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C HA PT E R I
T HE A RRIVA L

l country hou whatever may be i ts

beauty
ituation and tat lin
f surroundin g i s
not n to advantage on a w t day
A w t day xhibit all i t d fect empha ises all i ts
w akn
may almost be said to rous all the worst
f ling
f i t nature
Wh n the u hine who notic s that th l arge and
lofty rooms with th ir mullion d window a e omewhat

a
ombr not to ay gloomy in th ir f r rec s that
t h c ilings a
dark b grimed with th smok O f many
a woody fi r that th h avily f am d picture on the
wall hav gath r d du t in ev y hidd n nichethat
ca pet and curtain are fadedand that g n rally th re
i a lack f that brightn
and martne which charac
the mod rn dwelling f th ame pret n sion ?
t i
In t h latt r a to be found all sorts f appendages
and conv ni nc s which the O ld country hou e n ver
dr am d f wh n it wa r a ed and whose ab ence the
young r m mber f the family who go about and con
tra t th ir hou with tho e f th ir friend are pr tty sure

to not and deplor

a wet day
Th n it i lon ly having o much ground O f its own
on v y ide ; fo nowadays when very inch f l and i
valuabl a paciou man ion i a ft n a not pitched
by th road id with a few yard f driv in front an d
a few acr s f shrubbery behind
AN

O ld

En g i sh
Of s

se ,

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ess o

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s,

esses,

ee

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ST AY AT H O M ES
-

at rfamilia who ha to pay the bill i s not going to

have a foot o f oil more than i n c a y f t h rectio n
f tabl
and farm building i f i ndeed h goes th
length f farm building ; and th s a huddl d tog th r
into the malle t po ibl space whil t h whol domain
i con tructed barely out o f ar hot o f the village wi t h a
du egard to th proximity f tation church and po t
of
It wa
f the thing
O u for fathe thought f non
much i f th y thought f drainag and fr h air ; it was a
chanc i f th best chamber commanded t h n t out
look O indeed po
d what i now t rmed A view
at all ; and a f rearing a gentl man at wi thout a
park without a umm r ground without encircling hade
and all y th haunt f bird and beast from
g nera
tion to anoth r trange i d ed would uch a petti fogging

conomy have m d i n their eye and thi eclusion

becom on a udden intolerableo u a wet day
arched in by d ipping bough are
Long av nu
formidable barri r betw en the deni n o f the ld hou
thu fa to k and th
called neighbour who at
oth r time nd th m plea ant and ea y to traver
f r to be u e th re are hort cuts
Even t he hort cuts
and cart rut by which and by urmoun t
ld path
ing a til or o foot pa sen g r may wend their way
a ily enough in umm or wh n a dry fro t bind up

v n the e how ver are impa abl

th gra y lough
on the typical wet day and i lenc and litud pr vail
on eve y ide
The du k d aws on th ain continue to patt r patter
patt r on roo f and window pane ; th front door bell
n ve rin g ; th ve y ervant e m loth to put a foot

out id th ir own green bai ed barricad and i f there

be 3 pot on earth dull r and dreari r and mor hope
l e s o f any di tract ion or reli ef than the old Engli h
P

s,

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T HE A RR VA L

country hou e at uch a mom nt i t O ccupant more

particularly i f th y a young and liv ly mo e pecially
till i f th y a f th f minine x do not b li ve i t
I am ick f you Kitty
Y u can t be mor
ick f me than I am f you
retort d Kitty Th n h turned what wa after all a
smiling good t mpered fac
upon a i t r who had not
t
pok
n
her
i
B
atrice
ick
f
u
both
d
o
A
y
Beatric
how v r wa not to be dra wn into th con
v r ati on
H i ! Can t you ay you are cried the la t peak r
who wa round and chubby and ven on a w t day
talkativ
What i th u o f being ro about it ?
W didn t mak t h rain You needn t look dagg r at
Gwen and m becau e you can t g t out Don t you
uppo w want to get out too ? I had been going f
a ride
G
th n ; or at any rat go omewhere l and
don t d af n u with your chatt r
udd nly t h ld r
Mi May a d rou d h r el f and frown d impati ntly
a
h thr w a ide th book h had c a d to read but
till h ld in h hand D go f pity ak Th r
a
pl nty o f other room ; why hould you com to
whimp r h re ? Did you not h ar Gwen ay h wa
ick f you
O h I heard ; I heard and felt quit amiable and
reciprocal toward
f uch a
ntenc
th kind utterer
It i not f h I complain but f you who will never be
ociably moro
You i t and gloom lik a phinx
Gw n turning
A t l a t I don t annoy oth r peopl
to h oth r i t r did y u h ar wh n thi creatur this
companion woman i to arrive ? I uppo e not befo e
night ?
But be fore Gwendoline who wa caught in the middle
O f a yawn co uld do more than hake her head the irre
s

re

re o

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e e

s,

s s e

s e

se

O,

s s e

e,

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se

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e e

s e

or

e se

e s

or

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ss

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se

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S I AY AT H O MES
'

pre ible Kitty struck in No t be for night ! D on t yo u

know T h carriag ha gon f her w Sh i
to come by t h v clock train and mother gav
ord r
I a k d Gwen aid Beatrice with cold irritation I
did not a k a child like y u who learn thing by li t n
ing and v b a i g Gw n why don t yo u peak ? I

uppo om thing wa aid to you a nothing wa to

me and w could hardly both be l ft in th dark

Ju t what you w r but I kn w ! Triumph on
furth r
Kitt y part
A d I kn w that you didn t

f
app nd d h ; and i you had a ked m but you a
high and mighty you tw I could hav told you all
about it f I wa in moth r room when M St ad
cam in and moth r wa fu ing ov r th train book and
h
aid
I don t wi h to h ar what h aid
B atric
it wa Gw ndoline who
O h non n
h r int rpo d curio ity g tting th b tt r f h form r
impa iv attitud
What i t h u ? mutt r d h
tt w
a
and hrugged h hould r Sh had long ago
giv n up taking umbrag at trivialiti which wh th r
int ntional or not w r till k enly f lt by Lady Laura
ld t daught r G on Kitty i f th r i anything to
b
on
about
You
had
no
bu
in
to
th
r
I
dar
g
till a you w th e you may a w ll
ay ; but
and h laugh d ignicantly
to l arn through highway and byway
I f you choo
what goe on in thi hou I don t aid B atric ri ing
and l aving th room
year f ag
B atric Maynard wa now tw nty i
and on h Coming out at ight n p opl had t
mark d what a gr at thing it would b f Lady La ura
who wa uch a nic p r on when you kn w h but

who wa a littl difcult to k ow and certainly hy and

ss

or

no

e s

er e r n

se s

or

re

s e

so

e e

s s

s e

rs

ss

e s

e e

ss

:o

se,

se

se

re,

e s

es

e,

-s x

ee

e e,

er

se ,

e,

se

e ss

er

er e

e e

e e

er

es ,

e e s

se

er s

e s

s o

or

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er,

T HE A RRIVA L

apt to shrink from societyto have a grown

daughter
p
at la t T h Maynard had lived v y qui tly f
v y many y ar v r inc they liv d as T h May
n ard at all in hortbut w may give a ingl glanc
backwa d to xplain th ituation
Sir H nry Maynard had com into hi inh ritance
whil a boy had marri d while y t a youth and had
ttl d down to liv th li f f a country g ntl man
immediat ly aft rward
H had no ambition
might almo t b aid to hav no
a piration It i tru that h wa by no mean a bad
hu band nor did h hrink from di chargi g uch dutie
both in th county and in th pari h a f ll to hi har
r nd r d bligatory by hi po ition ; but th
a d w r
fullm nt f th m wa a y and f
t h r t h wa in
accountabl to nobody H wa hi own
h i own y
ma t r ; h wa at lib rty to l ad hi own li f ; h wa

h
f
h
and only judg
and a f
t
i
w action
f hi f llow cr atur
hi
y would hav
t h v rd ict
bulg d in th ir ock t had uch an id a a that Sir
H nry May ard hould tak thi into co id ration b n
ugg t d to him
L ady Laura was qually indi ff r nt ; or p rhap it
may b aid obtu
arli t youth wh n h acc pt d
S h al o wa in h
t h r t chanc
that ff r d f g tting away from a dull
f countl
hom wh r h wa only
daught r
and did not m t with th att ntion h con id r d h
ary to h
du
A g at d al f att ntion wa n c
lady hip happin ; and though h had h good point
and could b won upon to xhibit th m on occa ion a
a d by h r
cr t and ov rw ning vanity an int
lf
un u p t d n f h own i mporta c marr d h
charact r and oil d it b t attribut
The pair liv d parate liv int rf ring but littl with
s

er

e s

e e

e e

s e

es

e s

es e

se

e e s

one o

ec e

se

se

es

es,

er

e e

er

er

s,

es

e s,

e e ss

en se,

er

s e

ee

se

ess

ee

ess

re

e e

ns

es

ee

se

e e

er e

es

e,

or

e s

s e

es,

s o

e o

es

e one

or

e,

s e s

s s

s,

e s

e s

se

o r so

er

so

e e

-u

e,

e se

er

S I AY
'

HO MES

-AT -

ch other a d apparently co ntent with each othe but

o
one point th y di ffered whi l the hu band wa nev r
heard to complai O f th wife and indeed was care ful
to pect her com fort om tim even at the co t O f hi
ow
h on her part n v r enti ely forgot that in mar y
ing him he had a um d th cares o f wedded li f b fo
the world had opened i t arm to h
a a girl and that
there had been o va t a umption o f loverlike d votion
an d t nd rne
on hi part to compen ate f th lo
o f tho e b ight year
f f ee joyou maidenhood which
h wa wont to fancy mi ght have b en h r had h
waited a littl long r be for taking upon herse l f th irr
vocable vow
O v r thi reection Lady Laura ften brooded and
th re ult wa a curiou one
A tim pas ed h grew
jealou not f h hu bandfo Queen El anor h r lf
co uld not hav fo und food f th green yed mon t r
in Sir H nry Maynard who r t impul at th ight
o f a woman wa to
hu fe out f h waybut O f h
daughter
the th r e already introduced
O f th e there we e thre
to our reader ; and a
by
th y m rged from
th
choolroom and fri nd and relation began to tak
noti c f their app aranc and mann r to inquire into
th ir ta t and civilly att r th uppo d fond mamma
on th look f
and th accompli hm nt f anoth r
a the n ighbourhood b gan to r cogni t h Misse
Maynard a individual to whom invitation could be
i u d and appeal mad th ir moth r xperi nced not
th u ual en atio
f prid and plea ur but a vague
n e f inj ury
In h young day h aid no
thought f a king
girl out by th m lv nor dr amed f th ir joining
societie
and guild ind pende ntly O f th ir par t
Why wa thi and that propo ition not mad to her
ea

res

es

e e

s e

er

or

s o

e s,

ss

re

ss

ss

ss

n, s

er

e se

-e

or

se

s e

e s

se

er

er

es

s o ne

e s

e o

o ne

se

s o

se

e s

ss e

e s,

s o

s es,

o ne

se

ns o

e,

er

s, s

se

e s

es,

on e

en s

T HE A RRIVA L

el f ? She uppo ed it was th fashion for mo ther to

b laid on the shelf but he was not quite so O ld and
feeble
Y u are not in the l ea t ld or f ble
aid Beatrice
calmly
an d yo u are perf ctly able to join M
Curl
work oci ty an d hav it me t here once a mo nth ; and
M Curl an d all t h
t would be only too glad if
u
f
o
u
O
would
you
have
ever
taken
ar
in
any
b
t
t
;
y
p
th ese th i g
mother o natural ly they don t ask y u
now
Y o u pe ak as i f I were a kind f o utcast Beatrice
Y t y u know pe rf ctly that my h al th would never
hav stood acketin g about in al l w ather to work part ie
and tea part i
O f cour e I hould have liked a well
a other peo ple to tak
chem an d o
up charitable

forth but I never could ; and now Mrs Curl e who i

quit a ew per on in th n ighbo urhood th ru ts her el f
f rward and a k y u to join I !
I do think it i idi u
l ou almo t impertine t
Mr Curl knows that you are an in valid and a h
foun d no thin g o f the sort in xi t nc nor lik ly to b
in exi st nce when she came here I uppose h thought
h wa at lib rty to tart it
f r m
I can t
part
y
why h hould not
A t any rate h need
t have a ked yo u
I am
n o t aying an yt hin g again t M
C url h i a vulgar
little woman but I dar ay h mean well ; all I do
ay i
that it i now continually Mi Maynard from
ev y
Miss Maynard i s on half the note on th
hall tabl
Y u have twic th number f correspond nt
t hat I have ; and con sid ring that I amthe mi t e
f
thi hou e a d have never brought up my daughter in
f the pr ent day I
th hor i bly knock about fa hion
might xp ct them to have escaped some f its wor t
features

ee

rs

e s

rs

e res

s,

es.

s s

s,

s r

s s e

se e,

s,

no

s e

rs

es

ss

e.

s r ss o

s e

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one

er

e,

s e

es

es

ST AY AT H O MES
-

Beatrice wa il nt but he had a expre ive o u te

ame
I
what you thi nk pur ued Lady Laura annoy d
both wi th h r l f and with h daught r f h had th
en
to perceiv that h wa betraying more than wa
de i abl f a long pent up gri vance and wi hed v n
whil h pok that h could hold h tongu
You
thi k I am making a fu b cau I f l my elf lighted ?
It i not that in th lea t N0 o car l about th ir
w importanc than I do I n v r a rt my l f ; and
it i ju t becau e I do not that peopl tak advantag f
it
M
Curl would n v r hav thought f writing to
you and l aving m ntir ly out f h note xc pt ju t

Kind gard at th d if h had not f lt that h

could do with impunity
rv a a pecim n f many oth r
T h abo v may
co nv r ation f i t kind
Why am I alway b ing a k d now i f my daught r

are fond f mu ic
i f my daught r
k tch Lady
La ura would y indignantly Sh had b n wont to play
and ing with om cr dit in h youth and till occa ion
ally brought out h box f wat r col ur wh n umm r
cam round Why do no
think f v r a king
m ? I up p it i ju t po ibl that I can till car
m thing ? But th young pe pl eem a i f th y
f
mu t u urp v rything nowaday
It wa Kitty who wa mo t ucc ful in b guiling h
moth r from th mood onc th y t in B atric
own h art r nt d th m too
wa too proud in h
bitt rly B atric with t h ap f li f running trong
v in with a thou and d ir and a piration
in h
t ming in h br a t a d with rap idly forming con
vi ti
growing v r t ong r within h bu y brain
naturally fr tt d mor than did th other two ben ath
It v x d and ham d h ; h would
thi futile folly
s s

ss

see

se

e s

rs .

se

e s

s o

e s

e s

e s

ese

es

es

er

se

er

s r

e,

on s

ess

s,

er

er

ee

e e

ese

ss

e e

one

ee

es

o se

e s

er

er

e s s

er

or

cr

er

o r so

e o

so

se

e en

sse

ess

e e

e e

re

ee

es

e e

e e

ne

se

er

ss

s e

or s

e o

e s

s e

s r

er

e se

er

s e

T HE A RRI VA L

not argue with it N ith r would h conde c d to

ooth it to r t a p rhap h could hav don Lady
L aura wa
trong will d and tyrannou but h would
not hav b n inacc ibl to r a on and he wa
t ai ly op n to att ry
But you rub h
up th wrong
way cri d littl Ki tty whom it co t nothing to b
nic and who mor ov r cont nd d that th r wa
om thing to b a id on h moth r id
You
wouldn t your l f lik to b thought old and ut f i t
befor you w r fty toutly all ged h
I hould not mind i f I had lived my life and done

what I cho with it Had moth r ch n b quiet

child l t m p ak f Kitty wa bur ting in agai n

d
f
I ay had
pr par to combat th id a choic
moth r cho n per i t d h i t r h could hav
had v ryt hi g di ff r nt Fath r giv in to h a it
i ; but h would hav giv
in a gr at d al mor i f it
had b gun arli r It i moth r who ha n v r car d
to go anywh r or do anything but tagnat down h r
from y ar
d with t h
xc ption f a
d to y ar
ol mn vi it or two and a f w w k in L ndon long
ago that h ha almo t forgott n by now what London
i lik
Why did h n v r trav l ? Why did h n v r
f th
cultivat p pl ? Why did h n v r do any
thing that w want to do now and that h tri to
pr v nt our doing ? Si mply b cau h did not car
to do th m Sh pr f rr d to at and drink and driv
and li on th o fa
Beatric I do
t think you how can you ay uch
thing ?
T h y a tru
But Beatric look d a tri a ham d
pau
r um d
I uppo I
h
A ft r a minut
hould not p ak but it com ut befor I can h lp
it T h w rld
m to me full f trang and
wond rful thing and I long to g t at tho thing
e

es

e,

e e

'

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s s e

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er

s s e

s en

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e e

e e

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on e o

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es

e,

no

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ee

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s en

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er,

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en

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se

er

cer

e e

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e s

s,

ess

ee

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s en

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s,

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S I AY-AT H O MES
'

Io

ms tied a d b und and h lple

h bro ke
ff abruptly
K itty lo ked a little awed
W ll i f y u would peak to moth r h
ayed
after a pau e I da e ay mething might com f it
N
nothing would W hould nev r und r tand
each other W hav t a thing in common
u
hav
Y
y
What ?
Y u both like y iI own way
aid Kitty lyly
and added h with h ye till twinkling mother
g t her and you mean to g t your ome day
Gw doline th econd f the i t r neith r r embled
th elder nor th young r in character and di po ition
oft fair grac ful
Sh wa the p ttie t f t h thr
f B atrice nor
a d indol nt
Sh had n ith r the
th frolic om
pi it f Kitty ; b neath re triction and
d pri vation h wa fretful i f di appointed f a pl a ure
Th m r
but indi ff r nt or even acquie cent oth rwi
fact that h and her i t r thr
fully grown and
dev loped young wom n hould b k pt till in leading
t ing a d powerle to break loo e from th m irked

h
not at all but a oon a h own d ir we e
cro ed or an opportunity f xhibiting her charm
forced to b
urr nd red at the bidding f th higher
pow r h would complain more loudly than any
Gwe wa much tak n up with h own beauty ; and
hour that B atric pent in r ading thinking and
th
truggling to btain om outl t f h naturally
abilitie and energi w r frequ ntly pa ed by her
i t r in trying w mod
and fa hion f
f dre
a ranging th hair
Wh ther Lady Laura commen ded t h
or anim
advert d on them d pend d v ry much on how Lady
If tol rably w ll and
Laura wa feeling at t h mom nt
bri k h might b drawn into quit a littl how f

an d

1 a

r s

e s,

s e ess

e o

e s

so

O,

ss

e s

e no

'

s e,

e s

er e

s,

e s

e s

s s

s s e s,
s

e s, s

es

es

e e

ne

e s

es,

s s e

e s

es

or

ne

er

ss

ss

ese

er

e e

one

e s

se

er

or

ee

ss

er

ss

s,

es

re o

ee,

s O

s r

e e
s

s s e s,

re

s s

en

Y AT HO MES

ST A

Iz

pre ent in tance it related to th m elve an d thei r

n ig hbour
It wa Gwen theory that what v r might b th
tatu
f th Maynard in th world at larg
it wa
high in th littl world at th ir feet B atric wi th a
wider in ight into human natur mil d at thi T
her it wa a d lu ion
Don t you uppo th y know ? What i to hinder
th ir knowing ? cri d h
T h v ry H g gi t go in
f
a H ggi tty bit f th London a on taying with
th ir mar i d i t r f it A d the whol family went
ov r f th Pa i E xhibition T h Badg r
Com we r not a low a t h Badg r y t Gw n
dolin laughed and Kitty p al d riotou ly a h si t r
proc d d in all riou n
I a ur you t h Badg r don t con id r th m lv
low at all Mi Badg r ha gon t Dr d n to t udy
mu ic and njoy th G rman opera ! T hat a fact I
wa told
tod ay A d th brother th
who
fu
to ll in th hop i by way f b ing an arti t
Curl call them
A arti tic family M
aid Gw n good natu dly
W ll I dar ay th y a
A rti tic do n t mak p opl ladi and g ntl m n ; and
how v r grand th arti tic Mi Badg r may b among
op ra fri nd in G rmany h will hav to com
h
back to h drap r h p in Willow L a wh n h r turn
hom ; th
ort f p opl can t r ally ri B atric
You a mi tak n ; that i ju t what th y a do
thi
w can ink
Fath r and moth r n v r
a
that i f w do not k p abr a t f th
Th y n v r
tim
our own l v l w hall be pu h d ff that l v l
by tho who do W ca t imply xi t and ignor all

a
a
u
at l a t w
that i going on in th world round
doing ; but it m an that w
f it i ju t what w a
are inking a ur ly a oth r a ri ing
s

s s e

or

se

ss

es

re

e e

s s

se,

e s

s s

re

e s

e e

see

re

e s

c n

e e

ee

re

te

e o ne

es

es o n

or

ss

see

se

es

o se s

re,

er

er

rs

es e

es

se

e s

se

ses

e s

so

s e

ss

er

ess

e s

e s

ee

se s

r s

e,

e.

or

se

r e

e,

e, s

e,

e e

or

e c n,

T HE A RR VA L

What nonsen se ! I wish you wo uldn t say such thin gs

murmur d Gw n un a ily

You alway do lik to mak

feel uncom fortabl
W inking !
A d th H gg i t and th Badg r and th S ubb
and th Gubbin ri ing ri ing ri ing cri d Kitty with
a child gl at th id a
who milk
P t r Gubbin
t h cow
I don t m an th m I wa peaking f
O f cour
But why not ?
Why not P t r ? Why mayn t he
ri lik th r t ? I dar ay i f w gav him a v lv t en
coat h would be a arti tic a j Badg r A ll h
want i a coat I m ur om
might giv him th
coat
I can t be urpri d at y u wh n that i p ci ly
how fath r and moth r f l aid B atric curling h
T h ir id a i
lip
that w a u that all th
p opl a
imm n ly b low a that th y a all on
am footing But n v r mind that ; that i f no
th
f our ; what i
con qu nc rath r it i no bu in
our bu in i that b ing plac d by birth and po ition
on a high r plan w ought to liv up to our advantag
and opportuniti
T h n w hould k p t h di tanc
not that I car about th di tanc but I do car about
lling prop rly th plac to which I am born h y
dilating and h to uncon ciou ly taking a p oud r
not I do car that wh n w mix with oth r f our
own cla w hould m t th m on th ir w ground ;
that w hould not f l our l v a w ur ly would
ignorant narr w mind d pr judic d i
fe l our lv
Tak th o v ry villag p opl I wa p aking
f i
R ob rt H gg i t i going to O x ford
f t h H gg i t
e

e s

one

ee

ses,

e e

cr

e s,

ses,

e, s

s,

s,

se

ss

e e

se

es

es

e e

oe

e on e

e s

e s

se

'

e,

er o r

e s,

es,

e s o

se

er e

se

ee

ee

e,

ne

e s

se

ee

e s

es

e s

ss

er

ess o

es

re

s o

ese

s e

re

er

e,

e e

or

ess

se

se

re

re so

ee

se

s s

No

You n v r know anything H i going in

pring H will mak hi mark th r H will v ry
th
li k ly nt r om l arn d prof ion and may mi x with
He i s

e s
e

e e

e e

ess

ST AY AT -H O MES

anybody once he is in it But father wi l l ever see that

h i any one but Bob Ho ggi t th Ch mist so n
The
h mi t o h may be but h will k ow a gr at deal
more and liv a much full r an d wid r a d mo e redit
abl li f than w do
I don t see in the l ast what yo u a drivin g at
Beat ice What i all thi abo ut ? What an we do ?
W can t b Ch mi t so n and go to O x ford and en t

l arned prof ion e pecially as we ar not m

What a you grumbling about
mutt red Gwendoline
di contentedly You go ff at u h tangen ts Y u
r t trik out in one direction and then in anoth r
A d you inva iably end by having a ing at us a a
family from whatever point you tart
I don t uppo it is any use trying t make yo u
und r tand wa all Beatrice vouchsafed in return
Sh wa
u e that sh her el f und r too d She
ot
wa con ciou o f being r pres ed thwarted hedged in
and mor over f a fe ling akin to envy O f those whos
tal nt and po w rs wer b ing fo t red and d veloped
whil h own w r ith r unreco gni ed or di co urag d
Sh had no wi h to i p in th bud the career f any
villag H ampd n or to sti in i t birth th pos i ble
note f any till mut ingloriou Milto n but it did seem
hard that h Beatrice Maynard hould not have at
l a t an qual chance O f dev loping her real el f
Gw did not feel like thi nor did Kitty Yet to her
Vie w th y w re almo t mor to be pitied f t h ir asy
acquie cenc in thing a th y we e than had they
chaf d a h did again t t h bar Con tentment in
their ca meant furth r d teriorati o n Sh w uld at
l ast t y to arr t that deterioration
Matt rs had gone on lik thi fo r ome ti me previo u
to the w t November afternoon on which w rst nd
si ter
drawing roo m re
th
a embled ro und t h
,

C e

s s

ess

s,

er

en

s n

er

e s

s e

s s e

se

es

or

s,

e,

en

e e e

e s

se

e s
e

s c

re

re

ss

T HE A RRIVA L

x5

waitin g an a rival which wa f con sid rabl family

importanc
om month pa t Lady Laura had been ailing
Fo
In th ummer h had fallen a victim to a harp attack
f inu n a which had been ri f in th n ighbourhood
and it had l ft h l w in temperamen t
and in t mper
Sh wa more qu rulou more xacting and unreason
able than b for Nothing wa right ; and poor Sir
Henry who wa a peace at all price man wa tha k fu l
d to agr
to a propo ition whi ch had at r t
i n th
been ut d by
and all
Giv h h way ; give h h way aid h
hall be more ridiculou than ever h
O nly w
served Beatric
R idiculo u
What doe that matt r
Ph pho i
your mother ? If h has a fancy l t her
i f it pl a
hav it ay I

To be ur what v r peo pl think f it di dain

fully
choed Sir H nry
What v r peopl think f it !
a toni h d What in th nam f wond r do it
i g ify to u what people think What bu in hav
th y to think P my word growing warm f thi
thing a
wa a point on which h wa vuln rable
com to a pretty pa if the Maynard hav to top
and con id r what peopl will think before they can
do what th y lik in their own home I uppo e i f
I cho to add anoth r footman to my tabli hm nt I
hall oon hay to con ult th O pinion f all my fri nd
and n ighbo ur ! Y u a alway hinting at thi
B atric What mak you ab urd ?
Simply becau we do ab urd thing Thi f i
tance

T hi ?
H y ? Thi ?
yebrow going up
hi
Ye
thi
aid he steadily
Directly it get

er

s,

ee

e en

er

er

s e

e se s

er

er

o ne

e s

r s

s o

e e

on

ss

or

re

es

es

so

se

s o

re

o se

ess

es

s,

s,

or

s,

s,

s e

ST AY AT H O MES

k own that Lady Laura May a d with three g ow

up daught r
all li ving at hom has engaged a lady
companion to om and live in th house that h
ha be n en gaged f
her which i mo t lik ly th way
i whi ch it will b put l y u know what will b ai d
Sir H nry replied by a harp look he wa beg inning
to comp h nd
Y
aid Beatric r tu ning th look
You m an th y will have th con founded i mpe ti

n n o to to say i t that ? and h tapp d hi for h ad

with hi ng r
I hould think it very likely
my word ! But h look d u d niably tak n
P
aback What Y u actually
but I can t b li ve it
What could hav put uch a notion into your h ad ? Ha
any
N t y t
N
N t to m cert ainly
But that
go f nothing Tho e thing a n v r aid to th
peopl th y conc rn and w hould be the la t to h ar
f it i f t h whol country id w r ringing with th id a
D w h ar oth r thing ? Do w know in t h l a t
what peopl ay f u or think f u in oth r way
W don t a d w can t What i more we can t top
th ir tongu
I ay l t th m You a a
L t them wag th n
qu r girl B atric It s m and h tried f cool
cont mpt but wa obviou ly u t d it em that
you would hav u pand r to a low ta t f go ip a d
cut and carv our doing to uit th notion f v ry
Dick T mand H ar y who run about with hi tongu
out I f th y choo to t ll li f u
But th y a not li
to ay that your p or
N t a li
?
N t li
moth r
fan cy o f hers
e ; but to call thi
That would be
n

e s,

e,

e s

e s

es,

or

or

re

e,

on

on e
O

es

or

e e

e e

re

e,

e s

es

ee

ee

es

s,

s ere

es

se

or

ss

s o

e e

es o

re

or

se

re

s e

on

T HE A RR VA L

unnatural inco mprehen ibl wou ld be only to ay

the truth a it trik me and mu t trik every o
who doe not suppo th other thing Either my
mother i putting an open light upon u all and how
i g in deed i f sh do
not ay it in o many word
that our companion hip i di ta t ful to h or e l e h
i incapabl O fi
hort she i not like oth r peopl
H umph
I s no way out O f it however A fter a long
pause o f di o mtu durin g which Sir H n y looked
thi way and that grunted mutt red and gen rally
dg t ed with impot nt vexation he pulled hi n w
paper toward him with a air f di mi ing the matter
I dare ay y u a right but it i no u ghting it
Sh ha worri d m till I hav given in and we m u t
mak th be t f a bad ob A fter all th re s room
nough in t h hou f any numb r f dd come hort
without th ir both ring u ; and in O ld day wom n f
po ition had their hanger
a reg ularly a their lap
d og and waiting maid
Put it upon that can t y ?
Say that your moth r want om
to amu se he to
t ady h h yo u know w ll nough how to do it
You don t n d me to coach you ; only look h r
and a red mphatic fac frow d round th
B atric
corner f th new paper now un folded and pread in
front o f t h
peaker there
thing I won t hav
ai d
mind I won t hav it NO one hall dare to hint
that Lady Laura May ard i not a an a you or I
Th
poor thing and udd nly th har h voic
m lted and it wa a hu band who pok and pok
in accent which al d hi daughter lip
She had had it on th tip f h tongu to c ff at hi

arbitrary Won t hav and alr ady an ironical mil

had begun to p lay upon h f ature pray how did
he propo e to carry out hi doughty r olution ? Did h
O dd,

es

se

re

s s

e o ne

r,

e e,

e,

e s

se

er

er

s o

es

e,

e,

s s

one

ne

ee

s on

er

-s

se

or

ss

se

re,

e r,

ee

s,

s e

sc

es

ne

e,

ST AY AT HO MES

i tend to go round th pari h and announc it in v ry

hou e or hould i t be proclaimed from t h pulpit and
at the village cro
but that bri f xclamati on f
te derne
and the look by whi ch it wa accompanied
urprised and il n ed h
A faint blu h al o ro
to h cheek
In her rst harp annoyance on h aring that Lady
Lau a whim wa to b actually carried into ff ct h
had almo t gloated ov r th interpretation lik ly to be
u
t
upon
the
matt
r
by
many
who
already
l
ok
d
a
kanc
p
on Mayn ard Tow r and i t inmates Moth r will hav
brought it upon her l f h aid bitterly
H ad there be n any truth in the id a it would hav
b n di fferent ; but a Lady Laura wa in p rf ct po
ion f her faculti and wa merely u ing h pr nt
invalidi m a a weapon to extort from h hu band
permi ion to grati fy a fancy dictated by lf lov and
almost certain to fo ter and increa e that l f lov to
the xclu ion o f v y oth
ntiment it wa pe f ctly
atural that th t p about to be tak n hould b gal !
a d wormwood to t h haughty mind f B atric
T ear
f indignation and f humiliation tood in h r
y when h h ard f it T h n h bur t forth T h n
i t e med to her that i f th i folly w r to b per i ted in
it would be only a ju t r tribution i f rumour how v
remote from th truth w r to be in circulation an nt a
pa nt who could thu tr at h daughter
Lady Laura op nly avow d th at h did not want a

nur or a wai ting woman h r own maid had be with

h
f year and wa invaluabl in that po ition ; what
h r q ui ed her lady hip aid wa an agr abl com
panion who would i t with her and driv with h ;
with whom sh could practi h mu ic and go k tch
ing wh n warm er w ath r cam one al o who would
r ad and di cu th book f the day in ho t
n

ss

er

er

se

se

e s

e er

er se

re

e e

ee

er
e

er

se

ss

en

er

e er

e e

s s

s,

s,

se

s e

s e

or

s e

r e

s o

e,

se

e s e

er

se

es

er

ese

er

ss

es,

ee

sess

ss

e e

ST AY AT HO MES
-

so

befo i ndeed they had ever fully opened (dearest

A ugu ta knew al l abo ut thi from many a voluminou
epi tle fo
the ubject never palled upon the writer)
-at home
f
o
u
will
not
expect
much
rom
thi
poor
tay
y

r
d
f
a
M r ie li
and h re would follow a tribute to married
life which wa not exactly attering to Sir H n y nor
t
to
Sir
Henry
daughter
in
re
g
ard
to
whom
their
y
mother condante wa given to under tand that h r
f iend wa hardly fortunat
I uppo e they a much like other o f th ir ag ;
but when yo u and I wer girl we did not
t up our
w opinion a d battl f
u right a it
em i the
fa hion in the
day It appear to m that th world
w
has pun round and that not by any mean to i t
advantag continued Lady Laura who kn w about a
much f th world a an in fant but I f one have
r olved to make a tand A t l a t I did
e olv
wh n my h alth and pirit w r mor qual to th
ta k But f lat I will not conceal from you d are t
A ugu ta that my dau ght r o
and all hav pas ed
ntirely beyond my control You who r m mber m
m force O f charact r will p rhap be
a a p r on wi th
urpri ed at uch an admi ion but you do not know
f only a pa ent can knowwhat girl hav arriv d at
in the
l f a rtiv d mocratic tim ; and mine I
as ur you a no xception to th rul T h y a
young and trong ; and th y wi ll do thi and that
what ver I may ay B atric in pa ticular take h
own lin and imply b ar m down what v r bj tion
I may rai to it Sh pick up p opl and in i t on
being intimat with th m ; and from th m and at th ir
hou e h adopt all t h mod rn notion which ar
doing o much harm at the pr nt tim Sh i th
one who giv me mo t troubl Gwendoline i mor
g ntl and would b more duti ful i f h i t r would let
-

re

se

or o

re

es

so

e s

ne

se

ss

e,

sse

re

e e

er

ec

s s s

e,

ese

re so

es

e,

s e

e,

es

se

s s

e,

se

or

e s,

r s

so

e e

e,

or

e s

s o

e,

se

se

s,

er s s e

T HE A RRIVAL

a t

less head t on g than Beatrice

i
elsh and he i very vain O f h
But her natu
appearan e I uppose h i pr ttypeople ay he
i very lik what I wa ; indeed we till resemble each

oth r a g o d deal in loo k but there I fancy it en d

I can not get h to take any intere t i n th pursuit
whi ch are till my be t solace a d h i always fr tting
aft ociety and the lo f that admiration she imagine
he would eceiv at i t hand
Little K i t ty i my
best daughter I don t know what I hould do wi th
H si t er a jealou o f h ; which i O f
o ut K itty
ourse no en se a I only talk to her as a sort f child
h i mor with m an d under tand me
a d be au se
be tter than a y one el e in the house Kitty i not so
h
a
o
o
d
looking
eith
r
f
the
othe
b
u
t
mo
e
s
r
h
a
;
g
hea t than Gwen and a bett temp r than Beatrice
If I had had a so
and at this point a mile might
hav been en on the face f the read r fo h could
not help thin king that inc Lady Laura had been so
unlucky in her daught r it wa omewhat droll that sh
o condent that a hypothetical so
should be
wo uld
have been a pa agon
Such wa th burden O f m any an overowing epi tle ;
and their recipi nt was now the per on to whom applica
ti on wa m ad
when Lady Lau a having wrung consent
to her wi he from her hu band ay d to nd th lady
co mpanion who wa to be in default O f the ai d hy po
thetical
a paragon
A prompt r ply was receiv d ; fo M i
Kenyon
having been her l f fortunat in a lik que t ( perhaps
her e comium on a c tain Mi B ck had r t i m
planted th id a i Lady Laura h ad ) was not only
ready but eager to e x cut
the commi ion Would
dea Lau a tru t to her judgm nt or would h equire
to see an applicant fo hersel f ?
her

at

an y rat

re

she

s r

er

is

er s

ns

er

ss O

re

se

r s

s s

e,

e s,

s e

er

e,

s,

er

er

ess

so n ,

se

ss

ss

ss

er

e r

ST A

22

Y AT H O MES
-

ady Lau a w
h wa just about to say he wou ld
ce tainly pr f r th latter cou wa topped p in
hand by a remark from h ld t daught r B atrice
had nt r d th b udoir with oth r l tter r quiring
an w r and thi di u ion nded her mo th r whom
th
f h
ucc
chem had p ut into good pirit Ob
rved graciou ly It eem th r will be no dif cul ty
in g tting th p r on I want My cou in A ugu ta
an w r f that and ha alr ady een
or two ; but
h
ugg t that p rhap I may wi h f a per nal
intervi w
aid B atrice hortly She did
O f cour you will
not mean it but h ton f d ci ion in tantly took that
f authority in h
moth r ar H r again h wa
being dictat d to and domineered over though th matt r
conc rn d h r l f alon and wa no one l bu in
I don t
why I hould
H brow clouded
D you m an that y u woul d have a woman com
to liv with youto liv with u and be about in t he
room and at very m al without ver having een h
fooli h
Moth r you cannot b
ra h ? Ju t think
what you might l t u in f !
A ugu ta K nyon can ur ly judg a w ll a you or
I perhap a littl b tt r con id ri g th ph r h
mov in and h p portuniti and xperi nc quoth
a fri nd f min a d a con
Lady Laura bridling ;
would thin k
ti
O f my family may be tru t d
to u h utmo t di cr tion and knowl dge and to hav
om littl di cr tion and knowledge at command h
t a high opinio
warmth incr a ing
Y u may not
on your moth r fri nd B atrice p f rring your own
I uppo ; but it i nough f m that
whom I
valu and t m and hav known a my mo t intimate
pond nt f y a off r to do m thi
fri nd and cor
ervic I hall c rtainly accept her O ff r
L

e e

rse,

er e

e e

e s

ess o

e s

s,

es s

e e

e s

or

ss

sc

en

er s

se

es

e s,

one

or

so

se

er

s e

e O

er

e e

e se

so

or

es

se

or

re e

on e

res

one

s,

e,

s e

es ee

e e

er

se

e s

s e

er O

er

on

se

so

er

n ec

ess

e se s

s,

see

es

e,

er

s e

or

rs

e s
e

T HE A RR VA L

I thought y u aid h inquired wheth r y u would

not pr f r to hav a p r onal intervi w ?
A
an alt rnativ But that i m r ly a pi e f
polit n
Sh could hardly ay h would hip f? an
unknown individual without giving me t h option
Moth r do tak it I don t m an to vex you an d
th ton and mann r f th
p ak r w r mor betting
t h r lativ po ition
f th two t han had y t be n mani
f t d
but you mu t
h w v ry important thi i
Cou in A ugu ta
What about cou in A ugu ta
demanded Lady
Laura harply
I know h i fond f you and would take a great deal
f trouble on your b hal f ; but h ha no notion h
do not know how w liv h r ; it i y ar inc h ha
b n at Maynard T ower and i f h l ct fo you th
ort f lady companion who would uit her el f
h will do
Pr ci ly what I hop
You a not in th l a t alik p r i ted B atrice
d p rat ly
Cou in A ugu ta i fond f oci ty and
vari ty
aid h mother with empha is
Sh i fond f m
di f
D you think h know you ? A t l a ti t i

ften mak
ult to ay i t but pe pl in l tt r do
th m lv out without m aning to do ve y di ff r nt
from what th y a
I don t m an y u moth r in
particular ; I m an v rybody It i not
r
on
in
p
a thou a d who i at al in a l tt r I ft n think
f my l f
Som tim wh n I am f ling cro and
di agr abl that I can hardly p ak to tho about
m I it down and writ a i f I w r in th be t o f
humour a d mak jok and v n pull my l f round
again b for I hav don But th l tter i n t m N w
up po ing
You would in inuate that I pa my l f ff with h

e e

e e

e s

ess

ec

s o

see

es e

e s

e e

e s

es

e s

re

es e

e,

e s s

e s

se

e s

s s

e se e

e e

ee

e,

se

es

re

se

ee

s,

ur

es

es,

e s

so

ss

so

se

e e

se

e e
e

e e

one

ee

e s

s so

so ,

e,

s n

e s

er

ss

se

er

ST AY AT H O M ES
-

an a ffection ate good t mpered person but that h

would nd m quite the oppo ite i f h cam here ?
I think that he would probably giv aaa u
liabl impr ion O f y u and f u and f lif at May
nard T ow r to the pe rson h wi hed to ngag f
you and that w hould all u ffer f it aft rward
Y u would not u ffer ; you would h av nothing to
do with h
I f you lik I would go to London and
her
But thi
ffer which a more xperie c d and wary
diplomati t would n v r hav advanced only erved a
our read r can well imagin to clinch Lady Laura
deci io ; and th r ult wa that Mi E mma A dam
wa expected to arrive at her
w de tination on the
wet Nov mber day w hav d cribed at th beginning
f thi chapt r without having bee n
n by anybody
h i ;
Th r
announc d Kitty from th window
A t th
am moment h ld t i t r ent r d th
room What v r B atric
tat O f mind h nev r
allow d it to inu nc h attitud toward a trang r
and ince Lady Laura wa unabl to be in th drawing
room h r l ff h wa in bed with a cold h hould
b
uitably r pr nt d
T h big arriag
and both th m murmured
Gw n rou ing h r l f to tak a p p by Kitty ide
I hould hav thought om thing l than that would
hav don in thi pouring rain Why couldn t a cab
hav b n ord r d from th tation ?
I h ard m th r t ll M St ad to b mo t particular
that Colvin hould tak the big brougham and driv
him l f and tak William too Kitty who wa alway
pl a d to how knowl dg wh n h i t r w r i g
rant look d round with an air f b towing agreeabl
in formation
Moth r said h knew Colvin would
hirk i f M Stead didn t ay tho e w re h order
as

-e

s e

ess

e s,

s,

e s

er

or

or

re

see

e,

s O

e e

e s

es

ss

es

or s

ese

e se

er s s e s

e e

no

es

rs.

en ,

rs

e s

ess

se

ee

e e

ee

e e

e se

s s e

te

e se

es

er

er e

e e

es

see

e s

ne

e s

e e s

e,

n e

er

T HE A RR VA L

my poor littl matron from th ho pital was

allow d to com up ye terday in t h cart and get wet
through ob rved B atric dryly But th n he wa
only my matron Moth r vi itor are di ff rent
Y u might hav don bett r fo h
i f you had o ly
wheedled a littl nodd d Kitty I kno w F I wa
wi th moth r dir ctly aft r you l ft and he wa eally
rath r or y and k pt aying h wa ure th day wa
clearing and that th m did
di like taking ut
carriag that r quired a lot f clea ing in w ath r lik
t hi
Wh n h knew poor littl M Short had com
up in the v ry t
th f th torm he nt wo d to hav
h
thing dried and you know if h would have tak n
wine moth r aid h wa to have it
D be qui t child
Wh con tituted you moth r
champion ? A d B atrice frown d annoyanc
W ll I will tick up f her quoth Kitty doggedly
She would not be hal f bad a h i i f you
but
h r t h door p ned
T he door op ned to admit a per on whom it i di i ult
to d cribe exc pt by n gativ
Mi E mma A dam
wa n i ther young nor tall nor hand om nor parti
la ly well dr
ed She look d h part th part h
wa about to a um in Maynard Tower and there wa
a timidity almo t a tr pidation in her air that seem d
to indicat that all h li f hith rto had b en pas ed in
a tate f humb le d p nd nc
A middl ag d woman attir d in black with black ilk

glov Gw n who wa dainty on th point notic d

t h glov
f h r lf
; whi l B atric di armed in pit
inwa dly not d a little quav ring not in th voic a d
-a uranc and
a h itation in th t p which call d f
forbearanc
It wa Beatric who bade the traveller draw near the
an d h r el f ti red with a poker the sleepy l o gs into a bla e

Y et
e

se

e,

e,

er

e s

or

ess

s s

e s e

e,

es

es

e
s

s,

er

es

en

e,

er

ss

e-

es .

ss

es

so

e e

se

rs

ee

s r

or

s s

so

en

er

es

or t e

e o

e se

ss

e.

e s

re ,

ST A Y AT HO MES

26

Kitty urpri e h i ter th n rang th bel l

per mptorily
T a at onc h it i th r
a the
footman bor in th urn at t h mom nt
always
O
want t a th V y mom nt
c me in ff a journey
continued Mi May ard in h kindli t mo t gentle
acc n t th accent that al way
m d to wipe out
ev ry un favourabl impr ion f the p ak r from the
m mory f tho who h ard and that om tim mote
on Lady Laura a with a throb f real pain f why
w r th y
eldom add
d to her
D take ff
your boa and you a quit ure you a not w t ?
Beatric ran on
i
a
Ju
t
had
be
n
a
real
h
f
(
vi itor inwardly comm nt d Kitty who had be n
from her i t r but who wa
waiting to tak h
now all bu tle and alacrity )
A d pray don t think that it alway rain in Somer
t hi
conti ued M i Maynard gaily W do look
a had damp I admit
A d I dar ay you n v r aw uch mud in your li fe
in our lan ? It wa now Kitty turn ;
a w hav
Gw n wa in p cting th t a table and lifting th cover
hot di h D id it contain crump t
Sh
f th
wa fond o f crump t and t h r velation f buttered
toa t in th plac f th mor uccul nt dainty wa a
di tinct di appointm nt

f
t
f
h
h
utt
r
d
toa
t
r
u
d
titut
t
h
t
wa
B
g
la y It came up wh n no
would be at th troubl
f providing anything b tt r and wa an indication f
cont mpt f th w arrival d pit her lady hip ord r
carriag and men rvant Lady Laura wa af
f
in b d and butter d toa t wa good nough f the
drawi g room
Gw n g lanc d at h i t r but again th better
mann r f th latt r pr vail d She ch rful ly off r d
e nothin g
th toa t took om h r l f and app ar d to
To

se

re

es

s e

e s o
,

es

or

es

s s

or

er

-se

one

or

e O

e ne

or

e s

e e

e s

e o

e s,

e e

e o ne

ss

s s e s,

es

or

es s

re

er o n e

re ,

se s

resse

so s

s e r

e e

see

es

ess

ne

er

e e

one

s,

er

ss

s s

er

s s e

e se

ee

e e

se

ST A Y-AT - O ME

28

reckoning and it i ju t twe ty eve years Mother

ay h wa h r once oon after yo u wer m arried
before Beatric wa born
W ll w ll I dar ay Your moth r know be t
Time i and one forget aid Sir Henry hal f annoy d
hal f amu ed f Kitty wa a privileged per on and b
id i t wa om thing to hav anyb dy talk Beatri ce
had withdraw into h h ll directly he appea d and
Gwen wa making th be t O f th tea table uch as it
wa
S w a all th mo e obliged to our f i nd fo

fo havi g been
fortunate proceed d Sir H en y
with O ld fa hion d polit n and a little bow to point

A d
w what do yo u ay girl
d
hi m aning
you think your moth r
looking to them f r reli f
Moth r aid I wa to b ing Mi A dam to her as
oon a h had ni hed her tea and taken o ff h r
thi ng announc d Kitty ; and Beatri e who had risen
at h fath r hint tood till and bit her lip S th n
h wa not ven to be permitt d to k p up appearan ce

W
?
ould Mi A dam what would she
f a ingle hour
think ?
But it did not matter ; h probably kn w nough
already f th above to cau se her no urpri e ince it
was hardly lik ly that yea
f epi tolary intimacy had
not long be for thi put Mi A ugu ta K nyon in full
po e ion f th fam i ly attitud o to wa ds another
and wh ngaging a per on who wa
o n to nter
th hou hold prud nc would imp l h
to drop a hint
O f cour e h know or if h doe not know now h
will oon that Beatric Maynard i a mere cipher in h
father hou
r ct d h bi tt rly
Will you com now Mi A dam ? aid Kitty Ope n
ing th do r
,

s s

es

no

s e

s,

er

or

ee

ss

or

ss

se,

er

s,

s so s o

se

ne

en e

rs o

ss ss

ss

ess

r e

so

re

re

er s e

or

s s

es,

s,

es

e e

-s

e,

ss

er

CH A PT E R I I
I A M A LWAYS FI

G HT ING

A N D ST RU

LIFE

GG LING

WIT H MY

me A d what do you thi k f h ?

ried M Willi amCurle the rich brewer pr tty little
wi f o the appearance f B at rice Maynard in h
d awing room the following day
M s Curl was ertain he would hav thi vi itor and
had been bu y in th mor ing l ttin g fall all u ion to th
pro pe t
Can t arra ge anything fo r thi afternoon
positively no ; f r poor dear Beatrice Maynard i ure
to un in to tell me abo ut th w arrival B at i c i
worried about it and h alway run to me with h
worrie
Well ? proceeded th peak r eag rly now that
the triumphant moment had arriv d
at down
She eem pr tty harml
Beatric
N t in
p epared to be di cur ive and condential
the least ff n iv at any rate ; and that i a much as
could expect
O ld or young ?
A bout the u ual age I uppose
Perhap a littl
lde I hould say not fa from fty
Did not tak you all und r
A n d not aggressiv
her wing at th tart
p aker laugh d with
A d th
a little air O f experi nce I know the kind o w ll I
must wn I was hal f afraid for you
Were yo u I don t think w w r a fraid f our
se lves
A dam her el f not a h now
It was no t Mi

A ND

so she ca

rs.

e,

er

er

e
,

s s

e ne

so

er

e,

one

ess.

e s

e s

ss

e e

39

or

s s e

ST A Y AT H O M ES
-

O
3

but f what our mother will t urn her into that w

but aft r all h can t do u much harm It h b ing
i g i a t ly
h re at all
1 know
You poor thing It mu t be a nui ance
now Lady Laura will b more u ap
A d I uppo
b
a
l
than
v
r
and
v
n
Kitty
won
t
hav
a
h
a
p
chance Will h al way be about when v r
call
includ h i invitation ?
A d mu t o
Mi A dam ha n thing to do with m
N t to m
I hav b en v ry di tinctly told that A d a my
moth r carc ly ver goe anywh re
Well my d ar
I
mu t mak th be t f
A d I hav been d ing what I can f
you in th
it
n ighbourhood I mad a round f call th oth r
day and pok f Lady Laura h alth and h illn
in th umm r and f t h w acqui ition to th hou
hold a i f it w r quit a matt r f cour that th r
hould b om
in that capacity I tood up f th
family I a ure you B atric
You m an that p opl a talking ab ut u But f
cour th y a
A d what I do r join d h
fri nd playing with
upon th u c ptibl in trum nt ben ath
th utmo t a
hand i imply to con t radict v ry ingl thing
h
that i aid I won t allow f a mom nt that you a
not all a fond f ach oth r a po ibl ! I ay What
non n ! wh n peopl b gin about you a d your
moth r not uiting ach oth r and not g tting on to
g th r I told M T omlin on y t rday that I knew
th Maynard a gr at d al mor intimat ly than h
did and that you w r my particular fri nd Sh hut
up a ft r tha t
T hank you
aid B atric but not with e p cial
fervour
It r ally doe n t matt r you know continu d h
i s,

-s

c n

ro

see

ss

re

er

s,

s s

e se

er

s e

e e

or

rs

ss

es e

e e

re

or

e e

re

se

se

e s

se

ess

er

se

se

-o -

e one

e s

e ne

e e

or

e o

e s

one

er

o ne

e e

ss

e e

ne

se

er

e,

e,

I HT ING

WIT H M Y

I A M A LWA YS F G

L FE

!
3

a fter a littl pau

It i v y good f you to ght our
battl
A h tru t m f that
hall ay na ty thing
N
f any
f you in my h aring
T h y will ay th m all th mor out f it
a faint
mil played th peak r lip th n u abl to r pr
a d ir to know mor You might a w ll ay what
you did h ar Dai y
D ai y ub titut d f t h mor
formal appe llation would probably hav
urpri d om
p pl to h ar but th n f w kn w how intimat th t w
now tog th r had b com ince no
altog th r cr dit d
what M Willi Curl aid about a good many ubj ct
M
court to Lady Laura Maynard
Curl paid h
with xtraordinary cl v rne
It a toni h d and a
noy d th lde inhabitant f th n ighbourhood to
nd that th n gl ct and inatt ntion which th y had
to put up with and had l arn d to ndur phil phi
cally (becau th Maynard n v r w r lik oth r p opl
and Lady Laura n v r did put h r l f out to pay civility
to a y ) w r abrogat d in th Curl ca
You do manag moth r wond rfully B atric would
xclaim to h fri nd
A d th r ult wa that Lady Laura carriag would
n turning in at th brand w iron and gilt
b
topped gat f th brand w pruc and paciou Villa
i
or v n tim f onc it turn d in at any oth
ntranc fa or n ar
But though th adroit in inuating littl wom an had
arly in th day p n trat d th hidd n pring wh nc
emanat d much that gav ff nc and r n d r d th

Maynard unpopula in th ir nativ plac o that h

had contriv d mo t kil fully to btain a footing with

th m which wa th prid f h lif D ai y now and

t hen found h r l f pu l d
A l o h now and th n
mad mi tak though h did not know it
e

se

er

es

or

0 one s

one o

es

e,

eo

rs

se

er

e e

es

or

e,

er

e e

es,

e se

-n e

e O

e,

so

se

-n e

es

se e

o so

e e

es o

see

s x

es

e se

e e

e e

one

s e

ss

e e

er

e s

se

one

e, s

rs

or

e s

ess

on

es

e o

zz e

s e

er

ST A V A1

:
3

HO M Es

present occa ion it was her int ntion to let

B at ic Maynard under tand that her own abl and
ingle handed ch ampion hip alone protected Th Tow
an d i t
inmates from ood f ill natured go ip ; and
Beatric who as we know wa already morbidly u
l
t
b
i
t
h
e
on
point
in
truth
dying
to
h
ar
v
n
w
a
p
though aware that what h wa likely to b a would
be but a fre h ourc f m ti at i
I f h could hav done without th knowledg
and
felt t h indi fferenc
h
long d to a um how much
better it wou ld hav b n !
Y
better f howev r freely h might d ean t to
h
i t r on th family d m rit how ver much h
might lament t h in fatuation which pr vented th ir
e ing them lv in th light that other aw th mto
be h ark ning a it w r through a back door to th
world voice wa a humiliating devic unworthy f h
dignity
A y glimmering f thi un a in
would hav taught
h
fri nd caution but D ai y Curl had no such glimmer
ing Sh plunged boldly in
O f course you know th r i alway a na ty f ling
about you all dear T hat i a fact You a not popular
you don t make your lv lik d Some peopl n v r do
T h y can t help it
N w th r wer th Fi t hub t

oh d t ay I am alway peaking o f them f cour 1

am I can t help it T h y w r uch charming peopl
d lightfully genial O f lt one k ew th m inti
mat ly th v ry r t day A lthough they w r people
th y w nt th y w nt
f titl th y did not mind wh
to v y one who a k d th m A d dear V i Fit hub rt
had th weete t manner She wa imply raved about
by v ry
at Homburg and Biarrit and Mont Carlo

told
her
l
fo w w r quite on the am
f
h
m
S

t rm that I am with you that h would be imply

O n th e

e,

ce

e o

s e

or

on .

e s,

s s e s

s e

s s

e e

es

es

s,

se

e,

ss

s e

e,

ee

or

e e

e r

s s

ss

er

s o

ers

e,

er

er

es

se

on

s s

se

e,

se

er s

e e s

on e

e e

ere

e s

e er

e e

e e

ne

ee

re

s s

so

e e

ess

e s

e e
s

YS FIGHT ING

I A M A LWA

mi able if

WIT H MY

L FE

33

e lt that there wa a si ngle creature h

k w who did not wor hip her I said Dear V iolet
th at i j u t why eve ry one does worship yo u A d yo u
k
w it really i the on l y way
I it
T h e now how coldly you peak !
Y o u are a
M aynard at thi mom nt my d ar
I it ? indeed !
Y u de pi
th very id a
W ll I do
aid B atrice frankly
A t lea t
h itating I think that rag fo b ing wor hipped
may be carri d too far I f I f in tance were to be
mi rabl
O h but you are di ffe ent
Becau any ingle creature
I wa tating an exceptional case dear
I hould be unable to ndure the accumu lated w ight f
my mi y p r i ted Beatric with a mingling of j t and
arn t y t with an underlying intonation f om oth r
e motion which did not altog ther cap th other ear
I who amn ver likely to be wor hi p p d by any human

being who have nothi n g in m worth wor hipping and

who be t hope i to cape cond mnation You will
n v r turn m nor any f u into popular idol Dai y
D ai y aw that h had gone too fa
P opl cannot cha
ng their natur she Ob erved
ent ntiou ly and it i a natural to you to care only
to be appr ciated by th f w a it wa to my other friend
to covet th applause f th many
T h di ff renc i that he won her de ire but I hall
n v r win min
The peak r turned h head asid with the word
but om how the hrewd keen ight d little woman at
h
id knew that tear had ri n to her ey
N I hall never be happy continue d Beatrice in a
low voic a though communing with her el f what i
ser

she

ne

s e

no

er

se

se

se

s s

ser

es

e s s

es

e e

e.

er

s,

-s

es

se

e,

O,

e s,

er s

s,

s,

s e

es

e,

se

es

e,

or

es

ST AY AT H O MES
-

34

there to mak me happy I don t love othe s why

h uld I b lov d ? I am al way ghting and truggling

ith
my
li
f
e
how hould it yield m any weetn in
w
return ?
Y o u ay it i impo ibl to chang one natur

but it seem to m I f l ometime as i f min might

be changed I am not alway what I am om time
I am not altog ther w hat I e m at any time
tammered
Y o u are alway veryvery nice to me
her companion omewhat di concert d at the tu n the
conversation had tak n though v n th n thinking I
hall let th T omlin son know that B atric Maynard
i
i
m
t
wi
t
h
me
and
tell
v
rything
about
a
l
d

h rsel f
and I am ure you unde valu your w
good point proc ded h aloud Whate ver I may
have aid about my form r friend B atric o f cour I
did not m an to com par h with you Viol t wa the
ill ie t creatur ; and th ought f nothing but h look
and h dr a d how to captivat m No t that h
n g l cted wom but t h mn came r t A d you
a
all y ever
much up ri or
H ow am I to believ thi ? O n mi ut you ay
thing and th n xt anoth r Leav Lady Fi t
hubert out O f th q u tion I don t know h r and I
T h re I am rud to you but we
don t car about h
w r talking traight to ach oth r ju t now and I
want to go on doi ng
ju t f a minute You w re
vaunting your fri nd charm f mann r and di po ition
and holding h up a an xampl w r you not ?
I did not ay anything about h di po ition ig

s o

ss

s e

con

e e

e e e

s,

ee

e,

re

re

es s,

er

so

or

e,

n i can t ly

so ,

er

s,

es

er

e e

en

er

se

one

e,

en

er

re:

en

s.

e,

ee

ess

e e

er

any rat you aid h laid her l f out to plea e

and ucceed d in plea ing and you contra t d h with

m a d u all N w I am wond ring lowly i f that
kind f good will th kind Lady Fi t hub t ought and
btained i worth th having You think it i
At

e,

e,

s e

se

e
e

s e

er

er

ST AY AT

6
3

I IO M ES

we e rife h had not particulari ed ; a d in tead had

de ftly turned th conv r ation on to a favourite th me
th
urpa ing m rit f a former patrone
E ven to
th
p rc ption f B atric h r el f it wa cl ar that
Pa tron
wa th word to be appli d to th con
ct i
betw
een th oci ty beauty f high degr and
fa reaching notori ty and the humbl
at llit who had
fh
doubtle clung to th h
garm nt
N xt Dai y had wh el d on h own front and f arful
apparently f a ti g by per onal compari on th
fe ling O f h
w f i nd mad that compari on i
vidion to the O ld
Sh had h own a cunning di sc imination which vinced
that h could only b blind wh n h c ho e Would
h lik wi e di s t in cold blood B atrice her l f h r
motive and pring f action i f inclination and pp
t u i ty o ff red ?
Th thought cro
d the latt r mind
But he did not dw ll upon it What mainly occupied
her a h trav ed th narrow wood path and ru tled
t hro ugh i t fall n leave
in tinctiv ly picking her way
acro o ft and muddy ground wa th r m mbranc f
th
el f rev lation into which h had been betray d and
which had fallen in plain t rm
at
Wh n th Curl mad th ir adv nt into the n igh
b u ho d om
i x month pr viou
to the dat at
which our tory pen B atric wa ur that h had
found a friend in th young married woman who with

and with
ut family care and ti
f
he wa childl
a hu ba d ea y indulg nt and ft n away from hom
who mad no demand upon h l i u ewa at liberty
f f ee and p rpetual int rcou rse
It wa d lightful to
hav found uch an
A d Lady Laura would certainly have b en a noyed
at her daughter ai f animation aft r the r t u
trai d intervi w had not the clev r little newcom r
r

s e

ss

ne

ess

ro n

ee

e s

er

er

re

s o

sse

e s

e rs

s,

es

s,

s s

one

or s

e,

e s r

ne

r O

ess,

er

e o

es

s, so

or

ss s

se

s s

s ec

or

s e

ne

s e

er

ss

e s

ss

e s

s O

on

e s

e s

n re
e

YS FIG HT I NG

WIT H MY

I A M A LWA

LIFE

37

who p rc ived that h lady hip countena c and sup

port would be quit a nece ary to h in th futur as
t h partiali ty f even th r
v d and haughty Beatric
f whom it wa gen rally all ged nobody could mak
anyt hin ghad not h w ay taken pain to O btain
ld r lady good grac s al o
th
include
O occa ion
Lady Laura would it i tru
Curl in a w ping cond mnation f pr vailing
M
manner ; and t h latt r liv ly d ir to wake up le p
ing dog in th hape f div r ocial in titution which
had fall n i to a tat f torpor f lack f int re t wa
a fruitful ourc f complai t ; but on th whol mor
wa tol rat d from t h rich br wer young bu ybody f
a wi f than would have be n ndured from many oth r
incomparably mor worthy f forbeara c
D ai y al o in tructed B atric how to manag h
moth r It wa by no m an h wi h to
a perf ctly
good und r tanding e tabli h d betw en the t w uch
ind d would hav be n a di tinct lo to h r l f ; but i f
Beatric could r frain from making h
new fri nd the
obj ct f di put and could teadily hold h peace
uppo ing Lady Laura mad a di paraging r mark
hat
doe
it
matt
r
Your
moth
r
won
t
lik
me
W
?
(

but h may the wor fo anyt hing you

t h b ett r
laugh d th littl lady)
th r would i time
ay
c a to b any friction and th inmat f Maynard
T ow r would grow accu tom d to looking upon her l f
a B atric
fri nd
O nly i f I h ar unju t and untrue thing b ing ai d
I can t b ar to let th m pa urg d th form r
You d ar thing ! But th y do no harm W all

know that Lady Laura i cranky xcu e my aying

I wa told what to xp ct when w cam here ;
o
and that h would be ure to t rn up her no e at me ;
but I didn t mind a bit I kn w I had only t wait a
e

er

ss

rs

e s

e se

ss

es

es o

se

ss,

e e

e se

er

se

e s

er

se e

er

e.

er

e s

e s,

e,

or

es

e O

e,

e s s

e o

e,

ee

e s

ee

e,

s,

s,

er

e s

e,

e e

e se r e

ST AY AT HO M ES

8
3

little ; and now h i as kind and nic a po ible But

f cour e h wi ll ay litt le thing and yo u mu t ju st
not mind them
A ctin g on thi advice even wh n her mother called her
friend A vul gar litt le woman B atrice re f ained hersel f
A d h had h
r wa d Lady Laura might qu u
l u ly prote t that Dai y Curl u surp d th whol O f her
eld t daught r time and thought ; he might eve
in the ab tract i ue a t ful prohibition to nev r ending

to ing and f o ing b tween the hou se but h nev r

denit ly forbade Beatrice to seek out Dai y nor turned
Dai y from h own door
In her heart h ometime rath r wondered at Beatrice
She had be n impul iv her el f a a youn ger woman ;
and h intimacy wi th A ugu ta Kenyon though it had
now tood the t t f ti me had been hast ily formed
ha tily ind ed and on o light a foundation that it i
pos ibl th p edy parting and the ab olut everance
f per onal intercour
which followed alon u tained it
Laura K ean
the debuta t had been ama ingly
attered and gratied by the adoration f A ugusta
Kenyon the choolgirl Lau a ma ried and A ugu ta
wa her bride maid A ingle vi it had be n paid to
the young coupl while all was til l clad in ro eate hue
at May ard Tow r and th bride the c nt e f attra
tion and attention in a country neighbourhood ; and
fa a reg arded actual pe onal knowledge
th r in
f ach oth ri f uch a thing could be aid ever to
hav exi ted at allthe matter end d
No t o i t
ff ct on the weak mind and tenaciou
l f lov O f Lady Laura Had h commanded other
homage fre h pontaneou a d incere a that O f her
young relativ h might hav forg ott n A u gu tabut
no e O ed it elf
She wa not a lovable woman ; the aectio xci ted
s e

ss

s,

er

es

er

er

e s

es

so

e s

er

s e

ss

e s

se

e s

e,

n e,

s e

er

s,

e, s

rs

se

e s,

so

e,

e e,

n e

YS FIG HT I NG

WIT H MY

A M A LWA

L FE

39

in A ug ta h art wa not a h fondly imagined a

tribut to h own nd a i g qualiti ; it wa rath r the
outbur t f a warm h art at a lo fo om object on
which to lavi h i t t ndern
A ug u ta wa an orphan
alo in th world
A lmo t imm diat ly aft r her one and o ly vi it to
Maynard Tow r h had been um mon d abroad by a
guardian with whom h had r ided in variou countri
till youth pa d and middle ag dr w on and till the
fri d maintained th ir ld r lation
t adily by dint f
tho l tt r to which r f r nc ha b en mad a d till
Lady Laura b li v d rmly that what h had bee n o ce
in h d ar t A ugu ta y h wa till
back from
A curiou r luctance how v r h ld h
urging Mi K nyon to com and ee f h r l f In
cr t h art h kn w th at h wa t mor alt red
h
beyond r cognition in p r on than in mind
Thi digr ion i m r ly ff red to our r ader b
cau i t may hav urpri d th m that uch a wom an a
aid
Lady L aura Mayna d a g ntl woman wh n all i
and done could tol rat a h daughter cho n com
panion and condant any
in f rior by bi th and
ducation a M William Curl
I f B atric had b n
like mbut h ha a cold r nature or at any rat
f q uality with
h i too proud to b quit on t rm
that little p r on cogitat d h lady hip
he would
n ver l t h r l f down to any
Since
f that tamp
it i plain that a tal nt f makin g fri nd hip run in
hould be
th family it i a w ll p rhap that B atric
cont nt with M Curl who i n ibl a d und r
tand h po ition ; f I hould n v r hav k own
what h wa ayi g i f h had tak n up with one f
tho Parkington girl or ind d with any girl f h
own tanding I kno w how I u d to tak and ind d
till take A ugu ta K nyon into cond nce

us

er

e r n

ss

e s, s

es

e s

e e e

es
s

e ss

or

rs

e s

or

se

ee

e,

s o

er

s,

one O

e se

s,

er

s e

o n e so

e se

s no

se

er

e e

e s

s s

se

e s

e e

s s e

es, s

e r se

s e

ss

es,

e e

s e

er

s se

se

r s

ess.

en

es

ne

s s e

e s

rs

er

e,

or

e e

s e

se

'

s,

se

s o

se

ee

e,

er

ee

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

now Beat rice fo th r t time was feeling that

h al o had given h
conden c She had aid aloud
what hitherto h had aid only to hersel f In an u
guard d mom nt sh had permitted to e cape a deep
and pa ionate de ireth yearning o f a nobl natu e
to be loved and to be wo thy f love
H habitual attitud care fully pre erved wa that f
proud indi fference to th affection while y t d f rring
to t h O pinion f th world In diatribe which arou d
Gw n but faintly and Kitty t at all he never rev rted
to th n ed f human ympathy and tend r
which
lay at th very root f h b ing ; nor did they whil
imagining that h poke O penly f what most conc rned
v r dream that th la t thing sh wa lik ly to do
h
wa t lay bare h h art
egarded r ligion it may urp ri e my r ad r to
A
l arn that B atric wa a r ligiou girl She ha not

hith rto vinc d thi ind ed h li fe but faintly

hi bi t d the trength f h
principlesyet tho who
kn w h in i t mo t intimat r lation who witn d
from day to day h
fault and hortcoming
never
doubted fo a mom nt that h owned an allegiance to
which he her el f frankly admitted h did but littl
credit
You k w what i right ; why don t you d
it h would ay at a mom ntou cri i and the wo d
w re no mpty form ; but in th trivial round o f every
day li f th inu nc v n f her deepe t conviction
mad it l f but dimly f lt A truggl wa for v r
going on within h br a t and what would be the
r ult in a ft r li fe r main d to be een
In her w fri nd B atric at rst imagin d h
beh ld the fruit f a bright r and more liv ly faith t han
own Th r wa a hallow motional f rvour about
h
Dai y Curle which nt her ying to ervice and acra
f benevo l e n t ex citem nt
ment and prompted a f u
A nd

s e

s e

er

er

er

e e

se

ne

e s

e e

e e

se

s,

r s

er

s o

er

s s,

es

s,

s e

esse

s,

no

ex

e s

se

er

er

er

er

s r

er

e s

er, e e

e n ess

e e

se

or

no

e,

ss

rore O

YS FIG HT I NG

WIT H M Y

I A M A LWA

L FE

wh rev r h went D ai y wa great in the pari h ; g eat

in ru tling in and ut f the chool hou ; h pony
carriage wa f ver at the Vicarage door ; very ub
c iption li t bri tled with her own and h husba d
name
She doe what w ought to do aid B atric
Maynard in r ply to Lady Laura an noyan ce and
I f we don t tak up
Sir H nry upli ft d y brow
u proper place I don t
how we ca complain that
oth r tak it from u Mr Tomlin n ay th Curle
are a bl ing to the pa i h
They pa d r to Tomlin n and give hi mthumping
ub cription reto ted her fath r
He wa cont nt
nough with what w did be fore they cam but now
and h hrugged hi houlder gloomily
how wa hi
T ho e ort f peopl do o much f
wi f verdict
would wi h to be u
N t that
charitabl appe d d h aft r a mome t thought
But it i a littl hard aft r having gon on quietly f
o many year
and no
v r uppo ing that we did
not do what wa right and proper to hav th e w
ri h peopl thru ting them lve into our mid t and
up tting v rything
Beat ic a a matter f cour
took an oppo ite and
irritating Vi w O f the matt r
It wa hon t ; h g nuin ly f lt humbled b for the
activity f th Curl f M Curl in pa ticular ; and
the mor th ir doing excit d di prai e in h hom the
mor h applaud d th m in h h art
Mor than thi h wa willing to follow Dai y Curl

a
u
Y
le d
may count on m i f moth r will l t me
h would ay with t h utmo t r adine
without a trace
f jealou y or
luctance when a w cheme wa pro
e

s e

s r

se

er

or e

er

so

so

e s

e,

e,

e,

se

e s

er

er

e,

re

rs

s e

s, s e

ne

es

es, o

se,

es

e e

se

or

on e e e

s,

or s

one

e,

s s

e s

s,

r s

ess

see

e s

ss,

ne

e s

ect ed

A nd D

ai y
s

was

car ful very careful

e

She

perc ived
e

ST AY AT H O M ES
-

i
f
hat
Beatrice
May
upe
or
to
e
y
pe
n a d wa
cie
v
t
petty vanity and that to ndor e unre trainedly her wn
low pinion f h r el f and h pe pl wa in it l f a way

to gain h hea t but h al o aw that he mu t not

hock Beatrice What Beatrice mainly lamented in the
Maynard wa an ab nc f geniality the lack O f which
would not have moved D ai y h rsel f at all You think
your family ught to bu tl up and mak a gur in the
world h had once ugg t d in all good faith think
ing thi hit th mark and Beat ic turned h large
dark eye in a ort f ama ment upon her at th word
It i n t that h aid lowly
Thereaft r th liv ly narrator f the cene giggled
m rrily ov r it to her hu band She i uch a ol mn
girl She think he wa born Queen f Sheba and ought
to live up to the po ition A ll th gho ts f all her a
haunt h with up li ft d ng r and thr at ning
t
What do they want f h ? inquired he
Goodn
know Sh doe n t O at any rat
I can t und r ta d
Sh i full f th apathy and in
dol nce and ignoranc f t h pr nt g neration O f the
Maynard incl uding that f the pa t I may add though
th i i di c tly in f rr d rather than aid in o many
word ; all th ir in f omi ion and commi ion
mainly f omi ion f th y appear to do nothing but
v g tatea broadly t forth ; y t when I in tance
th F i t hub t
and oth r mart p opl a ucc ful
and popular B atrice roll h r ey at m and exclaim
pulchrally It i n t that
H a ha ha ! laugh d th brew r
I exp ct it
that though nodded h jingling th mo y in hi
pock t
Mi Beatric nd it a bit low ticking on
at h me p cially at uch a hom a her tupid to
t h la t degr
and
h
would
l
ik
to
break
loo
e
i
f
;
h could
Why on earth h doesn t
s s

e s

er

s o

er

s e

se

e O

se

ss

re

or

es

ess

e,

ee

ss

ss

e,

es

e s

ss

er s

se

se

e,

r,

ese

s ree

e O

er

e s

ess

e s

s s

er

s.

s s

ces o rs

er

ze

s e s

es e

s e

ne

s, s

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

+4

int rview from which h had ju t come ; but pr ently

th y turn d to i t
point f ab orbing int re t h
own con f ion and what it meant to h r l f I f h

had only
per on only one to love h ! A dmir r
and uitor th had b n both f h r el f and her
i t r but th had
and all be n di mi ed with
N
had y t ff red whom a y
f
ut a pang
car d about in the light t or would hav a
t h thr
i
f
f
?
a
hu
band
v
n
re
to
do
But
lov
r
t
d
a
p
e th
f ag
h had not y t
A t twenty i y ar
man who prof d to k ow th m anin g f t h word as
h int rpret d it
To marry a h moth r had don and th r aft r
to jog along with a hu band a h mother wa doing
alway cond c nding alway uperior a d convi c d

f h
w up riority n v r wholly ati d that h

might not hav don b tt r and r ady in a mann r

incompr h n ibl a it wa obviou to r nt th
a
f licity f any
f h
who betrothal promi d

more than h own had brought h r lf t foll w

uch a l ad would b intolerabl B tt r anything than
that Bett r Maynard Tow r and bondag par ntal
t han uch a way O f
cap
and nd h
But i f God would only tak pity on h
?
ome
A lbeit alon with only th gr y ky ov r
h ad and th whi p ri g wood on v ry id a deep
blu h burn d in her ch k a th thought aro
s one

es

e se

ess

one

ere

ce

e sse

er

es e

er o

one o

se

es

on e

s e

ee

se

er,

e,

e s

se

ese

e se

er

er sex

e e

er

se n

e s

so

e s

one O
e

s o

ss

es

e e

-s x

e s

ee

s e

e s

0 one

on e

ese

s s e s

or

ee

er

er

se

er

e,

ight w r itting to and f wi thin th man ion and

tabl clock truck v a B atric m rg d from th
th
hrubbery and hur i d toward a id door H moth r
did not app rov f lat rambl and h had b n out
long r than h kn w It wa tru that Lady Laura

wa conn d to h bedroom but whil t r belling both

cr tly and op ly ag ain t r triction fr tting at h
L

e e

e s

ro

e o

se

r e

es

es,

er

en

e e

er

ee

er

I A M A LWA Y

S FIGHT I NG

WIT H M Y

L FE

45

Beat ice would have corned to linger out id a

minut lat r in Lady Laura ab nc than h would
hav don had r proach awaited her Tho e inde d
h might brave and
ft n did brav but
w h
almo t ran
Come along ; what ay th fairy Dai y ? demanded
Gwen wh had got h cup and plate ll d at th t a
tabl and wa inking into an ea y chair a h i ter
nt r d th room You mu t hav had th run f your
tongu th r to d ay Luckily mo th r i
tak n up
with h
w toy that h n v r mi d you But w
knew wh r you had gon laughing
T h re wa nothing to know
B atric
at down
aff cti g an air f i di b e
W all w nt out I
uppo ?
It would have been
W did not all go to T h Holli
a jok i f w had met th r But Kitty and I had th
charity to l av th ld cl ear f you I r turn you
might t ll u what w nt on Did D ai y ay anything ?
It wa not lik ly that w at in il nc r torted
B atric provokingly Sh wa not u ually ill t mper d
with t h amiabl and inoff n iv Gw n with whom
indeed it would hav be n hard to pick a quarr l but
a
om thing at th mom nt touch d h clo
th
po t hath it A lthough h wa only vagu ly aware f
more had a
th fact D ai y Curl had di appoint d h

littl di gu t d h w can gu how

You n edn t b cro
aid Gw n placidly I only
want to h ar what w t on ; what wa aid abo ut Mi
I am quite pr pared to b
A dam and all th r t ?
ociabl
Wh could re i t uch good humour ?
Wh r i Mi A dam ? aid Beatric looking round
I thought h would be h re O h h i having h tea
with moth r i h ?
ag e,

e e

no

e e

so

sse

e,

r n ce

se

or

e,

ss,

ess

se

er,

ss

s s

en

er

er

e,

- e

s e

es

e e

s s

er

e e

e e

er n e

er

se

es

es

s s

e e

ss

s s

e,

er

ST AY AT H O M ES

6
4

Kitty has sneaked i n and they are all very jol ly

tog ther no doubt But w hav got a go od cake here

anyhow and Gw n r t howed her pretty teeth in a

and th n munched away content dly
smil
SO now for the D ai y vi it
Wa the man with h
or wa she alone
T h man ! What man
What man ! Why th man aid Gwen surpri sed
D ai y man who ha be n stopping at T h H ollies all
thi week DO you mean to ay you don t know
Don t know !
Good gracious B atri ce don t stare like a ghoul O
would think you had n ver in your lif h ard O f uc h a
thing as a tam cat or a t t umqui d or what ver you
choo e to call it No t that I don t uppo e Dai y Curl
oul O f sp ctabili
i th
In that ca e th t rm you u are inadmi ible
I dare ay th y are I got th m out O f Kipling and

nglo
Indian
women
aren
t
quit
I m an poor littl
i
A
h
Dai y Curl i n t qui te
O f th m
But h i a littl
irt Beatrice though he tak you in Sh let thing
h and I would r ally uit each oth r b tter
ut to me ;
than you and he do O nly yo u took h up and h i a
p oud a Punch f it
A n d what doe sh l t out to yo u ?
What a tone ! It would kill h with a kni f i f he
h ard it O h I don t t ll tal my dear ; but I thought
you with your uperior penetration and ability mu t
know that d ar William ha occa ionally to play econd
ddl in hi own hou e
It m to m many hu band hav to do that A
Vivid r collection O f h r own rec nt musing in fu ed a
t
h
into
peak
r
ton
Girl
marry
not
be
au
e
c
t
i
y
p
th y car f the man not becau e th y beli ve in hi
caring fo th m
A nd

e,

er,

ne

'

re

se

ss

o ne

er

es,

e s

or

er

see

er

s e

es

e s

er z

YS FIG HT I NG

WIT H MY

I A M A LWA

L FE

caring f them ! What grammar !

You know what I mean impati ntly Say A girl
t hen the illy thin g want to run loo
to hav her own

hou e ca riage and opera box with all th

t f it
con tinu d B atrice peaking mor f her
O p rhap
l f than f r an auditor who wa paying but n gligent
attention perhap h i impl r more dom tic ; and
thi nk it would be nic to hav a hu band to tak car

f h
and childr n to tak car f to be om bo dy to

om one in hort but h do not very much mind

what that ome one i a d think the one who ha turned
up will do a well a any oth r So h tak him and
then
W ll th n q u ried her i ter h inter t caught
at thi point by om thing in the other tone What
th n

Then aid Beatrice ig icantly come th what

that i i f
wa the phra you u ed
th
t t mout r
th gi l ha any h art at all and i not cont nt to
T what ? You will keep br aking O ff ju t when you
growing intere ting Suppo ing I f i tanc w r
a
to marry a nic ma whom I liked w ll noughw ll
what ?
A faint contem p t tinged the accent f
O h you
indulgence
me I like to b per onal I don t car f your
Y
ab tract di rtation What hould I hav to do with
out i f I didn t bo ther abo ut a h art and ju t plea ed
my l f and my family wh n I married
I don t know that yo u would hav to do without
anything f which you would be con cio u
No t made that way G wen laugh d frankly
Com
that
me com fort ; I n d not anticipat vil F
your lf I suppose pau ing with a look f inq ui y
F
m it would be V ry dang rou
Hi s

or

r,

s,

se

e res

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ST AY AT

s
I

HO MES

Wo uld it ! Why I,

Because I hould not be conten t to do withoutthat

other thing
What oth r thin g ?
T h great t t hin g in the world
Love
Perhap the O pening O f the door at the moment wa
f lt by both i t r to be O pportun
If h had pre ed me I hould certainly have let ut
abo ut H ou ton E vere t eected Gw n I thought h

kn w kn w that he wa over the e at l ast Luckily

w got ff th
ubj ct ; and when Beatri begin to
mau d r among h o w thoughts she i ure to g t lo t
But that little Dai y i a cat
Fancy her neve mention
ing hi name !
Dai y however had mentioned Major Evere t name ;
Dai y wa fa too astut to O mit doing
and adding
that her gu t wa o ut hooting with her hu ba d that

aft
which ordinary in formation Beat rice had
o
int re t to d ny in connection with h i t r It wa
Gwen pithet T h ma which mi l d h
The man ! Sur ly Gw n was talking non n e O f
all the peopl h had ever met p tty littl M Curl
with h bu y brain teeming with ch me and ch aritie
wi th h ab orbing inte e t in th affair f her n ighbour

eradd
d
to
own
above all with a hu band whom
h
up
wa th la t to eem in need f that
h ca l l d Willi
third per o whom B atric her el f allowed to beto
aid Beatrice Maynard aloud I wa
Non en e
b
me ely in tancing peculiar case p haw ! I was thinki g
I couldn t be content with a Willie But
O f my own
Dai y who can it i too bad to uppos
as to poor littl
that he irts with thi Major Ev re t mer ly becau e h
taying wi th them and talk s about it
i proud
f hi
Gw n in h wayi t not q uit nice in Gwen and I wish

h wouldn t do i t mo t likely her el f began to Dai y

s

es

s s e s

s e

ss

e s

ce

er

s s

es

so ,

no

ern c n
s

er s s e

s e

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s O

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se

er

er

e s

er

s e

s e

s s

er

s e
.

ALWAYS FIGHT ING WIT H

I AM

MY LI FE

49

about the flirti n g Gwen thi nk girl like that ort O f

thing
I met Curl and a fri nd comi g hom from the
cov rt
b rved Sir H nry at dinner N t much
luck th y aid
Did h introduce th fri nd ? in q ui ed Gwen Was
hi name Ev r t ?
Som thing f that ort ; aye that wa what it
ounded lik Tall good looking fellow
Po r Willie didn t lo k much be ide him I da e
s

s,

se

say

e es

Willie n ever loo ks much beside anybody replied

Sir Henry laughing Mon trou fat h getti g f

a young man T good a co k t big luncheon
hamp r A d how hav you got on to day Miss
Bee out ?
A dam t umi g polit ly to h
N
Mi A dam had not been out Lady Laura
having be n abl to be in her boudoir t h tim had b en
pl a antly occupied in r adin g and mu ic Lady Laura
would not be abl to l av th hou e f a day or tw
acquie ced Sir H nry
Oh y
Mu ic and r ading ? Y to be ure Such thin gs
w r not in hi lin ; indeed an ld complaint f him
wa that h nev r pened a book but in th y amu ed
hi Wi fe and Mi
A dam had been got to amu e hi wi fe
he odded complac ntly
But what
arth wa he to talk about H e upposed
he ought t talk ; h wa t much f a g ntl man to
con ume hi food in il nce with a trang r p nt ; and
the v y fact that thi uncom fortabl trang r wa in a
depend nt po ition obliged him to be more punctiliou
H ca t about in hi mi d and at l ngth a topic wa

found th war
U n fort unat ly the war wa not at an
intere ting tage and th dramatic incident which m ight
have fu ni shed food f conver ation a few month
s

e s.

er

e s

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ce

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rese

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ss

or

oo

0,

e s

OO

or

ST AY AT H O MES
-

o
s

be fore were at an end A nything wa better than

nothing how ver and when it appeared that Mi A dam
had been lately abroad and could tell in a quiet way a
little about foreign fee ling on the ubject a it had come
beneath h own notice h held her to the ubject
un relentingly
She did g t a do f it laughed Kitty a ide to her
i t r when at l ngth th dreary meal was ove
How
awful it will be i f we are to have thi ort f thing eve y
day I do hate war tal k Not that I hould mind if
Major Evere t
What do you know about Major Ev re t
aid
Gw n quickly
I Wi h I k ew
O nly what Dai y Curle t ll me

more but Dai y take care O f that wi th a i gni cant

mile
Beatrice did not even know he was: there ai d Gwen
looking at her i ter
I never ai d I did not know he wa there I suppo e
I knew it a wel l as y u W have got an invalided
ldier stopping down here to re ruit Mi s A dam aid
Beatrice thu courteo usly includin g th latter in the
conve ati on W all felt q ui te excited over hi mat r t
But when we found he had only had enteric and neith
walked with a crut h nor had his armi a ling I am
afraid our int r t waned
He might have ecovered more ea ily from wound
than from enteric how v r b erved Mi A dam
I f only h wouldn t make uch en ibl remark
mutt red Kitty 1 do hate en ibl pe ple Then
uddenly an idea occurred Look h re whi pered h
eagerly Mi A dam having gon to fetch her work we
can t go on like thi Can t we wak h up ? Ca t we
get her inter ted in anything ? I don t beli ve h is
hal f as stupid a he look
She eem i n a deadly fright
s

ss

er

se o

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s s

s s

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ST AY AT H O MES
-

:
5

She has really a wonde fully weet mile It wa

Beatrice who aw and noted what e caped her i ter )
Well now who to begin who to b gin ? cri d
Kitty in a bu tle Who to be the r t victi m? I it
to be th eld t or young t ? Gwen it can t be yo u
anyway a you are only frog i t h middle It lie
between me and B atric
A d as y u put m t acc rding to your habit
But Kitty truck in
B atri could ni h her
entence I m willing I hav no qualm f modesty
Gwen may do h wor t on me Now Gwen
But what am I to ay ? murmured Gwen feebly
Say ? A nything that come into your head Say
u
know
th truth and that can t be di i ult ; f
y
laughing that you never can tell the veri t u picion
f a li without being found out
Gw n i an ab olutely
truthful p r on Mi A dam O h I forgot Sh not
my one I almo t wi h he were I could hit h ff
w ll D nE
t you forg t that I gave you that hint when
you com to doing h to Beatrice
Then all waited f Gwen
I uppo Kitty would be called amu ing aid h
ol mnly at la t A bur t f merriment follow d in
which v n Mi A dam joined
Y u a
anyway ; ha ha ha l
hrieked Kitty
Gwen nev r e a jok till h h ar u all laughing
Ev n B atric I can alway work a jok into Beatrice
but it wand r aiml ly about in ide Gw n
Gw n appealed to Mi A dam that i the
Y u
ort f girl h i But top I can t ll you
thing
h
countenanc bright ning Kit ty i both fath r and

mother favourite daught r what ? O h I thought I wa

to ay anything perc iving g n ral di mt u Kitty
aid I wa to t ll th truth and that i th truth
d precatingly
s

es

rs

e re

ce

s O

er

or

e s

'

er,

se s

o ne

e e

ss

ess

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see,

s e

re ,

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so

ss

e e

er o

e s

se

or

ss

es

es

s s

sco

re ,

YS FIG HT I NG

WIT H MY

A M A LWA

L FE

53

Mi A dam may a well hear it said Beatrice

with an effort It wa a littl tartling to have it aid out
like that becau e one doe not u ually ay a l oud such
thin g ; but after all yo u meant no harm dear
I am orry Beatrice
Beatrice no dded ; th blu h which had u ffu ed her
heek bet raying a pain ful motion faded and h
looked o g ntly and e as uringly at the ff nder that it
urpri ed neither Gwen nor Kitty to notice that the loo k
ca t upon h r l f by the fourth person of th group wa
one f mor warmth and inter t than had y t be n
elicited from th phlegmatic Mi A d am
I
aid
w
hould
wake
h
up
internally
commented
(
Kitty ) Well now ; now go on cried h aloud
But Gwen had nothing more to ay You re ju t a
goo and w all poi l y u h apo trophi ed h
ubj ct You g t round people and do thin gs y u
houldn t and worry Beatric andand that all
Wel l you hav cut me o ff hort Can t you ay that I m
twenty years O ld though I m treated like ftee and that
my birthday i on th a d f A pril and wa all but on

F
l
and
th I t so that I ju t e caped bei ng an A pril
that my hair wa ut O ff wh n I had carlatina
A pparently you had bett r d cribe your el f a well
int rpo d Beatrice dryly
a al l f u
Ju t you wait my lady till I come to you Ther
won t be many bone left f y u to pick wh n I ve
ni hed my di ection Mi A dam do you like thi ?
Doe it ntert ain y u ? W a doing it to ent rtain you
u
o
know
y
A dam won t have much di fculty
A t any rat Mi
in und r tan ding why you are treated lik ft n aft r
it bserved Beatrice in th am dry but not unkindly
tone She r prov d and repre ed Kitty from morning
t ill night but uch admonition fell like water a duck
A nd

ss

r -

e s

s e

e se

es

e s

er

s e,

'

rr,

co

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ss

ss

es

se

s c

'

er

se,

ss

re

ss

e,

ee

e s

e s

ss

ST AY AT HO MES

54

back In reality he was rath r terin g into th pi it

f th gam
Now do l t me hav a word cried h
Mi A dam I am Gw n portrait paint r and I a ure
you in tricte t condenc that h i th la ie t per on
on the fac f th arth
from Gw n
Dear m h w can you ay o
She i too la y to do the very thing h want
proceeded Beatrice unh edin g You can put h ff

going anywh r almo t anywh re by aying it i a

fag and not worth the trouble
Sh like that i to ay
he would like oci ty
Y
I do O h I do that Gwen nodd d approval
But i f h ha to ght to g t it h give in and
grumble
Becau e it i no u
ghting You know it i that
B atrice
a ier I f h wer not afraid f
A n d grumbling i
g tting fat h would eat too much and walk too littl
being
But h i v ry good natured and n v r mind
laughed at Th r I think that i Gw n
A d I don t think I have come
badly ff aft r
all append d Gwen compla ntly
A y que tion to a k Mi
A dam ? put in Kit ty
You hav not told me each other 5 ta t and pur uit
ai d Mi A dam
Ta t and pur uit ? They look d at each other

I don t think w hav tho

xactly falt red Kitty
p rceiving no
l would p ak W l av th m to
moth rthat i B atric r ad but I don t know i f read
ing i a pur uit
W hav not be n u fci ntly w ll educat d aid
na
B atri c and again a blu h that told f a pain ful
tion tinged her ch k W hav not had th adva tag

that we ought I mean that om p opl hav O u

parent thought that a re id nt gov rne
s

en

ss

e e

s,

s,

er o

es,

s s

ss

e e

e,

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se

s e s

s e

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ee

s es

ss

ss

so

e e

ss

es
r

I A M A LWA

YS FIGHT ING WIT H

M Y LI FE

55

don t let u go o ff on that tack truck in K itty

Mi s A dam that i one f Beatric grievances and
Gwen and I don t car two traw about it I daresay if
w had be n educat d up to th kie we houldn t have
been any th wi er W two wouldn t anyway B atrice
look h re with a udden chang O f ton i t my turn
f
B atric now I hav waited lon g nough Mayn t I
begin
looking from
to th oth r
Y
begin aid Beatric h r l f
Kitty ro e from her chair and tood forward in the
attitud f an orator Mi B atric Maynard ah m !

Ladi
and and Mi A dam I am about to lay before
you a faithful r pre ntation f th well known and
widely feared Mi Maynard lde t daught r and h ir
f Sir Henry Maynard Baron t in the county O f Somer

A dam to look f
t E ngland
Ladi
a d Mi
Mi May ard age i n D b tt would be a vain ta k
f
it i not th re ; but I her humbl biograph r am in
a po ition to in form you that h wa born top I don t
know xact ly wh n h wa born but anyhow h wa
twenty ix last O ctober and h ay h doe n t mind
who know it Sh i tall and walk w ll but h hump
whe h it and mother i alway t lling h
She
i fearfu ll y energ ticthat why h think Gw n la y
She boil all ov r to go to thing and do thing and I

mu t ay it i rath r hard on her that h can t at her

age She doesn t under tand managing peopl

with
a droll look or he would g t her w way much mor
than h doe ; but h i awfully honourable and high
minded (do be qui t Beatric I ll bala c it by aying

omething that y u won t l ike directly) and and now

you v put me ff and I don t know wh r I wa
I think yo u have aid quit nough Beatrice made
a re tiv movement
N I haven t
I l l say that you can b mo t awfu l ly
O h,

or

e,

ss

ss

or

-s

n s e s

e,

e e

e e

O,

s,

er so

s e

s e

e s

s,

ess

or

ss

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es

ss

se

se

ss

es

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e O

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o ne

es,

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e s

ST AY AT H O M ES

6
5

di agreeabl and that wh n you a in one o f your mood

w all ght hy f you But th y don t la t continu d
orator addre ing Mi A dam who had ca fully
th
ab tain d from rai ing h ye during th abov and
6 to Dai y Curl when th y a
on
h gen rally bol t
to work O ff th team h
It u d to b th Vicarage
girl but th y f ll at a ft r Dai y cam B ide th y
w e n v r much good L ok h r turning to h i te
don t you think w might includ Dai y in thi ? I cou ld
make a good thing f Dai y ; and Mi A dam would lik
to know about h a w ll a about u con idering he
come he e much and ha mad a ort f plac f
h r l f in the family
E very o
who doe that i f int re t to me aid

Mi A dam ; and M Curle perhap I had h ard O f

be for I cam h r
h
Had you ? How funny ! What did y u h ar ? A d
who told you ?
Ki t ty ! A frown from her elde t i t r recalled
Kitty mann r
I did not mean to be rud Mi A dam it was only
in the excit ment f t he gam

a
Mi A d m mil d a urance Do ay whatever
you plea e to m my d ar You are howing me th
gr at t kindn by being o frank ; and it would be a
poor r turn on my part i f I wer to be r rv d and
formal
Som fri nd o f min happen d to m et M
Curl at a for ign hot l wh r
h wa wi t i g wh i l
h
hu band wa on ome bu in exp d ition a d wh n
they h ard I wa coming her th y mention d that h
I m an that h that i to ay that th y w r w
r id nt in th n ighbourhood
Th y cam i mon th ag Mr C rl ha r tir d
from bu i n
a d th r wa a large hou
ju t built fo
a man who died which uit d him exact ly ; 0
e

e,

ss

ss

re

re

er e

e,

'

s e

s 0

On

e s

s,

er

so

es

s,

er s s

rs,

ss

re

er

e e,

se

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s,

or

e se

ne

ss

s o

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er

rs

e s

ss

e,

ss

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ess,

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ess

e,

ese

es

ess

es

er

s s e

e e

se

AM A LWA

YS FIG HT I NG

WIT H MY

LI FE

57

So there they came and th e they are interje ted

K itty whom all her si te rebuke could not cure f the
habit o f interruption the moment h thought another
peaker pok too long T h Hollie i the name f the
hou e and that all Mi A dam need know about it It
only a mil ff and B atric goe ther nearly every day
What did your friend ay f M Curle i f y u
don t mind my a king ? interpos d Gw n pol itely O f
cour e I only mean did they think h pretty and
clev r ? She q uit to k us all by torm down her
I fan cy they admired h v ry much Mi A dam
seemed to
eect a moment a d temper her reply with
cauti on Some f th m did at any rat She wa q uite
a leader o f th r vel at the hote l ; and hot l in the
Ri viera can be v ry ga
O h you have b n th re ? Y o u know what th y are
like ? D tell u Nev r mind the Curl y wurl y
truck in Kitty afre h ; and th conv r ation wander d
O H to narrative with which o u read r a
probably too
familiar to care f r petition
It truck Beatric how ver that d spite Mi A dam
apparent readine to m et h and h i ter on any
g ound th y cho e th re wa a som thing in both tone
and look wh n Dai y Curle formed the topic f con
ver ation which eem d to indicate that h could have
aid mor
about her than h did
Beatrice Maynard wa a keen ob erv r ; h felt glad
that Kitty had broken ff the di cu s ion f he friend ;
glad that h per onally had not be n appeal d to f an
O pinion
and decid d within her el f that he would know
Mi A dam better and l arn more what h judgm nt
wa worth be fore paying any further he d to a vag
im
pre ion f unea y u i i ty wi th which t h emark already
made f w and guarded a they wer in pir d her
To her w ecret and abiding m ti atio f h
er

r s

s e

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s s

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ee

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or

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S Y
TA

3
5

HO M ES

AT -

high pi it could ill brook the humiliating di clo ure h

had mor than onc inc coming to y ar f di cr tion
been proved to hav be tow d h affectio n and

d nc on individual who i f not pr ci ly unworthy f

wer at any rat inad quate to th honour
own home h had
D i gu t d with th vacuity f h
own to d i charg her batt ry f uppr d motion
and O pinion l wh re and almo t anywh r that wa
attainabl u ffi c d
The r ul t had not been without i t l on h wa
now wi r and though till impul ive put a r in upon
impu l
xp ct d le in r turn
A l o sh
h did not
If Dai y Curle now and then o ff nded h
bur t with indignation nor w p with vexation Sh
a oned with her elf O cca ionally h
a gu d a d
found h r el f in t h wrong
T hat d light d h
A
g n rou mind i overjoy d to blame it el f rather than
the obj ct f i t a ff ction
I am
ti ff and prudi h ; it i my ignoranc f th
world that ll m with narrow pr judice and childi h
cruple A d th n to try to t ach oth r ! There wa
omething innit ly pathetic about uch l f cont mpt
B
ur al o that it wa artfully f d and fo t red by an
extrem ly able a d not ov r crupulou per on to whom
f much advantage
i t wa a ourc
My d ar B atric you a
cl v r but all th clev r
n in th world won t h lp you i f you hav not the j
ai qu t f exp ri nce
Th r I own I hav the pull
f you
O
cannot go about a I hav don h re th re

and v rywhere although I am only two year old r than

you d ar without g tting thoroughly au f a t with v ry

thing O ne wit do g t harpened now don t th y ?
C rtainly
A grav a
nt the a nt f d lib rate
convicti on
e

e s

e s

s e se

esse

se

ss

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e ss

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CH A PT E R I I I

DA ISY CU RLE I S T HE CY NO S URE O F EVERY EY E

one would have gue ed that Mi A dam wa in a

Mis A dam neve ee med to have anything to do
or think f but Lady Lau ra wi he and in a le er
degree the wi he o f the family Lady Laura t
afterward the r t
It wa a p rfect Dec mber day th r t f i t kind
ad th
A light fro t nipped the air while sunlight m
land cape beauti ful on every id a d rev aled th fa
tretching vall y f Some et hire which had be n
hidden in mi t fo ome week pa t
It wa al o Sunday and a more than ordinary tillnes
pr vailed Ca t a d waggon r main d in th ir hed
throughout the peacefu l hour f r t and the nort o f
the ying train wa only heard at rare interval
I shall njoy my walk thought Mi A dam
Thi wa th r t occasion on which h had a ked to
go out by h r l f i f Lady Laura could pare h r and a
h had ugg ted a time during which h
lady hip
u ually indulged in a nap fati gu d by th morni g
church going and l unch on dinner to which old
fash io d eg i m t h Maynard hou ehold adh r dth
reque t wa grant d with graciou alacrity
But it med a i f th v ry fact that h wa wanted
out f th way uncon ciou ly r tard d Lady Laura
movement
A a rul
h r tired directly aft r quitting the di ner

table even wal king traight upstair from the dining

No
dget ;

ss

r s

es

rs

r s

e,

rs

es

s.

e se

ss

see

e e

er

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es

s.

e s e

s o

r s

ss

ss

60

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

6r

room door ; but on the presen t occa ion there wa a boo k

to be recomm nded f Mi A dam peru al ; then a
pa age to be found in the book ; next Lady Laura
had dropped h handkerchief and when th ha dk
chi f was brought to her h wa tal king and receiv d
it ab ntly till full f her topic She aunt red to the
gard n door ob rved on th beau ty o f th day and
inquired in which dir tion Mi A dam propo ed to turn
tep ? T h re wa a pathi f it were d y e ough
h
which would lead h to a point whence a particularly
ne view could be obtained ; but to b ure there was
an qually vi w in a oppo it direction wi th a
bett er road and lane wer not alway d irable f
olitary walk r on Sunday Idl r were about and
om time they we e rough unmannerly m it might
not be pl a ant f Mi A dam
Mi A dam acq uie ced and would keep to the mor
fr qu nt d plac
But on the main road h might encounter tramp
Lady Lau a wa oblig d to warn h
again t th tramp
who invariably mad Su day a day O f pilgrimage from
one workhou e to anoth r ; and unluckily th re w re
two f tho unde irable re id nce in the vicinity while
Maynard Tow r lay almost midway betwe n th two
That ettl d th high road Mi A dam owned to a
horror f tramp and as ured h patrone h would
conne h r l f trictly to the ground of th ca tle which
a fford d ample cop f h walking power
pok t h meek littl woman glanced at th
As h
clock It wa but a glanc unaccompanied by th
fainte t i gh f impati nce ; and a w hav
aid no one
would hav u pect d the quick pul ation in the vei n
which w r complet ly und r control that Mi A dam
voice wa v n more mild and mea ured than usual when
at la t h took it upon her el f to sugge t that i f Lady
s

or

ss

ss

er

se

ss

ec

er

se

er s

er

e s

ne

en

ss

or

or

ss

es

e s

e s

e s

es

s e

er

e se

s e s

e,

or

er

e e so

e,

e s

ss

s e e

ss s

e s s

er

ss

s,

e s

s,

se

ST AY AT H O M ES

62

ura required nothing mor at pr nt perhap it would

be a w ll to put on h bonn t ? A d in exactly thr e
minut from th tim f receiving permi ion Mi
A dam accoutr d at ve y point wa
ff
hould ff r to a com
Sh wa in t rror l t om
pany her N t B atric who wa af ly di po ed f at
t h Villag Sunday chool ; but Gwen who wa yawning
ov r a book in th library or Kitty who wa roaming
about t h room wond ring what h hould do n xt
Kitty voic wa actually h ard within th doorway a

holding h kirt tog th r and t eading

t h fugitiv
nowh r av on th thick carp ting or th ru g which
be tr w d th poli h d oor le t h footfall light a it

hould
mak
e
a
ound
pa d th ough th large
wa
central hall If Kitty caught h h wa undon
it l f wa l ft behind a d h
N t till th hou
had plu g d b tw n th holly hedge which l d to th
hrubb y b hind did h f l af
But why all thi t rror and s cr cy ? Mi
A dam
going f a troll with an hour or two f l i ur before
and with nly the o t n sibl object f x p loring th
h
b auti f th park and invigorating h y t m by a
littl h althful x rci ur ly n ded not to be p rturbed
by th po ibl off r f a companion v n though olitud
might b pr f rabl ? Sh might not want Kitty but
why be afraid f Kitty ?
Mi A dam had a purp in view with which the
latt r pr c would hav riou ly int rf r d to be
corr ct Kitty going would have altog th r pr v nt d
i t accompli hm nt
Mi A dam could wait pati ntly f h chanc but
wh n th chanc cam h wa not a woman to l t it lip
and in the pock t f h plain black dr th r lay a l tt r
which told h that baulk d f thi opportunity h might
not oon have another She resolved not to be baulked
La

ese

es

es

e e s

s,

ee

er

se

se

ss

ss

e s

s e

ee

e e

er s

se, s

s e

es o

er ,

ee

or

er, s

er

sse

er s

e s

s s

e,

ss

e on e s

s O

ss

er

ss

o se

esen

e se

or

e s

er

e e

ss

e e

er

ess

er

e e

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

63

now all i a f and h patter along the woo ded

path th am by which B atric invariably wend h

way to and from vi iting her fri nd Dai y Curl and
pre ently quitting it (in tructed by B atrice her l f who
wa g eat upon landmark ) h turn up a harp and
nar ow track rougher and mo fro t bitten than t h
low r pathway
H r Mi A dam wince a little ; f r both earth and
pebble a hard and hurt through h very lightly made
London boot too thin f
uch wear
Sh do hav
beauti ful boot ha alr ady b n r marked in th
vant hall not without urpri e ; f it eem odd that
plainly d e ed a per on who e the acco u trement
are al o in ke ping with her ubordinat po ition hould
hav n r and mor perf ctly haped bO t than any one
el e in the ho u e
Beatric had uggest d an order to the vi lla ge mak r
who upplied her l f and h
i ter with tout and
erviceable footg ar ; but Mi A dam m od tly de
mu d She wa not ure that h wa ted anything
f th kind at pr ent ; and picturing a canty pur e the
girl acquie ced at once
But now
O h d ar m I hal l hav to get a pair f
horrid thing i f I am not to be ut in pi ce inwardly
groan our u fortunat pede trian and thick clum y

boot a my dete tation N B She has a neat and

hapely foot and know it
Pr
ntly h begin to l ook before a d behind
A pparently h i looking f
om
and equally
appar nt it i that t h om one i not th r
The grac l
camp mutter Mi A dam (what
word from a humbl lady companion I hall n v r
forgiv him i f h i not ther be for me ; and Hou ton
wa alway ea ily put ff I uppo e that littl minx

?
a
e agerly pee ring through
ome
h
ha i that he
A nd

s s

e s

e,

s -

e e

ss

re

er

so

ee

r ss

er

s e

e,

or

e e

ss

e o n e,

e ess s

s,

re

s,

ese

es

es

s s

ss

o s

se

rre

or

or s

s,

ser

s,

se

re

er

e e

Y-AT HO MES

ST A

64

interl acing boughs It could be no one el e at this

place an d hour But Lady Laura said the wood we e

fu l l f weethearts i t i Hou ton l

A igh f relief
A d now f a m r y meet ing and a l ow mile
over pread th little lderly l ady s feature and he
pull out the trin gs f her bo et
a veritable bonnet

f
not a a hionable make believ and gives her ma tle
a pull f rward on her houlde fe ling a though test
ing h
armour f a coming struggle
The g ure on the height above turn s harp ly ro und
as Hou ton Everest become aware o f a rustling in the
wood behind fo hith rto he has be n facing the O pen
country and with all th tranquillity f a man to whom
the com i ng interview i of very mi or i mportan ce i h
dulg i g in a ci gar
But the cigar d op from between his ngers
Good Heaven ! What i the mea ing f thi ?
The per on he wa expecting to ee wa indeed a woman
well on in y ar but till comely richly attired attract ive
to the eye what he would have termed Presentable
t h form which approached tartl ed and bewildered him
Wa i t could it b hi aunt Emmie ? A unt Emmie
wa t h dainti st o f dain ty l adie ; her til l beautiful
hair carefully arrayed by a kil ful hand wa wont to
frame to admiration her pr tty l ittle face h cal led her
A bit f Dre sden hina when co mparin g her to hi s
r lation
o the
Dre den china in deed ! NO china o f any known kind
or quality ever wa formed to resemble the little habbily
clad appari tion ; and as f the hair where was it ? What
an awful bonn et ! A bonnet uch a poo r bodies wear
A d a mantle a beaded horror o f a man t
t fo a
village hool mi tre !
In mute con ternation t unmingl ed with disgu t he
reali sed nev rtheles
that thi s was the pe so n he had

or

e r

s,

rs,

er

nn

or

s,

s.

or

sc

ss

no

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

65

come to meet and that it behoved him whatever hi s

f eling to approach and g eet her
I am orry to have k pt yo u waiting aid Mi
A dam demur ly
O h i t no matter murmur d he
Then uddenly
Here a look poke
with a bur t But my d ar aunt !
volum
Y
I und r tand Pray Hou ton do not expi
b fore my ey s It would be awkward up her with
no o to carry you down to civili ation but my l f
Bear up my dear nephew ; play the man
The man grinned You alway had a en of
humour aid he ; but upo n my word thi i th
r t tim I kn w you had a ta te f ma querading I
i f any
had tol d m thi wa y u hi eye running
over h from p int to po int I hould have aid Go
to Putn y
A very vulgar expre ion
I beg yo u will ay
i
nothing f the kind in relation to m
Here Evere t laughed outright You do lo k comi
What hav you don with
al
T h hair t h wor t

it ?
trying to peer round and di cover By Jove !
with a hout I believe it a wig ! A wig ! A d on
the top f your own beautiful white hair
Then conde tially You hav
Flatt rer p ace
no conception how hot it i H ou ton ; I am nearly
baked ben ath it but I do think it i a good n I
w nt to Clark on f tho e th atrical people a better
than a y and paid te guin a Woul d y u know it ?
I mean would y u have known it i f you had not
known me ?
Would never have potted it f a moment But i t
not only the wig it th th al tog th r The whol
make up i pe fect f th ol f a needy female
O l ady companion ?
,

s,

ss

es

es,

e s

re

so

ne

se

one

er

or

ss

s r

e.

se

s,

or

e s

re

or

or

e o

ST AY AT -HO MES

66

That it Y u look the par t to the li fe What

mo I believe you could play it
I amahemplaying it aid Mi A dam looking
It amu ed h inten ly to ee ama ment and
at him
perplexity again ov r pr ad hi count nanc and h
would fain have k pt him a little lon ger on the ten ter
hook but tim wa pa ing
You don t invit m to i t down Hou ton d pite the
fa t that my poor f t are brui d and or from clamber

ing up thi abominabl rough mountain track O h do t

int rrupt ; let m call it a Mountain track i f I lik ; it i
a tormenting and tiring a o
at any rateand I may
Thi
a well e t my l f be for clambering down again

dirty eat i not ab olut ly rott n I uppose

r garding
wi t h fa tidiou di dain a rural bench which looked a i f
it had with tood a d but ill with tood many a win ter
torm It won t hurt th clothe at l a t proceeded
t h l ady eating her l f on the dge
and i f the damp
giv me rh u mati m I hal l lay it at your door you
t ir om
boy What do you mean by interf ring with
me in thi mann r and giving me al l thi trouble ?
I am r ally at a lo to under tan d your meaning
dear aunt The eat i eally damp though ; it on th
co n r f my coat and he pr ad it out and drew her
on to it Now go on conti n u d he encou ag ingly
Y u are rather nice in pite f your tir omeness
Hou ton
A m I ? But uppose yo u pro ceed to exp l ain th
tir om ne ? You a d I have al way been jolly good
fri nd and I haven t forgotten what you did O nce
N ver mind n ver mind hastily
Let it be
Jolly good friend and I am content ; and it wa becau e
w w re that
and a ethat I wrote to you y t rday
I hould not hav dared to take any of my o ther r la
tion into cond nce

re,

er

ss

ze

se

e s

e,

s,

ss

ee

es

se

r s

se

ese

e s

ss

s,

se

es

es

ne,

s r

o
.

es

es

ss

s,

es e

ST AY AT HO MES

68

Co n iderin g I had com to thi ret ired pot fo the

expres purpo e f meeting yo u a d con ideri g that in
your ot y u hinted at om my te y though I
in
fes I did not ex pect it to take uch a rum form
par nthesi )I wa in a manner prepared I was
warn ed to hold my tongu to the Curle and to l ip
o he e unbeknown to theman d v ybo dy and here to
wait till you came If I had en a he b ar approach
ing I hould till have hailed her as my dear and
hono ured ursin relation
That mu t ati fy me It is ext to impossible that
I ho uld be tested more clo ely than by you o on the
whol I ought to feel encouraged A n d now my d ar
H ou ton I have very little more t ay ; you will f

cour e re pect my wi h ; but are you ah m making

any tay in the n ighbourho d ?
aid h ; wh ther
O h y u needn t fear about that
I am here or o t won t make any difference I sha t
trouble yo u
Yet y u might in adve tently
He laughed A unt Emmie have I or hav I n ot
been on a cret service mi ion ? A d did I or did
I not acq uit my l f to th sati faction f tho who
employed m Con sider yo ur l f as my chief on thi
hall have no cau e to complain o f
occasion and you
indi creti on
She nodded Y o u come to Maynard Tower
e

co n

e er

se

- e

s,

s es

se

ss

se

se

se

s oc

casi o n ally ?

I have t been y t but we are dining the to

morrow You w re ju t in time by xing our little tryst
f r to day
uddenly you knew thi ?
O ho
Y e ; an d if I had fail ed to day I could not have
appea ed at dinn r to morrow
Y o u do appear at dinner
I sn t that rather un u ual
So unusual that I wa not prepa ed fo r it But Lady

no

re

-s

SY CU RLE IS T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

DA I

69

aura ha tak m up If y u were a wo man you

would know what that m an s ; i f you were acq uainted
wi th the dome tic politi cs o f the M ayn a d fam
ily y u
would know bett r till
Th y are tupid sort f people aren t th y said h
L

en

e,

i n di eren t ly
'

Mi A dam th ew him a keen glance That i what

t h Curle
ay
It i what mo t peo ple ay I take it
O f that I am not q uite so ure ; how ver yo u will
judg f r your el f They are ve y kind to me ; and to
etur to th dinner party I amexpres ly invited to be
pr nt Such an invitation i like Royalty om
mand
They
u
no
common
pe
r
o
n
o
a
y
But I own I have
Flatte y again thou wily o e
mad my l f so agreeable both to Lady Laura and the

f
re t f the amily but e p cially to Lady Lau ra that
h et a valu on my power o f co nversati o n fa b yon d

what they merit I ntertai n her which f w peo ple do

or care to do The poor thing i not accu tomed to
bei ng amu ed and interested
M s Curle ay h i a deadly bore
Mi A dam s face was xpr ssive
O h I a ur yo u D ai sy Curle k n ows what a bore i
Sh i an uncommonly i e bright little wom an an d has
a horror f ti ck i th mud grandees
How com it that h mak a friend o f Beatrice ?
H hrugged hi houlder
Well I mu t go aid Mi A dam ri ing and pick
in g up her kirt s
I mu t ndure th tortur f that
tony little path again ; but yo u may give me your arm
down thi v ry t p bit We ca pa t at th botto m o f
th hi ll
N w my dear Hou ton I a tru t yo u ?
To the death But I ay l aughin g yo u won t try
ss

s s

ese

see

re

se

s e

s e s

ss

ss

s s

s.

n c

- n-

es

s e

e s

s s
,

ss

es

es o

s ee

c n

'

ST AY AT HO MES
-

O
7

me too fa to morrow night Y ou won t be more ab urd

than you can h lp ?
Mi A dam how ver would promi e nothin g It
might be necessa y to be xtrem ly absurd rather than
act ut f character an d h certainly ho uld not take
her nephew s feel ing into con ideration A ll he had to
do wa to keep q uiet an d he cou ld urely do that
Som what piqu d by her tone he repeated hi former
two parated wi thout anythin g
a urance and t h
fu ther o f i m
w
ort
ce
pa
in
g
bet
een
them
a
p
Hou ton Evere t wa a born soldier ; shr wd traight
thetic
with
men
a
forward ome what te mand un sym
p
wax in the hand o f wom n From earl i t year he
had had a hard l i fe the li fe f a n egl cted uncared f r
child whom nobody wan ted hi pare t least f all
Th ir home lay in the Fa Ea t an d at the age when
boy have to be ent hom f education he had left
either Both di d whil t he
t h m never again to
wa y t in hi teen ; and hi choolday ni hed he had
at once begun a military career to which th n ceforth al l
Between goo d luck and
hi energi e were devoted

per everance favoured al o by th war in So uth A frica

which broke ut at a critical momen t a regarded his

promotion h had now fai r hopes of soo n ucceeding

to the command O f hi gi men t
I f only he could be tho rough l y
t before it came
hom ! That wa the burd n f hi daily thoughts an d
Wa the e anyt hing he could do or
nightly dream
leav undone to to h alth and fo ter tren gth ? F
he had been bad very bad ; he had seen and felt the
shadow o f the V all y f Death ; and only the doctor a d
nur knew how little they had expected on
fat
ful night t hat h would
the light o f an other dawn
H was ent hom lookin g a w eck
But so interesting conded little M
Curl to an

ss

ss

ss

se

n s

s s

-o

or

se e

es

s e

s re

res

re

or

se

one

see

rs

e,

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

I
7

audien gath d round h on the v randah o f a for ign

hot l
I am longing to take him in hand proc d d
h
em to hav no one to be kind to him
h
Within a f w day tim h wa being very kind
fa a h
light wen t
A d h wa perfectly hon e t
To attach Ever t t h train to tak po
io f him
and fu ov r him and hav him lo ked u pon a h
fri nd and admirer con tituted t h ummit f h d ire
f
Sh wa rich a d h wa p or ; h mad him f
b auti f l itti g room with i t bal ony a y chair
h
and p ac ful clu ion from th common he d Sh wa
ur he ought not to b forever in public ; t h con tant
noi and commotion f th g eat hall b low mu t be
bad f an invalid and v n in th gard n th re wa no
r t no quiet
Th n th r wer d iv s with Willi on th box Willie
wa p r fec t ly ati d pre f r ing hi al t it ude a d hi pipe
to a back eat and companion hip wi t hi t h carriag
He a d Ev re t w r very go d fri nd ; and on the
r turn o f t h Curl to England the hu band wa a
r ady a th wif t pro ff r th ho pitality f th w
ho m f which they were about to tak po
ion
H
E v re t how v r did not jump at t h invitation
wa grat ful and ob lig d but hi movem nt were un
certai
In c t he wa not a littl worri d in that hi doctor
would t pronou ce him again t f ac t iv d uty a d
oul wa at th fr nt Ev n while thanking
hi whol
f t h ir d parting train he wa
t h Curle at t h door
obviou ly ab nt mind d and Dai y had b n rall i d by
her hu band on t h bj ct th r aft r
You couldn t
h
him
to
Som
et
hi
chuckl
d
t
g
bj ct f i mportance
S that naturally i t became a
with her to tu n t h tabl on Willie Willi meant to

l
d
w
in
t
t
h
e
a
rowin
and
u
ly
a
d
r
h
t
u
t
h t ha
t
o
g
g
g
ere

ce

e se

e s

er

ss

er

se

er

es

e s

s,

re e o

e e

or

er

n o

ssess

e s

se

so

es

er

ee

es

er

e e

-s

es

e e

ssess

e ne

e o
e

e e

e r

se re

no

e s

e su

e rs

or

se

re ,

e e

ee

es

e.

n O

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

1
7

tell th we girl at th hot l who now and th n

made her feel and feel de perately afraid le t Eve est
hould think but i f h would only come to The
Hollies and be a nice and helple and d jected th
h would have a go d tim
a he wa at Luce rne
Ev est wa ve y pliable a conc rned ev rything but
hi pro fe ion
t h pre ent he
O n ce convinc d that f
mu t give up all thought o f r joining he would let him
ively and might ven be warmed
sel f be handled ubmi
up to more emblance
f ardour than he had y t hown
She r joiced g eatly wh Everest wrote that he was
comi ng The pertinacity o f the Curl had pr vailed
but perhap it wa eff ctiv ly aided by the fact that h
had not many hou e open to him at the tim nor
indeed at any tim He had but f w acq uaintanc ;
and uch a they w they coul d not offer any pro pect
r ally did long fo a littl hooting ;
o f hootin g and h
ince it wa fated that h should not hear the inging f
the bull t on the v ldt it eemed to him that the whirr
f a ph a ant win g in o ld En g land would be the be t
compen ation that off red
It wa awfu lly good o f th Curl too he reected to
p es a mere hot l acq uaintanc a p or ick a like
himsel f to mak their hou hi h adquarters and give
W don t want
them an ind nit ly pro l onged vi it
u
f
o
f
w
ju
t
a
day
but
to
com
be
nur
ed
and
a
d
s
y
lead a q uiet lif with u two wrote Dai y
She wrot a large bad hand but her pen owed easily
an d th r could be no doubt f th wa mth and in ceri ty
xpre sed in very yllabl
Willi would have written
but he ays I can do it better and that yo u a to
und r tand thi comes from u both A ll f which wa
perfectly true and wa per o ally ndorsed by the aid
Willie in du time
Ever t wa thu e t ablished at The Hollie a d hi
ere

re

so ,

ss

ss

or

ss

es

e,

e.

es

or

se

re

e s

es

e e

ss

s,

e,

e s

e s

e s

es

ere ,

s s

en

ere

s e

er

so

s n

s,

DAI

SY CU RLE Is T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

73

aunt to whomhe had wri tten o arriving in England

app ised of th fact Thi aunt wa now al mo t hi on ly
urviving lati on an d h was fon d f her and to ld her
all hi
movement While till abroad he had w itten
about t he Curles and the probability that h would pend
a part f hi leave beneath th ir roo f and when the two
met in Lo don h wa o hi s way to Somerset hire
A t that ti m
e othing more wa aid so that a note
received by po t the day be for the inte view above
narrated was a urpri se ; but Everest was a oldier and
took urpri e philosophically He kep t hi own co un el
and obeyed the lady u mmon W know th re t
We hardly ever g ive dinner partie said Kitty to
whomthe pro pect o f th fo rthcomin g o wa hi larat
i n g and h had two o three time al ready made the
am r mark fo r Mi A dam benet so you are lucky
to come in f n
o n W had the last fo the
s
f
d
a
tridge
thi
the
p
ea
t
cour
e
i
a
n
A
o
f
h
;
p
w a we l l
there are wo odcock and wild duck
That i
what father and mother think o f Mi A d am
ar item in th bill o f fa e certainly
They are im
aid Mi
A dam
I uppo e th y ar t O ld peo ple O ld people ar
a
ee
y
I
c
n
t
thi
k
how
they
c
a
n
c
re
I
never
r
d
a
;
g
mind what the food i when I go out
But when yo u gi v the food yo u wo uld wish it to be
uitable ?
Well ; but anything uitable People can alway
get what they li k by buying it I can t think why ther
hould be a fu about what there i in th larder
However that our way and nothing will alter it I
"
am than k ful to get the party at an y pric

I d aresay
DO y u n o t feel at all excited Mi s A dam
Of
reected the
a d she s o nly pretending
co urse sh doe
n

re

s s

s s

s s

s o

ss

no

ss

so

s ex

or

e so

ss

or o

ne

s,

s e

s s

ss

s,

ST AY AT H O MES

74

peaker inwardly A r gular olemn dinner party in

a new plac mu t be fu to h and he might a well
ow
Mi A dam
aloud
Well my dear
What a you going to wear ? It full d res you
know
I have got a black ilk cut quar in the neck aid
Mi A dam trying to vinc a mod t ati factio with
an ab minably ill mad garm nt th work f a ch ap
dr mak r which h kn w would cau e her agoni to
h ave to don on th mo row I think it will look quit
nic wi th a lace hu A littl bit f old lace I had
from my moth r
h app nd d ha t i ly
A d you hall have
O ld lac make anyt hin g look nic
a Chry a themum or om oth r ow r to bright n it up
T hat
Thank you aid p or Mi A dam ru fully
will ju t a b ut compl te my di gur mn t thought h )
congratu lat d Lady Laura com
B t v ry one l
panion on her app arance a ach v rally nt r d th
drawing room on t h follo wi g v ning
Fir t am Lady La ura who had a punctual maid ;
and who now r p l nd nt in black v lv t and diamo d
how d what h eldom did that h wa till a pr tty
and could be a plea ant looking wo man
H lady hip who ha not h ith rto been pre nted in
her mo t favourable light to our reader had n verth l
good poi t and in her own ho u and when nter
h
taini g h own gu t could how th m Mi A dam
being alr ady dre d and down wa only what he
ho uld have xp ct d from M i A d am who eem d by
in t inct to do the right thing ; and l at d by thi fre h
in tanc f her own wi dom in curing uch a ama t
and mov d al o by oth and kindli r f ling h ex
claim d with an ag rn and inc rity that did more
cr dit to he heart than to h ta te Do l t me tell

e r,

ss

re

s,

ss

es s

es

s s

es s ,

se

sse

ss

e o

ess

c s,

ee

s, s

er

er

se

ss

e ess

se ,

er

s,

n s,

s e

e e

s,

er

se e

e e

s e

s e s

er

ss

e se

e e

es

s e

es

S Y
TA

6
7

H O MES

-AT -

Major Ev re t was not int oduced to Mi s A dam

and
Natu ally there was no o ccasion fo hi bein g
after one glan ce in h direction he teadily ave ted hi
eye from the place wh re h at
A t r t h wa hal f afraid that thi non en ical whim f
h i aunt might be troubl ome ; i f sh we to be O ppo it
him at the dinner table f in tanc it would be awk
ward ; h would be und r a con tant en of restraint ; h
would be unable to h lp thinking o f her and wondering
what h wa about But a oon a h found him l f
eated out f her rang and by peering down th tabl di
cern d that h wa out f a hot al o hi pirit r vived
He v n told him el f that it wa rath r a jok and
r olved to reap om f th ben t f the joke f hi
own amu ement He would be cautiou how ver and
hi d h i tim ; it m u t be hi partner a d not h who
hould introduc th ubj t to Mi A dam and mean
tim anoth r ubject wa tart d
Pr viou ly Ev r t had told t h Curl
that he wa no
good at a dinn r party to which Dai y had join d
You mu t t xpect tho e girl to help you out with
ill conc al d ati faction
H had inquired i f it w r certain that h hould be at
t h m rcy f the girl ?
You can hardly xp ct to e cape them all laughed
h
Sh th n d cid d that B atrice would fall to hi
lot during dinn r and gave him a foreta t f her friend
companion hip which wa not pr ci ly a uring
A good girl but oh
h avy in hand ! A to look
tolerable Gw n th cond i t r wa di tinctly pretty
and p opl called Beatri c hand om b cau e h wa
Mi May a d ; but with t h exc ption f a pair f
h
y
had not a f atur in her fac A t l a t w ll
h
mouth wa not badly haped but too large and h
ch n Spare m h chin cried he
e

er

s e s

es

or

e r-s

e s

re

ss

so

s s e

e.

e s

ne

er

s,

er

e se

es, s e

r e ss

se

s e o

e s

er

es

e e

ss

or

e,

e es

no

ec

s s

s s

s,

e o

se

s s

es

e,

se

re

s e

e,

'

so ,

I SY CU RLE Is T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

DA

77

are ure to have Beatric proc ed d hi i

formant condently
I f l it in my bon that y u
will ; and it i rath r hard on you f you might have
had ome fu with Kitty ; but Kitty will either hav th
O ldca tl boy or no
Ther W ll be ve and twen ty
or th ty people at d nner a d v ything on a grand
Y ou

e,

ee

es

or

one

rr

e er

I am pr pared f th wor t q uoth h with r i g atio n

St ang to ay he had not at down to a formal tately
dinner party f the old fa hioned ort f om y ar
and d pit evil foreboding now found him el f looking
about and rath r njoyi ng th c n T h ower th
light th glittering plat and gay dr
f the ladie
pl a ed hi y and in n ibly rai ed hi pirit O ut id
th r wa a dr ary wint r night with nowak falling ;
f
th
bright fro t o f th day befor had h rald d a
chang f weath r and a bla t f chill air mad a u
i
l
t
b
emi
invalid
hiv
r
on
m
rging
rom
a
war
f
m
p
carriag at th door o f th man ionbut within all wa
com fort
f trampin g
E ver t wa hungry too a ft r om hour
H took a mouth ful
t h wood and the oup wa go d
d him l f to conv r ation
f h ry and addre
That the wounded h ro conded Kitty to her
partn r t h O ldca tle boy a accurately for told by
Dai y Curl at lea t i f h wa n t wounded h might
hav be n f h wa through all the big thing and got
nt him home on ick l ave
o m thi g or oth r which
I think h look rath nic
yeing Ev r t with a
dawning inter t that wa not hared by h partn r
chap
b erved
T h whol country i full f tho
e
an
t
go
anywhe
without
me
ting
th
m
u
h
y
Y u might have brought one a w ll a the Curl
then r torted h with pirit
F r that matt r Ma ter A nthony O ldca tle to sed
e

or

e o

e
s

es

s,

s,

s s

esses o

e s e

se

ce

e,

es

s e

e e

s,

e,

s,

or

es

or

es

s,

er

e,

or

er

e,

-e

er

se

e,

s,

e es

re

se

es

s,

e s

se

sse

s o

es

S Y

s
7

H O M ES

-AT -

TA

hin we thought you would p efer a F l low f

N t o cheap
A ll Soul
A Fellow f A ll Soul ? I that a Senior Wran gl
what a you laughing at ? W ll I don t k ow I
nev r aid I did You O x ford boy think all th world
know about your Fellow and c eatu e
piqu d by
hi merrim nt
A ll t he world know that Senior Wran gl ers a e at the
other hop I ay I wouldn t let i t out i f I we e a green
If you had brother
a you Kitty
Which I haven t but I ll tell you who i going to
O x ford an d you can make friend with him t h re i f
you like and that our ch mist
You will hav
n
to keep clear f our vill ag i f you don t want to know
Bob H ggit aft r thi
I hav no objection to knowing Bob H gg i t quoth
he lofti ly N t that it i ab olut ly c rtain that I hall
ver t y upon him H av yo u any id a how many
coll ges there are an d h wmany f llow at each f them ?
You eem to t hink much f a Fellow o f any kind
they are f w and fa between What
t hat I conclud
your F ll w name ?
Thom on A d he i one o f the r t men at O x ford
hortly
What doe he w ar pectacle f ?
F
th
am r a on that othe peo ple do I uppose
Look out you re t aling my bread Kitty you used
n o t to be
cantank rou
f
th two had play d
i the nur ry tog th r
Oh y
I u d laughed he now A l way when
you gave yo ur el f air Why can t y u be int r ted in
my war man ? I am ur he i fty tim better looking
than your F llow man and h doe n t look tup id either
What mor h can t b tupid agerly f th Curl
ay h ha had qu i t a career al ea dy
his

up

s.

er

re

r s

s so

e,

se

es

or

e s

so

se

e es

es

e s

s,

s.

e,

or

se

es,

s e

or

e s

so

or

es

DA

I SY CU RLE IS T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

What

don

has he

DSO

I uppose ?

79

co n

mp t u u ly
I f you m a A D C h i h wa h act d that to
to I forget who but Dai y Curl know ; I heard her
telling moth r ; and i f I had known h wa going to
turn out like that nodding down th tabl I hould

f
hav li t n d mor care ully but I thought major were
alway fat ld horror
Y u ought to know better by thi time ; i t nothing
to be a major I t ll you th y ar all ov r the place
I wi h th y would come u way then Look at
B atric h ha quit wak d up and it tak omething
to wake Beatrice up Sh did not want to have Major
tup id id a that w a
Ever t at dinner
he has om
all uch ignoramu e that no on car to talk to u ;
and he tri d to per u ade mother to giv him to Mi s

Brabant but moth r ju t wouldn t She aid Major

E ver t oug ht to go be for littl Tommy Tall rman
Tom T allo w a dl a father call him I don t think

Beatric need have worried her lf with a light accent

o f di cont nt
Indeed Beatric had no air o f being worri d Inst ad
her co unt nan ce wor a g low o f animation it ldom
exhibited and her large dark y parkl d as h
talked O bviou ly he had found omething to talk
about ome ubj ct which o rous d h intere t an d
ympathi that l f wa forgott n ev n while keenly
attend ing directly her companion poke her lip w re
parted fo reply The two appear d to be eng o ed
wi th each other
Been to the m t lat ly Mi s Maynard ?
It was
innocent littl Tommy wickedly nicknamed Tallow
candl who in th dul cet ton s whi ch mad Sir Henry
af rm that tallow would not melt in hi s mouth at l n gth
acco ted h i left hand neighbour
te

e n

s,

s,

s e

e,

es

es s

e s

e,

se

es

se

s e

er

es

ee s

e,

se

c n

re

es

es

s s

ss

ST AY AT HO MES

80

had waited hal f thro ugh dinner for an opportunity

and co uld wait o l ong
y th y had been to one meet but Mi
N y
Mayn ard could not recollect which It wa om tim
ago
aid h
I
La t Tue day fort ight wa n t it ?
heard you went with th Curle I wa up Town
my lf Fact i s I thought ther wa going to b a
He

es,

er

es,

ss

s s

s.

se

In

Th re i one beginning now I believ

Major
ay the th rmom t r has been falling all
Ev re t
day
Hi voic
ank cond nti al ly
I that Evere t
Willie Curle told m th y
I wa wondering i f it wer
we bringing him to night I wa a ked to hoot with
him and Curl on Saturday but we had om gun out
our lve I wond r i f h would care to join our party
on Wedn day ? pe ring be for and behind a i f to
gl an in formation from th back f Ever t n ck hi
h ad being turned the oth r way
Beatrice had no ugge tion to o ffer
Been telling you about h i oldi ring I uppo e pro
f an old fri nd ;
Curl
eed d Tommy with the ea e
ay h i rampant to be at it again but onc you g t
bowl d over by typhoid o ent ic as th y call it now
you don t know wh n you ll be on your f et again A
cou in f mine
Major Evere t i xpecting to go o ut again early in
th y ar
I h ? He may or he mayn t
H e look t nough
but look don t go f much Th r my cou in but
hi
low o ft draw! was in upportable ; h hiv r d with
impatience ; what wa hi cou in dead or aliv to h
Wa he to be victimi ed by one o f the dulle t f dull
country q uire becau e hi oth r neighbour had dropp d
s

e e

re

es

ss

er

es

s.

se

s s

s e

or

e e s

s s

s,

e s

e e

e,
s

er

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

8I

him r rather had never p op rly annexed himf he

now r call d that Tommy had been almost mut hither
to It wa C lara Wi ld th e
daught r who by
right sh uld have been looking aft r T ommy o e f th
be t u b criber to th hunt and Clara was ready enough

to follow hi lead in the eld B atrice boldly l aned

a ro and add ressed the l ady
Clara have y u a ked Mr Tall man about that new
port i g pap r you howed me at Quayle t h other day ?
I told her you would know i f i t w worth adv rti ing
in
to him Cla a y u xplain
Thus Clara was caught and he her el f f ee
A d it chanced that Eve e t was al so fre at the
mom nt an d that imultaneou ly th y tu ned t one
another and their eye mt
H um hum went th talk round the table every
tongu wa o w wel l l osen d and a teady volume f
sound not to be call d an up oar but
t ly loud
ui ci
and ch erful to how that the party wa a ucce lled
th room
Sir H en y now thought he would not mi d giving ju t
u h an ther any day H alway ro to the o a ion

drank njoyed him lf and t hought t h ame till

at
n xt time cam T hen only t he t rn dictates o f bl
xtorted permi ion f th i nvitations to be nt
blig
Lady Laura thought h r el f al o all that wa g ial
a d ho pi t able
With h two p rtly white wai tcoat
on ith r ide with their eady attention the moment h
pok and their pal pabl pr f re c f her conv r ation
over that f their nei ghbou on the other ide h wa
in no danger o f bein g rubbed th wrong way and wa

heard laughing q uite outrag ou ly a K itty told her

o

or s

e,

er

e re

r s

s n

en

ss,

s c

e,

or

se

e s

e e

or

ady Laura said

using
so am

she

could

s e

not

e s

rs

e,

en

er

esse

no

s e

ss

e e

e s

cc s

se

se

was

ss

h lp it ; Mr Wilde
e

Y AT HO MES

ST A

8:

dy Laura daughter were a l g way from the

head o f the table Gwen sat nea e t her mother ; a d
betwee the two being noted by o O ld
th likene
fellow and e ented by t h other
Yet n t i an aggr
ive way a i f it were a compliment to m that I hould
be like my daughter inwardly commen ted h r lady hip)
h wa graciou ly pleased to bserve Gw n merry and
making oth r merry
It
Certainly daughter in th ir plac w re de irabl
wa only when t h y we e thru t out f i t
but happily the
r ction wa mom ntary and pa ed
Still Lady Laura did not know that h hould bring any
party to the Hunt Bal l T h Hunt Ball wa an an ual
g ievanc ; and h hated Janua y b cau h had th n
in variably to truggle with it F h r el f h nev r wen t
and that ought to hav ui d the county ; but om how
it did not and Sir H en y who bad old tradition to con
ider thought the family ought to be r pre ented
I upp you a coming to the ball Lady Laura ?
Ther ! That wa th r t ominou note A light
cloud re ponded to it on Lady Laura brow but h wa
in a manner prepared She really did not know wa th
dat xed
m y rejoin d Mr Wilde towhom the ball
O h bl
wa f a much importanc a to th pretti t debuta t
Th fteenth
W a d p ending on y u fo a la ge
conting nt
Thi wa bett r D pendin g on h ? F
bri f
int rval Lady Laura thought h would almo t thought
h would bri k up and go ail into th ballroom at t h
h ad o f her party at h r l f on th dai and be led out
to upp r by h pr ent int rlocutorbut h ju t did
not commit h r el f I hav not y t thought about it

ob rv d h graciou ly and th n Mr Wilde mad th

u ual mi take If y u don t care to turn ut my wi f

La

on

ss

e s

e,

ss

s es

se s

or

e s

e s

re

ce

o se

s e

s e

s,

es

ne

r s

r s

ess

s O

es,

e,

re

er

s e

es

s,

or o n e

e,

e se

se

er

e s

n e

es

se

Y-AT H O MES

ST A

84
.

I kn o w A n d a little urprised K itty ew o ff

Sh knew but how did Mi s A dam know ? Miss
and cou ld
A dam had only been ten day in the hou
hardly b uppo ed to be cog isant o f the idio yncrasies
o f Lady Laura
peculiar tempe ament ; yet certai n ly
the e wa perception and omething more in her ton e
There wa a xiety and warning She know i t skatin g
ver thin ice reect d Kitt y
h really did under tand her bu ine
A
howeve r
and mo eo v r had a c rtain ympathy with her mother
whi ch had helped h on many a formr occa ion sh
wa p e ntly o far succe ful as to be bubbling over
with d light A d n xt h howed her kill
Mothe going to the ball ; mother i going to have
a party f the ball h di emin ated through the circle
tandi g by Lady Laura s ide her hand within the
matron fair plump rounded arm her accent attributin g
uch importanc to the announcement that however
Beatric might bl u h with vexation the re t f th l adie
could do no other than expre gratitud and plea ure
That i good f you dear Lady Laura ; that wi ll
help th ball
A ll Lady Laura mode ty wa not equal to uppo in g
nce or
h could not make or mar a fe tivity by h pr
ab nc ; but without con idering that he had now f r
om y ar withdrawn th light o f her count nance from
in q ue tion and that it had nev rth l survived
th o
d into believing that upon her
h wa r ady to be att
favour d pended i t v ry exi tence
It eem I am xpect d to go h aid Mr Wilde
good a Ma ter that w all ought to do what we can
i
to h lp him miling around
Lat in the day a it was to think f that t h per on
to whom thi reection might have p ented its l f the
mo t vividly fo onc did not curl her lip ; Beatrice had

e s

se ,

'

r se

e s

rs

ss

ss

ne

e ess

e re

s e s

res

ese

s so

er

s e

or

se

ss

ss

er

s s

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

85

experi nced a momentary annoyan ce at Kitty to e

cond cending and exultant ; but now h only look d
ear t ly at her moth r a i f to a c tain wh th r the
once ion w e to be tak n at i t full value or not befor
joining quietly and plea antly in th bu f conv r ation
to whi h it gav rise A f w hour b for h would not
hav cared enough about th matt r to giv an O pinion

now he wanted to go to th ball what had wrought

th i change ?
I h not charming ?
I am glad you had a good
talk with him whi pered Dai y Curl pr ently I
knew y u tw would get on w ll togeth r He i ju t
your ort B atrice ; and I did
hop your moth r
would arrang f r you to hav him at dinn r If Lady
aid Give him
Laura had a ked me I hould hav

Beatric but h thought it ut f her l f a d knew

h
would
uit
ach
ot
er
u
s
y
Y u give my mother too much credit ; th r wa not
much thinki g r quired or i f there were
Well ?
Major Ev re t
Sh did not trouble about it
po ition
You fa cy it wa only that N no my d ar I
She m ant you to
aw th maternal y wa upon you
mak your el f agreeableand you did N t that h i
much f a p a ti ; inde d h i rath r poor ; but th n h
i o f good family
A d you uppo e my mother
Mother a mother Pray my d ar B atric don t
be so tire ome a to throw cold wat r o a mo t natural
idea If y u will not believ m th n what about the
ball ? Did you v r go to th ball b for ? N t f
year at any rat A d now Lady Laura at once and
wi thout h itation give in to it I ll an w r f r it ther
i not a woman h re who doe not know why

es

n es

ss

zz o

s er

er

e s

e s

so

e,

e s

s e

se

or

so

es

e e

o,

re

e e

es

or

e,

ST AY AT H O MES

86

They know what is absolut ely false then and you

wh know my mo ther and me o ught t know bet te

t han to repeat it

laughi ng
O h my dear yo u a too grand too eriou
a ct dly
Why this tre m ndo u indignation A d
w yo u will nub poor Maj or Ev e t ju t to prove m
in th wro ng Y o u do ut yo ur no e to pite yo ur
face y u poor dear naugh t y Beatrice
Hot as a ame Beatric turned from her
But it wa a heat which had to be concealed ; and
Mi Maynard all the pl a ant fe ling o f the previou
hour oblit rated by the rud touch laid upon th m
moved with a y dign ity a d a perf ctly di engaged air
among t her guests fo the remainder f th v ning
When Ever t dr w near he turned a id then pau ed
et aced her tep and introdu ed him to so me o else
Wh n little Tommy Tallerma began to her about th
bal l h k ew nothing mo e abo ut it than h did Sh

beli ved they w re going her tone con veyed h wa

to be dragged thither with a rope Mu ic wa called

f
and Dai y Curle had brought h r but h ap
pealed in vain t her friend fo a selection
Dai y kipped to the piano after that
A d he an g her be t the b t f an unu ually wee t
voice trained to the full extent f i t pow r
Bravo cried Sir Henry and the whit wai tco ats
That the kind o f sin ging fo m aid
to another
Can understand that None f your G rman f l de
roodles
Mr Wilde mu t have the good ld ong o f the Hunt
which he him el f had given the fai r ing r (a h had
many a o b for her) and Dai y with exc llent f rvour
and piritnodding to all to join in th choru t did
uch j u tic to the o m what jin gling ballad that a loud
cl apping o f hand n ued and ven Lady Laura tapped
r

re

s,

'

no

er s

'

ss

e s

e e e

e,

ne

s,

o r,

s e

es

e s.

e s

es

e s

e,

o ne

ne

s e

oo

DA

I SY CU RLE I S T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

87

table wit h her fa She did ot k o w none of them

knew how admirabl the pe form a ce wa in reality ;
but it took their fancy a d ti ckled their local pride
E verest had wi thdrawn t o the back g round but though
not wi thi n the applaudin g circle he was miling and li ten
ing a som one other than B atrice Maynard aw H
was ta ding by Willi e Curle and both wo e a at i ed
air a though the little woman at the piano who looked
p etty and good humour d receiving complimen t on
v ry hand in a man er b lo ged to both a d did credit
to both
Dai y was in her v ry mart t and lat t Pari s f ock
and Willie diamond glittered on h n ck a d arm
But h wore a odd little b o och too that Willi had
not gi v n h and that E ver t prot sted wa quite o ut
f place amid t u h plendour
It wa only a q uaint
litt l curio h had picked up in the East and he thought
M s Curl might like it fo h coll ction h had n ver
dreamed f her having it s t a a ornament
In th corner where Dai y at there was a bla of
effulgen ce from the additional light on the piano an d
the e med to en circle her a a qu n fa did h
clipse in thi moment f triumph ev ry oth r woman in
room A faint very faint en f di co t nt tole
th
into one fair bo m after another
even Lady Laura was pow
But th y w r powerle
l ; h could not dethrone that hini g parkling
c eature h could not ay aloud Com w have had
enough ; now ub ide and be only th ordina y little

per on you we b fore and will be again

h could
not break up th party ; and h wa ju t beginning to
w nder what sh ould do and to look round and r ali e
her impo t nc wh n omething happen ed
Mi
From a quarter mo t un xpected aid cam
A dam unob erved by all had m
ade h r way within the

the

n.

so

e e

er

ze

see

er

re

e,

s e

e c

e,

ss

s e

n e

e e

se o

s e

so

so

ess

ee

es

er,

es

er

es

e.

ss

ST AY AT -HO M ES

88

charmed circle an d wa bu ily arranging the attered

mu ic on th piano
Mi A dam wa nobody and Dai y took o notice
f her
Sh wa occup ied wi t h th g ntl m n her
admir rs She moved m cha ically to accord Lady
Laura s ompanion room f r h r ord rly end avour
a d turned her h ad the
mile till upon h lip on
h ari g a voice in her ear P rhap she wa bein g
re pectfully olicit d to d light th company ag ain ?
She wa willing late a it wa
But th next moment tho e who were looking on
b held an odd thing happe Cri mon from bro w to

chin her ve y nec k u ff used by t h sudd n u h her

mall be j w ll d hand which had been prettily toying
with handk rchi f and fa clenched in a gu t of pa ion
the fair inger tarted to her feet and tur ed u po
he meek pe t ition r the look o f a panth r at bay
Mi A dam pick d up a pi ce f mu ic which had
fall n
W ll a w to ha v anoth r ? cried Sir H nry
voice from t h backgrou d M Curl are w to have
anoth r ? Pray don t get up What ? O h you m u t
M Curl tamm r
It i t i very lat Sir Henry
ing and falt ring co uld carc i t m d articulate th
word T h blood was dying out f her cheek but the
look f rag a d t rror maineda extraordin ary look
on uch a fa e at uch a mom nt Dai y bo om h aved
beneath i t pa kling cor age A ll her effort could not
ubd u her trugg ling breath
Late ? No t a bit f it
The carriage have not
be n announced but f cour i f you ar tir
aid h
pu hing hi way to her ide w m t not work th
willing t d to d a th I only hope w hav not be n
too exacting alr ady ? Fo
w h perc ived f
the
r t tim that omething wa ami
s

ss

-e

s,

n,

ss

ss

re

rs

e,

e,

e,

see

re

s,

se

s ee

s s

e, s

rs

s,

s,

er

'

sc

us

r no

ss.

e,

or

DAI

SY CURLE I S T HE CYNOSURE O F EVERY EYE

89

mu mu ed he faintly
Take my arm Come to the coo ler part f the
u commonly h t ver here Curle we have
room ; i t i
been w rkin g your wi f t o hard
a d she was led t o
a so fa
ot
But even Tommy T allo wca dl knew that it wa

b
u
t
t
the heat nor t h exertion
o me hi g
o me message
i
a
f
e
hap
s
rom
t
h
e
arb
t
y
L
a
dy
L
aur
a
tr
a
n
mitted
r
r
p
through her humble companion
which cau sed the
William C url
co llap
fM
I say that wa too bad m utt red Tommy to the
n ear
t aud i tor To sen d and hut h up befor u
all !
It mu t hav b e done with pr tty b utal plai n
e too t he poo r little wom an l ooked ready to ink
into th eart h
To ny O ldcastle however nly touched hi mon the
elbo w t be quiet
When they wer clear O f the house fo th y went o ff
t ogether he explain ed hi
retic c
Y o u have to
take ca e what yo u ay in the e q uoth h jerking hi
thumb backward ;
there a too many f the mto be
af and t hat little Kitty h ar everyth ing
Eh
But I poke in a whi per They didn t hear
do y u think ? re ponded Tallerman with a lo ok O f
alarm
It
my bea tly loud voic y u kn ow
I didn t ay they heard but one n ver kno ws Try
"
o
o f mi
pening hi cigar ca e
Thank But what did you thin k o f it ? Wasn t
i t a ham ?
The Maynards a e alway like that ai d youn g O ld
castle co olly
Th y wo n t hav any o ov rcrowi g
them in th ir w hou e Y e f cour h got th tip
to climb down a d eq ually f cour sh didn t lik it
Wh would ? Dai y ha a t mper too By Jove
O h,

no,

s n

se O

rs

e.

es

ss

er

e n

en

e,

-o

n e,

e,

re

e,

ne

s.

o
,

ho w

o
t
g

se s

s, O

se

ne

red she

Y AT

ST A

0
9

HO MEs

ike a tu keycock She won t si n g again at Lady

" Laura dinner parties
a d the t wo lau gh d
The ame idea pr vai led in other quarte r and exci ted
imilar f eling Even upposing that aucy little M s
Curle had been ath r carri ed away by the i t i
catio f ucces urely i t was not fo her ho t to put
her down a d that o Openly so udely It wa a br ach
anner unac ountable and unpardonable It
o f good m
was g in g too fa whatever might be the r lative p i
tion of Lady Laura Mayn ard and the b w r wif
and all agreed that o unplea ant a termi ation f
O
th even ing wa an o ff nce to all a sembled ; and her
lady hip being held respo n ible fo r the am might
have felt her ear burn f r day th r aft r had h be n
guilty as upposed
But in t ruth Lady Laura wa a innocent a a bab
She had sen t no me ag ; give Mi A dam no hint ;
wa g nuin ly urp ri sed and reli ved when th ituation
which had b gun to try her patience udd nly and a it
appea ed to her easily a d naturally cam to a end f
itsel f She wa th r for quite complace t
S was Sir Hen y who wa profu e in hi gratitude
a he e corted hi pretty little n ighbour to h
ca riag
Hope y u won t b the wor f thi ? aid h
Your inging h lped u famou ly It a pity my girl
don t do anyt hing in that way A d h hummed a ver
f t h hunting ong as he went back to th drawi ng room
Mi A dam had di appear d and he found Kitty
galing th r t with om thing about Mi A dam to which
eve Lady Laura wa h ark ni g good hum u dly
It wa h who topped Dai y ; it was om thing
h
aid but I don t know what I only aw Dai y
bounc up from the m u ic tool and glar at her and
turn red all ov r She looked utterly dumbfoundered
too and hadn t a word to ay
L

'

s ess

re

ne

e e

e e

es

-s

re

re

se

ss

ss

-s

or

er

se

e s

ss

ss

e,

os

r,

n ox

s, s

n O

s,

-AT -IIO

ST A

:
9

MES

the warmest heart the kindli est di p ition ; a d would

have been imple but f circum tance
Sh cannot
h lp being a woman f the world It i not her fault
that sh know thing and peopl a they a and not

h
as th y ou ght to be ; D ai sy cannot hut h
ey
would cry
than
ft n wi hes h kn w l
But h
h do
and nvi our ign ora ce and exclu iv n
But that i
aying th y place u o fa above h
non en
It i only b cau Dai y i o fond f u all
Much had hitherto b e mad f thi fondne s and
Beatrice f lt ore to think it had fail d at a pinch in th
pr ent in ta ce
It i true that Dai y now and then unwittingly jarred
w
up n h
She might h r lf ay thing f h

people ay th m perhap in the h at f th moment

and because Dai y Curle wa in a manner her own pro
perty and not a ld neighbour and h r ditary acquaint

but when h wa mt half way and mor tha

anc
hal f way h was vagu ly on ciou f an inner prote t
Th n h would argu the prot t down cont nding
in her own mi d that th fault i f fault th r wer wa
h r not Dai y
A d it i my only chan ce f h ar
ing the truth h would t ll h r l f Fo o f cour i f
h betrayed di ta te f plain peaking th r would be an
end f i tand h could not a fford to mak an end f it
In all that had gon b fore how ver Beatric had
never b n p r onally wound d ; h had alway be n
parated from h urrounding in h fri nd
iti
i mnay th ir very poignancy wa a covert attery
to h r el f The ca wa di ffer nt now
Y t why di fferent ? What had b n said that might
not ha v be n aid a cor f time and h ard with
indi ff r c
To in i nuate that Lady Laura wa a matchmak r f
her daughter ben t or inde d f r any one benet
,

se

er

se

e se

e s

se,

e e
e

er

s e

er

e,

r,

e s

se

e e

e se

or

ee

es

s o

e s,

e e

er

n O

s,

cs

er

ess,

e o

ess

s s

e n

es

s e

es,

er

es

e O

es,

re,

or

os

cr

se

ee

e en

or

I SY CU RLE IS T HE CYNO SU RE O F EVERY EYE

DA

93

ab urdly wid f th mark that at anoth r time

it wo ld only hav be n amu ing ; in a pecial d gree
amu ing inc it wa Lady Laura way to look black
at v ry bachelor old or young eligible or in ligible
who a t h p ye at h flock To matrimony it el f
lady hip might not obj ct ;
th act ual practica l bond h
but
w ll w r her fee ling regarding i t prelimin
ari und r tood in th family that Si H nry him el f
nev r dar d be jocular on the ubj ct i f he w r pr ent
Such b ing th ca Beatric ought only to hav bee n
div rted by Dai y Curl mi tak and h w come it
that h wa not div rt d
O u r ad r can pa tially guess

was

e o

so

s ee

s e

er

so

es

e s

e s

e e

es

se,

er

e s

e e

c s

e e

CH A PT ER

T HE

G REA T

IV

HERSEL F CO NV EYED T HE

CO MMA N D

BEA T R ICE

WI LLI E I want you

Eh
said Willi e looki n g up from the hall to where

H and Evere t
wi f was a cending th tairca
w re p eparing to turn into th moking room
I want you r p at d D ai y p r mptorily Don t
i t up any long r to night
moked enough
Y o u hav

and you are going to hunt to morrow h y u ar n t ?

N v r mind I want you now
A d h ru tl d on
pr ce d d h th obedient Willie hav
Look h r
ing follow d to h bedroom and een the maid di
mi d what do you think mad m top i ging
t night ? I wa in good voice wa n t I ? A d very
body a ked f mor ; and to av my li fe I couldn t
hav ung anoth r note ! T ll me b for I go on i f

i f th r wa anything to notic
i f anything wa aid
A nything aid
r peat d h tupidly
Did I mak a fool f my l f ? Did p opl tar

and wond r quick

plucking at hi coat leeve in h
impatienc
You w r th r You mu t have een
i f th r w r anything to
You a not quit blind
and you know w ll nough what I m an
But I d n t know P my honour I know nothing
I hav no notion what you a driving at
D i d Major E v r t did h
ay no thing to you ?
What about ? You ?
m A bout my topping lik that and
O f cour
hi s

se

e s

e s

e e

e s

e e,

sse

s e,

er

e e

s s

e, s

se

e e

e e

see

re

on

e es

e s

se,

re

e.

94

er

e e

-s

s n

e e

e s

or

s e

e e

ST A Y AT HO MES

6
9

d hu moured face all at on ce as serio us and perturbed

a h
own Y o u yo u don t man that do yo u
D ai y no dded
She wa now bu y taking o ff her
diamond and laying th mwith haking n ger on the
d e ing table He whi tled o ftly und r hi breath then
wi th a q uick look at h r Whe e ?
aid he harply
She aid at Nice But very likely l sewh e as well
Y u poor lit t le article ! Well all I can ay i s it wa
a blackgua d hame to come out with it whatever h
knew ; a d a dboth ration li t will be all over the
plac to mor ow Who h ard Wh got hold f it ?
That was why I wanted to hear what you had to say
befo e telling y u W may yet top her ; f r I fancy I
f el pretty ure he ha not yet told the Mayna d
and
oh Willie don t y u think w might p ev nt that ? clasp
ing her hand
Tho e ort f peopl can be bri bed
S top a bit aid he kindly Ju t yo u calm down
and w ll what can be done Fir t of all let me h ar
exactly ho w it came about ? A d I ay n ver mind how
you put it ; you know i t only to me and I may a well
have the truth with u co n ciou irony i f I am to act
upon it
I ll tell you th truth Willi t arfully
O f cour
Willie laughed and pat t ed her
O ut with it then
hould r R m mber I m in th ame boat w i th you
little woman and we ink or wim together I f the air
er t hi doe n t uit u after thi w ll pitch u
o f So m
tent l sewher It wa bad luck thi happening to
night
A d Major Evere t with u too
But we ll weather it
A y and E v re t with u too
om how N w then how wa it ? H ow did it b gin ?
It n v r b gan it wa all do e and over in a minute
Sh mu t hav cr pt up behind me when I wa not look

i g at lea t I hould n ver have noticed or thought

-

o
o
g
s

er

r ss

er

s e

see

se

e,

se s

re

e.

e s

s,

e e

e,

BEA T R CE CO NVE ED T HE CO MMA N D

97

about her I had been looking and I heard h r horrid

voic in my a ; I thought h wa a ki g f r om
ong or oth r and oh I can t t ll you how dr ad ful it
ound d y t innocently put H ave you got any f
tho w t little ha
you used to ing a a girl ?
You w r P ggy V ick r w r n t you A d I r mem
ber you w ll inging in front f th H ot l des A nglai
at N ic accompani d by your father on the violin
You think h m ant it ?
M ant it ! Dai y laugh d bitterly
A d th pro
v ki g part
f it i that i f I could only have k pt my
wit about m I might hav don o much bett r than
I did T h la t thing I ought to hav don wa to how
I wa caught O ft n and oft n I hav ai d t my l f If
thi hould happen I know how to m t it T h only

way would be to throw my l f on th p r on m rcy ay

how long ago it wa and how I had been marri d f
y ar and y ar and how dr adfully it would go again t

f
m i peo pl kn w I had been a tre t ing r and y t

that I had alway b e n an hon t girl and that you knew

all about m wh n you marri d m a d it would pain

and ham you a much a m
t
h
Y
that
would
hav
don
right
nough
but
y
mi chi f i that you didn t g t a chanc o f aying it A t
l a t I pr um you did not
Wor mi chi f I not only aid nothing but I lo k d
dagg r
H a ! H e nodd d thoughtfully That was fooli h
little woman That mak thing awkward H ard you
inging in front f the HOt l d A nglai did h ? A d
that meant in front o f a do en oth r hot l H um
ha ! R m mb r d your voice I uppo ?
She couldn t Th re i nothing in it to remember
I wa a poor untaught girl then and until my voic wa
trained
if

se

nson:

e s,

so

e e

e,

e s

e,

s s

e s

e s

es

e e

e s

s e

s,

se

es

se

es

e s,

es

e s

es,

or

se

ee

e s

se

so

ee

e e

S I AY AT H O MES
'

8
9

was t he swee st little pipe

A n d it was the p ret ti est rag g edest
shoes all do wn at the hee l

It

O h,

Willie l

I eve r li te d to
little girl with h
ne

er

ught my heart let me see i it thirteen

year ago That Mi What d y call h r mu t have a

ory Why y u were but a lip f a thing
er o f a me m
like a yo n g co lt all eyes and l g ; no mor lik what

t
f
o
a
n
w
t
h
a
l
o
pretty
no
not
h
al
and
u
f
re
o
y
;
y
mu ing I sometime think o f yo u Dai y a y u wer
t hen with yo ur litt le hand cro sed upon your brea t and

u
ey
lo
o
ki
g
o
u
t
f
rom
u
der
t
h
la
he
looking
n
r
es
y
p etty harp a fter th pennies tooGreat Scott ! how
they g littered when I dropped in a golden loui one
d o f P ggy the inger and t h
day that wa th
b g innin g f Dairy the brewer wi fe Faith you didn t
do badly in the world lottery Mr William Curle
e nea a d laid her h ad upon hi shoulder
Sh cam
I ain t a bad ort o f husba d to you neither pro
trokin g it fondly
I m n more a gentl man
ceeded he
than yo u are a lady A d I had no one but my el f to
plea e a my old mother aid f I had th ke ping f
her ot h f me and t h pur e tring giv a man th

i
w
f
s
h had t he en se to
ie
h
right to choo
think She wa alway kind to you Dai y
aid Dai y indi ffer ntly
O h v ry
wa a di appointment to her that there
A n d though
w r no grandchildre
H u h n ver mind that A harp catch f th
breath that might have been a ga p or a s b Now
Willie lifting her h ad a d bru hing away omethin g
not unlike a t ar the thing i what a we to do w
ld tory f ou r g tting
t w together to top t hi O ld
abo ut ? A you and I look at it d ar h lip tr mbling
a littl it i n t o ugly In th middle ag it would
that

ca

zz

- e

no

ss

en

or

or

s e

se

s e o

s.

e e

e,

re

s,

er

es

ST AY AT HO MES
-

I oo

atural equenc wherever sh wen t sh found

it as ea y to annex an admirer fo the time being a to
pick up a pebbl on th beach
That he was clev r goe without aying ; h was
al so sprightly and amu ing and had a c rtai n piquant
charm f manner du
to an in fu ion o f for ig blood in
her vei n N one could hit ff a charact ri ti c mimic
a foible or t ll a tory with more mirth provoki g
drol lery ; no one co uld laugh more m rrily at h own

or at other wit so that h bei g a favou it with the

other ex wa due even mo to lively pow r f nter
taining and being entertained than to the attractions of
her face and gur
Th la t wer i ndeed set ff to v ry advantag by
mean f h hu band purse and h own ta t She
had mor than a tal nt h had a g niu f dr
Her
ornam nts w re nev r in xce h hat n v r too large
nor he train too long A t H omburg or Monte Carlo
h
xhibited indeed th gaye t th mo t legant and
i
fanci ful o f co tum
W
illi
would
li
f
t
eyeb
ow
h
(
t that traight)
at the bill s but a ki
while dow in
the d pths o f Somer et hi the plain t and neat t f
tweed uit w r d gu u and w a bound to add were
eve y whit a b coming and appropriat
with h m ntal attribute They
A with her dre
wer adaptabl while y t in a curiou n e ince e
Dai y had now been ma ried f ov r t year William
Curle had acted by her a honou rably and g n rou ly a
a man could ; h had paid her ol mn vi it at stated
interval throughout th period when h wa at hi
expen b ing ducated at a conv nt chool in Pari
and pre ented him l f a a woo r not as a pred tin d
t to marry hi m
hu band at i ts clo e If h cho
bound
h need o t do
Sh was in no wi

Miss Dai y Vicker no longer P g gy looked ab

an d, as a n

e,

s e

er

er

re

e s o

ese

s o

er

e e

e e

es

er

or

se

s,

so

se

s e

s e

s,

es

se n o

se

s.

en

es

re

e,

re

ss, so

se

e r,

en

es

ess

or

er

ss

ss se

s e

er

e e

e e

so

BEAT R CE CO NVE ED T HE CO MMA ND

IO I

blank at thi N t marry hi m? Sh had been

looking forward to marrying him all along Did h

m an that now now wh n h had told all th girl

a d rec ived th ir f licitation
and th Lady Sup rior

h
her elf had bl ed e that now he wa not goin g to

to (a bur t f ob ) to mar y her ?

H caught her to hi brea t and f lt him el f t h
happie t man alive
A d t ang to ay the mom nt wa n ver repent d o f
by ith r A t r t Dai y wa omewhat hy f oci ty and
f arful f h
own pow r but by d gr h r r ady wi t
and perception mad v n i t mo t tortuou path plain

grant d thu wer nin t nth f

Sh wa tak n f
the point gained Th n h had alway h tory ready
early marriage ; and no
o f the conv nt sc ho l and th
one ever thought f inquiring what had preceded the
chool day
N
w r th people among whom the Curle went as
a rul fa tidiou
I ay you do a w ll a any o f em quoth William
proudly
d of t
year Dai y wanted a change f
A t th
c n and had a mind to mix with gr at r folk T h
chaplain at a Swi r ort wher h wa wint ring poke
trongly on the ubj ct f hom dutie and cond mn d
f
l sh pl a ure ; he wa an
th unremittin g pur uit
earne t young ma with a pal ad face and h had not
a mor ard nt attendant in the littl mountain chapel
than M William Curle
It would be un fair to ay that h h art wa not
touch d ; but it wa a h art capable f b ing touched
and touch d again without r ceiving any abiding i m
pr ion ; and it aid omethi g f t h young curate
mini tration that th y did produce a c rt ain pract ical
ffect
Mr Curl bought T h H ollie and hi wi f t
lutely

s,

'

s,

ess

ees

or

e s

e e e

ss

er

s r

s o

er s

e e

or

en

e en

s e

e,

ss

es

e s e

or

ess

er

e s

e, s

rs

s,

se

s,

e se

S Y

Io s

HO MES

-AT -

TA

herself to ful l the o bligati o o f her new position

f
f
n
alt
geth
r
to
ti
actio
the
lder
i
habit
s
a
s
n
O
o
t
h
t
o
(
ant f the pari h a we kn ow) ti ll matter were i m
proving and all might hav gone well had not Hou ton
e
Ev rest been mt wi th in th mean t i m
He had bowl d out the curate appearin g on the cene

reli gious fervour and now

at t h ve y en i th f D ai y
here he wa in talled with in the walls o f the En gli h
home whose exi tence was due to the per uasion f hi
ns

s o

-s

s o

ickle Dai y found the school and th parish and it

i to be feared the daily e vice t oo omewhat f a bo e
after Evere t ar ived Sh wanted to be o ut with h
guest iding drivi ng pa ading hi mto m t and luncheon
W
a
a
tie
illie
a
u
e
that
ve
e
t
had
come
s
E
r
f
o
p
po rt an d would be content with her so ci ty in th
evening was jee d at as Willie tupidity I hall
certai nly take him to see the pretty girl abo ut cried
F

s r

s.

er

ee s

r nc

ss

re

s,

s s

she

did actually drive him to one or two hou

where
re h colou ed c u t i d dam sel we e plea ant
enough to lo ok upon but wofully diffi cult fo a man like
E ver t to g t on with
H e laughed when h found him self again with Dai y
in th carriage He lik d the drive home a d did not nd
it long though the coachman had order to take a round
in ord r to obtain a vi w froma di tant commonwhich
View by t h way wa prett y n arly lo t in the du k by
the tim the party reached th pot Ev re t and hi
ompanion en conced within th com fortable brougham
did t we may be ure nd the way a long a John and
Thoma did on th ir cold box at hiv rin g in the mi t
and gathering darkne
Dai y wa a delightful compa
ion f a ti t d tet
ready to go to the Wild
But why wh n h wa
A n d she
the f

ses

n r

es

-se

ss

or

e s

no

s so

es

ST AY AT H O MES

10

that thi would entail pour d into hi ear

O f our
you will fall a victim i ; you have h ld out hith rto
a d plume your l f u pon it though I have don my be t
to how you what nic girl w have v n in thi benighted
region
but did you uppo e they were all that we could
how ? You a mi tak n indeed Wait till you
Beatrice Maynard
A nother tim it wa
Beat ic will lay her lf out to
be plea ant ; o can depend on her f that with a
wounded he o in th q uestion What Mu tn t I ay

A wounded h ro
oh I know you d te t to be called
th at but it i the gui und r which you will appear to
th Mayn ard ; f r they hav already bee talkin g about
s

re

se

se

s r

e e

see

s,

se

or

ne

se

no

cried he with di gu t
r torted h me rily

A n d they a
imply dyin g to meet the h ro but I
would not atter your vanity by telling y u befo e
B t ween our elv I believ that y u and no one but you
are the occa ion f th din er party
To thi Willie demur ed in vain H heard the May
nard alway gave a co uple f autumn dinner and Dai y
knew th y had been at one already So we had and
that would have knocked u ff a it did th H all
and the Tomlin on and all th rest wh wer the e
interpo ed h triumphantly y t you e her we a

asked again ! W and only we an d Major Ev t

Finally th
T h t w men looked at each oth r
hu band poke She a d al too cl ver f u aid he
N w I hould n v r have pott d
with a proud laugh
that But I dar ay sh right Evere t You will hav
to play the great ma
haking hi head profoundly
t was made to r bel again t t h
A ltogeth r Eve
party wi th all th in tincts o f a oldier and a gentl m n
We
a d then wa hidd n to go and get ready fo it

!
O h,

O h, yes ,

s e,

re s

es ,

s,

s,

e,

e s

n,

-s

s,

res

e e

es

or

re

e res

se

s e,

so

BEA T R CE CO NVE ED T HE CO MMA ND

IO5

kno w t h r t and can re um the thread f our

narrativ
It will b r memb red that Willi Curle when ap
p al d to by hi wif a to wh ther h di mtu at
th hand
f Mi
A dam had xcit d ob rvation or not
wa po itiv in hi a uranc that it had not But Mr
f th
Curl wa
pe on who nd it impo ibl to
imagin that any
ee what they do not e them
H
lv
otic d nothinge g th r wa othing to
notic
H ad Dai y put th am qu tion to Ev r t h
would hav r c iv d a di ff ent r ply and h would
hav riou ly mbarra d th gentl man It chanc d
that hi y w r full on hi aunt at th mom nt f h
approaching M Curl and hi att ntion which had
been div rt d during the la t hour or two wa uddenly
arou ed and conc ntrat d on h by what follow d
Th
dd littl gur
unr markabl to ev y y but
hi own had all t h
mblanc Of dri fting by accid nt
into th bla f light wh r in Dai y at till occupying
the ce tral po ition on the mu ic tool Ever t la ily
wond ring why with h v ry good r a on f cov ting
ob curity hi r lativ hould hav m g d from it at
uch a moment aw her toop to addr M Curl
and awy h aw and could be und r no mi tak
the in tantan ou and ama ing ff ct produced by th
whi per d communication
h at r t conclud d that i t purport mu t
Lik oth
hav b n an intimation clum ily conv y d to th ff ct
that no mor mu ic wa requir d by Lady Laura and
could und r tand th di mt u and r ntm nt f a

gu t thu publicly humiliat d but th look f abj ct

t rror and deanc ca t by Dai y on h tormentor
pu l d him
ubj ct It
A d ub equ ntly D ai y ignored th
es

s o

e n

ss

se

o se

rs

one s

re

sco

er

s on e o

es

ss

se

ss

s e

e e

o,

s n

e se

e e

es

sse

er

es,

es

e s

or

rs

ess

e,

er e

e s

ers,

e s

sco

e e

ese

er

re

ee

zz e

-s

es

er

e e

s s

ze o

er

e se

er

e , so

e o

e,

e e
.

e es

es

er

rs

s e

ST AY AT HO MES

I 06

would hav been natural f r h to bu t fort h the

mom nt h wa alone with h two upporter him l f
who a a matter f co ur e would b on her
a d Curl
eprobate with ympathetic indignatio
side ready to
uch a g o br ach o f th laws f ho pitality and d

corum y t n ver a wo d ai d h
Spra g from h seat like a little tig e
ruminat d
Evere t moking by him l f si c he wa d barred hi
ho t company Pa t d and glared like
too
What could Lady Laura hav aid ? O top a bit wa
it Lady Laura a fter all ? Lady Lau a wa at the other
end f th room(though o f cour e that go fo

nothing) but omehow I fancy sh would have looked

le calm and miling h i not the kind f woman to

di emblet her would have been frown and i m
patienc ome cold e in h
Good bye at a y
rate and it wa civil as po sibl and Dai y a civil
back Women are born hypocrite ; but I don t fancy
how ver much my littl fri nd overh ad might choose
to p ut a fair face on it the other could i f h tried
uppo ing a deadly affront had been o ffered a d tak n

hook hi head thoughtfully N It wa n t

h
N
that Lady Laura wa n t on in that piece ay I T h
aunt played it ff her w bat and what h did it for
and what it wa at all I hould ve y much like to know
hall t ll me too continu d h a fter a pau
Sh
Sh han t be allow d to go about tabbing in the dark
f the thing
f
I hat to
th f
Poor little D ai y !
a woman look fright ned A d h wa
bright
and jolly all th eveningthough by the way hi
thought taking anoth r turn by t h way I don t think
well with h
h abov hal f liked my g ttin g on
Maynard Sh n edn t mind Surely a man
fri nd Mi

can talk to a girl and admir her too and I hall tell
D ai y I did admir herwi thout being b anded as a
e

e,

s e

r ss

se

ss

er

e,

s e

e,

se

see

s e

so

ss

er

so

un o

s e

e s

e s

o.

e s

or

es

ss

r, s

on e

e s

ss

n e

se

er

s,

r ss

rs

er

er

ST AY AT H O M ES

I 08

year f e tabli hed po si tion a d co n equen ce

had t uch a gul f betw n the rich man wi f with th
world a h knew th world at her f t a d the wai f
who caught at h lov r arm a though h v y xi t
enc hu g upo hi breath that h hudd red to look
acro that gul f
n o f ecurity too had grow with tim She
A
had h r lf chang d gr atly and that not m r ly in
appearanc though f om b ing thin and brown h wa

now plump and very fair but in pe ch movem nt d

ma ou that wh r a th i ging girl had been ti mid

f a pect and r tic nt f mood M
William Curl wa
f
not d f h pirit and had all the pr tty boldn
an univ r al favourite
W hav
n how h gained over Lady Lau a May

nard but Lady Lau a would not hav been ea ily

won hal f a do n y ar b fore ; h would then hav
en a good d al to mak h f l dubiou i f not po i
t i v ly ant agoni tic ; and t h little woman who wa p
f t ly aware o f thi and who
bu ine it wa to oft n
v ry offending angl and h d bit by bit v ry ling ring
trac o f her vagabond youth wa
xt avagantly
plea d by h conqu t f th ever and Critical
matron that h lation had to be explain d to the
only per on capabl f appr ciating th xplanation
You tak it you can tand any t t now ? quoth
Willi ; wh reat h laug h d and nodded a d th br wer
hat we t ff v ry low to Lady Laura th next time h
met h
Wa it not a cru l and horribl pi c f pit on th
part f Dam Fortun to choo th Maynard drawing
room f t h c e f h up
A d who wa thi woman thi horribl companion
D ai y had all an up tart
vulgar cont mpt f

d pendant that h hould da to threaten top

T en

se

ee

er

ss

ee

s s

se

er

er

s e s

e se

so

e e s

er s

or

rs

ess o

ze

se

er

s,

e,

er

er

er

e o

so

e e

e e

es

ss

s,

ee

se

ec

se

so

e see

s,

e s

e s n

e e

e n

se

es

er

e s en

or

er co

se

e e o

or

re

BEAT RICE CO NVE ED T HE CO MMA ND

I 09

did he threaten ? What wer Mi A dam precise

word
D yo u r member them read r ? Dai y Curl had not
an in tant h itation in recalling v ry yllabl
T o be ab olutely cor ct we ought p rhap to ay
v ry yllable o f th all important nt nc Som thing
there wa about Sw t little ha
a a pr liminary
that did not count ; it wa the n xt phra which burnt
it l f into h brain You w r P ggy V ick r w r n t
you ? I rem mb r you well inging in front o f th
HOtel d A nglai at Nice accompanied by your fath r
on the violin
I f only h could hav open d h
y in blank ama e
m nt and bur t into laught r She ought to have pro
te ted h had nev r b n paid uch a complim nt A d
pray who wa Peggy V icker
A pro fe ional
f
cour
own poor little pip
A d wa it po ibl that h
wa being likened to that f a pro fe ional ing r ? Mi
A dam did her too much honour

Had Mi A dam per i t d but h would not hav

per i t d Dai y would have pe dily hown that a ca e
f mi tak n id ntity how v r amu ing and att ring
mu t be acknowl dg d with apologi and th whol
c n would have pa ed ff harmle ly and h would
only hav n d d to be a v ry littl mor car ful th an
u ual when Mi A dam wa by in futur wh rea now
now h could hav torn h hair to think how madly
h had ung away h
chanc
T be ur Willi had giv n h
ome com fort ; but
now that h thought over hi word in t h cold morning
light th y did not m to go f much What did it
igni fy that h i gn ominy had not b n public all at
onc inc it mu t ce rtainly follow i f it had not fa
w r conc rn d foll w d alr ady ?
as the Maynard
M i s A dam had only to t ll h
cr t and all pr nt
s

ss

es

e e

re

e e

se

ee

s,

se

e e

es

er

nsons

se

e e

e s,

so

er e

se

ss

ss

ee

es

er

ss

ss

ss

s s e

s e

ss

ee

es

er s

or

ee

er

e, s

e,

see

er

er

ss

e e

ss

s e

s s e

e e

er se

so

ese

ST AY AT H O MES
-

I IO

the witness of their own eye to i ts truth Sir He y

would say So that was it ? recalling hi olicitude a d
hi o ffer f win
Lady Laura had ki n dly rema k d on
which had paled to wan nes a
the bla ched ch ek
the blood died out o f th m and ev n giddy pat d K itty
would add h quota ince K itty th only one o f the
family who had actually b en by when the bl ow fell had
whi per d con olingly Don t mind it i on ly that
moth r i g tting tired an d wants them all to go
taking f granted that ympathy would not be out o f
place
Willie do wake up I have b en thinking about
Mis A dam

H ey what O h con found that Mis A dam y to

be ure h ha got to be quared I uppo e Lo ok here
now with the drow y yaw f a man who ha l pt lo g
and to good purpo e ther i no u in your weep ing
a d wailing and making a fu
It a bit o f a nui anc
I con f ; but after all it i n t a matter o f life and death
Suppo thi woman do t ll
She will f cour e h will
Let her
T hat all
A ll
echo d Dai y in a high voice Willi y u
don t yo u can t m an what you are aying ? Let h r tell

th
Mayn ard and an d verybody what I wa an d
ruin me ?
Ph -p ho
ruin yo u
Nothin g o f the kind
Who s
to ruin you ? H a n t you m at yo ur back ? What ca
they do to you Th y can t trip yo u f yo ur hou e and
your ca riag and
What are hou e and carriages They ca take away
my good name
Nay my girl no living ton gu can tak that ; y u
are a hone t a woman as Lady Laura her el f
O f cour
he threw up h
head proudly Then
had

s s

nr

er

or

es

e,
.

e,

s e

se

ess

s s e

ss

se

n o

es,

s,

s s

se

er

ST AY AT H O MES
-

I Iz

by howing h r what a t rump ca d h hold in her hand

before we know how he i goi g to play it If h i s a
blackmailer it would be an ab olut invitation to her to
rai h t rm ; i f notph w H whi tled ftly and
hook hi h ad
But a w to do nothing ?
T hat what I ad vi
Take not the light t notic
o f what has happen d until
Willi I did think you would
U nti l it i too late
have h lped me ; I did think you would have tood by m ;
A d I
T ear lled her ye
and it all end i thi
was
happy her proceeded h plaintively I eemed
to be getting on o w ll ; everybody fri ndly and not a
hou w don t vi it O f cour i f the Maynard ca t u
s

so

re

se

es

e,

so

s.

e,

e,

se

s,

er

se

se

03

Stop I ve a thought aid h

Let it hang on
If Mi
thi
A dam tell th Maynard you will nd it
out fa t nough I uppo ; you
Beatrice mo t day
don t you Well directly you learn that th y know I ll

go my lf to Sir H nry I pl dg my l f to do thi f

your ak Dai yput him in po
ion o f the whol
tory and a k him as a man and a g ntl man to top it
going any farth r I d see Lady Laura i f you think that
would b b tter ; but I hould my l f pr f r Sir H nry
Tru t m that would b a va t d al more n ibl and
trai ghtforward than having any und rhand t ki g
with Mi A dam
I hould have to b let dow to the Maynard them
lves said h ru fully Th y would n v r think the
ame o f me again
Why houldn t th y ? You nev r t up to be grand
eh O h I uppo you did cat hing th xpr ion
you talk d big to Mi Beatrice and the
o f her fa e ;

d
l
h
u
m
u
irl
lik
illy
lit
l
ool
o
u
are
good
o
h
t
f
t
y
g
y
A pity yo u did ; but y u will be l t o ff h ap i f y u

ss

s,

see

se

se

se

se

ro

ss

e,

e e

se

or

ssess

se

e,

s,

e e

s,

e e

se

e s

se

ess

ss

c e

re

BEAT RICE CO NVE ED T HE CO MMA ND

II

have only to eat a corner o f humble pie with them and

crambling out f bed it mayn t even come to that i f
you keep your wit about you Be civ i l to Mi A dam
You might ev n h paused be fore hi dre ing room
door it would be no bad plan i f yo u cou ld do it a d
I think you could you hav pluck enoughto take a
q ui t opportunity o f e opening th ubject with her
D n t show f ight Ju t peak naturally and a k her
how h came to recogni you a d wh th r h had
ev r n you in th m antim or not ? Eh What d ye
think I l ave it to you i f you think you can
I don t ; but I ll ee O h dear ; I wi h to-day were
ov r ! igh d Dai y a he ro e at la t
But in en ibly h che r d up while dr ing The day
was
ne her mat rial urrounding
pl asant h r
health perfect that after all th re wa till enough in
h
brimmi g cup f li fe to compen at f the lo f
s m
f i t ing edi nt
The Maynard were not the
world What w re they ?
O nly a dull ov r rated family who e importance dom i
at d a r mot
country n ighbourhood To lo e ca te
in their y might b di agreeabl but could be b rn ;
and h might ev n in time regain om o f h a end
ency by the force f h own ability and a iduity A t
any rate they wo uld never bet ay her once taken into
condence
Fo a f w minute she almo t thought he would o ve
tep Willi prud nce and he l f advan e to the attack
l aving Mi A dam out o f the qu tion
H 0wabout going traight to Lady Laura ? O Beat ice ?
But t h n h recoll cted that Evere t was to d ive wi th
her that morning to the meet and that h had a parti u
la ly mart and becoming coat ju t arrived from her tailor
in which he meant to how her l f at the gay rende vous
There would be a big meet ; the f o t had gon e and fo

ss

ss

r -

s s

s so

ess

e e

or

ss o

e -

s s

er

so

so

se

see

e s

es

s e

e,

er

er

ss

sc
.

es

rse

ss

es

s e

se

r s

"4

Y
AT
A
T

H0M Es

ve y j y at i t d parture an d fear o f its retu n eve y man

M
Curl an d
a d woman who co uld would be out
Major Ever t were to lunch at a hou e not fa from th
t yst ing place Willie who p f rred him el f to follow
th ho und on thi occ a ion had obtained th invitation
fo hi wi fe and gue t an d been prai ed and thanked
Sh
i t would b ab urd to throw up the ngagement
deci ded to have her day let it cost what it might an d
afte ward th deluge
We all know what happened to the i mmortal Scrooge
wh n h wa pr pa ed f any kind o f C hri tma ghost
and o gho t at all appea ed M William Curl Spy
ing from her window the gure f B at ic Maynard ap
f
f
h
i
f
hou
e
on
ollowing
a
ternoon
elt
her
a
h
t
h
e
t
g
p

heart b at and her ngers twi t th m lve togeth r y t

to prov to h r l f that sh wa cool and undaunted
h mu t need y out into the hall to m t her fri nd
and with ki
a d chatt er bring B atric
into the cosy
boudoir where th two could be alone and und i turbed
N x t the latter had to b as ured that th ld wa h

w
d r were given that othe vi itor wer to be
turn ed from the doorand a f Willi a d Major
They don t com home while th re is a sq uare
Ever t
i h of daylight in the ky concl uded Dai y laughing
But in id h
pretty lip she et h teeth Now f
it now f th tug f war
A t the n d f an hour he could ca cely b lieve h
What had th talk u up n ? Ev rything and
n
nothing B atric wa ei ther warmer nor cold r more
liv ly nor more seriou than at oth r time She wa
abso l ut ly the u ual B atric
A nd it appea ed that h had not come wi thout a
pu po e and in un fol ding the purp se the was preci ely
t he sam
e li ttle undernote o f vexed impatience there alway
wa when any family action we re di c ussed which sec et ly
o

re e

es

rs

e se

nc

or

se

or

er

s n

r n

er

ses

er

er

or

e s

es

or

se

ee

sses

e,

rs

ro

or

re

ST AY AT -HO MES

I I6

hersel f to them; an d n o w o f co u se peo ple wi l l say this

i a mere blind and that h n ever meant to go all alon g
But he really has died Beat rice

Died ? O h y s i n di fferen tly

Y o u un feeling perso
Died O h yes -(mimick
ing) A i f yo u did n ot care a bit !
But I don t
I don t care o do any o f u A d
why hould we p eten d we care Even o u parent say
he was no c edit to the fami ly and wa shipped o ff to the
A nti po des on that account ; o why sho uld we not go to
the ball and hold o u ton g ue abo ut hi m Why hould
we not plea e our elve and plea e our eighbou rs inst ad
f moping at hom and quarrelling with each other over
it ?
I qui te that perhap mother ought not to go but
M Wild would have taken us
aid Dai y She
e
O you could have g one with m
pok and adju ted a ower in a tand clo e
o e as h
by Thi wa h r t move How would it be taken
I f B atrice rejoined a
he could once have de
pend d upon O h y s ; we co uld have gone wi th you
all would be right ; but i f there were a pause however
l ight a hesitation how v r trivial it wo uld be ominou
Her ar w re on the tretch and th re was th re
certainly wa a faint alteration i the oth r not as he
rejoined not on the in stant but after a mome t thought
you I hould not suggest that Dai y
If I w
In spit f h r el f a hudde ran through Dai y vein

It was coming he knew it was coming

W are old fa hion d people and
I am too young and giddy But yo u went with
Lady E lcombe to th Flower Show
Lady E lcombe i s in our own
I
The Mi se Maynard are ve y g and young
ladie aff cting a tone o f pique in reality tartled and
de pe ately anxiou
the Mi se Mayn ard mu t have
r

see

rs

e,

s e s

r s

er

e e

s,

ere

e o

e s

see

s,

BEAT RICE CO NVE ED T HE CO MMA ND

I I

a chaperon suited to their ank a d state My dear

Beatrice
the brew r dapp r little wi f drew hersel f up
internally sayin g I ca l ook a haughty a h
pray
don t pare my fee ling Tell me traight out that I am not
good cnong
re cted
Sh wi l l nev r ay that
Dai y )
Y o u are not good enou gh
aid Beatrice teadily
You dear truthful thing ! A hri ll laugh covered
T hat i
or ught to cov r th other s di o mtu
what I ador in you Beatric ; you won t be h ad d ff
when a fenc come in your way ; you will tak it or
peri h A d I am not one littl bit an gry I think you
I ama m r nobody in thi n igh
ar p rf ctly right
bo u ho od wh re you are the g at peopl ; and I only
a mom nt Tho ort f pr judice a
forgot f
ntirely gone by in mo t plac ; on the Continent f
exampl V iol t Fi t hubert a k d me to chaperon a
cou in to the Ca ino at Monte Carlo
and h hot a
glanc Violet Fit hubert had don nothing f th ort
but what i i magi nation f but to be drawn upon at a
pi nch ?
The cas are di e e t aid B atric coldly I am
to off nd you Dai y but I thought my
o rry to hav
aying it would pr vent mother aying it which h
c rtai ly would You und r tand it i nothing again t
you per onally
and what wa added after thi
Dai y neith r knew nor cared about
In h immen reli f h burst forth into th gay st
uranc and prote tation Sh rallied her
o f gay a
olemnity and cr dulity ; declar d h
friend upon h
her el f had bee n laughing in h l ve all along ; that
mom nt uppo ed that Lady
h had n v r f
Laura would conde h augu t daught r to t h car o f
uch a trumpery littl per on as her el fand on p iv
i g a cloud ari e even at such sel f-dep reciation dropped
r

ss e

re

or

or

e s

e s

or

'

es

r n

e,

s s

s e

e s

s,

er

se

es

ss

er s

er s ee

or

e e

o ne

e s

er

re so
,

s e

es

se s

e e

re

sc

so

e rce

S Y
TA

I I8

HO MES

-AT -

her l ight tone an d very imply an d properly observed

vr
that he hoped nothing which had pas ed would
preven t her dear Beat ice from saying traight out if
with
t here w re anything in her behaviour at varian c
f a family f
whom h had
much
t he opinion
affecti on and r pect

It wa w ll aid and we may add had been w ll

thought over befo ehand ( I f I ev r n ed to recov r
my el f with that tarched up girl I can alway fall back
and r pect Dai y had fr qu ntly cogi
upon a ffecti o

f a cringing and
fo
tat d
he had all the in tinct
ub ervient clas )
Befo r her vi itor l ft h wa on th top o f th wav
agai n rattling and xuberant T w day had pa d
and Mi A dam had told nothing ; ur ly that m ant
eith r that Mi A dam f rea n o f h own wa not
going to t ll or that h might be pr v nt d t lling
Beatric in talking f t h dinn r party mad no r fer c
to any t t mp and bore a kind m ag from her
moth r to the ff ct that th inging had b n a ucc
and Major
Lady Lau ra und r tood that Mr Curl
Ev r t w re going to hoot with Sir H nry on th
following Saturday and hop d th y would come in to
lunch n and that M Curl would join th party ?
A mom ntary pa m hot through Dai y v in cau ed
by th m ntal vi io f a qui t litt l woman in black who
would gli d into th dining room at th la t mom nt and

perhap i t oppo it h and look at h but h brav ly

acc pted th invitation and told h hu band f it in
nce with a t ady voic
E v re t pr
Willi grinn d a h pok ey ing h with a i g i
canc which call d forth a harp admonition in privat
th r aft r Ev r t tranquilly at d him l f with th
di ngag d air f a gu t pa iv in t h hand f hi
ent rtain r and wa ralli d f hi indi ff r nc
The
s

e e

es

es

s o

e,

con r e e

e -

e s,

er

er

s e

s s

e s

s,

er

er

e e

ese

n o

s s

rs

ess

en e

ee

e s

ess

e s

e es

s,

e e

sse

er

s e

so

or

ss

eo

ss

se

r s

so

s e

or

se

e es

es

ss

or

se

e e

ST AY AT H O MES
-

I so

Mayn ard fo l uncheo ev n though th r i no so u p

The Maynard a e nothing
as the e won t be o f co urse
i f not correct
quoth
A d h w do y u know what i correct
Willie j oco e ly But he mt with a black look
He might hav aid the am thing a hundred time
fo h wa alway by way f belittling hi wi fe know
ledge of manner and cu tom and a uring hi auditor
that sh wa only a c hild when he m a r i ed her and had

re m
eve ince but t hi badinage which Dai y
ained o
ordinari ly to ok in goo d pa t had another meaning now
She gl a ced anxiou ly at Eve e t
Eve est was thinkin g to hi mel f that here was a chan e
for a private wo d with hi aunt and wond ring wh n and
ho w he could be t obt ai n it
Con eq u ntly h looked
absent an d wa rallied upo n hi ab traction What wa
he thinking o fo ay o f whom ? The fair Beatric
t hing Dai y Curle had never learn d and that was
O
to let well a lone ; B atri ce who had been completely out
wa r al led to th m and b ing a
o f Everest s thought
m re man and having hi weapon put into hi hand he
cou l d not fo
t h pure fu
f the thing resi t m
aking a
litt l play wi th it at the expen se o f hi fair torm ntor
She wa thu imp ll d to talk about B atric and

c
nt
upon
Be
trice
and warming with h ubj ct
a
a
d
and her own loque ce not only t ll him a gr at d al
that h did not know be for but that he might never
have fo und o ut fo him l f
It wa a dangerou game fo a jealou woman to play
an d even ts might have turned ut very di ff r n t ly from
what they did had not Fate in a manner mo t un
t
f
ought
on
id
f
F
olly
and
s
how
not
by
e
d
t
h
p
any m an f th r t tim in th world hi tory that
i u ually
a c rtain emotion wi th which the gentl r
accredited i innitely tro g r in t he breas t o f a man

n,

e e

e s

s,

s,

ss

ne

r s

r s

r s

ne

s,

ec

n o

s,

es

er s

e,

se

e e

or

e o

n,

ex

ec

se x

C H A P T ER
MI SS

A DA M DESCRI BES T HE SI T U A T I O N

WHA T do you thi nk

them Mi A dam ?
Gwen and Kitty clad in th ir w mourning habili
ment which had arrived a f w hour befor
hibit d
them lve in their moth r
bo udoir befor d c nding
to the dra wi g room It wa th day f th lunch on
of

ss

ne

se

es e

e, e x

Much peculation and om anxi ty had be n f lt as

to wh th r th box from London would app ar in tim
f th occa ion but
w all wa right and Lady Laura
having i gnied her approval they turn d to h c m
panion wi th cond nc
I wa at d ath door f a w frock own d Kitty
who could be more fr e with h tongu than ith r f
h
i t r v ntured to be in th ir mother pr nc
So thi mourning did com in handy I lik my l f in
black a d h kipp d in front f a mirror
But Lady Laura
Fi Kitty ! V ain littl Kitty !
miled indulg ntly T h re w r day wh n Kitty could
ay anything and thi wa
f them
H er lady hip thought th dr
v y nic v ry nic
indeed ; th only thing wa Com her Kitty but
Kitty pranc d out f reach
Now mother hand
ff
I know you a goin g to
pull m about and I won t b pull d I f l
ic and
ru tly and he hook h r l f out with fre h at i faction
Silly child I wa not going to pull you about only to

s
A
ugge t Mi dam Lady Laura had already l arned
s

or

no

s s e s

or

e,

e s

se

e,

er

e,

re

e se

s o

esses

s,

s one o
e

e e

e,

er

ne

er

er

e se

ee

so n

ss

1 21

Y AT -H O MES

ST A

I as

to appeal to Miss A damJ don t yo u think there might

be a litt le frill or rufe or methin g to break th hard
line ound the th roat ? O h you don t ? I dar ay I am
wrong butKitty do as I bid yo u co me h e How ca
I how Miss A dam what I mean if y u per i t in keeping
away over there ? No w p o ceeded the peak r having
w M iss A dam i th re not om
at l ngth prevailed
t hing wanted
with a dawning f di parag m nt that
mad K itty al so look anxiou ly toward th latter
But Mi A dam with deliberate mendacity awnothing
ami
Mi A dam who ow Sunday ilk (th product
f a cheap and ob cure f mal who e wing
uch a th y
w re had even been clipp d) was uch a to mak her
writhe when donning it f th occasion could not but
admi th young ladie l g ant costume could not nd

anything in them that that could be remedied Mi

throat a h poke
A dam gulped in h
I dar ay y u are right aid Lady Laura pl a ed f
onc to be found in th wrong it would b a pity to
meddl with them They com from Jay you know
f anyt hing new but wh n th y
O e nev r q uite approv
have been wo n a f w time
I am content wi th min anyhow interpo d K itty
h alway
A d though Gwen d clare her i too loo
ay that f what v r h g t W hall be up to Dai y
mark f once and agai n h turned and twi t d be for
th gla
with i abl complacency
Mi A dam coughed
W have alway Dai y to dr again t now pu ued
Kitty f her benet B fore th Curle cam we ju t
w nt about anyhowand did all th girl W n v r
thought of coming out in full g xcept fo th v ning
and moth r would lik not to giv in now with a ly
glanc at her
What mother lik i f very littl e con equ nc might

so

es

er

s s

no

ss

s s

or

s,

s e e

e,

se

re

ss

ss

ss

s s

er

es

s,

es o

ss

s e

or

ess

e e

e,

s.

so

rs

ne

se , s

e s

ss

e s

or

s e

se

or

e s

e s

es s o

e e

Y AT HO MES

SI A
'

I 34
.

tween thema d which as yet sho wed no threatening o f

di o lution was bo th a surprise and continual com fort to
Miss A dam really doe eem
the rest o f the ho u eho ld
Sir Hen ry would delightedly aver
a hi t
A d Mi
A dam having b e n able t o xpres with
warmth (and be it added with incerity) her approval on
the p esent oc ca io n was perhap the cau e f Lady
Laura ext a urbanity
W have al ready di cu ed my

ap pearan c
bse ved the latte r graciou ly
graciou ly
that it wa obviou what tur th di cu ion had taken
Lady Laura could not hav born a di ss nting word
cr t r rvati on had
A d happily none not v n a
been need d ince fo o c th luckles lady companion
wa able to nd h tru opinion in harmony with her
as umed one
the production
She had been hard p ut to it to prai
f th mighty Jay
To h r y th y lack d tyl fa hion
di tinction th y wer common black fro ck that might
have been and probably wer turned out by the gro
and h had violat d truth in very word utter d on their
behal fbut th n wh n did h not violate truth and th
dictates o f h con cience Sh wa doing that very day
and all day long
A d how wa it po ible not to do it ? To a um a
charact r which wa at very point foreign to her real
n ce itated a li
at very turn wh th r one opened th
lip or not the thing could not be carried on without and
I am r ally not cl v r nough to argu the point the
littl lady often aid to h r lf in d anc f a carping
con ci nce which would be h ard and would not be
il nc d I hall go to om good man and g t hi
opinion on th lawfuln or unlawfuln
f di gui
b
for I v r try it again d cid d h
N t that I ver

hall try it again f h wa ick f th job al eady

and would fain have thrown it up but knew not how
n

ss

s s

ss

e, o

e e

er

ss

so

ss

ese

se

se

e,

s,

ss

s e

er

ss

ss

ss

o n e,

e
s

e se

e o

ess

or s

ess o

s s
,

se

M I SS A DA M DESCRI BES T HE

SIT UAT I O N

I 25

To hav to prai e ready-made frock that dragged at

t h neck and dropped at t h back !
But A well be
hanged f a he p a a lamb l igh d Mi A dam
With Lady Laura hand om and ri ch attir the ca e
wa di e
Her lady hip mployed an xcell nt dre
t
mak r who work d on ound principl and naturally
gave h be t attention to a cu tom r whose bill wa n ver
di put d a d promptly paid The Maynard did not know
how to be m an
Good graciou ! Little M Curl who bargained and
haggled ov r eve y it m and knew to a fraction th co t f
ve y E xtra would throw up h y in horror while
li fting thi and that component part f the xpen iv and
hopel ly ineff ctive co tume to which her attention had

t
be n called by Gw n or Ki ty Maynard ( B atric ldom
talk d f cloth ) You don t tell m you gav that fo
thi 7 My d ar you have been downright windled
and h would y with uch with ring denunciation th
poor girl v ry choic t bit f appar l that they loathed
to wear it in h pre nc ver aft
H ad th y but known th y had o w at their lbow a
v r r critic and one who e ta te was fa up rior to
that o f Dai y Curl
who ha been
A d now nter B atri e and ome o
waiting f thi mom nt igh in anticipation If pr tty
Gwen and neat-wai ted little Kitty could be di gured
by funereal cloud what will th ir ff ct be upon th ir
i t r a d how will her tat ly grace b lo t ? Beatrice

o much th mor
pac upon
ha a commanding g
which to work di a t r A n d that little minx mutter
Mi A dam thinking f om
who i v n now on h

way to victory but th n xt minute her heart gives a

great bound and h tand mut tran x d
Mi Maynard i not Stock i and in con equ nce

b
e
u
order ha had to
carried o t apart
with the
h
e

or

'

ren

er e

es

ess

se

er

r s

ne

re

s e s

ss

er

e s

e one

s s e

so

s,

ss

s s e

e e

or

es

er

e se

s,

s e

es

e e

e,

ss

rs

es,

se

ss

er

s e e

er

e,

s z e,

ST AY AT H O MES

I 26

result that h alone o f the i te has had the ben t f

fo ewoman direction and di
imination
a admirabl
A
h
de
a
r
j
a
culate
Mi
da
m
breat
le
ly
!
Oh m
;
y
h d vou
a d fo getti ng her part
th n wcomer with
h
y
Th e i no bland mode t uitably expr d
commendati on now
Lady Lau a howev r i not al
ted in fact perc iv
nothing unu ual Lady Laura i bu y examining through
h eyegla
Y
Beat ic doe look very well P ntly h
turn to Mi A dam i an w r it appea to the above
exclamation
I do not wonder how ver that you
hould be u pri ed I hould not my l f have xpect d
mourning to uit h
that i a very nic dres
Y
with pr ci ly th ame air f ati ed approval h had
b tow d upon th other two
It i not th dr it i h her l f who look grand
With an ama m nt that border d upon incr dulity th
impre ionabl Kitty ga ed at her i t r a d put into
word what
oth r per on pre nt at l a t wa think
s e

s s

er e

er

es

sc r

s e

rs

ss

ss

rs

es se

er

'

on

es

ss

es,

ss

rese

e s

ss

s s e

e s

se

one

se

s s e

ess,

ze

es,

se

es

er

se

rs

In g

a rul Kitty did not admir Beatric ; Gw h

con id red bore ff th palm a regard d th family look
whil h h r lf wa cont nt to do with a mall propor
tion and tru t to h tongue But to day ?
look gloriou who ay not ? T h
Sh r ally do
hrill young voic rang through the room
A d
ol m
ublim Sh walk in b auty lik the night
hey moth r you lik me to quot poetry ; i not that to
t h point ? L ik t h night pointing to the ombr fold
T i t h night that how her in h
t u light Can t

you all ee Mi A damy u

impati nt f no
a
how
thi
robe
darkn
uit
our
r
l
f
p
g
B atri c ? Sh will cut out Dai y f onc anyhow
with a udden de cent from the height f oratory
As
s

e,

e s

e se

n , so s

s,

ss

o n se

er

or

r e

ess

see ,

so

s,

es

er

en , s e

re

s o

ST A Y-AT -HO ME

I a8

hair co uld go a d trong hand could pi i ta d whe

in li u of the wrapper h wa forced to d something
which neith i colour nor in t xture becam h ( cho n
po ibly with a vi w to Gwen who looked her be t i
pink and pale blue) it wa a i f a cru l hand had
wantonly ob cured every charm Beatrice requi ed very
care ful d res ing and then
but he ra ely had a chance
o f howi ng what might be then
To
day h had don her own hair
She had marked
t h wavy o ftn s
f Dai y Curle
u
and
it
i
cu red to her to hak down Jane olid clump at th
back f th head and gather up an w th glo y wave
a pr tty a Dai y in th ir own way a to f ame
t h fa
a Dai y fram d h r
The att mpt was ti mid
but the ff ct l ctrical
With rai ed pirit h turned n xt to the black robe
which lay upo the b d and pre ntly carce daring
to beli v that the quee ly cr atur who imag h
beh ld reect d in the mirror could be h r el f tol
with tr mbling t p along the pa age to wh e h
gu ed a conclave wa a mbl d
You nev r told m you w r going to hav yo ur hai r
done that new way murmured Gw n th r t clamour
ub ided Y o u said Jan wou ld
o f in pection having
make a me f i t if he tried
So h would I did it mys l f
he itated Lady
A d I thi k it i an improv m nt
w could
Laura with whom ven to thi k that anything
be b tt r than the old wa a conce ion What do you
ay Mi
A dam ? T hat i t h new tyle conde cending
to xplain I dar ay you notic d it on Monday
Mi A dam had and had thought one or two o f the
ladi head wer very ta t fully done
V ry tast
fully done ? I am c rtainly gettin g up t h vocabulary to
chuckled h to her l f )
admiration
s

er

ss

on

se

er

s e

es

ce

s co

s s

ss

so

e s

se

e e

se

sse

es

ss

ne

ss

ss

ss o

er

e e

ss

ess

s e

e s

s e

s s

e e

oc

r e,

es

s e

s e,

se

MI SS

S I S

A DA M DE CR BE

SIT UAT I O N

T HE

I2
9

I have oft n fan cied your hair wa too tightly trained

back pur ued Lady Laura addressing h daught r
but I never liked to ay anythin g I thought the other
night that
but th clock chimed the hal f hour and
the party ha tened down tair to await the arrival f their
guest
Whil doing so B atrice experienced a feeling o f elation
to which h was little accu tomed The depr ing
en f in feriority which had hitherto been invariably
pre ent to her when contra ting hers l f with Dai y Curle
ev n though that in f riority only related to uch trivial
matt r a dre and fa hion galled her more than h
wa hers l f aware fand now it wa gone

f
f
A recently a the beginning
the sel ame week to
be more xact on the Monday vening on which h had

don h r best to appear at her be t and failed h

had con ciou ly u ffered eclip e o f a nature pe uliarly
humbling She had een her cha ming friend carry
th
u ffrag f old and young not merely as regarded
appearan ce but by rea on f h performance
A d t hat performance wa almo t as great a novel ty
to the Maynard a to th ir gu t
D ai y eldom ang in company ; often when B atrice
wa u sher d into the drawing room at The Holli
h
would hear the so und o f mu ic a th door open ed and
beg in vain to have them continued O h no Dai y
inging wa nothin g he wa merely amusin g her l f ;
trying over a new comic opera and gettin g up th ong
that Willie wou ld like ; Willi liked to get accu tomed
to th melodie be fore h heard them sung by the real
arti ts ; Dai y would sidle away from the piano or clo
it re olu tely a he poke
The de ire to hine at the Maynard s dinner party had
however proved too strong fo prudence and as h knew

r
f
v
he el to be in excellent oice for h practised regul arly
e

er

s e

se

ess

e s

ss

-s

s e

er

es s

es s e

e s

se

s s

se

'

es o

e s

s e

s e

S I AY AT H O MES

0
3

a efully
h re olved to take

an d c r

s e

a udience

her

by

torm and did so

Beatrice would have corned
Wa Beat ice enviou
to l t her own decien cies tand in the way of h ap
preciati on a d indign ant a he wa wi th Dai y fo q uit
anoth r rea on at t h momen t h gen rou ature would
ot th bril liant display at
still hav p ompted her to pro m
whatever exp n to h rsel f i f only t h ing r had fail d
to cure th ar o f one who tood apart it i t ue but
who did not w ar th air o f i ndi fference
It was true that sh had an wered Major Evere t
cu tly an d turn ed from him q uickly on hi acco ting her
arlier in th even ing ; he had been un fortunat in follow
ing dir ctly upon t h pa sage at a m between hersel f an d
Dai y Curlebut he ne d not have wi thdrawn utterly
and con tentedly from furth r fforts F her el f f cou e
sh had played into Dai y s hand ; that in stinct tau ght
her and f onc he heark n ed to in tinct
So that the evening was not a happy one to look back
upon ; and even her mother s unni h d senten ce o uld
add i ts q uota o f unpleasant ugge ti on ince Lady Laura
was ob viou ly d awing a compari on in h
w mind
between Beatrice past a d pr s nt not to the advantage
f the for mr
But now behold the ore feeling i gone ;
the past i oblite at d ; sh f el girli hly fool i hly pl ased
at nothing ; she love Kitty
Lady Laura Shiver a litt l e in the la ge drawin g roo m
which a re lately li t has not had time to warm ; and
Beatrice f tch a hawl f r her mother before any one
e lse has thought o f doing so She d fend th servants
who ought to have lit the e so on r Thi roo m is
generally o full f un and we a nev r in it till after
lunch on
Meantim with a ne w paper h draw the
i ckering ame into a roar
A t the ou n d o f the d o or-bell whose cl ang in the di s
s

s s

er

se

er

se

s n

e s

so

or

e s

or

e e

er o

re

es

rs

s, s

e e

Y AT JH O MES

ST A

a
3

being able to upply name a d dates

everal
more than ha y on tho e points
o ccas ion when others a
i credit able with a man lik Major Ever t present
Y o u ee yo u do not need to go o ut into the world to be
well in formed h admoni hed her younger daught r
pr ently Beat rice was quite as w ll or better abl to
hold her wn in the conv r ation t day than the Curl
who are uch v ry g about people
A n d wa n t D ai y da hed by u ?
cri d Kitty wi th
upreme ex ultati on
Daisy had not b e n a fa tidiou as usual about her
appearance taking it f granted that sh would hav no
competitors an d aware that Lady Lau a thought it vulgar
to be m art in the middle o f the day She wa n at and
trim a ver but a p l ain suit an d felt hat did not t o ff
he in fantile tyle f beau ty as did mor eleg a t and
fanci ful costume
A n d again Dai y when cowed wa agg ressive ; h
prattle became rattl ; her chatt r clatter ; h wa a
noi y el f assertiv rather ab urd littl person when thin gs
wer not goin g well with her This i not a bad pre lud
reected Mi A dam
Then Eve e t al o chose to be amu ed an d to add to
the di co mtu e o f hi friend ; he would not seri ou ly
hav vexed her f the world but he j alou y f
B atrice Maynard was diverting and atterin g ; b rather
looked forward to being pre ntly brought to book f
devoting him l f to th latter an d haped hi conduct with
a View to future raillery an d pretty po utin gwhat man
in hi po ition would not ?
Had he not been a ured po itively a ured that he
mu t fall in love with Mi Maynard ? O h you will o f
cour yo u will you can t help yoursel f shrieked Dai y ;
there i s no one else yo u know The Tomlin so n girl
are awfu l ; an d C l are Wi l de has her own man ; an d the
an d

her

re

on s

es

s e

es

e s

e s

es,

or

se

s e

e,

e,

r s

or

s e

ss

er

or

se

se

ss

ss

ss

se

M I SS

I S

A DA M DESCR BE

SIT UAT I O N

T HE

33

Blunt and V ivian are out o f range B id Beatrice i

ju t th girl to yearn over a wound d hero ( h kn w
how he di liked t h pith t) Sh i
ood
ve
g
y
good ; and what i f h i a tri dull ? You m never
th ink f that ; and then I dar ay y u will wak h
up N w do tak to h and try to wake h up h
had been adjured with pathetic earne tn
He had thought at the time that he aw him l f trying
to wak up a dull good girl who would yearn over him
Wo und d hero but now he recalled M Curle
a a
ent eatie a he look d acro th tabl at Beatrice
The table wa mall and conver ation g neral Sir
H nry who had come in from a county meeting full of
in formati on gleaned from hi f llow quire anent political
and military matte wa bent on airing it f Evere t
benet ; Ev re t hould
that th y knew a thing or
tw in Somer t hir
and had ome g eat men among
them wher fore he could carc ly carve the mutton fo
racking his brain to r member what thi one and that
had aid
To hi urpri he found hi daughter Beatric q uietly
f th
ource whence th edoubtabl
i n forming him
authority on whom h chiey pinn d hi faith had drawn
H read that in th Sp tat
aid he
hi opinion s
Wh re had he een the Sp tato P
It appeared that h wa in the habit of bor owing it
weekly from the Vicarage ; and further interrogation di s
clo ed the fact that she bor owed th Ti m al o
You read the Ti m ! cried her father looking round
the table for astoni hment
E v ry eye wa upon Beatrice and Beat ice in eturn
lau ghed
She felt neither con fu ed nor di sconcerted ; she x
i
c
d
e
only
a
trang
plea
s
ur
in
bein
hu
f
orc
d
to
en
t
e
e
g
p
S eak o ut and i n a m
ann
r
u
sti f hersel f
j
y
p
s

e e

s e

s so

es

er,

er

er
e

ess

se

rs

ss

s s

so

en

s e

es,

es

s e

rs,

or

see

se s

se ,

ec

or ,

ec

s e

es

es

s s

e,

on e

Y AT

ST A

34

H0MES

t ne mean t Heyday ! Here

Her fathe r s
'

te

s a

t
re
t
y
p

thi ng
A n d why sho uld
A nd why hould it be Heyday
there be anything wonde ful in her taking a i nterest in
what were after all the most interesti ng thi n gs in the
world ? H eyes parkled with animation her vo ice
an g boldly and gaily o ut
P
my word I feel most awfully a hamed o f my
aid goo d humoured Willie Curl at la t The
elf
t
h
ere are day
aper
c
m
to
hou
e
I
mu
t
own
t
b
u
u
o
p
I never l ook at em A n d whe I do I lik to skip about

T
e
w
a
and nd the amu ing bits Can t stand h
the
warthe wa no r what th y e doing in China or
Vene uela or any o f those b a tly mu rderou plac
What we are doing h r i En gland i enough fo m
A d f
me chimed i n Si Henry who wa John
Bull to hi g r tip but a I told Tall rman to day
what with Se ion a d Bo ard and County council
on tim i o taken up that the wo nder i one get
an yt hing done I haven t been o ut with my gun for
three day he concluded with the air o f a martyr
Meantime Beatrice and Major Evere t were engaged
in liv ly dialogue H e did not agr e with h in a tate
m nt he made ; h defend d her el f and attacked him
They a talkin g a gr at deal too m uch to ach
other thought D ai y Curle
A d h thought the ame thing again when a the
part y wa di per d about the drawing room drinking
coff e sh aw Ever t and Beatrice di appear by a ide
door which h kn w l d to a disu ed apartment
What a tho two about ? exclaimed h loud
enough f all to hear Willi will b rampant if Major
Evere t i not ready to tart the in tant he appear
Willie
had ling red in the hall looking at tag head wi th hi host
Th y are only gon into the ol d lib ary said Mis

st a

of

s.

er

on

e e

ss

s,

s,

s,

s s

es

es

e s

or

e,

s,

re

re

or

es

se

se

e s

s e

er

e,

S Y

6
3

HO MES

-AT -

TA

c o sed h path ; he du t not attack the reptile nor

the i k f its attacking her It wa afest t return
ru
to Lady Laura on the h arthrug and how none o f the
i mpatience which momentarily incre a ed a voice and

laughte were heard beyo d the open doo way it being

ated di cu sion was bein g carried on
vident that an ani m
f hea ing
ut o f ight though not o ut
Ki tty went into the n xt room and returned They
ghting it out h ob rv d fo the general benet
a
He can t prove her wron g and he can t prove he sel f
right o they are at it hammer and tong
A d that sort o f thing ha no end cried Dai y i m
patie tly The only way i to pull the combatants
apart and h looked at Lady Laura
But Lady Laura had turned to li t n to Mi A da m
Mi A dam was askin g her i f he would have her hawl
again ? Mi A dam wa always attentive
aid h lady hip and f lt impelled
O h thank you
to accept th hawl rather than di appoint the good
creatu e who wa careful o f h
Dai y hint was lost
and could not be thrown out again
It seemed age be fo re the r cu ants r appeared and
when they did they we e o cupi d with each other and
their quarrelBeatrice per i ten t Evere t obviously pro
vocative and amu d
n

rs

er

r s

r s

s s

re

se

s e

s e

ss

ss

ss

so

er

s so

er

s s

se

Ther I knew you would fall in love with that girl

Th
p aker may be imagined and now h had her
auditor to her l f It wa t h Witching hour f du k and
the port men wer back from the covert ; Dai y had
di pen ed t a and her hu band wa ff to t h moking
room N wf bringing back h tray d lamb to the fold
Did I not progno ticate it ? continued the littl lady
com fortably en conced in a big armchair within th
radiance f a re whi ch cast dan cing hado ws all over
e

e s e

se

s e

s o

or

er s

e s

MI SS

S I S

A DA M DE CR BE

SIT UAT I O N

T HE

37

her Dai y wa only mi chievous and inquisitive ; not

in th l a t c o oh dear I am ju t longing to
hear how y u f ll a victim ? cri d h merrily (A
ay a good a a Wound d hero
V ictim wa in i ts w
How doe one fall ? retorted he H e wa not cleve
at reparte
But there a e ways and way
A pparently y u know
which way did y u choo e ?
I am waiting f yo u to tell me
Come ir that won t do that i n t fair ; you may as
well be candid and w I wa right ; y u have nothin g
to gain by putting o ff the evil hour The fair Beatrice
i
and h looked archly xpectant
A nice sen ible girl
Pooh ! Men don t knock und r to nice en ible girl
a yo u did to day
Be ide you aid that before ; and
there wa a di ffere ce ; oh y th ere wa a di fference
thi afternoon from
again h halted waiting fo
him to give her a lead
Sh certainly looked uncommonly hand some to-day
aid he placidly
A n d after a momen t
unco mmonly
belligerent too She tuck to her gun lik a good u
What a di r pectful manner f alluding to Mi May
nard the great Mi May ard the redoubtable Beatri ce
who rules u all ! A ppa en tly you like being sat upon
Major Evere t
O h I have no objection wh n it i a woman who its
upon me aid he
A d who carries y u to an empty room in order
to perform the pa t more ati factorily
We all looked
at each other wh y u two va i hed after luncheo n
Why did you not com with u ?
H ad no card f invitation h Shook her head
Y o u were wept ff
It was I who ugge ted go in g
s

r ss,

e s

no

e,

or

s e

s,

es,

s e

s es

n.

ss

ss

'

en

n s

s e

ST AY AT H O MES

8
3

w where yo u were going to o f cou e

k o
ho so well and the old l ibrary that no
I should not wonder i f yo u kn w the
o e ever goe s into

but if y u
very hel f o n which the b k wa to be found
No
di d y u need not have taken qui t o lon g to nd it
my dear f i en d you know a great deal but yo u don t yet
kn ow ho w to keep your h art when it i laid iege
A n d yo u kn e
Y o u n w the
use
n

rs

oo

to

es

When it

there wil l be time enough to show wh ther

I can keep it or n t Give yo u wo d o f ho nour there
were
da ger ignal goi g t o day We had a little
Maynard i more at her
fu to gether and I fancy Mi
ea e when out o f range of he own peo p le Lady Laura
i a formidable pe onage
aid h so berly ; but I am
ance f r yo u out f an ything
afrai d I can t build a y rom
t hat pa ed thi a ft rnoon ei the r be fore or behind backs
I am an awful du ff r at taking advantage f o pport unitie
a d I never met with any one les likely to make the u
ning on her own account than your f ien d
D ai y had the wit to ay no mo e
A t The Tower it was
Really M ajor E verest seem a
nice ort f man better than I should have expected the

from Lady Lau a in her

Curle to hav f a f ie
mo t g racious accent
A n uncommonly good hot
from Sir Hen ry

If only he were not goin g away o soon

a si gh
f om Kitty
What ha hi go in g away to do with hi bein g a ni ce
fellow and a good hot
d manded her father who had a
knack o f hearin g remark not intended f him What
on earth doe the illy g irl mean
appealing to th rest
I mean what I ay It wa Kit ty who turdily
joined f h r el f Nice men and good hot are not so

plenti ful h reabout not thick on the ground as you

woul d aythat we can afford to be ju t shown one and
is,

no

-s

ss

rs

e,

ss

s,

r n

or

e s

or

or

so

re

ST AY AT
-

I AO

H0M ES

in the least rem arkable ; had none o f the att i

bute which a popularly uppo ed to make a man
inter ting ; and what i mor would have re nted
being acc edited with them H lik d to go hi plain
way unnoti ced ; an d o ly when rou ed to action and
roused a it were o ut o f him self would he how f what
tu ff he was made
A d goo d tu ff a that wa ther i plen ty f it going
luckily fo O ld England who ca till turn o ut a worthy
m ust r oll f hon t healthy minded men mo e ready
to do than to peak o f their doings hy o f prai and
o ften uncon ciou ly actuat d by the hi g h command to
esteem othe better than themselv
But one dominan t charact ri tic Eve re t po e ed
which ometimes mi l d him and yet in itsel f wa not
undesirabl h could n ver thi k ill o f a woman Be
h old or young beauti ful or the rev r e he rega ded
her wo t fault a f minin weak se and her virtue
a be towed by H aven itsel f
He had no i ter a d no remembrance o f a mother ;
hi nea est and almo t hi only female relatio n wa the
aunt to whom our reader have be n already introd uced
and to her he owed a d bt o f gratitude f many bygone
kindn sse although until r cently th re had been but
littl per onal i ntercour betw en the two In youth
exc pt that occa ionally
h knew but lit tl ab ut h
her exi t n e wa v ry conv nient to him and thi f
it el f t nded to tabli h hi theory that the e wa ome
thing wond rful and incomprehen ible about womanhood
ince no man he argued could maintain an int e t
through li fe in an ob cure and practically unknown i
dividual imply because o f the mere tie o f bl ood
H e wa o t on hi part con cio u o f any particular
affection fo hi mother hal f i t r ; he would have been
d
such
ere been n
h
u
st a well di
o
ed
tow
r
th
s
a
h
d
a
j
p
was

no t

re

es

se

e,

s,

es

se,

es

rs

ss ss

s e

e s

rs

s e

nes

s,

s s

or

se

s e

s,

n s

es

s o

er,

s s

er s

s n
r

-s s e

er

M I SS A DAM DESCRIBES T HE SIT UAT I O N

: 4:

h
f
tie an d had they met a common acq uaintance
elt
e
(
a hamed o f thi but it wa t h t uth) wher fore h
ubtle and d licat t nd rne f h art wa beyond th
compr hen ion o f the tern er x
Thi wa Evere t conviction n v r put into word
but adh red to with th tenacity o f a creed and we hav
been oblig d to in i t upon it at thi point f our tory
inc what follow would oth rwi have been d em d if
not impo ibl at least in a high degr e improbabl
Mr Curl who had no uch blind rev r nc fo th
weaker ve l had early di cov red that h had nothing
to f ar from Evere t intimacy with hi wif H wa
him el f a worthy f llow nough and he wa no fool H
knew th world and i ts hady ide ; knew it and to hi
credit be it pok n hunn d i t pit fall pe rc iving th m
by in ti nct
When he was een
box eat o f Dai y hired
th
carriag at Lucerne tran q uilly e joying th b auti f
the land cape while Evere t a an invalid r po ed on th
cu hion within Dai y whit dr by hi id he wa in
no wi e di compo ed by hint and raill rie Wh n he w l
comed the gaunt soldi a a gu t in hi Engli h hom
f
and adjured him to make that home hi p i d d t
an indenit period he did in good faith and had a
very r al plea ure in being taken at hi word The two
m had a good deal in common and what th y had not
was up plied by th woman tact and i f Dai y cared a
littl more f Ev r t attention and p rmitted him
to n gro a little mor f h thought than either the
hu band or the friend divin d at lea t it wa but a hallow
vanity and a fooli h entimentality which had to be
mini tered to and the dged tool which might hav been
dan gerou in the ca e f anoth r w re i her innocuou
Principle had nothing to do with thi ; it wa th i
capacity f trong pa ion and el f-abandonment joined
s

s,

ss o
se

s,

s s

ss

sse

e e

e,

se

e,

s,

on

er

s s

en

or

e es

ss

s,

er

e o

or s

or

e,

- er r e
e

so

es

e,

es o

ess

-s

er

ss

Y AT HO MES

ST A

a preference fo r th lawful and r spe table o Daisy

part which enabl ed Everest fo a longer time than could
have been conceived po ibl to etain hi ideal while in
daily and hourly ntact with uch a one
She did not alarm hi m h did not disgu t him she
was only a dear littl woman who liked to be petted and
made a h s abo ut ; and i f it took tw to keep the ball
goi g he was very willing to be one f th two He and
Will iam Curle laughed tog ther ov r D ai y p tty
jealou i s an d weaknes e They endeared her to both
my teriou aunt o f min
aid
A d now f
thi
Everest to him el f a he made hi way fo th econd tim
to th identical pot in th wood which had e ved as a
meeti ng place before Mi A dam could think f no othe
h had acq uir d a pai r o f thick
an d durin g the week
boot
to face the pebbly path philo phically
a
No w to hear what it was that made little Dai y jump
out f her kin at the dinner party Con found it added
he pre en tly I mig ht have discovered omething yester
day if I had been hal f harpbut I forgot all ab ut it
Well my dear aunt a h wa een appr ach ing
w ll ? Here I am your mo t obedient ; and I ca tell
s
u
it
toughe
work
to
g
et
away
thi
time
tha
n
la
t
o
w
a
s
r
y
A lmo t thought I should have had to throw you over
M Curl wan ted me to go wit h her to the Vica ag
Indeed aid Miss A dam dryly
A d [I hould have gone but f you
nev r ay I
am
not a good boy I rather o ffended my ho tes ; I had
to ay at o ut I wo uld t go
I wond r
o doubt
A te rible e ffo t on your part
t
f
t
can
ever
e
u
any
hing
anybody
u
y
Can t N t to a woman In virtue thereo f I amhe e
t o day
Y o u had the pri o r claim
It is
Fo whi ch yo u a revilin g me i yo ur h art
all very we ll to say Woman but d o n t tell me yo u h av
to

ss

co

s e

rs

re

s s

se

or

e,

r,

ss

s e

so

s r

e s

s,

so

s s

s s e

rs

or

so

se

re

ST AY AT

he r

aura

age, o f

No

he r

wn

ran

reason at all

her

of

as

H0MES

k I al ways think
why shou l d I not call her a to you ?

wn

on l

Well impatien tly well

emed a l ip o b e ved he looking hard at her

t
u
f
f
se
ca
g
ht
your
l
u
and
we
t
at
me
o
looking
a
o
u
n
y
p

It

se

s r

o
u
y

nse Y u we e looking However l t u

tu rn to what we we e talking about before I wa telling
a
o
u
s
d
o
al
l
the
m
i
ery
thi
mad
rank
h
ntaile
s
f
y
p

m fo your sake A b eak was drawn before the

l ast word an d they were shot at him l ike a bolt from
the bl ue
For very am
az eme t he was il ent taring at h
Y es fo r yo ur ake rapid l y p ur ued he
I told
u
s
o
la
t
Sunday
hat
I
had
bu
ine
in
Somer
et
hir
ss
t
s
y
which necessitated my personal supervision ; that bu i
nes wa connect d with yo u and I had o mean o f
accompli hing it or at any rate I cou l d not hav aecom
h
li
e
d
it
s
ati
s
cto
ily
except
an
inmate
o
f
Sir
H
nry
f
a
a
p
Maynard house
Y o uyo u take m
a
b
ea
t
h
way
y
Keep it Y o u will need it presently my dear boy ;
A dam
but I wi h I knew how to begin murmu red Mi
hal f aloud
Suppo e I help y u ? said he The o ther night
wh n we were dining at the Maynards an incid nt
occurred A l ady wa ingi g or had been ingi g
and wa bein g pre ed to ing again whe ome n
new companion it was tole up to her
Lady Laura
and whi pered so m thi g in her ca at which h
tarted and nearly fainted
Nothing o f the kind
O h n o she didn t
vents he wa
much out f u te
A t al l
name
N

n se

on

s re

er

ss

ss

so

e,

s e

r,

co

S I S

MI SS

SIT UAT IO N

T HE

A DA M DE CR BE

that was it that s better ; o ut of coun tenan ce

sh was i f you like
that very one imagined h mu t hav re eived
aid not a word about it
Sh ha
so me di e a ff ront
ince which rather l ad m to uppose
H a n t h aid a word N ither to y u no r t o any
one ? Clev r littl hussy
bro w responded to the
A light frown on Evere t
tone f cont mptuous admiration
Hu y what a
word !) Whatever your whi per may have been I am
goi g to ask y u to repeat it now h aid grav ly O f
to a yt hing not proper
course y o u can r fu e i f it r lat
fo me to b a ; but om how I fancy that can hardly be
the case ? A m I right ? Wa i t not in order to com
mu i ate to me the purport f what you aid to M
Curle that you a ked me to come her tod ay ?
Mis A dam nodded bri kly Y u a right ; it wa
I don t ee how it ca have to do with me pur ued
he aft er a mom nt ctio but I think you might
ati fy my curio ity That i to say with a
as well
i f it i s nothing detrimental to Mrs
sudden aft rthou ght
Curle
A d how i f it be detrimental ?
aid he
Oh !
You needn t twi t your mou tache an d l ook stupid
cried his aunt hal f vexed hal f laughing No n eed
D
look
nonplu
ed
i
on
t
tell
me
that
I
am
o
u
s
y
to hold my tongue because what I can tell yo u o f yo ur
fair fri nd will make you jump n arly as high a it mad
her Good graciou n ph w I am not aying he was
W
f
know
what
But
act
main
that
illie
t
a
u
h
y
Curl picked h out f the gutt r educated h and
marri d h r Sh wa a pr tty little cr ature f fteen
or ther abouts with a wond rfully sweet voic and a
wo nderfully sour old parent He played the viol in fo r

A ye,

s e s

ss

e r

es

e s

re

rs

n c

s re

n,

ss

s r

s,

to

e r,

re

er

ST AY AT HO MES

6
4

to sin g wherever she co uld gather an audience at

uch plac s as Pan an d Nice a d the rest o f the E gli h
Where I h a d her wa at Nice She wa a e
re ort
markably pretty child a d o e day I i n q ui ed o f h her
e when to my astonishmen t he repl ied in good E g
n am
li h Peggy V ickers
The Speaker pau ed a d e umed When I went
back to the ame hotel the following year Peggy Vicke
had di appeared ; a d I quite missed my little canary
bird who had been a reg ular as cl ockwork in coming
round twice a week befo e The landlord and landl ady
at th A nglai we e full f Peggy goo d fo tune She
had att acted th notice f a rich Engli hmanone o f
their o wn cu tome Did I not rem mber him It was
he who i si t d o Peggy coming round twice in th
week in tead of once ; and the end o f it wa that he
bought ff the di reputable old father and sent Peggy
to chool When h had don with school it wa aid
he was goi g to marry her I thought no more f the
matter Hou ton proceed d hi aun t beyond hoping
that Peggy benefactor w uld marry her ; and the
Bla d both Mon ieur an d Madame wer eager in th ir
a urance that Mr Curl wa a most re pectable in fact
a ange l ic youn g man thing seemed hope ful
Still
I repeat the whole pa sed from my memory till ome
thr e y ar later wh n I ran acros a young couple
honeymooning in the Tyrol a d omething about th
much bedecked littl bride eemed familiar I looked
t h name in th vi itor
book an d read Mr and
f
M s William
A gain the narrator pau sed an d ag ain took up the
t hr ad
f her narrati ve a he made no remark
The
am ven ing I fou nd the pair had the tabl next to
mine at dinner There was no mi taking that all wa
right and tight matrimonially Finding I was u recog
her

e r

er

r s

rs

ss

so

or

s,

s s

s e

rs

e e

ST AY AT

8
:4

me t

HO MES

ould n ever have guessed there was an yt hin g

Do they suspect
Do other people know
If they did would the e have bee that crowd abo ut
M s Curl o Monday ni ght Houston
You mean that they would loo k shy on h r fall away
fro m h
I do Emphatically I do
What a black guard shame
Mi A dam tarted thi wa n t the eect he mea t
to produc
Y o u ay that h ha done nothin g literally nothin g
to make her unt to en ter any hone t hou e and y t that
h would not be received at one ?
I do not say that I do not go fa as that But
tainly be received on a very di fferent footin g
she would c
and i f Mr and M Curle do not know
If it w re not
it would be o why a they o ca eful to conceal their
tory ? Why did h look as i f the kie had fall n when
I reminded h a yo u aw m do o f her antecedents
Y es yo u aw A d all I aid wa Hav yo u any o f those
little ha
you u ed to in g as Peggy V icke s ? If
P ggy V icker could have kill d me fo the suggestio n
she would
It wa adiab lical sugg tion
My dear Hou to there is no need f r y u to be
I can understand Peggy or Dai y or
avage about it

i
what v r h s called I fully expect d he would feel
ome light motion
A unt Emmi why did you do it ?
H e caught h
hand and look d earne tly in her fac
You a not a
cruel woman ; you are not a narrow mi ded pr judiced
purita ical creatu e
O bliged to you nephew go on
Fo he had caught
hi s br ath a d topped
You mu t have had so me reason fo r it said h
n

I sh

er

'

ss

s e

so

er

so ,

rs

re

s e

er,

n so n s

es

e e

e,

er

re

n,

e,

MI SS ADAM DESCRI BES T HE

SIT UAT IO N

i t g I can t bel ieve yo u did it out of sheer

an d he l ooked to her to supply the word
M ali e O h dear no A s yo u ay I am o t that
kind o f pe so n A d I am only waitin g till y u a e r ady
to hear what my motiv was
But I am ready ; I have bee n e ady all alo g
N t q uite Hou ton dryly
Y o u had to blow o ff the steam t proceeded hi
aunt teadily egardin g hi pu led face and to clear
your brai n befo e it could tak a rational outlook at
th in g in ge
ral The Curle hav been very kind to
v
u
v
ha
e
been
li
ing
at
ee
quarter
with
them
u
f
; y
y
be ide being taken up an d
fo the past th e week
lo ok d after petted and coddled when y u st met at
Mr Curle i an a y hu band
Luc rn e
I ay
h ashed ut ; but on e ond thought
there ha bee n noth ing o f that ort he relaps d
gloomily If peopl have be n talking it i con found d
impertin nce ; a d i f you mean to hint
I never hint aid Mi A dam proudly
I t ll
you plainly that your being continually with th Curl
oin
g
with
them
wherever
t
h
y
w
nt
when
abroad
and
g
nally followi g them to England and b ing dome tic
a on iderabl
ated in their hou e a the ole guest f
period i s a cour e o f proceeding not likely to pa
without commen t H ou ton y u are dearer to m
than yo u think I am almo t alone in the world an d
your wel far your happines
h pau ed in some
emotion
He wa obviou ly to uched a d hi impati ce checked
by the tremor o f her accent Hi r ply when he mad
it was more re pect fully and cautiou ly worded than it
would have been had it come a min ute sooner
Y o u hav be n ve y g oo d to m my dear aunt an d
I amn ot un grateful ; but a man mu t stand o n his own

hes ta i n

ne

r e

s,

zz

rs

e s

s,

s c

ss

es,

or

ss

s e

e,

en

e,

ST A Y-A T -HO ME

o
s

now I had no idea I was bei ng watched

rese tmen t again ri in g
No had I a y idea f watchin g yo u sai d she calmly
I wonder yo u do not ay Spied upon that ex pression
would have uited yo ur feelin gs even better than the
other at thi momen t But believe me Hou ton n
one in thi wo rld can aff d to suppos himself invi ible
Doo r a d windows have yes an d ea s Y s I see yo u
gl ance at me and I o wn n o t without cau e ; but my
fo oli sh escapade wa
o t u dertaken witho ut my bein g
ready to ju ti fy i t i f need were To yo u I justi fy it now
I adopted thi co urse to detach yo u from Dai y Curl
I may have had another object also in view pro
eeded the
peaker perceiving a u h o f indign ation
oversp ead hi cou tenan ce but that was a seconda y
co n iderati on
my st wa what I hav aid I kn w
u
i
f
o
u
t
o
would
not
li
te
to
me
I
e
ely
implored
o
n
r
m
y
y
break o ff thi intimacy f which I had heard
From a parcel o f meddl ome interf ring
From per f ctly di spa ionate obse vers who merely
co mmented witho ut a y obje t in doing
on M
C urle having an n exed y u A nnexed was I think
the terma d on your being in eparabl No a y u
the rst who has been caught in that et my dear
Hou ton by any mann r f mean There was a black
vi aged cou t be fore your day ; and befo him ome

o
el e She may be p ctable indeed I ought not
to ay May f my in formant M phati ally gave it a
their opinion that he wa and was me ly phila deri n g
with one and another f th sake f amu s ment and

di play but Houston are you the man to be paraded

by a vulgar adventur
I am v y orry but I can t li ten to y u Sh
lo oked at him h was White with an g
The e ha been eno ugh o f this aid he between hi

fe t , yo u k

or

s n

e s

es

ss

ne

res

or

s,

or

re

re

rs

so ,

re

ess

er

er

S Y
TA

:
I5

HO MES

-AT -

what she i s and fro mwhat sh has sprun g has

caused h rsel f to be admitted under absolutely fal se
pretenc in to hou hold where h know he k ws she
would never be re eived we e her true tory known You
will ay that this i s none o f her doing a d that h i not
e po ible f the attitude o f other p opl toward her ?
Perh aps not ; a d perhap it could hardly be expected
that he hould have in formed th m f what no one eems
to hav thought worth inquiring ab ut ; but what I d
co mplain o f i her conduct h dem anour her a umption
By her art an d a surance sh
o f authori ty and fashi o n
has imposed her el f a gro caricature f a woman o f the
world u pon thi i m
pl ighbourhood a d compl tely

t
h
f
f ome
ubjugated
mi
d
s
o
O f the Mayn ard s I suppose
To hear Beatrice the proud pirited high souled Bea
trice quot M Curle
She doe quote her t i umph lit up hi eye No t
only do Mi Maynard qu te h but he eek her
take cou el with h ; how do yo u
ut con de in h
account f that Mi s May ard ha some power of
di cernment ome atural in stincts I uppo ? Your
dep eciatio f h judgme t
Ther come to the
Pooh ! She i s blind folded
neighbourhood a rich man a d hi pr tty wi fe and they
start w i th making fri nd s with the vicar
The vicar
a d the vica
family a enchant d with donation a d
beyo d what th y hav ev r received befo e ;
sub criptio
al o M
Curle i as iduous in doing pari h work She
w broom weeping in all four cor r
i in fact quite the
at on ce They a uch nic u e ful people ; will the
Maynards all ? They can hardly h lp cal lin g Then
Mr Cu le ub cribe to th hunt a d a k men to hoot
You e I know all about it The hu band and wife f el
their way ; and there a n o young peo pl to rai
she

i s,

se

es

s, s

r s

ns

s e

or

no

er

ss

s s

e ne

ss

ss

es

n o

se

ns

re

ne s

s e

re

ne

rs

re

rs

er

er

er,

ns

or

e r,

rs

-s

se

MI SS

S I S

A DA M DE CR BE

SIT UAT IO N

T HE

53

pprehen ion o f awkward co nti genciesindeed they are

you g n o ugh them elve to be ask d h re and th r in

then Dai y begin s It i no u Houston

an ea y way
I wi ll go on You thought you had a ught me with
Dai y ubjugation o f Beatrice Maynard among other ?
I can how you the whole thing in a nut h ll Dai y s
time has come to wheedle h rs l f into notic She i o
bright o cl v r o adroit in knowing the right thin g to
say and t he right pe son to
ay it to that she di sarm
very ho tile c itic i m The great ladies tell each other
that h i s ot q uite but sh i pa sabl and s amu ing
Lady Laura Mayn ard has tak n her up ; a d f co ur e
i f h goe to the Maynard y
you se what a point

she cor s by that ?

A d now fo B atrice Beatric i
n o t very happy at hom
She i not in ympathy with
a y
th
an
Sh want a outl t But a tupid wom
or a woman brought up in the am ma n r a her el f
and h dg d about by the same restriction and tradition
would be no goodbecau e Beatric f ets f the actual
throb o f li fe a d to hear i ts gr at wheel whir i g A d
h think poor girl that in thi s count rf it p et nd r to
h ha found a
that knowledge f which he p i n
kind ed pi it ! Y u wond r to h ar me warm and to
ein g I hav
n d me so conver ant with all th se detail
only been h re three short w ek
I have known about
the Maynard f y ar Coming to live among them
wa li ke putti g match to tind r
A pau e
A d now H ou to
that yo u have cool d dow
proceeded the Speaker in more a y acc nts and that
you a li tenin g to me with om outward how f

deference not that I re ented your anger my d ar boy

it wa up ruous that was allbut now that you know
all have you forgiven me ?
I have not forgiv n y u and I never hall aid he
She had mi interpreted hi attention an d hi ilen ce
a

e e

se,

s s

s e

e e

e s

e,

on e

e re

es,

or

s e

s, se

n,

n,

e s

r n

so

or

s s

s,

or

re

s,

s e

es,

s s

s s

CH A PT ER

VI

J
HE went away in a towering rage It all eemed to him
mea
de picable
an to do it too ! It wa a i f h had beheld
A wo m
to
a an gel fall and felt that the angel had no bu ine
do anything f the kind
A d Dai y poor little thing p or little fluttering bird
rather brave in her
o gay in her uncon ciou ne

dean
f danger ! Plucky little oul l Courageou
little c eature ! What torment mu t that oft little
heart not b enduring a d with bold a front ! T here
w r no bound to hi admiration and t nderne on
the one hand nor to hi wrath and r probatio on the
other
A he tramped along over the hard ground he felt
him elf a hard a it toward the cruel p rpetrator f an
utrag which tirred hi whole being into a p rf ct con
vul i
f pity ; and how to circumvent h
and r nder
her pow rl f further mi chief t all hi wit to work
Sh h ld the winning card in th game that wa
certain ; hi e ffort mu t be directed toward preventing
h
playing it
Something he could urely do ; l e why had he been
invited to a p cie f partner hip ? H e mu t pu le ut
what that Something wa
and aft r a time he found
him el f thi king more clearly
Hi aunt had come down to the Curle vicinity with
a d nite purpo e that purpo e being t blacken them

MA

OR EVEREST , I

WILL

ST A N D BY HER

so

n , so

ce

ss

"

ss,

so

e e

so

ss

s on o

er

ess

or

se

er

e s

so

s,

zz

15
4

ST A

6
I5

HO MES

-AT -

There was no denyi n g ho wever that hi s aunt hel d the

trump card he repeated that fact to him sel f ov r an d over
again She co uld at an y mo ment pull po or littl e Dai y s

house o f card abo ut her ear fo whatever he himsel f

might feel and in whatever light he might look upon th
revelation ju st made hi heart ank as he reali se d th truth
at i o that M
o f the arrator s ai m
Curl would be every
where received ou a di eren t footing were her tale known
That means she would be snubbed slighted and left
ut o f things on eve ry po ible occa ion
thought he
A d she who love it al l a women do and ou ght to
do ! Soci ty i their kingdom ; they have no other ; at
least with a t winge o f un a y feeli ng f cour e ome
women are reli giou and all that but D ai sy has t a turn

u
that way It would imply kill her to be shown p an d
no o ne knows that better than thi maliciou old aunt of
mine co n found her
I ll go decided he nally I ll take mysel f o ff
But don t you think that it i becau e I m afraid o f you
ma am apo trophi ing Mi A da m in hi thoughts ;
it
becau e I ca not let my el hn provoke yo ur
malignity ; I wouldn t budge an inch on my own account

d
an
o
might
do
your
wor
t
but
when
ther
another
u
y
to be thought o f and that other the learest and ki de t
little woman in the world i t only the part o f a man to
helt r her at hi w expe se Y es I ll go
But he was not to go
What ! O thi a fternoon
cried Mr Curle the
following morni n g
N you don t
o t i f I know it
I m goi g after th
Lo ok here Ever t you ca t
hound and you sai d you d take the mi u s
I know but bu ine s i bu i e Curle A wfully
sorry but I really mu t
It i importa t
Wo uld not to morrow do ? O f course i f it i a case
o f necessity
e

s,

rs

'

ss

e s

ss

ess

es

s o

'

es

s,

ss

s n

ss,

MAJ O R

It i

WI LL

EVERE T , I

ST AND

HER

BY

57

I have no choice
N t ev n b tween to day and to mo row
Say to
morrow then there a good fellow I ll tell Sir Henry
about th hootin g but we imply can t let you o to

day You ee I m ju t ta ting he wa all accoutred

and his hor at the door and I can t top now ; and
H look d so di turbed
i f thi i to be Good by
that Ev re t who told him lf that a day could make no
di ff re c yielded th point
If he could catch the early train on the n xt morning
it would do ; h could make it do ; and he would him sel f
call at th Maynard and xplain how he had to cry ff
hooting engag mnt T hat ought to ati fy her
hi
re cted he thinkin g o f hi aunt
W will call together aid Dai y on hearing f the
arrange me t W can dri ve ov r
I think perhaps I had bett r me t you ther aid
E ver t
t h fact i
I mu t have a trampyou won t
think me rude but I am rather out f orts and a good
long walk over the country a hard a I a go wi ll

make me fe l mor t perhap you s I have the

doctor order to think about h wound up hastily

T hu h wa alone wh n an un fortunate occurrence
took place
H wa em rging from a ld path whi ch adjoined
the high road at a di tanc f about a mil from th
Maynard lodge and had leaped the tile without
obs rving th proximity o f a hor man whom the hedge
hi d from vi w
So clo wa t h latter that hi hor e a mettlesome
che tnut mar by no mean tir d out with an ea y hunt
ing day at no period o f which she had been pr ed
f
W
illie
Curle
h
ld
di
cr
tion
to
be
the
better
part
o
(
tarted and w rved viol ntly on
o f valour in the ld )
ing omething hoot out of n othing beneath her ve y

s.

e s

'

se

se

e,

s s

s,

c n

ee

e o

se

se

e,

es

e,

ess

see

ST AY AT -HO MES

8
5

nose ! Her rider who a it chan ed was half tu rned in

the saddle at the moment looking to see i f other w re
was in tantly a d rather badly
following in hi s wak

the whole wa the work f a few second s

t hro wn
H ullo cried Everest runni g up to him Hullo
Curle Not hurt ar you Let me give yo u a hand
attempting to raise him from a sitting po ture A wfully
continued he hal f laughing fo the i cident was
sorry
not without i ts ludicrou ide I had no idea a y one wa

i
there but
a di fferent voice
can t you g t up
What ? Your leg ? You don t mean to ay in the
utmo t consternation that yo u fel l on your leg ? He
take my
but a groa a d a hake o f the head p
cluded further effort
Don t bother about it A t len gth and with what
was a ve y p raisewort hy attempt at indi ffe ence the u
fortunate Wil l ie Curl forced him e l f to peak
Im
afraid thi both rsom l g i b o ken ; i t he winced
and hi t hi lips it hurt
I can t get up Eve est
really If you couldcould manage to roll me over

r
ah ! t he e that s better with a sigh of relief and get
o ut my a k the e
a goo d fellow Never mind the
ma e ; he ll go home O h it wa n t your fault ; not a
bit I was an as to be itting with such a lo o e seat
and o f cou se I fall heavybut i t n o great matter
Charl y Wilde had hi arm napped to day Fellows
alway get accid nt It it nothing w pi g hi
forehead as he spoke and feebl y miling up i to th
perturbed face which hung over him
Whatever am I to do with you q ueried Evere t
t rribly at a los
I can t i magine how I could hav

e
b en uch a but it no use talking We must get yo u
home so mehow and get the doctor ; but I don t
how

u
o
t
o
are
be
le
f
t
he
e
a
l
l
alone
and h sea ched t h
y
l andscape fo a gure in vain
s

e,

s s

re ,

re

s so

'

see

I 60

H O MES

-AT -

ST A

a g o f plans wou l d be hown to be gen uinely due to

Mr Curle s broken leg and his hare in causing it where
for although no one could reaso ably blame him fo what
had happen ed h had that guilty feeling which eve y o e
mu t have who however inadverten tly i s e p on sible fo

another s mi chance and though h would o t tru t

him el f to peak to Mis A dam i n private agai (fo hi s
burning indign ation again t her was i n o wise abated) he
thought h could hardly be o unju t as to misinte pret
ean s i n
hi s anxiety to repair his mi sdemeanour by an y m
hi s power
When therefore he tu ned his head again to face the
applican t the re wa a mile upon hi s face
I ll come back Curle
A d I ought to be uncommonly thank ful to have
uch people to come back to he told hi m el f at the close
o f the next day
Can t think what th y see in me

A d here I am at a loo e end ti ll and no one l se i

En gland at a y ratecares a ha g whether I live or die
N0 you harridan y u don t
hi thoughts ying o ff
we an g uess to whom
u
d
o
n
t
what
v
r
o
u
may
e
o
y
y
ay
Y u would have torn me from beneath the o ly roo f
that car s to shelter a po or battered good f n othi ng
fellow who i only a nui sanc with hi s phy ics and dget s
Why ca t I get well ? Fo ur month gone and precious
little di ffer nc that I can e A nother mon th yet !
How easy it i to say A nother mo th whe the man
who say it isn t the one who has to wait and wait eati ng
What
hi s heart out while oth rs get all the chances
rotten luck it was ! A pause Then Seems to me
that Mr William Curl whom a certain eld rly f male
tu n up her no e at might teach me a lesson at this
poi t q uoth Hou ton Everest dryly If poor fat Will ie
can hea
hi luck without a m
urm ur a d o n ly as k
me to o me back and si t with hi m a d hold his
ch n

e,

r s

- o r-

se

e,

MA J O R

EVERE T ,

WI LL

ST AND

BY HER

I 6I

doe want I m han ged

hand or what v r it
if
I don t think Wi l lie i rath r a fellow and all the
mi chi f mak r in Chri t ndom han t driv m from
hi b d id
Thi wa the beginning f a curiou tate f thing
Fir t f all very
wa conc ned about M Curl
The worthy Willie had not an n my in th world and
a
oon a t h doctor gave permi ion f him to r c iv
them it app ar d that h had quit a number f fri nd
They turned up from all point f the compas th H u t
ending a conting nt which wa in i t l f a credit to hi
popularityand the Ma t r wa one f th mo t
a iduou Th y cam at all hour but mainly toward
v ning wh n th day work wa over ; and though
th
alway ready to welcom any
and ev ry o Dai y
took care to b at home wh n the light wa waning
Toward th clo e f th r t fortnight how v r i
t e t or at l a t excit m nt wan d
and th n t in th
period o f which the invalid had xp rienced dr ad p
u i
Now f d adly monotony or what would hav
been deadly monotony i f Ev r t had fai l ed him
A n d v n E v re t wa not nough
H e mu t hav
other ; mu t have talk and bu tl and fr h fac about
him H wa no read r ; n v r had been ; book w
the la t d ire f hi heart Dai y mu t d him com

panion
h it wa no di r p ct to her and Evere t but
f th ir ake a wel l as hi
w vi itor mu t be ntic d
to The H olli and amu ed wh n there What about
B atric Maynard ? Somehow h took to Beat ic mor
than to h i t r which wa odd con id ring that Kitty
wa innit ly livelier ; But h i uch a co n found d
hatterbox argued he wh n thi wa p ut forward by
hi s wi f
Beside Beatric was Dai y fri nd ; and in pri vat
he told Dai y that the friend hip wa not to be d pi d
is

e e

he

e s

ne

s e

one

e e e

e s

or

n e,

e e

es

n,

s s

er s s e s

e re

s o

es,

es

es

e,

e e

s es

re

or

se

e es

e e

c rs o n

one

er s

s,

se

s,

s e

e e

s o

or

ss

er

s s

ss

s s

s,

I I

es

se

ST AY-AT H O MES

I 62

ow your time and I ay can t yo u make a match

it et ee her and Ev re t ? he udd nly ugge t d
thoug ht the idea was hi own and that it
wa a r markably cl ver one
Th y would not uit each other at all r torted
h
promptly extingui hi g it
Why not ? H i a nic f llow an d sh i de per
ately in wan t f a hu band
H ow can you know
O h Willi don t be tire ome
I t ll yo u h would n ver look at him and f goodn
ake do n t put the idea into hi h ad It would only
l ad to unplea antn
and the Maynard would be
v xed with us

Would they though ? Well I mu t say but you

kno w be t though f the life f m I ca t why th y
hould obj ct Do th y y at higher gam ?

f
cour
mphatically Beatric ha had half
O
you know ;
th m about a ft r her ;
h i the h ir
it lik ly that h par nt would approv f uch
a d i
a poor match a Major Ev t ? If h w r to how t h
t
lighte t ign f an inclinationwhich h do
wi th harp d ci ion they would top h coming h r
while he i with u
That would n v r do f very r a on A ll right
I ll ay no mor ; it wa only an id a f mine and
he di mi d it from h i mind
H ow about Mi A dam ? d mand d he on anoth r
Ha
h
occa io
do anything mor than grin
through her t eth at you ? Ha h v r again tried to
bit
She
O thi h ad Dai y wa volubl and r a uring
a d Mi
A d am wer q uit good fri nd now
Sh took
Mi A dam in a di ff r nt way ; wa civil to h and d
f rr d to h
Maynard eem d to hav got into
a th
t h habi t f doing ; obviou ly th
w m thod an wered
is
N
of
b w n
o n e day
He

so

ess,

e ss

or

s e

e,

s e,

s e

e res

no

e e

er

or e

sse

ss

e s

es

e e

e e

e o

ess,

er

se e

en

se

or

ne

s s

e e e

ss

er,

e ss

e e

ss

s s

e ne

er

[6

ST AY

HO MES

-A T -

4
.

hat it ; they xaggerate f cou se Beat ice i

one vas t exagg ratio Ev ry littl thing i f uch
mighty importan with her that h bro od and worri
but h ha rtainly eemed more cheerful ince Mi
Mi A dam keep her mother ff h I
A dam came

es

ss

ss

s o

s e

s ce

ce

er,

I tell y u what Mi A dam i jolly good company

bu t forth Willi from the ofa I n ver wi h f bett r
talk and better fu than he and I had y terday wh n
I had h all to my l f A d h ha been at lot of

place we hav
looking at hi wi f Evere t ye we
the ground h did not and would not e i f a glan ce
o
o f warning replied
That alway give one omething to talk about aid
Dai y after a mom t pau
It i such a bl ing
wh you can tart traight ff wi th H omburg or Monte
I do mi that h re ; th p opl in thi n igh
Carlo
b u h o d when they go ab oad e m to el ct the ve y

dullest place even i f th y v nture i to th joy f

Mont th y go fromMenton M nton i a ort f af
fortre s from which to ally forth in f ar and tr mbling
Wel l h
Everest ha been at neith r
aid her
husband good humou edly So all f thi i n t p a ticu
la ly com
plim ntary to him You might t ach him th
talk though if talk all that wa ted
Major Ever t can talk f fa mo int re ti n g thing
q uoth Dai y demurely It i o ly between mer a
t
a
a
f
n
u
a
i
f
th
t
one
l
nee
link
to
hang
e
t
h
d
o
q

a d h
hatt r upon
ro e and pa d out throwing
Ever t a glan ce as h went
It was merely a coq u tti h kindly littl glanc but it
moved him Since hi aunt r v lation which had had
d i fferent an effect from that which h int nded many
things about Dai y which had hi therto pas d unnoticed
howed them lves in a oth r a pect to Ev re t

ss

rs

se

s e

e,

se

re

s e

or

es

er

en

en

r o

e s

s e

s,

sse

e e

e,

s e

so

se

re

s e

es

n ces

es

s s

ere s

ess

s e

s,

se

ss

se

M A J O R EVEREST ,

WILL

ST A ND

HER

BY

I 65

She wa innit ly mor in te e ting h wa even

path tic in the new light in which h tood H e
ga ded h with a ort f wond that h wa what h
H ow had h achi v d it N t without a truggl
wa
ur ly ; a t ady indomitabl truggl and con i st ntly
u tain d r olv It had b en uppo d that h would

think th l
f her f t hi
h thought the mo e
He
longed to h lp h and to hi ld h
But what wa h ? H ow little lay in hi powe and
how oon that power it l f would be withdraw ! Very
hortly h would b fa away beyond the r ach either
f her d tracto
or h d f nd r ; bey ond her call in
th
hour f ne d i f uch a call hould ari e ; and h
would be l ft with only h Williea good f llo w but
naturally unabl to do what the out id world alone could
dogiv that upport which could be e te med di i
What wa ne d d wa not a hu band but a
t
t d
fri nd
But ven a E vere t thu pond red he recalled that
uch fri nd hip might be rend red val u le by mi int r
i
h
i
a
lr
ady
po
ition
had
bee
chal
w
t
t
A
p
l ng d ; a d con ciou though h might b f int grity
and probity h could not go about with prote tation on
i
f
u
P
ople
would
mil
h i lip
a
u
i
u
a
Q
olitary champion tood forth on the ide f a p rsecuted

woman but how i f that champion wer f her own ex

A id a occurr d a by a lightning a h
uch a champion
might be cur d and through hi mea ; a q ui t mile
ov pr ad hi feature a d wh h look d toward th
ofa Willie wa a l p H ro on tiptoe and tole
from th room
H would not lo e a day nor an hour
in tting about hi ta k
With B atric Maynard Ever t wa by this time quite
on a y t rm not indeed on th am term that h wa
with D ai y Curl (and had been almo t from the rst day
s

r s

s e

er

er

ess o

e,

e e

er

e s

er

e res e

s o

e o

s erc se s

e o

se

s ee

se

ns

se

en

s,

: s

e s

cc se

e rs

ss

on

re

r,

rs

er

se

se

e
e

er,

or

e r

e s

es

e s

s e

es

e s

ST AY AT H O M ES

I 66

meet i ng) but he unde stood the di ffe en e bet we n

the women a d wa not dau t d by it Mi s May ard
ea ed on a tately altitude with all the advantag o f
i
f
ent
ca
e
and
all
h
redita
y
in
t
n
c
t
a
would
t
h
a
l
r
a
p
natu ally be mo difcult f approach than a p or litt le
waif knocked about from pillar to post a d trained to be
espon iv and obli g ing
Mi Maynard would be in t ructed on di ff rent lines ;
with her sel f re t rai t was inculcated and f ankn di
Yet h long to be f ank tho ught h
o u ag d
Dai y had taught hi mthi
F om Dai y h al o learn ed that Beat ic was i m
pati nt o f the con v nti o by which h wa hedged in
that h felt crippled by family inte dict and ebelliou
to ward e tabli hed modes o f thought Hi aunt b
vi u ly h ld that th eld t daughter f the hou e wa a
pe o age o ly lacking O ppo tunity to prove he l f

H igh mi ded the wo rd had

Sh had c alled B atric
grat d on Evere t s ar alr ady tinglin g with v xation
and animo ity ; but h alled it now with another f l
ing The high minded Beatri e might prove a pow ful
in t um nt in hi hands if he could ubdue her and
enli t her in the cause he had at heart
rt ainly not one f a flock of he p
Sh wa
hould I hav thought my aunt
cogitated
N
he but then h do not t up to be H igh minded
She would ay f her lf that h i only a very o ort
o f amiable creature and
h i no he not ha tily
rem mbering he a pe ti f rou mi chi f mak r and
cannot fre her el f i f h wo uld from th tramm l f M
Grundy Contemptibl ! triking th g ound with hi
tick f he wa now walking away f om th Curle hou e
U tt rly illy and cont mptibl ! A n d to uppo that I
who know th world as w ll a he am going to be l d
by th no ! How v r I howed her another to y

of

n e

r ce ,

s o

re

es

ss

s e

ess

es

rs n

s,

s,

rse

ee

er

so

e rec

s r

ns

s e
s

s ce

or s

o n e,

es

s e

so s

se

se

so -s

e s o

or

se

s s

rs

s e

s e

se

S Y

68

TA

H O MES

-AT -

bo t ! O bviously he meant to join partnership ; he

t pped along to her pace as he talked
H W i Mr Curle to day
Rath r w a y f hi o fa
It i rough on a f llow lik
him He has never had an illne in hi li f
I think I hould like an illne s said B atric miling
I have oft n wond red what it would b lik to hav
nur e and d ctor and a fu going I forgot Major
Ev rest you know only too well but then I don t m an
anything really pain ful or dang rou I m an only what
i called S riou
om thing which make peopl ve y
kind to y u
h
topped and he kn w at onc h
wa talking f What h had be n thinking
Can t peopl be kind without that ? aid h
A d th n in an in tant he drew in and there wa no
plaintive cond nc
ch a D ai y would have mad
with d light at uch an op ning In t ad Mi Maynard
laugh d and turned a ide the qu tion Sh only m ant
E xtra kind ne dl
ly f i u ly kind a peopl wer
to ick folk he perceiv d that he wa not to catch h
that way
H tried the b autie f t h land cape and wa mor
ucc ful ; h had the point f the compa at h
g
end and om thing to ay about ach She lov d
the broad tr tch f undulating country with i t wooded
vall y and dott d villag ; i t gl am f wat r h re and

th r ; v n i t pa ing train wh n not t near did h

not think that
in th di tance with i t thin whit
lin f mok rath r add d to than took from th
pictu qu a pect f th c n ?
But I don t car much about train you know aid
hon tly
h

f
li f and mov m nt and
E xc pt that they giv li
a ugg tion f thing b yond r join d h ; I lik to
think o f that ying thin g threading i t way on and on

o s

s e

e r

s s

ss

e, s

ss

on

s,

s e

s :

s e

es

ess

e s

su

e s

c o

ss

er

ess

s,

es

ss

res

e,

es

e,

es

oo

e s e

s o

er

s,

on e

ss

e e

e e

er-

s o

s e

M A J O R EVEREST , I

WI LL

ST A ND

BY HER

69

l aving behind now thi now that I ofte wi h I could

e

with it

o
g

s,

thi happy vall y

thi tagnati on O h what non en e I am
ta king
gain h caught h r el f up and again h
wa hamper d by the precepts f h up
aw that h
bringing
H wa not to know anything about the Stagnation
or to uppo the Non en had any en se in it A ll
right h bid d hi tim
Th y mu t take their walk tog ther that wa c rtain
how v r my young madam might feel ; f th re they
w r road behind and road in front and not a oul to be
n A farmer gig to be ure came into view a h
thu cogitatedbut what wa a farm r gig It joggl d
along toward them with three m abrea t itting in it
O h do bow to them cried B atrice a they dr w near

xplanation
h looked f
B w to them
Don t you know ? Do it ; and then I ll tell you
d y u n d not
O h murmured h a the gig pa
hav bee
demon trativ th v y lighte t fainte t
nod would have done ; but I dare ay they thought it wa
only th gentry way Farm lad a very rural about
s
O ut o f
s
O ut o f

l
A
!

s e

e s

s e

er

se

se

e e

or

e e,

see

en

or e

e,

sse

so

e,

er

ee

re

what wa the meaning f it ?

Why f luck r pli d h m rri l y
If you meet
thr m abrea t in a cart0 any kind f convey
anc you mu t bow to th m f they bring y u luck ;
and i f you don t bow th y won t bring it W Maynard
t rribly uper titiou ; and we wouldn t pa thr
a
m in a cart without bowing f th world
A
h
poke h seemed to grow young r She
p attl d laughed and plied hi mwith m rry qu tion
and co undrum ; h r counted a ecdotes and nally
bur t forth into the broad Some setshire dial ct H
But

or

s e

or

ss

s e

ee

or

en

e,

re

en

ee

es

S I AY

'

I 70

-AT -I-IO

MES

could ha dly beli ve thi wa Beatrice May ard Th e

in h talk wh ich accord d with h gait
wa a bri kn
Sh wa a it w r m ntally a w ll a phy ically t ad
ing out freely ; he found him el f heartily amu ed and
ngro ed
Y t it wa another kind f dialogu which the two
pr ntly f ll into from that which Ev r t would have
had with D ai y Cu l
Dai y wa ither per onal a d
ego i tic and h did not car f h in the latt
mood b im ful f oth r peopl naughty way and
wa it not hocking f how they manag d to conc al
th m N t a tittl tattl that wa going but my little
lady h ard it and wa a f ai t wi t h it
Y t h could be wond fully plea ant too
h had a
winning nticing oftn abo t h which med to woo
a man from him el f d pit him l f ; and Ev t wa
loyal to h in hi thought v n now v with th fr h
air blowing on hi brow and B at ic Maynard w t

fr h talk in hi ear
w
but h r al i ed that
H
a loyal
th r wa a world f di ff r nc between th two wom n
H e had felt om thing f thi before Th r wa a
ubtl cent that Dai y alway u d Ev r t could t ll
when v r h had be n in a room and in t h ickroom
with i t warmth h ad d blind and articial xi t nc
th
whi f p fume a the dai ty littl gur ru tl d
about did not m ami
But h rath r di liked it at
H wa an op n air man wit h no b nt
oth r tim
toward a t i i ali ty in any form H ad Dai y known it
many f h littl d vic a d art to allu w r thro wn
away upon him th y did not h ight n th y dimi i h d
attractiv
Wh r h gain d wa in h p r o
h
ality Sh wa
ntiall y f minin ; and h wa
mphatically ma culin that anything weak and clinging
app al d to hi m
B atric May ard wa not
mu h feminine a
e

e ss

er

s,

e e,

er

ss

ese

e es

r e

or

er

ess

es

es

e e

e s

s e

s s

ee

e e

e es

se

e s
e

s,

es

e en

e res

e e

see

se

er,

s e e

e e

er

s,

er

e s

er

or

s e

re

er

s e

e,

er

see

es

es

e n ess

e sse

re

e e s e

er

er

ss

e e

n s

er
e

e s n
s

so

so

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

2
7

mo t horribl dirty and dan g rous path Dai y

aid ; but Beatrice Maynard found it
Curle would hav
d lightful and th red u tting v r th tr e top in
we t more beauti ful than u ever how d itself
th
be fore
Pre ntly th y came to a ruined cottage wi th an appl
orchard and What i that
demand d Ev rest
udd nly H had n v r een mi tl toe g owing out f
an ap pl tr t m befor
What in the world i t hat
and he yed t h whit berri with curio ity
O u villag r would hav b n glad f it a fortnig ht
ago f their Ch i tma d coration ob rv d hi com
panion d mur ly Mi tl toe i carc even in thi pa t
f the world
I wonder no
ha noticed that bra ch
W mu t have it then and h pr pared to clamber
over th brok n wall but O h no ; oh don t br ath
le ly ejaculated h catchi ng him by t h arm
H looked round her face wa quit fright ned h
t pp d dow agai in tantly

lt i t i
f no u
now the tim f it i ov r
and h hurri dly moved on
It would be t aling would it ? aid E v re t though
h
miled to him el f perc iving at la t what wa in h
mind T h cottag e med abjectly d serted that I
forgot it might hav an owner wh wo uld hav u up f
Who land are w on now ?
tre pa
My fath r reluctantly
aid Ever t
Oh
May I gath r a bit f thi holly th ? inquired h
to pa ff the awkwardn
and on r iving a motion
fa
nt twi ted ff everal mall and h avy lad n pray
f which h
tuck in hi coat holding th r t in hi
hand
She wa pr pared to be o ff red th e la t but was not
till th pa ting came The A you are dining at The
A

e,

e s

Se

se

e e

ee s e

r s

se

e,

ss

s s

on e

s,

ee

es

e s

or

s e,

'

s e

s o

s e

se

e s

se

s,

es

one o

en

n,

es

e,

ece

or

e s

ess

er

ss o

sse

so

e s e

ss

s e

or

es

s,

M AJ O R EVEREST,

WI LL

ST AND

BY HER

73

Holli to night aid he look ing to seei f he w re to b

allowed to go on don t you think
and th littl carl t
prig mad a meek and d pr cating mov m nt th
fainte t po ibl mov ment to attract h
notic She
did not r pel it Sh waited It would be appropriat
i f you wer to wear a li t tle complimentary d coration
Sh took t h d coration
A d th n h hurri d hom
by a hort cut and a side door feeling lik a culprit
Ther wa no o about ; h r own chamber wa gain d
in a f ty th holly prig placed in wat r on th wa hing
tand (a littl out f ight behi d a ba in) a d now to
fac t h ordeal f th drawi ng room
A ll th party w r a
mbl d th r that wa c rtain
and h would hav to tell h tal in public and tand a

f int rrogation and po ibly r buk but what cared

h ?
th a glow at her heart an inner
Sh f lt a warm
exhilaration whi h d d antagoni tic atmo ph re Sup
po h w r chidd n a d colded It was ab urd that
h
hould be a d f onc h would a ert thi She
wa no child to be f i ght ned ; h had don nothing to
be a hamed o f sh would not car whate ver wa aid
I am lat am I ? aid h ent ring cheerfully The
day a g tting lon ger and it wa b ight and that
I tay d out
You m u t tak what ther i then re ponded Lady
w t a and was not ov r
Laura who had ni hed h
w ll plea ed at having had it alone ince Gwen and Kitty
had al o be n out late and h had h r l f de patched
Mi A dam on an rran d to th vill ag
I can n ot und r
tak to hav t a hot f everybody
W
W thought Beatrice would be in aid Kitty
had no watch betw n u a d h had
I w nt farth r th an I int nd d The day wa

es

ss

ne

s e

se s e

so ,

e s e

s e,

s s

s so

ne

er o

e se

s,

ee

or

s e

ss

s,

ss

s e

re

e,

or

e e

e s

ss

- n

e e,

er

sse

e e

re o

s e

e.

e s

er

so

n e

You ought to hav

e s

tarted ooner You hould not

s

ST AY AT

74

I IO MES

out al one at thi hour O bviou ly Lady Laura wa

in a querulou humour It i all very w ll to ay th
day was ne The day i over at ve o clock now and
i
l
hould
not
be
walking
about
a
l
on
g
I wa not al one Major Evere t wa with me
Major Ev r t ? Y u w r walking about the count y
wi th Major Everest ?
H ov rtook m a little way from our own lodg
an d I could not
cape That i to ay v n i f I had
wi hed to escape which I don t t hink I did from a
pl a ant companion
but at Kitty ringing laugh a
blu h h could not control mou ted to t h peak r
ch k She hastily ll d her plate and a umed an i
f her chair
t
t in it a Lady Laura ro e to t h edg
with port ntou d liberation
Beatric r peat that
I w nt f a walk mother and Major Ev r t join d
me H ha no
at T h H olli to walk with h aid
A d pr umed totor ally I could hardly hav
beli ved it ! A d you to l t him
Why we awyou udd nly Kitty bur t out laughing
afresh Gwen tho e w r th Sw th a t w aw !
Didn t h bring you to th whit gat and tand a d
talk f v r long befor aying good by ? W aw
you w aw you ; and w thought it wa
f th
maid f you w i
il nt hild Lady Laura
T hi i intol rable
B
wa now thoroughly arou ed and in her wor t mood
But it i your own doing B atric i f uch thing can be
aid f you continu d h ; i f you behav like a poor
unprot ct d girl how a you wond r
I am not wond ring at all xc pt that Kitty hould
talk uch non en
Major Ev r t want d to
m
back to th hou but I told him I hould be th r in a
minut by th back way I t him on and
be

r s s

e es

e e

e,

es

e s

ee

ere s

e,

es

r s

e,

e s

e,

e es

se

so

se n

see

e e

se,

o ne

c n

e s

e s

ee

e s

so

or

e s

s,

e e

e s

or e

e es

one

e o

es

or

ss

e e

ST AY AT H O MES

6
7

She and all we e awa that an invitation which had

come f t wo o f the i te to dine at T he Holli that
ev ing had been in the r t in tance a dir affront t
Lady Laura
It had been characte i ed a a pecim n
o f th
bad mann rs f the tim ; as a rud hint that
old r pe ple w r out f fa hion ; and a an e pe ial
i mpe t in nce comin g from pe pl lik th Curl to
pe pl lik the May ard
But Mi A dam had n ot en it ; wa ur th w it r
did not mean it ; M Curl had not had th adva
tage o f birth and education
Y
a
nted
ady
L
y
Laura mlli ed) and it wa in little thing lik that in
que tion that th lack o f the e betrayed it el f Mi
A da mr memb red a r m ark f her father
who had

had ah m to do with hor

Th y how th mark
f the g a
he wa wont to ay
You do und r tand Mi A dam T hat i it exactly
xactly I hall t ll Sir H nry he will app ciat that
Th ga
indeed
I Y
N t being intentionally rude you
Lady Laura
A tru g ntlewoman would only b rud when m aning
to be so
Lady Laura who could be v y rude h r el f wa bett r
h ob rved con
Som pe pl
a d bett r plea ed
d t ially
would ay that a tru g ntlewoman i n v r
rud but that i no en e It i ab olut ly n c ary at
tim ; but I n d not ay to y u who eem to know
by in tinct you think that poor M CurleI dar ay
h did not mean it did not mean it at all and t h
matt r wa ttled
Th r r mained howev r to decid which f the young
Will any two f
ladi hould acc pt the invitation

i
W
D
come
and
che
r
up
a
y
not
ran
u
o
u
e
y
have To y O ldca tl coming ; he and Major E v re t
will be the two extra m
r

re

'

s s

or

en

rs

es

r s

ss

so

es,

es,

rr on ,

e s

re

see ,

es,

rron

ss

ss

s,

ses

sse

es

rs

so

se

ss

es

e e

er

en

e,

es

ee

e,

e s

ns

so

se

e e

e ess

rs

so

es

s e

s se

e e

es s

so

en

M AJ O R

EVERE T ,

WI LL

ST AN D

BY HER

77

Tony O ldca tl ? W ll h my friend Kitty had put

in at thi but th po it io f a favourit at ho me ha it

drawback and th ld r i t r w r not afraid f th ir
moth r d ci ion C rtai ly t Kitty aid h at
onc ; and thi having be n announc d not a little had
b n thought about t h pro pectiv v ning by both the
lucky candidat during the aft rno n ince it wa an
v nt to din out v n at th Curl
So B atric a w ll a Gw n put it to her el f ; and it
wa to njoy t h thought f t h un wonted di ipation that
allied fo th on h olitary walk
h

f
toward
t
clo
that
walk
not olitary a we
u
t
h
B
knowh fo und h r l f looking forwa d to t h vening
wi th a va t incr a f int r t and xpectation During
f Ev re t than
h had l a n d mor
t h pa t two hour
all th ir pr viou int rcour e had taught h f th r had
be n grav a w ll a gay talk and that kind f frankn
which i only attainabl betw n a man and woman wh n
th y are unf tt ed not m rely by the pr nc but th
n ighbourhood f oth r wh n th r i not only tim in
fro n t f th m but pac around th m
Such unr t raint wa p rhap not ab olut ly new to
E v r t but it wa both dang rou ly nov l and d light ful
to hi companion She had n v r known anything f the
kind b fore It wa a hink through which streamed t h
light f another world
N wond r Lady Laura denunciation fell upon d a f
ea aft r thi th r wa a littl holly pray in water up
tair which acted like a tali man ; and the thought f
B atric w
wand ring toward it and toward the

mome t wh n it had pa ed into h hand when n a

udd n the c ne chang d
P rhap had Lady Laura known all he would not have
bee n cru l ; h could be both aff tionate and ym
pathetic i f her heart were touched or her parti san hi p
e

e e

s s

er

e,

e e

e e

rs

e e

ese

ess
e

e e

or

ee

e o

er

e s

e e

es

ere

ss

s e

s o

e es

ss

e es

e se o

e se

es

se o

er s

s e s

e e e

es

ee

e e

e e

no

s s e s

e s

n o

e e

s.

er

s,

so

ec

I2

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

8
7

a
w
ted
but
the
r
e
a
devil
may
care nonchalan ce
en li
ban of h di
o w under t h
abo ut the culprit who wa
plea u which wa ju t what ought not to hav bee there
Beat ic hould have been orry and con fu ed and had
ught to vindicate her l f and mani f t d a little di
she
ee in a w light
t es ed agitation o ver her enormi ty a
beneath h mother u p rior x p rience all would hav

wa fatal
yet pa ed but il nc joined to i di
A fter what took plac thi afternoon B atrice will not
din at T h Hollie to-night aid Lady Laura i ing to
her f t wi th a ring f hard deci ion in her accent Gw n
and Kitty wi ll go
-

s n

re,

es e

s s

er

s s

se

so

e s

er

ne

ss

r s

s,

ee

eren ce

It i lat and all hav ti ed f r th night at Maynard

Tow r
aft r t h
A dull v ning ha been pa ed below tai
xub rant departur f t h gay din r out who with
much ado a d bu tl and howing f th m lv ff in
th ir w ev ning dr e (to be graciou ly approv d by
Lady Laura) had b tak n th m lv
ff ju t a th ir w

gong ounded and now t h weary hour a ov r and

Beatric ha not betray d h r el f
It wa
t
much prid a th hock f a w
motio which fro v ry yllabl f r mon tranc on
h
lip wh n h moth r edict w nt forth Literally
h dur t not op en th oodgat s
In tead h had cl nch d th m with an iron hand and
with an air f car l unconc rn which d ceived all
pr nt tu ned to th ama ed Kitty who had mitted a
cr am f d light
Th n you had bett r tak my
black fa h aid
Kitty had no black fa ; B atrice po
d a very
hand om one
You d ar ! Do you m an it ? Your beautiful big
o trich fa not the little hor id one
s

e re

e s

e e

no

er

n,

s e s

re

ne

ssesse

e o

e ess

ese

ze e e

e s

so

es o

se

es o

se

rs,

er

ess s

s
e

ne

ss

S Y

80

HO MES

-AT -

TA

ward at the momen t Her l eve had caught o n the

knob f a little ilver reading lamp Lady Lau a wn
lamp which too d on a table at her ladyship lbow
and in anoth r e ondbut the di a ter wa averted
Mi A dam caught the lamp blam d h w clum ines
apologi d to v rybody and th commotion over a ew
topic wa tart d B atrice b eathed again and tru ted
that her il nc and t face had pa ed unnoticed
But now h wa alon and could i t and think in th
moonlight It was a lovely night and how h might

hav enjoyed it but till h could think A d h

could d eam and hold th littl holly pray in h han d
and wonder how omeb dy looked an d f lt wh he aw
h
si ter
walk i a d conj ctur if t h vening had

proved to be blank to him as to her and whi per to

h r l f that uch untoward even ts hav been known t
bring about th very r ult least d i ed f that no
tru knight he d an ob tacl in hi pathi hort he
could indulg in all those fond imaginings and bli ful
mu ing which fo e ver and fo v r acco mpany the r t
vague foreshadowing f lov young dream
How beauti ful the world ee medno longer a f et ting
di appointing antagoni tic place ! H po or mothershe
thought t nderly ev n f h poor mother who had mi sed
thi wond rful om thing which wa tr mbling into being
within h br a t a d who had hurt her becau h knew
nothing o f it Kitty also had hurt her going gaily forth

in her tead but that wa als becau e Kitty did not

know Non f them m uch as u p ted the exi tence

f
ay
f t h littl holly p ay
o
was the morrow
A d though thi night wa lo t th
to look fo ward to and who could ay what i ts hour
might not un fold ? D pite th eat and prohibition s
gleefu lly F h wa no believer in bo lt a d
cr i d h
though th y had j ust rved her o il l a tu n U n
ba
s e

s c

s s

ss

e e

se

s s
s

e,

s e

er

en

s,

ss

er o

er

se

s e

s e

s o

e e

e se

es r

es

or

n s

ss

re e

es

e s

er

er

se s e

rs,

s e,

s ec

e re

es

so

e o

er

or s e

se

MAJ O R

EVERE T , I

WI LL

ST AND BY

HER

8!

aided indeed he was po werle behind them but what

wa a man worthat thi junctur Gwen and Kitty were
heard ret urni n g
Quick a t hought their i t r wa o ut Upon the tai
case Come in and tell m about it cried h leaning
over the bani t r
Her tone wa o gay and good humou ed and her room

i
cheerful b twixt r l ght and moonlight the candles
were not litthat the two gladly turned in to p attle
full a they w e o f the ev nts f th evening
It had all been del ightful T h dinner co y the
mart Willi had been
owers o pr tty and Dai y
wheeled in a d hi ofa brought up al ong id f the
din ner tabl e fo the rst time H had explained that his
doin g wa the o ca ion o f th Fatted cal f and hi
A d
h alth had been drunk with due olemn ity
Tony would mak a peech cried K itty and it wa
W laughed at him till w cried
the mo t aw ful peech
but he wouldn t top
I am u he had be making it
up by t h way
There had b ! Chri tma cracke f the mo t j oco e
d cription M Curle having xplained that h thought
till appro
a Chri tma wa only ju t gon by they w
l
and
hey
had
l
cracke
round
cro
ing
hand
a
d
i
t
t
e
a
p
and pul l ing at th same moment Y u never aw uch
aid Kitty
fun
e to
A d Tony an d I sq uealed together till it cam
pee h time continued he He wa rath r ulky with
m after that f a little but we made it up a fterward s
w e amusing ; h re i
A n d oh B atrice the motto
mine producin g it
,

ss

s s e

e,

s e s

s s

so

er

en

re

rs

ere s

or

es

er

ss

rs o

e n

es

so

so

so s

If you are dear,

To
e as yo u,

Nought can we fear

SO each prove true
.

ST AY AT HO MES

8z

That f T y and m
i
i in g ec ta y
What did you do in th v ning ? inqui d B atric
In th v ning th y had t h mo t tr m ndou fu
Dai y had de r d that th r w r to be no card becau
f ca d
h kn w Lady Laura did not approv
th y
had r t played game rath r tupidly a no o gu ed

anyt hing but Dai y h r el f but aft rward th y danced

h
?
W
W
they
did
and
who
play
d
illi
Curl
y
y
Willi wa got on to th piano tool with hi l g ticking
traight in front f him and played walt
Th y had
nev r heard walt e better played and th r could
alway be two coupl though f cour e one girl had to
i t out
But wh n it came to th polka I wa th girl
and I polked by my l f cried Kitty I did I w nt

round and round with th r t and bobb d about oh I

wi h we we a funny and m rry a the Curle and
didn t mind hoving th fu niture into co n r and
dancing at a moment notic
You could not have had much cha ge f part ner
Somehow Beatric f lt a littl chill upon her pirits
It all sounded o mirth ful frolic om and appa ntly
ev ry one had participated in and njoy d th port and
no one had thought o f h and mi ed h
Cha ge f partn r ? N that w hadn t Dai y aid i f
nt fo om
he had thought f it oon r h would hav
but nobody med v ry k n own d
o f t h Tomlin on
Kitty laughing W lik d much b tt r k ping our two
men to our th ree elv and Major Ever t doe danc
well It wa th r t tim h had m ntion d hi name
N r had Gw n any mo e to ay about him A fter Kitty
had gone blithely away th latt r ling red a moment
however I do think B atric Dai y hould be a littl
mor particular O f cour h m an nothing but th
way h look up into Major Ev r t fac

h
Doe
did h to night

or

on

n r s

re

e e e

e e

e e

c ee

es,

es

s,

r e s

e s

s s

se, s

e
.

e,

e es

s e

rs

es

ee

e s

ee

es ,

e se

see

s,

e s

er

re

ss

0,

e,

er

so

re

se

e e

so

z es

es,

-s

e ss

ne

se

s, so

e s

n.

s,

e e

e o

ST AY AT HO M ES

34

ervati n con rmed all that he had heard o f h ; and

w it nly remain d to watch f a oppo rt unity
More than onc in the we k that n ued that pp
med within hi gra p and ju t luded it N arly
t u i ty

v y day h met th Mayn ard which it wa a y to do

a h wa try ing to meet th m he called and found th m
at hom he hot with Sir H nry and Sir H nry took him
f Lady Laura cold look ; h
in to luncheon egardl
encountered th i ter in t h village and mad hi s way
th ir but till the mom nt wh n h wa alone with
Beatrice w re o f w a to admit of no opening fo a
cond nce
P rtinacity mu t t ll in the lon g run howev r ; and
there cam a day wh n E ver t having tak n a late l tt r
to the p t wa in th act f popping it into the box wh n
th littl door at hi
id swung op n H could carce
beli ve hi y ; it wa h her elfB atric May ard
aud
i p p id p
A d by Jove how hand om
h
look d ! That howev r wa non f hi b ine
you alon ? aid h hurrying through pr limin
A
ari s I hav
oft n tried to catch you alone and
you nev arenever inc that walk w had You look
urpri d but pray don t think me pr uming ; I hav a
r a on f being ind ed I have ; and I know you will
xcu me wh n you h ar it and I hav
awfully littl
tim a I go to morrow I hould have writt but I
know you a not lik om you g ladi ; you don t

I mean it wouldn t have don

i v l tt r
all th
ab v pouring out in a contin uou tr am whil t he
u h d and tr mulou h ark n d wi th downca t ey
and beating h art A ll wa
udd n unlook d f
no wonder h carc ly kn w h w to tak it
Som f your p opl a about I dar ay pur u d
tr et Co uld we go wh r
h loo king up and down th
w houldn t me t th m ? It awfully bold f me to a k
s

er

no

or

see

e er
s

ess o

e s s

se

e o

re

en ,

re

so
e

es

o r,

es

e s

e,

s so s

re

s,

es

e so

e s

ss

es

e s

e o

e s

e s

us

e,

so ,

or

se

e s

er

so

e s

s s

ers

es

re

es

s s

ro r

s e

ce

os

e,

or

s e s

e e

M AJ O R EVEREST , I WILL ST A ND BY HER

85

I aid ju t now I know you l l forgive m

a d I know you will ympathi e with me and I m going
oon In the tumult f her f l ing h mi d
phra o f the above o rather h only h ard a pl ading
a be e ching an impetuo ity that vibrated through eve y
b f her being and fell up n h a like mu ic
You are not angry with me ? aid h arn e tly
thi

but,

s,

as

so s

se

s e

ee

e,

one

sse

s s
e

re o

er c r

No
But
A nd
Y es

e, e

you will g ant m thi favour ?

But
Then wh e an w go ? I have it ; through the
wo od
You often walk home that way
I wa going to The Holli
N t to day
aid Ever t with an appealing mile
Giv up The Ho lli f to day and
h p
vailed Th y walked in il nce along the tr et
It wa not till th y had tu ned down a id path and
pa ed beyond ob rvation and th chance f int rru p
tion that he pok again and then b comm nc d
abruptly
I am no hand at diplomacy and that ort f thing ;
but y u are good you won t mind pl ain p aking
will you
aid h faintly Plain p aking ? Th
O h no
plaine t in t h world wa all h want d
Yet it i rath r di fcult ; it would be mo t aw fully
diffi cult with any one l e It wa only wh n I h a d
on all id that you wer 05 g n rou and h igh
minded that I fanci d you would und r ta d May I
begin
A mute as ent
Mi
H d bat d a mome t and r comm nc d
Maynard you hav n v r known what it i to be und r
a cloud No that i not th right expre ion I hould
ay your li f has alway be n what it i now ha it not ?
e

er

es

es

es

se

ss

re

or

so

e,

es

e s

e s

s e

ss

ss

S Y

86

mi l

HO MES

-AT -

TA

l it tle bitt erly Even at thi moment the

A lways
an swer came a l i tt l e bitt ly
any period ay any
Y o u can neve lo ok back o
phase o f it which yo u would mind being kn own which
it would cau you hame and vexation to hav known
not But such a thing may be through no
No f cou

top I am putting i t badly Say a per o n a

fau l t
perfectly inn en t perso n may have what i s called a
Past which t hey wou l d rat her not hav known and no
does know it xcept one or two peopleo h da h it
n

i f I could only get to the p int don t you think it would

s
be a mo t awfully cru l thing to expo e I g t wor

I
f
ve y moment yo u mu t think me an utter ool
thought I knew xactly what to say and it i al l gone
f my h ad !
o ut
N ver mind mu rm
ured she trembling but happy
Iti t doesn t matter
I ll try again The fact i s I v thought and thought
about this till my head i gularly mudd l ed I was o
afraid f having to go away without a chance o f aying it
and now I have the ch anc I go beating about t h bu h ;

but with a igh I had no id a how hard it would be

h u hed with th
I it
about your l f ?
ffort
Mysel f ? H look d urpri d T h id a that he
could think had not occurred to him O h no it i not
about my l f ; i f it wer I hould l t it alon f cour
A man do n t wor y about uch thing
but what doe
not igni fy at all to a man i imply ruin to a woman
A woman
She tarted and looked b wild red A
woman h murmured int rrogativ ly
Y
a woman a poor w ak def nc l woman O e
would think no
could want tobut th n i t a woman
who i t rying to do it A d n ith r th n nor the oth r
i uch a woman a you Th
i gentl tender h arted
fee l what p opl think f her mo t awfully ; th oth r i
She

ed a

er

se

rse

oc

se

s re

se

e e

se

se

e,

e on e

e ess

e o

e,

ss

o ne

se

s s

es,

e, o

so

es

- e

s,

ST AY-AT - O ME

I 88

my mi d t

my t u t i y u It bothe ed me dr ad
fully at r t a t wh ther it were fa ir and abov board t
ai d nothi ng abo ut my keep
rep at thi ; but my aunt
ing it cret and inde d a go d a threat ned to pring
Certainly h intimated that I might
t h min h r l f
id from
i f I cho e
A gai ther wa a pau e on hi
ati faction on h r fro mthat dead inking f th heart
which nd o elie f in peech
It wa an aunt f your who lated th e fact P aid
I upp t h re could be no doubt about
h at la t
themP She co uld have made no mi tak P

She could not Sh met th Curle at a hou ahem

not long ago ; a d I am a hamed to ay tried what a
whi per would do in order to mak ureI m an to mak
that th cret wa till a ecret The effect wa
ur
what h a ticipated
"
I under tand
H glanced at her ; h had ha tily withdrawn th
hand he had caught in triumph and wa now a fa from
him a th narrow wood path would p rmit H e fancied
tone lightly forced and in n ibly con traint tol
h
into hi
I f ar thi i omething f a hock to you
Mi Maynard P
h going to fail m aft r all P
I
thought he unea ily ) T h n aloud I know f cour
it m t be to me xt nt ; you fe l a h do that
expo ur would be a t rrible thing ? You don t blam
h
do you ? If y u had b n in h placebut I can t
fancy you in her plac h brok
uddenly
Major E v r t ?
Y
P N w he wa by her id again hi h ad
bent hi ey t ying to earch h fac but h k pt it
t adily av rted
I accept th charg you hav laid upon m aid
B atric looking full in front f h
I do not ay that
had I known beforehand
n

u
t
p

e se

s n

se

e s

e se

s e

er

ss

s s

so

e es

es

es

s s

se

es,

er

e o

er

s e

e,

ee

s e

e,

so

e r,

se

s s

us

s s

s e

o se

es

re

s s

e s

s e

s e,

se

r s

er,

e,

M AJ O R EVEREST ,

VI LL

ST A ND

BY HER

1 89

Do you e any ha min it P exclaimed he thunder

truck
A y harm in deception hypocri y ?
But good h aven Mi
Mayn a d i s one boun d to
publi h t th world one pri vate affai s P
i bound
to act that hould on pri vate
O
b come known they hould not give th lie to
affai
that which the world already know
muttered h di mted o f course
A to that

a to that
w ll I did not think f it in that light You
think h ca ri it with t high a hand P
It i no matter ; what I hav promi d I wi ll do
hall not be
Y u have tru t ed m an d your condenc
mi plac d If a friend i needed
T hank you thank you
A gain he tri d to take h
hand but h wa too quick f him I will be her
fri nd
aid in a cold cl ar voice I will be faith
h
ful to my tru t
When you think f u
I hall think o f you a h guardian angel M i
Maynard perhap I ought not to go any fu th r ? We
ae
clo to the hou that hall I go
or hall I
ay Good bye h r
and leave it to yo u to xplain ?
It would only bo e th m wouldn t it P A d you will ay
I was hurried but no you won t with a mile you a
too truthful ;
I hall have to writ my w excu e
The fact i I do fe l mo t grat ful to yo ur father an d
mother f all their kindn
but l ave takin g are
abominable things I have been happy her among
you all a d he look d round omewhat wi tfully it
ha been a kind f oa i in my d ert ; and now fo the
desert ag ain O h it all right ; I wouldn t lie on a bed
f ro
f the world not till I have fought my way to
it at all event A d I can go with an ea y mind w
Dai y ha nothing to fear I
that I know po or littl

wi h I could tell h but that o f cour e I can t Good

se

ne

so

rs

ss

s,

e s

e,

sco

es

oo

se

er

so

se

se

so

s,

s s

es

ses

or

so

s s

ess,

re

or

on ,

e e,

ss

er

or

e s

e s

e,

er

no
.

ST AY AT H O MES
-

1 90

then
you i f I may ay it
n d God bl e
Sound rath r eriou but you really have been
awfully kind an d it i
uch a great thing to have got
you n o u id
ide P A parti ng tab ; h might hav
O
Ou
a
r
e
d
it
but
he
ran
on
lightly
;
p
Some day perhap I hall come back to ay Thank
u
but
a
o
never
know
what
may
happen
and
I
y
have g t ff b tter than many o far
caped he
Oh !
He pau ed arre ted
I did not mean to be i ppa t h aid humbly It
recurr d to him afterward t h
look h ca t upon him
but a to fathoming what it meant h wa a l ittl
likely to do a the bird f th wood
Good bye h aid againand rath r wonde ed that
h
hook hi hand in il nc ; and though h turned to
make a far w ll ign al ere lo t to view h wa walking
and did not ee it
o
bye,

an d

ss

so

s s

r s

ne

es

e s

so

e s

s e s

s o

s e

s e

ST AY AT HO MES
-

2
9

advanced in yea
Thi wa a lady wh had tepped
out upon h balcony to njoy the fragrance f a warm
till ev ning and ga e up n t h out r c ne Flow r
bed ck d th balcony an aw ing prot ct d it from th
furth r it wa amply provid d with low
u
at and
carp t d with cool matting I hav r ally no fault to
nd aid Mi A ugu ta K nyon looking round with a
critically approving y
She had com out id becau h had N fault to
nd within H order which had be n lavi h and
expl icit had been carried out to the l tt r and th hand
ome man ion i Gro venor Plac which h had inh rited
i month befo e (and which wa th n it mu t be con
f sed in a dirty and di reputable tat con eq u nt on
having being uninhabit d f a con id rabl p riod ) was
now all that t h most fa tidiou could d i e
Mi K nyon had n it in i t prima y ondition
ummon d builder and uphol t r and vani hed whil
it wa in th ir hand Sh wa now r turned to nd a
v itabl pala f luxu y
Do my r ad r r member Mi K nyon name P
Probably not f
hith rto no int r t ha attach d to
it ; but now by the xig ncie f Fat the eld rly
pin t r wh m we have bar ly m ntion d a a di tant
r lativ f Lady Laura May ard i to gu with mor
or le promin nce in th page
Cou in A ugu ta
a hadowy b ing a nam a d nothing mor to mo t f
th member
f the Maynard fam i ly i about to b com
known in h own prop r per on to om f th m at any
rat ; f on the umm r v ning on which w nd her
cont mplating her urrounding with all th ati faction
ion and pro pectiv ho pitali t y h i awaiting
f po

th arrival f gu t from t h country

tho e gue t being
non oth r than th two young and unknow daught r
fh
old fri nd and corr pond nt
rs

er

se s

er

s x

or

e,

s,

es

s,

e s

se

ss

s e

e e

e,

'

ss

er

ce o

e
,

or

s e

s o

or

es s

e o

e e

e s

s e

s s

es

re

er

ssess

e,

ese

er

e es

e o

ss

ss

e s

s e re s,

s.

see

es r

e s

M A YNA RD T O WERS

G RO VENO R PLA CE IS NO T

3
2

early a year and a hal f ha pas ed ince w last aw

th
Mayna d family an d dull and monotonou ha
be n th int rval that w will not w ary our r ader
with a r cital f it L t u tak up our thread with th
rec ption f Mi K nyon invitation
Dear ! Thi i really r ally too kind ! murmured
Lady Laura holding a l tter in h
hand and commen t
ing upon th content before di clo ing th m a om
p ople have th provoking habit f doing V ry kind
indeed f A ugu ta ; I had no id a h wa in London ;
I hall certainly think ov r i t with an important look
T h look ho wev r fail d f i t mark ; Lady Laura
wa given to mall my terie and h had nev r y t
ucceeded in rou ing any intere t in h cou in
P rc iving thi
h wa c rtainly not going to d
w et f r v ng
fraud her l f now f th
V ery kind
indeed ; and f cour e being m
cou
in
and
a
per
on
I
can
y
thoroughly tru t doe make a di ff renc continued h in
T he London
am tantali ing und rton
a on ?
th
I nev r had a Sea on but I would not wi h to be

darting a glance round I think at l a t m

l h
might li t n to m with udd n a perity p i v
in g that all t h above had no ff ct

a d
H y ? O h y but I mu t attend to thi r t
Sir H nry who had look d up agai immer ed him l f in
a larg blu heet f foo l cap which h naturally f lt
contained item innitely mor momentou than any to
corre pondence B atrice Gwen
b found in hi wi f
att nd to your moth r exhort d h a he ank meta
h
i
ll
out
f
ight
a
y
p
T hey would i f th y knew it wa abo ut th m lv
aid Lady Laura beginning to fold up the h et in her
hand but really a I cannot decid all at once perhap
I had bett r ay no more about it O nly you alway
complain if you a not told f thing added he look
N

ss

er

s,

s e

se

e s

s o

se

e,

s e

e,

e s

on e

e s

e,

se

or c

so

erce

e s

es,

e,

se s

e s

er

s,

s s

so

se

re

es,

s,

ST AY

I IO M ES

-AT - -

:9 4

o a d them H re i an invitation from co u i

ugu t
to pay h a vi it i n Lo ndon A h !
beginning to unde tand a Gwen the
n ow y u a
u ual ly phleg mati c un motional Gw n pran g to her
w I
ide wi th a y o f astoni hment and d light
supp se you wi l l think a little di ffer ntly o f poor cou in
A ugu ta and perhap o w that I have m di crimi n a
tiono h come my dear Gwen 1
Gwen wa all right ; but what about Beatrice P Beatrice
had made n o movement utt r d no exclamation In tead
she stoo d till u shing and palin g with a curi ou min g ling
on her fac ; and it wa only on being
o f ex p e ion
directly appealed to that h an sw r d hurriedly yet
with a pecies o f h itation which wa annoyin g to h
mo ther and in xplicable to her i ter
l
h
would
like
to
wou
d
like
it
ver
e
Oh y
y
;
g ;
y
much ; it wa very kind f cou in A ugu ta wonderfully
kind (Lady Laura brow oftened at thi ) he upposed
it would not b f r v ry long ? It may be fo as long a
it like f me cri d Gw n at thi
It i ju t as well Kitty i out f the way till it i
settled however
observed her mothe
miling In h
hea t Lady Laura was almo t a much plea ed as hall
we ay ei th r f h daughter W hall inq uire into
f one p e ently ; but Gwen
th f ling
which a be
de cribed a rapture pur and simple f once fo und full
nc f h mother ; and
cong nial
ven t in the pr
indeed wa it to the latt r that no oon r were the two
alone than Lady L au a f ll into a condential mood
This invitation i the v ry thing fo Beatrice Beatri e
I do not ay h mean to
has been v y tryin g f late
be o ; indeed I fancy om time that h stru ggle with
her el f ; ye I am sure she doe ; but none the less he
i s di fc ult very di fcult to live with
I co uld get on with
u
and
Kitty
o
y
ing t w r s
s a fo r yo u two
A

s n

er

re

rs

cr

no

so

e e

s s

es

e s,

or

er

s o

ee

or

so

c n

er

er

s,

s,

s e

e s

r s

ese

er

r, s

er

es

e e

s e

r ss

n n ao

sn

6
9

Gwen

mn

mind thi goes o further ; I

would n t have B at ice hear it f the wo rldh a i d
that by s me means ot her h wa ure M C urle
That thing we
had got the uppe han d f Beat ri e
t al tog t her a they e m
ed between them and that
B atri ce wa often pain d a d vexed
Did h ay t hat
She did indeed Had I know Mi A dam th n a

I do n o w I mean had I k ow that h wa goin g to

part from u as he did o abrup tly unexpect dlyI
h u ld not have en cou aged her to b loq uaciou ; but at
the time h emed quite n f the family Sh had
an ext aordina y gi ft f penetration f that I am ure ;
and ho t a wa th time h had to know u in h
w l l h taught m thin g
It wa a pity that h left
Y es and no
aid Lady Laura ntentiou ly Mi
A d am in h r el f wa ir eproachable ; but I think I
lea ned how very uncom fortable it might be t have
a t ranger in that po ition A t any ate I hall not try
it again Be ide
and h h itat d
Wel l ? aid Gwen curiou ly It wa not oft n that
her moth r wa thu communicative and de pit th ex
citing pro pect before her h wa abl to take advantage
f th opportunity
am excit ment
P rhap it wa th
which thr w Lady Laura ff her balance The habit f
l f repre ion wa with her
trong that till now h
had kept not only th above but more f th ki d to
g ther with coun tle rumination on the ubj ct fa t
locked within her ow bo omand even now cou ld
barely and wi th difd
unbo om her el f to Gw n the
a y one f th family
I aid that Mi A dam taught me ome thing h
murmu ed She wa a very curiou woman and I
n ver could nd out what h did t know or know
spo ke

She

o ut

rs

s s

re

s e

s e s

s e

or

or

no

s e s

s e

e s

se

ss

s e

e s

ss

en ce

so s

ss

e s

ss

s e

es

se

s e

s e

e o

so

s e se

s e

s o

ss

s,

no

s e

G RO VENO R PLA CE

I S NO T

MAYNA RD T O WERS

1 97

about Sh e med to think that I ometimesmi

under tood Beatrice
O h y u do mother ; o ften
A d that h took up wi th out id people because o f
lack f ympathy at home
aid Gwen frankly
Sh do n t Take up with me
I da esay Mi A dam
but w get along we l l enough
wa right I wonder how he found it out though
th mo t f the gam
They ay Spectator
join d Lady Laura fo onc making an apposite mark

f
I
i
I
eel I f l orry f Beatrice
but f it be
A wond rful admi i on Gw n ow ed it with a nod
Mi A dam seemed to hint that h would n ever have
mad a fri nd f Dai y Curle but f this p ro ceeded
Lady Laura tappin g the table oftly with her nger ; i f
it be and i f thi London vi it could make a br ak w
might p rhap tart on another tack ; that i to ay w
might all try to be a litt l more forb aring and tolerant
though to b ure you Gw n no one could accu se y u
and Lady Laura laughed f being anythin g but amiabl
at any rate to your i ter ; you a tiresom with m

occa ionally but however let that pas H av y u v r

noticed anything o fan y lack ning f the intimacy b
twee n t hose two Beatrice and Dai y Curle P
I have heard Dai y very rud to Beatrice
Have you indeed ? A d did B atricedid he ev r
complain to you or to K itty or to any one ?
Gw n hook her head You don t know h yet
mother ; he would ut ff h right hand before h wou ld
ay a wa
aid Lady Laura briskly
But that i non sen se
B atrice i under no obligation to put up with
did you
ay rud ne s ?
Downright ruden e Very di agreeable rudeness too
Dai y know how to put h e nger on a ore place Well
s e

es

s see

ee

ss

so ,

e,

s s

e s

s s

or

re

or

e,

re

ss

so ,

ss

re

e e

er

er

ss.

ST AY AT H O MES

1 98

t ll you moth r p rcei ving sh had rai d exp cta

tion it wa about that Major Everest Daisy took it
into her head that w thought Major Ev r t admi red
B at ice and h did not lik that O f cour it wa
non n
f u not v n B atrice h
O f cour e non
el f thought anything f the kind o that if h had let
it alon h would oon ha ve found that out ; but h

will v n now v n though it i s so long ago keep

making littl allu ion a d joke that Beatric can t
tand
I don t wond r ; what execrable ta t !
aid Gw n laughing
O h Dai y doe n t go in f ta t
A d you ay Beatrice ndure it put up with it ?

ik
a
lamb
but I have seen th tear in her yes
L
Yet i f I ay a word again t M Curl he bri tle
W ll aid Lady Laura aft r a pau e during
all o v r !
which ach had meditated il ntly I am glad to know
thi ; glad that there i som excu though it eem s
a trang
what oth rwi e would be u a u t
f
abl It i perv r ity f co ur
Beatric f el h ha
mad a mi tak ; mart beneath it ; but i too proud to
own it Poor thing ! A n d a f that little up tart after
all th kindn
h ha met wi th from u Iupon my
word I hall tak a di ffer nt line with her in future an d
thi London vi it will b an xcellent beginning
Gwen thought too The London vi it would work
miracle ; h glowed with d light whe ever sh thought
"

h
f
o
w
u
t
nd
u
t
h
e
l
o
o f it and i f only Beatric
j
wa Lady Laura nal exho tation
Was a y one lik ly to nd ut ? Beatric wa only
joy N one could gue s what
fearful f b traying h
no one but
t h pa t fteen mo th had bee n to her f
her el f knew what ingredient had gone to form that
bitter cup
It wa not merely that Everest had wo her affection
I ll

s,

se

se

e es

e o

se

se ,

s,

er

s e

e, s

e e

s e

or

s e,

e o n e,

e s

so

er

ee s ,

or

s s

s,

s e

cco

ess s e

se

se ,

or

e, s

s e

rs

or

ST AY AT HO M ES

z oo

mad

She

letter

ome excu

se ,

but

never

she

owed

sh

t he

now that Dai y wa cure o f Beatrice Beatrice

began to weary h
Th re wa
long r th e ity
putting forth t and feigning what sh did not
f
trange her
f l
w p rc ived would
Nothing h

did he fancy it a
friend whil y t ther wa
alteration in that fri nd demeanour It was not that
Beatric wa
tudiou ly att n tive and con id ate
t a
a
f yore ; it wa not that th re wa any abat ment
f i timacy ; but a ew elem nt had
o f intercour e or
entered into these Beat ic had been wo t occasionally
to a gue a point or de f d a po itionhe now rarely
did i ther She eem d to avoid controversy ; and if
not ready wi th a ent took refuge in ilence Betwe n
i timat thi timidity i out o f place ; one hould not
mind giving battle

and her ther cou ld be no mi tak

A gai n th r wa
a ce ation f tho
overowing c d
which wer
till pri d by Dai y Curle Th y w re not perhap o
preciou as th y had onc been ti l l th y gav a est to
ti t d tte whi ch without them gradually becam dull
A d yet h wi ll come ! cried Dai y at la t
ighed B atrice about the sam
A dy t I m
u t go !
time O ft h hand clenched th m elve tog ther a
h turned in at T h H ollie gate
But now to go away and forget it all ! To be among
new c ne new peopl new thoughts ; and lull to leep
that vi ion f two people walking along ide by id the
hy happy lat d
full f tremulou yet exqui i te
xpectancy ; th other mi le away from her in pi rit
and only cogni ant o f h pre enc as it aect d a purpo
in which h had n ither gain
lo
O h how could
she how could h have be n uch a foo l ?
A d he to l l he gaping m o u th with the uga plu m
A nd

s se

er .

e n cess

s no

'

or

or

ee

s e no

or

s no

es

ss

en

er

s s

s o

es

e e

ss

on

s s

en

er

s,

e,

s e

s e

s,

o ne s

en ces

se

ze

e-

e,

'

nor

se

er

ss

M AYNA RD T O WERS

G RO VENO R PLA CE IS N O T

so :

cold app robation a d p ai e ! He had heard h was

So good So generou he could Rely implicitly
on her an d relyi g h had blurted out a illy secret only
worth pr erving becau e it told again t a illy woman
It all ee med petty humiliati g T h r velation
had it tartled h
o f a crime would have hurt her les
more
Clearly h wa
Sh would not be unju t t Eve e t
unaware f anything unu ual in hi voice or m an er and
imagined that he wa doing th right thing in a p
f u dly wi s and d licat fa hion by thu taking a young
lady o f di cernmen t and enlight nment into hi co
dence
H had the air o f payin g a compliment while prayi ng
f a favour he might al m
o t have been a uperior ofcer
bestowing a high comm and upon a ubordi ate The
disgu t o f the whole thing !
Di gu t wa the only word fo it A d to thi di gu t
fteen month without
h had bee bound down f
intermi ion or r li f ; th very clothe he had worn
on that black day h had had to go on wearing ;
th very pot upo n which the di clo ure took plac mu t
be pa d and pa sed again it wa one long ig mi i
martyrdom
ou
To pine i cret wa the la t thing my hero ine wa
likely to do The momen t that he knew he love
u ought it wa cru hed and trampled down within her
b om and that with
resolute a hand that it oon

i
i

a
but not o the el f contempt
ank to i gn
which the di covery ngend red That could not
a ily be di spo ed o f ; and that to h proud nature wa
almo t hard r to bear than grief or any ofter emotion
Her olitary com fort lay in th fact that what had
passed wa un su pected by all and that Everest name
entioned in co n nectio n with hersel f
was ever m
of

s,

s e

so

es

so

so

s,

er

r s

ro

or

s e

or

ss

s s

s e

sse

no

se

ns

os

so

ns

e s

c n ce

so

er

ST AY AT HO MES
-

zoz

a time indeed it cea ed to be heard at all ; and

it was ju t at thi period that Mi K nyon invitation
arrived
that a more opport une moment could not
have b
cho en H er heart literally leaped at the
pro pect
Th n why on earth did you not ay o ? cried
Gw n joyfully Gwen ew back to her mother radiant
Sh had be n bidden to nd out her i t r inclination
and had anticipat d a di fcult ta k ; h found no ta k
E ven Lady
at all and could carc b liev h sen
Laura wa ati d f once and und rto ok to announce
the gr at v nt generally
What will you ay ? Wi ll you ay My daughter
are going to Town f r the ea on P aid Kitty to the full
a much xcit d a though going hersel f and to be ur
why t P F when once a hedge i brok n through
the e i no piecing it together again and he might be
t h n xt
Do put it g andly moth r Don t ju t ay
th y a going to top wi th an old cou in Lady Laura
ab olutely laughed at the anxiou exhortation
Lady Laura wa in the best f pirit and the ca riage
wa ordered early on t h following aft rnoon
but will
W eed
t accompany it on i t r und
content our elv with t pping behind her lady hip into
Dai y Curle mart drawing room whe e th following
took plac
So they are going to Gro venor Plac P quoth Dai y
ea i ly Dai y wa not to be daunted and sh might
have lived in Gro venor Place all her life
continued h tooping to pick
A v y nice part
cardcas which had lid to the oor
up h r vi itor
though it i not qui t o central a Mayfair W go
to Dover Street O e doe like to be in th middle o f
everyt hi g whe o e i only up fo a few week Willie
and I always go to Brown
A fter

ss

so

een

s s

or

s e

er

no

se s

e e

or

re

s,

es

s,

s e

s s

no

s,

s s e

e s

e,

s e,

er

s.

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

don t think your cou i A ugu ta need f ar that i

t u ion
Gw n laughed Beatri e looked particu larly grav
What i th matter ? Do you not approv P aid h
mother tur ing to her Surely Beat ic yo u do not
think you cannot think it becomin g or prope that b
cau e you happen to be gue t in a hou your co untry
neighbours a e to be free f it free to Walk in a M
Curle ugge t d P
I agre with you moth r entirely
aid Lady Laura mlli ed
Oh
anded he aft r a minut
But what i it th n P dem
u
look
di
turbe
unea
y
d
y
I wa only thinking
Well ?
Thatbut perhap I am wro ng ; I hope I am
I
What i it my dear what i it P impatie t ly
Sh may not hav meant what he said at the r t
h will carry it out to a certainty now
Gw n aid her lady hip Beatrice having l ft th
room a h pok Gwen looked att ntiv
Did that
mean anything ? aid Lady Lau ra almost in a whi per
t ly
O h I don t know quoth Gwen i di
We may now return to Mi A u gu ta Kenyon on her
balcony and h has not be n there v ry long before th
xpected ab with luggag e i e n heavily trundling to
her door when he hastily etreats wi thin
Shall h d ce d to w lcome the trav ll in th
hall ? Sh he itate feeling de pite her years and ex
i
almo
t
a
nervou
a
the
g
irl
them
e
l
ve
c
e
p
She cro e the room pas es through the open folding
doors and li ten from the landin g
Perhap it would be kind to go down but no h
will wait where he i and acco rdin gly th r t i ght t h
I

s n

e.

er

e,

se ,

s s

rs

s e

e,

s s

e s

ss

ere n

es

r en e,

ss s

s,

s s e

ers

s e
e

M AYNA RD T O WERS

G RO VENO R PLA CE IS NO T

so ;

two have o f their hostes is thu descri bed to thei

mother aft erward
Cou in A ugu ta met u at the top
f the stai r
She ki ed us bo th an d said Gwe was
m t like yo u at h age Y o u wanted to know what
he hersel f i like ? She i s very mall with no particular
gure but very martly d re sed H er hair i q uite grey
an d h wear it like a French marq ui e
She make up a
littleat least Gwen say o f I houldn t hav noticed
it She has a apid pleasant way o f talking and seem
very lively an d good humou red
There I really can t think o f anything l e to ay
abo ut h a d th writer B atrice looked round f
an in spiration ; but none was forthcoming a d ind ed the
above had only been pe n d by ts and tarts with
interval o f meditation Mother will ay I hav not
told her much but what i th re to tell P added the
peak r after a pau e;
get ready to go ut decided
O h nothing ; l t
Gwen promptly
Gwen wa al eady mancipated already ca ting ff
th
t he hu k f year ; eve n littl j a e born and bred
Maynard tat who now appeared at th ummon o f
the bell looked a di r t Jane and wore a knowing air
She wa bringing forth new dresses from the wardrobe
cried Beatric gaily She
Let u be new all ov r
meant mor than mt th ea
There ca be no
T h morning pas ed delight fu l ly
more agreeabl f mi in occupation than hopping on a
bright May morning e p cially wh n
i being driven
b i kly in a nic littl carriag with companion all int nt
upo n th ame obj ct In and out o f Bond Str t R eg nt
St eet and Piccadilly trott d Mi K nyon bro wn
cob
They are k pt f thi ki d f work explai ed

t mad at a
h
a d orders were g iven and appointm
rate f peed bewildering to the country girl
s

s :

os

er

s e

s s

ss

or

e s

or

er

es

on

e s

e,

e en

e,

e s

ss

one

ee

e,

s e

r s

or

en s
s

ST A Y AT - O M ES

306

It i no u e putting o ff quoth Miss K nyon che r

fully ; you want the things at onc ; you want them to
wear now and if w do not make that clearly u d r tood
your parcel will be arriving when your luggag i in the
hall ready to go back to Maynard Tower Be id
we hall have other things to occupy u directly added

e s
s

es ,

she

She had not waited till now to leave h card abou t

and within a few day all three wer plun ged into what
e med to Beatric and Gw ndol ine Maynard a vortex o f
di ipation
It wa i r ality a mild vort x ; it would have mad
votarie o f the gay world mil in pur contempt but it
had a curiou and almo t path tic e t upon t h two
with whom w a concern d
They f lt them elve oth r being ; th y rev l l d in th
f ling
It mattered not wh r th y w nt or what they
did all cen wor the am f tal air f them ; f all
th y d ck d th m elv alik and f y ar aft rward the
ound f a barr l o ga playing a tun that recall d tho e
umm r day ent a thrill through their bo om
You a
a ily pl a ed aid Mi K nyon kind ly
Th y told ach other that it wa h who kn w how to
l
a
them
p
m d to divin what attract d the
By in tinct h
and r pell d th other O cca ionally B atric would be
indi ff r nt and p occupied while Gw n wa njoying
h r el f to th top f h b nt a whi p r in t h a f th
fo rm r
How i th world did cou in
Sh would tart
A ugu ta know ? A littl bird told cou in A ugu ta ; and
ther wa th carriag out id why hould it be wa ted
why hould not B atric tak it and go wher h would P
Gwen and I will go hom in a h an om by a d by but
w don t want to go y t t h
peak r would add a ily
A t anoth r tim it would b Gw n who was yaw ing whil
er

ss

'

e e

es

or

e s

ss

s s

e se

s s

or

or

re so e s

e see

e s

e s

e s
e

e e r o

e,

s e

er

one

re -

e e

es

es

re

ee

s e

- n

e s

ST AY-AT -HO MES

: 08

b t ween

an d

us,

bot h

we never

agreed

wanted

to

see

ace again
I ho uld n o t have said that A n d I don t feel it
added Beatrice after a pau se
Becau we did not
happen to suit he
O h yo u think it was that ?
I can t help thinkin g so and that h put it upon th

climate Sh did have a bad co ld but he wa not t h

woman to give in to a cold I think h got moped
t a lively hou e
an d o f cour e our i s
We ne dn t bo ther about her now at all vent ; h
wa nice enough while h lasted an d now he gone
which the con versation turned to oth r topic o f
O
more inter t to both
Th r wer new acq uaintances and new pro pect to
be di us ed new cloth to be tried
n w notes to
be writte ; and i f Beatrice were not q uite e tirely
en gro ed with these a was h r mor vo latile and h art
whol i ter h wa not only ready but anxiou to l t
them do their wo rk
day h had a light hock It wa but a light
O
ti
ll
h
could
not
a
c
rtain
mart
littl
appari
see
;
tion di appear within a doorway befor which th ir own
carriage wa about to draw up without a faint n ation
urp i e Do we particularly want to
f di agreeabl
immur our lv in a pictur gal le y thi aft rnoon P
a k d h quickly I know you are only doing it f
addre ing her cou in and it i uch a lov ly aft r
u
em a ham e
n oon i t
So it doe aid Mi Ke yon Sto p a moment

to th footman who had alighted to throw open th

carriag door Suppo w l t th picture wait f a

h turned to the girl s ; and om thing el

w t day ?
wa arrang d
T hat wa becau
you aw Dai y Curl go in th re ?

her f

se

s e

no

es

e e

sc

on

es

so

ss

e s s

s e

ne

on e

s e

e s

se

r s

or

ss

s,

se

es

e,

se

s s

s,

ss

se

or

se

se

MAYN A RD T O WERS

I S NOT

G RO VENO R PLA CE

20

d Gwen to her si ter pre ently the two being alone

a f w minute
I saw her too ; but I hould not
f
hav known how to g t out f it a you did Be ide
I don t know that I hould hav mind d
A d I don t know that I ought to have minded
but I did
So Dai y wa i Lon don and might b upon her at any
mom nt ? It wa a i f a black hadow had cro ed
B atric path and throughout the r mainder f the
day it haunted h
nothing further happen d how ver and a no
A
mor f th hadow wa een fo the ext twenty four
hour h was beg inning to forg t when ju t as the
ladi w r returned from a long after oo outing
and wer xamining the u ual a ray o f ote and card
i the hall th re wa a bu tl in th porch and a voic
familiar to the ars f t wo f th party wa heard inquir
ing i f Mi Maynard wer at home ?
Mi Maynard her l f walk d forward to gre t th
inquir r and pr nted M Curle to her hoste s with
what grac h could
A d i f there had been only Mrs Curle Dai y might
hav pas d mu ter fairly well She had no right to
com ; no warrant f thru ting h r l f into an unknown
hou e ; ti l l th intru ion might hav been condo ed i f
the offender had not as th ough to accentuat her lack
d ing brought with h a f iend which fri d he
o f br
t rn introdu ed all round Mi Con nie Gibb
i h
had to hav her nam three tim repeat d
it eemed
that Mi Gibb and M s Curl were ati ed it had
b en heard o ften nough If Lady Laura had been by !
Mi Kenyon however wa not Lady Laura and the
party marched up tair to all appearance harmonio usly
Gibb thi wa
But what a Mi
She towered behind her diminuti ve friend he air be
sai

or

s,

ss

es

er

e o

e s

s, s e

e e

es

ese

rs

s e

se

e se

or

er

er

ss

ss

ee

se

ss

n s

ss

e e

ss

ss

es

ere

en

I4

S Y

n o

H O M ES

-AT -

TA

tok ning that but f r the xigencies o f custom h would

ha v walked in front ; and as though to intimate that
h ight wa o obj ct with her h had increa d that which
nature had already be towed by a hat f xtravagant p
portio who e bow and feather all pointed upward
t that
thought Beatric Maynard who
Y t it i
wa as w know her el f tall el gantly tall and carri d
her i che gracefully Th e wa omething masterful and
aggre iv about t h tatu e f the newcom r which e med

t
to ay I am her and you cannot ge rid f me ther

wa a d termination to be no ticed a Don t try to

cape f I am trong r than you in the ru tl f the

kirt th wa what wa there not ? D pite hersel f

Mi s May ard wa comp lled to att nd to her f i nd
fri nd and leave Dai y to the other two
Perhap thi wa a well
he did not wi sh to talk to
Dai y and might hav e t med Mi Gibb a refuge had
Mi Gibb b n any oth r ki d f Mi Gibb But that
hard ra ping voice and vulgar cond nt air ! What a
mi tak to bring uch an appendag added to the mi
take f calli g at all 1
W are tayin g at th sam hot l explained th
young lady ; and a thi i my r t vi it to London I
am just making Dai y Curl take me ev rywhe e Sh
No t that he doesn t
know London I know Pari

know Pari too with a little laugh Do you know

Mi s Maynard ?
Pa i
Mi Maynard had been in Pari on ceyear ag
when h wa a littl e girl
O h I ay Mi s Conni Gibb laugh d an w at thi
What an idea now ! Why then you don t know Pari
at al l ! I thought every one knew Pari It i ever
much ner a city than London wi th a uperior tilt o f
her chin Though I dare ay you don t believ me P
added h
not r c iving the xpected di sclaimer
o

s e

sn

se

n s,

ss

s,

er

es

ss

ere

ss

s ee

ss

ss

r e

ee

e o

es

s,

or

s e

es

e,

ro

s no

e,

s,

ss

s e

e e

so

e,

o,

r s,

ST AY AT -H O MES
-

2! z

d but so ma y g irls ar educated abroad

now I fan cy I hea d yo u say sh
I didn t say so butw ll he was That wa where
we r t met she an d I Th re were girl f o m al l ov r
the world at that schoo l
A y one who co uld p aybut
my you had to pay !
Very expen iv was it P
But w didn t mind
My father
Y o u may believ s
said I was to have th be t slap up education that co uld
"
be got let it co t what it might
He t a high value upon educati on s wi e f him
He had not perhap had th benet himel f
O h he had had none at all
What did it matter ?
He made his pile ju t a fast or faster than i f he had
wasted hi time fooling round schools That would t
hav done hi many g
So he tayed at hom and ent you to Paris P
hap M Curle father
Dai y father ? Gu he hadn t much to do with
it A hort irr pre ibl laugh ; omething ee med to
amu Mi Connie Gibb in th idea
Perhap her mother
Her mother wa d ad ages before sh wa born
My dear Mi Gibb ! But yo u A merican ar so
droll So you and Mrs Curle have kept up your girl i h
friend hi p P
Can t exactly ay that But I hadn t forgotten
Dai y ; though i t a g eat d al longer than it i civil to

either f us to ay since w met till the oth r day

W aid Good by wh n h married ; sh m ar i d
right away from th chool ; and though I tay d n
another two year h nev r came near u again I
stayed becau e I didn t want to go ho me ; and I m
you ger than Dai y besides
A d y u only met t h other day ?
yo ur

beg

n
o
a
r
,
p

e,

se

e,

se

er

rs.

ess

ss

ss

ss

s,

r e

MAYNA RD T O WERS

GRO VENO R PLA CE IS NO T

acro each other in the street So now I am

located with her and h ha got to look aft r m I m
goi g down to the country with them pre ently too
How nice !
A r you indeed ?
So w I
it all aid Mi A ugu ta K nyon to
her el f and h detained h visitor no longer
R an

ss

e.

see

no

ss

er

cou in A ugu ta we are

orry It wa uch a
pity we w re caught like that I f w had only been out
or had had ti me to top their coming in
anythi g
It wa too bad f D ai y cri d G w n a oon a it wa
a f to peak Dai y her l f i bad nough but that
dread ful girl !
Wi th h dread ful voice ! from Beatrice

A d the way h ordered Dai y about D ai y who

i alway th one h r l f to ord r oth r ! It wa uch a
cene such an exhibition w were o a ham d f i t
panted Gw breathl with p nt up ire
A d you were o good
aid Beatrice taking her
cou in ha d
But Mi K nyon mad light f th whol affair
tire om peopl
h prot t d had om
Ev rybody
among th ir acquaintance ; and tho e tire om peopl
invariably turn d up when l a t want d and M Curle
wa really v ry pr tty and faultl ly dre d
Sh
h wa very
seemed amu ing too ; while her friend oh
amu in g ind d She fancied M Curle wa a little
afraid f what uch a very un ophi ticat d young lady
might ayhad they happ n d to notice that ?
Dear no ; Gwen thought D ai y was rather proud f
her grenadi r ; at any rate h r iterat d again and
again what h wa doing f Mi Gibb and how
Gibb hould enjoy hersel f
anxious h was that Mi
aid Mi
O h it may have been only my fancy
Kenyon
O h,

so s

s s

or

s s

se

-o r

er

s e

e se

s s

e s

'

ess

en ,

es e

sse

s e

ss

or

ss

s,

s s

rs

rs.

ess

ee

ss

ss

31

ST AY AT HO M ES
-

did n ot loo k at Beatrice a he po ke or he

might hav seen her fancy reected in the latter face
Fro m the beginni n g o f the vi sit Beatric had percei ved
that Daisy wa on te ter hook ; t hat despite her as
umed gaiety a d vivacity he wa nervou di t ait
watchful ; and that her eye kept wa d ri g round to
where Mis Gibb sat
O ce or twice she lost the th read f her o wn remark
while trying to catch what Mis Gibb was saying whil
n one occa ion already narrated
he re lutely truck
in and checked Mi Gibb who wa me ly un i g
on omewhat u i vely about h chool day
Quite certainly cou in A ug u ta had hown hersel f a
kee obs rver i detecting that Mi s Gi bb s pon r wa
not altog ther ea y as to the impre ion very ut
poken a young per on might producebut little did
cou in A ugu ta dream what Dai y had to f ar
aid B atrice to
A d yet nothin g may co m o f it
her el f and sh shook ff an unpl a an t impre sion a d
ran lightly up tairs to her bedroom
She was lighter f foot and f heart than he u ed to
be Her past orrow a very real and humblin g sorrow
had not bee n without i t le on and u pon
inc re and
upright a natur a lesso n would n ver be thro wn away
A ll th rough t ho e weary unevent ful month her ch aracter
had be n teadily growing i t better qualiti deepening
and tren gthenin g all that marred it beauty and de
tract d from i t value dimini hing In brief trouble
which either draw o ut the be t or the wor t o f th
human heart had bee n divi ely ble sed to th poor girl
and though it i not all at on e that hortcomin gs can
be amended and bad habits ov rcom even the purblind
Lady Laura a we know percei ved that her daughter
t uggled with he el f
Such a truggle merit extraneous aid and t hi havin g
She

s,

s r

so

ss

re

s,

'

so

so

ss

n n

er s

ss

so s

es

e,

rs

s r

e s

ST AY

H O M ES

-AT -

st6

did so she al o bad a mental farewell to a l ittle

bunc
crumpl d and with red holly which wa still
lying somewhere in a hidden ook at home and which
had been kept he hardly kn w why
It should be d troyed directly he r turned Times
wer chang d ; li fe wa beginning an w ; and now i f
Hou ton Ev e t we to com back from th war and
expect a r newal f con fer nc and d
he would
nd hims l f much mi take v y much mi taken i deed
T h next afternoon he met Ev re t in Piccadilly
A s she
h of

es

er s

re

n,

es

co n

er

en ces,
s

CH A PT ER
HA

III

! YO U SCA PEGRA CE I

looking into a hop window and th ladie who

came on foot might hav tripped past u noticed but
that he turned ju t in time to con front them ; and to
tak u readers into condenc all concerned x pe i
e feeling a wi h that he had
e ced omethi n g
f th sam
not don so
To top and speak was f cour e unavoidable ; but
th
urp i e f B atrice and Gwendoline Maynard may
be imagined when in conjunction with their mutual
exclamation f Major Evere t ! a cheerful Ha ! You
capegrace i ued from th lip f their chaperon and
it was with her that the o call d Scapegrace rst
h o k hand
T urned up li k the p roverbial bad penny proc d d
Mi Kenyon gaily I aw you w r on your way
home and thought a duti ful nephew might have paid
hi r pect to an a ffectionate aunt on landing ; but
apparen tly th dutiful neph w thought otherwi se SO
u
?
o
know
the
e
youn
g
ladie
y
They in th ir turn were regardin g th speaker with
ama ement
It was true that they had n v r poken
to her o f Evere t Beatrice from re erve Gwen from
heer forgetful e ; till it eem d odd that the r la
t i o n h ip hould nev r have been di covered until thi
mo m t when it proved u e ful to one at lea t f the
group Beatri could not so entir ly rid her el f f all
past recollection as not to have betrayed so m emotion
HE was

e o

e,

rs

ss

s o

e s

ss

ee

e e

es

e e

ss

en

ce

21 7

ST AY AT HO MES

z r8

however light in he coun tenanc but fo thi timely

intervention
Well and s yo u have had a real hon e t wound thi
time co ntinued th ld r lady in tones o f approbation
and here you are non the wor e f it apparently ;
though now I look at y umy dear Hou ton udd nly

I do hope you have not been really bad have y u P i

al tered accents No one wrote y u know ; and though
I awyour wound mentioned in the paper
It wa not worth writing about aid h quickly
It wa bad luck but I hould have got over it all right
i f it had not bee n fo however y u ca hear the e t
any tim We only landed ye t rday an d o f cour e I
was comin g to look you up ; I have got your la t l tter

h re patting hi br a t pock t and a d it wa

awfully good f you to writ o o ften and to e d th se
thing
They reached you did th y ? N w com back wi th
u ; come back to lu cheon ; we a e on our way home
and we can t tand talking h re blocking up th way
Major Eve t wa however ngag ed fo luncheon
Din with u th n aid hi aunt pro mptly A h
poke h looked at him with a rogui h ignicant y
an d he und r tood that h had to go
E ight o clock and be punctual
W had been going
to a charity conc t but cha ity begin at hom and
anyhow I am thankful to be o ff it T he e en dles
charity affair g t upon on nerve
nodded the liv ly
lady uff ri g her l f to be imp lled onward by th
pa ing t eam
Barely howev r had h tak n a few t ps than
Ju t wait
moment f m cri d h to h youn g
companion and wa back by h nephew id ere
he had sui i tly collected him el f to do more tha
mchanically move in th ppo ite di ection Hou to n
s

e,

e e

or

e,

e.

r s

s e

e s

e s

s n

e,

ss

es

s r

or

o ne

e,

s,

s e

er

er

c en

se

e,

er

s s e

s e

e s

res

e,

e O

ST AY-AT -HO MES

n o

divi dual s whose loo ks are n obo dy bu in s ; an d the

impression left by such a o n e when he vani he from
i q uickly wiped o ut
the scen
Had th Mayn a d mt Mi A d am a year and a hal f
l aten as they wer accu tom d to behold her at Maynard
Towe in her at cap clo e bonnet wi t h the brown
rin glet haki g o n either cheek with hawl and mitten
and crucial te twithout certain t th who
appear
an ce altered her fac even mor than the abandon mnt o f
the ringlet they would without doubt hav recogni ed
her ; but had they bee n asked to de cribe what h wa
like without eeing her they would hav been unabl with

acc
acy
to
do
o
and w know that a vagu
an y
ur
indenite som thin g abo ut their hand om prightly
impo rtant cou i which recalled her lowly p teg J wa
ab urd by bo th B atric and G wen that
f lt to be
they laughed tog th r ov r th dd coincid nce
It i the way h throw abo ut h hand aid Gw n
o n day ; but y t that ve y Way hardly e med the ame
when one pair o f hand white and plu mp a h d with

gem whi le th oth r wa protect d from cold and prob

l m
at ical chilblain by mitten which xt nd d hal f-way
down th ng r
Mi K nyon knowledg f them elves and o f their
home wa a ily accou ted f and accordingly he did
not att mpt to di gui it
You moth r ha alway writt n about y u all q uit
frankly
aid
h
ut to you
laughed Gw n
O h we know h pour
A d h ha alway b en
kindly urg nt that I
hould vi it Maynard T ow r ob rv d th ir cou in onc
if
She could not r i t aying it and looking hard to
the r mark produced any unu ual r ult
It did not they only return d traight forward gla ce
and B atric aid arne tly I hope you will come ;

in

e s

ss

or

rs,

s s

ee

s,

re

se

e,

er

s,

ss

se

e s

es s

s o

so

se

see

e s,

e s

s e

o r,

e o

s e s

e s

e,

s e

s,

'

e O

ro

so

e,

s n,

es

s,

HA

SCAPEGRA CE

YO U

u I

addi n g after a pau we hould be glad to have you

now that w know you cou in A ugu ta
am I hav don you an ill turn aid cou in
A ll th
A ugu ta to h r l f with a igh
She had m ant w ll and bungl d h good i t
tion o badly T her i no need to mak a further
my t ry f what th w r Mi K nyon wa rich
and di po d to make h nephew Hou ton Ever t
her h ir ; but h d ir d him to marry and rumour aid
that h wa a d termin d bach lor who when he ought
ociety conned hi att nt ion to marri d wom n
f mal
wa to f llow ; f rec ntly a
T hi wa bad but wor
pecic r port had r ach d her a f his being e tangled
f D ai y Curl
i the charm
W know how much thi in timacy had b en agg
at d and mi int rpr t d ; but Mi K nyon who was
awar f Dai y anteced nt and had no gr at faith in
h
r pectability wa alarm d and indignant Could
h do nothing to put a top to th a ffair ? Ev r t wa
not a man to brook interfer nc l a t f all i f it pro
wa in a mann r
ed d from a relation upon whom h
dep nd nt T h v ry fact that h owed much to her
would mak hi pride up in arm i f he att mpt d
mon trance whil authority wa f cour e out o f the
que tion
To tell him what h kn w f th Curl former
hi tory mor over would avail nothing ince h would
probably di beli ve it unles upported by proof added
to which ther wa the chance o f hi not caring even
uppo ing he did believ
Sh wa at her wit
end helple and pow rle ;
when a note wa received n day from the u ma age
abl object f her solicitude whose po tmark wa familiar
and all at once an idea u ggested it el f
Three Maynard girl s Three to choose from A n d
se ,

e,

so

es

e e

se

s o

e es

e s

e,

re

es

s s

er

ex

ss

or

e e

es

ce

e o

es

e r o

er

e s
s

ss

n en

er

er

se

ese

s e

e se

so

e s

ss

ss

ST AY-AT -HO MES

z zz

by their mother s description they mu t be a di fferent

i n di po i ti on a in appearance ; while ce tainly ye
certainly the e mu t be goo d looks and good qualiti
omewhere among th th ree Sur ly thi wa H ou ton
chance ?
A d now i f h had only let the chance alone ! But
and Lady
he had bu n d to have a ng r in th p i
lect d
Laura de ir to have a re ident lady companion
arriving a it did at
a d d patch d to Maynard Tower
emed to poin t th way with an
th c i tical mom nt
u mi takable nger
m and my folly all might hav gon
A d but f
well lam nt d he now H wa tak n with B at ice
He could not h lp being ; h i a nobl creatur
ig obly fetter d and bound by t h re triction f a li f
that i too mall and narrow f h
Sh would xpand
like a ow r in th u were h abl to merg from it
and hav th free u f h abilitie and energi
Sh
would do mor than mak H ou ton happy ; h would
elevat him rai him to her own l vel D ar Ho
ton i a good a h know how to be ; but the be t
that i in him ha never be n drawn out f hith to h
ha b n a un fortunate in hi way a Beatric in her
H ha be n negl ct d ; h ha be n ov rdon with
car and upervi ion
A pau
Beatrice long to be loved and no
; th n
in h own hom ha the capacity f a ff ct on h
n d and m rit Th y do not appr ciat h ; do
not
into th d pth which li below that cru t f

gravity and r rv th y think h ill temp red and it

ea y amiability nor Kitty
i true that h ha not G w
childi h gai ty ; but h ha qualiti far fa urpa ing
their and innitely de irable in a wi f f uch a man
a H ou ton
Dear H ou ton ! I would not ay a word
agai n t him but he do need om n to lean upon to
'

es

r e

se

or

so

or

n,

e s

se o

ee

se

or

en s

er

es

r s

ss

or s

es

er

s,

ese

ns

er

see

or

s e

s e

er

on e

es

s o

se

e,

er

er

se

e,

s,

ee

es

e o

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

: 3

tead f eein g through the woman and haking him el f

free f her d liberately played into h
hand aid d and
abetted by his idiot
f a aunt
H igho ! H w
wi w are when a thing i done and can t be undone
morali ed Mi K nyon walking up and down the room
we ee ou mi tak and blund and t to work to
commit th m carefully over again ! What el e did I
in vite Hou ton h re f P I could hav wait d ; and it
would have been better t hav wait d to e him in thi
house B atric ha cooled toward him Sh und r
and tru to her l f acc pt d
sto od hi s d partur
all that it meant Some pain and di appointm nt he

f
v
mu t ha
lt yet how perfectly he conceal d it not
a breath o f u picion wa arou ed A ll wa at an d
f her ; a d how lo g or how hort a tim it took to
forget no one will v r kno w
but that he ha forgott n
or at l a t ov rcom remembranc and i now anoth r
creatur all the b tter fo a dearly bought xperi nc
i v ry plain
Why hould I try to di turb h peace
and rekindle the dead park P
Well I couldn t help it I had to a k the man quoth
Mi Kenyon petulantly O ca t be odd and u
natural ju t becau o happens to be a f a t with a
certain untoward little pi od They n d not meet
often ; and i f H ou to ha any en e h will ke p ut
f our way f
a bit O f cour h will ; h i not ov r
anxiou to come a it i ; and if th r are no futur
a
m
t
mad
and
h
a
only
a
gen
ral
in
itation
to
h
v
g g
the hou
th girl vi it will be ov r and they will hav
een him once or twic and there will b an d f it
So aying h rang f h r maid and proc eded to dre
f dinner
H r y u are Good boy to be punctual N0 one
i down but me
aid
N w what do you th i nk f thi s ?
Ever t
ho te glancin g round complac ntly a he
o

er

se

ss

s,

es

se

ers,

or

se

s s

e s

e,

er

ne

ss

e,

en

e e

or

s e

ne

se

or

s e

or

or

e en

en

e,

e e

ee

e,

se,

se

en s

re

ss

e e

es

ss,

HA !

SCAPEGRA CE

YO U

ann ounced into her umptuou drawing room

rather grand i it not ? I am till fooli h enough
though why fooli h
call it practical and en ibl
nough to en joy living in a hou e and being abl to
welcome my n ph w to it My dear H ou ton I hope
u
a
o
are
plea
d
a
I
that
your
old
aunt
wanderi
g
s
y
are ov r and that henc forth h i to be known as a
p ctable and fairly tation ary i ti en ofno that
doe n t round o ff well ay a a London r pur and
imple
You will make a v ry good Lo ndoner aid he
doe like to have re t f the ole f one foot
O
in one ld ag Hou ton
H e looked at her humorou ly
O ld ag ?
W ll atte P
Nothing will v r mak you old my d ar aunt
N t ven a wig and mitten ? But hu h !
putting
h
ger to h lip
W mu t not begin on that ;
th y will com in dir ctly l t u talk about the hou
It is a pl ndid hou
I it not ? A n d though I always knew I wa to have
it
could n v r tell wh n ; f my poor old cou in having
lived so long there s med no rea on why h hould not
go on living I uppo e yo u too appr ciat having a
oof over your head onc mor ?

I mu t ay
O h we had roof f a ort occasionally

I liked th ky better
A t night ? To leep under ?
Nothing lik it
aid h r adily A tent i a
bea tly tuffy a ffair ; and th re i omethin g in the air out
th r that mak yo u l p like a top e pecially aft r a
long day march
Come in my d ar h r i a oldier already longing
to be back upon th march ! cried Mis Kenyon a the
door opened to admit th e i t r at th i moment ; and
was

ne

res

se

ne

s O

e,

er

re r

e e

er

se

or

se

o ne

e e

ee

s o

e s

e,

es

ss

e e

e s

or

s ee

s,

e e

s s e s

HO MES

T
ST A Y A

3 36

hough the word and th merry look that accompanied

them med only a easy m thod f i cluding th w
com i n a conver ation al ady ta t d th y w r not
utt r d without de ign Som how whatev r
h ar
from other a d whatev r one read in t h pap r it all
sou d
quit di ff r t wh n yo u have your own ma
home and h t ll y u what happen d to him l f pro
So w i your opportunity H ou ton
eded
he
You will nev r b mad
much f again a you will to
night by u th ee When w hav wru g you dry
You will throw me a id lik a ucked orange ?
Ju t
imile
A v y appo it
He wa given to und r tand howev r that he wa not
yet ucked ; and a th littl party d c nded to t h dining
room and eated th m lv round a tabl fragrant with
fr h ower and luminou with gl aming ilv r he could
not but own a pl a ant se ation in being thu welcomed
a d f a ted
A man i s eldom better ompany than wh n d awn out
a d encou aged by an audi nc
H may th n
f women
be a goi tic and bomba tic a h choo not that he

i
f
oft n r h i ingularly mod t but h has a
fr
hand he do not fe l him l f und r the n c ity f
be littling ev ry v nt and epi od in which he ha taken
part a h would w r other f hi own
pr nt
H can lat thing a th y hap p en d and throw in
touch mall p r onal touch which a agerly drunk
i n by the ympath tic f minin ear ; and i f only he will
own to a n f w akne or f lon lin how utt ably
oft and compa ionate i v ry eye
T h wily f llow know thi and trad
upon it Be
ur that h do not con f to havi g op ned hi pack t
f tobacco b for hi lett r when th mail cam in ; or
that he wai t d to p r u th latt r till he had had hi s
dinn r A to th triing detail he i silent an d th fair

see

e rs

s,

ce

so

es

e s

s e

or

re

se o

es e

er

ess,

es

s,

e s,

se

ese

re e

ess

es

s e e

sex

ss

ss

e ess

es,

s o

e s

se s

se

e e

es, s

se

e o

es

e e

s s

es

ee

es e

ns

s so ,

e s

e s

es

s,

se

e s

se

er

e s,

e so

one

no

e e

e en

r e

e ne

re

e e

Y-AT -HO MES

ST A

1 38

o o th
were t he sm

than

heek

so ft c

ich th

i n wh

wri n k les

i t
Everest s heart warm
ed to hi s aunt ; that morning h
had thought o f her with a ce rt ain h itation
True she had b c hi faithful cor e pond nt and

f
a
s
e
n
e
while
at
the
f
ront
but o can f l a n
b
ct es
and the glow
o f o bl igatio n witho ut any gl ow f a ffection
on th
present occasion wa mi ing or rather had been
mi i g till co ntact truck as it wer th spark
A s fo r the yo ung ladies they were v ry nice indeed

What girl s a e like o u Engli h girl P cri d h in hi

heart won dering an d delighted with their grace their
beauty the m u ic f their voices and laught r
Beat ice wo e a robe f hining gau beneath which
ther gleamed fold f atin he looked at it with a
trange kind of plea ure in it perf ction; and wh n by
accident he trod u po n it almost cursed him lf

A clum sy brut
but how little he eemed t mind
the fragile thing was to sed out o f hi way a though it
not he were th offender
Was Beatric her l f alt red ? H had no very cl ar
except
reco l lection o f t h
former b arer f th nam
that h wa in common phra e A good ort and that
H ad they not
h had alway felt at home with her
been rath r friend at one tim ? O f cour e A d con
But now th y mt on quit
d t ial ?
O f cour e
anoth r footing ; and th re wer no r fer nc to Som r
et hi e walk and talk
not th faint t gl am f i t lli
gence in her eye
T hi wa all to the good
he di lik d my t riou
af nities and that kind f thing ; and a h at by him
l f luxuriou ly ipping hi clar t after the ladi had
left the room he meditat d with tranquil ati faction on
the turn vent had tak n
It wa all uncommonly disagr eable and expl osiv
were but

fa n as yet

es

e n

r s

ne

ee

se

se

ss

ss n

z e,

se

se

en

es

es

s,

e,

s,

n e

se

e s

es

s e

HA ! Yo u SCA PEG RACE

when I went ut thought he

That non sen se f aun t
E mmi
might hav turned out much worse than it did
Po
my word I thought I wa leaving a mine behind
me that might be red at any mo nt and I wa
thank ful to get ff and out f the way That the thing to

do selecting a d y bi cuit and l aning back to munch

and ip Never mix your el f up in an imbroglio if y u
can h lp it Bolt Bolt and come back when the sky
i clear
Dai y i pe fectly competent to manage her own
affair clever little pu that he i and I su pect I was
a bit o f a a to wor y my el f about them It all cam
f my being o ut o f orts down th re ; and f course the
Curle were mo t awfully good to me but i f I had had
any n e I hould have een that the be t thing I could
do f them in return wa to hold my tongue Con found
it I wi h I had What th dicken was it to me P He
ro from hi chair having had enough clar t
S m to m I mu t have hown up in rather a q ueer
light to thi Mi Beatric I can t think what po se sed
m to blab to her f all p opl A good as aying
Dai y and I wereoh bothe ation I wond r what he
thought ? But wi th a igh o f r lief h i n t the girl
to think tho thing ; be ide any one could ee that
poor little Dai y i traight nough at bottom I shall
k p out o f h way though at least I think I shall

O f cour e i f they trouble t hem elve about me but I

don t uppo they will Dai y will have had a do en
inc my day and I han t take any teps
i t at i
f
toward letting th m know I m back Th y can
them elve i f th y want to e It wa a nice part o f
he mu ed hal f regretfully
t h country though
H e wa not now howeve in the friendles and home
l condition he had been when The Holli howed
it l f a a haven f refug ; and though retaining a
grat ful recollection o f it in that aspect vi stas had

es

ss

s,

ss

se

or

ee

se

er

ee

s e.

see

s,

se

s e

o ns

s,

s s

es s

ess

se

ss

se

or

ST A

s c

HO MES

-AT -

e ed i n o ther directio n s ; whi le the chan ge in hi aunt

fortunes might al o a ffect him
A ltogether th Curles

kin d hospitable peo ple peo ple who had nur ed an d

o ddled and be f iended him
people upo n whom he
had no claim and yet who could not have d o ne mo e

i f he had been their neare t a d deare t relation th

Curle we ay despite th g atitud that ought to
have attached to their na m
e and that did in a mea u e
attach to it wer and it wa fruitless to deny i t now
beheld in a new light
He could
ome ju tication f his elderly relative
annoyan ce at hi being o clo ely as ociated with th m
Women he told hi mel f made o cial tatu a ort f
f
o
d
and
cour
s
e
poor
Dai
y
our
e
a
s
not
f
w
h
c
;
g
lik those high bred Mayn ard girl She could be vul
a
a
e
s
h
w
s
mo
t
amu
ing
when
vul
g
ar
ti
l
l
w
e
a
h
;
g ;
he saw what hi aunt meant
Dai y notion f morality too Well poor thing
how hould he have any particular notion ? It aid
om thing it aid a good deal f her that h wa
what he was
What i more I do belie ve he ha a not ion f being
aid Evere t tarin g out f the window fo
religiou
he had troll d thither to br athe th fre her air She
wa alway putting little bit f pi into her l tters
Dai y not a wagg r character not like thi Beatric
H
irl
top
ed
hort
whi
tl
d
o
ly
under
b
eath
f
t
h
i
g
p
an d p e ntly w nt up tai
Con id rably to hi urpri th voic which g eeted
hi ca on pening the drawing ro om door w r not all
feminin voic ; and on nt ring he found th re wa an
addition to the party in the hape f an xtrem ly mart
looking and good looking man con id rably younger
than him l f who ro e at hi approach and wa pre
nt d a M A nthony O ldca tle

Op n

'

s,

e,

see s

s e

e s

se,

es

e e

es

se

rs

s s

r se

s o

s e

s,

or

se

or

Y AT HO M ES

ST A

z
3

Why

becau she k n ew we hould read it very

wo rd said Beat ice with the frank ai f an old i e d
an d we on ly wi hed we had been there Ton y
Did you ? Did y u really ? But it was bea tly rot

w
a
k
ow
I
only
nine
mo
th
bri
k
u
n
u
n
t
h
o
t
e
y
f
o
un
g
e
l
low
t
u
rned
to
E
v
r
es
t
and
addre
ed
him
y
taking it fo granted that they two would view the
matter in common A n d I didn t get in f much
O u f l l ow had mo e luck ; but I didn t get ut with
th rst d raft becau se the govern or wouldn t let me ut
I went up l ate and he i awfully trict ;
O x ford short
but I got o ut in the en d t ri umphantly
A d your lot did uncommonly well I know
aid
Ev rest peak i ng f the rst time
It co t him an effort
to ay it but he wa a soldier an d a gentleman H at
down and t ried to forget himse lf
But the plea ure f the evening wa gone f
him ;
gone becau e f that a y gure with i ts martnes it
legan e it air o f amboyant pro perity
D not be ha d on E vere t ; r coll ct that he wa a
man no longer in hi r t youth that he had arly b en
fo ced to battl e with the world and
en other out tri p
him in t h race ; that disappointm nts k enly f lt had
been ndur d in the pa t and faced him in the fu ture ;
and that although in n r pect hi pro pect had

bright n ed a regarded hi military career and it wa

that which after all he car d about above all el e in the

world ther lurk d a ecret anxiety ufcient to hara

and over hadow hi pirit
Tony O ldcastle looked a though he did not know
what care meant ; and in v ry t ruth th young ter wa
now on th top o f th wav which foam d in bubbling
ben ath hi feet
sun shin
H e proceed d to explain that he wa now in high
favour at hom ; v n with the ster pat rfamilia who
,

but

se

r o

ss

or

or

e s

or

e s

se

es

s s

s,

ss

e,

e e

HA

SCAPEG RA CE

YO U

33

had re fu ed p rmi ion fo him to curtail p maturely hi

chola tic dutie but who had patted him on the back

when h h ard oh n v r mind what

W know
aid Beatrice archly ; wher at Tony
blu h d and ran on
A pparently h wa u h f mon y and eag r to pend
it What wer th thing to do ? What to se ?
I m only ju t up you know A d it wa awfully
good f you thi to th lder lady with a pretty air o f
r pect to let m look in to night O f cour e I might
hav call d forev r and not een you ; and I did not

know how long th y would be taying either glancing

at hi fri nd t h girl s
Th y are not going back ju t yet aid Mi K nyon
having com to thi d ci ion within the past ve minute
My nephew i only ju t arrived in Tow also ; now
h pau d ugge tiv ly
th at we have two cavalier
I think
aid Beatrice Maynard in h clear well
modulated voice that i I am afraid w mu t not mak
any more ngageme t we a du at hom n xt we k
A
he poke h x d Gwen with h eye and Gwen
knew that it behoved her to be ilent
If that i the ca
w mu t make t h mo t f uch
tim a r main r joined Mi K nyon To morrow
what ar we doing to morrow P
W are going to Earl Court with th Weston
aid B atric promptly
A h ! To b
ur W had thought f doing ye
Nothing wa decid d I fancy
Nothing wa
ai d to
th m P
It i u only fr night thi w k cou in A ugu ta
Ju t
O u only fr e night
L t us kee p it free
and
Won t yo u com and dine with m at the Carlton P
burst in Tony Mi K nyon won t you brin g Beatrice
s

ss

re

s,

s e

se

s,

re

se,

er

s,

e,

s,

e s

so ,

ss

n s

so

er

s s

ss

s.

e e

es

e e

s o

so

ee

ee

ss

ST AY-AT -HO MES

34

Gwen an d do that ? I hea d of the Carlton as th

place to go to from a fellow who know ; and I hould
be awfully glad i f you would
The ladie looked at each other To Ev st chagrin
What could they
t hey looked indulge t an d yielding
ee in that p p i jay ?
But the popinjay turned to him l f A d yo u will come
too won t y u ? I hope y u don t th ink it pre uming ;
but it would b so jolly and I ll go to-night and cu e

a tabl
breathl ly lookin g from one to the other

I
I
Thank
tammered poor Ev re t ruefully
He f lt an ungraciou brute an ill manner d urly dog
i n t h ma ger ; but though h did not wan t to acc pt
the invitation fo him e lf he could not en dure the thou ght
o f the others going without him
Had he met Tony O ldca tle under other circum tan ce
he would have bee the r t to acknowledge t h charm
f go geo u youth which t h lad wore lik a halo round
hi browbut omehow it fr t t d the old r man now
ld o poor o dull and unin t ere ting beside
H felt
that radiant Fo tu atu
H too would hav lik d to play the magn icent and
ord r dinner at th Carlton or l ewh re and we p a
whole party into hi t at the word f command but
th id a had not occu r d to him and n v r would have
occurred to him H wa not accu tomed to live on uch
a cal and a harp twing f jealou y made it l f f lt
Tony how ver wa looking at Major Ever t with
om an i ty Wa he too much f a w ll to din with
an unknown individual at a plac lik t h Carlto wh e
n by v ybody ? Wa that th m aning f
wa
h i h it ation while the oth r wer ready with th ir
acc ptance P
H ow littl did th innoc nt lad gue f the truth

omewhat
Ev n Ev re t nal Mo t hap py I m ur
an d

so

e-

se

ess

e,

se

ere

so

e,

e s

r e

e,

x e

s se e

e er

es

es

one

se

e o

e e

s ne

s,

e s

n,

er

ss o

e,

ST AY-AT HO MES

6
23

tu ning to Eve t They wi ll be delighted to

welcome you back ; but perhaps yo u hav seen them
already ? Dai y Curle i looking so well and pretty ;
h
ay it i th country l i f
he l ead
I dare ay r sponded he vaguely He felt con fused
and irritated A lthough Mis Maynard pok in accen t
altogeth r devoid o f igni canc an d though he looked
him a ily in th fac while doing he cou ld not meet
her on eq ual ground He could n t forg t o affect to
forget o ucces fully
Brown Hotel i in Dover Str et proceed d h f
Tony O ldcastl e how ver alon
hi furth r g uidance
regi ter d th addre in hi not -book
A t len gth Tony ro e to go and no oon r had t h do r
hut behind him than ther wa an outbur t f accl ama
Was he not wonderful ? Wa h not delight ful ?
ti on
Wa ver any one so alte ed and i mproved ? It took
all Mis K nyon pow r o f el f control to prevent her
howing that he a well as th Mayn ard had known
hrysali tate and was as competent
t h buttery in i t
as they to compa e and comment
Sh had to allow her l f to be told thi and that to
hear that at one time the young heir f the O ldcastle
was a rather terrible lon g l egged creature who had out
grown hi tr ngt h and had had to top at hom and
be f d up when h hould have gone to the U ni ver ity ;
al o that only hi moth r ntreati and the docto r
dictum had prevail d to eect thi de pite the fact that
poor Tony wa over i x foot high and as thin a a
whipping po t But he do not look a bit too t all
now appended Gwen with animation
Too tal l ? Hi gure i perfect cried co usin A ugu ta
f
E
I
ar
v
r
t
muttered
omething
beneath
breath
at
h
i
(
thi ) A d that smart well et up air ! No awkwa d
ne s no el f co n sci ou ne
I have never ee a mor
she,

res

s e s

e s

e,

so ,

s.

ss

e s

s e, o r

s e

e s

s C

s s

se

e s

s e

es

'

s,

es

e es

ss

SCA PEGRA CE 2

HA ! YO U

37

harming young man He look as i f all the world petted

him and yet he remains un poilt
The i ter took up th choru Tony wa c rtainly
marv llou Th y had alway liked Tony even though
h and Kitty could n v r see each other but to bit and

cratch ( thi from Gw n with a laugh) But no

cou l d have uppo ed he would turn into uch a
aid h cou in promptly Mi K nyon
A no egay
to le a glanc at h neph w a he pok and h under
tood that he wa app al d to
h
eem a nice f llow aid h i n di tly
Y
Major Ev re t d pi our nthu ia m aid Beatric
hal f to him hal f to th other
But then he do not
know what it i to live in a v ry q ui t country n ighbour
hood wh r p opl grow up along id f each other and
know ev ry ingl thing about each oth r from the cradl
to th grav Tony O ldcastl u ed to come ov r to
nur ery t a with u and bring hi Feed r with him
parat d becau e they
A d he and Kitty had to be
would throw th ir cru t at each oth r acro th table
O nc th y had a battl royal ; and Tony wa hut up in
tor cupboard till it wa tim f him to b fetch d
th
hom wh n h came out with hi face meared all ov r
with ra pberry jam
A d h B atric do you r member th r t day h
wor Eton and h w w all tri d on th collar ? laughed
Gwen A d poo r Ton y k pt imploring u not to cru h
it with tear in hi ey
H e u d to b in mortal t rror
girl
o f u thr
A d now ador you
So th world wag aid Mi
Kenyon ch erfully You H u t k wnothing o f uch
tend r remini c nce you wer a poor littl lon ly f llow
h pau d it truck her that though no longer
it wa a poor lonely fellow he wa peaking to
Li t tl

s s

e e

er

e s

ses

es

e,

e o

e,

ss

or

e,

s,

ee

es

se

se

s,

s e

s e

e,

es

s s

s s

s,

e,

se

e s

es

eren

e,

'

e e

s s

ss

es,

er

one

no

s on,

no

ss

s s

S Y
TA

s 38

HO MES

-AT -

wo u ld have tu rned the subj ct but B at i ce wa

a great deal who have no
un parin g
Y e peop l e lo
childhoo d fri nds ob erved she ar le ly Th y a
o very much mor
to o than any lat r friend can be
istakes in peo p le whom
meet ready
O e make m
made ; they don t ho w them lves a they really are ;

c
c
we a ept them at their own valuation we can t h lp it
we have n othing e l e to go by and th n when w di
co ver it i s all a illu sion
Beatrice what a you talking about P
But though Gwen exclaimed thu Evere t knew as
very one present k ew what wa in th peaker mind
What po essed y u to be high and mighty to that
t
h
f
o
r
man
to
ni
ht
P
demand
Gwe
t
rward
o
d
a
g
p
ister having r tired fo th night
Why Poor P dema ded B atric q uickly
Your la t tirade wa n t ov r polite to him at any
at ; and th e wa nothing to call it forth I am ure
he i humble enou gh H at by when we w re all
Why you hould
adm i ring To y and miled benignly
have broken o ut
I was not thinking f Major Ev re t at al l
Then you might hav been It could not have been
v ry plea ant f
him and h i
inoffen iv
Pooh !
aid B atri ce
She wa v ry w ll plea d with hersel f ; he wa not in
the l ast taken in a Gwen wa by Evere t tudied smile
prai e f
sh saw that he neither liked nor joined in th
Tony O ldcastlebut that wa nothing that wa a mere
peg to hang the r t upon ; what h meant Ev re t
to under tand h un de tood well nough ; and now h
might go and com
attach him el f to hi fri nd th
Curl i f he cho e and be v ry ur that he wa one f th
people who could n v r b a int re ting in
Ready mad
Mi Mayn ard s eye a the playmates o f h chi ldhood
She

ss

ne

se

s,

se

on e

re

re

s,

e s

ss

s so

or

e s

se

ss

s s o

es

ss

s e

re

e e

rs

e,

es

e,

er

s,

er

wo ul d let

he

ST A Y-AT - O ME

0
4

us al n e

can

thi k why co u in A ugu ta

n

ho uldn t in vite hi mat o n ce

Y um
ean that t here would be no d anger f
him
a y m
o e than f
u ?
aid Beatrice trying to peak
lightly but listenin g inten tly f r the an wer She om
t imes wonde red whether Gwen had r ally been as stupidly
bl in d as appeared
Gwen miled to he e l f
Poo r Beatrice
But Beatri e
had got over it long ago and they had told each other to
take no no tice and even Kitty had been careful that
her p esen t remark appea ed to her the acm
e o f tact
an d artful es
She mu t think m an idiot argued
she phi l o ophical ly
but that n othing i f it make h
more om fortable It wa quite a hit to suggest he might

me
into
e
hou
e
al l o f which took but an in stant
co
s
th
to a h t hrough her m i nd a d her re pon e wa r ady
directly it wa requir d
O h danger ? That ort o f dan g r doesn t come o
twice Peopl who l ike each other and are v ry friendly
an d al l that on r t meeting don t ca t ch re an d am
up afterwards It is lik being vaccinated to prevent
mallpox
Gwen
Gwen pricked up h ar and hal f turned h head
aid poor B atrice in a low
I I wa n t vaccinat d
voice while a littl att mpt at a laugh choked in her throat

Major Ev r t O h it wa n t
I I did care a little f
much ; at lea t it was oon over and I was glad no
knew or thought about it It wa not hi fault
o
O h B atrice it wa
Surely y u didn t
Wa ? aid Beatrice urpri ed
urely nobodyoh don t ay h voic b com ing
harp with di tres that you all made the am mi
take I did and aw that I did ? O h Gwen that would
be d ead ful
.

or

or

rs

so

'

er

er e

er

s,

e es

or

ne

er

s,

so

HA !

SCA PEGRA CE

YO U

!
4

H u h don t be excited I can t think when yo u

urry m ; and now that you hav told me
But I did not mean to tell only omehow it slipped
ut
I have k pt it to my l f f
lon g and I did

t
want a lit le a littl ympathy
Sometime I would hav given anythin g to speak to
you cont inued Beatric going on rapid ly now that he
had b gun fo though we don t alway thi k the ame
about thing you are always kind Gw n ; and it e med
a hamebut I simp ly couldn t
I could not bring out
the word If you had e med to gu
h pau ed
But I did O nly yo u would not have l iked me to
ay anythin g
But i f it had been aid without my likin g a d i f you
had not minded my being a gry at t h time the relie f it
w uld hav been ! Gwen did th oth s then
P the
t remulou wi t fulne
of h
t on wa innit ly touching
Ju st you lie till a d I ll t ll you all about it quoth
Gwen o ly wait ti l l I g t a gl a o f water r t f I am
so thir ty
d th room ; h wa
a d h rose and cro
not or y to have a few minut in which to collect her
thoughts N w proc eded h itting do wn on the
edge
f the bed
now I ll cool my el f and t ll you
qui tly and don t int rupt Major Ev re t doe ad
mir y u ; h did from t h t ; and we thought w al l
thought it wa a ca e Dai y wa a jeal ou a he
could be a d did all h could to k p him out f the
e to lunch n
way ; e pecially after that day th y cam
a d y u and he went o ff tog ther into the lib a y
You
kept trying to go aft er y u ;
should have ee n how h
an d it wa Mi
Mi A dam
A dam who k pt her back
plainly a we did ; and she wa q uite
saw it all a
wond rful in the way she managed to appear con
scious and yet to do ju t the right thin g
A fter tha t
w thou ght f course that he wou l d begin regul a ly

o r so

se

e s

e,

s,

s e

ess

s e

s.

s e

sse

or

s e

er

rs

eo

r r

s e

ss

ee

ss

no

s e, s

es

ss

er

ss

er

16

ST AY AT HO MES
-

d a

n d do a
come about an
they all do A d
Mr C urle accident emed o l ucky fo it kept hi m
there and wa an excuse fo your go ing the re
I didn t go o ften I am ure I didn t
omething to
No t very often but ther was alway

do fo the poo inval id or to en d hi m slyly

h
O h Gwen I nev r thought I n ver dreamed
I wi h I hadn t
Don t g oan there i nothin g to groan about You
were all i ght ; yo u behaved a properly a po ibl ; and
even mother aw nothing to object to ; it wa only aft r
that walk yo u to ok together
It was quit accid ntal it was indeed
Wa it ? I alway wanted to know But i f it had not

othe y u know how she

bee n th e was no harmon l y m

takes thi g and I don t uppose sh really meant to

be unkind ; but I did think it a l ittle ha rd on you to
be topped going to The Hollies that evening A n d I
told Major Evere t
she paused
What P aid Beatrice eag ly
What P
No I didn t
aid Gwen e-con idering I meant to
t ll hi m; but I remember now that I did not g t th chanc
Y u do u t
me Beatrice and I only want to t l l the
truth I m ad up my mind to say to him om th ing to
how that it wa not your doin g your taying away
A d yo u didn t P I am so glad yo u didn t
Fo it really wa tru that he wa
SO am I now
quite gay and f tive in spit f your not b ing there
an d I wa rather p ovoked wi th him ; and th n when
we came hom there were you q uite gay and f tive too
and I was ju t as provoked with you ; and after that
ven ing it all seemed to die away Ther ! I don t
think there i anything more to ay W al l fel t di
appointed ; becau e h really i a nice man and you
a
o di f c ult to please

to

se

s s

ss

er

er

s er

es

e o

e,

es

re s

ST AY

-AT -HO

MES

would n ot have made me feel so unutterably small a

did this fus about a triing tiresome I can t explain

n
but it wa uch bath os a d l to have to take a o l e m
i
a
t
it
!
p
It was too bad Y o u who are always so dig ied l
The e wa very litt le di gnity left in m aft r that
odiou walk The wo t o f it wa that I had been foo l
enough to
W ll ?
To expect so mething di re t said Beatric gulping

down a rising in her throat A n d he did the e wa

m
excu
e
f
it W met in the villag ; I wa
o
coming out f th po t o i when he aw me and
not like
uttered an exclamation a d ei z ed my hand
a man wh only cha ce U pon you in an ordinary way
Then he began at once a i f he had not a minute to lo e
about omething he wi hed t ay and could he ay it
alon ? A d hi ton wa o
O h Beatrice !
What could I think ? I hard ly thought at all I
ju t f lt my el f hurri d along ; and it wa all I could do
to pretend to li ten and keep a d ently compo d face ;
a d th n all at once we w re in the little woo d and he

began to talk about Dai y Curl O h l

I kn w it wa h N v r mind
It wa like a horrid dream I kept thinkin g
What ha Dai y Curl to do with us ? Why a you
putting ff the real thing ? My brain w nt ro und and
round ; and at r t I could not believe I imply could
n t b liev
that that wa all ! A udden b and the
di appearance f a brown head ben ath th bed clothe
Presently th re i u d a m
ul d voice
O h Gwen
I felt
wound d
hurt H went talking on and
and my one c m fort i that I feel ure he had not
th
light t idea f what I wa feelin gand oh he mu t

s s

rs

'

e,

or

ce,

o s

s s

ec

se

s s

e e

re

so

ss e

on

es

so

e s

e,

so

HA

dense
a part
be

! YO U SCA PEG RA CE

tried to l augh

she

I am no goo d at acting

fo r

go od Beatrice We al l ay so I have
een you take in mother and h believe you to b all
that i grand and indi ff r nt when Kitty a d I kn w
that ve y word he aid wa tin ging you Mother ha
a way
D ar Gwen don t ay that now
Perhap i f we
could ee into h r h art he i f lin g sad and ore too
I have com to ee that lat ly Moth r doe not und r
tand girl ; he ha not k pt up with them ; and I do
not believe h wa ever exactly a girl n t what we call
a gi rl h rsel f So we and oth r like u a enigmas to
her
I dare ay but let u talk f Major Evere t
N0
Don t let u talk f him Hi day i over It
was a foo li h fancy on my part ; and I hould have got
over it ooner i f we had li v d anywhere else or gone
about more I aw that to night I r ally did not mind
hi coming h r in th least and now he may com and
go a much as h pl a e it i nothing to m
Good night then aid Gw n oftly and he leaned
acro and ki ed her i t r ch ek You a not going
to li awake thin king of him P added sh after a
mom nt pau e
O h d ar no ; I am quite leepy now
A
u
P
ponder
d
Gwen
y
But yo u

are

e e

re

ss

e s s,

s s e

re

e,

re

e e

ss

e s

ee

s e

s s

CH A PT E R
WI LL

T HE O LDCAST LES

I!

FO LLO W T HE

MA Y NA R DS

BEA T RICE

rid o f he aid Mr Curle succinctly

He had been sei ed upo n and dragged by th coat
wi fe roo m th re to hear her woe and
co llar i n to hi
v
i
s
rie
h
e
er
Da
y
i
ht
ch
o
e
to
paddl
f
r
v
a
n
o
o
w
m
c
e
s
;
g
g
her o wn can o e am o n g m o th water directly th re were
breake ahead she turn ed to her Wil l ie to pilot h o ut
GET

r,

rs

s,

er

a t r j o ined she to the above with piteo u

in to natio n How can I ? It wa ju t th am at
whatev r Co nnie chose to do h would do it
school
She could be a pe fect
a d make the re t o f u do i t
ty ant Y o u have no idea what a will he ha
Time ar changed my l as You have no nee d to
u
your
eck
under
Connie
or
anybody
yoke
I
t
n
p
t ho ught he wa your friend ; and you eem d glad to
meet an d made so much o f each other that
I know I know A d f cour e I wa glad at r t
Connie i good fu and I thought it would be nice going
about with her ; and h ha heap f money that it
would have been no expen e to you
A to t hat I do n t grudge it
aid he ; i f h had
been a po or as a church mou e sh might have hung on
to u an d welcome i f it plea ed you but i f h i going
to t y f r th upper hand
and he laughed ig i
But I

c n

s e

s o

n,

so

'

can t ly

hat

is

ju t what
s

she
:

doe

46

and

O h,

Willie

she

ST AY-AT -H O MES

8
4

Co nnie Gibbs wh n I am by myself ; he does no t bore

me a B atrice May ard doe ; only now that we have
fallen in wi th the Fi t hube t
Ay
I thought it wa that Poor Connie m u t go
to the wal l
I t ll y u h won t
Sh won t go
What to b done then ? H e yawned stretched
him l f in the depth o f an ea y chair and lock d hi
ha d acros hi wai t oat
That i ju t what I want you to tel l me aid Dai y
impatiently B neath hi luggi h exterior h held
that her hu band po
ed a lump f tolid common
en e at which he cou ld alway ni bble
H r a e t h Fi t hub rt who nev r aw u but in
quite the be t f what th e wa
I mean oci ty f
cour e continued h ; and th y are quit r ady to be
civil now that we have run acro th m again ; o that it
doe e m ha d luck w hould b hamper d with a girl
from t h backwood s
V i Fi t h ub t wil l think
O f cou
twice before h a ks u t
ur
anything i f it entail
bringing Connieindeed I don t uppo e she will a k u
at all
That n e dn t b ak u heart quoth Wil l i twi ting
He had no ocial ambition
hi watch chain
But you n ver did see an inch be fo e
O h you tupid
your no e Willi You think London i mad up o f
th atr a d polo matche an d thing you can pay to
I want V i Fit hub t to take me about with her I
s
would provide the carriage and all thatth Fit hub t
have imply nothing to live upon a th y th m elve
told u you rem mb r ; and they we e glad enough to l t

u them at Monte Carlo

but how can I do anything
u
here with Connie in i ting on going wh r ver we go ?
A d h will
Sh a good a told me ju t now that
was not going to be left o ut i n the co l
sh
e

r s

e,

s c

rse

er

e s

ss

s s e

s,

er

ssess

e e

se

s e

s o

re

es,

e,

s,

e.

s,

ee

s,

er

e e

s s

s e

er s

s r n

O LDCA ST LES WI LL FO LLO W T HE

MAYNA RDS

49

Bully f her ! She howed her pluck to ay it

Pluck ! Willie you a
Pluck ?
She lik d aying
it Y u hould hav een her fa e a h aid it A d
to night wh n w might hav
enjoyed our elve
O h come we can enjoy our lve a it i
You can
how ff your fri nd and I can ord r a rattli g good
din er f th m They can t be qu ami h a to their
company i f th y are Willing to put up with Connie Gibb
not that I ee anything to object to in Conni but i f th y
do and are willing to lump it f th ak f a dinner at
th Carlton t h y can t be o n a ty part icular ;
w can
th y P I don t uppo e th y look on the Carlton a an
A I plac mind you ; not a a place where th y would
know ev ry cond per on in the room ; i t not like a
cl ub ; till i t a
How did you l arn all thi ? cried D ai y ama ed
Heard tw fellow talking Spotted th m f ultra
w ll and li tened thinking I might pick up a thing or
two
A d did they say th Carlton wa not
O h th y said it wa good nough quite good enough

l
mo
t
peop
e
but it wa a place wh r you mig ht rub
f
houlder wit h your bu tch r or bak r Thought I or your

brewer meaning your truly William Curl

I wonder ? mu d Dai y con idering
You need not b put ff by that you know I tell
a
f
hey
w
re
ultra
well
had
no
end
a
i
r
t
s
u
d
y
Be ide one aid that al though h would not invite hi s
friend to dine ther he had done it him elf th other
night
But he would t invite hi friend ?
They may have be n d uke aid Willie eyeing h r
H may hav b en a duke him el f A nyway I don t
F my part when I heard
u
e th at it ne d m atter f
F
L
e
t
invite
rd
and
ady
it
hub
rt
din
at
the
u
o
o
L
o
y
or

ne

or

s,

e s

e so

se

s s

e s

re

or

s,

no

se

e o

e,

e s

or

or

e e

s,

e.

se

s,

e,

s,

s e

or
z

or

ST A Y-AT -HO ME

25
0

mmn
ih t m
h lb
m em
p ud
l ttl

Car ton on the spur of the o e t, an d wt o u so uch

as kn o wi ng they were i n the
et
o te
e fo re yo u

i
e
f
u
o n the stai rs
o
o
I
n
w
o
r
d
w
a
s
r
o
o
,
y ,
p
y

er

Furt h

h t

than t a

assi

no

st an ce

was

ro m

to be had f

Daisy chief adheren t o t he presen t occa io

He was ready to fol lo w her lead and do a he wa bid
wi th alacri ty ; but in ce hi ro ugh -an d-ready m
ethod f
deali g wit h th lady who was n o w felt to be an incubu
met with no ap proval he could u ggest n o ther
Dai sy was q ui te certain that he co u l d not afford t
have a rupture with Connie Gibbs ; an d that being th
ca e she had better keep to the sun y side f her It
wo uld be wo s t han u el he arg ued to ulk and give
in ; she mu t ei ther pick a q uarrel with h friend a d
s
l
m
m
a
rt
o
p
ny
good
and
or
ai
tain
a
iling
a
l
n
c
m
f
r
a
p
fac an d fei gn to nd noth ing am
iss
Do n t let her see that you are under her thumb i f
un der her thumb you have got to be wa hi parting
admonition ;
once he e that yo u are do ne fo
A n d he d rew hi m l f slowly up ut o f the easy chair
Stil l Dai sy thought h wo uld effect an escape ome
how The advent f the Fi t hubert was f great i m
portan cemight have b en and might yet be o f th

mo t delightful impo rtance to her and h could t

all th advan tage to be obtai ned from it thrown
e
away without a struggle Left to hersel f he drew up
a plan f action which h con idered more ubtle more
delicate and more likely to be ulti mately ucce ful
than that reco mmended by her hu band and thi wa
to throw the onus f any misdemeanours such a her i n
ti m
acy with Lady Fi t hub t m
ight give ri e to on the
latter houlders
D ear Connie y u and I are uch mall peo ple
n
I couldn t ay S mall reected she e con t ucting an

ess,

r e

er

s es

se

no

s e

s e

s e

er

ss

s s

r -

o,

s r

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

25
3

whine at their

ke

such

gi

a e woul d have given her

t
carce knew how to be

bein
n adequ t ,

s
e
s
o
a
n
h
t
c
a
t
i
t
h
a
g

r i

en

i len t
l f gratula
Silen t ho wever he was with much inward
tio n ; an d p e en tly h r com panio humour improv d
an d the aft rn o on passed equ ably
N w we m u t be v ry sm art to night Conni
ho t ed he on se parati ng t dress a d mind you a
e dear ; f Wil lie says that a ho t we
ready in t i m
mu t be there be fo e th Fi t hub ts whatever happen
The Fi t hube ts will ve y likely be l at but w must be
punctual
O h I l l b o n t ime re ponded Connie
She wo u ld as oo n I had a b eakdown by the way
reected he ; i f Mrs William Curle could
howeve
id
f
h
t
M
Con
t
ntia
Gibb
next
hr
or
t
f
i
t
e
a
o
o
g

four hour
but no you
h wo uld be mighti ly plea d
d n t Dai y not i f I know i t
and Mi Con tantia
Gibb mi led to he s l f i the gla s
s

r s

n s

se

re

er

s s,

ex

or

e,

s.

e,

r,

ss

s s e

se

r e

ss

ee

verh ad very much overh ad in one o f t h topmo t

room f the hotel in fact another lady wa al o miling
at th moment and Lady Fi t hub t mile by an odd
coincid n e relat d to th ame per on a did that of
Dai y Curl oth r bo om friend
cri d he
O h I don t call it at all u fortunat
gaily in an w r to a r mark which had ju t b en pa d
W had nowhere to go to night ; w han t
a oul
we know ; and w may a well b dined by tho odditie
as not
You had b tter take car what y u do You can t
ju t eat their dinn r and be ff
Why not ? Ev ry
know that i f you have a box
lent you f r the opera it would be idio tic to wa te i t
You will have to take them on wi th you
O

s O

e s

e s

see

se

sse

e,

er s s

e s

one

O LDCAST LES W LL FO LLO W T HE MA YNA RDS

'

5;

on s n e How can y u ugge t uch a thing ?

harply
I ay you ll hav to do it per i ted Lord Fit hubert
you can t be b a tly rud at lea t y u can tru t
you fo that with a hort har h laugh but I have t
your nerv ; and I won t go I t ll you st aight I won t
go to dine with tho e people unle yo u ffer to tak
th m on with you afte ward
H
t hi
lip ob tinately ; and V i Fit hubert who
mind d no oth r livi g being knew that h would have
to give in to h hu band She ung th chain from h
n ck on to th dre ing table
G org you are too ridiculou A i f I don t und r
tand the matte bett r than y u I tell you the
Curl are quite ui ci t ly honoured by our company
at dinn r
It han t b my company un l es you promi e to invite
them to your box a ft rward
A n d crowd it with a party f vulgar looking nobodie
whom peopl would tar at and wonder wh e on arth
th y prang from ? A d th M ta v t would h ar o f
it aft rward a d be furiou They would attack m
G orge I wond r how you can be unkind ? I wou ld
al mo t oon r not go at all
D on t go th n You have heard Fau t o ften enough
It i no great catch to have a box f it
It i a Catch a you call it A box on the gra d
tier i alway a Catch fo r what ver opera it i and to
f
B
w
a
s
u
loan
it
on
our
r
t
night
wonder
ul
t
h
f
t
t
g
and tear f di appoint
i f you a going to poil it all
m nt did actually tand in Lady Fi t hube t well known
beautiful y
Can t h lp that aid he unmoved I am tolerably
hardened to acc pting civilitie which I don t pay back

but wh n l ea and that without pending a penny how

N

so

e s

er

rs

s e

e,

se

ss

es

ss

er

e se

s s

en

er

on

so

so

es

re

or

er s

s,

s,

n,

S Y

A
T
AT
O ME

54

you be such a fool Vi P H ere i your chance f r

ff
f
knocking
a whol e li st a rear a d when I th i nk
o f how you let Dai y Curl
n ance y u
Never mind never mind
She liked it
A n d i f yo u cou ld be een with her at Homburg an d
Monte Carloseen every day and all day lon gwhy
make a fu about one night here in Lo ndon whe e i t
i ten to one t hat no one take the lighte t otic ?
It i not Dai y o much
m urmu red he reluct
can

ss

an t ly

Willie can stan d in the backgro u n d

e umed
h r hu band perceiving he had m ade an impr
ion ;
I ll stand with him and he need never be e n at all
Could we do that P Lady Fi t hub rt glanced at the
peaker and a ffected to rumi at over the idea Grand
ti r box are l arg you know ; and four people
I ll man age it Curle will be glad enough to tand

i t behind i f I do
behind
He will be more at hi
ase than i f he ha to l i ten and n ver ti r
wrong h i mu ical don t you remember
Y ua
how h hun g upon Dai y lip when he sang P
to
be
ure
T
opera
will
be
the
h
O h ah y
y
very thing fo him then and it wi ll look handsome our
reco llecting hi t a te But he can hear a well in the
back f th box a in the front ;
I promise y u he
han t be in view i f he goe
Georg will you promi e so mething el se ? If I to

oblige you Geo rge grinned to oblige yo u epeated

invite the Curles to go with u
hi wi fe emphatically
t night will you olemn ly promi e that you will not
force m to invit a y one el se ?
Y o u may be right
perhap yo u are about our taking thi O pportunity to pay
ff O ld core with the Curle
Hullo I didn t ay that It won t quite do that
It would do a great deal Dai y
D let m ni h
Fat

es

s e

r s

ess

e,

or s

es

so

es,

re

e,

STA Y AT

s5
6

HO MES

i g hi p rinci pal g ue ts he had pro vided the s t o

meet them an d Mr and M Wilde and their daught
Clara with who mthe Maynard were as i ntimat a with
we e to be al o recipi nt o f the boy
the O ld a t l
f ank ho pitality Further there wa a bach lor neigh
bour known to both famili s whose com pany wa equall y
likely to be ag ee able to the m
We shall be n ine in all reected Tony with pride ;
an d h
had secured o o f the large t table in the
dining o mto meet the case
f hi
Naturally he wa ab rbed in fu l llin g the dutie
po ition a d had neither eye nor ear f any
o n rou
thing el e ; that i t wa not till all we e eat ed a d he
two ladie
had apologi ed f
the O dd number an d f
having to i t togeth r( and foun d that Gwen Mayna d
an d Clara Wild w re d lighted to be the two and had
h aps and heap to ay to each other e pecially about
som e v nt in which th y had mutually taken pa t hortly
be fore )that h could br athe and look about him
What he then aw mad him tart and but that he
was li fted above all minor con ideration would po ib l y
have mad him wear
The Curl l The Curle at th next tabl ! The
C url whom h knew very well and liked very w ll
down in the depth f th country wh re th feeling wa
that M and M
William Curle we e uch u ful people
that any littl
civility toward them was w ll worth

howing
o that the young m
at th variou hou
were ncouraged to call at T h Holli s and dine at The
Hollie and prance round M Curle phaeton at th

meet th Curle upon whom in deed h had meant to

call but whom h would e erve f Som r et hire to be
tak n up wher th y had b n l ft b hind in rurality and

t
t
t
Curl
to
turn
up
at
thi
and
t
h
a
j g
y
g y

u
glorio mom nt ! It wa da h it i t wa a nui ance

secur n

er

rs

es,

c s

'

ne

-r o

or

or

ss

s,

es

es

s o

rs

s,

er

ee

or

r s

ses

- ro

rs

se

en

or

so

s o

so

e s

es

O LDCA ST LES W LL FO LLO W T HE

MAYNARDS

57

That was to ay it might be a nui anc uppo ing it

both r d hi party and mad th m fa cy they had com
to t h wrong place P

om how he had n ver thought

O f cour e th Curl
f t h C rle a doing anything lik thi
Tony aid B at ic Maynard leaning forwa d to
addr h ho t
M Wild and Mi K nyon w re properly r l gat d
to hi ri ght and left but at a round tabl it i a y to
talk to any
D
you
who i n ar you P continued Mi
Maynard dir cting Tony
with
her
own
I
not
y
f t h unlik ly thing that a
that
alway happen
ing ? and h look d milingly ignicant
D ar m ! Mr and M
Curl
aid Tony with
But though yo u did
innocent urp i
e them you
might a w ll hav let u get on a bit r t you B atrice
mutt r d he to him lf )
He wa abj ctly afraid o f Beatrice however with the
awe f childi h day till upon him ; that whatever
h i privat f ling might be h look d to h
with
anxiou eye to guide him in thi t ait
h wa mili g n dding and waving her g
A
mu t h d and mile ; nay h m u t do mor f
old fa hioned polit n dictated a hasty ri ing from hi
chair wi th Excu e me to hi w ladi and a much
warmth a he could throw into hi manner f greeting
n ighbo ur whom he had not een ince hi return to
England
He wa not gon two minute and returned to hi at
having acquitt d him l f bravely
The Wi ld and Mr Bywater havin g al o xchanged
gr eting with th ir Somer et neigh bour it now re
main d f Ever t to do hi part H was the la t to
perc iv what wa going on but The Curl the Curle
s

e e

e, s

rs

ss

e e

o ne

o ne o

e e

rs

se

se

ee

so

s s r

s s

e no

ers
e,

ess

s o

er

or

es,

r se .

s s

re

ss

s e

s e s

so

see

er

e ss

es

se

es

or

s se

es,

I7

s,

es

s,

s.

S Y

8
5

un d the table in un derton es at le gth

head
en li ghtened hi m a d he t urned hi
who was perhap
What y u
excl aimed Mr Curl
h wa neither u
the o n ly per o n f tho se co nc r ed W
prised n annoyed nor anything but ge uinely gratied

by the en coun ter My dear Everest

and the hone t
fello w beamed all o v r
But the place and ti me did not admit f mor at th
momen t a d Everest who had i sen ha tily
ated
him elf a hi ho t had done A h did
he could
aunt and Beatri
ot re ist l oking at t wo people hi

Maynard but only one f the two wa looking at hi m

Beatrice was talking steadily to M Wilde
That wil l do th trick reected Lady Fit hube t
who had an alert mind The very thing She a
leave her backwoo d girl with those people ; and a h
evi dently know th whole lot they can t refu e
aid Dai y when the above wa x
O h certainly
plained to her O h d ar y
O f cou e I can a k
Beatrice Maynard I can a k her anything I know
ve y well I know t hem all T h old man i
her
our M F H we think a great d al f our
i n Somer etshi e
hi s wi fe and daught
a d th at i
A d f cour e t h Maynard and Tony O ldca tle will
do anything f m and it i hi part
J u t a k him then A k him i f Mi I forg t h

nam a join th m a we can t take h r on wi th u ?

aid Lady Fit hub rt perfectly aware that h wa doing
an impo ible thing but equally re olv d to do i t Y u
have not aid anything to her about the op ra hav
you P the arran g m nt having been made i am a
even Willie knowing nothi g f i t
Lady Fi t hube t wa now drawing on her glove and the
time f action had arrived N t a word whi pered
Dai sy back
no

w passin g

H O MES

-AT -

TA

ro

e,

e n

or

re se

so ,

ce

rs

c n

s s e

ss

or

s,

er

ss

e,

er

c n

or

rs

es.

s e

so

er

ST AY AT HO MES

26o

cour e I shall be delighted said Mi Gibbs

aloud
But as he po ke h ca t a l ook upon D ai sy
Curl th expre ion of which wa peculiar
Dai y however aw othing and now it wa ov
Beatrice Maynard chair he h ung But this is o t
my pa ty obj cted B at ic tartled ; it i not m
whom y u hould ask
What is it M Curle ? cried Tony eeing th at
toward him the eye f both w re direct d ; and th n
no one kn w xactly how th next move was e ffect d
but all in a mom nt th Fit hube t wi th their at l l ites
en an d a tra g a d mo t
had vani h d from th
un welcome addition had b en made to the oth r pa ty
Connie Gibb had be n ung into th i
Literally Mi
mid t
Connie was very meek and wond rfully il n t N0 o
would have gues ed th rage that boiled wi thin h breas t
P She who had hugged to hersel f
Sh to be treated
yet had ev r got the bett r f
t h conviction that no
Con tantia Gibb and to whom Dai y Curl futile little
effort f fr dom wer as so many cobweb to be brushed
a id ? Dai y to turn th tables ?
W ll I had about don with her anyway reected
her tyrant So now Mi Peggy Vicke that was
gues you ll be ath r orry you didn t tak m with y u
to the opera to night A nyhow you d bett r have en t
m home to bed than left m to t rtain thi ne party
and from ben ath h low ed eyelid
o f your friend
h furtively can n ed th ir veral a pects
They don t cotton to m whispered h to he sel f
murm ur d Beatrice to
Poor g irl it i n t h r fault
Gwen a the party ro e to go into another room ; and
sh walked with Connie and continued the conversati o n
aft r all had arra g d th mselve in a mall pri vate
apartm n t
Of

e,

rs.

r s

e sc

e,

'

ss

s o

e r

on e

or

rs

e,

se

er

re -

s e,

er

en e

s e

ss

e s

ee

s,

ne

er

so

er

ss

ss

O LDCA ST LES W LL FO LLO W T HE

MAYNA RDS

26:

all kn ow each other don t yo u P ai d Mi s Gibbs

no ddin g round
A n d y u all co m
e fro m the same part
o f the world P
How nice !
and he laughed a illy
mean i ngless laugh the sudden ly stopped and li ten ed
with an abrupt tran ition o f attention to what was pa s
in g between two o ther Speak r
The peake s w e Major Evere t and Tony O ldca tle
Evere t wa relatin g an an ecdo te
f th many little
on
anecdote partly humorou partly path tic to which

the wa had giv n ri e and To y while commnting and

ejacula ting wa al o anxiously interposing an xperience
o f hi own
Y u know the fe l low Beatrice he c ried turnin g to
he
u
o
m
Cr
tch
f
your
vi
l
lage
h
had
the
mo
s
t
H
a
s
J
wond rful luck Enlisted becau e he was no good at
home a d turned out the mart t fellowin the egiment
A d th reg imen t go t mo t awfully hammered yo u
kno w ; and Jem Crutch did something or other and only
ju t mi sed the V C and he i afe to get hi commi ion
so m
time or other I could hardly beli ve my eye
when I saw him and th at wa ev ral month ag and
non o f us will know him when he come back A d it

f cour e he kn w how to tak

wa all owin g t l uck

hold of hi luck but it i only

man in a thou and
who both gets the chance and make the mo t o f it
woman in a thou and sai d Mi Conni
O o
Gi bbs in a deliberate reso nant vo ic
Every body without exception looked at th per on
who thu poke H ton in a manner compelled them
to look at h
I fan cy I could tell a thing a queer a that aid
unning her yes round the gro up
Shall I P
he
addre ing no one in particular but all by in f r nce
It
won t take lon g and it i ve y interesti ng an d I an
vouch fo r the truth o f i t Well then continued th

You

e s

er

e o

s,

r,

es

ss

ss

s s

o ne

ne

ss

s s

er

er

ss

e e

ST AY-AT

26s

HO M ES

ilen ce for co n sen t to beg i

T en yea s ago I was
t o ver t o
at the beg in nin g
v
t
n
ti
e
p
l
be
du
te
France fro mC al i forn ia m
a
c
e
o
e
c
a
a
d
y
an d o e day there arrived at the convent scho ol where I
was the q ueerest l ittle begg ar girl
not that h wa a
beggar but she loo ked li ke on and i f h wa n t i
she had kn ow
n what
ag
ags we re o r I m mi tak
Fan cy she was to learn alon g ide o f uso f u who

f
t
o
eve y hing and we weren t
co uld pay for the be t
We t ou elve
over wel l p le ased y u may believe
to wo k an d we fo u n d o ut eve y in gle thing about tha t
w
d
h
a
s
h
o
l
a
n
th
s
e
a
s
we
t
u
g
ht
picked
u
f
ro
h
a
t
t
r
m
i
;
g
p
street
a
She was pre tty an d he co u l d ing an d a m
had taken a fan cy to he
What is all this about P A re we obl iged to l i te P
murmured the decorou M s Wi lde to Mi Kenyo

q uite pleasant doe i t ?

ot so und q uit
Doe
She i not to be topped aid Mis Kenyon q uietly )
The u pshot was that at the end of three year yo u
wo uldn t have kn own that girl p ro ceeded the narrato

She turned
her hri ll to ne ri si n g a sh pro eeded

l
l
a
f
u
t
t
little minx there was
o ut the cl everest

thing she didn t kn ow o couldn t learn and he married

the man
Glad she did that at least breathed M s Wilde
behind he fan
A n d the n arrator pau ed with true dram atic in tinct
gathering every eye a he proceeded and h we t
o ut o f the room with him ju t now l
Su ppose none f you gu d I wa peakin g o f Dai y
Curle P drawled Mi Gibbs relap ing into a cond ntial
It wa what th i g ntleman her aid about
attitude
luck that made me think o f Dai y If ve any one has
had luck i thi world h ha ; and as f laying hol d
add res in g he sel f t
o f i t as yo u say your frie nd di d
taki n g the gen eral

speaker,

sen

s,

s e

en

se

rs

s.

s,

ss

s n

r,

es

no

s s

esse

ss

e s

s s

or

ST A Y AT HO MES

54

esh e rt Co uld he move them? Could she wi n

P
t he m
Sudden ly she lean ed dow an d lai d her hand o th at
f the pe o whom sh i ntui t iv ly re ognised a the o
wi th whom h tas k would be most diffi cult M Wild e
wa a formidable matron f a type ui i tly well kn own
to ne d no description here
I have no right to peak to you aid B atri e
humbly y u who are so much wi r so much bett
o much more loved and respected and looked up to tha

but I know that you w i ll bear wi t h m

e
I hall ev r b
May I a k y u to li te fo ju t a moment an d to e

m mber that I am pleading f fo a friend P What

ha Dai y d ne ? I it her fault that he was not bo
guarded and h ltered an d cared f as w
a w wer
hav been in our early home ? H om P Sh had no
home You have h ard ho w h r chi ldhood wa passed
in arning h r dai ly bread What wa wrong in t hat ?
Sh wa tak n from pov rty a d ign orance and given the
educatio that com to us by inh ritancegiven it a a
favour owin g it to t he a t i o
f a hone t man who
wanted to t h f becoming hi wif what wa w o g
in that ? I h to be blamed becau e h ro e to hi
lev lpe hap it i t a very high one but it brought
he pa u d h
h
among people
lip t rembling
It brought her into contact with y u Beatrice
mark dly
I know I know said h
But the r t ad vance
were my ide th y wer inde d I sought out Dai y
I in si ted on our b in g intimate I took her as sh wa
I n v r a ked nor thought o f a king what he had been
Why hould h have told me f her own accord ? I ee
no r a on Why O u live a our own ; ur own and
Sudd nly th speaker voice ank and t h
last wo d fell away to a whi per
'

fr

n,

rs n

er

rs

ne

c en

se

e r,

or

e,

or

es

n o

or

s no

er

s e

se

er

r n

s s e

ec

er

rn

on

s e

e e
s

e s

re

MAYNA RDS

O LDcA ST LEs W LL FO LLO W T HE

26 5

f the elder

Certainly Beatrice Still de

lady look d di turbed a d dubious ( The Mayna d
ost un fo rtunate circum tan ce
a
fo r thi s m
re pon ibl
thought he and un fortunate it i however pectable
the Curle may be They are in a manner
I f I thought he wa eally a g oo d woman murmu red

re

ar BeM ri ck

r s

res

s,

s r

she

forgive

t t
to jud g P A e we cal l d u po n
my saying s to det rmine of every one we admit to u
acquai ntanc hip whether th y a e Good accordin g to
u t n t
or not ? A d w don t do it W a e ot
bidden do it I f we wer
Y
f cour
O nly
O f cou se I see t hat Beatrice
a person who foi t her l f i n to o ur ciety un der fal e
pretences ought to be
Immaculate ? aid Beatrice q uickly
I think I do think omething rather better than
O ur elve P
Pray what i your opi n ion P
M Wild udd nly
turn ed to her nea e t co mpanion f as istance an d it
wa promptly given though n t perhap in th mann r
xpected
I agree with Beatrice ai d Mi K nyon g ntly
I too have be n aware f M Curl ant cede ts fo
a con iderable period f tim ; in fact fo longer t han
ither Beatrice or I fancy any one l e he e ha been
truck in Con tantia Gibb who had
E xcept me
mo e than once essayed to interrupt befo e but who e
interpo lation had been teadily i gnored
E xcept m
ma am Y u can t
I do n o t exc pt y u said Mi Kenyon coldly
I kn w the little ingin g girl be fore h wa taken to
your chool and though I con f I would rather that
he had not b e admi t t d to the oci ty in which sh
now nd hers lf having been so it seem to me that it
Is ha fo r us
o

e s,

es

es, o

se

s s

se

so

or

ss

rs

es

e,

s,

e s

e s

rs

r s

ss

s e

ess

e n

ST AY AT HO MES

s 66

wo ul d

neither right no ju t that she hould be e x

cluded m it in future
May I be allowed to Speak P ai d a new vo ice
You Geo ffr y ? I am su e I wi h yo u would M
Wilde regarded h hu ban d with a air f reli f
It
i r ally very perplexin g beca u e o f cou e it mu t b
decided now or n ver ; many f u are h r
Quit a epresentati v gatheri g a id from Tony )
A d f course th e i s a gr at deal in what Beatri ce
continued the lady ; and i f Lady Laura f l
say
the same
My mother will aid Beatrice I k ow h wi ll
It will not be a case with her f how sh feel but o f
what h know to be right In a ca e o f thi kind m
y
mother will ri abov her inclinati on and act
principle
Certainly o n ought to act But Geo ff ey yo u

have not pok n P

fo he had been waiting patien tly

Do let u have your opinion an d M Wi l de calmly

proceeded with her o w
Whatever we do let u act
in con cert My dear Beat ice yo u are ure ab olut ly
ure that thi is not a m r q ue tion o f impulse on yo u
part P That i f we decide to tak no notice f the prese t
di clo ure we hall hav the Mayn ard upport ? Y u
s e we are waiting my hu band Cla a and I P W will
follow hall I ay it ?
looking to wards th m ye P
V e y w ll ; we will follow your lead
ptl y
O ver hedg and ditch said the Ma ter pro m
A n d I will wind t h horn fo r you
nodded hi
daughter A d i f ever I hear a false View hollo
I ll recall the hound Count on me Beatrice
A n d on m by Jove ejaculated Tony O ld castle
u hing up wi th pride a d re olution an d on my peo ple
I ll tell them what y u saya d how yo u aid it t o
The O ld a t le will follow the Maynard Beatrice
be
fro

s,

ee s

s e

s e

s,

se

e e

er

rs

so

rs

er

on

s,

so

rs

e e

s.

e,

c s

s s

s,

S Y
TA

268

T
A
O ME

He i so fon d o f her said Evere t that I think i f

he had h a d Mi Mayn ard speak ju t now

d
a
u
O h ah
es
Be
trice
d
i
d
g
ive
it
s
hot
di
n
t
P
s
h
e
y
Beatrice i an awfully good ort A d it i q uite true
what he aid you know She did tak Dai y up and
imply bullied us all i t o knowing her N t that I

needed bullying
with a laugh
I never h ard anything mor nobly argued
D i d sh
argue ? I thought h just
A gu d ?
ordered u th Wildes and u all
She took her stand not on kindne but on ju tice
aid Ev re t hal f to him sel f I hould never have
It would have seemed to m a cruel
thou ght o f that
bu ine s to drop a woman becaus he wa not q uite
what one thought h but Mi s Maynard
he pau d
aid Tony mi ing
Looked plendid didn t h ?
I am awfully afraid o f Beatrice continued
th point
h
con d ntially but I do admir her A d i f h
says y ou e all right you know you a
all ri ght and that
it doesn t ig i fy a hang what any one l e think
Yet h eem to ay that he mak mi take her
l f said Everest glancing at h thoughtfully He
felt as i f h
hould lik to go on talking f Beat ic an d
looking at her but t h pa rty wa breakin g U p and T ony
wa called fro m hi side

e r

ss

s,

er,

se

s e

e s

re

s e s

es

er

e s

ss

e,

se

ss

CH A PT ER

AM I

MA D O R DREA MI NG P

who go about the world pickin g up ca ual a

and dropping them with eq ual facility can
hav but little idea f what a r velation uch as that
narrat d in th la t chapt r m an to tho e who have
lived the g eater part o f their liv in one plac whose
mind hav been ca t from in fancy in one groove and
who have not only their wn but th ir forefath r habit
tradition and pr judices to truggle with wh n r ceiving
a new idea
T o the Mayna d s the Wild
and the O ldca tl the
di clo ure made by Dai y Curl false fri end was not a
di closure but a xpo ure
A ccu tomed to knowing all about each ot h r f om

generation to g neration not ev n concealing from ach

other (f the at temp t would be futile) any circumstances
f grie f or hame which hav be fall n thi family or t hat
pecially a my stery o f a natu re to
a my t ry a d
mak th m feel outwitted and imp o ed upo n was f all
thing th most to be r ented in newcomer who had
ba ely e caped being r garded a intruder within their
charmed circl
Th y had felt them elves ex traordinarily tolerant a d
liberal minded in that th y had received and treated as

neighbours a rather vul gar and arrogant couple poor

Willie wa not arrogant but Dai y often made him
ap pear and the older folk who were not o much
imp re sed by th latt r look toilettes an d chatter as

PEO PLE
i
n
n
s
a
u
t
a
c
e
q

'

es

e,

s,

e s

s,

es,

es,

es

or

s e

es

so ,

es

s,

s,

ST AY AT HO MES
-

2 7o

w r th ir son an d daughter told each other aside a

an excu f l nien cy that ther wa uch an uni ve al
mingling f ra k nowaday it wa no u attempting to
hold out again t it They thought th m lve we ay
v ry ea y and mod rn in acknowledging thi
had h ld out ; not ven Lady Laura May
A d no
nard the bulwark f th neighbourhood O f her all th
r t tood in aw and h had been th r t to yi ld
that Dai y triumph had been rapi d a d complet
What wa it how v r a compar d to t h present
victo y f her champion on h behal f ? Beatrice had
lit rally w pt h audience along with her ; wa ting no
tim in fruitl appeal to their compa ion h had
held to h one t on g point h had demanded j ustice
her quondam friend on the ground that h had done
f
nothing worthy f cond mnation It was no i n to have
risen from po v rty and b curity to afflu nc and posi
tion It wa no crim to draw a veil over an un fo tunat
childhood
A d then as we know he bl am d h r el f f
having
with her w hand pu h d her fri nd up the ladder at
whose fe t Dai y might have paused a d h itated an d
ight f th proud Beat ice Maynard humbled and
th
beseeching and perhap a littl s cret con ciou nes that
it would make thing very awkwa d at home i f there
were to b a plit in th camp o their return thithe
n ally won f r h th u ffrage f all pre nt
But my dear Beatrice
O h do you want me P
aid Beatric
She had not be n alone with her ho te ince th gr at
cene and truth to tell rather dreaded being so ;
ince
although it wa asy f Mi K nyon to account f h
own r tic nce a regarded Dai y Curle Mis K nyon
might very well be wo deringHow about B atrice
Maynard kn owledge P
or

se

one

so

e e

e.

er

s e

e,

s,

se

es

se

rs

s s

s,

e e

er

ss

ess

s r

er

s e

s e

or

s e

e s

er

es

or

e s

r,

e s

s o

se

or

ss

ss s

s e

or

er

ST AY

HO MES

-A T -

I am not at l iberty to say who to l d me co u i

A ugu ta
Then I sh al l ever a k you again my dea
To
think that a man hould be such an idiot ! mutte ed
Neverthel e
t h man s aunt to h r l f )
he had noted
peaker o f the night befo e
Ev re t s eyes r ting on t h
She wa revol ving th matt r in her mind and wonde
i n g wh th r there were a ything further to be learnt
don wh n the door opened and a note wa p ut into
Beatrice hand which he read with s me agi tation
F rom Dai y
but I can t do
h said looking up
it I can t go to her thi mor ing I am engaged to
me t Clara Wild at t h A cad my at tw lve ; yo u re
m mber we arranged i t l a t night s I mu t ju t ay i t
moving towa d the writing table ; but
i impo ible
Stop a mom nt aid Mi s Kenyon laying a gen tle
hand upon her arm
It is barely hal f pa t ten now hint d sh

h
I
I can t cried Beatri ce wi th an i m
u
t
petu
b
O
o i t y that betrayed her feelings
Why does she a k
it ? Why doe h want to
me ? I hav done all I
f r her ; and now he ha got other friend s he
ca
do not need me andand I can t he wound up
v hemently
Do you think sh su p cts anythin g ?
N0 thi i ju t like all h
notes She wa al ways
ending them begging me to go to her on any o t f
pretext She did not eally want me ; but sh liked
peopl to ee m goin g to The Hollie and he knew
"
that I wou l d go
There can be nothing o f that now you know
She wi ll tel l Lady Fi t hubert that
O h there can
he ha sent f me
May I see the note Beatrice ?
Hum aid Mi Kenyon meditati vely I d n ot

s n

e se

e s

or

ss

r s

s s

see

es

s e

er

s,

or

ss

e,

ss s

es

MA D O R DREA MI NG

AM I

.73

know i f I may v nture an pinion but thi do not

m to m to b writt n by a p r on in quit an ordin
ary fram f mind I think I cannot h lp thinki g that
Curl ha penned it und r excitem nt and i f
M
com pluck up your courag B atric f I b li v
with d liberat mpha i I b li v th murd r i out
aid B atric hurri dly
O h no ; oh ur ly no
ur ly y
r tort d Mi K nyon
O h ye ; oh
?
A d why not ? Why hould you mind i f it b
You i f any
hav no need to f ar m ting your
fri nd ; h ought to be grat ful to you i f v r woman
wer ; and h may wi h to expr it G to h r my
d ar
O

see

e o

e,

s s,

e e

es

e s

e,

so

or

e,

ss

ee

e so

o n e,

e e,

e,

e e

es,

rs

e e

ess

But bu

I und r tand You dr ad a scene Sc ne are alway

i bound to com
di agr abl ; till thi
and a
w ll now a lat r on
I only aid what I did becau I had to ; I hated
doing it I am
a ham d wh n v r I think f th
whole affair ; but I promi d to tand by her
W ll P
A d you did nobly
Ca t I ay I am ngag d P pl ad d B atric pit
Can t I l t it wait ? W hall be going hom
u ly
dir ctly and Dai y can ay what he please th n ; but
ju t now ju t wh n I want to forget and had grown to
forg t
yoursel f ; but wer I in
D ar B atrice decide f
your plac
You would go ?
I hould
Beatrice aid no mor
T h day wa till
young that h wa not urprised
on inquiring f M Curl at h hot l to be told that
the lady had not l ft her room but that h maid wa
waiting to how the way thither to an exp cted vi itor

e s

ee

s on e

se

so

se

e,

e s

e e

e,

or

s s

or

so

rs.

s e

er

er

I8

ST AY AT H O M ES
-

2 74

nett e said Mi Mayn ard perceiving A n ett e

a the hall p rt r po ke
She could not endu A nnette but her man r wa
al way gracio u toward s depe dant a d h now miled
an d nodded a in duty bou n d
I your mi tres unw ll P
inquired sh a they went
together
A nn tte pu
d her lip R ally sh did not know ;
to be ure madam had t eat n any b eak fast and was
ti ll i b d but h did not think madam wa ill and no
doctor had b n nt f
overdone perhap
aid Mis Maynard
A littl
quietly But h h art b at f h f lt that her cou in
and cou llor had divin d th truth
A moment lat r and t h f ling r olv d it l f into a
c rtainty Dai y who wa young and pretty no ugh to
look to advantag in th morning light und r ordinary

circum t anc who wa a good l p r and u ually a

fresh a h oral prototyp wh n h wok how v r lat

h had been up t h pr viou

v ning wa now a lam nt
abl ight H h k w re pal ; red rim round h
yes told f r c nt w ping ; and h attitud a h
crouch d upon th p illo w wa that f a p r on unabl to
lie ea ily or till By h id a n gl ct d t a tray and
om unopen d l tt r furth r t ti d to m ntal di turb
anc whil th rumple d h t w r ung back a though
v n th ir light covering had b n found un ndurabl
Why Dai y what i th matt r ?
aid B atric
upon whom non f th abov wa lo t but wh had to
con id r t h pr nc f a third per on What hav
you b n doing to your l f P In bed on thi lov ly
mo ning !
O h lov ly morning ! cri ed Dai y
ary ki a d pointed i m
Sh had rec ived th nec
pati ntly to a chair T hank you f coming but I kn w

Oh A n
,

ss

- o

ne

re

s e

s,

e,

'

rse

no

s,

er

n se

es

e e

e o

ese

e,

'

se

ee

e ss

e e

ee

e s

ee s

er

e s

e,

er

er s

s,

se e

ee

e e

se

s ee

er c ec

es

ee

er

e s

es

s e

or s e

or

se

ee

ss,

or

Y AT -HO MES

ST A

2 76

that every o I meet when we go home will be l o k i g

at me and po inting at m
even th youn g men wi l l
e
laugh to each othe a d grow l parti cular what th y
say be fo e me
O h Dai y no
Th y will I know they will T hey ll think I hav
no bu ine to mind
Because you w re not born quit in o u ank f li fe ?
My dear Dai y what a e you thinking f P I amv y
orry thi has happen ed and it never ought to hav
happened but the kie haven t fallen ai d Beat i ce
compo edly
If yo u were told all that took place la t
night y u mu t have heard that which will make yo u
return to Somersetshire much les unbearable tha y u
fancy at present
N one i goin g to l augh at yo u
or point at y u The e will be no chan ge in any f
your neighbours Indeed I thin k you may co unt
being tr ated wi th even mor kindly co n iderati n
than form rly becau e
GO on said Dai y quickly seei g that h pau sed
l was goin g to ay
proceeded Beat rice in om
embarrassmen t that the older peopl amon g u bei n g
a yo u know rather formal and punctiliou
did om
tim think your way notnot quite in accordan ce

t
with their ; and now they will und r tand and not
expect it
They will look down on me and put up with me ?
Beatrice h ank within her l f ; how was sh to meet
thi the exact truth ?
I sn t that it ? cried Daisy impati ntly O f cou e
it i They will put me down and t me right whe
ever I open my lip
How should h know ? What
bu iness has h to give an opinion P Beat ice do yo u
t hi k y u could tand th at your el f ?
I amve y or y Dai y with i n c ea ing gentle n es
ne

r,

ess

ss

er

r r

on

s e

s,

s,

es

no

e s

s r

se

s,

s e

s e

rs

se

AM

MA D O R DREA M ING I

2 77

Thi i harder on you than I reali ed at r t appended

aft r a moment thought A t rst I mu t
Beatric
ay t hat I thought it was ju t a little hard o
m Y ou
might hav told me It would have been be tter i f you
had f
Dai y moved un a ily plucking at th count rpa
with nervou irritable ng r
I don t ee how you could expe t it f me
i not
mutt red h keeping h face av rted
O
bound to how one l f up ; and I knew how you and th
re t o f them would f l about it You acc pted me a
a lady bor and i f you did not nd me out f your
lve
A
h
poke it emed indeed incredible
to B atric Maynard that they had not don e
How palpably how glaringly did voice and phra
and id a all unite in bet aying the peak r ! What an
un peakabl commonne ran through all It emed a
though a ma k had been thro wn a id and h we e
con fronted by a rud rough face with tongue in ch k
B it r m mber d that whatever h
ecret knowled ge
had be n B atric had n ver till now beheld Dai y Curle
with all re triction and con id ration thrown a ide and
that even when th latter wa arbitrary and imp rti nent
toward her l f (a r peat d by Gwen to Lady Laura)
h wa till car fully guarded in her language and d
ma u H er pow r f acting w r con iderable and
h had utili ed th m till th y became a second nature ;
that wh ther gay or grave in good humour or th
r v r ther wa nothing f thi pr nt ullen vulgarity
f ton th tone f a cow d y t re nt ful in ferior
I pa ed among you all whatev r you may ay now
re um d h f the hint that he had not don e q uite
so entirely a upposed had galled he to the q uick
A n d i f I did once I could till
I ama good as any
body There n othing the matter wi th me -van ity
s

e,

e s

er

ne

ee

or

n,

s s

se

se

e,

ne

e s

s,

se

e s

so .

se

ss

se

e,

ee

e,

se

s s

e no

e s o

or

ese

se

ss

e,

e e se,

e e

s e

so

so

er s

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

2 78

rti g it l f Haven t I proved it ? A nd yet just

becau that pit ful Co ni Gibb goes an d blab
A gain Beatri
winced but again he trov not to
how it
I am to have thi hame p ut upon me c n
cluded Dai y now pullin g at the d licate frill f he ex
pen ive dr ing jacket That girl that vi per kn w how
I hould feel about it If I had been like omethere
Willie now h l augh and ay what harm can it do ?
H e ay peopl will b ju t a glad to come to our house
a d eat our dinner and drink hi wine a ever they were

a
a
He ay that a long he n pay hi way that hi
I
co a e id a o f looking at thing
do
t
ean
to
blam
m
(
Willi but h think money i everything a d I k n ow it
isn t and you know it i n t a d it i we women who ule
t h roo st in
ciety) oh Beatrice you mi ght help me
N t that you didn t tick up fo me last night
I kn ow
o
u
did
that
y
How do you know P said Beatrice urpri ed She
had hardly expe ted Mi Con nie Gibbs to tell thi a d
inde d wa pr pared to h ar hersel f charged with faith
le ne s
Ho w do I know ? N t f omCon ni y u may be
u e Sh would have l t me uppose h had it all her
own way but Major Ev e twhat P f r ther wa a
faint ir epre ible mov m nt on her companion part
e in la t night too proceeded Dai y
O h yes he ca m
in a more complac nt tone
I did not
him but
Willie did ; and it was ju t a fter that girl had l t it all
out and I believe h really came to
if h had though
h made a so rt f p etenc
f a king Willie to go ome
wher wi th him So o f cour e Willie asked what r ally
happened ? A d he aid you stood up fo u ; a d I
meant to thank you B atric only I fo got
he pau ed
and looked up I uppo he aid nothing ? M n never
re asse

se

se

ce

s,

s s

s o

s,

rs

so

ss

s,

e,

ss

see

see

e o

s e

s e

er s

ss

s r

'

e,

ess

e,

se

-s

ST AY AT -HO MES

2 8o

tri ce was silent In her breast the e wa a truggle

going on
O n the one han d what an escape fo hersel f what
a se n e o f e lie f a d freedom wa ope ed up by the
abov vi ion ; on the other what an aby f thi poor
heedles oul to plunge into ! Could h not put out
a nge to ave po or reckle Dai y from de truction ?
To let he become th p y o f uch p o ple as the Fit
hubert a d be mad us o f by them and other o f th ir
cla in the way indicated was imply to abandon her
to every vil inuence by whom all her wor t pa ion
would be encouraged and her better feeli g pe dily
and ruthle ly eaced
A n d Dai y wa a f llow creatu e with an immortal
ul Beatrice trembled
She had com at la t to perceiv th truth about
Dai y Curle Dai y was not naturally a bad woman
rather h had a curiou innate tend ncy toward what
pe tabl decorou dec nt ; and when r ligion was
wa
order f the day it cost her no ffort to adopt a
th
much o f its outward form a procured the approbation f
tho by whom it wa h ld in g nuin regard
But h wa weak vain and ambitiou on a low lev l ;
and cast among other who n ith r car d nor prof ed
anything but pl a ure and luxury tho god
t o care f
would h al o wor hip
h had not
Beyond thi h had not
fa gone ;

joined th
nor the utt rly d ba d ; and d uring
r id nc in a qui t ord rly n ighbour
t h period f h
hood he had evin d uch an a xi ty to con form to i t
t n t as might yet be worked upon f her own good i f
h would r turn thith r and yield h r l f anew to i t
inu ce
Beatrice wi ftly tur ed over the p o
But would h ?
in her mi n d
a d a
Bea

ss

s s

or

s e

ss

s,

re

ss

s s

ss

ss

so

s e

e,

s,

s res

se

s e

or

ess

e s

s e

se

so

s e

'

e sco
o

ers,

er

ce

c n:

e se

en

or

e s

es

se

r s

AM

MA D O R DREA M I NG

2 BI

You see it i not a i f I couldn t have pl nty f fri nd

wh rever I w nt udd nly burst forth Dai y who had
al o be n thinking
I dare ay you would all be orry

to lo e m whatever Connie may think f I did wake

you up ; and I m ure Tony O ldca tl and th Tomlin on
boy u d to h n v r out f our hou e ; but one can t

h lp that
mu t thi nk f one l f W could ay l t
me
ruminating that Som r et hire was relax
ing ; it i
isn t it ? O what hould you ay it i ?
But f cour y u think it all that any one n eds and I
mu t own it uit d me w ll enough Willi could ay he
wanted bett r hooting What do you think P
Don t go Dai y
What ? N t go ? I d a esay yo u don t want to lo e
v ry nice f y u to ay I m ur ; but
u ; an d it i
could
come
and
top
with
you
know
and
I
would
o
u
u
y
a k Gwen and Kitty too by and by
I hall have to
take care that Conni Gibb doe n t g t wind f thi
though She must uppo e we a tuck down at T h
H ollie till h i ff th eld ; but h i going directly ;
h found a wir from h
d ar papa last n ight ordering
her back and what v r h may ay h dare not di obey
him So we can k p qui t till h i gone and th n blow
up her little ch me W ll I f l better now Ju t giv
m th eau de colog will you ? A n d Beat ice
D ar Dai y do li ten f one moment I am
ure
it would be bett r fa better fo you to go back to your
own hom whe you have many in tere t and
upati n
You have forgotten them ju t at thi mom nt
but
I mu t go on forg tting them I can t be troubled
with them You can explain f m ; f i f I can
manag Willi and o f cour I canw han t return
at all
H e can go down to ttle thing and Whiteley
will move the furnitur
s

se

o ne

se

se

e,

ee

s e

e s

or

so s

re

so

or

se

se

e.

oc

s s

s.

n e,

s e

ee

er

e e

re s

s o

s,

so ,

e s

s so ,

see

or

e,

or

e s

s,

S Y

2 82

HO MES

-AT -

TA

ould not go down at all

O f ou se n ot
No w Beat ice don t be t ire ome
I m n t a hou ekeeper ; I know nothing about tabl and
a
be
ide
I
hate
dete
s
t
worryin
g
a
b
out
uch
d
chai
;

thin gs I hal l stay on here a d oh I know The

Fi tz hube t s suggested la t night t hat we hould have a
hou e f the Cowe week ; they want to go but th y
the
an t a fford a house ; an d V i F i t hube t ay it i
be t fu in th year A ft r that we could go to Scot
land to make another b eak ; a d then Conni would
have quite lost trace f u and we cou l d do what we
cho
Sh threw her elf back upo n th pillow all
trace f chagrin and di tre s eliminated from a u te
ance now lit up by p l a u able antici pation
So now
Y es that will do
he smiled and nodded
dear I mu t not keep you in any longer on thi nice
mornin g It wa
good of you to come but now I
know you are dying to be o ff
and h loo ked impatient
and sugge tive
I am goin g said Beatric ri ing
A nd y u mu t not think I shan t be sorry to part
with y ou but y u do s e don t you how well thi plan
work out ? A n d wa it not lucky th Fi t hube ts
tu ning up in pite o f i t being through them and their
givin g ff nc to that horrid girl that all thi came
about P I am ather glad Vi Fit hubert know ; he
wi ll h lp m i f anything f the kind hould ver happen
again Sh know I am quite devot d to her B atrice
with a twing f compuncti on you are not angry with
me ?

I am very orry f you Dai y

to that I m orry f my el f but it can t be
A
help d ; and now that I have had it out I fe l better
I hall go to Ran lagh thi afte noon Connie had b e
going with u but I hall take Vi Fi t hubert in t ad i f
Yo u w

es

s,

rs

e s

s,

co

s o

s so

e,

s,

se

or

e,

e o

or

or

s,

e n

s e

28

ST AY-AT H O M ES
-

Inde d i de d dear Dai sy

try i n g to take her
hand
aid Dai y pul ling it back NO Let m
No n
b
e
o
I
don
t
care
to
be
good
I
don
t
wi
h
to
g
od
o
;
g
I m only a po or littl thing that like
as you call good
to be pett ed and admired and can t stand being p eached
at and call d to ord r I do well enough ; and it isn t
my fault if you and your et are too grand fo me
But we hould n t be too grand fo you said Beatrice
earne tly Dear don t go away f o m u ; don t th o w
your l f am ong peopl who will drag you down
How uncivil yo u are Th Fi t hube t would ta
indeed i f they h ard that Th y drag m do wn I can t
help laughin g but the laugh wa a forced one
A t l ast y u will wait a f w day b fo e yo u deci de
up et and excited now and no won der ; but i f
Yo u a
you will think matter over
You uppo se that I have not thought ? That all
you k n ow abo ut it cri d Daisy with another laugh
Willie and I have had thi in view ever incewhat
I mean i that we never m ant to stay in a y place whe
it wa known aboutabout u There wa a woman

o ce at your hou that Mi s A dam who came to yo u

companion I don t know where or how

as Lady Laura
had found it o ut but h kn ew about me and I
sh
thought h wa going to blackmail me She did try it
on ; that i h l t me kno w that he had my c t
but he ever went beyond that A d what on earth h
did it fo unle h want d to g t omething out f m
which
f
ell
throu
g
h
I
u
ppo
e
go
dne
kno
w
o
s
s
!
(
)
Mi A dam
The odd little c eature in curls A egular old cat
mething topped her
But whateve her game wa
playing it N w B atrice I really do want to get up
Thi i ju t like our old Go od bye isn t it ? when I

o,

se

re

re

r s

se

s e

s, s

re

r,

ss s

s e

se re

ss

s, so

s,

AM

MA D O R DREA M I NG

28

u ed to follow you down to th gat and w would

tand ther talking forev r b cau e w alway eemed

to hav more and more to ay Beatric calling aft r

her a h reached the door
Beatrice topped and look d round
I mak you a pr nt f Major Ev r t H h h !
giggl d Dai y The door handl turn d and B atrice
wa gone the cho f a mocking laugh in h
ar
In th hall h encountered Mi Co nie Gibb p id
ing ov r a pil f normou trunk
B en to
your
fri nd Mi
Maynard P
Mi s Maynard walk d t adily on but th other block d
her path
F l pretty bad I po e continued h
arca tically
t h y mo tly do when
plea e
A llow m to pa
I wa only going to ay that if h
O h c rtainly
thinks I ve done with her
A han om said B atrice to the hall porter
h doe n t know Con tantia Gibb
I m ff
f
th
pre ent
but Beatric heard no more
H er h ad was in a whirl h pul e throbbing and it
eemed but a cond
h wa at t h door f Burl i ng
ton House where although longing to be alone h had
now to k p h r appointment with Clara Wilde
It wa pa t twelve o clock but Clara would xcu e h
being late ; and he was mechanically earching in her
pur e f t h fare when a hand wa held out and h
saw that even ano t her minute
olitude wa to be denied
her Major Ev re t the la t per on in th world h
would have wi hed to ee at th mom nt wa tanding
on th A cad my t p ady to a i t her to d c nd
What unlucky chance had ent him ther ? A lthough
she could not actu ally charge him with be in g the author
f all thi s trouble he had certainly involv d her in it
s

s s

s s

e se

e es

er e

ss

res

see

e o

ss

e,

e,

s e

ee s

s e, s

ss,

s e

or

ere s e

se

s s

er

or

s s

er

s e

s s

es e

ss s

s, re

ee

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

s 86

more deeply than needs m u t a d h had mly r lved

that come what might sh would avoid an y po i bili ty
den ces
o f fur ther explanation and
H would perhaps want to thank herb g ateful an d
non n ical and full o f Daisy and her wrongs ? That
lse could She would
should be preve t ed i f nothing
never see hi malone nev r fo a moment
Gwen would help h now ; and h and Gwen had
arran ged this it be i ng Gwen pa t to ti ck to h i ter
ide through thick and thin in any fut r me ti ng
wa a
O nly a f w days remained during whi ch the
lik lihood o f the forme e vices being requi red a d it
had e med as i f this bri f period might be got t hroug h
af ly since neither f th plott r had c nc iv d the
po ibility f Evere t being at the A cad my during th
morn ing hour wh n only rigid p ictu e love or count y

i
cou in rev rted th ther but the be t laid plot 0 mi
and men P w kn ow what beco me f them
Mi Wilde i waiting f y u sai d E vere t h
fully
She sent me down to if y u were coming
and he stepped up tairs by her id a i f hi j ining th
party we a matter f cour
What wa to be done ? Nothin g She could not
driv the man away nor ven show by look o manner
that hi p e nce wa unwelcome ; all h could do was
to be civi l ale t a d devoted to the obj t or objects i
han d
She had come to see the picture till more to how

Clara Wilde the pict ures having al eady be n herself

o ce or twice to the gallerie Clara wanted to wast
traight to thi one a d that
no time but to be taken
approved by p ublic estimation ; o that on her et urn
to Somer tshire he uld talk wi th the best when t h
i evitable topic was started at co untry dinner-parti
I hould ot care i f I never saw an A cad my
s

s e

eso

ss

co n

se

s e

er

u e

s.

re

rs s r

s e

ss

s,

e s

rs

or

c eer

re

ce

see

s o

ss

e,

se.

r se

er s s

'

ec

s, s

se

co

es

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

2 88

Maynard except Lady Lau ra go in fo art Yet t

look at Beat ic
I believe h i
he pau sed
f om thi n g
he exclaim d a by a udde
t hinking
f bot h turned
i mpul se ; and imultaneou ly t h eye
towa d a motionless gure wh e back wa tu ned
but who to all appearan ce was absorbed in ga i g at an
el aborate compo ition which excited o i n t rest in any
one l se
h i thinkin g o f la t night ?
mu rmured
Perhap
Clara with a littl e mi chievou twinkle i her eye
H itherto a certain r t ic nc had p v nted her from
alluding to La t night as to which it was g nerally felt
that th y had all be n o mewhat too demo trative a d
that though d lightfully exciting the en was rathe
awe ome to contempl ate i n th light f day
O f cou r being in a private room an d q uite among
our lv M Wilde had prono un ced w could speak
more freely t han would have been po ibl otherwi e ;
but we m u t be v y car ful how w menti on the circu m
tance to tho who wer not the
Clara however argued with her el f that M ajor Evere t
had bee n the e
uch a
A l o that Major Everest wa

s
nice man a d had behaved o w ll and a d altogether ;
h could not resi t a ly glance an d Ever t who had
am thought in hi mind howed it
th
Hi eyes travelled gravely back fro ma m
oment
earne t urvey o f the mute i n ten t form ; and after a
sli ght hesitation he replied to the above
Mi ss May ard
fe l t what took place at the C arlton to be pain ful I am
afraid Sh could hardly help doing so

w
a
a
u
a
l
gave
hock
It
b
mi
b
l
e
th
t
l
a
s
a
o
t
a
I
conduct So vulgar too A d po or
A merican girl

Beatrice the M aynard you know have the Curle j ust

at their front d or o it i wor e fo
them th an for a y
s,

os

z n

s s e

re

ns

se

ss

er

s s

s e

e s

re

se

rs

es ,

es

sc

se

s,

o f us

MA D O R DREA MINO

AM I

89

I thought Mis Maynard acted very nobly

h did
I hav known B atric Maynard in e
S
h wa
bi g
indi cating and I never y t knew her
do anything that wa notw ll it may be odd but
"
i th only word I can u e
To tell the truth
N obl
continued th peaker cond ntially w wer all rather
astoni hed that h mad a fri nd f M Curle O h
perhap I hould not say that to y u with a udden
recollection f Ev r t had b n brought by t he Curle
to h fath r hou and h might be w resenting the
impli d lig ht to th m He had taken no part in the
c n at th Carlton and a h wa al o i l nt now
I mean nothing again t your
h ran on apolog tically ;
th y w re our fri nd too you know and w are
fri nd

to go on a i f nothing had happened which will b ea y

enough f u a we liv at a di tance ; but it will be
awkward f the Maynard e peci ally a Beatrice took
the ini t iat ive la t night Every one will kn ow that she
he pau ed
did
A d h will u ffer fo it ?
She will have to abide by it She can t drop them
now ; how v r sh would not i f he co uld Beatrice
would sta d to her gun hush ! h i coming back to

O s

e s

or

e es

no

ee

se,

rs

er

s so

s e

s e

or

s,

s,

s e

or

so

e e

us

Shal l we go on to the next roo m P said Beatri ce ;

th r are not many more but i f we l inger too l ong
her
It was you who were lin g ring Major Evere t an d
I were r ady long ago r joined C l ara laughi g ; but
you eemed
d lighted with that wond rful produc
tion pointing m rrily to the canva that we forbore to
di turb you Your back ai d Let me alone What
you aw in i t
I don t fancy it wo uld interest you sai d Beatri ce
led the way an d the o t hers
so mewhat hasti l y and sh

e e

so

s,

x9

ST A Y-AT - O ME

2 90

ollowed to another room

A I thought he ne ver
ook d at it nodded Clara Wild to hersel f )
I f h had v r fanci d that th r had been anyth in g
or might hav been anything b t w n h p re nt com
panion h was now quit c rtain that he would not
nt tain th id a in future Beat ic it wa true w
dropped the ardour with which h had tarted in h
capacity f guid and coun ellor and replac d it wi th a
littl fri ndly raill y on th lack f appr iation vinc d
by t h t w who had be n r ady to plac th m lv
ben ath her tut lag but though h allow d hers l f to
be mo H uman according to h fri nd and a h
ey through th incr a ing number o f pectato at
Clara bidding noting thi or that f feminine i t r t h
ldom i f v r addr d h r l f voluntarily to Everest
H wa not avoid d oh dear no ; he was ft n
includ d in a ma k or appeal but th group h ld p
i t t ly togeth r and Clara found her el f invariably in
f it
t h c ntre
Thi howev r wa ea ily explicable Th re wa no
doubt that B atrice at tim look d a tri p eoccupied
h wa think ing f Dai y Curle ; and a it wa
o f cour
quit likely that h did not wish to talk f Dai y Curl
fri nd had a cavali r to amu e
h might be glad that h
dull f Clara
h
O th rwi e it might hav b
f
l

e e

s, s e

er

er

esse

e e

re

er

es

er

er

e se

n e es

s,

se s

er

rs

s s en

r n

es

e s

se

er

er

es

ec

re

se

no

so

e,

se

er

ee

e e

e,

een

or

Mi Wild ! H ow delightful to meet he !

how trang to u acro y u th very rst thing !
a burly country rector with hi wi fe and a couple
f girl
urround d their quir daught r with beaming
count nance
Her w are and h r all Somer et
hir I fancy continued th peak r lookin g round
with evident prid
J u t e n the Tomlin on ; and
B
i aw young Birch at t h door A d your father
and moth r a th y here ?

O h,
A nd
A nd

ss

re

ss

es

e ss e s

re

s e
e

e e s

e,

s, s

ST A

:
9

AT - O ME

one who was tanding at her elbow arrested by the

same attraction which had drawn her t hither ; yet th full
minute which h al lowed to pas in apparent ab rp
tion was utili d f gathering her wit before a dreaded
enco unter
I fancy there i somethin g wron g about that piece
not eem to me to
o f di tance Major Everest ; it do
reced fa eno ugh W a e accu tom d to pace in
our part o f t h world that though I don t under tand
painting I do know how a t etch o f open count y
ought to l ok
Y
said he ab ently
Mi Wilde know too aid Beatrice loo king rou n d
f her
She ha met ome fri nd andand join d them

fo he was turning to r tr at
eed
we
g
o
back
It
N
will be a y to nd Mi Wild f h i only on the
other id f the doorway but
We mu t not lo e her It i gett ing late
We have nearly ni hed our sightseeing however
an y

se

so

or

es

so

ss

or

s r

es,

r s

e s

ss

e o

an

e,

or s e

'I

ardent ightseer I almo t wonder

f
w
t
came
a
ca
e
duty
I
uppo
e
and
i
a
o
u
o
u
;
y
y
thank ful it i over Why hould o n alway think
ar
it ne e a y to do the A cademy when t h ne old
picture
I know ; we utterly neglect them A d to t ll th
truth I only cam here to day becau e I chanc d to
h ear yo u ay yo u were coming and I wi hed to
To g t th benet f my wi dom I hOpe it ha
an wered the purpo e and you will be able to ay
but h was determined to be h ard
Sh kn w now it was coming ; she knew by his voice
it wa comin g
Mis Mayn ard I wanted to tel l you how deep ly I
Y ou are

not

an

c ss r

AM I

MA D O R DREA MING P

ro

29 3

appreciated the part you took in what happ ned la t

night aid h earn tly It wa exactly what I might
hav xpect d and when I took the great lib rty o f inter
c di g with you on behal f f our mutual fri nd
I mmb y o u did ay something
O h dear ; y

onc Major Ever t ; but it i

long ag howev r I
am glad you w r ati ed What a silly cen it wa
cri ed B atrice airily the ooner forgott n the better
That i goo d now ; that i really good don t you think P
and he tared r olutely at a picture without a noti on
what he wa looking at
I wonder i f M Curle will ver know all ? pro
ob tinat ly H wa not to be put o ff albeit
eeded h
he feigned not to hear
Do you think sh will ? he went on eceiving no
reply She i v ry quick and unle your n ighbour
are extremely cautiou
I really can t an wer f
Majo r
ur n i ghbour
Evere t I can t mount guard ov r th m wi t h a hade
o f involuntary p tulance
Don t you think w had
better let it al o n the whol a ffair I m an P T h re i
nothing m o e to be don
and he moved on a t p
farther a though to clo e th conv r ation
But h was o btu e p rv r ; h could not ee that h
wa lo ing ground with ev ry word h poke What he
longed to expre wa om thing f th strange w
emotio n wi th which he wa beginning to regard thi
beautiful girl Whom he had alway known to be beautiful
but had n ver f lt to be
beforewhat h burn d f
her to perc iv wa that a bond f ympathy had prung
up betw en them and that th y w re now u ited by a
common int r t
To other people Dai y Curle and her unlucky secret
might be only a pa ing ubj ct f curiosity an d con
f
e
e
t
t
f
f
he
and
Bea
rice
elt
di
ent
y
elt
in
t
u
l
d
a
n
u
er
f
b
j
e

e,

e e

es

es

re

s so

e e s

es

rs

e,

s,

er

es

e,

ss

or

e s

e se

s e

ss

e s

ne

e es

so

or

ss

e,

s,

or

ST AY AT -HO MES
-

29

unison D lightful id a ! They had ent red into a

compact ; and now he would fain ren w that compact
and mak it th occasion f a i lent under tanding to
be sacr dly cheri hed and utilised
Poor little Dai y ! H would harp upon th th m ;
and B atric would take it up till th du t would
perhap u away altog th r from it original tarti ng
point but would nev rthele till be a du t What doe
a theme matte once it has served i t turn P
It may be a ked since wh had Eve est o felt and
dreamed P
H could not him s l f have an wered t h q uestion
Every m ting with Beatrice Maynard beg innin g with
that in which he had led her into her fath r dinin g
room on the occasion
f hi bein g r t introduced to the
family had made a certain impres ionbut an out ide
inu nc had bee n brought to bear upon inner misgiving
in ord r to r move that impre ion
Eve e t wa a poo r m
a ; and Dai y Curle took c ar
that h hould remember h was a poor man S h aw
what h wa blind to H never uppo ed him l f
worthy a tho ught in th mind o f th high bo n heir
o f Maynard Tower
and nothing was a i r than to x
that conviction perman ntly on hi s mind To speak
the plain truth he wa at pai n to pr v nt him elf from
falling in love
Y t mor than onc h had fel t th ta k dii ult
Beatric u ually sti ff a d tately in th pre ence f h
own pe pl would gradually merge from h cru t when

alon with him and be o gay and winning a on that

wint y afternoon wh n the two walk d on and on ov r
the fro ty ground and t h hour wthat he would
igh H igho ! as h cont mplated hi bach lorhoo d
Th n Dai y u pecting thi would bu tl to di pe s
th p n iv
hade upon hi brow
e

or

s r n

ss s

en

ee

r s

ss

e s

se

ess

e s e

s,

e s

e,

e,

e s

er

er

s s

s,

r e

srA Y AT
'

2 96

HO MEs

Curles he coul d go to themselves fo ; she wo uld n t

even tell him that h had been wi th Dai y or could
e lighten him in an y wi e on her fe ling a d proj ct ;
he should merely perceiv that the ubject was di ta t ful
Is that A merican girl likely to t ll her what he
di d P in q uired h
I should say not ; but
tup idly
what do you think P

Really 1 1 have n opin io to offer

F
her w ake sh would k ep it dark pursued
he ; he ut a orry g ure wh r as y u
I was forced to say what I did It is no matt er ;
the whole thing
A d so ma y peop le o f the neighbourhoo d p e ent
r joi ed he agerly
A better time co uld n o t have
been chose but I fancy
They will forget It could not inte t them It is
not as i f it had be n one f u he mov d on with a
ge ture f proud impat ience but the next moment he was
by her ide and e comm ncing undauntedly
You will soon be at home agai n I uppos ? Y u
will then nd o ut how fa the mi chie f has gone ho w
deeply it ha t uck ? I dare ay yo u will go back before
the Curles do
The Curles P She sto od still and looked at hi m
The Curle may never go back at all said he and
drew a l ong breath and lowly very slowly ear d her
head He ga ed at her confounded She tu rned her
back on him a d walked traight into th other ro om
A ll her best and pure t feeling had be n d a wn o ut by
the peril or what she regard d as th peril f p or de
luded Daisy Curle ; h had acknowledged th au thority
ave i f
o f a Higher Pow r which command ed her to
po ible a f llow creatur from the allur ment o f folly
f Ev rest and
a d vice ; but the uggested conjunction
hersel f i n the rt was too m uch
the

s e

s e

e, s

n s

or

e e

r s

n,

res

r -

s s r

ss

'

AM

What had

MA D O R DREA MI NG P

2 97

to do with it ? Why should he meddle

with it ? If he till de ir d to as ociat him l f with that
vain f ivolou woman l t himbut h hould do it alon
fo h ; and truth to tell desp ite t h approval f h
con ci nc which comm nd d th part h had played in
h
intervi e w with Dai y he almo t wi hed it had n v r
taken place
With a hasty a d determin d t p h o w egained
the id o f Clara Wild and urged the latene f the hour
as an
xcu e f cutting short far well and returnin g
home at on ce
O h we are all coming said Cla a ; but Beatrice
darted ff by h r el f and her two companion were l ft
looking at each other
O n the way back to Gro venor Place a plan f action
K nyon and Gw
wa rapidly r olv d upon Mi
must of course be taken into cond nce to a c rtain
ext nt ; they mu st be told o f what had tran pired at

t
Brown H ot l both in the bedroom and in h hall but
in re pect to Major Ev r t h could and would keep
her own coun l Neith r h cou in nor her i t r wo uld
uppo e him likely to have approached th ubj ct in the
presenc o f a third p on and they n ed n ver know
pr nce had b en
that an O pportunity out o f Clara
ei ed upon and mad u f
He hould n ver hav anoth r She ung open the
doors o f th han o m and a Up th t p f her cou in s
hou se aying to h r el f again and again that he hould
nev r hav another
Wh r i s cou in A ugu ta ?
Cou in A ugu ta i not very well and i not coming
down to lunch on aid Gw n who wa already eated
at tabl eatin g cold lamb and salad with her accu tomed
healthy appet ite She ay it i nothing but I do hope
it i not inuen a fo it ound rather like it She wants
he

e,

er

se

e s

er

er

s e

e e

s e

ss o

e,

e n

or

e s

es

ss

en

se

e es

er

s s e

e s

ers

se o

ese

e s e

r n

e e

e,

s o

e s

ST AY

HO MES

-A T -

29 8

to be q uiet thi afte rnoon a d we a to tak the carriage

and go wher we like It will be rath r nic won t it ?
A
we not to e her ?
N t ti l l the doctor ha been and ay i f w may
Beatrice breathed a igh f r li f ; Gwen wa a ily
ma aged much mor a ily than Mi K nyon would
have been indeed a f w qu t ion and an w r di po ed
f her mo ning with thi placid int rogator who e mind
wa running on other matter
her i t r had only to be
int r ted in th m and Dai y Curl and all co ne ted
with her dropped o ut f ight
Th n Fate did Mi Maynard a good tur
Inuen a beyond a doubt decided th m dical
authority who had paid hi vi it during th girl ab en
an hour or lat r ; and on th ir r turn from th after
noon outing they w r con front d by the v xatiou i
telligence Gw n utt red a di mal xclamation ; Beatrice
F
he was
with di fculty r pres d
o f rejoicing
doo r f escape ; a d ati ed that her kind ho tes
h
was in no danger but had mer ly contract d th fa hion
malady i a mild form h wa at liberty to act at
abl
once upon a deci ion who wi dom no
could di pute
The i ter vi it was wi thin a few day f i ts t rmina
tion a matt r too d ; h now announced tha t th y
would tak thei r leav on the followin g morning
ighed Gwen to whom th beautie
O h mu t w ?
f Somer t hire o ffered nothing which could compare
with th w ts f London li f but O f cour w mu t
r joined her i ter re ol ut ly Thi hou e i not an
hotel w are not her a a conv ni nc ; and a we are
cou in A u gu ta ring the bell
n o t to be allow d to
f
Jane an d t ll her to pack up thi vening whil I
eated her l f at t h writ
s nd a t legram
A nd h
ing tabl
s

re

e,

se

re

es

e e

se

o ne

s e

s o

e s

re

s e

se

or

o ne

ce

s s

so

er

ss

e s

s s e

e es

er

s e s

ss

e e s

se s

e s

ee

s s

or

se

e,

see

s e s

se

s e

ST AY-AT - O MES

o
o
g

cy rev al ed itsel f at the rst glan ce ; an d Beatric

could carce forbear an ejaculat ion which would have be

t
a
i
h
s
eye f ll upon a brown wig
tr yed s p es nce as
wi th ri n gle ts
cried he to
A mI mad or d reamin g ?
hersel f as she ew do wn stairs
secre

er

WELL

WO NDER

H A PT E R

! I

Y O U CA N NA ME HI M TO

ME !

it pl a your moth r aid Sir Henry May

nard umming up his conclu ion on the ev nt f th
n ighbourhood which had been und r di cu ion between
a d a what plea d Lady Laura
him and hi daught
wa a matter f r t con qu nc to him and what plea s d
other p opl r latively nowhere hi tone wa placid and
be ignant and th nt nc ni h d it el f
lady hip wa not m r ly plea ed h wa
F
h
delighted and allo w d her el f to own h wa d lighted
which wa qu it anoth r thingat the gr at piece f
n w ju t announced The H ll ie wa sold and the
purcha er wa Lady Laura own e pecial friend and
relation Mi A ugu ta Ke yon
Could anythin g b more fortunate ? cried the former
So oft n a I hav wi h d to m et dear A ugu ta again
and y t the time n ver med ps p iti u f inviting her
her N W it i no ca f inviting ; h comes o f her el f
com to r id in h own hou e and we h all have all
the benet f h oci ty without being bound to provide
f her amu ement
Full f proj ct and pla
th
peaker then retired to
writ a joy ful l tter f anticipat ion and w lcom and
h
hu band and daught r continued the co ver ation
which end d in Sir H nry taking up hi new paper
with the expre ion narrated above
It will thus be een that Dai y Curle had carri d into
e ffect the ha ty re olution formed directly she learned that
if

e ses

e se

es

es

or

s or

n s,

e s

e,

e s

ss

er

see

er s

se o

ss

e e

er

er

e
,

or

se

ss

se

ers

0
:
3

ST AY AT H O MES
-

0
2
3

al fri d had not xceeded the truth in h r accou t

dinner party
o f what had tak n plac at Tony O ld a tl
Sh had hoped again t hop until B atric Maynard
upon who word h could r ly cut th g ound from
ben ath her f t ; and th n a w know had re i ted all
r pr entation
th latt r p r ua ion and outed h
and although B atric had in wardly hal f xp ct d that
tim and re ction would modi fy the d t rmination
udd nly taken or that it would not at lea t be acted
upon in i ts entir ty h was mi tak n
Vanity cowardic and love f nov lty united in Dai y
bo om to applaud h propo ed lin f action whil o
the other hand h wa h ld back by no con id ratio
to h vi w worth thinking about
d that h had born f
Sh now only wond
long the monotony f qui t country life and ca ed fo
f p opl with whom h had
t
f a dull
t h opinion
nothi g in common
Th r had alway been an effort ; and although ucce
wa w t he wa con sciou
f many moment wh n
ven th triumph f mingling in ociety to which h had
not be n born and obtaining a foothold in hou who e
portal would natu ally hav been clo d to h was felt
to b d arly bought entailing a it did con tant watch
fulne
per verance and a iduity in the art o f pl a ing
Wi th p opl lik t he Fi t hube t t h ca was di fferent
Tru th y w r a fa remov d from h by birth and
breeding a wer the Maynard th Wilde and th O ld

ca tl
but belo w the urface th re was cong niality f
ta te and a imilar tandard f con duct ; that wherea
with Beat rice May ard h could at be t but f ign to be
in ympathy with Lady Fi t hub t h fel t not merely
a genuine but a pa ionat d i e to a imilate
But nough f D ai y Curle hallow el h imper
ti
t hypocritical ; th growt h f an hour he van i hes
her f

se

en

s e

se

ee

e s

er

es

er

s e

e,

so

e o

e,

ns

s e

ere

o r so

se

e e

ee

s s

s e

se

e e

e s

r s

so

er

ss

es r

s e
ss

s,

s,

er

se

es

ss

er,

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se

ss,

ses

s o

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er

s s

n en

e e

e s

c s

ST AY AT HO MES

304

Mo ther I

k new you wou ld So earn est was the

h
to n th at Lady Laura did what h very se l dom did
rose an d implant d a k iss u pon h daught bro w
plication Dai y Curl was
But n o w beho ld a new co m
di po ed o f a d there wa a r l i f un to ld in th thought ;
i ble f B atrice to join in th u i
still h w wa it po
at ion which hai led the future occupant o f
v r al accl am
T h Hollies as an acq ui ition to the neighbou hood P
N t o n l y the wig and curl lay l ike a stone at her

heart but there wa Evere t Everest whom sh had

f fondly hopi g never again to be
evaded and got rid

troubled with him there wa h and th re would he

emain to be recko ned with in future
I am takin g the hooting f my nephew wro te Mi s
Kenyon ; Major Evere t will have to leav the A rmy

u
much to hi s ow reg et tho gh not to mine and h has
promi sed to take U p hi res idence with m a d be to
me as a so n I t ll you this my dear Lau a in order
that hi po ition in th n ighbourh od may be under
tood and establi hed from the r t H i formally
and legally con titut d my heir ; and I d sire that thi
may be known a I owe it to him that he should not be
thought dependent on my caprice W hall re ide
mainly at The Holli which Hou ton al eady knows
f
an d app ove
and
f
cour
e
proximity
to
s
i
t
s
May
(
na d T owers i a great attractio n to me)
but we hall

al o keep on the hou in Gro venor Place as not being

q uite uch a stay at home a you my dear cousin I hal l
take a fri k p to Town wh n v r I feel di po ed and
tell Ki tty that wh n h and I have becom acq uaint d
we mu t have a littl tal k tog ther about a a on for
Lady Lau a beamed and K itty danced
h by and by

fo glee but the h ar t f B atrice sank wi thi n her when

sh heard thi read aloud
How v ry v ry hard it wa !

s e

s e

er s

er

or

ss

e s

e,

or

es,

s o

se

e e

se s

er

e,

WO NDER

YO U CA N NA M E

HIM T O M E !

0
3 5

cour e th odiou pi ode with it worst memorie

wa overbut f all that a f ling r mained
E v re t could n ver b a an ordinary man to her ;
h mu t alway connect him with a
n f mrti a
tion and humiliation alway b ar in mind that h had
once be n d ceiv d by a manner which al l wom n found
d lu iv
T do him ju tice h owned that it wa probably
born with him She wa c rtain that he exerci ed it i
volunta ily O ft n it won fo him conce ion o f who
magnitude h wa unawar ; and i f thi wer point d
out h would be found ignorant f having uppo d that
what h a ked f wa a conc ion at all
It wa all manner ; and having onc found o ut thi
trick f mann r it would nev r again impo e upon her
but h secretly marv ll d that very one l e should b
a ily obliviou o f the pa t and condent of th
futur
Sh could not go beyond endurance in her cont mpla
tion f the vi ta which opened
It
rar luck f your cou in getting the Curles
announced Sir H nry who nev r went
furniture
through th village at thi junctur without h aring or
P
i g omething to relate
my word i f h had
had to buy tabl and chair f that hou e it would
hav tak n month It took the whole ummer be fore
got in d ye r coll ct ? A d van by the cor
t h Curl

cutting up the grav l th y ought n ver to hav laid

do wn th grav l till the in ide work wa done but

Curle knew nothing about a hou and so h had to
lay it all afre h With hi money I don t uppo h
car d Qu r their l aving it all though ; a ft r g tting
it tog th r and making ev rything o com fortabl U
commonly comfortabl I alway think that hou
No t
a nook or cranny that i n t well done by A d how a
Of

or

s e

ee

se

s e

s e

ss

ess

or

se

se

s e

so

se o

e s

e s

or

or

se,

ee

se

20

se

e,

s e

es

on

es

see n

ST AY AT HO MES

0
6
5

ma

n can

h on ly his carpet-bag

y o ff wi t

when

n aked as

orn
My dear Hen ry I
Ju t a hirt
But Sir Hen ry was no t t be stopped
an d a too thbrush
chuckled he ; and he with h
bonn ets a d fo l de rols
O ff the two g o like a pair
o f mig ants ;
ore compunction than th
wi th o m
wallows have fo leaving the n t they b uilt and
thought so much f ix months be for ! Migra t ? I
I would rath r liv in th humbl t
call the mvag ants
hut I co uld al l my w than w ander from palace to

f
u
al
e
eni
e
includ
with
a
critical
a
tertho
ght
c
a
V
p
Hi s wi fe agreed with him ; sh o wned that travel did
no t att ract her
fro m her tone it was clear that h de
he was b

er

es

es

n,

n s

s e

No w here i s

your cousin A ugusta en sible woman

a
h
roceed
d
her
hu
band
the
moment
s
h
mon
y
to
e
p
do
ettles dow I don t quite und r tand her
h

ca ing to keep up two hou e but a the one wa le ft to

her that might alter the ca e She l l not go n ar it ofte
I fancy She l l be mon tro u nug in the Curl villa
everythin g in a rin g fen ce and no outlying expen e xcept
the k per wage
E vere t wil l look a fter that part f
the bu iness ; and he may ju t potter round h green
houses and drive about the country and make friend with
her neighbour and the cottage p ople Your introduction
my d ar to hi wif will be al l she need to g t within
our Somersetshi re wall o f de fence If you could bl a t
that wall and mak it admit the p oor vagabond Curles
you have only to li ft up your little nger f a woman o f
ur
own
tandin
g
with
a
ne
bachelor
n
phew
to
boot
o
y
Thi was the mom nt dreaded by Beatrice Lady
Certai ly
Laura ho wever replied in her q uiete t voice
Major Ev e t having already been at s v ral hou e
a a p a ing vi itor will en ure hi welcome as a resi den t
,

e s

s s,
s

es

s s

ee

er

e,

s se

n,

so , s e s

or

s
,

er s

ss

s s
.

ST A -AT - O ME

8
0
3

He said o n ce that i f he were not

in
my he w uld always live i n the count y
Said that to pl a e yo u H av n t you found him
If he had been peaking to a London girl h
o ut yet P
would have said the wa no living out f London
Then why do h g t cou in A ugu ta to com
said Gwen pro m p tly
he re P
Sh had no id a f
ing when we we e with her ; and any
could
co m
h was eady to do whatev r her d ar H ou ton cho
them
A man m
ay ay t hing to plea e a girl but h d
to please him sel f ; hey Beatrice ?
Brilliantly a gued Sinc when hav you become
clever ? cried Beatri ce merrily
I can t an wer that
I can t inde d Let me try though O f cour Major
and a k h i
E verest will like to have a country hou
frie d down an d play the great man
with a lightly
ironical ai ; it must be a chang after knocking about
the world a a nobody But you may d p nd upon it that
f tho e two will ev r turn in to tay at hom
n eith r
like u They will gad up to Town at ev ry opportunity
and call it win t ring in th country if they have only tw
or th ee month f th R ivi ra
O h the R iviera ! O h how I hould love to do that !
truck in Gw n piteou ly Why don t we ? Ev n t h
only tay her becau e f
O ldca t l go ; and the Wild

th
hunting and th y m anag to da h ff in A pril
be ide I do think fath r might take u
W ll well ; never mind aid Beatrice oothingly
P rhap cou in A ugu ta will
T h re you may take
that olace to your pirit and hop on hop ver
D y u r ally think
O h Beatrice
I think it i not impo ibl T her i mo chance
f om thing f t h kind comi g ff now than ther
ver
But ven i f there w r not om how I don t
was befor
bad about it a I onc did It u d to mak m
fe l
I on t kn o w that
the A r
o
,

e s

re

es

one

s e

se

oes

see

so

se

se

es

e.

so

e.

e e

re

e e

ss

es

es

s o

'

e e

se

WO NDER

ME !

YO U CA N NA M E HI M T O

0
39

wildit doe n t now I hould like to travel I hould

lik it mor than I can t ll it m to me a i f I could
carc ly b ar to go out f th world without ever having
e n it ; it i
full f wond ful thi g
owned
O h I don t care about t h wond rful thing
Gw n frankly
It i n t th m I mind about
No I don t uppo
it i ; B atrice laughed but not
unkindly W hav di ff r nt ta t ; but you a well
fr tt d becau
you could not have What you
a I hav
longed f
I hav I hav ; I do I do I can t hel p fretting and
longing
aid her i ter in a low voic ; then h l aned
T y
Try d ar
fac grew oft and earne t
forward and h
I am trying ; I have b n trying f ome tim pa t
It wa not a y at r t but it i a i r now I think o f

it not a our par nt fault but a God will H gav

b auti ful home and w hav v ry much that i
u thi
d lightful and cong nial in it If w have to do without
om f t h plea ure that com in th way f oth r girl
f u age how do we know that th y are not nvying
f
having other things th y have not ? Look at
u
Dai y Curle continued B atric aft r a moment h i
I can t tell you how I nvied her when I r t
t at i o ;
f Swi
kn w h
mountain and
A ll her talk wa

Italian citi and Egypt and A lgi r h e m d to

l ad th mo t enchanting li fe ; and gradually I found
that all h cared f wh r v r h w nt wa to nd out
who w r th Be t p opl in t h plac and which wa
the be t hot l to go to and h w to hit O ff its prop r
S a n If h were not ying about al l the tim h
own d h wa bor d to d ath
W ll but Dai y ! Dai y Curl
Dai y i a very good pecimen f a type She i
clever extremely clever ; and though she had on ly a f w

see

s so

s e

er

s,

se

e e

s es

se

or

e,

s s

er

e s

e o

er

s o

ss

e s

s,

s e

or

e e

e so

e e

e,

e, s

s e

s e

es

e,

es,

or

s e s e

or s

ee

ST A

I
O
3

H O MES

-AT -

years f educatio n it mu t have been a very goo d educa

tion but h tarted straight away from chool on a

wandering plea u re eeking lif n which n v r th w

her upon her own e ource and
he wa alway
craving f excitement and Som thing doing a sh
u ed to ay If poor Dai y could hav been induced to

he pau sed
stop at ho m and develop what wa in her
and ighed
but now I fee l h will be wor e than
ever
aid Gw n
I don t ca e i f he i
recklessly
Nasty un grate ful little cr ature
W are w ll quit
A d h would alway have been a thorn in
o f her
your e h Beatrice
Beatrice nodd d T he introduction f Dai y nam
et her thinking again
Don t wor y any mor about her proceeded Gwen
who h rs l f wa never known to worry about any mortal
thing ; I hop she will tag on to those Fi t hub t till
they are ick to d ath f her and ca t her ju t at
om time when h particularly want to cling on I
hope they will ho w her to her face that th y only
dur d her f her mon y I hop h will be orry h
ev r knew them Y I do
and th blu y
glitter d vindictiv ly
that Beatrice could not but
mil at the unwonted ight
Still I don t e why Dai y being uch a hope
les gad about ought to r concil u to never going
anywhere
commenced the former when both had
laughed a little
I only took Dai y a an exampl and becau he
cam under my own ye A ft r I noticed it in her I
ame thing in other ; then I began to thin k
aw t h
that all th luck wa not on their ide i f it mad th m
o d p nd nt on external inuence
and o unable t o
do an ything f them el v and f them elves I do
o

s e s

-s

r s

so

or

e e

re

s e

s,

s e

er s

'

s e

se

es

e,

se s

e s

re

s e

en

so

e s e

es,

or

s,

es

or

S I AY AT HO M ES

'

The weather had be n very hot ; and it wo uld have

b en annoying fo n ewcomers to uppose that A ugu t
wa always ultry i Somer t hir ; wh r fo r he had
rej o iced ov r Mi Kenyon d lay in taking up h abod
at T h H o llie which delay brought it to almo t the la t
day f the mon th e t h great ev nt took plac
How on hall y u call my dear ? proce d d th
peaker fanning hi b ow with the di carded cap H
hoo i t i wa m ven to day Shall you drive dow
and call to mo row P
Certainly sh wo uld Lady Laura had planned to a
mom nt th exact and particular tim at which warmth
and eag rn
f w lcom could be combin d with a
regard fo l
veuau
in her r t appeara c at th
d or f The H ollies and B atric whil l nding an a
to the p e eding di cu ion could not r i t a ecr t
vi ion f a quaintly clad littl gur di cr etly t pping
i nto t h brougham aft r h
lady hip had arranged her
el f within an d f Mi A dam m k face at the window
h wa being driv n wi t h h
back to th hor
a
I did o her to it by m i f h f lt uncom fortabl
but he ay h n v r doe A d I fancy h i u d to
the oth r ; Lady Laura had ob rved on h r turn from

and therea ft r the back at had

th introductory driv
been a matter o f cour )

H ow trang how xtraordinary i f it i

mu d
Beatric oft n at thi period Som tim I think it
cannot be ; it mu t hav b n my fancy But th re wa
Cou in
t h wig ; and the wig wa all that wa needed
hair comb d back
A ugu ta itting up in b d with h
and wi thout om f h t th wa Mi A dam and no
l
T h r wa t h li p wh n h
poke Cau ed
no doubt by th ab nc f that ide tooth A d though

b cau e that could

h did not actually minc h word
b
a ily put on f
tim h pok mor lik
th
e

se s

ss

er

so

er

OO

es eon

e,

r c

ss

es s

s e

e,

ees

ess

e e

s,

er

ss

ee

'

s s e

er

ses

'

er

e e

s s e

er

ee

o n e e se.

er

e o

e e
e

se

or

s e s

er

ss

e o
e

er

ee

es

se

s so

-se

e,

se

se

se

WO NDER

ME !

YO U CA N NA M E HIM T O

Mi ss A dam

than like cou in A ugu ta How will h

f l wh n moth r walk in ? Will h b abl to mak
b li v it i a trang fac ? A d what did h do it
f ? T hat i what I want to know
A d that i what I m an to nd out re um d t h
p aker with a look f e olution It wa not don f
no purpo e and it i not fair to u that h hould k p
that purpo e to h r el f It wa not fair to u whatev r
d h had in vi w ; it wa till I hall wait be fore I
d m I who hav
much to b orry f in my l f
I am not th right p r on to blam other N I hall

wait but I hall hav it out with cou in A ugu ta y t

A d with thi in h
mind h turned on t h pr ent
occa ion to li t n to what wa pa ing among th other
Lady Laura wa explaining with ome circumlocution
h
r a on f making th propo d call without the
accompaniment f any f h daughter
You would naturally wi h to go with m aid h ;
e p cially you B atric and Gw n con id ring all th

kindn you hav c iv d but it i ju t on that account

and becau you know your cou in and I do not
a nt d Beat ic ag rly You will do
O f cour
much bett r Wi thout u
Sh had dr aded b ing a ked
to go
A d a y u t ll m that girl do make call by them
elv nowaday proce ded Lady Laura who with dii
culty could bring h r l f to beli v thi but felt it might
be turn d to account i f it were
you two could go
tog th r lat r in th day I hall go early
and h
continu d to dilat
Wh n h returned from the xp dition h wa full
f it ; alert and vivaciou to a d gr
and though th re
wa little to narrate to auditor who had heard it all from
th
ame ource when Lady Laura cho to talk all were
xpected to li ten
ee

e e

on

r s

e s

e s

er

s e

or

er

e re e

e,

se,

sse

s e

se

e ss

se

es

ss

er

se

or

s e

ee

e s

s,

e s

or

e so

e s

en

s e

or

e, e

es

s,

e se

e e

e s

s,

so ,

ee

se

ST AY-AT -H O MES

I
3A

The one thin g f i mporta ce to Beatrice was that M ajor

Evere t de spit Sir H nry inc l u ion f hi min the a
rival announcem nt wa not with hi aunt and was n o t
exp ct d till the I t the Ev f St Partridg
Sh wa thank ful fo the respite and made the m
o t
f it ; te l lin g her e l f that t h bri k intercou
which
at the
was a ort f n ce sity betw en the t wo hou
present moment need not be maintained at uch high
pre ure
It would gradually gl id into a permanent n ig hbo u li
ne s and a no one knew better than cousin A ugusta

i
w
d
f
a
t
Mi
dam
that
all
the
ut
li
e
A
a
s
o
s
a
n
o
f
)
(
Mayna d Tow r sh would unde stan d witho ut bei n g
told that care mu t be tak by the young peo ple no t to
encro ach o n their moth r s rig ht in regard to her own
especial friend and cont mporary
Sh would not ex pect
to see them oftener than wa con si te t with Lady Laura s
idea
Evere t wa in Scotland and l oth to leave the moors his
aunt averred H had howev r been a fu ll mont h among
them having gone north the end o f July in order to get
in som shing before the grou e claimed his full attention
So that w are doing a ll we can to make him forg t
cri d Mis Kenyon blithely O f co urse Sir
hi woe
H nry y u unde tand what it i s to a man to have hi
career cut short and be turned loo e upo n the world at
thirty v years o f age My nephew was so devoted to
his prof ion that he would have tuck to it at all costs
i f he cou l d but h had no choic ; he coul d never com
mand the regiment without being abl to si t a hor e ;
and riding is t h one thing I was go ing to say forbidden
by the doctor but it i not the doctors but hi s o wn
kn e joint which i the r al arbiter f fate He hurt it

f
s
ome years ago and n o w it i s done for
o nce b ore
Well h m ust make the be t of it and
n

e o

rse,

ses

ss

ss

ns

e s,

en

s,

rs

ess

s,

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

6
I
3

a oth r ccasion havi ng ret urned f om a ride ( h

meant to ride a goo d deal now to Lady Laura ati
f the ex rci
and r mark d
faction who approved
habit)
t hat B atrice looked particularly w ll in h
he had di mounted a d wa cro ing t h hall wh n a
footman with a tray o f t a cup hurri d through from
A y one in the drawing room
e vant doo r
th
Thoma P
The carriag ha
M O ldca tle and a party mi
gone ound Two oth r gentl men hav ju t gone in
too mi
Sh had turned to walk alon g the corridor but t h
la t word a r ted h t p and Thoma who wa
b hind proce d d communicativ ly Major Ever t I
thi nk it i mi
th thump
Sh might hav been in lov with him f
heart gav ! O f cour h kn w h would com
h
and h could not have com on a more lucky daya
party alr ady in th drawing room and very
a embled ; th r would b talk and bu tl ating and
drinking and all that w nt to mak th m ting a y

and commonplac but that h hould actually be th !

a minut h thought that h would not go in N
F
would know h had r turn d and h could lip
up tair and ay aft rward that h wa tired and di

f
inclined company but how i f Lady Laura who had
f inquiring wh r p opl wer
hould put
a knack
qu tion aloud and om
r ply that h had
th
n to rid p t h av nue ?
b n
h could have been
en and
From th window
Kitty had y lik a hawk Kitty would o ffer to f tch
It would b dr ad ful to be f tched
h
aid he and tood looking
N I ll go f my el f
vacantly about h
Sh wa now in a mall ide room into which h had
On

se,

s r

ss

s e

er

r es

s,

s,

es

or

er

se s

e,

ss

or

e s

e, e

ee

e e

es

e U

see

e on e

so

se

er

e,

es

s s e

er

or

e s

er e

s,

on e

e s

one

e e

O,

ee

ss

s,

ss .

rs

er

ss

s s

s e

WO NDER

YO U CA N NA M E

HIM T O M E !

I
3

turn d to l t Thoma pa
A mirror hung over th
r plac and involuntarilyw r p at involuntarily
took a t p toward it W hall have v ry ill
h
d cribed Beatric May ard i f it can be thought that
ight f h r l f
h wa a vai n girl but onc be for th
in th gla had b n a rev lation and now h need d
very aid to h courag Whil p rhap th wa a

lurking anxi ty h mu t
how h looked ?
A d h looked her be t h
royal be t a bloom
upon h che k her ye moi t and m lting T h light
di ord r f her hair wa mor charming than any t
arrang ment and i t loo wav oft n d th ev rity f
h plain felt riding hat
Sh gath r d up her kirt and
walk d back into th co ridor
A d now t h door beyond opened and from within
cam the hum f many voic
She hrank befor it She mu t wait
mom nt
ju t one mom nt Wh would be eare t ? Whom
would h hav to pa ? Would h be abl to lip
in bar ly ob rv d or would th y all top talking and
laughing and look at h ? H ow fooli h to ca e but
and ju t th n T homa m rging p rc ive who i out ide
and r lentle ly th ow back th door h i about to
clo e and O h h r i B atric ! xcl aim Kitty from
within
No falt ring nor he itation now
Beatrice mak h
tat ly ntrance to all app arance a ea y and u
mbar a ed a thou gh th eye upon her were tho e

f
many dumb cr ature and ben ath th at com
u
o
who
would
u
pect
tr
pidation
or
pa
l
pitation
?
p
traight f the resid o fa T h r i o f
Sh mak
cour e no re ; but the ofa i Lady Laura dais and
by her ide it M O ldca tle cup in hand and her lap
full f crumb
B en f a rid my d ar ?
My dear
O nly fo a second or two howev r ca
e

s e

ss

er

er

er

ss

e e

ss

one

s e

er

se

e s

es

e s

e e

ne

ere

se

es s

s e

e se

se

er

e s

see

e,

ee

es

ss .

e,

e
o

es s

ne

e s

e e

rs

or

er

re

so

r ss

es

or

e,

s,

1
3

ST AY-AT - O ME

t an hor in that safe and friendly port sh mu t sail

forth again with grace ful gliding imperc ptibl mov
m nt on her p o gre round th room
Sally O ldcastle ha to introduc h frie d two harm
les nonentitie ; then there i Tony who look quit
no longer th
th old Tony in hi weath r worn tw ed s
Tony in Frocker and T opper a wh n la t
ve y
een She i s approaching Ev re t and know exactly

whe e he tand but Sir H nry who i in conver a

tion with the other g ntleman from The Hollie call
B atrice l and pre nts a oldierly lookin g little
fello w a Capt ain Yate
vidently rath r intending hi
daughter to take Captain Yates o ff hi hand
She will pres ntly ; but r t a quiet How d ye do ?

that no one notices or think about and th great

moment i over
Gw n i talking to Major Evere t ; and Beatrice l av
them together and throw her el f into what i s go in g
forwa rd among the other groups
She has acq uitted her l f to admi ation an d o w all
that i needed i to keep h attention from wand ri ng
whil Captain Yate di cu ses Somer et hir or th
Misse Bowen York hire She doe not want to know
what topic Ever st and her i t r have in hand ; sh
would n ver dream f li t ning but i f th y wi ll tal k so
loud What are you aying about me ? h ie
catchin g her own name
I hear yo u have di carded walking for ridin g
f no u
rep l ies Everest app o achi g her ; and it i
sh
must catch hi eye and fee l or fancy that it o n ly
need d this lightest f il k n thread to draw hi mto
her ide
He regard s h eag rly interrogativ ly O h well
she can talk i f that i
all h want ; and h re in this
om ful of peo p le th i nothing to fear She allow

cas

ss

s, e

s,

se

ne

s,

e -

er

es

se

er

e,

s s e

s e

s e

cr

s,

se,

s o

er

e re

ro

Y AT HO M ES

ST A

2
0
3

Miss A dam in a mo tor ! thinks Beatrice with a

in ward pasm a a i gl t ted fac look at h out f th
win dow from the back eat f the brougham
She often po nders within her el f how h i to break
through the bar i r which eve y day r nder
tronger
Break th ugh she will ; but there i om thing i m
preg nable in cousin A u gu ta intrenched behind the
publicity f her pre nt exi tenc forti d by her r la
ti
f epi tolato y inti m
acy that
sh i p and long ar ear
watch as she m
ay Beatric i tempted to r legat to tim
olution f th mystery It can keep
an d chance t h
It ev n amu e h at tim ; h pu l over it in
secret an d picture to hersel f what thi one and that
would ay i f it came to lig ht P E pecially h love to
dw ll on the discomture and ama ement it would cau
Eve e t
H would be con found ed b yond mea ure ; an d hi fac
on l arning that h him l f had actually b held th ma
a
d
t
and
pok
n
to
ma
k
would
be
a
ight
to
u
h
e
q
I uppose I mu t wait f the ight how ver com
mun d h with her el f a week w nt by a d th re wa
till no ign that her curio ity wa likely to be ati ed
What eem a long pe iod a it pa e i o ft n but a
it i not wond rful
spe ck to look back upon ; wh re for
that there came a day at la t whe all th previou
waiting time went f nothing and patienc had h

reward uch a it wa
B atric had troll d by her l f to the eat in the wood
which had been used by E ver t and hi s aunt a th ir

f
place rend vou a d h wa bru hing the l av
ating her l f wh
from the ru tic b nch preparatory to
f
ell
upon
a
glittering
object
h
y
cond glance rev al d thi a a mall diamond
A
brooch who lo Mi s A dam had bewailed and which
had be n hunted f high and low in vain

r n

-s

er

r e

s s

on

e s

s s

es

s e

z z es

er

so

e,

s o

ro

se

one

r s

ss s,

or

er

s.

ez

er e

se

ss

or

se

se

se

se

es

se

or

se

er

se

es

en

WO NDER

HIM T o M E !

YO U CA N NA M E

With an exclamation

ounced
upon
it
r
c
a
ll
ing
p
how much di t e and vexation Mi A dam had con
fe
d to and how i di n t he mu t in reality hav
b n did there not attach to th ornament om peculiar
valu A s a poor woman with but f wtrink t and non
f con q uence th reg ret wa natural but ur ly the
lo f a mall addition to h r toilette n d not have
occa ioned o much consternation within th breast o f

a rich lady who j wel box

owed ; unl
sh
ha tily xamined th brooch
A d it was a
h thought
Upon th back three
initial letters w engraven which wou l d hav been con
fu ing in the xt eme to Lady Laura companion had
th y been brought beneath th notic of h patrones
A E K carc ly applied to E mma A dam
A E K in
the hand o f B at rice Maynard wa a weapon a power
ful a the invincibl
word f a magician Sh l ooked
and looked again ; nally h at down U pon th bench
A ll previou peculation ank into i i gn i a
before
a di covery which r ndered th m peculation no long r
She held in her hand th proof and arm d with th
proof h pre nted hersel f th n xt day at T h Hollie
O h Beatrice !
So glad to
you continued Mi Kenyon cheer
fully ;
I amall alone and dull I am not often dull
am I ? But thi cloudy F bruary ky and th dripping

lau el
pointing down h drive do t ll a little upon
nerv not country bred Y u look bri sk enough ; and
I hall bri k up too under your inuenc
A d h
ank conver ationally into the d pt h o f an asy chair
Cou in A ugu ta ?
Now that the crucial mom nt had come Beatrice wou l d
not inch ; but h found her lip trembling and the voic
that i ued from them sounded forced and trained in
her cars
she

ss

s r ss

'

sse

ee

ere

se

ss

se

er

s e

er

e s

ss

ss

se

c n ce

ns

s e s

ess

ere

ee

e s

s.

see

ss

er

es

ss

21

HO MES

ST AY AT

22
3

have foun d so methi g she murmu red a d p ut

he han d i n h r p ock t
a
d
P
Mi
Ke
yon
gl
nce
Found s meth ing m
ss
a
d
y
carelessly at the mall packet h ld toward
her f h
had enti ely fo gott en th circumstance f h
lo
a d
what may thi be P p oceed ed h unrolling th paper
in which a ca dbo ard box wa wrapp d
For i t
i s you s
Y o u know
Mine P
But the n xt moment a ood f lour u ffused the
peak chee ks and the diamond b ooch f ll with a nap
to the o r Mi Kenyon looked as i f h had seen a gho t

f
f
e
a
rch
e
d
o
it
everywhere
a
f
t
r
u
l
t
W
y
umed Beat ic av rting her y
but I only found it
ye terday and no one el se kno w that it ha b n found
at all Cou in A ugusta I came h r alone to day to a k

you to b g f you to tell m only m and becau I

hav su pect d thi almo t but not quit been u e f

it f a long time I want you to t ll me why

Sh
pau ed in agitatio not to be controlled t h whil a
imploring ye wa rai sed ben ath which th other f ll
Suddenly B atric ro and
Why did you do it ?
threw h rsel f on h knee be id h cou in hair
It wa not right it wa t fair nor honou abl and
m r a on y u mu t hav had f thu dec iving u all
D ar cou in I can t b ar to peak like thi ; and I have
wait d a d wait dbut I mu t know You mu t t ll
f you
strange almo t cr uel
me It wa
My poor
mother

a harp cry f pain

N ver t ll h r Beatrice
I think it would b eak h heart ; h think s much
implicitly That
f you and tr u t and belie v in you
you hould hav b en a ort f py in u hou hold
Nev r
O h not that Beatrice
No n ; oh no
that l ar B atric

e r

ss

e es,

s s

ce

e.

er

es

so

o
.

se

se,

er

or

s so

s no

e s

er

e,

se

so

te

ee

or
s

e e

e,

se

co

ss

er s

er

or s e

e,

Y AT -HO MES

ST A

2
34

I will kn w

But
Beatrice ben t her hea i n silen ce
why P -tho ugh she
herse f )

w,
had a two f
ct i n

K n o n , an d hes tated
a , she e
s
f
n
u
a
n
o
o
t
c
h
,
y
y
p
v a n P No t
v
re
to a
h
nce w i ch
a
an p eo

to
l
I
old obje
vie proceeded Mi
e y
i
My de r
r comm nced
udde ly
ave
con e ion what it i to
li e lo e
me ly h ve t at indi idual xi t
e
h m y ple h ve who have none to whom

hey
c
nde
their
inne
o
t
tho
g
ht
but to hav
r
m
u
t
can
o
no one wi th whomto discuss the affair f other i
whomthey take a deep and vital in tere t P If I at th
time we speak of had po se ed an y friend ui ien tly
in ti mate to take counsel wi th I shou ld nev r have com
mitted the unpardonable folly we both deplo ; but I
well thin gs seemso di ffe en t when one look at th m

all by onese lf an d the e i

voice to di uad no
kindly wise pl ain spoken perso at hand to put a hand
upon the rei
I wa in t rouble an d hall I t ll y u
about whom P Y o u know without my telling ; Hou t n
Everest i my dead i ster s only
n a d h i v ry d ar
to m whi le yet I have no control over him and unt il
W only aw ach
recen tly l ittl e i n uence with him
other at l ong in terval H ouston I learned wa not
.

ss

s o

ss

re

ss

s no

s o

so

e,

no t

Do not tel l me anything y u woul d rather not ;

B atrice was now co mpo ed and her tone wa c ld and
formal
Y o u knew he wa in thi neighbourhood and
desired to meet him without hi s recogn i ing you I
uppose ? The explanation med gro ly inadeq uate
but h ventured upon it at ha ard
Mi K nyon moved un a ily
N t precisel y that ;
in her chair The truth i b t I wi h d not m ly
to nd out what my nephew was about but to war
him again t a certain per o
It was from you he learn d what he did ? The y u
m u t hav ev aled your el f to him P
o

ss

see

s e

e s

es

ss

s e

ere

s n

e r

WO NDER

YO U CA N NA M E

HIM T o ME I

th n I did said Mi ss Kenyon briey

A pau
A n d the warning mi ssed re P It only Beatrice
u hed it did the v ry thing it was meant t o pr v t ?
You a right Hou ton ha a chivalrou nature ; he

f
wa imply in uriated a I might hav known h wou l d
be H ad I l t him alon h would nev r have giv n two
thoughts to Dai sy Curle ; as it was he lik an idiot we t

to you P h topped with a note o f int rrogation in

h
voice
poke to m ; told me her tory and asked
Ye h
me to tand by her i f it cam out Th r was no harm
in hi doing that aid Beatric in a cold clear voic
and I grant d h i r quest f cou e You know how
I ful l l d my promi ; but all thi do not affect one
point I mu t have cl ared up and sh looked teadily
in h cou in face What had w to do with the
matt r ? It lay betw n you and Major Ever t Why
wa it nec ary to drag u in ? You seem to hav gone
to work in uch a roundabout way when there was an

ab olutely traight path before you that I I o wn I still

cannot und r tand i t with emphasis

Mis K nyon ro and placed a screen betw en her

and the re Shall I dar I tell her P d liberated she

Prudence cri d No
A thou and times no
but there
wa a compelling and almo t threatening intonation in
peak r voice and sh hook in her shoes The
th
harm i s done al ready r ected she wi ftly A nd
Beatrice i o ma t rful as her mother says Real ly
L aura ha more right on her side than I u sed to g ive
h
credit fo A loud My di fcu l ty dear Beatrice lies
in my f ar o f offending your delicate ensitive nature
Mine
Y es your
I had heard so much o f yo u all and co n
cei ved so hi gh a conceptio n o f what my cou in Laura s

girls must be like that I cann ot you guess P

e

se,

re

e en

s s

er

e s

s,

e s

se

rs

es

ee

es

e ss

e,

er

e e

e,

e s

se

e s

e s

s e

er

s.

ST AY-AT -HO MES

6
2
3

Guess P

hen I came to kn ow yo u conti nued Mi

K yon taking her hand but Beat ice thr w away th
ha d a d rose to her feet towerin g over h r companion
I und r tan d Y u
I
e I unde tan d
Oh y
xed upo n m a the bait to lure back your black heep
P haps y u ecom
mended me to him
to t he fold
and
en ume ated my virtu
Beat rice top Y u will ay omething you wil l
f all your li fe
You are u der a mi ap p h
re pe nt
ion ; believe me you a e Major Ev re t
but whil
Beatrice be ide he l f with pa ion carcely h ard a
yllable o f th abov th n am f Ev est mad h
t emulou s l ip agai n y apart
I wonder y u ca n ame him to m h cried ; thi

then i mixed up with it P

folly thi s degradation h
Major Ev e t
the door opened and Ev e t him l f
walked in
A n d you, w

en
n

se

ss

rs

es,

e s

er

es,

rse

e,

ss

en

er

e,

e,

er s

re

er

er s

se

ST AY-AT -HO MES

8
2
3

With owing tears Beatrice saw it all now while even

,

thi wa not the worst Eve est indi ffere t towa d h

el f was could h say it P could sh own it P pon

u ly bestowing tho e a ffec ti on
solicited in vain
ta
her behal f upo anoth r ! H likedGwen !
Ever ince hi taking up hi residence i n the neighb ur
ho od h had fore hadowed thi
Pr tty G wen wi t h her
A t r t i t wa but a fancy
eady mi le and littl play f coq u try whenever a ma
was by had not on ly a natu ral inclination to chat a d
laugh with Major Everest now that he wa a h said
N b dy m
a
but immen ly applauded her l f when
ver by doing h co uld di t act hi att ntion f m
her i ter
A fterward h wo ul d dem and g atitude f om Beatrice
I too k him ff yo u didn t I ? H e wa pr pa ing to
bore you a u ual just because he think he must be
civil to the ldest but I mad him talk to me I don t

mind him an d y u do
thank yo u dear aid Beatrice so me what
Y
hurri dly Gwen feeli g h sel f en cou aged would
prattl e more gaily and persisten tly than before at the
nex t meeting
B atrice on th other hand d ew back and back
If h
aw Ever t on the road or i n t he vi l l age swi ft
thought h would d art up a lane or thro ugh an
entry ; i f h h ard he was in the drawing room he
would either not go in at all or intren ch hers l f i so me
unapproachable quarterby her mother ide f r
choice a pot not affe ted by the young peo ple
She wa pe fectly civil to Major Eve st But yo u
do hold him at arm len gth said Gwen If I were

I
houldn
t
how
q
ite
plainly
how
v
er
he
s
ee
s
u
u
y
othin g A d he and Kitty made fu wi th their
provemen t
friend an d ag eed that it was a decided i m
s

on

s s e

s,

n,

se

so

s s

er

s,

n eo

s e

se

s r

s e

ro

s s e

er

es,

s e s

es

re

so

U SI O N

CO NCL

2
39

on old time having him drop in at odd hou r bring

ing now and again a companion or i f alone at any rat
a f e h l ment
Sometime he would be th bearer o f an invitation
from hi aunt ; and Lady Laura did not a form rly
throw cold wat r on little impromptu propo ition ema
nati g a th y now did from a proper and de irabl per on
She wa anxiou to how that no one could be mor
amiabl and ociable when th right peo ple did the right

thing
that me ting gr w more and more freq u nt
a
month passed a ki nd f di gnied hilari ty
th
permeating the whole atmo phere
eemed b i k r Sir H enry in con fab with
Ev ry o
hi daught r wou l d rub hi hand ov r the reward hi
wi f per eve an e in the pi tolary lin had brought
I n ver could hav beli ved anythin g o good
h
would come f al l those lett r av rred he
my
P
word I u ed to wonder what h would do i f anything

happened to put a top to them but thi i s bette till

Your mother i never at a lo with The Hollie to go
to ; and a f r y u girl y u have her to thank f all
thi coming and going
Gwen laughin gly acknowledged th obligation and
whe e a formerly The Holli had been her iste pecial
and particular haunt it wa h wh n ow betook hers l f
thither t wo or three time f once that Beatrice did
A d Gwen wa in great good look at thi time
The
con tant variety and occupation afforded by having a
lively hou ehold e tabl i hed clo e at hand with per
mi ibl share in i ts doing bani hed repining and sh
no longer hankered aft r a wider phe e of action In
consequence he howed to ev ry ad va tagewhile
Beatrice was conscious o f being unwitti n gly throw into
hade Was n ot a contra t ine vitable ?
th
It a med so cruel so
Y et oh it wrung her heart
s

s,

r s

e e

ne s

r s e

e s

er

e s,

on

s e

e s

so

s,

ss,

r s

s,

or

es

s s e

rs s

or

ss

s,

s,

e s

MES

T
S l AY A HO
'

0
33

The e were so man y the wi th whom

Gwen would have been j ust as wel l pleased an d who m
with he g en tl adaptable n atu re would have
she
eq ual ly suited
She was i n no en t inn ocen t as the day f steali ng her
si ster s lover
Had n o t Beat rice herself decla ed a d t hat
o t po sitive and co clusive that Eve t
i lan gu age the m
whateve he might once have been was now nothing a d
ever would be an ythi ng to he P Had n t Beatrice
P
hersel f believed hersel f when
eaking
H
ow
h
uld
p
po or imple Gwen kno w bett er P
The scene from which
N r hould h ever know
her w etched i te wa ying never to be forgott n
thoug h it wa could ti ll be outwardly e ffaced a apol o g y
could be made a d Everest led to uppo e that the
d t tion o f hi aunt s identi ty with the p son ag who
had li ved f some months beneath the Maynard ro o f
disgui d as an un derling had s startled an d hocked
th di coverer that h was unaccountable f r what sh

d
i
aid and
d a d the re it would end
He must be caution d through Miss Ken yo not t
broa h the ubject to h
Mi Kenyon owed her that reparati on ; an d pain ful
a it would b to have to d m
and i to dious a an inter
vi w wi th thi fo it object mu t be sh would g o
through with it f every one ake It would nev r do
to l ave matter a th y wer
Pride resolution and plai n common sense all came to
her aid and yet sh found her el f crying She could
not stop
A bov there was a moaning F bru ary ky and a low
wind whi t ling monotonou ly ov r the land which was
ut in ood f r th r
had been heavy rain f r so me
day pa t
A Beat ic emerg d from the wood she fou n d he
lf
un necessary

rs

'

e,

'

res

so s

s o

s e

s s

s,

e ec

er

or

se

s e

er .

ss

s s

e.

or

e e

s,

rse

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

2
33

ev r had h e n the brook fuller y t to judg by

tat f th bank it mu t have been fuller till in
th
Th y w r odden and in ev ral plac s th
t h night
oft earth had caked away and larg piece f gra y
mould emi detach d hung over th water or wirl ed
along with th curr nt
She looked eagerly f th plank which might al o

hav been carried down tream but it was there and

though only a f w inch above the ur fa h ne d not
heed thi nor y t i t b i g w t and lipp ry inc a
handrail wa provid d in vi w f conting ncies like the
pr nt Sh hurried forward not o ry to hav h
thought di tracted f the mom nt and wa about
to plac h foot upon th ru tic gangway when h
udd nly hesitated to proce d It d wa not in the
u ual place
It had hi fted with th yi ldi g f the bank and wa
now a lant the tr am in tead f lying straight acro
Sti ll th re can be no danger co gitated h
B ide i f h felt it give h could draw back ; he

need not be foolhardy and h ventured a foot

Scarc ly however had h don
than a loud hout
p oceedin g a it med from ome one clo e behind
made her tart so viol ntly a nearly to e ffect the v y
cata trophe it was rais d to avert
A human pre ence and he had een no one ! H r
rst feeling wa
f ange at the intru ion coupl ed
with a not unnatural feeling that i f h wer intended
to b wa n d again t the c o ing h hould not have
been u ff r d to wait till th warning it el f co n tituted
She turned indignantly
a danger
But indignati on gave plac to another emotion when
saw not Gile
sh
the fore ter nor any of the other
woodm n but a gure no less fa miliar and far mor
distasteful
N

s e s e

e o

e e s

ss

or

e n

er

or

s en

er

ce , s

ese

es

s,

s o

s,

ss

s e

e so

see

s one o

e e

er

s e

s e

s e

s,

es

r ss

e s

s,

U S IO N

CO NCL

333

Di ta teful ? It was horrible What was Evere t doing

here P How da ed he pre um an d wa h going to
obey hi m?
She t her t th and wi th a di dain ful ge tur made
a econd and thi tim an incautiou and rapid d cent
The plank ank in tantly
She f lt it do ; but now h whol weight wa upon
it and h ei d th handrail Everest being but a yard
or two o ff
If only it would lip hold be fore h r ached it and
bear h from him !

Kind friendly plank down down it goe and h

i on it and he i not ! A pla h a cry from behind
h own name ring out in wild entr aty Beatrice !
but Beatrice mile a bi tt r ati ed mile ; what i all
thi din about ?
Sh look round to wave a gay adieu but the next
in tant ha to gra p the rail with both hand and h
oati ng on the water and th frai l b idge i
skirt i
waying winging Let go hriek Ev e t pringi n g
to her ide
She fee l he el f ei d ; yet till madly unyi lding
hall not pr v nt h
h wi ll g o on and h
Hi imploring voic i in her ar and h i enraged
that it i ther ; come what may he hall not drag her
back but truggle i vai n h ha h fa t in a grip
that only death its l f could loo en
A d now the cold ood i about her feet a d t h
plank i gone
With a upr m e ffort E vere t keep hi fo ti ng
though the water i up to hi wai t and i ts forc i
trong ; but the d p th near the bank i not that f mid
tr am a d th re i a solid piec f pebbly shor be
neath
His arm are locked around
O n momen t deare t !
s

se

ee

es

so

er

ze

e s

s s e

er
,

s,

er

er s

rs

s e

ze

s,

er

er

e e

e s

e o

er

s,

ST AY

HO MES

-AT -

334

her hi lips a close ; and h hear he hea the l ast

wo d di tinctly A light leap i to h y
But it fades a h tagg again t the foamin g cur ent
without agai n breaking il nc Will h aid him P N
It i by hi w tr ngth alon that v ntually both a
Beat ice eali
af up n t h ban k and no ooner doe
thi than h h art h ard n a fr h To do h ju tice
carce con ciou f what has passed nor f th
sh
i
immine c f h recent p ril O e thought alon ll
her h a t
You here P
all reply he ga at her ; he cannot peak
F
Thi wa your doing cont inue h panting a d
I f it had not be n f you
breathl
but though
He till ga es into
h awai t di laimer th re i none
fac a tho ugh d vouring very featu e and with
h
what a trang xpre io !
H ow cam you here P d mand d h
I followed you
Followed m P By what right ?
I refu ed your

company and to force it upon me it wa seein g y u

that mad me
udd nly h put her hand to her h ad
and th pas ionat utt rance di d away Sh reeled
and l ook d blindly round f upport but the meadow
wa bare
L an on me said Everest in a low voic and made
as though he would upho l d her but
h recoiled from
h i s touch
Lean on me repe at d he per mptorily
T her i

nothing l ah l and a he ank lowly and h avily

into hi arm h carcely kn w what to f l f joy or
f ar
But what wa to be done ? T h y were alone in a
eclud d p t and it wa vain to hope f a i tance O f
any kind U n ai ded he mu t ndeavour to re tore the
,

re

e s

s o

er

e o

e r

es

er

s o

se

er

re

e e

s s

es

ers

er e

rs

s, s

z es

or

ess

sc

s e

er

e e

ss

or

s e,

s e

s e

or s

e,

e se

s s

e s

ee

s o
.

or

ss s

Y AT -HO MES

6
33

ST A

Here i s a e at lea t ex clai med he then joyful ly

indicatin g a glow O f red which shon upo th litt l

f
casement I yo u a get dry and warm perhap i f
the a e women about y u m i ght borrow o m cloth P
I do hope I do t u t y u will tak no harm A d with
the relaxi g f ten ion there was agai n a dan gerou oft
ne s f to e an d tend r more than ten der an xiety f
look
She murmured som thi n g anything
an d li ft ing th
latch to which he was accustomed l ooked hast ily rou d
in the relight A ruddy glow fro ma huge bed of coal
was di u ed ove every n ook but t he lit tle kitchen was
mpty and ilen ce prevailed eve ywhere
Where a he be P j aculated Beatric who had
counted on the old woman p ence a d pro tect ion
Na ny ? she c alled U p the littl tai case but o reply
cam
Had yo u better not dry your cloth P aid Ev re t
quietly Yet f all hi quietness there wa a gleam O f
triumph in his eye A t last at last
Th
torm wa coming on apace an d as he spoke a
harp blast o f hai l spatte ed agai n t the win dow followed
by a a h f l ightni g The little hut would be doubly
secu e agai n t int ud r n o w
Sh mu st hav g on o ut to see h
daughter aid
Beatric try in g to be calm and feared to retur till
this wa ove Probably Nan ny saw it comin g t ho ugh
we did not
We were just i n time a sented h an d d rew closer
to th welcome warmth a worn armchai r l oo kin g t her
a he did o
She at down fo what el e co uld she do Pan d afte
a moment he itation he kn elt by her ide and bu ied
himsel f in gath rin g together some fall n log which
til l bla in g had fallen the hearth These h picked
r

r s

es

s s

s,

c n

re

'

c n

e,

res

e s

or

s.

e s

e s

er

e,

es

e,

on

CO NCLU SIO N

337

one by one a d replaced so that a spurt o f ame

was now added to the ery glow O therwi
the little
room would have been da k f the e was no light to
be obtained from out ide
Beatri ce shiv ed an d pread her han d to catch th
warmth Her wet kirts made a pool U pon th oor
Yet it was not f thi either wa thi king and again
th ligh t ing played an d th thunder peal ed and till the
lements were unheeded
tarted up
A t le n gth u n able to en dure th strai n sh
and walked to the window ; he could sit till no lon ger
with that mute gure kneelin g by h side
A d h had noticed om thing a little extraneo us
thin g which it was odd to noti e at such a moment y t
it touched he She aw f th r t time that there
were gr y hair steali n g in among th d ark brown all
over v est head
T hey urpri ed h
and what had they to do with h r P
Yet he had called h Dearest l
Sh tood her back towa d him gaz in g into vacan cy ;
and though there wa no ou n d sh presently knew that
he had ri en and wa th rethere all but touching her
and breat hing as h did with lon g draw breath It
was coming It ? What ?
A mI
v to speak ?
A ort o f stupor fe l l upo n her
Was thi Everest the
E verest who had poken
easily and readily wh n the
was nothing to ay ? A d was he going again no not

again
he tu ned wi th swi ft resolution to fac an d frown
him downbut h w eyes fell no pow r o n earth
would do that now

Y o u know
u
u
o
mu
t
o
u
do
k
ow
what
o
f
u
n
r
e
se
y
y
y

to hear proce ded he In that dread ful moment wh n

your dange I could not help it a word e caped m

Beat ice ca yo u say you did not understand P Say I
up

se

er

or

e s

er

s e

or

er

er,

er

e s

ne er

so

re

er o

22

ST A Y AT

s
33

mp e umptuou

r s

HO M ES

I am un worthy ; but con fes

say

u
o
y

kn ow that I love you

No ! no I
She thought h cried out but it was a s u dless
whi per only ju t audible which he had to hold hi
breath to catch
I aid what
h leaned ov r her
1 said Deare t
was i my heart Y u ar you have been f lon g th e
leare t
c
But he caught the so und o f a
N o I tel l yo u no
h ad f ll U pon her breast
lo w o b and h
Beatrice
What a world o f love an d longing t e
pro ach a d agonisi g ent eaty was ther i that soli tary
word !
A d thou gh h know it
t th t ar are runni g
down her fac ; an d f what avail a word with these
traito giving v ry truggli g yllabl th li ? T h
next minute h i in hi a m hi ki es on her heek
and within that little lonely room with a tumult ragi n g
out ide ther fal l a sudd hu h
s

- e

or

e,

er

s e

no

e e

re

rs

s,

s,

ss

en

esently they a e by t he re again and till holdi n g

her in hi clo e embrace Everest po ur forth the pe t up
tor nts in a that are now only too ready to li ten

ll
w
A
eem
imple a it al ay does l the etro
spect
Tru he aid a little mor than wa absolutely
f
the case
what lover could be trictly accu rate at
such a moment P
and i f it eem d to thi one that h
spoke but the truth when h
xclaimed ag ain and again
that from the r t mee ting ther had bee n a f elin g with i n
hi bo om whi h h had had to combat and beat down
that i t had never wholly bee n ov rcome and had p un g
to lif again with renewed a d overwhelmin g force the
in tant the two again mtand that all h cold avoid
an ce a d m any repul e could nei th r eradicate it n o
Pr

re

c rs

s so s

e,

or

e e

er

s s

O MES
ST AY AT

k God he ben t his head reve en tly

he can say that o f the wo m an he loves
sho ul

than

when

I thin k w really ought t go now said Beatrice f

third t i m
e
the seco d
She was alway isin g and he as persi tently con trai

ing h
to i t dow again but now he was not to be
It will be dark di e tly ; and tho u gh
o verp ersuaded
they will have guessed that the stormprev nted my
ret urni n g
oo ner
Thri ce bl essed torm i terpo ed he gaily Com
then W will make t h rain and the hail and th

u excu e until
but I think
thunder a d the lightning
we may as well w the whole truth whil we a about
it dear ? Let u go in A d they threaded their way
homeward in the kindly du k their dimly outlined
g ures seemin g but one had any ye been on th
outlook to perc ivebut it wa only old Nanny who
hobbl d pa t pre ently too int nt upon picking her w
way to have an y curi o ity about that f other
Before the walk wa over there wa one nal matt r
to be adju ted My poor aunt aid Ever t t ntatively
What about he B atric P You were t quite friend
when you parted thi afte noon ; and perhap what I
h
le
sai d after you we re gone hardly t nded to mak
unhappy Sh con fe ed to meo rather I w ung from
herwhat had happ ned before I et ff in pur uit o f y u
I guessed which way y u would go A f w ho t word I
know I aid at r t a d le ft her mi erable Y t he
mean t well She love u both can w what do yo u
think Pforgive her P
Beatrice miled Forgivene P She rai ed her yes
to hi and murmured omething he could not catch
What dear P
It i only m line I oft n think f but it n v

or

or

s r

er

r c

r,

es

ss

s,

ss

ss

er

no

re

e,

e
.

so

er

CO NCLU

SI O N

:
33

emed till o w as if I knew their ful l meaning ; and

she repeated so ftly

se

weet

Forgi ve, for i t i s

earth i t

On

mm

er o n e letter of the

to sta

i s called Forgi ven ess

Eternal s lan guage ,

He pre ed her hand to hi side and aid no more

s

ss

Beatrice
Gw n wa the peaker and to her i ter relie f and
joy the jaculation wa uttered in ac cents of the pure t
delight
It now appeared that Gwen had never been deceived
a mom nt by Evere t s attitude a regarded her el f
f
She owned that thinking him fancy free h had felt at
liberty to talk and je t ; but protested vigo rou ly that
he had alway known that i f any one could have attracted

him it would have been Beatrice and that hi eeming

in sen ibility in that quarter wa evi den ce conclu ive f
hi bach lor predilection s
I mad the mo t f what there was to be had o f
him and a good thing I did fo it i little enough I
hal l g t now laugh d she A d th e i Tony O ld
ca tle ghting and q uarrelling with Kitty worse than

ever and any one can s how that wi l l end so I hal l

be left all alone at home one of these days ; which i
real ly too bad con idering that I was the o ne who alway
said I would p ut up with any o rdinary ort o f h u band
who wa agreeable to the fami ly
Dear Gwen y u han t be th own away on A n y
ordinary sort o f hu band
So it appear Th re i s none on the hori on at any
rate A d just as well there i n t con sidered she after
a pau e It wou l d be a pret ty tate o f thin gs i f aft er
remaining quiescent all thes yea s we hould suddenly
all three y o ff What would the poo r parent bird do P
ore rejoiced n everthe
Never were poor parent bird s m
O h,

s s

'

or

s s

er

ee

s.

ST AY-AT -HO MES

less than were Sir Hen ry an d Lady Laura Mayn ard on
the p r se nt o ccasion
To have a marriage a real marriage in the family
with their eldest an d most important daughter fo the
bride was in itsel f an in ten se i f secret sati sfact ion to
both Th y could not have countenanced a match below
t he di gnity o f Mi s May ard th d sc ndant o f a lon g
li n e o f Maynard an d future possessor o f th ir e tate ;
an d o f suitable as well as u n suitable o ers Beatri ce had
mad short work hi th rto It had eemed a i f she
were q ui te li kely not to wed at al l
But n o w not only cou ld they gi ve a ready con se t
to an allian ce every way desirable but th ir h arts were
genuin ly touched by their daughter happine s
To have her tablished in her o wn neighbourhood
near y t not too nearto be able still to consult her an d
conde in h whi l yet no longer secretly wo ried by
her incomprehen sibl a piration a d efforts after the

un attainable wa a cea el source o f complac ncy ;

a d that the marriage h ould unite her el f a d her dear
co u sin A u gu ta in a new bo nd was in Lady Lau ra
eyes the crowning bl i ss of all
It was agreed between the three who knew o f cousin
A ugu sta s whim ical escapade that it should remain t he i r
ecret Everest a d Beat ice saw that he was thoroughly
ashamed o f having ever played so foolish a part and
se verally and tog eth r a s u ed her t hat it shou ld be
buried in oblivi on
appended the latter on one occasion when
O nly
alone with her co usi n and both w re in the best o f
humours o nly do let m j ust once see yo u a yo u
appeared that rst day at Mayn ard Towers Y o u have
the wi g
My dear I have n othin g o f the kin d I bu n t i t
as to burn an d ho w
n eve r shall I fo rg et ho w hard it w
e

s,

es

er,

ess

HO MES

ST AY AT

34
4

m p p l wh k w th Curle a d I a k d themt
a d it app a Mi Lo g
ll m h w thi g w t

so

te

eo

no

n s

en

s,

e rs

on

ss

ied it
ith
it huber
e
em
a g
q uite She
e
ng
t at t me They e e
b l
a hioned dow h e

t
g
ed with
Ki y ay
wo ld
iv
i g h e b en he e Dai y Curl
p
n g
Cali o nia
am gl d
cl d
h
n i u d Tony
othing el and
mo
im o by kee i g She had her chance
h
way S e ll go om
to wor now
hen Bea ce h d thi
looked
lt

t set, an d
the F z
legs G bbs o n ce tr
on w
h ad
han ! No t
cared
they n o n o f th
r
f
a
n
w
r
t
oo
r
s
o
o
e
i
t
h
h
t
w
o
h
o
g
p
n
er ,
up to -date
We are so east y old-f s
s
u
tha Lon
t
h
us
s
s
e
t
Co n sco r
(
s
e
have g en an yth n to av e
t r )
but
I
a she
f r
no w
can sn a
her
ers at

i
r

v
l
e
ec
e
h
e
t
eare o ut , o w
eve r, co t n e
S
,
y
she
se ;
was a sha c n cern , i f she was n

a
n
wo n t
d
r
n
v
e
,
p
p

t rew i t a
bad
h
fr
se
W
s , she
ear
as she fe
tri
.

e ce acquitted her ; Eve e t on soled

he ; an d between the t wo h could not long dwell U pon
a retrospe t which always gave her o me d gree f pain
Yet h would not grud ge the pain ; through it h
had l arned too much
She had l earned to knowsomething o f h own inmo t
se l f an d perhaps also so methi g
f the hidden working
o f the m
inds o f other There are times when it doe
not need a great trial but on ly a mall and humbling
experience to pu rify an d en n oble natures lik that f
Beatri e Mayn ard
But her

co n sci n

r s

s e

er

T HE END

T HE A BE RDE E N U NIVERSITY P RESS LI MIT E D

A S elect ed Li st
P ubli s h ed by

Fi ct i o n

of

Lo n g man s Green 5: Co
a
a
F
i
h
f
A
d
t
v
u
N wY k
3
9
9
BY S TA N LEY J W EYMA N
,

en

e,

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.

It is very se ldo
th at o n e run s across a hi sto ri cal n o vel th e p lo t o f whi ch i s
so ably s us tai n e d. the characte rs so str o n g ly drawn . th e lo cal co lo r o r at
o sp he re
o st i n tere st
so sati sfacto ry
C o un t Han n ibal i s th e st ron g e st an d
"
B o s t o N T I ME S
i n g n o ve l as yet wri tt en by thi s p o p u lar autho r

W e yman has had h un dreds o f i mi t ato rs sin ce he wro t e

S tan le y
et su rp asse d hi m
I kn o w O f n o
an o f Fran ce
an h as
tle m
but n o m
.

'

A Ge n
bo o k in
o re i n t en se ly o r
i n si ste n t, thro at

the

mo

who le list o f

ular

po

re co n ti n u o usly

t an

favo ri tes t at ho lds o n e s i n t erest

C o un t Han n i bal does A n d wh at an
'

i n g i n te rest i t is !
hat is the use o f h o i n g fo r a de caden ce O f th e craz e fo r hi st o ri cal
S uch a sto ry h as z e st
ro
an ces so lo n g as the p u li c is fe d o n boo ks lik e this
n ay i t can h o ld th e i n teres t e ven o f a bo o k re vi e wer
fo r the
o st jade d p alate
o
Fro
en t wh en o n e s desi r e to n i sh
th e rs t p ag e to th e last th ere i s n o t a
th e bo o k weake ns
A lo n g wi th th e o rdi n ary i n terest o f curi osi ty th ere g o es th at
o f a de li g h tful an d u n i ue lo ve st o ry i n vo lvi n g n o li ttle ski ll i n character d eli n e
ati o n
R E C O R D HE RA L , C HI CA O

g ri

m
m
m

mm

i n te r esti n g an d
o s t vi vid st ory o f scen es an d i n ci de n ts
an d p o rt rayals o f vari o us ch aracters that li ve d an d fo ugh t an d bled i n th e lu r i d
assacre o f S t Bart ho lo
ew
T hi s i s Mr W ey an s
days that saw the

o st g rap hi c an d re ali st i c n o vel

PI C A Y U N E . N E W O R LEA N S
A

Sp i ri ted , ters e ly

We yman

'

has sur p as se d hi se lf i n
Co un t Hann i bal
Th e scen e o f
th e sto ry i s lai d ch i ey i n Pari s at th e ti e o f the
assacre o f S t Barth o lo
We are ade to g rasp th e so ul o f Co un t Han n ibal an d are taci tly
ew
u ke d t o le t i ts e n velo pe t ake care o f i tself
N ever h as Mr W e y an
ili t ude
achi e ve d i n fact a h i g h e r deg re e o f veri si
C o un t Han n i bal ay leave
u s b re at hle ss wi th h i s de Sp o ti c
eth o ds bu t h e i s n o t abn o r
al he i s o n e o f th e
Fre n ch en who share d th e te p e r whi ch ade th e S t B arth o lo e w an d he i s i n
t e n se ly h u an to o
h o w th e tan g le o f e ve n ts i n whi ch h e an d h alf a
do z e n o th e rs are i n vo lve d i s st rai g hten e d o ut we re frai n fro
di sclo si n g
T he
read e r wh o o n ce tak es u p thi s boo k wi ll wan t to n d all th i s o u t fo r bi
se
N Ew O RK T RIBU N E

m
m

m
m

m
m

M r W eyman

be st ve i n wi th th e cri so n h orro r o f S t Bar

tho lo ew as an h i sto ri cal se t ti n g
C o un t Han n i bal i s a wo rth y co
an i o n o f
p
A
e n tle
an O f F ran ce an d Th e R e d Co ckade, an d M r W e y an 5 h an d i s
as cun n i n g as e ve r i n fash i o n i n g a ro
an ce whi ch wi ll sen d a th ri ll thro ug h th e
"
o st jade d reade r an d ke e p e ven a revi e wer fro
hi s bed
BO O K MA N , LO N O N

sto ry

in

m
m

Th e bo o k i s rap i d , i s abso rb i n g , an d th e h ero i s a di sti n ctly i n tere sti n g

"
ch aract er i n h i
h i s dee ds o f dari n g
se lf, ap ar t fro
A T H B N 1E U M

M r S tan le y W eym
an

C o un t Han n ibal i s fully wo rth y o f hi s g reat rep u

t ati o n
th e style i s bri lli an t, easy an d cle ar ; th e i n ven ti o n o f subject an d th e
turn s o f fo r tu n e i n the s to ry su rp ri si n g ; abo ve all the subtle p ai n ti n g o f a
an
an d a wo
an s heart i s do n e wi th i n exh au stible k n o wle dg e
UA R IA N
A p i ctu res ue an d vi g o ro us ro an ce
T he n arrati ve wi ll be fo llo we d wi th

breathl ess i n terest T I M E S. LO N O N

'

LONGMANS, GREEN,

91 93 FIFTH AVENUE. NEW YORK

-

SH R E WSBU R Y
A RO

'

A G E N T L E M A N O R F R A N CE ,

A U rHO R O R

WO LF ,

T HE

Wit h

W ILL I A M

M A N C E O F T HE T IM E O F

BY ST A N L E Y

WEY M A N

"

U N D E R T HE R E D RO BE ,
"
v LA D Y R O T H A . E r c.

"

man
C

h
auth o r

mE
:

O U SE o n

Cro

w n avo

a r att li n g

o od

th e ever- e

ma t i t y that i
d li g h tfu G tl m
f F a
a
N w Y O K SUN
v l i a a h i v m t w rt h y f h i g h

wri t ten
of

'

2 4 I ll u s t r a t i o n s b y C la u d e A S h e p p e r s o
C lo t h , O r n a
e n t a l, $ 1 50

Mr S tan ley W
e ver y way wo rt h y o f t

M A RY

A ND

ro

en

s or

n ce.

o
o
li t erat ure t h e n o e s n c e e e n
h
i
rable di s t i n ct n ess ; t h e wh o le s to ry an d
rai se
T
e ch aract e rs are p roj ect ed wi t h ad
p
a i n e d an d des cri bed ; t h e reade r , wh i le h e can n dt rep res s h i s
I t s i n ci den ts are well I
co n te
p t fo r t h e sup p o se n arrat o r , i s always i n t eres t ed i n t h e sto ry , an d t h er e i s an
M r Wey an has caug h t t h e S p i ri t o f t h e n arrat i ve
abun dan ce o f dra at i c act i o n
sty le o f t he p er i od wi t ho u t e n deavo r i n g , e vi den t ly , t o adh ere t o t h e vo cabular y an d
A
i n we see th at M r Wey an h as n o
di ct i o n , o r p eculi ari t i es o f syn tax
"
Hl LA DE LP Hl A PR E SS
s up eri o r a o n g li vi n g wri ters o f ro
ance
ed i e val F ren ch scen es , S tan ley
Wey an t ak es up i n
T urn i n g as i de fro
t h e warp an d woo f o f h i sto ry
Sh rewsbury an E n g li sh th e e , an d h e weaves fro
an ce
Mr
an d fancy a vi vi d. un i ue , clo se-t ex t u red an d en t h ralli n g ro
Wey an h as p roduced i n Sh rewsbury a n ovel that all ad i rers o f h i s fo r er bo o k s
will be g er to read , an d th at wi ll wi n fo r h i n ew surag es T h e i llustrati o ns are
BEA CO N , BO ST O N
d rawn wi t h sk i ll an d ap p reci at i o n

Sh rewsbury i s a ag n i cen t co n r at i o n o f M r Wey an s h i g h est at e i n th e

wo rld O f ct i o n
A ai n h e h as p ro ved i n th i s h i s lates t n o vel, th at th e ro an t i c t reat en t i s
ast erly h an d , o f u n i t i n g t h e t h r i ll o f i agi n at i o n wi t h t h e di g n i t y o f
cap ab C, un der a
real li fe
Hi s ch aracters are ali ve, h u an , un fo r etable H IS scen es are un h ack n eyed ,

dra at i c, p o we rful T h e act i o n as s us tai n ed an co n s i sten t , swee p i n o n e s i n teres t

A n t h ro ug h i t all
alo n g i rres i st i bly t o a d n oue en t at o n ce lo g i cal an d cli act i c
t h r g lo ws t h at li te rary ch ar
wh i ch ak es h i s s to ri es li ve e ven as th o se O f Sco t t
an i ) u as lI ve
T h e who le n o vel i s a wo rk O f g en ui n e li terary art , fu lly co n r i n g t h e redi ct i o n

t hat wh en t h e aut h o r O f A G en t le an o f F ran ce o n ce h e

n to d
l wi t h t e h i sto r
i cal at er i als o f h is o wn co u n t r h e wo u ld cli n ch h is t i t e to be ran k ed a o n g th e

Hl CA GO T R I BU N E
g r eatest o f ro an t i c wri t ers
As i de fro
th e sto ry , whi ch i s re ark abl well t o ld , t h i s bo o k i s o f value fo r i ts
n e p en i ctu res o f Wi lli a o f O ran g e an d h i s eadi n g co urt i ers a sto ry o f abso rbi n g
at er i ally fro
an y o f h i s o t h er wo r k s
T h e be st t h i n i n t h e
i n t e rest , ut i t di ffers
boo k i s t h e sk etch o f F erg uso n , t h e spy , an d O f t h e re ark able hold wh i ch h e 0 tai n ed
ali g n an cy
He do i n at es
en by
ean s o f h i s c un n i n g an d h i s
o ver p ro
i n en t
o
every scen e i n wh i ch h e ap ears
S
e O f t h ese scen es h ave rarely been ex celled i n
p
h i sto r i cal ct i o n fo r i n t ensi t y o f i n teres t
T h ose wh o have n o t read i t . an d who are

fo n d o f t he ro an ce o f adven t ure wi ll n d i t ful ls M r Balfo ur s recen t de n i t i o n o f

an d care ,
ak es us fo rg et fo r t h e t i
t he i deal n o vel s o eth i n g whi ch
e all wo

an d t ran sp o rts us to an o th er an d
o re p i ct ures ue ag e
SA N F R A N CIS CO II R O N ICL E
A
o st readable an d en t ert ai n i n g st o ry
Ferg uso n an d S i th , th e p lot
o th ers o f t h e d uk e an d Mary t h e co urag eo us , wh o beca e t h e wi fe o f P ri ce ,
t ers , th e
all see
vel real, an d wi th t h e o th er ch aract e rs an d t h e adven t ures wh i ch t h ey g o
t h ro ug h
a e up an I n t eres t-h o ld i n g bo o k wh i ch can be h o n es t ly reco
en ded to
"
every reader of ct i on
BO ST O N T I MES

A ro an ce wri tt en i n th e auth o r s bes t vei n

T h e character drawi n g i s p art i e
ularly ad
i rable, an d R i chard P ri ce , F erg uso n . K i n g Wi lli a an d Bro wn stan d o ut i n
st ro n
reli ef an d wi t h t h e
o st ex p res s i ve vi t ali t y
T h e s to ry i s also i n terest i n g an d
a
st ro n g scen es , an d o n e fo llo ws t h e adven t ures o f t h e vari o us charact ers
co n ta n a
"
wi t h unahat i nt erest fro
rst p ag e t o last
EV E N I N C GA z E r r E , BO S T O N

Co n si dered as

ct i ve

mm
m

m
m

e? m

mm

m
m
m

m
m
m
mz
m
m
m

LONGMANS,

mm

m
m

'

m
m

m
m

GREEN,

'

'

9 93 FIFTH AVE , NEW YORK

1

LY S B E T
A

Bv H R I DER HA
.

A U rIro a o r

Wi t h

Stu

'

DUT CH

T HE

0'

TA LE

'

R I NC SO LO II O N S u

GGA R D

ma

s,

2 6 F u ll-p ac e Illu s t r at i o n s
O r n a e n t al.

Mr Rider Haggard at hi s very best

wALLo w

"

ET C

C r o wn 8 vo , C lo t h .

T o gi ve an adequate i dea of the story

an y Co lu ns fo r the si p le catalog ue o f th e
of Lysbeth we sho uld requi re
ake up o n e o f th e
os t
adven tures an d p erils an d ghts an d escap es whi ch
T u s BOO KI A N . LO N O N
vigoro us an d exci ti n g tales ever wri tten

m
m

i t is a thri llin g tale of adven ture an d sacrice. wi th a substan ti al lo ve

ele en t an d stron g si de li ghts up on the hi sto ry o f the p eo p le o f th e N etherlan ds
i t is to ld i n a
o ve
as terly drawn characters
duri n g the p eri o d i n whi ch the
n
n
r
t
d
i
b
b
i
ll
i
t
e
s
a
n
s
o
d
t
h
e
d
t
h
n
e
v
e
r
e
a
d
s
est story .
a
w
i
v
a
t
i
n
s
t
l
e
capti
gg g
y
g y
ill pro bably be the ost po p ular that this author h as wri tt en
as i t w
N O Rr E A ME RI CA N . PE ILA D E e
A

on e o f the

Lysbeth is

most mp lete ma

n ces that

ro

co

have been

wri tten

i t i n cludes all the ele en ts for ro an ti c n arrati ve

i n th e N etherlan ds
aect i on . p eril. bravery an d villai n y . an d each delin eated wi th i p ressi ven ess
t hat
ov
es the reader to alternate e o ti o ns of ad i rati o n an d detestati on
Bo sr 0N CO U RI E R
.

adven tures.

May be safely called the best story o f this po pular wri ter o i
Hi s vi vi d an d au daci ous style o f p i cturi n g thrilli n g an d i m
p ro b

able adven t ures i s

the i n terest o f th e

T he illustrati o ns

T he histori cal backg ro un d adds

g iven full p lay
story i f o n e i s n o t i n te rested
erely i n adven tures
.

of

mero us an d ex

the boo k are n u

mu

ch

to

cellen t.

BO ST O N T RA N SCRI PT

whi ch is well worth readin g Haggard is m

aster o f an
i table style
He i s a won derful p ai n ter o f battles an d the descri p ti o n o f
in i m
the i ght wi th Bran t s jewels do wn th e can al an d o ut to sea i s o n e of the best

Lysbe th i s a n ovel whi ch sustai n s th e

descri p ti o n s o f a ght ever wri tten
A

n o vel

'

i n terest fro

mthe st to the last

Here i s

chap ter.

a really stro n g p i ece o f

wo rk

AN

FRA N C I SCO B U LLET I N

an d on e i n

whi ch

R ider

Hagg ar d

T he histo ri cal backgro un d i s

ap p ears on an en ti rely n ew g ro un d
ake a sto ry o f en tran ci n g i n terest , an d th e two o r th ree
su ci en t i n i tself to
ro

man

ces

whi ch

mo

n o table even a

ake the boo k o n e of the

wi th i t m
cellen t w
orks o f recen t hi stori cal cti on

have been i n terwo ven

ng

the

man y ex

most

T he

Sp an i sh an d the D utch typ es are bo th true to li fe . an d the h i stori cal setti n g i s

re
Rider Haggard wi ll i n deed wi n
arkably accurate an d true
o re lasti n g
ren o w
o rk o n
Lysbeth than by his wi erd tales whi ch were the talk of
n by hi s w

day an d then forgotten

LONGMANS, GREEN,

IV I N

GC

HU R C H

91 93 FI FTH AVENUE. NEWYORK.

-

T H E RO M M A N Y S T O N E
By

J
.

C ro wn 8 vo ,

H YO ! A LL M P
.

o lo t h . o r n a

me

n t al,

8 i so
.

A story of gypsy life an d en ch an t en t th e scen e o f which i s lai d i n E n g

lan d
well to ld, havi n g the so rt o f i n terest that awakes wo n der , an d

kee p s i t awak e
T Hs O U T LO O K . N ew O RK

ro

ma

n ce

qui te worthy o f bein g classed wi th

Lo rn a Do o n e

'

LE A

O R N I NC

ER

I t i s n o t g reat
Is g ood beyo n d all cavi l
it
ak es n o p r e ten s i o n
o f be i n g g reat ;
but i t will p ro bably be ali ve wh en
o st o f th e recen t
g r e at
wo rks are dead T here are three o r fo ur scenes th at will bi te deep i n to an y
i agi nati o n th at i s n o t ada an tean p roo f
C HI CA O E VE N I N PO ST
.

Th e fasci n ati o n i n all that be lo n gs to gyp sy li fe e e rts i tself p o we rfun in

y

T he R o
T he sto ry i s ski llfully to ld, th e
an y S ton e
o st n o t e

mm

wo rt hy feature bei n g i ts adm

i rable li te rary co nstructi o n

T H

"

C H U R C HMA N . N E w

ORK.

T HE T H O U S A N D E U G E N I A S
A

By

W e read o n
ch

i n the

en d

'

me

GWICK

SI D

WA Y

CY NT H I A S

wn

8 vo ,

C lo t h

"

ET C

t o th e en d an d n d i n terest i n

i s th e best test

A vo lu

T HO R O F

Ci

whi

MR S

o f a s to ry.

o f sho rt an d

N EW Y

"

truly hu

o ro us

e very

p ag e
O R K T I M ES

of

th e b o o k

tales

On e

mi g ht

mp ted to say that the man tle o f S to ckton had fallen up o n thi s p arti cu lar
e at avi sti c freak th e very sp i ri t o f th e au th o r
an o r th at also o wi n g to so m
wo m
b e te

M rs Leeks an d M rs A le sh i n e h ad di re cte d th e

of

cre at o r o f

mai d

Th e T ho usan d E uge n i as i n h er p o rtrayal o f th e luckless

bled u p o n th e p ro p er an d co rrect an d
ch an ce e ver eve n stu
"
do
CO U R I ER - O U R N A L L O U I SVI LL E , K Y
'

It deals i n
cer ti cate
co n cl usi o n .

a vi vi d an d

i
c
r
e
u
t
u
s
e
p

th e sto ry p ro ce e ds
E

to

en

wh o by

sen si ble

no

thi n g t o

cleverly

PI CA Y U N E , N E W O R LE A N S

en de d

o f th e

T H

"

th e h er o i n e o f

way wi th

th e th eft o f a

st o ck

mati

an d co n vi n ci n g ly to a dr a

A p p eti z i n g i n b ri sk an d a usi n g o ri gi n ali ty . th e boo k i s to b e co

edi u
o f Sp arkli n g sk e tch e s
tho se wh o se ek p le asur e th ro ugh the

li ghter si des

Of

ch ar acter.

LO NGMA NS, GREEN,

C H CA G O
I

E VE N I N

GP

O ST

9 1 -93 FI FTH A VENU E, NE

WYORK

L U K E D E LM E G E
By P

SH EE H A N , Pari sh Pri est , D on erai le, Co Co rk

MY N E W CU R A T E

A U T HO R o r

C r o wn 8 vo , S i 50
.

an e xceedi n g ly p o werful an d abso rbi n g

T hi s i s

qui et an d restrai n t

tru e arti sti c

stren g th en s an d

it

bo o k

wi th the

B eg i n n i n g

bro aden s i n p o wer an d i n ter

I t i s a n o vel but i t i s o re

mo ves o n like a gr eat p o si o n

m
th an th at
I t i s a gr e at serm
o n a gr eat lesso n alm st a g reat d am
a
W cordi ally o mmen d Luk D elmg e fo r i ts lo fty p urp o se an d tho ugh t its
est un ti l

it

ces

ade uate

there i s i n i t an O ccasi o n al

wh i ch

i s truly I ri sh i n i ts

we co n si der Luk e D e
th e m
o st n o t able reli g i o us
"
wri tten wi thi n a year
T H E S U N BA LT I M O R E M D

One

mphs amon g th

o f th e

i n teresti n g tale

tri u
of

Iri sh li fe , full

M O

"

i n ci den t an d p athos

mg

Luke D el
d
re
ec
e
ss
o
r
.
p

wo rk

i tself

of

ms

h as g i ve n

tre

mely
wi th

rep lete

m m
m m

It i s a boo k

wi ll en jo y alm
o st as tho ro ughly as th e

o ther auth o r

wi th al

greater acco p li sh en t th an i ts
O f h u o r . i ts the
e is
o re vi t al

resp e cts a

re substan t i al.

n o vel th at

I t i s an

n ature

wo rks o f cti on

n o t such e uberan ce

mo

p ro fo un d erudi ti o n , an d
O HN . N B
ST

N I T O R,

i s i n rso

If i t h as

ri o n s studen ts

NO

m
lm
eg e

A lto g ether

an d th e

di cti on , an d i ts h i g h i n cen t i ve
to uch o f h u o r whi ch i s very welco e an d

h as been

whi ch

p hi loso p h ers an d
chro n i c n o vel-reader

se

us such a se ri es o f cleri cal

r
r
o
t
ai ts
p

a sto ry

whi ch Catho li cs may well be p ro ud I t i s o f classi c quali ty an d g en erati o n s

asterp i eces o f E n gli sh
h en ce i t will be re ad enjo yed an d laude d as o n e o f th e m

cti o n A VE M A R I A N O T R E D A M E I N D

of

My N e wCurate an d i ts i n uen ce wi ll be stro n ger

It i s a wo n derful sto ry wi th so m
e thi n g i n i ts p assi o n ate p leadi n g

T h i s i s lo fti er wo rk than
fo r

gran der
th e sup re

hi s

so li t ude

an d

of

is

ma y
c

to li ve

mg

D el

mdi val sai t me gi g f o m

m the f w l ct to th bu i s
e th e w ld a d to um
W f ely p ass up o th bo k th judgm t that i t

th e

wi th

li terary

sti cal

is

mon or so

latest

e ffo rt

we

have

more

e e

man y

ni shed

N E WS . N Y

It i s

o re

M y N e w Curate

A ll thi n gs

are stron g an d li felike

cti o n

hi s best

wo rk than

s n es

en

A T H O LI C

re sp ects

o f n o ble an d up li fti n g

meg

Luke D el

we p ut i t rst
ce

e . an d O f all

i n the h earts

of

hi s

wwo rk

ne

co un try

en

h e adds a

fo rever

R E E MA N S

GREEN, 6

the books O f the year . ser

In thi s

Luke

co n sidered

best th i n gs that have been p ubli shed lately

R O SA R Y MA A ! I N E . N Y

a pla
m

n g o r story.

re

wo rk i s i n

an d a

on

th e very best

o n e o f th e

f
a
r
hi
s
l
t
o
o
y
g

th at recalls a

or

We have just read

El

my

Hi s characters
e

Fath er Sh eeh an
u
e
n
t
i
o
s
r
t
e
p

to den o un c

th ei r salvati o n

wo rthy

of

ne

O U R NA L.

N Y
.

I II TH AVENUE. NEWYORK
'

'

MY LADY O

O RAN G E

"
C T HE

A R O I A NO I 0' T HE N ET HER LA N D.

BY H

BA I LE Y

i ll u s t r at i o n s b y O

it h 8

DA Y . O F A LVA

b -Ho o d
ac o m
J

C r o wn 8 vo ,

o ves sw
iftly an d st eadily
It
Th ere is no t a li n e o f paddin g i n the sto ry
In ci den t fo llo ws i nci den t i n vi vi d successi on, bu t the n arra
fro
start to n ish
T he hero i s a so ldi er of
or i n coheren t
ti ve. while rapi d, is n ever co p le
o
an wo rth y o f the hai rbreadth
sturdy p attern ; an d My Lady o f O ran g e is a w
The p i ctures by Mr aco b
scapes en dured fo r h er safe ty an d hap pi n ess

'

Ho o d

are sup er

wi th the character of th e

a vi go ro us brusquen ess an d force that are

do ughty

so ldi er o f fo rtun e as

he

reveals

is p len ty of ghti n g an d deeds of darin g

Mistress Gabri elle de St h o nd. i s a brave , wi n so e
T he story
wi t an d wo an ly sweetn ess to o

T here

mpetuosi ty

acti o n

se

be

hero i n e ,

nd

ne

dash . an d sp eeds bri skly i n th e tellin g . as bets a tale

BRO O K LY N T u rn s
an d

m lf t

m mai d wi th courag a
moves f rwa d with a

'

hi

i n k eep i n g

T he

m
J

B O ST O N

EA C O N .

T o ld wi th

of

Mr Bailey has wri tten a rattli n g goo d sto ry o f Alva an d the war i n th e
N etherlan ds
Mr Bailey has caught the atm
o sp here o f the p eri o d ve ry
T he style o f the n arrati ve i s just archai c en o ugh wi tho ut bei n g
successfully
.

the sp i ri t an d

p edan ti c. an d

mati cally
bo o ks

of

i ts ki n d

e ve ry character

wo m
an ly

ti
o ld-

on e o f

me

Fle

Mr

to than k

mish

wear

Here i s

n arrati ve
en han ced

re exactly

re p le te

wi th

deli n eated

m is

na

en ter tai n i n g

maki

ng

en an d

by an En
r
hi
c
a
a
cco
u
n
t
s
p
g
i n teres t

full-

e
a
p g

LONGMANS, GREEN,

dr a

mo

hi g h a

n g rece n

an d stron g ly deli n eate d

thrilli n g escapades . an d

An

excellen t ro

hi s

ne

an d

characters

wto

ma

n ce

us. fo r creati n g such

fai thful

re p ro ducti on

thi n k an d talk . an d

hu

en

Ho llan d li fe an d
an d wo m
en ali k e
.

i llustrati o ns

c ro

of

no

wo m
e n an d n o t like li terary p up pets
MA I L A N D E! R E SS, N EW O R K

of

mo o us beauti ful an d artisti

a
a
f
m
h
o
w
s
l
di
er
o
li
s
h
a
n
w
s
g

a n atural. ten der,

ei g ht

an

man m

whi ch wi ll
by

whose

Bailey.

li fe , an d fo r

auto bi o grap hi cally

here

clearly

mo

clearly an d

such

like hu

I t is

ran k

C HA RLE ST O N

been

wi ll

n o vel

very

C O U RI E R

O ST O N

h ero i n e . fo r

an d then s

recei ve

n e ver

i n terest

We have

is

descri bed

has

My Lady o f O ran ge

than he i s i n

the

re spect

NE ws A N D CO U RI ER

so ldi er o f fort un e

T he

ski lf

In thi s

p ortrayed.

characte r o f the n arrato r are

"

an eas y ,

L O U C E ST E R

mance

O ran ge

ma

hu

T he value

to ld

We

ki n d

o f th e

of

tale i s

DA ILv T ru s s

91 93 FIFTH AVENUE. NEW YORK.

-

T HE LO R D PRO T ECT O R
A STO RY

By s LEVET T Y EA TS
.

Ac

Tax cn v

e or

Wit h

'

D A URIA c,

LIn

P r o n t i ap i e o e

"

C r o wn 8 vo ,

In this story the autho r has taken a

ne

HEART o r D ENI SE ,

T HE

o lo t h . o r n a

w departure
e

teeto r, an d is an i n teresti n g o n e fro

50

mate

of

the P

at p o i n t o f vi e w

O th er great g ur e s o f
sto ry. whi ch has i ts lo ve i n tere st i n th e
.

me are n ecessarily b ought i n to the

be R o yal
fo rtun es o f the hei ress of Coo m
th e ti

cce p te d esti

mth

t al. S i

has p ortrayed as hi s
En g li sh hi sto ry T h e p i ct ure

ET C

an d

mo st striki ng g ur s i
w ll diers so m
ewh at fro mthe o rdi n arily a
Of Cro m
cen tral character on e of the

me

"

T his is an i n teresti n g tale

e hu or o us to uches here

m m
d the mre attracti v

there are so
re n dere

ms of th

char

e coun trysi de

really

i n O ld En glan d

i t tho ro ughly readable

e cellen t

CH RO N I CLE-T E LE

e ceedi n gly

co n tai n s sufci en t of ro

est i n terest thro ugho ut

RA

i n teresti n g

ro

ma

man

ce.

A I Lv

WO RLD

story

well wo rth

so

mv

words

mn a
e

g oo d hu
th e telli n g

ery

in

nd

en
wo m

ma k

r ed

of

hi s sto ry.
'

wo rk

LO NGMA NS, GREEN 8r

F FA L O

The

of

of

p lace i n the

en

esti

mati o

t o last,

mr

o e o ver

D
.

HER A L

O N E O NT A . N Y
.

h o lds th e i n tere st
B A LT I MO R E

of

th e

th e boo k ;

lo ve, gh ti n g an d
o st p leasan t style . an d waste s n o

whi ch will i n terest

of en o y

is

story

dari n g to ho ld th e k e e n

n en t

ER I CA N ,

p ag e

ce

mi

en t .

thi s au th or

all so rts an d co n di ti o n s o f

NA SHV I LL E A M E R I CA N

n ess O f co n ce p ti o n an d

the earli er

an d

m vi vi d
e

o reco

readi n g

T h e auth o r h as

It i s a bo o k full

T here i s th e sa
that h ave

acti o n o n every

o r.

m rst p age
t
mm d

A M

mbegi nn i n g to en d
T here i s

H . PI T T SB U R G

C LEV E LA N

T he boo k i s

fro

wholeso m
e o n e whi ch n o o n e n eed h esi tat e

fro

n ce , adven ture an d

It is an in teresti n g

re ader

man

T he bo o k dese rves a p ro

o f lo vers of hi sto ri c ro

G P

O MM E R CI A L .

story

Is an
.

"

i n h an dli n g th e sylvan
O R K T R I BU N E

ski ll

love an d adven ture i n th e days o f th e Cavali er an d

T here i s dash, sp i ri t an d ch ar i n the story th at
ak es

well to ld

thro ugh the autho r s

f
r
oo
d
s
t
o
o
g
y

Ro un dheads

An

an d there . an d th e t o n e thro ug ho u t i s

dra ati c an d even tragi c. b ut

i n tere sti n g h i sto ri cal de t ail

T H

D I A L , C HI C A O

W Y O RK

9 1 -93 FI FT H A VENU E, NE

THE CH EVALI E R D A U R IA C

BY

MA N C E

w an s,

T HE HO NOUR o r s

c lo t h , o r n a

i 2 rn o ,

YEA T S

L EV ET T

A UT HOR or

RO

me

m m
,

n t al ,

i t is alive fro
cover t o cover, and is so co
for a dull pag e
The chevali er t slls his o wn
ro a
, bn t
g
He wi ns our sy pathi es fro the outset by
he is the ost char i ng of ego rsts
n ai ve te, his downri g ht
anli n ess an d bravery
Not only has Mr
eats wri tt en an
excellen t tale o f adven ture , but he has sho wn a close stud of character whi ch ( less no t her
y
ro w
erely fro
t he i n
p ing s o f histo ri cal actors, but whi ch den o tes a keen knowledge of
hu an nature , an d a a re wd insig ht i n to the wo rkin g s o f hu an
oti vaa
The
fashi o n o f tl
iod is kep t well in
in d, the s i of wri ting has just that to uch o f aid
ty whi ch serves t o veil the p ast
fashio n ed fo'
In t he p resen t. an d t o throw the lights
an d shadows in to a har o ny o f ton e
The wo rk has li terar
uali ty of a g en ui ne
y
sort iu i t, whi ch raises i t s hov
e a n u ero us host o f i ts fellows i n ki n d

m
m

tr

m
.

m m

zf

'

m
.

Hug uenot days, hri mfuli of action that

takes shap e
erce en eo un ta
den
an d cun ng
The author is so satura
wi the
ri as o whi ch he wri tes that e st ory i s realis
tself
T he st ory i s hri lii an t and
"
thrillin g , and whoever si ts down to gi ve i t atten tion will reach the last
wi th rs g rs t .
ag i st rat e

sto ry o f

Esm

more

eri t
than usual in terest an d cf
eauin e li terar
li ve in o ur earts an d ses
The eharacters an d scen es in a sen se see far rs oved, yet '
t he aut hor
These en and
con te p oraneo us throug h t he skill an d p hilosop hi c treat en t
n d are i
elled by hu an
wo en see aki n to us ; th are ilesh an d blood, a
o ti ves as w
e
p
"
are
O n e can no t follow the ort unes of this hero wi th out feeli ng re freshed an d beneted.
DEMOCRAT , ST h o urs.
G ss -

A tale

of

m
m
m

i
m
m
m m

m
i

mm

en ded t o all those who apprecrate a ood, hean , rolli cki ng

A boo k that e be reco
y
st ory o f adven ture , w th lo ts o f erce g hti ng an d a p ro p er p rop orti o n o love- aki n g
T here is in his n ovei no o re history t han i s n ecessary, an d n o tedi o us detail : i t is a st sry
but no t slavishly follo wi ng , history
i nspi red
The book i s full o f in ciden t, and
t chap ter t o the last the acti on n ever ag s
I n the Che vali er the authcr
fro t he

has co n ceived a sy patheti c character, for d A uri ac is ore hu an an d less o f a p up pet than
os t heroes o f hi stori cal novels, an d con se uen tly there are few readers who w
ill no t nd an
d
n
s
h
b
a
lli
n
n
t
i
n
e
v
e
Thi
s
b
oo
k
o
u
l
d
t
h
r
i
a
t
u
res
rsad by ali
e
t
h
t
o
r
o
f
hi
s
s
g
y
j

N s w ORK SUN
w 0 love a g ood story of adven tures T here is n o t a dull p ag e in i t
The rs t chap ters
A cap i tal story o f the Du as-Wey an o rder
ens
t hen ce o n the i n terest i s unag gi ng
The
rig ht i n t o the t hi ck o f t he story, an d fro
li er hi self is an ad irabl studi ed ch aracter, whose straig htforwardneas an d si pli ci ty,

'
thy
D
a
A
h avery, an d i pulsive an reckless chivalry, wi n the reader s
u
ri ac has
p

I pro babili das throug h

o f Du as s heroes, an d the deli h
so ethi n g o f the In ten se vi tali
g
whi ch he p asses so i n vi ncibly ave a certain hu an uali ty whi ch ren ders the aki n t o our
day
Mn Levett Y eats has done hetter in thls hook than tn
ei se he has wri

m
m

m
9

WM

ICAVUNR,

Ns w O n assi s

ten are
n,
a brave soldier, an d a g en tlernan.
ci ai ly th at o f the ki ng , s tru
T he Chevali n b
t he typ ical hero of ro an ce, fearin ao thi ng save a stai n o n his ho no r an d wlth such a h.
g
',
there can no t but he vigor and ex te en t i n ev
ery p ag o of the st ory
- MAn . A ND n u n s, Ne You .
n resque

Iston

Is

M HGI AI B, e

an

mm

91 93 PET E

AVE ,

m You

S A VR O LA
A TALE O F T HE REVO LUT IO N IN LAURANIA
BY WI NSTO N SPENCER C HU RCHI LL
A UTHO R or

r an RIvRR
A R : A N A CCO NT o r T HE RE CO NQ uasT
"
T H E ST O RY o r T HE MA LA RA ND
T E D SO DA N .
n ELD FO R CE ,
ET C . ET C

or

C r o wn e vo , 3 50 p ag e s , S i 2 5
.

Thi s tale o f the re vo lt o f th e ci tiz ens of an i agi nary rep ubli c agai n st a
Di ctato r is a sp i ri ted vari an t o f the l e n ds -ro yalty schoo l
I t h as a
g oo d p lo t, a lo ve in terest . o f co urse an d all the swi ftn ess o f act i o n that re vo lu
ti o n ary days co njure up i n th e
in d
N Ew YO RK MA I L A N D E ! PR ESS
Th e story i s well wri tte n i n p i ctu resque, forci ble style . an d will ho ld th e

-T I M ES , N e w O R K
teres t o f i ts readers fro
th e rst p ag e to the last

T he book is i n teresti n g . well p lan n ed an d lled wi th acti on

- PO ST . C HI CA G O
.

m
.

bers

It is a care fully wri tten an d cri ti cal bi o

of th e p rofessi o n
A R O NA U T , S A N
.

sto ry full o f acti o n . to ld

wi th

wi ll

phy that

fo rce an d vi go r
PO ST .
.

mem

CA L

A N CI SCO .

ap p eal to all
.

WA SHI N GT O N

m m
m

Th e sto ry i s i n the
ai n a sti rri n g acco un t o f warli ke
o ve en ts . whi ch
are well han dle d b the au thor
an o ther i portan t ele e n t o f t he s t o ry
i s th e ro an ce wh ch th reads th e who le an d adds char to all
T he st y le 1 3
di gn ied, e cellen t an d attracti ve, an d the i n terest o f the sto ry i s fully sustai n ed
"
to a thri lli n g seri es o f cli a es at the close
PR O R ESS. MI N N EA PO LI S.

mx

T HE H EA R T O F D EN I SE
A N D O T HE R TA L ES

BY S

AUT HO R o r

L E V E T T -Y E A T S
'

T HE CHEVALI ER D A U RIA C ,

THE HO NO UR o r SA VE LLI ,

ar e.

m t al

Wit h Fro nt lspi s cs ;

C ro wn 8 vo , clot h, orn a

en

T he author o f the fasci nati

an d bri lli an t story o f The Ch evali er d A n r i ac
k n ows t h e
o f th e s i t een th cen t ury we , an d i n h is la t est
ai n roads an d by-pat
essay i n ro
rt rays
Wit h a few se
an ce h e catches t he sp i ri t o f t h e t i es he
t i ve t o uches a bri llian t .so ewhat self-wi lled beauty o f t e co urt i s sk et ched i n Den
'
wh ose i rtat i o n , i n no cen t en o ug h up on her p art , wi th the yo un g but unscru u lo ua
Marquis de Cle r o n t , lead to a pere p to ry co
an d o n t he part o f t he K i n g o r h er

arr i age , at th ree h o urs n o t ice t o Blai se de Lo rg n ac

T he sto ry whi ch
ves th e t i tle t o t he boo k occup i es so eth i ng over a t hi rd o f t h e
vo lu e T h e re ai n er is a co llect i on o f ei ht sho rt sto ri es . ost o f whi ch are so e

what elodra ati c i h character, but all are rilli an t i y told

CII I CAGO TR I BUN E

A g ood ro an ti c story, g rap h i cally to ld

m
m

xm

"

q:

mm

m
m

m
m

m
m

wY

Nrr

O RK

WO R LD

A bri ef rap i d story o f those p i ct ures ue days when the Flyi n g Squadron ut t ere d
i was t he ru l i n
its si lk en sails at the
i
d
c
i
h
d
M
h
h
o
c
h
t
r
i
ne
e
n
c
o
u
r
t
w
i
C
a
e
e
F
r
e
c
y

a i rlt such is Th e
o re i n t he st yle
raised as
ay
es ri o f Den i se , wh i ch

e House of t he
an yth i n g M r Wey an i s
o lf or A Gen t le an o f F ran ce,
wri t i ng n owadays.
rs
SENT I NKL, MILwA UKas .

m m m ( OBI

r
1
s
3
o
o
9
9
.
.
.

HO PE T H E H E R M I T
A RO M A N C E O P B O R R O W D A LE

Br E DNA L A L L,
C ro wn 8 vo ,

c lo t h

o rn a

me

n t al.

heu l dna Lys ll wl uta this book ahe st epp ed int e the fruut

'

rsn k o l

li

hist erical ro anee, which is, o f course, the

T
seene of th e stor y i s one o f t he loveli est whi ch co uld h ave bee n
a.
Her story is full o f li fe an d i n ci de n t , an d at
a s h h reg iou of Eng land
M
rali ty
o f hi h
ti a con vays
ou
t he n
whole rang e 0
ances
ost powerf l ro
h l
ng
pawn , best .
L n o Causa l , Cu es co
a re
h
by care ful exa i nati on o f her aut hori ti es has been able t o con
l i b Bayly

on ly go od ro ance o f t he days when brot her s han d was ag ai ns t bro t h er

t ract an unco
"
cre di t able to t he aut h or
I t b dh ti actly go od wo rk a sti rri ng st ory and tn every
uau c O rn i t o u, N aw Y o ax

Th
ere i s a coheren t , we ll
ere p up ets.
T ha charact srs aru well drawn , n ever
p
i

t he
t a n t ru .

uest typa of

a
ta

eso

hed

:
m

mm

g m

in

st ori es o f
'

m
W

m
.

g? m:2: i :tt

a re

T
an y 0

t
aacott , Bo aro u

er

There are few novelists o f t he presen t day whoae wri ti n gs are bett er kn own an d lik ed
T he y are al ways clean , p ure an d wholeso e , an d deli g h t f ul read
t han t ho e of Edn a Lyall

T he lat est , Ho pe t he Her i t . deals wi t h her favori te period th e seven te en t h cen t ury
an d Mar y, an d t he
acchi to p lot s, an d
e have th e revo luti on . t he acceu i o n o f Willi a
e
th e real ch aracters i n tro duced are A rchbi sho p T illo tson , Lady
p le an d Ge o rg e
es
s
h
o
u
ld
t
o
b
e
r
f
t
l
o
v
e
s
t
o
n
ec
d
a
s
a
ll
l
e
Yo
T
h
e
en
s
s
t
or
er
u
a
k
,
p
y sat i sfact or y
Q
y
an y readers, who are fo nd
to
. averag e n o v
el reader, an d Ho p e t he Her i t wi ll n d
"
of a go od stor y well told
A n vaar tsaa, Po aru u , Ma

I t is a ne hist ori cal novel, ad irably

She ls qui te at ho e wi t h her the e

e aaaav Wo n t) , Bo r ro w
wri tten , and on e o f her best books
0t
ade t he author very po p ular
is on e o f t hose delig ht ful sto ri es that have
an d t hat on e can take up wi t h t he absolute ce rt ai n t y o f n di ng no t hi ng unclean or re p el
l t b a clear, st ron , well-d
re fresh i ng story, based upon scen es an d even ts
len t
la th e days o f Wi lli a an Mary o f n lan d days whe n a an co uld hardly t rust his o wn
i n a rebelli on , an d t he fat her on t he o t he r
sons were on one si
bro t her an d wh
hfan y o f the si t uati ons are very exci t i ng , t he charact ers are ad i rably drawn , an d t h e wh o le
t elli ng o f t he sto
is e n tert ai n i ng , g rate ful an d arti sti c We re ard I t as ui t e as g oo d as

Bvrr 1u o C o u u a acu u
Dono van , an d
e ot her p op ular stori es by t he sa e aut hor
T he boo k is prel i ne n t ly sui table
l f h Bayly has ke pt her pages clean an d whi te
t o the shelves 0a ci rc ulati n li brary, as we ll as t o t he readi ng -table un der t he fa ily la p
g
I t no t on ly en tertai ns, but g i ves histo ri cal data i n a p leasan t ly i pre i ve m
an n er
we have , notwi thstan di n g a few extravagances, a ve fasci nat i n g st o ry , en li vened by t he

Ho u a o uuu , N e w Y o u
ad i t te d li cense o f t he wri ter o f ro ance
Thn latest wor k o f H i. Bayly has all the uali ti es which have won her po p ulari ty i n
T he book sho uld have a consi derable vog ue, app eali n g , as i t does, no t o n ly to
the past
uch pi ct u
those who li ke uick acti o n p len t y o f adven t ure , an d
nenera, but also t o

a n o no ,
t hose who have a culti vated li t erary palate
Dtsrar cu, t
1
'
06
i s o n e o f t he best sp eci ens o f Edna Lyall s talen t for t elli ng a g ood 3
"
in
T he reader s att en ti on i s held t hroug ho ut
ari ne st yle
Paass. Pi t t
an - a
uch i n th i s book to co
I t is ori g i nal an d has g reat acti vi t y
T here is
en d i t

'

m g

m
m

m
m

m m

'

mm

m
fam
i li a
.

Mi Lyall pom
esses li t erar talen t an d her st yle i s clear, an d, t o o n e un
r
y
wi t h er wri ti n t hi s lat es t pro duct i o n will be a de lig ht ful t reat T he reader will at i t
do wn deli g hte wi th t he st o ry, refreshed by t he st ud o f t he m
eri ts and faults o f i ts
ters and cogi tati ng upon t h e
aki
t eve n ts whi ch , uri ng t he m
o f E ng li sh hi st or y,
.

followed

1:0l

ui ckly o ne upon an o

to

ward the close o f the seven te en t

I CAY UNI

8. GREEN.

cen t ury.
,

"

Naw O

91 -93 FI FTH AVE .NEWYORK.

IN

S PI T E O F A L L
By ED NA LY A LL

"
"
D O N O VA N .
A ur n o a o r

n o ae aN ,

C r o wn 8 vo ,

Ho r a. r

c lo t h

ag ai n st the lawless

fo r th i s s p le n di d sto ry
sto ry i s. ab o ve all. o n e

T he
hi sto ry ,
sho uld

Charles

'

wo n thi s i s th e p eri o d cho sen

n ally

an d

whi le o f n ecessi ty th ere i s abun dan ce o f war the

lo vetri ed an d tri u m
Fi n ely wri tten
p h an t

of

p i cture s o f en an d e ven ts
each
bo o k i s full o f p eo p le wi th wh o

o f us

i s fa ili ar th ro ugh

an d every o n e o f the

rare

deli ty to truth

T he

ro

love r

who

st o ry

thri lls

mi d aw wi th
a h earty w lco m f mall la

h ave

ro

mi li ar o

the

xi
c

te

men t

g e n tle i n uen ces o f lo ve

T h e bo o k i s p leasi n g i n all

of

h o ldi n g i n terest to th e

en d.

Eva

"

nv

deep i n terest

an d adven tures,

resp ects, an d

th e sto ry i s

EVE NI N

x
G

mi gled

well

of

532 p ages i s

'

I t h as

mu

ch

as a
ski ll

hi stori c i n terest

D EL

T ON.

on e

th e

told

whi ch wi ll wi n i ts tho usan ds o f readers

ust wh en h an dled wi th the
st o ry o f lo ve an d tri al war an d sep arati o n , m
"
MA I L A N D E ! R E SS N Y
whi ch thi s autho r s trai n in g h as g i ven h er
T h i s sto ry

an d th e

wi th

e cee di n g ly

W I LM I N

A M E R I CA N

mai den an d a Puri tan

a R o yali st

is

o f co n i cts

"

N A SHVILLE

ne of

re adi n g

T he tale

th e cause o f th e p e o p le
e

sses o f reade rs.

the fa

n ce

wi th

ma

esp o use d

ar c.

o f stri ki n g

full

ar e

war when Puri tan an d Cava

mwell s R o un dheads struggled

h ero i cally

T he days when En glan d was ren t wi th ci vi l

fo ugh t fo r Parli a en t an d K i n g ; when C ro

li e r

m n u mr

'

A p retty ro an ce ho lds the reader s

i n tere st all thro ug h the bo o k
The h ero i s a Puri tan , wh ile th e g i rl h e lo ves,
Hi lary . as swe et an d wi lful an d true a ai d as co uld h ave been fo un d i n tho se
.

my ti me

sto r

s.

i s a bi sho p

'

s n i ece an d

T h ere are stro n g dra ati c

i n tri g ue
ti

me

mo u

Is

i t to

-R E

U BL I CA N ,

i t an

n t of

we ll wo rth

Th e h i g h
the better

i s i n teresti n g

BA LT I M O R E A MER I CA N

bo ok

the readi n g

CH U R CHMA N

o k an d i ts
"
re ade rs
CO N

class o f n o vel

n o vels .

mo ral ton e o f the bo

his to ri cal

the Pu ri tans i s

D E NV ER , C O L

T he latest boo k by E dn a Lyall

recen t

wri tten

p ure an d who leso e , has p len ty o f adven ture an d a

aki n g , an d i s wri tten i n an easy. p leas an t strai n that

lo ve-

en tertai n i n g

battle eld an d the po li ti cal

r eli gi o us stri fe e i sti n g at the
e

T h e bo o k, li ke al l that th i s auth or h as

sto ry i s clean ,

l
d
a
o
o
g
y
es

th

bo o k

mof man y o f

mak

scen es i n the

li fe are p o rtrayed an d also th e

bi g o try o f the Church an d th e fan ati ci s

well p o rt rayed
e
an d who leso m
T he

mp athi es

th erefo re a R o yali st i n all her sy

o f co urt

T he

"

O ST O N

N Y
.

h i sto ri cal accuracy

G G
RE

A T I O N A LI ST .

will

T.

mmen d

BO ST O N

may safely be sai d to be on e of

T RA N S C RI

co

the best o f

C H ARLO T T E
WA LFO R D

MR S L B

By

C r o wn e vo , 3 8 2 p ag e s , $ l 50
.

Charlo tte is

an

e ceedi n gly

coquette,

belo n g i n g t o a

en o ugh

sui t

to

ma t

her

ny of

ve ry go o d

CHU R CH

t he subtleti es o f t he

T he

Fro

ma

ma

r -reso rt s, an d

i s har dly

e
a
c
p

a very

a study o f a

in frequen tly i s the

case

mly

an e tre

PA

m i n gli

of

ng

co

h ei gh t ,

seaso n s

wi t h

a st r an g e

medy a

nd

CH

who i s

lady

wi th peo ple

of

t rag ed y

n o t at all

oo
d
,
g

but

P O ST

1 CA GO

who

as n o t

do ubt ful vi rt ues, i s very i n tere st i n g

CO R I ER, LEBA N O N , PA

readable n ovel.

an d act i on , an d reveali n
g

the boo k i s a clever creati o n , vi vid an d real

o
u
n
y
g

PH I LA D E L HI A ,

wift

m ral

o
o
d
g

t ran quilliz i n g rural ret reat s,

an d shado w an d co

li ght

n arti sti c stan dpo i n t

T hi s i s

wi th

wi th li fe

hear t

sto ry

ST A N DA R

u
l
s
i
a
n
t
p
g

mme

su

of

i n terp lay

hu

rap i d

an d utt er ly selsh

vacillates pleasan tly bet ween Lo n do n at i t s

scen e

fashi on able

who se

set

a so ciety n ovel

ma

beauti ful, fasci n at in g,

T HE H I N D E R E R S
By E DN A

LY A LL

C r o wn 8 vo , O L O O

There i s

mu h mag
able type

t o ld

neti s

The

R P U
.

ro

ma

BLIC,

nce o f

ST

LO

her

that are

to fo llo w a clean ,

li able to

occur

th i s

n arrati ve.
o f the

of

read an d

ti

ma
e

furi o us li vin g

will be

CHR I S

LONGMANS, GREEN. a

A ND

9 1 93
-

WO R K

skilfully

N ew O R LEA N S

by the

wri tten by Mi ss

N A VY R E

i n ci de n ts ,

i cA Y U N E,

T IA N

R MY

by all tho se who

en o yed

n d abso rbi n gly i n t ere s ti n g

read

an d sp i ri ted n arrat ive o f

well con structed wi th characters

resen t

the best sto ri es

one o f

deserves to be

n o vel

well-to ld

well-kn own writer o f fi cti on

T hi s i s

in thi s age

T he boo k sho uld be

IS

thi s i n terest i n g

wo uld li ke

an d a hero i n e o f

lovable En gli sh girl o f an adn i r

woo in g by Si r Chri stopher H0pe is well

I ren e dc St Cro i

T he Hi n derers

lo ve -st o ry i n

an un usual

ma

mi

n y ad

rers o

N EW Y O R K
I t is

Bayly

han dled

a st ro n g

I t i s a st o ry

I ST ER ,

mm

WA SHI NGT O N

D C
.

w YORK

A VENUE, ne

WH I RL I G I G

T HE

Wi t h

LI NDS A v

MA YNE

By
oa or

o r alu

T II s VALLsr

mu
n

M au r lo s G r ls ff s n h ag

8 f u ll-p ag e i llu st rat i o n s b y

C ro wn 8 vo ,

di cti o n . thrillin g yet always p ossi ble

stre ng th sustai n ed th ro ugho ut . are the feat ures o f th e sto ry
"
I Lo vDs N awa
ro an ce

Q lsp and

clever

'

I t is

o n e cd

hi s feet

wi th

i ts

cro

wded

mp

bustli n g

e tu o us .

T he story i s well to ld an d h o lds th e i n teres t

of

wi th

dan gero us thi n gs does i t li ghtly an d

an d the reader i s carri ed al on g breathlessly fro

mo n e chap te

Whirli g i g wh i ch M ayn e

i t is a

wi th i n th re e

day s ,

t o an o ther

HI CA

surely

han d

the acti on takes p lace

re adi n g

a skillful

s to r y

LO U I SVI LL E . ! v

O U R I E R- o uR N A L .

Makes sti rri n g

su cce s

T he

disco ursi n g

dan t i n

e
p rf e c t

si on of even ts.

A nd

wi th

si tuati ons ,

Fai rly takes

whi le

en

T RIBU N E

Li n dsay has de vi se d,

ab u n

- la an d th e d u e
w
r
a
m
o
u
n
t
o
f
s
o
r
d
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r
well-p reserved m
t
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p p
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p y

mpl men t of broken h ads an d full o f x iti g y t p o ssi bl Si tuati ns M

u
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Li dsay th ugh co m
t
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r
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er
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p
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ts i g oo d i ch a a
this dashi n g r yst eri n g sto y whi ch asi de fr mi ts i n id
co

t er drawi n g

D
o

"

ET R O I T

days

of a

e s ue

sp arkli n g ,

N aw Y
o

the very en d

ng

It i s a

soo n

th e

what

do z i n g

or

mri ts o f
e

me well kn ow

li fe

so

full

I C AG O

o f sti rri n g , un e

E VE N I N
ro

PO ST

man ce

xp

cce

whi m
si cal

e ct ed e ven ts as ar e

an d p i ctu r

it

would

un co n ven ti o n al.

if

way

p ulses an d

up n e

dro wsi n g to be do n e

i ts

who

me

wn

fai rly laun ch e d

"

keep
I

o ver

eag er

on e o n

the

GREEN, It

on

h ast e t o
e dg e

of

I Hn B EA C O N , BO ST O N

thi s n ovel

It i s a

wiftly

It is drawn acco rdi n g to a fa i liar p at

th at will co pel the atten ti o n an d abso rbe d
n t.

o nce tak es i t up

n an d

o n ce

Whirli gi g

T he

is g o i n g to turn

c te

bu t

ch

i s carri ed alo n g , i n breath less

reader

xi

mat

be hard to

l
u
a
r
o
,
p
p

i f he

can

T he

wri ter

do thi s

is

ne

w,

but

sh o ul d

so rt o f thi n g agai n

i l l LA DE LPi l l A

LONGMANS,

r,

sto ry to th ri ll the

o f every reader

be co

en

mparati vely n wwri te but has shown n u

n o ve l
ed d i
S ldo mh as an autho su

CH
s

"

tale o f breathless e

tern ; but i t has

i n terest

qui et

n arrati ve ,

no

r.

arden t curi o si ty as t o

T here i s

s no

co

very p re tt ily turn e d li ttle

O R K T I M ES

It starts i n a

mvi

o n g sto ri e s o f adve n ture

mf

s o

th e strea

F R EE PR ESS

man

h ere p ro vided for the hero

T he author is a yo un g an d
usual ski ll an d i n g en ui ty i n this

wdi n g two

'

cro

T I R ES

W YORK

1
9 93 FIFTH AVENUE, NE

CY N T H I A S

WA Y

Mrs

By

GWICK

A LFR ED SI D

"

T HE I NNER SHRI N E,
A UT HO R o r

C r o wn 8 vo ,

C RA SSHo rIERS

T HE

c lo t h .

This i s a tale o f an heiress that i s n o t et wi th every day Cyn thi a Blount

i s a i lli o nai ress who se wi sh i t i s to be lo ve d fo r her o wn sake an d n o t fo r her
A s a e an s to this en d She t akes a si tuati o n whi ch has been
ateri al wealth
Ger an
offered to a fri e n d , as E n g li sh g o vern ess i n a Ger an fa i ly

fa i ly life is very i n ti
are

well drawn

mately an d fai thfully d

m
d mst

e p i cte d,

an

jo y to the

man y moon s S PI RI T

is

"

A deli ghtful sto ry

of

German

N EW

mo st amusi n g n ov l

un safe to

vo uch . but there

German might smi le o ver i t

of

can

be

R P
E

no

do ubt that i t i s

U B LI CA N .

P G
RI N

E N CE .

en tertai n i ng.

FI EL

the book i t

would

Even a

MA SS

the bo o k fai rly sp arkles. an d the li ght fi cti o n

of

The di alo g ue

PR O VI

For the fairn ess

"

fo r li ght . i n ter

O RK

o U R NA L.

be

han dled,

Altog ether the sto ry deserves

"
ruck o f curren t cti on

li fe

hi gher p rai se th an i t i s p o ssi ble to gi ve to th e

It i s a

arti sti cally

traveller. thi s dai n ty bo ok has n o t been surp assed

o r T HE T I M ES ,

characters
"
readi n g

'

the

Cyn thi a s W ay i s well worth

D A I Lv C HR O N I CLE . N EWCA ST L E, ENC

an d i n teresti n g

li terature

of

Thi s i s an un usually i n ter esti n g boo k

i t i s so
deli ghtfully unravelled that o n e forg e ts an d fo rg i ves

esti n g

so

of

the year

mre cha mi g medi umof plea u e D EN VER R E P U BLI CA N

lev r bo k full f hum
usi g
o ro us sce es a sati ri al un der
Thi s is an am

o ers n o
'

stan di n g o f

tas te

O II II E RCI A L

sides o f ch aract er .

the li ghter

don e

N Y

V E R T I SE R,

wi th

a li g ht to uch an d

mu h
c

few real ly bri gh t an d en tertai n i n g n o vels this season that

Cyn thi a s W ay will be g ladly se iz ed up o n by hun gry n o vel readers The style

BO ST O N B EA CO N
i s ve ry taki n g an d a usi n g
T here are

so

'

T hi s is a taki n g

sto ry,

mo

hu

wi th a flavor o f
D ET R O IT M I CK

ro us an d

bri sk ,

mak s i t app eti i g FR EE PR ESS

atter
A m
o st readable sto ry o f p ure to n e an d i n teresti n g m
mn ded to an yon e likin g a who l so me tale o f i n teresti
hearti ly eco m
that

z n

"

o ri gi n ali ty

O U R I ER - o uR NA L ,

can
ng

be
"

peop le

LO U I SVI LLE , K r

her cleverest p i ece o f work

Cyn thi a s W ay
thus far re i n ds us stron g ly o f T he Ben efactress
T he sa e fresh, vi vaci ous,
an d fe i ni n ely i ro n i cal style
arks th e two sto ri es an d wi ns up o n the reader
wi th irresi sti ble beg ui le en t N o o n e wi ll p ut down the hi sto ry o f Cyn thi a. we

N Y T R IBUN E
i agi n e , un ti l the last p ag e is reache d

Mrs S i dgwi ck s n ewn o vel,

'

m
m

LONGMANS, GREEN, It

W YORK

9 1 93 FIFTH AVENUE, NE
-

M A N O R FA R M

T HE

M E FR A NC IS ( M

By

A uT Ho R o r

WIt h

dell s

FR A NCIS BLU NDELL)

PAST O RALS o r DO RSET ,

rI A NDn

wmo w

m
.

mor o f the

ne

we lfare

hu

w bo o k

of

th e i r

ri chest

When

me

s n ee ds th e

na

E T C.

P r o n t ls p ls o e b y C lau d C D u P r o C o o p e r
e n t a l. 8 i 6 0
c lo t h , o r n a

Q uai n t
'

I s.

C r o wn 8 vo ,

quali ty is wr i tten

i n the p ag es of Mrs Blu n ~

t wo g reat an d well-to -do co usi n s p lan t h e
arri ag e o f th e ir children , th e tro uble b e gi n s
.

h as ye t sho wn g reater skill than o ur author i n weavi n g the gree n an d

w
t
h
r
o
d
a
tt
ern
o
f
t
h
o
f
o
u
n
lif
e
Th
e
o
e
f
r
c
h
il
l
se
t
w
o
u
n
l
e
o
d
eo
o
g
g
p
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g
y
g p p
ho o d . th e be t ro th al , th e al o st n ecessar y hi tch i n aai rs . fo r such i s h u an
No

o ne

n ature .

an d

are n o t to o p ro ud to be

re al

a n ai ve an d

so luti o n .

man

hu

bad en o ugh to be un co

n or

p i ctures ue sto ry

of

En g lish

I VI N

co un try

li fe,

ti o n o

or

en

wo rth p assin g

r
e
a
y

s o n an

v
i
n
o
u
i
g
g y
E n g li sh far

aro un d the

wi th just

It is

eno ug h

di al e ct

N EW

i
i
U
R
C
l
I MA N ,
C

way

O RK

It i s what yo u
ay
uai n t . ri ch an d who leso
e d e scr i p

A deli gh tful sto ry, t o ld in a deli ghtful

mp l te st y
f m an d th i g

M I LW A U K E E

H U R C H,

a co

n i o n able.

fo lk

co un try

GC

mp a

T he M an o r F ar

treat i s i n store fo r th e r eaders o f

to Sho w that the p eo p le are g en ui n e

call

'

M rs Blun dell has m

ade deli g h tful hum
o ro u s
It i s th e n est o f ch aracter drawi n g fo r the m
en an d wo m
en

the ve ry n atural

wh o lly arti sti c

m It i s on e of th few n o v ls
i lyo r p erhap s better y t re adi n g
fam
e

o f th e

i n th e

m U NI T v C HI CA G O ILL
Who l me an d sw et a th
t f g ro wi g l v
i th e atm
o ph
f
i g p asto al tal
ha m
W i tt i the ea i t a d
f E gli h y o m
an li f
th i
m t u aff t d tyl i t a at wi th much an i mati on an d humo th f tu
f t w b a h s f a ertai fam
ily f fa m
Th
l v i t
er f lk
t i
asse

mbl

ed

"

fa i ly

os

r nc e

e sce n

rr

ri n g s

er

en

I D P D
o

E EN

E NT .

er e o

s es

T he

e cellen tly

o dd lo cal

tr ue , an d

c o

N EW

or

n es

e n er es

O RK

story i s thoro ughly readable an

T he sto ry i s
i n i t sp eak an
style

A p re tty rust i c lo ve sto ry

cle an
N E w O RK S U N

as artless an d i n n ocen t as i t i s en g ag i n g

es

e o

ec e

eso

s c

th e

The En gli sh p easan ts who gu r e

o ri g i n ali ty n eve r u n n aturaln ess to th e

wri tten

di alect that g i ves

sto ry e n ds
p le asan tly. as

deserves a

co rdi al r e ce p ti on .

such an

"

E CO R

idyl

DH
-

Sho uld

E RA L

T he boo k

C H I CA

who leso m
e ro m
an ce o f th e D o rse tshi re co un try
It co n cern s th e
e n deavo rs o f two farm
er co us i n s to b r i n g abo ut the m
arri ag e o f th e i r so n an d
daug h t er fo r th e welfare o f th e o ld m
an o r far m T h e p lo t whi ch i s a si m le o n e
p
i s develo p e d wi th n at uraln ess an d h um
or
her p i ct ur es o f the h o m
ely
T hi s i s a

li fe a

ong

ma

th e far

nd

dai ri es are deli gh tf

LO NGMA NS, GREEN, 8:

T H

9 1 -93 FIFTH

O U T LO O K N E W
.

O RK

AVENU E, NEW Y O R K

T HE D I S E N T A N G L E RS
By A ND R EW LA N

Wi t h

7 f u ll-p ag e Illus t r at i o n s b y H
C r o wn 8 vo , O i 50

JFo rd
.

O ri gi n al in co n ce p ti o n an d p rodig i o usly clever i n treat e n t

T he great i dea o f the two i p o veri shed yo un g E n g li sh en to who m e ar e

o f di se n g agi n g o r d i se n
i n troduced i n the rst chap t er i s to o rg an iz e a syste
ai dens who co n te p late
arri ag e ag ai nst wh i ch
tang li n g tho se yo u ths an d

m
T hi s m
ay

fa ily o pposi ti on i s sure to be bro ught

n o t see ma s t ar t
li n g ly n e w o ti ve but th ere is n o velty en o ugh i n the au tho r s e p lo i tati o n o f i t,
and as he war s to his wo rk he acco pli shes thi n gs
o re an d
o re bewild e r i n g
if thi s a usin g boo k as a usi n g i n substan ce as i t i s
an d deli gh tful
.

acco

mp li shed

Lan g

'

style,

in

h as hi the rto

does

wi n

not

wi der

we sh all

en o yed,

m
m

p o p ulari ty than an ythi n g o f M r

very
uch su rp ri se d
N EW O R K T R I B U N E

be

ho w two i n g en i ous yo un g E n g li sh en . ai de d b y
vario us p retty g i rls, se t u p an ag en cy for th e ben et o f fa ili es
Mr
Lan g h as succee ded i n achi e vi n g bo th un i ty o f the e, an d vari ety o f adven t u r e ,
whi le each o f the a usi n g ep i so de s i s en li ven ed by a hu o r as p layful as i t i s

He Sho ws

deli cate

one

AN

"

us

FR A N CI S CO CA LL

O n e o f the
to tak e up at

m t amusin g bo ks f th seas
"
o dd m
om
en ts
T HE LI V I N G A G E
o

os

T he vo lu

on .

BO ST O N

mi
e

s a cap i tal

The p lot o f Mr Lan g s st ory i s o ri g i n al an d i s develo p e d i n th e

I t is really an e n
i n i i table way whi ch be lo n gs to that en tertai n i n g wri ter
n
e
l
f
f
r
M
r
I
t
i
a
w
i
n
o

c
t
i
n
s
e
o
o
a
n
a
n
d
h
e
a
s
r
L
t
o
h
o
a
l
e
s
b
,
g
y
j y
e thods i n a ve ry cl e ver
co
bi n ed hu o r. fan tasy, an d a study o f soci ety s
'

p roducti o n.

N ot
se iz i n g a

o n ly

ERA L

GRA N D

RA

PD
I

li terature an d lo ve, but

wo m
an fo r

'

"

a vast ranso

m an d
,

S.

MI C H

wi reless
,

mari

teleg rap hy, sub

i n tru th ,

ne

e ve rythin g else on e

vess e ls,

has he ar d

The D i sen tan glers

T here i s a
i n thes e latter days i s at least to uched i n
Mr Lan g trusts his reader s brai n s ; h e
subtle flattery ab o ut the bo o k to o ;
N EW O R K T I M ES
self i n hi n ts, n o t i n surgi cal o p e rati o n s
e p resses hi

of

T he D i sen tan g lers i s n o t o nly a n o vel that p o ssesses the e ri t of o ri g i n

e o f the p o p u lar n o veli sts o f th e
ali ty , but co n tai n s a se ri es o f p aro di es of so
-clas s co
c
n
r
M
e
ll
n
t
f
o
o
li
o
b
e
t
t
e
r
hi
h
or
e
e
b
e
i
r
a
l
e
a
d
day that are o st
g
g
"
edy has rarely be en b ro ught to g ether i n a si n gle vo lu e

It i s a

erry co lle cti o n o f

j
.

O U R N AL .

e rry

tales

CHICA

A ll i n all.

Mr

bo o k i s hi ghly a usi n g , an d i t will do u btle ss add n o t a li ttle to the g ay

"
T R A N SC R I T , B O ST O N
e ty o f the Bri ti sh li terary n at i o n

Lan g

'

LO NGMA NS, GREEN,

CO

W Y O RK

9 1 -93 FIFT H A VENU E, NE