My Lady's Money

at was waiting for him, a letter from the very person whose welfare was s

ot presume to ask you to visit her, being well aware of the value of your time. Will you, therefore, be so kind as to let me know when it will be convenient to you to receive my aunt at your office in London? Believ

ould take. There was a pressing necessity for cautioning Isabel, and here was his opportunity. He sent for his head clerk, and looked at his list of engagements for the day. There was no

walking along the one street of South Morden, you found yourself in the old England of two centuries since. Gabled cottages, with fast-closed windows; pigs and poultry in quiet possession of the road; the venerable church surrounded by its shady burial-ground; the grocer's shop which sold everything, and the butcher's shop which sold nothing; the scarce inhabitants who liked a good look at a stranger, and the unwashed children who we

oss a stony road at the meadow lands and softly-rising wooded hills beyond. Each villa faced you in the sunshine with the horrid glare of new red brick, and forced its nonsensical name on your attention, traced in bright paint on the posts of its entrance ga

rmed him that he was not to walk on the grass. On the other side a painted hand pointed along a boundary-wall to an inscription which warned him to go that way if he had business in the kitchen. On the gravel walk at the foot of the housesteps words, neatly traced in little white shells, reminded him not to "forget the scraper". On the doorstep he was in

ad time to look round him the door was opened again from without, and Isabel stole into the room on tiptoe. She look

the room till my aunt sends for me. Tell me two things before I run

e questions in those terms, Mr. Troy decided on cautioning Isabel on the subject of the steward while he had the chance

My aunt, who is not easily taken with strangers, respects and admires him. I can't tell you how good he was to me on the journey here-and how kindly, how nobly, he spoke to me when

a moment to let he

you are on your guard, he may raise false hopes in you when you next see him. Listen to any advice that he may give you, by all means. But, before you decide on being guided by his opinion, consult my older experience, and hear what I have to say on the subject. Don't s

me go now. My aunt will be down directly; and she must not find

roy, when he was alone again. "The little fool evidently thinks I am jealous of

otected by layers of white crochet-work) said as plainly as if in words, "Sit on me if you dare!" Mr. Troy retreated to a bookcase at the further end of the room. The books fitted the shelves to such absolute perfection that he had some difficulty in taking one of them out. When he had succeeded, he found himself in possession of a volume of the History of England. On the fly-leaf he encountered an

k back again when the door opened once m

her in despair by a series of negatives. She was not young, she was not old; she was neither tall nor short, nor stout nor thin; nobody could call her features attractive, and nobody could call them ugly; there was nothing in her voice, her expression, her manner, or her dress that differed in any appreciable degree from the voice, expression, manner, and dress of five hundred thousand other s

told that the season is very unfavorable for wall-fruit. May I offer you some refreshment afte

neighborhood. Not even a lawyer could sit in Miss Pink's presence, and hear Miss Pink's convers

aware that the time of professional gentlemen is of especial value to them; and I will therefore ask

ghly-trained conversation had perhaps one fault-it was not, strictly speaking, conversation at all. In

e, or to mention them in the future to any living creature besides myself. You are acquainted with those circumstances, Mr. Troy; and you will understand my indignation when I first learnt that my sister's child had been suspected of theft. I h

"Before you say any more about Lady Lyd

t, as such, she was a born lady. Under favoring circumstances, Isabel's maternal grandfather might have been Archbishop of Canterbury, and have taken precedence of the whole House of Peers, the Princes of the blood Royal alone excepted. I am not prepared to say that my niece is equally well connected on her father's side. My sister surprised-I will not add shocked-us when she married a chemist. At the same tim

eath. Mr. Troy made a secon

ermit me, madam, t

owe to the memories of my sister and my parents-I will not leave the responsibility to Lady Lydiard. I will take it on myself. Let me add that I am able to pay the necessary expenses. The earlier years of my life, Mr. Troy, have been passed in the tuition of young ladies. I have been happy in meriting the confidence of parents; and I have been strict in observing the golden rules of economy. On my retirement, I have been able to invest a modest, a very modest, little fortune in the Funds. A portion of it is at the service of m

elbow on the palm of her right hand, and lightly supported her cheek with her forefinger and thumb. In th

able difficulty and discouragement-Miss Pink might have remained in undisturbed possession of her own opinions. As it was, Mr. Troy had got his hearing a

our confidence in me," Mr. Troy began; "at the same time, I mu

such an answer as this. The lawyer's b

line to assist

engaged, in Miss Isabel's interest, by a client whom

re. "You need not trouble yourself, sir,

ed Mr. Troy, "loves

of opinion," Mis

," proceeded the irrepressible lawyer, "

ad a temper; and Mr. Troy

, suddenly sitting bolt upright in her chair, "why has my niece be

world, to be the victims of appearances. Your niece is a victim-an innocent victim. She wisely withdr

ther words, that my niece is suspected. I am only a woman, Mr. Tro

it began to acknowledge that Miss Pink's powe

armly. "As for your niece, I can tell you this. In all my experience of Lady Lyd

when we feel distressed about a person, we do our best to comfort that per

s Isabel in my hearing," said Mr. Troy. "Lad

ried a joyful voice on th

t! I was upstairs at the window, and I saw the carriage stop at the gate. And Tommie has come, too! The darling saw me at the window!" cried the poor girl,

ked capable of adequately receiving-not one no

ll-bred young lady permits herself to become undu

more opportune time for her visit. A momentary interval passed. The carriage drew up at the door; the horses trampled on the gravel; the bell rung madly; the uproar of Tomm