



Produced by Al Haines










[Frontispiece: "The vicar's wife would have a fit if I lounged like
this."  _See page 4_]






WHEN

  THE BIRDS

   BEGIN TO SING.



A Novel


BY

WINIFRED GRAHAM,


AUTHOR OF

"ON THE DOWN GRADE," &c., &c.



_WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS_

BY HAROLD PIFFARD.




LONDON:

C. ARTHUR PEARSON LTD.,

HENRIETTA STREET, W.C.

1897




CONTENTS.


CHAP.

     I.  AND WHEN LOVE SPEAKS

    II.  "IMPARADIS'D IN ONE ANOTHER'S ARMS."--_Milton_

   III.  "GOD MADE THE WOMAN FOR THE MAN."--_Tennyson_

    IV.  LIFE IS A JEST

     V.  "THE FLY THAT SIPS TREACLE IS LOST IN THE SWEETS"

    VI.  LIKE ONE THAT ON A LONESOME ROAD
         DOST WALK IN FEAR AND DREAD

   VII.  THE SHADOWS RISE AND FALL

  VIII.  KIND HEARTS ARE MORE THAN CORONETS.

    IX.  HEART SICK AND WEARY WITH THE JOURNEY'S FRET

     X.  FALSER THAN ALL FANCY FATHOMS

    XI.  IF WE ONLY KNOW!  IF WE ONLY KNOW!

   XII.  "TO-MORROW, AND TO-MORROW, AND TO-MORROW."--_Shakespeare_

  XIII.  "IF NEED, TO DIE--NOT LIVE."--_Charles Kingsley_

   XIV.  IN CLOUDS OF SILENCE FOLDED OUT OF SIGHT

    XV.  "AH, FOR SOME RETREAT
         DEEP IN YONDER SHINING ORIENT."--_Tennyson_

   XVI.  OH, LOVE!  IN SUCH A WILDERNESS AS THIS

  XVII.  "WHERE THERE AIN'T NO TEN COMMANDMENTS."--_Rudyard Kipling_

 XVIII.  LET US BE OPEN AS THE DAY

   XIX.  THE IDEAL!  DIM VANITIES OF DREAMS BY NIGHT

    XX.  LIFE IS THORNY, AND YOUTH IS VAIN

   XXI.  "BY A ROUTE OBSCURE AND LONELY,
         HAUNTED BY ILL ANGELS ONLY."--_E. A. Poe._

  XXII.  "NO FOOTSTEP STIRRED--THE HATED WORLD ALL SLEPT,
         SAVE ONLY THEE AND ME. (OH, HEAVEN!  OH, GOD!)"

 XXIII.  "OH, I DEFY THEE, HELL, TO SHOW,
         ON BEDS OF FIRE THAT BURN BELOW,
                       A DEEPER WOE."--_E. A. Poe_




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


"THE VICAR'S WIFE WOULD HAVE A FIT IF I LOUNGED
  LIKE THIS".......... Frontispiece

"LOOK! THERE IT GOES."

SALUTING THE OLD PICTURES ON THE WALL WITH MOCK COURTESY

THE DINING-ROOM DOOR OPENS, AND PHILIP ROCHE STANDS BEFORE THEM

"MR. AND MRS. GREBBY!"

SHE COVERS HER FACE WITH HER HANDS

"MAY I SEE THAT PHOTOGRAPH?"

"WHY, IT'S NEVER MR. ROCHE!" SHE EXCLAIMS

SHE RUSHES TO THE DOOR WITH A WILD CRY

ELEANOR STAGGERS ON BREATHLESSLY UP THE HILL

THE CRUEL FINGERS PRESS WITH DEADLY FORCE

BIG TOMBO BOWS ASSENT

BEARING TENDERLY THE LIMP BODY OF THE TERRIER

"WHAT VILLAIN HAS KILLED MY HORSE?"

SHE STEALS INTO THE VERANDAH AND WATCHES

PHILIP THROWS BACK HIS COAT, AND SHE SEES THE SHIRT
  BENEATH IT IS SPLASHED WITH BLOOD




WHEN THE BIRDS BEGIN TO SING.


CHAPTER I.

AND WHEN LOVE SPEAKS.

She was certainly very pretty, and just then she looked prettier than
usual, for the sharp run had brought a more vivid colour to the cheek,
and an added sparkle to the eye.  She was laughing, too--the rogue--as
well she might, for had she not brought her right hand swiftly down
upon his left ear when he had chased her, caught her, and deliberately
and maliciously kissed her, and did he not now look red and foolish,
and apparently repentant?

But let me start from the beginning, and tell you how it all came about.

      *      *      *      *      *

Eleanor, the daughter of