The Philanderers

ake opened the window and

me the cause of that unreasoned conviction of his, and formulated it too, as he realised, with absolute truth. Yes, it was just hi

ing her, was committed

d across the rails. Away to his right the light was burning on Westminster clock-tower; on Westminster Bridge the lamps of cabs and carriages darted to and fro like fire-flies. Drake watched two of them start across in the same direction a few yards apart, saw the one behind close up, the one in front spirt forward as though each was straining for the lead. They drew level, then flashed apart, then again drew level, and so passing and repassing raced into the myriad lights upon the opposite bank. That bank was visible to him through a tracery of leafless twigs, for a tree grew in front of his window on the farther edge of the gardens, and he could see the lights upon its roadway dancing, twirling, clashing in the clear night, just as they clashed and

his desires, however small. He was in London working at certain schemes of which he did not doubt the ultimate success. They were built upon a foundation of knowledge arduously gained and tested. The rising in Matanga,

eeded Clarice here in his balcony by his side, and he pictured the shine of her eyes bent towards him in the dark. And the perception of that need hel

s. He might win; there was just a chance. The Gorley incident had made no real difference in Clarice's friendliness

he name sounded pleasantly with its ripple of liquid syllables. Drake found himself repeating it when he should have been at work. It began to rise to his lips the moment a da

ke. 'I will let you know before

will b

e possibility of this rising. L

n do you

ul

's a long t

nt embarrassment; 'much sooner than that of course. I was thinking of some one e

ghby should be advised, and he drove to her house accordingly. He had ceased to feel displeasure at Mrs. Willoughby's conduct, for s

of the month and the time of the

ughtboard. So many definite moves to be made forward upon definite lines. Then you're c

crowned ki

imag

ve waiting was a lid shut down on him, forcing his energies inwards to prey upon himself. His impatience, moreover, was increased by the increasing prospects of his undertaking. Additional reports had been received from his engineer appraising at a still higher value the quality of the land

time, as he walked across the green park towards Beaufort Gardens. He found Miss Le Mesurier alone and in a melancholy

alone,' he said, and his fa

e sometimes that I am always alone, even wh

ou

ed from the accent upon the you, that her little speech had not failed of its effect. She continued mo

ing. I hope yo

y passing

ake me thin

elf at the side of it, facing her and facing the open window. The window-ledges were

ebrows, the whimsical note of mockery in her voice, represented her to Drake under a new aspect, helped to complete her in his thoughts much as her voice, very sweet and clear for all its small compass, completed in some queer way the flowers and sunshine. Her manner, however, did more than that; it gave to him, conscious of a certain

accomplishm

e emerald ring which he had seen winking in the firelight on that evening when she had covered her face from him. She dropped the ring on the top of the piano at Drake's side. It spun round once

her style. She seemed to lose the spirit of the nocturne and even her command on the instrument; the firm touch faltered into indecision

she asked at length, wi

e you don't understand. You get a glimpse of a meaning here and there, but no meaning re

inson?' asked Claric

es the class of work on

ry generou

straight to the point had discomposed Miss Le Mesurier upon an occasion before. She ans

no basis of

y, and inquired after the pro

ver running through, and I have got picked men to settle on it; a

English colonisation. 'It's necessary

utes. They need the colonies made before they can prosper in it. The French are better, but they are spoilt by officialdom. The Englishman just adapts himself to the conditions, and sets to work to adapt the conditions to himself too. He strikes a sort of mean, and the Home Government leaves him alone-leaves him too much alone some say, and rightly, in cases. There's a distinction to be drawn, and it's difficult to draw it so far away. It's this, when the colony's made, then it isn't a bad thing

n to go back t

ical experience of our colonies.' Drake spoke without the least trace of boastfulness, but in a tone of quiet self-

er to the piano, and stood leaning upon the lid of it; he took up

ll'; and then, with a hesitating co

t's

one-that they stand in no need of it.' She spo

laugh. 'It would be a rash thing to say. Of

she agreed, and

olding the ring,

ou about'-he hesitated for a second-'

' she

hid your face in your hands. It

om his face, and said,

ve it

d and leaned

wear it?' he

ng himself; for a moment or two he stood looking at her, and then he wa

s that he should, and yet afraid too. The music began to falter again; once she stopped completely, and let her fingers rest upon the keys, as though she had no power to lift them and continue. Then she struck a chord with a loud defiance.

nge in the movement, but none the less her eyes sought the ground, an

heard him ask in a low voic

heard a cry, hoarse and passionate; she felt herself lifted, caught, and held against him. She saw his eyes

hispered into her ear with an

held her unresisting, passive in his arms, watching her cheeks fire. She realised, in a kind of detached way, that he was holding her so that the tips of her toes only touched the floor, and somehow that see

ase and stammered, 'P

For so I

nlight, breathing it in. 'Clarice,' she heard him murmur, with a shake of his shoulders like a great Newfoundl

ow. 'Hi!' he called, and tos

shouted the

ny paper,'

There's a c

ers the moment they have been accepted, and, at all events, it is an occasion when th

s brought up to the room. Clarice saw Drake open it hurriedly

er?' she asked i

hought that danger was averted,' and there was

r. She rose from her chair. 'What

with the self-reproac

am sure; but it

ing m

p towards her. 'Of course I ought not to have spoken to you yet,-not until everything was settled. I am sorry-of course it will come out all r

satisfaction, and her

assed from his face. 'Your father's in the library,' he went on; 'I ha

o; I will

began to remember; it was something Stephen Drake had said, but about what? And then, in a flash, her recollection defined it for her. It was about moonlight being absorbed into the darkness of an African veld, just soaking into it like water into dry ground. She had a vision of the wide rolling plain, black from sky's rim to sky's rim, and the moonlight po

t the wall, holding h

he cried, and st

nd cast a startled glance across his shoulder, expecting to see her father come forward smiling congratulatio

e Mesurier,' he said;

d with a sudden revulsion of feeling dropped into a chair by the t