Simon the Jester

im state of illumination, so that to one suddenly entering, the expression on our faces was not clear

however. She

t is worse than any one thought. It's incurable. He can't live

o me, and after a slig

s true,

had no desire to discuss my longevity with any one. I want to keep my miserable secret to myself. It was exasperating to have to entrust it even to

I replied, "but whether it's

t impression of our attitude had been a shock from which he found it diffi

soft-hearted and to take a tragic vi

rrested love for me suddenly gushing into his heart. "I had no idea of

and until I winced. I put my other hand on his

, the moribun

how can you ma

ut in a hearse, instead of a

he doctors told

going to live for a deuce of a time yet. A couple of weeks at least. And you'll very much oblige me by not whispering a word abroad about what you've heard this afternoon.

ews had bowled him over, he declared. He shook hands wit

you dropped fr

aight through. Didn

N

ent

ver g

arms about in

He walked up and down the railway station as if he owned the German navy and ran trains as a genteel hobby. I gave him ten marks to send the telegram. The miserab

a very simple and charming

thing yourself!" he

e way, I choose a humble and honest-looking porter and giv

of Europe with his tips. I've seen him give a franc to the black greasy devil tha

g again to Lola what a "splendid chap" I was. Poor lad! If he only knew what a treacherous, traitoro

hed. Then suddenly: "My hat! You two are fond of darkness! It

y air. He threw in the casual "Lola" as if he owned her. Dale is the most delightful specimen of the modern youth of my acquaintance. But even Dale, with all his frank charm of manner, has the modern youth's offhand way with women. I often wonder how women abide it

pted her usual lazy pantherine attitude in the armchair-and her glance was not that of a happy woman to whom a longed-for lover h

front of the fire. "It's good to come back to civilisation and a Christian language and a fireside-and other thi

little peace!" I cried. "Why hav

It seems the committee are divided b

f the place and got knighted by mistake. He also giv

at a public function 'The Mayor of Wymington must be like Caesar's wife-a

. "I who speak have suffered much at

one else up against me I wouldn't mind. Anyway, I'm running down to Wymington to-morrow to interview the committee. And if they choose me, then it'll

and planks and electioneering machinery, smiled with pensive politeness at the fire. Here was the Dale that I knew and loved, boyish, impetuous, sla

'll make love to the whole crowd. You won't mind, Lola, will you? There's safety in numbers. And when I have made love to them one by one I'll get 'em

tless be there," said I; "

They can't talk for cob-nuts, and think the Local Option has something to do with vivisection, and have a vague idea that champagne will be cheaper if we get Tariff Reform-bu

aign, and promised to write as soon as I got home to one or two me

ll adopt you!" I

mured Lola in

me an unpaid billet somewhere. But," he added, with a

won't make Raggl

addled across the hearth

mon. I'll stick my soul into it. It's the least I can do in this horrid cuckoo sort of proceeding, and I

he stood there full of his youth and hope. I suddenly felt quite old and withered at the root of my being, like some decrepit king who hands his crown to

ound mine in a more enveloping grip t

you again b

cried Dale. "Wher

south, out

he

ce," s

I wonder if you could fix up a little dinner here, Lola, f

eposterous inspiratio

e, if Mr.

e-to-morrow or the day after. We will have the dinner when

oda. Oh, the comfort of the rooms, the comfort of Rogers, the comfort of the familiar backs of the books in the shelves! I felt loth to leave it all and go vagabonding about the cold world on my lunatic adventure. For the first time in my life I cursed Marcus Aurelius. I shook my fist at him as he stood on the shelf within easy

the little

rsley for weeping me i

sius Papadopoulos for aiding

the army; for not letting me know whether he is alive or dead; for being, I

aintance; for bursting into the room at that unfortunate moment; for his generous, unsuspecting love fo

-just to show that

he splendid singleness of my purpose. I don't know what to think of myself. I have become a c

entanglement with an impossible lady, and to bring him to the feet of the most charming girl in the wo

g my poor Dale with a feeling which is neither more nor less than green-eyed jealousy. I am praying heaven to grant his adoption by the Wymington committee, not because it will be

r which can restore a eum

the eulogy, and, adopting his vernacular, declared that I should be jolly glad to get out of this rubbishy world. He protested. There was never such a world. It was gorgeous. What was wrong with it, anyway?

e into my head-but I couldn't help thinking you had cut me out! I wanted to tell you. You must forgive me for being such an ass. And I want to thank you for being so good to h

xcellencies, while he

grand idea. My little plan has succeeded so well wi

th do you me

ull by the horns and bring

you want to kill me outright? I can't

"Why shouldn't mother take a fancy to Lola? You

st difficulty in the world to persuade him to renounce his ma

vernus via Paris and the habitat of Captain Vauvenarde with a quiet conscience. I have allayed the anxiety of my sisters, whispered mysterious encouragement to Maisie Ellerton, held ou

on. He can scarcely contain himself for joy. He is like a child who has been told that he shall

the Ferney division of Wiltshire at the last general election. He i

estiny-a Gallic phrase which she must have picked up from Captain Vauvenarde. Then she buried her face in the bristling neck of Adolphus, the C

t you Dale

gmatically thr

ful. I don't des

e to think of it, was not fl

ime I ended this portion of my "Rule and Example of Eumoiriety," which

d comforts, is resigned to the prospect of Continental travel, and has gone

to-m