The Datchet Diamonds
was about to fail in still another something he had undertaken. She loitered near the gates of the pi
that the night was raw and damp. To add to the discomfort of her position, just inside the gates of Brighton pier is not the most agreeable place for a woman to have to wait at nigh
tes more, and then, if h
hrough the turnstile. With a feeling of no inconsiderable relief sh
've come at last! Bu
ve been
anner there was something odd. But, as a wise woman in her ge
ination to speak. Miss Strong, however, excused him. She understood the cause of his silence--or thought she did. Her heart was
so s
if her words h
or
ll about
as an obvious fact that he was startled. He stood stock st
out it? What--wh
is surprise. "My dear Cyril, yo
per
he sta
ad every edition, and of course
n? Oh!--of co
e had meant something altogether different. He took off his hat to wipe his brow, although the night was very
bear, they would have risen. As you were good enough to say last nig
o sorry
e use of b
almost rude. But s
t ver
erroneously enough, that in the girl's tone there was something besides sympathy, that there was contempt as well--contempt for him as for a luckless, helpless creature who was an utter and entire failure.
ad; as regards the Eries it is abo
ated and
ow it was working. "Cyril, is there any good news t
ng that he had said anything at all. Bu
it possible that, very shortly, I may find myself in possessi
Do you m
ncredulity sp
be quite accurate, it is possible, nay, probable, that before very long I shall be the poss
! Two hundred and fifty
doesn't it? I hope that it wil
stand. Is it a new specula
the fact. "A peculiar kind. Its peculiarity consists in this, that, though I may not be able to lay
the speculation? Is it
n that I have kept a secret from you; you will
s tone caught her ear. S
mean that there is a reasonable prospect
sonable prospect, there
hat you have l
sy, don't ask me any more questions now. Trust me! I tell you that in
anding the night before--looking towards the Worthing lights. Each seemed
I am s
that you
rry for what I
hat is the particular o
en she spoke it was as if, in s
I don't know what made me say it. I did not mean it. I thought of it all night; I have been thinking o
that I should not g
ar, while her eyes looked towards the Worthing lights. "I think that perhaps it w
ped her arms wit
ou me
t there is my little fortune, with which we must start afresh, both of us togeth
n passion. "Will you come with me to t
if you make
if I make m
st thing that a man can see. And tears came into her eyes. And sh
ll be my people, and thy God, my God; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I
geration; at any rate, he turned away, as if som
don't want a
it is so long as it's a wedding. And"--again her voice sank, and again s
ady to marry me
wil
a month we wi
h were in somebody else's Gladstone bag. Her thoughts wandered through Elysian fields. It
brought him back from what seemed to
, and let's t
sidered for a few seconds, seeming to hesitate. She perceived tha
n't mind our t
as a little surly
lding something more than her own in most circumstances in which she might find herself placed, with most, if not all, of the sentiment which is supposed to be a feminine attribute knocked out of her. She was not bad-looking; dressed well, with a suggestion of masculinity; wore pince-nez, and did whatsoever it pleased her to do. Differing though they did from each other in so many respects, she and Daisy Strong had been the friends of years. When Mrs. Strong had died, and Daisy was left alone, Miss Wentworth h
e which had just come in. Miss Strong, desiring to avoid the preliminary skirmishing which experience had taught her was apt to
good news--at least I
oss-examining sort of look--then a
te good news with Mr. Paxton. The p
ther relish the lady's words. She burst out with the news of which she spo
oing to b
yed a possibly intent
oing to b
vating you are! Cyr
rth resumed
emark. If, however, any one should invite me to comment on the subject, I trust that I shall be
iss Wentworth's side, resting h
you give us your
t removing her glance from off
so, if you want it, I will give you
How unkind
aight in the face. Tears were in the young lady's eyes, but Mis
ainst her will. I have yet to learn in what respect Mr. Paxton--who, I gladly admit, is personally a most charming gentleman--is qualified to marry even a kitchen-maid. Permit me to finish. You told me last night that Mr. Paxton was going a bull on Eries; that if they fell one he would be ruined. In the course of the day they have fallen more t
marry him, even
y, if you wished to, shouldn't you marry a crossing-sweep? I don't know. But, on the other han
not a cros
ven that trade at
d. "As it happens, you are quite wrong. It is true that Cyril lost by Eries, but he has more than made up
was a remarkable man. My confidence in him is beginning to be more than justif
Cyril, al
ds, Mr. Paxton evinced a degree of resentment wh
ause it happened to be feminine. But since, Daisy, you appear to be anxious that Miss Wentworth should be as satisfied on the subject of my prospects and position as you yourself are, I will do the best I c
ean to say, Mr. Paxton, that you have lost one fortu
d
you would put me in the w
ty is qualified to do anything she pleases with
n. "You understand, Mr. Paxton, very well how it is. Daisy is a lonely child. She belongs to the order of women who were in fashion before the commercial instinct became ingrained in the feminine constitution. She wants lo
n less than a fortnight, to prove myself the possessor of possibly somethi
h figures warm one's blood. One will almost begin to wo
rnest. His cheeks flushed. His eyes flamed fire. He stood up, so beside himself with rage tha
ny woman. But when you charge me with dishonesty it is too much, even from you to me. You take advantage of your
hite face, looked f
think. Tell him, Charlie, that
worth surveyed the angry man
dly knows what to think. Surely, when a man shows such heat and such violence in resenting what only a distorted imaginat
ch in argument--or, for the matter of that, in retort either--for this clear-sighted lady. He felt that, if he was not careful, he would go too far; that he had bet
more need, or can, be said. I have the honou
On the contrary, she retained her cooln
ring the bell, Daisy, or will y
was not a look of love, and followed Mr. Paxton, who already had vanis
d. If I had had the least suspicion of anything o
empted to wear, an air
this occasion, however, she has gone too far. I will never, willingly, darken her do
t what you thought she did--she couldn't be so absurd! It's a way she has of talking;
, my dear Daisy, which gives her the impu
Do you think that I could love you without the absolute certainty of knowing you to be a man of blameless honour? I don't suppose you are an angel--I'm not one either, though perhaps you mightn't think it, sir! And I take it for granted that you hav
m one--it made Mr. Pax
you, da
red, and he
to-morrow night to tell
ort only failed--he had to wince. He co
darling--o
you're p
I'll be punctua