Our Friend the Charlatan

ability, inclining to pensiveness. The features were in no way remarkable; they missed the vigour of his father's type without attaining the regularity which had given his mot

. Often he had the air of a lyric enthusiast; often, that of a profound thinker; not seldom there came into his eyes a glint of stern energy which seemed a challenge to the world. Therewitha

but left a defect to the finer sense. Dyce had not the self-oblivion of entire courtesy; it seemed probable that he would of

med with its purest blue. He spoke in the tone of rapturous enjoyment, and yet one might have felt a doubt whether his sensibility was as keen as he professed or imagined; all the time, he appeared to be thinking of something else. Most of his remarks w

s the station," he said, when

ith a quick glance at Mrs. Lashmar's face, s

mpanied her; the vicar went with them to the ga

r, Miss Bride," he said. "I sho

Dyce, as he and his companion walke

ollin

g for two or three hours

at something w

rve yourselves, and wonder that you get all sorts of ailments. Why wouldn't you stay at the vicarage to-

t care much for staying

f each other, and to exhaust the topics of the time in long conversations, tending ever to a closer intimacy of thought and sentiment. The companionship was not very favourably regarded by Mr. Lashmar, and to the vicar's wife was a source of angry apprehension. There came the evening when Dyce and Constance had to bid each other good-bye, with no near prospect of renewing their talks and rambles together. What might be i

ed of Mr. and Mrs. Lashmar's disposition, held no correspondence with the vicar of Alverholme; his wife had never been on friendly terms with Mrs. Lashmar. H

were his next words. "What

y th

it to the

d, and it's much

dy Ogram?" asked Dyce,

there's a worse-tempered person living, yet she has all sorts of good qualities. By birth, she belongs to the w

with increas

y views?" h

ance answered, with

questions-that

ecia

rised if she called

-when she thinks it will a

led medi

I should very much like to know

least bias of sexual prejudice; should view her simply as a fellow-being, who, according to circumstances, might or not be on his own plane. Away with all empty show and form, those relics of barbarism known as chivalry! He wished to discontinue even the habit of hat-doffing in female presence. Was not civility preserved between man and man without such idle form? Why not, then, between man and woman? Unable, as yet, to go the entire length of his principles in every-day life, he endeavoured, at all events, to cultivate in his intercourse with women a frankness of speech, a directness of b

usque; she imagined it to imply a purposed oblivion of things in the past. Taken together with Mrs. Lashmar's way of receiving her at th

is companion had walked a few paces without spea

likes to know int

a way. Her subject is mine. I'm working at sociology; have been for a l

the girl, without ra

o learn how to talk-to talk well-to communicate what I have to say in a few plain words. It saves time and money; I'm convinced, too, that it carries more weight. Everyone no

erhaps you

you more; but here's the station, and there's the smoke of the train.

iage-door for herself. That was quite in accord with his principles, but perhaps he would for once

Ogram?" he said, standing by the window,

ed, meeting his look with hard s

llingford, the address? Su

you

ad, and, as he turned away, though

his sanguine temper bore him to heights of brilliant possibility. Dyce Lashmar had a genius for airy construction; much of his time was spent in deducing imaginary results from som

had taught him that he possessed a certain power over women of a certain kind; it seemed probable that Constance belonged to the class; but this was a fact which had no emotional bearing. With a moment's idle wonder he remembered t

tered the drawing-room again. "You write one day that you're coming in a week or two, and on

eplied, "and I found myself free for

say that it m

dge that she counted for little or nothing with him was an annoyance, rather than a distress

something even more than usual. When they had risen from table, Mrs.

till doing no

swered the young man, as one indu

ay. When did you

for a l

ents, you should be content to go on teaching children their A. B. C. You have no energy, Dyce, and no ambition. By this ti

adopted-generally after dinner. "Why should one always be thinking about 'getting on?' It's the vi

s with a lord?" cried Mrs.

at all, is probably about the most distinguished man in the peerage. He is dis

e circumstances of Lord Dymchurch, took less pride in him, but went on to ask questions. Had his lor

n't be so impatient, mother. If I am to do anything-in your sense of the wo

ight be the coming man, and you'

lau

all events, it's something to know that you believe

ke. The young man brought with him a large paperbacke

& Norgates'. This caught my eyes, and a glance at a page or two intere

ing nowadays," sighed

er, bearing recent date. Mr. Lashmar listlessly turned a

ciety founded on the facts of biology-thoroughly scientific and convincing. Smashing socialism in the common sense that is, social democr

perha

rganic development means the slow constitution of an organ-the brain-which shall direct the body. So in society-an association of individuals, with slow constitution of a directing organ, called the Government. The problem of civilisation is to establish government on scientific principles-to pick out the fit for rule-to distinguish be

car, who listened with an effort wh

t from it. The book has given me a stronger impulse than anything I've read for years. It carries conviction with it. It cl

e, Dyce, I want to speak to you about a matter that has been

of uneasiness. He regarded the vicar stead

ll be no less so to you than to me. I've postponed the necessity as long as I could. The f

had his feet crossed, his head bent, and the pipe hanging from hi

nother word about that, father. You ought to h

ll now. But, as you see, things begin to l

rs. Woolstan, and that's quite enough for a bachelor. I shall pick up something else. In any cas

more agreeable to him than the uttering of generous sentiments.

ing, but, believe me, I am not idle. Money-making, I admit, has never been much in my mind; all the same, I shall have money enough one of these days, and before very long. Try to have faith in me. If it were necessary, I shouldn't mind entering into an obligation to furnish such and su

k like that," said the vicar, ventur

f my supplies, and go quietly on." He stretched out a soothing hand, palm downward

m the sound of his praises. He went to bed, at length, in such a self-approving frame of mind that no sooner had he laid hi

ndon address, and he knew at a glance that it came from Mrs. Woolstan, the mot

Mr. La

want to see you. Something has happened which we must talk over at on

erely

WOOL

pt too soundly; his head was not quite clear, and his nerves felt rather unsteady. This note from Mrs

ow, travelling to Hollingford. Now he felt no inclination to ha

aid his father, when thi

me back sooner than I

an, seemed to her an ignoble thing. However, she had learnt the tenor of Dyce's di