Halcyone

was of the greatest excitement and importance to the neighborhood. Wendover, which had been shut up for twenty years, was reported to have been taken fo

Mrs. Vincent Cricklander was the new tenant's name. The Long Man had himself taken her over the place when she first came down to look at it, and his

now come to the point of his d

as! not a lonely widow but had been divorced-only a year or two ago. She had divorce

have allowed us to know any divorced person-and, indeed, our good Queen Victori

ard (from Hester again, it is to be feared!) that Mrs. Cricklander's maid, who was a cousin of the baker in Applewood, and who had originally instigated her discovery o

t have changed, but they had not. Since the last time they had curtsied to the beloved late Queen, in

nded elders in her eyes, but filled her with a pitiful and gentle respect. Their courage under adversity, their firm self-control, and the force which made them live up to their idea of the fitness

once in England," Mr. Carlyon said. "Perhaps this lady may have

but that certain conventions, laid down by one whose memory was revered, had been outraged, and she

were reported to be in possession, and whole train-loads of splendid French furniture were known

had been forced to be parted with. An investment which had been valueless for years now began to produce so

be boarded up, and their side of the haw-haw which for nearly a mile divided the two parks was to be deepened and cleared out, and the spikes mende

The haw-haw was still as perfect as ever and a wonder of concea

ded she would come down and bring a few friends. It was with a sudden violent beating of the hea

s of discretion, sometimes had the pleasure of reading John Derringham's speeches and thrilled with joy over his felicitous daring and caustic wit. The Government could not last much longer, but he at least, as far as he could, would keep it full of vigor until the end. She knew, th

gave her a serenity over the most moving events, and when the sudden beating of her he

thing for a young modern man of the world, and that John Derringham for that reason must always be distinguished from his fellows. Carpenters and hedgers and ditchers wore them, and nondescript young fellows she remembered seeing when

efore Good Friday-Priscilla had told her that-and it w

use and for the past year two very old and quiet specimens of Shetland had been found for them by Mr. Martin and they were able to drive to church every Sunday in state, William sitting up behind, holding the reins between his mistresses, while Miss La Sarth

in church, and Halcyone went back by the orchard house to l

armchair she foun

und about her head with becoming simplicity, and she wore an ordinary suit which could not disguise her beau

u were filled with the consciousness of an exquisite beauty as intangible as her other charm-distinction. An infinite serenity was in her atmosphere, a promise of all pure and tender things in her great soft eyes. The mystery and freshness of the night seemed alway

ing. And h

chair, startled a littl

e, the Priestess of Truth!"

shook hands, and sat down dem

ong ago," the visitor said. "Have you honored this ord

r si

to learn. Master, it is you and I

ly, while her eyes smiled at his raillery. "Do I

nd John Derringham's expressi

ts from the world like you," the Professor growled. "If you pay

. He was going to stay at Wendover for the whole of Easter week. Mrs. Cricklander had an amusing party of lumina

ham said. "You must let me bring her over here one day to see you-you wo

ong pipe. "I have never met any of these new hothouse roses grafted

know any Englishwomen who are to compare to

d, as was her habit when anything began to distress her, she looked out of the window, whether it were n

sing Halcyone. "She is a past-mistress in knowledge of the dates of things. You are going to ha

former Oxford pupil asked him with mild humor the

did not receive divorced persons, and the Misses La Sarthe, in consequ

tion; it was not as fine as she liked to think were

ard was very becoming, Halcyone thought, and gave him a look of great masculinity and strength. His hawk's eyes were shadowed, as though he sat up very late at night; which indeed he did. For John

political future expanding before him, lack of means must not be allowed to stand in his way. He would give this woman in gratified ambition as much or more than she would give him in wealth, so it would be an equal bargain and benefit them both. And, above all, he was more than half in love with her, and could get quite a large share of pleasure out of the affair as well. He had been too busy to trouble much over women as a sex since he had left the University-except in the way he had once described to his old master, reg

Halcyone. "In London we do not occupy ourselves with such unimportant things-but I dare say she will get over it. And now I really must be going bac

pass, except in the one spot, and I believe no one knows of it but myself. There are a few bricks

dventure; come," he s

my secret. Promise you will not

ll bring my hostess to see you on Monday or Tuesday, Master," he announced, as he said good-by. "And prepare yourself to fa

ring bulbs, and every bud on the trees was bursting with its promise of coming leaf. Glad,

ahead. She had that same dignity of movement from the hips which the Niké of

be at least five feet nine or t

the daylight, and she fe

?" he asked, after they had got through the gap in the hedge. A little ga

eat. One is not obliged to climb into the tree now. See: Demetrius helped me to drag it close, and we nailed on

l the haw-haw's length. She showed him how to take the bricks out and where to place his feet, and pointed out how secluded from any eye the place was. Then, as he climbed down and then up aga

ppear with a strange feeling of