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the studio in which it was being vigorously though secretly
confected； how （in answer to a suggestion） this shyness was
common to the Admiral； Michelangelo； and others； how they
（Dick and Van Tromp） had struck up an acquaintance at once；
and dined together that same night； how he （the Admiral） had
once given money to a beggar； how he spoke with effusion of
his little daughter； how he had once borrowed money to send
her a doll … a trait worthy of Newton； she being then in her
nineteenth year at least； how； if the doll never arrived
（which it appeared it never did）； the trait was only more
characteristic of the highest order of creative intellect；
how he was … no； not beautiful … striking； yes； Dick would go
so far； decidedly striking in appearance； how his boots were
made to lace and his coat was black； not cut…away； a frock；
and so on； and so on by the yard。 It was astonishing how few
lies were necessary。 After all； people exaggerated the
difficulty of life。 A little steering； just a touch of the
rudder now and then； and with a willing listener there is no
limit to the domain of equivocal speech。 Sometimes Miss
M'Glashan made a freezing sojourn in the parlour； and then
the task seemed unaccountably more difficult； but to Esther；
who was all eyes and ears； her face alight with interest； his
stream of language flowed without break or stumble； and his
mind was ever fertile in ingenious evasions and …
What an afternoon it was for Esther！
'Ah！' she said at last； 'it's good to hear all this！ My
aunt； you should know； is narrow and too religious； she
cannot understand an artist's life。 It does not frighten
me；' she added grandly； 'I am an artist's daughter。'
With that speech； Dick consoled himself for his imposture；
she was not deceived so grossly after all； and then if a
fraud； was not the fraud piety itself？ … and what could be
more obligatory than to keep alive in the heart of a daughter
that filial trust and honour which； even although misplaced；
became her like a jewel of the mind？ There might be another
thought； a shade of cowardice； a selfish desire to please；
poor Dick was merely human； and what would you have had him
do？
CHAPTER IV … ESTHER ON THE FILIAL RELATION
A MONTH later Dick and Esther met at the stile beside the
cross roads； had there been any one to see them but the birds
and summer insects； it would have been remarked that they met
after a different fashion from the day before。 Dick took her
in his arms； and their lips were set together for a long
while。 Then he held her at arm's…length； and they looked
straight into each other's eyes。
'Esther！' he said； you should have heard his voice！
'Dick！' said she。
'My darling！'
It was some time before they started for their walk； he kept
an arm about her； and their sides were close together as they
walked； the sun； the birds； the west wind running among the
trees； a pressure； a look； the grasp tightening round a
single finger； these things stood them in lieu of thought and
filled their hearts with joy。 The path they were following
led them through a wood of pine…trees carpeted with heather
and blue…berry； and upon this pleasant carpet； Dick； not
without some seriousness； made her sit down。
'Esther！' he began； 'there is something you ought to know。
You know my father is a rich man； and you would think； now
that we love each other； we might marry when we pleased。 But
I fear； darling； we may have long to wait； and shall want all
our courage。'
'I have courage for anything；' she said； 'I have all I want；
with you and my father； I am so well off； and waiting is made
so happy； that I could wait a lifetime and not weary。'
He had a sharp pang at the mention of the Admiral。 'Hear me
out；' he continued。 'I ought to have told you this before；
but it is a thought I shrink from； if it were possible； I
should not tell you even now。 My poor father and I are
scarce on speaking terms。'
'Your father；' she repeated； turning pale。
'It must sound strange to you； but yet I cannot think I am to
blame；' he said。 'I will tell you how it happened。'
'Oh Dick！' she said； when she had heard him to an end； 'how
brave you are； and how proud。 Yet I would not be proud with
a father。 I would tell him all。'
'What！' cried Dick； 'go in months after； and brag that I had
meant to thrash the man； and then didn't。 And why？ Because
my father had made a bigger ass of himself than I supposed。
My dear； that's nonsense。'
She winced at his words and drew away。 'But when that is all
he asks；' she pleaded。 'If he only knew that you had felt
that impulse； it would make him so proud and happy。 He would
see you were his own son after all； and had the same thoughts
and the same chivalry of spirit。 And then you did yourself
injustice when you spoke just now。 It was because the editor
was weak and poor and excused himself； that you repented your
first determination。 Had he been a big red man； with
whiskers； you would have beaten him … you know you would … if
Mr。 Naseby had been ten times more committed。 Do you think；
if you can tell it to me； and I understand at once； that it
would be more difficult to tell it to your own father； or
that he would not be more ready to sympathise with you than I
am？ And I love you； Dick； but then he is your father。'
'My dear；' said Dick； desperately； 'you do not understand；
you do not know what it is to be treated with daily want of
comprehension and daily small injustices； through childhood
and boyhood and manhood； until you despair of a hearing；
until the thing rides you like a nightmare； until you almost
hate the sight of the man you love； and who's your father
after all。 In short； Esther； you don't know what it is to
have a father； and that's what blinds you。'
'I see；' she said musingly； 'you mean that I am fortunate in
my father。 But I am not so fortunate after all； you forget；
I do not know him； it is you who know him； he is already more
your father than mine。' And here she took his hand。 Dick's
heart had grown as cold as ice。 'But I am sorry for you；
too；' she continued； 'it must be very sad and lonely。'
'You misunderstand me；' said Dick； chokingly。 'My father is
the best man I know in all this world； he is worth a hundred
of me； only he doesn't understand me； and he can't be made
to。'
There was a silence for a while。 'Dick；' she began again； 'I
am going to ask a favour； it's the first since you said you
loved me。 May I see your father … see him pass； I mean；
where he will not observe me？'
'Why？' asked Dick。
'It is a fancy； you forget； I am romantic about fathers。'
The hint was enough for Dick； he consented with haste； and
full of hang…dog penitence and disgust； took her down by a
backway and planted her in the shrubbery； whence she might
see the Squire ride by to dinner。 There they both sat
silent； but holding hands； for nearly half an hour。 At last
the trotting of a horse sounded in the distance； the park
gates opened with a clang； and then Mr。 Naseby appeared； with
stooping shoulders and a heavy； bilious countenance；
languidly rising to the trot。 Esther recognised him at once；
she had often seen him before； though with her huge
indifference for all that lay outside the circle of her love；
she had never so much as wondered who he was； but now she
recognised him； and found him ten years older； leaden and
springless； and stamped by an abiding sorrow。
'Oh Dick； Dick！' she said； and the tears began to shine upon
her face as she hid it in his bosom； his own fell thickly
too。 They had a sad walk home； and that night； full of love
and good counsel； Dick exerted every art to please his
father； to convince him of his respect and affection； to heal
up this breach of kindness； and reunite two hearts。 But
alas！ the Squire was sick and peevish； h