'Thanksmy dear fellow,' she said. 'We all know what your "slight assistance" amounts to in such cases. Too mean of you to come! And Hazel has not had one bit of fun yet this whole day.'
'What have you been doing to her?'
'It's a wicked shame,' Kitty went on. 'And Sir Henry coming and everybody. I was going to take out Mr. Falkirkit's leap year, you know; and he might be short of partners,' said Miss Fisher, prudently dropping her voice at this point.
'What is a shame, if you please?'
'For you to walk in and play marplot.'
'Let me walk you off instead, and be useful. You can explain to me your plans as we go.'
'I can help you to find the brown eyes, poor things!' said Kitty. 'Well, they do lots of mischief when you're not by,that's one comfort.'
Through the bright woodland, from group to group of chestnutters, the gentleman and the young lady went. The scene was pretty and lively, but Wych Hazel was not with any of the groups; having in fact escaped from her admirers into the deeper shadow of trees that did not bear chestnuts. At last Miss Fisher's curiosity waked up. Bidding her companion keep watch where he was, in a shadowy corner of red oaks and purple ashes, she ran off, "to beat the bush," as she said; and hardly were her footsteps out of hearing, before lighter ones came through the wood, and Hazel's white dress gleamed out among the colours. She was walking slowly, quite alone, the brilliant fingers twisted together in some knot of a puzzle; but even as Rollo looked from his corner still other steps were heard, and another lady and another gentleman came on the scene.
'O here she is!' cried Miss Burr. 'Et toute seuleby all that's lucky. Here fair lady, I've brought you an escort. I knew Sir Henry Crofton might come without being invited.' And Miss Burr, conscious that she had done a bright thing, walked off to find an escort for herself. Then ensued a peculiar little scene.
The gentleman advanced eagerly, holding out his hand. And Wych Hazel, taking not the least seeming notice, stopped short in her walk, and leaning back against one of the red oaks began to fit on her gloves with the utmost deliberation.
'Sir Henry Crofton knew,' she remarked, 'that it was the only possible way in which he could come.'
'You have not forgiven me!' said the young man with much mortification.
'No,' said Wych Hazel. 'I think I have not.'
Sir Henry was silent, watching the hands and the sparkling fingers, and the gloves that went on so ruthlessly. Then burst forth with words, low spoken and impetuous, which Rollo did not hear. Hazel interrupted him.
'I said I had not forgiven you,' she said. 'I will forget youif you will give me chance. That may answer as well.'
'Forget!' the young man said bitterly,'I shall never forgetyou!' but he turned off abruptly and left her; and Hazel came slowly forward, with a troubled face.
'Are you "due" anywhere?' said Rollo, suddenly standing, or walking, at her side.
'_You!_yes, I am due everywhere, at this precise moment.'
'Exceptto me, that means.'
'Your notes are not payable till afternoon. And if I do not go and end the morning comfortably with luncheon, afternoon will never come. See what it is to have a logical head.'
Hazel paused and took her former position against a tree stem, leaning back as if she was tired.
'I should like to leave the whole thing on your hands,' she said, 'and then I could lose myself comfortably in the woods, and when everybody was gone you could come and find me. No, that would not do, either' She roused herself and walked on. 'There is nothing for it to-day but to go straight through. I think people are all bewitched and beside themselves!'
He laughed at her a little, and let her go with a consoling assurance that they "would soon end all that." And as the day was wearing on, and the pleasure of such pleasure-seekers as then filled Wych Hazel's woods was especially variety, they were very ready to quit the chestnuts and saunter up to the house; in hope of the luncheon which there awaited them. Mrs. Bywank knew her business; and the guests knew, not that, but the fact that somebody knew it and that the luncheons at Chickaree were pleasant times and very desirable. So there was soon a universal drawing towards the hill top, from all the forsaken chestnut trees, which were left by no means despoiled of their harvest. They had served their turn; now came the turn of patties and cold meats and jellies and ices and fruits. The gathering was rather large; larger than it had shewn for in the woods. The Chickaree house was full and running over; and chestnutters were found to have fearful appetites; and flirtations took new life and vivacity in the new atmosphere; and the whole of it was, people would not go away. Not only Wych Hazel but both her guardians had sharp work for hour after hour attending to the wants and the pleasure of the guests; who at last, when the day was waning, and not till then, slowly made up their minds to take their departure, and one by one took leave of their hostess with thanks and flatteries expressive of highest gratification and admiring delight. Party after party Dane saw to their carriages and bowed off; the house was emptied at last; Mr. Falkirk had betaken himself to the seclusion of his cottage already some time before; and when the afternoon was really darkening, enough to make the glow of the fires within tell in ruddy cheer upon walls and curtains, Dane left the hall door and the latest departure and went into the house to find Wych Hazel and get his "notes" paid.
The door of the red room stood open now, and the room was filled with firelight which came streaming out into the hall to usher him in. Hazel was down before the fire, sending persuasive puffs from her bellows into the very depths of the coals.
'What is left of you?' said Dane coming and taking the bellows from her hand.
'Much more than you are aware of. Have some chestnuts?just for variety,'and Hazel took from her pocket and poured into his hand her collection of extra specimens. Then quietly slipping from her fingers all the disguising rings she dropped them one by one into the empty pocket, until the emerald was left alone.
'Good fruit'said Dane viewing the big chestnuts.
'I have been saving them up for you all day. You know I could not always help taking them.'
'Do you mean that people have been paying tribute to you in your own chestnuts?'
'Having nothing of their own that I would touch.'
'In the meanwhile, what besides have you touched? I want to know.'
'Never mindwe will have tea by and by. Dr. Maryland said you were to wait here for himor for a message. Whichever came first, I suppose.'
'I am not going to wait here for him,'said Dane, ringing the bell.'Will this bring Dingee?'
'No,' said Hazel laughing; 'that will bring Phoebe. Dingee acknowledges nothing but my whistle.'
'Where is that?'
'Here'touching the little gold toy at her belt. 'But you do not know how to blow it, Mr. Rollo.'
Dane lifted the trinket and examined it, and then remarking that 'a whistle is a whistle,' put his lips to it and made the call sound loud and clear through the house.
'What do you want?' said Hazel laughing at him. 'Dingee will know better than to think me responsible for that. Tell me what you want, and I will obey ordersas usual.'
'Dingee will know better than to think anybody else has blown your whistle. Dingee!'as the boy appeared,'go and say to Mrs. Bywank, with my compliments, that your mistress has had nothing to eat all day, except chestnuts. I think she will know what to do.'
Dingee took in the situation and went off with a flourish.
'Did you see John Charteris here to-day?' Hazel said suddenly.
'I think he crossed my line of vision,' said Dane carelessly.
'Well I did not ask him.'
'What then?' said Rollo looking amused at her.
'I did not want you should think that I would.' And Hazel, full of her own successful schemes in the mill business, smiled down upon the fire a whole sweet fund of triumph and delight, to which not only lips but eyes bore witness. Still looking amused, but with a great tenderness coming upon that, Rollo considered her.
'It is beyond the power of John Charteris to give me any uneasiness,' he said. 'And you are forgetting my emerald, Hazel.'
'I? What? Forgetting?'
'Forgetting what it means. Hazelwhat is your ideal of a wedding?'
Rollo was drawing one of Hazel's brown curls through his fingers and spoke in the coolest manner of abstract speculation. But the question came too close upon emeralds not to call up a vivid start of colour. As soon as she could, Hazel answered that 'as she had none, it was impossible to tell.'
'Let me state mine,' said Rollo. 'It may be useful to find out whether we think alike. In the first place, then, as to the scene of action.The main thing is, to be where a large number of people can see us, and where we shall make part of an imposing picture. I can think of nothing better, in this country, than the Capitol of Washington. That would be showy, and central. I have no doubt it could be obtained for the occasion. I cannot think of any place more public or more demonstrative; can you?'
'Well?' said Hazel, stifling a laugh, for Dane's face was perfectly grave.
'We should of course in that case invite the Senate and House ofRepresentatives, and give a cold collation to the city ofWashington. With your money and mine, we could not well doless.'
' "We" is rather superfluous.'
'How so?' very innocently.
'Never mind now; go on.'
'You approve, so far?' enquired Rollo, with dangerous demureness in the wise gray eyes.
'O I have nothing to do with the matter,' said Hazel. 'It isyourimagination that has slipped its bridle, and I am simply curious to see where it will bring up.'
'I don't know myself,' said Rollo. 'I am trying to fancy what the presents will be. Of course, since we ask the Senate and House of Representatives to the wedding, every man of them will send you a piece of plate; probably the majority of them will be teakettles. As I do not drink tea, it hardly concerns me much; but they will be very convenient for you. The arrangement of them for inspection is a matter of some difficulty;I would suggest a pyramidal scaffolding on which they might be all disposed with very striking effect; indeed if it were done cleverly I conceive it might be possible to give the impression of a solid pyramid of teakettles; which would be imposing. The Hall of Representatives would be a good place, I should think; allowing of an effective display of the bronze statuettes which will probably accompany the teakettles. Every giver's name, of course, is to be appended to his own piece of plate; so that it can be seen at a glance who has given most; and then with the income tax reports in your hand, you can see whooughtto have given most. I think all New York would be there. Be a good thing for the railway companies!'
Wych Hazel laughed a little bit, but she was too shy of the subject and too conscious of hot cheeks, to enter upon it very freely.
'There is one thing you have forgotten,' she said. 'Your "ideal" is not complete, Mr. Rollo.'
'What do you suggest?'
'An ideal woman. I am waiting for that.'
'Did you think I was going to have a wedding without a bride?'
'Wellcan you match the colours? You have put in the teakettles rather strong.'
'I hope they'll be strong,' said Dane, 'if they are anything. If there is anything I don't like, it is weak ware.'
Hazel was silent, looking rather intently into the fire.
'I think I have mentioned everything except the bride's dress and the wedding journey. And the first subject I feel myself incompetent to approach. In general, the main thing is that it should gratify curiosity and be somehow in advance of anything of the kind ever worn before. Is not that the great point?'
'Did you ever set Prim to talk to me about my dress?' said Hazel, facing round upon him with a wide change of subject in her own mind. Dane, with his own still before him, laughed and said no; and then asked with some curiosity why she enquired?'
'I was afraid you had,that is all.'
'That is a little too much. I never set other people to do my work.'
He could see a gleam of pleasure cross her face, but she only said quietly, 'I am glad.'
'What did Prim say to you?'
'O it was some time agothe night we were in Norway together. Prim asked me what I was going to "do" about dress. And to this day I do not know what she meant.'
'Your wedding dress?'
'Ah be quiet!' said Hazel. 'I am talking sense. Is your imagination too exhausted to bring you back to the land of reality?'
'I am speaking the most commonplace sense I possess. If Prim was not referring to your wedding dress, what did she mean?'
'That is just what I do not quite know. Prim asked that all of a sudden, and I said, I did not know what she meant by "do;" and she said "manage;" and I said I never managed. And then she saidat least asked'
'What?' said Dane, a trifle imperatively.
'Whether I thought you would like to have me dress as I do,'saidHazel in a low voice.
The gray eyes took quick account of several items in the little lady's attire, then turned away; and Dane remarked that 'Prim had meant no harm.'
'No, not a bit. But it puzzled me,and I looked down at my dress, justas you did now. And Prim said, of course she did not mean what I worethen, but that I always dressed so beautifully. And then I thought,' said Hazel with the laugh in her voice, 'that maybe she thought it was wrong to have one's dress hang right. And next morning I was naughty enough to pull out her loopings and do them over. Then I asked her if she felt demoralized, or something. And Prim wanted to know if I thought she meantthat?and bade me look at your dress. Which I have, very often,' Hazel added with a shy glance, 'but I do not find that it gives me any help about my own.'
Dane rewarded this speech with a look of grave deliberation, which ended with the corners of his mouth breaking into all manner of lines of fun. Hazel smiled too, partly at him, partly at herself.
'You see what always happens when I talk out,' she said. 'I am sure to be laughed at for my "confidence," as you call it. But Mr. Rollo, I did not much mind what Prim said. Not a bit, only for two little things.'
'What little things, Hazel?' and there was the force of a dozen "dears" and "my loves" in the quiet intonation.
'I thought for a while that you had told her to talk to me. As you did once before.'
A quick look denied all knowledge of such an occasion.
'At Greenbushthat night,' said Hazel.
'That night,' said Dane smiling again. 'But I did not set her to talk to you then. I only sent her to do what I supposed at the moment she might do more acceptably.'
'I know'said Hazel, 'but I never could take second-hand orders. That was one of the times when you made a mistake in your dealings with me.'
'Well? You know I shall not make such mistakes any more. And yet, Hazel,' said he growing grave, 'that is too much for me to say even lightly. Perhaps I shall make mistakes. Till we have lived long enough together to know each other thoroughly, I might. What will you do then?'
She laughed a little, half raised her eyes, and let them fall. 'No,' she said, 'you will not repeat those two or three great ones; and others do not matter.'
'Two or three!' said Dane; but then he began again.'What was the other "little thing" that annoyed you in Prim's words the other night?'
'About as wise as the first! I never supposed you noticed my dress,or would,while I kept out of yellow feathers and sky blue gloves. But Prim left a sort of impression, that if ever youshould, it would be to dislike it. And that troubled me a little bit at the time, and has troubled mejust a little bitever since.'
Probably Dane's first thoughts were not put into words. What he did, was to get hold of Wych Hazel's hand, and between the kisses he gave it he remarked,
'I never noticed your dress without feeling a certain delight in its perfect harmonies; andI never saw you without noticing your dress.'
'You?' Hazel said with a quick, timid intonation. And then there came a great flush of pleasure, and she looked away and was silent; thinking to herselfwhat she herself would have called "all sorts of things."
'Don't you think,' said Dane coolly, 'that as we have evidently so much respectively to learn about each other, we had better begin as soon as possible?'
'Are you expecting such new developments?But then,' she said, the doubtful look waking up again, 'what did Primrose mean? She meant something,and you know what it was.'
'Do I? I suppose Primrose felt that I had changed from my once views of that, as of other subjects.'
'What were your "once" views?' said Hazel. 'I hardly knew that people had what you call "views" about dress.'
Rollo smiled.
'I suppose mine were what yours are now.'
'Then yours never had existence.'
'And your dresshappens. Do you mean that?'
'No, no!but if I had worn two or three necklaces to the woods this morning, it would have been want of sense and taste, not of views.'
'Certainly. Your "views" of dress are sense and taste. Or rather, your instinct, I should say.'
'But,' said Hazel,'no, that is not what I mean. Sense and taste have to do directly with the subject,they grow out of it, or are mixed up with it,I wish anybody had ever taught me to talk, among other things!I mean, they are intrinsic. And "views" always seemed to take an outside stand, irrespective of everything. I think I do not like "views." '
'You cannot help having them,' said Dane laughing at her. ' "Views" are merely the simplest word forhow you see a thing;under what light, and proportions, and relations.'
Hazel shook her head.
'I never was famous for seeing things,' she said. 'I think I go more by instinct. What do you compliment me by supposing my views of dress to be, Mr. Rollo?'
'That is something from which you are to get, and give, the sense of beauty, in infinite variety.'
"Well, leaving that statement for the present, what are yours, please?'
'That it is a usable thing, which I am to use, like everything else, for my Master.'
Hazel glanced at him, and looked away.
'Up to a certain point,' she said, 'our views go side by side; we both call it a power.'
Dane was silent, with a certain sweet, grave silence, that evidently was not in want of thoughts. Hazel sat still too for a few minutes, knotting her little fingers together. She glanced at him again before she went on.
'But further than that, I do not understand. I think, generally, I have dressed to please myself,not often for a purpose; though I could do that, I suppose, upon occasion. That is, in my sort of way. But inyours, Mr. Rollo,I should get in such a labyrinth of black merino and green silk and blue velvet and white muslin, no line that ever was twisted would be long enough to guide me out.'
'There's a short way out,' said Rollo. 'I will not let you get into a labyrinth.'
'That may alter the case,' said Hazel with a half laugh. 'But just Prim's words, and the thought of your criticising my dress, put me in such confusion to-day that I was very near not getting dressed at all; and was ever so much ashamed of myself.' The fluttering white dress, by the way, had given place to one of the soft leaf-brown silks in which she delighted. Perhaps Rollo's eyes liked it too; for they took a complacent view and came back to her face with a smile.
'It is a problem, to be worked out,' he said.
'In my way, to your ends?' queried Hazel. 'The difference lying in the use or disposal of the power when in hand. Is that what you mean?'
'That will do. Butsometimesit happens, that beauty of effect must give way before more important uses.'
'Why? And how?' she said looking at him.
'Do you want me to go into it?'
'Yes, of course. And get me out.'
'I don't know about that. Well,I have seen you,to come to personalities,I have seen you, for instance, wearing a hat and feather. I have good reason to remember it; for the play of that feather used to gratify and irritate me, both at once, beyond what was on the whole easy to bear. The hat suited the feather, and the feather became the hat; and hat and feather were precisely suited to you.Yourpurpose, or "views," in dressing, were perfectly attained. Suppose I could shew you that the pretty brown plume represented what would keep a certain poor family from suffering through the winter months?'
If Hazel was ready to laugh at one point of this speech, she grew grave enough over the remainder; the sensitive colour stirring and deepening in her cheeks. Anything that ever came near direct personal criticism was so new to her.
'But Mr. Rollo' she began.
'Yes,' he said gently and taking her hand, 'I am waiting for that.Say just what is in your mind.'
'The poor family did not come forward, or they could have had what they wanted. I did not know where they were. You do not think I invest everything in feathers,feelings and all?'
'Hazel, I am putting a case. It is a constant case, certainly; but brought forward just now to illustrate a principlenothing else. Suppose the poor family did come forward and get its supply; then I could tell you of a case of sickness, and shew you that your feather represented the professional attendance and skill which poverty could not command.'
'But, but,' said Hazel earnestly,'I mean. Suppose,I have enough for them and myself too?'
'Then I could tell you of a poor invalid, to whom a few weeks in the country would be life and health; but she cannot stop work. Or I could tell you of a family just turned out of house and home because illness has made them behindhand with the rent. I could shew you friendless children, to one of whom your feather would give safety and food for a year. Or feeble and ailing people, to whom it would supply the delicacies they cannot get nor do without. Or poor ministers, to whom it could go in an invaluable parcel of books. Or ignorant poor, seeking instruction, to whom it would be months of schooling. And then, I should but have given you samples, Hazel, which you might multiply by the hundred and the thousand, and still keep far within the literal fact.'
She listened with a grave face, trying to follow; but it is hard for eighteen to realize at all what even fourscore takes in but dimly.
'You think I am extravagant,' she said.
'That would be a very harsh word in this connection. I do not mean it. I was trying to answer you. You said, "Suppose I have enough for them and myself too." '
'I wonder if I am?' she said with a half laugh and yet soberly.'I wish I could stand off and look at myself. Mr. Rollo, will you give me another instance? I shall have to forgive that feather, because it had the honour of "irritating" you, and so enlists my sympathies; but what else have you seen me wear, that could do so much more than itself?'
'The red squirrel has no business to preach to the shrew mouse,' said he lightly, but looking at her as if doubtful how far it were best to go.
'I am not a shrew,' said Hazel with somewhat prompt decision. 'Nor a mouse. Nor spun glass. So all those little preliminaries are disposed of. And I do not see why you should preach to everybody else and not to me.'
Dane however had scruples. He looked at Wych Hazel, and though his gray eyes were all afire with purpose and spirit, he pursed up his lips with a low whistle and getting up from his chair took a turn or two through the large room. Finally came and stood before Wych Hazel.
'What is the cost of that dress you have on,' said he. 'I mean, by the yard?'
'This? I have no idea. I order what I like, and pay the bills when they come. What was the use of information with which I could do nothing?' But the colour started again.
'We shall have to get the bills, then, before we can go on. If you have kept them, that is.'
'Do you mean,' she said, looking up at him rather wistfully now,' that I amalwayswhat you call extravagant?'
'Never, that I know of,' said he smiling down at her. 'To be extravagant, is to go beyond bounds; and one who has never been conscious of the bounds, cannot be justly said to have done that.'
'One ought to be conscious of proper bounds,' said Hazel, as if she were a good deal disappointed in herself.
'You are only just beginning to be conscious of anything,' saidDane audaciously.
'StatementsI cannot think how you find time to get them all up.Well, Mr. Rollo? what next?'
'I should like to know how soon you are going to let me come home,' said he sitting down by her.
In an instant Hazel was absolutely still, even to the ends of the small fingers that lay folded in her lap, peeping out from the broad lace shadows. And, nicely timed for her, the tea bugle just then rang out, and the door of the red room opened to admit Dingee and the tea tray; with cold partridge, and salad, and delicate loaves of bread, white and brown, and wonderful cake, and a shape of Mrs. Bywank's own special quince jelly. Hazel sprang up to superintend and give directions; but when the little table was spread and wheeled up, she dismissed Dingee and went to making the tea herself.
'I often have tea here when I am alone,' she said,'I mean, when Mr. Falkirk does not come. And I thought perhaps you would like it too.'
'Very much,' returned Dane demurely. 'So much that I am impatient for it to become a stated fact. How long do you mean to keep me at Gyda's?'
'You have such a peculiar way of putting questions,' said Hazel, emulating the composure in everything but her face. 'Never wording them so they can be answered. And there is no use in disturbing them ages beforehand. Shall I give you coffee, Mr. Rollo?'
'You are under a mistake. I am not going to be an age at Gyda's.'
'Wellthen Gyda will be disappointed.'
'And you?'
'You know you always have sufficient force of character to disappoint me easily.'
'Have I? Would it disappoint you very much if I proposed to be married at Christmas?'
'In that case,' answered Miss Wych, 'the force of character would be on my side, and the disappointment on yours.'
'May I ask your views?' said Dane, with a coolness that was provoking.
'Ah, be quiet!' said Hazel in desperation,'you are perplexing all my ideas. Is it five lumps of sugaror sixthat go in when you have control of the sugar bowl?'
'The question is, just now, how many go in when you have the control?' But then he let the supper take its course for a while in commonplace peace.
'I wonder,' Wych Hazel began suddenly, her thoughts flying back to the talk before tea,'I was thinkingI have thought very often,how many things you will find in me that you do not like? And how little there is you would like to find!'
A flash of the eyes came to her across the table; and then Dane remarked quietly that he had thought of that a number of times. 'Indeed I may say,' he added, 'that I am always thinking of it.'
She laughed a little bit, catching his meaning, but the serious look came back.
'For instance,' she said,'all this that I spend on myself, you wouldand dospend on other people.'
'I think nothing can equal my astonishment at that "statement," except the impossibility of answering it!'
'But I do not mean anything ridiculous,' said Hazel,'not bread and butter and partridges. At least, I don't know about the partridgesbut you understand. And I do not mean that I would not givethemup,only'
'Did I convey the impression that I wished you to give up partridges?'
'Yesif somebody else wanted them more,' said Hazel. 'And I am willing enough. But then, but then!I wish you knew,' she said, rising abruptly as Dingee came in to clear the table. 'I wish I could tell you.'
Dane waited, till Dingee's services had been performed and the door was closed behind him again; then came beside Wych Hazel where she was standing and drew her within his arm.
'What do you wish you could tell me, Hazel?' he said, with the tenderness of eye and voice which, with him, came instead of expletives of endearment. There was a faint quiver of the lips that answered,
'Thingsabout me, that you ought to know. And it is very hard to tell you some things, Mr. Rollo.'
'It would be easier, if you could call me something else,' he said, bending to kiss her. 'I should like to know anything about you. What are these "things"?'
'My thoughts and life. And I cannot tell them without saying so muchthat I would not say, and, maybe, ought not.Only, when you begin to start questionsand subjects,then,' Hazel paused to gather her forces. 'Then I think it is right you should know everything about me, first.' The last word came out very low, and even the instinct of truth could hardly have carried her further just then.
'Go on, and tell me,' said Dane gently. 'The words are as sweet to me as a chime of bells; but, just yet, not so intelligible.'
She stood very still for a minute, her head bent down. Then softly disengaged herself.
'I cannot talk to you so,' she said. 'Sit down, please, in the bergère, and let me sit here; and I will tellwhat I can.'
"Here" meant a low foot cushion near the bergère, where the young lady placed herself, but a little drawn back and turned away, where only the firelight could look in her face.
'Stop!'said Dane, arresting this part of the arrangements. 'You at my feet!'
'Yes, if I like it,' said Hazel. 'When you have to gainsay people in great things, you should always let them have their way in small.'
She got up and crossed over to the fire, replacing a brand that had fallen down; came back to her cushion and sat there a minute with her hands folded.
'A year ago,' she said, 'when you drove home with me fromMoscheloo,you had no new views, Mr. Rollo. None in practice.In a sense, you and I were on the same ground.'
'Well?'said he, a little anxiously.
'Then in the winter,I partly guessed first from Dr. Maryland's words what you told me,in effect, yourself. And at first I liked it,I thought I was glad.'
'At first'echoed Rollo.
'At first,' Hazel repeated. 'It suited me, to have you take the highest stand you could, and Mrs. Coles stirred up enough antagonism to keep me from knowing that I was anything but glad.'
'Why should you be anything but glad?' said Dane, in tones which did not reveal the surprise which was growing upon him.
'I did not know that I wasuntil you came. Mr. Falkirk kept up the antagonism, and I had not much time to think. But when you came' She hesitated a little, then went steadily on. It was so like Hazel, to do what she had to do, if it took her through fire and water!'I had left you standing in one place,' she said, 'and you had moved quite away to another. And I knewthat standing thereyou would never have seen me.'
'That is a conclusion you have no right to,' said Dane calmly.
'No matterit is true. You eyes would have been set for other things, and your appreciation would have been all changed and different. I knew it then, that night. You talked of things I but half understood, and your face was all shining with a light that did not fall on me. And partly it mortified me,I was used to having at least some vantage ground; and partly it brought back the old loneliness, which hadperhapsjust a little bit gone away. Then you left me a lesson.'
Dane sat where she had desired him, but leaning down towards her, listening and looking very gravely and intently. 'Yes,' he answered; 'and you studied it.'
'I tried.'The words came rather faintly. 'And that was there the tangle began.'
'What made the tangle?'
'Becausebecause the lesson and you were all wrapped up together. And I could never study it withoutstudying you. And soso it came,'she drew her breath a little, holding her fingers tight,'that before Icouldknow much about thatI had to decide something elsedefinitelyfirst.'
Certainly some things are hard to tell!
'Well, youdiddecide something else definitely,' said Dane, with most delightful matter-of-fact gravity of manner, not seeming to recognize her difficulty at all.
'Then the tangle grew worse,' said Hazel. 'I used to think I was trying to be interested, or trying to understand, or trying to do, just to please you,or because you would like me better. And besides'
'Wellit would not have been very wicked if that had been partly true.'
'No,' said Hazel,'but then the work would not have been real; and I never could tell. And besides,' she went on again, 'you did not come, and I did not hear,and it did not suit me to be always thinking about youand I tried to put the whole thing out of my head.'
'Did I make a mistake then?' said Rollo. 'But I found I could not bear very well to meet you on the neutral ground of that year. I was waiting.'
'Yes. I was not speaking of that,' she said. 'When you take such a tangle into society, it ties itself into twenty new knots. That is all that need be said of the summer and spring. Then I came home.'
'AndthenI made a mistake,' said Rollo. 'You need not tell me that.'
She sighed a little, answering to another point.
'You could not know that you had started all the old questions again, and that I thought it was maybe your changed point of viewthat made it so easy for you to give me up.'
'But why do you recal all this now, Hazel?' asked Dane, very quietly. 'I never gave you up; it was a fancied somebody that was not you.'
'It came in the course of my story. I could not pass it. Only for that,' she said, turning her face towards him for a moment. 'Because then, in some of those days, I thoughtperhapsI had learned the lesson you set me.'
'And you do not think so now?'
'I am not sure that it was true work,' she answered slowly. 'For in a storm one flies to shelter,and just then my hands sought anything that could stand and would not change. But now'
Dane was proverbially scarce a patient man after a certain line was passed. He left his chair now, stooped and took Hazel's hands and gently pulled her up from her low cushion; and then took her in his arms and held her close.
'I understand all about it,' he said. 'You need not try to tell me any more. My little Wych! Look here; there are just two things to be said, one mediate, the other immediate. In the first place, no uncertainty of motives need embarrass or delay your action in a course that you know to be right. In the next place,Hazel,don't you see, that when we have been married a while and I am become an old story, I shall be more of a help and less of a hindrance? And I know all about you; and I don't know it a bit better after all this long exposition than I did before. And if I have changed my standpoint relatively to some things, I have never changed it respecting you, except to draw nearer. Now confess you have been a foolish child.'
The soft laugh which answered him had more than shyness to make it unsteady.
'I do not suppose you want to change me for anybody else,' she said. 'But I do not want you to think Iamanybody else.'
There came just then rapid hoof-beats round the house, and in a minute more Dingee presented himself in the red room, bearing a request that Mr. Rollo would come to the side door for a moment, to see Dr. Arthur Maryland.
The doctor was on horseback, but standing a little way off from the steps.
'Stay where you are' he said, speaking low however. 'Dane, there is ship fever among those Swedes that have just come to the Hollow.'
'The Schiffers?'
'Yes. I was not certain till to-night, but I have been all day taking precautions and making arrangements, and could not get away a minute sooner. I was afraid you might miss a message; and I would not write notes there to be opened here. Now I cannot stop to talk, but if you will send me general orders every morning for men and business in the Hollow, I will see them carried out. Good- night.My respects to her Grace.'
'StopArthur!' said the other as he was moving off'I shall be there presently.'
'On no account!' said Dr. Arthur wheeling round. 'I am too glad that you were here to-day. Always depute that part of your work which somebody else can do.'
'I will be there, Arthur, in an hour or two. Go onyou had better not wait for me.'
Dr. Arthur sat still a minute, looking down between his horse's ears.
'Well,' he said,'perhaps it is none of my business, but do you know what a sensitive plant you have to deal with in there? She must not have another shock like that mysterious one of a month ago. Good-night!'
With a somewhat slow step, Rollo left the hall door and went back to the red room. But his face shewed no change to disturb Wych Hazel. He came back first to the fire, and somewhat thoughtfully, quite silently, put it in order. By that time he was ready. He faced Wych Hazel, and spoke in his ordinary tone.
'I am glad we have had this day, Wychand I am glad we have had our talk this evening: for I find we cannot have another in some time.'
'You are going away?' she said, rising and coming towards him. 'One of your business trips? Then this will be my time for a few days in town, to "do about dress" a little. Do you suppose honestlythat anybody wants my new gloves?' The question came with a laugh and a flash which yet did not hide it. But silently Dane folded his two arms about her and pressed kiss after kiss upon brow and lips. That shewed feeling more than he meant to shew it. Yet when he spoke his tone was clear and sweet, no shadow at all in it.
'I am not going away.'
She drew off as far as she could, to look at him, with sudden instinctive fear. Only her eyes put questions now.
'Yes,' he said,'there is sickness in the Hollow. And it is contagious sickness.'
'O, is there?'with a grave look which yet told more of relief that concern. 'And you are going to help Dr. Arthur take care of them!'
He answered absently, looking at her, as a man might who expected to lose such an indulgence for some time to come. Her face was very thoughtful for a minute; then she looked up with almost a smile.
'Yes,' she repeated,'of course you must. Well, I am ready.'
'Are you?' said he. 'For what?'
'You think I do not know enough,' said Hazel with some eagerness; 'and I do not know much; but I can follow directions. And Byo declares she was never so taken care of in her life as once by me.'
Instead of answering, at first, Dane clasped her closer in his arms and kissed her, as if in anticipation of the hunger for the sight of her which would shortly set in.
'I should like to have you take care of me,' he said at length. 'If I needed a little care, that is.'
'Well,' said Wych Hazel, 'you may put it so, if you like. You will need a great deal before you have been in that Hollow two days.'
'Need it. Do you think you can give it?' said he wistfully.
'Without a doubt.'
'But you are not my wife, Wychyou cannot be there with me now. And if you were my wife, you could not. Do you think I would let you?'
She shrank back a little, hanging her head. This view of the case had certainly not come up.
'I thoughtI supposeanybody may come and go to see sick people,' she said under her breath. 'I thought, anybody might stay with them. And I think so now. I never heard of etiquette over small-pox.'
'You could not "come and go" to these people. I shall establish a strict quarantine, and probably be in it myself. You must not come even near the Hollow.'
'But I need not have anything to do with you,' pleaded Hazel. 'I am going to serve under Dr. Arthur.'
'That is just my place.'
'You may keep it,' said Hazel. 'A woman's place is not solid and stationary like a man's. Nobody will know where I am, but some poor sick child that everyone else is too busy for.'
Perhaps Dane smothered a sigh; but he only said, clear and clean- cut the words were now,
'I cannot have you there, Hazel. You must keep your place and do your work here. The Hollow is my business.'
'And you mean to leave me outside of your business?' she questioned, with eyes incredulous even yet.
'Outside of this business. And you are not to come even near the Hollow. I know you do not like to give promises, and so I do not ask for one. This is not a request. You understand?'
'Olaf!'It was the sweetest of pleading tones. But no more words followed,neither word nor look.
'Ah you have adopted me at last, have you!' said he. 'I have been waiting for this. And the sweetness of it will be in my ears all these days before me. Thenext timeyou speak that word in such music, Hazel, I will give you what you ask.'
'Not now?' she said softly. 'I may not go even to Gyda's?'
'Gyda will be with me.'
The words, the utterance, were cheery, clear and sweet; at the same time strong and absolute. And Rollo wore a look which I think a woman does not dislike to see on a face she loves, even though its decisions be against her; there was sweetness enough in it, also unmanageableness! No shadow, it must be noted. If he was going into danger, and knew it, the fact did not shadow him.
Hazel stood still, struggling with herself; fighting the disappointment and the restraint; most of all, the sorrow which came in the train of the other two. For with the passing away of her own thought of going, the thought that he must go came out clear and strong. Into that infected place, to be shut up in quarantine with no one knew what! Hazel passed her hands across her forehead as if she were pushing the shadows right and left, bidding them wait.
'I wanted to ask,' she said,and then the voice changed, and suddenly the soft touch of her fingers came to his face, stroking back some lock of hair to its accustomed place. But the look was as intent and unconscious as if she never expected to see him again in all her life. And he stood still, like a man under a spell, which he would not break by the least movement.
'Those people,' she began again hurriedly, bringing herself back to business and a business tone, 'will want a great deal. And there is not much in the Hollow, nor on the hill. If you will let me, I can have supplies sent from here every day. Mrs. Bywank will know what. And my messenger need not go near that part of the Hollow; the things can be left at any point you say.' She looked up eagerlythen down again; not much fonder than he was of asking what she could not have.
'Do that, by all means,' was the answer. 'Your supplies may be left at the mill where I read.'
The shadow on her face deepened.
'Will you write?'
'No.' His face began to take on something of the yearning look of the Huguenot in the picture.
'How then shall I hear?'
'I have been thinking about that. I do not know; unless Arthur can carry reports now and then to Dr. Maryland, and Prim or her father bring them to you.'
'He may come straight here at once,' said Hazel. 'I can talk out of a window as well as anybody else. And if anybody ventures to come here to comfort me, I shall'
'What?' said Rollo smiling.
'Send me no reports that way. I could not bear it. And Dr. Arthur will stay in the Hollow while you stay.'
There was a moment's gesture that reminded him of the despairing way in which she had flung herself down in the chair, that long ago night at Green Bush.
'Dr. Arthur will go and come as a physician should, according to the demand for him. What willyoudo, my little Wych?'
'I do not know. Only one thing.'
'What is that one thing?'
Again Hazel was silent, struggling with herself, controlling her lips to speak.
'Just one thing'the words came passionately now. 'If you are sick, I shall come. And it is no use to lay commands on me, because I should break them all in one minute. I know I should. Promises or commands or anything else.'
He paused slightly before he spoke.
'Do you know, Mrs. Bywank once said in my hearing that you were the lovingest little thing that ever lived. I knew she was right. I have been waiting for this minute. It makes me a rich man. But you will not come to the Hollow, Hazel, even though I were ill. You must love me enough to mind my wishes. It is hard, I know. It is the very last and uttermost proof of love.'
Hazel was bending down, busy detaching something from her chatelaine. The fingers were quick and hurried, but the words came slow.
'Hush,' she said. 'You must not say that. You are confusing things. And your rights do not cover all the ground. There is a corner, somewhere, where mine grow. Now'she raised her head, drawing a long breath,how fast the gathering tide of anxiety and sorrow came rolling in!'See here. I know you have nothing so womanish as a vinaigrette about you,but womanish things are useful just now and then. Will you fasten this to your watch chainto please me?'The eyes were wistful in their beseeching. She was so uncertain of having anything granted to-night!
He met them with a grave, searching attention, and releasing her from the arms which had till then enfolded her, gravely fastened the vinaigrette as she wished. He turned slightly then and rested his elbow on the mantel-piece, looking down into the fire which his care had caused to leap into brilliant life. As motionless on her part Hazel stood, with fingers interlaced and still. But her eyes were on the floor. Presently Rollo roused himself, and stretching out his hand took Wych Hazel's and drew her nearer to him.
'I cannot go and leave this question undecided,' he said; 'and I must go soon. How shall it be settled, Wych?'
Some things are hard to talk of, which yet are in the thoughts; and contingencies take life and reality by being put in words. The shadow on the girl's face grew deep as she answered,yet the answer was quiet.
'You know, reverse the case, you would not be bound by any words of mine. You knowthat you are what I have in the world. And I know, that ifif' there was a moment's pause,'that if it came to that, I should go. I could not be bound.'
The gravity of his face as he listened to her, you could hardly call it a shadow, changed and flickered with a quivering smile; and the eyes flashed and then darkened again. The end was, he drew Wych Hazel into his arms, clasping her very tight.
'I knowI know,' he said, kissing her face with passionate touches which had all the sorrow of the time, as well as all the joy, in them. 'I know. All the same, I will not have you there, Hazel, if I am ill. I should settle the matter very quickly with anybody else; but you disarm me. I cannot stir a step without hurting you. What shall I say to you?' he went on, holding her fast, and stroking the hair back from her forehead with the gentlest possible touch. 'It has come sooner than I expected, this sort of trial, which generally comes, I suppose, whenever two lives that have been separate join together to become one. There will be differences of judgment, or of feeling; and what is to happen then? And what am I to fall back upon, when love and authority have both proved insufficient? for I have authority as your guardian. I shall have to ask now for your promise; the promise that you never break. For I will be secure on this head, before I leave the house, Hazel.'
'People should have reasons for exerting their authority.'
'Of that,' said Dane with the same gentleness, but very steadily, 'he who exerts it must be the judge himself.'
'Yes!' said Hazel, the impetuous element asserting itself once more, 'but there is no use in beginning as you cannot go on. Do you mean that alwaysI mean in futureif anything were the matter with you, the first thing would be to send me out of the house?'
'I hope not!' said Dane smiling. 'In my understanding of it, husband and wife belong to one another, and are inseparable. There are conceivable circumstances in which I might do it.'
A slight lift of the eyebrows dealt for a moment with this opinion and let it drop. Into those imaginary regions Hazel did not see fit to go. Nor into any others then. The flush of excitement died away, and the weary look settled down upon brow and lips. She said no more.
Rollo watched her a little while, then stooped and kissed her.
'I must go. Give me your promise, Hazel, that you will not come near the Hollow without my leave.'
She answered with a certain subdued tone that matched the face,
'I have no intention of coming. Your command is enough. If I can keep it, I will. No amount of promises could make my words any stronger.' But she looked up again, one of her swift eager looks, which again fell in silent gravity. There was scarcely another word said; except one.
'Look away from second causes, Hazel.'
Linking her fingers round his hand, so she went with him silently through the hall and down the steps; and stood there until he rode away into the darkness and the light of his work, and she came back into the light and the darkness of her own house.
Nature, with all her many faces, her thousand voices has seldom a look or a tone to help our sorrow. Her joy is too endless in its upspringing, her tears are too fresh and sweet; even the calm steadiness of her quiet is to bewildered thoughts like the unflickering coast light, against which the wild birds of the ocean dash themselves, blinded, in the storm. Wych Hazel stood still at the foot of the steps, until not even imagination could hear so much as an echo of the rapid trot which she was not to hear again for so long a time. The sweet October night, its winds asleep, its insects silenced with a slight frost, its stars wheeling their brilliant courses without a cloud, all smote her like a pain. Then some faint stir of air brought, distantly and sweet, the scent of the woods where they had been chestnutting that very day. With a half cry the girl turned and fled up the steps, locking the door behind her; remembering then keenly what else she was shutting out. She went back to the red room, and stood thereshe and the spirit of desolation. There was no tea tray, happily, with its cheerful reminders; but there was the corner of the mantelpiece, and the spot on the rug, and the firenow slowly wearing down to embers, and the embers to ashes. There was her foot cushionand the crimson bergère. But she could not touch anything,could not take up the tongs which he had set down, even to put the fire in safe order for the night; some one else must do that. Slowly she went round the room, with a glance at everything; passed on to the door and stood looking back; then shut it and went slowly up the stairs. Midway she sat down and leaned her head against the banisters. Sat there she knew not how long, until she heard Mrs. Bywank's step going the rounds below; then rose and went on again. But as Wych Hazel's little foot passed slowly up from stair to stair, one thing in her mind came out in clear black and white, of one thing she was sure: shemustlay hold of those immutable things after which she had striven before. Mere hoping would not do, she must make sure. In the happiness of the last weeks, she had said, like David in his prosperity, "I shall never be moved," where was it all now? Above all other thoughts, even to-night, this came: she could not live so. Tossed by one storm upon a roof here, and by the next one carried out to sea. Something to hold her, something that she could hold,that she must have.
Intensely bitter thoughts flocked in along with this. The hand she had clasped so lately, and the way it had clasped her; a longing that would hardly be gainsaid for the touch of it again. Was she forgetting that? was she trying to loosen that bond? She paused, leaning back against the wall, holding her hands tight. But even with the answer the other cry came up: the world was all reeling under her feet,shemusthave something that would stand. For the time everything else gave way. It was true, this trouble might pass,then others would come: others from which even Dane could not shield her. Already, twice in her little life, twice in three months, had such a crisis come. Mrs. Bywank got no sight of her that night; only gentle answers to enquiries through the closed door; and Hazel lighted her study lamp, and opening her Bible at the ninety-first psalm, and setting it up before her in the great easy chair, knelt down before it and laid her head down too. No need to go over the printed words,there was not one of them she did not know. But was there anything there to help? She went them over to herself, verse by verse, and verse after verse was not for her. It was Dane who had taken that stand, who was leading that life; these promises were all to him. No arrow of darkness was his fearshe knew that well: no pestilence walking at his side could alarmhim. But as she went on, half triumphantly at first, with the detail of his faith and his security, the vision of his danger come too; and a long restless fit of pain ended all study for that time. Ended itself at last in sleep,and the dreams of what was about him, and thoughts of what he was about, gave no token of their presence but a sob or a sigh, until the few remaining hours of the night swept by, and the morning broke.
As I said somewhere else, the new day is often good for uncertainties. The foolish fears, the needless alarms, the whole buzzing troop of fidgets that come out in the darkness, go back to their swamps and hiding places when the day has fairly come. They cannot make head against the wholesome freshness of the morning wind. Then painted hopes and lace-winged fancies flit out to take their place: things certainly are better, or they will be better, or they never have been bad.
But certainties are another matter. The new burdens, laid down in sleep, but now to be taken up, and adjusted, and borne on through all the ins and outs of the coming day. Morning does nothing forthem, but fasten them on securely, with a heavy hand.
Wych Hazel roused herself up as the day came on, and looked things in the face so long, that her own face got little attention. However, Phoebeand the force of habitsent her down in the usual daintiness, at the usual time, to receive Mr. Falkirk, who after all did not come. But Dingee was on hand, and so Hazel made believe over her breakfast, quite successfully, and carried on her mental fight of questions the while with no success at all. So on through the day, until dinner time brought Mr. Falkirk; so on, with a semi-consciousness, through all the evening's talk; and when at length Wych Hazel went to her room again, it was with all the trouble of last night, and a day's worry additional. She knew what she wanted,she did not seem to know how to get it. Those shining words lay up so high, above her reach: a mountain head lifting itself out of the fogs of the valley wherein she dwelt. As for the first verse of her psalm, it might as well have been a description of Gabriel, for any use to her,so she thought, shrinking back from the words. Then for the second verse,yes, there was human weakness thereor had been. Some time a refuge had been needed: but so long ago, that the years of calm security had wiped out even the thought of defencelessness. That was like Dane: she did not believe it ever occurred to him that he wanted anything, or could. What was he doing now to-night, in the darkness?Hazel rose and went to the window. What work it must be, going round among the shadows of the Hollow, without a moon!but then he would be in the houses,darker still! She knew; she had sat there through one evening.She stood still at the window, going over half mechanically to herself the next verses. "Surely,"yes, it was all 'surely,' for him! was there nothing for her? She was not in all the psalm, Hazel thought. Unlessyes, that might fit well enough: she might stand for "the wicked" in the eighth verse. For studying the shining words that went before, there had come to her a feeling of soil, a sense of degradation, all new, and utterly painful.
'No use to consider that now,' she said, knotting her hands together as she went back to her seat. 'I want help. And I begin to think how much I want it, I shall lose my wits.'Was there nothing for her?
Again the promises ran on as before, with new images, fresh wording. There were angels enough keeping watch over Morton Hollow to-night!was there no spare one to come to Chickaree?Hazel put her head down and sobbed like a child in her loneliness and desolation.
Next day she tried another plan, and began at the end of her psalm, passing over the promise of long life as not just now of much interest. And honour,she did not want that; nor deliverance, where no devil was at hand. But this!
"I will be with him"
"I will answer him"
Was it for her?To whom was it said?
"He shall call upon me,"ah, that she had done a great many times!this was not the whole description. Who was it then who should be heard?She ran back over the words rapidly, fastening then upon these few:
"Because he hath set his love upon me"!and Hazel knew she had set her love upon some one else.
It was very bitter: the struggle was sharp and long: and duty and possibility, and wrong and right, fought each other and fired upon their own men.
She could not take back her love: that was impossible. She might die, but that she could not do. And now with a certain gleam of comfort, Hazel remembered that Dane had not withdrawn his. How had he managed then? After all, it did not touch the question much,he was a man, dependent of no one: she was a girl, with nothing in the world but him. Yet she wanted more. A strength above his, a love even more sure: "the things which cannot be shaken."
So, slowly, she went back over the verses, laying hold still of but that one thing in her way:
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him."
Yes, it must be meant for her. And Hazel tried to shut her eyes to the character that went with the promise. People likethat, she argued, would need nothing,itmustbe for her. But oh she had called so very often!Far back in the psalm, that is, close at the beginning, another word flamed up before her in a sudden illumination: a word she had read and reread, but now it stopped her short. Another three words, that is:
"I will say."
Something that seemed to head the long list of blessings, something for her. But it was something for her to do. What, then?
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
"I will say."But close upon that followed "Surely."
Couldshe say it? Was she ready for that absolute choice? The words came to her as she had heard Dr. Maryland read them:
"You do now declare and avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your God; and Jesus Christ to be your Saviour; and the Holy Spirit to be your sanctifier.
"You do solemnly give yourself away, in a covenant to be revoked, to be his willing servant forever."
She had noticed the words so often, half putting them to herself in imagination, that now they came back to her with clear distinctness.Thiswas what the psalm meant; nothing less. "A willing servant?" Could she promise it? she, who hated control and loved so dearly her own pleasure? But it all came to that:
"I will say of the Lord, He is my God."
Back and forth, back and forth, went thoughts and will and purpose: sometimes almost persuaded, sometimes all up in arms. Something gentler than need was lacking, something stronger than fear must work. Slowly and sadly she turned over the leaves, far on and on, to the other marked point: seeing them then, those common words of print that she had read so often, seeing them then in letters of flashing light.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."2 Cor. 5. 14, 15.
Hazel laid her face down upon the open page, and said from her heart,
"I will."
To go back a little.
When Mr. Falkirk came to dinner that first day, he was very taciturn and grumpy indeed until soup and fish and third course were disposed of. Then when he got a chance with Dingee out of the room, Mr. Falkirk opened his mouth for the discussion of somewhat besides grapes and peaches.
'So I understand, Miss Hazel, you have arranged with your other guardian to dispense with my services.'
Wych Hazel was not in a mood even for blushing, that day. Thoughts were too deeply and abstractedly busy, and spirits were under too great a weight, for the usual quick play of lights and colours to which Mr. Falkirk was accustomed. A faint little extra tinge was all that came with the grave answer,
'May I ask who has been talking about me, sir?'
'Your future guardian, Miss Hazel; no less. Stopped at my door last night, on horseback, to say in three minutes what would have been more fittingly talked of in three hours.'
Slowly at first, then quick and vivid, the roses stirred and flamed up in the thoughtful face, but she said nothing. Only pushed away her plate, as if peaches andthatcould not go on together.
'I would like to know from you whether it is a thing fixed and settled and unalterable; absolutely done? I suppose it is, or he would not have said it.'
She darted a look at him.
'Do you found suppositions upon such slight circumstantial evidence, Mr. Falkirk?'
'Sometimes, Miss Hazel, when the thing happens to be particularly difficult of belief.'
'Unalterable?' Hazel repeated, half to herself,'few things are that. Suppose your supposition were a mistake, Mr. Falkirk,what then?'