e; the women facing on

ellent, if a little thick; and fish

ed: "It's the f

tly: "Yes-the fi

there isn't a breath o

rom Dover. And Bilson brought champagne, a b

: "You'll f

illed about the legs. They were r

er take a cutlet, June;

e borne away. And then Irene asked:

got a hunting-song. As I came

uch a d

Spring chick

very poor. Bosinney, glass of sherry with

w I never do. Wine'

dish, and smilingly Irene said: "The

red: "Wonderful! The s

ou like the scent? Su

and Soames remarked: "

wed. Irene, beckoning, said: "Take out the az

it stay,"

laced on little plates. And Soames remarked: "Wh

water, please." Water was given her. A silver tray was brought, with Germa

he stones: "This year

re was such a glorious sunset. The

: "Undernea

nd June cried scornfu

silver box. Soames, taking one, rem

Turkish coffee follo

quietly, said

hat?" s

ould always b

nded; it was

sinney, better t

k a glass; t

a cab?" as

cloaks please, Bilson."

mured: "Such a lovely night

, I hope you'll bot

ne answered: "Th

cried: "I

ring smile, and said

oor Irene wa

alled: "Go

" she answer

f a 'bus, saying she wanted air, and ther

spring had got into his blood, too; he felt the need for letting steam escape, and clucked his tongue, flourishing his whip, wheel

ift the breeze could bring. New-lighted lamps were gaining mastery, and the faces of the crowd showed

en-those women who at that time of night are solitary-solitary and moving eastward in a stream-swung slowly along, with

ir of spring. And one and all, like those clubmen with their opened coats, had shed something of caste, and creed, and custom, and by the

boxes. The piece had just begun, and the half-darkened house, with its rows of creatures

Grogan and Boyne's, on his way home from the City, long before the day; carried in his overcoat pocket, together with his cigar-case and his old kid gloves, and handed to June to keep till the appointed night. And in those stalls-an erect old figure w

over's sake; she had expected it to break up the thick, chilly cloud, and make the relations between them which of late had been so puzzling, so tormenting-sunny and simple again as they had been before the winter. She had

scious of her troub

d. The first act h

!" said the girl; "I s

her nerves thus sharpened she saw everythi

the street; she took possession of this, and stood le

could bear i

omething to you,

es

to her cheek, the words flying to her lips: "You don't giv

n at the street. He

I want to do everything for you-tha

desperate struggle was going on within her. Should she put everything to the proof? Should she challenge directly that influence, that a

was watching, she searched his face, saw it waver and hesitate, saw a troubled line come bet

shouldn't be in t

ffort, and said: "I

going to

ders, and answered: "An engagement that wi

er word, but she could not help the tears of rage rolling down her face. The ho

tes let no man think himse

las's youngest daughter, with her marrie

how they had seen June and

the dress circle, of course. That seemed to be

ted how she had kicked a man's hat as she returned to her seat in the middle of an act, and how the man had looked. Euphemia had a noted, silent laugh, terminating most disappointingly in squeaks; and

a-at! Oh! I

er treat,' was the most miserable she had ever spent. God kno

eeling that her lover must be conquered was strong enough to sustain her t

lipped up to her own room, but old Jolyon, who had

id. "It's been kept hot for you. Yo

he mantelpiece, as her grandfather had done when he came in that night

ed at S

roperty! His wife

es

im, and when she turned her face, he dropped his scrutiny at once. He had seen enough, and too much. He bent down to lift the cu

him, he said: "Good-night, my darling," in a tone so tremulous and unexpected, that it was all the girl cou

on dropped his paper, and stared l

t. 'I always knew she'd

that he felt himself powerless to check or con

t my grand-daughter?" But how could he? Knowing little or nothing, he was yet certain, with his unerring as

t. He's unpractical, he has no method. When he comes here, he sits as glum as a monkey. If I ask him what wine he'll have, he says: "Thanks, any wine." If I offer him a cigar, he smokes it as if it were a twopenny German thing. I never se

paper; in its columns, perch

, where the spring wind came, after its revel across