Jupiter Lights

everywhere; the long line of the islands and the opposite mainland were white with blossoms, the salt-marshes were freshly gree

icely had returned to her muteness. Once, at the beginning, when Eve had pressed her with questions, she said, as general answer, "In any case, Ferdie will not come here." After that, when again-once or twice-Eve had asked, "Have you heard anything more?" Cicely had returned no reply whatever; she had let he

chool-girl), who had borne a tragedy in silence, covering it with her jests, covering it also with her coldness. But was Cicely really cold to all the world but Ferdie? She was not so, at least, as regarded her child; no one who had seen her on her knees that night beside the crib could doubt her love for him. Yet she let Eve have him for hours at a time, she le

ually merciful. At night, when lying awake, the horror of the poor baby's broken arm would sometimes come to her so vividly that she would light the candle in haste to see if he were safe. If Ferdie should come here,

he saw, Cicely, shrinking under blows; it must have been something heavy and sharp, a billet of wood, perhaps, that had caused the scars across her white breast. She remembered that once, when inwardly exasperated by Cicely's fresh fairness,

s and laughter, her abstractions, and the coldness sometimes seen in her beautifu

nconscious aunt. "Until then she was like quicksilver, she used to run through the thickets so swiftly that

d, her face contracti

beside the mound, and the sojourn generally ended in angry thoughts. Why should other people keep their loved ones, and she be bereft? What had she done, what had Jack done, that was so wrong? God was not good, because He was not kind; people did not ask Him to cr

g them home. To Eve the visit had been like a day's truce, a short period, when one merely waits; the afternoon was beautiful, the Sound like a mirror; the home-island, when they left it, had been peacefully lovely, the baby from his wagon

rt was to bring the hot dishes from the outside kitchen, which was in a cabin at some distance-a task which he performed with dignity, varied, however, by an occasional somerset on the veranda, when he thought no one was looking. Rupert was genial, very gallant to the ladies; he carried his gallantry so far that he even drank their health several times, the only wine being the mainland Madeira. Mrs. Singleton was hospitable and affectionate, remaining unconscious (in manner) as to the many deficiencies. And Eve looked on admiringly, as though it had been a beautiful, half-pathetic little play; for to her it was all pictorial-these ruined old houses on their blooming desolate islands, with the ancient hospitality still animating them in spite

half crying; she had given the stranger both her hand

hen you have never seen me in your

r picture. I oug

rest friends will always do that for you. I da

at he had said was simply the truth. The photograph was handsome, but the r

Miss Sabrina. "She has come out-so k

e. He had a smile which would have been a fit

id not speak. But her muteness passed unnoticed, because for once in her life Miss Sabrina was voluble, her words tumbled over one another. "Such a surprise! So nice! so

a glance that would dare her to express either her surprise or her fear; instead of that, Cicely's eyes, meeting hers, were full of trust and sweetness, as if she believed that Eve would sympathize with her joy, as if she had entirely forgotten that there was any reason why Eve should not share it. Miss Sabrina sympathized,

put on her glasses (without turning her back) in order to see him more

t moment she felt driven not only to go, but to hasten; to be always present in order to see everything and hear everything; this would be her office; she must watch for the incipient stages of what she dreaded. Cicely had said th

, and wearing the white lace cape, Cicely, too, freshly dressed, and Ferdinand, they seemed to her like phantasmagoria. Or was it

that Ferdie must hate her for her mourning garb, which of course would bring Jack Bruce to his mind. As she thought of this, she looked at him. His eyes happened to meet hers at the moment, and he gave her a charming smile. No, there was no hate there. In the drawing-room, later, he told them comical stories of South America; he took Cicely's guitar and sang South American songs; the three women sat looking at him, Cicely in her mute bliss, Miss Sabrina with her adm

ely made no motion, she was

o you for a mo

ith alacrity. "What is it?" S

nto the dining-room, which was still lig

for me before, though I asked him, and asked h

eep her, to call her back to realities. "Have you

forgotten the whole!" But her tone changed back swiftly to its happy

told y

s. "Did you think we spoke of it-of such a thing as that? A husband and wife-people w

down the long corridor. She put her arms round Eve from behind, and whispered, with her lips against Eve's throat, "I ran after

y, there was no danger that she, Eve Bruce, should ever fall a victim to such miseries; to

ly, almost fiercely, proud; at that moment she was revolting, dumbly, again