None Other Gods

low, creeper-covered places that somehow suggest William IV. and crinolines (if it is a fact that those two institutions flourished together, as I think), with

ce where Dick had sat with Jenny, and here the Rector and his daughter breakfas

ld during the rest of the morning. She wrote a few letters, read a few books, sewed a little, and, on the whole, presented a very domestic and amiable picture. She visited poor people for an h

lf sensible; it is even more dangerous than to be told so.) For the worst of it all was that she was quite right. It was quite plain that she and Frank were not suited to one another; that she had looked upon that particular quality in him which burst out in the bread-and-

her to be sensible was the highest thing in life; but her general attitude to these was as it would be towards temptation of any

well,

emarked, were backward this year, and, after a kind of ceremonial opening, to give warning as it were, on the twelfth

he smoking-room, with the outer door well open to admit the warm evening air. They had discussed the prospects of grouse next day with all proper solemn

ely, finished his drink

, is she?" said D

struck

ank?" wen

heard f

s the po

't an

d a monosyl

's she b

al. She's a sensible gi

red this a

Archie. "Got to have a

a second.... I

, propped himself again

egret it, then

rchie. "It would

heart went together in this matter.) "But sometimes, you know, women regr

esn't," s

d-soda, hardly five minutes before, and drank half of it. He sucked

to have a shot

ha

ve a shot. She c

manner vanished for a secon

rd! I hadn't

e had it for a long time...

ood c

hat out. We'll take that

ked at him

n? Do you mean

admitted Dick. "I meant, h

ly. (It will be remembered that Ja

it your own w

said Dick. "Didn't

ned himself from

ver entered my head. I must think about it. G

d man, are

's all right,

assed between these two that night on th

I

solate and simple and beautiful as moors can be, and by glimpses, now and then in the valleys between, of entirely civilized villages, with even a to

at must be met, especially if one has not made up one's mind as to the proper line of action. It is all very well to be sensible, but a difficulty occasionally arises

big blue, steady eyes roved slowly round her as she went, seeing nothing. It was, in fact, the almost perfect little mare who first gave warning of the approach to the sport

eries of low defenses, like fortifications, to command the face of the slope and the dips on either side. This was always the last beat-in this moor-before lunch; and lunch itself, she knew, would be waiting on the other side of the hill. Occasionally as she watched, she saw a slight movement behind this or that butt-no more-and the only evidence of human beings, beside the beaters, lay in the faint wreath

that each furious little head contained bade the owner of it to fly as fast and straight as possible, in squawking company with as many friends as possible, away from those horrible personages in green and silver with the agitating red flags, and up that quiet slope which, at the worst, only emitted sudden noises. A reflective

hopelessly by the very instincts intended to safeguard them; practical common-sense, in this case, at least, led them straigh

ht past a monster in green on a gray mare rather than to face the peaceful but deathly

a delicate, impatient foot, having quite satisfied herself that danger

other; and all began with long drinks, and all ended with heavy meals. There were two other women whom she knew slightly, who had driven up half an hour before. Everything was quite perfec

red legs very wide apart, surveying the country and talking to the keeper. Her father was looking down the barrels of his rather in

to-morrow?" ask

used an

he said. "I've got one

I want to talk to you ab

u be shoot

ry fit and shal

was

t time?" p

ing out over the hills and wondering if that was the church

p to lunch," sh

very complete and trim, thought Jenny, from his flat cap to his beautifully

e shall be moving

ing the mare just befo

id Jenny. "I won't mount yet. Just

five minutes later, the sportsmen in another. It looked like some mysterious military maneuver on a small scale; and again Jenny considered the illusion of free ch

of one of the men, inte

, doesn't it

sented c

nd the insolent cold eyes and the astonishing complacency; and she only half acknowledged t

t on the tall girl.

es

e, isn't it? I thoug

rse of my own, you know,

O

t her hatred rise

got to visit an old woman who's dyi

! y

hard held the mare's head and settled th

I

before twelve o'clock with as much excitemen

at in St. James's, and to possess a pointed brown beard and melancholy brown eyes and a reposeful manner, relieved him from all further effort. I have wronged him, however; he had made

sensible, really beautiful and eminently presentable, of course, paved the way; but, if I understand the matter rightly, these were not the only elements

be shown into the garden if he came.... No; Miss Launton was in the morning-room, but she

ys; and then another robin issue from another lime tree and drive the first one away. Then he noticed a smear of dust on his own left boot

plain pink dress, perfectly cut, and she carried herself superbly. She looked just a trifle paler than yesterday, he thought, and there was a very reserved, steady kind of question in her eyes. (I am sorr

ck, after they had sat a moment or two

tainly,"

little speech he preserved it. It was quite restrained, extremely civilized, and not at all artificial. It was his method of presenting a fact-the fact th

ave gone through an awful lot in the last month or two-perhaps even longer-but I don't know about that. And I w

Jenny had appeared), but he was aware that at his first sentence she had suddenly sett

garth allows me twelve hundred a year more. Then I've got other expectations, as they say. My uncle gives me to understand that my allowance i

eley-" be

e not got any profession, though I'm supposed to be a solicitor; but I'm perfectly willing to work if ... if it's wished, or to stand for Parliament, or anyth

plainly ... (One moment, please, I've nearly done.) ... I can't think of anything else; and I haven't been able to for the last two or three months. I ... I ... I'm fearfully sorry for poor old Fran

e first time since he had

ed), but she had gone paler still. Her mouth was in repose, without quiver or movemen

ite at once," began Dick again pre

oked him courageo

ou have been quite straightforward with me, and I must be

rt was thumping furiously with

hate to keep you waiting, particularly when I do really think it will be 'No' in the long run; but as I'm not quite

you say,"

at obscures one's judgment? I simply can't judge now, and I know I can't.... You'r

again; "and may I say thank yo

k of pain came in

dn't," she said. "I'm

y," said

was a

aying anything to my father? I don't want him to be

ck bravely, "I

hat I said-exactly, you know. That I thought it would be 'No';

ell," s

the same gift, in another form, as that which enables its possessor to put people at their ease. (It is, I suppose, one of the elements of

ed it by a su

id. "You know I'm all but certa

" said Dick. "It's

I

tch garden-paths as she sometimes did, and disclose rich worms and small fat maggots. But a cat had come out instead and was now pacing with stiff forelegs

of the shadow and eyed

said

as no r

said

oused h

d Jenny me

d the cat,

said

e was a lo

d Jenny in

h, but said nothing. He waited for another entreaty, but Jenny p

cat, almost be

. The cat cast one venom

ox-terrier. He trotted briskly across from the direction of the orchard, diagonally past Jenny. As he crossed the trail of the cat he paused, smelt, and followed it up fo

y imperiously. "Com

e, nodded and smiled at her

said Jenny, s