t. The trial had been a very bitter one; but at length, arousing himself from that gloomy reverie,

There were few railroads six-and-twenty years ago, and the baronet was in the habit of travelling in his own carriage, with

hour after his interview

considerable distance within the five hours. He put up at the principal hotel, where he intended to remain for the night. From the windows of his rooms was to be seen the broad, open market-

ems busy to-n

cattle fair, sir. Perhaps you'd rather not have the curtains draw

- oh, dear no! Close th

an's bad taste, and withdrew to ha

oice singing in the market-place below. The streets had been for some time deserted, the shops closed, the lights extinguished, except a few st

ngers. It must needs be some voice very far removed from comm

e Italian opera-house - such a voice as is not often heard even within those walls. Full,

singing was the simplest of bal

orgot his sorrow and indignation - forgot his nephew's baseness, forgot everything,

s cold and boisterous; but a full moon was shining in a clear sky, and

man moving a way from the pavement before the hotel very slowly, with a languid, uncertain step. Presently he saw her totter and pause, as if scarcely

up his hat, and hurried down stairs. They were beginning to close the establishment fo

re of the woman still in the same attitude into which he had seen her sink wh

sunk down, and bent over her. Her arms were folde

re, my good girl?" ask

him that the ballad-singer was youn

, with a languid action, a

d I go?" she aske

you no

I have never had what gent

are you goi

door unfastened, into which I may creep. I have been singing a

irl's face. Looking at her by that silvery lig

this miserable life?" Sir

long misery," answer

ou been singing

a company of show-people; but the mistress of the show treated me badly, and I left her. Since then I ha

cal way, as if she were accustomed to be

the baronet, strangely interested in this vagrant

d the girl, in an altered tone. "

ouching attitude. The moon still shone upon

ure shelter at some respectable inn. Or stay, it is close upon midnight: you might find it difficult to get admitted to any respectable house at such a

wl wrapped tightly around her, and her dark brown hair blown away from her face by t

before stepped out of his way to help me. Poor people have

seemed as if she cared very little about her own fate, and that he

ht, but that is a very small favour. I happen to be something of a musician, and I have been much stru

my v

phrase as if it ha

l, perhaps. You look terribly pale. Come to the hot

very slowly, as if she had scarcely sufficient

this girl. There was something strange in the sudden interest which she had a

as standing by Sir Oswald's side; but she was too clever a woman to express her astonishment. Sir Oswald was one of her most influe

helter for the night, though she seems above the mendicant class. Will you put her somewhere, and see that she is taken good c

able. "Poor young thing," said the landlady, "she looks dreadfully pale and ill, and I'

threshold of the hall she tu

all my heart and soul for your goodness.

plied, "if such small kindness touches you so deeply. Come to me t

sir, and Go

houghtfully up the broad stai

in his sleep, acting themselves over and over again in his brain. Sometimes he was with his nephew, and the young man was pleading with him in

ew. His strange adventure of the previous night had exercised a very powerful influe

mpse of paradise by the magic of the moon," he mused as he lingered over his breakfast. "Perha

ned tones of the voice which he had heard last night

reet ballad-singer. Whatever she is, or whoever she is, there is a mystery

Sir Oswald Eversleigh s

ufficiently rested and refreshed, I should like much to have a few m

utterly unwarranted by the circumstances. It was not the first time in his life that he had stepped aside from his pathway to perfor

ght. Standing before him, in the broad sunlight, she seemed eve

ar the garments of a vagrant. Her dress was of some rusty black stuff, patched and mended in a dozen places; but it fitted her neatly, and a clean linen collar surrounded her slender throat, which was almost as white as the linen. Her waving brown hair was drawn away

if I can. You do not seem fitted for the life you are leading; and I am convinced that you possess talent which would

you are so friendless? How is it that your father

en I was a child,"

our fa

er is de

, with some touch of suspicion in his tone, for he fancied

ut my father; but if you did, I may have answered at random; I was confused l

as your

s a sa

ly English in your face," said Sir

Florence; my mother

dee

ed to obtain, must be extorted from her little by little. A common vagrant would have been eager to pour out some tale of misery, true or false, in

re in your past history," he said, at last;

is painful, much t

ow to whom I am giving it. I wish to place you in a position very different from that which you now oc

ll leave this house grateful and contented; I have asked nothing from you, nor did I intend to ask anything. You have been very good to me; you took compassion upon me in my miser

st help you in some manner - even if you will throw no light up

ed amongst people I despised, holding myself aloof as far as was possible. I have been laughed at, hated, ill-used for that which has been called pride; but I have at least preserved myself unpolluted by the corruption that surrounded me. If y

since it must be so. Let me ask you two or three questio

y inquiry that it is pos

r na

is Honori

ur

ght

king, your tones of voice, are those of a pe

. He was a very learned man, and taught me much that is rarely taught to a girl of fourteen or fifteen. His house was my refuge i

will ask no more; an

r, for your gene

dly. "I was thinking much of you while I breakfasted. You have a very magnificent voi

ery fon

ey were spoken, the look of inspiration which lighted up the s

play the

tle; b

othing of the s

thi

education, and there you will receive lessons from the best masters in music and singing, and devote the greater part of your time to the cultivation of your voice. It will be known that you are intended for the career of a professional singer, and every facility will be afforded you for study

e industrious than ever any woman was before!" exclaime

ild upon whom to waste my money. Besides, if you find the obligation too

ten that day, sir," answ

filled with tears, and moving to the window to give her time to recover herself, stood for some minutes loo

hase of your wardrobe. When that has been prepared, you will come straight to my house in Arlington Street, whence I will myself conduct you to the school I may have chosen as your residence. Remem

dare approach me, and I have always h

ow you can return to Mrs. Willet. I will see her pr

er every gesture and her every tone were those of a lady. Sir Oswald

rsleigh requested her to keep the ballad-singer in her charge for a we

at the end of which time I hope her wardrobe will be ready. I will write yo

a duchess, in a manner of speaking," answered the landlady; and then,

of the "Star" at noon; and at ten minutes after

him in every particular. Had his protégée been his daughter, or his affianced wife, h

thought, almost ashamed of the intens

maiden sisters. It was a thoroughly aristocratic seminary, and the ladies who kept it knew how to charge for the advantages of their establi

n, I presume, Sir Oswald?" s

baronet; "she is -

ave seen a dusky flush suffuse his face as he pronounced these words. Never be

nner," he thought; "and if they question her,

ld was in his library, seated in an easy-chair before the fire-place, with a book in his hand, but with no power

Milf

ply dressed in gray merino, a black silk mantle, and a straw bonnet, trimmed with white ribbon. Nothing could have been more Quaker-

to wel

t arrived in

ney-coach brought me her

noria Milford touched lightly with her own neatly gloved fingers; "and I am h

ly too good to me. I shall

gratitude. An influence stronger than my own will has drawn me towards you; and in doing wha

with a bewildered expression, an

ll you. I am astonished myself. There is something myste

e might not be some simple and easy solution possible for this bewildering enigma. He had never asked himself if it w

e pure, calm, reverential feeling of an artist, or a poet - and he never supposed it possible that the day might n

I have made all my arrangements accordingly. You must be hungry after your

ther than a dependent Before leaving the library, she looked round at the books, the bronzes, the pictures, with admiring eyes. Never before had she see

n one side of the table, and

er plate with dainties; he filled her glass with rare old wine; but she ate only a few mouthful

long been known to each other, explaining to her the merits of the different pictures and

ght; "a wonderful creature - a pricele

arriage, and presently Honoria Milford f

rcled it were such as are rarely to be found within a few miles of the metropolis; and they would in vain be sought for now. Shabby little s

smooth lawns, and exquisitely kept beds, filled with flowers even in this chill spring weather, must have seemed beautiful to those accustomed to handsome habitations. W

that were dim with tears, as the carr

could not have chosen a bett

ld feel a deeper interest in your fate tha

en glance of examination which becomes habitual to the eye of the schoolmistress; but the most severe sc

taking leave; "any one could guess that she was an Eversleigh. She is so elegant, s

policy had compelled him to speak of her as a distant relative of his own; and the

own. It seemed to him as if, in parting from his protégée,

d more than my nephew, Reginald, who for fifteen years of my life has been the object of so mu