Clara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)

for his innocent brother, whose wrongs he could not pardon. No, if the small-minded wretch who had spent his life in destroying a fellow-creature's, if that contemptible miscreant lay at his feet to-

. Who said he was old--

Harry. "Why, Clara," he used to say, "she is nearly as old as you, and you are a full-grown girl. On the 21st of this month"--it was now July--"she will be eigh

ing nothing at all about it, "of course

mfort him every time. But the prolonged excitement, and the stress of imagination exerted on Lily junior, told upon him rapidly in his worn and weak condition. Longing for his company, assistance, and

ome decision--which seemed to have failed me of late--without telling him any more about it, I got everything ready, and appeared at his bedroom door, only to say "Good bye." Annie Franks, who was going with me, for a short visit to her father, hung back in some amazement, doubting whether

hall be back by the end of the week and bring your Lily with

a Cashmere dressing-gown on, and po

don't be long away. They ha

ought to go. Annie lingered and gave him a kiss, for she was very fond of him. He whispered

c. well, and no distress in the house. Charley was doing wonders, wonders, my good friend, sticking to his work, yes, yes, and not inside the public house

ing in the world to wear it out. According to her theory, the dust excluded the air, especially from the joints, and prevented the fly-blows coming.

crab. But she was so overcome by the rumours of my wealth, that she even feared to eject the pieces in her ordinary manner, and the front rail of her chair was like the beam of a balance. Infinitely rather would I be poor myself, than have people ceremonious to me because I am not poor; and to tell the hones

catch the larva, upon the nettle, practice. Mrs. Shelfer is soon at ease; and we talk of the price of cat's meat, and how dear sausages are, and la

he did not care which way she rubbed the ears of the marmoset. Mrs. Shelfer believed, but for the world it must not be told again, that Isola was deeply in love, unrequited love, perhaps one of the weteranarian gents. They did say they had some stuff as would lead a girl like a horse. But whatever it was, Mrs. Shelfer only knew that she could not get at the rights of it. Girls had grown so cunning now-a-days, what with the great superna

andal, if you please. What

at the ship was cast away among the cannibal islands, and the people ate a policeman, and he upon his promotion

ful story-tellers, ever since the days of Sindbad. Has any one be

red plush breeches, and the pink silk stockings, and the baker's shop in their hair, she been here twice last week, and left a letter for you. And Balaam been here sever

nn Maples comes. But the bailiffs I must see. If they come to-morro

e door. In the first course of my dreams, Mr. Shelfer passed on his bedward road, having politely taken his shoes off a

her sweet face again. I even kept away from the window, though I wanted to watch for the bailiffs, and strictly ordered Mrs. Shelfer not to tell her, if she should call, a word about my being there. However, it was all in vain. Mr. Shelfer went out after breakfast to

and pounds. The rooms are let, I tell you, and you

y pet? What with her passion of grief, and sudden joy, at seeing me, she fainted away in my arms. I got her somehow to the sofa, and kissed her into her senses again. When she came to herself, and felt sure it was not a dream, she nestled into my bosom, as if I had be

ve cried enough. Tell your own dea

But I never thought that it was more than a child's vexation. At last, after drinking a tumble

im, he is always so dreadfully cross, and doesn't care for me one bit. I could do without him very well, if I had a proper papa, or if my father was dead and had loved me before h

m sure, you have done no harm. And

flashing through her abasement, an

d girl? But who am I to be indignant at anything now? He told me--are you sure the door is shu

them. I caught her to my heart: poor wronged one, was she a whit less pure? I seemed to love her the

tty? Any father must be a fool

think I could have got everything from him, he was so beside himself; but when he told me that dreadful thing, and said that my father h

ha

starving, he said, with this poor face of mine. And so I was going to Conny, dear Conny; I think he knew it all long ago, but could not bear to tell me. And I sat on some steps in a lonely place, for I did not know how to walk, and I prayed to see you and die: then old Cora came after me, and even she

er playful face for the moment so haughtily wild and implacable--Cl

learning all that she knew; and

you have heard, abou

ve that up I believe. But there is some dark and fearful mystery, which my brother has found out; that is if he be my brother. How can I tell even that? Whatever the discovery was, i

er thought such a

ever or stupid, I am almost certain that Conny found out only half the secret; and then on the day wh

your broth

remember what I told you at t

s your birt

old Conny when his was, but he knew it somehow. Come, he is clever n

ters than your rude brother's ability. W

ark. But I had long suspected

time, and the subject has been interdicted; but I th

an more readily than English.

d, although she has been forbidden. But what does she care--she asks--for this dirty little English island? And

ple sentence. None of this had I heard

rits, as girls always do by talking. "Why, my darling, y

oney, and nobody likely to share it. If you were my own sister, I could not love you more; and most likely I should not love you a quarter as much. And my Un

Only promise first that you will never scold me. I cannot bear bei

er to scold you, un

iss--deeply as I loved her--but the evidence I wanted. I knew that with her ardent nature she would breathe her soul upon me. The exquisite fragrance of her breath

you use? What is it yo

Clara; what makes

ur hair--what is it? O

nything scented. Not even Eau de Colo

ared that your lips and your hair wer

'--he always accounts for everything, you know; and he said it was hered--herod--I can't say it now, the long English word, but I could at college--no matter, it means something in the family. My mother, he

. You are my own flesh and blood. You are my own cousin, I tell

o amazed and frightened. She looked at me most sadly, believing t

a long time I could not have enough of kissing and hugging Idols. I played with her hair, as if I had been her lover; and then patted and caressed her, as if she had been my baby. And had I no th

d rubbed her, and made her understand things. I flung a decanter

d at every stroke. Up ran Mrs. Shelfer, in the height and crest of the wave, when backwards or forwards, crying or laughing, hung on a puff of wind. She came with a commonplace motive; she

many generations our feet have been arched and pointed: of course it does not matter; still I was glad that hers were of the true Vaughan pattern. Then, as she so hated all the stuffs they sell, I showe