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diff --git a/old/66599-h/66599-h.htm b/old/66599-h/66599-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 0e64f08..0000000 --- a/old/66599-h/66599-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3208 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - Chambers’s Journal, by Various—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -.ph3{ - text-align: center; - font-size: large; - font-weight: bold; -} - - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } -hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} - -.header {text-align: center; margin-top: 0;} -.header p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} -.header .floatl {float: left;} -.header .floatr {float: right;} -.header .floatc {padding-top: .5em;} - -@media handheld -{ -.header {text-align: center; margin-top: 0;} -.header p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} -.header .floatl {float: left;} -.header .floatr {float: right;} -.header .floatc {padding-top: .5em;} -} - - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; -} /* page numbers */ - - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - - -/* Images */ - -img { - max-width: 100%; - height: auto; -} -img.w100 {width: 100%;} - - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - - -/* Poetry */ -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} -/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry in browsers */ -.poetry {display: inline-block;} -.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} -.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} -/* large inline blocks don't split well on paged devices */ -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - -/* Poetry indents */ -.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3em;} -.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2em;} - - - - - </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 47, Vol. I, November 22, 1884, by Various </p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 47, Vol. I, November 22, 1884</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Various </p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October 23, 2021 [eBook #66599]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Susan Skinner, Eric Hutton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 47, VOL. I, NOVEMBER 22, 1884 ***</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_737">{737}</span></p> - -<h1>CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL<br /> -OF<br /> -POPULAR<br /> -LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART</h1> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='center'> - - -<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> - -<a href="#CURIOSITIES_OF_THE_BANK_OF">CURIOSITIES OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND.</a><br /> -<a href="#BY_MEAD_AND_STREAM">BY MEAD AND STREAM.</a><br /> -<a href="#MORE_USES_OF_PAPER">MORE USES OF PAPER.</a><br /> -<a href="#ONE_WOMANS_HISTORY">ONE WOMAN’S HISTORY.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHRISTMAS_TREES">CHRISTMAS TREES.</a><br /> -<a href="#THE_MISSING_CLUE">THE MISSING CLUE.</a><br /> -<a href="#WOUNDER_AND_HEALER">WOUNDER AND HEALER.</a><br /> - -<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> - -</p> - - -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter w100" id="header" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/header.jpg" alt="Chambers’s Journal of Popular Literature, Science, -and Art. Fifth Series. Established by William and Robert Chambers, 1832. Conducted by R. Chambers (Secundus)." /> -</div> - - -<hr class="full" /> -<div class="center"> -<div class="header"> -<p class="floatl"><span class="smcap">No. 47.—Vol. I.</span></p> -<p class="floatr"><span class="smcap">Price</span> 1½<em>d.</em></p> -<p class="floatc">SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1884.</p> -</div></div></div> - -<hr class="full" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CURIOSITIES_OF_THE_BANK_OF">CURIOSITIES OF THE BANK OF -ENGLAND.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Considering</span> the world-wide reputation of the -Bank of England, it is remarkable how little is -generally known as to its internal working. -Standing in the very heart of the largest city -in the world—a central landmark of the great -metropolis—even the busy Londoners around it -have, as a rule, only the vaguest possible knowledge -of what goes on within its walls. In truth, -its functions are so many, its staff so enormous, -and their duties so varied, that many even of -those who have spent their lives in its service -will tell you that, beyond their own immediate -departments, they know but little of its inner -life. Its mere history, as recorded by Mr Francis, -fills two octavo volumes. It will be readily -understood, therefore, that it would be idle to -attempt anything like a complete description of -it within the compass of a magazine article. -There are, however, many points about the Bank -and its working which are extremely curious and -interesting, and some of these we propose briefly -to describe.</p> - -<p>The Bank of England originated in the brain -of William Paterson, a Scotchman—better known, -perhaps, as the organiser and leader of the ill-fated -Darien expedition. It commenced business -in 1694, its charter—which was in the first -instance granted for eleven years only—bearing -date the 27th July of that year. This charter has -been from time to time renewed, the last renewal -having taken place in 1844. The original capital -of the Bank was but one million two hundred -thousand pounds, and it carried on its business -in a single room in Mercers’ Hall, with a staff -of fifty-four clerks. From so small a beginning -has grown the present gigantic establishment, -which covers nearly three acres, and employs in -town and country nearly nine hundred officials. -Upon the latest renewal of its charter, the Bank -was divided into two distinct departments, the -Issue and the Banking. In addition to these, -the Bank has the management of the national -debt. The books of the various government funds -are here kept; here all transfers are made, and -here all dividends are paid.</p> - -<p>In the Banking department is transacted the -ordinary business of bankers. Here other banks -keep their ‘reserve,’ and hence draw their supplies -as they require them. The Issue department -is intrusted with the circulation of the notes -of the Bank, which is regulated as follows. The -Bank in 1844 was a creditor of the government -to the extent of rather over eleven million pounds, -and to this amount and four million pounds -beyond, for which there is in other ways sufficient -security, the Bank is allowed to issue notes without -having gold in reserve to meet them. Beyond -these fifteen million pounds, every note issued -represents gold actually in the coffers of the Bank. -The total value of the notes in the hands of the -public at one time averages about twenty-five -million pounds. To these must be added other -notes to a very large amount in the hands of the -Banking department, which deposits the bulk of -its reserve of gold in the Issue department, accepting -notes in exchange.</p> - -<p>All Bank of England notes are printed in the -Bank itself. Six printing-presses are in constant -operation, the same machine printing first the -particulars of value, signature, &c., and then the -number of the note in consecutive order. The -paper used is of very peculiar texture, being at -once thin, tough, and crisp; and the combination -of these qualities, together with the peculiarities -of the watermark, which is distributed over -the whole surface of the paper, forms one of -the principal guarantees against imitation. The -paper, which is manufactured exclusively at one -particular mill, is made in oblong slips, allowing -just enough space for the printing of two notes -side by side. The edges of the paper are left -untrimmed, but, after printing, the two notes are -divided by a straight cut between them. This -accounts for the fact, which many of our readers -will doubtless have noticed, that only one edge -of a Bank-note is smooth, the other three being -comparatively ragged. The printing-presses are<span class="pagenum" id="Page_738">{738}</span> -so constructed as to register each note printed, so -that the machine itself indicates automatically -how many notes have passed through it. The -average production of notes is fifty thousand a -day, and about the same number are presented -in the same time for payment.</p> - -<p>No note is ever issued a second time. When -once it finds its way back to the Bank to be -exchanged for coin, it is immediately cancelled; -and the reader will probably be surprised to hear -that the average life of a Bank-note, or the time -during which it is in actual circulation, is not -more than five or six days. The returned notes, -averaging, as we have stated, about fifty thousand -a day, and representing, one day with another, -about one million pounds in value, are brought -into what is known as the Accountant’s Sorting -Office. Here they are examined by inspectors, -who reject any which may be found to be -counterfeit. In such a case, the paying-in bank -is debited with the amount. The notes come in -from various banks in parcels, each parcel accompanied -by a memorandum stating the number -and amount of the notes contained in it. This -memorandum is marked with a certain number, -and then each note in the parcel is stamped to -correspond, the stamping-machine automatically -registering how many are stamped, and consequently -drawing immediate attention to any -deficiency in the number of notes as compared -with that stated in the memorandum. This done, -the notes are sorted according to number and -date, and after being defaced by punching out -the letters indicating value, and tearing off the -corner bearing the signature, are passed on to the -‘Bank-note Library,’ where they are packed in -boxes, and preserved for possible future reference -during a period of five years. There are one -hundred and twenty clerks employed in this one -department; and so perfect is the system of -registration, that if the number of a returned -note be known, the head of this department, by -referring to his books, can ascertain in a few -minutes the date when and the banker through -whom it was presented; and if within the period -of five years, can produce the note itself for -inspection. As to the ‘number’ of a Bank-note, -by the way, there is sometimes a little misconception, -many people imagining that by quoting -the bare figures on the face of a note they have -done all that is requisite for its identification. -This is not the case. Bank-notes are not -numbered consecutively <i>ad infinitum</i>, but in -series of one to one hundred thousand, the -different series being distinguished as between -themselves by the date, which appears in full in -the body of the note, and is further indicated, -to the initiated, by the letter and numerals -prefixed to the actual number. Thus 25/O 90758 -on the face of a note indicates that the note in -question is No. 90758 of the series printed on -May 21, 1883, which date appears in full in the -body of the note. 69/N in like manner indicates -that the note forms part of a series printed on -February 19, 1883. In ‘taking the number’ of a -note, therefore, either this prefix or the full -date, as stated in the body of the note, should -always be included.</p> - -<p>The ‘Library’ of cancelled notes—not to be -confounded with the Bank Library proper—is -situated in the Bank vaults, and we are indebted -to the courtesy of the Bank-note Librarian for -the following curious and interesting statistics -respecting his stock. The stock of paid notes -for five years—the period during which, as before -stated, the notes are preserved for reference—is -about seventy-seven million seven hundred -and forty-five thousand in number. They fill -thirteen thousand four hundred boxes, about -eighteen inches long, ten wide, and nine deep. -If the notes could be placed in a pile one -upon another, they would reach to a height -of five and two-third miles. Joined end to end -they would form a ribbon twelve thousand -four hundred and fifty-five miles long, or half-way -round the globe; if laid so as to form a -carpet, they would very nearly cover Hyde Park. -Their original value is somewhat over seventeen -hundred and fifty millions, and their weight is -about ninety-one tons. The immense extent of -space necessary to accommodate such a mass in -the Bank vaults may be imagined. The place, -with its piles on piles of boxes reaching far away -into dim distance, looks like some gigantic wine-cellar -or bonded warehouse.</p> - -<p>As each day adds, as we have seen, about fifty -thousand notes to the number, it is necessary to -find some means of destroying those which have -passed their allotted term of preservation. This -is done by fire, about four hundred thousand notes -being burnt at one time in a furnace specially constructed -for that purpose. Formerly, from some -peculiarity in the ink with which the notes were -printed, the cremated notes burnt into a solid -blue clinker; but the composition of the ink has -been altered, and the paper now burns to a fine -gray ash. The fumes of the burning paper are -extremely dense and pungent; and to prevent -any nuisance arising from this cause, the process -of cremation is carried out at dead of night, -when the city is comparatively deserted. Further, -in order to mitigate the density of the fumes, -they are made to ascend through a shower of -falling water, the chimney shaft being fitted -with a special shower-bath arrangement for this -purpose.</p> - -<p>Passing away from the necropolis of dead and -buried notes, we visit the Treasury, whence -they originally issued. This is a quiet-looking -room, scarcely more imposing in appearance than -the butler’s pantry in a West-end mansion, but -the modest-looking cupboards with which its -walls are lined are gorged with hidden treasure. -The possible value of the contents of this room -may be imagined from the fact that a million -of money, in notes of one thousand pounds, forms -a packet only three inches thick. The writer -has had the privilege of holding such a parcel -in his hand, and for a quarter of a minute -imagining himself a millionaire—with an income -of over thirty thousand per annum for life! The -same amount might occupy even less space than -the above, for Mr Francis tells a story of a lost -note for thirty thousand pounds, which, turning -up after the lapse of many years, was paid by the -Bank <i>twice over</i>! We are informed that notes -of even a higher value than this have on occasion -been printed, but the highest denomination -now issued is one thousand pounds.</p> - -<p>In this department is kept a portion of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_739">{739}</span> -Bank’s stock of golden coin, in bags of one thousand -pounds each. This amount does not require -a very large bag for its accommodation, but its -weight is considerable, amounting to two hundred -and fifty-eight ounces twenty pennyweights, -so that a million in gold would weigh some -tons. In another room of this department—the -Weighing Office—are seen the machines -for detecting light coin. These machines are -marvels of ingenious mechanism. Three or -four hundred sovereigns are laid in a long -brass scoop or semi-tube, of such a diameter -as to admit them comfortably, and self-regulating -to such an incline that the coins gradually -slide down by their own weight on to -one plate of a little balance placed at its lower -extremity. Across the face of this plate two -little bolts make alternate thrusts, one to the -right, one to the left, but at slightly different -levels. If the coin be of full weight, the balance -is held in equipoise, and the right-hand bolt -making its thrust, pushes it off the plate and -down an adjacent tube into the receptacle for -full-weight coin. If, on the other hand, the -coin is ever so little ‘light,’ the balance naturally -rises with it. The right-hand bolt makes its -thrust as before, but this time passes harmlessly -beneath the coin. Then comes the thrust of the -left-hand bolt, which, as we have said, is fixed -at a fractionally higher level, and pushes the -coin down a tube on the opposite side, through -which it falls into the light-coin receptacle. The -coins thus condemned are afterwards dropped into -another machine, which defaces them by a cut -half-way across their diameter, at the rate of -two hundred a minute. The weighing-machines, -of which there are sixteen, are actuated by a -small atmospheric engine in one corner of the -room, the only manual assistance required being -to keep them supplied with coins. It is said -that sixty thousand sovereigns and half-sovereigns -can be weighed here in a single day. The -weighing-machine in question is the invention -of Mr Cotton, a former governor of the Bank, -and among scientific men is regarded as one -of the most striking achievements of practical -mechanics.</p> - -<p>In the Bullion department we find another -weighing-machine of a different character, but -in its way equally remarkable. It is the first -of its kind, having been designed specially for -the Bank by Mr James Murdoch Napier, by -whom it has been patented. It is used for the -purpose of weighing bullion, which is purchased -in this department. Gold is brought in in bars of -about eight inches long, three wide, and one inch -thick. A bar of gold of these dimensions will -weigh about two hundred ounces, and is worth, -if pure, about eight hundred pounds. Each bar -when brought in is accompanied by a memorandum -of its weight. The question of quality -is determined by the process of assaying; the -weight is checked by means of the weighing-machine -we have referred to. This takes the -form of an extremely massive pair of scales, -working on a beam of immense strength and -solidity, and is based, so as to be absolutely -rigid, on a solid bed of concrete. The whole -stands about six feet high by three wide, and -is inclosed in an air-tight plate-glass case, a -sash in which is raised when it is desired to -use the machine. The two sides of the scale -are each kept permanently loaded, the one with -a single weight of three hundred and sixty ounces, -the other with a number of weights of various -sizes to the same amount. When it is desired -to test the weight of a bar of gold, weights to -the amount stated in the corresponding memorandum, -<i>less half an ounce</i>, are removed from the -latter scale, and the bar of gold substituted in -their place. Up to this point the beam of the -scale is kept perfectly horizontal, being maintained -in that position by a mechanical break; -but now a stud is pressed, and by means of delicate -machinery, actuated by water-power, the -beam is released. If the weight of the bar has -been correctly stated in the memorandum, the -scale which holds it should be exactly half an -ounce in excess. This or any less excess of -weight over the three hundred and sixty ounces -in the opposite scale is instantly registered by -the machine, a pointer travelling round a dial -until it indicates the proper amount. The function -of the machine, however, is limited to weighing -half an ounce only. If the discrepancy -between the two scales as loaded is greater than -this, or if on the other hand the bar of gold is -more than half an ounce less than the amount -stated in the memorandum, an electric bell rings -by way of warning, the pointer travels right -round the dial, and returns to zero. So delicate -is the adjustment, that the weight of half a penny -postage stamp—somewhat less than half a grain—will -set the hand in motion and be recorded -on the dial.</p> - -<p>The stock of gold in the bullion vault varies -from one to three million pounds sterling. The -bars are laid side by side on small flat trucks or -barrows carrying one hundred bars each. In a -glass case in this vault is seen a portion of the -war indemnity paid by King Coffee of Ashantee, -consisting of gold ornaments, a little short of -standard fineness.</p> - -<p>One of the first reflections that strike an -outsider permitted to inspect the repository of -so much treasure is, ‘Can all this wealth be -safe?’ These heaps of precious metal, these piles -of still more precious notes, are handled by the -officials in such an easy-going, matter-of-course -way, that one would almost fancy a few thousands -would scarcely be missed; and that a -dishonest person had only to walk in and help -himself to as many sovereigns or hundred pound -notes as his pockets could accommodate. Such, -however, is very far from being the case. The -safeguards against robbery, either by force or -fraud, are many and elaborate. At night the -Bank is guarded at all accessible points by an -ample military force, which would no doubt give -a good account of any intruder rash enough to -attempt to gain an entrance. In the event of -attack from without, there are sliding galleries -which can be thrust out from the roof, and which -would enable a body of sharpshooters to rake the -streets in all directions.</p> - -<p>Few people are aware that the Bank of England -contains within its walls a graveyard, but such is -nevertheless the fact. The Gordon riots in 1780, -during which the Bank was attacked by a mob, -called attention to the necessity for strengthening -its defences. Competent authorities advised that -an adjoining church, rejoicing in the appropriate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_740">{740}</span> -name of St Christopher-le-Stocks, was in a military -sense a source of danger, and accordingly an -Act of Parliament was passed to enable the directors -to purchase the church and its appurtenances. -The old churchyard, tastefully laid out, -now forms what is known as the Bank ‘garden,’ -the handsome ‘Court Room’ or ‘Bank Parlour’ -abutting on one of its sides. There is a magnificent -lime-tree, one of the largest in London, in -the centre of the garden, and tradition states -that under this tree a former clerk of the Bank, -<i>eight feet high</i>, lies buried. With this last, though -not least of the curiosities of the Bank, we must -bring the present article to a close. We had -intended briefly to have referred to sundry eventful -pages of its history; but these we are compelled, -by considerations of space, to reserve for -a future paper.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak x-ebookmaker-important" id="BY_MEAD_AND_STREAM">BY MEAD AND STREAM.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3>CHAPTER LVII.—THE SECRET IN THE OAK PARLOUR.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">At</span> Willowmere, the rapidity with which Mr -Hadleigh regained strength astounded Dr Joy, -and delighted the patient’s nurses, Aunt Hessy -and Madge.</p> - -<p>‘Wonderful nerve, wonderful physique he must -have,’ whispered Dr Joy admiringly on the fifth -day; ‘and yet, according to all accounts, he did -not study the economy of either in the course -of his life. Well, well; we do come across extraordinary -constitutions occasionally, and his is one -of them.’</p> - -<p>The peculiarity of the case was that, after the -first shock, the patient was perfectly calm, and -showed not the remotest symptom of delirium. -He understood everything that passed around -him, and when permitted, talked quietly about -the fire, and listened attentively to all that was -related to him regarding it.</p> - -<p>He heard with pleased surprise the account -of how Caleb had rescued him, and said to -Madge: ‘I must do something for that man; -but it will have to be by your hand, for he -is evidently resolved to accept nothing from -mine.’</p> - -<p>‘We will have to find out where he is, before -we can do anything for him. He intended to -go to Australia; but the day after he regained -his freedom, he wrote to Philip saying that he -had altered his mind, and was going to the United -States.’</p> - -<p>‘Why did not Philip keep him here?’</p> - -<p>‘He tried to persuade him to remain, but -could not. Poor Caleb, he does not know what -a sorry heart he has left behind him.’ Here -she checked herself, feeling that she was entering -upon delicate ground. ‘He sent good wishes to -you, and to all of us, and promised to write again -to Philip, so that we may have an opportunity -of serving him yet.’</p> - -<p>‘He is a headstrong fellow,’ said Mr Hadleigh; -‘and I hope he may not ruin his own prospects -by his too great eagerness to secure the independence -of his neighbours. You see, Miss Heathcote, -he is one of those unhappy people who have -reached the stage of education in which they -discover that they have certain rights, without -having got education enough to recognise the -responsibilities which these rights entail. Well, -we must wait till we have news of him.... -Has my safe been dug out of the ruins yet?’</p> - -<p>That was a question he had been asking daily -from the moment when he comprehended the -disaster which had befallen him; and the answer -had been hitherto always the same: ‘Not yet.’ -At length came the information that the safe had -been found, and was apparently little damaged -by its ordeal of fire.</p> - -<p>Then Mr Hadleigh bade Philip take his keys -and bring him from the safe a little deed-box -marked ‘<i>L. H. Private</i>.’ When Philip returned -with the box, his father had been moved into -the Oak Parlour, where he was reclining in a -big armchair, supported by down cushions. A -cheery fire with one of Madge’s oak-logs was -blazing on the hearth, raising the temperature -of the apartment to summer heat.</p> - -<p>When the box was placed on the table beside -him, he desired to be left alone until he should -ring a hand-bell which was within his reach. He -had caused Philip to place the key in the box, -and for a space he remained motionless, staring -at it, as if hesitating to touch again the spring -of emotions which he had intended should be -there shut up from him for ever. His eyelids -drooped, and in spite of the bright glow of -the fire, a shadow fell on his pale face.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I thank God that I am spared to do -this thing,’ he muttered at length. ‘Let the -secret die with me—it was a cruel as well as -a selfish wish that prompted me to reveal it to -them. What matter to me how they may hold -me in their memory? They may think of me -as that which circumstances made me appear, -not as what I wished to be. What matter? -The dead are beyond earthly pain and passion. -I shall not stretch my hand from the grave -to cast the least shade of regret over their -lives.’</p> - -<p>He slowly took from the box the two packets -he had so carefully sealed and put away on the -night of the fire. The one was addressed to -Madge as Mrs Philip Hadleigh; the other, to -his son Philip, with the injunction that he, after -reading, was to decide whether or not to show it -to his wife. The paper addressed to Madge, he -took up and held in the long thin scarred hands -as if it were a thing capable of feeling. He -broke the seal and took the paper from the -envelope, performing the operation mechanically, -whilst the far-away look was in his eyes, and -the Something he had sought but could not reach -was fading from his vision altogether. His was -the kind of expression with which one who -knows he is doomed watches the last sunset -displaying its brief, changing glories on the -horizon. The broad streams of gleaming amber -and opal are quietly transfused into the pensive -gray of twilight, and the darkness follows.</p> - -<p>‘They must never know.’</p> - -<p>He made a movement as if to drop the paper -into the fire, paused, and his eyes rested on the -writing, although they did not distinguish the -words. And there was no need; for they only -represented in a feeble way thoughts which were -always present to his mind.</p> - -<p>‘I must speak’—such were the written words—‘or -I shall lose all self-restraint. You cannot -be harmed by what is put down here. Perhaps<span class="pagenum" id="Page_741">{741}</span> -you will never see it; you certainly shall not -until after my funeral, and then you may be -able to understand and think none the less kindly -of me for this confession.</p> - -<p>‘You have seen me in my darkest moods, and -you have wondered at my melancholy—wondered -why I who had been granted such a large measure -of what the world esteems prosperity should find -no contentment in it. I have partly explained -the cause to Philip: I could not explain it to -you.</p> - -<p>‘With bitter reason I early learned to believe -that money—mere money—was the source of all -earthly happiness. I was mistaken, and found -out my mistake too late. I should have been -content, perhaps happy in a way, if I could have -gone on to the end without the knowledge that -the want of Love is the only real sorrow which -can enter into man or woman’s life. But there -was nobody to lead me out of the miserable conviction -which took possession of my mind as I -watched those dearest to me fall one by one, not -with the merciful swiftness of soldiers in battle, -but in the lingering torments of soul and body -which come to those who are poor.</p> - -<p>‘Left alone, I looked around. The whole -world was my enemy, to be conquered by force -and stratagem. Any man may be rich, I said, -who has a clear head and no conscience; who -is willing to abandon all sentiment, forego all -trivial pleasures, and give himself absolutely to -the service of the world’s idol. I gave myself to -the idol; and wealth came to me in increasing -stores year by year, month by month, day by day.</p> - -<p>‘At first, the sense of my victory sufficed; but -soon there came the consciousness that this was -not happiness; it was the successful working of -a machine. I craved for something more, but -did not know what it was. My wife’s affection, -I knew, belonged to another: I had married her -with that knowledge. I tried to win the friendship -of my children; but the girls had learned -to regard me with a kind of fear, Coutts with -indifference, and Philip was the only one who -could speak to me with frankness. His generous -nature comforted me, but did not fill up the -void in my life.</p> - -<p>‘I was still seeking the Something which was -necessary to me, and at length I found it in -<span class="smcap">You</span>.... Yes, you taught me what love was—I -loved you with all the fervour of youth. -My years, my experience of the world intensified -the love which I had never known before. I -was prepared to sacrifice all my possessions, all -my hopes, for you.</p> - -<p>‘Do not start away and cast the paper from -you; I have made the sacrifice.</p> - -<p>‘At the same moment in which the treasure -that would have made life beautiful was revealed -to me, there was also revealed the impossibility -of its ever becoming mine. I was like a seaman -who is shipwrecked and sinks within sight of -land. I will not try to tell you through what -pain I passed to the recognition of the duty Love -imposed—to help forward your happiness in any -direction in which you might think it lay. I will -not try to tell you with what agitation I learned -for the first time, what must have become known -to me long before, had it not been for the morbid -isolation in which my days were passed, that you -and Philip were betrothed.</p> - -<p>‘My first desire then was to bring about your -union as speedily as possible, believing that I -should find my peace in having the privilege of -calling you daughter. Meeting your uncle Crawshay -in the market-place, I took him to a private -apartment in the inn and endeavoured to explain -my wishes. I must have spoken stupidly, for -he misunderstood me, and fancied that the proposal -was on my own account. His misconception -startled and confused me, and he left me -in great indignation.</p> - -<p>‘I thought of following him to Willowmere -and explaining; but the effort already made had -tried me so much, that not feeling sure of what -awkwardness of speech or what irrepressible sign -of emotion might betray my secret, I determined -to let matters take their course, whilst my task -should be to keep Philip at home and to hasten -the marriage. You know how earnestly I strove -to carry out that resolution.</p> - -<p>‘You and Philip will be happy. You two have -found in time the golden key of life, and in your -happiness I shall find mine at last. I want to -live till then; and, after, I shall pass away -content.’</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The invalid seemed to arouse from a sad and -yet pleasing dream, for there was a faint smile -on his worn face, and the eyes seemed to brighten -as with the consciousness of victory—that greatest -of all victories, the conquest of self.</p> - -<p>He rang the hand-bell, and Madge herself -promptly answered the summons.</p> - -<p>‘It is you I wanted, my child.... How good -and patient you have been with me—Madge. -Take notice, I am to call you henceforth, Madge, -my child.’</p> - -<p>‘And I shall call you father,’ she said tenderly, -taking one of his hands and stroking it affectionately.</p> - -<p>He was silent for a few moments; then lifting -his head, he drew her towards him and kissed -her with strange solemnity on the brow.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, my child,’ he said calmly, ‘that is the -name which commands a portion of your love—and -you will give me a little of it?’</p> - -<p>‘A great deal of it—you may be sure of that,’ -she answered, blushing slightly, and thinking -how could she do otherwise than give a great deal -of love to Philip’s father.</p> - -<p>‘You give me more comfort than you know, -my dear daughter. Now take this paper and -place it on the fire, so that I may see it burn to -ashes.’</p> - -<p>She obeyed unquestioningly; and he watched -the flame stretching its white fingers round the -secret which was to die with him; saw the paper -curl into black and white films; and then he -drew a long breath of relief.</p> - -<p>‘They can never know now,’ was his mental -exclamation. ‘Thank God it is done, and by -her hand.’</p> - -<p>There was a little while of dreamy silence, -during which Madge stood by his side, holding -his hand, and anxiously noting every change on -his countenance. The changes were rapid and -curious as those of a kaleidoscope: now there -was pain; again a stern frown, as if checking -some rebellious spirit, and anon a serene smile -of resignation and content. With this latter -expression he looked up to her.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_742">{742}</span></p> - -<p>‘Call Philip.’</p> - -<p>The son was immediately in attendance.</p> - -<p>‘I hope you are not exerting yourself too much, -sir,’ was his anxious observation.</p> - -<p>‘O no; I am wonderfully strong this afternoon, -and am taking advantage of the renewed -strength to put some matters straight, which being -done, will relieve my mind, and so give me the -better chance of a speedy recovery. But it is -as well to be prepared for the worst; and therefore -I wish to have the satisfaction of handing -you this packet in Madge’s presence. You will -learn from it that when I took from you the -portion of my fortune which would have been -yours in the ordinary course of events, I gave -it to your future wife. I did not intend you -to know this until after my death; but as your -uncle has come to grief, I am desirous of relieving -your mind as soon as possible from any fear of -the future; and I should have been glad to have -helped Austin Shield out of his difficulties, -for your mother’s sake—but he would refuse -any help that came from me.—What is that?’</p> - -<p>The exclamation was caused by one of the -oak panels facing him slowly moving aside and -revealing the form of a man.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="MORE_USES_OF_PAPER">MORE USES OF PAPER.</h2> -</div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> place of timber in construction bids fair -to be taken by papier-mâché, and it may claim -to rival iron itself in the multiplicity of its industrial -applications. Besides the advantage of its -cheap construction, papier-mâché is not affected -by changes of temperature, does not crack, like -wood or plaster, and is never discoloured by rust. -It can be bronzed, painted, polished, or gilded, -made heavy or light as required, and possesses -greater adaptability for quick removal or adjustment -than most other materials. Its uses in architecture -seem to have no limit, as has been shown -by building and completely furnishing a dwelling-house -entirely of this material. According to -report, a huge hotel is about to be constructed -in America in which paper will take the place -of stone and brick. The fourth paper dome in -the United States and, it is thought, in the -world, will crown the new Observatory at -Columbia College, in New York. A trade -journal remarks that besides the paper dome -at the Troy Polytechnic, there is a second at -West Point, and a third at Beloit College. That -at West Point is said to be the largest, but that -at Columbia College the best in construction -and arrangement. The method used in the -manufacture of the paper is kept a secret, the -makers using a patented process. The dome is -made in sections—twenty-four in number. They -are bent over towards the inside at the edges -and bolted to ribs of wood. The shell, though -very thin, is as stiff as sheet-iron. On one side -of the dome is the oblong opening for the telescope, -and over this a shutter, also of paper, but -stiffened with wood-lining, which slides around -on the outside of the dome. The whole dome -is so light that the hand can turn it.</p> - -<p>As regards the uses of papier-mâché in Europe, -we hear of a complete church being built in -Bavaria, having columns, walls, altar, roof, and -spire all of this material. Some of the most -tasteful halls on the continent and in this country -are finished in it in preference to wood. Mantels, -mirrors, frames, and gilded chandeliers are of its -composition. Pedestals, newels, vases, furniture, -and ornaments of all kinds, no less than floors -and staircases, gas-pipes, and even chimney-shafts, -can be made of it. In Breslau, a chimney-shaft -fifty feet high is said to have been made of paper-pulp -chemically impregnated so as to resist combustion.</p> - -<p>Incombustible as well as water-proof paper is -now no novelty, and has before been alluded to -in this <i>Journal</i>; but an account of some further -experiments in this line has since reached -us. M. G. Meyer of Paris recently exhibited to -the ‘Société d’Encouragement pour l’Industrie -nationale’ specimens of an incombustible paper -capable of taking on inks of various shades, and -also paintings, and preserving them even in the -fire of a gas-flame. It was stated by him that -the papers and documents shown had been for -four hours in a pottery furnace, and had displayed -undoubted fire-resisting properties. Paper of this -indestructible nature should be in good demand -for wills, deeds, and account-books, &c. It is -also suitable for wall-covering, and ought, we -should think, to be of great value for theatrical -decorations and scenery. The latter can be -rendered uninflammable by using this inventor’s -material as well as his incombustible colours. -While on the subject of decoration may be mentioned -the new kind of satin paper recently -brought out for this purpose. It is made by -covering common paper with adhesive size, and -sprinkling dyed asbestos powder on its moist -surface. Asbestos readily takes up all colours, -especially those of aniline, so that some very rich -effects can be produced.</p> - -<p>Paper curtains, counterpanes, sheets, and so -forth, are said to have been among the objects -of interest at the Sydney Exhibition; and so -there is no reason to doubt the report that table-napkins -of the same adaptable substance are regularly -supplied at the cheap dining-rooms of Berlin. -The napkins are of tissue-paper with a coloured -ornamental border—not only because paper is -cheaper than diaper, but as a protection against -pilfering. Indeed, so common are paper table-napkins -said to be at Berlin, that the manufacturers -advertise them regularly in the newspapers -at the rate of about nine or ten a penny.</p> - -<p>When we think of the extraordinary uses to -which paper is applied, it is not so startling to -learn that this material may even enter into the -composition of our post-prandial cigar. If we -are to believe the newspapers, millions of cigars -are annually manufactured in Havana without -so much as a single fibre of tobacco-leaf being -utilised in the process of their fabrication. The -great straw-paper factory in New York State -has for some time been making a peculiar sort -of extremely thin fine paper, which it has been -discovered is used for making cigars. This we -are told is thoroughly soaked in a solution composed -of tobacco refuse boiled in water, then dried -and pressed between stamps, which impart to it -the appearance of the finest leaf so exactly as -to defy detection even on the part of the experienced -in such matters. Of these paper-leaves are -fabricated the spurious cigars alluded to, which -are exported from Cuba to all parts of the world -as genuine tobacco. The cost of their production<span class="pagenum" id="Page_743">{743}</span> -is nothing in comparison with the prices at which -they are disposed of. A slight difference in -weight between the genuine and the spurious -cigar of identical brand and size, affords, it is -stated, the only certain means of detecting this -fraud, so alike in appearance are the weeds of -real tobacco and their counterfeit presentments -in straw-paper.</p> - -<p>As delicate sheets of paper can be made to serve -for steel or iron, it is easily understood that -school-slates can be manufactured from similar -apparently unpromising beginnings. They are -made of white cardboard, covered with a film -formed by the action of sulphuric acid on tissue-paper. -This covering, according to an American -journal, is probably a modification of celluloid. -The slates can be used with a lead-pencil or with -ink; and to remove the marks, the slate is washed -with cold water. A special ink is also prepared -for use with these white slates. Another form -of slate is made by coating the white cardboard -with water-glass. It may be used with lead-pencils -or coloured crayons. When the surface -becomes soiled, the water-glass may be rubbed off -with sand-paper, and a new film may be put on -with a sponge or brush dipped in water-glass.</p> - -<p>To the number of paper-making materials now -in use must be added an old weed of the nettle -species, not of the stinging kind. From the bark -of certain shrubs, also, several kinds of Japanese -paper are made. The strongest and commonest -is made from the bark of the mitsuma. -A paper of superior quality is likewise made -from the kozu, a small tree of the mulberry -family, imported from China. The inner bark of -both shrubs is washed and dried, softened in -steam and boiling water, and afterwards beaten -with staves until a fine paste is formed. This -paste mixed with water is then made into paper -in the ordinary way.</p> - -<p>A new use of cedar-bark has been undertaken -at New Bedford, Massachusetts. The Acushnet -paper-mill at that point is, it appears, nearly -completed, and was built for the express purpose -of manufacturing pulp and paper from cedar-bark. -This, we are told, is the first enterprise -of the kind ever undertaken. The bark is taken -from shingle butts that are sixteen inches long, -and are bundled for shipment like laths. The -new mill will work up three cords of bark a -day. The first product will be for carpet linings; -but the paper is said to be equally adapted to -other purposes.</p> - -<p>A new method of preparing soluble wool from -tissues in which wool and cotton are combined -has been discovered. When subjected to a current -of superheated steam under a pressure of -five atmospheres, the wool melts and falls to -the bottom of the pan, leaving the cotton, linen, -and other vegetable fibres clean and in a condition -suitable for paper-making. The melted -wool is afterwards evaporated to dryness, when -it becomes completely soluble in water. The -increased value of the rags is said to be sufficient -to cover the whole cost of the operation.</p> - -<p>With the use of the papyrus, as is well known, -the Egyptians were early acquainted, and its -manufacture was a government monopoly, as paper-making -is to this day at Boulak, the river-port -of Cairo. The remarkable aptitude for paper-making -displayed by the Boulak Arabs is an -hereditary accomplishment. The Daira paper -manufactory in the suburb of Boulak regularly -employed, we are told, more than two hundred -hands before the late war, almost all natives. -Most of the paper turned out is for packing -purposes; but thousands of reams of good writing -and printing paper are also manufactured. -The writing-paper is made specially for Arabic -writing; and what is produced in excess of the -requirements of the country is exported eastward, -partly to Arabia, and a small portion even to -India. Though linen and cotton rags are used -in this factory, the interior of the stalk of the -sugar-cane furnishes an endless supply of paper-making -material. In the production of what is -called ‘straw’ paper in Europe, the <i>hilfa</i> grass -plays a very important part. The Daira factory -at Boulak enjoys a monopoly of this industry -in Egypt; and in connection with it is the -National Printing Office, also under the control -of the same administration.</p> - -<p>In conclusion, some reference may be made -to a published work entitled <i>The Paper Mill -Directory of the World</i>, which will appear annually. -It contains a complete catalogue of all the -paper and pulp mills on the globe. The total -number of mills existing is four thousand four -hundred and sixty-three. The German Empire, -with over eleven hundred, heads the list in point -of numbers, the United States following very -closely. Then we have France with considerably -more than five hundred, Austro-Hungary, England, -Italy, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Canada and -Norway, the remainder being scattered over -various parts of the world. It appears that -the mills in the United States are capable of -turning out seven million some odd hundred -thousand pounds-weight, in round numbers, of -pulp and paper daily. Over a million pounds -is produced in Massachusetts alone.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="ONE_WOMANS_HISTORY">ONE WOMAN’S HISTORY.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">At</span> the very time Mr Dulcimer was assisting -Miss Wynter across the stepping-stones, the -stranger whose unexpected appearance the previous -night had so startled Madame De Vigne -was pacing leisurely up the valley in the direction -of the waterfall.</p> - -<p>When, on inquiring for Madame De Vigne -at the hotel that morning, he was told that -she had gone out for the day with a picnic -party, his suspicious nature at once took the -alarm. Might she not by some means have -discovered his presence in the hotel? he asked -himself; and might not this story of the picnic -be nothing more than a subterfuge, by means -of which she would obtain a start of several -hours in her efforts to escape from him? He -at once ordered a fly and set off in pursuit. -On reaching the place where the wagonettes -had been left, he found that if he persisted in -his search for Madame De Vigne, he would be -compelled to do the rest of the distance on foot. -He disliked walking, but in this case there was -no help for it; accordingly, he set out on his -way to the glen with such grace as there might -be in him.</p> - -<p>He was a man to all appearance about forty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_744">{744}</span> -years of age—he might be a little older; but -his figure was still as lithe and active as that of -many a man of twenty. He had jet-black hair, -and his closely cropped beard and moustache -were of the same hue. He had large, white, carnivorous-looking -teeth, and small black eyes as -piercing as gimlets, with now and then a strange, -furtively suspicious look glancing at you out of -their corners. His features were aquiline, rather -finely cut, and his complexion sallow. By the -majority of people he would have been accounted -a fairly handsome man. He was fashionably -dressed, but it was after the fashion of a Parisian -dandy, not that of a London swell; and there -is a vast difference in the styles of the two.</p> - -<p>When he had passed through the wicket which -gave admittance to the glen and was within a -few yards of the bridge, he paused and gazed -around. Not a creature was to be seen, for, -before this, Dick and Bella had gone on a further -journey of exploration and were no longer visible.</p> - -<p>‘So! This must be the place where they told -me that I should find her,’ said the stranger to -himself in French. ‘But she is not here. Well, -I can wait.’ He advanced a few yards farther -up the glen. ‘We could not have a better place -for our meeting. There will be no one to overhear -what we shall have to say to each other. -Ah, <i>ma chère</i> Mora, what a surprise for you! -How enchanted you will be to find that your -brave Hector is not dead, as they wrote and told -you he was, but alive, and burning to embrace -you! What happiness for both of us!’</p> - -<p>He had been climbing slowly up the ravine, -and by this time he had reached the spot where -Mora had been sitting but a short time before. -Her sketch-book attracted his eye; he took it -up and opened it.</p> - -<p>‘Hers! Here is her name. She cannot be -far away. A man’s head—a likeness evidently. -The same again—and yet again. I must find -out the name of this monsieur. I shall have -much pleasure to introduce myself to him.’ A -slight noise startled him. He shut the book and -raised his eyes. ‘Ah! here comes my angel,’ -he exclaimed. ‘<i>Sacre bleu!</i> she is handsomer -than ever.’</p> - -<p>For the moment Mora did not perceive him. -When she did, she put a hand quickly to her -heart and gave a great gasp.</p> - -<p>‘Ah!’ What a volume of meaning that little -word conveyed!</p> - -<p>Monsieur De Miravel—for such was the name -he now chose to be known by—advanced a step -or two smilingly, and bowed with all a Frenchman’s -grace. ‘<i>Me voici!</i>’ he said. ‘Hector—thy -husband—not dead, but alive and’——</p> - -<p>She stopped him with an imperious gesture. -‘Wretch—coward—felon!’ she exclaimed, and -her voice seemed to express the concentrated -passion and hatred of years. ‘I could never quite -believe that I had been fortunate enough to lose -you for ever. I had a presentiment that I should -some day see you again. Why have you followed -me? But I need not ask. It is to rob me again, -as you robbed me before. <i>Voleur!</i>’</p> - -<p>She stood before him drawn up to the full -height of her magnificent beauty, her bosom -heaving, her eyes dilating, her head thrown -slightly back, her clenched hands hanging by -her sides, her shoulders a little raised. Even -the scoundrel whom she had addressed could not -help admiring her as she towered before him in -all the splendour of her passion.</p> - -<p>A small red spot flamed on either cheek, but -his voice had still a smile in it when next he -spoke. ‘Ah ha!’ he said. ‘You are still the -same charming Mora that you always were! You -still call me by the same pretty names! How it -brings back the days of long ago!’</p> - -<p>‘How much money do you want of me?’ she -demanded abruptly. ‘What price do you expect -me to pay that I may rid myself of your -presence?’</p> - -<p>‘Softly, <i>ma chère</i>, softly. I have not been at -all this great trouble and expense to discover -you, without having something to say to you. -I want to talk what you English call business.’</p> - -<p>‘Name your price and leave me.’</p> - -<p>‘Taisez-vous, je vous prie. You are here, and -you must listen to me. You cannot help yourself.’</p> - -<p>Madame De Vigne bit her lip, but did not reply.</p> - -<p>De Miravel sat down, crossed his legs, leant -back a little, and looked up at her with half-shut -eyes. ‘Five years ago,’ he began, ‘you received -a certain letter in which you were informed -that I was dead. That letter, by some strange -error, was forwarded to the wrong person. It -was not I, your husband, who was dead, but -another man of the same name—another Hector -Laroche. When the mistake was discovered, you -had left the place where you had previously -been living, and no one knew what had become -of you. Two years ago I found myself in Paris -again. When I had arranged my private affairs, -which had suffered during my long absence, I -began to make inquiries concerning the wife from -whom I had been so cruelly torn, and whom -my heart was bleeding to embrace.’</p> - -<p>‘<i>Menteur!</i>’ ground out Mora between her -teeth.</p> - -<p>He waved, as it were, the epithet aside with -an airy gesture of his hand, and continued: -‘For a long time I could hear nothing concerning -her, and I began to fear that I had lost her for -ever. But at length a clue was put into my -hands. I discovered that, in consequence of the -death of a relative, my incomparable wife had -come into a fortune of twelve thousand francs -a year—that she had changed her name from -Madame Laroche to that of her aunt, Madame -De Vigne, and that she and her sister had gone -to make their home in England. Naturally, I -follow my wife to England, and here, to-day, -<i>me voici!</i>’</p> - -<p>‘Your price—name your price,’ was all that -the lady deigned to answer.</p> - -<p>‘Pardon. I am not in want of money—at -present. It was my wife whom I sought everywhere, -and now that I have found her, I do -not intend ever to leave her again.’</p> - -<p>‘Liar and villain!’</p> - -<p>‘Doucement, je vous prie. Listen! I am no -longer so young as I once was. I have travelled—I -have seen the world—I am <i>blasé</i>. I want -a home—I want what you English call my own -fireside. Where, then, should be my home—where -should be my fireside, but with my wife—the -wife from whom I have been torn for so -many cruel years, but whom, <i>parole d’honneur</i>, -I have never ceased to love and cherish in my -heart!’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_745">{745}</span></p> - -<p>‘Oh! this is too much,’ murmured Mora under -her breath, the fingers of one hand griping those -of the other like a vice. The tension was becoming -greater than she could bear.</p> - -<p>‘But there need be no scandal, no éclaircissement -among my dear wife’s English friends,’ -went on De Miravel with the same hard, set -smile. ‘I have thought of all that. Madame -Laroche is dead—Hector Laroche is dead. In -their place we have here, Madame De Vigne, a -charming widow; and Monsieur De Miravel, a -bachelor not too antique to marry. Monsieur -De Miravel has known and admired Madame -De Vigne before her marriage to her late husband. -What more natural than that he should admire -her still, that he should make her an offer of -his hand, and that she should accept it? So -one day Madame De Vigne and Monsieur De -Miravel are quietly married, and, <i>pouf!</i> all the -respectable English friends have dust thrown in -their eyes!’</p> - -<p>For a moment or two Mora stared at him in -silence; then she said in a low voice: ‘And you -propose this to me!—to me!’</p> - -<p>‘Sérieusement, ma chère—sérieusement. It is -a beautiful little scheme.’</p> - -<p>‘If you will not take your price and leave me, -I at least can leave you,’ she answered in low, -determined tones. ‘No power on earth can -compel me to live with you for a single hour -as your wife, and no power shall. I would -sooner drop dead at your feet.’</p> - -<p>The Frenchman bent his head and sniffed at -the flower in his button-hole. When he lifted -his face again there was a strange expression in -his eyes, which his unhappy wife remembered -only too well, and caused her to shudder in spite -of herself. She felt that the scorpion’s sting of -what he had to say to her was yet to come. -When he next spoke, there was the same cold, -cruel glitter in his eyes that travellers tell us is -to be seen in the eyes of a cobra at the moment -it is about to strike.</p> - -<p>‘Mademoiselle your sister—what a beautiful -young lady she is!’ he said, speaking even more -softly than he had done before, and balancing his -cane on a couple of fingers as he spoke. ‘I saw -her this morning for the first time. She is to -be married in a little while to the son of a rich -English <i>milord</i>. Is it not so? <i>Eh bien!</i> I wonder -what this rich <i>milord</i>, this Sir William, would -say, and what the young gentleman, his son, -would say, if they were told that the sister of -the charming Mademoiselle Clarice was the wife -of a <i>déporté</i>—of Hector Laroche, a man who had -worked out a sentence of penal servitude at -Noumea. Of course the rich Sir William would -at once take Monsieur Laroche to lunch with -him at his club, and the young gentleman would -present him with a little cheque for five or six -thousand francs; and he would be asked to give -the bride away at the wedding, and he would -sign his name in the register, thus—“Hector -Laroche, <i>ex-déporté</i>, number 897.”’</p> - -<p>For a moment or two it seemed to Mora as if -earth and heaven were coming together.</p> - -<p>‘So, fiend! miscreant! that is your scheme, -is it?’</p> - -<p>‘I have shown you my cards,’ he answered -with a shrug. ‘I have hidden nothing from you. -So now, <i>chère</i> Madame De Vigne, you have only -to give your promise to marry your devoted De -Miravel; and the moment you do that, Hector -Laroche dies and is buried out of sight for ever, -and neither Sir William nor his son will know -that such a <i>vaurien</i> ever existed.’</p> - -<p>‘Leave me—leave me!’ she exclaimed in a -hoarse whisper.</p> - -<p>He glanced at her keenly. It was evident that -just at present she could bear no more. It was -not his policy to drive her to extremities. He -rose from his seat.</p> - -<p>‘I will go and promenade myself for a little -while,’ he said. ‘In half an hour I will return.’</p> - -<p>He raised his hat as he might have done to -a duchess. She stood a little aside, to let him -pass, but did not allow her eyes to rest on him -for a moment. He turned and took the path -which led up the ravine.</p> - -<p>Mora sank down wearily on the seat he had -vacated. At that moment she felt as if she -would have been grateful for the earth to open -and swallow her up. She was appalled at the -blackness of the gulf to the edge of which her -husband had just dragged her. What should -she do? Whither should she turn? To whom -should she look for help? Alas! in all the wide -world there was no one who could help her—least -of all the man whose strong protecting love -had seemed but yesterday as though it were able -to shield her from every harm.</p> - -<p>‘I am in the coils of a Python that will -slowly but surely strangle me,’ she said. ‘Yes—death -alone can release me. And only yesterday -I was so happy! If I could but have died at -the moment Harold pressed his lips to mine! -Why does he not come? I must tell him -everything—everything. And after that?’ She -shuddered, and rose to her feet. ‘And he loves -me so much!’ she said with a heart-broken sigh. -‘Poor Harold! Poor Harold!’</p> - -<p>Scarcely conscious of what she was doing, she -turned and took the same path that she had -taken before when she went to watch for Colonel -Woodruffe’s coming up the valley. Her one -burning desire now was to see him; beyond that, -her mind at present refused to go.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>‘I am afraid that as an ambassador the colonel -was a failure.’</p> - -<p>The speaker was Mr Etheridge, and it was to -Clarice Loraine that his remark was addressed.</p> - -<p>Mr Etheridge had had pointed out to him -and had duly admired the view so much extolled -by the young girl, and the two were now slowly -sauntering back to their starting-point. By this -time Clarice felt herself quite at ease with her -companion, so much so, indeed, that in her -prettily confidential way she had told him all -about how Archie and she became acquainted, -how they grew to love each other, how Archie -proposed and was accepted, and how surprised -they all were afterwards to find that he was a -baronet’s son. Then she went on to tell him -of Archie’s letter to his father, the first result of -which was Colonel Woodruffe’s visit at the vicarage.</p> - -<p>‘Well, and what happened after the colonel’s -visit?’ continued Mr Etheridge.</p> - -<p>‘Archie wrote again, twice; but there came -no answer till yesterday, when he received the -telegram which summoned him to meet his father -in London.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_746">{746}</span></p> - -<p>‘Supposing Sir William should refuse his -consent, what would the result be in that -case?’</p> - -<p>‘That is more than I can tell,’ she answered -with a little trembling of her lips. ‘But before -Archie left us, my sister told him that he went -away a free man—that if his father were -opposed to the marriage, we should look upon -his promise as if it had never been given; and -that if we never saw him again, we should -know the reason why, and never blame him in -our thoughts.’</p> - -<p>‘And you agreed with what your sister said?’</p> - -<p>‘With every word of it.’</p> - -<p>‘That was very brave of you. But what had -Mr Archie to say to such an arrangement?’</p> - -<p>‘He laughed it to scorn. He said he would -do all that lay in his power to win his father’s -consent, but that—that’——</p> - -<p>‘In any case, he would hold you to your -promise, and come back and claim you for his -wife? Mr Archie would find himself a very -poor man if Sir William were to cut off his -allowance.’</p> - -<p>‘That is a prospect which does not seem to -frighten him in the least.’</p> - -<p>‘But doubtless it would not be without its -effect upon you, Miss Loraine. You would -hardly care to tie yourself for life to a -pauper.’</p> - -<p>‘O Mr Etheridge, what a strange opinion -you must have formed of me! I would marry -Archie if he had not a sovereign to call his -own.’</p> - -<p>‘The charming imprudence of a girl in love. -Then you would marry him in opposition to his -father’s wishes?’</p> - -<p>‘Now you ask me a question that I cannot -answer. That, and that only, would cause me -to hesitate.’</p> - -<p>‘Why should the wishes of a selfish valetudinarian—of -a man whom you have never seen—cause -you to hesitate, or be allowed to come -between you and the happiness of your life?’</p> - -<p>‘Ah! but could I ever be really happy with -the knowledge for ever in my mind that I had -been the cause of separating a father from his -son, and that by becoming Archie’s wife I had -blighted the fairest prospects of his life? And -then, perhaps—who can tell?—after a time he -might become a little tired of me—men do -sometimes tire of their wives, don’t they?—and -then he might begin to remember and -regret all that he had sacrificed in marrying -me; and that, I think, would nearly break my -heart.’</p> - -<p>The old man laid his hand caressingly on her -arm for a moment. ‘Well, well, we must hope -for the best,’ he said. ‘We must hope that Sir -William will not prove a very flinty-hearted -papa.’</p> - -<p>She smiled up gratefully in his face. ‘Tell -me, Mr Etheridge, is Sir William a very terrible -person to have to do with?’</p> - -<p>He broke into a little laugh. ‘Terrible, miss? -No; hardly that, I think; but eccentric, if you -please. The fact is that Sir William is one of -those men of whom it can never be predicated -with certainty what view he will take, or what -conclusion he will arrive at, with regard to any -matter that may be brought before him. He -has an obnoxious habit of thinking and deciding -for himself, and is seldom led by the opinions -of others. Yes, undoubtedly Sir William is a -very eccentric man.’</p> - -<p>They had got back to the bridge by this -time. ‘Why, I declare, yonder comes Colonel -Woodruffe!’ exclaimed Clarice. ‘I am <i>so</i> pleased—and -so will Mora be.’</p> - -<p>‘Evidently the colonel is a favourite,’ said Mr -Etheridge drily.</p> - -<p>‘Of course he is. Everybody likes Colonel -Woodruffe. But probably you know him already, -Mr Etheridge?’</p> - -<p>‘I have met him occasionally at Sir William’s -house. I have no doubt he would remember -me if you were to mention my name.’</p> - -<p>‘I will go and speak to him, if you will excuse -me for a few moments.’</p> - -<p>Clarice sped quickly across the bridge. Mr -Etheridge sat down on the parapet and fanned -himself with his hat.</p> - -<p>The colonel, who had been gazing round him -in some perplexity, hurried forward the moment -he perceived Miss Loraine.</p> - -<p>‘Good-morning, Colonel Woodruffe,’ said the -girl as she held out her hand. ‘I am delighted -to find that you have discovered us.’</p> - -<p>‘Your sister told me that you were all to be -at High Ghyll to-day, so I have driven round -in search of you. But where are the rest of -the party?’</p> - -<p>‘Gone in search of the picturesque, I have no -doubt. Mora was here a little while ago; and -see’—pointing with her finger—‘yonder are her -sketch-book and shawl, so that she cannot be -far away.’</p> - -<p>The colonel had been gazing over Clarice’s -shoulder at Mr Etheridge. ‘Whom have you -yonder?’ he asked. ‘I seem to know his face.’</p> - -<p>‘Such a dear old gentleman!—Mr Etheridge, -Sir William Ridsdale’s secretary.’</p> - -<p>‘Sir William Ridsdale’s secretary!’ echoed the -colonel with an air of stupefaction.</p> - -<p>‘Yes; he recognised you the moment he saw -you. He says that he has met you occasionally -at Sir William’s house.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, indeed! But what has brought him here, -may I ask?’</p> - -<p>‘He has come all the way from Spa with a -letter for Archie from his father. But when he -reached here this morning, he found that Archie -had been telegraphed for last evening to meet -his father in London.—It seems very strange, -doesn’t it? But then, as Mr Etheridge says, Sir -William is a very eccentric man.’</p> - -<p>‘Very eccentric, indeed,’ responded the colonel -absently.</p> - -<p>‘So that of course accounts for it.—But yonder -comes Mora.’</p> - -<p>The colonel turned eagerly. ‘Then, with your -permission, I will leave you to Mr Etheridge.’</p> - -<p>‘We shall see you at luncheon, of course?’</p> - -<p>‘You may rely upon me not to miss that,’ -answered the colonel with a laugh.</p> - -<p>Clarice kissed her hand to her sister, and then -went back to Mr Etheridge. She wanted to -afford the colonel an opportunity for a <i>tête-à-tête</i> -with Mora, so she at once proposed another ramble -to Mr Etheridge, who assented with alacrity.</p> - -<p>The moment Colonel Woodruffe drew near Mora -De Vigne, he saw that something was amiss.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_747">{747}</span> -She looked an altogether different woman from -her whom he had parted from only a few hours -before with a tender light of love and happiness -in her eyes. His heart misgave him as he walked -up to her.</p> - -<p>‘What has happened?’ he asked in anxious -tones as he took her hand. ‘What has wrought -this change in you? Your hand is like ice.’</p> - -<p>She gazed up into his face for a moment or -two without speaking, with a dumb, pitiful wistfulness -in her eyes, that affected him strangely. -Then she said: ‘Why did you not read the -letter which I gave you last evening?’</p> - -<p>He gazed at her for a moment. ‘You know -my reasons for not reading it. But why do you -ask that now?’</p> - -<p>‘Because, if you had read it, you would have -saved me from having to tell so much to-day, -which, in that case, you would have known -yesterday.’</p> - -<p>‘Pardon me, but you speak in enigmas.’</p> - -<p>‘You have read of earthquakes, although you -may never have felt the shock of one. One -minute all is fair, bright, and beautiful; the next, -there is nothing but ruin, disaster, and death. -Since I saw you yesterday, the foundations of -my life, which I thought nothing could ever -shake more, have crumbled into utter ruin around -me.’</p> - -<p>‘How can that be, while I am here to guard -and cherish you? Yesterday, you gave me your -love—your life. What power on earth can tear -them from me?’</p> - -<p>‘Ah me! Listen, and you shall learn.’</p> - -<p>She sat for a few moments with bent head, -as if scarcely knowing how to begin. The -colonel was standing a little way from her, one -of his arms twined round the slender stem of a -sapling.</p> - -<p>‘What I am about to tell you is the life-story -of a most unhappy woman,’ she said, lifting her -head and gazing sadly into his eyes. ‘My father -was an Englishman, who was engaged for many -years in business near Paris. I was educated -in a convent, as girls are educated in France. -I had left the convent about a year, and was -keeping my father’s house—my mother having -died meanwhile, and my sister being away at -school—when a certain Monsieur Laroche became -a frequent visitor. Before long, my father told -me that his affairs were deeply involved. Laroche -was the only man who could or would save -him, and that only on condition that I became -his wife. I was little more than a child in -worldly knowledge; I knew that in France the -question of a girl’s marriage is always settled -by her parents; so, although I already detested -the man, I yielded to my father’s entreaties, and -became Madame Laroche. Within a year, my -father died—by his own hand.’</p> - -<p>‘My poor Mora!’</p> - -<p>‘Whatever wreck of property he left behind, -my husband contrived to obtain possession of. -But before that time, I knew him to be an -inveterate gambler, and worse! Of my life at -that time I care not now to speak. Can there -be many such men as he in the world—such -tigers in human form? I hope not.</p> - -<p>‘Some time after, when my life had become -a burden almost greater than I could bear, there -came news of the death of my godmother, and -that she had left me a legacy of two thousand -pounds. The money had not been six hours in -my possession, before my husband broke open -my bureau and robbed me of the whole of it, -together with my own and my mother’s jewels. -I was left utterly destitute. A few months later -came the war, the siege of Paris, and the famine. -Oh! that terrible time. I often live it over -again in my dreams even now.’</p> - -<p>‘And you have gone through all this!’ said -the colonel.</p> - -<p>‘I had no tidings of my husband till the war -was over,’ resumed Mora. ‘Then came news -indeed. He had been detected cheating at cards—there -had been a quarrel—the lights had been -blown out, and the man who had accused him -had been shot through the heart. My husband -was tried, found guilty, and condemned to a -long term of penal servitude.’</p> - -<p>‘A happy riddance for you and every one,’ -remarked the colonel with a shrug.</p> - -<p>‘I had friends who did not desert me in my -extremity. I gave lessons in English, and so -contrived to live. One day there came an official -notification that my husband was dead. He had -died in prison, and had been buried in a convict’s -grave. Was it wicked to feel glad when I read -the news? If so, then was I wicked indeed.’</p> - -<p>‘No one but a hypocrite could have pretended -to feel otherwise than glad.’</p> - -<p>‘My sister was with me by that time. I never -told her the history of my marriage, and my -husband she had never seen. She knew only -that I had been deserted and was now a widow. -Our quiet life went on for a time, and then, by -the death of an aunt, I came into possession of -a small fortune. I changed my name, as requested -in my aunt’s will, and after a little while Clarice -and I came to England. The rest you know.’</p> - -<p>The colonel looked puzzled. ‘Pardon me,’ he -said, ‘if I fail to see why you have thought it -needful to tell me to-day that which I did not -wish or ask to be enlightened about yesterday.’</p> - -<p>‘I have told you this to-day because yesterday, -a little while after you left me, I saw—my -husband.’</p> - -<p>‘Your husband!—But how’—— He stared -at her as though he could not say another word. -Mora was now the calmer of the two.</p> - -<p>‘The letter which I received five years ago -informing me of his death was sent to me in -error. Another man bearing the same name as -my husband—a <i>déporté</i> like him, had died; and -somehow one convict would seem to have been -mistaken for the other.’</p> - -<p>‘O Mora, Mora, and am I then to lose you!’ -cried the colonel.</p> - -<p>She did not speak; but at that moment all -the anguish of her soul was revealed in her -eyes.</p> - -<p>Involuntarily he moved from the place where -he had been standing and sat down by her -side.</p> - -<p>‘And I love you so dearly!—so dearly!’</p> - -<p>‘And I you!’ she answered scarcely above a -whisper. ‘I may tell you this now—for the last -time.’</p> - -<p>Their hands sought each other, touched and -clasped. In the silence that ensued, the leaves -seemed whispering among themselves of that -which they had just heard; while the stream<span class="pagenum" id="Page_748">{748}</span> -went frothing and fuming on its way like some -wordy egotist who cares for nothing save his own -ceaseless babble.</p> - -<p>‘And this miscreant has tracked you?’ said the -colonel at length.</p> - -<p>‘He was with me but just now. He may -return at any moment.’</p> - -<p>‘Such vermin as he have seldom more than one -thought, one want—Money. I am rich, and -if’——</p> - -<p>Mora shook her head. ‘He wants more than -money.’</p> - -<p>‘Ha!’</p> - -<p>‘You do not know Hector Laroche. As I -said before, he is a tiger in human form. He -loves gold; but he loves still better to have under -his claws a writhing, helpless, palpitating victim, -whom he can torture and play with and toss -to and fro at his pleasure, over whose agonies -he can gloat, and whose heart he can slowly -vivisect and smile while he does it.’</p> - -<p>‘And he would make such a victim of you?’</p> - -<p>‘He has done it once, and he would do it -again. He is now passing under a false name. -What he demands is, that instead of claiming me -as the wife whom he married several years ago, -I shall go through a second form of marriage -with him under the name he is now known by, -and that by such means the dark story of his -former life shall be buried for ever.’</p> - -<p>‘There is no law, human or divine, that can -compel you to accede to so monstrous a demand,’ -exclaimed the colonel in tones resonant with -indignation.</p> - -<p>‘As I said before—you do not know the man. -Should I refuse to accede to his wishes, he -threatens to go to Sir William Ridsdale—for with -his usual diabolical ingenuity, he has found out -all about Clarice’s engagement—and say to him: -“Are you aware that your son is about to marry -a person whose sister is the wife of a <i>déporté</i>—of -a man who has undergone a term of penal -servitude?” And, O Colonel Woodruffe! if he -does that—if he does that, what will become of -my poor Clarice!’</p> - -<p>‘A scheme worthy of the Foul Fiend himself!’ -exclaimed the colonel as he sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p>There was a painful pause. The colonel was -thoroughly taken aback by what he had just -heard. At length he said slowly: ‘Surely—surely -there must be some way of escape.’</p> - -<p>Mora shook her head. ‘I know of none,’ she -answered simply.</p> - -<p>A few moments later, there was a noise of -approaching footsteps. The colonel drew a pace -or two farther away.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHRISTMAS_TREES">CHRISTMAS TREES.</h2> -</div> -<p class="ph3">THEIR SHADY SIDE.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> few words I am about to write upon the -subject of Christmas Trees for children may perhaps -be best illustrated by what originally gave -rise to these remarks—namely, the first festivity of -the kind attended by my own juveniles. It was -given by a friend, whose rooms were narrow in -proportion to the numbers of small people she -expected, and seniors were therefore not included -in the invitations. I was asked, however, to go -on the morning of the party to inspect the tree -when it was set up and loaded with its treasures. -A goodly array they surely formed. Toys of -every kind, most of them very costly; for my -friend had been regardless of expense. He calculated -that eighty pounds would scarcely cover -the outlay upon the articles provided. When I -considered how easy to please in their playthings -children often are; how tenderly the battered -doll or dilapidated horse is sometimes cherished; -how the sixpenny toy with the charm of novelty -upon it, will put out of favour its guinea predecessor—for -children, unlike adults, do not estimate -things because of their money value—I could -not help thinking this was a sad waste of money. -The delicate machinery of those expensive mechanical -toys would also run great risk of being -put out of order or broken among the crowd of -eager children, with no parents present to guard -them from injury. Altogether, the gorgeous -Christmas tree seemed destined to be ‘a thing -of beauty and of joy’ for a very short time -indeed.</p> - -<p>The eventful evening arrived, and great was -the excitement. My small daughter was a pretty -child, and very comely she looked in her dainty -lace-trimmed frock and pink ribbons, when, with -her young brother, she came fluttering into my -boudoir; nurse, proud and pleased, escorting the -pair and carrying their wraps. With true feminine -instinct, the little damsel betook herself -to the tall pier-glass, surveying her finery therein -with much satisfaction. ‘I daresay,’ she said, -turning round after a prolonged gaze, ‘that I -shall be the nicest-dressed little girl at the -party!’</p> - -<p>‘No, indeed—that you won’t,’ promptly interposed -nurse. ‘Don’t you go to think such a -thing, dear. You’ll see, when you get into the -room, there’ll be a-many little ladies just as nice -as yourself, perhaps even nicer.’ Which speech -was a sacrifice of candour on the part of nurse, -who was given to regard her young charge as -being as good as the best, though she felt called -on by duty to nip vanity in the bud.</p> - -<p>The morning after a night’s dissipation is generally -a trying one, when excitement has passed off -and reaction set in. Late hours and hot rooms, -fruits and pastries and unwholesome liquids at -times when healthy slumbers would otherwise -have been the order of the night, are apt to have -a damaging effect upon the temper. The present -occasion was no exception to the rule. My -children were not looking their happiest when -they appeared carrying a load of things which -they laid roughly down and proceeded to turn -over with a listless air.</p> - -<p>‘What lovely toys!’ I exclaimed. It was -truly an <i>embarras de richesses</i>. There were treasures -that, if gradually bestowed, would have -driven the recipients wild with delight. ‘What -fortunate young people you are!’ I added, -examining the glittering heap that they were -surveying so discontentedly. ‘Don’t you think -so?’</p> - -<p>‘The little B——s got much better things!’ -they murmured.</p> - -<p>‘This doll, so beautifully dressed’——</p> - -<p>‘Ah, if you had seen the one Mary got!’ -pouted the little girl, pushing with her foot the -despised doll. ‘It opened and shut its eyes, and -had a pearl necklace and embroidered shoes.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_749">{749}</span> -And Mary was so conceited and disagreeable -about it; and so ill-natured, she’d scarcely let -me look at it. I hate Mary B——!’</p> - -<p>‘You were great friends with her,’ cried the -young brother, ‘until she got that better doll; -and you were just as conceited, too, about your -own, until hers cut it out.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, <i>you</i> needn’t talk, after the way you -behaved to poor little Fred H——. Would you -believe it, mamma? he quarrelled with that poor -child—a little mite of a fellow, not half his size—hustling -and bullying him, and wanting to drag -away his book that he got for a prize.’</p> - -<p>‘No; I did not want to drag it away from -him. Don’t tell stories. ’Twas to be an exchange. -I got a ridiculous toy-horse—a little rubbishy -thing, only fit for a baby like him; and he said -he would take it and give me the book—a lovely -<i>Robinson Crusoe</i>, that he couldn’t read. And then -the stupid little fellow howled when I went to -get it from him.’</p> - -<p>‘And you flew into a rage, and smashed the -toy; and the governess said it was a shame, -and’——</p> - -<p>‘Oh, come!’ I said, interrupting recriminations -that were getting angry, and putting a stop to -the dispute.</p> - -<p>It was not the moment for impressing moral -truths upon the young pair; but while deferring -these to a more fitting opportunity, I made my -own reflections upon Christmas trees in general -and this party in particular.</p> - -<p>It was plain that envy, hatred, and much -uncharitableness had resulted from it—feelings -latent, alas! in our poor human nature, that need -not premature development. Discontent too, and -rivalry and greed were, it would seem from the -nature of the entertainment, liable to be aroused -in childish breasts. So I locked away the disparaged -prizes, until later on, when the satiety -produced by a glut had passed off and envious -comparisons were forgotten.</p> - -<p>We had merry gatherings of small people at -wholesome hours, and happy little feasts, and -games and romps in every-day clothes. But this -was my children’s first—and last—Christmas -Tree.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MISSING_CLUE">THE MISSING CLUE.</h2> -</div> - - -<h3>CHAPTER VI.—HOBB DIPPING BEWILDERED.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">Mine</span> host of the <i>Saxonford Arms</i> sits in his -lonely back-parlour, looking thoughtfully into the -fire, and taking alternate whiffs and pulls from -a clay pipe and a beer-jug which stands on the -table at his elbow. During the past week, no -traveller has entered Hobb Dipping’s ancient -house of entertainment, and the worthy man was -beginning to wonder whether it was within the -bounds of possibility that any one would ever enter -it again. For several days the snow had been -drifting up against his front-door, and for over -a week the howling wind had stormed and beat -against the walls of the old inn. True, the wind -had dropped somewhat during the night; but -Jerry—the man-of-all-work, and old Dipping’s -special informant upon all matters—had reported -that the snow-drift was ‘alarmin’ deep in places;’ -while, if he needed any confirmation of this -statement, he had but to turn his eyes towards -the windows and gaze over the frozen waste -which extended on every side.</p> - -<p>Hobb Dipping was an old man now, and fifteen -years had whitened his hair since the fatal night -when Sir Carnaby Vincent was shot by the military -in his house. The innkeeper’s thoughts had -apparently at this moment been dwelling upon -that catastrophe, for he muttered to himself: ‘Fifteen -years! I shouldn’t ha’ thought it!’ at the -same time looking gloomily at a well-thumbed -scrap of paper which he was turning over between -his fingers. ‘Fifteen years!’ muttered old Dipping, -who was enveloped in a thick volume of -smoke, consequent upon his exertions with the -clay pipe aforesaid—‘fifteen years, an’ no one’s -guessed it yet. Why, what fools we all be!’</p> - -<p>‘Hi, master!’ says Jerry, popping his head in -through the doorway. ‘Here’s a gentleman -come; wants to know if he can be put up for -a night or two.’</p> - -<p>Old Hobb peeped through a little latticed -window into the courtyard, and saw a gentleman -of military aspect sitting motionless in his saddle -amidst a thin cloud of falling snow. It is -Reginald Ainslie.</p> - -<p>‘Why do you keep the gentleman waiting out -there?’ is the indignant exclamation of mine -host, who seems to be endowed with sudden -energy. ‘Put up for a night or two! Of course -he can; for a month, if he likes. Show the -gentleman in, and then go attend to his horse.’</p> - -<p>When the man has disappeared, old Dipping -bustles out of the room to find something to -tie over his head, before he dares to venture -into the cold biting air. On his return, he finds -his visitor has thrown aside his heavy riding-cloak, -and is reclining in an armchair, with -every appearance of fatigue expressed in his -attitude and countenance. Jerry whispers that -the gallant must be right bad, for it was all -he could do to help him out of the saddle. -‘And his nag ain’t much better,’ he goes on. -‘They ha’ come a long bad road this day, I’ll -warrant.’</p> - -<p>Dismissing his vassal hastily, Hobb Dipping -pours out a mug of strong spiced ale, and presents -it to his visitor.</p> - -<p>‘I ask your pardon, sir,’ said the old man, -‘for letting you wait such a while outside; the -snow lies so thick that I did not hear the sound -of your horse’s hoofs.’</p> - -<p>Before honest Dipping could finish his speech, -he was startled by his visitor making a quick -movement and catching eagerly at the scrap of -paper which the landlord had a short while -ago held in his hand, and which, on rising to -receive the traveller, he had laid on the table. -There was a short uncomfortable pause, while -Reginald eagerly turned over the object in his -hand. ‘How did you come by this?’ he at -length gasped out, the tone of his voice expressing -great eagerness and anxiety.</p> - -<p>Hobb Dipping’s first thought was to hollo for -Jerry, having some idea that his strange visitor’s -head must be turned; his second, was to try -and remember where he had placed his spectacles.</p> - -<p>‘My sight is bad, sir,’ he said as he fumbled -in his pockets. ‘I can scarcely make out what -you be askin’ of.’</p> - -<p>‘This—this piece of paper!’ exclaimed Ainslie,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_750">{750}</span> -thrusting forward the identical scrap which old -Hobb had been examining at the time of his -arrival.</p> - -<p>‘It come here by accident, sir,’ answered old -Hobb slowly and unwillingly.</p> - -<p>‘Was left here, eh?’</p> - -<p>‘Just so, sir—it were.’</p> - -<p>‘How long ago?’</p> - -<p>‘Well, sir, it’s something between fifteen and -sixteen year.’</p> - -<p>‘Gracious powers!’ vociferated Ainslie, striking -his fist on the table. ‘I believe the man was -right.’</p> - -<p>The landlord stretched out one hand imploringly -towards his excited visitor.</p> - -<p>‘What now?’ inquired Reginald, who was -vainly endeavouring to peruse the writing with -which the paper was covered.</p> - -<p>‘I want you to give me back that paper, sir.’</p> - -<p>‘Be good enough, landlord, to leave it with -me for the present, and bring me something -to eat!’</p> - -<p>Old Hobb looked wistfully at the scrap of paper -which his visitor was handling, and proceeded to -the larder, with considerable misgiving expressed -on his countenance. When mine host at length -returned, he found his guest a trifle more composed. -Reginald Ainslie was still poring over -the mysterious piece of paper; but it was evident, -from his disappointed mien, that he was -considerably perplexed.</p> - -<p>‘Landlord,’ he said in a low voice, when the -arrangements for his meal were complete, ‘close -the door!’</p> - -<p>Hobb Dipping obeyed, and then stood waiting, -as if for further orders.</p> - -<p>‘Sit down,’ said the lieutenant.</p> - -<p>The landlord seated himself in silence, and -watched his visitor. After a few minutes had -passed in silence, Reginald Ainslie laid down his -knife and fork and leaned back in his chair.</p> - -<p>‘Is your name Dipping?’</p> - -<p>‘It is so, sir.’</p> - -<p>‘Will you please to tell me,’ continued Ainslie, -‘the particulars of how you became possessed of -this scrap of paper?’</p> - -<p>Old Hobb waxed extremely uncomfortable -under the visitor’s fixed gaze; he scratched his -bald skull, looked wistfully round the room, and -then asked in an affrighted whisper: ‘Be you -anything to do with the magistrates, sir?’</p> - -<p>Reginald shook his head.</p> - -<p>‘If you’re not, sir,’ went on the landlord, -evidently very much relieved, ‘would you mind -first letting me know your reason for askin’ those -questions?’</p> - -<p>‘My reason for asking them,’ answered -Reginald, ‘is because your reply may prove to -be of serious importance to me. I have ridden -a long way, a very long way, and solely on purpose -to communicate with the landlord of this -inn upon a subject which may prove the means -of benefiting us both.—Do you remember a -gentleman named Sir Carnaby Vincent?’</p> - -<p>Hobb started a little at the abruptness of the -question, but answered: ‘Ay, sir, that I do. -And haven’t I good cause to remember him? -That bit of paper, sir, I have always fancied -belonged to the poor gentleman. I found it -on the stairs while the red-coats were searchin’ -his room; they must ha’ passed it somehow.’</p> - -<p>‘That was on the night when he was shot -here—was it not?’</p> - -<p>‘You seem to know pretty much about it, sir,’ -remarked the host, with an inquisitive look. ‘I -ain’t going to deny the fact; it did happen on -that night. But excuse me being so bold, sir; -you must have been quite a young chap at that -time; you can’t recollect it, surely?’</p> - -<p>‘I remember nothing about the matter myself,’ -replied Ainslie, ‘nor have I been in this part -before. But Sir Carnaby’s attempted escape, and -the fatal result, were officially reported to the -government and to his friends. You think that -this scrap of writing belonged to Sir Carnaby -Vincent?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, sir; though I didn’t know his name -till I learned it from the soldiers, after all was -over.’</p> - -<p>‘Why did you not deliver this up to them, -when you discovered it on the stairs?’</p> - -<p>‘Well, you see, sir, it was like this,’ replied -old Hobb unwillingly. ‘I was sorry for the -poor gentleman, besides being angry with the -soldiers. But little they cared about that. So -I thought as how I’d just keep it to myself, -in case the man-servant who got off should -venture here again. Thinks I: “I’ll give it -up to him, and disappoint the other parties a -bit for what they’ve done in my house.”—I -hope your honour won’t inform against me!’ -suddenly exclaimed the old man, who began to -have an idea that he was disclosing somewhat -more than was prudent to a total stranger.</p> - -<p>‘My intentions are quite the opposite, I assure -you,’ said Reginald, eager to set his informant’s -mind at rest. ‘Go on; pray, do not stop.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, sir,’ resumed Dipping, ‘as I said, I kept -the paper, thinking that I might chance to drop -across the man-servant. But though one of the -labourers spoke to him that morning, I never -see him again; and here I have been keeping -this bit of writin’ over fifteen year without being -able to make out what it means or anything -about it. I should ha’ burnt it soon, I fancy.’</p> - -<p>‘Burnt it!’ exclaimed Reginald. ‘What madness!’</p> - -<p>‘Can you read it, sir?’ inquired old Hobb in -a curious tone.</p> - -<p>‘Read it! No, I cannot; worse luck. Chinese -looks quite easy compared with the jumble of -letters which are set down upon this scrap of -paper.—Has any one seen it besides myself?’</p> - -<p>‘Only one or two persons, sir,’ answered -Dipping—‘I didn’t want the tale to get abroad—an’ -when they see it, they turned it over just -the same as you’re a-doing now: they none of -’em could make it out.’</p> - -<p>‘What became of the other papers?’ suddenly -demanded Ainslie, looking up, and desisting from -the occupation of gnawing his thumb-nail.</p> - -<p>‘There were none others as I know of, sir,’ -replied old Dipping. ‘A pair of saddle-bags, I -think, was took—my memory ain’t quite so good -as it used to be. But this I do know for certain—there -were no papers found except this one -little bit. The soldiers swore hard, and said -that the man who got off had taken ’em with -him.’</p> - -<p>‘Did it never occur to you that the attendant -acted most strangely on that occasion?’ asked -Ainslie.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_751">{751}</span></p> - -<p>‘Ay, sir, I have thought of that many a time,’ -answered mine host, scratching his head. ‘It -was a queer thing for him to do—to be sure it -was. The man certainly was not running away -cowardly-like, to leave his master in the lurch; -he would never have hampered himself with the -other horse in the way he did, and then go and -cut his way through the middle of the redcoats. -He might have got off t’ other way through the -village without riskin’ his blessed neck. It’s my -opinion, sir, an’ always was, that he did it to -take the fire off on himself, while Sir Carnaby -got away over Long Fen on foot. Very creditable -it must ha’ been on him, sir; an’ had he -drawn the redcoats away for a few minutes -longer, the poor gentleman would have been -clean away. He was nearly down at the foot -of the stairs when they challenged him. It being -dark, and getting no answer back, they blazed -away. I let the soldiers in myself, or they -would have beat the door down. But when -they called out they would fire at the gentleman -if he did not speak, I yelled to ’em not to do -murder in my house. But it were too late,’ -said old Hobb, sternly knitting his brows—‘it -were too late. God help me! what could I do? -I couldn’t stop it.’</p> - -<p>‘It was no fault of yours, my man!’ said -Ainslie, seeing that the old fellow faltered; ‘and -do not imagine for an instant that you will get -into any trouble by telling me all this. To set -your mind easy on that score, I may as well -inform you at once that Sir Carnaby Vincent, -who so unfortunately lost his life here, was my -uncle.’ Reginald paused for a moment to watch -the effect which this announcement had upon -his listener, and then went on once more. -‘The affair,’ said he, ‘which brings me here -is of the greatest secrecy, and whatever consequences -may result from my taking this step, -I strictly require of you that no word of it -shall ever be mentioned hereafter.’</p> - -<p>‘Trust me for that, sir,’ returned the landlord: -‘it shall never pass my lips to any -one.’</p> - -<p>Directing mine host to draw his chair nearer -to the fire, Reginald Ainslie commenced a narration -which is sufficiently long to warrant its -being the subject of another chapter.</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER VII.—REGINALD’S STORY.</h3> - -<p>‘My father,’ said the lieutenant, ‘was a gentleman -of great property, and a close friendship -existed between him and the brother of his wife—Sir -Carnaby, to wit. They became mixed up with -a discontented body of people named Jacobites; -and a short time before the unhappy affair -which we have been talking about, two warrants -were issued for their apprehension. My father -was seized at once; but Sir Carnaby Vincent -contrived to make his escape for a time, till -at length he closed his flight at this place. -You know what happened when he and his -servant arrived here; they were surprised by a -party of military, who had received notice of -their movements; and my uncle was shot dead. -His attendant fortunately escaped, and returned, -after a short time had elapsed, to our family -with the sad news. The proceedings against -my father, Sir Henry Ainslie, were suspended -through want of sufficient evidence, and he was -allowed to come back to his home, only to die -shortly afterwards, broken both in spirits and -in circumstances. Before his death, he made -an appalling disclosure to my mother, the sum -of it being this—that, trusting to the ultimate -success of the revolution which he had been -hoping to raise, both he and Sir Carnaby had -heavily mortgaged their estates, and placed all -their available money at the service of the king -that was to be. Where this large amount had -been placed, or to whom it had been intrusted, -it is now impossible to say, for my father -breathed his last ere he could impart any additional -information. The consequences of this act -proved most disastrous. Our mansion and estates -were immediately seized upon; and beyond a -small income which my mother possessed in her -own right, we were left with scarcely any means -of support. From the scanty information we -could gather from Sir Carnaby’s attendant, it was -considered not at all improbable that the disposal -of this wealth had been intrusted to his master; -and subsequent inquiries proved that he had -actually taken with him in his flight a number -of valuable papers and documents. What these -papers referred to, it is equally impossible to say; -but there has always existed among us a strong -impression that they related to the immense -sum which had been advanced upon the family -estates.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, sir,’ exclaimed old Hobb, when the -narrative had arrived at this stage, ‘you don’t -suppose that the gentleman brought all that lump -of money here?’</p> - -<p>‘Not the money exactly,’ answered Reginald, -smiling. ‘I don’t credit my plotting relative with -being such a fool as to carry that about with -him.’</p> - -<p>‘The soldiers found but little in them saddle-bags, -an’ he brought nought else with him; I -can swear to that,’ said Dipping obstinately.</p> - -<p>‘My good man,’ returned Ainslie, ‘the documents -I refer to might have been carried about -his person.’</p> - -<p>‘Nothin’ was found on the body when it was -searched, before being buried; I remember that -right enough, sir,’ persisted old Hobb.</p> - -<p>‘That is the very point I wished to come to,’ -said the lieutenant triumphantly. ‘You are sure -that no papers of any kind were discovered on his -person?’</p> - -<p>‘Quite sure, sir,’ replied Dipping emphatically.</p> - -<p>‘Then just listen to what I have to say,’ continued -Reginald, speaking in an impressive voice -and fixing his eyes upon the landlord’s countenance. -‘The man-servant who accompanied Sir -Carnaby to this place swears that his master corresponded -with no single person during his flight; -moreover, that he handled the saddle-bags you -have just now been speaking of, several times, -and remembers to have noticed that one of them -contained a small black box.’</p> - -<p>The wondering expression on old Hobb’s face -had considerably increased by this time.</p> - -<p>‘We have now got to a critical point in my -story,’ continued the lieutenant. ‘Derrick—the -man who accompanied Sir Carnaby hither—told -me he was the first to hear the sound of the -approaching military, and that, being apprehensive -of danger, he stole along the gallery with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_752">{752}</span> -the intention of waking his master. When Sir -Carnaby opened the door of his room, the man -was surprised to find him fully dressed. Hurried -as their conference must have been, Derrick -was sharp enough to notice that his master -had been using some sort of a knife, and that -the black box which he had before seen that night -on the table, had now disappeared, and that -the saddle-bags were empty. However, all persuasion -could not induce my unfortunate relative -to flee, which in itself appears to be very -strange. He told his attendant that he would -follow him if he would take the horses to -the place agreed upon—that more lives than -his own depended upon his not leaving the -place at once, and several other things equally -incomprehensible. Derrick at last unwillingly -consented to obey his instructions, and left the -house, wondering much at his master’s conduct. -The two, as you know, never met again.—This -man,’ resumed Ainslie, after a pause—‘this -man, Derrick, always expressed a belief—a -strange one, truly—that Sir Carnaby was so -anxious for the safety of the contents of that -precious saddle-bag, that he would not retire to -rest until he had placed it in a secure hiding-place. -He might possibly have just been concluding -his task as the attendant arrived at his -door with the alarming news; at any rate, it -seems not at all unlikely that his object in -sending the man to a rendezvous was in order -to gain time, while he made a desperate attempt -to unearth again this mysterious box prior to -escaping from the inn with it. Or, it is quite -possible that my uncle, being startled by the -report of firearms, resolved to let this precious -property, which would implicate so many persons, -remain in its place of concealment, trusting, in -the event of his escape, to return and secure it -once more.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you mean to say that the gentleman -hid it in this very house?’ gasped the landlord, -with considerable astonishment depicted on his -countenance.</p> - -<p>‘That is what I think.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, well!’ exclaimed the old man, ‘to -think that I should ha’ slept an’ eaten an’ drunk -within them blessed walls for fifteen year, with—who -knows—half a million of property hidden -about the place unbeknown to me! Suppose -there had been a fire, sir.’</p> - -<p>‘It is fortunate there has not been one,’ replied -Reginald.</p> - -<p>‘Am I to understand that you wish to search -the house?’ inquired old Hobb, whose imagination -was fired with a variety of wild speculations, -among which the probable discovery of a -strong case of bullion figured not the least conspicuously.</p> - -<p>‘The whole house!—certainly not,’ answered -Reginald with a faint smile. ‘I am afraid that -would waste too much valuable time. What I -want first is a bed for the night.’</p> - -<p>‘There’s the room which Sir Carnaby himself -had: your honour wouldn’t have no objection -to that?’</p> - -<p>‘Certainly not,’ said Ainslie. ‘The knowledge -that the room has some unpleasant circumstances -connected with it will not affect me in the least. -I shall sleep as soundly in that apartment as in -any other.’</p> - -<p>‘Very good, sir.’ And mine host was about -to leave the apartment, when his visitor arrested -him. ‘One word more, Mr Dipping.’</p> - -<p>‘Certainly, sir.’</p> - -<p>‘I have placed complete confidence in you,’ -said Ainslie, ‘and have intrusted to your keeping -a secret, the importance of which you must be -well aware of. I wish you to guard it carefully. -You have kept <i>that</i> secret fairly enough,’ pointing -to the scrap of writing; ‘try if you cannot -keep this one too.—Do you understand?’</p> - -<p>The landlord intimated that he would do as -his visitor wished, and then departed, leaving -Reginald to digest such thoughts as this conversation -had called up.</p> - -<p>The twilight was by this time gray, and very -little light remained, while a few solitary objects -that could be seen through the dimmed glass in -the old casements, looked shadowy and opaque. -With the exception of one small lamp, which -Hobb Dipping had placed upon the table, the -room was but imperfectly lighted by the flickering -fire. Outside, the snow was silently falling, -not thickly, but in large steady flakes. The -wind had dropped, and with it the whirling drift, -while the old walls of the <i>Saxonford Arms</i> had -ceased to groan and creak.</p> - -<p>‘Sir,’ said Hobb, reappearing once more, ‘the -room’s ready. Shall I show you the way?’</p> - -<p>Reginald motioned to the landlord to lead on, -and they passed out together into a dark draughty -passage.</p> - -<p>‘This here’s the staircase, sir,’ remarked old -Dipping, who was in advance, bearing the light; -‘and that be the very place where the poor -gentleman fell.’</p> - -<p>The landing before them was lighted by a gray -ghostly window, which faded into insignificance -on the approach of the landlord’s yellow, flaring -lamp. When this apparition was passed, there -came three shallow steps up, then a short dusky -gallery, and Reginald Ainslie found himself in -the room with which his departed relative had -had so mysterious a connection.</p> - -<p>‘This, sir,’ said old Hobb, extending his right -hand somewhat after the manner of a travelling -showman—‘this, sir, is Sir Carnaby’s room.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, landlord,’ said Reginald, ‘I think I -need detain you no longer.’</p> - -<p>Bidding mine host good-night, Ainslie carefully -fastened the door, and then sat down before the -fire, to ponder over his strange situation, ere -consigning himself to rest for the night.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="WOUNDER_AND_HEALER">WOUNDER AND HEALER.</h2> -</div> -<p class="ph3">(THE IDEA TAKEN FROM AGOUB’S TRANSLATION OF AN -ARABIC SONG.)</p> - - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0"><span class="smcap">Thy</span> witching look is like a two-edged sword</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To pierce his heart by whom thou art surveyed;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Thy rosy lips the precious balm afford</div> - <div class="verse indent2">To heal the wound thy keen-edged sword has made.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">I am its victim; I have felt the steel;</div> - <div class="verse indent2">My heart now rankles with the smarting pain;</div> - <div class="verse indent0">Give me thy lips the bitter wound to heal—</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Thy lips to kiss, and I am whole again.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse right"><span class="smcap">Daphnis.</span></div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="center">Printed and Published by <span class="smcap">W. & R. Chambers</span>, 47 Paternoster -Row, <span class="smcap">London</span>, and 339 High Street, <span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved.</i></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p>[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text.</p> - -<p>Page 750: Hobbs to Hobb—“answered old Hobb slowly”.]</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 47, VOL. 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