Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-17
CHAPTER vi.

Things happen slowly at Nunsmere-
from the grasping Of an idea to the pace
Of the church choir over the hymns. Life
there 10 no vulgar. tearing two-step, a. 1t
Is In Godalming, London, and other vor-
tees Of human passions. but the stately
measure Of a minuet. Delights are deiib-
crate and have lingering ends. A hen
would scorn to hatch chicken with the
indecent haste Of her sister in the next
parish.
Six months passed, and Fora wondered
what had become Of them. Only . few
visits to London. where she had consort-
ed somewhat gayly with Emmy's ac-
quaintances. had marked their flight, and
the gentle fingers Of Nunsmere had grad
uated the reawakening OF her nostalgia
for the great world. She spoke now ana
then Of visiting Japan and America and
South Africa. somewhat to her mother s
CONSERVATION; but no irresistible force
drove her thither. She found content
Inent In procrastination.
1t had also been q mild amusement to
settle Septimus Dix, after his recovery,
In little house facing the common. He
had to inhabit some portion OF this
planet, and as he had no choice OF spot
save Hackney Downs. which Wtggles-
wick suggested. Fora waved her hand to
the tenantless house and told him to take
1t. As there was an clubhouse at the end
Of the garden which he could use as a
workshop. his principal desideratum in a
residence, he obeyed her readily. She
then bought his furniture. plate ana
linen, and complicated kitchen battery.
over whose uses Wiggleswick scratched q
bewildered head
"a saucepan / know, and a frying pan
I know, but what you're to put in those
things with holes In them fairly ticks
me- ........
perhaps We might grow geraniums In
them" said Septimus. brightly. after mt
OF musing.
"If you do" said Fora. "I'n put q fe-
male cook In charge OF you both and
wash my hands Of YOU"
Whereupon she explained the uses OF q
cullender. and gave Wiggleswick to UNI
derstand that she was q woman OF her
word. and that an undrained cabbage
would be the signal for the execution OF
her threat. From the first she had as
sumed despotic power over :Wfggleswick.
loS whose influence with his master she
had been absurdly jealous. But Wiggies-
wick, bent hoary. deaf, grabbed, evil old
rufian that he was like most ex-prison-
ers. instinctively obeyed the word OF COM
mapd. and meekly accepted Fora as his
taskmistress.
For Septimus began happy days. where
in the clock was disregarded. The vague
projects that had filled his head for the
construction OF new type OF quick-firins
gun took definite shape. Some queer corr
nor VI utS Ot0iu uo0 816luJti8te0 y mar
velous knowledge of field artillery. and
Fora was amazed at the extent OF his
technical library. which Wiggleswick lad
overlooked In his statement OF the SAW
age from the burned-down house at Shep-
herds Bush. Now and then he would
creep from the shyness which enveloped
the inventive side Of his nature, ana
would talk with her with unintelligible
|earnestness Of these dreadful engines; OF
radial and initial hoop pressures. OF drift
angles. Of ballistics. Of longitudinal ten
sions. and would iot down triGonometri-
cal formula, illustrated by diagrams, un-
til her brain reeled or OF his treatise on
guns of large caliber just written and
now In the printers hands. and OF the
revolution In warfare these astounding
machines would effect. His eyes would
lose their dreamy haze and would be-
come luminous. his nervous fingers would
become effectual. the man would become
TRANSPORTED; but as soon o. the fervtd
ft passed OF he would turn with amiable
aimlessness to his usual irreievance
Sometimes he would work all night. either
In his room or his workshop. at his In