In Luck at Last

d as a brother, there should be the immediate concession of the exchange of christian-names, and he should be allowed to call as often as h

ked, "all your life? I

k, sometimes by myself, and sometimes with Lala Roy; in the evening I play again, or I read again, or I work at the mathematics, while my grandfather a

, and no relations? Are there no girls

When he comes here, which is very seldom, my grandfather falls ill only with thinking about him and look

ght; you may have any number of rich people and nice peo

never think about

e your own. There cannot be many. Let me draw your face, Iris, and then we will send it to the Grosvenor,

f they should turn out to be

not be disagreeable,

ook he

re clever people-astronomers, mathematicians, great philosophers, and writers. But what nonsen

e old," murm

ill my mind; and I have these two old gentlemen to care for and think of. They have taken so much care of me that I ought to think o

e companions, if only

la Roy goes for walks with me; and as for talk

do yo

e squares; and if you take an omnibus,

er alone

am often alo

a civilized country, and in fact, why not? "I suppose that it is

s ever young and handsome-"no life can be dull when one is t

at Oxford

says that the true metaphysics, which he has tried to

he English intellect." This he said with intent satirical, but Iris failed

science,

ience of any kind have I never learned, except only the science

ithout learning these things. "Not any science at

"that as soon as I was foun

pised. But it se

each you. It is the life of Art. If you would only condescend to show the leas

iosity about you, A

e felt the most lively curiosity about you, and I

to ask any more, pray do. I dare say

g at all about myself.

I? I know

othing at a

You are exactly like the portrait I drew of you. I never thought, for instance, that you were an old gentleman,

m, or what is my profession,

All that is not part of yo

letters, you suffer me to come here and be your

were written to me un

have them

ook he

ll by heart,"

or flattery in her voice, or in her eyes, w

my portrait to me as you d

aughed at them and accepted them. It is, it seems, the nature of your friends to laugh a great deal at things which they ought to remedy if they could; not laugh at them. I thought that you wanted some strong stimulus to work; anybody could

ris," he said in r

at from the very tone of your letters. A hunchback or a cripple could not have written in so light-hearted a strain, and I should have discovered, if I had thou

you really thin

fied with yourself. That, I understand now, was clea

se did y

o society, and I learned from you what society means; and though you tr

sarca

o much enthusiasm for art, go to see the galleries on the private-

it again. And knowing so much,

not interested i

ession, my people-are you

you. They are acci

told you I was an artist. But you have never inqu

ow that, without being told. But perhaps you may

hat is all over now. I am going to work. I will give up society. I

at the length he had gone. With any other girl in the world, he would have been taken at his word, and either enco

she asked. "I know nothing about Art.

he son of a clergyman who now holds a colonial appointment. I have got the usual number of bro

Iris, "plea

single lady with a great income, which she promises to bequeath to me in the future.

because it shows why you will never b

his conditions, Iris

ly the poor men who do anyth

. I have nothing. If it were not for my cous

, "that you are rich! L

to desire that Lala Roy might

lth and has been happy, and

aven't got any-I owe my cousin everything. Bu

he sewed or read. In the evening he sat with her while the two old men played their game of chess. Regularly every evening at half-past nine the Bengalee checkmated Mr. Emblem. Up to that hour he amused himself with his opponent, formed ingenious combinations, watched openings, and

but this report wanted confirmation. He had lived in Mr. Emblem's second floor for twenty years; he always paid his bills with regularity, and

you in the evenin

hey like to hear me play dur

watched her, not the old men. How was it that refinement, grave, self-possession, manners, and the culture of a lady, co

e it in your eyes. Can you not take me as I am, without thinking why I am diff

were all like

life, and can enter into your pursuits-you want companions who can talk

as a study of character. This she did not exactly formulate, but she had that feeling. Every woman makes a study of character about every man in whom she becomes ever so little interested. But we must not get conceited, my brothers, over this fact. The converse, unhappily, does not hold true. Very few

e," said

you like," he said, another evening, "to see my s

ied with her usual frankness, leaving it an open question whe

Tite Street. Of course it is built of red brick, and of course it has a noble staircase and a beautiful painting-room or studio proper all set about with bits of tapestry, armor, pictures, and china, besides the tools and properties of the craft. He had portfolios full of sketches; against the wall stood pi

th the interest which belong

nt life in Norway and on the Continent; there were landscapes, quaint old houses,

ist," said Iris. "I am sure now

s the greatest complim

before the easel on which

good enough. I want a sweet face, a serious face, a face with deep, beautiful eyes. Iris"-it w

elation to her. And just at the very moment when she discovered that Arnold was one of those who worship beauty-a

"my face would be out of

sit down, and let

crayons and

ala Roy?" he asked

e Sage, "are the treasures of the Lord; a

sure. Iris, please, your face turned just a little. So.

vered a truth of overwhelming importance. Every new fact-everything which cannot be disputed or denied, is, we all know, of the most enormous importance. He discovered no less a truth than that he was in love with Iris. So important is this truth to a young man that it

You have been gradually learning to know Iris, through the wisest and sweetest letters that were ever written, for a whole year. You gradually began to know her, in fact, when you first began to interlard your letters with conceited revelations about yourself. You knew her to be sympathetic, quick, and of a most kind and tender heart. You are quite sure, though you try to disguise the fact, that she is as honest as the day, and as true as steel. As for her not being a lady, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for even thinking such a thing. Has she not been tenderly brought up by two old men who are full of honor, and truth, and all the simple

ience pointed to the portrait of the girl, and bade the most unworthy of all lovers look upon even his own p

or shame's sake we must pass ov

e morning after his scourging at the hands of the m