s vitality, wholly
convincing to one skilled in such matters. Impatience, then, became
very excusable.

"For my time is short and the action disengages itself so deplorably
slowly!" she exclaimed. "Pah! you greedy, conceited birds, which do you
hold dearest after all, the filling of your little stomachs, or the
supporting of your little dignities? Be advised by a higher
intelligence. Revenge yourselves on the grains that hit and sting you
by gobbling them up. It is a venerable custom that of feasting upon
one's enemies. And has been practised, in various forms, both by
nations and individuals. There, I give you another chance of displaying
wisdom--there--there!--La! la! what an absurd commotion! You little
idiots, don't flutter. Agitation is a waste of energy, and advances
nothing. I declare peace. I want to consider."

And so, letting the remaining handfuls of corn dribble down very
slowly, while the sunshine grew warmer and the shadows of the guardian
griffins more distinct upon the lichen-encrusted stones, Helen de
Vallorbes sank back into meditation--Yes, unquestionably the drama was
alive. But it seemed so difficult to bring it to the birth. And she
wanted, very badly, to hear its first half-articulate cries and watch
its first staggering footsteps. All that is so entertaining, you
yourself safely grown-up, standing very firm on your feet, looking
down! And it would be a lusty child, this drama, very soon reaching
man's estate and man's inspiring violence of action, striking out like
some blind, giant Samson, blundering headlong in its unseeing,
uncalculating strength.--Helen laid her hands upon her bosom, and threw
back her head, while her throat bubbled with suppressed laughter. Ah!
it promised to be a drama of ten thousand, if she knew her power, and
knew her world--and she possessed considerable confidence in her
knowledge of both. Only, how on earth to set the crystal free of the
matrix, how to engage battle, how to get this thing fairly and squarely
born? For, as she acknowledged, in the flotation of all such merry
schemes as her present one, chance encounters, interludes, neatly
planned evasions and resultant pursuits, play so large and important a
part. But at Brockhurst this whole chapter of accidents was barred, and
received rules of strategy almost annihilated, by the fact of Richard
Calmady's infirmity and the hard-and-fast order of domestic procedure,
the elaborate system of etiquette, which that inf