Flower of the Dusk

wer of

"I am sorry," he said, "that I wasn't at home when your father came over af

, threading her needle again. "I stea

ay and read to you, but you know how it is. Days, I'm in the office with the musty

doesn't sit up much later, for I usually see her light by that time. I a

py Th

er. "Still, you might not alwa

" suggested Barbara, "and if you can co

means. Miss Mattie had so far determinedly set her face against her son's association with the young of the other

felt a third person always as an intruder, though he tried his best to appear hospitable when anyone came. Miriam might

ide Fel

books. She was closely housed and constantly at work, but her mind soared free. When the poverty and ugliness of her surroundings oppressed her beauty-loving soul;

to sew?" asked Roger.

of

d takes us all away with him to his palace. Don't pity me," she went on, her lips quiveri

en I can't help myself, does the mending, many things for father, and makes the quilts, preserves, candied orange peel, and the other little things we sel

kind because they b

uldn't have them buy things

imes t

he

afford for things they do not want, in order to please people whom t

ughed Barbara. "And who told you that heathe

we could paint ourselves instead of wearing clothes, and go under a tree when it rained, an

blowing from all ways at once, as it does sometimes, and I do not like either cocoanuts or ban

ted Roger. "How

ing Ba

d of the foremost lawyer of your time. Y

with the law books and an hour or more with his mother. He had known Barbara

Whether I go to Congress or the Fiji Islands may

iny. It was Napoleon, wasn't it, who prided himself upon making his ow

ira

er oppose the innocent nor defend the guilty. And I'd have mone

ry?" she asked

o. It would seem

rn a year and more before I was, and yet

ate milk. Please don't deprive me of my solid

rite a

nd? Dict

ould take with her when she was tired and went away to rest. A book with laughter and tears in it and so much fine courage that it would be given to those who are in deep trouble. I'd soften the h

you m

Righ

he right man cam

er, "how a person cou

, "that's it-the knowing. Whe

what involved, but I think I grasp your meaning. When you know it is, then

ully intelligent

er and into her lap. She was almost twenty-two, but she still clung to the childish fashion of dressing her hair, because the heavy braids and the hairpins m

ly B

ply Barbara, and Barbara needed crutches. It had never occurred to him that she might in any way be differe

ike to have me come here?"

to have you come?" queried Bar

tell me

ays goes to

was a quarter of eight when I

as, and if I talk much to other people he feels as if I were being taken

im," returned Roger, s

kno

m understand that I come

d W

world," sighed Barbara, "to

one set of people trying to force their opinions upon ano

sometimes, if we have

er, gently. "You couldn't do

house, which we lost so long ago that I cannot even remember our having it, was sold for so high a price that it would have been foolish not to sell it, and

at's all any house is, without

nearly everything. I've used some of mother's real laces in the sewing and sold practically all the rest. Whatever anyone

e him very ha

but is

ing as a lawyer, if it harms no one and mak

, but sometimes my c

t's Co

's conscience be

me-you know I'

hould

. She has no ill

e haven't been on good terms since she drove

lossoms, didn't we, to make golde

never got the Towe

with you for a long time, be

t. Let's renew our youth sometime by maki

e no gold

omewhere. We owe it t

ing now, and her sweet lips smi

Fairy

appy ever afterward, like th

fifteen years younger than I am, but, upo

of bread and milk with an occasional soft-boiled egg. I should have been in bed by six o'clock, an

eaching into the pocket of his overcoat, drew o

than

mes, when we can. Don't forget to put the light in the window when it's all righ

ody is trying, by moral suasion, to prevent me from doing it. Do you want us all piled up

oundered out into the darkness like an awkward school-boy instead of a self-possessed young

to Ch

rs ever since she could remember, though it had been temporarily eclipsed by the hard work which circumstances had thrust

ay

high, with a splendid cupola of clear glass arches-the labels probably would not show, up so high. It stood in an enchanted land with the sea behind it-nobody had ever t

not break when you walked on them, and the door was always ajar. Inside was a great, winding staircase which led to the cupola. You c

against the steps outside. She could walk and run like anyone else and never even think of crutches. Ther

not know. Maggie Tulliver, Little Nell, Dora, Agnes, Mr. Pickwick, King Arthur, the Lady of Shalot

re you. Each room smelled of a different kind of cologne and no two rooms were furnished alike. Her friends in the Tower were of all ages and of many

e

into the cupola and ring all the golden bells at once, but there seemed to be some law against it, for when they were almost there, something always happened. Either the Tow

she did not know. In the Tower, she addressed him simply as "Boy." Barbara kept him to herself for some occult reason. Roger liked the Tower very much, but thought the construction migh

g-on-eight,' as he always said." The dear Tower still stood in her memory, but far off and veiled, like a mirage seen in the clouds

a, as she put out the light.

chant

down to meet a bluer sea. She and the Boy were in the cupola, making music with the golden bells.