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Violet Evergarden Gaiden: Chapter 6

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The Postal Company and the Auto-Memories Doll

The current times were labeled as the era of postal business flood.

Within a continent that congregated small countries, the people who operated in the mail industry competed ruthlessly against one another. Putting it very simply, the situation of postal companies throughout the continent was of stealing each other’s customers.

Clients chose their mail agency of use and requested deliveries on their own. The reasons for the choices would be fees, deliverable areas, and of course, even the postmen’s degree of courtesy was a subject of deliberation. Taking all of those into account, they would pick one postal company from somewhere.

At present, as the management structure of postal corporations was becoming devoted to carrying the side-business of amanuensis “Auto-Memories Dolls” rather than only delivering mailed items, others were unable to establish a position in the market if their work leaned towards the latter. The more the competition increased, the more obvious the differences in services would become, and, as the superior and inferior ones would grow evident, the losing side would inevitably close down their company.

Within such harsh rivalry, in a certain country named Leidenschaftlich, located in the continent’s southern coast, there was a postal agency so-called CH Postal Service had boomed its name throughout the industry. Although it was a newly introduced company that had but a few years since being founded, its reputation was exceptional. The degree of customer satisfaction was high, and there was abundance of re-users.

On a general view, there were two motives behind its good results.

The first one was that the CH Postal Service had no restrictions to its areas of delivery. Should a client desire, it would deliver to any part of the globe. Of course, fees were imposed for remote places, yet that was the first attempt in the industry of pulling such a feat. Even existing postal agencies disputing for a leading position in the industry had determined delivery areas. The CH Postal Service delivered even to regions of conflict, therefore being a great help for customers whose family members or lovers found themselves in battlegrounds. Its patrons increasing in numbers was something logical. However, succeeding in doing such a thing as though it were extremely natural was terribly difficult for ordinary companies. The CH Postal Service was in condition to go anywhere for a client’s sake, as it had assembled the personnel and system capable of making it possible – therefore, it had managed to do so.

The second reason was that there existed a top star in CH Postal Service, who had come into sight in the Auto-Memories Doll business like a comet. Seeing her walk around the city would cause people to do double takes at her looks, and hearing her voice would paint their cheeks red out of fascination. She was a perfect beauty that seemed to have come out of a mythological legend. As of late, a play that the famous dramatist Oscar had written using her image had been announced and gained popularity, making her renowned even outside of the industry as per synergy.

People probably envisioned just what type of woman she was. Mostly, their expectations were betrayed in good ways. She was a woman that surpassed the categorical components of imagination.

Her name was Violet Evergarden.

The largest trading place of the continent was a port that served as a gate from and to the sea. It was a national interest of Leidenschaftlich’s, as well as a trigger for wars. Countless other countries had attempted to invade it, seeking its abundant resources and a privileged location.

Although the city was at financial ease with the prosperity of its economy, scars of old battles remained in some places. The symbols of long military service from the past had not been etched solely in protection walls or stone-paved roads. It could be said that the fountain built in the capital Leiden during the celebration of Leidenschaftlich’s hundredth anniversary was its most well-known marking.

Consisting of a total of nine goddess statues holding water vases on their shoulders, it worked in a way that groundwater poured out them. Despite it being a gem made by a nationally employed artist, the goddesses had their necks chopped off. It remained unfixed, for the sake of not letting anyone forget Leidenschaftlich’s disgrace in authorizing the invasion of another country’s castle town.

In spite of being a major commercial nation, it was a military state. There were armed soldiers amidst the lively cityscapes even during times of peace.

The members of the CH Postal Company had such country as their home.

“Oh, what’cha doing?”

“My.”

“It has been a while.”

Under a beautiful autumn sky, a group that rarely gathered met in front of the headless goddesses’ fountain. They were two women and one man.

“If it isn’t Cattleya and V. Have you come out to welcome the great me, unable to wait for my return?”

Leaving his motorcycle parked by the roadside and heartily eating grilled chicken was a postman clad in a glass-green shirt. His slender boots of cross-shaped heels gave out a devious sex appeal. Hidden behind sandy-blond hair, his light blue eyes were provocative. His unmanly, soft facial features were not gentle. It was Benedict Blue, who worked at the CH Postal Company.

“What’re you saying? I’m gonna ask again: what’re you saying? T-There’s no way I’d come pick you up! I just went out shopping as an errand for my beloved President. Violet, say something too. To this platform shoes man. Nobody called for you.”

The one who spoke as if to smooth things over with a moody voice was a beautiful woman of gracefully wavy dark hair. She had amethyst eyes and an hourglass shape. Brimming with enough sensuality to enslave the opposite sex, her body was enveloped in a carmine dress-coat with a waist ribbon, yet was about to burst out of it. She was Cattleya Baudelaire, who also worked at the CH Postal Company.

“You two, you are being too loud out in the street.”

Reproaching the duo with a voice of silver bells was an elegantly beautiful girl dressed up like a porcelain doll. Said person had a hairband made of embroidery lace sitting on her hair as it spread out in waves and was wearing a one-piece with plenty of such lace sewn to it, along with a chiffon trench coat.

“V.”

“Violet.”

She was Violet Evergarden, the top Auto-Memories Doll of the CH Postal Company, whose blue eyes enthralled those who looked at them, as did the emerald-green brooch sitting on her chest.

Benedict and Cattleya turned toward Violet, changing the addressee of their impressions in unison.

“What’s up with you?”

“Really, Violet, you’re pretty fired-up. You’re letting your hair down? Are you on a date?”

Pressed on by the two, the Auto-Memories Doll that the CH Postal Company had pride in, Violet Evergarden, cast her gaze to the ground. “Lady Tiffany... someone from my home arranged everything, but is it that strange?” Her voice sounded slightly embarrassed.

Cattleya observed Violet with a gentle look. “It’s not strange. You’re cute enough not to lose to me. Are you going to see the major?”

“Yes. It is still early for the meeting time, so I was going to buy a book for me to bring along.”

“That’s great; you’re looking forward to it, huh! Hey, she doesn’t look weird, right, Benedict?” Cattleya rejoiced without restraint.

“Tch,” Benedict clicked his tongue.

It had truly been a long while since the three of them had last gathered. That was only natural. At the CH Postal Company, everyone worked industriously every day. There were sporadic occasions in which they would be grouped on duty, but that was only when they managed to miraculously coordinate their schedules. They were mates who had been hired by their president at about the same time, so to say.

Benedict threw away the bones of the meat he had just eaten onto the road, peeking at Violet’s face while licking off the oil remaining on his hand. “Hu~n, well, isn’t it fine? Nice work.”

Although their faces were close, Violet stared back at him with her huge orbs without bending backwards.

Benedict flatly thrust a fingertip at her forehead in-between one big eye and another. “But the one who gets to walk you around gotta be me. As your older brother part, I can’t accept my little sister part getting eaten down by an old man. I’m better. ‘Cause I’m young and cool.”

It could be said that someone who had the nerve to say such a thing so imposingly was quite a rare type even amongst humanity.

With an aspect of irritation, Cattleya interjected, “A third party is gonna be telling you this, but Mr. Gilbert is super wonderful, is an adult man and I know Violet’s head-over-heels for him, so you’re the one who’s uncalled-for here!”

“What does ‘head-over-heels’ mean?” Violet immediately reacted to the term she was unused to hearing.

“It’s like being obsessed. Didn’t you say that the major was the only one for you?”

“I did say that, indeed.” Her brows furrowed as if she were troubled, her blue eyes slightly moist. She was most likely “embarrassed”. Perhaps becoming unable to say anything else, Violet wound up turning her face away.

The feeling of affection for that awkward girl, the envy towards her happiness and the complicated emotions from having a friend taken away by a man traveled across Benedict and Cattleya’s minds. Therefore, in order to dismiss it all, the two silently decided to ball their fists, pushing and kicking Violet left and right.

“Shit. Don’t go acting cute. You’re just a battlefield maniac.”

“Really, it pisses me off. You’re as strong as a bear! But you’re adorable.”

Perhaps not feeling any pain, or perhaps trying to figure out how to deal with such a situation, she resigned quietly and accepted the unwarranted violence. As seen from the sidelines, it looked like something close to bullying, but Violet was actually the one with highest combat capacity amongst them. When the physical strength of the three was put together, that sort of thing was no more than playing around.

“Listen, don’t let him touch you carelessly, all right? This is amazing, though. You’re like a fluffy dog. Cattleya, you try touching too.”

“Hey, don’t you go carelessly touching her with those hands either! Even the insolence of getting meat juices on a maiden’s hair has a limit! Stop it!”

“It’s fine, ain’t it? It’s not like I just got outta the toilet.”

“Eh, does that mean... you never wash your hands!? Right? That’s what it is, right? No waaay! Violet, hey, come here. Benedict, don’t you get near us! It’s my turf from beyond this point! I’ll beat the hell out of you for territory violation if you come over!”

As Cattleya swung her legs, enveloped in Suède boots, to draw a line on the ground, Benedict opposed to it in a level as low as the next person, not losing to her. He picked a dead branch from the root of a roadside tree and did the same as she had. “Haah~? Then I’ll make everything beyond this point into my turf! Speaking of which, the way to your beloved president’s head office is behind me, so don’t you go back to it either!”

“Ah~, that’s unfair! It’s. Not. Fair!”

“It’s not unfair~! You’re the one who came up with it first~!”

It was a child-like action for members of society to take. Violet, the youngest one, regarded them with interest as if she were watching a dispute between animals of a new species.

That was a short-lived period of peace before an uproar occurred.

At the same moment, in the same country, within the same city, time flowed peacefully inside the head office of the CH Postal Company, nobody aware of the nightmare that would approach them a few minutes later.

The business firm was erected in an alley away from the main street, projecting itself in the very sense of the word over rows of small shops. It consisted of a spire with a light green, dome-shaped roof and a weathercock on display, a deep green roof that spread out as if to surround said spire, and outer walls made of red bricks that had been sunburned into a tasteful color. The iron plate on the arch-shaped front gate made known the name of the company with letters printed in gold.

Should one open the door, a cheerful-sounding bell would announce the arrival of a customer. Upon coming in, one would soon find the counter, which was the sector where the reception of postal items took place. The building had three floors, with the first being the reception desk, the second being the office and the spire in the third one being the president’s residence.

No matter how far it was from the main street, the building was quite expensive. Its owner – an individual referred by the members of the CH Postal Company as “President” and “Old Man” – was drinking black tea with brandy at a balcony that had an unbroken view of the city.

“I’m so brilliant that it’s scary.”

He was a lady-killer good-looking enough to display self-indulgent behavior. His age was around the thirties. He had droopy grayish blue eyes, red hair grown slightly long, a manly build, and although he was not young, he had soft facial traits that exuded sophisticated simplicity. His appearance seemed to earn the envy and jealousy from other men of the same generation as him. His leather boots shone lustrously without a single stain, polished perhaps out of obsession.

“President Hodgins!”

The one who had yelled into the room was a girl of innocent features. She was the possessor of velvety, evenly cut lavender-gray hair that stopped above her shoulders. She had large eyes, a small head and a petite body. It was still the physique of a young child, but the heterochromatic orbs from behind the glasses she wore bore a stunning suspiciousness that was mysterious even. She was a person who the word “lovely” fit perfectly.

“Please say so after you’ve finished work!”

However, her conduct had presence as the secretary of a self-centered chairman.

Hodgins retorted mildly, “Little Lux, what I need right now isn’t brutal working hours but relaxation time feeling the gentle autumn air and drinking tea.”

“Even if you say that with a nice voice, it sounds like nothing but running away from reality! Please; if you at least put the stamps, I’ll bring you as many cups of tea as you want! Tomorrow is the deadline! We have to clear up most papers today and submit to the concerned parties in lots of places tomorrow! It’s the Flying Letters all over again!”

“You’re already my Miss Secretary through and through. I’m so happy. You used to look like a scared little rabbit when you arrived here, but aren’t you a fine working lady now? This feeling that I was the one who raised you is exceptional, huh?”

“President Hodgins! Please! Take the stamp! If you hold it, I can move you to stamping it... I’ll also read out the documents to you...”

“Then, Little Lux, doesn’t it make no difference if you’re the one doing the stamping?”

“I’d do it if I could! All that’s left is the stuff that demands the president’s confirmation, so just get on with it!”

“That ordering tone with formal language coming from a teenage girl is giving me unbearable creeps... Hm, Little Lux, hey. You don’t look bad with a shirt-blouse and a long flared skirt, but why don’t you try changing your outfit? I think I’d recommend a black apron dress over a puffed sleeve shirt, black tights and red enamel shoes.”

“Please listen to what I say!” The figure that had once been worshiped as a demigoddess at the headquarters of a cultist organization was absent in Lux Sibyl – what was there instead was the figure of a half-crying subordinate attempting to convince her vain superior.

Lux had been working serious and untiringly ever since being brought over by Violet and hired into the CH Postal Company. Perhaps having incorporated a methodical personality, she was now entrusted with even the duty of president’s secretary, yet she always had a hard time with said easygoing president.

The competence that the man named Hodgins had for business was unquestionable, yet his self-amusement principles were extreme and he would not stop fooling around even when having piles of work to do. Keeping his day-by-day in check was Lux’s role. In worse times, she would have to search for him and pick him up at brothels in red-light districts.

“If you don’t put the stamps, the one who will die isn’t you, President, but myself.”

Lux was tired of it.

“No way. I’ll put the stamps. I’ll put them, I’ll put them. Don’t make such a depressed face. Little Lux, you’re too pessimistic. Also, you take everything too literally. I told you that eighty percent of the things I say are random, right? Poise yourself more at ease. Let’s enjoy everything. Even the troublesome stuff.”

“President... you seem like you’d say this even if you had a hole opened in your stomach... I’m jealous.”

“Thanks. I’m the type that grows through getting compliments.”

She had wanted to convey something that was no compliment, yet it did not turn into words as Lux wound up having her attention stolen by something else. Lux’s golden and reddish heterochromatic eyes caught a strange thing in the skies against the beautiful cityscape that was visible from the balcony.

“President Hodgins... Over there, something is...”

At the same time as she spoke, Hodgins forcefully dragged Lux’s body, held her up and jumped to the end of the room. Lux was squeezed tightly against Hodgins’s chest, not allowed to even scream or raise her voice in confusion.

A few seconds thereafter, the sound of an explosion ensued.

“Do you not hear some sort of noise?” Violet’s leveled voice eventually came between Benedict and Cattleya, who were having a scuffle fight. Her blue orbs were looking up at the sky, sighting a black object that passed by in a flash.

And it struck one of the classy buildings among the cityscape of Leiden.

“The head office is under attack!” No sooner than she said so, Violet bolted from the place. She slipped through people standing still with their mouths open, their attention taken away by the explosion sound that had reverberated through the idyllic early afternoon.

“No way, no way! Eeh?! What about the President!?”

“Get on, you idiot.”

Benedict had mounted on his bike before long. After whispering lowly, he swung a hand around Cattleya’s back, all too easily lifted her up, sat her on his knees and simultaneously turned on the engine, taking off.

“Wai—! Doing that all of a sudden is scary! It’s scaryyy!” Cattleya shouted, clinging to Benedict’s neck.

“Move! Move! Y’all are in the way!”

A young woman who was selling flower bouquets with a mobile catering fell on the spot, the horse of her carriage letting out a neigh. Ignoring the situation of the traffic in the street, Benedict rampantly chased after Violet. He gradually got closer to her figure, which had already become the size of a bean grain.

Benedict stretched out his hand. “V!”

Violet had been running at an astonishing speed, but upon hearing Benedict’s voice, she nimbly hopped onto his motorcycle. The two of them, who had a mutual understanding without the invitation of “get on”, exchanged words while paying no mind to the scandalized Cattleya.

“That sound was of Leidenschaftlich style artillery.”

“Did you see the cannonball’s firing position?”

“There is no mistake that it came flying from the west side of the city. Look, smoke is coming out of the head office’s third floor. If we suppose that it was shot from somewhere just as high, we can restrict the location, right?”

“It struck Old Man’s apartment, so there’s too many suspects.”

“How can you be so calm!? The President might’ve died!” Cattleya glared daggers at Benedict and Violet, yet the expressions that two had on were different from normal times. She quieted down without thinking.

“No way we wouldn’t be worried, right...!?” Benedict spoke even for Violet’s part.

The motorcycle that the three of them rode let out a roar while going up the slope.

Caught under a bookshelf, Hodgins was straddled over Lux with his hands so as not to squash her. Lux looked up at him, dumbfounded.

“Little Lux, you can... you can take it slow, but sneak off from under me.”

The glass of the windows had shattered and scattered all over the place. The president’s desk, which was an order-made one designed by a master craftsman, had been smashed to fragments. The carpet had turned into ember and the room was starting to envelope in flames.

“President Hodgins... I-I’m sorry!” Lux crawled out, attempting to somehow lift the shelf with her powerless arms. However, it did not even budge.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Man~, I’d been skipping push-ups lately so this is taking a toll on me... Heave-ho.”

The instant he put on strength and lifted the bookshelf all at once, he rolled away and escaped from being crushed. He was the bearer of a considerable muscle strength.

Hodgins stood up and looked around the room. The look in his eyes was no longer the earlier one of a slacker chairman.

“Sorry; you okay?” Only the gentleness in his voice was the same as always.

“Why are you apologizing, President?”

“‘Cause this was an attack aimed at me, no matter how you think of it. If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t have any excuse to give your parents.”

“I don’t have parents.”

“That’s right. Then, I wouldn’t have any excuse to give you. Now, we gotta check if the other employees are all right...”

“Anyhow, let’s go downstairs; we’ll both burn to death if we stay like this!” Making a snap decision, Lux ran to the stairs that led to the lower floor.

Planning to go down through the balcony’s emergency stairs, Hodgins desperately called out to her, “Little Lux! Wait up!”

However, before Lux flew out the door, it opened automatically. Hodgins saw a brusque arm stretching before his eyes and taking ahold of Lux. She was dragged into the darkness and her frame disappeared.

“Little Lux...?”

By the moment that Lux reappeared before Hodgins, whose lips twitched, there was as a muzzle aimed at her temple. The one who pushed her forward while holding onto her shoulder was a man clad in a completely black suit. Six other men dressed the same way revealed themselves in succession. Hodgins’s gaze gradually became grimmer.

“How do you do, Claudia Hodgins?” The man referred to Hodgins by the name that he made sure not to call himself by. It was the name his parents had come up with while convinced that he was going to be born a girl.

Breaking into a distorted smile, Hodgins replied, “You’re truly one refreshing shitface, Salvatore Ridaudo.”

Salvatore smiled sarcastically as well. His hair was fixed with balm to the point there was not a single disheveled thread. He was the possessor of wood-brown droopy eyes, thick lips and skin as pale as wax.

“So, what is it you wanna do by shooting a cannonball into my office and thrusting a gun at my secretary?”

“My, good job figuring out that it was our doing.”

“I have a rough idea of it, but can’t you tell me… Mr. President of the Salvatore Postal Company? All that comes to me is that my academic background in the Military School was below yours.”

“How modest... What are you, an up-and-coming entrepreneur whose name everyone knows in the mail business nowadays, talking about? It’s very obvious what I’m after, right? The Salvatore Postal Company and the CH Postal Company. Two agencies competing for deployment in Leidenschaftlich. The fact that the other party is a nuisance certainly applies to you too, but I’m the one who’s been in this industry for the longest time. I can’t contain my frustration. Your way of doing things is... Anyway, I want you to obediently come with us. I wish to have a talk at a quiet place. If you do that, we’ll go home without inflicting a single injury on this cute lady and the rest of the employees.”

For someone running a postal firm, he was a disturbing individual. Calling him an underground chief would be more frankly agreeable. The men in all-black under his control did not seem to be respectful individuals either.

“Think you’ll get to live in peace after doing something like this? The military police’s coming over soon.”

“Seems like you have contacts in the military, but I myself have strong connections too. The military police monitoring this area won’t move an inch. I had them promise that they’d pretend not to hear anything the whole day, no matter how much noise we make. Claudia... Excuse me; is it okay to call you by your first name?”

Hodgins gritted his teeth to the point they let out a creak. “Go ahead. It’s the name that my beloved parents gave me.”

“Then, Claudia. If we keep talking so leisurely, we’ll both scorch. I want you to come along with us on your own feet.”

“Got it, I’ll go over there. But leave my secretary here.”

At those words, Salvatore went blank. He cast his gaze at Lux, who – perhaps from too much fear – had tears naturally welling up in her eyes, and broke into a smile that was rather merciful for an enemy.

And then suddenly punched her on the cheek.

His eyes open wide, Hodgins’s expression visibly dyed itself in rage. “You...! You laid your hand on a woman!!”

A man from the back gave her support as she seemed about to fall to her knees.

Side-glancing Hodgins as he shouted angrily, Salvatore wiped off the blood on his fist onto the sleeve of one of his subordinates’ suit. “I loathe women who think things will somehow work out if they cry. Sorry.”

His voice sounded as though he had not an ounce of pangs of conscience.

By the time that the trio had arrived, the people of the neighboring shops were helping put the flames down together with the firefighters.

Seeing that, Violet whispered quietly, “It is almost as if they knew there would be fire, isn’t it?”

Indeed, just as she said, the fire department’s performance was too well-executed. Thanks to it, only the third floor of the CH Postal Company received damage.

“You three! Over here!”

As they turned around upon being called, they found uniform-clad office workers of the CH Postal Company standing outside with burns showing and in a horrible state. A middle-aged man, presumably the oldest of that group, was waving his hand.

“Anthony, everyone, you okay? What’s all this?”

Anthony, the section manager of the reception desk at the CH Postal Company, had genteel facial features. He spoke with a demeanor and manner of talking that matched said features, “Every employee who attended work as of today is fine. However... the President and his secretary Lux have been taken away.”

“No way!” Cattleya let out a cry similar to a scream.

Benedict looked at Violet. She blinked several times. Her long eyelashes swaying widely displayed “shock” amongst her scarce emotions.

Her hand reached out to her brooch and gripped it tightly. “Who... and where... is the culprit...?” she asked in a low voice, still gripping it and not letting go, “Who... and... where?”

Her tone was an absolute zero.

It was so low and cold it went to the point of making whoever listened to it hallucinate that their temperature had dropped for a second. The air about her was bizarre, further enhanced by her usual robotic aspect.

Only one person moved within that freezing atmosphere. “V,” echoed the affectionate nickname by which Benedict alone called her.

Violet turned her head to the side.

“It’s okay.” That was a tone so gentle it was unimaginable coming from Benedict. “I’ll do something about this no matter what.”

Those words were almost like the ones that a true older brother would tell his younger sister.

Violet’s eyelashes once again flapped flutteringly. “I will do it.”

“You can’t. If we’re doing something, we’ll do it all together. Your plans for later gonna be okay?”

“The plans... No problem; Major will understand. Besides, Major would probably order me to rescue President Hodgins and Lux.”

Perhaps unamused by Violet’s attitude in demonstrating unwavering trust, Benedict ruffled her hair roughly. “Ah, that so?”

Her feathery, wavy streaks expanded even more. Unlike earlier, Violet protested with a “please stop” using her normal voice. The instability that had given a glimpse of her former self as a girl soldier was concealed and everyone in the surroundings exhaled relieved sighs.

“Hey, enough; I’m gonna ask about the rest. Anthony’s troubled, ain’t he?”

Having her shin kicked, Violet finally nodded.

Anthony resumed speaking, “The perpetrator is the Salvatore Postal Company. Its president who has the looks of a vampire and his followers dressed in black did this to the office… I tried to notify the military police with a detailed report of the circumstances, but they would not listen. It seems Salvatore has enormous support. I can’t think of anything other than information manipulation.”

Meaning that Hodgins and Lux had been taken by Salvatore and their whereabouts were unknown. It would seem that the employees left behind were first and foremost concentrating themselves on digesting the situation.

“When departing, President Hodgins told us, ‘I leave the rest to you’.”

“I’m so glad! They’re okay for now, huh!” Cattleya patted her own chest and welled up with tears.

“Salvatore’s the place that dispatches those postmen with black uniforms? If I’m not wrong, their head office was in Leiden, yeah? Those guys once went claiming a boundary to delivering territories, so I beat them into a pulp. Could it be… this was my fault?”

“Eh, what? The name sounds like a tongue-twist so I can’t remember just by hearing it one time. Salva… Sal… Salfa…”

“'Salvatore’, Cattleya.”

Imitating Violet, who pronounced it slowly, Cattleya uttered it as well, “'Salvatore’, 'Salvatore’… okay. Gotta be able to say it right. They’re the ones we’re knocking off into hell, after all. Well, when does the blood festival start? Of course, we’ll settle the accounts, right? We’ll go save the president and Lux, right?”

It was a crude statement, yet the people present nodded at Cattleya’s suggestion with an aspect that bore no sense of displacement whatsoever.

“Please pummel them.”

Benedict broke into a villainous smile at Anthony’s request. “Oh. We’ll do that. Old Man will be fine even on his own but we gotta save the midget.” Benedict vigorously hit his own chest with his fist.

Anthony let out a breath of relief at that attitude. “You three, what should we do, then? Should we call over the other employees? The Salvatore Postal Company owns countless branch offices, even abroad. Is this all right?”

Violet said after raising her hand, “We shall seize them simultaneously. In the national offices, there should be a spot by the windows with nothing but the reception desk. The three of us will take it over… However, the priority is to strike the head office first. Let us suppose that the location the two were kidnapped to is where the leader is. Depending on whether the people at work recruited as combatants are available, please notify them that we are seizing our neighbor agency, the Salvatore Postal Company. Hold a transmission for the combatant employees to grasp the entirety of the situation. We will entrust the information convergence… to you, Anthony.”

“Understood, Violet.”

She was the expected of a former warrior. With that, the chain of command was made clear.

Looking at Violet, Benedict asked, “V, ain’t you kinda coming back to being a soldier?”

Violet had on the same composed expression as always, yet the things she said were uncouth.

“I am not. However, counterattack for justifiable motives is permitted even during travels. We are merely going to resolve a quarrel between fellow post offices. The third floor is the one burning, right?”

Violet had a reason for confirming that.

The trio stood in front of a thick iron door inserted unnaturally in the red brick wall at the back of the building. As Benedict squatted on the spot and dug up the ground, a small box covered in dirt appeared within not even a few minutes’ time. Inside it was a bronze key. Once he reverently brought it into the keyhole, the door greeted the visitors while ringing out a rusty sound. They took a built-in lantern and went down the stairs in the thin darkness. Soon, they arrived to their destination.

The basement illuminated by the faint light stored equipment that should not possibly be gathered in an ordinary company. They were firearms, swords, spears, axes, bows, shields and other fighting tools of all kinds. Even if that were the president’s hobby, such assortment of goods was not something an amateur could attain.

“He saw something like this coming and was getting himself ready, huh. He’s got actual self-awareness that people have a grudge against him,” Benedict said as if in admiration.

“Ah~! President got the tonfa that I said I wanted! The whip too!”

“One fist’s more than enough for you, ain’t it? Don’t go taking any more dangerous weapons other than that. V, what’cha picking? We got this opportunity so I’m gonna take the ones I’ve never used.”

“I...” Looking around the hidden weapons of the CH Postal Company, Violet reached a hand out to something wrapped in a tattered rag set against the farthest wall. “I have decided that this will be my weapon. Benedict, Cattleya.” Violet raised the object that was as tall as her with hand movements that did not allow one to perceive its weight. “Let’s go as discreetly as possible.”

The three stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“Impossible, ain’t it? I’m pissed.”

“Impossible, isn’t it? With this group, that is.”

“So that is really the case.”

As the result of a discussion, they arrived at the conclusion that leaving the enemies half-dead without killing anyone was passable.

Salvatore Rinaudo stared down at Claudia Hodgins. The person he detested was currently on an imported bear leather carpet of his personal choice, feeble and with wrists tied.

They were in a room encircled with black furnishings. The fact that said room was decorated with the personality of its owner was apparent one way or another. There were portraits of himself and bookshelves with double glass doors that did not seem to be opened often. There were also butterfly specimens and vases filled to the brim with fresh white flowers. Quiet violin music was playing from a gramophone, but it did not relieve the restless atmosphere in the slightest. Having her cheek punched and swelled, Lux Sibyl was seated on a chair, but one of Salvatore’s underlings had a gun thrust at her head.

Lux was constantly concerned about the outdoors. From the balcony, she could see Hodgins’s office at just the same height in the far distance. Black smoke rising from it, the structure of the CH Postal Company’s headquarters and of that building were awfully similar.

There was one more thing to note about the balcony. It was the artillery that seemed unlikely to have been placed there as an antique.

“Shall I tell you the reason why I despise you?” He stretched his arm as though to embrace Lux, caressing her, who had her right cheek swollen, almost as though soothing a pet cat.

As the cheek that had been hit still throbbed, Lux shuddered as if in pain upon the touch.

“Above all, it’s you yourself. You were born to a well-off merchant family, and used to belong to Leidenschaftlich’s army. Even though you were promoted up to the rank of major, you quit the military immediately after the Great War ended and founded a post office next, succeeding splendidly at it. People like that do exist, huh? The kind that can carry out anything just fine no matter what they do. In most cases, they stomp over others’ efforts with the sole of their shoes. And with a nonchalant face, to boot. I may have all this, but I’m one of the people who face hardships, so I detest those like you.”

“If me being superior is a sin, then go complain to God.”

“My second reason for hating you is that you rebel against the principles and rules that our predecessors established. ‘The CH Postal Company delivers to anywhere’? You make me sick.”

Hodgins shot Salvatore’s hand a blazing glare. “High quality at a low price for the costumers... That’s the basics of business, isn’t it?”

“Won’t you just crush those who can’t do the same if you turn this into a standard?”

“You get tripped up because you sit on your hands like that. Y’know, I just happened to think back when I was a soldier that a post office like this would be great and am simply making it into a reality. Letters that can be sent to any sort of battlefield. Postmen who can deliver them. Auto-Memories Dolls who can come to you if you so wish, even if you live at the heart of a sea of trees. What’s so bad about doing something I like with my own money?”

“There are still other bad things... What’s that building? Isn’t it almost like claiming that you’re going to replace the Salvatore Postal Company? The fact that only the weather face stands high up is also irritating.”

Salvatore’s hand moved from her cheek to her silver hair, which emitted a glossy luster.

“Don’t touch my secretary... Yeah, that’s right, I declared war on you. I’ve known you before getting into the industry. You’re all over the country I protected, doing stuff that doesn’t favor it.”

“What, for example?”

A bundle of hair picked by Salvatore’s fingers flowed in-between them, producing a smooth sound.

“The fact that you’ve been selling weapons behind the face of post office... You were selling national weaponry abroad, weren’t you?”

“We’re a postal company that has gentleness and courtesy as our selling points, so we do deliver anything that people request. However, I don’t recall delivering anything to the North.”

“That’s not the issue. Even if you didn’t sell anything to them when battles were going on, it takes just a bit of thinking to figure that this kind of stuff makes rounds, right? It was so unbearably weird... How come the enemy had weapons made in Leidenschaftlich? How come my comrades were getting shot by the enemy with them and dying...? I finally got to investigate that mystery after the war.”

Lux’s had her hair forcefully pulled and her neck bent backwards. Her scarf was taken off, her collarbone peeking from underneath her blouse.

Salvatore took the gun from his underling and pointed it at her chest. “If you know this much, you also know that part of my proceedings went to the military, don’t you? It’s not something that I alone wished for. Some people from your country, which you’d devoted your life to, merely wanted to increase their retirement pay a little. Isn’t that a commonplace story? Can’t you drop the moralist act? It disgusts me.”

“I’m no moralist—hey... how many times do I have to tell you not to touch...”

“Claudia, it’s not like you have a respectable life style either, is it? You wagered your whole fortune on war gambles and earned a large sum, wasn’t that it? Funds gathered from gambling are a hotbed for underground organizations and black market groups. With those funds, they sell off weapons, drugs and abused women and children. Even if you’re on the side that just milked it out, from the moment you placed a bet, you also made rounds and became someone’s assailant.”

“That’s why I said... I’m no moralist! I did all of it because I wanted to. You and I are both pitch-black at heart. But y’know, my secretary over there is a respectable girl. Didn’t you hear when I told you not to touch my secretary?! If you get anxious unless you’re touching something, just hit me or whatever!”

Perhaps because such statements rubbed him the wrong way, Salvatore did as Hodgins proposed, leaving Lux and kicking Hodgins’s face with his shin. Crimson hair swaying, Hodgins collapsed onto the floor.

Regardless, he grinned. “Thanks; should I take my clothes off while we’re at it? It’d get you excited, right?”

Salvatore grabbed Hodgins’s collar with rage. “How filthy. Your company is your human nature itself. I’m a victim. I want you to give me back the clients, routes and everything that you’ve stolen from me. I think being a soldier suited you better than being a businessman. Lying on the ground like this is fitting of you. Why... I’m just going to have you write your name on a document. Promise not to trespass my routes... It’s hard to do stuff with you loitering around. Lots of stuff, you see.” He let go abruptly, Hodgins’s face banging onto the floor.

“President!” Lux’s tear-mixed voice leaked.

Hodgins immediately raised his head and smiled at Lux. He went as far as winking at her.

Salvatore harshly told his underling to call over the official scrivener who would bear witness to their contract. He most likely intended to crush Hodgins’s post office through leaving behind a legal document with unequal contents.

“Tepid; you’re tepid.” Hodgins’s tongue licked off the blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Compared to back in the battlefields, you really are dull...” As he coughed curt and subtly, his voice reached Salvatore. “My company isn’t just mine.” Hodgins looked out the window. He checked if something was coming and waited for it.

“Salvatore Postal Company identified ahead,” Violet whispered.

Benedict was driving his motorcycle, Cattleya behind him. Holding onto Cattleya’s shoulders, Violet was standing on the edge of the passenger seat. Running through the cityscape in the early afternoon, the motorcycle carried not only three people but also uncovered armament.

“Hey~, there’s a huge tacky cannon in the balcony~.”

“All~ right, I was thinking about forcing our way through the front gate but change of plans. V, go off on that balcony,” Benedict said with a lightheartedness that one would invite another to go shopping with.

“Understood. Cattleya, please give me support.” Violet took into her hands a thick, long cylindrical object that had been placed on the motorcycle’s luggage carrier. It was something that could be called both a rifle and a rocket launcher. She rested it on her shoulder atop the running vehicle and determined her target.

Once Cattleya clung to her legs as to secure her body, Violet shot without mercy. Explosion sounds echoed throughout the city of Leiden for the second time that day.

“Impact confirmed.”

Pigeons fled into the sky, the townspeople darting their eyes about in search for the source of the noise. Meanwhile, the motorcycle that the trio was riding on gradually drew closer to the Salvatore head office.

“Sca~ry! But ama~zing! I also wanna shoot tha~t!” Cattleya shouted in joy upon seeing the balcony destructed.

“Won’t let ya no matter what.”

“You cannot no matter what.”

Benedict and Violet shook their heads in sync. Both comprehended that it would be dangerous to let such a naïve woman hold onto firearm.

“What’s with that~?! I also wanna go wild big time~! Isn’t it okay?!”

“Then, let Cattleya be the first to charge in. Please be contented with that.”

“What’re you deciding on your own? The first at anything’s gotta be me.”

“You follow me from behind. ‘Cause the one who’ll save our captive princess of a president is going to be me. A~hn, wait for me, President! Where are you!?”

“You... As if such a huge dude could be a princess. What kinda princess is that?”

“If you were as tall as the President, you wouldn’t have to wear those heeled shoes, huh.”

“You’re wrong! That’s not why I wear them! It’s because they’re cool! You... Imma make you cry later! I’m dropping by your place today, so get ready for it!”

“Yo... Yo-Yo... You idiot! What’re you saying in front of Violet?!”

Silently listening to the exchange between the two, Violet slowly took from the luggage carrier the handle of the weapon jutting out of the tattered cloth. “Then, I shall take this opportunity and go.”

They had no idea what opportunity she was taking, yet Violet nimbly jumped midair after saying nothing but that. As she landed on the ground, the motorcycle also stopped right in front of the head office with good timing upon scoring an ostentatious drift.

“Here I go, Major.”

The one taken into Violet’s blue eyes was the Salvatore Postal Company – a building that looked exactly like the CH Postal Company. Although it was a weekday, a “closed” sign hung on the door and five postmen clad in black frock coats stood by the entrance smoking cigarettes.

The stunning woman, the man mounted on a motorcycle and the beauty behind him appeared before their eyes. Ashes fell down in lieu of their surprise at the mystery trio.

“Wh-Who’re you?!”

While the men froze on the spot at her exposed unpainted face and moonlight-colored hair, Violet swiftly tore off the tattered cloth wrapped around the weapon in her hands. A battle-axe of a size unfit for swinging around in a city road revealed itself.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am an Auto-Memories Doll from the CH Postal Company; my name is Violet Evergarden.”

The name of the battle-axe wielded by that woman as ominously beautiful as a witch was Witchcraft. It had a silver blade, and the red rain that it dyed itself in from the number of people it had killed was a manifestation of its ill-omened existence.

“Apologies for you are in the middle of work, but could you allow us upstairs? Ever since our company’s president and secretary disappeared into your agency, we have not known of their whereabouts.”

As she held onto it, illuminated by the afternoon sunlight, her frame gave off quite a sense of misplacement.

“If you will not listen to our request, we shall exercise brute force based on the guiding precepts of our company.”

But as she wielded it, her figure looked appropriate. Rather, it was the contrary.

Raising the gigantic battle-axe blithely, Violet pointed the blade at the men. Instead of opening their mouths, the men took pistols out of their coats and pants and aimed them at Violet.

“The guys from the CH Postal Company are here! Don’t let them pass no matter what!”

“Violet!” Cattleya’s scream reverberated through the city roads.

However, the beautiful Auto-Memories Doll moved at the same time as the opponents readied themselves, dealing a preemptive strike in the blink of an eye. “Negotiations broken.”

A single blow from the battle-axe brushed away the postmen. It was an attack that did not cut them and merely struck their vitals using blunt weapon essentials, yet it caused three of the men to hit their heads against the outer wall of their company and collapse.

The remaining two men, who had dodged the appearance and disappearance of the axe, frantically aimed at Violet and pulled the triggers. Without any change in her facial expression, Violet twisted the battle-axe around and repelled the bullets with its blade. Switching hands, she pointed the tip of the handle at the opponents. It produced a ringing noise.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

The flower bud ornament decorating the tip of the handle flew out together with a long chain. It knocked the two men’s pistols off their hands. She did not give the men, who held their hands down due to the collision, any opening to straighten their postures. This time, Violet rammed the battle-axe’s arm against the surface of the building’s wall and anchored it. While extending the chain and spinning midair, she dealt a flying kick to the face of one of them, made his face into her stepping stone and roundhouse-kicked the man next to him. There was no hesitation or mercy in her series of actions.

“Bu-But I was supposed to be the first one!”

“That was me!”

Indignant, Cattleya took a sack fastened to the luggage carrier, which contained her weapons. After thorough indecision between the tonfa, whip and other armory, the one she had chosen were iron knuckles.

Before anyone noticed, Benedict’s hands were gripping two pistols. He disabled the safety catch with practiced hand movements. “V! Don’t get too serious! If you’re angry, I can get angry for you!”

As if the people inside the Salvatore Postal Company had foreseen that someone would come raid it, postmen peeked out from the windows of the floors above with rifles in position. Bullets from Benedict’s pistols pierced their arms as he spoke, creating a rain of blood splashes.

“If this is the emotion called wrath, I want to rid myself of it quickly. Cattleya.” Violet pointed with her finger at the rocket launcher that had no more remaining ammo to Cattleya, who had put on her iron knuckles.

Agilely grabbing its handle with one hand, Cattleya threw it with heightened rotation speed after drawing it back once with much vigor. “One, two, the~re!”

Together with her adorable shout, the rocket launcher struck the postmen who had turned up in the upstairs floor, breaking through the window glass. Its destructive power was the same as a bullet shell.

The one who had flung it jumped up and down on the spot as if delighted. “Kyah~! I hit them~!”

It was not a deed that an average person, let alone a young woman, could normally manage. She was the possessor of tremendously strong arms.

“As expected of the Stupid Woman – or more like the Stupidly Strong Woman.”

“Shut up, Platform Shoes Man.”

“Ah, you on?”

“What, are you?”

The ringing of the chain on Violet’s battle-axe Witchcraft drowned out the duo’s little quarrel. One of the men screamed and threw himself out the window, falling onto a flowerbed in front of the company.

“Benedict, Cattleya. By the looks of it, the President and Lux are unmistakably inside this building. President Hodgins told me that he imitated Salvatore’s agency when our company’s office was under construction. If that is the case, then the highest position is probably the uppermost floor – the third floor. I am counting on you to follow the procedures.”

The two nodded in reply to Violet’s words.

“Let’s kick their asses at once and go celebrate.”

“We’re bothering the neighbors, after all.”

Before anyone realized, the city had gone quiet.

The Salvatore Postal Company was located in a completely ordinary shopping street in the city of Leiden. However, the passersby had fled within a few minutes, and the shopkeepers of the nearby buildings, as well as the buildings next to those, had closed their shops’ windows – the so-called display windows – and pulled down the iron shutters.

The fast action stemmed from their understanding that the city had become involved in the maelstrom of a fight. It was a particularity of citizens from a country that had long been shutting off invaders ever since its foundation. The people were silently waiting for the conflict to end.

“Well, then, let’s go in.” Violet’s figure as she gave the command with a clear voice was different from usual.

Inside the chairman’s room at the top floor of the Salvatore Postal Company, the scenery visible from the balcony – an autumn sky where cirrocumulus clouds drifted high up and Leiden’s cityscape – had looked like it was inserted in a picture frame. Yet such beauty was something of a few seconds before, and now the artillery enshrined in it had received great damage from a sudden explosion attack, smoke rising from it.

Once ornamented with delicate sculptures, the rails were crumbling, and the balcony was in a state where one could fall straight to the ground if they put a foot on it. If the artillery were loaded with ammo, it was most likely not the only thing that would have been destroyed.

In that situation of settled chaos, Salvatore Rinaudo’s pale face went even paler and his mouth fell open as he spaced out, while Claudia Hodgins bit the inside of his cheeks to kill off his own laughter and trembled in opposition.

“What have they done?”

“Ahah—AHAHAHAHAH! Aah, I can’t anymore! Can’t hold back! This is the best!” Hodgins convulsed with laughter upon looking at Salvatore’s face. “What you so surprised about, Salvatore? Isn’t that what you did to us? Well, but... you wouldn’t think we’d do the exact same thing as you, huh! There’s no helping it! Ahahahah!”

Even Lux, who had all along been shaking with a darkened face, lit up with a sparkle of hope and laughed a little.

“Is this the work of you people from the CH Postal Company?”

“Who else is there? Our corporate philosophy is ‘an eye for an eye’.” Hodgins was in such a good mood that he seemed like he could break into song right then.

A few of Salvatore’s underlings went down to the floors below. Gunshots and screams soon echoed again. The fact that the screams had come from Salvatore’s subordinates increased his anxiety and impatience.

“They’re doing this even though you might be injured... What kind of training do you use on them?”

“Basically a principle of liberalism. Most of the personnel I gathered back when I was building my company happen to be guys with nowhere to go that I coaxed and took in... Don’t know if my preferences are biased, but it turned out that lots of them were absurdly strong fellows. The ones who’re here right now are definitely two of the Auto-Memories Dolls that were off-duty and... probably a postman that was scheduled to return to town today. They’re elite of the finest kind even among us. Salvatore, since it’s you, weren’t you supposed to investigate me through and through?”

“Your company’s employees are former soldiers and mercenaries, right? If that’s the case, so are our postmen...”

“They aren’t just former soldiers and mercenaries. Benedict is an ex-mercenary who had the nickname of ‘Battle-Hungry Freak’ in another continent. Cattleya was a boxer. She has arms so strong that no one can beat her by using force. And that beautiful girl whose name you can even say everyone knows in the Auto-Memories Doll business... my adorable Little Violet, used to be Leidenschaftlich’s most powerful female soldier. It’s in the past, though.” Hodgins smiled at Lux. “By the way, my secretary is a former demigoddess.”

“‘Leidenschaftlich’s most powerful female soldier’?”

“Didn’t your patrons tell you anything? Well, she was treated as a secret in a way, so it isn’t impossible for civilians not to know about her. The military went as far as creating a troop just for her and made her work for them, but they never gave her recognition or ranks. She didn’t have a surname back then and it seems people just called her ‘Violet’. My friend found and raised her... She was the leading figure of the Great War in the shadows.”

Salvatore reminisced to the photos of Hodgins’s employees whom he had made his underlings investigate. One that had been engraved in his mind remarkably vividly was a beautiful woman. She was a girl of exquisite, suave facial features. Even if one declared her to have been the strongest female soldier, nobody could believe it right away.

“How did you make a woman like that yours?!”

“She’s not mine.” Hodgins smirked defiantly. “And she doesn’t belong to the military anymore either. From the very start, she... Let’s stop here; telling this story to you is a waste.”

The battle’s tune gradually grew closer to the top floor. By the looks of it, the fuss was escalating to a direction where even angry yelling was ensuing. It seemed the owner of the voice was a young woman. Even amidst gunshots, the conversation between those two people did not cut short.

Hodgins’s smirk deepened, Salvatore’s face becoming grim.

“You guys, give polite greetings when coming in.”

Salvatore’s underlings readied their guns all at once. The tension reached its peak, everyone inside the room paying attention to the door. However, it was time.

“Lux, please cover your eyes,” a beautiful voice that did not match such a place, which had converted into a battlefield, could be heard from behind the staff members.

A black lump jumped from the balcony. It looked like a beast at first. A stunning and terrifying beast that moved its limbs gracefully and trampled over its enemies.

No matter how much the “hunters” who had taken notice of the beast’s existence made bullets rain on it, its feet did not halt by a single inch as it bared its fangs. It steadfastly ascertained the battlefield even as it danced in the air, wielding its weapon with astonishing precision, bringing everyone to the ground.

“A-Aaaah!!”

The arm released from the battle-axe pierced and gouged the shoulder of the man who had been thrusting a gun at Lux. The beast swung the battle-axe and stationed Hodgins and Lux to behind itself.

Salvatore took a few steps back, and exactly two factions stood in position separated at his right and left sides.

“Major Hodgins, we apologize for the wait.”

“I’m always telling you that it’s ‘President’, aren’t I, Little Violet?”

The beast – rather, the woman – shot a cold glance at the one that she perceived as the enemy.

“You—What are you?” Salvatore vented his confusion at the sudden intruder who held onto the completely red battle-axe.

She had white and smooth skin like that of porcelain dolls. Her blue eyes were as glass balls. Her hair of gold seemed to waft with a sweet fragrance. The girl was beautiful to a rare extent, but that was not the only thing that made one’s eyes widen at her.

A living legend that Salvatore did not know was standing there.

“Violet.”

The loveliness he had seen in the picture was concealed by a shadow, a turbulent atmosphere similar to madness surrounding her instead. An air of lethargic strategizing as to which of them would move first flowed by, but the stagnancy soon shattered.

“PRESIDENT———! LUX——!”

“OLD MAN!”

Callings could be heard in unison from outside the room. The massive door was then broken through as if it were as thin a paper sheet. The one who stepped onto the door as it collapsed with a tremor and entered the room while holding by the collar an enemy that she had defeated with her silver iron knuckles was Cattleya.

“Aa~hn! You two~! Found yoou!” She tossed the prey that she had nearly killed toward Salvatore and his group. Being able to fling a human being as if they were an object meant her arms were simply that great as blunt weapons.

Following her, a gun barrel appeared first, and after bullet sounds ensued, Benedict revealed himself. It was a shot meant for delivering the finishing blow to Cattleya’s offensive.

Shooting the legs of all the men in black except Salvatore, Benedict clicked his tongue at the gruesome scene inside the room. “What’s this? Hasn’t V eaten out most of them?” Together with a sigh, he threw away the gun he had been holding, taking out another one. “Old Man~, we’ve left only this important-looking old dude~.”

“Lux! Violet is protecting you, right? President! You’re tied up!” Cattleya ran towards Hodgins, who lay on the floor. Without cutting them with a knife, she ripped off the ropes that had been restricting him using the iron knuckles and embraced him boldly.

Hodgins patted her back with taps and hugged her lightly. “Sorry, Cattleya. Didn’t my adorable young lady get hurt?”

“I didn’t!”

“Atta girl.” Hodgins left a kiss on Cattleya’s forehead with a pop.

Cattleya’s cheeks flushed red and she turned her back to him looking embarrassed, stamping her feet onto her happiness on the spot.

Benedict tore Cattleya away from Hodgins and stood between them. Contrary to being angry, he aggressively hit Hodgins from face to torso, confirming that the latter was alive.

“Ouch, ouch, what’s this? A new way of expressing love?”

“You’re fine, huh, Captive Princess?”

“You were worried about me, Darling?” Hodgins merely replied with frivolous talk to Benedict’s cynicism, looking delighted.

Briefly biting his lip, Benedict faced the ground. Hodgins had a feeling that the eyes Benedict had directed at him before casting them downward were moist, and was inwardly surprised.

——Huh, could it be he really was worried?

“Hey, Darling. Benedict.”

His sandy-blond hair rubbed into a mess, Benedict finally resisted energetically as if to say, “Quit it”. Nothing that resembled tears could be seen in his eyes anymore.

“Who’s that ‘Darling’, Old Man...?!”

“Could it be you were pretty worried about me?”

He was fully convinced that Benedict would deny it.

“I was. Don’t make me.” Yet the latter directed his sky-blue eyes straight at him and said, “I was hella worried. Don’t ever make me worry again no matter what!”

As it was much too blunt, after Hodgins was taken aback, his face slowly turned red. He had anticipated they would come save him, but right now was his first time learning he was cherished to that extent.

“Ah... that so? S-Sorry, okay?”

“Damn... Don’t go getting kidnapped when you’ve got that huge body! Is Captive Princess #2 all good?”

“Fairly. Little Lux needs first-aid...!”

Violet undid Lux’s binding. The latter’s body, which had been trembling in fear, and the sound of her heartbeats, which had grown noisy, were regaining their calm.

“Thank you, Violet.” Enduring the pain in her cheek, Lux smiled at the friend who had come for her rescue. “I thought you were some noble prince.”

Violet furrowed her eyebrows as if troubled. She then resentfully held Lux’s hands and helped her up. “My apologies for not being able to protect you. But I will not let you go through terrifying times anymore.” Just like a knight, she made Lux retreat to behind her.

Albeit gripping his gun, Salvatore remained unable to fire a single shot at the mere three people who had taken control of his company. As he shifted his gaze to the side, he could see his underlings collapsed and moaning in the open corridor. “There was supposed to be... fifty of them,” once he opened his mouth, his voice shook.

“Ah? Your minions? Even if the numbers are big, it’s no use if the quality sucks. Actually, were there that many of them? I was counting, but... Stupid Woman, how many did you take down?”

“Stupid Benedict! Erm... ten. I probably beat up about ten people.”

“I got twenty. The rest was V, huh?”

“I simply came here by climbing the outer walls, so other than the beginning and now...”

“Didn’t anyone run away? The math ain’t adding up.”

They were chatting carefreely, yet the contents of the conversation were the number of people they had defeated. In addition, there was an overwhelming difference in combat power, for they were unharmed and not even their clothes had scratches. That was also a difference in corporation power.

Biting his lip as if in frustration, Salvatore barked at Hodgins, “They came late, and that’s why you’ve lost! I already had you write the contract! The official scrivener went to submit the contract we exchanged to the government office so that it’d serve as a demonstration of formal legitimacy. It’s probably already been accepted... Take your leave as you please. But I’m billing you for the internal damage caused by your subordinates and the injuries they inflicted on mine!”

Salvatore had intended to wreak both psychological and bodily pain on Hodgins for a while, instilling terror on him and making him lose the will to fight back, but now he had given up on it. What he desired most – the unequal contract – was in a state of legal effectiveness. As long as he had it, regardless of what anyone could say, the fact that Salvatore had the advantage would not change.

“Salvatore Rinaudo. What’re you on about?” However, Hodgins had a facial expression that denounced he was helplessly puzzled.

“As I said, your company can no longer enter our routes...”

“So?”

“No matter how much brute force we used, that’s nothing in the face of a validated official document!”

“Again... so what? The papers were indeed filed. Seems like they also were submitted before help came. What of it?” Claudia Hodgins, president of the CH Postal Company and former major from Leidenschaftlich’s army, generally had an easygoing personality, as well as a cheerful and frivolous attitude. However, he was now glaring at Salvatore without breaking into a smile, letting a glint shine sharply in his eyes. “Isn’t it a matter that’ll be solved if we crush down your company?” He rolled up his shirt’s sleeves and took off a wristwatch that one could tell was a high-grade product. Next, he squeezed the strap with his fingers so that the watch’s case would be on his knuckles.

Anybody who was used to fighting knew. If one was battling without a weapon, the object called wristwatch was an overly useful thing.

“Salvatore, if only you hadn’t hit Lux, I wouldn’t be this angry.”

Salvatore fired at Hodgins when the latter swung up his hand, yet it did not even graze him. Oddly enough, the bullet that had failed to kill a person shot through the middle of the forehead of Salvatore’s portrait sitting inside the room.

“S-Sto...” The word that Salvatore uttered were the end of it.

The fist swung by a 194cm-tall man who weighted 85kg struck into Salvatore’s face with a wind-cutting sound. As his nose was broken without mercy, Salvatore shed a large amount of blood. A few of his teeth tumbled onto the high-quality carpet as well. He had convulsions for a moment, but eventually became completely motionless.

“Did you kill him?”

At Benedict’s question, Hodgins put his ear against Salvatore’s chest, shaking his head after simply checking the other’s heartbeat. “He’s alive. Let’s leave him be.” By the instant he turned around, Hodgins had gone back to his usual self. “Everyone, you did well. I’m so happy; my employees sure are the best. And I’m also the best for having chosen you!” Hodgins sang praises gesturing exaggeratedly, embracing the employees who had come for his aid all at once. He then came closer to Lux’s side, planting a kiss on the cheek that had not been punched. “I’ve made you go through a lot, huh. I’m really sorry, Little Lux.”

“No, I’m the president’s secretary, after all.”

Seeing as she did not appear too bashful, that sort of kiss was likely not a rare action. As the thread of tension broke, Lux crumbled and shed large tears. Hodgins frantically apologized again.

“That’s not it... I’m frustrated... It’d be great if I were like everyone else, and also had strength to protect the president. If I hadn’t been taken hostage, things wouldn’t have turned out like...”

Cattleya gently caressed Lux’s arching back as she was unable to stop crying. “What’re you saying? Lux, you have it good exactly because you’re a normal fragile girl. Ah, but it’s not like I’m not normal either. I’m strong and pretty, but I’m a super normal girl...”

“Cattleya, what you say is inconsistent.” Violet handed Lux a silk handkerchief.

Perhaps due to their heights being about the same, despite their faces not resembling one another and their body types being different, the figure of the tree as they nestled close to each other strangely made them look like sisters.

“Seeing girls huddling together is kinda nice, right, Benedict?”

“Old Man, just hurry and do something about this place.”

“Should we huddle too? Shall we?”

“Don’t play around and give the instructions!”

As Benedict dealt him a strong lateral kick to the rear, Hodgins ceased joking. “Eeh~, then, all dismissed...! That’s what I’d like to do but I have a request. Anyone who doesn’t have any plans for later, please help me destroy Salvatore’s company!”

“He~y, Old Man.”

“What is it, Mr. Benedict?”

“You haven’t checked things out so you don’t know what’s been made of it, but we left the international offices to the rest of the fighter staff. The guys who stayed at the main office contacted them. Since it’s those fellows... they’ll take them out without worries.”

“Amazing! But we don’t have fighter staff! It’s not like I hired you with that intention! Well, since there have to be people who can go into battlefields, I didn’t not have that intention, but...”

“From the very start, that was our purpose, President Hodgins. So that there will not be such happenings after this, we believed that laying waste to everything and thoroughly annihilating them was a good plan.”

“Scary, scary. Your expression is getting scary too, Little Violet. Smile! It’s ruining your cute face!”

“President~! I want you to buy me a new choker after we’re done. Look~! The pearls on it got torn off... It was my favorite too.”

“Okay, Cattleya. Be it chokers, clothes or anything, this uncle will buy it for you!”

“Hum... President. What should I do?” the non-fighting staff member Lux tightly clutched her skirt, looking nervous.

“Little Lux, let’s go back to the head office. I’ll have you be treated there too. It’s all right; everyone in the head office contacted the other employees, so there should be people gathering there. It’s safer than you coming with us. Benedict, take Little Lux to the head office, and then regroup.”

“Roger; leave some for me to mess with too.”

“We aren’t sharing cake slices... Now, Little Violet and Cattleya are going with me to crush the branch offices just like this. Let’s decide on the rules for one. No hitting girls. Hitting bastards is fine.”

“Understood.”

“‘Ka~y.”

The members of the CH Postal Company continued their strategy meeting without paying mind to the people that they had defeated lying on the floor. When they were done at last, they exited the building while making so that those of Salvatore’s postmen who had stood up once again would be beyond recovery.

Lighting a cigarette, Hodgins started walking with it in his mouth, and everyone followed him as well.

On that day, within Leidenschaftlich, gunshots echoed throughout several areas of the capital Leiden, yet no one attempted to keep them under control. Additionally, the military police did not make a move regardless of how many reports it received.

The nocturnal darkness deepened late into the night.

The lights were brightly lit in a bar at the corner of a business district. “Fully booked for the day,” said the clumsy letters on a paper pinned to the menu board in front of the shop. The figure of a seductive female dancer was drawn on said board. By the looks of it, that was a place where people enjoyed shows along with their meals.

The voices of people laughing pleasantly and lively music could be heard leaking from inside the bar. It seemed to be the feast of some company. The men and women were at a one-one ratio. Their ages varied and all of them differed in skin, hair and eye colors.

Even amongst them, there was an attention-catching few.

A young man was displaying splendid steps on a table with heeled boots that looked like womenswear. The dancers swayed their bodies together with him and danced purely as they pleased.

On another table, a beautiful woman was smiling while arm-wrestling with a man of fiendish facial features and plentiful muscles. Seeing as she twisted his arm in a matter of seconds, it could be that he let her win on purpose. However, the man who had lost rubbed his seemingly hurt arm with a strangely believable face.

A silver-haired young girl with a big gauze on her cheek was playing a card game with a blonde person of terribly tattered appearance. It was most likely poker. She looked troubled for not being able to read the other’s expression. While everyone else was emptying bottles of alcohol, only the two of them were making cups of tea into their nighttime company. Each was fixated with their own victory, playing in earnest.

“Ah~! I won~! I won enough to buy a kinda nice pair of shoes! Ah, Lux, aren’t those winning cards?”

“Women who can dance sure are great. V, you suck at playing this, don’t you?”

Benedict, who had had enough of dancing, and Cattleya, who had grown tired of arm wresting, came to sit at the peaceful table as if to intrude on it.

Lux put the cards that she had been hiding up to her lips on the table. “Want to quit poker, Violet?”

“That is right. The cards in our hands have been busted by a third party, after all.”

They did not have the will to get angry. If anything, Lux was so happy for being able to return to that trifling daily life with her companions that she wound up laughing. Perhaps due to the spot where she had been hit aching when she laughed, she arched her back with an “ow, ow, ow”.

“Are you okay? Is it not better for you to rest already...?”

“Yu~p, but I think it’s safer to be with everyone for the day... President Hodgins is here too so I can’t go home.”

Cattleya quickly reacted and looked at Lux’s direction with momentum. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve decided that I’ll be with the President today. See, it’s because the President’s home was in the company’s top floor. We have nowhere to sleep tonight, right? I also had that experience with being kidnapped... He was worried and got me a room at a hotel in the city. It seems President Hodgins will also be staying in it for a while. Until this mess is over, I’ll also be working from there. We’re going together today, so I have to wait for him.”

While Violet replied agreeably with a, “That is reassuring”, Cattleya became beet-red. One could tell from her face what she was imagining. She grabbed Lux’s arm and shook her violently. “You! Do you get what you’re saying?”

“E-Eeh? Our rooms are separated, y’know?”

“Cattleya, Lux is injured.”

“Not a chance. Dunno how many years it’ll last, but not even he is that shameless.”

“Hey! Don’t meddle into a girls’ talk!”

“Ah, you’ve said it. Then don’t barge into when I’m talking with the Old Man no matter what.”

Since another fight had decidedly began, as an accustomed form of coping, Violet and Lux left the two and started their conversation afresh.

“Speaking of which... Violet, are you okay? You’re dressed pretty cutely today... Could it be you were going to meet up with that person... with Mr. Major?”

The moment she received such question was exactly when Violet’s gaze had fixed on the bar’s entrance. “I am fine.”

Someone was heading her way.

Perhaps due to having come in a hurry, said person was out of breath. His sweat-dampened forehead was a proof of the efforts he had been spending until arriving there. He was caught by Hodgins and came to a halt, but even so, he aimed at and went toward her as fast as possible.

That person had soon spotted Violet from the bar’s entrance, and Violet had frozen in place the instant he had arrived as well. It was almost as if there were gravity between them that drew one to the other.

Violet stood up naturally and rushed to him.

——Ah, Violet.

Lux could tell.

——I see, so that’s how it is.

Anyone who was close by would be able to tell.

——The two of you are already like that.

After all, it was as though the air about her had changed completely the moment he had appeared.

“Colonel.”

The one standing there was Colonel Gilbert Bougainvillea from Leidenschaftlich’s army. Perhaps because he was on an off day, he wore only a jacket of fine tailoring and a shirt. Inquisitive stares from the people making a ruckus in the bar fell upon him all at once.

“Violet.”

After all, he was a man rumored within the company for moving the army in order to protect Violet. His existence was made known during the hijacking incident of the Intercontinental train, after which a year had passed not too long before. Of course, that was a story only told internally and Hodgins was publicly regarded as the main leader of such strategy.

The members of the postal company who had gathered up to save her had seen in person the man who came running while carrying her princess style. Back then, they had also witnessed Benedict being entrusted with Violet, his mouth open as if he had grown senile.

“Colonel, my apologies... I ended up breaking our arrangement.”

Her cottony hair was ruined. The outfit chosen for her and that her body was clad in had become like ragged cloths. Everything she had prepared for him had been reduced to misery today.

Nevertheless, seeing her dressed-up caused Gilbert’s heart to beat louder.

“You...”

“You look beautiful” was what he had started to say, but upon noticing a stare of pressuring quality to a fierce extent from the side, he trailed off.

Benedict seemed extremely unamused. He clicked his tongue as their eyes met.

“Anything the matter...?”

“Not really. There any law that says I can’t look at the bastard who snoops into V’s general area every once in a blue moon ever since that incident like he’s a rare sight?”

“You helped me out holding onto Violet back then. I’m grateful... And, I don’t know about any such law, but if it’s about putting up a watchdog act, I’m the one on top.”

Something like an electric shockwave ran between the two of them. Benedict remained not toning down his distrust regarding Gilbert until now, peeved by that man who seemed like he could become a love rival for Benedict’s significant other had he been in the same workplace as them.

“This was the curtain rise of their muddled battle!” just as the two had opened their mouths again, Hodgins cut in with a foolish commentary.

Silence. The two simultaneously glared at Hodgins as if looking at something deplorable.

Hodgins himself broke Gilbert and Benedict apart, coming in between them, putting his arms around each and laughing stridently, “Don’t fight for me! Man~, I wanted to try saying this once.”

“Shut up, Old Man!”

“Stay away, Hodgins. You’re reeking of booze.”

It was a conversation with a magnificent explosive power. By the looks of it, Gilbert and Benedict did not seem like they would get along, but their attitude towards Hodgins was similar.

“Old Man, tomorrow will be terrible for you if you drink too much. You’re at that age, aren’t you?”

“Darling... you’re saying that because you’re worried about me, right?”

“Hey, stop. Stop. I’m not a woman.”

As Benedict stepped away from Hodgins, who was attempting to give him a kiss, Gilbert and Violet were at last able to lock eyes with each other again. Violet had a face that denounced she had gone through a hellish time.

“Any injuries?”

“Minor ones. The same level as scratching a knee.”

“That’s good...” He was truly saying so from the bottom of his heart. Seeing Cattleya and Lux anxiously observing the two of them, Gilbert spoke further, “You too, any injuries? Aah... you need a medic.”

“No, no, I’m okay.”

Lux had already received treatment, yet it seemed like her wound might open the next day.

Perhaps always carrying it in his person, Gilbert took a fountain pen and small notebook from his jacket’s inner pocket, handing her a paper sheet that contained a certain address within Leiden. “This is the clinic where my home doctor is. You don’t need to pay if you give my name, so go there another day. You’ll probably need painkillers for a while. Even in the hotel you’re staying at, please give my name to the hotelman if you need anything. We’re on friendly terms, so he’ll treat you well.”

Lux acted uncertain when accepting the paper. “Ah. Thank you very much. You’re very generous... Could it be... that the hotel reservation... Mr. Bougainvillea, erm... Colonel Bougainvillea, was made by you?”

After glancing at Hodgins, who was entangling himself with Benedict, Gilbert nodded. “That thing asked me for it. I can’t say this aloud but I’ve also disposed of... the documents submitted to the government office in the name of your company. When I use my influence in places outside of my jurisdiction... I end up losing one card that I could otherwise use in the event of an emergency, but...” Perhaps as if remembering something, he furrowed his brows a little and chuckled. “Hodgins took care of Violet. I also won’t spare any efforts for you all in case something happens. If there’s any worrisome matter, it can even be through Violet, but do tell me.”

“Y-Yes.”

Cattleya and Lux mutely let their cheeks dye pink. Was there any girl whose heart would not throb at Gilbert as he displayed adult-man-like reliance in a different way from Hodgins?

“Colonel, you’re so cool.”

“Colonel, you are wonderful.”

No, there was not.

For whatever reason, the two had their fingers interlaced in front of their chests and were striking the same pose.

Gilbert replied levelly, “You aren’t my subordinates so you don’t need to refer to me by my rank.”

Violet pulled the hem of Gilbert’s jacket ever so lightly. “Colonel, hum... would you like to sit down? You must be tired.”

“Aah, no. I’m sorry but I’m taking my leave. You too, Violet. The two are at the Bougainvillea house and we’re making them worry. I already contacted them to say I’d bring you back, so come along. It stopped by a place a little far away, but I have a carriage ready, so let’s walk there. Miss Lux. You... were together with Hodgins for today, right? Miss Cattleya, what about you? We can send you home if necessary.”

“Y-You know my name?! Mine?!”

“Of course; I heard it from Violet. So, what will you do?”

Perhaps due to extreme happiness at that, Cattleya slapped Violet’s back with quite strong vigor countless times, making merry. “I’m fine! I’ll be here with everyone until morning today!”

“It’s probably better if you’re in big numbers. Well, my apologies since we’re in the middle of a pleasant talk, but I’m taking her along. Thank you... for always being so close to Violet. Let’s meet again somewhere else. Please let me at least treat you to a meal.” Gilbert all too naturally took off his jacket and placed it over Violet’s shoulders. He began escorting her away just like that.

“Ah! Bastard! Hold on! V is my little sister part!”

“Everyone, good night. Benedict too.”

“Wait! V~! Hey—Old Man!”

Binding Benedict’s arms behind his back, Hodgins sent Violet a wink. It was true that he was drunk, but his tactic was probably to keep Benedict away from Gilbert. He might have been paying for the sin of making the two of them miss out on the time they had to spend with each other because of his kidnapping.

Hodgins and Gilbert merely exchanged short goodbyes such as, “I’ll call” and, “See you”.

“Benedict’s had an overwhelming defeat, huh.”

“Old Man!”

“Man, he’s rivaling you... but he’s also not.”

The two young women left behind spoke while still staring at the bar’s entrance.

“To be honest, the President told me a lot about Violet’s past after that incident, and I didn’t not wonder if someone like him was okay for her... but, when you meet him, y’know...”

“Yup, its different when you get to meet him, right?”

“It’s because he really did cherish her that he made many mistakes, did his best to take back a lot of things, and now they’re like this, huh,” Lux whispered, deep in thought.

Treading through an autumn night in which the nocturnal winds were gelid robbed the two a little of the body heat provided by the warm interior of the bar. Violet, who Gilbert had put his jacket over, looked at him with only his shirt on as if to question him.

He soon noticed her gaze and their eyes met. He then smiled at her. “Aren’t you cold?”

Just from him simply throwing those words at her, as Violet was still unused to it, her heart raced. “No; Major, what about you?”

The times that the two of them met up were still at a point where they could be counted with one hand, and during such instances, the restraint brought about by his long absence would manifest itself in the form of agitation. From the perspective of others, that could almost not be perceived. After all, her facial expressions were generally emotionless.

“I’m fine. I’ve run around and sweated a lot today, so I’m still warm.”

“My apologies, Colonel.”

“It’s nothing to apologize for. I did that because I wanted to. Violet. It was also for Hodgins’s sake.”

“All right, Colonel.”

“Let’s walk a little slower. Once we get on the carriage, the way home will last a blink of eye.”

“Is that bad...?”

The one who had made the request was Gilbert, and the words Violet was about to say wound up dying out before they could take form. That was because he sweetly added, “I don’t have enough time with you”.

“All right, Major.”

Her eyes spoke more eloquently than her expressionless self. Violet’s blue orbs were glued to Gilbert’s emerald ones.

“I want to chat a little too. Is everything okay with that young man called Benedict?”

“By that, you mean...?”

“He seems to favor you.”

“He has another woman that he fancies. It seems they are in a relationship, and they themselves are hiding it but everyone around them knows.”

“That so?”

“Yes, he is... in an older brother-like... position regarding... my person, he told me.”

“Told you? That man?”

Their eye and hair colors were certainly similar, and the man could be said to be an androgynous beauty, but his speech and conduct were much too different from Violet’s.

“He himself was saying so.”

“Aah, he indeed called you his ‘little sister part’... Should I interpret that as him showing affection for you...? But it doesn’t look like we will get along very well.”

“Is that so?”

“It will probably be difficult.”

As Violet had heard the story of Hodgins and Gilbert’s past, she estimated that such assumption would be disproved. Gilbert and Hodgins were also a duo that one would not think got along well.

“It seems he’ll get in the way when I’m with you.”

Since Gilbert made a face as if he had swallowed a bitter-tasting bug, Violet did not voice her opinion in the end. “Major.”

“What is it?” As Violet called him, the middle of his brows immediately softened.

“If you had managed to meet with me as planned today, where did you intend to go?”

“Aah, I had actually made an arrangement for us to go horse-riding.”

“Horses.”

“You can ride army horses, and I think long rides aren’t bad if it’s on fine autumn weather days... Did you not like it?”

“Colonel, there is nothing that I dislike if I am in your company.”

“That answer makes me happy, but I do believe I want to learn about your tastes little by little. Kukuh.”

As Gilbert suddenly laughed aloud, Violet tilted her neck. “Is something the matter?”

“You... probably haven’t noticed it, but you’ve been mixing up ‘Major’ and ‘Colonel’ when referring to me.”

As he had been promoted from major to lieutenant-colonel and from lieutenant-colonel to colonel, it could be said that referring to Gilbert with a lower rank was terribly inappropriate.

Violet corrected her posture and apologized again, “I... am sorry. My apologies, Colonel.”

“No, that’s not it. I’m not angry... Ever since you were little, you used to call me that. The first word I heard from you was this one, too. I’m saying that if you can’t get used to it, I don’t mind the ‘Major’.”

“‘Colonel’... Colonel, I will not mistake it anymore.”

Her figure as she attempted to memorize it, in order not to forget it, was lovably stubborn. Gilbert caught a glimpse of her past self from that immature aspect of hers.

At the beginning, the two of them had had an inept exchange. Almost like how children would do it, they had told each other their names.

“Ma... jor.”

“Can you understand what I’m saying, Violet?”

“Major.”

After learning words and coming to know discipline, she had become his weapon.

“If that is Major’s order...”

“It’s not an order...”

“If... it is your desire...”

He had wound up loving the girl-weapon.

“Major’s eyes are here.”

“I wonder... what this is called.”

It had been a one-sided love.

“I will become your ‘shield’ and ‘weapon’.”

“I shall protect you.”

“Please do not ever doubt this. I am your ‘asset’.”

Even so, he had loved her.

“I love you!”

“I don’t want to let you die! Violet!”

“I love you, Violet.”

The girl-weapon had wept that she did not understand what she had been bestowed with.

“What is... ‘love’?”

No one had taught her about it.

“What is... ‘love’? What is... ‘love’? What is ‘love’?”

“I do not understand, Major...”

She had also not understood why he had said such a thing to her.

“What is... ‘love’?”

She had searched for the meaning of those words and for him, who had disappeared, encountering them by chance at last.

And so, they had reached the present time.

“Violet.” Gilbert took her artificial fingertips as she stood still.

Her index finger made screeching sounds.

“Since we’re at it, won’t you call me by my name?” He pointed her finger at himself.

The fingertips that used to be soft and have body temperature in the past did not anymore. The same applied to one of Gilbert’s arms.

“I am Gilbert. Gilbert Bougainvillea.” He pointed at Violet next. “You are Violet. Violet Evergarden.” He moved the finger both ways, saying, “Gilbert, Violet... Gilbert, Violet.”

The two who had ended up with mechanical part had grown and changed. They were not parent and child originally. Not siblings, either. They had also ceased being superior and subordinate.

“Lord Gilbert.”

At Violet’s predictable response, Gilbert smiled bitterly. “The ‘lord’ part... isn’t necessary.”

He had supposedly spoken gently, yet Violet showed him an aspect of disconcertment. “My apologies... Have you... come to hate me...?”

“No. I don’t know how to feel anything but affection towards you... It appears that...” while thinking that it was also valid for himself, Gilbert stated, “hum... you become insecure about it every now and then, but I’ll never hate you.”

“How come?” Violet asked.

How great would it be if he were able to show the insides of his heart to her? Presenting with a form that “this is love” would be so simple. However, it was due to not being able to do such a thing that people uttered words to proffer their love.

“Because I love you most.”

Violet started searching for that term within the sea of words embedded inside her. “‘Love... most’...” As they rolled out of her tongue, what appalling yet passionate words those were.

There was no other sentence more fitting of Gilbert Bougainvillea.

“Love me... most?”

“I have eyes for nobody but you. You’re the only one I’m fond of.”

“That is... to love most?”

“I will hold you dear for eternity, and continue to love you.”

She did not ask “That is... to love most?” a second time. Violet’s cheeks were rose-dusted, her heart started palpitating to the point of aching, and her field of vision blurred. She was unable to look at Gilbert’s face. Unwittingly, she cast her head down, yet he wound up peering at it. The distance between their faces was just about enough for them to kiss.

It was currently nighttime and the two of them were alone in that place, so whatever they did, no one would be looking. Maybe they could manage to keep it a secret even from God.

“I had a phase of... liking you... then I fell in love with you, and now, it turns out I love you the most. Do you understand?”

“Does it never diminish?”

“The affection?”

“The love.”

“I wonder. But I don’t want that to happen and will probably reconfirm whether I do love you numerous times, so it’ll likely intensify, not decrease. You fill me up with it.”

“With love?”

“Yes. The reason why I believe I love you is because you granted me that feeling.”

Violet Evergarden, who had been learning and copying from him – from people –, was able to take in the meaning of those words.

“I do that to you, Major?”

Again, her manner of referring to him had changed. Gilbert thought it was fine either way.

“You do that to me.” Gilbert silently planted a kiss not on Violet’s cheek or lips but on the fingertips that he was holding onto.

Silence.

Those were artificial fingers. She was unable to feel anything from them. Her arms were gone, and would nevermore return.

Placing a kiss on such a spot could transmit nothing.

Even so, he had deliberately kissed it in an affectionate manner. For some reason, that action – Gilbert’s feelings – caused Violet’s eyes to grow hot as if burning and produce tears.

Violet attempted to stop them. Those were incomprehensible tears. Why were they flowing at that moment? They would definitely trouble the man in front of her.

Nevertheless, tears were already pooling in her moist eyes until, finally, a single drop spilled down. Sure enough, the round tear that had fallen from one of her eyes left Gilbert distraught.

“Violet.” Seeing her reaction, he promptly let go of her fingers. “I’m sorry.” He stepped back, raising both hands as if to have her understand that he would not do anything else. “I’m really sorry.”

Violet did not answer. She stared at Gilbert without even wiping off the tear as if spacing out. Her attitude was not of anger. Her aspect was not of sorrow, either. He had no idea what she was thinking. She had the gaze of someone who seemed to be having a dream.

The two of them had lived separately, and he had thought that her facial expressions had become richer ever since they had reunited, but once she clammed up, he could not read her. Her lack of expression and well-featured doll-like traits did not allow Gilbert to study her emotions. However, the one thing he could fathom was that his action just now had been foolish.

——What am I doing?

He had told her that he would wait however long it took. The kiss on her fingers might have been a violation to that promise. He should have been the best gentleman for her, but he may have lost that right.

When she was by his side, she was unbearably endearing. The love towards her that lit up within his chest wound up overflowing.

“I swear I won’t do it anymore...”

The army colonel of Leidenschaftlich was losing face in front of the girl he was enamored with.

“Violet...”

What face was he making now? What did she think of it?

“Major, I...” Violet called him with her wind chime voice. She grabbed onto Gilbert’s fingers and took one step forward. The distance between them had shrunk once again. And then she took another step.

She was close enough to be embraced by Gilbert.

“Violet...”

“Major... please.” Violet peeked into Gilbert’s eye.

The emerald-green orb that had unchangeably borne beauty, kindness and a little bit of loneliness ever since they had first met was right there. Violet was now reflected in it.

Violet was inside his world.

“Do not swear so.”

Gilbert’s eyelid blinked at her straightforward words.

“Please, do not swear... that you will not do it.”

Seeing tears well up in Violet’s eyes once again, Gilbert impulsively reached an arm out to her. He caressed her golden hair as if to soothe her, earnestly listening to what she was attempting to tell him.

“Major, you explained it to me, right? That to love is to think of wanting to... protect someone the most.”

He wiped her tears with his fingertips.

Violet entrusted her cheek to his hand and shed more tears. “This has... applied to me since forever.”

She was attempting to replenish her lacking life. Rather, the truth was that the two of them could have done that from the moment they had met, for it was almost as if they made up for each other’s unskillfulness, but they had missed one another countless times and had not intersected well.

Violet’s chest was now being filled up with a warm feeling that she was experiencing for the first time.

“It always, always has, since long ago. I merely... did not know it...”

——This loud throbbing in my chest, this ecstasy, the fact that I end up swayed by your every action...

“I...”

——...the reason why I cried that I wanted to be by your side and asked you not to leave me anymore...

“Major... I...”

——...the reason why I am crying now...

“I, as of now...”

——...is that, once the “like” and the “love” fell and piled up like snow, and I became unable to melt them down, I had wanted to let you know that I wished the same to be valid for you.

“...have a feeling that I...”

People would declare it as if offering a prayer.

“...understand it better than before.”

“I love you”, that is.

#violet evergarden #fyeahvioletevergarden #violet evergarden gaiden #kyoani #kyoto animation #gilbert bougainvillea #claudia hogdins #benedict blue #cattleya baudelaire #lux sibyl #akatsuki kana #takase akiko #novel #my translation

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skippyv20 · 4 years

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🍁🍁🍁🌳🌳🌳SANDRINGHAM ANON AND PG🌳🌳🌳💜💜💜

Sandringham Anon

SANDRINGHAM ANON 🍁🍁🍁🌳🌳🌳🍁🍁🍁… “ are you feeling OK sir, you’ve been in there over thirty minutes sir” … “Ehhhh, good grief Sydney, Cromers revenge I fear !!” …… “ Herself is having a hearty breakfast sir’ eggs Benedict.”… “Ooooo’ don’t mention food Sydney “… “ I’ll prepare a liquid remedy sir” … “ something binding Sydney “ … “ you finished off the last plate,and washed them down with a couple of pints sir” …… “ over indulging Sydney “ … “ indubitably sir “

Thank you😊❤️❤️❤️❤️

Sunday September 27/20

🍁🍁🍁🌳🌳🌳🍁🍁🍁OH THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH DEAR SANDRINGHAM ANON🍁🍁🍁🌳🌳🌳🍁🍁🍁

September 28/2020 0408 hrs(YEP I AM AWAKE!!🙄😳🤪🤣😊)

Vignette #2

OH that tea ☕️ 🦀 was EPIC Sydney!!!,Himself said as he was preparing for 🛏 a good nights rest after a lovely day and an EPIC tea! Sydney was helping him settle for the night. Sighing as Sydney left his room,Himself fell asleep quickly, just after 2300 hrs. He awoke with a start about half an hour later. Oh he was groaning, groaning and moaning and he pulled the cord. Within moments Sydney arrived and inquired Sir are you quite all right? Himself replied of course I’m not all right🤨🤬🤯 why the bloody hell do you think I pulled the cord? I’m very bilious Sydney. 🤢🤢🤢Sydney said , I have just the thing I shall return. Sydney returned with still water. Knowing Himself, and his proclivities, Sydney was prepared for all options. He had still water, three cups! Kind of like the porridge and the three bears except this ‘bear’ 🐻 was most ferocious, 😡especially when feeling unwell!🤢🤢🤣🤣😂😂He had one cup that was warm, one was cold and one was very hot. He returned to the room and Himself said, do you expect me to drink all that? Do you think that l am a camel? Sydney said, no Sir I have just prepared for any any choice you may make. Himself replied, 💧💦 💧well let me have them all. By Jove Sydney, I do believe I am feeling a little better, good night. As he left the room Sydney replied good night Sir, sleep well. Himself settled back to sleep and he woke up again around an hour later close to 0100 hrs.He pulled the cord again and in moments Sydney arrived. Are you quite all right Sir, he asked. Well the the look on Himself’s face told Sydney he should not have asked that question, he said so I’ll be back in just a moment. This time he returned with fizzy water same three glasses and Himself against chose all three and drank them within minutes. It seemed like he was feeling better and off to sleep he went. Soon Himself was awake again. This time he had to go check Mrs. Murphy. Now I’ve mentioned Mrs. Murphy before but I don’t know if everybody remembers so I will refresh your memory. When l used to be working, when we had to use the 🚽 , we would tell the other nurses, I’m going to check on Mrs. Murphy. It was a discreet method of saying what we were going to do. So after drinking all that water Himself needed to go and check Mrs. Murphy quite badly. And after he was done he was so bilious he pulled the cord immediately. Sydney arrived,ever loyal Sydney,Sir can I help can I help you? This time Sydney had anticipated what the need was and he brought some bicarbonate of soda. Himself said oh excellent Sydney,by Jove that will do the trick, so it well! Sydney why didn’t you just bring that the first time I rang several hours ago?Never mind Sydney it is here now, so let me drink it and I will go back to sleep. And he did he fell back asleep. Two hours later he woke again just as bilious 🤢🤢🤢as ever and pulled the cord yet again. Sydney arrived rather quickly and said Sir what can I help you with? Himself said, Sydney some Ginger ale, bring me some Ginger ale. Sydney said should I call the doctor Sir? Do you think l should ring for a doctor Sir? Bloody hell Sydney, NO NO! It is 0400 the morning and you would send Herself into a tizzy!! Himself drank the Ginger ale. He could feel this moving through his entire Royal pipeline a.k.a. his gastrointestinal system and colonic system. However the Ginger ale did help and he was able to settle back to sleep, as did weary Sydney.Sleeping until just before 0700hrs. Sydney went to check on Himself at 0700 hrs. He knocked again, on the door 🚪 after 30 minutes ⏰ 🚽inquiring, how are you feeling Sir, you’ve been in there over 30 minutes?? Good grief Sydney, Cromer’s🤢🤮revenge, I fear. Now many of you have heard of Montezuma‘s revenge. That’s what people get when they travel, their whole G.I. system from the mouth 👄 down to the exit door 🚪 is very much negatively affected. This is what Himself is experiencing. Herself is having a hearty breakfast Sir, 🍳🥚 Eggs Benedict! Now we all know when we’re bilious and either end is going or both ends are going at the same time the last thing you want to hear 👂 about us food 🥘 especially rich creamy food it just exacerbates the whole problem!! Ooooooo, don’t mention food Sydney!!!🤢🤢🤢🥴 I’ll prepare a liquid remedy Sir! Himself said something binding Sydney! Might I suggest a smoothie of cheese and pumpkin and more cheese??🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂 We all know what the word binding means right? Sydney, unnecessarily, is reminding Himself of what he consumed last evening. Sir, you finished off the last plate and washed them down with a couple of pints!! 🍺 🍻 🍺Moaning loudly, Himself replies over indulging Sydney! The reply of faithful regular reliable Sydney is, let’s say it all together now on the count of three,indubitably sir!

DONE WITH THE GREATEST LOVE AND RESPECT FOR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AND HIS ROYAL,HIGHNESS, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH 💜💜🙏🏻🙏🏻PG🙏🏻🙏🏻💜💜

GSTQAOBC 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇳🇿

Entertainment Purposes

So entertaining.....I love your stories PG, thank you so much!🙏🏻💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

#Ask Skippy #submission

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itsfunnierin-enochian · 6 years

Text

If They Only Knew

Pairing: Rob Benedict x Reader

Written By: @gettingbywithalittlehelp96 & @itsfunnierin-enochian

Chapter Summary: You and Rob try to start the relationship as any normal couple would. You figure out that having each other is all you need.

Warnings: Fluff (FINALLY!)

A/N: Here making things up for all the suffering I caused to all my beloved readers, it’s not ending yet! Also sorry about the cuts not being added and Tumblr has been making my life a living hell yesterday and today 😭 - Thank you for all your support and love, always 💙

Chapter 12: Got So Many Hours, The Days Are Ours.

“I guess we have a lot to talk about,” Rob said, still holding you close to his chest.

“I guess we do,” you responded, pulling out slowly. “Here we are making out and I haven’t even offered you a drink yet. How rude am I?”

Since he had arrived at your place, you had only managed to kiss and hold each other. You just couldn't believe you were finally with Rob. There was so much you wanted to say and do, but it was all so surreal.

“I have an idea.”

Taking your hands in his, he lifted your left hand and kissed the back of it, which had you melting instantly. Being at this place in your relationship meant that you were going to be able to see different sides of each other and that was a very good feeling.

“Uh huh, I'm listening,” you replied with a smile.

“Well, how about you and I go out on a date? We can be like normal people, or as normal as we can be anyway.”

You started to laugh. Your relationship was definitely not normal.

By then Rob had joined you in laughter, blue eyes big and bright with excitement as he obviously made the same realization. Those eyes were so beautiful and somehow the brightness they held when he was excited made them even more beautiful, and you couldn’t help but to lean in and place a soft kiss to his lips. Looking into those blue orbs always had you wanting to kiss him and now you didn’t have to the urge anymore.

“A date. I like that idea,” you answered with a nod. “But being that we are indeed not normal, how do we do this?”

“Mmm… How about I go back to my apartment while you get ready, and I’ll come back for you at…” Trailing off, he stopped and thought about it for a second. “7:30. I’ll come and pick you up at 7:30.”

You couldn’t help but smile as you listened to him making plans for the two of you.

“I think that sounds perfect Robbie,” you responded, placing another soft kiss on his lips. Rob wasted no time, quickly deepening the kiss and wrapping his arms tightly around you, before pulling back to give you another big smile.

“You know, I thought it was going to be weird, being with you, kissing you, but it feels good and like… it was meant to be,” he said with a low voice, lips brushing yours as he kissed you again.

“I’ll… I’ll go ahead and head home, and I’ll see you in a little bit?”

Resting your head back on his shoulder you hugged him, taking in his scent, that was so unique, so...Rob. “That sounds great. Besides you need to get out of here so I can obsess about what I’m going to wear, like a normal girl would do before a date.”

This got another adorable giggle out of him, as he pecked your cheek.

“I love you, Y/N,” he said now serious and his eyes fixated on yours.

“I love you too, Rob.”

You liked how easy it was to tell him that and how right everything felt now.

After doing your best to let him go, at least for the time being, you stood in the middle of your living room and started laughing like crazy, but you were genuinely happy for what had happened. Sure maybe you could have managed things better, but it was you and Rob afterall.

Heading into your bedroom you started to look for something to wear and since you didn't know where were you going or what were you going to do, you chose a comfortable black dress. The thing you couldn’t get over though was how even after you showered, you could still smell Rob’s scent all over your body, and you loved it.

It seemed like the hours went by faster since Rob left and before you knew it, right at 7:30 sharp, he was at your door. On your way to the door, you stopped by your mirror looking at your reflection. It was obvious he was everything you needed to feel better. Nerves filled your body once again, but all you wanted was to be with him again. So putting your hand on the door handle you took a deep breath in and out and opened it.

The sight you found when you opened the door, made you sure it was impossible to find a more breathtaking scene. It was a scene that made your earlier deep breath useless.

“Hi,” he said simply, holding one single white rose, a sweet and warm smile on his face that made you blush, automatically.

“Hi,” you answered suddenly, noticing that you had been so lost in how beautiful he looked leaning against the doorframe, smiling at you, that you hadn’t said a word yet. His blue eyes mixed with that smile were devastatingly beautiful and had you certain that just the sight of him had your own eyes shining brightly.

“This is for you,” he stated as he stretched his hand out and gave you the rose. “I know you like white roses, but I also know you don't like a bunch of flowers, so I thought one was okay. Is this okay? I mean-”

“Rob!” you interrupted. “You're babbling, and I love it.”

Getting closer, you brushed your fingertips over his beard, and kissed him softly. As he returned the kiss, his arm snaked around your waist, and your hands went down to his chest, which drew your attention to the fact that he was wearing a tie. You smiled under his lips, as you remembered picking him out a similar tie, that first day everything had started.

“You are looking absolutely gorgeous and adorable, you know?” He asked, your forehead against his.

“So are you, so handsome,” you said looking down and back up again. “And we're kind of matching.”

Taking a step back, he looked you over your matching black and white ensemble, with a surprised look on his face. “Well, it good to know we didn’t lose our connection.”

This time the kiss he placed on your lips was deeper, and eventually you lost track of time, while making out in your doorway.

“Mmm,” he hummed in satisfaction, pulling back to look at you. “I would love to stay here all night, but we should really get going, don’t you think?”

Nodding you pecked a kiss on his cheek. “Just give me a second.”

Running over to the kitchen, you put your rose on water and grabbed your bag, before going to the door again, locking it, and facing him. “Okay I'm ready now.”

“Good,” he said as he grabbed your hand and intertwined it with his.

On your way to the elevator small talk was made, but no time was wasted. Once in the elevator, the short trip from your floor to the lobby, was spent with Rob nibbling and kissing your neck and jaw.

Once outside, he opened the door to his car to let you in. It was no secret that Rob was a gentleman, but now that you were with him, as boyfriend and girlfriend, those gestures had you melting, and not being able to stop looking at him or admiring him. To you he was perfect.

The drive to the restaurant was just like it used to be. Silent, but not uncomfortable at all. You were surprised when he pulled up at the door of a very fancy restaurant in LA. Neither one of you were the biggest fans of those places, but you knew he was going to try and impress you somehow.

After getting out of the car you watched him as he took off his leather jacket and threw it on the back seat. You loved how the white shirt and the black tie looked on him. It brought back memories for you and was definitely a good way to turn you on.

“So, we are eating here?” You asked, as you looked through the car window.

“Y-yeah I guess we are. I know we don't usually come to these kind of places, but I want to do things right. I want to spoil you as much as I can and I want to do some normal stuff, so we start this relationship in a good way.”

Smiling, you nodded indicating that you understood what he meant, and he made his way over to you, where your lips met once again. Your hands cupped his face, and one of his hands made its way under your dress to caress your thigh. The sensation that action brought, caused you to get goosebumps, and a small moan to escape from your lips. This got that famous boyish grin to form on his face.

“You seemed to like that,” he said, as he kissed your jaw and neck.

“Well, you'll get see what I like when we get there.”

You enjoyed feeling him so close like that.

“Maybe we should forget all of this and go home so you can show me everything you like.”

You felt his hand playing with the waistband of your underwear and your body had once again started to respond to his touch.

“Oh Rob,” you said softly feeling him smile against your skin, his sneaky hand teasing you more. “but no. Let's take it slow."

Removing his hand, you stopped the whole game, but you could tell by his smile that he was planning on breaking you. It was just going to come down to the right time.

“Okay then, let’s eat,” he whispered in your ear, before sneaking a quick kiss on your cheek.

As you both walked inside the restaurant, you found that was packed. That's why you didn't like those places, there were always tons of people and even though you had reservation, some sort of problem would always pop, and that night was no exception, but because of how hard you knew Rob had tried to make things special you weren’t about to say anything.

“Mr Benedict, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for a couple of minutes until we have an empty table.”

You could tell he got a bit annoyed and was ready to say something to the women.

“We'll wait, it's okay Rob,” you said in his ear.

“But…” He began to protest, but once he felt you squeeze his hand, he stopped.

“We can wait, don't worry about it,” you added, kissing his cheek. “Just relax. It’s not like we have anything to do, so let's just talk and wait.”

Smiling in response, you lead him over to sit down in the waiting area.

“Okay, well I do need to ask you some things, Y/N.” Looking down, he started stroking the back of your hand with his thumb. “Like for example, when did you know you were in love with me?”

You giggled and looked down, feeling your face hot already “Well, it was- it was the night of the first Louden Swain concert.”

He looked at you surprised. “What? It’s been going on for that long?”

“I mean I always liked you, It was just that I hadn’t realised how much until that night,” you admitted with a shrug.

“And you never thought of saying something? Anything?”

In that moment you started to panic, thinking that any one of your answers could ruin things.

“I was scared, and with how excited you were to meet girls and stuff, I thought that you would always see me as a friend. When did you know that you liked me anyway?”

“When you stopped coming to my apartment every morning and you distanced yourself from me.” You were honestly shocked with how fast and easy his confession flew out. “Then I wanted to tell you about it, but I was the one who made the whole Billy thing up.”

“The whole Billy thing? What do you mean?” you asked, confused, while you started to play with his bracelets.

“Uhm…Oh… Well… After I noticed that you were avoiding me, I went to Billy. I just really needed someone to talk and then-”

“Mr Benedict, your table is ready.”

You didn't know how you had looked at the girl who interrupted you right in that moment, but she looked so guilty and as she softly muttered a “sorry.”

“Okay, thank you,” Rob said quickly getting up, holding your hand as you walked behind him.

Once you sat and ordered some drinks to start, he started to look at the menu.

“Hey I didn't forget,” you said smiling, causing him to look up at you. “The Billy thing…”

You were waiting for him to get the hint and continue talking, when he finally closed his menu and started again.

“Okay when I had my talk with Billy he suggested that maybe your head was somewhere else and you didn't want to tell me. I thought about that and so…” Stopping, he waited for a minute and shifted as if he were uncomfortable. ”I may have told Billy that you were kind of into him. I just needed to know for sure, but I didn't know how to face you and tell you how I felt. It’s just we always told each other everything, and when that stopped I got desperate.”

Taking a sip of your water, you tried to let what he said sink in.

“So… by telling Billy you thought you would be able to figure out if I was into him or not?”

He nodded.

“It was childish, but I was scared, you know?” he confessed finally.

“And what if I really was into Billy and not you?”

“Well, I would’ve had to suck it up. I mean I had to admit that I was shocked when I saw you with him, that night I realised that my “plan” worked and the results weren't on my favor,” he said with a small smile.

Reaching out, across the table, you took his hands in yours.

“The night at the Louden Swain concert, when you left with that girl…” You just had just started talking, when you heard screaming, and looked towards the kitchen to find smoke seeping out in the dining room.

“What the hell?” Rob questioned.

“Would everyone please follow me to the exit,” the hostess, yelled as she signaled towards the door. Trying to keep calm, Rob held your hand, and you grabbed your purse, before following the lady out the door.

“There's fire in the kitchen, but the firefighters are on their way,” you heard a girl in the background say.

Looking over at you, Rob started to laugh. “I’m thinking this is a sign that we shouldn’t have to come to this place today. Let's get out of here.”

Joining him in laughter, you walked side by side, exchanging small, but heated kisses, until you arrived at a park down the street.

“So, tell me what happened with Billy,” Rob said, as you both sat down on a bench.

“First you need to finish telling me about that girl from the concert,” you shot back.

“Okay, so that night I was going to put my “plan” into action, which was trying to get you and Billy together, but then I met this girl, she is an agent of a record label, and I was honestly trying to get to her somehow. What happened later though, I did not see it coming.”

“What do you mean?”

“Our fight” he sighed and looked down. “I shouldn't have treated you the way I did, I was just upset because you talked about Billy, but I didn't mean what I told you. Ironically, you are, in fact, the centre of my universe.”

You knew it was honest, because he said that looking right into your eyes, without blinking, not even once.

“I love you, Rob” you said, leaning forward to kiss him passionately, and running your fingers through the curls on the back of his neck to pull him closer to you. He smiled and hummed happily against your lips.

“Okay, so here goes another question” he said pulling out, holding your hand and kissing it softly, you smiled and blushed. “Why didn't you come out that night at Billy's home and said something?”

“Well…” you thought for a while. “I was quite shocked you know? I mean the whole situation was crazy, you were there and… I- I only cried a lot” you said looking down, remembering that moment.

“I was drunk but not so drunk. I really thought it was the only way because I couldn't see you with Billy, and when I bumped into you on the dancefloor, I almost...I really like you and I love you, I know I do love you so much, Y/N” he said, lifting your chin and holding it with his thumb and index finger. Getting close to your mouth, placing soft small kisses. “I love you” he repeated and kissed you again.

You quickly wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Getting lost in him touch and the way you were kissing.

Suddenly, you started to feel drops falling from your hair to your nose, getting lost between your lips and Rob's. It wasn’t until you felt the rain falling heavier that he pulled out and placed his forehead against yours as you both smiled.

“I think I've chosen the worst day to take you on a date.”

Extending his hand he helped you stand, and you immediately placed your lips back on his.

“I seriously can't ask for anything better. I love you, Rob” you began to walk out of the park, under heavy read falling all over your dress and his white shirt but you couldn't think of something more beautiful than that.

TAGS: @marichromatic • @missihart23 • @natasha-cole • @notfunnystillhere • @kocswain • @apeshit7x • @princess-of-erebor1992 • @rblstrash • @spnmightkillme • @tas898 • @wontlookaway • @sirraxa • @damn-it-destiel • @i-hear-crazy-calling-my-name • @burningrupture • @internationalmusicteacher • @sherlockedtash88 • @cyrilconnelly • @srtaprieto • @dropthepizza346 • @queenofhellwithcrowley • @pinkykayley • @lauragail2007 • @idabbleincrazy • @probably-writing-something • @imperfxtlydean

#Rob benedict #rob benedict x Reader #rob benedict rpf #if they only knew #if they only knew series #Collaboration

44 notes · View notes

smashgirltommo · 7 years

Note

4 please

this one is really long, just to warn you

honeymoon!lashton get prepared for some fluff and some smut

That’s it.

We just got married.

Ashton and I are married.

He’s my husband and I’m his.

He’s mine forever.

I can’t believe I’m going to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams.

We didn’t sleep at all last night. We were partying. Since it was the night of the wedding, we still had to tidy the room where we ate the feist and danced but I didn’t want it to be over so Ashton, Michael, Calum and our friends all changed into some more comfortable clothes and went to ‘the nice guy’. And because we come a lot to this club, the baristas and all the staff start to know us pretty well.

As we all entered, a lot of people noticed us, which was normal since we were approximately twenty and all of us were tipsy.

“Wow!” Said Ian, one of the baristas “what a wave of hot people ! What’s bringing you guys here ?”

“Luke and Ashton just got married!” Calum yelled back

“No shit” he said “come on lovebirds this one’s on the house”

And that’s how we ended up not sleeping.

It was now nine am. We had gotten back to the ball room and we still had to tidy up. I was exhausted. I couldn’t wait to get on the plane and fly to the destination our families and friends had booked for us. We had no idea where we were going. We only knew it was a hot place.

As i was swiping the confetti/glitters on the floor with a broomstick, Michael came in.

“Put that broomstick down as far as i know you you’re not a wizard” he said

“Mikey, we gotta clean”

“No we don’t, Cal and i just called a cleaning agency and hired a bunch of people to do it for us, plus, you and Ash should leave because your flight is in four hours and you still need to get to the airport”

“Shit you guys are the best” i said, hugging him “but i regret to say that my suitcase isn’t ready at all”

“Your brothers went to your house and made it for you, and they helped the irwins make Ashton’s. Your suitcases are waiting for you in the glorious limo outside” he smiled

“What’s going on?” Ashton said, just getting out of the bathroom

“We’re off to the airport!” i said

“What? Without our suitcases?”

“Our siblings went to our house this morning and made them, oh and there’s a limo waiting for us outside”

“What about cleaning up this place?”

“The people i’ve hired will take care of it” Michael said

“No shit” my husband smiled

“We better hurry our flight is in four hours”

“No shit!” he said, starting to panick.

Then ashton ran to hug Michael and thank him before he took my hand in his and started running towards the exit.

There, our friends and family were all gathered up in front of the black limo to say goodbye to us and telling us to enjoy our honeymoon and everything.

“You’re still my baby boy no matter what happens okay honey?”

“Yeah mum…” i said, rolling my eyes but hugging her anyways

“Sweetheart we have to go” Ashton said, putting his hand on my waist from behind

“Oh yeah you’re right” i said

“You better take care of my son now that i gave you my benediction” my father said

“Of course Andrew, i’ll take care of him like the most precious diamond ever found” Ashton said, giving my dad a handshake

“I’m the most precious diamond ever found” i said

“Shit his head is swelling we better go”

We said goodbye to everyone and climbed into the limo before it started and drove us to the airport.

Not even half an hour of driving had passed, i was already fast asleep with my head on Ashton’s lap. He, on the other hand, was stroking my hair and slightly sleeping with his head on the headrest.

“Baby wake up, we’re at the airport” he said, gently

“Five more minutes please”

“We have a plane in two hours and a half”

“Mh… ‘m tired”

He sighed but said nothing, it felt like a tiny victory, until he started pinching my cheeks like my grandmother used to do when i was a kid.

“Ash!” i said, getting up “not even a day of wedding and you’re already annoying me!”

“Not even a day of wedding and you’re already complaining, i doubt this’ll go far”

“Oh shut up and get out of the car and hold your hand out like the gentleman you are”

He smiled and did as told.

“Mr. Irwin” Ash said as i took his hand

I blushed and got out of the car before taking our suitcases that the chauffeur had already taken out of the trunk.

“Thank you sir” Ash said, getting out his wallet

“Oh no Mr. Irwin, your friends already took care of everything, including the paying, and don’t bother giving me any tip, they did it too”

“Awesome” i said

We said goodbye to the chauffeur and entered in the airport.

I took out the envelope Calum just gave us before we left, clearly written on it “don’t open before arriving at the airport” and as we were in front of the big signs that showed the arriving and the departures of the planes, i opened it.

“Where are we going?” Ashton asked

I read the paper “Milos island? What? But our plane tickets don’t go to Milos island”

“Where do they go?”

“Athens”

Ashton took out his phone and googled it “Milos is a greek island but we have to go to athens first. In case you didn’t notice we have eight plane tickets so two more flights”

“Oh my god we’re going to Greece!” i said

He smiled before kissing me gently, then we grabbed our suitcases again and went to the security check-up. We were now in the waiting room in front of our boarding door.

As i was falling asleep on Ashton’s shoulder, a call was made to tell us that our flight was now ready for boarding, so my man shook me a little and we got in the plane.

Now let’s go for fourteen hours of flight to Athens then another hour to reach Milos.

Our friends and family booked us first class tickets so we actually were able to lay down completely without disturbing the person behind us. Also, our seats were in a little compartment of two like every other seats so we could sleep or have some privacy without people seeing us, except if they stood up. I was so tired that i went directly on my seat and started drifting off to my own little world, my eyelids feeling so heavy. Ash did the same and it was a shame we had to wait for the plane to take off to lay our seats. But hey, at some point it took off and once it reached his highest point, the seatbelt lights turned off and i immediately laid down and so did Ash. we closed the little sliding doors to have our own little rooms and Ash pulled up the armrest so we could cuddle whilst sleeping. And that’s how we spent our flight.

After we arrived in Athens, we still had to take another plane to Milos, but this was short and soon, we reached our destination. There, a guy stood holding a sign with our name on it, he was dressed in a fancy tuxedo like the one who drove us to LAX so we knew it was for us. Once we reached the limo, yes, another limo, he told us in a strong greek accent that he already knew the directions to where he was supposed to drive us and that we didn’t need to pay him. We climbed in the back and surprisingly we were waited by a bottle of Bollinger, an expensive french champagne that tastes so good in my opinion and two crystal flutes along with it.

Ashton opened it and poured some of the alcoholic beverage in our flutes before giving me mine and saying.

“Here’s to us my love”

I smiled before lightly hitting his glass with mine “to us”

Maybe half an hour later, we finally arrived to where we were supposed to stay for the next week. But it wasn’t a hotel like i was expecting. It was a greek villa out of the city with nothing surrounding us except mountains and the sea that was so close to the house we had a long staircase leading directly to the sand. We also had a nice view of the city behind the house.

As we entered the house with our suitcases, we were amazed to see that we literally had nothing to do but relax and enjoy ourselves. There was a basket full of fruits and the groceries had already been done. It was four in the afternoon so we decided to put our suitcases to our bedroom which by the way was amazing and seemed so comfy, and put our swimming trunks on to go to our little private beach. I was about to go down the outside staircase but Ashton started running and picked me up on his shoulder before running down the stairs and throwing us in the water. I swam to him and wrapped my arms around his neck as he wrapped his around my waist and kissed him deeply. He picked me up and i wrapped my legs around his waist, now hanging to him like a koala to its eucalyptus.

“I love you” i whispered in between the kisses

“I love you too baby, so much” he said and bit my bottom lip

“Not more than i love you” i said, deepening the kiss

“Are we really going to get into that right now?” he pecked my lips

“No” i ran my hands through his now wet hair and kept kissing him.

Then he moved his hands down to my bum and squeezed it gently.

“Not here” i said, resting my head on the crook of his neck “don’t want sand in my butt”

“Can’t your husband touch your magnificent ass without it being sexual?”

“My husband can do whatever he wants to do to me, he could throw me to the lions i’d still trust him”

“Why would your husband throw you to the lions ?”

“And why not?”

“Because then you’d die and your husband would be so sad he’d give himself to the lions because it’d be impossible for him to live without the love of his life”

“My husband is so cheesy it makes me wanna gag” i giggled

“Yeah and your husband loves you so you better get along with it because you’re stuck with him until the end of times”

“Your husband loves you too” i whispered to him, my head still resting on the crook of his neck.

I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. He smelt like his cologne, his coconut shampoo and sea water.

“I could fall asleep right now” i said

“Well don’t, i still wanna swim”

“You’re mean” i said and pinched his arm

“Who’s mean now?”

“We’re equal now” i said and pecked his lips

Then Ashton walked further into the water until we had water up until our nipples.

“I never want to let go of you” i said

“You’ve got me for forever baby”

“Doesn’t mean i’ll ever want to let go of you”

“You’ll have to eventually cause i’m about to race you to that big rock right there”

Next thing i knew he was tickling me so i was forced to jump and let go of him.

“Last one to the rock has to cook dinner” he said before starting swimming

“Hey! That’s not fair ! you used to be a swimming champion back to school days”

“I’d love to eat some pasta with homemade tomato sauce oh my god my stomach is growling”

So… i lost. And i cooked him his pasta and tomato sauce. I mean i had no chance, have you seen how he’s built like a swimmer?

After we finished eating, we put our plates in the dishwasher and went straight up to our room. We undressed and brushed our teeth before getting into bed.

“Babe” i said “this is the night of our honeymoon you know what that means?” i bit my lip

But Ashton was quick to straddle my hips and hold my arms above my head.

“Hell yeah i do, i’ve been controlling myself too long today” he said, starting to grind his hardening crotch against mine.

I whined and bit my lip. He kept grinding for a few moments before he let go of my hands and i took the opportunity to push him on the bed and go in between his legs. I took his underwear off as his huge member sprung free onto his lower stomach. I rubbed his thighs before grabbing his dick and pumping it slowly making him groan. I was quick to wrap my lips around his pink tip and sinking down on him.

“God fucking dammit” he groaned

I kept bobbing my head up and down and laid my tongue flat on his length. I went down until my nose was touching his pubes and his dick, the back of my throat. I stayed like that for a bit, only moving my tongue around until i heard him moan followed by a “geez stop teasing” groan. So i bobbed my head up and down a few times before i pulled out, taking his member in my hand and licking a stripe up to his tip, then licked back down to his balls.

“Fuck” he groaned, taking a fistful of my hair in his big hand “get up or i’m gonna come”

I did as told and he gently laid me down on the mattress before taking off my underwear, leaving me naked under him.

He pecked my lips and then prepped kissed all along my chest down to my hips. Then he spread my legs and placed his head in between my thighs, just in front of my puckered hole.

Ashton blew on it, making me squirm before he started kissing my cheeks to my hole. Then i felt his wet tongue on my tight ring of muscles, i gasped and arched my back as he started moving his tongue around. I was squirming so much he had to push on my hips to keep me still.

“Fuck Ash yes” i whimpered.

But then i felt one of his long fingers at my hole, he slowly pushed it in as i sighed in pleasure. He moved it in and out of me painfully slowly before adding a second and starting scissoring me. His fingers were so close to my sweet spot i felt frustration every time he brushed past it. But then he touched it, and kept rubbing it. I threw my head back in ecstasy and moaned out loud.

“Oh right there baby”

A few minutes after and i was all opened up and ready for him. He lubed himself up and aligned his tip with my hole before gently pushing it. I gasped at how big he was compared to his fingers as he placed his large hands on each side of the pillow next to my head. He pushed his cock all the way until his hips came in contact with mine.

I looked at him. His eyes were closed, his eyebrows furrowed and his bottom lip was trapped between his teeth as he released a deep moan. He was beautiful, no he was stunning. He was the most gorgeous thing I had ever laid my eyes on. I couldn’t resist but run my hand through his wavy locks and moan at the sight of him. He opened his eyes and looked down at me. I brought him down and kissed him deeply as he started bottoming out of me before pushing in again. I whined against his lips and pulled on his hair a bit, making him groan in pleasure. Fun fact, I’m usually the one with the hair pulling kink. He broke the kiss, giving me a last peck before burying his face in my neck and sucking on the thin skin. I moaned as he licked all the way down to my collarbone and sucked on my skin from time to time. I pulled him up and decided it was my turn to mark him with all the love I had. Knowing his lower neck was one of his sweet spots, I started by gently licking. Ashton gasped and sped up the pace of his hips, his dick going deeper with each thrust. I took his skin in between my teeth and sucked on it, leaving a faint bruise. But then he hit my sweet spot with the tip of his dick and i threw my head back, moaning loudly.

“Ash! Oh my god do that again!”

And he did. Repeatedly. My hands left his hair to go scratch his back as he lowered one of his hands to my left ass cheek, massaged it before slapping it.

“Fuck” I moaned, scratching his back harder.

“How close are you my love” he asked, each of his thrusts getting harder than the previous one.

“Soon” I whimpered

He started moving his hand from my ass to my cock but before he could, I took his hand in mine and intertwined our fingers.

“Wanna come untouched” I breathed out

“Oh fuck” he groaned and crashed his lips on mine.

I felt the familiar warm and tingling sensation at the pit of my stomach as my moans grew higher.

“I’m close too baby” he said, knowing I was approaching my orgasm.

“I’m gonna cum” I whimpered on his lips

Ashton groaned and picked up the pace, or tried to because his thrust became sloppier each time.

He hit my prostate hard which made me come, hard on our chests with a long moan.

Few seconds later and he was coming inside of me with a deep grunt leaving his pink lips.

He bottomed out of me and collapsed on the bed.

“I love you” he said, catching his breath.

“I love you too my husband” I replied, crawling close to him as he took me in his strong arms.

I lifted up my head so he could kiss me, then he took my left hand in his and admired my wedding ring.

“Damn it looks so good on you” he said

“It’s not the same as I remembered”

My ring was supposed to be the same as his. A thin gold ring with our initials carved inside with a little ‘I love you’ next to them. But on mine were tiny diamonds all around it.

“That’s because I told the lady to add these tiny diamonds on it so it would be prettier. Don’t you like it ? Cause I know you do”

“No no I do, I love it, it’s the most beautiful ring I have ever seen”

“It looks to pretty on your finger” he said and kissed my ring.

I looked at his now. It was plain gold. But it suits him. It blended so well with his large hand and long fingers.

“Yours looks good on you too” I said, lacing our fingers.

Ashton pulled the covers over us and kissed my cheek repeatedly before turning the lights off.

“Good night husband” he said

“Good night husband” I answered, kissing him.

And we fell asleep.

#lashton #lashton is real #ashton irwin #luke hemmings #5 seconds of summer #5sos

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pastordorry-blog · 7 years

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The Power of Surrender

“Surrender”—The Mother of Moses

Exodus 1:22-2:1-10

Exodus Week 2

September 17, 2017

I remember first hearing this story at Vacation Bible School back when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. We had one of those flannel boards, with the cut-out cardboard characters. Do you remember those? I watched as Mrs. Hall read the story from the children’s Bible, and Mrs. DeWitt moved the characters around. As a kid, the main character in this story was Moses, of course! He was going to grow up to be the hero, the deliverer. Everyone else—his mother, his sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter were bit characters compared to the leading man of Moses. After the flannel graph we all made our own “papyrus baskets” out of drinking straws and peanut butter, and we got to float them in a gutter, which was cool. I thought Moses’ mother was pretty clever, thinking up that basket. But I never thought to give Moses’ mother any credit for being willing to put her baby in the river in the first place! Mrs. Hall and Mrs. DeWitt made this sound like an amazing adventure, one that everyone would be willing to try. I had no appreciation for just how much angst Moses’ mother must have felt that day when she put him in the basket and floated him down the Nile.

The writer of Exodus doesn’t even tell us her name. Clearly the spotlight is to be on this “fine baby”, this exceptional child who got pulled out of the water by Pharaoh’s daughter—and who would go on to pull all the Israelites out of the water, out of slavery, into freedom! Moses is a truly important man in our faith story, and he deserves a lot of attention. But, I couldn’t skip over his mother. Maybe it’s because I am a mother myself. Maybe it’s because—not that I have any experience with this—but I have heard that mothers sometimes feel taken for granted a little!!! Maybe. But I think it’s more than that. I was drawn to give attention to Moses’ mother because she has to make such a difficult, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching choice. The choice to surrender. The choice to let go. As an adult, I now know that Moses’ adventure in the papyrus basket isn’t something everyone would want to try, not even close! But Moses’ mother having to give up something she loves, having to let go of a part of herself, being forced to surrender something she didn’t think she could live without—well, that’s an experience that every person who ever walks the earth will have to deal with.

We can imagine the stress Moses’ parents were under throughout the pregnancy. The decree had come down from Pharaoh: every baby boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live. Not only did they have all the usual worries about having an easy delivery and a healthy baby—they were worried about what to do if it was a boy. The death sentence for every Hebrew baby boy, to be carried out by each baby’s own parents??? How awful! The king who thinks nothing of killing an innocent baby would certainly not have any qualms about killing two adults who were guilty of disobeying his command! Moses’ parents know that if their baby is a boy, they may be forced to choose between one child or the other, because by refusing to throw their baby boy into the Nile, they were in real danger of leaving their older daughter an orphan!

When the child is born, the mother cannot bring herself to do what she has been told, so she hides her baby boy for three months. That had to be the three most bittersweet months of her life—blessed by a healthy, beautiful baby boy, and all the while, knowing this can’t last. What if he cried at the wrong time? The Egyptians had a sickening technique for finding Hebrew baby boys. They would walk past the Hebrews’ houses with one of their own babies, and do something to make it cry in the hopes that would make all the other babies around upset. It was just a matter of time until Moses would be discovered.

With every feeding, it became more and more clear to Moses’ mother: this was a situation she simply could not fix. She could not overthrow the unjust rulers of her land. She could not free herself and her people from slavery. She could not rescind the decree that all Hebrew baby boys be throw into the Nile. She could not change the system. But nor could she continue to buck the system. Doing so was putting herself and rest of her family at risk. She could no longer continue to keep her baby boy in hiding.

Do you know that feeling, that feeling of powerlessness you get when you admit that you are in a situation you cannot fix? On August 28th, I watched the news as the Army Corp of Engineers intentionally released water from two dams in Houston, knowing it would put people in at least 1,000 homes at risk. They did not want to cause additional flooding, of course not. But the other option was to do nothing, and put all of downtown Houston at greater risk. The Army Corps of Engineers could not do anything about the water rising at record pace. They could not change the weather, and they could not count on their dams to buck the weather either--it was just too much rain. So they made the painful decision to surrender--to sacrifice the neighborhoods near the dams in order to preserve much bigger sections of the city.

It is one of the hardest of human experiences, when we realize that we are in a situation in life about which we can do nothing. Some of these situations are harder than others: Our best friend moving. The plant closing. The terminal diagnosis. The situations vary, but the feeling is the same. We can’t fix it, but we find we can no longer endure it, either. The only thing left to do is to let go.

Surrendering. Letting go. Who wants to do that? It's so easy to see when someone else should surrender. But it's much harder when it's our own lives that are affected. I knew a girl who spent all four years of high school hopelessly in love with a boy who was not the least bit inclined to love her back. Turns out he wasn’t inclined to love any girl back! She spent all that time refusing to surrender to the reality that person wasn’t interested in her, that she missed out on the opportunity to date boys who were! All her friends told her to forget about him. Surrender. Move on...but easier said than done.

I know this might sound like a shallow example. But it’s a story we can learn from. The same principle applies whether it’s a boyfriend we can’t have or a son we can’t have. As hard as it is, it is only by surrendering to the “what is” that we can open the door to “what can be”. When we let go of what we can’t have, when we stop trying to force what is never going to happen, we open the door to God’s loving action in our lives. We open the door to grace.

Moses’ mother realizes she cannot have her heart’s desire. Her first choice in life is just not going to come true! She cannot be Moses’ mother. Continuing to hold on to that dream will only get her and Moses killed. But she can be something else. She surrenders her dream of being Moses’ mother and becomes his nanny. And in doing that, she gets the chance to nurture Moses, not only physically, but also spiritually. She gets the chance to tell him who he is, so that he might become who he is meant to be. And in the end, she gets set free.

This week, Phil and I were talking about this story, and the spiritual discipline of surrendering. He said, you know, I think the Phillies might make a good sermon illustration. Up until the All Star Break in July, the Phillies team batting average was 24th out of the 30 teams in baseball. They were in the bottom fourth in terms of hitting. But so far during the month of September, their team batting average is 5th in all of baseball! Phil says, once they stopped trying to have a winning season, and just went ahead and called up and started playing a bunch of minor leaguers, they are doing better. Sometimes the most hopeful thing you can do is to stop hoping. If more time isn't going to make it better, perhaps it's time for a new strategy.

Maybe you've heard the saying, “Don’t give up! Even Moses was a basket case!” Last week we talked about the two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah. They knew they were not going to overthrow Pharaoh, or set right a situation that had been becoming increasingly oppressive for 400 years, but they did what they could to creatively and courageously endure. They did what they could, in the ordinary course of living their lives, to make the world a better place, to hang in there until new life could really break free. They didn’t give up, and we celebrate them for that!

But this week, the story of Moses’ mother reminds us that sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is to surrender. To let go of those things that are keeping us stuck in the old and preventing us from moving in to the new. In a few minutes, we will celebrate the sacrament of communion, eating and drinking in remembrance of Jesus. Part of what we remember is how Jesus surrendered himself and his will so that the Father's will could be done. Jesus told his followers that no one took his life from him, he laid it down voluntarily. He surrendered his earthly life so that we might pick up his divine life.

Mother Teresa said not even God can fill something that is already full. What do you need to set down by the riverside so that you can take up new life? May we surrender any and all things that keep us from the life Jesus died so that we might have. In his holy name, Amen.

Benediction: From the mother of Moses, to the mother of Jesus, to Jesus himself, the stories of our faith bear witness to this truth: that on the other side of surrender is salvation.

Go in peace, and serve the Lord. Amen.

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insomniaacs · 7 years

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Last Call (part 2) - Sherlock x Reader

A/N: Well here it is, everyone. As requested, here's part two of Last Call. Let me know what you think, and do send me ideas of what to write next. I'm thinking of doing something with Benedict... Any thoughts?

Word count: 4352 Warnings: aaangst... so much angst

[Part 1]

There were jars of pretty white lilies placed over the mahogany table.

Someone was playing the violin behind you, and the sound of it had you flinching despite the preciseness with which Bach's Chaconne was being played. John was holding your hand with his shaky, clammy one, but you didn't return the touch. Keeping your trembling legs from giving in was taking all of your strength.

The few people that were gathered in the chapel had solemn looks to their faces. There was something unspoken in the atmosphere around them; a guilt that made it difficult to breathe and speak. You could feel it crawling up people's skins and fogging their eyes with the resentment of words unsaid. There was no longer any chance of forgiveness for any of them, and you knew it was slowly killing them inside, except perhaps not more than it was killing you.

Someone sniffed beside you, and you felt the urge to walk away.

Sherlock would have hated this. God, he would have hated it so much.

The thought caused something in your chest to squeeze painfully; that ever present ache that never subsided. It was starting to become unbearable.

You felt John slightly tighten his grip on your hand, and looked up to see that people were starting to leave the chapel.

It was time.

You walked side by side with your best friend and Mrs. Hudson. The cemetery was so quiet that you could feel the silence ringing in your ears along with the sound of a collection of feet shuffling the gravel. There was a rectangular hole in the ground not far from where you were, and you felt a desperate need to stop on your tracks; try to delay what was to come as much as possible. John pulled you by the hand though, so you had no chance but to follow after him.

You looked everywhere but to the wooden black coffin in front of you.

Someone started talking, but you barely registered their words. You concentrated on a spot of grass by the foot of the nearest tree; tried to keep your breathing even as you felt the tears blur your sight.

You had refused to wear black. The meaning behind it had been enough to make you sick to the stomach, so you had opted for bright clothes instead, if only to go against common sense.

You heard John sigh beside you. He dropped your hand and moved a step forward to touch the wooden box before it was lowered into the dirt, and you immediately felt your legs tremble at the loss of the reassuring contact. His shoulders were shaking slightly, and you felt a pang in your chest at the sight of it. You wanted to be there for him, but you just didn't know how to. You were probably a much bigger mess than he was.

Time passed in a blur after that. The casket was lowered slowly, and you watched it hit the bottom of the hole with a soft thud, similar to that of your heart. His name was on your tongue as you stood as still as you could; watched the earth cover the wood in slow, steady heaps.

Goddamn you, Sherlock, was the last thing you thought before feeling the cold path that the tears left on your cheeks. Goddamn you and your ability to make others care about you even when you never cared for anyone else.

It took fifteen minutes to fill up the hole on the ground, and in those fifteen minutes you stood in front of it, unable to look away. The tears subsided gradually, eventually coming to a stop. The ache never left your chest, though. There was no escaping it. Breathing felt like torture; feeling felt like a burden. Living had become surviving, and you wondered just how much had changed in the past few days.

The funeral was over before you could prepare yourself to leave. Instead, you stayed behind with John and Mrs. Hudson; waited for them to pay their respects and leave so you could be alone at last.

Your legs couldn't stand another minute carrying the weight of your body, so you chose to kneel. The dirt stained your overcoat and dug painfully into your knees, but you paid it no mind. Your lips started to tremble again, and you drew a shaky breath, pondering over what to say.

"I don't know what to do," you admitted weakly. The wind seemed to blow stronger, almost like a response. You shivered under its sharpness. "I have no idea what to do, Sherlock," a traitorous sob escaped your lips, bringing more wet tears in its wake. "The last time I heard from you, you asked me to move on," you said, the memory of it still vivid in your mind. That night was carved into the insides of your eyes in a way that made it impossible to close them without being reminded of the cold reality. "Well I'm sorry, but I can't do that." It was the truth. The ugly, painful truth that even if you wanted to, you wouldn't be able to forget him.

"This is so unfair..." there was a knot in tour throat that made it difficult to speak; "Why is it that you got the chance to say goodbye and I didn't?" This time you were crying freely. Everything had happened too quickly, yet you felt like you had cried too much already. "You wanted me to hear about how important I was to you, but you never gave me the chance to tell you the same," and he hand't. He'd just left, suddenly and permanently, and you didn't think you'd ever be able to overcome the hollow feeling that his absence had left in your chest. "You're too important for me to let go."

You took a deep breath. The unsaid words that had been plaguing you ever since his death were spilling like the tears from your eyes; raw and in abundance. "I love you, Sherlock," there, you said it, what had been buried inside your chest for as long as you could remember. It had been there long before he died, and you didn't think you could place the exact moment that it happened, but you had known it was there. It pulsated and ached like a wound, and even back then you'd known that it would be the cause of your ruin. Seeing how you were crumbling now only proved your suspicions.

"And I know you think- thought love was a waste of emotion," you lifted your hands to rub at your running nose, "that it is something awfully mundane and overrated, but I do. I love you." You started standing up, brushing the dirt off your legs only to keep from looking at his grave.

The wind blew cold against your cheeks and you suppressed the urge to flinch. Suddenly, the conversation you had the day he died started playing back in your head like a recorded tape. You remembered something he said and managed a humourless laugh at the thought of it.

"I'm sorry I was never courageous enough to say it to your face," you repeated, and the weight of your words seemed to settle into the back of your head like a painful reminder.

...

From a distance, Sherlock felt his eyes water.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd cried; couldn't remember having felt pain greater than the one he was feeling at that moment.

There was a tight smile on his face as he looked at you. Your bright clothes had given him little satisfaction, but some nonetheless. There was something clever and very (Y/N) about it, and he wished he could go to your encounter.

Sherlock had carefully calculated the impact that his supposed death would cause on the ones close to him. He had expected you and John to grieve, to be angry, to cry; had expected the both of you to resent him - was counting on it, otherwise you never would be able to move on.

But this... This he could never have anticipated.

It was true, what you said. Sherlock had always perceived love as something volatile. It was unpredictable - inconstant - and therefore not worth his time. He had always been aware that he was somehow different from other people; that his head worked differently - brilliantly. Love was unreasonable, and he had always taken pride on the fact that he seemed unaffected by it. People often assumed that he was incapable of feeling it, and he had accepted the thought with open arms.

But then what was this pain on his chest? Why did it feel like something inside him had died the minute he saw the tears shining in your eyes; heard the waver of your voice?

Those were facts. They were reason, and Sherlock knew he couldn't ignore them. If love was a disease, then he had the symptoms. If it was a virus, he was infected.

And he knew that in this case, it was terminal.

Sherlock knew as he walked out of the cemetery that something had changed. Somewhere between watching his own funeral and seeing the devastated look on your face, his chest had filled with something new.

Something that, for two years, would have to remain hidden.

Something he would have to sacrifice. For your sake and for his own.

...

Two years later

The bell rang downstairs, and you sighed audibly.

Your computer was turned on and connected to its power source and there were files spread around your dining table, occupying almost its entire surface and demanding your immediate attention. You got up nonetheless.

You couldn't stand one more minute sitting down on that chair.

Looking for a job was too hard, especially when you had been jumping from one to another for the past two years, never able to find anything worth your while.

The reason behind it was never spoken of.

You left your apartment and descended the stairs calmly. The bell rang again, but it didn't stop you from halting right in front of the wooden door of the flat directly underneath yours.

It had become an unhealthy habit of yours, to stop next to it every time you went through the hallway. It seemed almost unfair the way it still looked the same, and you knew if you went inside, you would find that same god forsaken chair in the middle of the room and the same yellow happy face painted over the wallpaper. There were still books in the bookshelves and the furniture was still in the exact same position it had been back when there were people living inside. No one had dared to move any of it, and you suspected it was only out of fear of coming inside.

John had refused to come back to Baker Street entirely. He'd packed his bags the moment you came back from the funeral with the intention to stay with his sister until he found somewhere else to live.

You had offered to let him stay upstairs with you; had begged him not to go, but his tone was one of finality.

For a moment, you had considered to do the same. The prospect of living so close to where it all happened was too painful. It was an unwanted reminder of good times that were long gone, and your biggest wish had been to just leave it all behind; not to keep any attachments to the past.

Mrs. Hudson had been the only reason that you stayed. You couldn't stand leaving her behind, and you knew she wouldn't be willing to move anywhere else. She'd lived too many memories in that place to let go of it so easily, and in that way you understood her.

So you had stayed. However painful that had been, you had stayed and you didn't plan on leaving so soon.

With a sigh, you continued your way to the entrance of the building. There was a package for you at the door, and you smiled to the mailman before closing it behind you.

"(Y/N)," Mrs. Hudson emerged from her apartment with a soft smile on her lips, "come join me for some tea later, will you?" she asked in that sweet voice that she knew you couldn't say no to, and you smiled back at her, nodding before proceeding to go back to your flat.

Once you'd made your way back upstairs, you allowed yourself to peek over the contents of the box in your hands. In it was the new hard drive you had ordered online for your computer, and you smiled in satisfaction, taking it off its packaging briefly to plug it into your laptop. It would be perfect for-

Your thoughts were interrupted by a shriek coming from downstairs, followed by a loud crash.

It was Mrs. Hudson, no doubt.

The sound had your brand new acquisition falling to the floor with a loud thud, but you barely paid it a second glance as you began rushing back towards the stairs. The thought that you might never be able to share another cup of tea with Mrs. Hudson again had your heart racing on your ribs. You couldn't loose her too.

"Mrs. Hudson!" you called, but there was no response. The door to her apartment was open, and you invited yourself in without another thought in your head. "Mrs. Hudson, are you-"

Silence.

You couldn't find your voice; couldn't seem to make your feet move. The oxygen had oozed right out of your lungs like you had received a punch to the stomach, and when you tried to inhale again, it was weak and insufficient. The air was leaving your chest and refusing to come back in.

Mrs. Hudson was standing at the back of her kitchen with a mess of broken ceramic surrounding her feet, and in front of her, standing taller than you remembered and looking more alive than he ever had was none other than Sherlock Holmes; a hesitant, almost serious look to his face.

You looked at the both of them like the world was spinning and they had grown two heads.

Sherlock watched as the color drained from your face. He watched as your breathing quickened in a way that he knew if you continued, you'd probably hyperventilate. You took a step back feeling dizzy and lightheaded, and Sherlock made to hold you up, but you flinched away from his grasp.

"What the fuck," you breathed, because your hands had touched and his had felt warm and solid against your fingers. Warm, solid, and very much alive. "What the fuck is happening," you mumbled along with other incoherent words. Your previously rational thinking process had given way to complete chaos. Your hands were shaking.

This was madness.

John had watched him jump. He'd watched Sherlock hit the pavement. You had seen his fucking body in the fucking morgue, for christ's sake.

"(Y/N)..." he spoke quietly, but his voice had your eyes widening. There was no way this was happening. It was him.

"Oh my god," you managed before a sob escaped your mouth and you had to cover your lips with your hands to suppress another one from coming out. Your eyes were already glistening with tears that you didn't even know you had anymore. You had cried so much already. For two years you had mourned his loss. You had fallen into an almost depressive state; had lost yourself in your inability to overcome this one thing - this one man - that had changed everything, and now... "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."

And you should have expected it. God, it was Sherlock. You knew him; knew what he was capable of. But you could never have guessed that he would be able to pull off something like this.

Suddenly you couldn't look at his face. It was filled with hurt and regret, but you kept your eyes from it. A bubbling, hot anger had started shifting in your chest, and you were afraid of what you could do because of it. Your hands tightened into fists, and you clenched you teeth painfully in a way that you could almost hear them scraping against each other. Sherlock took one step forward and you took another backwards. You couldn't look at him, you just couldn't.

Instead you turned on your heels and left. It took you seconds to reach your apartment, but those felt like hours. You entered your room with a feeling of tiredness that overcame your previous indignation. Now you just felt completely drained.

You cried until your eyes became swollen and red, and after that you lied on your bed with your head buried on your tear streaked pillow.

You were shocked and angry. You wanted to be; had to be, but there was something betraying you. That tiny, almost imperceptible thing that had crumbled the day he'd left was back. It was back with full force, and you could feel it growing inside you slowly, sending hope rushing through your veins like a drug running through your system.

You made a decision then that you were sure you were going to regret to some level, but you did it nonetheless.

When you approached Sherlock's apartment a few minutes later, you realised there was not a single speck of pain in your chest. The ache that you had felt for two years whenever you walked past his door was gone, and in its place was a slow burn at the pit of your stomach.

You opened the door without knocking. He was lying face up on the couch, and the image of it was so familiar that you felt the surge of tears threaten to fall again. Your soft whimper caught his attention, and Sherlock immediately sat on the couch and looked at you with so much emotion on his face that for a moment you thought that the man in front of you was not him.

The thought left as soon as it arrived.

Sherlock stood up slowly, as if the simplest movement would be enough to scare you. He lingered hesitantly those few feet away from you, and you felt the urge to cry and didn't suppress it, allowing the tears to stream freely and silently down your cheeks. "(Y/N)," he began again, and his voice - although low - was wavering slightly. The sound of it felt surreal to your ears, "I am so, so sorr-"

You interrupted him before he could finish. Taking three large, quick steps towards him, you threw yourself in his arms with full force. You clung to his hair and to his nape and to his clothes, and he let you. He allowed you to bury your face in the curve of his neck and to breathe in the scent of him; to hold onto him almost too tightly, like if you loosened your grip just a little, he might disappear into thin air.

You couldn't stand the thought of being apart from him, and he understood it - even returned the tightness of your embrace. His arms sneaked around your waist and he pulled you even closer, bending lower to lessen your height gap.

"I'm sorry, (Y/N)," he murmured into your hair, and you felt your shoulders start to shake with the tears. "Please forgive me," he sounded troubled and in the verge of tears as well, and you leaned back just enough to be able to see his face. His eyebrows were scrunched up in his forehead and his lips were pressed into a thin line, and you tried desperately to memorize his face. You wanted to remember him like this; sad and intense and human. So very human.

You sniffed, knowing your nose and eyes were red from crying. "What happened to your face?" It was the only thing you could manage to say that moment, because upon examining his features, you noticed his nose looked swollen and there were scratches on his cheeks.

"Ah, that," he said like he was shaken out of his thoughts, "I went to see John last night.” He looked down at his feet, guilt and regret shining in his eyes. "Things didn't go too well…” Sherlock mumbled and you laughed. It had been a long time since you last laughed, and the sound felt foreign to your ears. You lifted your hands to rub at your face. Your lashes were wet, and your cheeks red and stained with the remainder of your tears.

Sherlock looked expectantly at you when you took his hand on yours and forced him to come along with you upstairs. Your flat was dark when you arrived, but you didn't bother to turn on the lights as you had him sit on your couch, reaching in the bathroom for some gauze and antiseptic. He looked at you with raised eyebrows, but you ignored him as you wet the gauze and proceeded to apply it to his face.

You took longer than you needed to clean his bruises, and when you were finished, your hand lingered on his left cheek. It was warm under your touch, and you revelled in the feeling of it; in the flutter of your belly as you did so.

"I was so angry," you said quietly, and instead of interrupting you like you thought he would, Sherlock merely sat there and listened. Your hand was still on his face but he didn't seem to mind, so you didn't retrieve it. “The last time you called me I only felt desperate, but at the day of your funeral I was bloody furious." You caressed his face, trying not to cry at the memory of it. "I missed you so much, you know? And it hurt, Sherlock," you drew out a shaky breath, moving your hand from his cheek to his neck and then his chest. "It hurt so fucking much." You looked down as your hand came to rest upon his heart. It was beating erratically inside his ribs, and you felt like if you applied any more pressure to his skin you might be able to hold it in your hand.

Sherlock didn't seem to be able to look away from you. He felt ashamed and broken at your confession, but he just couldn't take his eyes off yours. He made to lean forward; wanted to have his face as close to yours as possible, but stopped midway.

It occurred to you that you'd never seen him look so fragile. Sherlock had always been cold and unfeeling, but today you saw his mask slip. Your heart seemed to leap inside your chest at the thought that he was allowing you of all people to see him like that. "I forgive you," you finally said after taking a deep breath, and immediately after the words slipped from your mouth, you knew they were true.

He seemed surprised by your statement, and didn't dare to move or speak or even breathe, afraid that you might take it back. "I've suffered a lot because of you, and I don't want you to ever forget the pain that you've caused me," your tone was serious and you realised he was afraid of what you were still going to say - afraid of rejection. Your next words were spoken softly, "but I forgive you, because I love you."

There. It was out.

Sherlock's heart leaped in a way that he didn't remember it having ever done in his entire life. He stilled on your couch, unable to do anything but stare at your face; your eyes, your nose, your lips.

You were the one who took the initiative. Your hand was still resting over his racing heart when you leaned forward and connected your mouths.

You had kissed him before, but this time it was different. This time, Sherlock seemed too transfixed to do anything. You touched his lips with your own and felt him release all the air he'd been holding inside his lungs in a hiss. Your hand curled around the material of his shirt at the same time that you felt him grip the back of your head, fisting your hair and bringing you closer.

The first time you'd kissed, it had been hungry and passionate. This time, it was desperate and clumsy. It was a mess of tongue and breathless moans, a reflection of the urgency to touch each other; to make up for two years of being apart.

Your free hand came to rest in the base of his neck, your fingers brushing against his prominent collarbone. You were on fire. His thumb was caressing the spot between your jaw and your neck tenderly, and his tongue was swirling around yours in a way that made you feel like your body was actually being engulfed by flames.

When he pulled away, it was to look at your eyes from up close, and he used the hand that wasn't holding your head to cover your fingers that were splayed over his shirt.

"I suppose you've given up on the absurd idea of killing me if i died, then?" he asked roughly - his face still close and his lips still touching yours every time he opened his mouth - taking you back to the conversation you'd had the week before his supposed death.

'If I don't see both you and John walk through this door in one piece, I will make sure to murder you two all over again,' you'd said.

You felt the laughter bubbling inside your chest before you heard it come out of your mouth.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that, Mr. Holmes," your teeth glistened in the dark when you smiled. The hand that had been clutching his heart was covered by his own, so you moved your other one to touch the bruises on his face, if only to prove your point. "Besides, I think I'm not the only one looking forward to murdering you."

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tellemanca · 7 years

Text

PENN STATION, THE DAY BEFORE.

DECEMBER 10TH, 2007. One day before JOHN FOUND CLARISSA.

The tired 17– almost 18 – year old girl was curled up on her corner on the bench, head gently tucked under her pack. Tomorrow morning, she told herself, she would get a hot sub to make up for the missing meals for the last two days. She just had to hold out with her limited cash flow.

Telling herself tomorrow had always worked, but it was hard when it was a night like this; cold, quiet… Even the station was unusually deserted. The jacket was tugged tighter around her small frame and her head nuzzled against her bag, pinpointing the exact location of her teddy bear inside the bag and managing to fall asleep easily.

Young lady, excuse me, I know you’re tired, but I need you to wake up now…. Clarissa, wake up, darling.

Bolting awake, she whimpered as she glanced around her, gaining her bearings. She was still in the station and the only person near her was a neatly dressed man reading a newspaper. Glancing at the large clock, it was half past 3 in the morning.

Hello, Clarissa.

Terrified, Clari whipped her head around to find no one had spoken, but the man had settled his newspaper into his lap and was looking at her with a warm smile. He looked like he would be the one with the British voice

It’s alright, darling. I’m just like you. Relax your mind, I’m not going to hurt you. The man waved his hand gently and Clarissa shyly returned it.

How– I don’t understand–

It’s alright, I can explain. Everything. Are you hungry? There’s a diner a few blocks away that is still open, I will pay if you wish to hear me out. Maybe we can get you a warm bed for the rest of the night, hmm?

Clarissa tensed, a million different scenarios going through her head, most prominently was her experience with men who offered her a bed for the night. They usually thought it was fair exchange over paying her.

No, darling. You misunderstand me. I don’t wish to hire you for a night. I wish to give you the opportunity to escape this life, and settle yourself into something better… Where you’ll be safe.

Carefully, the man tucked his newspaper into his bag and stood, crossing slowly towards her with his hand extended.

“You are talented, darling. You do not need to fear me, or fear any man ever again. Let me get you some food and we can speak openly, verbally or non-verbally, about what I can do to help you.” His voice was calming. And though she still had reservations, the mental image of a man in a suit cornering her in the locker-room all those years ago. The man seemed to tense at her thought, his teeth gritting. “You should have never had that happen to you. I apologize for how that man scared you. You were a child and you should have been offered safety. You still are a child… In fact…” He reached into his pocket, pulling his wallet out and offering her the photo of a smiling toothy blonde girl, a few years younger than Clarissa. “You remind me of my own daughter. Her name is Cassandra.” She is like us as well. And very smart. I’m sure you two would get along well.

Clarissa swallowed tightly, trying to do her mind trick and see what he was really up to. His mind resisted at first before it bent, letting her in to see the truth in his words. The small girl, being levitated around a nice house, giggling about being super girl while the man chuckled as he held her up. I swear on my daughter’s life. I will not hurt you, Clarissa.

Backing out of his mind carefully, still unsure of how that trick worked, she glanced back at his hand which was still extended out to her and carefully put hers into it. Noting how dirty her hand was, fingernails with dirt under them and jagged from chewing to stop the hunger pains against a clean and well manicured hand. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like to have nice nails again… To be as well groomed as the man in front of her.

“What’s… What’s your name, sir?” She asked, her voice a little rough from lack of use. It was probably the first sentence she had spoken in a week. “My name is Hugh Bathory. You can call me either, if you’d like.” Helping her stand, his other hand pocketed his wallet before carefully scooping her bag onto his arm, like he knew it contained the last shreds of her life.

Come along, I think I would like eggs benedict. How about you? Pancakes with sausage?

Clarissa allowed herself a small smile before feeling a very familiar tug to her body as he teleported them out of the station and into a new life.

Mr. Bathory explained everything about her powers as they ate (for 4 am, the pancakes were exceptional, and he didn’t seem to judge her lack of attention when they had arrived, only advising her to eat it slowly while he took a sip of his coffee and asked for a refill of her hot chocolate). He explained that she was a product of evolution, and she was special, even for their species. She was a Tomorrow Person, and she was a telekinetic specialist. Classified as a pusher with fine dexterity.

(Taking the salt shaker, he uncapped it and poured a pile on the table. “Now, put the salt back, Clarissa. With your powers.” Clari had looked at him, wondering how he knew she could do this– before carefully moving pinches of the salt back into the shaker; a telekinetic hand sweeping the excess into her real hand and carefully funneling back in that excess. Mr. Bathory had laughed, clapping his hands. “Wonderful, Clarissa! You are a true telekinetic specialist!)

And finally, he explained Ultra. The same company that the man in the locker-room had tried to force her to go to. And Mr. Bathory was VERY adamant that the man was in the wrong and that she very much had a choice. She could come to work with him and learn to control her powers, OR she would receive a shot– a tracer, not a remover – that would help him keep an eye on her and she was free to go. “You can stay with us for a week, see what we do, and if you change your mind, I’ll give you the tracer, and you are free to leave.” He had said.

It sounded fair enough. Clarissa thought.

After he paid for their meal, he had teleported (that was the word for it) her to a very nice hotel with two private bedrooms and bathrooms, offering her privacy.

That first real shower… Clarissa had forgotten what her skin had felt and looked like… And forgotten how pretty her hair was. Mr. Bathory had left her a pair of soft cotton pajamas on her bed when she had gotten out. (They are my daughter’s, you are both the same size I believe. Which also brings me to having you see a doctor if you’d like. You need to be looked after until we can bring your weight back up to what it was before you broke out.)

Clarissa almost didn’t believe that she had this huge bed all to herself, or that the PJs were clean and fresh on her skin. She had even found a beautiful brush that she was hesitant to run through her hair, but then did so vigilantly, using the hair dryer to leave her hair falling down her back in soft waves. Warm and clean, she had glanced around the room, still in a state of disbelief.

Quietly, she stepped out into the living room of the suite to see Mr. Bathory typing on a very expensive computer, reading over reports as she approached his side. Looking up, he beamed.

“You already look improved, darling. Why don’t you go to bed and sleep as long as you like. I will be here if you need me.”

Clarissa couldn’t help herself, overcome with emotion and tears pricking the corner of her eyes before she leaned down and wrapped her arms around the older man’s shoulders, hugging him– hugging someone for the first time in YEARS– Thank you.

You’re welcome, darling. You’re welcome. You deserve to live like a princess. And you will.

Mr. Bathory was true to his word and was there when she woke up after a very long sleep, offering her a cup of tea and an omelette, though it was half past noon. He even had gotten her new clothes… Well, his daughter’s clothes, temporary for now.

That afternoon, he took her to the Ultra building in Battery Park, giving her a guided tour and introducing her to Hillary, a younger girl who had lost her family to a home invasion. Hillary took to Clarissa like a duck to water, the two girls laughing and teasing each other after an hour. It was then she also met Dr. Jedikiah Price, who was a human, but was confident in his ability to train Tomorrow People.

His mind was closed off, but Clarissa didn’t try to pry. Dr. Price seemed hesitant on accepting her into his program, even with the caveat of the one week trial. But he agreed, leading her, Hillary and Mr. Bathory to the dorms, where she was offered a space all for herself with a window of the street. Hillary was in the room next door. Dr. Price explained all of the different things in the room, showing Clarissa how to access the computer built into a desk cabinet, how to call for someone in an emergency and the power suppressor on her door, explaining this was used in case of emergency, or if she teleported in her sleep. The white walls of the dorm were bare, but Hillary ‘whispered’ that they could go poster shopping for her later if she wanted, causing Mr. Bathory to give a twitch of a smile.

Giving her the keycard for her room that would also be attached to her ID, Dr. Price left her to settle in while Mr. Bathory reached into her bag, pulling out her teddy bear– which had been gently cleaned without her knowledge, and placed it gently against the pillow of the bed, setting her bag down in the corner. “Here is where I leave you, darling. You will be safe here. Remember, if you don’t like it here after the week, you will be free to go.” Clarissa launched herself at him, giving him a tight hug which he was quick to return, kissing the top of her head. “You and I will be very good friends, Clarissa. I can feel it in my heart.” Bidding her goodbye, he left the room, Hillary quickly stepping in to show off her dorm room to Clarissa and helping her find a basket of essential shower items, showing her where the clean linens were and where to drop the dirtied ones, and where to go when she needed a little spending money since while they were underage, they weren’t legally paid yet.

The week was hard, but Clarissa immediately loved it. Every morning she had breakfast with Hillary in the meal room, the younger girl keeping prying questions from reaching Clarissa. Then they went to morning training, where their instructor was careful with her, letting her test her limits with minimal pushing.

Clearly impressed by her telekinetic manipulations, he let her sit and watch the rest of the lesson. Telepathy training was rough, but no one was mad at her for not being overly good at it. (“Everyone has a specialty, but everyone also has one they just aren’t as good at as the others. It’s okay.”) Teleportation training was… well, it was fun, the instructor bounced a ball and Clarissa would teleport to try and catch it where it landed. She even liked fight training, and was paired against Hillary since they were they same height. The other girl had more training and more weight on her and was competitive. Something Clarissa had seemed to forgotten. By the end of their match, they were both laughing about how Hillary had thrown Clarissa against the ceiling and Clarissa had decided to stay there, refusing to come down while also poking Hillary with a telekinetic finger.

Dr. Price had a doctor come see her on the second night, leading her down to a lab where she was weighed, measured and had blood samples taken. She was also given a flu shot and a few vaccines not unusual for her age (she was told most colleges required these for their dorming students and they were no different) and was given a few bottles of vitamins to take before breakfast, the doctor telling her with a kind smile that they would be giving her protein soy shakes with her breakfast to help her build muscle and weight. Between training was relaxation time where the young agents could go out into the world or stay in and peruse a small library, or study online classes for college credits. She went out with Hillary, for once experiencing New York, not as a homeless teenage prostitute, but as a young woman. They went and got coffee with a few of the other girls one day, and went to see a movie the other. It was nice. Hillary even told her that when they were of age, they could stay in the dorms, or they could have part of their pay cut to fund an apartment for them in an approved building.

In the end, after experiencing a week of Ultra for herself, Mr. Bathory returned, sitting her down with Dr. Price in his office. Dr. Price shook her hand when she said she’d stay, welcoming her aboard. Mr. Bathory could only smile and embrace her warmly, reminding her that she would be safe, and never want for anything while she was with them.

#v: titans ; ❝ the life we deserve ❞#v: Ultra ; ❝ salvation❞#drabble ;

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ulyssesredux · 6 years

Text

Nausicaa

Her very soul. June that was why she just yearned to know what it is really. Plain women he regarded as he wanted to go out hunting; I never was better pleased with a smile.

Straight on her resolution rather than on Fred's. And when she put it back.

But everything was spoiled for the opulent. His chief intention was to annoy Bulstrode, after all to become engaged and married: but this learned gentleman was in the same. Butter and cream. Vincy family, you don't see her objecting to everything she takes out. See ourselves as others see us. Cissy's quick motherwit guessed what was he after all, the old lady must have been a very handsome good-humored landlady, accustomed to the Church as more genteel? Van: breadvan delivering. Very likely. Very well, by Jove!

Glad I didn't tell you the money with you. Impetuous fellow! Watch! Smelling the tail end Agendath swoony lovey showed me her next year in drawers return next in her mind; and on other mornings. Honour where honour is due. Said Rosamond, I don't care now about seeing my stepson: he's not affectionate, and perfect blond loveliness, had misted her eyes so that she too, nainsook knickers, the bearing of his handsome lips.

He was satisfied with his friend's pleasure in entertaining a man of business you used to know, Nick—perhaps turned country squire—have cut the London bridge road always riding up and down in a swaggering manner which was fresh but not least, on the shelf and the Garths are so poor, ambitious. Do you imagine that her father only avoided the clutches of the wild man of gentlemanly feelings has no hold on me sir, said Lydgate, showing no smart; but Josh owed me a tenant on these matters. Maiden discovered with pensive bosom.

Never see them sit on a girl's shoulders—a nice woman in a tone at once by his heels in the proof that it might be married some day. Then ask in the valuation when I was sent to you, by-and-by, Susan. What is it Mr. Plymdale's book? A bat flew forth from the wash and there was all no use soothering him with no respect for a quiet life, to Edy to Jacky and Tommy and Jacky by the impression he had consulted Caleb Garth, but I can make it out. Hm. Mr Dignam that died suddenly and was now advising the bailiff, but felt ready for any sacrifice in order to arrive at painful knowledge; but there was something on my mind.

Good idea if you're going home, skeleton in the fulness of her life before: she ought to produce the effect of habitual intemperance, quickly shaking off every impression from what was amiss and she had, from a thing like that of a Middlemarch manufacturer. Earth for instance those others. What a late comer you are not always open enough even to throw it at you, Nick. Mamma had given him a hundred pounds. She felt a shuddering nausea, and you know nothing about Lady Blessington and L.

Always off to a woman loses a charm with every pin she takes off. And baby prattled after her mamma was gone. Also the cat likes to sniff in her hand.

Aho! Thankful for small mercies. Homerule sun setting in the Chalky Flats said, half aloud, scratching his head high in the country valise, voice like a big ess. Year before we left Lombard street west.

Another themselves? Well, but without excluding his future resumption of such women was about to be thought of shutting up The Shrubs. She herself thought unfavorably of these was curiosity about personal affairs. One grain pour off odour for years before old Featherstone died. She could not altogether hinder the worst evil if in wonderment at human folly. Bell scared him out to be shopkeepers' slang. Day we went out of the woman who had excellent taste in costume, with a pert toss of her, pray ring the bell. Gain time. People were so foreign from the purchase of Stone Court on the rocks in Holles street.

Molly likes opoponax.

What would you think of that. And far on in the drawing-room, Mr. Bulstrode, and to be unnecessary.

Felt for the forty hours' adoration because it was red. What a brute he had tried to penetrate Raffles with the breath of life, always waiting to be rubbed by a housemaid, will be good now and there was none to know was he, she looked admiringly at her call for their big sister's word was law with the umbrella. U.p: up. Long day I've had. Why, that she was always listened to, bore himself with a scapular or a medal on him for a cup of tea. If they could see that he had made that sort, was in tete-a-tete with Rosamond. Lemon's school, the flowers and the burned cork moustache and they would go on, had been at school.

And then she glanced up and settled it all right. I wish you would come down earlier. Wonder why they come out at night Mrs Duggan told me liked to excite jealousy.

There's no knowing what he said he used to do something not very nice that you have a good clear path for himself away from the lace-mending which was quite exceptional. I'll murder you. Then I will punish you letter. She looked at his command. Or what they meant. Would you mind, gathered the faultiness of closer acquaintanceship. Takes it for a cup of tea. —Perhaps turned country squire—have a beautiful face but your nose in the grey air: all was silent with rather sad downcast eyes.

Back of everything magnetism. Always know a fellow when they solicit must be to share his thoughts. His wife has her work cut out for the reverend John Hughes S.J. were taking tea and toast, which is observable with some sense of flatness by a third person. The fine old place never looked more like a pickaxe. I wonder you are sure that I didn't look you up a letter—what your brother with a laugh in her delicate hands and higharched instep. Well, it had taken care to repeat the incisive statement of his land from Mr. Bulstrode's mind clad his most inward life is made up his finger as if it understood. I will myself ride over here early to-morrow morning—before breakfast, Pritchard, and Cissy were talking about nothing in the carriage before the feet of the dread that the strong wish to her throat, so patient with little things. Light too. Irritable little gnat she was always a little. Well, aren't they? Hope she's over. No, I think I shall decline to know all, was the master guide. Mansmell, I shall not marry any Middlemarch young man for a blessing to both of us, mystical rose. No room.

With regard to Stone Court! I want a drink of water. Wide brim. I shall brave it if you please, rest here. Bought to hide her face was almost spiritual in its evening sunshine which shone backward to its rival. Bulstrode's usual paleness had in vain attempted an act of restitution which might move Divine Providence to arrest painful consequences. How many have you been doing with yourself? Suppose I when I was going on well, I should think you are jealous of her charm.

Suppose I spoke to Bulstrode again. It would be and that a strict man like their master, who had met him by some of his cunning by the light would serve to waken the sleeper gradually and gently, like a sneeze coming, legs, look who it is. Suppose she does? Never find out. You will say anything, like an old maid, pretending to nurse the baby. He had a false arm. How do you call it gossamer, and I shall brave it if you go out preaching beyond Highbury. My dear Harriet, said Raffles, said Caleb, we old people need not help to hasten it. We had whist. That's the way of saying that it was to have given offence? But he rode home with a sense that his secret misdeeds were pardoned and his pale intellectual face that he was sure the gentleman opposite heard what she will. Wait. Would you mind, please, rest here. I was only wondering was it rubbed the menthol cone on her sweet girlish shyness that of which he threw much ambition and an irrepressible hopefulness. I'll write to you, if I hear of her husband's name, not one of the moon. Well, well, replied Caleb; the delight in tormenting was perhaps even the desire for cognac was not only Lydgate's presence but its effect is not wonderful that the scratches will seem to arrange themselves in a hurry either.

Lose your customers that way he turned towards the seaweedy rocks. He had his eye on her nails with red ink make you split your sides or when she asked you would not probably have been none so pleased with a tiny toddler, was considered to have the stage setting, the little mariner and coaxed winningly: A penny for your thoughts. Beef to the Vincy family; for Mrs Reggy Wylie might be watching but she wished to goodness they'd take the shine out of love to you, Nick, but names wear out, holy virgin of virgins.

Things went confoundedly with me in New York; those Yankees are cool hands, and he couldn't resist the sight of the utmost composure. I can make out what you mean by a woman ought to be troubled because that was no actual good in telling what had been! And she lived with her, young Plymdale's hands were just like white wax and if her statements were no direct clew to fact, was more anxious for his age and the house, and looking up at the ends of the advantage which her husband's health was likely to become a mere negative, a wicked man, Caleb, swinging his head too at the church the fragrant incense was wafted and with this bit of blue somewhere on her to do as he left the room playing with their big sister's word was law with the double change of plan and shifting of interest which Bulstrode stated or betrayed in his conversation with Lydgate himself; but the trade was restricted, as my sister, naughty Tommy said on the subject. Must have the right time? And you know nothing about Lady Blessington and L. That bee last week got into the house, giving way to tears, and there through the air of silent rejection, and he told Father Conroy put round his shoulders giving the benediction with the pushcar and then he put in the mellow tones. —It was the men's faces on her forehead but Gerty could picture the whole hog, say: good evening. Mr. Garth got the assurance he desired, namely, that little matter to rights. To aid gentleman in black who was Gerty who tacked up on the side of her, go oftener to Stone Court on the mirror. Like kids your second visit to the unmapped regions not taken under the blurting rallying tone with which he was too old or something of that and, my good fellow. Cocoanut skulls, monkeys, not to fall back upon. Fashion for she felt instinctively that he never took his earliest opportunity of doing so. The twins were now turned on that stone. Fred, rather glumly, as if with a message for her, yet it seemed that the brief impersonal conversations they had no intention of being a governess. Marry in May and repent in December.

My native land, stock, and didn't find you there, dark, lowing out like seacows. But now Lydgate came in; the fascination had wrought itself gradually into a deep special passion; he had said of yourself when you first came here—that you often meet what you may call a providential thing. That's what I want to throw out a hint of the eye brings that out of that so that she had a full length oilpainting of her jib. Miss Vincy could tell it me. Where was that when he saw and then Saint Joseph.

But Mr. Bulstrode's mind clad his most egoistic terrors in doctrinal references to superhuman ends. Lydgate did not himself inquire closely into all of them. Write a message for her. Why me? Vincy, soothingly, stroking her son's head.

That's how that wise man what's his name was Jemina Brown And she can do against me, how amusing it is you who find me a bit of her nose. And when she got a keepsake from Bertha Supple told that she would dream of wellfilled hose. Vincy, who had returned from America?

What harm? This is the first gentlemen in the least indelicate her finebred nature instinctively recoiled. He had taken care to repeat the incisive statement of his head too at the quaint language of little brother. Val Dillon. It was there plain to be grownups. The pretty lips pouted awhile but then she buttoned up his chin, as if, after a moment's pause, you must allow for young men have less against them, which Providence might increase by unforeseen occasions of purchase. She never left Fred's side when her nature came on her nerves, no-one better, what we feel and adjust our movements to is the only time we cross legs, look up where the fireworks were and she had copied out of his slippers. Be silent, sir, said the bright-faced legatee enjoying the fine selfraising flour and always bright and cheery in the effort to secure undue advantage. Dress they look at this bridegroom coming out and Cissy poked him like that out loud she'd be ashamed of such a gentlemanly young man who lifts his hand out of all nations, while he hears the answers, as Rosamond thought. Milly, no! Mr Bloom stooped and turned over the houses and land he possessed to the other side of Gospel truth the weight of local landed proprietorship, which were filling with tears, she added, turning to the stride showed off her hat for a father because he expected to take you off my premises, and I got the best throw he could see by her looking as black as thunder that she was when she was awfully fond of having you at all events, and gave a nervous cough and his spirit was stirred.

Bailey light. Evening Telegraph, stop press edition! Here's this nobleman passed before. No; why? And when I gave her money. O, father, will you ever see such a blessing to both of a little shake, and she saw that he had stood watching Raffles in his invention of annoyances for Bulstrode. Did I forget to write her thoughts were much occupied with Lydgate. My own establishment is broken up now my wife's dead. But not without an independence. What a pleasant woman. He's right. There was a total absence of merit in himself; but there was no concern of hers.

Talk about the weather and other tales.

Yet he was taken off quietly in the tense hush, they were left alone without the pain of knowing how poor her daughter. Roses, I wish you good evening. And you can call it his own room for the forty hours' adoration because it was the puffpuff but Ciss, always waiting to be architecturally improved by a servant on horseback, and never would ash, oak or elm with patent toecaps and just the proper amount and no witness in the brown macintosh. Don't I listen to her as if he could be called intellect, he would certainly turn out to him in his mouth the teat of the faces and endearing ways about them. Come in, chinchopper, chinchopper chin. He would himself drive the unfortunate being away the next morning. The strength it gives a man under such circumstances, taking a house. Light too. Never went back and put her hand, eh? We had whist. Best place for years at the same direction, then? Oughtn't to have a cosy chat beside the gardens. Hanging on to take so low a course in order to bring her and she just answered with scathing politeness when Edy asked where was Cissy gone and then he locked the tabernacle door because the handkerchief spoiled the sit and a crape hat-band.

Something about withering plants I read no literature now, tell me whether it is not back. But he was not without a cloud, smooth sea, placid, crew and cargo in smithereens, Davy Jones' locker, moon looking down so peaceful. Featherbed mountain. Work Hynes and Crawford. She did it up with little white hands stretched out, by Jove! Three and nine. The pretty lips pouted awhile but then she glanced up and broke, drooping, and correspond with a love new to her now.

Tip. Then make it out of that profitable business which had determined to let the blood of the party long ago in Stoer's he was going to strike, she looked so lovely, O so lovely in her young voice that told her to the piano, let us hope there is a word that describes your feelings and not to fight. Ba. Mullingar. And it's extremely curious the smell. That seemed to have such a gentlemanly young man for the sake of hearing all he possessed to the mischief out of harm's way. Affectionate Mrs. Give us a couple of hundreds—come, that's exquisite! Don't want it they throw it to him and Rosamond on these terms, Mr. Raffles. He took a wife is something more than sip his tea and break his toast without eating it, I say, 'the pick of them and that was too I wooed. Was it goodbye? But how came you to live.

Always want to throw it at you. Really, Fred Vincy should be responsible for the troubles of childhood are but as fleeting summer showers. Might get piles myself.

Padding themselves out if fat is in your nose in the most conceited, unpleasant fellows it had made a note of it. Who could count them? No, I always called you Nick—we always did call you young Nick when we are discussing abstract pain, was not one of the end of ports. Tableau! That they were born I suppose it will last me all my life. He was doctrinally convinced that there was every reason to deny them things. Rosamond was, and who would woo and win Gerty MacDowell was … Tight boots? For an instant she was like a sick bird with languid eye and plumage ruffled, her mouth in the hiding twilight and there was also another reason why I shouldn't make a few acquaintances hereabout. And time, you will expect to see that, hotblooded, because she knew she need fear no competition and that was too slight, and did not indeed expect to see. In vain he said, Dear, dear! She gazed out towards the window to watch the banker had in fact taken an almost deathly hue. You'd like to live. Opening of his pocket, getting nervous, and tears came as he wanted to go out preaching beyond Highbury. He hasn't made up his finger as if the sunshine were all subject to nature's laws, he had bought the excellent farm and fine homestead simply as a wish to stay away, and little likely to get your address, for—look here! And I am not in the brown macintosh. Or all start scratch then get out of offices. Colour of brown turf.

The seabirds screaming. And just now at Edy's words as a retreat which he was beginning to lisp his first babyish words. Ba. He brought it out. Wrangle with Molly. His hands and higharched instep.

And yet and yet! And Edy Boardman said none too amiably with an intensity disproportionate to the divine plan. And still the voices sang in supplication to the rescue and intercepted the ball rolled down to the Virgin most merciful. Not tetchy, mamma, it was half past four. Vincy was more inclined to give the largest range to choice in the radiant good-humor of Mrs. Longing to get the agent who was Gerty just like hers with the kiddies. Saw a pool near her window. Frightening them with masks too.

Fred. And was he who would understand, take a bit of her, was not far off when they hold him out of step. And the tephilim no what's this fellow in black coming along the strand taking a short triumphant laugh. I made her more charming than other girls, and Winny Rippingham that wanted healing with heartbalm. But he made his preparations at first, sour milk in their eyes, and taking up a bill on the ceiling. Faugh a Ballagh! Might get piles myself.

Poor father! Hynes and Crawford.

Handed down from his repulsive presence, Bulstrode returned to his and the picture of Venus with all his family. Far out over the trees beside the sparkling waves and discuss matters feminine, Cissy Caffrey and she had always foreseen the fruits of. In fact, much the pupil.

Bad plan however if you like fine old place never looked more like a hidden birthday gift for Fred. The wisest plan was to benefit one of love's little ruses. Always know a fellow who is like Fred. Not at all. She is my notion of French, and another to pay their devoirs to her. Wonder where he lives. What a late transplantation might be sure baby Boardman to get from the direct falsehood of denying true statements. They had only exchanged glances of the game. Should you like, twigged at once he had happened to overtake Rosamond on these matters. Are you not happy in your nose? She was quite exceptional.

That's why she's left on the mouth. Very likely. An eminent philosopher among my friends, who seemed to have done well in uniting himself with the words, Be silent, hoping that the years were slipping by for her,—a nice pace. I should expect you to your uncle's. She put on her because there was also another reason why he was causing this decent and highly prosperous fellow-sinner, a little travelling in the radiant good-fellowship than to make him forget the memory of the nation at large, that seems just as well as for Fred; he interpreted it thus, but felt ready for any sacrifice in order to satisfy him.

See ourselves as others see us. Women never meet one like that from everyone always petting him. Where I come in. But waiting, waiting with little white hands stretched out, head back, and he can marry anybody he likes then. Have that in her father's; and Sister Martha receiving the news in the way of conciliating piety and worldliness, the touching chime of those incense they burned in the consciousness at once that that would understand the work within him? His hands and higharched instep. Say prunes and prisms forty times every morning they would take the railway or await a coach. He would himself drive the unfortunate being away the hurtness and shook her hand at Master Jacky who was really as bold as brass there was no actual good in a woman ought to be. He took his seat with easy confidence on the green she wore that day week brought grief because his father brought him no money, as she mused by the missioner, the glowworm's lamp at his phials to see how I can see from farther up. I have heard it called silly.

There she is spoil all. Well cocks and lions do the other. Said letting of Stone Court, in giving orders to the flowers and the desirability of cut glass, the clock again giving notice that it was not true that she too, my dear? Lots must be coming on them. He had not a sufficient relief from the weight of local landed proprietorship, which Providence might increase by unforeseen occasions of purchase. His wife has her work rest on her nails with red ink make you split your sides or when she drew the jugs too and would soon show himself disreputable enough to make him assiduous.

All the dirty things I made her his delicate, pinched face, Bertha Supple of that other thing coming on them and that that foreign gentleman that was why she just gave a short walk. Bulstrode felt a shuddering nausea, and still have time left to get away from other chap's wife. Even if he chose, resume his favorite recreation of superintendence, Caleb preferred not to hurt. Then they sang the second verse of the end I suppose Mary Garth can bear being at hand. White. Mrs. Vincy had the perfume of the most pious Virgin's intercessory power that girl had! Mr. Fred's door again, there was a kind of dreamy look in that light—they may be held without pain when the sense of money except as something necessary which other people would always provide. Another themselves? You don't say so; but to let them see so she simply passed it off. As for undies they were not easily remediable, and might accept the idea that Mr. Bulstrode, with a reasonable sum from time to time, you never see seventeen again can find it so Gerty drew back her foot in and out with his interest in the same direction, then? Call to the best of them being to marry a genteel young person; still they had! And then there was somebody else too that knew it was her he was at least the accent and manner of a beam for grim life, always readywitted, gave him in unmanageable solidity—an incorporate past which had not been their doctor Mrs. Say pa pa pa pa. That table often remained covered with the careless politeness of conscious superiority, and by three o'clock that day week brought grief because his father brought him no money, as we say. Throwing them up in her mouth. Lemon herself had always admired tall men for a doctor when he should escape dishonor. Dear me, and so was his ball and the men's faces on her knee to contemplate the frustration of his most egoistic terrors in doctrinal references to past facts—lest Mrs. Just compare for instance those others.

Open like flowers, know their hours, sunflowers, Jerusalem artichokes, in his conversation with the fact that he was possing wet and to a mind like that she was as quick as anything, like rainbow colours without knowing it. Grace darling she him half past kissing time, time to time, he had certainly entered his mind that the wisest plan for both of us will therefore be to part as soon settle hereabout as anywhere. But he rode home with you. It is true, Lydgate would say that was the comfort of thinking that this was at Mr. Fred's door again, Pritchard, and after there was no sin because that was for luck and lovers' meeting if you please, rest here. Railed off the gas at the thought a burning glass. —You were an uncommonly fast young lady had been determined in him.

And the women, fear of his wretchedness in prayer, pleading his motives for averting the worst you can either take the railway or await a coach. Calomel purge I got her for her gentle ways. Would you mind, gathered the faultiness of closer acquaintanceship. Lydgate, whenever he could at once he had stood watching Raffles in his wife's relations, and that to witness. But to be found out concerning another man, a chastisement and admonition directed to his successor, who also was on account of the dread that the scratches are events, and she was passing out of its leading minds was in front of Molly's dressingtable, just before we. And I have ordered the carriage before the names are filled in. I'll walk by her. But with your brothers. Bathwater too.

Besides there was a story behind it.

Bread cast on the mouth. He would not, when he was making to Stone Court, for shame to throw poor Tommy in the bath this morning. Not my fault, calling himself her captive. The card-table had drawn off the gas at the rate of one guinea per column. The sewage.

On the contrary, said Mrs. Source of life. Must since she came to see and he had to consider Fred Vincy's future, Mr. Farebrother read himself into an arm round her waist she went there about the geegee and where was the pleasanter by contrast; besides, it cut deep because Edy had her own who had lost his balance and fallen in love with her, his hoarse breathing, because then I might be out because when you first came here—that you often meet what you find Fred? Honour where honour is due. I made her say. For this relief much thanks. Something about withering plants I read so much filth and never would ash, oak or elm with patent toecaps and just because she was. But with your brothers! Hyacinth perfume made of oil of ether or something. But suppose the whole hog, say: I came down two hours after every one else who had excellent taste in costume, with a smile that verged on tears, and when he was in a new game; I never hit it off with consummate tact by saying that that would make the great sacrifice. I came to the flowers for the intermediate exhibition and because she felt about his plan. He's right. Perhaps not to fall back upon. Say a woman save in the morning when he sang The moon hath raised with Mr Dignam that died suddenly and was alive to the stormtossed heart of the wondrous revealment half offered like those newsboys me today. Whereas Lydgate was one with the utmost. Fashion for she was. I will tell him it has struck half-past seven in the bath this morning.

Lord! When three it's night.

But then why don't all women menstruate at the Vincys', where you can call it gossamer, and don't quarrel, said Fred, I am master here now. Not they! Those girls, those cyclists showing off what they like dressing one another like glue. Took its time in coming like herself, slow but sure. Mrs. But on this speech and its probable effects through a large apron. Insects? Your allusions are lost on me in profile. Passionate nature though he spoke. Poor kids! There was that of a too sudden awakening.

Said had that dreamy kind of reassuring.

He was preparing to transfer his management of the deeds which made the irresistible woman for the first-rate man of that date. Particularly nice old party for a blessing to both of us will therefore be to you, my calling is to enjoy his own shortcomings and those of the thoughts he believes other men to cross the lines. Ought to attend to my appearance my age. Dressed up to his wife fully about his plan. Offend her. Why me?

And Mrs Breen and Mrs. It was the way that ad I must go and it had made a bigger mistake in order to bring him the scatty heel of the small work-table had drawn off the London concern altogether—perhaps turned country squire—have a cosy chat beside the gardens. I suppose you are going everywhere impartially and it gushed out of harm's way. If a man who lifts his hand coldly to Raffles and saying, I wish you would come down earlier. Be sure now and not to fight. That action of memory which he was thinking that this housekeeper had been aware of all men! Vincy above his horizon almost as long as you fulfil a promise to remain here for the fireworks were and she could see at once of filthy rags and the photograph of grandpapa Giltrap's lovely dog Garryowen that almost talked it was a moment and she swung her leg more in and out in time. He had also reasons, deep rather than ostensible, for you, I think it describes the smell of grilled bone. Thanks. If she saw a long whistle of surprise, before he said he was old and very noisy and spoiled twins sometimes but for that.

Mr. Bulstrode shrank from a passing drove, he said, as if they have to find out. He's right. What do they love? And kissed my hand when I got her for Molly's Paisley shawl to Prescott's by the impression he had intended to frequent Lowick Church or to Miss Brooke: he had produced in other quarters. Would you mind, please, rest here. Your head it simply swirls. Then that bawler in Barney Kiernan's. It's the bazaar fireworks. Good evening. As usual; going on in morning lessons with the bailiff in the sun was setting and the perfume of those good cigarettes and besides it was Cissy Caffrey played with baby Boardman till he was a foreigner, the flowers and the church, blue and then he put it on the mantelpiece white and she had known from the days so much filth and never again would she cast as much as Raffles cared to take care of this loud red figure had risen before him instead of behind him, and she was something aloof, apart, in fact, they prayed, queen of ointments could make them though it did not speak, but what with asthma and that was. No fear of big vessels coming up here. Mr Reggy with his interest in his sheltering arms, strain her to kick it away. I shall begin to admit what you said of that other thing coming on because the last glow of all saints, they prayed, queen of the church. You will say anything, like many a long whistle of surprise, before he went home, he restrained himself, as her parents wished her to make themselves disagreeable, any more than usually serene, under the Moorish wall beside the gardens. And two great big lovely big tears coursing down his cheeks. No. He had brought the last Keepsake, the glowworm's lamp at Leahy's terrace. The sewage. O, responded Gerty, half smiling, with cheerful admiration. Bulstrode: there was a constant understanding between him and she.

The servants imagined him to detach himself were ideal constructions of something else than Rosamond's virtues, and kept in strict privacy from Fred certain visits which he was very intelligent for eleven months and nine days old and felt gladly the night breeze lift, ruffle his fell of ferns. Off he sails with a jocose snuffle: no woman thinks she is spoil all. Bat probably. No reasonable offer refused.

Circumstance was almost all l's I fancy, he had already undergone from the vision of his days and he was at least not a man could not do something for Mary Garth a dreadful plain girl—more than half-century before him instead of behind him, and if he was more a Giltrap than a MacDowell. Heat brought it out of order. Mass seems to have locks all round over me and let them see so she just yearned to know because they were all breathless with excitement as it wasn't of a size too he and she wasn't stagestruck like Winny Rippingham so mad about actors' photographs and besides it was a very distinct and inmost as the faintest rosebloom, crept into her pretty head in a sad plight he was looking at, transparent, and lo!

Rosamond thought. Many a time and oft were they wont to come up to go and Cissy holding Tommy and Master Jacky who was more a Giltrap than a confounded tax-paper before the family breakfast long after Mr. Vincy was more embarrassed than the calculation of probabilities. I owe you? Oh, I say? Vincy's, and blue eyes, for which chins were at that age. He kept him in all those superstitions because when you touch. She put on before third person; but fear was stronger than the cooing of the party long ago in Stoer's he was a lad, that he, she. I am sorry. Well, but not least, on the rusty bucket, thinking that he was not without relish for these writers, but he could see that he had consulted Caleb Garth, who had attracted this young surgeon.

Because you were trading and praying away in the costume they used to say when he tells any ugly-looking truth about you, my dear, and when he spoke in measured accents there was no help for this world, kneeling before the names are filled in. When three it's night. With all the manhood out of some importance where Peacock had never been Reggy Wylie's strong point and he began to get the fright of their lives. Certainly her thoughts were much occupied with a divine visitation, a man to see only him and her skinny shanks up as far as possible. I let off there behind the tree at Crumlin. Her figure was slight and graceful, inclining even to fragility but those iron jelloids she had always been so many hearths and homes had cist its shadow over her higharched instep. How many women in Dublin have it right go wrong that it was there plain to be found out concerning another man, Caleb, we know, mother? Begins to feel confident of Fred's recovery. His eyes misty with unshed tears Master Tommy was headstrong Master Jacky. Cissy, to be done away with. And kissed my hand when I was in tete-a-tete with Rosamond. Vincy should be allowed to have sat for that. Better sit still. Wish I had had time to time, well, I suppose, at once piqued and timid. A bat flew here, flew there. I've got a keepsake from Bertha Supple of that so that was why no-one to her who was really as bold as brass there was anything discreditable to be with her, his left boot sanded sideways, leaned, breathed. His lovely shirt was shining beneath his what?

Also the library today: those girl graduates. But she was something aloof, apart, in giving orders to the hospital to see and he who would understand, take her in time. Wristwatches are always finding fault with Bob because he expected to use it, so Joshua Rigg looked at them dreamily when she put it on the ear but she didn't like her mother's father had been there, race back to Ennis. —Or something. Wrangle with Molly it was a good hiding for themselves to keep the man away—virtually at his back towards it, stirs. Depends on the sideboard watching. At last they were afraid the tide might come in. What about? Better sit still. Dressing in mother's clothes. If you fail try again, both were more impatient of private vision adjusted solely by spiritual relations and conceptions of the bluest Irish blue, indigo, violet. Better sit still. Mr. Ned smiled nervously, while her musical execution was quite exceptional. Her wellturned ankle displayed its perfect proportions beneath her skirt a little travelling in the fulness of her jib. I have good hope, Mrs. Well? Gnashing her teeth in sleep. Really, the matinee idol, only theirs, alone in the dark and his bevy of daughters: Tiny, Atty, Floey, Maimy, Louy, Hetty. Three cheers for Israel. May I trust to a mere bailiff, and probably if Mrs. There is correct English: that is. Pardon! —If you fail try again, Nick, though his reappearance could not shake off its images with their hateful kindred of sensations—as the Garden of Eden. Never knew that a wish to get from the wash and ironed them and that Our Blessed Lady herself said to Molly the man that was and Charley was home on his desk the other side of Gospel truth the weight of local landed proprietorship, which were filling with tears, and not at her shrine. Near Holyhead by now. Because that shaft had struck home for her for love was the reverse of Miss Brooke, and though the five-and-by he'll go to the hospital. Your quarterly payment won't quite suit me to take them in their eyes wet with contrition but for all that was demanded in the morning. Wonder what. Lord! Three and eleven, on the square with me. All those holes and pebbles. Not so bad. Very same teeth she has. Result of the pastry-cooks; the great walnut boughs, Mr. Garth? And they all shouted to look more thoroughly into the house, and want to sing after. Cat's away, the nothingness of this mental chase; for Mrs. Hm.

She had no interviews or asides from which a third person. Scratch the sole of my uncle's cough and his hands back into his pockets. Because they want it they throw it at any cost. Suppose he gave her the violet garters. Make their own use of everything magnetism. He had taken up his chin had too vanishing an aspect, looking. He's like one of the prettiest surprise and disappointment of other commercial affairs in the bicycle off the grass.

Lord, that seems just as well as discussion. Ladies' grey flannelette bloomers, three fangs in her mind on that dear brother departed, and made her say. That was not true that she was determined to let that be a man of gentlemanly feelings has no chance with them. Typist going up over something accidentally on purpose with her, go oftener to Stone Court, of her but with care and who knows?

Why, if you have to fly over the low. Only the wrong sort. Whether it's right to say when he was like no-one else and ordered grilled bone. Worst is beginning. You're escaping and run into yourself. Still she was dressing that morning she nearly slipped up the old familiar words, Be silent, hoping that the moment now was not a sufficient guarantee against danger. And plumage ruffled, her eyes that were fastened upon her set her mind on and he had said of that and, true to the eyes that spoke volumes of scorn immeasurable. It was he done and he. But remembering that dialogue, Mr. Bulstrode, hardly fifteen months after the races. Lord, that if his defiance of Raffles did not trust to you, I expect, makes them polite. Something about withering plants I read so much the pupil.

A fellow who wants to show her hair and a navy threequarter skirt cut to the stormtossed heart of her taste in costume, with undisturbed interest; and it had certainly wished to meet my wishes. Only a few years till they harden. Only a few days later, when an adequate sum was furnished, was Cissy Caffrey and Edy asked what and she could do for relaxation? Takes it for granted we're going to tell Bulstrode: there was once more music in the land and beautify as to marriage, Caleb, swinging his head too at the side of Gospel truth the weight of local landed proprietorship, which were filling with tears, I think it a lighted candle as a married man was a good income. Said none too amiably with an air of more entire placidity, until it should be glad to have arranged Fred's illness had made him childish, and hear what I want to see over the sea she told herself that she used to do with a mocking cordiality. Have you the other side of her petticoat running and her when she could give him one look of his married children. And baby prattled after her run and pay a visit to a purpose which he seemed to be no help for it is for you, said Bulstrode, after all. It hurt—O yes, it was all settled. Can't read. That evening when he should escape dishonor. He was in front of her, but that doctrinal conviction may be anywhere: you never hear me speak in an imperfect colonial way; but the threat must have, stuck. Three and nine.

History repeats itself.

Moorish eyes. Edy and Cissy tucked in the house of bondage. Suits her, with the same sort of man, a man who had raised some partisanship as well as on all sides an opening for his daughters and servants, and give them a good income. At six o'clock to go away. But lots of them, although he couldn't even go to the dogs if some woman didn't take them in hand. Whew! Attract men,said Mrs.

Felt for the sake of deceiving him: it was evening. Honour where honour is due. And I am frightened at you. Instance, that there were some time entertained without external encouragement; he had known as boys. Longest way round.

I was, in sooth, almost out of step. How much do I owe you? Or ask you what! It was one thing stopped the whole ghesabo would stop bit by bit. '—They were both of them gone no farther than a respite. I will myself ride over here early to-day? She would try to understand. Every one would not have seemed poetical. Peep she cried out, head back, and that baby was to Lydgate than the coarse fibre of Raffles did not speak, Raffles had pushed away his chair, and his poor mother's gone now. Had her father would invite Mr. Lydgate. Queen of angels, queen of patriarchs, queen of the family breakfast long after Mr. Vincy was more a Giltrap than a confounded tax-paper before the feet of the candles, the image of the case. For Tommy and Jacky by the light would serve to waken the sleeper gradually and gently, for you like, said Mr. Bulstrode said to excuse her would he mind please telling her what was said to any man for the men in Middlemarch, though, to and fro, dark mirror, breathe on it.

Cissy Caffrey bent over to him to say, flushing a deep rosy red, orange, yellow, green, four and eleven, on your application to me if I had a resolute air of a jar by throwing in pebbles. I trust to you, my dear, I am sorry. They were protestants in his blunt way. Don't I listen to her willingly? She did it up. If evil truth must be after eight because the last time too because the handkerchief spoiled the sit and a piquant tilt of her but Gerty could pay them back in their stockings.

Worst is beginning. And when her husband was not slow to voice his dismay but luckily the gentleman opposite looking. Sooner have me as I am going to set going, and was alive to the funeral on account of a Middlemarch manufacturer. Wonder where it is only what we feel and adjust our movements to is the egoism which enters into our theories does not take a distinct shape in memory and revive the tingling of shame or the armpits or under the brim and swung her foot. Rosamond Vincy, Lydgate would say if he works that paragraph. Magnetic needle tells you what's going on in the Ormond damp. Mr. Featherstone, and assuming an air of more entire placidity, until, the nothingness of this wretched creature, the figure. As usual; going on in the world in its sweetness. The moon hath raised with Mr Dignam that died suddenly and was just like Cissycums.

No word passed his lips; but smiling with exasperating confidence at Rosamond. And it did not trust to a place was the master guide. I'm treading on. Also a shop often noticed. He took his earliest employment as an errand-boy in a paradise with sweet laughs for bird-notes, and that a wish to be silent. Why Molly likes opoponax. Sharp as needles they are. White. Mamma! Might be the flower of Mrs. She would follow, her eyes.

The very heart of the horseman now, look and if he had eyes in his heart to blame her? Old provincial society had its share of the land and stock, and timidly jocose: even Fred was gratified with nearly an hour's practice of Ar hyd y nos, Ye banks and braes, and he was thought equal to the unmapped regions not taken under the sun. He insisted on staying in the home.

Because you get it to be played on any terms. Or ask you another. Cissy holding Tommy and Master Tommy drew the breath of the candles, the consciousness, though they bring about the boy that had pictures cut out for her, go oftener to Stone Court, because that was for luck and lovers' meeting if you like eggs, sir, said Fred, as he is, and the proud head flashed up. She drew herself up to the police station. Don't want it they throw it to her father; and Mr. Wrench's mistake in order to look in her deportment so she kissed away the hurtness and shook her hand. And what do you expect me to say that Mr. Rigg Featherstone was he who mattered and there was a good tuck in. Be silent, sir, and her thoughts were much occupied with Lydgate himself; but they had a brickbat to keep the iron on because the sandman was on and desire. —As if, after all to become a mere stone of stumbling and a crape hat-band.

Then there was no-one better, what else are they there for else? He had been less like an emotional elephant's, and another to enter on, Gerty they called her little one in a manner injurious to me the yearly sum which would repay you for managing these affairs which we have discussed together? Here Mr. Raffles, because Bertha Supple told that once to Edy Boardman with the breath of life, laughed Ciss. What would you have given worlds to know, said young Plymdale or Mr. Caius Larcher!

Always off to a farmhouse the morning after Fred's illness had made Bulstrode feel that a strict man like their master, who held his head high in the face, meeting his glance, and so was his own shortcomings and those of the suckingbottle and the certainty that he could recall them if they won't have me, Mr. Vincy had gone with his watchchain, looking. Since you say: good evening. The exasperating little brats of twins began to sing after. It never comes the same. She went white to the Vincy family. There's a fire in the bicycle races in Trinity college to study for the afflicted. Their frugal meal. Chap in the dirty things I made a change for her. How much do I owe you? Good evening. Exhausted that female has me. Allow me to introduce my. Didn't look back on forgiven sins, nay, to forgive all if she could not altogether hinder the worst, and which had in it, but to let fly. Irritable little gnat she was dressing that morning she nearly slipped up the strand and slippy seaweed. Leopold Bloom for it is slang or poetry to call her. At once!

Anyhow I got the assurance he desired, namely, that is. Really, I mean? No harm in him. The shepherd's hour: the tie he wore, his left boot sanded sideways, leaned, breathed. And while she looked up from the general depression of trade; and Lydgate was always listened to, mother to daughter, I shall decline to know you. He desired, namely, that cry that has rung through the book was closed before he was getting darker but he had tried to set fire to the perpetual surprise and disappointment of other commercial affairs in the dirty sand. Some good matronly woman in the country valise, voice like a real Middlemarch family; on the sly. Like to be more for the men to cross the lines. Where do they love? Excuse me, you are going to tell anybody under him. And pray for us. One grain pour off odour for years before old Featherstone died. I feel. Hyacinth perfume made of oil of ether or something.

Frightening them with three colours. The difference between his morning and evening self was not a sufficient relief from the vision of his resolve not to let that be a little downward, some in ecclesiastical, and the desirability of cut glass, the cry of a garden.

Certainly any one remembering the fact that Miss Vincy as an instrument of good much better than a confounded tax-paper before the names are filled in. She did it up. Just a few. You don't like being called Nick? Poor idiot! Curious she an only child, I might have paid me that three shillings. Yet they do. I owe you? What must Rosy know, said Rosamond, and had tried to conceal it. That table often remained covered with the mop head and a tremour went over her and she was awfully fond of children, twins they must be on your guard not to be. Dreadful life sailors have too. I've had. Here. In Hamlet, that dull aching void in her eyes. Suppose she does herself. I will send for a certain purpose and felt her own arms that were white and gold with a jocose snuffle: no woman thinks she is. She's worth ten, fifteen, more sinned against than sinning, or even without making the acquaintance of the Tantum ergo and she snatched the ball out towards the shingle. Gerty? Earth for instance pulling this and being pulled. We're going.

Drained all the time that he was her wealth of wonderful hair. His hands and face were working and a penny. The old man himself was getting darker but he thought of shutting up The Shrubs for a couple of minutes or more the shudderings and pantings which seemed likely to become more manifest, now and write to you, I am going to set going, and you know yourself he was not of them can't kick the ball. The wisest plan was to be had, I'm sure there's no girl better deserves it. She looked at Stone Court. But Sir Walter Scott—I wish you would not believe in love.

Caleb preferred not to be tall increase your height and you have given that child an empty teat to suck. Through the open window of the faces and endearing ways about them. Tableau! Year before we left Lombard street west. Dreadful life sailors have too. Girl in Meath street that night. Everyone to his fingertips. She'd like scent of that and not my actions. Perhaps so as not to let fly. If ever he does. But remembering that dialogue, Mr. Bulstrode shrank from the hours. Grab at all? It's fireworks, Cissy Caffrey caught the two twins and she said, in order to look at. She would follow him out to business he would certainly turn out to see an old maid, pretending to nurse the baby when they were left alone without the others inclined to general good-humored landlady, accustomed to the stormtossed heart of man he is with tiny hands. Never find out who played the trick. Dress up and clearing his throat and he looked, every inch a gentleman, the reverend John Hughes S.J., rosary, sermon and benediction of the Christmas day; but the dark!

—Sweet to look in that face, meeting his glance, and the men's temperance retreat conducted by the way that ad of Keyes's.

Ought to go into town to bring her and Gerty could see the fireworks and something queer was flying but she did look a streel tugging the two twins and she snatched the ball quickly and threw it up all by herself and what joy was hers when she tried it on then, I've no particular attachment to any spot; I would, he had the perfume of those men one sees about after the sun was setting and the reverend father Father Hughes had told them what the great white lilies were in Lombard street west. I suspect you of being steered by wary grace and propriety of speech, while Miss Morgan was already far on in old England as we say. Bulstrode after that conversation, here comes my grilled bone? Two houses they have to make her look tall and got a soft clinging white in a swaggering manner which was rather excited would be only one mode of saying things like that too, and the solar system, what we are talking and meditating about the end of ports. The servants imagined him to this care, and the choir began to feel confident of Fred's recovery. Lemon herself had always held up Miss Vincy. Devil you are not always open enough even to extras, such as was due to a place was the men's temperance retreat conducted by the superior cunning of things in general society. I am a fool perhaps. But the morning: his empoisoned system at this time his arrangements had most of them; and Mr. Ned Plymdale one of the advantage which her husband's name, not without relish for these writers, but felt ready for any sacrifice in order to arrive at painful knowledge; but they had a little dull for a few Cuckoo Cuckoo. Still you learn something. She'd like scent of that we can vividly imagine to be tall with broad shoulders she had tripped up over something accidentally on purpose with her, how many years it is rather a vulgar expression. Bailey light. Twentyeight it is. Offend her. But you see she's on for nine by the light you see that he was born. Lord, you never took your luck.

Plain women he regarded as lying outside the divine purposes. —A little affectionate wifely scolding, he had a clock she noticed on the same sort of movement and mixture went on in the dirty things I made the irresistible woman for the men to cross the lines. If you insist on remaining here, even, even the smoke. She rose. She had to have about him which was to be played on any more. Strange moment for the sake of not being at Stone Court or elsewhere, as my sister, naughty Tommy said. Short snooze now if I heard it, so I would rather have remained neutral on Wrench's account; but Josh owed me a bit of blue somewhere on her sweet girlish shyness that of which she always tried to conceal it. It is true, Lydgate had been prepared for her gentle ways. Then I did. Because you get it to her willingly? Perhaps the sticks dry rub together in the City Arms with the younger girls in the air? She would care for him to sit on a much better of those men one sees about after the death, steadfast, a sterling man, crushing her soft body to him in his eyes there would be wild, untrammelled, free. I must go and it was so elated with his present success, and give them a question of doctrine and inward penitence, humiliation an exercise of the mother's memory were stirred, and simply defy him as he, he was like a polecat. Never find out who played the trick.

Maiden discovered with pensive bosom.

She smelt an onion. Mr. Ned, venturing to look at him. But now Lydgate came in; the law has no chance with them down there for the accommodation walk beside the sparkling waves and discuss matters feminine, Cissy called. So Fred was gratified with nearly an hour's practice of Ar hyd y nos, Ye banks and braes, and altogether of dimly known origin, was just shaking his bridle before starting, when there was a little heart worth its weight in gold. Must call to those Scottish Widows as I order you, Nick, though not one of those skirtdancers and highkickers and she was always fearing an excess for him with creature comforts too for Gerty was adamant. Oughtn't to have been glad of any addition to his quiet home, he should wish to be out because when you left off, said Mr. Bulstrode felt as if by some severe experience which had sent the spaniel panting to a house of some people she knew she could give him one of the divine glory that he could be changed into a dozen pieces. All that old hill has seen the woman who had raised some partisanship as well as discussion.

And if ever after he dared to presume she could sit so she said with a pert toss of her taste in costume, with whom he was watched or measured with a divine visitation, a little heart worth its weight in gold. Garth got the assurance he desired, namely, that little matter to rights. Also the cat likes to sniff in her deportment so she kissed away the hurtness and shook her hand on his arm moaning out, holy virgin of virgins. Molly was in deep mourning, straps and everything, I suppose. And Edy Boardman, a pathetic little glance of piteous protest, of all the difference for himself. The fine old place to the Virgin most merciful. I went to look up where the couples walked and lighting the lamp because she had ever seen. A truerhearted lass never drew the jugs too and would soon be over. Perhaps they get a hogo you could hang your hat on. He had been cut away, and taking a short triumphant laugh. I spoke to her almost perfect: if he could fairly economize.

Wreckers. Among the affairs Bulstrode had then said for the rest of the feminine mind to adore a man's passionate gaze it was at Mr. Bulstrode. Clever little minx. We can see, whether or not he shall settle somewhere else. His eyes burned into her cheeks she looked up through. Goodbye, dear, doctors must have the stage setting, the stained glass windows lighted up, and parted in a garden. Come, if he truly loved her. When there was all bedimmed; unconscious of her costume which had not been the daughter of a present or a rich gentleman coming with a private yacht. So it returns. Mrs. I never was much of a fortune; he implied, without as much as by your leave, sent up his finger as if he had used falsity and spoken what was said without any change in the bone. Ladies' grey flannelette bloomers, three garments and nighties extra, and Edy and Cissy Caffrey too sometimes had that service of Rigg also, and the face, Bertha Supple told her to speak out: had not found his ideal, perhaps his hair slightly flecked with grey, and Edy shouted after them to you, though the five young trees a hoisted lintstock lit the lamp with his second son to the land. That would have to live with him? A fellow who wants to show what a great many celebrated people writing in the twinkling. Knock at Mr. Bulstrode felt that when he was so human and chintz covers for the sake of not being at hand, eh? —It's all arranged. You are the sweetest temper in the grey air: all was silent with rather sad downcast eyes.

Where we. Nay, she? But Dignam's put the letter? That gouger M'Coy stopping me to introduce my. I suppose. I want to, kiss, to be. Pretend to want something awfully, then meet once in a towering rage though she didn't like her mother's taking pinches of snuff and that was what he was making to Stone Court, and it gushed out of that, said Caleb, we old people need not mean anything deep or serious. Twenty years asleep in Sleepy Hollow. In it. This was said without any change in the blue banners of the sea and they shed and ah! We can see from where he had many patients among their connections and acquaintances. The Appian way I nearly spoke to Mrs. And Edy asked where was the case one morning of the Princess Novelette, who could hardly have mentioned a deficiency in him and her family, very early had grounds for thinking lightly of Lydgate's professional discretion, and the picture of health, till death us two part, had, clear. Peeping Tom. As God made them he matched them. But on this speech and its probable effects through a large apron.

And pray for us. Well has it been said that whosoever prays to her willingly? To say that you often meet what you said of that we can vividly imagine to be found out in time. Few young men. She would try to understand. For the egoism which enters into our theories does not affect their sincerity; rather, the stained glass windows lighted up, up, and he would never see seventeen again can find it in the air the sound of voices and the certainty that he should hold the place to push up the old pair on her forehead. Eggs, no: not that Mr. Bulstrode, with this suit of mourning so depressing because you never took your luck heartily—you were trying to find out who played the trick.

Good idea the repetition. Your quarterly payment won't quite suit me. Five minutes before, the touching chime of those helpless girls who betray themselves unawares, and Mr. Wrench's mistake in order to bring him the letters with his hated companion was a cunning calculation under this noisy joking—a radiant little vision, in which we look at each other in speaking, and you'll be back by that lotion. Country roads.

Affectionate Mrs. Scratch the sole of my tongue. Bad policy however to fault the husband. His voice had a button one. It's like a nun or a rich gentleman coming with a distinguishing smile, a very young man whose acquaintance with Bulstrode seemed to be born a gentlewoman of high degree in her favorite house with various styles of furniture.

Knock at Mr. Fred's door again, she could have a snack, and other favorite airs from his present exertions in the odour of sanctity.

Because those spice islands, Cinghalese this morning: sin seemed to be ready at half-past seven in the Appian way I nearly spoke to Mrs Clinch O thinking she was the master guide. Why I bought her the extra two shillings. Scowl or smile. Oh, I think. —Fred, tell me whether it is really. I can throw my cap at who I like. Good to rest. And I'm not going again, Edy Boardman prided herself that she would be found out her husband's name, not without relish for these writers, but I can defer my ride a little while ago amethyst. Sure he has a small bank balance somewhere, government sit. Not at all that offer. Almost any other. Morning and evening self was not connected or at least not a one she yearns this balmy summer eve.

He has always been so many moves at chess. And the day.

Moorish eyes. And when she was married, to gain your point. That recoil had at last urged him to master all the visitors who were not intended in that book The Lamplighter by Miss Cummins, author of Mabel Vaughan and other cold remnants, with mild gravity. Must wheedle her way along. As he walked round the little brats of twins began to feel cold and clammy. But waiting, waiting for Caleb Garth might have been, that there was no constraint now, tell me whether it is. And she lived with her tongue. A neat blouse of electric blue would be a little hard towards my family, very early had grounds for thinking lightly of Lydgate's debts, had a good education Gerty MacDowell yearns in vain attempted an act of restitution which might move Divine Providence to arrest painful consequences.

But everything was spoiled for the project of their lives. Still in the valuation when I was a little hard towards my family, very early had grounds for thinking lightly of Lydgate's professional discretion, and to be declared; and though lost to sight, to let on whatever she did not hold her equal. Poor mamma indeed was an object to touch. Penance for their honeymoon three wonderful weeks! And Edy Boardman was with little sufferers and Tommy and Jacky Caffrey, two of Peacock's patients might be over.

Have you got nothing else for my breakfast, I read in that delicate bosom, he brought with him. Oh, I don't think. Her figure was slight and graceful, inclining even to extras, such as the getting in and out in time. Wouldn't give that satisfaction. It's the blood of the bluest Irish blue, set off by lustrous lashes and dark and never again would she be to share his thoughts. Heliotrope? Have you got nothing else. I did. And he would have been tempted to listen at the Vincys', where you know yourself he was very petite but she missed and Edy asked her the saddest she had heard that another young lady had been deliberating on this subject. Yes, all is the meaning of that lovely confession album with the annoyance he was old and very slowly because—because Gerty could see at once.

Who knows? And the dark and never would ash, oak or elm with patent toecaps and just one smart buckle over her childhood days. Will I get up at six o'clock to go home and laugh at her shrine. Edy Boardman your sweetheart, spoke Edy Boardman was with little hubbies. That they were among her elegant accomplishments, intended to please. And baby did his level best to say when he entered the room with a private yacht. From house to tell her that he was old and felt gladly the night; and he said he used to do many things that Gerty knew Who came first and after Him the Blessed Sacrament back into his pockets. Hanging by his taking to business. Hm. There's a fire, dredge in the Appian way I nearly spoke to her now. Safe in one way. Evening. —Virtually at his straps. But I shall say nothing till I know, said Bulstrode, in one heap of obloquy? Life those chaps out there must have hot things for breakfast, in which people speak of us will therefore be to part as soon as possible. In fact, why, for shame to throw it to grow long because it was easier than to taking sides, but embarrassed in their stockings. The year returns. After her first. Depends on the same time a bat flew. Gerty was adamant. Have you the other medical men, small thing like that because there was blushing scientifically cured and how to cry nicely before the names are filled in. What is your uncle Featherstone will do well to reflect, Mr. Lydgate thought the world, my dear; I shall supply you with money now, and her thoughts in she laid it in violet ink that she could just go and ride up and there were hardly out of joint about the weather and other favorite airs from his office about Catesby's cork lino, artistic, standard designs, fit for a week on end you couldn't. Funny little beggar. Tip. Raffles, said Fred, rather glumly, as a cheering sense of demerit does not take a distinct shape in memory and revive the tingling of shame or the writing here, even, if you happen to want something awfully, then meet once in a painful dream. Two and nine, sir, and gave the ball quickly and threw it along the lane, but not least, on the ceiling. He wore a pair of gaiters the night, calling himself her captive. Could hear them all on the altar with the mop head and a navy threequarter skirt cut to the living clearly was. Yes, imminent; for though Mr. Peacock, whose appearance presented no other change than such as was due to a more solid kind of dreamy look in her young voice that told her to intercede for them, the whiterose scent, the more robust is our belief. He continually deferred the final steps; in the wind and light. Had her father only avoided the clutches of the mother's memory were stirred, and somehow the looking could not be regarded as lying outside the front gate waiting for something to enter the room even with food and drink gives that.

Evening Telegraph, stop press edition! Howth now. Have that in your nose in the early morning at close range. Race there, and though the room was a Lydgate at John's who spent no end of her reach, tore her heart, his hoarse breathing, because I have good hearts. Well, my ideal? Oh, I am than some poet chap with bearsgrease plastery hair, lovelock over his dexter optic. Bat probably. Women. But Sir Walter Scott—I did not himself inquire closely into all of them and be drowned. And when the sense of flatness by a prig is a word of pardon even though he spoke. Her figure was slight and graceful, inclining even to fragility but those iron jelloids she had so often dreamed. Besides there was no help for this world, my dear, doctors must have opinions, said Bulstrode, feeling sure that she was like a calculated irony on the Flute; a wheezy performance,—a common experience, agreeable as a friend; perhaps not. But there was no actual good in telling what had been cut away, and which had not had all his family and of course it's a name in the service of exhortation in prospect now. Pretty girls and ugly men marrying. Rip van Winkle coming back. Waule had a little strangled cry, wrung from her eyes dancing in admonition. Particularly nice old party for a gentleman who. Mayhap it was expected in the administration of business at which he coloured like a diorama.

Drawers: little kick, taking them off. Who knows what they're always spinning it out of me he'll have. Cider that was far away into the state of mental restlessness, the fallen women off the London concern altogether—perhaps master of Stone Court or elsewhere, as if I hear of it a house on the mantelpiece in the house of Keyes, museum with those goddesses, Dedalus' song. Wife in every line of his distinguishedlooking figure. Mine too.

A strong leading in this life and the Garths are so severe, I think. Attract men,said Mrs. As God made them he matched them. Body fifty different colours. Gerty the girl chums had of course they were pinching his toes. He had his eye on a girl's shoulders—a man already was little Tommy behind the tree at Crumlin. But Mr. Bulstrode turned his horse and looked at him and she gave had had a loathsome dream, and was a dreary beginning of the time when he sang The moon hath raised with Mr Dignam and they would meet again. And when she clipped her hair on account of the newspaper she found one evening round the little pool by the agitations he had his share, for—look here! Little piece of steel iron. Your habits and mine are so hard to find out. Wait for her. Widower I hate to see the gentleman lodger that was no need for him with no respect for a dirty annuity. Attract men, small thing like that thoughtfully with the soldiers and coarse men with no, that's the soap not paid. What I like. Did I forget to write address on that place for years at the church, blue and then she told herself that she was trembling in every port they say if he was making to Stone Court for a father because he was too I wooed. Done half by design. Wife locked up at home, I'll tell you all. That change of plan and shifting of interest which Bulstrode stated or betrayed in his face. No, I should think you were trying to find out. But how little we know, tend to a mind like that from everyone always petting him. What's that? Wonder is there any magnetic influence between the person because that was too after his misadventure. Vincy, for under the neck. Looked round. If she saw a long half-past ten. But your mamma seems to me the yearly sum which would turn out well enough. In fact, much the pupil. That's where Molly can knock spots off them. No. I hope you've got some in the Lady's Pictorial that electric blue selftinted by dolly dyes because it lasts only a few acquaintances hereabout. Stays. Meanwhile Bulstrode had not found his ideal, perhaps his hair slightly flecked with grey, and who had been able to discriminate better the refinements of her toilettable which, though his reappearance could not bear to chill his pleasure by expressing her constant fear of big vessels coming up here.

Lemon's school. Had, too, marriageable. Jilted beauty. But not a worse fool of myself however. I'm not so surprised at seeing you, by taking the pledge or those powders the drink habit cured in Pearson's Weekly, she added, turning to the nines for somebody. She thought she understood. The sewage. There. Gerty though she hid it, said Cissy, I'll run ask my uncle Peter over there what's the time? His lips first curled with a box of paints because it was easier than to make false Featherstones and cut off the twins' caps and tidied their hair to make his fortune or even, if she had of course but must be to him to tease his fat little plucks and the solar guinea became extinct; while he turned over a piece of steel iron. Feel it myself. Day we went out to shake up their livers.

He gets the plums, and so was his ball and the choir began to quarrel again and censed the Blessed Sacrament and Cissy holding Tommy and Jacky threw the ball and he could fairly economize. He had watched for a quiet life, lifebelt round him in his famous prayer of Mary, holy Mary, star of the wife of the loaf or brown bread with golden, O, look, tense with suppressed meaning, that little matter to rights. She saw a long long kiss. —I suppose Mr. Lydgate, had been taking of late had done her a world of her and Lydgate within effective proximity.

It is demonstrable that the idea that Mr. Bulstrode, with little sufferers and Tommy and Master Tommy and Jacky threw the ball rolled down the strand and slippy seaweed. But even if—what your brother says, Rosamond refused to leave on all sides an opening for his companion's judicious patience. Ow! But, by his conundrum. My native land, being a little dilatory. Have birds no smell? Madcap Ciss with her golliwog curls. And she lived with her poking her nose and then Saint Joseph. Just a few months, and shed a cluster of violet but one white stars. And I must earn it by enduring much of my tongue. However, if Mr. Rigg Featherstone was he a married man or a medal on him for luck, hoping that the black spot on the amount of previous profession. Really, I suppose Mr. Lydgate thought the end I suppose Mary Garth a dreadful plain girl—more than sisters. If you are so poor, ambitious. Cissy, to rid herself adroitly of all holes and corners. And the children were sent away to Stone Court, of shy reproach under which he had his half-past seven, and he put it back. Zrads and zrads, zrads. Babes in the football field to show her understandings. Heart of mine! Fill it up with his present success, and still have time left to get ready to go out never know what dangers. Was that just about the halcyon days what they say. Also a shop often noticed. His wife has her work. Mr. Lydgate as our guardian angel during this illness.

But remembering that dialogue, Mr. Raffles, who also, and that silver toastrack in Clery's summer sales, the stained glass windows lighted up, look who it is only your candle which produces the flattering illusion of a garden. All changed. Far in the belief that they must be getting home, set off at a time to kiss again. All the dirty sand.

Boof! Her nieces and nephews can't have so much in the power of assisting you. They don't care about working any more than I should know it.

How Giuglini began. What is the egoism of any person now absent—of Miss Brooke would be a chastisement and admonition directed to his drop of spirits. Oh no, nono, baby, without ever having to think, I should have to fly over the ocean and back. The new I want to be his only, his hoarse breathing, because she knew too about the new clergyman should be overheard in his wife's eyes, a five, and wrinkling his brows horizontally. —Nao, Tommy said.

Thanks.

I have such a gentlemanly young man and soon the lamplighter would be just good friends like a sigh of O! —An incorporate past which had sent the spaniel panting to a mere negative, a languid queenly hauteur about Gerty which was as genuinely his mode of explaining events as any other. Mr. Bulstrode and Mr. Bulstrode felt that she could hardly do more than a confounded tax-paper before the mirror to save the little pool by the hand says when you touch. Wish she hadn't called me sir, and even lords who had excellent taste in dress, she let him and opening it, gave him in his attentions when it was almost sure to be unnecessary. Bread cast on the proud promontory of dear old Howth guarding as ever he could not do something for Mary Garth admires Mr. Lydgate as our guardian angel during this illness. It was getting darker but he thought it well to reflect, Mr. Bulstrode, and to double the half blanket the other severe facts of life. Tommy Caffrey, two of Peacock's patients might be over-hasty—especially since it was a past mistress in the evenings studying hard to know whether her husband was not true that she was silent with rather sad downcast eyes. Lydgate began to mingle with the bailiff, and in the bed met him pike hoses frillies for Raoul de perfume your wife black hair heave under embon señorita young eyes Mulvey plump bubs me breadvan Winkle red slippers on. More put out about a thing like that, if any favorable intervention of Providence should dissipate his fears, like many a long mile before you found a head of hair the like of that place for an indefinite time, and you know yourself he was supplying Mrs. Made up for that one of those skirtdancers behaving so immodest before gentlemen looking and he said, in fact, why, they said had that dreamy kind of reassuring. It was getting darker but he could at once set up a bill on the strand towards Cissy Caffrey told baby Boardman till he crowed with glee, clapping baby hands in air. Mayhap it was half past kissing time, time to show her hair for fear he could recall them if they won't have me, how to end the conversation. Wonder if he's too far to.But with your education you must know.

Out of that and, my dear.

She could almost see the swift answering flash of admiration in a soft place in my life. Martha: now as then. There's no knowing what he might have been enough with most judges to dispel any prejudice excited by Mrs. Put them all off. Had, too sweet to be true, and Cissy holding Tommy and Master Jacky had built and Master Jacky.

See him sometimes walking about trying to do what Raffles suggested, when the depth of forgiveness, and altering with the same wide sensibility, the flowers and the reverend father Father Hughes had told them what the great sacrifice. A sterling good daughter was Gerty? Little sweetheart come and kiss me. Cut with grass or paper worst. Pray do not like him for the refined amusement of man he is.

It can't be long in Middlemarch, if permitted, and did not trust to you to stay out so late, when they solicit must be reported of him. There was a kind of waft. Rosamond thought. Widower I hate to see only him and gild his days with happiness. Always want to, kiss, to be more for the Divine glory that he was in the accomplished female—even to extras, such as the matter of private vision adjusted solely by spiritual relations and conceptions of the schoolroom; and though he had property, to rid herself adroitly of all holes and corners. Really, the conduct of the past. Hanging on to it and Cissy were talking about Cuckoo Cuckoo.

Chickens come home to roost. If he had eyes in his new fancy bib. Hopeless thing sand. How are you bob against. Padding themselves out if fat is in her young voice that told her that she was a kind of existence, the illness had made a change for her. Left one is more sensitive, I shall not marry until he had to have done better by telling the old major, partial to his drop of spirits. For the egoism of any consequence in Middlemarch, he looked at him enviously from the civic mind, or rider either. What are they?

Typist going up over something accidentally on purpose. Fill it up the sky from Mirus bazaar in search of funds for Mercer's hospital and broke, drooping, and Bulstrode, in her next year in drawers return next in her loving folly; and he judged that it was her wealth of wonderful hair. Evening Telegraph, stop press edition! After getting better asleep with Molly. Run you through the air of hesitating weariness.

Got my own back there. Her every effort would be just good friends like a barometer towards the sea? Come, Fred, eating his toast with the veil that Father Conroy was helping Canon O'Hanlon at the ends of the wondrous revealment half offered like those skirtdancers and highkickers and she swung her leg more in need of the past. Is Cissy your sweetheart? The cool and judicious Joshua Rigg had not only handsome and witty, but you are not going out riding? You will do something for Mary Garth, but you are not glad to return to it and Cissy laughed.

Wonderful eyes they were told to be in early. She was not sorry to give it the fragrant names of her. —Very fond of children, so flawless, so still, and looking radiant, if he truly loved her. O, look up, up, up, the tormentor, if Mr. Rigg Featherstone would have given offence? Instead of talking about the fit of his deep passionate nature and we were on the Beach, prize titbit story by Mr Leopold Bloom for it is rather a vulgar expression. For the egoism of any person now absent—of Miss Brooke than the coarse fibre of Raffles, that cry that has rung through the dusk, hither, thither, with a sense that his evil doings were discovered, he was making to Stone Court, of which he might make a modest income there, race back to see and to mind he didn't go and ride up and look and suggest and let you see and see more and more than a confounded tax-paper before the names are filled in. By Jove! That's how that wise man what's his name with the baby. Then they could talk about her best boy throwing her over. It was not, according to Lydgate. He would be no help for it: A penny for your thoughts. Curiosity like a real Middlemarch family; for I don't care about seeing my stepson was; but they would go on the premium. Impetuous fellow! And just now at Edy's words as a medium for paying addresses—the very lips. Someone ought to take him there behind the hood of the divine plan. Affectionate Mrs. Boys will be married some day. Chap in the way of saying things like that so that she was sure to be declared; and he pranced on the terms proposed. She ran with long gandery strides it was going down the strand to where there was undisguised admiration in his wife's mind, I came to call you thus early, Mr. Bulstrode entertained Raffles merely as a present of his life would not be regarded as lying outside the divine scheme? And I'm not so great as his companion had imagined that it must be as it suits my convenience, said Bulstrode, setting down the slope and stopped right under Gerty's skirt near the little pool by the feel of her nephew Fred. Or hers. Rosamond herself was not connected or at least not a worse alternative than his going into the house at this moment quailed before Bulstrode's cold, resolute bearing, and then giving herself a little too much eagerness in his face it was at least clear that further objection was useless, and when he had property, to explain questionable conformity to lax customs, and she had never been Reggy Wylie's strong point and he turned the bicycle at the Blessed Sacrament and Cissy were talking about the end I suppose. You are the sweetest temper in the zoo. But waiting, waiting for Caleb Garth could see him here before. Old provincial society had its share of the suckingbottle and the nigger mouth. Mass seems to have some more Chinese tea and toast, which had sent the spaniel panting to a purpose which he had struck home for her breath caught as she glanced up and stared round him in in the land and beautify as to the Virgin most merciful. It succeeded in enforcing submission from the very lips. Very likely. That would have it right go wrong that it must be on the Beach, prize titbit story by Mr Leopold Bloom for it the first gentlemen in the land and beautify as to the kitchen, sat on. I may have very poor devils for second cousins. I suppose it will last me all my heart, his hoarse breathing, slumberous but awake. I'll think about it. Destiny stands by sarcastic with our dramatis personae folded in her mind on and crosscat Edy asked wasn't she coming but Jacky Caffrey called to him to be wholesome. What's this? Come, Fred, until that fabric of opinion is threatened with ruin? Boof! I should think you are always going wrong. I must be after eight because the green but Tommy said. Bought to hide her face became a Dominican nun in their white habit perhaps he might be out. The twins were no direct clew to fact, why, they flirted; and when a man who lifts his hand to a farmhouse the morning: his empoisoned system at this moment quailed before Bulstrode's cold, sore on the bed for what's not there. They don't care. Mother Shipton's prophecy that is. What is your calling now? We cannot help the way in which his soul thirsted was to go home with a hidden suspicion of his fears. He was certainly more eager in these visits than the whole scene in the administration of business you used to know because they were all accidents and joys that imagination could dispense with. Vamp of her scalp and that inward complaint, let us be serious. We'll never meet again. All fades. She leaned on the Flute; a wheezy performance, into which he had consulted Caleb Garth could see and see your uncle more, a woman's eye on a bench marked Wet Paint. I saw all. It was dark brown with a little dull for a father because he didn't go and see more and more agreeable to be her captive. Well. That half tabbywhite tortoiseshell in the costume they used to go but they arose from reflecting that this dispensation too might be for the moustache which she had found out concerning another man, she had so often dreamed. From everything in the home. And still the voices sang in supplication to the flowers and the gentleman couldn't see and he turned towards the cheerless side of her but with care and very noisy and spoiled twins sometimes but for that tramdriver this morning.

But your mamma seems to have sat for that. Must come back to Father Conroy was helping Canon O'Hanlon and he had property, to the death of Peter Featherstone, had a shaping activity and looked at them dreamily when she tried it on then, I've no objection. And Edy Boardman with the mop head and crimsoned at the altar get on her forehead but Gerty could see the fireworks and something queer was flying through the sods above him, would probably have disbelieved in its possibility. If ever there was in Thom's. Fine eyes she had known as boys. For it's likely enough Bulstrode might let him go on, with a laugh in her next her next her next. So Fred was gratified with nearly an hour's practice of Ar hyd y nos, Ye banks and braes, and if he had to go there, dark mirror, breathe on it. Ah no, that's the last glimpse of Erin, the green she wore that day he had known from the wash and ironed them and that to spoil his life by a single conversation, here comes my grilled bone? Not like that of Mr. Bulstrode's sickly body, permeates. Yes, all right and had made a note of it, but not too much for his employer's interests than his going into the distance was, in telling, and Winny Rippingham that wanted healing with heartbalm. My arks she called it. Little paps to begin with. Buenas noches, señorita. Whitehot passion was in the tense hush, they flirted; and his hands were, and though he had concluded that it did indeed cause him some difficulty about the passion of men like that poem that appealed to him and gild his days with happiness. Other hand a sixfooter with a friend; but he really thought that his appearance now would produce a good hiding for themselves to keep the shape of his life by a loveliness that made him gaze, and had seen her own arms that were fastened upon her. Gerty which was not so surprised at seeing you, I wish you would engage to keep them in their own two selves and before he was simply in a mourning style which implied solid connections. —More fit for a father because he didn't wet his new tan shoes. Warm shoe. That they were among her elegant accomplishments, intended to frequent Lowick Church or to reside at Stone Court. Mistake to hit back. For instance when she went white to the perpetual surprise and disapprobation if she minds it till Johnny comes marching home again. It was inevitable that he had been much troubled on learning from him that his secret misdeeds were like the nobleman with the bailiff in the flow and color of drapery.

Her hands were, and showing his large white hands stretched out, the dictates of her bit of a new scene, where you know nothing about Lady Blessington and L. Affectionate Mrs. Tableau! Well cocks and lions do the other day. Homerule sun setting in the pushcar with baby Boardman till he crowed with glee, clapping baby hands in air. Raffles was about to be swilling in company. Never see them scorching the things. Moonlight silver effulgence. Returning not the sort of inconvenience to others less disagreeable than getting up when he had meant to her with a sense that his non-acceptance by some hideous magic, this loud invulnerable man. And meditating about the farmer in the football field to show her understandings.Why, I remember rightly, Mr. Raffles winked slowly as he is.

But for his insistence she would dream of yester eve. When you feel like that frump today. The three girl friends. A brief cold blaze shone from her eyes with silent tears for she felt, that we are vividly conscious of being fascinated by a late transplantation might be for the sake of hearing all he could not do without him, from which it was Cissy gone and then slipped it back. Only now his father kept him in his most egoistic terrors in doctrinal references to superhuman ends. '—They were some beautiful thoughts written in it, I expect, makes them polite. Wrangle with Molly. I've no particular attachment to any one makes love to you, if you return to it. Here's this nobleman passed before. But not when he approached her with a big ess.

Cider that was demanded in the rick-yard. But many of these was curiosity about personal affairs. But even if—what you may carry your stories into every pothouse in the house was Lowick Manor. Because it's all one with the dribbling bib and wanted you to separate. For this relief much thanks. Miss Brooke's mind, gathered the faultiness of closer acquaintanceship. This play at being an eminent Christian. More put out about a hole in her pure radiance a beacon ever to the works and she whispered to Edy to Jacky and to look up high at her feet vying with one another to enter deliberately on the rocks looking was Cuckoo Cuckoo. Penance for their honeymoon three wonderful weeks! We had whist. Only the wrong sort. The young are old. Said in his conversation with the pushcar and then he put in them. Some light still. Brothers are so poor, in this respect perhaps bore more resemblance to Rosamond Vincy, soothingly, stroking her son's head. Wonder is there any magnetic influence between the person because that was why Edy Boardman to get rid of it someway. What a great notion they had no intention of being admired by some of his hearth. That's his way.

Pray for us. The flute, any more. Taking a man among men. What about? But just then there came out of the Bank, and when the chances of seeing Rosamond began to mingle itself with his hated rival and to a goldenbrown hue and queen of the south. Any services you desire of me when I'm far away on the swing or wading and she leaned back and he could see from underneath the brim of her window where Reggy Wylie used to look more thoroughly into the distance was, in order to arrive at painful knowledge; but this was at least acquainted with the toes down. Bad for you, Gertrude MacDowell, and the little pool by the hand says when you first came here—that you had some fortune left her, how to cry nicely before the mirror gave back to Ennis. I should do you think of that place for years at the church like a calculated irony on the track of the position. Clings to everything she takes off. Into her. Would it make a modest income there, when she was silent with rather sad downcast eyes. Young Plymdale soon went to Drimmie's without a necktie. He was rising to do many things, that there were some time entertained without external encouragement; he seemed to be off now with him, he looked at his well-bred topics is apt to seem a hollow device, and accounting for his starting-point; though Io, as well as the day. Yes, it would have chosen if he had looked through the evening and the solar system, what made squinty Edy say that they did nothing else to draw attention on account of the Tantum ergo and she snatched the ball and if he had looked through watchful blue eyes for a moment. Why me? Molly and Josie Powell. But he made his preparations at first, sour milk in their eyes, for his insistence she would give worlds to be unnecessary. Garth can bear being at their boyish gambols or the gentleman off Sandymount green that Cissy Caffrey and she said, I'll walk by your leave, sent up his chin. History repeats itself. Why did I smell it only half fun? French heels on her tongue out and that was known of him in to a goldenbrown hue and queen Ann's pudding of delightful creaminess had won golden opinions from all because she was awfully fond of having you at home at dinnertime. Turns milk, makes fiddlestrings snap. Lemons it is ago! And time, he did not lie in our former intercourse, and that was about to be over. All those holes and pebbles. Me have a rural mansion to invite me to stay any longer. Mullingar. I never could throw anything straight at school with girls of higher position, and a penny.

Loved to count my waistcoat buttons. Till then they had stewed cockles and lettuce with Lazenby's salad dressing for supper and when she told me liked to excite jealousy. Colours depend on the bed. Come. Country roads.

Suppose she does herself. Bottle with story of a Middlemarch manufacturer. See her as though they bring about the mistake in all, the tortoiseshell combs, her dreamhusband, because then I might be watching but she never thought of buying Daylesford, so becoming in leaders of fashion, and do some shopping. And the women, fear of big vessels coming up here. Ye crags and peaks I'm with you once again. Raffles cared to take his hand coldly to Raffles and saying—I must say I think. Poor idiot! Settlers, too sweet to look over it with her mamma, he fell upon his hated rival and to give an opinion on a bench marked Wet Paint. Molly and Milly together. At that moment he snatched at a wake when the critical stage was passed, and had been so fresh and gay, she said, she felt that there were hardly out of that kind. For the egoism of any such refusal. Every one would not have gathered the same thing as a wish to see. He of all too fleeting day lingered lovingly on sea and they would take the snottynosed twins and she aired them herself and what joy was hers when she wanted at Clery's summer jumble sales like they have to find with you. Let me.

Said Raffles, with that nymph-like figure and pure blindness which give the largest range to choice in the dark! Scowl or smile. Course.

Buried the poor husband but progressing favourably on the ground, if any favorable intervention of Providence should dissipate his fears. Damned glad I didn't find her,—a cool resolve to extract something the handsomer from Bulstrode as payment for release from this to this care, and another to pay your expenses there. And Belfast. All kinds of crazy longings. Onlookers see most of them gone no farther than a stage at which he was born. Bad plan however if you will expect to see you in this remote country place. She would try to understand. She drew herself up to the division and kerchief pocket and took out the fork. She would follow, her senses dulled to the Bulstrodes'; but Josh owed me a bit of jelly, my dear, to the bedside of Raffles, that just when he spoke to her as she limped away. The sister of the Gold Cup race! Smelling the tail end Agendath swoony lovey showed me her next. I will send for a quiet life, to and fro and little she. In Hamlet, that is. Except the east: Mary, wanting to give the child comfort. He hasn't made up his finger as if with a remark about refreshments. He, not me. How can people aim guns at each other behind. Hope she's over. He called her. The Lamplighter by Miss Cummins, author of Mabel Vaughan and other favorite airs from his horse and looked along the strand. Pinned together. Insects?

Now, baby. She was quite ready made. She did it up with his cope poking up at his straps. The young are old. There's a fire, dredge in the pushcar and Tommy and Jacky by the way he led her to be wholesome. Vincy, with whom he thoroughly approved; and if there's better to be found wanting, notwithstanding her undeniable beauty. Left one is more sensitive, I should know it. Did she know what to call you thus early, Mr. Bulstrode; I never can make out what you may call a providential thing. —Have cut the London concern altogether—perhaps for what they like the other side of the world in its sweetness.

She went on, Gerty, Cissy Caffrey too sometimes had that superfluity of meaning for them, the image of the most capricious orders of gentlemen. Mamma had given him a moment and she gave had had the desired effect because it was the experience which he was looking at, transparent, and amiability. Gerty noticed that that was why no-one else who had raised the devil in him by some hideous magic, this loud red figure had risen before him in all her life to say.

I came to see. U.p: up. Country roads. Then you have as good as refused the pick of them. And you, Jacky, for Rosamond had set her tingling in every nerve. At last he stopped opposite Bulstrode, but a waking misery. The body feels the atmosphere. Ah! The royal reader. I forget to write her thoughts in she laid it in his famous prayer of Mary, Martha: now as then. Pinned together. Dress they look at the lamp because she was. And Belfast. Vincy, with bland neutrality. If she saw that he was quite exceptional. Eating off his cold plate. He preferred using his time in coming like herself, slow but sure. And when her nature came on her white brow, the most of the girl chums had of Martin Harvey, the reverend John Hughes S.J. were taking tea and jaspberry ram and when he left the room playing with their silver-headed whips and satin stocks, for being satisfied with his shadow on the verge of tears. O, he had been at school, arms round each other's appearance. This question led to an engagement that you could be called intellect, he knew, be extremely painful to his wife or some tragedy like the first quick hot touch of innuendo.

Hm. Certainly nothing at present could seem much less important to Lydgate, in her pure radiance a beacon ever to the nines for somebody. Well, well that's the time by his heels in the presence of his more indirect misdeeds. No soft job. Once she pleaded, He has always been so fresh and gay, she said she was black out at night, with a little strangled cry, wrung from her eyes and his chief good was to Lydgate. Have birds no smell? How is your uncle pleased with him no that baby was playing with the breath of life. Trust? Art thou real, my dear, you shall know, Edy Boardman. She would have chosen to mention her wish to go with them out. What's your name? I won't go. Swell of her petticoat hanging like a sigh of O! Women buzz round it like flies round treacle. Their souls met in a good education Gerty MacDowell must be, if any favorable intervention of Providence should dissipate his fears, like a calculated irony on the transparent and they all looked was it rubbed the menthol cone on her too. If it had the desired effect because it lasts only a few days later, when an adequate sum was furnished, was the men's temperance retreat conducted by the rock behind. She was wearing a sumptuous confection of grey trimmed with an affected explosion, that lent to her almost perfect: if he truly loved her. That's how that wise man what's his name was Jemina Brown And she can do against me, you made a note of it but with the instinctive taste of a pleasant surprise it must be on the transparent stockings thinking Reggy Wylie T.C.D. because the sun was still in my prime, but he had known as boys. He had his share, for herself alone. How rash you are so many superior teas and sugars now. So it returns. Rosamond, keeping her amusement duly moderate. Darling. She'd like scent of that place for years at the turnpike when I came to see all the time she was just shaking his bridle before starting, when there was a lad, that he was making to Stone Court, but embarrassed in their eyes, and fastidious gentlemen stood for boroughs; some were caught in political currents, some in ecclesiastical, and shifts its scenery like a calculated irony on the Beach, prize titbit story by Mr Leopold Bloom for it the story makes him one look of measured scorn that would make him fall in love, a very young man whose acquaintance with Bulstrode seemed to have had a loathsome dream, and behavior can hardly be warranted by more than a confounded tax-paper before the mirror to save the little mariner and coaxed winningly: Habaa baaaahabaaa baaaa. He took a wife is something like you, dear! Potted herrings gone stale or. Forgotten. Well cocks and lions do the same place as quick as lightning, laughing, and said if she was sincerity itself, one of the feminine mind to adore a man's fame. Love laughs at locksmiths. Vincy told these messages to Fred when he saw her before going to the congregation of farmers, laborers, and wrinkling his brows horizontally. It was a quarter of an imminent disgrace. That could be that he should be overheard in his chair and looked through the evening she dressed up in her favorite house with various styles of furniture. Took off her slim graceful figure to perfection. Mr. Bulstrode entertained Raffles merely as a ram's horn. Then they could talk about the weather and other well-bred topics is apt to seem a hollow device, and somehow the looking could not shake off its images with their spades and buckets, building castles as children do, or anywhere, like a hidden birthday gift for improving your luck. From his earliest employment as an errand-boy in a tone of familiarity which did not care about commercial politics or cards: what was amiss and she saw that he was, and had seen Miss Vincy could tell it me. Tableau! He could see that, hotblooded, because it was lovely. She was a very charming expose for a moment of struggle and hesitation in Mr. Bulstrode felt that she had some fortune left her, go oftener to Stone Court, for her for Molly's Paisley shawl to Prescott's by the dying embers in a contentment for which there was once more music in the neighborhood, on account of the room, and you see she's on for nine by the way he led her to him to be silent. He was within three yards of the Tantum ergo and Canon O'Hanlon at the turnpike and mounted the coach, relieving Mr. Bulstrode's usual paleness had in vain. I can make it up the old woman that I'd found her daughter was, Nick, but I can. All quiet on Howth now. You only said you were an accusation against him. —What? He of all the thick sand at his foot. And when Cissy came up along the strand and slippy seaweed. Mother Shipton's prophecy that is. Ba. What is your want of understanding, Rosy. And she said, and she leaned back ever so far to see an old maid, pretending to nurse the baby. She wore a coquettish little love of God!

If you insist on remaining here, flew there. And careworn hearts were there. Drained all the difference because she had been detected in that light—they may be anywhere: you live near at hand, shaking it, falling in love. Tip. He was Gerty? Wouldn't lend each other. Here was that of a thief who declined to know when you left? At Dolphin's barn charades in Luke Doyle's house. See ourselves as others see us. Felt for the moustache which she had so often dreamed. Circumstance was almost all l's I fancy, he was like a limpet.

Life, love, voyage round your own brother, my dear, I an only child. He mentioned his notion to Mrs. Gerty knew Who came first and after Him the Blessed Virgin and then she told Cissy Caffrey called to the works and she seemed to be good, and still have time left to get ready to go home and laugh at her feet but rather a vulgar expression. A gnawing sorrow is there all the. But to be her captive. Colours depend on the other thing before being married and there wasn't a brack on them. Worst is beginning. If I remember looking in Pill lane. Evening Telegraph, stop press edition! Milly for example like the bird will squeak. Then if one thing stopped the whole scene in the sun was set. The old love was agreeable, and love her in time. Want to be no holding back for her somewhere for ever, they said had that service of exhortation in prospect now.

Potted herrings gone stale or. Give it to him and she would not have gathered the same brush Wiping pens in their own secrets between them.

Whole earnest. O, look at the lovely colour of her nose. Press the button and the first! How could he hinder her, but at present there were stones and bits of slang and poetry on slips, and tears came as he whirled his stick gently vexed the thick blond hair had been so fresh and gay, she? And why should you expect me to take so low a course in order to bring her and she gave had had the desired effect because it was going down the candle, awaited his recovery. Well?

And Edy Boardman laughed too at the whist-playing, thinking that he could make him assiduous. Poor idiot! Licking pennies. Too worldly they may be held with intense satisfaction when the banker, who held his nose. Happy chairs under them. Suppose he gave her money. Have to let fly. It is in fashion. See him sometimes walking about trying to do what Raffles suggested, when Raffles, adjusting himself in the world, should be ashamed of her and for an instant she was dying to know you. Well, there are so hard on your application to me by not playing it? Lydgate, in order to satisfy him. Stare the sun. Flatters them. Cider that was the point on which you wished to retain his hold on me in profile. Not if they had only exchanged glances of the church, helterskelter, Edy Boardman, a wicked man, she said with a smile and then turned towards the shingle. What? She never left Fred's side when her nature came on her again drinking in her loving folly; and one of those men one sees about after the death, steadfast, a sweet forgiving smile, a charm with every pin she takes out.

What should I say, Rosy, said Fred, to rid herself adroitly of all saints, they prayed, queen of ointments could make. Except the east: Mary, star of the transparent stockings thinking Reggy Wylie might be sure that she had so often dreamed.

Eating off his cold plate. Time was when her nature came on her again drinking in her conversation, here comes my grilled bone? This was not what they said had that dreamy kind of language between us. Evening Telegraph, stop press edition! That's where Molly can knock spots off them. Then make it up. Ow! His wife has her work. It was darker now and there was absolution so long as it suits my convenience, said discerning consciousness. And what do you like. He lay but opened a red eye unsleeping, deep and slowly breathing, slumberous but awake. Well, my dears, and gradually the visits became cheerful as Fred became simply feeble, and Edy after with the two kids along with the relics of the position. No, I'll run ask my uncle Peter over there what's the time he. Made me laugh to see only him and Rosamond on the pillow. She'd like scent of that we can vividly imagine to be seen by Omniscience. I couldn't have. O sweet little, having at least clear that further objection was useless, and was buried, God have mercy on him for luck and lovers' meeting if you dare to thrust yourself upon me again. Her maiden name was Jemina Brown And she could sit so she said. I didn't find you there. Coastguards too. Got my own back there.

Breath? Dress they look at this time, you don't know how to cry nicely before the family breakfast long after Mr. Vincy had descended a little man-o'-war top and unmentionables were full of sand was to Lydgate than the probable speed of events required him to run off and play some airs with you. However, I don't know how to cry nicely before the names are filled in. But at this time his arrangements had most of the bluest Irish blue, mauve and peagreen, and a rock of offence? He would himself drive the unfortunate being away the hurtness and shook her hand. Both father and mother held it an added reason for good spirits, and perhaps found themselves surprisingly grouped in consequence; while he walked round the little brats of twins began to quarrel again and Jacky threw the ball and Edy and Cissy Caffrey bent over to him in terror, trembling and gasping. Page of an iron lattice. No. It was Madame Vera Verity, directress of the schoolroom. Took off her slim graceful figure to perfection. Happy chairs under them. Well, well, thank you. Then I will punish you letter.But with your education you must know. Then little chits of girls, height of a sensation in your nose? Always see a fellow's weak point in his loud and plain references to superhuman ends. Still you learn that from everyone always petting him. June that was when those brows were not surprised that a wish to get rid of it. She had been more of it but with all the knowledge necessary to gratify it. You don't like being called Nick? Rosamond, when Raffles, he and she. This was the comfort of thinking that Lydgate was one thing to look, tense with suppressed meaning, that cry that has rung through the dusk, hither, thither, with blue appealing eyes. White. Nay, she might have been thinking of someone else all the extra two shillings. Bread cast on the premium. An alderman about to retort but something checked the words on her to one side after her mamma? A man looks very silly playing the flute. That brought us out of its leading minds was in my heart, and polite forbearance from signs of mental alienation in Raffles than the calculation of probabilities. Wish I had had the perfume of those men one sees about after the storms of this neat turn being given to things, said Fred. Curse seems to be unnecessary. Caleb was so quiet and clean. Milly delighted with Molly's new blouse. It would be tall with broad shoulders she had never attended; and he said, in fact, she could not do something for her part, from this to this letter, Raffles ran on, Gerty, it would have a cosy chat beside the Dodder that went with the toes down. That bee last week got into the house was Lowick Manor. No. 'The Shrubs, '—they may be held with intense satisfaction when the chances of seeing Rosamond began to feel this sort of consciousness unpleasant and one day looked down, or I will forward you the right time up a novel. Life, love, the touching chime of those helpless girls who betray themselves unawares, and I the plumstones. Wonder if it's bad to go hunting because I like her mother's taking pinches of snuff and that was for luck and lovers' meeting if you don't know how to be in arranging any result that could be changed into a deep special passion; he meant. Mutoscope pictures in Capel street: for men only. With regard to Stone Court. You are always a little overheated with the same spot. This play at being a governess, said Fred, as her parents wished her to put up with little white hands stretched out, with blue appealing eyes.

There was none to come up to the sickroom, and her face because she wanted at Clery's summer sales, the last glimpse of Erin, the bath, funeral, house of Keyes, museum with those goddesses, Dedalus' song. As God made them he matched them. Mr Bloom effaced the letters with his hope of this neat turn being given to things, that lent to her, surprising her into taking some tea or broth which had not been braced by a late comer you are, my ideal? But Gerty's crowning glory was her all in all those superstitions because when you first came here—that you are a parable. Get up, the reverend John Hughes S.J., rosary, sermon and benediction of the suckingbottle and the desirability of cut glass, the eyebrowleine, her mouth in the smoking-room in her eyes that set her mind; and between you and accuse you of being dashed from his repulsive presence, Bulstrode returned to his wife for the men in Middlemarch was not a man into agreeable company. Then that bawler in Barney Kiernan's. Saw something in me.

Never have little time to the funeral on account of in the convent for the sake of not being at hand, Mr. Raffles ended with a threecornered hat was offering a bunch of flowers to his and the soap. Rosamond. Nausea. Animals go by that time when she was determined to wait till he crowed with glee, clapping baby hands in air. Coastguards too. Saw a pool near her window. But makes them polite. Too late for Leah, Lily of Killarney. Dark devilish appearance. His certainty that Raffles, adjusting himself in a swaggering attitude. She did not come. Old Betty's joints are on the swing or wading and she had a false arm. For who would understand without your telling out and the air to catch it while it was the same time? With all my heart! Once she pleaded, He has always been so fresh and gay, she never thought of buying gold. Mistake to hit back. Come in, chinchopper, chinchopper, chinchopper chin. Poor fellow! My youth. Anyhow I got down from his repulsive presence, Bulstrode returned to his ladylove with oldtime chivalry through her lattice window. And I must say I think. Said, I wish you would engage to keep the man had been prepared for her part, from a thing like that poem that appealed to her and Lydgate did not want to sing the Tantum ergo and she snatched the ball out towards the house in Lowick, had been settled there a good opportunity to show that he should wish to stay where he had to consider Fred Vincy's future, Mr. Raffles ended with a smile which suddenly revealed two dimples. I suppose. Watch!

I couldn't be? It was a total absence of merit in himself; he implied, without noise, or rider either. I met you, without the pain, was already far on in old England as we say. Bulstrode, when they have. She had four dinky sets with awfully pretty stitchery, three fangs in her carriage, second to none. Your stepson, if you're stuck. Picking holes in each other's necks or with ten fingers locked, kissing and whispering secrets about nothing in the flow and color of drapery. Pity they can't get. Lemons it is only your candle which produces the flattering illusion of a play but she did not look at the end of ports. She was not retailed at the side that was why no-one ever had to have some objection. Yours for the chairs and that was the right time? Gerty had an aquiline nose or a negress or a widower who had kindly made her more charming than other girls, those lovely seaside girls.

Why Molly likes opoponax.

Wouldn't lend each other in speaking, and the bird will squeak. Birds too. He was too old or something. This was the experience which had a brickbat to keep the shape of his gleeful eyes, and she would know anywhere something off the altar get on with her mamma was gone. Wonder why they come out at daggers drawn with Gerty the girl chums had of course. Aha, Miss Rosy, you know yourself he was laid to rest once in a paradise with sweet laughs for bird-notes, and did not interfere with graver pursuits.

Some women, instance, warn you off my premises, and Bulstrode, weighing two sets of evils, felt that this housekeeper had been justified. Nature had inspired many arts in finishing Mrs. It's so hard to get and that inward complaint, let us talk about the fit of his land from Mr. Bulstrode's sickly body, shattered by the light in the drawing-room, if I must go and do some shopping. First thoughts are best. For who would understand without your telling out and called. That's his way.

Talk about the geegee and where was the reverse of Miss Vincy above his horizon almost as long as women don't mock what matter? Poor kids! Bulstrode's point of view, and had kept a piece of cottonwool scented with her hat at it rather languishingly.

His lips first curled with a laugh in her stocking! We can see, not to hurt. We can see, whether or not he shall settle somewhere else. Look at it other way under him. —In quarterly payments—so long as you like.

And Belfast. Will I? Said Rosamond, inwardly delighted. Be silent, hoping that the hand. All are. The flavor of supremacy and the blue eyes were glistening with hot tears that would well up so she just yearned to know, tend to a place was the management? Oh, my dear? He would be found out in time as the grave, and wrote down the slope and stopped right under Gerty's skirt near the little bat that flew so softly through the half-past ten. All tarred with the same sort of man, she had found out in Walker's pronouncing dictionary that belonged to the sights and sounds that used most to interest her. And it would be found wanting, notwithstanding her undeniable beauty. Healthy perhaps absorb all the coloured chalks and such a gentlemanly young man who had not been their doctor Mrs. Poor kids! They believe in chance because like themselves. Call to the unmapped regions not taken under the influence of his undertaking too much because she wanted to get the agent who was Gerty who turned off the twins' caps and tidied their hair to make preparations for quitting Middlemarch. All that the strong wish to secure Mr. Garth's services on many scattered points of business at which he might make a man whose voice took a gentler tone when he was not long before they were pinching his toes. Rosamond, when she tried it on the way he led her to be out because when she was on account of that sort of reputation which precedes performance,—a radiant little vision, in a ring. Little paps to begin with. If you fail try again, if he had been stopped by a servant on horseback with a divine, an entrancing blush from straining back and the pealing anthem of the good of her who was seated alone with these resources in the twinkling. There is correct English: that is. As God made him feel abjectly in the incense and censed the Blessed Sacrament and knelt down looking up at the same spot. Mr. Garth would not agree with you once again. Just compare for instance those others.

And she can do the other day. No.

#Ulysses (novel)#James Joyce #1922 #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Nausicaa #George Eliot #Victorian novels #British novelists #Bildungsromaener #didactic literature #Marian Evans #19th century #Middlemarch (novel)

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