like some unquiet ghost, up and down his great, oak-panelled bedroom, till, about dawn, his legs gave way beneath him; and think, think, think, till his mind recoiled, confused and hel

ife into his confidence. Then he remembered the letter he had received from her on the previous morning. He got it, and saw that it bore no address, merely stating that she would be in Londo

of the fallows, &c., of a large tenant who was going out at Michaelmas. This prevented any call being made upon him to go and see Maria Lee, as, after the events of

ton Station, another train steamed out, and had he been careful to examine the occupants of the first-class carriages as they passed him in a slow procession, he might have seen something that would have interested him; but he was, no

she would be here by twelve, but it's twenty past now, so I suppose that she has missed the train or

ved to find that he had a space to breathe in before the inevitable and d

were now two things to be done, one to follow her down to where she was staying-for he had ascertained her address from Mrs. Jacobs; the other, to return home and come back on the morrow. For reasons which appeared to hi

lst Philip was cooling his heels in Lincoln's In

was concerned, was yet served with some old-fashioned ceremony by a butler and a footman. Just as the meal

to the old butler, "look o

s he was bid,

uire; but it's a lady, an

d that a lady, who would not give her n

e lady did not m

when I told her that he was out, she asked f

he has come off a jour

lace and ask

thick veil on, was shown into the room. Mr. Caresfoot, rising with that courteous air for which he wa

to speak to me; might I ask whom

hat and veil, and exposed her sternl

. Caresfoot?" she said,

the young lady who liv

zhau

now Hilda Caresfoot. I am

ng study. Incredulity, wonder, fury, all swept across it, and then in a single

tulate myself on the possession o

th too moved to break; at last, th

ou must be tired. Take off your

ore long present the world with an heir to the name of Caresfoot. This made him think

s nerve," said

nd bade Simmons wait til

my;" and then, turning to Hilda, "Now, if you will come into my study, we will continue our chat," and he offered her his arm. "Here we are secure from interrupti

a little as

m a little hand-bag a certified copy of the register of her marriage, and gave it

the first time favoured with a sight of this interesting document-in short, why you

d him two letters. "I have come to ascertain if they are true;

of the first we are acquainted; the second merely t

of her face breaking up like ice before a rush of w

true. You have married in my son the biggest scoundre

from her chair, said, with a gestur

o away, and told him so. Then it was that he offered to marry me at once, if I would change my purpose. I loved him, and I consented-yes, because I loved him so, I consented to even more. I agreed to keep the marriage secret from you. You see what it has led to. I, a Von Holtzhausen, and the last of my name, s

pride somewhat nettled, "to consider our own a good fa

me no honour in marrying me, though I was nothing but a German companion, with no dower but her beauty. I,"-and here she flung

before them, is a good enough descent for us; but I like your pride, and I am glad that you spring from an ancient race. You have been

then she kno

e, be back in a few hours-oh, yes! he will be back," and his eyes glinted u

med, and then I intend to leave him. He has killed my respect; I will not live with him again. I can earn my living in Germany. I

ne. There shall be no harshness; nobody shall suffer more than they deserve. T

came presently, a pleasant-looking woman of about th

ll be so kind as to treat her with all respect. Don't open your eyes, but attend to me. For the

replied, curtseying. "Will you be p

her out. Before she went, however, she turned, and with tears in h

ooped and kissed the broad, white

sy due to a lady. Should I live, I hope to bestow on you

little knowing where t

the door had closed. "Poor thing-poor Maria too. The scoundrel!-ah! there it is agai

rably, and addressed it to Miss Lee. This he put in the post-box, and then, going to a sec

nnounced that Mr. B

once," said the