My Lady's Money

what does Mr. Hardyman say? Doe

stiffly. His dark, deeply-set eyes

id. "He lifted the dog's eyelid and looked at his

did something, I suppose, besides te

t of his pocket, wi

a faint cry of horror. "Oh,

the animal, and the indifference which she exhibited towards the man (as

dy, who really deserve to be called by that horrid word. If you can't say 'T

and brought him to his senses directly. I am charged to tell you-" He stopped, as if t

ere you charg

will give you instructions how t

to receive her instructions. Moody

urry to get to Mr. Ha

You said just now that Mr. Hardyman was

eft him, he was sufficiently occupied in expressi

woman who was young enough to be his child. He had already spoken to Isabel more than once in terms which told his secret plainly enough. But the smouldering fire of jealousy in the man, fanned into flame by Hardyman, now showed itself for the first time. His looks, even more than his words, would have warned a woman with any knowled

allowances for the unbridled g

you," he burst out passionat

Hardyman, who had treated her as a lady from first to last! "What an odd man y

me-you do worse,

at Moody gravely. "I don't like to be accused of distressing people when I do

her in attempting to make his peace with her. Acting under the fe

from me," he said. "I wish I knew

retorted, struggling to free herself from

h. "I don't know how to deal with you,"

moment. "Pity you?" she repeated contemptuously. "Is that all you have to say to me after hurting my arm? What a bear you are!" She shrugged her shou

ith all my heart and soul. Again and again I have asked you to be my wife-and you laugh at me as if

rstanding Moody if he had spoken in Hebrew. She was partly startled, partly puzzled, by the strong emotions which she had unconsciously called into being. "Oh dear me!" she said, "

n't a wish you could form which I wouldn't be proud to obey. You must not reckon me by years. My youth has not been wasted in a profligate life; I can be truer to you and fonder of you than many a younger man. Surely my

er in her nature began to rise in her and take his part. Unhappily, he felt too deeply and too strongly to be patient, and give her time. He completely misinterpreted her silence-comp

unjust words. At that moment

clared over and over again that I could only be your friend. Understand that for the future, if you please. There are plenty of nice women who will be glad to marry y

een Isabel and the door. The unworthy suspicion of her, which had been in his mi

ept your secret wonderfully well-but sooner or later all secrets get found out. I know wh

instant. She cast one disdainful look at Moody, without troubling herself to expre

her man," he reiterated passi

yes. "What right have you to ask the que

e to self-restraint. Suppressed rage was in his rigidly set eyes, suppressed rage w

husband, no other man shall be. Look well to it, Isabel Miller. If there is another m

moment. The high spirit that was in her rose brig

e, but you will not succeed. When you have recovered your temper I will accept your excuses." She paused, and pointed to the table. "There is the letter that

nfortunate steward took up the letter from the table. Without a word of answer, he walked mechanically to the great door which

ld have thoroughly understood him. His terrible earnestness, his overpowering agitation, his abrupt violence-all these evidences of a passion that was a mystery to himself-simply puzzled her. "I'm sure I didn't wish to hurt his feelings" (such was the form that her reflections took, in her present penitent frame of mind); "but why did he provoke me? It is a shame to tell me that I love some other man-when there is no other man. I declare I begin to hate the men, if they are all like Mr. Moody. I wonder whether he will forgive me when he sees me again? I'm sure I'm willing to forget and forgive on my side-especially if he wo

e or two corrective touches to her hair a