Innocent Her Fancy and His Fact

in Clifford glanced at him now and again watchfully, and with some anxiety,-an uncomfortable idea that there was something wrong somewhere worried him,-moreover he was troubled by the

have had to reply untruly, according to the plan made between herself and Robin. But to her great surprise and relief he said nothing that conveyed the least hint of the wish he had so long cherished. He was irrita

, for you look as tired as a lame dog that 'as limped 'ome twenty mil

an do business as well as any man-and drive a bargain-ah! I should think so indeed!-a hard-and-fast bargai

glanced at hi

ed-"You generally ma

e a sudden

I've made and I've spent. And what I've spent is better than keeping it-and what I've

supper table and pu

zzing in my brain like the noise of a cart-wheel-I want rest." As he spoke Innocent came softly beside him and took his arm caressingly. He looke

held out one hand to Cliffo

on with the field work-for if the clouds mean anything we shall have rain." He paused a moment and seemed to refle

he broad oak staircase to his bedroom. Priscilla put her head on one side, like a meditativ

," she observed-"I should say 'e'd bin drinkin'! But that ain't it.

rs. "Oh, Robin, you surely noticed how strange he looked! I'm s

feeling-"Uncle Hugo is tired-I think he has been put out-you know he's quic

y ever the master should 'ave let a man like that go on the loose for a night an

began to wonder whether he had done rightly in telling his uncle how it came about.

ted a holiday-he doesn't ask for one often, and he's kept fairly sober lately

o?" Innocent sighed as

all tired, and can't look on the bright side! Sound sle

t!" she sa

ght, Pri

Mr. Robin.

indly to them both,

s he disappeared-"A tower of strength for a 'usband, whic

er face was very pale, and her eye

he said, slowly-"Prisci

to bed and think of nothing till the morning. Mister Jocelyn is dead beat and put out about something-precious 'ungry

fleeting moment the impression came over her that she would never see it look quite the same again. A faint cold tremor ran through her delicate little body-she fel

Priscilla!" she said-"You'

with the angels, like the little angel you are yourself! And mind yo

gown. Had any artist seen her thus, alone and absorbed in sorrowful musing, he might have taken her as a model of Psyche after her god had flown. She was weary and anxious-life had suddenly assumed for her a tragic aspect. Old Jocelyn's manner had puzzled her-he was unlike himself, and she instinctively felt that he had some secret trouble on his mind. What could it be? she wondered. Not about herself and Robin-for were he as keen on "putting up the banns" as he had been in the morning he would not have allowed the matter to rest. He would have asked straight questions, and he would have ex

afraid to try! Who knows what might happen? I can but fail-or

hands, ruffling up her pretty h

k my debt to Briar Farm!-that would be impossible! Why, the very fields and trees and flowers and birds have made

-and the tapering light of the

helter and Briar Farm! It would be shameful. And I could not marry a man unless I loved him quite desperately!-I could not! I'm not sure that I like the idea of marriage at all,-it fastens a man and woman together for life, and the time might come w

Was it not very strange that Landon should apparently be in such high favour with Hugo Jocelyn that he had actually been allowed to stay in the market-town and enjoy a holiday, which for him only meant a bout of drunkenness? She could not understand it, and her perplexity increased the more she thought of it. Leaning far out over the window-sill, she gazed long and lovingly across the quiet stretches of meadowland, shining white in the showered splendour of the moon-the ta

ere to any other creature inaudible. Yet listen he did-sharply and intently. Raising his massive head he snuffed the air-then suddenly began to tremble as with cold, and gave vent to a long, low, dismal moan. It was a weird noise-worse than positive howling, and the dog himself seemed distressfully conscious that he was expressing something strange and unnatural. Two or three times he repeated this eerie muffled cry-then, lying down again, he put his nose between his great paws, and, with a deep shivering sigh, appeared to resign himself to t

ed piteously-"Oh, do

tent barking, had hastily donned coat an

" he called-

force of his big muscular body, apparently seeking to push or break it open. Robin laid one

le H

was no

ened servants who were standin

force the lock. Innocent!"-and with deep tenderness he took

h you-let me call him!"-and she knelt outside the closed door-"Dad! Dear Dad! I

ence remain

ckoned to her-"keep Innoc

to wipe away the tears that were gathering in he

cloak which she carefully wrapped round the girl's shoulders. Just then the hammer was brought with other tools, and Robin, to save any needless clamour, took a chisel and inserted it in such a manner as should most easily force the catch of the door-but the lock was an ancient and a strong

d!

ying with all her slight strength

lift him on the bed. It is only a faint-he will recover-get some brandy and send f

fallen body of their master between them and laid it gently down on the bed. As the helpless head dropped back on the pillow they saw that all was over,-the pinched ashen grey of the features

ere crying? You surely don't think he's dead?-No, no, that isn't possible! It isn't possible, is it, Robin? He'll come to himself

s running down her face, brought the brandy she asked for and held it while she tenderly moistened the lips of the corpse and tried to fo

id-"Can you, Robin? He looks so grey a

nd threatened to overflow in womanish weeping, went u

aps be better," he said. "He might-he might recover soon

, quietly. "How can you think I would leave Dad wh

em tame in comparison with such joy! Innocent had never seen death-she could not realise that this calm irresponsiveness, this cold and stiff

attice window, and as she saw this suggestion of wakening l

" she said-"Priscilla, wh

he room,-at the still form on the bed-at the little crouching girl-figure beside it-at Priscill

this happe

told

sudden seizure of this kind." He made his brief examination. The eyes of the dead man were

he went on, gently-"

of the corpse back on its breast-and she sto

Do you mean that you cannot rouse hi

ked at her gra

ar," he said-"in the next

to her forehead with

it!-it isn't true! Dad, dear Dad! My only friend! Good-bye-good

d and broke in a

d. "And he loved me as if I were his own child! Oh,