text
stringlengths 1.96k
5.76k
| author
int64 1
50
|
|---|---|
yet they make their before the throne at stated times and assume to be the very patterns of virtue and now and then it chances in the case of an exceedingly beautiful woman of whom all the others are jealous that for her little slips she is selected as an example and excluded from court while her sisters though seventy times seven against all the laws of decency and morality are still received but otherwise there is very little real care the sorrows of satan exercised as to the character and of the women whom the queen receives if any one of them is refused it is certain she adds to her social the greater crime of being beautiful otherwise there would be no one to whisper away her reputation i was what is called a success on my day that is i was stared at and openly flattered by certain members of my sex who were too old and ugly to be jealous and treated with insolent contempt by those who were young enough to be my rivals there was a great crush to get into the throne room and some of the ladies used rather strong language one just in front of me said to her companion do as i do kick out their for them as hard as you can we shall get on faster then this choice remark was accompanied by the grin of a and the stare of a yet it was a great lady who spoke not a but a woman of distinguished and connection her observation however was only one out of many similar speeches which i heard on all sides of me during the distinguished e a thoroughly ill crush which struck me as vulgar and totally the dignity of our sovereign s court when i before the throne at last and saw the majesty of the empire represented by a kindly faced old lady looking very tired and bored whose hand was as cold as ice when i kissed it i was conscious of an intense feeling of pity for her in her high estate who would be a monarch to be doomed to the perpetual receiving of a company of fools i got through my duties quickly and returned home more or less wearied out and disgusted with the whole ceremony and next day i found that my bad given me the position of a leading beauty or in other words that i was now formally put up for sale that is really what is meant by being presented and coming out these are the fancy terms of one s parental my life was now passed in dressing having my photograph taken giving to fashionable the sorrows of satan painters and being by men with a view to matrimony it was distinctly understood in society that i was not to be sold under a certain figure per and the price was too high for most would be how sick i grew of my constant exhibition in the marriage market what contempt and hatred was in me for the mean and pitiable of my set i was not long in discovering that money was the chief motive power of all social success that the and highest personages in the world could be easily gathered together under the roof of any vulgar who happened to have enough cash to feed and entertain them as an example of this i remember a woman ugly pass e and eyed who during her father s life was only allowed about half a crown a week as pocket money up to her year and who when that father died leaving her in possession of half his fortune the other half going to children of whom she had never heard he having always posed as a pattern of virtue suddenly out as a leader of fashion and succeeded through cautious and in some of the highest people in the land under her roof ugly and pass e though she was and towards fifty with neither grace wit nor intelligence through the power of her cash alone she invited royal and titles generally to her dinners and dances and it is to their shame that they actually accepted her invitations such voluntary on the part of really well connected people i have never been able to understand it is not as if they were actually in want of food or amusement for they have a of both every season and it seems to me that they ought to show a better example than to flock in crowds to the of a mere uninteresting and ugly nobody just because she happens to have money i never entered her house myself though she had the audacity to invite me i learned moreover that she had promised a friend of mine a hundred guineas if she could persuade me to make one appearance the sorrows of satan in her rooms for my renown as a beauty combined with my pride and would have given her parties a greater than even could bestow she knew that and knew that and knowing it never condescended to so much as notice her by a bow but though i took a certain satisfaction in thus myself on the vulgarity of and social i grew intensely weary of the monotony and of what fashionable folks call amusement and presently falling ill of a nervous fever i was sent down to the for a few weeks change of air with a young cousin of mine a girl i rather liked because she was so different to myself her name was she was but sixteen and extremely delicate poor little soul she died two months before my marriage she and i and a maid to attend us went down to and one day sitting on the cliffs together | 33 |
she asked me timidly if i knew an author named i told her no whereupon she handed me a book called the wings of do read it she said earnestly it will make you feel so happy i laughed the idea of a modem author writing anything to make one feel happy seemed to me quite ludicrous the aim of most of them being to awaken a disgust of life and a hatred of one s fellow creatures however to please i read the wings of and if it did not make me actually happy it moved me to a great wonder and deep reverence for the woman writer of such a book i found out all about her that she was young pretty of a noble character and un reputation and that her only enemies were the i press critics this last point was so much in her favour with me that i at once bought everything she had ever written and her works became as it were my haven of rest her theories of life are strange poetic ideal and beautiful though i have not been able to accept them or work them out in my own case i have always felt soothed and comforted for a while in s the sorrows of satan the very act of wishing they were true and the woman is like her books strange poetic ideal and beautiful how odd it is to think that she is within ten minutes walk of me now i could send for her if i liked and tell her all but she would prevent me carrying out my resolve she would cling to me woman like and kiss me and hold my hands and say no no you are not yourself you must come to me and rest an odd fancy has seized me i will open my window and call her very gently she might be in the garden coming here to see me and if she hears and answers who knows why perhaps my ideas may change and fate itself may take a different course well i have called her i have sent her name softly out on the sunshine and still air three times and only a little brown of hers a swinging on a branch of fir answered me with his low she will not come to day god will not make her his messenger she cannot guess she does not know this tragedy of my heart greater and more than all the of fiction if she did know me as i am i wonder what she would think of me let me go back to the time when love came to me love ardent passionate and eternal ah what wild joy thrilled through me what mad ecstasy fired my blood what dreams possessed my brain i saw and it seemed as if the splendid eyes of some great angel had a glory in my soul with him came his friend the foil to his beauty the self satisfied fool of a tempest he who me and who by virtue of his purchase is entitled by law to call himself my husband here i paused in my reading and looked up the dead woman s eyes appeared now to regard me as steadily as herself in the opposite mirror the head was a little more dropped the sorrows of satan forward on the breast and the whole face very nearly resembled that of the late of when the last shock of had rendered her hideous complete to think that i loved that p i said aloud pointing at the corpse s ghastly reflection fool that i was indeed as great a fool as all men are who their lives for the possession of a woman s mere body why if there were any life after death if such a creature had a soul that at all resembled this poisoned clay the very devils might turn away aghast from such a comrade the candles and the dead face seemed to smile a clock in the adjoining room but i did not count the hour i merely arranged the manuscript pages i held more and read on with renewed attention from the moment i saw went on s dying speech i abandoned myself to love and the desire of love i had heard of him before from my father who had as i learned to my shame been indebted to him for assistance on the very night we met my father told me quite plainly that now was my chance to get settled in life marry or tempest whichever you can most easily catch he said the prince is wealthy but he keeps up a mystery about himself and no one knows where he actually comes from besides which he women now tempest has five millions and seems an easy going fool i should say you had better go for tempest i made no answer and gave no promise either way i soon found out however that did not intend to marry and i concluded that he preferred to be the lover of many women instead of the husband of one i did not love him any the aa the sorrows of satan less for this i only resolved that i would at least be one of those who were happy enough to share his passion i married the man tempest feeling that like many women i knew i should when safely wedded have greater liberty of action i was aware that most modern men prefer an with a married woman to any other kind of and i thought would have readily yielded to the plan i had pre | 33 |
conceived but i was mistaken and out of this mistake comes all my perplexity pain and bewilderment i cannot understand why my love beloved beyond all word and thought should scorn me and me with such bitter it is such a common thing now a days for a married woman to have her own lover apart from her husband de the writers of books advise it i have seen the custom not only excused but over and over again in long and scientific articles that are openly published in leading magazines why then should i be blamed or my desires considered criminal as long as no public scandal is made what harm is done i cannot see it it is not as if there were a god to care the say there is no god i was very startled just now i thought i heard s voice calling me i have walked through the rooms looking ever and i opened my door to listen but there is no one i am alone i have told the servant not to disturb me till i ring i shall never ring now i come to think of it it is singular that i have never known who really is a prince he says and that i can well believe though truly princes now a da are so and common in looks and bearing that he seems too great to belong to so shabby af from what kingdom does he come to what nation does he belong these are questions which he never answers save i pause here and look at myself in the mirror how beautiful i am i note with admiration the deep and the sorrows of satan lustre of my eyes and their dark i see the delicate colouring of my cheeks and lips the dear rounded chin with its pretty the pure lines of my slim throat and snowy neck the glistening wealth of my long hair all this was given to me for the attraction and of men but my love whom i love with all this living breathing exquisite being of mine can see no beauty in me and me with such scorn as my very soul i have knelt to him i have prayed to him i have worshipped him in vain hence it comes that i must die only one thing he said that had the sound of hope though the utterance was fierce and his looks were cruel patience he whispered we shall meet ere long what did he mean what possible meeting can there be now when death must close the gate of life and even love would come too late i have unlocked my jewel case and taken from it the deadly thing there a poison that was to me by one of the who lately attended my mother keep this under lock and key he said and be sure that it is used only for external purposes there is sufficient in this to kill ten men if swallowed by mistake i look at it it is and there is not enough to fill a yet it will bring down upon me an eternal darkness and close up for ever the marvellous scenes of the universe so little to do so much i have fastened s wedding gift round my waist the beautiful snake of jewels that to me as though it were charged with an embrace from him ah would i could cheat myself into so pleasing a fancy i am trembling but not with cold or fear it is simply an of the nerves an instinctive of flesh and blood at the near prospect of death how brilliantly the sun shines through my window its golden stare has watched so many tortured creatures die without so much as a cloud to dim its radiance by way of the suggestion of pity if there were a god i fancy he would the sorrows of satan be like the sun glorious beautiful but pitiless out of all the various types of human beings i think i hate the class called poets most i used to love them and believe in them but i know them now to be mere of lies of cloud castles in which no throbbing life can breathe no weary heart find rest love is their chief motive they either or it and of the love we women long for most they have no conception they can only sing of brute passion or of the mutual great sympathy the patient tenderness that should make love lovely they have no sweet things to say between their strained and my spirit has been stretched on the rack and broken on the wheel i should think many a wretched woman wrecked among love s must curse them as i do i am ready now i think there is nothing more to say i offer no excuses for myself i am as i was made a proud and rebellious woman self willed and seeing no fault in free love and no crime in and if i am vicious i can honestly declare that my vices have been encouraged and in me by most of the literary teachers of my time i married as most women of my set marry merely for money i loved as most women of my set love for mere bodily attraction i die as most women of my set will die either naturally or self slain in utter rejoicing that there is no god and no hereafter i had the poison in my hand a moment ago ready to take when i suddenly felt approaching me stealthily from behind and glancing up quickly at the mirror i saw my mother her face hideous and | 33 |
as it had been in her last illness was reflected in the glass peering over my shoulder i sprang up and confronted her t she was gone and now the sorrows of satan i am shivering with cold and i feel a chill on my forehead mechanically i have soaked a handkerchief with perfume from one of the silver bottles on the dressing table and have passed it across my temples to help me recover from this sick sensation to recover how foolish of me seeing i am about to die i do not believe in ghosts yet i could have sworn my mother was actually present just now of course it was an delusion of my own feverish brain the strong scent on my handkerchief reminds me of i can see the shop where i bought this particular perfume and the well dressed doll of a man who served me with his little moustache and his french manner of conveying a speechless personal compliment while making out a bill laughing at this recollection i see my face in the glass my eyes flash into vivid lustre and the near my lips come and go giving my expression an sweetness yet in a few hours this loveliness will be destroyed and in a few days the worms will where the smile is now an idea has come upon me that perhaps i ought to say a prayer it would be but conventional to die one ought to a few words to the church and yet to kneel down with clasped hands and tell an selfish paid community called a church that i am going to kill myself for the sake of love and love s despair and that therefore i humbly its forgiveness for the act seems absurd as absurd as to tell the same thing to a non deity i suppose the do not think what a strange their advanced theories put the human mind in at the hour of death they forget that on the brink of the grave thoughts come that will not be and that cannot be appeased by a learned however i will not pray it would seem to myself cowardly that i who have never said my prayers since i was a child should run over them now in a foolish o the sorrows of satan attempt to satisfy the powers invisible i could out of sheer association appeal to mr s besides i do not believe in the powers invisible at all i feel that once outside this life the rest as hamlet said is silence i have been staring and in a sort of at the little poison in my hand it is quite empty now i have swallowed every drop of the liquid it contained i took it quickly as one takes medicine without allowing myself another moment of time for thought or hesitation it tasted and burning on my tongue but at present i am not conscious of any strange or painful result i shall watch my face in the mirror and trace the of death this will be at any rate a new sensation not without interest my mother is here here with me in this room she is moving about making wild gestures with her hands and trying to speak she looks as she did when she was dying only more alive more i have followed her up and down but am unable to touch her she my grasp i have called her mother mother but no sound issues from her white lips her face is so appalling that i was seized with a of terror a moment ago and fell on my knees before her imploring her to leave me and then she paused in her gliding to and fro and smiled what a hideous smile it was i think i lost consciousness for i found myself lying on the ground a sharp and terrible pain running through me made me spring to my feet and i bit my lips till they lest i should scream aloud with the agony i suffered and so alarm the house when the passed i saw my mother standing quite near to me watching me with a strange expression of wonder and remorse i past her and back to this chair where i now sit i am calmer now and i am able to realize that the sorrows of satan she is only the phantom of my own brain that fancy she is here while she is dead torture indescribable has made of me a moaning helpless creature for the past few minutes truly that was deadly the pain is horrible horrible it has left me quivering in every limb and in every nerve looking at my face in the glass i see that it has already altered it is drawn and livid all the fresh rose tint of my lips has gone my eyes there are dull blue marks at the comers of my mouth and in the hollows of my temples and i observe a curious quick in the veins of my throat be my torment what it will now there is no remedy and i am resolved to sit here and study my own features to the end the whose name is death must surely be near ready to gather my long hair in his skeleton hand like a of ripe corn my poor beautiful hair how i have loved its glistening and brushed it and it round my fingers and how soon it will lie like a weed in the a devouring fire is in my brain and body i am burning with heat and with thirst i have drunk deep draughts of cold water but this has not relieved me the sun in upon me like an open | 33 |
furnace i tried to rise and close the blind against it but find i have no force to stand upright the strong radiance blinds me the silver toilet boxes on my table glitter like so many points of swords it is by a powerful effort of will that i am able to continue writing my head is swimming round and there is a choking sensation in my throat a moment since i thought i was dying tom asunder as it were by the most pangs i could have screamed for help and would have done so had voice been left me but i cannot speak above a whisper i my own name to l the sorrows of satan m and can scarcely hear it my mother stands beside me apparently waiting a little while ago i i thought i heard her say come to your chosen i lover now i am conscious of a great silence everywhere a has fallen upon me and a delicious from pain but i see my face in the glass know it is the face of the dead it will soon be all over a few more uneasy and i shall be at rest i am glad for the world and i were never good friends i am sure that if we could know before we were born what life really is we should never take the trouble to live a horrible fear has suddenly beset me what if death were not what the deem it suppose it were another form of life can it be that i am losing reason and courage together or what is this terrible that is taking possession of me begin to a strange sense of horror is creeping over me i have no more physical pain but something worse than pain me a feeling that i cannot define i am dying dying i repeat this to myself for comfort in a little while i shall be deaf and blind and unconscious why then is the silence around me now broken through by sound i listen and i hear distinctly the of wild voices mingled with a sullen jar and roll as of distant thunder my mother stands closer to me she is stretching out her hand to touch mine o god let me write write while i can let me yet hold fast the thread which me to earth give me time time before i drift out lost in yonder blackness and flame let me write for others the awful truth as i see it there is no death none none cannot aj ing out of my body i am being away from it inch by inch in inexplicable mystic torture but i am not dying i am being carried forward into a new life vague and vast i see a new world full of dark forms half shaped yet the sorrows of satan they float towards me me on i am conscious i hear i think i know death is a mere human dream a comforting fancy it has no real existence there is nothing in the universe but life o hideous misery cannot die i in my mortal body i can scarcely breathe the pen i try to hold writes of itself rather than through my shaking hand but these pangs are the of birth not death i hold back with all the force of my soul i strive not to plunge into that black abyss i see before me but my mother me with her i cannot shake her off i hear her voice now she speaks distinctly and laughs as though she wept come soul of the child i bore come and meet your lover come and see upon whom you fixed your faith soul of the woman i trained return to that from whence you came t still i hold back and trembling i stare into a dark void and now there are wings about me wings of fiery scarlet they fill the space they me they me they rush past and whirl around me me as with flying arrows and showers of hail let me write on write on with this dead hand one moment more time dread god one moment more to write the truth the terrible truth of death whose darkest secret life is unknown to men i live a new strong impetuous vitality possesses me though my mortal body ig nearly dead faint and weak it still and i outside it and no longer of it its hand to write these final words live to my despair and terror to my remorse and agony i live oh the unspeakable misery of this new life and worst of all god whom i doubted god whom i was taught to deny this wronged and outraged god exists and i could have found him had i chosen this knowledge is forced upon me as i am torn from hence it is shouted at me by a thousand wailing voices too late too late the scarlet wings s o the sorrows of satan beat me downward these strange half forms close round and drive me onward to a further darkness amid wind and fire serve me dead hand once more ere i depart my tortured spirit must seize and compel you to write down this thing that earthly eyes may read and earthly souls take warning i know at last whom i have loved whom i have chosen whom i have worshipped o god have mercy i know who claims my worship now and | 33 |
me into yonder rolling world of flame his name is here the manuscript ended and broken off abruptly and there was a blot on the last sentence as though the pen had been violently from the dying fingers and hastily flung down the clock in the west room again the hour i rose stiffly from my chair trembling my self possession was giving way and i began to feel at last i looked at my dead wife she who with a dying effort had declared herself to be yet alive who in some imaginable strange way had seemingly written after death in a frantic desire to make some appalling declaration which nevertheless remained the rigid figure of the corpse had now real terrors for me i dared not touch it i scarcely dared to look at it in some dim inscrutable fashion i felt as if scarlet wings it beating me down yet pressing me on me too in my turn with the manuscript gathered close in my hand i bent nervously forward to blow out the wax lights on the toilet table i saw on the floor the ef with the french perfume the dead woman had written of i picked it up and placed it near her where she sat grinning at her own the flash of the serpent round her waist caught my eyes anew as i did this and i the sorrows of satan stared for a moment at its green glitter fascinated then moving stealthily with the cold sweat pouring down my back and every pulse in me rendered feeble by sheer horror i turned to leave the room as i reached the and lifted it some instinct made me look back at the dread picture of the leading society beauty sitting and before her own and livid pale image in the glass what a fashion plate she would make now i thought for a frivolous and ladies paper you say you are not dead i muttered aloud not dead but living then if you are alive where are you where are you the heavy silence seemed with fearful meaning the light of the electric lamps on the corpse and on the silk garment wrapped round it appeared and the perfume in the room had a grave like smell a panic seized me and dragging at the till all its velvet folds were drawn thickly together i made haste to shut out from my sight the horrible figure of the woman whose bodily i had loved in the customary way of al men and left her without so much as a or pitying kiss of farewell on the cold brow for after all i had myself to think of and she was dead i i pass over all the details of polite shock affected sorrow and feigned sympathy of society at my wife s sudden death no one was really grieved about it men raised their eyebrows shrugged their shoulders lit extra and dismissed the subject as too unpleasant and to dwell upon women were glad of the removal of a too beautiful and too much admired rival and the majority of fashionable folk delighted in having something thrilling to talk about the sorrows of satan in the tragic circumstances of her end as a rule people are seldom or never unselfish enough to be honestly sorry for the of some leading or brilliant figure from their midst the leaves room for the pushing in of smaller be sure that if you are unhappily celebrated for either beauty wit intellect or all three together half society wishes you dead already and the other half tries to make you as wretched as possible while you are alive to be missed at all when you die some one must love you very deeply and and deep unselfish love is to find among mortals than a pearl in a dust bin thanks to my abundance of cash everything concerning s suicide was admirably managed in consideration of her social position as an earl s daughter two doctors on my paying them very handsome that hers was a death by namely through taking an accidental of a powerful sleeping draught it was the best report to make and the most respectable it gave the penny press an opportunity of on the dangers that in sleeping draughts generally and tom dick and harry all wrote letters to their favourite their names in full giving their opinions as to the nature of sleeping draughts so that for a week at least the ordinary of the newspapers was quite by copy the of law decency and order were throughout observed and complied with everybody was paid which was the chief thing and everybody was i believe satisfied with what they managed to make out of the death payment the funeral gave joy to the souls of all it was so expensive and impressive the s trade gained something of an by the innumerable orders received for wreaths and crosses made of the flowers when the coffin was carried to the grave it could not be seen for the load of blossoms that covered it and amid all the cards and loving tokens and farewell and not lost but gone the sorrows of satan that the white masses of lilies and roses which were supposed to the innocence and sweetness of the poisoned corpse they were sent to adorn there was not one honest regret not one expression of true sorrow lord made a sufficiently striking figure of dignified parental woe but on the whole i think he was not sorry for his daughter s death since the only opposing obstacle to his marriage with was now removed i fancy herself was sorry so far as such a frivolous little american could be sorry for anything perhaps | 33 |
however it would be more correct to say that she was frightened s sudden end startled and troubled her but i am not sure that it grieved her there is such a difference between unselfish grief and the mere sense of nervous personal shock miss took the news of her niece s death with that admirable fortitude which frequently religious of a certain age she put by her knitting said god s will be done and sent for her favourite clergyman he came stayed with her some hours drinking strong tea and the next morning at church administered to her the communion this done miss went on the and even tenor of her way wearing the same distressed expression as usual and showed no further sign of feeling i as the afflicted husband was no doubt the most interesting figure on the scene i was i know very well got up thanks to my tailor and to the affectionate care of the chief who handed me my black gloves on the day of the funeral with solicitude but in my heart i felt myself to be a far better actor than henry and if only for my admirable of heart break more fully worthy of the did not attend the he wrote me a brief note of sympathy from town and hinted that he was sure i could understand his reasons for not being present i did understand of course and appreciated his respect as i thought for me and my feelings yet strange and as it may seem i never longed so much for his company the sorrows of satan as i did then however we had a glorious burial of my fair and false lady horses drew carriages in a long down the pretty lanes to the grey old church picturesque and peaceful where the clergyman and his in newly washed met the flower laden and with the usual conventional consigned it to the dust there were even press present who not only described the scene as it did not happen but who also sent fancy sketches to their respective journals of the church as it did not exist i mention this simply to show how thoroughly all proper forms were carried out and to after the ceremony all we went back to to luncheon and i well remember that lord told me a new and joke over a glass of port before the meal was finished the had a sort of banquet in the servants hall and taking everything into due consideration my wife s death gave a great deal of pleasure to many people and put useful money into several ready pockets she had left no blank in society that could not be easily filled up she was merely one butterfly out of thousands more colored perhaps and more restless in flight but never judged as more than up to the butterfly standard i said no one gave her an honest i regret but i was wrong was almost passionately grieved she sent no flowers for the coffin but she came to the funeral by herself and stood a little apart waiting silently till the grave was covered in and then just as the fashionable train of were leaving the churchyard she advanced and placed a white cross of her own garden lilies across the newly turned brown mould i noticed her action and determined that before i left for the east with for my journey had only been postponed a week or two on account of s death she should know all the day came when i carried out this resolve it was a rainy and chill afternoon and i found in her study the sorrows of satan beside a bright log fire with her small in her lap and her faithful st stretched at her feet she was absorbed in a book and over her watched the marble and austere as i entered she rose and putting down the volume and her pet dog together she advanced to meet me with an intense sympathy in her clear eyes and a pity in the tremulous lines of her sweet mouth it was charming to see how sorry she felt for me and it was odd that i could not feel sorry for myself after a few words of embarrassed greeting i sat down and watched her silently while she arranged the logs in the fire to make them burn brighter and for the moment avoided my gaze i suppose you know i began with harsh that the sleeping draught story is a polite fiction you know that my wife poisoned herself looked at me with a troubled and compassionate expression i feared it was she began nervously h there is nothing either to fear or to hope i said with some violence she did it and can you guess why she did it because she was mad with her own wickedness land because she loved with a guilty love my j friend gave a little cry as of pain and sat down white and trembling you can read quickly i am sure i went on part of the profession of literature is the ability to books and rapidly and grasp the whole of them in a few minutes read this and i handed her the rolled up pages of s dying declaration let me stay here while you learn from that what sort of a woman she was and judge whether despite her beauty she is worth a regret pardon me said gently i would rather not read what was not meant for my eyes but it meant for your eyes i retorted impatiently it is meant for everybody s eyes apparently it is addressed the sorrows of satan to nobody in particular there is a mention of you in it i beg | 33 |
nay i command you to read it i want your opinion on it your advice you may possibly suggest after perusal the proper sort of i ought to on the monument i am going to build to her sacred and dear memory i covered my face with one hand to hide the bitter smile which i knew betrayed my thoughts and pushed the manuscript towards her very reluctantly she took it and slowly it began to read for several minutes there was a silence broken only by the of the logs on the fire and the regular breathing of the dogs who now both lay stretched comfortably in front of the wood blaze i looked at the woman whose fame i had envied at the girlish figure the of soft hair the delicate drooping sensitive face the small white classic hand that held the written sheets of paper so firmly yet so tenderly the very hand of the greek marble and i thought what short sighted some literary men are who suppose they can succeed in shutting out w men like from winning everything that fame or fortune can offer such a head as hers covered with locks fair and was not meant in its fine shape and for submission to inferior whether masculine or feminine that determined little chin which the delicately was a visible declaration of the strength of will and the high ambition of its owner and yet the soft eyes the tender mouth did not these suggest the sweetest love the purest passion that ever found place in a woman s heart i lost myself in dreamy musing i thought of many things that had little to do with either my own past or present i realized that now and then at rare intervals god makes a woman of genius with a s brain and an angel s soul and that such an one is bound to be a destiny to all mortals less endowed and a glory to the world in which she dwells so considering i studied s face and form i saw her eyes fill with tears as she read on the sorrows of satan why should she weep i wondered over that mast document which had left me unmoved and i was startled almost as if from sleep when her voice thrilling with pain disturbed the stillness she sprang up gazing at me as if she saw some horrible vision oh are you so blind she cried as not to see what this means can you not understand do you not know your worst enemy my worst enemy i echoed amazed you surprise me what have i or my enemies or friends to do with my wife s last confession she between poison and passion she could not tell as you see by her final words whether she was dead or alive and her writing at all under such stress of circumstances was a effort but it has nothing to do with me personally for god s sake do not be so hard hearted said passionately to me these last words of s poor tortured miserable girl are beyond all expression horrible and appalling do you mean to tell me you have no belief in ia future life none i answered with conviction then this is nothing to you this solemn assurance of hers that she is not dead but living again living too in indescribable misery you do not believe it does anyone believe the of the dying i answered she was as i have said suffering the of poison and passion and in those wrote as one tormented is it impossible to convince you of the truth asked solemnly are you so in your spiritual as not to know beyond a doubt that this world is but the shadow of the other worlds awaiting us i assure you as i live you will have that terrible knowledge forced upon you some day i am aware of your theories your wife had the same or rather non as yourself yet she has been convinced at last i shall not attempt to the sorrows of satan argue with you if this last letter of the unhappy girl you wedded cannot open your eyes to the eternal facts you choose to nothing will ever help you you are in the power of your enemy of whom are you speaking i asked astonished observing that she stood like one suddenly appalled in a dream her eyes fixed on and her lips trembling apart your enemy your enemy she repeated with energy it seems to me as if his shadow stood near you now listen to this voice from the dead s voice what does she say god have mercy i know who claims my worship now and me into yonder rolling world of flame his name is well i interrupted eagerly she breaks off there his name is rim said in a thrilling tone i do not know from whence he came but i take god to witness my belief that he is a of evil b in beautiful human shape a and a the curse of him fell on the moment she met him the same curse rests on you leave him if you are wise take your chance of escape while it remains to you and never let him see your face again she spoke with a kind of breathless haste as though impelled by a force not her own i stared at her amazed and in a manner irritated such a course of action would be impossible to me i said somewhat coldly the prince is my best friend no man ever had a better and his loyalty | 33 |
to me has been put to a severe test under which most men would have failed i have not told you all and i related in a few words the scene i had witnessed between my wife and in the music gallery at she listened but with an evident effort and pushing back her hair from her brows she sighed heavily the sorrows of satan i am sorry but it does not alter my conviction she said i look upon your best friend as your worst foe and i feel you do not realize the awful calamity of your wife s death in its true aspect will you forgive me if i ask you to leave me now lady s letter has affected me terribly i feel i cannot speak about it any more i wish i had not lead it she broke off with a little half suppressed sob i saw she was and taking the manuscript from her hand i said half you cannot then suggest an for my wife s monument she turned upon me with a grand gesture of reproach yes i can she replied in a low indignant voice it as rom a pitiless hand to a broken heart that will suit the dead girl and you the living man her rustling gown swept across my feet she passed me and was gone by her sudden anger and equally sudden departure i stood the st rose the and at me suspiciously evidently wishing me to take my leave stared as usual through me and beyond me in a boundless scorn all the various objects in this quiet study seemed silently to me as an i looked round it once as a tired outcast may look on a peaceful garden and wish in vain to enter how like her sex she is after all i said half aloud she being pitiless and forgets that was the sinner not i no matter how guilty a woman may be she generally to secure a certain amount of sympathy b man is always left out in the cold a shuddering sense of loneliness oppressed me as my eyes wandered round the room the of lilies was in the air so i fancied from the delicate and dainty personality of herself if i had only known her first and loved her i murmured as i turned away at last and left the house i the sorrows of satan but then i remembered i had hated her before i ever met her and not only had i hated her but i had and her work with a pen under the shield of and out of sheer malice thus giving her in the public sight the greatest proof of her own genius a gifted woman can ever win man s envy two weeks later i stood on the deck of s the flame vessel whose complete magnificence filled me as well as all other with bewildered and admiration she was a miracle of speed her motive power being and the electric engines with which she was fitted were so complex and remarkable as to all would be into the secret of their and a large crowd of spectators gathered to see her as she lay off attracted by the beauty of her shape and appearance some bolder spirits even came out in and row boats hoping to be allowed to make a visit of inspection on board but the sailors powerfully built men of a foreign and somewhat type soon intimated that the company of such inquisitive persons was and unwelcome with white sails spread and a crimson flag flying from her mast she weighed anchor at sunset on the afternoon of the day her owner and i joined her and moving through the waters with delicious and incredible rapidity soon left far behind her the english shore looking like a white line in the mist or the pale vision of a land that might once have been i had done a few things before departing from my native country for example i had made a free gift of his former home to lord taking a sort of sullen pleasure in thinking that he the s nobleman owed the restoration of his property to me to me who had never been either a successful linen the sorrows of satan or furniture man but simply an author one of those sort of people whom my lord and my lady imagine they can and neglect again at pleasure without danger to themselves the fools invariably forget what lasting vengeance can be taken for an slight by the owner of a brilliant pen i was glad too in a way to realize that the daughter of the american railway king would be brought to the grand old house to air her ship and look at her prettily little in the very mirror where had watched herself die i do not know why this idea pleased me for i bore no grudge against she was vulgar but harmless and would probably make a much more popular at court than my wife had ever been among other things i dismissed my man and made him miserable with the gift of a thousand pounds to marry and start a business on he was miserable because he could not make up his mind what business to adopt his anxiety being to choose the calling that would pay best and also because though he had his eye upon several young women he could not tell which among them would be likely to be least extravagant and the most serviceable as a cook and housekeeper the love of money and the pains of taking care of it his days as it the days of most men and my unexpected towards him him with such | 33 |
a weight of trouble as robbed him of natural sleep and appetite i cared nothing for his however and gave him no advice good or bad my other servants i dismissed each with a considerable gift of money not that i particularly wished to benefit but simply because i desired them to speak well of me and in this world it is very evident that the only way to get a good opinion is to pay for it i gave orders to a famous italian for s monument english having no conception of it was to be of exquisite design wrought in purest white marble the chief being the centre figure of an angel ready for flight with the face of the sorrows of satan faithfully copied from her picture because however devilish a woman may be in her life time one is bound by all the laws of social to make an angel of her as soon as she is dead just before i left london i heard that my old college friend john had met with a sudden end busy at the of his gold he had been choked by the and had died in hideous torment at one time this news would have deeply affected me but now i was scarcely sorry i had heard nothing of him since i had come into my fortune he had never even written to congratulate me always full of my own self importance i judged this as great neglect on his part and now that he was dead i felt no more than any of us feel now a days at the loss of friends and that is very little we have really no time to be sorry so many people are always dying and we are in such a desperate hurry to rush on to death ourselves i nothing seemed to touch me that did not closely concern my own personal interest and i had no affections left unless i may call the vague tenderness i had for an affection yet to be honest this very emotion was after all nothing but a desire to be consoled pitied and loved by her to be able to turn upon the world and say this woman whom you have lifted on your shield of honour and crowned with she loves me she is not yours but mine purely interested and purely selfish was the longing and it deserved no other name than selfishness my feelings for too began at this time to undergo a curious change the fascination i had for him the power he exercised over me remained as great as ever but i found myself often absorbed in a close study of him strangely against my own will sometimes his every look seemed with meaning his every gesture suggestive of an almost terrific authority he was always to me the most of beings ess there was an uneasy sensation of doubt and fear growing up in my mind regarding him a painful anxiety to know more about him than he had ever told me and on the sorrows of satan rare occasions i experienced a sudden shock of inexplicable against him which like a tremendous wave threw me back with violence upon myself and left me half stunned with a dread of i knew not what alone with him as it were on the wide sea cut off for a time from all other intercourse than that which we shared together these sensations were very strong upon me i began to note many things which i had been too blind or too absorbed in my own pursuits to observe before the offensive presence of who acted as chief steward on board the filled me now not only with dislike but nervous apprehension the dark and more or less repulsive of the crew haunted me in my dreams and one day leaning over the vessel s edge and gazing down into the water below i fell to thinking of strange of the east and stories of who by the exercise of science did so make victims of men and them that their wills were entirely and no longer their own i do not know why this passing thought should have suddenly overwhelmed me with deep depression but when i looked up to me the sky had grown dark and the face of one of the sailors who was near me the brass hand rail seemed singularly threatening and sinister i moved to go to the other side of the deck when a hand was gently laid on my shoulder from behind and turning i met the sad and splendid eyes of are you growing weary of the voyage he asked weary of those two suggestions of eternity the interminable sky the interminable sea i am afraid you are man easily gets fatigued with his own and when he is set afloat on a plank between air and ocean yet we are travelling as swiftly as will bear us and as worked in this vessel it is carrying us at a far greater speed you perhaps realize or imagine i made no immediate answer but taking his arm strolled slowly up and down i felt he was looking at me but i avoided meeting his gaze the sorrows of satan you have been thinking of your wife he softly and as i thought i have for reasons you know of all allusion to the tragic end of so beautiful a creature beauty is alas so often subject to yet if you had any faith you would believe she is an angel now i stopped short at this and looked straight at him there was a fine smile on his delicate mouth an angel i repeated slowly or a devil which would you say she | 33 |
is you who sometimes declare that you believe in heaven and hell he was silent but the dreamy smile remained still on his lips come speak t said roughly you can be frank with me you know angel or devil which my dear he remonstrated gently and with gravity a woman is rs an angel both here and hereafter i laughed bitterly if that is part of your faith i am sorry for you i have not spoken of my faith he rejoined in colder accents lifting his brilliant eyes to the darkening heaven i am not a that i should forth a creed to the sound of and drum a the same you have a creed i persisted and i fancy it must be a strange one if you remember you promised to explain it to me are you ready to receive such an explanation he asked in a somewhat tone no my dear friend permit me to say you are not ready not yet my are too positive to be brought even into contact with your too real to submit to your doubts for a moment you would at once begin to to the used up old arguments of and little theories like of dust in the of my knowledge i can tell you i believe in god as a very the sorrows of satan actual and positive being and that is the first of the church articles yo i echoed his words staring at him he seemed in earnest in fact he had rs seemed in earnest on the subject of deity vaguely i thought of a woman in society whom i slightly knew an ugly woman and mean minded who passed her time in entertaining semi and pushing herself amongst them she had said to me one day i hate people who believe in god don t you the idea of a god makes me you believe in god i repeated again look he said raising his hand towards the sky there a few drifting clouds cover millions of worlds impenetrable mysterious yet actual down there and he pointed to the sea a thousand things of which though the ocean is a part of earth human beings have not yet learned the nature between these upper and lower spaces of the incomprehensible yet absolute you a of limited stand uncertain how long the frail thread of your life shall last yet the question with your own poor brain as to whether you you in your utter and shall condescend to accept a god or not i confess that of all astonishing things in the universe this particular attitude of modem mankind is the most astonishing to me your own attitude is the reluctant acceptance of such terrific knowledge as is forced upon me he replied with a dark smile i do not say i have been an apt or a willing pupil i have had to suffer in learning what i know do you believe in hell i asked him suddenly and in satan the arch enemy of mankind he was silent for so long that i was surprised the more so as he grew pale to the lips and a curious almost of feature gave his expression something of the ghastly and terrible after a pause he turned his eyes upon me the sorrows of satan an intense burning misery was reflected in them though he most assuredly i believe in hell how can i do otherwise if i believe in heaven if there is an up there must be a down if there is light there must also be darkness and concerning the arch enemy of mankind if half the stories reported of him be true he must be the most piteous and pitiable figure in the universe what would be the sorrows of a thousand million worlds compared to the sorrows of satan sorrows i echoed he is supposed to rejoice in the working of evil neither angel nor devil can do that he said slowly to rejoice in the working of evil is a temporary which affects man only for actual joy to come out of evil chaos must come again and god must himself he stared across the dark sea the sun had sunk and one faint star through the clouds and so i again say the sorrows of satan sorrows as eternity itself imagine them to be shut out of heaven to hear all through the the far off voices of angels whom once he knew and loved to be a wanderer among deserts of darkness and to pine for the light celestial that was formerly as air and food to his being and to know that man s folly man s utter selfishness man s cruelty keep him thus an outcast from pardon and peace man s may lift the lost spirit almost within reach of his lost joys but man s him down again easy was the torture of q compared with the torture of satan no wonder that he mankind small blame to him if he seeks to destroy the tribe little marvel that he them their share of immortality think of it as a legend merely and he turned upon me with a movement that was almost fierce christ man and by his teaching showed how it was possible for man to redeem the devil the sorrows of satan i do not understand you i said feebly awed by the strange pain and passion of his tone do you not yet my meaning is scarcely obscure if men were true to their immortal instincts and to the god that made them if they were generous honest fearless faithful unselfish if women were pure brave tender and loving can you not | 33 |
imagine that in the strong force and of such a world son of the morning would be moved to love instead of hate that the closed doors of paradise would be and that he lifted towards his creator on the prayers of pure lives would wear again his angel s crown can you not realize this even by way of a story why yes as a story the idea is beautiful i admitted and to me as i told you once before quite new still as men are never likely to be honest or women pure i m afraid the poor devil stands a bad chance of ever getting i fear so too and he eyed me with a curious derision i very much fear so and his chances being so slight i rather respect him for being the arch enemy of such a worthless race he paused a moment then added i wonder how we have managed to get on such an absurd subject of conversation it is dull and uninteresting as all spiritual invariably are my object in bringing you out on this voyage is not to indulge in argument but to make you forget your troubles as much as possible and enjoy the present while it lasts there was a of compassionate kindness in his voice which at once moved me to an acute sense of self pity the worst of moral force that exists i sighed heavily truly i have suffered i said more than most men more even than most deserve to suffer declared with that inevitable touch of sarcasm which distinguished some of his remarks money is the sorrows of satan supposed to make amends to a man for everything and even the wealthy wife of a certain irish has not found it with affection to hold her close to herself while her husband has been declared a how she has him let others say now considering your cash abundance it must be owned the have treated you somewhat the smile that was half cruel and half sweet in his eyes as he spoke and again a singular of feeling him moved me to dislike and fear and yet how fascinating was his company i could not but admit that the voyage with him to on board the flame was one of positive enchantment and luxury all the way there was nothing in a material sense left to wish for all that could appeal to the intelligence or the imagination had been thought of on board this wonderful which sped like a fairy ship over the sea some of the sailors were skilled and on tranquil nights or at sunset would bring instruments and discourse to our ears the most and himself too would often sing his voice as it seemed over all the visible sea and sky with such passion as might have drawn an angel down to listen gradually my mind became with these of mournful fierce or weird minor tunes and i began to suffer in silence from an inexplicable depression and sense of misery as well as from another terrible feeling to which i could scarcely give a name z dreadful uncertainty of myself as of one lost in a wilderness and about to die i endured these fits of mental agony alone and in such dreary burning moments believed i was going mad i grew more and more sullen and and when we at last arrived at i was not moved to any particular pleasure the place was new to me but i was not conscious of novelty everything seemed flat dull and totally uninteresting a heavy almost stupor chained my wits and when we left the in harbour and went on to the sorrows of satan i was not sensible of any personal enjoyment in the journey or interest in what i saw i was only partially roused when we took possession of a luxurious which with a of attendants had been specially for us and commenced our like voyage up the the reed edged yellow river fascinated me i used to spend long hours at full length in a deck chair gazing at the flat shores the blown sand heaps the broken columns and temples of the dead of the past one evening thus musing while the great golden moon climbed languidly up into the sky to stare at the of earthly ages i said if one could only see these ancient cities as they once existed what strange revelations might be made our modern of civilization and progress might seem small trifles after all for i believe in our days we are only re discovering what the of old time knew drew his cigar from his mouth and looked at it then he glanced up at me with a half smile would you like to see a city he inquired here in this very spot some six thousand years ago a king reigned with a woman not his queen but his favourite quite a lawful arrangement in those days who was as famous for her beauty and virtue as this river is for its tide here civilization had with the one exception that it had not faith modem france and england have beaten the in their scorn of god and creed their contempt for divine things their and this city and he waved his hand towards a dreary stretch of shore where a cluster of tall waved above the monster fragment of a fallen column was governed by the strong pure faith of its people more than anything and the ruler of social things in it was a woman the king s favourite was something like in that she possessed genius she had also the qualities of justice intelligence love truth and a most noble the sorrows of satan she | 33 |
made this place happy it was a paradise on while she lived when she died its glory ended so i much can a woman do if she chooses so much does she no do in her usual cow like way of living how do you know all this you tell me of i asked him by study of past records he replied i read what modern men declare they have no time to read you are right in the idea that all new things are only old things re invented or re discovered if you had gone a step further and said that some of men s present lives are only the of their past you would not have been wrong now if you like i can by my science show you the city that stood here long ago the city beautiful as its name is translated from the ancient tongue i roused myself from my lounging attitude and looked at him he met my gaze unmoved you can show it to me i exclaimed how can you do such an impossible thing permit me to answered smiling my system of is very fortunately not yet discovered by into matters but it never fails of its effect and i promise you you shall under my influence see not only the place but the people my curiosity was strongly excited and i became more eager to try the suggested experiment than i cared to openly show i laughed however with affected indifference i am perfectly willing i said all the same i don t think you can me i have much too strong a will af my own at which remark i saw a smile dark and on his lips but you can make the attempt he ro e at once and signed to one of our egyptian servants stop the he said we will rest here for the night the sorrows of satan a superb looking eastern in picturesque white garments put his hands to his head in submission and retired to give the order in another few moments the had stopped a great silence was around us he moonlight fell in the far distance across the stretches of dark sand a solitary column so clear cut against the sky that it was almost possible to discern upon it the outline of a monstrous face stood still me saying nothing but looking me steadily through and through with those wonderfully mystic melancholy eyes that seemed to penetrate and burn my very flesh was attracted bird might be by the eyes of a snake yet i tried to smile and say something indifferent my efforts were useless personal consciousness was slipping from me fast the sky the water and the moon whirled round each other in a giddy chase for i could not move for my limbs seemed fastened to my chair with of iron and i was for a few minutes absolutely powerless then suddenly my vision cleared as i thought my senses grew vigorous and alert i heard the sound of solemn marching music and there there ip the full radiance of the moon with a thousand lights gleaming from towers and shone the city beautiful a vision of majestic buildings vast stately and gigantic of streets crowded with men and women in white and coloured garments adorned with jewels of flowers that grew on the roofs of palaces and swung from terrace to terrace in and of fantastic bloom of trees and fully of overlooking the river of lilies growing thickly below by the water s edge of music that echoed in silver and brazen from the shelter of shady gardens and covered the sorrows of satan every beautiful detail rose before me more distinctly than an ivory carving mounted on an shield just opposite where i stood or seemed to stand on the deck of a vessel in the busy harbour a wide avenue extended opening up into huge squares with strange figures of granite gods and animals i saw the sparkling spray of many fountains in the moonlight and heard the low persistent hum of the restless human multitudes that thronged the place as thickly as bees clustered in a hive to the left of the scene i could discern a huge bronze gate guarded by there was a garden beyond it and from that depth of shade a girl s voice singing a strange wild melody came floating towards me on the breeze meanwhile the marching music i had first of all caught the echo of sounded nearer and nearer and presently i perceived a great crowd approaching with lighted and of flowers soon i saw a band of priests in brilliant robes that literally blazed with sun like gems they were moving towards the river and with them came young boys and little children while on either side maidens white veiled and rose paced swinging silver to and fro after the procession walked a figure between ranks of slaves and attendants i knew it for the king of this city beautiful and was almost moved to join in the thundering which greeted his progress and that snowy carried by lily crowned girls that followed his train who occupied it what of his land was thus tenderly i was consumed by an extraordinary longing to know this i watched the white burden coming nearer to my point of i saw the priests arrange themselves in a semi circle on the the king in their midst and the shouting multitude around then came the brazen of many bells with the rolling of drums and the sound of reed pipes lightly blown upon and amid the blaze of the the white was set down upon the ground a woman clad in some silvery the sorrows | 33 |
of satan glistening stepped forth from it like a from the foam of the sea but she was veiled i could not discern so much as the outline of her features and the keen disappointment of this was a positive torture to me if i could but see her i thought i should know something i had never hitherto guessed lift oh lift the veil spirit of i the city beautiful i inwardly for i feel i shall read in your eyes the secret of happiness but the veil was not withdrawn the music made in my ears the blaze of strong light and colour blinded me and i felt myself into a dark chaos where as i imagined i chased the moon as she flew before me on silver wings then the sound of a rich out a light song from a familiar modem opera confused and startled me and in another second i found myself staring wildly at who lying easily back in his deck chair was to the silent night and the blank expanse of sandy shore in front of which our rested motionless with a cry i flung myself upon him where is she i exclaimed who is she he looked at me without replying and smiling released himself from my sudden grasp i drew back shuddering and bewildered i saw it all i murmured the city the priests the f people the king all but her face why was that hidden from me and actual tears rose to my eyes involuntarily surveyed me with evident amusement what a find you would be to a first class spiritual playing his tricks in and easily london society he observed you seem most powerfully impressed by a passing vision do you mean to tell me i said earnestly that what i saw just now was the mere thought of your brain conveyed to mine t the sorrows of satan precisely he responded i know what the city was like and i was able to draw it for you on the canvas of my memory and present it as a complete picture to your inward sight for you have an inward sight though like most people you live unconscious of that neglected faculty but who was she i repeated she was i presume the king s favourite if she kept her face hidden from you as you complain i am sorry but i assure you it was not my fault get to bed you look dazed you take visions badly yet they are better than realities believe me somehow i could not answer him i left him abruptly and went below to try and sleep but my thoughts were all cruelly confused and i began to be more than ever overwhelmed with a sense of deepening terror a feeling that i was being commanded controlled and as it were driven along by a force that had in it something it was a most distressing sensation it made me shrink at times from the look of s eyes now and then indeed i almost before him so great was the dread i had of his presence it was not so much the strange vision of the city beautiful that had inspired this in me for after all that was only a trick of as he had said and as i was content to argue it with myself but it was his whole manner that suddenly began to impress me as it had never impressed me before if any change was slowly taking place in my sentiments towards him so surely it seemed was he changing equally towards me his imperious wa rs were more imperial his sarcasm more sarcastic his contempt for mankind more openly displayed and more frequently pronounced yet i admired him as much as ever i delighted in his conversation whether it were witty philosophical or cynical i could not imagine myself without his company nevertheless the gloom on my mind deepened our trip became infinitely wearisome to me so much so that almost before we had the sorrows of satan got half way on our journey up the river i longed to turn back again and wished the voyage at an end an incident that occurred at was more than sufficient to strengthen this desire we had stayed there for several days exploring the district and visiting the ruins of and where they were busy one afternoon they brought to light a red granite in it was a richly which was opened in our presence and was found to contain the adorned of a woman proved himself an apt reader of and he translated in brief and with accuracy the history of the corpse as it was pictured inside the shell a at the court of queen he an i for the benefit of several interested spectators who with myself stood round the who because of her many sins and secret guilt which made her life and her days full of corruption died of poison administered by her own hand according to the king s command and in presence of the of law such is the lady s story there are a good many other details of course she appears to have been only in her twentieth year well and he smiled as he looked round upon his little audience we may congratulate ourselves on having since the da rs of these over strict ancient the sins of dancers are not with us taken au grand i shall we see what she is like no objection was raised by the authorities concerned in the discoveries and i who had never witnessed the of a before watched the process with great interest and curiosity as one by one of the scented were removed a long of nut | 33 |
brown hair became visible then those who were engaged in the task used more extreme and delicate precaution himself assisting them to the face as this was done a kind of sick horror m stole over me brown and stiff as though the features were their was and when the the sorrows of satan whole countenance was exposed to view i could almost have r shrieked aloud the name of for it was like her dreadfully like and as the faint half half of the crept towards me on the air i back and covered my eyes irresistibly i was reminded of the subtle french perfume from s garments when i found her dead that and this sickly were not unlike a man standing near me saw me as though about to fall and caught me on his arm the sun is too strong for you i fear he said kindly this climate does not suit everybody i forced a smile and murmured something about a passing touch of then recovering myself i gazed fearfully at who was studying the attentively with a curious smile presently stooping over the coffin he took out of it a piece of finely wrought gold in the shape of a this i imagine must be the fair s portrait he said holding it up to the view of all the eager and exclaiming spectators quite a treasure an admirable piece of ancient besides being the picture of a very lovely woman do you not think so he handed me the and i examined it with deadly and fascinated interest the face was exquisitely beautiful but assuredly it was the face of i never remember how i lived through the rest of that day at night as soon as i had an opportunity of speaking to alone i asked him did you see did you not recognise that the dead egyptian resembled your late wife he quietly continued yes i noticed it at once but that should not affect you history itself why should not lovely women repeat themselves beauty always has its double somewhere either in the past or future i said no more but next morning i was very il l so ill that i could not rise from my bed and passed the hours in the sorrows of satan restless moaning and irritable pain that was not so much physical as mental there was a physician resident at the hotel at and always showing himself particularly considerate for my personal comfort sent for him at once he felt my pulse shook his head and after much pondering advised my leaving egypt immediately i heard his given with a joy i could scarcely conceal the yearning i had to get quickly away from this land of the old gods was intense and feverish i the vast and awful desert where the contempt on the of mankind where the opened and expose once more to the light of day faces that are the very of those we ourselves have known and loved in our time and where painted history tells us of just such things as our modem newspapers chronicle in different form was ready and willing to carry out the doctor s orders and arranged our return to and from thence to with such expedition as left me nothing to desire and filled me with gratitude for his apparent sympathy in as short a time as abundance of cash could make possible we had rejoined the flame and were en route as i thought for france or england we had not absolutely settled our destination having some idea of along the but my old confidence in being now almost restored i left this to him for decision sufficiently satisfied in myself that i had not been destined to leave my bones in terror haunted egypt and it was not till i had been about a week or ten days on board and had made good progress in the recovery of my health th at the beginning of the end of this never to be forgotten voyage was to me in such terrific fashion as nearly plunged me into the darkness of death or rather let me now say having learned my bitter lesson thoroughly into the fell brilliancy of that life beyond the tomb which we refuse to recognise or realize till we are whirled into its glorious or awful one evening after a bright day of swift and sail the sorrows of satan ing over a smooth and sea i retired to rest in my cabin feeling almost happy my mind was perfectly tranquil my trust in my friend was again re established and i may add so was my old and confident trust in myself my access to fortune had not so far brought me either much joy or distinction but it was not too late for me yet to pluck the golden apples of the various troubles i had endured though of such recent occurrence began to assume a in my mind as of things long past and done with i considered the strength of my financial j position again with satisfaction to the extent of contemplating a second marriage and that marriage with no other woman should be my wife i mentally swore she and she only should be mine i foresaw no difficulties in the i way and full of pleasant dreams and self i settled myself in my berth and dropped easily off to sleep about i awoke vaguely terrified to see the cabin full of a strong red light and fierce glare my first dazed impression was that the was on fire the next instant i became and dumb with horror stood before me a wild strange tortured figure half waving arms and making desperate | 33 |
gestures her face was as i had seen it last in death livid and hideous her eyes blazed mingled menace despair and warning upon me round her a living wreath of flame upwards like a twisted snake her lips moved as though she strove to speak but no sound came from them and while i yet looked at her she vanished i must have lost consciousness then for when i awoke it was broad day but this ghastly was only the first of many such and at last every night i saw her thus in flame till i grew well nigh mad with fear and misery my torment was indescribable yet i said nothing to who watched me as i imagined narrowly i took sleeping draughts in the hope to procure unbroken rest but in vain always i woke at one particular moment and always i had to face this fiery phantom of my the sorrows of satan dead wife with despair in her eyes and an warning on her lips this was not all one day in the full sunlight of a quiet afternoon i entered the saloon of the alone and started back amazed to see my old friend john seated at the table pen in hand casting up accounts he bent over his papers closely his face was and very pale but so life like was he so seemingly substantial that i called him by name he looked up smiled and was trembling in every limb i realized that here was another terror added to the burden of my days and sitting down i tried to rally my scattered forces and reason out what was best to be done there was no doubt i was very ill these were the warning of i must endeavour i thought to keep myself well under control till i got to england there i determined to consult the best and put myself imder their care till i was thoroughly restored meanwhile i muttered to myself i will say nothing not even to he would only smile and i should hate him i broke off wondering at this for was it possible i should ever hate him surely not that night by way of a change i slept in a on deck hoping to midnight illusions by resting in the open air but my sufferings were only i woke as to see not only but also to my deadly fear the that had appeared to me in my room in london on the evening of s suicide there they were the same the very same only this time all their livid faces were lifted and turned towards me and though their lips never moved the word misery seemed uttered for i heard it like a funeral bell on the air and across the sea and with her face of death in the of a silent flame smiled at me a smile of torture and remorse god i could endure it no longer leaping from my i ran towards the vessel s edge the sorrows of satan one plunge into the cool waves ha there stood with his impenetrable dark face and eyes can assist you sir he inquired i stared at him then burst into a laugh assist me why no you can do nothing i want rest and i cannot sleep here the air is too close and the very stars are burning hot i paused he regarded me with his usual gravely expression i am going down to my cabin t continued trying to speak more calmly i shall be alone there perhaps again i laughed wildly and involuntarily and staggered away from him down the deck stairs afraid to look back lest i should see those three dread figures of fate following me once safe in my cabin i shut to the door violently and in feverish haste seized my case of pistols i took out one and loaded it my heart was beating furiously i kept my eyes fixed on the ground lest they should encounter the dead eyes of one click of the i whispered and all is i shall be at peace senseless and horrors can no longer haunt me i shall sleep i raised the weapon steadily to my right temple when suddenly my cabin door opened and looked in pardon me he said as he observed my attitude i had no idea you were busy i will go away i would not disturb you for the world his smile had something in its fine mockery moved with a quick of feeling i turned the pistol downwards and held its firmly against the table near me you say that i exclaimed in acute anguish you say it seeing me thus i thought you were my friend he looked full at me his eyes grew large and luminous with a splendour of scorn passion and sorrow the sorrows of satan did you and again the terrific smile lit up his pale features you were mistaken am your enemy p a dreadful silence followed something lurid and in his expression appalled me i trembled and grew cold with fear mechanically i replaced the pistol in its case then i gazed up at him with a vacant wonder and wild seeing that his dark and frowning figure seemed to increase in stature towering above me like the gigantic shadow of a storm cloud my blood with an sickening terror then thick darkness veiled my sight and i dropped down senseless xl thunder and wild tumult the glare of lightning the roar of great waves leaping mountains high and hissing asunder in mid air to this fierce riot of savage elements let loose n a whirling boisterous dance of death i woke at last with a shock | 33 |
women witness the destruction of to the historical shame and disgrace of scotland author the sorrows of satan live on as the soul of the woman you loved lives on as the soul of the mother who bore her lives on aye as all my live on through a worlds a phases till they learn to shape their for heaven and i with them live on in many shapes in many ways when they return to god and perfect so shall i return but not till then he paused again and i heard a faint sighing sound everywhere as of wailing voices and the name was breathed suddenly upon the silence i started up listening every nerve strained or i gazed fearfully at him always beautiful his countenance was i now sublime and eyes shone a you thought me friend he said you should have known me foe for who a man for his virtues or him in his vices is that man s worst enemy whether demon or angel but you judged me a fitting comrade hence i was bound to serve you i and my followers with me you had no perception to realize this you supreme of the supernatural little did you think of the that worked the wonders of your feast at little did you dream that prepared the costly banquet and poured out the wine at this a smothered groan of horror escaped me i looked wildly round me longing to find some deep grave of rest wherein to fall aye he continued the festival was fitted to the time of the world today society itself blind and senseless and attended by a from hell my servants looked like men for truly there is little difference man and devil twas a brave gathering england has never seen so strange a one in all her annals the sighing wailing cries increased in my limbs shook under me and all power of thought was in my brain he bent his piercing looks upon me with a new expression of infinite wonder pity and disdain the sorrows of satan what a grotesque creation you men have made of me he said as grotesque as your conception of god with what trifling human attributes you have endowed me know you not that the yet ever changing essence of immortal life can take a million million shapes and yet remain the same were i as hideous as your churches figure me could the eternal beauty with which all angels are endowed ever change to such as haunts mankind s distorted perchance it would be well for none would make of me their comrade and none would cherish me as friend as fits each separate human nature so seems my image for thus is my fate and punishment commanded yet even in this mask of man i wear men own me their superior think you not that when the supreme spirit of god wore that same mask on earth men did not know him for their master yea they did know and knowing murdered him as they ever strive to murder all divine things as soon as their divinity is recognised face to face i stood with him upon the mountain top and there fulfilled my vow of temptation worlds and and powers what were they to the ruler of them all get thee hence satan said the golden sounding voice ah glorious happy for i reached the very gate of heaven that night and heard the angels sing his accents sank to an infinitely mournful what have your teachers done with me and my eternal sorrows he went on have not they and the churches proclaimed a lie against me saying that i rejoice in evil oh man to whom by god s will and because the world s end draws nigh i a portion of the mystery of my doom learn now once and for all that there is no possible joy in evil it is the despair and the discord of the universe it is man s creation my torment god s sorrow every sin of ever human being adds weight to my torture and length to my doom yet my oath against the world must be kept i have sworn to tempt to do my to destroy the sorrows of satan mankind but man has not sworn to yield to my tempting he is free let him resist and i depart let him accept me i remain eternal justice has spoken humanity through the teaching of god made human must work out its own and mine here suddenly advancing he stretched out his hand his figure grew taller and more majestic come with me now he said in a low penetrating voice that sounded sweet yet menacing come for the veil is down for you to night you shall understand with whom you have dwelt so long in your shifting cloud castle of life and in what company you have sailed perilous seas one who proud and rebellious like you less in that he owns god as his master at these words a thundering crash assailed my ears all the windows on either side of the saloon flew open and showed a strange glitter as of pointed aloft to the moon then half fainting i felt grasped and lifted suddenly and and in another moment found myself on the deck of the flame held fast as a prisoner in the fierce grip of hands invisible raising my eyes in deadly despair prepared for and with a horrible sense of conviction in my soul that it was too late to cry out to god for mercy i saw around me a frozen world | 33 |
upon the mystic silence i saw a pale creature move out from amid the of black and scarlet wings a white woman shape clothed in her own long hair slowly she glided to the vessel s edge and there she leaned with face it was the face of and even while i looked upon her she cast herself wildly down upon the deck and wept my soul was stirred within me i saw in very truth all that she might have been i realized what an angel a little guiding love and s the sorrows of satan patience might have made her and at last i pitied her i never pitied her before and now many familiar faces shone upon me like white stars in a mist of rain all faces of the dead all marked with remorse and sorrow one figure passed before me in glistening with a weight of gold i knew him for my college friend of days another crouching on the ground in fear i recognised as him who had his last possession at play even to his immortal soul i even saw my father s face worn and aghast with grief and trembled lest the sacred beauty of her who had died to give me birth should find a place among these horrors but no thank god i never saw her her spirit had not lost its way to heaven again my eyes to the of this mystic scene that fallen splendour whose majestic shape now seemed to fill both earth and sky a fiery glory blazed about him he raised his hand the ship stopped and the dark rested motionless on the wheel round us the landscape was spread like a glittering dream of and still the unknown bird of god sang on with such tenderness as must have soothed hell s tortured souls lo here we pause said the commanding voice here where the distorted shape of man hath never cast a shadow here where the mind of man hath never conceived a sin here where the of man hath never a beauty or slain a thing here the last spot on earth left by man s presence here is the world s end when this land is found and these shores when plants its foot upon this soil then the judgment day but until then here where only god doth work perfection angels may look down and even find rest a solemn sound of music upon the air and i who had been one as in chains bound by invisible bonds and unable the sorrows of satan to stir was suddenly fully conscious of freedom i still faced the dark gigantic figure of my foe for his luminous eyes were now upon me and his penetrating voice addressed me only man deceive not he said think not the terrors of this night are the delusion of a dream or the of a vision thou art awake not sleeping thou art flesh as well as spirit this place is neither hell nor heaven nor any ace between it is a corner of thine own world on which thou wherefore know from henceforth that the supernatural universe in and around the natural is no lie but the chief reality inasmuch as god all fate strikes thine hour and in this hour tis given thee to choose thy master now by the will of god thou me as angel but take heed thou forget not that among men i am as man in human form i move with all humanity through endless ages to kings and to priests and to and teachers to old and young i come in the shape their pride or vice demands and am as one with all self finds in me another but from the pure in heart the high in faith the perfect in intention i do retreat with joy offering naught save reverence demanding naught save prayer so am i so must i ever be till man of his own will and me mistake me not but know me and choose thy future for truth s sake and not for fear and change not in any time hereafter this hour this moment is thy last choose i say thou serve self and me or god only the question seemed thundered on my ears shuddering i looked from right to left and saw a gathering crowd of faces white wistful wondering threatening and imploring they pressed about me close with glistening eyes and lips f that moved and as they stared upon me i beheld another thing the image of myself a poor frail creature pitiful ignorant and limited in both k capacity and intelligence yet full of strange and still u i s the sorrows of satan stranger every detail of my life was suddenly presented to me as in a magic mirror and i read my own chronicle of paltry intellectual pride vulgar ambition and i realized with shame my miserable vices my scorn of god my and and in the sudden strong and of my own worthless existence being and character i found both voice and speech y god only i cried fervently at his hands rather than life without him god only i have chosen my words passionately on my own ears and even as they were spoken the air grew misty with a snowy radiance the and crimson wings uplifted in such array around me with a thousand hues and over the face of dark foe a light celestial fell like the smile of dawn awed and afraid i gazed upwards and there i saw a new and yet more wondrous glory a shining figure against the sky in such surpassing beauty and vivid brilliancy as made | 33 |
not answer them for my tongue was and lifted upright upon my feet by sturdy arms i could not stand for sheer exhaustion dimly and in feeble dread i stared around me was this great vessel with smoking and grinding engines another devil s craft set sailing round the world i too weak to find a voice i made dumb signs of terrified inquiry a broad shouldered bluff looking man came forward whose keen eyes rested on me with kindly compassion the sorrows of satan this is an english vessel he said we are bound for our saw you floating ahead we stopped and sent a boat for rescue where were you wrecked any more of the crew afloat i gazed at him but could not speak the strangest thoughts crowded into my brain moving me to wild tears and laughter england the word struck music on my mind and set all my trembling england the little spot upon the little world most loved and honoured of all men save those who envy its worth i made some gesture whether of joy or mad amazement i know not had i been able to speak i could have related nothing that those men around me could have comprehended or believed then i sank back again in a dead they were very good to me all those english sailors the captain gave me his own cabin the ship s doctor attended me with a zeal that was only exceeded by his curiosity to know where i came from and the nature of the disaster that had befallen me but i remained dumb and lay and feeble in my berth grateful for the care bestowed upon me as well as for the temporary exhaustion that deprived me of speech for i had enough to do with my own thoughts thoughts far too solemn and for utterance i was i saved i was given another chance of life in the world and i knew why my one absorbing anxiety now was to my wasted time and to do active good where hitherto i had done nothing the day came at last when i was sufficiently recovered to be able to sit on deck and watch with eager eyes the approaching coast line of england i seemed to have lived a century since i left it aye almost an eternity for time is what the soul makes it and no more i was an object of interest and attention among all the passengers on board for as yet i had not broken silence the weather was calm and bright the sun shone and far off the rim of shakespeare s happy isle jewel like upon the edge the sorrows of satan of the sea the captain came and looked at me nodded and after a moment s hesitation said glad to see you out on deck almost yourself again i silently assented with a faint smile perhaps he continued as we re so near home you ll let me know your name it s not often we pick up a man alive and drifting in mid atlantic in mid atlantic what force had flung me there i dared not think nor whether it was or divine my name i murmured surprised into speech how odd it was i had never thought of myself lately as having a name or any other thing belonging to me why certainly tempest is my name the captain s eyes opened widely tempest dear me mr tempest the great that was it was now my turn to stare that was i repeated what do you mean have you not heard he asked excitedly heard i have heard nothing since i left england some months ago with a friend on board his we went on a long voyage and a strange one we were wrecked you know the rest and how i owe my life to your rescue but of news i am ignorant good heavens he interrupted quickly bad news travels fast as a rule they say but you have missed it and i confess i don t like to be the bearer of it he broke off and his genial face looked troubled i smiled yet wondered pray speak out i said i don t think you can tell me anything that will deeply affect me now i know the best and worst of most things in the world i assure you i he eyed me then going into his he brought me out an american newspaper seven days old he handed it to me pointing to its leading columns the sorrows of satan without a word there i saw in large type a ruined enormous monster gigantic on the track of and my brain swam for a minute then i read on steadily and soon grasped the situation the respectable pair of lawyers whom i had relied on for the management of all my business affairs in my absence had to the temptation of having so much cash in charge for and had become a pair of practised dealing with the same bank as myself they had my name so cleverly that the of the signature had never been even suspected and after drawing enormous sums in this way and in various companies with which they personally were concerned they had finally leaving me well nigh as poor as i was when i first heard of my inherited fortune i put aside the paper and looked up at the good captain who stood watching me with sympathetic anxiety thank you v i said these thieves were my trusted lawyers and i can cheerfully say that i am much more sorry for them than i am for myself a thief is always a thief a poor man if he be honest is at any | 33 |
rate the superior the money they have stolen will bring them misery rather than pleasure of that i am convinced if this account be correct they have already lost large sums in companies and the man whom i thought the very of shrewd caution has sunk an enormous amount of capital in a worn out gold mine their must have been admirably done a sad waste of time and cleverness it appears too that the i have myself made are not worth much well well it does not matter much i must begin the world again that s all he looked amazed i don t think you quite realize your own misfortune mr tempest he said you take it too quietly by half you ll think worse of it presently i hope not i responded with a smile it never does to think the worst of anything i assure you i realize it p r the sorrows of satan perfectly i am in the world s sight a ruined man i quite understand he shrugged his shoulders with quite a desperate air and left me i am convinced he thought me mad but i knew i had never been so sane i did indeed entirely comprehend my misfortune or rather the great chance bestowed on me of winning something far higher than all the of i read in my loss of world s cash the working of such a merciful providence and pity as gave me a hope than any i had ever known clear before me rose the vision of that most divine and beautiful necessity of happiness work i the grand and too often angel of labour which the mind of man his hands his brain his passions and his whole mental and physical being a rush of energy and health filled my veins and i thanked god devoutly for the golden opportunities held out afresh for me to accept and use gratitude there should be in every human soul for every gift of heaven but nothing merits more and praise to the creator than the call to work and the ability to respond to it england at last i bade farewell to the good ship that had rescued me and all on board her most of whom now knew my name and looked upon me with pity as well as curiosity the story of my being wrecked on a friend s was readily accepted and the subject of that adventure was avoided as the general impression was that my friend whoever he was had been drowned with his crew and that i was the one i did not offer any further explanation and was content to so let the matter rest though i was careful to send both the captain and the ship s doctor a handsome for their united attention and kindness i have reason to believe from the letters they wrote me that they were more than satisfied with the sums received and that i really did some actual good with those few last fragments of my vanished wealth ee the sorrows of satan on reaching london i the police concerning the thieves and and and stopped all proceedings against them call me mad if you like i said to the utterly confounded chief of the force i do not mind but let these keep the they h ve stolen it will be a curse to them as it has been to me devil s half of it was settled on my late wife at her death it by the same deed of settlement to any living members of her family and now belongs to lord i have lived to make a noble earl rich who was once and i doubt if he would lend me a ten pound note for the asking however i shall not ask him the rest has gone into the universal waste of corruption and sham let it stay there i shall never bother myself to get it back i prefer to be a free man the bank the principle of the thing exclaimed the with indignation i smiled exactly the principle of the thing has been perfectly carried out a man who has too much money and thieves about him he cannot expect to meet with honesty let the bank if it likes i shall not i am free free to work for my living what i earn i shall enjoy what i inherited i have learnt to with that i left him puzzled and and in a day or two the papers were full of strange stories concerning me and numerous lies as well i was called mad the ends of justice and sundry other names while known only to the penny were heaped upon me by the score to complete my entire satisfaction a man employed on the staff of one of the leading f journals dug out my book from s cellar and it with a bitterness and only by my own violence when the work of and the result was remarkable for in a sudden wind of caprice the public mode rush for my neglected the sorrows of satan literary offspring they took it up handled it tenderly read it found something in it that pleased them and finally bought it by thousands the as virtuous wrote to me in wonder and a check for a hundred pounds on and promising more in due course should the run continue sweetness of that earned hundred pounds i felt a king of independence of ambition and opened out before me life smiled upon me as it had never smiled before talk of poverty i was rich rich with a hundred pounds made out of my own brain labour and i envied no that ever his | 33 |
gold beneath the sun i thought of but dared not dwell too long upon her gentle image in time perhaps when i had settled down to fresh work when i had formed my life as i meant to form it in the habits of faith firmness and i would write to her and tell her all all even to that dread insight into worlds unseen beyond the boundaries of an unknown region of everlasting frozen snow but now now i resolved to stand alone fighting my battle as a man should fight seeking for neither help nor sympathy and trusting not in self but god only moreover i could not induce myself yet to look again upon the place was terror haunted for me and though lord with a curious condescension seeing that it was to me he owed the free gift of his former property invited me to stay there and professed a certain lame regret for the heavy financial losses i had sustained i saw in the tone of his that he looked upon me somewhat in the light of a madman after my refusal to take up the matter of my and that he would rather i stayed away and i did stay away and even when his marriage with took place with great pomp and splendour i refused his invitation to be present in the published list of guests however which appeared in the principal papers i was scarcely surprised to read the name of prince i i i the sorrows of satan i now took a humble room and set to work on a new literary enterprise avoiding i had hitherto known for being now a poor man i was aware that society wished to blot me from its visiting list i lived with my thoughts musing on many things training myself to humility obedience and faith with fortitude and day by day i did battle with the monster that presented itself in a thousand at every turn in my own life as well as in the lives of others i had to re form my character mould the obstinate nature that and make its obstinacy serve for the of higher objects than world s renown the task was difficult but i gained ground a little with every fresh effort i had lived for some months like this happily enough when all the reading world was suddenly by another book of s my lately favoured first work was again forgotten and thrust aside hers and screamed at as usual by the was borne along to fame by a great wave of honest public praise and enthusiasm and i i rejoiced no longer or envious of her sweet fame i stood apart in spirit as it were while the bright car of her triumph went by not only with but with roses the blossoms of a people s love and honour with all my soul i her genius with all my heart i honoured her pure and in the very midst of her brilliant success when all the world was talking of her she wrote to me a simple little letter as gracious as her own fair name dear mr tempest i heard by chance the other day that you had returned to england i therefore send this note to the care of your to express my sincere delight in the success your clever book has now attained after its interval of i fancy the public appreciation of your work must go far to console you for the great losses you have had both in life and fortune of which i will not here speak when you the sorrows of satan feel that you can bear to look again upon scenes which i know will be sure to rouse in your mind many sad and memories will you come and see me your friend a mist came before my eyes i almost felt her gentle presence in my room i saw the tender look the radiant smile the innocent yet earnest joy of life and love of purity that from the fair personality of the sweetest woman i had ever known she called herself my friend it was a privilege of which i felt myself unworthy i folded the letter and put it near my heart to serve me as a i she of all bright creatures in the world surely knew the secret of happiness some day yes i would go and see her my that sang in her garden of lilies some day when i had force and enough to tell her all is ave my love for he r for that i felt must never be spoken self must resist self and no more at the gate of a paradise some day i would see her but not for a long time not till i had in part at least worked out my secret as i sat musing thus a strange memory came into my brain i thought i heard a voice resembling my own which said oh lift the veil y spirit of the city beautiful for i feel i shall read in your eyes the secret of happiness p a cold shudder ran through me i sprang up erect in a kind of horror leaning at my open window i looked down into the busy street below and my thoughts to the strange things i had seen in the east the face of the dead egyptian uncovered to the light again after two thousand years the face of then i remembered the vision of the city beautiful in which one face had remained veiled the face i most desired to see and i trembled more and more as my mind despite my will began to together links of the past and present till they the sorrows | 33 |
of satan seemed growing into one and the same was i again to be the prey of evil forces did some new danger threaten me had i by some unconscious wicked wish invited new temptation to me overcome by my sensations i left my work and went out into the fresh air it was late at night and the moon was shining i felt for the letter of it pressed against my heart a shield against all vile ness the room i occupied was in a house not far from westminster abbey and i instinctively bent my steps towards that ey old shrine of kings and poets dead the square around it was almost deserted my pace strolling along the narrow paved way that forms a short cut across into old palace yard when suddenly a dark shadow crossed my path and looking up i came face to face with the same as ever the perfect of perfect manhood i his countenance pale proud sorrowful yet scornful upon me like a star he looked full at me and a questioning smile rested on his lips my heart almost stopped beating i drew a quick sharp breath again i felt for the letter of and then meeting his gaze and in my turn i moved slowly on in silence he understood his eyes flashed with the jewel like strange brilliancy i knew so well and so well remembered and drawing back he stood aside and let me pass i continued my walk steadily though dazed and like one in a dream till reaching the side of the street opposite the houses of parliament i stopped for a moment to recover my startled senses there again i saw him the superb man s form the angel s face the haunting splendid sorrowful eyes he came with his usual ease and grace of step into the full moonlight and paused apparently waiting for some one for me ah no i kept the name of god upon my lips i gathered all the strength of faith within my soul and though i was afraid of myself i feared no other foe i lingered therefore watching and presently i saw a few members of parliament the sorrows of satan walking singly and in groups towards the house one or two greeted the tall dark figure as a friend and familiar and others knew him not still he waited on and so did i at last just as big ben the quarter to eleven one man whom i instantly recognised as a well known cab minister came walking briskly towards the house then and then only he whom i had known as advanced smiling greeting the minister cordially in that musical rich voice i knew of old he took his arm and they both walked on talking earnestly i watched them till their figures in the moonlight the one tall and commanding the other and broad and self in i saw them ascend the steps and finally disappear within the house of england s imperial government devil and man together the end a i mrs a l s i mo cloth i oo per volume s by thou my by court by the by e the owl s nest by e picked up in the streets by h saint michael by e by von the i with by e vain by e a girl by w by and blessed by e a noble name by von from hand to hand by by e a new race by the by von castle by by e too rich by a family by i harder the green gate by only a girl by von why did he not die by ad von by i the s maid by e in the by e by e at the s by e the second wife by e the old s secret by e gold by e the i princess by e mrs a l through her many of novels from the man has established a reputation of the highest order for literary judgment and for a long time her name upon the title age of such a translation has been a sufficient to the lovers of fiction of a pure and character that die novel would be a cherished home favorite this faith in mrs is fully justified by the fact that among her more than thirty that have been published by s there has not been a single disappointment and to the exquisite judgment of selection is to be added the rare excellence of her which has commanded the admiration of literary and scholars boston journal j b company philadelphia by elizabeth train in the library illustrated mo polished cents per vol the of a professional beauty it is am interesting confession admirably written and the is delightfully fresh and philadelphia evening the author gives in this handsome little book a charming glimpse of english society it has an air of truth which makes its moral the more impressive and the characters are well drawn evening this is a profoundly interesting love story its plot is simple natural and life often approaching the tragic the dangers from the abuse of the powers of are strikingly illustrated inter ocean a social there is a of bold purpose in the book which makes it the reverse of it is a kind of dick times herald a social a small and dainty volume in s library is a distinctly interesting almost a fascinating story eagle the j b company has issued in the library in a handsome little volume with illustrations a social by elizabeth train which originally appeared in s magazine this dramatic story always intensely absorbing has acquired a new interest since it was turned into a play and many will be | 33 |
le the climate in summer is that of another italy and the landscape a living poem fairer than the visions of there was one solitary of the splendid spectacle this was a man of refined features and aristocratic appearance who on a large rug of skins which he had down on the shore for that purpose was gazing at the of the midnight sun and all its stately surroundings with an earnest and expression in his clear eyes glorious beyond all expectation glorious i he murmured half aloud as he consulted his watch and saw that the hands marked twelve on the dial i believe i m having the best of it after all even if those fellows get the into good position they will see nothing finer than this as he spoke he raised his field glass and swept the horizon in search of a vessel his own pleasure which had taken three of his friends at their special desire to the opposite island of rising in weird majesty three thousand feet above the sea and as its chief glory the great peak of the most northern in all the wild land there was no sign of a returning sail and he resumed his study of the sky the colours of which were now deepening and burning with increasing lustre while an array of clouds of the deepest purple hue swept together beneath the sun as though to form his one might imagine that the of the had sounded and that all this pomp this strange silence was just the pause the supreme moment before the angels descended he mused with a half smile at his own fancy for though something of a poet at heart he was much more of a he was too deeply with modem fashionable to think seriously about angels or but there was a certain love of and romance in his nature which not even his the land of the midnight sun oxford experiences and the chilly of english had been able to and there was something impressive in the sight of the majestic holding such imperial at midnight something almost in the light and life of the heavens as compared with the and seemingly silence of the earth that for a few moments awed him into a sense of the spiritual and unseen passages from the poets he loved came into his memory and stray fragments of old songs and he had known in his childhood returned to him with haunting it was for him one of those sudden in life which we all experience an instant when time and the world seem to stand still as though to permit us easy breathing a brief space in which we are allowed to stop and wonder awhile at the strange unaccountable force within us that us to stand with such calm smiling audacity on our small pin s point of the present between the wide dark of past and future a small hush in which the gigantic engines of the universe appear to no more and the immortal soul of man itself is subjected and by supreme and eternal thought drifting away on those delicate lines that lie between reality and the of the midnight sun gave himself up to the half painful half delicious sense of being drawn in absorbed and lost in infinite when the intense stillness around him was broken by the sound of a voice singing a full rich that rang through the air with the clearness of a golden bell the sweet liquid notes were those of an old mountain melody one of those wildly pathetic o k songs that seem to hold all the sorrow wonder and indescribable yearning of a heart too full for other speech than music he started to his feet and looked around him for the singer there was no one visible the streaks in the sky were leaping into crimson flame the glowed like the burning lake of s vision one solitary sea winged its graceful noiseless flight far above its white like jewels as it crossed the radiance of the heavens other sign of animal life there was none still the hidden voice on in a stream of melody and the listener stood amazed and enchanted at the and distinctness of every note that fell from the lips of the unseen a woman s voice he thought but where is the woman puzzled he looked to the right and left then out to the shining half expecting to see some maiden along and singing as she rowed but there was no sign of any living creature while he waited the voice suddenly ceased and the song was replaced by the sharp grating of a on the beach turning in the direction of this sound he perceived a boat being pushed out invisible hands towards the water s edge from a rocky cave that upon the and full of curiosity he stepped towards the arched entrance when all suddenly and unexpectedly a girl sprang out from the dark interior and standing erect in her boat faced the intruder a girl of about nineteen she seemed taller than most women with a magnificent uncovered mass of hair the colour of the midnight sunshine tumbled over her shoulders and flashing against her flushed cheeks and fair skin her deep blue eyes had an astonished and certainly indignant expression in them while he utterly unprepared for such a vision of loveliness at such a time and in such a place was for a moment taken and at a loss for words recovering his habitual self possession quickly however he raised his hat and pointing to the boat which was more than half way out of the said simply may i assist you she was silent him with a keen glance which had something in it of and suspicion i suppose she doesn | 33 |
t understand english he thought and i can t speak a word of i must talk by signs and forthwith he went through a of gesture sufficiently ludicrous in itself yet at the same time of his meaning the girl broke into a laugh a laugh of sweet amusement which brought a thousand new of into her lovely eyes that is very well done she observed graciously speaking english with something of a foreign accent even the would understand you and they are very stupid poor things half vexed by her laughter and feeling that he was somehow an object of ridicule to this tall bright haired maiden he ceased his gestures abruptly and stood looking at her with a slight flush of embarrassment on his features the land of the midnight sun i know your language she resumed quietly after a brief pause in which she had apparently considered the stranger s appearance and general bearing it was rude of me not to have answered you at once you can help me if you will the has caught among the pebbles but we can easily move it between us and jumping lightly out of her boat she grasped its edge firmly with her strong white hands exclaiming gaily as she did so push thus he lost no time in with her request and using his great strength and muscular force to good purpose the light little craft was soon well in the water swaying to and fro as though with impatience to be gone the girl sprang to her seat his eagerly proffered assistance and taking both oars laid them in their respective and seemed about to start when she paused and asked abruptly are you a sailor he smiled not i do i remind you of one you are strong and you manage a boat as though you were accustomed to the also you look as if you had been at sea rightly guessed he replied still smiling i certainly lave been at sea i have been all about your lovely land my went across to this afternoon she regarded him more intently and observed with the critical eye of a woman the refined taste displayed in his dress from the very cut of his loose travelling coat to the luxurious rug of fine fox skins that lay so carelessly cast on the shore at a little distance from him then she gave a gesture of and half contempt you have a oh then you are a gentleman you do nothing for your living nothing indeed and he shrugged his shoulders with a mingled air of weariness and self pity except one thing i live is that hard work she inquired very they were silent then and the girl s face grew serious as she rested on her oars and still surveyed him with a straight candid gaze that though earnest and penetrating had nothing of boldness in it it was the look of one in whose past there were no secrets the look of a child who is satisfied with the present and takes no thought for the future few women look so after they have entered their social affectation and the vanity that modern life in the feminine nature all these things soon do away with the clearness and of the eye the beautiful true expression which though so rare is when seen infinitely more than all the bright arrows of and sparkling invitation that flash from the glances of well bred society who have taken care to their eyes if not their hearts this girl was evidently not trained properly had she been so she would have dropped a curtain over those wide bright windows of her soul she would have remembered that she was alone with a strange man at midnight at midnight though the sun shone she would have and feigned embarrassment even if she could not feel it as it happened she did nothing of the kind only her expression softened and became more wistful and earnest and when she spoke again her voice was mellow with a gentleness that had something in it of compassion if you do not love life itself she said you love the beautiful things of life do you not see yonder there is what we call the meeting of night and morning one is glad to be alive at such a moment look quickly the light soon she pointed towards the east her companion gazed in that direction and uttered an exclamation almost a shout of wonder and admiration within the space of the past few minutes the aspect of the heavens had completely changed the burning scarlet and violet hues had all melted into a transparent yet brilliant shade of pale as delicate as the inner tint of a blossom and across this stretched two wing shaped clouds of watery green fringed with soft between these cloud wings as in lustre as those of a fly the face of the sun shone like a shield of polished gold while his rays piercing spear like through the varied tints of brought an radiance over the landscape a lustre as though the moon were in some strange way with the sun for mastery over the visible universe though looking southward she could dimly be perceived the ghost of a poor fainting pallid goddess a the land of the midnight sun bringing his glance down from the skies the young man turned it to the face of the maiden near him and was startled at her marvellous beauty beauty now heightened by the effect of the colours that played around her the very boat in which she sat glittered with a bronze like brightness as it heaved gently to and fro on the silvery green water the midnight sunshine bathed the falling glory of her long hair till each thick each curl appeared to | 33 |
an spark of light the strange weird effect of the sky seemed to have stolen into her eyes making them shine with witch like brilliancy the varied radiance flashing about her brought into strong relief the of her drawing as with a fine pencil the out lines of her noble forehead sweet mouth and rounded chin it touched the scarlet of her and brightened the quaint old silver she wore at her waist and throat till she seemed no longer an earthly being but more like some fair wandering from the kingdom of the abode of the luminous she was gazing upwards and her expression was one of and almost intensity thus she remained for some moments motionless as the picture of an expectant angel painted by or then reluctantly and with a deep sigh she turned her eyes towards earth again in so doing she met the fixed and too visibly admiring gaze of her companion she started and a wave of vivid colour flushed her cheeks quickly recovering her serenity however she saluted him slightly and moving her oars in was on the point of departure stirred by an impulse he could not resist he laid one hand on the rim of her boat are you going now he asked she raised her eyebrows in some little surprise and smiled going she repeated why yes i shall be late in getting home as it is stop a moment he said eagerly feeling that he could not let this beautiful creature leave him as utterly as a night s dream without some clue as to her origin and destination will you not tell me your name she drew herself erect with a look of indignation t a sir i ao not know you the maidens of do not give their names to strangers pardon me he replied somewhat abashed i mean no offence we have watched the midnight sun together and and i thought he paused feeling very foolish and unable to conclude his sentence she looked at him from under her long curling lashes you will often find a peasant girl on the shores of the watching the midnight sun at the same time as yourself she said and there was a suspicion of laughter in her voice it is not unusual it is not even necessary that you should remember so little a thing necessary or not i shall never forget it he said with sudden you are no peasant come if i give you my name will you still deny me yours her delicate brows drew together in a frown of haughty and decided refusal no names please my ears save those that are familiar she said with intense coldness we shall not meet again farewell and without further word or look she leaned gracefully to the oars and pulling with a long steady resolute stroke the httle boat darted away as lightly and swiftly as a swallow out on the water he stood gazing after it till it became a distant speck sparkling like a diamond in the light of sky and wave and when he could no more watch it with eyes he took up his field glass and followed its course attentively he saw it cutting along as as an arrow then suddenly it dipped round to the westward apparently making straight for some rocks that projected far into the it reached them it grew less and less it disappeared at the same time the lustre of the heavens gave way to a pale pearl like uniform gray tint that stretched far and wide folding up as in a mantle all the luxury of the sun king s palace the subtle and delicate chill of the coming dawn stole across the water a light haze rose and obscured the opposite islands something of the tender melancholy of autumn though it was late june toned down the aspect of the before brilliant landscape a lark the land of the midnight sun rose from its nest in an adjacent meadow and soaring higher and higher poured from its tiny throat a of delicious melody the midnight sun no longer shone at midnight his face smiled with a serenity through the faint early mists of approaching morning chapter il je te des les des m ont v baffled he exclaimed with a slight vexed laugh as the boat vanished from his sight by a woman who would have thought it who would have thought it indeed i sir philip the wealthy and desirable par i for whom many mothers had stood knee deep in the chilly though sparkling waters of society rod and line with patient vainly hoping to secure him as a husband for one of their highly proper and daughters he the admired long sought after eligible was suddenly by whom a stray princess or a peasant he vaguely wondered as he lit a cigar and strolled up and down on the shore meditating with a puzzled almost annoyed expression on his handsome features he was not accustomed to of any kind however trifling his position being commanding and enough to attract flattery and friendship from most people he was the only son of a as renowned for as for wealth he had been the spoilt darling of his mother and now both his parents being dead he was alone in the world heir to his father s and entire master of his own actions and as part of the penalty he had to pay for being rich and good looking to boot he was so much run after by women that he found it hard to understand the haughty indifference with which he had just been treated by one of the most fair if not the fairest of her sex he was and his re was wounded i m sure my question was harmless enough he mused half she might have answered it lo he | 33 |
see clearly where he was going thereupon he struck a match at first he could observe no sign of human habitation not even a rope or chain or hook to intimate that it was a customary shelter for a boat the match went out quickly and he lit another looking more carefully and closely about him he perceived on a projecting shelf of rock a small antique lamp in shape made of iron and wrought with curious letters there was oil in it and a half burnt it had evidently been recently used he availed himself at once of this useful to his and lighting it was able by the clear and steady flame it to see everything very distinctly right before him was an flight of steps leading down to a closed door he paused and listened attentively there was no sound but the slow of the water near the entrance within the thickness of the walls shut out the gay of the birds and all the cheerful noises of awakening nature silence and partial obscurity are influences and the warm blood flowing through his veins ran a trifle more slowly and coldly as he felt the sort of uncomfortable sensation which is experienced by the and most careless traveller when he first goes down to the in rome a sort of damp the land of the midnight sun shudder through the system and a dreary feeling of general the faculties a morbid state of body and mind which is only to be by a speedy return to the warm sunlight and a draught of generous wine sir philip however held the antique lamp aloft and descended the clumsy steps cautiously counting twenty steps in all at the bottom of which he found himself face to face with the closed door it was made of hard wood so hard as to be almost like iron it was black with age and covered with quaint and but in the middle standing out in bold relief among the figures and devices was written in large well cut letters the word by jove he exclaimed i have it the girl s name of course this is some private retreat of hers i suppose a kind of like my lady s only with rather a difference and he laughed aloud thinking of the dainty gold satin of a certain room in a certain great mansion in park lane where an aristocratic and handsome lady leader of fashion had as nearly made love to him as it was possible for her to do without losing her social dignity his laugh was echoed back with a weird and hollow sound as though a hidden demon of the cave were mocking him a demon whose merriment was intense but also horrible he heard the repetition with a kind of careless admiration that echo would make a fortune in if it could be persuaded to back up with that truly ha hap he said his examination of the name on the door then an odd fancy seized him and he called loudly shouted the echo is that her name her name i replied the i thought so r and philip laughed again while the echo laughed wildly in answer just the sort of name to suit a or goddess is quaint and appropriate and as far as i can remember there s no rhyme to it in the english language p and he lingered on the of the strange word with a curious sensation of pleasure there is something mysteriously suggestive about the sound of it like a of music played softly in the distance now can i get through this door i wonder he pushed it gently it yielded very slightly and he tried again and yet again finally he put down the lamp and set his shoulder against the wooden barrier with all his force a dull creaking sound rewarded his efforts and inch by inch the huge door opened into what at first appeared darkness holding up the light he looked in and uttered a smothered exclamation a sudden gust of wind rushed from the sea through the passage and extinguished the lamp leaving him in profound gloom nothing he sought his match box there was just one left in it this he hastily struck and the glow carefully with one hand his lamp and stepped boldly into the mysterious the murmur of the wind and waves like spirit voices in followed him as he entered he found himself in a spacious winding corridor that had evidently been out in the rocks and fashioned by human hands its construction was after the ancient method but the wonder of the place consisted in the walls which were entirely covered with shells shells of every shape and hue some delicate as rose leaves some rough and others polished as ivory some gleaming with a thousand colours others pure white as the foam on high many c f them were turned in such a position as to show their inner sides glistening with soft tints like the shades of fine silk or satin others glittered with the of mother o pearl all were arranged in exquisite patterns evidently copied from fixed designs there were stars roses hearts crossed ships and implements of war all faithfully depicted with extraordinary neatness and care as though each particular emblem had served some special purpose sir philip walked along very slowly delighted with his discovery and pausing to examine each as he passed the of the midnight sun amused himself with speculations as to the meaning of this beautiful so yet decorated some old place of worship i suppose he thought there must be many such hidden in different of it has nothing to do with the christian faith for among all these devices i don t perceive a single cross he was right there were no crosses but there were many designs | 33 |
of the sun the sun rising the sun setting the sun in full glory with all his rays embroidered round him in tiny shells some of them no bigger than a pin s head what a waste of time and labour he mused who would undertake such a thing nowadays fancy the patience and delicacy of finger required to fit all these shells in their places i and they are in strong mortar too as if the work were meant to be full of pleased interest he pursued his way winding in and out through different arches all more or less richly ornamented till he came to a tall round column which seemingly supported the whole gallery for all the arches towards it it was from top to bottom with roses and their leaves all worked in pink and shells with small pieces of shining and polished the of the lamp he carried made it like a mass of jewel work and absorbed in his close examination of this unique specimen of ancient art sir philip did not at once perceive that another light beside his own from out the a little beyond him an opening that led into some recess he had not as yet a peculiar lustre sparkling on one side of the however at last attracted his attention and glancing up quickly he saw to his surprise the reflection of a strange radiance tinted and brilliant turning in its direction he paused could there be some one living in that chamber to which the long passage he had followed evidently led some one who would perhaps resent his intrusion as an impertinence some eccentric artist or who had made the cave his home or was it perhaps a refuge for he listened anxiously there was no sound he waited a minute or two then boldly advanced determined to solve the mystery i this last was lower than any of those he had passed through and he was forced to take off his hat and stoop as he went under it when he raised his head he remained uncovered for he saw at a glance that the place was sacred he was in the presence not of life but death the chamber in which he stood was square in form and more richly ornamented with than any other portion ot the he had seen and facing the east was an altar out of the solid rock and studded thickly with and mother o pearl it was covered with the incomprehensible of a creed worked in most exquisite shell patterns but on it as though in solemn protest against the past stood a of and carved ivory before which burned steadily a red lamp the meaning of the mysterious light was thus explained but what chiefly interested was the central object of the place a or rather a plain granite which was placed on the floor lying from north to south upon it in strange contrast to the sombre coldness of the stone a large wreath of gathered the vivid scarlet of the flowers the gleam of the shining shells on the walls the mournful figure of the ivory christ stretched on the cross among all those pagan the intense silence broken only by the slow of water somewhere behind the and more than these outward things his own impressive conviction that he was with the imperial dead imperial because past the sway of empire all made a powerful impression on his mind by degrees his first sensations of awe he approached the and examined it it was closed and all round so that it might have been one compact block of stone so far as its outward appearance stooping more closely however to look at the brilliant he started back with a slight exclamation cut deeply in the hard granite he read for the second time that odd name it belonged to some one dead then not to the lovely living woman who had so lately confronted him in the burning glow of the midnight sun he felt dismayed at his the land of the midnight sun ly tion he had in his fancy actually associated her so full of radiant health and beauty with what was probably a corpse in that sealed of stone this idea was unpleasant and upon his feelings surely she that golden haired of the had nothing to do with he had evidently found his way into some ancient tomb might be the name or title of some long departed queen or princess of yet if so how came the there the red lamp the flowers he lingered looking curiously about him as if he fancied the shell embroidered walls might whisper some answer to his thoughts the silence offered no suggestions the plaintive figure of the tortured christ suspended on the cross maintained an immovable watch over all things and there was a subtle faint floating about as of crushed or while he still stood there absorbed in perplexed conjectures he became oppressed by want of air the red hue of the wreath mingled with the softer glow of the lamp on the altar the moist glitter of the shells and polished pebbles seemed to and his eyes he felt dizzy and faint and hastily made his way out of that close death chamber into the passage where he leaned for a few minutes against the great central column to recover himself a brisk breath of wind from the came through the gallery and blew coldly upon his forehead refreshed by it he rapidly overcame the sensation of and began to his steps through the winding arches thinking with some satisfaction as he went what a romantic incident he would have to relate to and his other friends when a sudden glare of light the passage and he was brought to an | 33 |
aware of either his wealth or the dwarf observed his movement of surprise with a cunning smile is wise is brave i who shall deceive him he knows you well he will always know you the old gods teach all his wisdom the gods of the sea and the wind the sleepy gods that lie in the hearts of the flowers the small spirits that sit in shells and sing all day and all night he paused and his eyes filled with a wistful look of attention he drew closer come he said earnestly come you must listen to my music perhaps you can tell me what it means he picked up his torch and held it aloft again then to follow him he led the way to a small cut deeply into the wall of the here there were no shell patterns little green grew thickly out of the stone and a minute of water slowly down from above the delicate as it fell with quick fingers he removed a loose stone from this and as he did so a low shuddering wail through the arches a melancholy moan that rose and sank and rose again in weird sorrowful minor echoes hear her murmured she is always it is a pity she cannot rest she is a spirit you know i have often asked her what troubles her but she will not tell me she only his companion looked at him the sound that so affected his disordered imagination was nothing but the wind blowing through the narrow hole formed by the removal of the land of the midnight sun si the stone but it was useless to explain this simple fact to one in his condition tell me and sir philip spoke very gently is this your home the dwarf surveyed him almost scornfully my home he echoed my home is everywhere on the mountains in the forests on the black rocks and barren shores my soul lives between the sun and the sea my heart is with i here was perhaps a clue to the mystery who is asked somewhat hurriedly broke into violent and laughter do you think i will tell you r he cried loudly you one of that strong cruel race who must conquer all they see who everything fair under heaven and will buy it even at the cost of blood and tears do you think i will the door of my treasure to you no no besides and his voice sank lower what should you do with she is dead i and as if possessed by a sudden access of frenzy he his pine torch wildly above his head till it a rain of bright sparks above him and exclaimed furiously away away and trouble me not the days are not yet fulfilled the time is not yet ripe why seek to hasten my end away away i tell you leave me in peace i will die when bids me but not till then and he rushed down the long gallery and disappeared in the chamber where he gave vent to a sort of long sobbing cry which rang through the and then subsided into utter silence feeling as if he were in a dream pursued his interrupted course through the winding passages with a bewildered and wondering mind what strange place had he lighted on and who were the still stranger beings in connection with it first the beautiful girl herself next the mysterious coffin hidden in its fanciful shell temple and now this madman with the pale face and fine eyes whose though somewhat of and prophecy and what spell was attached to that name of the more he thought of his morning s adventure the more puzzled he became as a rule he believed more in the commonplace than aa in the most people do but truth to tell romance is far more common than the commonplace there are few who have not at one time or other of their lives had some strange or tragic episode woven into the of their every day existence and it would be difficult to find one person even among individuals who from birth to death has experienced nothing out of the common generally dismissed all tales of adventure as mere of heated fancy and had he read in some book of a respectable nineteenth century having such an interview with a madman in a sea he would have laughed at the affair as an utter though he could not have explained why he considered it improbable but now it had occurred to himself he was both surprised and amused at the whole circumstance moreover he was sufficiently interested and curious to be desirous of the matter to its foundation it was however somewhat of a relief to him when he again reached the outer he replaced the lamp on the shelf where he had found it and stepped once more into the brilliant light of the very early dawn which then had all the splendour cf full morning there was a wind the blue sky was musical with a chorus of and every breath of air that waved aside the long grass sent forth a thousand from hidden beds of wild and he perceived the at anchor in her old place on the she had returned while he was absent on his gathering together his rug and painting materials he blew a whistle sharply three times he was answered from the and presently a boat by a couple of sailors came over the water towards him it soon reached the shore and entering it he was speedily rowed away from the scene of his morning s experience back to his floating palace where as yet none of his friends were stirring how about he inquired of one of his men did they climb it a slow grin the sailor s brown face lord bless | 33 |
you no sir i mr he just looked at it and sat down in the shade the other gentlemen played toss with pebbles they were main hungry too and ate a the land of the midnight sun mighty sight of am and then they came on board and all turned in at once laughed he was amused at the utter failure of s recent sudden energy but not surprised his thoughts were however busied with something else and he next asked where s our pilot sir he went down to his as soon as we for a he said all right if he comes on deck before i do just tell him not to go ashore for anything till i see him i want to speak to him after breakfast ay ay sir whereupon sir philip descended to his private cabin he drew the blind at the port hole to shut out the dazzling sunlight for it was nearly three o clock in the morning and quickly he flung himself into his berth with a slight not altogether unpleasant feeling of exhaustion to the last as his eyes closed he seemed to hear the slow of the water behind the rocky and the desolate cry of the incomprehensible while through these sounds that mingled with the of little waves against the sides of the the name of murmured itself in his ears till slumber drowned his senses in chapter iii hast any mortal name fit for this dazzling frame or friends or on the earth t this is positively absurd murmured in mildly injured tones seven hours later as he sat on the edge of his berth surveying who fully dressed and in the highest spirits had burst in to him for his while he was yet but attired i tell you my good fellow there are some things which the utmost stretch of friendship will not stand here am i in shirt and trousers with only one on and you dare to say you have had an adventure i why if you had cut a piece out of the sun you ought to wait till a man is shaved before mentioning it don t be old boy laughed gaily put on that other and listen i don t want to tell those r fellows just yet they might go making inquiries about her oh there is a her in the case is there said opening his eyes rather widely well i thought you had had enough and something too much of women this is not a woman declared philip with heat and eagerness at least not the sort of woman have ever known this is a forest sea goddess or sun angel i i don t know she is upon my life i regarded him with an of offence don t go on please don t he implored i can t stand it i really can t verse is too much for me forest sea goddess sun angel by jove what next you are evidently in a very bad way if i remember rightly you had a of that old green with you ah that accounts for it i nice stuff but a little too strong laughed and by his friend s proceeded to relate with much vivacity and the of the morning listened patiently with a smile on his open ruddy countenance when he had heard everything he looked up and inquired calmly this is not a is it a exclaimed philip do you think i would invent such a thing can t say returned you are quite capable of it it s a very creditable due to might have been designed by victor it s in his style scene midnight mysterious maiden out of a cave and away in a boat over the water man the hero goes into cave finds a stone coffin says est ce c est di c est la spectacle back meets mad dwarf with torch mad dwarf talks a good deal mad people always do then and runs away man comes out of cave and and goes home to astonish his friends one of them won t be astonished that s me i the land of the midnight sun i don t care said it s a true story for all that only i say don t talk of it before the others let s keep our own counsel no allowed on the sun angel interrupted gravely philip went on without him question after breakfast he knows everybody about here come and have a smoke on deck when i give you the sign and we ll cross examine him still looked incredulous what s the good of it he inquired languidly even if it s all true you had much better leave this goddess or whatever you call her alone especially if she has any mad connections what do you want with her nothing declared though his colour heightened nothing i assure you i it s just a matter of curiosity with me i should like to know who she is that s all the affair won t go any further how do you know and began to brush his stiff curly hair with a sort of vicious vigour how can you tell i m not a nor any sort of a at all i hope but i sometimes indulge in before we started on this i was haunted by that dismal old ballad of sir the king s daughter of tis thou bring her v and here you have found her or so it appears what s to come of it i wonder nothing s to come of it nothing will come of it laughed philip as i told you she said she was a peasant there s the breakfast bell make haste old boy i m as hungry as a hunter and he left his friend to finish dressing | 33 |
and entered the saloon where he greeted his two other companions or as he was oftener called sandy and z the former an oxford student the latter a young fellow whose acquaintance he had made in paris and with whom he had kept up a constant and friendly intercourse a greater contrast than these two presented could scarcely be imagined was tall and with large lo se joints that seemed to out of him in every direction was short slight and with a and by no means figure the one had formal manners a never to be accent and a slow infinitely tedious method of expressing himself the other was full of restless movement and gesture and being proud of his english plunged into that language making it curiously light and though picturesque as he went was destined to become a shining light of the established church of scotland and therefore took life very seriously was the spoilt only child of an eminent french banker and had very little to do but enjoy himself and that he did most thoroughly without any calculation or care for the future on all points of taste and opinion they differed widely but there was no doubt about their both being good hearted fellows without any affectation of vice or virtue so you did not climb after all remarked as they seated themselves at the breakfast table my friend what would you cried i have not said that i will climb it no i never say that i will do anything because i m not sure of myself how can i be it is that that said such brave words see we arrive we behold the shore all black great vast rocks like needles and higher than all this most fierce what a name straight as the spire of a cathedral one must be a fly to crawl up it and we we are not flies ma foil no he laugh he so i he say not for me to day i very much thank you i and then we watch the sun ah i that was grand glorious beautiful and z kissed the tips of his fingers in ecstasy what think about it sandy asked sir philip not much responded shortly it s not half so fine a sight as a sunset in it s to see the sun losing his and remaining stock still as it were when it s his plain duty to sink below the horizon i think it s been over it s unnatural anyhow of course it is agreed who just then sauntered in from his cabin nature is most unnatural i always thought so tea for me please coffee wakes me up too suddenly i say what s the programme to day fishing in the answered promptly the land of the midnight sun t t that suits me perfectly said as he leisurely his tea i m an excellent i hold the line and generally forget to bait it then while it in the water i thus both the fish and i are happy and this evening went on we must return the minister s call he s been to the twice we re bound to go out of common politeness spare us good lord i groaned what a delightfully fat man is that good religious cried a living proof of the of i he s not a native put in he s from he s only been a matter of three months here filling the place of the settled minister who s away for a change of air he s a precious specimen of a anyhow sighed however i ll be civil to him as long as he doesn t ask me to hear him preach at that suggestion i ll fight him he s soft enough to easily you re just too lazy to fight anybody declared smiled sweetly thanks awfully i dare say you re right i ve never found it worth while as yet to exert myself in any particular direction no one has asked me to exert myself no one wants me to exert myself therefore why should i don t you want to get on in the world asked almost dear me no i what an idea get on in the world what for i have five hundred a year and when my mother goes over to the majority long distant be that day for i m very fond of the dear old lady i shall have five than enough to satisfy any sane man who doesn t want to on the stock exchange v r case my good is different you will be a celebrated scotch divine you will preach to a crowd of pious about and so forth you will be stump orator for the securing of seats in paradise now now keep calm don t mind me it s only a figure of speech and the will call you a rare powerful preacher isn t that the way they go on and when you die for die you must most unfortunately they will give you a three block of granite if they can make up their minds to part with the necessary with your name prettily en that s all very nice it suits some people it wouldn t suit me what would suit you d you find everything more or less of a bore ah my good little broke in paris is the place for you you should live in paris of that you would never fatigue yourself too much secret murder and returned that was a neat idea about the though i never hoped to dine off a coffin ah you mean the de exclaimed yes the divine wore winding sheets and the wine was served in imitation excellent i remember the tables were shaped like good lord almighty murmured | 33 |
what a sight as he pronounced these words with an unusually marked accent looked what does our say he says it must have been a sight repeated with even a stronger accent than sandy s own which mon means all the horrors in your language anything you like that is sufficiently terrible point du p cried it was charming it made us laugh at death so much better than to cry and there was a delicious child in a winding sheet brown curls laughing eyes and little mouth ha ha but she was well worth kissing i i d rather follow my own funeral than kiss a in a winding sheet said sandy in solemn and tones it s just awful to think on but see my friend persisted you would not be permitted to follow your own funeral not possible i you a e permitted to kiss the pretty one in the winding sheet it is possible behold the difference never mind the de i just now said who had finished his breakfast hurriedly it s time for you fellows to get your fishing on i m off to speak to the pilot the land of the midnight sun and away he went followed more slowly by who though he pretended indifference was rather curious to know more if possible concerning his friend s adventure of the morning they found the pilot leaning at his ease against this idle wheel with his face turned towards the eastern sky he was a specimen of manhood tall and strongly built with thoughtful dignified features and keen clear eyes his chestnut hair sprinkled with gray clustered thickly over a broad brow that was deeply with many a line of anxious and thought and the forcible brown hand that rested lightly on the of the wheel told its own tale of hard and honest labour neither wife nor child nor living relative had the one passion of his heart was the sea sir philip had engaged him at hearing of him there as a man to whom the of the and the dangers of rock bound were more familiar than a straight road on dry land and since then the management of the had been entirely to him though an eminently practical sailor he was half a mystic and believed in the wildest legends of his land with more faith than many so called christians believe in their sacred doctrines he his red cap respectfully now as and approached wishing them a fair day sir philip offered him a cigar and coming to the point at once asked abruptly i say are there any pretty girls in the pilot drew the newly lit cigar from his mouth and passed his rough hand across his forehead in a sort of grave perplexity it is a matter in which i am foolish he said at last for my ways have always gone far from the ways of women girls there are plenty i suppose but he mused with pondering patience for awhile then a broad smile broke like sunshine over his countenance as he continued now gentlemen i do remember well it is said that at yonder are to be found some of the in all s face fell at this reply turned away to hide the mischievous smile that came on his lips at his friend s discomfiture i know it was that he thought to that and the midnight sun effects nothing else what went on philip no good looking girls at all about here eh shook his head still not at sir that i ever heard oi i say broke in are there any old or or places of that sort close by worth exploring answered this question readily almost eagerly no sir there are no of any sort and as for there are plenty but only the natural of the sea and none of these are curious or beautiful on this side of the his friend secretly in the ribs youve been dreaming old fellow he whispered i knew it was a t shook him off good can you tell me he said addressing again in distinct accents whether there is any place person or thing near here called r the pilot started a look of astonishment and fear came into his eyes his hand went instinctively to his red cap as though in deference to the name the he exclaimed n low tones is it possible that you have seen her ah george what do you say now cried yes yes the as you call her who is she what is she and how can there be no pretty girls in if such a beautiful creature as she lives there looked troubled and vexed truly i thought not of the maiden he said gravely tis not for me to speak of the daughter of here his voice sank a little and his face grew more and more sombre pardon me sir but how did you meet her by accident replied promptly not caring to relate his morning s adventure for the pilot s benefit is she some great personage here sighed and smiled somewhat great oh no not what you would call great her father the land of the midnight sun is a that is a farmer in his own right he has a goodly house and a few fair acres well planted and also he pays his men freely but those that work for him are all he sees neither he nor his daughter ever visit the town they dwell apart and have nothing in common with their neighbours and where do they live asked becoming as interested as he had formerly been incredulous the pilot leaned lightly over the rail of the deck and pointed towards the west you see that great rock shaped like a giant s and behind it a high green clustered thick with and pine | 33 |
with a sort of shallow cunning which might mean malice or good humour no one looking at them could precisely determine which his hair was of an indefinite shade neither light nor dark somewhat of the tinge of a dusty before it is washed clean it was neatly brushed and parted in the middle with precision while from the back of his head it was brought forward in two one on each side like wings behind his ears it was impossible for the most fastidious critic to find fault with the reverend mr s hands he had beautiful hands white soft plump and well shaped his delicate nails were trimmed with care and shone with a pink lustre that was positively charming he was evidently an amiable man for he smiled to himself over his tea he had a trick of smiling ill natured people said he did it on purpose in order to his mouth and make it more in proportion to the size of his face such remarks however only from the and envious who could not succeed in winning the social popularity that everywhere attended mr s movements for he was undoubtedly popular no one could deny that in the small town where he usually had his abode he came little short of being adored by the of his own particular who crowded to listen to his fervent and came away from them on the verge of so profoundly moved were their sensitive souls by his doctrines the men were more reluctant in their admiration yet even they were always ready to admit that he was an excellent fellow with his heart in the right place he had a convenient way of getting ill at the proper seasons and of requiring immediate change of air whereupon his grateful flock were ready and willing to the money necessary for their beloved preacher to take repose and in any part of the world he chose this however they had not been asked to furnish the usual funds for travelling expenses for the resident minister of a frail gentle old man had been seriously during the past winter with an affection of the lungs which his going to a different climate for change and rest knowing as a zealous member of the persuasion and moreover as one who had in his youth lived for some years in thereby gaining a knowledge the land of the midnight sun of the tongue he invited him to take his place for his enforced time of absence offering him his house his servants his pony carriage and an agreeable pecuniary in exchange for his services proposals which the reverend charles eagerly accepted though was not exactly new to him the region of the was and he at once felt though he knew not why that the air there would be the very thing to benefit his delicate constitution besides it looked well for at least one occasion to go away for the summer without asking his congregation to pay for his trip it was generous on his part almost noble the ladies of his flock wept at his departure and made him slippers and other gear of the like description to recall their sweet memories to his mind during his absence from their society but truth to tell mr gave little thought to these fond and fair ones he was much too comfortable at to look back with any yearning to the ugly precise little provincial town he had left behind him the minister s quaint pretty house suited him perfectly the minister s servants were most punctual in their services the minister s conveniently held his person and the minister s pony was a quiet beast that trotted good wherever it was guided and at nothing yes he was thoroughly comfortable as comfortable as a truly pious fat man deserves to be and all the work he had to do was to preach twice on sundays to a quiet primitive decently ordered congregation who listened to his words respectfully though without displaying any rapture their however did not affect him he preached to please himself loving above all things to hear the sound of his own voice and never so happy as when thundering fierce against the church of rome his thoughts seemed tending in that direction now as he poured himself out his third cup of tea and shook his head over it while he stirred the cream and sugar in for he took from his waistcoat pocket a small glittering object and laid it before him on the table still shaking his head and smiling with a patient yet air of superior wisdom it was a of mother o pearl and silver the symbol of the christian faith but it seemed to carry no sacred suggestions to the soul of mr on the contrary he looked at it with an expression of meek ridicule ridicule that bordered on contempt a roman he murmured placidly to himself between two large of toast the girl is a roman and thereby hopelessly damned and he smiled again more sweetly than before as though the idea of hopeless suggested some peculiarly agreeable reflections his fine scented handkerchief he carefully wiped his fat white fingers free from the greasy marks of the toast and taking up the objectionable cross as though it were red hot he examined it closely on all sides there were some words engraved on the back of it and after some trouble mr them out they were me t he shook his head with a sort of resigned cheerfulness hopelessly damned he murmured again gently unless what alternative suggested itself to his mind was not precisely apparent for his thoughts suddenly turned in a more frivolous direction rising from the now exhausted tea table he drew out a small pocket mirror and surveyed himself therein with mild approval | 33 |
with the extreme end of his handkerchief he tenderly removed two that presumed to linger in the comers of his mouth in the same way he detached a morsel of butter that clung to the end of his retreating nose this done he again looked at himself with increased satisfaction and putting by his pocket mirror rang the bell it was answered at once by a tall strongly built woman with a stolid countenance that might have been carved out of wood for any expression it had m it said mr you can clear the table without answering began to pack the tea things together in a way without so much as a plate or and them on the tray was about to the room when mr called to her sir the land of the midnight sun did you ever see a thing like this before and he held up the to her gaze the woman shuddered and her dull eyes lit up with a sudden terror it is the witch s charm she muttered thickly while her pale face grew yet paler burn it sir bum it and the power will leave her mr laughed my good woman you mistake he said your zeal for the true gospel leads you into error there are thousands of persons who worship such a thing as this it is often all of our dear lord they know sad very sad but still though they alas are not of the elect and are plainly doomed to they are not precisely what are termed s is replied the woman with a sort of ferocity and if i had my way i would tell her so to her face and see what would happen to her then tut tut remarked mr the days of are past you show some little ignorance you are not acquainted with the great advancement of recent learning maybe maybe and turned to go but she muttered sullenly as she went there be them that know and could tell and them that will have her yet she shut the door behind her with a sharp and left to himself mr again smiled such a smile he then walked to the window and looked out it was past seven o clock an hour that elsewhere would have been considered evening but in at that season it still seemed afternoon the sun was shining brilliantly and in the minister s front garden the roses were all wide awake a soft moisture glittered on every tiny leaf and blade of grass the penetrating and delicious of sweet scented each puff of wind and now and then the call of the pierced the air with a subdued far from his position mr could catch a glimpse through the trees of the principal of a small primitive street enough of little low houses which though from without were and comfortable within the distant cool sparkle of the waters of the the refreshing breeze the perfume of the flowers and the satisfied impression left on his mind by recent tea and toast all these things combined had a soothing effect on mr and with a sigh of absolute comfort he settled his large person in a deep easy chair and composed himself for pious meditation he meditated long with fast closed eyes and open mouth while the earnestness of his inward thoughts was clearly now and then by an irrepressible almost triumphant from that trifling elevation of his countenance called by courtesy a nose when his reverie was suddenly broken in upon by the sound of several footsteps slowly along the garden path and starting up from his chair he perceived four individuals clad in white flannel and wearing light straw hats trimmed with fluttering blue ribbons who were leisurely up to his door and stopping occasionally to admire the flowers on their way mr s face visibly with excitement the gentlemen from the he murmured to himself hastily settling his collar and and pushing up his wings of hair more behind his ears i never thought they would come dear me sir philip himself too i must have instantly and he hurried from the room calling his orders to as he went and before the visitors had time to ring he had thrown open the door to them himself and stood smiling on the threshold them with enthusiasm and assuring sir philip especially how much honoured he felt by his thus visiting familiarly and his humble dwelling waved his many compliments good aside and allowed himself and his friends to be into the best parlour the drawing room of the house a pretty little apartment whose window looked out upon a tangled yet graceful of flowers nice place this remarked as he seated himself on the arm of tjie sofa you must be pretty comfortable here their and host rubbed his soft white bands together gently the land of the midnight sun i thank heaven it suits my simple needs he answered meekly luxuries do not become a poor servant of god ah then you are different to many others who profess to serve the same master said with a fin that had the devil s own mockery in it le bon is very impartial some serve him by constant over feeding others by constant over starving it is all one to him apparently how do you know which among his servants he likes best the fat or the lean sandy though slightly a for his own form of doctrine broke into a low chuckle of irrepressible laughter at s levity but mr s face the utmost horror sir he said gravely there are subjects concerning which it is not to speak without due reverence he his own elect he hath chosen them out from the beginning he summoned forth from the million the glorious of reform martin z bon laughed tempted | 33 |
by a pretty i what man could resist myself i would try to upset all the of this world if i saw a pretty worth my trouble yes truly a pity though that the poor died of over eating his exit from life was so shut up z said severely you mr by your oh pray do not mention it sir philip murmured the reverend gentleman with a mild patience we must ourselves to hear with forbearance the opinions of all men how contradictory otherwise our is of no avail yet is it sorely grievous to me to consider that there should be any person or persons who lack the necessary faith requisite for the performance of god s promises you must understand mr said in his slow deliberate manner that you have before you a young frenchman who doesn t believe in anything except himself and even as to whether he himself is a man or a he has his doubts very grave doubts nodded that is so he exclaimed our dear sandy puts it so to be a seems original to be a mere man quite ordinary i believe it is possible to find some good scientific professor who would prove me to be a the moving shadow of a dream imagine how perfectly poetical you talk too much to be a dream my boy laughed and turning to mr he added i m afraid you must think us a shocking set we are really none of us very religious i fear though and he tried to look serious if it had not been for mr we should have come to church last sunday mr was unfortunately rather as that gentleman turning from the little window where he had been gathering a rose for his button hole i was knocked up had fits and all that sort of thing took these three fellows all their time on sunday to hold me down dear me and mr was about to make further inquiries concerning mr s present state of health when the door opened and entered bearing a large tray laden with wine and other as she set it down she gave a keen covert glance round the room as though rapidly taking note of the appearance and faces of all the young men then with a she departed as noiselessly as she had come not however without leaving a disagreeable impression on s mind rather a stern that waiting maid of yours he remarked watching his host who was carefully drawing the cork from one of the bottles of wine mr smiled oh no no not stern at all he answered sweetly on the contrary most and her only fault is that she is a little zealous for the purity of the faith and she has suffered much but she is an excellent woman really excellent sir philip will you try this exclaimed z you do not surely get that in it seems strange certainly replied mr but it is a fact that the italian or are often used here the minister whose place i humbly endeavour to fill has his cellar with them the matter is easy of comprehension when once explained the inhabitants of italy a land lost in the darkness of r still persist in their notwithstanding the land of the midnight sun the evident folly of their ways and the sailors provide them with large quantities of fish for their customs bringing back their in exchange a very good idea said the with evident approval i doubt if your on board the are better than this hardly so good replied with some surprise as he tasted the wine and noted its delicious the minister must be a fine are there many other families about here mr who know how to choose their so well mr smiled with a air there is one other household that in the matter of choice is almost particular he said but they are people who are with good reason from respectable society and it me not to speak of their names oh indeed said while a sudden and inexplicable thrill of indignation fired his blood and sent it in a wave of colour up to his forehead may i ask but he was interrupted by who him on one side muttered keep cool old fellow you can t tell whether he s talking about the folk be quiet you don t want to know your little game thus philip swallowed a large of wine to keep down his feelings and strove to appear interested in the habits and of bees a subject into which mr had just and come and see my bees said the reverend charles almost they are of ever working and patient industry up honey for others to partake thereof they wouldn t store it up at all perhaps if they knew that observed sandy significantly mr positively shone all over with they would store it up sir yes they would even if they knew it is god s will that they should store it up it is god s will that they should show an example of that they should from flower to flower the sweetness to impart unto strange unlike their own it is a beautiful lesson it teaches us who are the ministers of the lord to likewise the sweetness from the flowers of the living gospel and impart it gladly to the who shall find it sweeter than the sweetest honey and he shook his head several times while the of his fat holy oil secretly looked solemn come repeated the reverend gentleman with an inviting smile come and see my bees also my i shall be delighted to send a basket of the fruit to the if sir philip will permit me expressed his thanks with due courtesy and hastened to seize the opportunity that | 33 |
presented itself for breaking away from the party if you will excuse us for twenty minutes or so mr he said and i want to consult a fellow here in about some new fishing tackle we shan t be gone long you and wait for us here don t commit too many on mr s the reason for their departure was so simply and naturally given that it was accepted without any opposing remarks was delighted to have the chance of amusing himself by the reverend charles with open professions of utter and who loved an argument more than he loved looked forward to a sharp discussion presently concerning the superiority of john morally and physically over martin so that when the others went their way their departure excited no suspicion in the minds of their friends and most of all was the placid mr who had he imagined for an instant the direction which they were going would certainly not have on the pleasures of bee keeping with the calmness and placid conviction that always distinguished him when holding forth on any subject that was attractive to his mind leading the way through his rose grown garden and conversing as he went he escorted and to what he called with a gentle humour his bee metropolis while and returned to the shore of the where they had left their boat to a small constructed pier and entering it they set themselves to the oars and pulled away together with the long steady sweeping stroke the land of the midnight sun famous by the exploits of the oxford and cambridge men after some twenty minutes looked up and spoke as he drew his blade swiftly through the bright green water i feel as though i were and you in some crime you know my first impression of this business remains the same you had much better leave it alone why asked coolly well my life i don t know why except that from long experience i have proved that it s always dangerous and troublesome to run after a woman leave her to run after you she ll do it fast enough wait till you see her besides i m not running after any woman philip with some heat oh i beg your pardon i forgot she s not a woman she s a sun angel you are not running after a sun angel is that correct i say don t drive through the water like that pull the boat round his speed and laughed it s only curiosity he said lifting his hat and pushing back the dark brown curls from his brow i bet you that sleek fellow meant the old and his daughter when he spoke of persons who were from the social circles of fancy society to be particular what an absurd idea my good fellow don t pretend to be so ignorant surely you know that a village or a town is much more choice and exclusive in its sets than a great city i wouldn t live in a small place for the world every would know the cut of my clothes by heart and the number of buttons on my waistcoat the would copy the pattern of my trousers the butcher would carry a cane like mine it would be simply to change the subject may i ask you if you know which way you are going f r it seems to me we re bound straight for a on that uncomfortable looking rock where there is certainly no landing place stopped pulling and standing up in the boat began to examine the surroundings with keen interest they were close to the great shaped like a giant s as had said it rose sheer out of the water and its sides were almost perpendicular some beautiful star shaped sea clung to it in a coloured cluster on one and the running ripple of the small waves broke on its jagged corners with a musical splash and sparkle of white foam below them in the mirror of the it was so clear that they could see the fine white sand lying at the bottom sprinkled thick with shells and moving creatures of all shapes while every now and then there streamed past them brilliantly tinted specimens of the with their long or looking like torn of crimson and silk the place was very silent only the sea round and round the summit of the great rock some of them occasionally down on the fishes their keen eyes perceived in the waters beneath then up again they swaying their graceful wings and uttering at intervals that peculiar wild cry that in solitary haunts sounds so intensely mournful gazed about him in doubt for some minutes then suddenly his face brightened he sat down again in the boat and resumed his oar row quietly george he said in a subdued tone quietly round to the left the oars dipped noiselessly and the boat shot forward then sharply round in the direction indicated and there before them lay a small sandy creek white and shining as though sprinkled with powdered silver from this a small but wooden pier ran out into the sea it was carved all over with fantastic figures and in it at equal distances were fastened iron rings such as are used for the safe of boats one boat was there already and recognised it with delight it was that in which he had seen the mysterious maiden disappear high and dry on the sand out of reach of the tides was a neat sailing vessel its name was painted round the stern the as the two friends ran their boat on shore and fastened it to the ring of the convenient pier they caught the distant sound of the plaintive of youve done it this time old boy said speaking in a whisper though | 33 |
fixed on the white slim figure framed in the dark old rose window the figure that swayed softly with the motion of the wheel and the of the song while flickering sparkled now and then on the maiden s dusky gold hair or touched up a warmer tint on her tenderly flushed cheeks and fair neck more snowy that the gown she wore music poured from her lips as from the throat of a the words she sang were and her listeners understood nothing of them but the melody the pathetic appealing melody soul moving as all true melody must be touched the very core of their hearts and entangled them in a web of delicious talk of s murmured with a sigh what a miserable milk and watery young person she is beside that magnificent unconscious beauty i give in i admit your taste i m willing to swear that she s a if you like her voice has convinced me of that at that instant the song ceased turned and regarded him are you hit george he said softly with a forced smile s face flushed but he met his friend s eyes frankly i am no old fellow he answered in the same quiet accents i think you know that if that girl s mind is as lovely as her face i say go in and win sir philip smiled his brow cleared and an expression of relief settled there the look of gladness was unconscious but saw it at once and noted it nonsense he said in a how can i go in and win as you say what am i to do i can t go up to that window and speak to her she might take me for a thief you look like a thief replied surveying his friend s figure clad in its loose but well cut suit of white flannel ornamented with silver anchor buttons and taking a comprehensive glance from the easy pose of the fine head and handsome face down to the trim foot with the high and well arched very much like a thief i i wonder i haven t noticed it before any london policeman would arrest you on the mere fact of your suspicious appearance laughed well my boy whatever my looks may testify i am at this moment an on private property and so are you for that matter what shall we do find the front door and ring the bell suggested george promptly say we are travellers and have lost our way the can but us the operation i believe is painful but it cannot last long george you are suppose we go back and try the other side of this pine wood that might lead us to the front of the house i don t see why we shouldn t walk coolly past that window said if any observation is made by the fair yonder we can boldly say we have come to see the the land of the midnight sun unconsciously they had both raised their voices a little during tlie latter part of their hasty dialogue and at the instant when uttered the last words a heavy hand was laid on each of their shoulders a hand that turned them round forcibly away from the window they had been gazing at and a deep voice addressed them the truly young men you need seek no further i am had he said i am an emperor he could not have spoken with more pride and his friend were for a moment speechless partly from displeasure at the summary manner in which they had been seized and twisted round like young and partly from surprise and involuntary admiration for the personage who had treated them with such scant courtesy they saw before them a man somewhat above the middle height who might have served an as a perfect model for a of old or a his frame was firmly and powerfully built and seemed to be strong and muscular yet an air of almost grace pervaded his movements making each attitude he assumed more or less picturesque he was broad shouldered and deep his face was full and coloured while his head was truly magnificent and it indicated power will and wisdom and was adorned by a rough thick mass of snow white hair that shone in the sunlight like spun silver his beard was short and curly trimmed after the fashion of the warriors of old rome and from under his fierce gray eyebrows a pair of eyes that were keen clear and bold as an eagle s looked out with a watchful that like the sharp edge of a diamond seemed to cut through the glass of a lie judging by his outward appearance his age might have been guessed at as between fifty eight and sixty but he was in truth seventy two and more strong active and daring than many another man whose years are not counted past the he was curiously attired after something of the fashion of the and something yet more of the ancient greek in a and loose jacket all made of skin thickly embroidered with curious designs worked in coarse thread and coloured beads while thrown carelessly over his and knotted at his waist was a broad of white stuff or very soft looking and warm in his belt he carried a formidable hunting knife and as he faced the two on his ground he rested one hand lightly yet on a staff of pine which was all over with quaint letters and figures and terminated in a curved handle at the top he waited for the young men to speak and finding they remained silent he glanced at them half angrily and again repeated his words i am the speak your business and take your departure my time is brief looked up with | 33 |
his usual a faint smile playing about his lips he saw at once that the old farmer was not a man to be with and he raised his cap with a ready grace as he spoke fact is he said frankly we ve no business here at all not the least in the world we are perfectly aware of it we are and we know it pray don t be hard on us mr mr the glanced him over with a quick of the eyes and the suspicion of a smile in the depths of his curly beard he turned to is this true you came here on purpose knowing the ground was private property in his turn lifted his cap from his brown curls with that serene and stately court manner which was to him second nature we did he confessed quietly following s cue and seeing also that it was best to be straightforward we heard you spoken of in and we came to see if you would permit us the honour of your acquaintance the old man struck his pine staff violently into the ground and his face flushed he exclaimed talk to me of a s nest you shall hear of me there enough to satisfy your appetite for news in the days when my race ruled the land such people as they that dwell there would have been put to my sword on the or to wait hungry and humble for the refuse ot the food left from my table i the land of the sun he spoke with extraordinary heat and passion it was evidently necessary to soothe him took a covert glance backward over his shoulder towards the window and saw that the white figure at the spinning wheel had disappeared my dear mr he then said with polite i assure you i think the folk by no means deserve to your sword on the or to enjoy the remains of your dinner myself i despise them my friend here sir philip them don t you nodded what my friend said just now is perfectly true continued we desire the honour of your acquaintance it will charm and delight us above all things and his face beamed with a candid winning boyish smile which was very in its own way and which certainly had its effect on the old for his tone softened though he said gravely my acquaintance young men is never sought by any those who are wise keep away from me love not strangers it is best you should know it i freely pardon your take your leave and go in peace the two friends exchanged looks there really seemed nothing for it but to obey this command made one more venture may i hope mr he said with courtesy that you will break through your apparent rule of seclusion for once and visit me on board my you have no doubt seen her the she lies at anchor in the the looked him straight in the eyes i have seen her a fair toy vessel to amuse an idle young man s leisure you are he that in that fool s hole of a is known as the rich englishman an idle with time an wanderer from those dull shores where they eat gold till they die of i have heard of you b knight a of an growth on a grand old tree whose roots lie buried in the annals of a far forgotten past the rich deep voice of the old man quivered as he spoke and a shadow of melancholy flitted across his brow listened with patience he heard himself his pleasures lis v t c he j e mo men are t ro ai hm t sc c e ih for me v v s his friend v vo nd v c e n s i n allow u un i c step nearer and i ki scrutiny that i i ha h w x i hu ii hair still the v then very he t v w to m i its and i vm and t i w the blade yea are a i k vi had v v m j i had you made v u vm k v v mine as it i v a k i royal dignity i he men struck by s v and the genial v were quick to t r picking up and r vl nothing at all out very window on vi v i fixed the land of the midnight sun si come he said you must drain a cup of wine with me before you leave your footsteps led you by the wrong path i saw your boat to my pier and wondered who had been enough to through my i might have guessed that only a couple of idle boys like yourselves knowing no better would have pushed their way to a spot that all worthy in and all true followers of the avoid as though the plague were settled in it and the old man laughed a splendid mellow laugh with the ring of true in it a laugh that was for and joined in it heartily without precisely knowing why however thought it to protest against the tion idle boys what do you take us for sir he said with lazy good nature i carry upon my shoulders the sorrowful burden of twenty six years philip there is painfully conscious of being thirty may we not therefore dispute the word boys as being to our dignity you called us men a while ago remember that laughed again his suspicious gravity had entirely disappeared leaving his face a beaming mirror of and good humour so you men | 33 |
he said cheerily men in the bud like leaves on a tree but you seem boys to a tough old stump of humanity such as i am that is my way my child though they tell me she is a woman grown is always a babe to me tis one of the many privileges of the old to see the world about them always young and full of children and he led the way past the wide open where they could dimly perceive the spinning wheel standing alone as though thinking deeply of the fair hands that had lately left it idle and so round to the actual front of the house which was exceedingly picturesque and literally overgrown with roses from ground to roof the entrance door stood open it was surrounded by a wide deep porch richly carved and ornamented having two comfortable seats within it one on each side through this they went involuntarily brushing down as they passed a shower of pink and white rose leaves and stepped into a wide passage where upon walls of dark polished pine hung a large collection of curiously shaped weapon all of manufacture such as stone and rough together with bows and arrows and two handled swords huge as the weapon of william opening a door to the right the stood courteously aside and bade them enter and they found themselves in the very apartment where they had seen the maiden spinning sit down sit down said their host we will have wine directly and shall come hither where is the child she hither and thither like a mountain wait here my lads i shall return directly and he strode away leaving and delighted at the success of their plans yet somewhat abashed too there was a peace and gentle simplicity about the little room in which they were that touched the sentiment in their natures and kept them silent on one side of it half a dozen broad shelves supported a goodly row of well bound volumes among which the time honoured golden names of shakespeare and scott glittered together with such works as s s the poems of john s rome and while mingled with these were the works in french of de the imitation also in french and a number of books with titles in altogether an collection of literature yet not without interest as displaying taste and culture on the part of those to whom it belonged himself learned in books was surprised to see so many standard works in the library of one who professed to be nothing but a farmer and his respect for the sturdy old increased there were no pictures in the room the wide window on one hand looking out on the roses and the pine wood and the other smaller one close to the entrance door from which the was distinctly visible were sufficient pictures in themselves to need no others the was roughly made of pine and seemed to have been carved by hand some of the chairs were very quaint and pretty and would have sold in a k shop for more than a sovereign apiece on the wide mantel shelf was a quantity of curious old china that seemed to have been picked up from all parts of the most the land of the midnight sun of it was undoubtedly valuable in one dark corner stood an ancient harp then there was the spinning wheel itself a curiosity fit for a museum of the mistress of all these surroundings and on the floor there was something else something that both the young men were strongly inclined to take possession of it was only a bunch of tiny meadow fastened together with a bit of blue silk it had fallen they guessed by whom it had been worn but neither made any remark and both by some strange instinct avoided looking at it as though the innocent little blossoms carried within them some terrible temptation they were conscious of a certain embarrassment and making an effort to break through it remarked softly by jove if this old really knew what you are up to i believe he would bundle you out of this place like a tramp didn t you feel a when he said we had told the truth like men philip smiled he was seated in one of the carved chairs half absorbed in what was evidently a pleasing reverie no not exactly he replied because we did tell him the truth we did want to know him and he s worth knowing too he is a magnificent looking fellow don t you think so rather assented with emphasis i wish there were any hope of my becoming such a fine old in my it would be worth living for if only to look at myself in the glass now and then he rather startled me when he threw down that knife though i suppose it is some old custom i suppose so answered and then was silent for at that moment the door opened and the old farmer followed by a girl bearing a tray glittering with of italian wine and long graceful glasses shaped like round set on particularly slender stems the sight of the girl disappointed the eager visitors for though she was pretty she was not she was short and plump with rebellious nut brown locks that about her face and from under her close white cap with persistent her cheeks were as round and red as love apples and she had dancing blue eyes that appeared for ever engaged in good natured efforts to each other sha f i c lave ft the v ice i ar i c i r i the land of the midnight sun softly on the garden path the door of the | 33 |
turned towards him i heard of you first through my pilot one ha ha cried old with some excitement there is a fellow who cannot hold his tongue i what have i said to thee child a bachelor is no better than a old woman he that is always alone must talk if it be o ly to woods and waves it is the married men who know best how excellent it is to keep silence o they all laughed though s eyes had a way of looking pensive even when she smiled you would not blame poor because he is alone father she said is he not to be pitied surely it is a cruel fate to have none to love in all the wide world nothing can be more cruel i surveyed her hear her he said she talks as if she knew all about such things and if ever a child was ignorant of sorrow surely it is my every flower and bird in the place loves her yes i have thought sometimes the very sea loves her it must she is so much upon it and as for her old father he laughed a little though a suspicious moisture softened his keen eyes why he doesn t love her at all ask her she knows it rose quickly and kissed him how those sweet lips thought and what an unreasonable and extraordinary grudge he seemed to bear towards the venerable for accepting that kiss with so little apparent emotion hush father i she said these friends can see too plainly how much you spoil me tell me and she turned with a sudden pretty to who started at her voice as a starts at its rider s touch what person in spoke of us was rather at a loss inasmuch as no one in the small town had actually spoken of them and mr s remarks concerning those who were with good reason from respectable society might not after all have applied to the family indeed it now seemed an absurd and improbable supposition therefore he replied cautiously the reverend mr i think has some knowledge of you is he not a friend of yours these simple words had a most unexpected effect sprang up from his seat flaming with wrath it was in vain that his daughter laid a hand upon his arm the name of the divine had to put him in a towering passion and he turned furiously upon the astonished had i known you came from the devil sir you should have returned to him speedily with hot words to hasten your departure t would have split that glass to before i would have drained the land of the midnight sun l it after you the friends of a false heart are no friends for me the followers of a pretended find no welcome under my roof why not have told me at once that you came as on by the liar why not have confessed it openly and not have played the thief s trick on an old fool who for once by your manly and upright bearing consented to lay aside the suspicions he at first entertained of your purpose shame on you young men shame i the words from his lips his face burned with indignation he had broken away from his daughter s hold while she pale and very still stood leaning one band upon the table his white hair was tossed back from his brow his eyes flashed his attitude though and threatening was at the same time so bold and commanding that caught himself lazily admiring the of his figure and wondering how he would look in marble as an one excellent thing in the dispositions of both and was that they never lost temper either they were too lazy or too well bred undoubtedly they both considered it bad form this indifference stood them in good stead now they showed no sign whatever of offence though the old farmer s outbreak of wrath was so sudden and for that they remained for a moment silent out of sheer surprise then rising with serenity they took up their caps preparatory to departure s gentle refined voice broke the silence you are in error mr he said in chilly but perfectly polite tones i regret you should be so hasty in your judgment of us if you accepted us as men when you first met us i cannot imagine why you should now take us for the two terms are by no means i know nothing of mr beyond that he called upon me and that i as in duly bound returned his call i am ignorant of his character and disposition i may add that i have no desire to be enlightened respecting them i do not often take a dislike to anybody but it so happens that i have done so in the case of mr i know doesn t care for him and i don t think my other two friends are particularly attached to him i have nothing more to say except that i fear we have our welcome permit us now to wish you good evening and you he hesitated and turned with a low bow to who had listened to his words with a gradually dawning brightness on her face you will i trust us from any offence towards your father or yourself our visit has proved unlucky but interrupted him by laying her fair little hand on his arm with a wistful gesture which though seemingly familiar was yet perfectly sweet and natural the light touch thrilled his blood and sent it through his veins at more than customary speed ah then you also will be foolish she said with a protecting air of superior dignity do you not see my father is sorry have we all kissed the cup for nothing | 33 |
or was the wine wasted not a drop was how then if we are friends should we part in coldness father it is you to be ashamed not these gentlemen who are strangers to the and know nothing of mr or any other person dwelling here and when their vessel sails away again over seas to their own shores how will you have them think of you as one whose heart was all kindness and who helped to make their days pass pleasantly or as one who in unreasonable anger forgot the duties of sworn hospitality the listened to her full sweet voice as a tough old hon might listen to the voice of its uncertain whether to yield or spring he wiped his heated brow and stared around him finally as though his pride with a he drew a long breath took a couple of determined strides forward and held out his hands one to and the other to by whom they were warmly grasped there my lads he said rapidly i m sorry i spoke forgive and forget i that is the worst of me my blood is up in a minute and old though i am i m not old enough yet to be patient and when i hear the name of that by the gates of i feel as if my own house would not hold me no no don t go yet i nearly ten well no matter the night is like the day here you see it doesn t matter when one goes to bed come and sit in the porch awhile i shall get cool out there ah child i see thee laughing at thy old father s temper never mind never mind is it not for thy sake after all the land of the midnight sun and holding by the arm he led the way into the fine old porch following with rather a flushed face for he as he passed out of the room had managed to pick up and the neglected little bunch of before noticed as fallen on the floor he put them quickly in his breast pocket with a curious sense of satisfaction though he had no intention of keeping them and leaned idly against the roses watching as she drew a low stool to her father s feet and sat there a wind blew in from the and mysteriously among the pines the sky was here and there with clouds and a number of birds were singing in full chorus old heaved a sigh of relief as though his recent outburst of passion had done him good i will tell you sir philip he said his daughter s curls as he spoke i will tell you why i the villain it is but fair you should know it now why that push to my knee you fear i may offend our friends again nay i will take good care and so first of all i ask you what is your religion though i know you cannot be was somewhat taken by the question he smiled my dear sir he replied at last to be frank with you i really do not think i have any religion if i had i suppose i should call myself a christian though judging from the behaviour of christians in general i cannot be one of them after all for i belong to no i go to no church and i have never read a tract in my life i have a profound reverence and admiration for the character and doctrine of christ and i believe if i had had the privilege of knowing and conversing with him i should not have deserted him in extremity as his did i believe in an all wise creator so you see i am not an my mother was an and a catholic and i have a notion that as a small child i was brought up in that creed but i m afraid i don t know much about it now the nodded gravely here he said is a catholic as her mother was he stopped abruptly and a deep shadow of pain darkened his features looked up her large blue eyes filled with sudden tears and she pressed her father s hand between her own as though in sympathy with some un declared grief then she looked at with a sort of wistful appeal philip s heart leaped as he met that soft glance which seemed to entreat his patience with the old man for her sake he felt himself drawn into a bond of union with her thoughts and in his soul he swore as a vow of chivalry and reverence for the fair maiden who thus took him into her silent confidence as though he were some gallant of old time pledged to defend his lady s honour unto death after a long and apparently sorrowful pause resumed his conversation yes he said is a catholic though here she has scarcely any opportunity for performing the duties of her religion it is a pretty and a graceful creed well fitted for women as for me am made of stuff and the of that gentle creature christ find no echo in my soul but you young sir he added turning suddenly on who was engaged in out on his palm one of the fallen rose you have not spoken what faith do you profess it is no curiosity that me to ask i only seek not to offend laughed languidly upon my life mr you really ask too much of me i haven t any faith at all not a it s been all knocked out of me i tried to hold on to a last remaining bit of christian rope in the universal but that was torn out of my hands by a scientific professor who ought to know | 33 |
what he is about and and now i drift along anyhow smiled but looked at the speaker with astonished eyes i am sorry she said simply you must be often unhappy was not disconcerted though her evident pity caused an unwonted flush on his face oh no he said in answer to her i am not a miserable sort of fellow by any means for instance i m not afraid of death lots of very religious people are horribly afraid of it though they all the time declare it s the only path to heaven they re not consistent at all you see i believe in nothing i came from nothing i am nothing i shall be nothing that being plain i am all right laughed you are an odd lad he said you arc in the morning of hfe there are always the land of the midnight sun mists in the morning as there are in the evening in the h of your full manhood you will see these things differently your creed of nothing no moral law no hold on the conscience no restraint on the passions don t you see that smiled with a very winning and boyish you are exceeding good sir to credit me with a conscience i don t think i have one i m sure i have no passions i have always been too lazy to encourage them and as for moral law i to morality with the greatest because if a fellow is he ceases to be a gentleman now as there are very few gentlemen nowadays i fancy i d like to be one as long as i can here interposed you mustn t take him seriously mr he said he s never serious himself i ll give you his character in a few words he belongs to no religious party it s true but he s a first rate fellow the best fellow i know glanced at him quietly with a gratified expression on his face but he said nothing for was regarding him with a most smile ah she said shaking a finger at him you do love all nonsense that i can see you would make every person laugh if you could is it not so well yes admitted george i think i would but it s a task sometimes if you had ever been to london miss you would understand how difficult it is to make people even smile and when they do the smile is not a very natural one why she exclaimed are they all so miserable they pretend to be if they re not said it is the fashion there to find fault with everything and everybody that is so said thoughtfully i visited london once and thought i was in hell nothing but rows of hard built houses long streets and dirty and the people had weary faces all as though nature had refused to bless them a pitiful city doubly pitiful to the eyes of a man like myself whose life has been passed among and mountains such as these well now as neither of you are in fact as neither of you seem to know what you are and he laughed i can be frank and speak out as to my own belief i am proud to say i have never deserted the faith of my fathers the faith that makes a man s soul strong and fearless and defiant of evil the faith that is supposed to be crushed out among us but that is still alive and rooted in the hearts of many who can trace back their to the ancient as i can yes rooted firm and fast and however much some of the more to conceal it in the acceptance of another creed there are those who can never shake it off and who never desire to it i am one of these few shame must fall on the man who deserts the faith of his warrior sacred to me for ever be the names of and he raised his hand aloft with a proud gesture and his eyes flashed was interested but not surprised the old declaration of his creed seemed eminently fitted to his character s face brightened here was a a man who in all the conflicting storms of modem opinion clung to the traditions of his forefathers by jove he exclaimed eagerly i think the worship of would suit me perfectly it s a rousing fighting sort of religion i m positive it would make a man of me will you me into the mysteries mr there s a fellow in london who writes poetry on indian subjects and who it is said thinks might satisfy his pious but i think would be a personage to command more respect than at any rate i should like to try him will you give me a chance smiled gravely and rising from his seat pointed to the western sky see yonder threads of white he said that stretch across the wide expanse of blue they are the lingering fading marks of light clouds and even while we watch them they shall pass and be no more such is the emblem of your hfe young man you that would for an idle jest or presume to search into the mysteries of for you they are not your spirit is not of the stern mould that waits for death as gladly as the bridegroom waits for the bride the christian heaven is an abode for girls and is the place for men i tell you my creed is as divine in its origin as any that ever existed on the earth the rainbow bridge is a fairer pathway from death to life than the cross and better | 33 |
open window and rested on the majestic darkness of the solemn chapter vii in core c h non c e bar la i and pulled away across the in a silence that lasted for many minutes old stood on the of his little pier to watch them out of sight so till their boat turned the sharp comer of the protecting rock that hid the landing place from view they saw his picturesque figure and gleaming silvery hair clearly against the background of the sky a sky now tenderly flushed with pink like the inside of a delicate to when they could no longer perceive him they still rowed on speaking no word the measured musical of the oars through the smooth dark olive green water alone breaking the stillness around them there was a curious sort of hushed in the air fantastic dream like lights and shadows played on the little waves sudden of crimson came and went in the western horizon and over the high of the surrounding mountains mysterious shapes formed of purple and gray mist rose up and crept softly downwards winding in and out deep valleys and dark like wandering spirits sent on some secret and sorrowful errand after a while said almost are you struck dumb george haven t you a word to say to a fellow just what i was about to ask you replied carelessly and i was also going to remark that we hadn t seen your mad friend up at the residence no yet i can t help thinking he has something to do with them all the same returned i tell you he swore at me by some old infernal place or other i dare say he s an too but never mind him what do you think of r turned lazily round in the boat so that he faced his companion well old fellow if you ask me frankly i think she is the most beautiful woman i ever saw or for that matter ever heard of and i am an impartial critic perfectly impartial and resting on his oar he dipped the blade in and out of the water watching the bright drops fall with an oil like as they from the polished wood and glittered in the late sunshine like coloured jewels then he glanced curiously at philip who sat silent but whose face was very grave and earnest even noble with that shade of profound thought upon it he looked like one who had suddenly accepted a high trust in which there was not only pride but tenderness shook himself together as he himself would have expressed it and touched his friend s arm half you ve met the king s daughter of after all and his light accents had a touch of sadness in them and you ll the land of the midnight sun have to bring her home as the old song says i believe the eligible is caught at last the woman of the piece has up and your must play second fiddle eh old boy flushed hotly but caught s hand and ed it with tremendous by jove i ll it off your wrist if you talk in that la n george he said with a laugh always be the o me and you know it i tell you and he pulled his doubtfully i don t know quite what s the matter with me that girl me i feel a fool in her presence is that a sign of being in love i wonder certainly not returned george promptly for feel a fool in her presence and i m not in love how do you know that and glanced at him keenly and how do i know come i like that have i studied myself all these years for nothing look here and he carefully drew out the little withering bunch of he had these are for you i knew you wanted them though you hadn t the impudence to pick them up and i had i thought you might like to put them under your pillow and all that sort of thing because if one is resolved to become love lunatic one may as do the thing properly out and out i hate all half measures now if the remotest thrill of sentiment were in me you can understand i hope that wild horses would not have torn this from my possession i should have kept it and you would never have known of it and he laughed softly take it old fellow you re rich now with the rose she gave you besides what is all your wealth compared with the sacred ot such blossoms there don t look so awfully or i shall be called upon to ridicule you in the interests of common sense say you re in love with the girl at once and have done with it don t beat about the bush i m not sure about it said philip taking the gratefully however and pressing them in his pocket book i don t believe in love at first sight i do returned decidedly love is two are enough to settle the business one from the eyes of the man the other from those of the woman you and fi when they could no longer perceive him they si speaking no word the measured musical f through the smooth dark olive green water around them there was a curious sort of in the air fantastic dream like lights and si on the little waves sudden of went in the western horizon and over the high sum surrounding mountains mysterious shapes formed of gray mist rose up and crept softly downwards winding deep valleys and dark like wandering spirits st n secret and sorrowful errand after a while are you struck dumb george haven t you a wc to | 33 |
a fellow just what i was about to ask you replied and i was also going to remark that we hadn t seen friend up at the residence no yet i can t help thinking he has something them all the same returned he swore at me by some old infernal place oi dare say he s an too but never i what do you think of her v turned lazily round in the boat so that companion well old fellow if you ask me frankly i think most beautiful woman i ever saw or for that matter of and i am an impartial critic perfectly impartial and resting on his oar he dipped the blade out of the water watching the bright drops fall with r as they from the polished wood and in the late sunshine like coloured jewels then he curiously at philip who sat silent but whose face was and earnest even noble with that shade of profound upon it he looked like one who had suddenly in which there was not only pride but tenderness shook himself together as he himself would have and touched his friend s arm half you ve met the king s daughter of after all and his light accents had a touch of sadness in them an of the midnight sun ii on some persons of importance in the ic till now forgotten lied in his cheery sing song c have amused ourselves our dear r that is astonishing we have not e have made mr our l we have him he is gods or for no god just as we pull wh that amiable religion is and together jove of humour in his the or wine as take a good do e of it a he sat and fell it would have you of his the pleasant lanes of tiger to send them about him with the i tell you he was glad and he said it was devilish then another and then i down and he had a up in all his strength drank the whole of it en him afterwards his head till his a mad cow of the boat and laughed i picture as did the others said z with delighted mischief httle dark eyes the dear religious us he spoke thickly but we could under c was very impressive he is quite of my opinion ai religion is nonsense fable man is the woman his creature and subject again man woman make up divinity necessity law he was quite clear on that point why did he preach what he did not believe we asked he almost wept he replied that the children of this world liked fairy stories and he was paid to tell them it was his bread and butter would we wish him to have no bread and butter we assured him so cruel a thought had no place in our hearts then he is yes the good fat man is he would have become a priest but on close examination of the he saw there was no possibility of seeing much less kissing a lady penitent through the grating so he gave up that idea i in his form of faith he can kiss he says he does kiss always a holy kiss of course he is so so delightfully frank it is quite charming they laughed again sir philip looked somewhat disgusted what an old brute he must be he said somebody ought to kick him a holy kick of course and therefore more intense and forcible other you i i laughed and well all follow suit hell be like that indian in who rolled himself into a ball no one could resist kicking as long as the ball bounded before them we shall not be able to resist if s fat person is once left at our mercy that was a grand bit he told us resumed you should have heard him talk about his love affair the soft of a man that he is to be making up to any woman at that moment they ran alongside of the and threw up their oars stop a bit said tell us the rest on board the ladder was lowered they mounted it and their boat was hauled up to its place go on i said throwing himself lazily into a deck and lighting a cigar while the others leaned against the rails and followed his example go on sandy this is fun s must be amusing i suppose he s after that ugly wooden block of a woman we saw at his house who is so zealous for the true gospel not a bit of it replied sandy with immense gravity the old has better taste he says there s a young running the land of the midnight sun after him fit to break her heart about him poor thing she must have very little choice of men he hasn t quite made up his mind though he admits she s as fine a as any man need require he s sorely afraid she has set herself to catch him as he says she s an eye like a for a really strong good looking fellow like himself and chuckled audibly maybe he ll take pity on her maybe he won t the will be sorely by him from all he told us in his cups he gave us her name the in the world for sure i can t just now remember it i can said it struck me as quaint and pretty started so violently and flushed so deeply that was afraid of some rash outbreak of wrath on his part but he restrained himself by a strong effort he merely took his cigar from his mouth and puffed a light cloud of smoke into the | 33 |
air before replying then he said coldly i should say mr besides being a is a most liar it so happens that the are the very people i have just visited highly superior in every way to anybody we have yet met in in fact mr and miss will come on board to morrow i have invited them to dine with us you will then be able to judge for yourselves whether the young lady is at all of the description mr gives of her and exchanged astonished looks are you sure inquired the latter cautiously that you re quite prudent in what you ve done isn t it rather a sudden and exceptional of hospitality smoked on peacefully and made no answer z a verse of a french under his breath and smiled glanced at him with a lazy amusement yourself for heaven s sake he said your mind is as uncomfortable as a loaded let it lie down while you take off its one by one and reveal their contents in short what s up made a rapid expressive gesture with his hands mon i fear to he has invited these people they are coming there is no more to say i interposed i think should hear what we have heard it s fair and just to a man that he should understand what sort of folk are going to partake with him at his table you see you should have thought a bit before inviting persons of unsettled and doubtful character who says they are demanded half angrily the drunken he was not so drunk at the time he told us persisted in his most obstinate most manner you see it s just this way ah pardon interrupted z briskly our dear sandy is an excellent but he is a little slow thus it is mon this gentleman named had a most lovely wife a mysterious lady with an evident secret the beautiful one was never seen in the church or in any town or village she was met sometimes on hills by rivers in valleys carrying her child in her arms the people grew afraid of her but now see what happens suddenly she appears no more to ask this what has become of madame his answer is brief she is dead satisfactory so far yet not quite for madame being dead then what has become of the corpse of madame it was never seen no coffin was ever ordered and apparently it was never buried what follows the good people of draw the only conclusion possible who is said to have a terrific temper killed madame and made away with her body and waved his hand with an air of entire satisfaction s brow grew sombre this is the story is it he asked at last it is enough is it not laughed but all what matter it will be novel to dine with a stop said philip fiercely with so much authority that the sparkling was startled call no man by such a name till you know he deserves it if was suspected as you say why didn t somebody arrest him on the charge because replied there was not sufficient proof to warrant such a proceeding moreover the actual minister of the parish declared it was all right and said this was a man of very queer notions and maybe had buried his wife with the land of the midnight sun certain ceremonies peculiar to himself what s wrong with you now for a light had flashed on s mind and with the quick comprehension it gave him his countenance cleared he laughed that s very likely he said mr is a character he follows the faith of and not even can convert him to christianity stared with a sort of solemnity man he exclaimed you never mean to say there s an actual poor human creature that in this blessed enlightened nineteenth century of ours is so far as to worship the fearful gods of the ah yawned you may wonder away sandy but it s true enough old is an in this blessed enlightened nineteenth century of ours when christians amuse themselves by and each other and thus all the of the master they profess to follow there is actually a man who sticks to the traditions of his ancestors odd isn t it in this delightful intellectual age when more than half of us are discontented with life and yet don t want to die there is a fine old gentleman living beyond the circle who is perfectly satisfied with his existence not only that he thinks death the greatest glory that can befall him comfortable state of things altogether i m half inclined to be an too sandy still remained lost in astonishment then you don t believe that he made away with his wife he inquired slowly not in the least returned decidedly neither will you to morrow when you see him he s a great deal better up in literature than you are my boy i d swear judging from the books he has and when he mentioned his wife as he did once you could see in his face he had never done any harm besides his daughter ah but i forgot interposed again the daughter was the child the mysteriously vanished lady carried in her wandering with it all about the woods and hills after her disappearance another thing extraordinary happens the child also and lives alone avoided carefully by every respectable person suddenly the child returns grown to be nearly a woman and they say lovely to an almost impossible extreme she lives with her father she like her strange mother never enters a church town or village nowhere in fact where persons are in any numbers three years ago it appears she vanished again but came back at the end of ten months | 33 |
than ever since then she has remained quiet composed but always apart she may disappear at any moment droll is it not and the reputation she has is natural pray state it said philip with coldness the reputation of a woman is nothing nowadays fair go on but his face was pale and his eyes blazed almost unconsciously his hand with the rose had given him that still ornamented his button hole mon cried z in amazement but look not at me like that it seems to you to put you en what i say it is not my story it is not i i know not but as her beauty is considered they say it is the devil who is x her and who sees after her complexion in brief she is thought to be a witch in full practice dangerous to life and limb laughed loudly he was so much relieved is that all he said with light contempt by jove what a pack of fools there must be about here ugly fools too if they think beauty is a sign of i wonder isn t scared out of his skin if he positively thinks the so called witch is setting her cap at him ah but he means to convert her said seriously to draw the evil out of her as it were he said he would do it by fair means or foul something in these latter words struck for raising himself in his seat he asked surely mr with all his stupidity doesn t carry it so far as to believe in oh indeed he does exclaimed he believes in it h la he has bible authority for his belief he is very firm when drunk and he laughed gaily muttered something not very flattering to mr s intelligence which escaped the hearing of his friends then he said come along all of you down into the saloon we want the land of the midnight sun thing to eat let the alone i m not a bit sorry ive asked them to come to morrow i believe all like them immensely they descended the stair way leading to the lower part of the and asked as he followed his host is the very s not the word for it this time said coolly answering instead of miss is a magnificent woman you never saw such a one sandy my boy she ll make you sing small with one look she ll you up into a and as for you z and he regarded the little frenchman let me see you may possibly reach up to her shoulder certainly not beyond it pas possible p cried is a she needn t be a to you mon ami laughed with a lazy shrug by jove i am sleepy old boy are we never going to bed it s no good waiting till it s dark here you know have something first said sir philip himself at the saloon table where his steward had laid out a cold we ve had a good deal of climbing about and it s taken it out of us a little thus they took their places and managed to dispose of an excellent supper the meal concluded z helped himself to a tiny glass of as a wind up to the exertions of the day a mild luxury in which the others joined him with the exception of who was wont to declare that a man without his was no man at all and who therefore persisted in burning up his interior with in spite of the doctrines of and was now absorbed in the work of mixing his sugar hot water and poison his usual preparation for a night s rest usually watched him in abstracted silence rallied on this humour he rose shook himself hke a yawned and sauntered to the piano that occupied a dim corner of the saloon and began to play with that delicate subtle touch which though it does not always mark the ant the true lover of music to whose ears a rough on the instrument or a false note would be most exquisite io agony had no pretence to musical talent when asked he confessed he could a little and he hardly seemed to see the evident wonder and admiration he awakened in the minds of many to whom such as his was infinitely more delightful than more practised finished playing just now he seemed he commenced a dainty little of s then broke suddenly off and wandered into another strain wild pleading pitiful and passionate a melody so weird and dreamy that even the stolid paused in his and looked round in some fa he murmured said nothing he recognised the tune as that which had sung at her spinning wheel and his bold bright eyes grew pensive and soft as the picture of the fair face and form rose up again before his mind absorbed in a reverie he almost started when ceased playing and said lightly bye bye boys i m off to bed don t wake me so early as you did this morning if you do friendship can hold out no longer we must part all right laughed good watching his friend as he sauntered out of the saloon then seeing z and rise from the table he added courteously don t hurry away on s account you two i m not in the least sleepy i ll sit up with you to any hour it is droll to go to bed in broad daylight said but it must be done your eyes are heavy to bed to bed as the excellent madame says ah i what an exciting wife she was for a man come let us follow our dear his music was delicious or good morning i know not which it is | 33 |
the of a man from a pecuniary point of view was a consideration that would never present itself to her mind what she would look at would be the man himself not his pocket and studied from such an exceptional height a height seldom climbed by modern marrying women philip felt himself unworthy it was a good sign there are great hopes of any man who is honestly dissatisfied with himself folding his arms he leaned idly on the deck rails and looked gravely and down into the motionless water where the varied hues of the sky were clearly when a slight creaking sound was heard as of some obstacle against or the side of the he looked and saw to his surprise a small boat close under the so close indeed that the slow motion of the tide heaved it every now and then into a collision with the lower of the a circumstance which explained the sound which had attracted his attention the boat was not there was in it lying straight across the seats with face turned upwards to the sky and walking noiselessly to a better post of observation s heart beat with some excitement as he recognised the long fair locks and eccentric attire of the strange personage who had confronted him in the cave the crazy little man who had called himself there he was beyond a doubt lying flat on his back with his eyes closed asleep or dead he might have been the latter his thin face was so pale and drawn his lips were so set and astonished to see him there called softly there was no answer s form seemed his eyes remained fast is he in a trance thought sir philip or he fainted from some physical exhaustion he called again but again received no reply he served in the stern of the boat a large bunch of d velvet and evidently gathered proving that i been wandering in the deep valleys and on the sloping si the hills where these flowers may be frequently found in n during the summer he began to feel rather he watched that straight stiff figure in the boat and v about to swing down the companion ladder for the closer inspection when a glorious burst of light streamed r over the the sun conquered the masses of that had to conceal his beauty and now like n clad in golden surmounted and trod down his shining forth in all his splendour with that rush of the apparently lifeless stirred he eyes and as they were turned upwards he naturally close vicinity to the side of the met fixed and somewhat anxiously upon him i up with such sudden and fierce haste that his frail b and philip involuntarily cried out take care stood upright in his swaying and la fully take care he echoed it is you take care i you poor miserable on the c storm it is you to fear not i see how the the broad sky all for me yes all the light me all the darkness all the shame for you listened to these with an air ol pitying gentleness then he said with perfect cool you are quite right you are always r come up here and see me i won t hurt you c the friendly tone and gentle manner dwarf for he stared doubtfully tin finally as though acting under a spell he took himself enough to the let down the ladder and with his own hand assist mount not forgetting to fasten the boat safely t the land of the midnight sun did so once on deck gazed about him he had brought his bunch of with him and he their soft leaves thoughtfully suddenly his eyes flashed you are alone here he asked abruptly fearing to scare his strange guest by the mention of his com answered simply yes quite alone just now took a step closer towards him are you not afraid t he said in an awe struck solemn voice sir philip smiled i never was afraid of anything in my life i he answered the dwarf eyed him keenly you are not afraid he went on that i shall kill you r not in the least returned calmly you would not do anything so foolish my friend laughed ha ha i you call me friend you think that word a i i tell you no i there arc no friend now the world is a great field of battle each man fights the other there is no peace none anywhere i the wind fi with the forests you can hear them and all night long when it ts night the long long night i the sun fights with the sky the light with the dark and life with death it is all a bitter quarrel none arc satisfied none shall know friendship any more it is too late we cannot be friends f well have it your own way said philip good wishing that were awake to interview this strange specimen of human wit gone astray well fight if you like anything to please you we are fighting said with intense passion in his voice you may not know it but i know it i have felt the thrust of your sword it has crossed mine stay and his eyes grew vague and dreamy why was i sent to seek you out let me think let me think and he seated himself on one of the deck chairs and seemed painfully endeavouring to put his scattered ideas in order studied him with a gentle forbearance inwardly he was very curious to know whether this had any connection with the but he refrained from asking too many questions he simply said in a cheery tone yes | 33 |
why did you come to see me i m glad you did it s very kind of you but i don t think you even know ray name to his surprise looked up with a more settled and resolved expression of face and answered almost as as any sane man could have done i know your name very well he said in a low composed manner you are sir philip a rich english nobleman fate led you to r grave a grave that no strange feet have ever passed save yours and so i know you are the man for whom her spirit has waited she has brought you hither how foolish to think she sleeps under the stone when she is always awake and busy always at work opposing me i yes though i pray her to lie still she will not his voice grew wild again and philip asked quietly of whom are you speaking his steady tone seemed to have some compelling influence on the confused mind of the half creature who answered readily and at once of whom should i speak but the beautiful rose of the northern forest he broke off abruptly with a long shuddering sigh and rocking himself to and fro gazed wistfully out to the sea a guess as to the purpose of that coffin hidden in the shell do you mean living or dead both answered promptly they are one and the same you cannot part them mother and child rose and one walks the earth with the step of a queen the other in the air like a silvery cloud but i see them join and embrace and melt into each other s arms till they unite in one form fairer than the beauty of angels and you you know this as well as i do you have seen you have kissed the cup of friendship with her but remember not with me not with me he started from his seat and running close up to laid one meagre hand on his chest how strong you are how broad and brave he exclaimed with a sort of childish and can you not be generous too the land of the midnight sun looked down upon him he had learned enough from his talk to clear up what had seemed a mystery the scandalous reports concerning were he had evidently laid the remains of his wife in the shell for some reason connected with his religious belief and s visits to the sacred spot were easy of comprehension no doubt it was she who placed fresh flowers there every day and kept the little lamp burning before the as a sign of the faith her departed mother had professed and which she herself followed but who was and what was he to the thinking this he replied to the dwarf s question by a counter inquiry how shall i be generous tell me what can i do to please you s wild blue eyes sparkled with pleasure do he cried you can go away swiftly swiftly over the seas and the need know you no more spread your white sails and he pointed excitedly up to the tall of the you are king here command and you are obeyed go from us go what is there here to delay you our mountains are dark and gloomy the are wild and desolate there are rocks and shrieking torrents that hiss like gliding into the sea oh there must be fairer lands than this one lands where ocean and sky are like twin jewels set in one ring where there are sweet flowers and fruits and bright eyes to smile on you all day yes for you are as a god in your strength and beauty no woman will be cruel to you i ah say you will go away l and s face was into a sort of pained beauty as he made his appeal that is what i came to seek you for to ask you to set sail quickly and go for why should you wish to destroy me i have done you no harm as yet go and himself shall follow your path with blessings he paused almost breathless with his own earnest pleading was silent he considered the request a mere proof of the poor creature s disorder the very idea that seemed to entertain of his doing him any harm showed a terror and that was simply to be set down as caused by his unfortunate mental to such an appeal there could be no satisfactory reply to sail away from the and its now most fascinating attractions because a madman asked him to do so was a proposition impossible of acceptance so sir philip said nothing however watching his face intently saw or thought he saw a look of resolution in the englishman s clear deep gray eyes and with the startling quickness common to many whose brains like musical instruments are yet not quite he grasped the meaning of that expression instantly ah cruel and he exclaimed fiercely you will not go you are resolved to tear my heart out for your sport i have pleaded with you as one with a king and all in vain all in vain you will not go listen see what you will do and he held up the bunch of purple while his voice sank to an almost feeble look and he the flowers look they are dark and soft as a purple sky cool and and fresh they are the thoughts of such thoughts so wise and earnest so pure and full of tender shadows no hand has grasped them rudely no rough touch has spoiled their i they open full faced to the sky they never or they have no secrets | 33 |
torture where the worm not he had thought over all he meant to say he had planned several eloquent and rounded sentences some of which he murmured placidly to himself as he his slow boat along yea he observed in a mild ye shall be cut off root and branch ye shall be even as and utterly destroyed here he paused and his streaming forehead with his clean handkerchief yea he resumed peacefully the of images are they shall have ashes for food and for drink let them turn and repent themselves lest the wrath of god them as straw whirled on the wind repent or ye shall be cast into everlasting fire beauty shall avail not learning shall avail not shall avail not for the fire of is a searching endless destroying here mr by plunging one oar with too much determination into the watery depths caught a as the saying is and fell violently backward in a somewhat posture recovering himself slowly he looked about him in a bewildered way and for the first time noticed the vacant solitary appearance of the some object was missing he realized what it was immediately the english was gone from her point of dear me said mr half aloud what a very sudden departure i wonder now if those young men have gone for good or whether they are coming back again pleasant fellows very pleasant perhaps but pleasant and he smiled he had no remembrance of what had occurred after he had emptied young s of he had no idea that he had been almost carried from his garden into his parlour and there flung on the sofa and left to sleep off the effects of his strong least of all did he dream that he had betrayed any of his intentions towards or given his religious opinions with such free and ignorant on these points he resumed his oars and after nearly an hour of laborious effort succeeded at last in reaching his destination arrived at the little pier he fastened up his boat and with the lofty air of a thoroughly moral man he walked deliberately up to the door of the bond s house contrary to custom it was closed and the place seemed strangely silent and deserted the afternoon heat was so great that the song birds were hushed and in hiding under the cool green leaves the roses round the porch hung down their bright heads for sheer and the only sounds to be heard were the subdued of the on the roof and the soft rush of a little mountain stream that flowed through the grounds somewhat surprised though not abashed at the evident not at home look of the farm house mr loudly at the rough door with his there being no such modern convenience as a bell or a he waited some time before he was answered repeating his summons violently at frequent intervals and swearing under his breath as he did so but at last the door was flung sharply open and the haired rosy confronted him with an aspect which was by no means encouraging or polite her round blue eyes sparkled and she placed her bare plump red arms wet with recent on her sturdy little with an air that was decidedly impertinent well what do you want she demanded with rude mr regarded her in speechless dignity no reply he attempted to pass her and enter the house but settled her arms more than ever and her voice had a ring as she said it s no use your coming in there s no one here but me the master has gone out foi the day young woman returned mr with polite severity i regret to see that your manners stand in sore need of improvement your master s absence is of no importance to me it is with the i desire to speak laughed and tossed her rough brown curls back from her forehead mischievous came and went at the corners of her mouth of suppressed fun the is out too she said it s time she the land of the midnight sun had a little amusement and the gentlemen treat her as if she were a queen mr started and his red became a trifle paler gentlemen what gentlemen he demanded with some impatience s inward delight evidently increased the gentlemen from the of course she said what other gentlemen are there this with a contemptuous up sort of look at the minister s form sir philip was here with his friend yesterday evening and stayed a long time and to day a fine boat with four oars came to fetch the master and and they are all gone for a sail to the or some other place near here i cannot remember the name and i am so glad went on clasping her plump hands in ecstasy they are the i have ever seen and one can tell they think wonders of the nothing is too good for her mr s face was the picture of dismay this was a new turn to the course of events and one moreover that he had never once contemplated watched him will you leave any message for them when they return she asked no said the minister yet stay yes i will tell the that i have found something which belongs to her and that when she wishes to have it i will myself bring it looked cross if it is hers you have no business to keep it she said why not leave it whatever it is with me mr regarded her with a bland and lofty air i trust no concerns of mine or hers to the keeping of a paid domestic he said a domestic moreover who deserts the ways of her own people who hath dealings with the in darkness | 33 |
who even herself to forget much of her own native tongue and who herself to what he would have said was uncertain as at that moment he was nearly thrown down by a something that slipped between his legs each fat calf as it passed a something that looked like a ball but proved to be a human creature no other than the crazy who after his uncouth successfully stood up shaking back his streaming fair locks and laughing wildly ha ha he exclaimed that was good that was clever if i had upset you now you would have said your prayers backward what are you here for this is no place for you they are all gone out of it s has gone all the world is empty there is nothing anywhere but air air air no birds no flowers no trees no sunshine all gone with her on the sparkling singing water and he swung his arms round violently and snapped his fingers in the minister s face what an ugly man you are he exclaimed with refreshing i think you are than i am you are straight but you are like a load of heavy and barren and fit to bum now i i am the crooked bough of a tree but i have bright leaves where a bird hides and sings all day you you have no song no foliage only ugly and barren and fit to burn he laughed heartily and catching sight of where she stood in the doorway entirely at his eccentric behaviour he went up to her and took hold of the corner of her apron take me in dear pretty he said is hungry sweet little come and talk to me and sing good bye fat man he added suddenly turning round once more on you will never overtake the big ship that has gone away with over the water will come back yes but one day she will go never to come back he dropped his voice to a mysterious whisper last night saw a little spirit come out of a rose he carried a tiny golden hammer and nail and a ball of cord like a up he flew away so quickly i could not follow him but i know where he went he fastened the nail in the heart of deeply so that the little drops of blood flowed but she felt no pain and then he tied the gold cord to the nail and left her carrying the other end of the string with him to whom some other heart must be pierced whose heart looked infinitely cunning as well as melancholy and sighed deeply the reverend mr was impatient and disgusted it is a pity he said with an air of solemn patience that this creature accursed of god and man is not placed in some proper abode suitable to the treatment of his affliction you the land of the midnight sun as the favoured servant of a a well let us say of a peculiar mistress should persuade her to send this this person away lest his become glanced very kindly at who still held her apron with the air of a child he s no more than you are she said promptly in answer to the minister s remark he s a good fellow and if he talks strangely he can make himself useful which is more than can be said of certain people he can saw and chop the wood make hay feed the cattle pull a strong oar and sweep and keep the garden can t you she laid her hand on s shoulder and he nodded his head emphatically as she his different talents and as for climbing he can guide you anywhere over the hills or up the streams to the big no one better and if you mean by peculiar that my mistress is different to other people why i know she is and am glad of it at any rate she s a great deal too kind hearted to shut this poor boy up in a house for he d die if he couldn t have the fresh air she paused out of breath with her rapid utterance and mr held up his hands in dignified astonishment you talk too young woman he said it is necessary that i should instruct you without loss of time as to how you should be of your words in the presence of your and bang the door was closed with a decision that sent a sharp echo through the silent heated air and mr was left to contemplate it at his leisure full of wrath he was about to knock and insist that it should be re opened but on second thoughts he decided that it was beneath his dignity to argue with a servant much less with a declared lunatic like so he made the best of his way back to his boat thinking gloomily of the hard labour awaiting him in the long pull back to other thoughts too tortured and harassed his brain and as he again took the oars and plied them wearily through the water he was in an exceedingly humour though a he was no fool he knew the ways of men and women and he thoroughly realized the present position of affairs he was quite aware of s exceptional beauty and he felt pretty certain that no man could look upon her without tion but up to this time she had been as it were secluded from all eyes a few and were the only persons of the male sex who had ever been within the of s dwelling with the exception of himself who being armed with a letter of introduction from the actual minister | 33 |
of whose place he for the present filled had his company frequently and persistently on the and his daughter though he knew himself to be entirely unwelcome he had gathered together as much as he could all the scraps of information concerning them how was with having made away with his wife by foul means how nobody ever knew where his wife had come from how had been mysteriously educated and had learned strange things concerning foreign lands which no one else in the place understood anything about how she was to be a witch and was believed to have cast her on the unhappy to the destruction of his reason and how nobody could tell where himself had come from all this mr had heard with much interest and as the part of his nature was always more or less he had resolved in his own mind that here was a field of action suitable to his abilities to tame and break the evil spirit in the witch to convert her to the holy and faith to save her soul for the lord and take her beautiful body for himself these were mr s there was no rival to oppose him and he had plenty of time to mature his plans so he had thought he had not for the appearance of sir philip on the scene a man young handsome and well bred with vast wealth to back up his pretensions should he make any how did he find her out thought the reverend charles as he pulled his craft along and that brutal pagan too who he cannot endure strangers and as he meditated a flush of righteous indignation his features let her take care he half muttered with a smile that was not pleasant let her take care there are more ways than one to bring down her pride sir philip must be too and popular in his own country to think of wishing t marry p who the land of the midnight sun is only a farmer s daughter after all he may trifle with her yes and he will help me by so doing the more mud on her name the better for me the more disgrace the more need of rescue and the more grateful she will have to be just a word to and the scandal will spread patience patience and somewhat cheered by his own reflections though still wearing an air of offended dignity he rowed on glancing up every now and then to see if the had returned but her place was still empty meanwhile as he thought and planned other thoughts and plans were being discussed at a meeting which was held in a little ruined stone hut situated behind some trees on a dreary hill just outside it was a miserable place barren of foliage the ground was dry and yellow and the hut itself looked as if it had been struck by lightning the friends whose taste had led them to select this dwelling as a place of conference were two in number both women one of them no other than the minister s servant the faced she was crouched on the in an attitude of utter at the feet of her companion an aged dame of tall and imposing appearance who standing erect looked down upon her with an air of mingled contempt and the hut was rather dark for the roof was not sufficiently destroyed to have the advantage of being open to the sky the sunlight fell through holes of different shapes and sizes one specially bright patch of radiance the stately form and strongly marked though withered features of the elder woman whose eyes deeply sunken in her head glittered with a hawk like and evil lustre as they rested on the prostrate figure before her when she spoke her accents were harsh and commanding how long she said how long must i wait how long must i watch the work of satan in the land the fields are barren and will not bring forth the curse of bitter poverty is upon us all and only he the pagan and in harvest while all around him starve do i not know the devil s work when i see it i the chosen servant of the lord and she struck a tall staff she held violently into the ground to her words am i not left deserted in my age the child sole daughter of my sole daughter is she not stolen and kept from me has not her heart been utterly turned away from mine all through that vile witch accursed of god and man she it is who casts the on our land she it is who makes the hands and hearts of our men heavy and careless so that even luck has left the fishing and yet you hesitate you delay you will not fulfil your promise i tell you there are those in who at my bidding would cast her naked into the and leave her there to sink or swim according to her nature i know murmured humbly raising herself slightly from her kneeling posture i know it well but good be patient i work for the best mr will do more for us than we can do for ourselves he is wise and cautious interrupted her with a fierce gesture fool she cried what need of caution a witch is a witch burn her drown her there is no other remedy but two days since the child of my neighbour passed her on the and now the boy has of some strange disease and tis said he will die again the drove of cattle owned by were home when she passed by now they are seized by the plague tell your good saint these things if he can find no cure can and | 33 |
shuddered slightly as she rose from the ground and stood erect drawing her shawl closely about her you hate her so much she asked almost timidly s face darkened and her yellow like hand closed round her strong staff in a cruel and threatening manner hate her she muttered i have hated her ever since she was born i hated her mother before her a nest of devils every one of them and the curse will always be upon us while they dwell here she paused and looked at steadily remember she said with an evil on her lips i hold a secret of yours that is worth the keeping i give you two weeks more within that time you must act i destroy the witch bring back to me my or else it will be my turn and she laughed silently s face grew paler and the the land of the midnight sun that grasped the folds of her shawl trembled violently she made an effort however to appear composed as she answered i have sworn to obey you and i will but tell me one thing how do you know that is indeed a witch how do i know almost have i lived all these years for nothing look at her am like her are j ou like her are any of the honest women of the neighbourhood like her meet her on the hills with knives and pins her and see if the blood will flow i swear it will not not one drop her skin is too white there is no blood in those veins only fire look at the pink in her cheeks the of her flesh the glittering light in her eyes the gold of her hair it is all devil s work it is not human it is not natural i have watched her i used to watch her mother and curse her every time i saw her ay curse her till i was breathless with cursing she stopped abruptly gazed at her with as much wonder as her plain heavy face was capable of expressing saw the look and smiled darkly one would think you had never known what love is she said with a sort of grim satire in her tone yet even your dull soul was on fire once but i when i was young i had beauty such as you never had and i loved uttered an exclamation of astonishment you and yet you hate him now raised her hand with an imperious gesture i have grown hate like a flower in my breast she said with a sort of stern i have red it year after year and now it has grown too strong for me when was young he told me i was fair once he kissed my cheek at parting for those words for that kiss i loved him then for the same things i hate him now when i he had married i cursed him on the day of my own marriage with a man i despised i cursed him i have followed him and all his surroundings with more curses than there are hours in the day i have had some little revenge yes and she laughed grimly but i want more for has been caught by his daughter s evil spell is mine and i must have her back understand me well do what you have to do without delay surely it is an easy thing to ruin a woman stood as though absorbed in meditation and said nothing for some moments at last she murmured as though to herself mr could do much if ask him then said tell him the village is in fear of her tell him that if he will do nothing we will and if all fails come to me again and remember i shall not only act i shall speak and the last word as a sort of threat she turned and strode out of the hut followed more slowly taking a different direction to that in which her late companion was seen rapidly disappearing on returning to the minister s dwelling she found that mr had not yet come back from his excursion she gave no explanation of her absence to her two fellow servants but went straight up to her own room a bare in the roof where she deliberately took off her dress and her shoulders and breast then she knelt down on the rough boards and clasping her hands began to and as though she were seized with a sudden she groaned and tortured the tears from her eyes she pinched her own flesh till it was black and blue and scratched it with her nails till it and she prayed but with evident desperation sometimes her gestures were frantic sometimes appealing but she made no noise that was loud enough to attract attention from any of the in the house her stolid features were with anguish and had she been an of the creed she held in such bitter who for some crime endured a self imposed penance she could not have punished her own flesh much more severely she remained some quarter of an hour or twenty minutes thus then rising from her knees she wiped the tears from her eyes and re clothed herself and with her usual calm immovable aspect though sharply from the injuries she had inflicted on herself she descended to the kitchen there to prepare mr s tea with all the care and the meal of so good a man and so perfect a saint the land of the midnight sun lot chapter x she believed that by dealing nobly with all all would show noble so that whatsoever she did became her | 33 |
fondly she hasn t turned out so badly they laughed and blushed as s dreamy eyes rested on her with a look which though he was unconscious of it spoke passionate admiration the day passed too quickly with them all and now as they sat at dinner in the richly ornamented saloon there was not one among them who could contemplate without reluctance the approaching break up of so pleasant a party was served and as with the on her plate and her glass of champagne her face grew serious and absorbed even sad and she scarcely seemed to hear the merry chatter of tongues around her till s voice asking a question of her father roused her into swift attention do you know anyone of the name of he was saying i a poor fellow whose wits are in heaven let us hope for they certainly are not on earth mar s fine face softened with pity and he replied have you met him then ah poor boy his is a sad fate he has wit enough but it works the brain is there but tis twisted yes we know well enough his home is with us in of a better ay ay we snatched him from death perhaps yet he has a good heart and finds pleasure in his life he is a kind of poet in his own way went on watching as she listened intently to their conversation do you know he actually visited me on board here last night and begged me to go away from the altogether he seem afraid of me as if he thought i meant to do him some harm how strange murmured never speaks to visitors he is too shy i cannot understand his motive ah my dear sighed her father has he any motive at all and does he ever understand himself his fancies change with every shifting breeze i will tell you he continued addressing himself to how he came to be as it were a bit of our home just before was bom i was walking with my wife one day on the shore when we both caught sight of something against our little pier like a large box or basket i managed to get hold of it with a boat hook and drag it in it was a sort of such as is used to pack fish in and in it was the naked body of a half drowned child it was an ugly little creature a newly born infant and on its chest there was a horrible in the shape of a cross as though it had been deeply with a pen knife i thought it was dead and was for throwing it back into the but my wife a tender hearted angel took the poor wretched little wet body in her arms and found that it breathed she warmed it dried it and wrapped it in her shawl and after awhile the tiny monster opened its eyes and stared at her well somehow neither of us could forget the look it gave us such a solemn warning pitiful appealing sort of expression there was no resisting it so we took the and did the best we could for him we gave him the name of and when was bom the two babies used to play together all day and we never noticed anything wrong the land of the midnight sun with the boy except his natural till he was about ten or twelve years old then we saw to our sorrow that the gods had chosen to play with his wits however we humoured him tenderly and he was always poor he adored my wife i have known him listen for hours to catch the sound of her footstep he would actually deck the threshold with flowers in the morning that she might tr on them as she passed by the old sighed and rubbed his hand across his eyes with a gesture half of pain half of impatience and now he is s slave a regular servant to her she can manage him best of us all he is as as a lamb and will do anything she tells him i am not surprised at that said the gallant there if reason in such obedience looked at him the implied com you think so she said simply i am glad i i always hope that he will one day be well in mind and every little sign of reason in him is pleasant to me was silent it was evidently no use making even an attempt at flattering this strange girl surely she must be dense not to understand compliments that most other women compel from the lips of men as their right he was confused his paris breeding was no use to him in fact he had been at a loss all day and his conversation had even to himself seemed particularly shallow and this as he called her was by no means stupid she was not a mere moving statue of lovely flesh and perfect colour whose outward beauty was her only recommendation she was on the contrary of a most superior intelligence she had read much and thou t more and the dignified elegance of her manner and bearing would have done honour to a queen after all thought the social of paris be wrong it was just possible there might be women who were womanly there might be beautiful girls who were vain nor frivolous there might even be creatures of the feminine sex beside whom a trained would seem nothing more than a painted of the these were new and startling tions to the feather light mind of the frenchman and his fancy began to busy itself with | 33 |
the old romantic histories of the ancient french chivalry when faith and love and loyalty kept white the lilies of france and the stately courtesy and pride of the re made its name honoured throughout the world an odd direction indeed for s reflections to wander in he who never reflected on either past or future but was content to away the present as pleasantly as might be and the only reason to which his unusually serious reverie could be attributed was the presence of she certainly had a strange influence on them all though she herself was not aware of it and not only but each one of his companions had been deeply considering during the day that notwithstanding the tendency of modern living life itself might be turned to good and even noble account if only an were made in the right direction such was the compelling effect of s mind reflected in her pure face on the different dispositions of all the young men and she unconscious of it smiled at them and conversed gaily little knowing as she talked in her own sweet and way that the most profound resolutions were being formed and the most noble and deeds were being planned in the souls of her listeners all because one fair innocent woman had in the clear grave glances of her wondrous sea blue eyes suddenly made them aware of their own utter watching the girl from under his pale thought of mr s matrimonial pretensions with a humorous smile hovering on his thin lips my the fellow has a first rate opinion of himself he he might as well offer his hand in marriage to the queen while he s about it he would have just as much chance of acceptance meanwhile having learned all he wished to know concerning was drawing out old and getting him to give his ideas on things in general a task in which joined so you don t think we re making any progress nowadays inquired the latter with an appearance of interest and a lazy amusement in his blue eyes as he put the question the land of the midnight sun progress exclaimed not a bit of it i it is all a going backward it may not seem apparent but it is so ng land for instance is losing the great place she once held in the world s history and these things always happen to all nations when money becomes more precious to the souls of the people than honesty and honour i take the universal wide spread of gain to be one of the worst signs of the times the of some great and disaster the effects of which no human mind can calculate i am told that america is destined to be the power of the future but i doubt it i its politics are too corrupt its people live too fast and bum their candle at both ends which is unnatural and most j moreover it is almost destitute of art in its highest forms and is not its confessed the almighty dollar and such a country as that expects to to itself the absolute sway of the world i tell you no ten thousand times no it is destitute of nearly everything that has made nations great and all powerful in historic annals and my belief is that what has been will be again and that what has never been will never be you mean by that i suppose that there is no possibility of doing anything new no way of out in some better and direction asked shook his head emphatically you can t do it he said everything in every way has been begun and completed and then forgotten over and over in this world to be begun and completed and forgotten again and so on to the end of the chapter no one nation is better than another in this respect there is there can be nothing new for example has had its day whether it will ever have another i know not at any rate i shall not live to see it and yet what a past he broke off and his eyes grew meditative looked at him you would have been a mr had you lived in the old days he said with a smile i should indeed i returned the old man with an unconsciously haughty gesture of his head and no better fate could have befallen me to sail the seas in hot pursuit of one s enemies or in search of further conquest to feel the very wind and sun beating up the blood in one s veins to live the life of a man a true man in all the pride and worth of strength and in io vigour i how much better than the feeble sickly existence led by the majority of men to day i dwell apart from them as much as i can i steep my mind and body in the joys of nature and the free fresh air but often i feel that the old days of the heroes must have been best when the bold and the fierce seized paris and their horses in the chapel where lay buried looked up with a faint smile ah pardon but that was surely a very long time ago true said quietly and no doubt you will not believe the story at this distance of years but the day is coming when people will look back on the little chronicle of your empire your your republic all your little affairs and will say surely these things are they occurred if they occurred at all a very long time ago is a philosopher said with a good humoured gesture | 33 |
i would not presume to contradict him you see my lad went on more gently there is much in our ancient history that is forgotten or ignored by students of to day the travellers that come hither come to see the glories of our and but they think little or nothing of the vanished tribe of heroes who once possessed the land if you know your greek history you must have heard of who lived three hundred and fifty six years before christ and who was taken captive by a band of and carried away to see the place where the sun slept in winter most probably he came to this very spot the at any rate the ancient had good words to say for the outside as they called us for they reported us to be persons living in peace with their gods and themselves again one of the oldest tribes in the world came among us in times past the there are among us still of their customs and manners yes we have a great deal to look back upon with pride as well as sorrow and much as i hear of the wonders of the new world the and the go ahead speed of american manners and civilization i would rather be a than a yankee and he laughed there s more dignity in the name at any rate said but i say mr you are up in history much better the land of the midnight sun than i am the annals of my country were into my tender soul early in life but i have a very recollection of them i know henry viii got rid of his wives and conveniently and i distinctly remember that queen elizabeth wore the first pair of silk stockings and danced a kind of in them with the earl of these things interested me at the time and they now seem firmly impressed on my memory to the of everything else that might possibly be more important old smiled but laughed outright and her eyes danced ah i do know you now i she said nodding her fair head at him wisely you are not anything that is to be believed so i shall well understand you that is you are a very great scholar but that it pleases you to pretend you are a s face brightened into a very gentle and winning softness as he looked at her i assure you miss i am not pretending in the least i m no scholar is if you like if it hadn t been for him i should never have learned anything at oxford at all he used to leap over a difficulty while i was looking at it don t interrupt me you know you did i i tell you he s up to everything greek latin and all the rest of it and what s more he writes well i believe though he ll never forgive me for mentioning it that he has even published some poems be quiet george exclaimed with a vexed laugh you are miss to death what is v asked gently and then turning her eyes full on the young she added i like to hear that you will pass your days sometimes without shooting the birds and killing the fish it can hurt nobody for you to write and she smiled that dreamy pensive smile of hers that was so infinitely you must show me all your sweet poems coloured hotly they are all nonsense miss he said quickly there s nothing sweet about them i tell you frankly all rubbish every line of them then you should not write them said quietly it is only a pity and a disappointment i wish were of your opinion laughed it would spare us a lot of indifferent verse no ah you have the chief of all the world in your land cried bringing his fist down with a jovial on the table he can teach you all that you need to know oh you mean bard i suppose you allude to shakespeare i do said the old he is the only glory of your country i envy i would give anything to prove him a by had he but been one of the of the world might have followed the grand old creed still if anything could ever persuade me to be a christian it would be the fact that shakespeare was one if england s name is rendered it will be through the fame of shakespeare alone just as we have a kind of tenderness for degraded modern greece because of ay ay i countries and nations are worthless enough it is only the great names of heroes that endure to teach the lesson that is never learned sufficiently namely that man and man alone is fitted to grasp the prize of immortality you believe in immortality inquired seriously s keen eyes lighted on him with fiery believe in it i possess it how can it be taken from me as well make a bird without wings a tree without sap an ocean without depth as expect to find a man without an immortal soul what a question to ask i do you not possess heaven s gift and why should not i no offence said secretly astonished at the old bond not he though himself intending to become a devout minister of the word had not he now and then felt a creeping doubt as to whether after all there was any truth in the doctrine of another life than this one i only thought you might have perhaps questioned the probability of it in your own mind i never question divine authority replied i pity those that do i and this divine authority said suddenly with a delicate sarcastic smile how and | 33 |
where do you perceive it in the very law that me to exist young sir said in the mysteries of the universe about me the glory of the heavens the wonders of the sea you have perhaps in cities all your life and your mind is cramped a bit no the land of the midnight sun iii wonder you can hardly see the stars above the roofs of a wilderness of houses cities are men s work the gods have never had a finger in the building of them dwelling in them i suppose you cannot help forgetting divine authority altogether but here here among the mountains you would soon remember it you should live here it would make a man of you and you do not consider me a man inquired with good humour laughed well not quite he admitted candidly there s not enough muscle about you i confess i like to see strong fellows fellows fit to rule the planet on which they are placed that s my whim but you re a neat little chap enough and i dare say you can hold your own and his eyes good as he filled himself another glass of his host s fine and drank it off while with a half plaintive half shrug of resignation to s verdict on his personal appearance asked if she would favour them with a song she rose from her seat instantly without any affected hesitation and went to the piano she had a delicate touch and accompanied herself with great taste but her voice full penetrating rich and true was one of the purest and most sympathetic ever possessed by woman and its freshness was by any of the varied systems of torture invented by singing masters for the ingenious destruction of the organ she sang a love song in the original tongue which might be roughly translated as follows thou me for my beauty s sake love me not then love the victorious glittering sun the one i thou me for my youth s sake love me not then i love the triumphant spring who every year new charms doth bring thou me for treasure s sake oh love me not then i love the deep the wonderful sea its jewels are love than me i thou me for love s own sake ah sweet then love me i more than the sun and the spring and the se is the faithful heart i wiu to thee a silence greeted the close of her song though the young men were ignorant of the meaning of the words till old translated them for their benefit they could feel the intensity of the passion through her ringing tones and sighed involuntarily she heard the sigh and turned round on the music stool laughing are you so tired or sad or what is it she asked merrily it is too melancholy a tune and i was foolish to sing it because you cannot understand the meaning of it it is all about love and of course love is always sorrowful always asked with a half smile i do not know she said frankly with a pretty gesture of her hands but all books say so it must be a great pain and also a great happiness let me think what i can sing to you now but perhaps you will yourself sing not one of us has a voice miss said i used to think i had but discouraged my efforts men shouldn t sing observed if they only knew how awfully ridiculous they look standing up in dress coats and white ties pouring forth love that nobody wants to hear they wouldn t do it only a woman looks pretty while singing ah that is very nice said with a smile then i am agreeable to you when i sing agreeable this was far too tame a word they all rose from the table and came towards her with many assurances of their delight and admiration but she put all their compliments aside with a little gesture that was both incredulous and you must not say so many things in praise of me she said with a swift upward glance at where he leaned on the piano regarding her it is nothing to be able to sing it is only like the birds but we cannot understand the words they say just as you cannot understand listen here is a little ballad you will all know and she played a soft while her voice subdued to a plaintive murmur out in the dainty verses of sur ma i un ma main pr k the land of the midnight sun descend sur le d au d de la me par sa sa d t she sang this seriously and sweetly till she came to the last three lines when catching s earnest gaze her voice quivered and her cheeks flushed she rose from the piano as soon as she had finished and said to the who had been watching her with proud and gratified looks it is growing late father we must say good bye to our friends and return home not yet eagerly implored sir philip come up on deck we will have coffee there and afterwards you shall leave us when you will in this arrangement before his daughter had time to raise any objection and they all went on deck where a comfortable lounging chair was placed for facing the most gorgeous portion of the glowing sky which on this evening was like a moving mass of gold split asunder here and there by angry ragged looking of crimson the young men themselves together at the of the vessel in order to smoke their cigars without annoyance to old did hot smoke but he talked and after seeing them | 33 |
is certain ii your opinion and looked more n ever i opinion of course p how be if women did not obey men the world li ah you see you cannot make me think it is no use and she laughed and rose a i ling with a gentle air father dear ay good bye k it is returned giving himself a shake f as he broke off a rather tedious conversation he j with we shall have coming and poor will think we have left her too long you my lad this to sir philip who instantly gave boat to be lowered you have given us a day enjoyment i hope i shall be able to way you must let us see as much of you as hands cordially and proposed to escort s far as their own pier but this offer he exclaimed cheerily with four to hy should we take you away from your friends i ch a thing and now regarding the great fall of here says you have not visited it yet you can have there is well make up when it is agreeable to you it is a grand sight ng to morrow we shall meet again for the salmon ant i shall be able to make the time pass quickly long do you think of staying here j answered his eyes who was just then shaking hands with his i g them farewell d and clapped him on the shoulder that tired of the place he said good not be dull if i can prevent it i good bye and j pi ty led gently coming up at that moment ii and laying her in his i have been so happy all day and it is all your kindness i am very grateful it is i who have cause to be grateful said hurriedly clasping her hand warmly for your company and that of your father i trust we shall have many more pleasant days together i hope so too she answered simply and then the boat being ready they departed and leaned on the deck rails waving their hats and watching them disappear over the gleaming v till the very last glimpse of s crimson hood had vanished and then they turned to their companions who were strolling up and down smoking un p said z briefly in short i doubt if the angels are so good looking the old pagan s a fine scholar added he corrected me in a bit of latin did he indeed and laughed i suppose you think better of him now sandy t sandy made no reply and as persisted in turning the conversation away from the merits or of their recent guests they soon entered on other topics but that night before retiring to rest laid a hand on his friend s shoulder and said quietly with a keen look well old man have you made up your mind have i seen the future lady sir philip smiled then after a brief pause answered steadily yes george you have that is if i can win her laughed a little and sighed there s no doubt about that and s fine figure and noble features he repeated again thoughtfully no doubt about that my boy then after a pause he said somewhat abruptly time to turn in good night good night old fellow and wrung his hand warmly and left him to repose but had rather a bad night he tossed and tumbled a good deal and had dreams unusual visitors with him and once or twice he muttered in his sleep no doubt about it not the least in the world and if there were but the conclusion of this sentence was the land of the midnight sun chapter xi tu vas un beau r ve t t d un sur ton t qui se tes de a fortnight passed the first excursion in the had been followed by others of a similar kind and s acquaintance with the was fast into a pleasant intimacy it had grown customary for the young men to spend that part of the day which in spite of persistent sunshine they still called evening in the comfortable quaint parlour of the old looking at the view through the rose windows listening to the fantastic legends of as told by or watching s picturesque figure as she sat apart in her corner spinning they had with too that is as far as he would permit them for the unhappy dwarf was uncertain of temper and if at one hour he were and yielding as a child the next he would be found excited and furious at some imaginary slight that he fancied had been inflicted upon him sometimes if he would talk almost only allowing his fancy to play with poetical ideas concerning the sea the flowers or the sunlight but he was far more often sullen and silent he would draw a low chair to s side and sit there with half closed eyes and compressed lips and none could tell whether he listened to the conversation around him or was utterly indifferent to it he had taken a notable fancy to but he avoided in the most marked and persistent manner the latter did his best to overcome this unreasonable dislike but his efforts were useless and deciding in his own mind that it was best to humour s he soon let him alone and devoted his attention more entirely to one evening after supper at the who for some time had been watching philip and conversing together in low tones near the open window rose from his seat quietly without disturbing the of the who was ia the middle of a sea story told for s entertainment and slipped out into the garden | 33 |
resolute still gazed upon him and you you do not love he murmured started but controlled himself instantly his frank english eyes met the brilliant ones fixed so upon him certainly not he said calmly with a serene smile what makes you think of such a thing quite wrong the spirits have made a mistake again come along let us join the others but would not accompany him he sprang away like a frightened animal in haste and abruptly plunging into the depths of a wood that bordered on s grounds was soon lost to sight looked after him in a little perplexity i wonder if he ever gets dangerous he thought a fellow the land of the midnight sun with such queer notions might do some serious harm without meaning it ill keep an eye on him and once or twice during that same evening he felt inclined to speak to on the subject but no suitable opportunity presented itself and after awhile with his habitual he partly forgot the circumstance on the following sunday afternoon sat alone under the wide blossom covered porch reading her father and accompanied by and his friends had all gone for a mountain promising to return for supper a substantial meal which was already busy preparing the afternoon was very warm one of those long lazy stretches of heat and brilliancy in which nature herself seems to have lain down to rest like a child tired of play sleeping in the sunshine with drooping flowers in her hands the very ripple of the stream seemed hushed and though her eyes were bent seriously on the book she held sighed once or twice heavily as though she were tired there was a change in the girl an something seemed to have passed over her and toned down the brightness of her beauty she was paler and there were darker shadows than usual under the splendour of her eyes her very attitude as she leaned her head against the dark fantastic carving of the porch had a touch of and indifference in it her sweetly arched lips drooped with a plaintive little line at the corners and her whole air was of fatigue mingled with sadness she looked up now and then from the printed page and her gaze wandered over the stretch of the scented flower filled garden to the little silvery glimmer of the from whence arose like delicate black streaks against the sky the slender of the and then she would resume her reading with a slight movement of impatience the volume she held was victor s tales and though her sensitive imagination delighted in poetry as much as in sunshine she found it for once hard to her attention as closely as she wished to do on the exquisite wealth of language and glow of colour that the writings of the shakespeare of france within the house was singing cheerily at her work and the sound of her song alone disturbed the silence two or three pale blue danced ly in and out a i f s s m nearly with a pink path washing r t and precise i ers of its class afternoon disturbed startled and rose night not be some the scrambled of her ce grew of the girl s lt of breath and his head by and so i h y my father is his smile grew shall no i the porch opposite to her standing heed over dazzling whiteness rich hair she as she con i i g j to speak his stiff collar the land of the midnight sun once or twice as though it hurt him finally he said with an evident effort i have found a a of yours a trifling toy which perhaps you would be glad to have again and he drew carefully out of his waistcoat pocket a small parcel wrapped up in paper which he with his fat fingers thus displaying the little he had kept so long in his possession concerning this he went on holding it up before her i am troubled and would fain say a few necessary words she interrupted him reaching out her hand for the cross as she spoke that was my mother s she said in solemn infinitely tender accents with a mist as of tears in her sweet blue eyes it was round her neck when she died i knew i had lost it and was very unhappy about it i do thank you with all my heart for bringing it back to me and the of her face relaxed and her smile that sudden sweet smile of hers shone forth like a gleam of sunshine a cloud mr s breath came and went with curious rapidity his grew pale and a dew broke out upon his forehead he took the hand she held out a fair soft hand with a pink palm like an shell and laid the little cross within it and still retaining his hold of her he observed then we are friends i good friends i hope she withdrew her fingers from his hot moist clasp and her bright smile vanished i do not see that at all she replied friendship is very rare to be friends one must have similar tastes and sympathies many things which we have not and which we shall never have i am slow to call any person my friend mr s small mouth drew itself into a tight thin line except he said with a sneer except when any person happens to be a rich englishman with a handsome face and easy manners then you are not slow to make friends on the contrary you are remarkably quick the cold haughty stare with which the girl favoured him might have frozen a less conceited man | 33 |
to a of ice what do you mean she asked abruptly and with an air ol surprise the minister s httle like eyes drooped under their and he on the seat with uncomfortable embarrassment he answered her in the of mild voices you are unlike yourself my dear he said with a soothing gesture of one of his well trimmed white hands you are generally frank and open but to day i find you just a little well what shall i say yes we will call it i oh and mr laughed a gentle little laugh you must not pretend ignorance of what i mean all the neighbourhood is talking of you and the gentlemen you are so often seen with concerning sir philip the evil tongue of rumour is busy for according to his first plans when his arrived here he was bound for the north cape and should have gone there days ago truly i think and there are others who think also in the same spirit of interest for you that the this young man leaves our peaceful the better and the less he has to do with the maidens of the district the safer we be from the risk of scandal and he heaved a pious sigh turned her eyes upon him in i do not understand you she said coldly why do you speak of ot rs no others are interested in what i do why should they be why should be there is no need i mr grew slightly excited he felt like a the winning post oh you wrong yourself my dear he murmured softly with a sickly attempt at tenderness in his tone you really wrong yourself it is impossible for me at least not to be interested in you even for our dear lord s sake it troubles me to the inmost depths of my soul to behold in you one of the foolish whose light hath been extinguished for lack of the saving oil to see you wandering as a lost sheep in the paths of darkness and error without a hand to rescue your steps from the near and dreadful precipice ay truly my spirit for you as a mother for an own babe fain would i save you from the devices of the evil one fain would i here the minister drew out his handkerchief and pressed it lightly to his eyes then as if with an effort his emotion he added with the the land of the midnight sun gravity of a butcher presenting an bill but first before mine own humble desires for your salvation first ere i go further in converse it me to enter on the lord s business bent her head slightly with an air as though she said indeed pray do not be long about it and leaning back against the porch she waited somewhat impatiently the image i have just restored to you went on mr in his most and ponderous manner you say belonged to your unhappy mother she was not unhappy interposed the girl calmly ay ay and the minister nodded with a superior air of wisdom so you imagine so you think you must have been too young to judge of these things she died i saw her die again she interrupted with a musing tenderness in her voice she smiled and kissed me then she laid her thin white hand on this and closing her eyes she went to sleep they told me it was death since then i have known that death is beautiful mr little cough of quiet incredulity he was not fond of sentiment in any form and the pensive manner annoyed him death beautiful it was the one thing of all others that he dreaded it was an unpleasant necessity concerning which he thought as little as possible though he preached frequently on the peace of the grave and the joys of heaven he was far from believing in either he was nervously terrified of illness and fled like a frightened from the very rumour of any disorder and he had never been known to attend a death bed and now in answer to he nodded and rubbed his hands and said yes yes no doubt no doubt all very proper on your part i am sure but concerning this same image of which i came to speak it is most imperative that you should be brought to recognise it as a purely object a maiden s eyes to rest upon the true followers of the gospel are those who strive to forget the sufferings of our dear lord as much as possible or to think of them only in spirit the minds of alas are easily influenced and it is both and dangerous to gaze freely upon the semblance of the lord s limbs i yea truly it hath oft been considered as to the soul more especially in the cases of women as who encourage themselves in an undue familiarity with our lord by gazing long and earnestly upon his body nailed to the accursed tree here mr paused for breath was silent but a faint smile gleamed on her face wherefore he went on i do you as you desire grace and to utterly cast from you the vile i have heaven knows how reluctantly returned to your keeping to upon it and it as a device of satan he stopped surprised and indignant as she raised the much abused emblem to her lips and kissed it reverently it is the sign of peace and salvation she said steadily to me at least you waste your words mr i am a catholic oh say not so exclaimed the minister now thoroughly roused to a pitch of enthusiasm say not so poor child | 33 |
who not the meaning of the word used catholic universal god forbid a universal you are not a catholic no you are a roman by which name we understand all that is most and unto god but i will for your soul yea night and day will i bend my spiritual to the task i will obtain the victory i will the alas alas you are on the brink of hell think of it i and mr stretched out his hand with his favourite pulpit gesture think of the and burning the and withering of souls imagine if you can the hopeless bitter eternal and here he his lips as though he were something excellent from which there is no escape for which there shall be no remedy it is a gloomy picture said with a quiet sparkle in her eye i am sorry for you but i am happier my faith teaches of there is always a little hope i there is none there is none t exclaimed the minister rising in excitement from his seat and swaying to and fro as he with hands and head you are doomed doomed there is no middle course between hell and heaven it must be one thing or the other god not in pause oh pause i ere you decide to fall j even at the land of the midnight sun the latest hour the lord desires to save your soul the lord for your and me to also and mr s voice deepened in solemnity there is a way which the lord hath whispered in mine ears a way that to the white robe and the crown of glory a way by which you shall possess the inner peace of the heart with bliss on earth as the of bliss in heaven f she looked at him and that way is what she inquired mr hesitated and wished with all his heart that this girl was not so thoroughly self possessed any sign of timidity in her would have given him an increase of but her eyes were coldly brilliant and glanced him over without the smallest embarrassment he took refuge in his never failing remedy his benevolent smile a smile that covered a multitude of you ask a plain question he said and i should be loth not to give you a plain answer that way that glorious way of salvation for you is through pie f and his countenance shone with self satisfaction as he spoke and he repeated softly yes yes that way is me i she moved with a slight gesture of impatience it is a pity to talk any more she said rather wearily it is all no use why do you wish to change me in my religion i do not wish to change you i do not see why we should speak of such things at all of course replied mr of course you do not see and why because you are blind here he drew a little nearer to her and looked at the curve of her full firm waist oh why he resumed in a sort of rapture why should we say it is a pity to talk any more why should we say it is all of no use it is of use it is noble it is to converse of the lord s good pleasure and what is his good pleasure at this moment to unite two souls in his service yea he hath turned my desire towards you even as jacob s desire was towards let me see this hand he mad a at the white fingers that played with leaves on the porch but the girl withdrew them from his clutch and moved a little further back her face flushing proudly oh will it not come to me cruel and and he rolled his little eyes with an sentimental r of reproach it is shy it will not clasp the hand of its protector i do not be afraid i charles am not the man to trifle with your young affections let them rest where they have flown i i accept them yea in spite of wrath and error and moral my spirit towards you in the language of men i love you more this i am willing to take you as my lawful wife he broke off abruptly somewhat startled at the bitter scorn of the flashing eyes that like two quivering stars were blazing upon him her voice clear as a bell ringing in frosty air cut through the silence like the sweep of a sword blade how dare you she said with a thrill in her low intense tones how dare you come here to insult me insult her he the reverend charles considered guilty of insult in offering honourable marriage to a mere farmer s daughter he could not believe his own ears and in his astonishment he looked up at her looking he and shrank into himself like a convicted before some the whole form of the girl seemed to with indignation from her proud mouth arched like a bow sprang arrows of scorn that flew and struck home always i have guessed what you wanted she went on in that deep tone which had such a rich quiver of anger within it but i never thought you would she paused and a little laugh broke from her lips you would make me your me you think me likely to accept such an offer and she drew herself up with a superb gesture and regarded him oh pride pride murmured the recovering from the momentary into which he had been thrown by her look and manner how it our natures and our spirits my dear my dearest i fear you do not understand me yet | 33 |
it is natural that you should not you were not prepared for the offer of my my affections and he beamed all over with benevolence and i can the land of the midnight sun appreciate a and becoming even though it assume the form of a and unreasonable anger but take courage my my dear girl our lord forbid that i should play with the delicate emotions of your heart poor little heart does it flutter and mr sweetly i will give it time to recover itself yes yes a little time and then you will put that pretty hand in mine here he drew nearer to her and with one kiss we will seal the compact and he attempted to steal his arm round her waist but the girl sprang back indignantly and pulling down a thick branch of the roses from the porch held it in front of her by way of protection mr laughed very pretty very pretty indeed he mildly observed her as she stood at bay by the roses quite a picture there there do not be frightened such shyness is very natural we will embrace in the lord another day in the meantime one little word t ie word will suffice me yea even one little smile to show me that you understand my words that you love me here he clasped his plump hands together in ecstasy even as you are loved i his absurd attitude the weak knock manner in which his clumsy legs seemed from the force of sheer sentiment to bend under his body and the expression of his countenance would have excited most women to laughter and was perfectly conscious of his utterly ridiculous ap but she was too thoroughly indignant to take the matter in a humorous light love you she exclaimed with a movement of irrepressible you must be mad i would rather die than marry you mr s face grew livid and his little eyes sparkled but he restrained his inward rage and merely smiled rubbing his hands softly one against the other let us be calm he said soothingly whatever we do let us be calm let us not provoke one another to wrath above all things let us in a spirit of charity and patience reason out this matter without undue excitement my ears have most painfully heard your last words which taken literally might mean that you reject my honourable offer the question is do they mean this i j i cannot i will not believe that you would foolishly stand in ihe way of your own salvation and he shook his head with gentleness moreover though it sorely me to speak of it it is my duty as a minister of the lord to remind you that an honest marriage a marriage of virtue and respectability such as i propose is the only way to restore your reputation which alas is sorely and mr stopped abruptly a little alarmed as she suddenly cast aside her barrier of roses and advanced towards him lier blue eyes blazing my reputation i she said who speaks of it oh dear dear me moaned the minister sad very sad to see so a temper so wild and a disposition alas alas how frail we are without the ix rd s support without the strong staff of the lord s mercy to lean upon not i my poor child not i but the whole village si of you to you the ignorant people attribute all the sundry evils that of late have fallen sorely upon them bad with the fishing poverty sickness here mr pressed the tips of his fingers delicately together and looked at her with a benevolent compassion and they call it yes strange very strange but so it is ignorant as they are such ignorance is not easily enlightened and though i he sighed have done my poor best to their minds of the suspicions against you i find it is a matter in which i though a humble of the gospel am quite powerless she relaxed her defiant attitude and moved away from him the shadow of a smile was on her lips it is not my fault if the people are foolish she said coldly i have never done harm to anyone that i know of and turning abruptly she seemed about to enter the house but the minister placed himself in her way and barred her passage stay oh stay he exclaimed with pause unfortunate girl ere you reject the strong shield and that the lord has in his great mercy offered you in my person i for i must warn you i must warn you seriously of the danger you run i i will not pain you by referring to the grave the land of the midnight sun charges brought against your father who is alas in spite of my spiritual with the lord foi his sake still no better than a heathen savage no i will say nothing of this but what what shall i say here he lowered his voice to a tone of mysterious and reproach what shall i say of your most and companionship with these worldly young men who are visiting the for their idle ah dear dear this is indeed a heavy scandal and a sore burden to my soul for up to this time i have in spite of many in your disposition considered you were at least of a most and but now now to that you should of your own free will and choice consent to be the of this idle from the wicked haunts of fashion the hour s toy of this sir philip i would never have believed it of | 33 |
you r and he drew himself up with ponderous and sorrowful dignity a burning blush had covered s face at the mention of s name but it soon faded leaving her very pale she changed her position so that she confronted mr her dear blue eyes regarded him is this what is said of me she asked calmly it is it is most unfortunately returned the minister shaking his bullet like head a great many times then with a sort of cheerfulness he added but what matter there is time to remedy these things i am willing to set myself as a strong barrier against the evil noises of rumour am i selfish or the lord forbid it no matter how am no matter how am i am still willing to take you as my lawful wife but and here he shook his forefinger at her with a pretended i will permit no more converse with sir philip no no i cannot allow it i cannot indeed she still looked straight at him her bosom rose and fell rapidly with her passionate breath and there was such an eloquent breadth of scorn in her face that he under it as though struck by a sharp you are not worth my anger she said slowly this time without a tremor in her rich voice one must have something to be angry with and you you are nothing neither man nor beast for men are brave and beasts tell no lies your wife i f and she laughed aloud then with a gesture of command go r she exclaimed and never let me see your face again the clear scornful laughter the air of absolute authority with which she spoke would have stung the most self of men even though his conscience were enveloped in a moral leather of and and notwithstanding his invariable air of mr had a temper that temper rose to a white heat just now every drop of blood from his countenance and his soft hands clenched themselves in a particularly ugly and threatening manner yet he managed to preserve his composure alas alas he murmured how sorely my soul is afflicted to see you thus i am amazed i am distressed such language from your lips oh and has it come to this and must i resign the hope i had of saving your poor soul and must i withdraw my spiritual protection from you this he asked with a suggestive sneer on his mouth and then continued i must alas i must my conscience will not permit me to do more than pray for you and as is my duty i shall in a spirit of forbearance and charity speak to sir philip concerning but did not permit him to finish his sentence she sprang forward like a young and with a magnificent outward sweep of her arm him down the garden path out of my sight coward f she cried and then stood waiting for him to obey her her whole frame with indignation like a harp struck too roughly she looked so terribly beautiful and there was such a suggestive power in that extended bare white arm of hers that the minister though from head to heel with disappointment and resentment judged it prudent to leave her certainly i will take my departure he said meekly while his teeth through his pale lips in a more than a smile it is best you should be alone to recover yourself from this this undue excitement i shall not repeat my my offer but i am sure your good sense will in time show you how very unjust and hasty you have been in this the land of the midnight sun matter and you will be sorry yes indeed i am quite sure you will be sorry i wish you good day she made him no reply and he turned from the house left her strolling down the flower bordered path as though he were in the best of all possible moods with himself and the universe but in truth he muttered a heavy oath under his breath an oath that was by no means in keeping with his and peaceful disposition once as he walked he looked back and saw the woman he now more than ever standing erect in the porch tall fair and royal in her attitude looking like some proud who had just dismissed an unworthy a farmer s daughter and she had refused mr with disdain he had much to prevent himself shaking his fist at her i the lofty shall be laid low and the stiff shall be he thought as with a vicious of his stick he struck off a fragrant head of purple conceited fool of a girl hopes to be my lady does she she had better take care here he stopped abruptly in his walk as if a thought had struck him a malignant joy sparkled in his eyes and he flourished his stick triumphantly in the air i ll have her yet he exclaimed half aloud set on her and his countenance cleared he quickened his pace like a man having some pressing business to fulfil and was soon in his boat towards with speed and energy meanwhile stood motionless where he had left her she watched the retreating form of her till he had altogether disappeared then she pressed one hand on her bosom sighed and laughed a little glancing at the so lately restored to her she touched it with her lips and fastened it to a small silver chain she wore and then a shadow swept over her fair face that made it strangely sad and weary her lips quivered she shaded her eyes with her curved fingers as though the sunlight hurt her | 33 |
then with faltering steps she turned away from the warm stretch of garden brilliant with blossom and entered the house there was a sense of outrage and insult upon her and though in her soul she treated mr s observations with the contempt they deserved his coarse allusion to sir philip had wounded her more than she cared to admit to herself once in the quiet sitting room she threw herself on her knees by her father s arm chair and laying her proud little golden head down on her folded arms broke into a passion of silent tears who shall the mystery of a woman s weeping who shall declare whether it is a pain or a relief to the heart the dignity of a crowned queen is capable of utterly and disappearing in a shower of tears when love s burn ing finger touches the pulse and marks its slow or rapid and wept as many of her sex weep without knowing why save that all suddenly she felt herself most lonely and forlorn like s qui par sa sa d i chapter xii a wicked will a woman s will a s will f an by jove and after uttering this exclamation was silent out of sheer dismay he stood hesitating and looking in at the door of the sitting room and the alarming spectacle he saw was the down on the floor in an attitude of grief giving way to little smothered sobs of distress actually crying he drew a long breath and stared utterly bewildered it was a sight for which he was unprepared he was not accustomed to women s tears what should he do should he cough gently to attract her attention or should he on tip toe and leave her to indulge her grief as long as she would without making any attempt to console her the latter course seemed almost brutal yet he was nearly deciding upon it when a slight of the door against which he leaned caused her to look up suddenly seeing him she rose quickly from her position and faced him her cheeks somewhat deeply flushed and her eyes glittering the land of the midnight sun mr she exclaimed forcing a faint smile to her quivering lips you here why where are the others they are coming on after me replied advancing into the room and the efforts to hide the tears that still threatened to have their way but i was sent in advance to tell you not to be frightened there has been a slight accident she grew very pale is it my father she asked sir philip no no answered it is nothing serious really upon my honour i your father s all right so is our lively friend is the victim the fact is we ve had some trouble with i can t think what has come to the boy he was as amiable as possible when we started but after we had climbed about half way up the mountain he took it into his head to throw stones about rather it was only fun he said your father tried to make him leave off but he was obstinate at last in a particularly bright access of he got hold of a large flint and nearly put s eye out with it it and it flew straight at open his cheek in rather an fashion don t look so miss it is really nothing oh but indeed it is something i she said with true womanly anxiety in her voice poor fellow i am so sorry is he much hurt does he suffer oh no not a bit of it he s as jolly as possible we him up in a very artistic fashion he looks quite interesting i assure you his beauty s spoilt for a time that s all thought you might be alarmed when you saw us bringing home the wounded that is why i came on to tell you all about it but what can be the matter with asked the girl raising her hand to dash off a few tear drops that still hung on her long lashes and where is he ah that i can t tell you answered he is perfectly incomprehensible to day as soon as he saw the blood flowing from s cheek he uttered a howl as if had shot him and away he rushed into the woods as fast as he could go we called him and shouted his name till we were hoarse all no use he wouldn t come back i suppose hell find hia way home by himself oh yes said gravely but when he comes i will him very much it is not like him to be so wild and cruel he will understand me when i tell him how wrong he has been oh don t break his heart poor little chap i said easily your father has given him a terrible scolding already he hasn t got his wits about him you know he can t help being queer sometimes but what have you been doing with yourself during our absence and he regarded her with friendly scrutiny you were crying when i came in now weren t you she met his gaze quite frankly yes i she replied with a plaintive thrill in her voice i could not help it my heart ached and the tears came somehow i felt that everything was wrong and that it was all my fault your fault murmured astonished my dear miss what do you mean what is your fault everything she answered sadly with a deep sigh i am very foolish and i am sure i often do wrong without meaning it mr has been here and she stopped abruptly and a wave of colour flushed her face laughed lightly t he exclaimed | 33 |
the mystery is explained you have been bored by the good religious as calls him you know what means now miss don t you she smiled slightly and nodded the first time you visited the you didn t understand the word i remember ah and he shook his head if you were in london society you d find that expression very convenient it would come to your lips pretty frequently i can tell you i i shall never see london she said with a sort of resigned air you will all go away very soon and i i shall be lonely she bit her lips in quick vexation as her blue eyes filled again with tears in spite of herself turned away and pulled a chair to the open window come and sit down here he said we shall be awe to see the others coming down the hill nothing like fresh air for blowing away the then as she obeyed him he added what has been saying to you the land of the midnight sun he told me i was wicked she murmured and that all the people here think very badly of me but that was not the worst and a little shudder passed over her there was something else something that made me very angry so angry i and here she raised her eyes with a gravely penitent air mr i do not think i have ever had so bad and fierce a temper before good gracious i exclaimed with a broad smile you alarm me miss i had no idea you were a bad fierce person i shall get afraid of you i shall really ah you laugh and she spoke half you will not be serious for one little moment yes i will now look at me and he assumed a solemn expression and drew himself up with an air of dignity i am all attention consider me your father miss and explain the reason of this bad fierce temper of yours she peeped at him from under her silken lashes it is more dreadful than you think she answered in a low tone mr asked me to marry him s keen eyes flashed with indignation this was beyond a jest and he clenched his fist as he exclaimed impudent donkey what a jolly good he deserves and i shouldn t be surprised if he got it one of these days and so miss and he studied her face with some solicitude you were very angry with him oh yes i she replied but when i told him he was a coward and that he must go away he said some very cruel things she stopped and blushed deeply then as if seized by some sudden impulse she laid her small hand on s and said in the tone of an appealing child you are very good and kind to me and you are clever you know so much more than i do you must help me you will tell me will you not if it is wrong of me to like you all it is as if we had known each other a long time and i have been very happy with you and your friends but you must teach me to behave like the girls you have seen in london for i could not bear that sir philip should think me wicked wicked and drew a long breath good heavens i if you knew what s ideas about you are miss i do not wish to know interrupted steadily you i must quite understand me i am not clever to hide my and j are glad when you talk sometimes to sir philip are you not he nodded gravely studying every light and shadow on the fair innocent face yes she continued with some eagerness i see you are well it is the same thing with me i do love to hear him speak you know how his voice is like music and how his kind ways warm the heart it is pleasant to be in his company i am sure you also find it so but for me it seems it is wrong it is not wise for me to show when i am happy i do not care what other people say but i would not have think ill of me for all the world took her hand and held it in his with a most tender loyalty and respect her simple words had all unconsciously to herself laid bare the secret of her soul to his eyes and though his heart beat with a strange sickening sense of that of despair a gentle reverence filled him such as a man might feel if some little snow white shrine sacred to purity and peace should be suddenly before him my dear miss he said earnestly i assure you you have no cause to be uneasy you must not believe a word says with a grain of common sense can see what a liar and he is and as for you you never do anything wrong don t imagine such nonsense i i wish there were more women like you ah that is very kind of you half laughed the girl still allowing her hand to rest in his but i do not think everybody would have such a good opinion they both started and their hands fell asunder as a shadow darkened the room and sir philip stood before them excuse me he said stiffly lifting his hat with politeness i ought to have knocked at the door i why asked raising her eyebrows in surprise yes why indeed echoed with a frank look at his friend i am afraid and for once the generally good | 33 |
humoured looked positively i am afraid i interrupted a pleasant conversation and he gave a little forced laugh of feigned amusement but evident vexation the land of the midnight sun i i and if it was pleasant shall you not make it still more so asked with timid and sweetness though her heart beat very fast she was anxious why was sir philip so cold and distant he looked at her and his pent up passion leaped to his eyes and filled them with a glowing and fiery tenderness her head drooped suddenly and she turned quickly to avoid that searching longing gaze glanced from one to the other with a slight feeling of amusement well he inquired lazily how did you get here so soon you must have glided into the garden like a ghost for i never heard you coming so i imagine retorted with an effort to be sarcastic in which he utterly failed as he met his friend s eyes then after a slight and somewhat embarrassed pause he added more mildly cannot get on very fast his wound still and he feels rather faint now and then i don t think we him up properly and i came on to see if could prepare something for him but you will not need to ask said quietly with a pretty air of authority for i shall myself do all for mr i understand well how to cure his wound and i do think he will like me as well as and hearing footsteps approaching she looked out at the window here they come she exclaimed ah poor i he does look very pale i will go and meet them and she hurried from the room leaving the two young men together threw himself into s great with a slight sigh well said well he returned somewhat laughed and crossing the room approached him and clapped a hand on his shoulder look here old man he said earnestly don t be a fool i know that move men mad but i never supposed the would lead you to the point of your friend your true friend by all the gods of the past and present and he laughed again a little this time for there was a sudden unaccountable and for lump in his throat and i a moisture in his eyes which he had not for philip looked up and silently held out his hand which as silently clasped there was a moment s hesitation and then the young spoke out i m ashamed of myself george i really am but i tell you when i came in and saw you two standing there youve no idea what a picture you made by jove i was furious and he smiled i suppose i was jealous i suppose you were f returned novel sensation isn t it a sort of hot have at thee villain sort of thing must be but why you should indulge this emotion at my expense is what i cannot for the life of me understand i well murmured rather abashed you see her hands were in yours as they will be again and yet again i trust said with cheery fer our surely you ll allow me to shake hands with your wife i say george be quiet exclaimed philip as at that moment passed the window with z leaning on her arm and her father and following she entered the room with the stately step of a young queen her tall beautiful figure forming a strong contrast to that of the narrow shouldered little frenchman upon whom she smiled down with an air of almost maternal protection you will sit here z she said leading him to the arm chair which instantly and father will bring you a good glass of wine and the pain will be nothing when i have attended to that cruel wound but i am so sorry so very sorry to see you suffer did indeed present rather a dismal spectacle there was a severe cut on his forehead as well as his cheek his face was pale and with blood while the hastily which were tied under his chin by no means improved his personal appearance his head ached with pain and his eyes with the strong sunlight to which he had been exposed all the day but his natural gaiety was and he laughed as he answered you are too good to me it is a piece of the land of the midnight sun good fortune that threw that stone yes since it brings me your pity but do not trouble a little cold water and a fresh handkerchief is all i need but was already her own simple for his benefit with soft fingers she laid bare the throbbing wound washed and dressed it carefully and and used withal such exceeding gentleness that closed his eyes in a sort of rapture during the operation and wished it could last longer then taking the glass of wine her father brought in obedience to her order she said in a tone of mild authority now you will drink this and you will rest quite still till it is time to go back to the and to morrow you will not feel any pain i am sure and i do think it will not be an ugly for long if it is answered i shall say i received it in a then i shall be great glorious and all the pretty ladies will love me she laughed but looked grave a moment afterwards you must never say what is not true she said it is wrong to deceive anyone even in a small matter gazed up at her feeling very much like a child never say what is not true he thought mon what would | 33 |
become of my life it was a new suggestion and he reflected upon it with astonish ment it opened such a wide vista of to his mind meanwhile old was engaged in pouring out wine for the other young men talking all the time i tell thee mine he said seriously something must be very wrong with our the poor lad has always been gentle and but to day he was like some wild animal for mischief and i grieve to see it i fear the time may come when he may no longer be a safe servant for thee child oh father and the girl s voice was full of tender anxiety surely not he is too fond of us to do us any harm he is so and affectionate maybe maybe and the old farmer shook his head doubtfully but when the wits are away the brain is like a ship with out there is no safe sailing possible he would not mean any harm perhaps and yet in his wild moods he might do it and be sorry for it directly afterwards tis little use to cry when the mischief is done and i confess i do not like his present humour by the bye observed that reminds me has taken an uncommonly strong aversion to it s curious but it s a fact perhaps it is that which his nerves i have noticed it myself said and tm sorry for it for i ve done him no harm that i can remember he certainly asked me to go away from the and i refused i d no idea he had any serious meaning in his request but it s evident he can t endure my company ah then said simply and sorrowfully he must be very ill because it is natural for to like you she spoke in perfect good faith and innocence of heart but s eyes flashed and he smiled one of those rare tender smiles of his which brightened his whole you are very kind to say so miss it is not kindness it is the truth she replied frankly at that moment a very rosy face and two sparkling eyes peered in at the door yes smiled we are quite ready whereupon the face disappeared and led the way into the kitchen which was at the same time the dining room and where a substantial supper was spread on the polished pine table the farmer s great arm chair was brought in for who though he declared he was being spoilt by too much attention seemed to enjoy it immensely and they were all including soon clustered round the hospitable board whereon antique silver and quaint glasses of foreign make sparkled bravely their effect by the snowy whiteness of the home spun a few minutes set them all talking gaily with the ever gallant in making a few compliments to who was pretty and engaging enough to merit attention and who after all was something more than a mere servant possessing as she did a great deal of her young mistress s affection and confidence and being always treated by himself the land of the midnight sun as one of the family there was no reserve or coldness in the party and the hum of their merry voices echoed up to the of the stout wooden ceiling and through the open door and window whence a patch of the gorgeous afternoon sky could be seen glimmering like a distant lake of fire they were in the full enjoyment of their and the old farmer s ha ha ha in response to a joke of s had just echoed through the room when a strong harsh voice called aloud there was a sudden silence each one looked at the other in surprise again the voice called well roared the turning sharply round in his chair who calls me i do and the tall figure of a woman advanced and stood on the threshold without actually entering the room she dropped the black shawl that enveloped her and in so doing disordered her hair which fell in white straggling locks about her withered features and her dark eyes gleamed as she fixed them on the assembled party on perceiving her uttered a faint shriek and without considering the propriety of her action buried her nut brown curls and sparkling eyes in s coat sleeve which to do the frenchman justice was exceedingly prompt to receive and shelter its fair burden the rose from his chair and his face grew stem what do you here have you walked thus far from to pay a visit that must needs be unwelcome unwelcome i know i am replied noting the terror of and the astonished glances of and his friends unwelcome at all times but most unwelcome at the hour of and folly for who can endure to receive a message from the lord when the mouth is full of and the brain with the wicked wine yet i have come in spite of your strong in the strength of the lord i dare to set foot upon your accursed threshold and once more make my just demand give me back the child of my dead daughter restore to me the creature who should be the of my age had not your pagan her from me release her and bid her return with me to ray desolate hearth and home this done i will stay the tempest that your habitation i will hold back the dark cloud of destruction i will the wrath of the lord yes for the sake of the past for the sake of the past these last words muttered in a low tone more to herself than to and having spoken she averted her eyes from the company drew her shawl | 33 |
closely about her and waited for an answer by all the gods of my fathers shouted the in a towering passion this passes my utmost endurance have i not told thee again and again thou silly soul that thy is no slave she is free free to return to thee an she will free also to stay with us where she has found a happier home than thy miserable hut at and he his fist on the table look up child speak for thou hast a spirit of thine own here is thy one earthly relation wilt go with her neither thy mistress nor i will stand in the way of thy pleasure thus looked up so suddenly that who had rather enjoyed the feel of her little head hidden upon his arm was quite startled and he was still more so at the utter defiance that flashed into the small maiden s round rosy face go with you she cried addressing the old woman who remained standing in the same attitude with an air of perfect composure do you think i have forgotten how you treated my mother or how you used to beat me and starve me you wicked old woman how dare you come here i m ashamed of you you frightened my mother to death you know you did and now you want to do the same to me but you won t i can tell you i m old enough to do as i like and i d rather die than live with you then overcome by excitement and temper she burst out crying heedless of z s smiling of approval and the admiring remarks he was making under his breath such as ma i men j men seemed unmoved she raised her head and looked at the land of the midnight sun is this your answer she demanded by the sword of cried the the woman must be mad answer the girl has spoken for herself and plainly enough too art thou deaf or are thy wits astray my hearing is very good replied calmly and my mind is as clear as yours and thanks to your teaching in mine early days she paused and looked keenly at him but he appeared to see no meaning in her allusion i know the english tongue of which we hear far too much too often there is nothing has said that i do not understand but i know well it is not the girl herself that speaks it is a demon in her and that demon shall be cast forth before i die yea with the help of the lord i shall she stopped abruptly and fixed her eyes glowing with fierce wrath on the girl met her evil glance with a gentle surprise smiled you know me i think said you have seen me before often answered mildly i have always been sorry for you sorry for me almost the old woman why why are you sorry for me do not answer her child interrupted angrily she is mad as the winds of a wild winter and will but vex thee but laid her hand soothingly on her father s and smiled peacefully as she turned her fair face again towards why she said because you seem so very lonely and sad and that must make you cross with who is happy and it is a pity i think that you do not let alone you only quarrel with each other when you meet and would you not like her to think kindly of you when you are dead seemed choking with anger her face worked into such hideous that all present save were dismayed at her repulsive aspect when i am dead she muttered hoarsely so you count upon that already do you ah but do you know which of us shall die first then raising her voice with an effort she exclaimed t a stand forth i let mc see you closely face to face said something in a low tone and the would have again interfered but shook her head smiled and rose from her seat at table anything to soothe her poor soul she whispered as she left s side and advanced towards till she was within reach of the old woman s hand she looked like some grand white angel who had stepped down from a cathedral altar as she stood erect and stately with a gravely pitying expression in her lovely eyes the draped withered who fixed upon her a steady look of the most cruel and pitiless hatred daughter of satan said then in intense piercing tones that somehow carried with them a sense of awe and horror creature in whose veins the fire of hell burns without ceasing my curse upon you my curse upon the beauty of your body may it grow in the sight of all men may those who embrace you embrace misfortune and ruin may love betray you and you i may your heart be broken even as mine has been may your bed be left deserted may your children and pine from their hour of birth sorrow track you to the grave may your death be lingering and horrible god be my witness and fulfil my words and raising her arms with wild gesture she turned and left the house the spell of silence was broken with her disappearance old prepared to rush after her and force her to her evil speech was furious and cried utterly the lazy was excited and annoyed t her back he said and i ll dance upon her j ut stood where the old woman had left she faintly but she was very pale approached her she tv to him and stretched out her hands with a little appealing gesture | 33 |
my she said softly do you think i e so many js there something about me that is evil what would have answered is doubtful his heart beat he to draw those little hands in his own and with passionate kisses but he was by old the land of the midnight sun who caught his daughter in his arms and her closely bis silvery beard mingling with the gold of her rippling hair never fear a wicked tongue my bird i said the old man fondly there is naught of harm that would touch thee either on earth or in heaven and a foul mouthed curse must roll off thy soul like water from a dove s wing cheer thee my darling cheer thee what thine own creed teaches thee that the gentle mother of christ with her little white angels round her watches over all innocent maids and thou she will let an old woman s malice and envy thy young no no i accursed and the laughed loudly to hide the tears that his keen eyes thou art the sweetest blessing of my hearty even as thy mother was before thee come come i raise thy pretty head here are these merry lads growing long faced and is weeping enough salt water to fill a bucket one of thy smiles will set us all right again a there now as she looked up and meeting philip s eloquent eyes blushed and withdrew herself gently from her father s arms let us finish our supper and think no more of yonder old she is crazy i believe and knows not what she says half her time now cease thy and sighing spoil thy face and will not mend the hole in thy grandmother s brain wicked ugly old thing sobbed i ll never never never forgive her then running to she caught her hand and kissed it affectionately oh my dear my dear to think she should have cursed you what dreadful dreadful wickedness oh and looked volumes of wrath i could have beaten her black and blue her vicious eagerness was almost comic laughed including though she pressed the hand of her little servant very warmly oh said seriously little girls mustn t whip their it s specially in the prayer book isn t it i m sure i don t know t replied merrily i believe there is something to the effect that a man may not marry his grandmother perhaps that is what you mean ah no doubt murmured languidly as with the m v i e i knew s u a hat a t i t i she v v v t i m let throughout the k mc v said she v x v u t mine in i iv t r the bible v m n a of the her x i v x v a i t tj a lie i f v u c to x u l a iu i ul s ul mu is r m a i her well v i n t the sea at chat m x v u an my y v t of my v i new u v i v ts i va x v leave die i i t be ui o a home x ki x x v i v lo t then i tee v a wreck s u as dark and when he and s i husband v s j wedded vn i vl xl and even s s h lu it she died the land of the midnight sun four years after s birth her death was hastened so i have heard through old s harsh treatment anyhow the little she left behind her had no very easy time of it all alone with her grandmother eh looked up and shook her head emphatically then went on when my girl came back the last time from france chanced to see her and strangely enough here he winked took a fancy to her odd wasn t it however nothing would suit her but that she must be s and here she is now you know her history she would be happy enough if her grandmother would let her alone but the silly old woman thinks the girl is under a spell and that is the witch that works it and the old farmer laughed there s a grain of truth in the notion too but not in the way she has of looking at it all women are said is a little witch herself s rosy cheeks grew at this and she tossed her chest nut curls with an air of defiance that delighted the french man he forgot his wounded cheek and his in the contemplation of the little plump figure in its scarlet and the tempting rosy lips that were in such close to his touch if it were not for those red hands he thought t what a charming child she would be one would instantly kill the grandmother and kiss the grand daughter and he watched her with admiration as she busied herself about the supper table attending to with diligence and care but her special services for whom she waited on with a mingled tenderness and reverence that were both touching and pretty to see the conversation now became general and nothing further occurred to disturb the harmony and of the party only seemed somewhat abstracted and answered many questions that were put to him at hazard without knowing or possibly caring whether his replies were intelligible or his thoughts were and brilliant with sunshine he understood at last what poets | 33 |
meant by their melodious woven into golden threads of song he seemed to have grasped some hitherto secret of his being a secret that filled him with as much strange pain as pleasure he felt as though he were endowed with a thousand senses each one keenly alive and sensitive to the smallest touch and there was a in his blood that was new and beyond his control a something that beat wildly in his heart at the sound of s voice or the passing flutter of her white garments near him of what use to disguise it from himself any longer he loved her the terrible beautiful tempest of love had broken over his life at last there was no escape from its passion and dazzling lightning glory he drew a sharp quick breath the hum of the gay voices around him was more to his ears than the sound of the sea breaking on the beach below he glanced at the girl the fair and innocent creature who had in his imagination risen to a throne of imperial height from whence she could bestow on him death or salvation how calm she seemed she was listening with courteous patience to a long story of s whose scotch accent rendered it difficult for her to understand she was pale philip thought and her eyes were heavy but she smiled now and then such a smile even so sweetly might the lips of the greek part could that eloquent and marble for once breathe into life he looked at her with a sort of fear her hands held his fate what if she could not love him what if he must lose her utterly this idea overpowered him his brain whirled and he suddenly pushed away his glass of wine and rose abruptly from the table heedless of the surprise his action excited where are you off to cried wait for me tired of our company my lad said kindly you ve had a long day of it and what with the climbing and the strong air no doubt you ll be glad to turn in upon my life sir answered with some confusion i don t know why i got up just now i was thinking i m rather a dreamy sort of fellow sometimes and he was asleep and doesn t want to own it interrupted you will excuse him he means well he looks rather i think mr we ll be off to the the land of the midnight sun by the way you re coming with us to morrow aren t you oh yes said we will sail with you round by it is weird and dark and grand but i think it is beautiful and there are many stories of the and folk who are said to dwell there among the deep have you heard about the folk she continued addressing herself to unaware of the effort he was making to appear cool and composed in her presence no then i must tell you to morrow they all walked out of the house into the porch and while her father was with the others she looked at sir philip s grave face with some solicitude i am afraid you are very tired my friend she asked or your head and you suffer he caught her hands swiftly and raised them to his lips would you care much would you care at all if i suffered he murmured in a low tone then before she could speak or move he let go her hands again and turned with his usual easy courtesy to then we may expect you without fail to morrow sir i good night my lad i and with many hearty the young men took their departure raising their hats to as they turned down the winding path to the shore she remained standing near her father and when the sound of their footsteps had died away she drew closer still and laid her head against his breast cold my bird the old man why thou art shivering child and yet the sunshine is as warm as wine what thee nothing father and she raised her eyes glowing and brilliant as stars tell me do you think often of my mother now often and s fine resolute grew sad and tender she is never absent from my mind i see her night and day ay i can feel her soft arms clinging round my neck why dost thou ask so strange a question little one is it possible to forget what has been once loved was silent for many minutes then she kissed her father and said good night he held her by the hand and looked at her with a sort of vague anxiety art thou well my child he asked this little hand like fire and thine eyes are too bright surely for sleep to visit them art sure that nothing thee sure quite sure answered the girl with a strange dreamy smile i am quite well and happy and she turned to enter the house stay called her father promise me thou wilt think no more of i had nearly forgotten her she responded poor thing she cursed me because she is so miserable i suppose all alone and it must be hard curses sometimes turn to blessings father good night and she ascended the one flight of wooden stairs in the house to her own bedroom little three place as clean and white as the interior of a shell never once glancing at the small mirror that seemed to invite her charms to reflect themselves therein she went to the quaint window and knelt down by it folding her arms on the sill while she looked far out to the she could see the english flag fluttering from | 33 |
and that you are to be the robber hence his dislike to you dear me and lit a and puffed at it complacently it seems to me that my wits are becoming as i grow older and that yours my dear boy pardon me are getting somewhat otherwise you would certainly have perceived he broke off abruptly well go on exclaimed philip eagerly with flashing eyes perceived what laughed that the boat containing your sun is coming along very rapidly old fellow and that you d better make haste to receive her this was the fact and had risen from his chair and was waving his french newspaper to the approaching visitors hastened to the with a brighter flush than usual on his handsome face and his heart beating with a new sense of and excitement if s hints had any foundation of truth if loved him ever so little how wild a dream it seemed why not risk his fate he resolved to speak to her that very day if opportunity favoured him and having thus decided felt quite and heroic about it this feeling of proud and tender increased when stepped on deck that morning and laid her hands ill his for as he greeted her and her father he saw at a glance that she was slightly changed some restless dream must have haunted her or his hurried words beneath the porch when he parted from her the previous evening had startled her and troubled her mind her blue eyes were no longer raised to his in absolute her voice was timid and she had lost something of her usual and graceful self possession but she looked than ever with that air of shy hesitation and appealing sweetness love had thrown his of light about her soul and body till like s she seemed a splendid angel newly save wings fur heaven as as the were on board the anchor was weighed with many a cheery and musical cry from the sailors the wheel rapidly under s firm hand and with a grand outward sweeping to the majestic she left behind her the away cutting a glittering line of white foam through the smooth water as she went and her way swiftly among the picturesque islands while the inhabitants of every little farm and hamlet on the shores stopped for a while in their occupations to stare at the superb vessel and to envy the wealth of the english who could afford to pass the summer months in such luxury and idleness seated herself at once by z and seemed glad to divert attention from herself to him you are better are you not she asked gently we saw this morning he came home last night he is very very sorry to have hurt you he need not said cheerfully i am delighted he gave me this otherwise i am confident he would have put out the eye of and that would have been a misfortune for what would the ladies in london say if le beau returned to them with one eye mon they would all be en looked up philip was standing at some little distance with and talking and laughing gaily his cap was slightly pushed off his forehead and the sun shone on his thick dark chestnut curls his features warmly coloured by the wind and sea were lit up with mirth and his even white teeth sparkled in an irresistible smile of fascinating good humour he was the beau ideal of the best type of englishman in the full tide of youth health and good spirits i suppose he is a great favourite with all those beautiful ladies she asked very quietly something of gentle resignation in her tone struck the frenchman s sense of chivalry had she been like any ordinary woman bent on conquest he would have taken a mischievous delight in a long list of fair ones supposed to be deeply of s good looks but this girl s innocent inquiring face inspired him with quite a different sentiment r he said frankly and emphatically the land of the midnight sun is a favourite everywhere yet not more so with women than with men i love him extremely he is a charming boy i then you see c he is rich very rich and there are so many pretty girls who are very poor naturally they are enchanted with our i do not understand she said with a puzzled brow it is not possible that they should like him better because he is rich he would be the same man without money as with it it makes no difference t perhaps not to you returned with a smile but to many it would make an immense difference c re it is a grand thing to have plenty of money believe me shrugged her shoulders perhaps she answered indifferently but one cannot spend much on one s self after all the at used to tell me that poverty was a virtue and that to be very rich was to be very miserable they were poor all those good women and they were always cheerful the aa mon cried z the know not the taste of joy they speak of what they cannot understand how should they know what it is to be happy or unhappy when they bar their great doors against the very name of love i she looked at him and her colour rose you always talk of love she said half reproachfully as if it were so common a thing you know it is why will you speak as if it were all a jest a strange emotion of admiring tenderness stirred s heart he was very impulsive and forgive me he murmured then he added suddenly you should have lived ages ago ma | 33 |
the world of to day will not suit you i you will be made very sorrowful in it i assure you it is not a place for good women she laughed you are she said that is not like you no one is good we all live to try and make ourselves better what highly moral converse is going on here inquired strolling leisurely up to them are you giving a lecture miss he needs it so do i please give me a scolding i o and he folded his hands with an air of appeal a sunny smile danced in the girl s blue eyes always you will be foolish she said one can never know you because am sure you never show your real self to anybody no i will not you but i should like to find you out to find me out echoed why what do you mean she nodded her bright head with much sagacity ah i do observe you often there is something you hide it is like when my father has tears in his eyes he to laugh but the tears are there all the time now i see in you she paused and her questioning eyes rested on his seriously this is interesting said lazily drawing a camp stool opposite to her and himself i had no idea i was a human riddle can you read me miss yes she answered slowly and just a little but i will not say anything no except this that you are not altogether what you seem here called as he saw approaching arm in arm with come and admire this young lady s power of perception she declares i am not such a fool as i look now said shaking her forefinger at him you know very well that i did not put it in that way but is it not true sir philip and she looked up for a moment though her eyes drooped again swiftly under his ardent gaze is it not true that many people do hide their feelings and pretend to be quite different to what they are i should say it was a very common fault replied it is a means of self defence against the impertinent curiosity of but is free from it he has nothing to hide at any rate he has no secrets from me i m sure of that i and he clapped his hand heartily on his friend s shoulder flushed slightly but made no remark and at that moment emerged from the saloon where the writing of his journal had till now detained him in the general and which followed the conversation took a different turn for which was devoutly thankful his face was a tell tale one and he was rather afraid of philip s keen eyes the land of the midnight sun i i i hope to heaven hell speak to her to day he thought i hate being in suspense my mind will be easier when i once know that he has gained his point and that there s not the ghost of a chance for any other fellow meanwhile the along by the barren and rocky coast of the sun was dazzling yet there was a mist in the air as though the heavens were full of tears a bank of nearly motionless clouds hung behind the dark sharp peaks of the mountains which now lay to the southward as the vessel pursued her course there was no wind the flag on the mast idly now and then with the motion of the and found herself too warm with her pretty crimson hood she therefore it and let the sunshine play on the uncovered gold of her hair they had a superb view of the jagged of black in some parts and in others white with snow and seeming as it rose straight up against the sky to be the majestic monument of some giant presently at her earnest request brought his of sketches for to look at most of them were well done and much admiration from the it is what i have wondered at all my life said he that skill of the brush dipped in colour pictures surprise me as much as poems ah men are marvellous creatures when they are once brought to understand that they are men not beasts one will take a few words and them into a song or a verse that to the world for ever another will mix a few and a brush in them and give you a picture that generation after generation shall flock to see it is what is called genius and genius is a sort of miracle yet i think it is by climate a good deal the further north the less inspiration warmth colour and the lightness of heart that a generally bright sky brings the brain and makes it capable of power my dear sir said england does not possess these advantages and yet shakespeare was an englishman he must have travelled returned positively no one win make me believe that the man never visited italy his italian scenes prove it they are full of the place and the people the whole of his works full of such wonderful learning and con ii i so many types of different nations show to my mind at least that countries were his books of study why i who am only a farmer and of a bit of land i have learned many a thing from simply taking a glance at a new shore each year that s the way i used to amuse myself when i was young now i am old the sea me less and i am of my arm chair yet ive seen a good deal in my time | 33 |
legends for example do you think you will suffer indeed yes she replied no one can be good enough to go straight to heaven there must be some little stop on the way in which to be sorry for all the bad things one has done tis the same idea as ours said we have two places of punishment in the faith one which is a temporary thing like the catholic the other which is the of the christian hell know you not the description of the in the tis terrible enough to satisfy all tastes or death rules over the nine worlds of her hall is called grief famine is her table and her only servant is delay her gate is a precipice her porch her bed cursing and howling are her tent her glance is dreadful and and her lips are blue with the of hatred these words he added sound finer in but i have given the meaning fairly my said i ll tell my aunt in the land of the midnight sun i about it this would suit her perfectly she would send all her relations there with tickets not available for the return journey it seems to me observed that the nine worlds of have a resemblance to the different circles of s exactly so said all seem to me to be more or less the same the question can never settle is which is the right one would you follow it if you knew asked with a slight smile laughed well upon my life i don t know he answered frankly i never was a praying sort of fellow i don t seem to grasp the idea of it somehow but there s one thing i m certain of i can t endure a bird without song a flower without scent or a woman without religion she seems to me no woman at all but are there any such women inquired the girl surprised yes there are undoubtedly free thinking stump orator have your rights sort of creatures you don t know anything about them miss be thankful i now how long is this vessel of yours going to linger here thus reminded called to the pilot and in a few minutes the resumed her usual speed and bore swiftly on towards this island dreary and dark in the distance grew somewhat more inviting in aspect on a nearer approach now and then a shaft of sunlight fell on some glittering point of or green patch of and stated that he knew of a sandy creek where if the party chose they could land and see a small cave of exquisite beauty literally hung all over with i never heard of this cave said fixing a keen eye on the pilot art thou a traveller s guide to all such places in somewhat to s surprise changed colour and appeared confused he removed his red cap altogether when he answered the to whom he spoke in rapid the old man laughed as he listened and seemed satisfied then turning away he linked his arm through philip s and said i you must pardon him my lad that he spoke in your presence a tongue to you no offence was meant he is of my creed but fears to make it known lest he should lose all employment which is likely enough seeing that so many of the people are moreover he is bound to me by an oath which in days would have made him my but which leaves him free enough just now with one exception and that exception asked with some interest is that should i ever demand a certain service at his hands he dare not refuse it odd isn t it or so it seems to you and pressed the young man s arm lightly and kindly but our oaths are taken with great solemnity and are as binding as the obligation of death itself however i have not commanded s obedience yet nor do i think i am likely to do so for some time he is a fine faithful fellow though too much given to dreams a gay chorus of laughter here broke from the little group seated on deck of which was the centre and stopped in his walk with an attentive smile on his open ruddy countenance tis good for the heart to hear the merriment of young folks he said think you not my girl s laugh is like the ripple of a lark s song just so clear and joyous her voice is music itself declared philip quickly and warmly there is nothing she says or does or looks that is not absolutely beautiful then suddenly aware of his he stopped abruptly his face flushed as regarded him with a musing and doubtful air but whatever the old man thought he said nothing he merely held the young s arm a little closer and together they joined the others though it was noticeable that during the rest of the day the was rather abstracted and serious and that every now and then his eyes rested on his daughter s face with an expression of tender yearning and melancholy it was about two hours after luncheon that the approached the creek spoken of by the pilot and they were all fascinated by the loveliness as well as by the fierce grandeur of the scene the rocks on that portion of appeared to have the land of the midnight sun split violently asunder to admit some great in rushing passage of the sea and were piled up in to the height of more than two thousand feet above the level of the water beneath these wild and of nature a shining stretch of beach had formed itself on which the fine white sand | 33 |
mixed with crushed sparkled like powdered silver on the left hand side of this could be distinctly seen the round opening of the to which directed their attention they decided to visit it the was brought to a and the long boat lowered they took no sailors with them and his companions four oars while and her father occupied the stern a landing was easily effected and they walked towards the treading on thousands of beautiful shells which the sand beneath their feet there was a deep stillness everywhere the island was so desolate that it seemed as though the very sea birds refused to make their homes in the black of such steep and barren rocks at the entrance of the little cave looked back to the sea there s a storm coming he announced those clouds we saw this morning have sailed hither almost as quickly as ourselves the sky had indeed grown darker and little waves disturbed the surface of the water but the sun as yet retained his and there was no wind by the pilot s advice and his friends had provided themselves each with a pine torch in order to light up the as soon as they found themselves within it the smoky crimson illuminated what seemed at a first glance to be a miniature fairy palace studded thickly with clusters of diamonds long pointed hung from the roof at almost even distances from one another the walls with varying shades of pink and green and violet and in the very midst of the cave was a still pool of water in which all the fantastic forms and hues of the place themselves in miniature in one corner the had clustered into the shape of a large chair by a and z perceiving it exclaimed a queen s throne come you must sit in it i but i am not a queen laughed a throne is for a king also will not sir philip sit there there s a compliment for you cried waving his torch let us awaken the echoes with the shout of long live the king t but approached and taking her hand in his said gently come let me see you in state queen to please me come she looked up the flame of the bright torch he carried his face on which love had written what she could not fail to read but she trembled as with cold and there was a kind of appealing wonder in her troubled eyes he drew closer and pressed her hand more tightly again he whispered come queen as in a dream she allowed him to lead her to the chair and when she was seated therein she endeavoured to control the rapid beating of her heart and to smile on the little group that surrounded her with shouts of mingled mirth and admiration you just look fine said with delight you d make a grand picture wouldn t she y philip gazed at her but said nothing his heart was too full sitting there among the glittering and suspended rocks with the blaze from the flashing on her face and luxuriant hair with that half troubled half happy look in her eyes and an uncertain shadowy smile quivering on her sweet lips the girl looked almost lovely of could scarce have fired more passionate emotion among the old world heroes than she unconsciously excited at that moment in the minds of all who beheld her for once understood what it was to reverence a woman s beauty and decided that the language of compliment was out of place he therefore said nothing and too was silent bravely against wild desires that were now in his opinion nothing but to his friend old s hearty voice aroused and startled them all now child if thou art a queen give orders to these lads to be moving tis a damp place to hold a court in and thy throne must needs be a cold one let us out to the the land of the midnight sun blessed sunshine again maybe we can climb one of yon wild locks and get a view worth seeing all right sir said that now should have a chance come on mr our obedience you take care of the queen and pushing on and before him he followed who preceded them all thus leaving his friend in a momentary comparative solitude with the girl was a little startled as she saw them thus taking their ture and sprang up from her throne in haste sir philip had laid aside his torch in order to assist her with both hands to descend the sloping rocks but her embarrassment at g left almost alone with him made her nervous and uncertain of foot she was hurried and agitated and anxious to overtake the others and in trying to walk quickly she slipped and nearly fell in one second she was caught in his arms and clasped passionately to his heart he whispered i love you my i love you she trembled in his strong embrace and strove to release herself but he pressed her more closely to him scarcely knowing that he did so but feeling that he held the world life time happiness and salvation in this one fair creature his brain was in a wild whirl the glitter of the cave turned to a wheel of jewel work there was nothing any more no universe no existence nothing but love love love beating strong hammer strokes through every fibre of his frame he glanced up and saw that the slowly retreating forms of his friends had nearly reached the outer opening of the once there they would look back and quick and his warm breath touched her cheek my darling my love i if you are not | 33 |
angry kiss me i i shall understand she hesitated to philip that instant of hesitation seemed a of slow revolving years timidly she lifted her head she was very pale and her breath came and went quickly he gazed at her in speechless suspense and saw as in a vision the pure radiance of her face and star like eyes shining more and more i closely npon him then came a touch soft and sweet as a rose leaf pressed against his lips and for one mad moment he remembered nothing he was caught up like s paris in a cloud of gold and knew not which was earth or heaven you love me he murmured in a sort of wondering rapture i cannot believe it sweet tell me you love me she looked up a new unspeakable glory flushed her face and her eyes glowed with the mute eloquence of awakening passion love you she said in a voice so low and sweet that it might have been the whisper of a passing fairy ah yes more than my life chapter xiv sweet hands sweet hair sweet cheeks sweet eyes sweet mouth each singly and won ho shouted peering back into the shadows of the whence the figures of his daughter and were seen presently emerging why what kept you so long my lad we thought you were close behind us where s your torch it went out replied philip promptly as he assisted with grave and politeness to cross over some rough stones at the entrance and we had some trouble to find our way you might have called to us in the way of friendship observed somewhat suspiciously and we would have lighted you through oh it was no matter said with a charming smile sir philip seemed well to know the way and it was not so very dark glanced at her and read plainly all that was written in her happy face his heart sank a little but noticing that the old was studying his daughter with a slight air of vexation and surprise he determined to divert the general attention from her bright and too brilliantly eyes the land of the midnight sun well here you both are at any rate he said lightly and i should strongly advise that we attempt no more of the island of to day look at the sky and just now there was a clap of thunder thunder exclaimed i never heard it i dare say not said with a quiet smile still heard it pretty distinctly and i think we d better make for the all right and sir philip sprang gaily into the long boat to arrange the cushions in the stern for never had he looked or more high spirited and his was noticed by all his companions something joyous has happened to our said in a half whisper he is in the air and something in the other way has happened very suddenly to mr returned the old man is in the the s face in truth looked sad and somewhat stem he scarcely spoke at all as he took his place in the boat beside his daughter once he raised her little hand looked at it and kissed it fondly they were all soon on their way back to the over a sea that had grown rough and white during their visit to the cave clouds had gathered thickly over the sky and though a few shafts of sunlight still forced a passage through them the threatening darkness spread with steady especially to the northern side of the horizon where storm hovered in the shape of a black wing edged with crimson as they reached the a silver glare of lightning sprang forth from beneath this and a few large drops of rain began to fall hurried on deck and down into the saloon his friends with followed and the vessel was soon plunging through waves of no small height on her way back to the a loud peal of thunder like a of accompanied their departure from and shivered a little as she heard it you are nervous asked noticing her tremor oh no she answered brightly nervous that is to be i afraid i am not afraid of a storm but i do not like it it is a fierce thing and i should have wished to day to be all sunshine all gladness v she paused and her eyes grew soft and then you have been happy to day said in a low and very gentle voice she smiled up at him from the depths of the velvet in which had placed her happy i do not think i have ever been so happy before she paused and a bright blush her cheeks then seeing the piano open she said suddenly shall i sing to you or perhaps you are all tired and would rather rest music is rest said rather watching her as she rose from her seat sl tall figure and moved towards the instrument and your voice miss would soothe the most weary soul that ever dwelt in clay she glanced round at him surprised at his sad tone ah you are very very tired mr i am sure i will sing you a cradle song to make you go to sleep you will not understand the words though will that matter not in the least t answered with a smile the london girls sing in german italian spanish and english nobody knows what they are saying they scarcely know themselves but it s all right and quite fashionable laughed gaily how funny i she exclaimed it is to amuse people i suppose well now listen and playing a soft her rich forth in a tender passionate melancholy melody so sweet and heart penetrating that the practical sat as one | 33 |
in a dream z forgot to finish making the he was between his fingers and had much to keep tears from his eyes from one song she glided to another and yet another her soul seemed possessed by the very spirit of music meanwhile in obedience to an imperative sign from old left the saloon with him once outside the door the said in a somewhat agitated voice i desire to speak to you sir philip alone and undisturbed if such a thing be possible by all means answered philip come to my den on deck we shall be quite solitary there the land of the midnight sun he led the way and followed him in silence it was fiercely and the waves green towers of strength broke every now and then over the sides of the with a hissing shower of salt white spray the thunder rolled along the sky in angry echoes frequent flashes of lightning leaped out like swords drawn from dark yet towards the south the sky was clearing and beams of pale gold fell from the hidden sun with a soothing and soft lustre on the breast of the troubled water looked about him and heaved a deep sigh of refreshment his eyes rested lovingly on the tumbling he his white head to the wind and rain this is the life the blood the heart of a man he said while a sort of fierce delight shone in his keen eyes to battle with the tempest to laugh at the wrath of waters to set one s face against the wild wind to sport with the elements as though they were children or this is the joy of manhood a joy he added slowly that few so called men of to day can ever feel smiled gravely perhaps you are right sir he said but perhaps at the same time you forget that life has grown very bitter to all of us during the last hundred years or so maybe the world is getting old and used up maybe the fault is in ourselves but it is certain that none of us nowadays are particularly happy except at rare intervals when at that moment in a lull of the storm s voice upwards from the saloon she was singing a french song and the refrain rang out clearly ah i le son d un f paused abruptly in his speech and turning towards a little closed and covered place on deck which was half cabin half smoking room and which he kept as his own private he unlocked it saying will you come in here sir it s not very spacious but i think it s just the place for a chat especially a private one entered but did not sit down shut the door against the rain and beating spray and also remained standing after a pause during which the seemed struggling with some inward emotion he said resolutely sir philip you are a young man and i am an old one would not willingly offend you for i like you yes and the old man looked up frankly i like you enough to respect you which is more than i can say to many men i have known but i have a weight on my heart that must be lifted you and my child have been much together for many days and i was an old fool not to have foreseen the influence your companionship might have upon her i may be mistaken in the idea that has taken hold of me some wild words let fall by the poor boy this morning when he entreated my pardon for his of yesterday have perhaps my judgment but by the gods i cannot put it into suitable words i you think i love your daughter said sir philip quietly you are not mistaken sir i love her with my whole heart and i i want you to give her to me as my wife a change passed over the old farmer s face he grew pale and put out one hand feebly as though to seek some support caught it in his own and pressed it hard surely you are not surprised sir he added with eagerness how can i help loving her she is the best and loveliest girl i have ever seen i believe me i would make her happy and have you thought young man returned slowly that you would make me desolate or thinking it have you cared there was an infinite pathos in his voice and waa touched and silent he found no answer to this reproach sat down leaning his head on his hand let me think a little he said my mind is confused a bit i was not prepared for he paused and seemed lost in sorrowful meditation by and by he looked up and meeting s anxious gaze he broke into a short laugh don t mind me my lad he said tis a blow you see i had not thought so far as this i ll tell you the plain truth and you must forgive me for you i know what young blood is all the world over a fair face fires it and impulse makes it gallop beyond control twas so with me when i was your age though no woman i hope was ever the worse for my harmless love making but is different from most the land of the midnight sun women she has a strange nature moreover she has a heart and a memory if she once the meaning of love she will never the lesson now i thought that like most young men of your type you might without meaning any actual evil trifle with her play with her feelings i understand | 33 |
sir said philip coolly without displaying any offence to put it plainly in spite of your liking for me you thought me a this time the old man laughed heartily and dear dear he exclaimed you are what is termed in your own land a customer i never mind i like it i why my lad the men of to day think it fair sport to trifle with a pretty woman now and then pardon interrupted philip i must defend my sex we may occasionally trifle with those women who show us that they wish to be with but never with those who like your daughter win every man s respect and reverence rose and grasped his hand fervently by all the gods i believe you are a true gentleman he said ask your pardon if i have offended you by so much as a thought but now and his face grew very serious we must talk this matter over i will not speak of the suddenness of your love for my child because i know from my own past experience that love is a rapid impulse a flame in a moment yes i know that well he paused and his voice trembled a little but he soon it and went on i think however my lad that you have been a uttle hasty for instance have you thought what your english friends and relatives will say to your marrying a farmer s daughter who though she has the blood of kings in her veins is nevertheless as this present world would judge beneath you in social standing i say have you thought of this philip smiled proudly certainly sir i have thought of any such trifle as the opinion of society if that is what you mean i have no relatives to please or no friends in the truest sense of the word except i have a long list of acquaintances undoubtedly infinite most of them and whether they approve or of my actions is to me a matter of pro found indifference see you said the firmly and earnestly it would b an ill day for me if i gave my little one to a husband who might mind i only say mighty in the course of years regret having married her regret cried philip excitedly then down he said gently my good friend i do not think you understand me you talk as if were beneath me good god it is who am infinitely beneath her i i am utterly unworthy of her in every way i assure you and i tell you so frankly i have led a useless life and a more or less selfish one i have principally sought to amuse and interest myself all through it i ve had my vices too and have them still beside s innocent white soul mine looks i but i can honestly say i never knew what love was till i saw her and now well i i would give my life away gladly to save her from even a small sorrow i believe you i thoroughly you said i see you love the child the gods forbid that i should stand in the way of her happiness i am getting old and twas often a sore point with me to know what would become of my darling when i was gone for she is fair to look upon and there are many human wolves ready to such still my lad you must learn all do you know what is said of me in smiled and nodded in the affirmative you do exclaimed the old man somewhat surprised you know they say i killed my wife my wife the creature before whom my soul knelt in worship night and day whose bright head was the sunlight of my life let me tell you of her sir philip tis a simple story she was the child of my dearest friend and many years younger than myself this friend of mine was the captain of a stout running constantly between these wild waters and the coast of france he fell in love with and married a blue eyed beauty from the he carried her secretly away from her parents who would not consent to the marriage she was a timid creature in spite of her ways and for fear of her parents she would never land again on the shores of she grew to love france and often left her there in some safe shelter when he was bound on some extra long and stormy passage she took to the catholic creed too in france and learned to speak the the land of the midnight sun french tongue so said as though it were her own at the time of the expected birth of her child her husband had taken her far inland to and there business compelled him to leave her for some days when he returned she was dead laid out for burial with flowers and round her he fell prone on her body insensible and not for many hours did the people of the place dare to tell him that he was the father of a living child a girl with the great blue eyes and white skin of her mother he would scarce look at it but at last when roused a bit he carried the little thing in his arms to the great at and giving the money he bade them take it and bring it up as they would only giving it the name of then poor came home he sought me out he said i feel that i am going on my last voyage promise you will see to my child guard her if you can from an evil fate for | 33 |
me there is no future t i promised and strove to cheer him but he spoke truly his ship went down in a storm in the bay of and all on board were lost then it was that i commenced my to and fro to see the little maiden that was growing up in the at i watched her for sixteen years and when she reached her birthday i married her and brought her to and she was s mother said with interest she was s mother returned the and she was more beautiful than even is now her education had been almost entirely french but as a child she had learnt that i generally spoke english and as there happened to be an english in the she studied that language and mastered it for the love of me yes he repeated with musing tenderness all for the love of me for she loved me sir philip ay as passionately as i loved her and that is saying a great deal we lived a solitary happy life but we did not mix with our neighbours our were different our ways apart from theirs we had some time of perfect happiness together three years passed before our child was born and then the paused awhile and again continued then my wife s health grew frail and uncertain she liked to be in the fresh air and was fond of wandering about the hills with her little one in her arms one day shall i ever forget it when was about r vm s oat to v u r knowing ta i found r u v bad slipped th indeed to m for she lay t mi ft r in aa ner mother gone to n i the back of n v n tor i earned v n r tar i v v a tn los she n de v v v v x r n the t v ss ui w v x x a w w c j ml v h x n i now in c u u in your v v m r v v vi sir said v vi w iii a i of you at all i s y scandalous and seldom o v oa o u t as you took mine iv v v u v v u v ii a i have nothing more o k v l o ic ac i out both hands may the v t o r you offer a fate to i a u i ul of lor but i know not what the him his eyes flashed and he smiled s o o ir c ho said simply looked at vii v l a and sighed the land of the midnight sun she loves thee he said into the and he was wont to use with his daughter thou hast lost no time my lad when thou find that out to day returned philip with that same triumphant smile playing about his lips she told me so yet even now i cannot believe it ah well thou believe it truly said for says nothing that she does not mean the child has never stooped to even the smallest falsehood seemed lost in a happy dream suddenly he roused himself and took by the arm come he said let us go to her she will wonder why we are so long absent see the storm has cleared the sun is shining it is understood you will give her to me foolish lad said gently what have i to do with it she has given herself to thee love has overwhelmed both of your hearts and before the strong sweep of such an ocean what can an old man s life avail nothing less than nothing besides i should be happy if i have regrets if i feel the tooth of sorrow biting at my heart tis naught but selfishness tis my own dread of parting with her his voice trembled and his fine face quivered with suppressed emotion pressed his arm our house shall be yours sir he said eagerly why not leave this place and come with us shook his hand leave he said leave the land of my turn my back on these mountains and and never no no my lad you re and generous as becomes you and i thank you from my heart but be impossible i should be like a eagle breaking my wings against the bars of english besides young birds must make their nest without interference from the old ones he stepped out on deck as opened the little and his features kindled with enthusiasm as he looked on the stretch of dark mountain scenery around him by the brilliant beams of the sun that shone out now in full splendour as though in glorious defiance of the retreating storm which had rolled gradually away in clouds that were tumbling one over the i o other at the extreme edge of the northern horizon like armies taking to hasty flight could i stand the orderly of your green england think you after this he exclaimed with a comprehensive gesture of his hand no no when death comes and not be long coming let it find me with my face turned to the mountains and nothing but their between me and the blessed sky come my lad and he into his ordinary tone if thou art like me when i was thy age every minute passed away from thy love seems an eternity let us go to her | 33 |
we had best wait till the decks are dry before we up here again they descended at once into the saloon where they found being into the mysteries of by while and looked idly on she glanced up from the board as her father and entered and smiled at them both with a slightly heightened colour this is such a wonderful game father she said and i am so stupid i cannot understand it so is trying to make me remember the moves nothing is easier declared i was showing you how the bishop goes so and he illustrated his lesson he is a of the church you perceive it follows that he cannot go in a straight line if you observe them well you will see that all the religious gentlemen play at cross purposes you are very quick you have perfectly comprehended the move of the castle and the pretty plunge of the knight now as i told you the queen can do anything all the pieces shiver in their shoes before her why she asked feeling a little embarrassed as sir philip came and sat beside her looking at her with an undoubtedly composed air of absolute why the reason is simple answered the queen is a woman everything must give way to her wish and the king she inquired ah he can do very little almost nothing i he can only move one step at a time and that with much labour and hesitation he is the wooden image of louis xvi then said the girl quickly the object of the game is protect a king who is not worth protecting i the land of the midnight sun laughed exactly and thus in this charming game you have the history of many nations has put the matter is for those who intend to form all the worry and calculation all the moves of knights castles and queen all to shelter the throne which is not worth protecting excellent you are not in favour of i do not know said i have never thought of such things but kings should be great men wise and powerful better and than all their subjects should they not undoubtedly remarked but it s a curious thing they seldom are now our queen god bless her hear hear interrupted laughing good i won t have a word said against the dear old lady granted that she hates london and sees no fun in being stared at by vulgar crowds i think she s quite right and i heartily with her for a cup of tea in peace and quiet with some old scotch body who doesn t care whether she s a queen or a i think said slowly that has its duties you see and though i can t say i object to her majesty s homely ways of still there are a few matters that would be the better for her personal attention oh bother said gaily look at that victim of the nation the prince of wales the poor fellow hasn t a moment s peace of his life what with laying foundation stones opening this and visiting that he is like a s donkey that must up or wo as his master the people bid if he smiles at a woman it is instantly reported that he s in love with her if he frankly says he considers her pretty there s no end to the scandal poor royal wretch i pity him from my heart the beer drinking gin classes who for hours of labour and want work to be expressly invented for their benefit don t suffer a bit more than edward who is supposed to be rolling idly in the very lap of luxury and who can hardly call his soul his own why the man can t eat a mutton chop without there being a paragraph in the papers headed diet of the prince of wales his life is made an infinite bore to him i m positive i i looked thoughtful i know little about kings or princes he said but it seems to me from what i do know that they have but small power they are mere in times they possessed but now i will tell you interrupted z excitedly who it is that rules the people in these times it is the j en madame la a black sharp scratching devil she is of all nations no crown but a point no royal robe save ink it is certain that as long as madame la freely over her of paper so long must kings and shake in their shoes and be uncertain of their mon i i had but the gift of writing i would conquer the world there are an immense number of people writing just now remarked with a smile yet they don t do much in the conquering line because they are afraid said z because they have not the courage of their opinions because they dare not tell the truth upon my life i believe you are right said if there were a man bold enough to declare truths and lies i should imagine it quite possible that he might conquer the world or at any rate make it afraid of him but is the world so full of lies asked timidly looked at her gravely i fear so miss i i think it has a tolerable harvest of them every year a harvest too that never fails but i say look at the sun shining let us go up on deck we shall soon be getting back to the they all rose threw on their caps and left the saloon with the exception of who lingered behind watching his opportunity and as followed her father he called her back softly t she hesitated | 33 |
and then turned towards him her father saw her movement smiled at her and nodded kindly as he passed through the saloon doors and disappeared with a beating heart she sprang quickly to her lover s side and as he caught her in hia arms she whispered you have told him r the land of the midnight sun i your father yes my darling murmured philip as he kissed her sweet lips be quite happy he knows everything come j tell me again you love me i have not heard you say it properly yet p she smiled as she leaned against his breast and looked up into his eyes i cannot say it properly i she said there is no language for my heart if i could tell you all i feel you would think it foolish i am sure because it is all so wild and strange she stopped and her face grew pale oh she murmured with a slight tremor it is terrible what is terrible my sweet one asked drawing her more closely to him and folding her more tightly in his arms she sighed deeply to have no more hfe of my own she answered while her low voice quivered with intense feeling it has all gone to you and yours has come to me is it not strange and almost sad how your heart beats poor boy i can hear it throb throb so fast here where i am resting my head she looked up and her little white hand his cheek she said very softly what are you thinking about your eyes shine so brightly do you know you have beautiful eyes have i he murmured looking down on that exquisite innocent glowing face and trembling with the force of the restrained passion that kindled through him i don t know about that yours seem to me like two stars fallen from heaven i oh my darling god make me worthy of you i he spoke with intense kissing her with a tenderness in which there was something of reverence as well as fear the whole soul of the man was startled and roused to devotion by the absolute simplicity and purity of her nature the direct frankness with which she had said her life was his his and in what way was ae fitted to be the guardian and possessor of this white from the garden of god she was so utterly different to all women as he had known them as different as a bird of paradise to a common house meanwhile as these thoughts flitted through his brain she moved gently from his embrace and smiled proudly yet sweetly worthy of me she said softly and it is i i that will pray to be made worthy of i you must not put it philip he made no answer but looked at her as she stood before him majestic as a young in her straight white gown he said suddenly do you know how lovely you are yes she answered simply know it because i am like my mother but it is not anything to be beautiful unless one is loved and then it is different i fed much more beautiful now since you think me pleasant to look at philip laughed and caught her hand what a child you are he said now let me see this httle finger and he loosened from his watch chain a half ring of this belonged to my mother he continued and since her death i have carried it about with me i resolved never to part with it except to he paused and slipped it on the third finger of her left hand where it sparkled bravely she gazed at it in surprise you part with it now she asked with wonder in her accents i do not understand p he kissed her no i wiu explain again and you shall not laugh at me as you did the very first time i saw you i resolved never to part with this ring i say except to my promised wife ow do you understand she blushed deeply and her eyes dropped before his ardent gaze i do thank you very much philip she faltered timidly she was about to say something further when suddenly entered the saloon he glanced from to and from back again to and smiled so have certain brave soldiers been known to smile in face of a death shot he advanced with his usual languid step and air and removing his cap bowed gravely and courteously let me be the first to offer my congratulations to the future lady old man i wish you joy l the land of the midnight sun chapter xv why sir in the universal game of double dealing shall not the play each other false by and so betray their secrets to their own and their friends infinite amazement re ve when and his daughter left the that evening accompanied them in order to have the satisfaction of his beautiful as far as her own door they were all three very silent the was pensive shy and himself was too happy for speech arriving at the they saw curled up under the porch playing idly with the trailing rose branches but on hearing their footsteps he looked up uttered a wild exclamation and fled tapped his own forehead significantly he grows worse and worse the poor lad he said somewhat sorrowfully and yet there is a strange mingling of foresight and wit with his wild fancies thou believe it child and here he turned to his daughter and encircled her waist with his arm he seemed to know how matters were with thee and philip when i was yet in the dark concerning | 33 |
and do you know when our will marry i haven t the slightest idea returned i know he s engaged that s all suddenly broke into a laugh i say he said with his deep set small gray eyes sparkling with mischief t would be grand fun to see old s face when he hears of it by the lord he ll fall to cursing and swearing like my pious aunt in or that old witch that cursed miss yesterday an eminently unpleasant old woman she was said i wonder what she meant by it t she meant mon said z that she knew herself to be ugly and venerable while was youthful and it is a sufficient reason to excite in the mind of a lady here comes said pointing to the approaching boat that was coming swiftly back from the pier are we to congratulate him if you like returned i dare say he won t object so that as soon as sir philip set foot on the his hands were cordially grasped and his friends each other in good wishes for his happiness he thanked them simply and with a manly entirely free from the usual affected embarrassment that some modern young men think it to adopt under similar circumstances the fact is he said frankly i congratulate myself i m more lucky than i deserve i know what a sensation she will make in london said suddenly i ve just thought of it i good heavens lady will cry for sheer spite and vexation philip laughed i hope not he said i should think it would need immense force to draw a tear from her s cold bright eyes she used to like you awfully said you were a great favourite of hers the land of the midnight sun all men are her with the exception of her husband observed gaily come along let s have some champagne to the day we ll propose and drink got a fair excuse for this evening they all descended into the saloon and had a merry time of it singing songs and telling good stories being the of the party and it was long past midnight when they retired to their without even looking at the wonders of perhaps the most gorgeous sky that had yet shone on their travels a sky of complete rose colour varying from the deepest shade up to the in which the sun glowed with a subdued radiance like an enormous burning saw it standing under her house porch where her father had joined her saw it he had come out from some thicket where he had been hiding and he now sat in a humble crouching posture at s feet all three were silent reverently watching the spreading splendour of the heavens once addressed his daughter in a soft tone thou art happy my bird she smiled the expression of her face was almost divine in its perfectly happy my father at the sound of her voice looked up his large blue eyes were full of tears he took her hand and held it in his meagre and wasted one mistress he said suddenly do you think i shall soon die she turned her pitying eyes down upon him startled by the melancholy of his tone thou wilt die answered gently when the gods please not one second sooner or later art thou eager to see nodded they will understand me there he murmured and i shall grow straight and strong and brave mistress if you meet me in you will love me i she his wild fair locks i love you now she said tenderly but perhaps we shall all love each other better in heaven yes yes exclaimed patting her hand when we are all dead dead i when our bodies away i and turn to flowers and birds and and our come out like white and red flames yes then we shall love each other and talk of such strange strange things he paused and laughed wildly then his voice sank again into melancholy monotony and he added mistress you are killing poor s face grew very earnest and anxious are you vexed with me dear she asked soothingly teu me what it is that troubles you met her eyes with a look of speechless despair and shook his head i cannot tell you he muttered all my thoughts have gone to drown themselves one by one in the cold sea my heart was buried yesterday and i saw it sealed down into its coffin there is something of me left something that dances before me like a flame but it will not it does not obey me i call it but it will not come and i am getting tired mistress very very tired i his voice broke and a low sob escaped him he hid his face in the folds of her dress looked at the poor fellow the wits wander further and further away he said to his daughter in a low tone tis a mind like a broken rainbow split through by storm soon vanish be patient with him child it cannot be for long no not for long cried raising his head brightly that is true not for long mistress will you come to morrow with me and gather flowers you used to love to wander with your poor boy in the fields but you have forgotten and i cannot find any blossoms without you they will not show themselves unless you come i will you dear beautiful mistress will you come she smiled pleased to see him a little more cheerful yes she said i will come we will go together early tomorrow morning and gather all the flowers we can find will that make you happy yes he said softly kissing the | 33 |
hem of her dress it will make me happy for the last time then he rose in an attitude of attention as though he had been called by at a distance and with a grave the land of the midnight sun air he moved away walking on tip toe as though he feared to interrupt the sound of some soft invisible music sighed as he watched him disappear may the gods make us thankful for a clear brain when we have it i he said devoutly then turning to his daughter he bade her good night and laid his hands on her golden head in silent and fervent blessing child he said in the new joys that await thee never forget how thy old father loves thee then not trusting himself to say more he strode into the house and himself to slumber followed his example and the old was soon wrapped in the peace and stillness of the strange a night of glittering sunshine alone was he lay at the foot of one of the and stared persistently at the radiant sky through the of dark branches now and then he smiled as though he saw some vision sometimes he plucked at the soft long moss on which he had made his couch and sometimes he broke into a low song god alone knew the broken ideas the dim fancies the half bom desires that like pale ghosts in the desert of his brain god alone in the great hereafter could solve the problem of his sorrows and throw light on his soul s darkness it was past six in the morning when he arose and back his tangled locks went to s window and sat down beneath it in mute he had not long to wait at the of ten or fifteen minutes the little was thrown open and the girl s face fresh as a rose framed in a shower of locks smiled down upon him i am coming she cried softly and how lovely the morning is stay for me there i shall not be long and she disappeared leaving her window open heard her singing little scraps of song to herself as she moved about in the interior of her room he listened as though his soul were drawn out of him by her voice but presently the rich notes ceased and there was a sudden silence knew or guessed the reason of that hush was at her prayers instinctively the poor forlorn lad folded his wasted hands most and most he raised his bewildered eyes to the blue and golden glory of the sky his conception of god was i a t a able his dreams of heaven of fairy land with but he somehow felt that wherever s holy aspirations turned there the angels must be listening presently she came out of the house looking radiant as the morning itself her luxuriant hair was thrown back over her shoulders and fell loosely about her in thick curls simply confined by a knot of blue ribbon she carried a large basket and gracefully shaped now she called sweetly i am ready where shall we go hastened to her side happy and smiling across there he said pointing towards the direction of there is a stream under the trees that laughs to itself all day you know it mistress and the are in the field as you go and by the banks there are the heart s ease flowers we cannot have too many of them shall we go wherever you like dear answered tenderly looking down from her stately height on the poor creature at her side who held her dress as though he were a child clinging to her as his sole means of guidance all the land is pleasant today they left the farm and its boundaries a few men were at work on one of s fields and these looked up half in awe half in fear as and her fantastic passed along tis a fine said one man resting on his and following with his eyes the erect graceful figure of his employer s daughter maybe maybe said another but a fine is a of the devil i do ye mind what told us ay ay answered the first speaker knows is the wisest woman we have in these parts that s true the girl s a witch for sure and they resumed their work in gloomy silence not one of them would have willingly on s land had not the wages he offered been above the usual rate of hire and times were bad in but otherwise the superstitious fear of him was so great that his fields might have gone and his crops however as matters stood none of them the land of the midnight sun could deny that he was a good and just in his dealings with those whom he employed and took their way in silence across a stretch of meadow land the one naturally fertile spot in that somewhat barren district plenty of flowers at their feet but they did not pause to gather these for was anxious to get to the stream where the purple grew they soon reached it it was a silvery clear ribbon of water that itself in bright folds through green transparent of and waving leaping now and then with a swift dash over a smooth block of stone or jagged rock but for the most part gliding softly with a happy self satisfied murmur as though it were some drowsy spirit dreaming joyous dreams here nodded the grave purple of the heart their little quaint expressive turned in every direction up to the sky as though absorbing the sunlight down to the ground with an almost severe air of meditation or | 33 |
curled sideways on their stems in a sort of sly was among them at once they were his friends his his and he gathered them quickly yet tenderly murmuring as he did so yes you must all die but death does not hurt no life hurts but not death see i as i pluck you you all grow wings and fly away away to other meadows and bloom again he paused and a puzzled look came into his eyes he turned towards who had seated herself on a httle just above the stream tell me mistress he said do the flowers go to heaven she smiled i think so dear she said i hope so i am almost sure they do nodded with an air of satisfaction that is right he observed it would never do to leave them behind you know they would be missed and we should have to come down again and fetch them a among the branches of some trees startled him he looked round and uttered a peculiar cry like the cry of a wild animal and exclaimed ha ha secret wicked faces that are afraid to show themselves come out i mistress mistress make them come out rose surprised at his and came towards t a him to her utter astonishment she found herself confronted by old l and the reverend mr s ant on both women s faces there was a curious expression of mingled fear triumph and was the first to break silence at last she in a sort of slow monotonous tone at last the lord has delivered you into my hands drew close to her and slipped one arm round him poor soul she said softly with sweet pitying eyes fixed on the old s withered evil you must be tired wandering about on the hills as you do if you are her friend she added addressing why do you not make her rest at home and keep warm she is so old and feeble t feeble shrieked feeble and she seemed choking with passion if i had my fingers at your throat you should then see if i am feeble i pulled her by the arm and whispered something which had the effect of her a little well she said you speak then i i can wait cleared her voice and fixed her dull eyes on the girl s radiant countenance you must go away she said coldly and briefly you and your father and this creature and she pointed contemptuously to the staring do you understand you must leave the the people are tired of you tired of bad ill luck sickness and continued poverty you are the cause of all our miseries and we have resolved you shall not stay among us go quickly take the and of your presence elsewhere go or if you will not we shall burn burn bum and utterly destroy interrupted with a sort of shriek the strong pine of s dwelling be kindled into flames to light the hills with crimson far and near not a plank shall be spared not a of his pride be left stop said quietly what do you mean you must both be very mad or very wicked you want us to go away you threaten to set fire to our why we have done you no harm tell me poor soul and she turned with the land of the midnight sun to is it for s sake that you would burn the house she lives in that is not wise you cursed me the other day and why what have i done that you should hate me the old woman regarded her with steadfast cruel eyes you are your mother s child she said i hated her i hate you you are a witch the village knows it mr knows it mr says we shall be justified in the lord s sight for evil upon you evil evil be on those of evil deeds then shall the evil fall on mr said the girl calmly he is wicked in himself and doubly wicked to encourage you in wickedness he is ignorant and false why do you believe in such a man he is a saint a saint cried wildly and shall the daughter of satan withstand his power and she clapped her hands in a sort of fierce ecstasy glanced at her and smiled a saint poor thing how little you know him she said and it is a pity you should hate me for i have done you no wrong i would do good to all if i knew how tell me can i comfort you or make your life more cheerful it must be hard to be so old and all alone your death would comfort me returned grimly why do you keep from me i do not keep her answered she stays with because she is happy why do you grudge her her happiness and as for burning my father s house surely you would not do so wicked and foolish a thing but still you must do as you choose for it is not possible that we shall leave the to please you here started forward angrily you defy us she cried you will not go and in her excitement she seized s arm roughly this action was too much for he considered it an attack on the person of his beloved mistress and he resented it at once in his own fashion throwing himself on with sudden ferocity he pushed and beat her back as though he were a struggling with prey and though the ancient rushed to the rescue and called upon her zealous champion to all were till had reduced his enemy to the most abject and terror a demon a demon i she sobbed and moaned | 33 |
as the dwarf at last released her from his and tossing his long fair locks over his shoulders laughed loudly and triumphantly with delight at his victory i this is your doing you brought this upon me i may die now and you will not care o lord lord have mercy suddenly she stopped her eyes dilated her face grew gray with the sickening of fear slowly she raised her hand and pointed to his fantastic dress had become disordered in tlie and his jacket was torn open and on his bare chest a long red in the shape of a cross was distinctly visible that t she muttered how did he get that stared at her in impatient derision was too surprised to answer immediately and took it upon himself to furnish what he considered a crushing reply s mark t he said patting the with much no wonder you are afraid of it everybody knows it birds flowers trees and stars even you you are afraid and he laughed again and snapped his fingers in her the woman shuddered violently step by step she drew near to the wondering and spoke in low and trembling accents without a trace of her former anger they say you are wicked she said slowly and that the devil has your soul already before you are dead i but i am not afraid of you no i will forgive you and pray for you if you will tell me she paused and then continued as with a strong effort yes tell me who is this is a answered simply he was floating about in the in a basket and my father saved him he was quite a baby he had this on his chest then he has lived with us ever since looked at her then bent her head in gratitude or despair it was difficult to say she said i am going home i cannot help you any longer i i am tired ill here she the land of the midnight sun broke down and throwing up her arms with a wild gesture she cried o god god i o god i and burst into a stormy passion of sobs and tears touched by her utter misery would have offered consolation but her with a fierce gesture go said the old woman harshly you have cast your upon her i am witness of your work and shall you escape just punishment no not while there is a god in heaven and i live to perform his bidding go white devil tliat you are go and carry misfortune upon misfortune to your fine gentleman lover ah and she chuckled as the girl from her her proud face growing suddenly paler have i touched you there lie in his breast and it shall be as though a serpent stung him kiss his lips and your touch shall be poison live in doubt and die in misery i go and may all evil follow you she raised her staff and waved it as though she drew a circle in the air smiled but no answer to her wild come she said simply let us return home it is growing late father will wonder where we are yes yes agreed seizing the basket full of the he had plucked the sunshine is slipping away and we cannot live with shadows these are not real women mistress they are dreams black dreams i have often fought with dreams and i know how to make them afraid see how the one because she knows me and the other is just going to fall into a grave i can hear the thrown on her head it does not take long to bury a dream come mistress let us follow the sunshine and taking the hand she extended towards him he turned away looking back once however to call out loudly good bye bad dreams as they disappeared behind the trees turned angrily to the still sobbing what is this folly she exclaimed striking her staff fiercely into the ground art mad or looked up her plain face swollen and stained with weeping o lord have mercy upon me o lord forgive me she moaned i did not know it how j i know grew so impatient that she seized her by the shoulder and shook her violently know what she cried know what is my son said with a sort of solemn resignation then with a sudden gesture she threw her hands above her head crying my son my son the child i thought i had killed the lord be praised i did not murder him seemed with surprise is this the truth she asked at last slowly and the truth the truth cried passionately it is always the truth that comes to light he is my child i tell you i gave him that she paused shuddering and continued in a lower tone i tried to kill him with a knife but when the blood flowed it me and i could not he was an infant the evil fruit of an evil deed and i threw him out to the waves as i told you long ago you have had good use of my confession you have held me in your power by means of my secret but now the old woman interrupted her with a low laugh of contempt and malice as the parents are so are the children she said scornfully your lover must have been a fine man if the son is like his father glared at her then drew herself up with an air of defiance i care nothing for your she said you can do me no harm all is over between us i will help in no mischief against the whatever their faults | 33 |
leaping stream through the sparkling foam and he began to himself a sort of wild mountain song looked at him are you sure he said to are you sure that chap knows where he is going he ll not lead us into a ditch and leave us there it for the fall laughed heartily never fear s the best guide you can have in spite of his fancies he knows all the safest and paths and is no easy place to reach i can tell you pardon how is it called asked eagerly the frenchman shrugged his shoulders i give it up he said if anything happens to me at this with the name you will again be my doctor will you not laughed as she shook hands with him nothing will happen she rejoined unless indeed you catch cold by ing in a hut all night father you must see that they do not catch cold the nodded and the party forward leading the way however lingered behind on pretence of having forgotten something and drawing his in his arms kissed her fondly take care of yourself darling i he murmured and then hurrying away he rejoined his friends who had refrained from looking back and therefore had not seen the lovers embrace however had seen it and the sight apparently gave fresh to his movements for he sprang up the adjacent hill with so much that those who followed had some difficulty to keep up with him and it was not till they were out of sight of the that he resumed anything like a reasonable pace as soon as they had disappeared turned into the house and seated herself at her spinning wheel soon entered the room carrying the same graceful of industry and the two maidens sat together for some time in a silence unbroken save by the low melodious of the two wheels and the mellow complaints of the on the said at last timidly yes and her mistress looked up of what use is it for you to spin now the little you will be a great lady and great ladies do not work at all s wheel more and more slowly till at last it stopped altogether do they not she said half and i think you must be wrong it is impossible that there should be people who are always idle i do not know what great ladies are like i do and nodded her curly head there was a girl from who went to to seek service she was handy at her needle and a fine and a great lady took her right away from to london and the lady bought her spinning wheel for a curiosity she said the land of the midnight sun and put it in the comer of a large parlour and used to show it to her friends and they would all laugh and say how pretty and that was the girl never span again she wore linen that she got from the shops and it was always falling into holes and na was always mending mending and it was no good laughed then it is better to spin after all is it not p looked i do not know she answered but i am sure great ladies do not spin because as i said to you this na s mistress was a great lady and she never did anything no nothing at all but she put on wonderful dresses and sat in her room or was driven about in a carriage and that is what you will do also oh no said i could not be so idle is it not fortunate i have so much linen ready i have quite enough for marriage the little maid looked wistful yes dear she murmured hesitatingly but i was thinking if it is right for you to wear what you have spun because you see s mistress had wonderful things all trimmed with lace and they would all come back from the washing torn and hanging in threads and na had to mend those as well as her own clothes you see they do not last at all and they cost a large sum of money but it is proper for great ladies to wear them i am not sure of that said still but still it may be my things may not please philip if you know anything about it you must tell me what is right was in a little perplexity she had gathered some idea from her friend concerning life in london she had even a misty notion of what was meant by a with all its dainty expensive and often useless but she did not know how to explain herself to her young mistress whose simple almost severe tastes would she instinctively felt from anything like in dress so she was silent you know continued gently i shall be philip s wife and i must not vex him in any httle thing but i do not quite understand i have always dressed in the same way and he has never said that he thought me clothed and she looked down with quite a touching pathos at hei straight white gown and smoothed its folds doubtfully the impulsive sprang to her side and kissed her with girlish and unaffected enthusiasm my dear my dear you are more lovely and sweet than anybody in the world she cried and i am sure sir philip thinks so too t a beautiful flush s cheeks and she smiled yes i know he does she replied softly and after all it does not matter what one wears was meditating she looked lovingly at her mistress s rippling wealth of hair diamonds she murmured to herself in a sort of satisfied diamonds like those you have on your finger | 33 |
dared break without committing grievous and sin so she the land of the midnight sun thought and according to her thoughts she lived what a strange world then lay before her in the contemplated change that was about to take place in the even tenor of her existence a world of and folly a world of and falsehood how would she meet it it was a question she never asked herself she thought london a sort of or at best the town of on a larger scale she had heard her father speak of it but only in a vague way and she had been able to form no just idea even to herself of the enormous crowded to excess with its glad and sorrowful busy and idle rich and poor millions england itself floated before her fancy as a green fertile island where shakespeare had lived and it delighted her to know that her future home was situated in shakespeare s county of the society that awaited her she had no notion she was prepared to keep house for her husband in a very simple way to spin his household linen to spare him all trouble and expense and to devote herself body and soul to his service as may be well imagined the pictures she drew of her future married life as she sat and span with on that peaceful afternoon were widely different to the destined reality that every day approached her more while the two girls were at home and undisturbed in the quiet the party headed by were well on their way towards the great fall of they had made a ascent of the hills by the side of the river they had climbed over and slippery rocks sometimes knee deep in the stream or pausing to rest and watch the salmon leap and turn glittering in the air close above the diamond clear water and they had their fatigue with songs and laughter and the telling of fantastic legends and stories in which had shone at his best indeed this unhappy being was in a singularly dear and rational frame of mind disposed too to be agreeable even towards who for reasons of his own had kept a close watch on ever since his friend s engagement to was surprised and gratified at this change in his former behaviour and encouraged him in it while himself responded to the proffered friendship and walked beside o him cheerfully during the most part of the excursion to the fall it was a long and exceedingly difficult journey and in some parts dangerous but proved himself worthy of the bestowed on him by the and guided them by the easiest and most secure paths till at last about seven o clock in the evening they heard the rush and roar of the below the fall and with half an hour s more exertion came in sight of them though not as yet of the fall itself yet the were grand enough to merit and the whole party stopped to gaze on the whirling wonder of waters that hissing furiously round and round in wheels of white foam and then as though enraged leaped high over stones and branches and rushed onward and downward to the length of the river the noise was they could not hear each other speak unless by shouting at the top of their voices and even then the sounds were rendered almost indistinct by the uproar however who knew all the ins and of the place sprang lightly on a and putting both hands to his mouth uttered a peculiar shrill and far reaching cry clear above the turmoil of the restless waters that cry was echoed back eight distinct times from the surrounding rocks and hills laughed triumphantly you see he exclaimed as he resumed his of the party they all know me they are obliged to answer me when i call they dare not and his blue eyes flashed with that sudden wild fire that generally foretold some access of his particular saw this and said soothingly of course not no one would dream of you see how we follow you to day we all do exactly what you tell us we are sheep added lazily and you are the shepherd looked from one to the other half half he smiled yes he said you will follow me will you not up to the very top of the fall by all means answered sir philip gaily anywhere you choose to go the land of the midnight sun seemed satisfied and into the calm composed manner which had distinguished him all day he led the way as before and they resumed their march this time in silence for conversation was well nigh impossible the nearer they came to the yet invisible fall the more grew the din it was as though they approached some vast battle field where opposing armies were in full action with all the tumult of and the ascent grew and difficult at times the high of rock seemed almost often they were compelled to climb over confused heaps of huge stones through which the water pushed its way with speed and fury but s precision was never at fault he leaped after swiftly and always lighting on a sure and guiding the others to do the same at last at a sharp turn of one of these rocky they perceived an enormous cloud of white rising up like smoke from the earth and twisting itself as it rose in swaying folds as though some giant spirit hand were shaking it to and fro like a long flowing veil in the air paused and pointed forward he cried they all pressed on with some excitement the ground beneath their feet with the shock of the falling torrent and the clash | 33 |
and uproar of the waters rolled in their ears like the grand sustained bass of some huge cathedral organ almost blinded by the spray that dashed its drops in their faces by the majestic loud and ceaseless eloquence that poured its force into the hearts of the rocks around them breathless with climbing and well nigh tired out they struggled on and broke into one unanimous shout of delight and triumph when they at last reached the small hut that had been erected for the convenience of travellers who might choose that way to journey to the and stood face to face with the magnificent one of the in what a sublime spectacle it was that tempest of water sweeping sheer down the towering rocks in one straight broad unbroken sheet of foam a flashed in the torrent and vanished to again instantly with lustre while the glory of the evening sunlight glittering on one side of the fall made it gleam like a sparkling shower of gold again giving a singularly musical to the apparently uncouth name come still a little further to the top of the fall however paid no attention to this invitation he was already beginning to busy himself with preparations for passing the night comfortably in the hut before mentioned stout old as he was there were limits to his endurance and the exertions of the long day had brought fatigue to him as well as to the rest of the party was particularly exhausted his frequent at the had been of little or no avail as a support to his aching limbs and now he had reached his destination he threw himself full length on the turf in front of the hut and groaned most surveyed him and stood beside him the very picture of a cool young whom nothing could possibly done up eh sandy he inquired done up growled d ye think i m a or a jumping this with a look ot positive indignation at the lively who if tired was probably too vain to admit it for he was about giving vent to his genuine admiration of the scene before him with the utmost freshness and enthusiasm i m just a plain and not such a fool at climbing either why man ive been up in and ben and ben there s a mountain for you but a like this with all the stones lying and that ye can barely hold on to and a mad chap guiding you on at the speed of a leaping goat i tell you i haven t been used to t here he drew out his and took another extensive pull at it then he added suddenly just look at he ll be in a fair way to break his neck if he follows yon crazy any further at these words turned sh round and perceived his friend following step by step up a narrow footing in the steep ascent of some rough irregular that ran out and formed a narrow ledge ending in a sharp point directly over the full fury of the he watched the two climbing for an instant without any anxiety then he suddenly the land of the midnight sun remembered that philip had promised to go with to the top of the fall acting on a rapid impulse which he did not stop to explain to himself at once started off after them but the ascent was difficult they were some distance ahead and though he shouted the roar of the rendered his voice gaining on them however by slow degrees he was startled when all at once they disappeared at the summit and breathless with his rapid climb he paused bewildered by he saw creeping cautiously out along the rocky shelf that the tumbling torrent his gaze grew with a sort of deadly fascination on the spot good god he muttered under his breath surely will not follow him there he watched with strained eyes and a smothered cry escaped him as s tall figure erect and bold appeared on that narrow and dangerous platform he never knew how he up the rest of the slippery ascent a double energy seemed given to his active limbs he never paused again for one second till he also stood on the platform without being heard or perceived by either or philip their backs were turned to him and he feared to move or speak lest a sudden surprised movement on their parts should have the fatal result of one or both into the fall he remained therefore behind them silent and motionless looking as they looked at the terrific scene below from that point was as a huge boiling from which arose twisted wreaths and of white faintly coloured with gold and silvery blue in air these mists took all manner of fantastic forms ghostly arms seemed to wave and ghostly hands to unite in prayer and fluttering creatures in of green and crimson appeared to rise and float and retire and shrink to again in the rainbow drift and sweep of whirling foam gazed down on the abyss he pushed back his cap from his brow and let the fresh wind play among his dark curls his nerves were steady and he surveyed the twisting wheels of shining water without any corresponding in his own brain he had that sincere delight in a sublime natural spectacle which is the of all who possess a poetic and artistic temperament and though he the land of the midnight sun surprised by a sudden strange of s countenance his blue eyes flashed with an almost lustre his pale skin flushed darkly red and the veins in his forehead started into swelled and knotted another time he screamed loudly no no now now die robber of s love i die die | 33 |
die repeating these words like quick of fury he twisted his meagre arms tightly round and thrust him fiercely with all his might towards the edge of the fall for one second philip strove against him the next he closed his eyes s face smiled on his mind in that darkness as though in white farewell the blood roared in his ears with more thunder than the terrific tumble of the torrent god he muttered and then he stood safe on the upper part of the rocky platform with s strong hand holding him in a vice like grasp and s face pale but looking cheerfully into his for a moment he was too bewildered to speak his friend loosened him and laughed rather a slight tremble of lips was under his fair moustache by jove he remarked in his usual manner that was rather a narrow fortunate i happened to be there gazed about him where s he asked gone ran off like a leaping goat as sandy describes him i thought at first he meant to jump over the fall in which case i should have been compelled to let him have his own way as my hands were full but he s taken a safe direction didn t he try to push me over exactly he was quite convinced that the wanted you but i considered that miss s wishes had a prior claim on my regard look here old man said suddenly don t jest about it you saved my life and laughed quite by accident i you by accident and philip flushed up looking very handsome and earnest i believe you followed us up here thinking something might happen now didn t you suppose i did began but he was interrupted by his friend who seized his hand and pressed it with a warm close affectionate their eyes met and blushed as though he had performed some action blame rather than gratitude that ll do old fellow he said almost nervously as we say in polite society when our favourite corn under his heel don t mention it you see is cracked there s not the slightest doubt about that and he s hardly for his then know something about him that perhaps you don t he loves your they were making the descent of the rocks together and stopped short in surprise loves you mean as a brother oh no i don t i mean that he loves her as brothers often love other people s sisters his affection is by no means if it were only i see i and philip s eyes filled with a look of grave compassion poor fellow i i understand his hatred of me now good heavens how he must suffer i i forgive him with all my heart but i say has no idea of this of course not and you d better not tell her what s the good of making her unhappy but how did you learn it inquired philip with a look of some curiosity at his friend oh i and laughed carelessly i was always an observing sort of fellow fond of putting two and two together and making four of them when i wasn t too exhausted and the weather wasn t too hot for the process s rather attached to me me with some specially private now and then i soon found out his secret though i believe the poor little chap doesn t understand his own feelings himself well said thoughtfully under the circumstances you d better not mention this affair of the fall to it will only vex him won t try such a again i m not so sure of that replied but you know enough now to be on your guard with him he paused and looked up with a misty softness in his frank blue eyes then went on in a subdued tone when i saw you on the edge of that frightful chasm he broke off as if the recollection the land of the midnight sun were too painful and exclaimed suddenly good god if i had lost you clapped one hand on his shoulder well what if you had he asked almost though there was a suspicious tremble in his ringing voice i should have said with i am more an antique roman than a and gone after you laughed and who knows what a jolly banquet we might not have been enjoying in the next world by this time if i believe in anything at all i believe in a really agreeable heaven and and all that sort of thing and to wait upon you as he spoke they reached the hut where and were waiting rather impatiently for them where s cried the gone for a on his own account answered readily you know his fancies i wish his fancies would leave him grumbled he promised to light a fire and spread the meal and now who knows whither he has wandered never mind sir said engage me as a kitchen boy i can light a fire and can also sit beside it when it is properly kindled more i cannot promise as the say when they object to assist the cook it would be beneath me cook cried z catching at this word i can cook give me anything to i will it you have coffee i will make it and in the twinkling of an eye he had himself of his coat turned up his and the cap of a of a newspaper which he stuck on his head behold me d service his was they all set to work with a will and in a few moments a wood fire blazed cheerily on the ground and the preparations for the supper went on amid of | 33 |
laughter soon the fragrance of steaming coffee arose and mingled itself with the of the surrounding pine trees while distinguished himself by catching a fine salmon in a quiet nook of the rushing river and this z cooked in a style that would have done honour to a they made an excellent meal and sang songs in turn and told stories in particular re i legends of the and many a striking history of ancient origin full of terror and superstition concerning devils and spirits both good and evil who are still believed to have their abode on the hills for as the remarked with a smile when civilization has driven these beings from every other refuge in the world they will always be sure of a welcome in it was eleven o clock when they at last retired within the hut to rest for the night and the had not returned the sun shone but there was no window to the small shed and light and air came only through the door which was left wide open the tired travellers lay down on their spread out and blankets and wishing each other a cheerful good night were soon fast asleep was rather restless and lay awake for some little time listening to the stormy discourse of the fall but at last his eyelids yielded to the that oppressed them and he sank into a light slumber meanwhile the imperial sun rode downwards to the edge of the horizon and the sky blushed into the pale tint of a wild rose that deepened softly and steadily with an ever increasing fiery as the minutes glided noiselessly on to the enchanted midnight hour a wind began to mysteriously among the pines then gradually growing strove to whistle a loud defiance to the roar of the tumbling waters through the little and of the roughly constructed cabin where the travellers slept it uttered small wild shrieks of warning or dismay and suddenly as though touched by an invisible hand sir philip awoke a crimson glare streaming through the open door dazzled his drowsy eyes was it a forest on fire he started up in dreamy alarm then remembered where he was that there must be an fine sky to cast so ruddy a reflection on the ground he threw on his cloak and went outside what a wondrous almost scene greeted him his first impulse was to shout aloud in sheer ecstasy his next to stand silent in awe the great fall was no longer a sweeping flow of white foam it had changed to a sparkling shower of as though some great tired of his treasures were flinging them away by giant in the most reckless haste the land of the midnight sun and lavish abundance from the bottom of the a crimson arose like smoke from flame and the whirling deeply red for the most part darkened here and there into an olive green with gold while the spray tossed high over interrupting rocks and glittered as it fell like small fragments of broken the sky was of one dense uniform from west to east soft and as a broad satin the sun was invisible hidden behind the adjacent mountains but his rays touched some peaks in the distance on which white wreaths of snow lay bringing them into near and sparkling the whole landscape was transformed the tall trees rustling and swaying in the now boisterous wind took all flickering tints of colour on their trunks and leaves the gray stones and pebbles turned to of gold and heaps of diamonds and on the other side of the a large of in a of the rocks glowed with extraordinary and warmth like a suddenly kindled fire a troop of dancing wildly on the a ring of from to a sudden chorus of sweet water nothing unreal or would have surprised at that moment indeed he almost expected something of the kind the scene was so eminently fitted for it positively i must wake he thought to himself he t to miss such a gorgeous spectacle as this he moved a little more in position to view the fall what was that small dark object running swiftly yet steadily along on the highest summit of those he rubbed his eyes was it could it be he watched it for a moment then uttered a loud cry as he saw it pause on the very ledge of rock from which but a short while since he himself had been so nearly the figure was now distinctly visible in black against the flaming crimson of the sky it stood upright and waved its arms with a frantic gesture there was no it it was without another second s hesitation rushed back to the hut and awoke with alarm the rest of the party his brief explanation they all hurried forth in startled excitement still occupied his position and as y w i they looked at him he seemed to dance wildly nearer the extreme edge of the rocky platform old turned pale the gods preserve him he muttered in his beard then turning he began resolutely to make the ascent of the rocks with long rapid strides the young men followed him eager and almost breathless each and all bent upon saving from the danger in which he stood and trying by different ways to get more quickly near the unfortunate lad and call or draw him back by force from his point of imminent deadly peril they were more than half way up when a piercing cry rang clearly above the din o the fall a cry that made them pause for a moment had caught sight of the figures advancing to his rescue and was waving them back with eloquent gestures | 33 |
but the asleep in a corner of the porch and the on the roof in the sunshine the deserted air of the place was unmistakable and and exchanged looks of wonder not with alarm called the anxiously there was no response he entered the house and threw open the kitchen door there was no fire and not the slightest sign of any of the usual preparations for supper i shouted still no answer by the gods he exclaimed turning to the astonished philip this is a strange thing where can the girls be i have never known both of them to be absent from the house at the same time go down to the shore my lad and see if s boat is missing while i search the garden obeyed hurrying off on his errand with a heart beating fast from sudden fear and anxiety for he knew was not likely to have gone out of her own accord at the very time she would have naturally expected her father and his friends back and the absence of too was to say the least of it extraordinary he reached the pier very speedily and saw at a glance that the boat was gone he hastened back to report this to who was making the whole place with his shouts of and though he shouted altogether in vain maybe he said on hearing of the missing boat maybe the child has gone on the tis often her custom but then where is besides they must have expected us they would have prepared supper they would have been watching for our return no no there is something wrong about this tis altogether unusual and he looked about him in a bewildered way while sir philip noting his uneasiness grew more and more uneasy himself let me go and search for them sir he said eagerly they may be in the woods or up towards the orchard shook his head and drew his white brows together in puzzled meditation suddenly he started and struck his staff forcibly on the ground i have it he exclaimed that old is at the bottom of this by jove cried i believe you re right i what shall we do at that moment z and came on the scene thinking they had kept aloof long enough and the strange disappearance of the two girls was rapidly explained to them they listened astonished and almost incredulous but agreed with the as to s probable share in the matter look here said excitedly i m not in the least tired show me the way to where that old owl lives and i ll go there straight as a gun shouldn t wonder if she has not forced away her in which case miss may have gone after her i ll come with you said let s lose no time about it but shook his head tis a long way my lads and you do not know the road no be better we should take the boat and pull over to there we can get a to take two of us at least to he stopped interrupted by who looked particularly shrewd i should certainly advise you to try first he remarked cautiously mr might be able to provide you with valuable information roared the at once he knows little of me or mine thank the gods and i the land of the midnight sun would not by choice step within a mile of his dwelling what makes you think of him sir laid a hand soothingly on his arm now my dear mr don t get excited is right i dare say knows as much in his way as the ancient at any rate it isn t his fault if he does not because you see hesitated and turned to you tell him you know all about it the fact is said while gazed from one to the other in speechless amazement hasn t told you because she knew how angry you d be but asked her to marry him of course she refused him and i doubt if he s taken his very the face of the old farmer as he heard these words was a study wonder contempt pride and indignation struggled for the mastery on his rugged features asked her to marry him he repeated slowly by the sword of had i known it i would have him r his eyes blazed and he clenched his hand him lads i would give me the chance and i ll do it now i tell you the mere look of such a man as that is a to my child liar and as he is may the gods confound he paused then suddenly himself up added away to at once they ve been afraid of me there for no reason i ll teach them to be afraid of me in earnest who ll come with me all eagerly expressed their desire to accompany him with the exception of one he had disappeared why where has he gone demanded in some surprise i can t tell replied he just slipped away while you were talking about he ll maybe join us at the shore to the shore they at once themselves and were soon busied in s own boat which as it had not been used for some time was rather a tedious business moreover they noted with concern that the tide was dead against them did not appear the truth is that he had taken into his head to start off for on foot without waiting for the others he was fond of an adventure and here was one that suited him precisely to rescue distressed from the grasp of he was tired but he managed to find the road | 33 |
and he on humming a song of stranger s as he walked to keep him cheerful but he had not gone much more than a mile when he discerned in the distance a approaching him and approaching so swiftly that it appeared to swing from side to side of the road at imminent risk of altogether there seemed to be one person in it an excited person too who lashed the stout little pony and urged it on to fresh exertions with and cries that plump figure that tumbled brown hair streaming wildly on the breeze that round rosy face why it was driving all alone with the reckless daring of a peasant girl accustomed to the swaying movement of the as well as the rough roads and sharp nearer she came and nearer and hailed her with a shout of welcome she saw him answered his call and drove still faster soon she came up beside him and without answering his amazed questions she cried jump in jump in we must go on as quickly as possible to quick quick oh my poor the old villain wait till i get at him but my g child climbing up into the queer what is all this i am in astonishment i understand not at all how comes it that you are run away from home and also only waited till he was safely seated and then lashed the pony with force away they at a break neck pace the frenchman having much to prevent himself from being out again on the road it is a wicked plot she then exclaimed panting with a wicked wicked plot this afternoon mr s servant came and brought sir philip s card it said that he had met with an accident and had been brought back to and that he wished the to come to him at once of course the darling believed it and she grew so pale so pale and she went straight away in her boat all by herself oh my dear my dear the land of the sun gasped for breath and z soothingly placed an ann round her waist an action which the little maiden seemed not to be aware of she resumed her story then the had not been gone so very long and i was watching for her in the garden when a woman passed by a friend of my grandmother s she called out hey do you know they have got your mistress down at and they ll burn her for a witch before they sleep she has gone to i answered so i know you tell a lie it is no lie said the old woman old has her this time for sure and she laughed and went away well i did not stop to think twice about it i started off for a once i ran nearly all the way i found my grandmother alone i asked her if she had seen the she screamed and clapped her hands like a she said that the was with mr mr would know what to do with her ejaculated this is serious i glanced anxiously at him and went on then she tried to shut the doors upon me and beat me but i escaped outside i saw a man i knew with his and i borrowed it of him and came back as fast as i could but oh i am so afraid my grandmother said such dreadful things the others have taken a boat to said to her they may be there by now shook her head the tide is against them no we shall be there first but and she looked wistfully at my grandmother said mr had sworn to ruin the what did she mean do you think did not answer he made a strange and shrugged his shoulders then he seized the whip and lashed the pony faster faster mon he cried to that much astonished well animal it is not a time to sleep ma then to my little one you shall see i we shall disturb the good clergyman at his peaceful supper yes indeed be not afraid and with such remarks he the rest of the way which to both of them seemed unusually long though it was not much past nine when they rattled into the little village by courtesy a town and came to a halt within a few paces of the minister s residence everything was very quiet the inhabitants of the place retired to rest early and the one principal street was absolutely deserted z alighted stay you here he said lightly kissing the hand that held the pony s reins i will make an examination of the windows of the house yes before knocking at the door you wait with patience i will let you know everything and with a sense of excitement in his mind he stole softly along on tip entered the minister s garden fragrant with roses and and then attracted by the sound of voices went straight up to the parlour window the blind was down and he could see nothing but he heard mr s bland tones echoing out with a soft as though he were preaching to some he listened attentively oh strange strange said mr strange that you will not see how graciously the lord hath delivered you into my hands i yea and no escape is possible for lo you yourself started you yourself came hither unto my dwelling a woman all to a man equally and who though a humble minister of saving grace is not proof against the offered surrender of your charms make the best of it my sweet girl make the best of it you can never undo what | 33 |
you have done to night coward coward and s rich low voice caused to almost leap forward from the place where he stood concealed you you made me come here you sent me that card you dared to use the name of my husband to gain your vile purpose you have kept me locked in this room all these hours and do you think you will not be punished i will let the whole village know of your treachery and falsehood mr laughed gently dear me dear me he remarked sweetly how pretty we look in a passion to be sure and we talk of our husband do we tut tut put that dream out of your mind my dear girl sir philip will have nothing to do with you after your little of to night your honour is touched yes yes and is everything to such a man as he as for the card you the land of the midnight sun talk about i never sent a card not i mr made this assertion in a tone of injured honesty why should i no no i you came here of your own accord that is certain and here he spoke more slowly and with a certain malicious glee i shall have no difficulty in proving it to be so should the young man ask me for an explanation now you had better give me a kiss and make the peace there s not a soul in the place who will believe anything you say against me you sl witch and i a minister of the gospel for your father i care nothing a poor sinful pagan can never injure a servant of the lord come now let me have that kiss i have been very patient i am sure i deserve it there was a sudden rushing movement in the room and a light cry if you touch me cried i will kill you i will god will help me again mr laughed god will help you he exclaimed as though in wonder as if god ever helped a i i be sensible by your strange visit to me to night you have ruined your already character i say you have ruined it and if anything remains to be said against you can say it moreover i will a crash of breaking window glass followed these words and before mr could realize what had happened he was against his own wall by an active excited individual whose black eyes sparkled with gratified rage and whose clenched fist was dealing him severe all over his fat body ha ha you will will you cried literally dancing up against him and him as though he were a you will tell lies in the service of le bon no not quite not yet and still him with one hand he dragged at his collar with the other till he succeeded in spite of the minister s efforts to defend himself in rolling him down upon the floor where he knelt upon him in triumph je la then turning to who stood an amazed spectator of the scene her flushed cheeks and tear swollen eyes to the misery of the hours she had passed he said run run the little is outside she has a pony car she will drive you home i will stay here till comes i shall enjoy myself i will begin will finish then we will return to you needed no more words she rushed to the door threw it open and vanished like a bird in air s joy at seeing her was too great for more than an exclamation of welcome and the with the two girls safely in it was soon on its rapid way back to the farm meanwhile with and the others had just landed at after a heavy pull across the and they made straight for mr s house the working himself up as he walked into a positive of wrath finding the street door open as it had just been left by the escaped they entered and on the threshold of the parlour stopped abruptly in amazement at the sight that presented itself two figures were rolling about on the floor apparently in a close embrace one large and the other small and slight sometimes they shook each other sometimes they lay still sometimes they rolling both were perfectly silent save that the larger personage seemed to breathe somewhat heavily stepped into the room to secure a better view then he broke into an irrepressible laugh it s he cried for the benefit of the others that stood at the door by jove how did he get here i wonder hearing his name z looked up from that portion of mr s form in which he had been and smiled ah put your knee here will you so that is well i will rest myself and he rose his hair with both hands while in obedience to his request kept one knee pressed on the figure of the minister ah and there is our and sandy and i but i do not think here he beamed all over there is much more to be done he is one i assure you he will not preach for many sundays it is bad to be so fat he will be so exceedingly suffering could not forbear smiling at s but what has happened he asked is here she was here answered the religious had her here by means of some false writing supposed to be from you he kept her locked up here the whole the land of the midnight sun when i came he was making love and her i am pleased was in time but and he smiled again he | 33 |
is well beaten sir philip strode up to the fallen his face darkening with wrath let him go he said sternly then as the reverend gentleman slowly struggled to his feet moaning with pain he demanded what have you to say for yourself sir be thankful if i do not give you the horse you you scoundrel let me get at him at this juncture struggling to free himself from the close grasp of the prudent i have longed or such a chance let me get at him but assisted to restrain him from springing forward and the old man and swore by his gods in vain mr meanwhile meekly raised hi s eyes and his hands with a sort of pious resignation i have been set upon and cruelly abused he said mournfully and there is no part of me without ache and he sighed deeply but i am punished rightly for yielding unto temptation put before me in the form of the maiden who came hither unto me with he stopped shrinking back in alarm from the suddenly raised fist of the young you d better be careful remarked philip coolly with flashing eyes there are four of us here remember mr and resumed an air of outraged dignity truly i am aware of it he said and it me not at all that the number of the that of the righteous alas why do the heathen rage so furiously together why indeed except that in their hearts they imagine a vain thing i pardon you sir philip i freely pardon you i and you also sir turning gravely to z who received his forgiveness with a cheerful and delighted bow you can indeed injure and you have injured this poor body of mine but you cannot touch the soul no nor can you hinder that freedom of speech here his malignant smile was truly which is ray glory and which shall for ever be uplifted against all manner of evil whether they be fair women and or again he paused rather astonished at s scornful laugh you low fellow said the from are you well i happen to know a good many people in that part of the world and i have some influence there too now understand me i ll have you out of the place you shall find it too hot to hold you that i swear i remember i m a man of my word and if you dare to mention the name of miss iii you within an inch of your life mr feebly and drew out his handkerchief i trust sir philip he said mildly you will your words it would ill you to strive to do me harm in the parish where my are welcome as appealing to that portion of the people who follow the oh yes and he smiled cheerfully you will your words in the meantime i i he stammered slightly i i i meant naught but good to the maiden but i have been misunderstood as is ever the case with the servants of the lord let us say no more about it i forgive let us all forgive i will even extend my pardon to the pagan yonder but the pagan at that moment broke loose from the friendly grasp in which he had been hitherto held and strode up to the minister who like a beaten cur from the look of that fine old face flushed with just indignation and those clear blue fiery as the flash of steel pagan you call me he cried i thank the gods for it i am proud of the title i would rather be the savage that ever knelt in worship to the great forces of nature than such a as you a animal crawling between earth and sky and daring to call itself a christian t were i the christ i should at sight of you made no reply but his little eyes glittered not desiring any further of the scene managed to draw the away saying in a low tone we ve had enough of this sir i let us get home to the land of the midnight sun i was about to suggest a move added we are only wasting time here ah exclaimed and will be glad to be in bed he will be very stiff to morrow i am sure here is a lady who will attend him this with a courteous salute to the wooden faced who suddenly confronted them in the little passage she seemed surprised to see them and spoke in a monotonous dreamy tone as though she walked in her sleep the girl has gone she asked slowly nodded briskly she has gone and let me tell you madame that if it had not been for you she would not have come here at all you took that card to her frowned i was compelled she said made me take it i promised she turned her dull eyes slowly on it was s fault ask about it she paused and her dry lips with her tongue where is your crazy lad she asked almost anxiously did he come with you he is dead answered with grave coldness dead and to their utter amazement she threw up her arms and burst into a fit of wild laughter dead thank god thank god dead and through no fault of mine the lord be praised he was only fit for death never mind how he died it is enough that he is dead dead i shall see him no more he cannot curse me again the lord be thanked for all his and her laughter ceased she threw her apron over her head and broke into a passion of weeping the woman must be crazy exclaimed | 33 |
the thoroughly then placing his arm through s he said impatiently you re right my lad we ve had enough of this let us shake the dust of this accursed place off our feet and get home i m tired out they left the minister s dwelling and made straight for the shore and were soon well on their journey back to the farm across the this time the tide was with them the evening was magnificent and the coolness of the breeze the fresh of the water against the boat and the tranquillity of the soon their over excited feelings was wait ing for them under the porch as usual looking a trifle paler than her wont after all the worry and fright and suspense she had undergone but the caresses of her father and lover soon brought back the rosy warmth on her fair face and restored the lustre to her eyes nothing was said about s fate just then when she asked for her faithful she was told he had gone wandering as usual and it was not till and his returned to their that old left alone with his ter broke the sad news to her very gently but the shock so unexpected and terrible was almost too much for her already nerves and such tears were shed for as himself might have noted with gratitude the loving devoted gone for ever her her servant her dead i ah how tenderly she mourned him how she thought of his wild words mistress you are killing poor i wistfully she wondered if in her absorbing love for philip she had neglected the poor lad his face in all its pale piteous appeal haunted her and her grief for his loss was the greatest she had ever known since the day on which she had seen her mother sink into the last long sleep too wept and would not be comforted she had been fond of in her own impetuous little way and it was some time before either she or her mistress could calm themselves sufficiently to retire to rest and long after was sleeping with tears still wet on her cheeks her father sat alone under his porch lost in melancholy meditation now and then he ruffled his white hair impatiently with his hand his daughter s adventure in mr s house had vexed his proud spirit he knew well enough that the minister s apology meant nothing that the whole village would be set talking against more even than before that there was no possibility of preventing scandal so long as was there to start it he thought and thought and puzzled himself with till at last when he finally rose to enter his dwelling for the night he muttered half aloud if it must be it must and the sooner the better now i think for the child s sake the next morning sir philip arrived unusually early and remained shut up with the in private conversation for more than an hour at the of that time was called the land of the midnight sun and taken into their confidence the result of their mysterious discussion was not immediately evident though for the next few days the lost its former tranquillity and became a scene of bustle and excitement moreover to the astonishment of the folk the sailing known as the belonging to which had been hauled up high and dry on the shore for many months was suddenly seen afloat on the and s pilot appeared to be busily engaged upon her decks putting everything in ship shape order it was no use asking him any questions he was not the man to gratify impertinent curiosity by and by a rumour got about in the village had gained her point in one particular the were going away to leave the at first the report was received with incredulity but gained ground as people began to notice that several were being taken in boats from the to both the and the these preparations excited a great deal of interest and but no one dared ask for information as to what was about to happen the reverend mr was confined to his bed from a severe cold as he said and therefore was unable to perform his favourite mission of spy so that when one brilliant morning was startled by the steam whistle of the blowing furiously and echoing far and wide across the surrounding rocky islands several of the lounging inhabitants paused on the shore or sauntered down to the pier to see what was the cause of the even the long suffering minister crawled out of bed and applied his meek to his window whence he could command an almost view of the glittering water great was his amazement and discomfiture to see the magnificent moving out of the with s in tow behind her and the english flag fluttering gaily from her middle mast as she her farewell to the dark mountains and glided swiftly over the little hissing waves had mr been possessed of a field glass he might have been able to discern on her deck the figure of a tall fair girl who drawing her crimson hood over her rich hair stood gazing with wistful dreamy blue eyes at the fast receding shores of the eyes that smiled and yet were tearful t a are you sorry asked gently as he passed one arm tenderly round her sorry to trust your life to me she laid her little hand in playful reproach against his lips sorry i you foolish boy i am glad and grateful but it is saying good bye to one s old life is it not the dear old home i and poor her voice | 33 |
i m going to see your mother mamma s reading announced s cart has just been and brought a lot of new novels mamma wants to finish them all before night i say are you going to stop to lunch why are you making such a noise in the passage said a gentle grave voice at this juncture i am waiting for you you know you haven t finished your work yet ah mrs i how do you do and lord came forward and shook hands you will find her in i believe she will be delighted to see you this young here he his son s curls tenderly has not yet done with his lessons the idea of the to day seems to have turned his head papa you promised you d let me off this morning cried slipping his arm through his father s lord smiled mrs rush shook her head with a sort of mild he really ought to go to school she said severity you will find him too much for you in a little while i think not replied lord though an anxious look troubled for an instant the calm of his deep set gray eyes we get on very well together don t we the boy glanced up fondly at his father s face and nodded emphatically at a public school you see the boys are educated on hard and fast lines all ground down to one pattern there s no chance of any originality possible but don t let me detain you mrs you have no doubt much to say to lady come if i let you off you must do the rest of your work thoroughly and with a courteous salute the grave kindly faced nobleman re entered his library his young son clinging to his arm and pouring forth boyish confidences which seemingly received instant attention and sympathy while mrs rush looked after their retreating figures with something of doubt and wonder on her placid features but whatever her thoughts they were not made manifest just then arriving at a door draped richly with old gold and satin she knocked come in cried a voice that though sweet in tone was also at at once entered and the of the room sprang up in haste from her luxurious reading chair where she was having her long dark brushed out by a looking maid and uttered an exclamation of delight my dearest she cried this is quite too sweet of you you re just the very person i wanted to see and she drew an easy to the sparkling fire for the weather was cold with that particularly cruel coldness common to an english may and dismissed her attendant now sit down you dear old darling she continued and let me have all the news throwing herself back on her she laughed and tossed her waving hair loose over her shoulders as the maid had left it then she arranged with a touch here and there the folds of her pale pink dressing gown with delicate she was a lovely woman tall and formed with an almost grace of manner lady deserved to be considered as she was one of the the land of mockery beauties of the day her full dark eyes were of a and dangerous softness her complexion was pale but of such a transparent as to be almost brilliant her mouth was small and exquisitely shaped true her long were not altogether innocent of true there was a faint about her as of rare and true there was something not altogether sincere or natural even in her smile and fascinating ways but few save could reasonably dispute her physical or question the right she had to tempt and arouse the passions of men or to with an air of insolent superiority the feelings of women less fair and fortunate most of her sex envied her but mrs rush who was past the prime of life and who moreover gained her social through intelligence and tact alone was far too sensible to grudge any woman her beauty on the contrary she was a frank admirer of handsome persons and she surveyed lady now through her glasses with a smile of bland approval you are looking very well she said let me see you went to in the summer didn t you of course i did laughed her it was delicious i suppose you know came after me there wasn t it ridiculous l mrs didn t put in an appearance at all she asked lady s brow clouded oh yes for a couple of weeks or so came with him of course and they about together all the time the boy enjoyed it i remember now said mrs but ive not seen anything of you since you came back except once in the park and once at the theatre youve been all the time at court by the bye was sir francis there too why naturally replied the beauty with a cool smile he follows me everywhere like a dog poor again the elder lady significantly into a ringing peal of laughter and rising from her knelt beside her visitor in a very pretty attitude come she said you are not going to be proper at this time of day that would be a joke darling indulgent good old you don t mean to turn into a cross mrs i won t believe it and you mustn t be severe on poor he s such a good boy and really not bad looking mrs a little on her chair i don t want to talk about as you call him she said rather only i think you d better be careful how far you go with him i came to consult you on something quite different | 33 |
what are you going to do about the business you know it was in the post to day that they ve arrived in town the idea of sir philip bringing his common wife into society it s too ridiculous i lady sprang to her feet and her eyes flashed what am i going to do she repeated in accents of bitter contempt why receive them of course it will be the greatest punishment can have i ll get all the best people here that i know and he shall bring his peasant woman among them and blush for her it will be the greatest fun out fancy a farmer s girl along with her great feet and red hands i and perhaps not knowing whether to eat an ice with a spoon or with her fingers i tell you will be ready to die for shame and serve him right too mrs was rather startled at the harsh laughter which her concluded her excited observations but she merely observed mildly well then you will leave cards y certainly very good so shall i and mrs sighed what must be must be i but it s really dreadful to think of it all i would never have believed philip could have so disgraced himself he is no gentleman said lady he has low tastes and low desires he and his friend are two in my opinion i p exclaimed mrs you were fond of him once now don t deny it why should i deny it and her s dark eyes blazed the land of mockery with concentrated fury i loved him there i would have done anything for him he might have trodden me down under his feet he knew it well enough cold cruel heartless as he was and is yes i loved him but i him now l and she stamped her foot to give emphasis to her wild words mrs raised her hands and eyes in utter amazement pray pray be careful suppose anyone else heard you going on in this manner your reputation would suffer i assure you really you re horribly reckless just think of your husband my husband and a cold gleam of satire played round lady s proud mouth she paused and laughed a httle then she resumed in her old careless way you must be getting very to talk to me about my husband why don t you read me a lecture on the duties of wives and the education of children i am sure you know how profoundly it would interest me she paced up and down the room slowly while mrs remained silent presently there came a tap at the door and the gorgeous entered he held himself like an and spoke as though repeating a lesson his s compliments and will her la ship lunch in the dining room to day no said lady luncheon for myself and mrs can be sent up here still remained immovable his wished to know if master was to come to your la ship before going out certainly not and lady s brows drew together in a frown the boy is a perfect nuisance bowed and vanished mrs rush grew more and more restless she was a good hearted woman and there was something in the nature of that in spite of her easy going conscience she could not altogether approve of do you never lunch with your husband she asked at last lady looked surprised very seldom only when there is company and i am compelled to be present a domestic meal would be too t i wonder you can think of such a thing and we generally dine out mrs was silent again and when she did speak it was on a less delicate matter when is your great crush she inquired you sent me a card but i forget the date on the twenty fifth replied lady this is the i shall call on lady here she smiled scornfully this afternoon and to morrow i shall send them their invitations my only fear is whether they t refuse to come i would not miss the chance for the world i want my house to be the first in which her peasant herself by her i m afraid it ll be quite a scandal sighed mrs rush quite such a pity was such a promising handsome young man at that appeared again with an set tray which he placed on the table with a flourish order the carriage at half past three commanded lady and tell mrs s coachman that he needn t wait i ll drive her home myself but my dear remonstrated mrs i must call at the van i ll call there with you i owe them a visit has caught young yet well hesitated mrs he is rather slippery you know so and wavering i lady laughed never mind that s a match for him rather a taking girl only what an accent my nerves are on edge whenever i hear her speak it s a pity she can t conquer that defect agreed mrs i know she has tried but after all they re not the best sort of americans the best sort i should think not but they re of the richest sort and that s something besides though everybody knows what van s father was they make a good pretence at being well born they don t their low connections down your throat as wants to do with his common wife they all their vulgar delightfully they ve the land of mockery been cruelly cut by mrs she s american but then she s perfect style do you remember that big at home at the van when they had a band to play in the and everybody was by the noise wasn t it | 33 |
would not make me ill my would you whereupon he seated himself and looked round the table he was too great a personage to be familiar with such inferior creatures as girls and of that class he was only on intimate terms with the cook mrs or as he called her the coachman and lady s own maid r a sallow faced who by reason of her was called by all the inhabitants of the kitchen as being a name both short appropriate and convenient the land of mockery on careful examination the lamb turned out satisfactorily was an epithet that could not justly be applied to them and mr began to eat them leisurely them with a glass or two of fine port out of a which he had taken the precaution to bring down from the dining room i lam late he then graciously explained not that i was detained in way by the people upstairs the gay went out early but i was absorbed in the papers forgot to ask me for them but he ll see them at his club he s gone there now on foot poor i suppose sa s with the same party grinned the fat as she held a large piece of bacon dipped in on her fork preparatory to it with a nodded gravely the same not a fine man at all you know no leg to speak of and therefore no form legs good legs are beauty now s not bad in that particular and i dare say can hold her own but i wouldn t bet on little francis shrieked with laughter till she had a in her side and was compelled to restrain her mirth lor mr she gasped wiping the moisture from her eyes you are a one aren t you on us you ought to put all you say in the papers you d make your maybe maybe returned with due dignity i will not deny that there may be is called sparkle in my and sparkle is is in polite look at and sparkle again read their magnificent productions the world and all sparkle every line it is the secret of success be a and you ve got everything before you looked across at him half her cruel mouth hardened into a tight line to spark el she said that is what we call yes i comprehend is one great spark el but one must be a very good jewel to spark el yes yes not a sham and she nodded a great many times and ate her very fast surveyed her with much complacency you are a woman he said very i admire your ways i really do smiled with a gratified air and settled his wig her anew with fresh interest a witness you would be in a divorce case he continued you d be in your i i should i should indeed i exclaimed with sudden excitement then as suddenly growing calm she made a rapid gesture with her hands but there will be no divorce is a fool appeared doubtful about this and meditated for a long time over his third glass of port with the profound gravity of a philosopher no he said at last when he rose from the table to return to his duties upstairs no there i must from you i am a close observer s faults and i do not deny that they are many he is a gentleman that i must admit and with respect for you i can assure you he s no fool and with these words himself to the library to arrange the reading lamp and put the room in order for his master s return and as he did so he paused to look at a fine photograph of lady that stood on the oak opposite her husband s arm chair no he muttered to himself he thinks of some on he ain t blind nor that s certain and i d stake my character and reputation on it he is he s no fool for once in his life was right he was generally wrong in his estimate of both persons and things but it so happened on this particular occasion that he had formed a perfectly correct judgment the land of mockery chapter could you not drink her gaze like wine yet in its splendour into the silence languidly as a tune into a tune on the morning of the twenty fifth of may lady sat at breakfast with her husband in their morning room fragrant with flowers and melodious with the low of a tame in a wide gilded cage who had the sweet habit of his to himself very softly now and then before venturing to give them full utterance a bright eyed poet he was and an exceeding favourite with his fair mistress who occasionally leaned back in her low chair to look at him and murmur an encouraging sweet sweet which caused the on his plump breast to up with suppressed emotion and gratitude philip was pretending to read the times but the huge self important printed sheet had not the faintest interest for him his eyes wandered over the top of its columns to the golden gleam of his wife s hair brightened just then by the sunlight streaming through the window and finally he threw it down beside him with a laugh there s no news he declared there never ts any news i smiled and her deep blue eyes sparkled no she half inquired then taking her husband s cup from his hand to it with coffee she added but i think you do not give yourself time to find the news philip you | 33 |
no more she declared will perceive it is for the evening wear it is it is to show to everybody s most beautiful white neck and arms the effect will be s face grew suddenly grave almost stem you must be very wicked she said severely to the infinite amazement of the you think i would show myself to people half clothed how is it possible i would not so disgrace myself i it would bring shame to my husband p madame was almost speechless with surprise what strange lady was this who was so beautiful and graceful and yet so ignorant of the world s ways she stared but was soon on the is in a little error she said rapidly and with soft it is la mode has perhaps lived in a country where the fashions are different but if she will ask the most amiable she will find that her dress is quite in keeping with les a pained blush s fair cheek i do not like to ask my husband such a thing she said slowly but i must for i could not wear this dress without shame i cannot think he would wish me to appear in it as you have made it but she paused and taking up the objectionable she added gently you will kindly wait here madame and i will see what sir philip says and she retired leaving the in a state of much astonishment approaching resentment the idea was outrageous a woman with such fair skin a woman with the bosom of a and arms of a shape to make and yet she the land of mockery actually wished to hide these beauties from the public gaze it was ridiculous utterly ridiculous and madame sat impatiently and the air in wonder and scorn meanwhile with flushing cheeks and lowered eyes confided her difficulty to philip who surveyed the shocking little she brought for his inspection with a gravely amused but very tender smile there certainly doesn t seem much of it does there darling he said and so you don t like it no she confessed frankly i think i should feel quite in it i often wear just a little opening at the throat but this still philip i must not you and i will always w ear what you wish even if it is uncomfortable to myself look here my pet and he encircled her waist fondly with his arm is quite right the thing s perfectly fashionable and there isn t a woman in society who wouldn t be perfectly charmed with it but your ideas are better than s and all society s put together obey your own womanly instinct but what do you wish she asked earnestly you must tell me it is to please you that i live he kissed her you want me to issue a command about this affair he said half she smiled up into his eyes yes and i will obey very well now listen and he held her by both hands and looked with sudden gravity into her sweet face my wife thus your lord and master despise the vulgar of fashion and you will gratify me more than words can say keep your pure and beautiful self sacred from the gaze of the multitude sacred to me and my love for you and i shall be the man living finally and he smiled again give back this effort at a and tell her to make something more in keeping with the laws of health and modesty and one more kiss you are a darling she laughed softly and left him returning at once to the who waited for her i am sorry she said very sweetly to have called you wicked i you see i did not understand but though this style of dress is fashionable i do not wish to wear it so you will sea green silk with pearls and embroidered in silver a perfect d of the s art the skirt with its train and peeping folds of delicate lace pleased but she could not understand the and she held that very small portion of the costume in her hand with an air of doubt and at last she turned her grave blue eyes on madame it is not finished she asked where is the upper part of it and the sleeves madame with her hands and smiled there is no more she declared will perceive it is for the evening wear it is it is to show to everybody s most beautiful white neck and arms the effect will be s face grew suddenly almost stem you must be very wicked she said severely to the infinite amazement of the you think i would show myself to people half clothed how is it possible i would not disgrace myself i it would bring shame to my husband madame was almost speechless with surprise what lady was this who was so beautiful and graceful and ct so ignorant of the world s ways she stared but was soon o the is in a little error she said rapidly and with soft per it is la mode has perhaps lived in a where the fashions are different but if she will ask the amiable she will find that her dress is qui in keeping with a pained blush s fair cheek i do not to ask my husband such a thing she said slowly but i for i could not wear this dress without shame i cannot thin would wish me to appear m it as you have made it she paused and taking up the objectionable she a gently you will kindly wait here madame and i will see sir philip says and she | 33 |
retired leaving the in a state of much ment approaching resentment the idea was woman with such fair skin a woman with the bo and arms of a shape to make and c the land of mockery happiness she had suddenly deserted him leaving no clue as to where or why she had gone his grief for her loss weighed heavily upon his mind he incessantly upon it and though his profession was that of a music master and he grew so abstracted and to the claims of the few pupils he had that they fell away from him one by one and after a bit he lost his post as to the village church as well this smote him deeply for he was passionately fond of music and was moreover a fine player and it was at this stage of his misfortunes that he met by chance philip just then was almost broken hearted his father and mother had died suddenly within a week of one another and he finding the blank desolation of his home was anxious to travel abroad for a time so soon as he could find some responsible person in whose hands to leave the charge of the with its invaluable books and pictures during his absence hearing s history through a mutual friend he decided with his usual characteristic impulse that here was the very man for him a gentleman by birth to be an excellent scholar and he at once him the post he had in view that of private secretary at a salary of two hundred pounds per the astonished could not at first believe in his good fortune and began to forth his gratitude with trembling lips and eyes but cut him short by declaring the whole thing settled and desiring him to enter on his duties at once he was forthwith in his position a highly one for a man of his dreamy and meditative turn of mind to him literature and music were precious as air and light he handled the rare volumes on the with lingering tenderness and often over some difficult manuscript or dusty till long past midnight almost forgetful of his in the enchantment thus nor did he lack his supreme music there was a fine organ at the lower end of the long library and seated at his beloved instrument he away many an hour his soul in the divine and solemn of and till the cruel sorrow that had darkened his life seemed nothing but a bad dream and the face of his wife as he had first known it fair and plaintive floated before his eyes unchanged r him the old foolish throbbing emotions of rapture and passion that had the days he never lost the hope of meeting her again and from time to time he renewed his search for her though all he studied the daily papers with an almost morbid anxiety lest he should see the notice of her death and he would even await each post with a heart beating more rapidly than usual in case there should be some letter from her imploring forgiveness explaining everything and him once more to her side he found a true and keenly friend in sir philip to whom he became profoundly attached to satisfy his wishes to his interests to attend to his affairs with all this gave the happiness he felt some slight doubt and anxiety when he first received the sudden announcement of his patron s marriage but all as to the character and disposition of the new lady fled like mist before sunshine when he saw s fair face and felt her friendly hand clasp every morning on her way to the breakfast room she would look in at the door of his little study which the library and he learned to watch for the first glimmer of her dress and to listen for her bright good morning mr with a sensation of the keenest pleasure it was a sort of on the whole day a proud man was he when she asked him to give her lessons on the organ and never did he forget the first time he heard her sing he was playing an exquisite ave maria by and she standing by her husband s side was listening when she suddenly exclaimed why we used to sing that at and her rich round voice forth clear solemn and sweet following with pure the sustained notes of the organ s heart thrilled he heard her with a sort of breathless wonder and rapture and when she ceased it seemed as though heaven had closed upon him one cannot praise such a voice as that he said it would be a kind of it is divine after this many were the pleasant musical evenings they all passed together in the grand old library and as mrs rush had so indignantly told her husband no visitors were the land of mockery invited to the during that winter was perfectly happy he wanted no one but his wife and the idea of entertaining a party of guests who would most certainly interfere with his domestic enjoyment seemed almost to him the county people called but missed seeing for during the she was always out with her husband taking long walks and rambling excursions to the different places by shakespeare s presence and when she instructed by sir philip called on the county people they also seemed to be never at home and so as yet she had made no acquaintances and now that she had been married eight months and had come to london the same old story repeated itself people called on her in the afternoon just at the time when she went out driving when she returned | 33 |
i will take off these fine things and we will sit together and read shall it be so he laughed i believe you would do it if i asked you he said but of course i am quite happy alone with you i care nothing for this party what is it to me if you do not wish to go he kissed her again don t spoil me too much if you let me have ray own way to such an extent who knows what an awful domestic tyrant i may become no dear we must go to night there s no help for it you see we ve accepted the invitation and it s no use being besides after all he gazed at her i want them to see my rose come along the carriage is waiting they passed out into the hall where was in attendance with a long cloak of pale blue lined with white fur in which she tenderly enveloped her beloved her rosy face beaming with affectionate adoration as she glanced from the fair diamond crowned head down to the point of the small pearl embroidered shoe that peeped beneath the edge of the rich white robe and saw that nothing was lacking to the most perfect that ever woman wore good night said kindly you must not sit up for me you will be tired smiled it was evident she meant to the stars if necessary rather than allow her mistress to be on her return but she said nothing she waited at the door while philip assisted his wife into the carriage and still stood under the wide after they had driven away hadn t you better come in miss said the butler respectfully he had a great regard for her s little maid recalled to herself started turned and re entered the hall there will be many fine folks there to night i suppose she asked the butler rubbed his nose fine folks at house well as far as clothes go i dare say there the land of mockery will but there ll be no one like her no one t and he shook his gray head emphatically of course not said with a sort of triumphant defiance we know that very well there s no one like her anywhere in the wide world i but i tell you what i think a great many people will be jealous of her smiled you may take your oath of that miss he said with placid conviction jealous jealous isn t the word for it why and he surveyed s youthful countenance with interest you re only a child as it were and you don t know the world much now i ve been five and twenty years in this family and i knew sir philip s mother the lady he named his after her ah she was a sweet creature she came from and she was as dark as her present is fair wherever she went i tell you the women were ready to cry for spite and envy of her good looks and they would say anything against her they could invent that s the way they go on sometimes in society you know as bad as in murmured more to herself than to him only london is a larger place then raising her voice again she said perhaps there will be some people wicked enough to hate her i shouldn t wonder said i shouldn t wonder at all there s a deal of hate about one way or another and if a lady is as beautiful as an angel and cuts out everybody wherever she goes why you can t expect the other ladies to be very fond of her t in human nature at least not in feminine human nature men don t care much about their looks one way or the other unless they re young then one has a little patience with them and they come all right but had become meditative again she went slowly up into her mistress s room and began arranging the few trifles that had been left in disorder just fancy she said to herself may hate the even in london just as they hated her in because she is so unlike everybody else shall keep my eyes open and shall soon find out any wickedness against her my beautiful dear darling i believe the world is a cruel place after all but she shan t be made unhappy in it if i can help it and with this emphatic declaration she kissed a little shoe of s that she was just putting by and her curls went down to her supper chapter iii people there are living and flourishing in the world hopeless let us have at them dear friends with might and main i who can describe the thrilling excitement attending an aristocratic crush an extensive sweeping off of old scores at home that scene of bewildering confusion which might be set forth to the minds of the vulgar in the such a getting upstairs i never did see who can paint in sufficiently brilliant colours the mere outside of a house thus distinguished by this strange in which there is no actual pleasure this crowding of carriages this shouting of small boys and who can in words the various phases of lofty indignation and offence on the countenances of forced into with vulgar but good natured for right of way who can sufficiently set forth the of a striped avenue lined on both sides with a collection of tropical hired for the occasion at so much per dozen pots and illuminated with chinese talk of orange groves in italy and the languid light of a southern moon what are they | 33 |
compared to the of striped mere trees mere moonlight poor of nature do not excite either wonder or envy but strange to say an avenue invariably does as soon as it is erected in all its bland no matter at what house a small crowd of street and collect to stare at it and when tired of staring pass and under it with peculiar satisfaction the beggar starving for a crust doubtfully near it and to inquire of the smitten crossing whether it is a wedding or a party and if avenue matrimony the beggar waits to see the guests come out if on the contrary it stands for some evening he goes the land of mockery to return at the appointed hour and try if he cannot persuade one swell at least to throw him a penny for his night s supper yes a great many people endure sharp of discontent at the sight of avenue people who can t afford to give parties and who wish they could pretty sweet girls who never go to a dance in their lives and long with all their innocent hearts for a glimpse just one glimpse of what seems to them inexhaustible fairy like delight lonely folks who imagine in their simplicity that all who are privileged to pass between the lines of hired tropical foliage must be the best and most united of friends hungry men and women who picture with watering mouths the supper table that lies beyond the laden with good things of the very names of which they are hopelessly ignorant while now and then a stem dark or two may stalk by and shake his fist at all the waste extravagance useless luxury and avenue usually and may in his beard like an old fashioned a time will come yes sir it will most undoubtedly it must but not through you not through any mere human agency modem society contains within itself the seed of its own the most utter that ever swore deadly oath need but contain his soul in patience and allow the seed to for god s justice is as a circle that slowly an evil and as slowly on it with crushing and force and feverish humanity however nobly inspired can do nothing either to hasten or the round perfect absolute and divine law so let the of the world play on and let us not frighten them with stories of they are miserable enough as it is believe it their toys are so and snap in their feeble hands so easily that one is inclined to pity them and avenue with its borrowed and artificial light is frequently erected for the use of some of the most wretched among the children of the earth children who have with and lost everything love honour hope and faith and who are travelling rapidly to the grave with no consolation save a few of base coin which they must leave behind them at the last so it may be that the crippled crossing outside house is a very great deal happier than the master of that stately mansion he has a new and master has given him two and a rather stick of sugar he is a of s that bright handsome boy considers it a jolly shame to have only one leg and has said so with much emphasis and though the little himself has never regarded his affliction quite in that light he is exceedingly grateful for the young gentleman s patronage and sympathy thus frankly expressed and on this particular night of the grand reception he stands leaning on his and his a delighted spectator of the scene in park lane the splendid the horses the glittering the excited the magnificent of the ladies the solemn and resigned of the gentlemen and he none of them not he why should he his are in his pocket untouched as yet and it is doubtful whether the crowding guests at the supper table shall find anything there to yield them such entire enjoyment as he will presently take in his humble yet refreshing and he is pleased as a child at a the at home is a show that him and he makes sundry remarks on im and er in a meditative he up avenue heedless of the severe eye of the policeman on guard he sweeps the edge of the crimson felt foot cloth tenderly with his and if he has a desire it is that he might take a peep just for a minute inside the front door and see how they re all a goin it and how are they a goin it well not very if one may judge by the aspect of the gentlemen in the hall and on the stairs gentlemen of serious who are leaning as though exhausted against the with a universal air of profound weariness and dissatisfaction some of these are young of manhood birds who though by no means innocent are more or less inexperienced and who have fluttered hither to the of lady s at home half expecting to be allowed to make love to their hostess and so have something to boast of afterwards others are of the middle aged complacent type who though infinitely bored have condescended to look in for ten minutes or so to see if there are any pretty women worth the honour of their criticism others again and these are the most unfortunate are the or husbands the land of mockery fathers and brothers of beauties whom they have escorted to the scene of triumph in which they unlucky are certainly not expected to share a little conversation goes on among these stair | 33 |
conversation mingled with much dreary yawning a trained opera singer is shaking forth and in the great drawing room above there is an incessant stream of people coming and going there is the rustle of silk and satin perfume shaken out of lace and the warm air the heat is excessive and there is a never voices only broken at rare intervals by the society laugh that on the part of the women that strained ha ha ha on the part of the men which is but the faint ghostly echo of the farewell voice of true mirth presently out of the ladies cloak room come two fascinating figures the one plump and with gray hair and a neck glittering with diamonds the other a slim girl in pale pink with dark eyes and a complexion for whom the lazy gentlemen on the stairs make immediate and respectful room how d ye do mrs van says one of the glad to see you miss says another a sandy haired young man with a large in his button hole and a glass in his eye at the sound of his voice miss stops and regards him with a surprised smile she is very pretty is pretty and she has an air of grace and modesty about her that is perfectly charming why oh why does she not remain in like attitude of questioning silence but she speaks and the charm is broken now dew tell she i thought were in pa ar is ma would have concluded to find lord here this is too lovely if i d known were coming i d have stopped at home yes i would that s so and she her little head crowned with its glossy of chestnut hair in a very manner while her mother persistently beaming a company smile on all around hen begins to ascend the stairs her daughter to follow does so and lord her you you didn t mean that he rather you you don t mind my being do you i m i m awfully glad to see you again you know and er all that sort of thing a keen glance at him the glance of an observant clear headed oh yes i i dare say i she remarks with airy scorn me to believe did have a good time in pa is fairly so answers lord indifferently i only came back two days ago lady met me by chance at the theatre and asked me to look in to night for some fun she said have you an idea what she meant of course says the fair new with a little laugh don t know we re all here to see the from the of the creature sir philip married last year i conclude shell give us fits all round don t lord at this appears to hesitate his eye glass troubles him and he with its black string he is not intellectual he is the most most meek and timid of mortals but he is a gentleman in his own poor fashion and has a sort of fluttering chivalry about him which though feeble is better than none i really cannot tell you miss he replies almost nervously i hear at the club that that lady is a great beauty dew tell shrieks with a burst of laughter is she really though but i guess her looks won t mend her grammar any way he makes no reply as by this time they have reached the crowded drawing room where lady radiant in velvet and rose stands receiving her guests with a cool smile and nod for mere acquaintances and a meaning flash of her dark eyes for her and a general air of haughty insolence and perfect self satisfaction her from head to foot close to her is her husband grave and kind to all comers and his duty as host to perfection still closer is sir francis who in the pauses of the tide of guests finds occasion to whisper trifling in her tiny white ear and even once to arrange more a falling cluster the land of mockery of pale roses that rests lightly on the brief shoulder called by courtesy a sleeve which keeps her s in place mrs rush is here too in all her glory her countenance and small nose together beam with satisfaction her train of black satin with jet gets in everybody s way her ample bosom like the sea somewhat above the boundary line of transparent lace that would fain restrain it but in this particular she is prudence itself compared with her hostess whose charms are exhibited with the frankness of a girl and whose example is followed it must be confessed by most of the women in the room is mr rush here oh yes after some little trouble we discover him squeezed against the wall and by the grand piano in company with a large over which he an almost morbid interest in the portraits of persons he has never seen and never will see beside him is a melancholy short man with long hair and who the increasing crowd in the room with an aspect that is almost tragic once or twice he eyes mr as though he would speak and finally he does speak tapping that gentleman on the arm with an energy that is somewhat startling it is to i am here he to i am great artist he rolls his eyes wildly and a sort of forced calmness proceeds to on his fingers rome st all know me all me see and he holds out his button hole in which there is a miniature red ribbon | 33 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.