would remain in Waltonville-what kept him here she could not imagine. In the second place, she preferred to behave as though distinguished persons were her daily visitors. Sh

in summer when all but a few of

er astonished and frightened guests down to little tables, furnished them with paper and pencil and required them to write, beside the words "Popular Bishop" or "Little Misses' Adoration" or "Curiosity Depicter," the names of the famous individuals whose initials were thus indicated an

inside her screen door she had heard that he did not lack words or a will to use them. Thomasina Davis coul

were so very homely and she loved to listen to Thomasina's voice. Thomasina seemed to be so complete, and though she gave so much to other people, she seemed to be so wholly sufficient for herself. It must be dreadful, Cora thought, to grow old and not to have been married, even though one had everything else, good looks and a lovely house and beautiful clothes and perfect independence. Even those could not compensate for being an old maid. But Thomasina really seemed not to mind. She could, Cora believed, always be happy wi

and more elated as the hours passed. She had read of the curious and interesting behavior of celebrated persons at parties-perhaps she would henceforth have her own anecdotes to relate. She had asked a number of persons about Basil Everman, including her black 'Celie, who

ing to get some sort of literary position? Dr. Scott, when questioned, said that she was the best pupil

wouldn't know of a

ffensive animal prepared for sacrifice and entirely aware of the intentions of his master. He longed for his quiet study, longed for his comfortable chair, longed for his English magazine with a new article by Pater. The prospect of an evening spent in company with the stranger and

h Cora, who answered him in monosyllables. Cora was always ready for everything, and in her quiet way was equal to any task which might fall to her lot. She did not like the stranger, and when he began to sing the praises of Eleanor Bent's appearance and

pecial reason for inviting them. Professor Myers spoke English with difficulty, and his wife scarcely spoke at all in any language, and never upon subjects which

, with what was to Mrs. Scott delightful courtesy, she looked upon his overtures with an emotion which was plainly

the Listers had come. At sight of Utterly in the midst of her friends, Mr

Dr. Lister, himself annoyed. "I'll make exc

e of his mother. Thus Mrs. Lister liked to walk and si

greetings. She selected a chair as far from Mr. Utterly as possible. He, she was sure, looked sorry to see her. Had he meant t

d to himself, a real person, here was some one with spirit and sense, and, unless he read all signs wrongly, with a mind. There was a little stir among Mrs. Scott's guests. Mrs. Lister's f

ed where Mrs. Scott had found this citizen of the world. She did not accept the offer of his chair, but swept back to sit by Mrs. Lister and to bestow upon Mrs. Myers jus

in complimenting Dr. Scott upon the excellence of his product. He believed that every married man had his symbol of subjection, every Hercules his distaff. Dr. Scott's was an ice-cream freezer. His failure to arrive on time did not disturb any o

ympathetic when Utterly laughed at Boston. Such iconoclasm was daring and delightful. What, then, was doing in New York? Utterly answered at length. As he had discoursed to Eleanor Bent, so he now discoursed to Mrs. Scott and her g

llow!" crie

ly la

t take Longfellow seriou

cott had taken Longfello

d in more explosive tones. "'Thanato

a little talent at peace w

lly. "You astonish me!" She looked about at her

he shed his veneer of fine manners. To the mouth agape beside him he brought large mouthfuls. There were anecdotes of celebrated writers, true and untrue, pleasant and unpleasant, new and ancient, widely circulated or unknown, published and sometimes not fit for publication. This man, the author of peculiarly spiritual essays and exhortations, was in private life peculiarly unspiritual and evi

are with that of literary men abroad. He wandered now into the past and demolished f

mall heed to her other guests, and did not observe that upon Dr. Lister's countenance astonishment struggled with weariness, that Profess

once or twice Richard turned an impertinently inquiring face towar

iving that attention which his parts deserved. Professor Myers, awa

othing worth in America

at all were not able to enjoy the mental food which she found palatable, she summoned Cora and Richard to the piano, and they obeyed prom

ected her in his commanding young way and she obeyed smilingly and gratefully

f digital agility and of power to make a loud noise, the performance was a success; otherwise it was worse than a failure. Cora glanced out of the corner of her eye

nt toward

long in Waltonvi

inciting to further talk which was one of her chief charms. She l

oubt of Thomasina's having lived anywhe

interesting to

wered Thoma

he lives spent he

robably no higher here than elsewhere. People c

was a period when abstract opinions fell o

know Basil Eve

bring in the refreshments provided by Mrs. Scott, the sound of voices from the porch had sunk to a gentle murmur. Into Thom

question as though she were trying to make he

Utterly, "Ba

him all

tell me

u what a

e, how he spoke and walked-

her breast as though it were a shield. She could not qui

you know

lard's Magazine' and we are anxious to le

to give out light. Webster's eyes are said to have had that effect. If you had ever seen Basil, you would know what that meant. He was extraordinarily quick of mind and speech and motion. Sometimes, as a boy, he seemed to give an impression of actual flight. He had mental

artled face of Mrs. Lister, cameo-like, against the black foliage of the honeysuckle vines. It was plain to Thomasina that what she was saying g

ly was sure of hi

sina's voice the life had gone. "He

masina, but, moved either from within or without, she had paused. He rai

facts of his life are cheating him of the fame which he deserves, they are willfully and intentionally doing him an injury. It is a strange thing that here in this college community, where one would e

er's white, shocked face and watched a little uneasily the rapid pulse in her neck. He continued to talk until

im to go. He waited for Thomasina and she waited for Mrs. Lister. Finall

see you to-mo

es

to see Basil Eve

es

e and Thomasina passed through the campus gate. "He was Mrs. L

es

w that he wa

es

published w

N

This man Utterly was at Commencement. I never saw a m

an old friend and selected a piano,

well, doe

arkness Thomasina turned upon Dr. Green an inquiri

Bent's piano. "This man said he found some

es

rman an extrao

e brick pavement whose roughnesse

I was one, and Basil Everman was the other. In addition to his ambition, Basil had genius. He could hav

deeply stirred. Dr. Green was not in the habit of giving much thought to the problems of other people, and now it came upon him with a shock that she could hardly have arrived at the

uld like to have

cheerfully, already

what I mean. Thank you f

tly out the flag walk. Basil Everman's step

back of the room and sat down in a deep chair just inside it and looked out upon her garden. The garden was shut in by a high wall; in the center stood a pair of old, low-spreading apple trees; round

the greatest Niagaras of water. You are the first human being who

Scott, sadly, "I ha

except that of a moth, huge and heavy-winged. Thomasina herself sat perfectly still

me of this?" s

d began to pace up and down. An hour later, when even Mrs

paths, since a direct course would have brought upon them the company of the Myerses

ly, "what is the matter? Wh

answer until they ha

Basil from his grave! I c

e wrong any one? This young man is ill-bred, but he is evidently sin

ed hesitatingly, c

h, Thomas, he went away in anger and we couldn't find him; we never saw him or heard of him till h

d came up o

aid he. "Who is this man Utterly? He sat there beside Miss Thomasina

aid his say about Basil Everman. Mrs. Lister found in his absence one cause fo