No Hero

that

attacked and defended my own conduct down to that hour, when I ought to have been formulating its logical conclusion, and during my unprofitable deliberations the night had aged and altered (as it were) behind my back. There was no more music in the drawing-room. There were no more people under the drawing-room

be," I answered, laughing as I rose

es in her turn, though rather nervously

and yet he had not forbidden me to tell her. Poor Bob was more subtle than I had supposed, b

id I. "But I am afraid you won't s

" asked Mrs. Lasce

gain time in which to decide how to make th

so please will you

itting gravity, "is climbing

ev

t he has

did he

e ago, with a c

ld you

as he was

a sudd

less, I

on was wrapped up as on the earlier night, in the same unconventional combination of rain-coat and golf-cape; but now the hood hung down, and the s

celles at last. "I suppose it reall

was partly why he went. In all human probability we shall have him back safe and sound, and fearfully pleased with himself, long before this time to-morrow. Meanwhile, Mrs. L

d?" said Mrs. La

bly; "and if it wasn't so late

et it over, b

er that she shrugged so contemptuously, toward the ligh

d to sit, but in any case I needn't keep you many minutes. Bob Evers," I continued, as my suggestion was tacitly accepte

t app

it," said I, as we sauntered on our way side by side. "It was difficult to believe,

dee

had propos

waited, but

I added with d

nly by my companion's measured s

by!" I i

ain Clephane?" asked Mrs. Lascelle

gs. But can it be tr

is t

you didn't give him

since he seems to have told you everything, neither do I know why you should a

fforded me abundant satisfaction. I was over-eager

you w

l wh

se th

ppeared to be surveying me with equal resentment and defiance. I, on

less emotion and more dignity than her bearing had le

s conscious of the weakness of saying it again, and it alone, b

r, was not unfru

elles, "how old do you

ith obvious gallantry. "But I

ut I was married before I was his ag

old her) if one looked upon the woman as she was, and only difficult in the prejudicial light of her matrimonial record. I did not add these th

he world?" said Mrs. Lascelles, quoting m

had to concede. "Only

age, even if I had been fifteen years older, instead of five or six. It's the old story, from the man's point of view. Y

ir. "I never said that, or any

in your mind. I was unhappy, I did wrong, so I can never be happy, I can never do right!

eiterated, and with some slight effect this time. M

r deep voice vibrant with scornful indig

d meant every word, as I looked at her well in the moonlight

, Captain

honoured with a contemptuo

and not a boy, and still less the only child

se!" It seemed, however, to soften her, or at least to change the current of

that I got on wit

even fond

te f

ble person, that she and I couldn't p

I, almost wearily. "You must know wh

scelles

rather die than let you marry him at his age. I don't say she's wrong-I don't say she's right. I give you the plain fact for what it is worth: you wou

ed least to remember; but the vision faded before the moonlit reality of

marry him," she said,

by separating mother and son, and end by making both their

last words; for the bold smile faded from her face, and she loo

exceedingly well," Mr

ago," I guard

my companion, "that you ha

to be the very reverse in answer to it, and I shied idiotically at the honest lie. I had qu

came out here?" pers

tive tone to close the subject. There was a pause. I began to

les, "that you saw Mrs. Evers

too lat

fact," I answere

had my face to the moon, and Mrs. Lascelles had her back. Y

never to have to

you

is mother just

ll him," I s

y of you, Capt

now my only chance, "it was only natural. Bob was rather r

, y

they fe

es

tales, and that I had come out to have an eye on him, if he had

ow I was committed to an attit

been some truth in it?"

I agreed,

e between us and the moon. I was sorry for that. I felt that I was missing something.

his mother, you heard a report, and you volunteered or at least consented to come out and keep a

was fro

s," I admitt

can guess. One does not stay in hotel after hotel without getting a pretty shrewd idea of the way people talk about one. I know

en to was also the greatest gossip in the hotel. She paid no attention to the remar

e, and your worst fears were confirmed. That must have been an interesting moment.

y," I said, stolidly, though wi

ce, Captain Clephane, to a really chivalrous young man?" I bowed my head to the well-earned taunt. "But," she w

ou," I answered quite honestly; "because

lthough subtle return of the good-nature which had always attract

fectly si

the soft new tone which actually flattered me with the

e this

she almost

d t

it was the harder to give her the only advice which I considered compatible alike with my duty and the varied demands of the situation. If she took it as she seemed disposed to do, the immediate loss would be mine, and I foresaw besides a much more disagreeable reckoning with Bob Evers than the one now approaching an ami

refuse him under such circumstances that he couldn't possibly b

r low voice. And I fancied there was a kindr

st of us." (Her hand lay loose in mine.) "Mrs. Lascelles, I should go to-morrow morning" (her hand fell away altogether)

om my companion. But no other soul was near us, though I looked all ways. It

u would commit yourself to that finishing touch of impudence! Certainly it is an opportunity, his being out of the way. You were not long in making use of it, were you? It wil

eet voice, and drawn up in every inch of the tall straight figure. I do not remember whether the moon was hid or shining at the moment. I only know that my lady's eyes shone bright enough for me to see them t

ach other if I was wise. Then I lifted my hat, and offered my c

. "It is to pass the time until he knows his

ain, and my eyes followed hers. A great

ly free from the smaller emotions which it had been my own unhappiness to inspire. It was the real woman who had spoken out once more, suddenly, perhaps