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Canadian Inathuta for HtMorlcal Mieroraproductlona / Inatttut eanadlan da microrapraduetlana Matoriquaa
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1 2 3
1
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"fotxn nsownoN tbt chart
(A: ISI ••Hj BO TEST CHAKT No. J)
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/APPLIED M/C3E Inc
1H3 Edit Unin StrMi
fwehwltf. Naw York U60V usa
(7t6) 482- 0300 -Phoo.
(7IS) 250 -Me9 -Fi»
/<y lC
< "■ ^ BBOWNi
Vu"-'
'■^C\Xv»-^
BEYOND
BY
JOHN GALSWORTHY
" Che faro senta —I"
TORONTO
THE COPP CLARK CO.. L.m.tw
1917
Conuon, 1(17, IT
CHARLES SCMBNEH'S SONS
Publishfld Auxust, 1B17
CorrmCKT. ini. mr. IT THE INTSIWATIONAL HACAHNB COMPANY
PriaM ia V. S. A.
THOMAS HARDY
PART I
■-, *
^im
I
BEYOND
only other witness of the wE Sut w '
jn a highly emotional conditiorwould W C""
incongruous companion to his slim uS^T^
moving with ii.ot^Tr* ' "Pnght figure,
moving with just that unexaggerated swing and bal
ance bec^img to a lancer of the old school ^ven if
P^r tTt 7 "t 'l^ ^' f- sixteen y^
sy^Sthy^ nSn^t'Jf'* °^ '" -thLtated
i>and had been amputated at the wrist— f Jj J
-^y at the ^r^i^g mttaXnfS^^g
seu from the comers of his firm lins On tt,^
Februaiy day he wore no oSoS faiSftS^o*^^
^b^tVtrbSttrh^stiaTL^^
"istmct of a soldier and hunting man to Sbit^o
.4
BEYOND
contracting, staring fe^lVl^'^-^.'^ 'y^ kept
?' moments, ^if ovSl^^'^^^S *«^; and.
"Jg. they darkened S^SSd ^ 'T ^^^P ^«^-
'"s head. His face .Z ^'' '"^ *^w back in
thin-che^ed""Jra d^f^l-^ weatheredtS
darker than the mousS k /^''' "^ ^> hair
-^ with g«y-2L fat 'of '""^^ ** the siS
«hant, resoui""'^^^ "l^^.^'an «f action, self!
one who has always b^, S ^"^ ^« that of
attention to "fori »l!" t^' °^ ^ dandy, and paM
that there were S^ i^Td '7"°"^ ^''"^tS
serving aU the ptSn r7w ^ '°^' ^ho, pre-
«t«ak of someS It V^' ^^t had in hij, t
Moll7^J--^Jthepark,hetu™edinto
fog, like a ghost.^ n;^k"P '^'^ ^°^ ^ S
cast-out dog, in such ,^^ ^ afternoon, like a
And then to be told HieX^r •? ^^ ^ '^™-
to enter, he, loving as he hi :r''^' ^th no right
woman-to be told aT^e S ^? '"^ "^^^^ loved
dead in bearing wha t . T ?*' '^ ^« dead-
hour, knowing her time Z uno >' ^°"'- after
to be told that I OfTfa^ ffu f'^/ ""-^ ^t last
themos awful is to love tSmuch'''"'"^'^-^^
BEYOND .
Queer that his route should take him past the
very house to^iay, after this new bereavement ! Ac-
cursed luck-that gout which had sent him to Wies-
baden, last September! Accursed luck that Gvd
f*. ,7^',,'?* J^^ °° ^ ^^"^ F'O'sen, with hb
fatal fiddle! Certamly not since Gyp had come to
bve with hmi, fifteen years ago, had he felt so for-
K "I? JMi°'".°°^^«- To-morrow he would get
back to Mildenham and see what hard riding would
do Without Gyp-to be without Gyp! A fiddler'
A chap who had never been on a horse in his life !
And with his crutch-handled cane he switched vi-
ciously at the air, as though carving a man in two.
His club, near Hyde Park Comer, had never
semed to hun so desolate. From sheer force of
habit he went into the card-room. The aitemoon
had so darkened that electric light already burned,
and there were the usual dozen of players seated
among the shaded gleams falling decorously on dark-
wood tables, on the backs of chairs, on cards and
tumbles the httle gilded cofTee^ps, the polished
nails of fingers holding cigars. A crony chaUenged
hun to piquet. He sat down listless. That three-
l^ed whist-bridge-had always offended his fas-
tKhousness-a mangled short cut of a game ! Poker
had somethmg blatant in it. Piquet, though out of
fashion, remamed for him the only game worth play-
mg— the only game which stiU had style. He held
good cards, and rose the winner of five pounds that
he wodd willingly have paid to escape the boredom
of the bout. Where would they be by now? Past
6
BEYOND
t^ve. and so foreig^tC Ei ^^^^ '^
were any judge ofS;io"i' ^'°««s-if he
had tied Gyp's money ^v^' I^ God he
"notion that was ataosf^r^ ^""^ ' And an
thought of the feUo^'s L^^^'^r^Pt ^^ ^t th^
^k-eyed d^ughteZ^h!^^ ~"°^ ^ soft-haired
« like in facel^d^t^L "T'^^^^ ^^^S.'
so desperately. ^'^ *° ^«^ ^^om he had loved
^/fw^r JT^Sd^l^^eft the card-room,
of admiration-none couM« ^'"'^ ""^^ » kind
quite as noted forg^^^^^^'^y ^^y- Many
f ct«l no such attSS^ 1^ T^'^P ^^^
It the streak of somethbi. nnf • ''^'^' «' ^^s
bmd left on hhn by S^^T* '^^^ typical-the
Abandoning thp ri„K u ,
^gs of PkcSllyt^trt'" ^°T'^ ^°°« «>«
Bury Street, St. JaLSZ^''- JT^' *^*^ '•ouse in
don abode ^ce T^' I^^ ^ ^ ^ Lon-
few in the street tLThJ^ ^omig-^ne of the
the general passioX^T^'^' "°'°"^^«J by
up. which had spoilei^aSt^.^tS'.^d !>^«4
A man, more silent thXl^^v ^ °P^°°-
the soft, quick, dark ey^^f ?JS^S on earth, with
fr^. knitted waiSt H??"^^^^W.
J^tt^usersstr^pped^'h^^lS^-^S-d
-S^:^/:ors^^5Sing^,.M-ey
BEYOND 7
Markey sjgnaUed that he had heard, and those
brown eyes under eyebrows meeting and forming
one long, dark line, took his master in from head to
heel. He had abeady nodded last night, when his
wife had said the gov'nor would take it hard. Re-
tiring to the back premises, he jerked his head
toward the street and made a motion upward with
his hand, by which Mrs. Markey, an astute woman,
understood that she had to go out and shop because
the gov'nor was dining in. Wh^- she had gone,
Markey sat down opposite Betty, i^yp's old nurse!
The stout woman was still crying in a quiet way.
It gave him the fair hump, for he felt inclined to
howl like a dog himself. After watching her broad,
rosy, tearful face in sUence for some minutes, he
diook his head, and, with a gulp and a t smor of
her comfortable body, Betty desisted. One paid
attention to Markey.
Winton went first into his daughter's bedroom,
and gazed at its emptied silken order, its deserted
sdver mirror, twisting viciously at his little mous-
tache. Then, in his sanctum, he sat down before
the fire, without turning up the light. Anyone look-
ing in, would have thought he was asleep; but the
drowsy influence of that deep chair and cosy fire
had drawn him back into the long-ago. What un-
happy chance had made him pass her house to-day !
Some say there is no such thing as an affinity, no
case— of a man, at least— made bankrupt of passion
by a single love. In theory, it may be so; in fact,
BEYOND
S^-S£,"^^^f--^men, quiet and
play them sudi a tS ll^' "^^ nature Su
render of then^y^Xtt^lY''^' ""^ ^
fate is on them. Who '^^*° ^°^ ^^en their
self, and, indeed ton?h , ^''^ ^emed to him-
Clare Winton"^ Sil°t^' £d''*'j ^^ ^^
«^ien he stepped into Z n^ .*°*^ ^ ^ love
at Gmntham tSat D^^L ''"'".^""^ ^'^oom
y^s ago? A kL S^";^^' t-enty-four
'nan to hounds, alreX^^^f^*^^' ^ ^^"^te
regiment for cooLSs and f!r * P"'^*'''' 1° his
. regard of womenT^on? *.* "^"^ °^ "^^^^^ dis-
-he had stood th«eT"5,fdr°r ^Wngs of life
dance, taking a survey Sth ' l^';."" °° ^"^ to
Pve an impression ot^l^t^ ^^^""^ ^^ °°t
^ put on. And-behS-^^ '' ^ '•"^ at
1^. and his world wj« rhllj r^ '^ed pa^t
an fusion of light tC^^^S \ f"" • ^'^^
to shme through a S-^La , ^^°^* ^P^"t seem
^<=k.ofgaitJswaJ^;^^^jW? Orah-ttle
was It the way heTSr^^^^^^^^e of body;
scent, as of a flower? WhTT^ l^' *"" "■ ^"^tle
a squire of those ^,^4^/? llie wife of
Her name? It doS?mtSrli T "" ^'"^°^-
enough dead. iS wTl^" ^ ^ W
tj-eated woman; an^^tuSr~°°'.^ ^
three years standimr- no^w ^™ marriage, of
eUowofahusbS'^Je^^- ,^ ^"^We gixl
-clined already to be^^vST T "^ '^'
-one month from that ^rWint^-Ve,
BEYOND g
lovers, not only in thought but in deed. A thing so
uftprly beyond "good lonn" and his sense of what
was honourable and becoming in an officer and gen-
tleman that it was simply never a question of weigh-
ing pro and con, the cons had it so completely. And
yet from that first evening, he was hers, she his.
For each of them the one thought was how to be
with the other. If so— why did they not at least
go off together? Not for want of his beseeching.
And no doubt, if she had survived Gyp's birth, they
would have gone. But to face the prospect of min-
ing two men, as it looked to her, had tUl then been
too much for that soft-hearted creature. Death
stilled her struggle before it was decided. There are
women in whom utter devotion can still go hand in
hand with a doubting soul. Such are generally the
most fascinating; for the power of hard and prompt
decision robs women of mystery, of the subtle atmos-
phere of change and chance. Though she had but
one part in four of foreign blood, she was not at aU
English. But Winton was English to his back-bone,
English in his sense of form, and in that curious
streak of whole-hearted desperation that will break,
form to smithereens in one department and leave it
untouched in every other of its owner's life. To
have caUed Winton a "crank" wDuId never have
occurred to any one— his hair was always perfectly
parted; his boots glowed; he was hard and reticent,
accepting and observing every canon of well-bred
existence. Yet, in that, his one infatuation, he was
as lost to the world and its opinion as the longest-
10
BEYOND
haired lentil-eater of us aU Thn u
during that one year of ke^^^^f ^^'""'"^"t
nsked his life and ^LS ^ ^' ^o-Jd have
day in her company^e !ij^ T"^' ^°" ^ ^hole
compromised her He h,^'-''/ ^°'^ "^ look,
observance of he^ «S,ot»?.'"'^ -^"^ P'^^^O"^
tja^ death, consent^Tven , /r* '""^^ ""^^
the tracks of their^nT ' ■ ^^ ^°^«^ "P
«an:bler's debt wTbWar thTr^" ^^>^rtha?
hfe, and even now its m^„!^', ^"^"'^^ deed of his
To this very room h^7 ^^'^'«^-
f g she was d^^Sis le^ «^°"« back after hear-
fu^shed to C'tZ Z^t^"" ^^^ ^ had re-
^tov^ood chairs, liUe d^^T f°^' ^^h its
shaded old brass candibt^SJ''^'^ ^^^.
air exotic to bachelorfom Tht^' V"^ ^ an
been a letter recalling £, ^l^' °° "^^ ^^'^' had
on active service. If heh^cfl^ f?™^*' ordered
go thn,ugh before V^t^^ ^^^ he would
lose his life out there ^ ^^ ^hance of trying to
^^en that life, sS^^ ^'^Tf '-doubte^^,:
fire-the chair saaS^tohSl^'^ "^ ^°« the
not the luck he Sed f^f- *u '°?'°'y- He had
who don't care wSer .1 r "^^ "*^« '^ai-men
He ^cured notJ^X^^^P' ^ie seldom havT
over, he went 0^^^^ tf^'""""/. ^^° ^' was
? few more wrinkles^ hi^^^fj?,? f his face,
jngt,gers,pig.sticldng,p,a3^?^^^ '^'^'•
harder than ever; gi^^3P*''°' "*^ ^ hounds
'^^'^^ steadily Sous^*' '^'^ *° '^^ ^o^d;
-f.l for those wh^rCS:^--^-
BEYOND n
an ice-cool manner. Since he was less of a talker
even than most of his kind, and had never in his
Me taJked of women, he did not gain the reputation
of a woman-hater, though he so manifestly avoided
them. After six years' service in India and Egypt
he lost his right hand in a charge against dervishes,'
and had, perforce, to retire, with the rank of major,
aged thirty-four. For a long time he had hated the
very thought of the child-his child, in giving birth
to whom the woman he loved had died. Then came
a curious change of feeling; and for three years be-
fore his return to England, he had been in the habit
of sending home odds and ends picked up in the
bazaars, to serve as toys. In return, he had re-
ceived, twice annuaUy at least, a letter from the
man who thought himself Gyp's father. These let-
ters he read and answered. The squire was Tkable
and had been fond of her; and though never once
had It seemed possible to Winton to have acted
otherwise than he did, he had all the time preserved
a just and formal sense of the wrong he had done
Uus man. He did not experience remorse, but he
had always an irksome feeling as of a debt unpaid,
mitigated by knowledge that no one had ever sus-
pected, and discounted by memory of the awful tor-
ture he had endured to make sure against suspicion.
When, plus distmction and minus his hand he
was at last back in England, the squire had come
to see him. The poor man was failing fast from
Bnght's disease. Winton entered again that house
m Mount Street with an emotion, to stifle which re-
13
BEYOND
the right place" dS ttldit^^e''"* ''' > "^
his nerves, and he far«i ffc ^ ^ quaverings of
;-t seen hW. facS tuonS h^r."'"^ ^^'^
husband, without siim „? , ^.^^"e dinner with her
little Ghita, S Gy^lffT- . »« <^d ^ot see
for she was'alreS^'in" S'b^^?r°-J he^elf,
month before he brought h.W.f^ '* "^ ^ ^^°le
hour when he could^i^SS^- ° «° "^^'^ ** ^-
fact is, he was afraid tVllf^u^^^""^*^- ^le
litUe creature stirThin^U 'i'^" ^^* ^^ this
brought her in to sT^e IST ^""y' *^^ °^.
"the leather hand »^o h^^'^T ^"^"^"^ ^th
toys, she stoodSmlv 1^ "^i ^" ^°«« ^^Y
brown eyes^fiS^L^S^Kt^-^-. deep":
frock barely reaS SITnlf ^^?'' brown-velvet
stockinged ',^£,^^ .tlu^ ber thin brown-
other, as mLfht be tJ.-!- %^ "^ ^™°t of the
the oval oTher t.vl^Znl "■ "^ ''"^ bird;
cream colour mS^f L ° ^ ^'^'^ ^ '^
lips, which weTSerlil'^no^r'^'^t ^^ the
tie tuck, the tiniest^S^T ^j"' «°d had a lit-
Her hair of wanT dSt^^^! t' ^"'^ ~'^«-
brushed and 3^^ „ "^ ^"^ been ^«dally
from her forehead, wMcby^^I^f'^ back .
and this added to'her SiX^l'^\'^*«- ^^^>
thm and dark and peiSdv « S 7''''"^ ^e«
^ perfectly stnihTw Htt^ v ' ^"^ "*"« °««
ance between rS «n^ • "^ ^ P«*«t bal-
»ta«d tiU JSt^'i^^ PJ^t. Sh, ^^
~- ^ hen the gravity of her
BEYOND
13
face broke, her Ups parted, her eyes seemed to fly a
httle. And Wmton's heart turned over within him
— ^e was the very duld of her that he had lost!
And he said, in a voice that seemed to him to
tremble:
tWea, Gyp?"
<^ Thank you for my toys; I like them."
He held out his hand, und she gravdy put her
smaU hand into it. A seu^ of solace, as if some one
had shpped a finger in and smoothed his heart came
over Winton. Gently, so as not to startle her, he
raised her hand a litde, bent, and kissed it. It may
have been from his instant recognition that here
was one as sensitive as child could be, or the way
many soldiers acquire from dealing with their men
—those smiple, shrewd children--or some deeper in-
stmctive sense of ownership between them; what-
ever It was, from that moment, Gyp conceived for
hun a rushing admiration, one of those headlong
affections children wiU sometimes take for the most
unlikely persons.
He used to go there at an hour when he knew the
squu^ would be asleep, between two and five. After
he had been with Gyp, walking in the park, riding
with her m the Row, or on wet days sitting in her
-'xely nursery telling stories, while stout Betty
looKed on half hypnotized, a rather queer and
doubting look on her comfortable face— after such
hours, he found it difficult to go to the squire's study
and sit opposite him, smoking. Those interviews
remmded him too much of nast davs. when he had
i"--^^iS.^
'* BEYOND
ing sprin? An^ nr . ™ *^ d^ed in the foUow-
^K spnng. And Winton found that 1ia i,a^ u
°>ade Gyp's guardian and trustee Sfn. ^ ^°
death, the squire had mudcM W,' ,ff ^ t^ "^^ '
was heavily mortSg^ but ¥^.^' ^ ^'^^e
poaiUon wfth an lEt 'ilaTl^SsS?' ^^
from that moment <vh^Z^ satistaction, and,
to himself. neMo^r^f^ .'^'^^"S^'GyP^
Lincotoshire Se le^ st^'^'^r ""^ ^''^' *«
instaUed at Km h,.5' ^'^ ^"^ ^^"y were
tm;5 effort fn^ft huntmg-box, Mildenham. In
theiiwe-heiidoS ^^^f^^^ *° ^« "t°>ost
her. He had EneE, k? him than he from
hehadatla^tdlS^^^?"^T I* -^e when
his name, S^^otT^y^t itt t""' "f """^ ''^
Mfldenham. It w?7^ m T ^^ ^*°"' """^
onler that Gyp Z To Z^^J t-^ «^^^° ^«
the future. K he 1 • ^'. ^'^ ^^t«'° f«'
"«• wnen he came w from hunting that
BEYOND
15
day, Betty was waiting in his study. She stood in
the centre of the emptiest part of that rather dingy
room, as far as possible away from any good or
chattel. How long she had been standing there,
heaven only knew; but her round, rosy face was
confused between awe and resolution, and she had
made a sad mess of her white apron. Her blue eyes
met Winton's with a sort of desperation.
"About what Markey told me, sir. My old mas-
ter wouldn ,. have U'-i ' it, sir."
Touched jn the raw by this reminder that before
the world he had been nothing to the loved one,
that before the world the squire, who had been
nothing to her, had been everything, Winton said
icily:
"Indeed! You will be good enough to comply
with my wish, all the same."
The stout woman's face grew very red. She burst
out, breathless:
"Yes, sir; but I've seen what I've seen. I never
said anything, but I've got eyes. If Miss Gyp's to
take your name, sir, then tongues'll wag, and my
dear, dead mistress "
But at the look on his face she stopped, with her
mouth open.
"You will be kind enough to keep your thoughts
to yourself. If any word or deed of yours gives the
slightest excuse for talk — ^you go. Understand me,
you go, and you never see Gyp again! In the
meantime you will do what I ask. Gyp is my
adopted daughter."
i6
BEYOND
^ speak in that voice L? ^ 7^ ""^ '^«^«1
°»«'n of a face and weit\iA t ^' ^' ^^ ^^
f apron had never bee« , ^ ' *P"° crumpled
And Winton, at the wLT '^ ^"^ ^ ^er eV^
f ther, the 4ves fl^^J"^ ^^^^^ the dar Ji
^ to the dregs a c«n ^ l-"'''*^'^^ ^d,
had never had the riit^^ .? ^'."'^ ^'™Ph- He
another of his cMd h. *^*' •^"^*^' fo«ver-loved
li tongues n>us?:i £ tS' '^^"* "»« <*^^
«f aU his previous^^^aS ^ ^^ ^ '^^'^^
natural instinct. AndS^ ' " *^"P ^<^tory of
mto the darkness '^"^ "^'^ed and sSrS
n
In spite of his victory over all human rivals in the
heart of Gyp, Winton had a rival whose strength he
fully realized perhaps for the first time now that
die was gone, and he, befr re the fire, was brooding
over her departure and the past. Not likely that
one of his decisive type, whose life had so long been
bound up with swords and horses, would grasp what
music might mean to a little girl. Such ones, he
knew, required to be taught scales, and "In a Cot-
tage near a Wood" with other melodies. He took
care not to go within sound of them, so that he had
no conception of the avidity with which Gyp had
mopped up all, and more than all, her governess
could teach her. He was blind to the rapture with
which she listened to any stray music that came
its way to Mildenham— to carols in the Giristmas
dark, to certain hymns, and one special "Nunc Di-
mittis" in the village church, attended with a hope-
less regularity; to the horn of the hunter far out in
the quivering, dripping coverts; even to Markey's
whistling, which was full and strangely sweet.
He could share her love of dogs and horses, take
an anxious interest in her way of catching bumble-
bees in the hollow of her hand and putting them to
her small, delicate ears to hear them buzz, sympa-
thize with her continual ravages among the flower-
beds, in the old-fashioned garden, full of lilacs and
i8
BEYOND
Jabiunums in snrin
«"«mer, dahlias 2' «"^' "^' ""^oweis in
always a feTnXSl^H'" ^ ^"tun^ and
h^r*"^ paddocks. HeTotS. """"^ ^P^^a^t
her attempts to draw hiT^f. ^^ sympathize with
b;«fe; but it wasZl>Iy notf V?° ^ the son^S
how she loved and cmvTf.^ ^ *° undej^^nd
do"dy little creature 7^^J7 ""'^•=- S^e waTa
hke a brown lady sp;iW f T ^ ""ood-ra^er
a butterfly, now^brSr'^' -^^ ^' °o^gay ^
lurshness she took StStle^i^,!- ^^ tofch S
strangest compound o/Trii'^""^- She was the
;^o«dy fi^^ere r ^ -^ ^^ .^^w Xhc^^^
'^cied" things tem?i^' -^ ^^^tive. Z
con^r ^^ """"^ht notSng 2^' "^^ ""^e^ did
««clusive evidence that^! I^f'^ ^^^ to her
body, which was dZ^tn ^^ °°t loved by anv^
-anted to love ^vej^i 7""^*' becaS^^J
she would feel: «if S^^^^^' Then suddeSy
wordbT'^'^^-^oftyMrrV •
would blow away fuTt lihT^,^^ Presently all
love a.d be g^y!'^^'^,^f and she J^^
at all meant to hurt her "2* '^' P^^^Ps not
"bly- In reality, the'^'^t '^^ ^"^ her hor-
admiredher. Butle» ^""^^^^^ loved a^d
heading beings, Ct^^t?' °^ "^"^ ^^caTe^
«speciall3 in childh^^„ff "^ *«> ^^w, who^d
-orid bor. with a ^i;"tn^- themselv^f
BEYOND
19
To Winton's extreme deUght, she took to riding
as a duck to water, and knew no fear on horseback
She had the best governess he could get her the
daughter of an admiral, and, therefore, in distressed
circumstances; and later on, a tutor for her music
who came twice a week aU the way from London—
a sardonic man who cherished for her even more
secret admiration than she for him. In fact every
mde thing feU in love with her at least a HtUe.
Unhke most girls, she never had an epoch of awk-
ward plainness, but grew like a flower, evenly, stead-
ily. Wmton often gazed at her with a sort of in-
toxication; the turn of her head, the way those per-
fectly shaped, wonderfuUy clear brown eyes would
fly, the set of her straight, round neck, the very
shapmg of her limbs were all such poignant remind-
ers of what he had so loved. And yet, for all that
hkaiess to her i^other, there was a difference, both
m foi^ and diaracter. Gyp had, as it were, an
extra touch of breeding," more chiselling in b^y
more fastidiousness in soul, a little more poise, a
httle more sheer grace; in mood, more variance, in
mmd more clanty and, mixed with her sweetness,
faS"*"' ^""'^ °^ scepticism which her mother had
In modem times there are no longer "toasts." or
she would have been one with both the hunts,
-nough delicate m build, she was not frail, and
when her blood was up would "go" aU day. and
come m so bone-tired that she would drop on to
the tiger skin before the fire, rather than face the
\tM'
30
BEYON'
stairs. Life at Mfldenham was lonely save for
spintual dandyism did not gladly suffer the avera^
^^ gentleman and his frigid'courtesy f^^S
Besid^, as Betty had foreseen, tongues did wair
-th^ tongues of the countryside, aXf ^^
that might pee the tedium of duU lives and hS
And, though no breath of gossip came to Win^s
cars no women visited at Mfldenham. Save for
the fnendly casual acquaintanceshgTdiS^S
hunting-field, and local race-meeting. Gyp S^u^
'knowmg hardly any, of her own sS Eh^ZZ
developed her reserve, kept her backwS^i^'^S
f^T:^T ^"," '^*' "-'^o-scious con^eSt
for men-^tures always at the beck and call If
hTZj ^ ^ ^'^^ ytanmig for companions of
her own gender. Any girl or woman thSTshTdTd
cjance to meet always took a fancy to hTr becaS
S:rof"tht%'° *^T-' ""•^^ °^^« th/S^i?^
nature of these friendships tantalizing. She was in
capable of jealousies or backS^^ Let mTbt
Gyp's moral and spiritual growth was not the sort
t t^^Lt' ^i^r^'^d P-y much IttS
about X P'^rr^'tly a matter one did not taJk
tSd y^"^''^ ?™'' '"'^ ^ g«i^ to church,
^ould be preserved; maimers should be taughtW
by his own example as much as possibl^T^o^
BEYOND
31
this, natxire must look after things. His view had
much real wisdom. She was a quick and voracious
reader, bad at remembering what she read; and
though she had soon devoured all the books in Win-
ton's meagre library, including Byron, Whyte-Md-
ville, and Humboldt's "Cosmos," they had not left
too much on her mind. The attempts of her little
governess to impart religion were somewhat arid of
residt, and the interest of the vicar, Gyp, with her
instinctive spice of scepticism soon put into the
same category as the interest of all the other males
she knew. She felt that he enjoyed calling her
"my dear" and patting her shoulder, and that
this enjoyment was enough reward for his exet-
tions.
Tucked away in that littie old dark manor house,
whose stables alone were up to date— three hours
from London, and some thirty miles from The Wash,
it must be confessed that her upbringing lacked
modernity. About twice a year, Winton took her
up to town to stay with his unmarried sister Rosa-
mund in Curzon Street. Those weeks, if they did
nothing else, increased her natural taste for charm-
ing clothes, fortified her teeth, and fostered her pas-
sion for music and the theatre. But the two main
nourishments of the modem girl— discussion and
games— she lacked utterly. Moreover, those years
of her life from fifteen to nineteen were before the
sodal resurrection of 1906, and the world still crawled
like a winter fly on a window-pane. Winton was a
Tory, Aunt Rosamund a Tory, everybody round her
wmfr%
33
BEYOND
m
« th^ ySs^J?"^ development she under-
headlon. CK'^^^SeT^^^^V^r
any other way in which «>r ij ,f"' ^'** ^here
oped? Only'wet,lJ^S[tr'''?'^^-
sense of form that both Zi TTI. ^l ^"^^ ^«
vented much demonsSXbu?tbfwitS"T
things for him, to admire, a^d iS,> t^*^ ^' '^'^
faction; and. sinceXw!^. t? ' '^^ "^^^ Per-
decisive voice, to^e thtclX^'^^i''''.'^'^^^'
other men-^ t^ZL • ^ ^'^ ^^i^^es of
everything. Kshe^in^ri.ii'f""'.''^ ""'' I^o^d
ous inse oWom^T^^^J'^'" *^ that fastidi-
Putting all H-^lnte"Sn7r^^
company alone eave hf™ « rr^": ^nd smce her
onove ^"^ sJssrSe"»sr.'
she never realized it abunHa!^ i T^ Though
was as necessa^to wl^^Jr-^'^- '^'''^y
stems of flowers abunnLf I ^ "'^^ "P ^^
ne^ as su3n?orreLS^'"C^^-;>' f
f^'of th^ brmei^^S^J^-^edJn^^^^ by a
grew near. 'ci-overea as his return
in theleast .ri^ w!i" ^°"* conceming himself
by natuTel'o^'^^'ra^.^l^it^' ^"^^ ^^^
abominated inSe^^^^^l^e^ h^^e^rso^
BEYOND
23
It cune about that Gyp, who, by nature also never
set foot anywhere without invitation, was always
heanng the words: "Step in, Miss Gyp"; "Step in
and sit down, lovey," and a good many words be^
sides from even the boldest and baddest characters
There is nothing like a soft and pretty face and
sympathetic listening for seducing the hearts of
the people."
So passed the eleven years till she was nineteen
and Wmton forty-six. Then, under tiie wing of
her httie governess, she went to die hunt-baU. She
had revolted against appearing a "fluffy miss"
wanting to be considered at once fuU-fledged; so tii^t
her dress, perfect in fit, was not white but palest
maize-colour, as if she had already been to dances
She had all Winton's dandyism, and just so much
^ore as was appropriate to her sex. With her dark
hair, wonderfuUy fluffed and cofled, waving across
her forehead, her neck bare for the first time, her
eyes reaUy "flying," and a demeanour perfectiy cool
-as though she knew tiiat light and movement,
covetous looks, soft speeches, and admiration wer^
lier ..:thnght-she was more beautiful tiian even
Wmton had tiiought her. At her breast she wore
some spngs of yeUow jasmine procured by him from
tovTi-a flower of whose scent she was very fond,
ana that he had never seen worn in ballrooms.
That swaymg, delicate creature, warmed by excite-
ment, remmded him, in every movement and by
every glance of her eyes, of her whom he had first
metatjustsuchabaUastiiis. And by the carriage
m
24
BEYOND
sure. But twirp mr«, >v ^ giving plea-
smitten .Al^'Z^^ontZr SX '" ^^^^^
ting there againstT ^^^^^,^ZT"^ '^'^
nwm on his a™ ,h? Returning to the baU-
-y: "Oh. donT^ouLr?^' ^ ^'^f ^ ^''"-
her father .." andCdX^n^ Ss^r'-r"^ ^
accounts for it-quite so'" t;^^),^ Ah, that
back of the he^ wW.I? V '''°*' ^y«=« »* the
she could LTh.:^^ — ''^''^ "^"^^ P°^«s«.
. ^"'"" see their inquisitive mlrJ ci;»v*i ^^
aous glances anrf tn.™^ ' ' sightly mah-
And^^th^l^r^XtLeT^r^^^^-
Thevleftruf^f^?^. ^ ^''*''^« of fuU sensaUons
her mS ^J 31 ~'^"'^°° ^^ the back of
BEYOND
2S
behind some palms, he munnuring in M<« mellow,
flown voice admiration for her dress, vhcu suddcily
he bent his flushed face and kissed her bare n ji
above the elbow. If he had hit ho Le could jot
have astonished or hurt her more. It seemed to her
innocence that he would never have done such a
thing if she had not said something dreadful to en-
courage him. Without a word she got up, gazed at
him a moment with eyes dark from pain, shivered,
and slipped away. She went straight to Winton!
From her face, aU closed up, tightened lips, and the
familiar little droop at their comers, he knew some-
thing dire had happened, and his eyes boded ill for
the person who had hurt her; but she would say
nothing except that she was tired and wanted to g„
home. And so, with the UtUe faithful governess,
who, having been silent perforce nearly all the eve-
ning, was now full of conversation, they drove out
mto the frosty night Winton sat beside the chauf-
feur, smoking viciously, his fur coUar turned up over
his ears, his eyes stabbing the darkness, under his
round, low-drawn fur cap. Who had dared upset his
darling? And, within the car, the Uttle governess
chattered sofUy, and Gyp, shrouded in lace, in her
dark comer sat sUent, seeing nothing but the vision
of that insuit. Sad end to a lovely night !
She lay awake long hours in the darkness, while a
sort of coherence was forming in her mind. Those
words: "ReaUy is her father !" and that man's kiss-
ing of her bare arm were a sort of revelation of sex-
my^^ery, hardening the consciousness that there was
a6
BEYOND
recoiled from mordefiS'te n "^^<=tively she had
before Winton i ±^5,^"^?.^°^- The time
short glimpses ^J^f-'^ ^f^}~^^tty, toys.
P««l with the wS^iad^terf? ^^^ ^«°'-
so there had been r^ ^Z^ • ''f'*°^ed on Winton,
mother, how dark ait mf *u. ° '"^^'y of her
Betty, had e^tZdTl?^' ^°°«' "^ept
nothing sacrPfl in r> ^ mother. There wL
isolated from o2 S j^* '^«^^come to her;
evenof theconvStioS 'sS 1 ^L'^" "^^^«»
lying there in the SJ^' ^"^J^"^ ^°"i%.
tiorns dragged oJeTjt^S' iT^'T'^^ ^^^
stab in the heart Thl u ' .^1^** than from a
about her coi^ous^ontf';^"^*' °' «>»«^tbing
suit, as she ZS^'J^^ff'^'^'^^tiye ofS!
^ose few wakeSh^rZS^ J"" ^" '^^'^^y-
feU asleep at lasTsSSl*'?^f*^™'k. She
with a Passionate'd^'^to W^^m'^w """'^ "^
sbe sat at her nianTni;,^^" , that morning
frigid to Betty KemSn"""^ *° «°^
mer was reduced to^ ^Lf^u"?^' ^ the for-
worth. After teaSe^t^";:/*^J« to Words-
dmgy little room wherl he il ^^> '^^y* ^bat
with leather chai^S iL^Z^S^"^ "y^'
Jonocks," Byron, those ttt^^;riSL.";S-
BEYOND
27
the novels of Why te-Melville-— were never reau; with
prints of superequine celebrities, his sword, and
photographs of Gyp and of brother officers on the
walls. Two bright spots there were indeed— the
fire, and the little bowl that Gyp always kept filled
with flowers.
When she came gliding in like that, a slendir,
rounded figure, her creamy, dark-eyed, oval face all
cloudy, she seemed to Winton to have grown up of
a sudden. He had known all day that something
was coming, and had been cudgelling his brains
finely. From the fervour of his love for her, he felt
an anxiety that was ahnost fear. What could have
happened last night— that first night of her entrance
into society— meddlesome, gossiping society! She
slid down to the floor agamst his knee. He could
not see her face, could not even touch her; for she
had settled down on his right side. He mastered his
tremors and said:
"WeU, Gyp— tired?"
"No."
"A Uttle bit?"
"No."
"Was it up to what you thought, last night?"
xes.
The logs hissed and crackled; the long flames ruf-
fled in the chimney-draught; the wind roared outside
— then, so suddenly that it took his breath away:
"Dad, are you really and truly my father?"
When that which one has always known might
happen at last does happen, how little one is pre-
38
BEYOND
pared .' In the few «vnr„i= u e
could in no w^y ETe^^ w' T' "f "^'^ ^^
tumult of reflection TT ' ^?*°° ^^ ^ime for a
have blSS°VtSZ'^r.r^^^^'-°'^<l
ton was incapable of losing his head hp i. u^""
answer without having fac«l rif. ' ^""^^ °°*
feply. Tobeherf2rSti''°:r'^r^°^^
in his life; but if hH^ed ftT 7™^^*^
mjW her love for h^T^'t ^^T f ^f ^ he
How make her uuHpZ, j:> vfJ^ ^*^ * ^ul know?
thatdeadlovLlteS" '^f 5°\-0"Id
wished? "^*^ would she have
aglLsT^ln'^rtirS-H^' ^^ «^'^' P'^^d
Impossible to kee^U f^m tt ""' ^T ^ "° ^^^P-
was roused.' SilLce t^ '' T "^^ ^" ^^^t
And clenching Msi!^' T'^'^ ^^«' for him.
said: ^'^''^<^°° the arm of his chair, he
Hlwf^"''-^''" ™°*^'* '^^ I loved each other "
mu"^toL^rfi;e'^^t'''''-'^'^^v:^ven
understand? Well it n„!!?t!: '"'"^ °°''' ^'^ ^*
and he said: ' "'* *^ «°°^ through with,
"What made you ask?"
histSlt^^ihTTeJ^irt' ^^'^ "--^ "^
ness, W he ^ Jd hkS ^ °^ ''^"^^^ hitter-
nave trozen up against her.
BEYOND
29
But this acquiescent munnur made him long to
smooth it down.
"Nobody has ever known. She died when you
were bom. It was a fearful grief to me. If you've
heard anything, it's just gossip, because you go by
my name. Your mother was never talked about.
But it's best you should know, now you're grown
up. People don't often love as she and I loved.
You needn't be ashamed."
She had not moved, and her face was still turned
from him. She said quietly:
" I'm no^ ashamed. Am I very like her ? "
"Yes; more than I could ever have hoped."
Very low she said:
"Then you don't love me for myself?"
Winton was but dimly conscious of how that
question revealed her nature, its power of piercing
instinctively to the heart of things, its sensitive
pride, and demand for utter and exclusive love.
To things that go too deep, one opposes the bulwark
of obtuseness. And, smiling, he simply said:
"What do you think?"
Then, to his dismay, he perceived that she was
crying— strugglmg against it so that her shoulder
shook against his knee. He had hardly ever known
her cry, not in all the disasters of unstable youth,
and she had received her full meed of knocks and
tumbles. He could only stroke that shoulder, and say :
"Don't cry. Gyp; don't cry!"
She ceased as suddenly as she had begun, got up,
and, before he too could rise, was gone.
30
BEYOND
H;^irri;£t^^^ir3^*- as usual.
voice or manner, or k h^7^1^^'\^ ^^'
a moment that he had <SeSd?^^'^- ^ »
leaving only the faint sSf^U^lT """t °^"'
of reticence on the spiriteof TlT f °'^' ^ breach
While the old seie? JS1?°'' ^^° ^^'^P it-
it had not troubS hi^ been qmte midisclosed,
B"t Gyp, inSoSfw^'fo^f °^' ^* ^"* ^m
hood bid for^,S £;Zr °'^' ^ ^"^^ '^^■
hardened. If she^Snor/^f^^;! "^^^ had
would hurt her ' Th! ^ • . ^^ * litUe, they
To Winton the ga^e Trff ^^ ^^^ ^ 1^^-
-ore, perhap,, buT41r;i X ^ "'"' ^^^
m
The next two years were much less solitary,
passed in more or less constant gaiety. His confes-
sion spurred Winton on to the fortification of his
daughter's position. He would stand no nonsense,
would not have her looked on askance. There is
nothing like "style" for carrying the defaices of so-
dety— only, it must be the genuine thing. Whether
at Mfldenham, or in London under the wing of his
sister, there was no difficulty. Gyp was too pretty,
Winton too cool, his quietness too formidable!
She had every advantage. Society only troubles
itself.to make front against the visibly weak.
The happiest time of a girl's life is that when all
appreciate and covet her, and she herself is free as
air-a queen of hearts, for none of which she han-
kers; or, if not the happiest, at all events it is the
gayest time. What did Gyp care whether hearts
ached for her— she knew not love as yet, perhaps
would never know the pains of unrequited love. In-
toxicated with life, she led her many admirers a
pretty dance, treating them with a sort of bravura.
She did not want them to be unhappy, but she sim-
ply could not take them seriously. Never was any
girl so heart-free. She was a queer mixture in those
days, would gi\e up any pleasure for Winton, and
most for Betty or her aunt— her Uttle governess was
i
i i-
33
I r
Vll
BEYOND
gone-but of nobody else HM .h
count, accepting all ttTwt 1^.,?^ ^^ *^^ ^-
good riding and danciT hi^-^^ """"' ^"^
theatricals and mimiciy ' \^^'^\^°' "^'^^
she never failed. watSed S / "^^"^ *^ '^^
with quiet pride'aTf SaSn^ h""' ^""^'^^
to those years when a^, r '. ^^ ^^ getting
ruption of Te S^vi ^^n ."'^^T ^islikes^inter^
faUen. He purs^S^'J^^^*^^^ activity has
mg, and his very stealthv ^ ^' ?*^' ^ard-play-
ducks of his oW reS ^irl^ "^''' ""^^
unfortunates-happ?TL^^ ^T^^' ^^ other
ways as gladtTS^L^i,!? ™« ^' ^^P was al-
Heredita J gou! too ht^ "" ^" *° ^ ^^h her.
,^edart2:;'ri':f-;«^ferhin..
town, and he summoned her to?h. ^ ""''^ "P ^
he now sat by the firo r^nl^r n "^™' ^ which
receive an accoSt nf t'^^ '^ ^^ ^^ms, to
nu«ed her ^ Ih^ ^^waniship. ^Th^
carefully till S^^^™^- inheritance very
pounds. Heh^^^e^^^Hr'i'^'^^"'"^
was dangerous!lJX! it °' ''~^« object
pie, she had nofwaS f^ °^,,^«^ were am-
hade:q>Iainede:LcT^i^^y^^- ^hen he
howitwasinv,Sd an-T^u?" *'^«'' ^^'wn her
«P- her o^7^t^^''^\^ -St now
the sheets of paperTh^^T^' ^? ^^^ K^zing at
posed to unde«S «31e T" ^ ^ ^^ ^"P"
which meant th^l^J / ^? f "^"^ t^'- ^"ok
ing her eyes shTiS"*''"^- Without lift-
BEYOND
33
"Does it al' come from— him?"
^e had not expected that, and flushed mder his
"No; eight thousand of it was your mother's "
Gyp looked at him, and said:
"Then I won't take the rest— plea?" Dad "
^i^^J^^ri"^* ^'P'* ^'^ '"^^^^ pleasure.' What
dioidd be done with that money if she did not take
It, he did not m the least know. But not to take it
was J^e her, made her more than ever his daughter
-a kmd of final victory. He turned away to £
window from which he had so often watched for her
mother. There was the comer she used to turn !
In one mmute, surely she would be standing there
c Jur glowmg m her cheeks, her eyes softWd
her veil, her breast heaving a little with her haste
^Ung for his embrace. ITiere she would sS,'
A^wmg up her veJ. He turned round. Difficul
tobdieveitwasnotshe! And he said-
eqmvalent from me instead. The other can be put
by; some one will benefit some day > " ^
At those unaccustomed words, "My love," from
rt^hlTnei" '"" ^°'^^- '"^ "^^ ^^ --
She had her fiU of music in those days, taking niano
uve of Li^e, with mahogany cheeks and the touch
hu. httlefnend." There was scarcely a concert of
.Tnn^^-jp^^n
34
BEYOND
ment that she did not attend or a musician of mark
whose playmg she did not know, and, though fai
tidiousness saved her from squirming in adoraS
round the feet of those prodigiouT^erformers she
perched them aJl on pedestals, men and women i£
S^^rStTeet!"" "'' "^^ '' '^' ^""^'^ ^°"- -'
^^u^f"^^"^^'.^ '""^'^' ■" fa^ as breeding
woidd aUow, stood for a good deal to Gyp, vjho had
built up about her a romantic stoiy of love wrecked
by pnde from a few words she had once let drop
She was a taU and handsome woman, a year older
^ Wmton, with a long, aristocratic face, deep-
blue, rather shming eyes, a genUemanly mdnner
warm heart and one of those indescnbable, not un-
mdodious drawls that one comiecU with an mi-
^ble sense of privilege. She, in tum, was very
fond of Gyp; and what passed within her mind, by
no means devoid of shrewdness, a^ tc their real re-
lationship, remained ever discreetly hidden She
was, so far again as breeding would aUow, something
of a humamtanan and rebel, loving horses and dogs
and hatog ^ts, except when they had four lej
TTie girl had just that softness which fascinates
womra who perhaps might have been happier if
they had be^ bom men. Not that Rosamund Win-
ton was of an aggressive type-she merely had the
r^hite "catch hold of your tail, old fellow" spiri?
so often fomid m Englishwomen of the upper claLs
A cheery «,ul, given to long coats and waistcoats,
stocks, and a cruteh-handled stick, she-like her
-^m^.w.^ ^.mMW^'mfmm'
BEYOND
35
brothei--had "style," but more sense of humour
—valuable in musical circles ! At her house, the
girl was practically complied to see fun as well as
merit in all those prodigies, haloed with hair and
filled to overflowing with music and themselves.
And, since Gyp's natural sense of the ludicrous was
extreme, she and her aunt could rarely talk about
anything without going into fits of laughter.
Winton had his first really bad attack of gout
when Gyp was twenty-two, and, terrified lest he
might not be able to sit a horse in time for the open-
ing meets, he went off with her and Markey to
Wiesbaden. They had rooms m the Wilhehnstrasse,
overlooking the gardens, where leaves were already
turning, that gorgeous September. The cure was
long and obsdnate, and Winton badly bored. Gyp
fared much better. Attended by the silent Markey,
she rode daily on the Neroberg, chafing at regula-
tions which reduced her to specified tracks in that
majestic wood where the beeches glowed. Once or
even twice a day she went to the concerts in the
Kurhaus, either with her father or alone.
The first time she heard Fiorsen play she was
alone. Unlike most violinists, he was tall and thm,
with great pliancy of body and swift sway of move^
ment. His face was pale, and went strangely with
hair and moustache of a sort of dirt-gold colour, and
his thin cheeks with very broad high cheek-bones
had little narrow scraps of whisker. Those ^ttle
whiskers seemed to Gyp awful— indeed, he seemed
rather awful altogethei— but his playing stirred and
36
BEYOND
swept her in the most uncanny way. He had evi-
dently remarkable technique; and the emotion the
intense wayward feeling of his playing was chisefled
by that techmque, as if a flame were being frozen in
Its swaying. When he stopped, she did not join in
the tornado of applause, but sat motionless, looking
up at hmi. Quite unconstrained by aU those people
he passed the back of his hand across his hot brow'
shoving up a wave or two of that queer-coloured
hair; then, with a rather disagreeable smile, he made
a short supple bow or two. And she thought, "What
strange eyes he has— like a great cat's!" Surely
they were green; fierce, yet shy, ahnost furtive-
mesmeric! Certainly the strangtst man she had
ever seen, and the most frightemng. He seemed
lookmg straight at her; and, dropping her gaze, she
clapped. When she looked again, his face had lost
that smile for a kind of wistfuhiess. He made an-
other of those Uttle supple bows straight at her-it
seemed to Gyp-and jerked his violin up to his
shoulder. "He's going to play to me," she thought
a,bsurdly. He played without accompaniment a Kt-
tle tune that seemed to twitch the heart. When he
finished, this time she did not look up, but was con-
saous that he gave one impatient bow and walked
on.
That evening at dinner she said to Winton:
"I heard a violinist to^Iay, Dad, the most won-
derful playmg-Gustav Fiorsen. Is that Swedish
do you think— or what ? " '
Winton answered:
:^amMf^F^^ms
BEYOND
37
"Very likdy. What sort of a bounder was he to
look at? I used to know a Swede in the Turkish
army— nice fellow, too."
"Tall and thin and white-faced, with bumpy
cheek-bones, and hollows under them, and queer
green eyes. Oh, and little goldy side-whiskers."
" By Jove ! It sounds the limit."
Gyp murmured, with a smile:
"Yes; I think perhaps he is."
She saw him next day in the gardens. They were
sitting close to the Schiller statue, Winton reading
The Times, to whose advent he looked forward more
than he admitted, for he was loath by confessions of
boredom to disturb Gyp's manifest enjoyment of her
stay. While perusing the customary comforting
animadversions on the conduct of those "rascally
Radicals" who had just come into power, and the
accov"* of a Newmarket meeting, he kept stealing
sidelong glances at his daughter.
Certainly she had never looked prettier, daintier,
shown more breeding than she did out here among
these Germans with their thick pasterns, and all the
cosmopolitan hairy-heeled crowd in this God-for-
saken place! The girl, unconscious of his stealthy
regalement, was letting her clear eyes rest, m turn,
on each figure that passed, on the movements of
birds and dogs, watching the sunlight glisten on the
grass, burnish the copper beeches, the lime-trees,
and those tall poplars down there by the water.
The doctor at Mildenham, once consulted on a bout
of headache, had caUed her eyes "perfect organs,'
38
BEYOND
and certainly no eyes could take things in more
swiftly or completely. She was attractive to dogs,
and every now and then one would stop, in twa
minds whether or no to put his nose into this foreign
girl's hand. From a flirtation of eyes with a great
Dane, she looked up and saw Fioisen passing, in
company with a shorter, square man, having very
faduonable trousers and a corseted waist. The vio-
linist's tan, thin, loping figure was tightly buttoned
mto a brownish-grey frock-coat suit; he wore a rather
broad-brimmed, grey, velvety hat; in his buttonhole
was a white flower; his cloth-topped boots were of
patent leather; his tie was bunched out at tiie ends
over a soft white-Unen shirt— altogetiier quite a
dandy! His most stirange eyes suddenly swept
down on hers, aad he made a movement as if to
put his hand to his hat
'Why, he remembers me,' thought Gyp. ITiat
thm-waisted figure witii head set just a littie forward
between rather high shoulders, and its long stride,
curiously suggested a leopard or some Hthe creature!
He touched his short companion's arm, muttered
something, turned round, and came back. She could
see hun staring her way, and knew he was coming
sunply to look at her. She knew, too, that her
father was watchmg. And she felt tiiat those green-
ish eyes would waver before his stare— that stare
of the Englishman of a certain class, which never
condescends to be inquisitive. They passed; Gyp
saw Fiorsen turn to his companion, slightiy tossing
back his head in their direction, and heard Uie com-
panion laugh. A httie flame shot up in her.
^M*f:^ '^j- m^^
BEYOND
Winton said:
"Rum-looking Johnnies one sees here !'
39
That was the violinist I told you of— Fiorsen "
"Oh! Ah!" But he had evidently forgotten. "
The thought that Fiorsen should have picked her
out of all that audience for remembrance subtly
flattered her vanity. She lost her ruffled feeling.
Though her father thought his dress awful, it was
really rather becoming. He would not have looked
as weU in proper English clothes. Once, at least,
during the next two days, she noticed the short,
square young man who had been walking with him,
and was conscious that he followed her with his
eyes.
And then a certain Baroness von Maisen, a cos-
mopolitan friend of Aunt Rosamund's, German by
marriage, half-Dutch, half-French by birth, asked
her if she had heard the Swedish violinist, Fiorsen.
He would be, she said, the best violinist of the day,
if— and she shook her head. Finding that expres^
sive shake unquestioned, the baroness pursued her
thoughts:
"Ah, these musicians! He wants saving from
himself. If he does not halt soon, he will be lost.
Pity! A great talent!"
Gyp looked at her steadily and asked:
"Does he drink, then?"
"Pas mal I But there are things L<!sides drink
ma chhe." '
Instinct and so much life with Winton made the
girl regard it as beneath her to be shocked. She did
not seek knowledge of life, but refused to shy away
mnw
40
BEYOND
I*
Si
I
I
I''.
from it or be discomfited; and the baroness, to whom
mnocence was piquant, went on:
"Des femmes—toujours des femmes I Cest erand
domtnage It will spoU his spirit His sole cLce
Gyp said calmly:
"Would a man like that ever love?"
The baroness goggled her eyes.
"I have known such a man become a slave I
nave known him running after a woman like a lamb
while she was deceiving him here and there. Onne
pmt jamais dire. Ma bdk. U y a des chases que vous
ne savez pas encore." She took Gyp's hand "And
yet, one thing is certam. With those eyes and those
lil» and that figure, you have a time before you I"
Gyp withdrew her hand, smiled, and shook her
nead; she did not believe in love.
"Ah, but you wiU turn some heads I No fear! as
you English say. Here is fatality in those pretty
Drown eyes I
A girl may be pardoned who takes as a comnU-
mentAesaymg that her eyes are fatal. The words
warmed Gyp, uncontroflably light-hearted in these
days, just as she was warmed when people turned
to stare at her. The soft air, the meUowiTess of this
gay place, much music, a sense of being a rara avis
among people who, by their heavier type, enhanced
her own had produced in her a kind of intoxication
making h«a- what the baroness caUed "un peufoOe "
S>he was alwavs breaking into Uughter, havng that
i^Fi .^>a«3
BEYOND
precious feeHng of twisting the world round her
tHumb, which does not come too often in the Hfe of
one who IS sensitive. Everything to her just then
was either "funny" or "lovely." And the baroness
consaous of the girl's chic, genuinely attracted by
one so pretty, took care that she saw aU the people
perhaps more than aU, that were desirable '
To women and artists, between whom there is
ever a ceitam kinship, curiosity is a vivid emotion
Besides, the more a man has conquered, the more
preaous field he is for a woman's conquest To at-
tract a man who has attr-cted many, what is it but
a proof that one's chann is superior to that of all
those others? TTie words of the baroness deepened
m G3TP the unpression that Fiorsen was "impossi-
S .^''^^'^\}T^'^ ^^ ^^t excitement she
fdt that he should have remembered her out of all
that audience. Later on, they bore more fruit than
that^But first came that queer incident of the
Comng in from a ride, a week after she had sat
with Wmton under the SchiUer statue. Gyp found
on her dressmg-table a bunch of Gloire de Dijon
and La France roses. Plunging her nose into than
she thought: "How lovely! Who sent me theseT^?
Tliere was no card. AU that the German maid
could say was that a boy had brought them from a
flower shop "fi^ FrOuicin Vinton"; it was surmised
that they came from the baroness. In her bodice
at .Jmier. and to the concert after. Gyp wore one
La Fnmce and one Gloire de Dijon-a daring mix-
42
BEYOND
ture of pink Mid orange against her oyster^oloured
frock, which delighted her, who had a passion for
experiments in colour. They had bought no pro-
grannne, aU music being the same to Winton, and
Gyp not needing any. When she saw Fiorsen come
forward, her cheeks began to colour from sheer an-
ticipation.
He played first a minuet by Mozart; then the
C&ar Franck sonata; and when he came back to
make his bow, he was holding m his hand a Gloire
de Dijon and a La France rose. Involuntarily, Gyp
raised her hand to her own roses. His eyes met
hers; he bowed just a Uttle lower. Then, quite nat-
uraUy, put the roses to his Hps as he was walking
off the platform. Gyp dropped her hand, as if it
had been stung. ITien, with the swift thought:
Oh, that's schodgirlish!" she contrived a Uttle
smile. But her cheeks were flushing. Should she
take out those roses and let them faU? Her father
might see, might notice Fiorsen's— put two and two
together I He would consider she had been insulted.
Had she? She could not bring herself to think so.
It was too pretty a compliment, as if he wished to
tell her that he was playing to her alone. The
baroness s words flashed through her mind- "He
wants saving from himself. Pity! A great talent I"
It was & great talent. There must be something
worth saving bone who could play like that I They
left after his last solo. Gyp put the two roses care-
fully back among the othere.
Three days later, she went to an afternoon "at-
fiJtfTK-
BEYOND ^,
home" at the Baroness von Maisen's. She saw him
at once, over by the piano, with his short, ^Te
compamon listening to a vohble lady, and looS
very bored and restless All *i,o* *"" 'ooxmg
n,^^ .*-ii ~".^^"sss. All that overcast after-
noon, still and with queer lights in the sky, as if r^
were commg, Gyp had been feeling out of mwT^
httle homesick. Now she felt ex^Ted. ^e^wthe
^ort compamon detach himself and go up to Se
baroness; a minute later, he was broug^ up to Sr
and mtroduced-Count Rosek. Gyp^did Sot iSce
h^ face; there were dark rings undeT the e^^ ^d
he was too perfectly self-possessed, with a ki^d of
cold sweetn^; but he was veiy agreeable and p2
aPok wW f?^^!"- H« ^'^-it seemed-
^ t W . f ^ ^°'*°°' '^^ «^^ to know
^ that was to be kno^ about music. Miss Win-
t^-he bel^ved-lud he. vd his friend Fiorsen pLy;
but not m London? No? ITiat was odd; he had
been there some r ths last season. Faikuy an-
noyed at her ignor. .ce, Gyp answered:
smnm^!" ^ ^" ^ *^«= "'""tiy nearly all last
it!s^^\^*'""^'^- I shaU take him back;
pla^P" ^^"''^'- '-Vhat do you think of his
In spite of herself, for she did not like ex-
^ to this sphinxlike little man, Gyp mS-
"Oh, simpiv wonderful, of course '"
44 BEYOND
" May I introduce him ? Gustav— Miss Winton I "
Gyp turned. There he was, just behind her, bow-
mg; and his eyes had a look of humble adoration
which he made no attempt whatever to conceal.
Gyp saw another smile slide over the Poles lips; and
she was alone in the bay window with Fiorsen. The
moment might weH have fluttered a girl's nerves
after his recognition of her by the SchiUer statue,
after that episode of tlje flowers, and what she had
heard of him. But life had not yet touched either
her nerves or spirit; she only felt amused and a
little excited. Close to, he had not so much that
look of an animal behind bars, and he certainly was
in his way a dandy, beautifully washed— always an
important thing— and having some pleasant essence
on his handkerchief or hair, of which Gyp would
have disapproved if he had been English. He wore
a diamond ring also, which did not somehow seem
bad form on that particular little finger. Hi;;
height, his broad cheek-bones, thick but not long
hair, the hungry vitality of his face, figure, move-
ments, annulled those evidences of femininity. He
was male enough, rather too male. Speaking with
a queer, crisp accent, he said :
" Miss Winton, you are my audience here. I play
to you — only to you."
Gyp laughed.
"You laugh at me; but you need not. I play for
you because I admire you. I admire you terribly.
K I sent you those flowers, it was not to be rude.
It was my gratitude for the pleasure of your face."
BEYOND
45
And, looking down,
HHii voice actually trembled.
Gj^ answered:
"Thank you. It was very kind of you. I want
to thank you for your playing. It is beautiful-
really beautiful!"
He made her another little bow.
"Wheal go back to London, wiU you come and
hear me?"
"I should think any one would go to hear you, if
tbey had the chance."
He gave a short laugh.
"Bah! Here, I do it for money; I hate this place.
It bores me-bores me ! Was that your father sit-
tmg with you under the statue?"
Gyp nodded, suddenly grave. She tad not for-
gotten the slighting turn of his head.
^ He passed his hand over his face, as if to wipe off
Its expression.
"He is very English. But you-of no country—
you belong to all!"
Gyp made him an ironical little bow.
I'No; I should not know your country— you are
neither of the North nor of the South. You are
just Woman, made to be adored. I came here hop-
ing to meet you; I am extremely happy. Miss Win-
ton, I am your very devoted servant."
He was speaking very fast, very low, with an
ajsitated earnestness that surely could not be put
on. But suddenly muttering: "These people!" he
made her another of his little bows and abruptly
ahpped away. The baroness was bringing up an-
46
BEYOND
^"'T^haTl' '^t' ^'^^'^^ '''' ^y *^t meeting
vm Is that how he begins to eveiyone?" She
couM not quite believe it. The sta4iering e^.
S^ of his voice those humbly adoiClxS' ~
Then she remembered the smile on the h> of S.
h tie Pole and thought: "But he must know I'm not
siUy enough just to be taken in by vulgar flattL n'
Too sensitive to confide in anyone, she h^no
^^ to vendlate the curious sections of Xa"
tion and repulsion that began fermenting in hj
feehngs defying analysis, mingling and qL^eluS
deep down m her heart. It waTSrtainly notS^
not even the begimiing of that; but it wi the Sd
of dangerous mterest children feel in things C^
dared! And the tug of music was there, aid the
^e t£ri,rf .° "^^ ^°°^ about salvation
the thought of achieving the impossible, reserved
only for the woman of supreme chkrm, f o^ t^S
victr^. But aU these thoughts and iS^Se
asyetmembtyo. She might never see him^ag^!
^d^^e^certamly did not know whether ^e^'
IV
t^ 2Lc ^T^^J ''^''^' '^t^ other patient-folk,
he was required to drink slowly for tw^ty mkut^
eve^monung. While he was unbibing LToS
sit m a remote coiner of the garden, and read a
She was sitting there, the morning after the "at-
W' at the Baroness von MaS, rSibg tS
^s "Torrents of Spring," when she saw Comt
^*if ..^..T^ ^^'^^ ^^t memory of the smile
with which he had introduced Fiorsen made hlSe
coyer ben^th her smishade. She could ^ij
patent^thered feet, and well-tumeTlSt^
trousered legs go by with the gait of a iaTwS
waist is corseted. The certdnty thathe wor^
^ose prerogatives of womanhood increased her di^
iiice. How dare men be so eflEeminate? Yet some-
one had told her that he was a good rid« a^^
W, and very strong. She drew a b2o? rS
when he was past, and, for fear he might turn and
come bad., closed her Uttle book an^SppeS^ry
^^^2'L7r^' ''-' ^^ -"^ -
47
48
BEYOND
Ji I
Next Morning, on the same bench, she was reading
breathleady the scene between Gemma and Sanin
at the window, when she heard Fiorsen's voice, be-,
hind her, say:
"MissWinton!"
He, too, held a glass of the waters in one hand
and his hat in the other. '
"I have just made your father's acquaintance.
May I sit down a minute ? "
Gyp drew to one side on the bench, and he sat
down.,
"What are you reading?"
"A stoiy caUed 'Torrents of Spring.'"
^' Ah, the finest ever written I Where are you?"
'Gemma and Sanin in the thunderstorm."
"Wait! You have Madame Polozov to come!
What a creation 1 How old are you, Miss Winton ? "
"Twenty-two."
"You would be too young to appreciate that story
if you were not you. But you know much— by in-
stinct. What is your Christian name— forgive me I "
'' Ghita."
"Ghita? Not soft enough."
"I am always called Gyp."
"Gyp— ah. Gyp! Yes; Gyp!"
He repeated her name so impersonally that she
could not be angry.
"I told your father I have had the pleasure of
meeting you. He was very polite."
Gyp said coldly:
"My father is dlwaya polite."
BEYOND
49
"like the ice in which they put champagne "
Oyp smiled; she could not help it.
And suddenly he said:
;'I suppose they have told you that I am a »»ia«-
^^sujet GjT. inclined her head. He looked at
"^tU^^^^"?'^'- ''^'^^- But I could be
She wanted to look at him, but could not A
queer sort of exultation had seized on her. This
man had power; yet she had power over Wm. If
she wished she could make him her slave, her doK
Cham him to her She had but to hold out h^
hand and he would go on his knees to kiss it. She
had but to say "Come," and he would come from
^ZS^^ ^^ ™«^* ^- She had but to say "Be
good, and he would be good. It was her fct ex-
perience of power; and it was intoxicating. But—
but! Gyp could nev^r be self-confident for lonit-
ova- her most victorious moments brooded the
^Zi.l^'^'' ^ « ^-«-» Her though,
M^Wi^n*:^.'" «>mething-anything; I wiU do it,
"Then-go back to London at once. You are
wastmg yourself here, you know. You said so ' "
teS- ^* ^^'' ^'^'^^^ ^d upset, and mut-
»,."^°w!^^ asked me the one thing I can't do
Miss— Miss Gyp I" •& ^ ^^i ao,
"Please— not that; it's like a servant 1"
I aw your servant!"
m^mi^^^K^^
so
BEYOND
"fe that why you won't do what I ask you ?"
"You are cruel." ^
Gyp laughed.
He got up and said, with sudden fierceness:
hJa^ °°t «omg away from you; do not think it "
Bendmg with the utmost swiftness, he todT her
h^d, put his hps to it, and turned on his heel
Gyp, uneasy and astonished, stared at her hand
2 tmghng from the pressure of his bristly 2S
t^e Then she laughed again-it was just "f^
eign to have your hand kissed-^d went back To
her book, without takmg in the words.
frZ'^J^r°y'^P "°« st^ge than that which
Mowed? It is said that the cat fascinates irS
t d^^ o eat; here the bird fascinated the St, but
the bird too was fascinated. Gyp never l^t thi
s^ of having the whi^vhand, al^ ° Mt Z ^l
S^J!7 «trer«th of the spell she laid on him
^magnetism witii which she held him reacted on
r^-^ ^^'"^"y sceptical at first, she could not
S^Sm' ,^^T*°°""^''y'"°'°^^d unhappy
p-ateful if she did. The change in his ev^ frn™
their ordinary restless HfrcT^A f .■ ^ ™
tr^ h„JKij ^^^^, tierce, and furtive expression
A^dThA^H ^"^^'^Z^^" have been simulated
rf?if ^ °° ^."^ "'^^^ ^ ^^ that metamor-
phosis. Wherever she went, there he was. If to a
.«' **
BEYOND
51
concert, he would be a few nftr« f«.™ *k j
n^ ih^walt^i where she n>ust pass. ridinTto Se
hp^^Ti ^ ^'^ ^"'^^ °^ ^^ Kocbbnmnen when
tned m any way to compromise her F^^'
so sensidve Th^ ^ <i«i«miii. with one
scions th^tfh. ^ ^^' ™*""^ ^'^ more con-
S^hr^L '""''^ appreciated and admired h^
mg, ^ told her something of his life. His father
had been a small Swedish landowner a v^ cf
M^t-
l^Ob
^m§
l!
5* BEYOND
s^enteen he had quarreUed with his father, and
^o^^ T ""T. '"' ^ "^ ^ ti^e stre^ts^f
btockhohn. A weU-known violinist, hearing him
dnmk himself to death, and he had inherited Ihe
little estate. He had sold it at once-" for fSi«"
as he put ,t crudely. "Yes, Miss Wmton- I We
comnutted ma^y folHes, but they ai. notiiTto
^Zr' ^r°^^ the day I do not see ^any
more!" And, with that disturbing remarkf he Vlt
up and left her. She had smiled at his wo^ bS
witbn hei^ she felt excitement, sceptidT^com-
passron, a^d something she did not ^di?Tt
Uttle. ^' '^*' ""«l"stood herself very
But how far did Winton understand, how far see
whatwasgomgon? He was a stoic; but that S
not prevent jealousy from taking alarm, aad causmg
hun twmges more acute than those he stiU Wtin
Imldtfoot He was afraid of showing dfequS by
any dmmatic change, or he would^ S £
He knew too weU the signs of passion. That loiS
topmg. wolfish fiddling fellow with the bro^chS
bones and UtUe side-whiskers (Good God!) Sd
P^ ey^whose looks at Gyp he secretly nuirked
tZk pT'k^ ''^^^''' '^^^t- Perhaps £
kLfiX^ contempt for foreigner and ^u
kept hmi from direct action. He could not take it
quite seriously. Gyp, his fastidious perfect gU
-uccumbmg, even a little to a feUoTuTe Si
BEYOND .
^t^lL ^l"^^ '^'^^on, too, could not admit
that ^e would neglect to consult him in any doubt
or difficulty He foigot the sensitive ™ «
^Is forgot that his love for her had ever sSx^
words, her love for him never indulged in ^2
d^ces. Nordidheseemor^thanaUttleofwS
So^n f ? "**' ""^ ^' ^'"^^ ^ d«=tored by
^««i for his eyes, shrewd though they were. Nor
Th? w"" ^ ""/"y '°"*=^' except one episode
theday before they left, and of that he knew nS
ful. It had ramed the night before, and the soaked
tree-trunks, the soaked fallen leaves g -e oS S
hquonce-hke perfume. In Gyp there'was a ftTg
as If her spint had been suddenly emptied of exutS
m«it and ddight Was it the day, Sr the th^^S
^leavu« this place where she had so enjoyed S
self? After Imich, when Winton was settling his
accounts, she M^deml out through the lonTpark
stotchmg up the valley. The sky was bSC-
gnrs the trees were still and melancholy. Itww
aU a htUe melancholy, and she went on and m
acroM the stream, round into a muddy lane that led
up through the outskirts of a village, on to S
hjger p^und whence she could return by the main
road Why must things come to an end? For the
first Ume in her life, she thought of Mildcnham and
huntmg without enthusiasm. She would rather stay
m London. Th«e she would not be cut ofif froi
muMc, from dancing, from people, and all the eriul-
aration of bemg appreciated. On the air came the
1^ 3fMJK' ■ f '^'MM
54
BEYOND
W'
H
shrifly, hollow doming of a thwshpr .„^ *i.
to see felt on it ^u- ^' P"'™« "P her face
Ji™? ''™= °f . M timber Mfll CiTSSdliS^
•ifPoniig her dlscoirfort. m™ to ,1,. Z?*'
SSL '^"E.^J^^^'"^^
cruel? W*II t™-ii "' " Are you always so
"w«r W«l, I wiU not q)are you, either!"
I f
'"fm^-
BEYOND
SS
rihhr"^ '"f 1^^' ^^ *°°^ J^oW of her broad
ribbon sash a^d buried his face in it Gyp stood
jmblmg-the action had not stirred her^ rf
the ndiculous. He circled her knees with his arms,
"fl, 0>TP, I love you— I love you-don't send
me away-let me be with you I I am^^ do^^
your slave. Oh, Gyp, I love you I" ^"'^ ^°«
"^aZ^i'T'^'^^f^''^^^''- Men had said
n^e^'^i. Z r't ^^J°^t-««^ ring of passion,
never with that look m the eyes at once fiercely
hungry and so supplicatmg, never with that rS
^e^er, tmnd touch of hands. She could oSy
"Please get up!"
But he went on:
^^Love me a UtUe, only a litU<^lov« me! Oh,
hJ\^ J°"ft flashed through Gyp: 'To how many
has he knelt, I wonder?' His fac^ had a kiX^
b^uty m Its abandomnent-the beauty that^l«
^rny^rmng-^d she lost her frightened fS^
f^f T'J""^ ^ stammering munnur: «Iam\
prodigal, I know; but if you love me, I wiU no
ongerbe I wiU do great things for you O^Gv?^
JyouwJlsomedaymanyme! Not now. Wb!n
l^drrfiST^- '''' ^^' ^- - - -ee^
His arms crept up tiU he had buried his face
TT^ n' ^"^'- ^'^•»°"' <i-^^ knowiTw^t
she did. Gyp touched his hair, i^id said agS
m
$6
BPYOND
"No; please get up."
h3^ f ^J^^'V"*' '**"*"« °e". ^th his hands
hard clenched at his sides, whispered-
Have mercy I Speak to me!"
Qm^l^ r .^ ^ ^^'^ ^"'l '"^ and
qmvenng m her, her spirit straining away, drawn
to him, f^tasticaily confused. aTfoulTLyS
into h^ face with her troubled, dark ey^ Zd
^dd^y she was seized and cn4hed to^ ^e
^ank away, pushmg him back with aU her strenS
He hung his head, abashed, sufiFering, with^
diut, hps trembling; and her hearth' a^ E
qmvcr of compassion. She murmured-
EngL^J? know. I will teU you late^-later-in
safff™ J V ^°^}^r^> as if to make her feel
Slh^^. ^** T*"™' "««^«s °f the rain,
she began to move on, he walked beside her a v^
™t^ words or hurt her lips with the viol^ceS
Badt in her room, taking off her wet dress. Gyp
B^ !h^A- ^. ^ °°* promised anything.
But she had given him her address, both in LouZ
^h **;* ~""^- Unless she resolutely Z^^t
^l^^'^^f '•"* ^-^ restless touchTli
w^ wS^'h^^ '^•*^' "*^ '^'^ ^^^ ^y" as they
fXJilr 5! "^ ""^^ •»"; "d o°ce more aS
felt frightened and excited.
He was playing at tbr ,:oncert that i
; evening — ^h(
ler
BEYOND
:ds
57
iMt concert. And surely be had never played like
that— with a deq)airing beauly, a sort of frenzied
r^ture. Listening, there came to her a feeling-a
f«!hng of fataUty-that, whether she would or no
she could not free herself from him.
would sto^l^ £ Sfh?"^^?S? ^^ '"t
that she was nofiSs oHf MW -^^.^^^^
thing about her whS^d t^i^^"^,*^* «»»-
use the word "fataHty » baroness to
surht Zvl *V*^t'.the passion for riding and the
sight of hounds carried all befon. it nrt •
the real business of thel^n w« k2^°'.^"'' *"
began to feel dull ^d ^L JT^' '^'
dark; the autunm w^^ T^Ta ^'^^''^ was
litUe brown sSelTZ,^'' ^"^ °°^- Her
have held^nTSfe S^^^t ""^^ "'^'^ ""^ly to
accusal ^Zul^^^^tl^Mi tt l'''
with that loveTS J^Sj J'T^"^^^"^'
hearts, took go.^ea;rl^-^^-^-^P.e
S8
'lf\
BEYOND
S9
she had been cruel. For events such as these, Gyp
was both too tender-hearted and too hard on h^rsd^
She was quite lU for several days. The moment
she was better. Winton, in dismay, whisked her
back to Aunt Rosamund, in town. He wouM loL
hercompany, but if it did her good, took her out of
herself, he would be content. Runninir ud for the
h^fr^L^"" ^^ ^'"' ^' waTSved to Z
SS^^ P«'ked-up, and left her again with the
It ^ on the day after he went back to Milden-
TZS^^ she received a letter from Fiorsen, for-
warded from Buiy Street. He was-it said-just
retummg to Ix,ndon; he had not forgotten any liok
*e had ever given him, or any word she had spoken.
He should not rest till he could see her again. "For
a long tune/' the letter ended, "before i first saw
you,Iw«hkethedead-lost. All was bitter apples
to nie. Now I am a ship that comes from the whirl-
pools to a warm blue sea; now I see again the eve-
ning star. I kiM your hands, and am your faithful
slav,^-^ustav Fiorsen." n„^ words, which from
any oth« man would have excited her derision
r^ewed m Gjy that fluttered feeling, the pleasur-
able, frightened sense that she could not get away
from his pursuit. * ^
She wrote in answer to the address he gave her in
I^ndon, to say that she was sUying for a few days
m CuKon Street with her aunt, who would be glad
to see hmi If he cared to come in any afternoon be-
tween nve mid tnx, and e;«»nAfi i«» « ">-•» • -*-.
■^1
6o
BEYOND
ton." She was long over that little note. Its curt
fomudity^ve her satisfaction. Was she r<X
wished? Yes; and surely the note showed it
face, even Wmton was often baffled. Herprepara-
^n of Aunt R««amund for the reception of'Si
was a nu^terpiece of casuahiess. When he S
^ution only gazmg at Gyp when he could not be
s«m domg so. But, going out, he whispered "No?
must! She smiled and shook her head But
bubbly had come back to the wine in her^p. ^"'
T^t evening she s^d quietly to Aunt Ros^und:
Dad doesn't hke Mr. Fiorsen-^an't appreciate
his playing, of course." appreciate
n.^^ ^^ "?"' '^'**' ^""^ caused Aunt Rosa-
mund, avid-m a weU-bred way-of music to oTt
^" n^L^^ "^tr ^"^ ^^ ^^'»^-s
TJe n«t two weeks he came abnost every day. al-
ways bnngmg bia violin, Gyp playing his aowm
^ents and though his h^^Setm^^'
m«le her feel hot, she would have missed jt "™"
But when Winton next came up to Bury Street
she was m a quandao^. To coirfess tliS^FiS
was here, having omitted to speak of him iL^
lettera? Not to confess, and 1^ hij^ ^dk
out from Aunt Rosamund? Which waT^^?
^ wid, panic, she did neither, but toiJSer feSL
she was dymg for a gaUop. Hailing that as TS
BEYOND
6l
best of signs, he took her forthwith back to Milden-
ham. And curious were her feelings— light-hearted,
compunctious, as of one who escapes yet knows she
will soon be seeking to return. The meet was rather
far next day, but she msisted on riding to it, since
old Pettance, the superannuated jockey, charitably
employed as extra stable help at MiWenham, was
to bring on her second horse. There was a good
scenting-wind, with rain in the ofSng, and outside
the covert they had a comer to themselves— Win-
ton knowing a trick worth two of the field's at-large.
They had slipped there, luckily unseen, for the know-
ing were given to following the one-handed horse-
man in faded pink, who, on his bang-tailed black
mare, had a knack of getting so well away. One
of the whips, a little dark fellow with smouldery
eyes and sucked-in weathered cheeks, dashed out
tof covert, rode past, saluting, and dashed in again.
A jay came out with a screech, dived, and doubled
back; a hare made off across the fallow— the light-
brown loppmg creature was barely visible against
the brownish soil. Pigeons, very high up, flew over
and away to the next wood. The shrilhng voices
of the whips rose from the covert-depths, and just
a whimper now and then from the hounds, swiftly
wheeling their noses among the fern and briers.
Gyp, crisping her fingers on the reins, drew-in
deep breaths. It smelled so sweet and soft and
fresh under that sky, pied of blue, and of white and
light-grey swift-moving clouds— not h:''^ the wind
dowa here that there was up there, jusi enough to
69
BEYOND
U
be canying off the beech and oak leaves inn^„^
by frost two days before Tf Li * ' '°°«oed
A burst of music' fi^TSe SlLrt ^'t^.'^''^^^'
vanished among the briers ' ^ ^' ^'^
Gyp's new brown hoise pricked if« oaro a
™^ireqx)nse. Then she frowned. Hehadsooiled
their lovely loneliness. Who was he? H^ i u!^
unpardonably serene and h;pp;^tS^ tSe'^'cS
did not remember his face ai Sl^t f^,!
£g^dLrc^rh:sreSo-^^
bold, cool, merry look Wh.»> k / i. ^ ' *
bodjJ like him? Where had she seen some-
he^ ^llir'w ^r''^. ^^*°° °^« J^-' turn her
JSSesl'^BiSyrX'fi^^r '^'^ ^"^^^
itsv^;^^^^--s;"waSnrN;t
a sound, not a quiver, as if horse andZk hS
BEYOJTO
63
turned to metal. Was he never going to give the
view-haUoo? Then his lips writhed, and out it
came. Gyp cast a swift smile of gratitude at the
young man for having had taste and sense to leave
that to her father, and again he smfled at her. There
were the first hounds streaming out— one on the
other-music and feather 1 Why didn't Dad go?
They would all be round this way in a ■•inute!
Then the black mare sKd past her, and, with a
bound, her horse foUowed. The young man on
the chestnut was away on the left. Only the hunts-
man and one whip-beside their three selves!
Uonousl The brown horse went too fast at that
first fence and Winton called back: "Steady Gvp!
Steady him I" But she couldn't; and it 'didn't
matter Grass, three fields of grass! Oh, what a
lovely fox-going so straight! And each time the
brown horse rose, she thought: "Perfect! I can
nde ! Oh, I am happy !» And she hoped her father
and the young man were looking. There was no
feehng m the world like this, with a leader like
Dad, hounds moving free, good going, ami the
field distanced. Better than dancing; better-
yes, better than listening to music. If one could
spend one's life gaUoping, sailing over fences; if
It would never stop ! The new horse was a darlinir
though he did pull.
She crossed the next fence level with the young
man, whose low chestnut mare moved with a
stealdiy action. His hat was crammed down now
and his face very determined, but his Kps still had
64
BEYOND
fully qdStI"T& W?nt f ^"^-^ '^""-
was perfection, K'eS, ^T ^- * "^""^
pendituns Tu.u 7 ""* * minimum ex-
a field ahead. «nm^ de^^tdv u^,' S""''^
and the thoi At fln.k-S T^Pe™'"y, brush down;
let's catch 5 .u ^^ f^"^^ ^''- '^^^ don't
m at deaths befon^-horridl Z it hJf^^
lovely galloD. And Kr»»f».i ... °^ *'««» »
noticing. '^' ^"'''"* ™t young man
She could see him talkinir to h» fon. j .
BEYOND
65
laaness. Gyp made him an ironical little bow
and munnured: "My new horse, you mean!" He
broke agam mto that irrepressible smile, but, aU
the same, she knew that he admired her. And she
k^t^^thmking: 'Where have I seen someTe £
They had two more runs, but nothing like tb^r
firstg^op. Nor did she again see the yo^grJ:'
whose name-it seemed-was Summerhay, «^ tf
a certem Lady Summerhay at Widrin^Jon ten
miles from Mildenham. ^
SVtf *i ^' ^t.^^"^ happy-saturated
^?.f u '''*^°°- ^«= ^«» and fields, the
hay-stacks, gates, and ponds beside the lanes gr7w
dun; hghte came up in the cottage windovS- S
air smeUed sweet of wood smokT. And to Se
of hmi ahnost longingly. If he could be there in
ste lay back-drowsmg, dreaming by the fire in
or that httle h«irt-catching tune of pS2,7yS
the &.t time die heard him, or a dozen oLrot
£th^f7'l^"'r^°"P^«^' That would
be the most lovely endmg to this lovely day. Just
^L^r^^ T™'^ *'^ °"^«= "d adorati^I
And touching the mare with her heel, she sighed.
2 mdulge fanaes about music and Fiorsen^S
safe here, far away from him; she even thouS
66
BEYOND
ri!
she would not mind if he wm* f« u.v
he had under ^irch-^Tl*?.**^?^ "^^ «»
uc nave Deen so treacherous to her? At, k..* u
ffirT:;?..^?'^^' -^^ « '^ i'
«taggen=5h^''l^°'^,'°^lr.- ^he thought
**" *°e, without knowing it, got
^Ifm^fi
^*._^,
BEYOND
67
sofarasthis? Y«, and further. It was afl no
good, Fiorsen would never accept refusal, even if
she gave It I But, did she want to refuse?
She loved hot baths, but had never stayed m one
so long Life was so easy there, and so difficult out-
».?^i ?t^^ ^^ ^°^ ^«" ^ 8«t o"t at last,
and let her m with tea and the message. Would
Miss Gyp please to go down when she was ready?
u ;
1^
[V
It I
it I!
VI
vaaishW fir!!l"!f**^" ^'^ * glance at Gvn'a
the word "this" was th^Z^. "' ^ "« of
his motions. In Zt S,^^ '^^ '»*' ^o^«l of
a squash hat in his CdT T„T' "^ ^'"°«
ftJ^e he was mZS^\^^ own peculiar
look you in the^^^if hf ^l ""^ ""^^^'t he
alwut to eat your* ' " *''• '''^y ^Id he seem
irmS'?'^"' ' ^ "^"™«1 to London, Major
hitter to Wia^ nfLS "*?* :«»s chill and
viator was afnud olhLtlS' ^ '*'* ^^ his
did not mean toheb hSf ^"^l^^rtesy; and he
not. of cZc S^t^^' '"if- "« «>"ld
not prevent F o««^„„ u^."«°dancy would
his back and aiS? JTh J2r. ">" "^^
"^tforSHte-tj^t^S^esl^h^
BEYOND
69
Floreen, who had begun to nace thp «v.™
•topped, and said with aSon° ^ " "°"'
Major Winton your daughter is the most beau-
tiful thing on earth. I love her desperately ll
a man with a future, though youTay not iS
It. I have what future I like in my ,^ if oXf
much^but m my violin there is all the^fortune I
tif ""iLt'lt.'Tr^ ""^'^ but cold con-
tempt, llmt this feUow should take him for one
who would consider money in comiectiZwii S
daughter simply affronted him.
Fiorsen went on:
th^^""/" °°* "^^ me-that is clear. I saw it
the first moment. You are an EngUsh g^tle
"ony I am nothing to you. Yet, in my world
I am something. I am not an adventurer. WUl
£e?^. "!,!?• ^1°^ ^^"^ to be my
wife? He raised his hands that stm held the hat- in
vohmtarily th<^ had assumed the attitude o^p^^^^:
S^rigiS^' went in a flash, and he
"I am obliged to you, sir, for coming to me first.
You are m my house, and I don'tlrant to be di^
courteous, but I should be glad if you woufd^
go^enough to withdraw and take it that f diS
certamly oppose your wish as best I can."
The ahnost childish disappointment and trouble
TO
BEYOND
loved her mother. Kh" ' ^°" ""'' ^^
".y hopes -dlS^irSt^n:'" '"'?V'»^
•gine you've not Il»™.fK ^""^ J'""- 1 ™-
Wierf>«le„, Mr fIS^!^"^ "^^ ''"^ '^*~"' •>" "^
Fiorsen answered with a twint^ »,,• l.
Was It any good to refuse? Sh.^ h.^ k
">« the fellow already witfimft KJ. u T.*^ **"
wre. And he said ^^^' ^^^^'^ver they
stained clothes beforeXfi» ' "* ^ '""«'-
Uun his visitor.'^¥E,f*^g"JJJf^«i it better
de«vourin«toeniul»ti.K!.fc-l.. ?"""*' a^'er en-
•U such^l^t'!*^,i~»».«l"i«tude, renounced
here, fidS^,re« ^^:r.? «"'""• ^'^'^
the wfaTw drJr;si^r£?,'^! ."^•"' '^'^t to
out into the <kA^^ ^T" ^X "T^ '^'^ ^'ared
toc^.»t^^r^'en':t£d\rti::f5S
BEYOND
71
80 motionless before the fire, flung himself down in
an armchair, and turned his face to the waU Win-
ton was not cruel by nature, but he enjoyed the
wnthings of this fellow who was endangering Gyp's
happmess Endangering? Surely not possible that
she would accept him I Yet, if not, why had she
not told hrni? And he, too, suffered.
Then she came. He had expected her to be pale
and nervous; but Gyp never admitted being naughty
tiU she had been forgiven. Her smiling face hj^ in
It a kmd of wammg closeness. She went up to
Fionen, and holding out her hand, said cahnly
How nice of you to come I"
Winton had the bitter feeling that he-he-was
the outsider. Well, he would speak plainly; there
Had been too much underhand doing.
"Mr. Fiorsen has done us the honour to wish to
many you. I've told him that you decide such
things for yourself. If you accept him, it v iU be
agamst my wish, naturally."
While he was speaking, the glow in her cheeks
deepened; she looked neither at him nor at Fior-
sen. Winton noted the rise and faU of the lace on
her breast. She was smiling, and gave the tiniest
shrug of her sbrulders. And, suddenly smitten to
the heart, he walked stiffly to the door. It was
evident that she had no use for his guidance If
her low for him was not worth to her more than
this fellow! But there his resentment stopped.
He knew that he could not aflford wounded feelinm-
could not get on without her. Married toUie
^.
1*
BEYOND
With sore h«?t. taSteed t JT^* "''-^« P"t-
What the fSJw uS i^d or ^.TS ''"'^ '*^-
-ujd not for thTTld' It'^^'^^f't
to go against his^E kS^ "^l' '*"' »«"*
existedTfor anrmS^ ^ST^ J?***^ ""* have
^TeU me fxanldy. Gyp; do you care for that
She answered as quieUy:
to a way— yes."
"Is that enough?"
"I don't know, Dad "
He ^t his hS^Tut c^v^ ': T: "^ "oved.
."I shaU never sL^TthTwl T "^ '*^^-
piness, Gyp. But TmZ* ?.\ ^.°^ ^"^ ^^
Po«ibiyb2^that" i?J? S>P^«»- Can it
what they «udi'hiio^LS^.'"- ''''"'"'"'
BEYOND
73
"Ym."
^ had not thought she knew. And his heart
"ITjat's pretty bad, you know. And is he of
our world at all?" ««i » nc oi
Gyp looked up.
"Do you think / belong to 'our world,' Dad?"
haSCeJZirr'- ''^'^^^'^^^^
iZ'fSH'* "*" to l^r- B"t it'« true, isn't it?
I don t belong among soaety people. TheywouMn't
have me, you know-if they knew about what you
told me. Ever suice that I've felt I don't belong
tottem. I'm nearer him. Music means mote to
me than anything 1"
Winton gave her hand a convulsive grip, A sense
of rommg drfeat and bereavement w^ on him.
If your happiness went wrong. Gyp, I should
be most awfully cut up."
''But why shouldn't I be h^py, Dad?"
K you were, I could put up with anyone. But,
I teU you, I can't believe you would be. I be«^
you, my deai— for God's sake, make sure ru
put a bullet into the man who treato you badly."
"We'll go up to town to-morrow."
fm™ r?*^ !"°u* ^"^ °^ the inevitable, or
from the forlom hope that seeing more of the fel-
low might be the only chance of curinii her-he
put no more obstacles in the way
74
BEYOND
"^t ^e was SnSss'^r^l" ^ ^P««ion
not the biirf nl„ .' °°* **« slave— the cat
her, she recoUed aIm<S? S^l^T^ "f^^^^^
^ going towarf B„T • ^^ ^™°' ^^^a* she
withal remorseful that .^ fOid ha adoration,
his unhappmess Us thl^^' '^'^ '''• ^
riding «.ShS,Sl«^°SS' ^. S'^ ^•'•
Aunt Rosamund thoulh „^.u^ ^^ ^ ^^ter.
-•usic. had Wed St 'l*^\'P^°^F^°"«'s
was "imposJP ?ut„Sf^^"'?^ ^^ ^iorsen
effect r^ It ^ °°ij^f *^ «Jd "«de any
cover in this^ft LSJirTr T^ l"""^ *" ^
bomness. OpSribV^^ ^^ "i** ^ ^''^ ^^ stub-
to P«-detr^t ci wTirm^Te""^. ^
S^calS^'p^itef "-f^' ^'^-
it.S^
.JlJI'
ion
at,
as-
ted
ihe
ed
m,
ler
in
e,
r.
's
n
y
BEYOND 75
^^r? ^^"^ ^^ hand of her husband and
kept pajn and disappointment out of his face, know-
tZ^ been no church, no wedding-cake, in^I
tations, congratulations, fal-Ials of any kind-he
InTJ-^'^"'*"^*^™- Not even Rosamund
-who had influenza-to put up with I
.t.^ J^ ^ ^'^ '"^^ °f that old chair, he
stared mto the fire. ^^
. They would be just about at Torquay by now-
just about Music I Who would Vve ^tl^^ht
2 Sn,^"" T^ ^""° '^^ Yes, they would be
at Torquay by now, at their hotel. And the first
P^er Wmton had uttered for years escap^^
"Let her be happy I Let her be happy 1"
Th«m, hearing Markey open the door, he closed
his eyes and feigned sleep.
■ma
.■■*»**■'
'"V"
'«vR-Js? '*■ -J^^% -'■■ ■" 12
m
■ex li'^
PS"«'
PART II
#^:^ij^^ y:mmims^^^:^mmm^.
••eweow iBotuTioN tbt omit
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHAUT No. 2)
L^|J^ |L6
/1PPLIED IM/1GE Ine
16iJ Eo»t Moin StrMi
Roch«t«f. Nm York 14009 USA
{'16) 482-0300 -Phofw
(716) 2Ba-5»«9-f9«
1'*!^
Wh^ a girl first sits opposite the man she has
mMTied, of what does she think? Not of the issues
and emotions that He in wait. TTiey are too over-
whehmng; she would avoid them whUe she can
Gyp thought of her frock, a mushroom-coloured
velvet cord. Not many girls of her class ar« mar-
ned without "fal-lals," as Winton had caUed them.
Not many girls sit in the comer of their reserved
^t-dasa compartments withcut the excitement of
havmg been supreme centre of the world for some
flattering hours to buoy them up on that train
journey, with no memories of friends' behaviour
speech, appearance, to chat of with her husband'
» as to keq, thought away. For Gyp, her dress!
first worn that day, Betty's breakdown, the faces
bknk 03 luts, of the registrar and clerk, were about
all she had to distract her. She stole a look at her
husband clothed in blue serge, just opposite. Her
husband I Mrs. Gustav Fiorsen! No! People
might call her that; to herself, she was Ghita Win-
ton. Ghita Fiorsen would never seem right And
not confusing that she was afraid to meet his eyes'
but afraid all the same, she looked out of the win-
dow. A duU, bleak, dismal day; no warmth, no
sun, no music in it-the Thames as grey as lead,
the willows on lU banks forlorn.
79
8o
BEYOND
Suddenly she felt his hand on hers. She had not
seen his face Kke that before~yes; once or twice
when he was playing— a spirit shining through
She felt suddenly secure. U it stayed like that
then!— His hand rested on her knee; his face
changed just a httle; the spirit seemed to waver
to be fading; his Ups grew fuller. He crossed over
and sat beside her. Instantly she began to talk
about their house, where they were going ;» put
certam things— presents and all that He too
talked of the house; but every now and th^ he
gtonced at the corridor, and muttered. It was
pleasant to feel that the thought of her possessed
hm through and through, but she was tremulously
^ of that corridor. Life is mercifullv made up
of httle things I And Gyp was always able to live
in the moment. In the houra they had spent to-
gethw, up to now, he had been like a starved man
matching hasty meals; now that he had her to
huMeK for good, he was another creature alto-
gethei— like a boy out of school, and kept her
laughing nearly all the time.
Presently he got down his practise violin, and
putting on the mute, played, looking at her over
his shoulder with a droU smfle. She felt happy
much warmer at heart, now. And when his face
was turned away, she looked U him. He was so
much better looking now than when he had those
htUe wluskers. One day she had touched one of
toem and said : "Ah ! if only these wings could fly I"
Next morning they had flown. His face was not
BEYOND 8j
one to be easfly got used to; she was not used to
It yet, any more than she was used to his touch
When It grew dark, and he wanted to draw down
the blinds, she caught him by the sleeve, and said:
No, no; they'll know we're honeymooners!"
'Well, my Gyp, and are we not?"
But he obeyed; only, as the hours went on, his
eyes seemed never to let her alone.
At Torquay, the sky was clear and starry- the
wind brought whiffs of sea-scent into their cab-
lights winked far out on a headland; and in the
httie harbour, aU bluish dark, many little boats
floated like tame birds. He had put his arm ro-ond
her, and she could feel his hand resting on her heart
She was grateful that he kept so stiU. When the
cab stopped and they entered the haU of the hotel
she whispered: '
"Don't let's let them seel"
Still, mercifully, Uttle things! Inspecting tlie
three rooms, getting the luggage divided between
dressmg-room and bedroom, unpacking, wonder-
ing which dress to put on for dinner, stoppmg to
look out over the dark rocks and the sea, where
the moon was coming up, wondering if she dared
lock the door while she was dressing, deciding that
It would be siUy; dressing so quickly, fluttenng
when she found him suddenly there close behind
her, beginmng to do up her hooks. Those fingers
were too skilful I It was the first time she had
thought of his past with a sort of hurt pride and
fasudiousness. When he had finished, he twisted
83
BEYOND
her round, held her away, looked at her from head
to foot, and said below bis breath-
"Mine!"
Her heart beat fast then; but suddenly he
laughed, sUpped his arm about her, and danced
her twice round the room. He let her go demurely
down the stair in front of him, saying:
"They shan't see-my Gyp. Oh, they shan't
see! We are old married people, tired of each
other — very!"
At dinner it amused him at first— her too, a
htUe— to keep up this farce of indifference. But
evepr now and then he turned and stared at some
moffensive visitor who was taking interest in them,
with such fierce and genuine contempt that Gyp
took alarm; whereon he laughed. When she had
drunk a httle wine and le had drunk a good deal,
the farce of mdifference came to its end. He talked
at a great rate now, slying nicknamiug the waiters
and numicking the people around— happy thrusts
that made her smile but shiver a little, lest they
should be heard or seen. Their heads were dose
together across the little table. They went out
into the lounge. Coffee came, and he wanted her
to smoke with him. She had never smoked in a
pubhc room. But it seemed stiff and "missish" to
refuse— she must do now as his world did. And it
was another httle thing; she wanted htUe things.
aU the time wanted them. She drew back a window-
curtain, and they stood there side by side. The
sea was deq) blue beneath bright stars, and the
BEYOND
83
moon shone through a ragged pine-tree on a little
headland. Though she stood five feet six in her
shoes, she was only up to his mouth. He sighed and
said: "Beautiful night, my Gyp!" And suddenly
It struck her that she knew nothing of what was in
him, and yet he was her husband! "Husband"—
funny word, not pretty ! She felt as a child opening
the door of a dark room, and, clutching his arm
said: '
"Look! There's a sailing-boat. What's it doing
out there at night?" Another Httle thing! Anv
httle thing ! ^
Presently he said:
"Come up-stairs! Ill play to you."
Up in their sitting-room was a piano, but--not
possible; to-morrow they would have to get an-
other. To-morrow! The fire was hot, and he
took off his coat to play. In one of his shirt-sleeves
there was a rent. She thought, with a sort of tri-
umph: 'I shaU mend that!' It was something
definite, actual-a htUe thing. There were lilies
m the room that gave a strong, sweet scent. He
brought them up to her to sniff, and, while s!ie was
sniffing, stooped suddenly and kissed her neck. She
shut her eyes with a shiver. He took the flowers
away at once, and when she opened her eyes again
his violin was at his shoulder. For a whole horn-
he played, and Gyp, in her cream-coloured frock,
^y back, Ustening. She was tired, not sleepy
It would have been nice to have been sleepy Her
mouth had its little sad tuck or dimple at the comer-
i; ,1
84
BEYOND
put away the violin, and S^- °"'^'^- ^' ^* ^^^
n£.*° "J*^' ^yP' yo"'re tired."
-».Id „,_j^ laylSf "uJlkf'd^' "S
doorooited. She shut her evS^ tt,!i i ,.'
at an? I, did „„, «eml^t ^e^! ' ^
the byu she a„ hin couching « Sffoot i
inZ. i*'^ P""«> to give by halves. And
in those early days she gave Fiorsen everytUng
tK:;:;''K'.T- ^he eamesUy desired tTS
haps If the wild man in him, maddened by beautv
Lrt Sh?'^' °°' " °"^*^^ '""^ ^P-t ^an S
of her°"£\t'''\^°°' ^'^ ^'' "P^ ^d the'rest
? n^^l ? ^ \^^ ""^ °°* «^ttmg her heart, and
It made hmi m the wildness of his nature and ^e
perversity of a man, go just the wrong way t^ork
tr^g to conquer her by the senses' not^^tiesSS:
Vet she was not unhappy-it cannot be said she
was unhappy, except for a sort of lost feelhT^me!
^es as tf she were trying to grasp ^eS
t^L^^v.- ^^^r^' ^PP^ ^^y- She wasS
to give him pleasure. She felt no repuIsion-S
was man's nature. Only there was always tS?
£"liT.t'^^r^''°''- Whenhewip^!
But t Jt V*''"' .r^y ^ '^ set dose to him!'
But the look would go; how to keep it thereThe
^d not know, and when it went, he? feeling went
th J w f^^ "J'^ °^ "^"^ ^s at the very end of
wished. While he practised in the mommgs she
86
BEYOND
and laurustinus a «SJ ^coming out-^ubretia,
wa5 imceS, «n^ ^^^ ^"^^^ ^^°^ name
with S wi'd^;,''"'j r^ ^^y ^d were b^^
in her hearT-St w^H Jf i ^V"^'' ^P^g <^^
whole be^g sc^i ^^^^^ '"^ ^^en first the
and the wLd-^e fSin^'ff'T ^ ^^ ^"^
spring is not vetLTT^ ^* ""^^ *^°™es when
once SeSk oft™ "^"^ ^'^ ^^J^''^^ aU at
their greSfLS Sl^' °''' ^''' ^'""^ ^own
mewing ^ ^*^ ""^"°« ^"^ l^ce a kitten's
Out here she had feelings that =i,<. j-j
with him, of being at oS^SxtelS^' s? f^
not realize how trpm»n^« i t y"™S" "^ ^^
these few da^I. SrSuS%'i fTalrl,^
come mto the light music of her llf^ t^- ^^^
Fiorsen was opening her e,^, m \ t"^^ ^^
knowledge of '2w^^,*° ^.f^^'^^ '"^^
fatal receptivity, sh/ w^'^3r2a£; ^^ ^
atmosphere of his philosophvHp wo ^ ^ *^^
revolt against accepting Es ^auTh. ""^^ ^
pected to; but, like mL^u^t artists T "^-•
no reasoner, just a mere instinctive ScSr ^^
ItS^a set Tte^T '^^ ?-^ "^uJ
pity for 'a be^i' o^ S^d ml TS^Vav"^- "^
f- a man wiU. We feet or aXg n^^'ofrC
BEYOND
87
for a woman with a flat chest or an expression of
half an hour later would sit staring into s^e ^i^of
darkness „, a sort of powerful big o^Ss JhoJe
bemg. Insensibly she shared in this deJXS.
of sensa .on, bat always gracefully, fStSS
never losing sense of other people's filings. ^'
In his love raptures, he just avoided settin;' her
nerves on edge, because he never faileTto Je Lr
feel his enjoyment of her beauty; that SStuS
consciousness, too, of not belon^g ^ th^"?!^!^
Z^^ \^^" )^ ""' ""'i *^^^ againsTfeeling
snocied. But m other ways he did shock her 'iht
could not get used to his utter obh^Tof "S
f^gs to the ferocious contempt with wS he
would look at those who got on his nervS and
^ke half-audible com^.ents, just as he S'com
mented on her own father when he and cZt
Rosek pas^ them, by the SchiUer statue X
woiJd visib y shrink at those remarks, tTough they
were sometimes so excruciatingly fu;ny that she
had to laugh ad feel dreadful hmnedi^tety after
He fS ; V ^ ^^ «°* "P ^^ ^-Jked away
He foUowed her, sat on the floor beside her k^s
Forgive me, my Gyp; but they are such brutes
88
BEYOND
^t^tif^ 'iL,^- '? "-who could, «-
durmg durncr, she answeiS- ^"^ °^^^^s
-^X^^-the^^r^^^'^^- the brute. You
gjven way to aaiter with hZ n ^ *""" ''^ ^^^d
very dist!:rbedTS^;'^b^'„3,«>^^ ^' by the fire,
upset at having hurrLTTl. J^" "°' ^^
feeling miseS ^U^' ^""^^ ^"^ °"«ht to be
brute. She woJStk^'^to'SH'f "^ ^
playing, but it was to^ JaTe to rf,-r^ ^^"^^ ^y
P'ing to the window ^eLLy^ P^oP^e. ^^d
Jfeling beaten and coSusS^^I^? °^*^' ^ ^.
time she had given freT-^V This was the first
what Winton S Ce^S t^^t"°!,^^^*
K he had been Emrlish ,1,!^ iT^ "bounderism."
attracted by one^^'^'^tl^^rr have been
people's feelings, wit Sl^^'^ "^ °° °ther
His Strang JS ^.'^' ^ attracted her?
passio3r^ii™^' t%T.^eric pull of his
in him. Tlesv^n f^„ Nothing could spoil that
J;« was like thrS'oft^t^^rC' Sd'^S.^^-
beating on the rocks- or t^»' '^"\'^^ surf-edged,
^;
BEYOND
89
mmm0
out Sie S I^sL^S^^ "*° ^'' ^^ *""^^
Ana men, without more ado, she slept.
90
BEYOND
ner tather m a railway-carriage out at sea with thl
water n«ng higher and hg;, s^'^^J^,
S^^^S^/Saf^jfS/^
^;;oti?5.^^ustt;j^^:-^^
her not to move, he chose that moment to L^^
the sound and each time she thought: 'NoTcaJ?
people he wakes up. He does just what he S
^d cares nothing for anyone.' 'And coveL W
^^ .hT S^^' ^r '^f "«J to he moSi
stcS T^r^^ her hands at last, he had
dS^kut^ -i5' ^"""^ ^ '^°°^«' ^d feigned
t^Li , * ^f.**^ °«t spare even sleep. She su^
nutted to his kisses without a word, her he^ hl^d
Next morning ne seemed to have forgotten h^
But Gyp had not. She wanted badly to kn^wwS
he h^ fdt. where he had gone, but'was trp^tl
She wrote twice to her father m the first week
but afterwards, except for a postcard now Sd
BEYOND
91
long for London. The thought of her little house
was a green spot to dweU on. When they were set-
tled in, and could do what they liked without anxiety
about people's feelings, it would be aU right perhaps.
When he could start again reaUy working, and she
helpmg him, aU would be different. Her new house
and so much to do; her new garden, and fruit-trees
conung into blossom! She would have dogs and
^ts, would ride when Dad was in town. Aunt
Rosamund would come, friends, evenings of music
dances stiU, perhaps— he danced beautifuUy, and
loved It, as she did. And his concerts— the elation
of bemg identified with his success ! But, above aU,
the excitement of making her home as dainty as she
could, with daring experiments in form and colour.
And yet, at heart she knew that to be already look-
ing forward, banning the present, was a bad sign
One thing, at all evente, she enjoyed-sailing.
They had blue days when even the March sun was
warm, and there was just breeze enough. He got
on exceUenUy well with the old salt whose boat they
used, for he was at his best with simple folk, whose
lingo he could understand about as much as they
could understand his.
In those hours, Gyp had some real sensations of
romance. The sea was so blue, the rocks and
wooded qjurs of that Southern coast so dreamy in
the bright land-haze. ObUvious of " the old salt,"
he would put his arm round her; out there, she could
swaUow down her sense of form, and be grateful for
feeling nearer to him in q)irit She made loyal
<,3
BJEYOND
efforts to understand him in these week, th *
brmgmg a certain disiUusionS ^ ^^ """"
part of marriage was nnfThT? i.', ^^ elemental
herself f^So^sh °dS n^°""'' ^ ^^ '^^ "^ot
after one of SSL ^nS!. ^.°^ '^°* ^- When,
little bitter ^.r^Tsk^S"^ "l'"* ^^ ^
for me," she woid feel .!^' ^' ""** y°" <^
an msuperable barrier; and aiS^«? ^^°*.°^
stmcbve recoa from lettm^ £S%f cJ"^' ^
not let herself be known ,„^l ^ ^^® <=o»iJd
him- Whydid^e;rof^^?\'^"^'^°°t'^ow
that did Zt seeiTto S h rT ^^f ^"^ ^ ^'"^
the midst of serious pl^'^b^ "^^ ^im. in
or desolate little txme^'ZTt^^.'^'^^ ^^"^
save him those Wi; ^^ ^ ^"^^^ What
the maddestSet? A^ «^,«l«iection, foUowing
he in those rielLeni^;;^' ^^* '^^^
his strange pale f^Tgrl^ ^"1^°™^^
Ot.^dLSi^^tsy---'^-
always affec'ied G^^Zlt^^r ^. °^J ^'^^'
"Why do you Z l^S;?''"''' "'' ^^^^^
mui?'L5^:4^'tl5:^^,5'-^'^- A good Judge of
I think he is hateful."
BEYOND
93
Fiorsen laughed.
you verv much r w^ r^^^ you— on, ne admires
sS^^enL'''"' ^""^ '^^^-^ pour
Gyp laughed.
ITf^i 5^'^ '^^ * toad. I think."
"iTvn ^-^ ^^ **^^ ' He wiU be flattered »
If you do; If you give me away-I— "
facfwTS^ J.r** "^^ h" in his arms; his
comLg tanushed her anticipations of home-
They went to Town three days later Whil- ,v,
tas was skirtine Lorrf'o r^vuIT I' "^*"*' **
her hand WkoSs itfT'^^^-^ "^^^
ment The tre^^ k l^^ ^ ^"°^"^ "^ ^"^^t-
nine-thirteen! Two morerl^r" •. ^^' '*'''^°'
teen, in white ferunTonTK^ t^ '' '^'^' "^e-
blossom v^Tut^ ! \r' *?? "^^ '^°°''-
ht^^^-rts^^^ X^o/tiiriw^^hit:
liou . with Its green outside shuttens «?i.- • I
94
BEYOND
"Betty I What darli^I'?^ ^ "" '^°°'^
"Major Winton's present, my dear-ma'ami"
breas^^^ldfct^uSl S' ^"^^.^^nst he;
n/xo. J ^niusea small noises and liclcn) »,»..
nose and ears 7^rr».n.i. ..i. "CKea ner
ing back at ^'^JT a ^ ^'^°^' ^^«^ spy-
not in blossom yetTfe?lff!^^ thickening, but
"»ld rach to B,i^' ^°°^ I"" to till he
m
To wake, and hear the birds at early practise
and^f e^^ that winter is ove.-is there an//.S
That first morning in her new house, Gyp woke
with the sparrow, or whatever the bird ^llSZte^
the first cheeps and twitters, soon eclipsed by w
much that is more important in bird^Sng ft
seemed as if all the feathered crt^tures in L^on
must be asseuibled in her garden; and the oU vei^
came mto her head:
" AJl dear Nature's children sweet
Lie at bride and bridegroom's feet
Blessing their sense. '
Not a creature of the air.
Bird melodious or bird fiir,
Be absent hence I"
wth his head snooded down into the piUow so thai
she could only see his thick, rumpled hair Id a
shiver went through her, exactly a^ if a strange^J
were lymg there. Did he reaUy belong to hf? 3
shetohnn-forgood? And was this Lir ho^^
together? It aK seemed somehow different,^
strange room, that was to be so permanent. CaS
95
96
BEYOND
ful not to waie him, she slipped out and stood be-
tween the curtains and the ^ow. Light^^
m confusion yet; away low down behind theTef
^oftl ;;""*P'.^"? f"'^ the faint, rumorous
noises of the town legmning to wake, and that film
of ground-mist which v^ Ae feet of 'LondoTmoTn
m^. She thought: "I am mistress in this W
have to direct it aU-see to eveiythine! Am? T!'
pups! Oh, what do they eat?" ^ ^ '^^
That was the first of many hours of amdety for
she was veiy conscientious. Her fastidioS' dl
ared perfection, but her sensitiveness rrfS to dt
r^ri^r^^^--"- ^^o^
S Jf°'^ Sf' f * ^^ ^^*^t °°tio° of regularity
She found that he could not even begin to apSate
her struggles in housekeeping. And she wT^^.K
ST^'V^ -f ^ heIp,'o7perCs tt C,Xe
bmls of the air was his motto. Gyp would have
Jked nothing better; but, for that,^nrm,^t no?
have a house w^^h three servants, several mS ^o
the'm^'^S' ^S'th"' r°^ "' ^"^^'"^
„j -^^ J ^. ^etty— who, bone-conserrative
wtt rSS to t'^^ " ^^ ""^ -- ^SS
wmton— she had to be very careful. But her ereat
trouble was with her father. Though shHoS
to see him, she literally dreaded their m^tg'Se
BEYOND
97
fct cain^as he had been wont to come when she
was a tmy girl-at the hour when he thought the
Mow to whom she now belonged would most likely
be out Her heart beat, when she saw him under
the teems. She opened the door herself, andTmg
about bm so that his shrewd eyes shodd not^
her face And she began at once to talk of t^fpu^
pies, whom she had named Don and Doff TT,ev
were perfect darlings; nothbg was safe from them
her shppers were completely done for; they had al-
Tfl^""'" ^'' china-cabinet and gone to slee,i
there! He must come and see aU over
Hooking her arm into his, and talking aU the
S?.^ ^?V*^ *^' '*"*"«' °' "^"Bic-room, at
the end, which had an entrance to itself on to a
ti^^'- ^ ^r"^ '^.d been the great attrac!
tion. Fiorsen could practice there in peace. Win-
ton went along with her very quietly, making a
shrewd comment now and then. At the far end of
the garden, lookmg over the wall, down into that
narrow passage which lay between it and the back
" Well, Gyp, what sort of a time ? "
The question had come at last.
"Oh rather lovely— in some ways." But she did
not look at him, nor he at her. "See, Dad t :Se
cats have made quite a path there 1"
Winton bit his lips and turned from the wall.
The thought of that feUow was bitter within him.
98
BEYOND
ll;! ?
She meant to tell him nothing mMnf ♦-> i.
t^t hghthearted look-^fcrjeSJ^IL";
^^Look at my crocuses I It's really spring to-
,J^^- ^''^''^''' ^o bad come. The tiny
leaves had a tnmsparent look, too thin as yet to
keep the sunlight from passmg through them lie
purple, ddicate-veined crocuses, with little flames
^ oge blowing from «.eir cenir.., seemS to^S
the hght as m cups. A wmd, without harshness
«wjmg the boughs; a dry leaf or two stiu3
round here and there. . And on the grass, and b
^e blue sky a^d on the ahnond-bfoLm Vas th"
S^f^Jf^""- G^'^^ her hands be-
"Lovely— to feel the ^ringl"
And Winton thought: 'She's changed '' She h«w
softened, quickened-more depSTSlour t £f
more gmvity, more sway in h^ body, m^lS
n«B m her smile. But-was she happy?
A voice said:
"Ah, what a pleasure !"
The fellow had slunk up like the great cat he was
Dad thmks we ought to have dark curtains in
the music-room, Gustav." i"uuns m
Fiorsen made a bow.
"Yes, yes— like a London club "
her^i^'AT!^' ""^ '^ °^ supplication in
ner tace. And, forcmg a smile, he said:
BEYOND
99
Glad tx> see you
"You seem very snug here,
again. Gyp looks splendid."
Aaother of those bows he so detested ! Mounte-
bank! Never, never would he be able to stand
the feUow! But he-must not, would not, show it
And as soon as he decently could, he went, taking
his lonely way back through this region, of 3
his knowledge was ahnost limited to Lord's Cricket-
ground, with a sense of doubt and desolation an
imtation more than ever mixed with the resolve to
be always at hand if the child wanted him.
He had not been gone ten minutes before Aunt
K<Mamund appeared, with a crutch-handled stick
and a gentlemanly limp, for she, too, mdulged her
ancMtors in gout. A desire for exclusive possession
of aieu: fnends is natural to some people, and the
good lady had not known how fond she was of her
niece tiU the girl had sUpped oflF into this marriage.
She wanted her back, to go about with and i
much of, as before. And her well-bred drawl did
not qmte disguise this feeling.
GjT) could detect Fiorsen subUy mimickmg that
'wlxJ^'^.^''' ^" ^^ *° ^'^ The puppies
afforded a diyersion-their points, noses, bolcb^,
and food, held the danger in abeyance for some
mmut«. Then the municry began again. When
Aunt Rosamund had taken a somewhat sudden
leave. Gyp stood at the window of her drawini?-
rooni with the mask oflF her face. Fiorsen came ud
put his arm round her from behind, and said wiS
a fierce sigh:
lOO
BEYOND
pje'p^ "^^ ^""^ often-these exceUent pe^
Gjp drew back from him against the waU.
pecJeXl^l^r't^^^.'^^^-^tohurtthe
thoS^Ses'""" ^■"'°"- ' ^"^ i^^^ -en of
''And shaU you try to hurt them?"
^K I see them too much near you, perhaps I
belt'ti^yttmeT.'^'^^^^"^^"^-*^^^
He sat down and drew her on to his knee <;»,»
^ S^''^l rf'.^'^ ^^ faintt'^.'umt
ois care^es. The first tmie— the very first fri^nH
fee! ^°'Jh*!^,'T '"''' T " y°" ^°^«* »e. I should
eyes. Oh, love me, Gyp ! You shall!"
But to say to Love: "Stand and deliver i" was
S li' ?^-^ *°"^ ^yP- It ^ed to he; m^
Jl-bred stupidzfy. She froze agamst him i S
all the more that she yielded her body, m^
a woman refuses nothing to one whom'^^e doS
not r^y love, shadows are ah-eady fallinir ar,T.
bnde-W And Fiorsen kne^^ S7hi°sS
conto,! about equalled that of the t^o pup^s
Yet, on the whole, these first weeks hi £ new
^o^llT ^PP^' *°^ ^"^y to aUow much r^;
for doubtmg or regret. Several hnportant con^^
BEYOND joj
SSJ°'^'^- She looked forward to these
^Srf?^ ■^^'^' '^'^ P"^^^ everything tS
mterfeicd with preparation into the baZfound
subcofioile'ga^'h^LltrttiXTr
rn^ae mormng, for he had the habit of ^gT
Mor^wd^^'ir rr ^^^ ^- p^««
her fLr^ ^l^ T ^^y ^°"^ ^ got through
her orders and her shopping-that pu^uitTS
tS^ 'i^"^' ^ P'^^g of one's taste and
Wledge against that of the world at fc^e a
oneself and one's house more beautiful GynneS?
w^t shoppmg without that faint thriU rSSi^p
and down her nerves. She hat«1 f« i,«. '^"™mg up
'*** BEYOND
Wdmond Park, where the horwHJiestnuts were
just coming mto flower, they had ktrh-ntT!
Diue 8ky brightened to sflver the windimrs of thl
nv^. and to gold the budding leaves ^eo^!
8^ IT''' "^"^ ^ after-breakfast cSx
stared down across the tops of those trees toWl
U^ nver and the wooded fields b^ond sS
a ^ce at him, Gyp said very softly: ^^
^^Did you ever ride with my mother. Dad?"
Only once-the very ride we've been to^iav
it Shis'.'"*^'^ ^" ^^ ^"^ ^« *«W« and laid
;;M me about her, dear. Was she beautiful?"
"Dark? Tall?"
didT^v'^*' T''' ^yP- ^ "ttl«^ little"-he
Ad not know how to describe that difference-'?
httle more foreim-lookinK oerhans On- ^fT
graadmothe..;ritaliS;'y,^^^-,, "^^ "' ^«'
How did you come to love her? Suddenly?"
laidi? ^n r^ ""7*'^ ^^ "^ J^d a^y and
Gyp said quietly, as if to herself:
BEYOND
103
n^*!' ^ f°°'^ ^^'^ ^ understand that— vet "
,suE°hi^ ''"*'' ^"«^ his teeth U a
i?!5 ^^ ^^ y°" ** ^t s«ht, too ? "
Heblew out a long puff of smoke.
One easfly believes what one wants to-but I
*aink she did. She used to say so"
"And how long?"
"Only a year."
Gyp said very softly:
"Poor darling Dad." And suddenly she added-
I can't bear to tinnk I killed her-I <4't be^l?'
Wmton got up in the discomfort of these sudden
coitfdences; a blackbird, startled by the movement
ceas«i his song. Gyp said in a hard voice:
««ri ? * "^^^ ^ ^^e any children."
Without that, I shouldn't have had you, Gyp."
£ J;^d'> """^^ '° ^^' '^ ^t- I ^^'Jd
sp^, his brows drawn down, frowning, puzzled
as though over his own past i'-^ea,
..ol'^''^ ^^'^''' "^^ *^^«« yo«' and you're
it^s to kiU you or not ShaU we start back, my
Whm she got home, it was not quite noon. She
humed over her bath and dressij, and L out
to the music-room. Its walls had been hung MdS
WiUesden scnm gilded over; the cmS ^^
f
104
BEYOND
anagoia stuff, and a beaten brass fireolace U
Pe^^ vase, in which were flowers of 'vSous h" es
Fiorsen was standing at the window in a fume of
cigarette smoke He did not turn rid Gji'
put her hand within his arm, and said: ^
^^So Sony, dear. But it's only just half-past
^ face was as if the whole world had injured
^^ you came backl Ve^^ nice, riding, I'm
Could she not go riding with her own father?
What msensate jealousy and egomania ^^Jm
away, without a word, and sat down at the Z^
at auTC *°1 ^^^^'^ iniusUce-not'^S
"le tumes of his cigarette Drint i„ tk •
was so ugly-reaJlyTm?! sSfsa^af L^n"^"
«o.^ ™y,„ dieter, ova l™.L,r'S
^^^;.v: wlut exacUj h.v. I fee fct you
BEYOND
IPS
"You have had a father."
Gyp sat quite stiU for a few seconds, and then
began to kugh. He looked so like a sky child
steoKhng there He turned swifUy on her Ld put
SfnS^iT'" ^^\J^°''^- She looked up over Lt
hand which smeUed of tobacco. Her heart was
domg the grand icart within her, thi, way in com-
pmiction, that way in resentment His eyes feU
before hers; he dropped his hand.
"Well, shaU we bqgin?" she said
the'^ar'S^r'' ""'"^^ "'''" ^^ ^^' -* -*«
Gyp was left dismayed, disgusted. Was it pos-
httle scene? She remained sitting at the piano,
pkymg over and over a single passage, without
heedmg what it was. ^^ "luioui
1.1
f
I I
IV
So far, they had seen noth' of Rosefc at fi,
ont v"*,; ''^ ""'^^•-^ ^ ^---^ P ss^
on to him her remark, though if he had Tp wf u
husband spoke the truth when convenient not
when .t caused hhn pain. About music, ^^'Tt
however, he could be implicitly relied 'on; S 4'
fmJcness was appallmg when his nerves 'weTrS
But at the first concert she saw Rosek's unwpl
'rZ\^' S'e tLt^- ^'' °^ ^« ^a^l^o"
rows oack. He was talkmg to a young girl who<«.
ace, short and beautifully formed, S S'oZS
trful, her W so smooth and fair, her colouring w
SS^^he^lf'' °^.^ "^^ -«! -'M th"
K to S.^J'' '".P"'^^' "^' «yP f°>^d ii dif-
ficult to take her glance away. She had refused
ZZYT^'^'^P- It might irritat.So«^
and affect his playing to see her with "thatTtS
Enghsh creature." She wanted, too, to feel SI ti£
^nsauons of Wiesbaden. We w^uld be aCd o?
sacred pleasure m knowing that she had helS to
perfect sounds which touched the hearand'SsS
io6
BEYOND
107
of so many listeners. She had looked forward to
this concert so long. And she sat scarcely breath-
ing, abstracted from consciousness of those about
her, soft and stiU. radiating warmth and eagerness
Fiorsen looked his worst, as ever, when first
conung before an audience-<old, furtive, defen-
sive, defiant, half turned away, 'with uSse W
fingers ^htemng the screws, touching the strings
!LT^ . T'^' ^ *^^ *^t ""Jy ^ hours Z
she had stolen out of bed from beside him. WiS
baden! No; this was not like Wiesbaden! And
Jhr^if t^fu^' ^ °°* ^« ^« "motions.
She had heard hmi now too often, knew too ex-
actly how he produced those somids; knew that
theu- fire and sweetness and nobiUty sprang from
finger, ear, bram-not from his soul. NoTwas it
possible any longer to drift off on tho-» currents of
sound mto new worlds, to hear bells at dawn, and
the dews of evemng as they fell, to feel the dixdnity
Ir^^'^v'T^^^'- "^^ "''°'^^« ^d ecstasy
that at Wiesbaden had soaked her spirit came no
more. She was watching for the weak spots the
passag^ with which he had struggled and die had
struggled; she w^ distracted by memories of
petulance, black moods, and sudden caresses. And
then she caught his eye. The look was like yet
how unhke, those looks at Wiesbaden. It had L
oM love-hunger, but had lost the adoration, its
spiritual essence. And she thought: 'Is it my f;ult,
or IS ,t only boause he has me now to do what he
likes with?' It was all another disillusiomncnt.
A
io8
BEYOND
flushed at the applause, and lost herself in nleasure
at his success At the interval, she slip^d o^"^?
once, for her first visit to the artist's^m V^
mysterious ench^tmentofapeepSid Sent
He was coming down fi-om his kst^^ !^h ^;
"Beautiful!"
He whispered back: -
"So! Do you love me, Gyp?"
thou^htf'- ^' ^^ ^^^ -"-^ «he did. or
TTien people b^an to come; amongst them her
old music-master. Monsieur Harmo^ ^^^d
"^ITJrl rV "^ ''''' ' "MJ:Sleu7r
ires fort or two to Fiorsen, turned his back L
him to talk to his old pupil. "™«^ '"^ back on
So she had married Fiorsen-dear. dear! That
^iS'^tr','"' ext^ordinary'!'^'^ Sal
to have missed "his little friend," to be glaTat
BEYOND
log
— '
smng her again; and Gyp, who never could with-
stand appreciation, smiled at him. More n^nL
erne. She saw Rosek talking to her h^^r^d
fi? I ' ^l'''^' «^« "P »t Fiorsen. A SrSt
figure, though rather short; a dovelike face wJS
exqi^tely shaped, Just^p^ned h^sLmed to be
d«nandmg sugar-plums. She codd not ^ more
thannmeteen. Who was she?
A voice said ahnost in her ear-
fn '^ ^"^ ^°." '^*'' ^"^^ ^^°^° ? I am fortunate
to see you again at last." loriunate
She was obUged to turn. If Gustav had given
her a^y, one would never know it from this vd^^
madced creature, with his suave watchfulni I^d
What was ,t tiiat she so disliked in him? G^
had acute mstmcts, the natural intelligence deS
^iSS^TZ Tr^' -teUectual,'but wS
leeiers are too dehcat* to be deceived And
for something to say, she asked- '
Who fa the girl you were talking to Count
Rosek? Her face is so lovely." ^^ ' *
He smilol, exactly the smile she had so disliked
1^'f f1?' '°"°^« ^ ^^> shrsTher
husband taUung to the girl, whose lips at Zt m^
me^ seemed more than ever to ask for sug""
"A young dancer, Daphne Wing-she wiU make
i,
I '
11
no
BEYOND
M
Gyp said, smiling:
.diirjS SZ;t^ "^ - >»" She >«,
Gyp answered:
coZ^"*'"- ^^-'^'-ow- I love dancing, of
"Good I I will arrange it "
And Gyp thought: "No, no! I don't want to
haveanyUungtodowithyouI WhydoInZ^^ak
a^v ?^ *-^ *'"°'''^' I^'*^ began^Lying
away. The girl came up to Rosek
"Miss Daphne Wing-Mrs. Fioi^ "
Gyp put out her hand with a smOe-this rJ-1
was certemly a picture. Miss DaphnTwL^S
^^^^^'i^y "'"^^^l °^ »« accent:
banJph^S^h'ep''" """^""^ ^^" ^-
It vm not merely the careful speech but some-
thmg lackmg when the perfect WS. IS^
W. sensibiMty. who could say? And G^felt
^^^ "" ^' ^^' °° * P^^' flower U?th a
faendly nod, she turned away to Fiorsen, who wa^
waitmg to go up on to the platform Wa^ itZ W
-at^egulhehadbeenLki^P S^rs^'^':
!rdri.12r^- ^^-°-<'or. Rosek, maS
"Why not this evening? Come with Gustev
BEYOND i„
to my rooms. She shall dance to us, and we wiU
She will love to dance for you."
Gyp longed for the simple brutality to sav "I
dontw^ttocome. I don't like you ! " But all
she could manage waj:
"Thank you. I— I will ask Gustav "
.1, . v^ "? ''"i "**' '«^' «Jie ""bbed the cheek
that his brealj had touched. A girl was si^Sg
^!^^°',^^ ?^ ^^^ ^' Gyp always admi?^
red^s^gold Mr blue eyes-the ver/ aSS
of heiself-and the song was "The Bens of Jura "
Iwe: ** o^tPo^iring from a heart broken by
"And my heart reft of its own sun "
Tean rose in her eyes, and the shiver of some
very deq? response passed through her. What
was It Dad had said: "Love ies you,^d
you're gone I" j u, ana
She, who was the result of love like that, did
not want to love ! '
ITie girl finkhed singing. There was little ap-
plause. Yet she had sung beautifully; and whS
more wonderful song m the world? Was it too
tragic too painful, too strange-not "pretty"
enough? Gyp felt sony for IT Her head 2hed
iW, f 5' ^'^ *^^" ^"^ *° ^P *^*y when
It was ^ over. But she had not the needful rude-
ness She would have to go through with this
evemng at Rosek's and be gay. .Jd why nS
113
BEYOND
Why this shadow over everything? But it was
no new seimtion, that of having entered by her
own free wiU on a life which, for aU effort, would
not give her a feeling of anchorage or home. Of
herown accord she had stepped into the cage!
F,W v.''''^ to Rosek's rooms, she disguised from
Fiorsm her headache and depression. He was in
one of his boy-out-of-school moods, elated by ao-
plause, mimicking her old master, the idolatries of
his worshippers, Rosek, the girl dancer's upturned
expectant hps. And he sUpped his arm round Gyp
m the cab, crushmg her against him and sniffing at
her cheek as if she had been a flower ^^
Rosek had the first floor of an old-tV-,e mansion
SnJ^i^""'- ^^ ^^ °f ^<=^°^ or some
kmdred perfume was at once about one; and, on the
^ of the daxk haU, electric light hr^ed^'^^^
ofalab^terpickedupintheEa^L The whole pLe
was m fact a sanctum of the coUector's spirit Its
owner had a passion for black-the walk, divans
picture-frames, even some of the tilings were black!
with ghmmermgs of gold, ivoiy, and moonlight
On a roimd black table there stood a golden bowl
Med with moonhght-coloured velvety "pahn" and
"honesty ",• from a black wall gleamed ou^Te iv^
rna^ of a faun's face; from a dark niche the litUe
fZZ^ °i a dancing girl. It was beautiful, but
deathly. And Gyp, though excited always by any-
thing new, keenly olive to every sort of beauty, fdlt
a longmg for air and sunlight It was a rehrf to
get close to one of the black-curtained windows, and
BEYOND
"3
see the westering sun shower wannth and Ught on
the trees of the Square gardens. She was introduced
to a Mr. aad Mrs. GaUant, a dark-faced, cynical-
looking man with clever, malicious eyes, and one of
those large cornucopias of women with avid blue
stares. The little dancer was not there. She had
gone to put on nothing," Rosek informed them
He took Gyp the round of his treasures, scarabs,
Rops drawmgs, death-masks, Chinese pictures, and
queer old flutes, with an air of displaying them for
the first tune to one who could truly appreciate.
And she kept thmking of that saying, " Une technique
mervetUeuse." Her instinct apprehended the re-
fined bone-vidousness of this place, where nothing
save perhaps taste, would be sacred. It was her first
ghmpse into that gilt-edged bohemia, whence the
generosities, the Hans, the struggles of the true
bohemia are as rigidly excluded as from the spheres
where bishops moved. But she talked and smiled-
8Jid no one could have told that her nerves were
crisping as if at contact with a corpse. WhUe show-
ing her those alabaster jars, her host had laid his
hand softly on her wrist, and in taking it awav, he
let his fingers, with a touch softer than a kitten's
paw, npple over the skin, then put them to his lips
Ah, there it was-the-the technique 1 A desperate
desu:e to laugh seized her. And he saw it-oh. yes
he saw It I He gave her one look, passed that same
hand over his smooth face, and-behold !-it showed
as before, unmortified, unconscious. A deadly Httle
man!
(
"4
BEYOND
Whoi they returned to the salon, as it was caUed
face aiid arms emerged more like alabaster than
rZ'JT^^'"'''^'^^^^^°'^ She
rose at once and came across to Gyp
"Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen"-why did everythimr she said
begn w.th "OhI"-«isn't this rooStSy? ^'s
£ for da^ong. I only brought creii, and
flame^dour; they go so beautifuUy with blaci."
She threw back her kimono for Gyp to inspect
her dress-a girdled cream-coloured duft,^
made her ivory arms and neck seem more than ever
dazzhng; aoid her mouth opened, as if for a sugar-
^j^ofpra^. Then, lowering her voice, she WJ-
».!i?'' ' **°°'* ^'^'' ^^'' ^ '="*^<=^. and smooth,
and he comes up so quietly. I do thmk your hus^
band plays wonderfully. Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen, you are
b^uuful, ar«i't you?" Gyp . laughed. "What
C^Sn's?" ' ""' "^ "^^ ^*^ A ^^ of
"Yes; I love Chopin."
"Then I shall. I shaU dance exactly what you
Lke because I do admh-e you, and I'm sure you're
awfuUysw^t Oh yes; you are; I can see Vt!
And I thmk your husband's awfully in love with
you. I should be, if I were a man You kn"w
Ive been studying five years, and I haven't come
out yet But low Count Rosek's going to back
BEYOND
"S
me, I expect it'll be very soon. Will you come to
my first night ? Mother says I've got to be awfully
careful. She only let me come this evening because
you were going to be here. Would you like me to
begin?"
She slid across to Rosek, and Gyp heard her say:
"Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen wants me to begin; a Chopin
waltz, please. The one that goes like this."
Rosek went to the piano, the little dancer to the
centre of the room. Gyp sat down beside Fiorsen.
Rosek began playing, his eyes fixed on the girl,
and his mouth loosened from compression in a sweet-
ish smile. Miss Daphne Wing was standing with her
finger-tips joined at her breast— a perfect statue of
ebony and palest wax. Suddenly she flung away
the black kimono. A thiiU swept Gyp from head
to foot. She could dance— that common little girl !
Every movement of her round, sinuous body, of her
bare limbs, had the ecstasy of natural genius, con-
trolled by the quivering balance of a really fine
training. "A dove flying !" So she ^vas. Her face
had lost its vacancy, or rather its vacancy had be-
come divine, having that look— not lost but gone
before— which dance demands. Yes, she was a gem,
even if she had a common soul. Tears came up in
Gyp's eyes. It was so lovely— like a dove, when it
flings itself up in the wind, breasting on up, up—
wings bent back, poised. Abandonment, freedom-
chastened, shaped, controlled !
Wbon, after the dance, the girl came and sat down
besidv; her, she squeezed her hot little hand, but the
)1
'I
1x6
BEYOND
M' I
Uh, did you like it? I'm so ehd Shoii t
andputonmyflam«olour,now?» ^^^
ir^v 'THJ f ' T «''°"' ™""'^«»t broke out
freely The <krk and cynical Gallant thought the
S s^X^' ' "'■■^ Napierkowska whoL he
lad seen in Moscow, without her fire-the touch of
passion would have to be supplied. She w^t^
^i^'^blS^!" ^* °^- «^^ ^^ the
" Thy kiss, dear love-
Like watercress gathered fresh from cool streams."
cuS, l^^da^S^^/rve.'^'har
su^ ^ of de^bSiLt'^^^f ts'^l^
herself, but just a feast for a man's sensed iS
home, what but a place like this? S DanS^
fI?wMe':f "^^^ G^lookedath'L^h^S
race wJiUe she was dancing. lEs Un^f w™^
understood perhaps, and forgiven. Now she aelZl
quite understood nor quite forgave.
^ And^ that night, when he kissed her, she mur-
"Would you rather it were that girl-not me?"
BEYOND
117
"That girl I I could swallow her at a draft.
But you, my Gyp— I want to drink for ever I"
Was that true? // she had loved him— how good
to hear!
♦^
tion of society wS^'^ "^f ^""^P^^te sec-
^reUy she fdt tSHLe dfd noT^ ,' T^^' ^"*
in truth, did Fiorsen ZhnZ t^*"^ *° ''' °°'.
and even the Roseks of thiT^e as Ue^ ^^"^
her feel less aj^l na^ S w ^'' '' "^'^
well-bred world wSh^f j^ to^^^Vf'"''?'
married him- but tr> r^ \^ , ^ "^^'^ she
Winton ST'l^? nev^^Stl^.'^^f^ *«
since she knew the ZZ ofhertfih Sh'^°°^"''
truth, much too impressionable to?t;Hd Jf JI"''."'
s'ti^^Xct^r^ criti^t xtrdSj:
ofhero^Tcco3.ltwS-|:rrtrS^.'^^^^
Uve enough to step out of its S Wed""/"
those roots, unable to attach heiSf to^^ T
and not spiritually leamied w,>^ v 1''^'^^'^'
was more^d more iS? H '^ ^"'*'^*^' ^«
ii8 ' '
BEYOND
119
suffiaent r ason for hnving done it. But me more
she sougl : a >d longe ' the deeper grew her bewOder-
ment, he; f^elinj' of being in a cage. Of late, too,
another and more definite uneasiness had come to
her.
She spent much time in her garden, where the
blossoms had aU dropped, hlac was over, acacias
commg mto bloom, and blackbirds silent.
Winton, who, by careful experiment, had found
that from half-past three to six there was little or
no chance of stumbling across his son-in-law, came
in nearly every day for tea and a quiet cigar on the
lawn. He was sitting there with Gyp one after-
noon, when Betty, who usurped the functions of
parlour-maid whenever the whim moved her, brought
out a card on which were printed the words, "Miss
Daphne Wing."
"Bring her out, please, Betty dear, and some
fresh tea, and buttered toast— plenty of buttered
toast; yes, and the chocolates, and any other sweets
there are, Betty darling."
Betty, with that expression which always came
over her when she was caUed "darling," withdrew
across the grass, and Gyp said to her father:
"It's the little dancer I told you of, Dad. Now
you'll see something perfect. Only, she'U be dressed
It s a pity."
She was. The occasion had evidently exercised
her spmt. In warm ivory, shrouded by leaf-green
chiffon, with d girdle of tiny artificial leaves, and
a Ughtly covered head encircled by other green
I20
BEYOND
B.
leaves she was somewhat like a nymph peerimr
from a bower. If rather too arresting.TSLS
Z' r'^^\ f ' °° ^''^ '^^"Id quite disgu^
n^^o^"^ °' ""^ '^- S^« -- evidSS
"Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen, I thought you wouldn't
mmd my coming. I did so want to ie you^
fixed for my commg-out. Oh, how do you do?"
And with hps and eyes opening at Winton she <If
down in the chair he plac^, her "^^J; ^'^
!, 5f f^'«^'°°. felt inclined to lau^' SS
^^^^t'^'^ And the poor girl so':;dd2i^
latety?"' ^°" *"'° "^"^^ ^' ^"^t R°^'s again
she'2op5 '""°'' ^""^""'^ ^""-'-" ^'^
bee?'s^iS"/hl^?.^?«^ ^^' 'S° Gustav's
"Ah, yes, of course; I forgot. When is the night
of your coming-out ? " *
SS:X^,t » "- ^» "d Mr. f£
Gyp, smiling, murmured-
"Of course we will. My father loves dancing
too; don't you, Dad?" ^«">jiik,
BEYOND
121
Wnton took his cigar from his mouth.
"When it's good," he said, urbanely.
"Oh, mine is good; isn't it, Mrs. Fiorsen? I
mean, I have worked — ever since I was thirteen,
you know. I simply love it. I think you would
dance beautifully, Mrs. Fiorsen. You've got such
a perfect figure. I simply love to see you walk."
Gyp flushed, and said:
"Do have one of these, Miss Wing — they've got
whole raspberries inside."
The Uttle: dancer put one in her mouth.
" Oh, but please don't call me Miss Wing 1 I wish
you'd call me Daphne. Mr. Fioi>-€verybody does."
Conscious of her father's face, Gyp murmured:
"It's a lovely name. Won't you have another?
These are apricot."
"They're perfect. You know, my first dress is
going to be all orange-blossom; Mr. Fiorsen sug-
gested that. But I expect he told you. Perhaps
you suggested it really; did you?" Gyp shook
her head. "Count Rosek says the world is waiting
for me — " She paused with a sugar-plum half-
way to her lips, and added doubtfully: "Do you
think that's true?"
Gyp answered with a soft: "I hope so."
"He says I'm something new. It would be nice
to think that. He has great taste; so has Mr. Fior-
sen, hasn't he?"
Conscious of the compression in the lips behind
the smoke of her father's cigar, and with a sudden
longing to get up and walk away, Gyp nodded.
122
BEYOND
"Oh isn't it lovely her^like the countrv t T'n,
aft^d I must go; it's my practice-C^ t's so
helrd ' ' '° "^^P"-" ^"* ^'^'' -"Id not be
B-rt^^"^"" '" '='^' ^^ ^* '""tionless.
ve^ peaceful But in her h^rt wer^^ij, ^^^^
fv
BEYOND
123
not want to have a child. In those conscious that
their birth has caused death or even too great suf-
fering, there is sometimes this hostile instinct.
She had not even the consolation that Fiorsen wanted
children; she knew that he did not. And now she
was sure one was coming. But it was more than
that. She had not reached, and knew she could
not reach, that pomt of spirit-union which alone
makes marriage sacred, and the ^crifices demanded
by motherhood a joy. She wab fairly caught in
the web of her foolish and presumptuous mistake !
So few months of marriage— and so sure that it
was a failure, so hopeless for the future! In the
light of this new certainty, it was terrifying. A
hard, natiural fact is needed to bring a yearning and
bewildered spirit to knowledge of the truth. Dis-
illusionment is not welcome to a woman's heart;
the less welcome when it is disillusionment with self
as much as with another. Her great dedication—
her scheme of life 1 She had been going to— what?
—save Fiorsen from himself! It was laughable.
She had only lost herself. Abeady she felt in prison,
and by a child would be all the more bound. To
some women, the knowledge that a thing must
be brings assuagement of the nerves. Gyp was
the opposite of those. To force her was the way
to stiver up every contrary emotion. She might
will herself to acquiesce, but— one cannot change
one's nature.
And so, while the pigeons cooed and the sunlight
warmed her feet, she spent the bitterest moments
124
BEYOND
know -certainly ^111^7^15 T T ^^ """^^
her so desperately ! She £5 i^J°K^ll""'«*
she would have to iie on it ^' ^'' ^' '^^
^J^n Wmton came back, he found her snnhng,
''I don't see the fascination, Gyp "
"S^r''"^ '" '^ '^y -^- perfect?"
"Yes; but that drops off when she's dancmg "
eye^r° '"'"^ '' '" ^'"^ ^^^ ^-^-l^sed
of h^!^ ^"^ '^°*^^' ^t does Fiorsen think
Gyp smiled.
"DoeshetUnkofher? I don't know."
"Daphne Wing! By George'"
TthaU ^"«''*'' ^ P^'" from-such
va^'hif 'JTi" °f ^^ ^* °° till the sun had quite
ceptnerself 1 To make others happy was the wav
mus^t,^^^^^' ^ "^'^ ^^- She w^uld trj^
usm m her leg-^hd she ever think of herself ? Or
Aunt Rosamund, with her pe^^tual S^s ^
BEYOND
"S
lost dogs, lame horses, and penniless musicians?
And Dad, for all his man-of-the-world ways, was
he not always doing little things for the men of his
old regiment, always thinking of her, too, and
what he could do to give her pleasure? To love
everybody, and bring them happiness! Was it
not possible? Only, people were hard to love,
different from birds and beasts and flowers, to
love which seemed natural and easy.
She went up to her room and began to dress for
dinner. Which of her frocks did he like best ? The
pale, low-cut amber, or that white, soft one, with
the coffee-dipped lace? She decided on the latter.
Scrutinizing her supple, slender image in the glass,
a shudder went through her. That would aU go-
she would be like those women taking careful exer-
cise in the streets, who made her wonder at then:
hardihood in showing themselves. It wasn't fair
that one must become unsightlj', offensive to the
eye, in order to bring life into the world. Some
women seemed proud to be like that. How was
that possible? She would never dare to show her-
self in the days coming.
She finished dressing and went downstairs. It
was nearly eight, and Fiorsen had not come in.
When the gong was struck, she turned from the
wmdow with a sigh, and went in to dinner. That
sigh had been relief. She ate her dinner with the
two pups beside her, sent them off, and sat down
at her piano. She played Oiopin— studies, waltzes,
mazurkas, preludes, a polonaise or two. And Betty,
»«'*, *' ■'«*■ ' iwyi
136
BEYOND
cnair by the door which partitioned ofF the back
premises having opened it a little. She wisS
she could go and take a peep at her "vL^'t
her white frock, with the^ndleSnron^eaS
side and those lovely lilies in the vasTdose W
smelhng beautiful. And one of the iSds c^„S
too near, she shooed her angrily away ^^
thl^J'-T^^- ^«t«yl^ been' brought up:
JJ«?^<l?l^gonetobed. Gyp had long stopS
gaj^g, had turned out, ready to go up^a^^
tte French wmdow, stood gazing out into Uie dkrk
How wann It was-warm enough to draw fortt
Not aTL S ^"T^^ ^°°« ^^ ^^^ ^
rnn/ ; 5^ ^"^^ ^^^^ so few Stars in
^o^ A sound made her swing round. Som^
thing taU was over there in tiie darkness, by the
^door. She heard a sigh, and caUedS.55grt!
"Is that you, Gustav?"
stf H "^^vf .T' T"^ ^* *« «'"l'i »ot under-
stand Shuttmg the window quickly she went
toward him. Light from the hSuS^p oneS
t^J^"^-^- Hewaspalejhis^yrshone
Jt^gely; his sleeve was aU white. He said
}«"J'!2- ^""x '" ^*^ *^^ ^"^^ ''or<fa that must
be Swedish It was the first time Gyp had ^r
come to close quarters wiUi drunke^eT^ ^1
her thought was simply: 'How awful if^yl^y
were to see-how awful I' She made a rusHo
rmam
BEYOND
127
get into the haU and lock the door leading to the
back regions, but he caught her frock, ripping the
lace from her neck, and his entangled fingers
clutchec her shoulder. She stopped dead, fearing
to make a noise or pull him over, and his oth^
hand clutched her other shoulder, so that he stood
steadymg himself by her. Why was she not shocked,
smitten to the ground with grief and shame and
rage? She only felt: "What am I to do? How
get hun upstairs without anyone knowing?" And
she looked up into his face-it seemed to her so
pathetic with its shining eyes and its staring white-
ness that she could have burst into tears. She said
gently:
" Gustav, it's aU right. Lean on me ; we'U go up "
His hands, that seemed to have no power or
purpose, touched her cheeks, mechanicaUy caress-
mg. Mor than disgust, she felt that awful pity
i-uttmg her arm round his waist, she moved with
him toward the stairs. If only no one heard- if
only she could get him quietly up ! And she mur-
mured:
^Don't talk; you're not weU. Lean on me
He seemed to make a big effort; his lips puffed
out, and with an expression of pride that would
have been comic if not so tragic, he muttered some-
thing.
Holding him dose with aU her strength, as she
might uave held one desperately loved, she began
to mount. It was easier than she had ti^ought
138
BEYOND
Only across the landing now, into the bedroom, and
then the danger would be over. Done! He was
lying across the bed, and the door shut. Then,
for a moment, she gave way to a fit of shivering so
violent that she could hear her teeth chattering
yet could not stop them. She caught sight of her-
self in the big mirror. Her pretty lace was all torn;
her shoulders were red where his hands had gripped
her, holding himself up. She threw off her dress,
put on a wrapper, and went up to him. He was
lying in a sort of stupor, and with difficulty she
got hun to fit up and lean against the bed-rail.
Taking off iixs tie and coUar, she racked her brams
for what to give hun. Sal volatile! Surely that
must be right. It brought him to hunself, so that
he even tried to kiss her. At last he was in bed,
and she stood looking at him. His eyes were closed-
he would not see if she gave way now. But she
would not cry— she would not. One sob came—
but that was aU. Well, there was nothing to be
done now but get into bed too. She undressed
and turned out the light. He was in a stertorous
sleep. And lying there, with eyes wide open, star-
mg into the dark, a smile came on her lips— a very
strange smile! She was thmking of all those pre-
posterous young wives she had read of, who, blush-
ing, trembUng, murmur into the ears of their young
husbands that they "have something-something
to teU them!"
^MZMiMm
i4
VI
Looking at Fiorsen, next moming, stiU sunk in
heavy sleep, her first thought was: 'He looks ex-
to her that she had not been, and stiU was not? dis-
gusted. It was aU too deep for disgust, and some-
how, too natural. She took this new revelation of
lus unbndled ways without resentment. Besides
she had long known of this taste of his-one cannot
onnk brandy and not betray it
Jt'J^\-''^^^y ^^^ ^' noiselessly
gathered up his boots and clothes aU tumbled on to
a chair, and took them forth to the dressing-room.
There she held the garments up to the early light
and brushed them, then, noiseless, stole back to
bed with needle and thread and her lace. No one
must know; not even he must know. For the mo-
ment she had forgotten that other thing so ter-
nfically unportant. It came back to her, very
sudden very sickening. So long as she could keep
it secret, no one should know that either—he least
The morning passed as usual; but when she
came to the music-room at noon, she found that
tL^\^°°1,°"*- ^^^ "^ J"^* ^«i°« down to
lunch when Betty, with the broad smile which pre-
130
BEYOND
vailed on her moon-face when someone had tickled
the right side of her, announced:
"Count Rosek."
Gyp got up, startled.
"Say that Mr. Fiorsen is not in, Betty. But—
but ask if he will come and have some lunch, and
get a bottle of hock up, please."
In the few seconds before her visitor appeared.
Gyp experienced the sort of excitement one has'
entering a field where a bull is grazing.
But not even his severest critics could accuse
Rosek of want of tact. He had hoped to see Gustav,
but it was charming of her to give him lunch— a
great delight !
He seemed to have put off, as if for her benefit,
his corsets, and some, at all events, of his offending
looks— seemed simpler, more genuine. His face
was slightly browned, as if, for once, he had ' n
takmg his due of air and sun. He talked without
cynical submeanings, was most appreciative of her
"charming little house," and even showed some
warmth in his sayings about art and music. Gyp
had never disliked him less. But her instincts were
on the watch. After lunch, they went out across
the garden to see the music-room, and he sat down
at the piano. He had the deep, caressing 'touch
that lies in fingers of steel worked by a real passion
for tone. Gyp sat on the divan and listened. She
was out of his sight there; and she looked at him,
wondering. He was playing Schumann's Child
Music. How could one who produced such fresh
BEYOND
131
"Count Rosek!"
"Madame?"
" Wm you please teU me why you sent Daphne
Wmg here yesterday?" ^
"/send her?"
"Yes."
auldon^l?^^^ f ' ''«^'"^ ^^8 asked that
question He had swung round on the music-stool
and w^ looking full at her. His face had cllL^gS
thJr/°''- ^.°'^' ^ ^""^^^ y°" should know
that Gustav is seeing a good deal of her."
He had given the exact answer she had divined.
Do you think I mind that?"
"I am glad that you do not."
"Why glad?"
rtfi?\ ^\,^ '^^ Though he was litUe taller
than hereelf, she was conscious suddenly of how
thick and steely he was beneath his dapper ga^
ments and of a kind of snrly wiU-powefL^Ws
face. Her heart beat faster. i~ « m ms
He came toward her and said-
CuLTi^i^^'',^^^'^^'^ t^t 't '^ over with
once that he had gone wrong, and not^^g
qmte where. Gyp had simply smiled. A S
coloured his cheeks, and he sdd:
"He is a volcano soon extinguished. You see,
138
BEYOND
I know him. Better you should know him, too.
Why do you smile?"
"Why is it better I should know?"
He went very pale, and said between his teeth:
'That you may not waste your time; there is
love waiting for you."
But Gyp still smiled.
"Was it from love of me that you made him
drunk last night?"
His lips quivered.
"Gyp!" Gyp turned. But with the merest
change of front, he had put himself between her
and the door. "You never loved him. That is my
excuse. You have given him too much akeady—
more than he is worth. Ahl God! I am tortured
by you; I am possessed."
He had gone white through and through like a
flame, save for his smouldering eyes. She was
afraid, and because she was afraid, she stood her
ground. Should she make a dash for the door that
^ed mto the Uttle lane and escape that way?
Then suddenly he seemed to regain control; but she
could feel that he was trying to break through her
defences by the sheer intensity of his gaze— by a
kind of mesmerism, knowing that he had frightened
her.
Under the strain of this duel of eyes, she felt her-
self beginning to sway, to get dizzy. Whether or
no he really moved his feet, he seemed coming closer
inch by inch. She had a horrible feeling— as if his
arms were already round her.
BEYOND
133
With, an effort, she wrenched her gaze from his,
and suddenly his crisp hair caught her eyes. Surety
—surely it was curled with tongs I A kmd of spasm
of amusement was set free in her heart, and, ahnost
maudibly, the words escaped her lips: "Une tech-
nique merveiUeuse I" His eyes wavered; he uttered
a HtUe gasp; his Ups feU apart. Gyp walked across
the room and put her hand on the beU. She had
lost her fear. Without a word, he turned, and went
out mto the garden. She watched him cross the
lawn. Gone! She had beaten him by the one thing
not even violent passions can withstand— ridicule,
ahnost unconscious ridicule. Then she gave way
and pulled the beU with nervous violence. The
sight of the maid, in her trim black dress and spot-
less white apron, coming from the house conroleted
her restoration. Was it possible that she had reaUy
been frightened, nearly failing in that encounter
nearly dominated by that man— in her own house,'
with her own maids down there at hand ? And she
said quietly:
"I want the puppies, please."
"Yes, ma'am."
Over the garden, the day brooded in the first-
gatherei' warmth of summer. Mid-June of a fine
year. Tht air was drowsy with hum and scent.
And Gyp, sitting in the shade, while the ouppies
roUed and snapped, searched her Uttle world for
comfort and some sense of safety, and could not
find it; as if there were aU round her a hot heavy
fog m which things lurked, and where she kept erect
134
BEYOND
only by pride and the wiU not to cry out that she
was struggling and afraid.
«,»^^',..'^'^-'^ ^^"^ t^t morning, had
waDcedbUhesawat^i^ab. Leaning back ttiereS
with hat thrown oflF, he caused himself to be driveii
rapidly, at random. This was one of his habits
when his mind was not at ease-an expensive idio-
^cracy lU-afforded by a pocket thaVhad holes
The swift motion and titillation by the perpetual
dose^,ang of other vehicles were sedative trhim
He needed sedatives this morning. To wake in his
own bed without the least remembering how he had
got there was no more new to him than to many
another man of twenty-eight, but it was new since
his mamage If he had remembered even less he
wodd have been more at ease. But he could just
recoUect sUndmg m the dark dmwing-room, seemg
and touching a ghostly Gyp quite close to hin^
^d, somehow, he was afraid. And when he was
afmd-hke most people-he was at his worst
If she had been like aU the other women in whose
company he had eaten passion-fruit, he would not
have felt this carkmg humiliation. If she had been
like them, at the pace he had been going since he
"fi^^ Posse^on of her, he would already have
finished^" as Rosek had said. And he kn4 well
enough that he had not "finished." He might get
drunk, might be loose^ded in every way, but Gyp
wa3 hooked into hi. senses, and, for aU that he could
not get near her, into his spirit. Her very passivity
T
BEYOND
I3S
was her steength, the secret of her magnetism. In
her, he felt some of that mysterious sentiency of
nature, which, even in yielding to man's fevers, lies
apart with a faint smile-the uncapturable smUe of
the woods and fields by day or night, that makes
one ache with longmg. He felt in her some of the
unfathomable, soft, vibrating indifference of the
flowers and trees and streams, of the rocks, of bird-
songs, and the eternal hum, und»r sunshine or star-
shme Her dark, haJf-smiling eyes enticed him. in-
spired m unquenchable thirst. And his was one of
thc«e natures which, encomitering spiritual diffi-
culty, at once Jib off, seek anodynes, try to bandage
wounded «^ism with excess-a spoUed chUd, ^
the desperations and the inherent pathos, the some,
thing repuJsive and the something lovable that be.
long to aU such. Having wished for this moon,
and got her, he now did not know what to do with
her, kept takmg great bites at her, with a feeling aU
the time of getting further and further away At
momoits, he desired revenge for his failure to set
near her spintuaUy, and was ready to commit fol-
hes of all kmds. He was only kept in control at
aU by his work. For he did work hard; though,
even there, something was lacking. He had all die
quahties of making good, except the moral back-
bone holding them together, which alone could give
him his nghtful-^is he thought-pre-eminence. It
often suipnsed and vexed him to find that some
contenqwrary held higher rank than himself
Threading the streets in his cab, he mused-
L^rw:w^
136
BEYOND
Did I do anything that rcaUy shocked her last
night? Why didn't I wait for her this morning and
find out the worst?" And his Ups twisted awry-
for to find out the worst was not his forte. Medita-
tion, seeking as usual a scapegoat, lighted on Rosek
Like most egoists addicted to women, he had not
many friends. Rosek was the most constant But
even for him, Fiorsen had at once the contempt and
tear that a man naturally uacontroUed and yet of
greater scope has for one of less talent but stronirer
wiU-power. He had for him, too, the feeling of a
wayward chUd for its nurse, mixed with the need
that an artist, especiaUy an executant artist, feels
for a connoisseur and patron with weU-lined pockets
Curse Paul!' he thought 'He must know-
he does know-that brandy of his goes down like
water. Trust hun, he saw I was getting siUyl He
had some game on. Where did I go after? How
did I get home?' And again: 'Did I hurt Gyp?'
n the sen^ts had seen-that would be the worst:
that woidd upset her fearfully I And he laughed,
ihen he had a fresh access of fear. He didn't know
her, never knew what she was thinking or feelimr
never knew anythmg about her. And he thought
angrily: 'That's not fair I I don't hide myself from
v^ . ^Tt*? ^"* ■" °*^'^' ^ '"=' ^ see everything.
What did I do? That maid looked very quaerly at
me this mommg!' And suddenly he said to the
driver: "Bury Street, St James's." He could find
*1i' * '^JT^^ ^^*^" Gyp had been to her
lathers. The thought of Winton ever afflicted him-
^ZMJ '
BEYOND
137
and he changed his mind several times before the
cab reached that Uttle street, but so swiftly that he
had not time to alter his instructions to the driver.
A light sweat broke out on his forehead while he
was waitmg for the door to be opened.
"Mrs. Fiorsen here?"
"No, sir."
"Not been here this morning?"
"No, sir."
He shrugged away the thought that he ought to
give some explanation of his question, and got into
the cab again, telling the man to drive to Curzon
Street If she had not been to "that Aunt Rosa-
mund" either it would be all right. She had not.
There was no one else Jie would go to. And, with
a sigh of relief, he began to feel hungry, having had
no breakfast. He would go to Rosek's, borrow the
money to pay his cab, and lull 1 there. ButRosek
was not in. He would have to go home to get the
cab paid. The driver seemed to eye him queerly
now, as though conceiving doubts about the fare.
Gomg in under the trellis, Fiorsen passed a man
«-»ming out, who held m his hand a long envelope
and eyed him askance.
Gyp, who was sitting at her bureau, seemed to be
adding up the counterfoils in her cheque-book. She
did not turn round, and Fiorsen paused. How was
she going to receive him ?
"Is there any lunch?" he said.
She reached out and rang the bell. He felt sorry
for himself. He had been quite ready to take her
138
BEYOND
m^^ anns and say: "Forgive me, UtUe Gyp; I'm
Betty answered the bell.
"Please bring up some Imich for Mr. Fiorsen."
Shp L ^^ '/v"' ^""^ ^ « she went out.
^i.TLr^''""^^^- ^^'-thsudd'^
"What do you want for a husband-a bourgeois
who would die if he missed his lunch?" °°'"^^'^
^yp turned round to him aad held out her cheque-
abiiutlS^'" k' ^^ °^ ^^"* "«^'- bit I do
about this. He read on the counterfoil:
Me^ Travers & Sanborn, TaUors, Account
^«^:£54 3s.7d.» "Are there man; o^^S^;
Korsen had turned the peculiar white that marked
^W^]"^w^r"-"*^- He said violenS^
Well, what of that? A bill 1 Did you pay it?
You have no business to pay my bills."
"The man said if it wasn't paid this time he'd
sue you." Her lips quivered^"i thbT ;,^
money is horrible. It's midignified. Are X!
many others? Please teU me r
■'IshaUnotteUyou. What is it to you?"
It IS a lot to me. I have to keep this house and
pay the maads and everything, and I want to know
mt'slS."'"°"°'*°^^-^«<'«»>^-
n^Z ^'^l^. "". ^*^ *"* he did not know.
He perceived dimly that she was diflferent from th^
IL ^ i
BEYOND
139
Gyp of this hour yesterday— the last time when, in
possession of his senses, he had seen or qwken to
her. The novelty of her revolt stirred him in
strange ways, wounded his self-conceit, incited a
curious fear, and yet excited his senses. He came
up to her, said softly:
"Money! Curse money! Kiss me!" With a
certain amazement at the sheer distaste in lier face,
he heard her say:
"It's childish to curse money. I will spend all
the income I have; but I will not spend more, and I
will not ask Dad."
He flung himself down in a chair.
"Ho! Ho! Virtue!"
"No-piide."
He said gloomily:
"So you don't believe in me. You don't believe
I can earn as much as I want— more than you have
—any time ? You never have believed in me."
"I think you earn cow as much as you are ever
likely to earn."
"That is what you think ! I don't want money
— ^your money! I can live on nothing, any time.
I have done it — often."
"Hssh!"
He looked round and saw the maid in the door-
way.
"Please, sir, the driver says can he have his fare,
or do you want him again? Twelve shillings."
Fiorsen stared at her a moment in the way that
^ the maid often said — ^made you feel like a silly.
m
I40
BEYOND
"No. Pay him."
,Jt.fi.f°^ „ Gyp. „.,^., ,.y,^ ^,.
droU ! At,, ir!rjJ^ , P ' '^ assertion, too
oroU! Anu, looking up at her, he said:
Ihat was good, wasn't it. Gyp?"
But her face had not abated its auvitv- anrf
knowmg that she was even more easuTSl'ed bv
^e incongnious than himself, helSf aS llS
catch of fear. Something was diffeS^ £
somethmg was reaUy diieroit. ""^^^- ^es,
"Did I hurt you last night?"
dow ' £TU" "^u "^'^"'^ ^'^ ^™t to the win-
dow. He looked at her darUy. iumned ,m JZ*
swung out past her into the g^i^d ^InT,?
at once, the sound of his violStjous^pia;^ ta
the music-room, came across the lawn. ^
Gyp hstened with a bitter smile. Money tool
But what did it matter? She could not Su^^f
what die had done. She could never m ?uLt1
2 Illllt'' a"? '•"• "^^ ^"^ -oZp^tJl
n.i,^ And so It would go on and on! Well
It was her own fault Taking twelve shillings S
h« purse, she put them aside on the bmeaX SS
the maid. And suddenly she thought 'P„iSn^
MI get tired of me. /only he wS get S'
Tliat was a long way the furthest she had yet^Se.
vn
They who have knovm the doldrums-how the
^ of the lisUess ship droop, and the hope of escape
dies day by day-may miderstand something of the
hfe Gyp began living now. On a ship, even dol-
drums come to an end. But a young woman of
twenty-three, who has made a mistake in her mar-
nage, and has only herself to blame, looks forward
to no end, unless she be the new woman, which Gyp
was not. Having settled that she would not admit
failure and clenched her teeth on the knowledge
that she was gomg to have a chfld, she went on
keepmg thmgs sealed up even from Winton. To
Fiorsoi she managed to behave as usual, making
material life easy and pleasant for him-playing for
him, feedmg him weU, indulging his amorousness.
It did not matter; she loved no one else. To count
herself a martyr would be silly 1 Her malaise, suc-
cessfully concealed, was deepei-^f the spirit: the
subde utter discouragement of one who has done
lor herself, clipped her own wings.
As for Rosek, she treated him as if that little scene
had never taken place. The idea of appealmg to
her husband m a difficulty was gone for Vverlice
the mght he came home drunk. And she did not
dare to teU her father. He would-what would he
not do? But she was always on her guard, know-
142
BEYOND
^rSle^t-'^J* °°* ^°'^^' 1^" for that dart
HrM_ ,„ J I. J ^^*"i<-> wages, tood, and her own
Sjon thfe5^o?S:sSt2\?i\'^f'^^ e-
hand and a «Srette ^t^eThislps fclT f
white and hollow from too^S SnH?^ "f ''
c«mous dull red; he got u^anT^ at Ter'^vo'
You needn't look at me. It's true."
Do^hlveit" °' ^' •*' ^'"^ ^«^d of it.
BEYOND
143
»,.? ?^} u*^ *^"= ^^ same feeling as when he
had Stood there drunk, against thTS-^i!
^n rather than contempt of his childi^^'^S
takmg his hand she said: -'-^coa. ^na
"All right, Gustav. It shan't bother you. When
I^b^ to get ugly, ru go away with Bmy tiint^
He went down on his knees
"Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no l' My beautiful Gyp!"
And Gyp sat hke a sphinx, for fear tho* .\,iK
might let slip those wordsT^Oh, no^^
The wmdows were open, and moths had come in
^e had settled on the hydrangea plant tlTSlS
^e hearth. Gyp looked at the soft, white, do^y
tt^. whose head wa^ like a tiny owl's agaW?tte
S^rf ^'d^l'r'f .'^ ^' Pu^Ie-greylTdol
tnere, and the stuff of her own frock, in the shaded
«'^J» the lamps. And aU her love 0/ SutJ
r^ed, called up by his: "Oh, no!" She3
be unsightly soon, and suffer pain, and ^^f,
of It, as her own mother had died She setjj« ?LS
p^^Lt^ '"'"«'' °" '^-' ^ touchSisTTd!
It mterested, even amused her this night and next
day to wateh his treatment of theXo^eS
that he had to acqmesce in nature, he began, as she
had known he would, to jib away from aT^fer
go away without her, knowing his perversity. But
jT^^qpiri
■^^:
144
BEYOND
whoi he proposed that she should come to Ostend
witJh him and Rosek, she answered, after seeming
ddiberation, that she thought she had betteVnot--
she would rather stay at home quite quietly; but he
must certainly go and get a good holiday.
When he was really gone, peace fell on Gyp-
peace such as one feels, having no longer the tiriit
banded sensations of a fever. To be without diat
strange, disorderly presence in the house! When
she woke in the sultry silence of the next morning
she utterly failed to persuade herself that she^
mi^mg him, missing the sound of his breathing, the
sight of his rumpled hair on the piUow, the outlme
of his long form under the sheet. Her heart was
devoid of any emptiness or achej she only felt how
pleasant and cool and tranquil it was to Ue there
alone. She stayed quite late in bed. It was deli-
aous, with window and door wide open and the
puppies running in and out, to lie and doze oflF, or
hsten to the paeons' cooing, and the distant sounds
ot trathc, and feel in command once more of herself
body and soul. Now that she had told Fiorsen, she
had no longer any desire to keep her condition secret
Feehng that it would hurt her father to learn of it
from anyone but herself, she telephoned to teU him
die was alone, and asked if she might come to Bury
Street and dme with him.
WTmton had not gone away, because, between
Ooodwood and Doncaster there was no racing that
he cared for; one could not ride at this time of year
so might just as weU be in London. In fact, August
BEYOND
145
WIS perhaps the pleasantest of aU months in town-
the club was empty, and he could sit there without
some old bore buttonholing him. Little Boncarte
Uie fenong-master, was always free for a bout-^
Wmton had long learned to make his left hand what
his right hand used to be; the Turkish baths in Jer-
myn Street were nearly void of their fat dients- he
could saunter over to Covent Garden, buy a melon,
and cany it home without meeting any but the most
inf^or duch^s in PiccadiUy; on warm nights he
could stxoU the streets or the parks, smoking his
agar, his hat pushed back to cool his for^ead
thmkmg vi^rue thoughts, recalling vague memories.'
He received the news that his daughter was alone
and free from that feUow with something like de-
light Where should he dine her? Mrs. Markey
was on her holiday. Why not Blafard's? Quiet-
small rooms-not too respectablfr-^uite fairly cool
— good thmgs to eat Yes; Blafard's !
When she drove up, he was ready in the doorway,
lus thm brown face with its keen, half-veUed eyes
the picture of composure, but feeling at heart like
a schoolboy off for an exeat. How pretty she was
lookmg— though pale from London— her dark eyes
her smile! And stepping quickly to the cab he
said:
"No; I'm getting in-dining at Blafard's, Gyi>-a
mghtout!" J'K— <*
It ^ve him a thriU to walk into that Uttle restau-
rant behmd her; and passing through its low red
rooms to mark the diners turn and stare with envy
■^>^WL'
146
BEYOND
—taking him, perhaps, for a different sort of rela-
tion. He settled her into a far comer by a window,
where she could see the people and be seen. He
wanted her to be seen; while he himself turned to
the world only the short back wings of his glossy
greyish hair. He had no notion of being disturbed
in his enjoyment by the sight of lEvites and Amor-
ites, or whatever they might be, lapping champagne
and shining m the heat. For, secretly, he was liv-
ing not only in this evening but in a certain evening
of the past, when, in this very comer, he had dined
with her mother. Bis face then had borne the
brunt; hers had been tumed away from inquisition.
But he did not speak of this to Gyp.
She drank two full glasses of wine before she told
him her news. He took it with the expression she
knew so well— tightening his lips and staring a little
upward. Then he said quietly:
"When?"
"November, Dad."
A shudder, not to be repressed, went through
Winton. The very month! And stretching his
hand across the tabk, he took hers and pressed it
tightly.
"It'U be aU right, child; I'm glad."
Clinging to his hand. Gyp murmured:
"I'm not; but I won't be frightened— I prom-
ise."
Each was trying to deceive the other; and neither
was deceived. But both were good at putting a
cahn face on things. Besides, this was "a night
BEYOND
147
out"— for her, the first since her marriage— of free-
dom, of feeling somewhat as she used to feel with
all before her in a baUroom of a world; for him, the
unfettered resumption of a dear companionship and
a stealthy revel in the past. After his, " So he's gone
to Ostend?" and his thought: 'He would!' they
never alluded to Fiorsen, but talked of horses, of
Mildenham— it seemed to Gyp years since she had
been there-of her childish escapades. And, looking
at him quizzically, she asked:
"W t were you like as a boy. Dad? Aunt Rosa-
mund says that you used to get into white rages
when nobody cvuld go near you. She says you
were always climbing trees, or shooting with a cata-
pult, or stalking things, and that you never told
anybody what you didn't want to tell them. And
weren't you de^jerately in love with your nursery-
governess?"
Winton smiled. How long since he had thought
of that first affection. Miss Huntley! Helena
Huntley— with crinkly brown hair, and blue eyes,
and fascinating frocks ! He remembered with what
grief and sense of bitter injury he heard in his first
school-holidays that she was gone. And he said:
"Yes, yes. By Jove, what a time ago ! And my
father's going off to India. He never came back;
killed in that first Afghan business. When I was
fond, I was fond. But I didn't feel things like you
—not half so sensitive. No; not a bit like vou.
Gyp." ^ '
And watching her unconscious eyes following the
148
BEYOND
movements of the waiters, never staring, but taking
m aU that was going on, he thought: 'Prettiest
creature m the world !'
"WeU," he said: "What would you like to do
now— drop into a theatre or music-haU, or what?"
Gyp shook her head. It was so hot. Could they
just drive, and then perhaps sit in the park ? That
would be lovely. It had gone dark, and the
au- was not quite so exhausted— a Httle freshness of
scrat from the trees in the squares and parks min-
gled with the fumes of dung and petrol. Winton
gave the same order he had given that long past
evening: "Knightsbridge Gate." It had berali
hansom then, and the night air had blown in their
faces, instead of as now in these infernal taxis, down
the back of one's neck. They left the cab and
crossed the Row; passed the end of the Long Water
up among the trees. There, on two chairs covered
by Wmton's coat, they sat side by side. No dew
was falling yet; the heavy leaves hung unstirring-
the au- was warm, sweet-smeUing. Blotted against
trees or on the grass were other couples darker than
the darkness, very sUent AU was quiet save for
the never-ceasing hum of traffic. From Winton's
hps, the cigar smoke wreathed and curled. He was
dreammg. Thecigar between his teeth trembled- a
long ash f eU. MechanicaUy he raised his hand 'to
brush It off— his right hand ! A voice said softly in
his ear:
"Isn't it delicious, and warm, and gloomy black ?"
VTmton shivered, as one shivers recalled from
\
BEYOND
149
dreams; and, carefully brushing oflF the ash with
his left hand, he answered:
"Yes; very joUy. My cigar's out, though, and I
haven't a match."
Gyp's hand slipped through his arm.
"All these people in love, and so dark and whis-
pery— it makes a sort of strangeness in the air
Don't you feel it?"
Winton murmured:
"No moon to-night!"
Again they were silent. A puff of wind ruffled
the leaves; the night, for a moment, seemed full of
whiq)ering; then the sound of a giggle jarred out
and a girl's voice:
"Oh I Chuck it, 'Arry."
Gyp rose.
" I feel the dew now. Dad. Can we walk on ? "
They went along paths, so as not to wet her feet
in her thin shoes. And they talked. Theapellwas
over; the night agam but a common London night;
the park a space of parching grass and gravel; the
peq)le just clerks and shop-girb walking out
^L,0mm'''w^ammmmm
vm.
FiORSHj's letters were the source of one lon^
^e to Gyp. He missed her horribly; UoL^e
were there !-and so forth-blended in uTe ZLtl
way with the impression that he was enjo^^
seW uncommonly. Ttere were requests fo^on^
and ^ful omission of any real ^count of w^?Te
wasdomg Out of a balance nmning z^th^fl^
she sent him remittances; this waTRouZ^ to^'
and she could aflford to pay for it. She evms^^t
out a shop where she could seU iewelr^. a^^ "Zl
certam mahcious joy, forwarded him the nre^
T"^'^. r^ ^ "^^ ^'^ mother ZF^^
One night she went with Winton to the Octaiion
where Daphne Wing was stiU perfonnlng. rS'
bermg the girl's squeaks of rStmHu^er ^S^
die wi^te next day, asking her to lunch ^d S^
lazy afternoon under the trees. ^^^
The little dancei came with avidity. She wm
pale, and droopy f^m 'ie heat, but happily dreS
Sii'^'*^?'^^ " P^ t^m-dorsJat^
Sn" Sh ff°^ ^eetbreads, ices, and fruit, a^d
then, with coffee, cigarettes, and plenty of sW-
P^, settled down in the deepest shade 0?^^
garden, Gyp ma low wicker chair. Daphne Wing on
stage, she seemed a great talker, laying bare her Ut-
ile soul with perfect liberality. AndGyp^Tcit
BEYOND
ISI
rev^S ^7 •'.'' "" °°" "°J°y^ ^ confidential
gelations of eastences veiy different from one's
own especially when regarded a. a superior beC
Of course I don't mean to stay at home Tn^
^rnfS^iTni?'- r ^r^ - «<^^^ -t
Trwl t P^"^ ^^ °^^'» used-"tiU you
^so cMefiU Of course, people think it's worse
ttan It is; father gets fits sometimes. But you
^ow.MreFiorsen, home's awful. We have mut-
ton-you know what mutton is-it's really awf S in
your bedroom in hot weather. And there^s nC^.r^
to practise. What I should like wouMLTst?
dio It would be lovely, somewhere do^ ^y^l
nver, or up here near you. That «««W be iXe^
^°" ^°^' r°> putting by. As soon M ever i
^t^^^S^dred pounds. I shaU skip. Xt I
th^ would be perfecUy lovely would be tTin-
^«e pamtera and musicians. I don't want to b^
just a common 'tum'-baUet business y«i^te^
year, ^d that; I want to be somethi^S^^
cuA But mover's so^y about ^sh™S^
oughtnt to take any risks at aU. I shaU never «t
on that^y. It « so nice to talk to y^l^
th^' ^ '""v y°'"^ °*^ ^ shocked at any^
thing. You see, about men: Ought one to manv
or ought one to take a lover? ^ey Z you^t
be a perfect artist till you've felt pa^on. ^^t
th«, rf you marry, that means mutton over again
and perhaps babies, and perhaps the wrong^
jrf '%.^-
15a
BEYOND
bodTifrrl^d^ ^*"- «• ^ Wouldn't
couidl; iC^J^tl '^'' '^■' °^ ^°^ I
I sh»n only faji ij 1 .^^ r^STT ^. ""
Of course, Mother would have fits ,7 t u j
want to get on. ^si^pty ado^^.^et^'^iS
want
- -- — •>'«uu m Its way
Jelp, you know. Count Rosdc
lacks
rTS.K.c?,^»-;^=
make
says my dancing
■ it
Gyp aho<A her head
BEYOND
153
"I'm not a judge."
Daphne Wing looked up reproachfully,
un, im sure you are! Tf t ™
should be passional; Tlove JthTS %!""' ^
a new dance where I'm sup^ to »^- ^""^ ««*
pursued by a faun- it'^ ^^T,^ ^ * °y"Ph
nymph when you^ow it^ n^"i* ^ ^^' "^'^ "»
Do you thinkTotr to ouf n^ • '^'^*-'»«ter-
You see, I'm suoZed t P"* P?^°° i°to that?
but it would lim^ to be flyu^ aU the time:
I could «Ve Se^t^-" 1^"^'' ^°"I^'t ^t. »
caught Sll't'^ou""^^^.^^ ' ^'^ to 'be
Gyp said suddenly
j^Yes. I think it ,««« do you good to be in
Miss Daphne's mouth fefl a litUe on^n- ^
grew round. She said- P^' ^" ^^^
i4S"so^^?-4:^5^-^)' -^^ ^^ vou
fiASb^rof'te^S '^^» «^- ^
She did not want I h^ l^'i^T^^ ^° «^t.
love. But, whatever C'^lSf-f^.'i^'*"^
talking about. How wS^ltT^/l^.' v 1'** '"'t bear
girl, when she on« Tt L^' "^ ^'"« ""''"'han
coe's emotions a^ieS? ^"' '^' ^'^^ twirl
B;^wi^TenroL-^t'lr^^^ "^^ ^^"
the gardenZne ^t- ft ° S'L"" ^°!1 ''"* ^
dance out of doors^k Z ^ ^ !«>nderful to
now. Onlv.I»S4°^?"fr^"°i'^«^ and hard
^-^.=s: .. ..^^Q sm^ jjj^ servants.
IS4
BEYOND
Do they look out this wav?" a^r. aU^u i. .
"I could dance oyTtS in f^S rf^. h** ''^•
room window. Only it wo^d^^L ."'l'^'^-
light I could come^4 sSv Pv. ^ '^'^'
where I'm supposed^ tT a jotL/^ *^<=«
-vJddospJS^ And'^th^r^^Vr^S'^^^
Jght dance that goes to Chopin. I Suld hri^
dresses, and chamre in th/ ^ L? ™* "^
I?" 4p Tin,-™Zj^ , music-room, couldn't
Dap^e Wir« got up, made a rush, and kissed
__^<« did k«i „ Wd,; I .»U„., idp i,^
pu^"" «'™ "■" "^ "•»!«« «f »m.
^*?K wat indoofe, to tty ,^ the muidc oC the
BEYOND
ISS
restored her courage. She ate heartflv if ^m
Its bad for the-" She checked herself
When they had finished suoner r,^" . .t.
dogs into the back prei^^S!' ^^ ?^"* ^^"^
their rending M^ wwT'^ ^'^ .'^ '^<»» "^
Then theyTenfrfn^^/ *^P*^*^' °' '^^^■
inir m rtJ^ ^.?*' drawing-room, not light-
laj nfeht^ Ai.rtt w^X^r evt
"Can you manage?"
Gyp stole back to the bouse- if h««„ c j
out, and was waiting for the moon"^ Gyp beg^° "^
'56
BEYOND
J^f^v^^J^***"* °° * "ttJe Sicilian pastorale
from the hills, sofUy, from very fr^rf^iST
s^dhng to full cadence, and faiW, ^"^S
agamtonothmg. Tie moon W^VeTthf S
to hght flooded the face of the house, dow^ ^
the grass, and spread slowly back to^^w
^Z^^'^f"^^- It ^^ght thHonilr ^
^^kJ^ ^^ colour-gold that was not gold
Gyp began to play the. dance. Tie pale b£h,
the darkness stirred. The moonlight M orth^
g now, standing with arms spSl, hSw out
her drapery-a white, winged statue. T^ S.
noiseless flew over the grass, spun and hovered
^moonhght etched out the Lpe of h^rS,'
pamted her hair with oalHd mU t„ *\. ., ™^
with that unearthly gl^^f Sour 1^'t^T^^
flowers and on the jrirl's heaW if ™. -r ™
!,» J J , . * neaa, it was as if a soirit'
^ftr'^bir^^^r^-^-^-teriT.
th^?'r^p'''^^'*= "^>'GodI What's
Fiorsen was standing half-way in the darkened
^ h^ted, transfixed before the window, her ejS
nffd mth mt^t and affright Suddenly sE
':^mmt,
*irtfcrtr.
BEYOND
ing after that flying nvmnh \^ Sf ^'^ *^^^-
Why, even hist^'^S^tinS? ^I^t' '^'"'
noticed before, how likTa^^h ^? ti!^
"D^^.'^'S"*' AndshesaiSqrtly.''^"
shodS ""^ '""^ -'^ ^"^«i Her by the
"My Gyp I Kiss me!"
gS!S ;. ^°^ ^."^*^^ It's a^ul. isn't it?"
G3T» strangled her desire to laugh
It s for you to mind "
th. tojpf."'''' " )^ *»>■., Hw did w m.
IS8
BEYOND
{f l?^' Tf i P'^^- ^*- ^""'^ ^""^ been better
^ smiled, and opened the door into the lane.
When she returned. Fiorsen was at the win^
do^gazn^g out Was it for her or for that flying
!W'^'^:i
novelty had won. off, , ', ^, ,,f^?' ' ;'■ ^'0"en's
and sentiment r tiourh ts V"^ "?« sweetness
to matter. EvervtiiiM-r .^ ' ""^ seem- to Gyp
in the shadowTS^^V, T.-"""*' "^ ""^
mothera to be she T.^ '' ^"^- ^'^^ most
be needed?"^ She pkyS r^^- '"^^ "«''* never
for herself not It TIS '"^. '^ ««»* deal,
novels, bipgrapl^:^-^ C^'^^^^T*^'
ment, and foi^ttinjr iS «? " ''^ ^'^ ™o-
with books read^b^t^^^ ** °°**' «« one does
andAuntlSlSX^a^'^'^- ^^^
alteniate afternoons jSd X^^S "^ o°
much under that shadow as r^ T '^°'' ""
take the evening tiS^Lt,^^ u"^' ^°"ld
the next day^^rtlw^ ''''' *°*^ '^'^
morning of the da7afltl v S?' '"'"^ ^^^
had no dread jWth^!i£Xt^°"*^t- He
day face to face with anSetv "°«^cupied
Betty, who had been present at r . u- .
m a queer state The oW j ?^ * ^"^' was
events to one o mSSejfc ff ''^ity "^ «"<=h
of children was tSv 1^ ^^^"^""^^ ^V ^ate
-mory.andaslSSe^rC^.ft^'^
mm
i6o
BEYOND
ceeding what she would have had for a daughter
of her own. What a peony regards as a natural
happening to a peony, she watches with awe when
it happens to the lily. That other single lady of
a certain age, Aunt Rosamund, the very antithesb
to Betty— a long, thin nose and a mere button, a
sense of divine rights and no sense of rights at all,
a drawl and a comforting wheeze, length and cir-
cumference, decision and the curtsey to providence,
humour and none, dyq}epsia, and the digestion of
an ostrich, with odier oppositions — ^Aunt Rosa-
mund was also uneasy, as only one could be who
disapproved heartily of uneasiness, and habitually
joked and drawled it into retirement
But of all those round Gyp, Fiorsen gave the
most interesting display. He had not even an
elementary notion of disguising his state of mind.
And his state of mind was weirdly, wistfully primi-
tive. He wanted Gyp as she had been. The thought
that she might never become herself again terrified
him so at times that he was forced to drink brandy,
and come home only a little less far gone than that
first time. Gyp' had often to he^ him go to
bed. On two or three occasions, he suffered so that
he was out all night. To account for this, she de-
vised the formula of a room at Count Rosek's,
where he slept when music kept him late, so as not
to disturb her. Whether the servante believed her
or not, she never knew. Nor did she ever ask him
where he went — too proud, and not feeling that
she had the right.
jBL^-m^-
BEYOND ,g/
Deeply consdous of the mussthetic nab,,* r.t
feelings about her-had he^3" t"" 1"^'
never eave unvfj,?.,™ ^ "^ certainly
any waf If l^S, ^^ *": "^^"^ ^^^^ in
eves a^H »K.'- ^? young man with the dear
^<a ho, to get .„, tte. .iu, ,„ 5,u,„ ^
Ste ™,t .t th. begtai,, rf NoTOte.
1 63
BEYOND
mmy heart," as he wrote to Gjp next day-"aii
awful feehng, my Gyp; 1 walked up and d«wn for
hours" (m reaUty, half an hour at most) ^ow
shaU I b«ir to be away from you at this time? I
•I'Sf'- . ^^* ^y- ^^ f^'^d hinself b Paris
^ht of the streets of the garden, of our 'room.
When I come back I shaU stay with Rosek. Nearer
to the day I wiU come; I must come to you." But
'^tS:, r ^' "^ ^^ ^''^' "^^ to Winton:
uad when it comes, don't send for him. I don't
want him here."
With those letters of his, she buried the last
remnants of her feeling that somewhere in him
toere mm be somethmg as fine and beautiful as
the sounds he made with his violin. And yet she
Wt those letteri genuine in a way, pathetic, and
with real feeling of a sort
From liie moment she reached Mildenham she
began to lose that hopelessness about he-aelf ; and
for the first tmie, had the sensation of ■ ranting to'
bve m the new life within her. She first felt it
^ing into her old nursery, where everything wa^
the same as it had been when she first MuTit a
child of e«ht; there was her old red doll's house,
Uie who e side of which opened to display the variou^
!r"' .^,\'?™ ^^''^ ^^'^' the ratUe of
whose fall had sounded in her ean. so many hu^
dred times; the high fender, near vhich she had
km so often on the floor, her chin on her hands,
readmg Gnmm, or "Alice in Wonderland," or hi»^
-0 y
BEYO>fD
163
new
nwin deflowered lltiti^ 1 damtmess of that
hood. ButSte^X^^""°'f '^-giri-
fortl And when ^^1?^ ^ '^^^' ~"-
Markey so far foreot J„-,r,»„w ^ °*° ^'"Ps-
Winton lamS a W^^'l^'^"*^"^ *° ^alk.
^l he nnght get "S^TSfe ?uiSr",^5 ^"^^
back, was like an unquiet snfrif k o ' °°'=®
the n>om. he would S £"1«G>^ ^««>
to wanu his feet or h^just to I^S"l°^ T^^
as he went back to WsSl/r i^ ^^^ '''* '*°"'^«
and dry hadTri^T? V^L '^ '^""'> » measured
to atmosphet! Mt ^™^L» 9yP./Jways sensitive
her. ^SaSit^lodd^^,^'' '°"^ ''^"^
What had she done for il.*" «re so much!
be so sweet-he^^ir w^' "^^ "^^^^ '^'^'^d
ously distress^ ^1^'^^^^'= '".^ ^ ^^-
would sit staring bto LTrllShT™?!^ ^^"
eyes, unbIinki^;a.«l owfraTniif ^^^*^'^
what she could do to^Iun tl ^ ,:.'°°'^"^
already once sh- ha" ^^ ti^ t' ^*^"' '^^O"
, - -n. ..a^ nearly killed by coming into
i64
BEYOND
hk. And she Ixsgan to practise the bearing of the
known suffering, so that it should not surprisTfi^
her cnes and contortions.
She had one dream, over and over airain nf .!„v
and more deeply waUed in by that whichhad^
ttas dream, ^e got up and spent the rest of Z
night wrapped in a blanket and the dd«^^oJ^
on the old sofa, where, as a chilS, Sey £ S
her he flat on her back from twelve ^ Z. ^
day. Betty was aghast at finding her there as^
in the mominir. Gvn's fa«. ^I^ vu \^ ^^
fart. .h» \.Ja Vv^ s lace was so hke the child-
.^K ^^^ "^ 'y^ *^«-« ^ the old dayslhat
she bundled out of the room and cried bitteriv Sf-!
Si^riiSr^nutt^r^" ^-^^^ -
But Gyp only said:
"Betty, darling, the tea's awfully cold I Please
get me some morel" ^^^
Mid he d^ aJj^'- "" °f J""r which people
wine, was suspected of t^^ S^^ '^r^''
spoke always in a huskvToiVe «nT^ It *'^'
-allbrougham with a ^SJ ^Tj IZ
Peopk StoSVo^d stdT^^J ?^"?"°«
little brougham's ^h^^^tTd l^h^V ."^
would iret un anH *-!,• J "^ neard. Winton
"WeU, doctor? How is she?"
t«5
1
i66
BEYOND
' Vicely; quite nicdy."
"1 othing to oiake one anxious?"
The doctor, pufSng out his cheeks, with eyes
straying to the decanter, would murmur-
Cara ac condition, capital-a Uttle-um-not to
matter. Takmg its course. These things'"
And Winton, with another deep breath, would say:
"Glass of port, doctor?" ^
do^r'S^°° °' '"^^ '°^^ P^ °^ ^
"Cold day^, perhaps-" And he would blow
his nose on his puiple-and-red bandanna.
Watching him drink his port, Winton would re-
mark:
" ^e can get you at any time, can't we ? "
And the doctor, sucking his Ups, would answer:
NevM fear, my dear sir I Little Miss Gyp-old
Sftr- ^^ '" ^" ^y '^^^
A smation of comfort would pus through Win-
ton, which wouki last quite twenty minutes after
the cninchmg of the wheels and the mingled oer-
fumes of him had died away. ""^«> ?«
wa^ww At' *^,.8'«»t«'t «eod was an old
watch that had been his father's before him: a gold
repeater from Switzerland, with a chipp^^d Li-
plate, and a case worn wondrous thin and smooth-
a favounte of Gyp's childhood. He would take it
out about every quarter of an hour, look at ite face
wiUiout discovering the time, finger it, aU smooth
and warn from contact with his body, and put it
BEYOND
167
b^ Then he would listen. There was nothing
whatever to hsten to, but he could not hdpit
Apart from this, his chief distraction was to take a
fml and make passes at a leather cushion, set up on
the top of a low bookshelf. In these occupattons
vaned by constant >Tsits to the room next the nur-
sery whert-to save her the stairs-Gyp was now
estabbshed, and by excursions to the conservatory
to see if he could not find some new flower to take
her, he passed all his time, save when he was eat-
ing, sleeping, or smoking cigars, which he had con-
stantly to be relighting.
By Gj^'s request, they kept from him knowledge
of when her pams began. After that firet bout^
ova: and she was lying half asleep in the old nursery
he happened to go up. The nur«^ bonny ciea-
!I!!rfu "^ ^^^ ^' "dependent, economic
agents that now abound-met him in the sittinit-
room. Accustomed to the "fuss and botherationof
men at such times, she was prepared to deKver
him a httle lecture. But, in approaching, she be-
came affected by the look on his faceTanc^ realizing
somehow that she was in the presence of onelhw;
seU-contiol was proof, she simply whispered:
Its beginning; but don't be anxious-she's not
«^enng just now. We shaU send for the doctor
soon Shes very plucky"; and with an unaccus-
StT'''°° °^ "^^ "^ P^ ^ «P«^:
iJon t be anxious, sir."
"If ^e wants to see me at any time, I shall be in
my study. Save her aU you can, nursi." "^ "* "*
W.WrtjrM
fsr:
x68
BEYOND
lie nune was left with a feeling of surprise at
having used the word "Sir"; shTSd not Z^2
a^smce-^ce-l And, pensive, she returned
to the nursery, where Gyp said at once:
kno^" "^ ^"^^ ^ '^^'^ want him to
The nurse answered mechanically
''That's all right, my dear."
"How long do you think before-befcre it'll beirin
agam, nurse? I'd like to see hi^T^ ^^
The nurse stroked her hair.
"Soon enough when it's aU over and comfy. Men
are always fidgety."
Gyp looked at her, and said quietly
boiZ'^ ^°" **' "^ °^^^ ^^ ^^'^ I ^
^e nur^, watching those lips, stiU pale with
sSes'tf s3r ^- ''^ ""'"^'^ ^ '^■
"That's nothing-it often happens-that is. I
m^,-you know it has no comiection whkt-
a f^' ''**^ ^^ "^'' ^ *^°"«^^-' '^«"' I "»
h."J^^.!5^ ^"^ ' ^'^'^ 8«t tl»«««l». I want to
be cr«nated ; I want to go back as qdck as I can.
I can t bear the thought of the other thing. WID
you remember, nurse? I can't teU myllther that
just now; It might upset him. But promise me."
Arid the nurse thought: 'That can't be done with-
out a wiU or something, but I'd better promise.
r^:>-#iip:'iir- .^"^:f^Ti;?i
BEYOND
169
^ smiw .eii., .^ ao, ^ ,j^ ,^ ^^
"rm awfully ashamed, wandnj all tUt attmUn.
•M^ta, priM, to, ^av.; ho iK, taKh.
Gyp murmured again-
^Td like to see my father, ple«e; and rather
The nurse after one swift look, went out
doS^' £.^ '^'^ ^" ^^ "°der the bed-
dnve the old retriever in han>^n ^XTcJ^.
-^tw..^aduckXr^r.j^!r°c3s
F mr'
170
BEYOND
^J""? y "^ ^^^ °^^'" ^ ^*- d«ss? And.
suddenly, her heart sank. The pain was coming
again. Winton's vdce from the door said ■
"Well, my pet?"
"It was only to see how you are. I'm aU right
What sort of a day is it? You'll go riding, won't
you? Give my love to the horses. Good-bye. Dad-
just for now." ' ' '
Her forehead was wet to his lips.
Outside, in the passage, her smile, like somethmg
actual on the air, preceded him-the smile that had
just lasted out. But when he was back in the study
hesuffered-sufferedl Why could he not have that
pain to bear instead?
The crunch of the brougham brought his ceaseless
march over the caipet to an end. He went out into
the haU and looked into the doctor's face-he had
foigotten that this old feUow knew nothing of his
special reason for deadly fear. Then he turned back
mto his study. The wild south wind brought wet
dnft-leaves whirling against the panes. It was here
that he had stood lodcing out into the dark, when
Fiorsen came down to ask for Gyp a year ago. Why
had he not bui iled the feUow out neck and crop
and taken her away?-India, Japan-anywher^
would have done ! She had not loved that fiddler
never really loved him. Monstrous-monstrous 1
The full bitterness of having missed right action
swept over Winton, and he positively groaned aloud.
He moved from the window and went over to the
bookcase; there in one row were the few books he
I. MVm^rM'
BEYOND j_
e^x^ad andhetookoneout "Life of General
wnat was that? The front door shuttine Wh«^?
Winton nodded
"WeU?"
^|;Nothing at present. You have had no lunch,
"What time is it?"
"Four o'clock."
"Bring in my fur coat and the port, and make the
fire up. I want any news there is." "^^ me
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172
BEYOND
Markey nodded.
n„?^'^.i*? ^^ * ^"^ "^^ ^""^ a ^- and the day
not cold ! They said you Uved on after death. He
had never been able to feel that she was Uving on.
She hved m Gyp. And now if Gyp-! D^th-
your own-no great matter! But— for her! The
wind was dropping with the darkness. He got ud
and drew the curtains. ^
in/„' T^u^ o'clock when the doctor came down
mto the haU, and stood rubbing his freshly washed
hands before opening the study door. Winton was
stiU sittmg before the fire, motionless, shrunk into
H^'Zy. «<^ -^ ''^ a htUe and looked
The doctor's face puckered, his eyelids drooped
half-way across his bulging eyes; it was his way^f
snuhng. 'Nicely," he said; "nicely-a girl. Vo
complications." *
Winton's whole body seemed to sweU, his lips
opened, he mised his hand. Then, the habit of a
hfetime catching hmi by the throat, he stayed mo-
tionless. At last he got up and said:
" Glass of port, doctor ? "
The doctor ^ying at him above the glass thought:
This IS "the fifty-two." Give me "the sixty-e^t"
—more body.' ' *
After a time, Winton went upstairs. Waiting in
the outer room he had a return of his cold dread.
Perfectly successful-the patient died from ex-
haustion!" The tiny squawking noise that feU on
his eais entirely failed to reassure him. He cared
BEYOND
173
"What is it, woman? Don't'"
have bsf alrSSeTShf t'"'^^'' '^'^^ ^o
lovetyf"'"'^' "^ '"^^^-^^'^ ^^' ^e looks so
extremd^stiS^a^S'vXMteT ^^ ^^ ^^«
a land of wonder «;),» ^-j . ^' Her face wore
right away somewhere nV^f ^' face-^ne
<?h« k.j '^"newnere, right away— amazed him
feUow being-miitht be sufllwn„ ? ^.' ''*' ''^ *
174
BEYOND
ra^e-it wouldn't do! And he wrote out the^
"All well, a daughter.— WmroN,"
Sfe ut ^^f it ^^ °'*^- ^' ^ ^- ^ould
Gyp was sleeping when he stole up at ten o'dock.
He, too, turned in, and slept like a chUd. ..
Did he bring things?"
"A bag, sir."
"Get a room ready, then "
J»?^tr^.tar-^^^erl.e,
s.n?t^sisrrSr^-?
desire to min the li^^^ ^™*^ warmth, a
her sense of humour nor h~ . ^V«t» neither
deceived. It ,^a au" K«i^.°^ ^^"*y ^««
black hair, in «m:e S ^^^^ f^'^ ^* a tuft of
naUs, its microsSoic^ril T J infinitesimal
eyes-when th^iSS^ t? ' "^ • '^l^'^ *'^'=''
when it slept. iteinSlw "™"table stiUness
^ ' " "»c««'ble vigour when it fed, were
176
BEYOND
aU, as It were, miraculous. Withal, she had a feel-
mg of gratitude to one that had not kiUed nor even
hurt her so very desperately-gratitude because she
had succeeded, performed her part of mother per-
fectly—the nurse had • Jd so-she, so distrustful of
herself ! Instinctively she knew, too, that this -as
11^ •^' °°* ^' *°™^ "*° *^^ ^^^'^ l»er," as Jiey
caUed It. How it succeeded in giving that impres-
sion she could not tell, unless it were the passivity
and dark eyes of the Uttle creature. Then from one
tiU three they had slept together with perfect sound-
ness and unanimity. She awoke to find the nurse
standing by the bed, looking as if she wanted to
tell her something.
"Someone to see you, my dear."
And Gyp thought: 'He I I can't think quickly
I ought to think quickly-I want to, but I can't '
Her fax:e expressed this, for the nurse said at once:
I don t think you're quite up to it yet."
Gj'p answered:
"Yes. Only, not for five minutes, please."
Her q)irit had been very far away, she wanted
tune to get it back before she saw him— time to
know m some sort what she felt now; what this mite
iymg beside her had done for her and him The
thought that it was his, too-this tiny, helpless
bemg-seemed unreal. No, it was not his I He
had not wanted it, and now that she had been
through the tort re it was hers, not his— never his
Tie memory of the night when she first yielded to
the certainty that the chUd was coming, and he had
BEYOND
came the old accusin/thm.lh. v' ^?~ ^^"^^
last days she ha7S f^^ fS'^/f^^jh^;Jese
tired." She bit the wo^rb^ck ■ ^/'^'''T
with a vety faint smDe.S: ^^ P'^^'^^'
Now, I'm ready."
She noticed first what clothes he haH «„ ».•
^t suit, dark grey, with Ut^e^ghtt 1^1^?,^^,"
chosen it herself- that r,;= *• * . anes— she had
then crossed very swiftly to th^ f, *' '^^^ * ™»°ute,
178
BEYOND
face. And it flashed through her: "If T loverf Kim t
wouldn't nund what he <Hd-.ver , m^l^ J
lovehun? There's something loveable. WhyJon't
an^WrSiS'^ '"^^ ^ '^^ "«^*«^ - ^« ^'^by,
"Look at this!" he said. "Is it possible? Oh,
my G^, what a funny one! Oh, oh, oh i" He
went off into an ecstasy of smothered laughter; then
h^ face grew grave, and slowly puckered 4to a
1,,^ f r^"^^''; . ^^ t°° ^'^ ^ the hu-
mours of her baby, of its queer UtUe reddish pudge
drihh r; -f '*1 *^"»ty-seven black hairs, and the
dnbble at Its aknost invisible mouth; bu she had
also seen it as a miracle; she had felt it. and there
surged up from her aU the old revolt and more
agamst h« lack of consideration. It was nT a
fmmyone-herbabyl It was not ugly I Or if i?
w«e, she was not fit to be told of it. H^anntigh!
«ied round the warm bundled thing against her
Fioi^ put his finger out and toudhediu cheek.
^^Itiwreal-soitis. MademoiseUe Fiorsen. Tk,
T ^i^^ ^"'^- ^^ Gyp tl»0"ght: 'It I loved
I wouldn't even mind his laughing aT my baby S
would be different.' ^
"Don't wake her!" she whispered. She felt his
ZTS '^^T "^^^ ^ ^"^'^'^ ^ the baby h«l
ce^ as suddenly as it came, that he was thiiw
How long before I have you in my arms again?"
He touched her hair. And, suddenly, sheTd a
BEYOND
™s.?^^y rrr^iS -eirs t'
.■^ ssisrssinr " °™ "«'■
"Now go to sleenf"? vui^ ^^ ^^^y' ^^^ saying-
Like aD^obusf p^L£ef rh'^"^** ''^^ ^•=^-
her vexations wifhSS bJ gCS °" °^"^
sleep; she ga«d now at her sleeDfc^ k J °°' ^'^ '°
the pattern of the waU n7n.r . ^^ ^''^^' °°^ at
to find the bird cauS?r ' l"^ '"echanicaUy
brown-and.greenfSSl:„^eSr^^ TT' '^
square of the pattern ^7^^!^;,: ^'^'^ alternate
bird in the cenSe o four ' e' h^^ T ^^^^^ *
was of green and yelloT^t ^ Seak^' ''^ '^'
--ancflaSrl^ilf T^^ ^^ the
Fiorsen went do^-stSs l-'-^'^r ^ ^^^^le faint,"
mosphereofthisdShm,? '^''^"'f^'^te. The at-
an unwelcome st^irwl^t''""^^^^^^".
wanted nothing mhbutVT T^P«'table. He
at his touch. No wonde^^' ?^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ed
opened a door. kTt ^'" °^^^'^'''«- H^
The drawing-room UgJT'^Nri ''^'l ^ P'^«'
almost dar.ah5^Jt^?:^X-d
BEYOND
x8o
a life these English lived-worse than the winter
hei-^v th^Z alter him. He would write to
To be with her tSI ?^ ^^ "^'^ ^er.
feel her S^ o™ ^^ %^^ and kiss her, and
he pas^ out^nTu^e ^t 'SZ^: '"''
miserable and sick at hlT mTI ""^^y'
station thn,ugh the 'diSng^S*' T^^ 1^ t"
^^eSdn^yr^^lf th^f ^^
back to Rosd.'s?td"hel.lroffrh^;tlf ^f
b"S:'^ti.!"J4 ^ ;^^^ '^-l^ -hen he wen^t
•dreams.
with its darkness and
xn
present, pronounc^her fit «n/^'' ''^ ^^^ "^
when she liked, ^lat ^.^ ""^^' *° «° ^"""^
seemed definitely U^ S^a^S^; /°^«
lassitude: as if dii. irnT^i-T^.f ^ °^ deqjerate
within h;r^ower o^vl5- "^'x.' ''^ «*» ^^ ^^s
been too mucHor hef S^ ''^ ''^'=^'°°' ^^
inward feelings Ll 1,^** T! °° *'°" ^^^ ^^^
said to him: '^'"^ °^ J^^ary that she
"I must go home, Dad."
sw?ed:"°"' "'•''"^" '^"^ ^' -d he only an-
.o t?!^^ ^£^,X «^ ^ I ^'^ better
him know. Two or S^e. h ^ ' ^on't let
fi-t would be^rfofrttiSg^,,t:7n^^ "^^^
i8i
i&a
BEYOND
'^-
"Veiy weU; ru take you up."
with Aunt Rosamund aU 4 S,e f • "^
their greetine- hnf th^^ . T, . ' ^VP missed
the baby fte sparetor.^^f ''°" ''^ ^^"y and
just beginning to fSZn^^^T) ^'f ' ^^
a key of the music-roomk^d e'i^'Sl''^ ^^
to see how aU had fared dnriLT . ^ ^"<^^'
sence. What a wSSj tS'" h" "!.t' ^*'-
from ihat languorous wa^ i?""^ '^^'^'^^
Daphne WiTfaid com.^ '• """^"^^ °^«^t ^^en
of Ae dark tfeS^ ^^ dancmg out of the shadow
against the tS, S^^.^' Z-t? ^t '^^'"^
of any bird, not a flower' Shi i .°*. * ^°K
the house, 'cold and Iw e it in^lTt ^^ "*
were lights in her rcim^d iL ^ ' ^"^ *^««
someone just dra^^ tT. J^^ °"'^'y' and
the leaves were S^ the curtams. Now that
of the ro^ ich i-ff T'^'^ r ^^ «ther houses
Gyp hurried down the S Fn! T»,'°'^' ^''^^^y;
fonned beneath tSSo/Tti'"'''''?^''^'^
They caught her eve^H -^ music-room,
side, she broke le off i,^'''"'^ ™"°^ ^o the
there, for she coZsf 'the'S^^erTrl ''^ .^^ ^
tains not quite dmwn -r^ u / through the cur-
quite drawn. Thoughtful Ellen had been
BEYOND
183
in the drawn curSnT T u /"^""g^ the chink
seated on Z ^^ ^L^^ ^^^" ^wo figures
ro^d in her head.^^he tu^St^ruSv '"l?"^
His ann was r^uS'Sr neck St '^^^ '^"«'
eted her eyes It w,= f, ^ ^^^ ^'^^ ^ ^^^^^ riv-
gazing at hS, th h;;S 'th''''' '^^ "^' "P'
adoring; and her aS foJ^J'hS. 1^^ irP'^^t^d,
-with cold, with ecSLy ? ''^ '° ''^""
it hovered close toT^J^ ^^ ^Sth' "*=°"?
•£is^;srhrii?rtL^-s^^«^'
.t /TdThnT.tssX'^f--^^ S
the unhghted c££°r^^'I'r^'y8^. through
her room locked thTI ' .^ "^^^ "P^tairs to
&e. PrideriSStV ^^'^If^'^'^^^^^the
kerchief bltSSt^'J?.^ ^"^ ^^ ^d-
consdously. Sr ev..^?. ^f'i "^^ ^^ ^t un-
flames, but she i7?„/f T'*""*^ ^™°» *!»« fi^e-
before them °' ''°"''^" ^ ^^^ her hand
her lap, aid &^:tK-^«f ^^opped to
blood-stained. She d^^." X^Tl:;;:'!-
i84
BEYOND
from the scorching of the fire, and sat quite stiU a
snule on her lips. That girl's eyes, ffe a httle
so! She had got her "distinguished man"! She
dered, turned her back on herself, and sat down
again. In her own house I Why not htre-in tV^
room? Why not before her eyes^? Not r^TyS
But It did not seem to mean anything, had no
value to a spmt so bitterly strick^Tits^i
She inoved her chair closer to the fire again. Siy
h^ she not upped on the window? ShaveS
that gul's face ashy with fright! To have seS
h^«-caught-caught in the room she had^Se
beautiful for him the room where she had p^
for hmi so many hours, the room that was rfJS
^Ttoft^'"^^-'''' How long hadl;'
used It for their meetings-^ieaking in by that
door from the back lane? Perh^en before^e
went away-to bear his child! And there L^
m her a struggle between mother instmct and her
se.^ of outrage-a spiritual tug-of-war so deep that
U was dumb unconsdous-to decide whether her
baby would be all hers, or would haye sUpM
away^from her heart, and be a thing ahnost^S
She huddled nearer the fire, feelins cold and
phy^caUy sick. And suddenly'the tho'u^h"
to her: 'If I don't let the servants know I'm here.
BEYOND J85
tZ Snlf •°"* ^"^ "^ ''^^ ^ «^^'' Had she
^^g ^e beU. and unlodced^the ,t.' '^''^^
a^HT'!r?.f"T, ^^ <l«^^-™om window, EUen-
and teU Betty I'm afraid I got a little chiU travS'
iZ'^'Z^i: f*,i-«^«-n-anage1^S
ftS T. ^°^^ '*^^t into the girl's
ta^e. It -vore an expression of concern, eveTof
the^^T''^'^- Anything-anythingI And when
'AcuTSl.T.r^^'^ ^°"«^t mechanicaU^
b^bufh^t?^' ^' Howquaintl What should ^t
way or the other in the h^ oFt^^^w^Jte S
^ where the atmosphere lack^Sty^?o he"
mind, the nustress was much too good for W^-1
^Tl';^'' !!? '^''^' Maniers-^Se S?J
wri^irdt^?^^'"''"- ^^^-
i86
BEYOND
Again Gyp nodded. And the irirl jrolnir rfnwn
suus for the mustard, told cook t'Z ''Zl
about the mistress that makes you quite SieS^'
^fnh^ '."1*° "^ ^^'^S her concSna, for
whiA she had a passion, answered: '
Thit . "*"" T^'f ^'^''' same as they aU does
mnk Wen she haven't got that dra^ thouT
that 'er old aunt 'as-always makes me fed to wSt
And when the maid EUen had taken the mustard
l^tK'- %^'' ?""' ^'' '^"""^ to its fuU
To Gyp, lying in her hot bath, those muffled
3tauns just mounted, not quite as a tune, raXfS
the water the pungent smeU of the mustard, and
that dnmmg hum slowly soothed and drowsed aw^y
the vehemence of feeling. She lookedTw K^
feehng she had never had before ! Strange ind^
through the old instinctive shrinking. Yes^ome
day love would come to her.^Cfloat^'bSo^
her bnun the adoring look on Daphne Wing's faT
the shiver that had passed along her arm,15.d pS-'
™mng piUfuMess. Why should she grudge-X
who did not love? The sounds, like thVhSSog
BEYOND
187
"Be it ne-e-ver so humble,
mere s no-o place like home I"
xm
in J^H r*"*' ^^ '''P* peacefully, as though noth-
^»,T^. ^r^^'o?^ '^""S^ *«^« ^e« °o future
at aU before her She woke into misery. Herpride
wo^d never let her show the world what she had
Ascovered would force her to keep an unmoved
face and hve an unmoved life. But the struggle
between mother-mstinct and revolt was stiU goL
^hr^^'""- S^« ^ '^y afmid to see hef
K; ut ."^I- r"* ^ ^^"y t^^t she thought
It would be safer if she kept quite quiet tiU the after-
noon. <"■•>-«
hJ'^n f * f f .°°°° '^^ '^''^^ downstairs. She
had not resized how violent was her struggle over
*« chdd tUl she was passing the door ot^erZZ
where it was lying. If she had not been oSerS^t^
give up nm^g, that struggle would never have
come Her heart ached, but a demon pressed her
on and past the door. Downstairs she ji^t pottered
round, dustmg her china, putting in order thT books
which after house-cleaning, the maid had a^S
ahnost too carefuUy, so that the first voS^S
Dick^os and TTiackeray followed each other on the
S.r '.n."^" "^""^ ^°J"™«« ^°U«wed each
other on the bottom shelf. And aU the timelhe
thought duUy: 'Why am I doing this? Ct df I
care how the place looks? It is not my home It
can never be my home I '
BEYOND
189
■&UU
For lunch she drank some ho^ t^ u •
^l"^V^' had seen her-was it poSe ? nZw
The house was invisible from the music-room- »n^
"Deu GrarAV,— We are back.— Gw »
u«n oeiore bow she would receive his re-
. igo
BEYOND
i
!
turn, she went out in the forenoon and wandered
about aU day shopping and trying not to think.
Returning at tea-time, she went straight up to her
baby, and there heard from Betty that he had come,
and gone out with his violin to the music-room.
Bent over the child. Gyp needed aU her self-con-
trol—but her self-control was becoming great. Soon,
the girl would come fluttering down that dark, nar-
row lane; perhaps at this very minute her fingers
were tapping at the door, and he was opening it to
murmur, "No; she's back!" Ah, then the girl
would shrink! The rapid whispering-some other
meeting-place! Lips to lips, and that look on the
girl's face; till she hurried away from the shut door,
m the darkness, disappointed! And he, on that
silver-and-gold divan, gnawing his moustache, his
eyes^-catlike— staring at the fire! And then, per-
haps, hrm his violin would come one of those sway-
ing bursts of sound, with tears in them, and the
wind in them, that had of old bewitched '-.er ! She
"Open the window just a little, Betty dear— it's
There it was, rising, falling! Music! Why did
It so move one even when, as now, it was the voice
of insult! And suddenly she thought: "He will
expect me to go out there again and play for him.
But I will not, never !"
She put her baby down, went mto her bedroom,
and changed hastily into a teagpwn for the evening,
ready to go downstairs. A Uttle shepherdess in
BEYOND
191
chma^on the mantel-shelf attracted her attention
and she took it in her hand. She had SoS S
three and more ears ago, when she fct^e to
London at the begimiing of that time S^Setv
leader Its cool damtiness made it seem the svm
bol of another world, a world without dStlH;
shadows, a wor d that did not feel-^ happ™id
She had not long to wait before he tap^d Zte
drawmg-room window. She got ud frmTft.!. .
glass from darkness always look hungn^-searchiT
appealmg for what you have and^^'tf^
And whde ^e was midoing the latch L tlouS-
What ml gomg to say? I fed nothing!' S
ardour of his gaze, voice, ha^ds seemed to he^ so fS^
W^So^/?'"'* '?'^'' "^^^^ '""^ comicaDy fS
his look of disappointment when she said-
Please take care; I'm still britUeJ" TTien she
sat down again and asked:
"Will you have some tea?"
"Tea! I have you back, and you ask me if T
^^^,^u: ^^' Do you know XTw
felt hke aU this time? No; you don't know y2
know nothing of me-xlo you?" "
A smile of sheer irony formed on her Ups-withont
her knowmg it was there. She said- ^"^"^""^'^
A .^X! y°" had a good time at Count Rosek's?"
2S^.. °"*- ^ "^ ^'^d you've missed the music-
iga
BEYOND
His stare wavered; he began to walk up and down.
" Missed ! Missed everything I I have been veiy
miserable, Gyp. You've no idea how miserable.
Yes, miserable, miserable, miserable!" With each
repetition of that word, his voice grew gayer. And
kneeUng down in front of her, he stretched his long
arms round her till they met behind her waist: "Ah,
my Gyp ! I shall be a different being, now."
And Gyp went on smilmg. Between that, and
stabbing these false raptures to the heart, there
seemed to be nothing she could do. The moment
his hands relaxed, she got up and said:
"You know there's a baby in the house?"
He laughed.
"Ah, the baby! I'd forgotten. Let's go up and
see it."
Gyp answered:
"You go."
She could feel him thinking: 'Perhaps it will make
her nice to me !' He turned suddenly and went.
She stood with her eyes shut, seeing the divan in
the music-room and the girl's arm shivering. Then,
going to the piano, she b«gan with all her might to
play a Chopin polonaise.
That evening thej dined out, and went to "The
Tales of Hoffmann." By such devices it was posisi-
ble to put off a little longer what she was going to
do. Durinr' the drive home in the dark cab, she
shrank away into her comer, pretending that his
arm would hurt her dress; her exa^jerated nerves
were ah-eady overstrung. Twice she was on the
BEYOND
193
193
very point of crying out • " T am n^^r. 1. ,
Mood ruah up i, her ^ JSte 2^ 1^ T ^'
round she said: ' *°°' tummg
w^^a cSS" "* "" *^ °^-'— ^ you
hair. For fully a^nSelSTfo^dSThSV''"
?^::rs^inrirrd^^^^^^
thoughte and W; "^^ ™°°^« i° he' head;
feeding doT^'ouf o7her h^^ td'^'^^f'.''^ "■«
Baphne Wing. She tKeTf Xf ^tT T
still burned, and by its li^h^ ci,. ^- ' ^^ ^
at Che foot of the bei juSLt-tT,^ '^°'''^^
dinir n.Vhf *i, "*=°' J"st as he had on their wed-
194
BEYOND
"Oh, Gyp, you don't understand! All that is
nothing— it is only you I want— always. I am a
fool who cannot control himself. Think! It's a
long time since you went away from me."
Gyp said, in a hard voice:
"I didn't want to have a child."
He said quickly:
"No; but now you have it you are glad. Don't
be unmerciful, my Gyp 1 It is like you to be mer-
ciful. That girl— it is all over— I sweai—I prom-
ise."
His hand touched her foot through the soft eider-
down. Gyp thought: 'Why does he come and
whme to me like this? He has no dignity— none!'
And she said:
"How can you promise? You have made the
gu-1 love you. I saw her face."
He drew his hand back.
"You saw her?"
"Yes."
He was silent, staring at her. Presently he be-
gan again:
"She is a little fool. I do not care for the whole
of her as much as I care for your one finger. What
does it matter what one does in that way if one
does not care? The soul, not the body, is faithful.
A man satisfies appetite— it is nothing."
Gyp said:
"Perhaps not; but it is something when it makes
others miserable."
"Has it made you miserable, my Gyp?"
BEYOND
^95
stSd?'" ^^ ^ '^ °^ J'ope- She answered.
"I? No— her."
you pL^e*?' ^ '° "^'"^^ ^^™ " ^^ ^-e^
At that bitter retort, he kept sUenre a long time
^"^''^-l^-vingalongV .^ words k"pt
sounding m her heart: "The soul, not the body is
than she had ever been, could ever be-who dS
Zt'^'J^ru}'"'''^^^ What right had
She to talk, who had married him out of wiitv
out of— what? vr-uty,
And suddenly he said:
"Gyp! Forgive 1"
She uttered a sigh, and turned away her face.
He bent down against the eider-down. She
codd hear hun dewing long, sobbmg breaths, and,
m the midst of her lassitude and hopelessness a
StfrSr"^"- WhatdiditTtterrSh:
saia, m a choked voice:
"Very well, I forgive."
XIV
The human creature has wonderful power of
SLS.T'^S-*^^'- Gyp never reau/SS!^^'
that Daphne Wmg was of the past. Hersc^ticti
mstmct t.M her that what Fio^n nu^ S^Uy
mean to do was very different from wl^t he wS
t ^. '"^ °' "PP^^-^^y "^^^^y put ^S
Smce.her return, Rosek had begun to come agam
very careful not to repeat his mistake, but not dt'
cmmg her at aU. n.ough his self-control wit
E ^!°'^' "^ ^^' ^« felt he had not
given up his pursuit of her, and would takTve^
good care that Daphne Wing was affordS e^S^
chance of bmg with her husband. But pride nlv2
let her aUude to the girl. Besides, wl^t goi to
speak of her? They would both lie-RoS^bS
^t iSSV T^'J"^"^ ^ tempemment did
%^ ^ ^,f^^' ^y "P^"^^ the truth.
Uvf Hf. ^""^ '° ^^'^^' ^' fo'^d ^e must
tMnt ^^"'r^nt, never think of the future, never
thid. much of aaythmg. Fortunately, nothing S
up to It with desperation. It was a good baby
sJent, somewhat understanding. In witching iS
loe
BEVOND
197
^*2' f^'^./eeling it warm against her. Gvd sue
3^^s^r^s:srtti
^y. Gyp found difficult. She 'had losT IteT st
To S h^?^',.^'^^-' Wing iustSoS
10 satisfy her tastidiousness; money, too wL
scarce, under the drain of Forsen's LSrT^
SnTf ■ ^■^^^'^ ""^ °S f^m the music-room
Amit Rosammid's efforts to take her into sodebi
^T Err" ^.^ effervescence was out ofS
a£a^,i?.^^ ^'°'^- ^ t^ condition ^
affairs, she turned more and more to her own music
a^d one morning, after she had come ac^ s^e
c^positK-r. of her girlhood, she madeTr^^!
^on. That afternoon she dressed herself with
forth mto the February frost
a^°^7y,^°''^^^^'''' ^^^ the gmund
rTj{^ "^ " ^« Marylebone Road. He7^
havmg a soft comer in his heart for women and a
passion for novelty, even for new mu^ Sarwa^
S^rX'^ ^^J'^^'^ ^-"-'y would bin
tear rolhng dov^ his mahogany cheeks into his
igS
BEYOND
days, men, making forX .^^nf i • f ^^^
therefrom a ZS of Pal? I^'""' ^^ "^^
brought by Ms last pipif ^ ^^^^A -^^ently
her nose. "Tate thJL 77 , "^^^ "°der
mea^t for me Now Tn " ^^"they we«
gotten? Comet" 77 ""^."""^^ "^^e you for-
he almost fS her^ ;r^ ^'' ^^ ">^ ^"ow,
furs. Sitd3» "''P^*'- "Take off you;
ont^ ?;ro^rbS^«e;^ tni^ ^^
in their slighUv bloorf ^^ l^ ^* ™"^ ^^y
eyelids anluMsoft^w Shit ""1" ?""^^
caUed her "hummLSjd" W ""J "^^^ ^'°"^°
-ith peacock^fd'^l aLd^Sif^ ""^' ^°^
and soft under her fu™ t ^"^ ^^^^ ^^^
sure seemedt iter?.- yeuST ''™^*'^
.unpleasant, having in ToS; E rtl'r Z"" "'''
mg of old men who love beauJv a^Jf"^ ^"T"
their time for seeing it is ge^g ^C' '"°" ''^'
BEYOND
199
so^ifl:^,^**' 'Carnival,' "he said. "We shaD
£had s^, .e^t zz Ln:f -toon:
ha^d m K and, exannning the fingers, b'egt
. Yes yes, soon again! SpcilW yourself nl,
mg for that fiddler ! Tr.^ sy^Z^^ ^e bS"
bone the back-bone-we sM ^p^e thaT Sw
^::^e^gagat!:/-^-^-^^-^^ve
Gyp said softly:
"I ha,ve a baby. Monsieur Harmost."
Monsieur Haimost bounded.
head^"You'^e^t^'T^': ,^^ ^-^ ^^«
squall?" ^ ''^•'y' D°es it not
"Very little."
tifdt"e;^f"n.!I'- ' "^"' r '^ '^ - 1--
a oaoy ! And he chirruped his lino " w^ii
age I We shall do things^t P * ~""
30O
BEYOND
Gyp turned her head awav tn i,m ^i.
of her lips. n,e sc^Tof^ri- *^^^ ^"^ *'"^^«'"
soaked ,W Jt- ^^* °' latakia tobacco that had
happmess, when she used to come wtk 1?^:^^'
^g m his brusque admiration and in mS'
very finely some day. ^^^' *^°"'« '^ P'^^
ever her lips quivered. He w^S^/ '""'^ ^
is a^"""^ '°"'' V"^ ""^y tJ^ ^e camiot cure
oitoX,::fsh'aiitff:4ers;ts
sr^ortiro-drei^r-r-p-d";
^'.rs^ti-?,.^----^^^^
sudden w^Ti" From tof n ^^ °^ ^^^*
BEYOND ,^j
passion for music. Poetic justice-^n wUch aU
homeopathy is fomided— was at worlr f^7 ^
cure her life by a dose of IZtlZ^'t^J^ t
S.e w' tf T ^y^ ^ ^^ ^""^ shrcoSd ™
She went to him twice a week, determining to Xn"
': e":vTm'o?' T"^ ■ ''^ --tary^cS^Soi
7J^ r J? ^^b*"^ssed. At home, she prac-
teed st,^y and worked hard at composftSn
She fimshed several songs and studies during the
^nng and summer, and left stiU more unfinfshS
Monsieur Hannost was tolemnt of thMoS'
se^mmg to know that harsh criticism or ^pSoS
wo<Jd cut her impulse down, as frost cuts £lm
fresh and mdividual m her things. He asked hef
"What does your husband think of these?"
Jjyp was silent a moment.
"I don't show them to him "
knowIeSr'thS^i ^' instinctively kept back the
Knowledge that she composed, dreading his ruth-
lessness when anythmg giuted on his feivi and
knowmg that a b«ath of mockeiy would ^iS
- behef m herself. fraD enough plant already
rT^ u ! ".'' ^^s-strangely enough-Rosek
music, and said at once: "I knew. I was certain
you composed. Ah, do play it to me! I a^ "^
you have talent." The wannth with whkh he
praised that little "caprice" was surely Sine
il
ao3
BEYOND
and she felt so grateful that she even olaverl h™
o«.e,., and then a song for him to S^ S S
day, he no longer seemed to her odious; Steven
b^an to have for him a certain friendli^eS to S
Me, m her drawmg-room or garden, gettimr no
n^ertothefulfihnentofhisdeS^ HeSTe^^?
a^ made love to her, but she knew tlm^a? ie
^.t sign he would. HU face and his invfciWe
^txence made him pathetic to her. WomrsS
as Gyp cannot actively dislike those who adS
seamed, and, m addition, much to Rosek hinSelf
Ss ? wS7 ? ^'' ^ '^'^ ^^ «^t ^to debt Uke
^ fees this summer, were good enough. There
was such a feeling of degradation abouf debt S
was, somehow, so underbred to owe money to dl
Chi S% "^^ '*^° ^^* «^'' - other wo':.^
ture ShT? '^? O' ^^ it simply that his na-
ture had holes m every pocket?
,,.ri''''"^ ^'°"^ ''°^y' that spring and early
summer, she was conscious of a chan« a sort S
loosenmg, something in him had S Z^
the ratchet bemg broken. Yet he was certain'-
workmg hard-^rhaps harder than ^ver Shi
would hear him, across the garden^^inHver 2d
over a passage, as if he never would bl Jdsfi^
BEYOND
203
But his playing seemed to her to have lost its fire
and sweep; to be stale, and as if disillusioned. It
was aU as though he had said to himself: "What's
the use?" In his face, too, there was a change.
She knew-she was certain that he was drinking
secretly. Was it his faUure with her? Was it the
girl? Was if simply heredity from a hard-drink-
mg ancestry?
Gyp never laced these questions. To face them
would mean useless discussion, useless admission
that she could not love him, useless asseveration
from him about the girl, which she would not be-
heve, useless denials of all sorts. Hopeless '
He was very irritable, and seemed especiaUy to
resent her music lessons, aUuding to them with a
sort of sneering impatience. She felt that he de-
spis^ them as amateurish, and secretly resented
It. He was often impatient, too, of the tune she
gave to the baby. His own conduct with the litUe
creature was like aU the rest of him. He would go
to the nursery, much to Betty's alarm, and take
up the baby; be charming with it for about ten
mmutes, then suddenly dump it back into its cradle
stare at it gloomily or utter a laugh, and go out'
Sometimes, he would come up when Gyp was there,
and after watching her a little m silence, ahnost
drag her away.
Suffenng always from the guilty consciousness
of ha^ang no love for him, iind ever more md more
from her sense that, instead of saving him she was
as It were, pushing him down-hill— ironical nemesis
^°4 BEYOND
nlLTf *^J~^^P ^^ "^^' ^°'« ^d more com-
phant.to his wlmns, t^ing to make up. ButtuL
S '' '''''° ^ ^« t^« «1^« felt furaer IS
ftmher away, was straining her to breaSl,^
Hers was a nature that goes on passivety^dS
tiUsomethmg snaps; after that-no more. ^
XV
The tenth of July that year was as the first day
of summer. There had been much fine weather,
but always easterly or northerly; now, after a
broken, ramy fortnight, the sun had come in fuU
summer warmth with a gentle breeze, drifting here
and there scent of the opening lime blossom. In
the garden, under the trees at the far end Betty
sewed at a garment, and the baby in her peram-
bulator Ltd her seventh morning sleep. Gyp stood
before a bed of pansies and sweet peas. How mon-
keyish the pansies' faces! The sweet peas, too.
were hke tiny bright birds fastened to green perched
swaymg with the wmd. And their litUe green
tndente, growing out from the queer, flat stems,
resembled the antennae of insects. Each of these
bright fraU, growing things had life and individ-
uality like herself I
The K)und of footsteps on the gravel made her
turn Rosek was coming from the drawing-room
wmdow. Rather starUed. Gyp looked at him over
her shoulder. What had brought him at eleven
o clock m the morning ? He came up to her, bowed
and said: '
"I came to see Gustav. He's not up yet it
seems. I thought I would speak to you first Can
we talk?"
3o6
BEYOND
dJS5^./"' "'•"■"J. Gyp d,» off her g„.
"In the drawing-room, please."
A faint tremor passed through her, but she leH
Betty and the baby. Rosek stood looking down
t!.ll ' ,^^ .'^'^' ^^ ^««^h gravity of S
weU-cut hps his spoUess dandyism sfced L Gyp a
kmd of unwilhng admiration. ^
"What is it?" she said.
"Bad business, I'm afraid. Something must be
to'sir^^^stu:? ^^— -^eatenS
With a sense of outrage, Gyp cried;
Nearly everything here is mine."
Rosek shook his head.
"The lease is in his name-you are his wife
They can do it, I assure you " A sort nfl, T
P-sed over his face, and' Se add^''.^ ttl
help him any more-just now."
Gyp shook her head quickly
loins' TS,'. . "C^^TJ; !?" '^
BEYOND
207
Rosek nodded.
"I am afraid to teU you; you wiU think agam
perhaps that I am trying to make capital out of
It. I can read your thoughts, you see. I cannot
afford that you should think that, this time."
Gyp made a Uttle movement as though putting
away his words. -° r 6
"No; tell me, please."
Rosek shrugged his shoulders.
"There is a man caUed Wagge, an undertaker
the father of someone you know "
"Daphne Wing?"
"Yes. A child is coming. They have made her
teU. It means the cancelling of her engagements,
of course— and oOier things."
Gyp uttered a little laugh; then she said slowly
Can you teU me, please, what this Mr.— Wagee
can do?" ^
Again Rosek shrugged his shoulders.
"He is rabid— a rabid man of his class is dan-
gerous. A lot of money wiU be wanted, I should
tmnk— some blood, perhaps."
He moved swiftly to her, and said very low:
Gyp, It IS a year since I told you of this. You
did not beUeve me then. I told you, too, that I
loved you. I love you more, now, a hundred times !
uon t move ! I am going up to Gustav."
He turned, and Gyp thought he was reaUy going-
but he stopped and came back past the line of the
wmdow The expression of his face was quite
changed, so hungry that, for a moment, she felt
ao8
BEYOND
fac7 lor iT; nf 1 "^^ ™^* ^^^« «h°^ in her
S«\ r '"'^''^'^y '^"8'^t at her, and tried to
kiss her hps; she wrenched back and h^ ^ u
on^, reach her throat, but that hfkiS ftrio^
Oie hps he would have kissed. Tten, goW to ^f
ST"' ^' '^> "P ^'' ''^^'^ book ;S Sid 5or
the name: Wing, 88, FranJdand Street fXS
Unhooking her little bag from off t£ back ^J
fhair, she put her chequebook intoTt 1L t2
S 4lut" or^^' "^'^ "-^ -*' ^^ the
She walked quiddy toward Baker Street Her
out without gloves, and must go into the S shon
^r^lin- ^^^-4ofthem sSotS
her emotions for a minute. Out in the street a3
they came back as bitterly as ever A^^thl^'
was so beautiful-the sunLghr^e s^ bSe te
clouds dazzlmg white; from the top of her 'bus 21
could see all it. brilliance. There rose up befor Sr
1 "^Tu^ ?^"^ "'^^ ''^ kissed ^rAt
the first baU. And now-this! But. mixed t£
BEYOND
209
h« rage a sort of unwilling compassion and feUow
feeling kept rising for that girl, that siUy sSar^
plum girl brought to such a pass by-her husbTd
JWeehngs sustained her through^hat vojlg^to
Fumam. She got down at the nearest corner
sc^bT". ^ '"™'''' ^'S^ty-^'ght. On that newly
scrubbed step, waiting for the, door to open Ihe
srcor^S'dor^-^^^^- W^--%had
was, just as the girl had said!
"Is Miss-Miss Daphne Wing at home?"
In that peculiar "I've given it up" voice of do-
""yS "mSS '°""'°^'^' ^^ se^ant^swIrS;
atr^^'°t'w'''^'"'^- The maid looked at it.
as to say. Where will you have it?" Then on™
ing the first of them, she said: -i^ien, open-
"Tyke a seat, please; I'U fetch her "
Gyp went in. In the middle of what was clearlv
the <hmng-room, she tried to subdue the tremS
her hmbs and a sense of nausea. Tte table ^st
which her hand rested was covered wiS redlS
Zt^^ *r.'"P ^ ^^^^ «^ mutton from peS
tratmg to the wood. On the mahogany sideboard
apples. A bamboo-framed talc screen painted with
3IO
BEYOND
p£?fiS ^r "^^^ "^ ^-^ - fee-
Place filled with pampas-grass dyed led Thechaf^
were of red morocco, the curtins Tbroi^LS^
o':?jftfef4Sue^ri"^;^--re
stand on the mantel-mece Jth "™?°a black
GminthisroomTrSL't^^^Te'- ^^
of mutton creepmg in, that 1%^'Jt ^ Zt
t^.whffl of another world. D.ZXS~
not Daisy Wagge-had surely put it there! A^H
somehow, it touched her-embC of ;Sk . '
embl^ of aU that the S^^^^^rpTS
y^^o T; ^"7°°° f ^^ gard^ nearly :
Stfffi i ?^ f"^ "^^ S«^ and reaUy
rZ? ^^°°«l"^^a"owed it to pollute thfe
«ris?ijT^' ^'^ ~»°d. With her back
against the door and a white, scared face th^ a^}
wasstan^. Gyp thought: 'srSs'^S^i^^S
outtr Si"^ ""P"^^^^ "P ^ ^-' ^e held
Daphne Wing sighed out: "Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen!"
and bendmg over that hand, kissed it. G^^w
that her new glove was wet. Then the girl Xs^
her feet a little forward, her head a nSt foS
tions-rage agamst men, and feUow feeling for one
BEYOND a„
about to go through what she herself had just en-
dured.
"It's all right," she said, genUy; "only, what's to
be done?"
Daphne Wing put her hands up over her white
face and sobbed. She sobbed so quietly but so ter-
nbly deeply that Gyp herself had the utmost diffi-
culty not to ciy. It was the sobbing of real despair
by a creature bereft of hope and strength, above aU
of love-the sort of weepiug which is drawn from
desolate, suffering souls only by the touch of fellow
f^hng. And, instead of making Gyp glad or sat-
isfymg her sense of justice, it filled her with more
r^^i agamst her husband— that he had teken this
gurls mfatuation for his pleasure and then thrown
her away. She seemed to see him discarding that
dingmg, dove-fak girl, for cloying his senses and
gettmg on his nen^es, discarding her with caustic
words, to abide alone the consequences of her in-
fatuati..- She put her hand timidly on that shak-
mg shoulder, and stroked it For a moment the
sobbmg stopped, and the girl said brokenly:
"Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen, I do love him so ! " At those
naive ^ords, a painful wish to laugh seized on Gyp
maJong her shiver from head to foot. Daphne
Wmg saw it, and went on: "I know— I know— it's
awful; but I do-and now he— he-" Her quiet
but reaUy dreadful sobbing broke out again. And
again G}^) began stroking and strokmg her shoulder.
And I have been so awful to you ! Oh, Mrs. Fior-
sen, do forgive me, please !"
212
BEYOND
AU Gyp could find to answer, was-
^^Yes, yes; that's nothing! Don't cry-^on't
. ^^^, slowly the sobbing died awav fJii v
justalongshivenng butst;il7h« ^TJ'J? '* "^
over her face and her f«^ / ^^''^^^^'^^ds
ly-d. TheuXtpyUrtht^S- ^^f^tP--
the sn^eU of muttS^S;,;?;,"^ ^^ ^ '--'
nott\:Sgtt:p£:r*^-^i,^^^p«'
"It's vn„ i,»_Ii: ^"^f^'^^P'ums, mumured:
youdoSveUrS;rX^'s^theti.e. And
and-I can't unTrstiid f Oh M°/T^~^^
could see hina-just see h^ J ^^e^d meT' ^/
come again; and I hav^^daS T h T' ***
l™ for three weeks-noTlc^I t'.W v ""u^ '"'°
W^tshaUldo? Wli^^sSidot:!^^^-^^-
such violent revXthat .„ ^f '^ P'^^ ^^ yet
ciuwlbacktoamai2f„\^^ ^^ '^""^"^ ^^t to
sciously,shelidL!5°u^^fr"^^l>«'- Uncon-
lips toither Thf^M T^ "P ^'^ P^«sed her
nfenS piteo^sl^^^' "'° ^°"-«^ -"^ -ve-
wlIJhe"dli'tome'^''rr'^^- ^ ^on't mind
see him •' '"'' °' ^'^^ ^^ ^y«' if only I can
Gyp's revolt yielded to her pity. She said-
How long before ? " •anesaja.
"Three months."
Three months-and in this state of misery !
BEYOND ,,j,
"I think I shaU do something desperate. ::o^
that I can't dance, and they know, it's too awful!
If I could see him, I wouldn't mind anythmg. But
1 know-I know he'U never want me again. Oh
Mrs. Fiorsen, I wish I was dead ! I do ' " '
A heavy sigh escaped Gyp, and, bending sud-
denly, she kissed the girl's forehead. Still that
scent of orange blossom about her skin or hair, as
when she asked whether she ought to love or not- as
when she came, moth-like, from the tree-shade iiito
the moonhght, spun, and fluttered, with her shadow
spmmng aad fluttering before her. Gyp turned
away, feeling that she must relieve the stram. and
pomtmg to the bowl, said:
"Fw put that there, I'm sure. It's beautiful "
T^e girl answered, with piteous eagerness:
Oh, would you like it? Do take it. Count
"^.f'f '* "^•" ^^^ ^^^^ *^*y f««n the door.
Oh, that's papa. He'U be coming in 1 "
Gyp heard a man clear his throat, and the rattle
of an umbrella falling into a stand; the sight of the
girl wdtmg and shrinking agamst the sideboard
steadied her. Then the door opened, and Mr
Wagge entered. Short and thick, in black frock
coat and trousers, and a greyish beard, he stared
rom one to the other. He looked what he was, an
i Aghshman and a chapelgoer, nourished on sherry
and r .tton, who could and did make his own way
m the world. His features, coloured, as from a deep
livenshness, ,vere thick, like his body, and not iU-
n^tured, except for a sort of anger in his smaU
214
BEYOND
lii
rather piggy grey ^ ,
nently gruff, but impre "t^"^?. " ^ ''°'?^ Penna-
fessionaJ ingratiatioi! ^ " 'P"*^^ ^^ P'o-
"Y^es? Whom'avel— ?»
^ Mrs. Fiorsen."
h«tinS;.E"^^jL^\''':-^g could be
"Take a S,' iTy^pt'^^ --«^ -^ said:
Gyp shook her head
to'^t^iir^i' i^/^^ °f Reference seeded
Taking ?ut a We hr..r^' ^"^"^^^ ^°'°^°°-
blew 4 nose! P^ h ftS?"" ^'"'-chief, he
l^ upstairs."
Wnf fac'^^pS^' -^.^t^^ last glimpse of
When the door wKuf S^ «^ ^^^ °'«°-
tJ^t; the mtiTlr > **': ^'^e cleared his
.-^on Of LSLrsi^^^ ^^ ^« ^^-
He said niore gruffly thaoiem^'
• in,^f -^ y°" daughter."
chain, to his hands that hfn I^ ' '^ ""^ ^'^tch-
together, baTS t^e^«"". ^° ™'> theniselves '
they dared not mount Sr S '^ "^u ^^'^
ment struck Gyn Sh. tj. "^'^ embarrass-
thinking: 'NoSfhow tn j di^"' '^^ ^»
attractive young f«3e^f A'f""" " ^^h this
y ung lenrnle, wife of the scoundrel who's
BEYOND 2JJ
ruined my daughter ? Delicate— that's what it is ! '
Then tie words burst hoarsely from him.
"This is an unpleasant business, ma'am. I don't
know what to say. Reelly I don't. It's awkward-
it s very awkward."
Gyp said quietly:
"Your daughter is desperately unhappy; and that
can t be good for her just now."
Mr. Wagge's thick figure seemed to writhe.
Pardon me, ma'am," he spluttered, "but I mu-st
caU your husband a scoundrel. I'm sorry to be
unpolite, but I must do it. If I had 'im 'ere, I
don t know that I should be able to control myself
-I don t mdeed." Gyp made a movement of her
gloved hands, which he seemed to interpret as sym-
pathy, for he went on in a stream of husky utter-
ance: It's a deUcate thing before a lady, and she
«ie injured party; but one has feelings. From the
farst I said this dancin' was in the face of Providence-
but women have no more sense than an egg Her
mother she would have it; and now she's wt it I
Career, mdeed I Pretty career ! Daughter of mine !
I tell you, ma'am, I'm angiy; there's no other word
for it-I m angiy. If that scoundrel comes within
reach of me, I shaU mark 'im-I'm not a young
man, but I shaU mark 'im. An' what to iy to
you, I m sure I don't know. That my daughter
should be'ave like that! WeU, it's made a mer-
ence to me. An' now I suppose her name'U be
dragged m the mud. I teU you frankly I 'oped you
wouldn t hear of it, because after aU the <nrl'« ^t
"^ BEYOND
her punishment. And this divorce-conrf v.
mce-,t s a hoirible thing fT^^u^V T
And, mmd you I won't d "spectable people,
scoundrel, not if yo^ \iTJ^^ S^^^^med to tLt
have her disilce rnotLt"" ""• ""^^ ^'^'"
Gyp, who had listened with ii^^u j i- .
raised it suddenly, and L^'^ ^'' ^"^ ^ ^'^« ^^nt,
There'll be no public disgrace Mr Wo
"SthSs^ ~»5 '«' r^ may.
-Do I understand you to sav tJ^T?' .
gom' to take proceedings, nl'aS?"'^' ^°"'^ °°'
Gyp shuddered, and shook her head.
uptd'JS^^'^^^-^'^^^tly moving his face
de^l^^LTbuJ r'don? ^S' "-ir^ '"°- th- ^e
And I must say r« ^'1 '*' * "^'^^^ ^ me.
-dhandL^r^r/-f^^>^^^you.^._
^^■ntirttr^y^^^-^^ "it^
yourfathe^I^^iraSr--^^^
^He^held out h. hand. Gj^ put her gWed hand
^"'wSZilSTiittSlTdt-'^-''^-"
BEYOND
217
^nJ3 '^^*'*' '^•" ^ «^d suddenly. "A
domestic man m a serious line of life; and I never
thought to have anything like this in my fanSlJ-
never! It's been-weD, I ca.'t teU yo/wffifs
Gyp took up her sunshade. She felt that she
must get away; at any moment he migh sa/i^l'
^^ ^Jjould not beai^d the sm^ll oil^Z
"I am sorry," she said again: "eood-bvp»- o„^
moved past him to the door. Sh h^Sl,;^.
JLv^Lf^^ '"^ ^ ^^ ^"«°t tm I get out-
£ Lt ^\^u^r P"^ ^« ^'l P"t his ha^d on
the latch of Uie front door. His little piggy ey^
scanned her almost timidly ^^ ^
"Well," be said, "I'm very glad to have the
privilege of your acquaintance^ L, if I Z^y '^^
so^ou'ave-you'avemy'eartysyn^pathy. l^.
brSS ^'21'J^"'v^^ ^^'^' ^yP "^^ ^ Jong
S. J^"^ "^^y *^*y- Her cheeks werf
burmng; and with a craving for protection, she pu?
up her sunshade But the girl's white face carJe
up a^ before her, and the sound of her word^
Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen, I wish I was dead ! I dot"
'il
'.1
X\7
"d the pSS „t ,k '1'"'' "' "» '-""s
2IS
BEYOND
319
fnends, the notion of a public exhibition of troubles
simply never comes, a^d it had certainly nevSetm^
to G^ With a bitter smile she thought TrnW
Zf^rit^' ^^^' ^' S-PPos'l iov^'hit
. She sat on that bench a long time before it came
mto her mmd tiiat she was due at MonsTe^ SS!
most s for a music lesson at three o'clock. It was
f^ an J fli •' '^^y ^^ ^"" °^ murmurings of
at her frock and moved round and roi^!; W
mg that she would throw her sunshaSl ^e '^
for hmi to fetch, tiiis being in his viet tiie oiv
She found Monsieur Harmost fidgeting up and
Or -he looked hard into her face-"has someone
"m';^'"?"'"'''""^*^^" Gyp shooThrhSS
mg. you ten nobody nothinjr! Ynu r\,^^
pretty face like a ir amt."" At y^!^ ^^Z
220
BEYOND
chJd, one should make confidences; a secret erief
IS to music as tJie east wind to the'stoS P^t
off your mask for once." He came close to heJ
TeU me your troubles. It is a long time sLce f
onc:i."i"^f *° '^- Come!'wear?^:iy
once young; I want to see you happy " ^
But Gyp stood looking down. Would it be reHef
to pour her soul out? Would it? Hb bro^ ^^f
questioned her like an old dog's ShTdM ^^ ^ .
"'m^:^'''^'^'- And;ft!ihfp':sSer-"*
Monsieur Harmost suddenly sat down at the
piano. Resting his hands on "the keys°Te l^k^
round at her, and said:
be"verirt^T'^°"'^°^- Old men can
-tll7 u "1^°^^' ^'"^ ^^y 1^0^ it is no good
-that makes them endurable. StiU, we iLf^
S^th^'cLT fr '""^^'- '^^-"fhtd
warmta. Come; teU me your grief 1" He waited
a moment then said irritably: "WeU, weU le^
to music then!" ' ' ^ *°
It was his habit to sit bv hpr of ♦!,« »•
X Sir ''^ro-WP^^^^-
riZ! i' ^* ^°8 °f revolution,, which had
always seemed so unattainable, went a^ if h7r S
gers were being worked for her. When she h,H
finished Monsieur Harmost, bending WrfmteH
one of her hands and put hi^ hos to it Sifi f ' nlf
scrub of his Httle briskly ^artalVLw VfflJ:
BEYOND 22J
With a deep sigh of satisfaction. A voice behind
them said mockingly: ^^
"Bravo!"
pere, by the door, stood Fiorsen.
"Congratulations, madame/ I have long wanted
to Me you under the inspiration of your-mas-
_ Gyp's heart began to beat desperately. Mon-
sieur Harmost had not moved. A faint grin slowly
settled m his beard, but his eyes were startled
Fiorsen kissed the back of his own hand
To ttds old Pantaloon you come to give your
heart. Ho— what a lover!"
andSe?"^ *^^ °^^ °^ ^"^''^''' ^® ^^^ "P
"You brute!"
Fiorem ran forward, stretching out his arms
towaxd Monsieur Harmost, as if to take him by
the throat. ^
The old man drew himself up. "Momieur" he
said, you are certainly drunk."
Gyp sUpped between, right up to those out-
stretched hands tiU she could feel their knuckles
agamst her Had he gone mad? Would he stiungle
her I- But her eyes never moved from his, and his
began to waver; his hands dropped, and, with a
kmd of moan, he made for the door.
Monsieur Harmost's voice behin-^ her said:
"Before you go, monsieur, give me some explana-
tion of this imbecility ! "
Fiorsen spun round, shook his list, and went
.Hf'St
323
BEYOND
out muttenng They heard the front door slm
Gyp turned abruptly to the window, and th^
m her agitation, she noticed little out^de ^
as one does m moments of bewildered anger eZ
mto that back yard, summer had S iJe
W of the sumach-tree were glistSg i^a
three-cornered little patch of sighTa bkck
-t w,th a blue ribbon round its neck wL Sas^
The voice of one hawking strawberries SS
melan^cJy from a side street. She was consdoS
^t Monsieur Hannost was standir. very still
^th a hand pressed to his mouth, and sh7fdt a
perfect pa^ion of compunction ai^d anger. tL?
kmd and Wiess old man-to be so^ LuS
This was mdeed the cuLnination of aU Gustav's
outrages She woula never forgive him tiTTor
he had msulted her as well, beyond what pride
or meekness could put up with. She tuinS ^d
~g up to the old man, put both herZd^S
"I'm so awfuUy sorry. Good-bye, dear dear
Monsieur Harmost; I shaU come'^on^dayr
ct' 1-'^^^. '""^^ '^°P ^^'' she was gone.
She dived mto the traffic; but, just as she
^ed the pavement on the' other' sid^fS t
dress plucked and saw Fiorsen just behind hef
She shook herself free and walked swiftly on wL
he gomg to make a scene in the street?"^ Again ^
on mm, and said, m an icy voice-
"Please don't make scenes in the street, and
BEYOND
223
If you want to talk to
don't follow me like this,
me, you can— at home."
Then, veiy cahnly, she turned and walked on
But he was sUU foUowing her, some paces off sTe
Ad not quicken her steps, and to the first taa-
^b dnver that passed she made a sign, a^d say-
"Buiy Street-^uick !» got in. She saw Fiorsen
rush forward, too late to stop her. He threw^
h|s hand and stood stm, his fa^e deadly wljS JLd"?
h^ broad-bnmmed hat. She was fL too ang^
and upset to care. •^'^^y
From the moment she turned to the window
to her father's. Slie would not go back to Fiors^-
and the one thought that filled her mind wiS
to get Betty and her baby. Nearly fou^ S
was almost sure to be at his club. Andleamngou^
The haU porter, who knew her. after calling to
a page-boy: "Major Winton-shaip, nowl^m^
^My out of his box to offer her a seat and m
Gyp sat vnth it on her knee, vaguely taking in
her surroundmgs-a thin old gentlemaii aSsly
^e.ghmg lumsel^ in a comer, a white-calved foot^
r^ '''^^ ""^ ^ ^-^y-' ^ "'^ber of hats
on pegs; the grecn-baize board with ite white rows
of tapehke paper, and three members standing
before It. One of them, a tall, stout, good-hu!
moured-Iookmg man in pince-nes and a white waist-
3a4
BEYOND
coat, becommg conscious, removed his straw hat
and took up a position whence, without staring
he could gaze at her; and Gyp knew, without ever
seeming to glance at him, that he found her to his
hkmg She saw her father's unhurried figure pass-
ing that bttle group, aU of whom were conscious
now, and eager to get away out of this sanctum of
mascuhmty, she met him at the top of the low
steps, and said:
"I want to talk to you. Dad."
He gave her a quick look, selected his hat, aud
foUowed to the door. In the cab, he pat his hand
on hers and said:
"Now, my dear?"
But all she could get out was:
"I want to come back to you. I can't go on
there. It's-it's-I've come to an end."
His hand pressed hers tightly, as if he were try-
ing to save her the need for saying more. Gvn
went on: ^^
"I must get baby; I'm terrified that he'U try to
keep her, to get me back."
"Is he at home?"
"I don't know. I haven't told him that I'm
gomg to leave him."
Winton looked at his watch and asked:
Does the baby ever go out as late as this?"
Yes; after tea. It's cooler."
"I'U take this cab on, then. You stay and get
the room ready for her. Don't worry, and don't
go out till I return."
BEYOND
225
And Gyp thought: 'How wonderful of Mm not
to have asked a single question.'
The cab stopped at the Bury Street door. She
took jus hand, put it to her cheek, and got out.
He said quietly:
"Do you want the dogs?"
ITn^T^'^' y^- ^^ *^°«s'^'t care for them."
AU nght There'U be time to get you in some
thmgs for the mght after I come back. I shan't
run any risks to^y. Mak^ Mrs. Markey rive
you tea." ^ ^
Gyp watched the cab gather way again, saw
o • T'l' u ' ^^' *^'°' ^"» a deep sigh, half
anxiety, half relief, she rang the beU
xvn
o.^T'..^ "'^ debouched again into St. James'
Street, Winton gave the order: "Quick as you
can ! One could think better going fast ! A little
red had a)me mto his brown cheeks; his eyes under
then- hdf-drawn lids had a keener light; his Ups
were tightly dosed; he looked as hTdid when a
fox was breaking cover. Gyp could do no wrong,
or, If she could, he would stand by her in it aTa
matter of course. But he was going to take no
nsks-make no frontal attack. Time for that
later, if necessary. He had better nerves than most
people, and that kind of steely determination and
resource which makes many Englishmen of his
Class formidable in smaU operations. He kept his
cab at the door, rang, and asked for Gyp, with a
Jund of pleasure in his ruse.
"She's not in yet, sir. Mr. Fiorsen's in."
"Ah! And baby?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll come in and see her. In the garden?"
"Yes, sir."
"Dogs there, too?"
'.'Jr^' ^" *^'* ^^ y°" '^^c tea. please, sir?"
No, thanks." How to effect this withdrawal
wthout causing gossip, and yet avoid suspicion
of coUusion with Gyp? And he added: "Unless
Mrs. Fiorsen comes in."
Passing out into the garden, he became aware
3a6
■£-'^:-aZ
BEYOND
aay
that Fiorsen was at the dining-room window watch-
ing him, and decided to make no sign that he knew
this. The baby was under the trees at the far end,
and the dogs came rushing thence with a fury which
lasted till they came within scent of him. Winton
went leisurely up to the perambulator, and, salut-
ing Betty, looked down at his grandchild. She
lay under an awning of muslin, for fear of flies, and
was awake. Her solemn, large brown eyes, already
like Gyp's, regarded him with gravity. Clucking
to her once or twice, as is the custom, he moved so
as to face the house. In this position, he had Betty
with her back to it. And he said quietly:
"I'm here with a message from your mistress,
Betty. Keep your head; don't look round, but
listen to me. She's at Bury Street and going to
stay there; she wants you and baby and the dogs."
The stout woman's eyes grew round and her mouth
opened. Winton put his hand on the perambulator.
"Steady, nowl Glo out as usual with this thing.
It's about your time; and wait for me at the turn-
ing to Regent's Park. I'll come on in my cab and
pick you all up. Don't get flurrisd; don't take
anything; do exactly as you usually would. Un-
derstand?"
It is not in the nature of stout women with babies
in their charge to receive such an order without
question. Her colour, and the heaving of that
billowy bosom made Winton add quickly:
"Now, Betty, pull yourself together; Gyp wants
you. I'll tell you all about it in the cab."
228
BEYOND
The poor wonm, stiU heaving vagudy, could
only stammer:
«-'U!l'- "^^ ^°°'' "**^^ *^' What about its
mght-things? And Miss Gyp's?"
Conscious of that figure stiU at the window,
Wmton made some passes with his fingers at the
baby, and said:
"Never mind them. As soon as you see me at
the drawmg-room window, get ready and go. Eyes
front Betty; don't look romid; I'U cover your re-
nr u °. V^^ ^yP °°^- ^^ y«"^^ together."
With a sigh that could have been heard in Ken-
smgton, Betty murmured: "Very weU, sir; oh
dear! and began to adjust the strings of her
bomiet Withnods,asifhehadbeen«JhIimpient
saluted, and began his march agaiu towards the
house. He j^efully kept his eyes to this side and
to that, as if examining the flowers, but noted all
the same that Fiorsen had receded from the win-
dow. Rapid thought told hun that the feUow
would come back there to see if he were gone, and
he placed himself before a rose-bush, wherk at
that reappearance, he could make a sign of recoiaii-
tion. Sure enough, he came; and Winton quietly
raising his hand to the salute passed on through
the drawing-room window. He went qiickly into
the haU, hstened a second, and opened the dining-
room door. Fiorsen was pacing up and dowr, pak
and restless. He came to a standstill and stared
haggardly at Winton, who said:
"How are you? Gyp not in?"
mrt'^wf
BEYOND
339
"No."
Something in the sound of that "No" touched
Winton with a vague— a very vague— compunction.
To be left by Gyp ! Then his heart hardened again.
The fellow was a rotter— he was sure of it, had al-
ways been sure.
"Baby looks weU," he said.
Fiorsen turned and began to pace up and down
again.
"Where is Gyp? I want her to come in. I want
her."
Winton took out his watch.
"It's not late." And suddenly he felt a great
aversion for the part he was playing. To get the
baby; to make Gyp safe— yes! But, somehow,
not this pretence that he knew nothing about it.
He turned on his heel and walked out. It imperilled
everything; but he couldn't help it. He could
not stay and go on prevaricating like this. Had
that woman got clear? He went back into the
drawing-room. There they were— just passing the
side of the house. Five minutes, and they would
be down at the turning. He stood at the window,
waiting. If only that fellow did not come inl
Through the partition wall he could hear him still
tramping up and down the dining-room. What a
long time a minute was! Three had gone when
he heard the dining-room door opened, and Fiorsen
crossing the hall to the front door. What was he
after, standing there as if listening? And sud-
denly he heard him sigh. It was just such a sound
as many times, in the long-past days, had escaped
liiMll^lKBlll^C Bht ■
230
BEYOND
himsdf, waitmg, Lstening for footsteps, in parched
and sickenmg a^mety. Did this feuTw theT^SS
love-ahnost as he had loved? And in revoK
spymg on hun like this, he advanced and saidV
WeU, I won't'wait any longer "
Fiorsen started; he had evidently supposed him-
sis^badr ^'"*°'' ^o"«^tr.BrjoveiTe
W^'^^'r ^? ^^' *»"* "^^ ^ords: "Give my
Good-bye I" Fiorsen echoed. And Winton w«.t
out ^der the trellis, a.nsdous of that forbm C'
stm standmg at the half-opened door. Betty^
nowh^ m ^ht. 3he must have reached SeW
Sfn ^ "Tlf ^ s"«:«:eeded, but he felt no ela-
fnH • ^I'^S ^^ ~™*^' ^^ P^^ "P tis convoy
and, with the perambulator hoisted on to the S
E"^"*.^"" *V^- He had said he would «:
Pl^ m the cab, but the only remark he m^e
'J^Z'S ^u^T". *.° MUdenham t<>monow."
en«^i ^' ''^° had feared him ever since their
encounter so many years ago, eyed his proOe, wiS^
hoL*^.*" "^ *^"'^^°'"- BefoAerS
fn ^"^ * *=°'^«'« on which that fellow's figure
m the doorway weighed; besides, it was neceZ^
'm,W-i^y%%± Pi^
BEYOND
231
lest Fiorsen should go to the police. The rest must
wait till he had talked with Gyp.
There was much to do, and it was late before
they dined, and not till Markey had withdrawn
could they begin their talk.
Close to the open windows where Markey had
placed two hydrangea plaats— just bought on his
own responsibiUty, in token of silent satisfaction-
Gyp began. She kept nothing back, recounting
the whole miserable fiasco of her marriage. When
she came to Daphne Wing and her discovery in
the music-room, she could see the glowing end of
her father's cigar move convulsively. That insult
to his adored one seemed to Winton so inconceiv-
able that, for a moment, he stopped her recital
by-gettmg up to pa the room. In her own house
—her own house I ad— after that, she had gone
on with him! He came back to his chair and did
not interrupt again, but his stillness ahnost friirfit-
ened her.
Coming to the incidents of the day itself, she
hesitated. Must she teU h;m, too, of Rosek— was
it wise, or necessary? The all-or-nothing candour
that was part of her nature prevailed, and she
went straight on, and, save for the feverish jerk-
ing of his evening shoe, Winton made no sign.
When she hac! finished, he got up and slowly ex-
tinguished the end of his cigar against the win-
dow-sill; then looking at her lying back in her
chair as if exhausted, he said: "By Godl" and
turned his face away to the window.
232
BEYOND
At diat hour before the theatres rose, a luU
brooded in the London streets; in this q4t na^
clack of a half-drunken woman bickering at her
man as they lurched along for home, andX straSs
of a street mu^'s fiddle, trying'to mSe upT
a bla^ day ITie sound vaguely irritated Wilton
namndmg him of those two damnable foreign^
by whom she had been so treated. To have Sem
thiZ^' \a^I'"^'^ ^^ ^° P^y ^ ''ebts. Then
thmgs would be as they were when I married him."
He emitted an exasperated sound. Me did not
beheve m heaping coals of fire.
rilf .TV° °^\s"re, too, that the girl is an
nght tiU she's over her trouble. Perhaps I could
tiS u^?" *^'~'^' °''" '"^"^y' " ^^ -^
It was sheer anger, not disapproval of her im-
pube that n^e him hesitate; money and r^^e^
would never be associated in his mind. Gyp went
"I want to feel as if I'd never let him marry
me. Perhaps his debte are aU part of that-who
knows? Please!"
thJ^'pf ^'^^^ ti ^''- ^"^ lik'^-when she said
that Please!" How like-her figure smJc back
m the old chair, and the face lifted in shadow ! A
sort of exultation came to him. He had .ot her
back-had got her back ! ^
xvm
Fiorsen's bedroom was— as the maid would
remark— "a proper pigsty"— untU he was out of
it and it could be renovated each day. He had a
talent for disorder, so that the room looked as if
three men instead of one had gone to bed in it.
Clothes and shoes, brushes, water, tumblers, break-
fast-tray, newspapers, French novels, and cigarette-
ends— none were ever where they should have
been; and the stale fumes frpm the many cigarettes
he smoked before getting up incommoded anyone
whose duty it was to take him tea and shaving-
water. When, on that first real summer day, the
maid had brought Rosek up to him, he had been
lying a long time on his back, dreamily, watch-
mg the smoke from his cigarette and four flies
waltzmg in the sunlight that filtered through the
green sun-blinds. This hour, before he rose, was
his creative moment, when he could best see the
form of music and feel inspiration for iu render-
ing. Of late, he had been stale and wretched, all
that side of him dull; but this morning he felt again
the delicious stir of fancy, that vibrating, half-
dreamy state when emotion seems so easily to find
shape and the mind pierces through to new expres-
sion. Hearing the maid's knock, and her mur-
mured: "Count Rosek to see you, sir," he thought:
'What the dexnl does he want?' A larger nature,
'33
k^M
334
BEYOND
drtfting witiiout control, in contact with a smaUer
one, who knows his own mind ^,7^ i Tt"
And pushing the dgarette-box tc vard Rosek
«Ki wMti^ <riy G,p, ™jy hi, o™^ef s;;;
hrsJdTttS^.^*^^^--^^^Mn.,Td'
yo^bih^?' ^^ *^°-- What troubles have
Rosek lit a. cigarette but did not sit down He
f.jT ^^^ ^°°^ °"t fo' Mr. Wagge Gu^
tav; he came to me yesterday He hJ= •
in his soul." y^^raay. He has no music
Fiorsen sat up.
;;SalM ake Mr. w,.ggel Wlmt au> h. do?"
BEYOND
235
Fiorsen glared at him, and said :
"Why did you throw me that cursed girl?"
Rosek answered, a little too steadily:
"I did not, my friend."
"What I You did. What was your game? You
never do anything without a game. You know you
Old. Come; what was your game ? "
"You like pleasure, I believe."
Fiorsen said violently:
"Look here: I have done with your friendship—
you are no friend to me. I have never reaUy known
you, and I should not wish to. It is finished. Leave
me in peace."
Rosek smiled.
"My dear, that is all very weU, but friendships
are not fimshed like that. Moreover, you owe me
a thousand pounds."
ur'^f' iT^Payit." Rosek's eyebrows mounted.
I will. Gyp will lend it to me."
"Oh! Is Gyp so fond of you as that? I thought
she only loved her music-lessons."
Crouching forward with his knees drawn up Fior-
sen hissed out:
"Don't talk of Gyp! Get out of this! I wiU
pay you your thousand pounds."
Rosek, still smiling, answered:
" Gustav, don't be a fool ! With a violin to your
shoulder, you are a man. Without-you are a
child. Lie quiet, my friend, and think of Mr
Wagge. But you had better come and talk it over
with me. Good-bye for the moment. Calm your-
236
BEYOND
out into thr^d^^"^"^*^.^-' ^"'""J^^J
wretched^l? As ifshe^ij cared about the
s*" r AS u sue made any real difference !
iPm
tf^iJIF-
BEYOND
237
It was afl SO much deeper than that. Gyp had
never loved him, never given him what he wanted
never quenched his thirst of her! That was the
heart of it. No other woman he had ever had to
do with had been hke that-kept his thirst un-
quenched. No; he had always tired of them before
they tired of him. She gave him nothing reaUy-
nothing! Had she no heart or did she give it
elsewhere? What was that Paul had said about her
music-lessons ? And suddenly it struck him that he
knew nothing, absolutely nothing, of where she went
or what she did. She never told hun anything
Music-lessons? Every day, nearly, she went out
was away for hours. The thought that she might
go to the arms of another man made him put down
his violin with a feeling of actual sickness. Why
not ? That deep and fearful whipping of the sexual
mstinct which makes the ache of jealousy so truly
terrible was at its full in such a nature as Fiorsen's
He drew a long breath and shuddered. The re-
membrance of her fastidious pride, her candour,
above all her passivity cut in across his fear No
not Gyp ! '
He went to a little table whereon stood a tantalus
tumblers and a syphon, and pouring out some
brandy, drank. It steadied him. And he began to
practise. He took a passage from Brahms' violin
concerto and began to play it over and over. Sud-
denly, he found he was repeating the same flaws
each Ume; he was not attending. The fingering of
that thing was ghasUy! Music-lessons I Why did
'•SlfPy^
'3* BEYOND
?™,,?^*' *^T^ ^^^ °^ ^« '^d money-she
would never be anything but an amateur! Ugh I
Unconsaously, he had stopped playing. Had she
gcaetibere^y? It was past luStimT^P^!
haps she had come in.
He put down his violin and went back to the
house. No sign of her! The maid came to ^ tf
he wodd lunch No! Was the mistress to be in ?
She had no said. He went into the dining-room
ate a bi^t, and drank a brandy and scSa ft
^^ed him. Lighting a cigarette, he came bai
to the drawmg-room and sat down at Gyp's bureau
How udy! On the little calendar, a'^S^
^nf "^^l to-day-Wednesday, 'anotCr aglS^
Friday. Wlmtfor? Music-lessons! He reacSto
a pigeon-hole, and took out her address-book.
««~.^u ' 3°^^' Maiylebone Road," and
agamst it the words in pencil, "3 p m "
Three o'clock. So that wa^ her hour I His eyes
mted Idly on a Uttle old coloured print of a bS
chante, with flowing green scarf, Lking a ta^-
bounne at a naked Cupid, who with aba^bow and
arrow m his hands, was gazing up at her. He turned
1 over; on the back was written in a pointed, S
gly hand, "To my Kttle friei:d.-E. H." FiS
diw smoke deep down into his lungs, expelled it
slowly, and went to the piano. He openSit and
H^*. u^^'/^™^ ^^'^^t'y before hin, the
ogare te burned nearly to his lips. He wen on,
■TJ^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ P^y^- At last he
stopped, and sat dejected. A great artist? Often,
nowadays, he did not care if he never touched a
/iliilTCBI
BEYOND
a39
violin again. Tired of standing up before a sea of
dull faces, sedng the blockheads knock their silly
hands one against the other ! Sick of the sameness
of it all ! Besides— besides, were his powers begin-
ning to fail? What was happening to him of late?
He got up, went into the dining-room, and drank
some brandy. Gyp could not bear his drinking.
Well, she shouldn't be out so much— taking music-
lessons. Music-lessons! Nearly three o'clock. If
he went for once and saw what she really did —
Went, and offered her his escort home ! An atten-
tion. It might please her. Better, anyway, than
waiting here until she chose to come m with her face
all closed up. He drank a little more brandy — ever
so little— took his hat and went. Not far to walk,
but the sun was hot, and he reached the house feel-
ing rather dizzy. A maid-servant opened the door
to him.
" I am Mr. Fiorsen. Mrs. Fiorsen here ? "
"Yes, stt; will you wait?"
Why did she look at him like that? Ugly girl!
How hateful ugly people were! When she was
gone, he reopened the door of the waiting-room, and
listened.
Chopin! The polonaise in A flat. Good! Could
that be Gyp? Very good! He moved out, down
the passage, drawn on by her playing, and softly
turned the handle. The music stopped. He went
in.
When Winton had left him, an hour and a half
later that afternoon, Fiorsen continued to stand at
240
BEYOND
tile front door, swaying his body to and fro The
brandy-nurtured burst of jealousy which had made
him msult his wife and old Monsieur Harmost had
died suddenly when Gyp turned on him in the street
and spoke in tiiat icy voice; smce tiien he had felt
fear, mcreasing every minute. Would she forgive?
xo one who always acted on die impulse of the mo-
ment, so that he rarely knew afterward exactly
what he had done, or whom hurt. Gyp's self-control
had ever been mysterious and a UtUe frightening
Where had she gone? Why did she not come in?
Anxiety is like a baU tiiat rolls down-hill, gatiiering
naomentum. Suppose she did not come back ! But
she must— there was the baby— tiieir baby 1
For tile first time, tiie thought of it gave him un-
aUoyed satisfaction. He left tiie door, and, after
dnnkmg a glass to steady him, flung hhnself down
on tiie sofa in tiie drawing-room. And while he lay
Uiere, tiie brandy warm witiiin him, he tiiought- 'I
wiU turn over a new leaf; give up drink, give up
eveiytiung, send tiie baby into tiie countiy, take
Gyp to Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome— anywhere out
of this England, anywhere, away from that father
of hers and aU tiiese stiff, dull folk 1 She will like
tiiat-she loves travelling 1' Yes, tiiey would be
happy! Delicious nights— delicious days— air that
did not weigh you down and make you feel that
you must drink— real inspiration— real music ! The
acnd wood-smoke scent of Paris streets, tiie gUsten-
mg cleanness of tiie Thiergarten, a serenading song
in a Florence back street, fireflies in tiie summer
§m,ww^:m
BEYOND
841
dusk at Sorrento— he had intoricating memories of
them all ! Slowly the warmth of the brandy died
away, and, despite the heat, he felt chiU and shud-
deiy. He shut his eyes, thinking to sleep till she
came in. But very soon he opened them, because
—a. thing usual with him of late— he saw such ugly
things— faces, vivid, changing as he looked, grow-
ing ugly and ugUer, becoming aU holes— holes—
homble holes— Corruption— matted, twisted, dark
human-tree-roots of faces! Horrible! He opened
his eyes, for when he did that, they ways went. It
was very silent. No sound from above. No sound
of the dogs. He would go up and see the baby.
While he was crossmg the hall, there came a ring.
He opened the door himself . A telegram! He tore
the envelope.
"Gyp and the baby are with me letter follows.—
WiNTON."
He gave a short laugh, shut the door in the boy's
face, and ran up-stairs; why— heaven knew ! There
was nobody there now! Nobody! Did it mean
that she had really left him— was not coming back?
He stopped by the side of Gyp's bed, and flinging
hmiself forward, lay across it, burying his face. And
he sobbed, as men will, unmanned by drink. Had
he lost her? Never to see her eyes closing and
press his lips against them! Never to soak his
senses in her loveliness! He leaped up, with the
tears still wet on his face. Lost her? Absurd!
That cahn, prim, devilish Englishman, her father—
344
BEYOND
he was to blame— he had worked it all— stealimr the
baby I
He went down-stairs and drank some brandy. It
steadied him a little. What should he do? " Let-
ter foUows." Drink, and wait? Go to Bury Street?
No. Drink! Enjoy himself I
He laughed, and, catching up his hat, went out,
walking furiously at first, then slower and slower,
for his head began to whirl, and, taking a cab, was
driven to a restaurant in Soho. He had eaten noth-
ing but a biscuit -nee his breakfast, always a small
matter, and ordered soup and a flask of their best
ChianU— soUds he could not face. More than two
houre he sat, white and silent, perspiration on his
forehead, now and then grinning and flourishing his
fingers, to the amusement and sometimes the alarm
of those sitting near. But for being known there,
he would have been regarded with suspicion. About
half-past nine, there being no more wine, he got up
put a piece of gold on the table, and went out with-
out waiting for his change.
In the streets, the lamps were Ughted, but daylight
was not quite gone. He walked unsteadily, toward
Piccadilly. A girl of the town passed and looked
up at him. Staring hard, he hooked his arm in hers
without a word; it steadied him, and they walked
on thus together. Suddenly he said:
"WeU, girl, are you happy?" The girl stopped
and tned to disengage her arm; a rather frightened
look had come into her dark-eyed powdered face.
Fiorsen laughed, and held it firm. "When the un-
BEYOND j^
happy meet they walk together. Come on I You
d^T' ' '''"' ^' "^y ^«- Wm you have a
The girl shook her head, and, with a sudden
movement, shpped her arm out of this madman's
ana dived away hke a swallow through the pavement
t ^c Fiorsen stood stiU and laughed with his
head thrown back. The second time to^y She
had shpped from his grasp. Passers looked at him
amazed. The ugly devils ! And with a grimace^e
turned out of PiccadiUy, past St. James^ Chu£^
makmg for Bury Street. They wouldn't let hin^
m, of course-not they! But he would look at
die wmdows; they had flower-boxes-^ower-boxes !
T7 ^""^^f^y' he groaned aloud-Le had thought
of Gyps figure busy among the flowers at home.
Misamg the right turning, he came in at the bottom
of the street. A fiddler in the gutter was sc«pW
away on an old violin. Fiorsen stopped to Ustra
Poor devil! "Pagliacd!" Going up to the i-
dark, lame, very shabby, he took out some silver
and put his other hand on the man's shoulder
Brother," he said, " lend me your fiddle. Here's
ZSJt"'""- ^""'^^^-di'^o-e- I am a great
" Vraiment, monsieur l"
i).TZf^Z' ^""u^ ^"' hypnotized, handed him
the fiddle; his dark face changed when he saw this
stranger flmg it up to his shoulder and the ways of
.sm mmt ##:» ' Wbu.
244
BEYOND
his fingers with bow and strings. Fiorsen had be-
gun to walk up the street, his eyes searching for the
flower-boxM. He saw them, stopped, and began
playmg "Che faro?" He played it wonderfully on
that poor fiddle; and the fiddler, who had foUowed
at his dbow, stood watching him, uneasy, envious,
but a htUe entranced. Sapristil This tall pale
monsieur with the strange face and the eyes that
looked drunk and the hoUow chest, played like an
angell Ah, but it was not so easy as aU that to
make money in the streets of this sacred town! You
might play like forty angels and not a copper I He
had begun another tune— like UtUe pluckings at
your htaxt-trhs joli-Umt h fait icxuratUI Ah,
there it was— a monsieur as usual closing the win-
dow, drawing the curtains! Always same thing!
The violin and the bow were thrust back iuto his
hands; and the taU strange monsieur was off as if
devils were after him-not badly drunk, that one!
And not a sou thrown down ! With an uneasy feel-
uig that he liad been involved in something that he
did not understand, the lame, dark fiddler umped
his way round the nearest comer, zad for 'wo
streets at least did not stop. Then, counting the
Sliver Fiorsen had put into his hand and carefuUy
examinmg his fiddle, he used the word, "Bigre I" and
started for home.
xrx
GVP hardly slept at aU. Three times she got up,
and, steahng to the door, looked in at her sleeping
baby, whose face in its new bed she could just see
by the night-light's glow. The afternoon had shaken
her nerves. Nor was Betty's method of breathing
while asleep conducive to the slumber of anything
but babies. It was so hot, too, and the sound offte
viohn stm m her ears. By that Uttle air of Poise,
she had known for certain it was Fiorsen; and her
father s abrupt drawing of the curtains had rlmched
that certainty. If she had gone to the window and
seen hun, she would not have been half so deeply
disturbed as she was by that echo of an old em(>.
tion. The hnk which yesterday she thought broken
tor good was reforged in some mysterious way. The
sobbmg of that old fiddle had been his way of say-
ing. Forgive me; forgive!" To leave him would
have been so much easier if she had reaUy hated
hun; but she did not. However difficult it may be
to hve with an artist, to Late him is quite as diffi-
cult An artist is so flexible-only the rigid can be
hated. She hated the things he did, and him when
he was domg them; but afterward again could hate
hun no more than she could love hun, and that was
—not at all. Resolution and a sense of the
MS
piac-
346
BEYOND
tical began to come back with daylight. When
It and harden one's heart.
-tY n^'r?'"!'^^^^ ^ ^^ ^osi ^ sleepless
-to pky hke a beggar in the street, under hU^-
dows had seemed to him the limit rlamiounced^t
breakfast that he must see his lawyer, rSf af
rangements for the payment of Fiorsen's debts, a^d
persecution. Some deed was probably necessary-
SLr^ ^V° "" '"*^ °^*^^- In the ^:
Ume neither Gyp nor the baby must go out. Gyp
^ the mommg writing and rewriting to MonsieS
Hannost, tr>^ to express her chagrin, but not sav-
ing that she had left Fiorsen umoisay
^^ ^*S'lT*'-*f? ^^"^ Westminster quiet and
sS'tW^M'?"' ^'"^'y "^ ""^de to under-
v^ /^* ^^ ^^y ^^ ^'•""en's property so that
fo tiS"°"l^'^"'^ ^^^^ the/w'uld'bel'Sk
to resist. The pomt opened the old wound, forced
hmi to remember that his own daughter h^d onS
beongedtoanodiei^father. He hS told the kw-
yer ma measured voice that he would see the fellow
damned first and had directed a deed of separation
to be prepared, which should provide for^e com^
plete payment of Fiorsen's existing debts on conS-
telhng Gyp this, he took an opportunity of going
to the extempore nursery and standing by the babVs
cr^e. Until then, the little creatu^ha'ionlyE
of mterest as part of Gyp; now it had for Wm^
•kf-
BEYOND
247
lymg there waching lum so gravely, clutching hi^
finger. Suddenly the baby smiled-not a beautiful
anJe, but It made on Winton an indelible impres-
Wishing first to settle this matter of the deed, he
put ofif gomg down to MUdenham; but "not trusting
those two ^omidrels a yard "-for he never failed
to bracket Rosek and Fiorsen-he insisted that the
baby should not go out without two attendants, and
that Gyp should not go out alone. He carried pre-
caution to the point of accompanying her to Mon-
sieur Harmost's on the Friday afternoon, and ex-
presaxl a wish to go in and shake hands with the
old feUow. It was a queer meeting. Those two
had as great difficulty in finding anything to say as
though they were denizens of different planets And
indeed, there are two planets on this earth ' When
after a minute or so of the friendliest embarrass^
ment, he had retired to wait for her, Gyp sat down
to ner lesson.
Monsieur Haimost said quietly:
"Your letter was very kind, my Kttle friend-
and your father is very kind. But, after aU it
was a compliment your husband paid me " His
smile smote Gyp; it seemed to sum up so many
resignations. "So you stay again with your father!"
And, lookmg at her very hard with his melancholy
brown eyes. When wiU you find your fate, I won-
"Neverl"
348
BEYOND
Monsieur Hannost's eyebrows rose
"Ah " he said, "you think I No, ihat is impos-
sible! He walked twice veiy quickly up and
down the room; then spinning round on his heel,
said sharply: "Well, we must not waste you^
fathers tune. To work."
Winton's simple comment in the cab on the
way home was:
"Nice old chap!"
At Bmy Street, they found Gyp's agitated par-
lour-maid. Gomg to do the music-toom that morn-
ing, she had "found the master sitting on the sofa,
holdmg his head, and groaning awful. He's not
been at home, ma'am, since you-you went on your
visit, so I didn't know what to do. I ran for cook
and we got him up to bed, and not knowing where
youd be, ma'am, I telephoned to Count Rosek,
and he came-I hope I didn't do wrong-and he
sent me down to see you. The doctor says his
brams on the touch and go, and he keeps askin'
for you, ma'am. So I didn't know what to do."
Gyp, pale to the lips, said:
"Wait here a minute, Ellen," and went into the
dining-room. Winton foUowed. She turned to
mm at once, and said:
"Oh, Dad, what am I to do? Hit brain' It
would be too awful to feel I'd brought that about."
Wmton grunted. Gyp went on:
"I must go and see. li it's reaUy that, I couldn't
bear it. I m afraid I must go, Dad."
Winton nodded.
• J-f
BEYOND
249
"WeU, ru come too," he said. "The girl can go
back in the cab and say we're on the way."
Taking a parting look at her baby, Gyp thought
bitteriy: My fate? TMs is my fate, and no gettiig
out of It!' On the journey, she and Winton were
qmte silent— but she held his hand tight. While
the cook was taking up to Rosek the news of their
amval. Gyp stood looking out at her garden. Two
days and six hours only smce she had stood there
above her pansies; since, at this very spot, Rosek
had kissed her throat! Slipping her hand through
Wmton's arm, she said:
"Dad, please don't make anything of that kiss
He couldn't help himself, I suppose. What does
It matter, too?"
A moment later Rosek entered. Before she
could speak, Winton was saying:
"Thank you for letting us know, sir. But now
that my daughter is here, there will be no further
need for your kind services. Good-day I"
At the cruel curtness of those words. Gyp gave
the tiniest start forward. She had seen them go
through Rosek's armour as a sword through brown
paper. He recovered himself with a sickly smile '
bowed, and went out. Winton foUowed-pre^
cisely as if he did not trust him with the hats in
the haJl. When the outer door was shut, he said:
I don t think he'll trouble you o-^iin."
Gyp's gratitude was quaUfied by a queer com-
passion. After all, his offence had only been that
of lovmg her.
2S0
BEYOND
Fiorsen had been taken to her room, which was
larger and cooler than his own; and the maid was
standing by the side of the bed with a scared face.
G3T) signed to her to go. He opened his eyes pres-
w.^^i!- °^i ^^' Is it you? The devilish,
Gyp! With a sob he raised himself and rested
his forehead agamst her. And Gyp fdt-as on the
firet mght he came home drunk-a merging of aU
other emouons in the desire to protect and heal
Its aU nght, aU right," she mvimured. "I'm
going to stay. Don't worry about fjiything. Keen
qmte qmet, and you'U soon be well."
In a quarter of an hour, he was asleep. His
waited look went to her heart, and that expres-
sion of terror which had been coming and goimt
until he feU asleep! Anything to do with the brain
was so horrible! Only too dear that she must
\^^~."^' ^ recovery depended on her. She was
stiU sitting there, motionless, when the doctor
^e, and, seemg him asleep, beckoned her out.
He looked a kmdly man, with two waistcoats, the
top one unbuttoned; and whUe he talked, he wiiked
at Gyp involuntarily, and, with each wink, Gyp
felt ttat he npped the veU off one more domes^
secret. Sleep was the ticket-the very ticket for
mm! Had something on his mind— yes' And—
sw "if*' ^T" to-biandy? Ah! all that must
stopr Stomach as well as nerves affected. Seeuw
thmgs-nasty things-sure sign. Perhaps nXt
jfL«S(^a^-.4iri»} %.
BEYOND
«Si
very careful life before marriage. And married-
how long? His kindly appreciative eyes swept
Gyp from top to toe. Year and a half I Quite sol
Hard worker at his violin, too? No doubt! Musi-
cians always a little inclined to be immoderate-
too much sense of beauty-bum ^e candle at
both eadsl She must see to that She had been
away, had she not— staying with her father? Yes
S^io^^rn.'^JL* "^^ ^"^ °"^«- As to treat-
ment? WeU ! One would shove m a dash of what
he would prescribe, night and morning. Perfect
quiet No stimulant A litUe cup of strong coffee
without milk, if he seemed low. Keep him in bS
at presmt No worry; no excitement Youne
man still. _ Plenty of vitality. As to herself,^
undue anxiety. To-morrow they would see whether
a night nurse would be necessary. Above aU, no
viohn for a month, no alcohol-in every way the
stnctest moderation! And with a last and friend-
liest wmk, lining heavily on that word "modera-
tion, he took out a stylographic pen, scratched on
a leaf of his note-book, shook Gyp's hand, smiled
SS^^' ""^ ^ "PP^' waistcoat, and
Gyp went back to her seat by the bed. Irony '
bhe whose only desire was to be let go free, was
mainly responsible for his breakdown! But for
her, there would be nothing on his mind, for he
rS u°°* ,}^ .'°*"^'** •' ^'•«'<^^ morbidly, she
asked herself-his drinking, debts, even the rirl-
had she caused them, too? And when she tried to
asa
BEYOlrt)
free him and herself-this was the result! Was
ttrn,'""?^.^^'^ *'^"* ^'' '^t must destroy
^e men she had to do with? She had made her
father unhappy Monsieur Harmost-Rosek, and
her husband ! Even before she married, how many
had tned for her love, and gone away unhappy!
And, gettmg up, she went to a mirror and Jk«i
at herself lor ^: and sadly.
XX
o™ o' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^"^ abortive attempt ^o br -V
e^^' GjTp with much heart-searching vlte ■ .
Daphne Wing, telling her of FiorseSh L lu'
25 »^--e ^e eoj
LS:?t^r^^°^^^^-^--s::
Next morning, she found Mr. Wamre with a tan
gl^banded hat in his black-g,ovS?ards^ s't^l'
m m the yer). centre of her drawing-room. He
was stanng mto the garden, as if he had been vouch!
Sm .^:^T 1^' "^ "^^ ^^^ the moon-
^5 i.^"? »ts ghostly glamour on the sunflowS
and ks daughter had danced out there. IhehTd
a perfec view of his thick red neck in ite turn
down coUar. crossed by a black bow over a £y
wmg ^. And hol<|^g out her hand, she ^f
youtlome^""'''"''-^^^^ It was kind of
cafe;JSn.'""^- «^ P"^ ^^ -re a down-
"I hope I see you weU, ma'am. Pretty nlarP
you'ave'ere. I'm fond of flowers mys^fi^ve
always been my 'obby." ^
'S3
ap-.--:i<ff*»*w
3S4
BEYOND
H.1!?T' ,f t°'f'? '^^ y°" °^«l»t grow the
dahhahere" And having thus obeyed the obscure
mstmcts of savon faire, satisfied some obscurer de-
sire to flatter he went on: "My girl showed me
your letter. I didn't like to write; in such a deU-
cate matter I'd rather be vivey vocey. Very kind
m your position; I'm sure I appreciate it. I always
try to do the Christian thmg myself. Flesh passw-
you rever know when you may have to take
your turn. I said to my girl I'd come and see
you."
"I'm very glad. I hoped perhaps you would."
Mr. Wagge cleared his throat, and went on m
a hoarser voice: '
"I don't want to say anything harsh about a
certain party m your presence, especially as I read
hes indisposed, but really I hardly know how to
bear the situation. I can't bring myself to think
of money m relation to that matter; all the same
It s a serious loss to my daughter, very serious loss!
Ivegotmyfanulypridetothinkof. My daughter's
name, weU-it's my own; and, though I say it
1 m respected— a regular attendant— I think I told
you. Sometimes, I assure you, I feel I can't con-
trol myself, and it's only that-and you, if I mav
aay so, that keeps me in check."
During this speech, his black-gloved hands were
clenching and unclenching, and he shifted his broad
shining boots. Gyp gazed at them, not daring to
wm.
BEYOND jj^
I^i!*^ ^1^ 7"^ ^"« ^'^^'^ and turning from
Chr^taiuty to shekels, from his honour toS^ wS?
from his anger to herself. And she said: '
Please let me do what I ask. Mr Wamre t
Mr. Wagge blew his nose.
'It's a delicate matter," he said. "I don't know
where my duty lays. I don't, reeUy " °°° ' '""^
Gyp looked up then.
_^_^';The gr«it thing is to save Daisy suffering, isn't
siJf !;f ^^^'' ^'^'^ ^^"^ ^°' » ^o'n'^t an expres-
sion of affront, as if from the thought- 'SuS,^
^°irT •^^•' ^* ^° ^'^ father rniSltwa
v^; the curious, furtive warmth of the S4S
m^ecame for a moment into his little ey^Te
Mr Wagge's readjusted glance stopped in confu-
sion at her waist. He answered, inTVdce t^fhe
strove to make bland: °*
'ow'Il -^ ^""i^ •" ^^ ^y- I d°°'t reelly know
me—i can t withdraw my attitude."
Gyp murmured:
let"™^' k! "'"'^- ^"^ y°" ~ ""«*; and you'U
kt me know about everything later. I musta't
take up your time now." And she held out her
Mr. Wagge took it in a lingering mamier.
m
W^J^i'^' V
356
BEYOND
"Well, I have an appointment," he said: "a een-
tleman at Campden HiU. He starts at twel-
1 m never late. Good-monung."
When she had watched his square, black figure
IMss through the outer gate, busily rebuttoning those
shining black gloves, she went upstairs and washed
her face and hands.
For several days, Fiorsen wavered; but his col-
^pse had come just in time, and with every hour
the danger lessened. At the end of a fortnight of a
perfectly white life, there remained nothing to do in
the words of the doctor but "to avoid all recurrence
ot the predisposmg causes, and shove in sea air!"
Oyp had locked up aU brandy-^and violins: she
could control him so long as he was tamed by his
own weakness But she passed some very bitter
hours brfore she sent for her baby, Betty, and the
dogs, and definitely took up life in her httle house
agam. His debts had been paid, including the thou-
Mnd pounds to Rosek, and the losses of Daphne
Wng. The girl had gone down to that cotta«
where no one had ever heard of her, to pass her
Umtm lonely grief and terror, with the aid of a
blade dress and a gold band on her third finger
August and the first half of September were spent
near Bude. Fiorsen's passion for the sea, a passion
Gyp could share, kept him singularly moderate and
free from restiveness. He had been thoroughly
iTightened, and such terror is not easUy forgotten
They stayed m a farmhouse, where he was at his
BEYONB
aS7
^^. HerSJ:!^'.'"!^ ^ ^^ could bl
maid." £ hfjrto SrSll"' «^^ 'f^ "--
baby, getting her awav toTif ^' T^^ ^™" ^^
cliffs and among thHJcS JT*^^ "'"'^ ^^ «™^
free coast. HisXgiTts^o ff "^ ""^ °^ "'''*
new nook where theVcS h,^ ^'7 ''^^ «"»«
selves by sitting in^^e Tu^ a^'' "*^ '^'^ ^em-
maid she -^'on.^L:Zlyt^Zt.' T'
close together in a litUenooIh^rfi ^ ^" ^««t
drowned hair anH th! ^ ' ^, "^ ^^^"^ combing her
If she haS;.^^ hiS r 1??^ ^^ ^«t^y
B„f *i. L . ^™' '^ wo»Jd have bf<>n r«»^„*
But though, close to nature like Mp n^ ^'^'^*-
to whom towns are ooko^ hi "^~*«« »« men
easy to bear, even tTlZ^T 0^ "^ ""^h more
to him, nevJr flTt^'tt' w'/ ^'* °'^*^' *^«1
quickly under rS *'o^ ^™'''' "' ^eat more
things. The vrrn^'»."'"^°'«'8^te these
athS^baby S^'J 1^ ^^,^hen they lookS
him. was Sdx'St tt ^STn^S'" ^f '""^-^ »t
"uld help seeing; ^d^irhr>lif*° "«""*'
-trSi^oSr, SX'wi^,' SckT '«"-'
robust health-aUtSeen.^.^^ '° ^^' i"
had never bee^ 0^,,.?^* ^°^ ^"^' Gyp
lull, of iorT.JS'^^-^l^ tl 'r^ ^'"-^^
they were back in their houT^uT r^' ""T""^
density and darkness «"^: "^./'^'^ gathered
•fter.finc spell. sTe'hSr„fK"!^">.!!'« .-^y
spell. She had often thought of
Dl^>hIle
SS8
BEYOND
Wing, and had written twice, getting in return one
naive and pathetic answer:
'Deak Mks. Fioksen,
'Oh, it is kind of you to write, because I know what you
must be feeling about me; and it was so kind of you to let
me come here. I try not to think about things, but of
course I can't help it; and I don't seem to care what happens
now. Mother is coming down here later on. Sometimes I
he awake aU night, hstening to the wind. Don't you think
the wind is the most melancholy thing m the world? I
wonder if I shaU die? I hope I shall. Oh, I do, reaUyl
Good-by., dear Mis. Fiorsen. I shall never forgive myself
about you.
' Your grateful,
' Da?hmz Wino.'
The girl had never once been mentioned between
her and Fiorsen since the night when he sat by her
bed, begging forgiveness; she did not know whether
he ever gave the little dancer and her trouble a
thought, or even knew what had become of her.
But now that the time was getting near. Gyp felt
more and more every day as if she must go down
and see her. She wrote to her father, who, after a
dose of Harrogate with Aunt Rosamund, was back
at Mildenham. Winton answered that the nurse
was there, and that there seemed to be a woman,
presumably the mother, staying with her, but that
he had not of course made direct inquiry. Could
not Gyp come down? He was alone, and cubbing
had begun. It was like him to veil his longings
under such dry sUtemenU. But the thought of giv-
BEYOND
259
return from Com«iu*!kSr I ?''• Since the
«.i»ic-™m ,w ;^ "te bad Pfayed for Ua, In th.
ne^S^'rS** ""' '^ "''^ ""' -^ »- hi,
«ft»e this. He rS ^.^S^"^' J^* should not
roundh«r °^''"P''*=^dandputhisanns
My Gyp, I want you here— T m» i 1
Don't go away » "ere— i am lonely, too.
andt1Seri^.^terd^Sy^^^
^^^eres another r^n why I mist go."
^ Jo. nol No good reason-to take'^ou from
to see how she is^ Mildenham, and I want
He let go of her then, and recoiling against the
a6o
BEVOND
divan, sat dovm. And Gjt thought: 'I'm sony. I
didn t mean to— but it sen -s him right'
He muttered, in a dull voi e:
"Oh, I hoped she was dead."
"Yesl For aU you care, he might be. I'm
going, but you needn't be afraid that I shan't come
back. I shall be back to-day week; I promise "
He looked at her fixedly.
IT^', X?y *^°°'* ^^^^ yo" promises; you will
not break it." But. suddenly, he said again: "Gvd
don t go!" ^'^'
"I must."
He got up and caught her in his arms.
"Say you love me, then!"
But she could not. It was one thing to put up
with embraces, quite another to pretend that. When
at last he was gone, she sat smoothing her hair, star-
ing before her with hard eyes, thinking: "Here-
where I saw him with that girl! What anunals men
are!
Late that afternoon, she reached Mildenham.
Wmton met her at the staUon. And on the drive
up, they passed the cottage where Daphne Winir
wasstajdng. It stood in front of a smaU coppice a
creepered, plain-fronted, little brick house, with' a
garden still fuU of sunflowers, tenanted by the old
jockey, Pettance, his widowed daughter, and her
thrw small children. "That talkative old scoun-
drel, as Wmton always called him, was still em-
ployed m the Mildenham stables, and his daughter
BEYOND
301
cot4e's sS'::zzrs:rt^' ^^^ ^^-^
home again, to see Z o?h V ^' ^ ^^' '« ^ ^t
savour of the ho^ to m r^ m^ ^^ ^^ "^
its nose nuz2ling Ter fo? ,„t t°'*^ °'^' ^^ f««I
bebackon™frefeS."r- ^' T^ «> «ood to
to ride. The^Se o??h •'■°°^ ^'^ ^'^ "^ able
the front d«,' w^ afov ^^ T"^'^^' ^'^'^^ -t
the skin of Wintonwf- "^^^^ ^'^ ^'<«s
so often sunk dorde^^SCh"^^ "^ "^
was nice to be at home? ^'^^- ^''t
old face, sStZplyH^^'Z' ^''^^^'' "^'^^
"Good evenin' S bf f.^T? "* ^"""'y"^ ^«°«--
And his littl^S^i^"^ '':^'' ""''«""
"««. regarfed h^S^,^™ ^y^' ^^^ touched by
Well, Pettance, how are vou? At„ij. . « .
and how are the chilS Lh ^^1^*='
darling?" "uioren;' And how's this old
i-t"^?°*'"^"^' "iss; artful as a kitten r
legs,
her
;- Old mare e^ed her do;;:'i,Xk
of
I?-.J
■iiP3PTtet-!i
262
BEYOND
"They 'aven't fiUed not once since she come in—
Je was out aU July and August; but I've kept 'er
^fj^ '' f^?^' •" °P^ you niight be comin'."
They feel splendid." And, stiU bending down
"Well ma'am, she's very young, and these very
young ladies tiiey get a bit exdtld, you W Z
wS. T^' ^..^""^^ "^y *«'^« °«ver b^-»
With obvious diflSculty he checked the words "to
tT^i^'V: "WeU. you must expectT'An;
her mother, she's a dreadful fmmy one, miss. She
doesneedleoe! Oh, she puts my back ip properly 1
No class, of course-that's where it is. But tl^ere
nurse-well, you know, miss, she won't 'ave no
nonsfflse; so there we are. And. of course, you're
bound to 'ave 'ighsteria, a bit-loin' her 'u^ZZ
young as that." >^>xaa as
rf.?^^l!'* ^If ^ "^"^^ °" =«»"« «^ before
Ac nused heraelf. But what did it matter if he did
«"^J ^^f^^J'e^'Jdteep a stable secret.
Oh, weye'adsomeprettyflirts-upandcryin'
dear me! I sleeps in the next room^^h. yT^t
mght-tmi«^when you're a widder at that age, you
amteapectnothin'else. I remember wheTl J^
ndm m Ireland for Captain O'NeiU, there was a
young woman "
shall be late for dinner,' and she said-
BEYOND
263
™are, uie bold young man who n'mir.A^ 1. l
somebody, and she addedT ^ ^" °^
;;^t'U be a good home for him, I should think."
'WeU,rmgoi;'toha^^' ft '^'^ ^^ "^y^'
an' don't vSte no «rJ?' ^^"^ ^"^ P'«^t.
end of the^S^. "(S^hS weP^eS'"'^".."^^
^trL^ ~""'* tcmonow, to see her?"
Veiy good, miss. 'Ounds meets at FiUv r««..
""^-^y- 7°«'« be goin- out?" '"^ ^™"'
Rather. Good-night."
Flying back across the yard. Gyp thouehf '"SJ,,.
J^^beaut^uir Howjoily, 'I'mVS'gotm;
*->•*?
^\M
XXI
Stnx glowing from her morning in the saddle
Gyp started out next day at noon on her visit to
Uie old scoundrel's" cottage. It was one of those
imgenng meUow mornings of late Sq)tember, when
the air, just warmed through, lifts oflf the stubbles,
and the hedgerows are not yet dried of dew. The
short cut led across two fields, a narrow strip of vil-
lage common, where linen was drying on gorse bushes
commg mto bloom, and one field beyond; she met
no one. Crossing the road, she passed into the cot-
tage-garden, where sunflowers and Michaehnas dai-
MM m great profusion were tangled along the low
red-bndc garden-walls, under some poplar trees yet
tow-flecked ah-eady. A single empty chair, with a
book turned face downward, stood outside an open
wmdow. Smoke wreathing from one chimney was
the on^y sign of life. But, standing undecided he-
lore the half-open door, Gyp was conscious, as it
were, of too much stiUness, of something unnatural
about the sOence. She was just raising her hand
to knock when she heard the sound of smothered
sobbmg. Peeping through the wiudow, she could
just see a woman dressed in green, evidently Mrs.
Wagge, seated at a table, crying into her handker-
chief. At that very moment, too, a low moaning
came from the room above. Gyp recoiled; then,
making up her mind, she went in and knocked at
J64
BEYOND
26s
SlrTXtr,*^- ^°°r ^ ««en ^ sitting!
green dress, and with her grZ^'^^r Tt ^'
Of canthandes), she seemed to Gyp just like one^
i^e"^: 1E^e"h2r' t- red&^so'uZtSly
"« me san. bhe had rubbed over her facf wh.vi
tern a^ ^ j„ h^di^."^"^
"It— it— was bom this morning— dead "
,. ^yP K^^M- To have gone through' it aU for
^^Lr^S-t^' motheSeeling inter^'retuti'
betterrd-r^t^S-^^'^""^^^--' ^"^
"How is she?"
'^B:d-S rrf :,r^.'!^ P-^°-^ ^^ejection:
-very bad. I don't know I
'm sure what
'^mr-w^mm^m^^i^r^'^,
MM
H
•"oocorr nsoturioN tbi chmt
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHABT No. 2)
A
4 ^^PPLIED IIVMGE Ini
'6S3 Fait Main StrMi
RcH:J.»t«f, N*. Yw* 14600
(716) 482 - OJOO - Phon.
(718) 28B-5M9-ro«
USA
366
BEYOND
to «y-my feeUngs are aU anyhow, and that's the
truth. It s so dreadfuUy upsetting altogether "
Is my nurse with her?"
"Yes; she's there. She's a very heaH<ifmn„
wc^ but capable. I don't deny^^B^t^^
weak Oh, It ts upsetting! And now I suddo^
^dtoit r^^L'"^ TTxere really sS;"
end to It. And aU because of-<,f that nan." And
SkS. ^'^'^ ^^^^ ^ ^ <^ ^totr
to^Sf^'^^™"!^ °^ ^y °' 'J^ t^« right thing
to the poor lady, Gyp stole out At the ^ttom^
the stairs, she he^tated whether to go up or no At
S, 1' !TT^ "^^^^y- I* •"'"*»'« in the front
room that the bereaved girl was lying^the girl who
but a year ago, had debated wi^Ldi r^^l
ui^rtance whether or not it was her du^to Si
a lover. Gyp summoned courage to tap gently
^e economic agent opened the door an bcTbut"
s^mg who It was. sHpped her robust and hTdso^'
person through into the corridor. ™"««>n»
^^J^?:'''°y^^^" ^«idmaw}nsptr. "That's
"How is she?"
"yS^L'll-^f^^- You know about it?"
xes; can I see her?"
"I hardly think so. I can't make her out. She's
BEYOND
267
^Gjg^met her gaze better than she had believed
"Yes, nurse."
ne .^onomic a«ent swept her up and down
her good to Z you S^f W,'^'"' '' '"^^^ ^'^
eyes closed, ^th fair iair^ 5a^ on t^" f
head, with one white hand iSng Se J.2J' £'""
her heart I What a f«Ji LJ "e sheet above
Plun., On r^hde'S'tSf JTthf oS'^ ^r-
-^«l^e gold hoop round ii^ed^'dL^Sg:;''""
IWononnc agent said very quieti^ ^^•
oiS^^'S^j'^r • ^'^ ^""^^^ y°" - ^-^ visitor."
•^ AXSr' JP^ ''P-«* "d closed
'P^r thS?- sletiS?^^* went through Gyp:
and itSmer iS tV. T, «?"**« be him,
"HJ, nT^- ■^'^™ ™e white lips said:
nnf'w * °^'"'". ^^ ^"^ J"st audibly, "and there's
X S»?'^ "*"' ""^y °"'^ ^•'y i«t ^«
268
BEYOND
Gyp bent over and kissed the hand, unable to
bear the sight of those two slowly rolling tears
Daphne Wmg went on:
^^ou are good to me. I wish my poor little baby
Gyp, knowing her own tears were wetting that
hand, raised heiself and managed to get out the
words:
"Bear up ! Think of your work ' "
"Dancing ! Ho ! " She gave the least laugh ever
neard. "It seems so long ago."
"Yes; but now it'U aU come back to you again
better than ever." ^ '
Daphne Wing answered by a feeble sigh.
There was sOence. Gyp thought: 'She's falling
With eyes and mouth closed like that, and aU
alabaster white, the face was perfect, purged of its
httle commonnesses. Strange freak that this white
flower of a face could ever have been produced bv
Mr. and Mrs. Wagge I
Daphne Wing opened her eyes and said-
"Oh! Mrs. Fiorsen, I feel so weak. And I feel
much more lonely now. There's nothing anywhere "
Gyp got up; she felt herself being carried into the
mood of the girl's heart, and was afraid it would be
seen. Daphne Wing went on:
"Do you know, when nurse said she'd brought a
visitor, I thought it was him; but I'm glad now If
he had looked at me like he did— I couldn't have
bonie It."
BEYOND
169
Gyp bent down and put her lios tn <•»,» a
li^g eacn otner over it Tnvj^t iir •«. 1 >-"«"
never came when it was w=.nfl^ t ^P™^ "'"^g s;
it was not xTi , ^*^'«d' always came when
JLr^.- ° .Mflevolent wanderer, alighting here
^TJS-^AnTyeTrNrS ^^^^^^ ^"tSS?
owntri^^^t^t^jTiirfwrizs^^
lu- A slave like her fathert^"^,^^;*^-
270
BEYOND
to a memory. And watching the sunlight on the
bracken, Gyp thought: 'Love! Keep far from me.
I don't want you. I shall never want you !'
Every morning that week she made her way to
the cottage, and every morning had to pass through
the hands of Mrs. Wagge. The good lady had got
over the upsetting fact that Gyp was the wife of
that villain, and had taken a fancy to her, confiding
to the economic agent, who confided it to Gyp, that
she was "very distangey— and such pretty eyes,
quite Italian." She was one of those numberless
persons whose passion for distinction was just a lit-
tle too much for their passionate propriety. It was
that worship of distinction which had caused her to
have her young daughter's talent for dancing fos-
tered. Who knew to what it might lead in these
days? At great length she explained to Gyp the
infinite care with which she had always "brought
Daisy up like a lady— and now this is the result."
And she would look piercingly at Gyp's hair or ears,
at her hands or her instep, to see how it was done.
The burial worried her dreadfully. "I'm using the
name of Daisy Wing; she was christened 'Daisy'
and the Wing's professional, so that takes them both
in, and it's quite the truth. But I don't think any-
one would connect it, would they? About the
father's name, do you think I might say the late
Mr. Joseph Wing, this once ? You see, it never was
alive, and I must put something if they're not to
guess the truth, and that I couldn't bear; Mr. Wagge
BEYOND jyj
^uld be so distressed. It's in his own line, you
see. Oh, it is upsetting!" ' ^
Gyp murmured desperately:
"Oh! yes, anything."
Though the girl was so deathly white and snirit
htUe more commomiess came back to her Zid
Gyp felt mstmctively that she would, in tL e^d
return to Fulham purged of her infatuktL a UMe
harder, perhaps a little deeper. '
,f M^-ti°°u ^^^™o«° to^rd the end of her week
at Mildenham, Gyp wandered agam into the ^of
pice, and sat down on that same bg. M hour bl"
for3 sui^t, the light shone level o5 CyZ^,
eaves all romid her; a startled rabbit peltS o^f
^^t^t^T^C"^ ''^^ ^^' A S>m the
lar edge of the htUe wood, a iav cackli^ i„«,i,i
ahiftmg its perch from tree to trS^ "^lotX
her baby and of that which would W S iL
to go back to Fiorsen, she knew that she had m!
^ ^Srl^ZTW'^''^ been b^nt^
witn me girl, to have touched, as it were th^t
rouble had made the thought o life witlSntL
to see her baby made return seem possible Ah
weU^e would get used to it aU agdn - But fh^
aCf^mV' "^7^ ^^ - h« then^r^dSg
that would begm agam, suddenly made her shiver.
27a
BEYOND
She was very near to loathing at that moment. He,
the father of her baby ! The thought seemed ridic-
ulous and strange. That little creature seemed to
bind him to her no more than if it were the offspring
of some chance encounter, some pursuit of nymph
by faun. No ! It was hers alone. And a sudden
feverish longing to get back to it overpowered all
other thought. This longing grew in her so all night
that at breakfast she told her father. Swallowing
down whatever his feeling may have been, he said:
"Very well, my child; I'll come up with you."
Putting her into the cab in London, he asked:
"Have you still got your key of Bury Street?
Good ! Remember, Gyp— any time day or night —
there it is for you."
She had wired to Fiorsen from Mildenham that
she was coming, and she reached home soon after
three. He was not in, and what was evidently her
telegram lay unopened in the hall. Tremulous with
expectation, she ran up to the niirsery. The pa-
thetic sound of some small creature that cannot tell
what is hurting it, or why, met her ears. She went
in, disturbed, yet with the half-triumphant thought:
'Perhaps that's for me!'
Betty, very flushed, was rocking the cradle, and
ezunining the baby's face with a perplexed frown.
Seeing Gyp, she put her hand to her side, and
gasped:
"Oh, be joyful! Oh, my dear! I am glad. I
can't do anything with baby smce the morning.
Whenever she wakes up, she cries like that. And
^ ^rry^;
BEYOND
273
Hasn't she!
ment; but, at the fi^^f ^ momentaiy content-
^er fW^2t^ t^, ----; ^e began again
But this morLg I^oiht IT^^^^'^^-
'Vou're her father It'stff r ~^ """"S^^'-
to you.' So I leTtheL I • ^^' ^''^^ "«^d
came back-I was oJl?;„ J ^ °^"'"' ^^ ^^^^ I
-he was coi'JuU^Srr.*' ""^ '^^°°'«
and baby-^h, scS^f A^/' ^'''' ^'^ ^^^''^'
she's harW stop^S^. stt ""^^^ '°' '''''<
stiJ'SLt Si" '^^ ''r ^' Gyp sat very
,;HowhPet^^?e«r/'«^^^^
trouSfd ^^'^ '^^ ^P-'- ^- -n-face was
oh;rL^si;4is,r:b'Th-^'-
third day it beean An^ ^ulV /^°"* '^^^ The
about, abusing the stairs all^J^ • f^Sgena'
dear-it w a pity?" ^^ ""^ ^°°^ "P- Oh
v4e again Gy^'^ii^f' ^"^^^^^^^ ^^^^ her Uttle
. "2«"y, I believe something hurts her arm. She
r
274
BEYOND
cries the moment she's touched there. Is there a
pin or anything? Just see. Take her things off.
Oh— look 1"
Both the tiny arms above the elbow were circled
with dark marks, as if they had been squeezed by
ruthless fingers. The two women looked at each
other in horror; and imder her breath Gyp said:
"He!"
She had flushed crimson; her eyes filled but dried
again almost at once. And, looking at her face,
now gone very pale, and those Ups tightened to a
line, Betty stopped in her outburst of ejaculation.
When they had wrapped the baby's arm in remedies
and cotton-wool. Gyp went into her bedroom, and,
throwing herself down on her bed, burst into a pas-
sion of weeping, smothering it deep in her pillow.
It was the crying of sheer rage. The brute I Not
to have control enough to stop short of digging his
claws into that precious mite! Just because the
poor little thing cried at that cat's stare of his!
The brute! The devil! And he would come to
her and whine about it, and say: "My Gyp, I
never meant — ^how should I know I was hurting?
Her crying was so — Why should she cry at me?
I was upset! I wasn't thinking!" She could hear
him pleading and sighing to her to forgive him.
But she would not — ^not this time! He had hurt
a helpless thing once too often. Her fit of crying
ceased, and she lay listening to the tick of the clock,
and marshalling in her mind a hundred little evi-
dences of his malevolence toward her baby — his
BEYOND
27S
mmmm
iJu. he did not come in that evening- nn^ f^
ten o clock. When she had undressed ,L^ 7
r£h° '^f.r"'^' ^^ had a lo^t W
S sS/ "Se'^^J^^^ ^* ^° lS?e L wis
M «l=q> at last, and w<4e »ithT siT'-n,™
Plaits of Lrc,^ 2^-' ^""^"^^ ''*«* her dark
piaits of hajr, sat up by its side, straining her ears
¥
276
BEYOND
Yes; he was coming up, and, by the soxmds, he
was not sober. She heard a loud creak, and then
a thud, as if he had clutched at the banisters and
fallen; she heard muttering, too, and the noise
of boots dropped. Swif Uy the thought went through
her: 'If he were quite drunk, he would not have
taken them off at all;— nor if he were quite sober.
Does he know I'm back?' Then came another
creak, as if he were raising himself by support of
the banisters, and then— or was it fancy? — she
could hear him creeping and breathing behind the
door. Then— no fancy this time— he fumbled at
the door and turned the handle. In spite of his
state, he must know that she was back, had noticed
her travellmg-coat or seen the telegram. The
handle was tried again, then, after a pause, the
handle of the door between his room and hers was
fiercely shaken. She could hear his voice, too, as
she knew it when he was flown with drink, thick, a
little drawling.
" Gyp— let me in— Gyp ! "
The blood burned up in her cheeks, and she
thought: 'No, my friend; you're not coming in!'
After that, sounds were more confused, as if he
were now at one door, now at the other; then creak-
ings, as if on the stairs again, and after that, no
sound at all.
For fully half an hour. Gyp continued to sit up,
straining her ears. Where was he? What doing?
On her over-excited nerves, all sorts of possibilities
came crowding. He must have gone downstairs
BEYOND
277
Raffled fref-'flT"^" ''^''' ^^^^^ -"Id
"IS Darned frenzies lead him? AnH o,,^^-.-! 1.
thought that she smeUed bun.it ^S'^1
SiSd.'"' '^^' ^^'' P"^^ ^^ °P- a few
All was dark on the landing. There was no smell
h r a™' M f^K, 'f'^''^' ' ^-'^ ^l"'^e"
ner ankie. All the blood rushed from her heart-
she stifled a scream, and tried to pull the door to'
But his arm and her leg were c^,,v^)Z I
she <«iw th^ Kio , «g were caught between, and
on i^ fat ^-t '^"" -^ ^ ^^'' ^y^S fuU-length
on Its face. Like a vice, !iis hand held her- h.
drew himself up on to his 'knees, on to S fee 'and
^ 'J,^ ^'truggled to drive him out. His dnmken
strength seemed 'o come and go in gusts buThe™
was contmuous . .ater tha;. L haf ev« tSougM
she had, and she panted: mougnt
"Go! go out of my room-you-you-wretch 1 "
IJen her heart stood still with hoVror, I^rTLd
sued round to the bed and was stretchii^g Ss^
out above the baby. She heard him muften
Ah-h-h \~^ou~m my plac^-^o« /»
Gyp fluflg herself on him from behind, dragging
hi arms down, and, clasping her hands toS?
he d hmi fast. He twisted round in her ams^d
SseTvn" '': J1- ^ ^^ -omenfo^'S S
^i^ \f^ ^!"'^''^^ "P her baby and fled out
down the dark stairs, hearing him LmbUng gS).'
">g m pursuit. She fled into the diningZS
278
BEYOND
^
locked the door. She heard him run against it
and faU down. Snuggling her baby, who was cry-
ing now, inside her nightgown, next to her skin
for warmth, she stood rocking and hushing it, try-
ing to listen. There was no more sound. By the
hearth, whence a little heat still came forth from
the ashes, she cowered down. With cushions and
the thick white felt from the dining-table, she made
the baby snug, and wrapping her shivering self in
the table-cloth, sat staring wide-eyed before her—
and always listening. There weie sounds at first,
then none. A long, long tune she stayed like that,
before she stole to the door. She did not mean to
make a second mistake. She could hear the sound
of heavy breathing. And she listened to it, till
she was quite certain that it was really the breath-
ing of sleep. Then stealthUy she opened, and looked.
He was over there, lying against the bottom chair,
m a heavy, drunken slumber. She knew that sleep
so well; he would not wake from it.
It gave her a sort of evil pleasure that they would
find him like that in the morning when she was
gone. She went back to her baby and, with in-
finite precaution, lifted it, stiU sleeping, cushion
and all, and stole past him up the stairs that, under
her bare feet, made no sound. Once more in her
locked room, she went to the window and looked
out. It was just before dawn; her garden was
grey and ghostly, and she thought: 'The last time
I shall see you. Good-bye !'
Then, with the utmost speed, she did her hair
BEYOND
279
and dressed She was very cold and shivery, and
Kt'^eTt^^'T She hunted o^t ?;'
^.tj'and^SJthU^^^^^^^^^^^
her purse, put on W- hat and a pair ^^^^ ^^,
^ everythir^ very swiftly. wonderi^i^U Se
to , at her own power of knowing Si t^taie
to R^t. . f,,^*"^ '"^y- '^^ «=rihbled a note
oownstauB. ITie dawn had broken, and. from the
fong na^w wmdow above the dol^r wi'th Si£
of iron across it grey light was striking int?^^
haj. Gyp passed Florin's sleeping figure SfelV
^'l^^^^TT't stopped^S t^tk Se
falh^lll f^ *^ *«^'* ^« ^^. his head
m the hollow of an arm raised against a stair ^
his face turned a little upward, ^t f«^^hS.
hundreds of tunes, had been so close to hS^wTtid'
something about this crumDled bodv pkIT*' ^-
Si'^ ^ j^T ^.'^-•^-' ^ thf his
S o?hU nf^'.^P.' ^"'' P"**^ ""'J^' the dirt.
Gypt htrt"SiytrrJcrd*^/r ^ ^°"\^
rdrs:fr^^'-jpX"--'-
^^
t
\h
PART III
• 4
of^^fi^f r^^P.*"*"^- She sat in the comer
Of a first-ckss carriage, alone. Her fathe/hJ
„K?^ ''^f wandered from window to window
obeying the faint excitement within h« M^L
^ter and ^ring. she had been at Mild^'
»!1LTI' "^ ""'=^' "»d P^rauing her^S
fath^ Sd 7v ''.'^ hardl/anyS ^TepT W
PSth^Sf^-lf-^J^^SnJ^
^x^stitv^^^^-' -^"^--
fTand ;SS^^e-d -T^^ie-trs^it
t^^„^ V* "^y ^"^"^ wayside stadondu^
tered, filLng the air with their dean, slighUy diuir
^ voices. Gyp noted a taU womak who« bSe
hair w« going grey, a young girl with a^x t^J
on a lead, a young man ^dth a Scotdi terrier Si
183
384
BEYOND
his arm and his back to the carriage. The girl was
kissing the Scotch terrier's head.
"Good-bye, old Ossy! Was he nice! Tumbo,
keep down I You're not going !"
"Good-bye, dear boy! Don't work too hard!"
The yoxrng man's answer was no audible, but
it was followed by irrepressible gurgles and a
smothered:
"Oh, Bryan, you are— Good-bye, dear Ossy!"
"Good-bye!" "Good-bye!" The young man who
had got m, made another unintelligible joke in a
rather high-pitched voice, which was somehow
familiar, and again the gurgles broke forth. Then
the train moved. Gyp caught a side view of him,
waving his hat from the carriage window. It was
her acquaintance of the hunting-field— the "Mr.
Bryn Summer'ay," as old Pettance called him, who
had bought her horse last year. Seeing him pull
down his overcoat, to bank up the old Scotch ter-
rier against the jolting of the journey, she thought:
'I like men who think first of their dogs.' His
round head, with curly hair, broad brow, and those
clean-cut lips, gave her again the wonder: 'Wheie
have I seen someone like him?' He raised the win-
dow, and turned round.
"How would you like— Oh, how d'you do!
We met out hunting. You don't remember me, I
expect."
"Yes; perfectly. And you bought my horse last
summer. How is he?"
"Tn great form. I forgot to ask what you called
BEYOND
28s
turn; I've named him Hotspur-he'U never be
Stuart r;-- ^--^'^o.r;2d
I^n looking at the dog. Gyp said softly:
He looks rather a darling. How old?"
Twelve. Beastly when dogs get old!"
t. f'LT ^°*^'" "^^« «ye°<:e while he con-
templated her steaxlily with his clear eyes
I came over to caU once-with my mother-
^ri^^^^^^y^^^^or.]^t. Somebody vTsll."
"Badly?"
Gyp shook her head.
"I heard you were married-" The liMe drawl
m his voice had increased, as though covelfS
abruptness of that remark. Gyp Wked Tp
Yes; but my litUe daughter and I Uve with
my father again." What "came over" her-2
^^eXtp^f°^'-^'^--^^-^-ol5!
"Ah! I've often thought it queer I've never
seen you since. What a run that was!'' '
form?''^'' ^"^ *^' >^°" '"^t^^^ ""^ the plat-
" Yes-and my sister Edith. Extraordinary dead
"It's very quiet, but I like it "
By the way, I don't know your name now?"
386
BEYOND
"Fiorsen."
"Oh, yes! The violinist Life's a bit of a earn,
ble, isn't it?" *
Gyp did not answer that odd remark, did not
quite know what to make of this audacious young
man, whose hazel eyes and lazy smile were queerly
lovable, but whose face in repose had such a broad
gravity. He took from his pocket a little red
book.
"Do you know these? I always take them
travelling. Finest things ever written, aren't
they?"
The book— Shakespeare's Sonnets— was q)en at
that which begins:
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove " >
Gyp read on as far as the lines;
"Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks
But bears it out even to the edge of doom "
and looked out of the window. The train was
passing through a country of fields and dykes, where
the sun, far down in the west, shone ahnost level
over wide, whitish-green space, and the spotted
cattle browsed or stood by the ditches, lazily flick-
ing their tufted tails. A shaft of sunlight flowed
BEYO^fD
287
mto the carnage, filled with dust motes- and J,«n^
mg the little book back through St ^t'^T I
radiance, she said softly: '^ °^
"Yes; that's wonderful. Do von r»,^ ..
poetry?" ^^^ "^^d much
No; I think music."
"Are you a musician?"
''Only a little."
"You look as if you might be."
"What? A little?"
;;No; I should think you had it badly."
„Thank you. And you haven't it at ^?»
xuke opera."
;;The hybrid form-and the lowest I"
tho^?"^ "'^ '' ^"^^ -- Don't you like it,
''rSiv?^'? ""^^ ^'" «°^ "P t° London."
.>^y^ ^^ yo" a subscriber?"
This season."
"So am I. JoUy-I shall see you."
toa^.m- ^'^^^^'W since she had talked
fate, mstead of under it iuot— above her
Astounding how much can be talked of in two
388
BEYOND
or three hours of a raUway journey I And what a
fnendly after-warmth clings round those hours!
Does the difficulty of making oneself heard pro-
voke confidential utterance? Or is it the isolation
or the continual vibration that carries friendship
faster and further than will a spasmodic acquam-
tanc^hip of weeks? But in that long talk he
was far the more voluble. There was, too, much
of which she could not speak. Besides, she liked
to hsten. His slighdy drawling voice fascinated
her— his audacious, often witty way of putting
thmgs, and the irrepressible bubble of laughter
that would keep breaking from him. He disclosed
his past such as it was, freely-public-school and
college hfe, efforts at the bar, ambitions, tastes,
even his scrapes. And in this spontaneous un-
foldmg there was perpetual flattery; Gyp felt
through it aU, as pretty women wiU, a sort of subtle
admiration. PresenUy he asked her if she played
piquet. '
"Yes; I play with my father nearly every eve-
mng." '
"Shall we have a game, then?"
She knew he only wanted to play because he could
sit nearer, joined by the evenmg paper over their
knees, hand her the cards after dealing, touch her
hand by accident, look in her face. And this was
not unpleasant; for she, in turn, liked looking at
his face, which had what is called "charm"— that
something light and unepiscopal, entirely lacking
to so many solid, handsome, admirable faces.
BEYOND
389
his arm, and a look of ft\,u .J. °^'^ *^°« "^^er
tion or nis face^X sLd ' """^"^ ''^''^"^' ^*"^-
was n^t back Smtb^£l "^TT" »«' ^^ther
to her room Af ter^,-'' f'' ^^ went straight
very cIoTm B^ wf."^^ ^^T^' '^ see4d
lusioned, is-fiveTtf T„ Z\ }^^' ^'^'^'^ ^^-
and|mo«^7i£^^f ^^ herself-^ore
hour that riS^he^l^Jt^^' ^^^.e-^y
^e.^TyettS^raLd^"^-^"-"^^^
asHiver.J.otoSd!^r<i-J:-^,S
390
BEYOND
This time last year she had at least been in the
mam current of life, not a mere dereHct. And
yet-better far be like this than go back to him
whom memory painted always standing over her
sleepmg baby, with his aims stretched out and
his fingers crooked like claws.
After that early-morning escape, Fiorsen had
lurked after her for weeks, in town, at Mildenh^m.
followed them even t6 Scotland, where Winton had
earned her off. But she had not weakened in her
resolution a second time, and suddenly he had given
up pursmt, and gone abroad. Since then— nothing
had come from him, save a few wild or maudlin let-
ters, written evidently during drinking-bouts. Even
they h^ ceased, and for four mon^ she had heard
no word. He had "got over" her, it seemed, wher-
ever he wasr-Russia, Sweden— who knew-who
cared?
She let the brush rest on her knee, thinking again
of that walk with her baby through empty, silent
streete, m the early misty morning last October, of
waitmg dead-tired outside here, on the pavement
rmgmg till they let her in. Often, since, she had
wondered how fear could have worked her up to
that weird departure. She only knew that it had
not been unnatuiai at the time. Her father and
Aunt Rosamund had wanted her to try for a divorce
and no doubt they had been right. But her Jn-
stmcte had refused, stiU refused to let everyone
know her secrets and sufferings— still refused the
hoUow pre^^nce involved, that she had loved him
BEYOND
" Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds I "
known at once I Th;^ • ^u *■" °°* *° ^^^^e
sStdUrr^^ ,Y-;7, ^^ Nationalise?
waU of ' er roL J? T J i. ^*^ ^°' ^^ on the
broad fa^e t^ /* ^ ''^ ^^^'^ since. That
li^. not ItahatSloS htnoi:: t^re^^^^"
r hIT P-^-r-ething "oId'SeSS...S-
L SJ- ^°i^ ^"«^ " ^« told She wL
Pl^t«, her o^ hair and ^f^'totd! ' ^"^' ^^
m tdt r'to^SL^'P' ^f ^-«1 1>- father come
niidnighf Z on^.'!^? ^"^^ ^^'^ '^l"^ strike
onignt, and one, and two, and always the dull
393
BEYOND
roar of PiccadiUy. She had nothing over her but
a sheet, and stm it was too hot There was a scent
m the room, as of honeysuckle. Where could it
come from? She got up at last, and went to the
window. There on the window-sill, behind the
curtams, was a bowl of jessamine. Her father must
W brought It up for her-just like him to think of
^h!^J' ^'^K^''' °°^ ^ ^'^ ^^^te blossoms,
she was visited by a memory of her first baU-that
evemng of such delight and disiUusionment Per-
haps Bryan Summerhay had been there-aU that
Tt Tl ^ ^^ ^ ^"^ introduced to her then.
If she had happened to dance with him instead of
wiUi that man who had kissed her arm, might she
not have fdt different toward aU men? And if he
had admired her-and had not everyone, that night
-might she not have liked, perhaps more than liked,
hun m return? Or would she have looked on hin^
as on aU her swams before she met Fiorsen, so many
inoths fluttenng round a candle, fooUsh to singe
theimelves, not to be taken seriously? Perhaps she
had been bound to have her lesson, to be humbled
and brought low !
Taking a sprig of jessamine and holding it tc her
nose, she went up to that picture. In the dim light
she could just see the outline of the face and the
eyes gazmg at her. The scent of the blossom pene-
trated her nerves; in her heart, something famtly
stirred, as a leaf turns over, as a wmg flutters. And
blossom and aU, she clasped her hands over he^
BEYOND
perched so lightly that she harl^dt th^^ '^ "?'
back, and the reins sh^ hM V ^^ fare's
of hokeysucSe SiniTn J T"^ ^T^ ^^'^'^^ ^^ems
here anf S " ovtX^fi^^ ' ''^'' ^^" ^^es flying
happie.Hgh^SE?hLSSoJ/'';J^etw'^^^2
along, the old mare kept tumW J, IT . ^ '^'^^
ing at the honeysucS flo^^ J ''ff ^'^ '''t-
chestnut face bSme fh.f 'r^'' '"''^^'^3' that
ing back at herl?^' Ss ^t-f °^ Smmnerhay, look-
%ht, throug^thlt^^TtLe'l^S*'- ''^-
:hem to find the flowers, was sEig on W. ^"^
n
walked to^ ^1Sri^'T5''^^^^''^^«^.^d
turn insensibly towUr;.^ ""^ "^"^ """^
a little-^oZ Sr^ ?^^ ^^•''^ nat"" rules
free to^h- ' ^^' '^atere-where the skv is
aloL when'hf^^-notoTJ^tro^^^'' t^ ^t^'
and he cares W „^»,^7^^ ^^ ""^ °°^ *^ absorbed,
his eyes He «» T "^."^ " ^'^ ^nd shut
"" eyes, tie saw a face— only a fare tk» i- w
went out one by one in the hZ. • ^^ ^^^^
passed now, and ^« a il °PP«^'«=; °° ^bs
Sun^erhay' sat'lTr^'anTTra:" 1?' '-f
coming and jroint, nn hi.v a trance, the snule
airlhft ever STh^ E^' "^*^ ^'^^ ^ the
with thl S^flS/S;" "^^ "^^'- '^^y »°-i
wei^ranTiTstrof^Lra'sir/'^- ^«
w^kS^ifon^^ti^Tt^H-^"— -
^" on till It was tune to ride before his
»94
BEYOND
worked best in 3 W.„ . ° ^™- ^<^««1. he
garden rather than in thTrJ^^} ." ^"^^ °^
iritt^~r^^^^
"se'^.^.e^S\^^^^
play. conviSyl?,tSl;'^?ol""'r
was ahnost uni. rsaUv at^^Tf^* I '?"™' ^<^
scorchedhiswinKsT2l.nl '• .®"* ^ ^^^ had
heart-fr«. onlSf ^^^ T " '^''' ^' ^ ^^P'
fessed, a bit of a S^, ^^.^^ ),* "-^^be con-
gets in decD and fh7n k' ,^ °^ gambler who
there. His fathw <, a-i ■ P^'^^PS— he stays
latner, a diplomatist, had h«.n a j
fifteen years; his mother was well kn™™ • ^ ^'^'^
mteUectual circles of socfe^ „^v,°7 "^ J^*' ^^^J"
SJtSX Msteo^ °S^--^-t hU
When he st^tS Sw^^' unplumbed.
en ne started that morning for the Temple.
90
BEYOND
brow. Or was it something much l«s TdSl 7
saw-^ emanation or ^ssion a t^^^^'^^^^
an mdwelling grace, a something that apSli Z'
turned, and touched Wm? Whatevtr^ ' ^
snr^ ^' ^' '- EoTdesLXt i;
snould. For this was m his chp-iirter- 5fJ,o^
« ran; if charmed by an ooera f p 4r.«* "*'-'=ver
over aimin. w k opera, te went over and
Zll^'/ u^ * P*^"' *>« ^ost learned it bv
heart. And while he walked along theri^i-hu
a, nu „tte Ut., ud went M once into court
nave Deen a perfect eighteenth-century soecimpn «f
icauin 01 lace, brown paUor, clean and unoinchpH
1^ if' ^' ''^5 «^"' ^d bubble of S
i^xcept that once or twice he drew a face on
blottmg-paper and smeared it ovetle r^lnS
.Jl-I.
BEYOND
397
nonnally attentive to his "luH" »«j *i.
hand an day, conductS ^ut et^T?" "^
natmn of two witnesses aiid Wuh Zor^h. ^"
"aminationof one- I.m^iX wu 5f ' "*^ "^^ss-
-«ity with tZc^^Z£\^TV^'''
of the case for thev LT -J^ *^ "^^^ ^^e
that nauSty^hkh ,n,H """''^' ^ y^*' ^^<*«>
enemy his "friend ^a^^^^'A"-^^*^^^ t° '^^U his
aspenV. TW,' amon/l! ''"^ ^^ considerable
merh/alway^^LSl^^^-^^^^^^^
rStTtMsr^^-' ^".^ ^^-^^ -dtuT
he hTa^llt^^LSS^-^^ehunt^^^^^^^^^
stories. There are n Ik '^ ^°'^' ^'"^ of
keep veo^ clo'^yt^XSvr^"'^ "^'^ ^^^^
towelling vigorously, he set forHT,! , ' ^^
Embankment his hJtuZ, ^"""^ *^°°S ^he
hadgotintoLt^ ,-irii^eTrr'^^ ^^
and seen the face whih Si Su^'Stl 'T-"'
ance. Fever rprii« »» "«" /eiusea to leave him
398
BEYOND
"Wly? Wbit'sup?"
^^cteks, Sh. had b^a^Sl^t^^"
M^
of the cigar extinct between his lips Th«,J,.«i, i.
his head vigorously and iraH on w ^f"^
faster, his mhid blank «=,%• °°- ^^ ^^^^'^d
space WrTpi^^'Sie^eS^^l/r ^°''
too soon for adiii«f«,--r ^*^"°° that has come
standing And Z^^ k!' ''''° ^"'^'^ ^°' ""der-
andfwS he^"un^t ft ~"*' '° ^"^ Street,
this y^fbroke thenlV f ^'^'^ ^° Aower-boxes
at once into the lealt .."J^ Street and passed
library; and%o4 to th^^'T- ™^ ^as the
down «Tl,« -S:^,, , ^'■"'*='* section, he took
SiTwin^ol'^S iTn" ^^ ^^ ^^
comefc wiiL. u ^f^^ *° "y°°e who might
he did not^ fZT^ and companionship; but
a stone to S;e ^Tas'S- "'^ '"l'^^ '^"'^^ ^°-
c^srsefhfi--^^^^^^
fhat looks on tempests and is never shaken
' ^'^^'^ «t«^ to every wandering blrk
H'hose ^^rth's unknown altho' its height be taken."
300
BEYOND
no^ I ^r^ J^*^ queens-three knaves J
STth^l ^Z '^^'^ °^ ^°^°'«= 'I have been
aithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion'? Better
^e;s.l"^?r'«-p*'^-^^^w-' ^t
'C^r-?'"''"'^' ''"'"'• D°yo"«te the name
"Yes; don't you?"
"Cynara 1 Cynara 1 Ye^s-^ autumn, rose-
petal, whirhng, dead-leaf sound "
"S*H^'^^; f "/ "P' 0^y-<lon't snore !»
Ah, poor old dog! Let him. Shuffle for me
please. Oh! there goes another card I" Her kSS
was touching his ! . . . ^^
J^e book had droppeci-lsummerhay started.
hr^ V. ^°^^'^- ^^' *"^8 '0"°d in that
hu^ armchair, he snoozed down into its depths.
^d!^"^ '^''^^^' He slept wi^out
It was two hours later when the same friend
seekmg distraction, came on hun, and stood griSw
down at that curly head and face which j^Zl
had the deepy abandonment of a small boy's. Ma-
hciously he gave the chair a httle kick
^Summerhay stirred, and thought: 'What I Where
.n^J"'''l°^ the grimiing face, above him, floated
^tu^'^J'/"""^- H« ^ook himself, ani
sat up. "Oh, damn you!"
"Sorry, old chap!"
■'What time is it?"
BEYOND
301
"Ten o'clock."
touch of to w™, glovJSd ' '^ "■=
ni
At the opera, that Friday eveniiur thev »»«.
P^ymg "CavaUeria" and "PaS''~Zl^^
which Gyp tolerated the first and loved thl^nJ
while Winton found them, with "S" Ld^c^'
^/^^about the only operas he couldn't s^
^e than the eyes of men, which must not stare
but do; women's eyes have less method, too, seS
^P had seen Summerhay long before he saw kJ,
seen hmi come in and fold his opera hat agSTst S
white waistcoat, looking n,und,^if for^^in?
Her eyes criticized him in this new garb-^ braaS
head and its crisp, dark, shining W Sloi
sturdy, lazy, lovable audacity. He^kS^^^ t
Ae stout W ' P^°^!= ^'*' ^*«"«'y matching
i™,f ^ f *f^ ^^ *^« st°"ter TuridduTshe
wondered whether, by fixing her eyes on hi^ Se
^wtd'^'r?"^^^^-- J-tthe^;S
?5^y notT sS . ; "f'"* "P- S^^ ^«1 back.
Why not ? She had not so many friends nowadays.
But ,t was rather startling to find, after tharS
change of looks, that she at once begi Tl^l
nice? She wished she had not had it washed that
3o»
BEYOND
303
^^^Howd'you do. Major Winton? Oh.howd'you
nJl^^Sg t°a':ll°'.?\""^^« - ^^ train,
desert hfsTJghL Xr !' ^' *"' "°^ ^'^ '«
up and said: ^^^^^ ^ ^^^ «marks, he got
"Take my pew a minute, Summerhav T'm „ •
to have a smoke " >^"ii"nernay, x m gomg
"■ife «rf talk, „di5o?r^^L'z' °" ?
sound of hia voir* .«J. *r* '™ •« ™3 eyes, tile
be warm ^d^ trJi^"V°not?^'C' "'^
Oa^^,Ywtt7i?o^raf^^-^^-^^ationaI
■•nyo'ur!''^^ ^^^o-takemeP"
"er eyes, she had the sensation, so rare
304
BEYOND
and pleasant, of feeling beautiful. Then he was
gone I He: father was sUpping back into his staU:
and, afraid of her own face, she touched his am
and murmured:
"Dad, do look at that head-dress in the next row
but one; did you ever see anything so deUdous 1"
And whUe Winton was star-gazing, the orchestra
struck up the overture to "Pagliacci." Watching
that heart-breaking Uttle plot unfold, Gyp had
wmethmg more than the old thrifl, as if for the
first time she understood it with other than her
esthetic sense. Poor Nedda! and poor Caniol
Foot Silvio ! Her breast heaved, and her eyes filled
with tears. VTithin those doubled figures of the
tragi-comedy she seemed to see, to feel that pas-
sionate lov^too swift, too strong, too violent,
sweet and fearful wifVir fhem. .
"Thou hast my heart, and I am thine for ever—
To-night and for ever I am thine I
What is there left to me? What have I but a heart that
is tnoken? '
And the clear, heart-aching music mocking it all
down to those last words: '
la ammedia e finitat
While she was putting on her cloak, her eyes
caught Summerhay's. She tried to smile-tould
not, gave a shake of her hea< , slowly forced her gaze
away from his, and turned to foUow Winton.
At the National Gallery, next day, she was not
late by coquetry, but because she had changed her
BEYOND
305
"Well! Do you like it?"
^'' Yes What are you smiling at?"
Gtt^r * Pl'^tograph of that, ever since I was
Tl£T "^ ^^' ^°"° y^^ ^ W time!"
"Great Scott! Am I like that? All right- 1 shall
try and find you now." ^ ' ^*"
But Gvp shook her head.
t2^^^?T^^ h^ ^^ "y ^^'y f*^o"rite pic-
ture The Death of Procris.' What Iq \f ™o\.
one love it so? Procris is out of^ti^g 'LSt^^
beautiful; the fami's queer and ugly. ULt k it
can you tell?" *^ wnat is it—
Summerhay looked not at the picture, but at her
^^.sthetic sen., he was not he' equd. She ^5
"The wonder in the faun's face, Procris's clo«vi
Summerhay repeated:
3o6
BEYOND
Gyp shivered.
''I think I felt it too much."
''I thought you did. I watched you "
fj,- ■^f'^'=*^°° by-lovfr-seems such a terrible
thmg! Now show me your favourites. I bSe
"The 'Admiral,' for one."
"Yes. What others?"
"The two Bellini's."
"By Jove, you are uncanny I"
Gyp laughed.
f„!l^°f T! '^•^u^^"' '^"^y' ^°'°"^. a«d fine tex-
S'' '^^^^"Sht? Here's another of «yfavoS-
, On a screen was a tiny "Crucifixion" by da Mes-
s^fet '^^':\^ crosses, the thil^t o"
simple, humble, suffering Christs, lonely, and actual
in the clear, darkened landscape
J2- S^ tl^t touches one more than the big
S?n "T^^' ^•^ '* "^ liJ^« that. Oh
He'r^S:^""^""'^' ^'^theylovdyP"
you."""' '°''''^'" ^"* ^ "^^ ^'^•- "A«d so are
tnrT?*'^ ^°^ *7 ^"^ ^°°« tJ'o*' endless pic-
Uu^ talkmg a httle of art and of much besides,
almost as alone as in the railway carriage But
?u^e h "^^^ '" "=* ^ -^ back^th h«:
Summerhay stood scoc .-still beneath the colomiade
The sun streamed m under ; ^e pigeons preened thei
BEYOND
307
women in societv «« i. ., ^\/'°™ girls and
With a deeplth Te ^^t^l °°^ «° "^'^ "^ad?
steps intolie f^h^ "^/p/e -^de, grey
overflowing with^fLo^s ^Z' ^°^^^^-
empty. To-morm^ ^''^ l"e, seemed to him
PW- lo-morrow-yes, to-morrow he could caUl
IV
After that Sunday caU. Gvd sat in fi, • ^
SS. co^trsat'or" "^^^ °^^' ^ P^^^ of
wi2 7t/ ^^"^ '"istake-against my father's
eZ^^^'Zr'^^^^^ic^Mpit. Isthat
"And you love him?"
"No."
"No."
"Why?"
''Divorce-court 1 Ugh! I couldn't!"
Ves, I know— it's hellish 1 "
308
BEYOND 3^^
DoweU Ravel; the chords of modem music suited
when her father came in. During these last r^!
months of his daughter's society, 'he S ^egaS
wf?Se irrr' ^°"^'^-' an extra tSS
ms ittle moustache, an extra touch of dandyism in
stor,^, T' ■'''' ""'' ^'°^ °' ^ ^hort hair^j^
stopped playmg at once, and shut the piano. ^
Mr. Summerhay's been here, Dad. He was
sorry to miss you." "
ans^er^r '^ ^PP^^^^le pause before Winton
"My dear, I doubt it."
And there passed through Gyp the thought that
she could never again be friends'^with a mSUS
out g.vmg that pause. Then, conscious that her
fathe^ was gazmg at her, she turned and said:
«Tn. ' ^^ '* °^*^® "* ^^ Park?"
„n^^\?'^f/«° ^^y ^^^ ^ °obs and snobs-
now God hmiself doesn't know what they are "' '
^^ But weren't the flowers nice ? "
th. ^-^^^^^^> and the birds-but, by Jove
the humans do their best to dress the balancer
What a misanthrope you're getting!"
1 d hke to run a stud for two-leggers- thev want
proper breeding. What sort of a1eS.w is yZ»
Summerhay? Not a bad face." "^ "^ young
She answered impassively:
"Yes; it's so alive."
her\TK^.°^^ self-control, she could always read
her father's thoughts quicker than he could r^
^^° BEYOND
^^P- ' y°>«« »»■• f-»y tu» to to ™^
Womm who i„„ ^^ Imttocs and «™. „
Row. at £o7r.'TT^ W*^Srtf ^
haMt of going to St. James'sTit^L kt Sr'
when there was nothing to be uneasy about-^v
&, m natun, .ha a, „™„ »« about to
rfcf?r3i
BEYOND
3"
to sit under the trees, by the flowers and the water
^e paeons and the ducks, that wonderful July
For aU was peaceful in Gyp's mind, except, nowSd
then, wh^ a sort of remorse possessed her a sotTof
terror, and a sort of troublinTsweetness
SmoffiRHAY did not wear his heart on his sleeve,
Md when, on the closing-day of term, he left his
chambers to walk to that last meeting, his face was
tT.1: f u'^f """^^ ^ «^y t°P l»at. But, m
truth, he had come to a pretty pass. He had his
own code of what was befitting to a genUeman. It
was perhaps a trifle "old Georgian," but it included
doing nothmg to distress a woman. AU these weeks
he had kept hmiself m hand; but to do so had cost
him more than he liked to reflect on. The only
witness of his struggles was his old Scotch terrier
whose dreams he had disturbed night after night
trarapmg up and down the long back-to-front sit-
tmg. room of his httle house. She knew-must
know--what he was feeling. If she wanted his love,
nused It. When he touched her, when her dress
disengaged its perfume or his eyes traced the slow
soft movernent of her breathmg, his head would go'
round, and to keep cahn and friendly had been
While he could see her ahnost every day, this con-
trol had been just possible; but now that he was
about to lose hei— for weeks-his heat felt sick
withm hun. He had been hard put to it before the
world. A man passionately in love craves soUtude,
3'S
: %mm^msm^imBtia'jimtp .
BEYOND
313
in which to alternate between fierce exercise and
that trance-like stiUness -vhen a lover simply aches
or IS busy conjuring her face up out of darkness or
the sunhght. He had managed to do his work, had
been grateful for having it to do; but to his friends
he had not given attention enough to prevent them
saymg: What's up with old Bryan?" Always
rather elusive in his movements, he was now too
elusive altogether for those who had been accus-
tomed to lunch, dine, dance, and sport with him.
And yet he shunned his own company— going wher-
ever strange faces, life, anything distracted him a
atUe, without demanding real attention. It must
be confessed that he had come unwillingly to dis-
covery of the depth of his passion, aware that it
meant giving up too much. But there are women
who mspire feeling so direct and simple that reason
does not come into play; and he had never asked
himself whether Gyp was worth loving, whether she
had this or that quality, such or such virtue. He
wanted her exacUy as she was; and did not weigh
her m any sort of balance. It is possible for men
to love passionately, yet know that their passion is
but desu-e, possible for men to love for sheer spiritual
worth, feeling that the loved one lacks this or that
charm.
Summerhay's love had no such divided conscious-
ness. About her past, too, he dismissed speculation.
He remembered having heard in the huntmg-field
that she was Wmton's natural daughter; even then
It had made him long to punch the head of that
314
BEYOND
covertside scandal-monger. The mon there mwht
be against the desirability of loving her, the morThe
would love her; even her wretched marriage only
aff«:ted him m so far as it affected her happiness.
It did not mattei— nothing mattered except to see
her and be with her as much as she would let him
And now she was going to the sea for a mopth, and
He himself— curse it!— was due in Perthshire to
shoot grouse. A month !
He walked slowly along the river. Dared he
^>eak? At times, her face was like a child's when
It expects some harsh or frightening word. One
could not hurt her-impossible I But, at tunes, he
had ahnost thought she would like him to speak
Once or twice he had caught a slow soft glance-
gone the moment he had sight of it.
He was before his time, and, leaning on the river
parapet, watcied the tide run down. The sun shone
on the wat5T brightening its yellowish swirl, and lit-
tle black eddies— the same water that had flowed
akmg under the willows past Eynsham, past Oxford,
under the church at Clifton, past Moulsford, past
Somung. And he thought: 'My God! To h^
her to myself one day on the river-one whole long
day! Why had he been so piisillammous aU this
time? He passed his hand over his face. Broad
faces do not easily grow thm, but his felt thin to
hun, pjid this gave him a kmd of morbid satisfac-
f !^ , « ** ^'^ ^""^ ^^ ^ ^o°«^. »»o^ he suf-
lered ! He turned away, toward Whitehall. Two
men he knew at(^ped to bandy a jest. One of them
X..!^^_
BEYOND
3^5
JoftCf ^^"^"n V^'^' '°°' ^'"^ Off to Scotland
IhL K- ?^^- . ^^ ' «°^ stale and flat seeS
that which tm then had been the acme of the wS
yeartohuni Ah, but if he had been going to to !
k«d«^AA«-/ He drew hb breath k wftha^l
that nearly removed the Home OflSce
Objvious of the gorgeous sentries' at the Horse
Guartk obhvious of all beauty, he passed irrewLte
a^ong the water, making for their usual seat; aSy
m fancy, he w;as sittmg there, prodding at the gravel
T^^l fV "P*^' *^« '^^ ^thin him.
A^d suddenly he saw that she was before him,^:
tmg there ah^y. His heart gave a jump. No
more cramng-hejwwW speak 1
thf 'i*' 7« J^^g a maizenroloured muslin to which
aie sunhght gave a sort of transparency, andli
on the knob of her furled sunshade, her face Stf
t^J^aiS^'ff^Y Sunm^erh^yclenchedlS
teeth, and went straight up to her.
can'fTo' o^°' l""""!' "^ ^°" ""^^8 ^>«- This
cant go onl You know it can't. You know I
worship you I If you can't love me, I've got to
of ^^v'^^K ^ ^y' ^ '^^'' I «^k and Seam
ofnothmgbutyou. Gyp, do you want me to gr?"
Suppose she said: "Yes, go!" ShemadeaUtUe
movement, ^ if m protest, and without looking at
nim, answered very low ^^
^^';0f course I don't want you to go. How could
3iO
BEYOND
we
Summerhay gasped.
" Then you do love me ? "
She turned her face away.
"Wait, please. Wait a litUe longer. W
come back I'U teU you: I promise!"
"So long?"
"AmonUi Is that long? Please! It's not easy
for me. She snuled faintly, lifted her eyes to him
just for a second. "Please not any more now."
TTiat evening at his club, through the bluish
smoke of cigarette after cigarette, he saw her face
as she had hfted it for that one second; and now he
was m heaven, now in hell.
VI
h„5^» ^«^^^^.«1 bungaiow on the South Coast,
buJt and mhabited by an artist friend of Aun
Rosamund's, had a garden of which the chief fea-
JX'T^^E'^-'^I^ "^^^^ ^ «^yed in advance
of the wood behind. The HtUe house stood in soH-
tude, just above a low bank of cliff whence the beach
«mkm sandy ndges The verandah and thick S
wood gave ample shade, and the beach aU the su^
and sea au- needful to tan little Gvd a fat him
bUng soul, as her mother had been aUhe sLme "T
mcurably fond and fearless of dogs or an?Kf
^^d speakmg words already that required a
fl.tl'^^^' ^F' ^'^^^ ^™™ ^"'^ ^>«lr°om through
heL?i , "" °^ *^' P^"' ^""^'^ ««t a feeling of
bemg the only creature in the world. The crinUed
It sea that lonely pine-tree, the cold moon
the sky dark corn-flower blue, the hiss and sucking
rustle of the surf over the beach pebbles, eveSf
saU^dullan^ seemed lonely. By day, t,;o-in the
STtS^'J-,'''''" ?V'°"^ '^''^'^' "^^'^ drifting,
into the blue and the coarse sea-grass tufts hardly
l>r?' u "^'^^^ P^^ ^'°^ ^bove the water
with chudde and cry-it aU often seemed part of a
dream. She bathed, and grew as tamied a? her Ut-
317
3i8
BEYOND
W?^^' * y^^^yP^y> ^ her broad hat and
Jnen frocks; and yet she hardly seemed to be livimr
down here at aU. for she was never free of the ma^
ory of that last meeting with Summerhay. Why
had he ^ken and put an end to then: quiet friend-
ahiR ^d left her to such heart-searcWngs aU by
hmelf? But she did not want his wordf unsaid
Only how to know whether to recoil and fly or to
pass beyond the dread of letting herself go, of plun^
mg deep mto the unknown depths of lov^ that
P^on, whose nature for the first time she had
tremulously felt, watching "Pagliacci"-^d had
evCT smce been feeling and trembling at ! Must it
really be neck or nothing? Did she Le enough to
break tiirough aU barriers, fling herself mto mid-
s^? When they could see each other e^^
f Wnl n^". *^ ^ """^ ^°' ^« '"^*- meeting-not
tiunk of what was coming after Butnow,4haU
dse cut away, there was only me future to think
hfe w f.f '^ ^- ^"^ °^ ^e t«>"ble about
his ? Would he not just love her as lon,^r as he liked ?
rhen she thought of her father-still faithful to
a memory-^d felt ashamed. Some men loved on
~^^~T^ ^y°°** ^^*h! But, sometimes, she
would thmk: 'Am I a candle-flaiie again? isle
just going to bum himself ? What real good can I
be to hun-I, without freedom, and with my baby
w^wiUgrowup?' Yet all these thoughts Jere,t
a way unreal Tie struggle was in herself, so d«p
t^t she could hardly understand it; as might be a^
effort to subdue the mstinctive dread of a precipice
BEYOND 3,5
And She woidd feel a kind of resentment against aU
S far'ou^'r^'?'' "^^ "^^ ^^'^■- ^« white
saus tar out, the cahn sun-steeped pine-trees- hpr
baby, tumbling and smiling and^fdv tS?' •
-d Betty and the other se^'s^^'^hS^'^f;
seemed so simple and untortured
"^^" .^*lr* ^s letters, which began like here-
My dear friend," might have been ^d by a^v'
^ere. She was not sleeping weU; and, lying awake
she could see his face veiy distinct befirehfr S
T~^ '"T": ^ ^^' '^ «"dden Lent^
ity. Once she had a dream of him, rushing^t
her down into the sea. She called, but ^St
turmng his head, he swam out further, fukh^r tSl
she lost sight of him, and woke up sudde^^S^hl
pamm her heart. "If you can't love me, I Wo?
• •'i^.^w^y !" His face, his flung-back h^d rl
mmded her too sharply of those woL. Now tlS
he was away from her, would he not feel tha^Tt wL
best to break, and forget her? Up there he woZ
meet gu-ls u.louched by life-not like herSf Se
had everything before him; could he pos^S^go o^
wantmg one who had nothing beforVher? Some
blue-eyed gul with auburn hair-that type so SL
sZ? S.'^^-^r --P. PerhapsSSy
swept hmi, away from her! What then? No
r'^^itu^dtobe? Ah,somuchworeet^;
she dared not think of it !
mm^mo^'m^m frnf^-h
330
BEYOND
Then, for five days, no ktter came. And. with
each blank
the ache
: morning,
definite ache of longing and jeaIousy,"utterly tJnlike
the mere feeling of outraged pride when she had
surprised Fiorsen and Daphne Wmg in the music-
room— a hundred years ago, it seemed. When on
the fifth day the postman left nothing but a bill for
little Gyp's shoes, and a note from Aunt Rosamund
at Harrogate, where she had gone with Winton for
the annual cure, Gyp's heart sank to the depths.
Was this the end? And, with a blind, numb feel-
ing, she wandered out into the wood, where the fall
of the pine-needles, season after season, had made
of the ground one soft, dark, dust-coloured bed, on
which the sunlight traced the pattern of the pine
boughs, and ants rummaged about their great
heaped dwellings.
Gyp went along till she could see no outer world
for the grey-brown tree-stems streaked with gum-
resin; and, throwing herself down on her face, dug
her elbows deep into the pine dust. Tears, so rare
with her, forced their way up, and trickled slowly
to the hands whereon her chin rested. No good-
crying! Crying only made her ill; crying was no
relief. She turned over on her back and lay mo-
tionless, the sunbeams warm on her cheeks. Silent
here, even at noon! The sough of the cahn sea
could not reach so far; the flies were few; no bird
sang. The tall bare pine stems rose up all round
like columns in a temple roofed with the dark boughs
and sky. Cloud-fleeces drifted slowly over the
BEYOND
321
-but in her heart
blue. There should be peao
there was none !
somewhere, who stood licking each otW'f ,
for herself, she who had everyt^Tuitl^J^^
it aTLTwSL ^heXl"""^ '' ""• ""^
toTf ^f If tf'f ' ^'^ "P' t^« ^ts had got
to her, and she had to pick them off her neck ^A
drt^. She wandered back towards the b^ ^1
he had truly found someone to fill 4 UioS"and
dnve her out, aU the better f«,T- """«'*"' »»«
never, by word or Z. ^"w 1^ Sshtn^?
and wanted him-never I She would «,SL1^'
J T^ °"' ^^ ^« ^'"^e. n,e dde was
kw; and the wet foreshore gleamed with o^ J"
there were wandering tracks on the sea as of S
se^Kuits winding their way benel^^Uie Zm^.
that cut off the hne of coast was like a dream-sh^
AJl was dreamy. And, suddenly her h^E
beatmg to suffocadon and the colour floSbl u^
hex cheeks. On the edge of the low Stlj^y
the ^de of the path, Summerhay was sittmg H ' ^
He got up and came toward her. Puttmir h^r
hands up to her glowing face, she said: ^ "
If es; It s me. Did you ever see such a gipsified
MA^ Vi^i^^ltV
333
BEYOND
object? I thought you were still in Scotland.
How's dear Ossy ? " Then her self-possession failed,
and she looked down.
"It's no good, Gyp. I must know."
It seemed to Gyp that her heart had given up
beating; she said quietly: "Let's sit down a mm-
ute"; and moved under the cliff bank where they
could not be seen from the house. There, drawing
the coarse grass blades through her fingers, she said,
with a shiver:
"Ididn'ttiy tomakeyou, didi? Inevertri 1."
"No; never."
"It's wrong."
"Who cares? No one could care who loves as I
do. Oh, Gyp, can't you love me? I know I'm
nothing much." How quaint and boyish 1 "But
it's eleven weeks toKlay since we met in the
train. I don't think I've had one minute's let-tq>
since."
"Have you tried?"
"Why should I, when I love you?"
Gyp sighed; relief, delight, pain— she did not
know.
"Then what is to be done? Look over there —
that bit of blue in the grass is my baby daughter.
There's her— and my father— fmd "
"And what?"
"I'm afraid— afraid of love, Bryan!"
At that first use of his name, Siunmerhay turned
pale and seized her hand.
"Afraid— how— afraid?"
mmj-M^MSSk
BEYOND
323
Gyp said veiy low:
"I nught love too much. Don't say any more
now. No; don't! Let's go in and live 1 J
And she got up.
He stayed tiU tea-time, and not a word more of
uJX.rl "^^ ^"t^l»«he^asgone,shesat
under the pme-tree with Httle Gyp on her lap.
Love! If ho: mother had checked love, she hersdf
wouM never have been bom. The midges were bit-
ing before she went m. After watching Betty rive
Me Gyp her Lath, she crossed thTZage to W
bedroom and leaned out of the windWcodd k
^ been tcMlay she had lain on the ground wii
tws ot dMpair runmng down on to her hands?
floated up soft, barely visible in the paling sky A
new world, an enchanted garden! And between
her and it— what was there ? "ctween
T^t evening she sat with a book on her kp. not
i«^; and m her went on the strange revolution
^ch com^ m die souls of aU wom^who are not
half-men when first they love-the sinking of 'I'
into Thou, the passionate, i^iiritual subjection, the
^tense, unconsaous giving-up of will, in prejU-
tion for completer union.
«nn^ ^Pt J^thout dreaming, awoke heavy and
TT^ Too languid to bathe, she sat Hstless
on the beach with litUe Gyp all the morning. IM
she energy or spirit to meet him in the afternoon by
tte rock archway, as she had promised? For the
mat time smce she was a small and naughty child
324
BEYOND
she avoided the eyes of Betty. One could not be
afraid of Uiat stout, devoted soul, but one could feel
that she knew too much. When the time came,
after early tea, she started out; for if she did not go
he woiJd come, and she did not want the servant^
to see hmi two days running.
This last c^y of August was warm and still, and
had a kind of benefirence-the com aU gather^! in.
the apples meUowmg, robins singing already, a few
shunberoas, soft clouds, a pale blue sky, a smiling
sea. She went mland, across the stream, andtook
a footpath back to the shore. No pines grew on
that side, where the soU was richer-of a ruddy
brown. The second crops of clover were already
high; m them bumblebees were hard at work; and
above, the white-throated swaUows dipped and
wared. Gyp gathered a bunch of chicoiy flowers.
She was close above the shore before she s him
standing in the rock archway, looking for he vcross
the beach. After the hum of the bees and flies it
was very quiet here-^nly the faintest hiss of tiny
waves. He had not yet heard her commg, and the
bought flashed through her: 'If I takelnoiher step,
it IS for ever I' She stood there scarcely breathing
the diicoiy flowers held before her Ups. Thenshe
Heard him sigh, and, moving quickly forward, said:
Here I am."
He turned round, seized her hand, and, without a
woixi, they passed through the arciiway. They
WJdked on the hard sand, side by side, till he said-
Let's go up into the fields."
BEYOND
325
Ttey scrambled up the low cliff and went along
tbe grassy top to a gate into a stubble field. hI
held It open for her, but, as she passed, caught heJ
Stop ' Th^' 'TV'T?'' - "^woXeve
stop. To her, who had been kissed a thousand
toes It was the first kiss. Deadly p^e, re M
back from him against the gate; then, her h£ sS
qmvermg her eyes very dark, 'she l^jkedTt h^
distraught with passion, drunk on that kiss A^d
suddenly turning round to the gatef sS laid he^
ar^ on the top bar and buried fer f^e'o^Lt
A ^b came up m her throat that seemed to tear her
to bits, and she cried as if her heart would brei
^ tmud despainng touches, his voice close to he^
cur.
"Gyp, Gyp! Mydarling! Mylovel Oh.don't
stop. That kiss had broken down something in her
soul, swept a y her life up to that moment, don^
something terrible and wonderful. At las , ISe
struggled out: '
"I'm sorry-so sony J Don't-don't look at me 1
Go away a htUe, and I'U-I'll be all right "
He obeyed without a word, and, passing through
the gate sat down on the edge of the cliff with^
back to her, looking out over the sea
her^hanr' c" ""'^ 1 ^' ?'^ «^^ «**« ^ ^^ hurt
her hands Gyp gazed at the chicory flowers and
poppies that had grown up again Z the stobTk
fidd at the butterflies chasing in the sunlight oZ
the hedge toward the crinkly foam edgingle qiZt
336
BEYOND
W \
^tm they were but fluttering white specks in the
But whMi she had rubbed her cheeks and smoothed
her face, she was no nearer to feeling that she could
teustherself. What had happened in her was too
S*2;SdT*' *°° *^^- ^^ «>^ "P to
"Let me go home now by myself. Please, let me
go, dear. To-morrow I"
Summerhay looked up.
"Whatever you wish, Gyp— always I"
He pressed her hand against his cheek, then let it
go, and, folding his anns tight, resumed his mean-
"^ ?**? *t t^e sea- Gyp turned away. She
crossed back to the other side of the stream, but did
not go m for a long time, sitting in the pine wood
tin the evemng gathered and the stars crept out in
a sky of that mauve-blue which the psychic say is
the soul-garment colour of the good.
Late that night, when she had fiiushed brushing
her hair, she opened her window and stepped out
on to the verandah. How warm I HowstiU! Not
a sound from the sleeping house-not a breath of
T,f uf ^f^^' ^'^"' ^ ^*^ ^^> 1»« hands, and
all her bcdy, felt as if on fire. The moon behind the
pme-tree branches was filling every cranny of her
braan with wakefuhiess. The soft shiver of the
weUmgh suifless s^ on a rising tide, rose, feU, n«e,
feU The sand cLff shone like a bank of snow
And all was mhabited, as a moonlit night is wont
to be, by a magical Presence. A big moth went
BEYOND
3'7
past her face, so close that she fdt the flutter of its
jmgs. A Uttie night beast somewhere was scrut-
tling m bushes or the sand Suddenly, across the
wan grass the shadow of the pine-trunk moved It
moved-ever so litUe-moved! And, petrified-
Gyp stared. There, joined to the trunk, Summer-
hay was standing, his face just visible against the
stem, the moonlight on one cheek, a hand shadinij
his eyes. He moved that hand, held it out in su^
ph^tion. For long-how lon^^-Gyp did not s£
kokmg straight at that beseeching figure. TTien
with a feehng she had never known, she saw hini
coming. He came up to the verandah and stood
looking up at her. She could see all the workings
Of his face-passion, reverence, above aU amaze-
ment; and she heard his awed whisper-
"Is it you. Gyp? Really you? You look so
young— so young I"
^
vn
Sf s^'Z SV* P*'^"! *° adnSlheCld into
me secrets of her married lifp en n/,™ l j. ,
Gyp, wiattver Jou think best » ^'''
TJ^ "^J *5»< -bV., bad bloomed toS ™
feu™,, ae d«I «,t „„, li, j^ ,^^ ,^^
n^-^^J-
'^nw
k*:t..M-
BEYOND
329
"TT^ T ^ confession. And she beean •
did5lL't::/x^-y-yingonc:sri
for each other?" Wbt'o/STd^^t Zk^lS ''''
had taken possession of him. 0^74^? ^f
know now how one would rathprwsl^i,. °- ^
one up" °'"*^'*"^^'^<l»e than give some-
Better!
£^tef^---:s
sh^r'ss^utTof^'eHtpSo^ t f- -^'
resentment as when he L^TS^^^?; fL^ "^^ '-J
^rAttlSv"^ overtaki £r '^U.e^^^'
g^der^om^eSerlh 1 1"^ ^^-' ^
only been dear- H^Thl f^'f ^l '°"'" ^^
and said: "^ P"^ ^is hand on her shoulder
aftS"^^' "'^ ""^^ 8° '°' the divo„:e, then,
330
BEYOND
She shook her head.
^It's too late. Let Mm divorce me, if he only
Winton needed all bis self-control at that moment
Too late? Already! Sudden recoUection that he
had not the right to say a word alone kept hun
silent. Gyp went on:
"I love him, with every bit of me. I don't care
what comes-whether it's open or secret. I don't
care what anybody thinks."
She Iwd turned round now, and if Winton had
doubt of her feehng, he lost it. This was a Gyp he
had never seenl A glowing, soft, quick-breathing
creature with just that Uthe watdrful look of
the mother cat or Uoness whose whelps are threat-
ened There flashed through him a recollection
of how as a child, with face very tense, she
would nde at fences that were too big. At last he
"I'm sorry you didn't tell me sooner."
I couldn't I didn't know. Oh, Dad, I'm al-
ways hurting ypu ! Forgive me 1"
She was pressing his hand to her cheek that felt
bumng hot And he thought: "Forgive 1 Of
^uree I fbrgive. Tlat's not the point; the point
And a y^on of his loved one talked about, be-
smirched, bandied from mouth to mouth, or else-
for her what there had been for him, a hole-and-
corner hfe, an underground existence of stealthy
meetings kept dark, above aU from her own litUe
4'-.kir w-
BEYOND
331
that better ^ the other, which revolted to the
soul his fastidious pride in her, roused in advance
Jus fury agamst tongues that would wag, and eyes
SlL'^w"^ u ^ "P^^ ^ riglieousn^
Summerhay's world was more or less his world-
scandal, which-like all parasitic growths-flounS
in enclosed spaces, would have every chance And
at once, his brain began to search, steely and quick'
for some way out; and the expression as when a
lox broke covert, came on his face.
"Nobody knows, Gyp?"
"No; nobody."
That was something I With an irritation that
rose from his very soul, he muttered-
"I can't stand it that you should suffer, and that
sl^l^lf'^i??'"*'*"^'"- Can you give up seeing
Summerhay while we get you a divorce ? We might
do^t. If no one knows. I think you owe it toie,
Gyp got up and stood by the window a long time
without answering. Winton watched her face. At
last she said:
"I couldn't We might stop seeing each other-
it isn't that. It's what I shoidd feel I shoS
respect myself after; I should feel so mean. Oh
Dad, don't you see? He reaUy loved me in hi^
way. Aiid to pretend! To make out a case for
myself, tell about Daphne Wing, about his drink-
ing, and baby; pretend that I wanted him to love
me, when I got to hate it and didn't care reaUy
'W^mk^m
33a
BEYOND
Whether he was faithful or not-and knowing aU the
whUe that I've been evciything to someone else!
I couldn't. I'd much rather let him know, and ask
mm to divorce me."
Winton replied:
"And suppose he won't?"
„ "1}?J^ T"^ ^'"^'^ ^ '=''="' "^y^ay; and we
would take what we could."
"And little Gyp?"
Staring before her as if trying to see into the
future, she said slowly:
"Some day, she'U understand, as I do Or per-
haps it wiU be aU over before she knows. Bots
m^ppmess ever last ? " ^^
And, going up to him, she bent over, kissed his
forehttid, and went out. The warmth from her Ups.
and the scent of her remained with Wnton like a
sensation wafted from the past
Was there then nothing to be done-nothing?
Men of his stamp do not, as a general thing/Me
very deep even into those who are nearest to them-
but to-mght he saw his daughter's nature more
fully perhaps than ever before. No use to impor-
tune her. to act against her instincts-not a bit of
use I And yet— how to sit and watch it aU— watch
his own passion with its ecstasy and its heart-burn-
mgs reacted with her-perhaps for many years?
And the old vulgar saying passed through his mind:
Whats bred m the bone will come out in the
f^u\. 5 °T ^^ ^^ «*^^°' ^« ^ould give with
Doth hand»-beyond measure— beyond I— as he him-
BEYOND
333
Ste^oS^., ?•"■ ^ »^«°' Ah, wdl, she was
better off thanlus own loved one had been. One
m^t not go ahead of trouble, or ay over spilled
It. ..^m
f\' i
vm
Gw had a wakeful night. The quesUon she her-
self had raised, of telling Fiorsen, kept her thoughts
m turmoil. Was he likely to divorce her if she did ?
His contempt for what he caUed 'these bourgeois
morals his instability, the very unpleasantness,
and offence to his vanity— aU this would prevent
him. No; he would not divorce her, she was sure
unless by any chance he wanted legal freedom, and
that was quite unlikely. What then would be
gamed? Ease for her conscience? But had she
any right to ease her conscience if it brought harm
to her lover? And was it not ridiculous to think
of consaence in r^ard to one who, within a year of
marriage, had taken to himself a mistress, and not
even spared the home paid for and supported by
his wfe? No; if she told Fiorsen, it would only be
to salve her pride, wounded by doing what she did
not avow. Besides, where was he? At the other
end of the world for all she knew.
She came down to breakfast, dark under the eyes
and no whit advanced toward decision. Neither of
them mentioned their last night's talk, and Gyp
wnt back to her room to busy herself with dress,
after those weeks away. It was past noon when,
at a muffled knock, she found Markcy outside her
door.
U4
im^em^'
BEYOND
335
m
t keep him out.'
"Mr. Fiorsen, in„.
"^ i^^'f ^ ^' ^<* "^"^ the door.
Gyp stood full half
"Is my father in?"
"^f?I ^"^ °^^°^.^ «°°'' ^ ^^ fencin'-club."
What did you say?"
was aware, no-
,m'm?"
the^bell; short of shoving, I couldn'i
• minute before she said:
Said I would see. So far as I
. J , -— "" ioi oo i was aw
boo^wasm. ShaU I have a try to shift him
With a famt smile Gyp shook her head,
oay no one can see him."
Markty's woodcock eyes, under their thin, dark
^tog brows, fastened on her dolefully; he Opened
the door to go. Fiorsen was standing there ^7
^i5"±r°T?''"^^^- S?-^- Maris
"Markey— wait outside, please."
Wien the door was shut, she retreated against
ihn^^"^*''f ^^ "^ 8^« »t her huXnd.
whde her heart throbbed as if it would leap through
Its coverings. «^"U6u
htUe fatter and his eyes surely more green; other-
wise he ooked much as she remembere?him'. ^d
tte first thought that passed through her was: 'Why
^ff/T^J.^^?'' He'U never fret or drink him^
jetf to death-he's ^t enough vitality for twenty
His face, which had worn a fixed, nervous smile,
336
BEYOND
grew suddenly grave as her own, and his eyes roved
round the room in the old half-fierce, half-furtive
way.
*. 'Tf',*^^'" ^"^ ^^' ^^ ^ voice shook a Ht-
Ue: "At last! Won't you kiss me?"
The question seemed to Gyp idiotic; and sud-
denly she felt quite cool.
.nZiT V^^ to ^ to my father, you must
come later; he's out."
Fiorsen gave one of his fierce shrugs
"Is it likely? Look, Gyp I I returned from Rus-
sia yesterday. I was a great success, made a lot of
money out there. Come back to me I I will be
good-I swear it I Now I have seen you again I
can t be without you. Ah, Gyp, come back to me I
And see how good I will be. I wiU take you abroad
you and the Ja«««a. We wiU go to Rome-nny-
where you lik.^live how you like. Only coine
back to me ! .» ~
Gyp answered stonily:
"You are talking nonsense."
" Gyp I swear to you I have not seen a woman—
not one fit to put beside you. Oh, Gyp, be good to
me once more. This time I wiU not fail. :^yme!
Tryme, my Gypl" '
Only at this moment of his pleading, whose tragic
tones seemed to her both false and childish, did Gyp
reahze the strength of the new feeling in her heart
And the more that feeling throbbed within her, the
harder her face and her voice grew. She said:
If that B aU you came to say-please go. I
wjmmM'^:iw^,,
BEYOND
337
Once for all, under-
wiU never come back to you
stand, please."
The sUence in which he received her words anrl
have^'^ou'SaS'^ H " ' ^^ ^°" "^^^ ^ -"«*
either^" ortyseS'^"" '° °°' ""''' ' ^ ^^
^.^^^swiftirS^^^esol^---^^^^
tell'^oiSti":^"'^- S'^^°-<^uietly. I will
arms trom hf comStdv ^'h ^^ ^^'^^'^ ^
/.»,«.♦ J "-ompieteiy, sat down on an old oalr
chMt. and motioned him to the wmdow-^t Sr
fr^&l'S""^' ^°^' ^-- °f ^t ph^
rh??SH---^"^^^
STiraSl-erl^^^r-^^^^^
to S^ ?n7r V"'^« ^°^ '^'-t she w« S
« Vo„ f^ ^ ''''' *=y« °» ^'n. she said sSZ
You say you love me, Gustav. I tried t^o^'
338 BEYONB
you, too, but I never could— never from the first
I tried very hard. Surely you care what a woman
feels, even if she happens to be your wife."
She couJd see his face quiver; and she went on:
"When I found I couldn't love you, I felt I had
no right over you. I d-dn't stand on my riehts
Did I?" ' ^
Again his face quivered, and again she hurried
on:
"But you wouldn't expect me to go all through
my life without ever feeling love— you who've felt
it so many times ? " Then, claspmg her hands tight,
with a sort of wonder at herself, she murmured:
"I am in love. I've given myself."
He made a queer, whining sound, covering his
facR And the b^gar's tag; "'Ave a feelin' 'oart,
gentleman— 'ave a feelin' 'eart!" passed idiotically
through Gyp's mind. Would he get up and strangle
her ? Should she dash to the door— escape ? For a
long, miserable moment, she watched him swaying
on the window-seat, with his face covered. Then,
without looking at her, he crammed a clenched hand
up against his mouth, and rushed out.
"ilirough the open door, Gyp had a glin^se of
Markey's motionless figure, coming to Ufe as Fiorsen
passed. She drew a long breath, locked the door,
and lay down on her bed. Iler heart beat dread-
fully. For a moment, something had checked his
jealous rage. But if on this shock he began to
dimk, what might not happen ? He had said some-
thing wild. And she Shuddered. But what right
BEYOND 33^
1^ he to feel jealousy and rage against her? What
right? She got up and went to the glass, trmbUw
p^caUytidjong her hair. Mi^2JXt^e
had come through unscathed ! "» "wi sne
Her thoughts flew to Summerhay. Thev wp«. f «
meet at three o'clock by the Z in ?f 7 ^
Park Biff oil j-^ ™ ^*- James's
seen sne was not worth it wwi ffcoTT _. , '
/v».,M _; 1. 1^ ""»"» 11, seen that a woman who
stKSr^'Se^™-^°»
Z^dlllm ""!,°° ^ ^"^ street, ^ifthS
would be still more dangerous. She put on her hat
and ^ed swiftly towards St. James'sWe ^e
sure that she was not being foUowed, her courage
r^. and she passed rapidly down tow^ the ^^
She was ten nunutes ktc, and seeing him there
^^ up and down, turning hi72d^er7S
seconds so as not to lose sight of the bench Z Mt
greeted with that pathetic casuatoess of lovera wS
deceives so few. they walked on togethJ^T J^J
340
BEYOND
faZ;. ?T* ^ ?'°«^' ^'^ t°W him about her
father; but only when they were seated in thS
comparative refuge, and his hand was hddi^ £s
under cover of the sunshade that lay a«S S
knee, did she speak of Fiorsen.
"Did he touch you, Gyp?"
Gyp heard that question with a shock. Touch
h^ Yesl But what did it matter?
_ He made a little shuddering sound; and, wonder-
^. mournful, d^e looked at him. His hk^ra^d
teeth were clenched. She said softly
tt!Z!°L?°?'" I ^^"Ido't let him kiss me."
"iJT^- t^'^u *° ?°"* "^ ^^ to look at hi.
Gyp sat motionless, cut to the heart She wim
8od^ and spoiled for him I Ofco^ ^j^
a sense of mjustice burned in her. Her hart hS
nev«r been toud^ed; it was his utterly. ^Z.
Sk. V *v '^^ ~"^'' °°* «^^; he should have
thought of that sooner, instead of only now. ^
^Wy. she, too. stared before her,'and iert^e
A UtUe boy came and stood stifl in front of them,
regardmg her with round, umnoving eyes. She^
consooi^ of a sUce of bread andjaTin iStZ
and that his moutii and cheeks were smeared^
Wm JWZ^^FM ^AJh. 1
BEYOND
, . 341
rea. A woman called out- "Tarlrvt n^.
"It's over, darlimr. Never »<«:., t
youl" again—I promise
Ah he might promise-might even keen th.t
wax I cS I ° J™": I ""k I could-,*, I
DC
FiOHSEN, passing Markey like a blind man, made
his way out into the street, but had not gone a
hundred yards before he was hurrying back. He
had left his hat. The servant, stiU standing there
handed him that wide-brimmed object and closed
the door in his face. Once more he moved away
gomg towards Piccadilly. If it had not been for
Uie expression on Gyp's face, what might he not
have done? And, mixed with sickening jealousy
he felt a sort of reUef , as if he had been saved from
somethmg horrible. So she had never loved himl
Never at aU? Impossible! Impossible that a
woman on whom he had lavished such passion
should never have felt passion for him— never any I
Innumerable images of her passed before him— sur-
rendering, always surrendering. It could not all
have been pretence! He was not a common man
—she herself had said so; he had charm— or other
women thought so! She had Ued; she must have
hed, to excuse herself 1
He went into a caf6 and asked for a fine chant- '«
pagne. They brought him a carafe, with the mea-
sures marked. He sat there a long time. When he
rose, he had drunk nine, and he felt better, with a
kmd of ferocity that was pleasant in his veins and
a kind of nobiUty that was pleasant in his soul.
J4«
BEYOND
343
Let her love, and be happy with her lover I But
let tam get his fingers on that fellow's throat I Let
her be happy, if she could keep her lover from him I
And suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, for there
on a sandwich-board just in front of him were the
words: Daphne Wing. Pantheon. Daphne Winjr
Plastic Danseuse. Poetry of MoUon. To-day at
three o'clock. Pantheon. Daphne Wing."
Ah, she had loved him— little Daphne ! It was
past three. Going in, he took his place in the stalls
close to the stage, and stared before him, with a
sort of bitter amusement. This was irony indeed I
Ah— and here she camel A Pierrette— in short
di^hanous musUn, her face whitened to match it-
a Rerrette who stood slowly spinning on her toes'
with arms raised and hands joined in an arch above
her glistening hair.
Idiotic pose I Idiotic 1 But there was the old
expression on her face, limpid, dovelike. And that
aomethmg of the divme about her dancing smote
Fiorsen through all the sheer imbecility of her pos-
twngs. Across and across she flitted, pirouetting
caught up at intervals by a Pierrot in black tighte
with a face as whitened as her own, held upside
down, or right end up with one knee bent sideways
and the toe of a foot pressed against the ankle of
^e other, and arms arched above her. Then, with
Pierrot's hands grasping her waist, she would stand
upon one toe and slowly twiddle, lifting her other
leg toward the roof, while the trembling of her form
manifested cunningly to aU how hard it was; then
f*^Jmk.
3+4
BEYOND
oflf the toe, she capered out to the wings, and ca-
pered back, wearing on her face that divine, lost,
dovehke look, whUe her perfect legs gleamed white
up to the very thigh-joint Yes; on the stage she
was adorable ! And raismg his hands high, Fiorsen
clapped and called out: "Brava/" He marked the
sudden roundness of her eyes, a tiny start-no more.
She had seen him. 'Ah I Some don't forget me 1'
he thought
And now she came on for her second dance,
assisted this time only by her own image reflected
m a httle weedy pool about the middle of the stage
From the programme Fiorsen read, "Ophelia's last
dance, and again he grinned. In a clinging sea-
green «own, cut here and there to show her inevi-
table legs, with marguerites and corn-flowers in. her
un^und hair, she circled her own reflection, lan-
guid, pale, desolate; then slowly gaining the aban-
don needful to a full display, danced with frenzy
tUl, m a gleam of lunelight, she sank into the appar-
ent water and floated among paper water-lilies on
her back. Lovely she looked there, with her eyes
still open, her lips parted, her hair trailing behind
And ag^ Fiorsen raised his hands high to clap
and agdn called out: •Braval' But the curtJn
leu, and Ophelia did not reappear. Was it the sight
of him, or was she preserving the illusion that
she was drowned? That "arty" touch would be
just like her.
Averting his eyes from two comedians in caHco
beating each other about the body, he rose with an
"^mMT^y^:
BEYOND
345
audiWe "Pfah!" and made his way out He
stopped m the street to scribble on his card. "Wm
stage-door. The answer came back- "* «» "^«
"Miss Wing wiU see you in a minute, sir."
And leamng agamst the distempered waU of the
draughty corridor, a queer smile on his face, Fiorsen
JWien he was admitted, she was standing with
ent-leaUier shoes. Holding out her hand above the
woman's back, she said:
"Oh, Mr. Fiorsen, how do you do?"
Fiorsen took the Httle moist hand; and his eyes
pa^ed over her, avoidmg a direct meeting with her
eyes. He received an impression of something
harder, more self-possessed, than he remembered
Her face was the same, yet not the same; only her
perfect, supple httle body was as it had b^. The
drwser rose, murmured: "Good-afternoon, miss,"
and went. ^^'
Daphne Wing smfled famUy.
"Jt'^T'* ^ y°" ^"^ ' '<">« t^e, have I?"
f«Ili!«' ^''1.*'^ ''^"^- You dance as beauti-
lully asever.
"Oh, yes; it hasn't hurt my dancing "
With an effort, he looked her in the face. Was
this reaUy the same girl who had clung to him
cloyed him with her kisses, her tears, hfr TpS
for love-just a little love? Ah, but die was more
34« BEYOND
desirable, much more desirable than he had remem-
bered I And he said:
"Give me a kiss, little Daphne 1"
Daphne Wing did not stir; her white teeth rested
on her lower lip; she said:
"Oh, no, thank you I How is Mrs. Fiorsen?"
Fiorsen turned abruptly.
"There is none."
"Oh, has she divorced you?"
"No. Stop talking of her; stop talking, I say!"
Daphne Wing, still motionless in the centre of
her little crowded dressing-room, said, in a matter-
of-fact voice:
"You are polite, aren't you? It's funny; I can't
tell whether I'm glad to see you. I had a bad time,
you know; and Mrs. Fiorsen was an angel. Why
do you come to see me now?"
Exactly! Why had he come? The thought
flashed through him: 'She'll help me to forget'
And he said:
" I was a great brute to you, Daphne. I came to
make up, if I can."
"Oh, no; you can't make up — thanV you I" A
shudder, ran through her, and she began drawing
on her gloves. "You taught me a lot, you know.
I ought to be quite grateful. Oh, you've grown a
httle beard! D'you think that improves you? It
makes you look rather like Mephistopheles, I
think."
Fiorsen stared fctedly at that perfectly shaped
race, where a faint, underdone pink mingled with
BEYOND
347
the fairaess of the skm. Was she mocking him?
Impossible 1 She looked too matter of fact.
"Where do you live now?" he said.
a studio. You can come
I've had enough
■"I' wij my own, in
•ad SCI- ,t, ■* . T. .'"Vc."
"Oiiv, you'd b<.i' understand
of lo^c."
Flo?' '■;• grui.icd.
"Evtr. Sir jiiothnf" he said.
Daphne Wl, r answered cabniy:
"I wi;}, vou V uuld treat me like a lady."
Fiorsen bit his lip, and bowed.
^'May I have the pleasure of giving you some
"Yes, thank you; I'm very hungry. I don't eat
lunch on matinfe-days; I find it better not. Do
you hke my Ophelia dance?"
"It's artificial."
"Yes, it is artificial— it's done with mirrors and
wire netting, you know. But do I give you the
lUusion of being mad?" Fiorsen nodded. "I'm so
glad. Shall we go? I do want my tea."
She turned round, scrutinized herself in the glass
touched her hat with both hands, revealing, for a
second, all the poised beauty of her figure, took a
httle bag from the back of a chair, and said:
"I think, if you don't mind going on, it's less
conspicuous. I'll meet you at Ruffel's— they have
lovely things there. Au revoir."
In a state of bewilderment, irritation, and queer
348
BEYOND
If'
meekness, Fiorsen passed down Coventry Street
auQd entermg the empty RuflFel's, took a 4le nea^
the window. There he sat staring before him, for
the sudd^ vision of Gyp sitting on that oken
chest, at the foot of her bed, had blotted the giri
devout me attendant coming to take his ord^
^ at his pale, furious face, and said mechani-
"What can I get you, please?"
Looking up, Fiorsen saw Daphne Wing outside
gaang at the cakes in the window. She came in '
Oh, here you are ! I should like iced coffee and
wJnut cake, and some of those marzipan sweets-
oh, and some whipped cream with my cake Do
you rmnd?" And ^tting down, she feed her eyS
on his face and asked:
"Where have you been abroad?"
•'Stockholm, Budapest, Moscow, other places."
Howp«fectI Do you think I should make a
success m Budapest or Moscow?"
''You might; you are English enough."
Oh I Do you think I'm very English?"
"Utterly. Your kind of " Bu? even he was
not qmte aipable of finishing that sentence-"your
kind of vulganty could not be produced anywhere
else." Daphne Wing finished it for him:
My kind of beauty?"
Fiorsen grinned and nodded
J'^,' ^(^ ?**'' ^' '^'"'^ thing you ever said
to me I Only, of course, I should like to think I'm
iDore of the Greek type-pagan, you know."
BEYOND
349
She feUsflent, casting her eyes down. Her profile
Daphne Wing looked up; her round, blue-grey
oJ^ ^ ''^^^ ^ '""'^l^ ^ they had b;en p^
over the marzipan. i«"»Mins
"No; I don't hate you— now. Of course if T
Insh? But one can think anybody a rotter withw^t
hatmg them, can't one?" «rwiuiout
Fiorsen bit his lips.
"So you think me a 'rotter'?"
D^hne Wing's eyes grew rounder.
But aren't you? You couldn't be anything else
-«,uM you?-with the sort of things you did"
sai? £ 1. "*' 'J'i »»d begun to eat and drink,
said with her mouth full:
"You see, I'm independent now, and I know life.
That makes you harmless."
Fiorsen stretched out his hand and seizrd hen
SdHv^^.^", ^'^ ^-n Pul« was bS ^^
sj«%. She looked at it. changed her foA ov^
and went on eating with the other hand. Fio.^
dnrw his hand away as if he had been stung.
Ah, you httve changed— that is certain 1"
W You see, one doesn't go through that for
nothmg. I think I was a dreadful ufue 3-°'
mimm
f<i
3SO
BEYOND
Sh«8t«wed, with her apooa on its way to her mouth
— and yet "
'I love you still, little Daphne."
She slowly turned her head toward him, and a
famt sigh escaped her.
"Once I would have given a lot to hear that."
And turning her head away again, she picked a
large wakut out of her cake and put it m her mouth.
Are you coming to see my studio? I've got it
rather nice and new. I'm making twenty-five a
wedL; my next engagement, I'm gomg to get thirty.
I should hke Mrs. Fiorsen to know-- Oh, I for-
got; you don't like me to speak of her I Why not ?
I wish you'd teU me!" Gaang, as the attendant
had, at hjs furious face, she went on: "I don't know
how It IS, but I'm not a bit afraid of you now I
used to be. Oh, how is Count Rosek? Is he as
pakascver? Aren't you going to have anything
T! T Y°"!!",.^ ^'^^ anything. D'you know
what I should hke-a chocolate fclair and a rasa-
beny ice-cream soda with a sUce of tangerine in it"
When she had slowl ■ sucked up that beverage
proddmg the sKce of tangerine with her straws, the^
went out and took a cab. On that journey to her
studio, Fiorsen tried to possess himself of her hiid,
but, folding her arms across her chest, she said
qmetly:
"It's very bad manners to take advantage of
cabs. And, withdrawing sullenly into his comer,
he watched her askance. Was she playing with
him? Or had she reaUy ceased to care the snap of
BEYOND
35Z
a finjser? It seemed incredible. The cah »j..v».
had been threading the maze of the Vk * . ^
stopped. Daphne Wing SAtoc^^ed'S
a narrow pass^ to a^e^^'on'^Tltt Z
opem^U with a latch-key, paused to s^f' ' '""'
away all amateunshness. It wasn't a studio Tt
course; ,t was the back part of a paLJ Seer's
^y ^e conquered for ^is somet^^ i^" ^:
She ^ the way up a few green-caipeted Stairs into
Htifp-.ra:^ut-tj:r^:s^^
at"mlS."T'^'^*"*^'''^">^- And look
sLTti H Japanese trees; aren't they dickies?"
S>« htUe dark aborUons of trees were «rr»n.L
S'Pf-f? - - lofty windowSTwEeS^
^rfrrsoX^LTntiijrr
^"Jliturii'r Kot a bedroom and a^thr^^'
and a htUe kitchen with everything to hand aU
quite domesUc; and hot watTr alway^ ^'"'j^
people are so fumiy about this room. They come
ulST^ "' T'^'^'"'- »"' they cS..t%"
H^tIk-^ n«Whbourhood; of course it is sorcUd
but I think an artist ought to be superior to^"
353
BEYOND
Suddenly touched, Fiorsen answered irentiv
"Yes, Uttle Daphne." ^
She looked at him, and another tiny sigh escaoed
her. *^
^ " Why did you treat me like you did?" she said.
It s such a pity, because now I can't feel anything
at all. And turning, she suddenly passed the back
of her hand across her eyes. Really moved by that,
Fiorsen went towards her, but she had turned round
agam, and putting out her hand to keep him oflF
stood shaking her head, with half a tear glistenini^
on her eyelashes.
"Please sit down on the divan," she said. "Will
you smoke? These are Russians." And she took
a white box of pink-coloured cigarettes from a Uttle
^Iden birchwood table. "I have everything Rus-
sian and Japanese so far as I can; I think they help
more than anything with atmosphere. I've got a
balalaika; you can't play on it, can you? What a
pityl If only I had a violin I I jAo«« have liked
to hear you play again." She clasped her hands:
Do you remember when I danced to you before the
fire?"
Fiorsen remembered only too well. The J)ink
cigarette trembled in his fingers, and he said rather
hoarsely:
"Dance to me now. Daphne 1"
She shook her head.
"I don't trust you a yard. Nobody would—
would iiey?"
Fiorsen started up.
BEYOND
3S3
round, unmovinit eves !,» * At sight of her
calmly: ^ ' '^^ stopped. She said
"I thought you'd like to see that TM ™ * j
to sink intohL i^rf T!^-"^,^ ''^^^ slowly
What are you laughing at?" ^"»a laugh.
great re^JTf.i^^^^'^P'-e.^t you are as
Fl!>rC^^^-'^>^«>ing. isn't itP»
ZT "'^^'^^o^y- You always were »
wi^ at ySrS^'^ T ^ ^^ «^"i ^vered
• XoS^^--y"'^'^^"
<«dn^UfSitP^^''^"''^^'-«^^- Butit
Fiorsen stared at her
kisses-or thTLT o7 SS^ ^P""'" '°^ '">' '
prettier." Pink came nn ^f^' ^ T"' ^^^ "^
And, encour^^^SJ^f fl"u^t^*^ ^^^'^ ^-'-•
"If vou lov^^- r ' ^^ ^*'»t on wannly:
Oh, j:^" ^^^Z\ 't^ ■«" -^ "' y^-
She shook her head.
1i:
11
354
BEYOND
"We won't talk about love, will we? Did you
have a big triumph in Moscow and St. Petersburg?
It must be wonderful to have really great triumphs ! "
Fiorsen answered gloomily:
" Triumphs ? I made a lot of money."
Daphne Wing purred:
"Oh, I expect you're very happy."
Did she mean to be ironic?
"I'm miserable."
He got up and went towards her. She looked up
in his face.
"I'm sorry if you're miserable. I know what it
feels like."
" You can help me not to be. Little Daphne, you
can help me to forget." He had stopped, and put
his hands on her shoulders. Without moving
Daphne Wing answered:
"I sui^Mae it's Mrs. Fiorsen you want to foivet
isn't it?" '
"As if she were dead. Ah, let it aU be as it was,
Daphne! You have grown up; you are a woman,
an artist, and you "
Daphne Wing had turned her head toward the
stairs.
" That was the bell," she said. " Suppose it's my
people? It's just their time! Oh, isn't that awk-
ward?"
Fiorsen dropped his grasp of her and recoiled
against the waU. There with his head touching one
of the little Japanese trees, he stood biting his fin-
gers. She was ah-eady moving toward the door.
BEYOND
round. But ^A^slt jL^^^ ^ * 8«^ 'ook
not afraid now- k Jt ^ ^'"- ^'^'des, I'm
being ozone's oU»« " ^™^«^'>1 diffeWe
The little dovelie de;^!?^^^ ^' "'"^ *^«^ •'
dress, green Tt S bee^T ^, ^^^ ^ ^ «ilk
thick gentleman wiS a S^ ''°^u"l' * ^°^t'
grey suit, having^ aiilfTM'- *^'^ ^^' ^ »
and, behind S D^Se S^ 'S ^^ buttonhole,
round-eyed. HT't^?^!^"^' ^"^«'' *«d vety
Ba^rr'd^Zdo^^r^f-tc^Mr.
theTue ^. ^"^ •'^^ ^ fi-«^ then^selves on
Quil?«^/°* * '^''^ "'^'^ P^ here for her work-
quiet and unconventional t i.„ , worjt—
of her talent sir? Vnn " • L ^^ ^""^ "»^ '^eU
worse, I beUe'v?. "*^* «° ^"^«' and fare
^^«ain Fiorsen bowed.
You may be proud of her," he said-" »!, • .^
nsmg star." ^'"» ™e is the
Mr. Wagge cleared his thrt^t.
356
BEYOND
1 -J
thought she had stuflF in her. I've come toSe a
gr^t interest in her work. It's not in my line, but
lUmJ. she's a stickerj I like to see pe^ever^nce
Where you'w got that, you've got half the battle
t-T^'' 5° ?^^ ?^ ^"^ y*"^ P«>Pl« seem to
thmkhfe'saUplay. You must see a lot of that in
your profession, sir."
"Robert!"
A shiver ran down Fiorsen's spine
"Ye-es?" ^
"The name was not Dawaoal"
ThMc followed a long moment. On the one side
iras that vmegaiy woman poking her head forward
hke an angry hen, on the other, Daphne Wing, her
ey^ rounder and rounder, her cheeks redder and
redder, her hps opening, her hands clasped to her
perfKt breast, and, in the centre, that broad, grey-
bearded figure, with reddemng face and ang^ eyes
and hoarsening voice:
"You scoundrel I You infernal scoundrel!" It
lurched forward, raising a pudgy fist Fiorsen
^rang down the stairs and wrenched open the door
He walkied away in a whirl of mortification. Should
he go back and take that pug-faced vulgarian by
the throat? As for that minx! But his feeling
about her were too complicated for expression. And
then-so dark and random are the ways of the mind
-his thoughts darted back to Gyp, sitting on the
oaken chest, making her confession; and the wWps
and sUngs of it scored him worse than ever
» ker lathi's ho^BTS "«' 8<»°« "fUy
to move S S™ «Sf r' '"''* ""«"
"■""honawLnv^n, ?^''f*''''^■
lo™, « ie wJmTSm? ».^» the ,,>,„„ „(
-at once!' An^ ^u • ^^^- ^"^ '* over
^ou^ fni ^^' ^^^ S'^^^^e °f discomfort, he
<iha/i<u4 u "*""'8 a Dook on dreams. A red-
shaded lamp cast a meUow tinge over the ktcv f «S
over one reddish rhiw^t .^ i r. ^^^ '™'*'
c rcaoisn cJieek and one white shoulder.
3S7
358
BEYOND
^^n5 ««ki"?,person, tall and wdl built, her
very blonde hair only just turning my for X w
mamed young and been a SSS y^Jl^
Se^^ttLT" "'"" 5-t"-"y free s^TSe
merged soul, but it was obviouHhatTwoSldi
Ss^"fT-' °^ ~"«' ^"t no altera^ °^
Xt^i^^"^^- !ir^tion and ideas did no"
t^ect social usage. The countless movements hi
which she and her friends were interes^Sr ^
emancipation and benefit of others^« in fjf
-^y channels for letting off hertupeX;!^.^^:
S* S"^'^ "": "^^ directing'IpirirbrSt
ba. She thought and acted in terms of the duW^
ae^^trd^er^LTfwt^f^^-
t^^rtSsrsTdt^^^''^'^^^"^^
" WeU Bryan, I think this man's book disgraceful-
he sunpty runs his sex-idea to death. Sy ^e'
arcn t all qmte so obsessed as that I do Twnl I!
ought to be put in his own lunSrasyltl ^
Jmnmerhay. looking down at her gloomfly. an-
"I've got bad news for you. Mother."
Lady Summerhay closed the book and searched
wn^w^
.i&^'i
BEYOND
359
of it 'n" T^ " ^°° ' '^ *° P"^""!*^ °>e out
Such a swift descent of "lif*." nn «-^ * v
had for so long been a s^rf^Tof W'^'^T f
1^ t^e"«r ofi-"^ without qui^realSrHy'
aesoiate piece of news this must hf tr, »,«, "^"»/
MicaocorY nsoumoN tist cmadt
(ANSI and ISO TtST CHART No. 2)
1
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A /^PLIED IM^IGE Inc
,^B^ 1«» ea«t kloin StrMt
,^HKja ftochntar. N«» York U«09 USA
^■RB (Tie) 4S3 - 0»0 - Phona
36o
BEYOND
I
I'
Lady Summerhay could only press her hand
against his kiss, and muimur:
"Yes; that's not everything, Bryan. Is there-
is there going to be a scandal?"
"I don't know. I hope not; but, anyway, he
knows about it."
"Society doesn't forgive."
Summerhay shrugged his shoulders.
"Awfully sorry for you, Mother."
"Oh, Bryan!"
This repetition of her plamt jarred his nerves.
"Don't run ahead of things. You needn't tell
Edith or Flo. You needn't tell anybody. We
don't know whatll happen yet."
But in Lady Summerhay all was too sore and
blank. This woman she had never seen, whose
origin was doubtful, whose marriage ?nust have
soiled her, who was some kind of a siren, no doubt.
It really was too hard! She believed in her son,
had dreamed of public position for him, or, rather,
felt he would attain it as a matter of course. And
she said feebly:
"This Major Winton is a man of breeding, isn't
he?" -*-"^. «" <■
"Rather I" And, stopping before her, as if he
read her thoughts, he added; "You think she's not
good enough for me? She's good enough for any-
one on earth. And she's the proudest woman I've
ever met If you're bothering as to what to do
about hei--don't! She won't want anything of
anybody— I can tell you that. She won't accept
any crumbs."
BEYOND
361
"That's lucky 1" hovered on Lady Summsrhav's
Ups; but, gaang at her son, she became a^ate that
she stood on the brink of a downfall in hi h^
Then aie bitterness of her disappointment iS
up agam, she said coldly: ^
"Are you going to live together openly?"
Yes; if she will."
"You don't know yet?"
"I shall— soon."
slipped off her lap with a thump. She went to the
had altered. His meny look was gone; his face
was strai^e to her. She rememberJl it'lifTtS
^ m the park at Widrington, when he lost £
temper with a pony and came gaUopimr past her
«ttmg back his curly hair stivefed J^eTutS
donon's. And she said sadly: <= a utue
"You can hardly expect me to like it for you,
Biyan, even if she is what you say. And L't
there some story about " J ^^ lanz
"My dear mother, the more there is against her
the more I shaU love her-that's obviou?'' '
Lady Summerhay sighed again
pky^e.'^ *^ """^ ^°^ "^ '^^^ I heard him
.n^V^n'^^r- Nothing, I dare say. MoraUy
and legaQy, he's out of court I only wish to God
he at»W bnng a case, and I could many her; but
Gyp says he won't." ' '
Lady Summerhay murmured:
"Gyp? Is that her name?" And a sudden wish,
362
BEYOND
almost a longing, not a friendly one, to see this
woman seized her. "Will you bring her to see me?
I m alone here till Wednesday."
"I'll ask her, but I don't think she'll come." He
turned his head away. "Mother, she's wonderful ' "
An unhappy smile twisted Lady Summerhay's
Ups. No doubt ! Aphrodite herself had visited her
boy. Aphrodite! And— afterward? She asked
desolately:
"Does Major Winton know?"
"Yes."
"What does he say to it?"
. "Say? What can anyone say? From your point
of view, or his, it's rotten, of course. But in her
position, anything's rotten."
At that encouraging word, the flood-gates gave
way m Lady Summerhay, and she poured forth a
stream of words.
"Oh, my dear, can't you pull up? I've seen so
many of these aflFairs go wrong. It reaUy is not
for nothmg that law and conventions are what they
arc^believe me I Really, Bryan, experience does
show that the pressure's too great. It's only once
in a way— very exceptional people, very exceptional
circumstances. You mayn't think now ifU hamper
you, but you'll find it wiU— most fearfuLy. It's
not as if you were a wiiter or an artist, who can
take his work where he likes and live in a desert
if he wants. You've got to do yours in London,
your whole career is bound up with society. Do
think, before you go butting up against itl It's
BEYOND
363
n?*^ Z'^ ^ "^y '* ' °° ^^ "f i^yone's, but
you'U find It is, Biyan. And then, can you-i^an
you possibly make her happy in the long-run?"
She stopped at the expression on his face. It was
T»iw ^ere saying: "I have left your world.
Talk to your feUows: aU this is nothing to me."
Look here, Mother: you don't seem to under-
STdse J„^^^7^-^-ted so that there's noth-
beSd'?/^ ^ «-* 1-^. Bryan? You mea.
Summerhay said, with passion:
"I don't I mean what I said. Good-night!"
And he went to the door.
"Won't you stay to dinner, dear?"
But he was gone, and the full of vexation, anxiety,
and wretchedness came on Lady Summerhay. It
was too hard ! She went down to her lonely dinner
desolate and sore. And to the book on dreams!
opened beside her plate, she turned eyes that took
in nothing.
Summerhay went straight home. The lamps
were bnghtening in the early-autumn dusk, and a
draughty, ruffling wind flicked a yeUow leaf here and
there from off the plane trees. It was just the mo-
ment when evening blue comes into the colouring of
t^e town-that hour of fusion when day's hard and
staring shapes are softening, growing dark, myste-
nous, and all that broods behind the lives of men
and trees and houses comes down on the wings of
3<54
BEYOND
1^
ll
illusion to tepossess the world— the hoar when any
poetry "ji a man wells up. But Summerhay still
heard his mother's, "Oh, Bryan!" and, for the first
tmie. knew the feeling that his hand was against
evei one's. There was a difference already, or so
it seemed to him, in the exp: jbsion of each passer-by.
Nothing any more would be a matter of course;
and he was of a class to whom everything has always
been a matter of course. Perhaps he did not real-
ize this clearly yet; but he had begun to take what
the nurses call "notice," as do those only who are
forced on to the defensive against society.
Putting his latch-key into the lock, he recaUed
the sensation with which, that afternoon, he had
opened to Gyp for the first time— half furtive, half
defiant It would be all defiance aor. This was
the end of the old order ! And, lighting a fire in his
sitting-room, he began pulling out drawers, sorting
and destroying. He worked for hours, burning,
making lists, packing papers and photographs.
Fmishing at last, he drank a stiff whisky and soda,
and sat down to smoke. Now that the room was
quiet. Gyp seemed to fill it again with her presence.
Closing .his eyes, he could see her there by the
hearth, just as she stood before they left, turning
her face up to him, murmuring: "You won't stop
loving me, now you're so sure I love you?" Stop
loving her! The more she loved him, the more he
would love her. And he said aloud: "By God! I
won't!" At that remark, so vehement for the
time of night, the old Scotch terrier, Ossian, came
BEYOND
365
from his comer and shoved his long black nn«
into his master's hand. ^ °°*
"Come along up, Ossy! GooddogOss'" An^
comforted by the wannth of that b ack bodv^i
side him in the chair. Summerhay Si ^t
i^^Ltf^ptt.^^"^^^ with^bll^entTra,":
XI
H
Though Gyp had never seemed to look roxmd,
she had been quite conscious of Sxmimerhay still
standing where they had parted, watching her into
the house in Buiy Street. The strength of her own
feeling surprised her, as a bather in the sea is sur-
prised, finding her feet will not touch bottom, that
she is carried away helpless— only, these were the
waters of ecstasy.
For the second night running, she hardly slept,
hearing the clocks of St. James's strike, and Big
Ben boom, hoxu: after hour. At breakfast, she told
her father of Fiorsen's reappearance. He received
the news with a frown and a shrewd glance.
"WeU, Gyp?"
"I told him."
His feelings, at that moment, were perhaps as
niixed as they had ever been— curiosity, parental
disapproval, to which he knew he was not entitled,
admiration of her pluck in lettmg that fellow know,
fears for the consequences of this confession, and,
more than all, his profoimd disturbance at knowing
her at last launched into the deep waters of love.
It was the least of these feelings that found expres-
sion.
'How did he take it?'
3M
BEYOND
367
trying to pen^t^ri f^"^ "S^uT, ^-;'
that die could wisely eat after the joumST^^
sneer delight of bssing her from head to foot and
her own wiUi her dark softnei, plmTd^iy
giving disposition, her cooing voce 3 c^T^l
waT'"*'^-"^ "dear mum^was 3oi"°S
w^ «)methu,g about her insidiously seducUve Sh^
Th^ ?. r vf T°^' *^e perfection of a flower
lost Its baby darkness, was already cuAdng round
her neck and waving on her forehkd.^f o7 W
tiny brown hands had escaped the Zj ^d
111
368
BEYOND
grasped its edge with determined softness. And
while Gyp gazed at the pinkish naUs and their ab-
surdly wee half-moons, at the sleeping tranquillity
stirred by breathing no more than a rose-leaf on a
windless day, her lips grew fuller, trembled, reached
toward the dark lashes, till she had to rein her neck
back with a jerk to stop such self-indulgence.
Soothed, hypnotized, ahnost in a dream, she lay
there beside her baby.
That evening, at dinner, Winton said cahnly:
"WeU, I've been to see Fiorsen, and warned him
off. Found him at that fellow Rosek's." Gyp re-
ceived the news with a vague sensation of alarm.
"And I met that girl, the dancer, coming out of
the house as I was going in— made it plain I'd seen
her, so I don't think he'll trouble you."
An irresistible impulse made her ask:
"How was she looking. Dad?"
Winton smiled grimly. How to convey his im-
pression of the figure he had seen coming down the
steps— of those eyes growing rounder and rounder
at sight of him, of that mouth opening in an: "Oh !"
"Much the same. Rather flabbergasted at see-
ing me, I think. A white hat— very smart At-
tractive in her way, but common, of course. Those
two were playing the piano and fiddle when I went
up. They tried not to let me in, but I wasn't to be
put off. Queer place, that ! "
Gyp smiled. She could see it all so well. The
black walls, the silver statuettes, Rops drawings,
scent of dead rose-leaves and pastilles and cigarettes
BEYOND
369
c'JL^Sr '^ "^^ P^^-^ J^- father so
retllTnfi^?,?^^ ^ ^"^^^' of dread, a va«ue
any^gt^^^^°""-*'^-»- ^^^^ you say
polite" k/^?.'"^'. .^°' I think I was quite
1-ow they said ^Jei°lutm?n'"^"^- '
being a cripple." ^ ""^ presuming on
"Oh, darling!"
Sfi? "" " °™»'° "ki* 'ad relics
Had te, U,„, ^o, p,, t„ ,,,^,^ ^^^^ ^^tog.
370
BEYOND
since yesterday? And that chill fear which besets
lovers' hearts at failure of a tryst smote her for the
first time. In the three-cornered garden stood a
decayed statue of a naked boy with a broken bow—
a sparrow was perching on his greenish shoulder;
sooty, heart-shaped lilac leaves hung round his head,'
and at his legs the old Scotch terrier was sniffing!
Gyp called: "Ossian! Ossyl" and the old dog
came, wagging his tail feebly.
"Master! Where is your master, dear?"
Ossian poked his long nose into her caJf , and that
gave her a little comfort. She passed, perforce,
away from the deserted house and returned home-
but all manner of frightened thoughts beset her.
Where had he gone? Why had he gone? Why
had he not let her know ? Doubts— those hasty at-
tendants on passion— came thronging, and scepti-
cism ran riot. What did she know of his life, of
his interests, of him, except that he said he loved
her? Where had he gone? To Widrington, to
some smart house-party, or even back to Scotland?
The jealous feelings that had so besieged her at the
bungalow when his letters ceased came again now
with redoubled force. There must be some woman
who, before their love began, had claim on him, or
some girl that he admired. He never told her of
any such— of course, he would not! She was amazed
and hurt hy her capacity for jealousy. She had
always thought she would be too proud to feel
jealousy— a sensation so dark and wretched and un-
dignified, but— alas !— so horribly real and clinging.
BEYOND 3^^
She had said she was not dining at home- so Win
foolish; but to do a foolish tW w^'so^ T/
siuUed, rapid-seeming slowness AnH at IT j^
™«« hi. hat, ™grf „p t^j. h» s£^£
sr.rf'arr'fSr"""^'
fare !,« ™-u j ," ' "^^ expression on her
372
BEYOND
warm dri Why was he not among these passers-
•J u ^°^^ ^"^^ ^y <=*s"a^ man to her
side by a smile could not conjure up the only one
she wanted from this great desert of a town ! She
hurned along, to get in and hide her longing. But
at the corner of St. James's Street, she stopped.
That was his club, nearly opposite. Perhaps he
was there, playmg cards or billiards, a few yards
away and yet as in vnother world. Presently he
would come out, go tc some music-hall, or stroU
home thinking of her-perhaps not even thinking
of her! AnoOier woman passed, giving her a fur-
tive glance. But Gyp felt no glee now. And, cross-
ing over, dose under the windows of the club she
humed home. When she reached her room, she
broke mto a storm of tears. How could she have
liked hurting those poor women, hurting that man
—who was only paying her a man's compliment
after aU? And with these tears, her jealous, wild
feehngs passed, leaving only her longing.
Next morning brought a letter. Summerhay
wrote from an inn on the river, asking her to come
down by the eleven o'clock train, and he would
meet her at the station. He wanted to show her
a house that he had seen; and they could have the
afternoon on the river! Gyp received this letter
which began: "My darling!" with an ecstasy that
she could not quite conceal. And Winton, who had
watehed her face, said presently:
"I think I shall go to Newmarket, Gyp. Home
to-morrow evening."
BEYOND
373
nearer ' ^"^ '=°'^^ °°^ ^^^e seemed
w=i Tr'f"''^'' ^'^ ^'" <^ed them slwlv^
Clasped and they never ceased to look into each
n^n'-'n ""u.' ^'^' ^°^ those fonnal ieTS
pr^nety which deceive no one. ®^ '
The day was beautiful, as only earlv SeotemW
teM-^^ i: ' ^^«'y-««cn uplands, golden mus-
tard; when shots ring out in the dist^fce^? ^
s^. PresenUy they branched off the main road
iiave couected m that garden, and there was a tr^
c^oSdTetLtS^- ^'T^^'"-'^"^'-^
^ouia DC seen where racehorses, they said wi.rA
tramed. Summerhay had the k;ys Z ^XZ]
374
BEYOND
To Gyp. i
and they went
"pretending"— to imagine' Uiey were going tTuve
there together, to sort out the rooms and consecrate
each. She would not spoU this perfect day by argu-
ment or admission of the need for a decision. And
when he asked:
"Well, darling, what do you think of it?" she
only answered:
"Oh, lovely, in a way; but let's go back to the
nver and make the most of it"
They took boat at ' The Bowl of Cream,' the river
um where Summerhay was staying. To him, who
had been a rowing man at Oxford, the river was
known from Lechlade to Richmond; but Gyp had
never in her life been on it, and its placid magic
unlike that of any other river in the world, ahnost
overwhehned her. On this glistening, windless day,
to drift along past the bright, flat water-lily leaves
over the greenish depths, to listen to the pigeons
watch the dragon-flies flitting past, and the fish
leaping lazOy, not even steering, letting her hand
dabble m the water, then cooUng her sun-waimed
cheek with it, and aU the time gazing at Summerhay
who, dipping his sculls gently, gazed at hei— all thi^
was like a voyage down some river of dreams, the
very fulfihnent of felicity. There is a degree of
happmess known to the human heart which seems
to belong to some enchanted world— a bright waze
mto which, for a moment now and then, we escape
ana wander. To-day, he was more than ever like
her Botticelli "Young Man," with his neck bare
BEYOND
375
n^ ^ u «! *4«^'-«y«l and broad and brown
Had she reaUy had a life with another man? Cd
only a year a«o? It seemed inconceivable !
But when, m the last backwater, he tied the boat
up and came to sit with her once more, it wasi^S
g^g late, and the vague melancholy of tS^^^
shadowy nyer was stealing into her. And, withl
sort of smkmg in her heart, she heard him berin
,,,9:yP''^^»'"'no^w!iy together. We can never
sta^d It gomg on apart, snatching hours here and
"m7 ^ i^- *°, ^" '^^'^^' *« nimmured:
Why not, darhng? Hasn't this been perfect?
What could we ever have more perfect? 1?^ W
paradise itself 1" «s oeen
J,'Y^^1 ^^^ *°.*^ ^'^^ °"t every day! To be
whoe days and nights without you! Gyp y«,
mus-youmusti What is there against it ?Do^
you love me enough?" '^'"^"i'' uont
to ^T^iy"- ''' '^P^g P^vidence
^„rr^t",n V 80 on as we are, Bryan. No-
don t look like that-don't be angry i "
love^^ "' ^°" '^"^^^ ^ y°" «>ny for our
^o; but let it be like this. Don't let's risk any-
T I^^! '* '^ People-sodety-you're afraid of?
I thought you wouldn't care."
Gyp smiled.
"Society? No; I'm not afraid of that."
I
376
BEYOND
"What, then? Of me?"
"I don't know. Men soon get tired. I'm a
doubter, Bryan, I can't help it."
"As if anyone could get tired of you 1 Are you
afraid of yourself?"
Again Gyp smiled.
"Not of loving too little, I told you."
"How can one love too much?"
She drew his head down to her. But when that
kiss was over, she only said again:
"No, Bryan; let's go on as we are. 111 make up
to you when I'm with you. If you were to tire of
me, I couldn't bear it."
For a long time more he pleaded— now with anger,
now with kisses, now with reasonings; but, to all,
she opposed that same tender, half-moumful "No,''
and, at last, he gave it up, and, in dogged silence,
rowed her to the village, whence she was to take
train back. It was dusk when they left the boat
and dew was falling. Just before they reached the
station, she caught his hand and pressed it to her
breast
"Darling, don't be angry with me! Perhaps I
will — some day."
And,. in the train, she tried to think herself once
more in the boat, among the shadows and the whis-
pering reeds and all the quiet wonder of the river.
ii
xn
red and teara roUmg down her cheeks.
Betty! What is it?"
"Oh, my dear, where have you been? SnrJ, «
dr^pi«:eofnews. TheyV^stolThl '"Sa?
wdced man-your husoand-he took her riRht out
of her Pram-^d went off with her in a 2S ^r
mmdl Gyp stared aghast. "I hoUered fn «
Th^'« both foreigners?' ' 'LTL.r?'T:'S
aL T V ^™« ''*^ ^'^> never you fear'
to do? I d just turned round to shut the eate of
her Sitn,^r,-r °^'*' ^ P"^ ^d "^^^
utteriy. ' "'""^ ""^ ^"^ ^' ^« gave way
.177
378
BEYOND
Gyp stood stai. Nemesis for her happiness?
That vengeful wretch, Rosek ! This was his doing.
And she said:
"Oh, Betty, she must be crying!"
A fresh outbuist of moans was the only answer.
Gyp '•emembered suddenly what the lawyer had
said over a year ago— it had struck her with terror
at the time. In law, Fiorsen owned and could
claim her child. She could have got her back, then,
by bringing a horrible case against him, but now^
perhaps, she had no chance. Was it her return to
Fiorsen that they aimed at— or the giving up of her
lover? She went over to her mirror, saying:
"We'll go at once, Betty, and get her back some-
how. Wash your face."
While she made ready, she fought down those two
horrible fears— of losing her child, of losing her
lover; the less she feared, the better she could act,
the more subtly, the swifter. She remembered that
she had somewhere a little stiletto, given her a long
time ago. She hunted it out, slipped off its red-
leather sheath, and, stab')ing the point into a tiny
cork, slipped it beneath her blouse. If they could
steal her baby, they were capable of anything. She
wrote a note to her father, telling him what had
happened, and saying where she had gone. Then,
in a taxi, they set forth. Cold water and the calm-
ness of her mistress had removed from Betty the
main traces of emotion; but she clasped Gyp's
hand hard and gave vent to heavy s'ghs.
Gyp would not think. If she thought of her little
BEYOND ,,«
379
one crying, she knew she would cry too B„f i.-
S" *'""* ""oluBon and s»id.
make me do anything they like."
A profound sigh answered her.
Bdund that moon-face with the troubled eves
what conflict was in progress-between ,,nrmic!?^ '
nig moraUty and mluS^gSM^cTT
tween fears for her Ld wishef for W i, ^' ^
between the loyal reSnerVhl.-f / IiaPP"iess,
the old nurse's feeliWTL- -5 accepting and
faintly: ^ of bemg in charge? She said
"Oh dear I He's a nice gentleman, tool" And
ma^S'to^tS't ioSSer'S S Tr '^^*^>^
Dlacp— n« ,«r^ loroper in that horrible reristry
nouimg. I cned me eyes out at the time "
tryp said quietly:
«n doLT' • "^y "P^^"- ChiUy shudders
ran down her spme-memories of Daphne Wing S
38o BEYOND
Rosek, of that large woman— what was her name?—
of many other faces, of unholy hours spent up there,
in a queer state, never quite present, never com-
fortable in soul; memories of late retumings down
tiiese wide stairs out to their cab, of Fiorsen beside
her in the darkness, his dim, broad-cheekboned
face moody in the corner or pressed close to hers.
Once they had walked a long way homeward in the
dawn, Rosek with them, Fiorsen playing on his
muted violin, to the scandal of the policemen and
the cats. Dim, unreal memories I Grasping Betty's
arm more firmly, she rang the bell. When the man
servant, whom she remembered weU, opened the
door, her Ups were so dry that they could hardly
form the words:
"Is Mr. Fiorsen in. Ford?"
"No, ma'am; Mr. Fiorsen and Count Rosek
went into the country this afternoon. I haven't
thdr address at present" She must have turned
white, for she could hear the man saying: "Any-
thing I can get you, ma'am?"
"When did they start, please?"
" One o'clock, ma'am— by car. Count Rosek was
driving himself. I should say they won't be away
long— they just had theu' bags with them." Gyp
put out her hand helplessly; she heard the servant
say in a concerned voice: "I could let you know
the moment they return, ma'am, if you'd kindly
leave me your address."
Giving her card, and murmuring:
"Thank you, Ford; thank you very much," she
»»
BEYOND
381
one cannot get t^h^T^ ^""^ ^" «rtain \hat
be sufferingf T?bt2n^ T""' ^^^* ^^^^ '"ax
G3TJ suffered now ^h f^-*^'*-*^ I'O'ror.
Nothing but to^^io Man°H^ ^ ^ '^°°«'
tasks! MerdfuIIy--SiaSslir'''r^^*°f^
open-^e feU at last SS Ta^' '?°« ^^ ^ ^^
when she was cied L *^f^ess sleep, and
"Gw:
lover, and the baby shauT™. k .f*^ *" 8*^ »P your
you do «,t give hto 5 I^'t^H ^ y°" « o"^ If
land Send me an anw-r m »!^ ^" ^'"^ °"' of Eng-
let your father trTanTS^u^r*^*' and do'^t
" GUSTAV FtosSEN."
P<.^tS """ "^'^ ^^ ^'^ Of a West End
so^^o^^^^f S^-fj-«, she went through
never known, bu^-TiS S w?^ p ^^ as she h^
of the stealu4i^^* ^^^«° ?etty first told her
I
38a BEYOND .
to. She read it through again— this time, she felt
ahnost sure that it had been dictated to him. K he
had composed the wording himself, he would never
have resisted a gibe at the law, or a gibe at himself
for thus safeguarding her virtue. It was Rosek's
doing. Her anger flamed up anew. Since they
used such mean, cruel ways, why need she herself
be scrupulous? She sprang out of bed and wrote:
" How could you do such a brutal thing? At all events,
let the darling have her nurse. It's not like you to let a
little child suffer. Betty will be ready to come the minute
you send for her. As for myself, you must give me time to
dedde. I will let you know within two days.
"Gyp."
When she had sent this off, and a telegram to her
father at Newmarket, she read Fiorsen's letter once
more, and was more than ever certain that it was
Rosek's wording. And, suddenly, she thought of
D^hne Wing, whom her father had seen coming
out of Rosek's house. Through her there might be
a way of getting news. She seemed to see again the
girl lying so white and void of hope when robbed by
death of her own just-bom babe. Yes; surely it was
worth trying.
An hour later, her cab stopped before the Wagges'
door in Frankland Street. But just as she was about
to ring the bell, a voice from behind her said:
"Allow me; I have a key. What may I— Oh,
it's you ! " She turned. Mr. Wagge, in professional
habnimeflts, was standing there. "Come in; come
in," he said.
BEYOND
383
. , . s^fflg you after what's transnirwl »
The expression on Mr Wairi».'<! f,^» "'"i, nowr
ways to exdte in him. ^ ^ *^"
''Do I understand that you— ei— -"
^^ I came to ask if Daisy would do something for
Mr Wagge blew his nose.
You didn't know-" he began again.
thought " "^="^ces. im sure I always
3*4
BEYOND
Will you give me
Gyp interrupted swiftly.
"Please, Mr. Wagge-please !
Daisy's address?"
Mr. Wagge remained a moment in deep thought-
then he said, in a gruff, jerky voice: '
"Seventy-three Comrade Street, So'o. Up to
seemg him there on Tuesday, I must say I cherished
every hope. Now I'm sorry I didn't strike him—
he was too quick for me-" He had raised one of
iM gloved hands and was sawing it up and down
The sight of that black object cleaving the air nearly
made Gyp scream, her nerves were so on edge
It s her blasted independence— I b«« pardon— but
who wouldn't?" he ended suddenly.
Gyp passed him.
"Who wouldn't?" she heard his voio; behind
her. I did think she'd have run straight this
tone— And whUe she was fumbling at the outer
door, his red, pudgy face, with its round grey beard
protruded ahnost over her shoulder. "If you're
going to see her, I hope you'll "
Gyp was gone. In her cab she shive -ed. Once
^e had lunched with her father at a restaurant in
the Strand. It had been full of Mr. Wagges But
suddoily, she thought: 'It's hard on him, poor
xm
^overed ke alley ttr'jd ^^^-^ ^>P
There her pride took surfH«, I ^^ "8^* door.
milk-boy's^yesSonher wS^' r? '"* '''' ^^
fessional howl, she might Ce^ J Y ?"* ^« P«^
J^d and wrist emeSig S tS' ^'^P ^^'^e
Wing's voice said; * ""^ *^' "d Daphne
"Oh Where's the cream?"
,,^'t got none."
twelve o'clock » ^°" ^^^^^s-two pennyworth at
beat the clo^X &*" '"' '^^'" He
you I Good-Snin^n,iss» ^ ""^^ to speak to
-v^'ed''^^ ^S^hUi"^ ^ ^ ^^- ^ono was
;;oh !" she Lw - "^ "^""^ ''^ <^yp-
"May I come in?"
I am giad'Jo s^^^ou"" ^'^'^ *^ Poetising. Oh,
fo/°twa^ dIJL:' £f^; ^ "^^^ ^"e was laid
°°e hand the mSk^^^^*. "P *» 't- holding in
^e,withwhirsrh|tSen-rj:^
I
386
BEYOND
oysters. Placing the knife on the table, she turned
round to Gyp. Her face was deep pink, and so was
her neck, which ran V-shaped down into the folds
of her kimono. Her eyes, round as saucers, met
Gyp's, fell, met them again. She said:
"Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen, I am glad! I really am. I
wanted you so much to see my room— do you like
it? How (fta you know where I was?" She looked
down and added: "I think I'd better tell you. Mr.
Fiorsen came here, and, since then, I've seen him
at Count Rosek's— and— and "
"Yes; but don't trouble to tell me, please."
Daphne Wing hurried on.
"Of course, I'm quite mistress of myself now."
Then, all at once, the uneasy woman-of-the-world
mask dropped from her face and she seized Gyp's
hand. "Oh, Mrs. Fiorsen, I shall never be like
you!"
With a little shiver. Gyp said:
"I hope not." Her pride rushed up in her. How
could she ask this girl anything? She choked back
that feeling, and said stonily: "Do you remember
my baby? No, of course; you never saw her. He
and Count Rosek have just taken her away from me."
Daphne Wing convulsively squeezed the hand of
which she had possessed herself.
"Oh, what a wicked thing! When?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"Oh, I am glad I haven't seen him since! Oh,
I do think that was wicked I Aren't you dreadfully
distressed?" The least of smiles played on Gyp's
m,.
BEYOND o
387
awful. Itfri^htZi^ Tf""^*'°*'°^^«>mething
been stoli St i f sh? u^.^"'^ "^^ "^^^3
by now." ' ^ '^""^'^ ^^« been half dead
Gyp answered stomly as ever:
don't mind?" "'"'"ly. Are you sure you
fed so— uncertain." '^^^ ° ^^^ ™e
d!!J.'^ m- ^°" «°^« *° «>« bim next?"
Daphne Wnig grew very pink.
yo't:t^Zt as''5rl'"^°'^«-*°'-ch.
Casting 'up her t?a'li?Ue:re l^S'!^::'':
even let me sueat vra,- ^» ™c aaaea. He won't
love is so funnv" An,j 7- .'°^^y°". only, his
jMi .„„ ,'5;- h.^tn?,^^ ^o^, ■■'
mM
388
BEYOND
you must be suffering 1 You look quite pale. But
It ^ t any good suffering. I learned tiat."
Her eyes lighted on the table, and a faint rueful-
ness came mto them, as if she were going to a.k Gyp
to eat the oysters. 6 "^ « * ": oyp
forSL^' ^""'""^ "^^ P"* ^" ^^ *° ^« ^'^'^
kne^'^'^^*'' ^^ ^"-^^ """^^ ^^'^ y°" if ^e
And she turned to go. She heard a sob. Daphne
Wmg was ciymg; then, before Gyp could speak, she
st^ck herself on the throat, and sdd, in a stran'jS
"ITia-that's idiotic I I-I haven't cried since-
smce. you know I-I'm perfect mistress of my-
Those words and the sound of a hiccough accom-
pamedGypdowntheaUeytohercab ^ *^''°"
When she got back to Bury Street, she found
W^ T^"" ^ "^^ ^ ^^ ^^ bomi^t ol She
^ not been s«it for, nor had any reply come from
ajy mth a frock of litde Gyp's she had begun on
the fatal mommg Fiorsen had come back. Every
other mmute she stopped to listen to sounds that
never meant anything, went a hundred times to the
upstairs, and was m the nursery opposite; Gyp
BEYOND
389
h^u2S'^ol™&,^/ -"-^y -o^ Her
and,peerinKinTothV^ ^1*''°'* *'"°^ ceased,
turned. utter^t^^^S ' G^'.I^k^" "^
her own room with 7sic? ^: ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^
-^ her baby r^y'coS'n^rK^^^°^^°°- «
by that sa"4e! ?f tS ."".^ '^°^<''«1 ««:ept
word, ana The fo "ed to T -i'^r ^^'^ *« ^^t
WhichwouIdSeSnr^-t.n'^^'^ *^«"'
or her child? ^""^""^^ Which foUow-her lover
heftTwas^d^^r'lS'S^^P- aw
the shutter, sheT^;dte^'S.''^^'«^^'
a struggle that r^f„=lJ u^^ ™ *He violence of
and wS juS 1 f " h 'J'^"?* *^*»"8J»t «^ filing,
ribly s?o^hot^i?,t°'.^'''"'l'^' ^* ^ te-
the^percei?^ """^ '^"'^S *« had not til!
B#^';T^°^ Z^'IX^^' -^^^ ^er of
none. HeTOSHmrhf .^"^^ °° resemblance-
Less tC^±ThT^''^'^^°l^-'^<i^'^t^.
deaf ear to SX. S T ?' '^ *"™«1 *
forever. HoW^^^ftf °f «« to him
now-go when and where het,^? AyTf "? ^
were back in his anns ! NeverlLd^h.^ •'^^.^*=
up-neverl But then in W ^"^ ^""^ ^im
ing words, "Dear mu^,»'^^ f'-f"**^ the coo-
thmg-ho; coulTshe ^v her ^^ af/"*^'^ ^^
hold close and kiss th^lLZ ^'^^ °*'''*^'" '^'^^
that grave SSe dark eyedTeV"^"' "^'^^ ^^'
390
BEYOND
TTie roar of London came in through the open
window. So much life, so many people-and iot
a soul could helpl She left the wind^ and went
to the cottage-piano she had there, out of Winton's
?^i. ?"' '*tf°'y "^^ ^*^ "™s folded, looking
at the keys. The song that girl had sung at Fio>
sen s concert-Bong of the broken heart-came back
to ner.
No, noj she couldn't-couldn't I It was to her
di^ ^""^ ''^' ^<^ tears lan down her
A cab had stopped below, but not till Betty came
rushing m did she look up.
fc
W^M ^
XIV
SSd^^^^./^^^^^^«' WHatbl^J-
"I am sony-vety, very sony."
"B^^' '^°''' '^^ ^'^^^ ^to her face
, Jy..^' I -° ^-d I shaU never forger;ou-
Tears had come into his eyes, and Gyp watched
them, moved, troubled, but stiU deeply Zs^Tt^t
^92 BEYOND
*i.^^i^^^^**^ ^^ *^<1 across his face- and th^
thought flashed through her- 'He l^ZZ' ?
fh<»v, I Ai. 1 """"S" "cr. xie means me to see
thfflil Ah, what a cynical wretch I ami'
i'lorsen saw that thought Da.« =r,A „ ** •
suddenly: ^ ^ ' ^'^ muttenng
"Good-bye, Gyp I I am not all bad. I am not J"
He tore the door open and was gone
h Ji!i^ P^°fate "I am notl" saved Gyp from a
breakdown. No; even at his highest pit^ of ^li
negauon, he could not forget himielf
Rehef if overwhehning, is slowly realized- but
when, at last, what she had escap^ J^^t kv
brfore her were staring full in eaTother's fece it
seemed to her that she must cry out md teU rtl
whole world of her intoxicati^ Sptss ^d
the moment litUe Gyp was in fiSty W she^t
down and wrote to Summerhay: ""«' ^ne sat
"Damjno,
would give her back tn m! T? ^*'"' "y*^ ^^ ^
come back; and 4en S h^ ^^ ,h ^^ /^««'»« tiU we
after aU. bnlj^-„ow TSfd^' f '^ '"^ ^""^ '' *''-
Look into the ^TZtlT^ [Zn'^v ft^.*^-
-^r honour-weigh with you; be utter ;'=:u^e:V^'tS
u. Icanjustbearitnowif Iknowif«fnr„^^^
•t afterward it'll be too l«t. T.\r.'^Tu f/""^ y°" 8°«1-
you,
B«-»™iT«~^s: vsi'rjzs
BEVQND
393
Andrew, good-night, LdS^:^'^.^;:^' ">' of .e.
"Your
"Gvp."
She read it over and shivered nw ci,
meaa ^t she could bear SS dre^l^S^^J^
so much 4> S? . "^ "" " ^ °°' ^"'^^g
her aU thoL £t Z', ? ^,!^ ^' '^^ ^'^ ^
^.'Snd-td^«2^^CValr-=
-hngupather,headdel: "Hrhafjui; ltd'
^^•I^e mist became tears, roUed down, feU on his
"Not too long out there. Gyp !"
She pressed her wet cheek passionately to his
394
BEYOND
^ . ' S?'."? ^** ~™"' »t down, blinded
IleT^-^'*^"^'^- She had not cried whS
she left him the day of her fatal mamage: she
cned now that she was leaving him toeTto W
incredible happiness. "« ™n «> go to her
Strange I But her heart had grown since then.
*#9fi^
PART IV
jftiBUHHnV^JlIC M
shaped face,Xk t^J h^'V^' ^« <^^'^'
brown eyes; but she^tl, ^ ^«^ ^^ ^ear
air lookfhJr W ifi^ £? '°«*^«'° *^Md's open-
turkeys, trailing deliSX tw ^' *"^P-^«^ The
uttering soft liauid inS *^ W-toed feet and
brown hands i,7!„I^/°' ^?^^« ^ her httle
waspastTeJ^J^^i*^^^ ^ "^^ ^^^*' f°' i*
red house,^?^li^Sl XT?' '"^^ ''^ ^«
the deep blue fS^of liS.^ ^f procession-
in the chestnut SterliS^^^JP' ^' ^^' ''^ «°^d
the dark birds with . ', ^ "^aisy-starred grass;
dieckeriSaTd^thSC' dewlaps^nd
red and yeDow W^n ch i, !f^^"'"°'^' P"" ^^
open gate TI' TwT • ^\^^ '"'"^ ^^^ to the
"Jen^f 7 ^^ ^^'^ ^^^^' and said:
the ^i^TofSU^^r^h'T/ .''"''■'" ^<^ -
oi me turk /s she shut the gate. Then she
39?
398
BEYOND
went to where, under the wahiut-tree-the one TanrP
tree of that waUed garden-a ve^^ old^o?^ 2
ner was lying, and sitting down beside iZl^Z
stroking his white muzde; saying: ' ^^
Ossy, Ossy, do you love me?"
Presently, seeing her mother in the porch she
jumped up and crying out: "Ossy-^^yrw^r
nished to Gyp and embraced her lezsThUe tfTnL
Scotch terrier slowly foUowed "'''
DrSr ^S'^ ^"""f "' ^^ """^"^^ ^<^ dog's ap-
ESf^He^?'' three years had changed her ^
htOe. Her face was softer, and rather more grave
ter form a httle fuUer, her hair, if anythm/dSer'
Zi£"" ^^'^^tly-i'stead of wa^h. ^J
and bmg coded up behind, it was smoothly gatwS
l^^ °^ °" ^^^ ^as better revealed.
Darhng go and ask Pettance to put a fresh
piece of sulph^ i, Ossys water-bowl, ^^ to "SS
Zr^- ?""*, ^''- ^""^ '^ »ve Hotspur^d
out. Gomg down on her knees in the norrh .h»
parted the old dog's hair and ^r^^^X^ ' ^
thinking- "T .vT!;! u exammed his eczema,
toSf- oi TV"*' "^T '"°'" ^'f **t stuff in
to-mght Oh ducky, you're not smelling your
best! Yes; only— not my face!"
«ni.!?!?*P''-"'^^ ^^ '^^"^g froi° the gate. Gyp
?rwtn s^rr*" ^^ '^* *'^°' ^« ^-S
mi wnen bummerhay was not with her.
"Detained; shaU'be down by last train- ne^ nnf ^
up to-morrow.— Bkyan." ' """^
BEYOND
399
g»v™ ' ■"<'«' ""^ >»»> ™nt to stand, waited
all to-nomw, ,„d m'll go a loni S. ,»j 7
y™ »enie, will j„ ciJl a, Uieta *;»!^ Ji^
w3b.??r:5,- -::,;»- -^»
400
BEYOND
Gyp Iook«l at her little daughter, who had given
one «.cited hop, but now stood stiU her eyes E
up at her mother and her lips nLted^^^^®
thoutrht- "TT,« J T- 1^, ^ parted, and she
^ught. ThedarhngI She never begs for any-
"Very well, Pettance; buy her "
The "old scoundrel" touched his forelock:
yes, ma am— very good, ma'am. Beautiful
evemn', ma'am." And, withdrawing at Ws^^iro
one whose feet are at pennanent right iSs to the
legs, he mused: 'And that'U be two in mf ^e^
W ; ^7,r«»t' °ot as usual, up to the downT
"l^M^" Tv"^"' '"^S for what they calS
thewJd" This was an outlying plot of negS
ground belonging to their fann^sedgy mSSws
M Y ^"fl "'^ ^"^^ «^ oaks^and^Is'
^ old stone hnhay. covered to its broken thatS
by a huge ivy bush, stood at the angle where the
SL^f wT^' ^*™P' ™"°^de of cornfields,
grass, Md beech-clumps; it was favoured by beast^
S?es tU^'T^^ ^^ "f --tly seen twot^?
iiares there. From an oak-tree, where the crinkled
Wes were not yet large enough to hide JT 1
cuckoo was calling and they stopped to lookTlhe
grey bird tm he flew off. The Sg Id ^li^^^
the green and golden oaks andT«, the flo^S^
8;;s^r^\'^^' ™«^' ^^ cucko<:s:Ss"
starring the rushy grass-^ brought to Gyp that
BEYOND ^Qj
feeling of the uncaptura'X^ sDirit -,! '•-], i- u v .
the fonns of nature th7 h,? Y " .^*^ ''**™'*
life that is ever Sshfn 7^' ^' ' "'^ ^^^ "^
out of deatJ S^i;'::!^"^ "P^^S again
old linhay a bird^m?7.^'^ ^"^ ^°«« *» the
cWes, ut^eSn^4XS,f "•f/"-'^ ,^^J".^^«
^r bifd iS^.f^"''^ ^'' niother's W
roor bird I Isn t it a poor bird, mum ? "
^tlT'J^i >tW curlew-I wonder what's the
rSiaTfaiUma"^?^'^'"^^^^^'^"'^"
"The bird it lives with "
Yes.
They went on into the sedgy crass anH tl,-
lew continued tn rir^i^ ^T. '^ "" "*^ cur-
from beS th^^ ' i^^^ ^*^ ^appearing
Cries. ^Ue G^p^'. ^"^^^ "^*^™« ^^^^^ ^
.ol^hurn^o^^rt^J,^, Becausewe-renot
bird^r^wSS't^ii ^"*^^^-d the poor
'CourlieTc^riiepF' '^ ^^^ J^^e. Call to it:
evening^"^ ^d ""'' ^""^ ^'^'^^ °^ ^
"Oh, look; it's dipping close to the ground, over
'M^
403
BEYOND
there in that comer-it's got a nest ! We won't go
near, will we? *
Little Gyp echoed in a hushed voice-
"It's got a nest."
They stole bad. out of the gate close to the linhay,
the curlew s^iU ftghting and crying behind them.
Aren t we glad the mate isn't hurt, mum?"
Oyp answered with a shiver:
"Yes, darling, fearfuUy glad. Now then, shaU
we go down and ask Grandy to come up to diiiier ? "
riveJ Gyp hopped. And they went toward the
At "The Bowl of Cream," Winton had for two
years had rooms, which he occupied as often as his
pursuits permitted. He had refused to mate his
home with Gyp, desiring to be on xiand only when
Je wanted hmi; and a simple life of it he led in
those sunple quarters, riding with her when Summer-
hay was in town, visiting the cottagers, smoking
cigars, laymg plans for the defence of his daughter's
position and devoting himself to the whims of litUe
<^. This moment, when his grandchild was to
b^ to nde, was in a manner sacred to one for
whom hfe had ^t meaning apart from horses.
Looking, at them, hand in hand, Gjp thought: 'Dad
loves her as much as he loves me now-more, I think '
Lonely dmner at the inn was an infliction which
he studiously conc^ed from Gyp, so he accepted
their mvitation without alacrity, and they walked
^JS ?' ^!"' T"^ "'"^ ^yP ^ the middle, sui>
ported by a hand on each side.
BEYOND
403
in^4?tf^"Jr'^^*''' °°^^ ^^t h^'l been
"I iryps mamed home except the niano Tf 1,=^
wbte walls, fumitu^ of old^oak an'STr pL^s
^rocns hung in the dining-room. Winton never
^ed to scrutinize it when he came in Sa m J- -
that 'deuced rum affair" appeared to have a fas-
cination for him. He approv^ of the Sg-r<S^
altogether; its nairow oak "last supper"^ S
made gay by a strip of blue linen, old b,£ heSS
^ment wmdows hung with floored cSrtS-S
softness. He got on weU enough with Summerhay
but he enjoyed himself much more when he wS
there alone with his daughter. And thS^eveiZ
he was especiaUy glad to have her to hmZTT^
ri,Sd'r" "" '^^^ ^' "^^y -- -
tunes. I wish you saw more people."
"Oh no, Dad."
Watching hersmfle, he thought: 'That's not
sour grapes»-What is the trouble, then?' '
feUol^E Sy?""°' '"''^ "^^^ «^ ^*
thj^^^Ste.'?"* ''' '''^ '^^ ^ ^"^-
"Is he? Ah, that'n cheer them" AnH !,«
^ght: 'It's not that, then. But^^here^H^
tmng — ^I'll swear 1' ^i-c-
404
BEYOND
m town last week who spoke of him as about tS
most promising junior at the bar."
I.TrlT^'- *^'? ^''"^ ^''^y ^«^-" And a sound
^e a famtsigh. caught his ears. "Would you ^y
he s changed much since you knew him, Dad?"
«v V ^°^-peAaps a Kttle less jokey."
Yes; he's lost his laugh."
WktT ^'"^ """"^^ ^'^ ""^^^^ ^''' y'' '^ ^«=ted
"Can't expect him to keep that," he answered
tumng people mside out, day after day-^S
of them rotten. By George, what a life ' "
But when he had left her, strolling back in the
b^ht moonhght he reverted to his slispSi^^d
wished he had said more directly: "Look here Gn,
are you worrying about Bryan-x.r have peoS SS
makmg themselves unpleasant?"
He had in these last three years, become uncon-
sciously inimical to his own clai and theirl^utoi
and more than ever friendly to the pooi^visitimr the
abourers smaU fanners, and smaU^Sade^S^doW
them httle turns when he could, givingtiiei 2
^ sixpences, and so fora TTif f act th^ Z.
could not afford to put on airs of virtue escap2
S^f '^ f^r^""^ ""^y *^^' ^'^ ^«« respectful Sd
them m proportion as he grew exasperated with the
s:°ri;eS:s?^^-'-^^^-'«^ot^
When he first came down, the chief landowner-
■■'■ V'^.l-
. .-. ■ * '*•%
BEYOND 4^5
hTr ^H^,? ^""^ ^*"" y^-^-had invited him to
H^n V <; I- *^ ^"^^^ ^^ t^« deUberate inten-
tion of findmg out where he was, and had taken the
first natural opportunity of mentioning his daughter.
She wa^, he said, devoted to her flowers; the Red
House had quite a good garden. His fri;id's wife
shghtly liftmg her brows, had answered ^Ti
nervous smfle: "Oh! yes; of course-yes." A si!
teice had not unnaturaUy, faUen. Sine then
Wmton had saluted his friend and his friena . wi?e
with such fngid pohteness as froze the very marrow
rv^r,^'"'^,- .^' ^ °°* gone there fishing foT
Gyp to be caUed on, but to show these people that
h^daughter could not be slighted with'^^LSJ
Foobsh of him, for, man of the world to his finger-
tips he knew perfectly weU that a woman li4ig
wiUia man to whom she was not married could
not be recogmzed by people with any pretensions to
orthodox; Gyp was beyond even the debatable
ground on which stood those who have been divorced
and are married again. But even a man of the
7^Av^ ?°' P"^^ *«^* *^^ ^"^^8 of devotion,
and Wmton was ready to charge any windmill at
any moment on her behalf.
Outside the inn door, exhaling the last puffs of
hwgood-mght cigarette, he thought: 'What wouldn't
I give for tiie old days, and a chance to wing some
of these moral upstarts I'
n
n
Ita: last train was not due tiU deven-thirty, and
havmg seen that the evening tray had sandwiches
Gyp went to Summerhay's study, the room aTright
^Iroom Hfre, If she had nothing to do, she always
She would have been horrified if she had known of
her father's sentiments on her behalf. Her instant
denial of the wish to see more people had iL ^
genume. The conditions of her Ufe, in that resS
?,2r„r:S'"'".v'^- it-^^uchajorK
free of people one did not care two straws about
and of all empty social functions. Everything she
had now was real-love, and nature, riding, music
anunals. ^d poor people. What else wS worti
havmg? Sne would not have changed for anything.
It often se«ned to her that books and plays aboift
SL'^PP""? of women in her position were all
false. If one loved, what could one want better?
Such women, if unhappy, could have no pride; or
else could not reaUy love! She had recently been
h^/ ^* Karenina," and had often ^d to
heredf. "There's something not true about it-^
If To^toy wanted to make us believe that Anna was
secretly fedmg remorse. If one loves, one doesn't
406
BEYOND
407
feel remorse. Even if my baby had been taken
oneself to love-or one does not." ^
She even derived a positive joy from the feeiine
that her love mposed a sort of isolation; L S
to be apart-for him. Besides, by her ven. SJ
nad b^n. And her pnde was greater than theirs
too How coiUd women mope and moan becS
they were cast out, and try to scratch thd? tav
back where they wei« not welcome? How coS
^'th^^TFio^^'l^-i, ^'°^^^^' she wlnS
mat HJff/ ^^J ^^ ^""^^ '"^ her lover.
What di£Ference would it make? She could not
love bm more. It would only make hL £el r^
haps too sure of her, make it il a rlt^oUo^'
for bm, she was not certain, of late had been less
and less certam. He was not bound now coSd
leave her when he tired! And yet-<«rhe ^r
S-Sf^ll'"".'! "^^ thanft^teSr:
ned-unfairly bound ? It was this thought-b^v
more than the shadow of a thought^hichlS
g^en her. of late, the extra gravirnotic^fy ^
In that unlighted room with the moonbeams drif t-
":g m, she sat down at Summerhay's bureaTXre
he often worked too late at his caL, d^^ h^
o^s^ She sat ti^ere noting her'elSwnjS^
bare wood, cmssmg her finger-tips, gating out into
4o8
BEYOND
the moonLght, her mind drifting on a stream of
memones that seemed to haveT^gimui oSwro^
the year when he came into her uTa sSe cS
ou on her face, and now and then L^L^l
httle sigh of contentment
So many memories, nearly aU happy! Surelv
the most adroit work of the jeweller who duTS^
human soul together was his provision"' itfl^
to forget the dark and remember sunshine ^e
year and a half of her life with FiorserTZf^™ Z,
montts that foUowed it ^Tgl^Si^Z
mist by the radiance of the last Lee yt^S^hSe
otd^t Sr' T ''°"1' °« biggeJthan" £d
oi doubt whether Summerhay really loved her «
Kt'af ' \"'' "T' "^^^- ^™- WoXy
He got as much as the all she eot fmm hio ^
^^-f u 7" prevision that, when she loved it
^uld be d^perately, had been fulfilled, nf had
^ome her life. When this befalls one wh^^
setting suength and weakness alike is pri^^
wonder that she doubts. pnde-no
hIZ *^^J^y^ they had gone to Spain-that
BEYOND 4^^
they missed their Easten, veils. It had been a
month of gaiety and gla^ioar, last days^sS.^
ber and early days of Octobe;, a revX iSS"
laughter of strange jceats and stranger sounds of
^nge hght and velvety shadows, and KTa^^^
apd deep gravity of Spain. The Alca^ th.
agarette-girls, the Gipsy dancers of T,£rthe dd
blown rmi^ to which they rode, the str^^d 2e
s::^^tis^^? ^? ^"^^ orSn^hest
the sun, the water-sellers and the melons; the mules
up the ends of cigarettes, the wine of Malaga S
got no further. They had come back acrosslhe
brown uplands of Ca^tfle to Madrid and Goya ^d
S S ^^'!' "^ * q"^"- little French hotel
F^r. 'a r^* I ^l»^b«™aid who seemed aU
France, and down below a restaurant, to which such
^ knew about eating came, with waiters w£ loo^S
week. -Three special memories of that week started
^ m the m«>nlight before Gyp's eye^l^elS
dm^e m the Bois among the falling leaves of S
flashmg with colour in the crisp air under a brilS
S^n «B°'T°*, ^- ^^ ^"^ »^°« the Leo-
nardo 'Bacchus," wnen-his "restored" pink skin
XTif ^^ r ''^ "^"^ t° '^"'P ''^'^y while
ahe hstened, with the listening figure before w t^
4IO
BEYOND
ST" mS'^T, '°"'^' °^ «"^8 flowed and secret
supper after the th^^^X ^^^ -« ^^^
marK down every woman in the room ( <:i.«,.ij v
prated to feel faint and slip o^^ L tTS^tt?
Sw in u ^ *^°"«^ J"^* discovering her^^^^
How could she evei^that man with Us httleTSd
^rl V^hr 1"h ^' '"e^ eyes-how S^^
R^il. Tu ^."^ *^™' ^ tlie mirror, she Tw
Rosek s dark-circled eyes fasten on her a^dJetrav
then: recognition by a sudden gleam saw hf^
ner perfect back-^d she was eating. And Kqn
BEYOND 4„
sen was staring straight before him in that moody
Etln'^'.Vf AU depended on that Sj
htUe man, who had once kissed her throat A sick
fit^H^fr''^- Ifl^^^'loverknewthat^S
five yards of hmi were those two men ! But she stS
^edand talked, and touched his foot. RosekSS
S oTLr^T con^ious-was getting from it a
kmd of sausfaction. She saw him lean over and
wh^per to the girl, and Daphne Wi^ti^g to
took, and her mouth opening for a smothered "Oh ! »
Gyp saw her give an uneasy glance at Fiorsen, and
iJt»i!*^K-^^v.'°'^'- Surely she would wakt to
get away before he saw. Yes; veiy soon she rose.
What htt^e airs of the world she had now-quite
mistressofthesituation! The wrap must be^aced
exactly on her shoulders; and how she wdked
?;--.-3ng just one startled look back from the door'
Gone! The ordeal over! And Gyp said:
'Let's go up, darling."
She felt as if they had both escaped a deadly peril
-not from anything those two could do to him^or
her, but from the cruel ache and jealousy of the past
which the sight of that man would have brought him'
Women, for their age, are surely older than men
-mamed women, at aJl events, than men who have
not had that experience. And aU through those
first weeks of their life together, there was a kind of
wise watchfulness in Gyp. He was only a boy in
knowledge of hfe as she saw it, and though his char-
acter was so much more decided, active, and insis-
tent than her own, she felt it lay with her to shape
4"
BEYOND
the course ud avoid the shallows and sunken rocks,
under the Berkshire downs, was stiU empjy I^d
of ;r- .^f^^*^ "»sisted that he should teU no one
ofttLeirbfetogether. If that must come, she w^tS
to be firmly settled in, with little Gyp andlSS
much hke respectable married life as possible BuT
one day, m the first week after therretuS wMe
m her room just back from a long day's shopW
a card was brought up to her: "Lady sLmSy '''
tTi'Jp' m ^"^t''- «^^ would wish me
faL^ f i ^^ *'''' page-boy was gone, she
S to the mxm>r and looked at hers^ d^uS!
Mly. She seemed to know exactly what that tall
«. whom she had seen on theWo™ woS
think of her-too soft, not capable, not right for
hmil-not even if she were Sy his wife An J
touching her hair, laying a dab^^S o^her ^^
tT'^^jT"^ and went downstairs Sutt^^r
but outwardly cahn enough. nutienng,
hoS ^l^^^^ low-roofed imier lomige of that old
G^'«. ^ ^°" ^"" ^ "entireiyrenovateS"
Gyp saw her visitor standing at a tablef rapidty t^.
mg the pages of an iUustrated magarin/as neorl
wm when their minds are set u^^^g J^J
S Z'lt^'"^''- '^•-"-^e'smorSS-
Lady Summerhay held out a gloved hand.
BEYOND
How do you do ? " she said. "I hone
give my coming.
Gyp too"
'Thank
413
you'll for-
hand.
you. It was very good of
Sony Bryan isn't in yet. Willyouhave
you. I'm
some tea?'
How do you
"Very nice."
ti^^.V'^''''^ 'T«^ ^^ ^ survived the renova-
abroad Hes lookmg very well. I think. I'm d^
voted to him, you know." ^^ ^
Gyp answered softly:
asSXr^" ^'^^-^-t felt suddenly
Lady Summerhay gave her a quick look
l-I hope you won't mind my being frank-
If there s anything I can do to help, I should be
so glad— It must be horrid for you."
Gyp said very quietly:
Dier^^^AnH ';°'Pf'*«^5'y^PPy^ouldn'tbehap-
Seve£t'^^^°"«'*--'^-PP«-^edoesn^
Lady Summerhay was looking at her fixedly.
One doesn't realize these things at first-neither
^m'r.j^^ 'mn %
414
BEYOND
Gyp made an effort to control a smfle.
"Oae can only be cold-shouldered if one pute
oneself in the way of it I should never wish to see
or speak to anyone who couldn't take me just for
what I am And I don't reaUy see what difference
It will make to Bryan; most men of his age have
someone, somewhere." She felt malicious pleasure
watehmg her visitor jib and frown at the cynicism
of that soft speech; a kind of hatred had come on
Her of this society woman, who— disguise it as she
would-was at heart her enemy, who regarded her
must regard her, as an enslaver, as a despoiler of her
son s worldly chances, a Delilah dragging him down.
She said stiU more quietly: "He need teU no one of
my existence; and you can be quite sure that if
ever he feels he's had enough of me, he'U never be
troubled by the sight of me again."
And she got up. Lady Summerhay also rose.
I hope you don't think— I reaUy am only too
anxious to "
"I aiink it's better to be quite frank. You wiU
never like me, or forgive me for ensnaring Bryan
And so It had better be, please, as it would be if I
were just his common mistress. That will be per-
fectly aU right for both of us. It was veiy good of
you to come, though. Thank you— and good-bye "
Lady Su^nmerhay literaUy faltered with speech
and hand.
With a malicious smile. Gyp watched her retire-
ment among the little tables and elaborately mod-
em chairs till her taU figure had disappeared behind
BEYOND
4IS
a column. Then she sat down again on the lounge
pressing her hands to her burning ears. She had
never tiU then known the strength of the pride-
demon within her; at the moment, it was ahnost
stronger than her love. She was stiU sitting there
when the page-boy brought her another card— her
father's. She sprang up saying:
"Yes, here, please."
Winton came in all brisk and elated at sight of
her after this long absence; and, throwing her arms
round his neck, she hugged him tight. He was
doubly precious to her after the encounter she had
just gone through. When he had given her news
of Mildenham and Uttle Gyp, he looked at her
steadily, and said:
"The coast'U be clear for you both down there,
and at Bury Street, whenever you like to come, Gyp.
I shaU regard this as your real marriage. I shaU
have the servants in and make that plain."
A row like family prayers— and Dad standing up
very straight, saying in his dry way: "You will be
so good in future as to remember^" "I shall be
obliged if you win," and so on; Betty's round face
pouting at being brought in with all the others;
Markey's soft, inscrutable; Mrs. Markey's demure
and goggling; the maids' rabbit-faces; old Pettance's
carved grin the film lifting from his little burning
eyes: "Hal Mr. Bryn Summer'ay; he bought her
'orse, and so she's gone to 'im !" And she said:
"Darling, I don't know I It's awfully sweet of
you. We'll see later."
4i6
BEYOND
Winton patted her hand. "We must stand up
to^, you know, Gyp. You mustn't get your tl
Gyp laughed.
"No, Dad; never!"
That same night, across the strip of blackness be-
tween theu: beds, she said:
"Bryan, promise me something 1"
"It depends. I know you too well "
PriiS!"'*'' "^"^^ rasonable, and possible.
"AU right; if it is."
"I want you to let me take the lease of the Red
House-let It be mine, the whole thing-let me pay
for everything ther«." ^'
"Reasonable! What's the point?"
"Only that I shaU have a proper home of my own.
I can t explam, but your mother's coming to-day
made me fed I must" ^^'
"My chfld how could I possibly Kve on ytm
there? It's absurd!"
"You can pay for everything dse; London-
travclhng-^othes, if you like. We can make it
square up. It's not a question of money, of course
I on^y want to fed that if, at any moment, you don't
need me any more, you can simply stop coming."
''I think that's brutal. Gyp."
"No, no; so many women lose men's love be-
cause they seem to daim things of them. I don't
want to lose yours that way- that's all "
"That's silly, darling!"
BEYOND
417
J'rhl- ""^ ^T^*^ ^0'°«'' too-always tug
at chains. And when there is no chain "
WeU then; let me take the house, and you can
go away when you're tired of me." Bh voice
sounded smothered, resentful; she could hear him
tumng and turning, as if angiy with his piUows.
And she murmured:
«w i ^ f^'* «^lain. But I r«aUy mean it"
We re just beginning life together, and you talk
2.?.''SS£..'^"""^- »'■«=. Gyp. »«
She said gently:
"Don't be angry, dear."
I' WeU I Why don't you trust me more?"
I do. Only I must make as sure as I can "
'a c^^ " '^^''«^°^^ t™»iog and turning.
Gyp said slowly:
"Ohl Very well!"
A dead silence followed, both lying quiet in the
darkn«s, trymg to get the better of eadi other by
Jeer hstenmg. An hour perhaps passed before he
aghed and, feeling his Ups on hers, she knew that
sue had won.
'■^^KilzMl:
m.
ItaKE, in the study, the moonlight had reached
iier face; an owl was hooting not far away, and still
more memories came-the happiest of aU, perhaps
—of first days m this old house together.
Summerhay damaged himself out hunting that
first wmter. The memory of nursing him was
strangely pleasant, now that it was two years old
For convalescence they had gone to the Pyrenees-
Arg'elte m March, aU ahnond-blossom and snows
agamst the blue-a wonderful fortnight. In Lon-
don on the way back they had their first awkward
oicounter Coming out of a theatre one evening
Gyp heard a woman's voice, close behind, say:
Why, It's Bryan 1 What ages 1" And his sinswer
defensively drawled out:
" Hallo ! How are you, Diana ? "
"Oh, awfully fit Where are you, nowadays?
Wily don t you come and see us?"
Again the drawl:
"Down in the country. I wiU, some time,
uood-bye.
A tall woman or girl— red-haired, with one of
those wonderful white skins that go therewith; and
brown-yes, brown eyes; Gyp could see those eyes
sweeping her up and down with a sort of burning-
BEYOND
419
Bryan's hand was thrust under her
live curiosity.
arm at once.
"Come on, let's walk and get a cab."
As soon as they were clear of the crowd, she
pressed his hand to her breast, and said:
"Did you mind?"
"Mind? Of course not It's for you to mind."
"Who was it?"
"A second cousin. Diana Leyton."
"Do you know her very well?"
"Oh yes— used to."
"And do you like her very much?"
"Rather I"
He looked round into her face, with laughter bub-
bhng up behind his gravity. Ah, but could one
tease on such a subject as their love? And to this
day the figu- « of that tall giri with the burning-white
skm, ♦'^e burning-brown eyes, the burning-red hair
was quite a pleasant memory to G:,- After
that ^ht, they gave up aU attempt toWue their
umon, going to whatever they wished, whether they
were likely to meet people or not Gyp found that
nothing was so easily ignored as Society when the
heut was set on other things. Besides, they were
seldom m London, and in the country did not wish
to know anyone, in any case. But she never lost
the feeling that what was ideal for her might not be
ideal for him. He ought to go into the world, ought
to meet people. It would not do for him to be
cut ofif from social pleasures and duties, and then
some day fee! that he owed his star\Tition to her.
430
TOB
BEYOND
and
ci.. -^ ^ If ndon, too, every day was tirii
bers in the Temple, and sleep there three nights a
week. In spite of aU his ^treatier^eTS^
Bury Street when she came up. A kkd of ^per-
sbUon prevented her; she wodd not risk rSg
^ feel that she was hanging round his^^
?tde ?' t ^?*^ "^ ^^ ^^"^ desirabl^
t'f J "^^^^ "^ '^""^ that he would hanker after
her when he wa^ away. And she never asked h^
where he went or whom he saw. But, sometimes
die wondered whether he could stiU be'qXSS
fid to her m thought, love her as he us^ to; and
tdl, at lus return, the sun came out again. Love
^ch as he«-pasaonate, adoring, protective, long-
Z tZf'! '"^'.^^ «^^" aU that it had to iZ,
yet secreUy demanding aU his love in retum-fo^
how cou^d a proud woman love one who did no?
love her ?-such love as this is always longing for
a umon more complete than it is likdy to gS in a
word where aU things move and fh^^ ?„?
agamst the grip of this love she never dr^ed o
^htmg. now. From the moment when she knew
she must chng to him rather than to her baby, Z
badcet, as her father's had been before her-all '
The moonhght was shining full on the old bureau
and a vase of tuhps standing there, giving those
flowers colour that was not colour, and an uWS
^_1»
BEYOND 42,
look, as if they came from a world which no human
enters. It glinted on a bronze bust of old Voltaire
which she had bought him for a Christmas present'
so that the great writer seemed to be smiling from
tie hoUows of his eyes. Gyp turned the bust a
MUe, .;o catch the light on its far cheek; a letter was
disclosed between it and the oak. She drew it out
thinking: 'Bless him! He uses everything for
paper-weighte'; and, in the strange li^t, its first
words caught her eyes:
"Deas Beyan,
"But I say— you are wasting yourself "
She laid it down, methodically pushing it back
under the bust. Perhaps he had put it there on
purpose! She got up and went to the window, to
check the temptation to read the rest of that let-
ter and see from whom it was. No ! She did not
admit that she was tempted. One di<J not read
letters. Then the fuU import of those few words
struck into her: "Dear Bryan. But / say— you are
wasting yourself." A letter in a chain of corre-
spondence, then! A woman's hand; but not his
mother's, nor his sisters'— she knew their writings.
Who had dared to say he was wasting himself? A
letter in a chain of letters ! An intimate correspon-
dent, whose name she did not know, because— he had
not told her! Wasting himself— on what?— on his
life with her down here? And was he? Had she
herself not said that very night that he had lost his
laugh? She began searching her memory. Yes
422 BEYOND
jBtChmtaas vacation-that dear, cold, wonder-
ful fortnight m Florence, he had been fuU of fun It
was May now. Was there no memory sinc(^-of his
old mfectious gaiety? She could not think of any
I. f!iL^,'*^r^°" "'■' ^^^ yourself." A sudden
hatred flared up m her against the unknown woman
who had said that thin^-and fever, running through
her vems, made her ears bum. She longed to
snat^ forth and tear to pieces the letter, with its
guardianship of which that bust seemed mocking
her; and she turned away with the thought- 'I'll
go and met him; I can't wait here.'
Throwing on a cloak she walked out into the
moonht garden, and went slowly down the whitened
road toward the station. A magical, dewless night 1
The moonbeams had stolen in to the beech clump,
frostmg the boles and boughs, casting a fine ghostly
grey over the shadow-patterned beeth-mast. Gyo
took the short cut through it Not a leaf moved in
there, no hving thing stirred; so might an earth be
wHere only trees inhabited 1 She thought- 'I'll
bnng him back through here.' And she waited at
the far comer of the clump, where he must pass,
some httle distance from the station. She never
gave people unnecessary food for gossip-any slight-
ing of her irritated him, she was careful to spare him
that. The train came in; a car went whizzing by
a cychst, then the first foot-passenger, at a great
pace, breaking into a mn. She saw that it was he
and calhng out his name, ran back into the shadow
of the trees. He stopped dead in his tracks, then
#•#
BEYOND
4»3
came rashing after her. That pursuit did not last
long, and, in his arms, Gyp said:
"If you aren't too hungry, darling, lei's stay here
a little— it's so wonderful !"
They sat down on a great root, and leaning against
him, looking up at the dark branches, she said:
"Have you had a hard day?"
"Yes; got hung up by a late consultation; and
old Ley ton asked me to come and dine."
Gyp felt a sensation as when feet happen on
ground that gives a little.
"The Leytons— that's Eaton Square, isn't it? A
big dinner?"
"No. Only the old people, and Bertie and Di-
ana."
"Diana? That's the girl we met coming out of
the theatre, isn't it?"
" When ? Oh— ah— what a memory. Gyp ! "
"Yes; it's good for things that interest me."
"Why? Did she interest you?"
Gyp turned and looked into his face.
"Yes. Is she clever?"
"H'm ! I suppose you might call her so."
"And in love with you?"
"Great Scott! Why?"
"Is it very unlikely? lam."
He began kissing her lips and hair. And, closing
her eyes. Gyp thought: 'If only that's not because
he doesn't want to answer!' Then, for some
minutes, they were silent as the moonlit beech
clump.
1^^-^
*'* BEYOND
-frlT^"'*™^^'^'^*"' Doyounevei^never
feel as if you were wasting youiself on me?"
She was certain of a quiver in his eraso- hut !.«
i«- ;^s_^ and seren? his voice asS wK
';WeU hardly everl Aren't you funny, dear?"
Pronuse me faithfully to let me kiow when
you've had enough of me. Promise !"
^•'All right! But don't look for fulfihnent in this
"I'm not so sure."
"lam."
in ?^ wK "P ^" ^ and tried to dixjwn for ever
in a kiss the memory of those words: "But / sav-
you are wasting yourself." '
IV
SrMUERHAY, coming down next morning, went
slight to his bureau; his mind was not at ease
Wasting yourself 1" What had he done with ^t
letter of Diana's? He remembered Gyp's coming
in just as he finished reading it Seaxchinglhe
pigeonholes and drawers, moving everything that
lay about, he twitched the bust-and the letter lay
disclosed. He took it up with a sigh of relief :
" Deak Bryan,
Jl^!" ^.n^^""" '^/ '^'^ y"""^- Why, my dear, of
course I '// faut « /aire voloir f You have only onTf^^t
to put for^; the other is planted in I don't W w^
K'?°'?,'lf-: On-'f^'ti" the gravest thirty I R^
It s no good your beujg hoity-toity, and telling me to S
We ^^-JZ-V^ '"' everyone^ l^ol^u.
We aU f«*l the bhght on the rose. Besides, you alCs
^r^rjJ^Tf"^^""^' "^^ "^'^ I ^ five and y^^
^^. i ^ f^ "^ ton; and I simply hate to think of you
Ktr^ uT? ^*^ °^ •'"^'^"y "P- Ol"! I know
iP;r.M "'''*,' ^"'-^yo"? I should have thought
t WIS -d-mng' you! Enough 1 When are you comi^
tove IS noUimg but passion, and passion always fatal. I
wonder I Perhaps you know.
;■ Don't be angry with me for being such a grandmother.
" Your very good cousin,
"Diana Leyion."
425
■f^ir^iafc-'HEr i? ,M^-^mi
k
4a6
BEYOND
He crammed the letter into his pocket, and sat
IJ!rk^^f,^-. '^ '"'"' ^^^ ^ ^^° days under
thatbi^t! Had Gyp seen it? He looked at the
bronze face; and the philosopher looked back from
the hollows of his eyes, as if to say: "What do you
know of the human heart, my boy-your own, your
mistress's, that girl's, or anyone's? A pretty dance
the heart wiU lead you yet I Put it in a packet, tie
It round with string, seal it up, drop it in a drawer,
lock the drawer ! And to-morrow it wiU be out and
skipping on Its wrappings. Hoi Ho!" AndSum-
merhay thought: 'You old goat. You never had
one ! In the room above. Gyp would still be stand-
ing as he had left her, putting the last touch to her
iiair--a man would be a scoundrel who, even in
thought, could- "HaUoI" the eyes of the bust
seaned to say "Pity! That's queer, isn't it?
Why not pity that red-haired girl, with the skin so
white that It bums you, and the eyes so brown that
they bum you-don't they?" -Qld Satan! Gyp
had his heart; no one in the world would ever take
It from her 1
And in the chair where she had sat last night
conjunng up memories, he too now conjured. How
he had loved her, did love her ! She would alw?ys
be what she was and had been to him. And the
sage s mouth seemed to twist before him with the
words: "Quite 'JO, my dear! But the heart's very
funny-very-oipacious ! " A tiny sound made him
tum.
Little Gyp was standing in the doorway.
BEYOND
427
"Hallor'hesaid.
"Hallo, Baryn!" She came flying to him, and
he caught her up so that she stood on his knees
with the sunhght shining on her fluffed out hair.
WeU, Gipsy ! Who's getting a taU girl?"
"I'm gom' to ride."
"Ho, ho!"
"Baryn, let's do Humpty-Dumpty!"
u suSs"^^*' ^"""^ "'"'' ^^ ""^ ^** "^^"^ ^^
Gyp was stiU doing one of those hundred things
which occupy women for a quarter of an hour after
S^H, r';! '^y'" »«,d at Uttle Gyp's shout of.
H'ompty I she suspended her needle to watch the
sacred nte.
Summerhay had seated himself on the foot-raU of
the bed, roundmg his aims, sinking his neck, blow-
Z^J^'*''^.*" ^"^'^ ^ ^; '^^' ^th an
unexpectedness that even little Gyp could always
see through, he roUed backward on to the bed
And she, simulating "aH the king's horses," tried
m vain to put hhn up again. This immemorial
game, watched by Gyp a hundred times, had to-day
a special predousness. If he could be so ridiculously
young, what became of her doubts ? Looking at his
face pulled this way and that, lazily imperturbable
imder the pommelings of those smaU fingers, she
thought: 'And that girl dared to say he was wasting
htmsdfl For in the night conviction had come to
Her that those words were written by the ta. girl
with the white skin, the giri of the theatre-the
■TjMl^mMM -w^jsr^^M^Mm
438
BEYOND
Diana of his last night's dinner. Humpty-Dumpty
was up onthe bed-rail again for the finale; aU the
iung s horses were clasped to him, making the ear
more round, and over they both went with shri^
and gurgles. What a boy he was ! She would not—
no, she would not brood and spofl her day with him.
But that afternoon, at the end of a long gaUop
on the downs, she turned her head away and said
suddenly:
"Is she a huntress?"
"Who?"
"Your cousin—Diana."
In his laziest voice, he answered:
"I suppose you mean— does she hunt me?"
She knew that tone, that expression on his face
™ r.^*^ *°«^; but could not stop herself.
I did.
"So you're going to become jealous. Gyp?"
It was one of those cold, naked sayings that
Jould never be spoken between lovers-one of
those sayings at which the heart of the one who
speaks smks with a kind of dismay, and the heart
of the one who hears quivers. She cantered on.
And he, perforce, after her. When she leinea in
agam, he glanced into her face and was afraid It
was aU dosed up against him. And he said softiy:
I didn't mean that. Gyp."
But she only shook her head. He had meant it
-had wanted to hurt her! It didn't matter-she
woiddn t give him the chance again. And she said-
Look at that long white cloud, and the apple-
■yCTiW' m^im^%w^^.^ iitf# jj-'^Tigy
BEYOND
429
green in the sky-rain tcv-morrow. One ought to
enjoy any fine day as if it were the last"
Uneasy, a^ed, yet stiU a little aagiy, Sununer-
hay rode on beside her. summer
That night, she cried in her deep; and, when he
awaiaied her, clung to him and sobbed oJ: "
leftSio^Lf^''*^' I thought you'd
For a long time he held and soothed her. Never
never! He would never leave oflF loving herl
But a cloud no broader than your hand can spread
and cover the whole day. ^
tss^^m
The summer passed, and always there was that
little patch of silence in her heart, and in his. The
*^' /""«*** .^'^ys grew taDer, slowly passed their
zemth, slowly shortened. On Saturdays and Sun-
days, sometimes with Winton and Utde Gyp but
more often alone, they went on the river. ' For
Gyp, It had never lost the magic of their first after-
noon upon it-never lost its glamour as of an en-
ch£.ted world. All the week she looked forward
to these hours of isolation with him, as if the sur-
roundmg water secured her not only against a
world that would take him from her, if it could
but agamst that side of his nature, which, so long'
ago she had named "old Georgian." She had on«
adventured to the law courts by herself, to see him
m his wig and gown. Under that stiff grey crescent
on his broad forehead, he seemed so hard and clever
-so of a world to which she never could belong
so of a piece with the brilliant bullying of the whole
proceeding. She had come away feeling that she
only possessed and knew one side of him. On the
nver she had that side utterly— her lovable, lazy,
impudently loving boy, lying with his head in her
lap, plunging in for a swim, splashing round her;
or with his sleeves rolled up, his neck bare, and a
smile on his face, plying his slow sculls down-stream,
430
.^.'^mk^^'m %..
BEYOND
431
^gmg "Away, my rolling river," or pulling home
bke a demon m want of his dinner. It wal suTJ
When the long vacation came, she made «n
heroic r^lve. He must go to Scotland m^fha^
a monUi away from her, a good long rTst S
whJe Betty was at the sea^with Utde ctp ^e
Svt%i" ''""r ''^ "^^ ^^- She hdlt t
ir^^^^':'^:''' ^^'' ^^- -y protests,
^; Very weU, I will then-if you're so keen to get
'^een fo get rid I" When she could not bear
to be away from him I But she forced h^fedS
back, and said, smiling- ^^^
"At last! There's a good boy!" Anythimr!
If only It would bring him back to her STL
or to whom, he would go. '
Tunbridge WeUs, that charming purgatory where
SSiS^ '"^'^ '^"^ ""^^ ^°^' mor^pe^Len"
retirement, was dreaming on its hills in long rows
^adequate viUas Its commons and woodVSS
remamed unscorched, so that the retired had n^
to any extent deserted it, that August, for the ^I
They 8tm shopped in the Pandles,Ttr£ Z u^!
■^ w
53^:- ,,*i-
432
BEYOND
lands, or flourished their golf-clubs in the grassy
parks; they still drank tea in each other's houses
and frequented the many churches. One could
see their faces, as it were, goldened by their com-
mg glory, like the chins of children by reflection
from buttercups. From every kind of life they had
retired, and, waiting now for a more perfect day,
were doing their utmost to postpone it They lived
very long.
Gyp and her father had rooms in a hotel where
he could bathe and drink the waters without having
to climb three hills. This was the first cure she
had attended since the long-past time at Wies-
baden. Was it possible that was only six years
ago? She fdt so utterly, so strangely different!
Then life had been sparkling sips of every drink,
and of none too much; now it was one long still
draft, to quench a thirst that would not be
quenched.
During these weeks she held herself absolutely
at her father's di^xwal, but she lived for the post,
and if, by any chance, she did not get her dafly
letter, her heart sank to the depths. She wrote
eveiy day, sometimes twice, them tore up that
second letter, remembering Tor what reason she
Md set herself to undergo this y.paration. During
the first week, his letters had a cerUin equanimity;
in Uie second week they became ardent; in the
third, they were fitful— now beginning to look
forward, now moody and dejected; and they were
shorter During this third week Aunt Rosamund
BEYOND
433
supporter of Gyp's new existence, which, in her
S:7J"t^\°'^ "«^*- Why should ae poor
chdds hfe be loveless? She had a definitehr^
opuuon of men, and a lower of the statelT^ ^J^^
n. claws; m her view, any woman who st^^a
blow m that direction was something of a h«^ote
And she was oblivious of the fact th^t *J*^ro"ie.
quite guiltless of the desi. S\S a SLw ^aS
the marriage-laws, or anything else TZtv^^
mu^'s aristocratic and reUoUTood tSLl^'S
^ of what she caUed the "stuffy people" who
stm held Uiat women were men's p^rty It
had made her specially careful never to put hersd^
m that position. ^ "crseu
She had brought Gyp a piece of news.
I was waJkmg down Bond Street past tiiat tea-
and-tart shop, my dear-you knowfwhere tW
have those special coffee^rreams, and who shodd
come out of it but Miss Daphne Wing and ourSd
Fiorsen; and pretty hangdog he looked. He aime
upto me, with his littie lady watching hS iTa
Mi?4-i-rh£^'sh-7£n^j
:rftoS:!^4-f--mehowVo:
t.ZT'^^.^'^ "? ^^'•' ^"^ ^*^' '^ her I haven't
fyten her, and never shaU. But she was quite
nght; this IS the sort of lady that I'm fit for.' And
^"JTil °°^^'' "^^ f^^ °"^'' "^e feel quite
uncomfortoble. Then he gave me one of his Uttle
pR,k:JI.
434
BEYOND
bows; and off they went, she as pleased as Punch
I reaUy was sorry for him."
Gyp said quietly:
"Ah! you needn't have been, Auntie; he'll al-
ways be able to be sorry for himself "
nL^^^l ^°^^, ** ^" "^^'^ ^y^asm. Aunt
R<«amund was silent The poor lady h^d not
hved with Fiorsen ! / "<*u noi
That same afternoon. Gyp was sitting in a shelter
on the common, a book on her knee-thinking her
one Ipng thought: 'To-day is Thursday-Monday
week! Eeven days-stiU ! '-when three figures
came dowty toward her, a man, a woman,Td
what should have been a dog. English loVe of
beauty and Ae nghts of man had forced its nose
back, depnved it of half its ears, and all but three
inches or so of tail. It had asthma-and waddled
m disiUusionment. A voice said:
"This'U do Maria. We can take the sun 'ere."
But for that voice, with the permanent cold
hoarseness caught beside innmnerable graves, Gyp
S!. off°i-^' recognized Mr. Wagge, for he hkd
takenoffhisbeard leaving nothing butside-whiskers,
and Mrs. Wagge had fiUed out wonderfully Thev
^^^«>me time settling down beside her.
You sit here, Maria; you won't get the sun in
your eyes. — "*
"No, Robert; I'U sit here. You sit there."
"No, you sit there."
"No, / will. Come, Duckie!"
But the dog, standing stockily on the pathway
.flwr
Ma^ jrGn .
BEYOOT)
435
--• l» sl«™ „d held koT^c^. t7eS
aavantage for the first time, said abrupUy:
j^^h no! I'm only with my father for the
"Ah I thought not, never havin' seen vo,.
r^ r! ^° "*^ J'^'^ ourselves a i^ter ?twS
months. A pretty qx)t." "*«i.wr oi twelve
"Yes; lovdy, isn't it?"
bit3n^'^ "*'""• The air suits us, though a
bit-<r-too irony, as you might say But TT f
long-lived place Wp ti,»~ •* ^' • ' ^ *
^^ Place. We were quite a time lookin'
Mrs. Wagge added in her thin voice:
ifes-wed thought of Wimblednn ,,„.. ^
wytm. n
436
BEYOND
walk, here; and it's more-select, perhaps We
Mr'Z"^^^?^ The church is ^^Sce.»
"1 was always a chapel man; but-I don't know
S tSlV^'l ""'=^ ^ ^ place hke'S
ttat makes church seem more-more suitable: mv
c'i^^;So:s:^.^'^^^-^-^-er'c:s:
Gyp murmured:
17*' «t <l"^tion of atmosphere, isn't it?"
Mr. Wagge shook his head.
ChS ^f^f *'°''^ "^"^ incense-we're not 'Igh
Church. But how are you, ma'am ? We often sp^
of you. You're looking weU " ""'tcn^Jeas
wSe'^^e'Sn^rV I'^y """«*=' «°d Mrs.
Wagge s the colour of a doubtful beetroot. The dog
?iS?Jjl '^*.^*^' ^""ffled. turned round' S
feUhea^yagamst her legs again. She said qu^eUy:
quit^aTur'n^fj!^e?r°^-t^y.^^^s
anJ'Ssw^' '«'^- ^- ^^« '->^«l away
f Jh *'" 5 «" '"•'J^*^*- ^'^'^ she is, making her
forty and fifty pound a week, and ruA afto L iS
tiie papers. She's a success-no doubt Sou^ it
^ ^rr'^: ^"^^ " "^'"^^ oi fiftin^JrS
a year, I shouldn't be surprised. Why, at m^bS
tte years the influenza was so bad. /nSeZ^
a thousand nett. No, she's a succ^"
BEYOND
437
Mrs, Wagge added:
It was her own S" ° hydrangea-tubs?
Mr. Wagge mumbled suddenly:
1 m always glad to see her when ,»,- f,u
nm down in a car But T'Jl !^ l *^^ *
after the life rv^ed Ih T^ T ^'"^ ^°' «J"^«t
about it esoAILTt *^°°' ^^^ ^ *i^
that^sa^aS^ '^'''^'"^y""''"*'^- ^ don't-
dog. ' *°° ^yP looked at the
Tt ™. vTTi ' ™"'" Hoarse yet oilv voire
ionTf Se'^^S.t"^ "^ r°«^^ d-o-^-
"Mr anH^i^. °^ "^^ ^yP^- And she said-
Mr and Mrs. Wagge-my father."
Wmton raised his hat Gyp remained seated
the dog Duckie being stiU on her feet. '
fi* t^^V^ """^ y°"' ^- I hope you have bene-
438
BEYOND
"Thank you-not more deadly than most Ar.
you dnnking them?" <■"« most Are
Mr. Wagge smiled.
I'Nao!" he said, "we Uve here."
todeedl Do you find anything to do?"
T * u ' "S- " ^'^ ^^« '^o'ne here for rest But
Itake a Turkish bath once a fortnigh^find it
«=fr«W; keeps the pores of the sl^actin7»
Mrs. Wagge added gently: ^'
"It seems to suit my husband wonderfuUy "
Wmton munnured: ^'
is^'^S?"^' "^ ^°" ^'^^ ^'' °f » philosopher,
Mrs. Wagge answered:
iS^Hn^V T^^ ^°«' ^°'t yo". Duckie?"
The dog Duckie, feeling himself the cynosure of
every eye, rose and stood panting into STface
She took the occasion to getupT^ ^ ^•'•
We must go, I'm afraid. Good-bye. It's been
Xr.ir"-^°r«^- WhenyLsiiX:
wm you please give her my love?"
Mis Wagge unexpectedly took a handkerduW
"So those two got that pretty fiUy! WeU she
2t ^7. r.^?* ?r *^' ^'^^ y- come tolhS^
of^t.^^ She s stJI with our friend, according to your
t^simmm^ '<
_L>JI«llifcj:
BEYOND
439
Oyp nodded.
;;Yes; and I do hope she's happy."
rlr l?PY'°''y- Serves!^ right"
Oyp shook her head. *
"Oh no, Dad!"
"Darling, what does that matter?"
Winton answered testily
c« o- J person had been set on his f«.f
On the last afternoon of their stay, she stroHed
.^■MM /ma
440
BEYOND
out mth him through one of the long woods that
stretched away behind their hotel. Excited by the
coming end of her self-inflicted penance, moved by
tte beauty among those sunlit trees, she found it
difficult to talk. But Winton, about to lose her
was quite loquacious. Starting from the sinister
change m the racing-world-so plutocratic now,
wiUi the American seat, the increase of book-
makmg owners, and other tragic occurrences— he
launched forth into a jeremiad on the condition of
t'jngs in general. Parliament, he thought, espe-
jally now that members were paid, had lost its
self-respect; the towns had eaten up the country;
hunting was threatened; the power and vulgarity
of the press were appalling; women had lost their
heads; and everybody seemed afraid of haxring
any breeding." By the time little Gyp was Gyp's
age, they would all be under the thumb of Watch
Committees, live in Garden Cities, and have to
account for every half-crown they spent, and every
half-hour of their time; the horse, too, would be
an extinct animal, brought out once a year at the
lord-mayor's show. He hoped— the deuce— he might
««n- ^''^ ^ ^ '*• ^^ suddenly he added:
What do you think happens after death. Gyp?"
They were sittmg on one of those benches that
crop up suddenly in the heart of nature. AU around
them briars and bracken were just on the turn-
and the hum of flies, the vague stir of leaves and
hfe formed but a single sound. Gyp, gazing into
the wood, answered:
BEYOND
441
''Nothing, Dad. I think we just go back."
Ah— My idea, too!"
Neither of them had ever known what the other
thought about it before I
Gyp murmured:
"La vie est vaine—
Un peu d'amour,
Un peu de haine,
£t puis bonjoLr!"
Not quite a grunt or quite a h-x^ emncv-1 from
the depths of Winton, and, looking a-> ^t i .e =kv
he said: ' " /•
"And what they caJl 'God,' after aU, v/n.ii is it?
Just the very best you can get out of yourself—
nothmg more, so far as I can see. Dash it, you
CMi t unagine anything more than you can imagine.
One would like to die in the open, though, like
Whyte-MelviUe. But there's one thing that's al-
ways puzzled me, Gyp. All one's life one's tried
to have a smgle heart Death comes, and out you
gol Then why did one love, if there's to be no
meetmg after?"
"Yes; except for that, who would care? But
do^ the wanting to meet make it any more likely,
Dad? The wc/ld couldn't go on without love;
perhaps loving somebody or something with all
your heart is all in itself."
Winton stared; the remark was a little deep.
"Ye-es," he said at last. "I often think the
rehgious johnnies are saving their money to put
442
BEYOND
those Yog, chaps in India. There they sat ^
^-tLrS "^?* r '^ them^r^S't^J
^-they thought they were going to be aU
."l^n'TT;?""'^^^'^^""^- «"*-PP-
Gyp munnured with a httle smile-
<itolZ^ ^^^ """"^ *^« ^ '"^'^ eveiything
"Rum way of showing it And, hane it there
«e such a lot of things one can't lovef Lk't
taat! He pomted upwards. Against the erev
bole of a beech-tree hung a boardfTwhS S
the freshly painted words:
PRIVATE
MMPASSMS WILL BE PBOSECUTBD
fJ^ ^, " '*"** "P "" °v" this We and
dcS^To ^."^ th^u^h hi, arm. she pres«=d
"No, Dad; you and I wiU go off with the wind
and tLe sun, and the trees and the waters, like
nocns m my picture."
VI
women, prof^STrU^ °''°^y"°<^«l«^by.
critics of^L^'^ducr^n ' ^",?«1i "•'^ °*^«
they aD have v2S ini^. "^^^^ "' ^«
out less wayward than he is anH^ *^ • ^°
«»«»■ whom he ™ kaving wXd ud*?^
nerfivflv -oo, , . : . . ""**• And he found it
perfectly easy, lymg m his bunk, to dweU on mem
443 '
444 BEYOND
and press his lips on hers. K, instead of being on
his way to rejoin a mistress, he had been going
home to a wife, he would not have felt a particle
more of spiritual satisfaction, perhi^ r^ot so mach.
He was returning to the feelings and companion-
ship that he knew were the most, deeply satisfying
spiritually and bodily he would ever have. And
yet he could ache a little for that red-haiied girl,
and this without any difliculty. How disconcert-
ing! But, then, truth is.
From that queer seesawing of his feelings, he fell
asleep, dreamed of all things under the sun as men
only can in a train, was awakened by the hollow
silence in some station, slept again for hours, it
seemed, and woke still at the same station, fell into
a sound sleep at last that ended at Willesden in
broad daylight Dressmg hurriedly, he found he
had but one emotion now, one longing— to get to
Gyp. Sitting back in his oib, hands deep-thrust
into the pockets of his ulster, he smiled, enjoying
even the smell of the misty London morning. Where
would she be— in the hall of the hotel waiting or
upstairs still? '
Not in the hall! And asking for her room, he
. made his way to its door.
She was standing in the far comer motionless,
deadly pale, quivering from head to foot; and when
he flung his arms round her, she gave a long sigh,
closing her eyes. With his lips on hers, he could
feel her ahnost fainting; and he too had no con-
sciousness of anything but that long kiss.
§ fi^^'^'^, P*i
BEYOND
44S
Next day, they went abroad to a little nlar^ n„f
^tmark. A phantom increases in darkness soUd-
So^ttrth'T' j-'-^ - rootSr nSl
S^r' ° P'^y-*^-^^ he never let £'thS"u
Il^Z ^h"^""^- ^"t'^teraUJtwasti?
iSriTn V^Tul"' °^y h«"" ^ those thxl
;^^ '''' '^' '"^ "^y '-«» J'-, -d r^
They went back to the Red House at the end of
the first week in October. Little Gyp home^l^
the sea, was now an ahnost accomSis^T h^T
J^°r U!«!« the tutelage oHrpS^ee;^
had bmi nding steadily round and Toxmdiho^
wUd, her finn brown legs astride of the mouse!
odourod pony, her litUe brown face, wi^'^d"^
dark eyes, very erect, her auburn crop of short curk
floppmg up and down on her litUe straJhTuST
She wanted to be able to "go out riS^"^
44<i
BEYOND
Grandy and Mum and Batyn. And the fiist days
were spent by them aU more or less in fulfilling her
new desires. Then term began, and Gyp sat down
a«^ to the ioog sharing of Summerhay with his
other life.
VII
the house w^ Ci^ . ?'' ^'f ^^P'*^ "-^^^
a substitute?" S^ch Itlttf "hL"^ "^*^ ^^^
time left to enjoy nor mnW J ^ °°' """^^
saw him get up ^d^Ld ^h SZt":.^
sr>tLf^sr'-^'^^--rs
his chamber. SheTSif '„n j""^"^*^ ^"»°
447
448
BEYOND
was nothing!' All her resdess, jealous misgivings
of months pas would then be set at rest! She
stood, uncertain, vith the letter in her hand. Ah—
but if there were something! She would lose at
one stroke her faitt. in him, and her faith in herself
—not only his love but her own self-respect She
dropped the letter on the table. Could she not
take it up to him herself? By the three o'clock
slow train, she could get to him soon after five.
She looked at her watch. She would just have time
to walk down. And she ran upstairs. Little Gyp
was sitting on the top stair— her favourite seat-
looking at a picture-book.
"I'm going up to London, darling. Tell Betty
I may be back to-night, or perhaps I may not Give
me a good kiss."
Little Gyp gaye the good kiss, and said:
"Let me see you put your hat on, Mum."
While Gyp was putting on hat and furs, she
thought: "I shan't take a bag; I can always make
shift at Bury Street if—" She did not finish the
thought, but the blood came up in her cheeks. "Take
care of Ossy, darling!" She ran down, caught up
the letter, and hastened away to the station. In
the ttain, her cheeks still burned. Might not this
first visit to his chambers be like her old first visit
to the little house in Chelsea? She took the letter
out. How she hated that large, scrawly writing
for all the thoughts and fears it had given her these
past months ! If that girl knew how much anxiety
and su£fering she had caused, would she stop writ-
BEYOND
• 449
mg, stop seeing him? And Gvd tri^ *
up her face, that face seen „nYJ^ ^ ^ ~°J"«
the sound of that cuS Si * °^"^' ^^
heard-the face Sd t^'f^ ^"''' ''"* ^"'^^
have her own way. ^TlflZ accustomed to
go on aU the mo«. Fair LT ""^^ "^^ ^^
with no claim-but fW ff ' *^*"^' ^ *oman
she had nT°taie^"'h^UL^«-^ !^^ ^-^-
unless-that rirl nerCxc Tv^ f ^^ woman-
Why, in aU th^ S^f?*;"«J»t ^e had! Ah!
his s;crets, T^T^^ mtS^T" ' «°' '° ^^^
threatened'her? But woS^lIf^' ?^t ^hat
fight for love was de J u ^""^ ^""^^t? To
if one did not pTi.. !^^' ^°'^^'' ' And yet-
of her^;^ eSf ""^^ '"^ ^^ ^"^ ^^^ow
there-yS L^?!- J^^"^ ^^ ^he rivei-^d
hertoStS^^-^-^-hehadbegged
bare and shorn, under tS^ktg^t'^f^^^^^^
were all naWeA fi.» „ "e"*' grey ssy, the willows
*" pouea, the reeds cut down ^r,A » i-
•i» pockt „^'£ t^S. "" "*" '»'-■ HW i„
'-]SS^# - ^i.<
4S0
BEYOND
ttere for the first time-not even to know eactly
where fturourtBmldings were. At Temple^/
she stopped the cab and walked down tha?na^w
Jl-l«hted, busy channel into the heart of UieS
"Up those stone steps, miss; along the railin'
^ond doorway" Gyp came to theicondS
way and m the doubtful Lght scrutinized the name!
Summerhay-^ond floor." She began to climb
Jestaars. Her h^rt beat fast. Wl^t wouldSe
say? How greet her? Was it not absurd daa-
gero,^, to have come? He would be having a cZ
oi . LP!^'^P'^ ^'" ^°"^d ^ » derk or some-
ta ^ ?!^' ^^ P*"*^' ^"^^ °"^ » blank card,
and pencilled on it:
Can I see you a minute? G."
Then, taking a long breath to quiet her heart she
door. She rang-no one came; listened-^ould
^J^ T^: All looked so massive and bleak
and dnn-the uon railings, stone stairs, bare walls,
oak deor. She rang again. What should she do?
Leave the letter? Not see him after aJl-her littie
n,mance aU come to naught-just a chilly visit to
at Mildenham hunting, and would not be up tiU
Sunday I And she thought: TU leave the letter
fm'^'
BEYONP
go bade to the Strand, have some t«. ^
again.' ' ^ ^''^c wa, and try
She took out the lettm- »^vi.
pushed it through 4l?;f^^/ '^'^ <^ P^yer
into its wire ca?e- dL , ° , ! ^°°''' ''•^'^ '* ^a"
to the outer Sa«l,StL?f '^'^^^ *»»« stairs
thronged -ith^SS'and bol^^'^'"". '\ ""
day's work. But whenJ^lA ^*-*^^ °^ t^^e
walkmg with a man on thei^s^T'tJ,"^
were turned toward each oOie" G^ ^Z ^f ^
the lift of onTsSoS'r wh«t? °' Summerhay's.
thing; she heard^'tfce iZf'^-fSf^"'^
^orror seued on her that she could hardly wS
"Oh no I Oh no I Oh no I" «:« .v .• ,
mind-n kind of moan^ Se th,^ / "^^ m "* ^"
<M««<i the .tnea JZ,.,^' , ™ **"«• ""^
_#.!». ^
4S2
BEYOND
I]
leanmg against ite parapet in front of the National
Gall«y. Here she had her first coherent thought-
So tlmt was why his chambers had been empty!
Alone, where she Imd dreamed of being alone with
hm! And only that morning he had kissed her
and said, "Good-bye, treasure!" A dreadful little
laugh got caught in her throat, confused with a
sob. Why-why had she a heart? Down there
agaiMt the plinth of one of the Uons, a young man'
toined. with his arms round a girl, pressing her to
him. Gyp turned away from the sight and re-
sumed her miserable wandering. She went up
Bury Street No light; not any sign of life! It
did not matter; she could not have gone in, could
not stay stUl must walk! She put up her veil to
get more au:, feeling choked.
The trees of the Green Park, under which she
was passing now, had stiU a few leaves, and thev
gleamed m the lamplight copper-coloured as that
girls hau:. AU sorts of torturing visions came to
her. Those empty chambers! She had seen one
httle nunute of their intimacy. A hundred kisses
mi^t have passed between them-« thousand
words of love! And he would lie to her. Alreadv
he had acted a he! She had not deserved that
And this sense of the injustice done her was the
first rdief she felt-this definite emotion of a mind
douded by sheer misery. She had not deserved
that he should conceal things from her. She had
not had one thought or look for any man but him
BEYOND
since that night down by the sea w^ u ^^^
her across the garden LtL' ^f° ^* '^^^ to
thought-^d nfver'olf ^--^^ht-not «-
She was in Hyde Park no™, ^°°' ^ef enough f
pathway which cut JJ "^J ''^'^'™« ^°°« »
And with more r^L^^«°°^y^^oss the gxiss.
marching her memoiy for S^^^i *^ ^'^g^
he had changed to hw cjL ^', P'^^^ of a;A«,
He had not chanLd in hU '°^*' °°* ^^ them,
f Could o^?l^, tZ'^^Al ""''' "'^^ ^^
horrible thought !-when hl^- ^'^.^ P^'°°. «r-
w«^ he thinking of ^TJl? ^^ ^" °°-«Jays,
w^loX^r£rL^r:rth^^- --^
too miserable to S wJ? "■?y' ^he was
the main path ag^;h^^^^, ^7. -hen, in
I^ve/ Why had it sL^tT!! . ^"" '^ P"rauit
little thingiyeTa lf«? ^^^^ "^ J»". that a
him JS£,"J;25 ^-r^y ^« ^ht o?
<^e out on th^' oC^^^l"^'' «>? She
should she do? cSwrhom! "^'.P"^- What
and lie there stricke™ - a?^ ,^^ ^'« h" hole,
train just starting Id tt^^'"" ^^ ^°'«<i ^
people in the carriage bm^, ^""^ "^^'^ other
lawyers, fmm^!!',^^^ ""^ /"»« the city.
And she was g^ of tE ^ "^ ^' ^^ ''^en.
tiiirtMjk'
^^m
i*iaocorr kesoiution tbi chait
(,.NSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
IJ^ III u
1.6
I ^<PPLIED IIVHGE Ine
103 J Emt Main Str-«t
Hoeh«t«r. N»> Yorti 14609 UM
(716) ♦« - 0»0 - Phof«
('ia) 28B- 5989 - Ton
454
BEYOND
Of her emotion But one by one they got out, to
their cars or then- constitutionals, and she ;as
left alone to gaze at darkness and the deserted
rwer just visible in the Ught of a moon smothered
behmd the sou'westerly sky. And for one wild
moment she thought: 'Shall I open the door and
step out— one step— peace!'
_ She hurried away from the station. It was rain-
mg and die drew up her vefl to feel its freshness
on her hot face. There was just light enough for
her to s« the pathway through the beech dump.
the dark boughs, tearing off the leaves, UtUe black
wet shapes that came whirling at her face. Hie
wJd melancholy m that swaying wood was too
much for Gyp; she ran, thrusting her feet through
the deep rustbng drifts of leaves not yet quite
drenched They clung aU wet round her thin s?ock!
rngs, and the lainy wind beat her forehead. At
bole of a beech, peermg back, where the wild whirl-
Wg wind was moaning and tearing off the leaves.
Th^, bendmg her head to the rain, she went on
m the open, trymg to prepare herself to show
nothing when she reached home.
She got in and upstairs to her room, without
Sr^ "^-u" "^'^ ^''^'^ ^y ^^tive drug
avion from this achmg misery! Huddling before
Uie fresmy hghted fire, she listened to the wind
dnvmg through the poplars; and once more there
i'^^
BEYOND ,55
Sri^H^*"^'' '^' ^°^^^ °f that song sung by
the Scottish girl at Fiorsen's concert:
"And m_7 heart reft of its own sun,
Deep lies m death-toipor cold and grey."
Presently she crept into bed, and at last feU asleep
'I^s sT H °^^™,°"^g ^th the joyful thought
>£d £rstr.^^2:ed'«-AhTo-t' '^'
as If a devil entered into her-a devil of stuhhn^
pnde, which grew blacker with evei^hour of tS
mommg. After lunch, that she njht not b^ 1
when he came, she ordered her mare! and rode up
^n^'n^T"*""^- The rain had ceased, but tS?
^d stiU blew strong from the sou'west, and Se
sky was torn and driven in swathes of ^^, ^a
grey to ^th, south, east, and west, and puffs of
bi 'S'tt"'^ -oke scurried ac;oss thfdoud
banks and the glaaer-blue rifts between. The
mare had not been out the day before, and on the
^gy turf stretched herself m that thorough
air, till nothmg but the thud of hoofs, the ^ass
flying by, the beating of the wind in her face bj
miles they went without a pull, only stonneH af
Sd 'se^f "^^^ °' ^^ '''^- ^™- ^e^ one
could see far-away over to Wittenham CiUds
nver in the east-away, in the south and west,
4S6
BEYOND
under that strange, torn sky, to a whole autumn
land, of whitish grass, bare fields, woods of grey
and gold and brown, fast being pillaged. But all
that sweep of wind, and sky, freshness of rain,
and distant colour could not drive out of Gyp's
heart the hopeless aching and the devil begotten
of it
vm
™y be deeply noted to ,,, ^"' **'=''<""
with this risk S SterS/h J^^^ ^'''- --«^s
And now, taking Ws ^Tn^^ ''°°'^ *° * ^^
her, he felt unauSt-^L ^^ ^f"" *° ^^um to
quietude, he S'San^Ao^^':^^^^.^^
but he was veiy unsuccesSi T^t° ^ ^^'^'
was difficult for him to t^wLn^ ^^ ^'^' '*
his defences hadZnm A T. r ^^ "^^^^ ^^
one accustomeTto^t D.iff "^^ ^"^ ^^
^e giri, his cou£,?a;*h^^TiX''STd
not respect her as he respected r^f ]^f "^^
touch him as Gyp touchSS, w^'^^lno ""'l
haJI-so deeply attractive; bLt le L '
found her! the nowAr «f ♦ • , . "ad— con-
life, she made him S^at h^^i Wtilr..^""
shpby. And since to drii deerofJwfT'
nature, too-what chance had hTofl^' r,.'^
off cousmhood is a dangerous ISSp. "^^
4S8
BEYOND
famihantv is not great enough to breed contempt,
but suffiaent to remove those outer defences t<^
intmiacy the conquest of which, m other circum-
stances, demands the conscious eflort which warns
people whither they are going.
Summerhay had not reaUzed the extent of the
danger but he had known that it existed, especiaUy
sin-e Scotland. It would be interesting-^ the
historians say-to speculate on what he would
have done, if he could have foretold what would
happen But he had certainly not foretold the
cms of yesterday evening. He had received a
teegram from her at lunch-time, suggesting the
fulfihnent of a jesting promise, made m Scotland,
that she should have tea with him and see his
chambers— a small and harmless matter. Only
why had he dismissed his clerk so early? That is
the worst of gamblers-they wiU put a polish on
^e njs thei- run. He had not reckoned, perhaps,
S^ ri J°'^'*.^°°*'- "^ P'^^ty' ^y^K back in his
big Chrford chair, with furs thrown open so ttat
her white throat showed, her hair gleaming, a smHe
coming and gomg on her lips; her white hand, with
pohshed nads, holding that cigarette; her brown
eyM, so unlike Gyp's, fixed on him; her slim foot
with high mstep thrust forward in transparent
stockmg. Not reckoned that, when he bent to take
her cup, she would put out her hands, draw his
head down press her Hps to his, and say: "Now
you know!" His head had gone round, still went
round,thinkmgofit! That was aU. A litUe matter
BEYOND
459
poison was in his bloorf- 7 ^ ^'^ yet-the
at her without a sound £L JTf ^ ^ «*^
-something like a ^^J ^^^ ^^* '*=^°* of Jiw
while shTSthered u^K ^ ' """"^ ""^^ teeter.
Ji- ButJeTh!:d°t?5i'^-^edW
her as they went dowTtSrSr^ H "^^^
into her cab at the T^r^i -. • ^^ getting
back at Zn'y^ ^^^ "f K°°' f ? ^ '"^^
chaUenge and com^eSn^r'^^ ^"^ "^
Iwk would be hardh? K , P"°"^ The
to. ^<iyet';oXtoKo^:;,?,^t,--ted
no I He had never thr«Xi ^T . Heavens,
sible! Anytl^g'^fcvln ^'^"^' ^P°^
When he got bS totTl .'°°'* impossible I
in the box 4e ktte° S^-'JT''""' ^« ^^^ found
Peated.^^'^t^** .''''■ ''='^«^ ^ "^
the« pa^ th^^S t£. H^^tT *^""
evenmg at the clubT playing caSsS. • "^'""^
"P late in his chan^bL^erTcl^^'T^V "*'
morning's work, and only nZ a^uL ^ ^ ^
Gyp, realized hiw utt«^^ he^ii^.r" ""^^
forward simplicity of Sn^^ ^ ^""^ ^' ^^raight-
baS^JettTdSjg^te'r "' ^^^^ ^' ^
Why had she noTiSS' ^' ^^^ increased.
-thherP AndlleSu^^dot^^t
460
BEYOND
where the wind was melancholy in the boughs of
the walnut-tree that had lost all its leaves. Little
Gyp was out for her walk, and only poor old Ossy
kept him company. Had she not expected him by
the usual train? He would go and try to find out.
He changed and went to the stables. Old Pettance
was sitting on a corn-bin, examining an aged Ruff's
Guide, which contained records of his long-past
glory, scored under by a pencil: "June Stakes-
Agility. E. Pettance 3rd." "Tidport Selling
H'Cap: Dorothea, E. Pettance, o." "Salisbury
Cup: Also ran Plum Pudding, E. Pettance," with
other triumphs. Jle got up, sa}dng:
"Good-aftemoon, sir; windy afternoon, sir. The
mistress 'as been gone out over two hours, sir. She
wouldn't take me with 'er."
"Hurry up, then, and saddle Hotspur."
"Yes, sir; very good, sir."
Over two hours 1 He went up on to the downs,
by the way they generally came home, and for an
hour he rode, keeping a sharp lookout for any sign
of her. No use; and he turned home, hot and un-
easy. On the hall table were her riding-whip and
gloves. IDs heart cleared, and he ran upstairs.
She was doing her hair and turned her head sharply
as he entered. Hurrying across the room he had
the absurd feeling that she was standing at bay.
She drew back, bent her face away from him, and
said:
"No! Don't pretend! Anything'a better than
pretence!"
If r
BEYOND
'^^oiled duTbfSeS '^" "^ ^^•''^^g' And he
"What's the matter, Gyp?"
up her hair °* °° ^^^^^g and coiling
wintaL?h?hL°;a^' 1^^^ ^-- her ride in the
But her fac: "^^TS. ^^Tft "^ f "^^
« anger, he said: ^*" ^'^ a sort
"You nught explain, I think."
An evil htae smile crossed her face
"llo^rt^^S^^-thedik,.
mean." "^ *^^ ^^' ""derstand what you
her uttei'£gI^5S,''1,fr*^" d^^dly in
swiftly abou^S I^'I^' ^f ?°2«« ""oved
so appallingly Sdden fn ^^ ^.air-^mething
merhay felt a Skr Z ^ ^"^^^ ^hat W
he must knoiSSsf Z:^^ his head, as if
on the side of Se ff * w ^^«- He sat down
Ho^Ithadn^^S-o^rKr ^-
wentTpV:^^p^^P-ed,^:sinceI
me like this I" ^P^ ""t, and don't keep
She turned and looked at him.
can•?S's:£rD'oX^S:^B"'^"^'^- do-
it's been pretence Ji montt^' ^"^ ' """^ ^°^
ir
463
BEYOND
Summerhay's voice grew high.
"I think you've gone mad. I don't know what
you mean."
"Oh, yes, you do. Did you get a letter yester-
day marked 'Immediate'?"
Ah! So it was that! To meet the definite, he
hardened, and said stubbornly:
"Yes; from Diana Leyton. Do you object?"
"No; only, how do you think it got back to you
from here so quickly?"
He said dully:
"I don't know. By post, I suppose."
"No; I put it in your letter-box myself— at half-
past five."
Summerhay's mind was trained to quickness,
and the full significance of those words came home
to him at once. He stared at her fixedly.
"I suppose you saw us, then."
"Yes."
He got up, made a helpless movement, and
said:
"Oh, Gyp, don't! Don't be so hard! I swear
by "
Gyp gave a Uttle laugh, turned her back, and
went on coiling at her hair. And again that horrid
feeling that he must knock his head against some-
thing rose in Summerhay. He said helplessly:
"I only gave her tea. Why not? She's my
cousm. It's nothing! Why should you think the
worst of me? She asked to see my chambers
Why not? I couldn't refuse."
BEYOND
and sai:.f' "^ °' "^ ^^P' Sununerhay turned
lookSroSlt '''"'^"* °^ ^« fi-gers and
Boy^feitla?."^'^ ^^-^^^ free.
Ther« comes a Z^t wL^ ^"^ **" *°' '"°°«^?
all. Don't lie to m^^L^'??, ^"^^ «voIts-that's
a net roS hSf^iJo^^S 2 "^!?^^°^' «'
-^ net which he diXZ^d.^^ "'^'^ ?°' ^^"^
sentment to have h^ Percaved even in his re-
cu.^ in«.a^:iXrh^-itf ' ^^ ^^
n~;Sietrrthtrth-£^-^
-^-^y loved? Sd he^?.' "^^ ^' ^^ ^'Jy ier he
^^ L7Z L^^'^'^ -^ but one
4?^'^:""' "^"^^ '^^ ^""^ ^-1 to foot;
"■O'. please go j.way!"
Jew«,t up to he, put his hands on her shoulders,
cion??o:teinoi^4^^^-^^' ^^-
:^'tbesowickedasnotto itl^r.'^e- Vou
Tliink of our life-tS of ^* ' ^?«^-foolish I
uxe— umuc of our love-think of
jMi
j^
j«-j
464
BEYOND
aU— " Her face was frozen; he loosened his grasp
of her, and muttered: "Oh, your pride is awful i»
"Yes, it's all I've got Lucky for you I have it
You can go to her when you like."
"Go to her I It's absurd— I couldn't— If you
wish, I'll never see her again."
She turned away to the glass.
"Oh, don't! What is the use?"
Nothing is harder for one whom life has always
spoiled than to find his best and deepest feelings
disbelieved in. At that moment, Summerhay meant
absolutely what he said. The girl was nothing to
him ! If she wai pursuing him, how could he help
It? And he could not make Gyp believe it I How
awful! How truly terrible! How unjust and un-
reasonable of her ! And why? What had he done
that she should be so unbelieving— should think
him such a shallow scoundrel? Could he help the
girl's kissing him? Help her being fond of him?
Help having a man's nature? Unreasonable, un-
just, ungenerous I And giving her a furious look
he went out '
He went down to his study, flung himself on the
sofa and turned his face to the wall. Devilish!
But he had not been there five minutes before hJs
anger seemed childish and evaporated into the
chill of deadly and insistent fear. He was per-
ceiving himself up against much more than a mere
mddent, up against her nature— its pride and
scepticism- yes— and the very depth and single-
ness of her love. While she wanted nothing but
itt#
BEYOND
465
^> he wanted and toot c„ ,
ceived this but diJy^'^J^T^ «^J«- He per-
^' <=o^d not breanLr.n^ t^ "^'^ '^« £
to put his head dovm S h ?V.'^'*''^« ^°^gi^g
patter what the oSaS Z,f "*^ °"^' "^
How long was this state of ;k-^* ""^ coming?
up and began to pace ^e i^^,^° ^^^P He got
^^d him, his h^d tlWT',,^ ^^^« da^
^d th,^ he shooic tiatS tS' ""'^ ^^^'^ ^
^ ffing of being heldin' r7^^ *° ''"^ '* ^""n
j;^' He had sid he woui?T"'>'- .^^ "^«
But was that possible? S? {^ ^^'^ a«am.
that last look bSTt Lf^S, "^^^^iter
he say-do? How breakl I^7\ ^^* ~uJd
memorjr of Gyp's f^ ^ suddenly? Then, at
::;«tched:taU^asf S«L„t'^^^ ^' ^''^
r^me way! Surely si^!^ "'* "^ «>™e way out
J"t.inthewoodTlffrLlI?V' ^"^'^^
•^ dark form amonf A: .'"^ ^^' turns her
cheek and thoseTlS tyjTl "^'"^ ^«' P^e
r^f swiftness herTtrS^ ?•""' ^°^ ^"th
^^-'s^cleedwhoa£Sth1?S^--f
IX
I
Gvp stayed in her room dcnng little things — as a
woman wfll when she is particularly wretched —
sewing pale ribbons into her garments, polishing
her rings. And the devil that had entered into her
when she woke that morning, having had his fling,
dunk away, leaving the dd bewildered misery.
She had stabbed her lover with words and loolu,
felt pleasure in stabbing, and now was bitterly
sad. What use — ^what satisfaction? How by
vengeful prickings cure the deep wound, disperse
the canker in her life? How heal herself by hurt-
ing tiim whom she loved so? If he came up again
now and made but a sign, she would throw herself
into his arms. But hours passed, and he did not
come, and she did not go down — too truly miser-
able. It grew dark, but she did not draw the cur-
tains; the sight of the windy moonlit garden and
the leaves driving across brought a melancholy
distraction. Little Gyp came in and prattled.
There was a tree blown down, and she had climbed
on it; they had picked up two baskets of acorns,
and die pigs had been so greedy; and she had been
blown away, so that Betty had had to nm after
her. And Baiyn was walkhig in the study; he was
so busy he had only given her one kiss.
When ±e was gone, Gyp opened the window
and let the wind full into her face. If only it would
BEYOND
467
- o^, no tt'tT.o''^, "'^'•^^ -- «>^t'J
her out oi^^'^^Z^' r^^i P'^tend to love
«x.ts, could ne^; 2^7^°°" ^^'^ *<> the
that went all J^st iTv^^^^ uVT' "^^-
TOth a half-love. She yTtJ„u ^" ** *=°°tent
Pioud, and jealous vet m»^*r *«> <Jo"btmg,
came had fS^t^itlwe^.l^^^^' '"^ ^hen it
then, had UvJd forloJe Xl'-^^'^T' ^^«' '^'^
J, and wanted aU-S^lrSSntldt" ^^^
that she could not have aU *"" ^''"='"
another wonJts,&hS°'st'S ''^1^"^ °^
he had told her, that UierelSi j2 ^'^'^'^ ^^t
a kiss-but wJ .> n„^^ had been no more than
that k2? ^" °&""* Jl'^y l-^l reachS
the cards had^P^t ~"sm-who held aU
fanuly M^^^^^f. ^^-the world,
so terribly much more^ La^^i ,^~'. '^^ '^°"^.
young and unawakenST^f^ ? v°°«^ ^°'" the
It was this tho'STwhicrSCw"'^"*'^'
momentaiy outbreak of ^,7™ ^^- ^ ™cre
shecodPorgiveSin' S^It r*;?
reehng that it wa« a mVi \. ' '^' " was the
Wm. draggLg Ca^ 'tS T ^^T' "^"^
howhoSitZSrwS'°T?^'^- ^'
She heard hun a,me up to his dressing-room.
468
BEYOND
I V
and whfle he was still there, stole out and down,
life must go on, the servants be hoodwinked, and
so forth. She went to the piano and played, turn-
ing the dagger in her heart, or hoping forlornly
that music might work some miracle. He came
in presently and stood by the fire, silent
Dinner, with the talk needful to blinding the
household — ^for what is more revolting than giving
away the sufferings of the heart?— was ahnost un-
endurable and directly it was over, they went, he
to his study, she back to the piano. There she sat,
ready to strike the notes if anyone came in; and
tears fell on the hands that rested in her lap. With
all her soul she longed to go and clasp him in her
arms and cry: "I don't care— I don't care! Do
what you like— go to her— if only you'll love me a
little!" And yet to love— a /itt2e / Was it possible?
Not to her I
In sheer misery she went upstairs and to bed.
She heard him come up and go into his dressing-
room — and, at last, in the firelight saw him kneel-
ing by her.
"Gyp!"
She raised herself and threw her aims round
him. Such an embrace a drowning woman might
have giveni Pride and all were abandoned in an
effort to feel him close once more, to recover the
irrecoverable past For a long time she listened
to his pleading, explanations, justifications, his
protestations of undying love — strange to her and
painful, yet so boyish and pathetic. She soothed
BEYOND
469
above herself. Wiat^pi t T '° " ^^'^^^
did not matter so lone as^. \^^' °^ ''eart
f that he wanted S her JT '"'^P?' ^'^ ^^
beSi Till^^Sl^ ^T ^ ^™-«e time
tjeir worst, she ^,21' £lt°. ^"^ "^ ^^
though she smothered ,V If ?,. ^ ^^"^ seeping,
him. and all l^^A'^'l^^' Pf^^- It wolS
"It's gone!" thVbS'nf v "?'° °^ her ay:
you see it isn't?" m fl Y u ^*'^ "^'"^t
that he must knock S'h^J '.^*- *^"1 ^eeUng
'him leap up and^p^r^^Ho' ^'f-J^ '"^'^^
m a cag(--the ca^f^^^ .^t^V^ hke a beast
«JI human tragediS. tS wTS " ""*"' ^ ^
their natures Sh»\w/ JT "^ht accordme to
f m «S:^-and coSJ'no ^. ^ •''"^' ^-^^
her. the rest besidesTj „° ' ^''f }^' ^e wanted
not have it He Sd^l^^v^^*^*' ^^ ~"ld
^y e Old not admit impossibiUty; she
heweirL'^X^^^TP'-^^h^stil,
'taring at thedarkn^'^.,^"^ ?h« ^V ^^ake,
to find how to beaMt ,;of^^« "^"^P^' trying
to cut his otheHf f'aX'Sr^*- ^P*^
that, while he lived it M^ •?". hmi-impossible
«ing him awayS h«^lfltf ^ ^^^ he tug-
question him. Imw>2^i. ?°f^hle to watch and
^cepting the cZTfeS t^ri""^ ^^ hlind.
" over, showmg nothing.
470
BEYOND
Would it have been better if they had been married?
But then it might have been the same— reversed;
perhaps worse 1 The roots were so much deeper
than that. He \fas not single-hearted and she was.
In spite of all that he said, she knew he didn't really
want to give up that girl. How could he? Even
if the girl would let him go I And slowly there
formed within her a gruesome little plan to test
him. Then, ever so gently withdrawing her arms,
she turned over and slept, exhausted.
Next morning, remorselessly carrying out that
plan, she forced herself to smile and talk as if nothing
had happened, watching the relief in his face, his
obvious delight at' the change, with a fearful adiing
in her heart. She waited till he was ready to go
down, and then, still smiling, said:
"Forget all about yesterday, darling. Promise
me you won't let it make any difference. You
must keep up your friendship; you mustn't lose
anything. I shan't mind; I shall be quite happy."
He knelt down and leaned his forehead against
her waist. And, stroking his hair, she repeated:
"I shall only be happy if you take everything that
comes your way. I shan't mind a bit" And she
watched his face that had lost iU trouble.
"Do you really meaQ that?"
"Yes; really!"
"Then you do see that it's nothing, never has
been anything— compared with you— never!"
He had accepted her crudfixioo. A black wave
surged into her heart
.^mi
BEYOND
cousin so." -"uacy. it would hurt your
stared at her. ^ "P ^™™ h" knees and
,Bu^sh^^;et[^:„^cIo,.t begin againr.
^^ away and buriS t^^eSll' t*' * «"''
all hjs prayers and kisses ,)^ ^'' ^'^*- To
and breaking away f^ri- f^^red nothing
^e door. Aj^ti^^.'ZJt'^ ^-^
on? If she were deSTlP^'"^ !'«''•. Why go
quiet-peaceful q^lijj^f ''^ aU right for hi^
'Wn himself •in'fte'J;:^^"^^' ^^' "^^ ^
Gyp, for heaven's sakpf t'ii •
^ourse I'll give her up Sjl^ ^er up-of
T don't care a finger-Ln f^T?^ reasonable!
you I" "^"^ ^ap for her compared with
tha^^Kre L£,:rk"'°^- ^^ th-e luU,
of exhaustion. ifT^re ^*^, ""'"^ '"'»* Pauses
f^r the heart camiot go^^f^r^"^ f '^''^e,
It was Sunday moSn^ /r,? *V*^** ^^te,
no wind, a lull t^ T^^' ^'^ «=l»'wh-beUs li »
those calinsth^fSl fa thrr^^^'y «^«^ne of
trf e or fif teei foZ l^t ""'^ ^ ^ "^^
SJr^^--/Cftm^xf^fj-
47a
BEYOND
in her company. But he gradually lost his fear,
she seemed so cahn now, and his was a nature that
bore trouble badly, ever impatient to shake it off.
And thai, after lunch, the spirit-stonn beat up
again, with a swiftness that showed once more how
deceptive were those lulls, how fearfully d «p and
lasting the wound. He had simply asked her
whether he should try to match something for her
when he went up, to-morrow. She was silent a
moment, then answered:
"Oh, no, thanks; you'll have other things to do;
people to see!"
The tone of her voice, the expression on her face
showed him, with 'a fresh force of revelation, what
paralysis had fallen on his life. If he could not re-
convince her of his love, he would be in perpetual
fear— that he might come back and find her gone,
fear that she might even do something terrible to
herself. He looked at her with a sort of horror,
and, without a word, went out of the room. The
feeling that he must hit his head against something
was on him once more, and once more he sou^t to
get rid of it by tramping up and down. Great God I
isuch a little thing, such fearful consequences! All
her balance, her sanity ahnost, destroyed. Was
what he had done so very dreadful? He could not
help Diana loving him 1
In the night, Gyp had said: "You are cruel.
Do you think there is any man in the world that I
wouldn't hate the sight of if I knew that to see him
gave you a moment's pain?" It was true— he felt
BEYOND
't was true. Aut ~. . '♦73
^^ to save Gj^S' ^'^' he couJdn'St
^ and a woman necLaSi ^"°'^*^ ^^^een a
^ so much more ST^^ "^ *»* Gyp Wed
'^ant, did want other w j^l^. "*** * ™an m«ht
the same? She thouUThim ^'^ ^°^« her just
^hatfor? Becaurhet*?"''.*=^«'himcS
J^s truth; ButitToJIfhfiJ^^P-that was
b^tal togiveherupcomlt.^,'^'^'' ^^^^^
thoHgh, sooner thaS S? r ^^ J* ~"IcI be done.
"S to her. It cSd^-S? ,?k"^'' *^ hS
, Only, would it be^.^T^'^ be done/
Would she not S,L^^:i^ W°uld she liiieve?
he was away fromTr wL 'T"^ him i
then sit down h" e S £ f^' he did? Must ^
??«er with her sw^t hS. S^' .^nd a gust o?
'--n^S:.e^oSd«pu^r^^
--.her^,Jt--ha.^^r
474
BEYOND
I
window and over those poplar trees. But he was
not a blackguard, not cruel, not a Uar I How could
he have helped it all? The only way would have
been never to have answered the girl's first letter,
nearly a year ago. How could he foresee? And,'
since then, all so gradual, and nothing, really, or
almost nothing. Again the surge of anger swelled
his heart. She must have read the letter which
had been under that cursed bust of old Voltaire
all those months ago. The poison had been work-
ing ever since ! And in sudden fuiy at that miser-
able mischance, he drove his fist into the bronze
face. The bust fell over, and Summerhay looked
stupidly at his bruised hand. A silly thing to do !
But it had quenched his anger. He only saw Gyp's
face now— so pitifully unhappy. Poor darhng!
What could he do? If only she would believe!
And again he had the sickening conviction that
whatever he did would be of no avail. He could
never get back, was only at the beginning, of a
trouble that had no end. And, hke a rat in a cage,
his mind tried to rush out of this entanglement now
at one end, now at the other. Ah, well I Why
bruise your head against walls? If it was hopeless
—let it go ! And, shrugging his shoulders, he went
out to the stables, and told old Pettance to saddle
Hotspur. While he stood there waiting, he thought:
'Shall I ask her to come?' But he could not stand
another bout of misery — ^must have rest! And
mounting, he rode up towotds the downs.
Hotspur, the sizteen-hand brown horse, with
BEYOND
" uow. iijs master's »».« r /' ^ '"oc years
r^ habit of thSS aS n?''' ^ ^ h°"S
had encom^d his «d«^* '"^^ ^^^^ h^^
thing had happil*^^^.;«outh, and some-
^ 'nto a queer tem^ „f ""^ ^^^7 to put
no,^ wiU-the dist^Se l£t?t> ^^^-^
At any rate, he gave M^^f-*"^ his rider,
quah-ties. and Sun£w de^^''"" °^ ^ ^oS
from that wayv.a^taT^^^^^P^n^erse pleasure
there; then, hot with «.i7 ^^ ^ e«^ hour ud
was pullir^ ke ihrSvfe"™!-^^' ^' "™"J
toward hbme and eS u °^^ *^ ^ay bai
:*« wild." those t^oXh^^tS ^'^' ^>P^^^
'^y in the corner where^J^^ ^^^ ^th the
» 8^ in the hed^J^^^l^f ^^'^ was
ammal's blood wasTl,J^»ti^^^^ But'^e
hardly hold him. Mntf?^* ^H°™erhay could
don't pull I" he jW^T^^ , °*'' y°" ^^
darted into his nSpw ^"'^ " "'""th. n,S
^5? "« aU, he struck 2 pET"^'^ ^'
They were canterin<r T^^* ^°"«-
the fields JoineTS^fuddS^H^ "'"^^ -J'^"
'^ ^'^'^ - -re hold .^e^^Cir^.^
' 'I
476
BEYOND
ragine had been under him. Straight at the lin-
hay Hot^ur dashed, and Sununerhay thought:
"My Godl He'U kiU himself 1" StJght attixe
old stone linhay, covered by the great ivy bush.
Right at It— mto it 1 Summerhay ducked his head.
Not low enough— the ivy concealed a beam! A
fflckening crash ! Tom backward out of the saddle,
he fell on his back in a pool of leaves and mud. And
the horse, slithering round the linhay walls, checked
m his own length, unhurt, snorting, frightened,
came out, turning his wild eyes on his master, who
never stirred, then trotted back into the field,
throwing up his head.
aittactel by another. ' " ^^ ^^me time,
."^n whether life would £^ °°^ ™"°d the qurf
-^^e withd^w f„r^ ^d witlt? "^S
^^^a went back to Milden-
if,
478
BEYOND
ham. Life without him? That was impossible!
rjfe with him? Just as impossible, it seemed 1
There comes a point of mental anguish when the
alternatives between which one swings, equally
hopeless, become each so monstrous that the
miiid does not reaUy work at aU, but rushes help-
lessly from one to the other, no longer trying to
decide, waiting on fate. So in Gyp that Sunday
afternoon, dotog little things aU the time-mend-
rng a hde in one of his gloves, brushing and apply-
ing omtment to old Ossy, sorting bills and lettera
At five o'clock, knowing little Gyp must soon
be back from her walk, and feeling unaole to take
part m gaiety, she went up and put on her hat. She
turned from contemplation of her face with dis-
gust Sn ce it was no longer the only face for him
what was the use of beauty? She slipped out by
the side gate and went down toward the river The
lufl vras over; the south-west wind had begun sigh-
ing throi^ the trees again, and goi^eous clouds
were pfled up from the horizon into the pale blue
Shestood by the river watching its grey stream,
edged by a scum of tom-off twigs and floating leaves
watched the wind shivering through the spofled
plume-branches of the willows. And, standing
there, she had a sudden longing for her father; he
alone could help her-just a litUe-by his quietness,
and his love, by hjs mere presence.
She turned aw^y and went up the lane again
avoiding the inn and the riverside houses, walking
slowly, her head down. And a thought came, her
BEYOND
tarn-top was tj,l ' ^^ P^^mg over tu ^ "*
in the fl= If, ^^ ™«»», fleecv ,„^ ""^^nioun-
^ We flax-blue sky u CT^ ^*^ "^substantial
fflents of xffiu , ■ -"^ ^'^ one of iZT , "*•
)i»w-. ^""^ colour Tk- , ^ Jiature's mo.
migle lejl,,^-''"' Stared. iSr' ™ ""set
'y^^ no Sight, L S„?J-' OGodl
^ps no breath; his
I
48o
BEYOND
heart did not beat; the leaves had dropped even
on his face— in the blood on his poor head. Gyp
raised him-stiffened, cold as ice! She gave one
ciy and fell, embracing his dead, stiffened body
with all her strength, kissing his Ups, his eyes, his
broken forehead; clasping, warming him, trying
to pass life into him; till, at last, she, too, lay stiU.
her hps on his cold Ups, her body on his cold body
m the mud and the faUen leaves, while the wind
crept and rustled in the ivy, and went over with the
scent of rain. Close by, the horse, uneasy, put his
head down and'sniffed at her, then, backing away
ntaghed, and broke into a wild gaUop round the
field. . . .
Old Pettance, waiting for Summerhay's return to
stable-up for the night, heard that distant neigh
and went to the garden gate, screwing up his little
eyw against the sunset He could see a loose horse
^opmg down there in "the wild," where no horse
should be, and thinking: "There now; that artful
devils broke away from the guv'norl Now I'U
ave to ketch 'im!' he went back, got some oats,
and set forth at the best gait of his stiff-jointed feet
TTie old horseman characteristicaUy did not think
of acadents. The guv'nor had got off, no doubt,
to ui^tch that heavy gate-the one you had to
«*' It'^ 'orse— he was a masterpiece of mischief I
His difference with the animal stiU rankled in a
mmd that did not easily forgive.
Half an hour later, he entered the lighted Wtchen
shakmg and gasping, tears rolling down his fur-
-^
BEYOND
481
-n't get 'er off'hS^^LSsS tfJ/^'-'
all cold. Come on v™, d * T*^" ^ ^^^ l»er—
?^e poor gu'vC'/^CtrSi ?.-^9<'«l'
Ider w.,«^ u- J,^ ? «« marks
rt£d^Tote£J--Ji.tH-s
"und the waU. Come „n "'''^ '* ^^^^P^^'
the child to bed aSd«rrH^"'*^"""'^- ^"t
to London, toU,rmS to coT'j.'"'' ^^ * '^
howlin' and blu&.?^" ^^*« the good o'
the golden Ie^v« S S. ^ "" ?"*!' °° ^«^ """d.
^ther. Gjp^e'i^o^^^i^S'r^^r'
seemed no differenr* >»IZ!!^ .7^ "®™; tJ>ere
"■*. <mr U„'S^ ^. ^ .A«d p^
XI
flil?^^^^ recovered a consdousness, whose
aght had been niercifuUy renewed with mom^
ilr T Z}? ^' '^^ ^"^ fi^t drowsy nTm^t
wa. toward her mate. With eyes stiU closed fe
touch him before she dozed off again. There was
away m the mists of morphia, the thoughts oassed
vague and londy: 'Ah, yes, ii London I' ^J^'
turned on her back. London! Something-^me!
thmguptherel She opened her eves.^rt«fi
^ kept in all night rSomJne^:^ ^a c£
there, or-was she dr«uningl And sudderiy ST
J« facein.thelS '^IT^^'^^^T^.
"Betty I" ^^
The muffled answer came.
"Yes, my darlin'."
"What is it?"
No ^o-; lien a half<hoked. "Don't 'ee think
^ZlZ!^' Your Daddy-Il be here directly,
and that rockmg figure to the little chink of Ught
BEYOND
that was hardly Uirht a= . ^^
Of the curtain.^ sTw^^^^f^? - at one confer
S", °^^ ^d passed ZT^^^- «« tongue
beddothes she foE bott hf ^'' '^''^t^ ^e
her heart Hien shVC^o'^''^^^ t^ght across
^«^' Not gone back^-thV'^'""*^'^--^
flame of maniacal hat^ ?t™ ^'^^^ hi her a
f^el A writhing S'fn?^?'.'''" ^^ephig her
her parched li^T^ "^^ ^^"^ its way up on to
cupo/S/^^^ty-sothimy. G,^ ^^ ^
-Sl^rrhi!^^"''--^^- the Chair and
'^f^Plv^S'"' '*""• ^^'^ <Jo you good,
xes.
m^cunni«g. Sher^t;,Z^:i''?o"lwas^ahvf
W fin- coat, slipped her tS'f^'^. «^ her
stiflim !l "^ '^^'^ and quiet! Rni^' ^° ^P^^^d
stifling the sound of her fi^! foldmg her breath
Stan., slipped back 5.? Sf*-' ^^, ^^^ed doTvTtS
opened it, and fled L&eMr^ of the front doS
,^« «n«s. out of thetrdi T'^^P^^^'^S
^der^e black drip;ClSes'' VT "^ "^
|eco:s.?stti,hrin^.^-Ss:f
— . --eard-thlr-r^-PJ^on
4*4
BEYOND
going to the Red House S totS.-^^ ™
nght down to the tivetl htti^l^ ^v, r\ '^
happiest hours of aU her life I Tf hi "^^^^\ "»e
--^^hSJot^HH--?
^lash^i about her, wh^^ s^rL^^eS' L'
X Se'ttr.^ir4t iS^JL^sh^-
brightening • ,..,y j, the ^br^'^ft^^^ td
BEYOND
Gyp stood motionless rf„ • ^^^
fund her dmS.?' T' «^' '^'^^ Ca^f-
Winton, who had bee„ , .
^^'^ BEYOND , .
steeXd fLTa?^4S^.-^- ^^ reached Bu^
to dress. heir^JmLS^t f '° ^'"^^^ ^^^
tad equipped f^^S'„^ ''*^' ^^ fetch a
three theJWtS -^^it f^'^" ^' ^alf-past
seat, ready to put hShekftht, ^^.v"""*"* °° ^is
direct the driver. Twl^? ^"8\^« ^dow and
-t let Markey. wL^ JhS':::^'!??' -"^'^
And later;
"D-j™! tkijl i, „„^ t,, ,
Wmto a^rered sombrtr
Dreaicing darkness, standing
BEYOND
cold!" ^"'Poftea. And she's m^ f?"^*
nr- . '^"^ s nm out in thf
Stone. Then; S' *^° seconds as if .
^'»^ ''"^^^^^^°S?h*:
Bett PP^"' to kimp''
488
BEYOND
and the mn blocked the river at all but one soot
Wmton Stopped the car where the nar^ ^e
branched down to the bank, and jump^^ ^
By mstinct he ran sOently on thJ gL'e^e; S
MaAey. anjitoting, ran behind. When herein
sight of a bl«k shape lying on the bank, he suffered
a momoit of intense agony, for he thought T ^
just a dark gannent thrown away. TTiS he ^
stand stiU, walked on alone, tiptoeing in the mT
^ heart swelling *ith a sort of%Se. StLS;
rnovmg round between that prostrate figure knd
f^^n^i^jTSt^.r-^^-^^couidt
"My darling I"
Gyp raised her head and stared at hir,. Her
white face with eyes unnaturally dark and laSf
and hair ailing aU over it, was strange TS!:
form. And he knew not what to do, how Vheb
or comfort, how to save. He could 'see so d^^ri?
in her eyes the look of a wiM animal at the moS
of .^capture, and instinct made him say
I lost her just as cruelly. Gyp "
He saw the words reach her brain, and that wild
look wav«-. Stretching out his ani, he drew her
S *°K5r ^.^ "^"^ ^^ agkinst ij £
^g body agamst him, and kept murmurii^g:
For my sake, Gyp; for my sake I"
ca^' 7^^^"^^«y'« ^d, he had got her to the
cab, they took her, not back to the house, but to
BEYOND
^y n^n, itr^CS,''"^%f •^ «^° delirious'
^^\^s taken «e«loXS' ""^ '^^ ^J'"'"
turb her. ^"""d be any noise to dis-
At five o'clock WSnt
staii. to the Btti; S^^f'^^^^d clown-
woman was standinnTtl^^'"^"- At^
eyes with the back of « Li ^T°d°w. shading her
hadhvedsolongi*^^?'"'^; Tl^th.y
only knew Lady Si^^,,^^™^?" "^ each other he
for the poor wom^To ^^.^'f *, ^'^ ^^ waited
low voice: ^^^ ^'st. She said in a
"There is nothmg to sav „„i t ,
see you. How is she ?"^' ^^' ^ ^""S^^* I must
"Delirious."
home." And t4r, r^iiTj ^ ^^ take him back
!». he, «^.s'Sdrh^^%'"^. -X
Poor woman! She had tnU ^«»" woman f
passing her handke^hS''^? 't *^« ^dow,
out at the little stri^of daZn^*^? "^^ ^^' ^^arin^
,too. stared out Sto t^f S,? ^^i ^'^ ^^
la^t, he said: ^ mournful daylight At
"I will send you all hU tu-
"^■' »"'."« like U.„M.i„W-„.„,
49°
BEYOND
^^er. anything behind-were they r^y
iinswered:
Winton
"Ah, too happy 1"
H.-3!?""' " '^'^'"''' ^^ "«* those tear-darkened
dJated eyes straining at his; with a heav^lX'
once more turned away, and, brushbgT^e^hliS!
kerchief across her face, drew downS veS"
wJ,L u^]^".* °° °°^' °°t even SunmierW's
too hard. And you! Good-bye"
L^Sununer^y pressed his outstretched hand.
Good-bye," she said, in a strangled voice «f
SS^^-'^^-" ^-.tum4 abruptly, she'
Winton went back to his guardianship upstairs.
In the days that foUowed, when Gyp robbed^f
windLthScrs^syToS^i-^-^ss
down under the pale NovembS si^^^r'JS
beneath the stars. He would watchkX^t^^
T.T!'^'' ^^^ *^« '«l«>tless sTHrh^
^^J"''. '^y " °^« '^^ tJ^t snaky riv^
anfli^M"f^'°^""^"°"^- AuntRoiZ;
^'d^o; t :i ""'"^ '^^«* ^ ^<^«ss, and he
coud not bear that a strange person should listen
BEYOND
to those delirious mutterinis m« ^'
theflunangwisjusttoStS«n?? ""^ P^ «f
from the othe„-tf he coS A^^'^u^'^'^ts
every nunute away f^^. S^lt He'' ^'^^
for houis, with eyes fixed ofhe^L W '^'^ '^^^
supply so weU as he iust tw ^ ' ^° one could
the familiar, by ^Mcktel^eZ'^^t *^^ of
«« it, perhaps find the? wa7T^;7^"^ ^o^-
"aas where they wander ^i M^^ "" ^"^ <^^
.of her as she used ^^^^^/l ^""^d think
ing unconsciously the Z^^ Tl ^PPy-adopt-
other scientists i£:, he Sd ^^r """^^ ^^
He was astonished by S^ IX 1 ?"^-
ev« people whom he hid co„,^^' "^ ^•J"^^''
•fnis or sent their s«^ ^^^"'^ ^^^ left
elusion that peonle^T^'J "^ ^ to the con-
-rve their h^'^^^l^ o^^ed to rt
dead. But the smaU folTZi?^ ^''^ « «ood as
genuine concern™ W wh„t ^ ^^^ "^^ ^^"^
had won their h^ ^^""^ ^^ ^d softness
a letter forwardedTm b'S; ?^ ^« «ceived
"^^ Major WiNTON,
poor Mr. S^j^^?'^^*' ^ the paper about
fony for her! She ^^ „;^^'^' °^' ^ feel so
it most dreadfully iT^ou S V° '^'' ^ ^° ^^^
l^ow how we aU feel fJrhJ?^ "^^ ''°"'*^ ^^e to
wouldn't you? I do t^l^^^^/^^^ tell her,
"Very faithfully youre,
"Daphne Wdto,"
493
BEYOND
So they knew Smmnerhav'a namp—i.- k j
actud tragedy, her wandering sS^'r,.?^ ^'
laugh, uncanny and ^hTdnt ^J . ^^"^Pf^
of perfect happinL lS^*'r!f,*S*'T «^«™
situation which Wh^S^eW^n^ ""' ^^"'t a
''Yes, my pet."
I remember everything "
side the clothes. ***"''»" l»nd, that lay out-
" Where is he buried ? "
"At^Widrington."
BEYOND
493
^e fever had go^^;^7^d«ed again. N^t£
^f^ and torAe^'ZZ^^i^'y^cy of her
»te beauty that of^th? * * ^^ '««. or was
«e bent over. Sh#. ™. u
Siewasbreathing-^eep.
xn
The return to Mfldenham was made by easy
stag^ nearly two months after Summerhay's death
on New Y^ s day-MUdenham, dark, smelling
the same, full of ghosts of the days before love began
For htUe Gyp, more than five years old now, and
begmmng to understand life, this was the pleasa^test
home yet. In watching her becoming the spirit
of the place, as she herself had been when a cMd
Gyp found rest at times, a little rest. She had not
pidced up much strength, was shadowy as yet, and
If her face was taken unawares, it was the saddest
face one could see. Her chief preoccupation was
not bemg taken unawares. Alas! To Winton
her smile was even sadder. He was at his wits'
end about her that winter and spring. She ob-
viously made the utmost effort to k^p up, and
there was nothmg to do but watch and wait. No
use to force the pace. Time alone could heal-
perha^. Meanwhfle, he turned to litUe Gyp, so
that they became more or less inseparable
Spring came and passed. PhysicaUy, Gyp grew
strong agam, but since their return to Mild«iLn
she had never once gone outside the garden, never
once spoken of The Red He ,se, never once of Sum-
merhay Wmton had hoped hat warmth and
sunhght would bnng some life to her spirit, but it
BEYOND
*"d not ^eem to. Not th., i. , ^^
^PP^^reJ, rather, to do^f f^^^rished hergrfef
^^ m^ it. She onJv ifn k^" ^'''' ^ S
a broken heart nT^- ^ ^^^^ "^ to be calf^
who had CtoId°SV° ''^ 1r- ^'ttfe^
;°; ever, and that she LusIT '^ ^'^^ -^Y
zfr' f ""^s Mum id "T r ^ «^ ^^^
s^d and watch her mo7he?5,v,, °'^^, sometimes
She once .^marked unSfy tTt'T''^ ^'^^V-
Mum doesn't liv*.^^^ Wmton:
away somewhere, iTli^ "^ brandy; she Eves
to anybod^^ but'^e" l^^f ' ''"* <Jon't say that
anyone else." °° * '^^er talk of Ba^ to
^' coSd'wi'^^''"' ^ ^^' Gxandy?"
;^th the wonis "ve^^^^r-?^ Some Lbedh'ty
"«««e to broach th7qu«ti„^ 'l'J°' ^' ^ad not
tej so hopelessly b^yS 2 '''^' "^^ mys-
and omnself-id oC "^^ «^P o^ childx^
Jer moth:ryrher'^t?« child, who. like
the saddle; but to G^ Tdir^. ^ ^PP^ as in
She never spoke of ho^L *" °°t dare su«est if
Pas^ all^e ^i^S^^rerwenttothSi-
tnnM playing a h'tUe son3- " P"««' some^
^t the keys, her hand^ TS^^ '^^''^y ^^otS^
fd?t^'^ ?.""' fatef^^suSS w""" ^P- tS
^-ttheworld-t„..„.,,-.^o.^,^„^,
496
BEYOND
rending and the darkness beginning to gather.
Winton had no vision of the coif above the dark
eyes of his loved one, nor of himself in a strange
brown garb, calling out old familiar words over
banrack-squares. He often thought: 'K only she
had something to take her out of herself I'
In June he took his courage in both hands and
proposed a visit to London. To his surprise she
acquiesced without hesitation. They went up in
Whit-week Whfle they were passing Widrington.
he forced himself to an unnatural spurt of talk-
and It was not till fuUy quarter of an hour later
ttat, glancing stealthily round his paper, he saw
her sitting motionless, her face tamed to the fields
and tears rolling-down it And he dared not speak,
^red not try to comfort her. She made no sound
the muscles of her face no movement; only, those
t^rs kept rolling down. And, behind his paper,
Wmtons eyes- narrowed and retreated; his f«:e
hardened tJl the skin seemed tight drawn over the
bones, and every inch of him quivered.
The usual route from the station to Bury Street
was up, and the cab went by narrow by-streets,
town lanes where the misery of the world is on
show, where iU-lookmg- men, draggled and over-
dnven women, and the jaunty ghosts of UtUe chfl-
■dren m gutters and on doorsteps proclaim, by every
feature of theu- clay-coloured faces and every move-
inent of their unfed bodies, the post-datement of
the miUenmum; where the lean and smutted houses
Have a look of dissolution indefinitely put off and
BEYOND
there is no more trace of beautv th. • ^^
Gyp, leaning forwanJ, look«i n" f ^ "" * ^^^•
a long sea voyage- Wh^Z^.Ti^ ""^ does after
Ws and sqnJ,T}Z ^^' ^" ^^ ^P into
fuSed'^'Sl,;^*'' S""^? *^^ '"'"^ te had
cW, the little TaT^Ji^' ^^""^ "^" ^^^
candelabra were stiS JS ^T"' .^^ °'d bra^
""S^^"" ago-sttid" '"'^ "^ ''-'^ i-t
IcouIdmak'ei^rt'St^- ^""^^ you mind if
I^r children com lo^:^''','^^'-^ where
air and food? ITiere Csu S iJ ^.^ «^* ««°d
Strangely moved by thi fh?^ °^ '^^•"
heard her e=q>ress since S t" ^'' ^^ ^^^ had
her hand, and, lool^"at^J asT^' ^^^o"^ took
question, said: " ^^r answer to his
«cepthere." sSdre:^Lr;^,^th me now
It against her heaxT .^,'' ^°>«' and pressed
get back. Ican'thelnJf. T ,^^'^' <"»e can't
been so dreacS! fort" ' vZ"'^^ ^ ^ *^<"Jd- It's
'^I h". ^^'^^rsouid L'Z" ^^'°°
W I had them to see aft.Tr V ^^ ^ent on:
Good for our gipsy-bS JL^ ^ "^^ '^"^'•
tmto' "'*' ^« S U 'atlc?.^- ^- ^-•
do W'^^od'^fl^^^^^^ that She felt could
"^-- ^-■" '^ -'dl ..X ,.-te see-you co^d
498
BEYOND
use the two old cottages to start with, and we can
easily run up anything you want."
"Only let me do it all, won't you?"
At that touch of her old self, Winton smiled.
bhe should do everything, pay for everything.
bnng a whole street of children down, if it would
give her any comfort !
«cw°f"^'*'" ^^P y°" ^^ '^•" te muttered.
tJhe s first-rate at aU that sort of thing." Then
looking at her fixedly, he added: "Courage, m^
soul; it'U all come back some day."
Gyp forced herself to smile. Watching her he
understood only too weU the child's saying: "Mum
lives away somewhere, I think."
Suddenly, she said, very low;
"And yet I wouldn't have been without it "
She was sitting, her hands clasped in her lap
two red spots high in her cheeks, her eyes shining
strangely, the faint smile stiU on her lips. And
Wmton, staring with narrowed eyes, thought-
Love! Beyond measure-beyond death-it nearly
kiUs. But one wouldn't have been without it.
Why?'
Three days later, leaving Gyp with his sister,
he went back to Mildenham to start the necessan^
alterations in the cottages. He had told no one
he was coming, and walked up from the station
on a perfect June day, bright and hot. When he
turned through the drive gate, into the beech-tree
avenue, the leaf-shadows were thick on the ground
BEYOND
with golden rieaiiK! nf fk • . *^
-^ their waf'S^^^JJ^^-We sunlight thrust-
«'«» leaves, tW rf,-,, • ^^^ •»!«, the vivid
the shade en'tTnS iTZl^'^f'''' ^
'^^ Down in th?v^' °^ ^"»° the dusL
-nail, white figure vJTtaS' °' ^ ^-«"e, ^
, Wmton took her • -', ;„ i,- .
"»to her face, said: " ^' ^^> ^nd, looking
theseT' ""^ ^^y^^' wil, you give „e one of
^es, because I love you. p^"
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