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 surpristo 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