`FAYFIELD Junction! Change for Elveston!'

What subtle memory could there be, linked to these commonplacewords, that caused such a flood of happy thoughts to fill my brain? I dismountedfrom the carriage in a state of joyful excitement for which I could notat first account. True, I had taken this very journey, and at the samehour of the day, six months ago; but many things had happened since then,and an old man's memory has but a slender hold on recent events: I sought`the missing link' in vain. Suddenly I caught sight of a bench--the onlyone provided on the cheerless platform--with a lady seated on it, and thewhole forgotten scene flashed upon me as vividly as if it were happeningover again.

`Yes,' I thought. `This bare platform is, for me, richwith the memory of a dear friend! She was sitting on that very bench, andinvited me to share it, with some quotation from Shakespeare--I forgetwhat. I'll try the Earl's plan for the Dramatization of Life, and fancythat figure to be Lady Muriel; and I wo'n't undeceive myself too soon!'

So I strolled along the platform, resolutely `making-believe'(as children say) that the casual passenger, seated on that bench, wasthe Lady Muriel I remembered so well. She was facing away from me, whichaided the elaborate cheatery I was practising on myself: but, though Iwas careful, in passing the spot, to look the other way, in order to prolongthe pleasant illusion, it was inevitable that, when I turned to walk backagain, I should see who it was. It was Lady Muriel herself!

The whole scene now returned vividly to my memory; and,to make this repetition of it stranger still, there was the same old man,whom I remembered seeing so roughly ordered off, by the Station-Master,to make room for his titled passenger. The same, but `with a difference':no longer tottering feebly along the platform, but actually seated at LadyMuriel's side, and in conversation with her! `Yes, put it in your purse,'she was saying, `and remember you're to spend it all for Minnie. And mindyou bring her something nice, that'll do her real good! And give her mylove!' So intent was she on saying these words, that, although the soundof my foot-step had made her lift her head and look at me, she did notat first recognize me.

I raised my hat as I approached, and then there flashedacross her face a genuine look of joy, which so exactly recalled the sweetface of Sylvie, when last we met in Kensington Gardens, that I felt quitebewildered.

Rather than disturb the poor old man at her side, sherose from her seat, and joined me in my walk up and down the platform,and for a minute or two our conversation was as utterly trivial and commonplaceas if we were merely two casual guests in a London drawing-room. Each ofus seemed to shrink, just at first, from touching on the deeper interestswhich linked our lives together.

The Elveston train had drawn up at the platform, whilewe talked; and, in obedience to the Station-Master's obsequious hint of`This way, my Lady! Time's up!', we were making the best of our way towardsthe end which contained the sole first-class carriage, and were just passingthe now-empty bench, when Lady Muriel noticed, lying on it, the purse inwhich her gift had just been so carefully bestowed, the owner of which,all unconscious of his loss, was being helped into a carriage at the otherend of the train. She pounced on it instantly. `Poor old man!' she cried.`He mustn't go off, and think he's lost it!'

`Let me run with it! I can go quicker than you!' I said.But she was already half-way down the platform, flying (`running' is muchtoo mundane a word for such fairy-like motion) at a pace that left allpossible efforts of mine hopelessly in the rear.

She was back again before I had well completed my audaciousboast of speed in running, and was saying, quite demurely, as we enteredour carriage, `and you really think you could have done it quicker?'

`No, indeed!' I replied. `I plead "Guilty" of gross exaggeration,and throw myself on the mercy of the Court!'

`The Court will overlook it--for this once!' Then hermanner suddenly changed from playfulness to an anxious gravity.

`You are not looking your best!' she said with an anxiousglance. `In fact, I think you look more of an invalid than when you leftus. I very much doubt if London agrees with you?'

`It may be the London air,' I said, `or it may be thehard work--or my rather lonely life: anyhow, I've not been feeling verywell, lately. But Elveston will soon set me up again. Arthur's prescription--he'smy doctor, you know, and I heard from him this morning--is "plenty of ozone,and new milk, and pleasant society"!'

`Pleasant society?' said Lady Muriel, with a pretty make-believeof considering the question. `Well, really I don't know where we can findthat for you! We have so few neighbours. But new milk we can manage. Doget it of my old friend Mrs. Hunter, up there, on the hill-side. You mayrely upon the quality. And her little Bessie comes to school every day,and passes your lodgings. So it would be very easy to send it.'

`I'll follow your advice with pleasure,' I said; `andI'll go and arrange about it to-morrow. I know Arthur will want a walk.'

`You'll find it quite an easy walk--under three miles,I think.'

`Well, now that we've settled that point, let me retortyour own remark upon yourself. I don't think you're looking quite yourbest!'

`I daresay not,' she replied in a low voice; and a suddenshadow seemed to overspread her face. `I've had some troubles lately. It'sa matter about which I've been long wishing to consult you, but I couldn'teasily write about it. I'm so glad to have this opportunity!'

`Do you think,' she began again, after a minute's silence,and with a visible embarrassment of manner most unusual in her, `that apromise, deliberately and solemnly given, is always binding--except, ofcourse, where its fulfilment would involve some actual sin?'

`I ca'n't think of any other exception at this moment,'I said. `That branch of casuistry is usually, I believe, treated as a questionof truth and untruth--'

`Surely that is the principle?' she eagerly interrupted.`I always thought the Bible-teaching about it consisted of such texts "lienot one to another"?'

`I have thought about that point,' I replied; `and itseems to me that the essence of lying is the intention of deceiving. Ifyou give a promise, fully intending to fulfil it, you are certainly actingtruthfully then; and, if you afterwards break it, that does not involveany deception. I cannot call it untruthful.'

Another pause of silence ensued. Lady Muriel's face washard to read: she looked pleased, I thought, but also puzzled; and I feltcurious to know whether her question had, as I began to suspect, some bearingon the breaking off of her engagement with Captain (now Major) Lindon.

`You have relieved me from a great fear,' she said; `butthe thing is of course wrong, somehow. What texts would you quote, to proveit wrong?'

`Any that enforce the payment of debts. If A promisessomething to B, B has a claim upon A. And A's sin, if he breaks his promise,seems to me more analogous to stealing than to lying.'

`It's a new way of looking at it--to me,' she said; `butit seems a true way, also. However, I wo'n't deal in generalities, withan old friend like you! For we are old friends, somehow. Do you know, Ithink we began as old friends?' she said with a playfulness of tone thatill accorded with the tears that glistened in her eyes.

`Thank you very much for saying so,' I replied. `I liketo think of you as an old friend,' (`--though you don't look it!' wouldhave been the almost necessary sequence, with any another lady; but sheand I seemed to have long passed out of the time when compliments, or anysuch trivialities, were possible).

Here the train paused at a station, where two or threepassengers entered the carriage; so no more was said till we had reachedour journey's end.

On our arrival at Elveston, she readily adopted my suggestionthat we should walk up together; so, as soon as our luggage had been dulytaken charge of--hers by the servant who met her at the station, and mineby one of the porters--we set out together along the familiar lanes, nowlinked in my memory with so many delightful associations. Lady Muriel atonce recommenced the conversation at the point where it had been interrupted.

`You knew of my engagement to my cousin Eric. Did youalso hear--'

`Yes,' I interrupted, anxious to spare her the pain ofgiving any details. `I heard it had all come to an end.'

`I would like to tell you how it happened,' she said;`as that is the very point I want your advice about. I had long realizedthat we were not in sympathy in religious belief. His ideas of Christianityare very shadowy; and even as to the existence of a God he lives in a sortof dreamland. But it has not affected his life! I feel sure, now, thatthe most absolute Atheist may be leading, though walking blindfold, a pureand noble life. And if you knew half the good deeds--' she broke off suddenly,and turned away her head.

`I entirely agree with you,' I said. `And have we notour Saviour's own promise that such a life shall surely lead to the light?'

`Yes, I know it,' she said in a broken voice, still keepingher head turned away. `And so I told him. He said he would believe, formy sake, if he could. And he wished for my sake, he could see things asI did. But that is all wrong!' she went on passionately. `God cannot approvesuch low motives as that! Still it was not I that broke it off. I knewhe loved me; and I had promised; and--'

`Then it was he that broke it off?'

`He released me unconditionally.' She faced me again now,having quite recovered her usual calmness of manner.

`Then what difficult remains?'

`It is this, that I don't believe he did it of his ownfree will. Now, supposing he did it against his will, merely to satisfymy scruples, would not his claim on me remain just as strong as ever? Andwould not my promise be as binding as ever? My father says "no"; but Ica'n't help fearing he is biased by his love for me. And I've asked noone else. I have many friends--friends for the bright sunny weather; notfriends for the clouds and storms of life; not old friends like you!'

`Let me think a little,' I said: and for some minuteswe walked on in silence, while, pained to the heart at seeing the bittertrial that had come upon this pure and gentle soul, I strove in vain tosee my way through the tangled skein of conflicting motives.

`If she loves him truly,' (I seemed at last to grasp theclue to the problem) `is not that, for her the voice of God? May she nothope that she is sent to him, even as Ananias was sent to Saul in his blindness,that he may receive his sight?' Once more I seemed to hear Arthur whispering`What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?' and Ibroke the silence with the words `If you still love him truly--'

`I do not!' she hastily interrupted. `At least--not inthat way. I believe I loved him when I promised; but I was very young:it is hard to know. But, whatever the feeling was, it is dead now. Themotive on his side is Love: on mine it is--Duty!'

Again there was a long silence. The whole skein of thoughtwas tangled worse than ever. This time she broke the silence. `Don't misunderstandme!' she said. `When I said my heart was not his, I did not mean it wasany one else's! At present I feel bound to him; and, till I know I am absolutelyfree, in the sight of God, to love any other than him, I'll never eventhink of any one else--in that way, I mean. I would die sooner!' I hadnever imagined my gentle friend capable of such passionate utterances.

I ventured on no further remark until we had nearly arrivedat the Hallgate; but, the longer I reflected, the clearer it became tome that no call of Duty demanded the sacrifice--possibly of the happinessof a life--which she seemed ready to make. I tried to make this clear toher also, adding some warnings on the dangers that surely awaited a unionin which mutual love was wanting. `The only argument for it, worth considering,'I said in conclusion, `seems to be his supposed reluctance in releasingyou from your promise. I have tried to give to that argument its full weight,and my conclusion is that it does not affect the rights of the case, orinvalidate the release he has given you. My belief is that you are entirelyfree to act as now seems right.'

`I am very grateful to you,' she said earnestly. `Believeit, please! I ca'n't put it into proper words!' and the subject was droppedby mutual consent: and I only learned, long afterwards, that our discussionhad really served to dispel the doubts that had harassed her so long.

We parted at the Hall-gate, and I found Arthur eagerlyawaiting my arrival; and, before we parted for the night, I had heard thewhole story--how he had put off his journey from day to day, feeling thathe could not go away from the place till his fate had been irrevocablysettled by the wedding taking place: how the preparations for the wedding,and the excitement in the neighbourhood, had suddenly come to an end, andhe had learned (from Major Lindon, who called to wish him good-bye) thatthe engagement had been broken off by mutual consent: how he had instantlyabandoned all his plans for going abroad, and had decided to stay on atElveston, for a year or two at any rate, till his newly-awakened hopesshould prove true or false; and how, since that memorable day, he had avoidedall meetings with Lady Muriel, fearing to betray his feelings before hehad had any sufficient evidence as to how she regarded him. `But it isnearly six weeks since all that happened,' he said in conclusion, `andwe can meet in the ordinary way, now, with no need for any painful allusions.I would have written to tell you all this: only I kept hoping from dayto day that--that there would be more to tell!'

`And how should there be more, you foolish fellow,' Ifondly urged, `if you never even go near her? Do you expect the offer tocome from her?'

Arthur was betrayed into a smile. `No,' he said, `I hardlyexpect that. But I'm a desperate coward. There's no doubt about it!'

`And what reasons have you heard of for breaking off theengagement?'

`A good many,' Arthur replied, and proceeded to countthem on his fingers. `First, it was found that she was dying of--something;so he broke it off. Then it was found that he was dying of--some otherthing; so she broke it off. Then the Major turned out to be a confirmedgamester; so the Earl broke it off. Then the Earl insulted him; so theMajor broke it off. It got a good deal broken off, all things considered!'

`You have all this on the very best authority, of course?'

`Oh, certainly! And communicated in the strictest confidence!Whatever defects Elveston society suffers from, want of information isn'tone of them!'

`Nor reticence, either, it seems. But, seriously, do youknow the real reason?'

`No, I'm quite in the dark.'

I did not feel that I had any right to enlighten him;so I changed the subject, to the less engrossing one of `new milk', andwe agreed that I should walk over, next day, to Hunter's farm, Arthur undertakingto set me part of the way, after which he had to return to keep a businessengagement.