Lady Connie

. He wants to show you his specia

he world they make and govern, they are of the stuff which holds a country together, without which a country can not exist. She might have come out of a Dutch picture--a Terburg or a Metsu--so exquisite was she in every detail--her small, white head, her regular features, the lace

ir and beard streaming in the wind, a flag of battle to his own side, and an omen of defeat to the enemy. His mots still circulated, and something of his gift for them had remained with the formidable woman who now represented him. At a time when short dresses for women were coming in universally, she always wore hers long and ample, though they were looped up by various economical and thrifty devices; on the top of the dress--which might have covered a crinoline, but didn't--a

good will, but penetrating also, and critical. It was as though the person from whom it came had mor

Oxford acquaintance, the newly-married wife of one of the high officials of the

a wedding visit if you please! I think it was because one of the kangaroos at Blenheim had just died in childbirth. I told her it was a mercy, considering that any of them would hug us to death

nce la

when I ought to,"

to cry--in time. She cultivates with care, and waters with tears, eve

denly her face stiffened. It was like

ther and a mother within a year, and I have

ndent on Sarah Mulholland's tongue for the salt of life, felt herself cheated of her usual Sunday entertainment. For there were few

nd expanded. Mrs. Mulholland seemed to watch her wi

rd of you from two

were always expecting to hear Falloden's name, and protecting he

alks drab. And his music is divine! I hear they talk of him in Paris as another Chopin. He passed his first degree examination the other day magnificently! Come and hear him some evening at my house. Jim Meyrick, too, has told me all about you. His mother is a

Miss Wenlock put

re you thinkin

Newdigate last year, and the Greek Verse the other day. He got the Ireland, and he's going to get a First. He might have been in the Eleven, if he'd kept his temper,

dgeted, and at last s

t? It means that you're not exactly like other

lland look

remain our feudal lords and superiors, who have a right to the services of those beneath them. And everybody is beneath them--especially women; and foreigners--and artists--and people who don't shoot or hunt. Ask their neighbours--ask their cottagers. Whenever the revolution comes, their heads will be the first to go! At the same time they know--the

gry with him, my dear Sarah

kin under his chin--that he uses French words when he needn't--that he dances like a Frenchman--that he recites French poetry actually of his own making--that he plays too well for a gentleman--that he doesn't respect the customs of the college, et cetera. There is a sacred corner of the Junior Common Room, where no freshman is expected to sit after hall. Otto sat in it--quite innocently--knowing nothing--and, instead of apologising, made fun of Jim Meyrick and Douglas Falloden who turned him out. Then afterw

n. But her mind was angry. She said to herself that nobody ought to attack absent persons who can't defend themselves,--at le

He came to us--to my uncle's--to play

think you know Douglas Falloden"--the tone was just lightly touched with signif

uaintance with your two aunts who live qu

oked up in a

u know

y; and my people were small squires under the shelter of the Risboroughs before your father sold the property and settled abroad. I was brought up with all your people--your Aunt Marcia, and your Aunt Winifred, and all the rest of them. I saw your mother once in Rome--and loved her, like everybody else. But--as probably you know--your A

d. "I don't know them. They never wri

lhollan

them soon. And of course you remember yo

her. But she did somet

will certainly descend on you. She'll want you for some bal

face showed

--when she never wanted

mer and thick in winter. There was only one putting on--pouf!--and then the dress. I thought it a splendid idea, but my mother wouldn't let me copy it. Your Aunt Winifred had just the opposite mania--of piling on clothes--because she said there were 'always draughts.' If one petticoat fastened at the back, there must be another over that which fastened at the front--and another at the side--and so on, ad infinitum. But then, alack!--they suddenly dropped all their absurdities, and became quite ordinary peo

stance, her delicate mou

they are ge

ed again, and when it softened th

The Master came in, foll

said Miss Wenlock,

s, and I couldn't get rid of mine. But now all is well. How do you do, Lad

ely nervous, and wondering into w

ad many of her father's tastes, that she knew something of arch?ology--he bore it even when she shyly quoted Lanciani--that she read Latin, and was apparently passionately fond of some kinds of poetry. And all the time she pleas

the other r

lock, looking rather bewildered. "T

his head into t

to the garden, my dear. Will y

d on three sides by surfaces of silver-grey stone, and overlooked by a delicate classical tower designed by the genius of Christopher Wren. Over one-half of the garden lay an exquisite shadow; the other was in vivid light. The air seemed to be full of bel

bound of

he City

ere was a passionate and troubled revolt in her. Other ghostly wills seemed to be threatening her--wills that meant nothing to her. No!--her own will should shape her own life

that she was feeling the peren

g to like Oxf

luctantly. "Oh, of course I shall l

e all feel that! We who are alive must always fight the past, though we owe it all we have. Oxford has been to me often a witch--a dangerous--almost an evil witch. I seemed to see he

at head, the red hair, the sharp wedge-like chin, disappeared for Constance in th

't be long here; but still, ask us for what we can give. In Oxford one

Sorell's promise

ablest of our younger scholars--though of course"--the speaker drew himself up with a slight

e assent

s signs of being devoted to you. Poor wretch!" Aloud he

ould not help liking him. And apart from his personal charm, he recalled all sorts of pleasant things and touching memories to her. But he was almost

rather puzzled and bewildered, she did not resist. There was something, indeed, in the generous dark eyes that every now and then

r the town children, et cetera. We all try to save our souls by committees nowadays. But my real business is to talk, and make other people talk. So I am always at home in the evenings

oked into Constance'

hem. "You might find me useful. Consider me a friend of the family. I make rather a good umbrella

ted first. Mrs. Mulholland stayed for a final word to the Maste

man with the wisdom of a rabbit, and the feelings of a mule! And don't hold your finger up at me, Master! You kn

wen Hooper admiringly--"and you

n just put into her saddle by the n

undergraduates tried not to look curious, and hurried by. Constance, in her dark blue riding-habit and a tricorne felt hat which she had been accustomed t

going, Connie

" she said vaguely, pointing with her rid

of forty, lean and jockey-like, with a russet and wrin

Nobody wears such a hat in England to ride in.

e voice was Nora's,

ie does," said Mrs. Hooper severely. "I

on the back garden, and stood th

rough various crowded streets, and left the railway behind. Then trotting under a su

ssive strata of white and purple cloud, which held the horizon. Over the Lathom Woods the cloud-line rose and fell in curves that took the line of the hill. The woods themselves lay in a haze of heat, the sunlight on the rounded crests of the trees, and the s

d that Falloden had in all probability paid him largely to hold his tongue. All that side of it was odious--degrading. But the thought of the green rides, and the man waiting for her, set all the blood in her wild veins dancing. Yet there was little or nothing in her feeling of a girl's yearning for a lo

w past seventy, did not take it into his head to marry; and there was his brilliant career at Oxford, his good looks and all the rest of it. Constance had a strong dash of the worldling in her mixed character. She had been brought up with Italian girl friends of the noble class, in whom the practical instincts of a practical race were closely interwoven with what the Englishman thinks of as Italian "romance" or "passion." She had discussed dowries and settlements since she was fifteen; and took the current values of wealth a

h an absorbing affection. Then, as she grew up, everywhere in her Roman life, among her girl friends, or the handsome youths she remembered riding in the Villa Borghese gymkhana, she began to be aware of passion and sex; she caught the hints of them, as it were of a lightning playing through the web of life, flashing, and then gone--illuminating or destroying. Her mind was full of love storie

him off--to resist him. And that resistance had been more exciting even than the docility of the first phase. It had ended in his proposal, the snatched kiss, and a breach. And now, she had little idea of what would happen; and would say to herself, recklessly, that she did not care. Only she must see him--must go on

the gate,

r, moss-carpeted, and close-roofed by oak-wood in its first rich leaf. After the hot sun on the straight and shadeless road outside, these c

y, far down the right hand drive, a horseman--coming into view. He

om, who had reined in a few ya

ted creature, which its rider handled with the ease of one trained from his childhood to the hunting field. His riding dress, with

icularly want to show you the bluebells--they're gorgeous! But they're quite on the ot

the groom--"you know th

s,

bring a lady to tea there in about an hour. She knows." Joseph tur

e easy talk of their early Riviera days; and he found himself doing his very best to please her. She asked him questions about his approaching schools; and it amused him, in the case of so quick a pupil, to frame a "chaffing" account of Oxford examinations and degrees; to describe the rus

ates--in my rooms--learning hard bits by heart--cribbing and stealing all I can. And I have still some of

r that any one could ever do

sters and cousins and aunts! It is a great pi

ing, I ad

pau

--wh

urned a glowing coun

my chief caus

sed not to

. Persons I want to be seeing and talking t

distance a cuckoo called from the river meadows, and round the two young figures one might have

e laugh, though very

e you as a

e? You think I can always m

I read you--

ing calculated--nothing spontaneou

bt your being

ushed

Conn

o. She saw what he was thinking

aid, in a low voice. And his black eyes looked passi

le," she said lightly. "Aren't you always boast

he put in quickly. "There wil

rees began to thin before them, and a splendid wave

ed Constance. "Oh

and sparkle of them was a physical delight; and with occasional lingering tufts of primroses among them and the youn

up his horse, and gathered

"They are not so beautiful when they are torn

taking a strap from the pocket of his own

d up imp

. Do you ever think how full the world is of sheer pleasure--small and g

he tide of impulse in himself. He mounted again, and suggested a gallop, through a long stretch of green road on

lled up, drawing in deep draughts of the su

yourself! You are

ise. Then they turned their horses towards the ke

ance presently, "I want yo

" he sai

give up ragging

tenance

een talkin

r. It is unworthy o

ughed with

it does him a

given him the boon of this rendezvous, he could hesitate for a moment as to the boon she asked in return--had humbled herself to ask. For had she not often vowe

now gaily admini

; that Otto Radowitz, being an artist, was specially in need of discipline; that no harm had been done him, or would be do

d Constance. "He doesn't un

e--and must behave as such.

periously--half smi

!--he is

ropped the subject. He saw that he had wounded her, but he quietly accepted it. There was som

she thought, "I sh

ed. Falloden waited on Constance as a squire on his princess; and all round them lay the green encircling rampart of the wood. In the man's every action, there was the

e gate of the wood wh

he said, as he got down to tighten her

he could not promise--ther

her. But he held her ha

said, in a low voice, whil

y disapp

t we had a golden time?" H

enly," she s

haved like

citedly, and w

o, standing beside his horse--a

isappeared, he mounted and r

id to himself with decision--"or