Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series

ds, went Sir Dace Fontaine, dark and gloomy. His heavy stick and his heavy tre

Verena Fontaine contrived to meet her lover, and did not take extraordinary pains to keep i

m Verena. She had observed to me, the first night we met, that American girls grow up to be independent of c

it, while he strode along this morning, full of wrath, the colonel came

broke out Sir Dace, fiercely, wi

jumping to the other's meaning. "I don't suppose he will st

t all?" reiterated Sir Dace, with a thum

is not really so, and said he would like to stay a few days with us. We could not turn him away, Sir D

too long," growled Sir Dace;

ent on. In the green meadows, where the grass and the sweet wild flowers were springing up, in the Ravine, between its sheltering banks, redolent of romance; or in the triangle, treading underfoo

o meet Pym for a promenade with him in the moonlight, and Sir Dace came upon them sitting on the stile at the end of the cro

elf before this, and was in London in with Miss Deveen. So

curious upon the point. Just as naturally it was supposed that Pym, having

man, Ozias, and a maid, Esther, had gone away with the family. It was the second time Mr. Pym had presented himself upon the same errand: to get the address of Sir Dace

he address, on account of sending him his foreign letters, he forbade me t

affirmed Pym, making a shot at the

ibly be known, sir.

w lines from himself, and posted it to London, to one Alfred Saxby, a sailor friend of his. He next, in a careless, off-hand manner, asked Colonel Letsom if he'd mind calling at Maythorn Bank, and asking the old cook there if she could give him her master's addres

ready to take in cargo. After swearing a little, down sat Mr. Pym to his desk, and in a shaky hand, to imita

this, Mrs. Betty Huntsman

n, Thu

old

Colonel Letsom apply to you for our address here, you are to give

ie Fon

ed but the letter was written by Miss Fontai

erdale Rectory," began Mr. Pym; for it was he who rang, and by his authoritative voice and lordly man

wered Betty, dr

dress in London-if you can give it him

ost pocket, and showed it to Mr. Pym:

ot a ruse. He went on there through the Ravine at t

hip, sir, and am going up

t ship?" que

lhi. She is beg

. But I don't think you will go out in the Rose of Delhi, M

e from the Rose of Delhi: I have not got it yet," returned Pym,

myself shortly, and will s

ommand

at pr

rls, to come down again at the close of the next voyage, little dreaming, poor ill-fated young man, that he would never go upon another. Captain Tanerton wrote at once to head-quarters in Liverpool, sayi

f warning. Jack was fully conscious of it, though he knew not why it should be there. It was a great deal s

f Delhi if he can; just, I expect, because he sees I don't wish him to: the man's nature is a

d that evening at the Rectory from Liverpool, with her eldest child, Polly. Therefor

h bustling quarter stood the office of Mr. James Freeman, the ship's bro

cer been appointe

eman. "Pym goes ou

ot wish to take Pym

ought of putting in the mate from the Star of L

't tak

Captain

ricans would say, who riled me so. I believe the man dislikes me, and for that reason was

ave to make the best of him this voyage, Captain Ta

there's murder committed,"

n stared: and

ndsome young sailor, who had just got out of a cab, and was striding along as though he wanted to run a race with the clocks. It was Edw

ye catching the name written up at a stre

e words written there. It was no other than the addr

t. I'll be shot if I know where I am! Can you tell me my wa

ft; you will so

you," s

door-way on the other side of the road, and put himself on the watch. V

triking; he scraped his feet in impatience, now one foot, now the other. Nothing came of it. The rooms

sion of impatience: and he could hav

o'clock struck, the dinner hour, he had made a rush from the ship, telling the foreman of the shed not to ship any more cargo till he came back in half-an-hour, and had come dashing up here in a fleet cab. The half-hour h

on till late at night; too late to go down to his lodgings near the docks; so he slept at an hotel. This morning he had reported himself at the broker's office; and Mr. Freeman, after blowi

show himself? I can't post the letter-for I know my letters to her are being suppressed. And I dare not leave it

h a jug, her bonnet thrown on perpendicularly. Mr. Pym kept he

s. Ball's, Woburn

, rather taken aback at the summary addre

a Fontaine. When she is quite alone, you understand. An

oney. She surreptitiously put her bon

I'd be happy to oblige you if I could. The Miss Fontain

ression crossing his face that marred all its good l

uabbles perpetual. None of us liked him; it don't seem Christian-like to have a black man sitting down to table with you. Mr

mentally anathematizing servants in ge

you, I'm sure. She is ve

and went to the house. Mrs. Ball, a talkative, good-humoured woman in a rusty bla

the pleasure in life, if she had it, she said. Sir Dace did not leave it with her.

f the town?" asked the discomfited Pym. That little tric

tion to leave until they were packing up. Sir Dace paid me a week's rent in lieu of warning, and away t

iment. Many people had seen the same likeness; though h

me; I will call again to-morrow evening," were his parting words to the landl

nt so long and to so little purpose that he at last concluded the Fontaines were not in London. Sir Dace neither sent a messenger nor wrote for any letters there might be. Two were waiting

ht to Brighton. At length, however, Mrs. Ball was one day surprised by a visit from Ozias. She never

ad no orders to conceal it. "I thought it strange that your master did not sen

house in Marylebone Road. We come up yesterday to this London town: S

d written to Pym, enjoining him not to reply. It might not be safe, she said, for Coralie had gone over to "the enemy," meaning Sir Dace: Edward must contrive to see her when he came to London to join his ship. And when the days went on, and Verena saw

d one evening to her sister. "I think he must have sail

dissented Coralie. "For all he can

d gave it him: and Mrs. Ball would direct him here. Papa sent Ozias there to-day for his letters; a

r that lay snugly between its leaves. It was the one that Vera had writte

ss my treachery, Vera. It was all done for yo

is gone. Captain Tanerton made a boast that he'd not take Edward out again, but he may not have been able to h

peated Coralie. "What d

ily because Gould and Captain Tanerton are not friends. The captain complained to the owners last time of something or other connected with the ship-some bad provisions, I think,

know all t

e to do with choosing the officers than the Freemans themselves h

remain in the ship when her commander

t least. But he thinks, you see, and I think, that his remaining for two voyages in

erena, thoroughly independent in her notions, put on her b

t to me, fearing I should not see you before the ship went out of

ose of Delhi

he is first-rate in every way, and the most com

m, I know. And he

"He is an awful screw for keeping one to one's duty, and I expect we shall have no end of squalls. Ah, Verena," continue

rged Verena to cut the matter short by ma

it, Edward-as I have told you. Were I to marry without papa's consent-and you know he will not give it-he can ta

sions at first, but he'd soon come round; he'd not touch your m

What would two hundred pounds a-year be for me-living as I have lived? And for you, also, for

was wild to lead an idle life, and hated the discipline on

down yet. Why shou

t your letter?" asked Pym, passing

om walking, met Esther at the door, saw the letter in her hand, and took it from her, saying she would go back and post it h

managed better," returned P

"that they are all against me. Or, rather, against you. Papa, Coralie, and Ozias: an

ame. Is this to be

will see you every

shall be watched, now Cora

epeated the girl, with impassioned fervour.

time to be seized upon was after six o'clock, when the Rose of Delhi was left to herself and her watchman for the night, and the dock-gates were shut. This brought it, you see, to about seven o'clock, before Pym could be hovering, like a wandering ghost, up and down the Marylebone Road; for he had to go to his lodgin

our, she had promenaded with Edward Pym in the bustling lighted streets, or in the quieter walks of the Regent's Park. On the third day, Sir Dace told her that she must be in her place at the dinner-table. Verena wondered whether the

when Verena came in, and found herself confronted by her father. Verena gave Coralie the credit of betraying her, but in that she was wrong. Sir Dace-he might have had his suspicions-suddenly c

eps to the drawing-room, and shut the door. Then came the explosion. Verena did not deny that she had bee

, papa. We have been

gain while that villain is in London, and I will carry yo

take a dark tinge underneath the skin, as if the man, to use Jack Tanerton's expression, had a touch of th

is six wives," went on Vera. "

his?" raved Sir Dace. "As to that man, I have cu

answering words seemed brave enough,

I have promised to be the wife of my cousin Edward, and no earthly authority shall stay me. You may be a

g him!-is bad t

or good," was Verena's mental ans

room from this hour, if you d

your turn, I say; and you have s

not. It would be t

elp myself now; but in a twelvemonth's time I

He concluded Miss Verena had capitulated and would not again go

of Coralie, but sat practising a new netting-stitch, her temper sweet, her face placid

siness that kept me and Mr. Brandon in town, was a short visit made us by the Squire. Not that the Squire need have come; writing would have done; but he was nothing loth to do so: and it

ck Tanerton. Later, we started to take a look at a famous cricket-match that was

n. It was the day I have just told you of; when Verena sat, go

with stained glass in the windows, and a rich coloured carpet. Coralie and Vera were, as usual, dressed alike, in delicate summer-m

n?" abruptly asked Sir Dace, sudde

ll being well,"

ut the same ma

so; yes,

hat came, he thought better of it, and said he would not go; those sights fatigued him. I did not know what had taken place until later, or I might have thought he s

"but I will contrive to get

you can spend the day at

was true. "I have come up this way to see an

were having of it. Mind, Johnny Ludlow, that you take m

e same moment. Coralie was in the drawing-room alone, her white dress and herself resplendent in coral ornaments. Sir Dace came i

asked sternly of Ozias-for Sir Da

Miss Verena, sir," returne

m, where I sat with Coralie, talking in an undertone. He ha

at we wait for her," he sai

r two. "Miss Verena, she no u

ace ugly, the worst sat on Sir Dace

t her go out

ut, papa," answered Coralie

rena's room, Ozias, and ask

e. She come down and say, Ozias, Miss

Sir Dace; but Coral

went into mine. She came to me while she was dressing asking me to lend her my pearl comb; she had just broken one of

tences to do it. Verena had been beguiled into a marriage engagement with Edward Pym: he, Sir Dace, had forbidden her to go out of the house to meet him; and, as it appeared, she had set his authority at defiance. They were no doubt

ived of my promised partner, Verena, I went down alone. Si

ficer, Captain Tanerton!" cried

ow the song fell flat; the contretemps about Verena, or perhaps the sullenness it had left on Sir Dace, produced a sense of gen

to-day-which she will be six months finishing, if she ever finishes it at all. She dislikes the work; I

your sister to-night?" I as

t run away too soon. She'll not

at it has put out S

does not like to find he can't. In this affair I take his part; not Verena's. E

Tanerton does not. Your sister is in love with him, an

not yet come, Johnny Ludlow. I do not much think Cupid could

a sealed note there, lying uppermost, above the netting paraphernalia. It was address

r Co

k you have any right to exercise this harsh control over me, I am leaving home for a few days. Tell papa that I sha

r yo

er

it, take care of herself. She went up to her father, who was standing by the fire talking with the Squire and Tanerton. Sir

have just found it in my work-box.

er saw any expression like that of his face as he read. I never saw any face go so da

a, with a ground of delicate gilt tracery, and a deliciously-painted landscape standing out from it. It was not at the vase, lying in

sed. "Help me this night to find my daughter! As sure as we are living, that

the wrong way, his good old red face all excitement, "Let us s

lace; and to set out to look for a young lady in it, not knowing whe

ce, whose breath seemed to be all wrong. "Where doe

I can find out. I dare say it

rrupted the Squire, looking

e. "Quite a colony of officers live there, while their vessels are lying in St. Katherine

he way down at Poplar, because it was n

away at once, then. But," added Jack, arresting his steps, and turning to Sir Dace, "don't you think it

t kind of young woman. But Esther knew nothing. She had not helped Miss Verena to dress that even

for dinner, she entered the drawing-room to attend to the fire, and found it very low. She went on her knees to coax it up, when Miss Verena came in in her

to you?" aske

a remark-'What, that fire out aga

harply cri

l-convenient time-when Miss Verena came softly down the stairs with her bonnet and mantle on. I felt surprised. 'Don't shut me in, Maria

dressed?" a

thes were dark. Her black veil was down over her face; I

fore. Verena had taken flight, and

, and taken the top of the Monument to begin with. John Tanerton, departing on hi

aster at sea, and can perhaps exercise some little

mity the least in the world, seeming to look upon the escapade as more of a joke than otherwise. "They will very prob

e and two cabs to invade the regions of Tower Hill. So Jack, buttoning his light over-coat over his di

Jack to the cabman. "No. 2

his number," I said, as we w

n Ship Street. My second mate, Mark Ferrar, lives a

oes Ferrar come from Worcester, do you know,

heard his history. One of his espec

should be in your ship! Does h

oon as he qualifies for master, which will be in another year or two, he will be placed in command, unless I

ad won the heart of poor King Sanker, rising thus quickly towards the to

Ship Street at last, I looked about me, and saw a narrow street with narrow houses on either side

e door. A young boy opened it, saying h

or was on the right, and the boy pushed it open. A smart, well-dressed sailor sat at th

, looked much the same; but the face was softened into-I had almost said-that of a

?" he said, rising.

books, I see

ad to put them by for other books, while I was studying to pass for ch

you tell me where

lower down. But I can s

rk?" I asked, as he took u

as behind him, and my face in the shade.

get Mr. Johnny Ludlow. But you are about the last

as in the old days, drew it back quickly. "I beg your pardon, sir," he said, with the same honest flush t

Worcester, Mark?" I asked,

et, and my brother and sister are both married. I went

ociating now with men of education, he had taken care to catch up their ton

es were precisely similar, and entered the parlour. He and Pym occupied the

t gas-lamp, for these shutters were not closed. Ferrar went into the passage

e. A neat little woman with grey hair and a puckered face; the sleeves o

ed hisself and went out when he'd swallowed down his tea

m back to-night?"

o," she answered, "he most

ning, ma'am?" blandly continued Jack.

"A young lady!" she repeated, raising

errar in her ear; and the old woman dropped a curtsy to Jack.

ter-or cousin,

of them fly-away girls that would like to be running after our young office

to see whether he comes in,

if he pleased, Mrs. Richenough lighted the lamp that stood on the ta

e to remain, s

will be a good deal to do to-morrow, Mr. Ferr

sir," repl

left us