Merely Mary Ann

the popular composer, found him still willing to give out

ys-but I'll leave you the book; you might care to look over it. And-I say-if any catchy tunes suggest themselves as you go along, you might just jot them down, you know. Not worth while losing an idea; eh, my boy! Ha! ha! ha! W

d that Rosie should come up and practise on her own piano all the same, so he yielded to the complexities of the situation, and found hope a wonderful sweetener of suffering. Despite Rosie and her giggling, and Mrs. Leadbatter and her best cap and her asthma, th

side nook and live very quietly for a few weeks, and gain strength and calm in the soft spring airs, and watch hand-in-hand with Mary Ann the rippling scarlet trail of the setting sun fade across the green waters. Life, no doubt, would be hard enough still. Struggles and trials enough

l. He went down a fe

e, Mary Ann!" Then there was silence, save for t

kitchen stairs, wheezing and grumbling

ran cold at the thought. The silly cre

time. Oh, the sly little thing.

had unearthed the box. Why did he give her more than the pair that could always be kept hidden in her pocket? Yes, it was the gloves. And then there was the canary. Mrs. Leadbatter had suspected he was leaving her for a reason. She had put two and two together, she had questioned Mary Ann, and the ingenuous litt

rrived in the passage, and Lancelot hastily stole back i

her. She wasn't coming in to him, then. He could endure the suspense no

r paused and t

nice thing when a woman's troubled with hastmer, and brought 'ome 'er d

g away?" he said, i

est girl breathing. It

ammered. "Mary

er angrily, "as I can keep a gel in my kitchen a

peated Lancelot, utterly dazed.

t believe me. I don't know how much two and a 'arf million dollars is-but it sounds unkimmonly

he grasped at the letter like a drunke

essor of some petroleum wells, which made him wealthy in a few months. I pray God Mary Ann may make a better use of the money than he would have done, I want you to break the news to her, please, and to prepare her for my visit. As I have to preach on Sunday, I cannot come to town before, but on Monday (D.V.) I shall run up and shall probably take her back with me, as I desire

through them all at last. He felt chilled and numbed. He avert

girl!" he said in

hief, as if she'd bin my own daughter, never let her go out Bankhollidayin' in loose company-as you can bear witness yourself, sir-and eddicated 'er out of 'er country talk and rough ways, and made 'er

" said Lancelot grimly. "I'm sure Mary Ann

cold kitchen stones! 'Twasn't likely I could allow that. 'No, Mary Ann,' says I firmly, 'you're a lady, and if you don't know what's proper for a lady, you'd best listen to them as does. You go and buy yourself a dress and a jacket to be ready for that vicar, who's been a real good kind friend to you. He's coming to take you away on Monday, he is, and how will you look in that dirty print? Here's a suvrin,' says I, 'out of my 'ar

death," said Lancelot. "Tha

rve when he was rollin' in two and a 'arf million dollars," she said sceptically. "And I'm sure my Rosie wouldn't. But she never 'ad nobody to leave her money, poor

, think of anything else. He knew vaguely he ought to rejoice with her over her wonderful stroke of luck, that savoured of the fairy-story, but everything was swamped by that one almost resentful reflection. Oh, the irony of fate! Blind fate showering torrents of gold upon this foolish, babyish household drudge, who was all emotion and animal dev

ged lover of the sunshine. Then Beethoven came and rubbed himself against his master's leg, and Lancelot got up as one wakes from a dream, and stretched his cramped limbs dazedly, and rang the bell mechanically for tea. He was g

d large to him in the match-light-he seemed to see her through a golden haze. Tumu

of tears. Mary Ann, in her neat white cap-yes-and in her tan kid gloves. He rubbed his eyes. Was he really awake? Or-a thought still more dizzying-had he been d

ted match fell from his fingers and b

ssi

him-"is it true you've come into

I've brought

darkness seemed to fa

, then?" he said slowly. "Don'

nted to come in and see you

old me she wouldn't le

fore Monday, if then, and if she didn't let me I wouldn't buy a new dre

ncelot, smiling i

And I said I would be

ign?" he asked irrelevantly. He fe

such a pre

ould look in some creamy white evening dress with a rose in her hair. He wondered that in all his

find you in a pretty

, s

ised Mrs. Lea

eign. But I shan't be here when the vicar

e?" he said, his heart

lied, with a faint

self against th

n, and ended, "

ng. "We can always send her anot

, dumb, glad o

w," she said. "I m

he arti

she repli

about

r since she came. D

w some coals on the decaying fire. He was pleased she was going down; he was suffocating; he did not know what to say to her. And yet, as sh

nn," he

ssi

t expression of a summoned servant. The childishn

denly; half regretting the phra

ip tw

ncelot!" sh

run away from the vicar just when he is going to take you to the

ant to go with you. You said you would tak

stand that-that," he stammered; th

d Mary Ann. He had never kn

horror from the menace of the vicar's withdrawal of her in the opposite direction. If joy and redemption had not already lain in the one quarter, the advantages of the other might have

to me, M

ssi

a baby. Strive to grasp w

ment of a child that knows it is to be argued out of its instinc

ns like that Mrs. Leadbatter gave you. Then ten times as much as that, and ten times as much as all that"-he spread his arms wider and wider-"and ten times as much as all tha

ng nervously at her glov

t three per cent.-never mind what that is-and then you get fifteen

, I must go

go yet. I have lots

an't you ring

remark tickled him; he laughed w

n away, you sl

his sense of the humour of the suggestion, but his heart was heavy,

took her gloves o

ated: "An end to this farce! Put them

o clear away the things, with abrupt movements, looking

is to make sure of all this money-this fifteen thousand pounds a year. You see you will be able to live in a fine mano

sin in hand. The concrete details were b

d ever so many cows and pigs and outhouses, and a-oh, just like Atkinson's farm. And

ave a farm-anyt

lovely!

six p

will le

red and h

an't say,

you? You said you wo

he said, trying to put a spic

e there. We will go there instead of where you said-inste

aned i

e said slowly. "Don't you see

and here am I." Her apprehensio

quite different

to be with you

can't take you with me

ught hold of his

body. Before you were a nobody. Nobody cared or bothered about

thered about me," she

f the world are on you now," he said. "People w

about me? What har

ses puzz

harm them," he said slowly,

arm myself?"

band. With all that money it is only

usband. I don't want to marry. I sh

silence. He sought refug

stand I'm not go

ssi

a slight

yfully still, "suppose I wanted

me," she said,

d back pe

plied, still playfull

eyes; a coquette could not have don

bristling in contradiction. He cursed the weakness that had got him into this

crying about befor

now, sir," s

Tom's

been what missus said; and I was frightened because the vicar was coming to take me away-away from you; and then-oh, I don

e said enc

she murmured, and t

en--" he repea

rst kissed m

hat made you cry!"

sir, I do

on't you see that when I did th

didn't kiss

t, Mary Ann; I me

n stare

think so,

. You were

ry Ann. Don

have been so happ

ed grimly. "We have both been very wicked, Mary Ann; an

ively, suspecting a lurk

d being wicked befo

rs to take to your dead little sister. Well, you're just as foolish and childish now, Mary Ann, though you don't know it any more than you did then. After all, you're only nineteen. I found it out from the vicar's letter. But a time will come-yes, I'll warrant in only a few months' time you'll see how wise I am and how sensible you

under the touch of his hand a

long, I don't care!" s

o call me wicked then. W

ds caused him was a sense of surpris

to the door and closed it tightly. "Listen, Mary Ann! Let me tell you once for all, that even if you were fo

rupted hi

now than

d away. He knew he could not answer that t

ed resentfully. "I think you had better

odic. "You are going away witho

eavesdropper. The scene was becoming terrible. The

" he cried i

without me. I shall

, Mary Ann.

t take me

e of tenderness for this distressful vixen. "Don't you understand th

obs ceased f

me, then?" she

impossible," h

mpossible?"

dared not wound her further by telling her straight out that, with all her money, she was ridiculously unfit

d to tempo

I'll think it over. Go to bed early and have a long, nice sleep-missus will

large, appealing eyes, u

ear." He stroked her

She went out softly, drying her eyes. His own grew moist-he was touched by the pathos of her implicit trust. The

u marry m

it is im

it imp

cau

f a hundred things," he told it. "Because she is no fit mate for me-because she would degrade me, make me ridiculous-an unfortunate fortune-hunter, the butt of the witlings. How could I

ice, catching up the cue. And then, fro

se that, and because the

and she is mer

ly Mary Ann any long

s all in dollars. Pah! I smell the oil. Struck ile! Of all things in the world, her brother should just go and strike ile!" A great shudder traversed his form. "Everything seems to have been arranged ou

ot be happy

ossi

it imp

uld make me sick. And what would Peter say, and my broth

make with all your operas if you live a century. Fifteen thousand a year. Why, you could have all your works performed at your own expense, and for your own sole pleasure if you chose, as the King of Bavaria listened to Wagner's opera

laid out heaps of muddled manuscript

here, dusty in death? We have waited so patiently-have pity on us, raise us up from our silent tomb, and we will fly abroad through the

m back in their niches, and placed the comic

g the opening bars of a lively polka from the manuscript, he took up his pen and ad

ated, to silence it. "It would be me

so sure

her I shouldn't r

so sure

his wire-drawing?-the wh

it imp

refusing to be drawn back into the ed

pen, rose and paced t

in such a dilemm

such a chance?" retort

t seize the chance

er when she was merely Mary Ann. She needs you even more now that she will be surrounded by sharks and adventurers. Poor, poor Mary Ann. It is

elf. If I married her it wo

f-a few more years of them-they will wreck and ruin you, body and soul. How many men of genius have married their housekeepers even-good clumsy, homely bodies, who have kept their husbands' brain calm and his pillow smooth. And again, a man of genius is the one man who can marry anybody. The world expects him to be eccentric. And Mary Ann is no coarse city weed, but a sweet country bud. How splendid will be her blossoming under the sun! Do not fear that she will ever sha

comic opera refused to advance; somehow he did not feel in the mood for gaiety; he threw down his pen in despair and disgust. But the idea of not being able to work rankled in him. Every hour seemed suddenly precious-now that he had resolved to make money in earnest-now that for a year or two he could have no other aim or interest in life. Perhaps it was that he wished to overpower the din of contending thoug

good-night

the old

is summo

ear love,

like a hoarse cry, then vibrated slowly away into a silence that was broken only by his sobs. He rose late the next day, after a sleep that was one prolonged nightmare, full of agonised, abortive striving after something

d fled. The wind was high-he heard it fly past, moaning. In the watery sky, the round

is toes stuck fast in the opening and refused to advance. Annoyed, he put his hand in, and drew out a pair of tan gloves, perfectly new. Astonished, he inserted his hand again and drew out an

eaving his boots and Mary Ann's gloves scattered about the floor. He

lf, finished dressing,

brough

s Mary Ann?" h

osie, with an unamiable laugh.

old me she insisted on

nd

e says she'll only help mother in the kitchen-and do all

ncelot, crumb

s what she wants," conclu

hen now?" he said, pouring out hi

gone out

he coffee-pot-his saucer

away the day after tomorrow, and mother wanted her to look tid

other said some

thma is worse, so I don't know whether I shall be able to take my

he ambiguity of the phrase. The

towards his pupil. His nerves seemed strangely flaccid to-day. He did not a

I don't mean it, sir. I suppose I couldn't go on with the

o little pieces now-"I don't quite kno

Oh, I'll tell mother,"

quite settled. But if I stay-of cou

room with airy steps, evidently bent on disregarding his pr

t the little drab-coloured street, with its high roof of mist, along which the faded dollar continued to spin imperceptibly. Suddenly he saw Mary Ann turn the corner, and come along towards the house, carrying a big parcel and a paper

nock. The colour on her cheeks deepened at the sight of him, bu

hout gloves, Mary Ann?

you're a

ed down at his boots

ng me my presents, Mary Ann. You might at least have waited til

it was the surest way fo

you send them

yes were cast down. "Oh-Mr. La

know," he s

rs, Mr. Lancelot. Missus m

you've told me what's come over

ssi

me your parcels." And almost snatching them from her, he carried the

. You can take off y

ssi

ed her

hy did you return

felt a diffidence in putting the situation into words

nly too well. "But why couldn't you come in and give t

to see you agai

were welling o

again last night,

ssi

y about now? Aren't you the

ssi

m; the sun had broken through the clouds, the worn dollar had

were you cr

want to

tience with you. And why did

elot, I knew you

ut that into

o get so savage, and about the way the organ used to play in church, and then all at once somehow I knew it would be best for me to do what you told me-to buy my dr

the canary starting o

ys, and after that it would be easier. I could always be thinking of you just the same, Mr. Lance

But didn't you forget something you had to

swiftly a moment, th

dn't mean to," she

ld you to come to me and get

et. That was what I was

asking me to

ssi

ing it was

id, 'Because--' and then you left off; but please, Mr.

ll you. Why don't

I knew it all along. It was silly of me to ask you-but you know I am silly sometimes, sir, like I was when my mother was dying.

ak. It looks as if you don't like to tell me straight out

wly and simply, "Because I am not

did not see the flood of sunlight-he did

it is impossible. I didn't know last night, but I know now. It is impo

de, and stared at him

"it is impossible-because I

Then she broke into a l

, don't make

t make fun of you for two million million dollars. It is the truth-th

stand you, sir

he inmost essence of my every thought. Beethoven is worth two of me, aren't you, Beethoven?" The spaniel, thinking himself called, trotted over. "He never calculates-he just comes and licks my hand-don't loo

" faltere

antly. "No, you will always rema

tempt with an a

uldn't be for tha

unkind, and, as I think I told you once before, it's not so very dreadful to be a fool. A rogue is a worse thing, Mary Ann. All I want to do is to open your eye

e looked at h

ving by hard work-by good work if I can, by bad work if I must-but always by hard work. While you will have fifteen thousand pounds a year, I shall be glad, overjoyed, to get fifteen hundred. And while I shall be grinding away body and soul for my fifteen hundred, your fifteen thousand will drop into your pockets, even if you keep your hands there all day. Don't look so sad, Mary Ann. I'm not blaming you. It'

into tears at last, "why do you talk like tha

ere going to be a good girl and never

ssi

ke my han

t I won't marry

Ann. When you brought y

t know a time w

said yesterday I was a young woman no

versed his heart, as the picture of her in the future flashed for a moment upon his inner eye-"why, by that time, you'll be a different Mary Ann, outside and inside.

p, her eyes sparkled-"perhaps

aps w

rapturous trills of the canar

ashed a quick deprecatory glance at

me he w

" though Lancelot felt the throbbings

to you and say-two and two are four-let us go into partnership. But then, you see," he went on briskly, "the odds are I may never even have two thousand. Perhaps I'm as much a duffer in music as in other things. Perha

so sorry." And her eyes

me. I'm a man. I dare

r mind, dear. Let all

ream-a very bad dream,

. Everything will help

e best thing for yo

. if you wil

se you

me a

y, dear,

elot, instead of me-I don't w

laughing nervously, "you're getting fo

not?" she sai

ssible," he

mpossible?"

start that they had come back again to that same o

could ever bring myself to ask you

that?" she sai

hand tenderl

y Mary

elot, take me, take me! You

of what might be-in the dim future-if the-chances and changes of life bring us together again-as they never

lenness, but she regained her calm, swallowing the

nn," he said, taking he

shed were in her voice. "Please, sir-could you-cou

can," he s

y Good-night and Good-

sing it-on

a strange, spasmodic laugh. "Why, certainly!

ervous thrill going down his spine as he plunged into the mawkish words. And when he came to the re

good-night

the old

is summo

ear love,

p. Yes, his conjecture had been right. Mary Ann was crying. He laughed spasmodically again. The thoug

too, dear!" he said

e for the

ry Ann seemed to fade out o

r there was a k

e," thought Lancelot, and continued to s

red his

he saw that the parcels were g

s merely

said-her accents were almost cheerful-"t

rch!" h

, but missus says I ought to go in case the v

he said,

hen it opened again, just

he said,

the same, Mr. Lancelot." And

rrace was on the watch, for her story had now had time to spread. The weather remained bright. It was cold,

little thing!" sai

e, Mrs. Leadbatter," said the

witnessed the departure from his wi

at the unwonted noises and the unfamiliar footsteps; he almo

ull fire. The thick sheets grew slowly blacker and blacker, as if with rage; while Lancelot thrust th

t torn up that cheque I sha

ou

NCE

e,' which is the best thing I have done, and should

nt bonfire, shot up in the grate a

ra flood of sunshine, and trilled

êt! S

starting up, "Mary Ann's

imsical look ca

did Peter say? Canary seed biscuits . . . yes, I must be careful not to give it butter. . . . Curious I didn't think of her canary when I