ndertaken as good a defence as the mountain guarding the fertile vale from storms: but him the elements pelted heavily. Letters from acquaintances o

culate on the various injuries Nevil had done to his constitution, which had made of him another sort of man for a struggle of life and death than when he stood like a riddled flag through the war. That latest freak of the fellow's, the abandonment of our natural and wholesome sustenance

cident of the kind that donkeys who nod over their drowsy nose-length-ahead precautions call fatality, should rouse her to suspect, and in a turn of the hand undo his labour: for the race was getting terrible: Death had not yet stepped out of that evil chamber in Dr. Shrapnel's cottage to aim his javelin at the bosom containing the prized young life to come, but, like the smoke of waxing fire, he shadowed forth his presence in wreaths blacker and thicker day by day: and Everard Romfrey knew that the hideous beast of darkness had only to spr

stioningly nor invitingly, but long. He kissed her forehead. She clung to hi

y with Lady Romfrey. She stole away, for the time had come

he window-panes and brought the roar of the beaten woods to her ears. He was booted and gaitered for his c

mprehension, but there it was, and he had to submit to it and manoeuvre. His letters and telegrams told the dail

had left her, when he returned. She did not open her eyes, but felt

'The fever should

ave girl, what a

oran

bent down over her, like a raven's wa

nk. 'What has Miss De

he asked h

you were my husband. I bear anything you think is good for m

een to my d

y I find that I have not gained by it, as I hoped I should. Ignorance ki

news, my love,

fever,

ith him. I sent for Gannet t

is no

'am, my d

is a

fellows do in the jumps of a fever. The best doctor in England is by his bed. H

o tempt you to li

and my wife. You want some one to sit with you, don't you? Louise Devereux is a pleasant person,

e had not rejected the official Church, and regarding it now as in alliance with great Houses, he considered that its ministers might also be usefu

the parson doing them good off and on about the time of their being brought to bed. He elevated their minds, th

outcry. 'You mean th

d stock. He has about the best blood in England. That's not saying much when they've taken

im "the fellow." He was alive and well when you used to say it. But smile kindly, as if he made you love him down in your heart, in spite of you. We have both known that love, a

forehead. All her susp

me truth. Let me kno

ught in a squall; nor a man buffeting the wa

I ask you-I have f

winds her foolish woman's wildness of fancy, his mind rested on Nevil,

sband, will you not?' She tore at her dress at her throat for coolness, panting and smiling. 'For me-us-yours-ours! Give me my letters, lunch with me, and start for Bevisham. Now you see how good it is for me to hear the very truth, you will give me your own report, and I shall absolutely trust in it, and go down with it if it's false! But you see I am perfectly strong for the truth. It must be you or I to go. I burn to go; but your going will satisfy me. If you look on him, I lo

she said: 'The boy to be educated to take the side of t

re for an hour. Promise me, no fretting! You have hollows in your cheek

when we are trying to d

ers! my

nel's and Cecilia's. He was not a man to be disobeyed: nor was his wife the woman to court or to acquiesce in trifling acts of disobedience to him. He received the impression, consequently, that this mat

mind for the sadder items

them? They will not hurt me, but relieve. I was sure I should someday env

to die!' said Ev

o-night you sleep at your hotel in London, which will be ready to receive you, and is more comfortable than the empty house. Stanton takes wine, madeira and claret, and other small necessaries. If Nevil should be very unwell, you will not le

she had given him by her collectedness and by the precise directions she had issued for his comforts, indicating a mind so much more at ease. She was firmer to meet the peril of her beloved: and being indeed, when thrown on her internal resources, one among the brave women of ear

e. That, and the disgust belonging to it, was a secondary consideration with Lord Romfrey, after he had once resolved on it as the right thing to do: and his wife admired and respected him for so supreme a loftiness. And fervently she prayed that it mi

ITOR'S B

ve overcome him

king on pol

hich welcomed

o seductive to the w

-fortuned passi

art of obser

ative obtuseness com

ty of our a

aste of her coming

h business one

rm foothold who

gns are like revela

is perilous

o not immediately co

heavy for the

and the triv

are eaten u

from a jury of te

arly when we are

we must sel

taking in reefs

d man for hi