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diff --git a/78682-h/78682-h.htm b/78682-h/78682-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6fb324 --- /dev/null +++ b/78682-h/78682-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,17365 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + The lily of Mordaunt | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +/* .poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} */ +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent1 {text-indent: -2.5em;} + +.small {font-size: 75%;} +.medium {font-size: 125%;} +.large {font-size:150%;} +.sig0 {text-align: right; margin-right: 5em; } +.sig {text-align: right; margin-right: 2.5em; } + +table.backcover td { vertical-align: top; padding: 0 10px; } + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp50 {width: 50%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp50 {width: 100%;} +.illowe7_5 {width: 7.5em;} + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78682 ***</div> + + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="cover" style="max-width: 111.9375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center medium"> + No. 222 (EAGLE SERIES) 10 CENTS +</p> +<h1> +THE LILY OF MORDAUNT +</h1> +<p class="center"> + <span class="allsmcap">BY</span> <span class="large">MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON</span><br> + <br> + <span class="medium">STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK</span> +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="The_EAGLE_SERIES"> + <span class="smcap">T<sup>he</sup> EAGLE SERIES</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class="center medium"> + <b> + STREET & SMITH, Publishers + <br> + <i>The Pioneer Line of Ten-Cent Novels, and the Leader</i> + </b> +</p> +<hr class="r5"> +<p class="center medium"> + <b> + RETAIL PRICE, 10c. + </b> +</p> +<hr class="r5"> + +<p class="small">This famous line was the original series of ten-cent books. Its success +was instantaneous. Millions of copies have been sold, and an increasing +demand for the entire series continues. The following titles are in print, +and can be supplied by all newsdealers:</p> + +<p> + 224—A Wonderful Woman. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 223—Leola Dale’s Fortune. By Charles Garvice.<br> + 222—The Lily of Mordaunt. By Mrs. George Sheldon.<br> + 221—Wedded Yet No Wife. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 220—A Fatal Past. By Dora Russell.<br> + 219—Lost, A Pearle. By Mrs. George Sheldon.<br> + 218—A Life for a Love. By Mrs. L. T. Meade.<br> + 217—His Noble Wife. By George Manville Fenn.<br> + 216—The Lost Bride. By Clara Augusta.<br> + 215—Only a Girl’s Love. By Charles Garvice.<br> + 214—Olga’s Crime. By Frank Barrett.<br> + 213—The Heiress of Egremont. By Mrs. Harriet Lewis.<br> + 212—Doubly Wronged. By Adah M. Howard.<br> + 211—As We Forgive. By Lurana W. Sheldon.<br> + 210—Wild Oats. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 209—She Loved but Left Him. By Julia Edwards.<br> + 208—A Chase for a Bride. By St. George Rathborne.<br> + 207—Little Golden’s Daughter. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.<br> + 206—A Daughter of Maryland. By G. Waldo Browne.<br> + 205—If Love be Love. By D. Cecil Gibbs.<br> + 204—With Heart So True. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 203—Who Was the Heir. By Geraldine Fleming.<br> + 202—Marjorie. By Katharine S. MacQuoid.<br> + 201—Blind Elsie’s Crime. By Mary Grace Halpine.<br> + 200—In God’s Country. By D. Higbee.<br> + 199—Geoffrey’s Victory. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 198—Guy Kenmore’s Wife, and The Rose and the Lily. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.<br> + 197—A Woman Scorned. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 196—A Sailor’s Sweetheart. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 195—Her Faithful Knight. By Gertrude Warden.<br> + 194—A Sinless Crime. By Geraldine Fleming.<br> + 193—A Vagabond’s Honor. By Ernest De Lancey Pierson.<br> + 192—An Old Man’s Darling, and Jacquelina. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.<br> + 191—A Harvest of Thorns. By Mrs. H. C. Hoffman.<br> + 190—A Captain of the Kaiser. By St. George Rathborne.<br> + 189—Berris. By Katharine S. MacQuoid.<br> + 188—Dorothy Arnold’s Escape. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 187—The Black Ball. By Ernest De Lancey Pierson.<br> + 186—Beneath a Spell. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 185—The Adventures of Miss Volney. By Ella Wheeler Wilcox.<br> + 184—Sunlight and Gloom. By Geraldine Fleming.<br> + 183—Quo Vadis. By Henryk Sienkiewicz.<br> + 182—A Legal Wreck. By William Gillette.<br> + 181—The Baronet’s Bride. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 180—A Lazy Man’s Work. By Frances Campbell Sparhawk.<br> + 179—One Man’s Evil. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 178—A Slave of Circumstances. By Ernest De Lancey Pierson.<br> + 177—A True Aristocrat. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 176—Jack Gordon, Knight Errant. By William C. Hudson (Barclay North).<br> + 175—For Honor’s Sake. By Laura C. Ford.<br> + 174—Wild Margaret. By Geraldine Fleming.<br> + 173—A Bar Sinister. By the Author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 172—A King and a Coward. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 171—That Dakota Girl. By Stella Gilman.<br> + 170—A Little Radical. By Mrs. J. H. Walworth.<br> + 169—The Trials of an Actress. By Wenona Gilman.<br> + 168—Thrice Lost, Thrice Won. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 167—The Manhattaners. By Edward S. Van Zile.<br> + 166—The Masked Bridal. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 165—The Road of the Rough. By Maurice M. Minton.<br> + 164—Couldn’t Say No. By the author of Helen’s Babies.<br> + 163—A Splendid Egotist. By Mrs. J. H. Walworth.<br> + 162—A Man of the Name of John. By Florence King.<br> + 161—Miss Fairfax of Virginia. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 160—His Way and Her Will. By Frances Aymar Mathews.<br> + 159—A Fair Maid of Marblehead. By Kate Tannatt Woods.<br> + 158—Stella, the Star. By Wenona Gilman.<br> + 157—Who Wins? By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 156—A Soldier Lover. By Edward S. Brooks.<br> + 155—Nameless Dell. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 154—Husband and Foe. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 153—Her Son’s Wife. By Hazel Wood.<br> + 152—A Mute Confessor. By Will N. Harben.<br> + 151—The Heiress of Glen Gower. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 150—Sunset Pass. By General Charles King.<br> + 149—The Man She Loved. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 148—Will She Win? By Emma Garrison Jones.<br> + 147—Under Egyptian Skies. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 146—Magdalen’s Vow. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 145—Country Lanes and City Pavements. By Maurice M. Minton.<br> + 144—Dorothy’s Jewels. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 143—A Charity Girl. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 142—Her Rescue from the Turks. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 141—Lady Evelyn. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 140—That Girl of Johnson’s. By Jean Kate Ludlum.<br> + 139—Little Lady Charles. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 138—A Fatal Wooing. By Laura Jean Libbey.<br> + 137—A Wedded Widow. By T. W. Hanshew.<br> + 136—The Unseen Bridegroom. By May Agnes Fleming.<br> + 135—Cast Up by the Tide. By the author of Half a Truth.<br> + 134—Squire John. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 133—Max. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 132—Whose Was the Crime? By Gertrude Warden.<br> + 131—Nerine’s Second Choice. By Adelaide Stirling.<br> + 130—A Bitter Bondage. By Bertha M. Clay.<br> + 129—In Sight of St Paul’s. By Sutton Vane.<br> + 128—The Scent of the Roses. By the author of Half a Truth.<br> + 127—Nobody’s Daughter. By Clara Augusta.<br> + 126—The Girl from Hong Kong. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 125—Devil’s Island. By A. D. Hall.<br> + 124—Prettiest of All. By Julia Edwards.<br> + 123—Northern Lights. By A. D. Hall.<br> + 122—Grazia’s Mistake. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 121—Cecile’s Marriage. By Lucy Randall Comfort.<br> + 120—The White Squadron. By T. C. Harbaugh.<br> + 119—An Ideal Love. By Bertha M. Clay.<br> + 118—Saved From the Sea. By Richard Duffy.<br> + 117—She Loved Him. By Charles Garvice.<br> + 116—The Daughter of the Regiment. By Mary A. Denison.<br> + 115—A Fair Revolutionist. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 114—Half a Truth. By a popular author.<br> + 113—A Crushed Lily. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.<br> + 112—The Cattle King. By A. D. Hall.<br> + 111—Faithful Shirley. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.<br> + 110—Whose Wife Is She? By Annie Lisle.<br> + 109—A Heart’s Bitterness. By Bertha M. Clay.<br> + 108—A Son of Mars. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 107—Carla; or, Married at Sight. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br> + 106—Lilian, My Lilian. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.<br> + 105—When London Sleeps. By Chas. Darrell.<br> + 104—A Proud Dishonor. By Genie Holzmeyer.<br> + 103—The Span of Life. By Sutton Vane.<br> + 102—Fair But Faithless. By Bertha M. Clay.<br> + 101—A Goddess of Africa. By the author of Dr. Jack.<br> + 100—Alice Blake. By Francis S. Smith.<br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">99—Audrey’s Recompense. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">98—Claire. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">97—The War Reporter. By Warren Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">96—The Little Minister. By J. M. Barrie.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">95—’Twixt Love and Hate. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">94—Darkest Russia. By H. Grattan Donnelly.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">93—A Queen of Treachery. By T. W. Hanshew.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">92—Humanity. By Sutton Vane.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">91—Sweet Violet. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">90—For Fair Virginia. By Russ Whytal.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">89—A Gentleman From Gascony. By Bicknell Dudley.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">88—Virgie’s Inheritance. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">87—Shenandoah. By J. Perkins Tracy.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">86—A Widowed Bride. By Lucy Randall Comfort.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">85—Lorrie; or Hollow Gold. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">84—Between Two Hearts. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">83—The Locksmith of Lyons. By Prof. Wm. Henry Peck.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">82—Captain Impudence. By Edwin Milton Royle.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">81—Wedded For an Hour. By Emma Garrison Jones.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">80—The Fair Maid of Fez. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">79—Marjorie Deane. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">78—The Yankee Champion. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">77—Tina. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">76—Mavourneen. From the celebrated play.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">75—Under Fire. By T. P. James.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">74—The Cotton King. By Sutton Vane.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">73—The Marquis. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">72—Wilful Winnie. By Harriet Sherburne.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">71—The Spider’s Web. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">70—In Love’s Crucible. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">69—His Perfect Trust. By a popular author.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">68—The Little Cuban Rebel. By Edna Winfield.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">67—Gismonda. By Victorien Sardou.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">66—Witch Hazel. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">65—Won By the Sword. By J. Perkins Tracy.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">64—Dora Tenney. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">63—Lawyer Bell from Boston. By Robert Lee Tyler.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">62—Stella Stirling. By Julia Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">61—La Tosca. By Victorien Sardou.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">60—The County Fair. By Neil Burgess.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">59—Gladys Greye. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">58—Major Matterson of Kentucky. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">57—Rosamond. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">56—The Dispatch Bearer. By Warren Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">55—Thrice Wedded. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">54—Cleopatra. By Victorien Sardou.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">53—The Old Homestead. By Denman Thompson.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">52—Woman Against Woman. By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">51—The Price He Paid. By E. Werner.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">50—Her Ransom. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">49—None But the Brave. By Robert Lee Tyler.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">48—Another Man’s Wife. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">47—The Colonel By Brevet. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">46—Off With the Old Love. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">45—A Yale Man. By Robert Lee Tyler.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">44—That Dowdy. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">43—Little Coquette Bonnie. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">42—Another Woman’s Husband. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">41—Her Heart’s Desire. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">40—Monsieur Bob. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">39—The Colonel’s Wife. By Warren Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">38—The Nabob of Singapore. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">37—The Heart of Virginia. By J. Perkins Tracy.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">36—Fedora. By Victorien Sardou.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">35—The Great Mogul. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">34—Pretty Geraldine. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">33—Mrs. Bob. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">32—The Blockade Runner. By J. Perkins Tracy.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">31—A Siren’s Love. By Robert Lee Tyler.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">30—Baron Sam. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">29—Theodora. By Victorien Sardou.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">28—Miss Caprice. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">27—Estelle’s Millionaire Lover. By Julia Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">26—Captain Tom. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">25—Little Southern Beauty. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">24—A Wasted Love. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">23—Miss Pauline of New York. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">22—Elaine. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">21—A Heart’s Idol. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">20—The Senator’s Bride. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">19—Mr. Lake of Chicago. By Harry DuBois Milman.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">18—Dr. Jack’s Wife. By the author of Dr. Jack.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">17—Leslie’s Loyalty. By Charles Garvice.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">16—The Fatal Card. By Haddon Chambers and B. C. Stephenson.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">15—Dr. Jack. By St. George Rathborne.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">14—Violet Lisle. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">13—The Little Widow. By Julia Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">12—Edrie’s Legacy. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">11—The Gypsy’s Daughter. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">10—Little Sunshine. By Francis. S. Smith.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">9—The Virginia Heiress. By May Agnes Fleming.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">8—Beautiful but Poor. By Julia Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">7—Two Keys. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">6—The Midnight Marriage. By A. M. Douglas.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">5—The Senator’s Favorite. Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">4—For a Woman’s Honor. By Bertha M. Clay.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">3—He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. By Julia Edwards.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">2—Ruby’s Reward. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">1—Queen Bess. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="To_the_Reader"> + <i>To the Reader</i> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>We trust that you will be thoroughly +satisfied with this book. +During the long period of +time that the publications of Street & +Smith have been familiar to the reading +classes (somewhat more than half a +century) it has always been our aim to +give to the public the very best literary +products, regardless of the expenditure +involved. Our books and periodicals +are today read and re-read in a majority +of the homes of America, while +but few of our original competitors are +even known by name to the present +generation. No special credit is due for +antiquity, but we hold it to be a self-evident +fact that long experience, +coupled with enterprise and the ability +to maintain the front rank for so many +years, proves our right to the title of +leaders. We solicit your further valued +patronage.</p> + + +<p class="sig"> + STREET & SMITH. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2>The Lily of Mordaunt</h2> +<p class="p6 center medium"><i>A NOVEL</i></p> +<p class="p6 center"> + BY<br> + <span class="large">MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON</span><br> + <br> + AUTHOR OF<br> + “FAITHFUL SHIRLEY,” “BROWNIE’S TRIUMPH,” “QUEEN BESS,” + “LOST, A PEARLE,” “MAX,” ETC.<br> +</p> +<p class="p6"> </p> +<figure class="figcenter illowe7_5" id="i1"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i1.jpg" alt="S&S"> +</figure> +<p class="p6 center"> + <span class="medium">NEW YORK</span><br> + <span class="large">STREET & SMITH, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span></span><br> + <span class="smcap medium">238 William Street</span> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"> + Copyright, 1884, 1899 and 1901,<br> + By STREET & SMITH +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LILY_OF_MORDAUNT"> + THE LILY OF MORDAUNT. + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="center"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. A PERFECT BEAUTY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. “WHICH IS THE MORE LOVELY?”</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. A FRIEND IN NEED.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. I WILL WIN YOU YET.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. UNHEEDED FLEW THE HOURS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. DISAPPOINTMENT.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. “I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU.”</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. BETROTHED LOVERS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST WEDDING.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. ARLEY’S VISITOR.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. I CANNOT GIVE YOU UP.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. THE PORTRAIT.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. THE ENGAGEMENT RING.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. A TEARFUL FAREWELL.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. THE DOOR LOCKED UPON HIM.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. BAD NEWS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. ARLEY’S RESOLVE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. JANE COLLINS’ STORY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. ARLEY’S ILLNESS.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. A WICKED DEED.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. SAVED.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. THE LAST APPEAL.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. A FRIEND IN NEED.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. PHILIP PAXTON’S RETURN.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. JANE COLLINS AT HOME.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII. THE TRUTH TOLD.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII. ADDING INSULT TO INJURY.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX. PHILIP PAXTON’S LETTER.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX. FORTUNE’S WHEEL.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI. THE RING.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII. MRS. BANCROFT’S NARRATIVE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII. THE CRASH ON THE RAILROAD.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV. A “LADY BORN.”</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV. THE GOOD SAMARITAN.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI. THE STRANGE LETTER.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII. IN A DILEMMA.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII. ARLEY’S AMAZEMENT.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX. LADY ALICE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL. ATONEMENT.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER XLI. I AM HIS WIFE.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">CHAPTER XLII. WHERE AM I?</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">CHAPTER XLIII. A NOBLE MANHOOD RESTORED.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">CHAPTER XLIV. PERFECT FAITH.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">CHAPTER XLV. WIL HAMILTON.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">CHAPTER XLVI. MIMOSA.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVII">CHAPTER XLVII. HOMEWARD BOUND.</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVIII">CHAPTER XLVIII. CAN IT BE TRUE?</a><br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIX">CHAPTER XLIX. LADY PAXTON.</a> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br><span class="small"> + A PERFECT BEAUTY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<blockquote> +<p> + Hazelmere, June 30, 18—. +</p> + +<p>Dear Phil—I promised when we were all at home that I +would send for you. We are a gay party, I can tell you—five +constitute our number, and we need only your own jolly self +to complete the sextet. There is pretty Arley Wentworth, my +sister’s especial friend and chum; Fred Vane, Annie’s fiancee, +and last, but not least, aside from your humble servant, my +father’s charming ward, the Lady Elaine Warburton. What +shall I say of her?—how give you an idea of her surpassing +loveliness? I will say nothing. I can only quote from our poet +laureate: “Elaine the fair, Elaine the lovable! Elaine the lily-maid,” +not of Astolat, but of the house of Mordaunt, and the +daughter not “of a hundred earls,” like the “Lady Clare,” but +of the Duke of Mordaunt, who died abroad about five years +ago, having first committed his only child to the care of my +respected paternal, who was his dearest and most trusted +friend. She has been at a convent in France most of the time +since her father’s death, and I have scarcely seen her since she +was a little maid in short clothes; consequently, I was wholly +unprepared for the vision of loveliness which burst upon my +sight, when, on my return from Oxford, I was presented to +the peerless Elaine.</p> + +<p>You perceive, old fellow, how it is with me; I have “gone +clean daft.” I see nothing, think of nothing, save a fair, +creamy face, with the faintest flush, like that of a sea-shell, +on its rounded cheeks, while shining bands of gold span the +pure, white brow, beneath which eyes of purple-blue seem to +be looking at one through a golden mist. Then those dainty +lips! so sweet, so red, that they never part with smile or word +but they set my heart on fire. She has a form of faultless +symmetry, a hand like a piece of fairest sculptured marble, +and a foot which a fairy might envy.</p> + +<p>I said I would not say anything about her, but I’ve written +all this nonsense almost before I knew it. I’m getting decidedly +spooney, I’ll own, but you will not wonder when you +see my “lily-maid.” Come down right away, and we will have +gay times for the next month. You will like Arley Wentworth, +who, by the way, is quite an heiress, and just your style—dark, +brilliant, bewitching.</p> + +<p>You shall be her cavalier on all occasions. You perceive +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>that I have done the pairing-off; for I warn you beforehand +that I shall brook no rival for the affections of my peerless +Lily of Mordaunt. I can imagine the curl of amusement, perhaps +mingled with something of scorn, on your handsome lips +as you read this, mon ami. You will remember how indifferent +I have always been to the charms of the gentle sex—you +will recall my rank skepticism regarding my ever losing my +heart to any woman, however lovely; but I can’t help it—it’s +all up with me now, though I doubt if the rack would ever +have made me confess as much to any one else. Telegraph +when you will be here, and I will meet you at the station.</p> + +<p class="sig0">Yours ever,</p> +<p class="sig">WIL.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Philip Paxton, Esq., a young and rising barrister, sat in +his chamber, in Grey’s Inn, one hot, dusty day, when all +London seemed gasping for breath, so to speak, and read the +above effusion; while his lips did, indeed, curl, but with decided +“scorn” rather than with “amusement.”</p> + +<p>“I should say he was ‘clean daft,’” he muttered, “poor, +foolish Wil!”</p> + +<p>“And he will ‘brook no rival for the affections of the fair +Elaine!’” he added, a flash of something like defiance for a +moment lighting up his dark eyes.</p> + +<p>“Bah!” he continued, “the name is enough for me—I +never could endure that love-sick tale, where that poor little +fool, Elaine, died for love of Lancelot, and the very sound of +it is a synonym to me of a sort of milk-and-water beauty, +and a weak-minded, silly little girl. Now Arley Wentworth,” +he went on, referring to his friend’s letter again, “sounds +something like—there is character in it, and, at all events, +originality. Let me see, this is Wednesday; I imagine that I +can arrange matters and things so that I can run down to +Hazelmere on Saturday. I think I’ve earned a rest,” he +concluded, with a sigh, while his eyes roved with something +of pride over the piles of papers and documents filed so neatly +away in the pigeonhole of his great desk, and telling of long +days of hard work and well-earned gold.</p> + +<p>He took up his pen, and, drawing a sheet of paper toward +him, at once wrote a letter of acceptance to the invitation of +his friend, and mentioned Saturday afternoon as the time +set for his arrival at Hazelmere, the magnificent country seat +of Sir Anthony Hamilton, a wealthy baronet, who owned +half the township of Horsham, Sussex County, England.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Saturday afternoon, when the half-past four express from +London stopped for a moment at the station of Horsham, a +tall, well-proportioned young man of about twenty-five, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>sprang upon the platform and looked about him as if expecting +to see some one whom he knew awaiting him.</p> + +<p>There was a stately air about him which at once attracted +attention, a certain poise of the handsome head, a look of +character and decision about his attractive face, a certain +gravity and dignity of manner, and a fire in his dark blue +eye which impressed the beholder at once with an idea of +superiority and power.</p> + +<p>And yet, a closer scrutiny of that face by those who were +skillful in reading human nature, always engendered a feeling +of distrust, as if underneath all that ability, power and +culture there was an element which was liable, under certain +circumstances, to work mischief for both himself and others.</p> + +<p>His clothing was of the finest texture and most fashionable +make, yet there was not the least suspicion of the dandy +about him; everything was immaculate, yet in perfect taste.</p> + +<p>“Aha! here you are, old boy, and now I am happy,” cried +a genial voice near by, and the next moment his hand was +eagerly taken and heartily shaken by a young man about his +own height, but of slighter build, with a frank, laughing +face, clear, honest blue eyes, waving auburn hair, and a voice +whose heartiness and cordiality rang out like a rich strain of +music on the summer air.</p> + +<p>This was Wilton, or, as he was more familiarly called, Wil +Hamilton, only son of Sir Anthony and heir to his title and +large estates.</p> + +<p>“If you had disappointed me,” he ran on, in a gay tone, and +still shaking the hand that he held, “I should have given you +the ‘cut direct’ the next time we met. We are all here after +you—the three graces, attended by Fred and myself. Come +this way and I’ll introduce you; but, beware!”—with a mock +tragic air—“don’t you dare to lift covetous eyes to the fair +Elaine, or I shall throw my gauntlet at your feet on the +spot. Arley Wentworth, by the way, is on tiptoe to see you; +thinks you must be something extra; rather above the common +run, you know; for I’ve rung your praises unceasingly +in her ears—of course I had an object in view—during the +last few days.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” returned Philip Paxton, in a slightly sarcastic +tone, which caused his light-hearted friend to laugh +outright.</p> + +<p>“There! none of your grandiloquent airs, Phil, if you +please. You know they never did disturb me in the least, +so they will do no good now. We are all bound for a good +time, and if your backbone gets too stiff, it will be uncomfortable, +not only for yourself, but for the rest of us.</p> + +<p>“Here we are,” he added, as they came around to one end +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>of the station, where there stood a handsome pair of bays attached +to a wagonette, in which two ladies and a gentleman +were seated.</p> + +<p>“Annie,” he said, leading his friend toward them and addressing +a pretty girl, with a fair complexion and hazel eyes, +“you do not need to be introduced to Phil, but you shall give +him a grip of welcome before I present the others. Mr. +Vane, this is my friend, Mr. Paxton; Miss Wentworth, Mr. +Paxton.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Paxton, after greeting Annie Hamilton, shook hands +with Mr. Vane and lifted his hat to Miss Wentworth and +was instantly impressed that she was a “mighty pretty +girl.”</p> + +<p>Then he glanced about him in some curiosity, wondering +where the “fair Elaine” could be.</p> + +<p>Wil Hamilton noticed it, and colored slightly.</p> + +<p>“Come this way a moment, Phil, and I’ll finish all the introductions +at once,” he said; and slipping his arm within +that of his friend, he turned him about and led him toward +an elegant phaeton, to which two pretty, gray ponies were +attached, and in which a slight, graceful girl was seated.</p> + +<p>“I could not drive any nearer, for the ponies are a trifle +skittish,” Wil explained, as he led him forward.</p> + +<p>“Good Heavens! how beautiful she is!” the young man said +to himself when at last they stood beside the phaeton; and +he never could remember afterward how he conducted himself +during the ceremony of introduction.</p> + +<p>“The Lily of Mordaunt,” he repeated to himself, as he +gazed upon her exquisite loveliness, and, for the moment, was +oblivious of everything else.</p> + +<p>He was conscious only of looking into eyes of liquid blue—eyes +which seemed to him to have fathomless depths, and +through which some sweet spirit was gazing up at him, +thrilling his very soul with a strange delight.</p> + +<p>He saw a fair, low brow, over which rings of sunny hair +lay in careless grace; a delicate mouth, proud, yet sweet, +sensitive, yet strong. He noticed the dainty fairness of her +skin, upon which there was not the slightest blemish; the +small ears, which seemed like molded wax, and the rich, +heavy rolls of golden hair, which shone like bands of +smoothed satin. He saw, too, the slight, perfect, yet stately +figure, with its beautifully-fitting dress of russet brown; the +small hand so daintily gloved; the soft ruching encircling her +white throat, and which was fastened with some costly and +curiously-carved stone.</p> + +<p>He took in every detail of her toilet—all her exquisite +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>loveliness in those few, brief moments, during which he stood +bowing before her, and exchanged polite greetings.</p> + +<p>“She is like the matchless Calla lily,” he said to himself, +“as pure, as stately, as perfect. I do not wonder now at +Wil’s rhapsodies, or that he lost his heart when he saw her. +But I wish her name was not Elaine—I never liked it; though +if this lily-maid of Astolat was one-half so fair, I doubt if +Queen Guinevere, even though she were called the ‘pearl of +beauty,’ could ‘hold a candle to her’—to quote a common +phrase; and Lancelot, that flower of bravery, made the greatest +mistake of his life when he turned the cold shoulder to +her pleading. Who could look upon such beauty unmoved? +It is not in human nature.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton will make our circle complete,” Lady Elaine +said, turning with a smile, and a slight blush, from his admiring +eyes to speak to Wil.</p> + +<p>That smile disclosed the prettiest teeth—small, white, +even; and in vivid contrast to the sweet, scarlet lips.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton bowed his appreciation of this compliment, +and a deeper color tinged his own cheek.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Wil Hamilton answered, “we shall make a capital +party, and now, Phil, if you’ll take a seat in the wagonette +with Miss Wentworth, I’ll swing your portmanteau in forward +under the driver’s seat, and then we’ll be off for Hazelmere, +where we shall doubtless find dinner waiting.”</p> + +<p>Philip lifted his hat to Lady Elaine, and turned away to +comply with his friend’s request.</p> + +<p>But he was loath to go; and his eye lingered enviously +upon the vacant seat by her side.</p> + +<p>How like a poem it would have been to be able to drive +those spirited ponies over the two miles to Hazelmere, with +that peerless face so near, and that sweet voice making music +in his ears!</p> + +<p>But he was, of course, obliged to submit to the arrangements +already made; and, springing to his post by Miss +Wentworth’s side, they were soon trotting along at a spanking +rate over the beautiful moors, while, before they had accomplished +half the distance to Hazelmere, his admiration +was turned into a new channel, and he was compelled to confess +that Wil had certainly given him no “milk-and-water” +beauty for a companion, for Miss Arley Wentworth proved +herself to be both brilliant and interesting.</p> + +<p>Half an hour’s drive brought them to Hazelmere’s hospitable +doors, where a cordial reception was accorded to the +newcomers by Sir Anthony Hamilton and his genial, +motherly wife, and the gay party separated to dress for dinner, +which would soon be served.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p> + +<p>“I will give you just twenty minutes, young ladies, so bestir +yourselves,” Lady Hamilton said, playfully, as the three +girls came trooping into the hall; “if you cannot make yourselves +pretty enough in that time, you will have to suffer the +consequences.”</p> + +<p>“What do you think of my ‘Lily of Mordaunt?’” Wil asked +of Philip, as he went to show him the room which had been +prepared for him.</p> + +<p>“Your Lily of Mordaunt!” he repeated, with a keen glance +into the young man’s face; “do you claim possession +already?”</p> + +<p>Wil flushed.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said, with a laugh, “I suppose I have no right +to do that, but, between you and me, I hope it will come to +that before long. Is she not lovely?”</p> + +<p>“Very; and your name for her is very appropriate; but +Miss Wentworth is exceedingly beautiful, too,” Philip answered.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Arley is very brilliant, and a fascinating little +thing; besides, she has twenty thousand pounds in her own +right.”</p> + +<p>“That is a snug little sum, to be sure; but, I suppose Lady +Elaine is very wealthy, also,” Philip remarked, with a side +glance at his friend.</p> + +<p>“Yes; the Duke of Mordaunt left an immense property—the +income, I believe is about as much as Arley’s whole +fortune.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” Mr. Paxton said, with a peculiar emphasis. +“You will be a lucky fellow, Wil, if you succeed in winning +her peerless ladyship and her immense fortune, also.”</p> + +<p>“I have scarcely thought of the money,” Wil Hamilton replied, +eagerly, and flushing hotly. “She would be just the +same to me if she hadn’t a penny.”</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless, a plethoric purse is a very convenient thing +to possess in the long run,” quoth Philip Paxton, dryly.</p> + +<p>“Twenty thousand pounds a year!” he repeated, meditatively +to himself, after Wil had gone below. “How would a +man feel, I wonder, to have the handling of that amount, to +say nothing of the privilege of sitting <i>vis-a-vis</i> three or four +times a day with such a beauty as Lady Elaine Warburton.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br><span class="small"> + “WHICH IS THE MORE LOVELY?” + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>A few words more of introduction are necessary in order +to make the reader understand more thoroughly what the +main characters of our story are like.</p> + +<p>Arley Wentworth, like the Lady Elaine, was an orphan. +Her father had been a gallant captain in her majesty’s army, +her mother the daughter of a wealthy London physician.</p> + +<p>Both had died in the far East, the captain from a bullet +wound received with his face to the enemy, his gentle, idolizing +wife from grief over her husband’s untimely and tragic +death.</p> + +<p>The little Arley, then not quite two years old, was thus +left desolate, save for the native nurse who had had the care +of her ever since her birth—and the officers of her father’s +company, not knowing what else to do, sent her home to England +to her grandfather. The nurse, who loved her little +charge most fondly, and could not endure the thought of +separation, was only too glad to be commissioned to take care +of her.</p> + +<p>But the poor, little waif nearly lost her life also, for the +vessel was wrecked during the voyage, the nurse was drowned, +and the child was picked up, more dead than alive, by a kind-hearted +sailor, who saw her drifting helplessly about, and +could not leave her to the mercy of the cruel waves, even +though his own chances for being rescued were small.</p> + +<p>When he, with the few others who were saved, were transferred +from the sinking wreck to another homeward-bound +steamer, a good woman took the poor child and cared for her +with all the tenderness of a mother until she saw her safe in +the care of her grandfather, Dr. Hugh McAllister, of London.</p> + +<p>He was nearly heart-broken over the sad tidings brought +to him with his grandchild, but as she grew and developed, +she gradually came to take the place of his lost daughter, and +he bestowed the greatest care upon her education and +training.</p> + +<p>She was a great comfort to him as long as he lived, and at +his death he left her all his property, and confided her to the +guardianship of his sister, a maiden lady a number of years +younger than himself.</p> + +<p>So she was quite an heiress in her own right, besides having +expectations of more, since Miss McAllister was also +quite wealthy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p> + +<p>She was vivacious and beautiful, as well as very intelligent, +consequently she was much sought after and became the +life of the company wherever she went.</p> + +<p>Her name, Arley, was simply a contraction of Arletta, +which everybody seemed to dislike to speak, and wondered +that her parents should have chosen such a strange cognomen +for her.</p> + +<p>Her features were regular, with a sort of rounded symmetry +that made one long to kiss the smooth, bright cheeks +and the full, ripe lips. Her eyes were large, very dark, almost +black, and exceedingly expressive. Her hair, of glossy +nut-brown, was always arranged in some becoming style, and +her smile, so bright and witching, made others smile in +sympathy.</p> + +<p>She was not so tall or symmetrical in figure as the Lady +Elaine, but it was a pretty form, nevertheless, and always +clad in the most jaunty and tasteful of costumes.</p> + +<p>Annie Hamilton was a sweet, gentle girl, very quiet and +somewhat retiring, with no pretensions to beauty, but with a +latent something about her—a certain charm which made +everybody love her.</p> + +<p>She was two years younger than her brother, who was +twenty-one, and whom she loved with almost idolatrous affection. +She appeared rather mature for her years, but this +was owing to her quiet demeanor, and to the fact, perhaps, +that she had been brought up almost alone, there being no +companions of her own age in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Fred Vane, her betrothed, had, like Philip, been educated +for the bar, but having a handsome fortune in prospect, and +being the only child of his parents, he had, at their request, +remained at home to assist in the management of their large +estate.</p> + +<p>He, like Annie, was very quiet in his tastes, and they +were a couple of matter-of-fact lovers, who bade fair to +enjoy a life full of peace and comfort.</p> + +<p>When dinner was over and the gentlemen had rejoined +the ladies, Lady Hamilton called her son to arrange for the +next day’s amusement, and Philip, seizing the opportunity, +sought Lady Elaine and engaged her in conversation.</p> + +<p>He was an entertaining talker, and soon succeeded in fastening +her attention wholly upon himself, and when at length +Wil returned to the drawing-room he found that his friend +had coaxed his “lady fair” out through one of the long windows, +and there the handsome couple were pacing back and +forth on the ivy-covered porch, which ran along the end of +the drawing-room and the library, and were apparently oblivious +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>to everything and everybody save themselves and the +subject they were discussing.</p> + +<p>A quick, hot flush mounted to the young man’s brow, and +a pained, anxious look stole into his eyes, for he had surrendered +himself entirely and with a devotion rarely equaled +to his father’s young and beautiful ward, and he had begun +to hope, from several little signs, that she was not indifferent +to him.</p> + +<p>“My peerless lily, I do not like this sudden monopoly at +all,” he murmured, with unsteady lips. “I love you—how +I love you! and unless I win you my whole life will be +ruined.”</p> + +<p>Fred Vane and his sister were sitting in a deep window +having a cozy after-dinner chat, and had not even heeded his +entrance. Sir Anthony was reading his newspaper, and +Arley was nowhere visible.</p> + +<p>Wil thought he would look her up, and stole softly out of +the room, feeling very wretched, and with the first bitterness +which he had ever experienced for his old chum rising +in his heart.</p> + +<p>He found Arley in the library writing a letter, and sitting +just where she could see that distinguished-looking couple +outside, pacing up and down in the shadow of the ivy vines.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were unusually bright and her color considerably +heightened, but she looked up with her own charming smile +as Wil entered.</p> + +<p>He begged pardon for intruding when he saw that she was +writing, but she said:</p> + +<p>“Come in, do; I am only just scribbling a little note to +auntie. I am all through except writing the address; and +then, if you are agreeable, we’ll take a stroll down to the +lake; you know that is my favorite resort, for”—with a droll +look—“I found myself decided <i>detrop</i> in the drawing-room. +Perhaps, however, the others will like to come with us, if +they are not too deeply engaged,” she concluded, with a slight +shrug of her pretty shoulders and an inclination of her +bright head toward the porch.</p> + +<p>Wil assented to her proposal, and, having waited for her +to address and seal her letter, they sauntered out.</p> + +<p>As they passed through the hall Arley caught up a filmy +white scarf and twisted it carefully about her head, and the +contrast with her bright complexion and her rich dress made +the loveliest picture imaginable.</p> + +<p>“Come, Annie,” she sang out, gayly, peeping in at the +drawing-room door; “we are going down to the lake for a +row.” Then, with a glance at her companion, she added: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>“Will you ask Mr. Paxton and Lady Elaine to come with +us?”</p> + +<p>Wil started and flushed hotly at the question, and she read +his heart in an instant.</p> + +<p>“He loves her, as I suspected, and he is afraid of losing +her,” she thought.</p> + +<p>She bent her head in reflection a moment, then lifting it +with a haughty, resolute gesture, she said:</p> + +<p>“I’ll ask them,” and darted away to suit the action to the +word.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what Mr. Paxton thinks of me,” she murmured +as she went; “he shall not spoil Wil’s life with his +arts; he loves Lady Elaine, and he shall win her if I can help +him to do it, for they were just made for each other.”</p> + +<p>She stole softly up the steps of the porch, which at that +end was beautifully arched above with massive carved pillars +on each side.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton and his companion were pacing the other +way, and their backs were toward her—they were not even +conscious of the approach of any one.</p> + +<p>“The Lily of Mordaunt is wanted,” she called out, gayly. +“Come, Mr. Paxton—we are all going for a row on the lake, +and if you have never seen that charming sheet of water, +you do not know what a treat is in store for you.”</p> + +<p>They turned at the sound of her voice, and Philip caught +his breath as he looked down the length of the porch and +saw the lovely vision standing in the arch; it was as if the +young girl had been painted there by some master hand and +then framed within that massive carving.</p> + +<p>“Heavens! I never saw one so beautiful,” he thought; +and the fairer beauty of the girl at his side seemed to pale +before the bright vision before him.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine came forward at Arley’s call, as if glad to be +released from her <i>tete-a-tete</i>.</p> + +<p>“Please do not call me by that sentimental name, Arley,” +she said, with a smile, but with a rising flush.</p> + +<p>“Why not, dear? Wil gave you the name, and it just suits +you,” she replied, linking her arms in hers and drawing her +down the steps. “You always make me think of a lily whenever +I look at you.”</p> + +<p>“But you make me feel foolish, you bright Rose of Wentworth,” +Lady Elaine returned, with an arch smile.</p> + +<p>Arley’s laugh pealed out rich and clear.</p> + +<p>“Now that is just delightful of you, my lady; nobody ever +called me anything so pretty before. Do I make you think +of a rose?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed you do—the brightest rose that ever grew; isn’t +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>it true, Mr. Paxton?” Lady Elaine inquired, appealing to +him.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed; it was a happy inspiration, and I think we +must adopt it in the future,” he replied, with a look in his +handsome eyes that made Arley’s heart beat quickly in spite +of her previous irritation, and the little piece of treachery +which she had been plotting to thwart his plans regarding +the great heiress and her fortune.</p> + +<p>When they came up with the others, Wil appeared thoughtful, +and his usually frank eyes were clouded with a look of +pain.</p> + +<p>“We have found a new name for Miss Wentworth,” Philip +said, pretending not to notice the change in his friend, although +his conscience gave him a twinge; “we are going to +call her the ‘Wentworth Rose.’ What do you think of it?”</p> + +<p>“That it is very appropriate,” Wil tried to say with his +usual hearty manner.</p> + +<p>“Then henceforth we will fight for the Wentworth Rose; +her champions we will be,” Philip said, gayly, and making +a low obeisance before Arley.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Mr. Paxton; but I am afraid I shall be +spoiled, for I have not been in the habit of having such +pretty things said to me,” she returned, demurely, but with +very mischievous eyes. “However,” she added, “if you take +such rash vows upon yourself you must abide by the consequences; +I shall require you to wear my colors.”</p> + +<p>She plucked a crimson rose from a bush near which they +were standing and held it out to him.</p> + +<p>“A serious requirement, indeed,” he answered, smiling; +“but I shall be most happy to accede to it, if your own fair +fingers will place it where it ought to go,” and he touched +the left lapel of his coat.</p> + +<p>Arley began to look for a pin; then, as if suddenly remembering +the object of their stroll she shot a quick glance +over her shoulder at Wil, saying:</p> + +<p>“I suppose I must comply with Mr. Paxton’s request; go +on, Wil, and get the boat ready, and we will be there by the +time you want to start.”</p> + +<p>Wil Hamilton’s eyes lighted, for he understood the manœuvre +of the bright girl, and stepping to Lady Elaine’s +side, they all passed on, somewhat to Philip Paxton’s chagrin, +for he had intended to monopolize the heiress of Mordaunt +during the remainder of the evening.</p> + +<p>But there was no help for it, since he had bound his own +hands, so to speak, and he was obliged to stand there and +allow Miss Wentworth to amuse herself at his expense. She +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>appeared to be in no hurry either, and it took some time +to settle that rose to suit her capricious fancy.</p> + +<p>“I trust you have a generous supply of patience, Mr. Paxton,” +she said, with provoking coolness, as, for the fourth +time, she removed the refractory pin, to “try again.”</p> + +<p>“There!” she added, “I think that will do this time; and +now I’m afraid that we have kept the others waiting. But +I always like to have everything just right,” she concluded, +with a double meaning to her words, but looking so sweetly +innocent that he never suspected how she had contrived to +spoil his little game, although he inwardly rebelled against +being separated from Lady Elaine.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the lake, they found the rest of the +party seated in the boat, waiting for them.</p> + +<p>Annie Hamilton was sitting in the prow, Wil and Lady +Elaine in the next seat, looking as contented as possible +with each other’s society, while Fred Vane was in the middle +of the boat with an oar in each hand; thus the two seats +at the stern were reserved for the two loiterers.</p> + +<p>“I am going to row, Paxton, and you will oblige me if +you will take the tiller,” Fred Vane said, and Philip, after +assisting Arley to her seat, could only comply with his request.</p> + +<p>But he did not have a very unsocial time of it, in spite of +his disappointment, for the “Wentworth Rose” was in the +best of spirits, for some reason, and kept his attention so +perfectly occupied with her mirth and chatter, that he almost +forgot that he had been balked in any of his designs, +while Wil was as grateful to the quick-witted girl as ever +a forlorn lover could be.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br><span class="small"> + A FRIEND IN NEED. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>A week slipped by on magical wings.</p> + +<p>Some delightful excursion, drive or entertainment was +planned for every day, and the guests of Sir Anthony and +Lady Hamilton were indeed a “gay party,” as Wil had prophesied +they would be.</p> + +<p>Had it not been for the two that were playing at cross +purposes, there would have been nothing to mar the delight +of any one.</p> + +<p>If Arley Wentworth had only been Lady Elaine, with her +title and twenty thousand a year, or if her position and fortune +had been equal to hers, Philip Paxton would have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>bowed on worshiping knees at her shrine before that week +was over.</p> + +<p>He was bewitched and fascinated by her—she acquired a +power over him as no one had ever won before; he never +heard her voice without a thrill—she never came near him +without his pulses leaped; the very sound of her light laugh +and step—the rustle even of her dress was music to him.</p> + +<p>But, alas! he had decreed that it would be folly for him +to pass by the greater prize for the sake of a little love; he +was ambitious for a brilliant future, which fortune and position +would at once secure for him, and he could not afford +to sacrifice it for the sake of a foolish sentiment, which, at +the most, could only give him a little more domestic happiness; +and perhaps, after all, he might learn to love Lady +Elaine just as well if he should marry her; and he had made +up his mind to accomplish this if possible, notwithstanding +the confidential confession of his friend, and the wrong that +he would thus do him.</p> + +<p>“Wil is certain to be a rich man anyway—he will inherit +all his father’s large property, and it would not be fair for +him to have two such fortunes, while it is only by my wits +and the hardest work that I am making my way along in +the world.”</p> + +<p>Thus he reasoned the matter with himself, shutting his +eyes to the fact that he was betraying the confidence of his +friend, using him dishonorably, and doing violence to the +nobler feeling of his own nature.</p> + +<p>But he did not progress very rapidly in his undertaking +for, just as he would succeed in getting Lady Elaine nicely +to himself, and perhaps right in the middle of a fine speech, +something would be sure to interrupt them and break up their +<i>tete-a-tete</i>.</p> + +<p>But he never suspected that there was any “malice prepense” +about it, or that Arley Wentworth was thwarting him +in every possible way—that she was employing all her arts, +and making herself so delightfully agreeable to him whenever +the opportunity offered, just for the sake of keeping +him from poaching on forbidden ground, and thus giving +Wil the desire of his heart.</p> + +<p>But it was so, nevertheless; she watched them unceasingly, +and if she saw Philip about to seek Lady Elaine, she would +instantly dart up to him, in her bright, bewitching way, upon +some pretense or other, claim his attention, and draw him +into conversation or some playful controversy, until Wil +could capture his lady-love; then, laughing in her sleeve over +her success, yet with a strange pain gradually creeping into +her heart, she would suddenly remember some engagement, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>work, or errand, and slip away again, leaving him to his +own devices.</p> + +<p>“What is your opinion of Mr. Paxton?” she asked her one +day, when, having dressed earlier than usual, she ran into +Lady Elaine’s room to have a half-hour’s chat before dinner.</p> + +<p>“I think he is very agreeable and intelligent,” Lady Elaine +quietly replied.</p> + +<p>“Yes—a trifle superior—a little above the generality of +young men, isn’t he?” Arley asked, with a peculiar emphasis, +and a covert glance at the fair face opposite her.</p> + +<p>A delicate flush rose to the creamy cheek, and the lovely +blue eyes were hidden beneath their white lids.</p> + +<p>“Is he?” queried Lady Elaine, with an assumption of cool +indifference that amused Arley exceedingly.</p> + +<p>“I asked you to pass judgment upon him; but if you want +my opinion of him I suppose I can give it, and of the other +young gentlemen of our party, too,” she retorted, with a +wicked gleam in her dark eyes. “I think he is very handsome. +You seldom see such magnificent eyes in anybody; +and he has such a finely-shaped head, so square and well-developed. +Then look at the life and energy in his every +movement. Why, if Fred Vane had one-half as much, what +a man he would make with his opportunities. Then he—Mr. +Paxton, I mean—is so cultivated and entertaining, he must +have improved his time well while at Oxford; while as for +Wil——”</p> + +<p>She hesitated purposely, and the sly puss got just the reward +she had been seeking.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure, Arley, you are very unfair in your criticisms, +especially when you are a guest in the home of Wil Hamilton. +You should not draw odious comparisons,” Lady Elaine +said, with a sudden flash of spirit, her eyes gleaming and +darkening, until they looked like two purple, starry-hearted +pansies, while a vivid spot of red burned on each cheek.</p> + +<p>“Odious comparisons!” Arley repeated, drooping her lids +to hide the dancing spirit in her own eyes. “I don’t think +I’ve said anything very bad. I was merely expressing my admiration +for the recent addition to our party, and—don’t +you know? I was expected to admire him; for, if you remember +Wil took special pains to impress his superiority +upon me long before his arrival, and I’m sure I do not wish +to be unappreciative or to disappoint anybody——”</p> + +<p>“But you need not depreciate others for the sake of lauding +him. Wil Hamilton, of all others, least deserves it,” interrupted +Lady Elaine, with a heightening color.</p> + +<p>“I depreciate Wil Hamilton!” cried mischievous Arley, +with well-assumed astonishment. “My dear Elaine, you misunderstand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>me entirely—indeed, you did not even allow me +to finish what I was going to say about him.”</p> + +<p>“What were you going to say?” the fair girl asked, with +a searching look at her friend’s dimpling face, and then dropping +her telltale eyes.</p> + +<p>“I was going to remark that, as for Wil, there was no use +drawing any comparisons, for—he is without a peer in my +estimation.”</p> + +<p>A little smile of pleasure flitted over Lady Elaine’s sweet +lips, the waxen lids fluttered over her downcast eyes, while a +vivid blush suffused her fair face, burning up into the waves +of golden hair above her forehead, and creeping down among +the folds of snowy lace about her white throat.</p> + +<p>Arley, observing it, laughed outright and clapped her +dimpled hands with glee at these signs of the state of her +friend’s heart. Then, leaning suddenly forward, she kissed +her on the forehead.</p> + +<p>“My beautiful ‘Lily of Mordaunt,’ you are a darling,” she +said. “You are pure and true to your heart’s core; you are +loyal, you are brave, and if I am ever in need of a friend, I +know that you will not fail me.”</p> + +<p>How vividly she recalled that assertion two years later!</p> + +<p>Lady Hamilton was to give a large dinner party that evening +to a number of her friends in the county, and there +were also several distinguished people from London invited.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine was very glad of the presence of these visitors, +for they would serve to shield her somewhat from observation, +and she was too conscious of her recently discovered secret +to wish to be at all conspicuous.</p> + +<p>She had chosen for the occasion a dress of pure white, +of some soft, gauzy material, and unrelieved by an atom of +color, save a cluster of dark, waxen-green leaves, which she +had fastened at her throat with a single diamond, that +glittered among them like a huge drop of dew.</p> + +<p>“Mademoiselle is perfect,” her maid had cried, when her +toilet was completed; “there will be no one below one-half so +lovely.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, Nanette! you must not flatter me,” her mistress +said, with a reproving smile. “I know,” she added, “that you +have taken a great deal of pains with my dress, and it is +beautiful—it pleases me very much; but I have no doubt +there will be far richer toilets here to-night than mine.”</p> + +<p>“There will be no one so lovely,” persisted Nanette, while +her admiring eyes rested affectionately upon that fair face +and symmetrical figure reflected in the full-length mirror.</p> + +<p>It was a little late when she entered the drawing-room; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>she had waited purposely, hoping to be able to slip in among +the crowd very quietly and thus escape observation.</p> + +<p>But, as it happened, this brought upon her the very thing +that she had wished to avoid.</p> + +<p>As the curtains to one of the arches of the drawing-room +parted to admit the peerless girl, there was a momentary +hush, and almost every eye was fixed upon her with surprise +and admiration, for she made an entrancing picture there +in her white trailing robes against the warm, rich crimson +of the curtains.</p> + +<p>But after the first heart-throb of dismay, as she saw the +sea of faces turned toward her, she passed to the side of +Annie Hamilton, who was assisting her mother to do the +honors of the occasion.</p> + +<p>Wil, at the opposite side of the room, beholding her, felt +his heart bound within him with mingled exultation and pain—exultation +over her surpassing loveliness and pain lest +something would cause him to fail to win her.</p> + +<p>“She is like a stately Calla in her beauty; but her spirit, +so sweet and pure, is like the fragrance of the water lily,” +he breathed, while an almost unconquerable desire possessed +him to clasp her to him and bear her away from the sight +and sound of every one, and pour forth the burning love +that was consuming him.</p> + +<p>“Who is that beautiful girl?” everybody asked; and they +were greatly surprised on being told that she was Sir Anthony’s +ward and the daughter of the Duke of Mordaunt, +and then eagerly pressed forward for introductions.</p> + +<p>“Jer-i-co!” ejaculated a young sprig of nobility, who was +honoring the occasion with his presence, “won’t she make a +sensation when she comes out? Twenty thousand a year! +Ah, won’t there be a fluttering among the birds of prey when +that bit of news becomes known?” and he immediately began +to flutter his own feathers, and to edge toward the object +of his admiration, to be presented.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton flushed to his very brow as he too watched +her enter the room.</p> + +<p>“I never dreamed that any one could be so exquisitely +lovely,” he said. “She is not so sprightly and entertaining +as the Wentworth Rose,” he added, his eye wandering to +where Arley stood, and who was also in white—simple white +tulle, with dashes of scarlet verbenas in its graceful drapery, +and a bunch of them in her white gloved hands.</p> + +<p>She was as bright and cheery as some happy bird, and he +sighed as he looked at her.</p> + +<p>“I wish she had more of Arley’s spirit and wit,” he continued, +his glance returning to Lady Elaine, “but,” as he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>caught sight of that costly glittering gem among the green +leaves—it was one of the Mordaunt diamonds, of which there +were many and worth a fortune in themselves—“but I shall +marry her if I can.”</p> + +<p>As it happened, it fell to him to take her out to dinner, +and owing to the excitement of the occasion, and something, +perhaps, to the admiration which she had excited, and of +which she could not fail to be conscious, she was unusually +bright and animated. She chatted and laughed almost as +freely and merrily as Arley herself, who was bewitching +the son of an earl as fast as ever she could; though she had +frowned threateningly and cast a look of commiseration at +poor Wil when she saw Lady Elaine upon Philip Paxton’s +arm, while he, Wil, had to take down a spinster of forty, +who wore corkscrew curls and was otherwise frightful in a +toilet of mulberry and green.</p> + +<p>The dinner was, apparently, a brilliant success, and the +guests in their happiest humor.</p> + +<p>No one, save Arley, perhaps, suspected the pain and passion +that were raging in the breast of Sir Anthony’s heir, +while he covertly watched his love glow and brighten in the +presence of her attendant, as he had never seen her do before.</p> + +<p>“Shall I learn to hate my dearest friend?” he fiercely asked +himself, as he saw him bend almost fondly toward his companion +and whisper words which brought a more vivid color +to her cheek, and made her droop her white lids in maidenly +confusion.</p> + +<p>He grew so furiously jealous and disturbed that, as soon +as the ladies had withdrawn, he excused himself from the +table and stole away out of the house, and out of the sound +of the mirth and laughter of the gay company.</p> + +<p>He wanted to be alone a while; he needed to calm his excited +nerves and to try and exorcise, if possible, the spirit of +evil that was rising up and taking possession of him.</p> + +<p>He wandered down to the lake, his head bared to the cool +evening breeze, for his brow was hot and feverish; and +here loosing his wherry, he leaped into it and pushed off +from the shore for a hard row in the moonlight.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br><span class="small"> + I WILL WIN YOU YET. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>An hour after, Wil returned comparatively calm and in a +much more rational frame of mind. He had worked off a +good deal of his internal wickedness at the oars, and the +season of meditation had done him good. He saw how unreasonable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>he had been to indulge in such passionate jealousy +and anger; for if Lady Elaine preferred Philip Paxton’s +society to his own and was attracted toward him, no power +on earth could help it, and he must try to make the best of it.</p> + +<p>The night was supremely beautiful, and, as he had glided +over the smooth bosom of the lake, a sort of peace had fallen +upon him; the soft light of the moon, as it glimmered +through the network of foliage overhanging the waters, had +seemed to quiet the tumult that was raging within him, and +charm away those disagreeable sensations of hatred and revenge +which for the time he had let take such violent possession +of him.</p> + +<p>“I love her, and I am going to try to win her,” he said, +with a sudden resolute uplifting of his handsome head, as +his boat went skimming over the waters and he had seriously +thought the matter all over. “If I can do it fairly and honorably, +I shall be the happiest man in the world; if I cannot +win her—if she cannot love me and will not be my wife—if +her heart turns to Paxton”—and his fine lips grew pale and +unsteady at the thought—“I have no right to stand in his +way, even though I feel that he is not treating me honestly +after the confidence which I have given him.</p> + +<p>“I will go back; I will not sulk and pout like an overgrown +schoolboy, but I will go and meet my fate like a man.”</p> + +<p>And as he reasoned in this sensible, straightforward fashion, +he turned his wherry about and began to row back to +put his resolution into execution.</p> + +<p>As he did so the moonlight fell upon something white just +at his side.</p> + +<p>He bent to look. It was a water lily, its waxen face +turned up to him, beaming at him from the dark waters like +a star of hope and promise.</p> + +<p>He uttered a cry of pleased surprise as he put out his hand +and carefully plucked it.</p> + +<p>“What strange freak of nature is this that I find a water +lily in full bloom in the night?” he said.</p> + +<p>He held it closely out into the light to examine it more +closely, and, as far as he could see, it was a most perfect +and beautiful flower.</p> + +<p>“Shall I accept the finding of this as a good omen? Is it +a blossom of promise to me?” he asked, his face brightening +as he contemplated it. “I will hope so, at least, as long as +there is anything to hope for. I will take it home to her, +for she loves the lilies so, my peerless Lily of Mordaunt.”</p> + +<p>He laid it carefully on the seat beside him, and rowing +swiftly and with a lightened heart, he was soon back +again at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span></p> + +<p>The lily was found to be without a blemish; every petal +and stamen was as perfect as if it had been molded from +wax.</p> + +<p>His first thought as he re-entered the drawing-room was +of Lady Elaine.</p> + +<p>She was standing near a window which opened upon the +porch where she had paced with Philip Paxton on the night +of his arrival, and she was, for the moment, alone.</p> + +<p>He approached her, and when she saw him she gave him +a smile of welcome.</p> + +<p>“Where have you been, truant, all this time?” she asked, +playfully.</p> + +<p>His heart leaped at the words.</p> + +<p>She had missed him, then, consequently her attention could +not have been very deeply absorbed by any one else.</p> + +<p>“I did not feel quite right after dinner, and I went out +upon the lake for a row,” he answered, frankly.</p> + +<p>“Are you ill?” she inquired, a shade of anxiety creeping +into her lovely eyes; and again his heart thrilled with a +strange, sweet delight.</p> + +<p>“No; I am quite well.” Then, not caring to pursue that +subject, he said:</p> + +<p>“But I have found something for you—something strange +and beautiful. Will you come with me and let me show it +to you?”</p> + +<p>“‘Something strange and beautiful?’” she repeated, smiling. +“Of course, I will come. I could not endure the curiosity +which you have aroused in me.”</p> + +<p>She laid her hand lightly on his arm, and he led her to a +little ante-room where he had left his lily in water.</p> + +<p>He had put it into a tall, slender vase of cut glass, and as +he led her up to it, she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Where did you get it? I never saw anything more perfect +or beautiful.”</p> + +<p>She took the vase in her white-gloved hands and bent over +it, her face full of appreciation and delight.</p> + +<p>“I found it on the lake,” Wil answered, thinking how like +to the spotless flower she was herself, in her pure white +robes, with that simple cluster of green leaves at her throat.</p> + +<p>“What—to-night! I thought water lilies always closed at +night,” she cried.</p> + +<p>“So they do; but some strange freak of nature has kept +this one open. Perhaps,” he added, with a smile, “some +tiny, invisible fairy or water-nymph has crept into it and +gone to sleep, and that is what keeps it open.”</p> + +<p>“What a pretty fancy, Wil,” Lady Elaine began, and then +stopped suddenly, while a beautiful blush suffused her face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p> + +<p>She had never spoken his name quite like this before, at +least not in his presence, and again every nerve within him +thrilled with joy.</p> + +<p>“Do you know,” she added, quickly, as if to cover her +confusion, “what I mean to do with it? The sisters at the +convent taught me the art of preserving flowers, and I shall +attend to this the first thing to-morrow morning. I shall +keep it always,” she asserted; then fearing she had said too +much, she added, with drooping lashes, “for it is too beautiful +to be allowed to fade.”</p> + +<p>Wil caught his breath; those shyly-drooping lids, the fluctuating +color in that velvet cheek, were very enticing signs +to him.</p> + +<p>“Would you care enough about it to take all that trouble?” +he asked, in a low, eager voice, his whole soul in his eyes.</p> + +<p>Before she could reply, a voice behind them said:</p> + +<p>“Oh, here you are, Wil. Your mother wants you a moment,” +and Sir Anthony popped his head most inopportunely +in upon the almost-declared lovers.</p> + +<p>Then seeing the flower that Lady Elaine was holding in +her hands, and being quite an enthusiastic botanist, he came +forward to examine the night-blooming lily, while Wil, perceiving +that his opportunity was lost for that time, went +to ascertain what his mother wanted.</p> + +<p>But his heart was lighter than it had been for many days; +something in his darling’s manner, the involuntary speaking +of his name in that familiar way, her assertion that she +should always keep his lily, made him feel as if his cause +was not altogether hopeless.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony stopped only a moment or two after his son +left them, then he, too, went back to his guests, leaving his +fair ward alone.</p> + +<p>As he disappeared, she lifted the glittering vase which +she still held, and laid her lips tenderly, caressingly, against +that waxen flower, resting like a white dove upon its edge.</p> + +<p>Could an artist have painted her as she looked then, his +fame would have been established for all time, for a fairer +picture mortal eye never gazed upon.</p> + +<p>The little room with its rich crimson hangings, the walls +paneled with embossed gold, and adorned with choice paintings, +with here and there a gleaming statuette, the glittering +chandelier above shedding its radiance over all, and the +young girl, in her pure white dress, her face slightly flushed, +her scarlet lips tremulous with some inward emotion, looking +tenderly down upon the perfect flower in its crystal cup—ah, +it was a vision which once seen would be stamped upon +memory’s page forever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> + +<p>Philip Paxton, standing unobserved in the doorway, saw it +and held his breath, almost fearing that if he should move +the spell would be dissolved and she would suddenly vanish +like some sweet spirit from his sight.</p> + +<p>He had seen Wil approach and lead her from the drawing-room +while he was talking to Lady Mary Elgin, to whom he +had just been introduced, and he instantly became alarmed +lest something should occur to balk his plans.</p> + +<p>As soon as he could do so, he excused himself from his +companion and followed them from the room.</p> + +<p>Passing through the hall he saw Wil emerge from the little +ante-room alone, and instantly breathed freer. Surely no +harm could have been done in so short a time.</p> + +<p>A moment or two later Sir Anthony followed his son, and, +believing that Lady Elaine was now there alone, Philip, +with a feeling of exultation that he should find a clear field, +stole forward, peeped within the room, and saw the picture +that has been described.</p> + +<p>“Now or never!” he said to himself, yet notwithstanding +his anxiety to know his fate, he was loath to disturb that delightful +vision.</p> + +<p>But a slight movement on his part made Lady Elaine +turn quickly, and then she blushed a vivid scarlet as she +wondered if Mr. Paxton had seen the tender caress which +she had bestowed upon her lily.</p> + +<p>He had seen her bending over it, but not having witnessed +Wil’s presentation, he had imagined her to be merely inhaling +its fragrance, and now observing her blush, he fondly +believed that his unexpected presence alone had caused it.</p> + +<p>He instantly went forward to her side with a smile.</p> + +<p>“You have something very pretty there,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she said, recovering her self-possession. “It is a +lily which has bloomed, or remained in blossom, in the evening. +Mr. Hamilton found it on the lake. Did you ever +see anything so perfect and beautiful?”</p> + +<p>She held the vase toward him as she spoke.</p> + +<p>He took it from her and looked at the flower, but with a +preoccupied air.</p> + +<p>Then he put it down upon the table near which they were +standing, and turning to her again, said, in a deep, intense +tone, while an eager, passionate fire burned in his eyes:</p> + +<p>“It is neither so perfect nor so beautiful as its namesake, +the Lily of Mordaunt. Lady Elaine, you must know what I +want to say to you. I love you with my whole soul, and I +want to win you for my wife. I did not mean to speak to +you of this so soon. I meant to woo you gradually; but when +I saw you in here alone in your transcendent loveliness, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>was impelled to come and tell you of my love. I was afraid +to wait. I was afraid that I should lose you, and my impatient +heart would not brook delay. My darling, tell me that +I may wear the Lily of Mordaunt forever on my heart. Tell +me that you will love me, and give the right to call you by +the sweetest of all names—my wife.”</p> + +<p>He had spoken very rapidly—so rapidly that she could find +no opportunity to interrupt him, though her very soul had +shrank appalled as she listened to his passionate avowal, for +such it seemed to her, since his voice shook, and he was +trembling with emotion and suspense when he concluded.</p> + +<p>She had grown suddenly scarlet at his confession, then as +she realized the pain that she must inflict upon him, she became +as white as her snowy dress.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton,” she began, sorrowfully, when he paused, “I +am deeply pained that you should have said this to me. If +I had once surmised that you were beginning to cherish feelings +such as you have just confessed, I should have found +some way to show you how impossible it would be for me +ever to be your wife——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, do not say that,” Philip Paxton interrupted, in a +tone of passionate entreaty.</p> + +<p>“I must, Mr. Paxton, or else be guilty of doing both you +and myself an irreparable injury.”</p> + +<p>She spoke with such positiveness, and so calmly, that it +angered him.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps the Lady Elaine Warburton would not condescend +to marry a young barrister, however respectable he +might be. Perhaps she desired to secure another title when +she takes upon herself the bonds of matrimony,” he said, +sarcastically, while a burning flush surged up and lost itself +beneath the masses of dark hair which lay above his forehead.</p> + +<p>She drew herself up with a slight gesture of haughtiness at +this implication, but she answered as gently as before:</p> + +<p>“If I had given my heart to a man whom I believed to be +worthy, I should marry him without regard to his profession +or position in life.”</p> + +<p>“Am I not worthy, then? Wherein do I lack? Teach me +how to be worthy of you, and I will move the world to accomplish +my object,” he cried, assuming a humble tone.</p> + +<p>She lifted her eyes to his face and they were full of pity.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon,” she cried. “I had no intention of +implying anything like that. I feel that you are worthy of +the love of a true-hearted woman, and I esteem you very +highly as—as a friend——”</p> + +<p>He interrupted her with a gesture of repugnance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + +<p>“I do not want to be your friend,” he cried, impetuously.</p> + +<p>“Do you not?” she questioned, in a tone of gentle surprise, +a slight flush tinging her cheek.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I do not mean that,” he answered, almost wildly, “but +I want more—I want your love—your heart—I want you.”</p> + +<p>“I can give you neither my love nor myself,” Lady Elaine +replied, in a low voice, but there was no mistaking the decision +in her tone.</p> + +<p>He grew frightfully pale for a moment, and then a rush +of anger and disappointment dyed all his face again.</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” he said, abruptly, almost rudely, and searching +her face with a burning glance, “have you given yourself to +another? Do you love some one else?”</p> + +<p>She turned upon him a cold, imperious look.</p> + +<p>“You have no right to ask me such a question,” she said, +icily; but her cheeks were vivid in their scarlet hue.</p> + +<p>He saw his mistake instantly.</p> + +<p>She was very proud and very sensitive, this peerless Lily +of Mordaunt, and, if he hoped to retain her favor, he saw +that he must conduct himself very circumspectly.</p> + +<p>“Forgive me,” he returned, humbly—he could afford to be +very humble, if by any means he could win that twenty +thousand a year; “I had no right to ask it, but I am nearly +wild with the pain of my disappointment. Tell me, please, +that you forgive me.”</p> + +<p>He held out his hand appealingly as he ceased speaking, +and with her heart full of pity for him, and believing that +he was sincere, she laid her own within it with a frank, forgiving +smile.</p> + +<p>“You are freely forgiven,” she said, sweetly.</p> + +<p>His fingers closed over hers in an almost spasmodic clasp.</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” he murmured, tenderly; then he added: +“But I would give very much to know if this hand is pledged +to another.”</p> + +<p>She quickly withdrew it, a curl of scorn replacing the +smile on her lips.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton forgets himself often to-night,” she said, +haughtily; then added, with sudden impulse, “and yet if it +can be of any consequence to him to know the fact of the +case, I can tell him that—it is not.”</p> + +<p>His face cleared in an instant; his heart leaped with exultation; +the beautiful girl with her immense fortune might +yet be his if this was true; at all events he would leave no +stone unturned to accomplish his purpose.</p> + +<p>He bent toward her with a brilliant smile, an eager look in +his handsome eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> + +<p>“Then I do not despair,” he said, softly; “I will win you +yet.”</p> + +<p>And without giving her an opportunity to reply, turned +abruptly and left her.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. + <br><span class="small"> + UNHEEDED FLEW THE HOURS. + </span></h2> +</div> + +<p>Wilton Hamilton, after obeying his mother’s summons and +attending to her request, went to seek Elaine again in the +little room whither he had taken her to show her his lily.</p> + +<p>Something seemed to whisper to him that she might be +there waiting for him to return.</p> + +<p>He had all at once become very hopeful that his suit would +meet with just the response which he so ardently craved, for +her manner, when he had given her the lily, had been encouraging, +if not almost tender.</p> + +<p>He hastened back, resolving that if he found her still in +the ante-room, he would settle this question of his future +without further delay.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the still-open door he heard voices.</p> + +<p>A moment more he stood upon the threshold and in an +instant all the light and hope went out of his face, and a +feeling of blank despair settled down upon his heart.</p> + +<p>He had reached the spot just as Lady Elaine, in response +to Philip’s plea “forgive me,” had looked up with that frank +smile and placed a white gloved hand in his in token of her +pardon, and the hopeless lover, standing behind them and +beholding this, believed the simple act to be but the consummation +of a betrothal—believed that, in his absence, his false +friend Philip Paxton had stolen a march upon him and won +away his love.</p> + +<p>He did not hear Lady Elaine’s words, “you are freely +forgiven,” for they had been spoken low, and there was a +dreadful ringing in his ears, while all his faculties for the +moment seemed to be paralyzed.</p> + +<p>Then, with such a sense of misery and desolation as he +never had dreamed a mortal could experience, he crept +stealthily away, leaving, as he believed, a pair of happy +lovers to their first moments of bliss.</p> + +<p>When Lady Elaine returned to the drawing-room, after +Philip had left her, she at once began to look around for +Wil.</p> + +<p>She hoped he would come to her and ask her to dance with +him. She longed for his companionship, for she could not +forget the look that he had bent upon her when he asked her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>if she cared enough for his gift to preserve it, and the charm +of his presence had been so great that she was impatient to +be with him again.</p> + +<p>But he was not there, nor did he make his appearance +again during the evening, and the hours dragged heavily to +her until the company separated.</p> + +<p>She thought it strange that he should absent himself thus, +but supposed that Lady Hamilton had sent him on some commission, +and never once suspected that he was at that moment +in his own room, prone upon his bed, battling with all his +might against the misery that was mastering him, and the +doom which he believed had been pronounced upon his hopes.</p> + +<p>He felt as if he could never look upon his lost love again +and bear the pain of it—could never meet the man who had +betrayed his confidence and won the only woman he could +ever love.</p> + +<p>When, the next morning, he joined the family at breakfast, +his face was white and sunken, his eyes heavy and dull, +his manner unnatural and constrained, and he started violently +whenever any one spoke; for he was in constant fear +of hearing an engagement announced.</p> + +<p>Lady Hamilton was alarmed and declared he was sick, and +was for sending for a doctor at once.</p> + +<p>He said he was not ill, though he confessed he had not +slept well, but affirmed that he should be all right again soon.</p> + +<p>He pleaded a headache as an excuse for not joining a +party upon an excursion which had been planned for that +day to visit some celebrated springs about five miles distant, +and then felt as if he should go crazy listening to the regrets +that poured upon him from all quarters.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine alone said nothing; but she looked troubled +and anxious.</p> + +<p>He had not once met her eye—had not spoken one word to +her, beyond a brief “good-morning,” and she was quite sure +that something very serious was the matter, both physically +and mentally, and she quietly resolved to learn the nature of +it before the day was ended.</p> + +<p>Quite a large party were to visit the springs, many of the +neighboring families having been invited to “picnic” with +the Hamiltons, and when at length the gay company cantered +down the avenue, their happy voices and laughter dying +away in the distance, Wil Hamilton, in his room, with the +curtains and blinds drawn close—for he could not even bear +the light of the glad, bright day—heaved a sigh of relief +at their departure.</p> + +<p>“They are gone,” he said. “Now I will go where nobody +can come near me—where nobody can see me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>Rising hastily, he caught up his hat, crushed it down over +his eyes, and stealing down a side stairway, he went out, +and, with a quick, fierce stride, walked across the lawn +toward the forest beyond, where he was soon lost to sight.</p> + +<p>An hour later a slight, graceful figure, clad in a dress of +crisp, delicate lavender lawn, made in the daintiest manner, +a charming shade-hat of white chip, lined with blue, upon +her golden head, and a pretty basket hanging on her arm, +might have been seen flitting down the avenue, as if intent +upon a solitary ramble.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the gate, Lady Elaine—for, of course, it was +she—stopped and looked right and left, as if somewhat in +doubt which direction to take.</p> + +<p>She finally decided upon turning to the left, moving with +a free, brisk step, and all unconscious that she was walking +straight to meet her fate, for the forest lay off in that direction.</p> + +<p>As soon as Wil had announced his intention of remaining +at home she mentally resolved that she would not accompany +the party, either. It would not be pleasant to be in the presence +of Mr. Paxton after what had occurred the previous +evening, while she judged from his last words before leaving +her, and his manner, that he did not take her refusal as final, +and intended to prosecute his attentions still further.</p> + +<p>It was with a feeling of relief that she, too, heard the +gay party cantering down the avenue, and knew that she +should have the day to dispose of at her own sweet will.</p> + +<p>A sense of freedom and something of exhilaration seemed +to possess her as she found herself walking alone along the +highway, beneath the friendly shade of the huge overarching +elms.</p> + +<p>After walking a short distance, she turned into a cart-path +leading into the woods, where she roamed about for +an hour or more filling her pretty basket with sylvan treasures, +then, feeling somewhat weary and warm, she resolved +to make her way to a tiny brook, where there was a rustic +seat, and where she and Annie often came with their books +and work to spend a warm afternoon.</p> + +<p>Softly and almost as light-footed as a fairy she glided +along the mossy way, and ere long reached the spot. Parting +a thick growth of foliage, she stepped instantly into a +small open space, and the next instant started back suddenly +with a smothered cry of terror, for there, prone upon the +earth before her, was the stretched form of a man, his face +to the ground.</p> + +<p>He did not move, he scarcely seemed to breathe, and for +a moment she stood irresolute whether to fly or go to his aid.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> + +<p>Then, as her quick eye marked and recognized his clothing, +she became pale as death with a sudden fear.</p> + +<p>It was Wil Hamilton, and so wretched and absorbed as he +was in his sorrow, he had not been conscious of the approach +of any one, and lay as motionless as if he were dead.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine’s first thought was that he had met with +some accident, and was unconscious.</p> + +<p>But with all her delicacy and gentle breeding, she was +brave at heart, and possessed a latent energy and force which +few gave her credit for.</p> + +<p>Lightly and as fleet as a deer, she sped over the turf, and +knelt beside the prostrate man, sweeping back the moist +brown locks from his forehead as she did so.</p> + +<p>“Wil, Wil—oh! is anything the matter? are you hurt?” +she cried, her voice shaking with the great fear that had +taken possession of her.</p> + +<p>In an instant he had sprung to his feet, and stood looking +down upon her, as if he thought her some thunderbolt which +had just missed striking him dead; while she, startled by the +suddenness of his act, sat staring up at him, every atom of +strength and color forsaking her.</p> + +<p>“I thought you had gone to the springs,” Wil said, abruptly, +almost rudely, after a moment.</p> + +<p>His voice was harsh and constrained, his face as white as +her own, with great, deep circles beneath his eyes, which were +bloodshot, and were so full of pain that Lady Elaine almost +cried out as she looked at them.</p> + +<p>“No. I—I did not care to go,” she returned, struggling to +her feet and shrinking slightly from him.</p> + +<p>She felt as if she had no right to be there—as if she had +intruded upon him and his grief, whatever it might be. She +would have given worlds to have been anywhere else at that +moment.</p> + +<p>He looked at her curiously.</p> + +<p>“She did not care to go!” he thought, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>But Philip had gone with the rest, and it seemed strange +that he should leave his betrothed behind; and if they were +happy lovers, it was even more strange that she “did not +care to go” with him.</p> + +<p>“Are you not well to-day?” he asked, less abruptly, and +not knowing what else to say, but realizing the absurdity +of the question instantly, for saving her momentary pallor, +she had never looked better or more lovely in her life.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am well,” Lady Elaine replied, “but,” with a slight +blush, “I preferred to stay at home.”</p> + +<p>Her blush pierced him like a dagger.</p> + +<p>She was shy then; she had wanted to get a little used to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>her new happiness before she appeared in public with her +lover.</p> + +<p>The thought was nearly maddening, and before he was +aware of it, a groan burst from him.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine advanced a step toward him at the sound, a +wistful, troubled look in her lovely eyes.</p> + +<p>“You are in trouble,” she said. “Won’t you tell me what +it is?”</p> + +<p>“It is nothing—at least nothing that you can help,” he +answered, setting his teeth together with a snap.</p> + +<p>“Let me share it, then. You know, ‘A burden lighter grows +when shared,’” she said, but her red lips trembled even +though she tried to smile. “Perhaps,” she added, trying to +speak more lightly, “your little fairy or water-nymph, who +went to sleep in the lily, has sent me here to exorcise the +evil spirit that vexes you.”</p> + +<p>He gave her a quick, startled glance, astonished that she +should have remembered his words, when doubtless she must +have far pleasanter things to think of now.</p> + +<p>“Ah! if you could—if——” he began, passionately, and +then suddenly checking himself.</p> + +<p>“Try me, Wil, and see,” she returned, reaching out her +white hand, and laying it gently, yet appealingly, on his +arm, while her eyes seemed pleading for his confidence.</p> + +<p>He seized her hand and lifted it to his burning lips.</p> + +<p>“Shall I try you? Dare I try you? You cannot mean +what you say. You do not even know what you are tempting +me to,” he cried, wildly.</p> + +<p>She regarded him with surprise, but she did not withdraw +her hand. It lay perfectly passive in his.</p> + +<p>“I do not understand you,” she said. “How am I tempting +you? Why do you not dare to try me? You need not fear, +Wil. I will not fail you.”</p> + +<p>“You ‘will not fail’ me,” he repeated, with trembling lips. +“You have failed me already. You are lost to me, and that +is why I am so wretched.”</p> + +<p>A dry sob broke from him as he said it.</p> + +<p>She had driven him desperate with her innocent words and +questions, and he poured forth his misery regardless of consequences.</p> + +<p>For one moment she stood regarding him with wonder-wide +eyes, too astonished to comprehend what he really +meant.</p> + +<p>Then it began to dawn on her, and a burning blush overspread +her fair face; her white, golden-fringed lids drooped +over her beautiful eyes, and she stood silent and covered +with confusion before him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> + +<p>She could not ask him how or why he regarded her as +lost to him, because that would seem to imply that she was +not—that she loved him before she was asked; so her lips +were sealed and she was mute.</p> + +<p>“Have I startled you by this confession?” he resumed, bitterly, +as he marked how lovely she was in her maidenly +modesty, and, having once given the rein to his misery, he +could not stop. “Have you not seen, during all these weeks, +how I have grown to love, to idolize you—how my heart +has melted before you—how I have had no will but yours, +no thought but for you? And now to lose you, to have you +stolen from me before my very eyes, and just when I was +beginning to hope that I might win you—oh, my darling; if +I could but die here and now, at your feet, I should be comparatively +happy.”</p> + +<p>He wrung her hand in his vehemence so that at any other +time she would have cried out with pain; but she hardly felt +it now. Her heart beat with a strange new joy; he loved +her—his wild words told her that plainly enough—and she +saw that this same love was causing him great suffering, +but just how and why she could not comprehend—she was +puzzled by what he had said.</p> + +<p>Her lids fluttered, she gave him one brief, bewailing +glance, and murmured:</p> + +<p>“I should not be happy—I do not want you to die, Wil; +and—I do not know what you mean by—by my being stolen +from you, and all that nonsense.”</p> + +<p>He caught his breath; there was no mistaking the glance +she had given him, nor the tender tone in which she had +said she did not wish him to die.</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that he had been deceiving himself +after all?</p> + +<p>“Elaine, my darling, have I been a fool?” he cried; “dare +I hope that you——But tell me first, after I left you last +night did not Philip Paxton come to you and ask you to be +his wife?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she answered, with downcast eyes and burning +cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” he began, almost fiercely, “and you——”</p> + +<p>“I refused him, Wil,” holding out both her hands to him +and looking shyly up into his face, “is it that which has +been troubling you so?”</p> + +<p>He caught her hands with a glad cry and drew her into +his arms.</p> + +<p>“Not the refusal, surely,” he said, a joyous note in his +trembling, eager voice, “but the belief that you had accepted +him.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p>“How could I do that, when——” Lady Elaine began, and +then stopped short in confusion.</p> + +<p>“When what, my darling?”</p> + +<p>“When I did not love him—when my heart has long belonged +to some one else—to you—Wil.”</p> + +<p>He bent and touched almost reverently the lips that had +uttered this so sweetly.</p> + +<p>“But,” she added, after a moment of silence, “what could +have made you imagine that I had accepted him?”</p> + +<p>Then he told her what he had seen—how, when having +attended to his mother’s request, he went back to the ante-room, +intending to tell her all the sweet story that was in +his heart, he had seen her standing there with her hand in +Philip Paxton’s, and looking up smilingly into his face, as +if she had just granted him the favor for which he had been +suing, and it had seemed as if the very fountain of his life +had dried up in that moment, and all his future darkened.</p> + +<p>“Poor, foolish, faithless boy!” she said, while she caressingly +toyed with the rings of moist hair which lay upon his +forehead, “where were your eyes, that you could not read me +better?—where were your intuitions, that they did not tell +you what others have learned all too readily? It is a pity +that your fairy did not whisper something in your ear before +you brought her to me in the lily.”</p> + +<p>“How could she—she was asleep, you know,” Wil retorted, +archly; but drawing the fair girl closer to him with a sort +of exultant clasp, all the pain gone like magic from his face, +all the misery from his eyes.</p> + +<p>“True; I had forgotten that,” she replied, with a clear, +sweet laugh.</p> + +<p>She told him as briefly as she could all that had passed +between Philip and herself, for she felt that he had a right +to know it; and then—the moments slipped unheeded by, as +they always do with all lovers, until warned by the blowing +of a horn at a distant farmhouse that it was high noon, +and they must return to Hazelmere, or a detachment would +be sent out to search for them.</p> + +<p>“I can scarcely believe that I am the same person that I +was two hours ago,” Wil said, as they arose, and he drew +Lady Elaine’s hand within his arm, though still retaining it +in his own. “To think that I came out here the most miserable +wretch on the face of the earth, and now I am returning +the happiest mortal that walks, and with the Lily of +Mordaunt all my own!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br><span class="small"> + DISAPPOINTMENT. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Wil Hamilton went directly to his father upon his return +with Lady Elaine from the forest, and told him that he had +won her for his wife, asking, as a mere matter of form—for, +of course, he knew that he could make no objections—his +sanction to the engagement.</p> + +<p>It is needless to say that Sir Anthony received the news +with delight, and offered his heartiest congratulations.</p> + +<p>“It it a fine thing for you, Wil, my boy, not only to have +won so lovely a bride, but with her so magnificent a fortune. +Lady Elaine’s twenty thousand a year, together with your +own expectations, will enable you to do about as you like for +the remainder of your life,” he remarked, rubbing his +smooth, plump hands together, with a satisfied smile.</p> + +<p>Wil looked up at him and flushed hotly.</p> + +<p>“I give you my word of honor, sir, I never once thought +of her money,” he said, earnestly.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony laughed.</p> + +<p>“Young love forgets a good many things,” his father returned, +indulgently. “Nevertheless that does not alter the +convenience of the matter. A purse full of gold is something +not to be despised at any time.”</p> + +<p>“I shall settle every pound upon her,” Wil Hamilton answered, +proudly, and looking somewhat disturbed. The subject +of Lady Elaine’s money jarred upon him, somehow. +“And it will make no difference with me—it will not change +my plans for the future in the least. I am just as ambitious +to make a name and position for myself as I have ever +been.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad to hear that, Wil,” Sir Anthony responded, +gravely, and with a look of pride and fondness at the manly, +self-reliant fellow, “for I am ambitious for you; you are my +only boy, and I want you to be heard from in the future. +I want the name of Hamilton to continue to be honored for +all time. But aside from all pecuniary benefit, I am very +much pleased at your prospective marriage with Lady Elaine. +As my ward I have admired her excessively—as a daughter +I shall love her tenderly.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir,” Wil said, with glowing eyes, and shook +his father’s hand with a warmth that amused that gentleman +greatly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + +<p>Thus the matter was settled most happily for all parties, +and the next morning the engagement was announced.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony did it in his happiest manner.</p> + +<p>Going up to Lady Elaine, as soon as breakfast was over, +he took the blushing girl by the hand, and, turning toward +the household, remarked:</p> + +<p>“My friends, I am so proud and happy that I cannot refrain +from asking you to congratulate me upon the prospect +of having another daughter in my house.”</p> + +<p>Of course the family and friends gathered around Lady +Elaine immediately, to offer congratulations and express +their approbation; and for a while there was a perfect babel +of good wishes, and rejoicing over the happy young couple.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton alone held aloof from this gay group. He +gave one look of blank astonishment at the lovely girl, when +Sir Anthony made this announcement; then, his face crimson +with anger and disappointment, he abruptly turned and +left the room.</p> + +<p>The next time he met her alone he faced her with a bitter +sneer.</p> + +<p>“My faith in womankind has had a severe blow,” he said; +“you told me, Lady Elaine, that your hand was pledged to +no one.”</p> + +<p>“I simply told Mr. Paxton the truth—I was betrothed to no +one at that time,” she replied, but lifting her bright head +with a haughty gesture, as if to warn him that she was not +accountable to him for her actions.</p> + +<p>“You have made a bad man of me,” he retorted, fiercely, +a dark look on his handsome face; “you have changed my +whole nature—if I become a hardened wretch—if my career +is marked by reckless deeds and hardened acts, you will know +what has caused it. You could have molded me like wax—with +you as the guiding spirit of my life I could have been +everything that was good and noble; but now—I believe I +shall go to the devil just as fast as ever I can!”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine flushed crimson at this mad and reckless +speech, yet there was much of pity in her heart for him. +If he really loved her, as he professed to, his sufferings must +be akin to Wil’s when he believed her lost to him, but for +all that she felt that he had no right to address her in the +way he had done.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton,” she returned, gently, yet with a dignity +that awed him, “for all the evil which you may do in the future +no one save yourself will in any way be responsible. You +alone will be held accountable. No one can regret more +than I the unfortunate circumstances of night before last, +and I would gladly have saved you all the pain of that occasion +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>had I been able to do so; but I hold myself guiltless +of any wrong to you, for I never suspected, until that moment, +that you entertained any other feelings save those of +friendship toward me.”</p> + +<p>“You must have been blind, then,” he muttered between +his closely-shut teeth.</p> + +<p>“I think more than I have been blind,” she answered, +with a vivid flush, as she looked back and remembered in +how many ways she must have betrayed her deep and growing +attachment for Wil, and yet he, the most interested +of all, had failed to read her heart.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” she added, more gently than she had yet spoken, +“we have all been so absorbed in our own feelings that we +have been blind to those of others. Mr. Paxton, believe me, +I would like to continue to regard you as a friend for the +sake of Wil, and——”</p> + +<p>“Wil Hamilton and I can never be friends after this!” +he cried, excitedly.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine’s eyes flashed a dangerous light, her lips +curled with scorn at this cowardly speech.</p> + +<p>“What were you going to say?” he queried, remembering +that he had interrupted her.</p> + +<p>“It does not matter,” she returned, with cold dignity; “but +I think it is hardly the part of a gentleman to address a +lady as you have addressed me to-day. I am in no way +accountable to you, nor is Mr. Hamilton, for the compact +which exists between us, and for you to assume that we +have injured you thereby is a presumption for which I +have no toleration.”</p> + +<p>With these words she turned quickly away and left him +to his own uncomfortable reflections.</p> + +<p>He ground his teeth savagely as he watched her graceful +figure moving swiftly down the walk where they had met, +and finally vanished into the house.</p> + +<p>“I am a blundering idiot,” he cried, fiercely, “or I should +have held my tongue and not aroused her contempt for me +in this manner. I shall have to take a new tack, or I shall +make enemies of the whole family, and that I cannot afford +to do, for there is no telling how much I may need +their influence in the future.”</p> + +<p>That afternoon’s mail brought him a letter which made +him grow white as death, and swear deep and terrible oaths, +though his lips had never in his life before been guilty of +such profanity.</p> + +<p>It informed him that a speculation in which he had been +engaged had burst like a bubble, and the large amount of +money which he had put into it was lost—gone forever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> + +<p>“There goes three of the best years of my life! Curse +the luck!” he cried, with exceeding bitterness, as he crushed +the letter in his hands and paced his chamber like a caged +animal.</p> + +<p>He fought a fierce battle with himself over this loss for +more than an hour, and at the end of that time he exclaimed, +with sudden resolution:</p> + +<p>“I vow I’ll do it! I am ruined, but if I could only have +gained my point with Lady Elaine it would have made no +difference. I should not have minded my loss at all. Why +in time couldn’t she have bestowed her favor upon me rather +than upon that fool of a boy, who will have money enough +of his own? But ‘half a loaf is better than no bread at all,’ +as the saying has it. I’ll see what headway I can make +with the other one. I believe the girl likes me, or could be +made to, if I exerted myself a trifle to be agreeable to her, +and I’m sure she’s an enchanting little witch, and my fallen +fortunes must be mended in some way. I swear I cannot +submit to such arbitrary impoverishment, and begin way +down at the bottom of the ladder again.”</p> + +<p>Evening found Philip Paxton as smiling and serene as if +there were no such things as poverty and disappointment +in the world.</p> + +<p>There was not a trace of the storm and bitterness which +had raged within him during the day, upon his smooth brow +nor in his clear, smiling eyes.</p> + +<p>He met Wil as cordially as if he had not been the instrument +of his shattered hopes, and the demons of jealousy +and hatred still raging in his own heart.</p> + +<p>“You’re in luck, my boy,” he said, clapping him heartily +on the shoulder, as he came upon him standing alone upon +the porch.</p> + +<p>Wil looked up in surprise, and searched his friend’s face +with a keen glance.</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t offer my congratulations with the crowd this +morning,” Philip went on; “but I hope they are none the +less acceptable coming at this hour.”</p> + +<p>“No,” Wil replied, his face lighting up as he grasped +his friend’s hand warmly. “I was only afraid I should not +have them at all. I feared that this might—might make +feeling between us, for—of course I knew—I could not help +seeing that you were interested in the same quarter,” he +concluded, with some embarrassment.</p> + +<p>“I was—I confess it, Wil; but—but of course only one +could win, and the loser must make the best of it, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>Some one came out and joined them just then, and Wil +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>made no reply; but he was intensely relieved to find that +there would be no rupture between them, and never suspected +that the bitterness in Philip’s heart had been covered +up from motives of policy.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening he passed near where Lady Elaine +was sitting, and stopping an instant before her, he said, in +a low tone, intended only for her ear:</p> + +<p>“My presumption was intolerable. I assure your ladyship +I shall never cease to regret it.”</p> + +<p>Without waiting for her to reply, he bowed and passed +on, while Lady Elaine thought, with a glance of pity:</p> + +<p>“Poor fellow! His disappointment made him forget himself.”</p> + +<p>But a change had come over Arley Wentworth since the +engagement of her friend had been announced.</p> + +<p>Hitherto she had always been the first to notice and hail +the appearance of Philip Paxton in the drawing-room, and +nearly always managed by some pretty pretext or other, to +claim his attention, and, by her light badinage and repartee, +keep him chained to her side until Wil could secure +Lady Elaine to himself.</p> + +<p>When, however, the engagement was announced that +morning, she had shot one furtive, triumphant glance at the +discomfited suitor, and then heaved a sigh of relief, which +had in it something of pain as well.</p> + +<p>“Well, my strategic campaign is at an end, and I am +glad of it. I don’t believe I could have kept it up much +longer,” she said; and there was a worn, weary expression +on her young face, which, had any one seen it, might have +led to suspect that, perhaps, she had sustained some wounds +in the battle herself.</p> + +<p>But when Lady Elaine went upstairs, she ran into her +room with a radiant face.</p> + +<p>“You darling!” she cried, winding her arms about her +waist, and giving her a delightful little hug. “So you’ve +struck your colors at last! Here I have been manœuvring +for this very thing for a long time, and mentally scolding +you for your obstinacy all the while.”</p> + +<p>“My obstinacy?” Lady Elaine cried, blushing with confusion, +though a happy smile wreathed her red lips.</p> + +<p>“Yes, your obstinacy. You persisted in keeping aloof +from Wil unless he almost forced himself upon you; and +then you would receive the attentions of Mr. Paxton, though +it made Wil perfectly wretched, and, besides all that, when +it was expressly understood that he was to be my especial cavalier. +Where were your eyes, that you could not see that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>your handsome lover was nearly distracted with envy and +jealousy?”</p> + +<p>“Arley, Arley, do stop that unruly tongue of yours, or I +shall begin to think that some one else is nearly distracted +with envy and jealousy,” Lady Elaine retorted, laughing.</p> + +<p>Arley Wentworth blushed a fiery crimson.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what any one thinks now that it is all settled +between you and Wil,” she said defiantly. “I knew +from the first,” she ran on, “that he was over head and ears +in love with you, and that his life would be ruined if he +lost you, and besides——”</p> + +<p>“Besides what, dear?” her companion asked, as she hesitated +and looked up at her, archly.</p> + +<p>“I knew that you loved him, and I thought it too bad +that a lovely romance should be spoiled just for the want +of a little manœuvring; yes, I will confess it now,” she continued, +in reply to Lady Elaine’s look of surprise, “I have +interposed in every way to help you and Wil along—I +pounced upon your would-be knight whenever I saw him approaching +you ‘with malice aforethought,’ and bore him +away a captive, bound with invisible chains; I assure you, +you have no idea what an accomplished strategist I have +grown to be during the last three or four weeks. You were +right the other day—I did set a little trap for you, and you +fell into it charmingly. If I had found that you did not +love Wil, I should, of course, have allowed matters to go +on as they would, and Philip Paxton might have won you +and welcome if he could. But it is a load off my mind to +have the thing settled, and just as it should be, too. I know +you will be delightfully happy, for Wil is a jewel, and you’re +another; so take my blessing, and joy go with it forever.”</p> + +<p>The gay girl had rattled this off with a nervous merriment +which was very unnatural, and as soon as she had finished +she gave her fair companion a hasty kiss, and then bounded +out of the room without giving her any opportunity to reply.</p> + +<p>But if Lady Elaine could have seen her five minutes later, +stretched upon her bed, in an abandonment of passionate +weeping, she would have wondered more than ever at her +mood.</p> + +<p>But the storm was not of long duration. Arley Wentworth +was very proud, and she was not long in resenting the +weakness that had made her weep.</p> + +<p>She started suddenly up, her face one sheet of flame.</p> + +<p>“I will not be a fool,” she cried, clenching her small +hands, and lifting her head defiantly, “if I could steep my +thoughts in oblivion I would do it. At all events I will not +‘wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at’—that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>is a very new sentiment,” she added, with a bitter smile, +“but it appears to be a very apt quotation for my case.”</p> + +<p>She went to her basin and dashed the cold water over her +flushed face, bathing it until she had removed all traces of +her recent tears; then dressing herself with unusual care, +she went gayly down to dinner, and was so charming and +brilliant that she was the very life of the party throughout +the evening.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br><span class="small"> + “I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU.” + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Thus, for more than a week, this farce went on.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton was wretched from his losses and disappointment, +yet, with the determination not to succumb, and +with his new object in view, he strove to keep up an appearance +of content and enjoyment which he was far from +feeling.</p> + +<p>The next day he resolved to meet strategy with strategy.</p> + +<p>Several of the guests who remained at Hazelmere since +the dinner party departed that morning, leaving the family +and original guests by themselves.</p> + +<p>On the south side of the house there was a little piazza +shaded by a stately old beech, and where a hammock had +been swung to tempt anybody who might be lazy, or wish +to while away a quiet hour or two with an interesting book.</p> + +<p>This was a favorite resort of Arley’s, and now, believing +herself free and unwatched, she stole thither with book and +pillow and snugly laid herself away to enjoy the supposed +liberty.</p> + +<p>I should not have used the word enjoy, for she was very +miserable.</p> + +<p>Nothing but her pride kept her from giving up the battle +and running away from both her trouble and friends, for +she had promised to remain several weeks longer at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>But if she went she would have to give some reason for +breaking her promise, and her face burned and her blood +boiled with shame and indignation as she thought of the +true and only one that she could give.</p> + +<p>“Was a woman ever such a fool before?” she would cry +in scorn and rage day after day, as she took herself to task +for her folly. “Am I so much weaker and lower than others +that I should thus disgrace my sex?”</p> + +<p>But it was of no use to upbraid herself thus; she knew +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>that she loved Philip Paxton with all the strength and passion +of her young heart, and having given that love unasked, +the knowledge brought her only wretchedness and +shame.</p> + +<p>Without warning, the man of whom she had been thinking +appeared on the scene.</p> + +<p>“You do not find your book very interesting, do you, +Miss Wentworth?” he said, coming slowly up the steps, and +standing directly before her, for he did not intend that she +should circumvent him this time. His patience was at an +end, and he was determined to settle an important question +without further delay.</p> + +<p>Arley started at the sound of his voice like a frightened +fawn, the rich color, which she tried in vain to repress, +surging to her temples.</p> + +<p>“How do you know?” she demanded, with a pretty air +of defiance, as she gracefully swung herself to a sitting +posture in the hammock, the toes of her tiny slippers just +touching the floor of the veranda.</p> + +<p>If she had been caught napping, she meant to fight hard +to preserve her secret intact.</p> + +<p>“How do I know?” he repeated with a laugh that was +very pleasant to her ears. “Because you have been lying +here for the last half hour, and have not turned a single +leaf.”</p> + +<p>“And you have been watching me?” she flashed back, indignantly, +but turning hot and cold as she remembered of +what and whom she had been thinking during that half +hour.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I confess it. I could not help it, you made such an +attractive picture, and since you would not allow me to come +near you, I have been obliged to worship at a distance,” he +returned, throwing a sort of sad tenderness into his tones.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton! I do not understand. You speak in enigmas,” +Arley said, assuming a look of cool surprise, though +her nerves tingled to her very finger tips at his words.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you understand, Miss Wentworth?” he inquired, +bending a scrutinizing glance upon her. “Do you suppose +I can believe that your strange coldness and avoidance of +me during the past fortnight have been wholly unstudied +on your part? I think I owe it to myself, and to you as +well, to inquire into the cause of your displeasure, and how +I have given offense.”</p> + +<p>“I am not displeased—you have not offended me,” stammered +Arley, feeling miserably guilty for the way she had +been treating him; then, conscious that she was making +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>a worse blunder, she would have bitten her tongue off for +having admitted so much.</p> + +<p>“Then why on earth have you treated me so, Arley?” he +burst forth, with a show of passion. “Pardon me, Miss +Wentworth,” he continued, more quietly, “I am forgetting +myself; but I am in trouble, and I am going away from +Hazelmere. But I could not go until I had made my peace +with you; we were such good friends for a while that I could +not endure the thought of leaving you offended with me.”</p> + +<p>Arley had lost all her brilliant color during the latter +part of this speech, and she forgot everything but that he +was in trouble and going away, and she would be thrice +wretched when she could see him no more.</p> + +<p>“In trouble, Mr. Paxton?” she repeated, with gentle questioning, +and raising her great dark eyes to his with a look +which thrilled him in spite of the fact that he was playing +a treacherous part. “I am very sorry.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you; and will you miss me?—will you be sorry +to have me go?” he asked, bending nearer to her.</p> + +<p>But Arley was too proud and high-spirited to fall into +his arms in such a way as this. She could not forget how +eager he had been in his pursuit of Lady Elaine, and drawing +back a trifle, she replied, somewhat coldly:</p> + +<p>“It is always unpleasant to have an agreeable party broken +up, and I am sure that Annie and Wil will be sorry to have +any of their guests depart.”</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton stood thinking a moment what it would +be best to say next, and during that moment Arley arose.</p> + +<p>She dare not trust herself longer alone with him; she had +nearly betrayed herself once already, and she was anxious +to get away to the solitude of her own room and out of all +danger of a second yielding to such weakness.</p> + +<p>“I shall have to ask you to excuse me, Mr. Paxton,” she +said, looking at her tiny watch, and then holding it up to +him with an arch look. “See how late it is getting to be. +You know Annie is to have a lawn party this afternoon, +and I must go and make myself as bewildering as possible +for the occasion. You do not go to-day, I hope?” she added, +as if that was a matter of secondary importance. “It would +be a pity for you to lose all the fun.”</p> + +<p>He bit his lips with vexation, for she was making the +task he had set himself to accomplish abominably hard.</p> + +<p>“Why will you be so obtuse?” he cried, growing crimson +to his very brow—“you compel me to be very abrupt for—I +came here to tell you—to ask you—to be my wife! Arley, +I love you.”</p> + +<p>It was very abrupt surely—very awkward, though there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>was a ring of desperation in his words that suited Arley +better than if it had been a more finished declaration.</p> + +<p>Her pulses leaped and bounded within her with joy, with +which, however, very much of pain was mingled.</p> + +<p>But her reply was as abrupt as his avowal had been, and +it amazed and confounded him with its independent frankness.</p> + +<p>She lifted her face—very beautiful it was, too, with those +crimson spots on her cheeks—and looking him straight in +the eye, said:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton, I do not believe you.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br><span class="small"> + BETROTHED LOVERS. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Miss Wentworth! I—excuse me—did I understand you +aright? What reason can you have for doubting my assertion?” +Philip Paxton asked, looking exceedingly astonished +and somewhat crestfallen at Arley’s startling statement.</p> + +<p>“Shall I tell you my reason?” Arley asked, very white +about the mouth, but meeting his flashing eye with a fearless, +resolute look.</p> + +<p>“Certainly. I think I have a right to an explanation. +It is rather hard for a lady to tell a gentleman that she +doubts his word, when he lays bare the secrets of his heart +to her,” Philip replied, with an injured air.</p> + +<p>“Very well, I shall tell you then, but it will not be pleasant +for you to hear,” Arley replied, in a straightforward way. +“I do not believe in your professed affection for me, because +I know that ever since you came to Hazelmere, until quite +recently, you have been trying to win Lady Elaine.</p> + +<p>“No, let me go on,” she said, as he seemed about to interrupt +her, “for I have a confession to make with this statement. +You have sought her ladyship upon every occasion, +appropriating her to yourself whenever you could do so, +and knowing all the time, as all of us have known, that +Wil Hamilton had given her the deepest devotion of his +heart. I knew that Lady Elaine returned his affection, and, +knowing this, I determined that, if possible, the course of +true love should, for once, run smoothly. And so I—I have +tried to thwart you whenever you attempted to force your +attentions upon her. I do not wonder that you are surprised,” +she continued, as she saw him start and change +color, “but it was for this purpose that I sacrificed my +maiden modesty, seeking your society, laughing and jesting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>with you, and keeping you by my side by every art which +I could call to my aid. Yes, I played this part for the +sole purpose of thwarting your designs, and to allow the +lovers all the enjoyment possible; and when my end was +achieved—when they announced their engagement, I—I +couldn’t keep up the farce any longer. I hated myself for +having appeared—and I assure you it was all pretense—the +bold and forward girl who had seemed to run after you +and court your favor upon every occasion; and—and the +reaction has perhaps made me treat you with more coldness +and reserve than I ought to have done. So you perceive, +knowing as I do that you were interested in Lady +Elaine, it is not strange that I do not believe you when +you say that you love me.</p> + +<p>“But I cannot understand,” she went on, drawing herself +up haughtily, “why you should make such an avowal +to me, unless indeed you were driven to it from pique. I +have heard of such things, but I think you might at least +have spared me such a mortification.”</p> + +<p>She would have passed him as she ceased speaking, for +she had wrought herself up to the highest pitch of indignation, +and was quivering in every nerve; but he placed +himself directly in her path, and would not let her go.</p> + +<p>“No! no! I swear that pique has nothing whatever to do +with it!” he cried, eagerly. “Hear me! You have accused +me, and now you must listen to my defense!”</p> + +<p>Like a flash of light the thought came to him, that perhaps +while she was spreading this net for his unsuspecting +feet, she had been caught in its meshes herself—while she +had sought to keep him from winning the love of Lady +Elaine, she had learned to love him before she knew it.</p> + +<p>During the moment or two that he stood looking down +into her expressive face, and trying to think what to say to +defend himself, he had grasped and analyzed her feelings, +and resolved to govern himself accordingly.</p> + +<p>“Arley,” he said, in a quick, earnest voice, “at any other +time, under any other circumstances, I should have been +mortified and angry at your frank confession; for a man +does not like to be told that he has been outwitted by a +girl, even though the one who has accomplished it may have +twined herself about his heart in a way to make him love +her very tenderly. But, forgive me, if I say that I am led +to believe that your eyes must have been sharpened by +something more than common observation to make you read +me so well as you have done. Darling”—and as he uttered +this word, in a low, thrilling tone, he reached down and +took possession of her two trembling hands—“let me ‘confess’ +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>now. That first evening when I met Lady Elaine I +thought I had never seen any one so lovely. I was bewildered, +fascinated, and I said to myself: ‘This is love +at first sight.’ I did seek her—I own it—for she seemed to +possess a strange power which drew me almost irresistibly +toward her. But when I was thrown, or ‘trapped,’ as you +say, into your society, I began to feel that the spice and +fire of your more ardent nature was more congenial to me; +your vivacity, your wit and never-failing spirits, touched +a chord in my heart that had never vibrated before, and +I became an only too willing captive in the net which you +say you spread for me. It is you whom I love, and you +alone. Arley, I want you for my wife, and I should have +told you this before but for the coldness and inexplicable +neglect with which you have treated me since you began to +hate yourself for making me love you. Dear, this is my +trouble, or at least a portion of it—this was one reason why +I was going away from Hazelmere. I could not remain +and endure your aversion. Will you not bid me stay?—whisper +but one word to tell me that I may hope, and I +shall be happy. Do not tell me again that you do not believe +me—try me, test me, and let me prove my sincerity +to you.” He spoke earnestly and passionately, and his +words were very sweet to the ears of the listening girl.</p> + +<p>Her heart longed to believe him—to trust him and be +happy, though the still, small voice of her better judgment +bade her “wait and be careful.”</p> + +<p>Still his words seemed so plausible and sincere; it looked +reasonable, she thought, that he should be at once attracted +by Lady Elaine, who was so much more beautiful—at least +in her opinion—than any one else. Everybody was attracted +to her, but it did not follow that everybody must fall hopelessly +in love with her.</p> + +<p>It looked reasonable, too—though, perhaps, not very flattering +to her—that he should not fully realize the state of +his feelings toward her—Arley—until the great heiress had +been won by some one else, and he began to miss her society, +which she had taken such pains to make so fascinating to +him; and so reasoning thus—perhaps she was very weak, +but she could not help it—she yearned to accept all that +he offered her.</p> + +<p>She stood with her face downcast, hesitating and +trembling before him, not even withdrawing her hands from +his clasp, so intent was she trying to analyze her own feelings +and his professions of attachment.</p> + +<p>Her hesitancy emboldened him, and enfolding those small +hands still closer in his clasp, he pleaded:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> + +<p>“Arley, something makes me hope, in spite of all the +hard things that you have said to me; tell me that you trust +me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, if I might!” she cried, with an intensity that startled +him, while at the same time it told him that she did love +him—that his cause was won.</p> + +<p>As she spoke she flashed an eager, searching glance into +his face—a glance that sought to read his very soul.</p> + +<p>“My darling!” Philip cried, joyfully, “if you did not +have some love for me you never would have said that. +You may—you must trust me, and I will prove so loyal +and true, so fond and devoted, that, by and by, you will +wonder how it was possible for you ever to doubt me.”</p> + +<p>Looking down into that beautiful, blushing face, into +those glorious dark eyes, Philip Paxton’s heart was stirred +with tenderer feelings than it had ever experienced before, +and he really meant at that moment all that he said; really +believed that he should prove the loyal man and true that +he had promised to be.</p> + +<p>He did not know his own weakness—who does, in fact?—he +had not a suspicion of the temptations which in the +future were to try the material of which he was made. It is +so easy to make resolutions and promises; it is so hard, in +our own strength, to keep them.</p> + +<p>And lovely, pure-hearted, generous Arley Wentworth, won +by the pleadings of her own heart, and his persuasive voice, +smiled shyly, and, still looking into his eyes, which seemed +so frank and truthful, said tremulously:</p> + +<p>“I would like to trust you—I will trust you, Philip,” and +her fate was sealed.</p> + +<p>He drew her to him with a glad cry, and touched his lips +to her burning brow; and to his honor be it said, he knew +then that, fortune or no fortune, she was dearer to him +than any woman in the world.</p> + +<p>At the same time he knew, also, that he never should have +asked her to marry him had it not been for her twenty thousand +pounds.</p> + +<p>“You do love me, Arley?” he whispered.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t I confessed it enough yet to satisfy you?” she +asked, archly.</p> + +<p>“No, I shall want to hear it again and again. Tell me, +when did you first discover that you cared for me?”</p> + +<p>“Must I go away down into the valley of humiliation, +and own that I lost my heart during that first ride from +Horsham station to Hazelmere?” Arley retorted, laughing, +but with her face covered with blushes.</p> + +<p>“Then I do not see how you needed to have treated me as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>you have done during the last fortnight,” Philip replied, +regarding her thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“I was obliged to in order to hide my secret,” Arley answered. +“When Wil’s engagement was announced I began +to be very much ashamed of the part I had been playing. +I could not bear that you should think me forward and +unmaidenly, while, for the world, I would not have you or +any one else suspect that I had given you my love unsolicited, +and so I concealed my feelings under an assumed +coldness.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I am bound to confess that you are an honest little +body,” Philip said, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Thank you; I never tried to be anything else,” replied +truthful Arley.</p> + +<p>Philip winced at this unconscious reproof, for he felt +that however much he might be interested in her now, he +had not been strictly honest in asking her to be his wife.</p> + +<p>“I do not think I shall leave Hazelmere for a few days +longer,” he said, smiling. “May I announce another engagement +this evening?”</p> + +<p>“If you wish,” Arley answered, frankly. “I have no desire +to keep it secret.”</p> + +<p>And so it was made known at dinner-time, to the surprise +of every one, that Arley Wentworth and Philip Paxton +were betrothed lovers.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br><span class="small"> + THE FIRST WEDDING. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Do you love him, Arley?”</p> + +<p>“Why, my darling Lily of Mordaunt! how can you ask +such a question? Do you suppose I should have accepted +him if I had not?”</p> + +<p>“I hope not—I trust not; yet I—it is very unexpected +to me—it seems very strange,” sighed the gentle Elaine, a +perplexed expression clouding her lovely face.</p> + +<p>She had been perfectly amazed when Philip Paxton made +known the fact of his engagement to Arley, and as soon as +she could catch her by herself, she assailed her with the +above question, while her heart was filled with a strange +foreboding on her account.</p> + +<p>She had grown to feel a deep and abiding love for the +bright and interesting girl, who, though nearly two years +older than herself, appeared to be that much younger; and +Arley seemed to reciprocate this affection, notwithstanding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>that until very recently they had been utter strangers to +each other.</p> + +<p>One day she impulsively threw her arms around Lady +Elaine’s neck, and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“How I wish you were my sister! You have no idea how +I have always longed for a sister, and if the fates had only +given you to me I should be supremely happy.”</p> + +<p>“Why, how singular! I have often wished the same thing +since I became acquainted with you,” returned the Lily +of Mordaunt, with a look of surprise.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps the fact that we are both orphans has caused +it,” she added, after a moment; “but I must confess, Arley, +that I have never seen any one who has won her way so +securely into my heart as you have done.”</p> + +<p>“That ought to make me very happy, and it does, dear,” +Arley returned, kissing her with tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“I should have had a sister if she had lived,” Lady Elaine +resumed, “and she would have been just about your age, +too. It has been a source of great sorrow to me that she +could not have been spared.”</p> + +<p>“How old was she when she died?” Arley asked.</p> + +<p>“A mere baby, not two years old, and I never saw her, +because she died before I was born; but I was never weary +of hearing mamma talk about her. She was entirely different +from me, too, resembling mamma, who had dark hair +and eyes, while I am a thorough Mordaunt in form, and +feature, and complexion.”</p> + +<p>“What a strange world this is!” Arley remarked, reflectively; +“some people have so many to love them and others +so few. But, dear Elaine, I am happy to have won your +affection, and I hope that this friendship, which amounts +almost to sisterhood, will last throughout our whole life.”</p> + +<p>“I know of nothing that would cause me greater pain +than to have it broken,” Lady Elaine said, with a little sigh +of apprehension, as she thought of Philip, and wondered how +this marriage with Arley would affect it in the future.</p> + +<p>“Let us put a seal upon it,” she added, eagerly, after +a moment; “let us exchange rings, Arley. You have a queer +twisted ring on your third finger that I have admired ever +since I first saw it; let me have it, and I will give you +this in return,” and she drew off a lovely emerald surrounded +by tiny pearls as she spoke.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, Elaine; that would not be a fair exchange +at all,” Arley opposed. “That is a very costly ring, while +mine, though exceedingly odd, is a simple affair, which I +bought as a guard to this diamond that grandpa gave me +two years ago.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> + +<p>“Never mind; I want it,” persisted Lady Elaine, “and I +want you to have this; so, if there are no precious associations +connected with it, put it here on this finger, and let +me put mine upon yours.”</p> + +<p>She held out her slender hand as she ceased speaking, +and Arley obediently slipped the twisted ring upon the third +finger.</p> + +<p>Then taking Arley’s hand, she put the emerald above the +diamond.</p> + +<p>“With this ring I wed thee, dear,” she said, with a fond +smile, but with a little tremulousness in her tones; “so remember +that you are my especial friend for all time, in +sickness or in health, for better or for worse, it will be +all the same—be sure that you never forget it, Arley.”</p> + +<p>Arley Wentworth kissed her with trembling lips.</p> + +<p>“You would compel any one to love you almost against +their will,” she said, “but I certainly never shall forget.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The next two weeks passed so pleasantly and harmoniously, +the three pairs of lovers were so devoted and apparently so +happy in each other, that an observer would undoubtedly +have augured a life of uninterrupted bliss for them all.</p> + +<p>At the end of that time Philip Paxton said he must return +to London, for his business required his attention, but +at Wil’s request he promised to run down to Hazelmere +every Saturday and spend the Sabbath as long as Arley +should remain a guest there.</p> + +<p>Annie Hamilton would not consent to spare her friend +until after the wedding, which was to occur now in about a +month.</p> + +<p>The four weeks seemed actually to melt away, and were +gone almost before they realized it, and the important day +dawned bright and fair.</p> + +<p>The bride was, of course, lovely in white satin, with the +usual accompaniments—the mistlike veil and pure fragrant +orange-blossoms; while the two bridesmaids—Lady Elaine, +in her rich, cream-white silk, garnished with wreaths of +forget-me-nots and pearls, and Arley, in pale pink, with +great Marechal Neil roses drooping gracefully here and +there amid folds of frostlike lace—were almost, if not quite, +as attractive as the gentle bride herself.</p> + +<p>Wil Hamilton and Philip Paxton were, of course, the +“best men,” and both made a fine, manly appearance.</p> + +<p>The wedding breakfast was pronounced “elegant,” and +everything passed off in the smoothest and most approved +manner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<p>The gifts were numerous and costly, and, altogether, +pretty Annie Hamilton seemed to begin life with every +prospect of future happiness and prosperity.</p> + +<p>Then came the farewells and confusion of departure, and +the happy pair left Hazelmere for a tour of a month, after +which they were to take up their residence in their own +home, which was not far from Sir Anthony’s estate.</p> + +<p>Three days later Arley bade her friends “good-by” and returned +to London, where she was to make immediate preparations +for her own marriage, since Philip Paxton insisted +that there was no reason why it should be delayed, and had +fixed the event for the 24th of October.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine promised to go up to London to spend the +last fortnight with her, and all the Hamiltons were to be +present at the very quiet wedding.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br><span class="small"> + ARLEY’S VISITOR. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Arley Wentworth’s wedding day was not a bright day. +Thick clouds overcast the sky, while a heavy fog—London’s +customary wet blanket—made everything dismal and gloomy +enough.</p> + +<p>As already intimated, the wedding was to be a very quiet +affair, for the orphaned girl had no near relatives who were +able to take the burden and care of a large merry-making.</p> + +<p>There were only her aged aunt—a lady of between fifty +and sixty—and two or three distant cousins on her father’s +side whom she could claim as kindred, so only her intimate +friends and a few of her acquaintances were bidden to the +feast.</p> + +<p>She was, however, to be married in St. George’s Church, +Hanover Square, and with all the pretty paraphernalia which +a young and lovely bride should have. This Miss McAllister, +who herself was quite wealthy, had insisted upon, +and it was also in accordance with Arley’s own ideas and +wishes.</p> + +<p>“What makes you so quiet and sad, Arley, dear?” Lady +Elaine asked of her, as she was helping her dress for her +marriage.</p> + +<p>Arley had whimsically insisted that she would have no +maid about her that morning; her own hands, with the assistance +of her dearest friend, should perform all the necessary +offices for the occasion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>“This is your bridal morn,” she continued, “and your face +should be bright, even if the day is not.”</p> + +<p>“Do I look sad, Elaine? I did not mean to,” Arley replied, +with a forced smile, but Lady Elaine, looking into +her eyes, saw that they were full of tears.</p> + +<p>“What is it, dear—what troubles you?” she asked, twining +her arms around her waist and drawing the troubled girl +close to her.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; perhaps it is a sort of reaction after all +the excitement and labor of preparation, but I feel strangely +depressed this morning, instead of looking forward to this +event, which should only bring me happiness and bright +anticipations, I feel as if something dreadful was about to +happen to me,” Arley responded, as, with a weary sigh, she +dropped her head upon the shoulder of her friend.</p> + +<p>A cloud passed over Lady Elaine’s face.</p> + +<p>She had regarded her marriage with Philip Paxton, from +the very first, with feelings akin to these.</p> + +<p>She could not believe that he was true.</p> + +<p>Soon after his engagement to Arley, she had learned +through Wil, who heard of it while he was in London at +one time, of his unfortunate speculations, and the thought +had forced itself upon her that he had made his proposal +to her merely to build up his fallen fortunes, and, failing +in that, he had then turned to Arley, as offering the next +most tempting bait with which to replenish his empty coffers.</p> + +<p>But, of course, she could not breathe anything of this +to her friend; she must not allow her to become any more +despondent, so she said, as cheerfully as she could:</p> + +<p>“These are nervous fears, I am afraid, darling, and you +must not carry that pale, sad face to St. George’s. What +would Mr. Paxton think to behold such a depressed-looking +bride? If this is the way all brides feel on their wedding-day, +I am afraid I shall be tempted to put off the evil +hour as long as possible.”</p> + +<p>“When are you to be married, Elaine?” Arley asked, her +thoughts for the moment drawn away from herself.</p> + +<p>“I do not know, dear; no time has been set as yet. Wil +told me last evening that he had received his appointment.”</p> + +<p>“What appointment?”</p> + +<p>“Sure enough; I forgot that you did not know, but he +did not wish to tell any one until the matter was settled. +He has been appointed to go with Powell’s exploring expedition +to Colorado, in the United States, and so, of course, +we do not think of a wedding until he returns.”</p> + +<p>“This is news, indeed,” Arley exclaimed, greatly surprised. +“When did he apply for this appointment?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> + +<p>“Sit down here and let me brush out your hair while +I tell you about it; we must not waste any time, you know,” +Lady Elaine said, pushing a low chair before a full-length +mirror, and glad to find that any subject would interrupt +her friend’s sad thoughts. “He made his application more +than six months ago, and some time before my return from +school, or,” she said, with a little, tremulous smile, “he +would never have made it at all, since the thought of separation +is very painful to us both.”</p> + +<p>“I should think so,” Arley said, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“But his sense of honor,” Lady Elaine resumed, “will not +allow him to throw up the appointment, now that it has +been awarded him. It is quite a ‘feather in his cap,’ so +to speak, for the American Congress have authorized Professor +Powell to explore the Colorado River and make a +scientific survey of the region drained by it and its tributaries, +together with a topographical survey by triangulation—its +geology, zoology, botany and ethnology. I hope +you understand it all, dear,” the young countess said, laughing +at Arley’s puzzled expression. “I don’t, and had to get +Wil to write it down for me, and then I had to study hard +in order to be able to rattle off that much. But Wil is +very anxious to become a professor of geology and botany, +and this expedition offers a great deal in the way of instruction, +as well as of reputation, and he really cannot afford to +lose the opportunity.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should consider it a great trial to have him go,” +Arley returned, “for there must be many dangers attending +such an expedition. Just think of his going into that wilderness, +with all its ravenous beasts and Indians, and then—those +horrid Mormons are out there, somewhere, aren’t +they?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Lady Elaine said, with a clear, silvery laugh, “but +I have no fear that the far-famed Brigham Young will ever +make a convert of him. It is a great trial, however,” she +added, tears springing to her eyes, “but if it is for the best, +I am willing to submit to it.”</p> + +<p>“When does he go?”</p> + +<p>“Not until next April.”</p> + +<p>“And how long will he be gone?”</p> + +<p>“About six months, I believe; the weather will not admit +of a longer tour than that.”</p> + +<p>“You will be very lonely while he is gone, Elaine,” Arley +said, in a sympathetic tone.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but I must make the best of that, too,” was the +smiling reply, though tears hung trembling on the long +golden lashes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> + +<p>“What is it, to ‘make the best of anything?’” Arley asked, +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“I believe it is to accept whatever is sent to us as sent +by an All-wise Father for some good—to bear all ills patiently, +and be reverently grateful for whatever joy may +fall to our lot; three words, in fact, express it all—trust +in God.”</p> + +<p>“Can you live out your life like that, Elaine?” Arley +demanded almost sharply, while she turned to look into +those sweetly serious eyes behind her.</p> + +<p>“I do not know what is before me, dear,” was the low, +grave reply; “but I mean to try to live out my life like +that. At all events, I know there is no real happiness in +this world without faith in God.”</p> + +<p>Arley sighed.</p> + +<p>“I do not know much about it, I fear, and I have always +felt that there was something in your life which I do not +possess, for you are so happy, so lovable. But I will try +to remember what you have said—how I wish you could +be with me always,” Arley said, wistfully. “Elaine,” she +added, “I believe the hardest part of to-day will be the +parting from you—perhaps that is why I am so depressed. +I wonder why it is that I love you so?”</p> + +<p>“Because of my love for you, no doubt, for love is begotten +of love, you know,” and Lady Elaine bent down and touched +her lips to the fragrant hair that she was plaiting.</p> + +<p>“When I return from my tour will you come and stay +with me until Wil returns to claim you?” Arley asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, dear; I shall be very glad to come. It will help to +pass the time away until he gets back, and then, I suppose, +you will come to Hazelmere again to perform these bridal +duties for me. There,” as she put the last pin into the +heavy braids of nut-brown hair, “this is done, and I do not +believe a French hair-dresser could have done any better; +now let me help you on with your dress. How perfectly +lovely it is!”</p> + +<p>She lifted an exquisite robe of silk and lace from the +bed as she spoke, and regarded it admiringly.</p> + +<p>“As Annie says,” she replied, “your taste is simply perfect, +and you will make a most charming bride.”</p> + +<p>Arley shivered as she slipped the dress over her head, +and began to help her fasten it.</p> + +<p>“Are you cold?” Lady Elaine asked, observing it.</p> + +<p>“No. I know the dress is lovely, but I do not like it. I +believe I shall never put it on again, and I would not wear +it to-day if I had anything else that would do,” Arley said, +almost passionately.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> + +<p>“Why? What a strange freak!” the young countess said +while she regarded the clouded face of the young bride-elect +with a wistful glance.</p> + +<p>Arley did not offer to explain it, but there was a reason +for this sudden dislike of her wedding dress.</p> + +<p>It had arrived from Worth’s only a day or two previous, +and she had thought it the prettiest thing that she had +ever seen, and when Philip came in the evening she had +coaxed him into her boudoir to look at it.</p> + +<p>It hung upon a form to keep it from being crushed, the +lovely trail of rich lace and gleaming silk floating out behind +in the most graceful folds. The corsage was cut low, +and from this there extended a covering for the neck made +of a network of seed pearls, a fringe of the same finishing +it where it joined the body, and also the small, short sleeves.</p> + +<p>“Do you care much for such pretty things?” she had asked +him, with a shy, yet happy glance, as she remembered when +she was to wear it: “It is all my own idea,” she added. “I +planned and ordered it myself.”</p> + +<p>He stood looking at it a moment, not a ray of pleasure +lighting up his handsome face.</p> + +<p>“It must have cost a great deal of money,” was all he +said, then he had turned abruptly away from it, as if the +sight annoyed him.</p> + +<p>Arley’s face flushed a vivid, angry scarlet.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she answered, proudly lifting her pretty head, +“one’s wedding dress is expected to cost a great deal of +money.”</p> + +<p>But it had been spoiled for her from that moment, and +that was why she had shivered when she had put it on.</p> + +<p>Her lover had thought more of the cost than of the beauty +of the robe in which she was to wed him; all the thought +of pleasing him, all the pleasure of happy fancies which +she had woven in with it, for his sake alone, went for nothing +with him. But she told no one of it; she kept it a secret +in her own heart, and it had rankled there like a poisoned +arrow.</p> + +<p>She was as lovely as a dream, however, when she went down +to meet him, and she saw his eyes brighten with a pride +which half made up for the pain she had suffered over his +former indifference.</p> + +<p>She would not have a single orange blossom in her wreath.</p> + +<p>“Let the poor things have a rest,” she had said, when discussing +the subject. “There will be one bride who will not +load the air with their perfume.”</p> + +<p>And so she had chosen instead a beautiful garland of pure +white heath with which to fasten her veil and delicate vines +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>depending from it trailed down the whole length of her lovely +dress.</p> + +<p>She wore no ornaments, save the network of pearls over +her neck, and the fringe which finished it, and fell also over +the tops of the long gloves, which came up on her arms to +meet the tiny sleeves of her dress.</p> + +<p>Save the delicate flush on her cheeks and her scarlet lips, +with her dark brows and hair she was as “pure and chaste +as snow” from the crown of her head to the sole of her white-slippered +feet.</p> + +<p>“I am very proud of my love to-day,” Philip said, as he met +her at the foot of the stairs and led her out to the coach +which was to convey her to the church.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine, who had followed her, heard the whispered +words, and prayed most fervently that he might always love +and be “very proud” of her.</p> + +<p>Arley’s heart bounded and thrilled over the fond sentence, +little dreaming how soon, alas! it was to be pierced with a +cruel wound, the scar of which would never disappear.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the church, they were rejoined by Philip and +Wil, also Annie Vane and her husband, and the <i>cortege</i> +swept up the aisle to the altar, where a few brief moments +were all that was necessary for the words to be spoken which +bound Arley Wentworth to Philip Paxton for life.</p> + +<p>The wedding breakfast was much like other breakfasts on +similar occasions; the congratulations, good wishes and toasts +were numerous and hearty; the bridal presents were properly +inspected and admired, and finally the fair bride stole away +to prepare for her journey.</p> + +<p>She was nearly ready to return to her guests when there +came a tap upon her door and a servant entered, bearing a +note upon a silver tray.</p> + +<p>“What is this?” Arley asked, as she took it up and began +to unfold it.</p> + +<p>“A young person, madam, called a few moments ago and +asked for you,” the servant replied. “I told her that you +could not be disturbed to-day, but she insisted that she must +see you, and finally asked me if I would bring you this note.”</p> + +<p>Arley now gave her attention to the note and read these +few words, very hastily written:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Will you please grant me just a few moments, as I have +something of the greatest importance to tell you before you go +away? I would not have troubled you only that it is exceedingly +important.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>There was no name signed to this strange request, which +was written in a delicate, ladylike hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + +<p>“How singular!” murmured Arley, while a nervous tremor +ran over her like a hot flame.</p> + +<p>“Where is the lady?” she asked, feeling instinctively that it +was a lady who had written the note.</p> + +<p>“In the crimson ante-room, and, there is a gentleman with +her, miss—madam.”</p> + +<p>Arley smiled at the girl’s correction in addressing her; then +she said:</p> + +<p>“You may ask her to come up here. I think I can spare +her ten minutes as well as not,” she added to herself, “and I +am really quite curious to know what her important communication +is.”</p> + +<p>The servant withdrew, and Arley stood looking out of the +window, softly humming a little air to herself and tapping +out the time to it with her pretty boot while she waited for +her visitor.</p> + +<p>Never, as long as she lived, did she forget those few moments +while she tarried for the stranger.</p> + +<p>Her attitude, the room, with all its rich appointments, the +graceful sweep of the curtains near which she was standing, +the foggy street without, the leaden sky above, were all indelibly +stamped upon her mind.</p> + +<p>She remembered, too, how happy she was—for her depression +had all vanished as if by magic—with what joy she +looked forward to her journey with her husband—her husband! +How the words thrilled her as she said them over to +herself, with not a thought of the misery that was rushing to +overtake her like a swift destroyer.</p> + +<p>Then the door opened, and she turned to see a fair, young +girl of about her own age enter the room and come forward +to meet her.</p> + +<p>She was slight and graceful in form; she had a fair complexion, +with great, dark-blue eyes, sunny-brown hair that +waved prettily about her forehead, a delicate, clear-cut face, +and small, beautifully-shaped hands and feet.</p> + +<p>How quickly and keenly Arley noted and took in all these +details of her person!</p> + +<p>How rapidly her eyes ran over every article of her dress, +marking everything, from the tasteful, becoming hat to the +tiny, perfectly-fitting boot, and yet there was nothing about +the engaging stranger to betray that she had come on an +errand that was to dash the cup of happiness from her lips, +and rob her of everything that she prized most in life.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br><span class="small"> + I CANNOT GIVE YOU UP. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>The young stranger appeared to be “every inch” the lady, +and Arley wondered more and more who she could be and +what she could want, that she should thus come to her on her +wedding day; while, as she gazed upon that refined and delicate +face, there seemed to be some strangely familiar look +about it that puzzled her.</p> + +<p>She had been so intent upon reading her face that she had +spoken no word, and the young girl, who had advanced half +way across the room, suddenly stopped, as if ashamed at having +intruded upon her.</p> + +<p>This act recalled Lady Arley to herself, and she went forward +to greet her, saying, with her usual cordial frankness:</p> + +<p>“You wish to see me—you have something to tell me? +Will you please tell me whom I have the pleasure of receiving?”</p> + +<p>The girl flushed a painful crimson at this question.</p> + +<p>“That, and that alone, is my errand here to-day—to tell +you who I am, though I shrink from giving you what, I fear, +will be a painful shock,” was the embarrassed and faltering +reply. “My name is the counterpart of your own, or at least, +what your own has been until to-day—Arley Wentworth!”</p> + +<p>Arley gave her a startled look, and grew a trifle pale at this +strange information.</p> + +<p>“I can tell you nothing of my parentage,” the girl continued, +“for I know nothing about it; that I have yet to +learn from others. My earliest recollections are of a very +simple life with rough, but kind-hearted people. The man +whom I was taught to call and regard as my father was a +fisherman.</p> + +<p>“Upon one occasion a severe storm overtook him, and he +was driven far out to sea—in fact, his vessel came very near +being wrecked, and he, with his small crew, barely escaped +with their lives. When the storm passed, they patched up +their injured craft as well as they could, and then began +their toilsome task of working back into port.</p> + +<p>“While thus engaged, one of the sailors descried a small +object which excited his curiosity, tossing about on the still +angry waves, like thistle-down upon the wind. He pointed +it out to his captain, who also became very curious about it, +and immediately launched a boat for the purpose of securing +it. To his great astonishment he found it to be a child, +carefully wrapped in a rubber waterproof and lashed into the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>tray of a trunk. At first they thought I was dead—for I +was that child—I was so benumbed with the cold and wet; +but after working over me for a while, they perceived signs +of life, and persevering in their efforts, they finally had the +satisfaction of restoring me completely. The captain took +me home to his wife, and having no children of their own, +they concluded to adopt me, and I was named Ina Corrillion.</p> + +<p>“Their home was on the northern coast of Spain, not far +from the city of Bayonne, in France. It was a rude little +hut, containing only three small rooms, which were furnished, +in the most meager manner, if, indeed, they could be +said to be furnished at all.</p> + +<p>“When I was twelve I was deprived, by accident, of even +the care of these good fisher folk, and again thrown a waif +upon the world. A heavy piece of timber, which was to be +used in repairing the vessel belonging to Carlos Corrillion—my +so-called father—was being hoisted to the deck, when the +ropes gave way, and it came crashing down with tremendous +force. Carlos was standing directly beneath it, and his wife, +seeing his danger, sprang forward, thinking to ward off the +fatal blow; she made a misstep and fell, and both husband +and wife were crushed to death by the massive beam.</p> + +<p>“I will not go into detail now regarding their burial and +what followed, but simply state important facts. I was +taken to Bayonne, after all was over, and put into a charity +school.</p> + +<p>“Carlos and Annette Corrillion were partly of French, +partly Spanish descent, and spoke the language of Spain in +an incoherent fashion. Of course this had become to me +like my native tongue; but after I went to reside with the +sisters at Bayonne, I was taught both French and English; +and here, also, I began to experience a curiosity regarding +my parentage. One of the sisters there was very kind to me, +interesting herself in an unusual degree in my progress, and +assisting me over many rough places, until I grew to love +her dearly. One day I told her all that I knew of my story, +and showed her my little bundle of clothes which Carlos had +kept. She examined them very critically, and became quite +excited over them. There was a little dress and skirt, made +of the finest material, and beautifully embroidered; a tiny +pair of lisle thread stockings, and shoes; a little chain of +fine gold, which had been clasped around my neck, and +marked on the catch with the letters ‘A. W.’ There was also +a tiny ring, with the name ‘Arley’ traced in wee letters on +the inside; and, while looking over the waterproof cloak, +which had been wrapped around my bundle, she had found a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>pocket, on the inside of which a piece of cloth had been +sewed, bearing the name, ‘Evelyn Wentworth.’”</p> + +<p>“My mother’s name!” exclaimed Arley, with white lips and +dilating eyes.</p> + +<p>Her companion did not reply to her interruption, except +by a look of sorrowful compassion, and then resumed:</p> + +<p>“The Sister folded everything with great care, and told me +never to part with one of them. ‘You will find your friends +some day, if you keep them,’ she said; and also remarked that +she believed, from my appearance and the name upon the +waterproof, that I was of English parentage. Greatly encouraged +by her sympathy and interest, I redoubled my efforts +to learn, and gave my attention almost exclusively to +English branches.</p> + +<p>“When I was fifteen, the matron of the school had an application +from an English lady who was traveling, for a +nurse. I need not tell you that I pleaded most eagerly for +the place when the matron made the application known, and +after an interview with the lady herself, I was at once installed +as nurse over three unruly, but very pretty children. +The family remained abroad a year, and then we all came to +England. Mrs. Alden’s home is in Bristol, and there I have +been with her during the last three years. She has been very +kind to me, treating me more like a friend than a servant.</p> + +<p>“Soon after our return, Mr. Alden began to institute inquiries +regarding my parentage, but without success, until a +month ago, or a little more, we came to London. A week +after our arrival here, we read in one of the papers a notice +of the approaching marriage of Miss Arley Wentworth with +Mr. Philip Paxton. The name—your name—thrilled me at +once, for I felt that at last we had found a clew. We thought +the rest would be comparatively easy, but we found great difficulty +in ascertaining your place of residence. Day after +day Mr. Alden made inquiries, but it was only yesterday that +he succeeded in finding Mr. Paxton’s office. He was out +when Mr. Alden called, and he was somewhat dismayed to +learn that he was to be married to-day, and go abroad immediately +for several months. He then asked the clerk if he +could give him the name of the guardian of the young lady +whom he was to marry, and he immediately directed him to +Mr. Holley, your lawyer. He hastened at once to his office, +and laid the facts, which I have related to you, before him. +He examined the articles of which I have spoken, and questioned +Mr. Alden very closely, and then, not satisfied, he +came to see me, and obliged me to repeat my story. He was +very loath to admit my claim, for he is very fond of you; but +at last he was obliged to confess that I am entitled to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>name of—of—Arley Wentworth. He was, however, so disturbed +that he refused to come and acquaint you with the +facts, although we all felt that it belonged to him to do so; +Mr. Alden recoiled from the task, and at last I said that I +would come and tell you my story, and that is how I happened +to intrude upon you at this unfortunate hour.</p> + +<p>“I know, Mrs. Paxton,” the girl concluded, rising her pleading +eyes, which were full of tears, to Arley’s white face, “how +hard this must be for you—and upon this day of all others I +regret that you should have to learn it. I feel as if you must +almost hate me for coming here in this way to steal your +name from you, and to throw upon your shoulders the burden +of mystery and doubt which for so many years I myself have +borne. But it was necessary—I must establish my birthright, +and learn something of the parents for whom my heart +had been hungering all my life.</p> + +<p>“Don’t look at me so, please,” she continued, as she looked +up and met Arley’s burning, staring eyes. “I would gladly +have spared you if I could; forgive me—pray forgive me—for +the pain I am causing you.”</p> + +<p>Arley put out her hand to stop her.</p> + +<p>“Have you that package of clothing with you?” she asked, +in a hollow tone.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I brought it, but I left it outside the door; I did not +like to bring it in until I had told you my story. I will get +it for you.”</p> + +<p>She arose and went to the door, and Arley, in spite of the +conflicting emotions which were raging in her heart, could +not help noticing how perfectly ladylike and graceful she +was in every movement, and she found herself wondering +how it could be possible for any one to become so refined and +cultivated in the face of the difficulties which had beset her +hard life from the very beginning.</p> + +<p>She brought the package and laid it in Arley’s lap.</p> + +<p>With icy, trembling fingers, she unfolded the waterproof, +and there within it, wrapped in a fine towel, was a little +flannel skirt, finished on the bottom with rich embroidery. +The little dress, too, was of finest texture and most dainty +make. The socks and shoes were soiled and defaced by the +sea water, but were evidently the best that could be obtained.</p> + +<p>There was a little box in the package; opening it, Arley +found the chain and ring of which the stranger had told her; +and she found, too, the name “Arley” on one, the initials “A. +W.” on the other.</p> + +<p>Turning the pocket of the waterproof inside out, she saw +the name “Evelyn Wentworth” written upon a piece of cloth +which was sewed to the garment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> + +<p>As she saw this, she arose, without a word, but with a perfectly +colorless face, and rang the bell for her maid.</p> + +<p>The summons was answered almost immediately, for inquiries +were beginning to be made for the absent bride, and +the girl was loitering in the corridor without.</p> + +<p>“Send Aunt Angelina here,” Arley said, authoritatively.</p> + +<p>Very soon the door unclosed again to admit an elderly lady, +who, after one startled glance at Arley, turned and regarded +the stranger inquisitively.</p> + +<p>With swift, eager steps, Arley glided to her side, and holding +the little ring and chain (which she had retained in her +hand) up before her, asked, in a low, breathless tone:</p> + +<p>“Auntie, did you ever see these before?”</p> + +<p>The old lady uttered a startled cry as she beheld them; +then she grasped them in her trembling hands and examined +them closely.</p> + +<p>“Child,” she said, excitedly, “this ring I bought and had +marked myself, and the chain your grandfather purchased +at the same time. We sent them to Evelyn for you, when she +wrote us that she had a little daughter and was going to call +her Arley. Where on earth did you get them? I supposed +they were at the bottom of the sea.”</p> + +<p>Arley sank, weakly, into a chair at these words. She could +not utter one word in reply, for it seemed as if her tongue +was paralyzed and as if all her senses were slipping from her.</p> + +<p>Her young visitor sprang forward and fell upon her knees +by her side, and began to chafe her hands.</p> + +<p>“Forgive me—forgive me,” she pleaded, while glittering +tears rolled over her own pale face; “I would have spared you +if I could.”</p> + +<p>This called Miss McAllister’s attention again to her.</p> + +<p>“Child, who are you, and what have you done that needs to +be forgiven?”</p> + +<p>She bent to scrutinize her more closely, and all at once +started back with a low, frightened cry, her face growing +gray and haggard.</p> + +<p>“Who are you, I say?” she whispered, hoarsely. “Are you +a spirit that you come here with the face and eyes of Evelyn, +my lost niece? I could almost swear that she had come +back to me as fresh and fair as she was when she left us +almost twenty years ago. Child—child, what is your name?”</p> + +<p>At these wild, startling words, poor Arley bowed her face +upon her hands with a low, despairing cry, and knew now +why the face of the young girl had seemed so strangely familiar +to her when she had entered the room.</p> + +<p>It was a counterpart of a picture which was even then +hanging in the library below—the picture of the lovely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>woman whom, until this hour, she had always believed to be +her mother.</p> + +<p>She knew, too, that the young stranger’s story was true—the +identification of the ring and chain, together with Miss +McAllister’s last words, had proved it beyond the shadow of a +doubt.</p> + +<p>The new Arley looked from the wretched bride to the perplexed +and startled spinster in a helpless, appealing way.</p> + +<p>It made her miserable to cause all this pain and confusion, +and she did not know what to say in answer to Miss McAllister’s +question.</p> + +<p>But Arley came to her aid, and we are yet to learn that the +strength and courage of heroes were in our fair young +friend.</p> + +<p>She sat suddenly erect, dropped her limp hands from her +face, and, confronting Miss McAllister, said:</p> + +<p>“Aunt Angeline, she is Evelyn Wentworth’s child. Her +name is Arley Wentworth; she is your grandniece, and not I; +I am an impostor, who all my life have been subsisting upon +the bounty of strangers, while she has gone unloved and uncared +for all her days. Tell her!” she concluded, turning to +the girl at her side.</p> + +<p>And, rising from her humble position, she repeated her +story, in a few simple words, to the amazed woman who was +her mother’s aunt. She showed her also the little clothes, +and the waterproof, with the name written in Evelyn Wentworth’s +own hand, and Miss McAllister was convinced of the +truth of her statements.</p> + +<p>“I never heard anything like it,” she said, in a bewildered +way. “I feel as if I had been bewitched. But, my dear, +you surely have Evelyn’s face; your voice makes me almost +believe that she has come back and is speaking to me; and my +heart is drawn toward you with great tenderness. But, my +darling,” turning and fondly laying her trembling hand on +Arley’s head, “how can I bear to think of any one else in +the place you have occupied for so many years? I cannot +give you up, my love, even though I were told a hundred +times that you are not Evelyn’s child.”</p> + +<p>The young stranger sprang forward and seized the +woman’s hand, crying, as she pressed it to her lips:</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t want you to give her up—I never thought of +such a thing; I do not wish anybody to give up anything. +I only wanted to be sure who I was—that I really belonged to +somebody and need no longer live with such a mystery hanging +over me. I thank you for saying such kind words regarding +my resemblance to my mother, and that you feel +tenderly toward me; I shall always love you for it. I am +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>so sorry to have made you so unhappy,” she went on, turning +to Arley with touching humility; “but I will go away now +and never trouble you again. I hope, when you get a little +accustomed to thinking of this, it will not seem quite so +hard to you; you have a kind husband, and, perhaps, in his +love and care, you will forget by and by, how I have troubled +you to-day. My only object in coming to you was to establish +my identity, and I did not dare to let you go away, +lest something should happen to you before I could tell you. +I thank you very much for receiving me so kindly, and bearing +with me so patiently. When you get back, since you +have a new name, perhaps you will not object to my taking, +in a very quiet way, the one that belongs to me. But I will +not annoy you any further now. I pray that you may have a +prosperous journey and be very happy.”</p> + +<p>She bent down and just touched Arley’s fragrant hair with +her lips, and then turned away as if to leave the room.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br><span class="small"> + IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Both Arley and Miss McAllister regarded the retreating +girl with amazement so profound that, for the moment, they +were rendered speechless.</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that the girl had only come to them, +as she said, to establish her identity, and was now willing to +return to the toil and obscurity of the life which she had +been leading? Had she no thoughts of her rights or heritage? +of the position she might occupy as the granddaughter +of Dr. McAllister and the heiress to his property?</p> + +<p>“Stop!” Arley cried, as soon as she could collect her scattered +wits, and just as the young girl was going to pass out +of the room.</p> + +<p>Ina turned, with a half-frightened look, at the authoritative +command.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” Arley asked.</p> + +<p>“Back to Mrs. Alden. They have been very kind to me, +and I have been happier with them than I ever was in my +life before; and they will be glad to keep me with them as +long as I like to stay,” Ina answered.</p> + +<p>“But—but—it seems incredible! Was your only object in +coming here just to establish your identity? Had you nothing +else in view?” And Arley studied the fair face earnestly +as she put these questions.</p> + +<p>“No, that was all; I could not rest until I was satisfied as +to who I was. I wanted to be sure that there had been an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>Evelyn Wentworth—to hear her friends acknowledge her and +confess that I must be her child. At first,” she continued, +her sweet lips trembling, “or until I saw Mr. Holley, I had a +faint hope that one or both of my parents might be living +and would gladly claim their long-lost child. Oh! how happy +I should have been to have found them, and to have been +sheltered by their care and love, but since that cannot be I +am content with the knowledge that I have gained from you +to-day. Perhaps——”</p> + +<p>She hesitated and cast a wistful look at Miss McAllister, +which touched her deeply.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps what?” Arley questioned, still regarding her +closely.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” and her eyes were still fixed appealingly on the +old lady’s face; “you might be willing, since you believe me +to be the child of your niece, that I should come to see you +once in a while to learn something about my father and +mother. Oh! you can never know how meagre my life has +been, and how I have yearned for love like theirs,” and a little +sob choked her utterance.</p> + +<p>Without giving her aunt time to reply to this appeal, Arley +got up from her chair and crossed the room to where the girl +stood, with her hand still resting upon the knob of the door.</p> + +<p>She laid her two hands upon her shoulders and looked +searchingly down into her clear, earnest eyes.</p> + +<p>“Did you not expect to come here to live? This would +have been your home—all these luxuries yours, you know, if +you had been brought here, instead of me. Did you have +no thought of the fortune which my grandfather—your +grandfather—left to his grandchild? Tell me,” she added, +almost fiercely, “you who have the face, and eyes, and voice +of the woman whom I have always revered as my mother, did +you not come here to wrest all these things from me, together +with my name and birthright?”</p> + +<p>The gentle girl shrank just a little from her questioner, +with her intense gaze and tones, but she answered with exceeding +sweetness, yet with a sort of impressive dignity:</p> + +<p>“No; believe me, I did not; all that I wished for was the +right to bear my father’s name—to be acknowledged as his +child. I wish to take nothing from you of all the comforts +that you have been led to believe your own. I have made +you unhappy enough by proving my claim to the name which +you have always borne, and I will not make an enemy of you. +Now I have told you why I came; let me go, and I will never +annoy you again.”</p> + +<p>“But, child, I never heard of such a thing. All these +things are yours—this beautiful home—alas! I believe I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>never realized until this moment how very beautiful and dear +it is!” Arley said, in trembling tones, looking around upon +all the luxuries which lay about her, “and the fortune which +Dr. McAllister left—a fortune of twenty thousand pounds. +It is yours by right of heritage.”</p> + +<p>“I know; Mr. Alden said something of this to me,” Ina +returned, with a troubled, uneasy glance at her companion, +“but I could not think of taking them away from you, who, +all your life, have regarded them as belonging to you. Dr. +McAllister always looked upon you as his grandchild; you +grew up under his love and care; to you, the child of his affection, +he gave this lovely home and his fortune, and not +to me, of whose existence he was wholly ignorant.”</p> + +<p>“But the law will give it all to you. It will decree that it +all belongs to you, the real heiress,” Arley persisted.</p> + +<p>“The law need have nothing to do about it,” Ina answered, +quickly. “And, oh! I do not wish to deprive you of one +single thing. I should feel mean, degraded to take from you +what has become a necessity to you from the force of habit +and expectation. You have been very tenderly reared, and +led to believe that all your future would be like the past, +since ample provision was made for you in Dr. McAllister’s +will. It would be cruel for me to wrest it from you and +consign you to such poverty as I have known. You could +never work for your living, while I have been brought up to +take care of, and depend upon myself.”</p> + +<p>“You are the strangest, most unselfish girl that I ever met +in my life!” Arley exclaimed, regarding her wonderingly, +with a sort of reverence; and then, actuated by an impulse +which she could not resist, she bent forward and kissed the +fair, upturned forehead.</p> + +<p>Ina caught her breath quickly at the act.</p> + +<p>“I thought you would almost hate me,” she said, with a +little sob; “and, oh! you never can know how I dreaded to +come to you.”</p> + +<p>“Hate you! It would be impossible to hate such a sweet +spirit as you have shown yourself to be,” Arley answered, +earnestly. “But you must not be allowed to wrong yourself; +right is right. You are the child of this house. I am simply +a usurper—an unintentional one, ’tis true, yet a usurper none +the less. Good Heaven!” she cried, wildly, as if suddenly +overpowered by the thought; “if you are the real Arley +Wentworth, who and what am I? Where, in all this wide +world, are my kindred, and how am I ever to find them?</p> + +<p>“But wait,” she added, more calmly. “I must not think of +that now; justice must be done first.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p> + +<p>She moved with a quick, firm step across the room and +rang her bell again.</p> + +<p>“Mary, send Mr. Paxton here immediately,” she commanded +of the girl when she came.</p> + +<p>“Yes’m; he were inquiring about you a minute ago,” she +answered, gazing curiously from one agitated face to another, +and then disappearing to do her mistress’ bidding.</p> + +<p>Then, for a moment, Arley’s forced composure gave way.</p> + +<p>“Oh, auntie, auntie!” she sobbed; “can it be possible that I +do not belong to you at all?—that all your care and affection +for so many years have been given to an impostor?”</p> + +<p>“Hush, hush, my darling!” the old lady said, brokenly, +while she fondly smoothed the bright head upon her shoulder +with her trembling hand. “Do not call yourself such hard, +such unnecessary names. Whoever you may prove to be, you +will still be my dear child just the same. It cannot alter the +fact that I have always loved you and shall love you just as +long as I live.”</p> + +<p>“But I must give up everything to her. I must go away +and surrender all that has been so dear to me,” said stricken +Arley.</p> + +<p>With a sudden rain of tears, she turned to Miss McAllister +and threw herself into her arms.</p> + +<p>“You must, and will, of course, do what is right,” Miss +McAllister returned, gravely; “but it does not follow that +our affection for each other will ever be any the less. You +were going away from me anyway. Your husband has +claimed you; and so, perhaps, God has sent me this other +child, so that I need not be quite so lonely in my old age +without you.”</p> + +<p>“What a comforter you are, auntie, and how selfish of me +not to have thought of you in this connection. She will be a +comfort to you, I know,” the young wife said, looking up, and +trying to smile through her tears; and just then Philip Paxton +entered the room.</p> + +<p>“What does this mean?” he asked, stopping short as he observed +his wife’s tear-stained face, and regarding the young +stranger with questioning surprise.</p> + +<p>“I have some strange news for you, Philip,” Arley said, +going to him and laying her hand upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p>“It must be both strange and sad to make you weep like +this on your wedding day,” he replied, tenderly, as he encircled +her slight waist with his arm and regarded her anxiously. +“What is it, dear?”</p> + +<p>She told him in as few words as possible all the strange +story, and her heart sank within her as she noted how the +tender, anxious light died out of his eyes as he listened; how +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>his face grew pale and stern, and a dogged, resolute expression +settled about his lips. Instinctively she knew that he +did not mean to acknowledge this stranger’s claim, that he +meant to contend for the name, position and fortune which +rightly belonged to her by the ties of consanguinity.</p> + +<p>But she omitted no point of proof. She explained everything, +showing him the pretty little garments, together with +the chain and ring which Miss McAllister had recognized as +the very ones which she and her brother had sent to Evelyn’s +child in far-away India.</p> + +<p>“You see, Philip,” she said, sadly, in conclusion, “that you +have not married Arley Wentworth after all, but some poor, +nameless waif who was cast up by the sea and brought here +by mistake, to occupy the position and appropriate all the +love and care which belonged to another. All my life I have +been usurping this poor girl’s place and privileges, while she +has endured only hardships and poverty.”</p> + +<p>Had Philip Paxton been a man, loyal and true, he would +at once have taken his wife in his arms, and told her that +though he might not have married the “real Arley Wentworth,” +yet having won the woman whom alone he loved, he +would be content, and the stranger might have all else, and +welcome.</p> + +<p>But he appeared to pay no heed to the appeal contained in +her words.</p> + +<p>He turned, almost fiercely, upon Ina, and said, with scornfully +curling lips, and in tones that were cold and stern:</p> + +<p>“Surely you can expect no one to believe a trumped-up +story like this—a mere fabrication, cunningly woven, I am +bound to confess—which will not bear investigation, and +must—let me assure you—fail of its object.”</p> + +<p>“But, Philip,” Arley interposed, and shrinking to hear him +speak so severely, “here are the very clothes that she wore +when she was found, and this little chain and ring, which +Aunt Angeline recognized at once.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Miss McAllister, “I bought that ring and had +it marked, and I must confess I was a trifle hurt when Arley +was brought to us and it was not upon her hand, while she +wore, instead, a fine and costly emerald. It was, of course, a +more expensive ornament, but whoever presented it could not +have done so with more love than I experienced when I sent +my simple offering to Evelyn’s child. I tried to think, however, +that her finger might have outgrown my ring; but I +see now that I was wrong, and its absence is fully explained.”</p> + +<p>Philip scowled at the inoffensive little trinkets and the +garments which his wife and Miss McAllister asserted, +proved so much.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> + +<p>“They prove nothing,” he insisted; “they may have been +washed ashore after the wreck, and picked up by some fisherman, +who now sends his child forth with this story in order to +secure your fortune and position.”</p> + +<p>“But she was dressed in these things when she was found,” +persisted Arley, while she flushed a deep crimson at his rude +implication of falsehood and intrigue on the part of the +stranger.</p> + +<p>“How do you know that?” he demanded. “You have nothing +but her word to prove it; it does not follow that it was +really the fact, simply because she says so. Then just think, +Arley, it is not at all likely that a sailor, who had been on the +same vessel with you when he came from India, could have +mistaken you for some other child; if he had not known who +you were, he would never have sent you to Dr. McAllister.”</p> + +<p>“I think the sailor might very easily have mistaken me in +all the confusion and terror of that wreck, particularly if, +as it now seems, there was another child about my own age +on the same vessel,” Arley replied, gravely:</p> + +<p>“Nonsense; it is all mere fiction—a plot to secure your +money,” he retorted, irritably.</p> + +<p>Ina, who had not yet spoken since his entrance, now advanced +and stood before him. Her eyes glowed and her +cheeks burned hotly at his words, while her graceful form +was drawn proudly erect.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon,” she said, with something of hauteur, +“but the gentleman is mistaken; I have spoken only truth—everything +is exactly as I have stated.”</p> + +<p>“But, my dear young lady, that is merely an assertion, +without anything to corroborate it, and you would find it very +difficult to prove it before a jury,” Philip said, more politely +than he had yet spoken, for her manner impressed him in +spite of his skepticism.</p> + +<p>“I shall never try to prove it before a jury,” she returned, +with dignity. “I am satisfied in my own mind that I am the +child of Captain and Mrs. Wentworth, and that is sufficient.”</p> + +<p>“Then you do not intend to take any legal steps to secure +your so-called rights?” Philip said, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” she returned, but there was a little quiver of +scorn in her voice which nettled him, and made him wonder, +as Arley had done, how it was possible for any one brought +up as she had been, to acquire so much refinement and self-possession; +“no, sir; as I have already told Mrs. Paxton, I +came here with no intention of depriving her of anything; I +simply wish to assume my own name, and since she has to-day +taken yours, that cannot possibly harm her in any way.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + +<p>He looked intensely relieved at this assurance, and remarked +to his wife:</p> + +<p>“Then you are all right, Arley, there will be no trouble.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand you,” she returned, with a troubled +look.</p> + +<p>“Why, if she takes no legal steps against you, you can still +retain your fortune, and it would be a great pity, after having +been led to expect it all your life, for you to be deprived +of it in this way.”</p> + +<p>She turned upon him with blazing eyes.</p> + +<p>“Philip!” she cried, in indignant astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“I did not expect anything like this from you,” she said. +“Would it be just—would it be honorable, to keep it?”</p> + +<p>“Why not? Dr. McAllister left you twenty thousand +pounds, and of course he expected that you would keep it and +use it for your own benefit.”</p> + +<p>“He left it to ‘Arley Wentworth, his beloved grandchild.’ +I am not ‘Arley Wentworth;’ I am not his ‘grandchild,’ as +has been proven to my satisfaction to-day, and, therefore, I +have no right to a single pound of his money. Just think,” +she went on, excitedly, “of all that I have spent since I came +into possession of this wealth. I have appropriated all the +income, year after year, spending it for my own selfish gratification, +while she,” with a swift motion of her hand toward +Ina, “the real Arley, and rightful heiress, has been in poverty +and want! Think of all that I have flittered away upon this +wedding finery to make myself attractive in your eyes! I feel +condemned, guilty, like a thief! Look at her there, in her +cheap, simple garments, and then at me, in my rich traveling +attire, while all my life I have been sheltered by the tender +care and love which should have been hers. It makes me almost +hate myself to think that I have deprived her of all this, +and yet I would not, willfully, have wronged her of a single +shilling had I known of this before. No, Philip, if you +would retain my respect, you must not so much as suggest to +me that I keep this fortune; she must have it all, to the last +farthing,” she concluded, with a positiveness which left him +in no doubt as to her purpose.</p> + +<p>He frowned darkly, and muttered something under his +breath.</p> + +<p>“What did you say?” she asked, while she searched his face +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Nothing—never mind now,” he said, hastily, then added, +more calmly: “You are too impulsive, Arley; it is not right +that you should impoverish yourself so recklessly. If you +are convinced, I am not, and I, with my better judgment regarding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>worldly affairs, am not going to allow you to do yourself +this wrong—at least without incontestable proof that this +young woman is what she claims to be. But,” looking at his +watch somewhat nervously, “it is almost time for us to leave, +and our friends below will wonder what is detaining you so +long. I presume you can be excused,” he added, sarcastically, +and flashing a look at the stranger, “and this matter +can be looked into further upon our return.”</p> + +<p>But Arley sank down upon a chair and covered her face +with her hands.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I cannot meet any one now,” she said, in a voice of +distress. “I cannot go away, Philip, until this matter is settled. +Go down and tell our friends that I am ill—for, indeed, +I feel wretchedly—tell them that our journey must be +postponed for to-day, and ask them to excuse me.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, Arley! this will never do at all,” Philip returned, +impatiently; “you must come. Our tickets are purchased +and everything arranged for the trip.”</p> + +<p>But she shook her head resolutely and repeated:</p> + +<p>“I cannot go until this question is proved and settled.”</p> + +<p>“It will never be proved,” he cried, hotly; “for there is no +truth in this story. We have not the slightest real proof that +this girl is what she claims.”</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister had listened to him throughout with a +grave face; now she approached him, and said:</p> + +<p>“Wait, Mr. Paxton, for a few moments. I want to go +downstairs, and perhaps I can help you a little about this +matter when I return.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” he answered, gloomily, and walking to a +window, looked moodily out upon the street, while she quickly +left the room.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br><span class="small"> + THE PORTRAIT. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Miss McAllister was not gone many minutes.</p> + +<p>The door soon opened again and she entered, followed by +a servant bearing a picture.</p> + +<p>It was the portrait of Evelyn Wentworth.</p> + +<p>“Place it here upon this table,” she said, in a low tone to +the man, “and then you may go.”</p> + +<p>He obeyed, and then quietly left the room.</p> + +<p>As soon as the door closed after him, Miss McAllister +turned to their visitor and said:</p> + +<p>“I want you to come and stand beside this picture, dear, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>and let Mr. Paxton compare your face with the one painted +there.”</p> + +<p>She took the young girl by the hand and led her forward.</p> + +<p>She went tremblingly, a sort of mist coming over her eyes +so that she could not see distinctly; but as she came close to +it she bent forward and scanned it eagerly.</p> + +<p>There was one moment of breathless silence, then a low +cry of surprise and joy burst from her.</p> + +<p>“Yes—yes, it is true—I know that she was my mother,” +she said, looking tearfully up into Miss McAllister’s face, +while her own glowed with a tender happiness which made +her exceedingly lovely.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton,” said the old lady, “come here and look for +yourself. I think this test cannot fail to put to flight all your +doubts.”</p> + +<p>She turned the girl and placed her side by side with the +picture as she spoke.</p> + +<p>Philip felt obliged to obey, but he came forward very reluctantly, +while Arley also bent forward to look.</p> + +<p>The face of the young maiden and that of the portrait +were almost identical.</p> + +<p>There were the same large, deep-blue eyes, the same soft, +sunny-brown hair and broad, low forehead with its straight, +shapely brows. The nose of the young girl was a trifle more +delicate in outline than that of the portrait, but the mouth +was the same—sweet and tender in expression, and with a +sensitive droop at the corners that was somewhat peculiar—while +the chin of each rounded and curved into the beautiful +white throat precisely alike.</p> + +<p>“Do you wish—can you ask any stronger proof than that +before you?” Miss McAllister asked of Philip, a trifle sternly. +“There cannot be the slightest doubt that you are looking +upon the mother and child. It has always been a matter of +regret to me that Arley did not bear more resemblance to her +parents; I have thought at times that I could trace something +of her father’s expression in her features, but it was +never satisfactory; but it is all explained now, and from this +moment I must own this child as Evelyn Wentworth’s +daughter.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, auntie, auntie!” wailed poor Arley, stretching out her +hand with a despairing gesture to her, and feeling almost as +if she had been driven forth into exile as she listened to these +words; while Philip Paxton, convinced at last because he was +obliged to be, clenched his teeth and ground his heel into +the soft carpet in impotent rage.</p> + +<p>Without warning or preparation, twenty thousand pounds +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>were swept beyond his reach, while he and his bride of but +an hour or two were, comparatively speaking, beggars.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister went to Arley and drew her head upon +her bosom.</p> + +<p>“Be still, my child,” she said, brokenly, but with exceeding +tenderness. “I do not love my darling one whit less. +Surely you do not imagine that the affection of eighteen +years’ growth can be transferred to another simply by a +question of mistaken identity? No, dear, but I must be +just—I must acknowledge the evidence of my own senses. +While from this moment I must own this young girl as Evelyn’s +child, you will ever be the same to me that you have +been—a daughter in all but name. You two shall be like a +pair of sisters, and I shall claim you both.”</p> + +<p>She held out her hand, as she ceased speaking, to Ina, who +came forward and raised it to her lips, while tears streamed +over her cheeks.</p> + +<p>She had never expected to be received so heartily and +kindly into the bosom of a family where another had reigned +so absolutely for so long.</p> + +<p>“Oh! but who am I? to whom do I belong? who are my +kin? I am stripped of everything—I have not even a name +left,” Arley cried, despairingly.</p> + +<p>She had been very brave to renounce everything when convinced +that it did not belong to her, but she felt very desolate +and unhappy now. She would not have minded it so much +if Philip had been noble and manly regarding the matter; +but it almost seemed as if he, too, had deserted her in this +trying hour.</p> + +<p>“She should not say that when she has her husband’s +name,” Ina said, sorrowfully, and looking up with tears into +Miss McAllister’s face, “and she must retain that of ‘Arley’ +also; she has always been known by it, and it would be very +awkward to change it now. All my life I have been called +‘Ina,’ and I do not believe I could answer to any other. +She”—glancing at Arley—“will be known after this as Mrs. +Paxton, and so I will assume the name of Wentworth; in +nothing else need there be any change. You are very kind +to receive me so cordially as your niece, and I shall always +love you for it; if I had not made her so unhappy”—with a +sympathetic look at the weeping bride—“I should be content.”</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister looked greatly relieved as she listened to +this, while she longed to take the sweet maiden into her arms +and kiss her for trying to make the rough way so smooth for +them all.</p> + +<p>“Arley, do you hear?” she said, turning to her; “there is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>to be no change; Ina wishes to retain her first name, and desires +that you will keep yours.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! but that does not explain who I am,” cried the poor +child, who, weary and weak from the excitement of the day, +and cut to the heart by her husband’s strange treatment, was +fast losing self-control.</p> + +<p>“You are Philip Paxton’s wife,” Miss McAllister said, with +a glance of stern appeal at the newly-made husband, who still +stood before the portrait of Evelyn Wentworth as if in a +trance.</p> + +<p>She felt that he ought to come and comfort the afflicted +girl, and not stand there moodily brooding over what could +not be helped.</p> + +<p>He started at her words, as if a viper had stung him, muttered +an angry oath, and without even so much as a glance +at his unhappy bride, he abruptly turned and left the room.</p> + +<p>This was the one bitter drop too much in Arley’s cup of +woe, and with a moan of pain she lay back in Miss Angeline’s +arms and fainted away.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton stalked downstairs, looking like anything +rather than a happy bridegroom.</p> + +<p>His face was startlingly pale, his eyes glowed with a +fierce, lurid light, and his manner was wild and excited.</p> + +<p>Meeting Wil Hamilton at the foot of the stairs—for he +was going up to see what was detaining the young couple so +long—he told him that Arley had been taken suddenly ill, and +would be unable either to take leave of her friends or go on +her journey at present, and he begged him to excuse them +both to the company.</p> + +<p>Then, without waiting to explain anything further, he +dashed on into the library to hide himself, his rage and disappointment, +from every eye.</p> + +<p>But here he found another lion in his path, in the form of +a strange gentleman, who was sitting quietly there, and apparently +waiting for some one.</p> + +<p>“I beg pardon,” Philip said, stiffly, and glaring at him +almost savagely. “I was not aware that there was any one +here.”</p> + +<p>“My name is Alden, sir, and I am waiting for a young +lady who has gone upstairs to see Mrs. Paxton,” the man returned, +rising and bowing politely to Philip.</p> + +<p>Philip bit his lip fiercely at this intelligence.</p> + +<p>“I am Mr. Paxton,” he said, abruptly, “and I have just left +my wife.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed! then doubtless you have learned the nature of the +business which brought Miss Corrillion and myself hither. +I regret that we were obliged to come to-day, but it could not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>be avoided, and, indeed, Miss Wentworth’s—your wife’s—lawyer +advised us to see her, and you also, before you went +away,” Mr. Alden explained.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think your errand a strange and rather doubtful +one?” Philip asked, with curling lips.</p> + +<p>“A ‘strange’ one it certainly is; a doubtful one, no. I had +no doubt regarding the identity of the young lady, who, for +three years past, has been a member of my family, even before +I saw the portrait which a servant has just removed +from this room. I asked whose picture it was, and was told +that it was Miss Wentworth’s mother; but I certainly never +saw a closer resemblance between mother and daughter than +there is between my <i>protege</i> and that portrait.”</p> + +<p>“And if you succeed in establishing the identity of your +<i>protege</i>, as you call her, I suppose you expect to obtain for +her the fortune which Dr. McAllister left,” Philip said, with +a sneer.</p> + +<p>The gentleman changed color slightly at this.</p> + +<p>“If her identity is proved, there can be no doubt that it +properly belongs to her,” Mr. Alden answered, with grave +politeness. “It is Miss Corrillion’s wish not to make any +trouble, or put forth any claim for this money; but it seems +to me that full justice should be done, and the fortune which +rightly belongs to her be made over to her.”</p> + +<p>“She shall never have it if I can prevent it,” Philip retorted. +“I am a lawyer, and I shall do my utmost to save +my wife from being wronged in this way. Dr. McAllister +left it to her, and no other. He brought her up from a little +child, believing she belonged to him. He loved her as his +own, and he meant that she alone should have this money.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that is doubtless all true,” replied his companion; +“but if the revelation of to-day had been made while he was +living—if he had learned that Mrs. Paxton was not the child +of his daughter, as he had always supposed, and if it had +been proved, on the other hand, that Ina Corrillion was, your +common sense, sir, as well as my own, tells you that his will +would have been very different, without regard to what his +affection might have dictated.”</p> + +<p>The man’s argument was very sensible and forcible, and +Philip knew well enough, if the matter was pushed, that the +law would give that coveted twenty thousand pounds to the +new claimant, and the thought exasperated him beyond endurance, +and he put an end to the debate by abruptly walking +to the other end of the room.</p> + +<p>He was bound to acknowledge to himself, in consideration +of the proofs which the girl had presented, and her wonderful +resemblance to the portrait, that she was indeed and in truth +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>the child of Evelyn Wentworth. He knew that any jury before +whom the facts should be presented would so rule; but +it was a most bitter pill for him to swallow.</p> + +<p>What would now become of all the hopes and plans which +had so depended upon the winning of Arley’s fortune?</p> + +<p>He had not a hundred pounds of his own in the world, but +the thought had not given him the slightest trouble until +now. He had felt comfortably secure from all pecuniary +anxiety with the snug income which he believed his wife +would bring him. He knew that they could live in a very +easy, happy manner upon it; while, with his talents and the +reputation which he had been rapidly acquiring during the +last two or three years, he believed it would not be long before +he would be independent.</p> + +<p>But now the loss of this money maddened him, and made +him reckless of what he said or did, particularly when he +remembered how he had stooped to win it.</p> + +<p>“What on earth are we to do?” he muttered gloomily to +himself. “Here I am, saddled with a wife poorer than I am—that +is, if this fortune has to go, as I fear it must—and I +see nothing but pinching poverty before us, at least for the +present. I swear my pride will not stand it; I expected to +live at my ease and in style—to go about in the same society +in which Arley has always moved, and enjoy the luxuries of +life. But now nothing remains to us but to hide ourselves +in cheap lodgings, and live from hand to mouth. I vow I +never will do it! I’ll turn Bohemian and live by my wits +first. I haven’t the courage to face all London after this +ignominious tumble from the pinnacle of my glory.”</p> + +<p>While he was thus absorbed in his bitter musings, the +door opened again, and the inoffensive object of his wrath +entered.</p> + +<p>She went up to Mr. Alden, and said, with a smile:</p> + +<p>“I have kept you waiting for a long time, sir. I am sorry, +but there seemed so much to explain and talk over.”</p> + +<p>“And do they acknowledge your claim?” her companion +asked, with a doubtful glance at Philip.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, at least Mrs. Paxton and Miss McAllister have +been very kind; they have received me very cordially, and I +am henceforth to be known as Ina Wentworth. I am to +keep my old first name, and Mrs. Paxton is to retain hers, +as we both think it would be very awkward to change.”</p> + +<p>“And the——” Mr. Alden began, eagerly, but she stopped +him with a gesture, and a warning look to Philip.</p> + +<p>“That is as far as we have been able to get as yet,” she +said, with a significant glance. “Mrs. Paxton is, of course, +greatly disturbed and excited over the revelations which I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>have made, and the mystery with which they enshroud her +own identity.”</p> + +<p>“That, of course, is to be expected; but I am very glad to +know that so few difficulties have been placed in your path,” +Mr. Alden returned, evidently well pleased with the result of +her interview.</p> + +<p>“Miss McAllister insists,” Ina continued, “that I shall remain +here with her; she says she will be left alone when Mrs. +Paxton goes away, and she feels that this ought henceforth +to be my home. I have consented to stay for a while at +least, so you will be obliged to take my regrets to Mrs. +Alden, and go home without me,” she concluded, with a +smile that was not altogether tearless, as she thought of the +three little ones whom she had learned to love so well.</p> + +<p>“That is as it should be, and you will probably remain +here permanently,” Mr. Alden remarked, with evident satisfaction, +as he arose to go, then added, in a tone of genuine +regret:</p> + +<p>“We shall be loath to lose you, Miss Corril—Miss Wentworth,” +he corrected, with a smile, “but, of course, we rejoice +over your good fortune. You have been very faithful and +kind to my children, who love you dearly, and will miss you +sadly.”</p> + +<p>“And I them,” Ina returned, in a husky voice, “while I +shall always regard you and your wife as among my best +friends.”</p> + +<p>She held out her hand as she ceased speaking, and Mr. +Alden shook it heartily, and then took his departure.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br><span class="small"> + THE ENGAGEMENT RING. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Ina Wentworth stood in deep thought for several moments +after her friend had gone, then, with a resolute air, she +walked directly across the room, and stood before Philip +Paxton.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton,” she began, in a frank, straightforward way, +“I do not wish you to regard me as an enemy who has stolen +into your camp to plunder you. I tell you honestly, I do not +want your wife’s fortune, I have never even thought of taking +it from her; for,” she said, with a charming smile, which +revealed two rows of white, even teeth, “having never known +the convenience or luxury of possessing so much money, I +can still be very happy without it.”</p> + +<p>Philip lifted his head and looked at her in a skeptical way.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span></p> + +<p>“You are very good to say so,” he said, coldly.</p> + +<p>She flushed at his tone, which was almost insulting.</p> + +<p>“It is evident that you do not intend to be friendly with +me,” she said, with dignity, “but I do not know as that +need to interfere with my plans and intentions; if, however, +you will use your influence with your wife, and persuade +her that I do not want this money, and make her keep it, I +shall be very glad. I think from what Miss McAllister has +said, that she desires me to make my home with her, as +Mrs. Paxton is going away, and if I can get a few pupils I +have no doubt that I can earn sufficient for my other needs.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed! Perhaps you are fishing for the old lady’s fortune +also,” Philip said, rudely.</p> + +<p>Ina lifted a pair of surprised eyes to his gloomy face.</p> + +<p>“I did not even know that she had a fortune,” she remarked, +simply, but the crimson blood swept hotly up to her +brow as she spoke.</p> + +<p>She was very indignant at him for his impudence, but she +was not lacking in spirit for all her gentleness. She drew +herself up proudly, and said, looking straight into his eyes:</p> + +<p>“I perceive that it is useless for me to attempt to conciliate +you upon any point; but what I have said to you I have said +in perfect good faith, and you can accept it and act upon it, +or you can reject it, if you choose.”</p> + +<p>With a graceful little bow, she turned and left him without +another word, while he gazed wonderingly after her, and +muttered:</p> + +<p>“Who would ever believe that she was reared in a fisherman’s +hut? She speaks and acts like a lady of culture and +refinement, and she must have improved her later opportunities +wonderfully well to appear so polished. However, +I suppose it is one of those instances where ‘blood will tell.’ +But—hang it!—if she really is Captain Wentworth’s daughter, +who on earth is Arley? and why couldn’t this <i>denouement</i> +have happened yesterday—last week—any time rather than +to-day? I’m in a devil of a pickle, or shall be, if I cannot +manage some way to keep this fortune. These disappointments +and reverses, one after another, are making a veritable +demon of me. I feel as if I should do something desperate +if I am pushed much closer to the wall.”</p> + +<p>He arose, and paced the room excitedly, muttering irritably +to himself, while his face was deeply flushed and overcast.</p> + +<p>Poor Arley, upstairs, meantime had come to herself, and +was trying to look her fate as calmly and sensibly in the face +as possible.</p> + +<p>Her proud spirit utterly rebelled against appropriating, +for even another day, that which rightfully belonged to another, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>and she told Miss McAllister that everything must be +made over to Ina at once.</p> + +<p>“I honor you, dear, for your readiness to deal justly,” the +old lady said, with a glow of pride in the girl’s rectitude. “It +is but right, of course, according to the law of heritage, that +she should come into possession of her grandfather’s fortune, +and I know that the consciousness of having performed a +noble deed will more than repay you for the loss of it.”</p> + +<p>If she could have known of all that Arley was to suffer in +consequence of it, she might not have spoken quite so confidently +upon this point.</p> + +<p>“Doubtless it will be a little uncomfortable at first,” she +added, “not to receive your accustomed income, and it will +probably be a disappointment to your husband to have you +deprived of any of the independence which you have hitherto +enjoyed, but, believe me, you will be no loser in the end.”</p> + +<p>She did not tell her then of her own secret determination +to bequeath to her the whole of her fortune, which would +amount to nearly as much as her brother’s if she proved true +to herself and the right, and cheerfully relinquished to Ina +her inheritance.</p> + +<p>Wil Hamilton, with great tact, made both Philip’s and +Arley’s excuses, and the wedding guests politely retired, with +many expressions of regret for the bride’s sudden illness.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine went up to see her before she left, and was +told something of what had occurred, and was both shocked +and grieved for her friend.</p> + +<p>She wound her arms about her, and tried to whisper some +words of comfort; but Arley could not bear them, even from +her, just then.</p> + +<p>“I am so confused and nervous, dear Elaine, that I cannot +talk about it now; I will write you the whole story when I +am more calm. I have not, however,” she added, with a wan +smile, “forgotten what you said to me when we were at +Hazelmore, and shall try to ‘make the best of it,’ although +there does not seem to be any best about it to me just now.”</p> + +<p>“He knows all about it, dear, and He will lead you in just +the best way. Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth +for you,” Lady Elaine answered, tenderly, and then left her, +with a heart full of misgivings as to how Philip would bear +this blow to his hopes.</p> + +<p>She felt that he ought to have been by Arley’s side, for he +could comfort her as no one else could; but he was nowhere +to be seen, and his absence did not look well for her happiness.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“Philip, it is of no use for you to talk to me in any such +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>way; my mind is made up to do what is right, and nothing +will turn me from my purpose.”</p> + +<p>Thus Arley Paxton spoke, after an hour’s fruitless argument +with her husband, on the contested point of that twenty +thousand pounds.</p> + +<p>As soon as she had felt equal to the ordeal, she had dismissed +every one from her room, and sent for her husband to +come to her.</p> + +<p>“But I think I should have a voice in this matter. I am +your husband, and I have rights now which should be considered,” +he said, moodily.</p> + +<p>“That is true; I have promised to ‘love, honor, and obey +you,’ and I shall gladly do so in everything possible. But I +cannot sacrifice principle, even to you.”</p> + +<p>“Sacrifice fiddlesticks!” he retorted, impatiently. “Dr. +McAllister gave this money to you—he meant you to have it, +and no one else, and I am bound that you shall keep it.”</p> + +<p>“We have gone over all that ground before,” Arley said, +wearily; “but, Philip, reverse the position. Suppose that I +had been the girl, and at the same time your wife, and the +knowledge had come to us that a mistake had been made in +our identity, and that I ought to be in her place and she in +mine, would you have contended then that she ought to keep +the fortune which Dr. McAllister left to his granddaughter, +or would you have said that blood should inherit, and that it +rightly belonged to me?”</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton flushed hotly at this question, and felt very +uncomfortable, with those clear eyes of his wife fixed so +searchingly upon him.</p> + +<p>“That alters the case, of course; still——” he stopped, and +looked ashamed for having admitted so much.</p> + +<p>“No, it does not alter the case at all,” Arley said, in a +clear, firm tone. Then going up to him, and laying her hand +upon his arm, she asked, with white, trembling lips:</p> + +<p>“Philip, did you marry me for this money?”</p> + +<p>He shook her hand off nervously.</p> + +<p>“What an absurd question, Arley!” he exclaimed, irritably; +yet the red blood flooded his whole face.</p> + +<p>“Then, if you did not—if you married me for myself, and +because you loved me as—I love you, how can you ask me to +do this dishonorable thing and expect to retain your respect +and affection for me? I am sorry that I must come to you +penniless. I was glad to have this fortune for your sake, +because I know that though you are talented in your profession, +you have your own future to carve out, and I hoped +that this money would be a help to you. But I will help you +with every power that I have. I will give my whole life to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>assist you to rise, and become all that you desire to be. I +will try not to hamper you in any way, and believe we shall +be very happy, far happier than if we committed a theft—for +I can view the keeping of this money in no other light—to +secure a foundation to build upon.”</p> + +<p>Philip appeared to be absorbed in profound thought for +several moments after she had ceased speaking.</p> + +<p>But at last, looking up at her, he said, with an air of +desperation:</p> + +<p>“If you persist in this quixotic idea—in this piece of mad +folly, we are nothing but a couple of beggars. I may as well +tell you, first as last, that I have lost everything that I had—lost +it in a foolish speculation, and I have not a hundred +pounds in the world; so if you give up all your claims to this +girl, we shall have no home and nothing to depend upon. +Can you tamely give up all this?” he asked, looking around +upon the luxurious furnishings of her room. “Can you bear +to leave this beautiful home, where you have been accustomed +to everything that heart could wish, and go into miserable +lodgings, such as I, in my present circumstances, can afford +to give you? Can you give up your fine clothes, your jewels, +your ponies and carriage, and everything that has hitherto +made life so attractive to you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I can give them all up, Philip, because I know that +it is right and just that I should. I would rather never +have another dainty or pretty thing as long as I live, than to +have it in a dishonorable way—my honor and a clear conscience +are more to me than all the luxuries of the universe,” +Arley replied, firmly and earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I shall not relinquish your claim without a struggle, +I can assure you,” Philip returned, reddening with anger; +“we cannot afford to be deprived of everything thus by a +single blow.”</p> + +<p>“We have each other left, Philip,” Arley said, gently.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and poverty staring us in the face. We cannot very +well eat each other, and how we are to live is more than I +can tell,” he retorted, with bitter sarcasm.</p> + +<p>“How much does your profession yield you annually?” the +young wife asked, with a sigh, a look of keen pain in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>“I have no stated income—I have just what I work for,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“But about what has it averaged during the last two or +three years?” she persisted.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps three hundred pounds. But I have made a good +deal by speculating outside, and if I had been successful in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>this last venture, I should have been a rich man, comparatively, +to-day.”</p> + +<p>Three hundred pounds a year! It seemed very little to the +inexperienced girl. She had spent more than twice that +amount on her trousseau, and she had never in all her life +known what it meant to be economical. Miss McAllister’s +income was as large as her own, while her wants were comparatively +few, and she had always been ready to fill the +purse of her pretty niece, if it chanced to get empty before +her quarterly allowance was due, and there she had never +had a wish ungratified.</p> + +<p>But, notwithstanding, the thought of poverty and self-denial +did not daunt her, for she was a brave and honorable +little woman at heart, as we shall see.</p> + +<p>“It seems very little,” she said, thoughtfully, “but I suppose +there are people who live upon much less than even +that, and are quite happy, Philip,” with a little tremulous +smile, that was exceedingly pitiful. “If you will not mind +being burdened with a penniless wife, I shall be content. I +shall not need anything new in the way of clothing for a +long time. We can take a couple of comfortable, yet inexpensive +rooms somewhere, and have our meals brought to us, +and I am sure we shall do very well, and be very happy.”</p> + +<p>He turned away from her impatiently, a sneer on his lip, +and muttering something that she could not hear.</p> + +<p>She looked to him sadly, an expression of bitter pain in +her dark eyes. She was a bride of only a few hours, and this +experience was different from the happiness and enjoyment +which she had anticipated.</p> + +<p>There was a fearful sinking at her heart, too, at this +strange treatment from her husband, when he should have +been tender and sympathetic regarding her trouble, when he +should have soothed her with kind and loving words, he was +harsh and unkind, appearing to think more of his own disappointment +over the loss of her fortune than of the great +trial in which she was suddenly involved regarding the mystery +enshrouding her identity.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she approached him, growing first red, then pale.</p> + +<p>“Philip, when was it that you lost in this speculation of +which you were telling me?” she asked, eagerly, and then +waited almost breathlessly for his reply.</p> + +<p>The question took him unawares, and he did not stop to +consider his answer.</p> + +<p>“I received news of it on the eighteenth of July,” he said.</p> + +<p>Arley started and caught her breath, but before she spoke +she drew off her engagement ring, and looked at the marking +upon the inside of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> + +<p>It was dated the twenty-sixth of July, only a little more +than a week after he had known of his loss.</p> + +<p>This discovery made Arley heart-sick, and almost faint. +He had not begun to pay her marked attention until after +that, and she could not help thinking, from the fact of his +having suddenly transferred his devotion from Lady Elaine +to her, after the announcement of her ladyship’s engagement, +that he had done so with the deliberate purpose of getting +possession of her fortune, rather than from any deep feeling +of love that he bore her.</p> + +<p>But at all events, whether he loved her or not, it was not +the part of an honorable gentleman to make proposals of +marriage to any lady when he was involved in such serious +embarrassments.</p> + +<p>“Philip!” she cried, sharply, and holding out the ring to +him, “you lost your money the eighteenth and you asked me +to marry you the twenty-sixth!”</p> + +<p>“The devil!” he muttered, with a great start, as he suddenly +realized the awkward position in which he had placed +himself.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can’t help it,” he admitted, with averted eyes; +“yes, I did.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Philip! then it was my money, after all—it was not +me that you wanted; you did not really love me,” Arley said, +in a despairing voice.</p> + +<p>“Are you not assuming considerable?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Will you answer me one question, and answer it honestly?” +she questioned, her eyes burning like coals of fire, +and two very bright spots concentrated on her cheeks.</p> + +<p>“I will endeavor to do so,” he replied, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, if I had been a poor girl at that time, would +you have asked me to become your wife?”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, Arley! why will you torture yourself and me +with such useless questions?”</p> + +<p>“Answer me; you said that you would; if I had then stood +in the doubtful position in which I find myself to-day, would +you have asked me to marry you? I will know.”</p> + +<p>“No, I suppose I should not, if you are determined to be +answered,” he said, recklessly; “I should not have felt justified +in so doing, since I was not in circumstances to support +a wife.”</p> + +<p>Poor Arley sank down upon the floor in a heap, a cry of +mortal pain escaping her.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br><span class="small"> + A TEARFUL FAREWELL. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Not a word passed between that wretched husband and +wife for nearly fifteen minutes, then Arley wearily arose +from her prostrate position and turned to leave the room.</p> + +<p>Philip looked askance at her; his face was still clouded +with mortification, disappointment, and anger, yet there was +something like a gleam of pity in his eye for her.</p> + +<p>“Arley,” he said, when she had nearly reached the door, +and with a shamefacedness which was anything but comfortable, +“where are you going?—what do you intend to do?”</p> + +<p>She turned with a long-drawn sigh.</p> + +<p>“I am going to my room; and I intend to do—the best I +can.”</p> + +<p>It was such a pathetic, heart-broken reply, and it cut him +keenly.</p> + +<p>“I do not understand you—what do you mean by that? +Do you still mean to be obstinate about this money?”</p> + +<p>“I am not ‘obstinate,’ Philip; but I shall do what I believe +to be right. I shall relinquish everything to Ina Wentworth.”</p> + +<p>That last name came hard to her, and with a sob, for she +realized as she spoke how entirely another would henceforth +occupy the place which hitherto had belonged to her alone.</p> + +<p>“You are determined to do it, then?” he said, moodily.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I must.”</p> + +<p>“Will you give me up also, Arley?” Philip asked, in a +cruel tone.</p> + +<p>She grew so white at this that he was frightened, and regretted +having asked the question.</p> + +<p>Very slowly she went toward him, and, looking up into +his face, she said, in a hushed, pained tone:</p> + +<p>“When I spoke those words which made me your wife a +few hours ago they were like solemn oaths taken in the presence +of God. I promised to love and honor you—to cleave +unto you until death should separate us. Do you think after +such vows that I could easily give you up? My heart is +nearly broken by what you have told me to-day—to be told, +after giving you all that I had to give, without any reservation—my +love, my confidence, myself—that instead of loving +me in return, you have only been seeking my miserable +money! nay”—as he opened his lips as if about to speak—“you +need not try to palliate your act, for I know now that +that was your principal object: I was simply a necessary incumbrance. +It was a cruel—it was an ignoble thing, Philip +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>Paxton, for you to do, and I wonder that you should dare to +profane your lips with those solemn words which you uttered +to-day. How could you do it, Philip—how could you deceive +me so?”</p> + +<p>She wrung her hands in her misery, and her face was almost +convulsed with pain.</p> + +<p>“But,” she went on without waiting for him to reply even +if he had desired to do so, “can it be possible that you would +be willing, as you intimated a moment ago, to have the tie +which unites us, dissolved? Do you wish to be rid of me, +now that you have discovered that I shall bring you no +money?”</p> + +<p>“I—Arley—I wish you would not ask such absurd questions,” +Philip replied, uneasily; but he did not offer her one +word of comfort or love; he did not, as almost any other +man would have done, take her tenderly into his arms, and +tell her that she was more to him than a hundred fortunes, +that he would work for her with all his might, and, cheered +by her great love, he would surmount every obstacle and win +wealth for her in the end.</p> + +<p>“How can I help asking you, after all that you have acknowledged +to me?” she cried, with a little burst of scorn; +then added, with sudden dignity: “But no, I will say no +more about that; I am your wife, and it belongs to you to +take care of me to the best of your ability. You won me, +and I gave myself to you in good faith, and now I will not +be disgraced in the eyes of the world. I suppose I could do +what others have done—refuse to receive so much as a crust +from your hand, and go out into the world and battle for +myself. But I will not; I will take whatever you can give +me—and I can be content with very little, so that I am +allowed to retain my self-respect. You have ruined my life, +and I feel that, after what has passed between us during this +hour, I can never be more to you than a wife in name—the +tie that binds us is but a mockery; but to all outward appearance—for +the sake of the proprieties of life and to save +scandal—we must preserve the semblance of a happy husband +and wife”—her lips curled scornfully as she said it—“who +were this morning wedded in the presence of so many witnesses. +Now tell me, Philip, what your plans for the future +are,” she concluded, in a matter-of-fact tone.</p> + +<p>He gazed at her in astonishment.</p> + +<p>A few moments ago she was heart-broken and despairing; +now she seemed to have cast aside all sentiment, and become +suddenly aroused to the business and reality of life, and to +the necessity of immediate action.</p> + +<p>“I have made none,” he briefly replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + +<p>“Then, will you make some now? We cannot remain here, +of course, as we are situated.”</p> + +<p>“Where will you go?” he asked, as if he were entirely passive +in the matter.</p> + +<p>Her eyes blazed.</p> + +<p>How weakly he was trying to shirk the responsibility of +their future upon her.</p> + +<p>“I will go wherever it is proper that you should take me,” +she said, with dignity; “you know best what you can afford +to do.”</p> + +<p>“Are you willing to go into obscurity with me—to give up +the society in which you have been in the habit of mingling, +and bear to have your friends pass you by as the wife of a +poor man?”</p> + +<p>“I have no choice in the matter,” she returned, coldly. +“If”—and here her voice grew strained and hard—“if you +had loved me, I could have gone to the ends of the earth +with you, lived in a cabin and shared any hardship, deeming +it no sacrifice; now, however, I can only try to make the best +of my fate, and by striving to do my duty, winning thus the +only compensation possible—that of an easy conscience. +Now, if you will tell me what I am to do, I will go at once +and prepare to accompany you wherever you say.”</p> + +<p>Philip saw that she was resolute, and after thinking for a +few moments, he said:</p> + +<p>“As long as the tickets have been purchased, I think it will +be as well to follow out our original plan, and at least start +upon our journey; you know I have bought round-trip tickets +for Paris, and we may as well have the benefit of that much +travel, and thus avoid any unpleasant remarks which might +be made if we should remain in London. Meantime we can +arrange other plans for the future. Another train will leave +for Northampton in a couple of hours,” he added, looking at +his watch, “and if you can be ready by that time we will go +on that.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” Arley returned, quietly, “if such is your decision, +I will be ready when the time arrives.”</p> + +<p>She turned away from him and disappeared within her +chamber, while he, feeling relieved that this ordeal was over, +even though he had been worsted in the conflict, descended +once more to the library, as the place where he would be least +likely to be disturbed.</p> + +<p>Arley immediately sat down to her writing-desk, after he +had gone, and dashed off a rapid note to Mr. Holley, her +lawyer, asking him to come to her at once.</p> + +<p>This she dispatched by a servant to his office, bidding him +use all possible haste to deliver it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> + +<p>Then, going to one of her trunks, which was packed and +ready for her journey, she unlocked it, and took from it a +massive ebony box, inlaid with pearl and gold.</p> + +<p>Opening this, she laid out many little trinkets and some +costly articles of jewelry, which had belonged to her supposed +mother—trinkets which she had learned to love and +value for that reason alone, and it was not without a pang +of regret that she separated them from her own store of +ornaments. But she knew that she ought not to keep them, +and that Ina would doubtless prize them as highly as she +had done, therefore she was going to give them to her.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Wentworth followed her husband to India she +left all such things behind, feeling that they would be comparatively +useless in the life she expected to lead, and knowing +that the care of them would be burdensome. Thus they +had been preserved and given to Arley when she was old +enough to appreciate them.</p> + +<p>While she was engaged in this work, Miss McAllister came +in, and, observing her occupation, tears sprang to her eyes.</p> + +<p>Still, she admired the heroism of the girl in thus being +willing and even eager to render full justice to Ina.</p> + +<p>“This is very hard for you, dear,” she said, in a trembling +voice.</p> + +<p>“Yes, hard, but right, auntie. I suppose I may still say +‘auntie,’ even though I have now no legal right to call you +so?” she said, looking up appealingly into the old lady’s face.</p> + +<p>“My child, I should feel deeply hurt if you did not continue +to address me by the old familiar name, for this change +in your circumstances cannot in the least change my affection +for you—you will ever be the same dear Arley to me.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, auntie; as you have observed, I am selecting +all the jewelry which belonged to mamma—I cannot help +thinking of her as ‘mamma,’ even now—to give to Ina; the +other things, I suppose, I may keep, since they were given to +me personally, even though I was believed to be somebody +whom I am not?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly you should keep them—no one would expect +you to resign them,” Miss McAllister replied.</p> + +<p>“But there is something that troubles me greatly,” Arley +pursued. “You know that I spent a great deal of money +upon my bridal finery—money that I would not have touched +had I dreamed of anything like this, and now I shall never +be able to wear any of it without feeling very uncomfortable.”</p> + +<p>“Do not let it cause you the least anxiety, dear. I will +settle every bill when it becomes due, and make up to Ina +what has already been spent; it will give me great pleasure +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>to do this for you, Arley, so wear your pretty things, and +take all the comfort you can in them,” Miss McAllister said, +tenderly.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, dear Aunt Angeline; you are very good, and, +believing that you are glad to help me out of this trouble, I +cannot refuse to accept your kindness,” Arley replied, gratefully.</p> + +<p>“I want to tell you,” the elder lady resumed, “that I approve +of your course to-day very heartily, and if anything +could have endeared you more to me, this would have served +to do so.”</p> + +<p>“I am only trying to do what I know to be right,” Arley +said, simply.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but every one is not always willing to do what he or +she knows to be right, especially when it involves such a sacrifice +as you are making. But I have come to you with a +message from Ina, who is deeply troubled over this affair. +She cannot endure the thought that you should give up everything, +and she begs that you will at least share equally with +her.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot, auntie,” Arley said, firmly. “I have used too +much of this money already. Just think of all the years +during which I have been living upon and spending it, while +she has had scarcely a comfort during her whole life! No; +I will not touch a pound of it; and if I could do so, I would +restore all that I have frittered away. It is very sweet and +kind in Ina to wish it, but it would not be right.”</p> + +<p>“You must not be morbidly sensitive over what is past and +you could not help,” Miss McAllister said. “You are not responsible +for the mistake of others, so I beg that you will +not grieve over it any more. What does your—what does +Philip say?” she asked, with a searching glance into the pale, +sad face and heavy eyes of the young bride.</p> + +<p>Arley flushed, but she would not have had her know +Philip’s feelings for the world.</p> + +<p>“Of course, he thinks it is rather hard that I should lose +everything and be involved in such mystery all at once; but +we shall no doubt do very well without the money; you know +it is said that he is a very good lawyer. We are going to +take the next train for Northampton, and go on our journey +just as we planned to do at first. I am glad,” she added, +with a pitiful attempt to smile, and to get Miss McAllister’s +thoughts as far as possible from Philip, “that you will not +be left quite so lonely as you expected to be.”</p> + +<p>Before Miss McAllister could reply, a maid put her head +inside the door, with the announcement that Mr. Holley had +come.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> + +<p>“Ask him to come right upstairs,” Arley said; and, gathering +up her trinkets, she and her aunt returned to the boudoir, +where the lawyer soon made his appearance.</p> + +<p>She entered at once upon the business before her, and explained +why she had sent for him—because she wished the +twenty thousand pounds which had hitherto been regarded +as hers to be immediately transferred to the rightful heir, +Ina Wentworth.</p> + +<p>The kind-hearted lawyer expressed sorrow and sympathy +for her loss, but admitted that she was right, and commended +her warmly for the prompt action she had taken in the +matter.</p> + +<p>He asked a few questions, made a few remarks regarding +the transfer, and then took his departure, promising to give +the matter his immediate attention.</p> + +<p>Then Arley made herself ready for her own departure; +but it was with a very sad heart, for she felt that she was +about to leave this dear home forever, to go out upon an untried +world. She knew not what was before her; it was like +going out into the dark with no trustworthy guide to lean +upon. But not a word of this doubt and fear did she breathe +to any one. She put a brave face up to Miss McAllister to +be kissed ere she went out, for her pride kept stern guard over +the secret of her husband’s unworthiness, and the bitter +disappointment which the knowledge of it brought her.</p> + +<p>As Miss McAllister bade her a tearful farewell, she slipped +a folded paper into her hand.</p> + +<p>“It is only a little pin-money, dear,” she whispered. “Your +husband, no doubt, will keep your purse well supplied, but +this is to remember auntie by.”</p> + +<p>It proved to be a hundred-pound note, and seemed like a +fated gift, for it brought her much after-suffering.</p> + +<p>Ina Wentworth scanned the young bride’s face with sad +inquiry as she made her adieus. Somehow she felt instinctively +as if the loss of this fortune would cause unhappiness +between the husband and wife, and she would have +been so glad to have saved her from all trouble.</p> + +<p>“I feel like a usurper,” she said, with starting tears, as +Arley took her hand in farewell.</p> + +<p>“You need not,” was the quick, earnest reply; “for I am +very glad that auntie is to have a companion, and”—bending +nearer, and speaking lower—“I know if I were going to remain +with you, I should soon learn to love you very dearly.”</p> + +<p>“Do you?” Ina exclaimed, her whole face glowing with +sudden joy. “I think it is so lovely of you to say so, and I +feel a great deal happier for it. Now, if you would——”</p> + +<p>“But I will not,” Arley interrupted, playfully, knowing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>well enough what she was about to say, and she sealed the +sweet lips with a soft kiss, after which she followed Philip to +the carriage, and was whirled away from the home of her +childhood, which she was not to enter again for a long time.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br><span class="small"> + THE DOOR LOCKED UPON HIM. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Arriving in Paris, Arley engaged three very comfortable +apartments, two sleeping-rooms and a parlor, in the Rue de +Rivoli.</p> + +<p>Philip was almost helpless in making arrangements, for his +French was very poor; but Arley could speak it like a native, +and chattered volubly while driving her close bargain with +madam, yet doing it in such a gracious, winning way that +she seemed to be conferring a favor to take the rooms at any +price.</p> + +<p>They remained in Paris three months, where, at first, they +had not intended remaining as many weeks.</p> + +<p>Arley often wondered when Philip was going to return to +London and take up his work again, but she had resolved not +to interfere, and so let matters take their course.</p> + +<p>He grew tired at length of Paris, and they went from +there to Tours for a month, thence to Toulouse for six weeks, +after which they crossed the Pyrenees into Spain, and finally +arrived at Madrid—that quaint, romantic old city, which +seems to belong to some other world.</p> + +<p>Once or twice Arley had asked, with wishful eyes, when +they were going home, and he had invariably answered that +“he did not know.”</p> + +<p>“I have no heart to go home to begin at the foot of the +ladder again and have everybody wagging their heads over +my affairs,” he had once said, moodily.</p> + +<p>“Where will you begin?” Arley quietly asked.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know as I care to begin at all,” was the frowning +reply.</p> + +<p>“But can we live like this always?” she inquired, with a +searching glance.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you comfortable? Is there anything that you +want which you haven’t got?” he demanded, more harshly +than she had ever heard him speak before.</p> + +<p>Arley drew herself up haughtily.</p> + +<p>“I believe I have made no complaint, Mr. Paxton,” she +said, in a freezing tone. “I was simply wondering where the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>money was coming from to permit of our leading this idle, +useless kind of life much longer.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know as you need to worry about that if I do +not,” he retorted, and abruptly left the room.</p> + +<p>His keen-witted wife at once reasoned that he was very +much worried—that if he had not been extremely short of +funds her simple questions would not have irritated him +thus, while at every change they had made of late he had +taken cheaper lodgings and curtailed their expenses in a +number of ways which seriously affected their comfort.</p> + +<p>She became very much troubled by these things, for she +felt that they would only go on from bad to worse if Philip +did not soon form some definite plan of action.</p> + +<p>She knew that he possessed splendid talents; that he was +capable of going to the front in his profession if he would +only “pocket his pride” and put forth a little energy; and she +felt that it was very wrong of him thus to settle idly down +and waste these precious months right in the prime of his +manhood.</p> + +<p>The place where they were living in Madrid was very +dreary; the rooms were small, the windows high, and the +streets narrow and dirty, while the food which she daily +placed upon their table was anything but palatable.</p> + +<p>Arley had never yet broken the hundred-pound note which +Miss McAllister had given her at parting, nor did she mean +to do so now. She had never even told Philip that she had +it, and now she believed if he knew of it he would insist +upon using it, and thus he would sink even lower in inanition; +besides this, if he persisted in his present manner of +living, she could, if necessity compelled, use it to return to +England and Miss McAllister, who, no doubt, would be willing +to give her a home.</p> + +<p>But this, of course, would be her very last resort.</p> + +<p>Still, her present position was anything but a comfortable +one, for, while Philip could speak the language fluently, she +could not understand it at all, and she was terribly lonely +and homesick.</p> + +<p>Two months had passed since they came to Spain, and, +being so much alone, she had busied herself with drawing, +and painting some in water colors, so that she had quite a +collection of pictures and sketches.</p> + +<p>These she brought out and looked at on this day, after her +unpleasant interview with Philip.</p> + +<p>She was wondering if she could sell some of them, or copy +some of them for sale, and thus better their condition somewhat. +She felt that it would be intolerable to remain in that +place much longer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + +<p>Still, she had voluntarily become Philip Paxton’s wife, +and she was determined to share his fortunes, good or bad—to +be true to her plighted vows just as long as it was possible +to be.</p> + +<p>After looking her portfolio through she decided that she +would make an effort—it could do no harm, and it might result +in much good.</p> + +<p>Selecting a few little sketches, she arranged her drawing +materials and colors, and set diligently about her work.</p> + +<p>For a week she labored unweariedly; then gathering up +the result of her work, she tied them carefully together, +dressed herself with great care, and, taking the package with +her, went out.</p> + +<p>She was exceedingly nervous over her undertaking, for +everything was so strange in that—to her—half-barbarous +city. She threaded her way through the narrow, and in +many places dirty, streets, until she came out into the better +portion of the city, and at length entering Montera street, +one of the finest in Madrid, she stopped before an art store, +where, after a moment of hesitation, she entered.</p> + +<p>Approaching the counter, she inquired, in the sweetest of +voices and purest of French, if that language was spoken by +any one there.</p> + +<p>A reply in the affirmative was immediately given, much to +her relief, and then she laid her package down and asked that +its contents might be examined.</p> + +<p>The gentleman, who proved to be one of the proprietors, +acceded to her request, examining drawing after drawing +with a critical eye.</p> + +<p>There were sketches of every variety—of places, people and +scenes that she had observed during her travels; there were +fancy pieces, fruit, flowers and figures; comic pictures, +serious and sentimental, and all executed with a freshness +and spirit that made them charming.</p> + +<p>“They are very good—mademoiselle?” the gentleman said, +uttering the last word with questioning inflection, and casting +an admirable glance into the lovely face before him.</p> + +<p>“No, monsieur—madam, if you please,” Arley replied, +drawing herself up slightly. “Thank you for your praise,” +she added, smiling. “And now, if you think they are +worthy, I would like to dispose of them, and perhaps take +orders for more.”</p> + +<p>He bent a glance of surprise upon her, running his keen +eye over her elegant attire, noticing its texture, its trimmings +of rich lace, and the jewels that she wore.</p> + +<p>“Ah! she is selling them for some one else,” he thought, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>and turned his attention again to the pretty collection before +him.</p> + +<p>His practiced eye told him that there was considerable +merit in them, and that, with a hint regarding certain points, +the artist, whoever he or she might be, might fill with great +satisfaction a demand in his line of business.</p> + +<p>The proprietor told her what he would give for her drawings, +naming a larger sum than she had hoped to receive, +and requested her to supply him with more, at an advance +in price, if she improved upon the hints which he wished to +give her.</p> + +<p>She consented only too gladly, while she received, with a +wildly-beating heart, the money which he counted out to her, +though outwardly her manner was as calm and elegant as it +had ever been in a fashionable drawing-room in London; +and then, with it clasped tightly in her hands, she went back +to her rooms, with a sense of exultation in her heart such as +she had never experienced before, and to thank God for the +talents which He had given her, and which she believed, if +necessity required, would insure her a future of independence +and comfort.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII. + <br><span class="small"> + BAD NEWS. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“From this time, no matter what comes—excepting accident +or ill-health—I am mistress of my own career,” Arley +said to herself, as, with a firm, quick step, she wended her +way home after leaving the art store. “If worst comes to +worst I can earn my own living—I need be dependent upon +no one. And why should I not toil for my bread?” she added, +thoughtfully. “She—Ina—did, while I was living a petted, +spoiled child upon her money; and now, perhaps, it is no +more than right and just that I should take my turn and +realize something of the trials and hardships that she endured.”</p> + +<p>Philip wondered to see her bending over her drafting every +time he came into their sitting-room, and one day remarked +upon her industry.</p> + +<p>“I did not know that you were so fond of your pencils and +brushes, Arley,” he said, as he glanced at the pretty sketch +which she was working upon.</p> + +<p>“I must fill up the time in some way,” she answered, +quietly. “I cannot go out here as freely as I have done elsewhere, +for I cannot speak the language, and these swarthy, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>fierce-looking people half frighten me. I am very, very +lonely much of the time. When will you take me home?” +and she looked up at him with tears of homesickness in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>He scowled at the question.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” he said, and then muttered something else +which she did not catch.</p> + +<p>She regarded him questioningly, and saw that there was +an anxious and angry look on his face, while he began to +pace the floor with a nervous tread.</p> + +<p>“Is there anything that troubles you particularly?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, everything,” he answered, moodily; then asked: +“Have you any money, Arley?”</p> + +<p>She flushed a vivid crimson.</p> + +<p>She felt humiliated that he, a strong, active, capable man, +should be so lost to his sense of duty and manhood as to +allow himself to become reduced to the necessity of coming +to her for money to defray their needful expenses.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have a little in my purse,” she answered, coldly.</p> + +<p>“How much?” he demanded, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Four or five pounds, perhaps,” she said, more determined +than ever to keep the secret of her earnings from him.</p> + +<p>“Let me have a part of it, will you?” he asked, turning his +back upon her, while a blush of shame mantled his cheek as +he made the request; then he added, deprecatingly: “I am +in a deucedly unpleasant predicament just now, and—and a +remittance which I was expecting has not arrived.”</p> + +<p>“A remittance!” she repeated, with quick surprise. “I +thought you told me that you had nothing? You gave me to +understand when we left home that all you had you had with +you—is it all gone?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Then you have been trying to borrow,” she said, with +abated breath.</p> + +<p>“Well, suppose I have? A man must live somehow.”</p> + +<p>“Somehow!” repeated Arley, scornfully.</p> + +<p>Then, rising, she confronted him resolutely, and said:</p> + +<p>“Philip Paxton, I will not live upon borrowed money; it is +not honest.”</p> + +<p>“There is an old saying, I believe, that ‘beggars cannot be +choosers,’” he replied, with bitter sarcasm.</p> + +<p>“We need not be ‘beggars’ while you have your health and +a pair of hands to work with. You ought to go to work. +Why will you not be a man?” she said, scorn and righteous +indignation quivering in her tones.</p> + +<p>“It is not exactly a comfortable feeling, when one has had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>plenty, to be obliged to come down to such a level—to dig +and delve like a common laborer. It is rather galling to +one’s pride, to say the least,” Philip returned, with considerable +heat.</p> + +<p>“I would rather ‘dig and delve like a common laborer,’ as +you express it, and get an honest living, than to exist as we +have been doing for the last six or eight months,” Arley +said, with grave dignity. Then she added:</p> + +<p>“But if you should return to England and resume your +profession you might do as well, if not better, than formerly, +and we should, no doubt, be much more comfortable than we +are now.”</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose I am going back to England in this +poverty-stricken condition and have people laughing in their +sleeve over the failure of all my expectations?” Philip demanded, +with a very red face.</p> + +<p>Arley’s lip curled and her eye flashed a scornful fire.</p> + +<p>“I should say that it would be at least more manly and +honest than to live like this and borrow of friends, with no +prospects of ever being able to repay,” she remarked, pithily. +“But you need not go back. Why not resume your profession +here? You speak the language so well you might make a +beginning here. I will not murmur, though I am so homesick +that I feel as if I cannot stay here another day.”</p> + +<p>A sudden rush of tears blinded her as she said this, and +her voice broke.</p> + +<p>“I will do anything to help or encourage you if you will +only give up this kind of life and do right; but it is beneath +you—it is mean to impose upon the good-nature of one’s +friends and then sit idly down with folded hands.”</p> + +<p>Philip’s eyes fell and he flushed hotly. He felt the truth +of her words and cringed beneath her well-merited scorn; +but he was still too proud and obstinate to act upon her advice +or his own convictions of duty and right.</p> + +<p>Fate had, according to his way of thinking, used him very +ill, and, like a silly boy, he had run into a corner to sulk, +instead of manfully grappling with it and making himself +master of the situation.</p> + +<p>“We will not discuss the matter further,” he said, coldly; +“but if you will let me have two or three pounds I will endeavor +to satisfy our landlord’s demands for the present.”</p> + +<p>Arley sighed heavily, but went to her room to get her +purse, and when she returned and took from it some pieces +of gold to give him, Philip watched her narrowly and +noticed that there was more in it.</p> + +<p>He received it with a muttered “thank you,” and then immediately +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>left the room; while Arley, with burning cheeks +and quivering lips, sat down to her work again.</p> + +<p>There was a bitter pain in her heart, together with an unaccountable +consciousness that she was beginning to despise +her husband for his cowardice and meanness.</p> + +<p>The poor girl, however, was not conscious, happily, that +her darkest days were yet to come.</p> + +<p>She worked steadily on at her drawing, and in the course +of another week carried a second collection to the art store.</p> + +<p>Her employer was even better pleased with them than he +had been with her first efforts—she had improved upon the +hints which he had given her, and had really furnished him +with some exquisite little things.</p> + +<p>The money which she received for them was more precious +to her than anything she had ever possessed, while a year ago +she would have laughed to scorn the thought that she could +have prized the paltry sum earned by her own hands.</p> + +<p>On her return to her rooms she was feeling very cheerful; +her face was brighter than it had been for some time, and +Philip, who happened to be in, observing it, wondered what +had caused the change, while for some time he had had an +unpleasant consciousness that she was somehow getting beyond +him—rising above his level.</p> + +<p>He pointed to some letters which he had just brought in, +and Arley’s eyes glistened with eagerness at sight of them.</p> + +<p>Hastening to her room, she laid aside her hat and mantle, +and then returned to read them.</p> + +<p>One was from Miss McAllister—she recognized the +cramped, old-fashioned hand instantly; the other was from +Annie Vane, and post-marked Horsham.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister’s letter was, of course, seized upon first, +for it was from her dear old home, and though hers now no +longer, yet the tenderest memories clustered around it still. +It was full of affection for her; full of pleasant, sunshiny +news, mingled with longings for her speedy return.</p> + +<p>Ina added a “postscript” of three or four pages, telling her +many rambling yet harmless bits of gossip, which she knew +would interest her, and writing so kindly, even tenderly, that +Arley’s heart went out in her gratitude for her sweetness and +goodness.</p> + +<p>She lingered long over this dear home letter, her face full +of a tremulous gladness, mingled with a wistful longing, +which smote Philip, who was covertly watching her, with a +momentary sense of shame and regret.</p> + +<p>After reading it through the second time she folded and +laid it down with a sigh of regret that there was no more of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>it to read, and, taking up the other, broke the seal in an +absent way.</p> + +<p>But as she removed the closely-written sheet from the envelope +a cry of startled surprise broke from her, for it was +edged with black and blotted in many places with tears.</p> + +<p>With a terrible feeling of foreboding, she hastily scanned +the pages, and learned with grief and horror the fearful +news which had blasted the pride and hopes of the household +at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>The letter was dated June 30th, and told how Wil +Hamilton—gentle, noble, promising Wil—had sailed for the +United States at the appointed time to join Major Powell’s +expedition for Colorado; how he had written home once after +landing, in the best of spirits and so hopeful, so full of life +and anticipation. Then there had come to them the dreadful +news that, while the party were passing over a mountain, +he had fallen over a precipice into a dark and gloomy ravine +below. There had been an immediate search made for him, +but when they reached the bottom of the chasm into which +he had fallen his body was nowhere to be found—nothing +but his hat and a handkerchief covered with blood remained +as evidence of the terrible tragedy.</p> + +<p>“It was possible,” Major Powell’s secretary wrote, “that +some fierce animal had immediately seized upon the unfortunate +young man, dragged him to his lair, and there devoured +him.”</p> + +<p>Such was the terrible blow which had fallen upon the +hitherto happy household at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony was absolutely crushed, Annie wrote, with a +trembling pen; her mother nearly deranged over the loss of +her boy, while as for herself, she said that life would never +be the same to her again without her dear brother.</p> + +<p>But Lady Elaine—their charming, beloved “Lily of Mordaunt”—it +seemed at first as if the shock must certainly kill +her.</p> + +<p>She relapsed from one fit of unconsciousness to another, +until their physician was almost in despair, fearing that she +would never rally from them. But death had no intention of +so mercifully releasing her from her misery, and she gradually +recovered.</p> + +<p>Arley wept bitterly over this letter; it was so sad to think +of noble, promising Wil Hamilton meeting with such a fate! +It seemed such a useless sacrifice to him to leave his home +and country, all his bright hopes and prospects, and, taking +his life in his hand, go into the wilds of a foreign land to +die so tragically.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span></p> + +<p>“Have you bad news, Arley?” Philip asked, surprised by +her sudden and passionate sobbing.</p> + +<p>For reply she merely held out the letter to him and then +crept away to her own room to weep out, unrestrained, her +grief for her friend, the Lady Elaine, and her ruined life.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton, meanwhile, sat outside, reading Annie +Vane’s letter. When he began to take in the meaning of it +he swore an oath; then, devouring the rest of it with eager +eyes, he cast it angrily from him, and, springing to his feet, +began pacing the floor with restless steps, his face deeply +flushed, his eyes glowing with a sort of evil excitement and +purpose.</p> + +<p>Back and forth, back and forth, he went, his boots creaking +ominously with every step, until Arley grew terribly +nervous at the sound, and wondered if he would never stop; +but, never dreaming of the treachery that he was plotting +against her, nor of the evil purposes which had sprung into +being and had taken root in his heart upon reading the fatal +news which her letter had brought.</p> + +<p>Surely his good angel must have been sleeping, or have +deserted her post, or he never would have planned such fell +wickedness against the brave, true woman whom he had already +so injured.</p> + +<p>After a time that wretched pacing ceased, for he also retired +to his own chamber, and did not come forth again that +day.</p> + +<p>His first feeling upon reading of Wil Hamilton’s tragic +end had been one of horror; the intelligence that the bright, +cheery comrade, with whom he had spent such pleasant years +at college, had been suddenly plunged into eternity in that +fearful way, could not fail to unman him for a moment.</p> + +<p>Then his heart had leaped with the startling thought that +Lady Elaine Warburton—and her twenty thousand pounds a +year—was free! No troth bound her now to another, and +she might yet be won, with her immense fortune, by some +fortunate schemer who was bold enough to dare what he +meant to dare for her.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br><span class="small"> + ARLEY’S RESOLVE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>A few days later, as Philip was returning to his lodgings +about four o’clock in the afternoon, he saw, just ahead of +him, the figure of his wife, walking with quick, graceful +steps down the fashionable street.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> + +<p>Wondering what could bring her there, for he knew that +she had not been in the habit of going out much since they +came to Madrid, he resolved to follow her and ascertain her +errand.</p> + +<p>He had not dogged her steps far before she turned into the +art store where she had already been twice before.</p> + +<p>Approaching nearer, Philip saw a fine-looking gentleman +come forward as she entered, and, after shaking hands with +her, he pointed toward the back of the store and seemed to +be making some request of her. She nodded assent, and then +followed into another room at the end of the shop.</p> + +<p>For the first time since his marriage, a feeling of jealousy +arose in his heart, and mingled with it there was a sense of +shame and regret at his own unworthiness.</p> + +<p>His better nature whispered that it was not yet too late to +turn over a new leaf, act according to the promptings of his +conscience, make the best of his talents and opportunities, as +she had urged him to do, and thus compel her to respect and +perhaps love him again.</p> + +<p>But a terrible temptation had come to him a few days before, +in the shape of Annie Vane’s letter, and the intelligence +of Wil Hamilton’s death.</p> + +<p>Had it not been for this, he might have yielded to these +better feelings, but a demon was at hand to remind him that +the Lily of Mordaunt was free, and to tempt him to turn +his espionage upon his wife to his own selfish advantage in +a way almost too vile for a human being to contemplate.</p> + +<p>Before Arley came out of the inner office, where the proprietor +had invited her to go with him and show her sketches +to some friends who had been purchasing largely in the +way of paintings and engravings, Philip had disappeared, +and she had no suspicion that her visit to the art store had +been observed.</p> + +<p>She found him in their parlor on her return, reading an +English periodical. He was very cool in his manner, but no +more so than he had been ever since she had spoken so +plainly to him; and, therefore, she could have no suspicion +that he had resolved to institute a system of espionage over +her, with the malicious intention of ruining her character.</p> + +<p>For several days he watched her constantly, but she did not +go out at all, seeming to be very much engrossed with her +drawings.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, as she left her work for a little while, he +stole softly to her table, curiosity prompting him to see what +she was so much interested in.</p> + +<p>Two or three lovely, half-finished sketches lay there, and +near them a portfolio.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> + +<p>Opening this, he found quite a collection of drawings, and +some little gems in water colors, and was greatly surprised +by their beauty of design and finished workmanship.</p> + +<p>Then all at once it flashed upon him what her errand to +the art store had been, and that this was how she had obtained +those Spanish coins which he had seen in her purse.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” he muttered, with a disagreeable smile, though a +blush half of anger, half of shame, leaped to his cheek at +the thought, “if I won’t work she is bound to, it seems, and +to some purpose, too, or I am greatly mistaken.”</p> + +<p>The next morning, while they were at breakfast, their landlord +entered bearing a tray, upon which a neatly-folded +paper lay.</p> + +<p>He approached Philip and presented it, with his blandest +smile and bow, but with a look in his eye which expressed +a dogged determination.</p> + +<p>Philip took up the paper, opened and read it, and then +grew white with anger.</p> + +<p>It was a bill for the past fortnight’s board, lodging and +washing.</p> + +<p>He instantly recovered himself, however, and, with a +smile and bow equally affable as the landlord’s own, dropping +the note again upon the tray, he gracefully waved his +white, shapely hand toward Arley.</p> + +<p>“Madam carries the purse—take it to her,” he said, in +excellent Spanish.</p> + +<p>The man flushed and glanced uneasily at “madam.” It +was not according to his ideas of what was right or correct +with such business matters; but, after a moment of hesitation, +it flashed upon him that perhaps it was an English +custom, and therefore all right, and so, turning with an even +lower bow to Arley, he held out the salver to her.</p> + +<p>She also took up the paper and examined it; but she could +not read a word of it, although she saw at a glance that it +was in the form of a bill.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” she asked of Philip. “What does he want?”</p> + +<p>“He requests that his bill be settled, and, since I have no +money, I have referred him to you; perhaps you can accommodate +him with the sum required,” Philip replied, with +averted eyes and rising color.</p> + +<p>Arley felt the blood rush back like a torrent upon her +heart at this indignity, and knew that she was growing very +pale; but she also knew that it would not do to allow the +man, who was watching them closely, to suspect that there +was anything wrong; so, biting her lips to keep the color in +them, she quietly arose and went to get the money.</p> + +<p>She had become familiar enough with Spanish figures to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>see that the bill called for forty escudos and fifty reals, or +between four and five pounds of English money.</p> + +<p>This would take nearly all that she had earned—almost +every peseta—and a bitter sob choked her as she counted it +out and found her purse so nearly empty.</p> + +<p>It was not so much on account of the loss of the money +as the manner in which it had been demanded, and the humiliation +of feeling that her husband was so lost to all sense +of honor and responsibility regarding his duty toward her.</p> + +<p>What would they come to if this continued?—where and +how would it all end?</p> + +<p>Surely it was a dark day for the petted and tenderly reared +Arley Wentworth.</p> + +<p>But she swept back into their sitting-room with the air of +a queen, and, going to Philip, dropped the coins into his +hand, while with a gesture she directed the man to go to her +husband for his pay; he should at least have the credit of +settling their bills, even if he could have the face to appropriate +her own hard earnings for that purpose.</p> + +<p>The man receipted the bill, and then, with a profusion of +bows and thanks, retired, leaving the husband and wife +once more alone.</p> + +<p>When the door closed, their eyes, as if drawn by some +magnetic influence, were lifted and met.</p> + +<p>In Philip’s there was a look of sullen defiance, mingled +with something of shame; in Arley’s, an expression of scorn +and resolution born of despair.</p> + +<p>She arose and stood before him, one white hand resting +upon the table, the other hanging by her side.</p> + +<p>“Philip Paxton, this kind of thing can go on no longer,” +she said, in low but decided tones.</p> + +<p>“Indeed! Won’t you tell me what you mean by ‘this kind +of thing?’” he asked, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>“This manner of living.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! then won’t you be so good as to tell me how it is to +be helped?—it is an enigma beyond my power to solve,” he +replied, in the same tone as before.</p> + +<p>“You know well enough how it can be helped,” Arley cried, +with a quiver of passion in her tones. “Have you no +shame?—have you no honor or manhood, that you keep me +here in this strange country, where I am comparatively helpless, +and subject me to such degradation? I will not bear it; +I am your wife, and it is your duty to take care of me. I +have not complained—I have uttered no word of reproach +at being dragged from country to country, suffering increasing +discomfort with every change; I have borne it patiently, +hoping that your eyes would be opened and that your better +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>nature would triumph at last; but my patience is exhausted—I +will not live like this another day.”</p> + +<p>“How will you help it, Arley?” Philip asked, dryly.</p> + +<p>“I will take care of myself,” she answered bravely.</p> + +<p>“How independent you will be! Have you, like the fairies +of old, a magic wand, by which you can summon the goddess +of wealth to your feet? If so, please wave it for our +mutual benefit,” he returned, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Sneers and irony ill become you, Mr. Paxton,” Arley replied, +with proud dignity, adding: “But what I have said I +mean—I will not live like this another day.”</p> + +<p>She turned and walked from the room with a step and +bearing that excited his admiration.</p> + +<p>“Whew! I had no idea that the little thing had so much +spirit,” he muttered, as the door closed after her. “What +will she do, I wonder? I know what I hope she will do and +leave me free to carry out my scheme as I wish,” saying +which he took his hat and went out.</p> + +<p>When he returned to dinner he found Arley in her traveling-dress, +as if ready for a journey.</p> + +<p>She was very pale, but every line of her face expressed +resolution.</p> + +<p>She arose as he entered and asked, abruptly:</p> + +<p>“Philip, will you go home?”</p> + +<p>He started at the sound of his name, for it was the first +and only time she had addressed him thus since leaving +England, while the appeal in her tones touched him for the +moment.</p> + +<p>She looked very beautiful, very lovable, standing there +with that appealing face, her wistful eyes fixed so earnestly +on his, her small hands clasped and half extending to him.</p> + +<p>But instead of being won, he was only angered by her +words. To think of going back to England without a pound +in his pocket galled him beyond endurance, especially as he +realized that he alone was to blame for this disgraceful +poverty.</p> + +<p>“No, I will not!” he replied, almost fiercely.</p> + +<p>“Then will you resume your profession here, or do something—anything, +to earn an honest support for us?”</p> + +<p>Her tone was very patient, but there was a gleam in her +eye which told him that the question meant more than it +appeared to mean.</p> + +<p>“No. I will not be dictated to—I will not be told by a +woman what I ought and what I ought not to do. And as +for our going back, you know that is out of the question—we +could not, even if I would consent.”</p> + +<p>“I have a number of valuable jewels, and I would gladly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>dispose of those to pay our passage,” Arley said, with downcast +eyes and flushed cheeks, and determined to use every +argument in her power.</p> + +<p>Yet she would not tell him that she had money, lest he +should demand it of her and thus leave her powerless to go +back by herself if worse came to worst.</p> + +<p>“I will not go back, I tell you,” he repeated, sullenly, then +added, with a touch of malice: “Now you perceive the wisdom +of my advice about keeping your money when you might +have had it just as well as not, and we need not have been +in this cursed plight. You feel the need of it now, as I +meant you should, and it won’t hurt you in the least to experience +some discomfort for being so obstinate.”</p> + +<p>“No,” Arley said, with uplifted head, “it will not hurt +me—it can never hurt me, for I have at least retained my +self-respect.”</p> + +<p>Her flashing eyes and curling lips told him as plainly as +words could have done whom she could not respect.</p> + +<p>“I hoped,” she resumed, in a tremulous voice, “that you +would consent to what I have proposed, for I did not wish +to take any radical measures; but, as I have said, I will not +live thus. I have been out this morning to engage a less +expensive room for myself, and I am going to occupy it this +evening, unless you will give me your promise to change your +mode of life—and as soon as I can I shall make arrangements +to return to England.”</p> + +<p>He started at this, and regarded her earnestly for a moment. +He saw that it was no idle threat; she meant every +word that she uttered.</p> + +<p>“Do you know what usually follows when a woman leaves +her husband’s care and protection?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Surely, you cannot accuse me of leaving my husband’s +‘care and protection?’” Arley retorted, with impulsive sarcasm.</p> + +<p>The hot blood mounted in a flood to Philip’s brow, showing +how keenly he felt this well-merited reproof.</p> + +<p>“I have no choice,” she added, wearily, and half regretting +that she had spoken so hotly; “we cannot remain here honorably, +for you cannot meet our expenses, and we should +only have the disgrace of being turned out of doors at the +end of another two weeks or month, if our landlord was not +paid. My address will be No. 4 —— street, if you should +need me for anything especial, Philip. I should have been +so glad if we could have been more united,” and here the +tears welled up into her beautiful eyes. “I would have liked +to be a true and faithful wife to you, in spite of the wrong +which you did me in the beginning; but you have put such +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>obstacles in my way that it has been impossible. But even +now, if you should be ill and need me before I go back to +England, I will come to you and do what I can for you. +Good-night, Philip.”</p> + +<p>She left him and went to her own room, and Philip Paxton +was in anything but a comfortable frame of mind.</p> + +<p>An hour later Arley took her departure for No. 4 —— +street, where she spent her first night as wretched, and +lonely, and homesick as it was ever the lot of any one to be.</p> + +<p>But she intended to go to the English consul the next day, +and put herself under his care until she could hear of some +one who would take charge of her back to England.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX. + <br><span class="small"> + JANE COLLINS’ STORY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Arley awoke, weary and unrefreshed, the next morning. +She had experienced a sense of protection and safety while +abiding beneath the same roof with Philip, even though she +saw so little of him; but now, alone in her new quarters, +with no one to whom she could speak one word, a feeling +of desolation, almost of despair, settled down upon her.</p> + +<p>After eating her simple breakfast, which she had arranged +to have brought to her room, she dressed herself with great +care for her call upon the English consul.</p> + +<p>When she arrived at the residence of the consul, she gave +her card to an usher, and was shown into a reception-room, +where she found several others, who, like herself, were seeking +an interview with her majesty’s representative.</p> + +<p>Arley sat down upon a vacant chair to wait her turn, and +then glanced about her to see if she could find an English +face among her visitors.</p> + +<p>No; they were all foreign—German, French, Russian, and, +for aught that she knew, Turk and Mohammedans, but not +one regular John Bull among them all did she see. She +heaved a sigh of regret, and a feeling of loneliness began to +steal over her again.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, every nerve in her body tingled with a +strange delight, for, directly behind her, she heard an unmistakable +English voice say, in a loud, eager whisper:</p> + +<p>“John, John! do ye remember the beautiful lady that was +picked up at sea, eighteen years ago, by the vessel that +brought us from Bombay?”</p> + +<p>A shock like electricity shot through Arley at these words, +and turning her head a trifle, she saw, seated in the shadow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>of a curtain a little back of her, a burly, red-faced Englishman +and, as she supposed, his wife.</p> + +<p>But she pretended not to hear what had been said, while, +in fact, she was straining every nerve to catch what should +come next.</p> + +<p>“I’m not likely to forget the leddy, mother, when I helped +to haul her aboard, and thought sure she were dead, when +her purty white face dropped so heavy on my shoulder.”</p> + +<p>“‘Sh, John! not so loud, man; but the first chance ye get, +give a look at the purty girl sitting right afore ye, and tell +me if she isn’t the very image of the leddy ye helped to haul +aboard the <i>Black Swan</i> on her home’ard voyage? I tell ye, +man, she has the very same pair of eyes and wavy brown +hair, the same pretty red lips and baby chin.”</p> + +<p>Arley felt all her strength suddenly leave her, as if all +power to move even hand or foot had deserted her. She +seemed like some frozen image planted there, without either +life or motion, though she was filled with a nervous, inward +trembling.</p> + +<p>Had she come all the way to Spain—had it been needful +for her to suffer all that she had suffered during the past +year, to be led hither in this strange way, under such peculiar +circumstances, in order to discover who she was, and to +have the great enigma of her life revealed to her?</p> + +<p>Arley could not endure the suspense another moment, and +she moved her chair so as to face the couple.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon,” she said, politely, but looking very +white; “I could not help hearing what you both have said. +Will you please tell me the name of the lady of whom you +were speaking, and whom you say I so closely resemble?”</p> + +<p>“Land alive, John! it’s her very voice, too, or my ears deceive +me,” exclaimed the woman, in a startled tone, to her +husband, and regarding Arley more curiously than before.</p> + +<p>The young lady began to tremble visibly, and it was only +by a strong effort that she kept her teeth from chattering +audibly—was she about to learn the truth at last?</p> + +<p>“I am so glad,” she said, after a moment and to give them +an opportunity to recover somewhat from their surprise, +“to have found some of my countrymen here, for you perceive +that I am English like yourselves. I came here hoping +to hear of some one who might be about returning to England, +but it is very strange, I think, that I should have +chanced to sit just here and overhear what you have said. +Will you please tell me of whom you were speaking?”</p> + +<p>The man and the woman looked at each other in perplexity; +the resemblance of which they had spoken was growing upon +them every moment, until it almost seemed that the lady +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>they had referred to stood again before them, and was addressing +them.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, miss, this are very queer,” the man said at +last; “I don’t think I’m dreamin’, but if ye were not so +young looking, I sh’d say ye were the very leddy herself.”</p> + +<p>“Her name—please tell me her name.”</p> + +<p>Arley could scarcely control her impatience.</p> + +<p>But before the man could reply an attendant entered the +room and announced that his excellency, the consul, had +just received important dispatches calling him away, and he +would therefore be unable to receive any visitors that day.</p> + +<p>Upon hearing this, most of the people beat a hasty retreat, +muttering their disappointment in no amiable mood, and +Arley and her two strange companions were thus left the sole +occupants of the room.</p> + +<p>“Now we can converse undisturbed,” she said, eagerly, as +the last one departed, “and I will tell you why I am so anxious +to learn the name of the people of whom you have +spoken. There is a mystery hanging over my parentage, +and I was separated from my parents by an accident at sea, +and have never seen them since; so you perceive that it is +not strange that I should think from what you have said +that you could perhaps throw some light on this dark subject +for me.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! miss,” the woman said, with a regretful shake of her +head, as Arley paused and looked appealingly at her. “I’m +sure no one could refuse to oblige a pleasant-spoken leddy +like yourself if one could help it, but we don’t know the +name of the beautiful leddy who looked enough like ye to +be yer twin sister——”</p> + +<p>“You don’t know the name?” Arley interrupted, in a tone +of bitter disappointment, her heart sinking heavily at this +intelligence.</p> + +<p>“No, miss. Ye see this was the way of it: My man and +I had been on a long voyage from Portsmouth, England, to +Bombay, in the <i>Black Swan</i>, a sailin’ vessel under Captain +Conway. We’ve been sailors together, miss, ever since we +were married, he on the deck and I as stewardess; for, ye +see, bein’ rather fond o’ one another”—and here the buxom +dame blushed like a girl in her teens—“one didn’t like to +leave t’other behind. Well, we’d hed a fine voyage most of +the way till we entered the Bay o’ Biscay, when things began +to look kind o’ threatenin’. Just about sunset one day a +great steamer passed us, and everybody on board looked as +gay and smilin’ as could be and gave us three hearty cheers +with wavin’ kerchiefs, as if they’d had a good passage so +far, and were in high feather over it. She, the steamer, soon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>went out of sight though, and we thought that was the last +of her for us, and I couldn’t help frettin’ to think how much +faster she sailed than the <i>Black Swan</i>, and how much sooner +she’d reach port. But I had reason to thank Heaven, miss, +for the slow sailin’ vessel afore many days. A storm blew +up that night—such a storm as I hope never to be out in +again. Me nor my old man never expected to set foot on +land, and for three days and nights we didn’t do much but +pray. But the fourth day the wind went down some, and +we knew the worst was over.</p> + +<p>“Well, just as we were roundin’ Point St. Matthew we +came upon signs of a wreck—floatin’ spars, boxes, kegs, +stools, and such like, and later on durin’ the day, we saw a +queer lookin’ object to the leeward of us, with something +like a white flag flyin’ from it. Our captain thought it +looked suspicious, and ordered his men to bear away toward +it, and after a while he had a boat lowered and sent to see +what it meant.</p> + +<p>“It was well that we came upon it just as we did, for it +proved to be a great chicken-coop, with a man and woman +lashed to it, and both nearly dead from the cold, and bein’ +dashed about in the wild waves. They were brought aboard +the <i>Black Swan</i>, and given up to me to see if I could find +any life in ’em.</p> + +<p>“The man came round all right after a little, but it was +a tough job fetchin’ the woman to, but she managed to +weather it after a while, and then it was enough to break +your heart to hear her take on.</p> + +<p>“‘My baby—my Allie,’ were the first words she said when +she came to herself, and her husband, who never left her a +minute after he got her senses back, bent over her and said +in a hoarse voice, and his face as white as a sheet, ‘Marg’ret +don’t you remember? Darlin’, let us be thankful that we +are spared to each other.’</p> + +<p>“Upon that the leddy gave a scream and fainted dead away +again. Well, it’s no use tellin’ you of the time I had with +her, but she just about grieved herself to death, and couldn’t +bear her husband out of her sight for a single minute. Day +in and day out he sat in the captain’s stateroom—for he +gave it up to them and bunked it like a common sailor—holdin’ +her in his arms when she was awake, and talkin’ in +a soothin’ way to her, but lookin’ as if he were just ready to +die with grief himself when she was asleep and he was left +to his own thoughts. I had to feed her like a baby, for she +was too weak to help herself, and she was so pretty and +gentle that I couldn’t help lovin’ her with all my heart; +while I’m free to confess I never did so much blubberin’ in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>all my life as I did in those two weeks that we were makin’ +for Portsmouth, after we took them two castaways on board. +But it was enough to break the stoutest heart to hear that +poor mother grievin’ for her lost baby.</p> + +<p>“La, miss!” as Arley buried her face in her handkerchief +and sobbed over the sad story, “I didn’t mean to upset ye like +that, though I can never tell about it without gettin’ soft +myself, for all it’s more’n eighteen years ago. But as for +her name, I were so bound up in takin’ care of the poor +thing, that I never once thought to ask who she were, and I +never heered the captain say. We sailed into Portsmouth +harbor all right one fine morning, and after I had wrapped +the leddy up in my warm shawl to be taken ashore—for +the day was cold—she seized both my hands, and said with +her white, tremblin’ lips:</p> + +<p>“‘Oh, you good woman, I ought to bless these hands that +have helped to bring me back to life, and I do—I do for my +husband’s sake; but my heart is broken for my baby—my +pretty angel, Allie!”</p> + +<p>“The gentleman gave me a fifty-pound note, with a hearty +‘Heaven bless ye,’ just before he carried her up on deck, +and I’ve never set eyes on either of ’em, nor heard one word +about ’em since.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the name of the steamer that they were +on when they were wrecked?” Arley asked, with almost +breathless eagerness, when the woman ended her story.</p> + +<p>“Yes, miss; it were the <i>White Star</i>, and she were bound +from Calcutta, India, to England.”</p> + +<p>Arley started, and a cry escaped her; it was the same +vessel on which, it was supposed she had sailed with her +nurse for England over some eighteen years ago; and thus +it became evident that there had been two children of about +the same age on board that ill-fated steamer. There might +have been more—she did not know; but she was quite sure +now that both Ina and herself had been among the passengers, +and while Ina had drifted into the hands of those rude +fishermen on the coast of Spain she had been rescued by one +of the sailors of the <i>White Star</i>, mistaken for her, and thus +sent to Dr. McAllister of London.</p> + +<p>Something within her told her that she belonged to the +beautiful woman, to whose sad story she had just listened—something +aside from the strong resemblance to her of which +this honest couple had spoken; and she felt that at last she +held a clew, though a very faint one, to the mystery of her +parentage.</p> + +<p>It was very unsatisfactory, however, and would doubtless +require diligent and patient search and inquiry in order to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>make it of the least avail, while it was possible that she +might never get beyond this point.</p> + +<p>“I believe you have been telling me about my own father +and mother,” she said, in a trembling voice to the woman.</p> + +<p>“Land alive, miss, ye don’t mean it!” was the astonished +rejoinder, while the burly John leaned forward, wonder depicted +on his face.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I feel quite sure of it,” Arley said; “but oh! if you +could only have told me their name, the way out of this puzzle +would be comparatively easy.”</p> + +<p>Then she told them something of her own life, for she +felt it was due to them after their courtesy to her.</p> + +<p>“It are all like a story, miss, and it’ll all come out right +at last, never fear,” said John; “and,” he added, “all ye’ve +got to do when ye go back to England is to hunt up the captain +of the <i>White Star</i>, if he’s livin’, and the rest’ll be easy +enough.”</p> + +<p>“If he’s living?” Yes, that was it; if the steamer had been +wrecked it was more than probable that the captain had +gone down with her, and thus the sequel to her secret remain +forever buried in the deep waters of the ocean.</p> + +<p>Arley heaved a sigh, but she looked into the faces before +her with a smile, and asked:</p> + +<p>“Will you kindly tell me your name? I am very thankful +to you for telling me this story.”</p> + +<p>“My name? Sartin, miss. It’s Jane Collins, and it’s one +I’ve never had reason to be ashamed on either,” was the +satisfied reply, while the honest creature bestowed an affectionate +glance upon her husband.</p> + +<p>“John here has been a good man to me,” she added; “and +we’ve been middlin’ prosperous in this world’s goods, and +we’ve roved the world pretty much over together, first and +last.”</p> + +<p>“Shall you go back to England soon?” Arley inquired, +with a sudden heart-bound, and feeling that she could trust +herself with these rough, but evidently honest people, more +fully perhaps than she could with others who might be wiser +in the ways of the world.</p> + +<p>“Yes, miss. The <i>Rocket</i>—that’s the vessel John’s mate +aboard, and I’m stewardess—starts on her homeward voyage +next week, of a Wednesday.”</p> + +<p>“Would you let me go with you? Could I obtain a passage +in the vessel?” Arley asked, eagerly, while her voice +trembled with the earnestness of her plea.</p> + +<p>“A sailin’ vessel ain’t no kind of a place for a delicate +young leddy like ye,” Jane Collins remarked, doubtfully, as +she eyed Arley’s dainty figure, from top to toe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I would not mind the vessel, if I only might go home; +and, somehow, I feel as if I should be very safe with you +and your husband,” Arley said, while tears of entreaty +actually gathered in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Jane bestowed a grateful look on her as she said this; then +she replied:</p> + +<p>“Sure, miss, we’d do the best we could for ye if ye did go, +but we are all in the Lord’s hands. What d’ye say, John?” +and she turned a questioning glance upon her husband.</p> + +<p>“Reckon we can fix it somehow,” he returned, laconically.</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you! thank you!” Arley murmured, and the +sweet brown eyes brimmed over with the glittering drops +which told how intense were her longings after England and +home.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br><span class="small"> + ARLEY’S ILLNESS. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“I fear you will think me very foolish,” Arley said, trying +to smile through her tears; “but indeed I am very anxious +to go home.”</p> + +<p>“No, dear heart, I’ve been homesick myself afore now,” +Mrs. Collins responded, sympathetically.</p> + +<p>“But how happens it that ye’r alone in this strange country—that +you’ve no one to go with ye to take care of ye?” +she added, with a keen glance into the fair, flushed face.</p> + +<p>“I do not like to tell you about it here,” Arley replied, +looking furtively around, as if she feared some one might +be within hearing. “Could you come to my lodging some +time to-morrow or next day? Then I will tell you more about +how I am situated, and why I am so anxious to secure an +escort back to England.”</p> + +<p>Yes, Mrs. Collins said, she would come to-morrow, and +Arley gave her the address; then, thanking her for her kindness, +she took leave of them both and returned to her lodging +quite content with her day’s work, even though she had +failed to see the consul.</p> + +<p>On entering the room, however, she was dismayed at the +state in which she found it.</p> + +<p>She knew she had left it in perfect order when she went +out. Now her closet door stood wide open, and her clothing +appeared to have been tossed about. Her writing-desk was +also open and her papers scattered about in confusion. Her +trunk, likewise, had been tampered with, for its contents +had been roughly turned over and left in a disordered state.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> + +<p>But after a hasty glance at these things she turned to her +dressing-case, a look of great anxiety on her face. The upper +drawer was partially drawn out, but she knew that she had +been careful to lock it and put the key in her purse before +going out.</p> + +<p>With a cry of dismay, she sprang forward, drew it further +out, and looked into it.</p> + +<p>Her face, and even her lips, turned ghastly pale as she +did so; her eyes stared wildly at a vacant spot within it for a +moment; then, with a despairing moan, she dropped upon her +knees, leaned her head against the drawer, sobbing as if her +heart were broken.</p> + +<p>Her jewel-box was gone, and it contained all that she had +except what she had worn that morning.</p> + +<p>Her diamonds were, of course, more valuable than anything +else, and she had saved them by wearing them; but +there were many things which she had prized very highly +in the casket, and it was very trying to have them stolen +from her thus.</p> + +<p>Still, she could have borne even this with fortitude, but +for one thing; in one of the compartments pinned to the velvet +cushion, there was the hundred-pound note which Miss +McAllister had given her on her wedding day, and which +she had carefully preserved through everything for a case of +emergency.</p> + +<p>Now all her hopes were blasted, for, without funds what +could she do? She could not go home without money to +pay her passage; she could not live there, or anywhere, without +it. Her purse was nearly empty. She did not know +how long she might find employment at the art store; and, +besides, it would take her so long—such a weary while to +earn enough to go home.</p> + +<p>For a time she was nearly wild over her loss, and did +not know what to do about it.</p> + +<p>She dared not tell her landlady that she had been robbed, +lest she might suspect her poverty and refuse to allow her to +stay there. She could not inform the police, for she could +not speak the language, and she had no faith to believe that +she could recover her property if she made her case known, +while it might involve her in doubt and deeper trouble.</p> + +<p>Philip could not help her pecuniarily, and it was probable +that he would not if he could, after the step which she had +taken the previous day.</p> + +<p>What made her start so suddenly at the thought of her +husband, and the color flame hotly over her whole face?</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that he would be guilty of so dastardly +a deed as to creep into her room and rob her thus?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> + +<p>The thought came to her like a shock, and perhaps she +would not have suspected him if she had not told him that +she would sell her jewels to get money to go home. Remembering +this made her feel that perhaps she had put a temptation +in his way, which, in his embarrassing situation, he had +not been able to resist. But after a moment she put the +thought from her—she would not believe anything so dreadful +of him, even though his treatment of her had been so +unmanly.</p> + +<p>But it was a terrible blow to her, whoever was the thief, +for there was no going home now until she had earned the +money, or unless—she could sell her diamonds.</p> + +<p>She could not bear to do that, for they had been the last +gift of Dr. McAllister to her before his death, and they +seemed almost sacred to her.</p> + +<p>Wretched as she was, she resolved to lose no time in +taking care of them, lest they also should be stolen from her; +so, struggling for calmness, she unclasped them from her +ears and throat, and sewed them securely into the waist of +a dress, stitched them in over the top of whalebones, thinking +that no one would ever suspect such a hiding-place for +them.</p> + +<p>This done, she strove to busy herself over her drawings, +for she must make the most of her time now; but she was so +nervous and trembling that she grew hot and cold at every +sound—she imagined that she heard steps creeping up the +stairs and pausing at her door; she would listen with painful +intentness until every nerve quaked with fear, then, bursting +into a passion of tears, wept until she had no strength +to cry more.</p> + +<p>Thus the day and most of the night was spent, and morning +found her a pitiable object indeed—burning with fever +and wild with delirium.</p> + +<p>When her landlady brought up her breakfast she knocked, +but no one came to open the door, though she could hear +Arley talking in a rapid, unnatural way within her room.</p> + +<p>She listened a few moments, and, being convinced that +something was wrong, she tried the door.</p> + +<p>It was fastened, as she expected; but being of a resolute +nature, she was not long in forcing an entrance, and found +Arley in a high fever and in an almost uncontrollable state +of excitement.</p> + +<p>She did what she could for her temporary relief, and then +sent for a physician.</p> + +<p>When he came and made an examination of his patient +he looked very grave and pronounced her very ill. He prescribed +for her; waited an hour to see what effect his medicines +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>would have, and as she became somewhat more quiet +he finally went away, promising, however, to come again +later in the day.</p> + +<p>Afternoon brought Jane Collins, who, by showing the address +which Arley had given her, and by signs, managed to +make her errand known.</p> + +<p>The landlady saw at once that she was English, although +belonging to an entirely different class from that of her +lodger, and she was only too glad to conduct her upstairs +to the sick girl’s room.</p> + +<p>The good woman was dismayed upon finding her in such a +condition, and saw at once that all hope of her returning +to England with her in the <i>Rocket</i> was at an end; she knew +that she was booked for a long and tedious illness.</p> + +<p>She at once removed her bonnet and shawl and by signs +made the woman of the house to understand that she wanted +water and towels.</p> + +<p>She was a kind-hearted creature, and comprehended at once +that Jane wanted to give the sick girl a bath, and hastened +to bring everything necessary.</p> + +<p>Then with a gentleness which one would scarcely have +thought she was capable, she sponged the sufferer, who, +though she did not recognize her, seemed to be grateful for +the attention, and grew gradually quieter under the soothing +process, until, when she had finished and covered her with +fresh linen, which she had asked to have brought for the bed, +Arley dropped into a deep, quiet sleep.</p> + +<p>Jane then donned her bonnet and shawl again and hastened +back to her own humble lodgings to tell John about +the sad state in which she had found the “beautiful young +leddy,” and to get his consent for her to remain with her +until she should be better, or as long as she could before +the sailing of the <i>Rocket</i>.</p> + +<p>Honest John Collins’ tender heart went out to the lovely +girl lying so ill and desolate among strangers, and he bade +his wife go back and stay with her if she wished.</p> + +<p>She did wish, and, hastily putting together a few necessary +articles in a bundle, she returned to her post in the +sickroom.</p> + +<p>There was much to try the good woman’s patience in assuming +the responsibility, for, of course, she could not understand +a word of the strange physician’s directions, although +she liked his appearance and treatment of Arley.</p> + +<p>The only way she could ascertain how to give his medicine +was by making him point out on Arley’s watch—which +she had found under her pillow and immediately taken possession +of—the hours when they were to be administered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> + +<p>For four days the poor girl was fearfully ill and utterly +unconscious of everything that transpired about her.</p> + +<p>But good Jane Collins was indefatigable, sparing herself in +no way, while she was as tender and motherly as if she had +been the mother of a dozen children, instead of a lone woman +without one in the world to love.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day Arley seemed somewhat more comfortable, +and began to have lucid intervals.</p> + +<p>The next day her mind was quite clear, and she recognized +her attendant with evident pleasure.</p> + +<p>“How came you here?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Ye were sick, and John said I might come to take care +of ye,” Jane answered, her face beaming to hear her speak +naturally once more.</p> + +<p>“How good it is of you!” Arley said, grasping the +woman’s rough hand and clinging to it with what strength +she had.</p> + +<p>“Have I been very ill?” she asked, after a minute.</p> + +<p>“Yes, miss, very ill, and ye ain’t none too well now,” Jane +returned, regarding her somewhat anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Do you think I shall be sick long?” the young girl questioned, +wistfully.</p> + +<p>“I hope ye’re a trifle better this mornin’, but it’ll take +quite a spell yet for ye to get up where ye was afore.”</p> + +<p>Arley sighed heavily at this.</p> + +<p>“What day is it?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Monday, miss.”</p> + +<p>“Monday!” with a startled look. “It was Tuesday that I +saw you at the consul’s. It must be nearly time to sail.”</p> + +<p>Her eyes were growing very bright, and the fever flush +began to mount hotly in her cheeks again.</p> + +<p>“Yes; the <i>Rocket</i> sails Wednesday at noon.”</p> + +<p>Jane did not know what else to say.</p> + +<p>“And I can’t go,” Arley wailed, with a hysterical sob.</p> + +<p>“Hush, dearie! ye’ll do yerself mischief if ye get to cryin’,” +the woman said, soothingly, while she smoothed the pretty +brown head as tenderly as a mother would have done.</p> + +<p>“But I did so want to go home,” Arley replied, with quivering +lips.</p> + +<p>“I know—I know, and I wanted to have ye,” Dame Collins +responded, while a huge lump rose in her throat; “but, after +all, dearie, a sailin’ vessel ain’t no fit way for the like o’ +ye to be travelin’ in; it’ll be much better for ye to take passage +in some steamer and go as a leddy should go.”</p> + +<p>“But I cannot go alone—I’m afraid,” and Arley clung to +her companion almost in terror, while a feeling of desolation +surged like a huge billow over her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p> + +<p>The woman hardly knew what to say to her.</p> + +<p>She felt it might do her great injury if she should get +excited, and yet she knew that some arrangements ought +to be made for her future care. She longed to stay herself, +for she felt a strange yearning for the beautiful but forlorn +stranger; but she could not.</p> + +<p>“Where do you sail from?” Arley asked, after a few moments, +and struggling to be calm.</p> + +<p>“Valencia, miss, where they are loadin’ the packet with +fruits and nuts as fast as ever they can, and my old man +and me will have to start early Wednesday mornin’, so’s to +be on hand. It makes my old heart ache, dearie, to go and +leave you behind, sick and alone, and—and—”</p> + +<p>She wanted to ask how Arley happened to be there so +friendless in that strange country, but a sort of rude delicacy +prevented her from putting her curiosity into words.</p> + +<p>But the sick girl understood her, and, though a vivid +blush rose to her forehead, she finished the sentence for her.</p> + +<p>“And you cannot understand how I happened to be in such +a desolate condition. I will tell you; you have been so good +to me that you have earned the right to know, and I am too +miserable to care who knows it now,” she said, wearily.</p> + +<p>She then gave a brief account of her life since leaving +London, telling how she and her husband had wandered from +place to place, their comforts growing less and less because +of the lack of funds, and how, after coming to Madrid, their +resources had failed entirely.</p> + +<p>Her eyes drooped and her cheeks burned with shame as +she told how she had begged her husband to get something +to do to improve their condition, and that when he had refused +she had sought employment and earned enough to keep +out of debt.</p> + +<p>“But I could not live so,” she said. “I felt that I must +go home or my heart would break, and so I went that morning +to the consul’s to see if he could tell me of any parties +about to return to England with whom I could go. I felt so +elated,” she added, “when you told me that I could return +with you, even though it would be in a sailing vessel, and I +knew that the voyage would be long and wearisome.”</p> + +<p>Then she related how, on her return from the consul’s, she +found that she had been robbed of her jewels and the money +which she had been depending upon to pay her passage, and +how she had been plunged into depths of despair upon making +the discovery.</p> + +<p>“It was this which made me ill,” she said; “it gave me +such a shock, and I grew so nervous and excited over my loss +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>that it made me sick,” and Jane saw that excitement was +fast hurrying toward the verge of delirium again.</p> + +<p>“Never mind the loss of the money, dearie,” she said, soothingly; +“it were a good deal to lose, I own, and the scamp +who took it’ll get his pay yet I promise ye; but Jane Collins +hasn’t the heart to see ye take on like this for the matter +of a few pounds; ye shan’t want for anything that a little +money can buy; John and me’ll let ye have whatever ye need, +and when ye get back to the old country, and the good aunt +that ye’ve been telling me about, ye can make it all right +with me again, if ye like.”</p> + +<p>Arley was greatly comforted by this, and began to grow +calmer at once.</p> + +<p>“What should I have done if it had not been for you?” +she said, gratefully.</p> + +<p>“The Lord always takes care of His helpless ones, and if +He hadn’t sent me, ’twould have been some one else,” Jane +responded, with simple faith.</p> + +<p>“But where is this”—“villain,” she was going to ask, but +changed her mind before the obnoxious word was spoken and +substituted—“man who has used ye so badly?”</p> + +<p>Arley gave the street and number where she and Philip +had boarded; then, after thinking a moment, she asked:</p> + +<p>“As you must go soon, and there will be no one but strangers +to care for me, perhaps it will be best to send word to +my husband regarding my condition, and it may be, when +he sees how I am, he will be willing to exert himself to take +care of me.”</p> + +<p>Jane Collins’ face lighted at this proposal.</p> + +<p>She thought it would be the best, the only thing to do, and +offered to go at once in search of the recreant husband.</p> + +<p>Arley thanked her and consented, and Jane immediately +started out upon her errand.</p> + +<p>She easily found the place to which she had been directed, +and presented to the landlord, who answered her summons, +Mr. Paxton’s name, which Arley had written upon a card +for her.</p> + +<p>She was made to understand that Mr. Paxton was not +there—that the gentleman and his wife had both gone, and +they did not know whither.</p> + +<p>The fact of the case was that when Philip found that his +wife was determined to go he, too, left on the same day, +and their landlord believed that they had gone together to +some other place.</p> + +<p>It was with a heavy heart that Jane Collins returned to +poor Arley with this intelligence, for she well knew how +critical her condition was, and what a terrible thing it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>would be to leave her in that strange city alone and so +very ill.</p> + +<p>“If it wasn’t for John I’d stay,” she murmured to herself, +with a troubled face; “but I’ve only him in all the +world, and I just can’t let him go without me.”</p> + +<p>And the faithful creature was much distressed by her desire +to act the part of the good Samaritan to the fair young +invalid, while her strong affection for her husband could +not endure a long separation from him.</p> + +<p>Arley clung to her almost in terror upon learning how +fruitless her errand had been.</p> + +<p>“What shall I do? How can I bear to let you leave me?” +she cried, in despair. “I can trust you—you are good and +kind, I know, by your face, while I feel as if I was in a den +of thieves. I believe I shall surely die if I am left here +alone.”</p> + +<p>She became so excited that Jane grew alarmed, but she +had not one word of comfort to offer, for it was indeed a +hard case, and she could only gather her in her arms and try +to soothe her as she would have soothed a child.</p> + +<p>The doctor came in during this scene and shook his head +with great displeasure as he saw the condition which his +patient was in, and he jabbered as fast as his tongue could +fly, while of course neither of his hearers could understand +a word he said.</p> + +<p>At length, as if inspired by some happy thought, Arley +raised her head from Jane Collins’ shoulder and addressed +him in French.</p> + +<p>To her delight he responded at once and with a very good +accent, and the look of care and misery began to fade out +somewhat from her face.</p> + +<p>If she could make herself understood her situation would +not be quite so uncomfortable, and when she explained it +to Jane she also looked much relieved.</p> + +<p>Arley told the doctor that her kind friend would be obliged +to leave her in a day or two and that they were both much +troubled on account of the separation.</p> + +<p>But he spoke very kindly, telling her not to be troubled; +he would make her his special charge, and she should have +every care that she needed, and it was not long before he +had the satisfaction of seeing her sink back upon her pillow +with a sigh of relief and an actual smile—though a tremulous +one—on her lips, at his assurance.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br><span class="small"> + A WICKED DEED. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Dearie, it breaks my heart to go and leave ye like this! +If it wasn’t that my old man and me have never been parted +for the thirty years we’ve lived together, and it turns me +cold and sick to think of it at this late day, I’d never leave +ye in this knavish country. But take heart, miss; it isn’t +so bad, now that ye can talk with the doctor, and he’ll do +everything he can for ye and get ye everything ye need. +I’ve taken care of that, and I believe he’s half human, if he +has got Spanish blood in him. And now, dearie, I must +say good-by to ye. John is waitin’ below for me, and he’s +that sorry for ye that he couldn’t sleep, but talked half the +night about ye. He told me to give ye this—it’s twenty-five +pounds—and he hopes it’ll do ye until ye can hear from the +good aunt, and the doctor’s bill is paid up to now. Don’t +fret, dearie, for the Lord will hold ye in the hollow of His +hand.”</p> + +<p>Thus spoke honest Jane Collins as she took leave of Arley +late Tuesday evening, for she was to leave Madrid for +Valencia early in the morning.</p> + +<p>As she finished she crowded a roll of Spanish gold pieces +into the sick girl’s feverish hand.</p> + +<p>Poor Arley clung to her as if she could not let her go, +while tears rained over her wan face.</p> + +<p>“You have been such a kind friend to me,” she said, between +her sobs. “I shall never forget it; I can never repay it—the +kindness I mean. The money of course, you shall have +back. But stay,” she added, with sudden thought; “I have +some diamonds; I wore them the day I first met you. One +of them is worth much more than the amount which you +have given me, and you shall have it for security, and then, +if anything happens that I do—not live to go home”—this +with a little shiver—“you will lose nothing.”</p> + +<p>“Tut, tut, miss; don’t talk like that. Ye’re young and ye’ll +be all right in a little while, and I shall yet see ye back, hale +and hearty, in ‘merrie England.’ But as for the di’monds, +miss,” and the good woman’s face flushed a deep crimson, +“Jane Collins isn’t that close that she’d wish to take the +trinkets that were given to ye by some one who loved ye +and who ye loved, maybe. But hush, dearie!” she added, in +a whisper; “keep ’em close, keep ’em close, or somebody will +be stealin’ ’em, as they did the other things.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + +<p>“But—but if anything happens to me, somebody else will +get them away, I’m afraid, and it would be too cruel for +you to lose all your hard-earned money,” Arley replied.</p> + +<p>“Nothing ain’t goin’ to happen to ye, dearie; I tell ye +ye’re goin’ to get well, and I couldn’t take the di’monds. +When ye come back well and hearty and have plenty once +more, then ye can pay me if ye want to, but if ye can’t—well, +it’s only gone into the Lord’s treasury, and He’ll take +care of it,” and the good woman’s look of trust was something +wonderful to behold.</p> + +<p>“I shall love you all my life,” Arley said, chokingly.</p> + +<p>Jane Collins’ face flushed with pleasure, though tears +rolled down her ruddy cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Love is better than gold,” she remarked, sententiously; +“anybody can earn money, but barrin’ my good man, ’tis +a long day since any one told Jane Collins that she were +loved. I don’t often get soft like this,” she added, swallowing +a sob, “but if ye don’t mind, miss, I would just like to +kiss ye once on the cheek and then say good-by.”</p> + +<p>Arley put up her arms, and, drawing the woman’s face +down to her, kissed her heartily.</p> + +<p>At that moment, when she was so wretched and desolate, +the homely, honest face of Jane Collins seemed the most +beautiful and trustworthy countenance in the world to her.</p> + +<p>But when at length the last word was said and she had +gone with reluctant feet from the place, Arley felt as if she +had not a friend left in the world.</p> + +<p>She was worse that night, of course, after all this excitement, +and the physician was much disturbed about her, while +for more than a week afterward there was a doubt in his +mind whether she would ever be any better.</p> + +<p>She was delirious most of the time, babbling of home, +grandpa, auntie, Lady Elaine and Hazelmere in the most +confused manner imaginable.</p> + +<p>But at length she began slowly to mend; the fever abated +a little every day until she had none, and then there was a +long struggle with weakness and languor.</p> + +<p>As soon as she began to realize that she was really better, +however—when the doctor told her that if she would only +have courage and patience she would be all right again in +time—she took heart and resolved that she would get well +with all possible speed.</p> + +<p>One night, some three weeks after this, the little physician +trotted down the stairs after leaving her room, a satisfied +smile on his dark face.</p> + +<p>He had been called from the city early in the morning to +a patient at some distance, and he had been unable to visit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>her until evening; but he had been much pleased to find her +greatly improved and actually sitting up with a pretty white +wrapper on and the suspicion of coming color in her cheeks.</p> + +<p>He laughingly told her that she would be regarding him as +an intruder in a few days if she progressed at that rate, +for his visits would be needless.</p> + +<p>As he came out upon the street he almost ran against a +man who appeared to be lounging about the door.</p> + +<p>“What do you want?” he demanded, curtly, and eying +him suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“There is an English lady sick within?” the stranger said, +questioningly.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” was the brief response of the physician, who saw +that his interlocutor was a foreigner and evidently English +also, although he spoke the language of Spain very correctly.</p> + +<p>“Is—is she better?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” again briefly.</p> + +<p>“Will she get well?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she is very nearly well now, but still weak, of +course.”</p> + +<p>The stranger turned his head quickly, but not before +the keen eyes of the doctor had caught the look of disappointment +which flashed from his eyes.</p> + +<p>“The lady is a stranger, perhaps—would it be proper for +one of her own countrymen to offer sympathy and—assistance?”</p> + +<p>This was asked with a sort of nervous hesitancy.</p> + +<p>“Sympathy is well—assistance in a time of need is better; +but thanks, señor—she has a friend who can do for her all +that she needs at present,” and with a stiff little bow went +his way.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton—for it was he—glared after him, a flash +of hatred in his eyes.</p> + +<p>He had heard of Arley’s illness almost immediately, and +had been in the habit of prowling about her lodgings and +interviewing the servants regarding her condition.</p> + +<p>They had given very unfavorable accounts, enjoying, as +their class always do, something exciting to talk about, and +he had been led to believe that she would not recover.</p> + +<p>It was a shock to him now, therefore, to be told that she +was getting well, for, horrible as it seems, he had actually +hoped that she would die, so that he could carry out a cunning +scheme which of late had been developed in his brain.</p> + +<p>He left his lodgings the same day that Arley went away, +and had also gone into humbler quarters; while, a few days +later, he might have been seen in a gambling den, watching, +with wild eyes and haggard face, the turn of the wheel +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>which would either make him a beggar or fill his purse with +gold.</p> + +<p>He won, and with a hoarse cry of joy he swept the pile +of glittering coins toward him, and then, in spite of the +enticing invitation of the banker to “try his luck again,” +cramming them into his pocket, he staggered from the place +as if intoxicated with his good fortune.</p> + +<p>The next day found him in another den of the same kind—he +was too cunning to try twice in the same place—and +again he won.</p> + +<p>“That will do,” he muttered; “it’s enough to give me +quite a start, and I’ll stop while I am safe,” and, buttoning +his coat close over his hoard, he stalked from the place, +wholly unmindful of the dark looks of the disappointed +banker.</p> + +<p>He had told Arley, on that morning when she had paid +their board out of her own earnings, that he had no money.</p> + +<p>Whence, then, came the gold that he had staked at the +gaming-table, and that had enabled him to win more?</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>As soon as Arley was able to get out she went once more +to the art store where she had sold pictures to ascertain if +she could still continue to supply sketches there.</p> + +<p>The proprietor was shocked at the change in her, and she +did, indeed, look more like some frail, beautiful spirit than +an earthly being; but he told her that he would take all the +work that she could do.</p> + +<p>Every day she grew stronger; every day she was able to +draw a little more, though the doctor, coming in occasionally +to see how she progressed and looking over her shoulder at +her dainty work, muttered, with a scowl of disapprobation, +that he should have her again on his hands if she did not +take care.</p> + +<p>Arley raised her lovely dark eyes to his face, and he saw +the terrified expression in them.</p> + +<p>“Will it make me ill again? Please don’t tell me so, for +I must work—I must go home!”</p> + +<p>He knew that she had been robbed—she had confided so +much to him—and that she would have to earn money before +she could return to her friends, and he had favored +her all he could in his charges. He wished now, as he saw the +desperate homesickness in her eyes, that he had taken nothing +from her, and so he had not the heart to tell her that she +must not work—indeed, he began to think that if deprived +of employment she might be in even more danger of another +illness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, well, be moderate, then, señora. Be careful and not +apply yourself too closely,” he said, and so her work went on.</p> + +<p>Arley wondered where Philip could be all this time. She +wondered if he knew what she had been suffering during the +last six weeks. If he had known and been there in the same +city with her, he was certainly very unfeeling and cruel not +to come to her and at least offer her a word of sympathy in +her extremity.</p> + +<p>A month passed, the passage-money was almost earned, +and Arley had decided to sail on a certain steamer which +would leave for England within the coming fortnight, when, +one morning, a servant brought an official-looking document +to her.</p> + +<p>With a look of wonder upon her face, which was growing +wondrously lovely every day now—sickness and sorrow had +given it a sort of refined beauty, such as it had never possessed +before—she took the strange-looking missive and broke +the seals.</p> + +<p>She saw at a glance it was written in French; therefore +whoever had sent it knew that she was not familiar with +Spanish.</p> + +<p>She began to read it, though the formalities and legal +terms puzzled her, but she kept on, until at last a low cry of +horror burst from her. Her eyes dilated with pain, her +cheeks faded to the hue of death, and she trembled so that +the paper rattled in her hands.</p> + +<p>A blur seemed to obscure her sight, so that the words ran +together until she could not read them. She passed her +hand across her eyes to dispel it, and read again those stiff, +formal sentences which had agitated her so deeply.</p> + +<p>Then, as she comprehended their full meaning a vivid +crimson mounted to her brow, her nostrils dilated, her lips +curled with mingled scorn and bitterness.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton had applied to the court of Madrid for a +divorce from his wife Arletta Paxton, and the paper stated +two reasons for this—an illegal marriage and subsequent +desertion, and she was notified to appear on a certain day to +defend her case.</p> + +<p>Had it come to this, that with all her other troubles, she +must be a divorced wife?</p> + +<p>What was the man, who had won her with such fair, fond +words—who had vowed fidelity and sworn to love, honor and +care for her until death should part them—made of, that he +could contemplate this fearful thing?</p> + +<p>But why should he claim that their marriage was illegal?</p> + +<p>This charge surprised her.</p> + +<p>How could their marriage be illegal when it had been performed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>in the presence of so many witnesses, and with all +the necessary forms and ceremonies?</p> + +<p>Then, like a flash, it came to her that she had been married +under a name to which she had no right. She was not +Arletta Wentworth, nor Arletta anything else. The name +that she was known by was not hers; it was only retained +for convenience, since she must be called something.</p> + +<p>Arley cast that hateful document from her with a gesture +of loathing.</p> + +<p>“I have half a mind to appear against him,” she said; “it +might be a blessed freedom to me as well; to have these galling +ties severed, even though a divorce means nothing. I +promised ‘until death should part us’—and I meant it. Shall +I sit quietly down and allow him to have his way—allow the +world to believe I deserted him and make no effort to vindicate +myself.”</p> + +<p>She mused a long time over these questions; but finally, +with firmly compressed lips and uplifted head, she added:</p> + +<p>“No; I will go and hear what he has to say for himself. +I will face him, and let him know that I consider our marriage +legal, if he does not. I will tell my story. I will +tell how it happened that I deserted him. I will not tamely +submit to this indignity.”</p> + +<p>She sought a lawyer named Proquelin, who could speak +French, but with whom she was unfavorably impressed, to say +the least.</p> + +<p>He was tall and straight as an Indian; his thin, lank hair, +black as the shades of Erebus, hardly covered his ill-shapen +head, which was tall and narrow like himself, a projecting +forehead, wrinkled and tawny, with heavy brows, overhung +a pair of small, piercing black eyes, which had a cunning +gleam in them that actually made Arley shiver with apprehension. +He had high cheekbones, a thin nose, and a vile +mouth, within which there was a set of yellow, decaying, +disgusting teeth—and altogether he was exceedingly repulsive.</p> + +<p>Arley had more than half a mind to turn and fly from +his presence, give up the battle and go home as fast as +steam and sail could take her, for she was filled with distrust +of the man the moment she beheld him.</p> + +<p>But he came forward upon her entrance, and addressed +her courteously in Spanish.</p> + +<p>She shook her head and replied in French that she did +not understand; whereupon he addressed her in that language, +politely drew forward a chair, and asked her to be +seated.</p> + +<p>She complied, and then entered at once upon the object +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>of her call. She told him her story as briefly as possible, +but all the while she was relating it, with drooping eyes and +flushed cheeks, the wily lawyer was studying the fair face +with a rude, inquisitive start, mingled with intense admiration.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he would undertake the case for her,” he blandly +told her, when she concluded, and he added, he thought the +case of the señora a strong one.</p> + +<p>“But, pardon,” he added, with a low obeisance and an unpleasant +smirk, “if the señora is not fond of the señor still, +why not let him go?—why not allow him to get a divorce if +he wishes, and be free from so disagreeable a husband?”</p> + +<p>Arley flushed crimson at the question, and, with uplifted +head and flashing eyes, replied:</p> + +<p>“Because he has accused me falsely; my good name is +at stake—my character must be vindicated; he shall not take +it before the public and blacken it, without an attempt on +my part to thwart his base purpose.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII. + <br><span class="small"> + SAVED. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Señor Proquelin saw that he had a woman of spirit to +deal with, that she was on the alert, was keen-witted, and +not lacking in decision of character.</p> + +<p>He saw, too, that she was comparatively helpless in this +disagreeable predicament, and that, from the lack of witnesses +in her favor, the case was likely to prove a hard +battle.</p> + +<p>But he was willing to undertake almost anything for +money, while it was not often that he had to deal with so +pretty and interesting a client, and he at once bestirred +himself zealously in Arley’s case.</p> + +<p>He was a popular, sharp-witted lawyer, though unscrupulous, +as the sequel will show, and he was not long in discovering +Philip Paxton’s motive for seeking the divorce.</p> + +<p>He studied him, he watched him, he followed him constantly. +There was nothing he did that escaped the crafty +lawyer’s notice, and Philip knew it.</p> + +<p>He also was very keen at reading character, and he was +not long in taking the measure of his opponent. He saw +that he was very clever—that a case in his hands would be +made the most of, and that he was as persistent as a bulldog +at carrying a point; but one glance at that ill-shapen +head showed him that cupidity was the strongest element +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>of his character, and one morning he took the crafty man +by surprise by paying him a visit in his office.</p> + +<p>The two were closeted a long-time with doors locked, and +curtains drawn close, and when at last Philip rose to go, +there was a look of relief and satisfaction on his face, while +Señor Proquelin followed him to the door with an obsequious +bow, clinking a purse full of ruddy gold in his hands.</p> + +<p>Alas! alas! for poor, persecuted Arley’s cause!</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The day of the trial arrived, and the young husband and +wife met for the first time since their separation.</p> + +<p>Arley was thinner than when Philip last saw her, and +her color was not as brilliant, but as he glanced up, upon +her entrance to the court-room, he started, and actually held +his breath, for never had he seen her so lovely before.</p> + +<p>“Why on earth couldn’t she have been reasonable about +that money?” he muttered, with a deep-drawn sigh, “it’s almost +more than a fellow can stand to lose both her and her +fortune.”</p> + +<p>The judge looked surprised when he saw her, and as if +wondering how any man could be willing to put away so +beautiful a wife; and when Arley for a moment lifted her +eyes to his face as if to read what manner of man was set +there to pass judgment upon her, he saw in them a look of +appeal which touched him deeply.</p> + +<p>The court was opened, Philip’s case presented in all due +form, and then the trial proceeded.</p> + +<p>Of course, it was all like Greek to Arley; she could not +understand one word, and was obliged to depend entirely +upon her counsel for an interpretation of the proceedings, +and, although whatever he told her appeared plausible, yet +she had not been there long before a strange feeling of uneasiness +and foreboding took possession of her.</p> + +<p>The court-room was not large, but there were a number +of people present who appeared to be interested in the case.</p> + +<p>One in particular Arley noticed seated in the further +corner of the room, and her heart throbbed, and her cheek +burned when her glance first fell upon him, for she felt quite +sure that he was an Englishman.</p> + +<p>How could she bear to have him sit there and listen to +her wretched story, and then go back to England, perhaps +even to London, and proclaim it there?</p> + +<p>Several times she found herself looking at him and wondering +who he could be, as well as what motive could have +induced him to come into that place, that morning of all +others, and as often she found him intently regarding her.</p> + +<p>He had a frank, noble face, a manly form, and such kind, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>sympathetic blue eyes. She longed to go and speak to him; +and once she had almost beckoned to him to come to her; +then, with a sudden ringing in her ears, a sense of faintness +at the boldness of the act, she thought perhaps he +might be some one whom Philip knew, and whom he had +enlisted in his service.</p> + +<p>When Philip gave his evidence, she noticed that the +stranger frequently glanced from him to her, while a puzzled +expression began to settle over his face, and she found +herself wondering with increasing uneasiness what was being +said regarding her.</p> + +<p>When she was called up to be questioned, she saw him +lean eagerly forward and prepare to listen intently.</p> + +<p>“Who can he be?” she asked herself, “and what possible +interest can he have in this affair?” then she gave herself +to the task before her.</p> + +<p>The questions were put in Spanish to Señor Proquelin, +who repeated them in French to her, and then translated her +replies for the benefit of the court.</p> + +<p>Philip told his story glibly enough, stating that he had +married Arley believing her to be a Miss Wentworth, of +London, with a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, but that +he had since discovered that she had no right whatever to +either name or fortune, and that a disagreeable mystery +hung over her parentage. More than all this, he made it +appear that throughout their travels she had conducted herself +in an improper manner, and particularly so since coming +to Madrid, where he could prove she had made appointments +with a gentleman, receiving both attentions and +money from him, which no true and loyal wife should do; +and, finally, to cap all, she had deserted him entirely, and +hidden herself away in an obscure portion of the city, yet +all the time continuing to meet the gentleman referred to +before.</p> + +<p>It was a story calculated to blacken the fairest character, +and Philip Paxton, with his fine face and figure, and with +all his eloquence called into exercise, did not fail to enlist +the sympathies of most of his listeners.</p> + +<p>This cunning story, however, was very imperfectly translated +to Arley by her treacherous counsel, and she could not +understand the leers and peculiar suspicious looks which +were cast upon her when what appeared to be her defense +was repeated in turn before the court.</p> + +<p>She could not know that all her testimony, every answer +to the questions put to her, had been distorted and perverted +in a way to blacken her fair name forever—until she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>stood there before the court self-condemned, having been +made to admit all that Philip claimed against her.</p> + +<p>The evidence was all in at last, and having been summed +up, it was evident to all that Philip Paxton would get his +case, and poor Arley would be obliged to go back to England +a divorced woman, and with a dark cloud hanging over +her fair fame.</p> + +<p>But just as the judge was about to deliver his charge to +the jury, there was a stir in the back part of the room, and +a stern, inflexible voice cried out, in excellent Spanish:</p> + +<p>“Hold! I demand a hearing before this case goes into +the hands of the jury!”</p> + +<p>The next instant the gentleman whom Arley had noticed +listening so eagerly strode forward and stood before the +judge.</p> + +<p>“May it please your honor,” he continued, in a clear, +musical tone, “I speak four languages with ease—English, +French, German and Spanish.”</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton started violently at this, and exchanged an +anxious glance with Señor Proquelin.</p> + +<p>“I ask you to stay the proceedings of the court,” the +stranger continued, “or you will be guilty of a terrible +wrong to an innocent woman. Have I your honor’s permission +to give evidence in favor of the defendant?”</p> + +<p>Philip’s lawyer here interposed, objecting very strongly. +The evidence had all been given and summed up, he said, +and if the stranger had anything to offer he should have +spoken before.</p> + +<p>Señor Proquelin turned of a mahogany color and grew +exceedingly restless; but of course he could offer no objections, +since the revelations were to be in favor of his client.</p> + +<p>The judge, however, was impressed by the manner of the +stranger, and waving Philip’s lawyer back to his seat, courteously +told him to go on.</p> + +<p>“My name is Charles Herbert, and I am a baronet of +Kent County, England,” the newcomer resumed. “The +merest accident brought me hither this morning—I might +say that I came out of idle curiosity, just to see how your +courts are conducted; but I thank Heaven that by coming I +shall be able to save an innocent woman from becoming the +victim of deeply-dyed villains. Your honor and the gentlemen +of the jury do not understand the French language, +I perceive.”</p> + +<p>He paused a moment and lifted his eyes with a questioning +glance to the judge.</p> + +<p>“No,” that dignitary said, “they do not.”</p> + +<p>“Then”—and the scorn and indignation which rang out +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>in Sir Charles Herbert’s tones thrilled even Arley, though +she did not know one word that he was saying—“you cannot +know all that the evidence of the fair defendant yonder +has been perverted and distorted in a way to make her +appear the vilest of women—in a way to criminate herself, +so that the jury could not possibly grant to her the least +sympathy or consideration. Listen, and I will show you +what has been done.”</p> + +<p>Then, from a paper upon which he had taken notes, he +read a brief summary of the case, presenting Arley’s defense +as she had given it—her modest, straightforward replies +having been worded in an entirely different way from +what had been represented by her treacherous counsel—until +both judge and jury looked grave and stern at the +fraud which had been perpetrated upon them, and grew to +regard the beautiful wronged woman before them in an +entirely different light.</p> + +<p>“Now,” continued the young Englishman, after he had +read the notes he had taken, “I am myself a lawyer, and +for the time being I will constitute myself this young lady’s +counsel, although I have never exchanged a word with her, +nor have I ever seen her before coming into this room. I +perceive that she is ignorant of Spanish and she does not +even know what I am saying before this court; but if your +honor has a desire to cross-question her further, I pledge +my word that every sentence shall be faithfully translated +both to her and to you.”</p> + +<p>The face of the judge was black with wrath.</p> + +<p>His dignity had been insulted, his office outraged, by +the shameless trick which had been played upon him and +the court, not to mention the crime of attempting to ruin +the character of a beautiful woman.</p> + +<p>He turned to Arley, and his stern face softened almost to +tenderness; but he proceeded to cross-question her again, as +the young baronet had proposed, he acting as interpreter.</p> + +<p>After one or two questions she began to look uneasy, and +finally lifting her proud head haughtily demanded of her +new interrogator:</p> + +<p>“What does this mean?—why am I asked these questions +twice over?”</p> + +<p>A brilliant smile wreathed Sir Charles’ lips at this query, +but without answering it, he turned directly to the judge, +saying:</p> + +<p>“The señora is indignant—she does not understand why +she is subjected to this second cross-examination. Shall I explain +to her?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span></p> + +<p>“No,” his honor replied; “tell her to exercise a little +patience, and it shall be explained to her later.”</p> + +<p>He had seen Arley’s gesture, and knew by her tone that +she had said something of this kind, but he admired the +honor of the Englishman for telling her nothing without +his sanction; it proved to him that he was, as he had said, +a stranger to her—that there was no conspiracy between +them, and that the young man was simply espousing the +cause of truth and right.</p> + +<p>A half hour was spent in going over old ground, and +every word which Arley uttered went to prove how she had +been misrepresented; and at the end of that time, the jury, +without retiring, gave a unanimous verdict against the +plaintiff, who, with his counsel, felt as if they would like +the earth to open and swallow them, while Señor Proquelin +skulked out of sight, swearing vigorous Spanish oaths to +himself—and then the case was dismissed.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Charles Herbert went directly to Arley. Holding +out his hand to her with a frank, genial smile, he said +in English:</p> + +<p>“I congratulate you, madam, upon the decision of the +court, which is wholly in your favor. But,” he added, seeing +the tears spring to her eyes, and that she was near losing +her composure, “you came very nearly having to suffer a +foul wrong.”</p> + +<p>Then he explained to her how her evidence had been misconstrued +and falsified and made to tell against her.</p> + +<p>A crimson flush of shame and indignation shot up to the +waves of brown hair that lay upon her forehead, and bitter +tears rolled down her cheeks, as she listened, and understood +something of the trap that had been set for her unconscious +feet.</p> + +<p>“I cannot be thankful enough,” Sir Charles said, in conclusion, +“that I was impelled to come into this court-room +this morning—it has saved you from becoming the victim +of unprincipled men.”</p> + +<p>“You are an entire stranger to me,” Arley said, lifting a +pair of brimming, grateful eyes to his, “but I shall always +feel that I owe you a debt which I can never repay.”</p> + +<p>“Do not speak that way,” he returned, gently, “you owe +me nothing; I rejoice that I was here and able, by my +knowledge of different languages, to save you from a +very unpleasant position. Allow me to introduce myself, +however, and to ask if I can be of any further service to +you?”</p> + +<p>He handed her a card as he spoke, and Arley read the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>name, Charles J. Herbert, Bart., Allendale, Kent Co., England.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII. + <br><span class="small"> + THE LAST APPEAL. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“I am very glad to know you, Sir Charles,” Arley said, +her eyes lingering on the pleasant-sounding English name, +while her heart quickened its pulsations as she thought perhaps +he might assist her about going home, “and,” with a +wistful look into his kind face, “I should like to trespass +upon your goodness still further, and ask if you will help +me to find some one who is about returning to England, and +who would be willing to grant me a little protection.”</p> + +<p>Sir Charles’ face lighted with pleasure at this request. +“Would you go with me?—with us, I should say, for my +mother and I are traveling together.”</p> + +<p>Arley’s heart bounded within her at this.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be better than for her to be under the +protection of an elderly lady, and this kind, noble young +man who was her son.</p> + +<p>“If you would not mind being troubled with me, I should +be very grateful,” she returned, with quivering lips and +tear-laden eyes.</p> + +<p>She tried to be brave through all that dreadful trial, but +now the prospect of going home, under safe protection, bade +fair to unnerve her completely.</p> + +<p>“Do not call it trouble,” he returned, gently, “it would +give us great pleasure to have you with us. We shall travel +for three or four months longer, and then return.”</p> + +<p>Arley’s face fell, and the fond hope which had animated +her but a moment before died within her.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I cannot go with you, then,” she said, a vivid +blush dyeing all her face; “for I am obliged to be frank +with you—I have not the means to travel. I have barely +enough to—to take me home.”</p> + +<p>Sir Charles looked embarrassed, even distressed at this +acknowledgment.</p> + +<p>He would gladly have offered to defray all her expenses, +but, being such a stranger to her, he dare not; and he could +see that she was very proud—a lady through and through, +who would be offended by such a proposal.</p> + +<p>He thought a moment, then asked:</p> + +<p>“Would you object to the delay I have mentioned, if—if +there were no other obstacles?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> + +<p>“No,” Arley answered, with a sigh; “it does not matter +much where I am now. I have friends in London who +would welcome me with open arms, and though I long for +them, yet I dread to meet them under the circumstances. +But necessity compels me to go somewhere—to get away +from this dreadful place, where I cannot understand anything +that is said to me; for—in the future I shall be +obliged to earn my own living.”</p> + +<p>She said it frankly, and yet with a little air of pride, +as if, despite her poverty, she was not ashamed to have him +know it.</p> + +<p>“I am very glad that you have told me this, Mrs. Paxton,” +her companion said, eagerly, “for now I feel free to +say that perhaps my mother can help you, and you can +also help her out of a serious difficulty. Her companion—a +fine young lady who accompanied us from England—was +taken violently ill at Lille, France, and the physicians +who attended her said that it would not do for her to +resume travel with us—that just as soon as she was sufficiently +recovered she must be sent home and have complete +rest and freedom from excitement. It was a great trial +to my mother to be obliged to part with her, and, having +been unable to supply her place, she has been very lonely +ever since. If—pardon me, I mean it with all respect to +you, and with the desire to contribute to my mother’s comfort—if +you could be persuaded to—to accept the vacant +position——”</p> + +<p>Poor Sir Charles! he knew he was talking to a refined +and cultivated lady; it was very hard to offer her a paid +position, and he stammered and stumbled dreadfully in his +embarrassment.</p> + +<p>But Arley came quickly to his aid, her face flushing with +gladness, her eyes all alight with new hope, for here was +a haven of refuge for her at last.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, I should be only too glad to do so,” she said, +eagerly; “that is, if madam, your mother, would be satisfied +with the arrangement and my poor accomplishments.”</p> + +<p>“There will be no trouble about that, I assure you,” Sir +Charles replied, much relieved to find how sensibly she had +received his proposition. “Now, if you will please give me +your address, I will bring her to see you this afternoon, and +you can arrange about our departure from Madrid to suit +yourselves.”</p> + +<p>Arley drew from her pocket a beautiful little card case of +filigree gold, and, taking a card from it, wrote the street +and number of her residence upon it, and gave it to him.</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” he said, thinking that she wrote the prettiest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>and most delicate hand he ever saw. “Now will you allow +me to see you safely home?—for,” with a smile and a suspicious +glance around, “I do not like to leave you go alone, +while you have so many enemies around you.”</p> + +<p>Arley gave him a quick, inquiring look.</p> + +<p>“I did not mean to alarm you,” he added, quickly; “but +I suppose you have heard that the Spaniards are exceedingly +revengeful in their disposition.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have heard it, but I had forgotten it,” Arley +replied, looking a trifle anxious.</p> + +<p>“I wish to make sure,” Sir Charles continued, “that you +are not annoyed by any one, so by your leave, I will go +with you.”</p> + +<p>She was very glad to have him; but as they were passing +out of the now almost deserted court-room she saw Philip +sitting in a dim corner, looking moody and miserable.</p> + +<p>A feeling of pity for him stole into her heart.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if she could not leave him so—as if she +must make one last appeal to him. She might never see +him again—it was very probable that she would not—surely +she might speak one word of entreaty and farewell before +she went out of his life forever.</p> + +<p>“Will you please excuse me one moment?” she asked, +withdrawing her hand from Sir Charles’ arm just as they +reached the door, “I do not like to go without one last word +to Mr. Paxton—I will not keep you waiting long.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly I will excuse you, and I shall not mind waiting +as long as you like,” he returned, kindly, and wondering, +from the wistful sadness of those lovely dark eyes, if she +could still love the man who had that day shown himself +such a traitor and wretch.</p> + +<p>Philip had not seen her movements, he was so absorbed +in his disagreeable musings that he was not aware of her +approach until a gentle voice at his side said:</p> + +<p>“Philip!”</p> + +<p>Her lips had seldom spoken that name since their marriage, +and the sound of it smote him with a keen pain.</p> + +<p>But it was only for an instant—the next he turned upon +her with a malignant scowl.</p> + +<p>She shivered and shrank from him slightly, yet looking so +gentle and lovely that his features involuntarily relaxed.</p> + +<p>“Well?” he questioned briefly.</p> + +<p>“I just wished to say to you,” Arley said, in a hesitating +tone, “that I cannot understand why you should have taken +this action against me—if you wish to be free I am sorry +that you cannot be, but I could not remain silent and allow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>my character to be defamed, else I should never have appeared +against you. I am going away—back to England.”</p> + +<p>He started, and flashed a strange look at her as she said +this, but she did not appear to notice it.</p> + +<p>“I shall go back to Aunt Angeline, and I shall have to +tell her why I came back; but further than that I shall say +nothing. I shall never seek to see you—I shall never meet +you if I can help it, and then in time, if you wish, the law +will free you and there need be no publicity about it. But,” +and her sweet lips quivered painfully, “I wish our life could +have been different—I would have been glad to share almost +any lot with you, if you had met your reverses bravely and +honorably—I would have been a faithful wife to you—you +know that, for I told you so before—for, I did love you very +dearly, Philip.</p> + +<p>“I do not believe,” Arley went on, eagerly, “that you are +acting your true nature. I do not believe that my heart +would have been drawn toward you as it was at Hazelmere +if there had not been something lovable and honorable in +you to call forth my affection. I know you have been bitterly +disappointed, and I have grieved more on your account +than my own that I was obliged to come to you penniless; +but the loss of money is such a little thing compared to +that of one’s honor and self-respect. Oh, if I could only +make you see how much nobler and better it would be to +begin again ever so low socially, with the determination to +rise—and with health and ability any one can rise, if he +will—than to live as you have been living since our marriage! +Do not waste your life thus; be the true-hearted +man that I believed you when I first knew you, Philip, will +you? Will you go back to England with me?”</p> + +<p>How could he resist such a gentle, earnest pleading? +How could he help yielding to that sweet-voiced entreaty?</p> + +<p>Who can tell how he longed to do so—how, perhaps, he +had all but surrendered, when the devil in his heart whispered: +“The Lily of Mordaunt has twenty thousand pounds +a year, and Wil Hamilton is dead?”</p> + +<p>“No,” he said, briefly and sullenly, and turned restlessly +away from those tenderly inviting eyes.</p> + +<p>A deep sigh fell upon his ear, and it smote him like a +blow; but he stubbornly crushed down every better feeling, +though afterward he remembered that he was very near +yielding as the hopeless sound struck him, and then, with +bitter remorse, he cried out:</p> + +<p>“Oh, why—why was I so blind and hardened that I would +not heed her?”</p> + +<p>“Good-by, then, Philip,” and there was a wistful sadness +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>in the sweet voice. “I suppose our paths will widely diverge +after this, and we shall never meet again, save, perhaps as +strangers meet. But I pray you—I beseech you,” she added, +with passionate earnestness, “do not live out your whole +life as you are living now; do not let your existence prove +a failure; do not wreck the mind, do not ruin the soul +which has been given you; for, some day, you know, they +will be required of you again. I am a woman; I have lost +everything—name and fortune—and now this added blight +which you have cast upon me presses me down still more +heavily; but”—and now the lovely girl lifted her head with +an air of pride and resolution—“I am going to battle +against these adverse circumstances with all my might. I +am going to make the most and very best of myself. I will +not be crushed—I do not believe God means me to be +crushed; so, with His help, I shall rise above my troubles; +and if, in the future, we should chance to meet again, Philip, +I will show you what a woman, preserving her truth and +self-respect, can accomplish.”</p> + +<p>This was uttered with nothing of arrogance or self-assertion, +but with a sort of earnest faith, as if a glimpse had +been granted to her through the present darkness of a more +hopeful beyond.</p> + +<p>She paused a moment and drew off her glove; then added:</p> + +<p>“I wish to return this to you. I do not feel that I can +wear it any longer; but whenever you chance to look at +it, I trust it will remind you that it once bound you to +one who would have been glad to prove loyal to the vows +to which it was a seal, had you not made it impossible.”</p> + +<p>She had drawn off her wedding ring while she was speaking, +and now laid it down upon the table by which he sat; +then turning, she went slowly back to where Sir Charles +Herbert stood waiting for her.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV. + <br><span class="small"> + A FRIEND IN NEED. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Sir Charles’ kind heart ached for the fair, beautiful +woman who had just taken leave of the man who should have +interposed himself between her and all evil, instead of trying +to crush her and blast her reputation.</p> + +<p>She was pale and very sad when she returned to him; her +lovely mouth wore a grieved expression, and her eyes an +almost hopeless look.</p> + +<p>He refrained from speaking to her, but offering her his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>arm, they passed out of the court-room in silence, nor did he +leave her until he had conducted her safely to her own door.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Paxton,” he then said, “I am going directly for my +mother, and we will take you under our protection immediately. +These Spaniards are a treacherous, revengeful set, +and you have already been the victim of such miserable +plots, that I do not like to leave you alone another hour. +Have you any business outside which needs attention?”</p> + +<p>“No,” Arley said, “there is nothing to detain me.”</p> + +<p>“Then may I ask you to pack your trunks, and be ready +to go away with us when we come for you?”</p> + +<p>She promised, and he went away with a quick, eager step.</p> + +<p>He was back in an hour, and his mother with him.</p> + +<p>Lady Herbert was a sweet-faced little woman of about +fifty, with a fair, almost girlish complexion, dark, kind eyes, +a low, rich voice, and a smile which won Arley’s heart at +once.</p> + +<p>“My dear, Charles has told me of your trouble,” was her +greeting, as she took Arley warmly by the hand, then drawing +her gently toward her, she kissed her softly on the +cheek, for the girl’s loveliness took her heart by storm.</p> + +<p>Arley’s lips trembled at the tender, compassionate tone, +and if Sir Charles had not been present, she would have +bowed her head upon that motherly shoulder and sobbed +out all her sorrows to her sympathizing ear.</p> + +<p>“I think with him,” Lady Herbert continued, seeing that +Arley was near losing her composure, “that we must take +you away immediately; will you come and travel with us +for a few months before going back to England?”</p> + +<p>“You are very kind, madam,” Arley replied, “and I will +gladly do so if I can be useful to you—I could not consent +to be a burden.”</p> + +<p>The pretty matron laughed such a sweet, rare laugh at this.</p> + +<p>“A burden, dear,” she said, “I should not allow you to +be such—you have yet to learn what an exacting little body +I am, and I promise you that I shall see that you are kept +busy from dawn to twilight.”</p> + +<p>“You are very kind,” said Arley.</p> + +<p>But Lady Herbert interrupted her half-completed sentence.</p> + +<p>“You overestimate the kindness, as you term it, my dear,” +she said. “I cannot tell you how lonely I have been since +Miss Preble left me. I believe I should have given up our +trip and insisted upon going home if Charlie had not run +across you. He is very nice and kind, and tries to see that +I have every comfort”—this with a fond glance at her idolized +son—“but he is a man, and cannot understand all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>little notions of a fussy old woman. Ah! I see you mean +to come,” she continued, as her roving glance rested on +Arley’s trunks, packed and ready to be strapped. “Charlie, +won’t you attend to Mrs. Paxton’s luggage, while I call up +her landlady to settle?”</p> + +<p>Arley colored and laughed.</p> + +<p>“There is no need for that,” she said, “for she is paid. +Your son requested me to be ready to go away when he returned, +and I have obeyed him literally. Please accept it as +an omen of my future loyalty to yourself.”</p> + +<p>“That is a good child,” madam remarked, more and more +delighted with her acquisition, and she emphasized her words +with an affectionate little pat upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Then I do not see, Charlie, but we are ready to go,” she +added, to her son. “We will have the coach take us to our +hotel, then carry Mrs. Paxton’s trunks to the station, while +she helps me pack my own. We have thought best,” she +explained to Arley, “to leave Madrid to-night.”</p> + +<p>Arley felt like a different being as she took her seat beside +Lady Herbert in the coach; a great burden rolled from her +heart.</p> + +<p>She drove with Sir Charles and his mother to their hotel, +where she helped them pack their large trunks, and a busy +time they had of it to get ready for the evening train.</p> + +<p>Evening found the Herbert party <i>en route</i> for Toulouse, +whence they were to go to spend the remainder of the summer +among the Alps.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV. + <br><span class="small"> + PHILIP PAXTON’S RETURN. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>For a time we must leave our fair wanderer, and go back +to our friends at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>Poor Lady Elaine!—sweet but heart-broken Lily of Mordaunt—to +her, also, it seemed as if “hope was dead, and +life was vain.”</p> + +<p>She could not at first believe the terrible news that had +come to them from across the broad Atlantic; she could not +believe that Wil—tender, noble Wil Hamilton—was dead; +was lying cold and mangled, upon the cruel rocks of some +far-away abyss, or, worse yet, his crushed and bruised body +devoured by some ravenous beast of the forest.</p> + +<p>For many days she lay upon her bed, her head covered, +her hands pressed tightly over her eyes, as if to shut out +some horrible sight, or the fierce growling of the greedy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>beast, which, gloating over its prey, had, she believed, +dragged her loved one to its lair and devoured him, thus literally +wiping out every trace of him from the face of the +earth.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if she could not live and bear it—as if she +had neither strength nor inclination ever to rise again and +battle with her misery.</p> + +<p>But when she began to realize how crushed and broken +poor Sir Anthony was, with all his fondest hopes blasted +by the loss of his only son and heir; when she looked into +that heart-broken mother’s agonized face, she felt as if a +great duty lay before her, as if it belonged to her to put +aside her own bitter grieving, and devote herself to them, +and strive, in some measure, to fill the place of the dear +one whom they had lost.</p> + +<p>And so she meekly took up this cross—it was no light one +either—and, little by little, she won those wretched parents +from the hopeless despair that seemed likely to unsettle +their reason.</p> + +<p>She won them to listen to her while she read to them; she +coaxed them to drive or walk with her; to play at chess or +backgammon, and sought by every possible device to keep +them occupied and interested, so that they need not continually +brood over and rebel against the ways of One who +gives, and who has a right also to take.</p> + +<p>Thus the months went by until the anniversary of Arley’s +marriage came around.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine had not heard from her for a long time—not +since she had written her letter of condolence upon +learning of their sad bereavement at Hazelmere, and was +ignorant of her whereabouts at the present time. She had +never felt very confident of Arley’s happiness, and less so +during the last few months, for there had been a restraint +wholly unnatural to her in her letters.</p> + +<p>Arley had, indeed, been very reserved, never alluding in +the slightest way to her troubles, nor referring to her straitened +circumstances. Her epistles were mostly descriptive +of the places which she visited and the interesting things +she saw, while she always aimed to write in a cheerful +strain, for she dreaded to have her friends even suspect +that her marriage had been such a miserable failure.</p> + +<p>But, in spite of her assumed cheerfulness, and the often +humorous strain of her letters, Lady Elaine mistrusted that +all was not well with her. She never mentioned her husband, +and no happy wife would be guilty of such an omission +as this, she thought, while she had no faith whatever +in Philip Paxton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> + +<p>Another reason for this fear and uneasiness, was in their +protracted sojourn. They had intended at first being absent +only three or four months, and now a year had elapsed, +and nothing was said about their return; and taking into +consideration Arley’s loss of fortune and Philip’s unfortunate +speculations, which Wil had confided to her, she felt +quite sure that something was very wrong.</p> + +<p>Late in November it became necessary for Sir Anthony +to go up to London for a month or so on business. He +could not make up his mind to go alone; he clung to his +wife now almost as a child clings to its mother, while Lady +Elaine had become a sort of necessity to them both—so he +insisted upon their going as a family.</p> + +<p>They took rooms at the Langham, for they all shrank from +occupying their town house, since every room contained so +much to remind them of poor, lost Wil, and would only +serve to open their wounds afresh.</p> + +<p>One day Lady Hamilton and Lady Elaine drove out to +Kew Garden, just for the ride, for they could not give up +their customary exercise even though they were in that +dense city.</p> + +<p>On their return, Lady Hamilton passed into the hotel, +while Lady Elaine remained behind to settle with their +driver.</p> + +<p>It took some little time to make the change and arrange +for another drive the following day; but at length it was +all settled, and Lady Elaine turned to follow her companion.</p> + +<p>Just as she entered the vestibule she encountered a gentleman, +but would have passed him unnoticed, if he had not +raised his hat and bowed to her.</p> + +<p>Then she raised her eyes, with an inquiring look, and +saw Philip Paxton gazing down upon her.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton,” she cried, in surprise, while her face lighted +with pleasure; for she thought as he had returned, Arley +of course had come with him, and their former friendship +would be renewed.</p> + +<p>He, however, mistook her look and tone as indicating her +pleasure at seeing him, and, holding out his hand, he greeted +her most cordially.</p> + +<p>She seemed more lovely than ever to him, though her face +was very sad, and worn, and pale, while of course her deep +mourning added to the delicacy of her complexion.</p> + +<p>He had not thought of seeing her in black, and it gave +him an uncomfortable sensation; it reminded him unpleasantly +of Wil, and his treachery toward him, and it is never +agreeable to be obliged to recall one’s own meanness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> + +<p>“When did you return?” Lady Elaine inquired, reading +his face with clear, keen eyes, and finding there something +to dislike more than ever.</p> + +<p>“Last week,” he answered.</p> + +<p>“And Arley—your wife?”</p> + +<p>“I have no wife,” he returned, briefly, and with darkening +face.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton! Surely Arley has not died, and the sad +news kept from me!” cried the fair girl, in a breathless tone, +and putting out her hand to steady herself against the +wall.</p> + +<p>“No, she is living, and is well—or was, the last I knew,” +Philip said, while his own lips were not quite steady, “but—Lady +Elaine, there has been a—a separation.”</p> + +<p>His companion gave him another glance of surprise, +mingled with horror.</p> + +<p>She was too deeply moved—too astounded to speak one +word in reply to this dreadful intelligence.</p> + +<p>“You look surprised,” Philip said, feeling very uncomfortable +beneath those searching blue eyes, “and I do not +wonder; we have had a sad time since leaving England, +but—I do not like to speak of it here,” he added, glancing +around as if he feared that some one might overhear them. +“May I come and tell you about it this evening?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you may come,” Lady Elaine returned, and then +with a dazed, wondering look on her fair face, she bowed, +left him, and went up to her room.</p> + +<p>“What can it mean, and where is my poor Arley?” she +asked herself, over and over again.</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton was well pleased with the permission she +had given him. She had granted it unhesitatingly, and he +accepted it as a good omen, while the expression of pleasure +with which she had greeted him lingered in his memory +all day.</p> + +<p>He had learned almost immediately upon his return that +the Hamiltons were at the Langham, and Lady Elaine with +them, and he had haunted the place every day, hoping to +encounter Sir Anthony, and get an invitation to call, as he +had not quite courage sufficient to do so without one.</p> + +<p>He presented himself at the door on this evening as +early as etiquette would permit, and was delighted to find +Lady Elaine alone.</p> + +<p>“A great sorrow has come to you since I last saw you,” +he said, as he greeted her, and holding her hand a moment +longer than was necessary, while he looked down into her +eyes with an expression of tender respect and sympathy.</p> + +<p>She drew back from him, lines of pain settling about +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>her sweet mouth, her face growing almost ghastly with the +effort she made for composure. She merely bowed her head +in token of assent; her grief was still too fresh to admit +of her speaking of Wil with any degree of calmness, while +she felt that she could not discuss her sorrow with him +under any circumstances.</p> + +<p>She motioned him to a seat, and then sat down near him.</p> + +<p>“Where did you leave Arley?” she asked, anxious to learn +the fate of her friend.</p> + +<p>“I did not leave her at all—she left me at Madrid, Spain, +and I have not seen her since,” he answered, with compressed +lips.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine lifted her bright head with a quick, almost +impatient motion at this, and bent a keen, inquiring glance +upon him, as if to warn him that she did not mean to believe +anything wrong of her friend if she could help it.</p> + +<p>“Arley and I were never suited to each other,” Philip +resumed, with a regretful sigh, “and it was a great mistake +that we were ever married. We both found that out +before a month had passed.”</p> + +<p>“Why did Arley leave you?” Lady Elaine asked, with +those penetrating eyes still fixed upon his face.</p> + +<p>It was exceeding uncomfortable; he wished she would +not look at him so, it made it very difficult for him to tell +his story in the way he had planned to.</p> + +<p>“Because”—he hesitated as if pained and embarrassed to +be obliged to speak of Arley in any such way, “because of +my poverty. Perhaps you do not know that I lost very +heavily about the time of our marriage, but such is the +fact, and that misfortune, together with the loss of Arley’s +money, made things very awkward for me. Of course, crippled +as I was, I could not afford to give her all the luxuries +to which she had been accustomed, nor gratify every +extravagant whim. We had some words about it in Paris +first, and matters grew worse and worse until they finally +reached a climax in Madrid. There she utterly refused to +live with me in the way we were living, and left me in a +passion.”</p> + +<p>Still Lady Elaine’s eyes rested upon his face, as if she +doubted his false tongue and longed to read the hidden +secrets of his heart.</p> + +<p>“Pray how could such a step improve her condition, if +she had no means of her own to live upon?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“You are her friend. I do not like to pain you by talking +against her, especially when she is absent, and cannot +defend herself,” Philip returned, with an appearance of +honor, though he averted his guilty eyes and a dark flush +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>mounted his brow. “Perhaps,” he added, after a pause, “I +had better leave all explanations until she returns—if she +ever does. I can only say that she conducted herself in +such a manner that I felt justified in applying to the court +of Madrid for a divorce.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton! did you do that?” Lady Elaine asked, her +eyes beginning to flash.</p> + +<p>“I did,” he replied, firmly, “and Arley, I afterward discovered, +left Madrid the very day that the court rendered +its verdict, and in company with a young Englishman who +had acted as her companion in the case, and with whom +she was upon terms of intimacy.”</p> + +<p>“But what did she do that you should feel justified in +adopting such extreme measures?” Lady Elaine persisted in +a constrained tone, while a small red spot began to burn +upon either cheek.</p> + +<p>“She deserted me in the first place, and then upon watching +her I discovered that she made appointments with a +person in Madrid, and received money from him—you asked +how she procured means for her support—while her intimacy +with this Englishman capped the climax.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine arose; she would listen to nothing more.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton,” she began, coldly, “I believe I know Arley +more intimately than almost any one else, for a very tender +friendship sprang up between us while we were at Hazelmere; +but, in spite of your apparently criminating facts, +I cannot believe her to be guilty of the wrong of which you +accuse her. I know that Arley was true to the core—that +she was pure and honorable in every thought; I know, too, +that she loved you, with a deep and tender love, at the +time of your marriage—she confessed it to me when I questioned +her, fearing for her happiness.”</p> + +<p>“Fearing for her happiness!” interrupted Philip, with +well-assumed surprise, though he knew well enough what +she meant.</p> + +<p>“Yes, after what had passed between you and me,” Lady +Elaine went on, with burning cheeks, “and then learning +of your pecuniary troubles, I could not help attributing an +unworthy motive to you when you sought an engagement +with Arley so soon. So I questioned her very earnestly, +and had she not betrayed so deep and unmistakable an +affection for you, I should have felt it my duty to tell her +of your previous proposals to me, for I loved her too dearly +to be willing that she should be won just for her money.”</p> + +<p>“Lady Elaine! surely you cannot mean to imply that +I——” Philip began in an indignant tone, but she stopped +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>him with a motion of her hand, while her lips curled slightly, +as she continued:</p> + +<p>“There is an old saying that ‘a man is supposed to be innocent +until he is proven guilty.’ What you have told me +about Arley is dreadful, but it is simply impossible for me +to believe her to be anything save a good and noble woman, +without more positive proof than you bring me. The very +fact of the stand which she took regarding Ina Wentworth +and the fortune which she had always believed to be hers, +goes to show how sensitive she was about committing any +wrong—how strictly conscientious she was upon every point, +and I cannot think that she would prove false to her solemn +vows to you. Mr. Paxton, I am afraid you have done Arley +a great wrong by obtaining this divorce.”</p> + +<p>Philip Paxton’s eyes flashed beneath his drooping lids.</p> + +<p>He had intended to convey the impression, if he could do +so, without telling a downright falsehood, that he had succeeded +in obtaining a divorce, and it seemed that she had +understood it so.</p> + +<p>He had been fearfully disappointed and angry at failing +in this scheme, and if ever a poor man was heartily cursed, +Sir Charles Herbert had been for his interference, though +Philip had no idea who he was.</p> + +<p>He had not wished to bring the matter into English courts +on account of the scandal which it would create, but there +was no help for it now, if he desired to be free; and he +had determined to set about it immediately, and while the +suit was pending he meant to make the most of his time +and win Lady Elaine if possible, although her attitude +toward him, in this his first interview with her, was anything +but encouraging.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"> + CHAPTER XXVI. + <br><span class="small"> + JANE COLLINS AT HOME. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“I suppose I must bear your mistrust and displeasure, +my lady, as best I can, since I have no means beyond my +simple word, of proving my assertions,” Philip replied, with +an assumption of proud humility, to Lady Elaine’s warmly-avowed +confidence in Arley.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” he added, “you might not be quite so skeptical +regarding what I have told you if you should write +to the woman with whom Arley lodged, or the lawyer whom +she employed; I could give you the addresses of both. It +is a great grief for me, Lady Elaine, to forfeit, in any degree, +your esteem; for—for you must bear in mind that although +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>I was attracted by Arley’s beauty and vivacity, yet it was +not she who won the firm, warm passion of my heart.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine made a gesture of displeasure at this artful +insinuation, and the crimson surged hotly over her face.</p> + +<p>“But she was your wife. You had promised to love, honor +and protect her as long as you should live, and I cannot—cannot +believe she could have been so false to her vows to +you and to herself. Something which I do not understand +must have occurred to work a radical change in her feelings +in order to make her leave you. I believe you are mistaken +regarding what you have told me about her unfaithfulness—a +feeling of jealousy may have blinded you—Arley was +so true and noble by nature,” Lady Elaine argued, very +earnestly.</p> + +<p>“No, I have not been mistaken,” Philip steadily replied. +“She told me, out and out, that she would not live with me +another day, and packed her trunks and went away to a +lodging which she had hired without my knowledge. Then +I witnessed a secret meeting between her and a man residing +in Madrid, and I know that she took money from him; +but that last act—leaving the place with that Englishman—was +worst of all. Can you, even you, who love her so +well, find any excuse for such a proceeding?”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine looked deeply troubled.</p> + +<p>Surely Arley’s conduct did appear reprehensible, if things +were just as he had stated them, of which she had grave +doubts.</p> + +<p>“Who was this Englishman?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“I do not know. I never saw him until he suddenly appeared +in court and argued her case for her; and when, +after the decision was rendered, I commissioned her lawyer +to go to her and ascertain if there was any service which +I could perform for her, supposing her comparatively helpless +as to the means of returning to England, he was told +that she had left that afternoon with him, taking everything +with her.”</p> + +<p>“I do not like to do you injustice, Mr. Paxton,” Lady +Elaine said, after a long and thoughtful pause, “but I cannot +pass judgment upon her until I have seen and talked with +her.”</p> + +<p>“If,” she added to herself, “she did really leave Philip +Paxton, I believe she had some good reason for doing so; +my faith in her is stronger than it is in him, and I do not +credit this story about the young Englishman at all. Arley +would never dishonor herself.”</p> + +<p>She showed so plainly that she wished the interview to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>end that Philip arose to go, feeling, however, that he had +not accomplished very much in this first meeting.</p> + +<p>“Do you remain in town long?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“About a month, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“Then I shall hope to see more of you; I beg to be remembered +to Sir Anthony and Lady Hamilton, and if there is +any way in which I can serve either of you, I hope you +will allow me to do so.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine politely bowed her thanks, but did not promise +to avail herself of his offer; then he bade her “good-night” +and took his departure.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine sat down the moment the door closed after +her visitor, and indulged in a flood of tears for her absent +and unhappy friend—she knew she must be that under any +circumstances.</p> + +<p>She was greatly distressed, for everything looked very +dark regarding Arley’s strange proceedings, at least as they +had been related to her, and though she could not, and would +not, believe all Philip Paxton’s statements, yet there was very +much about the affair that seemed unaccountable.</p> + +<p>She did not mention a word of this to Sir Anthony or +his wife—did not even tell them of Mr. Paxton’s return, +as she knew that disagreeable inquiries regarding his wife +would follow; but the next day she went alone to call upon +Miss McAllister and Ina Wentworth, hoping to learn something +of her friend from them.</p> + +<p>Both welcomed her very cordially and thought it exceedingly +kind of her to come to them, when they knew of course +that she went out so little.</p> + +<p>In the course of their conversation, she inquired when +they had heard last from Arley. She asked the question in +a general way, for if they knew nothing of the poor girl’s +trouble she had no intention of telling them what she had +learned, believing that Arley herself was the proper one +to do so.</p> + +<p>They had received a letter from her only last week, Miss +McAllister said, and she appeared to be in much better +spirits than when she had last written. They had left +Madrid, she wrote, and Philip had gone another way for a +time, while she was to travel with some acquaintances whom +she had made—a Lady Herbert and her son, Sir Charles. +She spoke of them both in the highest terms, particularly +of the former, who, she said, had shown her great kindness.</p> + +<p>She had closed her letter by saying that they should +probably travel four or five months longer before returning +to England.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister remarked that she had felt very much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>relieved upon receiving this letter, for she had imagined +Arley as being very unhappy in Madrid, by a word which +she now and then dropped; but she seemed to be enjoying +so much now, and was visiting so many delightful places, +of which her letter was full, that she felt quite comfortable +about her, although she “did long to see the dear child more +than she could express.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine went away both relieved and disturbed—relieved +to know where she was, her letter had been written at +Turin, on the way to the southern part of Italy, where they +were to remain during the cold months—and disturbed to +find a portion, at least, of Philip Paxton’s story confirmed.</p> + +<p>Although the Anthonys did not go into company at all, on +account of their bereavement, yet Philip Paxton contrived +to meet them a great many times during the next few +weeks.</p> + +<p>While Sir Anthony was occupied with business, his wife +and Lady Elaine spent the time driving and visiting points +of interest. Thus Philip, always on the watch, often ran +across them, as if by chance, and managed to render them +some little attention, which made them remember him.</p> + +<p>The first time Lady Hamilton met him she had, after +greeting him most cordially—for had he not been the friend +of her dear son?—inquired most kindly after Arley.</p> + +<p>Philip shot a quick glance at Lady Elaine, and knew +that she had said nothing regarding their interview to her +friends, and so he replied in an offhand manner that she +was well the last he knew, but was still traveling with +friends, and he was home again to look after his business +interests.</p> + +<p>“It does not do for a man to play all the time,” he concluded, +with a genial smile which he knew so well how to +assume; “he must look after the stern realities of life somewhat.”</p> + +<p>“True,” Lady Hamilton returned, unsuspectingly; “but it +must be quite lonely for you. When will Arley return?”</p> + +<p>“Her return is indefinite; it will depend somewhat upon +circumstances, I suppose,” he said, and then turned the subject, +while Lady Elaine regarded him with more respect +than she had ever entertained for him; for, as she believed, +trying thus to shield Arley’s good name until she should +return and be able to defend herself.</p> + +<p>It became a thing of frequent occurrence after that for +him to spend the evening at the Langham, in Sir Anthony’s +handsome parlors, and he was thus thrown much into Lady +Elaine’s society.</p> + +<p>He conducted himself with the greatest decorum, however, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>and though Lady Elaine still retained much of her +former prejudice against him, yet she could find no fault +with his manner and bearing whenever he was in her presence.</p> + +<p>Thus three months slipped rapidly away, and Philip fondly +imagined himself to be gaining ground, slowly but surely, +with the beautiful heiress.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony had been detained in London far beyond the +time he had expected by his business, which had proved +more complicated and troublesome than he had anticipated; +but being very comfortable at the Langham, and seeing that +his wife appeared to brood less over her sorrow there in the +busy city with so much to interest and entertain her, he +thought it much better to be there than at Hazelmere, where +during the cold weather they were shut indoors with little +to occupy them.</p> + +<p>One day Lady Elaine went out into the park for a quiet +walk by herself.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a shrill cry startled her, and, glancing back, +she saw that a woman had been thrown down in the street +by a passing wagon.</p> + +<p>A crowd of curious men and boys immediately gathered +around the unfortunate creature, but not one of her sex +went near to speak a word of cheer or sympathy for her.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine looked in dismay at the rough crowd; she +shrank from coming in contact with them, but her kind heart +prompted her to at least manifest something of her compassion, +and with a resolute air she went straight to the +side of the sufferer, who proved to be a large, ruddy-faced +woman, plainly but neatly clad.</p> + +<p>The uncouth mob drew back somewhat at the appearance +of a “real lady,” and, bending over the prostrate woman, +Lady Elaine asked, in a gentle tone:</p> + +<p>“Are you very badly hurt, my poor woman?”</p> + +<p>The sufferer looked up gratefully at the sound of that +sweet voice.</p> + +<p>“Ah, leddy, I’m afraid my leg is broken,” she said, trying +to speak bravely; but her white lips and the distressed look +upon her face told that she was suffering extremely.</p> + +<p>“Is it so bad as that?” Lady Elaine asked, regretfully. +“What can I do for you?—do you live in the city, and would +you like to be taken directly home, or sent to some good +hospital?”</p> + +<p>“No, not to the hospital,” was the quick, shrinking reply. +“I live in Warwick street—number one forty-eight, leddy, +and if you would kindly order a cab for me——”</p> + +<p>“Go and get the roomiest carriage that you can find,” commanded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>Lady Elaine, turning promptly to a man behind her, +and not waiting to have the sentence finished.</p> + +<p>“Yes, mum,” was the respectful reply, while the man pulled +at the straggling forelock which stuck through the brim of +his ragged hat, and then darted away to do her bidding.</p> + +<p>Then our fair Lily of Mordaunt turned again to the sufferer, +and with her own soft, perfumed handkerchief, wiped +away the cold drops that stood on her forehead and about her +mouth, showing something of the agony which she endured.</p> + +<p>They had not long to wait for a carriage, and when it drew +up beside them, Lady Elaine gave directions about the arrangement +of the cushions to make her comfortable, and ordered +that she be carefully lifted and laid upon them.</p> + +<p>Then she entered the carriage and seated herself opposite +the woman.</p> + +<p>“I am going home with you,” she said, in reply to the +look of inquiry which she turned upon her, and the satisfied +expression which settled over the anxious face more than repaid +her for the bold step which she was taking.</p> + +<p>Before starting, however, Lady Elaine turned again to the +man who had procured the carriage for her, and asked:</p> + +<p>“Do you know where Sir John Seymour lives?”</p> + +<p>“The great surgeon, yer leddyship?” he questioned.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, leddy, I knows.”</p> + +<p>“Very well; I want you to take this card to him from me.”</p> + +<p>She wrote rapidly upon the back of one of her visiting +cards the name and number of the street where she was going, +asking the great man to come there immediately; then giving +it to the man, with a piece of gold, told him to make all +possible haste about his errand.</p> + +<p>Then she bade the coachman drive to No. 148 Warwick +street. It was a hard ride for that poor creature over the +rough stones; but Warwick street was reached at last, and +No. 148 proved to be a very respectable, though unpretentious +abode.</p> + +<p>A rough, though kind-visaged man made his appearance at +the door as the grand carriage stopped before it, while his +mouth—a capacious one, too—and eyes were extended wide +with wonder and curiosity at the unusual circumstance.</p> + +<p>“Is this your home?” Lady Elaine asked him, putting her +head out of the window.</p> + +<p>“Yes, mum; and if ’tis John Collins ye want, I’m yer +man,” was the hearty, good-natured response.</p> + +<p>“Yes, John, it’s you we want, and ye’ll have to lend a hand +to help me out of this,” said Jane Collins—for it is our old +friend—with an attempt at cheeriness, though there was a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>ring of pain beneath it, which her husband’s quick ear detected +at once.</p> + +<p>“Jane!” he cried, in a startled voice, and, springing forward +to the coach, into which he peered with a blanched and +anxious face.</p> + +<p>“Your wife has met with an accident,” Lady Elaine said, +gently. “I hope, however, that it is nothing so serious but +that time and patience will mend it.”</p> + +<p>“Jane, what has happened to ye, my lass?” he demanded, +never heeding the young countess in his anxiety, but speaking +in a tone as tender and tremulous as a woman’s.</p> + +<p>“I got run down by a team, John, and my leg is hurt; +but”—as she saw his lips quiver—“never ye fear, man; time +and patience will mend it, as the leddy says.”</p> + +<p>She spoke bravely, but was obliged to clench her hands to +keep back the groans that were almost forcing their way +from her lips.</p> + +<p>“Now help me in the best way ye can, and we’ll get ready +for the doctor,” she added, after a moment, and drawing herself +up as well as she could, though a cry burst from her in +spite of her efforts to make no sign of pain.</p> + +<p>“Oh, lass, lass! it’s a bad day when anything happens to +ye,” pathetically cried her husband, as, assisted by the coachman, +he lifted her from the carriage and bore her into the +house and laid her upon her own bed in a room as daintily +clean and as neatly arranged as any high-born lady’s could +be.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine was surprised at the evidence of refinement in +that little home, which contrasted so strangely with the rough +exterior of its owners.</p> + +<p>She assisted Jane in the removal of her clothing and the +necessary preparations for the surgeon, and told her that she +would remain until he came, since he was a friend of hers, +while, besides, she could not think of leaving her with no +woman to care for her comfort.</p> + +<p>Jane was very grateful for this kindness, but her sufferings +appeared to increase with every moment, while her injured +limb was found to be frightfully bruised and swollen, +as well as broken.</p> + +<p>In less than half an hour after their own arrival Sir John +Seymour made his appearance, and then there followed a season +of terrible agony, during which strong, stout-hearted Jane +Collins fainted for the first time in her life, while her husband, +hanging over her in torturing suspense, was as helpless +as a child.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine, her face like marble, alone rendered the surgeon +what assistance he needed, waiting upon him quickly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>calmly, and quietly, uttering never a word, but with her keen +perception often anticipating his wants.</p> + +<p>But it was all over at last, the broken limb was nicely +splintered and bandaged, and Jane (exhausted, but so thankful +that it was over), made as comfortable as possible under +the circumstances.</p> + +<p>“Do you know of an efficient person who could be procured +to take care of you while you are obliged to lie here?” +Lady Elaine asked of Jane, as she was preparing to return +to her hotel.</p> + +<p>The surgeon had been gone some time, but she was reluctant +to leave the patient until she was satisfied that she +was perfectly comfortable.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there’s a woman across the way—Maria Stevens, she’s +called. She goes out nursin’, but I reckon John’ll do well +enough—he’s ’mazin’ handy about the house,” Jane replied, +with an affectionate glance at her burly husband.</p> + +<p>“I’m ready to do the best I can, but p’raps that ain’t the +best ye oughter have, Jane,” honest John answered, as he +tenderly smoothed his wife’s hair with an unsteady hand.</p> + +<p>The sight of her suffering had “taken more stock out of +him than the stiffest gale that ever blowed around Cape +Horn,” as he afterward said.</p> + +<p>“I think it would be better to have a regular nurse,” Lady +Elaine said, with quiet decision.</p> + +<p>“That settles it, yer leddyship; I’ll hev Maria here inside +half an hour,” was John’s quick rejoinder.</p> + +<p>“I shall come and see you again to-morrow, and shall hope +to find you at least as comfortable as you are now,” the young +countess said, kindly, as she took her leave, and, with many +thanks for her kindness, both Jane and John bade her good-night, +wondering how a “great leddy could stop to show such +favors to them.”</p> + +<p>Their experience with the nobility, as a class, had been +such as to lead them to regard them as selfish and devoid of +all feeling for every one outside the pale of their own hallowed +circle.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"> + CHAPTER XXVII. + <br><span class="small"> + THE TRUTH TOLD. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>True to her promise, Lady Elaine went the next day to see +her <i>protegee</i>, if such Jane Collins could be called; and she +continued her visits to her as long as she was an invalid, +always carrying her some little delicacy in the way of fruit, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>flowers, jellies, etc., and was herself so gracious and winning +and sympathetic that the woman came to long and watch +eagerly for her coming.</p> + +<p>One day she went to her a little earlier than usual, taking +as her offering some great, luscious oranges. She had already +carried her all kinds of fruit, but this afternoon she +had seen these unusually fine ones, and their fair, golden +beauty had tempted her to buy them more than anything +else.</p> + +<p>As she passed the basket to Jane, upon her entrance to her +room, she took one, and, after looking at it a moment, said, +with a sigh:</p> + +<p>“I never see an orange, my leddy, but I think of a poor, +young thing, sick and friendless, who I took care of in Madrid +last summer.”</p> + +<p>“Madrid?” exclaimed Lady Elaine, her heart leaping into +her throat at the name. “Were you in Madrid last summer?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, my leddy, and my heart aches every time I think of +that poor dear, for I had to leave her before she began to +mend in that heathen country, and she couldn’t speak a word +of their gibberish. I’d give much to know that she got well, +and is all right again.”</p> + +<p>“Was she English?” Lady Elaine asked, much interested, +and with a little nervous tremor.</p> + +<p>“That she was, and just a sweet little body, too; but she +were dreadful sick, and used to beg for oranges like a thirsty +child for water. Many’s the one I’ve held to her mouth and +squeezed the cool juice between her burnin’ lips. She was +such a young thing, too, to be neglected by her wretch of a +husband!”</p> + +<p>“Husband! What! was she married?—and neglected when +she was ill?” cried Lady Elaine, beginning to lose color at +this point of the story.</p> + +<p>“Yes, leddy. It’s a sad story. The pretty child left England +a bride and went traveling from place to place with her +husband, who seemed to have a grudge against her for something, +and wouldn’t let her go home, though she often begged +him to take her back. When they got to Madrid their money +gave out entirely, and he couldn’t pay their bills. Then he +got reckless, and didn’t care, and he wouldn’t work nor try +to support her. She didn’t tell me all this, yer leddyship; I +found out a good deal when she was ravin’ with the fever. +When she found that his money was gone, she said she +couldn’t live so, and if he wouldn’t work to take care of her, +she must do something to support herself. So she went away +from him into cheaper lodgings, and went to drawin’ and +paintin’ pictures to earn the bread she ate. She had some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>money that her aunt gave her for a weddin’ present, but she +were savin’ it to pay her passage back to England as soon as +she could find some one to go with; and one day, when she +went to see the consul to get him to put her in somebody’s +care, a thief broke into her room and stole all her jewels and +money. The shock and a sudden cold that she took threw her +into a dreadful fever, and she was at the sickest when I had +to leave her.”</p> + +<p>“That was hard. But how did you happen to be with her +at all?” asked her listener.</p> + +<p>“Well, ye see, John and I’ve been seafaring people all our +lives. He’s worked up from a common sailor to mate, and +I’ve always gone along with him as stewardess. This time +we sailed aboard the <i>Rocket</i>, bound from London to Valencia +for fruits, and just before we entered port at Valencia, on +this voyage, John saved the cap’n’s life, and so, when we +landed, he told us we should have a holiday, and go where we +liked while the vessel was being loaded up. We thought we’d +like to travel about a bit, and we went up to Madrid for a +look at the city, and one day we thought we’d go and pay +our respects to the English consul. While we were waitin’ +to see him, this pretty young thing comes into the waitin’-room +and sets right down in front of us. I was that startled +when I see her that I thought my heart would jump out of +my mouth, for she was the perfect image of a beautiful leddy +that we picked up at sea once. She and her husband had +been shipwrecked coming home from India, and they had lost +their baby—‘Baby Allie,’ the poor mother called her, with +such heart-breaking moans that they have rung in my ears +ever since.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! who were they?” Lady Elaine cried, with almost +breathless eagerness.</p> + +<p>“Ah! leddy, I can’t tell ye; but this young girl looked so +exactly like the beautiful leddy that John and I fell to talking +about it and she heard us. She turned as white as a +ghost as she looked around at us and asked us would we please +tell her who we were talking about, for she had been lost coming +home from India during a shipwreck, and there was some +puzzle about her parents and who she were.”</p> + +<p>“It is Arley—she is telling me about Arley!” Lady Elaine +cried to herself, her teeth almost chattering from nervous +excitement. She had half suspected it before—now she was +sure. But she restrained her impulse to speak of it, and +listened eagerly while Jane went on with her story.</p> + +<p>“We told her,” she said, “that we could not tell her who +the leddy and gentleman were, for we were so busy tendin’ to +their wants and needs we never thought to ask; but probably +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>the captain knew, and would tell her, if she could find him. +She sighed and looked disappointed, but said it was ‘a clew,’ +and might help her some time. She seemed ’mazin’ glad to +find we were English, and asked were we goin’ back to England +soon. We told her yes, in a little more’n a week. Then +she said, ‘Would we let her go along with us?’</p> + +<p>“John was mighty taken with her, for she were jest about +the sweetest-spoken, prettiest little thing we’d ever seen, and +he said he’d try to fix it, if she’d be willin’ to go in a sailin’ +vessel. She told him, so eager and wistful, that she’d go any +way to get home once more. Then we agreed that we’d go +and talk more about it with her the next day, but when we +got there, I found her ravin’ with the fever, and more likely +to go into her coffin than back to England. I saw that the +sickness would go hard with her, and there was no one to take +care of her, save that jabberin’ woman who kept the house; +so I took my things right straight off, and told John I should +stay with her till the last minit before it was time to go back +to the <i>Rocket</i>.”</p> + +<p>“You good creature!” murmured Lady Elaine, with glistening +eyes, while she was trembling from head to foot over +this thrilling account of Arley’s strange misfortunes.</p> + +<p>“Anybody with a heart o’ stone couldn’t have helped it, if +they’d seen her lyin’ there so helpless and neglected; but I +didn’t s’pose then that I was goin’ to get my pay back in +the same way,” Jane returned, with a grateful look in the fair +face opposite her. “I s’pose that is what the good Book +means, where it tells ye to ‘cast your bread upon the waters, +and ye shall get it again after many days.’ Well, that poor +dear was dreadful bad for three or four days, but the fifth +she seemed a little better, for she knew me, and told me +about her troubles, or something about them. She didn’t say +much about that scamp, she sort o’ shielded him, but I knew +enough already from her ravin’s, and so, with what she told +me, I had the whole story. But it would have broken your +heart to see how she took on when she found that she couldn’t +go home with us, and then it came out that almost all her +money had been stolen, and she hadn’t anything to pay her +bills with. But I fixed that all right for her, and then tried +to comfort her as well as I could by tellin’ her that it wasn’t +fit for the like of her to be goin’ back to England in a sailin’ +vessel, and ’twould be ever so much better to wait and go like +a lady in a steamer, and I finally left her a bit comforted.”</p> + +<p>“But was there no one in all that city—no English person +whom you could have hired to take care of her?” Lady +Elaine asked, much distressed over Arley’s sad state.</p> + +<p>“Not a soul, my leddy, though we asked our guide—we had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>to hire one to go with us wherever we went, for, of course, +we couldn’t understand a word of that gibberish, and he +didn’t know of anybody; the consul was away, and so we had +to leave her. I s’pose that wretch of a husband was somewhere +about, but he couldn’t be found.”</p> + +<p>“Did he never come to her while she was sick?”</p> + +<p>“No, leddy, not while I were there; she sent for him once, +but he’d gone from their other lodgin’s, and nobody knew +where to find him. She said if she was only well she should +not mind bein’ left so much, nor the loss of the money—though +her heart did ache to get home—for she could draw, +and paint, and sell her pictures and take care of herself, but +to be sick and alone and without any money was fit to discourage +anybody. The little chatterin’ doctor was good to +her, though, and she could talk French with him, so it wasn’t +quite so bad as it might have been; and I told her she +needn’t worry over the money I’d let her have and the poor +dear wanted me to take her di’monds—for it had gone into +the Lord’s treasury, and He’d take care of it. And He has.”</p> + +<p>“What! have you ever heard from her? Has she sent it +back to you?” asked the young countess, not quite comprehending +her meaning.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, no marm. I don’t mean that, but you have been +so much kinder to me than I was to her, that I’ve had my pay +twice over already,” was the earnest reply.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine smiled.</p> + +<p>“That is the way you reckon it, is it?” she said. Then, +with a strange trembling of her lips and a queer feeling at +her heart, she asked:</p> + +<p>“Who was this lady? What was her name?”</p> + +<p>“She told me it was Mrs.—Mrs. Paxton—I’m sure that was +it; and I reckon that her scamp of a husband’s other name +were Philip, for when she were ravin’ she would call out that +name and beg him to go to work so that they could go home, +and not stay there to starve or get into debt. I tell ye, my +leddy, I don’t do much snivelin’ on my own account, but it +made me cry like a baby to hear her; and then the day I had +to leave her! I declare! for the first time in my life I was +almost willin’ to let John go off alone, while I stayed and +took care of her. Ah! my leddy, but ye have a tender heart +yerself,” Jane concluded, as she heard a convulsive sob and +saw that Lady Elaine was weeping bitterly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jane, you do not know it, but you have been telling +me about my dearest friend,” she said. “I was quite sure of +it, even before you spoke her name, and it nearly breaks my +heart to learn how she has suffered and been wronged. She +was called Arley Wentworth when I first knew her, and she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>was a lovely girl, and she never knew a care or sorrow until +the day she married Philip Paxton. I have never seen her +since, for she went away directly, but she has written to me +several times, though she has never hinted at any trouble, +and yet I have imagined that she was not happy. And +now——”</p> + +<p>She stopped short, her face all ablaze with indignation, as +she thought of the wretch who, having refused to do anything +to support the wife whom he had won under false pretenses, +had taken her to a strange, almost barbarous country, +and, when she was sick, destitute, and friendless, had left her +to her fate and returned to his own country.</p> + +<p>Her heart was in a perfect tumult of contempt and righteous +anger, and she almost hated herself for having tolerated +his presence for one moment. However, he stood unmasked +before her now, and she would know how to deal with him in +the future.</p> + +<p>Jane Collins was greatly surprised by what Lady Elaine +told her.</p> + +<p>“Just to think of it!” she cried, her face a perfect picture +of wonderment. “How queer things do come about?”</p> + +<p>“How long were you with Arley?” her companion asked.</p> + +<p>“Just about a week, yer leddyship—the day was set for the +<i>Rocket</i> to sail, and go I must in her, for there was no one to +take my place, and John couldn’t get along without me any +more than a baby could without its mother.”</p> + +<p>“And you are sure that no one came to see or to inquire +after my friend during that time?” questioned the young +countess, thoughtfully, and remembering what Philip had told +her about Arley receiving attention and money from a gentleman +in Madrid.</p> + +<p>“No, leddy, not a soul came near her save the doctor, John +and I,” Jane asserted, confidently.</p> + +<p>“Did she at any time speak of any one whom she knew, or +wished to call upon for assistance?”</p> + +<p>“No, marm; she said she hadn’t a friend to help her, and +she would be without a soul to do her a good turn when I was +gone.”</p> + +<p>“Strange!” murmured Lady Elaine, musingly. “No, it is +not strange, either,” she added to herself; “it is all of a piece +with his other treachery.”</p> + +<p>Then she began to question Jane regarding the clew which +Arley had gained, or thought she had gained, about her parentage. +She made her go over every item of the story which +she had told Arley, and which we know already; and as she +listened to it she also became excited and nervous over it.</p> + +<p>She drew out her pocket-tablet, writing down portions of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>the tale, asking quick, eager questions, taking down the name +of the captain of the <i>Rocket</i>, and the place of his residence +when in port, and gleaning every item which seemed likely to +be of use in sifting the mystery of her friend’s birth.</p> + +<p>She was astonished when the little clock in Jane’s kitchen +gave five short, sharp strokes.</p> + +<p>“Why, it is five o’clock, and I have kept you talking much +longer than I ought!” she exclaimed, ruefully. “I have been +here more than two hours, and I should have gone home long +ago.”</p> + +<p>She took leave of Jane, and, hastening to her carriage, +was driven back to her hotel.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"> + CHAPTER XXVIII. + <br><span class="small"> + ADDING INSULT TO INJURY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Philip had consulted an eminent and not over-scrupulous +brother lawyer—laid his case before him, and learned that it +would not be a very difficult matter to obtain a divorce from +Arley, and without any unpleasant publicity, too; meanwhile +he intended to make the most of his opportunities and cultivate +the favor of the beautiful and wealthy Countess of Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>As soon after the dinner hour as he thought it would do, +he presented himself at the Hamiltons’ parlor door.</p> + +<p>Lady Hamilton was there alone, Sir Anthony having lingered +in the smoking-room below, after dinner, and she received +him with her usual gracious hospitality.</p> + +<p>Ere long he succeeded in engaging her in her favorite game—chess—and +prepared to make a long siege of it, for he was +determined to have an interview with Lady Elaine before he +left, if possible.</p> + +<p>She had retired to her own chamber immediately after dinner +to write some letters, and to record in her diary the important +facts which she had that afternoon gleaned from +Jane Collins. So she knew nothing of Philip’s visit, and was +entirely unconscious of the uncomfortable state of unrest and +nervous expectation in which he sat watching the door leading +to her room, hoping every moment to see it open, and its +fair occupant come forth.</p> + +<p>He played with Lady Hamilton until she grew so sleepy +that she nodded over the game, frequently making mistakes +in her moves, but he prolonged it by every device he could +think of, stubbornly resolved not to relinquish his purpose.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p> + +<p>Lady Elaine at last made her appearance, and his face +cleared instantly.</p> + +<p>She stopped upon the threshold, and seemed half tempted +to retreat when she saw him; then, appearing to change her +mind, she came forward and seated herself before the glowing +grate, but merely recognizing him by a grave bend of her +fair head.</p> + +<p>Now, with a few quick, decisive moves, Philip brought a +knight, bishop and pawn to bear upon Lady Hamilton’s king, +and an immediate “check-mate” was the result.</p> + +<p>“I am very stupid to-night, I fear, Mr. Paxton,” his opponent +smilingly affirmed, as she began to arrange the exquisite +men in their beautiful, inlaid box. “I think we shall +have to postpone the ‘rubber’ until another evening. I wonder,” +she added, “where Sir Anthony is at this hour—he seldom +goes out after dinner.” She arose, and, going to a window, +looked out upon the street, but a moment after her maid +came into the room to ask her some question, and then, excusing +herself, she retired to her own apartment with her.</p> + +<p>Philip heaved a sigh of relief as mistress and maid disappeared; +he had seen nothing, scarcely been conscious of anything, +save that quiet figure with its grave, sweet face, sitting +in the firelight, ever since Lady Elaine entered; and +now, as the door closed after Lady Hamilton, he arose abruptly, +crossed the space between them, and stood before her +on the rug.</p> + +<p>“Lady Elaine,” Philip began, with that air of proud humility +which he knew so well how to assume, while he bent +his dark, magnetic eyes upon her, “the very atmosphere is +heavy with censure, oppressing me with the conviction that I +have done something, either to annoy or offend you; tell me +of what I have been guilty that I may atone to the extent of +my power.”</p> + +<p>She turned her grave glance upon him—a clear, searching +accusing glance, that, though he did not once mistrust her +knowledge of his perfidy, made his heart throb with a strange, +depressing heaviness.</p> + +<p>“The question is whether you would be willing to atone if I +should tell you,” she said, slowly, and with a seriousness that +sent a chill of foreboding creeping along his nerves.</p> + +<p>“Ah! then you have something against me!” he said, with +a quick, long-drawn breath. It was strange how he seemed to +dread incurring her displeasure.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have something against you,” she repeated, as +slowly as before, and still keeping her grave, sweet eyes upon +his face.</p> + +<p>What a look it was! it filled him with a mysterious pain. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>He felt something as a spirit of evil must feel in the presence +of an angel of light.</p> + +<p>“What have I done?” he demanded, in a thick, husky voice, +“tell me! I cannot endure this suspense; no one could be +more sorry than I am to offend you, though I am ignorant of +any sin, and there is no atonement that I will not make; try +me, and see—there is nothing that I would not do for you, +Lady Elaine.”</p> + +<p>Again a beautiful flush crimsoned her whole face, but she +straightened herself slightly in her chair; there was something +in his look and in the emphasis which he had employed +that offended her.</p> + +<p>But, aside from that slight change of position, she gave +him no sign that his words had moved her in the least.</p> + +<p>After a moment of thought, she replied:</p> + +<p>“If I thought that you really would atone—if I could believe +it, it would change my opinion of you greatly.”</p> + +<p>“Can you not believe it?” he cried, a dark flush mounting +to his brow at the lack of respect which her words seemed to +imply, while he became greatly excited. “I told you to try +me—no test will be too severe to prove my sincerity, I——”</p> + +<p>He hesitated a moment, then with a gesture as if he was +driven to desperation, as if he must leap every barrier and +learn his fate, he took a step forward, and went on, passionately:</p> + +<p>“I cannot keep silent any longer—I must speak—have you +not seen, Lady Elaine, what a captive I have become? how I +cannot keep away from you? Can you not see how all the +old passion, which I once betrayed to you, has revived? No, +that word I should not use, for it has never waned, though, +when I found that you loved another, I strove to crush it out +of my heart; but it was of no use, and now I love—I idolize +you a hundredfold—you have become the one hope of my +life, and though I may be premature in this declaration, yet +the thought of your displeasure, the fear that I have offended +you, has driven me to it, and forced it from my lips. Oh, my +beautiful beloved, will you doubt now that I will stand any +test? Try me and see; but pray give me a crumb of comfort +to feed upon and I will try to be content with whatever probation +you may see fit to put me on. Dearest, tell me that I +may hope for your love, and you will give me an incentive +that will make me courageous to scale the loftiest heights, +or dig to the lowest depths for treasures to lay at your feet.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine read him like a printed page, and she knew +that instead of experiencing any real affection for her, he was +now, as before, simply seeking to obtain a fortune to gratify +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>his ambition for position and his love of ease, while she was +to be but the stepping-stone by which he hoped to secure it.</p> + +<p>“How can you dare,” she said, “to come to me this evening +and say what you have said to me? I wonder that the words +did not paralyze your tongue as you uttered them. You ask +with such an injured, innocent air what you have done to offend +me. What have you not done? All your treachery of +the past year has been revealed to me, and you seem so little, +and mean, and ignoble to me that I could almost trample +upon you. That is not right, I know, for you are one of +God’s creatures, and if He sees fit to let you live among respectable +people I have no right to question His wisdom; +but my patience and charity have been sadly tried by what +I have learned to-day of your treatment of my dearest friend. +You won her, a noble, trusting girl—a girl so true and upright, +so sensitively conscious by nature, that she preferred +to endure any amount of personal humiliation and self-denial +rather than be guilty of a wrong toward any one, or commit +a mean or unworthy act. She became your wife, believing +that you loved her, and would fulfill to the letter the vows +which you spoke so solemnly when you stood by her side before +the altar. But how have you kept those promises? You +took her away from friends, from her home and country; you +dragged her to a foreign city, where among those most barbarous +people, she must have been more desolate than language +can describe; while your treatment of her drove her to +desperation—drove her to the necessity of working to pay for +the bread which she ate, and for the roof which sheltered her! +And then, when she had worn herself out; when heart and +nature both failed her, and she lay sick, week after week—some +of the time almost unto death—you never went to her +assistance; you never exerted yourself to see that she had +proper care or attendance, or the comforts which, in her helplessness, +she needed.”</p> + +<p>“Great Heavens! how do you know—who has told you +this?” burst from Philip Paxton’s white lips, while he stood +staring, almost wildly, at the girl before him, great drops of +cold perspiration beading his forehead.</p> + +<p>“It does not signify how I know it,” Lady Elaine returned, +with curling lips; “you perceive that I do know it.”</p> + +<p>“Has Arley written to you? Have you heard from her?” +he interrupted, feeling sure that she could never have learned +so much from any other source.</p> + +<p>“No, Arley has not written one word—she has been heroically +silent throughout all her trouble. I think not even +Miss McAllister mistrusts the terrible ordeal to which you +have subjected the dear child whom she loved so fondly, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>to whom she would have flown on the wings of love, had she +even dreamed of what she was suffering. I would have gone +to her—nothing should have kept me from her had I known. +Philip Paxton, if Arley had died when she was so sick there +in Madrid, you would have been—her murderer!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t,” he cried, putting out his hand with an appealing +gesture, while a shudder of repulsion ran over him at the +sound of that startling word.</p> + +<p>Standing there in Lady Elaine’s pure presence, while her +scathing words rained like sharp hailstones fast and thick +upon him, he began to see himself something as she saw him, +while the scorn and contempt which pervaded her every word +and gesture actually made him feel faint and sick.</p> + +<p>“Don’t!” she repeated, with such stinging sarcasm that he +cringed as if she had struck him a sharp blow. “Is it possible +that after having used your wife so heartlessly—after +realizing her wretchedness day after day, and looking unmoved +upon her sufferings, you can shrink like this from the +mere mention of them? The pitiful lies you have told me regarding +Arley leaving you—of her appointments with +another, and the money she received from him, are all explained, +and I doubt not that the Englishman whom you, +with such pretended righteous wrath, named as her ‘champion,’ +was some noble man who, pitying her helplessness, offered +her his protection, and will show her every respect +which a pure woman should command. Why could you not +have been a man, Philip Paxton, and worthy of a sweet, true +woman like Arley Wentworth?”</p> + +<p>He stood before her, abashed at last, his head bowed upon +his chest, his arms folded so tightly across it that his every +breath was labored, while his face, even to his lips, was as +colorless as his shirt bosom.</p> + +<p>“I have been mad!” he muttered, under his breath, but +Lady Elaine heard him.</p> + +<p>“You have been wicked,” she returned, relentlessly. “I did +believe, when I first met you at Hazelmere, that there was +a noble manhood within you, for the stamp of it seemed to +rest upon your face; but how deceitful appearances are has +been proved by your conduct since. Ah!” with a regretful +sigh, “is it not a pity that a soul should become so warped +and defiled? Why will mankind go so wrong, when the right +way—even though difficulties seem to hedge us about—is +always the better way?”</p> + +<p>Philip lifted his head eagerly, and seemed about to reply +as she ceased; then a deep flush suffused his whole face, and +he dropped again into his former position.</p> + +<p>Something in his look made Lady Elaine think that his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>better nature had been aroused at last, and a feeling of pity +began to crowd some of the bitterness out of her heart.</p> + +<p>“Why cannot you do right, Mr. Paxton? why will you not +try to atone?” she pleaded, in a softened tone; but he interrupted +her with an almost despairing gesture.</p> + +<p>“It is too late for that,” he said, bitterly.</p> + +<p>“I fear it is,” she answered, sadly. “I believe, if I were +in Arley’s place, I should feel that there could be no atonement, +and of course, if you do not love her——”</p> + +<p>“Who says I do not love her?” he interrupted again, and +almost fiercely; and Lady Elaine was dumb from wonder at +his words.</p> + +<p>“I do not wonder that you look astonished,” he went on, +half defiant, half ashamed; “but if an evil spirit had not possessed +me, I never should have lived the life which I have +during the past twelve months. But my game is up, and I +might as well make a clean breast of it; all I have won for +my folly and sin is your contempt and aversion, and the loss +of my wife’s love and respect. It cannot add to my humiliation +to tell you that I have been aroused by being told +that I must not aspire to your hand, while I had sworn to +myself that I would be a rich and prosperous man at any +cost, and that I would marry the richest woman I could find +to achieve my object.</p> + +<p>“You may curl your lips, Lady Elaine,” he went on, +flushing again at her involuntary act. “I deserve it, but I +tell you I have been mad. I failed in my efforts to win you, +and then I turned to Arley as the next most tempting prize. +I was honest enough in telling her that I loved her, for she +was bright and beautiful, and attracted me as no other +woman had ever done, and, when I found that your fortune +was beyond my reach, my whole heart was set upon winning +her. Had she contested Ina Wentworth’s claim, and +kept her fortune, we might have been happy in each other +to this day. But she would not keep it, and my cursed avarice +and willfulness, my intolerance of being thwarted, has +been my ruin.”</p> + +<p>He paused a moment, and Lady Elaine saw that his face +was as fixed and stony as that of a statue.</p> + +<p>Presently he resumed:</p> + +<p>“I did not, however, expect to be brought up in my career +with such a round turn as you have given me to-night. +There was, I believe, and as you have said, something of +manhood within me once; but whether the germ remains, +and will ever thrive, I suppose only time will show. Certainly, +in my present mood I can neither form resolutions +nor make promises. Regarding my presumption and folly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>to-night in renewing my offensive proposals to you, I fear it +would only be adding insult to injury, and you would feel +even more contempt for me than you have already manifested, +if I should express regret and ask your pardon. The +question would naturally arise whether I was most sorry +for my sin, or for having been detected in it. But you have +read me a bitter lesson; you have told me wholesome, though +nauseous, truths, and have aroused my almost torpid conscience +at last. Perhaps some time—for I know you have +a tender heart—if I am able to prove to you that I am truly +repentant, you will not then scorn to say that you forgive +me. Till then, Lady Elaine, adieu.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"> + CHAPTER XXIX. + <br><span class="small"> + PHILIP PAXTON’S LETTER. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>The next morning, Lady Elaine, pleading some excuse, +went to Southampton.</p> + +<p>She was in search of the captain of that vessel—the <i>Black +Swan</i>, Jane Collins told her was the name of it—which had +picked up that unhappy father and mother so many years +ago, after being wrecked on their return from India, and +who might prove—it was barely possible—to be Arley’s +parents.</p> + +<p>That her visit was successful may be gleaned from her exclamation +as she sank back in the cushions of her carriage +on her way home:</p> + +<p>“Arley, Arley, my darling, if everything proves to be as +I have reason to hope, and if I can only find you,” she murmured +in such a tender, yearning voice, “you need be nameless +no longer; and, oh! how glad I am that I can be the +one to bring these blessed tidings to you.”</p> + +<p>A day or two later the London <i>Times</i> contained a notice +calling attention to the fact that “Philip Paxton, attorney-at-law, +had returned from abroad, and was prepared to resume +his business.”</p> + +<p>That he had been a good lawyer was proved by his former +patrons at once pouring in upon him, until, within a week, +he was flooded with work, and the idle, dissolute man of six +months previous was bending every energy to the task which +he had imposed upon himself.</p> + +<p>A month after this good beginning he might have been +seen writing far into the night, while his pale face, compressed +lips and troubled brow told that he was engaged +upon no pleasant work; and when at last it was finished, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>threw down his pen and laid back in his chair, with a sigh +that was almost a groan.</p> + +<p>What he had written was a full confession of his wrong-doing. +Among other things he wrote:</p> + +<p>“Arley, I entered your room one day during your absence +and stole the contents of your jewel-casket. Yes, I am +a thief with all the rest. I meant to take your diamonds +only and sell them; but, doubtless, you were wearing them, +for they were not in the box.</p> + +<p>“I found, however, to my intense surprise, a hundred-pound +note, and no miser, coming suddenly upon unexpected +treasure, ever gloated more than I over the sight of that English +money. A portion of it I used to gamble with and doubled +my stake. Thrice I did this in different places, and +then came home.</p> + +<p>“Your jewels are all safe; my gaming operations had been +so successful that I decided to reserve them for a future +emergency, and as that is not likely to occur, since I hope, +like one of old, I ‘am come to myself,’ I am spared the +additional shame of having pawned my wife’s jewels—the +treasured mementoes of happier days.</p> + +<p>“I shall inclose them in a package with this, also the hundred +pounds, with interest, and leave them in my safe, directed +to you, so that, in case anything happens to me before +I can ascertain where you are to send them to you, you will +be sure to get them upon your return.</p> + +<p>“This is all the restitution that I am able to make you +at present; but I have resumed my old business, and as I am +prospered I will deposit a sum, from month to month, in the +Bank of England to your account, so that in the future you +need lack no comfort that money can buy.”</p> + +<p>Then followed mention of his return to England with the +hope of winning Elaine.</p> + +<p>Finally he wrote:</p> + +<p>“Only one thing more and I will weary you no longer. +As soon as I came to myself I stopped all proceedings for a +divorce—I had no right to obtain it; you had always been +all that was patient, kind and true, and the perjury of the +thing appalled me. It remains for you to take that step, and +you have every right and reason to do so, and I assure you +that whatever you may see fit to do in the future I will remain +perfectly passive in the matter—I will never willfully +cause you another pang, nor trouble of any kind, while I live. +You shall be free if you desire; I will strive never to meet +you nor offend you with my presence, and whatever sentence +may be passed upon me, I will bear it patiently and +in silence. But, oh! Arley! Arley!——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> + +<p>A line had been drawn through those last few words, as +if they had been unwittingly wrung from him in a moment +of passionate pain and remorse, when, as if suddenly recollecting +himself, he had stopped and tried to obliterate them; +then he had closed with this almost despairing appeal:</p> + +<p>“I have told you all now—my heart is laid bare before you, +even as it is before the eye that searches every soul; you +know all my folly, weakness and wickedness.</p> + +<p>“I do not ask your forgiveness—I have no right to ask it; +but some time—when, perhaps, long years have softened your +sense of wrong and pain—if you should chance to learn that +I am honestly striving to attain to better things—to regain +my lost manhood—will you not let a little divine compassion +into your heart and breathe one single prayer—I should +know it and feel its influence, though the world divided us—for +‘Philip Paxton?’”</p> + +<p>After sitting a while in sad musing, Philip Paxton aroused +himself to fold the thickly-written sheets before him, though +his hands shook visibly while doing it; then, taking a bank +note from his pocketbook, he inclosed it with the letter in +an envelope, and, drawing toward him a small box which lay +upon the desk, he made the whole up into a neat package +and addressed it to Mrs. Philip Paxton.</p> + +<p>Opening a small drawer at his left hand, he laid it carefully +within, shut and locked the drawer again, and the next +moment his head dropped forward upon his hands, while +great, deep sobs shook him from head to foot.</p> + +<p>It was as if he had just buried forever from his sight the +dearest object of his life—and he had. For, henceforth, he +felt that Arley would be naught but a sweet memory to him; +one whose beauty, gentleness and value he had, all too late, +learned to appreciate, and who was as completely lost to him +as if she were really dead and had been laid to rest in the +bosom of the earth.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXX"> + CHAPTER XXX. + <br><span class="small"> + FORTUNE’S WHEEL. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Many weeks went by, and one would scarcely have recognized +in the quiet, hard-working lawyer, who toiled early and +late with such persistence and energy, the idle, defiant, unprincipled +man who had heartlessly dragged his wife away +from home and friends, subjecting her to almost every kind +of discomfort, and refusing to put forth a single effort for +her support.</p> + +<p>Philip had not yet ascertained where Arley was, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>letter which he had written, with her jewels and money, were +still in his keeping.</p> + +<p>He could not make up his mind to call upon Miss McAllister +to obtain her address, for he dreaded both her questions +and her displeasure. He had heard that she was something +of an invalid and did not go out at all, so he hoped +she had not yet heard of his return.</p> + +<p>She had not, and it was known but by very few outside +those doing business with him, for he did not frequent his +old haunts; he shunned his club and all society, devoting +every hour not needed for rest to his business.</p> + +<p>His business increased so rapidly that he was obliged to +hire assistants, and the gold which he had so coveted began +to pour in upon him from every quarter; but every pound +over and above his actual needs he conscientiously deposited +in the Bank of England to swell the account in Arley’s name.</p> + +<p>And so six months went by in this busy way. At the end +of that time he balanced his accounts, and was astonished +with the result.</p> + +<p>“This is not bad for a beginning,” he said as he looked at +the generous figures. “A few years like this, and I could +put Arley back where I found her.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, no!” he added, in a tone sharp with pain. “I could +give her twenty thousand pounds, perhaps, but I can never +give her back her free, happy life—I can never blot from +her memory the bitterness, the pain and disgrace which I +have since inflicted upon her. Oh, Arley, my beloved! why +did I not appreciate the prize I had won? If I had but +heeded your counsels, I should now have you and happiness, +together with my prosperity!</p> + +<p>“Fool! fool!” he cried, leaping wildly to his feet, as if he +could not bear the thought of it; “you are rightly punished! +No fate, however wretched, no penance can be too severe for +you; you have brought it all upon yourself, and you must +bear it as best you can!”</p> + +<p>There came a rap on his office door just then, but it took +him more than a minute to compose himself sufficiently to +go and answer the summons.</p> + +<p>It was only the postman, who silently handed him an official-looking +document, and then hastened away again.</p> + +<p>In a listless way Philip broke the seals and proceeded to +inspect its contents, supposing it to be something connected +with his own business.</p> + +<p>But, after he had read a page or two, he was seized with +amazement, and perused the remainder of the communication +with breathless interest.</p> + +<p>That old adage, “It never rains but it pours,” seemed destined +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>to prove true for Philip Paxton, for he learned that a +widowed aunt and her whole family, consisting of a son and +two daughters, who lived in Wales, had been suddenly swept +out of life by that dread disease, diphtheria. The children +had first fallen victims to it, and then the worn-out, heart-broken +mother had lain down to follow them.</p> + +<p>She was the widow of the late Sir Frederick Sharpley, +Baronet, who had been Philip’s mother’s only brother, and +the paper which he held in his trembling hands told him +that he, being the nearest living relative, was heir to the estate +and title of his uncle.</p> + +<p>He could not realize it; it had come upon him so suddenly, +so wholly unexpected that he actually could not comprehend +it, and sat staring at the document in a way that would +have been ludicrous under any other circumstances.</p> + +<p>Twice he was obliged to read it through before he could +realize that it was not all a vision of his own imagination. +But it was all there in black and white; the family lawyer +had made it very plain, and had written him immediately +after Lady Sharpley’s funeral, at her request.</p> + +<p>She would allow no notice to be sent him of her children’s +death, on account of the fear of contagion, and when she +found that she also could not live, she exacted a promise +that he should be told nothing for the same reason, until she +should be lain in the family vault, and the house thoroughly +purified, lest he, too, contract the fatal disease, and the estate, +for the lack of an heir, fall to the crown.</p> + +<p>“Tell him,” were her last words, “to be a good, an honorable +man, and keep the title unspotted. There has never yet +been a stain upon the fair escutcheon of the family, and my +personal legacy to him is, its purity—let him maintain it as +long as he shall live.”</p> + +<p>It was with a very white face that Philip at length folded +up that startling communication and fell to musing upon its +contents.</p> + +<p>The estate of the late Sir Frederick, the lawyer wrote, was +a remarkably fine one, wholly unencumbered, and with a rent +roll of nearly fifteen thousand pounds, while there was a +bank account yielding nearly as much more.</p> + +<p>How strangely fortune’s wheel turns round!</p> + +<p>Coming just at this time, Philip felt as if he could not +bear these new honors which had been heaped so unexpectedly +upon him, and, bowing his head upon his desk, he groaned +aloud, feeling humiliated and crushed as he had never felt +before.</p> + +<p>What were houses, lands, rent rolls or bank accounts to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>him now? They were like the “apples of Sodom that turn to +ashes in the grasp.”</p> + +<p>His new position would bring him no happiness; it could +not restore to him either his own self-respect or Arley’s love—the +only two things which seemed really worth anything +just now to him.</p> + +<p>But with new honors came new cares; his inheritance must +be looked after, and as soon as he could arrange his business +so as to leave it, he repaired to Elmsford, as Sir Frederick’s +estate had been called.</p> + +<p>He found it a beautiful place. The mansion itself was +very old, but, having been built in a most substantial way +and kept in thorough repair, with modern conveniences +added from time to time, it was a house to love and be proud +of. The grounds about it had been laid out with exquisite +taste and judgment, and were considered the finest in the +county. There was a deer park, abounding in deer, for Lady +Sharpley had allowed no hunting since her husband’s death, +five years previously; while the wide-spreading upland and +meadow on every hand were rich with grain and herbage.</p> + +<p>There was a fine picture-gallery in the mansion, containing +works of some of the best artists—both of sculptors and +painters—of several centuries, and there was a wealth of +plate, of solid silver, that was fairly dazzling to the eyes.</p> + +<p>As Philip Paxton roamed over his new possessions, visiting +room after room, noting the beauty and elegance of everything +about him, no smile came to his lips, no gladness to +his heart, for it all seemed to mock at him, to jeer at the +emptiness of his soul.</p> + +<p>Mr. Farley, the steward, appeared to be a competent, trustworthy +young man, and he was much pleased with him.</p> + +<p>He had received the young baronet with great courtesy and +friendliness, conducting him over the estate with evident +pride in its fine appearance, while his books, upon examination, +showed excellent business capacity; and Philip resolved +to leave the management of it still in his hands—at least +for the present—while he returned to his own labors in London.</p> + +<p>There was no longer any need of this, pecuniarily, but +work had become a mental necessity; it would not do to stop; +he must not have time to brood over his past, lest his remorse +and misery drive him to desperation.</p> + +<p>So, giving Mr. Farley full control, Sir Philip Paxton +went back to his close chambers in Grey’s Inn, leaving all +this beauty and luxury behind him, and plunged more assiduously +than ever into his business.</p> + +<p>But one thing he had resolved upon, and now carried it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>into action. He paid a visit to Arley’s old lawyer and had +the twenty thousand pounds which he had deposited in the +bank written up to Arley’s account.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"> + CHAPTER XXXI. + <br><span class="small"> + THE RING. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Miss McAllister, do you know the name of the vessel in +which Arley was sent home from India?”</p> + +<p>This question was asked by Lady Elaine, who called to see +that lady the day following her visit to Captain Conway at +Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>She had been telling her something of Jane Collins, and +her meeting with Arley in Madrid, and of the story which +had been elicited by Arley’s resemblance to the beautiful +lady who had been rescued by the <i>Black Swan</i>.</p> + +<p>She did not, however, say anything about her troubles. +She thought that if Arley had written nothing about them +herself, it was because she still wished to conceal them; +though with Philip in London, she did not see how it was +possible for her to remain in ignorance much longer.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Miss McAllister returned to her question, “it was +the <i>White Star</i>.”</p> + +<p>“No—I mean the name of the vessel by which she was +rescued, not the one that was wrecked.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that was the <i>Vulcan</i>.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine wrote the name down on her tablet.</p> + +<p>“What was the name of the captain of the <i>Vulcan</i>?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“That I do not remember—it has gone from me; but it +will be in my brother’s diary. Ina, dear please hand it to me +from the upper drawer in his desk; there are three volumes; +bring me the second,” the old lady said to Ina Wentworth, +who, under the influence of happiness, and surrounded by +every luxury, had grown a hundredfold more beautiful than +when we saw her for the first time on Arley’s wedding day.</p> + +<p>“But why are you so very eager about these particulars?” +Miss McAllister continued to Lady Elaine, as Ina rose to do +her bidding.</p> + +<p>“Because,” she answered, with heightening color, “I believe +if I follow this clew closely, I shall discover who Arley’s +parents were. I cannot help thinking that she is this +lost baby, Allie, for whom that poor mother mourned so, +and if I can but find the captain of the <i>Vulcan</i>, I believe he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>will be able to give me valuable information. Have you any +of the clothing that she wore home at that time?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing but her little shoes and stockings and a tiny ring +set with an emerald. Her clothing was so soiled and defaced +by the sea water that we did not preserve it.”</p> + +<p>“A little ring set with an emerald,” repeated Lady Elaine, +quickly, not heeding the rest of Miss McAllister’s sentence, +while a quick, eager flush mounted to her forehead—“a ring, +or a jewel of any kind is often the key to such mysteries; +may I see it?”</p> + +<p>“Of course you may see it,” the old lady returned, with +an indulgent smile, “but I hardly think it will prove anything +unless you first find the parents to identify it, for there +might be a hundred such rings in the world. When it got +too tight for Arley’s little fingers I put it away with the +shoes and stockings, and have always regarded them as sacred +relics, since they were all that remained of her parents’ loving +care for her.</p> + +<p>“Now, dear,” she added, as Ina came forward and laid Dr. +McAllister’s diary in her lap, “in the second drawer of my +escritoire you will find a small box tied with a blue ribbon; +will you please bring that to me also,” and the beautiful girl, +always attentive to her slightest wish, hastened to get it, and +at a gesture from her aunt handed it to Lady Elaine.</p> + +<p>But her fingers trembled so with excitement and eagerness +that she could not unfasten the knot in which the ribbon was +tied.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister reached out her hand and gently took it +from her.</p> + +<p>“My dear, how excited you are over a trifle,” she said. +“There is nothing here which can possibly prove anything, +unless, as I said before, you can find the parents themselves.”</p> + +<p>She untied the knot, lifted the cover, and then laid the +box back in her visitor’s lap.</p> + +<p>There were two little packages in it, wrapped about with +tissue paper, showing that a loving hand had cared for the +contents.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine lifted one and took the paper from it. Two +tiny shoes fell out. They were wrinkled and worn, stained +and defaced with sea water, while their little buttons were +blackened and tarnished with time.</p> + +<p>“May I take these things for a little while, Miss McAllister?” +Lady Elaine asked. “I will guard them as I would a +priceless treasure, and see that nothing happens to them,” +she added appealingly.</p> + +<p>“Certainly; you can take them and keep them as long as +you think you may need them. I never attached any importance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>to anything but the ring until we discovered that our +dear Arley did not really belong to us—I merely kept them +because I thought she would prize them as being the last +things that her mother had provided for her.</p> + +<p>“But we had nearly forgotten about the captain of the +<i>Vulcan</i>,” she continued, taking up and opening the diary +which Ina had brought her.</p> + +<p>She turned the leaves until she found the date of Arley’s +return, and, after reading a few pages, she looked up, saying:</p> + +<p>“It was Captain Simons, dear; but that is all I can find +about him.”</p> + +<p>“Who brought Arley to you?” Lady Elaine asked, as if inspired +by some sudden thought.</p> + +<p>“A poor woman who was flying from poverty and pestilence +in France, and who hoped to find friends and help here in +London. She had lost a little one just before leaving home, +and gladly took charge of Arley during the remainder of the +voyage after she was rescued.”</p> + +<p>“But there were others rescued at the same time, were there +not?” asked Lady Elaine, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes; several.”</p> + +<p>“And did no one know anything about the child? Oh, it +seems so strange that there should be all this mystery, when +others were saved from the same vessel!” and Lady Elaine +was greatly agitated.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is strange; but you know that every one is for +himself at such a time; the sailor told the captain that she +was the child who was to be sent to Dr. McAllister, of London, +and he immediately gave her to the first one who was +willing to assume the care of her. This woman—Mary Nelson +was her name—yearned for the little one, cared most +tenderly for her until the vessel reached port, when he ordered +a carriage for her and sent her to us with the child.”</p> + +<p>“God bless her, and the sailor also who saved her!” cried +Lady Elaine, with streaming eyes.</p> + +<p>“My dear, I am afraid you are getting very nervous and +excited over this matter,” Miss McAllister said, gravely, as +she looked into the flushed, beautiful face.</p> + +<p>“What became of this woman afterward?” Lady Elaine +asked, struggling for composure.</p> + +<p>“She died——”</p> + +<p>“Died?” interrupted her listener.</p> + +<p>“Yes. My brother was so grateful to her for the services +which she had rendered Arley, and she appeared to be so +fond of her, that he at once took her into the family as her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>nurse. But she only lived three months. She took the typhus +fever, and died very suddenly.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine sighed heavily and arose to go. She had not +learned much to help her in her quest, but she was just as +resolute to pursue it, in spite of the difficulties which seemed +to hedge her about.</p> + +<p>She repaired immediately to one of the steamship lines and +made inquiries regarding the <i>White Star</i>, which had been +wrecked in 18— on her homeward voyage from Calcutta.</p> + +<p>The names of its owners were easily found, and, with their +addresses written out, Lady Elaine hastened away to seek an +interview with them.</p> + +<p>Yes, they remembered the captain of the <i>White Star</i> well, +they told her, when she made her inquiry. He had managed, +with his wife—who had been with him on that fatal voyage—and +three or four of the crew, to make his way to land; but +it was not without untold suffering and hardship, nor until +every hope of saving the battered steamship was past. He +had afterward been given the command of another vessel, +which he sailed successfully for a dozen years. After that +he had been attacked with rheumatic troubles and the company +did not know whether he was living or not at the present +time. The last they had heard of him he was residing +at Harrow; a town about fifteen miles from London. His +name was Bancroft, and he had been a gallant, faithful, +captain.</p> + +<p>To Harrow, Lady Elaine hastened, hope reviving in her +heart; but her first inquiry met with a most disappointing +reply. Captain Bancroft had died three years previously.</p> + +<p>What should she do? she asked herself, appalled. Must +she relinquish her search? She felt sure that this man could +have solved the whole mystery, and there seemed no other +way under heaven to have it explained. She could not feel +reconciled to this disappointment.</p> + +<p>“Did he leave no family?” she asked, in a weak voice, of +her informant.</p> + +<p>“Only a wife,” was the reply. “His two sons—one the +captain, the other the mate of a vessel—were both drowned +at sea three months before their father’s death, and the +shock killed him.”</p> + +<p>“Does his wife reside here?” Lady Elaine questioned, her +face lighting a trifle, for she remembered having been told +that the captain’s wife had been with him at the time of the +wreck of the <i>White Star</i>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, in yonder cottage, poor thing! in poverty and loneliness.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> + +<p>“Poor thing, indeed!” Lady Elaine murmured, as she +turned toward the forsaken-looking place pointed out to her.</p> + +<p>It could not have contained more than three rooms, and +was unpainted and weather-beaten and fast falling to decay. +The weeds grew rank about the door; many of the windows +were broken and the apertures either pasted over with papers +or stopped with rags. A kitten lay asleep upon the door-step +in the sun, while two or three hens strutted lazily about +in the yard, and were the only signs of life about the place.</p> + +<p>Having but very little hope of having her mystery solved +in that miserable place, yet feeling that it could do no harm +to ask a few questions, Lady Elaine hesitatingly approached +the door and knocked lightly upon it. After a moment or +two of delay it was opened, and she stood face to face with +a majestic-looking woman of about sixty years.</p> + +<p>She was very tall and large of frame, straight as an arrow, +despite her life of toil and hardship, and with the bearing of +one born to command.</p> + +<p>Her hair was white as snow; her face was wrinkled and +bronzed, wearing a stern expression, though a not unkindly +gleam lighted her large, blue eyes as they rested questioningly +upon the fair young girl who stood before her.</p> + +<p>Her garb was poor, but spotlessly clean, as was also the +floor of the room within which she stood.</p> + +<p>“I am in search of the wife of the late Captain Bancroft,” +Lady Elaine began, hardly knowing how to open the subject +of her errand.</p> + +<p>“She stands before you,” was the curt yet civil reply.</p> + +<p>“May I come in and talk with you a little while, then, +Mrs. Bancroft?” the fair girl asked, adding: “I want to ask +you something about the <i>White Star</i>, which was wrecked so +many years ago.”</p> + +<p>A spasm of pain shot across the woman’s face at this request.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, you can come in,” she said, with a long-drawn +sigh, and, throwing the door wide for her visitor to enter, +she brought forward the only rocking-chair the room contained, +for her to sit upon.</p> + +<p>“I should not have intruded upon you,” Lady Elaine said, +when they were both seated, “but it is of vital importance to +me and a very dear friend, that we learn everything possible +about the loss of that steamer.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, miss! ah, miss! that was a sad, sad day! I never saw +the like of it before—I have never seen the like of it since!” +wailed the old woman, rocking back and forth in her chair +and covering her face with her apron, as if to shut out even +the memory of it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"> + CHAPTER XXXII. + <br><span class="small"> + MRS. BANCROFT’S NARRATIVE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>At this outburst from Captain Bancroft’s widow, Lady +Elaine flushed and looked troubled.</p> + +<p>It pained her to arouse the woman’s sorrows like this, and +yet she felt that if she could throw any light upon the mystery +which she was seeking to unravel, it was no more than +right for her to ask her to do so.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Bancroft soon recovered herself, and, sitting +erect, she looked even more stern than before, while she said, +with the stateliness that would have become a queen:</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, young lady; but I never can recall that time +of horror without a terrible shrinking. If there is anything +that I can tell you, however, or any way that I can serve you, +I am very willing to do so.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine thanked her, and then said:</p> + +<p>“I was told that you accompanied your husband upon this +voyage of which I have spoken, and after learning that he +was not living, I thought perhaps you might be able to tell +me what I want to know.”</p> + +<p>“I will, miss, anything that I can.”</p> + +<p>“Were there any children on board?” asked Lady Elaine.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there were five—two boys of ten and twelve, brothers; +and three little girls—one five, the other two mere babies, +about a year and a half old.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine caught her breath at those last words.</p> + +<p>“Ah! do you remember those babies distinctly?” she +asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Perfectly,” returned the ancient dame, whose memory +appeared to be in as fine a state of preservation as her body. +“One was a poor little waif—an orphan—whose parents had +both died in India, and who was being sent to its grandfather +in England, in the care of its nurse, an Ayah, who +couldn’t speak a word except in her own language.”</p> + +<p>“Describe the child, please,” Lady Elaine said, with paling +lips, while her chest rose and fell with excitement; “was +she dark, with large, black eyes and curling hair?—was she +anything like this?” and she drew from her pocket a picture +of Arley, which Miss McAllister had taken off soon after +her return, and Lady Elaine had begged leave to take for +awhile.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bancroft adjusted her glasses and looked at it intently +for a moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p> + +<p>“No, this is a picture of the other one; but the one I was +telling you about had great, blue-gray eyes and sunny, brown +hair, that did not curl, but hung in soft, little waves over +her shoulders. She was white and plump and as pretty as +a little wax doll, and the nurse called her a queer name—Ar—Arley, +I think it was; yes, I am sure that was it, for I +remember how strangely she used to pronounce it, and it was +the only word any one could understand, though she would +chatter away most fondly to her little charge, in her own +language, and always took the best of care of her. But you +seem to be getting excited, young lady,” she added, seeing +how very pale Lady Elaine was, and that she trembled violently.</p> + +<p>“It does not matter,” was the low, eager reply; “please go +on; can you remember how this little one was dressed?”</p> + +<p>“No; only that she had a great many dainty little dresses, +and her nurse seemed to take great pride in making her look +as fine as possible; but one thing that she wore—a pretty +little chain—I do remember, for she would persist in putting +it into her mouth and biting it with her little, white teeth, +and one day when I took it out and told her she must not do +so, I saw the letters ‘A. W.’ marked on the catch.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine sat listening, with wide, eager eyes, and +hands almost convulsively clasped on her lap.</p> + +<p>How exactly all this agreed with the story which Ina had +told to prove her identity!</p> + +<p>“I shall never forget,” Mrs. Bancroft went on, “how frantic +that nurse was when she found out that the vessel must +go to pieces. I remember seeing her walking the saloon from +end to end like a wild woman, hugging and kissing the child, +and sobbing as if her heart would break. The next thing I +knew, she brought her up on deck, wrapped securely in a +waterproof, and tied her with a strong rope into a trunk-tray +and that is all that I can tell you about her.”</p> + +<p>“That is all that I need to know about her, madam,” Lady +Elaine returned, leaning back in her chair, and feeling almost +faint, for she was sure that she should learn all that +she wished to know now—the “mystery” would all be solved +at last, and she could hardly wait until it should be told.</p> + +<p>“It is about the other child that I wish particularly to +hear,” she resumed; “she is the one whose identity I wish +to prove, though what you have already told me confirms a +great deal. But this black-eyed child was taken by mistake +to the place where the other one should have gone, and +it is only recently that she has discovered she is an entirely +different person from the one she has been brought up to believe +herself.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> + +<p>“Is that so?” demanded Mrs. Bancroft, actually startled +out of her almost stoical calmness into something like interest +by this statement.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Lady Elaine returned; and then she gave her a brief +account of Arley’s life, and the appearance and developments +of Ina Wentworth upon the wedding day of the former.</p> + +<p>“Well, child, this has been a puzzle indeed,” the widow +said; “but you have hit upon the right one at last to work +it out for you; though it is the strangest thing in the world +that both of those babies should have been saved from that +wreck! I tell you it was a fearful time!”</p> + +<p>“I do not doubt it,” Lady Elaine said, with a shudder. +“Now will you please tell me about the dark-eyed child?”</p> + +<p>“With the greatest pleasure, miss. She was the brightest +little darling in the world; she had such great, beautiful +eyes, rosy cheeks, and such cunning little white teeth, and +just the cutest ways. Her mother called her ‘Allie’—‘Baby +Allie,’ and both she and her husband seemed to worship her. +She was never allowed to go out of their sight, and they hung +over her as if they thought there never had been another +child like her in the world. They were young people, too, +and more like a pair of lovers than like husband and wife.”</p> + +<p>“What were their names?” Lady Elaine interrupted, with +such breathless eagerness that her voice sounded weak and +faint.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bancroft paused to think a moment.</p> + +<p>“Well, miss,” she then said, as if surprised at herself, “I +thought I could speak it on the instant, but it has gone from +me just at this moment. But I have it somewhere, and I’ll +find it for you before you go.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine opened her lips to beg her to find it at once; +but, thinking better of it, she controlled her impatience, and +waited anxiously for the rest of her story.</p> + +<p>“They were Lord and Lady somebody, anyhow,” the widow +said, still looking annoyed at having forgotten, “and her first +name was Margaret—that much I do remember—and she +was so sick that I waited upon her a great deal, while the +child’s nurse couldn’t raise her head from her pillow, and so +the little one fell into my hands almost altogether, when her +papa did not feel able to take care of her. I told you the +baby was a cute little thing, and I shall never forget one +caper that she cut up. She wore a little ring on one of her +fingers, and it had a bright green stone in it.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine drew a little box from her pocket, and taking +from it the tiny emerald ring which Miss McAllister had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>loaned her, she held it out with a trembling hand to her companion.</p> + +<p>“Was it anything like this?” she asked.</p> + +<p>Again the spectacles were adjusted over those aged eyes, +and the dame bent to examine the trinket.</p> + +<p>“I should say that it is the very same. I should know it +anywhere,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Arley! Arley! it is proved at last,” Lady Elaine cried, in +a low, exultant voice, and covering her face she wept such +happy, happy tears, while the old woman, sitting opposite, +regarded her with wonder, and thought that she must love +this friend, for whom she was laboring so earnestly, very +dearly.</p> + +<p>“And here, also are a pair of shoes and stockings that she +wore at the time of her rescue,” the young girl continued, +after a few moments, and, drawing them forth, she laid them +upon the woman’s lap.</p> + +<p>“Aha!” she cried, eagerly seizing upon the tiny stockings, +“her ladyship knit those herself.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?” Lady Elaine asked, astonished.</p> + +<p>“Because she told me so. One day when she was feeling +a little better than usual, I found her bolstered up in her +berth trying to finish off a pair just like them, and that were +almost done.</p> + +<p>“‘I am so tired lying here doing nothing,’ she said, when +I told her she was not able.</p> + +<p>“‘What pretty little socks,’ I told her; ‘the prettiest I had +ever seen,’ for I had never set eyes on silk stockings before.</p> + +<p>“Well, just as she had finished them she gave them to me, +and in the toe of each was a gold eagle.</p> + +<p>“‘Ah, lady,’ I said, ‘you are very kind, but it is too bad to +give me these socks that you have knit for the little one.’</p> + +<p>“‘I can make some more,’ she said, ‘keep them for your +own little girl, if you should ever have one; if not, give them +to your first grandbaby.’</p> + +<p>“But, miss, God never gave me one, for both my boys were +lost at sea.”</p> + +<p>The poor woman broke down entirely here, and covering +her face with her apron, wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>But she soon checked herself again, and rising, went to +an old chest that stood in one corner of the room.</p> + +<p>She came back after a minute or two, and laid a small +package in Lady Elaine’s lap.</p> + +<p>“There they are,” she said, “take them and give them to +your friend—the one for whom they were knit—with an old +woman’s blessing.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine unfolded the package with reverent fingers, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>and saw there a tiny pair of light-blue silk stockings, the exact +counterpart of the ones already in her possession, except +for the holes and stains.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she cried, clasping her hands, and heaving a sigh +of delight, “I cannot tell you how much I thank you; and +madam, what you have told me proves beyond a doubt just +what I wanted to know; and now, after more than nineteen +years, my dear Arley will be restored to her proper position +in life.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, but she cannot be restored to her father and mother,” +said Mrs. Bancroft, sadly.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine lifted her eyes with a quick, questioning, look, +and the widow added:</p> + +<p>“For they are dead; I read a notice of their death several +years ago.”</p> + +<p>“Did you?” asked her companion, then she added, musingly: +“It seems strange that Arley should have been separated +from them at the time of the wreck.”</p> + +<p>“It was through no fault of theirs, dear,” the captain’s +wife answered. “His lordship clung to his child with one +arm, and to his wife with the other; and I heard him say, +as they stood waiting for a lifeboat to be made ready: ‘My +treasures, if death comes we shall all go together; I will +never give either of you up.’ But he did not know. They +were safely seated in the boat ready to push off, when a great +wave dashed over it and swamped it. Another was quickly +lowered, and as many rescued as could be found. My lord +and lady were among the number, but the baby could not be +found, and I have always supposed, until to-day, that she +was lost.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine’s eyes were full of tears.</p> + +<p>“Now will you please find their names for me?” she asked, +in a low but trembling tone.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes; the captain always kept a copy of the passenger +list of every voyage, and it will be easy enough to find +them,” the woman replied, and rising again, she brought +from another room a wooden box about a foot square.</p> + +<p>It was full of nothing but passenger lists—a curious assortment +of all shapes and sizes.</p> + +<p>It was something of a task to find the one she wanted, +but they were placed according to their dates, and at last +Mrs. Bancroft drew one from a package which she had been +looking over, and handing it to Lady Elaine, pointed to three +names about midway of the list.</p> + +<p>The young girl bent eagerly forward, but her tears were +falling like rain, and she could not see.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> + +<p>She wiped her eyes, and then with bated breath and throbbing +heart, read what she had so longed to know.</p> + +<p>A minute after, she looked up into Mrs. Bancroft’s face, +her own all aglow with emotion, her eyes full of deep delight.</p> + +<p>“It is just as I have suspected,” she said, in a low, tremulous +tone; “I have known something of these people before, +but I did not think—oh! I never dreamed until very recently +that Arley belonged to them. How strange—how wonderful +it is!”</p> + +<p>Then bidding her farewell, she went away.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine had obtained Arley’s address from Miss McAllister +and she immediately wrote her an imperative summons +to “come home.”</p> + +<p>“I have such glorious news for you,” she wrote. “I have +discovered your parentage. You are no longer a stray waif; +you are no longer ‘nameless.’ It is such a long and complicated +story that I cannot write it.”</p> + +<p>Such was a portion of the young countess’ letter to the +friend whom, during those happy days at Hazelmere, she +had claimed as hers for all time, and then sealed the compact +with that beautiful ring.</p> + +<p>“In sickness or in health, for better or for worse, it will +be all the same. Be sure that you never forget it, Arley,” +she had said, with solemn sweetness, and how nobly she was +proving her sincerity now!</p> + +<p>But long weeks went by and Arley did not come, nor any +reply to her urgent letter, and she grew troubled and anxious +over the delay.</p> + +<p>She wrote again and again, with the same result; and Miss +McAllister was also in much distress now, for it had been +a long time since she had received a letter from her absent +dear one, and she was beginning to imagine all sorts of evil +things as happening to her.</p> + +<p>“She is either sick or unhappy,” she said, one day, when +Lady Elaine called to see if there was any word from her. +“If she is sick, Philip ought to write; if she is unhappy, of +course I know very well that neither of them would let it +be known. I do not like it. I am very uneasy.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, you might well be troubled and anxious if you knew +all!” thought Lady Elaine.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"> + CHAPTER XXXIII. + <br><span class="small"> + THE CRASH ON THE RAILROAD. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Meanwhile strange things were happening to Philip Paxton.</p> + +<p>He had occasion one day to go to Greenwich upon important +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>business for a client, and as he was anxious to get back +just as soon as possible, he resolved to go by the underground +railway and return the other way.</p> + +<p>As he entered and took his seat in the coach at the station, +he found three others in the compartment—a man and +woman of very respectable appearance, and with them an +exceedingly bright boy of perhaps twelve or thirteen years.</p> + +<p>The man was evidently a mechanic of some sort, with an +honest, open face, a frank, clear eye, and—what particularly +attracted Philip’s attention—was most politely attentive to +his wife, who was a delicate, pretty little woman, wearing +the happiest smile that he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>The boy was full of life and eagerness, intelligent beyond +his years, and kept asking questions regarding their trip, +which, apparently was one of pleasure, that both interested +and amused Philip.</p> + +<p>He appeared to take no notice of them, but nothing +escaped his observation; he saw everything—the kind little +attentions of the husband to his wife, her happy smile as +she raised her eyes in mute thanks to his, and the patient, +tender replies of both to their son’s eager questioning.</p> + +<p>Thus the time passed until they had nearly reached +Greenwich, where he found his companions were also going, +when there suddenly smote the air, a short, sharp, terrible +whistle, then followed a crash which made him feel as if he +was being crushed between a couple of thunderbolts, and he +knew no more until he felt himself lifted and carried quite +a distance, and then laid down upon a board or floor.</p> + +<p>Opening his eyes, he found he was stretched upon the +platform near the station where they were about to stop, +and where the accident had occurred; and as the mist cleared +still farther from his brain and sight, he saw a crowd of +people, with anxious, scared faces, running to and fro, carrying +lanterns, buckets of water and implements for removing +the <i>debris</i>.</p> + +<p>A little way back he could see a great mass lying upon the +track, and though but dimly discerning it in the gloom of +that underground passage, he knew it was a portion of the +train which had brought him hither.</p> + +<p>A man came up to him just then and peered curiously into +his face.</p> + +<p>“Hump!” he said, with an accent of surprise, “yer cum +to, be ye? I didn’t think ye ever would when we hauled ye +up here—thought ye had kicked the bucket, sure.”</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” Philip asked, faintly, and trying to +raise his hand to his aching head.</p> + +<p>“Switch wor wrong, and there’s ben a smashup.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span></p> + +<p>“Are there many injured?”</p> + +<p>“Thank Heaven, no sir!—though it’s a wonder there +weren’t a hundred or more killed. But it’s bad enough at +best, sir—a man and woman wor killed outright, and a little +boy most done for—that wor all, beside yerself, sir.”</p> + +<p>“A man and woman and little boy,” Philip repeated, his +mind reverting instantly to his companions in whom he had +been so interested. “They must have been in the coach with +me.”</p> + +<p>“They wor, sir; ye were all snarled in together; we thought +ye wor all dead but the boy, and we took care o’ him fust; +poor little shaver! It wor a pitiful sight, and he tried to be +brave when they pulled him from under the cruel wheel that +had crushed his leg to a jelly; the look in his eyes and his +bitter moans went through me like a knife, sir, for I’ve a boy +at home just his size,” and the man’s voice was tremulous +and husky as he told his sorrowful tale.</p> + +<p>“Poor little fellow!—where is he now?” Philip asked, +striving to lift himself to a sitting posture; but the effort +made him faint and sick, while a shower of stars appeared +to be hurled directly into his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Where is the boy now?” he asked after a moment, his +mind still upon the little sufferer.</p> + +<p>“In the station yonder, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Help me to my feet; I want to go to him,” Philip commanded, +and his good-natured attendant assisted him to rise.</p> + +<p>Slowly, and not without much pain, he made his way to the +station, where on a settee they had laid the poor little fellow, +whom accident had made an orphan in a moment of +time, and probably, also, a cripple for life.</p> + +<p>A crowd was gathered about him, gazing awestruck and +pityingly upon him, while they waited for a surgeon, whom +some one had gone to summon.</p> + +<p>As Philip drew near him, a look of recognition came into +his eyes, and he made a spasmodic gesture with his hand as +if to beckon him to his side.</p> + +<p>He went close to him, and bending over him, took his +handkerchief and wiped the moisture from his face.</p> + +<p>“My poor boy, I am sorry to see you so badly hurt,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“Water!” gasped the child.</p> + +<p>“Water!” Philip repeated, authoritatively, turning to those +behind him.</p> + +<p>A glass was instantly handed to him, and raising the sufferer’s +head with as much gentleness as an experienced +nurse would have done, he held it to his mouth while he +drank greedily.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> + +<p>But the effort cost him untold pain, and he moaned pitifully +as he was laid back upon the pile of coats, which had +been hastily formed into a pillow for him.</p> + +<p>At that moment a brisk, wiry man pushed up to him.</p> + +<p>“Go out—go out, every one of you!” he said, turning +around and facing the crowd and speaking with quiet decision.</p> + +<p>They began to scatter obediently, though reluctantly, for +a sort of fascination seemed to possess them to stay and view +the ghastly horror.</p> + +<p>Philip also would have withdrawn from his position, but +the boy clung to his hand, which he had grasped in a sort +of terror when the surgeon made his appearance.</p> + +<p>“Stay—please stay!” he cried, in a feeble voice.</p> + +<p>“Does he belong to you?” the surgeon asked of Philip.</p> + +<p>“No,” he returned, “but I was in the same carriage at the +time of the accident, and he seems to cling to me.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, stay then. Ah, you were hurt, too, eh?” he +queried, with a keen glance into his colorless face.</p> + +<p>“A trifle; but never mind me—see what you can do for +him,” Philip answered, with a feeling of impatience.</p> + +<p>But the surgeon had begun his examination almost before +he ceased speaking.</p> + +<p>With nimble fingers and a pair of sharp, glittering scissors, +he cut away the clothing from that injured limb, and +nothing but the convulsive clasp of that small hand upon his +kept Philip from fainting dead away at the ghastly sight +thus revealed.</p> + +<p>The surgeon’s own face grew stern and resolute as he +looked upon the work before him, though his eye was calm +and his hand steady, nor did he make a single false movement +as he examined the cruel hurt to ascertain the extent +of the injury.</p> + +<p>But gentle as was his touch, the ordeal was a fearful one, +and the child cringed and screamed with pain, but still +clinging through it all to Philip, whom he seemed instinctively +to trust.</p> + +<p>“I shall have to give him ether—I can never take those +arteries up properly with him in this state,” the surgeon +said, in a low tone to him.</p> + +<p>“It would be a mercy, I think,” Philip answered, with +colorless lips.</p> + +<p>“You will stay?” pleaded the boy, with a closer grip.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will stay—I will not leave you until you are comfortable,” +was the reassuring reply.</p> + +<p>He looked relieved, and made no resistance when the surgeon +applied the sponge to his nostrils, and he knew nothing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>more until all was over; which means a great deal, for +the bones of his foot and ankle had been so broken and +crushed that it was found necessary to remove it just above +the joint, while the taking up of the arteries, the placing +and sewing of the bruised and torn flesh was in itself no +trifling operation.</p> + +<p>But is was very quickly and neatly done, and when the +poor little fellow recovered consciousness, he was ready to +be removed to more comfortable quarters.</p> + +<p>“He must go to a hospital immediately,” the surgeon said +to Philip, as he held a strengthening mixture to his lips and +told him to drink it.</p> + +<p>“No—not there,” he cried, feebly, but with a shudder of +repulsion.</p> + +<p>“But you will be much better cared for there than anywhere +else, my boy,” returned the doctor, kindly.</p> + +<p>“No, no! Father—mother—home!” he gasped, wildly.</p> + +<p>The surgeon looked grave; he had been told the whole +story on his way hither.</p> + +<p>“But, my child,” he said, after a few moments’ hesitation, +“they are both injured, too”—he had not the heart to tell +him that they were dead—“and they could not take care +of you, if you should go home.”</p> + +<p>“Is there any one else in your house?” Philip asked.</p> + +<p>He shook his head wearily, a despairing look in his face.</p> + +<p>“Is hospital treatment absolutely necessary?” Philip asked, +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“No; not if he had a good home and some one to give +him proper care.”</p> + +<p>“Then I can supply the first, if you can recommend a +good, reliable nurse for him,” Philip returned, adding, after +a moment, in a lower tone:</p> + +<p>“I feel deeply interested in the boy, and I will be answerable +for him until some other provision can be made.”</p> + +<p>He took a card from his pocket, wrote his address upon +it, and gave it to the surgeon.</p> + +<p>“All right, Mr. Paxton,” he said, as he read it. “You are +very good, I am sure, to take this upon yourself, and I will +see that you have a first-rate nurse. But”—suddenly remembering +that he, too, had been injured, and remarking his +pallor—“what can I do for you? Where were you hurt?”</p> + +<p>“Nowhere particularly. I had an ugly knock on my head +which stunned me, but I seem to be getting better of it, and +I hope it will not amount to anything.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure,” replied the doctor. “You must look +out for yourself. Give your head plenty of water for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>next fortnight, and live light. These knocks on the head +sometimes prove more harmful than one would imagine.”</p> + +<p>Philip said nothing to this, though his head still felt very +strangely; but turning to his new charge, who had been +watching the two men anxiously, said:</p> + +<p>“You cannot go home, my boy, just now, because there is +no one there to take care of you, and you do not wish to +go to the hospital. Will you go with me, and be taken care +of until you are able to go home?”</p> + +<p>“Where are father and mother?” the boy asked, raising +his wistful eyes to Philip’s, with a look that made him +shrink with pain.</p> + +<p>“I told you that they were hurt, you know. Some people +outside are caring for them,” he answered, evasively.</p> + +<p>“Are they much hurt?” the child asked, with a sob.</p> + +<p>“I have not seen them. I came directly to you as soon +as I was able. But what will you do?”</p> + +<p>Philip did not dare to tell him the truth, and he longed +to get him away as quickly as possible, lest he should overhear +something.</p> + +<p>“I will go with—you,” he answered, feebly; and they saw +he was growing faint from excitement and the exertion +of talking.</p> + +<p>The surgeon gave him a stimulating draught; then, a carriage +having been obtained, he was borne out and laid upon +the cushions and driven to Philip’s lodgings, which were in +a pleasant street and a quiet locality.</p> + +<p>His landlady was very willing to rent an empty room next +to Philip’s, and her sympathy being aroused she did her +utmost to make the little stranger comfortable in it.</p> + +<p>The nurse arrived by noon, and Philip was relieved of +his charge and began to think of himself a little, and to +wonder if those sharp, shooting pains which made him blind +and sick every few moments would never stop.</p> + +<p>He showered his head thoroughly with cold water, then +binding wet bandages about it, he threw himself upon his +bed and was soon in a profound slumber.</p> + +<p>When he awoke he felt better, though there was still a +queer sensation in his head, and he was yet weak from the +shock which his system had sustained at the time of the +accident.</p> + +<p>He went into the adjoining room to ascertain how his +<i>protege</i> was progressing, and found him more comfortable +than he had anticipated, and sleeping quietly under the +influence of an anodyne.</p> + +<p>As he stood looking down upon his pale face, he could not +help remarking what a fine little countenance it was. Every +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>feature was clearly cut, and wonderful intelligence was +stamped upon it for one so young. It was such a pure, +innocent face, too, with its fair, open forehead and straight, +symmetrical brows; and Philip sighed as he remembered +his own boyhood, with its careless freedom and untrammeled +conscience.</p> + +<p>Many weeks went by, and the boy still lay upon his bed, +too weak and ill to heed much save the administering of +medicines and the dressing of his mutilated limb.</p> + +<p>But he always greeted Philip when he entered his room +with a light in his eyes which told him more plainly than +words how welcome he was, while his thin hand would creep +languidly into his strong clasp, and he would lie quiet and +contented as long as he would sit beside him thus.</p> + +<p>His appetite, too, once more asserted itself, and he partook +eagerly of the many delicacies with which Philip kept him +supplied. He became interested in what was transpiring +about him, and then came numerous and difficult questions.</p> + +<p>This was the one thing of all others which Philip dreaded +most, and he never performed a more difficult task in his life +than when he was compelled at last to tell Eddie Winthrope—for +that, he learned, was his name—that he was an orphan.</p> + +<p>But there was no violent outburst of grief when he made +this sad disclosure. The poor boy gave him one wild look +of horror, while his face blanched to the hue of death, when +he was told of his parents’ sad fate, then he covered his +eyes with his hands and shrank beneath the bedclothes, +where he lay so long and so still that Philip became alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Eddie,” he said, at length, in a husky voice, while he +gently uncovered the white face, “it is very, very sad for +you, I know, and I have suffered more than I can tell you, +knowing that I must relate the circumstances to you; but +you must try to bear it as bravely as possible, and try to +feel that it was so much better for them to be taken in a +moment of time, instead of having to linger, mangled, +bruised, and torn, for an indefinite period, and perhaps be +rendered useless for the remainder of their lives. They +could not have suffered much, for death must have been +almost instantaneous, and clasped in each other’s arms, they +looked as if they were asleep.”</p> + +<p>Then he went on to tell how kind hands had prepared +them for their last resting-place—a pleasant spot in a quiet +cemetery out of the city, and where the broad branches of a +venerable beech tree shaded the new-made graves.</p> + +<p>He did not tell him then, that he had attended to all this—purchased +this lovely spot, and followed the friendless couple +to their last home, and borne all the attendant expenses. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>But such was the case, and it was one of the grand acts +with which he commenced this new era of his life—one of +the first fruits testifying to the strength and sincerity of the +new purpose within him.</p> + +<p>Poor Eddie listened in helpless silence to the sad tale, +and when Philip at length concluded, he lifted a pair of +pitiful, appealing eyes to his face, and moaned:</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know they cannot come back, and heaven must be +beautiful to them, to go there together; but what will become +of me, without my father or mother, and only one foot to go +through the world with?”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"> + CHAPTER XXXIV. + <br><span class="small"> + A “LADY BORN.” + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Have you no relatives anywhere?” Philip asked, when his +little charge had grown more calm.</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” he answered, “I do not know of anybody in the +world who belongs to either father or mother who would +care anything for me.”</p> + +<p>Philip’s face lighted; if he took the boy to rear and educate +he would prefer not to be hampered by relatives—it would +be much better and pleasanter for both of them to have no +one to interfere with their plans or to criticise their movements.</p> + +<p>“I am sure, sir, I don’t know what I am going to do,” +pursued the boy, plaintively. “I suppose I could work when +I get well, if I only knew what to do; but it will be rather +hard to get around with only one foot; and—it will take +me a long time to pay up all I shall owe for the doctor, +and the nurse, and——”</p> + +<p>“Eddie,” Philip interrupted, moved almost to tears by +this evidence of his instinctive honor, “how would you like +to give yourself to me and be my boy? I, too,” he added, +with a keen pain at his heart, “have no one in the world +who care anything for me. I, too, am all alone. Would +you be willing to let me adopt you?”</p> + +<p>“What, sir! would you be willing to take a boy like me? +Why, I shall be nothing but a cripple all my life, and not +good for very much!” the boy exclaimed, raising himself on +his elbow, and staring in amazement at his companion, while +his pale face flushed crimson, and he was actually panting +with excitement.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I would not only be ‘willing,’ but very glad if you +would consent to such an arrangement; and don’t be too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>sure about not being ‘good for much,’” Philip returned, with +a smile.</p> + +<p>“But, sir, I am afraid that you pity me now, and you +might be sorry by and by,” Eddie returned, the flush still +on his face, and his eyes bright with gathering tears.</p> + +<p>Philip reached out and took the thin, trembling hand +that lay near him.</p> + +<p>“Will you be my boy until you see that I am beginning to +be ‘sorry’?” he asked, smiling still.</p> + +<p>“You are very good, sir,” Eddie replied, looking up again, +and trying to speak steadily. “I think I should like to stay +with you very much; but——”</p> + +<p>“But what?” Philip asked, encouragingly.</p> + +<p>“You said that you wanted to ‘adopt’ me—that means +to make me the same as your own child, doesn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I know that is very kind,” he pursued, with evident embarrassment, +“but—I don’t think I could quite make up my +mind to—to call you ‘father,’ at least, not just yet,” and his +lips trembled painfully.</p> + +<p>“I could not ask you to do that,” Philip returned, gently. +“You may call me ‘Uncle Philip,’ if you like; that will suit +me better than any other name, and I will try to make you +forget as soon as possible that I am not really and truly your +uncle. Will this arrangement please you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, sir. I never expected to feel so happy again +over anything,” the child answered, with a very earnest little +face, though his lips trembled. “It seems strange, though, +that anybody should be so good to me, just when I need it +the most. But I will try to be a good boy and do just +as you want me to.”</p> + +<p>And so the weeks lapsed into months, Eddie Winthrope +growing better all the while, under kind and judicious treatment. +His pale cheeks filled out round and full, and grew +rosy with health; his injured limb healed as only healthful +childish flesh can heal, and he was not long in learning how +to help himself, and make his well foot do the work of two, +for the other was still very sensitive, and it would be a long +time yet before he could bear to have a false one attached.</p> + +<p>Philip had bought him a strong, but light crutch, and he +soon grew very expert with it, being able to walk as fast +as even Philip himself cared to go.</p> + +<p>And the man was changed, also, in many respects; his +nature seemed to expand, his sympathies were enlarged, his +affection broadened and deepened with the thought and care +which he was obliged to exercise over his young charge, +while Eddie, thinking that no one was ever so grand and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>noble as “Uncle Philip,” grew to admire and love him more +and more every day.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was able, Philip thought it best for him +to resume his lessons which had been so cruelly interrupted; +but until he was thoroughly strong and well he was unwilling +to have him attend any regular school, and so a +competent teacher was secured to come to him for a few +hours each day.</p> + +<p>The boy displayed quite a talent for drawing, and begged +that he might receive instruction in that also.</p> + +<p>“You told me to ask for what I would like, Uncle Philip,” +he said, somewhat timidly, when he preferred this, his first +request of any moment.</p> + +<p>“You shall learn to draw to your heart’s content,” was the +ready response; and a master was forthwith engaged.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>About this time Arley returned.</p> + +<p>She had traveled eight months with Lady Herbert and her +son, instead of four or five, as they had originally intended.</p> + +<p>Nominally, she was the companion of Lady Herbert, but +she was really regarded more as a friend and equal by them +both, while every day of her stay with them seemed to +strengthen their friendship and admiration for her.</p> + +<p>As soon as they discovered how deftly she handled pencil +and brush, both mother and son advised her to put herself +under first-class instruction.</p> + +<p>It was what she had longed to do ever since she became +conscious of the genius burning within her; but she had +lacked the means, besides not feeling quite sure that her +talent was of an order high enough to make art a profession +and give her name to the public unless she could excel and +her standard was high.</p> + +<p>But Lady Herbert said so much, and Sir Charles, in his +quiet but conclusive way, having remarked that it would +not be right for her to slight her gift, she yielded, and +during the two months of their stay in Florence, and the +three they were in Rome, she went every day to paint under +the teaching of the best masters that could be found.</p> + +<p>She did not know that these opportunities were made +purposely for her, or that Sir Charles, in arranging with +the artists with whom she was to study, gave them to understand +that their terms must be very reasonable to the young +lady, while he would make up the deficiency, if there should +be any.</p> + +<p>This was Lady Herbert’s idea, for she was greatly interested +in her charming <i>protegee</i>; but had Arley suspected +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>it, nothing would have induced her to accept such costly +favors.</p> + +<p>So our young artist gave herself enthusiastically to her +work, making such rapid progress that her teachers promised +her that some day she would do something famous; but +she did not feel quite easy in her mind, and often cut her +days short to devote herself to Lady Herbert.</p> + +<p>She had told Lady Herbert all her sad story, and found +in her a true sympathizer and counselor; but after it was +once related she strove to hide all her unhappiness within +her own heart, and to be always calm, and even cheerful, +in the presence of her friends.</p> + +<p>After leaving Rome, where Arley completed her last picture—and +“a great success for so young an artist,” her +master told her—they roamed from place to place, stopping +a few days here, a few days there—never more than a week +anywhere, for Lady Herbert thought her charge looked thin +and not quite as well as she might, and needed change of +scene—and thus Arley missed Elaine’s important communications.</p> + +<p>It was not until they got back to Paris (where Sir +Charles had of late ordered all mail matter to be forwarded) +that she received her first letter relating to her discoveries. +The others she never received.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles handed it to her the morning after their +arrival, while they were sitting over their breakfast in Lady +Herbert’s parlor.</p> + +<p>She recognized the writing on the envelope at once, and, +taking a little penknife from her pocket, she cut it across +the end with an eager face, but little dreaming how important +its contents were.</p> + +<p>But she had not read more than a page or two before the +sheets dropped from her nerveless fingers, and she turned +a pale, startled face upon Lady Herbert.</p> + +<p>“I must go home immediately,” she said, in tremulous +tones.</p> + +<p>They had intended remaining a couple of weeks longer +in Paris, so that Arley might have an opportunity to study +some paintings in the Louvre, which her master in Rome +had recommended.</p> + +<p>“Dear child, have you bad news in your letter?” Lady +Herbert asked, anxiously, while Sir Charles looked the concern +he felt as he observed her emotion.</p> + +<p>“No, good news,” Arley replied, more steadily; “but it +has taken me so by surprise that I am wholly unprepared +for it. You have heard me speak of my friend, Lady +Elaine Warburton; she writes me that she has had quite +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>an adventure, meeting that woman—Jane Collins, of whom +I have also told you—and through her she has gained the +same clew to my parentage which I learned when I met +her in Madrid. It excited a suspicion in her mind, and +she resolved to take the tangled thread in hand and unravel +it, if it was a possible thing. She has succeeded—at last +she has discovered who I am,” and Arley’s cheeks were a +flaming scarlet as she made this announcement.</p> + +<p>“That is as far as I was able to get in my letter,” she +resumed. “I was so startled that I could not go on; but if +you will excuse me, I will go away and finish it, and then +come and tell you the result.”</p> + +<p>Lady Herbert gave the desired permission, and Arley left +the room.</p> + +<p>But when she reached her own chamber she could not +resume her letter at once; she could only hug it to her +throbbing heart, and weep tears of joy that at last she would +know her own place in the world.</p> + +<p>She knew that it would be an honorable place, too, for in +one eager, joyful sentence, Lady Elaine had written:</p> + +<p>“Arley, my darling, rejoice! rejoice! for you are a ‘lady +born.’ But come home quickly, for I must guard this grand +secret until I can whisper it directly into your own ear.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"> + CHAPTER XXXV. + <br><span class="small"> + THE GOOD SAMARITAN. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“When would you like to go home?” Lady Herbert asked, +after Lady Elaine’s letter had been discussed upon all its +points, and seeing that Arley appeared restless and eager.</p> + +<p>“At once—to-morrow; for see!” pointing to the date, “this +letter has been more than three months coming to me.”</p> + +<p>“True; I am very sorry it should have been so delayed; +but we will make all possible haste now,” Lady Herbert returned, +with the utmost kindness.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do not let me disarrange your plans!” Arley exclaimed, +quickly. “I can go alone—the journey from Paris +to Calais is so direct; while it will not be very much to +cross the Channel to Dover, and then go up to London. +You have been so kind and have done so much for me that +I do not feel right to trespass upon you any more.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, dear,” said her companion, reprovingly, “do not +ever use that word to me again; you have never ‘trespassed;’ +but I am, too, ready to go home—I am weary of roving; +besides,” she added, with a playful smile, “my curiosity +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>is on the <i>qui vive</i>—I want to learn this precious secret, too, +so that I may rejoice with you. Those words, ‘lady born,’ +look very nice on paper, but I am so glad that you have +that assurance, although I have been confident of it from +the hour that I first saw you, and you have proved yourself +a lady, in every sense of the word, during the time that +you have been with me, and I have grown to love you +very dearly.”</p> + +<p>Lady Herbert bent forward as she concluded, and kissed +Arley tenderly upon her lips; while she, with something of +her old impulsiveness, threw her arms around her neck and +heartily returned the caress.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles appeared as delighted with the news as his +mother had been, and eagerly seconded her proposal to return +immediately to England; and it was therefore arranged +that they should leave Paris the next morning.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister received the wanderer with open arms.</p> + +<p>Arley had telegraphed, as soon as she reached Dover, that +she should be home in a few hours, therefore they were looking +for her.</p> + +<p>“My darling, how we have missed you!” the old lady said, +tenderly, as she folded her close in her arms, and tried not +to notice the sad change in the originally bright face, while +she did not express the least surprise that she had come +back to her alone.</p> + +<p>But her keen glance had detected trouble the moment +she had looked into her eyes. Besides, her telegram had +read: “I shall be home this evening,” and she had seemed +to realize instinctively that something was very much amiss.</p> + +<p>Nothing could have been sweeter or more winning and +affectionate than Ina Wentworth’s greeting.</p> + +<p>“We are so glad to have you back once more,” she had +said, taking both Arley’s hands, and kissing her fondly, as +if “having her back” meant as much to her as it did to +her aunt, and treating her more like a loved sister rather +than like an acquaintance of a few hours.</p> + +<p>Arley felt a glow of affection for her instantly, while she +thought the gentle girl was just as lovely as she could be.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if she had been undergoing some refining +process during the last two years, which had rendered her +beauty more delicate and her manners more winning.</p> + +<p>She had been charmed with her from the first moment +of their meeting, and there was not the slightest feeling +of envy or bitterness in her heart toward her for having +so unceremoniously stepped into the home and fortune which +for so many years she had regarded as hers; instead, she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>began immediately to love her with an affection almost +equal to that which she had entertained for Miss McAllister.</p> + +<p>After they had taken tea they led her upstairs.</p> + +<p>“You must rest,” Miss McAllister said, with an anxious +look at the face, which was fast losing the color which +excitement had for a time lent it; “it is a hard journey +from Paris to London direct, and I know you are weary.”</p> + +<p>And Arley was glad to obey; but her heart quickened its +pulsations as they passed down the long corridor and finally +stopped at the door of her old room.</p> + +<p>Ina threw it open, and Arley uttered an exclamation as +she saw that everything within was exactly as she had left +it—all the little knickknacks and treasures which she had +gathered there as a girl were in their accustomed places, +while it seemed as if not even the fold of a curtain had +been disturbed, it was all so unchanged.</p> + +<p>There was even an old dressing-gown which had been +left behind because a newer and more dainty one had been +provided for the bride, hanging over the back of a chair, +and a pair of her very own slippers, with tiny red velvet +bows on the toes, which she remembered so well, were set +before the fire in the grate to warm her feet.</p> + +<p>It was all so natural and homelike that a sense of content +and delight filled her heart; but the next moment she +turned to Ina, a vivid flush on her cheek, a questioning +look in her eyes.</p> + +<p>The young girl broke into a low, sweet laugh, and there +was a peculiar charm in it to the returned wanderer.</p> + +<p>“You did not suppose I would ever occupy these rooms, +did you?” she asked, reading Arley’s thought at once. “No, +indeed; I begged auntie to let me have the ones opposite +hers, and reserve these just as you had left them, so that +whenever you could spare us time for a little visit you would +feel as if you had got into your own corner in the home-nest +again. We have done nothing to them except to freshen +them up for you; besides,” she added, as she saw that Arley +looked troubled and the tears were gathering in her eyes, +“these windows have a southern prospect, while I am particularly +fond of a western view, where I can have a glorious +sunset once in a while, as you know I can have from those +in the blue room.</p> + +<p>“Now, auntie,” she continued, with ready tact, seeing that +Arley was almost ready to break down, and unable to utter +a word of appreciation or thanks, “I am going to run down +and send Sarah up to wait upon Arley just as she used +to, and you can come when you are ready. Good-night, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>dear,” and bending forward, she kissed Arley, and then +quickly left the room.</p> + +<p>But she did not mean to send Sarah, nor allow any one +else to go up into that chamber for a good while to come.</p> + +<p>She meant to let Arley weep out her full heart uninterrupted, +and unburden all her sorrow to kind, sympathetic +Miss McAllister; she knew that it would have to come sooner +or later, and that it would do her good, so the quicker the +better.</p> + +<p>And the door had scarcely closed after her, when the +poor child’s self-possession forsook her entirely, and, throwing +herself into Miss McAllister’s arms in a perfect abandonment +of grief, she cried out:</p> + +<p>“Auntie! auntie! I see by your kind, sorry eyes that you +almost know what I have to tell you—my story of sorrow +and shame, of my ruined life, my miserable, wretched mistake.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, dear,” the old lady whispered, soothingly, while +she folded her close to her; “you must not excite yourself +thus or you will be ill. Yes, I knew that something was +wrong with you, but just what I could not imagine. Where +is Philip—your husband—Arley?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, auntie, I don’t know,” and the sob that followed +these words was pitiful to hear.</p> + +<p>“You don’t know!” repeated Miss McAllister, in a sort +of stupid amaze.</p> + +<p>“No. I have not seen him for almost a year.”</p> + +<p>“Arley!” was the astonished, almost stern ejaculation, in +reply to this dreadful statement.</p> + +<p>“No, auntie; and what is more I never wish to see him +again,” Arley returned, somewhat spiritedly.</p> + +<p>“My child, tell me all about it,” Miss McAllister commanded, +when at length she could get her breath after the +shock which Arley’s revelation had given her.</p> + +<p>And she obeyed, beginning with what had transpired upon +her wedding day, and giving a truthful account of all that +she had suffered from the man who should have been a +faithful provider and a tender protector.</p> + +<p>The old lady’s face grew pale and stern as she listened, +and she thanked the fates that she had not made known +her intentions regarding the future disposition of her property +before the pair left home.</p> + +<p>She had resolved to settle a handsome income on Arley, +after seeing how nobly she had borne herself upon learning +that she was not Captain Wentworth’s child; she had +been almost tempted to do it when she had sent for Mr. +Holley to make over her fortune to Ina; but she rejoiced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>now that she had not done so, for she believed that Philip +would have continued to live in idleness, and perhaps ill-treated +Arley until this day.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister then told Arley how Lady Elaine had +come to her to learn the name of the vessel in which she had +been sent home from India; how she had asked for something +that she had worn at that time, and then taken away +the little shoes and stockings, and emerald ring, hoping that +they might aid her in her search.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid that I have no father and mother living. I +am afraid there will be no one to own and love me in my +new position, whatever that may be; for if there had been +she would never have kept this secret to herself. She +would have been in duty bound to tell my relatives, and +they would naturally have come to you to learn more about +me,” Arley said, somewhat dejectedly.</p> + +<p>“You will have just as many to love you as you have +always had, even if you find no new relatives,” Miss McAllister +replied, kissing her tenderly. “You still belong +to me, and will always be bound to me by the deep love +which we have for each other, and your home shall henceforth +be here, just the same as it used to be, and we will +try to make you forget these last two years that have been +so fraught with unhappiness to you. We will be as happy +as possible while we are spared to each other; and when I +am gone, perhaps you and Ina will love each other well +enough to keep on in the old home together——”</p> + +<p>Arley stopped those aged lips, which were tremulous with +emotion, with a soft touch of her fingers.</p> + +<p>“Auntie,” she said, appealingly, “don’t speak of anything +like that to-night. I have but just got home to you, and I +do not want to think of another parting.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she continued, with a fond look, while she leaned +against Miss McAllister’s shoulder, “I believe I never loved +you half as well in the old days as I do now—at least, I +did not realize it then as now. And how kind it was of +you and Ina to keep my rooms for me! It gives me such +a restful, peaceful feeling to be here once more. I am like +a tired child who has been lost for a long time and then +found and carried back to its father’s house.”</p> + +<p>“Dear child! and we are so glad to have you here!” murmured +Miss McAllister, with fast-falling tears.</p> + +<p>“I believe you are,” was the contented response, “and +Ina, too. How lovely she is!”</p> + +<p>“She is, indeed in both form and spirit; she has done +everything since you went away to fill your place; she +learned from the servants all that you were accustomed to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>do for me, and it has been really touching to see how faithful +she has been in the performance of every duty.”</p> + +<p>“I am so glad; if she had been disagreeable or unlovely +I am afraid I should have found it hard to forgive her +for stepping so unceremoniously into my place,” Arley said, +with a little flash of her old spirit.</p> + +<p>“But,” she added, a moment later, “I believe I am very +impatient. I can hardly wait for morning to come, I am +so anxious to learn the mysterious secret of my identity. +Where is Elaine stopping?”</p> + +<p>“At the Langham. Sir Anthony came to London intending +to remain only a short time, or until his business was +completed; but Lady Hamilton has enjoyed the excitement +of the city and seems to dread going back to Hazelmere, +where she misses her son so much, so they have remained +here until now. I will send William to tell Lady Elaine +of your arrival the first thing in the morning, for you shall +not be kept in suspense a moment longer than is absolutely +necessary.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, auntie. Poor Elaine! what trouble she has +had since I went away,” Arley sighed, “how much sorrow +there is in the world.”</p> + +<p>“That is true, dear,” gravely returned Miss McAllister, +“but sometimes our greatest blessings grow out of our +heaviest sorrows.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"> + CHAPTER XXXVI. + <br><span class="small"> + THE STRANGE LETTER. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>True to her promise, Miss McAllister sent a messenger +early the next morning to inform Lady Elaine of Arley’s +return; but to the great disappointment of the whole family, +he brought back word that Lady Hamilton, accompanied by +Lady Elaine, had gone to Hazelmere for a couple of days, +to give directions regarding the refurnishing of the rooms.</p> + +<p>But Sir Anthony was delighted to hear of her arrival, and +sent a message, saying that he should come to see her as soon +as he had finished his breakfast; and he was as good as +his word, for in less than an hour he was in Miss McAllister’s +parlor, and his face betrayed genuine pleasure as +he greeted Arley, for she had been quite a favorite with +him at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, Miss Arley—excuse me—Mrs. Paxton,” he +said, shaking her warmly by the hand, “it really does me +good to see you again. But how you have changed! For +the better, if you will allow me to say it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> + +<p>And his eyes roved admiringly from her flushed, smiling +face over her fine, graceful figure.</p> + +<p>“And so you have concluded to let your husband come +home and extend your travels—these husbands have to attend +to business in order to make money for their wives +to spend, eh?” he continued, jocosely. “Ah! you needn’t +blush about it, child; it was all right enough for you to +see more of the world, if you could stand it to be separated +from that handsome chap. Philip told me all about it—said +you had met some friends who were going to take +you about more. He—Philip—was quite neighborly for +a while after his return; he used to come down to spend +an evening with us, and play chess with mother, but I +haven’t seen him at all lately; some one told me, though, +that he was overrun with business, so I suppose he hasn’t +had time to visit. However, I suppose you know all about +it, and he must be glad enough to have you at home once +more.”</p> + +<p>Arley was amazed.</p> + +<p>She had grown hot and cold by turns as Sir Anthony +rattled off this long speech, and she was thankful enough +that he was inclined to do all the talking, for if he had +asked her a direct question she could not have answered it +to save her life.</p> + +<p>Philip back in London and hard at work—overrun with +business!</p> + +<p>She could scarcely credit it. She did not know what it +could mean.</p> + +<p>He had been a visitor, too, it seemed, at the Langham, +calling freely upon the Hamiltons and Lady Elaine, while, +strangest of all, he had allowed them to believe—so she gathered +from Sir Anthony’s words—that everything was all +right between him and his wife—that he had merely returned +on account of business, while she had remained +abroad for the sake of seeing more of the world.</p> + +<p>She was actually stricken dumb for the time, when, happening +to glance at Miss McAllister, she saw she was as +astonished as herself, for a perfectly blank expression had +settled upon her face.</p> + +<p>This warned her that she must make some effort to reply +to Sir Anthony, or he would see that something was amiss, +and be making uncomfortable inquiries, which would necessitate +disagreeable explanations.</p> + +<p>Giving her aunt a significant glance, she turned with a +smile to her visitor, and said:</p> + +<p>“Yes, Sir Anthony, I have done considerable traveling +since I saw you last, and have seen a good deal of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>Continent. I met Sir Charles Herbert and his mother when +I was in Madrid, and they kindly offered to take care of +me if I would travel with them for a few months longer.”</p> + +<p>“Sir Charles Herbert! I know him—or at least I used +to know his father well. Lady Herbert is a splendid woman, +and her son, as I remember him—a fine lad—gave promise +of being a noble man.”</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony sighed heavily as he concluded, and his face +grew very sad.</p> + +<p>Arley knew that he was thinking of Wil, who would have +compared favorably with any young man in the kingdom; +but she was glad to have the subject changed, and returned:</p> + +<p>“Yes, they are very pleasant people, and I enjoyed their +society exceedingly; but tell me something about yourselves; +Lady Hamilton is well, I trust.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she is in good health, but she is not like herself +yet; our hearts have been almost broken since you went +away,” and the bereaved father broke down entirely as he +said this.</p> + +<p>“I know,” Arley murmured, the tears starting quickly to +her eyes; “Annie wrote me about your sad trouble. Dear Sir +Anthony,” she added tremulously, “if Wil had been my own +brother I could not have grieved more for him; and poor +Elaine! what a blow it must be to her!”</p> + +<p>“Ah! yes; but she is a pure-hearted saint, if there ever +was one,” Sir Anthony returned, patiently, wiping the tears +which would roll down his furrowed cheeks. “I’m sure I +don’t know what we ever should have done without her—she +has been almost son and daughter both to us. Lady +Hamilton feels as if she cannot bear to have her out of +sight, though sometimes I’m afraid we are selfish and trespass +upon her goodness more than we ought. She will be +delighted to learn of your return, I expect,” he added, forcing +a smile to his still trembling lips; “when we hear the +wonderful secret which she has been keeping for you, we +shall all be greatly astonished.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know anything about it?” questioned Arley, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Not a word more than the fact that she has succeeded +in establishing your identity beyond dispute; she affirms that +no one shall know anything about it until after she has +told you.”</p> + +<p>“I must confess that I am very impatient,” said Arley, +with a long-drawn sigh.</p> + +<p>“Well, your patience won’t be taxed so very long; they +will return to-morrow, and then we must all make up our +minds to be astonished. We know this much,” Sir Anthony +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>added, with a twinkle in his eyes, “that you are a ‘lady born’—who +knows but what you may prove to be a princess?”</p> + +<p>“Now, Sir Anthony, you are laughing at me! that is an +absurd idea,” Arley retorted, with something like an old-time +pout.</p> + +<p>“Well, whoever you are, I hope you will not be beyond the +reach of your old friends, for we all have been very fond +of you,” he answered, kindly.</p> + +<p>“Never fear that; my old friends have proved themselves +too true for me to ever wish to get beyond them; there are +not many who would have been so steadfast as you all have +been in my adversity,” she returned, feelingly.</p> + +<p>“Tut, tut, my child; your friends were very proud of you, +after the noble renunciation which you made. I know of +no one of whom I am so fond, after my own two dear girls, as +I am of you, my fair ‘Rose of Wentworth.’”</p> + +<p>Arley smiled and blushed, then sighed at the sound of +that old familiar name.</p> + +<p>“You forget,” she said, “that I am not entitled to that +name any more.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I did forget,” Sir Anthony replied, “but no matter; +doubtless you have not forgotten that old couplet, which, +by the way, fits in exactly here:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘What’s in a name? that which we call a rose</div> + <div class="verse indent1">By any other name would smell as sweet.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>But I must go,” he added, rising. “I have an appointment +in Piccadilly at twelve, and it is half-past eleven now. I +shall send Lady Elaine around just as soon as she returns, +and you must tell Philip to bring you up to the Langham +as often as possible. We do not go down to Hazelmere for +another month yet; when we do we shall want you to come +for a long visit.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” Arley said, with rising color at the mention +of Philip’s name; “you may be sure that I shall come to +see Lady Hamilton very soon; give my love to her, and come +again yourself, Sir Anthony, to see me.”</p> + +<p>She had hard work not to look guilty, while her heart was +beating like a trip hammer in her bosom.</p> + +<p>But Sir Anthony did not appear to mistrust that anything +was wrong, and, after shaking hands all around, and +inviting both Miss McAllister and Ina to visit them, he +took his leave.</p> + +<p>“Auntie, what does it all mean?” Arley exclaimed, losing +all her brilliant color and sinking weakly into a chair the +moment the door closed after him. “Philip back in London +and at work! while no one mistrusts the truth regarding us; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>but, according to Sir Anthony’s account, every one believes +that I have been traveling merely for my own pleasure, and +with his knowledge and consent.”</p> + +<p>“It is pretty evident to me what it means,” Miss McAllister +replied, severely. “He has probably managed to +learn what the rest of us know—that the mystery of your +birth has been solved, and that you are a ‘lady born,’ as your +friend has chosen to put it. Perhaps he hopes that you will +come into an independent fortune with your new position, +and expects that you will forgive him and allow him to +share it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” Arley answered, musingly.</p> + +<p>“I hope, however,” her aunt resumed, with an uneasy +glance at the grave, thoughtful face, “that you will not be +so foolish as to do anything of the kind. You have suffered +enough already at his hands.”</p> + +<p>“Auntie, I must confess that I don’t feel very much like +forgiving him,” and she shivered slightly; “but I don’t +imagine that I am going to be very much of an heiress,” she +added, with a smile. “I fear I shall be ‘Poor Arley’ still; +but if you will let me stay with you—that is, if no peremptory +duties call me elsewhere—I shall feel very grateful +and content.”</p> + +<p>“Child!” and Miss McAllister choked over the word, and +winked hard to keep the tears back; “you ought not to talk +to me like that. Do you not know that I love you dearly, +and nothing could make me happier than to keep you with +us?—eh, Ina?” and she turned almost sharply to the young +girl, to hide her emotion.</p> + +<p>Ina arose, without a word, and, crossing the room, knelt +by Arley’s side.</p> + +<p>“How I wish that you were my sister!” she said, lifting +her grave, sweet eyes to the troubled face. “Just think what +my life has been—how few I have had to love me! I am +so glad that you wish to stay with us! Let us imagine ourselves +auntie’s girls, and forget, if we can, that you ever +went away from the home that you loved so well.”</p> + +<p>Arley bent down and kissed the fair, upturned forehead.</p> + +<p>“One could not help loving you if one should try ever so +hard,” she said, smiling through her tears. But before she +could say more a servant entered, bearing a package, which +she gave to Arley and then withdrew.</p> + +<p>One glance at the address drove every particle of color +from her face; for there, in Philip’s clear, bold hand, was +written her full name, “Mrs. Philip Paxton.”</p> + +<p>Her first thought was that it contained legal papers dissolving +the bonds which united her to him. She thought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>that he had doubtless been employing his time since his +return to England in securing the divorce which he failed to +obtain in Madrid, and now, having heard of her arrival, +had sent to notify her of the fact.</p> + +<p>“Auntie! it is from him!” she gasped, lifting a frightened +glance to Miss McAllister’s face, while the package slipped +from her nerveless fingers into her lap, and she leaned +weakly back in her chair.</p> + +<p>“Throw it into the fire, child, if you do not wish to open +it,” was her grim response.</p> + +<p>That morning’s paper had given a list of the passengers +who had crossed the Channel from Calais to Dover the day +before, and he read the names of Sir Charles and Lady +Herbert, and Mrs. Philip Paxton, among them.</p> + +<p>He knew instantly that the time for his confession had +come, and, with a very white, set face, he took that package +from his safe, and, giving it into the hands of a trusty messenger, +dispatched it to Miss McAllister’s residence, where +he felt quite sure Arley would be found.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what this is; it feels like a box,” Arley said, +gathering courage to lift it from her lap, and fingering it +curiously.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister, fearing that she might be betrayed into +further indiscretions of speech, arose and left the room without +making any reply.</p> + +<p>“I am going, too, dear,” Ina said, rising to follow, “so +take your own time to examine your package, and I will see +that you are not disturbed.”</p> + +<p>“What a dear she is—so kind and thoughtful for others, +and yet so unassuming,” Arley murmured, as the door closed +after the lovely girl.</p> + +<p>With trembling fingers she removed the wrapper from her +package and found a small box, with quite a bulky letter +within.</p> + +<p>She opened the letter first, and as she did so two bank-notes, +one for a hundred, the other for twenty pounds, fluttered +into her lap.</p> + +<p>A startled cry broke from her at the sight of them, and +all the blood in her body seemed for a moment to rush into +her face, making her ears ring and her head dizzy.</p> + +<p>Then a look of horror came into her eyes as Miss McAllister’s +excited assertion: “He stole it—I know he did,” +flashed into her mind.</p> + +<p>With a wildly beating heart and panting breath she broke +asunder the ribbon which bound the box, lifted the cover, +and lo! her own lost jewels lay before her.</p> + +<p>It was true, then—he had been the thief, after all; and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>with a low, shuddering cry, she dashed them down, covered +her face with her hands and broke into nervous weeping.</p> + +<p>She would almost rather never have recovered those keepsakes, +precious though they were, than to have learned this +bitter, humiliating truth—to have discovered that the man +to whom she had surrendered her fondest affections was no +better than a common thief.</p> + +<p>She then unfolded those closely-written sheets—her face +as colorless as the paper itself, her lips set in a tight, livid +line, a cold, steely glitter in her eyes—and commenced to +read.</p> + +<p>But by and by her brow began to relax its rigid lines; a +softer light shone in her dark eyes, and—reading still further +on—her inflexible lips seemed slightly less stern and +even grew tremulous, and when at length she came to those +last appealing lines, where Philip begged her to “let a little +divine compassion into her heart and breathe one single +prayer for him,” she broke down again and sobbed like a +grieved and wounded child.</p> + +<p>It was like a warm spring rain, after the frost, and ice, +and snow of the dismal winter, mellowing and enriching her +hardened heart, as the earth is mellowed and enriched, and +made once again to yield forth the treasures so long hidden +within its bosom.</p> + +<p>“It is a strange, strange letter,” Arley sighed, as she +folded and returned it to the envelope, “and it makes me +feel very strangely—it arouses anew all my former bitterness, +anger and scorn, while at the same time I am moved +to the deepest pity.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"> + CHAPTER XXXVII. + <br><span class="small"> + IN A DILEMMA. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“I am glad, at all events, to get my jewels back,” she +added, as she eyed them fondly, lifting each piece with +tender, caressing fingers, and recalling the friends who had +given them to her. “But this money, what shall I do with +it? The hundred pounds rightly belongs to me, and I shall +keep it; but the other—the ‘interest,’ as he calls it—I believe—I +do not want; and as for that which he has deposited +in the Bank of England in my name, I could never +touch a penny of it.”</p> + +<p>Her eyes blazed at the thought of it, her head was thrown +proudly back, and her lips curled with derision.</p> + +<p>The hundred-pound note she put away in her purse, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>other she returned to the envelope containing Philip’s letter, +and then she fell to musing sorrowfully, and was only +aroused when Miss McAllister returned after a long absence, +during which she had been in a continual ferment of anxiety +and curiosity regarding the contents of Philip Paxton’s +package.</p> + +<p>Arley arose as she entered, and, putting her letter into +her hands, begged her to read it.</p> + +<p>Scarcely a sound, save the rattling of the paper, as Miss +McAllister turned the pages of Philip’s letter was heard +in the room during the next half-hour.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister sat bolt upright by a window, with lowering +brow, stern, relentless eyes, and firmly compressed lips.</p> + +<p>Arley lay wearily back in her low rocker by the fire, her +hands clasped patiently in her lap, but looking very pale +and sorrowful.</p> + +<p>“Well, auntie, what do you think of it?” she questioned, +when that lady at last refolded Philip’s confession, and +handed it back to her.</p> + +<p>“That he is even a greater rascal than I believed him +to be—and that was bad enough, goodness knows!” was the +grim reply.</p> + +<p>Arley flushed.</p> + +<p>She could think all manner of hard things of him herself, +but it seemed very harsh when put into such severe +language by another.</p> + +<p>“But he seems sorry,” she said, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister eyed the pretty figure opposite her uneasily.</p> + +<p>“I hope,” she said, coldly, “that you are not meditating +anything so foolish as to forgive him and take him back +to your favor? I should suppose that once having released +yourself from the lion’s power, you would not be very eager +to put your head between his jaws again.”</p> + +<p>“No; I’m afraid that I can’t forgive him, auntie——”</p> + +<p>“Afraid!” was the startled interruption.</p> + +<p>“Yes. You know we are commanded to ‘forgive, as we +hope to be forgiven,’” Arley murmured, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“Of course—of course; no Christian should cherish malice, +or wish evil to any one; but this is a peculiar case. You +are not obliged to wish for any special judgment to overtake +Philip—you can simply drop him altogether out of your +life.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; those wretched months are still too fresh in my +mind to admit of my wishing him to have any part in my +future,” and Arley shivered slightly. “But if he really feels +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>as remorseful as his letter seems to indicate, I would at least +like to render him all the credit that is his due.”</p> + +<p>“Precious little due him, in my opinion,” was the severe +retort, and there the matter dropped.</p> + +<p>Events crowded thick and fast upon the returned wanderer, +for during the next forenoon Mr. Holley, Arley’s former +lawyer, was announced.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, Mrs. Arley,” he said, jovially, as he warmly +grasped her hand, “it does my old eyes good to see you +home once more. Mr. Paxton sent me up word last night +that you had returned, and as I promised to transact a +little business for him when you came, I thought I’d settle +it at once; and you may be sure I was very glad of the +opportunity to come and welcome you home.”</p> + +<p>What could be coming now? Arley wondered, clasping her +hands so tightly that the nails left deep, purple marks upon +them for long afterward.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Paxton waited upon me some time ago,” the lawyer +resumed, “and told me that he had settled a sum upon you—twenty +thousand pounds—depositing the money in the +Bank of England, and he desired that I would take charge +of it, as I had done of your money in the past, and pay +you the interest quarterly, as before. He said that he had +made this arrangement, so that you might have the same +feeling of independence that you used to have, while he +wished you to be provided for in case of any accident occurring +to him. I need not tell you that I am very proud to +be restored to my old position as your man of business, or +that it is with great pleasure that I pay over this first quarterly +installment to you—Mr. Paxton notified me of your +return last night—and you may be sure that I shall make +prompt payments every quarter-day.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Holley reached forward and slipped a roll of bills into +Arley’s hands as he ceased speaking.</p> + +<p>She felt as if she should sink through the floor, as he +crowded that money upon her.</p> + +<p>Her first impulse was to dash it angrily back into the +man’s face and bid him carry it back to its donor.</p> + +<p>But, as she reasoned, he was in total ignorance of the +truth of her relations to Philip—everything that he had +said went to prove it—and if she rejected the money she +would be obliged to explain why, and reveal the whole of +her dreadful story.</p> + +<p>It was evident that Mr. Holley believed, as Sir Anthony +had appeared to do, that she and her husband were upon +the most amiable terms with each other; and it was also +evident that Philip was rigidly concealing everything which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>would tend to create any scandal, thus leaving her, as he +had told her in his letter that he should do, to take whatever +steps against him she might see fit.</p> + +<p>What should she do?</p> + +<p>That money seemed like a live coal in her hands; and +she knew, with her present feelings, that she could never +use so much as a farthing of it; and yet, if she gave it +back to Mr. Holley, she must give him a reason, and she +recoiled from rehearsing her troubles to any one outside the +family.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister’s face had grown black with wrath over +this strange proceeding; but she was obliged to hold her +tongue, knowing that any interference on her part would +be unseemly, at least in the presence of a third person.</p> + +<p>But the lawyer was waiting for Arley to say something, +his face all smiles and aglow with heartiest sympathy for +her good fortune, as he regarded it, and she knew that she +must make him some reply.</p> + +<p>“Really, Mr. Holley,” she began, with a crimson face, +“this is a surprise to me——”</p> + +<p>“What! Has not your husband told you anything about +it? Has he left me to enlighten you upon the subject?” +interrupted the lawyer, astonished.</p> + +<p>Arley’s heart leaped into her throat. It was very hard +to know just what it was best to say.</p> + +<p>“He did mention that he had deposited some money in the +Bank of England for me; but I had no idea that I was to +receive such a sum as you mention, and really,” she added, +with a nervous, almost hysterical, laugh, “I have regarded +myself as portionless for so long that I fear I shall not +know how to behave, with all this wealth at my command.”</p> + +<p>“I do not believe you will have any difficulty regarding the +disposal of it,” Miss McAllister interposed, in a dry tone.</p> + +<p>“I am sure you deserve it all, my dear,” Mr. Holley replied, +never once suspecting the point of the venerable spinster’s +remark. “There has been a sore spot in my heart ever +since your marriage that you were obliged to relinquish +that snug little income to which you had always been accustomed, +though I admire Miss Wentworth exceedingly, +and I am very happy to serve her. But I was always fond +of you, Mrs. Arley, and I am heartily glad that you are to +be independent once more, while I admire your husband for +having done this thing.”</p> + +<p>And after a few more words, Mr. Holley took his departure.</p> + +<p>“About this money,” said Miss McAllister, quietly, “if +you don’t like to refuse to take it from Mr. Holley, you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>can inclose it in an envelope and return it to Philip every +quarter.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I could do that—at least for the present,” Arley +said, with a look of relief. “Of course, after a while, when +people come to see that we are never together, the truth +will leak out, and then I can stop the payments.”</p> + +<p>She went at once to act upon Miss McAllister’s suggestion, +and with a hand that was far from steady, she inclosed +the sum Mr. Holley had paid her, together with the +twenty-pound note Philip had already sent her as interest +on her hundred pounds, in an envelope, directed it to +him at his chambers, and sent it off at once.</p> + +<p>That evening Sir Charles and his mother called, and were +most cordially received by Miss McAllister.</p> + +<p>After introducing her aunt, Arley led Ina to Lady Herbert, +saying smilingly:</p> + +<p>“This is the real Arley Wentworth, of whom I have told +you, and whose golden slippers I wore so long.”</p> + +<p>Her ladyship studied the fair face a moment, then said, as +she took the gentle girl by the hand:</p> + +<p>“Well, dear, since you had to give them up, I am sure you +must have been glad to resign them to one so worthy.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I was,” Arley replied, heartily, and then she presented +Ina to Sir Charles.</p> + +<p>As she did so she noted the eager, admiring glance which +the young baronet bestowed upon her, and also the faint +flush which stole into the beautiful girl’s cheek, and the shy +drooping of her white lids after her first glance into his noble +face.</p> + +<p>“They will love each other,” she said to herself, with sudden +conviction; “and, oh, how well fitted they are for each +other—he so grand and true, she so gentle and lovable.”</p> + +<p>It did, indeed, seem as if her prophecy was likely to come +true, for Sir Charles had neither eyes nor ears for any one +else throughout his call.</p> + +<p>He hardy noticed Arley after their first greeting, until +his mother arose to go; then he seemed to suddenly remember +his errand there.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Paxton,” he said, “I have succeeded in securing a +place for your pictures at the exhibition.”</p> + +<p>“So soon?” cried Arley, astonished; but her face lighted +with genuine pleasure.</p> + +<p>“It must be ‘soon’ or not at all, you know,” he returned, +“for it opens to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“True. I had forgotten. How do they look? Have they +a good light?”</p> + +<p>“The best that they could possibly have. I was very fortunate, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>and they present a fine appearance, I assure you. An +artist,” he explained, “was expected to bring two very fine +pictures from Paris, but a telegram was received last night +stating that they had been destroyed by fire, so the places reserved +for them could be given to others. I was the first applicant +this morning, and so secured the vacant space.”</p> + +<p>“You must come and stay a month with me, dear, just as +soon as your friends can spare you,” her ladyship whispered +in Arley’s ear, as she kissed her at parting. “You have been +with me so long, and I have learned to love you so well, I +miss you sadly.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” Arley returned, with trembling lips. “I do +not know what would ever have become of me but for you.”</p> + +<p>“Some other fortunate individual would have secured your +companionship, and I should have missed a great deal out of +my life,” responded Lady Herbert, cheerfully; and then, with +another kiss, followed her son to their carriage.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"> + CHAPTER XXXVIII. + <br><span class="small"> + ARLEY’S AMAZEMENT. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>A great disappointment came to Arley soon after Sir +Charles and Lady Herbert’s departure.</p> + +<p>A note was brought to her from Sir Anthony Hamilton +saying that he had just received a letter from Lady Hamilton +containing the intelligence that the housekeeper at Hazelmere +was ill, consequently everything was going wrong, and +she and Lady Elaine would be obliged to remain a week +longer at least.</p> + +<p>Sir Anthony wrote that he was very sorry, and if Arley +felt that she could not wait that time to learn the precious +secret, he would telegraph Lady Elaine of her return, and she +could come immediately up to London, and leave his wife to +attend to the home difficulties.</p> + +<p>At first Arley thought that she could not wait a whole +week, and perhaps longer, before having the tantalizing mystery +solved.</p> + +<p>But remembering how Lady Hamilton clung to Lady +Elaine, she said:</p> + +<p>“I will not be so childish—‘good news will keep;’ I will be +patient and wait until they see fit to return.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly she sat down and replied to Sir Anthony’s +note to that effect, telling him to do nothing to disarrange his +wife’s plans—to let them take their own time, and she would +try to be content.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span></p> + +<p>Three days later she went to the art gallery to see her +pictures.</p> + +<p>She had chosen an hour when she thought the fewest people +of her acquaintance would be abroad, and she saw no one +anywhere whom she knew. She wandered about for an hour +or more, visiting the different rooms, and examining the pictures, +and finally came back to take one more look at her +own before going home.</p> + +<p>The room just then was almost deserted; there was only a +young lad there, and he was standing before one of her pictures, +pencil and paper in hand, trying to sketch its outlines +to take away with him.</p> + +<p>Arley was attracted by his bright and intelligent, though +rather pale, face, at once; and she noticed, with a thrill of +sympathy, that he had one foot, and walked, or rather leaned +upon a crutch.</p> + +<p>Of course it was none other than Eddie Winthrope.</p> + +<p>Dearly loving everything connected with art, he had asked +Philip if he might attend the exhibition, and he had replied +by presenting him with a season ticket, greatly to his delight, +and after that he was scarcely visible all day long, disappearing +about nine in the morning, and hurrying away to +the art gallery, where he would remain absorbed in its treasures +until it grew too dark to see.</p> + +<p>He always went provided with pencil and sketchbook, and +if anything particularly struck his fancy, he would make an +attempt to copy it, and then amused himself during the evening +after his return, by trying to fill in and do the shading, +and thus try to describe to Philip what he had seen during +the day.</p> + +<p>Thus Arley found him on the third day of the exhibition +intent upon trying to make an outline sketch of one of her +pictures.</p> + +<p>She pretended not to notice him, but in passing him she +glanced over his shoulder, with a smile of amusement, expecting +to see a shapeless contortion of her work, but she +was surprised to find his copy assuming quite a correct likeness +to the original.</p> + +<p>Actuated by an irresistible impulse, she stopped and said, +kindly:</p> + +<p>“My boy, you use your pencil very deftly; will you allow +me to look at what you are doing?”</p> + +<p>Arley had put up her veil when she saw how nearly empty +the room was, and Eddie, turning quickly at the sound of her +voice, looked up into what he thought was the most beautiful +face that he had ever seen in his life.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p> + +<p>He flushed with both pleasure and shyness at her request, +and clung to his drawing hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>“It is nothing,” he stammered; “of course, I cannot do it +nicely, but it is so pretty,” with a longing glance at Arley’s +picture, “that I wanted something to remember it by.”</p> + +<p>“Please let me see,” Arley said.</p> + +<p>And he reluctantly yielded it up into her outstretched +hand.</p> + +<p>“Who taught you to draw?” she asked, seeing native talent +in every stroke of his pencil.</p> + +<p>“I began to learn at school,” Eddie replied, “then father +bought me a ‘guide to art,’ and that helped me a great deal; +but since I have been sick and could not go about much,” +with a sigh and a glance at where his missing foot should +have been, “Uncle Philip has let me have a teacher at home.”</p> + +<p>Arley caught her breath; the familiar name was like a +stab, even though she had no suspicion that it belonged to +any one whom she knew.</p> + +<p>“Do you love to draw?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes’m,” he replied, with an enthusiastic emphasis that +made her smile.</p> + +<p>“So do I. Would you like me to help you a little on this, +so that you can carry it home more complete?”</p> + +<p>Again a vivid flush swept over the boy’s pale face, and this +time it was one of pleasure.</p> + +<p>“Yes’m, I should like it, if—if it would not be too much +trouble.”</p> + +<p>“No; I should like to do it for you. You perceive,” she +added, taking his pencil and book from him, “that you have +made the lines here too heavy, while here in the foreground +this figure is not prominent enough—here you want the shading +dark, and here a little lighter; see?”</p> + +<p>She worked rapidly while she pointed out these defects to +him, and the boy’s face glowed as he watched her, and saw +the picture grow beneath her graceful touch.</p> + +<p>“Oh, how different you have made it look already!” he said, +delightedly; then he added, with a sigh: “I’m afraid I shall +never make an artist, I am so clumsy.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, you are not clumsy at all,” Arley returned, +heartily. “I think you do remarkably well. I have seen a +good many people, older than you, too, and imagining themselves +quite proficient, who could not make so true a copy +of a picture as you have done. Should you like to be an +artist?”</p> + +<p>“That is what I mean to be; and if I ever am able to paint +a picture as pretty as that, I believe I shall be perfectly +happy,” he returned, earnestly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span></p> + +<p>Arley smiled somewhat bitterly, and replied, almost before +she knew what she was saying:</p> + +<p>“That is a pretty strong statement, my boy; for I painted +that picture; but I am not perfectly happy by any means.”</p> + +<p>“You? Oh, did you do that?” Eddie cried, his face almost +radiant. “I am so glad that you have told me; I have wished +that I might know who painted it, and there is no card anywhere +to tell.”</p> + +<p>Arley colored with vexation, and then laughed. She had +spoken out unconsciously.</p> + +<p>“It was rather foolish in me to tell you of it, since I wished +to remain <i>incognito</i>; however, as you do not know my name, +it will not matter much.”</p> + +<p>Eddie looked as if he would like to ask her name, but dare +not after what she had said; so he watched her pretty hand as +it glided over his sketch, and said nothing.</p> + +<p>She worked away in silence for a few moments longer, and +then handed it to him, greatly improved; in fact, she had +made a charming little picture of it.</p> + +<p>“There, perhaps that will help you to remember my painting, +since you like it so much,” she said, smiling, as she gave +it to him.</p> + +<p>“Thank you very much,” he said, earnestly, and so delighted +that the tears actually sprang to his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Do you come here often?” she asked, as she drew on her +glove.</p> + +<p>“Yes, every day, and I stay almost all day, too,” the boy +replied. “When Uncle Philip found that I wanted to come, +he gave me a season ticket, and,” with a smile, “I mean to +make the most of it.”</p> + +<p>“That is right,” Arley said, smiling back into his eager +face, and thinking what an interesting lad he was; “it will +do you good to study the pictures here. Now, good-by, and +perhaps I shall see you again, for I may come some other day +myself.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you will,” Eddie returned, wistfully; and he stood +looking after her until she disappeared from sight.</p> + +<p>“How proud that child is of his ‘Uncle Philip,’” Arley +thought, as she made her way out of the building, “for every +other sentence was full of him and his virtues. Why could +not Philip Paxton have been such a man,” her despairing +heart cried out, “when almost every other whom it has been +my privilege to know has been so noble and true? Sir +Charles, Sir Anthony, Wil, and now this boy’s uncle, who +bears the same name, is held up before me as a model of +perfection.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span></p> + +<p>A bitter sigh escaped her, and she felt as if her lot was +very hard.</p> + +<p>The next day she went to see Jane Collins—Miss McAllister +having learned where she lived from Lady Elaine—and +the woman appeared as glad to see her as if she had been a +long-absent child of her own.</p> + +<p>After chatting a while, Arley arose to go, and as she said +good-by, she laid an envelope on the woman’s lap.</p> + +<p>“I have not forgotten your generous loan, Mrs. Collins, +with all the rest of your kindness, and you will find the sum, +with interest, in this; and, believe me, I shall never cease to +be grateful to you,” she said, with tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Lor’, miss, I couldn’t take no interest,” Jane began, growing +painfully crimson, and looking suspiciously at the envelope.</p> + +<p>“Well, call it a little gift of remembrance, then,” Arley +said, smiling, “and if you do not wish to use it for yourself, +get your husband something nice with it. Good-by +again. I shall come often to see you now,” and without +waiting for any reply, she went away.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Collins examined the contents of the envelope after +she had gone, and found fifty pounds—just double the +amount she had lent Arley in her necessity.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"> + CHAPTER XXXIX. + <br><span class="small"> + LADY ALICE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>A day or two after her visit to Jane Collins, Arley was +impelled to go to the art exhibition.</p> + +<p>She had thought much about the pale, intellectual boy, and +she felt herself growing unaccountably interested in the poor +little cripple.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was because of his condition, and the fact that +he was an orphan, which appealed to her sympathies; or it +might be on account of his evident love for art; at all events, +she hoped she would meet him again, and she found herself +looking eagerly about for him in every room that she entered.</p> + +<p>She spent two or three hours in the galleries, but without +catching sight of her new little friend, and she had at length +come to the conclusion that he was not there at all, and, with +a feeling of disappointment, was about to take her own departure, +when she suddenly espied him in a small room, sitting +upon a box behind a huge easel, as if he desired to escape +observation, and working away in his sketchbook most +diligently.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span></p> + +<p>“Ah! I have found you at last,” Arley said, in a low, +eager tone, as she bent over his shoulder to see what he was +engaged upon. “I have been looking for you this long time.”</p> + +<p>“Have you?” Eddie cried, lifting a bright, flushed face to +her, while he might have told her that he had anxiously +scanned every face there for several days in the hope of seeing +her again.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have; and, do you know, I went away the other +day without asking your name, and so I’ve been obliged to +think of you as ‘that boy’ ever since,” Arley said, with a +musical laugh.</p> + +<p>“My name is Eddie Winthrope.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Eddie,” she returned, “and your uncle?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he isn’t my uncle really, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Not your uncle!” Arley cried, with a sudden thrill.</p> + +<p>“No, but you are almost a stranger to me, and perhaps +you wouldn’t care anything about it,” Eddie said, beginning +to feel as if he was thrusting his story upon her.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes I do care; please tell me. I always love to know +about people who are kind and good,” Arley returned.</p> + +<p>Then the boy told of the accident and of how he had been +adopted.</p> + +<p>Arley felt very strangely while listening to the boy’s story, +and the thought had flashed upon her, “what if he should +prove to be Philip Paxton?”</p> + +<p>Then she scorned the idea, for there was not the least similarity +of character between him and this good man of whom +she had just been told; it could not be possible that it was +Philip.</p> + +<p>“I tried to have him come here with me to-day,” Eddie resumed, +“for he was not able to go to his office; he had an +ill turn a few days ago, and does not seem to get over it.”</p> + +<p>“An ill turn!” Arley repeated, absently.</p> + +<p>“Yes; the other night we were sitting together, and the +postman brought him a letter—it was a very thick one and +his face lighted up all over when he saw the writing on the +back of it. But when he opened it he grew so white and +looked so pained that I was frightened, and ran to get him +some water to drink. I asked him what was the matter, and +he said his head ached very badly—he has had the headache +ever since he got hurt, and the surgeon said he mustn’t work +hard or he would have trouble. He went into his room +after a little while, but I don’t believe that he slept much, +for I heard him ever so many times in the night, and he has +looked pale and sick ever since.”</p> + +<p>For a moment Arley thought she should surely fall to the +floor, for all her strength forsook her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> + +<p>Eddied talk about that thick letter, and his uncle’s emotion +upon receiving it, was beginning to open her eyes to +the truth.</p> + +<p>“He must have had bad news,” she said, in a low tone, and +struggling for self-command; “but I thought you told me +that he had no friends.”</p> + +<p>“He said he had nobody to care for him, and I’m sure I +don’t know who his letter could have been from; I thought +the writing was in a lady’s hand, and I don’t think he read +it, for he put it right away in his desk, and I’m sure I heard +him groan as he locked the drawer.”</p> + +<p>Arley made a slight noise, and Eddie looked up at her in +a startled way.</p> + +<p>“Are you faint?” he asked, for she was deathly white.</p> + +<p>“No, but I’m not feeling very well; I think I will go home +now,” she replied. “But, Eddie,” she added, hesitatingly, +“before I go won’t you tell me—what your Uncle Philip’s +other—name is?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, of course I will; he is Philip Paxton, Esq., attorney-at-law,” +the boy said, proudly.</p> + +<p>For an instant every sense seemed to be leaving Arley; her +heart bounded into her throat, and then sank like lead in her +bosom; a mist came before her eyes and a feeling of numbness +stole over her.</p> + +<p>Then, calling all her will to her aid, she thanked her unsuspicious +companion, bade him a hasty good-by, and escaped +from the place as quickly as she could.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Wednesday morning, long before it was time for fashionable +callers to make their appearance, Miss McAllister’s door-bell +rang. There was a low, sweet-voiced inquiry of the maid +who answered it; then the swift rush of footsteps up the +stairs, a rustle of soft garments along the corridor, and a +black-robed figure stopped before the door of Arley’s boudoir. +Then there was a soft tap, and in answer to a low +“come in,” Lady Elaine turned the handle, and, almost before +Arley had time to realize her presence, she had glided to her +side, and a pair of arms encircled her neck, a pair of tremulous, +dewy lips met hers, and those sweet, well-remembered +blue eyes were looking an unutterable love into hers.</p> + +<p>“My darling! oh, my darling! how impatiently I have waited +and longed for this moment!” Lady Elaine said, in a fond, +eager tone. “What shall I say to you? How shall I tell you +the blessed news in store for you? I asked Nannie, at the +door, if you were in, and alone. I wanted to come to you and +tell you when no one else was by; and when she told me you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>were up here, I came without waiting to be announced—I +knew you would not mind, and I could not wait a moment +longer.”</p> + +<p>Arley regarded her friend in surprise while she returned +her tender greeting; she had never seen the fair, calm Lady +Elaine so excited and disconcerted before.</p> + +<p>The arms which encircled her trembled, the lips that kissed +her quivered, and her voice shook with emotion.</p> + +<p>Was it because this meeting brought back sad memories +of poor, lost Wil, and opened her wounds afresh?</p> + +<p>She could not think so, for there seemed to be no sadness +or thought of self in her greeting—only joy, and love, and +eagerness.</p> + +<p>A feeling of restful content suddenly settled upon Arley +as she nestled closer into her clinging arms, and clasped her +own about Lady Elaine’s slight waist.</p> + +<p>“I, too, have been very impatient to see you,” she said, +“I can never tell you how I have longed for you during the +two years that we have been separated. I have often thought +if I could only have poured my sorrows and trials into your +sympathizing ear, and had you to guide and counsel me with +your calm, wise judgment, I should have suffered much less; +but that was a selfish feeling, wasn’t it, dear? when you have +had your own sorrows, and such heavy ones, too, to bear.”</p> + +<p>“We will not talk of ‘sorrow’ now, Arley,” Lady Elaine replied, +but growing white with sudden pain, “we both have had +peculiar trials to bear, I know, but we have so much to be +thankful for that we must put our grief out of sight—and, +perhaps, but for these very sorrows the present joys would +never have been granted to us. Oh! Arley—you know what +I am here for—you know that I have solved all the mystery +of your birth, and the result is wonderful! you could never—never +imagine the truth! and you will be rich, my dear, far +richer than you have ever been before; you have a fortune of +nearly five hundred thousand pounds coming to you.”</p> + +<p>“Elaine! you cannot mean it!” Arley cried, in astonishment, +“but,” she added, flushing, and tears starting to her +eyes, “I do not care for riches if I can only have some one to +own and love me.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my dear—my dear! I have not told you the best of +my tidings,” responded her companion, tremulously, “let me +clasp you closely; let me look full into your dear eyes while +I tell it; my own Arley, you must never call me Lady +Elaine again, for you are a ladyship your own sweet self. +My dearest, I will not keep you in suspense a moment longer—you +are Lady Alice, eldest daughter of his grace, the Duke +of Mordaunt, and, therefore, my own—my very own sister!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XL"> + CHAPTER XL. + <br><span class="small"> + ATONEMENT. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Arley was literally stricken dumb by this wonderful intelligence. +She could only rest in those clinging arms and +stare helplessly up into Lady Elaine’s face, her own as white +as snow; while all her strength forsook her, leaving her weak +and almost fainting.</p> + +<p>From the hour when she had first met the young countess +in the home of their mutual friend, Annie Hamilton, she had +experienced an affection, as deep and strong as it was strange, +for her. It had been reciprocated by Lady Elaine, and both +had often wondered why they should feel such peculiar tenderness +for each other.</p> + +<p>Now they understood it; the same blood flowed in their +veins; they owed their being to the same father and mother, +and nature and instinct had both asserted themselves long before +it was possible for them to comprehend the reason for it.</p> + +<p>“It is no wonder that we have loved each other if this is +true,” Arley breathed at last, while she twined her arms more +closely about the form beside her. “My sister! Can it be +possible?”</p> + +<p>“Not only possible, but an absolute, indisputable fact,” +Lady Elaine returned, kissing her again and again.</p> + +<p>The tears rained over Arley’s face, and sobs shook her.</p> + +<p>“I have so longed for some one who was my very own to +love, and who would love me. I have been so lonely all my +life, yearning for some congenial companion; and now, just +when it has seemed as if life was wearisome and unsatisfying—hardly +worth the living—this great blessing comes to me. +Oh, Elaine, I am greatly comforted; I am very thankful!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we have found each other just when we most need +each other. Our Father knows best just when to send His +good gifts to His children,” reverently replied the young +countess. “I know all your trouble, dear,” she went on, tenderly, +“or, at least, enough of it to guess at the rest, and my +heart has been very sore on your account; but we will be all +in all to each other now; we will live together, and do good +together, and try to forget our sorrows; or, if we cannot +forget them, we can soften them by our love, and by doing +for others.”</p> + +<p>But the words, submissive as they were, seemed to unseal +the fountain of the fair girl’s grief, and the two strangely-united +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>sisters abandoned themselves for the moment to its +sway.</p> + +<p>Arley was the first to recover herself, and, wiping first her +own and then Lady Elaine’s tears, she said:</p> + +<p>“Now, dear, tell me all about this strange discovery. I can +scarcely realize it even yet, though my heart tells me that +your words are truth—that I am of one blood with you.”</p> + +<p>“It is like a romance,” was the reply; “though there has +always been something about you that has moved me +strangely—something almost familiar in your looks and +movements, although I never mentioned it to you.”</p> + +<p>“I presume I should have regarded it merely as a fancy if +you had,” Arley returned.</p> + +<p>“Well, it was not a mere fancy, and now I am going to +prove it to you;” and, as she spoke, Lady Elaine drew from +her pocket a small package.</p> + +<p>“Ah, such treasures as I have here!” she continued, smiling; +“for without them it would have been almost impossible +to prove your identity.”</p> + +<p>She removed the papers from it, and revealed a small, +black velvet case in a box.</p> + +<p>Opening the case, she disclosed a picture painted upon +porcelain.</p> + +<p>“Look, dear,” she said, putting it into Arley’s hand. “This +is a portrait of our mother, taken just before her marriage. +Now tell me if your face did not remind me of some one I +had known?”</p> + +<p>Arley gazed upon it wonderingly.</p> + +<p>There was, indeed, a striking resemblance, though nothing +like that of Ina Wentworth to her mother.</p> + +<p>The shape of the face in the picture was much like Arley’s. +The shapely brows, the curve of the dark, sweeping +lashes, the large, liquid, brown eyes, the piquant mouth and +rounded chin were strangely like the happy, spirited girl +whom Lady Elaine had first met and loved at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>She gazed upon it breathlessly, holding it in her hand with +a reverent clasp, her heart fluttering, like a restless bird, in +her bosom.</p> + +<p>“Was this my mother?” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“Yes, our mother, dear; do not leave me out, please, for I +am very jealous of my rights now that I have found my sister,” +Lady Elaine said, dropping her golden head upon Arley’s +shoulder. “Is it not strange that I could never think +whom you resembled? Do you not think that you are very +like her?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Arley answered, with tremulous lips, “and I am so +glad; while I believed myself to be Arley Wentworth, it was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>always a great grief to me that I could trace no resemblance +in my features to those of my supposed father and mother. +I remember that you told me when we were at Hazelmere that +your little sister Alice was dark and very like your mother, +while you were a thorough Mordaunt in form and feature. +How happy I am to have this picture! but, oh, if she could +have lived to own me her daughter, and hold me for one moment +to her heart! Oh, Elaine, how I have wanted a mother +all my life.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t, dear,” Lady Elaine cried, in a voice of pain, “do +not let us begin to long for the impossible, for if we do our +hearts will surely break,” and Arley knew that she was thinking +of Wil as she spoke.</p> + +<p>She touched her lips softly to the white cheeks resting +on her shoulder, and whispered with her eyes still on the +beautiful picture:</p> + +<p>“Tell me about her.”</p> + +<p>“There is not much to tell,” Lady Elaine said, “for I was +only ten years old when she died, but I remember her as gentle +and sweet, very affectionate, but with a sadness about her +which was extremely pathetic. This was caused, as I was +afterward told, by the loss of my little sister Alice, while returning +from India, where my father had been obliged to go +upon political business soon after his marriage, and by the +subsequent death of my only brother, who was the last of the +Mordaunts. You have heard of that dreadful voyage from +India from Jane Collins, so I will not repeat it; but you were +supposed to be drowned, and were always spoken of as being +dead. You are two years older than I, for I was not born +until some time after our mother’s return to England. She +devoted herself to me, but she could not get over the loss of +her first-born, and almost the first thing I remember was her +teaching me to say Alice, and telling me about my little +dark-eyed sister. When I was three years old an heir was +born to the house of Mordaunt, and my father’s heart was +filled with joy and pride, for now he believed that his name +and title would be perpetuated. But Arthur only lived to +pass his fifth birthday, and our mother never recovered from +the shock occasioned by his death; she grieved until she +undermined her health and gradually faded out of life. She +died, as I have told you, when I was ten years old, and five +years later my father was taken from me, leaving me to the +guardianship of Sir Anthony Hamilton, only stipulating that +I was to remain at the convent where he had placed me, except +during the annual vacation, until my education was +completed. So, you perceive, Arley, that my life has been as +lonely as your own, even more so, indeed, for you had Dr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>and Miss McAllister, who, believing you to be the child of +their dear one, loved you as their own. Oh, if we could only +have known years ago that we belonged to each other, how +happy we might have been!”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine paused to bestow another caress upon the lips +so near her own, and then resumed:</p> + +<p>“Now, I will tell you how I worked out this intricate +puzzle. I told you in my letter how accident brought me +into contact with good Jane Collins, and that I learned from +her what transpired in connection with you at Madrid. She +related how she had been startled upon seeing you, for you +resembled so strangely the ‘beautiful lady’ who had been +shipwrecked. I made her go over every item of that story for +my benefit, and, remembering the date of that terrible ordeal +through which my own father and mother had passed, and +knowing that you were a poor little waif cast up by the sea, +and your birth still shrouded with mystery, I became suddenly +impressed that you might be the little Alice for whom +our mother grieved as long as she lived. I went immediately +to Miss McAllister and asked her if she had retained any +articles of clothing which you had worn at the time of your +return. She had nothing save a pair of little shoes and +stockings, and a tiny ring set with an emerald. The shoes +and socks did not, at first, appear to me to be of much value, +but the moment that my eyes fell upon the ring, my heart +sprang into my throat.</p> + +<p>“Mamma had a very dear friend who married a nobleman +and went to live in France. When she was notified of the +birth of little Alice she immediately sent congratulations, +and with them a very plain, but rich ring set with an emerald. +‘If it had only been a son,’ she wrote, ‘the stone should have +been a diamond, and remember, whenever the heir does make +his appearance, he is to have it.’ When the news of my +birth reached her, she sent another ring, the exact counterpart +of the first, saying that she should serve the daughters +of the house of Mordaunt all alike, and again spoke of a +diamond being reserved for the heir; and lo! when Arthur +came, true to her promise, there came still another circlet, +exactly like the others, only set with a pure, beautiful white +stone.</p> + +<p>“The moment that Miss McAllister gave me the ring that +had been taken from your finger I recognized it, and in my +heart I knew well enough that you were my sister; but I +knew that you and others would not, like me, feel satisfied +without further proof, so I resolved to say nothing about my +suspicions until I could establish the fact beyond a doubt. +I have the three rings which mamma’s friend sent her; I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>brought them to show to you—they are the first link in my +chain of evidence.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine opened the box upon her lap, and, taking from +it another smaller one, lifted the lid and revealed the three +rings lying within upon a bed of snow-white cotton—tiny +little things, fit only for baby fingers, but fraught with an +interest and sacredness which would render them priceless to +those two lovely women so long as they should live.</p> + +<p>“See, my darling,” she said, putting the box into Arley’s +hand, “if you can pick out your own.”</p> + +<p>Arley bent over them with quivering lips and tear-laden +eyes, wondering how it was possible that so much vital importance +could be connected with such tiny trifles.</p> + +<p>“They are exactly alike,” she said, at length. “I can see +no difference in them, excepting, perhaps, that the stone in +this one is a trifle larger than in the other; but whether it +belongs to you or me I cannot tell.”</p> + +<p>“We will assume that it is yours, since you are the eldest +daughter of the house of Mordaunt,” Lady Elaine answered, +smiling, “and,” she added, taking it from her, “we will make +a charm of each, and always wear them as the precious +mementoes of our restoration to each other.”</p> + +<p>She fastened it, as she ceased speaking, upon Arley’s watch +chain, and then attached the other to her own.</p> + +<p>“The diamond,” she continued, tenderly, “we will lay away +among our treasures as a sacred keepsake, to remind us of +our only brother.”</p> + +<p>She then took from the box upon her lap the little socks +which Miss McAllister had given her, and also the pair which +she had received from Captain Bancroft’s widow, and told +Arley of her visit to the old lady, and of the long and conclusive +story which she had related to her.</p> + +<p>“I knew,” she said, “before she had half finished, that all +mystery and doubt were solved, but when she brought me +the passenger list, and I read there the names of our own +father and mother—‘Lord Arthur Warburton, Duke of Mordaunt, +Lady Warburton, Miss Alice Warburton and nurse’—the +fact was established, and I knew that the girl whom I +had learned to love so dearly at Hazelmere was my own +sister.”</p> + +<p>“It is wonderful! I do not know how to comprehend it,” +Arley murmured, when Lady Elaine concluded.</p> + +<p>“It is wonderful,” she assented, “and I am so thankful, so +content, so blest in the knowledge—just think! you are no +longer ‘Arley the nameless,’ as you have so often and bitterly +styled yourself, but Lady Alice Warburton, eldest daughter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>of the Duke of Mordaunt, and heiress to half of his immense +property.”</p> + +<p>Arley flushed a sudden crimson.</p> + +<p>“The property—that has always been yours—I cannot take +it,” she said, quickly.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine laughed such a low, sweet laugh at this.</p> + +<p>“Have you forgotten,” she asked, “how two years ago, when +poor Ina Wentworth tremblingly made her appearance, claiming +naught but a name and kindred, the ‘usurper,’ Arley, not +only relinquished her name, but all right and title to fortune, +home and everything?”</p> + +<p>“I know,” Arley returned, with a flush still on her cheek, +“but I had been using the poor girl’s fortune as freely as if it +had been water, while she had barely existed, with no home, +no love, or anything else to make life endurable.”</p> + +<p>“Out of your own mouth will I condemn you,” Lady Elaine +retorted, smiling. “All these long years I have been spending +your fortune as freely as if it was water, while during +the last two you have lived—how have you lived, Arley?</p> + +<p>“You shall tell me about it by and by,” she resumed, +hastily, seeing how flushed and pained Arley’s face had grown +at the question; “but you must not allow any false scruples +to trouble you; remember that you are the eldest daughter of +the Duke of Mordaunt, and your rights are paramount to +mine—you are to share equally with me from this time forth—that +I am resolved upon, and from this day you are to +consider that you have ten thousand pounds annually at your +disposal.”</p> + +<p>Arley knew from her manner that it would be useless to +argue the matter further, and so she did not refer to it again.</p> + +<p>“It all seems like a dream,” she said, musingly.</p> + +<p>“But it is not a dream—it is a blessed, glorious reality; +and how much we may both yet enjoy in spite of the sad +past,” her sister returned. “Our father’s house here in the +city stands closed and gloomy; we will go back to it—it shall +be our home, if you consent—I could not live in it alone, but +with you to help me enjoy it, it would be a pleasure to go +back into its familiar halls and rooms. Then Mordaunt Hall, +at Eversham, shall be opened once more in summer time, and +we will do what we can for the glory of the old house, and we +will be happy in each other, and in doing all the good we +can.”</p> + +<p>In spite of her hopeful words and her attempt at cheerfulness, +Lady Elaine broke down here and threw herself sobbing +into Arley’s arms.</p> + +<p>All the tender memories of those happy months at Hazelmere +came rushing over her with all that she had lost and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>suffered since, and, in spite of the happiness which she experienced +in her new relations with Arley, a feeling of desolateness +and misery completely unnerved her for the moment.</p> + +<p>Arley soothed her with exceeding tenderness, and when, +after a time, she grew more calm, they began to talk over +the past more minutely, and to lay plans for the future.</p> + +<p>Arley questioned Lady Elaine very closely regarding what +she knew of Philip since his return from Spain, and was at +length convinced that he had told her all the truth—that he +had indeed not “spared himself.”</p> + +<p>Then she showed her the letter which he had written to +her, and related all that she had learned from Eddie Winthrope +regarding his more recent doings.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine was greatly astonished.</p> + +<p>“There is good in him, after all,” she said. “He is atoning +most nobly.”</p> + +<p>“Do you believe that any one can redeem the past?” Arley +asked, wearily.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not in one sense, and yet I know that there are +many men who have lived the latter years of their lives so +nobly that they have blotted out, at least from the minds of +others, all remembrance of the sins of their youth, and, in +fact, atoned for much of the evil which they have previously +done. I must say,” the lovely girl continued, gently, “that +my heart yearns a little after that recreant husband of +yours, Arley; do you suppose that he could ever atone to +you?”</p> + +<p>Arley gave her a startled glance, and grew deathly pale at +the question.</p> + +<p>She did not answer for some time; then, looking up with a +sort of hopeless misery in her eyes, she said, in a hollow tone:</p> + +<p>“I have said that I can never forgive him, and I do not +believe that I ever can; I am afraid I do not even want to.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLI"> + CHAPTER XLI. + <br><span class="small"> + I AM HIS WIFE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>After consulting a while longer the two sisters went down +to tell their glad news to Miss McAllister and Ina.</p> + +<p>To say that they were surprised would be but a tame statement +of the fact.</p> + +<p>They had imagined every possible solution to the mystery +as they now thought, but all fell far short of the right one; +and now Miss McAllister seemed almost to feel as if Arley +had been raised almost entirely out of her atmosphere.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span></p> + +<p>“To think of your being a countess in your own right!” +she said, wonderingly, and gazing at her as if to see if the +title of “Lady” had not caused a change in her appearance.</p> + +<p>“Well, auntie, I feel a very humble personage in spite of +it all,” was the rather sad reply, “and, though I am unspeakably +thankful to know just where and to whom I belong in +the world, yet the knowledge can never change the love I +bear to those who have been my kindest and best friends.”</p> + +<p>She bent and kissed the old lady on the forehead most +tenderly as she ceased speaking.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you will want to take her away from me now,” +Miss McAllister said, with wistful sadness, to Lady Elaine.</p> + +<p>“Yes, auntie,” Arley hastened to say, “we two sisters, the +last of our race, cannot be separated, but we shall be so near +you, for we are going to live at Mordaunt House, that we +can come to see you every day.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose it is right and best so; but you have belonged +to me for so long that it is rather hard to relinquish +my claim,” the old lady answered, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>Sweet Ina Wentworth heard the announcement with tears +in her lovely eyes.</p> + +<p>“I had hoped that Arley was henceforth to be my sister,” +she said to Lady Elaine, “but, of course, the ties of blood +are strongest, and perhaps my loss in this way may prove my +gain in another—in securing your friendship thereby.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, I shall be very proud to be considered your +friend,” Lady Elaine answered, heartily.</p> + +<p>And thus it was settled that Mordaunt House should be +reopened and occupied once more.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine persuaded Arley to drive back to the Langham +with her and be presented in her new character to the +friends waiting so impatiently there to learn the secret of +her birth; and there during a tempting dinner served in their +own apartments they talked over their plans with Sir +Anthony and Lady Hamilton, who sympathized most heartily +with them in their new happiness.</p> + +<p>“Assist you in reopening Mordaunt House? Of course I +will, with the greatest of pleasure,” Lady Hamilton said, in +reply to Lady Elaine’s request to do so, “and thank you +most cordially for the invitation. You know, dear, you are +just the same to me as an own daughter, and if Wil had +lived you would probably have made this old home your town +residence, and, of course, in that case I should have spent my +time there when we came up to London, and why not now, +if you both desire it? It will be much pleasanter than the +bustle and confusion of a grand hotel like this. Then when +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>you want a change you can come to us at Hazelmere; I think +you have arranged it very nicely for us all.”</p> + +<p>Lady Hamilton was evidently much pleased at being so +confidentially consulted.</p> + +<p>But when told that Arley wished to keep her identity a +secret she demurred.</p> + +<p>“She ought to assume her title, and take her proper position +in society,” she said, gravely.</p> + +<p>“But, dear Lady Hamilton, it would not matter for a while, +would it? The future will shape itself after we are settled, +and you must know that neither of us have much heart for +society at present,” Lady Elaine returned, sadly, and her +friend did not press the matter any further.</p> + +<p>So Mordaunt House was opened, and the two sisters seemed +suddenly to have acquired a new interest in life, in refurnishing +and making a pleasant, habitable house of it.</p> + +<p>There was plenty to be done, for, having been shut up for +so many years, everything had become defaced, moth-eaten, +and dilapidated, and it took fully two months to put it in +order.</p> + +<p>Meantime Arley kept herself very close; she saw no one, +went out very little, and hardly any one outside of her immediate +circle of friends knew of her return. She left all +shopping and ordering to Lady Elaine and Lady Hamilton +to do, but devoted all her energies to the disposing and arranging +of their purchases when they arrived at their house.</p> + +<p>She had heard nothing, seen nothing, of Philip; he might +have been dead and forgotten by everybody for all the knowledge +she had of him; but, strange to say, he was in her +thoughts almost constantly, and she often found herself +wondering if he was still plodding along at his business during +the day.</p> + +<p>She had not gone again to the Art Exhibition. She dare +not trust herself with the boy again lest she betray herself, +and, besides, she was fearful of meeting people whom she +knew, and thus subjecting herself to painful inquiries.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles Herbert and his mother had been informed of +the happy change in her circumstances, and were greatly +pleased, while they willingly consented to regard the communication +as strictly confidential.</p> + +<p>The day arrived when everything was completed, and Mordaunt +House was formally taken possession of, and Arley—she +still insisted upon being called by her old name, and +saying that she should never recognize herself if addressed +as Lady Alice—and Lady Elaine gave a dinner in honor of +the occasion to their intimate friends—Sir Anthony and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>Lady Hamilton, Sir Charles Herbert and his mother, Miss +McAllister and Ina, and Fred Vane and his wife.</p> + +<p>There were only ten in all, but they were all dear friends, +and every one was deeply interested in the re-establishment of +this beautiful home, and the lovely girls who were to occupy +it.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles Herbert had availed himself several times of +the permission which he had obtained at the first visit which +he had made at Miss McAllister’s, to call as often as he +liked, and each call had served to impress the charms of fair +Ina Wentworth more deeply upon his heart, and to-day, while +at Mordaunt House, there was that in his manner and bearing +toward her which told more than one observant eye that +Miss McAllister would not be able to keep the gentle girl all +to herself much longer.</p> + +<p>The dinner passed off very pleasantly and socially, notwithstanding +that the thoughts of most of the company would +revert from time to time to one whom they had so dearly +loved and now missed so sadly.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles and his mother both exerted themselves to +make the evening agreeable, by relating many charming and +amusing incidents connected with their recent travels.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine bravely tried to conceal the grief which this +reunion could not fail to excite, and her consciousness of +that one vacant chair, and was really very cheerful and entertaining, +while Arley, too, strove to perform the part of a +hospitable hostess, though her heart was very sore.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles contrived to secure a few moments alone with +Ina before the company separated, and something in his +look and in the tone in which he addressed her made the +tell-tale blushes leap into her cheeks, and her lovely blue-gray +eyes droop shyly before his.</p> + +<p>“Will you ride with me in Rotten Row to-morrow, Miss +Ina?” he asked, in a low voice. “I have recently purchased a +fine horse, which, I think, is superior under the saddle, and I +would like to ask you to do me the favor to try her.”</p> + +<p>There is an object beneath the request, Ina feels—an object +which thrills her heart with a deep joy and makes her pulse +leap with a strange excitement.</p> + +<p>But she assents with a shy, tremulous smile, and Sir +Charles takes his leave, feeling much elated and quite sure +that the question which he intends to ask on the morrow will +receive a favorable reply.</p> + +<p>When their guests were all gone, Arley somehow felt +strangely depressed.</p> + +<p>It was very late, but she did not feel at all like sleeping, +and, taking the evening paper, she retired to her own room +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>to read until she could coax the “drowsy god” to bring her +repose.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her eyes lighted in a startled way upon this item:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Sad and Probably Fatal Accident.—As Philip Paxton, Esq., +a promising barrister of this city, was driving this afternoon, +in company with a young lad whom he has recently adopted, +his horse suddenly took fright at some object in the street, +became unmanageable, and both occupants of the carriage +were thrown, the boy escaping unhurt, while Mr. Paxton, being +hurled violently against the curbing, was taken up senseless. +As the affair occurred near Hyde Park Corner, the injured +man was taken to St. George’s Hospital, where an examination +showed him to have been very seriously hurt, and this +casualty, combined with a former injury received in a railway +accident, renders Mr. Paxton’s condition an extremely critical +one.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Every particle of color receded from Arley’s face as she +read the above; her eyes grew almost wild with terror, her +breath seemed to stop, and she felt as if she were suffocating.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Arley, Arley!” She seemed almost to hear him calling +out those words, which only a short time before he had so +impulsively written and then crossed out, “let a little of +divine compassion into your heart and offer one single prayer—I +should feel its influence though the world divided us.”</p> + +<p>How those words had burned themselves into her brain!</p> + +<p>She had never realized until this moment how fearfully +she had been impressed by them, and yet she had never offered +that one prayer for him—she had hardened her heart +against him, and now it might be too late.</p> + +<p>She had told herself that she could not ask God to pardon +him, when she could not forgive him herself, when she even +had no wish to forgive him; but now a sudden revulsion of +feeling overpowered her—she threw herself upon her knees, +clutching the paper convulsively in her hands, trembling in +every limb, and cried out, wildly:</p> + +<p>“Save him—oh, save him, and I will forgive! I do not +wish him to die, and now I know that in spite of everything +I have never ceased to love him, and—I love him still.”</p> + +<p>With this full and free confession every barrier seemed +swept away; she wept a perfect rain of tears—tears that softened +her proud heart, and washed away every trace of anger +and bitterness.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later she stole to Lady Elaine’s door and +tapped softly for permission to enter.</p> + +<p>“Come in, Arley dear,” the sweet voice from within answered, +and she entered, the evening paper still in her hand.</p> + +<p>“Darling, what is it?” her sister cried, in a startled tone, +as soon as she caught sight of Arley’s colorless face and wild +eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p> + +<p>She spread the paper before her, pointing to the paragraph +which had so unnerved her, then dropping upon her knees by +her side she buried her face in her lap with a gesture of +despair.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine read the account of the accident, and a look +of deep pity swept over her lovely face.</p> + +<p>“Poor Philip!” she murmured, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>Arley moaned, and Lady Elaine, laying her hand softly +upon the dark head in her lap, added, tenderly:</p> + +<p>“Poor Arley, too; can she forgive him now?”</p> + +<p>“I have forgiven him; but, oh! I am afraid that it is too +late for him ever to know it!” she cried, with another +paroxysm of grief.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine bent forward and kissed her with great tenderness.</p> + +<p>“I knew that it would eventually come to this,” she said; +“when I learned how nobly he was striving to atone for the +past, I knew that the old love was not quite dead, Arley, dear, +and I am glad that you have found it out, even at this late +hour, for you will be far happier in the future to have all +bitterness eradicated from your heart.”</p> + +<p>“I have been very hard and relentless,” wailed poor Arley. +“I had no right to cherish such a cruel disposition, and in +my heart I did long to send him some comforting word when +little Eddie Winthrope was telling how good and kind he had +been to him, only my pride would not let me yield enough to +do so; but I must go,” she concluded, starting up from her +kneeling posture.</p> + +<p>“Go! Go where?” cried Lady Elaine, in surprise.</p> + +<p>“To St. George’s Hospital—to him.”</p> + +<p>“But they will not allow you there, and you could do him +no good.”</p> + +<p>“They must let me in,” Arley cried, excitedly. “I am his +wife. I have a right to be with him. I must—I will go, +and if he should come to himself, if only for a moment, I +could tell him that I forgive him, and he would be comforted; +oh, I did not want him to die like this!”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine drew her close into her arms and tried to +soothe her, for she was greatly excited.</p> + +<p>“Dear Arley,” she said, “you cannot go to-night—no one +would be admitted at such an hour; go to rest—gather all +the strength that you can before morning, then we will both +go to St. George’s Hospital, and if anything can avail to +give you access to Philip you shall have it.”</p> + +<p>Arley saw the wisdom of this advice and allowed herself to +be persuaded to retire, provided that she might remain with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>her sister, and so locked in each other’s arms the remainder +of the night was passed and another day dawned.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLII"> + CHAPTER XLII. + <br><span class="small"> + WHERE AM I? + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>At an early hour the next morning two sad-faced, anxious +women presented themselves at St. George’s Hospital, and, +with quaking hearts, inquired regarding the condition of +Philip Paxton.</p> + +<p>After some delay Arley was admitted to the room where +Philip now lay prostrate and helpless, perhaps dying.</p> + +<p>She went close up to him and bent down to study his face. +His features were very peaceful in their unconscious repose, +and those evil lines which she remembered so well had all +seemed to have faded out from it, leaving him, save for his +exceeding pallor, more like her handsome, attractive Philip +whom she had learned to love so well at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>The tears rained over her cheeks as she gazed at him, but +she made no sound, only silently wiping them away as they +fell, while the surgeon, watching her, felt a tender pity and +sympathy for the sad-hearted young wife.</p> + +<p>Presently she stayed her weeping, and, moving up to him, +signified by a gesture that she wished to confer with him, +and, opening the door for her, they both passed noiselessly +out of the room.</p> + +<p>“You will let me stay with him?” she said, appealingly, the +moment the door was shut again.</p> + +<p>He hesitated, scanning her face closely for a moment.</p> + +<p>“I know what you are thinking,” she continued, as she +noticed his look, while a quick sob escaped her. “You are +wondering if I am strong enough to stay here and see him +die. But whether he lives or dies, I must stay,” she added, +resolutely. “I am his wife, and my place is at his bedside. +I do not know,” she went on, hurriedly, “whether I could be +of any use or not, but, at least, I will not make any disturbance; +I will be perfectly quiet and calm; but, you know, if he +should have one lucid moment, it will belong to me. Say +that you will let me stay, doctor,” and involuntarily she +clasped her hands in a way he could not resist, as she made +this last appeal.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you shall remain,” he replied, in an unsteady voice.</p> + +<p>He did not really believe that the man would ever come out +of the stupor in which he was lying, but if he did, and should +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>have a lucid moment, he felt that it ought, as she had said, +to belong to her—his wife.</p> + +<p>Of course, he could not have any idea with what agony +Arley was longing for consciousness to be restored to him, +even momentarily, that she might breathe into his ear the +forgiveness which she knew he craved. He did not dream +that there had ever been a shadow between them—he simply +regarded her as a fond and faithful wife, who could not endure +the thought of being separated from her husband while +there should be any sign of life in him, and so he had given +the desired permission.</p> + +<p>Arley went back to Lady Elaine and told her her decision.</p> + +<p>“I do not think he will live,” she said, with a quiver of pain +in her voice, while she twined her arms about her sister’s +waist and dropped her head for a moment on her shoulder; +“but the surgeon says I may stay, and, oh! darling, pray +that he may have but one single moment of consciousness in +which to know me and to let me make my peace with him. +He looks noble and good now—like the man I believed him to +be when we first met at Hazelmere—as he lays there so still +and pale, and those cruel, evil lines which came into his face +after we were married are all gone.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad that you are going to stay, Arley, dear,” Lady +Elaine said; “I think it is right you should; the conviction +has been growing upon me of late that Philip was really +changed. I believe he has sincerely repented of his wrong-doing, +and if he should come to himself and find you beside +him, and ready to forgive him, it would be of the greatest +comfort to him. But do not overtax yourself, dear,” she +added, tenderly; “remember that I have only just found my +sister, and I could not bear that ill should befall her. I shall +be very lonely without you, but I know it is right for you to +be here, and I shall come every day, as long as you stay, to +see you and to inquire for Philip.”</p> + +<p>She kissed her fondly, and then went away, and Arley, removing +her hat and wraps, went back to that silent sickroom +to watch and—wait.</p> + +<p>Day after day she remained at her post, and there was no +change.</p> + +<p>No change, apparently, in Philip, but in the heart of the +young wife a very radical one. In place of the hard and unforgiving +feelings which for so long she had been cherishing +against him, a tender yearning, a deep and absorbing love—akin +to that of maidenhood—was taking possession of her, +while every hour that first agonized prayer—save him, oh, +save him! was whispered by her pale lips.</p> + +<p>For a week Philip Paxton lay there but a mere breathing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>form, and though the surgeon considered it impossible for +him to recover, each succeeding day seemed to find him the +same—no better, no worse.</p> + +<p>At last, on the eighth day, there was a copious discharge +from his head through one of his ears, and then the patient +appeared as if about to awake to life once more.</p> + +<p>“There had been a fearful abscess in his head,” the surgeon +said, with a puzzled look, “but it is impossible that such a +gathering could have been the result of this recent injury—it +may have aggravated it, but it never could have caused it +in so short a time.”</p> + +<p>Arley started, and then, remembering what Eddie Winthrope +had told her, she said:</p> + +<p>“He was severely injured about the head several months +ago in a railway accident.”</p> + +<p>“Aha!” ejaculated the surgeon, looking enlightened. “Has +he complained since of any trouble there?” he asked.</p> + +<p>Arley colored a vivid red.</p> + +<p>Very little, indeed, did she know regarding Philip’s complaints +during the last year, but, of course, she was not going +to confess this to the doctor, so, quoting again from Eddie +Winthrope, she said:</p> + +<p>“Yes, he has complained of headache a good deal.”</p> + +<p>The surgeon nodded many times, as if answering to himself +what had all along been perplexing queries in his mind.</p> + +<p>“I see—I see,” he said at length to her. “This abscess has +been a great while forming, and it would have taken a good +while longer for it to have reached a crisis had it not been +for this recent injury, that has aggravated and hastened it to +a termination. If”—and here he bent a penetrating look upon +Arley—“if it does not gather again, I think there is hope that +your husband may recover, madam.”</p> + +<p>Arley started and looked at him with a frightened glance +as he made this announcement.</p> + +<p>She had never for a moment believed that Philip would get +well. She had looked for his death daily, almost hourly, ever +since she had entered the hospital.</p> + +<p>Her first impulse was to fly back to Mordaunt House and +hide herself again within its friendly walls; but she had +presented herself at St. George’s Hospital and demanded +admittance as Philip Paxton’s wife, and now she could not +go away, she could not desert the post she had assumed, without +exciting remark and scandal.</p> + +<p>When Lady Elaine came she went down and told her.</p> + +<p>“What shall I do?” she asked, helplessly. “How shall I +meet this unexpected turn of affairs?”</p> + +<p>“Question your own heart, Arley,” her sister answered, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>gravely. “You were ready to forgive him when you thought +him about to die—will he be any less worthy if he lives? +You have borne much, I know—you have a great deal to forgive; +but——”</p> + +<p>“Well?” questioned Arley, quickly.</p> + +<p>“But if there is no love—no real love in your heart for +him, it will be better for you to come away with me at once, +before he realizes that you have been here.”</p> + +<p>Arley burst into a torrent of tears at this.</p> + +<p>“I do love him, Elaine; it has all come back to me while I +have been watching and tending him here; and if—oh, if I +only knew that he would prove to be the noble man that we +have hoped he was striving to be of late, I could forget all +the dreadful past.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine kissed her with trembling lips.</p> + +<p>“Try him, dear. He does not know anything about our recent +discoveries; he has not a suspicion that you are a Mordaunt—no +one knows it save the few who love you, and will +keep the secret as long as you wish. Give Philip a trial. If +he is really honest, and is earnest, if he truly loves you, he +will only be too eager to win you back to him as the poor +Arley he affected to despise. That will be a test of his sincerity +which I think even you cannot doubt.”</p> + +<p>The next day, as Arley was sitting beside Philip, calm and +tranquil, now that she had decided upon the course that she +was to pursue, he moved, and spoke for the first time in ten +days.</p> + +<p>“Where am I?” he asked.</p> + +<p>He had been sleeping for several hours, a natural, healthful +sleep, and his general appearance had indicated a marked +improvement.</p> + +<p>Arley was alone with him, the nurse having gone for a rest, +and her heart flew into her throat as she heard his words, +and knew that he was awake, and in another moment would +doubtless recognize her.</p> + +<p>She saw that his eyes were open and wandering with a bewildered +look about the room.</p> + +<p>Presently they rested upon her; but the light was dim, and +at first he did not seem to know her. Then all at once a +look of wonder shot into his eyes, which finally grew into a +frightened stare.</p> + +<p>His lips moved, forming her name, but no sound came from +them; then a violent trembling seized him, and he cried out:</p> + +<p>“Arley! Heavens! Where am I?”</p> + +<p>“You are sick, Philip, and I am taking care of you,” she +answered, in an even, gentle tone, as if it were a matter of +course.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span></p> + +<p>The sound of her voice seemed to strike him dumb again, +and he lay regarding her with a vacant expression.</p> + +<p>“You!” at length he whispered, and his lips seemed to grow +stiff over the word.</p> + +<p>Arley reached out for a bowl which stood near her, and put +a spoonful of its contents to his mouth.</p> + +<p>“You must drink this,” she said, with quiet authority, +“and you must not talk any more now.”</p> + +<p>He obeyed her, because he had not strength to do otherwise, +but as he hungrily sipped the liquid with which she fed him +his eyes never left her face, and the wondering, eager, questioning +look in them she never forgot as long as she lived.</p> + +<p>He lay very quiet after he had taken all that she thought +best to give him, and soon the surgeon came in to see him.</p> + +<p>“Aha!” he said, after one comprehensive glance at his +patient, and in a tone of intense satisfaction; “I thought so! +Well, sir!”—to Philip—“how do you find yourself to-day?”</p> + +<p>“I am not sure that I have found myself at all,” Philip replied, +weakly, and casting perplexed glances from him to +Arley.</p> + +<p>“Well, never mind; you’ll pick yourself up by degrees, I +imagine,” was the smiling reply. “I am satisfied to find you +as you are, for you’ve had quite a serious time of it, my +friend.”</p> + +<p>“I begin to remember something—I was thrown from my +carriage—and Eddie—where is Eddie?” Philip questioned, +consciousness beginning to assert itself.</p> + +<p>The doctor now turned a puzzled look upon Arley, for this +was the first he had heard about Eddie.</p> + +<p>“Eddie is well; he escaped unhurt, and has been well cared +for ever since the accident.”</p> + +<p>It should have been mentioned before that Lady Elaine, at +Arley’s request, had gone to Philip’s chambers to make inquiries +regarding the lad, and had found him well, but greatly +distressed upon his uncle’s account.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I cannot have him die, too!” he cried, when he had +told her all about the unmanageable horse and their great +danger, and how people told him they feared Mr. Paxton +could not live.</p> + +<p>“We will pray that he may not,” she had answered, soothingly, +and then she told him that she was the sister of the +lady whom he had met in the art gallery and who had sent +her to take him home to stay with her until his Uncle Philip +should be better.</p> + +<p>She did not tell him anything about Arley’s relations to +Philip, thinking it best to wait for further developments; +but she took him every day with her when she went to inquire +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>about the sick man, though he sat in the carriage while +she went into the hospital, and tried to be patient and content +with the limited intelligence which she brought him. But +he was very anxious, and his anxiety wore upon him sadly.</p> + +<p>And this was how Arley could speak so confidently of the +boy’s welfare when Philip asked for him.</p> + +<p>Then, turning to the surgeon, she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Eddie is a little boy whom Mr. Paxton has befriended, +and who was riding with him at the time of his accident.”</p> + +<p>The surgeon nodded, and then asked:</p> + +<p>“Has he been talking much?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir; I thought it best for him not to talk much at +present,” she returned, a slight flush rising to her cheeks.</p> + +<p>He smiled.</p> + +<p>“A little moderate conversation will do him no harm,” he +said, “and doubtless there are some things that he would like +some help about recalling. It will take him some little time +to recover his strength, but I think he is going to do very +well.”</p> + +<p>He made some little change in Philip’s medicines, and then +went about other duties, leaving this strangely-reunited husband +and wife once more alone.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"> + CHAPTER XLIII. + <br><span class="small"> + A NOBLE MANHOOD RESTORED. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>A long silence ensued in that sickroom after the departure +of the surgeon, a silence of painful heart-throbs on Arley’s +part, of grave wondering on Philip’s.</p> + +<p>His mind was beginning to recover its wonted balance and +activity, and he was striving to recall the past.</p> + +<p>He remembered events up to the time of his fall, but since +then everything was, of course, an utter blank to him.</p> + +<p>“Where am I? You have not told me yet,” he said at +length, in a low, constrained tone, and without looking at +Arley.</p> + +<p>“In St. George’s Hospital—you were brought here directly +after your accident.”</p> + +<p>“How long have I been here?”</p> + +<p>“Ten days.”</p> + +<p>“How long have you been here?” and now he turned an +anxious look of inquiry upon her.</p> + +<p>“I came the next morning after you were injured.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you come, Arley?”</p> + +<p>She flushed; it was a hard question to answer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span></p> + +<p>“Because—the paper stated that your injuries were probably +fatal, and——”</p> + +<p>“And?” he repeated, in a breathless whisper.</p> + +<p>“And I could not bear that you should die, and I not see +you once more,” she returned, with drooping eyes, in which +there were tears.</p> + +<p>“Have you been here ever since?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>There was an oppressive silence for a few moments, then:</p> + +<p>“Arley, I have not deserved this from you,” Philip said, in +a tremulous tone, “it would have been but just if you had left +me to die without a thought.”</p> + +<p>“No, I could not do that,” she replied, in an earnest tone, +and bending a little nearer to him. “I thought that—if you +must go into eternity—and it were possible—I wanted to be +at peace with you.”</p> + +<p>“You wanted to be at peace with me?” he repeated, with +an astonished look. “I do not see how that could be possible, +after——”</p> + +<p>“Never mind how,” she said, gently, “the fact remains the +same—I do wish it.”</p> + +<p>“But—I am going to get well now,” Philip said, after another +short silence, and lifting a sorrowful yet half-appealing +look to her.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Would you have come to me all the same, if you had +known it?”</p> + +<p>“I—I prayed that you might be allowed to live,” she murmured. +She could not tell him that she would have come, +for she did not know her own heart well enough to tell +whether she would or not.</p> + +<p>A flush mounted to his brow, and his eye kindled for a +moment; then he continued in a hopeless tone, and with a +weary sigh:</p> + +<p>“Yes, I might have known you would never wish ill to any +one—you were always kind and noble, Arley, but no one +could have blamed you if you had been relieved at the prospect +of being permanently released from all ties that bound +you to me, who has treated you as I have done.”</p> + +<p>Arley flushed now. His words jarred upon her. It was +very evident that he did not expect that her desire to be at +peace with him would continue to be extended to him now +that he had a new lease of life.</p> + +<p>“It was very good of you,” he went on, in the same tone, +after a moment of evidently painful thought, “to remain +here and care for me. Maybe you felt it a sort of duty, since +you bear my name, but, no matter what the motive was, it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>was very kind, and I shall always remember it with gratitude; +it will be very pleasant to think of in the future, that +you were by my side to do for me even though I was unconscious +of the fact and could not appreciate it. I suppose I +shall not need so much attention now that I am getting better, +and a nurse can relieve you from this confinement; but +while we are talking of this, I do want to tell you, face to +face, that I can never forgive myself for the wrong that I +have done you, and it will never cease to haunt me while I +live. But nothing that I can say of myself—nothing that +any one could say of me would be too severe. I feel that no +sentence, however austere, would be unjust, and I would most +gladly perform the harshest penance if I could but wipe out +the remembrance of the past two years from your heart and +my own. If I could put you back, Arley, where you were +when I first met you at Hazelmere, I would gladly forfeit +every future earthly prospect, were it required of me to do so. +Words are weak to make you understand what I feel, but if +you could look into my heart you would see that I am sincere. +I cannot ask you to forgive me, for I know that I do +not deserve it; but—I wish you would allow me to work for +you, Arley—pray do not refuse me this boon, and you shall +henceforth know no earthly care; I will devote all my energies +to making your path through life as smooth as it may +be after the ruin which I have wrought; and, if I am spared, +all my future shall prove how I repent of the unhappiness +which I have caused you.”</p> + +<p>He glanced up at her with an appealing look, but she sat +like a statue, only her cheeks were a burning crimson, and her +eyes were cast down so that he could not see their expression.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he asked, hesitatingly, “would you not use the income +which I authorized Mr. Holley to pay you?”</p> + +<p>“Did you expect that I would use it?” Arley asked, a touch +of her old spirit in her tone.</p> + +<p>“I hoped that you would, for, of course, I knew your circumstances, +and how hard it would be for you to take care +of yourself; still I knew, too, that you were very proud, and I +had a fear that you might reject it—but it would have comforted +me greatly to feel that I could do ever so little toward +atonement for the past.”</p> + +<p>“I could not understand how you were able to settle such a +sum upon me,” Arley replied, lifting her eyes and looking at +him searchingly.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” he cried, in a startled tone, and instantly comprehending +her thought, “did you think that I had come by it +dishonestly? that I had gambled for it? I see,” he continued, +with a sigh, “you have no reason to think anything good of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>me, and if you thought that, it is no wonder that you would +not use the money; but such an idea never occurred to me +before, and I tell you the truth, Arley, all the gambling I ever +did in my life was done in Madrid, and I look back upon the +frenzy of that time with deepest shame.”</p> + +<p>“But you could never have earned twenty thousand pounds +since your return,” Arley returned, wondering more and +more where the money had come from.</p> + +<p>“No,” he said, flushing violently; “I have made a great +mistake—I should have explained to you how I came by it—though +after your refusal to appropriate it, I should hesitate +to do so, except to clear myself from your suspicion that I +had gambled for it. It was a legacy, Arley, left me recently +by an aunt.”</p> + +<p>“And you settled it all upon me,” she cried, astonished at +this evidence of the radical change in him.</p> + +<p>Only two years previous he had forfeited his honor and +truth, and had sacrificed her upon the altar of his ambition +for the sake of winning her twenty thousand pounds; money +had been his whole aim and object, and now he had deprived +himself of a recent legacy, to place her in a position of independence +and comfort; besides this, he had burdened himself +with the care and support of Eddie Winthrope, the maimed +and friendless orphan.</p> + +<p>A feeling of respect, almost of reverence, was beginning to +take possession of her heart, for there were surely noble +deeds and evidence of a goodness which she had believed was +wholly foreign to him.</p> + +<p>Tears sprang into her eyes, and a song of thanksgiving +arose within her for a noble manhood restored.</p> + +<p>“I was very glad to settle it upon you,” he answered, +evasively; he wondered what she would say if she knew that +it was but a very small portion of his legacy. “But,” he continued, +humbly, “now that you know I came by it honestly, +if you would accept it, it would take such a load from my +mind—it has driven me nearly mad, since I came to my +senses, to think of you, who, until that fatal day two years +ago, never knew a care, toiling for your own living. I know +I have no right to sue to you for favors, but there are two +that I beg you in mercy to grant me, if I must indeed take +up the burden of life again; one is to keep this money—let +me have the comfort of knowing that I have thrown that +much of care and protection about you; the other—oh! Arley, +be pitiful—enough of forgiveness to cause you to regard me +with something of compassion instead of hatred.”</p> + +<p>His voice broke in the appeal. It was like the cry of a +drowning man—agonizing, beseeching, yet almost hopeless.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p> + +<p>Arley’s heart melted within her. She could never doubt +his sincerity after that.</p> + +<p>She got up from her chair, and, going to the door, locked +it. She wished no intruders to encroach upon that interview. +Then she went back and sat down beside him again.</p> + +<p>“Philip,” she began in a trembling voice, as she bent +toward him—and, with a great heart-throb he saw that the +tears were rolling swiftly over her cheeks—“when I read in +the paper that you were injured and would probably die, the +fountains of my heart seemed to be instantly unsealed, and +my first act was to cry to Heaven to save you, and—I would +forgive all. Philip, I—I have forgiven.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do that, please,” she continued, as a great sob burst +from him at those blessed words. “I cannot bear to see you +weep; and I must tell you that I returned to England with +very hard and bitter feelings against you. I said that I +would never forgive you—that I would never even look upon +your face again if I could help it. But, at the very first, +your letter staggered me. I felt, even though I did not like +to acknowledge it, that the ring of true repentance was in it, +even though it revealed depths of evil and wrong of which I +had never dreamed. Then I was even more amazed at receiving +the quarterly allowance from Mr. Holley, and to learn +that you had settled a fortune upon me. But this hardened +me somewhat again, for I believed, as you surmise, that you +had not come by it honestly. I felt sure that you could not +have earned it, with business ever so flourishing, and I reasoned +that only a successful handling of cards or dice could +have put you in possession of it, and a freak of some kind +had prompted you to settle it upon me. But, one day, I met +Eddie Winthrope in the art gallery. He was looking at my +pictures——”</p> + +<p>Philip uttered a low exclamation of surprise at this.</p> + +<p>“Were you that lady? He came home full of enthusiasm +over a lady whom he had met—an <i>artiste</i>, he said she was—and +who had told him so much about painting, and was very +kind to him.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it was I,” Arley returned; “and from him I learned +of all that you had done and were still doing for him—how +sad you were, how hard you were working, and how ill you +seemed to be. From that hour my feelings toward you began +to change, though I fought against it. I had been unhappy +enough before—I was doubly wretched then; for I knew that +if you were aiming at a better life—if you were truly repentant +and striving to become again the noble man I once +believed you to be, I was wrong to cherish such a bitter and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>unforgiving spirit toward you. I tried, at all events, to think +so; for, in my pride and anger, I said that no woman could +love a man who had used her so—no one could overlook and +forgive what I had suffered. But when I read that item in +the paper, there came a sudden revulsion—hush! you must +not do so,” she interposed, for the strong man had broken +down utterly, and was sobbing like a child, while the tears +rained over his cheeks.</p> + +<p>It was no shame for him to weep thus—it was an honor, +rather, to his manhood; and very tenderly Arley wiped those +tears away, feeling that every one was a precious pledge of +future happiness, and of the love, and care, and tenderness +with which he would surround her henceforth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, say it again—that you have forgiven?” he pleaded, +when he could command himself sufficiently to speak.</p> + +<p>“Yes, all—everything; and”—she bent closer over him, her +cheeks a rich crimson, a look in her beautiful dark eyes +which set all his pulses bounding and his heart throbbing with +a wild, sweet hope—“and it is not merely from a sense of +duty, either, Philip; it is because I—still love you as in those +first beautiful days at Hazelmere.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my darling!”</p> + +<p>It was a cry of wonder, almost of awe, at this evidence of +a full, free, and absolute pardon.</p> + +<p>His voice was weak and thick; he trembled with excitement, +and he reached forth, grasping her hands in a clasp +that was almost painful.</p> + +<p>She smiled as she tried to soothe him.</p> + +<p>“I shall have to stop if you excite yourself thus,” she said; +“but I find that my heart has been a traitor all along; my love +has never died, it has only been benumbed, and the change +in you has aroused it to new life, in spite of every effort to +the contrary.”</p> + +<p>“I do not see how there can be an atom of love in it for +me, Arley,” Philip said, in a wondering tone.</p> + +<p>“Had I been a maiden, I never could have confessed this +to you, Philip; but, being your wife, I suppose I have a right +to do so,” Arley said, softly; but her face was averted and +covered with blushes as she spoke.</p> + +<p>“It is the most blessed confession ever granted to an erring +man; say it again, Arley,” he pleaded, as if even now he +doubted the evidence of his own senses.</p> + +<p>Lower and lower bent the beautiful flushed face, until her +lips almost touched his ear.</p> + +<p>“I love you, Philip,” she whispered.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of utter silence; then he broke it.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my wife! I never, never dared to hope for this; I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>never dared to believe that you could do more than say, ‘I +forgive; go and sin no more;’ and I should have tried to live +out my life apart from you, content even to have gained so +much.”</p> + +<p>He wound his arms about her and held her in his trembling +clasp.</p> + +<p>“My darling,” he went on, “can it be true? Is it possible +that after all my vileness and cruelty I am to be so blessed +as this? How I have treated you! and yet I have always +loved you, Arley, strange as it may seem. It was a selfish +love at first, I own, but genuine, as far as I was able to love +any one besides myself and my ambition. Do you remember +that evening at Hazelmere, when you fastened that flower +upon my coat, and I called you the Wentworth Rose? No +one had ever quickened my pulse as you did then, with your +pretty, piquant ways, and even afterward, when I had won +you—chiefly for your money—I own it with shame, dear—there +was a feeling of tenderness for you which I had never +experienced for any other during all my life. But I began +to awake to a deeper, nobler love that day in the court-room +at Madrid. My whole soul was thrilled as I looked into your +pure face, and listened to your noble, appealing words. But +the demons of avarice and self-will were in full possession of +me then, and I seemed to have no power to tear myself from +their influence, though for a moment I was almost upon the +point of yielding to you. It was only when I had brought my +evil game to an abrupt end, by making audacious proposals +to Lady Elaine, and she had hurled her scorn and contempt +with crushing force at me, and then, pitying the weak dolt +who had been so imbecile, had appealed to me, something +as you had done, to turn my course and become a man, that +I came to my senses and realized the depth to which I had +sunk. Then I realized all I had lost; looking back over the +past, and remembering your patience, your forbearance, your +unvarying kindness, a wild and hopeless love took possession +of me, and I vowed that I would make myself the man you +believed me to be when you met me at Hazelmere. It was +the only hope of comfort I had for the future, that I might +eventually come up to your ideal of a noble man. At times +I have nearly gone mad with thinking what happiness might +have been mine but for my own folly; and when I learned +of your return I prayed that I might die, for I felt that it +would be continual torture to live here in London with you, +and never be permitted to see you. When you sent back that +money to me, it was like a dagger plunged into my heart, for +it told me that even the comfort of providing for your needs +was to be denied me. But, oh! you have told me that you love +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>me still; you have acknowledged yourself as my wife; my +cup of happiness is almost too full.”</p> + +<p>Arley thought that it was time for this exciting talk to +end.</p> + +<p>It was very sweet to be thus infolded in his arms and to +feel that at last her burdens were all removed, and she could +henceforth trust in his love and feel it to be the most precious +thing in life.</p> + +<p>But he was spent with the excitement of the past half hour +and needed rest.</p> + +<p>Gently releasing herself from his clinging arms, she said:</p> + +<p>“You must be quiet for a while now; it will not do for +you to talk any more at present. I fear you are too weary +already. Will you try to sleep?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, my darling, if you will promise not to leave me; for +if I wake and find you gone I shall fear that all this blessededness +has been but a dream.”</p> + +<p>“I will not leave you,” Arley said; “drink this, and then I +will sit by you until you wake.”</p> + +<p>She held a nourishing drink to his lips, and he took it with +relish.</p> + +<p>“Now sleep, dear,” she said, and bending, with a shy smile +on her lips, she touched them to his with the first, the only +kiss she had ever given him since their marriage morn.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"> + CHAPTER XLIV. + <br><span class="small"> + PERFECT FAITH. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Philip’s convalescence was quite rapid after the events related +in the last chapter; happiness is a great restorer, and +he began to gain strength so fast that the surgeon told him he +would not be obliged to remain in the hospital more than a +fortnight longer at that rate.</p> + +<p>“And, Mrs. Paxton,” he said to Arley, whose face seemed +to gain new beauty and brightness in proportion to Philip’s +progress, “one would almost imagine that you also had been +suddenly restored from a severe illness, for I never saw such +a change in any one before, as there has been in you since +your husband began to recover.”</p> + +<p>“It is not strange, is it, that I should rejoice to have my +husband restored to me?” she asked, somewhat tremulously, +but he did not dream how much of significance her question +contained, although Philip understood it well.</p> + +<p>“No—no indeed,” he returned, “but, really, you seem like +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>an entirely different person from what you were when you +came here.”</p> + +<p>And he was right; for she seemed suddenly to have been +transformed from the sad-faced, unhappy woman who had +come there expecting to see her husband die into the bright +and beautiful Arley whom we first knew at Hazelmere.</p> + +<p>She was somewhat more mature and dignified in her bearing, +but with love and happiness blossoming anew in her +heart, with every trace of the old bitterness and despair +wiped out, the lines of pain faded from her face like magic, +her beautiful dark eyes grew bright and sparkling, a lovely +flush tinged her cheeks, and her mournful lips were wreathed +with smiles once more.</p> + +<p>The first time that Lady Elaine saw her after her reconciliation +with Philip she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Ah! you have good news for me—Philip is better.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, darling,” Arley said, joyfully, “going to get well, +and—we are both better in body and soul.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine understood at once, and kissed her with tremulous +lips.</p> + +<p>“I am so thankful,” she murmured, “my own sister, may +God grant that all your future be bright—that no other +shadow ever fall upon it.”</p> + +<p>Tears sprang to Arley’s eyes, and she mentally cried:</p> + +<p>“Oh, if I could only bring back happiness to her sorrowful +heart.”</p> + +<p>“Have you told him who you are?” Lady Elaine asked later.</p> + +<p>“No, not yet—I want to enjoy the luxury of being loved +for myself—a poor, nameless waif, who has not a bit of +dower with which to enrich her lord—for a while,” Arley returned, +with shining eyes, adding: “There will be time +enough for disclosures by and by.”</p> + +<p>“Have you been with Miss McAllister ever since your return +to London?” Philip asked her one day, when she had +been telling him of her travels with Lady Herbert and +her son.</p> + +<p>“No, not all the time,” Arley answered, a slight flush rising +in her cheek. “I was with her for a while until Lady +Elaine decided to open Mordaunt House once more, and I +have been with her, as a sort of companion, since then.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! then Mordaunt House has been reopened!” said +Philip, somewhat surprised, “how does Lady Hamilton get +along without her?”</p> + +<p>“She does not get along without—she has consented to +make Mordaunt House her home whenever she is in London, +and Elaine will spend a good deal of time, as before, at +Hazelmere.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span></p> + +<p>“What does Lady Elaine think of me?” Philip asked, a +deep flush rising to his brow, and a troubled look in his eyes.</p> + +<p>“She thinks she will be very proud to own you as a +‘brother,’” Arley had almost said, but she hastily substituted +the word “friend.” “She knows of all that you have been +doing during the past year—she honors you for it, and—she +helped make your peace with me.”</p> + +<p>“God bless her!” he said, heartily, “I believe the Lily +of Mordaunt is almost an angel. Poor Wil!” he added, with +a heavy sigh.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Elaine is the most lovely character I have ever +known. Her sorrow is the only bitter drop in my cup now,” +Arley answered, echoing his sigh.</p> + +<p>“Where would you like to live, Arley, when I am able +to go away from here?” he asked, at another time.</p> + +<p>“Almost anywhere within our means, dear,” she returned, +with downcast looks. “You know,” she added, with a mischievous +glance out of the corner of her eye, “to quote a +homely adage, ‘beggars mustn’t be choosers.’”</p> + +<p>“Don’t, darling, speak in that way of yourself,” Philip +said, really pained; “but,” he added, after a moment, “I am +glad that you are ‘poor and nameless,’ as you used to say, +for now I can prove to you that I really love you for yourself +alone.”</p> + +<p>“Do you dare to call the wife of Philip Paxton ‘nameless?’ +Do you consider me ‘poor’ when I have twenty thousand +pounds in my own right in the Bank of England?” she +demanded, shyly.</p> + +<p>“I have the best of the argument, notwithstanding,” he +retorted, smiling, “for you are indebted to me for both name +and fortune. I cannot help glorying in the fact, after all +my cruelty in the past, and my whole future life shall be +devoted to you, my beloved. But you have not yet told me +where you would like to live. How would you enjoy spending +a portion of the year in the country?”</p> + +<p>“I should enjoy it exceedingly; but that would interfere +with your business, would it not? Besides, it would be +very expensive.”</p> + +<p>“But my business has been in a flourishing condition of +late, and will, doubtless, continue to be when I can get at +it again, and I think it will warrant our consulting our +taste and inclination regarding a home.”</p> + +<p>“Will you still keep Eddie?” Arley asked.</p> + +<p>“I should like to, if you do not object,” Philip answered, +regarding her somewhat anxiously.</p> + +<p>“I should object to his being sent away from you,” she +said, earnestly. “I think he is a very promising boy; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span>since he is so interested in art, he will make a most agreeable +companion for me. Perhaps it would be wise for us +to take rooms in the city for a while, and not be too hasty +about deciding upon a permanent home.”</p> + +<p>She said this merely to test him, and never once suspected +that he had been trying her in the same way.</p> + +<p>“Very well, Arley,” he said, quietly; “I shall be governed +by your wishes in all things. I perceive that you are rather +fearful regarding the cost, but you need not be, for I shall +never trouble you hereafter by living beyond my means,” +he concluded, with a peculiar smile.</p> + +<p>She smiled, too, thinking of the fortune which had recently +come to her, and how ample their income would be +for almost any kind of life which they might choose to live; +while, on the other hand, his plans were all matured, and he +knew just what he would do.</p> + +<p>Arley had said that she should enjoy the country exceedingly, +and, with a thrill of joy, he had said to himself: +“We will go to Elmsford to live. That grand old place +will, after all, become my home. I can assume the duties +of my new position, and—Arley will be Lady Paxton! I +will go there, have everything made ready for her, and +then surprise her with her new home and the secret which +I have been keeping from every one.”</p> + +<p>Eddie was admitted to see Philip as soon as it was thought +that he was able to receive visitors, and his surprise and +delight upon learning that Arley was his Uncle Philip’s wife +can be better imagined than described.</p> + +<p>“There has been a misunderstanding between Mrs. Paxton +and myself, for which I was wholly to blame,” Philip explained +to him while Arley was out of the room. “I do +not want the subject ever referred to hereafter, but I wished +you to understand that it was entirely my fault that we +were separated.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” Eddie said, with a wistful look at him, as if +loath to believe that he could do anything very wrong. “I +thought,” he added, “that she wasn’t very happy when I saw +her at the exhibition; but I’m sure she’s all right now, for +she has grown—oh, so much more beautiful than she was +then! May I call her auntie?”</p> + +<p>“If she likes you to do so, yes,” and it is needless to add +that Arley cheerfully granted him the privilege he desired.</p> + +<p>At the end of a fortnight from the time that he began +to improve, Philip was pronounced well enough to leave the +hospital.</p> + +<p>“My first work shall be to make a home for my wife,” he +said on the evening before he was to go, “but I shall be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span>obliged to go out of town on business for a little while first, +and it is impossible to take you with me, much as I dislike +being separated from you just now. Will you go and take +possession of my rooms until I return, or would you prefer +to go back to Lady Elaine until I come for you?”</p> + +<p>“I will go to her until you are ready for me, Philip, if +you will allow Eddie to remain with me. I shall be very +lonely without you in a strange place. But,” she added, +a shadow flitting over her face, “is it absolutely necessary +that you go? Cannot you send some one to attend to this +business for you? I fear you are not able to travel yet; +besides——”</p> + +<p>“Besides what, my beloved?” he questioned, fondly but +gravely, as she hesitated, and fearing that she was still doubting +him somewhat.</p> + +<p>“I cannot bear to let you go away from me, now that I +have you back once more,” she confessed, blushing like a +shy girl, and hiding her face upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Arley!” he cried, in a voice in which pain and joy +were blended, “I do not deserve that you should love me +like this. Oh! if I could only wipe out from your memory +and mine the past two years.”</p> + +<p>“Hush,” she said, gently, “I do not believe that such a +wish is right. Perhaps we both needed just that discipline +to fit us for the future.”</p> + +<p>“And is there no root of bitterness left in your heart? +Way down in its deepest recesses is there no scorn or contempt +for me?”</p> + +<p>“None, Philip,” she answered, with a grave sweetness; +“the remembrance of the past will gradually grow to be like +a dream to me; and now I can only rejoice to find that the +man whom I have loved is not a myth, an ideal, but a reality. +Perhaps, Philip, if you had never been subjected to +the temptations which have so beset you during these two +years, you never would have known the strength of character +which you possess.”</p> + +<p>“The weakness you should have said,” he interrupted, bitterly.</p> + +<p>“Nay, you are strong,” she persisted, “for you have come +forth from the battle a conqueror—you are like a hero who +has fallen time after time before his assailing foes, but who +has bravely struggled up again to oppose them; who has been +desperately wounded, and will carry the scars of the conflict +to the end of his life, but which go to show that victory +crowned him at last.”</p> + +<p>“Your words are very comforting—you are very lenient +in your judgment of me,” he replied, sorrowfully, “but if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>I had not dragged you down with me—if I had not wounded +you also, I could bear it better. Do you know,” he added, +earnestly, “that I would like the marriage service to be +repeated over us? That other seems like a mockery—it was +a mockery on my part, though Heaven knows that the vows +which I have registered in my heart, since you have given +yourself back to me, are as solemn and sincere as love and +true repentance can make them.”</p> + +<p>Arley lifted her face, all shining with tenderness and joy, +and kissed him.</p> + +<p>“Let us never refer to the past again, please,” she said; +“let us, though we have been husband and wife in the eyes +of the world for two years, date our real marriage from +now, and never again go back of it. I give myself to you +without reservation; I love you wholly, perhaps with even +more of depth and tenderness than I did when you asked me, +at Hazelmere, to be your wife. I have perfect faith in you, +too, Philip, so do not let us mar our life with vain regrets +or morbid repining. The only thing that troubles me now is +that you must leave me, but—you will not be long away,” +she pleaded, in conclusion.</p> + +<p>“No longer than I can possibly help, dearest. I do not +know just how much of an undertaking I have before me, +but you may rest assured that I shall not remain away from +my newly-recovered treasure a day longer than I can possibly +help.”</p> + +<p>The following morning Arley saw him start away on +his trip, and then went back to Mordaunt House, to wait +with what patience she could for his return.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine welcomed her back with delight.</p> + +<p>“But,” she said, between smiles and tears, “‘there is always +a thorn with a rose,’ and I cannot bear to think that you +will, perhaps, have to leave me again. I am glad and thankful +for your happiness, Arley, but I shall miss my sister.”</p> + +<p>“We will not be separated more than is absolutely necessary,” +Arley returned. “I suppose that Lady Hamilton will +claim you a portion of the time, but I shall insist upon having +you the rest.”</p> + +<p>“I expect I shall be between two fires all the time,” Lady +Elaine responded, smiling. “But when are you going to +tell Philip of our discovery, my Lady Alice?”</p> + +<p>“When he returns; we are then to decide about our future +home, and I cannot delay the revelation longer, for, of +course, a daughter of the house of Mordaunt will have a +fitting residence in which to entertain her beloved sister +and friends,” Arley said, smiling, and not having the slightest +suspicion that Philip had taken those matters into his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>own hands, and was even then discussing with his steward +the elegant furnishings which were to embellish Elmsford +in honor of the home-coming of his wife.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLV"> + CHAPTER XLV. + <br><span class="small"> + WIL HAMILTON. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Sir Charles Herbert and Ina Wentworth rode nearly an +hour in Rotten Row among the <i>elite</i>, who gathered there +to display their elegant costumes and thoroughbreds, when +they turned their horses’ heads for a smart canter out on +the ride to Windsor, where, far from the noise and confusion +of the city, with only the birds and whispering boughs of +the over-arching trees for witnesses, Sir Charles told the +gentle girl of his love for her, and won her promise to be his +wife.</p> + +<p>“I have been a doomed man,” he said, with a fond smile, +when at length they turned their faces homeward, “ever since +that day when I made my first call upon Mrs. Paxton, after +her return. It is strange how much has hinged upon the +mere chance of my being in that court-room in Madrid, and +espousing her cause.”</p> + +<p>“Chance?” Ina repeated, lifting her beautiful eyes to his +face with a look of inquiry. “Do you think that anything +in the world happens by ‘chance’?”</p> + +<p>“What else would you call it, dear? The fact of my +having wandered aimlessly into that court just at that particular +time? I had not the least object, beyond idle curiosity +to see how they conducted legal affairs in Spain.”</p> + +<p>“I believe that you were sent to save Arley, just as you +did save her. I think people are too apt to attribute many +events of life to ‘chance,’ simply because they do not realize +what power it is that impels and governs them—they imagine +them to be merely ‘happenings,’ but nothing ‘happens.’ God +rules,” Ina concluded, reverently.</p> + +<p>“And always for the best, I suppose you would say, since +you seem to trust Him so implicitly,” Sir Charles returned, +regarding her gravely.</p> + +<p>“Yes, always for the best,” she answered, with sweet +seriousness.</p> + +<p>“Then, according to your theory, God has given you to me. +I bless Him for his gift,” Sir Charles said, drawing nearer +to look down into those wonderful blue-gray eyes, and speaking +with thrilling earnestness.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he has given us to each other,” Ina replied, with a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>slight trembling of her red lips. “How happy I am!” she +added, naively, a moment after. “Who would ever have believed +when I was a poor little waif in that fisherman’s +hut, that so much blessedness was laid up for me in the +future!”</p> + +<p>Sir Charles reached out and took possession of the small, +prettily-gloved hand that rested upon the pommel of the +saddle.</p> + +<p>“My darling, what blessedness I have secured for the remainder +of my life, since I am to have so sweet and gentle +a monitor ever by my side. But,” with a searching glance +into her blushing face, “how will your theory hold good in +connection with Mrs. Paxton’s sad experience, and the cruel +bereavement which has fallen upon Lady Elaine Warburton?”</p> + +<p>“It is not ‘my theory,’ it is not a ‘theory,’ at all,” Ina returned, +earnestly. “It is a living truth. God’s ways are +always right and best. He can see beyond and over all. +He is like an experienced gardener who knows just how to +prune, and graft, and train the plants under his care; He +sometimes cuts off the most brilliant buds, the most promising +shoots, in a way which, to those not understanding his +motive, would seem like the most wanton destruction, when +in reality the future life and beauty of the plant depended +upon just that kind of treatment.”</p> + +<p>“But Arley Paxton would tell you that her life was +ruined. Lady Elaine would say that she does not expect any +real happiness this side of heaven,” Sir Charles said, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“I hardly think that either of them would say just that,” +Ina returned, smiling, “although they both believe that much +of sorrow will be mingled with all their future; but Arley +is a better, a stronger woman already, for the trouble which +she has had to bear, and she may live to see the wisdom +of it; if she does not she will surely realize it hereafter; +while Lady Elaine carries nothing but blessing with her +wherever she goes. I have been told that some one has +named her the ‘Lily of Mordaunt,’ and most fittingly, I think, +for her life is as full of beauty and fragrance as a lily.”</p> + +<p>“But it is very sad that her prospects should have been so +destroyed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is sad,” Ina said, with a wistful look up into the +handsome face by her side. “I fear I could not bear such +a trial with the patience and sweetness which she has manifested.”</p> + +<p>“We will not allow such a fear to mar this day,” Sir +Charles said, with a fond pressure of the hand which he still +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span>held. “And now, with your permission, I am going home +with you to tell Miss McAllister that I have won her treasure. +Will she be very severe upon me, do you think?”</p> + +<p>Ina broke into a low, musical laugh, though the beautiful +color swept over her whole face at the words.</p> + +<p>“Auntie would never do or say anything to make any one +unhappy,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Would she not?” returned Sir Charles, with a mischievous +glance; “then I shall tell her that two months is all the +time I shall allow my bride-elect for necessary preparations.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Sir Charles——” Ina began, in a startled tone.</p> + +<p>“Why should I not have you, my darling, just as soon +as possible?” asked the fond lover, and she could not tell +“why not.”</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister did not say him nay, either; she most +heartily approved of Sir Charles Herbert in every way, and +would oppose no obstacles to his wishes.</p> + +<p>“I am old, my dear,” she said to Ina, when the young +girl said that “two months” seemed “so soon,” and “we +cannot tell what the coming winter may have in store for +us, so I should like to see you a happy wife while I can enjoy +and share in your happiness.”</p> + +<p>So the day was set, and preparations immediately begun +for the approaching wedding, though Ina, after learning +of Philip’s serious accident and subsequent illness, and that +Arley had gone to him, stipulated that if additional sorrow +came to the girl whom she had learned to love so fondly, +the marriage should be delayed a while out of sympathy +for her.</p> + +<p>But it was to be happiness, instead of sorrow for her, as +we have already learned, and as soon as Philip left the hospital +and went away to transact his “important business,” +she threw herself into all Ina’s plans in the heartiest +manner.</p> + +<p>“You have won a treasure,” she said to her, the first time +she saw her after the engagement; “Sir Charles is one of +the best men the world ever contained, and I believe he is +going to have one of the sweetest wives, too.”</p> + +<p>One day after Philip’s departure, she went to see Miss +McAllister, and found Ina surrounded by a host of dainty +things pertaining to her trousseau, and her face lighted with +interest.</p> + +<p>“You must let me help you about everything,” she said. +“Philip will probably be away some time, and I must have +something to occupy my time to keep me from feeling my +loneliness.”</p> + +<p>“There is plenty of work to be done,” Miss McAllister +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span>answered, fondly regarding the smiling, happy face, while +a little song of thanksgiving thrilled her heart for the joy +that had returned to her, “and we will engage you to keep +you just as busy as you desire to be; so you may pull off +your gloves and begin at once.”</p> + +<p>Laughing softly, she wheeled up before her a table which +was covered with piles of invitations waiting to be folded +and put into their envelopes and directed; and Arley, throwing +aside her hat and mantle, sat down and copied names +until her fingers ached.</p> + +<p>Every day after that she was there at her post to help, +sometimes bringing Lady Elaine with her though not very +often, for the duties which she had assumed since coming +to London, such as looking up and befriending the poor +and sick, interfered with her spending much time upon +wedding finery, although she was often tempted to spend +the day with those two eager, happy girls.</p> + +<p>It often caused her a pang as she looked upon them and +thought how bright the future looked to them; but it was +only momentary, for every day the sweet spirit seemed to +become more sweet and pure, like fine gold from the refiner’s +fire, until she was able to reflect and partake of the +happiness of those around her.</p> + +<p>One day, as the wedding drew near, Arley stayed a little +later than usual at Miss McAllister’s.</p> + +<p>She did not realize in the bright, cheerful rooms, while +her busy fingers helped to fashion “pretty nothings” for the +fair bride-elect, that it could be so dark and dismal outside; +but it was quite unpleasant, and as she stepped into +her carriage to return to Mordaunt House she shivered with +a sudden chill.</p> + +<p>She would have been glad to go straight home, but she +had promised to do an errand for Lady Hamilton at a drug +store, and so she gave her orders to the driver and was +whirled away to Oxford street.</p> + +<p>Here, instead of getting out herself, she gave her prescription +to the coachman, asking him to get it put up for her, +which he was very willing to do, and she sat in the carriage, +waiting somewhat impatiently, while he was gone.</p> + +<p>During this time a gentleman passed the carriage, and, +looking up, saw the beautiful face at the window looking +forth into the brilliantly-lighted store.</p> + +<p>Arley, however, had not heeded him; she had not heard +the low exclamation which he had uttered upon seeing her, +or noticed that after passing he had turned again and came +up close to the carriage, where he stood somewhat in the +shadow of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> + +<p>Her thoughts were full of Philip, from whom she had +received a long letter that day, and she was wondering what +the nature of his business could be to detain him from her +so long.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a voice attested her attention—a voice which +sent her heart leaping into her throat, and strange prickling +pains flying over her whole body; turning her face as white +as death itself could have made it, and making her head reel +dizzily.</p> + +<p>“Arley—Mrs. Paxton,” it said out of the chill darkness. +“I do not wish to startle you, for I know what you believe; +but I thought if I could speak to you and you should recognize +my voice, it might prepare you for the rest.”</p> + +<p>Arley clutched at the side of the carriage; she felt as if +ten thousand thunders were crashing in her ears, her voice +refused to come at her bidding, her tongue seemed paralyzed +and powerless to speak.</p> + +<p>Apparently the man outside could see her face, and realized +how greatly she was agitated, for he continued gently:</p> + +<p>“Don’t be frightened. I would not have startled you for +anything; but I long for the sound of a familiar voice; speak, +Arley, and tell me that you recognize me—that you are glad +to see me.”</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, Arley found voice and sense.</p> + +<p>Leaning forward from the carriage window, she extended +both her hands and cried in trembling tones:</p> + +<p>“Where are you? Come here and let me look into your +face. Oh, Wil! can it be possible, or am I asleep and dreaming +that you have come back?”</p> + +<p>Before she had half completed her eager sentence, she felt +her hands grasped in a strong, warm clasp—a figure tall +and manly stood at the window, and the face of Wil Hamilton, +brave, noble Wil, was looking down into hers, yet +quivering in every muscle with mingled gladness and +emotion.</p> + +<p>“No, you are not dreaming, Arley, though I do not wonder +that you should fear it, after believing me dead for so +long; but I am really and truly Wil—no myth, no spirit, +but present in the body, though it is almost a miracle that +I am. I have just arrived from Glasgow via the Grand +Midland, and as it was too late to go down to Hazelmere, +I was on my way to the Langham—walking, for I was too +nervous and excited to be cooped up in a carriage—when, +passing you, the light from the store struck full upon your +face, and I recognized you instantly. I did not dare to present +myself to you too suddenly, for I feared to startle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>you, and it seems that I frightened you sufficiently as it +was.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Wil, I cannot believe it even yet,” Arley said, in +scarcely articulate tones, and still clinging to his hands. +“Get in here,” she continued, excitedly, while she moved +to make room for him, “and I will take you home with +me. Your father and mother are here in London—Elaine, +too; how shall we ever break this glad news to them? and, +oh! we have so much to tell you, too.”</p> + +<p>The excited girl hardly knew what she was saying, and +laughed nervously, almost hysterically, as she concluded.</p> + +<p>Wil Hamilton, scarcely less agitated, availed himself of +her invitation and entered the carriage, seating himself opposite +her.</p> + +<p>“My father and mother here! Elaine, too!” he repeated, in +trembling tones. “Are they well? Oh! shall I see them to-night?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, all well, and you shall see them in less than an +hour; but oh! Wil, they have been heartbroken for you,” and +Arley here broke down, sobbing for very joy.</p> + +<p>“I know,” he answered, huskily; “but I am very thankful +that they are here—it seemed an age to wait until to-morrow. +I am afraid, however, that it will never do for me to go in +upon them suddenly; I have upset you completely, and I +fear it would be even worse with them. Arley, you must +go home to them first, and break the news to them as gently +as possible, then I will come later,” Wil concluded, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“It is said that joy never kills,” Arley replied, smiling +through her tears; “but if you could give me such a shock, +I should really fear for them, especially for your mother.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—yes, they must be prepared first; but where are +they?”</p> + +<p>“At Mordaunt House.”</p> + +<p>“At Mordaunt House!” he repeated, astonished; “how is +that?”</p> + +<p>“Elaine thought it would be pleasanter to be there by +themselves in London than to be in a hotel.”</p> + +<p>Arley thought this explanation would be sufficient for the +present.</p> + +<p>“Have they grieved for me very sorely?” he asked, +brokenly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it has been too sad for anything, Wil,” Arley replied, +weeping afresh; “it has nearly killed Sir Anthony and Lady +Hamilton, and Elaine was crushed at first, but at the sight +of their grief she seemed to lay away herself entirely, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>has been like a pale, sweet saint whose mission it was to +comfort them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it has been hard—hard!” Wil groaned, as the vision +of their grief and the remembrance of his own experience +rose up before him.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do not know how any of them have borne it; but +I am nearly wild to learn all that has happened to you, Wil. +I will not question you now, though; I will restrain my +curiosity until you have seen them,” Arley said; then she +added: “I have some strange news for you, too. You remember +the discoveries that were made upon my wedding +day?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You know I was bereft of name and fortune at one +fell blow; but wonderful things have happened since. Elaine +obtained a clew, and, following it up, has unraveled all the +tangled skein of my life by her perseverance and patience; +and just think, Wil, I have turned out to be a ‘lady of +high degree.’”</p> + +<p>“Indeed! That is a discovery worth making,” he said, +greatly interested.</p> + +<p>“Yes; and—you would never guess it, so I may as well +tell you—she has proved that I am her own sister—the poor +little Alice who was supposed to have been lost at sea.”</p> + +<p>“Arley! It cannot be possible!” Wil exclaimed, in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Oh, but it is, my dear brother that is to be; and,” she +added, with something of her old sauciness—“and your fair +bride-elect has lost half her fortune by the means.”</p> + +<p>“Only give me my bride, and I care nothing for the +fortune,” he returned, eagerly; then continued: “But really, +Arley, though astonished, I am delighted. No arrangement +could have suited me better. But shall you assume, or have +you assumed, the name of Lady Alice?”</p> + +<p>“No; every one knows me by the name of Arley, and it +would be very awkward to change; besides, the name is not +essential. But here comes Robert,” she added, as the coachman +made his appearance.</p> + +<p>As he handed her the parcel which he had purchased, he +apologized for having kept her waiting so long, saying there +were several to be waited upon before him; but Arley replied +pleasantly:</p> + +<p>“Never mind. I have met a friend who will go home +with me, and I want you to drive us there as quickly as +possible.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” she continued to Wil, as Robert sprang to his seat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>to obey, “if Philip was only here to-night, what a happy +party we should make! He is out of town upon business.”</p> + +<p>On their way to Mordaunt House they planned that Arley +should enter as if nothing unusual had occurred, while +Robert should drive Wil around to the stable, where he +should remain in the coachman’s room until she should ring +his bell, which was connected with the house and was used +to summon him when wanted, when he was to come to a +side door, where she would admit him and conduct him to +his loved ones.</p> + +<p>But when the carriage stopped and she alighted and went +up the steps her heart beat so rapidly and she trembled so +she feared that she would break down and frighten everybody +nearly to death by her weakness before she could prepare +them to receive the wanderer.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine was just coming downstairs as she entered, +and cried out when she saw her:</p> + +<p>“How pale you are, Arley! Are you ill? And what made +you so late?”</p> + +<p>Arley was so glad of that last question as a loophole.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you know, there is no end to bridal finery,” she +said, with a nervous laugh, and trying hard to conquer her +trembling; “and it was later than usual when I started to +come home.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know; and you have worked over said bridal finery +until you are tired out. That is why you are so pale. Come +up to my room, and let me help you off with your things, +and brush your hair for you. You are damp, and shivering, +and cold, and I fear you will be ill.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine regarded her anxiously, and, winding an arm +about her, gently forced her upstairs, and led her into her +own bright boudoir.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"> + CHAPTER XLVI. + <br><span class="small"> + MIMOSA. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>When Wil Hamilton, in all the strength of his young +manhood, started out with Major Powell’s expedition, he was +full of enthusiasm over his anticipated adventures.</p> + +<p>Not a thought of danger or a suspicion of the terrible +ordeal which lay before him entered his mind or cast a +shadow over the bright hopes which animated him.</p> + +<p>He believed that the experiences which were to come would +be of inestimable value to him in his future career, and to +be permitted to make one of the great explorer’s company +was an honor which he could not forego.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span></p> + +<p>His voyage from Glasgow to New York was delightful, +for the weather was all to be desired, and he found many +a pleasant <i>compagnon de voyage</i>.</p> + +<p>He proceeded to Chicago, where the major and the remainder +of his company were awaiting him, and they started +out at once for the unexplored region of the Colorado.</p> + +<p>All went well until that fatal evening, just as the sun +was going down, the party passed along the brow of a precipice +toward an open space a little beyond, which they had +seen with their glasses, and which they had fixed upon as +their halting-place for the night.</p> + +<p>No one thought of any especial danger—they had been +in many places even more perilous than that, and not a fear +for their safety had disturbed them—and no one dreamed +of the fearful calamity about to overtake one of their +number.</p> + +<p>Wil had dismounted from his pony and was leading it +along the narrow path, having more care for the animal than +for himself.</p> + +<p>He never knew how it happened that he came to be so +near the edge of the precipice, nor how he could have become +so heedless; but he suddenly stepped upon a rolling stone, +lost his hold upon the bridle of his horse, felt himself plunging +down—down with frightful velocity through the deepening +gloom—and knew no more until long afterward he +awoke to find himself in a strange, wild place and surrounded +by strange, wild faces.</p> + +<p>He learned afterward that his fearful fall had been broken +midway by a tree which grew almost at right angles out +of the rocks, and whose dense foliage had probably been the +means of saving his life.</p> + +<p>For one terrible moment he had hung suspended among +its branches, then his form had slipped from among them +and dropped into the chasm below.</p> + +<p>Two Indians were lurking there among the brakes and +brambles which grew there rank and green.</p> + +<p>They had been tracking the exploring party all day, +whether from motives of plunder or curiosity was never ascertained, +but they had known of a path which wound about +the base of the precipice—an easier and less dangerous one—and +thus it was that day they were hiding there at the moment +he shot over the summit, yet they made no sound, no +effort to save him. They saw him as he hung so helplessly +among the branches of that tree, and were as motionless +as statues until, in less time than it could possibly be +told, he dropped limp and senseless among the brakes at their +feet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p> + +<p>Then they bent forward, expecting to find him dead. But +there were signs of life about the unfortunate man, though +he was badly scratched and bruised, and, without doubt, +very seriously, if not fatally injured.</p> + +<p>A few swift gestures, a few brief sentences, spoken with +Indian caution, and they stooped, gathered up their helpless +captive and bore him swiftly and noiselessly from the spot.</p> + +<p>His hat had fallen almost where he had lain; a little +farther on his handkerchief, which was in the lower side-pocket +of his coat, caught upon some bushes as they bore +him away, and these two articles were all that remained +to tell the story of his awful plunge, thus giving rise to +the conjecture that some wild animal had dragged him to +its lair and there devoured him.</p> + +<p>The path at the base of the precipice was a winding one, +and the Indians, with their burden, had long been out of +sight when the horrified party above recovered themselves +sufficiently to seek for their comrade.</p> + +<p>They could see nothing from the brow of the precipice, +for daylight was fast departing and everything in those +mysterious depths was shrouded in gloom.</p> + +<p>But once aroused to a sense of their duty, they made their +way with all possible dispatch down the other side of the +mountain and forced their way into the cañon to search for +Wil’s body. They had no hope that they should find him +living, but they hoped at least to find his remains and give +them Christian burial.</p> + +<p>They found the spot where he had fallen among the +brakes and brambles, for they were broken and displaced, and +there were marks of blood. His hat was found, and at some +distance from it, as they searched with blanched and anxious +faces, they picked up his handkerchief, but the body of their +comrade had most mysteriously disappeared.</p> + +<p>In that wilderness, where they supposed there was not a +human being besides themselves, it was but natural that +they should arrive at the conclusion which they did, and +after a long and fruitless search for the lair of the supposed +despoiler, they were obliged to leave the place, though +it was with sorrowful faces and heavy hearts that they +did so.</p> + +<p>But less than five miles away there was an Indian camp, +and thither poor Wil was borne as rapidly as the roughness +of the ground and the state of his helplessness would permit.</p> + +<p>Great astonishment and curiosity were manifested by the +tribe when their scouts returned, not laden with deer and +game, as they had expected, but bearing instead a human +body, and that of a paleface.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span></p> + +<p>The “medicine-man” was immediately called to attend to +him; an examination was made into the white man’s injuries, +and an arm and leg were found to be broken, while +his body was badly bruised, and it was feared that there +might be internal injuries which would prove fatal.</p> + +<p>He was taken to a wigwam, where his broken bones were +not unskillfully set and bandaged, and his bruised body +anointed with some compound known only to those rude +people; and then he was laid upon a comfortable couch of +skins, a watcher was placed beside him, and then nothing +more could be done for him but to wait until consciousness +should resume its sway, or death should extinguish the spark +of life which still remained in him.</p> + +<p>It was several days before he came to himself sufficiently +to realize anything of what had happened to him, and then +he was greatly surprised to hear all about him strange +voices speaking an unknown tongue, and to find himself +guarded by a stately, grave-visaged red man.</p> + +<p>He questioned him regarding his situation, but the Indian +could not, or pretended he could not, understand anything +that he said.</p> + +<p>All his wants and needs, however, were most kindly attended +to; he was nourished with delicious broths, made +from venison and wild game; cooling drinks, prepared from +some kind of fruit, were always on hand, and some one constantly +near to wait upon him, while the doctor of the tribe +paid him daily visits, examining into the state of his injuries, +rubbing and anointing him in a most thorough manner, +and then departing, uttering a series of grunts, satisfactory +or otherwise, as the case might be.</p> + +<p>Thus several weeks passed by, and Wil was chained to +that couch of skins by weakness and his broken limbs.</p> + +<p>It was very tedious, very trying, to be thus bound, not +only hand and foot, for a weight had been attached to his +foot to keep his limb in a proper position, but to be tongue-tied, +also. He was anxious, of course, to communicate with +his party, for he knew that they must be in great distress +on his account, but it was impossible, for not a word or a +gesture which did not pertain to his bodily comfort was apparently +comprehended, and there, in the heart of the wilderness, +miles and miles away from any signs of civilization, +he was obliged to bear his helplessness with what patience +he could.</p> + +<p>He was sore and lame from the crown of his head to the +soles of his feet; the condition of his broken leg would not +admit of any but a reclining position, and with nothing to +pass away the time, or no one to speak a word to him, it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>is not to be wondered at that he grew heartsick and almost +discouraged.</p> + +<p>One day he lay in his wigwam alone, thinking sadly of +home and home friends, longing for the sound of his father’s +hearty voice, for the touch of his mother’s hand upon his +fevered forehead, and a smile of affection from his beloved +one, and feeling very rebellious over his hard lot, when he +suddenly became conscious that a pair of sharp, black eyes +were peering in upon him from between the curtains of his +wigwam, and evidently watching him with the keenest interest.</p> + +<p>He made a gesture of impatience and turned his face +away, for he was in a mood to have the slightest thing irritate +him, and it was unpleasant to be thus spied upon and +examined as if he were some natural curiosity.</p> + +<p>But the object of his aversion, instead of disappearing +upon being discovered, parted the curtains and stepped boldly +within his tent.</p> + +<p>It was a young Indian, of perhaps twenty-five years, tall, +straight as an arrow, and graceful in every movement of his +lithe body as a young forest tree.</p> + +<p>His face was bright and intelligent, and beamed with a +kindly expression as he gazed down upon the helpless man +before him, while the profusion of wampum which he bore +proclaimed him to be a person of considerable importance in +the tribe.</p> + +<p>Wil did not attempt to speak to him, for he believed that +it would be as useless as his previous efforts to make himself +understood, but to his surprise the young man addressed +him in very good English.</p> + +<p>“Is the paleface better? Are his wounds healing?” he +asked.</p> + +<p>Wil was so delighted to hear his mother-tongue once more +that his face brightened like magic, and he answered with all +the courtesy of which he was master:</p> + +<p>“Yes, thank you, I am better, though, of course, I am +still helpless on account of my broken bones.”</p> + +<p>The young Indian bowed gravely, while his keen eyes +seemed to be studying the worn, though still handsome countenance +of the stranger.</p> + +<p>“The paleface may be thankful that he is here, even with +broken bones,” he said, briefly.</p> + +<p>“That is so,” Wil answered, heartily, “and though I would +much prefer to be with my own friends, yet your people +have given me very kind care, and I am very grateful.”</p> + +<p>The young brave’s face relaxed a trifle, as if the appreciative +words had pleased him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span></p> + +<p>“I have been very lonely,” Wil continued, “for I could talk +with none. I am glad to find some one who speaks the +English language.”</p> + +<p>Again the brave merely bowed in reply.</p> + +<p>“How far are we from a white settlement?” Wil inquired, +anxious to learn something regarding his situation.</p> + +<p>The Indian frowned slightly.</p> + +<p>“Ten days’ march for the red man, fifteen days’ march +for the paleface,” he replied, tersely.</p> + +<p>Wil sighed heavily. That meant many, very many miles +from civilization. There was no help for him, except from +some such quarter, and he might be in the hands of a band +of hostile savages.</p> + +<p>“Would one of your braves carry a letter to the nearest +post office for me?” he asked, after a moment of thought.</p> + +<p>“Ugh? Isn’t the paleface comfortable?” the Indian demanded, +with a quick flash of his eye.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, as comfortable as possible under the circumstances; +but my friends will be very anxious about me, and +I wish to relieve them of their suspense.”</p> + +<p>“Paleface use big words; poor Indian no see,” was the +somewhat scornful rejoinder. “But,” pointing to the bandaged +arm, “how can he make a letter?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I could manage with my other hand to let them +know that I am not dead, as I know they must believe me,” +Wil said.</p> + +<p>The brave shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Ugh, too warm for Indian to go to village, and the chief +goes north as the sun gets higher.”</p> + +<p>“North? Does that mean farther away?” Wil asked, with +a sinking heart.</p> + +<p>“It means to the heart of the cool forest, where the hot +sun does not burn, where the trees are greenest and the +wild bird’s songs are sweetest,” assented the Indian, with +kindling eyes; then turning abruptly he left the tent.</p> + +<p>Wil saw nothing of him again for more than a week, +and he began to fear that he had offended him by his request; +but one morning he appeared to him as suddenly +as before, bearing in his strong hand a quaint little basket, +made from the bark of the white birch, and filled with delicious +strawberries, which he silently presented to him.</p> + +<p>Wil thanked him with his brightest smile, then with tact +lured him to talk for half an hour or more, while he ate +his berries.</p> + +<p>He said not a word this time about sending letters to his +friends, for he feared to drive him away as before, and instinctively +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span>feeling that it was a subject which would have +to be handled with great delicacy.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps they expect to obtain a large ransom by detaining +me thus,” he thought, and resolved that he would do +all that he could to hasten his recovery and regain the use +of his limbs, for in his present crippled state he could not +hope to escape from his captors, even if a favorable opportunity +should offer.</p> + +<p>In conversing with the young Indian, who, he learned, +was the only son of the chief of the tribe, he told him what +the object of the party with which he was traveling at the +time of the accident had been; he told him that they were +studying the formation of rocks and minerals, together with +flowers and plants, and he was surprised to see with how +much interest he listened to him.</p> + +<p>But he was even more surprised by the practical use +which he made of what he had heard, for one morning +shortly after he brought him a hunting-pouch filled with a +variety of stones, some of them quite valuable specimens of +different kinds of ore.</p> + +<p>He was delighted with them, pointing out their peculiarities +and explaining something of their formation in a +way that interested the young brave greatly; and after that +he had an abundance of specimens, both mineral and botanical, +and the next month or two passed comparatively rapid.</p> + +<p>By the end of that time he was able to get about a little +with the aid of a rude crutch which had been fashioned +for him and some one to steady his feeble steps; and thus +he began to mingle with the tribe whose captive he had +become.</p> + +<p>He found every one kindly disposed toward him and willing +to wait upon him or run at his lightest bidding, but +he was conscious that he was constantly watched.</p> + +<p>He was never left alone, and as he grew stronger and better +able to help himself some member of the tribe always accompanied +him wherever he went, and it was evident that +they did not intend to allow him even the smallest chance to +elude them.</p> + +<p>He finally asked Arrow—for that was the name of the +chief’s son—why he was not allowed to communicate with +his friends.</p> + +<p>The face of the young man at once grew dark.</p> + +<p>“Indian very poor,” he said, sullenly; “white man drive, +drive him away from his hunting-grounds until nothing left; +a little corn, little venison, and no gold to buy. He take +care of paleface now more than three moons; give him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>back arm, leg, strength, and when the white man’s friends +send gold, he can go.”</p> + +<p>“Is that all?” Wil exclaimed, eagerly. “Why did you +not tell me this before? You shall have gold; you deserve +to be paid for all your care and kindness, and I should never +have thought of going away without paying you handsomely +for what your people have done.”</p> + +<p>“Ugh,” Arrow grunted, but there was a strange look in his +keen eyes.</p> + +<p>“How much gold do you want?” Wil asked, vainly imagining +that perhaps he might have enough by him to purchase +his freedom and a guide to some town.</p> + +<p>“When the paleface is ready to pay one thousand American +dollars to the chief, my father, then perhaps Arrow +may get leave to take him back to his people,” was the wary +answer.</p> + +<p>Wil flushed hotly.</p> + +<p>A thousand dollars was a large sum, a very unjust amount +to demand. A hundred would have been liberal remuneration +for the care and attention he had received.</p> + +<p>He had a letter of credit for three times the sum Arrow +mentioned, but unless he could take it to a bank in some +large city it was as useless as so much blank paper to him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, however, if he could make his captors understand +this they might allow him to go with an attendant to draw +the money, and then, once under the protection of his own +people, he would feel at liberty to name the sum which he +should pay them.</p> + +<p>He tried to explain the matter to Arrow, and to persuade +him to go with him to draw the money.</p> + +<p>“Why not send Indian alone?” the young man asked, +cautiously, and viewing the, to him, meaningless characters +of the letter contemptuously.</p> + +<p>“Because the banks will not pay money to any one but +me, and not then until I write my name in their books.”</p> + +<p>A cunning gleam shot into the red man’s eyes.</p> + +<p>“That is not gold or silver!” he cried, scornfully. “White +man never pay poor Indian anything. He say ‘pay,’ but +when he enters the wigwam of his own people—they strong, +Indian weak—and they drive him back into the forest empty +and hungry.”</p> + +<p>Again the hot blood mounted in Wil’s face at being thus +suspected.</p> + +<p>“But I tell you I want to pay you handsomely. I should +be glad to give you money now if I had it, and if you will +go with me I will promise that no harm shall come to you, +and you shall not be driven back empty and hungry. I know +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span>this is not gold,” he added, touching his letter, “but it will +bring me gold when I take it to a bank.”</p> + +<p>But Arrow shrugged his shoulders, a derisive smile still +curling his lips.</p> + +<p>“White men all cheats,” he said, laconically and with +sullen obstinacy, and Wil saw that some other plan would +have to be devised for his liberation, but he was nearly +heartsick and discouraged.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterward, as he lay upon his couch of robes, thinking +dismally upon his situation, and wondering what would +be the end of it, he was disturbed by a slight noise at the +entrance of his wigwam.</p> + +<p>Glancing up somewhat impatiently he saw to his surprise +a delicate, oval face, the face of a young and beautiful girl, +looking wistfully in upon him.</p> + +<p>He could see nothing but her face, with its coal-black eyes, +with their straight, smooth brows, its rosy cheeks and scarlet +lips.</p> + +<p>Glad of anything to break the monotony of his life, he +beckoned to her with his hand, saying in a gentle tone:</p> + +<p>“Come in if you like.”</p> + +<p>The curtains parted at his invitation, and an Indian +maiden of seventeen entered and stood before him.</p> + +<p>She was slender and graceful as a young sapling, her form +was perfect and fully developed, and she had hands and +feet such as a London belle might have envied. Her complexion +was not nearly as swarthy as the majority of her +tribe; her features were delicate and regular, and Wil, as +he looked upon her, wondered at her beauty.</p> + +<p>Her hair, instead of hanging straight and limp about +her cheeks, as the Indians usually wore it, had been gathered +back and tied with bright ribbons, thus showing her small, +well-shaped head to advantage.</p> + +<p>She wore a short robe of some light skin, elaborately embroidered +with wampum; the moccasins upon her little feet +were made to match it, and—wonderful departure!—her lithe +limbs were actually incased in stockings, a thing unheard of +before among that savage tribe.</p> + +<p>She was a bright, dainty creature, and in her hands she +held a bunch of brilliant flowers, trophies of a long and +diligent search.</p> + +<p>“The paleface is lonely,” she said, in a low, musical voice, +and bending a glance of compassion upon his sad countenance.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am lonely,” Wil sighed. “But who are you?”</p> + +<p>“Mimosa—Arrow’s sister,” she answered, simply.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span></p> + +<p>“I have never seen you before,” Wil said, wondering where +she had been all the time.</p> + +<p>She shook her head and showed her white teeth in a +dazzling smile; then drawing herself up with a proud gesture, +she returned:</p> + +<p>“The daughter of the chief was told she must not see the +paleface.”</p> + +<p>“Then how does it happen that you are here now?” he +asked, in surprise, and wondering at her correct language.</p> + +<p>Again that dazzling smile, and the color deepened in her +cheek.</p> + +<p>“The chief has gone toward the rising sun. Arrow hunts +the deer in the forest, and the squaw sleeps in the wigwam,” +she said, in a tone of veiled defiance.</p> + +<p>“You mean that you have stolen away to see me while no +one can know it?” Wil said, looking amused, and admiring +this graceful little savage more and more.</p> + +<p>She nodded an assent; then taking a step forward, she half +knelt before him and held out her beautiful flowers to him.</p> + +<p>“You are very kind,” he said, sitting up and taking them +from her. “Where did you gather such lovely blossoms?”</p> + +<p>“Yonder where the eagles make their nests,” she replied, +with a gesture to indicate the mountains above them.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"> + CHAPTER XLVII. + <br><span class="small"> + HOMEWARD BOUND. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Did you climb those crags?” he cried, astonished.</p> + +<p>She shrugged her pretty shoulders, while her lips curled a +trifle.</p> + +<p>“The chamois is not more sure-footed than Mimosa,” she +said, briefly.</p> + +<p>“Do you love flowers?” Wil asked, with a growing interest +in her.</p> + +<p>The quick color flashed over her face like a glow of light.</p> + +<p>“They are the smiles of the Great Spirit,” she said, reverentially, +while her eyes rested fondly upon the gay colors in +his hand.</p> + +<p>“You do love them, or you never would have said that,” +Wil returned, earnestly, and deeply touched by the pretty +smile; “and so do I. I am very thankful to you for thinking +of me in my loneliness. But I have nothing to give you +in return, unless you will let me choose one of these for you +to wear as a token of my gratitude.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span></p> + +<p>“To wear?” she repeated, blankly, not comprehending his +meaning at all.</p> + +<p>“Yes. In my country, when a gentleman gives a lady a +flower, if she cares anything for it, she pins it at her throat, +or wears it in her belt. Here is this beautiful scarlet bell, +which I will choose for you, as my thank-offering for the +bouquet.”</p> + +<p>He held it out to her as he spoke and she advanced shyly +to take it, her eyes glowing, and the rich color sweeping up to +her forehead as her fingers touched his in the act.</p> + +<p>“I should be glad if you could come and see me again, +Mimosa,” Wil said, as she was turning, without a word, to +leave him.</p> + +<p>“Mimosa has seen the paleface often, but he knew it not; +he was sleeping, and the braves were on the trail,” she returned, +thus indicating that it was only by stealth that she +dared to approach his wigwam.</p> + +<p>Then turning, she disappeared, like some bright bird, and +the place seemed even more gloomy than before to its sad-hearted +occupant.</p> + +<p>Every day after Mimosa’s brief visit to him Wil received +a lovely bouquet of flowers. Sometimes they were thrust +just inside his curtains by a small, delicately-formed hand, +which quickly disappeared again like a frightened bird; +sometimes they were laid upon his pillow, where he would +find them on his return from a walk, or they would be +dropped in the very path at his feet from some invisible +source above.</p> + +<p>But he was at no loss to know to whom he was indebted +for these choice floral offerings, although it was long before +he had another opportunity to converse with the chieftain’s +beautiful daughter.</p> + +<p>Now and then he caught a glimpse of her as she passed +to and fro about her duties or mingled with the other maidens +of the camp; and once or twice, when he ventured near a +group of which she formed the center, and met the glance of +her dark, bright eyes, he marked the sudden flash which +leaped into them, and the vivid flush which burned upon her +cheeks.</p> + +<p>Not having any opportunity to thank her for her thoughtful +attentions, he could think of no other way to evince his +appreciation than to wear her colors, so he would often tuck +one of her bright flowers in his buttonhole, and wear it until +it drooped and faded.</p> + +<p>Now and then he would find a small basket of fruit in his +tent—berries of various kinds; and one day he discovered +upon his couch an exquisite belt of wampum, which, he did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span>not doubt, had been wrought by the dainty fingers of the +chieftain’s daughter.</p> + +<p>Four months had passed since his captivity began, and he +was able now to walk without a crutch, using only a stout +stick to favor his weaker limb. He was well and strong in +every other respect, and he began to have some desperate +idea of taking matters into his own hands and strive to get +away from the wilderness and his uncongenial companions.</p> + +<p>With this in view, he often went out to sit with the braves +around the council fires; and though he could not understand +a word of their language, he could sometimes gather something +of their meaning from their glance and gestures.</p> + +<p>In this way he was now brought in frequent contact with +Mimosa, as the maidens were often called to wait upon the +braves, and she was always eager to be among them.</p> + +<p>Occasionally she would stop in an off-hand manner near +Wil, and speak a low word or two with him, and he could not +fail to see that she entertained the kindest of feelings toward +him.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” he thought, after one of those brief interviews +with her, “I may be able to persuade her to assist me to +escape.”</p> + +<p>One evening, after an excessively warm and sultry day, +the men, instead of gathering in their usual circle, threw +themselves about anywhere, where they could find the coolest +spot of ground, while beneath a stately forest tree a knot of +gay maidens had gathered to chat in the growing dusk.</p> + +<p>Wil was very restless, and oh! so bitterly homesick. He +could neither sit nor lie anywhere quietly, but paced back and +forth in the open space before the wigwams, extending his +walk a little farther every time he turned.</p> + +<p>He had put a bright cardinal flower in his buttonhole before +leaving his tent, hoping thus to attract Mimosa’s attention; +for he had resolved to obtain an interview with her +before he slept, if possible, and put her regard for him to a +test.</p> + +<p>It was not long before he espied her sitting by herself just +a little apart from the group of girls before mentioned.</p> + +<p>Little by little he extended his pacings in that direction, +until he passed the spot where she sat twice, and without appearing +to notice that she was there.</p> + +<p>He turned the third time, and just as he came opposite +her the cardinal flower that he had worn dropped just at her +feet. He stooped to pick it up, and said, in a low, appealing +tone:</p> + +<p>“Will Mimosa come to the back of the tent by and by? I +have a few words to say to her.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> + +<p>She did not even look up at him as she briefly answered:</p> + +<p>“Yes, paleface, she will come.”</p> + +<p>The closest observer would not have mistrusted that they +had spoken to each other. He had, to all appearance, dropped +a flower, stooped an instant to recover it, and then passed on.</p> + +<p>Once or twice he paced back and forth again, then, yawning +wearily, he leisurely sauntered away to his tent.</p> + +<p>Mimosa watched him from beneath her dusky lashes, but +not a movement betrayed that she was in any way interested +in his action, and, after he had disappeared, her head +gradually sank forward until it almost rested upon her +bosom, while her body swayed back and forth as if overcome +with sleep.</p> + +<p>A burst of merriment appeared suddenly to awake her, +making her look up, to find several pairs of eyes mirthfully +regarding her, and the young girls, gathering about her, +began to banter her upon her drowsiness at that early hour +of the evening.</p> + +<p>This, as she had intended, gave her an excuse for retiring, +and, rising, she made some laughing rejoinder, and then ran +lightly away to her own wigwam.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Wil heard a gentle scratching on the +cloth of his tent just by his pillow.</p> + +<p>“Mimosa,” he whispered.</p> + +<p>“Let the paleface speak; Mimosa will listen,” came in a +low, sweet tone to him.</p> + +<p>“Mimosa, why do your people hold me a captive here?” he +asked.</p> + +<p>“Is not the paleface kindly treated?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I long for my own land and my own people.”</p> + +<p>Wil thought he heard a gentle sigh at this, but the next +moment she answered, though her voice did not sound quite +natural.</p> + +<p>“The paleface would make a brave warrior. If he could +be content, he might become a great chief by and by.”</p> + +<p>“No, no, that would be impossible,” he returned, with an +unseen gesture of disgust.</p> + +<p>“Tell Mimosa why.”</p> + +<p>“Because—because—listen, Mimosa: You have always +been a child of the forest; you have been free and unfettered +as a bird, and no other life would be possible for you; that is, +you could not enjoy any other. How would you like it if +some one should carry you away to a large city and shut you +up in small, close rooms, never allowing you to go out, and +where you could never get a breath of your native air, or see +one of your own people?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span></p> + +<p>“Mimosa would die,” she said, briefly; “her heart would +break.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that is it. I am in a strange, wild country, my liberty +is taken from me, and my heart is breaking to go back +to my friends and my country.”</p> + +<p>“The paleface is a man, and the hearts of the brave do +not break,” the girl replied, with an accent of scorn.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not,” he assented, with a flush at the implied +weakness; “I might not die, but I am very unhappy to be detained +here against my will.”</p> + +<p>Again he heard that sigh, then:</p> + +<p>“Ah! if only the paleface could be happy here, Mimosa +would live but to serve him, and—he should be a great chief.”</p> + +<p>There was a sadness and an earnestness in the sweet voice +that thrilled her listener.</p> + +<p>He started, as a thought flashed upon him.</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that this beautiful Indian girl was +learning to love him? and was that the secret of her past attentions +to him and of her wish for him to remain and become +one of her people?</p> + +<p>He hoped that such was not the case; at all events, he resolved +to nip any such sentiment in the bud.</p> + +<p>“That could never be,” he said, gravely. “My heart is +with my own people, and I must go back to them. Will you +help me, Mimosa?”</p> + +<p>Surely a sob smote his ear at this. He was not quite sure, +but it was very like it. Then the girl said, in a passionate +voice:</p> + +<p>“When the paleface goes home, far across the sea, Mimosa—dies!”</p> + +<p>Her voice died away to a hoarse whisper at the last word.</p> + +<p>It was as he had feared, after all. The mischief was done—the +Indian maiden loved him; and for a moment he was +speechless—appalled.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” he said, at length; “you must not say that, for by +and by some noble brave will ask to take you to his wigwam, +and you will be very happy, while I—listen now, for this is +a secret which I could not tell to every one—I must go back +to England, for I love a beautiful, golden-haired maiden +there, who, I fear, is even now mourning me as dead. Now +you see why I could not remain willingly with your people, +even were not this kind of life distasteful to me. But, Mimosa, +if you will assist me to get away, so that I can go back +to those I love I shall always remember you as a kind friend.”</p> + +<p>He listened and waited for some reply to this, but none +came. At last he arose and looked out. There was no one +there—the spot where Mimosa had knelt to talk with him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>was empty; she had stolen away as quietly as she had come, +and he knew not what would be the result of his petition to +her. So, with a sigh of disappointment and something of +apprehension, he threw himself again upon his pile of robes, +and was ere long asleep.</p> + +<p>He scanned the faces of the warriors somewhat anxiously +the next morning as he went among them, and for several +days after, but no one appeared any different to him; he was +not more closely watched, and he began to think that if Mimosa +did not mean to help him, she at least intended to keep +his desire for escape a secret.</p> + +<p>However, he was every day becoming more desperate, and +resolved that he would improve the first opportunity that offered +for his escape—take his life in his hand, and try to +make his way to some white settlement.</p> + +<p>But one morning he arose with a strange feeling of lassitude +upon him, while sharp, stinging pains went shooting +throughout his whole body. His tongue was parched and +dry, his head dizzy, and a fear began to taunt him that he +was going to be very ill.</p> + +<p>Every moment he seemed to grow worse, and before he had +finished dressing himself, he was obliged to crawl back to his +bed, where a messenger, sent to inquire into his absence from +the morning meal, found him, groaning with pain.</p> + +<p>The doctor was summoned, and, upon seeing his patient, +gave vent to a perfect torrent of dissatisfied grunts, and proceeded +to put him through a thorough steaming process; but +it was all of no avail, for every hour only added to poor +Wil’s torments, and before night he was unable to move, for +he was bound hand and foot by the chains of that relentless +demon—rheumatism.</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to follow him through the long season +of pain and wretchedness, of loneliness and almost despair. +The disease seemed loath to relinquish its hold upon its victim, +but his strong constitution at length conquered, and he +began slowly to mend.</p> + +<p>He had received the most devoted care, however, during this +illness; for when the fever had passed and his wandering +mind returned to its normal condition, he found Mimosa established +beside him as his nurse, and a very efficient one +she proved, too, for every want and need were attended to +almost before he was conscious of them himself, and with a +gentleness and deftness that were very grateful to his weakened +nerves.</p> + +<p>But she was greatly changed; she was no longer the bright, +happy maiden that she had been when she had come so shyly +to bring him her flowers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p> + +<p>Her cheeks had lost their roundness; her sparkling eyes +had grown dull and sunken; her form seemed to have shrunk +away, all its graceful lines had disappeared, while she had a +dry, hard cough, which racked her whole body with every +paroxysm.</p> + +<p>But she never complained—never spoke of herself, though +there was a hopeless tenderness in her eyes which smote Wil +every time she looked at him, while she was so attractive and +gentle that he began to feel a real affection for her.</p> + +<p>But as his strength returned and his convalescence progressed +rapidly, she did not come so often, while she seemed +to have grown suddenly weak and spiritless herself.</p> + +<p>Once she was absent several days, and upon inquiring of +Arrow where she was, he replied in a tone that was almost +fierce, and with a despairing look:</p> + +<p>“Mimosa droops; she says the Great Spirit has called her.”</p> + +<p>“Surely she cannot be so ill as that!” Wil cried, greatly +startled.</p> + +<p>The Indian bowed his head upon his breast and did not +answer, but Wil could see that his teeth had almost bitten +through his lip in his effort to restrain all feeling, while +his hands were clinched so tightly that they had become livid.</p> + +<p>Tears actually started to the invalid’s eyes; he could hardly +believe that the beautiful girl was fatally ill; yet he remembered +how hollow her cough had sounded the last time he saw +her, and how, several times, she had involuntarily put her +hand to her side as if a sharp pain had suddenly pierced her.</p> + +<p>Arrow soon recovered his composure, and then told him +that Mimosa had been out in a storm and taken a sudden +cold; that during his illness she had several slight hemorrhages, +and only a day or two previous she had been attacked +with one more violent than the others, and was now confined +to her couch.</p> + +<p>This made Wil very sad, for he had been greatly interested +in the bright, intelligent maiden, and it seemed almost cruel +that she must die so young.</p> + +<p>Another week passed, and then she came again to see him, +and he was shocked at the change which the past fortnight +had wrought in her, though she did not appear nearly so +sad as she had done the last time he saw her.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry you have been sick, Mimosa,” he said, holding +out his hand in greeting to her.</p> + +<p>She laid hers for a moment within it, and it almost burned +him with its fever heat.</p> + +<p>“Mimosa will be better soon,” she answered, quietly, as she +sat down beside him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span></p> + +<p>Then, fixing her dark eyes with a mournful look on his +face, she asked, significantly:</p> + +<p>“Can the paleface be patient a little longer?”</p> + +<p>Wil’s heart bounded into his throat at the question, for +something told him she had devised a way for him to escape +from his captors.</p> + +<p>“How?—patient for what?” he asked, trying to speak +calmly.</p> + +<p>She held up her hand between him and the sunlight that +poured in between the parted curtains of his tent, and he +saw that it was almost transparent, and trembling from +weakness.</p> + +<p>“See!” she said, with a sad smile, “the life is almost gone; +two moons will not wax and wane before it will be cold and +still. When Mimosa’s heart ceases to beat, the paleface shall +be free!”</p> + +<p>“Mimosa! surely you do not think you are going to die!” +Wil said, startled by her words, and in his anxiety for her +heedless for the moment of their full import.</p> + +<p>She smiled again, a trifle bitterly.</p> + +<p>“Does the paleface care?”</p> + +<p>“Truly I do,” he said, earnestly; “I should grieve sorely.”</p> + +<p>“Will he remember the poor Indian girl when he goes back +to the golden-haired squaw?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I shall. I shall never forget how kind you have +been to me; nor that perhaps I owe my life to your faithful +care.”</p> + +<p>Her lips trembled and her eyes were dazzlingly bright as +she leaned nearer to him, the hectic burning on her cheek.</p> + +<p>“Mimosa has loved the paleface well,” she whispered—“so +well that she will find a way to send him back to his people +and the beautiful maiden who is grieving for him. But her +heart is broken; there is no beauty in the hills or valleys +any more for her—no joy in the flowers, in the whispering +boughs and running waters; she longs for the happy hunting-grounds +of the Great Spirit, who will make her well and lift +the pain from her heart.”</p> + +<p>Wil Hamilton sighed heavily.</p> + +<p>“You make me very unhappy, Mimosa,” he said, in a husky +voice. “I never intended you any wrong, my poor girl.”</p> + +<p>She lifted her head with a proud gesture at those last +words.</p> + +<p>“Pomanda’s daughter can do without the paleface’s pity!” +she said, haughtily.</p> + +<p>Then a painful crimson swept over her wan face, and she +added, sadly and humbly:</p> + +<p>“I know he meant no wrong; it is only poor, foolish Mimosa +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span>who has been wrong. There was no one among her +father’s people who had power to touch her heart, no brave +to whose wigwam she was willing to go; but when the paleface +came, with a brighter light in his eyes, with wisdom in +his speech, with gracious words and gentle courtesy—so different +from the rude ways of the men of the forest, the poor +Indian girl was foolish enough to look up to him, to linger +for his smile and the sound of his voice, and to tremble when +he spoke pleasant words to her. She forgot that the eagle +never mates with the sparrow, until the paleface told her of +the beautiful golden-haired squaw over the sea, and how his +heart was full of bitterness because he could not return to +her. But now he shall go back to her and his own people. +Mimosa has sworn it and she will perform her vow.”</p> + +<p>Wil was deeply moved as he listened to the dying girl; +there was infinite tenderness in her low, sad tones, and every +word was full of a pathos that was very touching.</p> + +<p>“I shall be very grateful to you, Mimosa, but I should be +much happier if you could get well and be happy yourself, +after I am gone. I will hope that you may, at all events; +but will you not tell me,” he added, anxious to change the +subject, “how you learned to speak my language so correctly?”</p> + +<p>The girl flushed again, and with evident pleasure, while a +glow of pride came into her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Three summers ago Mimosa went to visit the tribe of Pomanda’s +brother, beyond the Red River of the North, and a +pale sister with a voice like the nightingale’s and eyes like +the meadow violet, came to teach the poor red men. Mimosa’s +heart was hungry to learn, she had always wanted +more than her own people could give her, and she sat often +at the feet of the pale sister who taught her the language +of her fathers, and,” hesitating and casting a furtive glance +at her companion, “and about the Great Father, and the good +Christ who died for the white man, the red man, all people. +Does the paleface know Him?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mimosa, I know that Christ died for every one,” Wil +answered, with a strange tension about his heartstrings.</p> + +<p>“Does the paleface love Him?” she asked, with almost +breathless eagerness.</p> + +<p>His eyes drooped and a flush slowly mounted to his brow. +He knew that he did not love Him in the way that she +meant, and he was speechless before her. Had he come into +the wilderness to be taught the truths of the gospel by this +simple girl?</p> + +<p>A wistful look swept over her face; then she said:</p> + +<p>“Mimosa will search for the paleface in the happy hunting-grounds +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span>by and by; she hopes that he will come to them, +for she loves the good Christ, and she will not be afraid to go +away to them when He calls her; for she knows that there her +heart will never be heavy any more.”</p> + +<p>She arose, her face all alight with hope, but it soon faded, +and she continued in a weak voice:</p> + +<p>“Mimosa cannot come again to look upon the paleface, for +her spirit is weary and her feet are slow; but let him not +lose his courage, for, when Mimosa’s spirit is free, he shall +be free also.”</p> + +<p>She stooped, and, with a suddenness for which he was +wholly unprepared, pressed her burning lips to his for one +instant, and then was gone.</p> + +<p>He never saw her again, but he often inquired for her, +and was told that she was failing and far too ill to leave her +own wigwam.</p> + +<p>Six weeks after the last sad interview, Arrow came one +morning, a little after sunrise, to his tent, his face gray and +stern, his brow gloomy and overcast.</p> + +<p>“Let the paleface make ready for the trail,” he briefly commanded.</p> + +<p>Wil looked at him inquiringly, but his heart was beating +heavily with mingled hope and fear.</p> + +<p>“The Great Spirit has called the flower of Pomanda’s tribe +to his happy hunting-grounds, and she will never make glad +the heart of her people any more. But the chief, my father, +made a vow that when Mimosa ceased to breathe the paleface +should be free. When the sun rose my sister was gone, +and the chains of the captive broken. Come!”</p> + +<p>He turned abruptly and went out of the tent, while Wil, +trembling in every limb at the glad tidings of his freedom, +yet with tears of sadness gathering in his eyes at the untimely +end of the gentle Indian girl, made haste to equip +himself for a long march.</p> + +<p>As he passed out of his tent he found Arrow waiting for +him. He made a gesture indicating that Wil was to follow +him, and immediately plunged into a narrow path leading +through the forest.</p> + +<p>There was not a sound about the Indian camp, an ominous +stillness seemed to hang like a pall over every wigwam, and +not a person was visible anywhere.</p> + +<p>As they passed a little open glade a short distance from the +camp, Wil saw a new-made grave.</p> + +<p>Mimosa had been buried at sunrise.</p> + +<p>Arrow covered his face with his blanket and moved on, but +Wil, breaking a bough from an acacia tree, moved forward +and laid it reverently upon the narrow mound; then, with a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span>sigh of regret for the dead, but with courage and hope once +more animating both heart and body, he turned from the +place forever and followed his guide.</p> + +<p>For many days they marched eastward, the Indian sad and +silent, for his heart was heavy; Wil growing every hour more +hopeful and eager.</p> + +<p>They paused upon their journey only long enough to eat +their simple meals and take needful rest, and at last, just as +the sun was setting after a glorious day, Arrow halted upon +a slight rise of ground and pointed toward a dusky vapor +which was curling over the tops of some trees not far distant.</p> + +<p>“There the paleface will find friends,” he said, briefly.</p> + +<p>“Is there a white settlement there?” Wil asked.</p> + +<p>The Indian nodded assent.</p> + +<p>Joy shone in Wil Hamilton’s eyes, and he trembled visibly.</p> + +<p>It was very sweet, after the long, weary months of his captivity, +to find himself so near to civilization and friends +again.</p> + +<p>“You will come with me and rest a while, before you resume +your long march back, will you not?” he begged of Arrow, +for he had grown thin and pale during their trying +journey, eating but very little, and looking so sad that Wil’s +heart ached for him.</p> + +<p>The Indian’s lips grew tremulous, in spite of his forced +stoicism, at the words of sympathy.</p> + +<p>“The heart of Arrow is heavy,” he said, sadly; “he will not +rest until he comes again to the bed where Mimosa sleeps.”</p> + +<p>“But it is a long distance; you will be ill if you do not +take proper rest and food,” Wil returned.</p> + +<p>His companion merely shrugged his shoulders in reply and +folded his blanket more closely about him, as if impatient to +be gone, and Wil saw that it would be useless to urge him, so +all that remained for him to do was to take his leave of him.</p> + +<p>“I thank you, Arrow,” he said, “for your guidance during +our hard journey, and I shall always remember your kindness +to me. Of course, it has not been pleasant to be detained +against my will among your people, but, perhaps, that +was no fault of yours.”</p> + +<p>Again Arrow shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Pomanda knew that this daughter loved the paleface, and +he hoped to make a great warrior of him, that she might live +and be happy,” he answered.</p> + +<p>“Was that the reason you have kept me so long?” Wil +cried.</p> + +<p>“Not at first,” Arrow answered; “Pomanda loves the gleam +of yellow gold, and he hoped to get it by keeping the paleface; +but when that hope was dead, he began to see that Mimosa’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span>face shone when the white man was near, and grew sad +when he was away; then he said: ‘The child of a great +chief must be happy; we will make a brave of the paleface +and he shall take her to his wigwam, for she shall not droop +and fade like a flower before the hoar frost.’ But Mimosa’s +face grew white, her spirit faint; the Great Spirit had whispered +to her; she commanded that the paleface be set free, +and—the dying never sue in vain.”</p> + +<p>Wil was deeply moved, but the day was fast waning, and +he was anxious to reach the settlement before night, and he +knew he must hasten.</p> + +<p>He took his purse from his pocket; there was considerable +coin, both gold and silver, in it, and held it out to his companion.</p> + +<p>“Take this to Pomanda,” he said; “there is gold in it, +enough, I hope, to make him feel that I am not ungrateful.”</p> + +<p>But Arrow’s eyes lighted with a sudden flash.</p> + +<p>“Pomanda shall not have the white man’s gold,” he said, +proudly; “he whom Mimosa loved shall not pay for the care +her people gave him.”</p> + +<p>“Then take this for yourself, Arrow,” Wil exclaimed, with +an unsteady lip, while he drew a heavy gold ring from his +finger, “and keep it as a token of my gratitude to you and +your sister for all your kindness to me.”</p> + +<p>The Indian did not refuse, and allowed Wil to put it upon +his finger, then drawing a small pouch from beneath his +blanket, he thrust it hastily into the young man’s hand, +turned quickly away, dashed into the woods and disappeared +from sight.</p> + +<p>Opening the pouch, Wil discovered, to his amazement, gems +of various kinds.</p> + +<p>They were all in the rough, of course, but he knew enough +of their formation to perceive that they bade fair to be of +great value.</p> + +<p>But there was no time to examine them closely, and, concealing +them about his person, he set off at a brisk pace +toward the settlement which Arrow had pointed out to him.</p> + +<p>He found it without difficulty, and it proved to be merely +a rude Western village; but he succeeded in obtaining a +night’s lodging, and the next morning, procuring a conveyance, +proceeded to the nearest railway station, which was +many miles distant, whence he started at once for New York.</p> + +<p>Arriving there he secured a passage upon the first steamer +bound for England, and ere long was plowing the seas toward +his native land, as fast as steam and sail could take him.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"> + CHAPTER XLVIII. + <br><span class="small"> + CAN IT BE TRUE? + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>We left Arley, after her meeting with Wil before the druggist’s +store, in Lady Elaine’s boudoir, whither she had been +led by the gentle girl, agitated and almost unnerved in view +of the astonishing news which she was about to communicate.</p> + +<p>But with a resolute effort of her will, she suddenly rallied +her sinking heart and bent herself to her task.</p> + +<p>She would not allow Elaine to wait upon her, even though +she appeared anxious to do so.</p> + +<p>“I am perfectly able to take care of myself,” she said, +gayly, as she threw aside her wraps and took off her hat; +“you must not make yourself too useful to me, for you know +I do not expect I can have you all the time, now that my +liege lord has claimed me. But, dear, I have a particular request +to make of you to-night.”</p> + +<p>“A request,” Lady Elaine repeated, smiling, and relieved +to see Arley’s color coming back, “surely you would ask +nothing amiss, and I may safely promise to grant it even before +I know what it is.”</p> + +<p>“That is a dear—now mind, you have promised, and I shall +not allow you to retreat,” Arley returned, archly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I met a very dear friend, a gentleman, to-day, and +he said that he should call at Mordaunt House to-night——”</p> + +<p>“Philip?” interrupted Lady Elaine, with a merry glance +at Arley’s cheeks, which were fast becoming crimson with excitement.</p> + +<p>“I am not going to tell you who just yet,” Arley answered, +with a wise look; “but I want you to let me turn dressing-maid +just for once, and to array you as I like, then I will +go and put on something bright and pretty to keep you company.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine grew pale, and a quiver ran through her whole +body.</p> + +<p>“Arley,” she cried, in a voice of pain, “you are asking something +very hard of me, for—I have worn nothing but this,” +with a pathetic glance down at the black dress, “since—since——”</p> + +<p>“Yes, darling, I know; ever since those dreadful tidings of +Wil came to you,” Arley said, tenderly. “But,” she continued, +“do you suppose he would like to see you in such +sombre robes all the time?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span></p> + +<p>“No,” was the low reply, made with tremulous lips, +“but——”</p> + +<p>Arley would not allow her to go on.</p> + +<p>“Neither do I, and as I am going to assume gay attire to-night, +in honor of our visitor, I ask, as an especial favor, +that you will do the same.”</p> + +<p>“But will it not appear very strange?” objected Lady +Elaine, regarding Arley wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“You will not think so when you know who is coming; +and never mind if it does just for once, and it will please +me so much. Do you remember the ball at Hazelmere, and +have you the dress that you wore then?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Where is it?”</p> + +<p>“In a trunk in my wardrobe; but, Arley, I cannot wear +that,” Lady Elaine said, looking like a statue of snow, for +the thought of it brought a flood of tender memories surging +over her.</p> + +<p>“Please, dear,” Arley pleaded, earnestly, “I would not be +cruel or wound you for the world, but I feel as if I must see +you in it just once more—I will never ask you again to do +anything of this kind, only grant me my request to-night.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine sighed, but she made no further objection, for +she was always ready to sacrifice her own feelings for the +sake of others. She thought it a strange caprice of Arley’s, +but she imagined that Philip must be the visitor whom she +expected, and that in her joy at his home-coming she wished +everybody to be gay.</p> + +<p>Without further words Arley found and brought the lovely +dress, and, with nervous fingers, helped her sister to put it +on. Then she brought some soft, creamy lace from her own +treasures and arranged it just as she remembered she had +worn it about her neck at Hazelmere. She brought a cluster +of small, pure lilies to fasten at her throat, when Lady Elaine +started, and put them from her with a bitter sob.</p> + +<p>“Lilies!” she cried, sharply; “Wil’s own flowers, which you +know are so sacred to me! Surely, Arley, this is not kind.”</p> + +<p>Arley bent and kissed her with trembling lips—her task +was growing harder every moment; but Wil must not see her +in black.</p> + +<p>“Dear,” she whispered, “would it not be a joy to you to +dress thus for him, if you could only imagine for once that +you are dressing for Wil——”</p> + +<p>“How could that be possible when I know he is dead; how +can you have the heart to ask me to imagine anything like +that?” she cried, in a voice of agony.</p> + +<p>“I know that they wrote that he was dead,” Arley returned, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span>with brilliant eyes, “but, you know, they never found him; +and I have sometimes thought that there was a possibility +that they were mistaken, after all.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Arley! what strange spirit possesses you to-night? +Are you so happy in the prospect of Philip’s arrival that you +forget how bruised, and sore and desolate my poor heart is?” +Lady Elaine cried, with something of passion in her voice.</p> + +<p>“It is not like you,” she went on, reproachfully. “I know +that they never found his body,” and an icy chill seemed to +seize her here as she remembered how they had explained +that; “but, do you suppose, if he had been living, he would +have remained away from me so long, without one word to +relieve my suspense?”</p> + +<p>“Not if he could have helped it, dear,” said Arley, gently.</p> + +<p>“What would have hindered him?”</p> + +<p>“I can imagine several things.”</p> + +<p>“Such as what?”</p> + +<p>“He might have been ill.”</p> + +<p>“He would have written then; illness might have kept him +from me, but it would never have kept him silent so long,” +muttered Lady Elaine, with unwavering faith.</p> + +<p>“No, it would not if he could have got a letter to you, but I +can imagine circumstances which might render that impossible. +I can imagine—shall I tell you what?” Arley asked, +with a strangely earnest face.</p> + +<p>“Yes, tell me if you wish; but get through with your freak +as soon as possible for my sake; you are in a very unaccountable +mood to-night, Arley,” was the weary reply.</p> + +<p>Arley began, determined now to finish her story.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, I can imagine that when Wil fell over that +horrible precipice, he might not have been killed—that a tree +or something might have broken his fall, and that instead of +being dragged by some wild beast to his lair, some Indians—for +we have read that portions of the United States are still +inhabited by Indians—might have seen him fall, and, picking +him up in their stealthy way, carried him away to their +camp, where he might have been retained as a captive, in the +hope of securing a reward or ransom for him——”</p> + +<p>“Arley, Arley!” the sweet voice rang out very sharply. +“You have heard something—you are trying to prepare me +for something——”</p> + +<p>She gasped for breath and could not go on, for the suddenness +of the thought almost paralyzed her.</p> + +<p>Arley gathered her close in her trembling arms, drew the +golden head down upon her bosom, and, with her lips against +her cheek, whispered:</p> + +<p>“And if I were, could you bear it? Could you bear to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span>have me tell you that good news has come to us from over the +sea to-night and that some one is coming here to tell us all +about it, and—and——</p> + +<p>“Arley,” Lady Elaine said, a strange calm settling upon +her, and lifting her white face to look at her sister. “You +are going to tell me that Wil himself is here! That is why +you have dressed me as you knew he would like to see me; +that is why you wanted to put those lilies on my breast.”</p> + +<p>“And if it were all true, could you bear it?” Arley interrupted, +with shining eyes, yet trembling like a leaf; and the +beautiful “Lily of Mordaunt” knew that it was true.</p> + +<p>Without a word she fell back in her sister’s arms, limp and +white, and Arley was dismayed.</p> + +<p>She put out her hand toward the bellrope to summon aid, +but Lady Elaine stopped her with a gesture.</p> + +<p>“I shall not faint,” she whispered. “I shall be stronger +soon, but, oh! tell me, can it be true?”</p> + +<p>“That Wil was not killed; that he had a dreadful fall, but +a blessed tree saved him; that Indians, instead of a wild +beast, picked him up, bruised and broken, and carried him +far away into the wilderness, where they have held him as a +captive ever since? Yes, dear, it is all true, only I cannot +stop to tell you half, for he is waiting to do that. But I am +so glad that I was chosen to bring you these blessed tidings, +for you have given me back so much of happiness, and I am +nearly wild with joy to think that the shadows are about to be +lifted from your life.”</p> + +<p>“Wil here! my own noble-hearted Wil, safe, and waiting to +see me! Oh, Arley, I feel almost as if earth and sense were +slipping away from me! Hold me close, dear; let me feel +your arms clasped tight about me, to assure me that it is not +a vision of my imagination. Oh, thank Heaven!”</p> + +<p>The gentle girl was utterly helpless for the time being; +she could not move, she could scarcely think; yet she was +conscious of the one transporting fact that her dear one was +not dead, that he lived and loved her still, that he had returned, +and was even then waiting to clasp her to his fond +heart once more.</p> + +<p>Arley was very much disturbed by her helplessness, and, +laying her gently down upon the couch where they had been +sitting, she brought a flask of eau de cologne and bathed her +face and hands, after which she went for a glass of wine, +and made her drink it.</p> + +<p>This treatment seemed to have the desired effect, for Lady +Elaine began immediately to recover her dormant energies. +A realizing sense of the great joy that had come to her began +to assert itself; impatience to see the returned loved one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span>seized her; the pathetic look which had overwhelmed her +beautiful face began to fade away; the light of a great happiness +came back to her eyes, and her lips, though still tremulous, +regained something of their usual brightness.</p> + +<p>“I am better,” she said, sitting up; but she seized the flask +of cologne which Arley still held, and, drenching her handkerchief, +bathed her face and head, and eagerly inhaled its +pleasant perfume; but she was still trembling in every limb.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid that I have told you too suddenly,” Arley +said, regarding her anxiously. “I know I made a bungle of +it, and it was the hardest thing I ever did in my life; but +Wil is waiting, and I was so eager for you to know. Darling, +now you will forgive me for being so cruel as to ask you to +dress so gayly; but I could not bear that Wil should see you +in mourning for him.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine caught her about the neck and gave her a little +hug; then she laughed aloud—such a happy, though somewhat +nervous laugh, as had not escaped her lips for many a +long month.</p> + +<p>“Bring me a glass, please,” she said, a beautiful color +coming into her cheeks, “for I cannot trust to even your perfect +taste now; no, indeed, I would not have had him see me +in those dismal robes for anything. Ah!” she continued, looking +into the hand-mirror which Arley had brought her. “I +cannot improve upon your work, and I might have known it, +for your taste is faultless.”</p> + +<p>“My taste faultless?” Arley cried, gayly. “I have but made +you look as nearly as possible like the ‘Lily of Mordaunt,’ +who was the cynosure of all eyes at the ball at Hazelmere. +Now, dear,” she added, more gently, “are you ready? Shall +I go and bring Wil here to you, and then go to break the +news to Sir Anthony and Lady Hamilton?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but—oh, Arley, can it be true?” Lady Elaine cried, +brokenly, growing white again as the lilies upon her bosom.</p> + +<p>“You must be calm or I shall not go for him,” Arley returned, +almost sternly; “and just think of the suspense that +he is enduring all this time.”</p> + +<p>“True,” was the more composed response; “I was selfish +not to think of that myself.”</p> + +<p>Arley bent to kiss her sister, and then went to call the waiting +lover.</p> + +<p>Swiftly along the corridor, she ran down a side staircase to +an entrance facing the stables.</p> + +<p>Here she rang the coachmen’s bell, and then, opening the +door, stood waiting for Wil.</p> + +<p>Presently she saw him coming, but he staggered almost +like a man intoxicated. He was deathly pale, and she saw +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span>that he was almost as unnerved as Lady Elaine had been in +prospect of this reunion.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” she said, firmly, as he would have rushed past her +without even asking where he should find his loved one. +“You must not go to her like this—it has been a fearful shock +to her already, and if you are not calm she will be ill.”</p> + +<p>“I know, but I thought you would never come,” Wil answered, +putting his hand to his head in a dazed way; “and I +can hardly believe that I am home after all—I am almost +afraid that I am asleep and dreaming, and shall wake up to +find myself in that wretched wigwam in that Western wilderness. +But I will not be so weak,” he added, straightening +himself resolutely; and Arley turned without another word +and noiselessly led him up the stairs and toward her sister’s +boudoir.</p> + +<p>She softly turned the silver handle and opened the door, +and there, standing in the middle of the floor in an eager, +listening attitude, her scarlet lips parted, her blue eyes shining +like stars, her spotless dress trailing about her, and the +lilies on her breast quivering with every pulsation of her +heart, was the loveliest vision that she had ever seen.</p> + +<p>Pushing Wil gently within the room, she closed the door, +the happy tears raining over her face and her heart full of +wondrous joy.</p> + +<p>She went to her own room, and, while dressing herself in +festal robes for this glad occasion, gathered something of +more composure, and then went to break the news to Sir +Anthony and Lady Hamilton, which she succeeded in doing +with less excitement and abruptness than when she had told +her sister.</p> + +<p>Who can describe the joy that reigned at Mordaunt House +that night? No one could do justice to it, for the reunion +was one of those blessed and perfect events which weak +words are far too feeble to portray effectually.</p> + +<p>When all had grown somewhat composed after the exciting +meeting, Sir Anthony, in a broken and trembling voice, said:</p> + +<p>“My boy, you know I used to say that I did not believe in +a God—a personal being, who loved and cared for human +beings as His children. I said and believed, or at least tried +to satisfy myself that I believed, that the laws of nature were +all the God there was, and that religion and the worship of a +Supreme Being was but a mere sentiment. But the life of +this dear girl,” taking the hand of Lady Elaine, who was +sitting beside him, “during the past year, and now your wonderful +preservation, with all the attending circumstances, and +your return to us, have convinced me to the contrary. Henceforth,” +he continued, reverently, “I shall confess my belief +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span>and trust in an All-Wise Ruler, and my future shall be spent +in His service, to prove my gratitude for this supreme hour +of my life.”</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine lifted his trembling hand to her lips.</p> + +<p>“Dear Sir Anthony,” she said, while grateful tears stood in +her lovely eyes, for he had often grieved and wounded her by +this skepticism, “this is the crowning joy of all!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"> + CHAPTER XLIX. + <br><span class="small"> + LADY PAXTON. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Before Arley slept that glad night, she wrote a full account +of what had transpired to Philip, and begged him to return +to her just as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>“We are all so happy that we want you here to share it with +us,” she said, “and when you do come, the reunion will be +complete—perfect.”</p> + +<p>A few days brought a reply, as fond and tender as the +most exacting heart could wish; but Philip said he could not +return just yet. He hoped it would not take him much +longer to complete his business. He supposed he could run +up to London for a few hours, but that it would be better +for him to remain until he had settled everything to his +mind.</p> + +<p>Arley, though disappointed, strove to be content and to +make the best of it. She was so sure of her happiness and +his truth, that she could afford to be patient for a little +longer, she thought.</p> + +<p>Annie Vane and her husband were telegraphed for at the +earliest possible hour the next morning after Wil’s return, +and not many hours elapsed before they were on to the spot +to greet him.</p> + +<p>Miss McAllister and Ina were also sent for to come and rejoice +with the happy household; and it did not seem as if +there could be a more blessed family on earth than that +which gathered around the hospitable board in Mordaunt +House upon that day.</p> + +<p>Lady Hamilton sat by the hour and feasted her eyes upon +the face of her idolized son. Sir Anthony got up a dozen +times during the day to go and take him by the hand.</p> + +<p>“I cannot feel quite sure, even yet, that it is true, unless I +touch you, to assure myself that you are really flesh and +blood,” he would say, tremulously, and as if to apologize for +the act.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine was content to simply sit by her lover’s side, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span>where she could look at him and listen to his voice; but her +face was once more the radiant face of the Lily of Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>Arley, growing every moment more buoyant and like the +bright girl that she was when we first knew her, flitted about +like a lightsome fairy, performing little offices of love for +the dear ones about her, and attending to the comfort of the +family generally, for no one else seemed capable of doing it, +so absorbed were they in the returned wanderer; while Eddie +Winthrope followed her from room to room, feeling almost as +if she was an odd one and left out in the cold, and he wished +to make it up to her by showing her all the attention in his +power.</p> + +<p>Once, when they were passing through the hall together, +Arley put her arm about his shoulders and gave him an +ecstatic hug.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it beautiful, Eddie, to have everybody so happy once +more? And when Uncle Philip comes——”</p> + +<p>A soft kiss dropped from tremulous lips upon his forehead +told him better than words could have done what that coming +would be to her.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he assented, with a little sigh, half of content, half +of sadness, as he thought of those two lonely graves in the +distant churchyard; “it seems almost like heaven.”</p> + +<p>“But,” he added, with a flush and a fond glance up into +her face, “I never thought anybody could grow so lovely as +you do.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, little flatterer,” she returned, laughing; “it is +all because I am so happy. Happiness is a great beautifier, +it is said. But, Eddie,” she asked, suddenly, “how is that invalid +limb?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it is ever so much better; there is no soreness at all +now. That last wash that the surgeon gave me has done it a +great deal of good.”</p> + +<p>“I was thinking,” Arley said, speaking very tenderly, for +the boy was exceedingly sensitive about his lameness, “that I +would like to take you to Monsieur Roulins and have that +new foot fitted to you, so that you can get used to it a little +before Uncle Philip comes, and give him a pleasant surprise. +Besides, there is to be a grand wedding very soon, to which +we are invited, and I shall want my boy to make as fine an +appearance as possible.”</p> + +<p>The boy wound his arm about her waist with an impulsive +movement.</p> + +<p>“How good you were to say that I might always stay with +you and Uncle Philip—how I love you!” he said, earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Why, Eddie!” Arley cried, deeply touched by this manifestation +of feeling, “it wasn’t because I was ‘good’ at all, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span>shall even have to confess to being a little selfish about it, I +wanted you, for I began to love you that day when I first met +you in the art gallery. But come, I want you to go to the +conservatory with me, to help me cut and arrange some +flowers—we must deck the whole house to-day in honor of +our guest, and then, by and by, we will steal away for an +hour or so, and go to see Monsieur Roulins.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Ina Wentworth’s wedding day drew near, and when Wil +heard of it, and that Lady Elaine, Arley, and Annie had been +chosen to act as bridesmaids—for Ina said she would have +only those whom she loved about her, when she took her marriage +vows upon her—he declared that if Sir Charles and his +fair bride-elect did not object, they would make a double +wedding of it, for he did not intend to stand upon ceremony, +but claimed his wife at once.</p> + +<p>All seemed to be pleased with this arrangement; even Lady +Elaine did not demur, though it gave her very little time, +and so it was decided that there should be two brides instead +of one upon the ninth of December, the day set for the ceremony.</p> + +<p>Philip was notified of this decision, and wrote that he +thought he should be able to get through with his business so +as to return the day before the wedding, and though Arley +was growing very impatient, she was still very happy, and so +busy and interested in the happiness of others around her, +that the days slipped very quickly by.</p> + +<p>Eddie was provided with his new foot, and found that he +was not nearly so awkward with it as he had expected to be +at first. Arley was greatly astonished and no less delighted, +when, on the day that they went by appointment to get it, +he walked a little way down Oxford street with her and +scarcely limped.</p> + +<p>She had an errand at her lawyer’s office—which was only a +short distance from Monsieur Roulins’ rooms—which was no +other than to commission the good man to settle an annuity +of a hundred pounds upon good Jane Collins, and Captain +Bancroft’s destitute widow.</p> + +<p>Lady Elaine had already made the same provision for them, +and thus those humble, but whole-hearted people, were made +comfortable for the remainder of their lives.</p> + +<p>The day before the double wedding—the day set for Philip’s +return—arrived, and all through its long hours Arley watched +for her husband with almost feverish impatience and anxiety.</p> + +<p>But he did not come.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon there came a telegram to her, saying +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span>that, to his great disappointment, he had missed his train, but +he would surely be with her early in the morning.</p> + +<p>This was a great and unforeseen trial to the young wife, +and for a while made her sad and depressed.</p> + +<p>“It is too bad, Aunt Arley; I am so sorry,” Eddie said, +glancing ruefully at her overcast face, and slipping his hand +within hers to show his sympathy.</p> + +<p>She heaved a deep sigh; then she turned to him with a +smile.</p> + +<p>“I was so sure that he would come that it seemed very +hard to get this,” she said, touching the telegram; “but I will +try not to cloud the happiness of any one else, and the few +hours that must intervene will soon slip away.”</p> + +<p>“I will imagine,” she said to herself, “that to-morrow will +be my own—my real wedding day, also, and that Philip will +then come to claim his bride,” and she exerted herself all the +evening to make everything bright and pleasant for those +around her.</p> + +<p>Just as the family were about to separate for the night +Arley and Lady Elaine were standing together with their +arms twined about each other, and Sir Anthony went up to +them and laid a hand upon the shoulder of each.</p> + +<p>“The ‘Lily’ and the ‘Rose’ of Mordaunt,” he said, smiling +fondly upon them, “two of the sweetest flowers that ever +bloomed in this world of ours; Heaven bless you both! I +love you both almost as if you were my own daughters.”</p> + +<p>Morning came—a beautiful, cloudless morning—a perfect +day such as gloomy London rarely knew; and there were +sweet voices, radiant faces, and busy hands and feet in Mordaunt +House.</p> + +<p>At nine o’clock a carriage drove rapidly down the street, +stopped before the door, and Philip Paxton, strong, well, and +never handsomer, sprang lightly to the ground.</p> + +<p>A figure that moment suddenly disappeared from the window +above the hall, and when he entered the vestibule below, +a lovely vision came gliding down the stairs to greet him.</p> + +<p>It was Arley, in a dainty white wrapper, with simply a +bunch of roses in her belt.</p> + +<p>Philip’s heart gave a great bound at the sight of her, and +his eyes were as tender as a lover’s as he bent to look into hers.</p> + +<p>“My darling!” he said, gathering her close in his arms, “at +last I have you; we will never be separated again while we +live; and you are wearing the roses that I love best in the +world! Do you know why I love them?” he asked, touching +them tenderly.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps for the very same reason that I wear them,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span>Arley answered, with shining eyes, as she laid her soft cheek +against his and nestled closer to him.</p> + +<p>“What is that?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Once, when we were at Hazelmere, I gave you a crimson +rose, and you called me the ‘Rose of Wentworth.’ Do you remember?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he answered, “and I never see a crimson rose without +thinking of it, and I have always loved it, because these +dear hands fastened one above my heart that evening. But,” +he added, with a glad light in his eyes, “I shall give you a +new name to-day.”</p> + +<p>Arley looked up with smiling inquiry.</p> + +<p>“Wait,” he said, “until after the wedding, and then I will +tell you what it is; but, whatever it may be, to me you will +ever be the brightest and sweetest rose that blooms.”</p> + +<p>“And I have a little secret for you also, when all this confusion +is over,” Arley replied, archly. “But come and have +your breakfast. I ordered it prepared for you, for I was sure +that you would be here about this time. I will pour your +coffee with my own hands, and then I must run away to +dress. I ought not to have waited until now.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you, dear?” Philip asked, with mock gravity.</p> + +<p>“Because, you know,” she returned, with a shy glance and +a bewitching blush, “I did not think it would quite do to +have all my bridal finery crushed by such a ruthless pair of +arms.”</p> + +<p>Philip laughed such a glad, hearty laugh, and folded her +still closer in his fond embrace.</p> + +<p>At eleven o’clock the aristocratic bridal party from Mordaunt +House passed, with “stately step and slow,” up to the +altar of St. George’s Church, Hanover square.</p> + +<p>Annie Vane and her husband led the train, and took their +station at the right. Philip and Arley came next, and passed +to the left, while the two brides arrayed themselves in front.</p> + +<p>A brilliant throng had assembled to witness this double +marriage, with which so much of interest and romance was +connected, and it was really an occasion long to be remembered.</p> + +<p>The two maidens about to plight their troth wore the conventional +white satin, with exquisite veils of rare old point—one +the gift of Lady Hamilton, the other of Lady Herbert—and +fairer brides the “sun ne’er shone on.” The ever-appropriate +orange blossoms graced fair Ina Wentworth, but Lady +Elaine wore nothing but white lilies upon her bosom and +gracefully drooping among the folds of her veil.</p> + +<p>It was Arley’s idea; and Wil, when he saw his gentle bride-elect +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>come forth from her hands, thanked her with shining +eyes.</p> + +<p>Annie Vane’s dress was of corded silk—a very delicate +shade of pink, the effect of which was enhanced by an exquisite +set of diamonds, her father’s gift to her upon her own +marriage—while she carried in her hands a basket of pink and +white azaleas.</p> + +<p>Arley was especially lovely in cream-white silk, with rich +crimson roses at her throat and in her belt, and a basket of +beautiful blush roses in her hand.</p> + +<p>When the rector came forward in his robes to perform the +ceremony, requesting the parties to join their right hands, +Philip quietly reached down and took Arley’s in a strong, +yet tender clasp; and when Wil and Sir Charles repeated the +solemn marriage service, she saw his lips moving also, and +knew, with a quick heart throb, that he was renewing his own +vows, while the solemn look upon his face told her that never +again, while life should last, would he swerve from his allegiance +to her.</p> + +<p>She felt doubly sure of it when, after they had entered +their carriage, its curtains drawn close, to return to Mordaunt +House, he drew her again into his arms, and murmured:</p> + +<p>“My darling, I feel as if to-day were our real wedding day.”</p> + +<p>And then she told him how the same thought had come to +her the night before, when she had received his telegram.</p> + +<p>“It was the handsomest bridal party that I ever saw,” the +Duchess of Bladesboro said to Sir Charles’ mother, when, +after the grand breakfast was over, she went to congratulate +her upon the acquisition of so sweet a daughter; and many +of the other guests were heard to echo the same sentiment.</p> + +<p>When at last it was all over, and the happy couples had departed +upon their journey, Philip led Arley away to the little +room over the hall, where he had seen her when he alighted +from his carriage that morning.</p> + +<p>“I want you to myself for a little while,” he said; “and,” +he added, “I told you that I should give you a new name to-day—shall +I tell you now what it is?”</p> + +<p>“If you wish, Philip,” she answered, thinking it was perhaps +some foolish pet name that he had thought of.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, you are no longer simple Arley Paxton, wife +of a humble barrister; henceforth you will be known as Lady +Paxton, Baroness of Elmsford.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” she asked, with wonder-wide eyes.</p> + +<p>And then he told her of the death of his three cousins and +his aunt, and that he was thus left the only heir of the large +estate of his uncle, with an income which would enable them +to live about as they liked during the remainder of their life.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p> + +<p>He said that he should give up his business in the city to +his clerk, for his estate would be all the care he should wish +for, and thus they could reside in the country during all the +pleasantest portion of the year. He told her that he had +been to Elmsford during all the past weeks, attending to +having the house and grounds put in thorough repair, and +having some refurnishing done which he thought a certain +dark-eyed lady would like—this had been the “business” +which had required his immediate attention upon leaving the +hospital.</p> + +<p>“Now I have confessed, and will proceed to take your +deposition—you said you had one to make,” he concluded, +smiling.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Philip,” Arley said, regarding him earnestly. “It is +the secret of my birth.”</p> + +<p>He gave her a startled look.</p> + +<p>“You have discovered—you have learned who you are?” he +said, astonished.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and”—growing a trifle pale, while she watched him +closely, for she meant to test him a little further—“could you +bear to learn that, though I have been educated to fill a high +position, and perhaps am fitted to fill one, that my parentage +was not such as would entitle me to it?”</p> + +<p>He never hesitated an instant, but drew her close to his +heart.</p> + +<p>“My darling!” he said, and there was a note of passion in +his voice; “every one has a sort of pride in his or her antecedents, +but I believe I should rejoice to learn that you were +of the humblest origin, so that I might prove to you how I +love my wife, and how proud I am to give her a position +which she is so worthy to fill. Dearest, I do not care who you +are, or to whom you owe your being, since I have won what +I most care for—your love and trust.”</p> + +<p>She lifted her head from his breast and stood proudly before +him then. She was almost regal in her beauty.</p> + +<p>“Philip! Philip!” she cried, and there was an exultant ring +in her sweet tones, “I am Lady Alice Warburton, eldest +daughter of the Duke of Mordaunt, and Elaine is my own +sister; but, oh! I am far more proud to be the wife of Philip +Paxton, and to know that he loves me for myself, than I am +of my noble birth!”</p> + +<p>He did not speak for a full minute. Her tidings had +amazed him, stricken him dumb, and, if the truth had been +known, he was more sorry than glad to learn of her exalted +station in life.</p> + +<p>“How can that be possible?” he asked at last, in a very +grave tone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span></p> + +<p>Of course, the story had to be all told over to him, but we +know it, and will not linger upon it.</p> + +<p>“How wonderful it all is!” he said, when she had related +everything; “and,” with a blush of shame mantling his cheek, +“how I schemed and plotted for the Mordaunt fortune! I +made gold my idol, and lost everything—sacrificing even my +good name and self-respect to achieve my ignoble purpose. +But when I came to my senses and realized my sin, how +strangely I have been dealt with! I have not only regained +your love, the most precious of all things to me now, but fate +has seemed to hurl me into the very lap of luxury and heap +honors upon me. How I bless that sweet sister of yours for +the rough kindness, which, like a mirror, reflected my moral +deformity and vileness, and led me to draw back from the +precipice over which I was about to plunge, and recover the +honor and manhood which I had so nearly lost. My beloved, +how much we both owe to the lovely ‘Lily of Mordaunt!’”</p> + + +<p class="p2 center">THE END.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="i2" style="max-width: 93.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i2.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MOST_POPULAR_AMERICAN_NOVELIST"> + THE MOST POPULAR AMERICAN NOVELIST + <br> + <span class="large">Mrs. Georgie Sheldon</span> + <br> + <i>Writes exclusively for Street & Smith.</i> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Her stories are among the leading attractions +of the famous <b>EAGLE SERIES</b>. The following +is a complete list of this favorite author’s +works now published at <b>Ten Cents</b> by Street & +Smith, who are the sole authorized publishers of +her latest works, and the only house issuing her +complete list of novels.</p> + + +<h3>List of Titles.</h3> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">Audrey’s Recompense</td><td class="tdc">Eagle,</td><td class="tdc">No. 99,</td><td class="tdc">10c.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Dorothy Arnold’s Escape </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 188,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Dorothy’s Jewels </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 144,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Edrie’s Legacy </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 12,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Faithful Shirley </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 111,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Geoffrey’s Victory </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 199,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Grazia’s Mistake </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 122,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Lost, A Pearle </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 219,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Masked Bridal, The </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 166,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Max </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 133,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Nameless Dell </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 155,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Queen Bess </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 1,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Ruby’s Reward </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 2,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">That Dowdy </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 44,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Thrice Wedded </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 55,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Tina </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 77,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">True Aristocrat, A </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 177,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Two Keys </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 7,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Virgie’s Inheritance </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 88,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Wild Oats </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 210,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Witch Hazel </td><td class="tdc">” </td><td class="tdc">No. 66,</td><td class="tdc"> ”</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center medium"><b>Street & Smith, Publishers, New York.</b></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<table class="backcover"> +<tr> + <td class="tdl large">EAGLE SERIES</td> +<td class="tdc small"> + A weekly publication devoted to good literature.<br> + By subscription $5 per year. May 27, 1901.<br> + Entered as second-class matter at N. Y. post-office. +</td> + <td class="tdr large">NO. 222</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr> + +<p class="center large"><b>Ainslee’s Magazine</b><br> +<i>Awarded</i> <span class="smcap">Grand Prize</span><br> +<i>at the</i> Paris Exposition</p> + +<p class="center medium"> + United States Commission<br> + to the<br> + Paris Exposition<br> + of 1900 +</p> + +<blockquote style="padding: 2em; border: 1px solid black;"> +<p> + <b> PARIS</b><br> + <b>20 AVENUE RAPP</b><br> +</p> +<p class="right"> + <i>Aug. 31, 1900.</i><br> +</p> +<p> + <span class="smcap">Ainslee’s Magazine</span>,<br> + <i>STREET & SMITH</i>,<br> + New York City, U. S. A. +</p> + +<p>I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance +with the official announcement of +awards at the Paris Exposition of 1900, * * * +you are entitled to the award of Grand Prize.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <i>A. S. CAPEHART,</i> <br> + <i>Director of Liberal Arts and Chemical Industries.</i> +</p> +</blockquote> + + +<p class="medium">Ainslee’s is the only 10-cent magazine +in the <i>Gold Medal Class</i>. This splendid +compliment speaks volumes for +the literary and artistic excellence of +the magazine.</p> + + +<p class="center medium">STREET & SMITH, <i>Publishers</i>, New York</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="transnote"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes"> + Transcriber’s Notes: + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>This novel was serialized in <i>Street and Smith’s New York +Weekly</i> from June 9, 1884 to December 8, 1884. This book edition +differs from the serial in some minor ways, most notably that the +original chapters XXXV and XXXVI have been combined and condensed +into a single chapter.</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Table of contents has been added and placed into the public domain by +the transcriber.</p> + +<p>The name “Corrillion” was frequently spelled “Corrillon” in the book +edition. The spelling has been normalized to match the original serial +appearance of the novel.</p> + +<p>Inconsistent hyphenation (e.g. heartbroken vs. heart-broken) has been +retained from the original.</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78682 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78682-h/images/cover.jpg b/78682-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..47df8fb --- /dev/null +++ b/78682-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78682-h/images/i1.jpg b/78682-h/images/i1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cef8dbf --- /dev/null +++ b/78682-h/images/i1.jpg diff --git a/78682-h/images/i2.jpg b/78682-h/images/i2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f962110 --- /dev/null +++ b/78682-h/images/i2.jpg |
