Demos | Page 5

her practical instincts; such
an idea had much to do with her settlement in the remote village, which
she would not have chosen for her abode out of love of its old-world
quietness. But at the Manor was Hubert Eldon. Hubert was four years
older than Adela. He had no fortune of his own, but it was tolerably
certain that some day he would be enormously rich, and there was
small likelihood that he would marry till that expected change in his
position came about.
On the afternoon of a certain Good Friday, Mrs. Waltham sat at her
open window, enjoying the air and busy with many thoughts, among
other things wondering who was likely to drop in for a cup of tea. It
was a late Easter, and warm spring weather had already clothed the

valley with greenness; to-day the sun was almost hot, and the west
wind brought many a sweet odour from gardens near and far. From her
sitting-room Mrs. Waltham had the best view to be obtained from any
house in Wanley; she looked, as I have said, right over the village street,
and on either hand the valley spread before her a charming prospect.
Opposite was the wooded slope, freshening now with exquisite shades
of new-born leafage; looking north, she saw fruit-gardens, making
tender harmonies; southwards spread verdure and tillage. Yet
something there was which disturbed the otherwise perfect unity of the
scene, an unaccustomed trouble to the eye. In the very midst of the vale,
perhaps a quarter of a mile to the south of the village, one saw what
looked like the beginning of some engineering enterprise--a great
throwing-up of earth, and the commencement of a roadway on which
metal rails were laid. What was being done? The work seemed too
extensive for a mere scheme of drainage. Whatever the undertaking
might be, it was now at a standstill, seeing that old Mr. Mutimer, the
owner of the land, had been in his grave just three days, and no one as
yet could say whether his heir would or would not pursue this novel
project. Mrs. Waltham herself felt that the view was spoilt, though her
appreciation of nature was not of the keenest, and she would never have
thought of objecting to a scheme which would produce money at the
cost of the merely beautiful.
'I scarcely think Hubert will continue it,' she was musing to herself. 'He
has enough without that, and his tastes don't lie in that direction.'
She had on her lap a local paper, at which she glanced every now and
then; but her state of mind was evidently restless. The road on either
side of which stood the houses of the village led on to the Manor, and
in that direction Mrs. Waltham gazed frequently. The church clock
chimed half-past four, and shortly after a rosy-cheeked young girl came
at a quick step up the gravelled pathway which made the approach to
the Walthams' cottage. She saw Mrs. Waltham at the window, and,
when she was near, spoke.
'Is Adela at home?'
'No, Letty; she's gone for a walk with her brother.'
'I'm so sorry!' said the girl, whose voice was as sweet as her face was
pretty. 'We wanted her to come for croquet. Yet I was half afraid to
come and ask her whilst Mr. Alfred was at home.'

She laughed, and at the same time blushed a little.
'Why should you be afraid of Alfred?' asked Mrs. Waltham graciously.
'Oh, I don't know.'
She turned it off and spoke quickly of another subject.
'How did you like Mr. Wyvern this morning?'
It was a new vicar, who had been in Wanley but a couple of days, and
had this morning officiated for the first time at the church.
'What a voice be has!' was the lady's reply.
'Hasn't he? And such a hairy man! They say he's very learned; but his
sermon was very simple--didn't you think so?'
'Yes, I liked it. Only he pronounces certain words strangely.'
'Oh, has Mr. Eldon come yet?' was the young lady's next question.
'He hadn't arrived this morning. Isn't it extraordinary? He must be out
of England.'
'But surely Mrs. Eldon knows his address, and he can't be so very far
away.'
As she spoke she looked down the pathway by which she had come,
and of a sudden her face exhibited alarm.
'Oh, Mrs. Waltham!' she whispered hurriedly. 'If Mr. Wyvern isn't
coming to see you! I'm afraid to meet him. Do let me pop in and hide
till I can get away without being seen.'
The front door stood ajar, and the girl at once ran into the house. Mrs.
Waltham came into the passage laughing.
'May I go to the top of the stairs?' asked the