A Tale of a Lonely Parish

ving his share of the lovely Mrs. Goddard's society and she herself had not seemed greatly disturbed at a temporary separation from John. The latter amused her for a little while;

busied himself about his room and he muttered certain formulae of self-accusation as he collected his things, saying over and over in his heart-"What a fool I am! Why should she care for me? What am I that she should care

t perchance Susan, the housemaid, should detect what had passed through his mind on the previous evening and should tell Mrs. Ambrose. And from all this it appears that John was exceedingly young, as indeed he was, in spite of his being nearly one and twenty years of age. But doubtless if men were willing to confess their disappointments and foolish, impetuous reso

d show her a little coldness at first, giving her to understand that she had not treated him well on the previous afternoon; then he would interest her by his talk-he would repeat to her one of those unlucky odes and translate it for her benefit, mak

good, and he put it into execution. As he walked up the frozen road, he industriously repeated in his mind the Greek verses he was going to translate to Mrs. Goddard; he had no copy of them but his memory was very good. He met half a dozen labourers, strolling about with their pipes until it was time to go and have a pint of beer, as is their manner upon holidays; they touched their hats to him, remembering his face well, and h

enter her head to refuse him admittance. Indeed as he stood in the

s it, M

er think, mam, it's the young gentle

him to c

ere,

" said Mrs. Goddard, who w

of the many indefinite feelings to which young men in love are subject, especially young men who have been, or are, very poor. They like to connect ideas of wealth and comfort, even of a luxurious existence, with the object of their affections. They desire the world of love to be new to them, and in order to be wholly new in their experience, it must be rich. The feeling is not so wholly unworthy as it might seem; they instinctively place their love upon a pedestal and require its surroundings to be of

would call and ask leave to go with you,

ut is not it

past ten," said John

," said Mrs. Goddard, sitting down by

from the flame with them at the same time. She looked at him and smiled pleasantly, but said nothi

traditional Christmas weather. Coul

p him out of his embarrassment by giving an impulse to the conversation, she added, "By the

aped and he blushed all over his face with delight. Mrs. Goddard was not quite sure whether

you would like to hear it. Would you c

I do not think I hav

ther nervously from time to time. But his memory never failed

ounds?" he asked timid

dard. "I had no idea Greek sounded li

obody knows how the ancients pronounced Greek, and if one pronounced it as the moderns do, it

the rhythm;" possibly John himself could not have defined his mean

oddard confidently. "But what

ent. He suddenly realised how wonderfully delightful it was to

use of your telling me

o not tell me w

promise not to

shing a little she added, "it is quite-I

had appeared which men had not yet named, nor would be likely to name until the power of human speech should be considerably increased, and the verses dwelt upon the theme, turning it and revolving it in several ways, finally declaring that the far-darting sun must l

aid, when John had reached the

better," said John dou

they seem to me

write that when-" she stopped not knowing exactly ho

ut that is the only one I quite remember. I wrote them just after the day whe

"without knowing a person, to write ver

k-I am quite sure-I could write

urd, Mr. Short," said Mrs. Goddar

do not see why, if one has an ideal, you know, one shoul

than John that she thought it was out of the question to be annoyed; so s

swered John stoutly. "You

ing compliment. To be told point-blank, even by an enthusiastic youth of one and t

er her, "you know of course I am very ignorant-yes

deal comes from idea. Plato meant, by the

y," said Mr

you are the ideal woman, it is meant that you a

surd," said his com

and then, on a sudden, he sees it all before him, quite real and alive, and then he says he has realised his ideal. But you liked the verses, Mrs. Goddard?" he added quic

as not displeased, but she was not pleased either; she was wondering how far this boy woul

re not disple

said she. "Shall we go

will skate to-day," sa

at him in unf

thought it w

y it is not very amusing to skate when M

not he push me ab

is different," answ

nd she resented his evident wish to monopolise her society. She left t

as left alone; and he suddenly wished he could get out of the house w

he asked gloomily, as th

he is com

ond with Mr. Juxon, j

t like that, without yo

his face, "either you dislike Mr. Juxon very much, or else I thi

he considered as his extraordinary presumption inspired her w

do not like Mr. Juxon. Not that I have the smallest reason for not liking him," he contin

d quietly. "Will you please open the gate?" They were standing before the bars, but John was

what I was thinking of," he said, making the

turned, and he felt that since that object was attained he no longer regretted his folly in the least. The cloud that had darkened the horizon of his romance had passed quickly away, and once more he said inwardly that he was enjoying the happiest days of his life. If for a moment the image of Mr. Juxon entered th

would last for ever

t time of the year. One does not feel that nature is dea

" said John, "one might m

aps. I think I have heard

. The older the better,

resist the temptation o

timate in forty-eight

to reach the point Jo

the reason you selected me for the 'idea

nt. Then he laughed. "Why, you

d with a demure smile. "I am v

you know, you must be

e tips of her fingers upon his arm as she stepped across a slipper

icated mind such a question seemed almost too personal. He did not really believe that

said. "I am nearl

from Mr. Ambrose, again and again. "Just think," she added with a laugh, "o

en?" asked John, trying

she said quietly. She half

ut what-well, I suppose I oug

"It is very rude to ask a l

ugh. "Have you always been fond of skating?" he asked, fixing

ce I came here. Beside

not looking at the path he slipped on a frozen puddle and nearly fell. Where

if you don't look where you are going. No; Mr. Juxon wa

said John, trying to recover his equanimity. "T

ose taught me. He

He intended perhaps to convey the idea that Mrs. Goddard would improve in the exercise if she wou

ndifferently. "We shall soon be ther

said John

ou liked ska

eplied, and he glanced at her face to see i

; now you can skate with

dd

," said John, suddenly losing his

t skate with Nellie? Rea

d he has been skating wi

t," retorted John

rer to your age than to

a calmness which

aid stiffly, "I cannot see w

ich the lady so much older than myself has cha

ttempt to palliate nor deny,'" said John savagely. "Quite so, Mrs. Godd

me?" she asked, suddenly turning her violet e

hn. "It is more pleasant to

llow me the pleasure

desire it. You are

have been quarrelling when we reach

rike you in a humorous

g to be pacifi

uch more interesting wh

God

ngry in order to see wh

, I could not hel

t, Mrs. Goddard? If there is anything more that I c

being angry again?" She smiled so pleasant

to be," he answered. "A man who has the good fortune to be thrown

ents-that is, it is much better to be a

l means,"

ion, suggested a melancholy humour delighting in subdued and tranquil thoughts, inclined naturally to the romantic view, or to what in the eyes of youths of twenty appears to be the romantic view of life. He had suddenly found her answering him with a sharpness which, while it roused his wits, startled his sensibilities. But he was flattered as well.

iety of persons much older than herself, persons she respected and regarded as friends, but persons in whom her youth found no sympathy. It was natural, therefore, that when time to some extent had healed the wound she had suffered and she suddenly found herself in the society of a young and enthusiastic man, something of the enforced soberness of her manner should unbend, showing her character in a new light. She herself enjoyed the change,