The Rake's Progress

eavy; a continual murmur of voices rose from th

urveyed the house; behind him two young men yawned, and

nts. He remained with face averted idly gazing at the faces below; near

lained one of his companions.

swung about and lifted

posite with San

armer i

o you k

ochrane

the dame in the huge

to be married in Jul

lord languidly, "and I never saw a

chrane

te enamoure

d Gad!" yawn

y and smiling she was in her green gown with her sw

he said, "in that he can

ng below, took his leave; his companion foll

r places sounded the light joyous laugh of Miss Lescelles, an

Miss Fenton stepped into the yellow ar

monds; she ogled the boxes with good effect, and was apt in the management of he

public gaze, and the curtain was l

n; the perukes were from Paris, and the management had been

uted welcome; she turned her eyes u

lowed, and the knowledge of it made her acti

he fierce gestures, the lights, the jewels suited to his mo

d gleamed round her slender waist, her black curls floated beneath her green turban, red lilies, his

usy, the flash of arms, the glint of daggers, the sonorous eloquence of Quin, the languishing grace of Barry combined

neath her paint, swept a great

t and flung it at her feet. She carried it to her lips

their clothes, some of the ladies readjusted their masks; the porters went round s

to lift his ey

gaze met across the lights, the jests and laughter, that in an ins

was wrapped in a soft grey mantle; against the shadows of the empty back

d through the noisy crowds, not knowing

come in

m, saying nothin

you were

day," said Miss Boyle. "W

he chair

h you to-ni

he room behind the scenes, he wil

se Lyndwood gravely. "

ll glance out of

uld care to come-I have been watching you since we e

she gazed at him, were too utterly dead, too smitten into

at I left this to chance, madam.

in shadow, only the yellow light from without touched his white silk

lord," she said. "Forgive

intently; "by what I said and what y

piritual face quiv

loosely gathered on her proud head fell apart softly on her low brow. Looking at her my lord changed

ded, "there was no other thing to do, and I wou

you, madam, to know what it costs me"-he caught his breat

e interru

you have not dared to say to me before you cannot say now,"

enough to say some things to you-to tell you this at least, that you have given me the

joy ahead"-her eyes were like live gold in her shadowed face; "it has all been a pitiful matter, and

lifted her fine fingers to her

f withdrew into the shadow of the box. She heard the rattle of his sword, the shiver of his si

ay, or how judge for you? My philosophy is

the dusty shadows, and all that was

e said, "that you could care a

not heed it, save by lowering a little their already hushed voices. Miss Boyle had her back to the stage, and my lord

ults the sweetest place to be-the sunshine was like a sword-but I strove to justify your-what you thought o

of the box, only the lace round the raised

hat-ah, 'tis as if we had been together in some pure temple that none other knew of, and the memory of it were enough. Even if the por

r came un

-God knows how little-bu

ate breas

ng, my lord-nothing tha

s you speak to me. I have been born and bred in folly, and in folly I mu

tered. Roxana shrieked, and Statira lost her fire

howing her pale, shining dress, and the tender cu

I put you out of my life; but this you must have known, and I but mar with words my me

ed Miss Boyle. "Susann

eems he hath fallen in love in a fantastical sad fashion. A year ago I had laughed at it, but now it weighed greatly with me. What had I been, thought I, had I met and won h

y. "You had not the right; yo

s her, Rose Ly

better. If his romance is strong enough to save him from being the useless rake-helly fool I have been, s

nd pressed his handk

y own soul, but not the life of

k, narrow little box. M

he Earl, after a moment's agonis

a torn li

l you, my lord, that you have done the best th

look at him, and h

he said unsteadily, "through any ac

ly turned he

speak of," she whispered

e face

hand, and assents to the

," said Miss Boyle.

r this honour I do her. She will find me court

adiated Miss Boy

but in that she hath no place in your affections. Your wife-ah, si

m her face, and her

your lace," she whispere

the box, and her lashes showed dark yet

rd, "for it hath touched one I degraded,

eyes, but her whole slight body quiv

a child I loved it; it seemed to me sacred. I-I did not understand it, and so I

white shell with a smooth pink lip that lay on my lord's palm. She

he too

me," she breat

ng conclusion. These tw

should go now," wh

took up the end of her scarf, l

he softly closed it, and she was again concealed in soft darkness, she

ke a fury, and afterwards fell into hysterics in the green-room, to the triumph o