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last in Piccadilly Circus。 As he strolled home towards Belgrave
Square； he met the great waggons on their way to Covent Garden。 The
white…smocked carters； with their pleasant sunburnt faces and coarse
curly hair； strode sturdily on； cracking their whips； and calling
out now and then to each other； on the back of a huge grey horse；
the leader of a jangling team； sat a chubby boy； with a bunch of
primroses in his battered hat； keeping tight hold of the mane with
his little hands； and laughing； and the great piles of vegetables
looked like masses of jade against the morning sky； like masses of
green jade against the pink petals of some marvellous rose。 Lord
Arthur felt curiously affected； he could not tell why。 There was
something in the dawn's delicate loveliness that seemed to him
inexpressibly pathetic； and he thought of all the days that break in
beauty； and that set in storm。 These rustics； too； with their
rough； good…humoured voices； and their nonchalant ways； what a
strange London they saw！ A London free from the sin of night and
the smoke of day； a pallid； ghost…like city； a desolate town of
tombs！ He wondered what they thought of it； and whether they knew
anything of its splendour and its shame； of its fierce； fiery…
coloured joys； and its horrible hunger； of all it makes and mars
from morn to eve。 Probably it was to them merely a mart where they
brought their fruits to sell； and where they tarried for a few hours
at most； leaving the streets still silent； the houses still asleep。
It gave him pleasure to watch them as they went by。 Rude as they
were； with their heavy； hob…nailed shoes； and their awkward gait；
they brought a little of a ready with them。 He felt that they had
lived with Nature； and that she had taught them peace。 He envied
them all that they did not know。
By the time he had reached Belgrave Square the sky was a faint blue；
and the birds were beginning to twitter in the gardens。Lord Arthur
Savile's Crime
A LETTER FROM MISS JANE PERCY TO HER AUNT
THE DEANERY； CHICHESTER；
27th May。
My Dearest Aunt；
Thank you so much for the flannel for the Dorcas Society； and also
for the gingham。 I quite agree with you that it is nonsense their
wanting to wear pretty things； but everybody is so Radical and
irreligious nowadays； that it is difficult to make them see that
they should not try and dress like the upper classes。 I am sure I
don't know what we are coming to。 As papa has often said in his
sermons； we live in an age of unbelief。
We have had great fun over a clock that an unknown admirer sent papa
last Thursday。 It arrived in a wooden box from London； carriage
paid； and papa feels it must have been sent by some one who had read
his remarkable sermon； 'Is Licence Liberty？' for on the top of the
clock was a figure of a woman； with what papa said was the cap of
Liberty on her head。 I didn't think it very becoming myself； but
papa said it was historical； so I suppose it is all right。 Parker
unpacked it； and papa put it on the mantelpiece in the library； and
we were all sitting there on Friday morning； when just as the clock
struck twelve； we heard a whirring noise； a little puff of smoke
came from the pedestal of the figure； and the goddess of Liberty
fell off； and broke her nose on the fender！ Maria was quite
alarmed； but it looked so ridiculous； that James and I went off into
fits of laughter； and even papa was amused。 When we examined it； we
found it was a sort of alarum clock； and that； if you set it to a
particular hour； and put some gunpowder and a cap under a little
hammer； it went off whenever you wanted。 Papa said it must not
remain in the library； as it made a noise； so Reggie carried it away
to the schoolroom； and does nothing but have small explosions all
day long。 Do you think Arthur would like one for a wedding present？
I suppose they are quite fashionable in London。 Papa says they
should do a great deal of good； as they show that Liberty can't
last； but must fall down。 Papa says Liberty was invented at the
time of the French Revolution。 How awful it seems！
I have now to go to the Dorcas； where I will read them your most
instructive letter。 How true； dear aunt； your idea is； that in
their rank of life they should wear what is unbecoming。 I must say
it is absurd； their anxiety about dress； when there are so many more
important things in this world； and in the next。 I am so glad your
flowered poplin turned out so well； and that your lace was not torn。
I am wearing my yellow satin； that you so kindly gave me； at the
Bishop's on Wednesday； and think it will look all right。 Would you
have bows or not？ Jennings says that every one wears bows now； and
that the underskirt should be frilled。 Reggie has just had another
explosion； and papa has ordered the clock to be sent to the stables。
I don't think papa likes it so much as he did at first； though he is
very flattered at being sent such a pretty and ingenious toy。 It
shows that people read his sermons； and profit by them。
Papa sends his love； in which James； and Reggie； and Maria all
unite； and； hoping that Uncle Cecil's gout is better； believe me；
dear aunt； ever your affectionate niece；
JANE PERCY。
PS。Do tell me about the bows。 Jennings insists they are the
fashion。Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
THE TRIUMPH OF AMERICAN 'HUMOR'
At half…past ten he heard the family going to bed。 For some time he
was disturbed by wild shrieks of laughter from the twins； who； with
the light…hearted gaiety of schoolboys； were evidently amusing
themselves before they retired to rest； but at a quarter past eleven
all was still； and； as midnight sounded； he sallied forth。 The owl
beat against the window panes； the raven croaked from the old yew…
tree； and the wind wandered moaning round the house like a lost
soul； but the Otis family slept unconscious of their doom； and high
above the rain and storm he could hear the steady snoring of the
Minister for the United States。 He stepped stealthily out of the
wainscoting； with an evil smile on his cruel； wrinkled mouth； and
the moon hid her face in a cloud as he stole past the great oriel
window； where his own arms and those of his murdered wife were
blazoned in azure and gold。 On and on he glided； like an evil
shadow； the very darkness seeming to loathe him as he passed。 Once
he thought he heard something call； and stopped； but it was only the
baying of a dog from the Red Farm； and he went on； muttering strange
sixteenth…century curses； and ever and anon brandishing the rusty
dagger in the midnight air。 Finally he reached the corner of the
passage that led to luckless Washington's room。 For a moment he
paused there； the wind blowing his long grey locks about his head；
and twisting into grotesque and fantastic folds the nameless horror
of the dead man's shroud。 Then the clock struck the quarter； and he
felt the time was come。 He chuckled to himself； and turned the
corner； but no sooner had he done so； than； with a piteous wail of
terror； he fell back； and hid his blanched face in his long； bony
hands。 Right in front of him was standing a horrible spectre；
motionless as a carven image； and monstrous as a madman's dream！
Its head was bald and burnished； its face round； and fat； and white；
and hideous laughter seemed to have writhed its features into an
eternal grin。 From the eyes streamed rays of scarlet light； the
mouth was a wide well of fire； and a hideous garment； like to his
own； swathed with its silent snows the Titan form。 On its breast
was a placard with strange writing in antique characters； some
scroll of shame it seemed； some record of wild sins； some awful
calendar of crime； and； with its right hand； it bore aloft a
falchion of gleaming steel。
Never having seen a ghost before； he naturally was terribly
frightened； and； after a second hasty glance at the awful phantom；
he fled back to his room； tripping up in his long winding…sheet as
he sped down the corridor； and finally dropping the rusty dagger
into the Minister's jack…boots； where it was found in the morning by
the butler。 Once in the privacy of his own apartment； he flung
himself down on a small pallet…bed； and hid his face under the
clothes。 After a time； however； the brave old Canterville spirit
asserted itself； and he determined to go and speak to the other
ghost as soon as it was daylight。 Accordingly； just as the dawn was
touching the hills with silver； he returned towards the spot where
he had first laid eyes on the grisly phantom； feeling that； after
all； two ghosts were better than one； and that； by the aid of his
new friend； he might safely grapple with the twins。 On reaching the
spot； however； a terrible sight met his gaze。 Something had
evidently happened to the spectre； for the light had entirely faded
from its hollow eyes； the gleaming fal