Love Me Little, Love Me Long

tter propose to her in form, or authorize me to do so, before she goes to that Mrs. Bazalgette." This time it was Talboys that hung back. He

t female pique. She is bitter against us for shilly-shallying. These girls hate shilly-shally in a man. They are monopolists-severe monopolists; shilly-shally is one of their

quite sure of not being refused. No, I will not risk my proposal while she is under t

etically sealed against him ever so l

emissaries-dangerous ones, too. Who knows? her very coldness may be ve

eras. My niece cares nothing

w attachments are the strong

t--but with a view to matrimonial position. The worst of it is, that, while you fear an imaginary danger, you are running into a real one. If we are defeated it will not be by Dodd, but by that Mrs. Bazalgette. Why, now I think

of her own for Miss Fountain?" inquired Talboys,

probab

it is mere

at she has hers, if only to spite me? Add to this her strange visit to Font Abbey, and the somber influence she has left behind. And to this woman Lucy is going unp

that he would not propose in form now, but would give proofs of his attachment such as no lady could mistake; inter alia, he would be sure to spend the last evening with her, and would ride the first stage with her next day, squeeze her hand at parting, and look unutterable. And as fo

ing his hands with glee and spite-"under her own eye,

the way of the Dodds the

d. ("'Mule I.' I

cut and dr

r from Mr. Talboys. "He could not come that evening. His brother had just arrived

occurrence-deed of dreadful note-woke him. She was radiant, and held a note

hat Talboys was not to be there, he was indifferent again. But when h

and he can prove it. He has proved it to me, and I am none the wiser. So, as David is obliged to go away to-morrow, I

an," shouted Mr. Founta

uncle, I am so glad. H

series of leases. The three fields that went with Font Abbey had been let a great many times, and the landlord's name, Fountain in the latter leases, was Fontaine in those

ames of his three meadows. The names

then told Mr. Fountain the names of his three meadows, and curious names they were. Two of them were a good deal olde

he Melton e

earth did y

t for me. Overhaul it, sir; you will find the Melton estate has

his you

nd the new names took; likely he made a point of it with the people in the village. For all that, I have found one old fellow who stands out against them to this day. His name is Newel. He will persist in calling the field next to your house Snap Witcheloe. 'That is what my grandfather allus named it,' says he, 'and that is the name it went by afore there was ever a

don't be

, Mr. Dodd-

at Fontaine and Fountain are one, and that the first Fontaine came over here from Melton more than one hun

pompous respect into his voice and manner, "you shall never marry any man that cannot give you as good a home as Melton, and quarter as good a coat of a

nowing what he did. "You are a worthy and most intelligent young man, and you hav

His cheeks burned with blushes, his eyes glowed, his heart thumped, and the delicate white, supple, warm, velvet hand that nestled in his shot electric tremors through his whole frame, when glided, with well-bre

hould look," felt David, "if I saw her hand in his." He held Lucy's hand tight (she was just beginning to withdraw it), and gl

between the passions of the rivals. He rose hastily, and went to Talboys, and, under cover of a warm welcome, took care to let him

and Eve, and quietly assumed the part of principal personage. He then spoke to Lucy in a voice tuned for the occasion, to give the impression that

rt, in two minutes he had retaliated tenfold on David. As for Lucy, she was a good deal amused at this sudden public assumption of a tenderness the gentleman had never exhibited in private, but

untain removed him and parchments on pretense of inspecting the leas

g accents to accompany her the first stage of her journey. She did not

id, with alacrity: "I shall be delighted; it will vary the journey

swam before

her pure cool breath mingle with his hair, said to her uncle: "Mr. Talboys prop

I'll roll after y

must not keep you up the night before a journey," took leave with David. As he shook hands with Lucy, his imploring eye turned full on hers, and sought to dive into he

en, we are safe

have got

l; she doesn't care

es the first s

ll, what

have got

vice. This morning he did not appear at the breakfast table, and the servant had not seen him about. Eve ran upstairs full of anxiety. He was not in his

ot return for nearly half an hour, that seemed an age to Eve. The girl had lost some time by going to Josh Grace for information. Grace's house stood in an orchard; so

hadst better ask at the blacksm

's shop that David had gone by up the road about six in th

rd Ro

ver think to go all the way to

n. I think I know w

iring, her assumed

l with her. What mad act is he going to do?

have business at Royston, and take a seat beside Mr. Fountain. She felt that the very sight of her might prevent David from committing any great rashness or folly. On reaching the high road, she observed a

d as fast as she could after the gay cavalcade, a prey to one of those female anxieties w

companions and unconscious dependents were governed by her mood. She made them larks to-day, as she had owls for some weeks past, last night excepted. She would fall back every now and then, and let Uncle Fountain pass her; then come dashing up to him, and either pull up short with a piece

op in a county desecrated by Dodds. "I'll risk it now," said he; and he rode back to Fountain and imparted his intention, and

said Lucy, twisting her po

a while, began in strange, melodiou

f went the pony. Talboys followed, and at t

a sad blank here

dropped my comb." She felt under her hat. [No, viper, you have not dropped your comb, but you are feeling for a large black

oys; "for then we had not seen you. Ah! my d

s' horse, which instantly began to rear, and plunge, and snort. While Talboys, an excellent horseman, was calming

not miss; but, now that you have shone upon us, what can

y.

means joined Mr. Fountain. Lucy rode by his side, and got the carriage between her and her beau. By this plan she not only evaded sentiment, but matured by a series of secret trials her skill with her weap

cried Talboys; "he use

r, playful little love. H

s, and presently they rattled over the stones of Royston. Lucy commended her pony with peculiar earnestness to the ostler. "Pr

ect me." She took her seat in the carriage, bade a kind farewell to both t

virgin elud

ing (in the sweet consciousness of having baffled him), that F

ied, with gre

the despon

eched the other

u," was the h

ange your mind? Didn't

t d-d pony would

ain g

e clue? It may be useful to you, young gentlemen. Well, then, her sex are compounders. Accustomed from childhood never to have anything entirely their own way, they are content to give and take; and, these terms once accepted,

ongles. If her instincts had been reasons, and her vague thoughts could have been

oses. Seem to be pleased with your society? Why not? it is only for an hour or two, and my seeming to like it will not prolong it. My heart swells with

ing David's heart; and this was why she made the ride so pleasant to those she was at heart

own eyes and recalled her impression: "It must have been fancy. Ought I to wish to inspire such a passion as others have inspired? No, for I could never return it. The very language of passion in romances seems so extravagant to me, yet so beautiful. It is hard I should not be loved, merely because I cannot love. Many such natures have been adored. I could not bear to die and not

it is Mr. Dodd! Oh, Mr. Dodd,

N

ook so

d he flush

ay are y

again now," said

good-by," and she arched her eyeb

step. It will seem

rse; will you not ride my pony back for me? then I shall

arm would wither

I suppose it is beca

ell him to drive on?" and he looked a

fell be

, then,"

king voice to the p

ft him standing in the road

ver drew the carriage across the hill and shouted to David.

med. "Mr. Dod

hipped a piece of cord and a knife out of his pocket, and be

Dodd; our misfortune will elic

it is-I never hoped to

yes sought the ground;

our over it; but you would have been vexed, a

-oh! mayn't I say Miss Lucy t

d beseeching look. "Oh, Mr. Dodd, parting with those we esteem is always sad en

ted of sacrilege; "God forbid!" He muttered in a chok

r voice; but first she gave David he

They seemed iron to her-shaking, trembling, grasping iron. The carriage went slowly o

the hill, then sat down upon a heap of s

rse than he. I lost my self-possession; I should have checked his folly; he knows nothing of les convenances. He has hurt my hand, he is so rough; I feel his clutch now; there, I

her hands again and pondered, blushing higher and higher. Then the pale face that had always been ruddy before, the simple grief and agitation, the manly eye that did not know how to weep, but was so clouded and troubled, and wildly sad; the shaking hands, that had c

stole down

active as a cat. "He is like nobody else-he! he! Stay! is that to see the last of me-the very l

losed her eyes and smiled,

l the others and the

e me my mad, m

m be

m ad

mise

down and hurried from the place. He found the pony at

ostler did pro

r walking a mile or two he mounted the pony, to sit in her seat, not for ease. Walking thirty miles w

h sudden delight. At the double shock to his senses the pony thought his end was come, and perhaps the world's. He shied slap into the hedge and stuck there-alone; for, his rider swaying violently the reverse way, the girths burst, the saddle peeled off the pony's back, and David sat griping the pom

a bit. The pony groveled out of the ditch and cantere

e was now a little ashamed of her apprehensions; and, besides, when she leathered David, she was, in her own mind, serving him out for both frights.

friendly acquaintances; all depends on how it was done, and that you don't tell me." Then she put several subtle questions

n to think

said she, "and le

y!" sa

with a horseman riding beside it; and, as the pedestrians drew aside, an ironical voi

yston, and, as they returned, Talboys, whose wounded pride had now fermented, told Mr. Fou

engaged for me to play the up-hill g

st girl. If she was to be 'won unsought,' s

Talboys, "but that is no reason why I

saw the wound it had received was incurable. He sighed and w

bete noir with a grim smile. Here at least was one he had defeated and banished from the fair. What on earth was the man doing? Oh, he had been giving his sister a rid

port by now,

the animal of that pa

d David,

saw through his sneers, bit her

these gentlemen had done their worst against David, and that henceforth the battlefield could never again be Font Abbey, decided for re

ys bowed

that it belongs to a charming young lady-you have

in a tone from which all the iro

er pony home; she would not

Talboys,

e came off, and the pony ran home; so then Dav

Fountain to Royston, an

beyond Royston," said

there? Did he go all that way to take her or

with a scornful laugh; "that is being too inquisitive

urred on, followed by the phae

'une femme e

n't come under our guns again, or we shall blow you out of the water.

an

it is not for me to b

rything. I'll tell you what I ha

ack up to the mizzen-top,

David. Now don't you speak to me

as gone adrift," cried David, "but I've got the gear safe. Stow it away"; and as he spoke he chucked the saddle a distance of some six yards on to the bandy-legged g

calm," remarked David, with so

, have you

ter all there is no harm done; they can't hurt us much now. It is not h

st five week

p her passengers

Eve,

for accepting her invitation. Stay your last week in her house. There will b

wil

be man enough to tear

I will win her. I must win her. I can

ell, sir, what

e; forgive me if I have brought you into a mortifying collision. To be defea

ersonal question. For your sake, for her sake, I must save her from a degrad

odd. The old one would smell a rat dire

shall have a

all my influence with her.

d cannot penetrate

ourse

will be Mr

rse she

, and that makes him forget the social distance between him and me. And yet why suspect him of audacity? Poor fellow, he had not the courage to say anything to me, after all. No; he will go to sea, and forget his folly before he comes back." Then she had a gust of egotism. It was nice to be loved ardently and by a hero, even though that hero was not a gentleman of distinction, scarcely a gentleman at all. The next moment she blushed at her own vanity. Next she was seized with a sense of the great indelicacy and unpardonable impropriety of letting her mind run at all upon a person of the other sex; and shaking her lovely s

h a spirit and rapidity from which, if we male spectators of these ardent encounters were wise, we might slyly learn a lesson, Aunt Bazalgette suddenly darted her mouth at Lucy's ear, and whispered a few words with an animation that struck everyb

ispered into Lucy's ear at that momen

e had it

ngs in her bedroom). "W

now? Mr. Hardie is

ing far more distinguished. His manner is good. Th

ow and then. He must not be neglected; Bazalgette would murder us. Apropos, remind me to ask him to tell you Mr. Hardie's story, and

curious, aunt. Ca

hy one breaks and another doesn't! all that is quite beyond me. Bazalgette is your man. I had no idea your mousseli