Interludes / being Two Essays, a Story, and Some Verses

is!" said Satan, "see how I will deal with it!" In the days of Job he s

ow is wiser

aking strong, n

thing once become fashionable and the devil steps in and leads the dance. When Lady Somebody, or Sir John Nobody, gives away the prizes at the county athletic sports, amid the ringing cheers of the surrounding ladies and gentlemen, I suspect the recipient, in nine times out of ten, is little better than an obtainer of goods by false pretences. When that ardent youth, Tommy Leapwell, brings home a mag

as we got into the boat; and I noticed also a certain sheepish, and rather sulky look upon Hawkstone's face, as he did so; and if I was not mista

beamed and glowed through masses of brown hair, which were arranged in a somewhat disorderly manner, and yet with an evident eye to effect. The aspect was frank and good-humoured, though somewhat soft and sensuous; and the form, though full, was not without eleg

ly in smooth water. And so we passed in front of the parade, waving our pocket handkerchiefs in answer to those which fluttered on the shore, and rowing away into the wide sea. Mrs. Bagshaw, who was an excellent musician, and her daughter, who had a lovely voice, sang duets

u know, there are some such splendid ferns grow in a little ravine yo

t ferns for?" as

lenville. "What a hard-hearted monste

go home." Mrs. Bagshaw guessed what sort of flower they would be looking for-heartsease, I suppose, or forget-me-not; but she very good-naturedly agreed to the proposal, and Hawkstone undertook to show us where we could land. We were soon asho

Thornton, "how lon

boatman, "and you will only just have

in life. Glenville used to rave about him as a true specimen of the old Devon rover. He was a tall, well-proportioned man, with a clear, open face, very ruddy with sun and wind and rough exercise, a very pleasant smile, and grey eyes, rather piercing and deep set. The br

complished, frank, and amiable. There was nothing at all peculiar either in her appearance or conversation. While I was talking to her I kept wondering whether her outbreaks of temper were the res

is evidently very much smi

. Her family would not like it, I suppose; for, you know, they are o

agreeable and lady-like, and I think Mr. Thornton has found that out. It is easy to see that objections to any engagement would be of the gravest sort-indeed, I imagine, insurmountable. It is most unfortunate that this should happen when the young man is away from his parents, who might guide him out of

lt that it was both kindly meant and reasonable, although I

*

ice little one too. Do try and d

went upon his knees, and soon extracted a little brittle bladder, which he

me, and then plant it in my rockery, where they flouri

ing thing," said the young man, looking

ver," she said, with a slight blush. "Bu

. Do let me dig

trouble. See what a pre

on it? You know it smells all

rence sat down, saying as she did so, "How lov

ch flourished in such profusion and variety that a nosegay grew

or thr

so

go back to attend to

ad hoped you would stay much longer. Thes

you are throwing my flowers aw

ees beside her, "forgive me if I speak rashly or wildly-I don't know how to speak. I don't know what to tell you-but I love you dearly, dearly, with my whole heart. I cannot tell-I ho

asant to a pretty girl to see a good-looking young lad at her feet and to listen to his passionate words of homage. At length, when he seem

love me-

oung. You rea

matter about

ot speak

seized her hand as he leant forward, and gazed eagerly into her face,

in the face, while he seized her round the waist, and her head l

h, do let me go, please. I

and lifted her

*

---d shame, and I shall tell him so. He may be a bigger fellow than I, but

y. I thought you were a brave, kind gentleman when I first saw

joke again, if this goes wrong. But are you quite sure t

before you came, sir. We were to be married, sir, so soon as the gentle folk have left the town, that is about six weeks from to-day; but now I hardly know what to think. I think one thing one day, and another the next. Sometimes I think I am jealous about nothing. Sometimes I think he is a gentleman, and will act as such; and sometimes I think, sup

sticks there, sir. There is nothing to drive it out. He will go off among his fine friends in London, or wh

good sort of fellow, and honest and truthful, though a bit thoughtless and careless. I am sure he will see his own folly and bad c

more to what people m

I believe he is only idle and thoughtless. If I thought for a moment that he was contemplating a blackguardly act, he should be no friend of mine, and I would not only tell him so, but I w

it. Sometimes I feel as if I should go mad. I don't know what those poor creatures in the Bible felt when they were possessed by the devil, but I believe he comes right into me when I think of this business." Then he bent over the boat and covered h

aimed, "Hey, sir! The wind and the sea have not been idle while we have been talking

uted as loud

ang from cliff to cliff, and brought out a cloud of gulls, sailing round and ro

and his lady love? After waiting a while, Hawkstone shouting more than once, it was proposed that someone should go in

bay, and although there will be no danger if we get off soon, yet the ladies will get a wetting, and maybe

ind rises on this coast, and the waves answer to the lash like

called to mind the sudden changes

ornton be about all this

sure," said she to me, "that I have not been doi

ng and laughing. "Here they are, caught at last, and apparently quite pleased at keeping us all waiting, and quite unable to give any account of what they have been doing. One little fe

oiter on the hill it's nothing to a poor boatman how long they s

of "two" and "three," who got some of the water down their backs. We were soon under weigh, however, and tugging manfully on, occasionally missing a stroke when the boat lurched on a great wave, and making but slow progress. Fortunately we had not far to go before we arrived opposite to the parade, where a small cr

seated behind the stern-board with the tiller in his hand. The boat shot round, shipping a heavy sea, and we were at one moment within a yard of the rock underneath the parade. "Row hard, all!" was soon the cry, and away we shot before wind and tide in the opposite direction to that in which we had been going. Again we heard Hawkstone's voice, "Steady, keep steady. There's nothing to fear. We can run her into the bay!" Nothing to fear! But there had been. One moment of delay, and we should have been dashed on the rocks. I do not know why it was, but the waves now seemed gigantic. Perhaps excitement or fear made them seem larger, or perhaps the change in the direction of the course of the boat had that effect. Certainly they now seemed to rear their white crests high above us, and to menace us with their hu

uoy?" shouted Capta

ndon. The two Misses Bankes screamed at intervals like minute guns. Mr. and Mrs. Delamere and their younger daughter looked on in speechless agony. The

e drowned!"

ved!" crie

thank God! Well done

were lost to sight in an enormous breaker, while everyone held their breath. As the wave dispersed three forms could be seen struggling forwards; and,

ling at a bottle of aromatic vinegar as though her life was in danger. "Lend that to me-quick, Miss Candlish!" he cried, and seized the bottle. The Drag struggled to keep possession of it, but in vain, and then fainted away. The young lady soon recovered sufficiently under the influence of the smelling bottle to walk home with the assistance of Thornton and Mrs. Delamere. The rest of the party began to separate amid much talking