A Little Queen of Hearts - An International Story

t a while; and having seen the little Berkshire cottage turned inside out, as it were, there is nothing for it but to wait and see it put to rights again. Besides, when all is said, Ted

had been allowed to sleep off their indisposition in Mrs. Hartley's best room, it was agreed between the doctor and Harry Allyn that the sooner they took their departure the better. Breakfast for two was therefore first made ready, and the young fellows, who had gotten up and dressed-somewhat against their will, it must be confessed-finally took their seats at the places set for them. Martha, who had no notion of waiting on such sorry customers, was careful to place everything

o be paid something," said one

d, accompanied by the doctor, they made their way out of the house and down the lane. Not a word was spoken until they reached the road, and then Dr. Arnold, stopping squarely in front of them, said: "I have one thing to say to you two fellows, and that is this-that you are not to tell a living soul o

t," interrupted the older, his heavy face glowing an

than this not long ago up at Nuneham, and if you and your friend here do not keep close-mouthed about this whole affair, I

he little cottage than Mrs. Hartley reappeared from some mysterious corner and Martha from another, and preparations were at once put forward for the most inviting breakfast the little house could command. Notwithstanding the wretched company in which they had been found, Mrs. Hartley was confident that her remaining guests were surely "gentlemen;" an

f Martha, who was arranging some sweet peas i

of all the others, there was the conviction that this Mr. Allyn had very little in com

oing in there?" as though he wer

hus reassured Harry at once made his way i

golden mixture in a great yellow bowl that she did not hear Harr

t would be all ri

y recovering herself, "you'l

m about what has happened, and how sorry that we should have put you to all this trouble; and the bother of it is, Mrs. Hartley, it isn't over yet. The doctor says

d thoughtfully, as though half afraid o

eat care for you

f I could get along with it but for Chris bein

ther, and I want him never to know about

of it, Mr. Allyn. It's the

rk circles under eyes that during the night had known no wink of sleep, felt sorry in h

ll put you to, but I cannot bear to speak of money in connection wi

traightening herself up a little, "though we

ause, "that Ted ought not to be moved? Will he be willing that he should stay?" for Harry stood in considerable awe of the master

significant smile that was very becoming to the

0

n uncompromising look, intended to impress Mr. Allyn with the simple enormity of his transgression. But happily Harry Allyn needed no such impressing. It was impossible for any one to regard this adventure in any graver light than he, and yet, strange to say, he was happier than he had been for many a day. It had taken a pretty terrible experience to bring him to his senses; perhaps nothing less terrible would have answered; but he saw plainly enough now what a down-hill road he and Ted had been travelling, and with the realization came the decision to "right about face," and with the decision an old-time sensation began to assert itself, and there lay the secret

ook his departure, and then Harry

e second place, we can't be too thankful we've fallen into the hands of these good people here. You couldn't be better cared for anywhere, and the best of it is, no one need know where you are, and they need never hear of this disgraceful adventure up at Windsor. Indeed, for the sake of shielding you, I have told the Hartleys that your name is Morris, and it rests with you to tell them your right name some day if yo

d the result, as he had anticipated, was a very plain talk-so unsparingly and pointedly plain that Harry winced a good deal in the process, and once or twice came near resenting a mode of procedure that seemed very much akin to knocking a fellow when he's down. But, after all, what did he not deserve, and as Mr. Hartley said, among other things, that he was not the man to turn a body out of his house, and that Mr. Morris was welcome to stay, he felt he ought to be able to bear with the rest,