The Emancipated

ecily. They were alone together at the villa; Cecily and Miriam had gone for a drive with the Bradshaws. Af

her regularly again before long-say Latin and history; there would be no harm in a little mathematics. But the

" assented Eleanor

never knew any one acquire with so little effort. Of course, she has long ago left me behind in everything. The only

our system

of something that pleases her. "Of course, I very soon understood that the ordinary surveillance and restrictions and moral theories were of little

she would have

o pursue my method with a good deal of confidence. It has been my aim to give free play to all her faculties; to direct her intelligence, but never to check its growth-as is commonl

hink

Cecily; but when one has to deal with exceptional intelligence, why not yield it the exceptional advantages? Then again, I had to bear in mind that Cecily has strong emotions. This seemed to me only another reason for releasing

ote of triumph, and smiled very gr

t the daughter's lot in life is marriage, and that after marriage is time enough for her to throw away the patent rose-coloured spectacles. I, on the other hand, should be very sorry indeed to think that Cecily has no lot in life besides marriage; to me she seemed a human being to be instructed and developed, not a pretty girl to be made ready for the market. The

was married," said Eleanor, "and my parents

I see no such difference between girl and boy as demands a difference in moral training; we know what comes of the prevalent contrary views. And in Cecily's case, I believe I have vindicated my theory. She respects herself; sh

o ponder long fo

ly the rose-coloured spectacles that cause stumbling. And I mean by 'stumbling' all the silliness to which girls are subject. Ah! if I could liv

here is no way of putting experience into a young girl's head. It would s

are too imbecile. That state of illusion is too contemptible. There is

d not at o

at?" added the other,

itute for experience. Don't think me captious, however. I sympathize entirely with the course

hes me with her discernment of character; clearness of thought seems almost to anticipate in her the experience on which you lay such stress. Have you noticed her with Mr. Mallard? How differently many girls would

h to decide that," answered

ting together after dinner, that a servant announced a visit of Reuben

ute or two?" he asked c

u are just bac

erno! Leave Naples without seeing those places, and hold yourself for ever the most wret

. Sobriety was what she desired in him. It seemed a small advantage that his extravaga

quietly. You say Mr. Ma

l boots on hire. I was coming back, but Mallard clutched me by the coat-collar. Even now I've come sorely against his will. I le

you think of

s I shan't be able to d

that depends

might say so-in a sense. But such work as I am goin

m ref

unwilling to let

rtainty. But I have promised

orking h

hinder his work. I wish I had the old fellow's energy. After all, though, one can force one's self to use p

ou?" Miriam aske

animity. Never mind, I shall try. By-the-bye, I ought to have a word with M

an't

t their place. When

to do that?" Miriam aske

n eart

out to utter something not unlike h

lf, of course," said Miria

t to join the Spences. For an hour or more, Reuben held forth rapturously on what he had seen these la

been affirmed by intimate association, and he had not the habit of addressing her by the personal name.)

e played, Elgar leant forward on the back of a chair

h to approach the house in which his acquaintances dwelt. Passing through the portone, whom should he encounter but Clifford Marsh, kno

he pre

" Reuben added. "You

you are calling to see those ladies," he continued, "

he knew when the ladies were likely to return. Clifford declared his ignorance.

"What business has he to know them?" His impatience waxed; now and then he strode at such a pace that perspiration covered him. The most trivial discompos

abominable bad taste and indiscretion in that woman. In fact, I do

e roads, this way and that, till hunger oppressed him. Having eaten at the first restaurant he came to, he directed his

t know that he cared much." He had met Cecily Doran twice. The second time was on the Strada Nuova di Posillipo, where he encountered a carriage in which Cecily and her aunt were taking the air; he talked with them for three minutes. It was the undeniable fact that he had broken away from "old Mallard" merely to see Cecily again

bsurdly. A half good-looking sort of fellow: a fellow who could prate with a certain brio;

t read the marriage-column in a newspaper without feeling a

been detected for a pretender by a learned palate. He drank it for the first time, and tried to enjoy it, but his mind kept s

y many stairs and passages to Mrs. Lessingham's sittin

g hands with him. "They told me you had called before, and I thought yo

rning, perhaps for a long time," remarke

ulses and put a weight upon his tongue; he spoke with awkward indecision, held

ural voice, and to lose disagreeable self-consciousness in the delight of hearing Cecily and meeting her look. Had he known her better, he would have observed that she spoke with unusual diffidence, that she was not quite so self-possessed as of wont, and th

red. "I met him at Pompeii, and to-day came upon him h

plied Cecily, smiling. "He has r

friendly ter

ly," she answere

his blood was again turbid; he felt an incli

with all kinds of odd pe

with occasionally. Naturally we see more of the Bradshaws than of any one else. There's a family named De

lard she had spoken of her fellow-boarders in quite a different way, with merry though kind

thing of his wor

ew of his water-

wed you

s Denyers did. He h

ightened. "And how

interest me much. But I have

more on the subject. He let his eyes r

deal of Miriam,

aid I trouble her b

er. No one's society could do her so much good as yours. The poor gir

idservant, who asked whether Miss Doran would have tea

to her visitor. "I think we'll have it now

verted by trifles, two lighted lamps were brought i

ening sky," said Cecily,

ied in the tea-tray. Elgar turned to his comp

we saw each other ev

that short time y

e. As regards change, a lifetime might have passed since, with b

m sure

ughed t

eights. "You have grown into health of body and soul, and out of all the evil things that would have robbed you of natural happiness. Nothing ever made me more glad than first seeing

moment. Having resumed her purpose, she looked round and saw Elgar seated sideways on a chair by the window. With the cup of tea

e whole winter," Cecily said, as

tting his tea aside. "How long are yo

ill Februar

as far as Ama

ll come with us, I ho

uit my purpose better than Amalfi. Yet I must be alone, if I am to work. I ha

d is quite exceptional in his power of

no doubt. I must seem very

is so much older; he has lo

tisfaction. "Perhaps at his age I too

uld dou

ood to hear y

is usual careless attitudes on a nearer chair. "But Miriam has

N

d seemed unable to speak

hat she looks upon me as one of whom no good can com

oked at h

at all-scarcely more than the

f a conde

the door opened. With a sudden radiance on her features

you have b

you do, Mr. Elgar? Tea,

was gracefully casual, given in passing. She sank upon a low chair as if overcome with weariness. Mrs. Lessingham had nothing to learn in the arts wherewith social intercourse is kep

nd heard the news from him. I am glad you could find a moment to cal

walking across the room to f

gerly for the res

ure. When Cecily gave him her hand, it was with a moment's unfaltering look-a look very different from that which charmed everyday acquaintances at their coming and going, unlike anyth

ea in silence. Cecily moved about and presentl

r's projects detailed," said her aunt, with irony w

shook her hea

e and Mr. Marsh resemb

u thin

ndowed; though at present I should think he is even less to be depended upon, either intellectua

of the species, aunt?" Cecily

on 'The Young Man of Promise' of our day. I should be rather too severe;

n the girl, who appeared to muse

cily, "that Mr. Elgar wo

promise is too ob

ther think he should ha

ked Mrs. Lessingham, s

editation; but I think I

ssed the subject; nor did her

the time-table was the same as for other days. Yet he lay in bed till near

Dressed, he sat down for a minute, and remained seated half an hour, gazing at the wall. When at

its fulfilment has become impossible. Very likely Mallard had a conviction that he would not come back

cess. It consists of a small number of memories, forecasts, Imaginings, repeated over and over again, till one would think the brain must weary itself beyond endurance

hausted himself with walking up and down the hilly streets. Society would have helped him, but

eginnings of sleep. Or he walked the length of the floor, with measured step, fifty times, counting each time he turned-a sort of conscious insanity. Or he took his pocket-kni

the end facing towards Posillipo. He drank his coffee, but ate nothing; then again walked along the sea-f