail; I'll stand across

ily down the middle of the lane; the great merchantman went pitching and rolling acro

hed once, but she sm

-ditty so loud, and clear, and mellow, that windows opened, and out came

d walked slowly with Mr. Talboys in another direct

umble neighbors

here. They are receive

ociety, o

d you. Have not I

nfused. "You did not meet them; you did me and my niece the honor to

is

iety would go to the deuce without them. We ask our friends, and persons of our own class, to dinner, bu

y and

She is saucy enough, an

e man I a

hy lad. He is a downright mod

let me ask you a serious question: hi

ation of Mis

greeable

of consummate in

pertinence, and a desire to please instead of putting him down, th

o to school to you on most points, can be of use to you here." Then, seeing that Talboys was mortified at being told thus gently there was a depar

reter to explain the pleasure hi

I'll give you the clue to Lucy; she is a female Chesterfield, and the droll thing is she is poli

sort of partiality she showed for t

ould really prefer their society to yours, you are as unjust to her as yourself. She may have concealed her real preference out of

lf convinced. "Her enthusiasm when the cub sc

went beyond hers-ha! ha! ha! To-morrow night, if you l

ave no wish to go bey

but in five minutes you will fancy Lucy will have made Jack Absolom at home in my drawing-room. He will b

f politeness?" inquired Tal

y n

ps, for the same motive?" sai

d back them at

a subject turning to joke which he had commenced seriously. He must stop this

ir solemn tone, the senior pricked his

frequently at your

being welcome

ned one reason of my ver

gh to attribute them entir

mage I render to th

eign

te as to have he

r means of knowi

es you might have sou

however reasonable. I awaited your authority to take any move in so delicate a matter. Can you blame me? On one

r delicacy, though I am about to remove its cause. I declare myself

warmest wishes f

pe to succeed, provided I ha

care you shal

s buzzing about the lady whose aff

moon above. The moon does not respond to all this wonder by descending into the whelp's jaws-no more will my niece. But that is neither here nor there;

the lady. Would it not be possi

less. She would not stir

s. Well, then, in that case, though as you say I am n

our friends, not attack them with reasons.

as well out of it," said Talboys, with a sudden affectation

-d ni

e real hold upon society has the man

found out your vulnerable point, my friend. I'll tell Lucy; how she will laugh. David Dodd! Now we know how to manage him, Lucy and I. If he freezes back again, we have but to send for David Dodd and his fiddle." He bust

bell. "Where is Miss Fountain?" John didn't

never know anything.

d courtesied dem

nt to speak to her direc

and come to him. This smooth and fair-sounding proposal was not, I grieve to say, so graciously received as offered. "Much obliged," snapped old Fountain