Milly Darrell

ime she grew tired of the people her husband knew, and the dinners and garden parties became less frequent. I had found out, very soon after her return, that she was not happy

l, affectionate, and attentive; while he, on his sid

but those two seemed instin

o North Shields to make his annual investigation of the wharves and warehouses, and to take a kind of review of the year's business. He never returned alive. He was seized with an apoplectic fit in the office, and carried

saw her smile, after that dark December day on which the fatal summons came. She had lost much of her joy

d church, where his father and mother, his first wife, and a son who died in infancy had been buried befor

uneral. He seemed much affected by his uncle's death; an

the funeral. Mrs. Darrell, Milly, Mr. Stormont, myself, and the family lawyer were the only pe

the rest of this property, with the sum to be realised by the sale of the business at North Shields and its belongings - an amount likely to be very large - was to be divided equally between Mrs. Darrell an

n Mrs. Darrell and Julian Stormont, and in this case the Thornleigh estate was to revert to Julian Stormon

f the iron-works she would have an income of something like four thousand a year. She had been of

renew his suit; and I had little doubt that it would be successful. I knew how well Mil

ciously, and begged that I would make this my home, according to my father's wish. We should not interfere with each other in any way, she said, and it was indeed more than probable she would go on the Continent with her maid early in the

own rooms a good deal, and we did not see much of her. The Collingwoods were full of sympathy for their 'darling Milly,' and their affection had some cheering influence upon her mind. From them she heard

think of him. It seems like a kind of treason against papa

ly, if he were to come back to you,

e him too much to do that. And yet it w

or; and I think her devotion to that duty helped her to put aside her sorrow more than anything else could have done

ing nothing, and caring for nothing, as it seemed. More than once she made p

My poor girl turned very pale, and the tears came into her eyes as she and Angus Egerton met. He spoke of her loss with extreme delicacy, and was full of tender sympathy. He had news to tell her

rrell came into the room. She was paler than usual; but there was an animation in her face that had not be

. She touched the piano for the first time since her husband's death, and sang and played with all her old fire, keeping

ance with this wish, and I could not but observe how anxiously he questioned Milly as to her opinion of the alterations, and how eagerly he sought for suggestions a

ed, the altered circumstances of the suitor would, in all probability, have made some alteration in his

d be so. I thought that she would have no need of me in her wedded days, and that this loving fancy of hers was not likely to be realised; but I allowed her to cherish it - time enough for our parting when it needs

father, and he was fain to submit. The appointed time was advanced from April to February. He was to take his young wife abroad, and to show her all those

had been bought by a great capitalist in the iron way. He received the news of Milly's betrothal very quietly; but he proffered her no congratulations upon

to throw herself away u

answered; 'Mr. Egerton is devoted to your cousin, and the ch

hanged the man,' he returned in an angry t

ght to say that

on. A happy marriage! - no, it will no

that he could not feel very kindly towards Milly's lover. The words m