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The Dedication

By Fred M. Simpson

PERSONS REPRESENTED
Lucy Rimmerton. Harold Sekbourne

Scene I—The period is 1863
The sitting-room in Lucy Rimmerton’s lodgings. She is seated in
front of the fire making some toast.
    Lucy.

There ! I think that will do, although it isn’t anything
very great. [Rises.] What a colour I must have ! Harold says
I always manage to toast myself very much better than I do the
bread. [Lights the gas, and begins arranging some flowers on the
table
.] His favourite flowers ; I know he will be pleased when
he sees them. How strange it is that he should really care for
me !—I, who am so commonplace and ordinary, hardly pretty
either, although he says I am. I always tell him he might have
done so much better than propose to a poor governess without a
penny.—Oh, if only his book proves a success !—a really great
success !—how glorious it will be ! Why doesn’t the wretched

                                                publisher

                                                                 160
                        The Dedication
publisher make haste and bring it out ? I believe he is keeping it
back on purpose. What dreadful creatures they are ! At first—
squabble, squabble, squabble ; squabble about terms, squabble about
this, another squabble about that, and then, when everything is
finally arranged, delay, delay, delay. “You must wait for the
publishing season.” As though a book were a young lady whose
future might be seriously jeopardised if it made its début at an
unfashionable time.

[The door opens, and Harold bursts into the room. ]


    Harold.

It’s out, it’s out ; out at last.

    Lucy.

What, the book ! Really ! Where is it ? Do show it
to me.

    Harold.

Do you think you deserve it !

    Lucy.

Oh ! don’t tantalise me. Have you seen it ? What is
it like !

    Harold.

It is printed, and very much like other books.

    Lucy.

You are horrid. I believe you have it with you. Have
you ?

    Harold.

And what if I say yes ?

    Lucy.

You have. Do let me see it.

    Harold.

And will you be very good if I do !

    Lucy.

I’ll be angelic.

    Harold.

Then on that condition only—There ! take it gently.
[Lucy snatches it, and cuts the string.] I thought you never cut
string ?

    Lucy.

There is never a never that hasn’t an exception,

    Harold.

Not a woman’s, certainly.

    Lucy.

Oh ! how nice it looks ! And to think that it is yours,
really and truly yours. ” Grace : a Sketch. By Harold Sek-
bourne.” It s delicious ! [Holding the book, dances round the room.]

                                                Harold

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 161
    Harold.

I shall begin to be jealous. You will soon be more in
love with my book than you are with me.

    Lucy.

And why shouldn’t I be ? Haven’ t you always said that
a man’s work is the best part of him ?

    Harold.

If my silly sayings are to be brought up in evidence
against me like this, I shall—

    Lucy.

You shall what ?

    Harold.

Take the book back.

    Lucy.

Oh, will you ? I should like to see you do it. [Holds
it behind her.
] You have got to get it first.

    Harold.

And what are you going to give me for it ?

    Lucy.

Isn’t it a presentation copy ?

    Harold.

It is the very first to leave the printer’s.

    Lucy.

Then you ought not to want any payment.

    Harold.

I do though, all the same. Come—no payment, no
book.

    Lucy.

There, there, there !

    Harold.

And there.

    Lucy.

Oh ! don’t ! You ll stifle me. And is this for me ;
may I really keep it ?

    Harold.

Of course you may ; I brought it expressly for you.

    Lucy.

How nice of you ! And you’ll write my name in it ?

    Harold.

I’ll write the dedication.

    Lucy.

What do you mean ?

    Harold.

You shall see. Pen and ink for the author ! A new
pen and virgin ink !

    Lucy.

Your Authorship has but to command to be obeyed.

    Harold.

[Sitting down, writes. ] It is printed in all the other
copies, but this one I have had bound specially for you, with a
blank sheet where the dedication comes, so that in your copy, and
yours alone, I can write it myself. There.

                                                Lucy

                                                                 162
                        The Dedication
    Lucy.

[Looks over his shoulder and reads] “To my Lady
Luce” Oh, Harold, you have dedicated it to me!

    Harold.

Who else could I dedicate it to ? although tis—
” Not so much honouring thee,
As giving it a hope that now
It may immortal be.”

    Lucy.

It is good of you.

    Harold.

[Writes again. ] “Harold Sekbourne”—what’s to
day ? oh, yes, — “3rd November, 1863.”

    Lucy.

And will people know who the ” Lady Luce” is ?

    Harold.

They will some day. The dedication in my next
book shall be “To my Lady Wife.”

    Lucy.

I wonder if I shall ever be that. It seems so long
coming.

    Harold.

I don’t mind when it is to-morrow, if you like.

    Lucy.

Don’t talk nonsense, although it is my fault for beginning
it. And now sit down no, here in the arm-chair and you shall
have some nice tea.

[She makes and pours out the tea as Harold talks.]

    Harold.

You won’t have to wait long if this proves a success :
and it will be one. I know it ; I feel it. It isn’t only that
everybody who has read it, likes it ; it’s something else that I can’t
describe, not even to you ; a feeling inside, that—call it conceit if
you like, but it isn’t conceit ; it isn’t conceit to feel confidence in
oneself. Why, look at the trash, the arrant trash, that succeeds
every day ; you will say, perhaps, that it succeeds because it is trash,
that trash is what people want they certainly get it. But no
book that ever had real stuff in it has failed yet, and I feel
that—Ha ! ha ! the same old feeling mentioned above. Don’t
think me an awful prig, LuceI don’t talk to anybody else
as I do to you ; and if you only knew what a relief it is to

                                                me

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 163
me to let myself go a bit occasionally, you would excuse every
thing.

    Lucy.

You have a right to be conceited.

    Harold.

Not yet. I have done nothing yet ; but I mean to.
[Takes up the book.] I wonder what will become of you and
your fellows ; what will be your future ? Will you one day
adorn the shelves of libraries, figure in catalogues of ” Rare books
and first editions,” and be contended for by snuffy, long-clothed
bibliomaniacs, who will bid one against the other for the honour of
possessing you ? Or will you descend to the tables of secondhand
book-stalls marked at a great reduction ; or lie in a heap, with
other lumber, outside the shop-front, all this lot sixpence each,
awaiting there, uncared for, unnoticed, and unknown, your ultimate
destination, the dust-hole ?

    Lucy.

You are horrid. What an idea!

    Harold.

No, I don’t think that will be your end. [Puts down
the book.
] You are not going to the dustbin, you are going to
be a success. No more hack work for me after this. Why, sup-
posing only the first edition is sold, I more than clear expenses,
and if it runs to two—ten—twenty editions, I shall receive—the
amount fairly takes my breath away. Twentieth thousand ;
doesn’t it sound fine ? We shall have our mansion in Grosvenor
Square yet, Luce; and that charming, little old house we saw the
other day up the river—we’ll have that, too ; so that we can run
down here from Saturday to Monday, to get away from London
fog and nastiness. Yes, I am going to be rich some day—rich
—in ten years time, if this book gets a fair start and I have any
thing like decent luck, I shall be the best known author in
England. [Rises.] The son of the old bookseller who failed will
be able then to repay those who helped him when he wanted help,
and, more delightful thought still, pay back those with interest

The Yellow Book Vol.—I. K

                                                who

                                                                 164
                        The Dedication
who did their best to keep him down, when they could just as
easily have helped him to rise. I am going to have a success, I
feel it. In a few weeks’ time I’ll bring you a batch of criticisms
that will astonish you. But what is the matter ? why so silent
all of a sudden ? has my long and conceited tirade disgusted you ?

    Lucy.

No, not at all.

    Harold.

Then what is it ?

    Lucy.

I was only thinking that—[hesitates],

    Harold.

Thinking what ? About me :

    Lucy.

Yes, about you and—and also about myself

    Harold.

That is just as it should be, about us two together.

    Lucy.

Yes, but I was afraid——

    Harold.

[Smiling.] Afraid ! what of?

    Lucy.

Nothing, nothing really. I am ashamed that let me give
you some more tea.

    Harold.

No, thanks. Come, let me hear, make a clean breast
of it.

    Lucy.

I can’t, really ; you would only laugh at me.

    Harold.

Then why deny me a pleasure, for you know I love to
laugh ?

    Lucy.

Well, then—if you become famous—and rich——

    Harold.

If I do ; well ?

    Lucy.

You won ‘t—you won’t forget me, will you ?

    Harold.

Forget you, what an idea ! Why do I want to become
famous ? why do I want to become rich ? For my own sake ?
for the sake of the money ? Neither. I want it for your sake, so
that you can be rich ; so that you can have everything you can
possibly want. I don’t mind roughing it a bit myself, but——

    Lucy.

No more do I : I am sure we might be very happy living
even here.

    Harold.

No, thank you ; no second pair fronts for me, or,

                                                rather

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 165
rather, none for my wife. I want you to forget all about this
place, as though it had never existed ; I want you to only
remember your giving lessons as a nightmare which has passed
and gone. I want you to take a position in the world, to go into
society——

    Lucy.

But, Harold——

    Harold.

To entertain, receive, lead——

    Lucy.

But I could never lead. I detest receiving. I hate
entertaining——

    Harold.

Except me.

    Lucy.

I often wonder if I do. You are so clever and I——

    Harold.

Such a goose. Whatever put such ideas into your
head ? Why, you are actually crying.

    Lucy.

I am not.

    Harold.

Then what is that ? [Puts his finger against her cheek]
What is that little sparkling drop ?

    Lucy.

It must be a tear of joy, then.

    Harold.

Which shall be used to christen the book !

    Lucy.

Oh, don’t there, you have left a mark.

    Harold.

It is your fault. My finger wouldn’t have done it by
itself. Are you going to be silly any more ?

    Lucy.

No, I am not.

    Harold.

And you are going to love me, believe in me, and trust me ?

    Lucy.

I do all three— implicitly

    Harold.

[He kisses her.] The seal of the trinity. [Looks at
his watch.
] By Jove, I must be going.

    Lucy.

So soon ?

    Harold.

Rather ; I have to dine in Berkeley Square at eight
o’clock, at Sir Humphrey Mockton’s. You would like their house,
it’s a beauty, a seventeenth or eighteenth century one, with such

                                                a

                                                                 166
                        The Dedication
a gorgeous old staircase. He’s awfully rich, and just a little bit
vulgar—”wool” I think it was, or “cottons,” or some other
commodity ; but his daughter is charming—I should say daughters,
as there are two of them, so you needn’t be jealous.

    Lucy.

Jealous ? of course I am not. Have you known them long ?

    Harold.

Oh ! some little time. They are awfully keen to see
my book. I am going to take—send them a copy. You see I
must be civil to these people, they know such an awful lot of the
right sort ; and their recommendation of a book will have more
weight than fifty advertisements. So good-bye. [Takes his
overcoat.
]

    Lucy.

Let me help you. But you are going without noticing
my flowers.

    Harold.

I have been admiring them all along, except when I
was looking at you.

    Lucy.

Don’t be silly.

    Harold.

They are charming. Sir Humphrey has some orchids
just the same colours ; you ought to see them ; he has basketsful
sent up every week from his place in Surrey.

    Lucy.

No wonder my poor little chrysanthemums didn’t impress
you.

    Harold.

What nonsense ! I would give more for one little
flower from you, than for the contents of all his conservatories.

    Lucy.

Then you shall have that for nothing.

    Harold.

Don’t, it will destroy the bunch.

    Lucy.

What does that matter ? they are all yours.

    Harold.

You do your best to spoil me.

    Lucy.

[Pins the flower into his button-hole. ] Don’t talk non-
sense. There !

    Harold.

What a swell you have made me look !

                                                Lucy

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 167
    Lucy.

Good-bye ; when shall I see you again ?

    Harold.

Not until Sunday, I am afraid ; I am so busy just now.
But I’ll come round early, and, if fine, we’ll go and lunch at
Richmond, and have a good walk across the Park afterwards.
Would you like it ?

    Lucy.

Above all things, but—but don’t spend all your money
on me.

    Harold.

Bother the money ! I am going to be rich. Good
bye till Sunday.

    Lucy.

Au revoir ; and while you are dining in your grand
house, with lots of grand people, I am going to enjoy a delightful
evening here, not alone, as I shall have your book for company.
Good-bye

Six Months elapse between Scene I. and Scene II.

Scene II —The Scene and Persons are the same
Lucy is dressed as before ; she is seated. Harold is in evening dress,
with a flower in his button-hole ; he stands by the fireplace.
    Harold.

Well, all I have to say is, I think you are most
unreasonable.

    Lucy.

You have no right to say that.

    Harold.

I have if I think it.

    Lucy.

Well, you have no right to think it.

    Harold.

My thoughts are not my own, I suppose ?

    Lucy.

They are so different from what I should have expected
you to have that I almost doubt it.

                                                Harold

                                                                 168
                        The Dedication
    Harold.

Better say I have changed at once.

    Lucy.

And so you have.

    Harold.

Who is saying things one has no right to say now ?

    Lucy.

I am only saying what I think.

    Harold.

Then if you want to have the right to your own
thoughts, kindly let me have the right to mine. [Walks to the
window
] I can’t prevent people sending me invitations, can I ?

    Lucy.

You need not accept them.

    Harold.

And make enemies right and left, I suppose ?

    Lucy.

I don’t want you to do that, and I don’t want either to
prevent your enjoying yourself ; but—but, I do want to see you
occasionally.

    Harold.

And so you do.

    Lucy.

Yes, very—perhaps I should say I want to see you often.

    Harold.

And so do I you, but I can’t be in two places at once.
This is what I mean when I say you are unreasonable. I must
go out. If I am to write, I must study people, character, scenes.
I can’t do that by stopping at home : I can’t do that by coming
here ; I know you and I know your landlady, and there is nobody
else in the house, except the slavey and the cat ; and although the
slavey may be a very excellent servant and the cat a most original
quadruped, still, I don’t want to make elaborate studies of animals
—either four-legged or two. One would imagine, from the way
you talk, that I did nothing except enjoy myself. I only go out in
the evenings.

    Lucy.

Still you might spare a little time, now and then, to come
and see me, if only for half an hour.

    Harold.

What am I doing now ? I gave up a dinner-party to
come here to-night.

    Lucy.

Do you know it is exactly a month yesterday since you were here last ?

                                                Harold.

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 169
    Harold.

I can’t be always dangling at your apron-strings.

    Lucy.

Harold!

    Harold.

If we are going to be married, we——

    Lucy.

If?

    Harold.

Well, when, if you like it better ; we shall see enough
of one another then. I have written to you, it isn’t as though I
hadn’t done that.

    Lucy.

But that is not the same thing as seeing you ; and your
letters, too, have been so scrappy. [Harold throws himself into the
arm-chair.
] They used to be so different before your book came out.

    Harold.

I had more time then.

    Lucy.

I sometimes wish that it had never been published at all,
that you had never written it, or, at all events, that it had never
been such a success.

    Harold.

That’s kind, at all events—deuced kind and considerate !

    Lucy.

It seems to have come between us as a barrier. When I
think how eagerly we looked forward to its appearance, what
castles in the air we built as to how happy we were going to be,
and all the things we were going to do, if it were a success, and
now to think that——

    Harold.

[Jumps up. ] Look here, Lucy, I’m damned if I can’t
stand this much longer ! Nag, nag, nag ! I can’t stand it. I am
worked off my head during the day, I am out half the night,
and when I come here for a little quiet, a little rest, its—[Breaks
off suddenly
].

    Lucy.

I am so sorry. If I had thought——

    Harold.

Can’t you see that you are driving me mad ? I have
been here half an hour, and the whole of the time it has been
nothing but reproaches.

    Lucy.

I don’t think they would hove affected you so much if
you hadn’t felt that you deserved them !

                                                Harold.

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                        The Dedication
    Harold.

There you go again ! I deserve them—[Laughs harshly ].
It is my fault, I suppose, that it is the season ; it is my fault that
people give dinner-parties and balls ; it is my fault, I suppose, that
you don’t go out as much as I do ?

    Lucy.

Certainly not ; although, as a matter of fact, I haven’t
been out one single evening for the last three—nearly four—
months.

    Harold.

That’s right ; draw comparisons ; say I’m a selfish
brute. You’ll tell me next that I am tired of you, and——

    Lucy.

Harold ! don’t, don’t you you hurt me! Of course
I never thought of such a—[she rises]—You are not, are you ?
I—I couldn’t bear it !

    Harold.

Of course I am not. Don’t be so silly. [He sits.]

    Lucy.

It was silly of me, I confess it. I know you better than
that. Why, it’s rank high treason, I deserve to lose my head ; and
my only excuse is that thinking such a thing proves I must have
lost it already. Will your majesty deign to pardon ?

    Harold.

[Testify.] Yes, yes, that’s all right ! There, look out,
you’ll crumple my tie.

    Lucy.

I am so sorry ! And now tell me all about your grand
friends and——

    Harold.

They are not grand to me. Simply because a person
is rich or has a title, I don’t consider them any “grander” than I
—by jove, no ! These people are useful to me, or else I should’t
stand it. They “patronise” me, put their hand on my shoulder
and say, “My dear young friend, we predict great things for you.”
The fools, as though a single one of them was capable even of
forming an opinion, much less of prophesying. They make
remarks about me before my face ; they talk of, and pet, me as
though I were a poodle. I go through my tricks and they applaud ;
and they lean over with an idiotic simper to the dear friend next to

                                                them

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 171
them and say, “Isn’t he clever ? ” as though they had taught me
themselves. Bah ! They invite me to their houses, I dine with
them once a week ; but if I were to tell them to-morrow that I
wanted to marry one of their daughters, they would kick me out
of the room, and consider it a greater insult than if the proposal had
come from their own footman.

    Lucy.

But that doesn’t matter, because you don’t want to marry
one of them, do you ? Was that Miss Mockton with you in the
Park last Sunday ?

    Harold.

How do you know I was in the Park at all ?

    Lucy.

Because I saw you there.

    Harold.

You were spying, I suppose.

    Lucy.

Spying ? I don’t know what you mean. I went there
for a walk after Lucy Rimmerton.

    Harold.

Alone ?

    Lucy.

Of course not, I was with Mrs. Glover

    Harold.

Your landlady ?

    Lucy.

Why not ?—Oh ! you need not be afraid. I shouldn’t
have brought disgrace upon you by obliging you to acknowledge
me before your grand friends. I took good care to keep in the
background.

    Harold.

Do you mean to insinuate that I am a snob ?

    Lucy.

Be a little kind.

    Harold.

Well, it is your own fault, you insinuate that——

    Lucy.

I was wrong. I apologise, but—but— [begins to cry],

    Harold.

There, don’t make a scene don’t, there’s a good girl.
There, rest your head here, I suppose I am nasty. I didn’t
mean it, really. You must make allowances for me. I am
worried and bothered. I can’t work—at least I can’t do work that
satisfies me—and altogether I am not quite myself. Late hours
are playing the very deuce with my nerves. There, let me kiss

                                                away

                                                                 172
                        The Dedication
away the tears now give me your promise that you will never be
so foolish again.

    Lucy.

I—I promise. It is silly of me—now I am all right.

    Harold.

Giboulées d’Avril ! The sun conies out once more,
the shower is quite over.

    Lucy.

Yes, quite over ; you always are so kind. It is my
fault entirely. I—I think my nerves must be a little upset,
too.

    Harold.

We shall make a nice couple, sha’n’t we ? if we are often
going to behave like this ! Now, are you quite calm ?

    Lucy.

Yes, quite.

    Harold.

That s right, because I want you to listen patiently for
a few minutes to what I am going to say ; it is something I want
to talk to you about very seriously. You won’t interrupt me until
I have quite finished, will you ?

    Lucy.

What is it ? not that—no, I won’t.

    Harold.

You know we talked about—I mean it was arranged
we should be married the beginning of July—wasn’t it ?

    Lucy.

Yes.

    Harold.

Well, I want to know if you would mind very much
putting it off a little—quite a little only till—the autumn ? I’ll
tell you why. Of course if you do mind very much, I sha’n’t
press it, but—it’s like this : the scene of my new book is, as you
know, laid abroad. I have been trying to write it, but can’t get
on with it one little bit. I want some local colour. I thought
I should be able to invent it, I find I can’t. It is hampering
and keeping me back terribly. And so—and so I thought if
you didn’t mind very much that that if I were to go to France
for—for six months or so—alone, that in fact it would be the
making of me. I have never had an opportunity before ; it has
always been grind, grind, grind, and if I am prevented from

                                                going

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 173
going now, I may never have a chance again. What do you
say ?

    Lucy.

But why shouldn’t we be married as arranged, and spend
our honeymoon over there ?

    Harold.

Because I want to work.

    Lucy.

And would my being there prevent you ? You used to
say you always worked so much better when I was——

    Harold.

But you don’t understand. This is different. I want
to work hard and no man could do that on his honeymoon—at
least I know I couldn’t.

    Lucy.

No, but—And and till when did you want to put off
our—our marriage ? Until your return ?

    Harold.

Well, that would depend on circumstances. You don’t
suppose I would postpone it for a second, if I could help it ; but
Until my return ? I hope sincerely that it can be managed
then, but, you see, over there I shall be spending money all the
time, and not earning a sou, and—and so we might have to wait a
little bit longer, just until I could replenish the locker, until I had
published and been paid for my new book.

    Lucy.

But I have given notice to leave at midsummer.

    Harold.

Has Mrs. Duncan got another governess !

    Lucy.

No, but——

    Harold.

Then you can stop on, can’t you ! They will surely
be only too delighted to keep you.

    Lucy.

Yes—I can stop on. [He tries to kiss her.] No, don’t ;
not now.

    Harold.

And you don’t really mind the postponement very
much, do you ?

    Lucy.

Not if it will assist you.

    Harold.

I thought you would say that, I knew you would. It
will assist me very much. I shouldn’t otherwise suggest it. It

                                                does

                                                                 174
                        The Dedication
does seem too bad though, doesn’t it ? To have to postpone it
after waiting all these years, and just as it was so near, too. I
have a good mind not to go, after all—only, if I let this chance
slip, I may never have another. Besides, six months is not so
very long, is it ? And when they are over, then we won’t wait
any longer. You will come and see me off, won’t you ? It would
never do for an engaged man to go away for even six months,
without his lady love coming to see him start.

    Lucy.

Yes, I will come. When do you go ?

    Harold.

The end of next week, I expect ; perhaps earlier if I
can manage it. But I shall see you before then. We’ll go and
have dinner together at our favourite little restaurant. When
shall it be ! Let me see, I am engaged on—I can’t quite remember
what my engagements are,

    Lucy.

I have none.

    Harold.

Then that’s settled. Good-bye, Luce; you don’t mind
very much, do you ? The time will soon pass. You are a little
brick to behave as you have done. [Going.] It will be Monday or
Tuesday next for our dinner, but I will let you know. Good
bye.

    Lucy.

Good-bye.

Thirty Years elapse between Scene II. and Scene III.

                                                Scene

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 175
Scene III—Lucy Rimmerton, Agnes Rimmerton
(her niece)
A well-furnished comfortable room in Lucy Rimmerton’s house.
    She is seated in front of the fire, in an easy-chair, reading.
    The door opens, without her noticing it, and
Agnes comes
    in, closes the door gently, crosses the room, and bends over
    her.
    Agnes.

A happy New Year to you, Aunt Luce.

    Lucy.

What ! Agnes, is that you ? I never heard you come in.
I really think I must be getting deaf.

    Agnes.

What nonsense ! I didn’t intend you should hear me.
I wanted to wish you a happy New Year first.

    Lucy.

So as to make your Aunt play second fiddle. The same
to you, dear.

    Agnes.

Thank you. [Warms her hands at the fire] Oh, it is
cold ; not here I mean, but out of doors ; the thermometer is
down I don’t know how many degrees below freezing

    Lucy.

It seems to agree with you, at all events. You look as
bright and rosy as though you were the New Year itself come to
visit me.

    Agnes.

[Laughs merrily] So I ought to. I ran nearly all the
way, except when I slid, to the great horror of an old gentleman
who was busily engaged lecturing some little boys on the enormity
of their sins in making a beautifully long slide in the middle of the
pavement.

    Lucy.

And what brought you out so early ?

    Agnes.

To see you, of course. Besides, the morning is so lovely

                                                it

                                                                 176
                        The Dedication
it seemed a sin to remain indoors. I do hope the frost continues
all the holidays.

    Lucy.

It is all very well for you, but it must be terribly trying
for many people—the poor, for instance.

    Agnes.

Yes. [A pause.] Auntie, you don’t know anything, do
you, about how how poor people live ?

    Lucy.

Not so much as I ought to.

    Agnes.

I didn’t mean very poor people, not working people. I
meant a person poor like—like I am poor.

    Lucy.

[Smiling] Don’t you know how you live yourself?

    Agnes.

Of course I do, but—I was thinking of—of a friend of
mine, a governess like myself, who has just got engaged ; and I
I was wondering on how much, or, rather, how little, they could
live. But you don’t know of course. You are rich, and——

    Lucy.

But I wasn’t always rich. Thirty years ago when I was
your age——

    Agnes.

When you were my age ! I like that ! why you are
not fifty.

    Lucy.

Little flatterer. Fifty-two last birthday.

    Agnes.

Fifty-two ! Well, you don’t look it, at all events.

    Lucy.

Gross flatterer. When I was your age I was poor and a
governess as you are.

    Agnes.

But I thought that your Aunt Emily left you all her
money.

    Lucy.

So she did, or nearly all ; but that was afterwards. It
isn’t quite thirty years yet since she came back from India, a
widow, just after she had lost her husband and only child. I was
very ill at the time—I almost died ; and she, good woman as she
was, came and nursed me.

    Agnes.

Of course, I know. I have heard father talk about it.
And then she was taken ill, wasn’t she ?

                                                Lucy.

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 177
    Lucy.

Yes, almost before I was well. It was very unfair that
she should leave everything to me ; your father was her nephew,
just as I was her niece, but he wouldn’t hear of my sharing it
with——

    Agnes.

I should think not indeed ! I should be very sorry to
think that my father would ever allow such a thing. Although,
at the same time, it is all very well for you to imagine that you
don’t share it, but you do. Who pays for Lillie’s and May’s and
George’s schooling ? Who sent Alfred to Cambridge, and Frank to——

    Lucy.

Don’t, please. What a huge family you are, to be sure.

    Agnes.

And last, but not least, who gave me a chance of going
to Girton ? Oh, we are not supposed to know anything about it,
I know, but you see we do. You thought you had arranged it
all so beautifully, and kept every one of us entirely in the dark,
but you haven’t one little bit.

    Lucy.

Nonsense, Agnes, you——

    Agnes.

Oh, you are a huge big fraud, you know you are ; I
am quite ashamed of you. [Lucy is going to speak.] You are
not to be thanked, I know ; and you needn’t be afraid, I am not
going to do so ; but if you could only hear us when we are talking
quietly together, you would find that a certain person, who shall
be nameless, is simply worship—

    Lucy.

Hush ! you silly little girl. You don’t know what you
are saying. You have nothing to thank me for whatsoever.

    Agnes.

Haven’t we just ? I know better.

    Lucy.

Young people always do. So you see I do know some
thing of how “the poor” live.

    Agnes.

Yes, but you were never married.

    Lucy.

No, dear.

    Agnes.

That is what I want to—Why weren’t you

                                                married?

                                                                 178
                        The Dedication
married ? Oh, I know I have no business to ask such a question :
it is fearfully rude I know, but I have wondered so often. You
are lovely now, and you must have been beautiful when you were
a girl.

    Lucy.

No, I wasn’t—I was barely pretty.

    Agnes.

I can’t believe that.

    Lucy.

And I am not going to accept your description of me
now as a true one ; although I confess I am vain enough—
even in my present old age—to look in the glass occasionally,
and say to myself: “You are better-looking now than you ever
were.”

    Agnes.

Well, at all events you were always an angel.

    Lucy.

And men don’t like angels ; besides—I was poor.

    Agnes.

You were not poor when you got Aunt Emily’s money,

    Lucy.

No, but then it was too—— I mean I then had no
wish to marry.

    Agnes.

You mean you determined to sacrifice yourself for us,
that is what you mean.

    Lucy.

I must have possessed a very prophetic soul then, or
been gifted with second sight, as none of you, except Reginald,
were born. But to come back to your friend, Agnes; has she no
money ?

    Agnes.

No, none.

    Lucy.

Nor he ?

    Agnes.

Not a penny.

    Lucy.

And they want to get married ?

    Agnes.

Yes.

    Lucy.

And are afraid they haven’t enough.

    Agnes.

They certainly haven’t.

    Lucy.

Then why don’t they apply to some friend or relative
who has more than enough ; say, to—an aunt, for instance.

                                                Agnes

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 179
    Agnes.

Auntie !

    Lucy.

And what is his name ?

    Agnes.

Geo——Mr. Reddell.

    Lucy.

And hers is ?

    Agnes.

Oh, I never intended to tell you. I didn’t mean to say
a word.

    Lucy.

When did it happen ?

    Agnes.

Three days ago. That is to say, he proposed to me
then, but of course it has been going on for a long time. I could
see that he at least—I thought I could see. But I can hardly
realise it yet. It seems all so strange. And I did intend telling
you, I felt I must tell somebody, although George doesn’t want it
known yet, because, as I told you, he—and so I haven’t said a word
to father yet ; but I must soon and you won’t say anything, will
you ? and—and oh, I am silly.

    Lucy.

There, have your cry out, it will do you good. Now
tell me about Mr. Reddell. What is he ?

    Agnes.

He is a writer—an author. Don’t you remember I
showed you a story of his a little time ago ?

    Lucy.

I thought I knew the name.

    Agnes.

And you said you liked it ; I was so pleased.

    Lucy.

Yes, I did. I thought it clever and——

    Agnes.

He is clever ; and I do so want you to know him. He
wants to know you, too. You will try to like him, won’t you,
for my sake I

    Lucy.

I have no doubt I shall.

    Agnes.

He is just bringing out a book. Some of the stories
have been published before ; the one you read was one, and if that
proves a success then it will be all right ; we shall be able to get
married and——

    Lucy.

Wait a minute, Agnes. How long have you known him ?

The Yellow Book Vol.—I. L

                                                Agnes

                                                                 180
                        The Dedication
    Agnes.

Over a yea— nearly two years.

    Lucy.

And do you really know him well ? Are you quite
certain you can trust him ?

    Agnes.

What a question ! How can you doubt it ? You
wouldn’t for a minute if you knew him.

    Lucy.

I ought not to, knowing you, you mean. And supposing
this book is a success. May it not spoil him make him con-
ceited ?

    Agnes.

All the better if it does. He is not conceited enough,
and so I always tell him.

    Lucy.

But may it not make him worldly ? May he not, after a
time, regret his proposal to you if he sees a chance of making a
more advantageous——

    Agnes.

Impossible. What a dreadful opinion you must have of
mankind. You don’t think it really, I know. I have never heard
you say or hint anything nasty about anybody before.

    Lucy.

I only do it for your own good, my dear. I once knew
a man—just such another as you describe Mr. Reddell to be. He
was an author, too, and—and when I knew him his first book was
also just about to appear. He was engaged to be married to
to quite a nice girl too, although she was never so pretty as
you are.

    Agnes.

Who is the flatterer now ?

    Lucy.

The book was published. It was a great success. He
became quite the lion of the season—it is many years ago now.
The wedding-day was definitely fixed. Two months before the
date he suggested a postponement—for six months.

    Agnes.

How horrible !

    Lucy.

And just about the time originally fixed upon for the
wedding she received a letter from him he was abroad at the
time—suggesting that their engagement had better be broken off.

                                                Agnes.

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 181
    Agnes.

Oh, the brute ! the big brute ! But she didn’t consent,
did she ?

    Lucy.

Of course. The man she had loved was dead. The new
person she was indifferent to.

    Agnes.

But how—but you don’t suggest that Mr. Reddell could
behave like that ? he couldn’t. He wouldn’t, I feel certain. But
there must surely have been something else ; I can’t believe that
any man would behave so utterly unfeelingly—so brutally. They
say there are always two sides to every story. Mayn’t there have
been some reason that you knew nothing about ? Mayn’t she
have done something ? She must have been a little bit to blame,
too, and this side of the story you never heard.

    Lucy.

Yes—it is possible.

    Agnes.

I can’t think that any man would deliberately behave so
like a cad as you say he did.

    Lucy.

It may have been her fault. I used to think it might be
—just a little, as you say.

    Agnes.

Well, it sha’n’t be mine at all events. I won’t give
any cause—besides even if I did—— Oh, no, it is utterly
impossible to imagine such a thing !

    Lucy.

I hope it is, for your sake.

    Agnes.

Of course it is ; of that I am quite certain. And you
don’t think it is very wrong of me to—to——

    Lucy.

To say Yes to a man you love. No, my dear, that can
never be wrong, although it may be foolish.

    Agnes.

From a worldly point of view, perhaps ; but I should
never have thought that you——

    Lucy.

I didn’t mean that. But love seems to grow so quickly
when you once allow it to do so, that it is sometimes wiser to——
but never mind, bring him to see me, and—and may you be
happy. [long pause.]

                                                Agnes

                                                                 182
                        The Dedication
    Agnes.

You are crying now, Auntie ! You have nothing——

    Lucy.

Haven’t I ? What, not at the chance of losing you ?
So this is what brought you out so early this morning and occa-
sioned your bright, rosy cheeks ? You didn’t only come to see
me.

    Agnes.

To see you and talk to you, yes, that was all. No,
by-the-by, it wasn’t all. Have you seen a paper this morning ?
No ? I thought it would interest you so I brought it round. It
is bad news, not good news ; your favourite author is dead.

    Lucy.

I am afraid my favourite authors have been dead very
many years.

    Agnes.

I should say the author of your favourite book.

    Lucy.

You mean——

    Agnes.

Sir Harold Sekbourne. [Lucy leans back in her chair.]
He died last night. Here it is ; here is the paragraph. [Reads]
We egret to announce the death of Sir Harold Sekbourne, the
well-known novelist, which occurred at his town house, in Prince’s
Gate, late last evening.” Shall I read it to you ?

    Lucy.

No no, give me the paper. And and, Agnes, do you
mind going down to Franklin’s room, and telling her that receipt
you promised her ?

    Agnes.

For the Japanese custard ? Of course I will ; I quite
forgot all about it. There it is. [Gives her the paper, indicating
the paragraph with her finger, then goes out.
]

    Lucy.

[Sits staring at the paper for a few seconds, then reads
slowly.
]Sir Harold had been slightly indisposed for some weeks,
but no anxiety was felt until two days ago, when a change for the
worse set in, and despite all the care, attention, and skill of Drs.
Thornton and Douglas, who hardly left his bedside, he never
rallied, and passed peacefully away, at the early age of fifty-eight,
at the time above mentioned. It is now thirty years ago since the

                                                deceased

                        By Fred M. Simpson
                                                                 183
deceased baronet published his first book, ‘Grace : a Sketch,’
which had such an immediate and great success. This was followed
nearly a year afterwards by ‘Alain Treven,’ the scene of which is
laid in Brittany ; and from that time until his death his pen was
never idle. His last work, ‘The Incoming Tide’, has just been
published in book form, it having appeared in the pages of The
Illustrated Courier during the last year. Despite the rare power
of his later works, disclosing thoroughly, as they do, his scholarly
knowledge, his masterly construction, vivid imagination, and his
keen insight into character and details of every-day life, they none
of them can, for exquisite freshness and rare delicacy of execution,
compare with his first publication, ‘Grace : a Sketch.’ We have
before us, as we write, a first edition of this delightful story, with
its curiously sentimental dedication ‘To my Lady Luce,’ which in
the subsequent editions was omitted. A baronetcy was conferred
on Sir Harold by her Majesty two years ago, at the personal insti-
gation, it is said, of the Prime Minister, who is one of his greatest
admirers, but the title is now extinct, as Sir Harold leaves no son.
He married in June, 1866, a daughter of the late Sir Humphrey
Mockton, who survives him. His two daughters are both mar-
ried one to Lord Duncan, eldest son of the Earl of Andstar;
the other to Sir Reginald de Laver. His loss will be greatly felt,
not only in the literary world, but wherever the English tongue is
spoken and read.

    [Lucy goes to the bookcase takes out a book, and opens it]
    Agnes comes in.]

    Agnes.

Franklin is silly. I had to repeat the directions three
times, and even now I doubt if she understands them properly.
[Comes behind Lucy and looks over her shoulder.] Why, I never
knew you had a first edition. [Lucy starts and closes the book,
then opens it again.
] May I look at it ? But this is written ;

                                                the

                                                                 184
                        The Dedication
the ink is quite faded. To my Lady Luce. Harold Sek-
bourne, 3rd November, 1863. What a strong handwriting it
is ! Luce ! how strange that the name should be the same as——
[Looks suddenly at Lucy.] Oh, Auntie, forgive me. I never
dreamt—— I am so sorry.

MLA citation:

Simpson, Fred M. “The Dedication.” The Yellow Book, vol. 1, April 1894, pp. 159-84. Yellow Book Digital Edition, edited by Dennis Denisoff and Lorraine Janzen Kooistra, 2010-2014. Yellow Nineties 2.0, Ryerson University Centre for Digital Humanities, 2019. https://1890s.ca/YBV1_simpson_dedication