e did not know how like a tyrant he had become in some small ways, while in the large things he remained generous, urbane, and resourceful. He was in appearance thin

y, Dyck laid down his quill-pen and ey

efore this starkness? Is s

from heaven, y'

done with but-ing, and c

hey've come f

is body stiffening. From Virginia! Who should be come f

irginia?" He knew, b

a last night. Well, in her was one that w

y Mountain. It is her plantation now. It belonged to her uncle, Bryan Llyn. He got it in payment of a debt. He's dead now, and all his lands and wealth have come to her. Her mother, Mrs. Llyn, is with

n impatient gesture

chael. Where

panish Town. The governor waited on them this

them flowers! Hell's fie

lowers here than in

no more while you live, for I'll have none of you. Do you

again. One good turn deserves another. I've also to tell you,

ked Americans to st

and he knew them in

e in Ireland, an

nd they're only good American citizens who own land in this

nformation?" asked Dyck Calh

ke to him. The rest was aisy. He looked me up and down in a flash, like a searchlight playin' on an enemy ship, and then he smiled. 'Well,' said he, 'who might you be? For there's queer folks in Jamaica, I'm told.' So I said I was Michael Clones, and at that he doffed his hat and held out a hand. 'Well, here's luck,' said he. 'Luck at the very start! I've heard of you from my mistress. You're servant to Mr. Dyck Calhoun-ain't that it?' And I nodded, and he smiled again-a smile that'd cost money annywhere else than in Jamaica. He smiled agai

you come to talk about the affairs of Mrs. and

em; her own estate in Virginia bein' in such good runnin' order, and her mind bein' active. Word had come of the trouble with the manager here, and one

her father, they say, Michael. I was punished for it. I came here to be free of all those things-lifted out and away from them all. I longed to forget the past, which is only shame and torture; and here it is all spread out at my door again like a mat, which I must see as I go in and out. Esse

an's eye, and that in his tone, which made me

n't it, in this immense conti

was here bef

rs-English and Jamaican. She knew you had regained

forbidden to return to the British Isles or to the land of my birth, forbidden free traffic as a citizen, hammered out of recogniti

he don't

r let her come here. Her mother knew part of the truth. She hid it all from the gir

er didn't know yo

ght. The girl may have hid from her mother all newspapers referring to m

mother-indeed, he said only what would make me think the girl came

. Your Darius Bola

atter who tells her, sir. T

his matter must be brought to a head. The truth must be to

ck, after dinner, h

ride with

e all the facts with all the evidence, and you are fact and

all kinds of herbs and roots and vagrant trees, Dyck Calhoun and Michael Clones came into Spanish Town. Dyck rode the unpaved streets on his

happily sheltered from the fierce sun. As he had come down from the hills he thought he had never seen the houses look more beautiful in their gardens of wild tamarinds, kennips, cocoa-nuts, pimentos, and palms,

o' me, my

shild de Lo

nk de s

de fric

its coaxing beauty. There a workman with long hair and shag trousers painted the prevailing two-storied house the prevailing colour, white and green. There was a young

t drew the volante, as the gig was called, and the vehicle creaked and cried as it rolled along over the road, which was like a dry river-bed. There a French officer in Hessian boots, white trousers, blue uniform, and much-embroidered scarl

f the Creole class, mulattoes, quadroons and octoroons, Samboes with their wives in loose skirts, white stockings, and pinnacle hats. There also passed, in the streets, black servants with tin cases

had "taken observations"-as looking through the bottom of a glass of liqu

e as he passed through it. Now and then some one doffed a hat to him, and very occasionally some half-drunken citizen tossed at him

s lodgings, which, like most houses in the town, had a lookout or belfry fitted w

Michael, the three from Virginia turned round and faced them. As Dyck came forward, Sheila flushed and trembled. She was no longer a young girl, but her slim straightness and the soft lines of her figure, gave her a dignity and charm whic

did Darius Boland. Both these seemed to realize that the less they saw and heard the better; and they pres

right sprig of the buds of a cherry-tree-a touch of modest luxuriance on a person sparsely ornamented. It was not tropical, this picture of Sheila Llyn; it was a flick of northern life in a summer sky. It was at once cheerful and apart. It had no August in it; no oil and wine. It was the little twig that grew by a running spring. It was fresh, dominant and serene

ut not the Dyck she had looked to see; for this man was like one who had come from a hanging, who had seen his dearest swinging at the end of a rope. His face was set in coldness; his hair was streaked with grey; his forehead had a line

he did not believe he had killed Erris Boyne. As for the later crime of mutiny, that did not concern her much. She was Irish; but, more than that, she was in sympathy with the mutineers. She understood why Dyck Calhoun, enlisting as a common sailor, should take up their cause and run

ling slightly. "There is much to do at Salem," he added calmly, and yet with his

Dublin for you-the gift of a believing f

nt forward and bowed low to Mrs. Llyn. Unlike her daughter, Mrs. Llyn did not offer her hand. She was pale, distraught, tr

d not, Mr. Cal

here to see you? You t

y and firmly. "You know

nded by the law. And you had no r

e in her direction. "She does not know," he s

before. In her white gown, and with her light step, Sheila seemed to float away-a picture graceful, stately, buoyant, "keen and small." As she was about to pass beyond a clump of pimento bushes, she

ard hiding it from her. One never knew whether some chance remark, so

know, and I do not think I did. I have no memory of it. We quarrelled. I drew my sword on him, then he made an explanati

e cause of y

tion it in court at the trial. If I had, perhaps I should not have gone to jail. If I had, perhaps I should not be he

it your duty to save yourself and save your fri

If I had, even had I killed Erris Boyne, the jury would not

hy did

d to make me an officer also and pay me well in French Government money, if I would break my allegiance and serve the French cause-Ah, don't start! He knew I was on my last legs financially. He knew I had acquaintance with young rebel leaders like Emmet, and he felt I

ry overwhelmed her. Yet what the man had done was so qui

y, for you loved my daughter, and the killing made a gulf between you! There could be no marriage in such a case. She could not bear it, nor could you. But please know this, Mr. Calhoun, that she never believed you killed Erris Boyne. She has said so again and again. You are the only man who has ever touched her mind or her senses, though many have sought her. Wherever she goes men try to win her, but she has no thought for any. Her mind goes back to you. Just when

at man in your Republic? It would settle my trouble for me and free her mind from a

and kept her head in all vexed things. She will have her way, and she will have it as she wants it, and in no other manner. She is one of the world's great women. She is unique. Child as she is, she still understands all that men do, and does it. Un

m-like death. His eyes were only two dark fires in a face that was as near to tragic pain crystallized as any the world has seen. Yet there was in it some big commanding thing, that gave it a ghastly handsomeness

and -you did not know that. Even before we left for Virginia he came to see us, and brought her books and flowers, and here, on our arrival, he brought her choicest blooms of his garden. She is rich, and he wo

is herself; and I would rather see her married to a hedger that really loved her than to Lord Mallow, who loves only one being on earth-himself. But see, Mrs. Llyn, now that you know all, now that we three have met again, and this island is small and tragedy is at our doors, don't you think your daughter should be told the truth. It will end everything for me. But it would be better so. It is now only cruelty to hide the truth, harsh to continue a friendship which will only appal her in the end. If we had not met again like this, then silence might have been best; but as she is not cured of her tender friendship made upon the hills at Playmore, isn't it well

age, he realized the task he was putting on her, and his heart relented. "No

"Let it not be to-day. It is our first day here, and we a

nine should show at a time of crisis like this, but there it was. It was this woman's way

I am a mother," s

onvict, and a mut

xplain. When you came I was speaking as I felt, and she

etter to end it all now? Su

ow," was the vexed reply. "Is it a thi

he had seen me to-day, he would not hesitate

t is all so many years ago. It can

settled then-and steady. There is every reason why you should consider me. I ha

heila. Her face was in profile-an exquisite silh

a heavy sigh. The sight of