A London Life; The Patagonia; The Liar; Mrs. Temperly

You will grant that I have

have always done-not so

upon the same business and Mr. Collingwood had a use of his own for his brougham. The Collingwoods were a happy pair who could discuss such a divergence before their friends candidly, amicably, with a great many 'My loves' and 'Not for the worlds.' Lionel Berrington disappeared after dinner, without holding any communication with his wife, and Laura expected to find that he had taken the carriage, to repay her in kind for her having driven off from Grosvenor Place without him. But it was not new to the girl that he really spared his wife more than she spared him; not so much perhaps because he wouldn't do the 'nastiest' thing as because he couldn'

you will allow me to be driven home and send back t

s!' These were the ideas-ideas of 'fury' and sulks-into which Selina could translate feelings that sprang from the pure depths of one's conscience. Mrs. Collingwood protested-she said it was a shame

our she had the lights that must have come to the lady in question in regard to Selina. She accepted favours herself and she only wanted to be good: that was oppressively true; but if she had not been Selina's sister she would never drive in her carriage. That conviction was strong in the girl as this vehicle conveyed her to Grosvenor Place; but it was not in its nature consoling. The prevision of disgrace was now so vivid to h

r's return; the hours passed as she sat there, without bringing round this event. Carriages came and went all night; the soft shock of swift hoofs was on the wooden roadway long after the summer dawn grew fair-till it was merged in the rumble of the awakening day. Lionel had not come in when she returned, and he continued absent, to Laura's satisfaction; for if she wanted not to miss Selina she had no desire at present to have to tell her brother-in-law why she was sitting up. She prayed Selina might arrive first: then she would have more time to think of something that harassed her particularly-the question of whether she ought to tell Lionel that she had seen her in a far-away corner of the town with Captain Crispin. Almost impossible as she found it now to feel any tenderness for her, she yet detested the idea of bearing witness against her: notwithstanding which it appeared to her that she could make up her mind to do this if there were a chance of its preventing the last scandal-a catastrophe to which she saw her sister rushing straight. That Selina was capable at a given moment of going off with her lover, and capable of it precisely because it was the greatest ineptitude as well as the g

lina taking flight in a ball-dress; but she said to herself that she might very well have sent other clothes away, in advance, somewhere (Laura had her own ripe views about the maid); and at any rate, for herself, that was the fate she had to expect, if not that night then some other one soon, and it was all the same: to sit counting the hours till a hope was given up and a hideous certainty remained. She had fallen into such a state of apprehensio

am,' the foot

gton, dramatically, an

t particularly to speak to you,

sister could overtake her. But the girl was close behind her, she passed into the room with her. Laura closed the

lina flashed out. 'What on earth do y

whose maid, having outlived surprises, had gone to rest, began to divest herself of some of her ornaments, and it was not till after a moment, during which she stood before the glass, that she made that answer about doing as she had always done. To this Laura rejoined that she ought to put herself

cene that their eyes met. Selina drew the diamonds out of her hair, and in this occupation, for a minut

moment she had flung herself into an armchair and was weeping profusely, extravagantly. Laura forbore to go to her; she made no motion to soothe or reassure her, she only stood and watched her tears and wondered what they signified. Somehow even the slight refreshment she felt at having affected her in that particular and, as it had lately come to seem, impr

w can I see you rush to your ruin-to that of all of

out anything!' Selina wailed, with he

nd how you can give such a

aids. 'I give him no handle and you don't know what you are talking about! I know what I am doing and what become

n pity think of your

d, and isn't that a little my merit, pray?' Selina went on, sweeping away her tears. 'Who has made them what they are, pray?-is it their lovely father? Perhaps you'll say

t she replied with a laugh which betrayed too much

inary cold gravity. 'Don't interfere between me and

g revulsions. Her arms were about her, she clung to her, she covered Laura with the tears that had again begun to flow. She besought her to save her, to stay with her, to help her against herself, against him, against Lionel, against everything-to forgive her also all the horrid things she had said to her. Mrs. Berrington melted, liquefied, and the room was deluged with her repentance, her desolation, her confession

he usual. But when they had been properly fed she encouraged them to disperse; on this occasion as the party broke up Laura was the only person she asked to stay. She wished to know in the first place why she had not been to see her for so long, and in the second how that young man had behaved-the one she had brought that Sunday. Lady Davenant didn't remember his name, though he had been so good-natured, as she said, since then, as to leave a card. If he had behaved well that was a very good reason for the girl's neglect and Laura need give no other. Laura herself would not have behaved well if at such a time she had been run

Sundays-and so have we been,' Laura said. 'And then I

an befor

rangement we had, ab

u have made

nful scenes), and that has cleared the air. We have gone about togethe

where has she taken y

taken her, rather.'

mean?-to say

ncerts-and to the

her with a mournful face. 'My dear child, you are too delightful! You

ut music and pictures-she has

ng to draw them out? th

me, but I don't care,' the gi

they call it?-the attempt to raise her tone? You have b

understand!' Laura broke out. 'I don't unders

u to do last winter. Don't yo

to let her go

you haven't t

n I-how

. But even if she should, won't that nice young man remain?' Lady Davenant i

rned: 'What nice young man would ever lo

t prevent him!' the old woman cried. 'It isn't

't love m

r on her sofa and looked at her, for all answer to this, with an expression of which the sadness appeared to strike t

o the house

't you l

h-more than I

bring him straight to see me, I suppose that mea

ntleman,'

. But why then doe

riously,' the girl added, 'I don't

ove with yo

times t

she enco

etests

rite to him to come and see me: I shall appo

t, I should kill m

your eyes. They might be those of a poor widow with fifteen children. When I

t. You were safe, in so many ways,' Laura said

t of, and I didn't cry about it. However, there are natures and natu

k you, but I have promise

d the old woman, with some asperity. Laura made no answer to this

now-he is

but she was penetrating; her very next words pierced further. 'Of course if you are really protecting her I can't count upon you': a remark not adapted to enliven Laura, who would have liked immensely to

add

it's no matter,' the old woman added; 'the

anything so loathsome!' the

ften? It's rubbish, his caring for Sel

sh-when so many

t-I could see that; or if

notes,' said the girl. 'And he thinks Se

f her disli

t know that!'

he isn't

--' But here Laura stopp

him? Mercy, to do that how fond of him you must be!' An observatio