Scarlet and Hyssop

age. For respectability and cash are things that in themselves confer such nobility on their fortunate possessor that it is only right and proper to stamp him with a coronet like writing-pape

broadening down, has brought it about that since achievement in great deeds is within the reach but of the few, plenty of good gold, bestowed on plenty

mpending honours some days before, w

is in a piece with the rest. Plutocracy, not the King nor the Houses of Parliament, rules us, and naturally plutocracy says, 'I will have all that is within reach.' Why not? And peerages are certainly within reach. Of course the list is rather prono

ged his s

could be made a

n, but half the House of Peers, anyhow, should be made commoners. No doubt they would be if it were not for the innate snobbishness of the average Englishman. The average Englishman knows quite well that there is nothin

r raised h

you say these things, and don't take them

hat it is no use being serious in public. People have no time to spare from their amusements nowaday

, and tell me what yo

c. Indeed, it was something-something big, as it seem

ion on a subject where she hesitated, she weighing in her

ony Maxwell, just as I might ask your advice as to whether I should have a picture framed in gold or white. I did not ask her any questions

his ear speaking of Maud, but his inward ear translated, so it seemed

t quite happy marriages often take place without it. Either the man or the woman may not feel it, yet by marrying they are both happ

d not decide whether she was speaking with complete sincer

ll, whether I agree with you or not is a small m

vely that afternoon walk they had taken down by the river a fo

e, have their passion awakened by marriage. Now, that constitutes a great danger, I admit, in passionless marriages. Who can tell-well, that need not be discussed.

terwards," r

akened, and- But, and here I am less modern than

for?" as

stiny, before he married, do you think we should have an increase of the marriage returns? I am afraid not. And people being what they are, do you think that this celibacy would have a good effect on morals? It is no use advocating counse

er to marry him,"

ind-mind or soul, call it what you will-there was a great 'but.' I dare say it was unreasonable; it was certainly not clear to me what it was. But whatever it was, it said

d fall of her bosom, and the rose she had fastened in her dress shed half its fragrant petals on her lap. And because he was a man, he looked at her with kindled eye; and because he was a man who loved her, his blood also was kindled. More than ever bef

akes, Mari

and realize what was meant by his burning look; but it took her

at one's experience means much more what one has observed in other people than what one has done one's self. Of course, all observation passes through the crucible of one's personality, whether one observes things in one's self or oth

eed to stop him saying more was imperative. She could see what inward excitement moved him, and in her soul she thanked him for the love he bore her; but that any word of it should pass between them was impossible-merely, it could not be. This being so, she desired with a fervency

iage with Jack was, among her experiences, a mistake. He knew also-and was honest enough to confess that his desire to hear her say this was due to the fact that her confession would necessarily open certain vistas-it would be the first step, at any rate, down a path that a certain part of him had during his past fortnight longed to tread with a fervour and a passion that shook his whole nature, as a wind shakes and tosses a curtain. He knew in what sort Jack h

ry him?" he asked. "Do you thi

really thinks till some one expresses a strong opinion on one side or the other. Then one hears it

ation of bitterness sw

yourself what your own stro

reabouts. All one's youth-which, I take it, extends to about forty-is passed experimentally in determining w

ed again

hy they do it. If a Hooligan knocked you down and began stamping on you, I can imagine you saying, 'Stop just a moment to tell me why you are doing this. Does giving p

another from the vase in her hand. But she did not pin it in, but,

for my burning desire to know why you think that. I suppose you

rtainly, she thought, in the moment's pause that ensued, he would tell her why he was irritated with her. That she knew already,

ink you are bloodless, Marie; I think you are like what you imagine Maud Brereton to be. And bloodless people are disco

ond, and suddenly felt the ice bend and sway under her, and had said to herself, "The ice is thinner here." On t

what you really mean, Jim. It is quite true; it is quite, quite true. And, no doubt, if one is not in the habit of spending all one's energies on-on matters of emotion, one disposes of them in other ways. If one

up ab

re a hundred things I must-not

uggle suddenly became pathetic to her-a thing to pity and praise. Like a weir, he spouted at joints

hen people say they have a hundred things to do, it seems to me

e more came to his aid-for there could be but one conclusion if he said no more-and he add

se things you spoke of! Not doing things takes longer th