The Whirlpool

Mr. Carnaby was at home, and had company. In the room known as the library, four men sat smoking; their v

de-world air, and holding out his big hand. 'No doubt they're having a

pensation, my boy-you contribute

rofited by a skilful stewardship which allowed him to hope for some seven hundred a year; his elder brother, Miles, a fine fellow, who went into the army, pinching himself to benefit Hugh and their sister Ruth. Miles was now Major Carnaby, active on the North-West Frontier. Ruth was wife of a missionary in some land of swamps; doomed by climate, but of spirit indomitable. It seemed strange that Hugh, at five and thirty, had done nothing particular. Perhaps his income explained it-too small for traditional purposes, just large enough to foster indolence. For Hugh had not even followed up his promise of becoming an explorer; he had merely rambled, mostly in pursui

he result was a good deal of honest mutual admiration. The one's physical vigour and adroitness, the other's active mind, liberal thoughts, studious habits, proved reciprocally attractive. Though in unlike ways, both were impressively modern. Of late it had seemed as if the man of open air, checked in his natural courses, thrown back upon his meditations, turned to the student, with hope of guidance in new paths, of counsel amid unfamiliar obstacles. To the observa

kind, still new, told of easy circumstances and domestic comfort. Round about the walls hung a few paintings and photograp

he mixed himself a glass of whisky and water. 'I

-mounted pistols? Where's the ibex-hoof made into a paperweight? And'-he

s

nk? And they'll never be caught-I'll bet you anything you like they won't. The

r wife know any

able as references usually are. She must be an old hand. But I'm sick of the s

four hundred pounds. He talked, too, of flamingoes on the 'marismas' of the Guadalquivir; of punting day after day across the tawny expanse of water; of cooking his meals on sandy islets at a fire made of tamarisk and thistle; of lying wakeful in the damp, chilly nights, listening to frogs and bitterns. Then

deria wine; with merry banter from Carnaby, professing to despise a man who knew nothing of game but its taste. The conversation reverted to technicalities of sport, full of terms and phrases unintelligible to Harvey; recounting feats with 'Empress' and 'Paradox', the deadly results of a 'treble A', or of 'treble

ng, you know, for a woman to lose her rings and bracelets and so on-even such a woman as Sibyl. She tried to laugh it

y lau

ing that question, it would make me rat

at stake. The dowager swears by Frothingham. I believe eve

nnia Loan, Assurance, Investment, and Banking Comp

here, you don't

inance than of the Cabala. Frothingham person

people like us, it's mere foolery to worry with a house and a lot of servants. We're neither of us cut out for that kind of thing. Sibyl hates housekeeping. Well, you can't expect a wo

olfe, 'I hinted something

y generally look for a certain natural conseque

itated fo

Abbott's? His wife died a year ago, and now he has

!' cried Hugh, with a no

has to bear the bother and expense; but that's only our state of barbarism. A widower with two young children and no income-imagine the pos

w whether it

e of worry and misery. Most wives are sacrificed to the next generation-an outrageous absurdity. People snivel over the deaths of babies; I see nothing to grieve about. If a child dies, why, the probabilitie

in that,' s

g away, then

obogganing, and have a good time. But Sibyl's afraid of the cold. I can't convince her that it's nothing to what we endure here in the beastliness of a

lders, and for a mom

I have a letter from Miles,

iting was bold, the style vigorous, the matter fresh and interesting. Major Carnaby had no graces of expression; but al

olfe, when he had read to

And he's se

be, my boy,' remarked Rolfe

use thinking abo

e it's our only hope. We're rotting at home-some of us sunk in barbarism, some coddling themselves in over-refinement. What's the use of preaching peace and civilisation, when we know that England's just beginning h

nodded

he's fighting in India, and not in Africa. I can't love the b

rs and diamond bagmen! But it's part of the

nd again he moved uneasily. Rolfe

ood deal about mines. He says he has invented a new process for getting gold out of ore-I don't know anything about it. In the early days of mining, he says, no end of valuable stuff was abandoned,

ay,' remarked the listener

him here for the first time, a week ago.

everything keeps me in a state of perpetual s

ervative, Rolfe,

er

Could you join us at N

sticking to my books. But

ously advise us to

t keep house in England. Wherever I go, it's the same cry: domestic life is played out. There isn't a servant to be had-unless you're a Duke and breed them on your own estate. All ordinary housekee

with a laugh; 'I've noticed it of late, y

able creature, that's all, whether man or woma

e Frothingh

N

k you were ther

rt of grunt, an

reat admiration for Sibyl; no sham about it, I'm sure. I don't pretend to know much about women, but I fancy th

re,' said Rolfe, 'in m

able. Carnaby stood up, threw his arms above his head, and yawn

ly wrong with us all-that

or one thing

rmy? I think I was more cut out for that than for anything else. I often f

uted with

and the easiest thing

ing; a super

le, of course. We shall go on fighting and annexing, until-until the decline and fall of the British Empire. That hasn't begun yet. Some of us are so over-civilised that it makes a reaction of wholesome barbarism in the rest. We shall fight like blazes

not talk like

your mistake. But you'll tell me, and r

you mean exactly? Y

, with an air

to suppress your natural instincts? Mightn't it give her a new i

by, with a sudden drop of his tone to amiable ingenuou

want to be on the Himalayas. Wouldn't it do your wife good to g

he's strong e

If you give up housekeeping (and housekeepers), why not re

hates t

that. Seriously, you

ips and for a mom

quite ri

pluck, o

an be done. Have

ed glass illumined a statue in terracotta, some huge engravin

uldn't stay in the place. Shall I whistle for a cab? By Jove! that reminds me, the whistle has gone; it happened to be silver. A wedding p