May; vol. II

EACH VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY COLLECTION OF BRITISH AUTHORS TAUCHNITZ EDITION. VOL. 1324. MAY BY MRS. OLIPHANT IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. 2. LEIPZIG: BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ. PARIS: C. REINWALD & Cⁱᵉ, 15, RUE DES SAINTS PÈRES.
This Collection is published with copyright for Continental circulation, but all purchasers are earnestly requested not to introduce the volumes into England or into any British Colony.


BY M R S. O L I P H A N T, AUTHOR OF “THE MINISTER’S WIFE,” ETC. COPYRIGHT EDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LEIPZIG BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ 1873. The Right of Translation is reserved.


Marjory, as may be supposed, heard nothing of the tragi-comic commotion which she had left behind her. Her drive in the old carriage, the sight of many familiar things and places for the first time, after so much had passed which had separated her from her old world, roused her half painfully, half pleasantly. Every corner of the peaceful road, every cottage on the way, made its separate stab at her; so many remembrances which had fallen dormant in her mind, remembrances of “the boys,” which from sheer familiarity and easiness of recollection had fallen out of recollection, started up in new life before her. She seemed to hear the shouts of their school time, and to see them, not men but lads, in their innocence and foolishness, about every turning. This wounded her sore, and yet gave her a sort of happiness. It was not like the drear blank of disappearance, the superseding of them, and calm passing on of the unconcerned world, which had stupefied her mind. Thus the change did her good as people say; and perhaps the sight of Miss Jean did her good, and the harsh yet true kindness which spoke so despotically and acted so gently. But when she was safely housed in the High Street, a great reaction set in. So long as daylight lasted, Marjory turned her wistful eyes along the line of the coast towards the east, where the mansion house of Pitcomlie stood out on its headland, with something of the feelings which moved her on her drive. She sat there and recalled stories of her youth, feats which “the boys” had done, hairbreadth escapes, old dead jokes of the past, pitifullest of recollections. All these came up and buzzed about her. She smiled and wondered to find herself amused by memories which ought, she felt, to have been anything but amusing. These realizations of the past were sharp and poignant in the pain of their sorrow; but at the same time they were sweet.