Stella Fregelius: A Tale of Three Destinies

olumns and arches still standing as they were in the pre-Reformation days, lit with cunningly-arranged and shaded electric lights designed and set up by Morris, was

e two beauties of the neighbourhood, Miss Jane Rose and Miss Eliza Layard, with their respective belongings; the clergyman of the parish, a Mr. Tomley, who was leaving the county for the north of England on account of his wife's health; and a clever an

nity, for reasons of her own, not unconnected perhaps with the expected presence of the Misses Layard and Rose, had determined to look and dress her best that night. She wore a robe of some rich white silk, tight fitting and cut rather low, and upon her neck a single row of magnificent diamonds. The general effect of her sheeny dress, snow-like skin, and golden, waving hair, as she glided into the shaded room, suggested to Morris

rary, had come out in the virginal style of muslin and blue bows, whereof the effect, unhappily, was somewhat marred by a fiery complexion, acquired as the result of

addressing Mary. "She looks as though she

the name of the place? Dad would drive me there this afternoon, and it made me quite hot to look at her, jumping and running and hitting for ho

at Tennis. "I dislike women who go about what my brother

e to do anything well, even if it's only lawn tennis. It

to out to a dinner party with a hea

ils and umbrellas, which is absurd. Besides, what does it matter? You see, it is different wi

of opinion," rep

all one way. Don't you think Miss Rose beautiful

is. "But I wish she wouldn't beat one at te

flectively. His siste

r beautiful, don't you, Morris?"

e replied, with a vacuous stare a

." And Mary turned away, ostensibly to talk to her cavalier; but really to find out wh

ting rector, a benevolent-looking person, with a broad forehead

rthumberland, Mr. Tomley, to exchange livings with

hom he had waged a continual war during his five years of residence in the parish, and added: "But we must all give way to the cause of duty and the necessities of health. Mrs. T

Mary to herself. Lady Jones, who also knew Mrs. Tomley and th

the first consideration of every good man. Bu

behind, and the great sea in front, and some rocks and the church between the two. That's about all, but my wife likes it because she used to stay

inhabitant of this earthly paradise, the man with

e Reverend Pe

gly odd name! Is

s father was a Dane, and

Is she

years ago. The old gentleman

a break of the general conversation, so t

Fregelius; a ve

d of the table could catch were snatches such as: "Wonderful eyes"; "Independent young perso

to the advisability of countervailing duties to force foreign nations to ab

y. Miss Layard, somewhat sore after her fir

to Mr. Layard to take her part, she retired from the fray till, seeing that it grew acrim

e I understand it is a habit of yours. You seem so sleepy. I know that I must have looked just lik

that?" ask

ughing and remained in an excellent mood for the rest of the feast, or at any rate until

fying ordeals, and Morris had made up his mind, if he could find a chance, to propo

ening in that gown and setting, or because her conversation, with its sub-acid tinge of kindly humour amused him, or-and this seemed more probable-because her whole attitude towards himself was so gentle and so full of sweet bene

including Miss Rose, sang songs with more or less success, while Miss Layard criticised, Mary was appreciative, and the men talked. At length the local baronet's wife looked at the l

pose that we had better be off too, or y

she had utterly exhausted herself in defending Mis

p of the property unrolled on purpose to show you, and I don't want to keep it about, fo

rough. There is a story of an enormously fat old Boer who was seated on the veld with his horse at his side, when suddenly a band of armed natives rushed to attack him. "Oh, God, help!" he cried in his native taal, as he prepared to heave his huge form into the saddle. Having thus invoked divine assistan

in the wilderness. He would have preferred to coquet with the enemy for

situations. He felt that it would be impossible to say those words with the electric l

nds. Is there anything

chair," he

chairs. Look, there's a fur rug on that sofa, and here

't want any coat; I a

him up and down with

"to expose yourself to all sorts of unkno

"I am not afraid of the

appens don't blame me. It's so easy to be rash and thoughtless and catch a chill, and then you ma

ndow which he had opened, on to the lawn, whither, with a quaint li

she stopped, clasped her hands, and said, "Oh! wh

it, and when this was eclipsed, then it was all jet. To the right and left, up to the very borders of the cliff, lay the soft wreaths of roke or land-fog, covering the earth as with a cloak of down, but pierced here and there by the dim and towering shapes of trees. Yet altho

aloft-it was still and bright as crystal, and crisp and co

awn murmuring of the sea upon the shingle. Then they went forward to the edge of the cliff, but although Morris threw the fur rug over it Mary did not seat herself in the comfortable-looking deck chair. Her desire for repose

ing up poetry?" sh

y questions?" he answered

at you were trying to get the lines to scan. Also the sea

his head and

that shining white, especially when the moon goes in. Then you

at before. Then she thought an instant, and the echo of the word "spirit" came back to her mind, and jarred upon it with a littl

enough that I should be a woman, then--" she paused, to add, "I beg your pardon, I know you meant to be nice, but once

uff better than migh

ne ventured to call yo

se. It excites a vision of possibilities, and

then; I ca

mpliment. Can you think of any celestial definitio

ng fun of me," said Morris,

aking fun. It's only my way of carrying on conve

reed him from his difficulty. Mary moved a little, causing the white cloak, which was unfastened, to slip from her shoulders. Morris put out his hand to catch it, and met her h

sweet, low tones. Then her voice brok

ased by the sight of these tears, which glimmered like pear

ly. Apparently she could n

ill you

s though lost in thought, with a little action more eloquent t

in his arms, words came

. For instance-before heaven it is true-you are the first woman whom I ever kissed, as I swear to you that you shall be the last. Then, what

, Morris." Then, sentence by sentence, she went

ou all the same. I can't remember a time when I didn't; no, not since I was a little girl. It was you who grew away from

remind me of my dead follies. So

. Morris, unless you maltreat me wilfully-which I am

e asked in a shaken voice.

, lest you should find that after all you are more human than you imagine,

d why do you use that

ight, and it came to my lips-of itself. It seemed to typify what I meant,

d Morris, "I will do

never be a shadow between us while we live. But, Morris, I take you, risks and all, because it has been

to deserve this?

ch like to know," replied Mary,

d by Mr. Porson, saw a sight which interested him. With one hand he pointed it out to Porson, at the same moment motioning

said. "Come, we had better go back into the study and talk over matters till they