The Emancipated

establishment kept by Mrs. Gluck on the Mergellina;-frequented by English and Germans, and very comfortable. The recommendation was a just one. Mrs. Gluck enjoyed the advantage of having liv

esided. Indeed, there was much true refinement in Mrs. Gluck. You had not been long in her house before she found an opportunity of letting you know that she prided herself on connection with the family of the great musician, and under her roof there was generally some one who played o

he regarded this innocent student as a person of most doubtful character, who, if in ignorance admitted to a respectable boardinghouse, should certainly have been got rid of as soon as the nature of her reading had been discovered. Frau Wohlgemuth had once or twice been astonished at the severe look fixed upon her by the buxom English lady, but happily would never receive an explanatio

nse was intellectual society. This would be her second winter at Naples, but she gave her acquaintances to understand that Italy was by no means the country of her choice; s

comeliness, but in the matter of costume she lacked her sister's discretion. Her colours were ill-matched, her ornaments awkwardly worn; even her hair sought more freedom than was consistent with grace. The youngest girl, Zillah, who was about nineteen, had been less kindly dealt with by nature; like Barbara, she was of very light comp

ns and prejudices recognized as feminine, frittering away their lives amid the follies of the drawing-room and of the circulating library. Culture was their pursuit, heterodoxy their pride. If indeed it wer

er of Rome, and before long she was sure to murmur rapturously, "Roma capitale d'Italia!"-the watch-word of antipapal victory. Of English writers she loved, or affected to love, those only who had found inspiration south of

tin were beyond her scope, but from modern essayists who wrote in the flamboyant style she had gathered enough knowledge of these literatures to be able to discourse of them with a very fluent inaccuracy. With all schools of painting she was, of course, quite familiar; the great masters-vulgarly so known-interested her but moderately, and to praise them was, in her eyes, to incur a suspicion of philistini

resources, yet her zeal to support the credit of the family was always driving her into hurried speech, sure to end in some disastrous pitfall. Conscious of aesthetic defects, Zillah had chosen for her speciality the study of the history of civilization. But for being a Denyer, she might have been content to say that she studied history, and in that case her life might also have been solaced by the companionship of readable books; but, as modernism would have it, she could not be content to base her historical inquiries on

eagerly engaged in a project for making starch from potatoes in the south of Ireland. When this failed, he utilized a knowledge of Spanish-casually picked up, like all his acquirements-and was next heard of at Veer Cruz, where he dealt in cochineal, indigo, sarsaparilla, and logwood. Yellow fever interfered with his activity, and after a brief sojourn with his family in the

cting general homage; but her birthright of distinction could not be laid aside, and the suave Mrs. Gluck was not singular in recognizing that here was such a guest as did not every day grace her pension. Barbara and Madeline Denyer never looked a

hich I spoke," said Madeline

h, I shall be g

ut we'll look at them again to-morrow. Y

ism was no novel term to Cecily, and in Paris she had had her attention intelligently directed to good work in that kind; she knew, of course, that, like every other style, it must be judged with reference to its success in achieving the end proposed. But the first glance at the first of Mr. Marsh's productions perplexed he

other kept silence. "Of course, you can't appreciate the marvellous trut

pointed affirmative. Cecily was too considerate of others'

k," she said. "Please let me just look and th

lieve in Clifford Marsh, it gratified her to feel that here at length she might tread firmly and hold her own. The examination of the drawings proceeded, with the result that Cecily's original misgiving was strongly confirmed. What would Ross Mallard say? Mallard's own

er-bell came with its

o-morrow," said Cecily,

in at length the meteorologic significance of these varying fumes. Luncheon over, he rose like one who is summoned to a painful duty; in fact, the great task of the day was before him-the struggle with time until the hour of dinner. You would meet him sauntering sadly about the gardens of the Villa Nazionale, often looking at his watch, which he always regulated by the cannon of Sant' Elmo: or gazing with lack-lustre eye at a shop-window in the Toledo; or sitting with a little glass of Marsala before him in one of the fashionable cafes, sunk in despondency. But when at length he appeared at the dinner-table, once more fresh from his toilet, then did a gleam of animation transform his countenance; for the victory was won; yet again was old time defeated. Then he would discourse his best. Two topics were his: the weather, and "my brother the baronet's place in Lincolnshire." The manner of his monologue on this second and more fruitful subject was really touching. When so fortunate as to have a new listener, he began by telling him or her that he was his father's fourth son, and consequently third brother to Sir Grant Musselwhite-"who goes in so much for model-farming, you know

ive from the lodge to the stately portico; it had gardens of fabulous fertility; it had stables which would have served a cavalry regiment In what region were the kine of Sir Grant Musselwhite unknown to fame? Who had not heard of his dairy-produce? Three stories was Mr. Musselwhite in the habit or telling, scintillating

she smiled or looked appropriately serious in listening to the three stories. But this could not go on indefinitely, and for more than a week now conversation between the two had been a trying matter. For Mr. Musselwhite to sustain a dialogue on such topics as Barbara had m

ionable youth had long since been everywhere and seen everything. The naivete of finding pleasure in novel circumstances moved him to a pitying surprise. Speak of the glories of the Bay of Naples, and he would remark, with hands in pockets and head thrown back, that he thought a good deal more of the Golden Horn. If climate came up for discussion, he gave an impartial vote, based on much personal observation, in favour of Southern California. His pa

k informed Mrs. Denyer that the English artist who was looked for had just arrived, and would in a few minutes join the company. "Mr. Marsh is here," said Mrs

e had delicate hands, which he managed to display to advantage; his auburn hair was not long behind, as might have been expected, but rolled in a magnificent mass upon his brows. Many were the affectations whereby his countenance rendered itself unceasingly interesting. At times he wrinkled his forehead down the middle, and then smiled at vacancy-a humorous sadness; or his eyes became very wide as he regarded, yet appeared not to see, some particular person; or his lips drew themselves in, a symbol of meaning reticence. All this, moreover, not in such degrees as to make him patently ridiculous; by no means. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw might exchange frequent glances, and have a difficulty in preserving decorum; but they were un

in England?" Mrs. Denyer inquired, w

third day of absolute darkness

anslated this news for the benefit of Frau Wohl

d mephitic fume. There are fine effects to be caught, there's no denying it; but not every man has the requisite physique for such studies. As I came along here from the railway-s

pposite, vouchsafed her the homage of his gaze rather too frequently and persistently. It was soon manifest to her, moreover, that Madeline had noted

on. Mr. Bradshaw would drive up the hill with her, and doubtless Mr. Spence would

ired. Barbara and Zillah, with their mother, remained in the drawing room. On opening the door to which

ped it wa

t once that you wi

t tro

ouble

ne rose impatiently from her chair

request you! Com

ith one leg curled underneath him, and leaned his head against her shoulder. Madeline

to see you, Mad, when I've

no ri

prepare yoursel

't you always say at once what you mean? Father does the same thing constantly in his lett

moving, he put h

ifford? Tell me

usual allowance until my twenty-sixth birthday-eighteenth of February next

wrinkled

son?" she asked

t, if I'm going to make it at all. In his opinion, I am simply wasting my time

hifted his position slightly,

, I'm half afraid,"

d its contents; of Miss Doran's silence; of certain other person' looks and silence-or worse th

," he said. "I

ford. Sit on a chair

derst

er, and looked round the room

h the former petulance; "Often enough you have done

r his knee, jerked his head back-a frequent movement, to

ugh you are always ready to interpret me in that way. I merely h

of nothing-have never thought of an

u marry me a y

u admit it would have caused your step-father at once to s

faith in me, brough

t day would have seen

re has lain in your power to make or mar. You have chosen to keep me in perpetual anxiety, and now you take a suitable opportun

belief in projects of that kind. At best, you would have been forced into some kind of paltry work just to support me-and where would be the good of our marriage? You know perfectly well that lots of men have been degraded in this way. They take a wife to be their Muse, and

ve been better to

-as it tu

itterly? I am stati

f our engagement might help you. That didn't seem to me impossibl

e now what I have been forced to suspect-that your character is just as practical as that of other wo

e you going to do henceforth? Shall you scorn the mention of pounds, shillings and pence? Come to see me when you have had no dinner to-day, and are

. Madeline at length turned her eyes to him; he was broodin

you going to do, i

know, Mad; and th

with wide eyes, seriously p

of course, to compel me into the life of a Philistine. I believe the fellow thinks it's

regarded the floor for a minute, a

ere, Cl

without raising her e

elieve in

gave a start, uttered an impati

ve in yoursel

!" came from hi

you once said I could give you. I will try to give it still. Paint som

exclaimed, with disgust. "I c

life, it seems to me. Unles

ether you coul

heerless way. When the girl again spoke, it was in an un

e an artist than anyt

s deeper into his pockets, and trod about the

that is proposed for you wou

was ever Philistine and

I wish I could help y

't benefit by it," was

ere going to do at first, and tel

, I

e would suggest something hopeful. Men of his stamp constantly entertain unreasonab

id just now, this is, of course, our last interview of this kind. When we meet again-and I think it would b

bear it

gered near the door. "Be

was for some minutes in a brown, if not a black, study. Then she shivered a little, sighed aga

reunited in their sitting-room. Mrs.

am serious this time. It's a horrible bore, and a good deal worse than a bore. If I could keep your remittances the same by doing on less myself, I would, but there's no possibility of that. I shall be in Alexandria in ten days, and perhaps Colossi will have s

d Madeline, interrupting. "We'v

enyer

e brok

His prospects are worse than ever. What

ged her fair shoulders; Zillah looked very gravely and pitifu

tep-father is willing to give him a position in busines

other!" replied Madeline, haughtily. "I sha

elled on some simpleton's question, no doubt. He will accept his step-father's offer; we know that well enough. He

ed Barbara,

od earnest. My girl, you'll have to become more seriou

the enthusiast for Ital

hat, then." Mrs. Denyer

o Mrs. Stonehouse, and beg her to find me a place as

n your putting an end to this ridiculous state of thi

the kind. If necessary, I'l

t. On the morrow, with the exception of Mrs. Denyer's resolve to subdue Marsh, all was forgotten, and the Den