The Emancipated

removed from the familiar scenes of her religious activity, and of disquietude amid uncongenial surroundings. "A Puritan at Naples"-that was the phrase which represented her t

it to be based on rationalism, radicalism, positivism, or whatsoever name embodied the conflict between the children of this world and the children of light. Far from Miriam any desire to abolish the misery which was among the divinely appointed conditions of this prelimina

twinkling, "I feel sure that she muses on the possibility of another tremendou

t long in bringing her to a

as we imagine. In any case, I begin to understand what she suffers from

ttribute ennui to the Prophet J

to think about that profoundly interests her; her books are all but

ear girl,

ave noted several little signs of it since Cecily came. She poses-and

tly, and marvel

nature justifying itself. I'll tell you what I am going

ferno.'

tle books, such as, 'The Improvisatore,' and the 'Golden Treasury,' and so on. Any

urse, will not do in the case of fools, but Miriam Baske, all appearances notwithstanding, did not belong to that category. On hearing her cousin's proposition, she at first smiled coldly; but she did not reject it, and in a day or two they had made a fair beginning of the 'Inferno.' Such a beginning, indeed, as surprised Eleanor, who was not yet made awar

eavily laden at first with a cloud like that on Olympus when the gods are wrathful, by degrees passed from vision, withdrew its form into recesses of du

ppressed with languor, her mind miserably void. No book made appeal to her, and the sight of those which she had bought

said at length. "The sound

confines of sleep, when a knock at the door caused her to stir impatien

ed, ma'am. He wished

nce stood up, only her pale face witnes

e wai

, ma

u let me see you? Of course I mean alone. It

e him in t

ept her eyes turned to the door; her look was of pained expectancy and of sternness. She stood close by the wind

o as to lose severity and attain a kind of vigour, which at first sight promised a rich and generous nature; his excellent forehead and dark imaginative eyes indicated a mind anything but likely to bear the trammels in which Miriam had grown up. In the attitude with which he waited for his sister t

" Miriam asked at length, speaking wi

thing of the illness you have had, or I should, at all events, have written. When I heard you had come

me? What does it matter to y

ugh of course you fin

ich you last parted from me. If I was ha

n he means. It was never you that were hateful to me, though your bel

you then, are a part

accent which would doubtless have been

f that. Have you recover

m be

again, throwing

ass, and I feel tired. Such weather as this doesn't help to ma

window at the dreary sea. Neither spoke again for two or thr

of me?" Miriam asked,

at I have come to

need-you spoke of a third-class journey-I am, at all e

ughed dis

to that. You are the very last pers

hy

I don't quarrel with my sister, and come back after some years t

d me to credit you wit

ion makes of me. All the instances of debauchery and general blackguardism that the commerce of life has forced upon your knowledge go towards completing the ideal. It's a pity. I have always felt that you and I might have been a great deal to each other if you h

am, "that my childhood was

ry bitter to me to

, but looked at him

ou are staying with have much the s

you think. The Spences

aining with them

tions have you come here? Do you wish m

e baleful southern wind was exercising its influence, for he

on't see that anything's to be gained by my m

to stay

re before, and, as I said, I may

u last see M

what makes yo

nce, I think, not long

me out. You and your friends sent him to

personally. But he doesn't seem to be the

Reuben asked, in a

Naples a

in his own way, Somehow I've lost sight of him for a long

can at once get it for you. You a

you spoken to

am replied

were very good friends. Do you attrib

re was a corresponding gleam in his fine eyes and a nervous tension in all his frame. His voice had an extrao

terity which was the counterpart in her of Reuben's fiery impulsiveness, "but I unde

hair, and in doing so

How the artist would be flattered to hear this estimate of h

my lips!" exclaimed Miriam, sternly. "

sement? In what direction had I still a s

purpose in this frenzied way. Why do you come her

the first

nce have you spoken? In what have you amended yourself? Is not ever

! What do you, with your nun's experiences, your heart chilled, your paltry view of the world through a chapel window, know of a man whose passions boil in him like the fire in yonder mountain? I should subdue my passions. Excellent text for a copy book in a girls' school! I should be another man than I am; I s

She stood quite motionless

of miseries-as many as you please. And to what account should they all go? Was I so admirably guided in childhood and boyhood that my subsequent life is not to be explained? It succeeded in your case, my poor sister. Oh, nobly! Don't be afraid that I shall outrage you by saying all I think. But just think of me as a resu

even his countenance exhausted of vitality, looking haggard and almost igno

our life what you can. As you say, I don't understand you. Perhaps the mere fact of my being a woman is enough to make that impossible. Only don't throw

rlier, Miriam. It would have spared

ow

ittle importance in my life. Instead of still having my sister, I had o

influence

an's power to make a man angelic; that will do for third-rate novels and plays. But I sh

ot care,

You thought harshness was the only proper treatment

st now by speaking as

think of the past. What has been, has been; and what will be, will be. When I fume and rage like an idiot, that's only the blood in me getting the better of the brain; an example of the fault that a

ben?" murmured his si

by me, Miriam. I am tired and wretched. Where is

riam seated herself at his

t first. I came only with that hope. I wish you loo

t of doors. I

ally glad. You know, Mallard's a fellow of no slig

urself,

tired of myself. Let's talk of old Mallard

ere-with

uppose. Rather a joke, that. I never could get him to speak on the subject. But I feel glad you know him. He's a solid f

able to find voice for the topic,

gs. I shall look him up, and we'll

trong hand, though so delicately fashioned. The touch of the wed

go back to that horri

o back home,

poor girl. Stay in Italy a long time, now you are once here.

in to physical oppression; her head drooped, and her abstracted gaze was

oung, Miriam?" he asked, when b

nk of you as old

but in another I am only just beginning my life, and have all m

she asked

lans; all sor

ind his head, and began to stir

ns of wh

the same way, and I'm not sorry for it. If I had never had anything, I should have set desperately to work long ago. Now I am bound

ned, but mad

and to become a man of my time. Thank the fates, I no longer live in the Pentateuch, but at the latter end of the nineteenth century. Many a lad has to work this deliverance for himself nowadays. I don't wish to speak unkindly any more, Miriam, but I must tell you plain facts. Some fellows free themselves by dint of hard study. In my case that was made impossible by all sorts of reasons-temperament mainly, as you know. I was always a rebel ag

head in a pose of superb confidence. There was too much real force in his features to ma

would revolt you if they were made clear to your intelligence. If I tell you I am before everything a man of my time, I suppose this seems only a cynical confession of all the weaknesses and crimes you have already attributed to me? I

. She could not but think of Cecily, whose words a few days ago had

en us-wonder how you could have been so harsh to me. It is impossible that you and I, sole brother and sister, s

been my grief that you

self to sympathize with my direction. You are a child-there is my hope. You shall be tau

of my education?" Miriam asked, without lo

breaking suddenly into jest. "The t

wed hersel

ing to hear what you purpose for you

hich he was borne. His main conviction seemed to be that he embodied the spirit of his time, and would ere long achieve a work of

o work here?" sh

get what benefit I can from Naples first of all. I suppose

the windows; then came

the Spences

ey will know, of course,

hem?" he asked,

s you p

, sooner or late

m pon

see if they a

lans were no longer lying about; only yesterday Miriam had rolled them up and put them away-temporarily. Before the "S

r aunt are with Mr

e began carelessly, w

ill be glad

k rather seedy

f your o

came here straight

edroom and make yo

return, Miriam stood with knitted brows, her eyes fixed

rly ashamed o

nd at once led the w

d provincial surroundings. She had interested him little in those days, and seldom did anything to bring herself under his notice. He last saw her when she was about twelve. Now he found himself in the presence of a beautiful woman, every line of whose countenance told of instruction, thought, spirit; whose bearing was refined beyond anything he had yet understood by that word; whose modest revival of old acquaintance made his hand thrill at her touch, and his heart beat confusedly as he looked into her eyes. With difficulty he constrained himself to

turned without coming further south. It is wrong, however, to say that I saw anything; my mind was in far too crude a state to direct

dy she had invited with some success the confidence of Mr. Clifford Marsh, who proved interesting, but not unfathomable; he belonged to a class with which she was tolerably familiar. Reuben Elgar, she perceived at once, was not without characteristics linking him to that same group of the new generation, but it seemed probable that its confines wer

events, enabled me to see myself as I then was; and

ever a good at all," said the specul

g will make each stage of his journey a phase of more or less sensual enjoyment, delightful at the time

him?" aske

appy; surely a s

e preference to

ower thing in creation. I won't pretend to say how it is with other people who are forced along

t of progress," observed Mr

forced upwards. If ever I feel that I am slipping back,

munication, and every other pain and penalty Bartles had in its power to inflict. She observed that Cecily's interest increas

envy of which you speak will be one of the

he answered, his eyes kindling at hers. "

t that I do believe it," the

in that directi

interjected Eleanor, before Cecily coul

singham

Elgar would have risen to take his leave, but Mrs. Spence begged him to remain a

n at luncheon-time, Eleanor met him with the intelligence that Re

esumably," said Spence

e. Cecily and her aunt happened to call thi

ackguard?" inquired her

nd in his conversation. It's a decided im

ear it," was t

me degree. Hints that he is

ghed merrily. "The last

e him so harshly, Ned

m killing the

to embarrass rather

come to propose a convenient div

lk made the luncheon cheery, and dismissed thought of sirocco. It appeared that he had as yet no abode; his luggage wa

ared, in privately taking leave of Miria

o his for the first t