Flames

It seemed to Julian as if a door previously shut in his friend's soul opened and as if he entered into this hit

thly expression of intellectuality and of purity. When Julian looked at him no passions flamed in his blue eyes, no lust ever crawled in the lines about his mouth. His smooth cheeks never flushed with beaconing desire, nor was his white forehead pencilled with the shadowy writing that is a pale warning to the libertine. And yet his speech about the spring that night, as they leaned ou

ring grew

d scent of the innumerable troops of hyacinths in Hyde Park was a language to him as he strolled in the sun towards the Row. Scents speak to the young of the future as they speak to the old of the past; to the one with an indefinite excitement, to the other with a vague regret. And especially when he was in the company of Valentine did Julian become intensely alive to the marc

l glory which, without actually changing him, gave to him a certain novelty of aspect which Juli

rily strong you

d his horse into

more healthy outlook on things, to a saner conception of life. For years you have been l

orous and determined bathers swam gaily in the pale warmth of the morning sun. Two boys raced along the grassy bank to dry themselves, whooping with exultation, and leaping as they ran. A man in a broad boat,

long ago I was like the men on the bench. I only cared to

ndous pace for a moment, then drew

the lesson of the

s eyes and faded again. Julian laughed gaily. The ride spurred his spi

y growing, Val," he said, "growing bef

old for that,"

ran in the words, a

body, and you feel it and fancy you can see the envelope echo the words of the l

ey nearly rode over her, and she uttered a little yell as she awkwardly gained the pavement. Her head was crowned with a perfect pyramid of ostrich feathers, and as she tu

he said to

ked Valentine, w

al. I want a word

g, as his eyes took in with a swift glance the

apparently flattered at being thus hailed from

emember me?"

gathered at the coffee-stall in Piccadilly. The lady leaned her

, my dear," she re

ou ever had a cup of coffee and a bun

the quivering chords of her memory into a tune. She pu

she said.

inclined to retreat. T

erhaps, had g

e to know you

gratified. She tossed

u live?" Jul

passionate pursuit, ran a small purse to earth. Opening it with deli

are, dearie

ted, "Cuckoo Bright,

his afternoon and take

li

lady cried, in a voice thrill

herself against the rail like some gaudy bird. S

" she said; "h

was equal to

ith a stiff and semi-offi

t moved as one w

olloquy from afar, controlling with some difficulty

ked, still laughing, with p

Piccadilly as I was going home after your trance

imagined y

al. I am going to se

r fello

who went to the 'European' with Marr, who must have been with Marr w

t is

ater, when I hav

uspect the poor cre

r curiosity that

O

tep or two. Then

out? She's-well, she is a t

ight. She's not for aft

d scoundre

n in the sentiment th

ab drew up at number 400, tall, gaunt and haggard, like the rest. Julian rang the bell, and immediately a shrill dog barked with a piping fury within the hou

uckoo Brig

ight! I'

room opening from the dirty passage. She vanished and Julia

that perpetually struggled to get th

y of her hatless touzled hair. She stood by the square table covered with a green cloth, that occupied the centre of the small room, which communicated by folding doors with an inner chamber. A pastile

ou do?"

, Julian perceived that she was considerably younger than he had imagined, and that she was actually-amazing luxury!-a littl

with an attempt at a hearty and

sweetmeats on the table, a penny bunch of sweet violets in a specimen-glass, one or two yellow-backed novels, and a few photographs ranged upon the imitation marble mantelpiece. There was one arm-chair,

quarters," Julian

but they do cost mone

d hold of Jessie, dumped the little creature into her lap, and assumed an air of abrupt gentility, pursing her painted lips, and shooting sidelong glances of inquiry at the furniture. Julian could not at once explain

awful day

, adding that she

ontinued, gazing at the small fire

meagre abode which she must name home had r

l you let me have tea with you to-day, and-and-come out

dded her fr

he responded. "Proud to

Jessie over the floor. She promenade

igg! Mrs

ld person ascended wearily from

atever is it no

tea for me and

d the voice of

thought you

t the door behind her. After a moment

e's in a rare tantrum. I must

nished lik

highly respectable, seated in an arm-chair, with staring bead-like eyes, but a sweet and gentle mouth. Her hair was arranged in glossy bands. Her hands held a large book, probably a Bible. Julian looked at her and wondered a little how she cha

u waiting," said

, which held a teapot, cups, a large loaf of bread, and some butter

oast," she explained. "And

lves," said Julian, wi

m together, and awaken in the lady's breast a happy and progre

d. "You are a queer one. You a

t. Give me a fork. I'll do it,

fork from a mean cupboard w

. It ain't so high class, but it eats bet

frock coat under him, squatted down and thrust forward the bread to the bars of the g

I'm d-" she caught herself up short. "Well th

ce was broken now, and the lady was quite at her

r than the bun

yet that bun did me a de

came suddenl

al of

ten out at

I'd-well, I didn't fe

ere, it don't matter. T

e, and let m

ne division of labour which drew them close together. Jessie, meanwhile, attracted by these plea

hat night?" Julia

ered, like an

e, or the tea'll be as black as coal.

. She came voraciously, her minute

retty dog,

o me, and I wouldn't part with her for nuts, no, nor for diamonds n

irl, but was growing rapidly haggard, and was badly made up, rouged in wrong places consumptively, powdered everywhere disastrously. Her eyes were pathetic, but above them the hair was dreadfully dyed, and frizzed into a desolate turmoil. She had

ye, and extended her

k!" she cried. "So it do

ie. Now then

e, into which he longed to bring a little hope, a little safety. Jessie sprang to his knees, and thence, naughtily, to

" she said. "Is your

d Julian. "Is

inepence, a

munc

he said. "You'r

perience for her to be treated with that thing some wom

friends,"

Have some

Julian drew the conversation round to the photographs. The lady was expansive. She gave short histories of some of the men, summing them up with considerable shrewdness

s?" Juli

of spirits was s

e, suppressed blush struggled up under the

e her

thinks I

urned away

s. Brigg," she said, and she clatter

woman who held the Bible on her knees. When she returned, her mouth was hard and her eyes were shining om

he asked.

shrill laugh of ming

he old ge

do you

gentleman, Nick, the

ying to take a

said. "That's the d

or the thought of the old woman who believed her to b

et you, and I was frightened, I t

had he do

eager interest under a ligh

d. It don't do t

on his arm, as if impel

in people being

I don't u

ed superstitiously.

eiling, like the child's

?" Juli

pursing he

'Now-now!' And he seemed goin' right off. He stared at me and didn't seem to know me. Lord, I was blue with it, I tell you, dear! I was that frightened I just lef

si

when you began about seein' things, I couldn't st

t a quest

what has be

e again. Mrs. Brigg won't let

ulders in an irre

aid I shall meet him, or come back late but what I think I shall

him. He

at first questionin

was struc

d mout

s," Julian said, "At

d! I never see the paper

tainly not known. He longed to find out more about her relations with Marr, and his treatment of her,

p his photograph?"

seemed

't seem as if I could burn it. But

e

kno

ghtfully. Th

to die. It seems funny.

eturn to it. Presently they heard a church clock strike. It chimed

e going,"

an odd, half-impudent, half-

he began,

es

ever did

y thoughtful man into tears. And Julian, young and careless as he often was, felt s

e a talk with yo

u like a ta

, su

him with pathetic ey

d. "Well, dea

took up

out too,"

e y

es

then added hardily, although her p

t to go

ill wait till you are ready and d

shrill, hideous laugh. Then, pulling h

dearie. I wo

this girl armed herself for the piteous battle of the London streets. And then his ears caught the eager patter of Jessie to and fro, and a murmured expostulation from her mistress. Evidently the little dog had got hold of some article of attire and was worrying it. There was a hidden chase and a hidden capture. Jessie was scolded and kissed. Then the sittin

inted and powdered, crowned once again with the forest of

e dropped the dog into a tiny basket lined w

s!" she cried. "

t's

ike bein' left. Well, dear

nds on Julian's shoulde

s more like you,

oo, and put his

-will you stay at home to-night, j

away and sh

't tak

es

s-not-not the other th

kind. I won't spo

lmost angry. Julia

e again,"

d at him

won't," sh

wil

th energy.

ike yo

into the evening

ly end of Regent Street," sa