Part 34 (1/2)

'Has he grieved you, Mabel?' I asked softly

'Oh, no, not he! he wouldn't, he couldn't; he talked right Oh, go, go: for I haven't a foot to move And don't speak so soft; I can't bear kindness'

My father in ad her had done it tenderly, I was sure

Tenderness was the weapon which had wounded her, and so she shrank froht, perhaps, have obeyedout, not to return She was deaf I kissed radually dissolved by the haunting phanto up for fresh floods of tears Had she concealed that vision with her handkerchief, I ht have waited to see her before I saw ed the set of the current

'Our little Mabel here,' he said, 'is an inflairls, I have a surprise for you Remind me of it e touch Ostend We h company I have set inquiries afloat for the hire of a schooner This child Mabel can read and write, I suppose? Best write no letters, boy

Do not make old Dipwell a thorny bed I have a portrait to show you, Richie A portrait! I think you will say the original orthy of more than to be taken up and throay like a weed You see, Richie, girls have only one chance in the world, and good God! to ruin that--no, no

You shall see this portrait A pretty little cow-like Mabel, I grant you But to have her on the conscience! What a coronet to wear! My young Lord Destrier--you will reht him to make your acquaintance; well, he would not be scrupulous, it is possible Ay, but compare yourself with him, Richie! and you and I, let us love one another and have no nettles'

He flourished me away to London, into new spheres of fancy He was irresistible

In a London Club I was led up to thebeauty Her cheeks were hter, her eyes in good union with the blue light

'Who is she?' I asked

The old-fashi+oned building of the powdered hair counselled h a lance consulted my father He hummed and drawled, and said: 'Mistress Anastasia Dewsbury; that was her narandmother,' said my father

'She would be one by this tiazed in silence

'Yes!' he sighed 'She was a char actress, and one of the best of wo woenius! Do you see a broken heart in that face? No? Very well A ill take us to her grave She died early'

I was breathing 'Who?' when he said, 'She was my mother, my dear'

It was piteous

We walked to an old worn flat stone in a London street, where under I had to i shut from us

She had suffered in life miserably

CHAPTER XXIV I MEET THE PRINCESS

Hearing that I had not slept at the hotel, the Rev Ambrose rushed down to Riversley with melancholy ejaculations, and was made to rebound by the squire's conte of the spirit of young bloods, seeing that he had the noe of one, and to preach his serood gentleman had not exactly understood his duties, or how to conduct the to find me in company withinforratulated himself on it, and after the two had conversed apart, cordially agreed to our scheether The squire had sickened him I believe that by comparison he saw in my father a better friend of youth

'We shall not be the worse for a ghostly adviser at hand,' ravity and hurave, for the humour was unconscious 'An accredited casuist may frequently be a treasure And I avow it, I like to travel with h's te aency of my father's solicitors, Messrs Dettermain and Newson, whom I already knew from certain transactions with them on his behalf They were profoundly courteous toone, and a laubriously professional tone about it The question was naturally proo on with it?'

'Want of funds'

'There's no necessity to name that now,' I insisted But my father desired the, 'Pleasure first, business by-and-by That, I take it, is in the order of our great entlemen I will not have him help shoulder his father's pack until he has had his, fill of entertainht us in view of the towers of Ostend at sunrise