The Red Rat’s Daughter

mself, and, for the reason that he could find no one else at the moment, had to be content with overtipping his cabman, and emptying all his spare change into the hands of a beggar in the Pl

hat he was grateful. As for the morrow, and the excursion to Fontainebleau, he would send his man at once to arrange for a special train, in order that they might run no risk of being disturbed or inconvenienced by other tourists. On second thoughts, however, he changed his mind. He would not do anything so absurd. He might be a parvenu, in a certain sense, but he did not want to prove himself one to her. No; they would go down quietly, sensibly, and unostentatiously like other people. They would enjoy the outing all the more if they did not attract unnecessary attention. Then another idea struck him, and

r and conducted them upstairs to the room he had reserved. If the dinner he had given them in London had proved a success, this one was destined to prove much more so. Madame and Browne were in the highest spirits, while Katharine, though a little shy and reserved, had improved considerably since the afternoon. Before they separated, arrangements were completed for the morning’s excursion. Browne, it was settled, was to call for Katherine in time to catch the e

-hunting in England, had fished in Norway, and shot over his deer-forest in the Highlands in equally bad weather, and without a grumble or a protest. On the present occasion, however, everything was different; it seemed to him as if he had a personal grievance to settle with Dame Nature; and in this spirit he dressed, ate his breakfast, and finally set off in a cab for the Rue Jacquarie. Whet

d, as she glanced out of the w

answered. “If you consider it too wet we

r how disappointed he would be if she r

no doubt it will clear up lat

e should leave here in about ten

, to return presently with

ll keep you warm. While you are drinking it, i

they had reached Melun. After that Dame Nature changed her mind, and, before they reached their destination, the clouds were drawing off, and long streaks of blue sky were to be plainly observed all round the h

the first novelty of her position, Katherine adapted herself to it with marvellous celerity. Side by side they wandered through those rooms of many memories, in the wake of the custodian, whom they could not persuade to allow them to pass through alone, even under

uncheon. The afternoon was devoted to exploring the forest, and when dusk had descended they dined at the H?tel de France et d’Angleterre, and afterwards returned to Paris. It was during the homeward journey, that Browne

clet of gold surrounds your finger, so my love will encompass you on

him, she could only press his hand,

dame Bernstein expressed her joy at hearing it. It seemed to Browne, however, that there was an air of suppressed excitement about her on this particular even

ce at the address was sufficient to tell him from whom it came. He had only seen the handwriting once before, but every letter had

have had some news which makes me see, even more clearly than I did then, that I have no right to let you link your life with mine. Hard as it is for me to have to say it, I have no choice left b

e letter in his hand, and staring straight before him. His whole being seemed numbed and dead. He could no

oves me, and yet she wants to give me up. I will not allow myself to think that it can be tru

eet, called a cab, and set off for