that at least twenty minutes must elapse before his faithful digestion could also rest from its labours, he lighted a pipe slowly and
ut was to-night fast shut. Another hoisted the breakneck staircase which led to the room above. A third stood blank, while the fourth was just wide enough to frame the tremendous fireplace, which, with its two chimney-corners, made up a bay nearly one half the size of the
upon, satisfactorily discharged the duties for which they were contrived. A battered foot-bath did more. In a word, it received platters and knives and forks which needed
sired; but, since Major Anthony Lyveden did not live in it, that did not trouble him. He used t
ent from the
Under the treatment of these three bluff specialists the handsome face had in a sh
otice and had twenty-one pounds in the wor
e job has been considered and abusively rejected by five ex-other ranks on the score that it is "not good enough"; as an ex-officer myself, I disagr
pplied by telegram,
merged from the London train into t
the physique of an Atlas, and, after a little delay, Lyveden had found himself seated in a high dog-cart, which, in the wake
dener-that's what I want." Anthony's brain reeled. "That's what I am myself. Listen. I've inherited this estate, which has been let go for over a hundred years. There isn't a foot of fencing that isn't rotten, a road that you can walk on, a bridge that is safe. The woods-it's all woodland-have gone to blazes. I want to pull it round.... Fifty R.E.'s and a Labour Battalion is what it wants, but that's a dream. I've tried the obvi
it," said Lyveden.
he roads are so bad we can't get the timber through. It's all sawn
Lyveden had found himself violently interested
m at Girdle for the best part of a week, had abetted his determination to take immediate possession with a grateful heart, presenting his new tenant with some blankets and an e
the biggest ones, perhaps, in all Lyveden's life. In that short
den's enterprise had been stifled: for months Necessity had kept his intellect chained to a pantry-sink: such ambition as he had had was famished. To crown it all, Love had lugged him into the very porch of Paradise, to slam the gates in his f
y an unruly rabble-dogs with their paws upon the table, eating the children's bread-where avenues and glades were choked with thickets, where clearings had become brakes, and vistas and prospects were screened by aged upstarts that knew no law; when they followed the broken roads, where fallen banks sprawled on the fairway, and the laborious rain had worn ruts into straggling ditches, where culverts had given way and the damm
is time among these glorious woods, to have a healthy occupation which would never be gone, to enjoy
lessen the mysteries of the unknown world, travel the trackless earth, sail on uncharted seas, trudge on eternal snows, to sweat and shiver under s
ion pricked up its
e broken roads mended, the bridges rebuilt, streams back in their beds, vistas unshuttered, avenues cleared.... He saw himself striving, one of a little company sworn to redeem the stolen property. Man ha
rough eloquence of the great days the place had seen, of lords and ladies who had slept at the house, of coaches that had r
rth three lines and a photograph of the 'Brigadier Breaks Stones' order. But there's a zest to the job you won't find in Pall Mall. There's an encou
as t
e touched it. As it was, a third of it went into his tool-bag. The appalling magnitude of the task never worried him-nor, for the matter of that, his fellow-workers. Master and men went toiling from dawn to dusk under a spell, busy, tireless as gnomes, faithful as knights to their trust. Their zeal was quick with the devotion to a caus
us ramble, which nothing but nightfall could curtail. To his delight, too, Anthony and the other men showed an unexpected and eventful interest in stones and boughs an
for he is stretched upon the warm bricks in a slumber
o the old grey house alone-and the going is ill, as you know, and the night, if young, is evil. A whole gale is coming, and the woods are beside themselves. The thrash of a million branches, the hoarse booming o
old fellow, full of years, gone to his long home. For the last time the squirrels have swung from his boughs: for the last time the rooks have sailed an
ned intently, as if he hoped that he had been mistaken, and that the sound he had hear
*
id the Judge, snapping a wafer
wine-waiter, who had been about to refill his glass with por
never have reached him. But, if it did, he may not have t
dge, "naturally. Still,
en drawn. The surface thus exposed gave back such light as fell upon it enriched and mellow
oise. A brace of shaded candles to each small table made up nine several nebulae, whose common radiance provoked an atmosphere of sober mystery, dim and convenient. Light so subdued subdued in turn the tones of the company of hosts and visitors. Conversation became an exchange of confidences; laughter was
again?" said
ll stared at his p
to push the matter, because I've got so very little to go on. In
said his guest. "But t
'm fairly
ved. For a Justice of the King's Bench suddenly to be consumed by a desire to know the names of the uncles of somebody else's footman smacked of collaboration by Gilbert and Cha
I left, while I was resting after luncheon, the manager of the hotel brought a priest to my room-a Catholic priest of
s desire to the attendant doctor had resulted in the latter dashing into the street and stopping and returning with the first priest he encountered. This happened to be my friend. Upon beholding him, the patient, who had hoped
ght of. To the laity, solicitor, lawyer, barrister, and attorney are synonymous
hen in the sickroom I drew the will upon a sheet of notepaper. He signed it in my presence and that of the priest. The latter then took
ome the s
ves evidence before me in a burglary case. A footman called Anthony Lyveden. For a long time I couldn't imagine where I'd heard the names before. Then somethin
He didn't look like a fellow who'd run through money, and I think the old testator was pretty rich. He gave that impression. And for a will made in
r sipped his
"should give us the maiden surname of Anthon
ill raised his
to me," he said. "It's
of A
omerset House had revealed the fact that a son named Anthony had been born upo
the Judge exc
ote there and then s
BLI
n you can submit a Christian name to my memory, please d
erely, GIL
*
pursuit, yet-he and the galley are both of this world; things temporal only keep them apart, and if the master came pricking, with a whip in his belt.... You must remember that Anthony had been used very ill. At first, bound to the oar of Love, he had pulled vigorously and found the sea silken, his chains baubles. Then a storm had arisen. In his hands the docile oar had become a raging termagant, and, when he would h
ed the last coach but one upon a London train and partially destroyed two mailbags before its flames were subdued. It follow
ient, believe me,
rain-pan, we should have found his supplication that the missive might go astray even more urgent. We should have noted that, while he was just as fearful to be reminded of the galley a
quite clea
ever after. The Fabulous Age being dead, Anthony made the best shift he could, and strove to bury kingdom and queen together so deep within him that their existence should not trouble his life. If he could not put out the light, he would hide it under a bushel. It occurred to him that his mind, appropriately occupied, should make an excellent bushel-appropriately occupied.... He resolved that Gramarye should have his mind. Of this he would make a kingdom, mightier and more material than that of his heart. The trouble was, his mind, though more tractable, liked Valerie's occupation, found it desirable, and clung to its present tenant for all it w
thin end of
weight, when Valerie's hold seemed indefeasible, when the woods were quick with memory, when Anthony heard an old faint sigh in the wind, and the laughter of a brook fluted the note of a soft familiar voice, then more than
how loudly a chore called for completion, no matter how blackly wind and weather were threatening the half-done work, upon Wednesday afternoon and Sunday not an axe was lifted, not a cord hitched, not a nail driven. It was a wise rule and fruitfu
nterviewed and paid. A kindly farmer's wife, who baked fresh meat for him and sent it thrice a week to his cottage in the shape of a cold pas
load of fuel had to be stacked, and Patch had been bogged that morning and was, consequently, fit neither to be seen nor sme
e had had a fall hunting. That Anthony did not remark this was because he was regarding her horse. There was nothing unusual about the animal
infamous Gallowstree Hill, he saw the lady before him with her mount across the r
e so good?"
plea
ept the whip. Anthony, if he thought about it at all, attributed the scene to caprice. In this he was right, yet wrong. Caprice was the indirect reason. The
stepped Conversat
e of a toss, and I lost him. A labourer caught him, and then let him go again. By the time I'd got him, the hounds were miles away.
ng by her side, l
said. Then: "I hope
on the point. But a hot bath'll
ile on. At
l stare
ama
ny. "I live in the cottage at
D'you work
ny no
's my
jor Lyveden?"
y look
you know?
Then the red lips parted, and André Strongi'th'arm
f Girdle, and the fact escape the notice of the other parishioners?" She hesitated, and a suggestion o
I am," sa
with an elaborate courtesy. "Thank you very mu
r broke i
r. "Please walk again." She pulled the hor
t worse. You're much too honest. Besides, I love the count
n y
arrestingly pathetic, and André sta
to a thirsty plant.... I suppose
you set straight, that you just can't hold your hand. And all the time the work's so fascinating that you don't deserve an
upon your heart. All the same, are you sure you were meant for this? Are
over," sa
lf and others-to give it the whole of your life? As estates go, I fancy the possibilities of Eden were even more amazing than tho
e result
ngi'th'ar
with our destinies in our pockets and the great round world
ony, "and I'm still lame from it. And Fat
ame to," said André, leaning forward and caressing h
norted, and Anthony found himself jo
ur is still kicking. And that under the mud appears to be a scrap
id Lyveden, "monks ar
no rule agai
es are made to cope with inclinations. Where there's no inclination--" She broke off suddenly and checked her horse. Setting her
there was no inclination. Eagerness, presumably, left no room for Merriment. Or else the matter was too high, too thoughtful. Not that they laboured sadly-far from it. Indeed, their daily ro
ou?" he sa
hen their lids hid them. With flushed
ye. So you be careful. Bar your door of nights. Frame rules against laughter a
be behind her to pick it up and have the honou
cried André, preten
Gramarye say?
was cantering up the
she flung up an arm and
y wave
*
lie upon the huge tiger-skin before the hearth, or gravely to face her father across that very table and draw houses and flights of steps and stiff-legged men and women with flat feet upon his notepaper, while Mr. French dealt with his correspondence. Always, when the picture was comp
ath. There were who said he had died of a broken heart-a heart broken nine y
e influence of a grand piano and the soft-toned cretonnes upon the leather chairs, the solemnity of the chamber me
whipped from her doors the very finest gentleman in all the world. What was a thousand times worse, he had completely vanished. Had she known where he was, she would have gone straight to him and, kneeling upon her knees, begged his forgiveness. Her pride was already in tatters, her vanity in rags: could she have found him, she would have stripped the two mother-naked. In a word, she would have done anything which it is in the power of a mortal to do to win back that wonder of happiness which they had together built up. It must be remembered that Valerie was no fool. She realized wholly that without Anthony Lyveden Life
d appreciated her plight, so much the better for her. Only her aunt and the Alisons could possibly help at all; to those four she spoke plainly, telling the cold facts and feeling the warmth of well-doing in tearing her pride to tatters. Then she rent her vanity and begged their services to find and, if necessary, plead for her wi
upon every incoming post. Then she
nd of Anthony Lyveden. Except she drew upon the store of Memory, she had nothing else at all that spoke of him. Hence the common env
night when he and she had paced those flags together, while music had floated out of the gallery, and the stars had leaped in the heavens, and the darkness had quivered at the breath of the cool night ai
red pulpit. Before she was half-way there the desire had faded, but she went listlessly on. Come to the top, she turned to let her eye wander over the nearest shelf. Old, little-read volumes only met her gaze-Hoole's works, Jessey, John Sadler, Manley.... Of the ten small volumes containing Miss Manl
temples, her little palms hiding the misery of that striking face, her knees convulsively closed, that shining foot tucked beneath the other in the contortion of grief. We w
*
t, the work had gone well. A bridge had been finished which should laugh to scorn the elements for a long century; a sore-needed staf
ing back; the frozen silence of the firmament hung like a magic cloak upon the shoulders of darkness; the
water drawn from the well; within twenty, the few odd jobs on whose performance the comfort of regularity depended, had been disposed o
o ankle. Tight-fitting about the calf, but not shaped to the leg, they fell well over the tops of the heavy boots, resting, indeed, upon the insteps. They suited Anthony, for whom they might have been made, admirably. They were, moreover, a wholly redeeming feature, and turned his garb from that of a thousand corporals into the homely attire of a gentleman farmer. So soon as you saw them, you forgot the War. The style of th
his pipe, when the Sealyham growled. Anthony, whose ears were becoming sharper every day, listened intently. Th
ony followed the terrier and, picking
conscience is clear. I warned you. And since you are at home and th
tepped to
ne," he said
e! I'm just perished," she added, crossing to spread he
latter ran to the lady and sniffed the hem of her
o be walking the countryside in even
. I happened to be passing and I happened to see your light, so I thou
e," said Lyve
an order
but I'd hate people to talk about you." He felt himself flushing, and went on jerkily: "I mean, I don't honestly kn
little sil
s smile. "I've never been lectured by a mon
extraor
asure it." She produced a cigarette case. "May I sm
d Anthony str
dded comfortably. "Oh, please don't look so reproachful! I just can't bear it. I'm no
possibly-I mean..." He broke off helplessly and touche
t either. I'd much rather stand." And, with that, my lady set her b
isite complexion a jolly look; the bright brown eyes and the merry mouth were those of a Bacchante. Above her plain black frock her throat and chest showed dazzling whit
"is Gramarye? Have yo
stared
you know?
arm shrugged her
lse-if you can. Have you thought over what I said? No. I can s
't think
.. Wh
ng to laugh at. The
the War
the hearth and kick
o," he said
laughed e
, bu
t w
nds. The work's too urgent-too solemn. It's like restoring a cathedral. You don't feel you want to laugh." He swung round and faced her. "There's a religion in
her cigarette and caught her
now you're going-you!" The flame died out of her voice leaving it tender and passionate. "And you're too wonderful a thing, lad; you're too perfect a specimen; you're too strong and gentle ... too honest.... Ah"-her hands slipped from his shoulders and her eyes dropped-"you needn't look so reproachful. I know I'm a rotter. I dropped my cr
ony passed with
simply not
ondon road. André opened its door, thrust in a groping hand.... For a moment her fingers hunted. Then two shafts
g with her back to Lyveden, she pulled them on fiercely, but her hands
te way, put his head on one side and stared up the line
stened, André
put out
," he sai
his head and kissed him frantically. A moment later she was leaning wearily against the car, with the sleeve of h
hony swung on his heel and faced the speaker.
" he said
an electri
urned to Miss
e," he said. "My feelin
try to forgive me." H
water for her radiator,
d!" said Winch
ie!" flam
e fairly whistled. Instin
g. And I'm glad you saw it. Glad!" She tore off her left glove. "Because it's your own fault. It's eighteen months since I promised to be your wife. Eighteen solid months. And I'm tired-sick of waiting-fed up. First it was Russia: then the North of France: then-Gramarye. Gramarye!" She flung back her head and laughed wildly. Then she snatched a ring from her finger
moment, white-faced, her lips trembling.... Then she whipped into the car and slammed the do
road, she changed into second s
ft them, motionless, the little
the engine grew f
thony turned and touched t
ways Gramar
him. Then he straightened his bow
d, "yes. There's