Checkmate

e family of Arden, once distinguished in the Northumbrian counties. About fifty acres of ground, rich with noble clumps and masses of old timber, surround

us of Inigo Jones, to whom it is ascribed, with the shadows of ancestral trees and the stains of two centuries upon it, and a va

level beams, through tall drawing-room windows, ruddily upon the Dutch tapestry on

abstraction, too forgetful for a time of her company, leaning upon the slender hand she has placed under her cheek. How silken and golden-tinted the dark brown hair that grows so near her brows, making her forehead low, and marking with its broad line t

h some of her tints and outlines translated into masculine beauty,

seem to light up, but maintain their dismal darkness while his pale lips smile? Those eyes are fixed on the pretty face of Alice Arden, as she talks to Lady May, with a strangely intense gaze. His eyebrows rise a little, like those of Mephistoph

fling kindness, and another of holding fast his advantage, and, without seeming to push, or ever appearing to flatter, of maintaining the acquaintance he had once founded. He looked about eight-and-thirty: he was really

greeable, obliging, and gentlemanlike person. It was a pity that more was not known about him. The man had enemies, no doubt, and from the sort of reserve that enveloped h

in-lipped smile, was overlooking this little company, his shoulder leaning against the

dy May-"is there still any hope of that poor child's recovering-I mean the one in th

gcluse

r Edwin Dudley that very question through his carriage window, and he said that he had j

they say can have been t

say; or else t

ope he is. But they should take ca

y on it; that's a

o was garrulous, "that murders interest people s

our family, you know,

er voice and dropping her eyes, with a side glance at Alice,

aid Richard; and slipping into the chair beside Lady May, he laid h

o thoughtful; it

of tender admiration, on those of fat Lady May, who simpered with effusion, and d

e was very rich also, and, it was said by people who love news and satire, had long been willing to share her gold

aris or Vienna? Paris it was. I recollect it all now, for my purse was stolen by the very man who made his escape-Mace

ore, of course," said

me time to hear all about i

said Richard, "w

know, had roses and lilies to give away at discretion, in their paint-boxes, and were courtiers," remarked Mr. Longcluse, "who dealt sometimes in the old-fashioned business of ma

s rather sweet. He looked as he spoke at Miss Arden

aid!" applauded

ruelly, at this moment, "how the pretty little Ita

for a drive to-day, poor dear little Pepsie! but that I

ps a l

nst the wall and sighed, with a pained smile, th

hings but in wealth? Of course he did, perfectly. But that wealth was said to be enormous. There were Jews, who ought to know, who said he

affect to believe them, and quote the old saw, "There is never smoke without fire;" but dare one of them utter a word of the kind aloud? Did they stand the test of five minutes' in

, if he let him slip through his fingers, som

love-well, perhaps, that he did not app

inald at present?

swered Richard. "My father does

at miserable quarr

ce at present; at Vichy-ain't

ing to talk, said

a little longer. And I think you neglect her a little, don't you? You oug

. Nothing, you know, would give me

e'll expect you

s vexed with his sister; she was, he

gcluse? And was his father, the most despotic and violent of baronets, and very much dipt, likely to listen to sentimental twaddle pleading against a hund

his she sits there, thinking, I

ichard Arden. The secrecy of thought is a pleasant privilege to t

hine through, and the confluence of figures and phantoms that cross and march

alking and comparing notes a

y May in a rapture. "I'm sure I hope mine may turn out half as pretty. I wa

s time for them to ord

his trap there, to carry them into town when their hour comes. They can only put the ladies in

the disappearing carriage, and sighs deeply. He has forgotten all for the mome

and a talk. I have a box of Manillas that I think you will