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

Werner and his wife, and all other people who were in sore distress

the later evil days at Homewood, to lie in the semi-darkness of th

isfaction. Mrs. Werner was a noble, generous-hearted, unselfish woman, and yet Dolly comprehended in some vague, ins

ow Mrs. Werner's mind was not so ill-regulated an one as all this comes to. Most emphatically she liked her carriages and horses and servants, and all the luxuries money can p

prudence, that he really had no right to fall into difficulties; certainly not to continue to

er duty demanded the sacrifice, she might-Mrs. Mortomley understood-have agreed to live in a house at twenty pounds a year,

rious dinner she provided, the rare wines they drank, had been paid for by a man all the time virtually bankrupt-a man keeping up

love Mr. Werner, yet certainly her sympathies were

or stealing one's fruit, and yet, when the wicked little wretch comes to grief and goes home with a battered face and cut shins, one's heart is mo

ery difficult not to feel sorry for the man who, being down, is struck his bitterest blow by those of his own household; an

ill not, if he is wise, know where to address a letter to him at present. Then she will grow anxious, both about him and the future of the children, and at the end of six months I give her this parcel, when the whole affair is settled and she need feel no scrupl

me so intolerant of her own wakefulness that she rose and, stealing into the room where Lenore lay fast asleep, dressed herself noiselessly and went downstairs, and, le

; and Mrs. Mortomley thanked God every time she looked across the meadow and beheld the red-tiled roof which covered

were signed in Dolly's scrawl, "D. Mortomley," people did not stop to inquire whet

emory, that future orders intended for Mortomley and Co. should be addressed to Newham, Herts. Further, she amazed Mr. Swanland by giving directions at the post-office that all letters intended for her husband should be forwarded to that address; and as no fewer than three other persons had applied for the letters, each claiming a right in them, the post-office was somewhat perplexed. First, Mr. Swanland, who, after Dolly had proved to him by chapter and verse that he could claim no letters after the expiration of three months from the me

eyond her strength to fight, but it was a battle any account

and deducting all expenses, Dolly, even in those early days, felt she could safely take a pound a week out of the returns; and, my dear readers, I can assure you t

do. The special amount of water required, the final grains of the special ingredient that shed a lustre over the Mortomley colours! hers it was t

Sometimes in the twilight, sometimes when the moonbeams streamed through the skylights, sometimes in the early, early morning, but always in du

ossed her mind. She did not like Mr. Werner, but she had a vague comprehension that he was gifted with some business qu

capital. Very faithfully she believed Lang was dealing with her, but he never seemed contented. He never lost an op

e in Mr. Lang's bosom, and though he tried to avoid giving expressio

n a good humour, and the result was greater dissatisfaction; and less

ave him a larger share of the profits; she allowed him unlimited control ov

but that was what he really did want; and if he had dared to make the observation, he would have remarked that n

for she knew perfectly well he ought to have some one on whom he could depend to share the burden with him, and she did not

iked to try to push their fortunes together, she should not feel at all sorry. Lang might have a present of a few recipes,

ich stood the shed, which seemed in her eyes fair as any palace. There was peace in all directions. The fields whence the hay had

to the bank, indicating, as Dolly imagined, the presence of so

and the scene seemed to lay a quieting hand on Dolly's hear

place,-as if there were some virtue of repose in that country E

th and tripped along that leading to the shed, styled i

evidence of her senses, for as she neared the door of the works it w

the face was withdrawn, and

fear as she had ever experienced seemed to hold her back. T

rtainly had no right on the premises, within the works, and L

he cried, but there came no answer, only a sound as of some moving about, to which there succeeded a sudden stillness, then a smash of glass, then a rattle of loosened tiles, and finally a man running off as fast as h

shed, and sat down beside the

first comment o

r mornings, ma'am, coming out all alone with no sou

e future," she said calmly. "Now, what

one to market. There'll be people, I know, who wouldn't mind standing five hundred pounds if they could

I never leave a paper of any import

you I should not care, if I was in your pl

ut go and get a ladder and open the door, and

rophecy fulfilled. The drawer was broken open

emarked Mr. Lang, but in this he chanced to be mistaken. Thei

pounds this had happ

wered; and without uttering another word, she wal