Mortomley's Estate, Vol. III (of 3)

rtomley in the little house at Cl

n they had been living on that sum which Rupert's foresight saved from the general wreck, so that the sovereigns lying in Dolly's lap were easily counted. Nevertheless, as though she fancied they might grow more numerous

ng the weeks succeeding to that dinner-party when Mortomley's friends proved of so much service to his wife. Rupert, staying with them, had dragged Mortomley, an unwilling sight-seer up to London

ing upon them like an armed man; and that although her husband's health was much improved-miraculously improved said th

re safe, that she and the child could never know want, and Dolly had lacked

e anxiety. She had not taken Rupert into her confidence; a feeling of distrust had arisen in her heart against him, and she did not feel

no money had not even shaken hands. A certain income, if small, had always been her or hers within the memory of Dolly; and now, just when she wanted it most, just when even fifty p

. Mortomley would come and pay them a long visit, she felt friendless. To many a kind soul, who knew no better w

they understand that to the Mrs. Mortomley they had known gay and prosperous, her

City;" but Dolly was smarting just then under the blows she had received from Messrs. Swanland, Dean, Forde, Kleinwort, Werner, to say nothing of the other creditors who, in the Homewood days, had represented to Mortomley's wife that he ought to pay up li

een able to pay her way, but the supplies were running very short ind

heroine of a work of fiction in her mind-"but I am a useless little fool; I cannot even do worsted work or embroidery. Archie ought not to have married me; any other woman could think of something; could have done

nd shut, but imagining that it had been opened a

ed her completely, and standing up

kness, with her eyes blind almost with looking at the fire

id the visi

ey, and then they held one th

house, the poor little house as it seemed to her, unknowin

get over to you on Saturday or yesterday, and I was doubtful about to-day, and consequently did not write, but I wanted to

has gone to London with Rupert to see the Christmas show se

doing?" aske

ed. "He might get a situation at a pound a week, perhaps,

kissing one after another of the fingers she had unconsciously clasped so tight; "I did no

less to help himself as Archie is now. When I said he might earn a pound a week if well and strong, I was in error. He could do nothing of the kind. He is bound to obey Mr. Swanland's bidding. He is his servant. While

going, of course," s

torted Dolly; "and, what is more, Mr. Sw

should not go we

utterly a slave as if his creditors had bought him body and soul. I do not know how he bears it;

im, then?" asked Mrs

are not

ght to

eggared when he is strong to bear the shock. Some day, of course, h

the small rooms and then at Dolly's

s sold at Homewood?"

certain valuation, and I answered the letter. If it is preserved among the archives of the house of Swanland, some future young cygnet of that ilk will marvel

s would come forward to help at suc

nation ever took such an erratic fli

ore it was dismantled?" inquir

anland said that if Mrs. Dean would call at Homewood and point out the article in question to his man, it should be taken to Salisbury House, there to await Mr. Dean's orders.

happened to be in the outer office,

me to go to Homewood and point out the curiosity, and

Mrs. Werner, for there was a

d he went out with some of the men and got drunk, a process he repeated so often that at the end of a fortnight he was laid up with what he called inflammation of the lungs, and had to be carried off the premises. Then Mr. Swanland sent down another man, and that man took his wife

don't. Think if your eyes

its. "Do let me tell you all about it, Lenny. The mother wondered I had not taken away my beautiful wool-work, evidently imagining I wrought those wonders of sofa-pillows and anti-

t of the children, with one eye fixed on his moth

id. She said if she had known how things was a-going to be, she would have got them away anyhow.' And then the wretch went on to say how cheerful that public-house was in comparison with Homewood, and how she did hope they would get back to London before long, and how Mr. Swanland hated

the fowls were all stolen and the pigeons gone, and the cat so wild she would not come to anybody;

se items and a thimble, I saw she had annexed my drawing box to her own use. 'It was a handy box,' she said. Do not imagine I cared for it, Lenny," adde

not, Dolly," entr

d, and at last from half a mile distant, as it seemed, the creature answered. I called and she still kept answering till she

face against mine, and I felt her poor ribs, and the bones were coming through her skin-oh! Lenny, Lenny, I real

n Mrs. Werner's lap, and sobbe

doors, frightened lest he should eat them, and, God forgive me, I should not have cared if he had; and the

die, or any nonsense of that sort, but I am not the sa

time, not the Dolly she had loved so much, but another Dolly who was dearer to her an hundredfold than any woman she had ever previousl

ley himself. Like the sound of an air solemn and sweet was th

ture of the two was, spite of all her shortcomings, possessed by the woman who chanced t

erner after a pause, "that they did not

a lifetime have seen how the irresponsible, unruly brats comport themselves. Homewood is in that strait. The men are all at daggers drawn, each wants to be mast

quired Mr

never done business with Archie before, sent to the Thames Street warehouse for a specimen of that wond

and ordered, oh! some enormous quant

could not be made unless Mr. Mortomley superintended the manufacture. Hankins went up and said it could.

personally to superintend the manufacture, but if he would k

e was quite willing to produce the col

g said no one knew how to manipulate the materials but Archie, and that Hankins had as

Swanland laughed. Lang then went to a lawyer, who said he could not summon a trustee. Lang said he would do it for the annoyance of the thing, and so threw away half a sovereign which he now repents, because the case cannot come on. He has got another situation, a very good berth as he styles it. He

her people, but not to

Mr. Swanland must be!

What does he care about the trade, or the colours, or anything, so long as he can find work for his

. Werner. "I do not imagine that the utterances of an employèe conc

ed Mrs. Mortomley;

from Homewood," inquired Mrs. Wer

s the sho

em to you, or had you to

d he first agreed I should have the boxes, and then thought it was a useless form having them rem

come?" asked

itchen. I promised never to say how they were got away or who brought them; and, indeed, though half

wandered over the pale grey silk dress and black velvet upper sk

of hair-her pretty dresses-her small effects of jewellery-he

ral part of my heroine

nd stiff silk as she might if only in a position to appear in a linsey gown. Vanity shall we say? As you please, my readers. The matter is really of little importance; only allow me to remark, there is a vanity near akin to self-respect-a desire to turn the best side of one's life's shield out f

Werner, after a slight pause. "I m

intention then," retorted Mrs. Mortomley;

erner

, Dolly," she remarked; "but I s

repeated. "I will take nothing fr

ebasson offered her as freely as Leonora Trebasson would have taken Dolly's gift, small or large. What h

icked to say anything of the kind," was the reply. "But it is no longer

d, unwilling, in the presence of a man's wife, to terminate he

d Mrs. Mortomley; "you know what

uld take anything from me, but you will have nothing from my husband-belonging t

us, but I could receive nothing from your hands

sue your curious metaphor to its inevitable end. It is simply because I am Henry Werner's wife, an

one," answered Mrs. Mortomley. "To put the case plainly, I could take anything-a dry crust or a hundre

et it pass; for I must tell you, if Henry thought you wanted his help, h

ora, if it

rner's wife; that you only refuse my present because bought with my husband's m

ey-sent me the contents of that purse to buy some little trinket for myself as a memory of the old days at Dassell. He has married an heiress, Dolly; and those waste lands in the

the means. Believe me, in granting me the power to do this you have given me ropes of pearls-to quote Lothair-and mi

r cloak would have departed, but t

ant. Let me exorcise my demon w

r," suggest

hate myself and him. I want your present badly, Lenny, an

p it.' Could not that reconcile you, love. And some day it may be I or one belonging to me shall in bitter strait need your help; you would not then like to remember you had

, Leonora, might hereafter stand in need of such comfort as I could give; and just as surely as I take your present to-night, I

vow for Christmas Eve. Good-by

walked along the Grove and to the cross ro

ut in this damp night

and, and Dolly returned to the small house all alone. There, expecting perhaps to find a ten-pound note in the silken folds of the new purse

undred pounds," and on the back a