Simon Dale

a bitter grief, or what overpowering emotion you will, and were to consider impartially and with cold precision what share of his time was in reality occupied by the thing which, as we are in t

if he be sane, there are the interests of this life and provision for the next. And if he be young, there is nature's own joy in living, which with a patient scornful smile sets aside his protest that he is vowed to misery, and makes him, willy-nilly, laugh and sing. So that, if he do not drown himself in a

d myself worthy of such kindness. The proof he asked was not beyond reason, though I found cause for great lamentation in it; for it was that, in lieu of seeking to get to London, I should go to Norwich and live there with him, to solace his last years and, although not engaged in his trade, learn by observation something of the serious occupations of life and of the condition of my fellow-men, of which things young gentlemen, said he, were for the most part sadly ignorant. Indeed, they were, and they thought no better of a companion for being wiser; to do anything or know anything that might redound to the benefit of man or the honour of God was not the mode in those days. Nor do I say that the fashion has changed greatly, no, nor that it will change. Therefore to Norwich I went, although reluctantly, and there I stayed fully three years, applying myself to the comforting of my uncle's old age, and consoling my leisure with the diversions which that great and important city afforded, and which, indeed, were enoug

person of far greater importance in the eyes of his family than he had been three years ago. It was a competence on which a gentleman could live with discretion and modesty, it was a step from which his foot could rise higher on life's ladder. London was in my power, all it held of promise and possibility was not beyond the flight of my soaring mind. My

s true proportions. I was no great man here, and although my lord received me very kindly, he had less to say on the richness of my fortune than on the faults of my manner and the rustic air of my attire. Yet he bade me go to London, since there a man,

come a great lady. The wits make epigrams on her, and the

f it, my lo

nk God, it is. See, here's a copy of the verses she had lately," and he flung me the paper. I gla

d stuff, my

s by a gentle man of repute. Take

of waiting on Mistress Ba

ust see what company you keep. For example, on whom else

brow, yet a smile, and not an unkind one, on his

London, my lord," I stammer

epening and the smile vanishing. Yet the smile cam

eaven, who would have all lads wise? Go to London, learn to know more folk, learn to know better those whom you

h emphasis, he led m

ing gave warrant enough for the words, my lord had seemed to speak them to me with some special meaning, and as though they concerned me more than m

so perturbed at the happening of things which made mighty little difference in our retired corner. Thus I was in the midst of them, at the King and Crown Tavern, on the Green, two days after I had talked with my lord Quinton. I sat with a mug of ale before me, engrossed in my own thoughts and paying little heed to what passed, when, to my amazement, the postman, leaping from his horse, came straight across to me, holding out in his hand a large packet of important appearance. To rec

he of the K

d that I have nothing to pay for it," and I turned it over and over in my hands. But the

reater than great things afar, and at Hatchstead my affairs were of more moment than the fall of a Chancellor

of importance, "it may be on a pr

at the Manor, they could not of Simon D

ters between them one day," he cried, shaking h

age, and good parts, had been graciously pleased to name me to a commission in His Majesty's Regiment of Life Guards, such commission being post-dated six months from the day of writing, in order that Mr Dale should have the leisure to inform himself of his duties and fit himself for his post; to which

d round me; the Vicar seemed stu

t need of guard has the King exc

id he?" cried the Vicar

ured. "It is the first re

of it, but to hold His Majesty's Commission!" Words failed him, and he flew to the landlor

e were fault to be found in the King, it did not lie with his own servants and officers to find it; I was now of his household; my lord must have known what was on the way to

d's kindness! He h

the satisfaction of a discovery obvious so soon as made. The Vicar a

nk it's my l

sir, and who e

do not think it is my

day account of anything to which it might be possible by hook or crook to attach a tag of myster

id he gravely. "But it wil

ing that I must run at once and offer thanks to my lord, for he was

you will do no harm by telling hi

into it. But he waited to hear my breathless story, and, when I came to the pith of it, snatched my letter from my hand and read it eagerly. At first I thought he was playing a part and meant only to deny his kindness or delay the confession of it. His manner soon u

have done the King and his too much service to have the giving aw

nk of no other friend wh

der. "May be, Simon, you don't understand how power is come by

pride, and I suppose my face grew

ut question. Whatever the source of it,

not be conte

ed, "that the King is mindf

miracles was past," smiled my l

or yours, my lord, I am at a loss," and I stu

m you when you come, Simon; and I suppose you will come soon now. You will find

ded. He had seemed to suspect and hint at some taint in th

what to make o

o set his foot on the step of his c

Simon?" he asked. Again I grew red, as he s

f as well as I co

ission in the Life Guards, my

d the door behind him, and stood waiting his reply. He leant forwa

ut did not speak. The coach began to move; I had t

cried, "how

t his snuff-box

," said he, as he carri

running now, "do you

aid, "All London knows." And with that he shut the window, and I fell back breathless, amazed, and miserably chagrined. For he had told me nothing of all that I desired to know, and what he had told me did no more than inflame my curio

e identity of this lady, supposing in our innocence that she must be of very exalted rank and noble station if indeed all London knew her, and she had a voice in the appointment of gentlemen to bear His Majesty's Commission. It was but a step farther to discern for me a most notable career, wherein the prophecy of Betty Nasroth should f

leave, "there are things above fortune's favour, or a King's, or a great lady's.

, but with errant thoughts. "I trust, sir, that I

stian," he

hristian," I agre

ng. Therefore, now, you cannot listen; nay, I know that, if you could, you would. Yet it may be that some day-if it be God's will, soon-the strings that I feebl

ile on his lips but anxiety in his eyes. I went on my way, never looking b