*******************************************************Transcriber's Note: The author was inconsistent in theuse of single quotes in contracted words. All havebeen retained as in the original. *******************************************************

THE TINTED VENUSA Farcical Romance

BY

F. ANSTEY

AUTHOR OF"THE GIANT'S ROBE, " "VICE VERSÂ, " ETC. 

ILLUSTRATED BY BERNARD PARTRIDGE

NEW YORK AND LONDONHARPER AND BROTHERS1898

 "To you, Free and ingenious spirits, he doth now In me, present his service, with his vow He hath done his best; and, though he cannot glory In his invention (this work being a story Of reverend antiquity), he doth hope In the proportion of it, and the scope, You may observe some pieces drawn like one Of a steadfast hand; and with the whiter stone To be marked in your fair censures. More than this I am forbid to promise. "

 MASSINGER. 

CONTENTS. 

 PAGE

 I. IN PURSUIT OF PLEASURE 3

 II. PLEASURE IN PURSUIT 27

 III. A DISTINGUISHED STRANGER 43

 IV. FROM BAD TO WORSE 55

 V. AN EXPERIMENT 77

 VI. TWO ARE COMPANY 93

 VII. A FURTHER PREDICAMENT 109

 VIII. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP SEA 127

 IX. AT LAST! 151

 X. DAMOCLES DINES OUT 169

 XI. DENOUNCED 189

 XII. AN APPEAL 207

 XIII. THE LAST STRAW 227

 XIV. THE THIRTEENTH TRUMP 241

 XV. THE ODD TRICK 263

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

 PAGE

 "THERE, " HE SAID TRIUMPHANTLY, "IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR HER!" 25

 "ANSWER ME, " HE SAID ROUGHLY; "IS THIS SOME LARK OF YOURS?" 32

 "DID YOU WANT TO SEE ME ON--ON BUSINESS, MUM?" 47

 "WHAT WOULD BE DONE TO HIM?" ASKED THE HAIRDRESSER, WITH A QUITE UNPLEASANT INTERNAL SENSATION 67

 "KEEP OFF! TELL HER TO DROP IT, TWEDDLE!" 86

 "IT IS A MISERABLE THING, " HE WAS THINKING, "FOR A MAN . .. TO HAVE A FEMALE STATUE TROTTING AFTER HIM LIKE A GREAT DORG" 104

 SHE WAS STANDING BEFORE THE LOW CHIMNEY-GLASS, REGARDING HERSELF INTENTLY 119

 "FOR 'ARF A PINT I'D KNOCK YOUR BLOOMIN' 'ED IN!" 140

 "WHY DID YOU NOT KNEEL TO ME BEFORE?" 161

 SHE STRUCK A NAMELESS FEAR INTO LEANDER'S SOUL 177

 HER HANDS WERE UNSTEADY WITH PASSION AS SHE TIED HER BONNET-STRINGS 199

 LEANDER WENT DOWN ON ALL FOURS ON THE HEARTH-RUG 220

 "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!. .. FOR MERCY'S SAKE, DON'T COME IN!" 238

 "LEANDER!" SHE CRIED, . .. "I DON'T BELIEVE SHE CAN DO IT!" 255

 HE THREW HIMSELF DOWN BY HER CHAIR, AND DREW DOWN THE HANDS IN WHICH SHE HAD HIDDEN HER FACE 276

IN PURSUIT OF PLEASURE

I. 

 "Ther hopped Hawkyn, Ther daunsed Dawkyn, Ther trumped Tomkyn. .. . "

 _The Tournament of Tottenham. _

In Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, there is a small alley or passageleading into Queen Square, and rendered inaccessible to all but footpassengers by some iron posts. The shops in this passage are of asubdued exterior, and are overshadowed by a dingy old edifice dedicatedto St. George the Martyr, which seems to have begun its existence as arather handsome chapel, and to have improved itself, by a sort ofevolution, into a singularly ugly church. 

Into this alley, one Saturday afternoon late in October, came a shortstout young man, with sandy hair, and a perpetual grin denotinganticipation rather than enjoyment. Opposite the church he stopped at ahairdresser's shop, which bore the name of Tweddle. The display in thewindow was chastely severe; the conventional half-lady revolving slowlyin fatuous self-satisfaction, and the gentleman bearing a piebald beardwith waxen resignation, were not to be found in this shop-front, whichexhibited nothing but a small pile of toilet remedies and a few lengthsof hair of graduated tints. It was doubtful, perhaps, whether suchself-restraint on the part of its proprietor was the result of adistaste for empty show, or a conviction that the neighbourhood did notexpect it. 

Inside the shop there was nobody but a small boy, corking and labellingbottles; but before he could answer any question as to the whereaboutsof his employer, that artist made his appearance. Leander Tweddle wasabout thirty, of middle height, with a luxuriant head of brown hair, andcarefully-trimmed whiskers that curled round towards his upper lip, where they spent themselves in a faint moustache. His eyes were rathersmall, and his nose had a decided upward tendency; but, with hispink-and-white complexion and compact well-made figure, he was far fromill-looking, though he thought himself even farther. 

"Well, Jauncy, " he said, after the first greetings, "so you haven'tforgot our appointment?"

"Why, no, " explained his friend; "but I never thought I should get awayin time to keep it. We've been in court all the morning with motions andshort causes, and the old Vice sat on till past three; and when we didget back to chambers, Splitter kep' me there discussing an opinion ofhis I couldn't agree with, and I was ever so long before I got him toalter it my way. "

For he was clerk to a barrister in good practice, and it was Jauncy'spride to discover an occasional verbal slip in some of his employer'smore hastily written opinions on cases, and suggest improvements. 

"Well, James, " said the hairdresser, "I don't know that I could have gotaway myself any earlier. I've been so absorbed in the laborrit'ry, whatwith three rejuvenators and an elixir all on the simmer together, Ialmost gave way under the strain of it; but they're set to cool now, andI'm ready to go as soon as you please. "

"Now, " said Jauncy, briskly, as they left the shop together, "if we'reto get up to Rosherwich Gardens to-night, we mustn't dawdle. "

"I just want to look in here a minute, " said Tweddle, stopping beforethe window of a working-jeweller, who sat there in a narrow partitionfacing the light, with a great horn lens protruding from one of his eyeslike a monstrous growth. "I left something there to be altered, and Imay as well see if it's done. "

Apparently it was done, for he came out almost immediately, thrusting asmall cardboard box into his pocket as he rejoined his friend. "Now we'dbetter take a cab up to Fenchurch Street, " said Jauncy. "Can't keepthose girls standing about on the platform. "

As they drove along, Tweddle observed, "I didn't understand that ourparty was to include the fair sect, James?"

"Didn't you? I thought my letter said so plain enough. I'm an engagedman now, you know, Tweddle. It wouldn't do if I went out to enjoy myselfand left my young lady at home!"

"No, " agreed Leander Tweddle, with a moral twinge, "no, James. I'dforgot you were engaged. What's the lady's name, by-the-by?"

"Parkinson; Bella Parkinson, " was the answer. 

Leander had turned a deeper colour. "Did you say, " he asked, looking outof the window on his side of the hansom, "that there was another ladygoing down?"

"Only Bella's sister, Ada. She's a regular jolly girl, Ada is, you'll----Hullo!"

For Tweddle had suddenly thrust his stick up the trap and stopped thecab. "I'm very sorry, James, " he said, preparing to get out, "but--butyou'll have to excuse me being of your company. "

"Do you mean that my Bella and her sister are not good enough companyfor you?" demanded Jauncy. "You were a shop-assistant yourself, Tweddle, only a short while ago!"

"I know that, James, I know; and it isn't that--far from it. I'm surethey are two as respectable girls, and quite the ladies in everyrespect, as I'd wish to meet. Only the fact is----"

The driver was listening through the trap, and before Leander would saymore he told him to drive on till further orders, after which hecontinued--

"The fact is--we haven't met for so long that I dare say you're unawareof it--but _I'm_ engaged, James, too!"

"Wish you joy with all my heart, Tweddle; but what then?"

"Why, " exclaimed Leander, "my Matilda (that's _her_ name) is the dearestgirl, James; but she's most uncommon partickler, and I don't think she'dlike my going to a place of open-air entertainment where there'sdancing--and I'll get out here, please!"

"Gammon!" said Jauncy. "That isn't it, Tweddle; don't try and humbug me. You were ready enough to go just now. You've a better reason than that!"

"James, I'll tell you the truth; I have. In earlier days, James, I usedconstantly to be meeting Miss Parkinson and her sister in serciety, andI dare say I made myself so pleasant and agreeable (you know what a waythat is of mine), that Miss Ada (not _your_ lady, of course) may havethought I meant something special by it, and there's no saying but whatit might have come in time to our keeping company, only I happened justthen to see Matilda, and--and I haven't been near the Parkinsons eversince. So you can see for yourself that a meeting might be awkward forall parties concerned; and I really must get out, James!"

Jauncy forced him back. "It's all nonsense, Tweddle, " he said, "youcan't back out of it now! Don't make a fuss about nothing. Ada don'tlook as if she'd been breaking her heart for you!"

"You never can tell with women, " said the hairdresser, sententiously;"and meeting me sudden, and learning it could never be--no one can sayhow she mightn't take it!"

"I call it too bad!" exclaimed Jauncy. "Here have I been counting on youto make the ladies enjoy themselves--for I haven't your gift ofentertaining conversation, and don't pretend to it--and you go and leaveme in the lurch, and spoil their evening for them!"

"If I thought I was doing that----" said Leander, hesitating. 

"You are, you know you are!" persisted Jauncy, who was naturally anxiousto avoid the reduction of his party to so inconvenient a number asthree. 

"And see here, Tweddle, you needn't say anything of your engagementunless you like. I give you my word I won't, not even to Bella, ifyou'll only come! As to Ada, she can take care of herself, unless I'mvery much mistaken in her. So come along, like a good chap!"

"I give in, James; I give in, " said Leander. "A promise is a promise, and yet I feel somehow I'm doing wrong to go, and as if no good wouldcome of it. I do indeed!"

And so he did not stop the cab a second time, and allowed himself to betaken without further protest to Fenchurch Street Station, on theplatform of which they found the Misses Parkinson waiting for them. 

Miss Bella Parkinson, the elder of the two, who was employed in a largetoy and fancy goods establishment in the neighbourhood of WestbourneGrove, was tall and slim, with pale eyes and auburn hair. She had someclaims to good looks, in spite of a slightly pasty complexion, and alarge and decidedly unamiable mouth. 

Her sister Ada was the more pleasing in appearance and manner, abrunette with large brown eyes, an impertinent little nose, and abrilliant healthy colour. She was an assistant to a milliner andbonnet-maker in the Edgware Road. 

Both these young ladies, when in the fulfilment of their daily duties, were models of deportment; in their hours of ease, the elder's colddignity was rather apt to turn to peevishness, while the younger sister, relieved from the restraints of the showroom, betrayed a lively and evenfrivolous disposition. 

It was this liveliness and frivolity that had fascinated the hairdresserin days that had gone by; but if he had felt any self-distrust now inventuring within their influence, such apprehensions vanished with thefirst sight of the charms which had been counteracted before they hadtime to prevail. 

She was well enough, this Miss Ada Parkinson, he thought now; anice-looking girl in her way, and stylishly dressed. But his Matildalooked twice the lady she ever could, and a vision of his betrothed (atthat time taking a week's rest in the country) rose before him, as if tojustify and confirm his preference. 

The luckless James had to undergo some amount of scolding from MissBella for his want of punctuality, a scolding which merely supplied anobject to his grin; and during her remarks, Ada had ample time to rallyLeander Tweddle upon his long neglect, and used it to the bestadvantage. 

Perhaps he would have been better pleased by a little lessinsensibility, a touch of surprise and pleasure on her part at meetinghim again, as he allowed himself to show in a remark that his absencedid not seem to have affected her to any great extent. 

"I don't know what you expected, Mr. Tweddle, " she replied. "Ought I tohave cried both my eyes out? You haven't cried out either of yours, youknow!"

"'Men must work, and women must weep, ' as Shakspeare says, " he observed, with a vague idea that he was making rather an apt quotation. But hiscompanion pointed out that this only applied to cases where the womenhad something to weep about. 

The party had a compartment to themselves, and Leander, who sat at oneend opposite to Ada, found his spirits rising under the influence of herlively sallies. 

"That's the only thing Matilda wants, " he thought, "a little moreliveliness and go about her. I like a little chaff myself, now and then, I must say. "

At the other end of the carriage, Bella had been suggesting that thegardens might be closed so late in the year, and regretting that theyhad not chosen the new melodrama at the Adelphi instead; which causedJauncy to draw glowing pictures of the attractions of RosherwichGardens. 

"I was there a year ago last summer, " he said, "and it was first-rate:open-air dancing, summer theatre, rope-walking, fireworks, and supperout under the trees. You'll enjoy yourself, Bella, right enough when youget there!"

"If that isn't enough for you, Bella, " cried her sister, "you must bedifficult to please! I'm sure I'm quite looking forward to it; aren'tyou, Mr. Tweddle?"

The poor man was cursed by the fatal desire of pleasing, andunconsciously threw an altogether unnecessary degree of _empressement_into his voice as he replied, "In the company I am at present, I shouldlook forward to it, if it was a wilderness with a funeral in it. "

"Oh dear me, Mr. Tweddle, that _is_ a pretty speech!" said Ada, and sheblushed in a manner which appalled the conscience-stricken hairdresser. 

"There I go again, " he thought remorsefully, "putting things in the poorgirl's head--it ain't right. I'm making myself too pleasant!"

And then it struck him that it would be only prudent to make hisposition clearly understood, and, carefully lowering his voice, he begana speech with that excellent intention. "Miss Parkinson, " he saidhuskily, "there's something I have to tell you about myself, veryparticular. Since I last enjoyed the pleasure of meeting with you myprospects have greatly altered, I am no longer----"

But she cut him short with a little gesture of entreaty. "Oh, not here, please, Mr. Tweddle, " she said; "tell me about it in the gardens!"

"Very well, " he said, relieved; "remind me when we get there--in case Iforget, you know. "

"Remind you!" cried Ada; "the _idea_, Mr. Tweddle! I certainly shan't doany such thing. "

"She thinks I am going to propose to her!" he thought ruefully; "it willbe a delicate business undeceiving her. I wish it was over and donewith!"

It was quite dark by the time they had crossed the river by the ferry, and made their way up to the entrance to the pleasure gardens, imposingenough, with its white colonnade, its sphinxes, and lines of colouredlamps. 

But no one else had crossed with them; and, as they stood at theturnstiles, all they could see of the grounds beyond seemed so dark andsilent that they began to have involuntary misgivings. "I suppose, "said Jauncy to the man at the ticket-hole, "the gardens are open--eh?"

"Oh yes, " he said gruffly, "_they're_ open--they're _open_; though thereain't much going on out-of-doors, being the last night of the season. "

Bella again wished that they had selected the Adelphi for theirevening's pleasure, and remarked that Jauncy "might have known. "

"Well, " said the latter to the party generally, "what do you say--shallwe go in, or get back by the first train home?"

"Don't be so ridiculous, James!" said Bella, peevishly. "What's the goodof going back, to be too late for everything. The mischief's done now. "

"Oh, let's go in!" advised Ada; "the amusements and things will be justas nice indoors--nicer on a chilly evening like this;" and Leanderseconded her heartily. 

So they went in; Jauncy leading the way with the still complainingBella, and Leander Tweddle bringing up the rear with Ada. They pickedtheir way as well as they could in the darkness, caused by the closelyplanted trees and shrubs, down a winding path, where the sopped leavesgave a slippery foothold, and the branches flicked moisture insultinglyin their faces as they pushed them aside. 

A dead silence reigned everywhere, broken only by the wind as it rustledamongst the bare twigs, or the whistling of a flaring gas-torchprotruding from some convenient tree. 

Jauncy occasionally shouted back some desperate essay at jocularity, atwhich Ada laughed with some perseverance, until even she could no longerresist the influence of the surroundings. 

On a hot summer's evening those grounds, brilliantly illuminated andcrowded by holiday-makers, have been the delight of thousands of honestLondoners, and will be so again; but it was undeniable that on thisparticular occasion they were pervaded by a decent melancholy. 

Ada had slipped a hand, clad in crimson silk, through Leander's arm asthey groped through the gloom together, and shrank to his side now andthen in an alarm which was only half pretended. But if her lightpressure upon his arm made his heart beat at all the faster, it was onlyat the fancy that the trusting hand was his Matilda's, or so at leastdid he account for it to himself afterwards. 

They followed on, down a broad promenade, where the ground glistenedwith autumn damps, and the unlighted lamps looked wan and spectral. There was a bear-pit hard by, over the railings of which Ada leaned andshouted a defiant "Boo;" but the bears had turned in for the night, andthe stone re-echoed her voice with a hollow ring. Indistinct bird formswere roosting in cages; but her umbrella had no effect upon them. 

Jauncy was waiting for them to come up, perhaps as a protection againsthis _fiancée's_ reproaches. "In another hour, " he said, with an impliedapology, "you'll see how different this place looks. We--we're come alittle too early. Suppose we fill up the time by a nice little dinner atthe Restorong--eh, Ada? What do you think, Tweddle?"

The suggestion was received favourably, and Jauncy, thankful to retrievehis reputation as leader, took them towards the spot where food was tobe had. 

Presently they saw lights twinkling through the trees, and came to aplace which was clearly the focus of festivity. There was the open-airtheatre, its drop-scene lowered, its proscenium lost in the gloom;there was the circle for _al-fresco_ dancing, but it was bare, and theclustered lights were dead; there was the restaurant, dark and silentlike all else. 

Jauncy stood there and rubbed his chin. "This is where I dined when wewere here last, " he said, at length; "and a capital little dinner theygave us too!"

"What _I_ should like to know, " said the elder Miss Parkinson, "is, where are we to dine to-night?"

"Yes, " said Jauncy, encouragingly; "don't you fret yourself, Bella. Here's an old party sweeping up leaves, we'll ask him. "

They did so, and were referred to a large building, in the Gothic style, with a Tudor doorway, known as the "Baronial All, " where lights shonebehind the painted windows. 

Inside, a few of the lamps around the pillars were lighted, and the bodyof the floor was roped in as if for dancing; but the hall was empty, save for a barmaid, assisted by a sharp little girl, behind the long baron one of its sides. 

Jauncy led his dejected little party up to this, and again put hisinquiry with less hopefulness. When he found that the only availableform of refreshment that evening was bitter ale and captain's biscuits, mitigated by occasional caraway seeds, he became a truly pitiableobject. 

"They--they don't keep this place up on the same scale in the autumn, you see, " he explained weakly. "It's very different in summer; what theycall 'an endless round of amusements. '"

"There's an endless round of amusement now, " observed Ada; "but it's anaught!"

"Oh, there'll be something going on by-and-by, never fear, " said Jauncy, determined to be sanguine; "or else they wouldn't be open. "

"There'll be dancing here this evening, " the barmaid informed him. "Thatis all we open for at this time of year; and this is the last night ofthe season. "

"Oh!" said Jauncy, cheerfully; "you see we only came just in time, Bella; and I suppose you'll have a good many down here to-night--eh, miss?"

"How much did we take last Saturday, Jenny?" said the barmaid to thesharp little girl. 

"Seven and fourpence 'ap'ny--most of it beer, " said the child. "Margaret, I may count the money again to-night, mayn't I?"

The barmaid made some mental calculation, after which she replied toJauncy's question. "We may have some fifteen couples or so downto-night, " she said; "but that won't be for half an hour yet. "

"The question is, " said Jauncy, trying to bear up under this last blow;"the question is, How are we to amuse ourselves till the dancingbegins?"

"I don't know what others are going to do, " Bella announced; "but Ishall stay here, James, and keep warm--if I can!" and once more sheuttered her regret that they had not gone to the Adelphi. 

Her sister declined to follow her example. "I mean to see all there isto be seen, " she declared, "since we are here; and perhaps Mr. Tweddlewill come and take care of me. Will you, Mr. Tweddle?"

He was not sorry to comply, and they wandered out together through thegrounds, which offered considerable variety. There were alleys linedwith pale plaster statues, and a grove dedicated to the master minds ofthe world, represented by huge busts, with more or less appropriatequotations. There were alcoves, too, and neatly ruined castles. 

Ada talked almost the whole time in a sprightly manner, which gaveLeander no opportunity of introducing the subject of his engagement, andthis continued until they had reached a small battlemented platform onsome rising ground; below were the black masses of trees, with a faintfringe of light here and there; beyond lay the Thames, in which red andwhite reflections quivered, and from whose distant bends and reachescame the dull roar of fog-horns and the pantings of tugs. 

Ada stood here in silence for some time; at last she said, "After all, I'm not sorry we came--are _you_?"

"If I don't take care what I say, I _may_ be!" he thought, and answeredguardedly, "On the contrary, I'm glad, for it gives me the opportunityof telling you something I--I think you ought to know. "

"What was he going to say next?" she thought. Was a declaration coming, and if so, should she accept him? She was not sure; he had behaved verybadly in keeping so long away from her, and a proposal would be a verysuitable form of apology; but there was the gentleman who travelled fora certain firm in the Edgware Road, he had been very "particular" in hisattentions of late. Well, she would see how she felt when Leander hadspoken; he was beginning to speak now. 

"I don't want to put it too abrupt, " he said; "I'll come to itgradually. There's a young lady that I'm now looking forward to spendingthe whole of my future life with. "

"And what is she called?" asked Ada. ("He's rather a nice little man, after all!" she was thinking. )

"Matilda, " he said; and the answer came like a blow in the face. For themoment she hated him as bitterly as if he had been all the world toher; but she carried off her mortification by a rather hysterical laugh. 

"Fancy you being engaged!" she said, by way of explanation of hermerriment; "and to any one with the name of Matilda--it's such a stupidsounding sort of name!"

"It ain't at all; it all depends how you say it. If you pronounce itlike I do, _Matilda_, it has rather a pretty sound. You try now. "

"Well, we won't quarrel about it, Mr. Tweddle; I'm glad it isn't myname, that's all. And now tell me all about your young lady. What's herother name, and is she very good-looking?"

"She's a Miss Matilda Collum, " said he; "she is considered handsome bycompetent judges, and she keeps the books at a florist's in the vicinityof Bayswater. "

"And, if it isn't a rude question, why didn't you bring her with youthis evening?"

"Because she's away for a short holiday, and isn't coming back till thelast thing to-morrow night. "

"And I suppose you've been wishing I was Matilda all the time?" she saidaudaciously; for Miss Ada Parkinson was not an over-scrupulous youngperson, and did not recognize in the fact of her friend's engagement anyreason why she should not attempt to reclaim his vagrant admiration. 

Leander _had_ been guilty of this wish once or twice; but though he wasnot absolutely overflowing with tact, he did refrain from admitting theimpeachment. 

"Well, you see, " he said, in not very happy evasion, "Matilda doesn'tcare about this kind of thing; she's rather particular, Matilda is. "

"And I'm not!" said Ada. "I see; thank you, Mr. Tweddle!"

"You do take one up so!" he complained. "I never intended nothing of thesort--far from it. "

"Well, then, I forgive you; we can't all be Matildas, I suppose. Andnow, suppose we go back; they will be beginning to dance by now!"

"With pleasure, " he said; "only you must excuse me dancing, because, asan engaged man, I have had to renounce (except with one person) thecharms of Terpsy-chore. I mean, " he explained condescendingly, "that Ican't dance in public save with my intended. "

"Ah, well, " said Ada, "perhaps Terpsy-chore will get over it; still Ishould like to see the Terpsy-choring, if you have no objection. "

And they returned to the Baronial Hall, which by this time presented amore cheerful appearance. The lamps round the mirror-lined pillars wereall lit, and the musicians were just striking up the opening bars of theLancers; upon which several gentlemen amongst the assembly, which nownumbered about forty, ran out into the open and took up positions, likecolour-sergeants at drill, to be presently joined, in some bashfulness, by such ladies as desired partners. 

The Lancers were performed with extreme conscientiousness; and when itwas over, every gentleman with any _savoir faire_ to speak of presentedhis partner with a glass of beer. 

Then came a waltz, to which Ada beat time impatiently with her foot, andbit her lip, as she had to look on by Leander's side. 

"There's Bella and James going round, " she said; "I've never had to sitout a waltz before!"

He felt the implied reproach, and thought whether there could be anyharm, after all, in taking a turn or two; it would be only polite. But, before he could recant in words, a soldier came up, a medium-sizedwarrior with a large nose and round little eyes, who had been very funnyduring the Lancers in directing all the figures by words of militarycommand. 

"Will you allow me the honour, miss, of just one round?" he said to Ada, respectfully enough. 

The etiquette of this ballroom was not of the strictest; but she wouldnot have consented but for the desire of showing Leander that she wasnot dependent upon him for her amusement. As it was, she accepted thecorporal's arm a little defiantly. 

Leander watched them round the hall with an odd sensation, almost ofjealousy--it was quite ridiculous, because he could have danced with Adahimself had he cared to do so; and besides, it was not she, but Matilda, whom he adored. 

But, as he began to notice, Ada was looking remarkably pretty thatevening, and really was a partner who would bring any one credit; andher corporal danced villainously, revolving with stiff and wooden jerks, like a toy soldier. Now Leander flattered himself he could waltz--havinghad considerable practice in bygone days in a select assembly, where thetickets were two shillings each, and the gentlemen, as the notices saidambiguously enough, "were restricted to wearing gloves. "

So he felt indignantly that Ada was not having justice done to her. "I've a good mind to give her a turn, " he thought, "and show them allwhat waltzing is!"

Just then the pair happened to come to a halt close to him. "Shockin'time they're playing this waltz in, " he heard the soldier exclaim withhumorous vivacity (he was apparently the funny man of the regiment, andhad brought a silent but appreciative comrade with him as audience), "abominable! excruciatin'! comic!! 'orrible!!!"

Leander seized the opportunity. "Excuse me, " he said politely, "but ifyou don't like the music, perhaps you wouldn't mind giving up this younglady to me?"

"Oh come, I say!" said the man of war, running his fingers through hisshort curly hair; "my good feller, you'd better see what the lady saysto that!" (He evidently had no doubt himself. )

"I'm very well content as I am, thank you all the same, Mr. Tweddle, "said Ada, unkindly adding in a lower tone, "If you're so anxious todance, dance with Terpsy-chore!"

And again he was left to watch the whirling couples with melancholyeyes. The corporal's brother-in-arms was wheeling round with a plainyoung person, apparently in domestic service, whose face was overspreadby a large red smile of satiated ambition. James and Bella flitted by, dancing vigorously, and Bella's discontent seemed to have vanished forthe time. There were jigging couples and prancing couples; couples thatbounced round like imprisoned bees, and couples that glided past in calmand conscious superiority. He alone stood apart, excluded from the happythrong, and he began to have a pathetic sense of injury. 

But the music stopped at last, and Ada, dismissing her partner, cametowards him. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, Mr. Tweddle, " shesaid maliciously. 

"Don't I?" he replied. "Well, so long as you are, it don't matter, MissParkinson--it don't matter. "

"But I'm not--at least, I didn't that dance, " she said. "That soldierman did talk such rubbish, and he trod on my feet twice. I'm so hot! Iwonder if it's cooler outside?"

"Will you come and see?" he suggested, and this time she did not disdainhis arm, and they strolled out together. 

Following a path they had hitherto left unexplored, they came to alittle enclosure surrounded by tall shrubs; in the centre, upon a lowpedestal, stood a female statue, upon which a gas lamp, some paces off, cast a flickering gleam athwart the foliage. 

The exceptional grace and beauty of the figure would have been apparentto any lover of art. She stood there, her right arm raised, partly ingracious invitation, partly in queenly command, her left hand extended, palm downwards, as if to be reverentially saluted. The hair was partedin boldly indicated waves over the broad low brow, and confined by afillet in a large loose knot at the back. She was clad in a long chiton, which lapped in soft zig-zag folds over the girdle and fell to the feetin straight parallel lines, and a chlamys hanging from her shouldersconcealed the left arm to the elbow, while it left the right arm free. 

In the uncertain light one could easily fancy soft eyes swimming inthose wide blank sockets, and the ripe lips were curved by a dreamysmile, at once tender and disdainful. 

Leander Tweddle and Miss Ada Parkinson, however, stood before the statuein an unmoved, not to say critical, mood. 

"Who's she supposed to be, I wonder?" asked the young lady, rather as ifthe sculptor were a harmless lunatic whose delusions took a marble shapeoccasionally. This, by the way, is a question which may frequently beheard in picture galleries, and implies an enlightened tolerance. 

"I don't know, " said Leander; "a foreign female, I fancy--that'sRussian on the pedestal. " He inferred this from a resemblance to thecharacters on certain packets of cigarettes. 

"But there's some English underneath, " said Ada; "I can just make itout. Ap--Apro--Aprodyte. What a funny name!"

"You haven't prenounced it quite correckly, " he said; "out there theysound the ph like a f, and give all the syllables--Afroddity. " He felt akind of intuition that this was nearer the correct rendering. 

"Well, " observed Ada, "she's got a silly look, don't you think?"

Leander was less narrow, and gave it as his opinion that she had been"done from a fine woman. "

Ada remarked that she herself would never consent to be taken in sounbecoming a costume. "One might as well have no figure at all in thingshanging down for all the world like a sack, " she said. 

Proceeding to details, she was struck by the smallness of the hands; andit must be admitted that, although the statue as a whole was slightlyabove the average female height, the arms from the elbow downwards, andparticularly the hands, were by no means in proportion, and almostjustified Miss Parkinson's objection, that "no woman could have hands sosmall as that. "

"I know some one who has--quite as small, " said he softly. 

Ada instantly drew off one of the crimson gloves and held out her handbeside the statue's. It was a well-shaped hand, as she very well knew, but it was decidedly larger than the one with which she compared it. "I_said_ so, " she observed; "now are you satisfied, Mr. Tweddle?"

But he had been thinking of a hand more slender and dainty than hers, and allowed himself to admit as much. "I--I wasn't meaning you at all, "he said bluntly. 

She laughed a little jarring laugh. "Oh, Matilda, of course! Nobody islike Matilda now! But come, Mr. Tweddle, you're not going to stand thereand tell me that this wonderful Matilda of yours has hands no biggerthan those?"

"She has been endowed with quite remarkable small hands, " said he; "youwouldn't believe it without seeing. It so happens, " he added suddenly, "that I can give you a very fair ideer of the size they are, for I'vegot a ring of hers in my pocket at this moment. It came about this way:my aunt (the same that used to let her second floor to James, and thatMatilda lodges with at present), my aunt, as soon as she heard of ourbeing engaged, nothing would do but I must give Matilda an old ring witha posy inside it, that was in our family, and we soon found the ring wastoo large to keep on, and I left it with old Vidler, near my place ofbusiness, to be made tighter, and called for it on my way here this veryafternoon, and fortunately enough it was ready. "

He took out the ring from its bed of pink cotton wool, and offered it toMiss Parkinson. 

"You see if you can get it on, " he said; "try the little finger!"

She drew back, offended. "_I_ don't want to try it, thank you, " she said(she felt as if she might fling it into the bushes if she allowedherself to touch it). "If you _must_ try it on somebody, there's thestatue! You'll find no difficulty in getting it on any of herfingers--or thumbs, " she added. 

"You shall see, " said Leander. "My belief is, it's too small for her, ifanything. "

He was a true lover; anxious to vindicate his lady's perfections beforeall the world, and perhaps to convince himself that his estimate was notexaggerated. The proof was so easy, the statue's left hand hungtemptingly within his reach; he accepted the challenge, and slipped thering up the third finger, that was slightly raised as if to receive it. The hand struck no chill, so moist and mild was the evening, but feltwarm and almost soft in his grasp. 

"There, " he said triumphantly, "it might have been made for her!"

[Illustration: "THERE, " HE SAID TRIUMPHANTLY, "IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADEFOR HER!"]

"Well, " said Ada, not too consistently, "I never said it mightn't!"

"Excuse me, " said he, "but you said it would be too large for her; and, if you'll believe me, it's as much as I can do to get it off her finger, it fits that close. "

"Well, make haste and get it off, Mr. Tweddle, do, " said Ada, impatiently. "I've stayed out quite long enough. "

"In one moment, " he replied; "it's quite a job, I declare, quite a job!"

"Oh, you men are so clumsy!" cried Ada. "Let _me_ try. "

"No, no!" he said, rather irritably; "I can manage it, " and he continuedto fumble. 

At last he looked over his shoulder and said, "It's a singlersuccumstance, but I can't get the ring past the bend of the finger. "

Ada was cruel enough to burst out laughing. "It's a judgment upon you, Mr. Tweddle!" she cried. 

"You dared me to it!" he retorted. "It isn't friendly of you, I mustsay, Miss Parkinson, to set there enjoying of it--it's bad taste!"

"Well, then, I'm very sorry, Mr. Tweddle; I won't laugh any more; but, for goodness' sake, take me back to the Hall now. "

"It's coming!" he said; "I'm working it over the joint now--it's comingquite easily. "

"But I can't wait here while it comes, " she said. "Do you want me to goback alone? You're not very polite to me this evening, I must say. "

"What am I to do?" he said distractedly. "This ring is my engagementring; it's valuable. I can't go away without it!"

"The statue won't run away--you can come back again, by-and-by. Youdon't expect me to spend the rest of the evening out here? I neverthought you could be rude to a lady, Mr. Tweddle. "

"No more I can, " he said. "Your wishes, Miss Ada, are equivocal tocommands; allow me the honour of reconducting you to the Baronial Hall. "

He offered his arm in his best manner; she took it, and together theypassed out of the enclosure, leaving the statue in undisturbedpossession of the ring. 

PLEASURE IN PURSUIT

II. 

 "And you, great sculptor, so you gave A score of years to Art, her slave, And that's your Venus, whence we turn To yonder girl----"

Another waltz had just begun as they re-entered the Baronial Hall, andAda glanced up at her companion from her daring brown eyes. "What wouldyou say if I told you you might have this dance with me?" she inquired. 

The hairdresser hesitated for just one moment. He had meant to leave herthere and go back for his ring; but the waltz they were playing was avery enticing one. Ada was looking uncommonly pretty just then; he couldget the ring equally well a few minutes later. 

"I should take it very kind of you, " he said, gratefully, at length. 

"Ask for it, then, " said Ada; and he did ask for it. 

He forgot Matilda and his engagement for the moment; he sacrificed allhis scruples about dancing in public; but he somehow failed to enjoythis pleasure, illicit though it was. 

For one thing, he could not long keep Matilda out of his thoughts. Hewas doing nothing positively wrong; still, it was undeniable that shewould not approve of his being there at all, still less if she knewthat the gold ring given to him by his aunt for the purposes of hisbetrothal had been left on the finger of a foreign statue, and exposedto the mercy of any passer-by, while he waltzed with a bonnet-maker'sassistant. 

And his conscience was awakened still further by the discovery that Adawas a somewhat disappointing partner. "She's not so light as she used tobe, " he thought, "and then she jumps. I'd forgotten she jumped. "

Before the waltz was nearly over he led her back to a chair, alleging ashis excuse that he was afraid to abandon his ring any longer, andhastened away to the spot where it was to be found. 

He went along the same path, and soon came to an enclosure; but nosooner had he entered it than he saw that he must have mistaken his way;this was not the right place. There was no statue in the middle. 

He was about to turn away, when he saw something that made him start; itwas a low pedestal in the centre, with the same characters upon it thathe had read with Ada. It was the place, after all; yes, he could not bemistaken; he knew it now. 

Where was the statue which had so lately occupied that pedestal? Had itfallen over amongst the bushes? He felt about for it in vain. It musthave been removed for some purpose while he had been dancing; but bywhom, and why?

The best way to find out would be to ask some one in authority. Themanager was in the Baronial Hall, officiating as M. C. ; he would go andinquire whether the removal had been by his orders. 

He was fortunate enough to catch him as he was coming out of the hall, and he seized him by the arm with nervous haste. "Mister, " he began, "if you've found one of your plaster figures with a gold ring on, it'smine. I--I put it on in a joking kind of way, and I had to leave it forawhile; and now, when I come back for it, it's gone!"

"I'm sorry to hear it, sir, " returned the manager; "but really, if youwill leave gold rings on our statues, we can't be responsible, youknow. "

"But you'll excuse me, " pursued Leander; "I don't think you quiteunderstood me. It isn't only the ring that's gone--it's the statue; andif you've had it put up anywhere else----"

"Nonsense!" said the manager; "we don't move our statues about likechessmen; you've forgotten where you left it, that's all. What was thestatue like?"

Leander described it as well as he could, and the manager, with asomewhat altered manner, made him point out the spot where he believedit to have stood, and they entered the grove together. 

The man gave one rapid glance at the vacant pedestal, and then grippedLeander by the shoulder, and looked at him long and hard by the feeblelight. "Answer me, " he said, roughly; "is this some lark of yours?"

[Illustration: "ANSWER ME, " HE SAID ROUGHLY; "IS THIS SOME LARK OFYOURS?"]

"I look larky, don't I?" said poor Tweedle, dolefully. "I thought you'dbe sure to know where it was. "

"I wish to heaven I did!" cried the manager, passionately; "it's thoseimpudent blackguards. .. . They've done it under my very nose!"

"If it's any of your men, " suggested Leander, "can't you make them putit back again?"

"It's not any of my men. I was warned, and, like a fool, I wouldn'tbelieve it could be done at a time like this; and now it's too late, andwhat am I to say to the inspector? I wouldn't have had this happen fora thousand pounds!"

"Well, it's kind of you to feel so put out about it, " said Leander. "Yousee, what makes the ring so valuable to me----"

The manager was pacing up and down impatiently, entirely ignoring hispresence. 

"I say, " Tweddle repeated, "the reason why that ring's of particklerimportance----"

"Oh, don't bother _me_!" said the other, shaking him off. "I don't wantto be uncivil, but I've got to think this out. .. . Infernal rascals!" hewent on muttering. 

"Have the goodness to hear what I've got to say, though, " persistedLeander. "I'm mixed up in this, whether you like it or not. You seem toknow who's got this figure, and I've a right to be told too. I won't gotill I get that ring back; so now you understand me!"

"Confound you and your ring!" said the manager. "What's the good ofcoming bully-ragging me about your ring? _I_ can't get you your ring!You shouldn't have been fool enough to put it on one of our statues. Youmake me talk to you like this, coming bothering when I've enough on mymind as it is! Hang it! Can't you see I'm as anxious to get that statueagain as ever you can be? If I don't get it, I may be a ruined man, forall I know; ain't that enough for you? Look here, take my advice, andleave me alone before we have words over this. You give me your name andaddress, and you may rely on hearing from me as soon as anything turnsup. You can do no good to yourself or any one else by making a row; sogo away quiet like a sensible chap!"

Leander felt stunned by the blow; evidently there was nothing to be donebut follow the manager's advice. He went to the office with him, andgave his name and address in full, and then turned back alone to thedancing-hall. 

He had lost his ring--no ordinary trinket which he could purchaseanywhere, but one for which he would have to account--and to whom? Tohis aunt and Matilda. How could he tell, when there was even a chance ofseeing it again?

If only he had not allowed himself that waltz; if only he had insistedupon remaining by the statue until his ring was removed; if only he hadnot been such an idiot as to put it on! None of these acts were wrongexactly; but between them they had brought him to this. 

And the chief person responsible was Miss Ada Parkinson, whom he darednot reproach; for he was naturally unwilling that this last stage of theaffair should become known. He would have to dissemble, and he rejoinedhis party with what he intended for a jaunty air. 

"We've been waiting for you to go away, " said Bella. "Where have youbeen all this time?"

He saw with relief that Ada did not appear to have mentioned the statue, and so he said he had been "strolling about. "

"And Ada left to take care of herself!" said Bella, spitefully. "You arepolite, Mr. Tweddle, I must say!"

"I haven't complained, Bella, that I know of, " said Ada. "And Mr. Tweddle and I quite understand each other, don't we?"

"Oh!" said Bella, with an altered manner and a side-glance at James, "Ididn't know. I'm very glad to hear it, I'm sure. "

And then they left the gardens, and, after a substantial meal at ariverside hotel, started on the homeward journey, with the sense thattheir expedition had not been precisely a success. 

As before, they had a railway compartment to themselves. Bella declinedto talk, and lay back in her corner with closed eyes and an expressionof undeserved suffering, whilst the unfortunate Jauncy sat silent andmiserable opposite. 

Leander would have liked to be silent too, and think out his position;but Ada would not hear of this. Her jealous resentment had apparentlyvanished, and she was extremely lively and playful in her sallies. 

This reached a pitch when she bent forward, and, in a whisper, which shedid not, perhaps, intend to be quite confidential, said, "Oh, Mr. Tweddle, you never told me what became of the ring! Is it off at last?"

"Off? yes!" he said irritably, very nearly adding, "and the statue too. "

"Weren't you very glad!" said she. 

"Uncommonly, " he replied grimly. 

"Let me see it again, now you've got it back, " she pleaded. 

"You'll excuse me, " he said; "but after what has taken place, I can'tshow that ring to anybody. "

"Then you're a cross thing!" said Ada, pouting. 

"What's the matter with you two, over there?" asked Bella, sleepily. 

Ada's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Let me tell them; it is too awfullyfunny. I _must_!" she whispered to Leander. "It's all about a ring, " shebegan, and enjoyed poor Tweddle's evident discomfort. 

"A ring?" cried Bella, waking up. "Don't keep all the fun to yourselves;we've not had so much of it this evening. "

"Miss Ada, " said Leander, in great agitation, "I ask you, as a lady, totreat what has happened this evening in the strictest confidence for thepresent!"

"Secrets, Ada?" cried her sister; "upon my word!"

"Why, where's the harm, Mr. Tweddle, now it's all settled?" exclaimedAda. "Bella, it was only this: he went and put a ring (now do wait tillI've done, Mr. Tweddle!) on a certain person's finger out in thoseRosherwich Gardens (you see, I've not said _whose_ finger). "

"Hullo, Tweddle!" cried Jauncy, in some bewilderment. 

Leander could only cast a look of miserable appeal at him. 

"Shall I tell them any more, Mr. Tweddle?" said Ada, persistently. 

"I don't think there's any necessity, " he pleaded. 

"No more do I, " put in Bella, archly. "I think we can guess the rest. "

Ada did not absolutely make any further disclosures that evening; butfor the rest of the journey she amused herself by keeping thehairdresser in perpetual torment by her pretended revelations, until hewas thoroughly disgusted. 

No longer could he admire her liveliness; he could not even see that shewas good-looking now. "She's nothing but chaff, chaff, chaff!" hethought. "Thank goodness, Matilda isn't given that way. Chaff beforemarriage means nagging after!"

They reached the terminus at last, when he willingly said farewell tothe other three. 

"Good-bye, Mr. Tweddle, " said Bella, in rather a more cordial tone; "Ineedn't hope _you_'ve enjoyed yourself!"

"You needn't!" he replied, almost savagely. 

"Good night, " said Ada; and added in a whisper, "Don't go and dream ofyour statue-woman!"

"If I dream to-night at all, " he said, between his teeth, "it will be anightmare!"

"I suppose, Tweddle, old chap, " said Jauncy, as he shook hands, "youknow your own affairs best; but, if you meant what you told me comingdown, you've been going it, haven't you?"

He left Leander wondering impatiently what he meant. Did he know thetruth? Well, everybody might know it before long; there would probablybe a fuss about it all, and the best thing he could do would be to tellMatilda at once, and throw himself upon her mercy. After all, it wasinnocent enough--if she could only be brought to believe it. 

He did not look forward to telling her; and by the time he reached theBank and got into an omnibus, he was in a highly nervous state, as thefollowing incident may serve to show. 

He had taken one of those uncomfortable private omnibuses, where thepassengers are left in unlightened gloom. He sat by the door, and, occupied as he was by his own misfortunes, paid little attention to hissurroundings. 

But by-and-by, he became aware that the conductor, in collecting thefares, was trying to attract the notice of some one who sat in thefurther corner of the vehicle. "Where are you for, lady, please?" heasked repeatedly, and at last, "_Will_ somebody ask the lady up the endwhere I'm to set her down?" to all of which the eccentric personaddressed returned no reply whatever. 

Leander's attention was thus directed to her; but, although in theobscurity he could make out nothing but a dim form of grey, his nerveswere so unsettled that he felt a curiously uneasy fancy that eyes werebeing fixed upon him in the darkness. 

This continued until a moment when some electric lights suddenly flashedinto the omnibus as it passed, and lit up the whole interior with aghastly glare, in which the grey female became distinctly visible. 

He caught his breath and shrank into the corner; for in that moment hisexcited imagination had traced a strange resemblance to the figure hehad left in Rosherwich Gardens. The inherent improbability of finding aclassical statue seated in an omnibus did not occur to him, in the statehis mind was in just then. He sat there fascinated, until lights shonein once more, and he saw, or thought he saw, the figure slowly raise herhand and beckon to him. 

That was enough; he started up with a smothered cry, thrust a coin intothe conductor's hand, and, without waiting for change, flung himselffrom the omnibus in full motion. 

When its varnished sides had ceased to gleam in the light of the lamps, and its lumbering form had been swallowed up in the autumn haze, hebegan to feel what a coward his imagination had made of him. 

"My nightmare's begun already, " he thought. "Still, she was sosurprisingly like, it did give me a turn. They oughtn't to let suchcrazy females into public conveyances!"

Fortunately his panic had not seized him until he was within a shortdistance from Bloomsbury, and it did not take him long to reach QueenSquare and his shop in the passage. He let himself in, and went up to alittle room on an upper floor, which he used as his sitting-room. Theperson who "looked after him" did not sleep on the premises; but shehad laid a fire and left out his tea-things. "I'll have some tea, " hethought, as he lit the gas and saw them there. "I feel as if I wantcheering up, and it can't make me any more shaky than I am. "

And when his fire was crackling and blazing up, and his kettle beginningto sing, he felt more cheerful already. What, after all, if it did takesome time to get his ring again? He must make some excuse or other; and, should the worst come to the worst, "I suppose, " he thought, "I couldget another made like it--though, when I come to think of it, I'll beshot if I remember exactly what it was like, or what the words inside itwere, to be sure about them; still, very likely old Vidler wouldrecollect, and I dessay it won't turn out to be necessa----What thedevil's that?"

He had the house to himself after nightfall, and he remembered that hisprivate door could not be opened now without a special key; yet he couldnot help a fancy that some one was groping his way up the staircaseoutside. 

"It's only the boards creaking, or the pipes leaking through, " hethought. "I must have the place done up. But I'm as nervous as a catto-night. "

The steps were nearer and nearer--they stopped at the door--there was aloud commanding blow on the panels. 

"Who's here at this time of night?" cried Leander, aloud. "Come in, ifyou want to!"

But the door remained shut, and there came another rap, even moreimperious. 

"I shall go mad if this goes on!" he muttered, and making a desperaterush to the door, threw it wide open, and then staggered backpanic-stricken. 

Upon the threshold stood a tall figure in classical drapery. His eyesmight have deceived him in the omnibus; but here, in the crude gaslight, he could not be mistaken. It was the statue he had last seen inRosherwich Gardens--now, in some strange and wondrous way, moving--alive!

A DISTINGUISHED STRANGER

III. 

 "How could it be a dream? Yet there She stood, the moveless image fair!"

 _The Earthly Paradise. _

With slow and stately tread the statue advanced towards the centre ofthe hairdresser's humble sitting-room, and stood there awhile, gazingabout her with something of scornful wonder in her calm cold face. Asshe turned her head, the wide, deeply-cut sockets seemed the home ofshadowy eyes; her face, her bared arms, and the long straight folds ofher robe were all of the same greyish-yellow hue; the boards creakedunder her sandalled feet, and Leander felt that he had never heard of amore appallingly massive ghost--if ghost indeed she were. 

He had retired step by step before her to the hearthrug, where he nowstood shivering, with the fire hot at his back, and his kettle stillsinging on undismayed. He made no attempt to account for her presencethere on any rationalistic theory. A statue had suddenly come to life, and chosen to pay him a nocturnal visit; he knew no more than that, except that he would have given worlds for courage to show it the door. 

The spectral eyes were bent upon him, as if in expectation that hewould begin the conversation, and, at last, with a very unmanageabletongue, he managed to observe--

"Did you want to see me on--on business, mum?"

[Illustration: "DID YOU WANT TO SEE ME ON--ON BUSINESS, MUM?"]

But the statue only relaxed her lips in a haughty smile. 

"For goodness' sake, say something!" he cried wildly; "unless you wantme to jump out of the winder! What is it you've come about?"

It seemed to him that in some way a veil had lifted from the stone face, leaving it illumined by a strange light, and from the lips came a voicewhich addressed him in solemn far-away tones, as of one talking insleep. He could not have said with certainty that the language was hisown, though somehow he understood her perfectly. 

"You know me not?" she said, with a kind of sad indifference. 

"Well, " Leander admitted, as politely as his terror would allow, "youcertingly have the advantage of me for the moment, mum. "

"I am Aphrodite the foam-born, the matchless seed of Ægis-bearing Zeus. Many names have I amongst the sons of men, and many temples, and I swaythe hearts of all lovers; and gods--yea, and mortals--have burned forme, a goddess, with an unconsuming, unquenchable fire!"

"Lor!" said Leander. If he had not been so much flurried, he might havefound a remark worthier of the occasion, but the announcement that shewas a goddess took his breath away. He had quite believed that goddesseswere long since "gone out. "

"You know wherefore I am come hither?" she said. 

"Not at this minute, I don't, " he replied. "You'll excuse me, but youcan't be the statue out of those gardens? You reelly are so surprisinglylike, that I couldn't help asking you. "

"I am Aphrodite, and no statue. Long--how long I know not--have I lainentranced in slumber in my sea-girt isle of Cyprus, and now again hasthe living touch of a mortal hand upon one of my sacred images called mefrom my rest, and given me power to animate this marble shell. Some handhas placed this ring upon my finger. Tell me, was it yours?"

Leander was almost reassured; after all, he could forgive her forterrifying him so much, since she had come on so good-natured an errand. 

"Quite correct, mum--miss!" (he wished he knew the proper form foraddressing a goddess) "that ring is my property. I'm sure it's verycivil and friendly of you to come all this way about it, " and he heldout his hand for it eagerly. 

"And think you it was for this that I have visited the face of the earthand the haunts of men, and followed your footsteps hither by roadsstrange and unknown to me? You are too modest, youth. "

"I don't know what there is modest in expecting you to behave honest!"he said, rather wondering at his own audacity. 

"How are you called?" she inquired suddenly on this; and after hearingthe answer, remarked that the name was known to her as that of a goodlyand noble youth who had perished for the sake of Hero. 

"The gentleman may have been a connection of mine, for all I know, " hesaid; "the Tweddles have always kep' themselves respectable. But I'm nota hero myself, I'm a hairdresser. "

She repeated the word thoughtfully, though she did not seem to quitecomprehend it; and indeed it is likely enough that, however intelligibleshe was to Leander, the understanding was far from being entirelyreciprocal. 

She extended her hand to him, smiling not ungraciously. "Leander, " shesaid, "cease to tremble, for a great happiness is yours. Bold have youbeen; yet am I not angered, for I come. Cast, then, away all fear, andknow that Aphrodite disdains not to accept a mortal's plighted troth!"

Leander entrenched himself promptly behind the armchair. "I don't knowwhat you're talking about!" he said. "How can I help fearing, with youcoming down on me like this? Ask yourself. "

"Can you not understand that your prayer is heard?" she demanded. 

"_What_ prayer?" cried Leander. 

"Crass and gross-witted has the world grown!" said she; "a Greek swainwould have needed but few words to divine his bliss. Know, then, thatyour suit is accepted; never yet has Aphrodite turned the humblest fromher shrine. By this symbol, " and she lightly touched the ring, "you havegiven yourself to me. I accept the offering--you are mine!"

Leander was stupefied by such an unlooked-for misconception. He couldscarcely believe his ears; but he hastened to set himself right at once. 

"If you mean that you were under the impression that I meant anything inparticular by putting that ring on, it was all a mistake, mum, " he said. "I shouldn't have presumed to it!"

"Were you the lowliest of men, I care not, " she replied; "to you I owethe power I now enjoy of life and vision, nor shall you find meungrateful. But forbear this false humility; I like it not. Come, then, Leander, at the bidding of Cypris; come, and fear nothing!"

But he feared very much, for he had seen the operas of _Don Giovanni_and _Zampa_, and knew that any familiarity with statuary was likely tohave unpleasant consequences. He merely strengthened his defences with achair. 

"You must excuse me, mum, you must indeed, " he faltered; "I can't come!"

"Why?" she asked. 

"Because I've other engagements, " he replied. 

"I remember, " she said slowly, "in the grove, when light met my eyesonce more, there was a maid with you, one who laughed and was merry. Answer--is she your love?"

"No, she isn't, " he said shortly. "What if she was?"

"If she were, " observed the goddess, with the air of one who mentionedan ordinary fact, "I should crush her!"

"Lord bless me!" cried Leander, in his horror. "What for?"

"Would not she be in my path? and shall any mortal maid stand between meand my desire?"

This was a discovery. She was a jealous and vengeful goddess; she wouldrequire to be sedulously humoured, or harm would come. 

"Well, well, " he said soothingly, "there's nothing of that sort abouther, I do assure you. "

"Then I spare her, " said the goddess. "But how, then, if this be trulyso, do you still shrink from the honour before you?"

Leander felt a natural unwillingness to explain that it was because hewas engaged to a young lady who kept the accounts at a florist's. 

"Well, the fact is, " he said awkwardly, "there's difficulties in theway. "

"Difficulties? I can remove them all!" she said. 

"Not _these_ you can't, mum. It's like this: You and me, we don't start, so to speak, from the same basin. I don't mean it as any reproach toyou, but you can't deny you're an Eathen, and, worse than that, anEathen goddess. Now all my family have been brought up as chapel folk, Primitive Methodists, and I've been trained to have a horror ofsuperstition and idolatries, and see the folly of it. So you can see foryourself that we shouldn't be likely to get on together!"

"You talk words, " she said impatiently; "but empty are they, andmeaningless to my ears. One thing I learn from them--that you seek toescape me!"

"That's putting it too harsh, mum, " he protested. "I'm sure I feel thehonour of such a call; and, by the way, do you mind telling me how yougot my address--how you found me out, I mean?"

"No one remains long hid from the searching eye of the high gods, " shereplied. 

"So I should be inclined to say, " agreed Leander. "But only tell methis, wasn't it you in the omnibus? We call our public conveyancesomnibuses, as perhaps you mayn't know. "

"I, sea-born Aphrodite, _I_ in a public conveyance, an omnibus? There isan impiety in such a question!"

"Well, I only thought it might have been, " he stammered, rather relievedupon the whole that it was not the goddess who had seen his precipitatebolt from the vehicle. Who the female in the corner really was, he neverknew; though a man of science might account for the resemblance she boreto the statue by ascribing it to one of those preparatory impressionsprojected occasionally by a strong personality upon a weak one. ButLeander was content to leave the matter unexplained. 

"Let it suffice you, " she said, "that I am here; and once more, Leander, are you prepared to fulfil the troth you have plighted?"

"I--I can't say I am, " he said. "Not that I don't feel thankful forhaving had the refusal of so very 'igh-class an opportunity; but, as I'msituated at present--what with the state of trade, and unbelief sorampant, and all--I'm obliged to decline with respectful thanks. "

He trusted that after this she would see the propriety of going. 

"Have a care!" she said; "you are young and not uncomely, and my heartpities you. Do nothing rash. Pause, ere you rouse the implacable ire ofAphrodite!"

"Thank you, " said Leander; "if you'll allow me, I will. I don't want anyill-feeling, I'm sure. It's my wish to live peaceable with all men. "

"I leave you, then. Use the time before you till I come again inthinking well whether he acts wisely who spurns the proffered hand ofIdalian Aphrodite. For the present, farewell, Leander!"

He was overjoyed at his coming deliverance. "Good evening, mum, " hesaid, as he ran to the door and held it open. "If you'll allow me, I'lllight you down the staircase--it's rather dark, I'm afraid. "

"_Fool!_, '" she said with scorn, and without stirring from her place;and, as she spoke the word, the veil seemed to descend over her faceagain, the light faded out, and, with a slight shudder, the figureimperceptibly resumed its normal attitude, the drapery stiffened oncemore into chiselled folds, and the statue was soulless as are statuesgenerally. 

FROM BAD TO WORSE

IV. 

 "And the shadow flits and fleets, And will not let me be, And I loathe the squares and streets!"

 _Maud. _

For some time after the statue had ceased to give signs of life, thehairdresser remained gaping, incapable of thought or action. At last heventured to approach cautiously, and on touching the figure, found itperfectly cold and hard. The animating principle had plainly departed, and left the statue a stone. 

"She's gone, " he said, "and left her statue behind her! Well, of all the_goes_----She's come out without her pedestal, too! To be sure, it wouldhave been in her way, walking. "

Seating himself in his shabby old armchair, he tried to collect hisscattered wits. He scarcely realised, even yet, what had happened; but, unless he had dreamed it all, he had been honoured by the markedattentions of a marble statue, instigated by a heathen goddess, whoinsisted that his affections were pledged to her. 

Perhaps there was a spice of flattery in such a situation--for it cannotfall to the lot of many hairdressers to be thus distinguished--butLeander was far too much alarmed to appreciate it. There had beensuggestions of menace in the statue's remarks which made him shudderwhen he recalled them, and he started violently once or twice when somewavering of the light gave a play of life to the marble mask. "She'scoming back!" he thought. "Oh, I do wish she wouldn't!" But Aphroditecontinued immovable, and at last he concluded that, as he put it, she"had done for the evening. "

His first reflection was--what had best be done? The wisest courseseemed to be to send for the manager of the gardens, and restore thestatue while its animation was suspended. The people at the gardenswould take care that it did not get loose again. 

But there was the ring; he must get that off first. Here was anunhoped-for opportunity of accomplishing this in privacy, and at hisleisure. Again approaching the figure, he tried to draw off thecompromising circle; but it seemed tighter than ever, and he drew out apair of scissors and, after a little hesitation, respectfully insertedit under the hoop and set to work to prize it off, with the result ofsnapping both the points, and leaving the ring entirely unaffected. Heglanced at the face; it wore the same dreamy smile, with a touch ofgentle contempt in it. "She don't seem to mind, " he said aloud; "to besure, she ain't inside of it now, as far as I make it out. I've got allnight before me to get the confounded thing off, and I'll go on tillI've done it!"

But he laboured on with the disabled scissors, and only succeeded inscratching the smooth marble a little; he stopped to pant. "There's onlyway, " he told himself desperately; "a little diamond cement would makeit all right again; and you expect cracks in a statue. "

Then, after a furtive glance around, he fetched the poker from thefireplace. He felt horribly brutal, as if he were going to mutilate andmaltreat a creature that could feel; but he nerved himself to tap theback of Aphrodite's hand at the dimpled base of the third finger. Theshock ran up to his elbow, and gave him acute "pins and needles, " butthe stone hand was still intact. He struck again--this time with all hisforce--and the poker flew from his grasp, and his arm dropped paralyzedby his side. 

He could scarcely lift it again for some minutes, and the warning madehim refrain from any further violence. "It's no good, " he groaned. "If Igo on, I don't know what may happen to me. I must wait till she comesto, and then ask her for the ring, very polite and civil, and try if Ican't get round her that way. "

He was determined that he would never give her up to the gardens whileshe wore his ring; but, in the mean time, he could scarcely leave thestatue standing in the middle of his sitting-room, where it would mostassuredly attract the charwoman's attention. 

He had little cupboards on each side of his fireplace: one of these hadno shelves, and served for storing firewood and bottles of variouskinds. From this he removed the contents, and lifting the statue, which, possibly because its substance had been affected in some subtle andinexplicable manner by the vital principle that had so lately permeatedit, proved less ponderous than might have been reasonably expected, hepushed it well into the recess, and turned the key on it. 

Then he went trembling to bed, and, after an interval of muddled, anxious thinking, fell into a heavy sleep, which lasted until far intothe morning. 

He woke with the recollection that something unpleasant was hanging overhim, and by degrees he remembered what that something was; but it lookedso extravagant in the morning light that he had great hopes all wouldturn out to be a mere dream. 

It was a mild Sunday morning, and there were church bells ringing allaround him; it seemed impossible that he could really be harbouring ananimated antique. But to remove all doubt, he stole down, half dressed, to his small sitting-room, which he found looking as usual--the fireburning dull and dusty in the sunlight that struck in through the openwindow, and his breakfast laid out on the table. 

Almost reassured, he went to the cupboard and unlocked the door. Alas!it held its skeleton--the statue was there, preserving the attitude ofqueenly command in which he had seen it first. Sharply he shut the dooragain, and turned the key with a heavy heart. 

He swallowed his breakfast with very little appetite, after which hefelt he could not remain in the house. "To sit here with _that_ in thecupboard is more than I'm equal to all Sunday, " he decided. 

If Matilda had been at his aunt's, with whom she lodged, he would havegone to chapel with her; but Matilda did not return from her holidaytill late that night. He thought of going to his friend and asking hisadvice on his case. James, as a barrister's clerk, would presumably beable to give a sound legal opinion on an emergency. 

James, however, lived "out Camden Town way, " and was certain on so finea morning to be away on some Sunday expedition with his betrothed: itwas hopeless to go in search of him now. If he went to see his aunt, wholived close by in Millman Street, she might ask him about the ring, andthere would be a fuss. He was in no humour for attending any place ofpublic worship, and so he spent some hours in aimless wandering aboutthe streets, which, as foreigners are fond of reminding us, are notexhilarating even on the brightest Sabbath, and did not raise hisspirits then. 

At last hunger drove him back to the passage in Southampton Row, themore quickly as it began to occur to him that the statue might possiblyhave revived, and be creating a disturbance in the cupboard. 

He had passed the narrow posts, and was just taking out his latchkey, when some one behind touched his shoulder and made him give a guiltyjump. He dreaded to find the goddess at his elbow; however, to hisrelief, he found a male stranger, plainly and respectably dressed. 

"You Mr. Tweddle the hairdresser?" the stranger inquired. 

Leander felt a wild impulse to deny it, and declare that he was his ownfriend, and had come to see himself on business, for he was in no socialmood just then; but he ended by admitting that he supposed he was Mr. Tweddle. 

"So did I. Well, I want a little private talk with you, Mr. Tweddle. I've been hanging about for some time; but though I knocked and rang, Icouldn't make a soul hear. "

"There isn't a soul inside, " protested Tweddle, with unnecessary warmth;"not a solitary soul! You wanted to talk with me. Suppose we take a turnround the square?"

"No, no. I won't keep you out; I'll come in with you!"

Inwardly wondering what his visitor wanted, Leander led him in and litthe gas in his hair-cutting saloon. "We shall be cosier here, " he said;for he dared not take the stranger up in the room where the statue wasconcealed, for fear of accidents. 

The man sat down in the operating-chair and crossed his legs. "I daresay you're wondering what I've come about like this on a Sundayafternoon?" he began. 

"Not at all, " said Leander. "Anything I can have the pleasure of doingfor you----"

"It's only to answer a few questions. I understand you lost a ring atthe Rosherwich Gardens yesterday evening: that's so, isn't it?"

He was a military looking person, as Leander now perceived, and he had aclose-trimmed iron-grey beard, a high colour, quick eyes, and a stiffhard-lipped mouth--not at all the kind of man to trifle with. And yetLeander felt no inclination to tell him his story; the stranger might bea reporter, and his adventure would "get into the papers"--perhaps reachMatilda's eyes. 

"I--I dropped a ring last night, certainly, " he said; "it may have beenin the gardens, for what I know. "

"Now, now, " said the stranger, "don't you _know_ it was in the gardens?Tell me all about it. "

"Begging your pardon, " said Leander, "I should like to know first whatcall you have to _be_ told. "

"You're quite right--perfectly right. I always deal straightforwardlywhen I can. I'll tell you who I am. I'm Inspector Bilbow, of theCriminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard. Now, perhaps, you'llsee I'm not a man to be kept in the dark. And I want you to tell me whenand where you last saw that ring of yours: it's to your own interest, ifyou want to see it again. "

But Leander _had_ seen it again, and it seemed certain that all ScotlandYard could not assist him in getting it back; he must manage itsingle-handed. 

"It's very kind of you, Mr. Inspector, to try and find it for me, " hesaid; "but the fact is, it--it ain't so valuable as I fancied. I can'tafford to have it traced--it's not worth it!"

The inspector laughed. "I never said it was, that I know. The job I'm incharge of is a bigger concern than your trumpery ring, my friend. "

"Then I don't see what I've got to do with it, " said Leander. 

The officer had taken his measure by this time; he must admit his maninto a show of confidence, and appeal to his vanity, if he was to obtainany information he could rely upon. 

"You're a shrewd chap, I see; 'nothing for nothing' is your motto, eh?Well, if you help me in this, and put me on the track I want, it'll be afine thing for you. You'll be a principal witness at the police-court;name in the papers; regular advertisement for you!"

This prospect, had he known it--but even inspectors cannot knoweverything--was the last which could appeal to Leander in his peculiarposition. "I don't care for notoriety, " he said loftily; "I scorn it. "

"Oho!" said the inspector, shifting his ground. "Well, you don't want toimpede the course of justice, do you?--because that's what you seem tome to be after, and you won't find it pay in the long run. I'll get thisout of you in a friendly way if I can; if not, some other way. Come, give me your account, fair and full, of how you came to lose that ring;there's no help for it--you must!"

Leander saw this and yielded. After all, it did not much matter, for ofcourse he would not touch upon the strange sequel of his ill-omened act;so he told the story faithfully and circumstantially, while theinspector took it all down in his note-book, questioning him closelyrespecting the exact time of each occurrence. 

At last he closed his note-book with a snap. "I'm not obliged to tellyou anything in return for all this, " he said; "but I will, and thenyou'll see the importance of holding your tongue till I give you leaveto talk about it. "

"_I_ shan't talk about it, " said Leander. 

"I don't advise you to. I suppose you've heard of that affair atWricklesmarsh Court? What! not that business where a gang broke into thesculpture gallery, one of the finest private collections in England? Yousurprise me!"

"And what did they steal?" asked Leander. 

"They stole the figure whose finger you were ass enough (if you'll allowme the little familiarity) to put your ring on. What do you think ofthat?"

A wild rush of ideas coursed through the hairdresser's head. Was thispoliceman "after" the goddess upstairs? Did he know anything more? Wouldit be better to give up the statue at once and get rid of it? Butthen--his ring would be lost for ever!

"It's surprising, " he said at last. "But what did they want to go andburgle a plaster figure for?"

"That's where it is, you see; she ain't plaster--she's marble, a genuineantic of Venus, and worth thousands. The beggars who broke in knew that, and took nothing else. They'd made all arrangements to get away with herabroad, and pass her off on some foreign collection before it got blownupon; and they'd have done it too if we hadn't been beforehand withthem! So what do they do then? They drive up with her to these gardens, ask to see the manager, and say they're agents for some Fine Artsbusiness, and have a sample with them, to be disposed of at a low price. The manager, so he tells me, had a look at it, thought it a neat articleand suitable to the style of his gardens. He took it to be plainplaster, as they said, and they put it up for him their own selves, near the small gate up by the road; then they took the money--a pound ortwo they asked for it--and drove away, and he saw no more of them. "

"And was that all they got for their pains?" said Leander. 

The inspector smiled indulgently. "Don't you see your way yet?" heasked. "Can't you give a guess where that statue's got to now, eh?"

"No, " said Leander, with what seemed to the inspector a quiteuncalled-for excitement, "of course I can't! What do you ask me for? Howshould I know?"

"Quite so, " said the other; "you want a mind trained to deal with thesethings. It may surprise you to hear it, but I know as well how thatstatue disappeared, and what was done with her, as if I'd been there!"

"Do you, though?" thought Leander, who was beginning to doubt whetherhis visitor's penetration was anything so abnormal. "What was done withher?" he asked. 

"Why, it was a plant from the first. They knew all their regular holeswere stopped, and they wanted a place to dump her down in, where shewouldn't attract attention, till they could call for her again; so theygot her taken in at the gardens, where they could come in any time bythe gate and fetch her off again--and very neatly it was done, too!"

"But where do you make out they've taken her to now?" asked Leander, whowas naturally anxious to discover if the official had any suspicions ofhim. 

"I've my own theory about that, " was his answer. "I shall hunt thatVenus down, sir; I'll stake my reputation on it. "

"Venus is her name, it seems, " thought Leander. "She told me it wasAphrodite. But perhaps the other's her Christian name. It can't be theVenus I've seen pictures of--she's dressed too decent. "

"Yes, " repeated the inspector, "I shall hunt her down now. I don't envythe poor devil who's giving her house-room; he'll have reason to repentit!"

"How do you know any one's giving her house-room?" inquired Leander;"and why should he repent it?"

"Ask your own common sense. They daren't take her back to any of theirown places; they know better. They haven't left the country with her. What remains? They've bribed or got over some mug of an outsider to betheir accomplice, and a bad speculation he'll find it, too. "

"What would be done to him?" asked the hairdresser, with a quiteunpleasant internal sensation. 

[Illustration: "WHAT WOULD BE DONE TO HIM?" ASKED THE HAIRDRESSER, WITHA QUITE UNPLEASANT INTERNAL SENSATION. ]

"That is a question I wouldn't pretend to decide; but I've no hesitationin saying that the party on whose premises that statue is discoveredwill wish he'd died before he ever set eyes on her. "

"You're quite right there!" said Leander. "Well, sir, I'm afraid Ihaven't been much assistance to you. "

"Never mind that, " said the inspector, encouragingly; "you've answeredmy questions; you've not hindered the law, and that's a game some burntheir fingers at. "

Leander let him out, and returned to his saloon with his head in a worsewhirl than before. He did not think the detective suspected him. He wasclearly barking up the wrong tree at present; but so acute a mind couldnot be long deceived, and if once Leander was implicated his guilt wouldappear beyond denial. Would the police believe that the statue had runafter him? No one would believe it! To be found in possession of thatfatal work of art would inevitably ruin him. 

He might carry her away to some lonely spot and leave her, but where wasthe use? She would only come back again; or he might be taken in theact. He dared not destroy her; his right arm had been painful all dayafter that last attempt. 

If he gave her up to the authorities, he would have to explain how hecame to be in a position to do so, which, as he now saw, would be adifficult undertaking; and even then he would lose all chance ofrecovering his ring in time to satisfy his aunt and Matilda. There wasno way out of it, unless he could induce Venus to give up the token andleave him alone. 

"Cuss her!" he said angrily; "a pretty bog she's led me into, she andthat minx, Ada Parkinson!"

He felt so thoroughly miserable that hunger had vanished, and he dreadedthe idea of an evening at home, though it was a blusterous night, withoccasional vicious spirts of rain, and by no means favourable tocontinued pacing of streets and squares. 

"I'm hanged if I don't think I'll go to church!" he thought; "andperhaps I shall feel more equal to supper afterwards. "

He went upstairs to get his best hat and overcoat, and was engaged inbrushing the former in his sitting-room, when from within the cupboardhe heard a shower of loud raps. 

His knees trembled. "She's wuss than any ghost!" he thought; but he tookno notice, and went on brushing his hat, while he endeavoured to hum ahymn. 

"Leander!" cried the clear, hard voice he knew too well, "I havereturned. Release me!"

His first idea was to run out of the house and seek sanctuary in somepew in the opposite church. "But there, " he thought disgustedly, "she'donly come in and sit next to me. No, I'll pluck up a spirit and have itout with her!" and he threw open the door. 

"How have you dared to imprison me in this narrow tomb?" she demandedmajestically, as she stepped forth. 

Leander cringed. "It's a nice roomy cupboard, " he said. "I thoughtperhaps you wouldn't mind putting up with it, especially as you invitedyourself, " he could not help adding. 

"When I found myself awake and in utter darkness, " she said, "I thoughtyou had buried me beneath the soil. "

"Buried you!" he exclaimed, with a sudden perception that he might doworse. 

"And in that thought I was preparing to invoke the forces that lie belowthe soil to come to my aid, burst the masses that impeded me, andoverwhelm you and all this ugly swarming city in one vast ruin!"

"I won't bury her, " Leander decided. "I'm sorry you hadn't a betteropinion of me, mum, " he said aloud. "You see, how you came to be inthere was this way: when you went out, like the snuff of a candle, so tospeak, you left your statue standing in the middle of the floor, and Ihad to put it somewhere where it wouldn't be seen. "

"You did well, " she said indulgently, "to screen my image from thevulgar sight; and if you had no statelier shrine wherein to instal it, the fault lies not with you. You are pardoned. "

"Thank you, mum, " said Leander; "and now let me ask you if you intend toanimate that statue like this as a regular thing?"

"So long as your obstinacy continues, or until it outlives myforbearance, I shall return at intervals, " she said. "Why do you askthis?"

"Well, " said Leander, with a sinking heart, but hoping desperately tomove her by the terrors of the law, "it's my duty to tell you that thatimage you're in is stolen property. "

"Has it been stolen from one of my temples?" she asked. 

"I dare say--I don't know; but there's the police moving heaven andearth to get you back again!"

"He is good and pious--the police, and if I knew him I would rewardhim. "

"There's a good many hims in the police--that's what we call our guardsfor the street, who take up thieves and bad characters; and, beingstolen, they're all of 'em after _you_; and if they had a notion whereyou were, they'd be down on you, and back you'd go to wherever you'vecome from--some gallery, I believe, where you wouldn't get away again ina hurry! Now, I tell you what it is, if you don't give me up that ring, and go away and leave me in quiet, I'll tell the police who you are andwhere you are. I mean what I say, by George I do!"

"We know not George, nor will it profit you to invoke him now, " said thegoddess. "See, I will deign to reason with you as with some frowardchild. Think you that, should the guards seize my image, _I_ shouldremain within, or that it is aught to me where this marble presentmentfinds a resting-place while I am absent therefrom? But for you, shouldyou surrender it into their hands, would there be no punishment for yourimpiety in thus concealing a divine effigy?"

"She ain't no fool!" thought Leander; "she mayn't understand our ways, but she's a match for me notwithstanding. I must try another line. "

"Lady Venus, " he began, "if that's the proper way to call you, I didn'tmean any threats--far from it. I'll be as humble as you please. You looka good-natured lady; you wouldn't want to make a man uncomfortable, I'msure. Do give me back that ring, for mercy's sake! If I haven't got itto show in a day or two, I shall be ruined!"

"Should any mortal require the ring of you, you have but to reply, 'Ihave placed it upon the finger of Aphrodite, whose spouse I am!' Thuswill you have honour amongst mortals, being held blameless!"

"Blameless!" cried Leander, in pardonable exasperation. "That's all youknow about it! And what am I to say to the lady it lawfully belongs to?"

"You have lied to me, then, and you are already affianced! Tell me theabode of this maiden of yours. "

"What do you want it for?" he inquired, hoping faintly she might intendto restore the ring. 

"To seek it out, to go to her abode, to crush her! Is she not my rival?"

"Crush my Matilda?" he cried in agony. "You'll never do such a thing asthat?"

"You have revealed her name! I have but to ask in your streets, 'Whereabideth Matilda, the beloved of Leander, the dresser of hair? Lead me toher dwelling. ' And having arrived thereat, I shall crush her, and thusshe shall deservedly perish!"

He was horrified at the possible effects of his slip, which he hastenedto repair. "You won't find it so easy to come at her, luckily, " he said;"there's hundreds of Matildas in London alone. "

"Then, " said the goddess, sweetly and calmly, "it is simple: I shallcrash them all. "

"Oh, lor!" whimpered Leander, "here's a bloodthirsty person! Where's thesense of doing that?"

"Because, dissipated reveller that you are, you love them. "

"Now, when did I ever say I loved them? I don't even know more than twoor three, and those I look on as sisters--in fact" (here he hit upon alucky evasion) "they _are_ sisters--it's only another name for them. I've a brother and three Matildas, and here are you talking of crushingmy poor sisters as if they were so many beadles--all for nothing!"

"Is this the truth? Palter not with me! You are pledged to no mortalbride?"

"I'm a bachelor. And as for the ring, it belongs to my aunt, who's overfifty. "

"Then no one stands between us, and you are mine!"

"Don't talk so ridiculous! I tell you I ain't yours--it's a freecountry, this is!"

"If I--an immortal--can stoop thus, it becomes you not to reject thedazzling favour. "

A last argument occurred to him. "But I reelly don't think, mum, " hesaid persuasively, "that you can be quite aware of the extent of thestoop. The fact is, I am, as I've tried to make you understand, ahairdresser; some might lower themselves so far as to call me a barber. Now, hairdressing, whatever may be said for it" (he could not readilybring himself to decry his profession)--"hairdressing is considriblybelow you in social rank. I wouldn't deceive you by saying otherwise. Iassure you that, if you had any ideer what a barber was, you wouldn't beso pressing. "

She seemed to be struck by this. "You say well!" she observed, thoughtfully; "your occupation may be base and degrading, and if so, itwere well for me to know it. "

"If you were once to see me in my daily avocations, " he urged, "you'dsee what a mistake you're making. "

"Enough! I will see you--and at once. Barb, that I may know the natureof your toil!"

"I can't do that now, " he objected; "I haven't got a customer. "

"Then fetch one, and barb with it immediately. You must have your toolsby you; so delay not!"

"A customer ain't a tool!" he groaned, "it's a fellow-man; and no onewill come in to-night, because it's Sunday. (Don't ask me what Sundayis, because you wouldn't understand if I tried to tell you!) And I don'tcarry on my business up here, but below in the saloon. "

"I will go thither and behold you. "

"No!" he exclaimed. "Do you want to ruin me?"

"I will make no sign; none shall recognise me for what I am. But come Iwill!"

Leander pondered awhile. There was danger in introducing the goddessinto his saloon; he had no idea what she might do there. But at the sametime, if she were bent upon coming, she would probably do so in anycase; and besides, he felt tolerably certain that what she would seewould convince her of his utter unsuitability as a consort. 

Yes, it was surely wisest to assist necessity, and obtain the mostfavourable conditions for the inevitable experiment. 

"I might put you in a corner of the operating-room, to be sure, " he saidthoughtfully. "No one would think but what you was part of the fittings, unless you went moving about. "

"Place me where I may behold you at your labour, and there I willremain, " she said. 

"Well, " he conceded, "I'll risk it. The best way would be for you towalk down to the saloon, and leave yourself ready in a corner till youcome to again. I can't carry a heavy marble image all that way!"

"So be it, " said she, and followed him to the saloon with a prouddocility. 

"It's nicely got up, " he remarked, as they reached it; "and you'll findit roomier than the cupboard. "

She deigned no answer as she remained motionless in the corner he hadindicated; and presently, as he held up the candle he was carrying, hefound its rays were shining upon a senseless stone. 

He went upstairs again, half fearful, half sanguine. "I don't altogetherlike it, " he was thinking. "But if I put a print wrapper over her allday, no one will notice. And goddesses must have their proper pride. Ifshe once gets it into her marble head that I keep a shop, I think thatshe'll turn up her nose at me. And then she'll give back the ring and goaway, and I shan't be afraid of the police; and I needn't tell Tillieanything about it. It's worth risking. "

AN EXPERIMENT

V. 

 "'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach: Strike all that look upon with marvel. "

 _The Winter's Tale. _

The next day brought Leander a letter which made his heart beat withmingled emotions--it was from his Matilda. It had evidently been writtenimmediately before her return, and told him that she would be at theirold meeting-place (the statue of Fox in Bloomsbury Square) at eighto'clock that evening. 

The wave of tenderness which swept over him at the anticipation of thiswas hurled back by an uncomfortable thought. What if Matilda were torefer to the ring? But no; his Matilda would do nothing so indelicate. 

All through the day he mechanically went through his hairdressing, singeing, and shampooing operations, divided between joy at the prospectof seeing his adored Matilda again, and anxiety respecting the coldmarble swathed in the print wrapper, which stood in the corner of hishair-cutting saloon. 

He glanced at it every time he went past to change a brush or heat arazor, but there was no sign of movement under the folds, and hegradually became reassured, especially as it excited no remark. 

But as evening drew on he felt that, for the success of his experiment, it was necessary that the cover should be removed. It was dangerous, supposing the inspector were to come in unexpectedly and recognise thestatue; but he could only trust to fortune for that, and hoped, too, that even if the detective came he would be able to keep him in theouter shop. 

It was only for one evening, and it was well worth the risk. 

A foreign gentleman had come in, and the hairdresser found that a freshwrapper was required, which gave him the excuse he wanted for unveilingthe Aphrodite. He looked carefully at the face as he uncovered it, butcould discover no speculation as yet in the calm, full gaze of thegoddess. 

The foreign gentleman was inclined to be talkative under treatment, andthe conversation came round to public amusements. 

"In my country, " the customer said, without mentioning or betraying whathis particular country was--"in my country we have what you have not, places to sit out in the fresh air, and drink a glass of beer, alongwith the entertainments. You have not that in London?"

"Bless your soul, yes, " said Leander, who was a true patriot, "plenty ofthem!"

"Oh, I did not aware that; but who?"

"Well, " said the hairdresser, "there's the Eagle in the City Road, forone; and there's the Surrey Gardens; and there's Rosherwich, " he added, after a pause. (The Fisheries Exhibition, it may be said, was as yetunknown. )

"And you go there, often?"

"I've been to Rosherwich. "

"Was it goot there--you laike it, eh?"

"Well, " said Leander, "they tell me it's very gay in the season. P'rhaps I went at the wrong time of the year for it. "

"What you call wrong time for it?"

"Slack--nothing going on, " he explained; "like it was when I went lastSaturday. "

"You went last Saturday? And you stay a long time?"

"I didn't stay no longer than I could help, " Leander said. "All ourparty was glad to get away. "

The foreigner had risen to go, when his eyes fell on the Venus in thecorner. 

"You did not stay long, and your party was glad to come away?" herepeated absently. "I am not surprised at that. " He gave the hairdressera long stare as he spoke. "No, I am not surprised. .. . You have a goodtaste, my friend; you laike the antique, do you not?" he broke offsuddenly. 

"Ah! you are looking at the Venus, sir, " said Leander. "Yes, I'm verypartial to it. "

"It is a taste that costs, " his customer said. 

He looked back over his shoulder as he left the shop, and once morerepeated softly, "Yes, it is a taste that costs. "

"I suppose, " Leander reflected as he went back, "it does strike peopleas queer, my keeping that statue there; but it's only for one evening. "

The foreigner had scarcely left when an old gentleman, a regularcustomer, looked in, on his way from the City, and at once noticed theinnovation. He was an old gentleman who had devoted much time and studyto Art, in the intervals of business, and had developed critical powersof the highest order. 

He walked straight up to the Venus, and stuck out his under lip. "Wheredid you get that thing?" he inquired. "Isn't this place of yours smallenough, without lumbering it up with statuary out of the Euston Road?"

"I didn't get it there, " said Leander. "I--I thought it would be 'andyto 'ang the 'ats on. "

"Dear, dear, " said the old gentleman, "why do you people dabble inmatters you don't understand? Come here, Tweddle, and let me show you. Can't you _see_ what a miserable sham the thing is--a cheap, tawdryimitation of the splendid classic type? Why, by merely exhibiting such athing, you're vitiating public taste, sir--corrupting it. "

Leander did not quite follow this rebuke, which he thought was probablybased upon the goddess's antecedents. 

"Was she reelly as bad as that, sir?" he said. "I wasn't aware so, or Ishouldn't give any offence to customers by letting her stay here. "

As he spoke he saw the indefinable indications in the statue's facewhich denoted that it was instinct once more with life and intelligence, and he was horrified at the thought that the latter part of theconversation might have been overheard. 

"But I've always understood, " he said, hastily, "that the party thisrepresents was puffickly correct, however free some of the others mighthave been; and I suppose that's the costume of the period she's in, andvery becoming it is, I'm sure, though gone out since. "

"Bah!" said the old gentleman, "it's poor art. I'll show you _where_ thething is bad. I happen to understand something of these things. Justobserve how the top of the head is out of drawing; look at the lownessof the forehead, and the distance between the eyes; all the canons ofproportion ignored--absolutely ignored!"

What further strictures this rash old gentleman was preparing to passupon the statue will never be known now, for Tweddle already thought hecould discern a growing resentment in her face, under so much candour. He could not stand by and allow so excellent a customer to be crushed onthe floor of his saloon, and he knew the Venus quite capable of this:was she not perpetually threatening such a penalty, on much slighterprovocation?

He rushed between the unconscious man and his fate. "I think you saidyour hair cut?" he said, and laid violent hands upon the critic, forcedhim protesting into a chair, throttled him with a towel, and effectuallydiverted his attention by a series of personal remarks upon the top ofhis head. 

The victim, while he was being shampooed, showed at first an alarmingtendency to revert to the subject of the goddess's defects, but Leanderwas able to keep him in check by well-timed jets of scalding water andice-cold sprays, which he directed against his customer's exposed crown, until every idea, except impotent rage, was washed out of it, while ahard machine brush completed the subjugation. 

Finally, the unfortunate old man staggered out of the shop, preserved byLeander's unremitting watchfulness from the wrath of the goddess. Yet, such is the ingratitude of human nature, that he left the place vowingto return no more. "I thought I'd got a _clown_ behind me, sir!" he usedto say afterwards, in describing it. 

Before Leander could recover from the alarm he had been thrown into, another customer had entered; a pale young man, with a glossy hat, awhite satin necktie, and a rather decayed gardenia. He, too, was one ofTweddle's regular clients. What his occupation might be was a mystery, for he aimed at being considered a man of pleasure. 

"I say, just shave me, will you?" he said, and threw himself languidlyinto a chair. "Fact is, Tweddle, I've been so doosid chippy for the lasttwo days, I daren't touch a razor. "

"Indeed, sir!" said Leander, with respectful sympathy. 

"You see, " explained the youth, "I've been playing the goat--the giddygoat. Know what that means?"

"I used to, " said Leander; "I never touch alcoholic stimulants now, myself. "

"Wish I didn't. I say, Tweddle, have you been to the Cosmopolitanlately?"

"I don't go to music-'alls now, " said Leander; "I've give up all thatnow I'm keeping company. "

"Well, you go and see the new ballet, " the youth exhorted him earnestly;not that he cared whether the hairdresser went or not, but because hewanted to talk about the ballet to somebody. 

"Ah!" observed Leander; "is that a good one they've got there now, sir?"

"Rather think so. Ballet called _Olympus_. There's a regular rippinglittle thing who comes on as one of Venus's doves. " And the youth wenton to intimate that the dove in question had shown signs of being struckby his powers of fascination. "I saw directly that I'd mashed her; shewas gone, dead gone, sir; and----I say, who's that in the corner overthere--eh?"

He was staring intently into the pier-glass in front of him. "That?"said Leander, following his glance. "Oh! that's a statue I've bought. She--she brightens up the place a bit, don't she?"

"A statue, is it? Yes, of course; I knew it was a statue. Well, aboutthat dove. I went round after it was all over, but couldn't see a signof her; so----That's a queer sort of statue you've got there!" hebroke off suddenly; and Leander distinctly saw the goddess shake her armin fierce menace. "He's said something that's put her out, " heconcluded. "I wish I knew what it was. "

"It's a classical statue, sir, " he said, with what composure he might;"they're all made like that. "

"Are they, by Jove? But, Tweddle, I say, it _moves_: it's shaking itsfist like old Harry!"

"Oh, I think you're mistaken, sir, really! I don't perceive it myself. "

"Don't perceive it? But, hang it, man, look--look in the glass! There!don't you see it does? Dash it! can't you _say_ it does?"

"Flaw in the mirror, sir; when you move your 'ed, you do ketch thateffect. I've observed it myself frequent. Chin cut, sir? My fault--myfault entirely, " he admitted handsomely. 

The young man was shaved by this time, and had risen to receive his hatand cane, when he gave a violent start as he passed the Aphrodite. "There!" he said, breathlessly, "look at that, Tweddle; she's going topunch my head! I suppose you'll tell me _that's_ the glass?"

Leander trembled--this time for his own reputation; for the report thathe kept a mysterious and pugnacious statue on the premises would notincrease his custom. He must silence it, if possible. "I'm afraid it is, sir--in a way, " he remarked, compassionately. 

The young man turned paler still. "No!" he exclaimed. "You don't thinkit is, though? Don't you see anything yourself? I don't either, Tweddle;I was chaffing, that's all. I know I'm a wee bit off colour; but it'snot so bad as that. Keep off! Tell her to drop it, Tweddle!"

[Illustration: "KEEP OFF! TELL HER TO DROP IT, TWEDDLE!"]

For, as he spoke, the goddess had made a stride towards him. "Miserableone!" she cried, "you have mangled one of my birds. Hence, or I crushthee!"

"Tweddle! Tweddle!" cried the youth, taking refuge in the other shop, "don't let her come after me! What's she talking about, eh? Youshouldn't have these things about; they're--they're not _right_!"

Leander shut the glass door and placed himself before it, while he triedto assume a concerned interest. "You take my advice, sir, " he said; "yougo home and keep steady. "

"Is it that?" murmured the customer. "Great Scott! I must be bad!" andhe went out into the street, shaking. 

"I don't believe I shall ever see _him_ again, either, " thought Leander. "She'll drive 'em all away if she goes on like this. " But here a suddenrecollection struck him, and he slapped his thigh with glee. "Why, ofcourse, " he said, "that's it. I've downright disgusted her; it was meshe was most put out with, and after this she'll leave me alone. Hooray!I'll shut up everything first and get rid of the boy, and then go in andsee her, and get away to Matilda. "

When the shop was secured for the night, he re-entered the saloon with alight step. "Well, mum, " he began, "you've seen me at work, and you'vethought better of what you were proposing, haven't you now?"

"Where is the wretched stripling who dared to slay my dove?" she cried. "Bring him to me!"

"What _are_ you a-talking about now?" cried the bewildered Leander. "Who's been touching your birds? I wasn't aware you _kept_ birds. "

"Many birds are sacred to me--the silver swan, the fearless sparrow, and, chief of all, the coral-footed dove. And one of these has thatmonster slain--his own mouth hath spoken it. "

"Oh! is that all?" said Leander. "Why, he wasn't talking about a realdove; it was a ballet girl he meant. I can't explain the difference; butthey _are_ different. And it's all talk, too. I know him; _he's_harmless enough. And now, mum, to come to the point; you've now had theopportunity of forming some ideer of my calling. You've thought betterof it, haven't you?"

"Better! ay, far better!" she cried, in a voice that thrilled withpride. "Leander, too modestly you have rated yourself, for surely youare great amongst the sons of men. "

"_Me!_" he gasped, utterly overcome. "How do you make that out?"

"Do you not compel them to furnish sport for you? Have I not seen themcome in, talking boldly and loud, and yet seat themselves submissivelyat a sign from you? And do you not swathe them in the garb ofhumiliation, and daub their countenances with whiteness, and threatentheir bared throats with the gleaming knife, and grind their heads underthe resistless wheel? Then, having in disdain granted them theirworthless lives, you set them free; and they propitiate you with a gift, and depart trembling. "

"Well, of all the topsy-turvy contrariness!" he protested. "You've gotit _all_ wrong; I declare you have! But I'll put you right, if it'spossible to do it. " And he launched into a lengthy explanation of thewonders she had seen, at the end of which he inquired, "_Now_ do youunderstand I'm nobody in particular?"

"It may be so, " she admitted; "but what of that? Ere this have I beenwild with love for a herdsman on Phrygian hills. Aye, Adonis have Ikissed in the oakwood, and bewailed his loss. And did not Selenedescend to woo the neatherd Endymion? Wherefore, then, should I scornthee? and what are the differences and degrees of mortals to such as I!Be bold; distrust your merits no longer, since I, who amongst thegoddesses obtained the prize of beauty, have chosen you for my own. "

"I don't care what prizes you won, " he said, sulkily; "I'm not yours, and I don't intend to be, either. " He was watching the clock impatientlyall the while, for it was growing very near nine. 

"It is vain to struggle, " she said, "since not the gods themselves canresist Fate. We must yield, and contend not. "

"You begin it, then, " he said. "Give me my ring. "

"The sole symbol of my power! the charm which has called me from my longsleep! Never!"

"Then, " said Leander, knowing full well that his threat was animpossible one, "I shall place the matter in the hands of a respectablelawyer. "

"I understand you not; but it is no matter. In time I shall prevail. "

"Well, mum, you must come again another evening, if you've noobjection, " said Leander, rudely, "because I've got to go out just now. "

"I will accompany you, " she said. 

Leander nearly danced with frenzy. Take the statue with him to meet hisdear Matilda! He dared not. "You're very kind, " he stammered, perspiringfreely; "but I couldn't think of taking you out such a foggy evening. "

"Have no cares for me, " she answered; "we will go together. You shallexplain to me the ways of this changed world. "

"Catch _me_!" was Leander's elliptical comment to himself; but he hadto pretend a delighted acquiescence. "Well, " he cried, "if I hadn't beenthinking how lonely it would be going out alone! and now I shall havethe honour of your company, mum. You wait a bit here, while I runupstairs and fetch my 'at. "

But the perfidious man only waited until he was on the other side of thedoor, which led from the saloon to his staircase, to lock it after him, and slip out by the private door into the street. 

"Now, my lady, " he thought triumphantly, "you're safe for awhile, at allevents. I've put up the shutters, and so you won't get out that way. Andnow for Tillie!"

TWO ARE COMPANY

VI. 

 "The shape Which has made escape, And before my countenance Answers me glance for glance. "

 _Mesmerism. _

Leander hastened eagerly to his trysting-place. All these obstacles anddifficulties had rendered his Matilda tenfold dearer and more preciousto him; and besides, it was more than a fortnight since he had last seenher. But he was troubled and anxious still at the recollection of theGreek statue shut up in his hair-cutting saloon. What would Matilda sayif she knew about it; and still worse, what might it not do if it knewabout her? Matilda might decline to continue his acquaintance--for shewas a very right-minded girl--unless Venus, like the jealous andvindictive heathen she had shown herself to be, were to crush her beforeshe even had the opportunity. 

"It's a mess, " he thought disconsolately, "whatever way I look at it. But after to-night I won't meet Matilda any more while I've got thatstatue staying with me, or no one could tell the consequences. " However, when he drew near the appointed spot, and saw the slender form whichawaited him there by the railings, he forgot all but the present joy. Even the memory of the terrible divinity could not live in the wholesomepresence of the girl he had the sense to truly and honestly love. 

Matilda Collum was straight and slim, though not tall; she had a neatlittle head of light brown hair, which curled round her temples in softrings; her complexion was healthily pale, with the slightest tinge ofdelicate pink in it; she had a round but decided chin, and her grey eyeswere large and innocently severe, except on the rare occasions when shelaughed, and then their expression was almost childlike in its gaiety. 

Generally, and especially in business hours, her pretty face was calmand slightly haughty, and rash male customers who attempted to make thechoice of a "button-hole" an excuse for flirtation were not encouragedto persevere. She was seldom demonstrative to Leander--it was not herway--but she accepted his effusive affection very contentedly, and, indeed, returned it more heartily than her principles allowed her toadmit; for she secretly admired his spirit and fluency, and, as is oftenthe case in her class of life, had no idea that she was essentially herlover's superior. 

After the first greetings, they walked slowly round the square together, his arm around her waist. Neither said very much for some minutes, butLeander was wildly, foolishly happy, and there was no severity inMatilda's eyes when they shone in the lamp-light. 

"Well, " he said, at last, "and so I've actually got you safe back again, my dear, darling Tillie! It seems like a long eternity since last wemet. I've been so beastly miserable, Matilda!"

"You do seem to have got thinner in the face, Leander dear, " saidMatilda, compassionately. "What _have_ you been doing while I've beenaway?"

"Only wishing my dearest girl back, that's all _I've_ been doing. "

"What! haven't you given yourself any enjoyment at all--not gone outanywhere all the time?"

"Not once--leastwise, that is to say----" A guilty memory of Rosherwichmade him bungle here. 

"Why, of course I didn't expect you to stop indoors all the time, " saidMatilda, noticing the amendment, "so long as you never went where youwouldn't take me. "

Oh, conscience, conscience! But Rosherwich didn't count--it was outsidethe radius; and besides, he _hadn't_ enjoyed himself. 

"Well, " he said, "I did go out one evening, to hear a lecture onAstronomy at the Town Hall, in the Gray's Inn Road; but then I had theticket given me by a customer, and I reely was surprised to find howregular the stars was in their habits, comets and all. But my 'Tilda isthe only star of the evening for me, to-night. I don't want to talkabout anything else. "

The diversion was successful, and Matilda asked no more inconvenientquestions. Presently she happened to cough slightly, and he touchedaccusingly the light summer cloak she was wearing. 

"You're not dressed warm enough for a night like this, " he said, with alover's concern. "Haven't you got anything thicker to put on than that?"

"I haven't bought my winter things yet, " said Matilda; "it was so mild, that I thought I'd wait till I could afford it better. But I've chosenthe very thing I mean to buy. You know Mrs. Twilling's, at the top ofthe Row, the corner shop? Well, in the window there's a perfectly lovelylong cloak, all lined with squirrel's fur, and with those nice oxidizedsilver fastenings. A cloak like that lasts ever so long, and will alwayslook neat and quiet; and any one can wear it without being staredafter; so I mean to buy it as soon as it turns really cold. "

"Ah!" said he, "I can't have you ketching cold, you know; it ain'tsummer any longer, and I--I've been thinking we must give up our eveningstrolls together for the present. "

"When you've just been saying how miserable you've been without them. Oh, Leander!"

"Without _you_, " he amended lamely. "I shall see you at aunt's, ofcourse; only we'd better suspend the walks while the nights are so raw. And, oh, Tillie, ere long you will be mine, my little wife! Only tothink of you keeping the books for me with your own pretty littlefingers, and sending out the bills! (not that I give much credit). Ah, what a blissful dream it sounds! Does it to you, Matilda?"

"I'm not sure that you keep your books the same way as we do, " shereplied demurely; "but I dare say"--(and this was a great concession forMatilda)--"I dare say we shall suit one another. "

"Suit one another!" he cried. "Ah! we shall be inseparable as a brushand comb, Tillie, if you'll excuse so puffessional a stimulus. And whata future lies before me! If I can only succeed in introducing some of myinventions to public notice, we may rise, Tilly, 'like an exclamation, 'as the poet says. I believe my new nasal splint has only to be known tobecome universally worn; and I've been thinking out a little machinelately for imparting a patrician arch to the flattest foot, that oughtto have an extensive run. I almost wish you weren't so pretty, Tillie. I've studied you careful, and I'm bound to say, as it is there reallyisn't room for any improvement I could suggest. Nature's beaten methere, and I'm not too proud to own it. "

"Would you rather there _was_ room!" inquired Matilda. 

"From a puffessional point of view, it would have inspired me, " he said. "It would have suggested ideers, and I shouldn't have loved you less, not if you hadn't had a tooth in your mouth nor a hair on your head; youwould still be my beautiful Tillie. "

"I would rather be as I am, thank you, " said Matilda, to whom this fancysketch did not appeal. "And now, let's talk about something else. Do youknow that mamma is coming up to town at the end of the week on purposeto see you?"

"No, " said Leander, "I--I didn't. "

"Yes, she's taken the whole of your aunt's first floor for a week. (Youknow, she knew Miss Tweddle when she was younger, and that was how Icame to lodge there, and to meet you. ) Do you remember that Sundayafternoon you came to tea, and your aunt invited me in, because shethought I must be feeling so dull, all alone?"

"Ah, I should think I did! Do you remember I helped to toast thecrumpets? What a halcyon evening that was, Matilda!"

"Was it?" she said. "I don't remember the weather exactly; but it wasnice indoors. "

"But, I say, Tillie, my own, " he said, somewhat anxiously, "how doesyour ma like your being engaged to me?"

"Well, I don't think she does like it quite, " said Matilda. "She saysshe will reserve her consent till she sees whether you are worthy; butdirectly she sees you, Leander, her objections will vanish. "

"She has got objections, then? What to?"

"Mother always wanted me to keep my affections out of trade, " saidMatilda. "You see, she never can forget what poor papa was. "

"And what was your poor papa?" asked Leander. 

"Didn't you know? He was a dentist, and that makes mamma so veryparticular, you see. "

"But, hang it, Matilda! you're employed in a flower-shop, you know. "

"Yes, but mamma never really approved of it; only she had to give waybecause she couldn't afford to keep me at home, and I scorned to go outas a governess. Never mind, Leander; when she comes to know you and hearyour conversation, she will relent; her pride will melt. "

"But suppose it keeps solid; what will you do, Matilda?"

"I am independent, Leander; and though I would prefer to marry withmamma's approval, I shouldn't feel bound to wait for it. So long as youare all I think you are, I shouldn't allow any one to dictate to me. "

"Bless you for those words, my angelic girl!" he said, and hugged herclose to his breast. "Now I can beard your ma with a light 'art. Oh, Matilda! you can form no ideer how I worship you. Nothing shall evercome betwixt us two, shall it?"

"Nothing, as far as I am concerned, Leander, " she replied. "What's thematter?"

He had given a furtive glance behind him after the last remarks, and hisembrace suddenly relaxed, until his arm was withdrawn altogether. 

"Nothing is the matter, Matilda, " he said. "Doesn't the moon look redthrough the fog?"

"Is that why you took away your arm?" she inquired. 

"Yes--that is, no. It occurred to me I was rendering you tooconspicuous; we don't want to go about advertising ourselves, you know. "

"But who is there here to notice?" asked Matilda. 

"Nobody, " he said; "oh, nobody! but we mustn't get into the _way_ ofit;" and he cast another furtive rearward look. In the full flow of hisraptures the miserable hairdresser had seen a sight which had frozen hisvery marrow--a tall form, in flowing drapery, gliding up behind with atigress-like stealth. The statue had broken out, in spite of all hisprecautions! Venus, jealous and exacting, was near enough to overhearevery word, and he could scarcely hope she had escaped seeing the arm hehad thrown round Matilda's waist. 

"You were going to tell me how you worshipped me, " said Matilda. 

"I didn't say _worship_, " he protested; "it--it's only images and suchthat expect that. But I can tell you there's very few brothers feel toyou as I feel. "

"_Brothers_, Leander!" exclaimed Matilda, and walked farther apart fromhim. 

"Yes, " he said. "After all, what tie's closer than a brother? A uncle'sall very well, and similarly a cousin; but they can't feel like abrother does, for brothers they are not. "

"I should have thought there were ties still closer, " said Matilda; "youseemed to think so too, once. "

"Oh, ah! _that_!" he said. (Every frigid word gave him a pang to utter;but it was all for Matilda's sake. ) "There's time enough to think ofthat, my girl; we mustn't be in a hurry. "

"I'm _not_ in a hurry, " said Matilda. 

"That's the proper way to look at it, " said he; "and meanwhile I haven'tgot a sister I'm fonder of than I am of you. "

"If you've nothing more to say than that, we had better part, " sheremarked; and he caught at the suggestion with obvious relief. He hadbeen in an agony of terror, lest, even in the gathering fog, she shoulddetect that they were watched; and then, too, it was better to part withher under a temporary misconception than part with her altogether. 

"Well, " he said, "I mustn't keep you out any longer, with that cold. "

"You are very ready to get rid of me, " said poor Matilda. 

"The real truth is, " he answered, simulating a yawn with a heavy heart;"I am most uncommon sleepy to-night, and all this standing about is toomuch for me. So good-bye, and take care of yourself!"

"I needn't say that to you, " she said; "but I won't keep you up a minutelonger. I wonder you troubled to come out at all. "

"Oh, " he said, carefully keeping as much in front of the statue as hecould, "it's no trouble; but you'll excuse me seeing you to the doorthis evening?"

"Oh, certainly, " said Matilda, biting her lip. She touched his hand withthe ends of her fingers, and hurried away without turning her head. 

When she was out of sight, Leander faced round to the irrepressiblegoddess. He was in a white rage; but terror and caution made himsuppress it to some extent. 

"So here you are again!" he said. 

"Why did you not wait for me?" she answered. "I remained long for you;you came not, and I followed. "

"I see you did, " said the aggrieved Leander; "I can't say I like beingspied upon. If you're a goddess, act as such!"

"What! you dare to upbraid me?" she cried. "Beware, or I----"

"I know, " said Leander, flinching from her. "Don't do that; I only madea remark. "

"I have the right to follow you; I choose to do so. "

"If you must, you must, " he groaned; "but it does seem hard that Imayn't slip out for a few minutes' talk with my only sister. "

"You said you were going to run for business, and you told me you hadthree sisters. "

"So I have; but only one _youngest_ one. "

"And why did they not all come to talk with you?"

"I suppose because the other two stayed at home, " rejoined Leander, sulkily. 

"I know not why, but I doubt you; that one who came, she is not likeyou!"

"No, " said Leander, with a great show of candour, "that's what every onesays; all our family are like that; we are like in a way, because we'reall of us so different. You can tell us anywhere just by the difference. My father and mother were both very unlike: I suppose we take afterthem. "

The goddess seemed satisfied with this explanation. "And now that I haveregained you, let us return to your abode, " she said; and Leander walkedback by her side, a prey to rage and humiliation. 

"It is a miserable thing, " he was thinking, "for a man in my rank oflife to have a female statue trotting after him like a great dorg. I'md----d if I put up with it! Suppose we happen on somebody as knows me!"

[Illustration: "IT IS A MISERABLE THING, " HE WAS THINKING, "FOR A MAN. .. TO HAVE A FEMALE STATUE TROTTING AFTER HIM LIKE A GREAT DORG. "]

Fortunately, at that time of night Bloomsbury Square is not muchfrequented; the increasing fog prevented the apparition of a female inclassical garments from attracting the notice to which it mightotherwise have been exposed, and they reached the shop without anydisagreeable encounter. 

"She shan't stop in the saloon, " he determined; "I've had enough ofthat! If you've no objections, " he said, with a mixture of deference anddictation, "I shall be obliged if you'd settle yourself in the littleshrine in the upstairs room before proceeding to evaporate out of yourstatue; it would be more agreeable to my feelings. "

"Ah!" she said, smiling, "you would have me nearer you? Your stubbornheart is yielding; a little while, and you will own the power ofAphrodite!"

"Now, don't you go deceiving yourself with any such ideers, " said thehairdresser, irritably. "I shan't do no such thing, so you needn't thinkit. And, to come to the point, how long do you mean to carry on thislittle game?"

"Game?" repeated the goddess, absently. 

"How long are you going to foller me about in this ridiclous way?"

"Till you submit, and profess your willingness to redeem your promise. "

"Oh, and you're coming every evening till then, are you?"

"At nightfall of each day I have power to revisit you. "

"Well, come then!" he said, with a fling of impatient anger. "I tell youbeforehand that you won't get anything by it. Not if you was to come andbring a whole stonemason's yard of sculptures along with you, youwouldn't! You ought to know better than to come pestering a respectabletradesman in this bold-faced manner!"

She smiled with a languid contemptuous tolerance, which maddenedLeander. 

"Rave on, " she said. "Truly, you are a sorry prize for such as I tostoop to win; yet I will it, nor shall you escape me. There will come aday when, forsaken by all you hold dear on earth, despised, ruined, distracted, you will pray eagerly for the haven of refuge to which Ialone can guide you. Take heed, lest your conduct now be rememberedthen! I have spoken. "

They were indeed her last words that evening, and they impressed thehairdresser, in spite of himself. Custom habituates the mind to anymarvel, and already he had overcome his first horror at the periodicalawakenings of the statue, and surprise was swallowed up by exasperation;now, however, he quailed under her dark threats. Could it ever reallycome to pass that he would sue to this stone to hide him in the realmsof the supernatural?

"I know this, " he told himself, "if it once gets about that there's ahairdresser to be seen in Bloomsbury chivied about after dark by aclassical statue, I shan't dare to show my face. Yet I don't know howI'm to prevent her coming out after me, at all events now and then. Ifshe was only a little more like other people, I shouldn't mind so much;but it's more than I can bear to have to go about with a _tablow vivant_or a _pose plastique_ on my arm!"

All at once he started to his feet. "I've got it!" he cried, and wentdownstairs to his laboratory, to reappear with some camel-hair brushes, grease-paints, and a selection from his less important discoveries inthe science of cosmetics; namely, an "eyebrow accentuator, " a vase of"Tweddle's Cream of Carnations" and "Blondinette Bloom, " a china box of"Conserve of Coral" for the lips, and one of his most expensive_chevelures_. 

He was trembling as he arranged them upon his table; not that he wasaware of the enormity of the act he contemplated, but he was afraid thegoddess might revisit the marble while he was engaged upon it. 

He furnished the blank eye-sockets with a pair of eyes, which, if notexactly artistic, at least supplied a want; he pencilled the eyebrows, laid on several coats of the "Bloom, " which he suffused cunningly with atinge of carnation, and stained the pouting lips with his "Conserve ofCoral. "

So far, perhaps, he had not violated the canons of art, and may evenhave restored to the image something of its pristine hues; but his nextaddition was one the vandalism of which admits of no possible defence, and when he deftly fitted the coiffure of light closely-curled hair uponthe noble classical head, even Leander felt dimly that something waswrong!

"I don't know how it is, " he pondered; "she looks more natural, but nothalf so respectable. However, when she's got something on to cover themarble, there won't be anything much to notice about her. I'll buy acloak for her the first thing to-morrow morning. Matilda was sayingsomething about a shop near here where I could get that. And then, ifthis Venus must come following me about, she'll look less outlandish atany rate, and that's something!"

A FURTHER PREDICAMENT

VII. 

 "So long as the world contains us both, Me the loving and you the loth, While the one eludes, must the other pursue. "

 _Browning. _

Immediately after breakfast the next day, Leander went out and paid avisit to Miss Twilling's, bringing away with him a hooded cloak of theprecise kind he remembered Matilda to have described as unlikely torender its owner conspicuous. With this garment he succeeded indisguising the statue to such a degree, that it was far less likely thanbefore that the goddess's appearance in public would excite anyparticular curiosity--a result which somewhat relieved his anxiety as toher future proceedings. 

But all that day his thoughts were busy with Matilda. He must, hefeared, have deeply offended her by his abrupt change on the previousnight; and now he could not expect to meet her again for days, and wouldnot know how to explain his conduct if he did meet her. 

If he could only dare to tell her everything; but from such a course heshrank. Matilda would not only be extremely indignant (though, in verytruth, he had done nothing positively wrong as yet), but, with herstrict notions and well-regulated principles, she would assuredlyrecoil from a lover who had brought himself into a predicament sohideous. He would tell her all when, or if, he succeeded in extricatinghimself. 

But he was to learn the nature of Matilda's sentiments sooner than heexpected. It was growing dusk, and he was unpacking a parcel of goods inhis front shop--for his saloon happened to be empty just then--when theouter door swung back, and a slight girlish figure entered, after apause of indecision on the threshold. It was Matilda. 

Had she come to break it off--to reproach him? He was prepared for noless; she had never paid him a visit like this alone before; and somedoubts of the propriety of the thing seemed to be troubling her now, forshe did not speak. 

"Matilda, " he faltered, "don't tell me you have come in a spirit ofunpleasantness, for I can't bear it. "

"Don't you deserve that I should?" she said, but not angrily. "You know, you were very strange in behaving as you did last night. I couldn't tellwhat to make of it. "

"I know, " he said confusedly; "it was something come over me, all of asudden like. I can't understand what made me like that; but, oh, Tillie, my dearest love, my 'art was busting with adoration all the time! Thecircumstances was highly peculiar; but I don't know that I could explainthem. "

"You needn't, Leander; I have found you out. " She said this with astrange significance. 

"What!" he almost shrieked. "You don't mean it, Matilda! Tell me, quick!has the discovery changed your feelings towards me? Has it?"

"Yes, " she said softly. "I--I think it has; but you ought not to havedone it, Leander. "

"I know, " he groaned. "I was a fool, Tillie; a fool! But I may get outof it yet, " he added. "I can get her to let me off. I must--I will!"

Matilda opened her eyes. "But, Leander dear, listen; don't be so hasty. I never said I _wanted_ her to let you off, did I?"

He looked at her in a dazed manner. "I rather thought, " he said slowly, "that it might have put you out a little. I see I was mistook. "

"You might have known that I should be more pleased than angry, I shouldthink, " said Matilda. 

"More pleased than----I might have known!" exclaimed the bewildered man. "Oh, you can't reely be taking it as cool as this! Will you kindlyinform me _what_ it is you're alludin' to in this way?"

"What is the use of pretending? You know I know. And it _is_ colder, much colder, this morning. I felt it directly I got up. "

"Quite a change in the weather, I'm sure, " he said mechanically; "itfeels like a frost coming on. " ("Has Matilda looked in to tell me theweather's changed?" he was wondering within himself. "Either I'm mad, orMatilda is. ")

"You dear old goose!" said Matilda, with an unusual effusiveness; "youshan't tease me like this! Do you think I've no eyes and no feelings?Any girl, I don't care how proud or offended, would come round on suchproof of devotedness as I've had this evening. When I saw it gone, Ifelt I must come straight in and thank you, and tell you I shouldn'tthink any more of last night. I couldn't stop myself. "

"When you saw _what_ gone?" cried the hairdresser, rubbing up his hair. 

"The cloak, " said Matilda; and then, as she saw his expression, her ownchanged. "Leander Tweddle, " she asked, in a dry hard voice, "have I beenmaking a wretched fool of myself? _Didn't_ you buy that cloak?"

He understood at last. He had gone to Miss Twilling's chiefly because hewas in a hurry and it was close by, and he knew nowhere else where hecould be sure of getting what he required. Now, by some supreme strokeof the ill-luck which seemed to be pursuing him of late, he hadunwittingly purchased the identical garment on which Matilda had fixedher affections! How was he to notice that they took it out of the windowfor him?

All this flashed across him as he replied, "Yes, yes, Tillie, I did buya cloak there; but are you sure it was the same you told me about?"

"Do you think a woman doesn't know the look of a thing like that, whenit's taken her fancy?" said Matilda. "Why, I could tell you every claspand tassel on that cloak; it wasn't one you'd see every day, and I knewit was gone the moment I passed the window. It quite upset me, for I'dset my heart on it so; and I ran in to Miss Twilling, and asked her whathad become of it; and when she said she'd sold it that morning, Ithought I should have fainted. You see, it never struck me that it couldbe you; for how could I dream that you'd be clever enough to go andchoose the very one? Leander, it _was_ clever of you!"

"Yes, " he said, with a bitter rail against himself. "I'm a clever chap, I am! But how did you find out?"

"Oh, I made Miss Twilling (I often get little things there), I made herdescribe who she sold it to, and she said she thought it was to agentleman in the hair-cutting persuasion who lived near; and then, ofcourse, I guessed who bought it. "

"Tillie, " gasped Leander, "I--I didn't _mean_ you to guess; the purposefor which I require that cloak is my secret. "

"Oh, you silly man, when I've guessed it! And I take it just as kind ofyou as if it was to be all a surprise. I was wishing as I came along Icould afford to buy it at once, it struck so cold coming out of ourplace; and you had actually bought it for me all the time! Thank youever so much, Leander dear!"

He had only to accept the position; and he did. "I'm glad you'repleased, " he said; "I intended it as a surprise. "

"And I am surprised, " said Matilda; "because, do you know, last night, when I went home, I was feeling very cross with you. I kept thinkingthat perhaps you didn't care for me any more, and were trying to breakit off; and, oh, all sorts of horrid things I kept thinking! And auntgave me a message for you this morning, and I was so out of temper Iwouldn't leave it. And now to find you've been so kind!"

She stretched out her hand to him across the counter, and he took andheld it tight; he had never seen her looking sweeter, nor felt that shewas half so dear to him. After all, his blunder had brought themtogether again, and he was grateful to it. 

At last Matilda said, "You were quite right about this wrapper, Leander;it's not half warm enough for a night like this. I'm really afraid to gohome in it. "

He knew well enough what she intended him to do; but just then he darednot appear to understand. "It isn't far, only to Millman Street, " hesaid; "and you must walk fast, Tillie. I wish I could leave the shop andcome too. "

"You want me to ask you downright, " she said pouting. "You men can'teven be kind prettily. Don't you want to see how I look in your cloak, Leander?"

What could he say after that? He must run upstairs, deprive the goddessof her mantle, and hand it over to Matilda. She had evidently made upher mind to have that particular cloak, and he must buy the statueanother. It would be expensive; but there was no help for it. 

"Certainly, " he said, "you shall have it now, dearest, if you'd like to. I'll run up and fetch it down, if you'll wait. "

He rushed upstairs, two steps at a time, and, flinging open the door ofa cupboard, began desperately to uncloak his Aphrodite. She was lifelessstill, which he considered fortunate. 

But the goddess seemed to have a natural propensity to retain any formof portable property. One of her arms was so placed that, tug andstretch as he would, Leander could not get the cloak from her shoulders, and his efforts only broke one of the oxidized silver fastenings, andtore part of the squirrel's-fur lining. 

It was useless, and with a damp forehead he came down again to hisexpectant _fiancée_. 

"Why, you haven't got it, after all!" she cried, her face falling. 

"Tillie, my own dear girl, " he said, "I'm uncommon sorry, upon my soul Iam, but you can't have that cloak this evening. "

"But why, Leander, why?"

"Because one of the clasps is broke. It must be sent back to berepaired. "

"I don't mind that. Let me have it just as it is. "

"And the lining's torn. No, Matilda, I shan't make you a present of adamaged article. I shall send it back. They must change it for me. "("Then, " he thought, "I can buy my Matilda another. ")

"I don't care for any other but that, " she said; "and you can't matchit. "

"Oh, lor!" he thought, "and she knows every inch of it. The goddess mustgive it up; it'll be all the same to _her_. Very well then, dearest, you_shall_ have that, but not till it's done up. I must have my way inthis; and as soon as ever I can, I'll bring it round. "

"Leander, could you bring it me by Sunday, " she said eagerly, "when youcome?"

"Why Sunday?" he asked. 

"Because--oh, that was the message your aunt asked me to bring you; itwas in a note, but I've lost it. She told me what was inside though, andit's this. Will you give her the pleasure of your company at her mid-daydinner at two o'clock, to be introduced to mamma? And she said you wereto be sure and not forget her ring. "

He tottered for a moment. The ring! Yes, there was that to be got off, too, besides the cloak. 

"Haven't you got the ring from Vidler's yet?" she said. "He's had itsuch a time. "

He had told her where he had left it for alterations. "Yes, " he said, "he has had it a time. It's disgraceful the way that old Vidler pottersand potters. I shall go round and 'urry him up. I won't stand it anylonger. "

Here a customer came in, and Matilda slipped away with a hurriedgood-bye. 

"I've got till Sunday to get straight, " the hairdresser thought, as heattended on the new comer, "the best part of a week; surely I can talkthat Venus over by that time. "

When he was alone he went up to see her, without losing a moment. Hemust have left the door unlocked in his haste, for she was standingbefore the low chimney-glass, regarding herself intently. As he came inshe turned. 

[Illustration: SHE WAS STANDING BEFORE THE LOW CHIMNEY-GLASS, REGARDINGHERSELF INTENTLY. ]

"Who has done all this?" she demanded. "Tell me, was it you?"

"I did take the liberty, mum, " he faltered guiltily. 

"You have done well, " she said graciously. "With reverent and lovingcare have you imparted hues as of life to these cheeks, and decked myimage in robes of costly skins. "

"Don't name it, mum, " he said. 

"But what are these?" she continued, raising a hand to the lightringlets on her brow. "I like them not--they are unseemly. The wavinglines, parted by the bold chisel of a Grecian sculptor, resemble myambrosial tresses more nearly than this abomination. "

"You may go all over London, " said Leander, "and you won't find acoiffure, though I say it, to set closer and defy detection morenaturally than the one you've got on; selected from the best importedforeign hair in the market, I do assure you. "

"I accept the offering for the spirit in which it was presented, thoughI approve it not otherwise. "

"You'll find it wear very comfortable, " said Leander; "but that cloak, now I come to see it on, it reely is most unworthy of you, a veryinferior piece of goods, and, if you'll allow me, I'll change it, " andhe gently extended his hand to draw it off. 

"Touch it not, " said the goddess; "for, having once been placed upon myeffigy, it is consecrated to my service. "

"For mercy's sake, let me get another one--one with more style aboutit, " he entreated; "my credit hangs on it!"

"I am content, " she said, "more than content. No more words--I retainit. And you have pleased me by this conduct, my hairdresser. Unknown itmay be, even to yourself, your heart is warming in the sunshine of myfavour; you are coy and wayward, but you are yielding. Though pent inthis form, carved by a mortal hand, I shall prevail in the end. I shallhave you for my own. "

He rumpled his hair wildly, "'Orrid obstinate these goddesses are, " hethought. "What am I to say to Matilda now? If I could only find a way ofgetting this statue shut up somewhere where she couldn't come and botherme, I'd take my chance of the rest. I can't go on with this sort ofthing every evening. I'm sick and tired of it. "

Then something occurred to him. "Could I delude her into it?" he askedhimself. "She's soft enough in some things, and, for all she's agoddess, she don't seem up to our London ways yet. I'll have a try, anyway. "

So he began: "Didn't I understand you to observe, mum, some time back, that the pidgings and sparrers were your birds?"

"They are mine, " she said--"or they were mine in days that are past. "

"Well, " he said, "there's a place close by, with railings in front ofit, and steps and pillars as you go in, and if you like to go and lookin the yard there you'll find pidgings enough to set you up again. Ishouldn't wonder if they've been keeping them for you all this time. "

"They shall not lose by it, " she said. "Go thither, and bring me mybirds. "

"I think, " he said, "it would be better if you'd go yourself; they don'tknow me at the British Museum. But if you was to go to the beadle at thelodge and demand them, I've no doubt you'd be attended to; and you'llsee some parties at the gates in long coats and black cloth 'elmets, which if you ask them to ketch you a few sparrers, they'll probably bemost happy to oblige. "

"My beloved birds!" she said. "I have been absent from them so long. Yes, I will go. Tell me where. "

He got his hat, and went with her to a corner of Bloomsbury Square, fromwhich they could see the railings fronting the Museum in thesteel-tinted haze of electric light. 

"That's the place, " he said. "Keeps its own moonshine, you see. Gostraight in, and tell 'em you're come to fetch your doves. "

"I will do so, " she said, and strode off in imperious majesty. 

He looked after her with an irrepressible chuckle. 

"If she ain't locked up soon, I don't know myself, " he said, and wentback to his establishment. 

He had only just dismissed his apprentice and secured the shop for thenight, when he heard the well-known tread up the staircase. "Back again!I don't have any luck, " he muttered; and with reason, for the statue, wearing an expression of cold displeasure, advanced into his room. Hefelt a certain sense of guilt as he saw her. 

"Got the birds?" he inquired, with a nervous familiarity, "or couldn'tyou bring yourself to ask for them?"

"You have misled me, " she said. "My birds are not there. I came to gatesin front of a stately pile--doubtless erected to some god; at theentrance stood a priest, burly and strong, with gold-embroideredgarments----"

("The beadle, I suppose, " commented Leander. )

"I passed him unseen, and roamed unhindered over the courtyard. It wasbare, save for one or two worshippers who crossed it. Presently a wingedthing fluttered down to my feet. But though a dove indeed, it was nobird of mine--it knew me not. And it was draggled, begrimed, uncleanly, as never were the doves of Aphrodite. And the sparrows (for these, too, did I see), they were worse. I motioned them from me with loathing. Irenounced them all. Thus, Leander, have I fared in following yourcounsels!"

"Well, it ain't my fault, " he said; "it's the London soot makes themlike that. There's some at the Guildhall: perhaps they're cleaner. "

"No, " she said, vehemently; "I will seek no further. This is a city ofdarkness and mire. I am in a land, an age, which know me not: this muchhave I learnt already. The world was fairer and brighter of old!"

"You see, " said Leander, "if you only go about at night, you can'texpect sunshine! But I'm told there's cleaner and brighter places to beseen abroad--if you cared to go there?" he insinuated. 

"To one place only, to my Cyprian caves, will I go, " she declared, "andwith you!"

"We'll talk about that some other time, " he answered, soothingly. "LadyVenus, look here, don't you think you've kept that ring long enough?I've asked you civilly enough, goodness knows, to 'and it over, timeswithout number. I ask you once more to act fair. You know it came to youquite accidental, and yet you want to take advantage of it like this. Itain't right!"

She met this with her usual scornful smile. "Listen, Leander, " she said. "Once before--how long since I know not--a mortal, in sport or accident, placed his ring as you have done upon the finger of a statue erected tome. I claimed fulfilment of the pledge then, as now; but a force Icould not withstand was invoked against me, and I was made to give upthe ring, and with it the power and rights I strove to exert. But I willnot again be thwarted: no force, no being shall snatch you from me; sobe not deceived. Submit, ere you excite my fierce displeasure; submitnow, since in the end submit you must!"

There was a dreadful force in the sonorous tones which made him shiver;a rigid inflexible will lurked in this form, with all its subtle curvesand feminine grace. If goddesses really retained any power in thesedays, there could be no doubt that she would use hers to the full. 

Yet he still struggled. "I can't make you give up the ring, " he said;"but no more you can't make me leave my--my establishment, and go awayunderground with you. I'm an Englishman, I am, and Englishmen are free, mum; p'r'aps you wasn't aware of that? I've got a will of my own, and soyou'll find it!"

"Poor worm!" she said pityingly (and the hairdresser hated to beaddressed as a poor worm), "why oppose thy weak will to mine? Why enlistmy pride against thyself; for what hast thou of thine own to render thyconquest desirable? Thou art bent upon defiance, it seems. I leave theeto reflect if such a combat can be equal. Farewell; and at my nextcoming let me find a change!"

And the spirit of the goddess fled, as before, to the mysterious realmsfrom which she had been so incautiously evoked, leaving Leander almostfrantic with rage, superstitious terror, and baffled purposes. 

"I must get the ring off, " he muttered, "_and_ the cloak, somehow. Oh!if I could only find out how----There was that other chap--_he_ got off;she said as much. If I could get out how he managed it, why couldn't Ido the same? But who's to tell me? She won't--not if she knows it! Iwonder if it's in any history. Old Freemoult would know it if itwas--he's such a scholar. Why, he gave me a name for that 'airwashwithout having to think twice over it! I'll try and pump old Freemoult. I'll do it to-morrow, too. I'll see if I'm to be domineered over by aimage out of a tea-garden. Eh? I--I don't care if she _did_ hear me!"

So Leander went to his troubled pillow, full of this new resolution, which seemed to promise a way of escape. 

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP SEA

VIII. 

 "Some, when they take _Revenge_, are Desirous the party should know whence it cometh: This is the more Generous. "--BACON. 

In the Tottenham Court Road was a certain Commercial Dining-room, whereLeander occasionally took his evening meal, after the conclusion of hisday's work, and where Mr. Freemoult was accustomed to take his supper, on leaving the British Museum Library. 

To this eating-house Leander repaired the very next evening, urged by aconsuming desire to learn the full particulars of the adventure whichhis prototype in misfortune had met with. 

It was an unpretending little place, with the bill of fare wafered tothe door, and red curtains in the windows, setting off a display ofjoints, cauliflowers, and red herrings. He passed through into a long, low room, with dark-brown grained walls, partitioned off in the usualmanner; and taking a seat in a box facing the door, he ordered dinnerfrom one of the shirtsleeved attendants. 

The first glance had told him that the man he wished to see was notthere, but he knew he must come in before long; and, in fact, beforeLeander's food could be brought, the old scholar made his appearance. 

He was hardly a man of attractive exterior, being of a yellowcomplexion, with a stubbly chin, and lank iron-grey locks. He wore atall and superannuated hat with a staring nap, and the pockets of hisbaggy coat bulged with documents. Altogether he did not seem exactly theperson to be an authority on the subject of Venus. 

But, as the hairdresser was aware, he had the reputation of being a mineof curious and out-of-the-way information, though few thought it worththeir while to work him. He gained a living, however, by hackwork ofvarious descriptions, and was in slightly better circumstances than heallowed to appear. 

As he passed slowly along the central passage, in his usual state ofabstraction, Leander touched him eagerly on the sleeve. "Come in 'ere, Mr. Freemoult, sir, " he said; "there's room in this box. "

"It's the barber, is it?" said the old man. "What do you want me to eatwith you for, eh?"

"Why, for the pleasure of your company, sir, of course, " said Leander, politely. 

"Well, " said the old gentleman, sitting down, while documents bristledout of him in all directions, "there are not many who would saythat--not many now. "

"Don't you say so, Mr. Freemoult, sir. I'm sure it's a benefit, if onlyfor your conversation. I often say, 'I never meet Mr. Freemoult withoutI learn somethink;' I do indeed. "

"Then we must have met less often than I had imagined. "

"Now, you're too modest, sir; you reelly are--a scholar like you, too!Talking of scholarship, you'll be gratified to hear that that title youwere good enough to suggest for the 'Regenerator' is having a quitesurprising success. I disposed of five bottles over the counter onlyyesterday. " ("These old scholars, " was his wily reflection, "like beingflattered up. ")

"Does that mean you've another beastly bottle you want me to standgodfather to?" growled the ungrateful old gentleman. 

"Oh no, indeed, sir! It's only----But p'r'aps you'll allow me previouslythe honour of sending out for whatever beverage you was thinking ofwashing down your boiled beef with, sir. "

"Do you know who I am?" Mr. Freemoult burst out. "I'm a scholar, andgentleman enough still to drink at my own expense!"

"I intended no offence, I'm sure, sir; it was only meant in a friendlyway. "

"That is the offence, sir; that _is_ the offence! But, there, we'll sayno more about it; you can't help your profession, and I can't help myprejudices. What was it you wanted to ask me?"

"Well, " said Leander, "I was desirous of getting some informationrespecting--ahem--a party by the name of (if I've caught the foreignpronounciation) Haphrodite, otherwise known as Venus. Do you happen tohave heard tell of her?"

"Have I had a classical education, sir, or haven't I? Heard of her? Ofcourse I have. But why, in the name of Mythology, any hairdresser livingshould trouble his head about Aphrodite, passes my comprehension. Leaveher alone, sir!"

"It's her who won't leave _me_ alone!" thought Leander; but he did notsay so. "I've a very particular reason for wishing to know; and I'm sureif you could tell me all you'd heard about her, I'd take it very kind ofyou. "

"Want to pick my brains; well, you wouldn't be the first. But I amhere, sir, to rest my brain and refresh my body, not to deliverperipatetic lectures to hairdressers on Grecian mythology. "

"Well, " said Leander, "I never meant you to give your informationperipatetic; I'm willing to go as far as half a crown. "

"Conf----But, there, what's the good of being angry with you? Is thisthe sort of thing you want for your half-crown?--Aphrodite, a later formof the Assyrian Astarte; the daughter, according to some theogonies, ofZeus and Dione; others have it that she was the offspring of the foam ofthe sea, which gathered round the fragments of the mutilated Uranos----"

"That don't seem so likely, do it, sir?" said Leander. 

"If you are going to crop in with idiotic remarks, I shall confinemyself to my supper. "

"Don't stop, Mr. Freemoult, sir; it's most instructive. I'm attending. "

But the old gentleman, after a manner he had, was sunk in a dreamyabstraction for the moment, in which he apparently lost the thread, ashe resumed, "Whereupon Zeus, to punish her, gave her in wedlock to hisdeformed son, Hephæstus. "

"She never mentioned him to _me_, " thought Leander; "but I suppose she'sa widow goddess by this time; I'm sure I _hope_ so. "

"Whom, " Mr. Freemoult was saying, "she deceived upon several occasions, notably in the case of ----" And here he launched into a scandalouschronicle, which determined Leander more than ever that Matilda mustnever know he had entertained a personage with such a past. 

"Angered by her indiscretions, Zeus inspired her with love for a mortalman. "

"Poor devil!" said Leander, involuntarily. "And what became of _him_, sir?"

"There were several thus distinguished; amongst others, Anchises, Adonis, and Cinyras. Of these, the first was struck by lightning; thesecond slain by a wild boar; and the third is reputed to have perishedin a contest with Apollo. "

"They don't seem to have had no luck, any of them, " was Leander'sdepressed conclusion. 

"Aphrodite, or Venus, as you choose to call her, took a prominent partin the Trojan war, the origin of which ten years' struggle may be tracedto a certain golden apple. "

"What an old rag-bag it is!" thought Leander. "I'm only wasting money onhim. He's like a bran-pie at a fancy fair: what you get out of him isalways the thing you didn't want. "

"No, no, Mr. Freemoult, " he said, with some impatience; "leave out aboutthe war and the apple. It--it isn't either of them as I wanted to hearabout. "

"Then I have done, " said the old man, curtly. "You've had considerablymore than half a crown's worth, as it is. "

"Look here, Mr. Freemoult, " said the reckless hairdresser, "if you can'tgive me no better value, I don't mind laying out another sixpence inquestions. "

"Put your questions, then, by all means; and I'll give you your fairsixpenn'orth of answers. Now, then, I'm ready for you. What's yourdifficulty? Out with it. "

"Why, " said Leander, in no small confusion, "isn't there a storysomewhere of a statue to Venus as some young man (a long time back itwas, of course) was said to have put his ring on? and do you know therights of it? I--I can't remember how it ended, myself. "

"Wait a bit, sir; I think I do remember something of the legend yourefer to. You found it in the _Earthly Paradise_, I make no doubt?"

"I found it in Rosherwich Gardens, " Leander very nearly blurted out; buthe stopped himself, and said instead, "I don't think I've ever beenthere, sir; not to remember it. "

"Well, well! you're no lover of poetry, that's very evident; but thestory is there. Yes, yes; and Burton has a version of it, too, in his_Anatomy_. How does it go? Give my head a minute to clear, and I'll tellyou. Ha! I have it! It was something like this: There was a certainyoung gentleman of Rome who, on his wedding-day, went out to playtennis; and in the tennis-court was a brass statue of the goddessVenus----"

("Mine _ought_ to be brass, from her goings on, " thought Leander. )

"And while he played he took off his finger-ring and put it upon thestatue's hand; a mighty foolish act, as you will agree. "

"Ah!" said Leander, shaking his head; "you may say that! What next, sir?" He became excited to find that he really was on the right track atlast. 

"Why, when the game was over, and he came to get his ring, he found hecouldn't get it off again. Ha! ha!" and the old man chuckled softly, andthen relapsed once more into silence. 

"Yes, yes, Mr. Freemoult, sir! I'm a-listening; it's very funny; only dogo on!"

"Go on? Where was I? Hadn't I finished? Ah, to be sure! Well, so Parisgave _her_ the apple, you see. "

"I didn't understand you to allude to no apple, " said his puzzledhearer; "and it was at Rome, I thought, not Paris. Bring your mind moreto it, sir; we'd got to the ring not coming off the statue. "

"I know, sir; I know. My mind's clear enough, let me tell you. That verynight (as I was about to say, if you'd had patience to hear me) Venusstepped in and parted the unfortunate pair----"

"It was a apple just now, you aggravating old muddle 'ed!" said Leander, internally. 

"Venus informed the young man that he had betrothed himself to her bythat ring" ("Same game exactly, " thought the pupil), "and--and, inshort, she led him such a life for some nights, that he could bear it nolonger. So at length he repaired to a certain mighty magiciancalled----Let me see, what was his name again? It wasn't Agrippa--was itAlbertus? Odd; it has escaped me for the moment. "

"Never mind, sir; call him Jones. "

"I will _not_ call him Jones, sir! I had it on my tongue--there, _Palumbus_! Palumbus it was. Well, Palumbus told him the goddess wouldnever cease to trouble him, unless he could get back the ring--unless hecould get back the ring. "

Leander's heart began to beat high; the solution of his difficulty wasat hand. It was something to know for certain that upon recovery of thering the goddess's power would be at an end. It only remained to findout how the other young man managed it. "Yes, Mr. Freemoult?" he saidinterrogatively; for the old gentleman had run down again. 

"I was only thinking it out. To resume, then. No sooner had the magician(whose name as I said was Apollonius) come to the wedding, than hepromptly conjectured the bride to be a serpent; whereupon she vanishedincontinently, after the manner of serpents, with the house andfurniture. "

"Haven't you missed out a lot, sir?" inquired Leander, deferentially;"because it don't seem to me to hook on quite. What became of Venus andthe ring?"

"How the dickens am I to tell you, if you will interrupt? Ring! _What_ring? Why, yes; the magician gave the young man a certain letter, andtold him to go to a particular cross-road outside the city, at dead ofnight, and wait for Saturn to pass by in procession, with his fallenassociates. This he did, and presented the magician's letter; whichSaturn, after having read, called Venus to him, who was riding in front, and commanded her to deliver up the ring. "

Here he stopped, as if he had nothing to add. 

"And did she, sir?" asked Leander, breathlessly. 

"Did she what? give up the ring? Of course she did. Haven't I beensaying so? Why not?"

"Well, " observed Leander, "so that's how _he_ got out of it, was it?Hah! he was a lucky chap. Those were the days when magicians did a goodtrade, I suppose? Should you say there were any such parties now, on thequiet like, eh, sir?"

"Bah! Magic is a lost art, degraded to dark séances and juvenileparties--the last magician dead for more than two hundred years. Don'texpose your ignorance, sir, by any more such questions. "

"No, " said Leander; "I thought as much. And so, if any one was to getinto such a fix nowadays--of course, that's only my talk, but if theydid--there ain't a practising magician anywhere to help him out of it. That's your opinion, ain't it, sir?"

"As the danger of such a contingency is not immediate, " was the reply, "the want of a remedy need not, in my humble opinion, cause you anygrave uneasiness. "

"No, " agreed Leander, dejectedly. "I don't care, of course. I was onlythinking that, in case--but there, it's no odds! Well, Mr. Freemoult, you've told me what I was curious to know, and here's your littlehonnyrarium, sir--two shillings and two sixpences, making threeshillings in all, pre-cisely. "

"Keep your money, sir, " said the old man, with contemptuous good humour. "My working hours are done for the day, and you're welcome enough to anyinstruction you're capable of receiving from my remarks. It's not sayingmuch, I dare say. "

"Oh, you told it very clear, considering, sir, I'm sure! I don't grudgeit. "

"Keep it, I tell you, and say no more about it. "

So, expressing his thanks, Leander left the place; and, when he wasoutside, felt more keenly than ever the blow his hopes had sustained. 

He knew the whole story of his predecessor in misfortune now, and, as aprecedent, it was worse than useless. 

True, for an instant a wild idea had crossed his mind, of seeking somelonely suburban cross-road at dead of night, just to see if anythingcame of it. "The last time was several hundred years ago, it seems, " hetold himself; "but there's no saying that Satan mightn't come by, forall that. Here's Venus persecuting as lively as ever, and I never heardthe devil was dead. I've a good mind to take the tram to the Archway, and walk out till I find a likely-looking place. "

But, on reflection, he gave this up. "If he did come by, I couldn'tbring him a line--not even from the conjuror in High 'Oborn--and Satanmight make me put my hand to something binding, and I shouldn't be nobetter off. No; I don't see no way of getting back my ring and poorTillie's cloak, nor yet getting rid of that goddess, any more thanbefore. There's one comfort, I can't be any worse off than I am. "

Oppressed by these gloomy reflections, he returned to his home, expecting a renewal of his nightly persecution from the goddess; butfrom some cause, into which he was too grateful to care to inquire, thestatue that evening showed no sign of life in his presence, and afterwaiting with the cupboard open for some time in suspense, he ventured tomake himself some coffee. 

He had scarcely tasted it, however, before he heard, from the passagebelow, a low whistle, followed by the peculiar stave by which a modernlow-life Blondel endeavours to attract attention. The hairdresser paidno attention, being used, as a Londoner, to hearing such signals, andnot imagining they could be intended for his ear. 

But presently a handful of gravel rattled against his window, and thewhistle was repeated. He went to the window cautiously, and looked out. Below were two individuals, rather carefully muffled; their faces, whichwere only indistinctly seen, were upturned to him. 

He retreated, trembling. He had had so much to think of lately, that thelegal danger he was running, by harbouring the detested statue, wasalmost forgotten; but now he remembered the Inspector's words, and hislegs bent beneath him. Could these people be _detectives_?

"Is that Mr. Tweddle up there?" said a voice below--"because if it is, he'd better come down, double quick, and let us in, that's all!"

"'Ere, don't you skulk up there!" added a coarser voice. "We knowy'er there; and if yer don't come down to us, why, we'll come up toyou!"

This brought Leander forward again. "Gentlemen, " he said, leaning out, and speaking in an agitated whisper, "for goodness' sake, what do youwant with me?"

"You let us in, and we'll tell you. "

"Will it do if I come down and speak to you outside?" said Leander. 

There was a consultation between the two at this, and at the end of itthe first man said: "It's all the same to us, where we have our littleconfabulation. Come down, and look sharp about it!"

Leander came down, taking care to shut the street door behind him. "Youain't the police?" he said, apprehensively. 

They each took an arm, and walked him roughly off between them towardsQueen Square. "We'll show you who we are, " they said. 

"I--I demand your authority for this, " gasped Leander. "What am Icharged with?"

They had brought him into the gloomiest part of the square, where thehouses, used as offices in the daytime, were now dark and deserted. Herethey jammed him up against the railings, and stood guard over him, whilehe was alarmed to perceive a suppressed ferocity in the faces of both. 

"What are you charged with? Grr----! For 'arf a pint I'd knock yourbloomin 'ed in!" said the coarser gentleman of the two--an evasive formof answer which did not seem to promise a pleasant interview. 

[Illustration: "FOR 'ARF A PINT I'D KNOCK YOUR BLOOMIN' 'ED IN!"]

Leander was not naturally courageous, and what he had gone throughlately had shaken his nerves. He thought that, for policemen, theyshowed too strong a personal feeling; but who else could they be? Hecould not remember having seen either of them before. One was a tall, burly, heavy-jawed man; the other smaller and slighter, and apparentlythe superior of the two in education and position. 

"You don't remember me, I see, " said the latter; and then suddenlychanging his tone to a foreign accent, he said: "Haf you been since todrink a glass of beer at your open-air gardens at Rosherwich?"

Leander knew him then. It was his foreign customer of Monday evening. His face was clean-shaven now, and his expression changed--not for thebetter. 

"I think, " he said, faintly, "I had the privilege of cutting your 'airthe other evening. "

"You did, my friend, and I admired your taste for the fine arts. Thisgentleman and I have, on talking it over, been so struck by what I sawthat evening, that we ventured to call and inquire into it. "

"Look 'ere, Count, " said his companion, "there ain't time for all thatperliteness. You leave him to me; _I'll_ talk to him! Now then, youwhite-livered little airy-sneak, do you know who we are?"

"No, " said Leander; "and, excuse me calling of your attention to it, butyou're pinching my arm!"

"I'll pinch it off before I've done, " said the burly man. "Well, we'rethe men that have planned and strived, and run all the risk, that youand your gang might cut in and carry off our honest earnings. Youinfernal little hair-cutting shrimp, you! To think of being beaten bythe likes of you! It's sickening, that's what it is, sickening!"

"I don't understand you--as I live, gentlemen, I don't understand you!"pleaded Leander. 

"You understand us well enough, " said the ex-foreigner, with an awfulimprecation on all Leander's salient features; "but you shall have itall in black and white. We're the party that invented and carried outthat little job at Wricklesmarsh Court. "

"Burglars! Do you mean you're burglars?" cried the terrified Leander. 

"We started as burglars, but we've finished by being made cat's-pawsof--by you, curse you! You didn't think we should find you out, did you?But if you wanted to keep us in the dark, you made two awkward littleslips: one was leaving your name and address at the gardens as the partywho was supposed to have last seen the statue, and the other was keepingthe said statue standing about in your hair-cutting room, to meet theeye of any gentleman calling out of curiosity, and never expecting sucha find as that. "

"What's the good of jawing at him, Count? That won't satisfy me, itwon't. 'Ere, I can't 'old myself off him any longer. I _must_ put a 'edon him. "

But the other interposed. "Patience, my good Braddle. No violence. Leavehim to me; he's a devilish deep fellow, and deserves all respect. " (Herehe shook Leander like a rat. ) "You've stolen a march on us, youcondemned little hairdressing ape, you! How did you do it? Out with it!How the devil did you do it?"

"For the love of heaven, gents, " pleaded Leander, without reflectingthat he might have found a stronger inducement, "don't use violence! Howdid I do _what_?"

"Count, I _can't_ answer for myself, " said the man addressed as Braddle. "I shall send a bullet into him if you don't let me work it off withfists; I know I shall!"

"Keep quiet, " said his superior, sternly. "Don't you see _I'm_ quiet?"and he twisted his knuckles viciously into Leander's throat. "If youcall out you're a corpse!"

"I wasn't thinking of calling out, indeed I wasn't. I'm quite satisfiedwith being where I am, " said Leander, "if you'd only leave me a littlemore room to choke in, and tell me what I've done to put you both insuch tremenjous tempers. "

"Done? You cur, when yer know well enough you've taken the bread out ofour mouths--the bread we'd earned! D'ye suppose we left out that statuein the gardens for the like of you? Who put you up to it? How many werethere in it? What do you mean to do now you've got it? Speak out, or Iswear I'll cut your heart out, and throw it over the railings for thetom-cats; I will, you ----!"

The man called Braddle, as he uttered this threat, looked so veryanxious to execute it, that Leander gave himself up for lost. 

"As true as I stand here, gentlemen, I didn't steal that statue. "

"I doubt you're not the build for taking the lead in that sort ofthing, " said the Count; "but you were in it. You went down that Saturdayas a blind. Deny it if you dare. "

Leander did not dare. "I could not help myself, gentlemen, " he faltered. 

"Who said you could? And you can't help yourself now, either; so make aclean breast of it. Who are you standing in with? Is it Potter's lot?"

If Leander had declared himself to be alone, things might have goneharder with him, and they certainly would never have believed him; so hesaid it _was_ Potter's lot. 

"I told you Potter was after that marble, and you wouldn't have it, Count, " growled Braddle. "Now you're satisfied. "

The Count comprised Potter and his lot in a new and original maledictionby way of answer, and then said to Leander, "Did Potter tell you to letthat Venus stand where all the world might see it?"

"I had no discretion, " said the hairdresser. "I'm not responsible, indeed, gents. "

"No discretion! I should think you hadn't. Nor Potter either, acting thedog in the manger like this. Where'll _he_ find his market for it, eh?What orders have you got? When are you going to get it across?"

"I've no notions. I haven't received no directions, " said Leander. 

"A nice sort o' mug you are to be trusted with a job like this, " saidBraddle. "I did think Potter was better up in his work, I did. A prettybungle he'll make of it!"

"It would serve him right, for interfering with fellow-professionals inthis infernal unprincipled manner. But he shan't have the chance, Braddle, he shan't have the chance; we'll steal a march on him thistime. "

"Is the coast clear yet?" said Braddle. 

"We must risk it. We shall find a route for it, never fear, " was thereply. "Now, you cursed hairdresser, you listen to what I'm going totell you. That Venus is our lawful property, and, by ----, we mean toget her into our hands again. D'ye hear that?"

Leander heard, and with delight. So long as he could once get free fromthe presence of the statue, and out of the cross-fire of burglars andpolice, he was willing by this time to abandon the cloak and ring. 

"I can truly say, I hope you'll be successful, gents, " he replied. 

"We don't want your hopes, we want your help. You must round onPotter. "

"Must I, gents?" said Leander. "Well, to oblige you, whatever it costsme, I _will_ round on Potter. "

"Take care you stick to that, " said Braddle. "The next pint, Count, is'ow we're to get her. "

"Come in and take her away now, " said Leander, eagerly. "She'll bequiet. I--I mean the _house_'ll be quiet now. You'll be very welcome, Iassure you. _I_ won't interfere. "

"You're a bright chap to go in for a purfession like ours, " said Mr. Braddle, with intense disgust. "How do yer suppose we're to do it--takeher to pieces, eh, and bring her along in our pockets? Do you thinkwe're flats enough to run the chance of being seen in the streets by acopper, lugging that 'ere statue along?"

"We must have the light cart again, and a sack, " said the Count. "It'stoo late to-night. "

"And it ain't safe in the daytime, " said Braddle. "We're wanted for thatjob at Camberwell, that puts it on to-morrow evening. But suppose Potterhas fixed the same time. "

"Here, _you_ know. Has Potter fixed the same time?" the Count demandedfrom Leander. 

"No, " said Leander; "Potter ain't said nothing to me about moving her. "

"Then are you man enough to undertake Potter, if he starts the idea?_Are_ you? Come!"

"Yes, gents, I'll manage Potter. You break in any time after midnight, and I engage you shall find the Venus on the premises. "

"But we want more than that of you, you know. We mustn't lose any timeover this job. You must be ready at the door to let us in, and bear ahand with her down to the cart. "

But this did not suit Leander's views at all. He was determined toavoid all personal risks; and to be caught helping the burglars to carryoff the Aphrodite would be fatal. 

He was recovering his presence of mind. As his tormentors had sensiblyrelaxed, he was able to take steps for his own security. 

"I beg pardon, gents, " he said, "but I don't want to appear in thismyself. There's Potter, you see; he's a hawful man to go against. Youknow what Potter is, yourselves. " (Potter was really coming in quiteusefully, he began to think. )

"Well, I don't suppose Potter would make more bones about slitting yourthroat than we should, if he knew you'd played him false, " said theCount. "But we can't help that; in a place like this it's too risky tobreak in, when we can be let in. "

"If you'll only excuse me taking an active part, " said Leander, "it'sall I ask. This is my plan, gentlemen. You see that little archwaythere, where my finger points? Well, that leads by a small alley to ayard, back of my saloon. You can leave your cart here, and come round assafe as you please. I'll have the winder in my saloon unfastened, andput the statue where you can get her easy; but I don't want to be mixedup in it further than that. "

"That seems fair enough, " said the Count, "provided you keep to it. "

"But suppose it's a plant?" growled Braddle. "Suppose he's planning tolay a trap for us? Suppose we get in, to find Potter and his lot on thelook-out for us, or break into a house that's full of bloomin' coppers?"

"I did think of that; but I believe our friend knows that if he doesn'tact square with me, his life isn't worth a bent pin; and besides, hecan't warn the police without getting himself into more or less hotwater. So I think he'll see the wisdom of doing what he's told. "

"I do, " said Leander, "I do, gentlemen. I'd sooner die than deceiveyou. "

"Well, " said the Count, "you'd find it come to the same thing. "

"No, " added Braddle. "If you blow the gaff on us, my bloomin', I'll sawthat pudden head of yours right off your shoulders, and swing for it, cheerful!"

Leander shuddered. Amongst what desperate ruffians had his unlucky starsled him! How would it all end, he wondered feebly--how?

"Well, gentlemen, " he said, with his teeth chattering, "if you don'twant me any more, I'll go in; and I'm to expect you to-morrow evening, Ibelieve?"

"Expect us when you 'ear us, " said Braddle; "and if you make fools of usagain----" And he described consequences which exceeded inunpleasantness the worst that Leander could have imagined. 

The poor man tottered back to his room again, in a most unenviable frameof mind; not even the prospect of being delivered from the goddess couldreconcile him to the price he must pay for it. He was going to take aplunge into downright crime now; and if his friend the inspector came tohear of it, ruin must follow. And, in any case, the cloak and the ringwould be gone beyond recovery, while these cut-throat housebreakerswould henceforth have a hold over him; they might insist upon steepinghim in blacker crime still, and he knew he would never have the courageto resist. 

As he thought of the new difficulties and dangers that compassed himround about, he was frequently on the verge of tears, and his couchthat night was visited by dreadful dreams, in which he sought audienceof the Evil One himself at cross-roads, was chased over half London bypolice, and dragged over the other half by burglars, to be finallyflattened by the fall of Aphrodite. 

AT LAST

IX. 

 "Does not the stone rebuke me For being more stone than it?"

 _Winter's Tale. _

 "Yet did he loath to see the image fair, White and unchanged of face, unmoved of limb!"

 _Earthly Paradise. _

Leander's hand was very tremulous all the next day, as several indignantclients discovered, and he closed as early as he could, feeling itimpossible to attend to business under the circumstances. 

About seven o'clock he went up to his sitting-room. A difficult andungrateful task was before him. To facilitate her removal, he mustpersuade the goddess to take up a position in the saloon for the night;and, much as he had suffered from her, there was something traitorous indelivering her over to these coarse burglars. 

He waited until the statue showed signs of returning animation, and thensaid, "Good evening, mum, " more obsequiously than usual. 

She never deigned to notice or return his salutations. "Hairdresser, "she said abruptly, "I am weary of this sordid place. "

He was pleased, for it furthered his views. "It isn't so sordid in thesaloon, where you stood the other evening, you know, " he replied. "Willyou step down there?"

"Bah!" she said, "it is _all_ sordid. Leander, a restlessness has comeupon me. I come back night after night out of the vagueness in which Ihave lain so long, and for what? To stand here in this mean chamber andproffer my favour, only to find it repulsed, disdained. I am tired ofit--tired!"

"You can't be more tired of it than I am!" he said. 

"I ask myself, " she went on, "why, having, through your means, ascendedonce more to the earth, which I left so fair, I seek not those thingswhich once delighted me. This city of yours--all that I have seen ofit--revolts me; but it is vast, vaster than those built by the mortalsof old. Surely somewhere there must be brightness in it and beauty, andthe colour and harmony by which men knew once to delight the godsthemselves. It cannot be that the gods of old are all forgotten; surely, somewhere there yet lingers a little band of faithful ones, who have notturned from Aphrodite. "

"I can't say, I'm sure, " said Leander; "I could inquire for you. "

"I myself will seek for them, " she said proudly. "I will go forth thisvery night. "

Leander choked. "To-night!" he cried. "You _can't_ go to-night. "

"You forget yourself, " she returned haughtily. 

"If I let you go, " he said hesitatingly, "will you promise faithfully tobe back in half an hour?"

"Do you not yet understand that you have to do with a goddess--withAphrodite herself?" she said. "Who are you, to presume to fetter me byyour restrictions? Truly, the indulgence I have shown has turned yourweak brain. "

He put his back against the door. He was afraid of the goddess, but hewas still more afraid of the burglars' vengeance if they arrived to findthe prize missing. 

"I'm sorry to disoblige a lady, " he said; "but you don't go out of thishouse to-night. "

In another minute he was lying in the fender amongst thefireirons--alone! How it was done he was too stunned to remember; butthe goddess was gone. If she did not return by midnight, what wouldbecome of him? If he had only been civil to her, she might have stayed;but now she had abandoned him to certain destruction!

A kind of fatalistic stupor seized him. He would not run away--he wouldhave to come home some time--nor would he call in the police, for he hada very vivid recollection of Mr. Braddle's threat in such a contingency. 

He went, instead, into the dark saloon, and sat down in a chair to wait. He wondered how he could explain the statue's absence. If he told theburglars it had gone for a stroll, they would tear him limb from limb. "I was so confoundedly artful about Potter, " he thought bitterly, "thatthey'll never believe now I haven't warned him!"

At every sound outside he shook like a leaf; the quarters, as theysounded from the church clock, sank like cold weights upon his heart. "If only Venus would come back first!" he moaned; but the statue neverreturned. 

At last he heard steps--muffled ones--on the paved alley outside. He hadforgotten to leave the window unfastened, after all, and he was tooparalysed to do it now. 

The steps were in the little yard, or rather a sort of back area, underneath the window. "It may be only a constable, " he tried to say tohimself; but there is no mistaking the constabulary tread, which is notfairy-like, or even gentle, like that he heard. 

A low whistle destroyed his last hope. In a quite unpremeditated mannerhe put out the gas and rolled under a leather divan which stood at theend of the room. He wished now, with all his heart, that he had run awaywhile he had the chance; but it was too late. 

"I hope they'll do it with a revolver, and not a knife, " he thought. "Oh, my poor Matilda! you little know what I'm going through just now, and what'll be going through _me_ in another minute!"

A hoarse voice under the window called out, "Tweddle!"

He lay still. "None o' that, yer skulker; I know yer there!" said thevoice again. "Do yer want to give me the job o' coming after yer?"

After all, Leander reflected, there was the window and a thickhalf-shutter between them. It might be best not to provoke Mr. Braddleat the outset. He came half out of his hiding-place. "Is that you, Mr. Braddle?" he quavered. 

"Ah!" said the voice, affirmatively. "Is this what you call being readyfor us? Why, the bloomin' winder ain't even undone!"

"That's what I'm here for, " said poor Leander. "Is the--the othergentleman out there too?"

"You mind your business! You'll find something the Count give me tobring yer; I've put it on the winder-sill out 'ere. And you obey hordersnext time, will yer?"

The footsteps were heard retreating. Mr. Braddle was apparently goingback to fetch his captain. Leander let down the shutter, and opened thewindow. He could not see, but he could feel a thick, rough bundle lyingon the window-sill. 

He drew this in, slammed down the window, and ran up the shutter in asecond, before the two could have had time to discover him. 

"Now, " he thought, "I _will_ run for it;" and he groped his way out ofthe dark saloon to the front shop, where he paused, and, taking a matchfrom his pocket, struck a light. His parcel proved to be roughsackcloth, on the outside of which a paper was pinned. 

Why did the Count write, when he was coming in directly? Curiosity madehim linger even then to ascertain this. The paper contained a hastyscrawl in blue chalk. "_Not to-night_, " he read; "_arrangements stilluncomplete. Expect us to-morrow night without fail, and see thateverything is prepared. Cloth sent with this for packing goods. P----laid up with professional accident, and safe for a week or two. You musthave known this--why not say so last night? No trifling, if you valuelife!_"

It was a reprieve--at the last moment! He had a whole day before him forflight, and he fully intended to flee this time; those hours of suspensein the saloon were too terrible to be gone through twice. 

But as he was turning out his cashbox, and about to go upstairs andcollect a few necessaries, he heard a well-known tread outside. He ranto the door, which he unfastened with trembling hands, and the statue, with the hood drawn closely round her strange painted face, passed inwithout seeming to heed his presence. 

She had come back to him. Why should he run away now, when, if he waitedone more night, he might be rescued from one of his terrors by means ofthe other?

"Lady Venus!" he cried hysterically. "Oh, Lady Venus, mum, I thought youwas gone for ever!"

"And you have grieved?" she said almost tenderly. "You welcome my returnwith joy! Know then, Leander, that I myself feel pleasure in returning, even to such a roof as this; for little gladness have I had from mywanderings. Upon no altar did I see my name shine, nor the perfumedflame flicker; the Lydian measures were silent, and the praise ofCytherea. And everywhere I went I found the same senseless troubledhaste, and pale mean faces of men, and squalor, and tumult. Grace andjoyousness have fled--even from your revelry! But I have seen your newgods, and understand: for, all grimy and mis-shapen and uncouth are theyas they stand in your open places and at the corners of your streets. Zeus, what a place must Olympus now be! And can any men worship suchmonsters, and be gladsome?"

Leander did not perceive the very natural mistake into which the goddesshad fallen; but the fact was, that she had come upon some of our justlyrenowned public statues. 

"I'm sorry you haven't enjoyed yourself, mum, " was all he could find tosay. 

"Should I linger in such scenes were it not for you?" she criedreproachfully. "How much longer will you repulse me?"

"That depends on you, mum, " he ventured to observe. 

"Ah! you are cold!" she said reproachfully; "yet surely I am worthy ofthe adoration of the proudest mortal. Judge me not by this marbleexterior, cunningly wrought though it be. Charms are mine, more dazzlingthan any your imagination can picture; and could you surrender yourbeing to my hands, I should be able to show myself as I reallyam--supreme in loveliness and majesty!"

Unfortunately, the hairdresser's imagination was not his strongestpoint. He could not dissociate the goddess from the marble shape she hadassumed, and that shape he was not sufficiently educated to admire; hemerely coughed now in a deferential manner. 

"I perceive that I cannot move you, " she said. "Men have grown strangelystubborn and impervious. I leave you, then, to your obstinacy; only takeheed lest you provoke me at last to wrath, for my patience is well-nighat an end!"

And she was gone, and the bedizened statue stood there, staring hardlyat him with the eyes his own hand had given her. 

"This has been the most trying evening I've had yet, " he thought. "Thankmy stars, if all goes well, I shall get rid of her by this timeto-morrow!"

The next day passed uneventfully enough, though the unfortunateLeander's apprehensions increased with every hour. As before, he closedearly, got his apprentice safely off the premises, and sat down to waitin his saloon. He knew that the statue (which he had concealed duringthe day behind a convenient curtain) would probably recoverconsciousness for some part of the evening, as it had rarely failed todo, and prudence urged him to keep an eye over the proceedings of histormentress. 

To his horror, Aphrodite's first words, after awaking, expressed herintention of repeating the search for homage and beauty, which had beenso unsuccessful the night before!

"Seek not to detain me, Leander, " she said; "for, goddess as I am, I amdrooping under this persistent obduracy. Somewhere beyond this murkylabyrinth, it may be that I shall find a shrine where I am yethonoured. I will go forth, and never rest till I have found it, and mytroubled spirits are revived by the incense for which I have languishedso long. I am weary of abasing myself to such a contemptuous mortal, norwill I longer endure such indignity. Stand back, and open the gates forme! Why do you not obey?"

He knew now that to attempt force would be useless; and yet if she lefthim this time, he must either abandon all that life held for him, andfly to distant parts from the burglars' vengeance--or remain to meet atoo probable doom!

He fell on his knees before her. "Oh, Lady Venus, " he entreated, "don'tleave me! I beg and implore you not to! If you do, you will kill me! Igive you my honest word you will!"

The statue's face seemed irradiated by a sudden joy. She paused, andglanced down with an approving smile upon the kneeling figure at herfeet. 

"Why did you not kneel to me before?" she said. 

[Illustration: "WHY DID YOU NOT KNEEL TO ME BEFORE?"]

"Because I never thought of it, " said the hairdresser, honestly; "butI'll stay on my knees for hours, if only you won't go!"

"But what has made you thus eager, thus humble?" she said, half inwonder and half in suspicion. "Can it be, that the spark I have soughtto kindle in your breast is growing to a flame at last? Leander, canthis thing be?"

He saw that she was gratified, that she desired to be assured that thiswas indeed so. 

"I shouldn't be surprised if something like that was going on inside ofme, " he said encouragingly. 

"Answer me more frankly, " she said. "Do you wish me to remain withyou because you have learnt to love my presence?"

It was a very embarrassing position for him. All depended upon hisconvincing the goddess of his dawning love, and yet, for the life ofhim, he could not force out the requisite tenderness; his imaginationwas unequal to the task. 

Another and a more creditable feeling helped to tie his tongue--a senseof shame at employing such a subterfuge in order to betray the goddessinto the lawless hands of these housebreakers. However, she must beinduced to stay by some means. 

"Well, " he said sheepishly, "you don't give me a chance to love you, ifyou go wandering out every evening, do you?"

She gave a low cry of triumph. "It has come!" she exclaimed. "What areclouds of incense, flowers, and homage, to this? Be of good heart; Iwill stay, Leander. Fear not, but speak the passion which consumes you!"

He became alarmed. He was anxious not to commit himself, and yet employthe time until the burglars might be expected. 

"The fact is, " he confessed, "it hasn't gone so far as that yet--it'sbeginning; all it wants is _time_, you know--time, and being let alone. "

"All Time will be before us, when once your lips have pronounced thewords of surrender, and our spirits are transported together to theenchanted isle. "

"You talk about me going over to this isle--this Cyprus, " he said; "butit's a long journey, and I can't afford it. How _you_ come and go, Idon't know; but I've not been brought up to it myself. I can't flashacross like a telegram!"

"Trust all to me, " she said. "Is not your love strong enough for that?"

"Not quite yet, " he answered; "it's coming on. Only, you see, it's aserious step to take, and I naturally wish to feel my way. I declare, the more I gaze upon the--the elegant form and figger which I see beforeme, the stronger and the more irresistible comes over me a burningdesire to think the whole thing carefully over. And if you only allowedme a little longer to gaze (I've no time to myself except in theevenings), I don't think it would be long before this affair reached a'appy termination--I don't indeed!"

"Gaze, then, " she said, smiling--"gaze to your soul's content. "

"I mean no offence, " he represented, having felt his way to a stroke ofsupreme cunning, "but when I feel there's a goddess inside of thisstatue, I don't know how it is exactly, but it puts me off. I can't fixmy thoughts; the--the passion don't ferment as it ought. If, supposingnow, you was to withdraw yourself and leave me the statue? I could gazeon it, and think of thee, and Cyprus, and all the rest of it, morecomfortable, so to speak, than what I can when you're animating of it, and making me that nervous, words can't describe it!"

He hardly dared to hope that so lame and transparent a device wouldsucceed with her; but, as he had previously found, there was a certainspice of credulity and simplicity in her nature, which made it possibleto impose upon her occasionally. 

"It may be so, " she said. "I overawe thee, perchance?"

"Very much so, " said he, promptly. "You don't intend it, I know; butit's a fact. "

"I will leave you to meditate upon the charms so faintly shadowed inthis image, remembering that whatever of loveliness you find herein willbe multiplied ten thousand-fold in the actual Aphrodite! Remain, then;ponder and gaze--and love!"

He waited for a little while after the statue was silent, and then tookup the sacking left for him by Braddle; twice he attempted to throw itover the marble, and twice he recoiled. "It's no use, " he said, "I can'tdo it; they must do it themselves!"

He carefully unfastened the window at the back of his saloon, and, placing the statue in the centre of the floor, turned out the gas, andwith a beating heart stole upstairs to his bedroom, where (with his doorbolted) he waited anxiously for the arrival of his dreaded deliverers. 

He scarcely knew how long he had been there, for a kind of waking dreamhad come upon him, in which he was providing the statue with lightrefreshment in the shape of fancy pebbles and liquid cement, when thelong, low whistle, faintly heard from the back of the house, brought himback to his full senses. 

The burglars had come! He unbolted the door and stole out to the top ofthe crazy staircase, intending to rush back and bolt himself in if heheard steps ascending; and for some minutes he strained his ears, without being able to catch a sound. 

At last he heard the muffled creak of the window, as it was thrown up. They were coming in! Would they, or would they not, be inhuman enough toforce him to assist them in the removal?

They were still in the saloon; he heard them trampling about, moving thefurniture with unnecessary violence, and addressing one another in tonesthat were not caressing. Now they were carrying the statue to thewindow; he heard their labouring breath and groans of exertion under theburden. 

Another pause. He stole lower down the staircase, until he was outsidehis sitting-room, and could hear better. There! that was the thud asthey leapt out on the flagged yard. A second and heavier thud--thegoddess! How would they get her over the wall? Had they brought steps, ropes, or what? No matter; they knew their own business, and were notlikely to have forgotten anything. But how long they were about it!Suppose a constable were to come by and see the cart!

There were sounds at last; they were scaling the wall--floundering, apparently; and no wonder, with such a weight to hoist after them! Morethuds; and then the steps of men staggering slowly, painfully away. Thesteps echoed louder from under the archway, and then died away insilence. 

Could they be really gone? He dared not hope so, and remained shiveringin his sitting-room for some minutes; until, gaining courage, hedetermined to go down and shut the window, to avoid any suspicion. Although now that the burglars were safely off with their prize, eventheir capture could not implicate him. He rather hoped they _would_ becaught!

He took a lighted candle, and descended. As he entered the saloon, agust from the open window blew out the light. He stood there in the darkand an icy draught; and, beginning to grope about in the dark for thematches, he brushed against something which was soft and had acloth-like texture. "It's Braddle!" he thought, and his blood ran cold;"or else the Count!" And he called them both respectfully. There was noreply; no sound of breathing, even. 

Ha! here was a box of matches at last! He struck a light in feverishhaste, and lit the nearest gas-bracket. For an instant he could seenothing, in the sudden glare; but the next moment he fell back againstthe wall with a cry of horror and despair. 

For there, in the centre of the disordered room, stood--not the Count, not Braddle--but the statue, the mantle thrown back from her arms, andthose arms, and the folds of the marble drapery, spotted here and therewith stains of dark crimson!

DAMOCLES DINES OUT

X. 

 "To feed were best at home. "--_Macbeth. _

As soon as Leander had recovered from the first shock of horror anddisappointment, he set himself to efface the stains with which thestatue and the oilcloth were liberally bespattered; he was burning tofind out what had happened to make such desperadoes abandon their designat the point of completion. 

They both seemed to have bled freely. Had they quarrelled, or what? Hewent out into the yard with a hand-lamp, trembling lest he should comeupon one or more corpses; but the place was bare, and he then rememberedhaving heard them stumble and flounder over the wall. 

He came back in utter bewilderment; the statue, standing calm andlifeless as he had himself placed it, could tell him nothing, and hewent back to his bedroom full of the vaguest fears. 

The next day was a Saturday, and he passed it in the state of continualapprehension which was becoming his normal condition. He expected everymoment to see or hear from the baffled ruffians, who would, no doubt, consider him responsible for their failure; but no word nor sign camefrom them, and the uncertainty drove him very near distraction. 

As the night approached, he almost welcomed it, as a time when thegoddess herself would enlighten part of his ignorance; and he waitedmore impatiently than ever for her return. 

He was made to wait long that evening, until he almost began to thinkthat the marble was deserted altogether; but at length, as he watched, the statue gave a long, shuddering sigh, and seemed to gaze round thesaloon with vacant eyes. 

"Where am I?" she murmured. "Ah! I remember. Leander, while youslumbered, impious hands were laid upon this image!"

"Dear me, mum; you don't say so!" exclaimed Leander. 

"It is the truth! From afar I felt the indignity that was purposed, andhastened to protect my image, to find it in the coarse grasp of godlessoutlaws. Leander, they were about to drag me away by force--away fromthee!"

"I'm very sorry you should have been disturbed, " said Leander; and hecertainly was. "So you came back and caught them at it, did you? Andwh--what did you do to 'em, if I may inquire?"

"I know not, " she said simply. "I caused them to be filled with madfury, and they fell upon one another blindly, and fought like wildbeasts around my image until strength failed them, and they sank to theground; and when they were able, they fled from my presence, and I sawthem no more. "

"You--you didn't kill them outright, then?" said Leander, not feelingquite sure whether he would be glad or not to hear that they hadforfeited their lives. 

"They were unworthy of such a death, " she said; "so I let them crawlaway. Henceforth they will respect our images. "

"I should say they would, most likely, madam, " agreed Leander. "I doassure you, I'm almost glad of it myself--I am; it served them bothright. "

"_Almost_ glad! And do you not rejoice from your heart that I yet remainto you?"

"Why, " said Leander, "it is, in course, a most satisfactory andagreeable termination, I'm sure. "

"Who knows whether, if this my image had once been removed from you, Icould have found it in my power to return?" she said; "for, I ween, thepower that is left me has limits. I might never have appeared to youagain. Think of it, Leander. "

"I was thinking of it, " he replied. "It quite upsets me to think hownear it was. "

"You are moved. You love me well, do you not, Leander?"

"Oh! I suppose I do, " he said--"well enough. "

"Well enough to abandon this gross existence, and fly with me where nonecan separate us?"

"I never said nothing about that, " he answered. 

"But yesternight and you confessed that you were yielding--that ere longI should prevail. "

"So I am, " he said; "but it will take me some time to yield thoroughly. You wouldn't believe how slow I yield; why, I haven't hardly begun yet!"

"And how long a time will pass before you are fully prepared?"

"I'm afraid I can't say, not exactly; it may be a month, or it mightonly be a week, or again, it may be a year. I'm so dependent upon theweather. So, if you're in any kind of a hurry, I couldn't advise you, asa honest man, to wait for me. "

"I will not wait a year!" she said fiercely. "You mock me with suchwords. I tell you again that my forbearance will last but littlelonger. More of this laggard love, and I will shame you before yourfellow-men as an ingrate and a dastard! I will; by my zone, I will!"

"Now, mum, you're allowing yourself to get excited, " said Leander, soothingly. "I wouldn't talk about it no more this evening; we shall dono good. I can't arrange to go with you just yet, and there's an end ofit. "

"You will find that that is not the end of it, clod-witted slave thatyou are!"

"Now, don't call names; it's beneath you. "

"Ay, indeed! for are not _you_ beneath me? But for very shame I will notabandon what is justly mine; nor shall you, wily and persuasivehairdresser though you be, withstand my sovereign will with impunity!"

"So you say, mum!" said Leander, with a touch of his nativeimpertinence. 

"As I say, I shall act; but no more of this, or you will anger me beforethe time. Let me depart. "

"I'm not hindering you, " he said; but she did not remain long enough toresent his words. He sat down with a groan. "Whatever will become ofme?" he soliloquized dismally. "She gets more pressing every evening, and she's been taking to threatening dreadful of late. .. . If the Countand that Braddle ever come back now, it won't be to take her off myhands; it'll more likely be to have my life for letting them into such atrap. They'll think it was some trick of mine, I shouldn't wonder. .. . And to-morrow's Sunday, and I've got to dine with aunt, and meet Matildaand her ma. A pretty state of mind I'm in for going out to dinner, afterthe awful week I've had of it! But there'll be some comfort in seeing mydarling Tillie again; _she_ ain't a statue, bless her!"

"As for you, mum, " he said to the unconscious statue, "I'm going to lockyou up in your old quarters, where you can't get out and do mischief. Ido think I'm entitled to have my Sunday quiet. "

After which he contrived to toil upstairs with the image, not withoutconsiderable labour and frequent halts to recover his breath; foralthough, as we have already noted, the marble, after being infused withlife, seemed to lose something of its normal weight, it was no lightburden, even then, to be undertaken single-handed. 

He slept long and late that Sunday morning; for he had been toopreoccupied for the last few days to make any arrangements for attendingchapel with his Matilda, and he was in sore need of repose besides. Sohe rose just in time to swallow his coffee and array himself carefullyfor his aunt's early dinner, leaving his two Sunday papers--thetheatrical and the general organs--unread on his table. 

It was a foggy, dull day, and Millman Street, never a cheerfulthoroughfare, looked gloomier than ever as he turned into it. But one ofthose dingy fronts held Matilda--a circumstance which irradiated theentire district for him. 

He had scarcely time to knock before the door was opened by Matilda inperson. She looked more charming than ever, in a neat dark dress, with alittle white collar and cuffs. Her hair was arranged in a new fashion, being banded by a neat braided tress across the crown; and her greyeyes, usually serene and cold, were bright and eager. 

The hairdresser felt his heart swell with love at the sight of her. Whata lucky man he was, after all, to have such a girl as this to care forhim! If he could keep her--ah, if he could only keep her!

"I told your aunt _I_ was going to open the door to you, " she said. "Iwanted----Oh, Leander, you've not brought it, after all!"

"Meaning what, Tillie, my darling?" said Leander. 

"Oh, you know--my cloak!"

He had had so much to think about that he had really forgotten the cloakof late. 

"Well, no, I've not brought that--not the cloak, Tillie, " he saidslowly. 

"What a time they are about it!" complained Matilda. 

"You see, " explained the poor man, "when a cloak like that is damaged, it has to be sent back to the manufacturers to be done, and they've somany things on their hands. I couldn't promise that you'll have thatcloak--well, not this side of Christmas, at least. "

"You must have been very rough with it, then, Leander, " she remarked. 

"I was, " he said. "I don't know how I came to _be_ so rough. You see, Iwas trying to tear it off----" But here he stopped. 

"Trying to tear it off what?"

"Trying to tear it off nothink, but trying to tear the wrapper off _it_. It was so involved, " he added, "with string and paper and that; and I'ma clumsy, unlucky sort of chap, sweet one; and I'm uncommon sorry aboutit, that I am!"

"Well, we won't say any more about it, " said Matilda, softened by hiscontrition. "And I'm keeping you out in the passage all this time. Comein, and be introduced to mamma; she's in the front parlour, waiting tomake your acquaintance. "

Mrs. Collum was a stout lady, with a thin voice. She struck a namelessfear into Leander's soul as he was led up to where she sat. Hethought that she contained all the promise of a very terriblemother-in-law. 

[Illustration: SHE STRUCK A NAMELESS FEAR INTO LEANDER'S SOUL. ]

"This is Leander, mamma dear, " said Matilda, shyly and yet proudly. 

Her mother inspected him for a moment, and then half closed her eyes. "My daughter tells me that you carry on the occupation of ahairdresser, " she said. 

"Quite correct, madam, " said Leander; "I do. "

"Ah! well, " she said, with an unconcealed sigh, "I could have wished tolook higher than hairdressing for my Matilda; but there areopportunities of doing good even as a hairdresser. I trust you aresensible of that. "

"I try to do as little 'arm as I can, " he said feebly. 

"If you do not do good, you must do harm, " she said uncompromisingly. "You have it in your means to be an awakening influence. No one knowsthe power that a single serious hairdresser might effect with worldlycustomers. Have you never thought of that?"

"Well, I can't say I have exactly, " he said; "and I don't see how. "

"There are cheap and appropriate illuminated texts, " she said, "to behad at so much a dozen; you could hang them on your walls. There aretracts you procure by the hundred; you could put them in the lining ofhats as you hang them up; you could wrap them round your--your bottlesand pomatum-pots. You could drop a word in season in your customer's earas you bent over him. And you tell me you don't see how; you _will_ notsee, I fear, Mr. Tweddle. "

"I'm afraid, mum, " he replied, "my customers would consider I was takingliberties. "

"And what of that, so long as you save them?"

"Well, you see, I shouldn't--I should _lose_ 'em! And it's not done inour profession; and, to tell you the honest truth, I'm not given thatway myself--not to the extent of tracks and suchlike, that is. "

Matilda's mother groaned; it was hard to find a son-in-law with whom shehad nothing in common, and who was a hairdresser into the bargain. 

"Well, well, " she said, "we must expect crosses in this life; though formy own daughter to lay this one upon me is--is----But I will notrepine. "

"I'm sorry you regard me in the light of a cross, " said Leander; "but, whether I'm a cross or a naught, I'm a respectable man, and I love yourdaughter, mum, and I'm in a position to maintain her. "

Leander hated to have to appear under false pretences, of which he hadhad more than enough of late. He was glad now to speak out plainly, particularly as he had no reason to fear this old woman. 

"Hush, Leander! Mamma didn't mean to be unkind; did you, mamma?" saidMatilda. 

"I said what I felt, " she said. "We will not discuss it further. If, intime, I see reason for bestowing my blessing upon a choice which atpresent----But no matter. If I see reason in time, I will not withholdit. I can hardly be expected to approve at present. "

"You shall take your own time, mum; _I_ won't hurry you, " said Leander. "Tillie is blessing enough for me--not but what I shall be glad to be ona pleasant footing with you, I'm sure, if you can bring yourself to it. "

Before Mrs. Collum could reply, Miss Louisa Tweddle made an opportuneappearance, to the relief of Matilda, in whom her mother's attitude wascausing some uneasiness. 

Miss Tweddle was a well-preserved little woman, with short curlyiron-grey hair and sharp features. In manner she was brisk, not to saychirpy, but she secreted sentiment in large quantities. She was very farfrom the traditional landlady, and where she lost lodgers occasionallyshe retained friends. She regarded Mrs. Collum with something likereverence, as an acquaintance of her youth who had always occupied asuperior social position, and she was proud, though somewhat guiltilyso, that her favourite nephew should have succeeded in captivating thedaughter of a dentist. 

She kissed Leander on both cheeks. "He's done the best of all mynephews, Mrs. Collum, ma'am, " she explained, "and he's never caused me amoment's anxiety since I first had the care of him, when he was firstapprenticed to Catchpole's in Holborn, and paid me for his board. "

"Well, well, " said Mrs. Collum, "I hope he never may cause anxiety toyou, or to any one. "

"I'll answer for it, he won't, " said his aunt. "I wish you could see himdress a head of hair. "

Mrs. Collum shut her eyes again. "If at his age he has not acquired thenecessary skill for his line in life, " she observed, "it would be a verymelancholy thing to reflect upon. "

"Yes, wouldn't it?" agreed Miss Tweddle; "you say very truly, Mrs. Collum. But he's got ideas and notions beyond what you'd expect in ahairdresser--haven't you, Leandy? Tell Miss Collum's dear ma about thenew machines you've invented for altering people's hands and eyes andfeatures. "

"I don't care to be told, " the lady struck in. "To my mind, it's nothingless than sheer impiety to go improving the features we've been endowedwith. We ought to be content as we are, and be thankful we've been sentinto the world with any features at all. Those are my opinions!"

"Ah, " said the politic Leander, "but some people are saved having resortto Art for improvement, and we oughtn't to blame them as are lessfavoured for trying to render themselves more agreeable as spectacles, ought we?"

"And if every one thought with you, " added his aunt, with distinctlyinferior tact, "where would your poor dear 'usband have been, Mrs. Collum, ma'am?"

"My dear husband was not on the same level--he was a medical man; and, besides, though he replaced Nature in one of her departments, he had toomuch principle to _imitate_ her. Had he been (or had I allowed him tobe) less conscientious, his practice would have been largely extended;but I can truthfully declare that not a single one of his false teethwas capable of deceiving for an instant. I hope, " she added to Leander, "you, in your own different way, are as scrupulous. "

"Why, the fact is, " said Leander, whose professional susceptibilitieswere now aroused, "I am essentially an artist. When I look around, I seethat Nature out of its bounty has supplied me with a choice selection ofpatterns to follow, and I reproduce them as faithful as lies within myabilities. You may call it a fine thing to take a blank canvas, andrepresent the luxurious tresses and the blooming hue of 'ealth upon it, and so do I; but I call it a still higher and nobler act to produce asimilar effect upon a human 'ed!"

"Isn't that a pretty speech for a young man like him--onlytwenty-seven--Mrs. Collum?" exclaimed his admiring aunt. 

"You see, mamma dear, " pleaded Matilda, who saw that her parent remainedunaffected, "it isn't as if Leander was in poor papa's profession. "

"I hope, Matilda, " said the lady sharply, "you are not going to pain meagain by mentioning this young man and your departed father in the samebreath, because I cannot bear it. "

"The old lady, " reflected Leander here, "don't seem to take to me!"

"I'm sure, " said Miss Tweddle, "Leandy quite feels what an honour it isto him to look forward to such a connection as yours is. When I firstheard of it, I said at once, 'Leandy, you can't never mean it; she won'tlook at you; it's no use your asking her, ' I said. And I quite scoldedmyself for ever bringing them together!"

Mrs. Collum seemed inclined to follow suit, but she restrained herself. "Ah! well, " she observed, "my daughter has chosen to take her own way, without consulting my prejudices. All I hope is, that she may neverrepent it!"

"Very handsomely said, ma'am, " chimed in Miss Tweddle; "and, if I knowmy nephew, repent it she never will!"

Leander was looking rather miserable; but Matilda put out her hand tohim behind his aunt's back, and their eyes and hands met, and he washappy again. 

"You must be wanting your dinner, Mrs. Collum, " his aunt proceeded; "andwe are only waiting for another lady and gentleman to make up the party. I don't know what's made them so behindhand, I'm sure. He's a verypleasant young man, and punctual to the second when he lodged with me. Ihappened to run across him up by Chancery Lane the other evening, and hesaid to me, in his funny way, 'I've been and gone and done it, MissTweddle, since I saw you. I'm a happy man; and I'm thinking of bringingmy young lady soon to introduce to you. ' So I asked them to come andtake a bit of dinner with me to-day, and I told him two o'clock sharp, I'm sure. Ah, there they are at last! That's Mr. Jauncy's knock, among athousand. "

Leander started. "Aunt!" he cried, "you haven't asked Jauncy hereto-day?"

"Yes, I did, Leandy. I knew you used to be friends when you weretogether here, and I thought how nice it would be for both your youngladies to make each other's acquaintance; but I didn't tell _him_anything. I meant it for a surprise. "

And she bustled out to receive her guests, leaving Leander speechless. What if the new-comers were to make some incautious reference to thatpleasure-party on Saturday week? Could he drop them a warning hint?

"Don't you like this Mr. Jauncy, Leander?" whispered Matilda, who hadobserved his ghastly expression. 

"I like him well enough, " he returned, with an effort; "but I'd ratherwe had no third parties, I must say. "

Here Mr. Jauncy came in alone, Miss Tweddle having retired to assist thelady to take off her bonnet. 

Leander went to meet him. "James, " he said in an agitated whisper, "haveyou brought Bella?"

Jauncy nodded. "We were talking of you as we came along, " he said in thesame tone, "and I advise you to look out--she's got her quills up, oldchap!"

"What about?" murmured Leander. 

Mr. Jauncy's grin was wider and more appreciative than ever as hereplied, mysteriously, "Rosherwich!"

Leander would have liked to ask in what respect Miss Parkinsonconsidered herself injured by the expedition to Rosherwich; but, beforehe could do so, his aunt returned with the young lady in question. 

Bella was gorgeously dressed, and made her entrance with the stiffestpossible dignity. "Miss Parkinson, my dear, " said her hostess, "youmustn't be made a stranger of. That lady sitting there on the sofa isMrs. Collum, and this gentleman is a friend of _your_ gentleman's, andmy nephew, Leandy. "

"Oh, thank you, " said Bella, "but I've no occasion to be told Mr. Tweddle's name; we have met before--haven't we, Mr. Tweddle?"

He looked at her, and saw her brows clouded, and her nose and mouth witha pinched look about them. She was annoyed with him evidently--but why?

"We have, " was all he could reply. 

"Why, how nice that is, to be sure!" exclaimed his aunt. "I might havethought of it, too, Mr. Jauncy, and you being such friends and all. Andp'r'aps you know this lady, too--Miss Collum--as Leandy is keepingcompany along with?"

Bella's expression changed to something blacker still. "No, " she said, fixing her eyes on the still unconscious Leander; "I made sure that Mr. Tweddle was courting _a_ young lady, but--but--well, this _is_ asurprise, Mr. Tweddle! You never told us of this when last we met. Ishall have news for somebody!"

"Oh, but it's only been arranged within the last month or two!" saidMiss Tweddle. 

"Considering we met so lately, he might have done us the compliment ofmentioning it, I must say!" said Bella. 

"I--I thought you knew, " stammered the hairdresser; "I told----"

"No, you didn't, excuse me; oh no, you didn't, or some things would havehappened differently. It was the place and all that made you forget it, very likely. "

"When did you meet one another, and where was it, Miss Parkinson?"inquired Matilda, rather to include herself in the conversation thanfrom any devouring curiosity. 

Leander struck in hoarsely. "We met, " he explained, "some time since, quite casual. "

Bella's eyes lit up with triumphant malice. "What!" she said, "do youcall yesterday week such a long while? What a compliment that is, though! And so he's not even mentioned it to you, Miss Collum? Dear me, I wonder what reasons he had for that, now!"

"There's nothing to wonder at, " said Leander; "my memory does play metricks of that sort. "

"Ah, if it was only you it played tricks on! There's Miss Collum dyingto know what it's all about, I can see. "

"Indeed, Miss Parkinson, I'm nothing of the sort, " retorted Matilda, proudly. Privately her reflection was: "She's got a lovely gown on, butshe's a common girl, for all that; and she's trying to set me againstLeander for some reason, and she shan't do it. "

"Well, " said Bella, "you're a fortunate man, Mr. Tweddle, that you are, in every way. I'm afraid I shouldn't be so easy with my James. "

"There's no need for being afraid about it, " her James put in; "youaren't!"

"I hope you haven't as much cause, though, " she retorted. 

Leander listened to her malicious innuendo with a bewildered agony. Whyon earth was she making this dead set at him? She was amiable enough onSaturday week. It never occurred to him that his conduct to her sistercould account for it, for had he not told Ada straightforwardly how hewas situated?

Fortunately dinner was announced to be ready just then, and Bella wassilenced for the moment in the general movement to the next room. 

Leander took in Matilda's mamma, who had been studiously abstractingherself from all surrounding objects for the last few minutes. "ThatBella is a downright basilisk, " he thought dismally, as he led the way. "Lord, how I do wish dinner was done!"

DENOUNCED

XI. 

 "There's a new foot on the floor, my friend; And a new face at the door, my friend; A new face at the door. "

Leander sat at the head of the table as carver, having Mrs. Collum andBella on his left, and James and Matilda opposite to them. 

James was the first to open conversation, by the remark to Mrs. Collum, across the table, that they were "having another dull Sunday. "

"That, " rejoined the uncompromising lady, "seems to me a highly improperremark, sir. "

"My friend Jauncy, " explained Leander, in defence of his abashedcompanion, "was not alluding to present company, I'm sure. He meant thedulness _outside_--the fog, and so on. "

"I knew it, " she said; "and I repeat that it is improper and irreverentto speak of a dull Sunday in that tone of complaint. Haven't we all theweek to be lively in?"

"And I'm sure, ma'am, " said Jauncy, recovering himself, "you make themost of your time. Talking of fog, Tweddle, did you see those lines onit in to-day's _Umpire_? Very smart, I call them; regular witty. "

"And do you both read a paper on Sunday mornings with 'smart' and'witty' lines in it?" demanded Mrs. Collum. 

"I--I hadn't time this morning, " said the unregenerate Leander; "but Ido occasionally cast an eye over it before I get up. "

Mrs. Collum groaned, and looked at her daughter reproachfully. 

"I see by the _Weekly News_, " said Jauncy, "you've had a burglary inyour neighbourhood. "

Leander let the carving-knife slip. "A burglary! What! in myneighbourhood? When?"

"Well, p'r'aps not a burglary; but a capture of two that were 'wanted'for it. It's all in to-day's _News_. "

"I--I haven't seen a paper for the last two days, " said Leander, hisheart beating with hope. "Tell us about it!"

"Why, it isn't much to tell; but it seems that last Friday night, orearly on Saturday morning, the constable on duty came upon twosuspicious-looking chaps, propped up insensible against the railings inQueen Square, covered with blood, and unable to account for themselves. Whether they'd been trying to break in somewhere and been beaten off, orhad quarrelled, or met with some accident, doesn't seem to be known forcertain. But, anyway, they were arrested for loitering at night withhousebreaking things about them; and, when they were got to the station, recognized as the men 'wanted' for shooting a policeman down atCamberwell some time back, and if it is proved against them they'll behung, for certain. "

"What were they called? Did it say?" asked Leander, eagerly. 

"I forget one--something like Bradawl, I believe; the other had a lot ofaliases, but he was best known as the 'Count, ' from having lived a gooddeal abroad, and speaking broken English like a native. "

Leander's spirits rose, in spite of his present anxieties. He had beengoing in fear and dread of the revenge of these ruffians, and they weresafely locked up; they could trouble him no more. Small wonder, then, that his security in this respect made him better able to cope withminor dangers; and Bella's animosity seemed lulled, too--at least, shehad not opened her mouth, except for food, since she sat down. 

In his expansion, he gave himself the airs of a host. "I hope, " he said, "I've served you all to your likings? Miss Parkinson, you're not gettingon; allow me to offer you a little more pork. "

"Thank you, Mr. Tweddle, " said the implacable Bella, "but I won'ttrouble you. I haven't an appetite to-day--like I had at those gardens. "

There was a challenge in this answer--not only to him, but to generalcuriosity--which, to her evident disappointment, was not taken up. 

Leander turned to Jauncy. "I--I suppose you had no trouble in findingyour way here?" he said. 

"No, " said Jauncy, "not more than usual; the streets were pretty full, and that makes it harder to get along. "

"We met such quantities of soldiers, " put in Bella. "Do you rememberthose two soldiers at Rosherwich, Mr. Tweddle? How funny they did look, dancing; didn't they? But I suppose I mustn't say anything about thedancing here, must I?"

"Since, " said the poor badgered man, "you put it to me, Miss Parkinson, I must say that, considering the _day_, you know----"

"Yes, " continued Mrs. Collum, severely; "surely there are better topicsfor the Sabbath than--than a dancing soldier!"

"Mr. Tweddle knows why I stopped myself, " said Bella. "But there, Iwon't tell of you--not now, at all events; so don't look like that atme!"

"There, Bella, that'll do, " said her _fiancé_, suddenly awakening to thefact that she was trying to make herself disagreeable, and perhapsfeeling slightly ashamed of her. 

"James! I know what to say and what to leave unsaid, without tellingsfrom you; thanks all the same. You needn't fear my saying a word aboutMr. Tweddle and Ada--la, now, if I haven't gone and said it! What astupid I am to run on so!"

"_Drop_ it, Bella! Do you hear? That's enough, " growled Jauncy. 

Leander sat silent; he did not attempt again to turn the conversation:he knew better. Matilda seemed perfectly calm, and certainly showed nosurface curiosity; but he feared that her mother intended to requireexplanations. 

Miss Tweddle came in here with the original remark that winter had begunnow in good earnest. 

"Yes, " said Bella. "Why, as we came along, there wasn't hardly a leaf onthe trees in the squares; and yet only yesterday week, at the gardens, the trees hadn't begun to shed. Had they, Mr. Tweddle? Oh, but I forgot;you were so taken up with paying attention to Ada----(_Well_, James! Isuppose I can make a remark!)"

"I'll never take you out again, if you don't hold that tongue, " hewhispered savagely. 

Mrs. Collum fixed her eyes on Leander, as he sat cowering on her right. "Leander Tweddle, " she said, in a hissing whisper, "what is that youngperson talking about? Who--who is this 'Ada'? I insist upon beingtold. "

"If you want to know, ask her, " he retorted desperately. 

All this by-play passed unnoticed by Miss Tweddle, who was probably toofull of the cares of a hostess to pay attention to it; and, accordingly, she judged the pause that followed the fitting opportunity for a littlespeech. 

"Mrs. Collum, ma'am, " she began; "and my dearest Miss Matilda, theflower of all my lady lodgers; and you, Leandy; and Mr. Jauncy; and, though last mentioned, not intentionally so, I assure you, MissParkinson, my dear--I couldn't tell you how honoured I feel to see youall sitting, so friendly and cheerful, round my humble table. I hopethis will be only the beginning of many more so; and I wish you all yourvery good healths!"

"Which, if I may answer for self and present company, " said Mr. Jauncy, nobody else being able to utter a word, "we drink and reciprocate. "

Leander was saved for the moment, and the dinner passed without furtherincident. But his aunt's vein of sentiment had been opened, and couldnot be staunched all at once; for when the cloth was removed, and thedecanters and dishes of oranges placed upon the table, she gave a littlepreparatory cough and began again. 

"I'm sure it isn't my wish to be ceremonial, " she said; "but we're allamong friends--for I should like to look upon you as a friend, if you'lllet me, " she added rather dubiously, to Bella. "And I don't really thinkthere could be a better occasion for a sort of little ceremony that I'vequite set my heart on. Leandy, _you_ know what I mean; and you've got itwith you, I know, because you were told to bring it with you. "

"Miss Tweddle, " interrupted Matilda, hurriedly, "not now. I--I don'tthink Vidler has sent it back yet. I told you, you know----"

"That's all you know about it, young lady, " she said, archly; "for Istepped in there yesterday and asked him about it, to make sure, and hetold me it was delivered over the very Saturday afternoon before. So, Leandy, oblige me for once, and put it on the dear girl's finger beforeus all; you needn't be bashful with us, I'm sure, either of you. "

"What is all this?" asked Mrs. Collum. 

"Why, it's a ring, Mrs. Collum, ma'am, that belonged to my own dearaunt, though she never wore it; and her grandfather had the posyengraved on the inside of it. And I remember her telling me, before shewas taken, that she'd left it to me in her will, but I wasn't to let itgo out of the family. So I gave it to Leandy, to be his engagement ring;but it's had to be altered, because it was ever so much too large as itwas. "

"I always thought, " said Mrs. Collum, "that it was the gentleman's dutyto provide the ring. "

"So Leandy wanted to; but I said, 'You can pay for the altering; but I'mfanciful about this, and I want to see dearest Miss Collum with myaunt's ring on. '"

"Oh, but, Miss Tweddle, can't you see?" said Matilda. "He's forgottenit; don't--don't tease him about it. .. . It must be for some other time, that's all!"

"Matilda, I'm surprised at you, " said her mother. "To forget such athing as that would be unpardonable in _any_ young man. Leander Tweddle, you _cannot_ have forgotten it. "

"No, " he said, "I've not forgotten it; but--but I haven't it about me, and I don't know as I could lay my hand on it, just at present, andthat's the truth. "

"_Part_ of the truth, " said Bella. "Oh, what deceitful things you menare! Leave me alone, James; I will speak. I won't sit by and hear poordear Miss Collum deceived in this way. Miss Collum, ask him if that isall he knows about it. Ask him, and see what he says. "

"I'm quite satisfied with what he has chosen to say already, MissParkinson; thank you, " said Matilda. 

"Then permit me to say, Miss Collum, that I'm truly sorry for you, " saidBella. 

"If you think so, Miss Parkinson, I suppose you must say so. "

"I do say it, " said Bella; "for it's a sorrowful sight to see meeknessall run to poorness of spirit. You have a right to an explanation fromMr. Tweddle there; and you would insist on it, if you wasn't afraid (andwith good reason) of the answer you'd get!"

At the beginning of this short colloquy Miss Tweddle, after growing veryred and restless for some moments, had slipped out of the room, and camein now, trembling and out of breath, with a bonnet in her hand and acloak over her arm. 

"Miss Parkinson, " she said, speaking very rapidly, "when I asked you tocome here with my good friend and former lodger, I little thought thatanything but friendship would come of it; and sorry I am that it hasturned out otherwise. And my feelings to Mr. Jauncy are the same asever; but--this is your bonnet, Miss Parkinson, and your cloak. And thisis my house; and I shall be obliged if you'll kindly put on the ones, and walk out of the other at once!"

Bella burst into tears, and demanded from Mr. Jauncy why he had broughther there to be insulted. 

"You brought it all on yourself, " he said, gloomily; "you should havebehaved!"

"What have I done, " cried Bella, "to be told to go, as if I wasn't fitto stay?"

"I'll tell you what you've done, " said Miss Tweddle. "You were askedhere with Mr. Jauncy to meet my dear Leandy and his young lady, and getall four of you to know one another, and lay foundations forFriendship's flowery bonds. And from the moment you came in, though Ipaid no attention to it at first, you've done nothing but insinuate andhint, and try all you could to set my dear Miss Collum and her maagainst my poor unoffending nephew; and I won't sit by any longer andhear it. Put on your bonnet and cloak, Miss Parkinson, and Mr. Jauncy(who knows I don't bear him any ill-feeling, whatever happens) will gohome with you. "

"I've said nothing, " repeated Bella, "but what I'd a right to say, andwhat I'll stand to. "

"If you don't put on those things, " said Jauncy, "I shall go awaymyself, and leave you to follow as best you can. "

"I'm putting them on, " said Bella; and her hands were unsteady withpassion as she tied her bonnet-strings. "Don't bully _me_, James, because I won't bear it! Mr. Tweddle, if you're a man, will you sitthere and tell me you don't know that that ring is on a certain person'sfinger? Will you do that?"

[Illustration: HER HANDS WERE UNSTEADY WITH PASSION AS SHE TIED HERBONNET-STRINGS. ]

The miserable man concluded that Ada had disregarded his entreaties, andtold her sister all about the ring and the accursed statue. He could notsee why the story should have so inflamed Bella; but her temper wasalways uncertain. 

Everybody was looking at him, and he was expected to say something. Hismain idea was, that he would see how much Bella knew before committinghimself. 

"What have I ever done to offend you, " he asked, "that you turn on mein this downright vixenish manner? I scorn to reply to yourinsinuations!"

"Do you want me to speak out plain? James, stand away, _if_ you please. You may all think what you choose of me. _I_ don't care! Perhaps if_you_ were to come in and find the man who, only a week ago, had offeredmarriage to your youngest sister, figuring away as engaged to quiteanother lady, _you_ wouldn't be all milk and honey, either. I'm doingright to expose him. The man who'd deceive one would deceive many, andso you'll find, Miss Collum, little as you think it. "

"That's enough, " said Miss Tweddle. "It's all a mistake, I'm sure, andyou'll be sorry some day for having made it. Now go, Miss Parkinson, andmake no more mischief!"

A light had burst in upon Leander's perturbed mind. Ada had not brokenfaith with him, after all. He remembered Bella's conduct during thereturn from Rosherwich, and understood at last to what a mistake herpresent wrath was due. 

Here, at all events, was an accusation he could repel with dignity, withtruth. Foolish and unlucky he had been--and how unlucky he still hopedMatilda might never learn--but false he was not; and she should not beallowed to believe it. 

"Miss Parkinson, " he said, "I've been badgered long enough. What is ityou're trying to bring up against me about your sister Ada? Speak itout, and I'm ready to answer you. "

"Leander, " said Matilda, "I don't want to hear it from her. Only youtell me that you've been true to me, and that is quite enough. "

"Matilda, you're a foolish girl, and don't know what you're talkingabout, " said her mother. "It is not enough for _me_; so I beg, youngwoman, if you've anything to accuse the man who's to be my son-in-lawof, you'll say it now, in my presence, and let him contradict itafterwards if he can. "

"Will he contradict his knowing my sister Ada, who's one of the ladiesat Madame Chenille's, in the Edgware Road, more than a twelvemonthsince, and paying her attentions?" asked Bella. 

"I don't deny, " said Leander, "meeting her several times, and beingconsiderably struck, in a quiet way. But that was before I met Matilda. "

"You had met Matilda before last Saturday, I suppose?" sneered Bella, spitefully--"when you laid your plans to join our party to Rosherwich, and trouble my poor sister, who'd given up thinking of you. "

"There you go, Bella!" said her _fiancé_. "What do you know about hisplans? He'd no idea as Ada and you was to be there; and when I told him, as we were driving down, it was all I could do to prevent him jumpingout of the cab. "

"I'm highly flattered to hear it, " said Bella. "But he didn't seem to beso afraid of Ada when they did meet; and you best know, Mr. Tweddle, thethings you said to that poor trusting girl all the time you were walkingand dancing and talking foolishness to her. "

"I never said a word that couldn't have been spoke from the top of St. Paul's, " protested Leander. "I did dance with her, I own, not to seemuncivil; but we only waltzed round twice. "

"Then why did you give her a ring--an engagement ring too?" insistedBella. 

"Who saw me give her a ring?" he demanded hotly. "Do you dare to say youdid? Did she ever tell you I gave her any ring? You _know_ she didn't!"

"If I can't trust my own ears, " said Bella, "I should like to know whatI can trust. I heard you myself, in that railway carriage, ask my sisterAda not to tell any one about some ring, and I tried to get out of Adaafterwards what the secret was; but she wouldn't treat me as a sister, and be open with me. But any one with eyes in their head could guesswhat was between you, and all the time you an engaged man!"

"See there, now!" cried the injured hairdresser; "there's a thing to goand make all this mischief about! Matilda, Mrs. Collum, aunt, I declareto you I told the--the other young woman everything about my havingformed new ties and that. I was very particular not to give rise tohopes which were only doomed to be disappointed. As to what MissParkinson says she overheard, why, it's very likely I may have asked hersister to say nothing about a ring, and I won't deny it was the verysame ring that I was to have brought here to-day; for the fact was, Ihad the misfortune to lose it in those very gardens, and naturally didnot wish it talked about: and that's the truth, as I stand here. As forgiving it away, I swear I never parted with it to no mortal woman!"

"After that, Bella, " observed Mr. Jauncy, "you'd better say you're sorryyou spoke, and come home with me--that's what you'd better do. "

"I shall say nothing of the sort, " she asserted. "I'm too much of a ladyto stay where my company is not desired, and I'm ready to go as soon asyou please. But if he was to talk his head off, he would never persuademe (whatever he may do other parties) that he's not been playing double;and if Ada were here you would soon see whether he would have the faceto deny it. So good-night, Miss Tweddle, and sooner or later you'll findyourself undeceived in your precious nephew, take my word for it. Good-night, Miss Collum, and I'm only sorry you haven't more spirit thanto put up with such treatment. James, are you going to keep me waitingany longer?"

Mr. Jauncy, with confused apologies to the company generally, hurriedhis betrothed off, in no very amiable mood, and showed his sense of herindiscretions by indulging in some very plain speaking on their homewardway. 

As the street door shut behind them, Leander gave a deep sigh of relief. 

"Matilda, my own dearest girl, " he said, "now that that cockatrice hasdeparted, tell me, you don't doubt your Leander, do you?"

"No, " said Matilda, judicially, "I don't doubt you, Leander, only I dowish you'd been a little more open with me; you might have told me youhad gone to those gardens and lost the ring, instead of leaving me tohear it from that girl. "

"So I might, darling, " he owned; "but I thought you'd disapprove. "

"And if she's _my_ daughter, " observed Mrs. Collum, "she _will_disapprove. "

But it was evident from Matilda's manner that the inference wasincorrect; the relief of finding Leander guiltless on the main count hadblinded her to all minor shortcomings, and he had the happiness ofknowing himself fully and freely forgiven. 

If this could only have been the end! But, while he was still throbbingwith bliss, he heard a sound, at which his "bedded hair" started up andstood on end--the ill-omened sound of a slow and heavy footfall. 

"Leandy, " cried his aunt, "how strange you're looking!"

"There's some one in the passage, " he said, hoarsely. "I'll go and seeher. Don't any of you come out. "

"Why, it's only our Jane, " said his aunt; "she always treads heavy. "

The steps were heard going up the stairs; then they seemed to pausehalfway, and descend again. "I'll be bound she's forgot something, " saidMiss Tweddle. "I never knew such a head as that girl's;" and Leanderbegan to be almost reassured. 

The steps were heard in the adjoining room, which was shut off byfolding doors from the one they were occupying. 

"Leander, " cried Matilda, "what _can_ there be to look so frightenedof?" and as she spoke there came a sounding solemn blow upon thefolding-doors. 

"I never saw the lady before in all my life!" moaned the guilty man, before the doors had time to swing back; for he knew too well who stoodbehind them. 

And his foreboding was justified to the full. The doors yielded to theblow, and, opening wide, revealed the tall and commanding figure of thegoddess; her face, thanks to Leander's pigments, glowing lifelike underher hood, and the gold ring gleaming on her outstretched hand. 

"Leander, " said the goddess, in her low musical accents, "come away. "

"Upon my word!" cried Mrs. Collum. "_Who_ is this person?"

He could not speak. There seemed to be a hammer beating on his brain, reducing it to a pulp. 

"Perhaps, " said Miss Tweddle--"perhaps, young lady, you'll explain whatyou've come for?"

The statue slowly pointed to Leander. "I come for him, " she saidcalmly. "He has vowed himself to me; he is mine!"

Matilda, after staring, incredulous, for some moments at the intruder, sank with a wild scream upon the sofa, and hid her face. 

Leander flew to her side. "Matilda, my own, " he implored, "don't bealarmed. She won't touch _you_; it's _me_ she's come after. "

Matilda rose and repulsed him with a sudden energy. "How dare you!" shecried, hysterically. "I see it all now: the ring, the--the cloak; _she_has had them all the time!. .. . Fool that I was--silly, trusting fool!"And she broke out into violent hysterics. 

"Go away at once, hypocrite!" enjoined her mother, addressing thedistracted hairdresser, as he stood, dumb and impotent, before her. "Doyou want to kill my poor child? Take yourself off!"

"For goodness' sake, go, Leandy, " added his aunt. "I can't bear thesight of you!"

"Leander, I wait, " said the statue. "Come!"

He stood there a moment longer, looking blankly at the two elder womenas they bustled about the prostrate girl, and then he gave a bitter, defiant laugh. 

His fate was too strong for him. No one was in the mood to listen to anyexplanation; it was all over! "I'm coming, " he said to the goddess. "Imay as well; I'm not wanted here. "

And, with a smothered curse, he dashed blindly from the room, and outinto the foggy street. 

AN APPEAL

XII. 

 "If you did know to whom I gave the ring, If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And how unwillingly I left the ring, You would abate the strength of your displeasure. "

 _Merchant of Venice. _

Leander strode down the street in a whirl of conflicting emotions. Atthe very moment when he seemed to have prevailed over Miss Parkinson'smachinations, his evil fate had stepped in and undone him for ever! Whatwould become of him without Matilda? As he was thinking of his gloomyprospects, he noticed, for the first time, that the statue was keepingstep by his side, and he turned on her with smothered rage. "Well, " hebegan, "I hope you're satisfied?"

"Quite, Leander, quite satisfied; for have I not found you?"

"Oh, you've found me right enough, " he replied, with a groan--"trust youfor that! What I should like to know is, how the dickens you did it?"

"Thus, " she replied: "I awoke, and it was dark, and you were not there, and I needed you; and I went forth, and called you by your name. Andyou, now that you have hearkened to my call, you are happy, are younot?"

"Me?" said Leander, grimly. "Oh, I'm regular jolly, I am! Haven't Ireason?"

"Your sisters seemed alarmed at my coming, " she said. "Why?"

"Well, " said Leander, "they aren't used to having marble goddessesdropping in on them promiscuously. "

"The youngest wept: was it because I took you from her side?"

"I shouldn't wonder, " he returned gruffly. "Don't bother me!"

When they were both safely within the little upper room again, he openedthe cupboard door wide. "Now, marm, " he said, in a voice which trembledwith repressed rage, "you must be tired with the exercise you've tookthis evening, and I'll trouble you to walk in here. "

"There are many things on which I would speak with you, " she said. 

"You must keep them for next time, " he answered roughly. "If you can seeanything, you can see that just now I'm not in a temper for to stand it, whatever I may be another evening. "

"Why do I suffer this language from you?" she demandedindignantly--"why?"

"If you don't go in, you'll hear language you'll like still less, goddess or no goddess!" he said, foaming. "I mean it. I've been workedup past all bearing, and I advise you to let me alone just now, oryou'll repent it!"

"Enough!" she said haughtily, and stalked proudly into the lonely niche, which he closed instantly. As he did so, he noticed his Sunday paperslying still folded on his table, and seized one eagerly. 

"It may have something in it about what Jauncy was telling me of, " hesaid; and his search was rewarded by the following paragraph:--

"DARING CAPTURE OF BURGLARS IN BLOOMSBURY. --On the night of Friday, the--th, Police-constable Yorke, B 954, while on duty, in the course of oneof his rounds, discovered two men, in a fainting condition and coveredwith blood, which was apparently flowing from sundry wounds upon theirpersons, lying against the railings of Queen Square. Being unable togive any coherent account of themselves, and housebreaking implementsbeing found in their possession, they were at once removed to the BowStreet Station, where, the charge having been entered against them, theywere recognized by a member of the force as two notorious housebreakerswho have long been 'wanted' in connection with the Camberwell burglary, in which, as will be remembered, an officer lost his life. "

The paragraph went on to give their names and sundry other details, andconcluded with a sentence which plunged Leander into fresh torments:--

"In spite of the usual caution, both prisoners insisted uponvolunteering a statement, the exact nature of which has not yettranspired, but which is believed to have reference to another equallymysterious outrage--the theft of the famous Venus from the WricklesmarshCollection--and is understood to divert suspicion into a hithertounsuspected channel. "

What could this mean, if not that those villains, smarting under theirsecond failure, had denounced him in revenge? He tried to persuadehimself that the passage would bear any other construction, but not verysuccessfully. "If they have brought _me_ in, " he thought, and it was hisonly gleam of consolation, "I should have heard of it before this. "

And even this gleam vanished as a sharp knocking was heard below; and, descending to open the door, he found his visitor to be InspectorBilbow. 

"Evening, Tweddle, " said the Inspector, quietly. "I've come to haveanother little talk with you. "

Leander thought he would play his part till it became quite hopeless. "Proud to see you, Mr. Inspector, " he said. "Will you walk into mysaloon? and I'll light the gas for you. "

"No, don't you trouble yourself, " said the terrible man. "I'll walkupstairs where you're sitting yourself, if you've no objections. "

Leander dared not make any, and he ushered the detective upstairsaccordingly. 

"Ha!" said the latter, throwing a quick eye round the little room. "Nicelittle crib you've got here. Keep everything you want on the premises, eh? Find those cupboards very convenient, I dare say?"

"Very, " said Leander (like the innocent Joseph Surface that he was);"oh, very convenient, sir. " He tried to keep his eyes from resting tooconsciously upon the fatal door that held his secret. 

"Keep your coal and your wine and spirits there?" said the detective. (Was he watching his countenance, or not?)

"Y--yes, " said Leander; "leastways, in one of them. Will you takeanything, sir?"

"Thank 'ee, Tweddle; I don't mind if I do. And what do you keep in theother one, now?"

"The other?" said the poor man. "Oh, odd things!" (He certainly had_one_ odd thing in it. )

After the officer had chosen and mixed his spirits and water, he began:"Now, you know what's brought me here, don't you?"

("If he was sure, he wouldn't try to pump me, " argued Leander. "I won'tthrow up just yet. ")

"I suppose it's the ring, " he replied innocently. "You don't mean to sayyou've got it back for me, Mr. Inspector? Well, I _am_ glad. "

"I thought you set no particular value on the ring when I met you last?"said the other. 

"Why, " said Leander, "I may have said so out of politeness, not wantingto trouble you; but, as you said it was the statue you were afterchiefly, why, I don't mind admitting that I shall be thankful indeed toget that ring back. And so you've brought it, have you, sir?"

He said this so naturally, having called in all his powers ofdissimulation to help him in his extremity, that the detective wasfavourably impressed. He had already felt a suspicion that he had beensent here on a fool's errand, and no one could have looked less like adaring criminal, and the trusted confederate of still more daringruffians, than did Leander at that moment. 

"Heard anything of Potter lately?" he asked, wishing to try the effectof a sudden _coup_. 

"I don't know the gentleman, " said Leander, firmly; for, after all, hedid not. 

"Now, take care. He's been seen to frequent this house. We know morethan you think, young man. "

"Oh! if he bluffs, _I_ can bluff too, " passed through Leander's mind. "Inspector Bilbow, " he said, "I give you my sacred honour, I've neverset eyes on him. He can't have been here, not with my knowledge. It's mybelief you're trying to make out something against me. If you're afriend, Inspector, you'll tell me straight out. "

"That's not our way of doing business; and yet, hang it, I ought to knowan honest man by this time! Tweddle, I'll drop the investigator, andspeak as man to man. You've been reported to me (never mind by whom) asthe receiver of the stolen Venus--a pal of this very Potter--that's whatI've against you, my man!"

"I know who told you that, " said Leander; "it was that Count and hisprecious friend Braddle!"

"Oh, you know them, do you? That's an odd guess for an innocent man, Tweddle!"

"They found me out from inquiries at the gardens, " said Leander; "and asfor guessing, it's in this very paper. So it's me they've gone andimplicated, have they? All right. I suppose they're men whose word you'dgo by, wouldn't you, sir--truthful, reliable kind of parties, eh?"

"None of that, Tweddle, " said the Inspector, rather uneasily. "Weofficers are bound to follow up any clue, no matter where it comes from. I was informed that that Venus is concealed somewhere about thesepremises. It may be, or it may not be; but it's my duty to make theproper investigations. If you were a prince of the blood, it would beall the same. "

"Well, all I can say is, that I'm as innocent as my own toiletpreparations. Ask yourself if it is likely. What could _I_ do with astolen statue--not to mention that I'm a respectable tradesman, with areputation to maintain? Excuse me, but I'm afraid those burglars havebeen 'aving a lark with you, sir. "

He went just a little too far here, for the detective was visiblyirritated. 

"Don't chatter to me, " he said. "If you're innocent, so much the betterfor you; if that statue is found here after this, it will ruin you. Ifyou know anything, be it ever so little, about it, the best thing youcan do is to speak out while there's time. "

"I can only say, once more, I'm as innocent as the drivelling snow, "repeated Leander. "Why can't you believe my word against thoseblackguards?"

"Perhaps I do, " said the other; "but I must make a formal look round, toease my conscience. "

Leander's composure nearly failed him. "By all means, " he said atlength. "Come and ease your conscience all over the house, sir, do; Ican show you over. "

"Softly, " said the detective. "I'll begin here, and work gradually up, and then down again. "

"Here?" said Leander, aghast. "Why, you've seen all there is there!"

"Now, Tweddle, I shall conduct this my own way, if _you_ please. I'vebeen following your eyes, Tweddle, and they've told me tales. I'lltrouble you to open that cupboard you keep looking at so. "

"This cupboard?" cried Leander. "Why, you don't suppose I've got theVenus in there, sir!"

"If it's anywhere, it's there! There's no taking me in, I tell you. Openit!"

"Oh!" said Leander, "it is hard to be the object of these cruelsuspicions. Mr. Inspector, listen to me. I can't open that cupboard, andI'll tell you why. .. . You--you've been young yourself. .. . Think howyou'd feel in my situation . .. And consider _her_! As a gentleman, youwon't press it, I'm sure!"

"If I'm making any mistake, I shall know how to apologise, " said theInspector. "If you don't open that cupboard, _I_ shall. "

"Never!" exclaimed Leander. "I'll die first!" and he threw himself uponthe handle. 

The other caught him by the shoulders, and sent him twirling into theopposite corner; and then, taking a key from his own pocket, he openedthe door himself. 

"I--I never encouraged her!" whimpered Leander, as he saw that all waslost. 

The officer had stepped back in silence from the cupboard; then he facedLeander, with a changed expression. "I suppose you think yourselfdevilish sharp?" he said savagely; and Leander discovered that thecupboard was as bare as Mother Hubbard's!

He was not precisely surprised, except at first. "She's keeping out ofthe way; she wouldn't be the goddess she is if she couldn't do atrifling thing like that!" was all he thought of the phenomenon. Heforced himself to laugh a little. 

"Excuse me, " he said, "but you did seem so set on detecting somethingwrong, that I couldn't help humouring you!"

Inspector Bilbow was considerably out of humour, and gave Leander tounderstand that he would laugh in a certain obscure region, known as"the other side of his face, " by-and-by. "You take care, that's myadvice to you, young man. I've a deuced good mind to arrest you onsuspicion as it is!" he said hotly. 

"Lor', sir!" said Leander, "what for--for not having anything in thatcupboard?"

"It's my belief you know more than you choose to tell. Be that as itmay, I shall not take you into custody for the present; but you payattention to what I'm going to tell you next. Don't you attempt to leavethis house, or to remove anything from it, till you see me again, andthat'll be some time to-morrow evening. If you do attempt it, you'll beapprehended at once, for you're being watched. I tell you that for yourown sake, Tweddle; for I've no wish to get you into trouble if you actfairly by me. But mind you stay where you are for the next twenty-fourhours. "

"And what's to happen then?" said Leander. 

"I mean to have the whole house thoroughly searched and you must beready to give us every assistance--that's what's to happen. I might makea secret of it; but where's the use? If you're not a fool, you'll seethat it won't do to play any tricks. You'd far better stand by me thanPotter. "

"I tell you I don't know Potter. _Blow_ Potter!" said Leander, warmly. 

"We shall see, " was all the detective deigned to reply; "and just beready for my men to-morrow evening, or take the consequences. Those aremy last words to you!"

And with this he took his leave. He was by no means the most brilliantofficer in the Department, and he felt uncomfortably aware that he didnot see his way clear as yet. He could not even make up his mind on soelementary a point as Leander's guilt or innocence. 

But he meant to take the course he had announced, and his frankness ingiving previous notice was not without calculation. He argued thus: IfTweddle was free from all complicity, nothing was lost by delaying thesearch for a day; if he were guilty, he would be more than mortal if hedid not attempt, after such a warning, either to hide his booty moresecurely, and probably leave traces which would betray him, or else toescape when his guilt would be manifest. 

Unfortunately, there were circumstances in the case which he could notbe expected to know, and which made his logic inapplicable. 

After he had gone, Leander thrust his hands deep into his pockets, andbegan to whistle forlornly. "A little while ago it was burglars--nowit's police!" he reflected aloud. "I'm going it, I am! And then there'sMatilda and that there Venus--one predickyment on top of another!" (Buthere a sudden hope lightened his burden. ) "Suppose she's took herselfoff for good?" He was prevented from indulging this any further by along, low laugh, which came from the closed cupboard. 

"No such luck--she's back again!" he groaned. "Oh, _come_ out if youwant to. Don't stay larfin' at me in there!"

The goddess stepped out, with a smile of subdued mirth upon her lips. "Leander, " she said, "did it surprise you just now that I had vanished?"

"Oh, " he said wearily, "I don't know--yes, I suppose so. You found someway of getting through at the back, I dare say?"

"Do you think that even now I cannot break through the petty restraintsof matter?"

"Well, however it was managed, it was cleverly done. I must say that. Ididn't hardly expect it of you. But you must do the same to-morrownight, mind you!"

"Must I, indeed?" she said. 

"Yes, unless you want to ruin me altogether, you must. They're going tosearch the premises _for you_!"

"I have heard all, " she said. "But give yourself no anxiety: by thattime you and I will be beyond human reach. "

"Not me, " he corrected. "If you think I'm going to let myself be waftedover to Cyprus (which is British soil now, let me tell you), you'reunder a entire delusion. I've never been wafted anywhere yet, and Idon't mean to try it!"

All her pent-up wrath broke forth and descended upon him with crushingforce. 

"Meanest and most contemptible of mortal men, you shall recognize me asthe goddess I am! I have borne with you too long; it shall end thisnight. Shallow fool that you have been, to match your puny intellectagainst a goddess famed for her wiles as for her beauty! You havethought me simple and guileless; you have never feared to treat me withdisrespect; you have even dared to suppose that you could keep me--animmortal--pent within these wretched walls! I humoured you; I let youfool yourself with the notion that your will was free--your soul yourown. Now that is over! Consider the perils which encircle you. Everything has been aiding to drive you into these arms. My hour oftriumph is at hand--yield, then! Cast yourself at my feet, and grovelfor pardon--for mercy--or assuredly I will spare you not!"

Leander went down on all fours on the hearthrug. "Mercy!" he cried, feebly. "I've meant no offence. Only tell me what you want of me. "

[Illustration: LEANDER WENT DOWN ON ALL FOURS ON THE HEARTH-RUG. ]

"Why should I tell you again? I demand the words from you which placeyou within my power: speak them at once!"

("Ah, " thought Leander, "I am not in her power as it is, then. ") "If Iwas to tell you once more that I couldn't undertake to say any suchwords?" he asked aloud. 

"Then, " she said, "my patience would be at an end, and I would scatteryour vile frame to the four winds of heaven!"

"Lady Venus, " said Leander, getting up with a white and desperate face, "don't drive me into a corner. I can't go off, not at a moment'snotice--in either way! I--I must have a day--only a day--to make myarrangements in. Give me a day, Lady Venus; I ask it as a particklerfavour!"

"Be it so, " she said. "One day I give you in which to take leave ofsuch as may be dear to you; but, after that, I will listen to no furtherpleadings. You are mine, and, all unworthy as you are, I shall hold youto your pledge!"

Leander was left with this terrible warning ringing in his ears: thegoddess would hold him to his involuntary pledge. Even he could see thatit was pride, and not affection, which rendered her so determined; andhe trembled at the thought of placing himself irrevocably in her power. 

But what was he to do? The alternative was too awful; and then, ineither case, he must lose Matilda. Here the recollection of how he hadleft her came over him with a vivid force. What must she be thinking ofhim at that moment? And who would ever tell her the truth, when he hadbeen spirited away for ever?

"Oh, Matilda!" he cried, "if you only knew the hidgeous position I'min--if you could only advise me what to do--I could bear it better!"

And then he resolved that he would ask that advice without delay, anddecide nothing until she replied. There was no reason for any furtherconcealment: she had seen the statue herself, and must know the worst. What she could not know was his perfect innocence of any realunfaithfulness to her, and that he must explain. 

He sat up all night composing a letter that should touch her to theheart, with the following result:--

 "MY OWN DEAREST GIRL, "If such you will still allow me to qualify you, I write to you in a state of mind that I really 'ardly know what I am about, but I cannot indure making no effort to clear up the gaping abiss which the events of the past fatal afternoon has raised betwixt us. 

 "In spite of all I could do, you have now seen, and been justly alarmed at, the Person with whom I allowed myself to become involved in such a unhappy and unprecedented manner, and having done so, you can think for yourself whether that Art of Stone was able for to supplant yours for a single moment, though the way in which such a hidgeous Event transpired I can not trust my pen to describe except in the remark that it was purely axidental. It all appened on that ill-ominous Saturday when we went down to those Gardens where my Doom was saving up to lay in wait for me, and I scorn to deny that Bella's sister Ada was one of the party. But as to anything serous in that quarter, oh Tilly the ole time I was contrasting you with her and thinking how truly superior, and never did I swerve not what could be termed a swerve for a instant. I did dance arf a walz with her--but why? Because she asked me to it and as a Gentleman I was bound to oblige! And that was afterwards too, when I had put that ring on which is the sauce of all my recent aggony. All the while I was dancing my thoughts were elsewhere--on how I could get the ring back again, for so I still hoped I could, though when I came to have a try, oh my dear girl no one couldn't persuade her she's that obstinate, and yet unless I do it is all over with me, and soon too!

 "And now if it's the last time I shall ever write words with a mortal pen, I must request your support in this dilemmer which is sounding its dread orns at my very door!

 "You know what she is and who she is, and you cannot doubt but what she's a _goddess_ loath as you must feel to admit such a thing, and I ask you if it would be downright wicked in me to do what she tells me I must do. Indeed I wont do it, being no less than flying with her immediate to a distant climb, and you know how repugnant I am to such a action--not if you advise me against it or even if you was but to assure me your affections were unchanged in spite of all! But you know we parted under pigulier circs, and I cannot disgise from myself that you may be thinking wuss of me than what Matilda I can honestly say I deserve!

 "Now I tell you solimly that if this is the fact, and you've been thinking of your proper pride and your womanly dignity and things like that--there's _no time for to do it in_ Matilda, if you don't want to break with me for all Eternity!

 "For she's pressing me to carry out the pledge, as she calls it, and I must decide before this time to-morrow, and I want to feel you are not lost to me before I can support my trial, and what with countless perplexities and burglars threatening, and giving false informations, and police searching, there's no saying what I may do nor what I mayn't do if I'm left to myself, for indeed I am very unappy Matilda, and if ever a man was made a Victim through acting without intentions, or if with, of the best--I am that Party! O Matilda don't, don't desert me, unless you have seased to care for me, and in that contingency I can look upon my Fate whatever it be with a apathy that will supply the courage which will not even winch at its approach, but if I am still of value, come, and come precious soon, or it will be too late to the Asistance of

 "Your truly penitent and unfortunate

 "LEANDER TWEDDLE. 

 "P. S. --You will see the condition of my feelings from my spelling--I haven't the hart to spell. "

Dawn was breaking as he put the final touches to this appeal, and readit over with a gloomy approbation. He had always cherished theconviction that he could "write a good letter when he was put to it, "and felt now that he had more than risen to the occasion. 

"William shall take it down to Bayswater the first thing to-morrow--no, to-day, I mean, " he said, rubbing his hot eyes. "I fancy it will do mybusiness!"

And it did. 

THE LAST STRAW

XIII. 

 "Thou in justice, If from the height of majesty we can Look down upon thy lowness and embrace it, Art bound with fervour to look up to me. "

 MASSINGER, _Roman Actor. _

Haggard and distraught was Leander as he went about his business thatmorning, so mechanically that one customer, who had requested to havehis luxuriant locks "trimmed, " found himself reduced to a state of penalbullet-headedness before he could protest, and another sacrificed hiswhiskers and part of one ear to the hairdresser's uninspired scissors. For Leander's eyes were constantly turning to the front part of hisshop, where his apprentice might come in at any moment with the answerto his appeal. 

At last the moment came when the bell fixed at the door sounded sharply, and he saw the sleek head and chubby red face he had been so anxiouslyexpecting. He was busy with a customer; but that could not detain himthen, and he rushed quickly into the outer shop. "Well, William, " hesaid, breathlessly, "a nice time you've been over that message! I gaveyou the money for your 'bus. "

"Yusser, but it was this way: you said a green 'bus, and I took a green'bus with 'Bayswater' on it, and I didn't know nothing was wrong, andwhen it stopped I sez to the conductor, 'This ain't KensingtonGardings;' and he sez, 'No, it's Archer Street;' and I sez----"

"Never mind that now; you got to the shop, didn't you?"

"Yes, I got to the shop, sir, and I see the lady; but I sez to thatconductor, 'You should ha' told me, ' I sez----"

"Did she give you anything for me?" interrupted Leander, impatiently. 

"Yessur, " said the boy. 

"Then where the dooce is it?"

"'Ere!" said William, and brought out an envelope, which his master toreopen with joy. It contained his own letter!

"William, " he said unsteadily, "is this all?"

"Ain't it enough, sir?" said the young scoundrel, who had guessed thestate of affairs, and felt an impish satisfaction at his employer'srejection. 

"None of that, William; d'ye hear me?" said Leander. "William, I ain'tbeen a bad master to you. Tell me, how did she take it?"

"Well, she didn't seem to want to take it nohow at first, " said the boy. "I went up to the desk where she was a-sittin' and gave it her, andby-and-by she opened it with the tips of her fingers, as if it wouldbite, and read it all through very careful, and I could see her nosegoing up gradual, and her colour coming, and then she sez to me, 'Youmay go now, boy; there's no answer. ' And I sez to her, 'If you please, miss, master said as I was not to go away without a answer. ' So she sez, uncommon short and stiff, 'In that case he shall have it!'--like that, she says, as proud as a queen, and she scribbles a line or two on it, and throws it to me, and goes on casting up figgers. "

"A line or two! where?" cried Leander, and caught up the letter again. Yes, there on the last page was Matilda's delicate commercialhandwriting, and the poor man read the cruel words, "_I have nothing toadvise; I give you up to your 'goddess'!_"

"Very well, William, " he said, with a deadly calm; "that's all. Youyoung devil! what are you a-sniggering at?" he added, with a suddenoutburst. 

"On'y something I 'eard a boy say in the street, sir, going along, sir;nothing to do with you, sir. "

"Oh, youth, youth!" muttered the poor broken man; "boys don't growfeelings, any more than they grow whiskers!"

And he went back to his saloon, where he was instantly hailed withreproaches from the abandoned customer. 

"Look here, sir! what do you mean by this? I told you I wanted to beshaved, and you've soaped the top of my head and left it to cool!What"--and he made use of expletives here--"what are you about?"

Leander apologized on the ground of business of a pressing nature, butthe customer was not pacified. 

"Business, sir! your business is _here_: _I'm_ your business! And I cometo be shaved, and you soap the top of my head, and leave me all alone todry! It's scandalous! it's----"

"Look here, sir, " interrupted Leander, gloomily; "I've a good deal ofprivate trouble to put up with just now, without having _you_ going onat me; so I must ask you not to 'arris me like this, or I don't knowwhat I might do, with a razor so 'andy!"

"That'll do!" said the customer, hastily. "I--I don't care about beingshaved this morning. Wipe my head, and let me go; no, I'll wipe itmyself, --don't you trouble!" and he made for the door. "It's my belief, "he said, pausing on the threshold for an instant, "that you're adangerous lunatic, sir; you ought to be shut up!"

"I dessay I shall have a mad doctor down on me after this, " thoughtLeander; "but I shan't wait for _him_. No, it is all over now; the dieis fixed! Cruel Tillie! you have spoke the mandrake; you have thrust meinto the stony harms of that 'eathen goddess--always supposing thepolice don't nip in fust, and get the start of her. "

No more customers came that day, which was fortunate, perhaps, for them. The afternoon passed, and dusk approached, but the hairdresser sat on, motionless, in his darkening saloon, without the energy to light asingle gas-jet. 

At last he roused himself sufficiently to go to the head of the stairsleading to his "labatry, " and call for William, who, it appeared, wascomposing an egg-wash, after one of his employer's formulæ, and came up, wondering to find the place in darkness. 

"Come here, William, " said Leander, solemnly. "I just want a few wordswith you, and then you can go. I can do the shutting-up myself. William, we can none of us foretell the future; and it may so 'appen that you arelooking on my face for the last time. If it should so be, William, remember the words I am now about to speak, and lay them to 'art!. .. This world is full of pitfalls; and some of us walk circumspect and keepout of 'em, and some of us, William--some of us don't. If there's anyplaces more abounding in pitfalls than what others are, it is thenoxious localities known under the deceitful appellation of 'pleasure'gardens. And you may take that as the voice of one calling to you fromthe bottom of about as deep a 'ole as a mortal man ever plumped into. And if ever you find a taste for statuary growing on you, William, keepit down, wrastle with it, and don't encourage it. Farewell, William! Behere at the usual time to-morrow, though whether you will find _me_ hereis more than I can say. "

The boy went away, much impressed by so elaborate and formal a parting, which seemed to him a sign that, in his parlance, "the guv'nor was goingto make a bolt of it. "

Leander busied himself in some melancholy preparations for his impendingdeparture, dissolution, or incarceration; he was not very clear which itmight be. 

He went down and put his "labatry" in order. There he had worked withall the fiery zeal of an inventor at the discoveries which were toconfer perpetual youth, in various sized bottles, upon a grateful world. He must leave them all, with his work scarcely begun! Another would stepin and perfect what he had left incomplete!

He came up again, with a heavy heart, and examined his till. There wasnot much; enough, however, for William's wages and any small debts. Hemade a list of these, and left it there with the coin. "They must settleit among themselves, " he thought, wearily; "I can't be bothered withbusiness now. "

He was thinking whether it was worth while to shut the shop up or not;when a clear voice sounded from above--

"Leander, where art thou? Come hither!"

And he started as if he had been shot. "I'm coming, madam, " he calledup, obsequiously. "I'll be with you in one minute!"

"Now for it, " he thought, as he went up to his sitting-room. "I wish Iwasn't all of a twitter. I wish I knew what was coming next!"

The room was dark, but when he got a light he saw the statue standing inthe centre of the room, her hood thrown back, and the fur-lined mantlehanging loosely about her; the face looked stern and terrible under itsbrilliant tint. 

"Have you made your choice?" she demanded. 

"Choice!" he said. "I haven't any choice left me!"

"It is true, " she said triumphantly. "Your friends have deserted you;mortals are banded together to seize and disgrace you: you have norefuge but with me. But time is short. Come, then, place yourself withinthe shelter of these arms, and, while they enfold you tight in theirmarble embrace, repeat after me the words which complete my power. "

"There's no partickler hurry, " he objected. "I will directly. I--I onlywant to know what will happen when I've done it. You can't have anyobjection to a natural curiosity like that. "

"You will lose consciousness, to recover it in balmy Cyprus, withAphrodite (no longer cold marble, but the actual goddess, warm andliving), by your side! Ah! impervious one, can you linger still? Do younot tremble with haste to feel my breath fanning your cheek, my soft armaround your neck? Are not your eyes already dazzled by the gleam of mygolden tresses?"

"Well, I can't say they are; not at present, " said Leander. "And, yousee, it's all very well; but, as I asked you once before, how are yougoing to _get_ me there? It's a long way, and I'm ten stone, if I'm anounce!"

"Heavy-witted youth, it is not your body that will taste perennialbliss. "

"And what's to become of that, then?" he asked, anxiously. 

"That will be left here, clasped to this stone, itself as cold andlifeless. "

"Oh!" said Leander, "I didn't bargain for that, and I don't like it. "

"You will know nothing of it; you will be with me, in dreamy grottoesstrewn with fragrant rushes and the new-stript leaves of the vine, wherethe warm air woos to repose with its languorous softness, and the wateras it wells murmurs its liquid laughter. Ah! no Greek would havehesitated thus. "

"Well, I ain't a Greek; and, as a business man, you can't be surprisedif I want to make sure it's a genuine thing, and worth the risk, beforeI commit myself. I think I understand that it's the gold ring which isto bind us two together?"

"It is, " she said; "by that pure and noble metal are we united. "

"Well, " said Leander, "that being so, I should wish to have it tested, else there might be a hitch somewhere or other. "

"Tested!" she cried; "what is that?"

"Trying it, to see if it's real gold or not, " he said. "We can easilyhave it done. "

"It is needless, " she replied, haughtily. "I will not suffer my power tobe thus doubted, nor that of the pure and precious metal through which Ihave obtained it!"

Leander might have objected to this as an example of that obscure feat, "begging the question;" for, whether the metal _was_ pure and precious, was precisely the point he desired to ascertain. And this desire wasquite genuine; for, though he saw no other course before him but thatupon which the goddess insisted, he did wish to take every reasonableprecaution. 

"For all I know, " he reasoned in his own mind, "if there's anythingwrong with that ring, I may be left 'igh and dry, halfway to Cyprus; orshe may get tired of me, and turn me out of those grottoes of hers! If Imust go with her, I should like to make things as safe as I could. "

"It won't take long, " he pleaded; "and if I find the ring's real gold, Ipromise I won't hold out any longer. "

"There is no time, " she said, "to indulge this whim. Would you mock me, Leander? Ha! did I not say so? Listen!"

The private bell was ringing loudly. Leander rushed to the window, butsaw no one. Then he heard the clang of the shop bell, as if the personor persons had discovered that an entrance was possible there. 

"The guards!" said the statue. "Will you wait for them, Leander?"

"No!" he cried. "Never mind what I said about the ring; I'll risk that. Only--only, don't go away without me. .. . Tell me what to say, and I'llsay it, and chance the consequences!"

"Say, 'Aphrodite, daughter of Olympian Zeus, I yield; I fulfil thepledge; I am thine!'"

"Well, " he thought, "here goes. Oh, Matilda, you're responsible forthis!" And he advanced towards the white extended arms of the goddess. There were hasty steps outside; another moment and the door would beburst open. 

"Aphrodite, daughter of----" he began, and recoiled suddenly; for heheard his name called from without in a voice familiar and once dear tohim. 

"Leander, where are you? It's all dark! Speak to me; tell me you'vedone nothing rash! Oh, Leander, it's Matilda!"

That voice, which a short while back he would have given the world tohear once more, appalled him now. For if she came in, the goddess woulddiscover who she was, and then--he shuddered to think what might happenthen!

Matilda's hand was actually on the door. "Stop where you are!" heshouted, in despair; "for mercy's sake, don't come in!"

[Illustration: "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!. .. FOR MERCY'S SAKE, DON'T COMEIN!"]

"Ah! you are there, and alive!" she cried. "I am not too late; and I_will_ come in!"

And in another instant she burst into the room, and stood there, hertear-stained face convulsed with the horror of finding him in suchcompany. 

THE THIRTEENTH TRUMP

XIV. 

 "Your adversary having thus secured the lead with the last trump, you will be powerless to prevent the bringing-in of the long suit. "

 ROUGH'S _Guide to Whist. _

 "What! thinkest thou that utterly in vain Jove is my sire, and in despite my will That thou canst mock me with thy beauty still?"

 _Story of Cupid and Psyche. _

Leander, when he wrote his distracted appeal to Matilda, took it forgranted that she had recognized the statue for something of asupernatural order, and this, combined with his perplexed state of mind, caused him to be less explicit than he might have been in referring tothe goddess's ill-timed appearance. 

But, unfortunately, as will probably have been already anticipated, theonly result of this reticence was, that Matilda saw in his letter anabject entreaty for her consent to his marriage with Ada Parkinson, toavoid legal proceedings, and, under this misapprehension, she wrote theline that abandoned all claims upon him, and then went on with heraccounts, which were not so neatly kept that day as usual. 

What she felt most keenly in Leander's conduct was, that he should haveplaced the ring, which to all intent was her own, upon the finger ofanother. She could not bear to think of so unfeeling an act, and yet shethought of it all through the long day, as she sat, outwardly serene, ather high desk, while her attendants at her side made up sprays fordances and wreaths for funerals from the same flowers. 

And at last she felt herself urged to a course which, in her ordinarymind, she would have shrunk from as a lowering of her personal dignity:she would go and see her rival, and insist that this particularhumiliation should be spared her. The ring was not Leander's to disposeof--at least, to dispose of thus; it was not right that any but herselfshould wear it; and, though the token could never now be devoted to itsrightful use, she wanted to save it from what, in her eyes, was a kindof profanation. 

She would not own it to herself, but there was a motive stronger thanall this--the desire to relieve her breast of some of the indignationwhich was choking her, and of which her pride forbade any betrayal toLeander himself. 

This other woman had supplanted her; but she should be made to feel thewrong she had done, and her triumphs should be tempered with shame, ifshe were capable of such a sensation. Matilda knew very well that thering was not hers, and she wanted it no longer; but, then, it was MissTweddle's, and she would claim it in her name. 

She easily obtained permission to leave somewhat earlier that evening, as she did not often ask such favours, and soon found herself at MadameChenille's establishment, where she remembered to have heard from Bellathat her sister was employed. 

She asked for the forewoman, and begged to be allowed to speak to MissParkinson in private for a very few minutes; but the forewoman referredher to the proprietress, who made objections: such a thing was neverpermitted during business hours, the shop would close in an hour, tillthen Miss Parkinson was engaged in the showroom, and so on. 

But Matilda carried her point at last, and was shown to a room in thebasement, where the assistants took their meals, there to wait untilMiss Parkinson could be spared from her duties. 

Matilda waited in the low, dingy room, where the tea-things were stilllittering the table, and as she paced restlessly about, trying to feelan interest in the long-discarded fashion-plates which adorned thewalls, her anger began to cool, and give place to something very likenervousness. 

She wished she had not come. What, after all, was she to say to thisgirl when they met? And what was Leander--base and unworthy as he hadshown himself--to her any longer? Why should she care what he chose todo with the ring? And he would be told of her visit, and think----No!that was intolerable: she would not gratify his vanity and humbleherself in this way. She would slip quietly out, and leave her rival toenjoy her victory!

But, just as she was going to carry out this intention, the door opened, and a short, dark young woman appeared. "I'm told there was a youngperson asking to speak to me, " she said; "I'm Ada Parkinson. "

At the name, Matilda's heart swelled again with the sense of herinjuries; and yet she was unprepared for the face that met her eyes. Surely her rival had both looked and spoken differently the nightbefore? And yet, she had been so agitated that very likely herrecollections were not to be depended upon. 

"I--I did want to see you, " she said, and her voice shook, as much fromtimidity as righteous indignation. "When I tell you who I am, perhapsyou will guess why. I am Matilda Collum. "

Miss Parkinson showed no symptoms of remorse. "What!" she cried, "theyoung lady that Mr. Tweddle is courting? Fancy!"

"After what happened last night, " said Matilda, trembling exceedingly, "you know that that is all over. I didn't come to talk about that. Ifyou knew--and I think you must have known--all that Mr. Tweddle was tome, you have--you have not behaved very well; but he is nothing to meany more, and it is not worth while to be angry. Only, I don't think youought to keep the ring--not _that_ ring!"

"Goodness gracious me!" cried Ada. "What in the world is all this about?What ring oughtn't I to keep?"

"You know!" retorted Matilda. "How can you pretend like that? The ringhe gave you that night at Rosherwich!"

"The girl's mad!" exclaimed the other. "He never gave me a ring in allhis life! I wouldn't have taken it, if he'd asked me ever so. Mr. Tweddle indeed!"

"Why do you say that?" said Matilda. "He has not got it himself, andyour sister said he gave it to you, and--and I saw it with my own eyeson your hand!"

"Oh, _dear_ me!" said Ada, petulantly, holding out her hand, "lookthere--is that it?--is this? Well, these are all that I have, whetheryou believe me or not; one belonged to my poor mother, and the other wasa present, only last Friday, from the gentleman that's their headtraveller, next door, and is going to be my husband. Is it likely thatI should be wearing any other now?--ask yourself!"

"You wouldn't wish to deceive me, I hope, " said Matilda; "and oh, MissParkinson, you might be open with me, for I'm so very miserable! I don'tknow what to think. Tell me just this: did you--wasn't it you who camelast night to Miss Tweddle's?"

"No!" returned Ada, impatiently--"no, as many times as you please! Andif Bella likes to say I did, she may; and she always was amischief-making thing! How could I, when I didn't know there was anyMiss Tweddle to come to? And what do you suppose I should go runningabout after Mr. Tweddle for? I wonder you're not ashamed to say suchthings!"

"But, " faltered Matilda, "you did go to those gardens with him, didn'tyou? And--and I know he gave the ring to somebody!"

Ada began to laugh. "You're quite correct, Miss Collum, " she said; "sohe did. Don't you want to know who he gave it to?"

"Yes, " said Matilda, "and you will tell me. I have a right to be told. Iwas engaged to him, and the ring was given to him for me--not for anyone else. You _will_ tell me, Miss Parkinson, I am sure you will?"

"Well, " said Ada, still laughing, "I'll tell you this much--she's aforeign lady, very stiff and stuck-up and cold. She's got it, if any onehas. I saw him put it on myself!"

"Tell me her name, if you know it. "

"I see you won't be easy till you know all about it. Her name'sAfriddity, or Froddity, or something outlandish like that. She lives atRosherwich, a good deal in the open air, and--there, don't beridiculous--it's only a _statue_! There's a pretty thing to be jealousof!"

"Only a statue!" echoed Matilda. "Oh! Heaven be with us both, if--ifthat was It!"

Certain sentences in the letter she had returned came to her mind with anew and dreadful significance. The appearance of the visitor lastnight--Leander's terror--all seemed to point to some unsuspectedmystery. 

"It can't be--no, it can't! Miss Parkinson, you were there: tell me allthat happened, quick! You don't know what may depend on it!"

"What! not satisfied even now?" cried Ada. "_Well_, Miss Collum, talkabout jealousy! But, there, I'll tell you all I know myself. "

And she gave the whole account of the episode with the statue, so far asshe knew it, even to the conversation which led to the production of thering. 

"You see, " she concluded, "that it was all on your account that he triedit on at all, and I'm sure he talked enough about you all the evening. Ireally was a little surprised when I found _you_ were his Miss Collum. (You won't mind my saying so?) If I was you, I should go and tell him Iforgave him, now. I do think he deserves it, poor little man!"

"Yes, yes!" cried Matilda; "I'll go--I'll go at once! Thank you, MissParkinson, for telling me what you have!" And then, as she rememberedsome dark hints in Leander's letter: "Oh, I must make haste! He may begoing to do something desperate--he may have done it already!"

And, leaving Miss Parkinson to speculate as she pleased concerning hereccentricity, she went out into the broad street again; and, unaccustomed as she was to such expenditure, hailed a hansom; for therewas no time to be lost. 

She had told the man to drive to the Southampton Row Passage at first, but, as she drew nearer, she changed her purpose; she did not like to goalone, for who knew what she might see there? It was out of the questionto expect her mother to accompany her, but her friend and landlady wouldnot refuse to do so; and she drove to Millman Street, and prevailed onMiss Tweddle to come with her without a moment's delay. 

The two women found the shop dark, but unshuttered; there was a light inthe upper room. "You stay down here, please, " said Matilda; "if--ifanything is wrong, I will call you. " And Miss Tweddle, without very wellunderstanding what it was all about, and feeling fluttered and out ofbreath, was willing enough to sit down in the saloon and recoverherself. 

And so it came to pass that Matilda burst into the room just as thehairdresser was preparing to pronounce the inevitable words that wouldcomplete the goddess's power. He stood there, pale and dishevelled, witheyes that were wild and bordered with red. Opposite to him was the beingshe had once mistaken for a fellow-creature. 

Too well she saw now that the tall and queenly form, with the fixed eyesand cold tinted mask, was inspired by nothing human; and her heart diedwithin her as she gazed, spellbound, upon her formidable rival. 

"Leander, " she murmured, supporting herself against the frame of thedoor, "what are you going to do?"

"Keep back, Matilda!" he cried desperately; "go away--it's too latenow!"

A moment before, and, deserted as he believed himself to be by love andfortune alike, he had been almost resigned to the strange and shadowyfuture which lay before him; but now--now that he saw Matilda there inhis room, no longer scornful or indifferent, but pale and concerned, herpretty grey eyes dark and wide with anguish and fear for him--he feltall he was giving up; he had a sudden revulsion, a violent repugnance tohis doom. 

She loved him still! She had repented for some reason. Oh! why had shenot done so before? What could he do now? For her own sake he must steelhimself to tell her to leave him to his fate; for he knew well that ifthe goddess were to discover Matilda's real relations to him, it mightcost his innocent darling her life!

For the moment he rose above his ordinary level. He lost all thought ofself. Let Aphrodite take him if she would, but Matilda must be saved. "Go away!" he repeated; and his voice was cracked and harsh, under thestrain of doing such violence to his feelings. "Can't you seeyou're--you're not wanted? Oh, do go away--while you can!"

Matilda closed the door behind her. "Do you think, " she said, catchingher breath painfully, "that I shall go away and leave you with That!"

"Leander, " said the statue, "command your sister to depart!"

"I'm _not_ his"--Matilda was beginning impetuously, till the hairdresserstopped her. 

"You _are_!" he cried. "You know you're my sister--you've forgotten it, that's all. .. . Don't say a syllable now, do you hear me? She's going, Lady Venus, going directly!"

"Indeed I'm not, " said Matilda, bravely. 

"Leave us, maiden!" said the statue. "Your brother is yours no longer, he is mine. Know you who it is that commands? Tremble then, nor opposethe will of Aphrodite of the radiant eyes!"

"I never heard of you before, " said Matilda, "but I'm not afraid of you. And, whoever or whatever you are, you shall not take my Leander awayagainst his will. Do you hear? You could never be allowed to do that!"

The statue smiled with pitying scorn. "His own act has given me thepower I hold, " she said, "and assuredly he shall not escape me!"

"Listen, " pleaded Matilda; "perhaps you are not really wicked, it isonly that you don't know! The ring he put--without ever thinking what hewas doing--on your finger was meant for mine. It was, really! He is mylover; give him back to me!"

"Matilda!" shrieked the wretched man, "you don't know what you're doing. Run away, quick! Do as I tell you!"

"So, " said the goddess, turning upon him, "in this, too, you have triedto deceive me! You have loved--you still love this maiden!"

"Oh, not in that way!" he shouted, overcome by his terror for Matilda. "There's some mistake. You mustn't pay any attention to what she says:she's excited. All my sisters get like that when they're excited--they'dsay _any_thing!"

"Silence!" commanded the statue. "Should not I have skill to read thesigns of love? This girl loves you with no sister's love. Deny it not!"

Leander felt that his position was becoming untenable; he could onlysave Matilda by a partial abandonment. "Well, suppose she does, " hesaid, "I'm not obliged to return it, am I?"

Matilda shrank back. "Oh, Leander!" she cried, with a piteous littlemoan. 

"You've brought it on yourself!" he said; "you will come hereinterfering!"

"Interfering!" she repeated wildly, "you call it that! How can I helpmyself? Am I to stand by and see you giving yourself up to, nobody cantell what? As long as I have strength to move and breath to speak Ishall stay here, and beg and pray of you not to be so foolish and wickedas to go away with her! How do you know where she will take you to?"

"Cease this railing!" said the statue. "Leander loves you not! Away, then, before I lay you dead at my feet!"

"Leander, " cried the poor girl, "tell me: it isn't true what she says?You didn't mean it! you _do_ love me! You don't really want me to goaway?"

For her own sake he must be cruel; but he could scarcely speak the wordsthat were to drive her from his side for ever. "This--this lady, " hesaid, "speaks quite correct. I--I'd very much rather you went!"

She drew a deep sobbing breath. "I don't care for anything any more!"she said, and faced the statue defiantly. "You say you can strike medead, " she said: "I'm sure I hope you can! And the sooner thebetter--for I will not leave this room!"

The dreamy smile still curved the statue's lips, in terrible contrast tothe inflexible purpose of her next words. 

"You have called down your own destruction, " she said, "and death shallbe yours!"

"Stop a bit, " cried Leander, "mind what you're doing! Do you think I'llgo with you if you touch a single hair of my poor Tillie's head? Why, I'd sooner stay in prison all my life! See here, " and he put his armround Matilda's slight form; "if you crush her, you crush me--so now!"

"And if so, " said the goddess, with cruel contempt, "are you of suchvalue in my sight that I should stay my hand? You, whom I have soughtbut to manifest my power, for no softer feelings have you everinspired! And now, having withstood me for so long, you turn, even atthe moment of yielding, to yonder creature! And it is enough. I willcontend no longer for so mean a prize! Slave and fool that you haveshown yourself, Aphrodite rejects you in disdain!"

Leander made no secret of his satisfaction at this. "Now you talksense!" he cried. "I always told you we weren't suited. Tillie, do youhear? She gives me up! She gives me up!"

"Aye, " she continued, "I need you not. Upon you and the maiden by yourside I invoke a speedy and terrible destruction, which, ere you canattempt to flee, shall surely overtake you!"

Leander was so overcome by this highly unexpected sentence that he lostall control over his limbs; he could only stand where he was, supportingMatilda, and stare at the goddess in fascinated dismay. 

The goddess was raising both hands, palm upwards, to the ceiling, andpresently she began to chant in a thrilling monotone: "Hear, O Zeus, that sittest on high, delighting in the thunder, hear the prayer of thydaughter, Aphrodite the peerless, as she calleth upon thee, nor sufferher to be set at nought with impunity! Rise now, I beseech thee, andhurl with thine unerring hand a blazing bolt that shall consume thesepresumptuous insects to a smoking cinder! Blast them, Sire, with thefire-wreaths of thy lightning! blast, and spare not!"

"Kiss me, Tillie, and shut your eyes, " said Leander; "it's coming!"

She was nestling close against him, and could not repress a faintshivering moan. "I don't mind, now we're together, " she whispered, "ifonly it won't hurt much!"

The prayer uttered with such deadly intensity had almost ceased tovibrate in their ears, but still the answer tarried; it tarried so longthat Leander lost patience, and ventured to open his eyes a little way. He saw the goddess standing there, with a strained expectation on herupturned face. 

"I don't wish to hurry you, mum, " he said tremulously; "but you ought tobe above torturing us. Might I ask you to request your--your relation tolook sharp with that thunderbolt?"

"Zeus!" cried the goddess, and her accent was more acute, "thou hastheard--thou wilt not shame me thus! Must I go unavenged?"

Still nothing whatever happened, until at last even Matilda unclosed hereyes. "Leander!" she cried, with a hysterical little laugh, "_I don'tbelieve she can do it!_"

[Illustration: "LEANDER!" SHE CRIED, . .. "I DON'T BELIEVE SHE CAN DOIT!"]

"No more don't I!" said the hairdresser, withdrawing his arm, and comingforward boldly. "Now look here, Lady Venus, " he remarked, "it's timethere was an end of this, one way or the other; we can't be kept up hereall night, waiting till it suits your Mr. Zooce to make cockshies of us. Either let him do it now, or let it alone!"

The statue's face seemed to be illumined by a stronger light. "Zeus, Ithank thee!" she exclaimed, clasping her pale hands above her head; "Iam answered! I am answered!"

And, as she spoke, a dull ominous rumble was heard in the distance. 

"Matilda, here!" cried the terrified hairdresser, running back to hisbetrothed; "keep close to me. It's all over this time!"

The rumble increased to a roll, which became a clanking rattle, andthen lessened again to a roll, died away to the original rumble, and washeard no more. 

Leander breathed again. "To think of my being taken in like that!" hecried. "Why, it's only a van out in the street! It's no good, mum; youcan't work it: you'd better give it up!"

The goddess seemed to feel this herself, for she was wringing her handswith a low wail of despair. "Is there none to hear?" she lamented. "Arethey all gone--all? Then is Aphrodite fallen indeed; deserted of thegods, her kinsmen; forgotten of mortals; braved and mocked by such asthese! Woe! woe! for Olympus in ruins, and Time the dethroner ofdeities!"

Leander would hardly have been himself if he had forborne to takeadvantage of her discomfiture. "You see, mum, " he said, "you're noteverybody. You mustn't expect to have everything your own way down here. We're in the nineteenth century nowadays, mum, and there's anotherreligion come in since you were the fashion!"

"_Don't_, Leander!" said Matilda, in an undertone; "let her alone, thepoor thing!"

She seemed to have quite forgotten that her fallen enemy had beendooming her to destruction the moment before; but there was something sotragic and moving in the sight of such despair that no true woman couldbe indifferent to it. 

Either the taunt or the compassion, however, roused the goddess to afrenzy of passion. "Hold your peace!" she said fiercely, and strode downupon Leander until he beat an instinctive retreat. "Fallen as I am, Iwill not brook your mean vauntings or insolent pity! Shorn I may be ofmy ancient power, but something of my divinity clings to me still. Vengeance is not wholly denied to me! Why should I not deal with youeven as with those profane wretches who laid impious hands upon this myeffigy? Why? why?"

Leander began to feel uncomfortable again. "If I've said anything youobject to, " he said hastily, "I'll apologise. I will--and so willMatilda--freely and full; in writing, if that will satisfy you!"

"Tremble not for your worthless bodies, " she said; "had you been slain, as I purposed, you would but have escaped me, after all! Now a vengeancekeener and more enduring shall be mine! In your gross blindness, youhave dared to turn from divine Aphrodite to such a thing as this, andfor your impiety you shall suffer! This is your doom, and so much atleast I can still accomplish: Long as you both may live, strong as yourlove may endure, never again shall you see her alone, never more shallshe be folded to your breast! For ever, I will stand a barrier betweenyou: so shall your days consume away in the torturing desire for afelicity you may never attain!"

"It seems to me, Tillie, " said Leander, looking round at her with holloweyes, "that we may as well give up keeping company together, afterthat!"

Matilda had been weeping quietly. "Oh no, Leander, not that! Don't letus give each other up: we may--we may get used to it!"

"That is not all, " said the revengeful goddess. "I understand but littleof the ways of this degenerate age. But one thing I know: this verynight, guards are on their way to search this abode for the image inwhich I have chosen to reveal myself; and, should they find that theyare in search of, you will be dragged to some dungeon, and sufferdeserved ignominy. It pleased me yesternight to shield you: to-night, be very sure that this marble form shall not escape their vigilance!"

He felt at once that this, at least, was no idle threat. The policemight arrive at any instant; she had only to vacate the marble at themoment of their entry--and what could he do? How could he explain itspresence? The gates of Portland or Dartmoor were already yawning toreceive him! Was it too late, even then, to retrieve the situation? "Ifit wasn't for Tillie, I could see my way to something, even now, " hethought. "I can but try!"

"Lady Venus, " he began, clearing his throat, "it's not my desire to bethe architect of any mutual unpleasantness--anything but! I don't seeany use in denying that you've got the best of it. I'm done--reg'larbowled over; and if ever there was a poor devil of a toad under aharrer, I've no hesitation in admitting that toad's me! So the onlypoint I should like to submit for your consideration is this: Havethings gone too far? Are you quite sure you won't be spiting yourself aswell as me over this business? Can't we come to an amicable arrangement?Think it over!"

"Leander, you can't mean it!" cried Matilda. 

"You leave me alone, " he said hoarsely; "I know what I'm saying!"

Whether the goddess had overstated her indifference, or whether she mayhave seen a prospect of some still subtler revenge, she certainly didnot receive this proposition of Leander's with the contumely that mighthave been expected; on the contrary, she smiled with a triumphantsatisfaction that betrayed a disposition to treat. 

"Have my words been fulfilled, then?" she asked. "Is your insolent pridehumbled at last? and do you sue to me for the very favours you so longhave spurned?"

"You can put it that way if you like, " he said doggedly. "If you wantme, you'd better say so while there's time, that's all!"

"Little have you merited such leniency, " she said; "and yet, it is toyou I owe my return to life and consciousness. Shall I abandon what Ihave taken such pains to win? No! I accept your submission. Speak, then, the words of surrender, and let us depart together!"

"Before I do that, " he said firmly, "there's one point I must havesettled to my satisfaction. "

"You can bargain still!" she exclaimed haughtily. "Are all barbers likeyou? If your point concerns the safety of this maiden, be at ease; sheshall go unharmed, for she is my rival no longer!"

"Well, it wasn't that exactly, " he explained; "but I'm doubtful aboutthat ring being the genuine article, and I want to make sure. "

"But a short time since, and you were willing to trust all to me!"

"I was; but, if I may take the liberty of observing so, things weredifferent then. You were wrong about that thunderbolt--you may be wrongabout the ring!"

"Fool!" she said, "how know you that the quality of the token concernsmy power? Were it even of unworthy metal, has it not brought me hither?"

"Yes, " he said, "but it mightn't be strong enough to pass _me_ the wholedistance, and where should I be then? It don't look more to me than 15carat, and I daren't run any extra risk. "

"How, then, can your doubts be set at rest?" she demanded. 

"Easy, " he replied: "there are men who understand these things. All Iask of you is to step over with me, and see one of them, and take hisopinion; and if he says it's gold--why, then I shall know where I am!"

"Aphrodite submit her claims to the judgment of a mortal!" she cried. "Never will I thus debase myself!"

"Very well, " he said, "then we must stay where we are. All I can say is, I've made you a fair offer. "

She paused. "Why not?" she said dreamily, as if thinking aloud. "Havenot I sued ere this for the decision of a shepherd judge--even of Paris?'Tis but one last indignity, and then--he is mine indeed! Leander, " sheadded graciously, "it shall be as you will. Lead the way; I follow!"

But Matilda, who had been listening to this compromise with increduloushorror, clung in desperation to her lover's arm, and sought to impedehis flight. "Leander!" she cried, "oh, Leander! surely you won't be madenough to go away with her! You won't be so wicked and sinful as that!Remember who she is: one of the false gods of the poor benightedheathens--she owned it herself! She's nothing less than a live idol!Think of all the times we've been to chapel together; think of your dearaunt, and how she'll feel your being in such awful company! Let thepolice come, and think what they like: we'll tell them the truth, andmake them believe it. Only be brave, and stay here with me; don't lether ensnare you! Have some pity for me; for, if you leave me, I shalldie!"

"Already the guards are at your gates, " said the statue; "choosequickly--while you may!"

He put Matilda gently from him: "Tillie, " he said, with a convulsiveeffort to remain calm, "you gave me up of your own free will--you knowthat--and now you've come round too late. The other lady spoke first!"

As she still clung to him, he tried to whisper some last words of aconsoling or reassuring nature, and she suddenly relaxed her grasp, andallowed him to make his escape without further dissuasion--not that hisarguments had reconciled her to his departure, but because she wasmercifully unaware of it. 

THE ODD TRICK

XV. 

 "O heart of stone, are you flesh, and caught By that you swore to withstand?"

 _Maud. _

Outside on the stairs Leander suddenly remembered that his purposemight be as far as ever from being accomplished. The house was beingwatched: to be seen leaving it would procure his instant arrest. 

Hastily excusing himself to the goddess, he rushed down to hislaboratory, where he knew there was a magnificent beard and moustachewhich he had been constructing for some amateur theatricals. With these, and a soft felt hat, he completed a disguise in which he flatteredhimself he was unrecognisable. 

The goddess, however, penetrated it as soon as he rejoined her. "Whyhave you thus transformed yourself?" she inquired coldly. 

"Because, " explained Leander, "seeing the police are all on the look-outfor me, I thought it couldn't do any harm. "

"It is useless!" she returned. 

"To be sure, " he agreed blankly, "they'll expect me to go out disguised. If only they aren't up to the way out by the back! That's our onlychance now. "

"Leave all to me, " she replied calmly; "with Aphrodite you are safe. "

And he never did quite understand how that strange elopement waseffected, or even remember whether they left the house from the front orrear. The statue glided swiftly on, and, grasping a corner of her robe, he followed, with only the vaguest sense of obstacles overcome andpassed as in a dream. 

By the time he had completely regained his senses he was in a crowdedthoroughfare, which he recognised as the Gray's Inn Road. 

A certain scheme from which, desperate as it was, he hoped much, mightbe executed as well here as elsewhere, and he looked about him for theaid on which he counted. 

"Where, then, lives the wise man whom you would consult?" saidAphrodite. 

Leander went on until he could see the coloured lights of a chemist'swindow, and then he said, "There--right opposite!"

He felt strangely nervous himself, but the goddess seemed even more so. She hung back all at once, and clutched his arm in her marble grasp. 

"Leander, " she said, "I will not go! See those liquid fires glowing inlurid hues, like the eyes of some dread monster! This test of yours isneedless, and I fear it. "

"Lady Venus, " he said earnestly, "I do assure you they're only bigbottles, and quite harmless too, having water in them, not physic. You've no call to be alarmed. "

She yielded, and they crossed the road. The shop was small andunpretending. In the window the chief ornaments were speckled plasterlimbs clad in elastic socks, and photographs of hideous complaintsbefore and after treatment with a celebrated ointment; and there werecertain trophies which indicated that the chemist numbered dentistryamong his accomplishments. 

Inside, the odour of drugs prevailed, in the absence of the subtleperfume that is part of the fittings of a fashionable apothecary, and onthe very threshold the goddess paused irresolute. 

"There is magic in the air, " she exclaimed, "and fearful poisons. Thisman is some enchanter!"

"Now I put it to you, " said Leander, with some impatience, "does he_look_ it?"

The chemist was a mild little man, with a high forehead, roundspectacles, a little red beak of a nose, and a weak grey beard. As theyentered, he was addressing a small and draggled child from behind hiscounter. "Go back and tell your mother, " he said, "that she must comeherself. I never sell paregoric to children. "

There was so little of the wizard in his manner that the goddess, whopossibly had some reason to mistrust a mortal magician, was reassured. 

As the child retired, the chemist turned to them with a look of blandand dignified inquiry (something, perhaps the consciousness of havingonce passed an examination, sustains the meekest chemist in an inwardsuperiority). He did not speak. 

Leander took it upon himself to explain. "This lady would be glad to betold whether a ring she's got on is the real article or only imitation, "he said, "so she thought you could decide it for her. "

"Not so, " corrected the goddess, austerely. "For myself I care not!"

"Have it your own way!" said Leander. "_I_ should like to be told, then. I suppose, mister, you've some way of testing these things?"

"Oh yes, " said the chemist; "I can treat it for you with what we call_aquafortis_, a combination of nitric and hydrochloric acid, which wouldtell us at once. I ought to mention, perhaps, that so extremely powerfulan agent may injure the appearance of the metal if it is of inferiorquality. Will the lady oblige me with the ring?"

Aphrodite extended her hand with haughty indifference. The chemistexamined the ring as it circled her finger, and Leander held his breathin tortures of anxiety. A horrible fear came over him that his deep-laidscheme was about to end in failure. 

But the chemist remarked at last: "Exactly; thank you, madam. The goldis antique, certainly; but I should be inclined to pronounce it, atfirst sight, genuine. I will ascertain how this is, if you will take thetrouble to remove the ring and pass it over!"

"Why?" demanded Aphrodite, obstinately. 

"I could not undertake to treat it while it remains upon your hand, " heprotested. "The acid might do some injury!"

"It matters not!" she said calmly; and Leander recollected with horrorthat, as any injury to her statue would have no physical effect upon thegoddess herself, she could not be much influenced by the chemist'sreason. 

"Do what the gentleman tells you, " he said, in an eager whisper, as hedrew her aside. 

"I know your wiles, O perfidious one, " she said. "Having induced me toremove this token, you would seize it yourself, and take to flight! Iwill not remove this ring!"

"There's a thing to say!" said Leander; "there's a suspicion to throwagainst a man! If you think I'm likely to do that, I'll go right overhere, where I can't even see it, and I won't stir out till it's allover. Will that satisfy you? You know why I'm so anxious about thatring; and now, when the gentleman tells you he's almost sure it'sgold----"

"It _is_ gold!" said the goddess. 

"If you're so sure about it, " he retaliated, "why are you afraid to haveit proved?"

"I am not afraid, " she said; "but I require no proof!"

"I do, " he retorted, "and what I told you before I stand to. If thatring is proved--in the only way it can be proved, I mean, by thisgentleman testing it as he tells you he can--then there's no more to besaid, and I'll go away with you like a lamb. But without that proof Iwon't stir a step, and so I tell you. It won't take a moment. You cansee for yourself that I couldn't possibly catch up the ring from here!"

"Swear to me, " she said, "that you will remain where you now stand; andremember, " she added, with an accent of triumph, "our compact is that, should yonder man pronounce that the ring has passed through the testwith honour, you will follow me whithersoever I bid you!"

"You have only to lead the way, " he said, "and I promise you faithfullyI'll follow. "

Goddesses may be credited with some knowledge of the precious metals, and Aphrodite had no doubt of the result of the chemist'sinvestigations. So it was with an air of serene anticipation that sheleft Leander upon this, and advanced to the chemist's counter. 

"Prove it now, " she said, "quickly, that I may go!"

The chemist, who had been waiting in considerable bewilderment, preparedhimself to receive the ring, and Leander, keeping his distance, felt hisheart beating fast as Aphrodite slowly drew the token from her finger, and placed it in the chemist's outstretched hand. 

Scarcely had she done so, as the chemist was retiring with the ring toone of his lamps, before the goddess seemed suddenly aware that she hadcommitted a fatal error. 

She made a stride forward to follow and recover it; but, as if someunseen force was restraining her, she stopped short, and a rush ofwhirling words, in some tongue unknown both to Leander and the chemist, forced its way through lips that smiled still, though they were freezingfast. 

Then, with a strange hoarse cry of baffled desire and revenge, shesucceeded, by a violent effort, in turning, and bore down withtremendous force upon the cowering hairdresser, who gave himself up atonce for lost. 

But the marble was already incapable of obeying her will. Within a fewpaces from him the statue stopped for the last time, with an abruptnessthat left it quivering and rocking. A greyish hue came over the face, causing the borrowed tints to stand forth, crude and glaring; the armswaved wildly and impotently once or twice, and then grew still for ever, in the attitude conceived long since by the Grecian sculptor!

Leander was free! His hazardous experiment had succeeded. As it was thering which had brought the passionate, imperious goddess into her marblecounterfeit, so--the ring once withdrawn--her power was instantly at anend, and the spell which had enabled her to assume a form of stone wasbroken. 

He had hoped for this, had counted upon it, but even yet hardly dared tobelieve in his deliverance. 

He had not done with it yet, however; for he would have to get thestatue out of that shop, and abandon it in some manner which would notcompromise himself, and it is by no means an easy matter to mislay alife-size and invaluable antique without attracting an inconvenientamount of attention. 

The chemist, who had been staring meanwhile in blank astonishment, nowlooked inquiringly at Leander, who looked helplessly at him. 

At last the latter, unable to be silent any longer, said, "The ladyseems unwell, sir. "

"Why, " Leander admitted, "she does appear a little out of sorts. "

"Has she had these attacks before, do you happen to know?"

"She's more often like this than not, " said Leander. 

"Dear me, sir; but that's very serious. Is there nothing that givesrelief?--a little sal volatile, now? Does the lady carry smelling salts?If not, I could----" And the chemist made an offer to come from behindhis counter to examine the strange patient. 

"No, " said Leander, hastily. "Don't you trouble--you leave her to me. Iknow how to manage her. When she's rigid like this, she can't bear to betaken notice of. "

He was wondering all the time how he was to get away with her, until thechemist, who seemed at least as anxious for her departure, suggested theanswer: "I should imagine the poor lady would be best at home. Shall Isend out for a cab?" he asked. 

"Yes, " said Leander, gratefully; "bring a hansom. She'll come roundbetter in the open air;" for he had his doubts whether the statue couldbe stowed inside a four-wheeler. 

"I'll go myself, " said the obliging man; "my assistant's out. Perhapsthe lady will sit down till the cab comes?"

"Thanks, " said Leander; "but when she's like this, she's beenrecommended to stand. "

The chemist ran out bare-headed, to return presently with a cab and asmall train of interested observers. He offered the statue his arm tothe cab-door, an attention which was naturally ignored. 

"We shall have to carry her there, " said Leander. 

"Why, bless me, sir, " said the chemist, as he helped to lift her, "she--she's surprisingly heavy!"

"Yes, " gasped Leander, over her unconscious shoulder; "when she goes offin one of these sleeps, she does sleep very heavy"--an explanationwhich, if obscure, was accepted by the other as part of the generalstrangeness of the case. 

On the threshold the chemist stopped again. "I'd almost forgotten thering, " he said. 

"_I'll_ take that!" said Leander. 

"Excuse me, " was the objection, "but I was to give it back to the ladyherself. Had I not better put it on her finger, don't you think?"

"Are you a married man?" asked Leander, grimly. 

"Yes, " said the chemist. 

"Then, if you'll take my advice, I wouldn't if I was you--if you're atall anxious to keep out of trouble. You'd better give the ring to me, and I give you my word of honour as a gentleman that I'll give it backto her as soon as ever she's well enough to ask for it. "

The other adopted the advice, and, amidst the sympathy of thebystanders, they got the statue into the cab. 

"Where to?" asked the man through the trap. 

"Charing Cross, " said Leander, at random; he ought the drive would givehim time for reflection. 

"The 'orspital, eh?" said the cabman, and drove off, leaving the mildchemist to stare open-mouthed on the pavement for a moment, and go backto his shop with a growing sense that he had had a very unusualexperience. 

Now that Leander was alone in the cab with the statue, whose attituderequired space, and cramped him uncomfortably, he wondered more and morewhat he was to do with it. He could not afford to drive about London forever with her; he dared not take her home; and he was afraid of beingseen with her!

All at once he seemed to see a way out of his difficulty. His first stepwas to do what he could, in the constantly varying light, to reduce thestatue to its normal state. He removed the curls which had disfiguredher classical brow, and, with his pocket-handkerchief, rubbed most ofthe colour from her face; then the cloak had only to be torn off, andall that could betray him was gone. 

Near Charing Cross, Leander told the driver to take him down ParliamentStreet, and stop at the entrance to Scotland Yard; there the cabman, atLeander's request, descended, and stared to find him huddled up underthe gleaming pale arms of a statue. 

"Guv'nor, " he remarked, "that warn't the fare I took up, I'll take mydying oath!"

"It's all right, " said Leander. "Now, I tell you what I want you to do:go straight in through the archway, find a policeman, and say there's agentleman in your cab that's found a valuable article that's beenmissing, and wants assistance in bringing it in. I'll take care of thecab, and here's double fare for your trouble. "

"And wuth it, too, " was the cabman's comment, as he departed on hismission. "I thought it was the devil I was a drivin', we was that downon the orfside!"

It was no part of Leander's programme to wait for his return; he threwthe cloak over his arm, pocketed his beard, and slipped out of the caband across the road to a spot whence he could watch unseen. And when hehad seen the cabman come with two constables, he felt assured that hisburden was in safe hands at last, and returned to Southampton Row asquickly as the next hansom he hailed could take him. 

He entered his house by the back entrance: it was unguarded; andalthough he listened long at the foot of the stairs, he heard nothing. Had the Inspector not come yet, or was there a trap? As he went on, hefancied there were sounds in his sitting-room, and went up to the doorand listened nervously before entering in. 

"Oh, Miss Collum, my poor dear!" a tremulous voice, which he recognisedas his aunt's, was saying, "for Mercy's sake, don't lie there like that!She's dying!--and it's my fault for letting her come here!--and what amI to say to her ma?"

Leander had heard enough; he burst in, with a white, horror-strickenface. Yes, it was too true! Matilda was lying back in his crazyarmchair, her eyes fast closed, her lips parted. 

"Aunt, " he said with difficulty, "she's not--not _dead_?"

"If she is not, " returned his aunt, "it's no thanks to you, LeandyTweddle! Go away; you can do no good to her now!"

"Not till I've heard her speak, " cried Tweddle. "Tillie, don't youhear?--it's me!"

To his immense relief, she opened her eyes at the sound of his voice, and turned away with a feeble gesture of fear and avoidance. "You havecome back!" she moaned, "and with her! Oh, keep her away!. .. I can'tbear it all over again!. .. I can't!"

He threw himself down by her chair, and drew down the hands in which shehad hidden her face. "Matilda, my poor, hardly-used darling!" he said, "I've come back _alone_! I've got rid of her, Tillie! I'm free; andthere's no one to stand between us any more!"

[Illustration: HE THREW HIMSELF DOWN BY HER CHAIR, AND DREW DOWN THEHANDS IN WHICH SHE HAD HIDDEN HER FACE. ]

She pushed back her disordered fair hair, and looked at him with sweet, troubled eyes. "But you went away with her--for ever?" she said. "Yousaid you didn't love me any longer. I heard you . .. It was justbefore----" and she shuddered at the recollection. 

"I know, " said Leander, soothingly. "I was obligated to speak harsh, todeceive the--the other party, Tillie. I tried to tell you, quiet-like, that you wasn't to mind; but you wouldn't take no notice. But there, wewon't talk about it any more, so long as you forgive me; and you do, don't you?"

She hid her face against his shoulder, in answer, from which he drew afavourable conclusion; but Miss Tweddle was not so easily pacified. 

"And is this all the explanation you're going to give, " she demanded, "for treating this poor child the way you've done, and neglecting hershameful like this? If she's satisfied, Leandy, I'm not. "

"I can't help it, aunt, " he said. "I've been true to Tillie all the waythrough, in spite of all appearances to the contrary--as she knows now. And the more I explained, the less you'd understand about it; so we'llleave things where they are. But I've got back the ring, and now youshall see me put it on her finger. "

 * * * * *

It seemed that Leander had driven to Scotland Yard just in time to savehimself, for the Inspector did not make his threatened search thatevening. 

Two or three days later, however, to Leander's secret alarm, he enteredthe shop. After all, he felt, it was hopeless to think of deceivingthese sleuth-hounds of the Law: this detective had been makinginquiries, and identified him as the man who had shared the hansom withthat statue!

His knees trembled as he stood behind his glass-topped counter. "Come tomake the search, sir?" he said, as cheerfully as he could. "You'll findus ready for you. "

"Well, " said Inspector Bilbow, with a queer mixture of awkwardness andcomplacency, "no, not exactly. Tweddle, my good fellow, circumstanceshave recently assumed a shape that renders a search unnecessary, asperhaps you are aware?"

He looked very hard at Tweddle as he spoke, and the hairdresser feltthat this was a crucial moment--the detective was still uncertainwhether he had been mixed up with the affair or not. Leander's facultyof ready wit served him better here than on past occasions. 

"Aware? No, sir!" he said, with admirable simplicity. "Then that's whyyou didn't come the other evening! I sat up for you, sir; all night Isat up. "

"The fact of the matter is, Tweddle, " said Bilbow, who had becomesuddenly affable and condescending, "I found myself reduced, so tospeak, to make use of you as a false clue, if you catch my meaning?"

"I can't say I do quite understand, sir. "

"I mean--of course, I saw with half an eye, bless your soul, that you'dhad nothing to do with it--it wasn't likely that a poor chap like youhad any knowledge of a big plant of that description. No, no; don't yougo away with that idea. I never associated you with it for a singleinstant. "

"I'm truly glad to hear it, Mr. Inspector, " said Leander. 

"It was owing to the line I took up. There were the real parties to putoff their guard, and to do that, Tweddle--to do that, it was necessaryto appear to suspect you. D'ye see?"

"I think it was a little hard on me, sir, " he said; "for being suspectedlike that hurts a man's feelings, sir. I did feel wounded to have thatcast up against me!"

"Well, well, " said the Inspector, "we'll go into that later. But, to goon with what I was saying. My tactics, Tweddle, have been crowned withsuccess--the famous Venus is now safe in my hands! What do you say tothat?"

"Say? Why, what clever gentlemen you detective officers are, to besure!" cried Leander. 

"Well, to be candid, there's not many in the Department that would havemanaged the job as neatly; but, then, it was a case I'd gone into, andthoroughly got up. "

"That I'm sure you must have done, sir, " agreed Leander. "How ever didyou come on it?" He felt a kind of curiosity to hear the answer. 

"Tweddle, " was the solemn reply, "that is a thing you must be content toleave in its native mystery" (which Leander undoubtedly was). "We in theCriminal Investigation Department have our secret channels and ourunderground sources for obtaining information, but to lay those channelsand sources bare to the public would serve no useful end, nor would itbe an expedient act on my part. All you have any claim to be told is, that, however costly and complicated, however dangerous even, the meansemployed may have been (that I say nothing about), the ultimate end hasbeen obtained. The Venus, sir, will be restored to her place in theGallery at Wricklesmarsh Court, without a scratch on her!"

"You don't say so! Lor!" cried Leander, hoping that his countenancewould keep his secret, "well, there now! And my ring, sir, if youremember--isn't _that_ on her?"

"You mustn't expect us to do everything. Your ring was, as I had everyreason to expect it would be, missing. But I shall be talking the matterover with Sir Peter Purbecke, who's just come back to Wricklesmarsh fromthe Continent, and, provided--ahem!--you don't go talking about thisaffair, I should feel justified in recommending him to make you somesubstantial acknowledgment for any--well, little inconvenience you mayhave been put to on account of your slight connection with the business, and the steps I may have thought proper to take in consequence. And, from all I hear of Sir Peter, I think he would be inclined to come downuncommonly handsome. "

"Well, Mr. Inspector, " said Leander, "all I can say is this: if SirPeter was to know the life his statue has led me for the past few days, I think he'd say I deserved it--I do, indeed!"

 * * * * *

CONCLUSION. 

The narrow passage off Southampton Row is at present without ahairdresser's establishment, Leander having resigned his shop, longsince, in favour of either a fruiterer or a stationer. 

But, in one of the leading West End thoroughfares there is a large andprosperous hair-cutting saloon, over which the name of "Tweddle"glitters resplendent, and the books of which would prove too much forMatilda, even if more domestic duties had not begun to claim herattention. 

Leander's troubles are at end. Thanks to Sir Peter Purbecke'smunificence, he has made a fresh start; and, so far, Fortune hasprospered him. The devices he has invented for correcting Nature's morepalpable errors in taste are becoming widely known, while he is famous, too, as the gifted author of a series of brilliant and popularhairwashes. He is accustoming his clients to address him as"Professor"--a title which he has actually had conferred upon him from aquarter in which he is, perhaps, the most highly appreciated--forprosperity has not exactly lessened his self-esteem. 

Mr. Jauncy, too, is a married man, although he does not respond soheartily to congratulations. There is no intimacy between the twohouseholds, the heads of which recognise that, as Leander puts it, "their wives harmonise better apart. "

To the new collection of Casts from the Antique, at South Kensington, there has been recently added one which appears in the officialcatalogue under the following description:--

"_The Cytherean Venus. _--Marble statue. Found in a grotto in the Islandof Cerigo. Now in the collection of Sir Peter Purbecke, at WricklesmarshCourt, Black-heath. 

"This noble work has been indifferently assigned to various periods; themost general opinion, however, pronounces it to be a copy of an earlierwork of Alkamenes, or possibly Kephisodotos. 

"The unusual smallness of the extremities seems to betray the hand of arestorer, and there are traces of colour in the original marble, whichare supposed to have been added at a somewhat later period. "

Should Professor Tweddle ever find himself in the Museum on a BankHoliday, and enter the new gallery, he could hardly avoid seeing themagnificent cast numbered 333 in the catalogue, and reviving therebyrecollections he has almost succeeded in suppressing. 

But this is an experience he will probably spare himself; for he isknown to entertain, on principle, very strong prejudices againstsculpture, and more particularly the Antique. 

THE END.