Since leaving Mr. Flint"s employ, Mortimer had entirely supported himself with his pen. His piquant paragraphs and touching verses over the signature of "Il Penseroso," had attracted some attention; and he found but little difficulty in disposing of his articles, at starving prices, it is true; but he bore up, seeing a brighter time ahead. He had been so occupied in writing short stories and essays, that his romance, which lacked but one chapter of completion, was still unfinished.
Filberty"s Magazine paid him so generously for the "prose article," that he could afford to devote himself to a task which did not promise immediate profit. He completed the novel at sundown that day; and after supper Daisy reminded him of his promise to read Keats" "Eve of St. Agnes."
"I sometimes think," said Mortimer, as good Mrs. Snarle seated herself in a low rocking-chair, preparatory to a dose, while Daisy sat on a stool at his feet, "I sometimes think that this poem is the most exquisite definition of one phase of poetry in our language. Musical rhythm, imperial words, gorgeous color and luxurious conceit, seem to have culminated in it.
And the story itself is so touching that it would be poetical even if narrated in the plainest prose. How surpa.s.singly beautiful is it, then, worked out with all the richness of that sweetest poet, who, in intricate verbal music and dreamy imagery, stands almost alone!"
Mrs. Snarle"s head was inclined on one side, and the whole pose of her form was one of profound attention.
She was fast asleep.
The busy knitting-needles were placid in her motionless fingers; and Pinky, the kitten, was "spinning a yarn" on her own account from the ball in Mrs.
Snarle"s lap.
"Who was St. Agnes?" asked Daisy.
"She was a saint who suffered martyrdom for her religious views during the persecution of the Christians in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. But let us read the poem, which will make her more immortal than her heroism."
Mortimer opened the book, and his voice touched the verse with new music for Daisy"s ears. Now his tones would be low and sad, as he read of the old Beadsman, who told his beads in the cold night air,
"While his frosted breath, Like pious incense from a censer old, Seemed taking flight for heaven."
Then his voice grew as tender as a lover"s, when he came to the place where Porphyro, concealed, beholds Madeline as she disrobes:
"Of all its wreathed pearls her hair she frees; Unclasps her warmed jewels one by one; Loosens her fragrant boddice; by degrees Her rich attire creeps rustling to her knees."
"How few poets know how to handle color!" said Mortimer. "Azure, red, orange, and all poetic hues are mixed up in their pictures like a shattered rain-bow! But how artist-like is Keats! His famous window scene has not been surpa.s.sed:
"A cas.e.m.e.nt high and triple-arched there was, All garlanded with carven imageries Of fruits, and flowers, and bunches of knot-gra.s.s, And diamonded with panes of quaint device, _Innumerable of stains and splendid dyes_, _As are the tiger-moth"s deep-damask"d wings_; And in the midst, "mong thousand heraldries, _And twilight saints and dim emblazonings_, _A shielded "scutcheon blush"d with blood of queens and kings_.
"Full on this cas.e.m.e.nt shone the wintry moon, And threw warm gules on Madeline"s fair breast, As down she knelt for heaven"s grace and boon: _Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together pressed_, _And on her silver cross soft amethyst_, _And on her hair a glory, like a saint_: She seemed a splendid angel, newly dressed, Save wings, for heaven!"
"Is it not exquisite?" asked Mortimer, looking in Daisy"s face.
She nodded a.s.sent.
Mortimer fixed his eyes on a pearl necklace which gently clasped the girl"s neck, and started. The cross undulated on her bosom, which rose and fell like two full white roses in the wind.
"Where did you get that?" and Mortimer laid his hand on her arm nervously.
"It was a freak," said Daisy, blushing. "Are you angry?"
"Not angry, Daisy."
"But you look so."
"Do I? I am not. I grow unhappy when I see that necklace."
"It was Bell"s, then?"
"Yes--no--don"t ask me, Daisy."
"Why?"
A shadow came over Mortimer"s face.
That morning Daisy had been tempted to open the morocco case, and a desire to clasp the white necklace on her neck became irresistible. Something drew her to it, and the same feeling of mystery and longing which stole on her when she first held the circlet in her hand while Mortimer was sleeping, overpowered her. Almost unconsciously she fastened the gold clasp, and when the little cross sunk down on her bosom, her heart grew lighter, and she went over the house singing like a canary. She wore it the whole day, pausing at times in her household duties to admire the pearls. After a while she forgot its existence, and her intention to replace it before Mortimer returned.
When Mortimer"s eye caught sight of the necklace, Daisy was much embarra.s.sed, for she could, in no intelligible way, account for having taken it. Mortimer was equally pained. He had unwillingly become possessed of the ornament, and saw no means by which he could return it to Mr. Flint without acknowledging that he had also taken the _check_. He dreaded to make so humiliating a confession, and, perhaps, he stood a little in fear of Mr. Flint"s anger. The circ.u.mstance had caused him many moments of anxiety, and an unpleasant thought came to him, as he saw the purloined necklace on Daisy"s innocent bosom.
"But you _are_ angry?" said Daisy, looking up with dimmed eyes.
"No, pet."
"Then you will kiss me?" said Daisy, in a most winning way.
Mortimer did what most every one would have done "in the premises"--an act which was quite sufficient to make one break that part of the commandment which refers to envy. Surely a man would be inhuman not to, having once seen Daisy Snarle!
"I am not angry, but pained; I cannot tell you why. I wish you to promise me something."
"I will. What is it?"
"That you will not doubt me, whatever may occur in connection with this necklace--that you will love me, though I may be unable to explain condemning circ.u.mstances, or dispel the doubts of others."
"I promise that. But how strange," thought Daisy. "I am sorry that I was so childish as to take the necklace. Put it away, Mortimer, and forget that I did so."
Mortimer"s cheerfulness returned, and he commenced reading the poem at the place where he had interrupted himself. Just as he finished the last verse, telling how, ages long ago,
"The lovers fled away into the storm,"
Mrs. Snarle awoke with a jerk, and went to knitting as though she had been doing nothing else the whole evening--a harmless subterfuge peculiar to old people.
XI.
_Of making many books there is no end._
ECCLESIASTES XII., 12.
XI.
MORTIMER HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GREAT PUBLISHER, AND MR. FLINT MAKES A DISCOVERY.
_H. H. Hardwill, Publisher--Criminal Literature--Alliterative t.i.tles--Goldwood--Poor Authors--A Heaven for them in the Perspective--Flint"s Discovery, and the Horns of his Dilemma._
Mortimer looked up and read the sign--"H. H. Hardwill, Publisher." His heart half-failed him, and he stood looking in the large, book-filled window, with that romance which was to startle the literary world folded quietly under his arm, like any common paper. What kind of a man is Mr.