i wore a fur greatcoat at that time and before we were well clear of the wharf he questioned mc concerning it and its price and whero i bought it and when and what fur it was and what it weighed and what it cost


then he took notice of my watch and asked what that cost and whether it was a french watch lind where i got it and how i got it and whether bought it or had it given me nnd how it went and where the keyhole was and when i wound it every night or every morning and whether i ever forgot to wind it at all and if i did what then


where had i been to last and where was i going next and where was i going after that and lind i seen the president and what dill he say mid what did i say and what did lie say when i had said that


eh


lor now


do tell


finding that nothing would satisfy him i evaded his questions after the first score or two and in particular pleaded ignorance respecting the name of the fur whereof the coat was made


i am unable to say whether this was the reason but that coat fascinated him ever afterwards he usually kept close behind me as i walked and moved as i moved that ho might look at it the better and he frequently dived into narrovv places after me at the risk of his life that he might have the satisfaction of passing his hand up the back and rubbing it the wrong way


we had another odd specimen on hoard of a different kind


this was a thin faced sparefigured man of middle age and j stature dressed ja a dusty drebbisu coloured suit such as never saw before


he was perfectly quiet during the first part of the journey indeed i dont re member having so much as seen him until he was brought out by circumstances as great rrieh often are


the conjunction of events which made hiin famous linppcncd briefly thus


the canal extends to the foot of the mountain and there of course it stops the passengers being conveyed across ii by land carriage and taken on afterwards by another canalbont the counterpart of the first which awaits them on the other side


there are two canal lines of pas sageboats one is culled the express and one a cheaper one the pioneer


the pioneer gets first to the mountain and waits for the expresa people to come up both sets of passengers being conveyed across it at the same time


we were the express company j


but when we had crossed the mountain and had come to the second boat the proprietors took it into their heads to draft all the pioneers into it likewise so that we were fiveand forty at least and the accession of pas sengers was not al all of that kind which improved the prospect of sleeping at night


our people grumbled at this as people do in such cases but suffered the boat to be towed off with the whole freight aboard nevertheless and away we went down the canal


at home i should have protested lustily hut being a foreigner here i held my peace


not so this passenger lie cleft a path among the people on deck we were nearly all on deck and without addressing anybody whomsover solilo quised as follows this may suit you this may but it dont suit me


this may be all very well with down easters and men of boston raising but it wont suit my figure nohow and no two ways about that and so i tell you


now


im from the brown forests of the mississippi jam and when the sun shines on me it does shinea little


it dont glimmer where i live the sun dont


no


im a brown forester i am


i nnt a johnny cake


there are no smooth skins where i live


were rough men there


rather


if down easters and men of boston raising like this im glad of it but im none of that raising nor of that breed


this company wants a little fining it does


im the wrong sort of man foreni jam


they wont like me they wont


this is piling of it up a little too mountainous this is


at the end of every one of these short sentences he turned upon his heel and walked on the other way checking himself abruptly when he had finished another short sentence mid turned back again


it is impossible for me to say what ter rific meaning was hidden in the words of this brown forester but i know that the other passengers looked on in a sort of nd miring horror and that presently the boat was put back to the wharf and as many of the pioneers as could be coaxed or bullied into going away were got rid of


when we started again some of the boldest spirits on board made bold to say to the obvious occasion of this improve ment in our prospects much obliged to you sir whereunto the brown forester waving his hand and still walking up and down as before replied no jfiiant


youre none o my raising


you may act for yourselves you may


i have pinted out the way


down easters and johnny cakes can folloxv if they please


i ant a johnny cake ant


i am from the brown forests of the mississippi i am and so on as before


he was unani mously voted one of the tnblcs for his bed at nightthere is a great contest for the tablesin consideration of his public ser vices and he had the warmest comer by the stove throughout the rest of the journey


but never could find out that he did anything except sit there nor did i hear him speak again until in the midst of the bustle and turmoil of getting the luggage ashore at pittsburg i stumbled over him as he sat smoking n cigar on the cabin steps and heard him muttering to himself with a short laugh of defiance


i ant a johnny cake i ant


im from the brown forests of the mississippi i am damme


i am inclined to argue from this that he had never left off saying so but i could not make affidavit ofthat part of the story if required to do so by my queen and country


as we have not reached pittsburg yet however in the order of our narrative i may go on to remark that breakfast was perhaps the least desirable meal of the day as in addition to the many savoury odours arising from the eatables already mentioned there were whiits of gin whiskey brandy and rum from the little bar bara by and a decided seasoning of stale tobacco


many of the gentlemen passengers were far from particular in respect of their linen which was in some cases as yellow as the little rivulets that had trickled from the corners of their mouths in chewing and dried there


nor was the atmosphere quite free from zephyr whisperings of the thirty beds which had just been cleared away and of which we were further and more prcssingly reminded by the occasional appearance on the table cloth of a kind of game not mentioned in the bill of fare


and yet despite these odditiesand even they had for mc at least a humour of their ownthere was much in this mode of travelling which i heartly enjoyed at the time and looked back upon with great pleasure


even the running up barenecked at five oclock in the morning from the tainted cabin to the dirty deck scooping up the icy water plunging ones head into it and drawing it out all ircsh and glowing with the cold was a good thing


the fast brisk walk upon the towingpath between that time and break fast when every vein and artery seemed to tingle with health the exquisite beauty of the opening day when light caine gleaming off from everything the lazy motion of the boat when one lay idly on the deck looking through rather than at the deep blue sky the gliding on at night so noiselessly past frowning hills sullen with dark trees and sometimes angry in one red burning spot high up where unseen men lay crouching round a fire the shining out of the bright stars undisturbed by noise of wheels or steam or nny other sound than the liquid rippling of the water as the boat went on all these were pure delights


then there were new settlements and detached logcabins and framehouses full of interest for strangers from an old country cabins with simple ovens outside made of clay and lodgings for the pigs nearly na good as many of the human quarters broken windows patched with wornout hats old clothes old boards fragments of blankets and paper and homemade dressera standing in the open air without the door vi hereon was ranged the household store not hard to count of earthen jars and pots


the eye was pained to see the stumps of great trees thichly strewn in every field of wheat and seldom to lose the eternal swamp and dull morass with hundreds of rotten trunks and twisted branches steeped in its un wholesome vvatei it was quite sad nnd oppressive to come upon gteat tracts where settleis had been bin mug down the tices and vvhcie then wounded bodies lay about like those of miudercd cientuies while hcic nul theie


some chimed mil blackened giant lenred aloft two withcitd anns and seemed to call down eui ses on his foes


sometimes ut night the way wound through some lonely boie hi e a mmiutiin pass ni srotliud sliming and col llv litleimg m the hht of the moon uni so elosed in by high steep lnll ill round thal theie sccmetl tobe no tcress save through the uni row er path bv which we luul come until one rugged lull side sceiiictl to open and shutting out the moonhht ns we passed into its gloomy thront wlipped oui new couisc in shade and darkness wc hud left ilamsbtug on tridny on sunday morning wc uirivcd al the fool of the mountain which is ctossed by i ulroad lhere nie ten inclined planes hverscend ing and five tescending the cal liages are dragged up the foi mci and let slowl down the litter li means of stntionai engines the conipniatively level spices between being traversed sometimes by lim se nnd sometimes bv engine power ns the ense demands occasionally the rails are laid upon the ctremevirgc o a aiddy precipice and lool nig fiom the cn ruge window the traullci nes sheer down without nny stone setup of fence be tween tuto the mountain depths below hc journey is very cineftilly made how ever only two carriages trivelling to gethei and while piopci picciutions arc taken is not to be di ended for ils d mgcis


tt was vciy pretty ti ivelltng thus at a rapid pace along the heights o the moun tain in a keen wind to look down into a valley full ol light lind softness catching glimpses llnonh the tree tops ol scat tered cabins childi en running to the doois dogs bin sting out fo bail whom we could see without hearing teirified pigs scampenng homewnds families sitting out in their mdo gardens cows gnzin upvvaul with a stupid indifference men in their shirt sleeves looking on at then unfinished houses planning out to monow s work and we riding onwaid high ibovc them like a whulwind it was amusing too when wc hid dined and attled down a steep piss having no other moving power than the weight of the carriages thcinsclvc to sec the engine released long nftci us come butng down alone hi c a gi cat insect its bick of gieen and gold so shining in the sun ti tit if it hid spicnd a pan ol wings and soaicd nwn no one would have had occasion as i fancied loi the lcist surprise


but it stopped short of us in a very business like minnel when we i cached the canal md befoic we left the wharf went panting up this lull again with thcpasscngeis who had waited our ni rival for the means of liavcrsmg the road by which wo had come on the monda evening furnace ftes and clanking hammos on the banks of the cmiil vvirned us that wc appioachcd the tcimmation o


this pnitol oui journe


aftei going tlnougli another dreamy plncea long aqueduct across the alleg han ltivei which w is stiangei than the bntlge at ilamsbuig being a vast low woodenchainbci full o wntcrwc cmciged upon that ugl contusion of backs of buildings and ernry gulleucs and stans which always abuts on wntcr wbethel it be mci sen ennui ot ditch and weie at pittsbmg llmisbuig is like bnminghnm m eng land at least its townspeople say so setting isule the streets the shops the houses waggons faetones public build nigs and popuhlion pcihnps it may he


it certnmlv hnsagieat quantity of smoke haning about it and is famous for its non works besides the pi ison to which i haveaheadv referred tins town contains a pretty usenal and other institutions it is v civ bcautifull situated on the allegheny ihvei ovci which theie are two bridges


md the villas of the wealthier citizens sprinkled about the high giouuds ni the neighboiuhood aie pretty enough we lodged at a most excellent hotel md weie ndmnably scivcd as usual it wns full ot bonrdcrs wns vciy inige nud had a blond colonn ide to cvciy sion of the house wc liri led here tluee dns


oui i evt point was cincinnati and ns this wns a stenm boat journe and western stenm boats usunlly blow up one two i week in ths senson it was adusnblc lo collect opinions in lefeiencc


lo the compnialive wilcty ot the v essels bound that win then lying m the liver


one called the mes scngu wns the best recommended she lind been idvertised to stmt positively ev cry day for a fortnight or so nud had not gone ns ct nor did her captain seem to have nny vciy fixed intention on the sub ject but this is the custom foi if the law were to bind down a free and independent citizen to keep his word with the public what would become ol the hbeityof the subject


besides it is m the wnv of trade


and it pissengcis be decoded in the wny of trade nnd people bo incon venienced in the way ot tinde what man who is a s ii mp tradesman himself


shall s ly wc must put a stop to this


impicssed by the deep solemnity of the public announcement being then igno rant of these usnge wns foi hunting on board in a brcithless st ite immediately but receiving pnv itc and confidential ni formation tint the bont would certninly not sdrt until lndn apnl the first wc made oin sehe s very comfort ible in the mein while and went on bonid at noon that day


orxgznall


a true tale of australia


chapter ii


continued from our last


i need not state how the cabin fare deteriorated towards the middle of the vojae and when near the end many articles of luxury for the table which had been mislaid were now disco vered never to have beent lost


after taking you to see the immigrants home we will return to jessy


we will step itl and see the immigrants en gaged


a gentleman and a lady enter to engage a servant whose duty it will be to perform the most menial and multitudinous offices some such


as at home are alone the housemaids por tion of dutty


this servant will wear perhaps a blue coat turned up with a melancholy yellow and a beefsteak colored plush inexpressibles yet in order to make it sound grand having read in some fashionable novel of such a domestic they itire a butler though the said butler is never entrusted with the wine there seldom being tnore than a dozen or two kept in the house which missusalway keeps under lock and key loiher store loom and his charge of plate will consist of a dozen or so of silver spoons and stndry german itritatioti ditto


observe the air ot the ciftleinan


which sayu


inm an iiidependant miani could you hut lit tines listen lo the dettiils f tlhegiaindeur of his intimate friend the ealrl ofi sbireiiilot tioirt might be led to iinugite it jwins iitride butlee me whiisper to yo tii tint lit iiestlilof snirecioit


never addressed linm iii his life savi


ir icee or


twice casually witll iiiitkiiid n deseiieuioii with which the trulyv gril cai ainttird to i oiiicen


their inferiors but his ftither waes


nndir gir dener on the earls ist ie


now look iat his wife whlat a coimpoutia of vnlgiaiity alli tine dress


in this country where people achieve greatuess insteaid of being born grcnit how frequently you see a iuan originally iniedluciated yet by intercoure in publiclife with genilememi pass very tolerably in society and acquile tlul itbly genteel detmeanour but women rarely lose their original vulgarity and littlemiinded ness once a ltidy no change of fortune would ertdicate the traces of good breeding but if illiterate or vulgar no wealth finery or issir atnce can prevent tie frequent betrayal of their early habits and simply because they have not as men had the opportunity of mixing with those above them in society


listen to the couversilliol of that overtdressed wouianu whose wealth by courtesy causes her to be called a lady


she ippears to be trying how mnual finery she could wear at once the silk dress loaded or bedoubled with velvet the gold clhaiun like a cable from which in full view is suspended her goold watch and seals her ear rings weighing down her ears to her neck and lier bonnet covered with artificials which causes it to look like a moveable flowergarden


this lady requires a governess and applies to a genteellooking girl who having received a tolera ble education fancies that nothing can be easier than to undertake a duty which requires the highest degree of patience selfcontrol and ap plication and cultivated intellect


would you like to take a place to be governess to my darter


the lady had a parasol iu her hand with which she beat time on her knee to im press her words


i suppose you can laru her music thump with the parasol draring thump thump jography french hightalian and all them ere sort of things thump thump certainly maam replied the young lady


i understand those branches of education


ho very well i as you will have to be a companion to me and now and thenl look after the store and weigh out the mens rations i dont mind giving you as much as twenty pounds ayear


the young lady strange to say refuses this mu uificent offer having heard that cattledrivers are better paid she is not aware that among many of our enlightened colonists the right rearing of stock is a much more important matter than the proper


training of an immortal being for time and eternity


that a very accom plished young lady means one who can play a jig or quadrille squeak out a song without taste or feeling do fancywork and dance


that a fline young man means an overgrown ungainly cub who can smoke cigars talk of nothing but cattle from morning till night and ride a race where perhaps the horse he rides is the nobler animal of the two or perhaps it may be a aen tlemanny nice young man one who has been brought up in gothish ignorance until nearly a man and then gets a years schooling learns to dance sports white kid gloves and a swallow tail coat a ladys love who repeats the same set of phrases of nonsense to giggling girls who are as intellectual as himself


with what a beating heart and eager eye lid jessy frazer behold each buat that ltvared the vessel as soon as it anchored in port jackson


hlow delighted edward will be thought she when he hears of my arrival tand how auxious he will be to see me


i hope he will not think me changed for the worse iin appearanttcefemale vanity whispered that she was not altered but i am sure my love for him is the same


auti then in this country separated from all our old friends we shall have no one to love but ench other


the happiness of seeing him will be more than i can endure with celmuess


while these thoughts were occnpying her iitd tioat after boat arrived with ueleumoing frieds to hter fellow passengers and in a few hours not mtuwy remained unless such as had neither friends uor acquaintances to bestow a kindly word of greeting


parent child brother sister husband and wife and friend met friend and in the joy of meeting past sorrow had been forgotten


ssingle women had suddenly becomt eives and the startling tear flushed cheek and tremb


ling emotion on meeting some one who assuimed ihe character of cousins or brothers told a tale of that deep feeing which constitutes the poetry of existence and however nmuch the worldling may sneer at it yet few there are who at some period of their life have not been subject to its sway


some there were indeed who though met by relations felt they had but a cold welcome sonlt of these were wives whose husbands would much rather they had remained at home though they had forgotten to make them a remittance


others there were whose friends had amassed wealth and acquired importance here and who had been in the habit of taking off their high friends and connexions at home when lo an nnwished for poor relative arrives whose mean appearance and low manners belie their previ


ous boastings and something has to be done for thema crumb to be afforded of their goodly heritage now few persons have that right spirit which enables them to dare to be what they really are


a few are consignments by letter from somen acquaintance at home who when they deliver the letter are told that happy to be of seivice to the bearer sorry not to have it in their power at present to be of service to him glad to see him some other day to know how he is getting on e and thus ends the delivery of a letter upon which were vainly built hopes of assistance and advice in a strange land can it be wondered at if under these dishleartening circumstances the louely immigrant remains in the towns and not having any one near him whose good opinion he values he spends his last shilling loses his self respect and becomes


a worthless member of society


the constant intercourse of so many months caused jessy to feel sad when nearly the last passenger had departed and no one arrived to welcome her


perhaps she thought edward may be out of town but then surely mrs wilkes of whom he spoke in his letter will be here to meet me


time passed on and still no one ccamne and the happy anticipations of meet


ing gave way to despodtency tud doubt


at length she resolved to send to thie wile of the gentleccman at the hlead of the lium witht whichl her lover was connected and inform her of her


anxiety and desolate siluation


in les thlnu au hour a ladyand gentclecman came for her lds with a womansmtact mrs ilkit s kicdly inyftutimemd her chat she did nititexipe ell rby h iethb yl om


p she would haveuet


lerbefoie anuti wjith nmmiiv


friendly wordsthey


tok hlrto t etrhiuil b lt


where wns wal da isww alilsi shel darerld


wutk p rihips le eva tili lt


chait f the n ahs pi o iei


te gil g t fi r il


i le a ileep nstt e olo i


ii g


l f


lk a lii l all r as p h e ii ro t his betrolle tl e


ae te iilbu ht hu l oke ortin l


t s igii


puo t iol g er


in siailee hu l rdl


biid er


di lett gfoied nexp it ui d friehrsi or hh se so of te felri t at he wi


too i h


illd h l wl nwith the oeepe who loffe him to ruly


rll


and was he nout his betrotlied wiiztcefe atoll that onterac hagd beenr hi bsere and itrever shed but human laws to


rattily that vr b not i stringer in a strange lanu tnidd


ljale not given up home and friends fot ins sake


no she felt that he was too highiltltided to be unfaithful to one who loved him so truly


still mystery hung over his absence and even she imngined thallt in the lttenldllance of her kind host an air of compllssitnl was m inglednd she tried to rest that night with an aching heart and feelings very diflfrent ifrom tie hopes of the tuaroiutg


we will if you like step into churclt the pro fessed object of going there is devotion but as the cities of old would not be saved from de struction because ten really righteous persons could not be found therein so it is fearful to think that if required the same number could rarely be found within the walls of many a sacred edifice if examingd by tile eye of omniscience


what strange revealments would there be could the secret thoughts of our


hearts be suddenly made manifest while perhaps we are standing in church with wellspread looves and hing wry faces


too often the clergyman gives to prayer the adagio and the andante it demands grinds down the divinity of other days to modern use anud drawls through the service with a schoolboy tone the pulpit adopted as a means of respectable existence the fleece and not the flock is the object of his care


when the service is past are they the rustics that run around the pious mtan


and greet his approving smile


no his greatness forbids such contact


how would his immediate aristocratic circle be shocked at such familiarity and the horrid creatures i mean liis lowly parishioners might if he noticed thetm call at his house and pollute with their vulgar familiarities the presence of his lady wife who even less than himself is a visitor among the sick the needy and the wounded in spirit


the church into which subsequent to these erratic observations i was about to intro


duce you was composed of the usualcongrega


tion but the minister was not such as have described


no he was one who sought to raise the wretched


the arrival of a large number of emigrants the preceding week was an occasion for him to remind them of their duties in the strange land to which they had come


his text was from the beautiful th


chapter of deut


many were deeply affected but his attention was partieularly attracted to the subdued anguish of mind evinced by a young lady who sat in the pew of a merclhant in that town and with true kind


ness of disposition he resolved after the service on calling to see if sbhe needed advice or assist ance for ie at once perceived she was a stranger and had some deep cause of grief


to be continued in our next


marie antoinette j on the chevalier of the red house


conlinuedfrom colonial times june chapter xxix


maurice bliuddcred and extended his arm towards the old street saint jacques


fire i said be fuel well remarked lorin


well what of the fire


mygodl my godl should she have returned who genevive


i genevive is madame dormer


is it not so


yes she is


y there is no danger of her returning she did not leave for that lorin i must discovcrher


i must have rc tengo


oh i oh


will you not assist me to find her lorin


par dieu i tliat will not be difficult


howso l doudtless if you interest yourself so much as i believe you do in madame diviners tate you outfit to be acquainted with lier most intimate friends since yon know her so well


she has not quitted paiis


women have a i agc to i emain there she must have taken refuge in the house of soma confidential ftiend and tomorrow you will receive a note requesting you to prescrit yourself at tue door of such a house in such a street at such a number and inquire for madame


that is all


maurice shrugged his shoulders


he knew that genevive had no place of refuge


we shall never find her murmured he


permit mc to make one remark said lorin


what is it


that it will perhaps be no great misfortune if wc never discover her


if we do not lorin i shall die


the devil i


it is this very lovethen that has brought you so near deaths door


yes answered maurice


lorin reflected for a moment


maurice said he it is somewhere about eleven oclock


the neighbourhood is deserted


there is a stone bench expressly made to receive two friends


permit me the favour of a particular interview as they said under the old regime


maurice gazed around him and sat down


lorm followed his example and took his place beside his friend


speak said maurice leaning his heavy head on his hand


hear mc then my friend


without any exor dium or commentary i have only to remark that we are ruining ourselves or rather that you ruin us both


how so asked maurice


my dear friend there is a certain proclamation of the committee of public safety which declares it to be high treason to maintain any intercourse whatever with the enemies of the countiy


hal are you aware of that undoubtedly answered maurice


you do know it


yes


well it seems to mc you or a great traitor to the country


what say you to that


lorin


doubtlessat least you do not consider those as altogether worshipping the country who gave bed and board to the chevalier of the red house who is no exalted republican as i may presume


he is not accused of having taken part in the days of september


ah i lorin said maurice sighing


which proves continued the moralist that you have been and are still friendly to the enemies of the country


come come do not revoltmy dear friend


i repeat it do not revolt but avow candidly that you are not a zealot any longer


lorin uttered these words with all the softness imaginable gliding them in with perfect ciceronic tact


maurice merely protested against them by a gesture


oh if we lived in a temperature where the barometer stood at degrees i should say it was i just as it ought to be


let us be a little aristo crutical from time to time


that looks well and acts well


but we are now at or degrees of heat as it were luke wami


we seem to be cool and are necessarily suspected


you know that maurice and once suspected you are too intel ligent maurice not to know what we may soon be


well then exclaimed maurice let them kill me that will end the question at all events


i am weaiicd of life


since the last fifteen minutes remarked lorin and that is not sfficiently long for me to suffer you to do as you please on that head


besides when one dies in these days it is neces sary to die republican whilst you will die an aristocrat


oh


oh i exclaimed maurice whose blood was burning under the keen sensibility of his crime oh


you go too far my friend


i will go fal tier for i waru you if you turn aristocrat you denounce mc


for shame no


i will shut you up in some cavern and proclaim you are lost and that the i aristocrats had imprisoned and famished you so that like provost elie de beaumont latude and others when you are found you will be publicly crowned with flowers by the ladies of the corn ex cliungc and the section victor


mulce haste then and return an aristidcs and your business is settled


lorin i lorin i i feel you are right but i am dragged on to the very edge of the precipice


it is my fate abandon me loi in it will be the best way


never


then let mc live on at my easebr a fool or even a criminal for if i once see her again i feel that i could slay her


you will drop on your knees


ah i mnu i ice maurice you in love with an aristocrat


i never could have believed that


enough lorin i beg of you to cease


maurice i will cure you or may the devil take me


as the grocer says in tim sticet des lom bards i do not wish you to be a winner in the lot tery of the holy guillotine


take care maurice yon will exasperate me


i could almost set file to the isle saint louis


maurice smiled in spite of himself


you do indeed said lorin exasperate me with your folly


come maurice let us go and get drunk or study political economy but for the love of jupiter let us be in love with nothing save liberty


or the goddess of reason


ah true the goddess speaks highly of you and considers you a charming mortal


and you are not jealous


maurice to save my friend i am capable of making any sacrifice


thanks my poor lorin


i appreciate your devotion but the best consolation is to leave me to my grief


adieu lorin


go and visit arthemese


and you where are you going home


and maurice moved towards the bridge


do you reside now near the old street saint jacques


no but it pleases me to pass that way


to visit once more the habitation of you cruel mistress


to see if she returned to the place where she knew iwould await her


oh i genevive ge nevive i could not have believed capable of such treason


maurice sighed and the two friends proceeded towards the old street saint jacques


as they drew near the place they heard a great noise and perceived the flames increasing


theydistinguishcd patriotic songs which in open day nnd amidst smoke of battle resemble heroic hymns but which at night and before the glare of the fire assumed the character of infuriated cannibalism


good god


exclaimed maurice forgetting that the deity was abolished


he went forward his brow bedpwed with perspiration


all parif seemed to lfave assembled at the theatre


maurice had to pass a hedge of grenadiers the ranks of the sections nnd hurrying crowds of that furious and everwatchful populace whoat that period rushed howling from spectacle to spec tacle


in proportion as he advanced maurice increased his pace


lorin followed him with difficulty hut he loved him too much to leave him alone at that awful moment


all was nearly over


the fire had communi cated from the outhouse wherethe soldierhad thrown his torch to the workshops erected so as to permit the breeze through the drying lofts of the tannery


the stock was consumedand the house was beginning to take fire


my god said maurice


if she may have returned and should be in some of the rooms en veloped in flames awaiting mc calling me maurice half mad with grief and believing more in the folly than in the ticachery of her he loved rushed with his head bent down through the door which he perceived through the smoke


lorin still followed him and would havcdonc so into the infernal regions


tho roof was on fire and was fast reaching the stairs


maurice in a breathless state reached the first apartment the saloon and gencvievcs chamber then the chevaliers and the corridor etcluiming with a suffocating voice genevive


genevive


no one answered turning back the two friends perceived the flames bursting in at the door


in spite of lorins cries and motions to hie window maurice passed through the flames


he then ran towurds the house traversing the court which was covered with broken furniture and entered tbc diningroom dixmcrs saloon and the closet occupied by morand the chemist


all were full of smoky ruins and broken glass


the fire had approached this division of the house and began to devour it


maurice acted hero as he had done in the pavilion


he did not leave a single corridor or chamber un searched


he even descended to the cellars lest genevive might have sought refuge there


no one i sighed maurice


morbleu said lorin


you may easily perceive that no one remains here except salaman ders and surely you are not searching for that fabulous animalcome along


wc will make in quiries


perhaps some one may have seen her


it required uo little strength to drag maurice from the house


hopeonly led him on by a single hair


then began their investigation


they visited the neighbourhood arrested every woman who passed and searched in the alleys without any result until one oclock in the morning


maurice notwith standing his athletic frame was worn out and finally ceased his search his wanderings and per petual conflicts with the crowd


a haekneycoach passed which lorin stopped


my dear ftiend said lorin we have ex hausted all human means possible to discover genevive


we hove worn ourselves out burned ourselves pounded our bodies for her


cupid can exact no more from any man in love and more es pecially from a man who is not


let us go into this coach and go home


maurice made no answer but complied and they reached maurices door without exchanging a syllable


the moment maurice descended ho heard the window of his apartment closing


au i good theynre waiting for you now i am at easeknock at the door


maurice did so and it was opened


good night said lorin i will visit you to morrow morning


good night said maurice mechanically as the door closed behind him


he encountered his servant on the first steps of the stairs


oh i citizen lindey exclaimed he what uneasiness you have caused us


the plural word struck maurice


us said he


yes myself and the little lady who is waiting for you


the little lady repealed maurice consider ing the time badly chosen for a visit from any of his formerfriends


you did well to tell rae shall go and sleep with lorin


impossible she was ar the window and per ceiving your arrival she exclaimed here he is


what does that signify


go up and tell her she has made a mistake


the servant mado a movement to obey but paused


ah i citizen said he you are wrong the little lady ms boen very sad and the answer may drive her to despair


in short saidmaurice who is this woman citizen i did not see her faceshe was en veloped in mantle and was weeping that is all i know


weeping said maurice


yes but very subdued


she suppressed her sobs


weeping i there is then some one in the world that loves mc sufficiently to be uneasy at my absence


and he slowly followed his servant here he is citizen here he is exclaimed the latter rushing into the room


maurice carne behind him


he then perceived in a corner of the saloon a convulsed figure hiding her face in the sofa cush ions she might have been dead but for the con vulsive startlings of her frame


ile moved to the servant to withdraw who obeyed and closed the door behind him


maurice then ran to the young woman who at the same time raised her head


genevive i exclaimed the young man


good good genevive in my house


am i de lirious


no you arc in possession of all yourfacul cultics my friend said the young woman


promised to be yours if you saved the chevalier of tho red house


you have saved him and i am here


maurices heart smote bim at these words


he stepped back and looked sadly at the young woman


genevive said he softly genevive you do not then love me


genevievcs eyes filled with teais she turned her head and leaning on the bick of the sofa sobbed aloud


alas said maurice it is evident you no longer love me and not only have you ceased to love me but you must have entertained towards me a species of hatred to be thus distracted


maurice expressed so much grief by these words and seemed so excited that genevive started up and took his hand


my god said she


he whom i considered as the best of all men is still selfish


selfish genevive


what do you mean


you do not seem to understand my feelings or know how much i endure


my husband has fled my brother is proscribed my house burned down and that all in one night independent of the hor rible scene between you and the chevalier


maurice listened to her enchanted for it was im possible for any one even enthralled by the mad dest passion not to admit that the emotions arising from such accumulated causes would reduce ge nevive to the condition in which he then found her


so you are come you are here


i now have you and you shall leave me no more


genevive started


where could i have gone to asked she with bitterness


have i any place of refuge or shelter any other friend than him who has attached a price to his protection


oh i


maurice when i dis tracted and mad passed the new bridge i paused to gaze upon the stream rippling against the arches


i was attracted fascinated


there said i in wardly there for poor woman there is an inviolable reposethere is eternal forgetfulness


genevive i genevive i exclaimed maurice you tell me so


then you do not love me


i have said i do answered genevive in a low voice


i have said so and therefore i came


maurice breathed freely and then felton his knees before her


genevive murmured he do not weep any more j genevive console yourself and forget all your misfortunes since you love mc


genevive in the name of heaven tell me that my violence and menaces have not forced you heretell me that lyou have rome here this night finding yourself alone isolated and unprotected because of the oath i wrung from you


for if it is so i relieve i you of it


genevive turned upon the young man a look expressive of everlasting gratitude


generous


generous i said she


oh i my god i thank you that he is generous


hear me genevive said maurice


rthat god whom they have chased from his temple still i finds a refuge in our hearts where he implanted love


god hasmade this night to all appearances sad and dismal but ia reality sparkling with joy and felicity


god has brought you here genevive


ihe has committed you to my arms


he speaks to you in my breath and in short seeks to recom pense us for the great sufferings wc have endured and the virtues wc have shown in battling against a love which only seems illegitimate for how can a sentiment so pure and profound become a crime


tgencvicve do not weep any more give me your hand


do you wish to be in a brothers house


do you wish that brother to kiss the hem of your garment to retire with submission and turn not back upon the threshold


wellsay one word make but one sign and you will see me depart


you will be as free and as safe as a virgin in a church


on the other hand my adored genevive remember how much i have loved youeven unto the death and that for this love which you may render either fortunate orfatal have betrayed my friends and become odious and vilo to myself


think also of the happiness prepared for us in the future and of the power and energy of our youth which can became a safeguard so that happiness against all assaults


oh


genevive you are an angel of kindness will you tell mc will you con fer upon me thathappiness which will mukc a paradise upon earth


then instead of impelling me smile upon me my own genevive and trust him who invokes you with all his heart with alibis strength and with all his soul


genevive my love my life genevive do not retract your oath


the young womans heart filled at these words


the langour of love the fatigue and sufferings she had endured entirely exhausted her strength


tears no longer flowed from her eyes still deep sobs racked her burning breast


maurice saw that she had no longer the courage to resist and seized her in his arms


her head fell upon his shoulder and her long tresses par tially concealed her lovers face


maurice at the same time felt her bosom rise and fall like the restless waves after a storm


you weep genevive said he with profound sadness


you weepcompose yourself


no no no


i i shall never impose my affection upon disdainful grief nor shall my lips ever be polluted by a kiss that has been poisoned by tears of re gret


he withdrew his nrm and turned slowly away


genevive by one of those reactions which are so natural to women threw her trembling arms around maurices neck and pressing her cheek moist with tears upon the burning brow of her lover she murmercd


oh i maurice do not abandon me for i have no one else in the world save you i to be continued


a new series


the mysteries of sydney or the revelations of sin shame and sorrow


chapter xxii


cockatoo islandtransforma tionsfresh moves on the board


such of our readers as have taken any interest in this veritable volume will remember that mr quickels thought it necessary for the interest of frank earle to visit cockatoo island and hold a consultation with forky jem


as promptitude and decision were the marked characteristics of the legal gentleman he procured the necessary order from the authorities and proceeded on his way to this human bleaching ground which rose a huge mass of rock from the bright and spark ling waters


no place is better suited for its object than cockatoo island it looks hard and rigid and has the stern face of a draco


never theless many of the offenders against society having little of fear in their composition are apt to treat a visit to the island under legal ban with considerable contempt


the discipline is exact but not despotic and the work required of the criminal although severe is not torturing


the place was under the command ot lieute nant stormsby who was the owner of a gigantic frame and a benevolent disposition


he con ceived an ideastrange in this iron agethat criminals might be won from evil ways without crushing them into brutes and that there was a spring in every human heart which would well forth its waters if properly touched


cynicisim sneered at the theory cold callous men gaolers wearing the fetters of harsh creeds decried it altogether but the lieutenant persisted in his error as it was termed and reaped the benefit of the system


many of the reckless were re claimed they did not profess a mere fleeting hypocritical prison penitence but went forth out of captivity determined to sin no more


we are old fashioned enough to think there is much to admire in such a character as lieutenant storms by and should regret to have our faith dis turbed


it is pleasant amid the shifting sands of life to have something which breathes christianity and sincerity to cling to


round the island ran a broad flat quay if it may be so termed which was sentinelled by men in scarlet jackets whose especial duty was to prevent the escape of any felon who might be bold enough to attempt the deed


these were under the command of a commissioned officer whose orders were in such cases to fire at the eloper and destroy him the cold carcase count ing one on the muster roll was equivalent there fore to the same body with warm blood rushing through its veins and subject to the varied im pulses of the passions


it was necessary to make up the number and a well directed bullet was an admirable accountant


forky jem and bully were perched upon one of the rocky points of the island during the interval of rest which is allowed to the felons in the day and their conversation appeared to pos sess deep interest


from frequent shakes of the head it was clear bully dissented from the pro position which jem was lying down and en forcing in the most powerful and emphatic manner


the conversation was after this fashion


you see bully im not a man as ever did split or was likely to do so on a pal or anybody as i was engaged with in a regular professional job but this here one of kitelys is altogether out of the line and wants a check string put upon it


werry possible growled bully only iet somebody else do it what busness is it of owrn


theyve settled us among em vy not let em have a shy at thesselves and see how they like it


ill tell you since poor knucklers death strange thoughts have come over me and i dont exactly see things in the same light as i did before


in coorse not you gets chickenhearted and fond o bread and butter pity you couldnt ma nage to have it sugared


forky jem darted a passionate glance at the speaker but it passed away instantaneously under some strong controlling power and he resumed the conversation


i may be more of a child than formerly bully but i dont crave the diet you propose and i think if my pluck were tried i should not be found deficient


but this job really gets over me


i cannot stand it


look here now while i reason it a bit


this kitely is a rich man all the world looks upon him as a respectable one and could not be persuaded out of its belief not if thousands like us were to swear it till we were black in the face


werry good jem go on a bit furder said bully critically


well having plenty or all things there cant be any necessity for him to thieve thats clear


humph said bully rather sceptically


out casts born and brought up in sin are inclined to be stolid in their perceptions of right


the schoolmaster has been too little abroad with them his pilgrimerrand is too late among them their joints are too firmly set


you doubt that bully replied forky jem mildly and it is not to be wondered at we ant had the best of eddications but surely we have learnt enough to know that a man hasnt a right to marplot another just out of spite and malice like because hes disappointed in carrying out a certain affair


im vith you there jem said bully unhe sitatingly but vich vay is this here kitely cum plikated in sich a design


as this he gets them screens off poor knuckler and i on purpose to whip the high game on that there young chap his clerk whos a lying ready for trial


now dont you think a man has a right to help an innocent cove out of a plughole


bully scratched his head with somewhat less of doubt


i thought at first resumed forky id do it to be revenged on kitely because he helped to bring in a verdict of guilty against us but since then i have only dreamt of the best way to save that poor fellow


jem youre a gettin werry soft im afraid said bully with a tremulousness of voice


twill be hard times with him else replied jem


quite agin the rules to turn round forky


but this is such a straight forard case bully


vell then do it


exclaimed bully with an approving growl and show me the man as abuses you for it ill take your part jem in this here matter


the pair shook hands some electric chain was touched some pure feelings deadened by cir cumstances in childhood were wakened into life and the twain felt lighter at heart


scarcely was the colloquy concluded when the word was given by the overseer to pass forky jem up to headquarters and as celerity is a synonyme with cockatoo island discipline the felon was soon face to face with mr quickels who scanned him well


your writing enquired the lawyer pro ducing the caligraphic effusion which had re quired so much difficulty to pen and post


all fair i spose between us said forky suspecting a trap set even for his good in tentions


of course


why should i wish to deceive you


there is evidence to be given so i read your note beneficial to my client to establish his innocence in fact therefore it is your duty to give itunless indeed you be criminated by a confession said mr quickels thoughtfully zeal for his client paling before the strong light of justice


i am not thinking a bit about myself in the concern the big wigs have hitched me up pretty tidily at present and they cant make it more than ones life let em twist and turn it how they will


and when a man has got weary of life i dont know but the grave is the most quiet resting place


knuckler always said so and he was a scholard remarked forky in a tone of strong feeling which surprised the lawyer who looked upon felony in the abstract as a piece of granite


geologists generally discover the vein of gold by accident much as they bespatter themselves with the praises of science observa tion and deduction


it cannot be hereit must be thereit were unnatural to suppose it other wisethey cry but nature is fantastic and capricious and forms combinations curiously puzzling as with the mysteries of earth so with the human heart


mr quickels experience taught him at once to depend on forky jem the soil was fertile it only wanted weeding and cultivation to produce a goodly crop


yet the caution of custom prevailed over the promptings of philanthropy a clients interests might be sacrificed by jumping too speedily to a con clusion


you seem tolerably well inclined remarked mr quickels negligently and it is a pity you are found in this degrading position


thank them who forced me into it and let me thank providence i am no worse


who had i to protect me to teach the difference between right and wrong


what roof was there to shelter me from the storms of the world what smile to break like a sunbeam through the frown ing clouds around me


none from my birth all was cold and dark i sucked in guilt from the nipple and the black stream ran through me


i tried at times to think i was something better than a dog but was soon brought back to know my bitter lot and how far beneath it i was doomed to be


a dog


forky jem laughed anguishedly


why when a child i have been for days and days together sustain ing myself only by the vegetable refuse thrown from the markets and have seen dogs looking at me from carriage windows with their silky coats washed combed curled and scented and their bodies round as globes in a manner of speaking from feeding on the richest dainties and if i came near beautiful white hands patted them in encouragement to snarl and snap at the hungry beggar boy who only asked enough of christian oil to keep his lamp of life from being utterly extinguished


a dog continued forky jem has laws ready made to save him from illtreatment but human flesh and blood may be hunted unto death or worse without a struggle to prevent the cruelty


it is a hard case said mr quickels ru minating seriously upon this view of things


just what the parsons preach but they never put out their hands to save a body


so long as they get cozy comfortable homes the castaways may perish for all they care


again


i say


thank them who forced me into my present posi tion they left me without a chance to win the game consequently they cannot wonder i lost it


a fallacious argument with a vein of truth running through it thought the lawyer but business matters again brought him from philoso phy and speculation


well jem as time is precious with me and the liberty and character of a fellow creature are at stake perhaps you will at once say in what manner you can assist mr earlehis position is perilous


it seems so replied forky but he is inno cent as a babe unborn of the matter that tells a deal in his favour you know


but how do you propose to establish this


easily said jem with a smile


mark this


i cannot hold out any hopes of fee or reward to you in the affair


you gentry folks fancy men like us are un able to do things right straight from their hearts


oh no we always require payment but youll find out the mistake some day and learn to judge us better


no matterto business


but i must begin by asking you a question or two so as to make all sure what bank were these notes upon


that of australasia i think replied the lawyer slowly at the same time looking search ingly into the eyes of the interrogator


then its all a cooker said forky dispiri tedly them knuckler transmogrofied were unions


are you certain of that fact


of course twenty ones changed into tens all unions and new ones not a mark on any of them barring what i saw knuckler put in the corner


was it like this enquired mr quickels pro ducing a paper upon which was a small caba listic character of a peculiar nature


as like as two peas exclaimed forky jem in astonishment


why you must be the devil or mr quickels said the advocate interrupt ing him


and you delivered twenty such notes to kitely


ill swear it any where before anybody


you cant be mistaken in their identity


impossible


why i saw them made took them to kitely myself and received the money for them


did any one see you there


yes an old man a clerk was in the place but i dont think he would know me he didnt seem to take much manner of notice besides i was togged up to the nines in a blue coat frogged all over moustaches and whiskers and spurs a regular military tiptop swell


that nips is a diamond of the first water thought mr quickels his penetration is admi rable


i have to question jonas quelch there is something mysterious about him still water is the deepest


i see my wayi see my way


the advocate then addressed forky you can swear to all you have stated my man


certainly was the immediate answer


you may be called upon to do so


in the meantime i would advise you to hold your tongue


mums the word replied forky jem


mr quickels then quitted the island and jem resumed his stony toil


to be continued


marie antoinette f


on tue chevalier or the red house continued from oui last


ciiaptrr xxtir


tbe municipal rctii ed to call his colleagues and read the report left by the previous municipal guards


thfc queen remained with her sister and daughter and all three looked significantly at each other


madame royal tlnew keisclf imo the queenb arras


and embraced her whilst madame elizabeth approached her sister and presented her hand


let us pray to god said the queen but in such a manner that no one may suppose wc are praying


there are fatal periods when prayer that natural iiymn which god has planted in the heart of man might excite surprise in the minds of gaolers for prayor expresses cither hope or gratitude


in the the eyes of her guardians either feeling exhibited by the queen would excite their uneasiness for she could only hope for one thingthat would he an escape and it she was grateful for any one thing that could only be for the means of securing her flight


their mental prayer concluded tile three ladies remained perfectly silent


eleven oclork struck


twelve oclock suc ceeded


as the last stroke of twelve rang from the j daua nobis banc olia fecit


bronze bell a rnttlo of armour was heard on the staircnsc ascending even to the queen


they are changing sentinels saidahe they will soon como for us


she perceived her sister and daughter grew dreadfully pale


have courage said she turning palo herself


it is noon shouted some one below let the prisoners descend


here we are answered the queen who with a feeling of mingled reglet cast a last glance over the dark walls and simple furniture which had been her companions in captixity


the fii at door was now thrown open


it led iuto the corridor which was dnrk and in which the thiec captives could easily dissemble their emotions


tho spaniel black ian on before them


but when they reached tho second door that is to say the one from which marie antoinette averted her eyes it being the entranco to her late husbands apartment the faithful animal pressed its muzzle againt the large nails uttered some plaintiff cries and then a piolonged and dolorous howl


the queen passed rapidly without having power to recall the dog and sought the support of the wall but after having advanced several paces her limbs failed her and she was forced to stop


her sister and daughter appioached and for au instant the three remained motionless forming a painful group the mother supporting lier own on muduinc royuls head


the spaniel black cjoined thom


well shouted the voice below will she or will she not descend


we are here said the municipal who had stood still respecting a grief which was so gi eat in its simplicity


let us go said the queen nnd she descended


when the prisoners had reached the bottom of the turnpike stair and carne in fiont of the last door beneath which glittering beams of sunshine had penetrated the drums beat and the guard turned out a profound silence caused by curio sity succeeded and then the heavy door turned on its creaking hinges


a woman was seated on the gound or lather reclining in a corner near to the doorway


it was tisons wife whom the queen had not seen during twentyfour hours and whose absence had excited her surprise the previous even ing and even that very morning


the queen al ready looked upon the sunshine tlc trees the gorden and beyond the barrier which enclosed the gaidcn


her eye settled with avidity on the little ennteen where her friends awaited her approach when at tho sound of footsteps the woman tison removed her hands from her face and exposed to the quccns view a pale and haggardeountenance rendered more frightful by her disordered and scat tered grey hairs


the change was so remarkable that the queen stood still in astonishment


with that dulness of perception characteristic of insane people the woman kneeled before the door barring the passage to marie antoinette


what do you want good woman


asked the queen


he said you must pardon me


who did asked the queen


tho man with the cloak replied tisons wife


the queen looked with astonishment at her sister and daughter


get along get along said the municipal und let widow capet pass


she has permission to walk in the garden


i know that well enough aid the old woman


it is for that teason that i awaited her here


since they would not permit me to ascend and as i must beg ber pardon i was compelled to attend her


why were you prevented from seeing me asked the queen


the woman began to laugh


because said she they pretend that i am mad


the queen looked at her and perceived the strange light that shone in the eyes of the unfor tunate woman a light so stradge as at once to in dicate the absence of mind


my god said she poor woman what has occuricd


occurred you do not know then


but you ought since it was on your account she was con demned


who heloise


j your daughter


yes shemy poor child


condemnedwhy by whom


for what because she sold the bouquet


what bouquet the bouquet of carnations


she is not however a flowergirl continued tisons wife as if she was struggling to recollect herself how then could she have sold this bouquet


the queen shuddered


an invisible link seemed to connect this scene with her peculiar position and she comprehended the danger of a long dialogue


my good woman said she i beg you will allow me to pass you canbyandbye relate all to me


no immediately


you must pardon me now


i must assist you in your escape or my daughter will not be saved


the queen became as pale as death


my god exclaimed she uplifting her eyes towards heaven


then turning to the municipal she said


sir will you have the goodness to remove this woman you may pciceive she is insane


go along mother go along said the muni cipal decamp


but the woman clung tenaciously to the wall


no continued she


it is necessary for her to pardon me or he will not save my daughter


who the mau with the cloak


sister said madame elizabeth console her in a few words


oh willingly said the queen indeed i think it will be the shortest way and she turned towards the mud woman


good woman speak what do you wish


i wish you to pardon me all the sufferings i have inflcted upon you through insult or denun ciation and when you see the man with the cloak command him to save my daughter since he will do anything you desire


i do not know what you mean by tho man with the cloak answered the queen but if it will tranquillise your conscience to obtain from me a pardon for any offence you believe to have offered me oh my poor woman from the bottom of my heart i sincerely pardon you and may those whom i have offended do likewise


oh i exclaimed the woman tison with an indescribable access of joy he will save my daughter since you have pardoned me


your hand madamyour hand


the astonished queen held oat her hand with out comprehending a word of what she meant


the woman seized it with ardour and raised it to her lips


at thi moment the harsh voice of a hawker was heard in the street du temple


here is the trial and sentence of heloise tison condemned to death for the crime of conspiracy


scarcely had these words strnck the ears of the woman tison before her whole appearance changed she raised herself on one knee and stretched out her arm to debar the queens passage


oh i god murmured the queen who had heard every word of the terrible annunciation


condemned to death exclaimed the wretched woman


my daughter condemnedmy heloise lost he has not then rescued her and may not be able to do so


ah he ms been too late poor woman said the queen believe mc i pity you


youl said she her eyes becoming suffused with wood


ko pity melyou


never never you are deceivedi pity you with all my heart butlet mc pass


let you pass


and the mad woman burst into a shout of laughter


no no


i he


baid if i asked pardon and let you escape my duughter would bo saved but since my child is condemned to death you shall not fly help gentlemen i exclaimed tho queen


assist mc i mon dieu


i mon


dieu


i do you not perceive that this woman is insane


no i am not mad


i know what i am saying


do you see there has been a conspiracy


simon discovered it


my daughter my poor daughter sold the bouquet


he avowed it before the revo lutionary tribunal


it was a bouquet of carnations and contained papcrb within


madame said the queen in the name of heaven again the voice of the hawker was heard


here is the trial und sentence of heloisc tison con demned to death for the crime of conspiracy


do you hear that screamed the mad woman around whom the national guards had gathered


do you hoar thatcondemned to death


it is for youit is for youdo you hear austrian that my daughter is about to suffer


gentlemen said the queen in the name of heaven if you will not relievo me of this woman permit me at least to ascend again


i cannot hear this womans reproaches unjust as they arc they afflict mc


the queen turned away her head sobbing vio lently


ay ay weep hypocrite weep cried the mad woman your bouquet cost dear to her besides she ought to have mistrusted you


it is thus that all die who attempt to serve you you bear evil with you austrian


they have killed your friends your husband your defenders and now my daughter


when will it be your turn to die so that no more may perish in your service


the wretched woman howled out the concluding words and accompanied them with a menacing gesture


thequeencovercdherfucewithherhands


wietchl hazarded madame elizabeth


do you forget that she to whom you speak is the queen


she the queenthe queen repeated the woman the ecess of whose madness seemed every instant on the increase


if it is the queen let her forbid the executioners to slay my daughter let her pardon my poor heloisc


kings can grant pardon come then restore my child and i will acknowledge you as queen


but you arc only a w omana w oman whom evil attendswho kills


for mercys sake exclaimcdmoricantoinette consider my grief look at my tears


the queen attempted to pass more by a mc chanical movement ilian from any hope of uccess her object being to escupe from tho frightful scene


ah


you shall not pass i roared the old woman you wish to fly madame veto


i know it well the man with the mantle told me so you arc going to join the prussians but you shall not escape continued she clinging to the queens dress


i shall prevent you


to the lanterne with madime veto i to arms citizens i let us march let blood imp


she tossed her aims in the air and her hair was scattered about then her eyes became bloodshot and her countenance purple when she fell carry ing with her a portion of the queens dress to which she had clung the queen although dis inayed was no sooner freed from the mud woman than she was about to fly towards the garden when all at once a terrible cry was beard mingled with barking and singlar rambling which aroused the national guard from their stupor


treason i to arms i to arms shouted a man whose voice the queen recognized as being that of tho cobbler simon


besides this man who sabre in hand guarded the threshold of the canteen the little spaniel black was barking with fury


to arms


the whole guard shouted simon


wc are betrayed i lead back the austrian


to arms to arms


an officer ran forward simon spoke to him and with flashing eyes pointed to the interior of the canteen


the officer then also vociferated to arms i black t black i called the queen advanciug several paces but the dog took no notice con


tinuing to bark with great fury


the nutional guards ran to arms and then rushed towards tile canteen whilst the municipals seized the queen her sister and daughter and forcing them within the door closed it behind them


look to your arms shouted the municipals to the sentinels and the rattle of the muskets resounded


there it is there it cried simon be nenth the trapdoor


i saw it stir i um sure of it


besides the austrians dog an excellent little ani mal not in the secret commenced barking at the conspirators who were most probably ia


the callar


eh


look i he barks again


i in fact black ani mated by simons erics redoubled his barking


the officer seized the ring of the trapdoor


two powerful grenadiers seeing he could not raise it went to his assistance but with no more success


do you not see said simon that they have fastened the trapdoor within


fire through the door fire friends i eli what cried madame plumeau areyou going tobreak my bottles


fire repeated simon fire


silence brawler said the officer


bring the axes and smash the boards


let a platoon be ready attention


fire into the cellar the moment the rapdoor is opened


the groaning and shaking of the planks announced a movement be neath


immediately ufterwards a subterranean noise was heard resembling the banging of an iron gate


courage my lads said tho officers to the sappers who rushed in


hie axe soon demolished the planks and twenty muskets weie lowered and pointed towards the in creasing opening when fairly broken up no one appeared at the opening


the officer lighted a torch and threw it into the cellar


it was empty


the remainder of the trapdoor was on trial easily raised


follow mo


cried the officer boldly plunging down the steps


foiward


forward i cried the national guards rushing after the officer


ah madame plumeau said simon do you let your cellar to aristocrats


the wallwaspierced numerousfootsteps marked the humid soil whilst a tunnel three feet wide and five in height was bored in the direction of the street la cordcrie


the officer ventured into the opening determined on pursuing the aristocrats even into the bowels of the earth but ho had not advanced four paces before he was stopped by a strong iron gate halt cried he to those who were pressing upon him


wo cannot proceed further there is a bai rier here to our progress


well said the municipals who after looking up their prisoners ran back to hear the news whatjs the matter


let us hear


parbleu said the officer reappearing there is a conspiracy


the aristocrats wished to carry olf the queen during her promenade and most proba bly there has been some connivance between them


stop cried the municipal let some one run after the citizen santcrie and let the com mune be informed soldiers


said the officer remain in the cellar and kill any one that appears and the officer having given his orders ascended to make his report


ah ah exclaimed simon rubbinghis hands


j ah


ah i will they say again that i am a fool


excellent black black is a famous patriot


black has saved the republic


come here black come here


the wretch who had by friendly looks enticed the poor dog no sooner brought it close beside him than he gave it such a tremendous kick that itflew twenty paces off


oh


i love you black said he you will cause your mistresss head to be cut off


come here como here black


but instead of obeying l black this time betook himself howling towards the keep


to be continued


the battle of life


a love story


by charles dickens


part


the third


did you never hear


she said


i should like to hear he replied as he filled his glass again and raised it to his lips


ah i it would be a long story if it was properly told said clemency resting her chin on the palm of her left hand and supporting that elbow on her right hand as she shook her head and looked back through the intervening years as if she were looking at a fire


it would be a long story i am sure but told as a short one suggested the stranger


told as a short one repeated clemency in the same thoughtful tone and without any ap parent reference to him or consciousness of having auditors what would there be to tell


that they grieved together and remembered her together like a person dead that they were so tender of her never would reproach her called her back to one another as she used to be and found excuses for her


every one knows that


im sure do


no one better added clemency wiping her eyes with her hand


and so suggested the stranger


and so said clemency taking him up mechanically and without any change in her attitude or manner they at last were married


they were married on her birthdayit comes round again tomorrowvery quiet very humble like but very happy


mr alfred said one night when they were wallang in the orchard grace shall our weddingday be marions birthday


and it was


and they have lived happily together said the stranger


ay said clemency


no two people ever more so


they have had no sorrow but this


she raised her head as with a sudden atten tion to the circumstances under which she was recalling these events and looked quickly at the stranger


seeing that his face was turned towards the window and that he seemed intent upon the prospect she made some eager signs to her husband and pointed to the bill and moved her mouth as if she were repeating with great energy one word or phrase to him over and over again


as she uttered no sound and as her dumb motions like most of her gestures were of a very extraordinary kind this unin telligible conduct reduced mr britain to the confines of despair


he stared at the table at the stranger at the spoons at his wifefol lowed her pantomime with looks of deep amaze ment and perplexityasked in the same lan guage was it property in danger was it he in danger was it sheanswered her signals with other signals expressive of the deepest distress and confusionfollowed the motions of her lipsguessed half aloud milk and water


monthly warning mice and walnuts and couldnt approach her meaning


clemency gave it up at lost as a hopeless attempt and moving her chair by very slow degrees a little nearer to the stranger sat with her eyes apparently cast down but glancing sharply at him now and then waiting until he should ask some other question


she had not to wait long for he said presently


and what is the after history of the young lady who went away they know it i suppose clemency shook her head


ive heard said clemency that doctor jeddler is thought to know more of it than he tells


miss grace has had letters from her sister saying that she was well and happy and made much happier by her being married to mr alfred and has written letterb back


but theres a mystery about her life and fortunes altogether which nothing has cleared up to this hour and which she faultered here and stopped


and which repeated the stranger


which only one other person i believe could explain said clemency drawing her breath quickly


who may that be asked the stranger


mr michael warden answered cle mency almost in a shriek at once conveying to her husband what she would have had him understand before and letting michael war den


know that he was recognised


you remember me sir said clemencyl trembling with emotion i saw just now you did


i you remember me that night in the gai den


i was with her yes


you were he said


yes sir returned clemency


yes to be sure


this is my husband if you please


ben my dear ben run to miss gracerun to mr alfredrun somewhere beni bring somebody here directly stay said michael warden quietly in terposing himself between the door and britain


what would you do


leithem know that you are here sir an swered clemency clapping her hands in sheer agfation


let them know that they may hear of her from your own lips let them know that she is not quite lost to them but that she will come home again yet to blessjier father and her loving sisterevenherjjjo servant even nie she struck hersjejf upon the breast wjth pth hands with vwght of her sweet faje run ben run


and still she pressed him on towards the door and still mr warden stood before it with his hand stretched out not angrily but sorrowfully or perhaps said clemency running past tier husband and catching in her emotiotat mr wardens cloak perhaps shes here now perhaps shes close by


i think from your manner she is


let me see her sir if ou please i waited on her when she was a little child


i saw her grow to be the pride of all this place ii knew her when she was mr alfreds promised wife


i tried to warn her when you tempted her away


i know what her old home was when she was like the soul of it and how it changed when sha was gone and lost


let me speak to her if you please i he gazed at her with compassion not un mixed with wonder hut be made no gesture of assent i dont think she can know pursued ole raency how truly they forgive her how they love her what joy it would be to them to see her once more


she may be timorous of going home


perhaps if she see me it may give her new heart


only tell me truly mr warden is she with you


she is not he answered shaking his head


this answer and his manner and his black dress and his coming back so quietly and his announced intention of continuing to live abroad explained it all


marion was dead


he didnt contradiot her yes she was dead clemency sat downhid her face upon the table and cried


at that moment a greyheaded old gentle man came running in quite out of breath and panting so much that his voice was scarcely to be recognised as the voice of mr snitchey


good heaven mr warden


i said the lawyer taking him aside what wind has blown he was so blown himself that he couldnt get on any further until after a pause when he added feebly you here


an ill wind i am afraid he answered


if you could have heard what just passed how i have been besought and entreated to per form impossibilitieswhat confusion and afflic tion i carry with me i can guess it all


but why did you ever come here my good sir retorted snitchey


come


how should i know who kept the house


when i sent my servant on to you i strolled in here because the place was new to me and i had a natural curiosity in everything new and old in these old scenes and it was outside the town


i wanted to communicate with you first before appearing there


i wanted to know what people would say to me


i see by your manner that you can tell me


if it were not for your confounded caution i should have been possessed of everything long ago


our caution said the lawer speaking for self and craggsdeceased here mr snitchey glancing at the hatband shook his head how can you reasonably blame us mr warden


it was understood between us that the subject was never to be renewed and that it wasnt a subject on which grave and sober men like us i made a note of your observations at the time could interfere


our caution too


when mr craggs sir went down to his re spected grave in the full belief i had given a solemn promise of silence until i should return whenever that might be interrupted mr warden and i have kept it


well sir and i repent it returned mr snitchey we were bound to silence too


we were bound to silence in our duty towards our selves and in our duty towards a variety of clients you among them who were as close as wax


it w as not our place to make inquiries of you on such a delicate subject


i had my suspicions sir but it is not six months since i have known the truth and been assured that you lost her


by whom inquired his client


by doctor jeddler himself sir who at last reposed that confidence in me voluntarily


he and only he has known the whole truth years and years


and j ou know it said his client


i do sir


replied snitchey and i have also reason to know that it will be broken to her sister tomorrow evening


they have given her that promise


in the meantime perhaps joull give me the honor of your company t my house being unexpected at your own


but not to run the chance of any more such diffi culties as you have had here in case you should be recognised though youre a good deal changedi think i might have passed you my self mr wardenwe had better dine here and walk on in the evening


its a very good place to dine at mr warden your own pro perty by the bye


self and craggs deceased took a chop here sometimes and had it very comfortably served


mr craggs sir said snitchey shutting his eyes tight for an instant and opening them again was struck off the roll of life too soon


heaven forgive me for not condoling with you returned michael warden passing his hand across his forehead but im like a man in a dream at present


i seem to want my wits


mr craggsyesi am very sorry we have lost mr craggs


but he looked at clemency as he said it and seemed to sympa thise with ben consolingher


mr craggs sir observed snitchey didnt find life i regret to say as ensy to have and to hold as his theory made it out or he would have been among us now


its a great loss to me


he was my right arm my right ear my right eye was mr craggs


i am paralytic without him


he bequeathed his share of the business to mrs craggs her executors administrators arid assigns


his name remains in the firm to this hour


i try in a childish sort of a way to make believe sometimes that hes alive


you may observe that speak for self and craggsdeceased sir deceased said the tenderhearted attorney waving his pockethandkerchief


michael warden who had still been ob servant of clemency turned to mr snitchey when he ceased to speak and whispered in his ear


ah poor thing t said snitchey shaking his head


yes


she was always very faith ful to marion


she was always very fond of her


pretty marion t poor marion cheer up mistressyou are married now you know clemency


clemency only sighed and shook her head


well welll wait till tomorrow said the lawyer kindly


tomorrow cant bring back the dead to life mister said clemency sobbing


no


it cant do that or it would bring back mr craggs deceased returned the lawyer


but it may bring some soothing circumstances it may bring some comfort


wait till tomorrow so clemency shaking his proffered hand said that she would and britain who had been ter ribly cast down lit sight of his despondent wife which was like the business hanging its head said that was right and mr snitchey and michael warden went up stairs and there they were soon engaged in a conversation so cautiously conducted that no murmur of itwas audible above the clatter of plates and dhes the hissing o the frying pan tfce bubbling of saucepans the low monotonous waltzing of the jackwith ardrehdfnl click every now and then as if it had ttwith some mortal accident to its head in atftof giddinessandtall the other preparations in the kitchen for theirdinner


tomorrow was a bright and peaceful day and nowhere were the autumn tints more beau tifully seen than from the quiet orchard of the doctors house the snows of many winter nights had melted from thut ground the withered leaves of many summer times had rustled there sirfce she had fled


the


honeysuckle porch was reen again the trees cost bountiful and changing shadows on the grass the landscape was as tranquil and serene as it had ever been but where was she not there


not tlere


she would have been a stranger sight in her old home now even than that home had been at first without her


but aladv sat iii thefamiliar place fiom whose heart she had never passed away in whose true memory she lived unchanging youthfulradiant with all promise and all hope in wljgajutyciionand it was a mothers now there wjsslia cherished little daughter playing by her sideshe had no rival no successor upon whose gentle lips her name was trembling then


the spirit of the lost girl looked out of those eyes


those eyes of grace hersister sitting with her husband in the orchard on their weddingday and his and marions birthday


he had not become a great man he had not grown rich he had not forgotten the scenes and friends of his youth he had not fulfilled any one of the doctors old predictions


but in his useful patient unknown visiting of poor mens homes and in his watching of sick beds and in his daily knowledge of the gentleness and goodness flowering the byepaths of the world not to be trodden down beneath the heavy foot of poverty but springing up elastic in its track and making its way beautiful he had better learned and proved in each succeeding year the truth of his old faith


the manner of his life though quiet and remote had shown him how oftenraen still entertainedangelsunawares as in the olden time and how the most unlikely formseven some that were mean and ugly to the view and poorly eladbecame irradiated by the couch of sorrow want and pain and changed to ministering spirits with a gloiy round their heads


he lived to better purpose on the altered battleground perhaps than if he had contended restlessly in more ambitious lists and he was happy with his wife denr grace


and marion


had he forgotten her


the time has flown dear grace he said since then they had been talking of that night and yet is seems a long long while ago


we count by changes and events within us


not by years


yet we have years to count by too since marion was with us returned grace


six times dear husband counting tonight as one we have sat here on her birthday and spoken together of that happy return so eagerly ex pected and so long deferred


ah when will it be when will it be i her husband attentively observed her as the tears collected in her eyes and


drawing nearer said but marion told you in that farewell letter which she left for you upon your table love and which you read so often that years must pass away before it could be


did she not


she took a letter from her breast and kissed it and said yes


thnt through those intervening years how ever happy she might be she would look for ward to the time when you would meet again and all would be made clear and prayed you trustfully and hopefully to do the same


the letter runs so does it not my dear


yes alfred


and every other letter shehas written since


except the lastsome months agoin which she spoke of you and what you then knew and what i was to learn tonight


he looked towards the sun then fast de clining and said that the appointed time was sunset


alfred i said grace laying her hand upon his shoulder earnestly there is something in this letterthis old letter which you say i read so oftenthat i have never told you


but to night dear husband with that sunset drawing near and all our life seeming to soften and become hushed with the departing day cannot keep it secret


what is it love when marion went away she wrote me here that you had once left her a sacred trust to me and that now she left you alfred such a trust in my hands praying and beseeching me as i loved her and as i loved you not to reject the affection she believed she knew she said you w ould transfer to rae hen the new wound was healed but to encourage and re turn it


and make me a proud and happy man again grace


did she say so


she meant to make myself so blest and honored in your love was his wifes answer as he held her in his aims


hear me my dear he said no


hear me so and as he spoke he gently laid the head she had raised again upon his shoulder


i know w hy


i have never heard this passage in the letter until now


i know why no trace of it ever shewed itself in any word or look of yours at that time


i know why grace although so true a friend to me was hard to win to be my wife


and knowing it my own i i know the priceless value of the heart i gird within my arms and thank god for the rich possession to be continued


perths batmoplifei


a close story


is by charles i dickens


rs rit t f


t h i red


amthe world had grown six years older since that nightpf


the return


it was a warm autumn afternoon and there had been heavy rain


the sun burst suddenly from among the clouds and the old battleground sparkling brilliantly


and cheerfully aeightjof it in one green place flashed a respon sive welcome there which spread along the country side as if a joyfulheaconhad been lighted up and answered from a thousand stations


c how beautiful the landscape kindling in the light and that luxuriant influence passing on like a celestialpresence brightening everything


the boxwood a sombre mass before revealed its varied tints of yellow green brown red its different forms of trees with raindrops glittering on their leaves


and twinkling as they fell


the verdant meadow land bright and glowing seemed as if it had been blind a minute since and now had found a sense of sight wherewith to look up at the shining i sky


cornfields hedgerows fences homesteads the clustered roofs the steeple of the church the stream the watermill all sprung out of the gloomy darkness smiling


birds sang sweetly flowers raised their drooping heads fresh scents arose from the invigorated ground the blue expanse above extended and diffused itself already the suns


slanting rays pierced mortally the sullen bank of cloud that lingered in its flight and a rainbow spirits of all the colors that adorned the earth and sky spanned the whole arch with its triumphant j glory


at such a time our little roadside inn snugly sheltered behind a great elm tree with a rare seat for idlers encircling its capacious bole addressed a cheerful front towards the traveller as a house of entertainment ought and tempted him with many mute but significant assurances of a comfortable welcome


the ruddy signboard perched up in the tree with its golden letters winking in the sun ogled the passerby from among the green leaves like a jolly face and promised good cheer


the horsetrough full of clear fresh water and the ground below it sprinkled with droppings of fragrant hay made every horse that passed prick up his ears


the crimson curtains in the lower rooms and the pure white hangings in the little bed chambers above beckoned come in with every breath of air


upon the bright green shutters there were golden legends about beer and ale and neat wines and good beds and an affecting picture of a brown jug frothing over at the top


upon the windowsills were flowering plants in bright red pots which made a lively show against the white front of the house j and in the darkness of the door way there were streaks of light which glanced off from the surfaces of bottles and tankards


on the doorstep appeared a proper figure of a landlord too for though he was a short man he was round and broad and stood with his hands in his pockets and his legs just wide enough apart to express a mind at rest upon the subject of the cellar and an easy confidencetoo calm and virtuous to become a swaggerin the general resources of the inn


the superabundant moisture trickling from everything after the late rain set him off well


nothing near him was thirsty


certain topheavy dahlias looking over the palings of his neat well ordered garden had willed as much as they could carry perhaps a trifle moreand may have been the worse for liquor but the sweet briar roses wallflowers the plants at the windows and the leaves on the old tree were in the beaming state of moderate company that had taken no more than was wholesome for them and had served to develope their best qualities sprinkling dewy drops about them on the ground they seemed profuse of innocent and sparkling mirth that did good where it lighted softening neglected corners which the steady rain could seldom reach and hurting nothing


this village inn had assumed on being established an uncommon sign


it was called the nutmeg grater


and underneath that household word was inscribed up in the tree on the same flaming board and in the like golden characters by benjamin britain


at a second glance and on more minute examination of his face you might have known that it was no other than benjamin britain himself who stood in the doorway reasonably changed by time but for the better a very comfortable host indeed


mrs b said mr britain looking down the road is rather late


its tea time


as there was no mrs britain coming be strolled leisurely out into the road and looked up at the house very much to his satisfaction


its just the sort of house said benjamin i should wish to stop at if i didnt keep it


then he strolled towards the garden paling and took a look at the dahlias


they looked over at him with a helpless drowsy hanging of their heads which bobbed again as the heavy drops of wet dropped off them


you must be looked after said benjamin


memorandum not to forget to tell her so


shes a long time coming mr britains better half seemed to be by so very much his better half that his own moiety of himself was utterly cast away and helpless without her


she hadnt much to do i think said ben


there were a few little matters of business after market but not many


oh i here we are at last


a chaisecart driven by a boy came clattering along the road and seated in it in a chair with a large wellsaturated umbrella spread out to dry behind her was the plump figure of a matronly woman with her bare arms folded across a basket which she carried on her knee several other baskets and parcels lying crowded about her and a certain bright goodnature in her face and contented awkwardness in her manner as she jogged to and fro with the motion of her carriage which smacked of old times even in the distance


upon her nearer approach this relish of bygone days was not diminished and when the cart stopped at the nutmeg grater door a pair of shoes alighting from it slipped nimbly through mr britains open arms and came down with a substantial weight upon the pathway which shoes could hardly have belonged to any one but clemency newcome


in fact they did belong to her and she stood in them and a very comfortablelooking soul she was with as much soap on her glossy face as in times of yore but with whole elbows now that i had grown quite dimpled in her improved condition


youre late clemmy said mr britain


why you see ben ive had a deal to do


she replied looking busily after the safe removal into the house of all the packages and baskets eight nine ten wheres eleven of my baskets eleven


its all right


put the horse up harry and if he coughs again give him a warm mash tonight


eight nine ten


why wheres eleven


oh i forgot its all right


hows the children ben


hearty clemmy hearty


bless their precious faces said mrs britain unbonneting her own round countenance for she and her husband were by this time in the bar and smoothing her hair with her open hands


give us a kiss old man


mr britain promptly complied


i think said mrs britain applying herself to her pockets and drawing forth an immense bulk of thin books and crumpled papers a very kennel of dogs ears ive done everything


bills all settledturnips soldbrewers account looked into it and paid bacco pipes orderedseventeen pound four paid into the bankdoctor heathfield a charge for littleclemyoull guess what that is a doctor heathfield wont take nothing again the


thought he wouldnt returned britain no he says whatever family you was to have time hed never put you to the cost of a halfpenny


not if you was to have twenty


c mr britains face assumed a serious expression


and he looked hard at the wall


a antit kinofhim said clemency


very returned mr britain


its the sort


of kindness that i wouldnt presume upon on any jmcputt j soretortedj clemency


of course not


ltenthers the ponyhe fetched eight pound in two and that are bad is it yf j ijijtfyerygoodsjden


r s


jaijjmgiayuejieasedyiexclaimedhis wife


tyoafhyok wouldnt and i think headstall stood so


no more at present from yours and ceiver britain


ha ha ha


there take all the papers and lock em


oh wait a minute


heres aprintebil to stick on the wall


wet from the printers


how nice it smells whats this said tim looking over the document


i dont know replied his wife


i havent read a word of it


to be sold by auction read the host of the nutmeg grater unless previously disposed of by private contract


they always put that said clemency


yes but they dont always put this he returned


look here mansionstcoffices pc c shrubberies c ringfencec


messrs snitchey and craggs c ornamental portion of the unencumbered freehold property of michael warden esquire intending to continue to reside abroad


intending to continue to reside abroad repeated clemency


here it is said mr britain


look and it was only this very day that i heard it whispered at the old house that better and plainer news had been half promised of her soon said clemency shaking her head sorrowfully and putting her elbows as if the recollection of old times unconsciously awakened her old habits


dear dear dear therell be heavy hearts ben yonder


mr britain heaved a sigh and shook his head and said he couldnt make it out he had left off trying long ago


with that remark he applied himself to putting up the bill just inside the bar window and clemency after meditating in silence for a few moments roused herself cleared her thoughtful brow and bustled off to look after the children


though the host of the nutmeg grater had a lively regard for his goodwife it was of the old patronising kind and she amused him mightily


nothing would have astonished him so much as to have known for certain from any third party that it was she who managed the whole house and made him by her plain straightforward thrift goodhumour honesty and industry a thriving man


so easy it is in any degree of life as the world often finds it to take those cheerful natures that never assert their merit at their own modest valuation and to conceive a flippant liking of people for their outward oddities and eccentricities whose innate worth if we would look so far might make us blush in the comparison


it was comfortable to mr britain to think of his own condescension in having married clemency


she was a perpetual testimony to him of the goodness of his heart and the kindness of his disposition and he felt that her being an excellent wife was an illustration of the old precept that virtue is its own reward


he had finished washing up the bill and had locked the vouchers for her days proceedings in the cupboard chuckling all the time over her capacity for business when returning with the news that the two master britains were playing in the coachhouse under the superintendence of one betsey and the little clem was sleeping


like a picture she sat down to tea which had awaited her arrival on a little table


it was a very neat little bar with the usual display of bottles and glasses j a sedate clock right to the minute it was halfpast five everything in its place and everything furbished and polished up to the very utmost


its the first time ive sat down quietly today i declare said mrs britain taking a long breath as if she had sat down for the night but getting up again immediately to band her husband his tea and cut him his breadandbutter how that bill does set me thinking of old times


ah i said mr britain handling his saucer like an oyster and disposing of its contents on the same principle


that same mr michael warden said cle rency shaking her head at the notice of sale lost me my old place


and got you your husband said mr britain


well so he did retorted clemency and many thanks to him


mans the creature of habit said mr britain surveying her over his saucer


i had somehow got used to you clem and i found i shouldnt be able to get on without you


so we went and got made man and wife


he had we whod have thought it


who indeed cried clemency


it was very good of you ben


no no no replied mr britain with an air of selfdenial


nothing worth mentioning


oh yes it was ben said his wife with great simplicity im sure i think so and am very much obliged to you


ah


looking again at the bill when she was known to be gone and out of reach dear girl i couldnt help tellingfor her her sake quite as much as theirs what i knew could i you told it any how observed her husband


and doctor jeddler pursued clemency putting down her teacup and looking thoughtfully at the bill in his grief and passion turned me out of house and home i never have been so glad of anything in all my life as that i didnt say an angry word to him and hadnt an angry feeling towards him even then for he repented that truly afterwards


how often he has sat in this room and told me over and over again he was sorry for it the last time only yesterday when you were out


how often he has sat in this room and talked to me hour after hour about one thing and another in which he made believe to be interested i but only for the sake of the days that are gone away and because he knows she used to like me ben


why how did you ever come to catch a glimpse of that clem asked her husband astonished that she should have distinct perception of a truth which had only dimly suggested itself to his inquiring mind


i dont know im sure said clemency blowing her tea to cool it


bless you i couldnt tell you if you was to offer me a reward of a hundred pound


he might have pursued this metaphysical subject but for her catching a glimpse of a substantial fact behind him in the shape of a gentleman attired in mourning and cloaked and booted like a rider on horseback who stood at the bardoor


he seemed attentive to their conversation and not at all im patient to interrupt it


clemency hastily rose at this sight