The Emancipated

ty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite. But chiefly would he have welcomed t

they must make some appeal to her sympathies? His air of graceful sadness could not but lead her to muse as often as she observed it; he had contemplated himself in the mirror, and each time with reassurance on this point. Why should the attractions which had been potent with Madeline fail to engage the interest of this younger and more emotional girl? Miss D

with Cecily Doran, not because her qualities blinded him to all other considerations, but in pleasant yielding to a temptation of his fancy, which made a lively picture of many desirable things, and flattered him into thinking that they were

pity that conditions do not allow you to be perfectly honest; but people in general are so foolish that you would get no credit for your superiority if you did not wear a little tinsel, practise a few harmless affectations. Some day your difficulties will be at an end, and then you can afford to show yourself in a simpler guise." When he looked in the glass, Clifford admired himself without reserve; when he talked freely, he applauded his own cleverness, and thought it the mo

eyes, not troubling himself to debate how he should act in that event. With Mrs. Denyer he was once more on terms of apparent friendliness, though he held no private dialogue with her; he was willing that she should suppose him gradually coming over to her views. Barbara and Zillah showed constraint when he spoke

an artist-you desert me, and do your best to show that you are glad at being relieved of all concern on my account. It is well for me that I see the result of this test, but, I venture to think, not e

d, a reply, also sent by post. It was written in t

to which you have been exposed. But I shall say and think no more of it. As you leave soon, I would suggest that we should be on the terms of ordinary acquaintances for the remaining time; the present st

time, Clifford entered the drawing-room, and there found Mrs. Lessingham in conversation

ning, Mr. Marsh?"

t disturbed me," he replied, sea

ry to he

rbed," said Madeline, in a ligh

a little; "I can seldom do anything when I am not quite at ease in

act as she had recommended in her note. Then Mrs. Lessingham rose and left the two together. Madeline seemed also about

e that I must return before you go, Mr. Marsh. I will make a

nk y

r ring of betrothal, but this was the first

in calm friendliness. "But I dare say it is something you will soon fo

ably

deline had been dressing herself with unusual care of late (the result, in fact, of frequent observation of Cecily), and just now, as he entered, it had struck him that she was after all very pretty, that no one

el in his chamber. When he found it, he bit his lips. Indeed, things looked s

an even purer radiance than of wont. The dress she wore was not new to him, but its perfection made stronger appeal to his senses than previously. How divine were the wreaths and shadowings of her hair! With wha

place to-day. It had left him his complete freedom. Good; he had given Madeline a final chance, and she had neglected it.

Elgar," were Cecily's words, when she s

d that Cecily kept glancing over the column

Pomp

bs. For some reason, he ha

ot sur

hy

returned the elder lady, with unaccustomed tartne

afra

dinner sought Mrs. Bradshaw, and had a little talk on the subject. Mrs. Bradshaw allowed herself no conjectures; in her

r would be there?" surmised Mrs. Lessingh

bit. She was

led acquiescence. "He has impressed me agreeably," she continued

by the phrase than that she considered Reuben a ne'er-do-well. The same words wou

was more than ever unlike herself-whimsical, abstracted, nervous; she flushed at an unexpected sound, could not keep

Mrs. Lessingham, as if in jes

ed it, half av

, you are

e, aunt. It will pa

e that kind of thing at Naples.

never was bett

ry likely I shall look into yo

turned, and took a step back. Mr

en anything that you

n? No, de

ere on the point of saying something a l

Good

writing-desk, where lay a directed envelope. She looked at it, and found it was addressed to a French servant of theirs in Paris, an excellent woman who loved Cecily, and to whom the girl had promised to write from Italy. The envelope was closed; but it could contain nothing of importance-was merely an indication of Cecily's abiding kindness. By this lay a small book, from the

nd, without letting the light fall directly upon her face, looked at her for a long time. She whispered

to the sitting-room. There were three, and one of them, addressed to her

for a while of news contained in her c

n't any

aunt

ell this morning. The fever h

es

rom whom the

voice broke the sentence. She held out the lett

R CE

ee you between ten and eleven to-morrow morning. I must see you alon

rs e

EL

ily, who was standing before h

unt, with careful repression of feeling. "But I a

ou, aunt. I cann

lf-command now that the revelation was made. The flush still possessed her cheeks, but

r. Come and sit down, little girl, and te

with a sweet, affectionate smi

se you have met Mr. Elgar several times at his

usual behaviour, I hope. Wh

know. Where hav

es and places of

Elgar the right to add

nk you mustn't ask me

ather lacking in discretion," said

But, aunt, you are speaking as if I were a litt

he letter. She paid no heed to her niece's l

meeting cann

ith a look of utte

not have written to you like this. He shou

aunt. I cannot explain to you. I expected

trembled

eat my wish with

to me all that y

it behoved Mr. Elgar to bear in mind both his and your position. You have no parents, unhappily, but you know that Mr. Mallard is legally appointed the guardian of your interests, and I trust you know also that I am deeply conce

letter is written so as to al

ay of proceeding seem still more strange to me. He is g

g, to do what I know to be right. It is necessary that I should speak with Mr. Elgar; d

nsibility to Mr. Mallard. I have no legal charge of you. With every reason, Mr. M

ched the sp

vely, "that Mr. Mallard will

g, if he could know what was happening. I must communicate with him at once. Until he comes,

ll aware of this something lacking in their common life; she had wished, not seldom these last two years, to supply the want, but found herself unable, and grew conscious that her aunt gave all it was in her power to bestow. For this very reason, she found it impossible to utter herself in the present juncture as she could have done to a mother

to this letter?" she

write and to see him are the same thing. Surely you can forge

se of responsibility. Remember that you have ins

prefer it, I will myself write a line to be given to Mr.

step was alien to all the habits of their intercourse, to the spirit of her education. She had deemed herself a woman, and free; what else could result from Mrs. Lessingham's method of training and developing her? This disillusion gave a shock to her self-respect; she suffered from a sense of shame

gh her opinion had been consulted in the ordinary way, "it will

ui

You will tell him, if you please, just what has passed between us. If that doe

ied her aunt, with an ironical smile. "Mr. Elgar shall know the si

nk y

d the pen in hand, she was a long time before she began; she propped her forehead, and seemed lost in reflect

arrival. He was at once admitted. On seeing who was to receive him, he made a

is position. Mrs. Lessingham, quite aware of his perfervid state of mind, had pleasure in delaying. Her real feeling towards him was anything but unfriendly; had it been possible, she would have liked to see much of him, to enjoy his talk. Young men of this stamp amused her, and made strong appeal to certain of her sympathies. But those very sympathies enabled her to judge him wi

her when she favoured Mrs. Spence with the description of her "system;" not impossibly she felt the need of reassuring herself by making clear her attitude to one likely to appreciate it. But at that time she had not dreamt of such a sudden downfall of her theoretic edifice; she believed in its strength, and did not

nds a letter she received from

gham had not invited him t

ished me to lea

glad you ha

s Doran might find the task you

m, and he acted as desire bade. Had Cecily been embarrassed? Was she annoyed at his not proceeding with formality?

e told that?" he asked, blun

hall be taken by either of you until her guar

ll not

m bound to tell you that this is the result of my advice.

been in that, Mrs. Lessing

to act as seems best to her. It is quite en

ing impetuously. "That is simply the result of your

nough to any but a very thoughtless

ar winced under it, and had much ado to

rite to Mr. Mallard

write

red. His only comfort was that Mallard would assuredly come post-haste; he would arrive by to-morrow evening. But two days of this misery! Mrs. Less

r meals in private, scarcely pretending to eat. Her face kept its flush, and her hands remained feverishly hot. Till late at nigh

ed. Seldom moving, seldomer spe