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 Ll E. RAR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 U N IVERSITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 v.l
 
 THE STAR-GAZERS 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 THE STAR-GAZERS 
 
 BY 
 
 G. MANVILLE FENN 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 ELIS' CHILDREN,' 'a DOUBLE KNOT,' ' THE NEW MISTRESS,' ETC., ETC. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES 
 VOL. I. 
 
 iI5leti)uen ^ OTo. 
 
 i8 BURY STREET, W.C. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 1894
 
 
 CON TEN TS 
 
 t ' 
 
 jr> CHAPTER I. 
 
 ^^ PAGE 
 
 LOADSTARS, ....... I 
 
 "^ CHAPTER II. 
 
 z 
 
 ^ MARS ON THE HORIZON, ..... 9 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI, . . . . 20 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 r;:^ SERPENS, 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 V. 
 
 ^ VIRGO ASLEEP, 
 
 
 • 
 
 4 
 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 VI. 
 
 ^DUST IN 
 
 THE 
 
 OBSERVATORY, 
 
 
 ^"^ 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 VII. 
 
 -3» 
 
 
 
 
 ^ PLANETS 
 
 IN OPPOSITION, 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 33 
 
 41 
 
 50 
 
 77
 
 vi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. PAGE 
 
 MARS IN THE ASCENDANT, ..... 84 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION, . . . . . 93 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A CLOUDY SKY, . . . . . . II5 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 IN A MIST, ....... 120 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY, .... I30 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE, ..... I43 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS, ..... 160 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 GLYNNE LOOKS AT THE MOON. THE PROFESSOR AT HIS 
 
 HEART, ....... 177
 
 THE STAR-GAZERS
 
 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 LODESTARS. 
 
 Ben Hayle, keeper, stepped out of his rose-covered 
 cottage in Thereby Wood ; big, black-whiskered, 
 dark-eyed and handsome, with the sun-tanned look of 
 a sturdy Englishman, his brown velveteen coat and 
 vest and tawny leggings setting off his stalwart form* 
 As he cleared the porch, he half-turned and set 
 down his carefully kept double-barrelled gun against 
 the rough trellis-work; as, at the sound of his foot, 
 there arose from a long, moss-covered, barn-like build- 
 ing, a tremendous barking and yelping. 
 
 ' Now then : that'll do ! ' he shouted, as he walked 
 towards the great double door, which was dotted with 
 the mortal remains of what he termed ' varmin ' — to 
 wit, the nailed-up bodies of stoats, weasels, hawks, 
 owls, magpies and jays, all set down as being the 
 deadly enemies of the game he reared and preserved 
 VOL. L A
 
 2 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 for Mrs Rolph at The Warren. But even these were 
 not the most deadly enemies of the pheasants and 
 partridges, Thoreby Wood being haunted by sundry 
 ne'er-do-weels who levied toll there, in spite of all 
 Ben Hayle's efforts and the stern repression of the 
 County Bench. 
 
 ' May as well stick you up too,' said Ben, as he took 
 a glossy-skinned polecat from where he had thrown 
 it that morning, after taking it from a trap. 
 
 He opened one of the doors, and two Gordon setters 
 and a big black retriever bounded out, to leap up, dance 
 around him, and make efforts, in dog-like fashion, to 
 show their delight and anxiety to be at liberty once 
 more. 
 
 'Down, Bess! Down, Juno! Steady, Sandy! 
 Quiet ! Good dogs, then,' he cried, as he entered the 
 barn, took a hammer from where it hung, and a nail 
 from a rough shelf, and with the dogs looking on 
 after sniffing at the polecat, as if they took human 
 interest in the proceeding, he nailed the unfortunate, 
 ill-odoured little beast side by side with the last 
 gibbeted offender, a fine old chinchilla-coated grey 
 rat. 
 
 ' 'Most a pity one can't serve Master Caleb Kent 
 the same. Dunno, though,' he added with a chuckle. 
 ' Time was— that was years ago, though, and nobody 
 can't say I've done badly since. But I did hope we'd 
 seen the last of Master Caleb.' 
 
 Ben Hayle took off his black felt hat, and gave his
 
 LODESTARS. 3 
 
 dark, grizzled hair a scratch, and his face puckered up 
 as he put away the hammer, to stand thinking. 
 
 * No, hang him, he wouldn't dare ! ' 
 
 Ben walked back to the porch to take up his gun, 
 and a look of pride came to brighten his face, as just 
 then a figure appeared in the porch in the shape of 
 Judith Hayle, a tall, dark-eyed girl of twenty, strik- 
 ingly like her father, and, as she stood framed in 
 the entrance, she well warranted the keeper's look of 
 pride. 
 
 ' Are you going far ? ' 
 
 ' 'Bout the usual round, my dear. Why, Judy, the 
 place don't seem to be the same with you back home. 
 But it is dull for you, eh ? ' 
 
 * Dull, father ? No,' said the girl laughing. 
 
 ' Oh, I dunno. After your fine ways up at The 
 Warren with Miss Marjorie and the missus, it must 
 seem a big drop down to be here again.' 
 
 ' Don't, father. You know I was never so happy 
 anywhere as here.' 
 
 * But you are grown such a lady now ; I'm 'most 
 afraid of you.' 
 
 ' No you are not. I sometimes wish that Mrs 
 Rolph had never had me at the house.' 
 
 'Why?' 
 
 ' Because it makes you talk to me like that.' 
 
 'Well, then, I won't say another word. There, I 
 must be off, but — ' 
 
 He hesitated as if in doubt.
 
 4 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * Yes, father.' 
 
 ' Well, I was only going to say, I see young Caleb 
 has come back to the village, and knowing how he 
 once — ' 
 
 ' Come back, father ! ' cried Judith, with a look of 
 alarm. 
 
 ' Yes, I thought I'd tell you ; but I don't think he'll 
 come nigh here again.' 
 
 ' Oh, no, father, I hope not,' said the girl, looking 
 thoughtfully towards the wood, with her brows knit- 
 ting. 
 
 ' He'd better not,' said the keeper, picking up and 
 tapping the butt of his gun. ' Might get peppered 
 with number six. Good-bye, my dear.' 
 
 He kissed her, walked to the edge of the dense fir 
 wood, gave a look back at the figure by the porch, 
 and then plunged in among the bushes and dis- 
 appeared, closely followed by the eager dogs, while 
 Judith stood frowning at the place where he had dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 ' I wish father wouldn't be so close,' thought the 
 girl. ' He must know why I'm sent back home. It 
 wasn't my fault ; I never tried ; but he was always after 
 me. Oh, how spiteful Miss Madge did look.' 
 
 She went into the cottage to stand by the well- 
 polished grate, her hand resting upon the mantel- 
 piece, whose ornaments were various fittings and 
 articles belonging to the gamekeeper's craft, above 
 which, resting in well-made iron racks, were a couple
 
 LODESTARS. 5 
 
 of carefully cared-for guns ; one an old flint-lock fowl- 
 ing-piece, the other a strong single-barrel, used for 
 heavier work, and in which the keeper took special pride. 
 
 ' Caleb,' she said with a shudder, ' come back ! 
 Well, I was so young then.' 
 
 As Ben Hayle went thoughtfully along the path, 
 trying to fit into their places certain matters which 
 troubled him, the man of whom they had both been 
 thinking was near at hand, so that, as the gamekeeper 
 was saying to himself, — ' Yes : it's because young 
 squire come home to stay that the missus has sent 
 her back,' — Caleb Kent stood before him in the path, 
 the dogs giving the first notice of his presence by 
 dashing forward, uttering low growls, and slipping 
 round the slight, dark, good-looking, gipsy-like fellow 
 coming in the opposite direction. 
 
 ' Hallo, you, sir ! ' said the keeper sharply. 
 
 'And hallo, you, sir!' retorted the young man, 
 showing his white teeth as he thrust his hands far 
 down in his cord breeches pockets, and, as he stopped, 
 passing one cord legging over the other. 
 
 ' What are you doing here ? ' 
 
 ' Looking at you, Ben Hayle. Path's free for me 
 as it is for you. No, I aren't got a gun in two pieces 
 in my pockets. You needn't look. You know how 
 that's done.' 
 
 * If I'd been you, I'd ha' stopped away altogether,' 
 said the keeper, ' and not come back here, where 
 nobody wants you.'
 
 6 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Pity you weren't me. Six months' hard would 
 have done you good once more.' 
 
 * When I get six months' imprisonment, it won't be 
 for night poaching, but for putting a charge of shot 
 in you, you lunging hound. And don't you let that 
 tongue of yours wag so fast, young man. I'm not 
 ashamed of it. Everyone knows I did a bit of poach- 
 ing when I was a young fool, and did my bit in quod 
 for that trouble with the keepers. But they know too 
 that, when I came out, and the captain's father come 
 to me and said, " Drop it, my lad, and be an honest 
 man," I said I would, and served him faithful ; so 
 shut your mouth before I do it with the stock of my 
 gun.' 
 
 ' All right, mate, don't be waxey. Look here : — 
 s'pose I turn honest too.' 
 
 ' You ! ' said the keeper, scornfully. 
 
 * Yes, me ; and marry Judy.' 
 
 * That'll do,' cried the keeper sharply, 
 
 ' No it won't, we're old sweethearts — Judy and me.' 
 ' That'll do, I say. Now, cut.' 
 
 * When I like,' said the man, with a sneer. * Better 
 let me marry her ; the captain won't' 
 
 The keeper caught him by the throat. 
 ' Will you keep that cursed tongue still ! ' 
 ' No, I won't,' cried the young man fiercely, and 
 with a savage look in his eyes. * I know, even if I 
 have been away. I know all about it. But I'm in 
 that little flutter, Ben Hayle.'
 
 LODESTARS. 7 
 
 * Curse you ! hold your tongue, will you/ roared the 
 keeper ; and the dogs began to bark fiercely as he 
 forced the young poacher back against a tree, but 
 only to release him, as a quick sharp voice, called to 
 the dogs, which dashed up to the new-comer, leaping 
 to be caressed. 
 
 * Hallo ! what's up ? You here again ? ' 
 
 Captain Robert Rolph, of The Warren, and of Her 
 Majesty's 20th Dragoon Guards, a well-set-up, athletic- 
 looking fellow, scowled at the poacher, and the colour 
 came a Httle into his cheeks. 
 
 * Oh yes, I'm back again, master.' 
 
 * Then take my advice, sir ; go away again to some- 
 where at a distance.' 
 
 The young man gave him a sidelong glance, and 
 laughed unpleasantly. 
 
 * Look here, Caleb Kent : you're a smart-looking 
 fellow. Go up to Trafalgar Square. You'll find one 
 of our sergeants there. Take the shilling, and they'll 
 make a man of you. You'll be in my regiment, and 
 I'll stand your friend.' 
 
 * Thankye for nothing, captain. 'List so as to be 
 out of your way, eh ? Not such a fool.' 
 
 *0h, very well then, only look out, sir. I'll see 
 that Sir John Day doesn't let you off so easily next 
 time you're in trouble.' 
 
 ' Ketch me first,' said the young man ; and giving 
 the pair an ugly, unpleasant look, he walked 
 away.
 
 8 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Not me,' he muttered. ' I haven't done yet ; wait 
 a bit.' 
 
 * No good, sir,' said the keeper, looking after the 
 young poacher till he was out of sight. ' Bad blood, 
 sir ; bad blood.' 
 
 *Yes, I'm afraid so. Morning, Hayle. Er — Miss 
 Hayle quite well ? ' 
 
 ' Yes sir, thank you kindly,' said the keeper ; and 
 then, as the captain walked away, he trudged on 
 through the woods, talking to himself. 
 
 * Miss Haylel he said, and he turned a bit red in 
 the face. ' Well, she is good enow for him or any 
 man ; but no, no, that would never do. Don't be a 
 fool, Ben, my lad : you don't want trouble to come. 
 Trouble,' he muttered, as he half cocked his gun, 
 * why, I'd — bah ! ' he ejaculated, cooling down ; ' what's 
 the good o' thinking things like that ? Better pepper 
 young Caleb. D — n him! he set me thinking it. 
 Captain's right enough. I like a man who's fond of a 
 bit of sport.' 
 
 As it happened. Captain Rolph was thinking, in a 
 somewhat similar vein, of poachers and dark nights, 
 and opportunities for using a gun upon unpleas- 
 ant people. But these thoughts were pervaded, too, 
 with bright eyes and cheeks, and he said to him- 
 self,— 
 
 ' He'd better ; awkward for him if he does.'
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MARS ON THE HORIZON. 
 
 In the drawing-room at The Warren, Mrs Rolph, a 
 handsome, dignified lady of five-and-forty, was sitting 
 back, with her brows knit, looking frowningly at a 
 young and pretty girl of nineteen, whose eyes were 
 puzzling, for in one light they seemed beautiful, in 
 another shifting. She was a Rosetti-ish style of girl, 
 with too much neck, a tangle of dark red hair, and 
 lips of that peculiar pout seen in the above artist's 
 pictures, in conjunction with heavily-lidded eyes, and 
 suggesting at one moment infantile retractation from 
 a feeding-bottle, at another parting from the last kiss. 
 There was a want of frankness in her countenance 
 that would have struck a stranger at once, till she 
 spoke, when the soft, winning coo of her voice proved 
 an advocate which made the disingenuous looks and 
 words fade into insignificance. 
 
 Her voice sounded very sweet and low now, as she 
 said softly,^ 
 
 ' Are you not judging dear Robert too hardly, 
 aunt ? ' 
 
 * No, Madge, no. It is as plain as can be ; he thinks 
 9
 
 lo THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 of nothing else when he comes home — he, a man to 
 whom any alliance is open, to be taken in like that by 
 a keeper's — an ex-poacher's daughter.' 
 
 * Judith is very lady-like and sweet,' said Marjorie 
 softly, as if to herself 
 
 * Madge, do you want to make me angry ? ' cried 
 Mrs Rolph, indignantly. ' Shame upon you ! And 
 it is partly your fault. You have been so cold and 
 distant with him, when a few gentle words would 
 have brought him to your side.' 
 
 * I am sure you would not have liked me to be 
 different towards him. You would not have had me 
 throw myself at his feet.' 
 
 The words were as gentle-sounding as could be, 
 but all the same there was a suggestion of strength 
 behind, if the speaker cared to exert it. 
 
 * No, no, it is not your fault, my dear,' cried Mrs 
 Rolph, angrily ; * it is mine, I can see it all now. It 
 was a foolish mistake having her here. Educating a 
 girl like that is a great error, and I see it now that it 
 is too late. Oh, Madge, dear, if I could see him 
 happily wedded to you, how different things might 
 be. But I declare that nothing shall ever induce 
 me to consent. If he will go on in utter rebellion 
 to his mother, he must do so.' 
 
 * But is it too late, aunt ? ' 
 
 * Unless you rouse yourself up to the position, act 
 like a woman of the world, and drag him from this 
 wretched girl. Oh, it is too disgraceful. If I had only
 
 MARS ON THE HORIZON. ii 
 
 thought to send her away before his regiment was 
 quartered so near.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Marjorie, musingly, ' but it is too late 
 now.' 
 
 * Then you will not try ? ' 
 
 ' I did not say so. Here he is.' 
 
 There was a step in the hall, the sound of a stick 
 being thrust carelessly into a stand, and, directly after, 
 Rolph tramped into the room. 
 
 * Ah, Madge,' he said, in a careless, easy way ; 
 and, ignoring the smile of welcome with which she 
 greeted him, he walked across to his mother's 
 chair. 
 
 * Well,' he said, ' how is the head ? ' and he stooped 
 down and kissed her brow. 
 
 * Not at all well, my dear,' she said affectionately. 
 ' I think I will go up to my room.' 
 
 * Have a drive, dear ; I'll order the tandem out.' 
 
 * No, no, my dear, I shall be better soon.' 
 She rose, kissed him", and left the room. 
 
 * Dodge to leave Madge and me together,' muttered 
 the young man. ' All right. Bring things to a 
 climax.' 
 
 ' How very little we see of you, Robert,' said Madge 
 softly. * So much training ? ' 
 
 ' Health. Shows how wise I have grown. I'm like 
 pepper ; a little of me is very nice — too much an 
 abomination.' 
 
 Marjorie sighed.
 
 12 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Hallo ! Been reading poetry ? ' 
 
 * No/ said the girl, in a low, pained voice. ' I was 
 thinking.' 
 
 ' Thinking, eh ? What about ? ' 
 
 * Of how changed you are from the nice frank boy 
 who used to be so loving and tender.' 
 
 ' Ah, I was rather a milksop, Madge ; wasn't I ? ' 
 
 * I never thought so ; and it pains me to hear you 
 speak so harshly of yourself What has made you 
 alter so ? ' 
 
 ' Ask Dame Nature. I was a boy ; now I am a 
 man.' 
 
 Marjorie sighed, and gave him a long, sad look. 
 ' Well/ he said, ' what is the matter ? ' 
 She looked at him again, long and wistfully. 
 ' As if you did not know,' she said. 
 
 * Know ? How should I know ? ' 
 
 ' Then I'll tell you,' she cried quickly. 
 
 'No, no; confide in some lady friend.' 
 
 ' Robert,' she said, in a low, husky voice, and her 
 whole manner changed, her eyes flashed and the lines 
 about her lips grew hard. ' What have I done that 
 you should treat me like this ? ' 
 
 ' Done ? Nothing.' 
 
 'Then why have you turned so cold and hard to 
 me?' 
 
 ' I am the same to you to-day that I have always 
 been.* 
 
 * It is not true,' she whispered, with her voice full
 
 MARS ON THE HORIZON. 13 
 
 of intensity of feeling, ' you left no stone unturned to 
 make me believe you cared for me.' 
 
 * Nonsense ! Why — ' 
 
 'Silence! You shall hear me now,' she continued, 
 with her excitement growing. ' I resisted all this till 
 you almost forced me to care for you. You even 
 make me now confess it in this shameless way, and, 
 when you feel that you are the master, you play with 
 me — trifle with my best feelings.' 
 
 ' Gammon ! Madge, what is the matter with you ? 
 I never dreamed of such a thing.' 
 
 ' What ! ' 
 
 ' Are you going mad ? ' 
 
 ' Yes,' she cried passionately, ' driven so by you. 
 It is shameful. I could not have believed the man 
 lived who would have treated a woman so basely. 
 But I am not blind. There is a reason for it all' 
 
 ' What do you mean ? ' 
 
 ' Do you think me a child ? I am to be won and 
 then tossed aside for the new love — fancy, the 
 poacher's daughter, and when — ' 
 
 ' Don't be a fool, Madge. You are saying words 
 now that you will repent' 
 
 * I'll say them,' she cried, half wild with jealous rage, 
 and her words sounding the more intense from their 
 being uttered in a low, harsh whisper, * if I die for it. 
 The gamekeeper's daughter, the girl taken in here by 
 your mother out of charity.' 
 
 'Madcre!'
 
 14 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * Who is to be the* next favourite, when you are 
 weary of your last conquest — one of the kitchen 
 wenches ? ' 
 
 ' Perhaps,' he said coolly. 
 
 ' Rob ! Have you no heart that you treat me as 
 you do ? ' 
 
 * I never thought, never said a word to make you 
 think I meant — er — marriage.' 
 
 * Think you meant marriage ? ' she whispered. ' I 
 did love you as dearly as I hate you now for your 
 heartless cruelty to me. But you shall repent it — 
 repent it bitterly.' 
 
 ' Look here,' he said roughly ; * for years past we 
 have lived in this house like brother and sister, and I 
 won't have you speak like this. Does my mother 
 know ? ' 
 
 ' Ask her.' 
 
 ' Bah ! ' 
 
 ' You dare not ask her what she thinks or whether 
 she approves of your choice. Captain Rolph in love 
 with the gamekeeper's daughter ! Is she to be taken 
 to the county ball, and introduced to society ? And 
 is she to wear the family diamonds ? Judith — Judy — 
 the miserable, low-bred — ' 
 
 ' Here, hold hard ! ' 
 
 Marjorie Emlin stopped short, startled into silence 
 by the furious look and tone she had evoked. The 
 young man had listened, and from time to time had 
 made deprecating movements to try and turn away
 
 MARS ON THE HORIZON. 15 
 
 the furious woman's wrath till she had made this last 
 attack, when he glared with a rage so overpowering 
 that she shrank from him. 
 
 * You have done well,' he said. ' My mother looks 
 upon you as a daughter. I have always been to you 
 as a brother.' 
 
 ' It is not true,' she said, as she stood quivering 
 with fear and rage before him, trying to meet his eye. 
 Then, with a low cry, full of vindictive passion, she 
 struck at him, and ran out of the room. 
 
 ' Curse the girl ! ' growled Rolph. ' I wish women 
 wouldn't be such fools. A kiss and a few warm words, 
 and then, hang 'em ! you're expected to marry 'em. 
 Man can't marry every pretty girl he kisses. They 
 want a missionary among 'em to tell 'em this isn't 
 Turkey. If there's much more of it, I'm off back to 
 Aldershot. No, I'm not,' he added, with a half laugh, 
 ' not yet — Hallo, mother ! You ? ' 
 
 * Yes, my boy. I saw Madge go out just now, look- 
 ing wild and excited. Rob, dear, you have been 
 speaking to her ? ' 
 
 * Well, I suppose so,' he said bitterly. 
 
 ' And you have told her you love her ? — asked her 
 to be your wife ? ' 
 
 ' Good heavens, mother ! are you gone mad too ? — 
 Madge — I never dreamed of such a thing.' 
 
 ' Why ? ' said Mrs Rolph, with a strange coldness. 
 
 ' Because — because — ' 
 
 * Yes ; because you have taken a fancy to another,'
 
 1 6 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 said Mrs Rolph sternly. * Robert, my son, it is not 
 I who am mad, but you. Have you thought well 
 over all this ? ' 
 
 * Don't ask questions,' he said sulkily. 
 
 ^ I am your mother, sir, and I assert my right to 
 question you on such a matter as this, as your poor 
 father would have questioned you. But there is no 
 need. I have done wrong, and yet I cannot blame 
 myself, for how could I, his mother, know that my 
 son would act otherwise than as a gentleman.' 
 
 * Well, I never do.' 
 
 * It is false. When Mary Hayle died, I bade her 
 go in peace, for I would try to be a mother to the 
 orphaned girl. Heaven knows, I tried to be. I 
 brought her here, and made her the humble com- 
 panion of your cousin Madge. She shared her 
 lessons ; she was taught everything, that she might 
 be able to earn her own livelihood as a gover- 
 ness.' 
 
 ' Well, I know all that' 
 
 * To be treated with ingratitude. My foolish son, 
 when he comes home, must allow himself to be en- 
 meshed by a cunning and deceitful woman.' 
 
 * What bosh, mother ! ' 
 
 * But it is true. You do not dare to tell me you do 
 not love Judith Hayle ? ' 
 
 * There is no dare in question. I like the girl.' 
 ' Unhappy boy ! and she has led you on.' 
 Captain Rolph whistled.
 
 MARS ON THE HORIZON. 17 
 
 'Any telegram come for me? I sent a man to 
 Brackley.' 
 
 ' Telegram ! ' 
 
 'Yes. I want to know about the foot-race at 
 Lilley Bridge.' 
 
 Mrs Rolph gave her foot an impatient stamp. 
 
 'Listen to me, sir. This is no time for thinking 
 about low sports.' 
 
 ' Hallo ? Low ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, sir ; low. I have never interfered when I 
 saw you taking so much interest in these pursuits. 
 My son, I said to our friends, is an officer and a 
 gentleman, and if he likes to encourage athleticism in 
 the country by his presence at these meetings, he has 
 a right to do so ; but I have not liked it, though I 
 have been silent. You know I have never interfered 
 about your relaxations.' 
 
 ' No ; you've been a splendid mater,' he said laugh- 
 ingly. 
 
 * And I have been proud of my manly son ; but 
 when I see him stooping to folly — ' 
 
 * Misapplied quotation, mater — when lovely woman 
 stoops to folly.' 
 
 * Be serious, sir. I will not have you degrade your- 
 self in the eyes of the neighbourhood by such conduct, 
 for it means disgrace. What would the Days say — 
 Sir John and Glynne? If it had been she, I would 
 not have cared.' 
 
 ' Let the Days be,' he said gruffly. 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 i8 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * I will/ said Mrs Rolph ; * but listen, Rob, dear ; 
 think of poor Madge.' 
 
 * Hang poor Madge ! Look here, once for all, 
 mother; I'm not a witch in Macbeth. I don't want 
 three ounces of a red-haired wench — nor seven stone 
 neither.' 
 
 * Rob ! Shame ! ' 
 
 * I'm not going to have Madge rammed down my 
 throat. If I'm to marry, she's not in the running.' 
 
 ' What ? when you know my wishes ? ' 
 
 * Man marries to satisfy his own wishes, not his 
 mother's. I have other ideas.' 
 
 ' Then what are they, sir ? ' said Mrs Rolph scorn- 
 fully. 
 
 * That's my business,' he said, taking out his cigar- 
 case. 
 
 ' Then, am I to understand that you intend to form 
 an alliance with the family of our keeper ? ' said Mrs 
 Rolph sarcastically. 
 
 ' Bah ! ' roared her son fiercely ; and he strode out 
 of the room and banged the door. 
 
 ' Gone ! ' cried Mrs Rolph, wringing her hands and 
 making her rings crackle one against the other. * I 
 was mad to have the wretched girl here. What fools 
 we women are.' 
 
 Her son was saying precisely the same as he 
 marched away. 
 
 * Does she think me mad ? ' he growled. * Marry 
 freckle-faced Madge! — form an alliance with Ben
 
 MARS ON THE HORIZON. 19 
 
 Hayle's Judy ! Not quite such a fool. I'll go and do 
 it, and show the old girl a trick worth two of that. 
 She's as clean-limbed a girl as ever stepped, and 
 there's a look of breed in her that I like. Must marry, 
 I suppose. Ck ! For the sake of the estate, join 
 the two then — I will — at once. It will stop their 
 mouths at home, and make an end of the Madge 
 business. She'll be all right, and begin kissing and 
 hugging her and calling her dearest in a week. That's 
 the way to clear that hedge, so here goes. 
 
 He stopped, took a short run and cleared the hedge 
 at the side of the lane in reality to begin with, before 
 striking off through one of the adjacent fir woods, so 
 as to reach the sandy lanes and wild common on the 
 way to Brackley.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 
 
 * And what does Glynne say ? ' 
 
 ' Well, Sir John, she don't say much ; it isn't her 
 way to say a deal.' 
 
 * Humph ! No ; you're quite right. But I should 
 have thought that she would have said a good deal 
 upon an occasion like this.' 
 
 * Yes, I thought she would have roused up a little 
 more ; but she has been very quiet ever since I went 
 into training for the event.' 
 
 ' Hang it all, Rolph, don't talk about marriage as if 
 it were a bit of athletic sport.' 
 
 * No, of course not. It was a slip.' 
 ' Well, tell me what she did say.' 
 
 ' That I was to talk to you.' 
 
 * Humph ! Well, you have talked to me, and I 
 don't know what to say.' 
 
 ' Ssiy j/es, sir, and then the event's fixed.' 
 
 ' Ex-actly, my dear boy, but I might say j^es, and 
 
 repent' 
 
 ' Oh no, you won't, sir, I'm precious fond of her ; I 
 
 am, indeed. Have been since a boy.'
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 21 
 
 * No one could know my daughter without being 
 fond of her,' said Sir John stiffly. 
 
 ' Of course not ; and that's why I want to make sure.' 
 
 * Humph ! ' ejaculated Sir John. * You've a good 
 income, my boy, and you're a fine, sound fellow ; but 
 I don't much like the idea of my little Glynne marry- 
 ing into the army.' 
 
 ' Oh, but I shall only stay in till I get my com- 
 mission as major ; and then I mean to retire and be- 
 come a country squire.' 
 
 ' Humph ! yes ; and go in more for athleticism, I 
 suppose.' 
 
 * Well, I think an English country gentleman ought 
 to foster the sports and pastimes of his native land — 
 the hunt, the race meetings, and that sort of thing.' 
 
 ' Humph ! Do you ? Well, I think, my boy, that 
 we ought to take to agriculture and the improvement 
 of stock. But there, I daresay you'll tone down.' 
 
 ' Then you have no objection, Sir John ?' 
 
 * Who ? — I ? None at all, my boy ; I liked your 
 father, and I hope you'll make her a good husband — 
 as good a husband as I did my poor wife ; though, as 
 the common folk say, I say it as shouldn't say it. Now 
 then, have you any more questions to ask ? ' 
 
 ' No, I don't think I have. Of course I'm very 
 happy and that sort of thing. A fellow is sure to be 
 at such a time, you know.' 
 
 * Yes, yes, of course. To be sure. Then that's all 
 is it ? '
 
 22 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Yes, sir.' 
 
 * Don't want to ask questions about settlements, eh ? * 
 ' No, I don't want to ask any questions. I want 
 
 Glynne, and you say I may have her ; so that's all.' 
 
 ' Come along then, and see my pigs.' 
 
 Captain Robert Rolph looked a little chagrined at 
 the suggestion respecting pigs ; but he concealed his 
 annoyance and walked briskly on beside his com- 
 panion, Sir John Day, Bart, of Brackley Hall, Surrey, 
 a grey, florid, stoutly-built gentleman, whose aspect 
 betokened much of his time being spent in the open 
 air. He was an intent, bright, bustling-looking man^ 
 with grey, mutton-chop whiskers ; and his drab-cord 
 trousers, brown velveteen coat and low-crowned, grey 
 hat, gave quite a country squire, country-town-bench 
 turn to his appearance. 
 
 ' I've great faith in these pigs,' he said, sharply. 
 * Been at a deal of trouble to get hold of the breed, 
 and if I don't take a cup at the Agricultural Show 
 this year, I shall be down upon some of those judges 
 — in the Times! 
 
 * Ah, 'tis disappointing when you've set your mind 
 upon a cup and don't get it,' said the captain. ' How 
 many have you won. Sir John ? ' 
 
 ' What, cups ? Thirty-four, my boy, thirty- four.' 
 
 * Ah, I've got fifty,' said the captain, with a touch 
 of pride in his tone. 'When I go in training for 
 anything, I always say to myself, I shall put it off, 
 and I pretty generally do.'
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 23 
 
 * Humph ! yes,' said Sir John, shortly ; * so I sup- 
 pose. Oh, by the way though, Rolph, you'd oblige 
 me very much by going back to the house. I'll show 
 you the pigs another day/ 
 
 ' Certainly, certainly,' said the young man with 
 alacrity. 
 
 * You see there's my brother. He thinks a great deal 
 of Glynne, and I never like to take any important step 
 in life without consulting him. Do you understand ? ' 
 
 ' Well — er, not exactly.' 
 
 ' Oh, I mean, just go back and see him, and say 
 what you did to me just now.* 
 
 ' What ! Do you mean I must ask his consent, 
 Sir John ? ' cried the young man, aghast. 
 
 ' No, no, no ! of course not, my dear boy. Tell him 
 I've given mine, and that it's all settled, and that you 
 hope he approves, and — you know what to say. He'll 
 like it. Be right, you see. Captain to senior officer, 
 eh? There, be off, and get it over. I must go on 
 and see the pigs.' 
 
 * Confound the major ! ' said Captain Rolph, as he 
 stopped, looking after the brisk retreating figure of 
 the baronet. ' He'll want me to ask the housekeeper 
 next. Hang it all ! it's almost worth more than the 
 stakes. I did think I'd got it over. The old major's 
 as peppery as a curry. He'll want to order me under 
 arrest if he doesn't like the engagement. Well, here 
 goes to get it over. Let's see ; just a mile to the 
 park gates. Pity to waste it.'
 
 24 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 He glanced round to see if there was anyone near, 
 but he was quite alone on the hard, sandy, retired 
 road ; so, buttoning his well-cut morning coat tightly 
 across his chest, he tucked up his cuffs and the bottoms 
 of his trousers, selected two smooth pebbles about as 
 large as kidneys from a stone heap, clasped one firmly 
 in each hand, and then thrust one in his pocket for a 
 moment while he referred to a stop watch, replaced it, 
 took hold of the stone once more, and then, throwing 
 himself into position, the gentlemanly officer seemed 
 to subside into the low-type professional walking or 
 running man. 
 
 For a few moments he remained motionless in a 
 statuesque attitude, his brow all in wrinkles, his teeth 
 set, lips tight, and his chest expanded and thrown 
 forward as if he were waiting the order to start. 
 Then he cried, ' Off!' and bounded away at a rapid 
 rate, running hard till he reached the park gates at 
 Brackley, where he stopped short, threw away the 
 stones, referred to his watch, and nodded and smiled 
 as he drew himself up — the stiff, military officer once 
 more. 
 
 ' Not bad,' he said, * and as fresh as a daisy. I could 
 have done it in half a minute less. Now, I'll go and 
 see the old man.' 
 
 Captain Rolph did not ' see the old man ' then, for 
 when he reached the house, the old man — that is to 
 say. Major Day, formerly of a lancer regiment that 
 took part in several engagements in the Sikh war,
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 25 
 
 but who had long since hung up his sabre in his bed- 
 room at Brackley — was out for a morning walk, 
 following a pursuit in which he took great delight — 
 to wit, gathering fungi, a family of plants that he 
 made his study, and he was coming back with a small, 
 bright trowel in one hand, his stout stick in the other, 
 and a large salmon creel slung from his shoulder, 
 when he encountered his brother, the baronet, striding 
 away to his model farm. 
 
 Major Day was a fierce-looking, smart, officer-like 
 man of sixty, with curly grey hair that stood out from 
 his well-shaped head, piercing eyes, heavy dark brows, 
 and a massive, zebra-patterned moustache, the rest of 
 his face being closely shaven. 
 
 Perhaps ' zebra-patterned ' is an unusual term to 
 give to a cavalry moustache ; but this was regularly 
 striped in black and silver grey, giving a peculiar aspect 
 to the keen, upright, military man. 
 
 ' Halt ! ' shouted the major. ' Hallo, Jack, going to 
 see the pigs ? ' 
 
 ' Yes. Thought you were at home. Just sent 
 Rolph to speak to you.' 
 
 ' To speak to me ? What about ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, I thought it best, you see, being my brother, 
 and — er — as you like Glynne, and — er — ' 
 
 ' What in the name of fortune are you stammering 
 about. Jack ? ' said the major, sharply. ' Why, you 
 don't mean — ' 
 
 ' That he has proposed for Glynne.'
 
 26 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' D — n his impudence ! ' 
 
 ' Don't talk nonsense, Jem/ said the baronet, testily. 
 ' He has proposed, and I have given my consent/ 
 
 ' But I always thought he was to marry that second 
 cousin, Marjorie Emlin/ 
 
 * Doesn't look like it Never seemed very warm 
 when they dined here/ 
 
 * But — but it's so unexpected, so sudden. And 
 Glynne ? ' cried the major, flushing, and bringing his 
 heavy brows down over his eyes ; ' she hasn't accepted 
 him ? ' 
 
 'Why, of course she has. Don't be a fool, Jem/ 
 cried the baronet, angrily. 
 
 * Fool ! It's enough to make any man a fool. 
 What does that fellow want with a wife — to take gate- 
 money at some meeting ? ' 
 
 * I do wish you wouldn't be so prejudiced, Jem.' 
 
 ' To hold the tape when he's coming in after a foot- 
 race ? ' 
 
 * Hang it all, Jem, do be sensible.' 
 
 * To feed him with raw steaks when he is in train- 
 ing ? ' continued the major, ironically. ' To keep 
 time, and polish his cups, and mind that he does not 
 break the rules of his trainer ? Good heavens ! Jack, 
 why, both you and Glynne must be mad.' 
 
 ' Indeed ! ' said the baronet, hotly. ' I don't see any 
 madness in giving my consent to my child's accept- 
 ing the son of an old neighbour, a confoundedly fine 
 fellow, of good birth, and with four thousand a year.'
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 27 
 
 ' I don't care if he were better of birth, and had 
 twenty thousand a year. He wouldn't be a fit 
 husband for our Glynne.' 
 
 * Well, no,' said the baronet, proudly. ' No man 
 would be sufficiently good for her.' 
 
 ' Who's talking nonsense now ? ' cried the major. 
 ' There are lots of good fellows in the world if she 
 wants a husband, but I don't believe she does.' 
 
 * But she has accepted him.' 
 
 * Silly girl. Bit taken with the fine-looking fellow, 
 that's all. Don't know her own mind yet. This is 
 springing a mine.* 
 
 'Ah well, the thing's settled, so you may just as 
 well retreat from your position, Jem.' 
 
 'But I shall not retreat, sir. I shall hold my 
 position as long as I can, and when I am driven 
 back, I shall do my duty as one in command 
 of a light cavalry regiment should : I shall harass 
 the enemy's flanks and rear. He'll get no rest 
 from me.' 
 
 ' Hang it all, Jem, don't do that — don't be rude to 
 the young fellow,' cried the baronet in dismay. 
 
 ' I — I don't approve of it at all, Jack. I don't 
 really.' 
 
 ' But the thing's done, man — the thing's done.' 
 
 ' Then why do you send the fellow to me ? ' 
 
 * Well, I thought it would be a bit civil to you, Jem, 
 and respectful, and — ' 
 
 ' It is not either,' cried the major. * I look upon it,
 
 28 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 knowing as you do how I am attached to Glynne, as 
 a regular insult' 
 
 * Now, what nonsense, Jem/ 
 
 ' It is not nonsense, Jack. The fellow is a mere 
 machine — a good-looking, well-built machine, with 
 not a thought above low-class foot races, and training, 
 and rowing, and football, and cricket' 
 
 'And not bad things either,' said the baronet, 
 hotly. 
 
 * No, sir,' replied the major, drawing himself up, ' not 
 bad things, but good things if a young man takes to 
 them as amusements to keep his nature in subjection, 
 and to bring it to its finest state of development, that 
 he may have a sound brain in a sound body.' 
 
 ' Hear, hear ! ' cried Sir John. 
 
 ' But bad, rotten, and blackguardly things when a 
 man gives the whole of his mind to them, and has no 
 more ambition than leads him to be the winner of a 
 cup in a walking match.' 
 
 ' Oh, rubbish ! ' cried the baronet, warmly. ' Rolph's 
 a gentleman.' 
 
 * Then he's a confoundedly bad specimen of the 
 class. Jack.' 
 
 ' You're as prejudiced as an old woman, Jem,' cried 
 the baronet, angrily. 
 
 ' Perhaps I am,' replied his brother : * but it isn't 
 prejudice to see that this fellow can't talk to a girl on 
 any subject but athletics. I haven't patience with 
 him. I always hated to see him here.'
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 29 
 
 * And I haven't patience with you, Jem ; 'pon my 
 honour, I haven't. Why, what next? Here, out of 
 respect to you as my brother, I sent my daughter's 
 future husband to you, and you tell me to my face 
 that you will insult him. I won't have it, sir ; I say I 
 won't have it. You're intolerable. You're getting 
 beyond bearing, and — and — confound it all, I will not 
 have it ! Pretty thing, indeed, when a man mayn't 
 choose a husband for his own child.' 
 
 The baronet took a few strides this way and 
 that way, grew scarlet as he spoke, and ended 
 by taking off his grey hat and dabbing his shining 
 forehead. 
 
 ' I've too much love for Glynne, and too much 
 respect for her mother's memory to stand by silently 
 and see such a miserable bargain concluded ; and I 
 enter my protest against what must turn out an un- 
 happy match,' said the major. 
 
 * It will turn out nothing of the sort, sir,' cried the 
 baronet, hotly ; * and, look here, Jem, it's time we 
 came to an understanding. I will not have your dicta- 
 torial mess-room manners brought into my establish- 
 ment ; and I tell you once for all, if you can't con- 
 form to the simple home life of a country squire's 
 house, the sooner you go, sir, the better.' 
 
 The major stuck his stick into the turf with a 
 furious stab, as if he had a feud with mother earth ; 
 then, dragging round the creel he banged the bright 
 trowel with which he had been gesticulating into the
 
 30 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 basket, and giving the wicker a swing back, caught 
 up his stick and strode away without a word. 
 
 * Confound his insolence ! ' cried Sir John furiously, 
 ■ I won't have it. My own brother : my junior by 
 two hours ! A man who has been petted and pam- 
 pered too, because — because he is my brother — because 
 he has been in the wars — because — because — because 
 he is — my brother — because — hang it all ! ' he roared, 
 stamping heavily on the turf. ' What an abominably 
 hasty temper I have got. He'll pack up and go, and 
 ' — here ! — hi ! — Jem ! — Jem ! ' 
 
 The baronet was stout, but it was the active, mus- 
 cular stoutness of a man constantly in the open air : 
 he did not suffer from the abnormal size of that which 
 Punch's fashionable tailor called his middle-aged cus- 
 tomer's chest, so that it required little effort on his 
 part to set off at a trot after his brother, who heard 
 his shouts and his pursuing steps, but paid no heed to 
 each summons ; for, with head erect, and his stick 
 carried as a military man bears his sabre on the route, 
 he marched steadily on with the regular swinging 
 pace of a well-drilled soldier. 
 
 'Jem! Hold hard! Jem, old fellow,' cried the 
 baronet, overtaking him ; but the major kept on with- 
 out turning his head. 
 
 ' Jem ! Here, I beg your pardon. I lost my 
 temper. I'm a passionate old fool.' 
 
 Still there was no response, and the major passed 
 on ; but his brother now took tight hold of his arm.
 
 CONCERNING VIRGO AND GEMINI. 31 
 
 ' Jem ! Come, I say. Don't you hear me ? I beg 
 your pardon, I say. Hang it all, old boy, do you 
 want me to go down upon my knees.' 
 
 *No, Jack,' cried the major, stopping short and 
 facing him, * I don't ; but you told me I'd better go.' 
 
 ' Yes : in a passion ; but you know I don't mean what 
 I say. Here, shake hands, old boy. I say, though, 
 what a peppery old fire-eater you are ! ' 
 
 * Am I, Jack ? ' said the major, with a grim smile. 
 
 ' No, no ; I mean I am. Look here, old chap, I'm 
 sure there's a membrane, or a strap, or a nerve, or 
 something of that sort, given way inside me. It lets 
 my temper out, and then I say things I don't mean.' 
 
 ' It must have given way a great many years ago, 
 Jack,' said the major, drily. 
 
 * Oh, come, Jem ! Hang it all, old fellow, I've 
 begged your pardon. I've humbled myself to you. 
 Don't jump on a man when he*s down. 'Tisn't chiv- 
 alrous ; it isn't indeed.' 
 
 * Then you don't want me to go ? ' 
 
 * Go ? Now look here, Jem, do try and be reason- 
 able. What should I do without you ? ' 
 
 *Well then, I'll stop this time; but really. Jack, if 
 ever you insult me again like that, I can have my old 
 chambers in St James's, close to the club, and I shall 
 go back to town.' 
 
 ' Go along with you ! ' cried Sir John. ' Don't talk 
 nonsense. We're getting old boys now, Jem, and 
 you'll stop along with me to the end.'
 
 32 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Yes, we're getting old, Jack, very fast indeed/ said 
 the major, as his brother laid a hand affectionately 
 upon his shoulder just as he used in old school-boy 
 days ; ' time gallops away now.' 
 
 ' Ay, it does ; and that's why 1 can't help feeling a 
 bit anxious about seeing Glynne happily settled in 
 life.' 
 
 *And it ought to make you the more particular 
 about — ' 
 
 'Hush!' cried the baronet, interrupting him 
 sharply, * the girls ! Oh, hang it ! how can Glynne 
 be so absurd.'
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SERPENS. 
 
 Sir John and his brother had just reached an open- 
 ing in Brackley Wood, a fine old pheasant preserve, 
 when the former became aware of the fact that his 
 child and the lady whom she had of late made her 
 companion and friend, were seated in the shade cast 
 by a venerable oak, Glynne painting in front of her 
 easel, upon which were the skilful beginnings of an oil 
 picture representing a rough looking gipsy seated 
 upon a tree stump, in the act of carving the knob of a 
 stick with his long Spanish knife, while Lucy Alleyne, 
 the friend, was reading from a book resting upon her 
 knees. 
 
 The group formed a pretty enough natural picture, 
 upon which a silvery rain of sunshine was poured 
 through the dense foliage of the overhanging boughs, 
 for, without being classically beautiful, Glynne Day 
 was as fair a specimen of a young English lady as a 
 country visitor would be likely to see in one twenty- 
 four hours. Her's was the kind of face with its sweet, 
 calm, placid repose that asked for a second look and 
 then for a third ; and when this was complete, he who 
 VOL. I. C
 
 34 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 gazed, old or young, wanted to look again, and so on, 
 in never tiring mood. It was not that her soft, abun- 
 dant brown hair was so remarkable, nor that her face 
 was so perfect an oval, nor her nose so true an aquiline, 
 nor her eyes so dark a grey ; but it was the complete- 
 ness of the whole countenance, the elasticity of the step 
 that bore onward so tall and graceful a figure, while 
 the sweet repose of the face would have warranted 
 anyone in taking the major's side when he de- 
 clared that no pulse in her frame had ever yet been 
 quickened by the thought of love. 
 
 Glynne's companion, Lucy Alleyne, also possessed 
 her share of attractions ; but they were cast in a very 
 different mould, for she was dark, large-eyed, little 
 and piquante, with an arch expression about her bow- 
 like mouth that told of suppressed merriment, and a 
 readiness to join in anything that promised laughter, 
 or, as she would have called it, a bit of fun. 
 
 The other figure in the group — the model, whose 
 counterfeit presentment was being transferred to can- 
 vas, first heard the steps ; and he looked up sharply, 
 in a wild, danger-fearing way, as a weasel might, and 
 seemed about to spring to his feet and start off; but a 
 peculiar leer crossed his face, and he half closed his 
 eyes and sat firm as the brothers came up, both glanc- 
 ing at him sourly, the major taking a tighter grip of 
 his stick. 
 
 ' Ah, my dears ! ' said Sir John, gruffly, ' 'most done, 
 Glynne ? *
 
 SERPENS. 35 
 
 *Yes, papa, quite, for to-day,' said the lady ad- 
 dressed, opening her purse and taking out half-a- 
 crown, the sight of which made the model's eyes open 
 a little wider as it was held out to him, while an 
 unpleasant animal look was darted at Glynne as she 
 spoke. * That will do for to-day. I will send word 
 by the policeman when I want you again.' 
 
 * Thankye kindly, my lady,' said the young man, 
 wincing at the name of the messenger ; and he now 
 touched his hat to Sir John humbly, and then to his 
 brother. 
 
 * You're back again, then, Caleb Kent,' growled Sir 
 John. 
 
 ' Yes, sir, I've come back,' whined the man. 
 
 ' Then, just see if you can't lead a decent life, sir, 
 for I warn you, that if you are brought up again for 
 poaching, it will go pretty hard with you.' 
 
 'Yes, sir; I know, sir, but I'm going to reform, sir, 
 and turn keeper, and — * 
 
 * That'll do. Be off. Let's have deeds, not words.* 
 
 * Yes, sir, I will, sir. I'm a-goin' to try, sir.' 
 ' I said that will do.' 
 
 * Yes, sir,' said the man, humbly ; and, touching his 
 cap all round, he slouched off, with an ill-used look, 
 and gave two or three loud sniffs. 
 
 ' Oh, papa, dear,' cried Glynne, * how can you speak 
 so harshly to the poor fellow. He did wrong once, 
 and he has been punished.' 
 
 * Did wrong once. Bah ! He did wrong in being
 
 36 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 born, and has done wrong ever since. The fellow's a 
 regular gaol-bird, and I don't like to see him near 
 you. For goodness' sake, my dear, if you must paint, 
 paint something decent, not a scoundrel like that' 
 
 * Your father's quite right, my dear,' said the major, 
 grimly. 'That's not the sort of fellow to paint. 
 Whitewashing is what he wants.' 
 
 Sir John chuckled, and his child looked at him, 
 wonderingly. 
 
 * But he is so picturesque, papa, dear, and when I 
 get the canvas finished — ' 
 
 * Oh, you don't want to finish canvases, pet. Let 
 that go. Plenty else to think of now, eh. Miss Alleyne? 
 Why, my dear, you have a colour like a peach.' 
 
 * Have I, Sir John ? ' said the girl, demurely. 
 
 * How shockingly vulgar ! Then I must wear a 
 veil.' 
 
 * For goodness' sake, don't, my dear child,' cried the 
 baronet, hastily. ' Pray, don't insult poor nature by 
 refusing to look healthy and well.' 
 
 * I join in my brother's prayer,' said the major, as 
 he shook hands in a quiet, old-fashioned, chivalrous 
 way. 
 
 'And so do I,' said Glynne, smiling in a calm, 
 strangely placid manner. ' Do you know, Lucy, I've 
 been enjoying your colour as I painted.' 
 
 'James, old fellow,' said the baronet, laughing, 
 
 * let's be in the fashion. How handsome you do look 
 this morning. How your hair curls.'
 
 SERPENS. 37 
 
 ' Uncle always looks handsome/ said Glynne, 
 seriously, and she sent a thrill of pleasure through the 
 old man, by quietly taking his arm and leaning to- 
 wards him in a gentle, affectionate way. 
 
 * And I'm nobody, Miss Alleyne,' said Sir John 
 with mock annoyance. 
 
 * You would not think so, if you heard all that 
 Glynne says about you when we are alone, Sir 
 John.' 
 
 * Oh, come, that's better,' cried the baronet, nodding 
 and brightening up. ' Well, I must go. I suppose 
 you will walk back with uncle, eh, Glynne ? ' 
 
 * Yes, papa,' said Glynne, smiling on him tenderly. 
 
 * Then, once more, here goes to see my pigs. You 
 don't care to come, ladies ? ' 
 
 ' No, papa, dear,' said Glynne, with the same gentle 
 smile. * We were going home almost directly.' 
 
 * Go along, then,' said Sir John. * I shall be back 
 before lunch. Morning, Miss Alleyne,' and he strode 
 away. ' Hope he won't upset Glynne,' he muttered. 
 * No, I don't suppose he will say a word. Can't, as 
 Lucy Alleyne is there. Nice little girl that, by the 
 way.' 
 
 Sir John was wrong, for his brother did say some- 
 thing to Glynne — a good deal, in fact. Indeed, no 
 sooner had the baronet gone than Lucy Alleyne ex- 
 claimed, — 
 
 * And now, dear, if you won't mind, as you have 
 your uncle with you, I should like to run home.'
 
 38 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 *0h, no,' cried Glynne, 'you'll come and have 
 lunch.' 
 
 ' Not to-day, dear. Mamma will be anxious to see 
 me back.' 
 
 ' Indeed ! ' said Glynne, raising her eyebrows slightly. 
 
 * Yes, dear ; she is a little anxious, too, about 
 Moray ; he has been working so hard lately.' 
 
 •Has he?' said Glynne, half-wonderingly, as if it 
 seemed strange to her, in her placid existence, that 
 people should ever work hard. 
 
 * New discovery ? ' said the major. ' Star-gazing ? ' 
 
 ' I think so,' replied Lucy ; * but he is so quiet and 
 reserved, and he does not like to speak until he is 
 sure. If you would not mind coming round our way, 
 I could leave you at the end of the lane.' 
 
 ' Mind ? No,' cried the major ; * but are you sure 
 you will not come home with us to lunch ? ' 
 
 ' Quite sure, please,' said Lucy. 
 
 * Then, we'll see you right to your door,' said the 
 major, as he shouldered the little easel ; * eh, my 
 dear?' 
 
 ' Oh, yes, of course, uncle,' replied Glynne ; and 
 they continued along the side path for about a quarter 
 of a mile, before crossing a fir wood, whose trunks 
 rose up like so many ruddy, grey-bronze columns, 
 while the ground was made slippery by the thick 
 coating of pine needles beneath their feet. 
 
 ' Oh, here's one of your favourites. Major Day,' cried 
 Lucy, eagerly, as she ran on and picked a curious
 
 SERPENS. 39 
 
 grey-looking fungus, with a rough efflorescence on the 
 top. ' No, no, don't tell me : I want to see if I re- 
 collect what it is.' 
 
 * She doesn't know, Glynne. Tell her, my dear.' 
 
 ' I, uncle ? ' said Glynne, smiling up at him. * You 
 know I never recollect the names.' 
 
 *I know you won't rouse up that brain of yours to 
 take an interest in anything,' said the major in a tone 
 of good-tempered reproof * It's a great shame, when 
 you are naturally so clever.' 
 
 ' I ! Clever ! Oh, uncle ! ' said Glynne, laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 ' I know — I remember,' cried Lucy, eagerly — ' stop 
 a moment, I have it' 
 
 ' Ha, ha, ha ! ' laughed the major, whose eyes 
 sparkled with pleasure, and he seemed sufficiently 
 animated to set a stranger wondering at an old soldier 
 taking up with enthusiasm so strange a pursuit as 
 that in which he engaged. * There, you don't know, 
 my dear, but I applaud your brave effort to remember. 
 Someone here would not even try.' 
 
 ' No, uncle, it is of no use,' said Glynne, quietly, 
 though she evidently took an interest in her com- 
 panion's enthusiastic ways. 
 
 ' I do know,' said Lucy, ' and I won't be told.' 
 
 ' You don't,' said the major, banteringly. 
 
 ' I do,' cried Lucy. ' Yes, I have it. It's an 
 A7namta.' 
 
 ' Bravo ! ' '
 
 40 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ^ Amanita Rubescens I cried Lucy triumphantly; 'and 
 if you break it the flesh turns red — there ! ' 
 
 * And she has broken the mushroom in half, and 
 it has not turned red,' said the major, ' because she is 
 wrong.' 
 
 * Oh, Major Day ! ' cried Lucy, ' don't say that. I 
 am right, am I not ? ' 
 
 * No, my dear, not quite,' said the major, ' but very 
 nearly. That is Amanita PantherinuSy a very near 
 relative of the one I showed you yesterday.' 
 
 * But I have been trying,' cried Lucy. 
 
 ' I know you have,' said the major, smiling, * and I'm 
 sure you can tell me what these are,' he continued, 
 pointing to a cluster of flat, greeny-grey buttons, with 
 dimly marked orange rings upon their surface. 
 
 * Oh yes, I know them,' cried Lucy, eagerly picking 
 two or three from the patch of grass in an opening 
 amongst the Scotch firs. ' Agaricus Deliciosus ; and, 
 oh, it is getting so late. I must make haste back. 
 I can run home now. Good-bye, Glynne ; good-bye, 
 Major Day.* 
 
 ' Good-bye, little pupil,' he replied, ' and you shall 
 have your marks although you were not right.' 
 
 * We'll stop and watch you till you are safely home,' 
 said Glynne. ' Good-bye — good-bye.'
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 VIRGO ASLEEP. 
 
 Glynne Day stood with her uncle at the edge of the 
 dark wood, where the slippery fir-needles lay thickly, 
 and kept every blade of verdure from thrusting forth 
 a relief to the dull, neutral grey that carpeted the 
 ground, amid the tall, bronze-red columns. They 
 gazed down a steep slope, and over the wild heathery 
 waste that lay between them and what looked like a 
 little wooded islet, rising out of the common into quite 
 a mamelon, almost precipitous of side, and crowned 
 with a heavy-looking edifice of brick, with other 
 structures attached, all solid, plain, and terribly out 
 of character with the wild landscape. 
 
 For, from where they stood, as it were on the very 
 verge of the cultivated land, there was a stretch of 
 miles upon miles of rolling surface, here sand, there 
 bog, the one brown and purple with the heather or 
 yellow with the gorse, the other in little patches of 
 vivid green or creamy pink, where the sphagnum 
 grew, and the cotton rushes had their home. 
 
 * What a desolate looking spot it is,' said the major 
 thoughtfully, as they watched the active little figure 
 
 41
 
 42 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 tripping along the sandy road ; ' and yet it has its 
 beauties after all.' 
 
 * Ye — es, I suppose it has/ said Glynne, ' but I 
 never think about its being ugly or beautiful.' 
 
 * No, my dear, you don't/ said the major half 
 pettishly ; * and that's what annoys me. Here you are, 
 as beautiful a girl as well can be.' 
 
 * Am I, uncle, dear ? ' said Glynne, with the same 
 calm, pleasant smile. 
 
 * Are you ? Why of course you are, and with a 
 splendid intellect, only you won't use it' 
 
 ' Don't scold me, uncle/ said the girl, creeping 
 closer to him, * I don't want to be clever, I don't want 
 to know more than I know. I am so happy : why 
 should I change ? ' 
 
 The old man's brow grew knotty and corrugated, 
 partly, from perplexity, partly from annoyance, and 
 he gazed sharply down at the sweet face looking 
 lovingly in his. 
 
 * There, there/ he said, * I won't scold you, my 
 darling. Look, there's little Lucy waving her hand- 
 kerchief before she enters Fort Science. Fine fellow 
 that brother of hers.' 
 
 ' Yes, Mr Alleyne is nice/ said Glynne, returning 
 her friend's salute ; and then, as Lucy disappeared at 
 the curve of a steep path that ran up the sandy mound, 
 they turned and walked back towards the hall. 
 
 * And so you are very happy, my dear ? ' said the 
 major, after a thoughtful pause.
 
 VIRGO ASLEEP. 43 
 
 ' Oh yes, uncle, so very happy,' replied Glynne 
 quietly. * You and papa both love me.' 
 
 ' Oh, I don't know about that,' said the major. 
 * I'm not so sure that I do.' 
 
 ' But I am,' said the girl gently, ' quite sure. Then 
 Lucy loves me very much, and our friends are all so 
 kind, and even the servants always smile pleasantly 
 when I want anything done.' 
 
 * Of course they do,' said the major, testily. 
 
 * And it sets me wondering, when people talk about 
 sorrow, and the weariness of the world.' 
 
 'Humph! I suppose so,' the major said, stopping 
 short ; 'and how about Rolph ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, he loves me too, uncle,' replied Glynne in the 
 same quiet, placid tone and manner. * I was going 
 to tell you : he has asked me if I would be his 
 wife.' 
 
 ' And you — you have told him you would be ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, uncle. Papa approves of it, I know ; and 
 Robert is so brave and strong and manly. Don't you 
 think it is right? ' 
 
 The major gave his hat a tilt on one side, and 
 scratched his grey head vigorously. 
 
 * Look here, Glynne,' he cried ; ' you are the most 
 extraordinary girl I ever knew.' 
 
 ' I'm very sorry, uncle,' she replied. * I can't help 
 being so.' 
 
 *No, no, of course not. But look here — do you love 
 Rolph?'
 
 44 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * Oh yes, uncle, very much indeed.' 
 
 * How do you know you do?* cried the major, in 
 the tone of an examiner dealing viva voce with a 
 candidate for a post in the army. 
 
 ' Oh, because he loves me,' said Glynne, naively ; 
 'and, you see, I've known him a little ever since he was 
 a boy.' 
 
 ' Yes, but look here ; what makes you love him ? 
 Have you no other reason ? ' 
 
 ' No, uncle, dear,' said Glynne ; and there was not 
 the slightest heightening of colour, nor a trace of 
 excitement as she spoke. 
 
 * But, my dear child,' cried the major in the most 
 perplexed way, * people don't fall in love like that.' 
 
 * Don't they, uncle ? ' 
 
 ' No, no, of course not. There's a lot of passion 
 and storm, and tempest and that sort of thing.' 
 
 ' But only in books.' 
 
 'Oh, yes, in real life. I remember when I fell in 
 love with Lady Mary Callaghan.' 
 
 ' Were you really once in love, uncle ? ' cried 
 Glynne with the first touch of animation that she 
 had shown. 
 
 * Of course I was — of course — once — but it didn't 
 come to anything. Well, there was a lot of fire and 
 fury over that' 
 
 ' Was there, uncle ? ' 
 
 * Yes, to be sure. I felt as if I conldn't live without 
 her, and she felt as if she couldn't live without me, and
 
 VIRGO ASLEEP. 45 
 
 we were always writing letters to one another and 
 couldn't keep apart/ 
 
 ' Oh, I never felt anything of that kind, uncle, and 
 I rarely write letters if I can help it' 
 
 * Then you can't be in love,' said the major triumph- 
 antly. 
 
 ' But were you really in love, uncle, with Lady 
 Mary — Mary — ' 
 
 ' Callaghan, my dear. Yes.' 
 
 ' But you did not marry her, uncle.' 
 
 ' N — no — no ; you are quite right, my dear, I did 
 not. Circumstances occurred and — er — we were not 
 married. But really, Glynne, my dear, you are a 
 most extraordinary girl.' 
 
 ' I am very sorry.* 
 
 ' Don't say that, my dear ; but — er — I — er — this is 
 a very serious thing, this promising yourself in 
 marriage, and I — er — I — er — should like you to be 
 perfectly sure that you are doing wisely. I think a 
 great deal of you, my dear — old bachelor as I am, and 
 it would trouble me more than I can say if you did 
 not make a happy match.' 
 
 ' Dear uncle,' she said tenderly, as she clasped her 
 hands upon his arm, and clung to him more closely. 
 ' But you need not be afraid, for Robert says he loves 
 me very dearly, and what more could a woman 
 desire ? ' 
 
 ' Humph ! No, of course not, my dear,' said the 
 major, looking more perplexed than ever, as he gazed
 
 46 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 down into the unruffled face by his side. ' Untouched, 
 if I know anything of womankind,' he said to him- 
 self, * but if I attempt to interfere I shall be making 
 trouble, and upset Jack as well. What the devil shall 
 I do?' 
 
 There came no mental answer to this self-put 
 question, and the communings were stopped by 
 Glynne herself, who went on thoughtfully and in the 
 most matter-of-fact way. 
 
 * I told Robert that we must not think of being 
 married for some time to come, and he said he was 
 glad of that' 
 
 ' Said he was glad of it ! * cried the major, looking 
 at her aghast. 
 
 * Yes, uncle, dear. You see he has to make so 
 many engagements beforehand. His card is quite 
 full for matches of one kind and another.' 
 
 ' Is it indeed ? ' said the major sarcastically. 
 
 * Yes, uncle. He has to go in training — in training 
 — in training — for, what did he call it? Oh, I re- 
 member ; in training for the various events, and he 
 would not like to break any of them and pay forfeit' 
 
 The major's eyes rolled in their sockets, and he 
 seemed to be trying to swallow something that was 
 extremely unsavoury, but he held his peace. 
 
 * He says these engagements take up a great deal 
 of his time ; but the people like him, so that he can't 
 very well get out of them.' 
 
 * Ah, it would be a pity to disappoint them,* said
 
 VIRGO ASLEEP. 47 
 
 the major, while Glynne, in her happy, child-like con- 
 tent, did not notice his tone, but talked on as calmly 
 as if the great event of a woman's life were a most 
 commonplace affair, justifying to the fullest extent 
 her uncle's idea that her heart was quite untouched. 
 
 They had spent so long over their walk that Sir 
 John had had time to finish his visit to the pigs, and 
 they all reached the park gates together. 
 
 * Halloa ! ' he exclaimed, looking inquiringly from 
 one to the other, ' so you two have had a good talk. 
 Here, what does your uncle say, my dear ? ' he con- 
 tinued, with a suspicious tone in his voice. 
 
 ' Uncle ? Say ? ' replied Glynne, opening her 
 beautiful eyes a little wider. ' Oh, uncle has said 
 very little, papa. I'm afraid I have done nothing but 
 prattle to him all the time.' 
 
 * What about ? ' said her father, sharply. 
 
 ' Oh, principally about my engagement,' she replied 
 calmly. 
 
 ' Well, and what does he say to it ? ' said Sir John, 
 half-defiantly. 
 
 ' Uncle thinks it a very serious step.' 
 
 * Yes, of course.' 
 
 ' And that I ought to be careful in taking it.' 
 
 ' To be sure, my dear, to be sure. Well ? ' 
 
 ' Well, that was all, papa,' she replied. * Lunch 
 
 must be ready. I'll go in and take off my things. 
 
 You are coming soon ? Oh, here is Robert. I won't 
 
 stop for fear of keeping you waiting.*
 
 48 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 The captain was some fifty yards away, but Glynne 
 did not stay. She merely waved her hand, and 
 hurried to the front of the house, while her future 
 lord came slowly on, whistling, with his hands in his 
 pockets. 
 
 ' You've not opposed the match, then ? ' whispered 
 Sir John. 
 
 ' No,' said the major, ' but I think less of it than 
 ever.' 
 
 * Humph ! ' ejaculated his brother. * Have you 
 spoken to Rolph yet ? ' 
 
 * No. Haven't seen him.' 
 
 * Then, for goodness' sake, drop all prejudice, Jem, 
 and shake hands warmly. You see they are devotedly 
 attached.' 
 
 * No, I don't,' said the major, gruffly ; ' but I'll 
 shake hands.' 
 
 ' Yes, do, Jem, do. It's the one desire of my life to 
 see Glynne engaged to a good, manly fellow who cares 
 for her, and, now the opportunity has come, I look to 
 you to help me.' 
 
 ' Humph ! ' ejaculated the major, as Rolph came up, 
 and Sir John struck the iron while it was hot, to use 
 his own form of expression. 
 
 * Ready for lunch, Rob ? ' 
 
 * Awfully,' said the captain. * Quite an edge on.' 
 
 ' That's right,' cried Sir John. ' Come along. Oh, 
 look here though,' he added, as if upon second 
 thoughts ; * I've had no experience before in this sort
 
 VIRGO ASLEEP. 49 
 
 of thing, and I want to get it over, and go on again 
 as usual. I never do anything without telling the 
 major here.' 
 
 Rolph bowed, and the major returned his salute 
 stiffly. 
 
 ' I've been telling him about you know what, and it's 
 all settled now, so you can shake hands, you know.' 
 
 ' Yes ; my brother has told me about your proposal,' 
 said the major, coldly. * You have won a prize, sir, 
 and I wish you joy.' 
 
 'Thankye, major, thankye,' cried Rolph, seizing 
 his hand and shaking it violently. ' You don't want 
 to say anything more to me, do you ? ' 
 
 ' N — no,' said the major, whose inward thoughts 
 made him look ten years older. ' N — no.' 
 
 * That's right,' cried the captain, with a sigh of 
 relief. ' Shall we go in to lunch now. Sir John ? ' 
 
 ' To be sure, yes, my boy. Go on. I daresay 
 Glynne is waiting. Come along, Jem.' 
 
 He took his brother's arm ; and, as the captain 
 disappeared, — 
 
 ' Thankye, Jem, thankye,' he said earnestly. ' Now 
 for lunch. I'm as hungry as a hunter, and my mind's 
 at rest.' 
 
 * Humph ! ' 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 
 
 ' Well, Mr Oldroyd, and what do you think ? Pray, 
 tell me frankly. You have found out what is the 
 matter with him ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, ma'am, I think I have.' 
 
 ' Then, pray, speak.' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne leaned forward with every curve in 
 her face as well as her eyes contradicting the form of 
 her words. ' Pray speak,' sounded and looked like a 
 command to speak at once under pain of the lady's 
 displeasure. She was a woman of over fifty, with 
 white hair and high clear forehead ; but what would 
 have been a handsome face was detracted from by a 
 pinched, care-worn expression, as if there was some 
 great trouble upon her mind ; and this trouble had 
 soured her disposition, and made her imperious and 
 harsh. Her cold and rather repellent manner was 
 not softened by her formal white cap or her dress, 
 which was a stiff,' black silk, that in its old age ap- 
 peared to have doubts as to whether it ought not to 
 be a brown, save where it was relieved by white cuffs 
 and a plain muslin kerchief, such as is seen in old 
 
 50
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 51 
 
 pictures, loosely crossed over the breast, and secured 
 behind. 
 
 Neither did the room and its furnishings tend to 
 soften matters, for, though good, everything looked 
 worn and faded, notably the ancient Turkey carpet, 
 and the stiff maroon curtains that had turned from 
 red into drab, and hung limp and long beside the two 
 tall gaunt windows, looking out upon a clump of 
 desolate Scotch firs. 
 
 The rest of the furniture was depressing, and did 
 not suggest comfort. The solid mahogany chairs 
 were stiff, and the worn horse-hair coverings would 
 have been places of torture to a child ; the great 
 dining-table was highly polished and full of reflections, 
 but it had nothing pleasant to reflect, and whoever 
 looked, longed to see it draped with some warm, rich 
 cloth. While the great high-backed sideboard stood 
 out like a polished mahogany sarcophagus upon 
 which someone had placed a bronze funereal urn, 
 though really inside that tomb-like structure there 
 was a cellarette with a decanter or two of generous 
 wine ; and the bronze urn contained no ashes, merely 
 an iron heater to make it hiss when it was used 
 for tea. 
 
 The blank, drab-painted walls seemed to ask ap 
 pealingly for something to ameliorate their chilling 
 aspect ; but there was no mirror, no bracket bearing 
 bust or clock ; only opposite to the windows had the 
 appeal been heard. There, in the very worst light 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 JNJVERSii r or ILLINC
 
 52 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 for the purpose, a large picture had been hung, whose 
 old gilt frame was tarnished and chipped, and the 
 gloomy canvas, with its cracked varnish, had been 
 covered by some genius of the Martin type with hun- 
 dreds of figures in every conceivable posture of 
 misery and despair. Fire was issuing from the earth, 
 and lightnings were angularly veining the clouds, the 
 tableau being supposed to represent the end of the 
 world ; and the consequence was that, as far as the 
 walls were concerned, the aspect of the room was not 
 improved. 
 
 Now, in every good dining-room, the fireside is, or 
 should be, the most cheerful part. Prior to the days 
 of the Georges, people knew this, and bright tiles and 
 carvings and solid pillars gave a cheery look and 
 countenance to the fire ; and this style, thanks to the 
 most sensible modern aesthetes, has come again into 
 vogue, with handsome overmantels, kerbs, and dogs ; 
 but Mrs Alleyne's fireside was chilly, the fender and 
 fire-irons were well-polished, but attenuated and of 
 skewery form as to the latter, sharp edge as to the 
 former, while the narrow drab shelf that formed the 
 mantelpiece had for ornaments two obelisks that ap- 
 peared to have been cast in that objectionable meat- 
 jelly known as brawn. 
 
 It only needed the yellowish roller blinds to be 
 drawn half-way down to make the very atmosphere 
 seem oppressive. And this had been done, so that, as 
 the lady of The Firs sat opposite Philip Oldroyd, the
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 53 
 
 young doctor, who was patiently trying to solve that 
 medical problem known as making a practice in an 
 extremely healthy district, could not help thinking to 
 himself that the place was enough to drive a suscepti- 
 ble person melancholy mad. 
 
 Oldroyd did not answer for a few moments, but 
 sat thinking, and Mrs Alleyne watched him intently, 
 scanning his great head, and somewhat plain, but 
 intelligent features with his deep, brown, thoughtful 
 eyes, and closely shaven face. The latter was a sacrifice 
 to Mrs Grundy, so that no objection should be made 
 to his appearance by the more critical inhabitants of 
 a narrow-minded country district, the result having 
 been the destruction of a fine and flowing beard 
 at the cost of much nicking of the skin, and the 
 discomfort of shaving regularly, fine weather or foul. 
 
 ' I think, Mrs Alleyne, that I know exactly what 
 is the matter with your son.' 
 
 ' Yes, yes,' said the lady, impatiently. ' Mr Oldroyd, 
 you torture me.' 
 
 * Then, now I will relieve you, madam,' he said 
 with a pleasant smile. ' He has really no physical 
 complaint whatever.' 
 
 ' I do not understand you,' she said coldly. 
 
 * I will be more plain then. He has no disease 
 at all' 
 
 ' Mr Oldroyd ! ' said the lady in a disappointed tone, 
 that to the young doctor's ears seemed to say as well : 
 — * How foolish of me to call in this inexperienced
 
 54 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 country practitioner, who, beyond a little general idea 
 of his profession, knows next to nothing at all.' 
 
 * Oh, yes, my dear madam, you think he is very 
 ill, and — pray excuse my plainness — in your motherly 
 eyes he appears to be wasting away.' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne did not reply, but gazed at the speaker 
 haughtily, and looked as cold and repellent as the 
 room. 
 
 ' Your son, I repeat, has no organic disease ; he has 
 a marvellously fine physique, great mental powers, 
 and needs no doctor at all, unless it is to give him 
 good advice.' 
 
 ' I presumed, Mr Oldroyd, that it was the doctor's 
 duty to give advice.' 
 
 ' Exactly, my dear madam ; but pray be patient 
 with me if I talk to you a little differently from what 
 you expected. You were prepared for me to look 
 solemn, shake my head and say that the symptoms 
 were rather serious, but not exactly grave ; that we 
 must hope for the best ; that I was very glad you 
 sent for me when you did ; and that I would send 
 in some medicine, and look in again to-morrow. Now, 
 you said, " Be frank with me ; " I say the same to 
 you. Did you not expect something of this kind ? ' 
 
 ' Well,' said Mrs Alleyne, with something that 
 looked like — not the dawning of a smile, but the ghost 
 of an old one, called up to flit for a moment about 
 her lips, ' yes, I did expect something of the kind.' 
 
 ' Exactly,' said Oldroyd, smiling genially, and as
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. . 55 
 
 if he enjoyed this verbal encounter. ' Now, kindly 
 listen to me. As I say, your son has a fine physique, 
 but what does he do with it ? Does he take plenty 
 of active out-door exercise ? ' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne shook her head. 
 
 ' Does he partake of his meals regularly ? ' 
 
 ' No, Mr Oldroyd,' said Mrs Alleyne, with a sigh. 
 
 ' Does he sleep sufficiently and well ? ' 
 
 ' Alas ! No.' 
 
 'Of course he does not, my dear madam. Here is 
 a man who never employs his muscles ; never takes 
 the slightest recreation ; disappoints nature when she 
 asks for food ; and turns night into day as he per- 
 forms long vigils watching the stars, and burning the 
 midnight oil. How, in the name of all that is sen- 
 sible, can such a man expect to enjoy good health ? 
 \\^hy, nature revolts against it and steals it all away, 
 to distribute among people who obey her laws.' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne sighed, and thought better of the doctor 
 than she did before. 
 
 'It is impossible for such a man to be well, Mrs^ 
 Alleyne ; the wonder is that he has any health at all.' 
 
 ' But he is really ill, now, Mr Oldroyd.' 
 
 * A little touched in the digestion, that is all.' 
 
 ' And you will prescribe something for that ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, ma'am, I'll prescribe turpentine.' 
 
 'Turpentine ! ' cried Mrs Alleyne, aghast. 
 
 'Y^es, madam, out of nature's own pharmacopaeia. 
 Let him go and climb the hills every day, and inhale
 
 56 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 it when the sun is on the fir woods. Let him get a 
 horse and ride amongst the firs, or let him take a 
 spade and dig the ground about this house, and turn 
 it into a pleasant garden, surrounded by fir trees. 
 That is all he wants.' 
 
 ' Oh, doctor, is that all ? ' said Mrs Alleyne more 
 warmly ; and she laid her thin, white hand upon her 
 visitor's arm. 
 
 * Well, not quite,' he said, with a smile. 'He is a 
 great student ; no one admires his work m.ore than I, 
 or the wonderful capacity of his mind, but he must 
 be taken out of it a little — a man cannot always be 
 studying the stars.' 
 
 ' No, no ; he does too much,' said Mrs Alleyne. 
 ' You are quite right. But what would you recom- 
 mend ? ' 
 
 ' Nature again, madam. Something to give him an 
 interest in this world, as well as in the other worlds 
 he makes his study. In short, Mrs Alleyne, it would 
 be the saving of your son if he fell in love.' 
 
 * Doctor ! ' 
 
 * And took to himself some sweet good girl as a wife.' 
 
 * Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha ! ' 
 
 The doctor started, and looked for the source of 
 the gush of mirth. 
 
 A sweet ringing silvery laugh, that sounded like 
 bell music in the gloomy room, for Lucy Alleyne had 
 entered unheard, to catch the doctor's last words, and 
 burst into this girlish fit of merriment.
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 57 
 
 ' Lucy ! ' exclaimed Mrs Alleyne with an angry 
 glance, as she rose from her chair. 
 
 ' Oh, I am so sorry, mamma. I beg your pardon, 
 Mr Oldroyd, but it did seem so droll.' 
 
 She laughed again so merrily that it seemed in- 
 fectious, and the young doctor would have joined in 
 had not Mrs Alleyne been there ; besides, as this was 
 a professional call, he felt the necessity for some 
 show of dignity. 
 
 ' May I ask, Lucy, what is the meaning of this 
 extremely unseemly mirth,' said Mrs Alleyne, with 
 a good deal of annoyance in her tone. 
 
 * Don't be angry with me, mamma dear, but it did 
 seem so comical ; the idea of Moray falling in love 
 and being married.' 
 
 ' I fail to see the ridiculous side of the matter,' said 
 Mrs Alleyne, ' especially at a time when Mr Oldroyd 
 has been consulted by me upon the question of your 
 brother's health.' 
 
 *0h, but you don't think he is really ill, Mr 
 Oldroyd, do you?' cried Lucy, anxiously. 
 
 * Indeed, I do not, Miss Alleyne. He requires 
 nothing but plenty of open-air exercise, with more 
 food and regular sleep.' 
 
 ' And a wife,' said Lucy, with a mirthful look. 
 
 'And a wife,' said Oldroyd, gravely ; and he gazed 
 so intently at Lucy that her merry look passed away, 
 and she coloured slightly, and glanced hastily at her 
 mother.
 
 58 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' We must make Moray go out more, mamma dear/ 
 she said hurriedly. ' I'll coax him to have walks with 
 me, and I'll teach him botany ; Major Day would be 
 delighted if he'd come with him — I mean go with 
 him ; and — oh, I say, mamma, isn't dinner nearly 
 ready ? I am so hungry.' 
 
 ' Lucy ! ' cried Mrs Alleyne, with a reproachful look, 
 as Oldroyd rose. 
 
 * It is an enviable sensation, Miss Alleyne,' he said, 
 as a diversion to the elder lady's annoyance ; 'one of 
 nature's greatest boons. As I was saying, Mrs 
 Alleyne, a propos of your son, he neglects his health 
 in his scientific pursuits, and the beautifully com- 
 plicated machine of his system grows rusty. Why, 
 the commonest piece of mechanism will not go well 
 if it is not properly cared for, so how can we expect 
 it of ourselves.' 
 
 'Quite true, Mr Oldroyd. Did you ride over? Is 
 your horse waiting ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, no, I walked. Lovely weather. Miss Alleyne, 
 Good-day, madam, good-day.' 
 
 ' But you have not taken any refreshment, Mr 
 Oldroyd. Allow me to — ' 
 
 'Why, dinner must be ready, mamma,' said Lucy. 
 ' Will not Mr Oldroyd stop ? ' 
 
 ' Of course, yes, I had forgotten,' said Mrs Alleyne, 
 with a slight colour in her cheek, and a peculiar 
 hesitancy in her voice. ' We — er — dine early — if you 
 would join us, we should be very glad.'
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 59 
 
 ' With great pleasure, madam/ said the young 
 doctor, frankly ; ' it will save me a five miles' walk, 
 for I must go across the common this afternoon to 
 Lindham.' 
 
 ' To see poor old Mrs Wattley ? ' cried Lucy 
 eagerly, as Mrs Alleyne tried to hide by a smile, 
 her annoyance at her invitation being accepted. 
 
 ' Yes ; to see poor old Mrs Wattley,' said Oldroyd, 
 nodding. 
 
 ' Is she very ill ? ' said Lucy sympathetically. 
 
 ' Stricken with a fatal disease, my dear young lady,' 
 he replied. 
 
 ' Oh ! ' ejaculated Lucy. 
 
 * One, however, that gives neither pain nor trouble- 
 She will not suffer in the least.' 
 
 ' I'm glad of that,' cried Lucy, ' for I like the poor 
 old lady. What is her complaint ? ' 
 
 ' Senility,' said Oldroyd, smiling. ' Why, my dear 
 Miss Alleyne, she is ninety-five.' 
 
 ' Will you come with me, Lucy,' said Mrs Alleyne, 
 who had been vainly trying to catch her daughter's 
 eye, and then — ' perhaps Mr Oldroyd will excuse us.' 
 
 ' Not if you are going to make any additions to the 
 meal on my account, madam,' said the doctor, hastily. 
 * I am the plainest of plain men — a bachelor who lives 
 on chops and steaks, and it needs a sharp-edged ap- 
 petite to manage these country cuts.' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne smiled again, and the visitor was left 
 alone.
 
 6o THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Old lady didn't like my staying,' he said to him- 
 self. ' Shouldn't have asked me, then. I am hungry, 
 but — Oh ! what a pretty, natural, clever little witch 
 it is. I wish I'd a good practice ; I should try my 
 luck if I had, and I don't think there is any one in the 
 way.' 
 
 * Humph ! End of the world,' he said, rising and 
 crossing to look at the picture. ' What a ghastly 
 daub ! ' 
 
 ' What a wilderness ; why don't they have the 
 garden done up ? ' he continued, going to one of the 
 windows, and looking at the depressing, neglected 
 place without. ' Ugh ! what a home for such a bright 
 little blossom. It must be something awful on a wet, 
 wintry day.' 
 
 ' Sorry I stopped,' he said, soon after. 
 
 ' No, I'm not ; I'm glad. Now, I'll be bound to 
 say there's boiled mutton and turnips for dinner, and 
 plain rice pudding. It's just the sort of meal one 
 would expect In a house like this. Mum ! ' 
 
 He gave his lips a significant tap, for the door 
 opened, and Lucy entered, accompanied by a sour- 
 looking maid with a clayey skin and dull grey eyes, 
 bearing a tray. 
 
 ' Be as quick as you can, Eliza,' said Lucy. ' You 
 won't mind my helping, Mr Oldroyd, will you ? ' she 
 continued. ' We only keep one servant now.' 
 
 * Mind ? Not I,' he replied cheerily. ' Let me 
 help too. I'll lay the knives and forks.'
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 6i 
 
 * No, no, no ! ' cried Lucy, as she wondered what 
 Mrs Alleyne would have said if she had heard her 
 allusion to ' one servant now.* 
 
 ' Oh, but I shall,' he said ; and the maid looked 
 less grim as she saw the doctor begin to help. ' Let's 
 see,' he said, 'knives right, forks left. Won't do to 
 turn the table round if you place them wrong, as the 
 Irishman did.' 
 
 Just then the maid — Eliza — left the room to fetch 
 some addition to the table. 
 
 * I am glad you are going to stay, Mr Oldroyd,' 
 said Lucy naively. 
 
 ' Are you ? ' he said, watching her intently as the 
 busy little hands produced cruets and glasses from 
 the sideboard cupboard. 
 
 * Oh yes, for it is so dull here.' 
 ' Do you find it so ? ' 
 
 * Oh, no, I don't. I was thinking of Moray. 
 It will be someone for him to talk to. Mamma 
 fidgets about him so ; but I felt as sure as could be 
 that he only looked ill because he works so terribly 
 hard.' 
 
 A step was heard outside, and the young doctor 
 started from the table, where he was arranging a 
 couple of spoons on either side of a salt-cellar, with 
 so guilty a look that Lucy turned away her head to 
 conceal a smile. 
 
 Oldroyd saw it though, and was annoyed at being 
 so weak and boyish ; but he felt that, after all, he
 
 62 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 was right, for it would have looked extremely undig- 
 nified in Mrs Alleyne's eyes if he had been caught 
 playing so domestic a part in a strange house. 
 
 ' I wish she had not laughed at me, though,' he said 
 to himself; and then he tried to pass the matter off 
 as Mrs Alleyne came back, bland and dignified, try- 
 ing to conceal the fact that she had been out to 
 make a few preparations that would help to hide the 
 poverty of the land. 
 
 ' You will excuse our meal being very simple, Mr 
 Oldroyd,' she said quietly ; ' I did not expect com- 
 pany.' 
 
 ' If you would kindly treat me as if I were not 
 company, Mrs Alleyne, I should be greatly obliged,' 
 replied Oldroyd ; and then there was an interchange 
 of bows — that on the lady's part being of a very 
 dignified but gracious kind, one that suggested toler- 
 ance, and an absolute refusal to accept the doctor as 
 anything else than a visitor. 
 
 Oldroyd felt rather uncomfortable, but there was 
 comfort in Lucy's presence, as, utterly wanting in her 
 mother's reserve, she busied herself in trying to make 
 everything pleasant and attractive for their guest, in 
 so natural and homely a manner, that while the 
 doctor had felt one moment that he wished he had 
 not stayed, the next he was quite reconciled to his fate. 
 
 * I feel as sure as can be that I am right,' thought 
 Oldroyd, as at the end of a few minutes, Eliza 
 entered with a large dish, whose contents were
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 63 
 
 hidden by a battered and blackened cover, placed it 
 upon the table, retreated, came back with a couple 
 of vegetable dishes, retreated once more and came 
 back with four dinner-plates, whose edges were 
 chipped and stained from long usage. 
 
 Oldroyd glanced at Lucy, and saw her pretty fore- 
 head wrinkled up, reading accurately enough that 
 she was troubled at the shabbiness of the table's 
 furnishings ; and, as if she felt that he was gazing at 
 her, she looked up quickly, caught his eye, and 
 coloured with vexation, feeling certain as she did 
 that he had read her thoughts. 
 
 * Will you excuse me a moment, Mr Oldroyd ? ' 
 said Mrs Alleyne, with dignity. ' We do not use a 
 dinner-bell, the noise disturbs my son. I always 
 fetch him from the observatory myself 
 
 Oldroyd bowed again, and crossed the room to 
 open the door for his hostess to pass out. 
 
 ' What a nuisance all this formality is,' he thought 
 to himself, ' I hate it ; ' but all the same, he felt con- 
 strained to follow Mrs Alleyne's lead, and he was 
 beginning once more to regret his stay when he 
 turned to encounter the fresh, natural, girlish look of 
 the daughter of the house. 
 
 ' Mamma makes a regular habit of fetching my 
 brother to meals, Mr Oldroyd,' said Lucy ; ' I don't 
 believe he would come unless she went. But while 
 she is away, do tell me once again you don't think 
 Moray is going to be seriously ill ? '
 
 64 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' But I do think so/ he repHed. 
 
 ' Oh, Mr Oldroyd ! ' 
 
 The young doctor gazed at the pretty sympathetic 
 face with no Httle pleasure, as he saw its troubled 
 look, and the tears rising in the eyes. 
 
 ' How nice,' he thought, ' to be anyone she cares 
 for like this,' and then he hugged himself upon his 
 knowledge, which in this case was power — the power 
 of being able to change that troubled face to one full 
 of smiles. 
 
 ' I think he is going to be very seriously ill — if 
 he does not alter his way of life.' 
 
 ' He could avoid the illness, then ? ' cried Lucy, with 
 the change coming. 
 
 ' Certainly he could. He has only to take proper 
 rest and out-door exercise to be as well as you are.' 
 
 ' Then pray advise him, Mr Oldroyd,' said Lucy, 
 who was beaming now. ' Do try and get him to be 
 sensible. It is of no use to send him medicine — he 
 would not take a drop. Hush ! here he is.' 
 
 At that moment there were slow, deliberate steps 
 in the hall, and then the door opened, and Mrs 
 Alleyne, with a smile full of pride upon her calm, 
 stern face, entered, leaning upon the arm of a tall, 
 grave, thoughtful - looking man, whose large dark- 
 grey eyes seemed to be gazing straight before him, 
 through everything, into the depths of space, while 
 his mind was busy with that which he sought to see. 
 
 He was apparently about three or four-and-thirty,
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 65 
 
 well-built and muscular ; but his muscles looked soft 
 and rounded. There was an appearance of relaxation, 
 even in his walk ; and, though his eyes were wide 
 open, he gave one the idea of being in a dream. He 
 was dressed in a loose, easy-fitting suit of tweeds, but 
 they had been put on anyhow, and the natural curls 
 of his dark-brown hair and beard made it very 
 evident that the time he spent at the toilet-table 
 was short. 
 
 What struck the visitor most was the veneration 
 given to the student by his mother and sister, the 
 former full of pride in her offspring, as she drew back 
 his chair, and waited until he had seated himself, 
 before she took her own place at the head of the table, 
 and signed to her guest to follow her example. 
 
 It was a reversal of the ordinary arrangements at 
 a board, for Oldroyd found himself opposite Moray 
 Alleyne, with Mrs Alleyne and her daughter at the 
 head and foot. In fact, it soon became evident that 
 Mrs AUeyne's son took no interest whatever in matters 
 terrestrial of a domestic nature, his mind being gener- 
 ally far away. 
 
 Mrs Alleyne had announced to him, as they came 
 towards the dining-room, that Mr Oldroyd would join 
 them at the meal ; but the scrap of social information 
 was covered by a film of nebular theory, till the 
 astronomer took his place at the table, when he 
 seemed to start out of a fit of celestial dreaming, and 
 to come back to earth. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 66 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Ah, Mr Oldroyd,' he said, with his face lighting up 
 and becoming quite transformed. ' I had forgotten 
 that you were to join us. Pray forgive my rudeness. 
 I get so lost in my calculations.' 
 
 ' Don't mention it,' said Oldroyd, nodding ; and then 
 he looked hard at his vis-a-vis^ marvelling at the 
 change, and the tones of his deep mellow voice, and 
 thinking what a man this would be if he had become 
 statesman, orator, or the like, concluding by saying 
 mentally, ' What a physique for a West End physician ! 
 Why, that presence — a little more grey, and that soft, 
 winning, confidential voice, would be a fortune to him. 
 But he would have to dress.' 
 
 ' I am sorry we have only plain boiled mutton to 
 offer you, Mr Oldroyd,' said Mrs Alleyne, as the covers 
 were removed. 
 
 ' I knew it was,' thought Oldroyd, glancing at the 
 livid, steaming leg of mutton. Then aloud : ' One of 
 the joints I most appreciate, madam — with its appro- 
 priate trimmings, Miss Alleyne,' he added smiling at 
 Lucy. 
 
 * I'm afraid the potatoes are not good,' said Lucy, 
 colouring with vexation ; * and the turnips seem very 
 hard and stringy.' 
 
 * Don't prejudge them, my dear,' said Mrs Alleyne 
 with dignity. ' We have great difficulty in getting 
 good vegetables, Mr Oldroyd,' she continued, ' though 
 we are in the country. We — er — we do not keep a 
 gardener.'
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 67 
 
 ' And the cottage people don't care to sell/ said 
 Oldroyd. ' I have found that out. But you have a 
 large garden here, Mrs Alley ne.' 
 
 ' Yes/ said the lady, coldly. 
 
 ' Ah,' said Oldroyd, looking across at Moray 
 Alleyne. ' Now, there's your opportunity. Why not 
 take to gardening ? ' 
 
 * Take to gardening ? ' said Alleyne, shaking off the 
 dreamy air that had come upon him as he mechanic- 
 ally ate what his mother had carefully placed upon 
 his plate, that lady selecting everything, and her son 
 taking it without question, as a furnace fire might 
 swallow so much coal. 
 
 ' Yes ; take to gardening, my good sir,' said Old- 
 royd. * It is a very ancient occupation, and amply 
 rewards its votaries.' 
 
 ' I am well rewarded by much higher studies/ said 
 Alleyne, smiling ; and Oldroyd was more than ever 
 impressed by his voice and manner. 
 
 ' Exactly, but you must have change.' 
 
 Alleyne shook his head. 
 
 ' I do not feel the want of change,' he said. 
 
 ' But your body does/ replied Oldroyd, ' and it is 
 crying out in revolt against the burden your mind is 
 putting upon it.' 
 
 * Why, doctor,' said Alleyne, with his face lighting 
 up more and more, ' I thought you had stayed to 
 dinner. This is quite a professional visit.' 
 
 ' My dear sir, pray don't call it so,' said Oldroyd.
 
 68 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' I only want to give you good advice. I want you to 
 give me better vegetables than these — from your own 
 garden,' he added, merrily, as he turned to Lucy, who 
 was eagerly watching her brother's face. 
 
 'Thank you, doctor/ replied Alleyne shaking his 
 head ; * but I have no time.' 
 
 Oldroyd hesitated for a moment or two, as he went 
 on with his repast of very badly cooked, exceedingly 
 tough mutton ; but a glance at his hostess and Lucy 
 showed him that his words found favour with them, 
 and he persevered in a pleasant, half-bantering strain 
 that had, however, a solid basis of sound shrewd sense 
 beneath its playful tone. 
 
 ' Hark at him ! ' he said. * Has not time ! Now, 
 look here, my dear Mr Alleyne — pray excuse my 
 familiarity, for though we have been neighbours 
 these past five years, we have not been intimate — 
 I say, look here, my dear sir — potatoes ! Thank 
 you, Miss Alleyne. That one will do. I like them 
 waxey. Now look here, my dear sir, you are an 
 astronomer.' 
 
 ' Only a very humble student of a great science, 
 Mr Oldroyd,' said the other, meekly. 
 
 ' Ah, well, v^e v/ill not discuss that. At all events 
 you are a mathematician, and deal in algebraic quanti- 
 ties, and differential calculus, and logarithims, and all 
 that sort of thing.' 
 
 'Yes — yes,' said Alleyne, going on eating in his 
 mechanical way as if he diligently took to heart the
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 69 
 
 epigrammatic teaching of the old philosopher — ' Live 
 not to eat, but eat to hve.' 
 
 ' Well then, my dear sir, I'll give you a calculation 
 to make.' 
 
 * Not now, doctor, pray,' said Mrs Alley ne, quickly. 
 ' My son's digestion is very weak.' 
 
 ' This won't hurt his digestion, madam,' said Old- 
 royd ; ' a child could do it without a slate.' 
 
 'Pray ask me,' said Alleyne, 'and I will e:.deavour 
 to answer you.' 
 
 'Well, then: here is my problem,' said Oldroyd ; 
 ' perhaps you will try and solve it too, Miss Alleyne. 
 Suppose two men set to work to perform a task, and 
 the one — as you mathematicians would put it, say A, 
 worked twenty hours a day for five }'ears, while B 
 worked eight hours a day for twenty years, which 
 would do most work } ' 
 
 ' I know,' said Lucy, quickly ; ' the busy B, for he 
 would do a hundred and sixty hours' work, while A 
 would only do a hundred hours' work.' 
 
 Alleyne smiled and nodded very tenderly at his 
 sister. 
 
 'Isn't that right?' she said quickly, and her 
 cheeks flushed. 
 
 ' Quite right as to proportion, Lucy,' he said, ' but 
 in each case it would be three hundred and sixty-five 
 times, or three hundred and thirteen times as much.' 
 
 ' Of course,' she said. ' How foolish of me.' 
 
 ' Well, Mr Oldroyd, what about your problem ? '
 
 70 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 continued Alleyne, commencing upon a fresh piece of 
 tough mutton. 
 
 'You have solved it/ said Oldroyd. 'You have 
 shown me that the eight-hour's man does more work 
 than the twenty-hour's man.' 
 
 ' Yes, but one works five years, the other twenty, 
 according to your arrangement.' 
 
 ' Not my arrangement, sir, Nature's. The man who 
 worked twenty hours per diem would be worn out 
 mentally at the end of five 5^ears. The man who 
 worked eight hours a day, all surroundings being 
 reasonable, would, at the end of twenty years, be in 
 a condition to go on working well for another ten, 
 perhaps twenty years. Now, my dear sir, do you see 
 my drift ? ' 
 
 Moray Alleyne laid down his knife and fork, placed 
 his elbows on either side of his plate, clasped his 
 hands together, and then seemed to cover them with 
 his thick, dark beard, as he rested his chin. 
 
 A dead silence fell upon the little party, and, as if 
 it were some chemical process going on, small round 
 discs of congealed fat formed on the mutton gravy in 
 the dish. 
 
 Mrs Alleyne was about to break the silence, but 
 she saw that her son was ready to answer, and she 
 refrained, sitting very upright and motionless in her 
 chair, as she watched the furrows coming and going 
 on his brow. 
 
 'That is bringing it home, doctor,' he said, and
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 71 
 
 there was a slight husklness in his voice as he spoke. 
 * But you are exaggerating.' 
 
 ' I protest, no/ said 01dro3^d, eagerly. ' Allow me, 
 I have made some study of animal physiology, and I 
 have learned this : Nature strengthens the muscles, 
 nerves and tissues, if they are well used, up to a 
 certain point. If that mark is passed — in other words, 
 if you trespass on the other side — punishment comes, 
 the deterioration is rapid and sure.' 
 
 ' Mother,' said Alleyne, turning to her affectionately, 
 ' you have been setting the doctor to tell me this.' 
 
 * Indeed, no, my dear,' she cried, ' I was not aware 
 what course our conversation would take ; but, believe 
 me, Moray, I am glad, for this must be true.' 
 
 'True?' cried Oldroyd. 'My dear madam, the 
 world teems with proofs.' 
 
 * Yes,' said Alleyne thoughtfully : and there was a 
 far-off, dreamy look in his eyes as he gazed straight 
 before him as if into space, ' it is true — it must be 
 true ; but with so much to learn — such vast dis- 
 coveries to make — who can pause ? ' 
 
 * The man who wishes to win in the long race,' said 
 Oldroyd smiling, and again there was a minute's 
 absolute silence, during which the young doctor caught 
 a reconnaissant look from Lucy. 
 
 Then Alleyne spoke again. 
 
 ' Yes, Mr Oldroyd, you are right,' he said. ' Nature 
 is a hard mistress.' 
 
 * What, for not breaking her laws ? ' cried Oldroyd.
 
 72 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 Come, come, Mr Alleyne, my knowledge of astronomy 
 extends to the Great Bear, Perseus, Cassiopeia, and 
 a few more constellations ; but where would your 
 science be if her laws were not immutable ? ' 
 
 For answer, to the surprise of all, Moray Alleyne 
 slowly unclasped his hands, and stretched one across 
 to the young doctor. 
 
 'Thank you,' he said. 'You are quite right. I 
 give way, for I am beaten. Mother, dear, I yield un- 
 willingly, but Nature's laws are immutable, and I'll 
 try to obey them. Are you content ? ' 
 
 * My boy ! ' 
 
 Stern, unbending Mrs Alleyne was for the moment 
 carried away by her emotion, and forgetting the 
 doctor's presence, she left her chair to throw her 
 arms round her son's neck, bend down, kiss his fore- 
 head, and then hurry from the room. 
 
 *She loves me, Mr OJdroyd,' said Alleyne simply. 
 * Lucy dear, bring mamma back. We are behaving 
 very badly to our guest' 
 
 Lucy had already left her chair, and she, too> 
 impulsively kissed her brother and then ran from the 
 room to hide her tears. 
 
 * Poor things,' said Alleyne, smiling. ' I behave 
 very badly to them, doctor, and worry them to death ; 
 but I am so lost in my studies that I neglect everything. 
 They have made such sacrifices for me, and I forget 
 it. I don't see them — I don't notice what they do. 
 It was to humour me that they came to live in this
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 73 
 
 desolate spot, and my poor mother has impoverished 
 herself to meet the outlay for my costly instruments. 
 It is too bad, but I am lost in my work, and nothing 
 will ever take me from it now.' 
 
 ' Nothing ? ' said Oldroyd. 
 
 ' Nothing,' was the reply, given in all simple child- 
 like earnestness, as the young doctor gazed straight 
 into the deep full eyes that did not for a moment 
 blanch. ' So you will not give me pills and draughts, 
 doctor,' said Alleyne at last, smiling. 
 
 * Medicine ? No. Take exercise, man. Go more 
 into society. See friends. Take walks. Garden. 
 Make this desert bloom with roses.' 
 
 * Yes — yes — yes,' said Alleyne, thoughtfully. ' I 
 must try. Mr Oldroyd,' he said suddenly, 'I 
 should like to see more of you — if— if you would 
 allow me.' 
 
 ' My dear sir, nothing would sive me greater pleasure. 
 Here, I'll come and garden with you, if you like.' 
 
 ' I should be very grateful,' said Alleyne. ' Give 
 me your advice,' he continued, earnestly, 'for I — I 
 must live — I have so much to do — endless labour — 
 and if I do not husband my strength, I — you are 
 right : a man must take exercise and sleep. Mr 
 Oldroyd, I shall take your advice, and — Hush, 
 here they come.' 
 
 In effect, looking red-eyed, but perfectly calm now, 
 Mrs Alleyne entered with Lucy, and the rest of the 
 dinnerpassedoff most pleasantly to Oldroyd, who was
 
 74 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ready to accord that the poor, badly-cooked mutton 
 was the most delicious he had ever eaten, and the 
 vegetables as choice as could have been grown. 
 Doubtless this was due to Lucy's grateful glances, and 
 the quiet, grave condescension with which Mrs Alleyne 
 turned from her idol to say a few words now and 
 then. 
 
 Even Alleyne himself seemed to be making efforts 
 to drag himself back from the company of the twin 
 orbs in space, or the star-dust of the milky way, to 
 chat about the ordinary things of every-day life ; and 
 at last, it was with quite a guilty sensation of having 
 overstepped the bounds of hospitality in his stay that 
 Oldroyd rose to go. 
 
 * You will call and see us again soon, Mr Oldroyd ? ' 
 said Mrs Alleyne, with the dignity of a reigning 
 queen. 
 
 ' Professionally, madam,' he said, * there is no 
 need. I have exhausted my advice at this first visit. 
 It is for you to play the nurse, and see that my 
 suggestions are carried out.' 
 
 ' Then as a friend,' said the lady, extending her 
 thin white hand. ' I am sure my son feels grateful to 
 you, and will be glad to see you at any time.' 
 
 She glanced at Alleyne, who was seated in the 
 sunshine, holding a pair of smoked glass spectacles 
 to his eyes, and gazing up at the dazzling orb passing 
 onwards towards the west. 
 
 * I thank you heartily,' said Oldroyd. ' Society is
 
 DUST IN THE OBSERVATORY. 75 
 
 not so extensive here that one can afford to sHght so 
 kind an invitation.' 
 
 ' Mr Oldroyd going ? ' said x'\lleyne, starting, as, in 
 obedience to a look from her mother, Lucy bent over 
 him, and, pressing the glasses down with one hand, 
 whispered a few words in his ear. 
 
 ' Yes, I must be off now,' said the young doctor. 
 
 ' You will come and see us again soon ? ' said 
 Alleyne. ' Would you care to see my observatory ? 
 It might interest you a little.' 
 
 ' I shall be glad,' said Oldroyd, ' very glad — some 
 day,' and after a most friendly good-bye, he took his 
 soft hat and stout stick, and, leaving the cheerless, 
 sombre house, went down the steep slope, and took a 
 short cut across the rough boggy land towards his 
 patient's cottage. 
 
 ' Thorough lady, but she is very stiff ; and she 
 worships her son. Charming little girl that. Nice 
 and natural. No modern young-ladyism in her,' he 
 muttered, as he picked his way. ' I should think it 
 would be possible to be in her company a whole day 
 without a single allusion to frilling, or square-cut, or 
 trains, or the colour and shape of Miss Blank's last 
 new bonnet. Quite a sensible little girl. Pretty 
 flower growing in very uncongenial soil, but she seems 
 happy enough.' 
 
 Philip Oldroyd's communings were checked by 
 some very boggy patches, which had to be leaped and 
 skirted, and otherwise avoided ; but as soon as he was
 
 76 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 once more upon firm ground, he resumed where he 
 had left off. 
 
 'Wonderfully fond of her brother, too. Well, I 
 don't wonder. He's a fine fellow after all. I thought 
 him a dullard — a book-worm ; but he's something 
 more than that. Why, when he wakes up out of his 
 dreamy state, he's a noble-looking fellow. What a 
 model he would make for an artist who wanted to 
 paint a Roman senator. Why doesn't nature give us 
 all those fine massive heads, with crisp hair and 
 beard ? Humph ! lost in his far-seeing studies, and 
 nothing will draw him out of them for more than a 
 few hours. Nothing would ever draw him away but 
 one thing. One thing ? No, not it, though. He's 
 not the sort of man. He's good-looking enough, and 
 he has a voice that, if bent to woo, w^ould play mis- 
 chief with a woman's heart. He'll never take that 
 complaint, though, I'll vow. It would be all on the 
 lady's side. And yet, I don't know : man is mortal 
 after all. I am for one. Very mortal indeed, and if I 
 go often to The Firs, I shall be mixing Lucy Alleyne 
 up with my prescriptions, and that won't do at all.'
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PLANETS IN OPPOSITION. 
 
 Judith Hayle was busy 'tidying up' the keeper's 
 cottage, which looked brighter since her return hon:ie, 
 for there were flowers in glasses set here and there, 
 and she was mentally wishing that father would clean 
 the captain's double gun out in the wash-house instead 
 of bringing a pail of water into the living-room, to 
 plant between his knees as he worked the rod up and 
 down the barrels. 
 
 The girl looked serious, for her sudden return had 
 made her father stern, and she expected to be called 
 upon for more explanation, and a cross-examination, 
 which did not begin. 
 
 ' Who's this ? ' said the keeper, with a quick look 
 through the little lattice. ' The missus. Here, Judy, 
 she hasn't come here for nothing. Go upstairs and 
 let me see her first' 
 
 The girl looked startled and hurriedly obeyed, 
 while her father hastily wiped his hands and opened 
 the door. 
 
 Mrs Rolph was close up, and he went out into 
 the porch to meet her, drawing aside quietly and 
 gravely to let her pass. 
 
 * Will you walk in, ma'am ? ' 
 
 n
 
 78 THE STAR-GAZERS, 
 
 'Yes, Hayle, thank you,' said Mrs Rolph, speaking 
 in a distant, dignified way, as of a mistress about to 
 rebuke an erring servant. 
 
 She passed him, looking quickly round the room in 
 search of Judith, and then, turning her eyes inquir- 
 ingly upon the keeper, who drew a chair forward, and 
 then stood back respectfully as Mrs Rolph sat down. 
 
 ' Do you know why I have come here, Hayle ? ' she 
 said, striving to speak as one who feels herself aggrieved. 
 
 ' Yes, ma'am. 'Bout sending Judith home.' 
 
 ' Your child has spoken to you ? ' 
 
 ' No, ma'am.' 
 
 Mrs Rolph coughed faintly, to gain time. The 
 task did not seem so easy in presence of this sturdy, 
 independent-looking Englishman, and she regretted 
 the tone she had taken, and her next remark as soon 
 as it was spoken. 
 
 'Well, Hayle,' she continued, 'what have you to 
 say to this ? ' 
 
 ' Nay, ma'am,' said the keeper coldly ; ' it's what 
 have you to say ? ' 
 
 Mrs Rolph wanted to speak quietly, and make a 
 kind of appeal to the keeper, but the words would 
 not come as she wished, and she turned upon him, in 
 her disappointment and anger, with the first that rose 
 to her lips. 
 
 'To say? That all this is disgraceful. I am 
 bitterly hurt and grieved to find that you, an old 
 servant of my husband, the man whom he rescued
 
 PLANETS IN OPPOSITION. 79 
 
 from disgrace, should, in return for the kindness of 
 years and years, give me cause to speak as I am 
 compelled to do now.' 
 
 ' Indeed, ma'am ! ' 
 
 ' Yes. Out of kindness to your poor dead wife, I 
 took Judith, and clothed and educated her, treated 
 her quite as if she had been of my own family, 
 made her the companion of my niece ; in short, 
 spared nothing ; and my reward is this : that she has 
 set snares for my son, and caused an amount of un- 
 happiness in my house that it may take years to get 
 over, and which may never be forgotten. Now, then, 
 what excuse have you to offer? What has your 
 child to say ? ' 
 
 The keeper looked at her and smiled. 
 
 ' Nay, ma'am,' he said quietly, * you don't mean all 
 this, and you would not speak so if you were not put 
 out. You know that I've got a case against you. I 
 trusted my poor lass in your hands.' 
 
 ' Trusted, man ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, ma'am, that's the word — trusted her. You 
 promised to be like a mother to her.' 
 
 * And I have been till she proved ungrateful.' 
 
 ' Nay, she has not been ungrateful, ma'am, and you 
 know it. It's for me to ask you what you were doing 
 to let your son put such ideas in my poor child's head.' 
 
 ' Hayle ! ' 
 
 ' Yes, ma'am, I must speak my mind.' 
 
 * It is madness. You know it is madness.'
 
 8o THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * Yes, ma'am, if you call it so ; but that's how we 
 stand, and my poor girl is not to blame. It is you.' 
 
 * How dare you ! ' 
 
 ' Because I am her father, ma'am, and my child is 
 as much to me as your son is to you.' 
 
 'This is insolence, sir. Have the goodness to 
 remember who I am.' 
 
 * I never forget it, ma'am. You are my missus, the 
 old master's wife. But this is not a matter of mistress 
 and servant, but of a mother and a father disputing 
 about their children.' 
 
 Mrs Rolph drew herself up, and her eyes flashed, 
 but the fire was drowned out directly by the tears of 
 trouble and vexation, and the woman prevailed over 
 the mistress directly after, as she said, in quite an 
 altered tone, — 
 
 ' Hayle, my good man, what is to be done ? ' 
 ' Hah ! ' ejaculated the keeper ; ' now, ma'am, you 
 are talking like a sensible woman, and we may be 
 able to do business.' 
 
 * Yes, yes, Hayle, I was angry. I could not help it. 
 All this comes nigh to breaking my heart. It is, of 
 course, quite impossible. What do you propose to 
 do?' 
 
 * Forget it, ma'am, if I can.' 
 'And Judith?' 
 
 ' Hah ! That's another thing, ma'am.' 
 ' But she surely is not so vain as to — to — ' 
 
 * My Judith is a woman, ma'am. Is that vanity ? '
 
 PLANETS IN OPPOSITION. 8i 
 
 * Yes, of course. No, no, Hayle. But, once more : 
 it is impossible.' 
 
 *Yes, ma'am.* 
 
 * Ah, that's very good and sensible of you. Now, 
 look here. 1 have thought it all over as I came, and 
 I am sorry to say what I have decided upon seems to 
 be the best plan. It will grieve me terribly, but there's 
 no help for it. You and Judith must go away. You 
 will agree to this, Hayle ? ' 
 
 ' You mean, ma'am, that we old people are to settle 
 the matter as to what is best for the young folks ? ' 
 ' Yes, yes, that is right' 
 ' And what will the young folks say ? ' 
 Mrs Rolph hesitated for a moment or two. 
 
 * We cannot stop to consult them, my good man, 
 when we are working for their good. Now, look 
 here, Hayle ; of course it will put you to a good deal 
 of inconvenience, for which I am sorry, and to meet 
 that difficulty I went back to my room and wrote this.' 
 She took a cheque from her little reticule. ' It is for 
 fifty pounds, Hayle ; it will cover all your expenses 
 till you obtain another appointment. Why, Benjamin 
 Hayle, how long have you been in our service? ' 
 
 ' A many years, ma'am,' said the keeper gravely ; 
 and then he read the cheque over as Mrs Rolph 
 placed it in his hands. * Ah ! "Pay to Benjamin 
 Hayle or bearer, fifty pounds. — Constantia Rolph." 
 A good deal of money, ma'am. And now, I think 
 I'll call Judith down/ 
 
 VOL. I. T^
 
 82 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Yes — yes, do. I must say a few words to her. 
 Poor girl, I wish her well' 
 
 * Thank you, ma'am,' said the keeper quietly. 
 ' Yes : it is not all her fault.' 
 
 ' Judith — Judith, my girl,' said the keeper, opening 
 the door at the foot of the stairs. ' Come down.' 
 
 There was the quick rustling of a dress, and Judith 
 came down, red-eyed, pale and wild-looking, to lay 
 her hand on her father's arm. 
 
 *Ah, Judith, my dear,' began Mrs Rolph, hastily. 
 * Your father and I have been discussing this unhappy 
 affair, and, sorry as we are, we feel obliged to come to 
 the conclusion — the same conclusion that you will, as 
 a good, sensible girl, when you have well thought it 
 out — that this silly flirtation cannot go on. It is for 
 your sake as well as my son's that I speak.' 
 
 Hayle felt his child's hand tremble on his arm. 
 
 ' You are too wise and too good to wish to injure 
 my son's prospects for life, and so we have decided 
 that it will be better for your father to leave the place, 
 and take you right away, where all this little trouble 
 will soon be forgotten.' 
 
 * And,' interposed the keeper, * the missus has given 
 me this, my dear — a cheque for fifty pounds, to pay 
 all our expenses. What shall I do with it, my dear ? ' 
 
 * Burn it, father,' said Judith, slowly. ' It is to buy 
 us off.' 
 
 ' Hah ! ' said the keeper, with a smile full of satis- 
 faction ' that's well said ; ' and he placed the end of
 
 PLANETS IN OPPOSITION. 83 
 
 the cheque to the glowing ashes. It burst into flame 
 and he held it till it was nearly burned away, tossing 
 the scrap he had held into the fire. 
 
 ' Hayle, you must be mad ! ' cried Mrs Rolph, 
 astonishment having at first closed her lips. 
 
 ' Nay, ma'am, we're not mad, either of us,' said the 
 keeper, gravely. * There are some things money can 
 buy, and some things it can't, ma'am. What you 
 want is one of the things it can't buy. Judith and I 
 are going away from the cottage — right away, ma'am. 
 I'm only a keeper, but there's a bit of independence 
 in me ; and as for my girl here, whom you made 
 a lady, she's going to act like what you have made 
 her. She owns to me, in her looks if not in words, 
 that she loves young master, and she's too proud 
 to come to you and be his wife, till you come to 
 her, and beg her to. Am I right, Judith } ' 
 
 The girl gave him a quick look, and then drew her- 
 self up, and clung to him. 
 
 'Yes, father,' she said, in a whisper which caused 
 her intense suffering * you are right.' 
 ' There, ma'am, are you satisfied ? ' 
 ' No/ said Mrs Rolph, in a husky voice, ' I am not 
 satisfied, but it cannot be. My son's welfare is at stake.' 
 She rose, and tried to speak again, but unable to 
 utter another word, she left the cottage, father and 
 daughter watching her till she disappeared among 
 the dark aisles of the firs.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MARS IN THE ASCENDANT. 
 
 * Better get it over/ said Captain Rolph, the next 
 day, as he indulged himself in what he called a short 
 
 * spin ' down the lane by the side of The Warren, and in 
 the direction of the Alleynes' home, which stood up, 
 grim and bleak, out of the sandy desert land. ' What 
 with the old man, and the major, and the mater, and 
 Madge, and — oh, hang it all ! I'm not going to stand 
 any humbug from Judy, and so I tell her. There, I'll 
 go and get it over at once.' 
 
 He stopped running, braced himself up, and 
 marched in regular military fashion, back to The 
 Warren, to see Marjorie seated at one of the front 
 windows, ready to give him a smile in response to his 
 short nod. 
 
 The next moment he stopped short, gazing sharply 
 down the avenue at the broad, bent back of the keeper, 
 who, with head down, was striding away toward the 
 gate. 
 
 * What's he been here for i* — to see me ? ' 
 
 Rolph entered the house, walked noisily into his 
 study — a gun-room, for the study of fowling-pieces 
 
 84
 
 MARS IN THE ASCENDANT. 85 
 
 and fishing rods, with a museum-like collection of 
 prize cups and belts dotted about, in company with 
 trophies of the chase, heads, horns and skins. Here 
 he rang the bell, which was very promptly answered 
 by the butler, Captain Rolph being a follower of the 
 celebrated Count Shucksen, and using so much 
 military drill-sergeant powder with his orders that 
 they went home at once. 
 
 ' Hayle been to see me, Smith ? ' he asked, 
 sharply. 
 
 *No, sir. Came to bring up your guns after my 
 mistress had been down to the keeper's lodge this 
 morning.' 
 
 ' Brought up my guns,' said Rolph, wonderingly. 
 'What for?' 
 
 The man looked at him rather curiously in silence. 
 
 ' Well, idiot, why don't you speak ? ' 
 
 ' Not my business, sir. In trouble, I suppose. 
 Benjamin Hayle and me has never been friends, and 
 so he said nothing, on'y one word as he went out' 
 
 * And what was that ? ' 
 
 * Sack, sir — sack ! ' 
 'That'll do.' 
 
 ' Yes, sir — I knew it would come some day,' said the 
 butler to himself 'Sticking up a notorious poacher 
 on a level with respectable servants, and putting his 
 daughter over 'em, making my lady of her. But 
 pride always did have a fall.' 
 
 * Humph ! ' muttered Rolph, with a laugh, * the old
 
 S6 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 girl strikes first blow without knowing what was com- 
 ing. All right. Now for it. Just as well, perhaps. 
 But he was a good keeper.' 
 
 He went out into the hall just in time to meet 
 Marjorie, who was tripping blithely down the stairs, 
 singing the while. 
 
 ' What a lovely day it is, Rob/ she said. 
 
 ' Is it ? ' he said grimly. 
 
 * Isn't it, dear ? Why, what's the matter ? Are you 
 going in to see auntie on business ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, on that business. Did you and my mother 
 hatch up that dodge between you ? ' 
 ' I don't know what you mean, Rob.' 
 
 * Of course not, my clever little schemer. Come in, 
 too, and hear how I've flanked you both.' 
 
 A sudden change came over the girl's smiling 
 countenance, with its air of wonder, and it was with 
 a vindictive flash of her eyes that she suddenly caught 
 Rolph by the arm. 
 
 * Not married ? ' she said in a harsh whisper. 
 ' No ; not yet.' 
 
 ' Hah ! ' 
 
 It was a catching sigh of relief as Rolph threw open 
 the drawing-room door, and, with mock politeness, 
 stood aside for Marjorie to enter. 
 
 Mrs Rolph looked troubled and disturbed, and 
 evidently welcomed the appearance of Marjorie, mak- 
 ing a sign for the girl to come to her side, and then 
 drawing herself up in her most stately way ready to
 
 MARS IN THE ASCENDANT. 87 
 
 receive her son's attack, which was not long in 
 coming. 
 
 'Why did you go to Hayle's this morning?' 
 
 * On business, Rob.' 
 
 * What for ? ' 
 
 *To tell him that the time had come when I re- 
 quired his services no longer, and that he must go at 
 once.' 
 
 ' What ! My keeper ? * 
 
 ' Mine, Robert,' said Mrs Rolph, firmly. * You for- 
 get the terms of your father's will. You have your 
 income ; I have mine, with undisturbed possession of 
 everything at The Warren while 1 live. You occupy 
 the position of my guest when you are here.' 
 
 * Humph ! all right. And so you have discharged 
 Ben, eh ? When does he go ? ' 
 
 * To-day.' 
 
 * Sharp practice, mother ; and all because poor Judy 
 is pretty.' 
 
 ' And all because, as I told him, I wished to save— 
 I will speak plainly, even in your cousin's presence — 
 a weak, vain girl from disgrace.' 
 
 ' Humph ! pretty plain speaking that, mother.' 
 
 * There are times when plain speaking is necessary, 
 my son, and when strong action is required to save 
 you from the consequences of a mad passion.' 
 
 ' Rubbish ! ' 
 
 ' What ! Don't you know Ben Hayle better than 
 that? Do you think he is the man to sit down
 
 88 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 quietly when he knows the truth ? Have you not 
 seen that the foolish fellow believes thoroughly what 
 he as good as told me to my face this morning — that 
 he expects to see his daughter some day mistress 
 here ? ' 
 
 ' Ben Hayle's a fool,' cried Rolph, angrily, * and you 
 and Madge here are half-crazy. Let's have an end 
 of it. Once for all, mother, I mean to do exactly as 
 I like, and I have done as I liked.' 
 
 Mrs Rolph started forward in her chair, and Mar- 
 jorie's lips tightened. 
 
 ' What do you mean, Rob ? ' cried the former. 
 
 * You want to see me married, I believe ? ' 
 
 * I want to see you prove yourself an honourable 
 gentleman — a worthy son of your father, not a man 
 for whom I should blush.' 
 
 'All right, then. I've taken the right steps for 
 settling into a quiet, country gentleman. I'm going 
 to be married.' 
 
 Marjorie's eyes flashed. 
 
 'Rob, you will not be so mad as to marry that 
 girl?' 
 
 * Yes, I shall,' he said coolly. 
 
 'Then I have done with you for ever. Judith 
 Hayle may come here when I am in my grave, but 
 till then—' 
 
 ' Let the churchyard alone, mother. Do you 
 think I'm such a fool as to marry a poacher's 
 daughter ? '
 
 MARS IN THE ASCENDANT. 89 
 
 ' Rob ! Then you have repented ! ' cried Mrs Rolph 
 excitedly, and Marjorie trembled and sank upon her 
 knees to cling to her aunt's waist. 
 
 ' Oh, yes, I've repented, and I'm going to be a very 
 good boy and get married soon.' 
 
 ' Madge, my dear child ! ' cried Mrs Rolph, embrac- 
 ing the girl at her feet. 
 
 * There, don't get filling her head full of false hopes, 
 the same as you did Judy Hayle's mother,' said Rolph 
 brutally. ' I went yesterday and proposed, and have 
 been accepted.' 
 
 Marjorie's breath came and went in a low hiss as 
 .she turned her wild eyes upon her cousin. 
 
 * Proposed ? To whom ? Rob, not to that pert, 
 penniless girl at The Firs ? ' 
 
 ' What, the moon-shooter's sister ! ' cried Rolph. 
 ' Hah ! nice, little, bright-eyed thing. But no : try 
 again.' 
 
 Mrs Rolph rose excitedly from her chair, and 
 Marjorie's hands dropped from her waist as she 
 crouched lower upon the carpet. 
 
 ' Not John Day's daughter — Glynne ? * 
 
 * Good guess, mother. Glynne Day is to be my 
 wife by-and-by. The old man is agreeable and the 
 major isn't. So now, the sooner you go and call 
 upon them and make it all right the better.' 
 
 Poor Marjorie dropped out of Mrs Rolph's sight. 
 ' Rob ! my dear boy ! ' she cried as she flung her 
 arms about her son's neck to kiss him fondly, while
 
 90 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 Marjorie rose slowly, looking white even to her lips, 
 and with a peculiar smile dawning upon them as her 
 eyes flashed upon the group before her. 
 
 ' I knew I could trust you, Rob,' cried Mrs Rolph ; 
 and then, recollecting herself, ' Madge, my poor child, 
 I am very sorry, but, you see, it was not to be.' 
 
 * No, auntie dear/ said the girl, with the smile grow- 
 ing more marked ; * marriages are made in Heaven, 
 you know. I shall not mind — much. Of course the 
 great aim of all our lives was to see dear Rob happy. 
 Glynne Day is very beautiful and sweet, and a 
 daughter of whom you will be quite proud. I should 
 be deceitful if I did not own to being grievously dis- 
 appointed, but, as was natural, Rob's love for me has 
 only been that of a brother for a sister ' — she fixed 
 Rolph's eyes as she spoke, and his turned shiftily 
 away — ' and if I have been a little silly, the pain will 
 soon wear off. Glynne Day. How nice. I'm sure I 
 shall love her very much, though she is rather cold. 
 Isn't she, Rob ? ' 
 
 * That is very nice of you, Madge, my dear,' said 
 Mrs Rolph, embracing her niece. ' And who knows 
 how soon another prince may come, my dear.' 
 
 ' Oh, aunt ! ' 
 
 * And you will try to forget all this ? ' 
 
 ' Of course, aunt, dear. It was fate,' said the girl 
 innocently. 
 
 * And — and you will not mind going over to 
 Brackley with me to call?'
 
 MARS IN THE ASCENDANT. 91 
 
 * I, mind ? Oh, auntie, I should be horribly dis- 
 appointed if you did not take me. There, Rob,' she 
 continued, with a little sigh, * that's all over, and I 
 congratulate you — brother; and I shall kiss dearest 
 Glynne as I kiss you now.' 
 
 ' Humph ! thought she was going to bite me,' mut- 
 tered Rolph. Then aloud, ' Well, Madge, it was a bit 
 of a flirtation, I own. Now, then, as you've behaved 
 like a trump, so will I. What shall it be — a pearl 
 locket, or diamonds, or a bracelet ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, how good and generous you are, Rob dear. 
 How nice of you ! ' cried Marjorie in gushing tones. 
 ' I have so often longed for a sapphire bracelet.' 
 
 'Then you shall have one,' said Rolph, but not 
 quite so warmly as he had spoken before. 'I'm off 
 now.' 
 
 ' Won't you stay to lunch, dear ? said Mrs Rolph. 
 
 * No. I shall have a sandwich in my room. I'm 
 training. I say ! can you go over this afternoon ? ' 
 
 'Of course we will, dear,' said Mrs Rolph, warmly; 
 and there was a look of relief in her eyes. 
 
 ' Then that's all settled,' said Rolph ; and he left 
 the room, not noticing the hard look in his cousin's 
 eyes. ' Sorry about poor old Ben Hayle,' he muttered 
 as he went to his own room. ' But perhaps it's best. 
 Going to be married, and must be a good boy now.' 
 
 Then a thought struck him, and he hurried back 
 to the drawing-room, to surprise Marjorie upon her 
 knees, with her face buried in Mrs Rolph's lap.
 
 92 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Oh, beg pardon/ he said, hastily ; ' but look here, 
 mother ; don't be quite so hard on Ben Hayle. I 
 mean as to a day or two.' 
 
 ' Leave that to me, Rob — please,' said Mrs Rolph. 
 
 * Oh, all right,' he cried, and he went right off this 
 time. ' Poor little Madge ! but she won't be long 
 before she hooks another fish. Bet a sov. she tries it 
 on with the astronomer ; but I must go and smooth 
 it down a bit at the lodge. What a blessing it is to 
 have nearly enough coin. That bracelet did wonders ; 
 but Judy mustn't play quite so high, and, as for Ben 
 — well he's my mother's man, and — I know ; I'll let 
 him keep that old gun.'
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 
 
 ROLPH dined at Brackley that evening, and found 
 Sir John in the best of spirits. Glynne was bright 
 and eager to show him the progress she had made 
 with her painting, at the sight of which he started as 
 they stood together in the drawing-room. 
 
 ' But I say, Glynne, you know, this is doosid clever 
 and ought to go to the Academy ; only, hang it all I 
 you mustn't get painting fellows like that' 
 
 * Why not ? ' 
 
 ' Because — because — well, you see the fellow's a 
 regular scamp — dangerous sort of a character, you 
 know — been in prison for poaching, and that sort ot 
 thing.' 
 
 ' But he's such a patient model.' 
 
 ' Model, eh ? Not my idea of a model. Look here, 
 if you want some one to sit, you shall have me.' 
 
 The conversation changed to the visit she had re- 
 ceived that afternoon ; and Glynne in her new excite- 
 ment was rapturous about * dear Mrs Rolph,' but rather 
 lukewarm about her niece, and Rolph noticed it. 
 
 * Madge nice to you ? ' he said. 
 
 93
 
 94 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Your cousin ? Oh, yes/ replied Glynne, thought- 
 fully. ' She seemed rather shy and strange at first, 
 but soon got over that. We have always been a little 
 distant, for I think I was too quiet for her; but of 
 course we shall be like sisters now. 
 
 ' H'm, yes, I suppose so. But Madge is rather a 
 strange girl.' 
 
 The dinner passed off pretty well. Rolph drinking 
 a good deal of the baronet's favourite claret, and every 
 now and then finding the major s eyes fixed upon him 
 in rather a searching way which he did not like ; but 
 on the whole, Major Day was pleasant and gentle- 
 manly, and rather given to sigh on seeing how happy 
 and bright his niece looked. When at last she rose 
 during dessert, and Rolph opened the door for her to 
 pass out to the drawing-room, he was obliged to own 
 that they would make a handsome couple, and on 
 seeing his brother's inquiring glance, he nodded back 
 to him, making Sir John look pleased. 
 
 ' I've no right to object if they are satisfied,' he said to 
 himself; ' but he is not the fellow I should have chosen.' 
 
 All the same, he shook hands warmly enough when 
 Rolph left that night. 
 
 * Jack,' he said, as he sat with his brother over their 
 last cigar, ' I think I may as well get married now.' 
 
 'You think what!' cried Sir John dropping his 
 cigar. 
 
 * I think I shall get married. I mean, when Glynne 
 has gone.'
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 95 
 
 ' I should like to catch you at it ! ' growled Sir John. 
 * When Glynne goes you've got to stop with me.' 
 
 ' Ah, well we shall see,' said the major, whose eyes 
 were fixed on the dark corner of the smoking-room, 
 where he could see a fir glade with a pretty, bright 
 little figure stooping over a ring of dark-coloured 
 fungi — 'we shall see. Glynne isn't married yet' 
 
 The next morning, soon after breakfast, Rolph 
 started off for a run, for he was training for an event, 
 he said, the run taking him in the direction of the 
 preserves about an hour later. 
 
 He had gone for some distance along the path, but 
 he leaped over a fence now and began to thread his 
 way through a pine wood, where every step was over 
 the thick grey needles ; and as he walked he from 
 time to time kicked over one of the bright red or 
 speckled grey fungi which grew beneath the trees. 
 
 He had about half a mile to go through this wood ; 
 the birch plantation and the low copse, and then 
 through the grove in one of the openings of which, 
 and surrounded by firs, stood the keeper's cottage. 
 
 He pressed on through the firwood, then across the 
 birch plantation, where the partridges loved to hide, 
 and the copse where the poachers knew the pheasants 
 roosted on the uncut trees at the edge, but dared not 
 go, because it was so near the keeper's cottage. 
 
 Then on to Thereby Wood, in and out among the 
 bronze-red fir-tree trunks, under the dark green 
 boughs, where the wind was always moaning, as if
 
 96 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 the sea shore was nigh, and the bed of needles silenced 
 his footfalls, for the way was easy now. In another 
 minute he would be out of the clearing, close to the 
 cottage — at the back. 
 
 ' Why, there she is,' he said to himself, with his heart 
 giving a throb of satisfaction, as he saw before him a 
 girl standing where the sun shone down through the 
 opening where the cottage stood, and half threw up 
 the figure as it rested one hand upon a tree trunk 
 and leaned forward as if gazing out from the edge 
 of the wood at something in the opening beyond. 
 
 Rolph stopped short, to stand gazing at her 
 admiringly. 
 
 ' What is she watching ? ' he said to himself^ 
 then, smiling as the explanation came. 
 
 ' Been feeding the pheasants,' he thought. * She has 
 thrown them some grain, and they have come out by 
 the cottage.' 
 
 * Yes,' he continued, * she is watching them feed, 
 and is standing back so as not to scare them. Poor 
 beggars ! what a shame it seems to go and murder 
 them after they have been reared at home and fed 
 like this.' 
 
 He hesitated for a few moments, and then began 
 to walk swiftly on, with hushed footsteps, toward 
 where the figure stood, a hundred yards away. 
 
 When he saw her first, he was able to gaze down 
 a narrow lane of trees, but a deep gully ran along 
 there, necessitating his diverging from that part, and
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 97 
 
 going in and out among the tall trunks, sometimes 
 catching a glimpse of the watcher, sometimes for her 
 to be hidden from his sight. And so it was that when 
 at last he came out suddenly, he was not five yards 
 behind her, but unheard. He stopped short, startled 
 and astonished. For it was not Judith who stood 
 watching there so intently. 
 Madge ! there ! 
 
 At that moment, as if she were impressed by his 
 presence, Marjorie Emlin rose partly erect, drawing 
 back out of the sunshine, and quite involuntarily 
 turning to gaze full in Rolph's face, her own fixed in 
 its expression of malignant joy, as if she had just seen 
 something which had given her the most profound 
 satisfaction. She was laughing, her lips drawn away 
 from her teeth, and her eyes, in the semi-darkness of 
 the fir wood, dilated and glowing with a strange 
 
 light. 
 
 For a moment or two she gazed straight at Rolph, 
 
 seeing him, but not seeming to realise his presence. 
 
 Then there was a rapid change of her expression, the 
 
 malignant look of joy became one of shame, fear, and 
 
 the horror of being surprised. 
 
 ' You here, Madge ! ' he said at last, in a hoarse 
 
 whisper lest Judith should know that she was being 
 
 watched. ' What does this mean ? ' 
 
 She looked at him wildly, and began to creep 
 
 away, as one might from some creature which 
 
 fascinated and yet filled with fear. 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 98 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 She was still shrinking away, but he had caught 
 her wrist and held it firmly as she glared at him, till, 
 with a sudden effort, she tried to wrest herself away. 
 
 There was no struggle, for he suddenly cast her 
 away from him, realising in an instant the reason of 
 her presence and of this malignant look of satisfac- 
 tion, for, as Madge darted away, he rushed into the 
 opening where the cottage stood, in response to a 
 wild cry for help. 
 
 He reached the porch in time to catch Judith on his 
 arm, as she was running from the place, and receive 
 Caleb Kent who was in full pursuit, with his right 
 fist thrown out with all his might. 
 
 The impact of two bodies at speed is tremendous, 
 and scientific people of a mathematical turn assure us 
 that when such bodies do meet they fly off at a 
 tangent. 
 
 They may have done so here, but, according to 
 matter-of-fact notions, Rolph's fist and arm flew 
 round Judith afterwards, to help the other hold her 
 trembling and throbbing to his heart ; while Caleb 
 Kent's head went down with a heavy, resounding 
 bump on the tiled floor of the little entry. 
 
 Then Judith shrank away, and Rolph in his rage 
 planted his foot on Caleb Kent's chest, as the fellow 
 lay back, apparently stunned. 
 
 But there was a good deal of the wild beast about 
 Caleb Kent. He lay still for a few moments, and 
 then, quick and active as a cat, he twisted himself
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 99 
 
 sidewise and sprang up, his mouth cut and bleeding, 
 his features distorted with passion ; and, starting 
 back, he snatched a long knife from his pocket, threw 
 open the blade, and made a spring at Rolph. 
 
 Judith uttered a cry of horror, but there was no 
 occasion for her dread, for, quick in his action as the 
 young poacher, Rolph struck up the attacking arm, 
 and the next moment Caleb Kent was outside, with 
 his opponent following him watchfully. 
 
 ' Keep of ! ' snarled Caleb, ' or I'll have your blood. 
 All right : I see ; but never mind, my turn will come 
 yet. If I wait for years, I'll make this straight' 
 
 And then as Rolph made a rush at him, he dodged 
 aside and darted into the fir wood, running so swiftly 
 that his adversary felt it would be useless to pursue. 
 
 Neither did he wish to, for Judith was standing 
 there by the porch, looking wild -eyed and ghastly. 
 
 ' You — you are hurt,' she faltered. 
 
 * Hurt ! ' he cried, as he clasped her once more in 
 his arms. ' No, no, tell me about yourself Curse 
 him ! what did he say ? ' 
 
 ' I was alone here and busy when he came. He 
 has followed me about from a child and frightened 
 me. To-day he walked straight in and roughly told 
 me that he loved me, and that I must be his wife.' 
 
 She shuddered. 
 
 ' The insolent gaol bird ! ' 
 
 ' He frightened me, though I tried very hard to be 
 firm, and ordered him to leave the place ; but he
 
 loo THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 only laughed at me, and caught me in his arms, and 
 tried to kiss me. I was struggling with him for a 
 long time, and no help seemed to be coming. I 
 screamed out, and that frightened him, and he left 
 me ; but, before I could fasten the door, he came back 
 and spoke gently to me, but when I would not listen 
 to him, he tried to seize me again, and I cried for 
 help, and you — ' 
 
 She did not shrink this time, as, throbbing with 
 passion, and uttering threats against the scoundrel, 
 Rolph once more folded her in his arms. 
 
 Again she struggled from him, trembling. 
 
 ' I am not doing right,' she said firmly. ' If you 
 love me, Rob — ' 
 
 ' If I love you ! ' he said reproachfully. 
 
 ' I am sure you have pity for me,' she said, taking 
 his hand and raising it to her lips, to utter a cry of 
 horror, for the hand was bleeding freely, and the ruddy 
 current dyed her lips. 
 
 ' Hurt in my defence,' she said with a pained smile, 
 as she bound her own handkerchief about the bleed- 
 ing knuckles. 
 
 * I'd die in your defence,' he whispered passion- 
 ately ; 'your protector always, dearest' 
 
 ' Then protect me now,' she said, ' that I am weak, 
 and let me trust in you. You wish me to be your 
 wife, Robert ? ' 
 
 ' Eh ? Yes, of course, of course,' he said hur- 
 riedly.
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. loi 
 
 ' And you won't let your mother sending me away 
 make any difference ? ' 
 
 ' How could it, little stupid ! I'm not a boy,' he 
 said, banteringly. * But I must go now, and, as for 
 Master Caleb Kent, I'll just set the policeman on his 
 track.' 
 
 ' But that will mean his being taken before the 
 magistrates, Rob.' 
 
 ' Yes, and a long spell for him this time, or I'll 
 know the reason why.' 
 
 ' No, no,' cried the girl, hurriedly. ' You mustn't 
 do that' 
 
 ' Why ? ' 
 
 * Because he hates you enough as it is. He said 
 he'd kill you.' 
 
 * Will he ? ' muttered Rolph, between his teeth. 
 
 * And I should have to go before the magistrates as 
 a witness ; and there's no knowing what Caleb might 
 say.' 
 
 Rolph looked at her searchingly, while she clung to 
 him till he promised to let the matter rest. 
 
 * But suppose he comes again ? ' 
 
 ' Father will take care of that,' she said confidently. 
 ' But do mind yourself as you go. Caleb may be 
 hiding, and waiting for you.' 
 
 ' To come back here,' he said sharply. 
 
 ' If he does, he'll find the door locked,' said Judith 
 quietly. ' Must you go now ? ' 
 
 ' Yes : your father may come back.'
 
 I02 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' But that doesn't matter now, Rob, does it ? Why 
 not tell him we're engaged ? ' 
 
 ' No, no : not yet. Leave that to me. Good-bye, 
 now.' 
 
 He drew the clinging arms from about his neck 
 rather roughly, gave the girl's lips a hasty kiss, and 
 hurried out and across the clearing, turning back 
 twice as he went to see Judith looking after him, 
 with her face shadowed by tears, and then, as their 
 eyes encountered, beaming with sunshine. And 
 again, after he had passed out of sight, he stole back 
 through the trees to find that she was still wistfully 
 gazing at the spot where she saw him last. 
 
 And, as unseen he watched her, his thoughts were 
 many upon her unprotected state, and as to whether 
 he ought not to stay until her father's return. 
 
 ' No,' he said, ' the beggar will not dare to come 
 back ! ' and, after making a circuit of the place, and 
 searching in all directions, he walked thoughtfully 
 away, thinking of what must be done with regard to 
 Caleb Kent, and then about his cousin, against whom 
 his indignation grew hotter the more he thought of 
 what he had seen. 
 
 * She must have known that Caleb was in the 
 cottage insulting Judith, and she was glorying in it 
 and would not stir a step to save her, when her pre- 
 sence would have been enough to drive the beggar 
 away. Oh, it seems impossible that a woman could 
 be so spiteful. Hang it ! Madge has got hold of that
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 103 
 
 now. It's like being at her mercy. Phew ! I'm get- 
 ting myself in a devil of a mess. I meant to fight shy 
 of her now altogether, but of course no fellow could 
 help running to save a woman in distress.' 
 
 He stopped short, for a sudden thought struck 
 him. 
 
 * Then Judy hasn't heard about Glynne yet. Con- 
 found it all ! what a tangle I'm getting in.' 
 
 He took out and lit a cigar. Then smoking rapidly, 
 he felt better. 
 
 ' All right,' he muttered ; ' the old woman sets that 
 square, and the sooner they're off the estate the better 
 for everybody. But there's no mistake about it, Judy 
 is deuced nice after all.' 
 
 ' Day, sir,' said a sharp voice, and Rolph started 
 round to find himself face to face with Hayle. 
 
 ' Ah, Ben !— you ! ' 
 
 ' Yes, sir, me it is,' said the keeper, sternly. ' Down, 
 dogs ! ' 
 
 This to the animals which began to play about the 
 captain. 
 
 ' Oh, let 'em be,' said Rolph, patting one of the 
 setters on the head. 
 
 ' Never mind the dogs, sir. I've got something 
 more serious to think about. I suppose you know as 
 the missus has sacked me, and we're off?' 
 
 ' Yes, Ben, I know ; but it was no doing of 
 mine. 
 
 ' I never thought it was, sir ; but me and Judy's to
 
 I04 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 go at once — anywhere, for aught she cares. She'd 
 like me to emigrate, I think.' 
 
 ' No, don't do that, Ben. England's big enough.' 
 
 * For some people, sir. I don't know as it is for 
 me. Well, sir, I'm sacked, and I dare say it will be a 
 long time before anyone will take me on. My char- 
 acter usen't to be of the best, and the reasons for 
 going '11 be again me. Of course you knowwhy it is.' 
 
 'Well — er — I suppose — ' 
 
 ' That'll do, sir. You know well enough, it's about 
 you and my Judy.' 
 
 The captain laughed. 
 
 ' There, sir, you needn't shuffle with me. I'm my 
 gal's father, and we may as well understand one an- 
 other.' 
 
 ' My good fellow, recollect whom you are talking 
 to,' said the captain, haughtily. 
 
 ' I do, sir. My late missus's son ; and I recollect 
 that I'm nobody's servant now, only an Englishman 
 as can speak out free like. So I say this out plain. 
 Of course, after what's been going on, you mean to 
 marry my Judith ? ' 
 
 ' Marry her ? Well— er— Ben— ' 
 
 ' No, you don't,' said the keeper fiercely, so don't 
 tell me no lies, because I know you've been and got 
 yourself engaged to young Miss Glynne over at 
 Brackley.' 
 
 * Well, sir, and if I have, what then ? ' said Rolph 
 haughtily.
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 105 
 
 ' This, sir/ cried the keeper, with his eyes flashing, 
 'that you've been playing a d — d cowardly mean 
 part to Miss Glynne and to my Judith. YouVe led 
 my gal on to believe that you meant to marry her, 
 and then you've thrown her over and took up with 
 Sir John Day's gal. And I tell you this ; if my Judith 
 hadn't been what she is, and any harm had come of 
 it, you might have said your prayers, for as sure as 
 there's two charges o' shot in this here gun, I'd put 
 one through you.' 
 
 * What ? ' 
 
 ' You beared what I said, sir, and you know I'm a 
 man of my word. And now, look here : you've been 
 to the lodge to see Judith, for the last time, of course, 
 for if ever you speak to her again, look out. Now, 
 don't deny it, my lad. You've been to my cottage, 
 for it is mine till to-night.' 
 
 ' Yes, I have been to the lodge, Hayle,' said Rolph, 
 who was thoroughly cowed by the keeper's fierce 
 manner. * I was going through the wood when, 
 just as I drew near the cottage, I heard a cry for 
 help.' 
 
 ' What ? ' roared Hayle. 
 
 ' I ran to the porch just as a man was after Miss 
 Hayle — Steady there.' 
 
 The sound was startling, for involuntarily the keeper 
 had cocked both barrels of his gun ; and, as he stood 
 there with his eyes flashing, and the weapon trembling 
 in the air, the three dogs looked as if turned to stone,
 
 io6 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 their necks outstretched, heads down, and their long 
 feathery tails rigid, waiting for the double report they 
 felt must follow. 
 
 'And — and — what did you do?' cried the keeper 
 in a slow, hoarse voice, which, taken in conjunction 
 with the rapid cocking of the gun, made Rolph think 
 that, if it had been the father who had come upon 
 that scene, there might have been a tragedy in 
 Thoreby Wood that day. 
 
 * I say, what did you do ? ' said the keeper again, 
 in a voice full of suppressed passion. 
 
 ' That ! ' said Rolph, slowly raising his right hand 
 to unwind from it Judith's soft white handkerchief, 
 now all stained with blood, and display his knuckles 
 denuded of skin. 
 
 ' Hah ! ' ejaculated the keeper, as his eyes flashed. 
 'God bless you for that, sir. You knocked him 
 down ? ' 
 
 ' Of course.' 
 
 ' Yes — yes ? ' 
 
 ' And he jumped up and drew his knife and struck 
 at me.' 
 
 ' But he didn't hit you, sir ; he didn't hit you ? ' 
 cried the keeper, forgetting everything in his excite- 
 ment as he clutched the young man's arm. 
 
 ' No ; I was too quick for him ; and then he ran off 
 into the wood.' 
 
 ' D — n him ! ' roared the keeper. ' If I had only 
 been there this would have caught him,' he cried,
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 107 
 
 patting the stock of his gun. ' I'd have set the dogs 
 
 on him after I'd given him a couple of charges 
 
 of shot ; I would, sir, so help me God.' 
 
 The veins were standing out all over the keeper's 
 
 brow, as he ground his teeth and shook his great 
 
 heavy fist. 
 
 ' But wait a bit. It won't be long before we meet.' 
 ' I am very glad you were not there, Hayle,' said 
 
 Rolph, after watching the play of the father's features 
 
 for a few moments. 
 
 * Why, sir, why ? ' 
 
 ' Because I don't want to have you take your trial 
 for manslaughter.' 
 
 ' No, no ; I had enough of that over the breaking of 
 Jack Harris's head, sir ; but — * 
 
 ' Yes, but,' said Rolph, quickly, ' I wanted to talk 
 to you about that' 
 
 ' It was Caleb Kent,' said the keeper, with sudden 
 excitement. 
 
 ' Yes, it was Caleb Kent' 
 
 * I might have known it ; he was always for follow- 
 ing her about. Curse him 1 But talking's no good, 
 sir ; and, perhaps, it's as well I wasn't there. 
 Thankye, sir, for that It makes us something more 
 like quits. As for Caleb Kent, perhaps I shall have 
 a talk to him before I go. But mind you don't speak 
 to my Judy again.' 
 
 He shouldered his gun, gave Rolph a nod, and then 
 walked swiftly away, the dogs hesitating for a few
 
 io8 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 moments, and then dashing off, to follow close at his 
 heels. 
 
 Rolph stood watching the keeper for a few minutes 
 till he disappeared. 
 
 ' Well out of that trouble then,' he muttered. * Not 
 pleasant for a fellow ; it makes one feel so small. 
 Poor little Judy ! she'll be horribly wild when she 
 comes to know. What a lot of misery our marriage 
 laws do cause in this precious world.' 
 
 ' Now then for home,' he said, after walking swiftly 
 for a few minutes, and, 'putting on a spurt' as he 
 termed it, he reached the house and went straight to 
 the library. 
 
 He had entered and closed the door to sit down 
 and have a good think about how he could ' square 
 Madge,' when he became aware that the lady in his 
 thoughts was seated in one of the great arm-chairs 
 with a book in her hand, which she pretended to read. 
 She cowered as her cousin started, and stood gazing 
 down at her with a frowning brow, and a look of 
 utter disgust and contempt about his lips which made 
 her bosom rise and fall rapidly. 
 
 ' Do you want this room, Rob ? ' she said, breaking 
 an awkward silence. 
 
 'Well, yes, after what took place this morning, 
 you do make the place seem unpleasant,' he said 
 coolly. 
 
 ' Oh, this is too much,' cried Madge, her face, the 
 moment before deadly pale, now flushing scarlet, as
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. 109 
 
 she threw down the book she had held, and stood 
 before him, biting her lips with rage. 
 
 ' Yes, too much.' 
 
 ' And have we been to the cottage to see the fair 
 idol ? Pray explain,' said Marjorie, who was beside 
 herself with rage and jealousy. ' I thought gentlemen 
 who were engaged always made an end of their 
 vulgar amours.' 
 
 ' Quite right,' said Rolph, meaningly. ' I did begin, 
 as you know.' 
 
 She winced, and her eyes darted an angry flash at 
 him. 
 
 ' You mean me,' she said, with her lips turning white, 
 
 * I did not say so.' 
 
 ' But would it not have been better, now we are 
 engaged to Glynne Day — I don't understand these 
 things, of course — but would it not have been better 
 for a gentleman, now that he is engaged, to cease visit- 
 ing that creature, and, above all, to keep away when he 
 was not wanted ? ' 
 
 ' What do you mean ? — not wanted ? ' 
 
 ' I mean when she was engaged with her lover, who 
 was visiting her in her father's absence.' 
 
 ' The scoundrel ! ' cried Rolph, fiercely. 
 
 ' Yes ; a miserable, contemptible wretch, I suppose, 
 but an old flame of hers.' 
 
 ' Look here, Madge ; you're saying all this to make 
 me wild,' cried Rolph, ' but it won't do. You know 
 it's a lie.'
 
 no THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 Madge laughed unpleasantly. 
 
 * It's true. He was always after her. She told me 
 so herself, and how glad she was that the wretch had 
 been sent to prison — of course, because he was in the 
 way just then.' 
 
 ' Go on/ growled Rolph. * A jealous woman will 
 say anything.' 
 
 ' Jealous ? — I ? — Pah ! — Only angry with myself 
 because I was so weak as to listen to you.' 
 
 'And I was so weak as to say anything to a 
 malicious, deceitful cat of a girl, who is spiteful 
 enough to do anything.' 
 
 ' I, spiteful ?— Pah ! ' 
 
 'Well, malicious then.' 
 
 ' Perhaps I shall be. I wonder what dear Glynne 
 would say about this business. Suppose I told her 
 that our honourable and gallant friend, as they call it 
 in parliament, had been on a visit to that shameless 
 creature whom poor auntie had been compelled to 
 turn away from the house, and in his honourable and 
 gallant visit arrived just in time to witness the end of 
 a lover's quarrel ; perhaps you joined in for ought I 
 know, and — I can't help laughing — Poor fellow ! 
 You did. You have been fighting with your rival, 
 and bruised your knuckles. Did he beat you much, 
 Rob, and win ? ' 
 
 Robert Rolph was dense and brutal enough, 
 and his cousin's words made him wince, but he 
 looked at the speaker in disgust as the malevolence
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION. iii 
 
 of her nature forced itself upon him more and 
 more. 
 
 * Well,' he cried at last, ' I've seen some women 
 in my time, but I never met one yet who could 
 stand by and glory in seeing one whom she had 
 looked upon as a sister insulted like poor Judy was.' 
 
 ' A sister ! ' cried Majorie, contemptuously. ' Ab- 
 surd ! — a low-born trull ! ' 
 
 * Whom you called dear, and kissed often enough 
 till you thought I liked her, and then — Hang it all, 
 Madge, are you utterly without shame ! ' 
 
 She shrank from him as if his words were thongs 
 which cut into her flesh, but as he ceased speaking, 
 with a passionate sob, she flung her arms about his 
 neck, and clung tightly there. 
 
 ' Rob ! Don't, I can't bear it,' she cried. ' You 
 don't know what I have suffered — what agony all this 
 has caused.' 
 
 ' There, there, that will do,' he said contemptuously. 
 ' I am engaged, my dear.' 
 
 She sprang from him, and a fierce light burned in 
 her eyes for a moment, but disappointment and her 
 despair were too much for her, and she flung herself 
 upon his breast. 
 
 ' No, no, Rob, dear, it isn't true. I couldn't help 
 hating Judith or any woman who came between us. 
 You don't mean all this, and it is only to try me. 
 You cannot — you shall not marry Glynne ; and as to 
 Judith, it is impossible now.'
 
 112 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Give over,' he said roughly, as he tried to free him- 
 self from her arms. 
 
 ' No, you sha'n't go. I must tell you,' she whispered 
 hoarsely amidst her sobs. * I hate Judith, but she is 
 nothing — not worthy of a thought. I will never men- 
 tion her name to you again, dear.' 
 
 ' Don't pray,' he cried sarcastically. ' If you do, I 
 shall always be seeing you gloating over her trouble 
 as I saw you this morning.' 
 
 ' It was because I loved you so, Rob,' she murmured 
 as she nestled to him. ' It was because I felt that 
 you were mine and mine only, after the past ; and all 
 that was forcing her away from you.' 
 
 ' Bah ! ' he cried savagely. ' Madge ! Don't be a 
 fool ! Will you loosen your hands before I hurt 
 you.' 
 
 But she clung to him still. 
 
 * No, not yet,' she whispered. ' You made me love 
 you, Rob, and I forget everything in that. Promise 
 me first that you will break all that off about Glynne 
 Day.' 
 
 * I promise you that I'll get your aunt to place you 
 in a private asylum,' he cried brutally, * if you don't 
 leave go.' 
 
 There was a slight struggle, and he tore himself 
 free, holding her wrists together in his powerful grasp 
 and keeping her at arm's length. 
 
 ' There ! Idiot ! ' he cried. ' Must I hold you 
 till you come to your senses.'
 
 ATTRACTION AND REPULSION 113 
 
 ' If you wish — brute!' she cried through her little 
 white teeth as her lips were drawn away. * Kill me 
 if you like now. I don't care a bit : you can't hurt 
 me more than you have.' 
 
 * If I hurt you, it serves you right. A nice, lady- 
 like creature, 'pon my soul. Pity my mother hasn't 
 been here to see the kind of woman she wanted me to 
 marry.' 
 
 'Go on,' she whispered, 'go on. Insult me: you 
 have a right. Go on.' 
 
 ' I'm going off,' he said roughly. * There, go up to 
 your room, and have a good hysterical cry and a wash, 
 and come back to your senses. If you will have it 
 you shall, and the whole truth too. I never cared a 
 bit for you. It was all your own doing, leading me 
 on. Want to go.' 
 
 ' Loose my hands, brute.' 
 
 * For you to scratch my face, my red-haired pussy. 
 Not such a fool. I know your sweet temper of old. 
 If I let go, will you be quiet ? ' 
 
 Marjorie made no reply, but she ceased to struggle 
 and stood there with her wrists held, the white skin 
 growing black — a prisoner — till, with a contemptuous 
 laugh, he threw the little arms from him. 
 
 ' Go and tell Glynne everything you know — every- 
 thing you have seen, if you like,' he said harshly, 'only 
 tell everything about yourself too, and then come back 
 to me to be loved, my sweet, amiable, little white-faced 
 tigress. I'm not afraid though, Madge. You can't 
 VOL. I. H
 
 114 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 open those pretty lips of yours, can you ? It might 
 make others speak in their defence.' 
 
 * Brute/ she whispered as she gazed at him defiantly 
 and held out her bruised wrists. 
 
 * Brute, am I ? Well, let sleeping brutes lie. Don't 
 try to rouse them up for fear they should bite. Go 
 to your room and bathe your pretty red eyes after 
 having a good cry, and then come and tell me that 
 you think it is best to cry truce, and forget all the 
 past' 
 
 * Never, Rob, dear,' she said with a curious smile. 
 ' Go on ; but mind this : you shall never marry Glynne 
 Day.' 
 
 ' Sha'n't I ? We shall see. I think I can pull that 
 off,' he cried with a mocking laugh. ' But if I don't, 
 whom shall I marry ? ' 
 
 She turned from him slowly, and then faced round 
 again as she reached the door. 
 
 ' Me,' she said quietly ; and the next minute 
 Robert Rolph was alone.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A CLOUDY SKY. 
 
 Oh, father, I'm so glad you've come.' 
 
 This was Ben Hayle's greeting as he reached the 
 keeper's lodge. 
 
 ' Eh ? Are you ? ' he said, with an assumed look 
 of ignorance ; but the corners of his eyes were twitch- 
 ing, and he was asking himself how he was to tell his 
 child matters that would nearly break her heart, as he 
 yielded his hand to hers, and let her press him back 
 into his Windsor arm-chair. ' Nothing the matter, is 
 there ? ' 
 
 She knelt at his feet, and told him all that had 
 passed, and the strong man's muscles jerked, and his 
 grasp of her arm grew at times painful. As she 
 went on, he interjected a savage word from time to 
 time. 
 
 * Good girl, good girl. It has hurt you, my darling, 
 but it was right to tell me all, and keep nothing 
 back.' 
 
 Then he laid his hand softly on her glossy hair, 
 and sat staring straight before him at the window, the 
 moments being steadily marked off by the tick-tack of
 
 ii6 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 the old eight-day clock in the corner, and no other 
 sound was heard in the room. 
 
 Outside, the silence of the fir wood was broken by 
 the cheery lay of a robin in one of the apple-trees of 
 the garden, and once there came the low, soft cooing 
 of a dove, which the soft, sunny autumn day had 
 deluded into the belief that it was spring. 
 
 Then all was again silent for a time, and it seemed 
 to Judith, as she looked up into the stern, thoughtful 
 face, with its dark, fierce eyes, that the heavy throb- 
 bing of her heart drowned the beat of the clock ; at 
 other times the regular tick-tack grew louder, and she 
 could hear nothing else. 
 
 * You're not cross with me, father ? ' she said at 
 last. 
 
 ' No, it was no fault of yours. Ah, Judy, my girl, I 
 was so proud of your bonny face, but it seems as if it 
 is like to be a curse to you — to us both.' 
 
 ' Father ! ' 
 
 * Yes, my lass ; and I don't know which of they 
 two we ought to be most scared of — Caleb Kent or 
 the captain.' 
 
 ' Oh ! father ! ' cried Judith ; and she let her head 
 fall upon his knee, as she sobbed wildly. 
 
 ' I need hardly ask you, then, my girl,' he said, as 
 with tender, loving hands, he took her head and bent 
 over it, with his dark, fierce eyes softening. ' You like 
 him, then ? ' 
 
 She looked up proudly.
 
 A CLOUDY SKY. 117 
 
 * He loves me, father.' 
 
 * Ay, and you, my lassie ? ' 
 
 * Yes, father. I have tried very hard not to think 
 about him, but — Yes, I do love him very dearly, 
 and I'm going to be his wife. He said he would 
 speak to you.' 
 
 ' Yes, my dear, and he has spoken to me.' 
 
 ' Oh ! ' she cried, as she reached up to lay her hands 
 
 upon the keeper's shoulders, and gaze inquiringly in 
 
 his eyes. 
 
 * It was all one big blunder, my dear,' he said ; * you 
 ought never to have gone up to the house, and learned 
 things to make you above your station. I used to 
 think so, as I sat here o' night's and smoked my pipe, 
 and say to myself, " She'll never care for the poor old 
 cottage again."' 
 
 Judith looked up quickly, and her arm stole round 
 her father's neck. 
 
 'And then,' she whispered, 'you said to your- 
 self, " It is not true, for she'll never forget the old 
 home." ' 
 
 * You're a witch, Judy,' he cried, drawing her to 
 him, with his face brightening a little. ' I did. And 
 if it could have been that you'd wed the captain, and 
 gone up to the house among the grand folk, you 
 would have had me there ; you would not have been 
 ashamed of the old man — would you ? ' 
 
 ' Why do you ask me that, dear ? ' said Judith, with 
 her lips quivering. ' You know — you know.'
 
 ii8 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Yes,' he said, * I know. But we shall have to go 
 away from the old place, Judy, for it can't never be.' 
 
 ' Oh, father ! ' 
 
 * No, my dear, it won't do. It's all been a muddle, 
 and I ought to have known better, instead of being a 
 proud old fool, pleased as could be to see my lassie 
 growing into a lady. There, 1 may as well tell you 
 the truth, lass, at once.' 
 
 ' The truth, father ? ' she said sharply. 
 
 'Yes, my dear, though it goes again me to hurt 
 your poor little soft heart.' 
 
 ' What do you mean, father ? ' she cried, startled 
 now by the keeper's looks. 
 
 ' It must come, Judy ; but I wish you'd found it 
 out for yourself Young Robert isn't the man his 
 dead father was. He's a liar and a scoundrel, girl, 
 and— 
 
 She sprang from him with her eyes flashing, and a 
 look of angry indignation convulsing her features. 
 
 ' It's true, my girl. He never meant to marry you, 
 only to make you his plaything because he liked your 
 pretty face.' 
 
 ' It isn't true,' said the girl harshly ; and the in- 
 dignation in her breast against her father made her 
 wonderfully like him now. 
 
 ' It is true, Judy, my pretty. I wouldn't lie to you, 
 and half break your heart. You've got to face it 
 along with me. We're sent away because the captain 
 is going to marry.
 
 A CLOUDY SKY. 119 
 
 ' It isn't true, father ; he wouldn't marry Madge 
 Emlin, with her cruel, deceitful heart' 
 
 ' No, my lass ; he's chucked her over too. He's 
 going to marry Sir John Day's gal, over at Brackley 
 Hall — her who came here and painted your face in 
 the sun bonnet, when you were home those few days 
 the time I had rheumatiz.' 
 
 * Is this true, father ? ' 
 
 ' As true as gospel, lass.' 
 
 She gave him a long, searching look, as if reading 
 his very soul, and then crept back to a low chair, 
 sank down, and buried her face in her hands. 
 
 ' Hah ! ' he said to himself, ' she takes it better than 
 I thought for. Thank God, it wasn't too late.' 
 
 He stood thinking for a few minutes. 
 
 'Where am I to get a cottage, Judy, my lass?' he 
 said at last. * One of those at Lindham might do 
 for the present, out there by your grandmother's, 
 if there's one empty. Mother Wattley would know. 
 rU go and see her. Let's get out of this. Poor old 
 place, though,' he said, as he looked round. * It 
 seems rather hard.* 
 
 Judith had raised her head, and sat gazing straight 
 before her, right into the future, but she did not 
 speak.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 IN A MIST. 
 
 Glynn E Day was seated in her favourite place — a 
 bright, cheerful-looking room connected with her bed- 
 chamber on the first floor at Brackley, and turned by 
 her into a pleasant nest ; for the French windows 
 opened into a tiny conservatory over a broad bay 
 window of the dining-room, where were displayed the 
 choicest floral gems that Jones, the head gardener, 
 could raise, all being duly tended by her own 
 hands. 
 
 The gardener shook his head, and said that 'the 
 plahnts wiltered' for want of light, and wanted to 
 cut away the greater part of the tendril-like stems of 
 the huge wistaria, which twisted itself into cables, 
 and formed loops and sprays all over the top glass ; 
 but Glynne looked at him in horror, and forbade him 
 to cut a stem. Consequently, in the spring-time, 
 great lavender racemes of the lovely flowers clustered 
 about the broad window at which the mistress of the 
 Hall loved to sit and sketch ' bits ' of the beautiful 
 landscape around, and make study after study of the 
 precipitous pine-crowned hill a mile away, behind
 
 IN A MIST. 121 
 
 whose dark trees the sun would set, and give her 
 opportunities to paint in gorgeous hues the tints of 
 the western sky. 
 
 Here Lucy Alleyne would be brought after their 
 walks, to sit and read, while Glynne filled in sketches 
 she had made ; and many a pleasant hour was passed 
 by the two girls, while the soft breezes of the sunny 
 country waved the long wistaria strands. 
 
 ' It's no use for me to speak, Mr Morris,' said the 
 gardener one day. ' It 'most breaks my heart, for all 
 about there, and under the little glass house is the un- 
 tidiest bit about my garden. I told Sir John about it, 
 and he said, " Why don't you cut it then, booby ? " 
 and when I told him why, and ast him to speak to 
 Miss Glynne, he said, " Be off, and leave it alone." ' 
 
 ' And of course you did,' said Morris, the butler. 
 
 * Sack's the word if I hadn't, sir. But you mark my 
 words: one of these days — I mean nights — them 
 London burglars '11 give us a visit, and they won't 
 want no ladder to get up to the first-floor windows. 
 A baby could climb up them great glycene ropes and 
 get in at that window ; and then away goes my young 
 lady's jewels.' 
 
 * Well, they won't get my plate,' said Morris with a 
 chuckle. ' I've two loaded pistols in my pantry for 
 anyone who comes, so let 'em look out ; and if I 
 shout for help, the major's got his loaded too.' 
 
 Glynne Day was seated one afternoon in her con- 
 servatory, bending over her last water-colour sketch
 
 122 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 by the open window, when a loud, reverberating bang 
 echoed along the corridor, making the windows rattle 
 outside her room. Starting up, knowing from old 
 experience that it was only an earthquake, one of the 
 social kind which affected Brackley from time to 
 time, she hurried into her little study, and out into 
 the passage, to go to the end, and tap sharply at the 
 door facing her. 
 
 ' Come in,' was shouted in the same tones as he who 
 uttered the order had cried * wheel into line ! ' and 
 Glynne entered to find the major with his hair looking 
 knotted, his moustache bristling, and his eyes rolling 
 in their sockets. 
 
 ' What is the matter, uncle ? ' 
 
 * Matter ? ' cried the major, who was purple with 
 rage. ' Matter ? He's your father, Glynne, and he's 
 my brother, but if— if I could only feel that it wasn't 
 wicked to cut him down with the sword I used at 
 Chillianwallah, I'd be thankful.' 
 
 ' Now, uncle, dear, you don't feel anything of the 
 kind,' said Glynne, leaning upon the old gentleman's 
 arm. 
 
 'I do feel it, and I mean it this time. Now, girl, 
 look here ! Why am I such an old idiot — ' 
 
 * Oh, uncle ! ' 
 
 * — As to stop here, and let that bullying, farm-labour- 
 ing, overbearing bumpkin — I beg your pardon, my dear, 
 but he is — father of yours, ride rough-shod over me ? ' 
 
 ' But, uncle, dear — '
 
 IN A MIST. 123 
 
 ' But, niece, dear, he does ; and how I can be such 
 an idiot as to stop here, I don't know. If 1 were his 
 dependent, it couldn't be worse.' 
 
 * But, uncle, dear, I'm afraid you do show a little 
 temper sometimes.' 
 
 ' Temper ! I show temper ! Nothing of the kind,' 
 cried the old fellow, angrily, and his grey curls seemed 
 to stand out wildly from his head. * Only decision — 
 just so much decision as a military man should show — 
 nothing more. Temper, indeed ! ' 
 
 ' But you are hasty, dear, and papa so soon gets 
 warm.' 
 
 ' Warm ? Red hot. White hot. He has a temper 
 that would irritate a saint, and heaven knows I am 
 no saint' 
 
 * It does seem such a pity for you and papa to 
 quarrel.' 
 
 'Pity? It's abominable, my child, when we might 
 live together as peaceably as pigeons. But he shall 
 have it his own way now. I've done. I'll have no 
 more of it. I'm not a child.' 
 
 * What are you going to do, uncle ? ' 
 
 'Do? Pack up and go, this very day. Then he 
 may come to my chambers and beg till all's blue, but 
 he'll never persuade me to come out here again.' 
 
 * Oh, uncle ! It will be so dull if you go away.' 
 
 ' No, no, not it, my dear. You've got your captain ; 
 and there'll be peace in the house then till he finds 
 someone else to bully. Why, I might be one of his
 
 124 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 farm labourers ; that I might. But there's an end of 
 it now/ 
 
 * But, uncle ! ' cried Glynne, looking perplexed and 
 troubled, ' come back with me into the library. I'm 
 sure, if papa was in the wrong, he'll be sorry.' 
 
 * If he was in the wrong ! He was in the wrong. 
 Me go to him ? Not I. My mind's made up. I'll 
 not have my old age embittered by his abominable 
 temper. Don't stop me, girl. I'm going, and nothing 
 shall stay me now.' 
 
 * How tiresome it is ! ' said Glynne, softly, as her 
 broad, white forehead grew full of wrinkles. ' Dear 
 uncle ; he must not go. I must do something,' and 
 then, with a smile dawning upon her perplexed face, 
 she descended the stairs, and went softly to the 
 library door, opened it gently, and found Sir John 
 tramping up and down the Turkey carpet, like some 
 wild beast in its cage. 
 
 ' Who's that ? How dare you enter without — Oh, 
 it's you, Glynne.' 
 
 * Yes, papa. Uncle has gone upstairs and banged 
 his door.' 
 
 * I'm glad of it ; I'm very glad of it,' cried Sir John, 
 ' and I hope it's for the last time.' 
 
 ' What has been the matter, papa ? ' said Glynne, 
 laying her hands upon his shoulders. ' Sit down, 
 dear, and tell me.' 
 
 ' No, no, my dear, don't bother me. I don't want 
 to sit down, Glynne.'
 
 IN A MIST. 125 
 
 ' Yes, yes, dear, and tell me all about it.' 
 Fighting against it all the while, the choleric 
 baronet allowed himself to be pressed down into one 
 of the easy-chairs, Glynne drawing a footstool to his 
 side, sitting at his feet, and clasping and resting her 
 hands upon his knees. 
 
 ' Well, there, now ; are you satisfied ? ' he said, half 
 laughing, half angry. 
 
 * No, papa. I want to know why you and uncle 
 quarrelled.' 
 
 * Oh, the old reason,' said Sir John, colouring. ' He 
 will be as obstinate as a mule, and the more you try 
 to reason with him, the more he turns to you his hind 
 legs and kicks.' 
 
 *Did you try to reason with Uncle James, 
 papa ? ' 
 
 ' Did I try to reason with him ? Why, of course I 
 did, but you might as well try to reason with a stone 
 trough.' 
 
 * What was it about ? ' said Glynne, quietly. 
 
 ' What was it about ? Oh, about the — about the — 
 bless my soul, what did it begin about ? Some, some, 
 some — dear me, how absurd, Glynne. He upset me 
 so that it has completely gone out of my head. What 
 do you mean ? What do you mean by shaking your 
 head like that? Confound it all, Glynne, are you 
 going to turn against me ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, papa, papa, how sad it is,' said Glynne, gently. 
 ' You have upset poor uncle like this all about some
 
 126 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 trifle of so little consequence that you have even 
 forgotten what it was.' 
 
 * I beg your pardon, madam,' cried Sir John, trying 
 to rise, but Glynne laid her hand upon his chest and 
 kept him back. * It was no trifle, and it is no joke 
 for your Uncle James to launch out in his confounded 
 haughty, military way, and try to take the reins from 
 my hands. I'm master here. I remember now ; it 
 was about Rob.' 
 
 ' Indeed, papa ! ' said Glynne, with a sad tone in 
 her voice. 
 
 ' Yes, finding fault about his training. I don't want 
 him to go about like some confounded foot-racing 
 fellow, but he's my son-in-law elect, and he shall do 
 as he pleases. What next, I wonder? Your uncle 
 will be wanting to manage my farm.' 
 
 Glynne remained very thoughtful and silent for a 
 few minutes, during which time her father continued 
 to fume, and utter expressions of annoyance, till 
 Glynne said suddenly as she looked up in his 
 face, — 
 
 * You were wrong, papa, dear. You should not 
 quarrel with Uncle James.' 
 
 'Wrong? Wrong? Why, the girl's mad,' cried 
 Sir John. * Do you approve of his taking your future 
 husband to task over his amusements ? ' 
 
 * I don't know,' said Glynne slowly, as she turned 
 her great, frank-looking eyes upon her father. ' I 
 don't know, papa, dear. I don't think I do ; but
 
 IN A MIST. 127 
 
 Uncle James is so good and wise, and I know he 
 loves me very much.' 
 
 ' Of course he does ; so does everybody else,' cried 
 the baronet, excitedly. ' I should like to see the man 
 who did not. But I will not have his interference 
 here, and I'm very glad — very glad indeed — that he 
 is going.' 
 
 ' Uncle James meant it for the best, I'm sure, papa,' 
 said Glynne, thoughtfully, ' and it was wrong of you 
 to quarrel with him.' 
 
 ' I tell you I did not quarrel with him, Glynne ; he 
 quarrelled with me,' roared Sir John. 
 
 * And you ought to go and apologise to him.' 
 
 ' I'd go and hang myself sooner. I'd sooner go 
 and commit suicide in my new patent thrashing- 
 machine.' 
 
 ' Nonsense, papa, dear,' said Glynne quietly. ' You 
 ought to go and apologise. If you don't, Uncle James 
 will leave us.' 
 
 'Let him.' 
 
 'And then you will be very much put out and 
 grieved.' 
 
 ' And a good job too. I mean a good job if he'd 
 leave, for then we should have peace in the place.' 
 
 ' Now, papa ! ' 
 
 ' I tell you I'd be very glad of it ; a confounded 
 peppery old Nero, talking to me as if I were a private 
 under him. Bully me, indeed ! I won't stand it. 
 There ! '
 
 128 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 'Papa, dear, go upstairs and apologise to Uncle 
 James.' 
 
 * I won't, Glynne. There's an end of it now. Just 
 because he can't have everything his own way. He 
 has never forgiven me for being the eldest son and 
 taking the baronetcy. Was it my fault that I was 
 born first ? ' 
 
 * Now, papa, dear, that's talking at random ; I don't 
 believe Uncle James ever envied you for having the 
 title.' 
 
 'Then he shouldn't act as if he did. Confound 
 him I' 
 
 ' Then you'll go up and speak to him. Come, dear, 
 don't let's have this cloud over the house ! ' 
 
 ' Cloud ? I'll make it a regular tempest,' cried Sir 
 John, furiously. ' I'll go upstairs and see that he does 
 go, and at once. See if I ferret him out of his nasty, 
 dark, stuffy, dismal chambers again. Brought him 
 down here, and made a healthy, hearty man of him, 
 and this is my reward.' 
 
 ' Is that you talking, papa ? ' said Glynne, rising with 
 him, for he made a rush now out of his seat, and she 
 smiled in his face as she put her arms round his neck 
 and kissed him. 
 
 ' Bah ! Get out ! Pst ! Puss ! ' cried Sir John, and 
 swinging round, he strode out of the library, and 
 banged the door as if he had caught his brother's habit 
 
 Glynne stood looking after him, smiling as she 
 listened to his steps on the polished oak floor of the
 
 IN A MIST. 129 
 
 hall, and then seemed quite satisfied as she detected 
 the fact that he had gone upstairs. Then it was that 
 a dreamy, strange look came into her eyes, and she 
 stood there, with one hand resting upon the table, 
 thinking — thinking — thinking of the cause of the 
 quarrel, of the words her uncle had spoken regarding 
 Rolph ; and it seemed to her that there was a mist 
 before her, stretching out farther and farther, and hid- 
 ing the future. 
 
 For the major was always so gentle and kind to 
 her. He never spoke to her about Rolph as he had 
 spoken to her father ; but she had noticed that he was 
 a little cold and sarcastic sometimes towards her lover. 
 
 Was there trouble coming ? Did she love Robert 
 as dearly as she should ? 
 
 She wanted answers to these questions, and the re- 
 sponses were hidden in the mist ahead. Then, as she 
 gazed, it seemed to her that her future was like the 
 vast space into which she had looked from her window 
 by night ; and though for a time it was brightened 
 with dazzling, hopeful points, these again became 
 clouded over, and all was misty and dull once more. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 
 
 Sir John went upstairs furiously, taking three steps 
 at a time — twice. Then he finished that flight two 
 at a time ; walked fast up the first half of the second 
 flight, one step at a time ; slowly up the second half; 
 paused on the landing, and then went deliberately 
 along the corridor, with its row of painted ancestors 
 watching him from one side, as if wondering when he 
 was coming to join them there. 
 
 Sir John Day was a man who soon made up his 
 mind, whether it was about turning an arable field 
 into pasture, or the setting of a new kind of corn. 
 He settled in five minutes to have steam upon the 
 farm, and did not ponder upon Glynne's engagement 
 for more than ten ; so that he was able to make his 
 plans very well in the sixty feet that he had to 
 traverse before he reached his brother's door, upon 
 whose panel he gave a tremendous thump, and then 
 entered at once. 
 
 The major was in his shirt-sleeves, apparently 
 turning himself into a jack-in-the-box, for he was 
 standing in an old bullock trunk, one which had 
 
 130
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 131 
 
 journeyed with him pretty well all over India; and 
 as Sir John entered the room sharply, and closed 
 the door behind him, the major started up, looking 
 fiercely and angrily at the intruder. 
 
 ' Oh, you're packing, then ? ' said Sir John, in the 
 most uncompromising tone. 
 
 'Yes, sir, I am packing,' said the major, getting 
 out of the trunk, and slamming down the lid ; ' and 
 I think, sir, that I might be permitted to do that in 
 peace and quietness.' 
 
 ' Peace ? Yes, of course you may,' said Sir John, 
 sharply, 'only you will make it war.' 
 
 * I was not aware,' said the major, that it was 
 necessary for me to lock my door — I beg your 
 pardon — your door. And now, may I ask the object 
 of this intrusion? If it is to resume the quarrel, you 
 may spare yourself the pains.' 
 
 ' Indeed ! ' said Sir John shortly. 
 
 * Well,' continued the major, ' why have you come ? ' 
 ' You are going, then ? ' 
 
 ' Of course I am, sir.' 
 
 ' Well, I came to tell you I'm very glad of it,' cried 
 Sir John, clapping his brother on the shoulder ; and 
 then — ' I say, Jem, I wish I hadn't such a peppery 
 temper.' 
 
 ' No, no, Jack, no, no,' cried the major, excitedly ; 
 ' it was I who was to blame.' 
 
 'Wrong, Jem. I contradicted you — very offen- 
 sively, too, and I am confoundedly in the wrong. I
 
 132 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 didn't know it till Glynne came and pulled me up 
 short. I say, it's a great pity for us to quarrel, 
 isn't it ? ' 
 
 ' Yes,' said the major, laying his hands upon his 
 brother's shoulders, ' it is — it is, indeed, Jack, and I 
 can't help thinking that I shall be doing wisely in 
 going back to my old chambers, for this projected 
 wedding worries me. We'll see one another more 
 seldom, and we won't have words together then. 
 You see — no ; stop a moment ! Let me speak. You 
 see, I feel my old wound now and then, and it makes 
 me irritable, and then the climate has touched up my 
 liver a bit. Yes, 1 had better go.' 
 
 ' Don't be a fool, Jem,' cried Sir John. * Go, 
 indeed ! Why, what the dickens do you suppose I 
 should do without you here ? Tchah ! tush ! you go ! 
 Absurd. There, get dressed, man, and come down to 
 dinner. No : come along down with me first, and we'll 
 get a bottle or two out of the number six bin. There'll 
 just be time.' 
 
 The major shook his head, as he looked at the 
 bullock trunk and a very much bruised and battered 
 old portmanteau waiting to be filled. 
 
 ' Now, Jem, old fellow, don't let's quarrel again,' 
 cried Sir John, pathetically. 
 
 ' No, no, certainly not, my dear Jack. No more 
 quarrelling, but I think this time I'll hold to my 
 word.' 
 
 'Now, my dear old fellow,' cried Sir John, grip-
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 133 
 
 ping his brother's shoulders more tightly, and shaking 
 him to and fro, ' do be reasonable. Look here : 
 I've asked little Lucy Alleyne to come sans f agon, 
 and—' 
 
 ' Is she coming ? ' cried the major, eagerly. 
 
 ' Yes, and you can talk toadstools as long as you 
 like.' 
 
 The major seemed to be hesitating, and he looked 
 curiously at his brother. 
 
 * Is Alleyne coming ? ' 
 
 * I asked him, but he is very doubtful ; perhaps he 
 is glued to the end of his telescope for the next 
 twelve hours. Here, have that confounded baggage 
 put away.' 
 
 The major looked a little more thoughtful. He 
 was hesitating, and thinking of Glynne, who just then 
 tapped softly at the door. 
 
 * Come in,' roared Sir John ; and she entered, 
 looked quickly from one to the other, and then went 
 up to her uncle, and kissed him affectionately. 
 
 * There,' cried Sir John, looking half-pleased, half- 
 annoyed ; ' it's enough to make a man wish you 
 would go, Jem.' 
 
 ' No, it isn't,' said the major, drawing his niece 
 closer to him. ' There, there, my dear, you were 
 quite right. I'm a terrible old capsicum, am I not ? ' 
 
 * No, uncle,' said Glynne, nestling to him ; ' but 
 hadn't we better forget all this ? ' 
 
 * Right, my dear, right,' cried Sir John. ' There,
 
 134 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 come along, and let your uncle dress for dinner. 
 Where's Rob ? ' 
 
 ' I think he went for a long walk, papa.' 
 
 ' Humph ! I hope he'll be in training at last/ said 
 Sir John, good-humouredly. ' You're a lucky girl, 
 Glynne, to have a man wanting to make himself 
 perfect before he marries you. You ought to go and 
 do likewise.' 
 
 * Don't try, Glynne, my dear,' said her uncle 
 affectionately. * A perfect woman would be a horror 
 You are just right as you are.' 
 
 ' Well, you are not, Jem,' said Sir John, laughing, 
 'so make haste, and come down. Come along, 
 Glynne.' 
 
 He led the way, and, as he passed through the 
 door, Glynne turned to look back at her uncle, their 
 eyes meeting in a peculiarly wistful, inquiring look, 
 that seemed to suggest a mutual desire to know the 
 other's thoughts. 
 
 Then the door closed, and in the most matter-of- 
 fact way, the major proceeded to dress for dinner 
 as if he had never quarrelled with his brother in his 
 life. 
 
 When he descended, it was to find Alleyne in the 
 drawing-room with his sister. Glynne was enter- 
 taining them, for Sir John had, on leaving his 
 brother, gone down into the cellar for the special 
 bottle of port, and, after its selection, found so much 
 satisfaction in the mildewy, sawdusty, damp-smelling
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 135 
 
 place that he stopped for some twenty minutes, 
 poking his bedroom candlestick into dark corners 
 and archways where the bottoms of bottles could be 
 seen resting as they had rested for many years 
 past — each bin having a little history of its own, so 
 full of recollections that the baronet had at last to 
 drag himself away, and hurry up to dress. 
 
 Rolph was also late — so much so that he had 
 encountered Sir John on the stairs, and the party 
 in the drawing-room had a good quarter of an 
 hour's chat in the twilight, before the candles 
 were lit. 
 
 ' And you think it possible that it is caused by 
 another planet ? ' Glynne was saying as the major 
 entered the room ; and he paused for a moment or 
 two noting the change that had come over his niece. 
 There was an eager look in her eyes ; her face was 
 more animated as she sat in the window catching the 
 last reflections of the western glow, listening the while 
 to AUeyne, who, with his back to the light, was talk- 
 ing in a low, deep voice of some problem in his 
 favourite pursuit. 
 
 * Yes ; just as happened over Neptune. That 
 appears to be the only solution of the difficulty,' he 
 replied. 
 
 'Then why not direct your glass exactly at the 
 place where you feel this planet must be ? ' 
 AUeyne smiled as he spoke next. 
 
 * I did not explain to you,' he said, * that if such a
 
 136 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 planet does exist it must be, comparatively, very 
 small, and so surrounded by the intense light of the 
 sun that no glass we have yet made would render 
 it visible.' 
 
 ' How strange ! ' said Glynne, thoughtfully ; and 
 her eyes vaguely wandered over the evening sky, 
 and then back to rest in a rapt, dreamy way upon 
 the quiet, absorbed face of the visitor. 
 
 ' I was looking at Jupiter last night,' she said, 
 suddenly, ' trying to see his moons.' 
 
 'Yes?' 
 
 ' But our glass is not sufficiently powerful. I could 
 only distinguish two.' 
 
 * Perhaps it was not the fault of your glass,' said 
 Alleyne, smiling. ' A glass of a very low power will 
 show them. I have often watched them through a 
 good binocular.' 
 
 * I'm afraid ours is a very bad one,' said 
 Glynne. 
 
 * No, I should be more disposed to think it a good 
 one. Miss Day. The reason you did not see them is 
 this ; one was eclipsed by the planet — in other words, 
 behind it — while the others are passing across its body, 
 whose brightness almost hides them — in fact, does 
 hide them to such an extent that they would not be 
 seen by you.' 
 
 There was a few minutes' silence here, broken at 
 last by Glynne, as she said in a low, thoughtful 
 voice, —
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 137 
 
 ' How much you know. How grand it must be.' 
 
 Alleyne laughed softly before replying. 
 
 ' How much I know ! ' he said, in a voice full of 
 regret. ' My dear madam, I know just enough to 
 see what a very little I have learned ; how pitifully 
 small in such a science as astronomy is all that a 
 life devoted to its depths would be.' 
 
 ' For shame, Moray,' cried Lucy, warmly. ' You 
 know that people say you are very clever indeed.' 
 
 ' Yes,' he replied, ' I know what they say ; but 
 that is only their judgment. I know how trifling 
 are the things I have learned compared with what 
 there is to acquire.' 
 
 * What a goose Glynne is,' said the major to him- 
 self, as he stood listening to the conversation. * Why, 
 this man is worth a dozen Rolphs.' 
 
 ' But, Mr Alleyne,' said Glynne, eagerly, ' is it 
 possible — could I — I mean, should you think I was 
 asking too much if I expressed a wish to see some- 
 thing of these wonders of which you have been 
 speaking ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, no, Moray would show you everything he 
 could. He's the most unselfish, patient fellow in the 
 world,' cried Lucy. 
 
 Glynne turned from her almost impatiently to 
 Alleyne, who said, with a grave smile upon his face, — 
 
 'You have no brother, Miss Day. If you had, I 
 hope you would not do all you could, by flattery and 
 spoiling, to make him weak and conceited.'
 
 138 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Indeed I don't do anything of the kind, Moray/ 
 said Lucy, indignantly ; ' and now, for that, I'll tell 
 the truth, Glynne ; he's a regular bat, an owl, a 
 recluse, and we're obliged to drag him out into 
 the light of day, or he'd stop in his room till he grew 
 mouldy, that he would. Why, he goes in spirit right 
 away to the moon sometimes, and it only seems as if 
 his body was left behind.' 
 
 ' What, do you mean to say he's moonstruck ? ' 
 said the major, merrily, and looking half-surprised 
 at the quick, indignant look darted at him by Glynne. 
 
 * I'm afraid that Lucy here is quite right,' said 
 Alleyne, smiling as he took his sister's hand in his 
 and patted it. ' I do get so intent upon my studies 
 that all every-day life affairs are regularly forgotten. 
 But I do not work half so hard now. They fetched 
 a doctor to me, and it is forbidden. In fact, I have 
 plenty of time now, and if Miss Day will pay my 
 my poor observatory a visit, I will show her every- 
 thing that lies in my power.' 
 
 * Oh, Mr Alleyne, I should be so glad,' cried Glynne 
 eagerly, and to Lucy's great delight. * I want to see 
 Saturn's rings, and the seas and continents in Mars, 
 and the twin stars.' 
 
 * Well, you needn't trouble Mr Alleyne,' said Rolph, 
 who had just entered. 'There's a fellow at Hyde 
 Park corner, with a big glass, lets people look through 
 for a penny. He'd be glad enough to come down for 
 a half-crown or two.'
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 139 
 
 ' Why, how absurd, Robert,' said Glynne, turning 
 upon him good-humouredly. ' I want to see and 
 learn about these things from someone who is an 
 astronomer.' 
 
 ' Oh/ said Rolph, * do you ? Well, I see no reason 
 why you shouldn't go and have a peep or two through 
 Mr Alleyne's glass. I'll come with you.' 
 
 * Here, I'm very sorry, Alleyne. Miss Alleyne, I 
 don't know what sort of a host you'll think me for 
 being so late,' cried Sir John, bustling in. * I hope 
 Glynne has been playing my part well' 
 
 ' Admirably, Sir John,' replied Alleyne. ' We have 
 been talking upon my favourite topic, and the time 
 soon glides by when one is engaged upon questions 
 regarding the planets.' 
 
 'But I say, you know, Mr Alleyne,' said Rolph, 
 who, with all the confidence of one in his own house 
 and proprietary rights over the lady, came and seated 
 himself upon the elbow of the easy-chair in which 
 Glynne reclined, and laid his arm behind her on the 
 back, ' I want to know what's the good of a fellow 
 sacrificing his health, and shutting himself up from 
 society, for the study of these abstruse scientific 
 matters. 'Pon my word, I can't see what difference 
 it makes to us whether Jupiter has got one moon, or 
 ten moons, or a hundred. He's such a precious long 
 way off.' 
 
 Glynne looked up at him with a good-humoured air 
 of pain, but only to turn back and listen to Alleyne.
 
 140 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * It requires study, Captain Rolph/ he said thought- 
 fully, ' and time to appreciate the value of the results 
 achieved in astronomy. Perhaps we have nothing to 
 show that is of direct utility to man, but everything 
 in nature is so grand — there is so much to be learned, 
 that, for my part, I wonder why everybody does not 
 thirst for knowledge.' 
 
 ' Yes,' said Glynne, thoughtfully, and below her 
 breath. 
 
 ' Oh, we all dabble in science, more or less,' said 
 Rolph, glancing at Sir John with a look that seemed 
 to say, ' You see how I'll trot him out.' * Here's the 
 major goes in for toadstools, and Sir John for big 
 muttons and portly pigs.' 
 
 * And Captain Rolph for exhibitions of endurance, 
 to prove that a man is stronger than a horse,' said the 
 major, drily. 
 
 * Yes, and not a bad thing, either, eh. Sir John ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, every man to his taste,' said the host ; * but I 
 believe in a man feeding himself up, and not starving 
 himself down.' 
 
 ' Oilcake and turnips, eh ? ' 
 
 * Yes, both good things in their way, but I like the 
 chemical components to have taken other forms, Rob, 
 my boy ; good Highland Scots beef and Southdown 
 mutton.' 
 
 * I hope you will be able to indulge in a good 
 dinner, Rolph ? ' said the major, looking at the young 
 officer as if he amused him.
 
 THE PROFESSOR IN COMPANY. 141 
 
 ' Trust me for that, major,' replied the young man 
 loudly. * I'm not bad at table.' 
 
 ' I thought, perhaps/ said the major sarcastically, 
 ' that you might be in training, and forbidden to eat 
 anything but raw steak and dry biscuit' 
 
 *0h, dear, no,' said Rolph seriously. 'Quite free 
 now, major, quite free.' 
 
 ' That's a blessing,' muttered Sir John, who looked 
 annoyed and fidgety. ' Hah, dinner at last.' 
 
 'Walking makes me hungry and impatient, Miss 
 AUeyne. Come along, you are my property. First 
 lady.' 
 
 He held out his arm, and, as Lucy laid her little 
 hand upon it, he went out of the drawing-room chat- 
 ting merrily ; and, as he did so, Rolph leaped from 
 his seat, and drew himself upright as if to display the 
 breadth of his chest and the size of his muscles. 
 
 ' Glad of it,' he said. ' I'm sharp set. Come along, 
 Glynne.' 
 
 Alleyne gazed at them intently with a strange feel- 
 ing of depression coming over his spirit, and so lost 
 to other surroundings that he did not reply to the 
 major, who came up to him,, moved by a desire to be 
 polite to a man whom he was beginning to esteem. 
 
 Then Major Day drew back and his keen eyes 
 brightened, for Glynne said quietly, — 
 
 ' You forget. Go on in with uncle.' 
 
 ' Eh ? ' said the young officer, looking puzzled. 
 
 * Go on in with my uncle,' said Glynne quietly.
 
 142 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 And she crossed to where AUeyne was standing, 
 and, in the character of hostess, laid her hand upon 
 his arm. 
 
 * There, you're dismissed for to-night, Rolph,' said 
 the major, who could hardly conceal his satisfaction 
 at this trifling incident. 
 
 Then, thrusting his arm through that of the athlete, 
 he marched him to the dining-room, the young man's 
 face growing dark and full of annoyance at having to 
 give way in this case of ordinary etiquette. 
 
 ' Confound the fellow ! I wish they wouldn't ask 
 him here,' he muttered. 
 
 ' Mind seems to be taking the lead over muscles to- 
 day,' said the major to himself, as he walked beside 
 the young officer to the dining-room, while Glynne 
 came more slowly behind, her eyes growing deeper 
 and very thoughtful as she listened to Alleyne's 
 words.
 
 CHAPTER XII I. 
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 
 
 The dinner, with its pleasant surroundings of flowers 
 and glittering plate and glass, with the finest and 
 whitest of linen, was delightful to Lucy, though to 
 her it was as if there was something wanting, in spite 
 of her position as principal guest. This resulted in 
 her receiving endless little attentions from Sir John ; 
 but more than once she felt quite irritated with her 
 brother, who seemed to find no more pleasure in the 
 carefully cooked viands than in the homely joints at 
 The Firs. He ate a little of what was handed to him, 
 almost mechanically, and drank sparingly of the 
 baronet's choice wines ; but his mind was busy upon 
 nothing else than the subject upon which Glynne 
 was asking him questions. 
 
 The major had plenty to say to Lucy, but he kept 
 noticing the increase of animation in Glynne. For 
 she had been awakened from her ordinary, placid, 
 dreamy state to an intense interest in the subject 
 under discussion. 
 
 Major Day did not know why he did it, but three 
 times as that dinner progressed, he laid down his 
 
 143
 
 144 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 knife and fork, thrust his hands beneath the table, 
 and rubbed them softly. 
 
 ' Muscles is out in the cold to-night,' he muttered. 
 ' He'll have to go in training for exercising his 
 patience. Bring him to his senses.' 
 
 Possibly it was very weak of the major, but he had 
 fresh in his memory, several little pieces of bitter 
 ridicule directed at him by the captain, respecting 
 the botanical pursuit in which he engaged. 
 
 Now, it so happened that early in the day the 
 major had been out for a long walk, and had come 
 upon a magnificent cluster of a fungus that he had 
 not yet tried for its edible qualities. It was the 
 peculiar grey-brown, scaly-topped mushroom, called 
 by botanists Amanita Rubescens, and said to be of 
 admirable culinary value. 
 
 ' We'll have a dish of these to-night,' thought the 
 major, picking a fair quantity of the choicest speci- 
 mens, which he took home and gave to the butler, 
 with instructions to hand them to the cook for a dish 
 in the second course. 
 
 Morris, the butler, put the basket down upon the 
 hall table, and went to see to the drawing down of a 
 window blind ; and no sooner had he gone than 
 Rolph, who had heard the order, came from the 
 billiard-room into the hall to get his hat and stick 
 preparatory to starting for a walk. 
 
 He was passing the major's basket where it stood 
 upon the hall table, when an idea flashed across his
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 145 
 
 brain, and he stopped, glanced round, grinned, and 
 then, as no one was near, took up the creel, walked 
 swiftly across the hall out into the garden, dived into 
 the plantation, ran rapidly down the long walk out 
 of sight of the house, and turned into the pheasant 
 preserve. Here, throwing out the major's fungi, 
 he looked sharply about and soon collected an equal 
 quantity of the first specimens he encountered, 
 and then turned back. 
 
 * A sarcastic old humbug,' he muttered ; ' let him 
 have a dish of these, and if any of them disagree with 
 him, it will be a lesson for the old wretch. He ex- 
 perimented upon me once with his confounded boleti, 
 as he called them ; now, I'll experimentalise upon 
 him.' 
 
 As a rule such an act as this could not have been 
 performed unseen, but fate favoured the captain upon 
 this occasion, and he reached the hall without being 
 noticed, replaced the creel upon the table from which 
 he had taken it, and then went for a walk. 
 
 Now, it so happened that Morris, the butler, had 
 crossed the hall since, but the creel not being where 
 he had placed it, he did not recall his orders ; but 
 going to answer a bell half-an-hour afterwards, he 
 caught sight of the basket, remembered what he had 
 been told, and, on his return, took the fungi into the 
 kitchen. 
 
 ' Here, cook,' he said, ' you're to dress these for the 
 second course.' 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 146 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 In due time cook, who was a very slow-moving, 
 thoughtful woman, found herself by the basket which 
 she opened, and then turned the fungi out upon 
 a dish. 
 
 * Well,' she exclaimed, * of all the trash ! Mrs 
 Mason, do, for goodness' sake, look at these.' 
 
 Glynne's maid, who was performing some mystic 
 kind of cooking on her own account, to wit, stirring 
 up a saucepan full of thin blue starch with a tallow 
 candle, turned and looked at the basket of fungi, and 
 said, — 
 
 ' Oh, the idea ! What are they for ? ' 
 
 'To cook, because them star-gazing folks are 
 coming. Morris says Miss Glynne's always talking 
 about finding the focus now.' 
 
 * But these things are poison.' 
 
 * Of course they are. I wouldn't give them to a 
 pig;' and with all the autocratic determination of 
 a lady in her position, she took the dish, and threw 
 its contents behind her big roasting fire. 'There, 
 that's the place for them ! Mary, go and tell Jones I 
 want him.' 
 
 Jones was cook's mortal enemy ; and in the capacity 
 of supplier of fruit and vegetables for kitchen use, he 
 had daily skirmishes with the lady, whom he openly 
 accused of spoiling his choice productions, and send- 
 ing them to table unfit for use, while she retaliated 
 by telling him often that he could not grow a bit of 
 garden-stuff fit to be seen — that his potatoes were
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 147 
 
 watery, his beetroot pink, his cauliflowers masses of 
 caterpillars and slugs. 
 
 Under these circumstances, Jones tied the string of 
 his blue serge apron a little more tightly, twisted the 
 said serge into a tail, which he tucked round his 
 waist, and leaving the forcing-house, where he was 
 busy, set his teeth, pushed his hat down over his 
 nose, and, quite prepared for a serious quarrel, walked 
 heavily into the kitchen. But only to be disarmed, 
 for there was a plate on the white table, containing 
 a splendid wedge of raised pie, with a piece of bread, 
 and a jug of ale beside a horn. 
 
 Jones looked at cook, and she nodded and smiled ; 
 she also condescended to put her lips first to the 
 freshly-filled horn, and then folded her arms and 
 leaned against the table, while the gardener ate his 
 'snack,' feeling that after all, though she had her bit 
 of temper, cook was really what he called 'a good 
 sort.' 
 
 ' Ah,' he said at last, with a sigh, after a little 
 current chat, ' I must be off now. Let's see ; you've 
 got in all you want for to-night ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, everything,' said cook, smiling, ' and I must 
 get to work, too. You haven't any mushrooms, I 
 suppose ? ' 
 
 ' Haven't got any mushrooms ? ' said Jones, re- 
 proachfully. 'Why, I've a bed just coming on.' 
 
 * Then I should like to make a dish to-day, and 
 use a few in one of my sauces,' said cook ; and
 
 148 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 half-an-hour later Jones returned with a basketful, 
 which he deposited upon the table with a thrill of 
 pride. 
 
 The presence of Moray Alleyne, and the way in 
 which he was taken up, as the captain called it, by 
 Glynne, so filled the mind of Rolph, that there was 
 no room for anything else, and as the dinner went 
 on, his annoyance so sharpened his appetite that he 
 ate very heartily of the two entrees and the joint. It 
 was not until the second course was in progress that 
 a dish was handed round, to which, after a telegraphic 
 glance between the major and Lucy, that young lady 
 helped herself. Glynne took some mechanically, to 
 the major's great delight, and, like Lucy, went on 
 eating. Then the dish was handed to Rolph, who 
 fixed his glass in his eye, and started slightly as he 
 suddenly recalled the trick he had played in the hall. 
 
 'What's this?' he said in an under-tone to the 
 butler. 
 
 ' Sham pinions ho nateral^ sir.' 
 
 * Humph ! no. Take the dish to Mr Alleyne.' 
 The man took the dish round to the guest, who, 
 
 talking the while to Glynne, helped himself liberally, 
 and went on eating. 
 
 * Won't you have some, Rolph ? ' said the major, 
 helping himself in turn. 
 
 ' I ! No. Don't care for such dishes.' 
 
 * Seems to be very good,' said the major. * Smells 
 delicious, and everyone's eating it'
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 149 
 
 * Not the ladies ? ' whispered Rolph. 
 
 * Yes ; they're revelling,' 
 
 ' Good heavens ! ' muttered Rolph ; and he turned 
 cold and damp, the perspiration standing upon his 
 brow^. 
 
 ' Nothing v^orse in this world than prejudice,' said 
 the major, taking a mouthful of the delicate dish. 
 Ah, yes : superb. Jack, old fellow, try some of these 
 fungi.' 
 
 * Get out ! ' said Sir John, sipping his wine. 
 
 * But, my dear boy, they are simply magnificent,' 
 cried the major. * Here, take the dish to your 
 master.' 
 
 The mushrooms were handed, and Sir John tried a 
 little, recalled the dish, and had some more, while 
 Rolph sat perfectly still, not daring to speak, though 
 he saw everyone at the table partaking of the 
 stew. 
 
 ' What are these ? ' said Sir John. ' They're very 
 good.' 
 
 ' Agaricus Rubescens, my boy. Tons of them rot 
 every year, because there is no one to pick them 
 but Miss Lucy Alleyne and your humble servant 
 here.' 
 
 * Well, don't let's have any more go rotten,' cried 
 Sir John. ' They're delicious, eh, Mr Alleyne ? ' 
 
 ' I beg your pardon,' said the visitor, looking up. 
 'These fungi,' said the host, 'uncommonly 
 good.'
 
 I50 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Yes, admirable,' said Alleyne, who had finished 
 his, and had not the most remote recollection of their 
 quality. 
 
 ' I don't believe he tasted them,' said Sir John to 
 himself. 
 
 ' These are the fungi, Morris, that I gave you to- 
 day to take into the kitchen ? ' said the major. 
 
 ' Yes, sir,' said Morris, and the major finished his 
 with great gusto. 
 
 * Uncommonly delicious ! ' he said. 
 
 'Capital, Jem,' cried Sir John; 'but I hope they 
 won't poison us.' 
 
 ' Trust me for that. They've been well tested, and 
 are perfectly wholesome. Splendid dish.' 
 
 ' They'll all be in agonies before long,' thought 
 Rolph. ' I hope poor Glynne won't be very bad. A 
 bit of an attack would serve her right, though, for 
 going on like that with the star-gazer. Phew ! how 
 hot the room is.' 
 
 ' I give you credit, Jem,' cried the host. ' What 
 do you say, Miss Alleyne? It's of no use to ask 
 these people ; they are off on comets or something 
 else.' 
 
 * Oh, I'm growing a confirmed fungus-eater, Sir 
 John,' said Lucy. ' I am Major Day's disciple. I 
 think them delicious.' 
 
 ' You're a very charming little lassie, and I like you 
 immensely,' thought Sir John, gazing at Lucy curi- 
 ously and thoughtfully ; ' but I hope Jem has too
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 151 
 
 much common sense to be making a fool of himself 
 over you. He likes you, I know, but fungus-hunting 
 is one thing and wife-hunting another. No, I won't 
 think it of you. You wouldn't lead him on, and he's 
 too full of sound sense.' 
 
 ' I shall have to leave the table,' said Rolph to him- 
 self. ' I never felt so uncomfortable in my life. 
 Ought I to go and get a doctor here? D — n the 
 toadstools ! I only meant the major to taste them. 
 Who'd ever have thought that they'd all go in for 
 them. Phew ! how hot the room is. Champagne.' 
 
 The butler filled up his glass, and Rolph, in his ex- 
 citement, tossed it off, with the result that the next 
 time Morris went round, he filled the captain's glass 
 again. 
 
 ' The thought of it all makes me feel ill,' said Rolph 
 to himself. 
 
 I've got a splendid pupil in Miss Alleyne,' said 
 the major, sipping his wine. ' I've given Glynne up. 
 She can't tell an agaric from one of the polypori. Mr 
 Alleyne, if you're trying to teach her star-names, you 
 may give it up as a bad job.' 
 
 ' Don't interrupt, uncle,' said Glynne, shaking her 
 finger at him, playfully. 
 
 • How pale the poor girl looks,' thought Rolph, 
 who was now in an agony of apprehension. * Phew ! 
 this room is warm ! ' and he gulped down his glass 
 of wine. 
 
 'Jack,' said the major, 'I couldn't have believed
 
 52 
 
 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 those fungi would be so delicious ; cook has won the 
 cordon bleu. Here, Morris, you are sure these are the 
 same fungi ? ' 
 
 * Certain, sir,' replied the butler. * I took them into 
 the kitchen myself.' 
 
 ' And were they all used ? ' 
 
 ' I think so, sir ; part for the ontries in the first 
 course.' 
 
 ' What ! ' roared Rolph, who had been horribly 
 guilty over that dish ; and he turned white as he 
 clutched the seat of his chair. 
 
 * Sahny of poulay ho sham pinions^ sir,' said Morris, 
 politely ; and he picked a menu from the table and 
 laid it before the captain, who refixed the glass in his 
 eye and glared at the card. 
 
 ' Do you mean to say that the hashed chicken and 
 the other dish was made up with those con — those 
 toadstools that were — were in that basket ? ' 
 
 *Yes, sir, the basket Major Day brought in, sir,' 
 said Morris. 
 
 Sir John chuckled. The major burst into a 
 regular roar. 
 
 ' Are — are you sure, Morris ? ' gasped Rolph, turning 
 
 a sickly yellow. 
 
 * Yes, sir ; quite sure.' 
 
 'My dear fellow,' cried the major, wiping his eyes, 
 ' what is the matter ? ' 
 
 ' I've — I've eaten a great many of them,' panted 
 Rolph.
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 153 
 
 * Well, so we all have, and delicious they were. 
 Why, hang it, man, they won't poison you.' 
 
 'Don't!' gasped Rolph, with a wild look in his 
 eyes ; and, clutching at the decanter, he poured a 
 quantity of sherry into a tumbler and gulped it 
 down. 
 
 * I say, Rob, are you ill ? ' said Sir John, kindly. 
 'Yes — no — I don't know,' gasped the captain, 
 
 gazing wildly from one to the other, in search of a 
 fresh victim to the poison. 
 
 'Would you like to leave the table?' said Sir 
 John. ' Here, Morris, give Captain Rolph a liqueur 
 of brandy.' 
 
 The butler hurriedly filled a wine glass, and the 
 captain tossed it off as if it had been water, gazing 
 dizzily round at the anxious faces at the table. 
 
 ' Do you feel very bad, Robert ? ' said Glynne, 
 rising and going round to his side to speak with great 
 sympathy, as she softly laid her hand upon his broad 
 shoulder. 
 
 ' Horribly,' whispered the captain, who was fast 
 losing his nerve. ' Don't you ? ' 
 
 ' I ? No. I am quite well' 
 
 ' It was those cursed toadstools,' cried Rolph, 
 savagely. 
 
 ' Nonsense, my dear sir,' said the major, firmly. 
 * We have all eaten them, and they were delicious.' 
 
 ' Give me your arm, some one,' groaned Rolph, 
 rising from his chair ; and the major caught him.
 
 154 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 and helped him from the room, Alleyne and Sir John 
 following, after begging Lucy and Glynne to remain 
 seated. 
 
 ' Send for a doctor — quick — I'm poisoned,' said 
 Rolph— * quick ! ' 
 
 ' Here, send to the town,' cried Sir John. ' Let a 
 groom gallop over. No ; there's Mr Oldroyd in the 
 village. Here, you, James, run across the park, you'll 
 be there in ten minutes.' 
 
 ' Telegraph — physician,' gasped Rolph. 
 
 ' Poor fellow ! He seems bad.' 
 
 * I think,' said Alleyne, quietly, ' that a good deal 
 of it is nervous dread.' 
 
 Rolph looked daggers at him, and then closed his 
 eyes and groaned, as he lay back on a sofa in the 
 library. 
 
 ' Have — have you telegraphed — sent a telegram ? ' 
 said Rolph, after lying back with his eyes closed for 
 a few minutes. 
 
 ' I have sent for Mr Oldroyd,' said Sir John, ' and 
 we will go by his advice. It would take a man half 
 an hour to gallop to the station. We shall have the 
 doctor here long before that' 
 
 Rolph looked round, partly for help, partly to see 
 who was to be the next man attacked, and then closed 
 his eyes, and lay breathing heavily. 
 
 * I wish you wouldn't bring in those confounded 
 — eh ? Who's there ? ' said Sir John. ' Oh, you, 
 my dear. No, you can't do any good. Go and
 
 MARS MAKES A MISTAKE. 155 
 
 talk to Miss Alleyne. Fit of indigestion coming 
 on the top of a lot of physical exertion — training 
 and that sort of thing. He'll be better soon.' 
 
 Glynne, who had come to the door, closed it and 
 v^ent away, while Rolph uttered a groan. 
 
 ' I was saying,' continued Sir John, ' I wish you 
 wouldn't bring those confounded things into the 
 house. You will be poisoning us some day.' 
 
 ' What nonsense, Jack ! ' cried the major. ' I tell 
 you the fungi were perfectly good. You ate some of 
 them yourself. How do you feel ? ' 
 
 ' Oh, I'm all right.' 
 
 ' So is Mr Alleyne ; so are the girls ; so am I. It 
 is not the mushrooms, I'm sure. More likely your 
 wine. We are all as well as can be.' 
 
 * Attack you suddenly,' groaned Rolph, piteously. 
 
 ' Ah, well if it does,' said the major, ' I won't make 
 such a fuss over it. Why, when we had the cholera 
 among us at Darjeebad, the men did not make more 
 trouble.' 
 
 Rolph squeezed his eyes together very closely, and 
 bit his lips, wishing mentally that a fit would seize 
 the major, while he upbraided Fortune for playing 
 him such a prank as this ; and then he lay tolerably 
 still, waiting for nearly half an hour, during which 
 notes were compared by the others, one and all of 
 whom declared that they never felt better. Glynne 
 came twice to ask if she could be of any service, 
 and to say that Lucy was eager to help ; and
 
 156 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 then there were steps in the hall, and, directly 
 after, Oldroyd was shown in, looking perfectly cool 
 and business-like, in spite of his hurried scamper 
 across the park. 
 
 ' Your man says that Captain Rolph has been 
 poisoned by eating bad mushrooms,' said the young 
 doctor. * Is this so ? ' 
 
 * He has had some of the same dish as all the rest,' 
 said Sir John ; ' and my brother declares they were 
 perfectly safe.' 
 
 * Humph ! ' ejaculated Oldroyd, who had seated 
 himself by his patient, and was questioning and 
 examining him. 
 
 * Better get him to bed,' he said, after a pause ; 
 ' and, while he is undressing, I will run home and get 
 him something.' 
 
 He started directly, and was back just as Rolph 
 sank upon his pillow. 
 
 'There, sir, drink that,' said Oldroyd, in a quiet 
 decisive tone ; and, after displaying a disposition to 
 refuse, the young officer drank what was offered to 
 him, and soon after sank into a heavy sleep. 
 
 * I'll come back about twelve, Sir John,' said the 
 doctor. ' I don't think he will be any worse. In fact, 
 I believe he'll be all right in the morning.' 
 
 *But what is it?' said Sir John, in a whisper. 'If 
 it is the mushrooms, why are we not all ill ? ' 
 
 ' Well, as far as I can make out,' said Oldroyd, 
 * there is nothing the matter with him but a nervous
 
 MARS MAKE A MISTAKE. 157 
 
 fit, and an indication of too much stimulant. It 
 seems to me that he has frightened himself into the 
 belief that he has been poisoned. But I'll come in 
 again about twelve.' 
 
 ' No, no ; pray stay, Mr Oldroyd,' cried Sir John. 
 * Come down into the drawing-room, and have a cup 
 of tea and a chat. You don't think we need telegraph 
 for further advice ? ' 
 
 ' Really, Sir John, I fail to see why you should,' 
 said Oldroyd. * Your friend is certainly, as far as my 
 knowledge goes, not seriously ill.' 
 
 ' Then come and sit down till you want to see him 
 again,' said Sir John. ' I'm very glad to know you, 
 Mr Oldroyd. You do know my brother? Yes, and 
 Mr Alleyne ? That's well. Now come and see Miss 
 Day and her friend. — Oh, my dears,' cried the baronet, 
 in his hearty tones, ' here is Mr Oldroyd come to 
 cheer you with the best of news. Mr Oldroyd, my 
 daughter — Well, Morris, what is it ? ' 
 
 ' If you please, Sir John, cook says, Sir John, she's 
 very sorry that there should be any unpleasant feeling 
 about the mushrooms ; but she had an accident with 
 the ones Major Day sent to be cooked, and those you 
 had for dinner were Jones's own growing in the pits.' 
 
 ' I could have sworn they had the regular mush- 
 room flavour,' cried the major. 
 
 * Then we needn't fidget about our dinner,' said Sir 
 John, laughing. ' Doctor, you're right. Morris, that 
 will do.'
 
 158 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 Somehow from that minute the evening brightened 
 very pleasantly at Brackley. Lucy thought it charm- 
 ing, and Glynne was an attentive listener to every 
 astronomical word that fell from Alleyne's lips. 
 Twice over Oldroyd went up to see his patient, and 
 each time came back with the information that he 
 was sleeping heavily, and that there was not the 
 slightest cause for alarm. 
 
 After that, no one was uneasy, and Rolph 
 was almost forgotten. Alleyne left with his sister 
 about eleven, the two being sent home in the 
 brougham. Glynne needed no persuasion to go 
 to bed, and Oldroyd sat and smoked a cigar 
 with the major and Sir John in the library till 
 twelve, when he went and had another look at his 
 patient. 
 
 ' Well,' said the baronet, on his return, ' what 
 news ? ' 
 
 'Sleeping like a baby,' replied Oldroyd. *I think 
 I'll go now.' 
 
 * Anybody sitting up for you, Mr Oldroyd ? * 
 
 ' Oh, no.' 
 
 ' Then there's no one to be uneasy about your 
 absence ? ' 
 
 ' Certainly not.' 
 
 ' Then would you oblige me by stopping here 
 to-night, in case you are wanted ? ' 
 
 Oldroyd was perfectly willing to oblige, and he 
 was shown to a spare bedroom, where he slept
 
 MARS MAKE A MISTAKE. 159 
 
 heartily till eight, and then rose and went to the 
 patient, whom he found dressing for his morning 
 walk, while his self-issued bulletin was that he was 
 better. 
 
 He would not believe the cook.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 
 
 ' I THINK it was very foolish of your brother to 
 invite them, Lucy/ said Mrs Alleyne, austerely. 
 ' All these preparations are not made without money ; 
 and when they are made, we have the bitterness of 
 feeling that what is luxury to us is to them con- 
 temptible and mean.' 
 
 * Oh, but, mamma, you don't know Glynne, or you 
 would not talk like that. She is as simple in her 
 tastes as can be, and thinks nothing of the luxury in 
 which they live.' 
 
 ' She would think a great deal of it, my dear, if, 
 by any misfortune in life, it should all pass from 
 her.' 
 
 ' No, mamma, I don't think she would,' said Lucy. 
 ' She is a strange girl.' 
 
 * For my part,' said Mrs Alleyne, very sternly, ' I 
 don't think we are doing wisely in keeping up this 
 intimacy.' 
 
 * Oh, mamma ! ' 
 
 * I have said it. Look at the expense I have been 
 put to in preparations. In the constant struggle 
 
 i6o
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. i6i 
 
 which I go through day after day, paring and con- 
 triving to make our Httle income last out ; any addition 
 of this kind is a weariness and a care. Of what good, 
 pray, is this visit but to satisfy the curiosity of a few 
 heartless people ? ' 
 
 'Oh, mamma, don't say that. Glynne is the 
 kindest and most amiable of girls, and nobody could 
 be nicer to me than the major and Sir John.' 
 
 ' Of course they are nice to you — to my daughter,' 
 said Mrs Alleyne, pulling up her mittens — a very 
 dingy black pair that had lain by till they were 
 specked with a few grey spots of mildew. 
 
 ' And the major thinks very highly of Moray.' 
 
 ' It is only natural that he should,' said Mrs 
 Alleyne, haughtily. ' But I repeat, I see no advan- 
 tage of a social nature to be gained by this intimacy, 
 even if we wished it.' 
 
 ' But you forget about Moray, mamma, dear.' 
 
 ' I forget nothing about your brother, Lucy. But 
 pray, what do you mean by this allusion ? ' 
 
 * His need of change. He has certainly been better 
 lately.' 
 
 ' Decidedly not,' replied Mrs Alleyne, making a 
 fresh effort to cover a very large and unpleasantly 
 prominent vein that ran from the back of her hand 
 above her wrist. ' I have noticed that Moray is 
 more quiet and thoughtful than ever.' 
 
 ' But Mr Oldroyd said yesterday, mamma, that 
 he was better.' 
 
 VOL I. L
 
 i62 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' Mr Oldroyd gave his opinion, my dear, but it was 
 only the opinion of one man. Mr Oldroyd may be 
 mistaken.' 
 
 * But, mamma, he seems so clever, and to know so 
 much about Moray's case.' 
 
 * Yes, my child — seems ; but these young medical 
 men often jump at conclusions, and are ready to take 
 for granted that they understand matters which are 
 completely sealed.' 
 
 Lucy coloured slightly, and remained silent. 
 
 ' For my part,' continued Mrs Alleyne, ' I do not 
 feel at all easy respecting Moray's state, and his 
 health is too serious a thing to be trifled with.' 
 
 Lucy's colour deepened as Mrs Alleyne swept out 
 of the room. 
 
 * I'm sure he's clever, and I'm sure he was quite 
 right about Moray,' she said. ' It's a shame to say 
 so, but I wish mamma would not be so prejudiced. 
 She will not be, though, when she knows Glynne 
 better.' 
 
 There was a pause here, and Lucy sat looking very 
 intently before her, the intent gaze in her face being 
 precisely similar to that seen in her brother's coun- 
 tenance when he was watching a far-off planet, and 
 striving to learn from it something of its mysteries 
 and ways. 
 
 But Lucy was not studying some far-off planet, 
 though her task was perhaps as hard, for she was 
 trying to read the future, and to discover what
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 163 
 
 there was in store for her brother and herself. She 
 could not think of Moray being always engaged 
 studying stars, nor of herself as continually at 
 home with her mother leading that secluded life in 
 the sombre brick mansion, finding it cheerless and 
 dull in summer, cold and bleak in winter when the 
 wind roared in the pine trees, till it was as if the sea 
 were beating the shore hard by. 
 
 ' There is sure to be some change,' she said, 
 brightening up. ' I know it, but I hope it will not 
 bring trouble.' 
 
 No further allusions were made to the coming 
 visit of the family from Brackley, but the next day 
 and the next, to use Lucy's words, mamma led her 
 such a life that she wished — and yet she did not 
 wish — that the visit was not coming off, so trouble- 
 some did the preparations grow. 
 
 Mrs Alleyne was going about her blank, chilly 
 house one morning, looking very much troubled ; 
 and now and then she stopped to wring her hands, 
 but it was generally in a cupboard or in a drawer, 
 when there was not the slightest likelihood of her 
 being seen. Her forehead was deeply lined, and 
 there was a peculiar drawing down about the corners 
 of her lips that indicated care. 
 
 It was the old story — money. She had been up to 
 town only the week before to sell out a sum in Gover- 
 ment Stock, to pay for an astronomical instrument 
 her son required — a tremendously costly piece of
 
 1 64 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 mechanism, thus leaving herself poorer than ever ; 
 and now her idol had been putting her to fresh 
 expense. 
 
 ' So thoughtless of him/ she moaned, with her 
 face in the linen closet — ' so foolish. He seems to 
 have no idea whatever of the value of money, and I 
 don't know what I shall do.' 
 
 But all the same there was the same glow of 
 satisfaction in Mrs Alleyne's breast that she used to 
 feel when she had bought the idol a wooden horse, or 
 a toy waggon full of sacks, or one of those instru- 
 ments of torture upon wheels, which, when a child 
 draws it across the floor, emits a series of wire-born 
 notes of a most discordant kind. 
 
 Mrs Alleyne turned over three or four clean table- 
 cloths, opening them out and looking wistfully at 
 darns and frayings, and places where the clothes pegs 
 had torn away the hems when they had been hung 
 out to dry. These she refolded with a sigh, and put 
 back. 
 
 ' Oh, my boy, my boy, if you only thought a little 
 more about this world as well as the other worlds ! ' 
 she sighed, as she closed the door, and, with her brow 
 growing more wrinkled, wrung her hands over the 
 pantry sink. 
 
 It was not that she had washed them, for the tap 
 was dry, no water being ever pumped into the upper 
 cistern, and the pantry was devoted to the reception 
 of Mrs Alleyne's meagre stores.
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 165 
 
 There were cupboards here that held glass and 
 china — good old china and glass ; but in the one, 
 there were marks of mendings and rivets, and in the 
 other chips and, worse troubles, cracks, and odd 
 glasses without feet, or whose feet were upon the next 
 shelf. 
 
 ' I don't know how we shall manage,' sighed Mrs 
 Alleyne, wringing her hands once more. ' It was 
 very, very thoughtless of him. The knives are worst 
 of all.' 
 
 She unrolled a packet or two, which contained 
 nothing but table knives that had once been remark- 
 ably good, but which had done their work in company 
 with hard usage, and some of which had shed their 
 ivory handles, while others were thin and double 
 edged, others again being bent at the points, or worn 
 down by cleaning until they were about two-thirds of 
 their original length. 
 
 * Dear me — dear me ! how things do wear out ! ' 
 sighed Mrs Alleyne ; and. raising her eyes, she saw 
 her face reflected in a little square glass hanging upon 
 the wall — ' even ourselves,' she added, sadly. 
 
 Just then Lucy came in hurriedly. 
 
 ' Oh, mamma,' she cried, ' I'm sure I don't know 
 what we shall do. The more I look up things, the 
 worse they seem. It is dreadful ; it is horrible. I 
 shall blush for shame.' 
 
 * And why, may I ask ? ' said Mrs Alleyne, sternly. 
 
 ' Because people will do nothing but spy out the
 
 1 66 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 poverty of the land. Moray has no sense at all, 
 or he would never have been so foolish as to ask 
 them.' 
 
 ' Your brother had his own good reasons for asking 
 Sir John Day, his brother, and his daughter, and 
 I beg that you will not speak in that disrespectful 
 way of your brother's plans.' 
 
 ' But you don't see, mamma.' 
 
 ^I see everything, my child,' said Mrs Alleyne, 
 stiffly. 
 
 * But you don't think how awkward it will be.' 
 
 * Yes, I have thought of all that' 
 
 ' But Moray never does. How are we to entertain 
 people who are accustomed to live in luxury, and who 
 have abundance of plate and china and glass, and 
 servants to wait upon them ? Oh, we shall look 
 ridiculous.' 
 
 ' Lucy ! ' 
 
 ' I don't care, mamma, I can't help it. I've been 
 working away to see if I could not get things in 
 proper trim to do us justice, but it is horrible. Moray 
 must write and tell them they are not to come.' 
 
 ' My son shall do nothing of the kind, Lucy, and 
 I desire that you do the best you can, so that Moray 
 may be content' 
 
 'But, mamma, we have no flowers, no fruit for 
 dessert, no pretty glass and vases ; and I know the 
 dinner will be horrible.' 
 
 * Moray asked the Days to come and see us, not
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 167 
 
 our household arrangements, and we must give them 
 some dinner before they go up into the observatory.' 
 
 ' Oh, very well, mamma,' said Lucy, ' I have 
 protested. You and Moray must have it your own 
 way.' 
 
 ' Of course,' said Mrs Alleyne, composedly ; ' and 
 I beg that you will find no more fault with your 
 brother's arrangements.' 
 
 ' No, mamma : I have done.' 
 
 * I dare say Captain Rolph very often dines far 
 worse at his mess than we shall dine to-morrow.' 
 
 ' But surely he is not coming, mamma,' cried Lucy 
 in horror ; ' he will be jeering at everything.' 
 
 ' If he is so extremely ungentlemanly, it is no fault 
 of ours. Yes, he is coming ; and, by the way, I did 
 not tell you, I have just asked Mr Oldroyd to join 
 us.' 
 
 ' Mamma ! ' cried Lucy, turning scarlet. 
 
 * Now don't exclaim against that, my dear,' said 
 Mrs Alleyne. * I am sure it will be almost a charity 
 to have him here. He cannot be too grand for our 
 simple ways/ 
 
 Poor Lucy shrank away looking very thoughtful, 
 and, resigning herself to fate, went busily about the 
 house, working like a little slave, and arranging the 
 place to the best advantage ; but only to break down 
 at last, with a piteous burst of tears, as she saw how 
 miserable a result she had achieved, and compared 
 her home with that of Glynne.
 
 1 68 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 Mrs Alleyne was not in much better spirits, in- 
 dulging herself as she did in various wringings of 
 the hands in closets and corners, but all in the most 
 furtive way, as she too thought of the barrenness of 
 the house. 
 
 The next morning the preparations for the little 
 dinner were in hurried progress, Lucy busily working 
 with gloomy resignation, and the kitchen given over 
 to the woman who had come to cook. Then the 
 large covered cart from Brackley drew up to the gate, 
 and upon Eliza going down, the man who drove 
 helped her to unbar the great gates, and led his horse 
 in and right round to the kitchen door. 
 
 He was the bearer of a note for Mrs Alleyne, and 
 while Eliza had taken it in, and the recipient was 
 reading it, to afterwards hand it over to Lucy, Sir 
 John's man began unloading the cart in the most 
 matter-of-fact way, and arranging things upon the 
 kitchen dresser. 
 
 ' What does he say, that he begs your pardon, and 
 knowing that we have no garden, would we accept a 
 few trifles of flowers and a little fruit ? ' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne frowned, and the shadow on her 
 countenance deepened after Sir John's man had de- 
 parted with the cart, for the trifles sent over were a 
 magnificent collection of cut flowers, with grapes, a 
 pine, hot-house peaches, and nectarines and plums. 
 
 Lucy coloured with pleasure, for all was most 
 thoughtfully contrived. Even choice leaves in a neat
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 169 
 
 bunch were included, ready for decorating the fruit 
 in the dessert dishes. But directly after she could 
 not help sharing her mother's annoyance — it seemed 
 so like looking upon them as poor. 
 
 ' It is almost an insult,' said Mrs Alleyne at last. 
 
 Lucy looked up at her wistfully, with the cloud 
 now crossing her own bright little face. 
 
 ' It is because we live in so humble a manner,' 
 cried Mrs Alleyne, angrily. ' It is cruel — a display 
 of arrogance — because I choose to live quietly that 
 Moray may proceed with his great discoveries in 
 science.' 
 
 Lucy gazed at her mother's face, in which she could 
 read the growing anger and mortification. 
 
 ' Oh, I wish Moray had not been so ready to invite 
 them,' she said to herself. 
 
 ' The things shall go back,' exclaimed Mrs Alleyne 
 at last. 
 
 ' Oh, mamma,' whispered Lucy, clinging to her 
 and trying to calm her anger, ' don't — pray don't say 
 that. It is only a present of fruit and flowers, after 
 all.' 
 
 ' You will not send the things back, mamma.' 
 
 Mrs Alleyne was silent for a few moments, and 
 then said huskily, — 
 
 ' No : they shall remain, but Moray must not 
 know ; and mind this, Lucy, when they come there 
 is sure to be an offer for the man-servant to stop 
 and wait This must be declined.'
 
 I70 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 * Oh, yes, mamma,' cried Lucy, excitedly, as she 
 began to imagine Sir John's footman being witness 
 of the shifts made in re-washing plates, and forks, 
 and spoons. 
 
 * We must submit to the insult, I suppose. I can- 
 not resent it for Moray's sake. They are his guests, 
 and must be treated with respect.* 
 
 In due time Sir John and Glynne, with Rolph 
 and the major, arrived, and were heartily welcomed 
 by Moray, who seemed to have thrown off his quiet 
 thoughtfulness of manner, and to be striving to set 
 the visitors at their ease. So warm and hearty, too, 
 were Sir John and the major, that Lucy brightened ; 
 and had Rolph taken another tone, and Mrs Alleyne 
 been satisfied with doing all that lay in her power to 
 make her visitors welcome, leaving the rest, all would 
 have gone well. But, in face of the stern, calm 
 dignity of mien which she displayed, it was impos- 
 sible for Sir John to adopt his easy-going socia- 
 bility. In fact, between them, Mrs Alleyne and 
 Rolph spoiled the dinner. 
 
 It was not by any means the greatest mistake that 
 Mrs Alleyne had ever made in her life, but it was a 
 serious one all the same, to attempt a regular society 
 dinner in the face of so many difficulties. Poor 
 woman : she felt that it was her duty to show Sir 
 John that she was a lady, and understood the social 
 amenities of life. 
 
 The consequence was that, having attempted too
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 171 
 
 much, all went wrong : Eliza got into the most horrible 
 tangles, and half-a-dozen times over, Sir John wished 
 they had had a good Southdown leg of mutton, vege- 
 tables, and a pudding, and nothing else. 
 
 But he did not have his wish — for there was soup 
 that was not good ; soles that had become torn and 
 tattered in the extraction from the frying-pan ; veal 
 cutlets, whose golden egging and crumbing had been 
 in vain, for this coating had dissolved apparently into 
 the sauce. The other entree emitted an odour which 
 made the major hungry, being a curried chicken ; but, 
 alas ! the rice was in the condition known by school- 
 boys as 'mosh-posh.' Then came a sirloin of beef 
 and a pair of boiled fowls, with an intervening tongue 
 and white sauce — at least the sauce should have been 
 white, and the chickens should have been young — 
 while what kind of conscience the butcher possessed 
 who defrauded Mrs Alleyne by sending her in that sir- 
 loin of beef, with the announcement that it was prime, 
 it is impossible to say. 
 
 The table looked bright and pretty with its fine 
 white cloth, bright flowers and fruit, but the dinner it- 
 self was a series of miserable failures, through all of 
 which Mrs Alleyne sat, stern, and with a fixed smile 
 upon her countenance. Moray and Glynne were 
 serenely unconscious, eating what was before them, but 
 with their thoughts and conversation far away amongst 
 the stars. Sir John and the major, with the most chival- 
 rous courtesy, ignored everything, and kept up the
 
 172 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 heartiest of conversation ; while Rolph, who was in a 
 furious temper at having been obHged to come, fixed 
 his glass in his eye and stolidly stared when he did 
 not sneer. 
 
 It was poor Lucy upon whom the burden of the 
 dinner cares fell, and she suffered a martyrdom. Old- 
 royd saw that she was troubled, but did not fully 
 realise the cause, while the poor girl shivered and 
 shrank, and turned now hot, now cold, as she read 
 Rolph's contempt for the miserable fare. 
 
 *Yes,' said the Major to himself, 'it's a mistake. 
 She meant well, poor woman, but if she had given 
 us a well-cooked steak how much better it would 
 have been.' 
 
 Mrs AUeyne, behind her mask of smiles, also noted 
 how Rolph's eye-glass was directed at the various 
 dishes, and how his plate went away, time after time, 
 with the viands scarcely tasted. She hated him with 
 a bitter hatred, and felt full of rejoicing to see his 
 annoyance with Glynne, whose calm, handsome face 
 lit up and grew animated when Alleyne spoke to her, 
 answering questions, questioning her in return, and 
 telling her of his work during the past few days. 
 
 The meal went on very slowly, and such success as 
 attended it was due to Sir John and the major, the 
 former devoting himself to his hostess, while the latter 
 relieved poor little Lucy's breast of some of its burden 
 of trouble. 
 
 ' Ah,' he said once, out of sheer kindness, just after
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 173 
 
 Rolph had laughed silently at a grievous mistake 
 made by Eliza, who, in a violent perspiration with 
 work and excitement, had dropped a dish in the 
 second course, breaking it, and spreading a too 
 tremulous cabinet pudding and its sauce upon the 
 well-worn carpet. * Ah, a capital dinner. Miss 
 Alleyne, only wanted one dish to have made it 
 complete.' 
 
 * How can you be so unkind. Major Day ! ' said 
 Lucy, in a low, choking voice ; * the poor girl is so 
 unused to company, and she could not help it' 
 
 Major Day looked petrified. He had advanced his 
 remark like a squadron to cover the rout of the 
 cabinet pudding, and he was astounded by Lucy's 
 flank movement, as she took his remark to refer to 
 the maid. 
 
 ' My dear child,' he stammered, ' you mistake 
 me.' 
 
 Poor Lucy could not contain herself. The vexa- 
 tions of the whole dinner which had been gathering 
 within her now burst forth ; and though she spoke to 
 him in an undertone, her face was crimson, and it was 
 all she could do to keep from bursting into a flood of 
 tears. 
 
 * It is so unkind of you,' continued Lucy ; ' we are 
 not used to having company. Moray did not think 
 how difficult it would be for us to make proper pre- 
 parations, and it is not our fault that everything is so 
 bad.'
 
 174 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ' My dear child ! ' whispered the major again. 
 
 ' You need not have added to my misery by calling 
 it a capital dinner, and alluding to the dish.' 
 
 Fortunately Sir John was chatting loudly to Mrs 
 Alleyne, Oldroyd was in a warm argument with 
 Rolph on the subject of training, and Alleyne was 
 holding Glynne's attention by describing to her the 
 theory that the stars were in all probability suns with 
 planets revolving round them, as we do about our 
 own giver of warmth and light. Hence, then, the 
 major's little interlude with Lucy was unnoticed, and 
 Eliza was able to remove the evidences of the disaster 
 with a dustpan and brush. 
 
 * My dear Miss Alleyne, give me credit for being 
 an officer and a gentleman,' said the major, quietly ; 
 ' the dish I alluded to was one of some choice fungi, 
 such as we discover for ourselves in the woods and 
 fields. I meant nothing else — believe me.' 
 
 Lucy darted a grateful look in his eyes, and fol- 
 lowed it up with a smile, which sent a peculiar little 
 sting into Oldroyd's breast. 
 
 ' For,' the latter argued with himself, * elderly gentle- 
 men do sometimes manage to exercise a great deal of 
 influence over the susceptible hearts of maidens, and 
 Major Day is a smart, attractive, old man.' 
 
 His attention was, however, taken up directly by 
 Rolph, who, in a half-haughty, condescending tone 
 asked him if he had studied training from its medical 
 and surgical side, nettling him by his manner, and
 
 TERRESTRIAL TRIALS. 175 
 
 putting him upon his mettle to demolish his adversary 
 in argument. 
 
 * Thank you, major,' whispered Lucy. * I might 
 have known — I ought to have known better.' 
 
 And then, with the ice broken between herself and 
 her old botanical tutor and friend, she seemed to 
 jump with girlish eagerness at the opportunity for 
 lightening her burdened heart. 
 
 * Everything has gone so dreadfully,' she whispered. 
 * I have been sitting upon thorns ever since you all 
 came. It has been heartbreaking, and I shall be so 
 glad when it is all over, and you are gone.' 
 
 * Tut — tut ! you inhospitable little creature,' said 
 the major. ' For shame. I shall not. Why, surely 
 my little pupil does not think we came over here for 
 the sake of the dinner. Fie! — fie! — fie ! Brother John, 
 there, enjoys a crust of bread and cheese and a glass 
 of ale better than anything ; while I, an old cam- 
 paigner, used, when I was on service, to think myself 
 very lucky if I got a biscuit and a slice of melon, or a 
 handful of dates, for a meal' 
 
 *But Sir John said you were so particular, and that 
 was why he sent the fruit.' 
 
 * My brother John is a gentleman,' said the major, 
 smiling. ' But there, there, let me see my little pupil 
 smiling, and at her ease again. Why, we've come 
 over this evening to feast upon stars and planets, when 
 the proper time comes. I say, look at Glynne, 
 how bright and eager she looks. She is not troub-
 
 176 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 ling herself about the dinner; nor your brother 
 neither.' 
 
 ' Moray ? ' replied Lucy. ' Oh, no ; nothing troubles 
 him. Poor fellow ! If you gave him only some bran 
 he would eat it and never say a word. It's throwing 
 nice things away to make them for him.' 
 
 At last the dessert plates had been placed upon the 
 table, and the fruit handed round by Eliza, who, in 
 spite of several nods and frowns from Mrs Alleyne, 
 insisted upon staying to the very last, by way of 
 salving her conscience for the pudding lapse. Then 
 she finally departed to look after the coffee ; the 
 ladies rose and left the room, and the gentlemen drew 
 closer together to discuss their wine. 
 
 Some cups of capital coffee were brought in, its 
 quality being due to the fact that Lucy had slipped 
 into the kitchen to make it herself; and after these 
 had been enjoyed, Sir John drew attention to the 
 object of their visit. Rolph yawned, and made up 
 his mind to remain behind, to go into the garden and 
 have a cigar, and Alleyne led the way into the draw- 
 ing-room, Glynne rising directly to come and meet 
 them, all eagerness to enjoy the promised inspection 
 of the observatory.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 GLYNNE LOOKS AT THE MOON. THE PROFESSOR 
 AT HIS HEART. 
 
 The secret of the poverty of Mrs AUeyne's home was 
 read by the major and Sir John, as they followed 
 their host and Glynne along a bare passage and 
 through two green-baized doors, into the great dome- 
 covered chambers where Alleyne pursued his studies, 
 for on all sides were arranged astronomical instru- 
 ments of the newest invention and costliest kind. 
 The outlay had been slow — a hundred now and a 
 hundred then ; but the result had been thousands of 
 pounds spent upon the various pieces of intricate 
 mechanism, and their mounting upon solid iron pillars, 
 resting on massive piers of cement or stone. 
 
 Glynne uttered a faint cry of surprise and delight 
 as she saw the long tubes with their wheels and 
 pivots arranged so that the reclining observer could 
 turn his glass in any direction ; gazed in the great 
 trough that seemed to have a bottom covered with 
 looking-glass, but which was half full of quicksilver ; 
 noted that there were sliding shutters in the roof, and 
 
 VOL. L M
 
 1 78 THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 various pieces of mechanism, whose uses she longed to 
 have explained. 
 
 It was all old to Lucy, who felt a new pleasure, 
 though, in her friend's eagerness, while Mrs Alleyne, 
 who had suffered torments all the evening in mortified 
 pride, felt, as she saw the looks of wonder of the 
 guests, and their appreciation of her son's magni- 
 ficent observatory, that she was now reaping her 
 reward.' 
 
 ' Bless my soul ! ' cried Sir John, ' I am astounded. 
 I did not think there was such a place outside 
 Greenwich. 
 
 Mrs Alleyne bowed and smiled ; and then, as Sir 
 John began eagerly inspecting the various objects 
 and arrangements around, and the major chatted to 
 Lucy, she gave a curious look at her son, who was 
 bending over Glynne, explaining to her the use of 
 the quicksilver trough, and arranging a glass after- 
 wards, so that she might see how it was brought to 
 bear upon a reflected star. 
 
 As Mrs Alleyne glanced round she saw that Old- 
 royd was also watching her son and Glynne, and 
 her eyes directly after met those of the young doctor, 
 whose thoughts she tried to read — perhaps with 
 success. 
 
 For the next half-hour, Glynne was being initiated 
 in the mysteries of the transit instrument, and 
 had the pleasure of seeing star after star cross the 
 zenith, after which, the moon having risen well
 
 GLYNNE LOOKS AT THE MOON. 179 
 
 above the refracting and magnifying mists of earth, 
 the largest reflector was brought to bear upon its 
 surface. 
 
 Ejaculations of delight kept escaping from Glynne's 
 lips as she gazed at the bright tops of the various 
 volcanoes, searched the dark shadows and craters, 
 and literally revelled in the glories of the brightly 
 embossed silver crescent. She had a hundred ques- 
 tions to ask, with all the eager curiosity and animation 
 of a child, and with the advantage of having one as 
 patient as he was learned, ready to respond upon the 
 instant. 
 
 ' I feel so terribly selfish,' cried Glynne, at last. 
 ' Oh, papa, you must come and look. Uncle, it is 
 wonderful.' 
 
 'We'll have a look another time,' said Sir John, 
 good-humouredly ; 'only don't wear out Mr Alleyne's 
 patience.' 
 
 ' Oh, I hope he will not think me tiresome,' cried 
 Glynne, whose eye was directed to the glass again on 
 the instant, 'but it is so wonderful. I could watch 
 the moon all night. Now, Mr Alleyne, just a little 
 way from the left edge, low down, there is a brilliant 
 ring of light — no, not quite a ring ; it is as if a 
 portion of it had been torn away, and — Oh ! Robert ! 
 how you startled me.' 
 
 The spell was broken, for Rolph had entered the 
 observatory, having finished his cigar. He had been 
 standing at the door for a few moments, watching
 
 i8o THE STAR-GAZERS. 
 
 the scene before him, and a frown came over his 
 forehead as he heard the eagerness of his betrothed's 
 words, and saw the impressive way in which Alleyne 
 was bending towards her, and answering her questions. 
 Directly after, the young officer crossed the observa- 
 tory, laid his hand almost rudely upon Alleyne's 
 shoulder, and nodded to him as if to say, ' Stand on 
 one side.' 
 
 Alleyne started, coloured, and then drew back, 
 with the major watching him intently, while Rolph 
 laid his hand playfully upon Glynne's forehead, and 
 slipped it before her eyes. 
 
 *Now then, have you found the focus. What is 
 it? A penny a peep? Here, Mr Alleyne, do you 
 take the money ? ' 
 
 A dead silence fell upon the group till the major 
 hastened to break it by saying a few words of praise 
 of the place to Mrs Alleyne. 
 
 Soon afterwards they went back to the drawing- 
 room and partook of tea, the carriage arriving directly 
 after, and everyone thinking it time to leave, for a 
 curious chill had come over the party, Glynne having 
 subsided into her old, silent, inanimate way, and no 
 effort of the major or Sir John producing anything 
 more than a temporary glow. 
 
 ' Why, how quiet you are, Glynne,' said Rolph, as 
 they were on their way home. 
 
 ' I was thinking,' she replied, quietly. 
 
 * What about ? '
 
 GLYNNE LOOKS AT THE MOON. i8i 
 
 * About ? — Oh, the wonders of— of what I have seen 
 to-night.' 
 
 ' Are you satisfied, my son ? ' said Mrs Alleyne, 
 when she kissed him that night. 
 
 ' Yes, dear mother, thoroughly,' he said to her ; 
 and then to himself — ' No.' 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH,
 
 A LIST OF NEW BOOKS 
 
 AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OF 
 
 METHUEN AND COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS : LONDON 
 
 36 ESSEX STREET 
 
 W.C. 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 FORTHCOMING BOOKS, . 
 
 
 
 PAG 
 2 
 
 POETRY, 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 GENERAL LITERATURE, 
 
 
 
 IS 
 
 THEOLOGY, 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 LEADERS OF RELIGION, 
 
 
 
 i8 
 
 WORKS BY S. BARING GOULD, . 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 FICTION, 
 
 
 
 21 
 
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 24 
 
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 25 
 
 THE PEACOCK LIBRARY, 
 
 
 
 26 
 
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 26 
 
 SOCIAL QUESTIONS OF TO-DAY, 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 CLASSICAL TRANSLATIONS, 
 
 
 
 29 
 
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 29 
 
 WORKS BY A. M. M. S 1 EDMAN, M.A., 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 SCHOOL EXAMINATION SERIES, 
 
 
 
 32 
 
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 32 
 
 OCTOBER 1894
 
 October 1894. 
 
 Messrs. Methuen's 
 
 ANNOUNCEMENTS 
 
 Poetry 
 
 Rudyard Kipling. BALLADS. By Rudyard Kipling. 
 
 Crown Zvo. Biukrafn. 6s. {May 1895. 
 
 The announcement of a new volume of poetry from Mr. Kipling will excite wide 
 interest. The exceptional success of ' Barrack-Room Ballads,' with which this 
 volume will be uniform, justifies the hope that the new book too will obtain a 
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 Also 30 copies on hand-made paper Demy Svo. £1, is. 
 Also 15 copies on Japanese paper. Derny %vo. £2, 2s. 
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 that Mr. Henley is bringing together into one book the finest lyrics in cm 
 language. Robust and original the book will certainly be, and it will be pro 
 duced with the same care that made ' Lyra Heroica' delightful to the hand and 
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 Baring Gould. A BOOK OF FAIRY TALES retold by S. 
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 4 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
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 to his school and college days. 
 
 Baring Gould. THE DESERTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL 
 FRANCE. By S. Baring Gould. With numerous Illustrations by 
 F. D. Bedford, S. Hutton, etc. 2 voh. Demy Svo. 32s. 
 
 This book is the rirst serious attempt to describe the great bairen tableland that 
 extends to the south of Limousin in the Department of Aveyron, Lot, etc., a 
 country of dolomite cliffs, and canons, and subterranean rivers. The region is 
 full of prehistoric and historic interest, relics of cave-dwellers, of mediaeval 
 robbers, and of the English domination and the Hundred Years' War. The 
 book is lavishly illustrated.
 
 6 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Baring Gould. A GARLAND OF COUNTRY SONG: 
 
 English Folk Songs with their traditional melodies. Collected and 
 arranged by S. Baring Gould and H. Fleetwood Sheppard. 
 Royal %vo. 6s. 
 
 In collecting West of England airs for ' Songs of the West,' the editors came across 
 a number of songs and airs of considerable merit, which were known throughout 
 England and could not justly be regarded as belonging to Devon and Cornv/all. 
 Some fifty of these are now given to the world. 
 
 Oliphant. THE FRENCH RIVIERA. By Mrs. Oliphant 
 and F. R. Oliphant. With Illustrations and Maps. Crown Svo. 
 6s. 
 
 A volume dealing with the French Riviera from Toulon to Mentone. Without fall- 
 ing within the guide-book category, the book will supply some useful practical 
 information, while occupying itself chiefly with descriptive and historical matter. 
 A special feature will be the attention directed to those portions of the Riviera, 
 which, though full of interest and easily accessible from many well-frequented 
 spots, are generally left unvisited by English travellers, such as the Maures 
 Mountains and the St. Tropez district, the country lying between Cannes, Grasse 
 and the Var, and the magnificent valleys behind Nice. There will be several 
 original illustrations. 
 
 George. BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY. By H. B. 
 
 George, M.A., Fellow of New College, Oxford. IVM mimerotis 
 Plans, d'own Svo. 6s. 
 
 This book, by a well-known authority on military historj', will be an important 
 contribution to the literature of the subject. All the great battles of English 
 history are fully described, connecting chapters carefully treat of the changes 
 wrought by new discoveries and developments, and the healthy spirit of patriotisn* 
 is nowhere absent from the pages. 
 
 Shedlock. THE PIANOFORTE SONATA: Its Origin anc 
 
 Development. By J. S. Shedlock. Crown Svo. 55. 
 
 This is a practical and not unduly technical account of the Sonata treated histori- 
 cally. It contains several novel features, and an account of various works little 
 known to the English public. 
 
 Jenks. ENGLISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. By E Jenks, 
 
 M.A., Professor of Law at University College, Liverpool. Crown 
 Svo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 A short account of Local Government, historical and explanatory, which will appear 
 very opportunely.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 7 
 
 Dixon. A PRIMER OF TENNYSON. By W. M. Dixon, 
 M.A., Professor of English Literature at Mason College. Fcap. Zvo. 
 \s. 6d. 
 This book consists of (i) a succinct but complete biography of Lord Tennyson; 
 (2) an account of the volumes published by him in chronological order, dealing with 
 the more important poems separately ; (3) a concise criticism of Tennyson in his 
 various aspects as Ij'rist, dramatist, and representative poet of his day ; (4) a 
 bibliography. Such a complete book on such a subject, and at such a moderate 
 price, should find a host of readers. 
 
 Oscar Browning. THE AGE OF THE CONDOTTIERI : A 
 
 Short History of Italy from 1409 to 1530. By Oscar Browning, 
 M.A., Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. Crown ^vo. $s. 
 This book is a continuation of Mr. Browning's ' Guelphs and Ghibellines,' and the 
 two works form a complete account of Italian history from 1250 to 1530. 
 
 Layard. RELIGION IN BOYHOOD. Notes on the Reli- 
 gious Training of Boys. With a Preface by J. R. Illingworth. 
 By E. B. Layard, M.A. i2>mo. is. 
 
 Chalmers Mitchell. OUTLINES OF BIOLOGY. By P. 
 
 Chalmers Mitchell, M.A., F.Z.S. Fully Illustrated. Crozvn 
 %vo. 6s. 
 
 A text-book designed to cover the new Schedule issued by the Roj'al College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons. 
 
 Maiden. ENGLISH RECORDS. A Companion to the 
 
 Historyof England. ByH. E. Malden, M.A. O'own Svo. ^s. 6d. 
 
 A book which aims at concentrating information upon dates, genealogy, officials, 
 
 constitutional documents, etc., which is usually found scattered in different 
 
 volumes. 
 
 Hutton. THE VACCINATION QUESTION. A Letter to 
 the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, M.P. By A. W. Hutton, 
 Tkl.A. Crown Sto. 
 
 Leaders of Religion 
 
 I^EIV VOLUMES 
 Crozvn 8vo. y. 6d. 
 
 LANCELOT ANDREWES, Bishop of Winchester. By R. L. 
 Ottley, Principal of Pusey House, Oxford, and Fellow of Mag- 
 dalen. Wit/i Portrait. 
 
 St. AUGUSTINE of Canterbury. By E. L. Cutts, D.D. 
 With a Portrait. 
 
 THOMAS CHALMERS. By Mrs. Oliphant. With a 
 Portrait. Second Edition. 
 
 JOHN KEBLE. By Walter Lock, Sub- Warden of Keble 
 College. With a Portrait. Seventh Edition.
 
 8 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 English Classics 
 
 Edited by W. E. Henley. 
 
 Messrs. Methuen propose to publish, under this title, a series of the masterpieces of 
 
 the English tongue. 
 The ordinary ' cheap edition ' appears to have served its purpose : the public has 
 found out the artist-printer, and is now ready for something better fashioned. 
 This, then, is the moment for the issue of such a series as, while well within the 
 reach of the average buyer, shall be at once an ornament to the shelf of him that 
 owns, and a delight to the eye of him that reads. 
 The series, of which Mr. William Ernest Henley is the general editor, will confine 
 itself to no single period or department of literature. Poetry, fiction, drama, 
 biography, autobiography, letters, essays — in all these fields is the material of 
 many goodly volumes. 
 The books, which are designed and printed by Messrs. Constable, will be issued in 
 
 two editions — 
 (i) A small edition, on the finest Japanese vellum, limited in most 
 cases to 75 copies, demy 8vo, 2IJ. a volume nett ; 
 
 (2) The popular edition on laid paper, crown 8vo, buckram, 3.^. dd. a 
 volume. 
 
 The first six numbers are : — 
 THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF TRISTRAM SHANDY. 
 By Lawrence Sterne. With an Introduction by Charles 
 Whibley, and a Portrait. 2 vols. 
 
 THE WORKS OF WILLIAM CONGREVE. With an Intro- 
 duction by G. S. Street, and a Portrait. 2 vols. 
 
 THE LIVES OF DONNE, WOTTON, HOOKER, HERBERT, 
 
 AND SANDERSON. By Izaak Walton. With an Introduction 
 by Vernon Blackburn, and a Portrait. 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF HADJI BABA OF ISPAHAN. 
 
 By James Morier. With an Introduction by E. S. Browne, M. A. 
 
 THE POEMS OF ROBERT BURNS. With an Introduction 
 by W. E. Henley, and a Portrait. 2 vols. 
 
 THE LIVES OF THE ENGLISH POETS. By Samuel 
 Johnson, LL.D. With an Introduction by John Hepburn 
 Millar, and a Portrait. 3 vols. 
 
 Classical Translations 
 
 NEW VOLUMES 
 Crown 8vo. Finely printed a?id bound iti blue buckram. 
 LUCIAN — Six Dialogues (Nigrinus, Icaro-Menippus, The Cock, 
 The Ship, The Parasite, The Lover of Falsehood). Translated by S. 
 T. Irwin, M.A., Assistant Master at Clifton ; late Scholar of Exeter 
 College, Oxford, y. 6d.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 9 
 
 SOPHOCLES— Electra and Ajax. Translated by E. D. A. 
 
 MoRSHEAD, M.A., late Scholar of New College, Oxford; Assistant 
 
 Master at Winchester. 2s. 6d. 
 TACITUS — Agricola and Germania. Translated by R. B. 
 
 TowNSHEND, late Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge. 2s. 6d. 
 CICERO— Select Orations (Pro Milone, Pro Murena, Philippic ii., 
 
 In Catilinam). Translated by H. E. D. Blakiston, M.A., Fellow 
 
 and Tutor of Trinity College, Oxford, ^s. 
 
 University Extension Series 
 
 NEW VOLUMES. Crown Zvo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 THE EARTH. An Introduction to Physiography. By EVAN 
 Small, M.A. Illustrated. 
 
 INSECT LIFE. By F. W. Theobald, M.A. Illustrated. 
 
 Social Questions of To-day 
 
 NEW VOLUME. Crown ivo. zs.td. 
 
 WOMEN'S WORK. By Lady Dilke, Miss Bulley, and 
 Miss Whitley. 
 
 Cheaper Editions 
 
 Baring Gould. THE TRAGEDY OF THE CAESARS : The 
 
 Emperors of the Julian and Claudian Lines. With numerous Illus- 
 trations from Busts, Gems, Cameos, etc. By S. Baring Gould, 
 Author of ' Mehalah,' etc. Third Edition. Royal Svo. i^s. 
 •A most splendid and fascinating book on a subject of undying interest. The great 
 feature of the book is the use the author has made of the existing portraits of the 
 Caesars, and the admirable critical subtlety he has exhibited in dealing with this 
 line of research. It is brilliantly written, ana the illustrations are supplied on a 
 scale of profuse magnificence.' — Daily Chronicle. 
 
 Clark RusselL THE LIFE OF ADMIRAL LORD COL- 
 LINGWOOD. By W. Clark Russell, Author of 'The Wreck 
 of the Grosvenor.' With Illustrations by F. Brangwyn. Second 
 Edition. Svo. 6s. 
 'A most excellent and wholesome book, which we should like to see in the hands of 
 every boy in the country.' — St. laviess Gazette. 
 A 2
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Fiction 
 
 Baring Gould. KITTY ALONE. By S. Baring Gould, 
 
 Author of ' Mehalah,' ' Cheap Jack Zita,' etc. 3 vols. Crown Svo. 
 A romance of Devon life. 
 
 Norris. MATTHEW AUSTIN. By W. E. Norris, Author of 
 
 ' Mdle. de Mersai,' etc. 3 vols. Crown Svo. 
 A story of English social life by the well-known author of ' The Rogue.' 
 
 Parker. THE TRAIL OF THE SWORD. By Gilbert 
 Parker, Author of ' Pierre and his People,' etc. 2 vols. Crown Svo. 
 A historical romance dealing with a stirring period in the history of Canada. 
 
 Anthony Hope. THE GOD IN THE CAR. By Anthony 
 Hope, Author of ' A Change of Air,' etc. 2 vols. Crown Svo, 
 A story of modern society by the clever author of ' The Prisoner of Zenda.' 
 
 Mrs. Watson. THIS MAN'S DOMINION. By the Author 
 of 'A High Little World.' 2 vols. Crown Svo. 
 A story of the conflict between love and religious scruple. 
 
 Conan Doyle. ROUND THE RED LAMP. By A. Conan 
 Doyle, Author of ' The White Company,' ' The Adventures of Sher- 
 lock Holmes,' etc. Croivn Svo. ds. 
 This volume, by the well-known author of ' The Refugees,' contains the experiences 
 of a general practitioner, round whose ' Red Lamp' cluster many dramas — some 
 sordid, some terrible. I'he author makes an attempt to draw a few phases of life 
 from the point of view of the man who lives and works behind the lamp. 
 
 Barr. IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS. By Robert Barr, 
 Author of ' From Whose Bourne,' etc. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 A story of journalism and Fenians, told with much vigour and humour. 
 
 Benson. SUBJECT TO VANITY. By Margaret Benson. 
 
 With numerous Illustrations. Crown Svo. y. dd. 
 A volume of humorous and sympathetic sketches of animal life and home pets. 
 
 X. L. AUT DIABOLUS AUT NIHIL, and Other Stones. 
 By X. L. Crown Svo. 3^. 6d. 
 A collection of stories of much weird power. The title story appeared some years 
 ago in ' Blackwood's Magazine,' and excited considerable attention. 'fhe 
 'Spectator' spoke of it as ' distinctly original, and in the highest degree imagina- 
 tive. The conception, if self-generated, is almost as lofty as Milton's.' 
 
 Morrison. TALES OF MEAN STREETS. By Arthur 
 Morrison. Crown Svo, 6s. 
 A volume of sketches of East End life, some of which have appeared in the ' National 
 Observer,' and have been much praised for their truth and strength and pathos. 
 
 O'Grady. THE COMING OF CURCULAIN. By Standish 
 O'Grady, Author of ' Finn and his Companions,' etc. Illustrated 
 by Murray Smith. Crown Svo. 35-. 6d. 
 The story of the boyhood of one of the legendary heroes of Ireland.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List ii 
 
 New Editions 
 
 E. F. Benson. THE RUBICON. By E. F. Benson, Author 
 of ' Dodo.' Fourth Edition. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 Mr. Benson's second novel has been, in its two volume form, almost as great a 
 success as his first. The ' Birmingham Post' says it is ^ well ivrittcn, stimulat- 
 ing, unconventional, and, in a word, characteristic ' : the ' National Observer ' 
 congratulates Mr. Benson upon '«« exceptional achievement,' and calls the 
 book ' a notable advatice on his previous work. ' 
 
 Stanley Weyman. UNDER THE RED ROBE. By Stanley 
 
 Weyman, Author of ' A Gentleman of France.' With Twelve Illus- 
 trations by R. Caton Woodville. Fourth Edition. Crown ^vo. ds. 
 A cheaper edition of a book which won instant popularity. No unfavourable review 
 occurred, and most critics spoke in terms of enthusiastic admiration. The ' West- 
 minster Gazette ' called it ' a book of which we have read every word /or the sheer 
 pleasure of reading, and ivhich we put down with a pang tliat we ca7inot forget 
 it all and start again.' The ' Daily Chronicle' said that every one who reads 
 books at all must read this thrilling roma7ice,from the first page of which to the 
 last the breathless reader is haled along.' It also called the book ' an ins/>iration 
 of manliness and courage.' The 'Globe' called it ^ a delightful tale of chivalry 
 and adventure, vivid and dramatic, with a wholesome modesty and reziercnce 
 for the highest.' 
 
 Baring Gould. THE QUEEN OF LOVE. By S. Baring 
 Gould, Author of ' Cheap Jack Zita,' etc. Second Edition. 
 Crown ^vo, (>s. 
 The scenery is admirable and the dramatic incidents most striking.' — Glasgow 
 Herald. 
 'Strong, interesting, and clever.' — IVestminster Gazette. 
 ' You cannot put it down till you have finished it.' — Punch. 
 
 Can be heartily recommended to all who care for cleanly, energetic, and interesting 
 fiction.' — Sussex Daily News. 
 
 Mrs. Oliphant. THE PRODIGALS. By Mrs. Oliphant. 
 Secoftd Edition. Crown %vo. 3^. dd. 
 
 Richard Pryce. WINIFRED MOUNT. By Richard Pryce. 
 
 Second Edition. Crown %7<o. 35'. 6d. 
 The 'Sussex Daily News' called this book '« delightful story,' a.nd said that the 
 writing was ' uniformly bright and graceful.' The ' Daily Telegraph ' said that the 
 author was a ' deft and elegant story-teller,' and that the book was ' an extretiie/y 
 clever story, utterly untainted by pessimis7n or vulgarity.' 
 
 Constance Smith. A CUMBERER OF THE GROUND. 
 By Coxstan'CE Smith, Author of ' The Repentance of Paul Went- 
 worth,' etc. N'ew Edition. Crown Zvo. 31. dd.
 
 12 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 School Books 
 
 A VOCABULARY OF LATIN IDIOMS AND PHRASES. 
 
 By A. M. M. Stedman, M.A. iSmo. is. 
 
 STEPS TO GREEK. By A. M. M. Stedman, M.A. iSmo. 
 IS. 6d. 
 
 A SHORTER GREEK PRIMER OF ACCIDENCE AND 
 SYNTAX. By A. M. M. Stedman, M.A. Crozvn 8vo. is. 6d. 
 
 SELECTIONS FROM THE ODYSSEY. With Introduction 
 and Notes. By E. D, Stone, M.A., late Assistant Master at Eton. 
 
 Fcap. ?>vo. 2s. 
 
 THE ELEMENTS OF ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM. 
 With numerous Illustrations. By R. G. Steel, M.A., Head Master 
 of the Technical Schools, Northampton. Crown Svo. 4s. 6d. 
 
 THE ENGLISH CITIZEN : His Rights and Duties. By 
 H. E. Malden, M.A. Crown 2>vo. is. 6d. 
 A simple account of the privileges and duties of the English citizen. 
 
 INDEX POETARUM LATINORUM. By E. F. Benecke, 
 
 M.A. Crown 2>vo. 45-. 6d. 
 An aid to Latin Verse Composition. 
 
 Commercial Series 
 
 A PRIMER OF BUSINESS. By S. Jackson, M.A. Crown 
 Sz'o. is. 6d. 
 
 COMMERCIAL ARITHMETIC. By F. G. Taylor. Crown 
 Svo. IS. 6d.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 13 
 
 iP^to ant) IRecent BOOU0 
 Poetry 
 
 Rudyard Kipling. BARRACK-ROOM BALLADS; And 
 
 Other Verses. By Rudyard Kipling. Seventh Edition. Crown 
 8z'o. 6s. 
 
 A Special Presentation Edition, bound in white buckram, with 
 extra gilt ornament, ys. 6d. 
 
 ' Mr. Kipling's verse is strong, vivid, full of character. . . . Unmistakable genius 
 rings in every line.' — Times. 
 
 ' The disreputable lingo of Cockayne is henceforth justified before the world ; for a 
 man of genius has taken it in hand, and has shown, beyond all cavilling, that in 
 its way it also is a medium for literature. You are grateful, and you say to 
 yourself, half in envy and half in admiration : " Here is a book ; here, or one is a 
 Dutchman, is one of the books of the year." ' — National Observer. 
 
 '"Barrack-Room Ballads" contains some of the best work that Mr. Kipling has 
 ever done, which is saying a good deal. " Fuzzy- Wuzzy," " Gunga Din," and 
 "Tommy," are, in our opinion, altogether superior to anything of the kind that 
 English literature has hitherto produced.' — AthetuEutn. 
 
 ' These ballads are as wonderful in their descriptive power as they are vigorous in 
 their dramatic force. There are few ballads in the English language more 
 stirring than "The Ballad of East and West, " worthy to stand by the Border 
 ballads of Scott.' — Spectator. 
 
 ' The ballads teem with imagination, they palpitate with emotion. We read them 
 with laughter and tears ; the metres throb in our pulses, the cunningly ordered 
 words tingle with life ; and if this be not poetry, what is?' — Pall Mall Gazette. 
 
 Henley. LYRA HEROICA : An Anthology selected from the 
 best Enghsh Verse of the i6th, 17th, i8th, and 19th Centuries. By 
 William Ernest Henley, Author of 'A Book of Verse,' 'Views 
 and Reviews,' etc. Croxvn %vo. Stamped gilt buckram^ gilt top, 
 edges uncut. 6s. 
 ' Mr. Henley has brought to the task of selection an instinct alike for poetry and for 
 chivalry which seems to us quite wonderfully, and even unerringly, right.' — 
 Guardian. 
 
 Tomson. A SUMMER NIGHT, AND OTHER POEMS. By 
 Graham R. Tomson. With Frontispiece by A. Tomson. Fcap. 
 Svo. ^s. 6d. 
 An edition on hand-made paper, limited to 50 copies. lOJ. 6d. net. 
 ' Mrs. Tomson holds perhaps the very highest rank among poetesses of English birth. 
 This selection will help her reputation.'— ^S/ac/^ and White.
 
 14 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Ibsen. BRAND. A Drama by Henrik Ibsen. Translated by 
 William Wilson. Crown 8vo. Second Edition, y. 6d. 
 'The greatest world-poem of the nineteenth century next to "Faust." "Brand ' 
 will have an astonishing interest for Englishmen. It is in the same set with 
 "Agamemnon," with "Lear," with the literature that we now instinctively regard 
 as high and holy.' — Daily Chronicle. 
 
 '' Q." GREEN BAYS : Verses and Parodies. By " Q.," Author 
 of ' Dead Man's Rock' etc. Second Edition. Fcap. Zvo. 35. dd. 
 ' The verses display a rare and versatile gift of parody, great command of metre, and 
 a very pretty turn of humour.' — Times. 
 
 "A. G." VERSES TO ORDER. By"A. G." Cr.Zvo. 2s.6d. 
 
 net. 
 A small volume of verse by a writer whose initials are well known to Oxford men. 
 'A capital specimen of light academic poetry. These verses are very bright and 
 engaging, easy and sufficiently witty.' — St. James s Gazette. 
 
 Hosken. VERSES BY THE WAY. By J. D. Hosken. 
 Croivn Svo. ^s. 
 A small edition on hand-made paper. Frice 12s. 6d. net. 
 
 A Volume of Lyrics and Sonnets by J. D. Hosken, the Postman Poet. Q, the 
 Author of ' The Splendid Spur,' writes a critical and biographical intro- 
 duction. 
 
 Gale. CRICKET SONGS. By Norman Gale. Crown Svo. 
 Linen. 2s. 6d. 
 
 Also a limited edition on hand-made paper. Demy Svo. los. 6d. 
 net. 
 •They are wrung out of the excitement of the moment, and palpitate with the spirit 
 
 of the game.' — Star. 
 'As healthy as they are spirited, and ought to have a great success.' — Times. 
 ' Simple, manly, and humorous. Every cricketer should buy the book.' — Westyninster 
 
 Gazette. 
 ' Cricket has never known such a singer.' — Cricket. 
 
 Langbridge. BALLADS OF THE BRAVE : Poems of Chivalry, 
 Enterprise, Courage, and Constancy, from the Earliest Times to the 
 Present Day. Edited, with Notes, by Rev. F. Langbridge, 
 Crowji Svo. Buch-atn 31. 6^. School Edition, is. 6d. 
 'A very happy conception happily carried out. These "Ballads of the Brave" are 
 intended to suit the real tastes of boys, and will suit the taste of the great majority. 
 —Spectator. ' The book is full of splendid thmgs.'— World.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 15 
 
 General Literature 
 
 Collingwood. JOHN RUSKIN : His Life and Work. By 
 W. G. Collingwood, M.A., late Scholar of University College, 
 Oxford, Author of the 'Art Teaching of John Ruskin,' Editor of 
 Mr. Ruskin's Poems. 2 vols. %vo. 325. Second Edition. 
 This important work is written by Mr. Collingwood, who has been for some years 
 Mr. Ruskin's private secretarv', and who has had unique advantages in obtaining 
 materials for this book from Mr. Ruskin himself and from his friends. It contains 
 a large amount of new matter, and of letters which have never been published, 
 and is, in fact, a full and authoritative biography of Mr. Ruskin. The book 
 contains numerous portraits of Mr. Ruskin, including a coloured one from a 
 water-colour portrait by himself, and also 13 sketches, never before published, b^' 
 Mr. Ruskin and Mr. Arthur Severn. A bibliography is added. 
 
 * No more magnificent volumes have been published for a long time. . . .' — Times. 
 'This most lovingly written and most profoundly interesting book.' — Daily N'ews. 
 
 ' It is long since we have had a biography with such varied delights of substance 
 and of form. Such a book is a pleasure for the day, and a joy for ever.' — Daily 
 Chronicle. 
 
 ' Mr. Ruskin could not well have been more fortunate in his biographer.'— G/iCi?^. 
 
 * A noble monument of a noble subject. One of the most beautiful books about one 
 
 of the noblest lives of our century.' — Glasgorv Herald. 
 
 Gladstone. THE SPEECHES AND PUBLIC ADDRESSES 
 OF THE RT. HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.R Wilh Notes 
 and Introductions. Edited by A. W. Hutton, M.A. (Librarian of 
 the Gladstone Library), and H. J. Cohen, M.A. With Portraits. 
 %vo. Vols. IX. and X. \2s. 6d. each. 
 
 Clark RusselL THE LIFE OF ADMIRAL LORD COL- 
 LINGWOOD. By W. Clark Russell, Author of 'The Wreck 
 of the Grosvenor.' With Illustrations by F. Brangwyn. Second 
 Edition. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 'A really good book.' — Saturday Rein(-n<. 
 
 ' A most excellent and wholesome book, which we should like to see in the hands of 
 every boy in the country.' — St. James's Gazette. 
 
 Clark. THE COLLEGES OF OXFORD : Their History and 
 
 their Traditions. By Members of the University. Edited by A. 
 
 Clark, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Lincoln College, 'ivo. \zs. 6d. 
 'Whether the reader approaches the book as a patriotic member of a college, as an 
 
 antiquary, or as a student of the organic growth of college foundation, it will amply 
 
 reward his attention.' — Times. 
 'A delightful book, learned and lively.'— Academy. 
 ' A work which will certainly be appealed to for many years as the standard book on 
 
 the Colleges of Oxford.'— A t/ien^um.
 
 i6 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Wells. OXFORD AND OXFORD LIFE. By Members of 
 the University. Edited by J. Wells, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of 
 Wadham College. Crown 2>vo. 3^. 6d. 
 
 This work contains an account of life at Oxford— intellectual, social, and religious — 
 a careful estimate of necessary expenses, a review of recent changes, a statement 
 of the present position of the University, and chapters on Women's Education, 
 aids to study, and University Extension. 
 
 'We congratulate Mr. Wells on the production of a readable and intelligent account 
 of Oxford as it is at the present time, written by persons who are, with hardly an 
 exception, possessed of a close acquaintance with the system and life of the 
 University.' — A tkencBUin. 
 
 Perrens. THE HISTORY OF FLORENCE FROM THE 
 TIME OF THE MEDICIS TO THE FALL OF THE 
 REPUBLIC. By F. T. Perrens. Translated by Hannah 
 Lynch. In Three Vohtmes. Vol. I. Svo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 This is a translation from the French of the best history of Florence in existence. 
 This volume covers a period of profound interest — political and literary — and 
 is written with great vivacity. 
 
 ' This is a standard book by an honest and intelligent historian, who has deserved 
 well of his countrymen, and of all who are interested in Italian history.' — Man- 
 chester Guardian. 
 
 Browning. GUELPHS AND GHIBELLINES : A Short History 
 of Mediaeval Italy, A.D. 1 250- 1409. By OscAR Browning, Fellow 
 and Tutor of King's College, Cambridge. Second Edition. Crown 
 ?>vo. 5^. 
 
 ' A very able book.' — IVestviinster Gazette. 
 
 ' A vivid picture of mediaeval Italy.' — Standard. 
 
 O'Grady. THE STORY OF IRELAND. By Standish 
 O'Grady, Author of * Finn and his Companions.' Cr. 2>vo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 ' Novel and very fascinating history. Wonderfully alluring.' — Cork Examiner. 
 
 'Most delightful, most stimulating. Its racy humour, its original imaginings, its 
 perfectly unique history, make it one of the freshest, breeziest volumes.' — 
 Methodist Times. 
 
 ' A survey at once graphic, acute, and quaintly written.' — Times. 
 
 Dixon. ENGLISH POETRY FROM BLAKE TO BROWN- 
 ING. By W. M. Dixon, M.A. Crown^vo. zs. (id. 
 
 A Popular Account of the Poetry of the Century. 
 
 ' Scholarly in conception, and full of sound and suggestive criticism.' — Tivtes. 
 ' The book is remarkable for freshness of thought expressed in graceful language.' — 
 Manchester Examiner. 
 
 Bowden. THE EXAMPLE OF BUDDHA: Being Quota- 
 tions from Buddhist Literature for each Day in the Year. Compiled 
 by E. M. BowDEN. With Preface by Sir Edwin Arnold. Third 
 Edition. i6mo. 2s. 6d.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 17 
 
 Flinders Petrie. TELL EL AMARNA. ByW. M. Flinders 
 Petrie, D.C.L. With chapters by Professor A. H. Sayce, D.D.; 
 F. Ll. Griffith, F.S.A.; and F. C. J. Spurrell, F.G.S. With 
 numerous coloured illustrations. Royal 4I0. 20s. net. 
 
 Massee. A MONOGRAPH OF THE MYXOGASTRES. By 
 
 George Massee. With 12 Coloured Plates. Royal %vo. iSs.net. 
 
 'A work much in advance of any book in the language treating of this group of 
 organisms. It is indispensable to every student of the Mxyogastres. The 
 coloured plates deserve high praise for their accuracy and execution.' —JVature. 
 
 BushiU. PROFIT SHARING AND THE LABOUR QUES- 
 TION. By T. W. BUSHILL, a Profit Sharing Employer. With an 
 Introduction by Sedley Taylor, Author of ' Profit Sharing between 
 Capital and Labour.' Crown %vo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 John Beever. PRACTICAL FLY-FISHING, Founded on 
 
 Nature, by John Beever, late of the Thwaite House, Coniston. A 
 
 New Edition, with a Memoir of the Author by W. G. Collingwood, 
 
 M.A. Also additional Notes and a chapter on Char-Fishing, by A. 
 
 and A. R. Severn. With a specially designed title-page. Crown 
 
 8vo. 3^-. 6d. 
 
 A little book on Fly-Fishing by an old friend of Mr. Ruskin. It h?s been out of 
 print for some time, and being still much in request, is now issued with a Memoir 
 of the Author by W. G. Collingwood. 
 
 Theology 
 
 Driver. SERMONS ON SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH 
 TPIE OLD TESTAMENT. By S. R. Driver, D.D., Canon of 
 Christ Church, Regius Professor of Hebrew in the University of 
 Oxford. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 'A welcome companion to the author's famous ' Introduction.' No man can read tlie^e 
 discourses without feeling that Dr. Driver is fully alive to the deeper teaching of 
 the Old Testament.' — Guardian. 
 
 Cheyne. FOUNDERS OF OLD TESTAMENT CRITICISM: 
 Biographical, Descriptive, and Critical Studies. By T. K. Cheyne, 
 D.D., Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at 
 Oxford. Large crown Svo. ys. 6d. 
 This important book is a historical sketch of O.T. Criticism in the fonn of biographi- 
 cal studies from the days of Eichhorn to those of Driver and Robertson Smith. 
 It is the only book of its kind in English. 
 ' The volume is one of great interest and value. It displays all the author's weil- 
 known ability and learning, and its opportune publication has laid all students of 
 theology, and specially of Bible criticism, under weighty obligation.' — Scotsman. 
 A very learned and instructive work.' — Times.
 
 i8 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Prior. CAMBRIDGE SERMONS. Edited by C. H. Prior, 
 
 M. A. , Fellow and Tutor of Pembroke College. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 A volume of sermons preached before the University of Cambridge by various 
 
 preachers, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Westcott. 
 'A representative collection. Bishop Westcott's is a noble sermon.' — Guardian. 
 'Full of thoughtfulness and dignity.' — Record. 
 
 Beeching. BRADFIELD SERMONS. Sermons by H. C. 
 Beeching, M.A., Rector of Yattendon, Berks. With a Preface by 
 Canon Scott Holland. Croivn %vo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 Seven sermons preached before the boys of Bradfield College. 
 
 James. CURIOSITIES OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY PRIOR 
 TO THE REFORMATION. By Croake James, Author of 
 ' Curiosities of Law and Lawyers,' Crown Zvo. Js. 6d. 
 'This volume contains a great deal of quaint and curious matter, affording some 
 "particulars of the interesting persons, episodes, and events from the Christian's 
 point of view during the first fourteen centuries." Wherever we dip into his pages 
 we find something worth dipping into.' — John Bull. 
 
 Kaufmann. CHARLES KINGSLEY. By M. Kaufmann, 
 M.A. C7'07un Svo. Btich-am. ^s. 
 A biography of Kingsley, especially dealing with his achievements in social reform. 
 'The author has certainly gone about his work with conscientiousness and industry.' — 
 Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 
 
 Leaders of Religion 
 
 Edited by H. C. BEECHING, M.A. With Portraits, crown Zvo. 
 
 A series of short biographies of the most pro- 
 minent leaders of religious life and thought of 
 all ages and countries. 
 
 The following are ready — 2s. 6d. 
 
 CARDINAL NEWMAN. By R. H. Hutton. Second Edition, 
 
 * Few who read this book will fail to be struck by the wonderful insight it displays 
 into the nature of the Cardinal's genius and the spirit of his life.' — Wilfrid 
 Ward, in the Tablet. 
 
 ' Full of knowledge, excellent in method, and intelligent in criticism. We regard i 
 as wholly admirable.' — Academy. 
 
 JOHN WESLEY. By J. H. Overton, M.A. 
 
 ' It is well done : the story is clearly told, proportion is duly observed, and there is 
 no lack either of discrimination or oi?.-Ym^-xi\\Y.'— Manchester Guardian. 
 
 2/6 & 3/6
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 19 
 
 BISHOP WILBERFORCE. By G. W. Daniel, M.A. 
 CARDINAL MANNING. By A. W. Hutton, M.A. 
 CHARLES SIMEON. By H. C. G. Mqule, M.A. 
 
 3s. 6d. 
 
 JOHN KEBLE. By Walter Lock, M.A. Seventh Edition. 
 
 THOMAS CHALMERS. By Mrs. Oliphant. Second Edition. 
 
 Other volumes will be announced in due course. 
 
 Works by S. Baring Gould 
 
 OLD COUNTRY LIFE. With Sixty-seven Illustrations by 
 W. Parkinson, F. D. Bedford, and F. Masey. Large Crown 
 Svo, cloth stiper extra ^ top edge gilt, \0s. 6d. Fourth and Cheaper 
 Edition. (>s. 
 '"Old Country Life," as healthy wholesome reading, full of breezy life and move- 
 ment, full of quaint stories vigorously told, will not be excelled by any book to be 
 published throughout the year. Sound, hearty, and English to the core.' — World. 
 
 HISTORIC ODDITIES AND STRANGE EVENTS. Third 
 Edition. Crowjt %vo. 6j. 
 'A collection of exciting and entertaining chapters. The whole volume is delightful 
 reading. ' — Times. 
 
 FREAKS OF FANATICISM. Third Edition. Crown Zvo. 6s. 
 
 ' Mr. Earing Gould has a keen eye for colour and effect, and the subjects he has 
 chosen give ample scope to his descriptive and analytic faculties. A perfectly 
 fascinating book.' — Scottish Leader. 
 
 SONGS OF THE WEST : Traditional Ballads and Songs of 
 the West of England, with their Traditional Melodies. Collected 
 by S. Baring Gould, M.A., and H. Fleetwood Sheppard, 
 M.A. Arranged for Voice and Piano. In 4 Parts (containing 25 
 Songs each), Pai-ts /., //., ///., 35. each. Part IV., $s. In one 
 Vol., Frejich morocco, \^s. 
 *A rich and varied collection of humour, pathos, grace, and poetic fancy.' — Saturday 
 Review. 
 
 YORKSFIIRE ODDITIES AND STRANGE EVENTS. 
 Fourth Edition. Crown %vo, 6s.
 
 20 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 STRANGE SURVIVALS AND SUPERSTITIONS. With 
 Illustrations. By S. Baring GoULD. Cro7vnS)Vo. Second Edition. 
 6s. 
 
 A book on such subjects as Foundations, Gables, Holes, Gallows, Raising the Hat, Old 
 Ballads, etc. etc. It traces in a most interesting manner their origin and history. 
 
 ' We have read Mr. Baring Gould's book from beginning to end. It is full of quaint 
 and various information, and there is not a dull page in it.' — Notes and Queries. 
 
 THE TRAGEDY OF THE CAESARS: The 
 
 Emperors of the Julian and Claudian Lines. With numerous Illus- 
 trations from Busts, Gems, Cameos, etc. By S. Baring Gould, 
 Author of ' Mehalah,' etc. Third Edition. Royal %vo. \<^s. 
 ' A most splendid and fascinating book on a subject of undying interest. The great 
 feature of the book is the use the author has made of the existing portraits of the 
 Caesars, and the admirable critical subtlety he has e.xhibited in dealing with this 
 line of research. It is brilliantly written, and the illustrations are supplied on a 
 scale of profuse magnificence.' — Daily Chronicle. 
 'The volumes will in no sense disappoint the general reader. Indeed, in their way, 
 there is nothing in any sense so good in English. . . . Mr. Baring Gould has 
 presented his narrative in such a way as not to make one dull page.' — Athenaum. 
 
 MR. BARING GOULD'S NOVELS 
 
 *'To say that a book is by the author of " Mehalah" is to imply that it contains a 
 story cast on strong lines, containing dramatic possibilities, vivid and sympathetic 
 descriptions of Nature, and a wealth of ingenious imagery.' — Speaker. 
 
 ' That whatever Mr. Baring Gould writes is well worth reading, is a conclusion that 
 may be very generally accepted. His views of life are Iresh and vigorous, his 
 language pointed and characteristic, the incidents of which he makes use are 
 striking and original, his characters are life-like, and though somewhat excep- 
 tional people, are drawn and coloured with artistic force. Add to this that his 
 descriptions of scenes and scenery are painted with the loving eyes and skilled 
 hands of a master of his art, that he is always fresh and never dull, and under 
 such conditions it is no wonder that readers have gained confidence both in his 
 power of amusing and satisfying them, and that year by year his popularity 
 widens.' — Court Circular. 
 
 SIX SHILLINGS EACH 
 
 IN THE ROAR OF THE SEA : A Tale of the Cornish Coast. 
 MRS. CURGENVEN OF CURGENVEN. 
 CHEAP JACK ZITA. 
 THE QUEEN OF LOVE. 
 
 THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE EACH 
 
 ARMINELL : A Social Romance. 
 
 URITH : A Story of Dartmoor. 
 
 MARGERY OF QUETHER, and other Stories. 
 
 JACQUETTA, and other Stories.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 21 
 
 Fiction 
 
 SIX SHILLING NOVELS 
 
 CoreUi. BARABBAS : A DREAM OF THE WORLD'S 
 TRAGEDY. By Marie Corelli, Author of * A Romance of Two 
 Worlds,' 'Vendetta,' etc. Eleventh Edition. Crown %vo. 6^. 
 
 Miss Corelli's new romance has been received with much disapprobation by the 
 secular papers, and with warm welcome by the religious papers. By the former 
 she has been accused of blasphemy and bad taste; 'a gory nightmare' ; 'a hideous 
 travesty'; 'grotesque vulgarisation'; 'unworthy of criticism'; 'vulgar redun- 
 dancy'; 'sickening details' — these are some of the secular flowers of speech. 
 On the other hand, the 'Guardian' praises 'the dignity of its conceptions, the 
 reserve round the Central Figure, the fine imagery of the scene and circumstance, 
 so much that is elevating and devout ' ; the ' Illustrated Church News ' styles the 
 book ' reverent and artistic, broad based on the rock of our common nature, and 
 appealing to what is best in it ' ; the ' Christian World ' says it is written ' by one 
 who has more than conventional reverence, who has tried to tell the story that it 
 may be read again with open and attentive eyes'; the 'Church of England 
 I'ulpit ' welcomes 'a book which teems with faith without any appearance of 
 irreverence.' 
 
 Benson. DODO : A DETAIL OF THE DAY. By E. F. 
 
 Benson. Crowtt Svo. Fourteenth Edition, ds. 
 
 A story of society by a new writer, full of interest and power, which has attracted 
 by its brilliance universal attention. The best critics were cordial in their 
 praise. The ' Guardian ' spoke of ' Dodo ' as uniisicatly clever and interesting ; 
 the 'Spectator' called it a delightfully ivitty sketch of society \ the 'Speaker' 
 said the dialogue was a perpetual feast of epigratn and paradox ; the 
 'Athenaeum' spoke of the author as a writer of quite exceptional ability; 
 the ' Academy ' praised his amazing cleverness ; the ' World ' said the book was 
 brilliantly written ; and half-a-dozen papers declared there was not a dull page 
 in the book. 
 
 Baring Gould. IN THE ROAR OF THE SEA: A Tale of 
 the Cornish Coast. By S. Baring Gould. New Edition, ds. 
 
 Baring Gould. MRS. CURGENVEN OF CURGENVEN. 
 By S. Baring Gould. Third Edition, ds. 
 
 A story of Devon life. The ' Graphic ' speaks of it as a novel of vigorous humour and 
 sustained power ; the ' Sussex Daily News ' says that the swing of the narrative 
 is splendid; and the ' Speaker' mentions its bright iynaginative power. 
 
 Baring Gould. CHEAP JACK ZITA. By S. Baring Gould. 
 
 Third Edition. Crown Zvo. ds. 
 A Romance of the Ely Fen District in 1815, which the 'Westminster Gazette' calls 
 ' a powerful drama of human passion'; and the 'National Observer' 'a story 
 worthy the author.' 
 
 Baring Gould. THE QUEEN OF LOVE. By S. Baring 
 Gould. Second Ec tit ion. Cro7vn Svo. 6s. 
 The 'Glasgow Herald' says that 'the scenery is admirable, and the dramatic inci- 
 dents are most striking.' The 'Westminster Gazette' calls the book 'strong, 
 interesting, and clever.' 'Punch' says that 'you cannot put it down until you 
 have finished it.' 'The Sussex Daily News' says that it 'can be heartily recom- 
 mended to all who care for cleanly, energetic, and interesting fiction.'
 
 22 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Norris. HIS GRACE. By W. E. Norris, Author of 
 ' Mademoiselle de Mersac' Third Edition. Crown '^vo. 6s. 
 
 'The characters are delineated by the author with his characteristic skill and 
 vivacity, and the story is told with that ease of manners and Thackerayean in- 
 sight which give strength of flavour to Mr. Norris's novels No one can depict 
 the Englishwoman of the better classes with more subtlety.' — Glasgoiv Herald. 
 
 ' Mr. Norris has drawn a really fine character in the Duke of Hurstbourne, at once 
 unconventional and very true to the conventionalities of life, weak and strong in 
 a breath, capable of inane follies and heroic decisions, yet not so definitely por- 
 trayed as to relieve a reader of the necessity of study on his own behalf.' — 
 A thencEtmi. 
 
 Parker. MRS. FALCHION. By Gilbert Parker, Author of 
 ' Pierre and His People.' New Edition. 6s. 
 Mr. Parker's second book has received a warm welcome. The ' Athenaeum ' called 
 it a splendid study of character; the ' Pall Mall Gazette ' spoke of the writing as 
 hut little behifid anything that has been done by any writer of our time ; the 
 'St. James's' called \X. a very striking and admirable novel', and the 'West- 
 minster Gazette ' applied to it the epithet oi distinguished. 
 
 Parker. PIERRE AND HIS PEOPLE. By Gilbert 
 Parker. Crown 8z^o. B7tc/era;n. 6s. 
 ' Stories happily conceived and finely executed. There is strength and genius in Mr. 
 Parker's style.' — Daily Telegraph. 
 
 Parker. THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE. By Gilbert 
 Parker, Author of 'Pierre and His People,' 'Mrs. Falchion,' etc. 
 Croivn Zvo. ^s. 
 
 'The plot is original and one difficult to work out ; but Mr. Parker has done it with 
 great skill and delicacy. The reader who is not interested in this original, fresh, 
 and well-told tale must be a dull person indeed.' — Daily Chronicle. 
 
 ' A strong and successful piece of workmanship. The portrait of Lali, strong, digni- 
 fied, and pure, is exceptionally well drawn.' — Manchester Guardian. 
 
 ' A very pretty and interesting story, and Mr. Parker tells it with much skill. The 
 story is one to be read.' — St. James's Gazette. 
 
 Anthony Hope. A CHANGE OF AIR : A Novel. By 
 Anthony Hope, Author of ' The Prisoner of Zenda,' etc. 
 Crown Svo. 6s. 
 A bright story by Mr. Hope, who has, the Athenieutn saj^s, 'a decided outlook and 
 
 individuality of his own.' 
 'A graceful, vivacious comedy, true to human nature. The characters are traced 
 with a masterly hand.' — Times. 
 
 Pryce. TIME AND THE WOMAN. By Richard Pryce, 
 
 Author of ' Miss Maxwell's Affections,' 'The Quiet Mrs. Fleming,' 
 etc. New and Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 ' Mr. Pryce's work recalls the style of Octave Feuillet, by its clearness, conciseness, 
 its literary reserve.' — Athencfum.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 23 
 
 Marriott Watson. DIOGENES OF LONDON and other 
 Sketches. By II. B. Marriott Watson, Author of ' The Web 
 of the Spider.' Crown %vo. Buckram. 6s. 
 * By all those who delight in the uses of words, who rate the exercise cf prose above 
 the exercise of verse, who rejoice in all proofs of its delicacy and its strength, who 
 believe that English prose is chief among the moulds of thought, by these 
 Mr. Marriott Watson's book will be welcomed.' — National Observer. 
 
 Gilchrist. THE STONE DRAGON. By Murray Gilchrist. 
 Crozvn Svo. Buckram. 6s. 
 'The author's faults are atoned for by certain positive and admirable merits. The 
 romances have not their counterpart in modern literature, and to read them is a 
 unique experience.' — National Observer. 
 
 THREE-AND-SIXPENNY NOVELS 
 
 Baring Gould. ARMINELL : A Social Romance. By S. 
 
 Baring Gould. New Edition. Crown 2>vo. -^s. 6d. 
 
 Baring Gould. URITH : A Story of Dartmoor. By S. Baring 
 Gould. Third Edition. Crown %vo. "^s. 6d. 
 ' The author is at his best.' — Times. 
 * He has nearly reached the high water-mark of " Mehalah." ' — National Observer. 
 
 Baring Gould. MARGERY OF QUETHER, and other Stories. 
 By S. Baring Gould. Crown Svo. ^s. 6d. 
 
 Baring Gould. JACQUETTA, and other Stories. By S. Baring 
 Gould. Ci-ozun Svo. -^s. 6d. 
 
 Gray. ELSA. A Novel By E. M'Queen Gray. CrownZvo. 
 35. 6d. 
 
 *A charming novel. The characters are not only powerful sketches, but minutely 
 and carefully finished portraits.' — Guardian. 
 
 Pearce. JACO TRELOAR. By J. H. Pearce, Author of 
 
 'Esther Pentreath.' New Edition. Crown Svo. y. 6d. 
 A tragic story of Cornish life by a wriier of remarkable power, whose first novel has 
 
 been highly praised by Mr. Gladstone. 
 The ' Spectator ' speaks of Mr. Pearce as a writer 0/ exceptional power ; the ' Daily 
 
 Telegraph' calls the hook power/ul and picttiresqtie', the 'Birmingham Post' 
 
 asserts that it is a novel of high quality. 
 
 Edna Lyall. DERRICK VAUGHAN, NOVELIST. By 
 Edna Lyall, Author of ' Donovan,' etc. Crown Svo. 3^. 6d. 
 
 Clark RusselL MY DANISH SWEETHEART. By W. 
 Clark Russell, Author of ' The Wreck of the Grosvenor,' etc. 
 Illustrated. Third Edition. Crown Svo. 3^-. 6d.
 
 24 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Author of 'Vera.' THE DANCE OF THE HOURS. By 
 
 the Author of 'Vera.' Crown %vo. 3^. 6d. 
 
 Esme Stuart. A WOMAN OF FORTY. By Esme Stuart, 
 Author of ' Muriel's Marriage,' * Virginie's Husband,' etc. New 
 Edi'Hon. Crown 2>vo. 3^. 6d. 
 * The story is well written, and some of the scenes show great dramatic power.' — 
 Daily Chronicle. 
 
 Fenn. THE STAR GAZERS. By G. Manville Fenn, 
 Author of ' Eli's Children,' etc. New Edition, Cr. ^vo. 35. 6d. 
 ' A stirring romance.' — Western Morning News. 
 
 'Told with all the dramatic power for which Mr. Fenn is conspicuous.' — Bradford 
 Observer. 
 
 Dickinson. A VICAR'S WIFE. By Evelyn Dickinson. 
 
 Crown %vo. '^s. 6d. 
 
 Prowse. THE POISON OF ASPS. By R. Orton Prowse. 
 
 Crown Svo. 35. 6d. 
 
 Grey. THE STORY OF CHRIS. By Rowland Grey. 
 
 Crowfz Svo, 5^-. 
 
 Lynn Linton. THE TRUE HISTORY OF JOSHUA DAVID- 
 SON, Christian and Communist. By E. Lynn Linton. Eleventh 
 Edition. Fosl Svo. is. 
 
 HALF-CROWN NOVELS 
 
 A Series of Novels by popular Authors, tastefully 
 bound in cloth. 
 
 2/6 
 
 1. THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. By F. Mabel Robinson. 
 
 2. DISENCHANTMENT. By F. Mabel Robinson. 
 
 3. MR. BUTLER'S WARD. By F. Mabel Robinson. 
 
 4. HOVENDEN, V.C. By F. Mabel Robinson. 
 
 5. ELI'S CHILDREN. By G. Manville Fenn. 
 
 6. A DOUBLE KNOT. By G. Manville Fenn. 
 
 7. DISARMED. By M. Betham Edwards. 
 
 8. A LOST ILLUSION. By Leslie Keith. 
 
 9. A MARRIAGE AT SEA. By W. Clark Russell.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 25 
 
 10. IN TENT AND BUNGALOW. By the Author of ' Indian 
 
 Idylls.' 
 
 11. MY STEWARDSHIP. By E. M'Queen Gray. 
 
 12. A REVEREND GENTLEMAN. By J. M. Cobban. 
 
 13. A DEPLORABLE AFFAIR. By W. E. NORRIS. 
 
 14. JACK'S FATHER. By W. E. NoRRiS. 
 
 Other volumes will be announced in due course. 
 
 Books for Boys and Girls 
 
 Baring Gould. THE ICELANDER'S SWORD. By S. 
 Baring Gould, Author of 'Mehalah,' etc. With Twenty-nine 
 Illustrations by J. MoYR Smith. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 A stirring story of Iceland, written for boys by the author of ' In the Roar of the Sea. 
 
 CutheU. TWO LITTLE CHILDREN AND CHING. By 
 Edith E. Cuthell. Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo. Cloth, 
 gilt edges. 3^. bd. 
 Another story, with a dog hero, by the author of the ver>' popular ' Only a Guard- 
 Room Dog.' 
 
 Blake. TODDLEBEN'S HERO. By M. M. Blake, Author of 
 * The Siege of Norwich Castle.' With 36 Illustrations. Crown 
 %vo. 35. 6d. 
 A story of military life for children. 
 
 CutheU. ONLY A GUARD-ROOM DOG. By Mrs. Cuthell. 
 
 With 16 Illustrations by W. Parkinson. Square Crown Svo. 3^. 6d. 
 'This is a charming story. Tangle was but a little mongrel Skye terrier, but he had a 
 big heart in his little body, and played a hero's part more than once. The book 
 can be warmly recommended.' — Standard. 
 
 Collingwood. THE DOCTOR OF THE JULIET. By Harry 
 
 COLLINGWOOD, Author of 'The Pirate Island,' etc. Illustrated by 
 Gordon Browne. Croivn %vo. 3^. 6d. 
 
 ' "The Doctor of the Juliet," well illustrated by Gordon Browne, is one of Harry 
 Collingwood's best efforts.' — Morntng Post.
 
 26 Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 Clark Russell. MASTER ROCKAFELLAR'S VOYAGE. By 
 W. Clark Russell, Author of ' The Wreck of the Grosvenor,' etc. 
 Illustrated by Gordon Browne. Second Edition, Ci'own \ivo. 
 3J. 6d. 
 
 'Mr. Clark Russell's story of "Master Rockafellar's Voyage" will be among the 
 favourites of the Christinas books. There is a rattle and " go " all through it, and 
 its illustrations are charming in themselves, and very much above the average in 
 the way in which they are produced.' — Guardian. 
 
 Manville Fenn. SYD BELTON : Or, The Boy who would not 
 go to Sea. By G. Manville Fenn, Author of ' In the King's 
 Name,' etc. Ilhistrated by Gordon Browne. Crown '6vo. 3^. 6d. 
 
 Who among the young story-reading public will not rejoice at the sight of the old 
 combination, so often proved admirable— a story by Manville Fenn, illustrated 
 by Gordon Browne? The story, too, is one of the good old sort, full of life and 
 vigour, breeziness and fun.' — Journal oy Education. 
 
 The Peacock Library 
 
 A Series of Books for Girls by well-known Authors., \ /I 
 
 handsomely bound in blue and silver., and well ilhistrated. J^ j f^ 
 Crown Svo. «»/ / 
 
 1. A PINCH OF EXPERIENCE. By L. B. Walford. 
 
 2. THE RED GRANGE. By Mrs. Molesworth. 
 
 3. THE SECRET OF MADAME DE MONLUC. By the 
 
 Author of ' Mdle Mori.' 
 
 4. DUMPS. By Mrs. Parr, Author of ' Adam and Eve.' 
 
 5. OUT OF THE FASHION. By L. T. Meade. 
 
 6. A GIRL OF THE PEOPLE. By L. T. Meade. 
 
 7. HEPSY GIPSY. By L. T. Meade. 2s. 6d. 
 
 8. THE HONOURABLE MISS. By L. T. Meade. 
 
 9. MY LAND OF BEULAH. By Mrs. Leith Adams. 
 
 University Extension Series 
 
 A series of books on historical, literary, and scientific subjects, suitable 
 for extension students and home reading circles. Each volume is com-
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 27 
 
 plete in itself, and the subjects are treated by competent writers in a 
 broad and philosophic spirit. 
 
 Edited by J. E. SYMES, M.A., 
 Principal of University College, Nottingham. 
 Crown 8vo. Price (witk some exceptions) 2s. bd. 
 The following voluvies are ready : — 
 THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By H. de 
 B. GiBBiNS, M.A., late Scholar of Wadham College, Oxon., Cobden 
 Prizeman. Third Edition. With Maps and Plans. 3^. 
 *A compact and clear story of our industrial development. A study of this concise 
 but luminous book cannot fail to give the reader a clear insight into the principal 
 phenomena of our industrial history. The editor and publishers are to be congrat- 
 ulated on this first volume of their venture, and we shall look with expectant 
 interest for the succeeding volumes of the series.' — University Extension Journal. 
 
 A HISTORY OF ENGLISH POLITICAL ECONOMY. By 
 L. L. Price, M.A., Fellow of Oriel College, Oxon. 
 
 PROBLEMS OF POVERTY : An Inquiry into the Industrial 
 Conditions of the Poor. By J. A. Hobson, M.A. 
 
 VICTORIAN POETS. By A. Sharp. 
 
 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. By J. E. Symes, M.A. 
 
 PSYCHOLOGY. By F. S. Granger, M.A., Lecturer in Philo- 
 sophy at University College, Nottingham. 
 
 THE EVOLUTION OF PLANT LIFE : Lower Forms. By 
 G. Massee, Kew Gardens. With Illustrations. 
 
 AIR AND WATER. Professor V. B. Lewes, M.A. Illustrated. 
 
 THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE AND HEALTH. By C. W. 
 
 KiMMiNS, M.A. Camb. Illustrated. 
 
 THE MECHANICS OF DAILY LIFE. By V. P. Sells, M.A. 
 Illustrated, 
 
 ENGLISH SOCIAL REFORMERS. H. DE B. Gibbins, M.A. 
 
 ENGLISH TRADE AND FINANCE IN THE SEVEN- 
 TEENTH CENTURY. By W. A. S. Hewins, B.A. 
 
 THE CHEMISTRY OF FIRE. The Elementary Principles of 
 Chemistry. By M. M. Pattison MuiR, M. A. Illustrated. 
 
 A TEXT-BOOK OF AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. By M. C. 
 Potter, M.A., F.L.S. Illustrated, y. 6d.
 
 2S Messrs. Methuen's List 
 
 THE VAULT OF HEAVEN. A Popular Introduction to 
 Astronomy. By R. A. Gregory. With numerous Illustrations. 
 
 METEOROLOGY. The Elements of Weather and Climate. 
 By H. N. Dickson, F.R.S.E., F.R. Met. Soc. Illustrated. 
 
 A MANUAL OF ELECTRICAL SCIENCE. By GEORGE 
 J. BuRCH, M.A. With numerous Illustrations. 35. 
 
 Social Questions of To-day 
 
 Edited by H. de B. GIBBINS, M.A. 
 
 Crown Svo. 2s. 6d. ^ \i\ 
 
 A series of volumes upon those topics of social, economic, / 
 
 and industrial interest that are at the present moment fore- 
 most in the public mind. Each volume of the series is written by an 
 author who is an acknowledged authority upon the subject with which 
 he deals. 
 
 The following Volumes of the Series are ready : — 
 
 TRADE UNIONISM— NEW AND OLD. By G. Howell, 
 
 M.P., Author of * The Conflicts of Capital and Labour.' Seco?id 
 
 Edition. 
 THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT TO-DAY. By G. J. 
 
 HOLYOAKE, Author of * The History of Co-operation.' 
 MUTUAL THRIFT. By Rev. J. Frome Wilkinson, M.A., 
 
 Author of ' The Friendly Society Movement.' 
 PROBLEMS OF POVERTY : An Inquiry into the Industrial 
 
 Conditions of the Poor. By J. A. Hobson, M.A. 
 THE COMMERCE OF NATIONS. By C. F. Bastable, 
 
 M. A., Professor of Economics at Trinity College, Dublin. 
 THE ALIEN INVASION. By W. H. Wilkins, B.A., Secretary 
 
 to the Society for Preventing the Immigration of Destitute Aliens. 
 THE RURAL EXODUS. By P. Anderson Graham. 
 LAND NATIONALIZATION. By Harold Cox, B.A. 
 A SHORTER WORKING DAY. By H. de B. GiBBlNS 
 
 and R. A. Hadfield, of the Ilecla Works, Sheffield. 
 BACK TO THE LAND : An Inquiry into the Cure for Rural 
 
 Depopulation. By H. E. MooRE.
 
 Messrs. Methuen's List 29 
 
 TRUSTS, POOLS AND CORNERS: As affecting Commerce 
 
 and Industry. By J. Stephen Jeans, M.R.I., F.S.S. 
 THE FACTORY SYSTEM. By R. Cooke Taylor. 
 THE STATE AND ITS CHILDREN. By Gertrude 
 
 TUCKWELL. 
 
 Classical Translations 
 
 Edited by H. F. FOX, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Brasenose 
 College, Oxford. 
 Messrs. Methuen propose to issue a New Series of Translations from 
 the Greek and Latin Classics. They have enlisted the services of some 
 of the best Oxford and Cambridge Scholars, and it is their intention that 
 the Series shall be distinguished by literary excellence as well as by 
 scholarly accuracy. 
 
 Cro7vn Sz'O. Finely printed and bound in blue buckram. 
 CICERO— De Oratore I. Translated by E. N. P. MoOR, M.A., 
 
 Assistant Master at Clifton, ^s. 6d. 
 iSSCHYLUS — Agamemnon, Choephoroe, Eumenides. Trans- 
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