Run to Earth
t. The trial had been a very bitter one; but at length, arousing himself from that gloomy reverie,
There were few railroads six-and-twenty years ago, and the baronet was in the habit of travelling in his own carriage, with
hour after his interview
considerable distance within the five hours. He put up at the principal hotel, where he intended to remain for the night. From the windows of his rooms was to be seen the broad, open market-
ems busy to-n
cattle fair, sir. Perhaps you'd rather not have the curtains draw
- oh, dear no! Close th
an's bad taste, and withdrew to ha
oice singing in the market-place below. The streets had been for some time deserted, the shops closed, the lights extinguished, except a few st
ngers. It must needs be some voice very far removed from comm
e Italian opera-house - such a voice as is not often heard even within those walls. Full,
singing was the simplest of bal
orgot his sorrow and indignation - forgot his nephew's baseness, forgot everything,
s cold and boisterous; but a full moon was shining in a clear sky, and
man moving a way from the pavement before the hotel very slowly, with a languid, uncertain step. Presently he saw her totter and pause, as if scarcely
up his hat, and hurried down stairs. They were beginning to close the establishment fo
re of the woman still in the same attitude into which he had seen her sink wh
sunk down, and bent over her. Her arms were folde
re, my good girl?" ask
him that the ballad-singer was youn
, with a languid action, a
d I go?" she aske
you no
I have never had what gent
are you goi
door unfastened, into which I may creep. I have been singing a
irl's face. Looking at her by that silvery lig
this miserable life?" Sir
long misery," answer
ou been singing
a company of show-people; but the mistress of the show treated me badly, and I left her. Since then I ha
cal way, as if she were accustomed to be
the baronet, strangely interested in this vagrant
d the girl, in an altered tone. "
ouching attitude. The moon still shone upon
ure shelter at some respectable inn. Or stay, it is close upon midnight: you might find it difficult to get admitted to any respectable house at such a
wl wrapped tightly around her, and her dark brown hair blown away from her face by t
before stepped out of his way to help me. Poor people have
seemed as if she cared very little about her own fate, and that he
ht, but that is a very small favour. I happen to be something of a musician, and I have been much stru
my v
phrase as if it ha
l, perhaps. You look terribly pale. Come to the hot
very slowly, as if she had scarcely sufficient
this girl. There was something strange in the sudden interest which she had a
as standing by Sir Oswald's side; but she was too clever a woman to express her astonishment. Sir Oswald was one of her most influe
helter for the night, though she seems above the mendicant class. Will you put her somewhere, and see that she is taken good c
able. "Poor young thing," said the landlady, "she looks dreadfully pale and ill, and I'
threshold of the hall she tu
all my heart and soul for your goodness.
plied, "if such small kindness touches you so deeply. Come to me t
sir, and Go
houghtfully up the broad stai
in his sleep, acting themselves over and over again in his brain. Sometimes he was with his nephew, and the young man was pleading with him in
ew. His strange adventure of the previous night had exercised a very powerful influe
mpse of paradise by the magic of the moon," he mused as he lingered over his breakfast. "Perha
ned tones of the voice which he had heard last night
reet ballad-singer. Whatever she is, or whoever she is, there is a mystery
Sir Oswald Eversleigh s
ufficiently rested and refreshed, I should like much to have a few m
utterly unwarranted by the circumstances. It was not the first time in his life that he had stepped aside from his pathway to perfor
ght. Standing before him, in the broad sunlight, she seemed eve
ar the garments of a vagrant. Her dress was of some rusty black stuff, patched and mended in a dozen places; but it fitted her neatly, and a clean linen collar surrounded her slender throat, which was almost as white as the linen. Her waving brown hair was drawn away
if I can. You do not seem fitted for the life you are leading; and I am convinced that you possess talent which would
you are so friendless? How is it that your father
en I was a child,"
our fa
er is de
, with some touch of suspicion in his tone, for he fancied
ut my father; but if you did, I may have answered at random; I was confused l
as your
s a sa
ly English in your face," said Sir
Florence; my mother
dee
ed to obtain, must be extorted from her little by little. A common vagrant would have been eager to pour out some tale of misery, true or false, in
re in your past history," he said, at last;
is painful, much t
ow to whom I am giving it. I wish to place you in a position very different from that which you now oc
ll leave this house grateful and contented; I have asked nothing from you, nor did I intend to ask anything. You have been very good to me; you took compassion upon me in my miser
st help you in some manner - even if you will throw no light up
ed amongst people I despised, holding myself aloof as far as was possible. I have been laughed at, hated, ill-used for that which has been called pride; but I have at least preserved myself unpolluted by the corruption that surrounded me. If y
since it must be so. Let me ask you two or three questio
y inquiry that it is pos
r na
is Honori
ur
ght
king, your tones of voice, are those of a pe
. He was a very learned man, and taught me much that is rarely taught to a girl of fourteen or fifteen. His house was my refuge i
will ask no more; an
r, for your gene
dly. "I was thinking much of you while I breakfasted. You have a very magnificent voi
ery fon
ey were spoken, the look of inspiration which lighted up the s
play the
tle; b
othing of the s
thi
education, and there you will receive lessons from the best masters in music and singing, and devote the greater part of your time to the cultivation of your voice. It will be known that you are intended for the career of a professional singer, and every facility will be afforded you for study
e industrious than ever any woman was before!" exclaime
ild upon whom to waste my money. Besides, if you find the obligation too
ten that day, sir," answ
filled with tears, and moving to the window to give her time to recover herself, stood for some minutes loo
hase of your wardrobe. When that has been prepared, you will come straight to my house in Arlington Street, whence I will myself conduct you to the school I may have chosen as your residence. Remem
dare approach me, and I have always h
ow you can return to Mrs. Willet. I will see her pr
er every gesture and her every tone were those of a lady. Sir Oswald
rsleigh requested her to keep the ballad-singer in her charge for a we
at the end of which time I hope her wardrobe will be ready. I will write yo
a duchess, in a manner of speaking," answered the landlady; and then,
of the "Star" at noon; and at ten minutes after
him in every particular. Had his protégée been his daughter, or his affianced wife, h
thought, almost ashamed of the intens
maiden sisters. It was a thoroughly aristocratic seminary, and the ladies who kept it knew how to charge for the advantages of their establi
n, I presume, Sir Oswald?" s
baronet; "she is -
ave seen a dusky flush suffuse his face as he pronounced these words. Never be
nner," he thought; "and if they question her,
ld was in his library, seated in an easy-chair before the fire-place, with a book in his hand, but with no power
Milf
ply dressed in gray merino, a black silk mantle, and a straw bonnet, trimmed with white ribbon. Nothing could have been more Quaker-
to wel
t arrived in
ney-coach brought me her
noria Milford touched lightly with her own neatly gloved fingers; "and I am h
ly too good to me. I shall
gratitude. An influence stronger than my own will has drawn me towards you; and in doing wha
with a bewildered expression, an
ll you. I am astonished myself. There is something myste
e might not be some simple and easy solution possible for this bewildering enigma. He had never asked himself if it w
e pure, calm, reverential feeling of an artist, or a poet - and he never supposed it possible that the day might n
I have made all my arrangements accordingly. You must be hungry after your
ther than a dependent Before leaving the library, she looked round at the books, the bronzes, the pictures, with admiring eyes. Never before had she see
n one side of the table, and
er plate with dainties; he filled her glass with rare old wine; but she ate only a few mouthful
long been known to each other, explaining to her the merits of the different pictures and
ght; "a wonderful creature - a pricele
arriage, and presently Honoria Milford f
rcled it were such as are rarely to be found within a few miles of the metropolis; and they would in vain be sought for now. Shabby little s
smooth lawns, and exquisitely kept beds, filled with flowers even in this chill spring weather, must have seemed beautiful to those accustomed to handsome habitations. W
that were dim with tears, as the carr
could not have chosen a bett
ld feel a deeper interest in your fate tha
en glance of examination which becomes habitual to the eye of the schoolmistress; but the most severe sc
taking leave; "any one could guess that she was an Eversleigh. She is so elegant, s
policy had compelled him to speak of her as a distant relative of his own; and the
own. It seemed to him as if, in parting from his protégée,
d more than my nephew, Reginald, who for fifteen years of my life has been the object of so mu