ACTION AND REACTION.
"But it is much that high things are, to know,
That deep things are, to feel."
JEAN INGELOW.
[CHAPTER I.]
A ROUGH DIAMOND.
"O let me be myself! But where, O where,
Under this heap of precedent, this mound
Of customs, modes and maxims, cumbrance rare,
Shall the Myself be found?"
JEAN INGELOW.
"JEAN, make haste! I shall be late! Do call your father—find him, wherever he is. If I miss this train, I shall be late for the boat; and cross at night I will not! Nothing shall induce me! I would rather sleep in a bathing-machine! If one has to be drowned, one may as well see how it comes about. Find your father, and tell him I must and will get into the train. It will be off directly!"
"He is coming, aunt Marie. He only went to look at the book-stall."
"Absurd! As if he would not have plenty of time, after I am gone. Well, you can help me to take all these packages nearer. One—two—three. Let me see—there were eleven, besides my two trunks."
"He told us to stay here till he came back."
"That is always the way. He likes to put off till the last moment; and I hate not having plenty of time. There! I knew it! The bell! I shall be left behind. Jean, bring what you can."