Simon Dale

t of opportunity, have fallen out over it, yet descending to us from unknown antiquity. But it ha

all about the matter. It was an abstract opinion she gave, so far as love, or what men chose to call such, might be involved; as to seemliness, she must confess that she had her view, with which, may be, Mr Dale was not in agreement. The girl at the gardener's cottage must, she did not doubt, agree wholly with Mr Dale; how otherwise would she have suffered the kiss in an open space in the park, where anybody might pass-and where, in fact (by the most perverse chance in the world), pretty Mistress Barbara herself passed at the moment when the thing occurred? However, if the matter could ever have had the smallest interest for her-save in so far as it touched the reputation of the village and might afford an evil example to the village

little to say, except that the village would be the worse by so much as the Duchess of York was the bet

eches on me before you venture the

ress Barbara," I pleaded.

stretch of the lawn and the park-meadows beyond. I believe that with a little more coaxing she would have pardoned me, but at the ins

a, with curling lip. "I'll wager sh

her to the gardener,"

!" she retorted. "As for Cydaria, my

feet trip across the meadow, and her bonnet swing wantonly in her ha

d I in a whisper. "She i

ed to show me no gentleness. The soft tones of my voice

yet, sigh if you will. What is it to me? But she is not gone

id I, "you will think with r

Do you forget that there are gentlem

ried I suddenly, not knowing then how well the

was a gleam of triumph in

e at Court," she cried, "yo

uddenly, and looked

sband there," I s

h," said sh

that she should go thus incensed stung me yet more. I was jealous of every

eavy frown and a sweeping bow. No player

t detain you, for you have, I

goaded to a show of exultatio

as with a fine dignity she waved me to the door. Girl as she was,

my lord, who was walking on the terrace. He caugh

ogue?" said he. "Well, there's little harm

eful. "As little as my lady herself could wish." (At this he smiled

ugh the smile still

ho means more than he will say. Indeed, not a word more would he say, so that when I left him I was even more angry than when I parted from his daughter. And, the nature of man being such as Heaven has

stood by the door, sat my good friend the Vicar, discoursing

fear it is true, though you're

that had (or so it seemed to me) a touch-no more-of b

et alone, those

lesson?" I asked

to his companion. I cannot tell what led his thoughts to it, but it was never far from his mind when I was by. She listened with

he ended, "of which time

est. It is strange the hold these superstitions have on all of

one thing at least would seem needful for its fulfilmen

imon cannot love where the King loves, nor know what the King hides, nor drink of the Ki

to what end? I have no friends in London wh

ing had proved before now that he could forget many a better fri

t still," said the Vicar.

a moment, but she looked up now

have a frie

answered gloomily, "S

aria, with twinkling eyes and not a whit

way for me. But she met my smile with another so full of confidence and challenge that my

e me," I asked, "if

e. "Would you have the power to serve me if you

if it

strange things happen there in London, and it ma

ould use i

nd she fell to laughing again, her mirth growing greater as I turned red in the face. "You mustn't blush wh

cause, the rarer shall

she conceded. "We should m

I asked squarely, looki

at I have done once-and to your good k

a charm about the girl that grew on me insensibly and without my will until I came to love, not her (as I believed, forgetting that Love loves not to mark his boundaries too strictly) but her merry temper, her wit and cheerfulness. Moreover, these things were mingled and spiced with others, more attractive than all to unfledged youth, an air of the world and a knowledge of life which piqued my curiosity and sat (it seems so even to my later mind as I look back) with bewitching incongruity on the laughing child's face and the unripe grace of girlhood. He

because, being of the age of eighteen years, I vowed to live for one lady only on a Monday and was ready t

you and

een our pa

pherds you

mphs I hav

to the pl

hall here

ys we now

ce of pre

ee for one who has been nicknamed a Puritan to follow him to the end. Yet there

leman and rich, while another had no money in his purse and but one change to his back? Was not love all in all, and why did Cydaria laugh at a truth so manifest? There she was under the beech tree, with her sweet face screwed up to a burlesque of grief, her little hand lying on her hard heart as though i

om her. On my soul, I could not spe

empty of lover's baggage. There ladies ask vows, and protestations

have nothing but

pouted. "And I am glad to be goin

cried, I that had cried to Barbar

nd them," ans

will fo

me yourself to remind me. I h

I began in a sud

lery; she plucked a leaf from the tree, and tore it w

that you had not come, unless, indeed

while I live! May

ed, sir, you're the first gentleman that ever thrust it away. See, it is there now! Doesn't it look well there, Simon-and feel well there, Simon?" She looked up into my face in coaxing apology for the hurt she had given me, and yet still

is for you and you only t

, and to drink of his cup. I, sir, cannot interfere with your great destin

for you only,

e King love m

d," said I

y ready with your 'God forbids.' Am I then to tak

onest love,"

didn't talk of his honesty there! I have seen

seen the Queen

've made a townsman of you, we'll-we will be what they are in town. Moreover, in ten minutes I am going home, and it wou

ind you when I

whether he chances to remember Cydaria, you w

e more; but she was re

be amused at this, Simon"; she spoke as though she were fifty years older than I. My answer lay not in words or arguments. I caught her in my arms an

e were not-and I knew not what she was-yet should my love exalt her and make a throne whereon she might sit a Queen. My new

d my forehead as I knelt before her. "Poor Simon," she whispered, as her hair brushed mine. Then her hand was gradually and gently withdrawn. I looked up to see her face; her lips were smiling but there

should be so

er a look behind her. I watched till she was out of sight, and then s

Alas for its dismal woe!