Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-08
CHAPTER V,

AGAIN my story may hurry, for on the en- chanted weeks that followed it would weary all but lovers to dwell and lovers for the most part ti:.d their own matters sufficient food for pOndrrng. Tom was busy with the rehear- s;tls Ut the Coliseum and I, being left alone had little taste for tue Matcria Medica. On Sundays only did see Claire; for this Mrs. Luttr'.l haG stipulated, and ylove, too, most mysterousy profrssrd herself busy during the week. As for me, it was clear that before mdrri;.:-e could be talked of I must at lest have gained my diplomas, so that the more work did during the week the better. Tine result of this was q goOuly sowing of reSOlu- tions and very little harvest. In the evenings, Tom and l would sit toSether-he tircles> ly polishing and pruning the tragedy, and 1 for the most part smoking and giving advice which am bound to say in duty to the au- thor t'Franccsca" having gained some cons.d- erabie fame since those dayS was invariably rejected.
 Tom had been growing silent and moody of late-a change for which I could find nn cause. He would answer my questions at random, pause in his work to gaze long and intently on the ceiling. and altogether bchaN" in ways unaccountable and strange. The plv had been written at whito-hot speed the cor rectlons proceeded at d snairs pace. The ;tu- thor had also fallen into a habit of bolting his
 
 slowly bringing his eyes to bear upon me as q person whose presence was until the moment unsuspected All this 1 saw in mild wonde. but 1 reflected on certain moods of my own Oi late, and held my peace.
 The explanation came without my seGk;rs We were seated together one evening, he over his everlasting corrections. and in some rS- pecially herbaceous nook of the Materia N 'i- iesl, when Tom looked up and said:
 'Jasper, want your opinion on a passage Listen to this"
 Sick of my howery solitude, gave him my attention while he read
 "She is no violet to veil and hide
 Before the lusty sum- but the flower, His hest-namcd bride, that leaneth to the
 light
 And images his look of lordly love
 let how I wrong her. She is more a queen Than he king: and whose looks must knCu Ami worship, conscious of a Sovereignty Undreamt in nature, save It be the Heaven That mnist'ring to all Is queen of all,
 And wears the proud suns self but a gem fo grace her girdlc one among the stars. Heaven is Francesca. and Francesca Heaven. Without her. Heaven is dispossessed of Heaven And Earth, discrownad and disinheritcd, Shall beg fin black eclipse. until her eyes--' Stay" interrupted, ''unless I am mis- taken her eyes are like the Pleiads, a simile tu 
 !" If you would only listen you would find those words cut out, said Tom, pettishly.
 ' In that case l apologize; nevertheless. if that is your idea of n Francesca I confess she seems to me q triie--shnll We say, massive" Your Claire, suppose. Is stumpy?'
 My Claire" replied with dignity, is neither stumpy nor stupendous."
 |" In fact just the right height"
 Well, yes, just the right height"
 Tom paid no attention, but went on in full career:
 Il hate your Griseldas, your Jessamys, your Mary Anns; give me Semiramis, Dido, Joan My doar Tom, not all at once, hope"
 " Bah you are so taken up with your own choice that you must needs scoff at anyone who happens to differ. tell you, wolnal! should be imperial, ma jestic; should walk as a queen and talk as n goddess, You scolT be- cause you have never seen such; you shut youS eyes and go about saying, There is nu such woman.' By heaven, Jasper, if you could only See-"
 At this point Tom suddenly pulled up and blushed like any child.
 "Go on, whom shall see?"
 Toms blush was beautiful to look upon.
 Tho Lambert, for instance; meant-"
 'Who is the Lambert?"
 
 of Clarssa Lambert, the most glorious actress in Yondon?"
 "Never. Is she acting at the Coliseum" "Of course she is. She takes Francescn. Oh, Jasper, you should see her, she is divine "
 "So," I said after pause, you have taken upon yourself to fall in love with this Clariss;l Lambert"
 Tom looked unutterably sheepish.
 Is the passion returned?"
 Jasper, don't talk like that and don't be a fool. Of course I have never breathed n word to her. Why, she hardly knows me, has hard ly spoken to me beyond a few simple sen tenccs. How should I, miserable author without even a name, speak to her? Jasper, do you like the name Clarissa" Not half so well as Claire" Nonsense; Claire is well enough as names go, but nothing to Clarissa. Mark how tn, ending gives it grace and quaintness what {; grand eighteenth-century ring it has. It is superb-so sweet, and at the same time st stately"
 And replaces Francesca so well in scan sion."
 Toms face was confession.
 You should see her, Jasper-her eyes What color are Claire's?"
 Deep grey Carissas are hazel brown I prefer brown ;t2 fact always thought woman should have brown eyes, we won't quarrel about inches but yoa will give way in the matter of eyes will you pot?" Mot an inch" Ut really is wonderful" said Tom, how the mere fuot Of being in love is apt to corrup a mans taste. Now in the matter of voice.. dare wager that your Claire speaks in soft ant gentle numbers" As an lEolian harp" said I, and spok' | truth.
 "Of course, unrelieved tenderness and no high note in the gamut. But you should l hear Clarissa; l only ask you to hear her once and let those glorious accents play upon you crass heart for a moment or two. O Jasper Jasper. it shakes the very soul!" "yery well, my dear Tom, I shall look upol your divinity in November. do not pronais you she will have the effect that you look for