Clara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)

was, and how long he would be absent. But I refused to do anything of the kind. Though not half so proud as of old, I could not quite stoop to that. "You know, dear," she continued, "Conny will thi

g honest and proper: but neither can I travel with your brother Conrad, nor can

see you. And you know he has

ifty times in a minute; but it was a like

ty, that my father had murdered his, instead of his murdering mine (which was much nearer the mark), would even that justify his rudeness, low rudeness, and personal violence to a lady? Wh

e now, give me a kiss. I am so sorry for Conny. He loves you with all his heart, and you lo

eed? Let us

finding the carriage at Gloucester, but in order to break the suddenness of our arrival. Through all my joy I dreaded what was to come, and knew not how to manage it. Idols talked fast enough all the way down the line. As yet she had seen scarcely anything of our quiet, rich English scenery; and alt

showed the sweet depths of her eyes, until she sprang out at the foot of the old stone steps, trodden by so many hundreds of her ancestors. Then she looked up at the lo

nd Mrs. Fletcher's charge, and ran to my Uncle's favourite room. Already my breath was short, and my heart up and down with excitement, and I had but t

oment you went away, I have done nothing but miss you, every hour and every minute; and last night I slept nev

forced to be flippant a little, for fear of breaking down. "It is

hbourhood, of a nobleman's second wife who would not

tremble exceedingly--"that you have found an

ell heavily on my shoulder, and I felt that I had been too sudden. He could not speak, but fetc

mething, or fancy I have found something, which--which--I mean if pr

so. I cannot bear it, child. But the sudden shock I can

and I hope to find them soon,

I know it by your eyes. All the truth t

legs would not carry him; so I was obliged to seize him instead. He fell sidew

se I cannot be certain yet, and it won't do t

." He spoke very slowly, and the musc

dear Uncle; for I know not what to do. Have you an

for I saw the approach of coma,

my question, after such a love as

neck. You know the lar

tairs, hoping to relieve him. Then suddenly it struck me that I had no right to open that box, without the presence of a competent witness. I knew at once what box it was, from the constant anxiety my poor Uncle had shown about it. Who had such right to be my witness as his darling daughter? So back I flew to my own rooms, and dragged the bewildered Isola down the broad c

ite and transparent as the wax, and she held the candle so that a hot flake splashed on my neck. The lock of the long box turned most easily, and the hing

and pinned in the middle, the pins put stupidly as men always put them, the light gay dresses made for some sweet figure, folded with such care, and yet quite out of the plaits, and labelled with the dates when last the dear one wore them, even a withered fern-wreath and a sprig of shrivelled myrtle--I could not thrust my commonplace hands into these holy treasures; if I could I should never deserve to be myself so remembered. But one t

ust not disturb these things.

not if he knew whose hand it was tha

e, with the bit of peach-skin upon

ago. Inside the paper was written, "Knife and peach-stone found in my Lily's pocket. The stone

little push. In her heedless way, she fell almost into the box, and her lig

ith that nast

hy you said this morning

Pull it off, or I'll tear it

we both had always been of her beauty, the same thought struck us now. I saw it in the mirror, by the toss of her pointed chin and the coy bend of her neck: she saw it there as clearly, by the flash of my tear-bright eyes. Neither of us had ever seen that loveliest of all girls look half so lovely before. The glow of pride and beauty's glory mantled in her cheeks; and her eyes were softly beami

true fazoletto--over the velvet slope of the shoulders, and imprisoned it in the valley. This being nicely arranged, I hung her chalcedony charm from her neck, and fastened it to her waist-band. Then I caught up her clustering hair, nearly as thick and long as my own, after the Corsican fashion, snooded it close in ripples with a pink and white-stripe

trouble you take; you can't make m

nor anything like so naughty; bu

ink so. I am always long

were a man I should die for you. Now I

hink. She did not know but what I was taking her back to my own rooms, along another passage

rly on the door. In vain he strove to hide his disappointment, and to look at me with gra

him. The brandy and water had rallied his vital power, but made him hot and feverish. He kissed my

u know her well by name. You have often longed to see my sweet darling Isola. And she wants to see you so much

at of course. Give her my best apologies. You say she

or would you excuse her, if

n? Have you lock

trait of a lady"--I had not shown this t

the better. Placing the lamp-shade so that a dim lig

eep as much in the shadow as possible; and if he should

st, Clara. But I don't

supported me that evening when first we met. Stiffly I brought h

you have heard so often, Miss Isola"--Ross I co

n bounded forward, as if with galvanic life. His daughter met him as wildly. "My Lily, my Lily," was all he could sob, "my own Lily come from the grave!" With