The Datchet Diamonds

of what almost amounted to a sense of impropriety! Charlie had taken her; it was Charlie who had made her go--but then, in some eyes, Miss Wentworth might not have b

eared it. It was not the first time they had encountered each other on the pier; Miss Strong had already begun to more than suspect that the chance of encountering her was the magnet which drew Mr. Lawrence

lla. There seemed every likelihood of her having to return like a drowned rat to Brighton, when, with the appropriateness of a fairy tale, some one came rushing to her with an umbrella in his hand. She could hardly refuse the proffered shelter, and the consequence was that the owner of the umbrella escorted her first to the hotel, then to the station, and afterwards to Brighton. Nor, after such services had been rendered, when they parted at the station did she think it necessary to inform him that, not under any circumstances, was he to notice her again; besides, from what she had seen of him, she rather liked the man. So, when, two days afterwards, he stopped her on the pier to ask if she had suffered

l waltz; and there was Mr. Lawrence standing i

hat was ours, Mis

ink i

ple towards the head of the pier, saying little, which was worse than saying much. Although Charlie had been working, Miss Strong wished she had stayed at home with her; it would h

ut betraying by any movement of his lips the fact that he was speaking, he could make his faintest whisper audible in a way which was quite uncanny. Whatever his dress might be, on him it always seemed unobtrusive; indeed, the strangest thing about the man was that, while he always seemed to be the most retiring of human beings, in reality he was one of the most difficult to be rid of, as Miss Strong was finding now. More than once, just as she was about to give him his dismissal, he managed to prevent her doing so in a manner which, while she found it impossible to resent it, was not by any means to her taste. Finally, finding it difficult to be rid of him i

as to what it would be best for her to do--the relations between herself and Mr. Paxton were of so curious a character. She saw that Mr. Paxton's recognition of her had not been so rapid as hers had been of him; at first she thought that she was going to pass him unperceived. In that case she would go a few

Her heart began to beat. In another second or two he was standing in front of

rlie?" was h

in itself conveyed a reproach, thou

er 'copy' for Fashion has to be ready by the morning; sh

O

look with which he favoured Mr. Lawrence

Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence, this is Mr. P

the pier; he, directly Mr. Lawrence was out of hearing, putting to

's t

s Mr. L

so much already; w

ing down, tapped with the ferru

sort of ac

in Brighton, then, witho

an a month. Surely a girl can ma

and on the circumstances in which s

neral idea that, like yourself, he is something in t

troduce

wer of

even for the average girl, one would scarcely have suppo

trong

I did not know that you were coming to Brigh

should meet y

y stood

you mean

nting her, returned h

w that I should meet you

might think of Mr. Paxton's inference

best of tempera, Cyri

w him last--a good deal bet

atter with you

fter having had the luck which I have been having lately, to crown it all finds the woman he

are. And, without condescending to dispute your inferences--though, as you very well know, they are quite un

ords, which the gentleman did

t I do love you better than

at this time of day you and I

ich yo

s protesting that you feel, surely som

that I should have put my money into Goschens, an

rate still have your money, and also,

ds the Worthing lights. Miss Strong's words were followed by an interval of silence

on't be h

rd. It was you who beg

to her speech, continui

ally ju

anced

ecially

n his voice became more pronounced.

might have seen that her face a

n by you're goin

ime tomorrow I shall have eithe

in her breath. "I hope you a

udden passion. "I'm sick of things as they are--sick to deat

to arrive at that

a big bull. So big a bull th

w d

s, good, strong, solid reasons, the last deal I

ence. Then sh

se. You alwa

ank

ing to believe, Cyril, that you never will do any good till you hav

you,

e railing against which she had been leaning. She

me points are wide apart. It seems to me that if a girl is worth winning, she is worth working for. As a professi

el

interrogation.

elf a long line of disappointments. Think how many times you have disappointed me. Think of the fortunes

old Mine, and that at present I am the fortunate possessor of a trunkful of shares which are n

med a new touc

esent speculation turns out as disastrously as all your others have done, and it leaves you worse off t

n't care for me the valu

e to link my life with a man who appears incapable of keeping his own head above wa

e the commercial, up-to

ou not farther off? You have no regular income--and how many entanglements? What do you pr

nd still looked across the waveless sea towards the glimmering lights of Worthing. When he did speak his ton

on that account. As you say so shall it be. Win or lose, to-morrow e

ow I'll

e to say goodbye. Ne

ill, so he

of the pier, and say goodbye until tomorrow. I'

come and se

th has not a sufficiently good opinion of me t

said, in a tone which wa

do hope yo

d turned, an

lly mean th

ow that

--the double event!--as an earnest of your

as he