Stand Fast, Craig-Royston! (Volume II)

preamble marry Maisrie Bethune: thereafter his relatives might do or say whatever it most pleased them to do or say. This would be his answ

stances involved her in humiliation, lie would take her out of these. As for old George Bethune, ought he not to welcome this guardianship that would succeed his own? The happine

now about to discover-nay, he already perceived-that for a young man to be brought up without any definite calling meant a decided crippling of his independence. The canary-cage, charming and idyllic as it might be, would cost something, even if he went as far as Shepherd's Bush or Hammersmith; and the little fortune that had been left him did not produce much of an annual income. Then again his father: would not the great socialist (on paper) instantly withdraw the handsome allowance he had hitherto made, on hearing that his

nt along to the Bedford Hotel. He was told that Lord Musselburg

small table. "Anything-anything. The fact is, Musselburgh, I want to speak to yo

ve to make your peace with Mrs. Ellison. She is mortally offended at the notion of your coming to Bright

aid Vincen

you some little way-if you had tu

t ti

one, I sho

then y

aw-" said

on with a curious expectancy and prayer; had this friend of his, i

ured young man; and on this occasion he did not al

lison hinted that I'd better follow her example; and have nothing to s

id Vincent, rat

n I saw her yesterday-by George, she's grown to be one of the most beautiful creatures I ever beheld! And so distinguished-looking-and apparently so unconscious of it too! Again and again I noticed people half-turn their heads to get another glimpse of her as she

cerity; and Vincent's face burned with pleasure and pride. H

asked-but only to answer his own question. "Yes, I dare say you might think she was rather pale. But that is not because she is delicate-oh, dear, no!-not in the least: it is the natural fineness of her complexion; and when brisk walking, or a cold wind blowing, brings colour into her cheeks, then that is all the rarer and more beautiful. Of course you couldn't see her eyes at all?-she doesn't stare at people in the streets; she seems to find the sea more interesting when we are walking up and clown; but they are the clearest, the mo

ted, "I was thinking that when you came in you an

d, without taking any offence. "But who began? I thought it was you wh

said, goodnaturedly. "I beg your pardon. And I under

ly. "For I propose to marry Miss Bethu

up quickly, and his fa

t mean th

what I do mean,"

had been found out," his friend stammered, an

ndence, his self-will and pride, should be a scheming impostor and swindler-it is too absurd! To my mind-and I think I know him pretty intimately-he appears to be one of the finest and grandest characters it is possible to imagine; a personality you could never forget, once you had learned to know him even a little; and that this man, of all men, should be suspected of being a fawning and wheedling writer of begging-letters-it is too laughable! I admit that he has little or no money-if that is a crime. They live in straitened circumstances, no doubt. And of course there are many unpleasant things connected with poverty that one would rather hide from the eyes

was suspected, or more than suspected, of being an accomplice; and although, of course, he could not

ry me at once, and assuming also that her grandfather approved-when the marriage had actually taken place, what would my relatives say? Or rather, that is not the question: the question is what they would do. I know what they would say. They would be wild enough. Their heads are full of these foolish fancies and suspicions; and beside that, I gather that they want me to marr

reless temperament, "you ask me what I can't answer. And giving advice is a perilous business. All I can say is t

do nothing; and consequently I am in a measure dependent on my father. My own little income doesn't amount to much. Then again, if I were to marry Maisrie Bethune, I should have to leave her grandfather whatever small fun

and ask him now?" said Lord Musselburgh, who clearly did no

y now," Vincent made answer; "the q

the mar

es

he little table hesita

knowledge this marriage-if he declared he would have nothing further to do with you-you would find yourself in rather desperate straits. Why should you, with your eyes open, walk into any such straits? You know what

elburgh, in the int

make a jest of th

rl is supposed to be-oh, I need not name the things! You don't understand! She is my dearest in all the world; how can I stand by and allow these base accusations t

er?" said Lor

ven't been used to it. I dare say I have been spoiled-things made too easy for me. And now when I look round and wonder what I could turn to, I suppose I am simply in the position of a thousand others, who haven't had any s

someone who i

e my coat quite so

e. And consider this: if your relations should look on such a marriage with disfavour, it is in your own interest; it is no selfish wish on their part that you should marry well-marry in your own sphere-marry some one who would do you credit and be a fit companion for you. Mind you, I say nothing against Miss Bethune-nothing; I would not even if I could-I am not such a fool-for I should simply anger you wit

ess to believe what the Sermon on the Mount says about the Kingdom of Heaven being reserved for the poor; but catch any single man-ja

, "what influence those-those associations might have had on Miss

pure and beautiful-souled creature that she is now. But I see there is no use talking. I have aske

friend also rose

uarrel with me. Come into the smoki

s, regarding the future as something dark; while there-out there-the golden pavements, and the far-shimmering sea, and the wide white skies spoke only of hope, and seemed to say that Maisrie would soon be coming along, proud and tall and sweet. Why, it was to her that he ought to have appealed-not to any timorous, vacillating

o, despite his threescore years and ten, could still bear himself so bravely in face of all the world. Moreover, there were some lines in one

t un' r

nte ma

nte ma

bord de

f morning to bring a touch of crimson to the transparent pallor of her cheek; her teeth would glisten when she laughed; her graceful step would be lighter, more buoyant, than ever. Sursum cor

house in German Place, where he found George Bethun

"Too much idleness. Too much idleness. Fresh air is all very well; but we must not b

tested. "A west wind and brilliant sunlight are not so common in

morrow, Vincent?" said

heads and divisions sketched out as yet. I wish I could escape it altogether; but I dare not play any tricks at present

you return to Lo

gladly have promised to come back to Brighton at the earliest possible moment; but he had not forgotten t

definite plans at present. I dare say my aunt, Mrs. E

rful on so pleasant a morning. And of course it mattered little to them whither they went. They acceded at once; and by-and-bye they had left the wide thoroughfare and the houses behind them, and were walking along the soft t

n believe in those midnight things you have heard of them. Look at this girl: you say yourself she is of extraordinary beauty; but is there not a still stranger fascination-is there not something that wins the heart to sympathy, and pity, and respect? Look at the pensive character of her mouth-look at the strange resignation in the beautiful eyes: perhaps her life has not been altogether too happy?-and is that to be brought as a charge against her? Then this old man-look at h

n His gates

th joy his

and bless Hi

s seemly

e Lord our

is for e

all times f

rom age to

days-perhaps a Saturday night's task-that had la

And it was not enough that her eyes had spoken; that she had given him the sandal-wood necklace; that she had striven with an almost pathetic humility to show her affection and esteem. He wished for some clearer assurance with regard to the future. Those people in the background who had pieced together that malignant story: were they not capable of further and more deadly mischief? He had affected to scorn them as mere idle and intermeddling fools; but they

e to share their modest luncheon with them. Thereafter, when tobacco was produced, she begged to be excused for a little while, as she had some sewing to do in her own room; and thus it was that Vincent, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, found himself presented with a

absence. There appear to be certain people who don't wish you well; there might be more stories; who can tell what might not happen? Indeed," said he, regarding the old man a little anxiously, "I ha

n something of an

rprise or resentment; the old man waited calmly and courteously for further eluci

little money of my own-not much of an annual income, to be sure; and I have some friends who would help me if the worst came to the worst, but I don't see how that necessity should arise. For myself, I have unfortunately been brought up to no profession; I was trained for public life-for polities-if for anything: it has never been considered necessary that I should lea

ore or less of plain sailing: now he was

being questioned), "the main point is this: if Maisrie and I were to get married, at once-as we have the right to do-we are surely of sufficient age-we know our own minds-I am quite certain my father would accept the whole affair good-naturedly and reasonably, and all would be well. Then see what it would be for Maisrie to have an assured position like that! She would be able to give up her share in the small income you once spoke of; that would be altogether yours; and su

e for a moment-a

tion, and he regarded the young man from under his shaggy eyebrows

of course she will do nothing without your approval. But don't you think she has had enough

ping a rich man's son-in getting him to propose marriage to his

orge Bethune asked again, in t

o-

ressed n

n to her about this

l tie or pledge-much less by such a marriage as you propose. For one thing, she may have a future before her that she little dreams of. Of course, if her happiness were involved, if she came to me and said that only by such and such an arrangement could her peace of mind be secured, then I might alter my views: at p

o impetuous to be

osing Maisrie's happiness were concerned?-supposing she were a little tired of the uncertainty of her life?-supposing she were willing to trust herself to m

ned away now-fixed on the s

her things," he said

d as to give you all the guarantee for the future which you seem to think necessary. A word from my father to-morrow might settle that: if I went to him, and could get him to understand what Maisrie really was. Or I might obtain some d

wer, in an absent sort of way-and at this moment Maisrie entered the

ng to his fair fiancée a report of the interview he had had wit

lans and interests, all our lives, would be-with Vin cut out! It cannot be-it shall not be-it must be prevented at any cost! He would be dead-worse than dead-we sho

t; his head is clear enough, for all this wild infatuation of his. He sees that his father will not consent-beforehand; so he mean

writing-desk. "This must and shall be prevented. I am not going to have