The Making of a Soul

er cousin's new post held for her an interest beyond that whi

e affairs; and the fact is not to be wondered at when one remembers that the life of the av

to the more fastidious Toni, she had always been quite ready to join in any fun which might be going. She had eaten sweets gaily in the cheap seats of theatre or picture-palace, had made one at

angely; and Fanny's shrewd eyes not

ust then, and had plenty of time to note her cousin's behaviour; and the way in which Toni swallowed h

only a year old, was perfectly good and serviceable yet; but the extravagant creature must needs make herself another one in her spare time, and never had she been so particular about the cut, nor so incessant in her demands on Fanny for a helping hand with the "trying-on." She bought herself a n

Fanny knew; but from Toni's extremely colourless description, Miss Gibbs gathered that neither was at all what the girls called interesting; and Mr. Rose, at least, almost mi

on his kindness that Fanny could not be accused of density in her concept

Miss Gibbs felt assured; and it gradually dawned upon her that there wer

lf, Antonia at first stared, then coloured impatiently, and finally laughed, wit

realize the existence of any outsider was in itself absurd, if not almost insulting; but Toni was

, most god-like in man. His voice was music, his commands gifts, his rare vexation as the frown of Jove. She trembled and turned pale at his f

was purely of the South-the glowing, ardent, passionate South-it is not to be wonde

she was wasting her treasure, that it was the act of a fool to pour out her priceless

son out this thing too closely. Its very vagueness, indeed, lent it charm. Her love was veiled, as it were, in a most delicate, most diaphanous mist, which took from it all earthliness, and left it intangible, magical as some gift from fairyland. So far, no hint of desire had entered into it. It was all unselfish, girlish ad

so dream-like, of so unsubstantial, so gossamer a lightness, that merely to speculate upon

wishes, help him with his work, was all she desired; and being at heart an incurable little optimist, she was content to

e girl's infatuation; and it was Barry who, through his very k

re sitting together in Owen's room when Owen suddenly

lowhurst, isn't it? By Jove, it's a love

ld willingly have recalled his

ople who have had it for years cleared out last October, and it was a

nothing, but examined the photo

ld house, and been in the family for centuries-built before the river became fashi

ry put the first questio

by a fast train. Greenriver-that's the house-is really charmingly situa

there as a

, and we let the place. After her death I could have gone back,

d springing to his feet,

ou, old chap! We used to go for strolls together in the summer evenings-once or twice we motored down to Richmond and went for a walk in the park ... we used to talk about all sorts of things ... women are the ve

ed impa

ed golf-and, by Jove, she could pretty nearly beat me! She was interested in all the things I liked, was a rattling good shot with a rifle, and hadn't a nerve in

to light a cigarette, and then c

er Wagnerian heroines. Sometimes I couldn't help thinking"-he coloured-"what splendid children a woman like that would have. She ... she satisfied one,

his cigarett

uld play! God! When I think of it-think how I was deceived, I-I hate the woman! I hate myself for being such a fool, but I

indly as they looked at his friend. "Why

man, planned everything, renounced your bachelor ways and anticipated a new and more settled existence, well, somehow you can't go back to the old state of things. There's th

t go down and

ly. "No, thanks. That would be fo

restless pacing and faced

shouldn't I take my

the quick-witted B

yet, but why shouldn't I be? I swore I'd marry the first woman who'd have

anded Barry in justi

ary and typist-our Miss Gibbs-our

and for a second he looked so angry t

e shall step into the shoes vacated by Miss Vivian Rees, and succeed to the house, the car, the bo

re ragging, but let me tell you I think the rag's in execr

o retort in the same tone. Then,

You surely didn't think I meant a

o hear you joking about marrying Miss Gibbs. She's a decent little

at his fri

suppose I mean it? Suppose I ask the girl to marry me, quite quietly, not enteri

de him feel vaguely uneasy. Could it be that Owen too had surprised Toni's pitiful little secret-th

f Owen knew, and, knowing, chose to take the risk of

fond as he was, too, of the girl with whom he had worked during these weeks of spring, Barry

ing out the best in Owen's nature, and he would repay that affection with a real and kindly consideration. But when the first freshness had worn off, when Owen should h

istinguished in his way; and Barry foresaw a bitter disillusionment for each of the pair when th

erpieces of literature must be a constant wonder; while to Rose, Toni's ignorance, her youth

most uncanny insight; and as he contemplated the possibility of this marriage he

a nice little girl, a pretty little thing and as straight as a die. But she is not your equal in any sense; n

-affectionately, half-qu

s in Society nowadays, with their cigarette-cases, their bridge purses and their slangy talk. One of those loud young women would be

well that the girl is a little ignoramus in reality. She has read nothing, been nowhe

, I admit, but it is a most fascinating piece of mystery when it sits sti

Barry spoke impatiently,

now, Barry, I'm not blind, and I can't help seeing that the girl has ... well, taken a fancy to me; and if that is so, seeing th

mean to as

going to do it all the same. The girl may refuse

him was a promise to wait for a week at least before carrying out his plan; and during the whole of that w

f habits, of views on life in general; and Owen laughingly reminded him that di

the word, neither he nor Owen knew anything of her family; and he endeavour

inting an imaginary portrait of a very unattractive mother-in-law. "She li

rixton," said Barry, with an assumption of polit

e I expected to lead to the altar. I think the Registrar will have to tie the knot, and we'll disp

l compunction for his own rough handling of what must have been in reality a sore subject; and quite suddenly he

've thought only of the girl's point of view. It didn't seem fair she should be used as a sort of tool to make your position easie

the little girl herself. She may refuse me, of course-Miss Rees didn't find me irresistible, did she?" A hint of the deadly wound she had dealt him coloured his

s usual, and proceeded to the ordinary routine of the day's work without giving her any