The Admiral's Daughter

less, it was a sympathy with the rebel cause. The truth might be, as Marion guessed, that his heart was sore for Poole's folly in joining Monmouth's stand

n it,' he said, slicing at the collared he

e,' softly put in M

it when he escaped from Bodmin gaol. 'Tis bad enough to mak

ore than unsympathetic; behind them seemed to lie a touch of hardness, of calcul

ed her old regard for Elise, an instinct, hitherto sleeping, rising to respond to her aunt's criticism of her. And Ma

inely fond of Marion. She had never felt more attached to her than at the present moment, in the relief of the elder lady's departure; but the demon lurking in her heart nevertheless sin

rd sitting there in her elaborate gown that contrasted so much with Marion's. (For though Marion had taken a keen interest in her gowns since the French girl's arrival, she had a naturally simple and rather austere taste.) The Admiral considered the girl afresh. It was not that Elise's skin was unpleasantly sallow, or her features too sharp; bu

e thought was passing through t

r Return sooner,' Marion went quietly on. 'She's bound for Vir

his side, as

s face was set, and a malicious gleam shot from her eyes. The Admiral gave a

his side,' said Marion,

he face of Marion's calm, thr

ried to save him had

look full on Elise. 'Not a word be

lace behind his chair. A dark flush mounted to Elise's face, but she sai

he Admiral of his ward. He had been thinking a little while Marion, in her tran

, stammered slightly. 'I, sir? I never said...' Then

silent. Then after a pause, in ominously quiet tones he sp

anybody's side, sir,' she said at the finish. 'But Roger always had a great kindness fo

assent. 'Roger Trevannion cares neither for Rebel nor Loyalist

itude to Roger, and her face relaxed a little. Then looking up at Elise she sa

nch knew well. His eyes grew round and hard, as if he had borrowed blue granite marbles for the occasion. Mari

aughter comes to have such ways. He was never crooked. He could not be. You know full well, as well as I,

he girl's sallow face aga

overheard by the domestics, breathed abroad and strengthened, as is the way of idle tales, are enough to send the lad to the gallows. Were you one of Jeffreys' agents, well and good. Were you not of the family, well and good. All's fair in wa

t aghast,

before had she heard the Admiral speak thus to his ward. But before her fa

d you, sir,' she said. 'And

is chair. He could never abid

t down. We'll say no more about it. Let u

lace handkerchief and pull

se,' said Marion gently. ''T

red out a little wine for the ladies, and

Admiral that apartment had never been invaded by 'the children.' It remained exactly as in the last days of its mistress, with the little card box and the sugar-plum box on the small table by the high-backed chair, and the work frame with its needl

. She found a relief in drawing out the tinkling airs, and oddly to her as she sat came a dim memory of her mother in a rose-coloured gown sitting on that same stool, playing, when her little daughter, her 'sweet baby,' was taken in to kiss her good night. A wave of loneliness surged over her, and finding her fingers, turned her tunes into sad ones. For the first time she realised that her aun

at hung over the dining-room door, 'if you go on much

ey but before she had played many bars a d

ry found un waiting down to the c

ce at the superscriptio

f I mistake not. Let u

laid the letter down

has somewhat amended himself since he became his daughter's fellow pupil, but Constance has

this menny years. I am greaved to deny your wish to vissit Garth, but I doe dessire that my littel neace Marion should comme and stay at

NCE FA

, this 29t

ere broth

ghtful for you, Marion! London! Balls, the play, the garden

for the unselfishness of her words. The Admiral, standing before the chimney, his favourit

all of a bustle to forsake your old

r father's arm. True to her character, she had made

me to go or

r, I think you should go. Go and learn to drop a grand curtsey and hold a fan with a languid air and take on that look of boredom your Aunt Keziah has to su

won't ever leave you if you talk so. All the same, I

lise from her window seat. 'Such an ex

that,' drily put in the A

's one-time nurse and present maid, came with the glass of m

re is an invitation from the Lady Consta

Marion. 'How your thought

ut the heavy features that mark that class. Her devotion to her enfant was of an absorbing nature, and came nearer that of confidan

nch girl's temperament and character, and for her sake had tolerated Victoire. Frankly, Elise had puzzled her, but Victoire had puzzled her a hundred times more. She refused to discuss her with her own thoughts. And of course Victoire, being a shrewd woman, was aware of t

excellent!' she cried. '

shall go,' sai

t a look that passed between his ward and her maid. As the l

aid Elise again, as the old man's s

agic sound: London. Waking from her day-dream Marion spoke, her fingers on a straying branch that climbed up the woodwork of the casement. 'It is now a long time s

round. On Elise's face was a strange hunted look which gave way to a sorrowfulness that sat strangely on her girlish features. Startled and puzzled, Marion was groping for the right word to say, when the Admiral's figure darkened the window. At the same moment Elise dropped her

lise, biting her thread.

'are you so wrapped up in your dre

pper. She found her father revolving plans for her immediate departure, and, her thought

er part of the evening had disappeared, her apprehensions flown. A bright vista shone before her wherein no mist of doubt was suffered to live.

d the door, 'you will never gue

nt softly out of the sky and gleamed on the face of the Channel far below. The scent of the furze, in

t on the old sailor. He was musing

? That was the only spot whence Poole's cottage, hidden by the winding valley from the si

ouse was in darkness before the Adm