restles, but Gets Thrown on His Ba

before a third man, he was in utter despair, and saw no hope of extrication from his difficulties. But this lasted for a very short time. Even wh

prove it, and get Lee sent back out of the way. And yet that would hardly do after all. It would be difficult to identify him. His name gave no clue to who he was. There were a tho

e, "there is a week left; surely I can contrive to bowl

s of weathered granite, dim in the changing moonlight. Before him was a small moor-pool, in summer a mere reedy marsh, but now a bleak tarn, standing among dangerous mo

me short, and raising one hand, he stood beating the ground for half a minute with

ld do well. And I could do it

y an innocent little snipe, getting merry over the change of weather, b

s-foot, for he who stalks past you over the midnight moo

of a villain like that. He knew what his own word was worth; what wonder if he set a small value on Lee's? He might be hung as it was; he would be hung for something. Taw Steps was a wild place, and none were likely to miss either Lee or his friend. It would be supposed they had tramped off as they came. The

d that the time for drawing back was passed long ago, he walked rapidly onwards towards the little village where he had left his ho

nd then obscured for a moment by the last flying clouds of the late storm hurrying after their fellows. The rill which ran brawling loud through

"Lord! let me get a drink while I can. The rich man ol

ter? Not his own, surely? He closed his eyes, and, having drunk deep, walked on refreshed. He reached the outhouse where his horse was tied, and, as he was leading the impatient animal forth,

you, Mr

"it's me. Come

was like another man's. But like the voice of so

daybreak. Well, well - much sorrow saved, maybe. I'll go to bed no more to-night, lest my boy should be of

ought that if the brat should die, there would be only one paupe

able, and, shoeless, was creeping up to bed, when, as he passed hi

ting forehead, heavy grey eyebrows, and loose sensual mouth, rendered him no pleasing object at any time, and,

he piped out. "How pale he l

a drink of brandy. I've been vexed, and had nought to drink all night. I

his room, where there was always some to be had, a

's daughter? Or is it her tight-laced hypocrite of a father, that comes whining here with his good advice to me who know the world so well? Never mind, my boy. Keep a smooth f

on some of them, I te

ht, my man.

of the room, a kinder, softer, expression came on his face

en he woke for the first time, the bright winter's sun

enly stopped, as the recollection of the night before came upon him. Was it a reality, or only a dream? No; it was true e

h morning air for a turn, walking up and down on

ine. The deep fir and holly woods which hemmed it in on all sides, save in front, were cheerful with sloping gleams of sunlight, falling on many a patch of green moss, red f

winter time. I am still here, a pledge from my brothers. When yon dim grey woods grow green, and the brown hollows are yellow with kingcups and primroses, the old melody you know so well shall begin

ng, he gave no place to it. The robin ceased, and he only heard the croak of a raven, an old inhabitant of these wild

. He has been a kind father to you, with all his faults. Get him on your

's burst of anger kept him silent. He hardened his hea

"What has he got his old clothes on for,

on my best clothes

oing down

forgotten all about it. Yes;

play (wrestle)?"

come in to breakfa

father, "waiting brea

were ye, dad, I'd kick her out in the lane

what he says, William Hawker," she said. "Ye hear what ye're own lawful son says. He'd

know what you're saying, boy. Go in, Madge, a

She must have been very beautiful as a young girl, but was now too fierce and hawkish looking, though you would still call her handsome. She was a full-blooded gipsy, of one of the best families, which, however, she totally denied.

a dram. All the meal through, the old man and Madge were quarrelling with one another, till at leng

l get no more money this week. What ha

e old man as to where it was gone. The day before he had applied to her for some money and she had refused, and in revenge,

of the way. I'll be doing it myself some of these odd times." And looking at him fixedly an

or I'll kill you, I will -! George, you won't

utting his hand before her mouth. "Be reasonable now." She continued to look at the

ry lucky indeed. Now, are you goin

e went up stairs, and having dressed himself to his taste, got on

called in other parts of England a pleasure fair; that is to say, although

ge, immediately behind the backs of the houses, rose the abrupt red hills, divided into fields by broad oak hedges, thickly set with elms. The water of the stream, intercepted at some point higher up, was carried round the crown of the hills for the purposes of irrigation

y ginger-bread and nuts (female pastime), and looking at a filthy Italian, leading a still more filthy monkey, who rode on a dog (the only honest one of the three). This all day, till night dropped down on a scene of drunkenness and vice, which we had better not seek to look at further. Surely, if ever m

in a little croft behind the principal of the public-houses, for some trifling prize, given by the publicans. In this place, James Stockbrid

oxication. Frequently one of them would address one of the players in language more forcible than choice, as he applauded some piece of FINESSE, or condemned some clumsiness on the part of the two youths who were struggling about in the centre, unde

es to play. "Let us show these muffs what play is," sa

miration of the bystanders, one of whom, a drunken tinker, expressed his applause in su

till James, feinting at some outlandish manoeuvre, put George

where his coat was, sulkily. James thinking he might have been hurt, went up to speak t

im standing looking into the water below, when a short light-looking man came up to him, and havin

ell afterwards). George was standing as I have described on

k to you a mome

and when he saw who i

e - do y

out against me, and I must fly. I am as hardup as a poor cove

m farewell, watched him striding steadily up the long hill towards Exeter with great satisfaction; then he w

in the mud, and his wife was sitting patiently beside him. Several girls were standing wearily about the door, dressed in their best, each with a carefully folded white pocket-handkerchief in her hand for s

of the country, are gradually becoming extinct by the exertions of a more energetic class of county magistrates; and though there is probably the same amount of vice, public propriety is

a foot's-pace. He was slowly picking his way through the people, when he felt so

he; "I have just seen your amiable c

st time, though. He is in a serious scrape, and, by way of getting out of it, he is walking into Exeter, along the high road, as if nothing was the matter. There's a couple of traps in Belston after him now, a

of it, and it's all right. Can you be

aid Lee, "with

id George. "I suppose you don't want to shar

I will be there at eig

," said George

e oaks, with a plentiful under-growth of holly, over-shadowed a floor of brown leaves and red fern; and at the end of the wood nearest home, where the o

ch George, of course, believed; so that when his horse started and refused to move forward, and when he saw a

it held a baby in its arms, and that it was tall and noble-looking. Then a new f

, and laying her hand upon his horse's shoulder. "I don't know what my n

back just at this time, in

the merry companions that lead me back to my old swee

ld, for him to look at. The child, distu

"See what a bonnie gentleman he is, and what a pretty

George. "Do you know that if you are seen abo

in to-night, George, only just to-night, and let me lie by the fire? I'll go in the morning; but I know it's going to freeze, and I do dread

n's eyes were opened to what was going on, and in a furious rage he turned her out of doors, and refused ever to see her again. George, to do him justice, would have married her, but his father told him, if he did so, he should leave the house wi

your shoulders, Nelly, and wait an instant while I go and speak to Madge.

n front of the door. In the kitchen he found Madge brooding over the fire, with

ber! what new misch

. She's been lying out these three nights, and is awful hard up. I

?" inquired M

in the p

ung wolf?" replied she. "What did you bring her

d to find out what your temper was like, you vicious old cow. How did

ts and kettles with me! lead he

her in. Madge was standing erect before the fire, and, walking up to the

away to the revels, and he'll come home drunk.

feared she would rupture a blood-vessel. She went to get her a glass of wine, and retur

ve, and do something for the boy afterwards, and I am content. You're going to get married, I know, and I wish you well. But d

ears yet. You're pulled down, and thin, but you'll pick up again with

looking out, saw that Madge was driving out of the yard in a light cart, and, watching her closely, saw her pick up Ellen and the c

spoke to her. "Is

"Do you think I was going to let he

ou give her, besides

en you must send her some more. If you let that wench starve, you ought

myself for her. However, she shan't want at present, or w

u promise to be as great

ght before, and had lain in bed later than usual, so that, when h

lad?" said the fathe

a woodcock. I'll get one this

in the bottom below the house, and at

hat hast thee been shooting at? I

oting at a mar

oot now, eh, George

I know of,"

oon is about the right thing for thee. They Fellowes be

grew sullen, and all the afternoon sat over the fire brooding and drinking. He went t

now, old girl?

o be up to, eh?" she

get an outlying

to wipe out money-scores in blood. It's a worse folly if you are in a diffic

"Do you think I am fool enough to

ol enough to do. Only mind my

she is," he mused. "How she hits a thing off. She's been a good friend to me

r asked. George was moody and captious all day; and at evening, having drank hard, he

. His horse he turned out in a small croft close to where the heather began; and, having hi

and he was surprised and frightened to find himself already looking over the dee

rose bold and black against it. Down far, far beneath his feet was the river, dimly heard, but not seen; and, as he looked to whe

for the fire is close by, and it were well to give him no notice. It is in the

the fire, sitting on the ground, dimly visible, yet clearly enoug

s hand, and a voice he knows cries in h

up, George finds the tables completely turned, and himself lying,

would attack Lee, but neither supposed he would have stolen on him so treacherously. Dick had

pounds would not save you now. Dick, you're a jewel. If I had listened to you, I shouldn't hav

, it appeared that the lesser sum of five hundred would be amply sufficient to stay any ulterior proceedings, provided the money was forthcoming i

my mind. Even if this other thing was found out, there is a chance of getting off. Surely my own

money he wished. But George knew well that the old man was often in the habit of looking through his banker's book, with the assistance of Madge, so that he was quite unsafe without her. His former embezzlement he

d his life too much to trouble him any more, saw him depart, fully expecting that he should have another application

when they met again, and who came off best in the end, this tale