Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: "The vicar's wife would have a fit if I lounged like this." _See page 4_] WHEN THE BIRDS BEGIN TO SING. A Novel BY WINIFRED GRAHAM, AUTHOR OF "ON THE DOWN GRADE," &c., &c. _WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS_ BY HAROLD PIFFARD. LONDON: C. ARTHUR PEARSON LTD., HENRIETTA STREET, W.C. 1897 CONTENTS. CHAP. I. AND WHEN LOVE SPEAKS II. "IMPARADIS'D IN ONE ANOTHER'S ARMS."--_Milton_ III. "GOD MADE THE WOMAN FOR THE MAN."--_Tennyson_ IV. LIFE IS A JEST V. "THE FLY THAT SIPS TREACLE IS LOST IN THE SWEETS" VI. LIKE ONE THAT ON A LONESOME ROAD DOST WALK IN FEAR AND DREAD VII. THE SHADOWS RISE AND FALL VIII. KIND HEARTS ARE MORE THAN CORONETS. IX. HEART SICK AND WEARY WITH THE JOURNEY'S FRET X. FALSER THAN ALL FANCY FATHOMS XI. IF WE ONLY KNOW! IF WE ONLY KNOW! XII. "TO-MORROW, AND TO-MORROW, AND TO-MORROW."--_Shakespeare_ XIII. "IF NEED, TO DIE--NOT LIVE."--_Charles Kingsley_ XIV. IN CLOUDS OF SILENCE FOLDED OUT OF SIGHT XV. "AH, FOR SOME RETREAT DEEP IN YONDER SHINING ORIENT."--_Tennyson_ XVI. OH, LOVE! IN SUCH A WILDERNESS AS THIS XVII. "WHERE THERE AIN'T NO TEN COMMANDMENTS."--_Rudyard Kipling_ XVIII. LET US BE OPEN AS THE DAY XIX. THE IDEAL! DIM VANITIES OF DREAMS BY NIGHT XX. LIFE IS THORNY, AND YOUTH IS VAIN XXI. "BY A ROUTE OBSCURE AND LONELY, HAUNTED BY ILL ANGELS ONLY."--_E. A. Poe._ XXII. "NO FOOTSTEP STIRRED--THE HATED WORLD ALL SLEPT, SAVE ONLY THEE AND ME. (OH, HEAVEN! OH, GOD!)" XXIII. "OH, I DEFY THEE, HELL, TO SHOW, ON BEDS OF FIRE THAT BURN BELOW, A DEEPER WOE."--_E. A. Poe_ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. "THE VICAR'S WIFE WOULD HAVE A FIT IF I LOUNGED LIKE THIS" . . . . . . . . . . Frontispiece "LOOK! THERE IT GOES." SALUTING THE OLD PICTURES ON THE WALL WITH MOCK COURTESY THE DINING-ROOM DOOR OPENS, AND PHILIP ROCHE STANDS BEFORE THEM "MR. AND MRS. GREBBY!" SHE COVERS HER FACE WITH HER HANDS "MAY I SEE THAT PHOTOGRAPH?" "WHY, IT'S NEVER MR. ROCHE!" SHE EXCLAIMS SHE RUSHES TO THE DOOR WITH A WILD CRY ELEANOR STAGGERS ON BREATHLESSLY UP THE HILL THE CRUEL FINGERS PRESS WITH DEADLY FORCE BIG TOMBO BOWS ASSENT BEARING TENDERLY THE LIMP BODY OF THE TERRIER "WHAT VILLAIN HAS KILLED MY HORSE?" SHE STEALS INTO THE VERANDAH AND WATCHES PHILIP THROWS BACK HIS COAT, AND SHE SEES THE SHIRT BENEATH IT IS SPLASHED WITH BLOOD WHEN THE BIRDS BEGIN TO SING. CHAPTER I. AND WHEN LOVE SPEAKS.