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“101] ding. mme prossm brmsl spring:- already blossom slx‘ms Yet Yet. We and music were near, and only :‘m'uiling ihe summons of soft this and warm sunbeams to spring forth, and make the earth glad with beauty a‘nd melody. The gnm-lcd. storm-bent; thorns “we showing tiny leaf-buds on. lheir brown branches where the tangled gray lichens did not usurp their [uni-0;: cowslips were pushing lillle satiny} spirals Hirough the short turf on thes hedge hanks; down in [he copscs, and bcnml‘u SheHUI‘Cd thL’P-l'n-WS. In-im- 'l'he' wind went on singing its strange low song to the blealc doyvn-land; the Jar-off farms and villages gave no sign of life; but one solitary sea-gull sailed slowly on its wide, unearthly looking wings far below the level of the high: mud. yet far above the plain beneath, uttering its complaining cry and re- coiving the pale reflected sun-rnys upon its cream-white plunmgm thus making a ccnlre of light upon the purva-gmy darkness of the plain and lhe hills. 1t parsed gradually out of sight, and the silence seemed more death-like than he- tore. But the salt south-west was silent on this. cloudy March afternoon, and in its place a bleak east wind. whirling the white dust from the Ilinly chalk road, and quieting gradually down as the sun drew nearer the west, was sweeping over the short turf with its low, lonely sound. which is half whistle and half moan. The rich level to the south of the down. sprinkled though it was with occasional farms. each with its cluster of ricks and elm-trees. and varied here and there by a village spire rising from a little circle of thatched roots. looked very solitary beneath the gray sky. It. terminated on theoast in‘some picturesquely broken hills. interrupted by a long. level erav band. whinh urn: smns. bore masses of thick and hoary lichen. instead of growing erect from its punk, running nearly east and west, arched over lo the north-east with a Smooth exuctitude of curve, due to the fierce briny sweep of the prevaiinig winds. and was by the same agency smoothly Shorty on the leeward side. These strong salt‘ winds blowing off the sea. and frequently rising to gales. give all the trees and hedges within their in- fluence a marked family likeness, stunt- ing their growth. and forcing them to‘ bow to the north-east us it suddenly made rigid in the height of a south- west gale. 1n Silcnce and solitude reigned all around: a solitude invaded by the 11p- pem‘nnce of no living creature save (115- tant [locks of sheep dotted at large over upland pastures or grouped in wattled folds; a silence rather deepened than broken by the peculiar and by no means unxnusical sound or the wind sweeping through the short pale-yellow bents which rose sparsely above the (Inc rich turf of the down. The narrow, white high-road ran straight along the sum- niil of the down; it was nnienced on one side, where the turf stepcd so abruptly down to n rich cultivated level so as to make. this alnmst invisible from the road. and on the other hounded by a bank, purple with wild thyme in sum- mer. and crested by a high quickset hedge, which effectually concealed the northern slope of the down and the wooderl country beneath it sprmding,r away to the sea. This thorn hedge. which. in default. of leaves and blos- ,1 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Â¥++ PART 1. [pink to his clear cmnnicxion. “is fair ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 'S \wx‘e au‘ face 72 I]: on the 0: 5!; it was Hurough {he shm hanks; down in l!) 1 sheltered hedge were showing ihm‘i cw. and whim viol Many a nest. was a bird already felt and (ash mm; the )uld III Face to Pass 1L those dl'y xething b1 lift 111 W blealc doym-land; the villages gave no sign )lilary sea-gull sailed le. unearthly looking he level of ihc high: re the plain beneath, th eh m \Vé OR, GERVASE RICKMAN’S AMBITION. on .ll'I rod-h (he ‘cigncd by [he 1m t." l during, self passed in review, his yellow. sun- bleached beard shaken by the keen wind he was facing, he transferred his attention to him. “Blusterous,” said the shcnhnrrl nml". goal 3 ll n th shly Ell on lmmn which his back lmtl been estepping lightly up the singular munncr. Instead straightforward like 011m- :y looked downward from eyelids, as if he had dim- lising the latter. Having eyed earth. sea and sky. he 1J1 an went his “ Shepherd and 1 )elpless and h Jlunder 3 blind h such inr annoy-corner. mm‘an iniorco these parts of [e expenditure Ire: And ‘cntâ€"fa DC I011 It [l nt and pin. the moti sign-post drcamily dark hill in 13' Booih song mm] [00 L3 11 quiet upper than where two women s wasted wilh Ihol'lul sic ing the unnatural res“ face‘ the other radiant health. The miter pal: ing and looked up as U among the whither-cu stalks above thc sward pleased him. and he mused and mused in the stillness, an image 0] peaceful contemplation. with his iniinetl features and look of quiet (-uucenlmtcd Kpower. While he was thus musing. his quick ear caught the sound of footsteps in HIV distance behuid him; but '11" (lid not turn his head, for the [finish-1:5 were those of a stranger and could not inter- est him, so he thought. They were the firm, elastic steps of :1 mum in the flower of life, they smote the hard road with an even joyous rhythm, and were ac- companied by the clear, cheery tones of a singing voice: paign to this (im-k hills; on 1hr slopes of which the shadows \n mg. “0 did hut (appear in h wind, which caught him full in of the face, milled his hair. and him to press his low felt haL m0! over .his brows; [he sound water of which “'35 c: by the keen wind. :1 formed by hm roads sign-post. When he Imched (in vase Ricknmn leaned u; back toward the inn, some distance {rum over the hroml expan5( paign to the dark hillx' slopes of which the shn and th The s Another I road at, 1 solitary inn the turf “'21: water of \r a. large (k1 walchl‘ul aili! Mr. Rickma lhough a side the dog will) whiie the (in; which were a women in prickml his on an indifferent comfortably ( when he lmd were though nor \‘c closure psi proaching the cxlrem hedge câ€"mk hoslolry in smaILinn h the nor“ (:f pcrfecl l son mg broke mm. the in\' he said fl W is a good w “As we I In [he 1 sin aus )tio in \‘UiC't' ht m (501w Hilude hen man did )1 1k :e of u gcnllcx maul joyously in his song ss figure a! th crvasc Rickmc per chambr women sat 11 1t an Opp sfa; y. all [h w of B in his in as lhc upon 1 a gm ant p \\'as cris 15 m ICE H] ll' 111 U] .11 s Um almin of man ()n the quiet of th d's {ac-s bl'ighlened n pleasant song. 9.” said the reader gentleman." 'l‘h 11 O in mess and \I of {cw-1‘ in with youth imf 1nd in H) UM jll “h am thc M 111 )n on his way hen he saw in in Jnl‘ Ill low! down- beyond the tux-front on 1, the milky [ t0 ripples 1 the angle a wooden O! pom his refined mconlmtcd .11 hex 111 In. rill (Hon; pherd Iris 0 the side obliged ‘c lil'mly it made um the 0 saw of the xs now gazed cham- liI'Olil'il 1m man- ‘I the cued, 12( :11 m 1)" bx, in z inn ()IH on 1'- her- a nd U of th 1'1 nt in .« in H! 1D [hen 11 She came between Gcrvase and the setting sun. which grew more radiant each moment, and now sent forth a dazzling mesh of golden rays to tangle themselves in the short growth of curl- ing hairs roughed by the wind from her rich plails beneath. thus forming a saint-like halo around the face of Alice Lingard. a lace distinguished by that indefinabie charm, which is the very os- sence of beauty, and yet is often want- ing in the most perfect features.” It was a charm which went to the very heart of the young man walking by her side. and yet which he could not describe; he lcnew only that it was lacking to every other face he had ever seen; he knew alio that it was not given to even one 1f “With Ellen Gale; I am g sake the wind is changing, wind is so bad for her.” shall becn‘ uier. Haring lighted his pipe, the 0m- eur, thanking him {01' his courtesy, went ozi his way down the hill. and was lost to sight. l'u‘fare the sound of his toot- steps ceased to ring upon the hard road. llivkmnn looking,r after him with a su- lperior sort if smile. until the sound of other steps approaching from behind stirred en-ry tibro within him and lighted a flame in his veiled grey eyes. (In came the steps. swift. light, and even, very dim-rent from the soldier's llrin strides, though telling like them of youth. health, and a light heart; yet Germse. [0’ all the stir of feeling they r-i‘okud within him, appeared to take no notice of “10m, but. continued his rapt contemplation of the shadowed hill- slopes, brightened now by long moth shafts of light, from the sinking sun, around which the clouds were breaking away in beautiful glory as the keen wind stiiled itself more and more in shifting to a warmer quarter. A \oicu soon accompanied the light footsteps, echoing in a. woman's round, clear notes, the soldier’s song: ‘ “There we lay, all.the day. In the Bay of Biscay, Ol” At this point Mr. Rickman left the ipost, against. which he had so long been leaning, and strolled quietly on without turning his head, while the singer. who made rapid progress, repeated her snatch of song. and tho hound. which had been lying before the inn door. llew before and around her in widening sweeps, all the grace and strength of its lithe. slender body showing to the ut- most, advantage, until it included Ger- rn<e in its gyrations. whereupon he tlll'lll‘ll and waited, while a tall young woman came up with him. "‘t thought you would never see me, (Eel-vase.” she said. “What deadly >v"tl(‘lllt?.~‘ were you meditating under the loaning lurning made snatch hich om rdin SIT (11$ mmn 1,051?" was watching the weather." he re- : “the wind 1's chopping round; we have a change. Where have you my )V fm [I Inn stranger Living lighted nking him for way down the .L hn‘fore (he asod In ring u 1 looking ufte [h 1! hi with most m1 ml In Jdc slr 11 ‘11 i am I am glad for her fool," thought Gor- im mentally to tho “Iid\\'ard Annesle‘y. 9r, by his mushchc wont the sw walked like H10 whole the kirid the heart of every is the is oil- alures the vc 1V H 1f 1t. the east mu! unco n'olv swagger: 10 :1 $01- the 0m- sy. went was lost his foot- r. sloop- ulch and vng {he and un- thc glow healthy. the kind one each 111 1C J‘urn 1h sh lane L) the and dis skier-1y md 11 the Manor, if I can. I don't say if I may," he added. with‘ v. smile. “Because you know we are always pleased to see your friends,” rclumcd Gervase. “But your cousin is an old friend of ours. Anneslo): and cviilenlly remembered us. he asked if n‘quocr’ old fellow named Hickman lived in Arden Manor down there." “The rascal! Did you lit-ll him he was speaking to the queer old fellmv’s son?" “Not. I.‘ I wanted to hear what he “And a beautiful voice." inlcrrupled Mice. “It must be the gonlloman ! heard singing past the 'l‘mvellcr's Rest! Gervaso. l was just going to ask if you had seen him." “He sings like 11 nightingale” Yes: that was no doubt Ted. Oh! you will all like him. I shall bring him over to the Manor, if I can. I don't say if 1 may," he added. with v. smile. “She was wonderfully perked up. as the coliagers say; I knew you had been there, without any telling. We must try to get her through ihe spring winds. I say. Rickiuan. you haven‘t seen such a thing as a stray cousin anywher about. have you?" . “I did catch sight of such an m‘1icle half an hour since," he replied. “He asked me the way to Medington by Ar- den Manor. where one Paul. it appeared. had agreed to meet him." “A tall. goodâ€"looking fellow with a pleasant Iucwâ€"J' “And a beautiful voice." interrimied “Did you asked. nttention anywhere. ' 0n 'renrhing them. the driver pulled the col) sharply up on his tmunches. gave the rein»: to the groom. sprung to the ground, all in a. flush of time, and was shaking hands with Gerraer and Alice, 'ond walking by their side almost before they had time to recognize him. _\1ice\ gave him a frank smile of wet- come. and Gorvase smiled too. but. he murmured something imudihle to him~ self that. was not flattering to the new-‘ comer. , The latter was :1 young man, with a dark. strong. intelligent face which had just missed being handsome. He walked well. dressed well, and had about. him a certain air which would have challenged [to did not look like a parish doctor. - “And how are they all at Arden?" he asked‘ in a full. cordial voice. “Where did you get those violets? It- is enough to make a man sad. See here. I thought these were the first." And he drew a second little bunch of white violets from his breast-pocket and gave them to Alice, who received them with anbther frank smile. ‘ “How kind of you to think of me!" she said. “Gorvase found these, but he was only five minutes ahead of ybu." Gervaso smiled inwardly; the new- comer‘s face darkened, and he silently returned the rude observation the for- mer had made upon him a moment boo and {ullil y laboz-n n Iustim .Hl flgm in m lhfh 1y about us.“ a shame!” )ud, under-ha: 113’s trying tc )clm‘ Annosl 1t. no cousin 111'); 1d :15 em( me win [er dus {ind Ellen at and th W fur tin H.\P’l‘l“.l said AIL md ways JI' an In )U Jppm‘cnlly m Jr 5 0 IT Alice; "those nys Sybil and rcome in you. here is 'Ardcn .1 d voice. :? It is 3 here. I And he y betler wogm‘ze him. smile 01’ we!- I too. but he mlible l0 him~ ; to the new: and the roll 1th, bnlh heir hats Hf uv 'vr pulled lmunchos, sprung tn limo. and *vaso and dn‘: almost Len :lmt-l's rvase. Iceply down n the GCPVHSO'A pocket a par. and uhle cob o pedes- l pebble was now ation of Ash face 0. “Ta HG u; she m" «Lher little and she 31's J \\'