HOME AGAIN
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THE ELECT LADY
_(A Duplex Edition)_
By George MacDonald
THE ELECT LADY
CHAPTER I.
LANDLORD'S DAUGHTER AND TENANT'S SON.
In a kitchen of moderate size, flagged with slate, humble in its
appointments, yet looking scarcely that of a farmhouse--for there were
utensils about it indicating necessities more artificial than usually
grow upon a farm--with the corner of a white deal table between them,
sat two young people evidently different in rank, and meeting upon no
level of friendship. The young woman held in her hand a paper, which
seemed the subject of their conversation. She was about four- or
five-and-twenty, well grown and not ungraceful, with dark hair, dark
hazel eyes, and rather large, handsome features, full of intelligence,
but a little hard, and not a little regnant--as such features must be,
except after prolonged influence of a heart potent in self-subjugation.
As to her social expression, it was a mingling of the gentlewoman of
education, and the farmer's daughter supreme over the household and its
share in the labor of production.
As to the young man, it would have required a deeper-seeing eye than
falls to the lot of most observers, not to take him for a weaker nature
than the young woman; and the deference he showed her as the superior,
would have enhanced the difficulty of a true judgment. He was tall and
thin, but plainly in fine health; had a good forehead, and a clear hazel
eye, not overlarge or prominent, but full of light; a firm mouth, with a
curious smile; a sun-burned complexion; and a habit when perplexed of
pinching his upper lip between his finger and thumb, which at the
present moment he was unconsciously indulging. He was the son of a small
farmer--in what part of Scotland is of little consequence--and his
companion for the moment was the daughter of the laird.
"I have glanced over the poem," said the lady, "and it seems to me quite
up to the average of what you see in print."
"Would that be reason for printing it, ma'am?" asked the man, with
amused smile.
"It would be for the editor to determine," she answered, not perceiving
the hinted objection.
"You will remember, ma'am, that I never suggested--indeed I never
thought of such a thing!"
"I do not forget. It was your mother who drew my attention to the
verses."
"I must speak to my mother!" he said, in a meditative way.
"You can not object to _my_ seeing your work! She does not show it to
everybody. It is most creditable to you, such an employment of your
leisure."
"The poem was never meant for any eyes but my own--except my brother's."
"What was the good of writing it, if no one was to see it?"
"The writing of it, ma'am."
"For the exercise, you mean?"
"No; I hardly mean that."
"I am afraid then I do not understand you."
"Do _you_ never write anything but what you publish?"
"Publish! _I_ never publish! What made you think of such a thing?"
"That you know so much about it, ma'am."
"I know people connected with the papers, and thought it might encourage
you to see something in print. The newspapers publish so many poems
now!"
"I wish it hadn't been just that one my mother gave you!"
"Why?"
"For one thing, it is not finished--as you will see when you read it
more carefully."
"I did see a line I thought hardly rhythmical, but--"
"Excuse me, ma'am; the want of rhythm there was intentional."
"I am sorry for that. Intention is the worst possible excuse for wrong!
The accent should always be made to fall in the right place."
"Beyond a doubt--but might not the right place alter with the sense?"
"Never. The rule is strict"
"Is there no danger of making the verse monotonous?"
"Not that I know."
"I have an idea, ma'am, that our great poets owe much of their music to
the liberties they take with the rhythm. They treat the rule as its
masters, and break it when they see fit."
"You must be wrong there! But in any case you must not presume to take
the liberties of a great poet"
"It is a poor reward for being a great poet to be allowed to take
liberties. I should say that, doing their work to the best of their
power, they were rewarded with the discovery of higher laws of verse.
Every one must walk by the light given him. By the rules which others
have laid down he may learn to walk; but once his heart is awake to
truth, and his ear to measure, melody and harmony, he must walk by the
light, and the music God gives him."
"That is dangerous doctrine, Andrew!" said the lady, with a superior
smile. "But," she continued, "I will mark what faults I see, and point
them out to you."
"Thank you, ma'am, but please do not send the verses anywhere."
"I will not, except I find them worthy. You need not be afraid. For my
father's sake I will have an eye to your reputation."
"I am obliged to you, ma'am," returned Andrew, but with his curious
smile, hard to describe. It had in it a wonderful mixing of sweetness
and humor, and a something that seemed to sit miles above his amusement.
A heavenly smile it was, knowing too much to be angry. It had in it
neither offense nor scorn. In respect of his poetry he was shy like a
girl, but he showed no rejection of the patronage forced upon him by the
lady.
He rose and stood a moment.
"Well, Andrew, what is it?"
"When will you allow me to call for the verses?"
"In the course of a week or so. By that time I shall have made up my
mind. If in doubt, I shall ask my father."
"I wouldn't like the laird to think I spend my time on poetry."
"You write poetry, Andrew! A man should not do what he would not have
known."
"That is true, ma'am; I only feared an erroneous conclusion."
"I will take care of that. My father knows that you are a hard-working
young man. There is not one of his farms in better order than yours.
Were it otherwise, I should not be so interested in your poetry."
Andrew wished her less interested in it. To have his verses read was
like having a finger poked in his eye. He had not known that his mother
looked at his papers. But he showed little sign of his annoyance, bade
the lady good-morning, and left the kitchen.
Miss Fordyce followed him to the door, and stood for a moment looking
out. In front of her was a paved court, surrounded with low buildings,
between two of which was visible, at the distance of a mile or so, a
railway line where it approached a viaduct. She heard the sound of a
coming train, and who in a country place will not stand to see one pass!
