THE DAUGHTERS OF DANAUS  BY MONA CAIRD .  LONDON : BLISS , SANDS , AND FOSTER  1894  THE DAUGHTERS OF DANAUS  Part I .  CHAPTER I .  IT was only just light enough to discern the five human forms in the dimness of the garret ; the rays of the moon having to find their way through the deep window-embrasures of the keep .  Less illumination would have sufficed to disclose the ancient character of the garret , with its low ceiling , and the graduated mouldings of the cornice , giving the effect of a shallow dome .  The house stood obviously very high , for one could see from the windows for miles over a bleak country , coldly lit by the rays of the moon , which was almost at the full .  Into the half light stole presently the sound of some lively instrument : a reel tune played , as it were , beneath one 'sbreath , but with all the revel and rollicking emphasis of that intoxicating primitive music .  And then in correspondingly low relief , but with no less emphasis , the occupants of this singular ball-room began to dance .  One might have fancied them some midnight company of the dead , risen from their graves for this secret revelry , so strange was the appearance of the moving figures , with the moonlight catching , as they passed , the faces or the hands .  They danced excellently well , as to the manner born , tripping in and out among the shadows , with occasional stamping , in time to the music , and now and again that wild Celtic shout or cry that sets the nerves athrill .  In spite of the whole scene 'sbeing enacted in a low key , it seemed only to gain in intensity from that circumstance , and in fantastic effect .  Among the dancers was one who danced with peculiar spirit and brilliancy , and her little cry had a ring and a wildness that never failed to set the others going with new inspiration .  She was a slight , dark-haired girl , with a pale , rather mysterious face , and large eyes .  Not a word was spoken , and the reel went on for nearly ten minutes .  At length the girl with the dark hair gave a final shout , and broke away from the circle .  With her desertion the dance flagged , and presently came to an end .  The first breaking of the silence gave a slight shock , in spite of the subdued tones of the speaker .  “ It is no use trying to dance a reel without Hadria , ” said a tall youth , evidently her brother , if one might judge from his almost southern colouring and melancholy eyes .  In build and feature he resembled the elder sister , Algitha , who had all the characteristics of a fine northern race .  “ Old Maggie said the other day , that Hadria 'sdancing of the reel was no ‘right canny , ’ ” Algitha observed , in the same low tone that all the occupants of the garret instinctively adopted .  “ Ah !  ” cried Fred , “ old Maggie has always looked upon Hadria as half bewitched since that night when she found her here ‘a wee bit bairn , ’ as she says , at this very window , in her nightshirt , standing on tiptoe to see the moonlight .  ”  “ It frightened the poor old thing out of her wits , of course , ” said Algitha , who was leaning with crossed arms , in a corner of the deep-set window .  The fine outlines of face and form were shewn in the strange light , as in a boldly-executed sketch , without detail .  Pride and determination were the dominant qualities so indicated .  Her sister stood opposite , the moonshine making the smooth pallor of her face more striking , and emphasizing its mysterious quality .  The whole group of young faces , crowded together by the window , and lit up by the unsympathetic light , had something characteristic and unusual in its aspect , that might have excited curiosity .  “ Tell us the story of the garret , Hadria , ” said Austin , the youngest brother , a handsome boy of twelve , with curling brown hair and blue eyes .  “ Hadria has told it hundreds of times , and you know it as well as she does .  ”  “ But I want to hear it again — about the attack upon the keep , and the shouting of the men , while the lady was up here starving to death .  ”  But Algitha shook her head .  “ We do n't come up here to tell stories , we must get to business .  ”  “ Will you have the candle , or can you see ?  ” asked Fred , the second brother , a couple of years younger than Hadria , whom he addressed .  His features were irregular ; his short nose and twinkling grey eyes suggesting a joyous and whimsical temperament .  “ I think I had better have the candle ; my notes are very illegible .  ”  Fred drew forth a candle-end from his pocket , stuck it into a quaint-looking stand of antique steel , much eaten with rust , and set the candle-end alight .  Algitha went into the next room and brought in a couple of chairs .  Fred followed her example till there were enough for the party .  They all took their places , and Hadria , who had been provided with a seat facing them , and with a rickety wooden table that trembled responsively to her slightest movement , laid down her notes and surveyed her audience .  The faces stood out strangely , in the lights and shadows of the garret .  “ Ladies and gentlemen , ” she began ; “ on the last occasion on which the Preposterous Society held its meeting , we had the pleasure of listening to an able lecture on ‘Character’ by our respected member Demogorgon ” ( the speaker bowed to Ernest , and the audience applauded ) .  “ My address to-night on ‘Fate’ is designed to contribute further ideas to this fascinating subject , and to pursue the enquiry more curiously .  ”  The audience murmured approval .  “ We were left at loggerheads , at the end of the last debate .  I doubted Demogorgon 'sconclusion , while admiring his eloquence .  To-night , I will put before you the view exactly contrary to his .  I do not assert that I hold this contrary view , but I state it as well as I am able , because I think that it has not been given due consideration .  ”  “ This will be warm , ” Fred was heard to murmur with a chuckle , to an adjacent sister .  The speaker looked at her notes .  “ I will read , ” she said , “ a passage from Emerson , which states very strikingly the doctrine that I am going to oppose .  ”  Hadria her paper aslant towards the candle-end , which threw a murky yellow light upon the background of the garret , contrasting oddly with the thin , clear moonbeams .  “ ‘But the soul contains the event that shall befall it , for the event is only the actualization of its thoughts ; and what we pray to ourselves for is always granted .  The event is the print of your form .  It fits you like your skin .  What each does is proper to him .  Events are the children of his mind and body.’ ”  Algitha leant forward .  The members of the Preposterous Society settled into attitudes of attention .  Hadria said that this was a question that could not fail to be of peculiar interest to them all , who had their lives before them , to make or mar .  It was an extremely difficult question , for it admitted of no experiment .  One could never go back in life and try another plan .  One could never make sure , by such a test , how much circumstance and how much innate ideas had to do with one 'sdisposition .  Emerson insisted that man makes his circumstance , and history seemed to support that theory .  How untoward had been , in appearance , the surroundings of those who had made all the great movements and done all the great deeds of the world .  Let one consider the poverty , persecution , the incessant discouragement , and often the tragic end of our greatest benefactors .  Christ was but one of the host of the crucified .  In spite of the theory which the lecturer had undertaken to champion , she believed that it was generally those people who had difficult lives who did the beneficent deeds , and generally those people who were encouraged and comfortable who went to sleep , or actively dragged down what the thinkers and actors had piled up .  In great things and in small , such was the order of life .  “ Hear , hear , ” cried Ernest , “ my particular thunder !  ”  “ Wait a minute , ” said the lecturer .  “ I am going to annihilate you with your particular thunder .  ” She paused for a moment , and her eyes rested on the strange white landscape beyond the little group of faces upturned towards her .  “ Roughly , we may say that people are divided into two orders : first , the organizers , the able , those who build , who create cohesion , symmetry , reason , economy ; and , secondly , the destroyers , those who come wandering idly by , and unfasten , undo , relax , disintegrate all that has been effected by the force and vigilance of their betters .  This distinction is carried into even the most trivial things of life .  Yet without that organization and coherence , the existence of the destroyers themselves would become a chaos and a misery .  ”  The oak table over which Hadria bent forward towards her audience , appeared to be applauding this sentiment vigorously .  It rocked to and fro on the uneven floor with great clamour .  “ Thus , ” the speaker went on , “ these relaxed and derivative people are living on the strength of the strong .  He who is strong must carry with him , as a perpetual burden , a mass of such pensioners , who are scared and shocked at his rude individuality ; and if he should trip or stumble , if he should lose his way in the untrodden paths , in seeking new truth and a broader foundation for the lives of men , then a chorus of censure goes up from millions of little throats .  ”  “ Hear , hear !  ” cried Algitha and Fred , and the table rocked enthusiastically .  “ But when the good things are gained for which the upholders have striven and perhaps given their lives , then there are no more greedy absorbers of the bounty than these same innumerable little throats .  ”  The table led the chorus of assent .  “ And now , ” said the lecturer slowly , ” consider this in relation to the point at issue .  Emerson asserts that circumstance can always be conquered .  But is not circumstance , to a large extent , created by these destroyers , as I have called them ?  Has not the strongest soul to count with these , who weave the web of adverse conditions , whose dead weight has to be carried , whose work of destruction has to be incessantly repaired ?  Who can dare to say ‘I am master of my fate , ’ when he does not know how large may be the share of the general burden that will fall to him to drag through life , how great may be the number of these parasites who are living on the moral capital of their generation ?  Surely circumstance consists largely in the inertia , the impenetrability of the destroyers .  ”  Ernest shewed signs of restiveness .  He shuffled on his chair , made muttered exclamations .  “ Presently , ” said the lecturer reassuringly .  “ Or put it in another way , ” she went on .  “ A man may make a thing — circumstance included — but he is not a sort of moral spider ; he ca n't spin it out of his own inside .  He wants something to make it of .  The formative force comes from within , but he must have material , just as much as a sculptor must have his marble before he can shape his statue .  There is a subtle relation between character and conditions , and it is this relation that determines Fate .  Fate is as the statue of the sculptor .  ”  “ That 'swhere Hadria mainly differs from you , ” said Fred , “ you make the thing absolute ; Hadria makes it a matter of relation .  ”  “ Exactly , ” assented the lecturer , catching the remark .  “ Difficulties need not be really obstructive to the best development of a character or a power , nor a smooth path always favourable .  Obstacles may be of a kind to stimulate one person and to annihilate another .  It is not a question of relative strength between character and circumstance , as people are so fond of asserting .  That is mere gibberish .  It means nothing .  The two things cannot be compared , for they are not of the same nature .  They ca n't be reduced to a common denominator .  ”  Austin appreciated this illustration , being head of his class for arithmetic .  “ We shall never be able to take a reasonable view of this question till we get rid of that ridiculous phrase , ‘ If the soul is strong enough , it can overcome circumstance .’ In a room filled with carbonic acid instead of ordinary air , a giant would succumb as quickly as a dwarf , and his strength would avail him nothing .  Indeed , if there is a difference , it is in favour of the dwarf .  ”  Ernest frowned .  This was all high treason against his favourite author .  He had given his sister a copy of Emerson 'sworks last Christmas , in the hope that her views might be enlightened , and this was the disgraceful use she made of it !  “ Finally , ” said Hadria , smiling defiantly at her brother , “ let us put the question shortly thus : Given ( say ) great artistic power , given also a conscience and a strong will , is there any combination of circumstances which might prevent the artistic power ( assuming it to be of the highest order and strength ) from developing and displaying itself , so as to meet with general recognition ?  ”  “ No , ” asserted Ernest , and there was a hesitating chorus on his side .  “ There seem to me to be a thousand chances against it , ” Hadria continued .  “ Artistic power , to begin with , is a sort of weakness in relation to the everyday world , and so , in some respects , is a nice conscience .  I think Emerson is shockingly unjust .  His beaming optimism is a worship of success disguised under lofty terms .  There is nothing to prove that thousands have not been swamped by maladjustment of character to circumstance , and I would even go so far as to suggest that perhaps the very greatest of all are those whom the world has never known , because the present conditions are inharmonious with the very noblest and the very highest qualities .  ”  No sooner was the last word uttered than the garret became the scene of the stormiest debate that had ever been recorded in the annals of the Preposterous Society , an institution that had lately celebrated its fifth anniversary .  Hadria , fired by opposition , declared that the success of great people was due not simply to their greatness , but to some smaller and commoner quality which brought them in touch with the majority , and so gave their greatness a chance .  At this , there was such a howl of indignation that Algitha remonstrated .  “ We shall be heard , if you do n't take care , ” she warned .  “ My dear Algitha , there are a dozen empty rooms between us and the inhabited part of the house , not to mention the fact that we are a storey above everyone except the ghosts , so I think you may compose yourself .  ”  However , the excited voices were hushed a little as the discussion continued .  One of the chief charms of the institution , in the eyes of the members of the Society , was its secrecy .  The family , though united by ties of warm affection to their parents , did not look for encouragement from them in this direction .  Mr. Fullerton was too exclusively scientific in his bent of thought , to sympathize with the kind of speculation in which his children delighted , while their mother looked with mingled pride and alarm at these outbreaks of individuality on the part of her daughters , for whom she craved the honours of the social world .  In this out-of-the-way district , society smiled upon conformity , and glared vindictively at the faintest sign of spontaneous thinking .  Cleverness of execution , as in music , tennis , drawing , was forgiven , even commended ; but originality , though of the mildest sort , created the same agonizing disturbance in the select circle , as the sight of a crucifix is wont to produce upon the father of Evil .  Yet by some freak of fortune , the whole family at Dunaghee had shewn obstinate symptoms of individuality from their childhood , and , what was more distressing , the worst cases occurred in the girls .  In the debate just recorded , that took place on Algitha 'stwenty-second birthday , Ernest had been Hadria 'sprincipal opponent , but the others had also taken the field against her .  “ You have the easier cause to champion , ” she said , when there was a momentary lull , “ for all your evidences can be pointed to and counted whereas mine , poor things — pale hypotheses , nameless peradventures — lie in forgotten church-yards — unthought of , unthanked , untrumpeted , and all their tragedy is lost in the everlasting silence .  ”  “ You will never make people believe in what might have been , ” said Algitha .  “ I do n't expect to .  ” Hadria was standing by the window looking out over the glimmering fields and the shrouded white hills .  “ Life is as white and as unsympathetic as this , ” she said dreamily .  “ We just dance our reel in our garret , and then it is all over ; and whether we do the steps as our fancy would have them , or a little otherwise , because of the uneven floor , or tired feet , or for lack of chance to learn the steps — heavens and earth , what does it matter ?  ”  “ Hadria !  ” exclaimed an astonished chorus .  The sentiment was so entirely unlike any that the ardent President of the Society had ever been known to express before , that brothers and sisters crowded up to enquire into the cause of the unusual mood .  “ Oh , it is only the moonlight that has got into my head , ” she said , flinging back the cloudy black hair from her brow .  Algitha 'sfirm , clear voice vibrated through the room .  “ But I think it matters very much whether one 'stask is done well or ill , ” she said , “ and nobody has taught me to wish to make solid use of my life so much as you have , Hadria .  What possesses you to-night ?  ”  “ I tell you , the moonlight .  ”  “ And something else .  ”  “ Well , it struck me , as I stood there with my head full of what we have been discussing , that the conditions of a girl 'slife of our own class are pleasant enough , but they are stifling , absolutely stifling ; and not all the Emersons in the world will convince me to the contrary .  Emerson never was a girl !  ”  There was a laugh .  “ No ; but he was a great man , ” said Ernest .  “ Then he must have had something of the girl in him !  ” cried Hadria .  “ I did n't mean that , but perhaps it is true .  ”  “ If he had been a girl , he would have known that conditions do count hideously in one 'slife .  I think that there are more ‘destroyers’ to be carried about and pampered in this department of existence than in any other ( material conditions being equal ) .  ”  “ Do you mean that a girl would have more difficulty in bringing her power to maturity and getting it recognized than a man would have ?  ” asked Fred .  “ Yes ; the odds are too heavy .  ”  “ A second-rate talent perhaps , ” Ernest admitted , “ but not a really big one .  ”  “ I should exactly reverse that statement , ” said Hadria .  “ The greater the power and the finer its quality , the greater the inharmony between the nature and the conditions ; therefore the more powerful the leverage against it .  A small comfortable talent might hold its own , where a larger one would succumb .  That is where I think you make your big mistake , in forgetting that the greatness of the power may serve to make the greatness of the obstacles .  ”  “ So much the better for me then , ” said Algitha , with a touch of satire ; “ for I have no idea of being beaten .  ” She folded her arms in a serene attitude of determination .  “ Surely it only wants a little force of will to enable you to occupy your life in the manner you think best , ” said Ernest .  “ That is often impossible for a girl , because prejudice and custom are against her .  ”  “ But she ought to despise prejudice and custom , ” cried the brother , nobly .  “ So she often would ; but then she has to tear through so many living ties that restrain her freedom .  ”  Algitha drew herself up .  “ If one is unjustly restrained , ” she said , “ it is perfectly right to brave the infliction of the sort of pain that people feel only because they unfairly object to one 'sliberty of action .  ”  “ But what a frightful piece of circumstance that is to encounter , ” cried Hadria , “ to have to buy the mere right to one 'sliberty by cutting through prejudices that are twined in with the very heart-strings of those one loves !  Ah !  that particular obstacle has held many a woman helpless and suffering , like some wretched insect pinned alive to a board throughout a miserable lifetime !  What would Emerson say to these cases ?  That ‘Nature magically suits the man to his fortunes by making these the fruit of his character’ ?  Pooh !  I think Nature more often makes a man 'sfortunes a veritable shirt of Nessus which burns and clings , and finally kills him with anguish !  ”  CHAPTER II .  ONCE more the old stronghold of Dunaghee , inured for centuries to the changes of the elements , received the day 'sgreeting .  The hues of dawn tinged the broad hill pastures , or “ airds , ” as they were called , round about the Tower of the Winds .  No one was abroad yet in the silent lands , except perhaps a shepherd , tending his flock .  The little farmstead of Craw Gill , that lay at a distance of about a couple of miles down the valley , on the side of a ravine , was apparently dead asleep .  Cruachmore , the nearest upland farm , could scarcely be seen from the stronghold .  The old tower had been added to , perhaps two hundred years ago ; a rectangular block projecting from the corner of the original building , and then a second erection at right angles to the first , so as to form three sides of an irregular courtyard .  This arrangement afforded some shelter from the winds which seldom ceased to blow in these high regions .  The spot had borne the same reputation for centuries , as the name of the old tower implied .  The Tower of the Winds stood desolately , in the midst of a wide-eyed agricultural country , and was approached only by a sort of farm track that ran up hill and down dale , in a most erratic course , to the distant main road .  The country was not mountainous , though it lay in a northern district of Scotland ; it was bleak and solitary , with vast bare fields of grass or corn ; and below in the valley , a river that rushed sweeping over its rough bed , silent where it ran deep , but chattering busily in the shallows .  Here was verdure to one 'sheart 'scontent ; the whole country being a singular mixture of bleakness on the heights , and woodland richness in the valleys ; bitterly cold in the winter months , when the light deserted the uplands ridiculously early in the afternoon , leaving long mysterious hours that held the great silent stretches of field and hillside in shadow : a circumstance , which had , perhaps , not been without its influence in the forming of Hadria 'scharacter .  She , more than the others , seemed to have absorbed the spirit of the northern twilights .  It was her custom to wander alone over the broad spaces of the hills , watching the sun set behind them , the homeward flight of the birds , the approach of darkness and the rising of the stars .  Every instinct that was born in her with her Celtic blood — which lurked still in the family to the confounding of its fortunes — was fostered by the mystery and wildness of her surroundings .  Dawn and sunset had peculiar attractions for her .  Although the Preposterous Society had not separated until unusually late on the previous night , the President was up and abroad on this exquisite morning , summoned by some “ message of range and of sweep — ” to the flushing stretches of pasture and the windy hillside .  In spite of the view that Hadria had expounded in her capacity of lecturer , she had an inner sense that somehow , after all , the will can perform astonishing feats in Fate 'sdespite .  Her intellect , rather than her heart , had opposed the philosophy of Emerson .  Her sentiment recoiled from admitting the possibility of such tragedy as her expressed belief implied .  This morning , the wonder and the grandeur of the dawn supplied arguments to faith .  If the best in human nature were always to be hunted down and extinguished , if the efforts to rise in the scale of being , to bring gifts instead of merely absorbing benefits , were only by a rare combination of chances to escape the doom of annihilation , where was one to turn to for hope , or for a motive for effort ?  How could one reconcile the marvellous beauty of the universe , the miracles of colour , form , and , above all , of music , with such a chaotic moral condition , and such unlovely laws in favour of dulness , cowardice , callousness , cruelty ?  One aspired to be an upholder and not a destroyer , but if it were a useless pain and a bootless venture — ?  Hadria tried to find some proof of the happier philosophy that would satisfy her intellect , but it refused to be comforted .  Yet as she wandered in the rosy light over the awakening fields , her heart sang within her .  The world was exquisite , life was a rapture !  She could take existence in her hands and form and fashion it at her will , obviously , easily ; her strength yearned for the task .  Yet all the time , the importunate intellect kept insisting that feeling was deceptive , that health and youth and the freshness of the morning spoke in her , and not reason or experience .  Feeling was left untouched nevertheless .  It was impossible to stifle the voices that prophesied golden things .  Life was all before her she was full of vigour and longing and good will ; the world stretched forth as a fair territory , with magical pathways leading up to dizzy mountain tops .  With visions such as these , the members of the Preposterous Society had fired their imaginations , and gained impetus for their various efforts and their various ambitions .  Hadria had been among the most hopeful of the party , and had pointed to the loftier visions , and the more impersonal aims .  Circumstance must give way , compromise was wrong ; we had but a short time in this world , and mere details and prejudices must not be allowed to interfere with one 'sright to live to the utmost of one 'sscope .  But it was easier to state a law than to obey it ; easier to inspire others with faith than to hold fast to it oneself .  The time for taking matters in one 'sown hands had scarcely come .  A girl was so helpless , so tied by custom .  One could engage , so far , only in guerilla warfare with the enemy , who lurked everywhere in ambush , ready to harass the wayfarers with incessant petty attack .  But life must have something more to offer than this — life with its myriad interests , dramas , mysteries , arts , poetries , delights !  By the river , where it had worn for itself a narrow ravine , with steep rocky sides or “ clints , ” as they were called , several short tunnels or passages had been cut in places where the rock projected as far as the bank of the river , which was followed in its windings by a narrow footway , leading to the farmstead of Craw Gill .  In one part , a series of such tunnels , with intervals of open pathway , occurred in picturesque fashion , causing a singular effect of light and shade .  As Hadria stood admiring the glow of the now fully-risen sun , upon the wall of rock that rose beyond the opening of the tunnel which she had just passed through , she heard footsteps advancing along the riverside path , and guessed that Algitha and Ernest had come to fetch her , or to join in any absurd project that she might have in view .  Although Algitha was two-and-twenty , and Hadria only a year younger , they were still guilty at times of wild escapades , with the connivance of their brothers .  Walks or rides at sunrise were ordinary occurrences in the family , and in summer , bathing in the river was a favourite amusement .  “ I thought I recognised your footsteps , ” said Hadria , as the two figures appeared at the mouth of the tunnel , the low rays of the sun lighting them up , for a moment , as they turned the sharp bend of the narrow path , before entering the shadow .  A quantity of brown dead leaves were strewn upon the floor of the rock-passage , blown in by the wind from the pathway at each end , or perhaps through the opening in the middle of the tunnel that looked out upon the rushing river .  A willow-tree had found footing in the crevice of the rock just outside , and its branches , thinly decked with pale yellow leaves , dipped into the water just in front of the opening .  When the wind blew off the river it would sweep the leaves of the willow into the tunnel .  “ Let 'smake a bonfire , ” suggested Ernest .  They collected the withered harvest of the winds upon the cavern floor , in a big brown heap , and then Ernest struck a match and set light to it .  Algitha , in a large black cloak , stood over it with a hazel stick — like a wand — stirring and heaping on the fuel , as the mass began to smoulder and to send forth a thick white smoke that gradually filled the cavern , curling up into the rocky roof and swirling round and out by the square-cut mouth , to be caught there by the slight wind and illumined by the sun , which poured down upon the soft coils of the smoke , in so strange a fashion , as to call forth a cry of wonder from the onlookers .  Standing in the interval of open pathway between the two rock-passages , and looking back at the fire-lit cavern , with its black shadows and flickering flame-colours , Hadria was bewildered by what appeared to her a veritable magic vision , beautiful beyond anything that she had ever met in dream .  She stood still to watch , with a real momentary doubt as to whether she were awake .  The figures , stooping over the burning heap , moved occasionally across the darkness , looking like a witch and her familiar spirit , who were conjuring , by uncanny arts , a vision of life , on the strange , white , clean-cut patch of smoke that was defined by the sunlit entrance to the tunnel .  The witch stirred , and her familiar added fuel , while behind them the smoke , rising and curdling , formed the mysterious background of light : opaque , and yet in a state of incessant movement , as of some white raging fire , thinner and more deadly than any ordinary earthly element , that seemed to sicken and flicker in the blast of a furnace , and then rushed upwards , and coiled and rolled across the tunnel 'smouth .  Presently , as a puff of wind swept away part of the smoke , a miraculous tinge of rosy colour appeared , changing , as one caught it , into gold , and presently to a milky blue , then liquid green , and a thousand intermediate tints corresponding to the altering density of the smoke — and then !  Hadria caught her breath — the blue and the red and the gold melted and moved and formed , under the incantation , into a marvellous vision of distant lands , purple mountains , fair white cities , and wide kingdoms , so many , so great , that the imaginltion staggered at the vastness revealed , and offered , as it seemed , to him who could grasp and perceive it .  Among those blue deeps and faint innumerable mountaintops , caught through a soft mist that continually moved and lifted , thinned and thickened , with changing tints , all the secrets , all the hopes , all the powers and splendours , of life lay hidden ; and the beauty of the vision was as the essence of poetry and of music — of all that is lovely in the world of art , and in the world of the emotions .  The question that had been debated so hotly and so often , as to the relation of the good and the beautiful , art and ethics , seemed to be answered by this bewildering revelation of sunlit smoke , playing across the face of a purple-tinted rock , and a few feet of grass-edged pathway .  “ Come and see what visions you have conjured up , O witch !  ” cried Hadria .  Algitha gave a startled exclamation , as the smoke thinned and revealed that bewildering glimpse of distant lands , half seen , as through the atmosphere of a dream .  An exquisite city , with slender towers and temples , flashed , for a moment , through the mist curtain .  “ If life is like that , ” she said at length , drawing a long breath , “ nothing on this earth ought to persuade us to forgo it ; no one has the right to hold one back from its possession .  ”  “ No one , ” said Hadria ; “ but everyone will try !  ”  “ Let them try , ” returned Algitha defiantly .  CHAPTER III .  ERNEST and his two sisters walked homeward along the banks of the river , and thence up by a winding path to the top of the cliffs .  It was mild weather , and they decided to pause in the little temple of classic design , which some ancient owner of the Drumgarran estate , touched with a desire for the exquisiteness of Greek outline , had built on a promontory of the rocks , among rounded masses of wild foliage ; a spot that commanded one of the most beautiful reaches of the river .  The scene had something of classic perfection and serenity .  “ I admit , ” said Ernest in response to some remark of one of his sisters , “ I admit that I should not like to stay here during all the best years of my life , without prospect of widening my experience ; only as a matter of fact , the world is somewhat different from anything that you imagine , and by no means would you find it all beer and skittles .  Your smoke and sun-vision is not to be trusted .  ”  “ But think of the pride and joy of being able to speak in that tone of experience !  ” exclaimed Hadria mockingly .  “ One has to pay for experience , ” said Ernest , shaking his head and ignoring her taunt .  “ I think one has to pay more heavily for in experience , ” she said .  “ Not if one never comes in contact with the world .  Girls are protected from the realities of life so long as they remain at home , and that is worth something after all .  ”  Algitha snorted .  “ I do n't know what you are pleased to call realities , my dear Ernest , but I can assure you there are plenty of unpleasant facts , in this protected life of ours .  ”  “ Nobody can expect to escape unpleasant facts , ” said Ernest .  “ Then for heaven 'ssake , let us purchase with them something worth having !  ” Hadria cried .  “ Hear , hear !  ” assented Algitha .  “ Unpleasant facts being a foregone conclusion , ” Hadria added , “ the point to aim at obviously is interesting facts — and plenty of them .  ”  Ernest flicked a pebble off the parapet of the balustrade of the little temple , and watched it fall , with a silent splash , into the river .  “ I never met girls before , who wanted to come out of their cotton-wool , ” he observed .  “ I thought girls loved cotton-wool .  They always seem to .  ”  “ Girls seem an astonishing number of things that they are not , ” said Hadria , “ especially to men .  A poor benighted man might as well try to get on to confidential terms with the Sphinx , as to learn the real thoughts and wishes of a girl .  ”  “ You two are exceptional , you see , ” said Ernest .  “ Oh , everybody 'sexceptional , if you only knew it !  ” exclaimed his sister .  “ Girls , ” she went on to assert , “ are stuffed with certain stereotyped sentiments from their infancy , and when that painful process is completed , intelligent philosophers come and smile upon the victims , and point to them as proofs of the intentions of Nature regarding our sex , admirable examples of the unvarying instincts of the feminine creature .  In fact , ” Hadria added with a laugh , “ it 'sas if the trainer of that troop of performing poodles that we saw , the other day , at Ballochcoil , were to assure the spectators that the amiable animals were inspired , from birth , by a heaven-implanted yearning to jump through hoops , and walk about on their hind legs — ”  “ But there are such things as natural instincts , ” said Ernest .  “ There are such things as acquired tricks , ” returned Hadria .  A loud shout , accompanied by the barking of several dogs , announced the approach of the two younger boys .  Boys and dogs had been taking their morning bath in the river .  “ You have broken in upon a most interesting discourse , ” said Ernest .  “ Hadria was really coming out .  ”  This led to a general uproar .  When peace was restored , the conversation went on in desultory fashion .  Ernest and Hadria fell apart into a more serious talk .  These two had always been “ chums , ” from the time when they used to play at building houses of bricks on the nursery floor .  There was deep and true affection between them .  The day broke into splendour , and the warm rays , rounding the edge of the eastward rock , poured straight into the little temple .  Below and around on the cliff-sides , the rich foliage of holly and dwarf oak , ivy , and rowan with its burning berries , was transformed into a mass of warm colour and shining surfaces .  “ What always bewilders me , ” Hadria said , bending over the balustrade among the ivy , “ is the enormous gulf between what might be and what is in human life .  Look at the world — life 'smost sumptuous stage — and look at life !  The one , splendid , exquisite , varied , generous , rich beyond description ; the other , poor , thin , dull , monotonous , niggard , distressful — is that necessary ?  ”  “ But all lives are not like that , ” objected Fred .  “ I speak only from my own narrow experience , ” said Hadria .  “ Oh , she is thinking , as usual , of that unfortunate Mrs. Gordon !  ” cried Earnest .  “ Of her , and the rest of the average , typical sort of people that I know , ” Hadria admitted .  “ I wish to heaven I had a wider knowledge to speak from .  ”  “ If one is to believe what one hears and reads , ” said Algitha , “ a life must be full of sorrow indeed .  ”  “ But putting aside the big sorrows , ” said her sister , “ the ordinary every day existence that would be called prosperous , seems to me to be dull and stupid to a tragic extent .  ”  “ The Gordons of Drumgarran once more !  I confess I ca n't see anything particularly tragic there , ” observed Fred , whose memory recalled troops of stalwart young persons in flannels , engaged for hours , in sending a ball from one side of a net to the other .  “ It is more than tragic ; it is disgusting !  ” cried Hadria with a shiver .  Algitha drew herself together .  She turned to her eldest brother .  “ Look here , Ernest ; you said just now that girls were shielded from the realities of life .  Yet Mrs. Gordon was handed over by her protectors , when she was little more than a school-girl , without knowledge , without any sort of resource or power of facing destiny , to — well , to the hateful realities of the life that she has led now for over twenty years .  There is nothing to win general sympathy in this case , for Mr. Gordon is good and kind ; but oh , think of the existence that a ‘protected , ’ carefully brought-up girl may be launched into ; before she knows what she is pledged to , or what her ideas of life may be !  If that is what you call protection , for heaven 'ssake let us remain defenceless .  ”  Fred and Ernest accused their elder sister of having been converted by Hadria .  Algitha , honest and courageous in big things and in small , at once acknowledged the source of her ideas .  Not so long ago , Algitha had differed from the daughters of the neighbouring houses , rather in force of character than in sentiment .  She had followed the usual aims with unusual success , giving unalloyed satisfaction to her proud mother .  Algitha had taken it as a matter of course that she would some day marry , and have a house of her own to reign in .  A home , not a husband , was the important matter , and Algitha had trusted to her attractions to make a good marriage ; that is , to obtain extensive regions for her activities .  She craved a roomy stage for her drama , and obviously there was only one method of obtaining it , and even that method was but dubious .  But Hadria had undermined this matter of fact , take-things-as-you-find-them view , and set her sister 'spride on the track .  That master-passion once aroused in the new direction , Algitha was ready to defend her dignity as a woman , and as a human being , to the death .  Hadria felt as a magician might feel , who has conjured up spirits henceforth beyond his control ; for obviously , her sister 'swhole life would be altered by this change of sentiment , and , alas , her mother 'shopes must be disappointed .  The laird of Clarenoc — a fine property , of which Algitha might have been mistress — had received polite discouragement , much to his surprise and that of the neighbourhood .  Even Ernest , who was by no means worldly , questioned the wisdom of his sister 'sdecision ; for the laird of Clarenoc was a good fellow , and after all , let them talk as they liked , what was to become of a girl unless she married ?  This morning 'sconversation therefore touched closely on burning topics .  “ Mrs. Gordon 'speople meant it for the best , I suppose , ” Ernest observed , “ when they married her to a good man with a fine property .  ”  “ That is just the ghastly part of it !  ” cried Hadria ; “ from ferocious enemies a girl might defend herself , but what is she to do against the united efforts of devoted friends ?  ”  “ I do n't suppose Mrs. Gordon is aware that she is so ill-used !  ”  “ Another gruesome circumstance !  ” cried Hadria , with a half laugh ; “ for that only proves that her life has dulled her self-respect , and destroyed her pride .  ”  “ But , my dear , every woman is in the same predicament , if predicament it be !  ”  “ What a consolation !  ” Hadria exclaimed , “ all the foxes have lost their tails !  ”  “ It may be illogical , but people generally are immensely comforted by that circumstance .  ”  The conversation waxed warmer and more personal .  Fred took a conservative view of the question .  He thought that there were instincts implanted by Nature , which inspired Mrs. Gordon with a yearning for exactly the sort of existence that fate had assigned to her .  Algitha , who had been the recipient of that lady 'stragic confidences , broke into a shout of laughter .  “ Well , Harold Wilkins says — ”  This name was also greeted with a yell of derision .  “ I do n't see why you girls always scoff so at Harold Wilkins , ” said Fred , slightly aggrieved , “ he is generally thought a lot of by girls .  All Mrs. Gordon 'ssisters adore him .  ”  “ He needs no further worshippers , ” said Hadria .  Fred was asked to repeat the words of Harold Wilkins , but to soften them down if too severe .  “ He laughs at your pet ideas , ” said Fred ruthlessly .  “ Break it gently , Fred , gently .  ”  “ He thinks that a true woman esteems it her highest privilege to — well , to be like Mrs. Gordon .  ”  “ Wise and learned youth !  ” cried Hadria , resting her chin on her hand , and peering up into the blue sky , above the temple .  “ Fool ! ” exclaimed Algitha .  “ He says , ” continued Fred , determined not to spare those who were so overbearing in their scorn , “ he says that girls who have ideas like yours will never get any fellow to marry them .  ”  Laughter loud and long greeted this announcement .  “ Laughter , ” observed Fred , when he could make himself heard , “ is among the simplest forms of argument .  Does this merry outburst imply that you do n't care a button whether you are able to get some one to marry you or not ?  ”  “ It does , ” said Algitha .  “ Well , so I said to Wilkins , as a matter of fact , with my nose in the air , on your behalf , and Wilkins replied , ‘Oh , it 'sall very well while girls are young and good-looking to be so high and mighty , but some day , when they are left out in the cold , and all their friends married , they may sing a different tune.’ Feeling there was something in this remark , ” Fred continued , “ I raised my nose two inches higher , and adopted the argument that I also resort to in extremis .  I laughed .  ‘Well , my dear fellow , ’ Wilkins observed calmly , ‘I mean no offence , but what on earth is a girl to do with herself if she does n't marry ?  ’ ”  “ What did you reply ?  ” asked Ernest with curiosity .  “ Oh , I said that was an unimportant detail , and changed the subject .  ”  Algitha was still scornful , but Hadria looked meditative .  “ Harold Wilkins has a practical mind , ” she observed .  “ After all , he is right , when you come to consider it .  ”  “ Hadria ! ” remonstrated her sister , in dismay .  “ We may as well be candid , ” said Hadria .  “ There is uncommonly little that a girl can do ( or rather that people will let her do ) unless she marries , and that is why she so often does marry as a mere matter of business .  But I wish Harold Wilkins would remember that fact , instead of insisting that it is our inherent and particular nature that urges us , one and all , to the career of Mrs. Gordon .  ”  Algitha was obviously growing more and more ruffled .  Fred tried in vain to soothe her feelings .  He joked , but she refused to see the point .  She would not admit that Harold Wilkins had facts on his side .  “ If one simply made up one 'smind to walk through all the hampering circumstances , who or what could stop one ?  ” she asked .  “ Algitha has evidently got some desperate plan in her head for making mincemeat of circumstances , ” cried Fred , little guessing that he had stated the exact truth .  “ Do you remember that Mrs. Gordon herself waged a losing battle in early days , incredible as it may appear ?  ” asked Hadria .  Algitha nodded slowly , her eyes fixed on the ground .  “ She did not originally set out with the idea of being a sort of amiable cow .  She once aspired to be quite human ; she really did , poor thing !  ”  “ Then why did n't she do it ?  ” asked Algitha contemptuously .  “ Instead of doing a thing , she had to be perpetually struggling for the chance to do it , which she never achieved , and so she was submerged .  That seems to be the fatality in a woman 'slife .  ”  “ Well , there is one thing I am very sure of , ” announced Algitha , leaning majestically against a column of the temple , and looking like a beautiful Greek maiden , in her simple gown , “ I do not intend to be a cow .  I do not mean to fight a losing battle .  I will not wait at home meekly , till some fool holds out his sceptre to me .  ”  All eyes turned to her , in astonishment .  “ But what are you going to do ?  ” asked a chorus of voices .  Hadria 'swas not among them , for she knew what was coming .  The debate of last night , and this morning 'sdiscussion , had evidently brought to a climax a project that Algitha had long had in her mind , but had hesitated to carry out , on account of the distress that it would cause to her mother .  Algitha 'seyes glittered , and her colour rose .  “ I am not going to be hawked about the county till I am disposed of .  It does not console me in the least , that all the foxes are without tails , ” she went on , taking short cuts to her meaning , in her excitement .  “ I am going to London with Mrs. Trevelyan , to help her in her work .  ”  “ By Jove ! ” exclaimed Fred .  Ernest whistled .  Austin stared , with open mouth .  Having recovered from the first shock of surprise , the family plied their sister with questions .  She said that she had long been thinking of accepting the post offered her by Mrs. Trevelyan last year , and now she was resolved .  The work was really wise , useful work among the poor , which Algitha felt she could do well .  At home , there was nothing that she did that the housekeeper could not do better .  She felt herself fretting and growing irritable , for mere want of some active employment .  This was utterly absurd , in an overworked world .  Hadria had her music and her study , at any rate , but Algitha had nothing that seemed worth doing ; she did not care to paint indifferently on china ; she was a mere encumbrance — a destroyer as Hadria put it — while there was so much , so very much , that waited to be done .  The younger sister made no comment .  “ Next time I meet Harold Wilkins , ” said Fred , drawing a long breath , “ I will tell him that if a girl does not marry , she can devote herself to the poor .  ”  “ Or that she can remain to be the family consolation , eh , Hadria ?  By Jove , what a row there will be !  ”  The notion of Hadria in the capacity of the family consolation , created a shout of laughter .  It had always been her function to upset foregone conclusions , overturn orthodox views , and generally disturb the conformity of the family attitude .  Now the sedate and established qualities would be expected of her .  Hadria must be the stay and hope of the house !  Fred continued to chuckle , at intervals , over the idea .  “ It does seem to indicate rather a broken-down family !  ” said Ernest .  “ I wish one of you boys would undertake the position instead of laughing at me , ” exclaimed Hadria in mock resentment .  “ I wish you would go to eternal tennis-parties , and pay calls , and bills , and write notes , and do little useless necessary things , more or less all day .  I wish you had before you the choice between that existence and the career of Mrs. Gordon , with the sole chance of escape from either fate , in ruthlessly trampling upon the bleeding hearts of two beloved parents !  ”  “ Thank you kindly , ” said Fred , “ but we infinitely prefer to laugh at you .  ”  “ Man 'seternal reply to woman , admirably paraphrased !  ” commented Hadria .  Everyone was anxious to know when Algitha intended to go to London .  Nobody doubted for a moment that she would hold to her purpose ; as Fred said , she was so “ beastly obstinate .  ”  Algitha had not fixed any time .  It would depend on her mother .  She wished to make things as little painful as possible .  That it was her duty to spare her pain altogether by remaining at home , Algitha refused to admit .  She and Hadria had thought out the question from all sides .  The work she was going to do was useful , but she did not justify herself on that ground .  She claimed the right to her life and her liberty , apart from what she intended to do with either .  She owed it to her own conscience alone to make good use of her liberty .  “ I do n't want to pose as a philanthropist , ” she added , “ though I honestly do desire to be of service .  I want to spread my wings .  And why should I not ?  Nobody turns pale when Ernest wants to spread his .  How do I know what life is like , or how best to use it , if I remain satisfied with my present ignorance ?  How can I even appreciate what I possess , if I have nothing to compare it with ?  Of course , the truly nice and womanly thing to do , is to remain at home , waiting to be married .  I have elected to be un womanly .  ”  “ I wonder how all this will turn out , ” said Ernest , “ whether you wo n't regret it some day when it is too late .  ”  “ Do n't people always regret what they do — some day ?  ” asked Hadria .  “ Perhaps so , especially if they do it sooner than other people .  ”  “ When are you going to make the announcement at head quarters ?  ” asked Fred .  There was a pause .  The colour had left Algitha 'scheeks .  She answered at length with an effort —  “ I shall speak to mother to-day .  ”  CHAPTER IV .  MRS. FULLERTON had gone to the study , to consult with her husband on some matter of domestic importance .  It was a long , low-pitched room , situated in the part of the house that stood at right angles to the central block , with long , narrow windows looking on to a rough orchard .  A few old portraits , very yellow and somewhat grotesque , hung on the walls ; a wood fire burnt on the hob-grate , and beside it stood a vast arm chair , considerably worn , with depressions shewing where its owner had been leaning his head , day after day , when he smoked his pipe , or took his after-dinner nap .  The bookshelves were stocked with scientific works , and some volumes on philosophy of a materialistic character .  With the exception of Robert Burns , not one poet was represented .  The owner of the house sat before a big writing-table , which was covered with papers .  His face was that of a hard thinker ; the head was fine in form , the forehead broad and high ; the features regular , almost severe .  The severity was softened by a genial expression .  Mrs. Fullerton , though also obviously above the average of humanity , shewed signs of incomplete development .  The shape of the head and brow promised many faculties that the expression of the face did not encourage one to expect .  She was finely built ; and carried herself with dignity .  When her daughters accompanied her on a round of calls in the neighbourhood , they expressed a certain quality in her appearance , in rough and ready terms : “ Other married women always look such fools beside mother !  ”  And they did .  Mrs. Fullerton wore her fine black hair brushed neatly over her forehead ; her eyes were large , and keen in expression .  The mouth shewed determination .  It was easy to see that this lady had unbounded belief in her husband 'swisdom , except in social matters , for which he cared nothing .  On that point she had to keep her ambitions to herself .  In questions of philosophy , she had imbibed his tenets unmodified , and though she went regularly every Sunday to the close little Scottish church at Ballochcoil , she had no more respect than her husband had , for the doctrines that were preached there .  “ No doubt it is all superstition and nonsense , ” she used to say , “ but in this country , one ca n't afford to fly in the face of prejudice .  It would seriously tell against the girls .  ”  “ Well , have your own way , ” Mr. Fullerton would reply , “ but I ca n't see the use of always bothering about what people will think .  What more do the girls want than a good home and plenty of lawn-tennis ?  They 'llget husbands fast enough , without your asphyxiating yourself every Sunday in their interests .  ”  In her youth , Mrs. Fullerton had shewn signs of qualities which had since been submerged .  Her husband had influenced her development profoundly , to the apparent stifling of every native tendency .  A few volumes of poetry , and other works of imagination , bore testimony to the lost sides of her nature .  Mr. Fullerton thought imagination “ all nonsense , ” and his wife had no doubt he was right , though there was something to be said for one or two of the poets .  The buried impulses had broken out , like a half-smothered flame , in her children , especially in her younger daughter .  Singularly enough , the mother regarded these qualities , partly inherited from herself , as erratic and annoying .  The memory of her own youth taught her no sympathy .  It was a benumbed sort of life that she led , in her picturesque old home , whose charm she perceived but dimly with the remnants of her lost aptitudes .  “ Picturesque !  ” Mr. Fullerton used to cry with a snort ; “ why not say ‘unhealthy’ and be done with it ?  ”  From these native elements of character , modified in so singular a fashion in the mother 'slife , the children of this pair had drawn certain of their peculiarities .  The inborn strength and authenticity of the parents had transmuted itself , in the younger generation , to a spirit of free enquiry , and an audacity of thought which boded ill for Mrs. Fullerton 'sambitions .  The talent in her daughters , from which she had hoped so much , seemed likely to prove a most dangerous obstacle to their success .  Why was it that clever people were never sensible ?  The gong sounded for luncheon .  Austin put his head in at the door of the study , to ask if his father would shew him a drop of ditch-water through the microscope , in the afternoon .  “ If you will provide the ditch-water , I will provide the microscope , ” promised Mr. Fullerton genially .  Luncheon , usually a merry meal at Dunaghee , passed off silently .  There was a sense of oppression in the air .  Algitha and her sister made spasmodic remarks , and there were long pauses .  The conversation was chiefly sustained by the parents and the ever-talkative Fred .  The latter had some anecdotes to tell of the ravages made by wasps .  “ If Buchanan would only adopt my plan of destroying them , ” said Mr. Fullerton , “ we should soon get rid of the pest .  ”  “ It 'ssome chemical , is n't it ?  ” asked Mrs. Fullerton .  “ Oh , no ; that 'sno use at all !  Wasps positively enjoy chemicals .  What you do is this — .  ” And then followed a long and minute explanation of his plan , which had the merit of extreme originality .  Mr. Fullerton had his own particular way of doing everything , a piece of presumption which was naturally resented , with proper spirit , by his neighbours .  He found it an expensive luxury .  In the management of the estate , he had outraged the feelings of every landlord and land-agent within a radius of many miles , but he gained the affection of his tenants , and this he seemed to value more than the approval of his fellow-proprietors .  In theory , he stuck out for his privileges ; in practice , he was the friend and brother of the poorest on the estate .  In his mode of farming he was as eccentric as in his method of management .  He had taken Croachmore into his own hands , and this devoted farm had become the subject of a series of drastic scientific experiments , to the great grief and indignation of his bailiff .  Mrs. Fullerton believed implicitly in the value of these experiments , and so long as her husband tried science only on the farm she had no misgivings ; but , alas , he had lately taken shares in some company , that was to revolutionize agriculture through an ingenious contrivance for collecting nitrogen from the atmosphere .  Mr. Fullerton was confident that the new method was to be a gigantic success .  But on this point , his wife uneasily shook her head .  She had even tried to persuade Mr. Fullerton to rid himself of his liability .  It was so great , she argued , and why should one be made anxious ?  But her husband assured her that she did n't understand anything about it ; women ought not to meddle in business matters ; it was a stupendous discovery , sure to make the fortunes of the original shareholders .  “ When once the prejudice against a new thing has been got over , ” said the man of science , “ you will see — the thing will go like wild-fire .  ”  Many years afterwards , these words were remembered by Mrs. Fullerton , and she bitterly regretted that she had not urged the matter more strenuously .  “ Well , Algitha , ” said her father , wondering at her silence , “ how are the roses getting on ?  And I hope you have not forgotten the sweet-brier that you promised to grow for me .  ”  “ Oh , no , father , the sweet-brier has been ordered , ” returned Algitha , without her usual brightness of manner .  “ Have you a headache ?  ” enquired Mrs. Fullerton .  “ I hope you have not all been sitting up talking in Hadria 'sroom , as you are too fond of doing .  You have the whole day in which to express your ideas , and I think you might let the remainder wait over till morning .  ”  “ We were rather late last night , ” Algitha confessed .  “ Pressure of ideas overpowering , ” added Fred .  “ When I was young , ideas would never have been tolerated in young people for a moment , ” said Mrs. Fullerton , “ it would have been considered a mark of ill-breeding .  You may think yourselves lucky to be born at this end of the century , instead of the other .  ”  “ Indeed we do !  ” exclaimed Ernest .  “ It 'sgetting jolly interesting !  “ In some respects , no doubt we have advanced , ” observed his mother , “ but I confess I do n't understand all your modern notions .  Everybody seems to be getting discontented .  The poor want to be rich , and the rich want to be millionaires ; men want to do their master 'swork , and women want to do men 's; everything is topsy-turvy !  ”  “ The question is : What constitutes being right side up ?  ” said Ernest .  “ One ca n't exactly say what is topsy-turvy till one knows that .  ”  “ When I was young we thought we did know , ” said Mrs. Fullerton , “ but no doubt we are old-fashioned .  ”  When luncheon was over , Mr. Fullerton went to the garden with his family , according to a time-honoured custom .  His love of flowers sometimes made Hadria wonder whether her father also had been born with certain instincts , which the accidents of life had stifled or failed to develop .  Terrible was the tyranny of circumstance !  What had Emerson been dreaming of ?  Mr. Fullerton , with a rose-bud in his button-hole , went off with the boys for a farming walk .  Mrs. Fullerton returned to the house , and the sisters were left pacing together in the sheltered old garden , between two rows of gorgeous autumn flowers .  Hadria felt sick with dread of the coming interview .  Algitha was buoyed up , for the moment , by a strong conviction that she was in the right .  “ It ca n't be fair even for parents to order one 'swhole life according to their pleasure , ” she said .  “ Other girls submit , I know — ”  “ And so the world is full of abortive , ambiguous beings , fit for nothing .  The average woman always seem to me to be muffled — or morbid .  ”  “ That 'swhat I should become if I pottered about here much longer , ” said Algitha — “ morbid ; and if there is one thing on the face of the earth that I loathe , it is morbidness .  ”  Both sisters were instinctively trying to buttress up Algitha 'scourage , by strengthening her position with additional arguments .  “ Is it fair , ” Hadria asked , “ to summon children into the world , and then run up bills against them for future payment ?  Why should one not see the bearings of the matter ?  ”  “ In theory one can see them clearly enough ; but it is poor comfort when it comes to practice .  ”  “ Oh , seeing the bearings of things is always poor comfort !  ” exclaimed the younger sister , with sudden vehemence .  “ Upon my word , I think it is better , after all , to absorb indiscriminately whatever idiotcy may happen to be around one , and go with the crowd .  ”  “ Nonsense !  ” cried Algitha , who had no sympathy with these passionate discouragements that alternated , in Hadria , with equally passionate exaltations .  “ When you have gone , I will ask Mrs. Gordon to teach me the spirit of acquiescence , and one of those distracting games — bésique or halma , or some of the other infernal pastimes that heaven decrees for recalcitrant spirits in need of crushing discipline .  ”  “ I think I see you !  ” Algitha exclaimed with a dispirited laugh .  “ It will be a trial , ” Hadria admitted ; “ but it is said that suffering strengthens the character .  You may look forward before long , to claiming as sister a creature of iron purpose .  ”  “ I wonder , I wonder , ” cried Algitha , bending her fine head ; “ we owe everything to her .  ”  “ I know we do .  It 'sof no use disguising the unpleasant side of the matter .  A mother disappointed in her children must be a desperately unhappy woman .  She has nothing left ; for has she not resigned everything for them ?  But is sacrifice for ever to follow on sacrifice ?  Is life to go rolling after life , like the cheeses that the idiot in the fable sent running downhill , the one to fetch the other back ?  ”  “ Yes , for ever , ” said Algitha , “ until a few dare to break through the tradition , and then everyone will wonder at its folly .  If only I could talk the matter over , in a friendly spirit , with mother , but she wo n't let me .  Ahl !  if it were not that one is born with feelings and energies and ambitions of one 'sown , parents might treat one as a showman treats his marionettes , and we should all be charmed to lie prone on our backs , or to dance as may be convenient to our creators .  But , as it is , the life of a marionette — how ever affectionate the wire-pullers — does become monotonous after a time .  ”  “ As to that , ” said the younger sister , with a little raising of the brows , as if half shrinking from what she meant to say , “ I think most parents regard their children with such favourable eyes , not so much because they are they as because they are theirs .  ”  The sisters paced the length of the garden without speaking .  Then Hadria came to a standstill at the sun-dial , at the crossing of the paths , and began absently to trace the figures of the hours , with the stalk of a rose .  “ After all , ” she said , “ parents are presumably not actuated by humanitarian motives in bringing one into this wild world .  They do n't even profess to have felt an unselfish desire to see one enjoying oneself at their expense ( though , as a matter of fact , what enjoyment one has generally is at their expense ) .  People are always enthusiastically congratulated on the arrival of a new child , though it be the fourteenth , and the income two hundred a year !  This seems to point to a pronounced taste for new children , regardless of the consequences !  ”  “ Oh , of course , ” said Algitha , “ it 'sone of the canons !  Women , above all , are expected to jubilate at all costs .  And I think most of them do , more or less sincerely .  ”  “ Very well then , ” cried Hadria , “ it is universally admitted that children are summoned into the world to gratify parental instincts .  Yet the parents throw all the onus of existence , after all , upon the children , and make them pay for it , and apologise for it , and justify it by a thousand sacrifices and an ever-flowing gratitude .  ”  “ I am quite ready to give gratitude and sacrifice too , ” said Algitha , “ but I do n't feel that I ought to sacrifice everything to an idea that seems to me wrong .  Surely a human being has a right to his own life .  If he has not that , what , in heaven 'sname , has he ?  ”  “ Anything but that !  ” cried Hadria .  While the momentous interview was going on , Hadria walked restlessly up and down the garden , feverishly waiting .  The borders were brilliant with vast sunflowers , white lilies , and blazing “ red-hot pokers ” tangled together in splendid profusion , a very type of richness and glory of life .  Such was the sort of existence that Hadria claimed from Fate .  Her eyes turned to the bare , forlorn hills that even the August sunshine could not conjure into sumptuousness , and there she saw the threatened reality .  When at last Algitha 'sfine figure appeared at the further end of the path , Hadria hastened forward and took her sister 'sarm .  “ It was worse than I had feared , ” Algitha said , with a quiver in her voice .  “ I know I am right , and yet it seems almost more than I am equal for .  When I told mother , she turned deadly white , and I thought , for a moment , that she was going to faint .  Let 'ssit down on this seat .  ”  “ Oh , it was horrible , Hadria !  Mother must have been cherishing hopes about us , in a way that I do n't think she quite knew herself .  After that first moment of wretchedness , she flew into a passion of rage — that dreadful , tearing anger that people only feel when something of themselves is being wrenched away from them .  She said that her children were all bad and unnatural ; that she had spent her whole life in their interests ; that if it had not been for her , we should all of us have grown up without education or accomplishments , or looks , or anything else ; that she watched over us incessantly when we were little children , denying herself , spending her youth in devotion to us , when she might have gone into the world , and had some brightness and pleasure .  If we imagined that she had never felt the dulness of her life , and never longed to go about and see people and things , we were much mistaken .  But she had renounced everything she cared for , from her girlhood — she was scarcely older than I when her sacrifices began — and now her children gave no consideration to her ; they were ready to scatter themselves hither and thither without a thought of her , or her wishes .  They even talked scoffingly of the kind of life that she had led for them — for them , she repeated bitterly .  ”  Hadria 'sface had clouded .  “ Truly parents must have a bad time of it !  ” she exclaimed , “ but does it really console them that their children should have a bad time of it too ?  ”  Algitha was trembling and very pale .  “ Mother says I shall ruin my life by this fad .  What real good am I going to do ?  She says it is absurd the way we talk of things we know nothing about .  ”  “ But she wo n't let us know about things ; one must talk about some thing !  ” cried Hadria with a dispirited laugh .  “ She says she has experience of life , and we are ignorant of it .  I reminded her that our ignorance was not exactly our fault .  ”  “ Ah !  precisely .  Parents thrown their children 'signorance in their teeth , having taken precious good care to prevent their knowing anything .  I ca n't understand parents ; they must have been young themselves once .  Yet they seem to have forgotten all about it .  They keep us hoodwinked and infantile , and then launch us headlong into life , with all its problems to meet , and all momentous decisions made for us , past hope of undoing .  ” Hadria rose restlessly in her excitement .  “ Surely no creature was ever dealt with so insanely as the well-brought-up girl !  Surely no well-wisher so sincere as the average parent ever ill-treated his charge so preposterously .  ”  Again there was a long silence , filled with painful thought .  “ One begins to understand a little , why women do things that one despises , and why the proudest of them so often submit to absolute indignity .  You remember when Mrs. Arbuthnot and — ”  “ Ah , do n't !  ” cried Algitha , flushing .  “ Nothing ought to induce a woman to endure that .  ”  “ H 'm— I suspect the world that we know nothing about , Algitha , has ways and means of applying the pressure such as you and I scarcely dream of .  ” Hadria spoke with half-closed eyes that seemed to see deep and far .  “ I have read and heard things that have almost taken my breath away !  I feel as if I could kill every man who acquiesces in the present order of things .  It is an insult to every woman alive !  ”  In Hadria 'sroom that night , Algitha finally decided to delay her going for another six months , hoping by that time that her mother would have grown used to the idea , and less opposed to it .  Mr. Fullerton dismissed it , as obviously absurd .  But this high-handed treatment roused all the determination that Algitha had inherited from her father .  The six months had to be extended , in order to procure funds .  Algitha had a small income of her own , left her by her godmother , Miss Fortescue .  She put aside this , for her purpose .  Further delay , through Mrs. Trevelyan , brought the season round again to autumn , before Algitha was able to make her final preparations for departure .  “ Do try and reconcile them to the idea , ” she said to her sister , as they stood on the platform of Ballochcoil station , very white and wretched-looking .  “ It breaks my heart to see father look so fixed and angry , and mother so miserable .  I am not going away for ever .  Dear me , a day 'sjourney will bring me back , at any time .  ”  “ I 'lldo my best , ” said Hadria , “ here 'syour train ; what a clumsy instrument of fate it does look !  ”  There was not much time for farewells .  In a few minutes the train was steaming out of the station .  A solitary figure stood on the platform , watching the monster curving and diminishing along the line , with its white smoke soaring merrily into the air , in great rolling masses , that melted , as if by some incantation , from thick , snow-like whiteness to rapid annihilation .  CHAPTER V.  AS Hadria drove over the winding upland road back to her home , her thoughts followed her sister into her new existence , and then turned wistfully backwards to the days that had been marked off into the past by Algitha 'sdeparture .  How bright and eager and hopeful they had all been , how full of enthusiasm and generous ambitions !  Even as they talked of battle , they stretched forth their hands for the crown of victory .  At the last meeting of the Preposterous Society , Ernest had repeated a poem of his favourite Emerson , called Days , and the poem , which was familiar to Hadria , sounded in her memory , as the pony trotted merrily along the well-known homeward way .  Daughters of Time , the hypocritic Days , Muffled and dumb , like barefoot Dervishes , And marching single in an endless file , Bring diadems and faggots in their hands . To each they offer gifts after his will , Bread , kingdoms , stars , and sky that holds them all . I , in my pleached garden , watched the pomp , Forgot my morning wishes , hastily Took a few herbs and apples , and the Day Turned and departed silent . I , too late , Under her solemn fillet saw the scorn . ”  In spite of Hadria 'smemorable lecture of a year ago , it was still the orthodox creed of the Society , that Circumstance is the handmaid of the Will ; that one can demand of one 'sdays “ bread , kingdoms , stars , or sky , ” and that the Days will obediently produce the objects desired .  If one has but the spirit that can soar high enough to really be resolved upon stars , or the ambition sufficiently vaulting to be determined on kingdoms , then — so ran the dogma — stars and kingdoms would be forthcoming , though obstacles were never so determined .  No member except Hadria had ever dreamt of insinuating that one might have a very pronounced taste for stars and kingdoms — nay , a taste so dominant that life would be worthless unless they were achieved — yet might be forced , by the might of events , to forego them .  Hadria 'sown heresy had been of the head rather than of the heart .  But to-day , feeling began to share the scepticism of the intellect .  What if one 'sstars and kingdoms lay on the further side of a crime or a cruelty ?  What then was left but to gather up one 'sherbs and apples , and bear , as best one might , the scorn of the unjust Days ?  Hadria cast about in her mind for a method of utilizing to the best advantage possible , the means at her disposal : to force circumstance to yield a harvest to her will .  To be the family consolation meant no light task , for Mrs. Fullerton was exacting by nature : she had given much , and she expected much in return .  Her logic was somewhat faulty , but that could not be gracefully pointed out to her by her daughter .  Having allowed her own abilities to decay , Mrs. Fullerton had developed an extraordinary power of interfering with the employment of the abilities of others .  Hadria had rather underrated than exaggerated this difficulty .  Her mother would keep her for hours , discussing a trivial point of domestic business , giving elaborate directions about it , only to do it herself in the end .  She spent her whole life in trifles of this kind , or over social matters .  Everything was done cumbrously , with an incredible amount of toil and consideration , and without any noticeable results .  Hadria , fighting against a multitude of harassing little difficulties , struggled to turn the long winter months to some use .  But Mrs. Fullerton broke the good serviceable time into jagged fragments .  “ I really ca n't see , ” said the mother , when the daughter proposed to set apart certain hours for household duties , and to have other portions of the day to herself , “ I really ca n't see why a girl 'slittle occupations should be treated with so much consideration .  However , I have no wish for grudging assistance .  ”  Hadria 'stemper was far indeed from perfect , and painful scenes often occurred .  But as a rule , she would afterwards be seized with a fit of remorse , knowing that her mother was suffering bitterly from her keen disappointment about Algitha .  The failure of a life-long hope must try the endurance of the bravest .  Mrs. Fullerton , seeing that Hadria was more patient , quickly took advantage of the favourable moment , with a rapid instinct that had often done her good service in the management of a niggard destiny .  The valuable mood must not be allowed to die fruitless .  The elder girl 'sdefection thus became , to the mother , a sort of investment , bearing interest of docility in the younger .  Because the heartless Algitha had left home , it seemed to Mrs. Fullerton that the very least that Hadria could do , was to carry out her mother 'slightest wish .  And so the weeks went by , in dreary , troublous fashion , cut into a hundred little barren segments .  The mind had no space , or stretch , or solitude .  It was incessantly harassed , and its impetus was perpetually checked .  But Hadria hoped on .  This could not last for ever .  Some day , doubtless , if she sank not in spirit , the stars and the kingdoms would come .  Meanwhile , the position of affairs was decidedly ridiculous .  She was here as the family consolation , and nobody seemed to be consoled !  Her efforts had been sincere and even enthusiastic , but the boys only laughed at her , in this rôle , and nobody was apparently in the least gratified ( except those imps of boys !  ) .  For a long time , Mrs. Fullerton seemed to be oblivious of her daughter 'sefforts , but one day , when they had been talking about Algitha , the mother said : “ Your father and I now look to you , Hadria .  I do think that you are beginning to feel a little what your duty is .  If you also were to turn deserter in our old age , I think it would kill us .  ”  Hadria felt a thrill of horror .  The network of Fate seemed to be fast closing round her .  The temporary was to become fixed .  She must act all her days according to the conviction of others , or her parents would die of grief !  When she went to the hills that afternoon , she felt as if she must walk on and on into the dreamy distance , away from all these toils and claims , away into the unknown world and never return .  But , alas !  the night descended and return she must .  These wild impulses could never be followed .  The day had been peculiarly harassing and cut up ; some neighbours had been to afternoon tea and tennis , and the sight of their faces and the sound of their talk had caused , in Hadria , an unutterable depression .  The light , conventional phrases rang in her ears still , the expression of the faces haunted her , and into her heart crept a chill that benumbed every wish and hope and faith that she had ever cherished .  She sat up late into the night .  Since freedom and solitude could not be had by day , the nights were often her sole opportunity .  At such times she would work out her musical ideas , which in the dead silence of the house were brought forth plentifully .  These , from her point of view , were the fruitful hours of the twenty-four .  Thoughts would throng the darkness like swarms of living things .  Hadria 'smood found expression to-night in a singular and most melancholy composition .  She called it Futility .  It was unlike anything that she had ever done before , and she felt that it shewed an access of musical power .  She dreamt an absurd dream : That she was herself one of those girls with the high pattering accents , playing tennis without ceasing and with apparent cheerfulness ; talking just as they had talked , and about just the same things ; and all the time , a vast circle of shadowy forms stood watching , beckoning , and exhorting and warning , and turning away , at last , in sorrowful contempt , because she preferred to spend her youth eternally in futilities .  And then they all slowly drifted by with sad eyes fixed on her , and she was still left playing , playing .  And it seemed as if whole weeks passed in that way , and she grew mortally tired , but some power prevented her from resting .  The evil spell held her enthralled .  Always cheerful , always polite and agreeable , she continued her task , finding herself growing accustomed to it at last , and duly resigned to the necessity , wearisome though it was .  Then all hope that the game would ever cease went away , and she played on , mechanically , but always with that same polite cheerfulness , as of afternoon calls .  She would not for the world admit that she was tired .  But she was so tired that existence became a torture to her , and her heart seemed about to break with the intolerable strain — when she woke up with a start , and found herself lying in a constrained attitude , half-choked by the bed-clothes .  She did not see the comic side of the dream till next morning , when she told it at breakfast for the benefit of the family .  As Hadria was an ardent tennis-player , it struck her brethren as a particularly inappropriate form of nightmare .  Hadria , at this time , went frequently with her father on his farming walks , as he liked to have one or more of the family with him .  She enjoyed these walks , for Mr. Fullerton would talk about philosophy and science , often of the most abstruse and entrancing kind .  His children were devoted to him .  During these expeditions , they always vied with one another to ferret out the most absurd story to tell him , he being held as conqueror who made their father laugh most heartily .  Sometimes they all went in a body , armed with wild stories ; and occasionally , across the open fields , a row of eccentric-looking figures might be seen , struggling in the grip of hilarious paroxysms ; Mr. Fullerton doubled up in the middle of a turnip-field , perhaps , with his family in contortions round him .  The air of the hills seemed to run to their heads , like wine .  Roulades of laughter , hearty guffaws , might have been heard for surprising distances , much to the astonishment of the sober labourers bending over their toil .  Ernest had to go back to college ; Fred and Austin to school .  The house seemed very quiet and sad after the boys left , and Hadria missed her sister more and more , as time went on .  Algitha wrote most happily .  “ With all its drawbacks , this existence of hard work ( yet not too hard ) suits me exactly .  It uses up my energies ; yet , in spite of the really busy life I lead , I literally have more leisure than I used to have at home , where all through the day , there was some little detail to be attended to , some call to make , some convention to offer incense to , some prejudice to respect .  Here , once my day 'swork is over , it is over , and I have good solid hours of leisure .  I feel that I have earned those hours when they come ; also that I have earned a right to my keep , as Wilfred Burton , the socialist , puts it somewhat crudely .  When I go to bed at night , I can say : ‘Because of me , this day , heavy hearts have been made a little lighter.’ I hear all sorts of opinions , and see all sorts of people .  I never was so happy in my life .  ”  It was Hadria 'shabit still to take solitary rambles over the country .  A passionate lover of Nature , she found endless pleasure in its ever-changing aspects .  Yet of late , a new feeling had begun to mutter angrily within her : a resentment against these familiar sights and sounds , because they were the boundaries of her horizon .  She hated the line of the round breezy hills where the row of fir-trees stood against the sky , because that was the edge of her world , and she wanted to see what was beyond .  She must and would see what was beyond , some day .  Her hope was always vague ; for if she dared to wonder how the curtain of life was to be lifted , she had to face the fact that there was no reasonable prospect of such a lifting .  Still , the utter horror of living on always , in this fashion , seemed to prove it impossible .  On one dim afternoon , when the sun was descending , Hadria 'ssolitary figure was noticed by a white-haired lady , presumably a tourist , who had stopped to ask a question of some farm labourers , working in a field .  She ceased to listen to the information , on the subject of Dunaghee , that was given to her in a broad Scottish dialect .  The whole scene , which an instant before had impressed her as one of beauty and peace , suddenly focussed itself round the dark figure , and grew sinister in its aspect .  At that moment , nothing would have persuaded the onlooker that the hastening figure was not hastening towards misfortune .  A woman of impulse , she set off in purposeless pursuit .  Hadria 'space was very rapid ; she was trying to outrun thought .  It was impossible to live without hope , yet hope , in this forlorn land , was growing faint and tired .  Her pursuer was a remarkable-looking woman , no longer young , with her prematurely white hair drawn up from her brow with a proud sweep that suited well her sharply defined features and her air of defiance .  She was carelessly dressed after the prevailing fashion , and gave the impression of not having her life successfully in hand , but rather of being driven by it , as by a blustering wind , against her inclination .  The impression which had seized her , a moment ago , deepened as she went .  Something in the scene and the hastening figure roused a sense of dread .  With her , an impression was like a spark to gunpowder .  Her imagination blazed up .  Life , in its most tragic aspect , seemed before her in the lonely scene , with the lonely figure , moving , as if in pursuit of a lost hope , towards the setting sun .  If Hadria had not paused on the brow of the hill , it is unlikely that she would have been overtaken , but that pause decided the matter .  The stranger seemed suddenly to hesitate , wondering , apparently , what she had done this eccentric thing for .  Hadria , feeling a presence behind her , turned nervously round and gave a slight start .  It was so rare to meet anybody on these lonely hills , that the apparition of a striking-looking woman with white hair , dark eyes , and a strange exalted sort of expression , gave a shock of surprise .  As the lady had stopped short , Hadria supposed that she had lost her way , and wished to make some enquiries .  “ Can I direct you , or give you any assistance ?  ” she asked , after a second 'spause .  “ Oh , thank you , you are very kind .  I have come over from Ballochcoil to explore the country .  I have been trying to find out the history of the old houses of the district .  Could you tell me , by the way , anything about that house with the square tower at the end ; I have been loitering round it half the afternoon .  And I would have given anything to know its history , and what it is like inside .  ”  “ Well , I can help you there , for that old house is my home .  If you have time to come with me now , I will show you all over it , ” said Hadria , impulsively .  “ That is too tempting an offer .  And yet I really do n't like to intrude in this way .  I am a perfect stranger to you and — your parents I suppose ?  ”  “ They will be delighted , ” Hadria assured her new acquaintance , somewhat imprudently .  “ Well , I ca n't resist the temptation , ” said the latter , and they walked on together .  Hadria related what she knew about the history of the house .  Very scanty records had survived .  It had obviously been one of the old Scottish strongholds , built in the lawless days when the country was plunged in feuds and chieftains lived on plunder .  A few traditions lingered about it : among them that of a chief who had carried off , by force , the daughter of his bitterest enemy , in revenge for some deed of treachery .  He had tortured her with insolent courtship , and then starved her to death in a garret in the tower , while her father and his followers assaulted its thick walls in vain .  “ The tradition is , that on stormy nights one can still hear the sound of the attack , the shouts of the men and the father 'simprecations .  ”  “ A horrible story !  ”  “ When people say the world has not progressed , I always think of that story , and remember that such crimes were common in those days , ” Hadria remarked .  “ I doubt if we are really less ferocious to-day , ” the other said ; “ our ferocity is directed against the weakest , now as then , but there are happily not so many weak , so we get the credit of being juster , without expense .  As a matter of fact , our opportunities are less , and so we make a virtue of necessity — with a vengeance !  ”  Hadria looked at her companion with startled interest .  “ Will you tell me to whom I have the pleasure of speaking ?  ” the lady asked .  “ My name is Fullerton — Hadria Fullerton .  ”  “ Thank you .  And here is my card , at least I think it is .  Oh , no , that is a friend 'scard !  How very tiresome !  I am reduced to pronouncing my own name — Miss Du Prel , Valeria Du Prel ; you may know it .  ”  Hadria came to a sudden standstill .  She might know it !  she might indeed .  Valeria Du Prel had long been to her a name to swear by .  “ Miss Du Prel !  Is that — are you — may I ask , are you the writer of those wonderful books ?  ”  Miss Du Prel gave a gratified smile .  “ I am glad they please you .  ”  “ Ah !  if you could guess how I have longed to know you .  I simply ca n't believe it .  ”  “ And so my work has really given you pleasure ?  ”  “ Pleasure !  It has given me hope , it has given me courage , it has given me faith in all that is worth living for .  It was an epoch in my life when I first read your Parthena .  ”  Miss Du Prel seemed so genuinely pleased by this enthusiasm that Hadria was surprised .  “ I have plenty of compliments , but very seldom a word that makes me feel that I have spoken to the heart .  I feel as if I had called in the darkness and had no response , or like one who has cried from the house-tops to a city of the dead .  ”  “ And I so often thought of writing to you , but did not like to intrude , ” cried Hadria .  “ Ah !  if you only had written to me !  ” Miss Du Prel exclaimed .  Hadria gazed incredulously at the familiar scene , as they approached the back of the house , with its round tower and its confusion of picturesque , lichen-covered roofs .  An irregular circle of stately trees stood as sentinels round the stronghold .  After all , something did happen , once in a while , in this remote corner of the universe , whose name , Hadria used to think , had been erased from the book of Destiny .  She was perhaps vaguely disappointed to find that the author of Parthena wore ordinary human serge , and a cape cut after the fashion of any other person 'scape .  Still , she had no idea what supersensuous material she could reasonably have demanded of her heroine ( unless it were the mythic “ bombazine ” that Ernest used to talk about , in his ignorant efforts to describe female apparel ) , or what transcendental form of cape would have satisfied her imagination .  “ You have a lovely home , ” said Valeria Du Prel , “ you must be very happy here .  ”  “ Would you be happy here ?  ”  “ Well , of course that would depend .  I am , I fear , too roving by nature to care to stay long in one place .  Still I envy girls their home-life in the country ; it is so healthy and free .  ”  Hadria , without answering , led her companion round the flank of the tower , and up to the front door .  It was situated in the angle of the wings , a sheltered nook , hospitably careful of the guest , whom the winds of the uplands were disposed to treat but roughly .  Hadria and her companion entered a little panelled hall , whence a flight of broad stairs with stout wooden balusters , of quaint design , led to the first floor .  The visitor was charmed with the quiet old rooms , especially with Hadria 'sbedroom in the tower , whose windows were so deep-set that they had to be approached through a little tunnel cut out of the thickness of the wall .  The windows looked on to the orchard at the back , and in front over the hills .  Miss Du Prel was taken to see the scene of the tragedy , and the meeting-room of the Preposterous Society .  “ You must see the drawing-room , ” said Hadria .  She opened a door as she spoke , and ushered her visitor into a large , finely-proportioned room with three tall windows of stately form , divided into oblong panes , against which vagrant sprays of ivy were gently tapping .  This room was also panelled with painted wood ; its character was quiet and stately and reposeful .  Yet one felt that many human lives had been lived in it .  It was full of the sentiment of the past , from the old prints and portraits on the walls , to the delicate outlines of the wooden mantel-piece , with its finely wrought urns and garlands .  Before this mantel-piece , with the firelight flickering in her face , sat Mrs. Fullerton , working at a large piece of embroidery .  For the first time , Hadria hesitated .  “ Mother , ” she said , “ this is Miss Du Prel .  We met out on the hills this afternoon , and I have brought her home to see the house , which she admires very much .  ”  Mrs. Fullerton had looked up in astonishment , at this incursion into her very sanctuary , of a stranger met at haphazard on the hills .  Hadria wheeled up an easy-chair for the visitor .  “ I fear Miss Du Prel will not find much to see in the old house , ” said Mrs. Fullerton , whose manner had grown rigid , partly because she was shy , partly because she was annoyed with Hadria for her impulsive conduct , and largely because she disliked the idea of a literary acquaintance for her daughter , who was quite extraordinary enough as it was .  “ We have been all over the house , ” said Hadria hastily , with an anxious glance at Miss Du Prel , whom she half expected to rise and walk out of the room .  It must surely be the first time in her life that her presence had not been received as an honour !  ”  “ It is all very old and shabby , ” said Mrs. Fullerton .