The Mark Of Cain

of her conduct were not devoid of the kind of absurdity which is caused by virtues out of place, let it be said that a better, or kinder, or gentle

ir demeanor a kind of morgue so funereal and mournful, that it inevitably reminds the observer (who is not County) of an edifice in Paris, designed by Méryon, and celebrated by Mr. Robert Browning. The County Families near Chipping Carby are far, far from gay, and what pleasure they do take, they take entirely in the society of their equals. So determined are they to drink delight of tennis with their peers, and with no

aine. He held the sacrosanct position of a squarson, being at once Squire and Parson of the parish of Little Wentley. At the head of the quaint old village str

the County. Another, dwelling on such heights as he, might have become haughty; but there was in this young man a cheery naturalness and love of mirth which often drove him from the society of his equals, and took him into that of attorneys' daughters.

n, we make

verge of sixty. Why are ladies, who, almost professionally, "rejoice in arrows," like the Homeric Artemis-why are they nearly always so well stricke

h and the maturity of her vanquished competitors, entirely won the heart of Mr. St John Deloraine. He saw-he loved her-he was laughed at-he proposed-he was accepted-and, oh, shame

gray old squarsonage, and went to town. In London, Mrs. St John Deloraine did not find people stiff, With a good name, an impulsive manner, a kind heart, a gentle tongue,

ereavement; but, unlike most of us, her benevolence had not died out with the sharpest pangs of

had the art of keeping them amused. She was on a dozen charitable committees, belonged to at least three clubs, at whic

gentlemen in quest of a fortune-pursued hotly or artfully after Mrs. St. John Deloraine. But as she never for a moment suspected their wiles, so these devices were entirely wasted on her, and her least warrantable admirers found that she insisted on accepting them as endowed with all the Christian virtues. Just as some amateurs of music are incapable of conceiving that there breathes a man who has no joy in popular concerts (we shall

painted on the sign. This piece of art, which gave its name to the establishment, was the work of one of Mrs. St John Deloraine's friends, an artist of the highest promise, who fell an early victim to arrangements in haschisch and Irish whiskey. In spite of this ill-omened beginning, The Bunhouse did very useful work. It was a kind of unofficial club and home, not for Friendly Girls, nor the c

isturbance as civilization seldom sees. Not otherwise than when boys, having tied two cats by the tails, hang them over the handle of a door-they then spit, and shriek, and swear, fur flies, and the clamor goes up to heaven: so did the street resound when the young patrons of The Bunhouse were in a warlike humor. Then the stern housekeeper would intervene, and check these motions of their minds, haec certamina tanta, turning

es the hearts of all female women, even of the prudent," according to Homer, and was going to share the home and bear the children of a plumber. With her usual invincible innoce

of Margaret, that young lady's earthly existence would shortly cease to embarrass Mr. Cranley. Probably there was not one other man among the motley herds of Mrs. St. John Deloraine's acqua

characteristic black border and device of brown, and gold. "I haven't shown anywhe

man in the story who boasted that he had committed every crime in the cale

be alone; but she won't. Everyone she sees before lunch she asks to luncheon: everyone she meets before dinner she asks to dinner. I wish I had her money: it would be simpler and safer by a very long way than this kind of business. There really seems no end to it when once you begin. However, here goes

ne's house in Cheyne Walk. He had scarcely entered the drawing-room before that lady, in a costume which agreeably became her plea

grasped the hand which Mr. Cranley extended with enthusiasm

the lady, rising with her face becomingly flushed beneath

uncheon till two, do tell me that you know someone who will suit me for my dear

ple she wanted. Alice he briefly described as a respectable woman of great strength of

ome. On Wednesday, Mrs. Carter, the housekeeper, you know, went to one of the exhibitio

Cranley. "She is quiet, but extremely firm, and has been accustomed to deal with a very desperate character. A

he had been left in his charge by her father, an early acquaintance, a man who had known better days,

l tale of her life, and her desire to avoid Maitland was strong enough to keep her

the lady that Margaret would set a splendid example to her young friends. "How soon

it seems rather selfish of him to want to rob me of Joan. He is; determined to be married before next B

that had not made the plumb

ew place. But I must ask you to remember that the younger is somewhat delicate, and has by no means recover

ars in her eyes; for this lady spontaneously acted on the injuncti

n which Mr. Toole had amused the town; and when Mrs. St. John Deloraine had giggled till

aid; "and yet it is not far

cried Mr. Cranley, much

will be quite in love with him; he is such a very good young man. Not handsome, nor very amusing; but people think a great deal too m

ding to play with the terrier; but, stoop as

e?" Mrs. St. John Delor

ed, and the servant an

her new guest, she turned, and found that

, in the circumstances, a stronger hea

revellers. What other things he had done-things in which Maitland was concerned-the reader knows, or at least suspects. But it was

it but to face Maitl

you-" said Mrs.

ave met," he added, looking at Cranley, "since you dined with me at the Olympic, and we are not likely to meet again

urgent character, had never been told of the trouble at the Cockpit, or had, in his absent fashion, never attended to what he might have heard with the hearing of the

n the champagne, and made even Maitland laugh. He recounted little philanthropic misadventures of his own-cases in which he had be

liked Mrs. St. John Deloraine's company very much), Cranley, who had determined

likely to meet

ave business in Paris, and I cannot say ho

you won't return in time to bother me with your blunderi

y wished a good voyage, and particularly recommended