The Fallen Leaves

instrumental noises which were impudently offered to them as a substitute for melody. While these docile victims of the worst of all quackeries (musical quackery) were still to

fourth member of the party. Left by themselves, the young ladies looked at each other, whispered to each other, half rose from their places, became

ecover herself in the vestibule. When the gentleman in charge of her asked if he s

eman got in after her, by the lady's inv

tter with me," she replied, quiet

began to look a little puzzled. The lady (Mrs. Farnaby herself) pe

d to have a word with you privately. My niece Regina-don't be surprised at my calling her my niece, when you have heard Mr. Farnaby call her h

ned towards the cab-window, instead of towards Amelius. He was one of those rare people

had arranged to put in my way. You were obliged to go, after telling them you wanted to hear the music; and I couldn't complain, because they had got a fourth ticket for me. I made up my mind what to do; and I have done it. Nothing wonderful in my bein

him, Amelius suggested that the young ladies might leave the concert-room,

ce for the first time. "I have been a match for them so far," she said

zy?" she said quietly to herself. "Some women in my place would have gone mad years ago. Perhaps it might have been better for me?" She looked up again at Amelius. "I believe you are a good-tempered fellow," she we

onal terms, that he was entirely at her service. Something in her manner affected him disagreeably. If he had followed his impulse, he would have j

follow us back," she said to Amelius. "It doesn't matter, the servants will have nothing to tell them if they do." She checked him in the act of knocking, when they reached the house

in the small hours of the morning, I can't endure my bed; I must go out and walk. My key lets me in again, just as it lets us in now, without disturbing anybody. You had better say nothing about it to Mr. Farna

rs. Farnaby, perfectly understanding him. "Consult your dignity; go out again, and knock at the door, and ask if I am at home. I only wanted to prev

ollowed her submissively to the farther end of the hall. There, she op

nnet and shawl, and pointed to a box of cigars on the table. "Take one," she resumed. "I smoke too, when nobody sees me. That

ture, he resigned himself to circumstances with his customary facility. He too lit a cigar, and took a

he lathe were hung in a row four prints, in dingy old frames of black wood, which especially attracted the attention of Amelius. Mostly foreign prints, they were all discoloured by time, and they all strangely represented different aspects of the same subject-infants parted from their parents by desertion or robbery. The young Moses was there, in his ark of bulrushes, on the river bank. Good St. Francis appeared next, roaming the streets, and rescuing forsaken children in the wintry night. A third print showed the foundling hospital of old

acred word of honour that you will not repeat to any mortal creature what I am going to tell you now." She

ng his confidence by storm startled Amelius. His natural tact and

emind you that you are going to tell me your secret

re. "What does that mat

ay. "I should like to know," he proceeded, "that I am d

ietly as ever; "and you will be doing no wrong to yourself or to anybody el

n in a state of blank amazement. She waited, watching hi

ked. "Will you

ave her h

word of honour

more. "I want to speak to you as if I was speaking to an ol

tain

g woman, I have had a heavy burden of misery on my heart. I am not reconciled to it, I cannot submit to it, yet. I never shall be reconciled to it, I never shall s

forgot his cigar again-and again she reminded him of it. He answered her as his own generous impulsive temperament urged him; he said, "Tell me n

ad seen no human misery that expressed itself in this

had seen in her face. "My friend," she said, "yours will be a sad life-I pity you. The world will wound that sensitive heart of yours; the world wil

he large oaken press, and took her b

ir sorrows-I haven't nursed it and petted it and made the most of it to myself and to others. No! I have tried every means of reli

open shelves. The opposite compartment, behind the door on the right, was filled by drawers with brass handles. She shut the left door; angrily banging it to, as if the opening of it had disclosed something which she did not wish to be seen. B

threw their little glimmer of light on the motive which had chosen the subjects of the prints

the drawers here; open them for yourself." She drew back as she spoke, and pointed to the uppermost of th

he said. Amelius, obeying her, discovered dictionaries, grammars,

y behind him. "Month after month of hard study-all forgotten now. The old

of poor little conventional landscapes filling up the rest of the space. As works of art, they were wr

it costs me such dreadful trouble, it so worries and persecutes and humiliates me, that this surely must keep my mind occupied and my thoughts away from myself!' No

always the same result. You have had enough of it, and so have I." She turned, and pointed to the lathe in the corner, and to the clubs and dumb-bells over the mantelpiece. "I can look at them patiently," she went on; "they give me bodily relief. I work at the lathe till my back aches; I swing th

iend might return and interrupt them? After what he had seen and heard, could he hope to console Mrs. Farnaby? He could only wonder what object she could possibly have in view in taking him into her confidence. "Am I always to

want to know one thing before I go on. Amelius, I watched those bright eyes of yours at

gar out of his mout

it boldly!

ertain extent. "I admire h

arked, "you don't know

elieve in the existence of gratitude; and Mrs. Farnaby had spoken ungratefully. Besides,

ou say of her," he burst out.

fool in other respects. Another woman's child a consolation to me! Pah! it makes me sick to think of it. I have one merit, Amelius, I don't cant. It's my duty to take care of my sister's child; and I do my duty willingly. Regina's a good sort of creature-I don't dispute it. But she's like all those tall darkish women: there's no backbone in her, no dash; a kind, feeble, goody-goody, sugarish disposition; and a deal of quiet obstinacy at the bottom

nity. "I have too much respect for the young

d, "I mean to put every possible obstacle i

ed Amelius. He confessed the t

e asked

d recover your tem

either side of the fireplace,

my reason. If you marry Regina, or marry anybody, yo

lius; "and why n

here today and gone tomorrow-travelling all ove

that do to you

ing, and, standing before him, placed her hands heavily on his shoulders. Her eyes grew ra

y yet come to me," she said. "And, hear this, Amelius! After all t

t followed, they heard a dou

said Mrs

sprang to the door of the room,