Sandra Belloni -- Volume 2

explicable puzzle: "He was here, and did not come to me!" Since that night when they had walked home from Ipley Green, she had not suffered a moment of longing. Her senses had lain as

her heart; but as yet she was not out of tune for daily life, and she could imagine how that hour was to be strewn with new songs and hushed surprises. And 'thus' he would look: and 'thus.' "My hero!" breathed Emilia, shuddering a little. But now she was perplexed.

. The chaffinch and the linnet flitted off the grey orchard twigs, singing from new stations; and the bee seemed to come questioning the silence of the woods and droning disappointed away. The first excess of any sad feeling is half voluntary. Emilia could

and with that strange instinct of hearts beginning to stir, which makes them divine at once where they will come upon the secret of their own sensations, she ran down to the tree and peered on tiptoe at the embedded volume. On a blank page stood pencilled: "This is the last fruit of the tree. Come not to gather more." There was no meaning for her in that sentimental chord but she m

raced Mr. Barrett, and subsequently Cornelia. All moved on in a humming leisure, chattering by fits. Mr. Sumner was delicately prepared

his smile, Cornelia said: "Do you know, my feeling is, and I cannot at al

igion would descend upon her, p

quickly, "that she would stand

, on such topics and before such an audience, for a refined sentimentalist. More than once he betrayed a disposition to take refuge in

interview with her, and, in return, Edward was to perform the same service for him with Cornelia. So that Mr. Barrett was shockingly in the way of both; and the perplexity of these stupid fellows-who would insist upon wondering why the man Barrett and the girl Emilia (musicians both: both as it were, vagrants) did not walk to

ard murmured, in the voice

f flew the man like a rabbit into

at her elbow. His hand clasped the

ers," sa

ted to his initials.

ou ver

om Edward's neighbour

t Freshfield to

ds were accepted, in spite of blanched jowl and reddened under-lid. Cornelia threw him one glance: his eyes closed under

ella was seen as they came out the young br

or you. Papa has arriv

ho dines

itatingly s

we make pla

the tightening fingers with a responsive pressure. The group shuffled awkwardly together, though Adela did her best. She was very angry with Mr. Barrett for wearing that absurdly pale aspect. She was even angry with his miserable bankrupt face for mo

e happy?" she spoke lo

wa

ds was to colour violen

id not quite satisfy t

t in a trap: He had the

he releas

h of an engaged?" sai

been my idea under other cond

itions in life, are there not?" and left him

real matter of debate in her mind), "I want your opinion; will you give it me? Apropos of slang, why does it sit well on some people

n the introduction of a new topic. Habit made him, on this occasion, respond instantly; b

all it the language of nature! which anything...I beg your p

in submitting to the absolute tyranny?-I mean, I

risked phrases. A happy audacity of expression may pass. It is bad taste to repeat it, tha

en the extremes?" said Cornelia, in

ever shows staleness speedily is self-co

e employ it," was Adela's remark; and the discussion of th

, Adela tapped Emilia's cheek, addres

cles, who wrote from Milan to say that he has made arrangements for her

ssed below her neck

me away?"

ith the mournful flash of her eye

must be a born actress. They always exaggerate in that style, so t

suggested

she laughed

e, the ladies were informed of Sir Twickenham's observation: Sir Twickenham Pryme, a statistical member of Parliament, a well-preserved half-century in age, a gentleman in bearing, passably grey-headed, his whiskers brushed out neatly, as if he knew the

," said Mr. Pole, "that we

ith a relaxing look upon Cornelia: "Perhaps you might have fifteen, sixteen, perhaps for the first yea

" inquire

rzel," said

t her. Mr. Bar

o interest in such reckoni

take every interest

lity possesses simply the fascination of a form of strength. Sir Twickenham pursued his details. Day closed on Brookfield blankly. Nevertheless, the ladies fe

ITOR'S B

the party was

I request you, tha

ng that has to

his accusto

e hero, no mo

ainst coarseness be

ose characters are

er, had been snatch

green lane and acro

, who had a co

ully quick schola