In the Year of Jubilee

erilled. She was now careless on that score, and felt it a relief to cast off the show of domestic authority. Henceforth her position would be like that of Horace.

ligation. A reference of all things to her sovereign will and pleasure. Withal, a defiant rather than a hopeful mood; resentm

ught of the place as an abode of arrogance and snobbery. She recalled with malicious satisfaction her ill-mannered remark to Lionel Tarrant. Let him think of her as he would; at all events

Mrs. Peachey and her sisters, and spent an occasional evening at their house. Her father asked no questions; she rarely saw him except at meals. A stranger must have observed the signs of progressive malady in Mr. Lord's face, but Nancy was aware of nothing to

urned. Evolution! She already knew all about Darwinism, all she needed to know. If necessary she could talk about it-oh, with an air. But who wanted to talk about such things? After all, only priggish people,-the kind of people who lived at Champion Hill. Or idiots like Samuel Bennett Ba

ty gentleman with a tone of bland omniscience, on 'The History of Hellenic Civilisation;' her written answers to the little 'test papers' had been marked 'very sat

her examination. What a wretched, what an absurd existence! Her home, too, was so miserable. Mrs. Morgan lay ill, unable to attend to any

d come to spend an hour in Grove Lane. After her departure, he asked Nan

ke her with you,

going away, father. Noth

s. I leave you to make

refl

tely. 'It would do you good. Suppose we all go t

Teign

ngs were comfortable. We could have th

o you

y, and asked,' Nancy

f did her best to persuade him, until he angrily

er. People mustn't die for want of a five-pound note. Make

kind of y

noticed that he walked feebly, an

are not so w

he would be well enough if left alone

project. Whilst she talked of it with Nancy, Peachey and Luckworth Crewe came in together. There was sprightly conversation, in which the host, obviously glad of his wife's absence,

business?' she asked her

speaking as usual, with a soft, amiable voice. 'Our fr

for a few weeks, and the man of business answered only with 'I hope you'll enjoy yourself.' Soon afterwards, she took leave. At

e said. 'You remember you

s much t

I didn't mean no

ction away from her home. 'I shall be w

turday, but some country people nabbed me for the whole of

n up the Monume

rnoon. Let's meet early somewhere. Take a bus to London Bridg

be there,' Nancy

. I was never late at an appoi

his?' asked his companio

ough. You quite understand that, didn't you? I shouldn't

ngenuous air. 'What else could it be?' And

off into th

ard with his wonted brisk step and animated visage. At Miss. Lord's side he looked rather more plebeian than when walking by himself; his high-hat, not of the newest, utterly misbecame his head, and was always at an unconventional angle, general

e owed me an acknowledgment; I've sent him three customers from our office since I saw him last. By-the-bye, I shall have half a day at the seaside on Monday. There's a sale of

ng to bid?'

e to get hold of a few advertising stations.-Where is it you are going to on Monday? Teignmouth? I don't know that part of the country. Wish I could run

it f

ent. You don't often go about the City, I daresay.

a sharp command, and observe his ready obedience. To his talk she listened with a good-natured, condescending smile, occasionally making a remark which implied a more liberal view, a larger

u take of everything? You rat

nough to understand that I'm not always thinking of t

hed against her. Thus addressed he glared at the speaker

luxury. I shall have a country house, and keep good horses. And I should like to have a little farm of my own, a model farm; make my own butter and cheese, and know that I

ognise it?'

some first-rate chap, never mind what it costs, and hung in the Academ

panion

, that your wife

xclaimed merrily. 'Do you suppose I should drea

please. People

look at the portraits of men's wives. There was nothing particular in that line. Not a woman I should have felt particularly proud of. Tast

hing else,' Na

e, I was afraid it would keep on raining, and

'If I hadn't wished to come, you m

shed a lo

nd of going up, they say, just to pitch themselves down. A good deal of needless trouble, it seems to

looked any better from u

hem by the coat-tails, and settl

added brilliancy to her eyes. As soon as she had recovered from the first impression, this spectacle of a world's wonder served only to exhilarate her; she was not awed by what she looked upon. In her conceit of self-importance, she stood there, above the battling millions of men, proof against mystery and dread, untouched by the voices of the past, a

ixed upon her; his l

once. 'Just like that! I never saw you looking so well. I believe

vehemence. Nancy, having seen that the two or three other people on the platform w

Academy cost a gr

not many men down yonder,' he pointed over the Cit

Nancy, and laughed as th

will you

westward. Crewe followed close, his features still set in the hun

said, 'to have about

the same moment he had to clutch at

t isn't impossible. Men get beyond that, and

most beautiful girl in all London? That's a la

ewe. 'I don't like to hear that kind of th

my own. I may t

have thought

say so.-I've had enough of

hem spoke till they were in the s

to pieces?

ight. Now, will you w

e place you

nd to Blackfriars Bridge, when you want t

or cared about historic associations. Vast sums sounded perpetually on his lips; he glowed with envious delight in telling of speculations that had built up great fortunes. He knew the fabulous rents that were paid for sites that looked insignificant; he repeated anecdotes of calls made from Somerset House upon men of business, who had been too modest in returning the statement of t

or myself,' said Crewe, as he paused at lengt

you afford

on burst in

ding. Two or three rooms, th

a jest of h

ap who's doing a pretty big business in one room, not far from here.-Wel

ere going to pro

f you

verage. Crewe talked of his projects, his prospects; and Nancy, whom the afternoon had

h, leaning towards her,

away, and k

start; to show that something w

hink ab

osition, and

within earshot. 'Don't think I make any mistake about that! But I have to show you that there'

er gloves, and smiled, j

years, from to-day? I won't bo

about it,' N

you're

I'm away at

e when you

u-how lo

she