J. J. Bell

“ Jess accompanied her to the garden gate, watched her along the road, and then slowly retraced her steps to the cottage. Instead, however, of entering the house at once, she went round to the south gable and spent a couple of minutes lingering beside the roses. All her life she had loved flowers, but at a distance—loved them without understanding them as her husband did—and just before her marriage, fagged with the effort of a city existence, she had dreamed and told herself how beautiful and peaceful it would be in the little garden by the sea with the man of her choice. ”

“ Waiting there in the soft light of a single lamp of the cluster in the ceiling, Carlotta Lancaster had never looked so splendid. And she had never felt so afraid.
Afraid of what? Ruin for her husband, misery for her daughter? Oh, dear, no! Afraid of being herself caught in a most dishonourable and traitorous act? A little, perhaps. But the fear that now made her shiver and burn was the fear lest Bullard should fail in his latest and last, as he had said it should be, plan to obtain the diamonds. ”

“ It was not so dark that the girl, who had halted a couple of yards away, could fail to see the smile accompanying the words. Symington’s was by no means an ill-looking countenance, though forty years, half of them strenuous after a fashion, had blurred the fineness of the well-shaped features; it would have been attractive, admirable even, but for something in the eyes, something about the mouth, under the nicely trimmed tawny moustache, that is not to be fully described by the word covetous. His was a face that no wise man would regard without doubts, that no wise woman would trust. ”

“ But the attraction was too strong, and, again and again, he went down-stairs, trying to appear on business bent, as Paul Vannan came up, and, after waiting in the entry for a minute, ascended to his chambers in a stealthy fashion as if he feared detection.
The old man had fallen in love with the young. There is no other way of expressing it. Not for forty years had his heart warmed to a fellow-being as it warmed to the unconscious artist. ”

“ Said Garth abruptly: “Why do you defend him—a man you don't even know?”
“I don't defend him. No one could defend him. But I would beg you not to add revenge to your justice. Let Christmas pass before you confront him.”
“But that is mere sentiment.”
“Even so, the world would be unendurable without it. Oh, Mr. Garth, if you do this thing to-morrow, what of all your Christmas Eves to come, however your name may shine? Will you ever forget the broken man and those who love him?”
“The world is still before him. He retains his wealth. ”

“ The Blue rose on the starboard bow, sank, rose again nearer, sank, and finally rose so close under the Thorgrim that the gun when it was fired tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees.
The cable flashed over the bow wheel for thirty seconds; then its speed slackened and the brakes were gradually applied to the winches, until it stopped running. The cable between the winch and the bow-wheel was rigid as steel, but the Thorgrim moved not. Her nose was deep in water, and her propeller showed a dry blade. Death hung deep in the sea at the end of the cable; no wounded life struggled there. ”

“ She stepped back a pace.
“Your son's life is in the balance,” she said passionately.
“Isobel!”
“Yet you say you must be in your place. Your place! Your place is here!”
“Isobel!”
“I say it is here, Philip. Surely, the Prime Minister is his own master at such a time. Send word that your son—your only child—is in danger. The Country will survive.”
Her hand avoided his.
“Isobel, duty is harder to-night than—”
“Duty! Your duty lies here. It is pride of power and ambition that calls you now.” ”