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Article Beaunty in the Beast. Page 1 of 2 Article Beaunty in the Beast. Page 1 of 2 Article Beaunty in the Beast. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Beaunty In The Beast.
Beaunty in the Beast .
KJf ^ RANNT , what odd-looking tower is that , rising ffife jl above tho trees yonder ? " I had only just t *^^> arrived on a visit to my lato schoolmate , Fauny vm ? Staunard , and was as yet unacquainted with tho JW neighbourhood . * " Thafc ? Oh , that is tho Boast ' s Castlo , " replied Fanny , absorbed in braiding her chestnut-brown hair , while her equally brown oyes gavo a mischievous glauco between their dark fringes .
" The Beast ' s Castlo ! What a strange name !" " Oh , I don't say ' that that is tho real name of the place . I believe it was properly christened Chavnwood ; but I call it the Beast ' s Castlo , on account of its owner —a hateful , misanthropic old wretch , who lives thoro alone , and hunts everybody off his land . " "For shame , Fanny ! " remonstrated her mother .
" Don t notice what sho says , Louise . Mr . Marsden is a most respectable gentleman , though somewhat eccentric . He spends very littlo timo at Charnwood , and , being unsocial , is not popular . " "He ' s away now , thank goodness , " saitl Fauny . "Somewhere in Germany or Switzerland ; and if you would like to see the place , Louise , wo will walk over
there some evening soon . The grounds are worth seeing—such lovely sequestered nooks , and opon stuiuy places , and a clear little stream running through a ravine—all rock and moss and waterfall . " "But will ( hey allow us to trespass ? Don ' t auybody live there in Mr . Mai-sden ' s absence ?" ""Nobody but an old couple , ( o tako caro of ( ho
place , and they know us , and don t object to us , so long ns we don't climb tho trees , or steal tho fruit , or break the ' scrubbery , ' ns f hey call it . Tho common rabble , however , are not allowed to enter , so wo shall not bo interrupt oil or disturbed . " A day or two after , accordingly , Fanny and mysolf walked over to Charnwood . It was not tpn ' to a mile
distant , and Ihe path led across delightful green fields ancl meadows . The great house stood considerably back from tho road , heavy and sombre , wilh one end surmounted by an odd-looking lower , in which , as Fanny assured mo , the Beast was accustomed to sit and watch for trespassers on his estate .
There was n terrace in front , bordered by a heavy stone balustrade , which reminded ono of a rampart ; nnd , although despite nn air of dignity and importance , tho aspect of the mansion was not pleasing . So , iiistead nf approaching , wo turned off by a litllo pathway which led lo li terraced walk on a slope overlooking the ravine of which Fanny hail spoken . A delieliiful spot , truly , with graceful beeches
drooping above the walk , and a clear stream below , alternately Hashing ancl darkling in and out among ihe mossy rocks , and everywhere fragrant thickets of vines and wild flowers growing . Willi ihe delight of a city-bred girl who loves nature , I threw olT my hat and silently drank in thu beauty around me . Fanny ree-linod upon a bed of moss , and , looking upward , murmured snatches of poetry :
' - Ills heirirv amis nplifleel he , . \ n < i all the lirnael leaves o \ cr me < "l . i | , iieil their little hands in glee , With one continuous soiinel . " " I say , Louise , isn ' t it a jiily I hut all ( his bounty should belong to that cross , selfish llcast ? Of course , ho hasn ' t ( he soul ( o appreciate il ; but win' should ho
bo hiiclr a dog in the manger ns not allow it to ho enjoyed hy oihers ? It is ( ho lovliest spot in ( he country for picnics and walking-parties ; yet no one is allowed lo outer here—( o cross that fence on the other side of the sIieani--on penalty of being ' prosecuted to ( ho utmost extent of tho law . ' In my opinion it is simply a sin . "
" How do you know that Mr . Marsden , whom you abuse so , hasn ' t ( ho soul to enjoy his hcati I if ul property ? Do you reiiiemher that tho Beast in the fairy tale , despite his unprepossessing exterior , possessed n gentle ftlid chivalrous spirit ?" " Oli , fnii-y-lale heroes are of course different from people . Now—good gracious ! what is that ?"
There was a sudden rustling in the bushes on the other side of the stream , anil immediately a great Newfoundland dog bounded out , rushed up the hank to where we were , and commenced n short hark while frisking around us . I sercameil , while Fanny took up a stick , prepared to bravely defend herself .
" \\ here does ho come from ? " she cried , looking around . "Who does he belong lo ? His master must be somewhere- near . " "That tin ) . ' belongs ( o me , ladies , " said a man , stepping out of the ihiekef opposite , and leisurely preparing to cross the low stono wall . " He is perfectly harmless , -. vue ! is only expressing his fi-ientllinose :, and desires
to make your acquaintance . Pray excuse him . " "Ami who are you , if yon please , sir , who ( alee tho liberty of i n -pa-sing on this place in company with a big , fierce dog like that ? " inquired Fanny , authoritatively . "I bog pardon , but was really not aware that I wns trespassing , " he replied , pausing on the other side of the fence .
But yon an- trespassing . This j ., private properly , sir , " she ,-aiil , wilh dignily . " 1 am very sorry , " he said wistfully . '"I am a
Beaunty In The Beast.
harmless artist , and have already commenced a sketch of this spot , which I am anxious to complete—there , beneath thoso roses , just whore thc water falls over that rock . " " An artist ? Oh , of course that makes a difference , " Fanny responded , , graciously ; aud , after an instant ' s hesitation , in which hor glance measured him from
hoad to foot , she added , "I think you may come across —provided you show us the sketch . " " Thanks ! With pleasure . " He came , np tho bank , opened his portfolio , and took out a half-finished water-colour drawing , over which Fanny , who herself possessed some skill in thc art , weut immediately into raptures .
" How beautiful ! What bold , effective touches And tho water , and the perspective . I can't conceive how so few lines can produce so much effect . But this is a thing which my master asserts a woman can never learn . We haven't tho moral courage to handle a pencil boklly , ho says . " "Permit mo to say , " remarked tho gentleman , with a how and a demure expression , " that if you handle a
pencil with half the boldness aud freedom that you did that weapon , " glancing at the- stick' which Fanny had dropped , " there could ho no lack of courage , cither moral or physical . " Fanny bit her lip , coloured , and gavo him a doubtful look . " I wonder if he means to bo impertinent ? " she whispered to mc .
" Certainly not . I am sure he is a gentleman . " " Yes—I suspect ho is , despite his coarse gray clothes nnd big straw hat . Across ( he stream I thought him a rustic , and that is why I spoko so—so rudely to him . I suppose he is paying mo olT . Probably he takes Die for some stray milk-maid or hay-maker . " Upon these cogitations ( ho gentleman broke with a
courteous oiler of his portfolio , if the ladies would care to look over the coutents . Wo eagerly accepted if , nnd emptied thc whole into our laps . " Iliad no idea that , so many pretty studies could bc made nut of this little ravine , " Fanny said . "Have you made a sketch of the I Iall ?" "Not yet ; I should like to do so , with your
per-. " Oh , I ' m not the owner , " she returned , laughing and blushing , "ihe place belongs to a llcast ; bill , as ho isn ' t at home , 1 daresay you may venture to thc castle without , danger of being eaten alive . " "A Beast ? " said the urti ' si , looking up from his sketching . " I call ' him the Beast . "
" laiuiy ' . I remonstrated . " Well , he deserves the name—such a cross , misanthropic , selfish , stingy , disagreeable fellow as ho is . " " Do you mean Mr . Marsden ? I have heard that is ( lie name of ( ho owner of this estate . " " Y ' cs , that is his family name , " she replied , carelessly .
" n hat is tho oppeurance of this mouster , if I may inquire ?" " I have seen him but once , about two years ago , and that fortunately nt a distance , lie limps , and is humpbacked , aud has iuimi'iiso grrvn goggle-eyes , perfe'cilv round , and he seisin ' s dogs upon us—blond-hounds I have hoard thoy wove—because we presumed to pick
a few blackberries from inside his fence . And—would you believe it ? - —the last time he was here he shot at and wounded a pour child who had innocently strayed within his boundaries ! You need not look incredulous , Louise ; I have board it from the boy ' s own mother—a poor woman of the village . " "A Beast , truly , " said the artist , gravely pointing
his pencil . " Has he a family ? "Of course not . Who would marry him ?" " Somo women do marry even such monsters as he for the sake of wealth—anil such a place as this . " " Such aro not worthy tin' name of women . For my part I would starve to death before I would become Mrs . Beast , " said Fanny , with energy .
"Not if he went down on his knees to you every day , anti sail ] , " Beauty , will yon marry me ? " inquired the gentleman , demurely , looking up into Fanny ' s pretty , half-laughing , half-haughty face . " No , not even then ; though I confess I idmitld liko such n homo as his . However , if it wore mine , 1 should set about improving it . "
" How so i "Why , I should make the houso more pleasant and cheerful-looking . 1 would clear away some of tho ivv , and knock over that hiil"oii . s tower , and also thc grim battlement which they call n terrace ; nnd I would cut an opening here in the woods , so as to get a view of tho distant mountain sccnoi-v ; anel 1 would have friends to
enjoy it all with me . In short , 1 would make sunshine uutl happiness nil about thc [/ lace . " " 1 dare say you would , " he remarked , thoughtfully , with a quick look into Funny ' s animated face , which brought a blush to her cheek . He wasn ' t , exactly a handsome man , but we observed that his dark grey eyes were very earliest ami
expressive , and his smile rarely sweet . Fanny remarked upon ihis , as , after bidding him good evening , and accepting a choice littlo sketch , ol which he begged her ae'cepiunce , we walked slowlj homeward across the fields .
"Well come some oilier linn : io see ( he house , Louise , " shesaid , " when wc won ' t he troubled wilh stray artists . Some of them are down here every . summer , lur ( his neighbourhood is famous for jiiciiiresqiio scenery . 1 wonder what is the mime of our new acquaintance * . Wish I had enquired . I think I'll get
Beaunty In The Beast.
Brother Tom to call on him , aud , if ho likes , invito him to our house . You see I want him to show me tho secret of some of thoso wonderful effects in his sketches . " A week passed , and we neither saw nor heard anything of our artist friend . One day , in visiting the village , wo stopped at tho hotel , which was post-office
as well ; and Fanny inquired of tho post-master whether there were any artists staying afc his houso this summer . There had been two , he said , but they were both gone ; and I fancied I detected a shade of disap . pointment on my friend ' s bright face , and I wondered that she , who was not afc all what is called impressible , should have become so much interested in this stranger
on a firsfc interview . Bufc then , as sho had remarked , " ho looked as though he were poor aud nofc happy j aud he was , besides , a gouius , as oue could see from his sketches . " On our way homo from the village wo passed near Charnwood , auel Fanny proposed that we should go up to the houso , and get Mrs . Cox to show us tho library
and family pictures . The place looked , on a nearer view , more sombre than at a distance . No ono was visible , and nothing moved about save some poultry and a peacock , which was drearily sunning himself on tho stone terrace . Thero were plenty of roses iu bloom , and Fanny , in passing , gathered one or two . No answer being given to our
repealed knocks , 'it the side entrance , Fanny opened tho eloor and looked in . "There isn ' t a soul here , " sho said ; "but I hoar some tine moving iu the library at- tho end of tho passage . I suppose Mrs . Cox is there . " She tapped afc the door within which we had heard the noise . " Come in ¦ " send a , voire , and we entered .
Entered juM , within the threshold , and thero stopped short . For , sealed nt a table covered with books aud papers , was a gentlcinau—the artist whom we had mot in the ravine . On seeing ns he arose . " Dear me ! " said Fanny , colouring , " I really didn't expect to find you—io find any one hero . I was looking
for Mrs . Cox . " " Mrs . Cox has gono to carry tho haymakers thou dinner . Will you permit mc to entertain you until hoi return ? " he said courteously . " But—1 did not know you wero acquainted hero . Aro you sketching thu hall , or copying tho pictures ?" said she , looking around .
-Sot exactly . Only taking a list of tho hooks . " She appeared . still more puzzled . " I see , " he observed , " that you are surprised at finding mo here , and lest you should take mo for a burglar , I must explain . I am tho ownorof this gloomy castlo—tho llcast , of whom you have heard so much . " Her face became the colour of tho roses in her hand .
Are you really Mr . Marsden ? I inquired . "That is my family name , " ho replied , glancing at Fanny . "Wo did not know that you were at home , " Fanny promptly responded , in an injured and indignant tone . "And if you ate really Mr . Marsden , I consider your conduct in not telling us so when wc iirst saw you
asas c . ( , ' ' , iie-i . 7 sli-iiiige , to say the least of il 1 " with severe emphasi .- ; . " Is it so extraordinary , Miss Sinnnard , that I should have hcsitaii'd to introduce myself as that dreadful monster of whom you expressed such horror ? Would not you ladies have feared my devouring you alive , there in tho lonely woods ?" 1 looked at Fanny and she looked at me . At first sho
bit her lip and tried hard to presorvo her haughty look , but a sense of the ludicroiisnoss of the situation oyer , came us , and we both broke into a laugh . "Mr . Marsden , " said she , " 1 know you will never forgive mc , therefore I won ' t nsk forgiveness . " " On tin- contrary , Miss Staunard , 1 owo you thanks . You have led me to see what a selfish and unumiublo character I am . "
" Buf you uro not tho man whom I saw two years ago , and described to you as tho— -tho owner of thia place . " " I think I am tho same . I had met wilh au accident , and was using a crutch , which gavo mo , I don ' t doubt , nn awkward , hump-backed appearance ; I also woro blue glasses—blue , not green , if you please , Miss Staunard ; and 1 must also most humbly plead not guilty
to the chat-go of having set blood-hounds on your track . If I remember aright they wero two small terriers—I love dogs , and have a number of them—and my shouting was merely to call them back , fearing you aud your companions would bo frightened by their harmless barking . It is true that I onco shot at a dump of
bushes where I fancied a huro wns lying , and unfortunately shot a brace of partridges which had already been trapped by ono of our poaching village hoys , who , on seeing me , had hastily sought that place of conceal * ment . I hope you will exonerate mo from the wish or intention of takimr the life of that innocent chill . "
¦ ' Oh , pray don ' t , remember all the foolish things I said ! " pleaded Fanny , looking distressed . " You said some wise things , I assure you . I have been considering your suggestions , and havo coneluded lhat I shall be a happier as well as a more useful man if I .-elopi . them , and let some sunshine into my luniM' ami life . 1 have been too much of a recluse
perhaps--lce-s from choice than circumstances—hut not quite the Beast lhat you imagined , ladies . " " I thought , that you had done with theso allusions , " said Fanny , sharply . " I wished only to remark that , now that Beauty haa foiidi'scendeil to visit my ensile , I am in hopes lhat tho evil spell may bo broken , and I become a transformed heing . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Beaunty In The Beast.
Beaunty in the Beast .
KJf ^ RANNT , what odd-looking tower is that , rising ffife jl above tho trees yonder ? " I had only just t *^^> arrived on a visit to my lato schoolmate , Fauny vm ? Staunard , and was as yet unacquainted with tho JW neighbourhood . * " Thafc ? Oh , that is tho Boast ' s Castlo , " replied Fanny , absorbed in braiding her chestnut-brown hair , while her equally brown oyes gavo a mischievous glauco between their dark fringes .
" The Beast ' s Castlo ! What a strange name !" " Oh , I don't say ' that that is tho real name of the place . I believe it was properly christened Chavnwood ; but I call it the Beast ' s Castlo , on account of its owner —a hateful , misanthropic old wretch , who lives thoro alone , and hunts everybody off his land . " "For shame , Fanny ! " remonstrated her mother .
" Don t notice what sho says , Louise . Mr . Marsden is a most respectable gentleman , though somewhat eccentric . He spends very littlo timo at Charnwood , and , being unsocial , is not popular . " "He ' s away now , thank goodness , " saitl Fauny . "Somewhere in Germany or Switzerland ; and if you would like to see the place , Louise , wo will walk over
there some evening soon . The grounds are worth seeing—such lovely sequestered nooks , and opon stuiuy places , and a clear little stream running through a ravine—all rock and moss and waterfall . " "But will ( hey allow us to trespass ? Don ' t auybody live there in Mr . Mai-sden ' s absence ?" ""Nobody but an old couple , ( o tako caro of ( ho
place , and they know us , and don t object to us , so long ns we don't climb tho trees , or steal tho fruit , or break the ' scrubbery , ' ns f hey call it . Tho common rabble , however , are not allowed to enter , so wo shall not bo interrupt oil or disturbed . " A day or two after , accordingly , Fanny and mysolf walked over to Charnwood . It was not tpn ' to a mile
distant , and Ihe path led across delightful green fields ancl meadows . The great house stood considerably back from tho road , heavy and sombre , wilh one end surmounted by an odd-looking lower , in which , as Fanny assured mo , the Beast was accustomed to sit and watch for trespassers on his estate .
There was n terrace in front , bordered by a heavy stone balustrade , which reminded ono of a rampart ; nnd , although despite nn air of dignity and importance , tho aspect of the mansion was not pleasing . So , iiistead nf approaching , wo turned off by a litllo pathway which led lo li terraced walk on a slope overlooking the ravine of which Fanny hail spoken . A delieliiful spot , truly , with graceful beeches
drooping above the walk , and a clear stream below , alternately Hashing ancl darkling in and out among ihe mossy rocks , and everywhere fragrant thickets of vines and wild flowers growing . Willi ihe delight of a city-bred girl who loves nature , I threw olT my hat and silently drank in thu beauty around me . Fanny ree-linod upon a bed of moss , and , looking upward , murmured snatches of poetry :
' - Ills heirirv amis nplifleel he , . \ n < i all the lirnael leaves o \ cr me < "l . i | , iieil their little hands in glee , With one continuous soiinel . " " I say , Louise , isn ' t it a jiily I hut all ( his bounty should belong to that cross , selfish llcast ? Of course , ho hasn ' t ( he soul ( o appreciate il ; but win' should ho
bo hiiclr a dog in the manger ns not allow it to ho enjoyed hy oihers ? It is ( ho lovliest spot in ( he country for picnics and walking-parties ; yet no one is allowed lo outer here—( o cross that fence on the other side of the sIieani--on penalty of being ' prosecuted to ( ho utmost extent of tho law . ' In my opinion it is simply a sin . "
" How do you know that Mr . Marsden , whom you abuse so , hasn ' t ( ho soul to enjoy his hcati I if ul property ? Do you reiiiemher that tho Beast in the fairy tale , despite his unprepossessing exterior , possessed n gentle ftlid chivalrous spirit ?" " Oli , fnii-y-lale heroes are of course different from people . Now—good gracious ! what is that ?"
There was a sudden rustling in the bushes on the other side of the stream , anil immediately a great Newfoundland dog bounded out , rushed up the hank to where we were , and commenced n short hark while frisking around us . I sercameil , while Fanny took up a stick , prepared to bravely defend herself .
" \\ here does ho come from ? " she cried , looking around . "Who does he belong lo ? His master must be somewhere- near . " "That tin ) . ' belongs ( o me , ladies , " said a man , stepping out of the ihiekef opposite , and leisurely preparing to cross the low stono wall . " He is perfectly harmless , -. vue ! is only expressing his fi-ientllinose :, and desires
to make your acquaintance . Pray excuse him . " "Ami who are you , if yon please , sir , who ( alee tho liberty of i n -pa-sing on this place in company with a big , fierce dog like that ? " inquired Fanny , authoritatively . "I bog pardon , but was really not aware that I wns trespassing , " he replied , pausing on the other side of the fence .
But yon an- trespassing . This j ., private properly , sir , " she ,-aiil , wilh dignily . " 1 am very sorry , " he said wistfully . '"I am a
Beaunty In The Beast.
harmless artist , and have already commenced a sketch of this spot , which I am anxious to complete—there , beneath thoso roses , just whore thc water falls over that rock . " " An artist ? Oh , of course that makes a difference , " Fanny responded , , graciously ; aud , after an instant ' s hesitation , in which hor glance measured him from
hoad to foot , she added , "I think you may come across —provided you show us the sketch . " " Thanks ! With pleasure . " He came , np tho bank , opened his portfolio , and took out a half-finished water-colour drawing , over which Fanny , who herself possessed some skill in thc art , weut immediately into raptures .
" How beautiful ! What bold , effective touches And tho water , and the perspective . I can't conceive how so few lines can produce so much effect . But this is a thing which my master asserts a woman can never learn . We haven't tho moral courage to handle a pencil boklly , ho says . " "Permit mo to say , " remarked tho gentleman , with a how and a demure expression , " that if you handle a
pencil with half the boldness aud freedom that you did that weapon , " glancing at the- stick' which Fanny had dropped , " there could ho no lack of courage , cither moral or physical . " Fanny bit her lip , coloured , and gavo him a doubtful look . " I wonder if he means to bo impertinent ? " she whispered to mc .
" Certainly not . I am sure he is a gentleman . " " Yes—I suspect ho is , despite his coarse gray clothes nnd big straw hat . Across ( he stream I thought him a rustic , and that is why I spoko so—so rudely to him . I suppose he is paying mo olT . Probably he takes Die for some stray milk-maid or hay-maker . " Upon these cogitations ( ho gentleman broke with a
courteous oiler of his portfolio , if the ladies would care to look over the coutents . Wo eagerly accepted if , nnd emptied thc whole into our laps . " Iliad no idea that , so many pretty studies could bc made nut of this little ravine , " Fanny said . "Have you made a sketch of the I Iall ?" "Not yet ; I should like to do so , with your
per-. " Oh , I ' m not the owner , " she returned , laughing and blushing , "ihe place belongs to a llcast ; bill , as ho isn ' t at home , 1 daresay you may venture to thc castle without , danger of being eaten alive . " "A Beast ? " said the urti ' si , looking up from his sketching . " I call ' him the Beast . "
" laiuiy ' . I remonstrated . " Well , he deserves the name—such a cross , misanthropic , selfish , stingy , disagreeable fellow as ho is . " " Do you mean Mr . Marsden ? I have heard that is ( lie name of ( ho owner of this estate . " " Y ' cs , that is his family name , " she replied , carelessly .
" n hat is tho oppeurance of this mouster , if I may inquire ?" " I have seen him but once , about two years ago , and that fortunately nt a distance , lie limps , and is humpbacked , aud has iuimi'iiso grrvn goggle-eyes , perfe'cilv round , and he seisin ' s dogs upon us—blond-hounds I have hoard thoy wove—because we presumed to pick
a few blackberries from inside his fence . And—would you believe it ? - —the last time he was here he shot at and wounded a pour child who had innocently strayed within his boundaries ! You need not look incredulous , Louise ; I have board it from the boy ' s own mother—a poor woman of the village . " "A Beast , truly , " said the artist , gravely pointing
his pencil . " Has he a family ? "Of course not . Who would marry him ?" " Somo women do marry even such monsters as he for the sake of wealth—anil such a place as this . " " Such aro not worthy tin' name of women . For my part I would starve to death before I would become Mrs . Beast , " said Fanny , with energy .
"Not if he went down on his knees to you every day , anti sail ] , " Beauty , will yon marry me ? " inquired the gentleman , demurely , looking up into Fanny ' s pretty , half-laughing , half-haughty face . " No , not even then ; though I confess I idmitld liko such n homo as his . However , if it wore mine , 1 should set about improving it . "
" How so i "Why , I should make the houso more pleasant and cheerful-looking . 1 would clear away some of tho ivv , and knock over that hiil"oii . s tower , and also thc grim battlement which they call n terrace ; nnd I would cut an opening here in the woods , so as to get a view of tho distant mountain sccnoi-v ; anel 1 would have friends to
enjoy it all with me . In short , 1 would make sunshine uutl happiness nil about thc [/ lace . " " 1 dare say you would , " he remarked , thoughtfully , with a quick look into Funny ' s animated face , which brought a blush to her cheek . He wasn ' t , exactly a handsome man , but we observed that his dark grey eyes were very earliest ami
expressive , and his smile rarely sweet . Fanny remarked upon ihis , as , after bidding him good evening , and accepting a choice littlo sketch , ol which he begged her ae'cepiunce , we walked slowlj homeward across the fields .
"Well come some oilier linn : io see ( he house , Louise , " shesaid , " when wc won ' t he troubled wilh stray artists . Some of them are down here every . summer , lur ( his neighbourhood is famous for jiiciiiresqiio scenery . 1 wonder what is the mime of our new acquaintance * . Wish I had enquired . I think I'll get
Beaunty In The Beast.
Brother Tom to call on him , aud , if ho likes , invito him to our house . You see I want him to show me tho secret of some of thoso wonderful effects in his sketches . " A week passed , and we neither saw nor heard anything of our artist friend . One day , in visiting the village , wo stopped at tho hotel , which was post-office
as well ; and Fanny inquired of tho post-master whether there were any artists staying afc his houso this summer . There had been two , he said , but they were both gone ; and I fancied I detected a shade of disap . pointment on my friend ' s bright face , and I wondered that she , who was not afc all what is called impressible , should have become so much interested in this stranger
on a firsfc interview . Bufc then , as sho had remarked , " ho looked as though he were poor aud nofc happy j aud he was , besides , a gouius , as oue could see from his sketches . " On our way homo from the village wo passed near Charnwood , auel Fanny proposed that we should go up to the houso , and get Mrs . Cox to show us tho library
and family pictures . The place looked , on a nearer view , more sombre than at a distance . No ono was visible , and nothing moved about save some poultry and a peacock , which was drearily sunning himself on tho stone terrace . Thero were plenty of roses iu bloom , and Fanny , in passing , gathered one or two . No answer being given to our
repealed knocks , 'it the side entrance , Fanny opened tho eloor and looked in . "There isn ' t a soul here , " sho said ; "but I hoar some tine moving iu the library at- tho end of tho passage . I suppose Mrs . Cox is there . " She tapped afc the door within which we had heard the noise . " Come in ¦ " send a , voire , and we entered .
Entered juM , within the threshold , and thero stopped short . For , sealed nt a table covered with books aud papers , was a gentlcinau—the artist whom we had mot in the ravine . On seeing ns he arose . " Dear me ! " said Fanny , colouring , " I really didn't expect to find you—io find any one hero . I was looking
for Mrs . Cox . " " Mrs . Cox has gono to carry tho haymakers thou dinner . Will you permit mc to entertain you until hoi return ? " he said courteously . " But—1 did not know you wero acquainted hero . Aro you sketching thu hall , or copying tho pictures ?" said she , looking around .
-Sot exactly . Only taking a list of tho hooks . " She appeared . still more puzzled . " I see , " he observed , " that you are surprised at finding mo here , and lest you should take mo for a burglar , I must explain . I am tho ownorof this gloomy castlo—tho llcast , of whom you have heard so much . " Her face became the colour of tho roses in her hand .
Are you really Mr . Marsden ? I inquired . "That is my family name , " ho replied , glancing at Fanny . "Wo did not know that you were at home , " Fanny promptly responded , in an injured and indignant tone . "And if you ate really Mr . Marsden , I consider your conduct in not telling us so when wc iirst saw you
asas c . ( , ' ' , iie-i . 7 sli-iiiige , to say the least of il 1 " with severe emphasi .- ; . " Is it so extraordinary , Miss Sinnnard , that I should have hcsitaii'd to introduce myself as that dreadful monster of whom you expressed such horror ? Would not you ladies have feared my devouring you alive , there in tho lonely woods ?" 1 looked at Fanny and she looked at me . At first sho
bit her lip and tried hard to presorvo her haughty look , but a sense of the ludicroiisnoss of the situation oyer , came us , and we both broke into a laugh . "Mr . Marsden , " said she , " 1 know you will never forgive mc , therefore I won ' t nsk forgiveness . " " On tin- contrary , Miss Staunard , 1 owo you thanks . You have led me to see what a selfish and unumiublo character I am . "
" Buf you uro not tho man whom I saw two years ago , and described to you as tho— -tho owner of thia place . " " I think I am tho same . I had met wilh au accident , and was using a crutch , which gavo mo , I don ' t doubt , nn awkward , hump-backed appearance ; I also woro blue glasses—blue , not green , if you please , Miss Staunard ; and 1 must also most humbly plead not guilty
to the chat-go of having set blood-hounds on your track . If I remember aright they wero two small terriers—I love dogs , and have a number of them—and my shouting was merely to call them back , fearing you aud your companions would bo frightened by their harmless barking . It is true that I onco shot at a dump of
bushes where I fancied a huro wns lying , and unfortunately shot a brace of partridges which had already been trapped by ono of our poaching village hoys , who , on seeing me , had hastily sought that place of conceal * ment . I hope you will exonerate mo from the wish or intention of takimr the life of that innocent chill . "
¦ ' Oh , pray don ' t , remember all the foolish things I said ! " pleaded Fanny , looking distressed . " You said some wise things , I assure you . I have been considering your suggestions , and havo coneluded lhat I shall be a happier as well as a more useful man if I .-elopi . them , and let some sunshine into my luniM' ami life . 1 have been too much of a recluse
perhaps--lce-s from choice than circumstances—hut not quite the Beast lhat you imagined , ladies . " " I thought , that you had done with theso allusions , " said Fanny , sharply . " I wished only to remark that , now that Beauty haa foiidi'scendeil to visit my ensile , I am in hopes lhat tho evil spell may bo broken , and I become a transformed heing . "