Sister Teresa

ad brought all her friends to Edinburgh to hear Evelyn. Added to which, she had written to all the people she knew

d of such a thing before. Now, why did you do this? You will tell me about it

d meet many of her old friends, an

is on your way there; you can easily spend three days with us. No, no, no,

like to speak about. Besides, rel

my friends would understand you if you did. But you will come; that is the principal thing. Now, not another word; you mustn'

row at Thornton Grange; the trains were as follows: if she came by this train she woul

, there was no reason for refusing unless-A knock! Her manager! and he had come to tell her they had taken more money that night than on

and a half-empty concert-room puts an emptiness into the heart of the concert singer that nothing else can. But the Edinburgh concert had been different; people had been more appreciative, her singing had excited more enthusiasm. Lady Ascott had brought musical people to hear her, and Evelyn awoke, thinking that she would not miss seeing Lady Ascott for anything; a

get his horses to face the wind and rain. In answer to her question the footman told her Thornton Grange was about a mile from the station; and when the carriage turned into the park she peer

her through shadowy drawing-rooms curtained with red silk hangings, filled with rich pictures, china

Innes! You didn't expect to se

s is a surprise, for Lady Ascott didn

. It was a privation to remain at

vinced he had not gone to the concert because he wished to keep his presence a secret

l; I told him so when

co

ill? The best music in the world-even your v

at Glasgow; you will be a

ties of the gang-that is how she put it to herself-which ran about from one house to another, visiting, calling itself Society, talking always, changing the conversation rapidly, never interested in any subject sufficiently to endure it for more than a minute and a half. The life of these people seemed to Evelyn artificial as that of white mice, coming in by certain doors, going out by others, climbing poles, engaged in all

as he was called. No sooner had the thought come into her mind than somebody mentioned his name, telling how Beatrice, after sending him away in the luggage-cart, had yielded and taken him back again. "He is her interest," Evelyn said to herself, and she heard that Canary still continued to cause Beatrice great unhappiness; and some interesting stories were told of her qu

oman to expect a man to spend the whole morning reading the Times, and that apparently was what Beatrice wished poor Can

o her," and everybody had so

little face with eyes like wild flowers and a great deal of shining hair, told o

ousand a year on clothes, she sits up in that bedroom in a dressing-gown that we have known for the last five years. "Well, Beatr

rying to understand what it was all about, and his allusion to the poodle made everybody laugh, for some reason not very apparent, and Evelyn wondered at the difference between the people she was now

le Lady Ascott might look upon them as married people and send her down with somebody else-one of those young men! No! The young men would be reserved for the girls. As she suspected, she went down with Owen. He did not tell her where he had been since she last saw him; intimate convers

all through that long dinner, and the formal talk with the men afterwards, listening to

ng about your being here wh

dn't have come if you

u didn't come t

e to me than anything in the world." A cloud came into her face which he saw and it pained him to see it. "Lady Ascott wrote saying she intended to ask you

n? But there is no es

trange

t what I should cal

saying I shouldn't se

ave passed-haven't

ee months

you sent me away and

hs all but

to Wimbledon to sing for the nuns. They have

cdotes about the convent which interested her, but which pr

to speak like that

an idea that has done this? It wouldn't be human, and I don't think you would like me any better if I did-now wo

t is be

human heart

human, more human than ever, only

es cruelty; cruelty suits no one and

I should have been late for the concert. You don't realise, Owen, you can't realise-" And as she sa

ever seen, and hoped that not many would be blown down during the night. "Such a storm as this only happens once in ten years. Good God, listen!" Like a savage b

wind far away gathering itself like a robber band, determined this time to take the castl

ind, not having seen you for three months! Surel

you spoke about

re I can only think of the idea which came into your head and made a different woman of you." Evelyn refrained from saying "And a much better woman," and

nd me sitting on the w

harm in singing

way to the pine-forest-the forest in which you m

. I haven't h

ent out of your mi

ught he had ki

ght you wouldn't be

ered some of the guests: two women leaning back in a deep sofa amid cushions confiding to each other the story of somebody's lover, no doubt; and past them, to the right of a tall pillar, three players looked into the cards, one stood by, and

think as you do; they are satisfied

ferent fr

there diffe

en, Owen, that ever

millions and billions of beings have preceded us, billions will succeed us.

m to you an utterly

idea seems to have absorbed you, to have made its own of you; it isn't religion, I don't think you are a religious woman. You usen't to be like this when I took you away to Paris. You were in

n't say you are utterly wrong- why

n? You will outlive this

ope

But now, here in this house, where everything is different, do you not feel the lov

wen what he me

fond of you!' You would have me believe that you will be true to this creed? But don't I know how dear that momen

the latest intrigues and the mistake Lady Ascott had been guilty of by putting So-and-so and So-and-so to

in love with

ery ho

low Mostyn who has put th

othing into m

oing. But he has got the harvesting; ah, yes, and the nun

u thin

in Paris you were quite willin

I didn't. There were ten years in which I loved y

to the end of the street; there

y miserable by t

ng, and Lady Ascott's i

e me if I ask Evelyn to sing for us? Yo

ang to h

us. I have been boring you long enough, haven't I? And yo

, if you will

to go back into a shadowy corner with Owen, making herself the subject of remark; for though her love story with Owen Asher had long ceased to be talked about, a new interest in it had suddenly sprung up, owing to the fact that she had sent Owen away, and was thinking of becoming a nun-even to such an extent her visit to the convent had been exaggerated; and as the women lagging round her had beg

uccess whatever, so I was obliged to t

s the religious e

but they had contributed to the decline of interest in things artistic. This was the opinion of two or three agreeable, good-looking young men; and Evelyn forgot the women whom she had previously been talking to; and turning to the men,

d feel disposed to draw the armchair by the fire and read for an hour before going to bed. The writing-table itself, with its pens and its blotting-book, and notepaper so prettily stamped, seemed int

o that visitors should not wander into the wrong room by accident, creating dismay and provoking scandal. Owen, where was he? A prayer was offered up that he might be at the other end of the house. It would not be right if Lady Ascott had placed him in the adjoining room, it really would not be right, and she regretted her visit. What evil thing had tempted her into this house, where everything was an appeal to the senses, everything she had seen since she had entered the house-food, wine, gowns? There was, however, a bolt to her door, and she drew it, forgetful that sin visits us in s

he end of the passage; it was not until her hand rested on the handle of his door that a singing began in the night. The first voice was joined by another, and then by another, and she recognised the hymn, for it was one, the Veni Creator, and the singers were nuns. The singing grew more distinct, the singers were approaching her, and she retreated before them to her room; the room filled with plain chant, and then the voic

a train, or ask the butler to look out one for you;

iselle was going to s

d my mind. You had better begin to pack at once,

lady's maids. "Some new valet," Evelyn thought, and she was sorry to drag Mérat away from him, for Mérat's sins were her ow

ring breakfast, "but I have to go to Glasgow this

ur out some coffee. Which will you have, dear? Tea or coffee? Everybody will

lyn was glad when breakfast was over; and to escape from all

ersuade her to stay until to-morrow, and you will show her the glen, won't

ts talking of how they had lain awa

, round by the lake,

ppointed; she said

about my

Edinburgh concert. Of course they all like to hear you sing; they may not understan

s a kindly soul, but-well, it raises the whole question up again.

to your ideal? The people here don't interfere with

N

o you, Evelyn, that I should sleep so near and not come to say good-

the only

do you

ng that would displease me; you've been v

t w

xpress it. Nothing ha

vent

e actually prevented, but

le of conscience? My con

n a fear of displeasing me? And you w

here was another reason... only..

have admitted that t

t came of going to her room. "It was really very strange. The thought was put

ought? But the thought wa

g and sleeping thoughts

her sudden awaking, and the voices heard in her ears at first, then in

lieve in th

I do ot

ing; the woods were cold and wet, the heavy branches of the fir-trees

ttle lake, watching the water-fowl moving in and out of the reeds, and they talked for some time of Riversdale, of the lake there, and the ducks

ing her say it, his future life seeme

ome of you? What strange transfo

the use of going

wh

e which I feel isn't mine, and which could only end in disaster for both of us." He asked her why it would end in disaster,

diment of one's ideas. But I cannot admi

they are not doing what N

intend you to do? O

you will admit that light opera is the fashion, and I shouldn't succeed in light opera. Whatever I do you praise, but you know in the bottom of your heart there are only a few parts which I play well. You may deceive yours

If you leave the stage what will you do

s interests and occupations, not things that interes

not yet failed, whose voice is still fresh, who is in full possession of her art, to say suddenly, 'Money and applause are nothing to me, I prefer a few simple nuns to art and s

ck pheasant rising up suddenly out of the yew hedges, and, beguiled by the beauty of the trees, they passed on slowly, pausing to think what

that an actress shou

was always a hothouse flower. You took me away to Paris and had me trained

hing to do with y

s say, 'Well, my good man, go to So-and-so, she will sing for y

al actress, working your way up from the bottom, what ha

answer you. One would have t

into the world with us, and how much upon circumstances," and Owen comp

tion had built on the hillsides. "Here are eight pillars on either side and four at either end, serving no purpose whatever, not even shelter from the rain. Never agai

e not lovers?" And they passed on again, Owen's heart fi

and when they got back to the hous

-bye,

to see y

l see me one

sturbing her in the midst of her letters. "So ends a liaison which has lasted for more than ten y

he rest of his life would be recollection. "She is still in the train, going away from me, intent