Love Me Little, Love Me Long

or a day or two that Eve had not the

ed her? Had she been too dignified to resent it at the time? Was he never to go to Font Abbey again? Eve's first feeling was unmixed satisfaction. We have seen already that she expected no good from this rash attachment. For a single moment her influence an

aprice had carried him and her into Font Abbey; another such wind was carrying them out. No event had happened. Mr. and Miss Fount

ut she never mentioned the Font Abbey people to him either to praise or blame them, though it

elastic step. This silent sadness was so new in him, such a contrast to his natural temperature, large, genial, and ever cheerful, that Eve could not bear it. "I must shake him out of this, at all hazards,"

, and find out whether he had given her offense; for this was still his uppermost idea. Having failed in this attempt at an interview with her, he was now meditating a more resolute course, and he paced the little gravel-walk at home debating in himself the pros and cons. Raising his head su

e voice spoke quietly to him from the lawn. "D

e am

Don't do that again, sir,

ou saw me," said Davi

perhaps you think now, because I am naturally gay, I am not sensible. You mustn't go by that altogether. Manner is very deceiving. The most foolishly conducted men and women ever I met were as grave as judges, and as demure as cats after cream. Bl

e so many tacks, Eve. Haven't I seen your sense and profited by it-I and one or two mor

ot be misled by the

ers to suppose tha

s intended by either

alogue. Their heart

s gr

eart is concerned, young women are

e made them b

it. And then, besides, I a

know how to believe it. No on

d you know poor father used to say my face was the pattern of a flat-iron. So nobody gives me

l, E

and now, why not come to me for fri

here are other lig

rn, eh? and Wi

obody can feel for me that doesn't know my pain; and

ever been in love,

to an angel

advise

nt to advise; but now you haven't a

it would be as well if you wer

; Eve. I did not m

chill that has come between you and me

eat calm, sorrowful

e truth must be told, I

Dav

u keep steering me in the teeth of it; then you see how down-hearted I am this while, bu

it, David-I am not

e kinder; you are against me just

y; "this is plain speaking. So now it is my tu

e's transitions, he couldn't help staring a l

ass say when she br

ds, but the tune of them I do. Why, she sang out, 'Avast there! it is f

ark as our parson. He preached on her the very Sunday you came home, and it was all I could do t

That is ridiculous," said he; "one can't have two skippers in a church a

es won't enter 'em. Says she, 'This seven years you have known me; always true to the bridle and true to you. Did ever I disobey you before? Then why go and fancy I do it without some great cause that you can't see?'

s the moral? for I have no

s is a type, David. In Holy Writ you know almost everything is a type

heard so. Now if you could t

the head of them," cried she, turning round with flashing eyes on David; "you have known me and my true affection more than seven years, or seventeen. I carried you in my arms when y

no, no! Come

n enough to say that-that is a woman's thought); but at least you might have said, 'She sees rocks ahead that I can't.' (Balaam couldn't see the drawn sword ahead, but there it was.) it was for you to say, 'My sister Eve woul

e know the worst. You have heard something against

But after what you said, that you would listen to me if I-so it is my duty. You will see my face red enough in abou

ow you tremble! Dr

I should be like that bad man you told us of, who let out the beacon light when the wind was blowing hard on shore. Listen, David, and take my words to hea

ho used to be always alongsid

untain is a woman. He was but a dish of

er in the early days of courtship, young, handsome, good, noble in sentiment, and

ould give her hours of happiness, keep her, on the whole, content, and, above all, retain her his. Then she shifted the mirror to herself, the fiery and faithful one, and showed David what centuries of torture a good little creature like this Dyke, with its charming exterior, could make a quick, and ardent, and devoted nature suffer in a year or two. Came out in her narrative, link by link, the gentle delicious complacency of the first period, the chill airs that soon ruffled it, the glowing hopes, the misgivings that dashed them; then t

red, a new and terrible passion stepped upon the scene-jealousy. A friend came and whispered

htning seemed to go through me, and

rel, to sell him

a fright. He was a self-deceiver and a general lover, and such characters and their affections sink by nature to where their interest lies. Iron is not conscious, yet it creeps t

or

postscript he invited himself to supper the same afternoon. Then I got up and dried my eyes, and I seemed to turn into stone

it. I fear you have had worse thoughts pas

was in my veins, an

liver us from temptation! We don't

driven

o see the man bleed to death-the man yo

!" said Eve, with a

od

give themselves a scratch. It was to be one spoonful for him, but two for me. I can't dwell on it" (and she hid her face

and your sweet, sunburned face come in at the door, guess if I thought of putting death in the pot aft

n," said David

this, and hadn't died for it, I turned as cold as ice to him that minute, once and forever. I looked back at the precipice, and I hated him.

t that? Well, to

and when he saw it was all over for good between us he cried and bellowed till my hate all went, and scorn came in its place. Next time we met he played quite another part-the calm, heart-broken Christian; gave me his blessing; went down on his knee

on, d-n me if I'd turn in to-night

just, to let a poor, faithful, loving girl, who has done no harm, be played with on the hook, and tortured hot and cold, day after day, month after month, year after year, as I was? But now I see why it was permitted; it was for your sake, that you might profit by my

he had just save

alue of a happiness so

s face illuminated. "What is it?" sh

he was sure she could feel fo

d, as it is all over

? Am I de

nt: "Why, what have I been

! ha!-you don't really see any likeness between your case and mine, do

y. "Ever since I saw you looked her way, my eye has ha

show an antagonist any advantage he had obtained. "David," said she, coldly, "it must come to one of two things; either she will send you about your business in form, which is a needless affront for you and me both, or she will hold you in hand, and play with you and drive you mad. Take warning; remember what is in our blood. Father was

rgue light into dark, nor night into day. She is the sun to

ne. I never saw a girl but this that I

ou, David. Often I have wished I could s

k some po

her. But no, David, I can't believe you will go against me and my judgment after the insult she ha

so humble and deprecating, yet so dogged. At last he took out his knife; it was not one of your stabbing-knives, but the sort of pruning-knife that no sailor went without in those days. "Now," said he, sadly, "take and cut my head off-cut me to pieces, if you will-I won't wince or complain; and then you will get your way; but while I d

clinching her teeth and her little hand. Then sh

avid, sadly-but somehow i

David was to her, it stupefied him; he stared at her, and was all abroad. "Well, what is the wonder now?" inquired Eve; "there are but two of us.

y dear

't the shadow of a chance, and with me yo

eath with joy;" and David was quite overco

you may be very sure of that; but it looks so ridiculous to see my brother slipping out of my way behind a tree as soon as he sees

again and again to forgive him. This she did internally at the first word; but externally no; pouted and

nt Abbey, and find out wh

good I am not to let you go. No, I'll call there. I shall quietly find out whether it is her doing

id came under her window and called

re you

g on my

have bee

e me go there a f

going in each direction as far as he could. He longed and feared his sister's return. One hour-two hours elapsed; still he walked a supposed deck on the little lawn-six steps and then tu

ke a fool of yourself

be calm, I w

ing, she is to drink te

? What? W

er