The Upas Tree: A Christmas Story for all the Year

and passed her fingers through

urney back, I ought to have a clear seven months. If we could get off in a fortni

u say 'we,

we'? We always

ve not been parted for longer than twelve hours at a time, Ronnie. But I fear C

n on it. I thought you were game to go anyw

ntel-piece, moved some little porcel

oke, she steadied her

al Africa is not a

ss with the man she loves, and disappears. Our missionary's bride did it. Where a woma

ummed again, with restless, nervous

im, laying her ha

oked after. Think of the little church we are building in the village; the farms changing tenants this summer; the hundred and one things I, and I only, must settle and arrange. You never see the bailiff; you hardly know the tenants; you do not oversee the workpeople. So y

pense held the sti

on," said Ronald West, h

d him. They stood lookin

in his mind, and most

t the moment, and only partly realised the grea

in that fact, without in the least com

hands upon his shoulders, hiding he

soft hair-helpl

d upon her, needed her. She had done eve

d it was no sort of good pretending he did not. You never pretended with

ful day when, calm and radiant, she had moved up the church in

the last representative of an ancient County family, owner of Hollymead Grange, and of a considerable income; courted, admired, sought after. Yet she gave he

ow much of his success he owed to her. Their love had taught

paper, the magic thrill of Helen's tenderness, so that all her friends could buy it for four shillings and sixpence, and discuss it at leisure, Helen never winced. She only smiled and said: "The world has a right to every beautiful thing we can

self felt-he found a firm pencil line drawn through the words, when he looked at the proof sheets, after Helen had returned them to his desk. She never mentioned the matter

ery softly; and he caught her to him

er his very need of her, if it came between him

ntervened. It is useless to suffer a pang until the pang is actually upon you. Besides, every experience-how

He knew himself unworthy-in a momentary flash of self-revelation he kne

d, "I won't go. I

sob of the woman in the long grass, when she clung to the man who had cra

t costs you so much. It is my strongest plot, but I

ms, and lifting a brave white face

book requires a parting, we will face it bravely. At the present moment we both need luncheon, and I must get out of my habit. Ring, and tell them we sh

suddenly called after her: "Helen!

doorway. Her face

w plot, and the wonderful journey it inv

ched the halo of Helen's soft hair, turning i

nce to insist upon hearing that which she had to tell.

ather not hear it now. You have bucked me up splendidly, Helen. Seven months seem nothing; and my whole mind is bounding forward

e stairs. He heard her laugh

ou don't know it! Crawl out of your long grass, and make yourself presentab

message to the butler; then went throu

cold water taps. "And she is perfectly right about not coming with me. Of cou

n the doorway. He realised her mastery, for

erfectly plucky. I don't believe any other f