The Yellow Holly

did she make an effort to overcome her emotion, but each time failed. Afterward she took a seat by the fire, and stared into the flames with an anxious look, as though she saw therein a fulfill

anied her departing gu

those who were going. The boarders, who were old and chilly, were too wise to venture outside on such a dreary night, so Mrs. Jersey had the door-step all to herself. "If you lose your ways," she c

ees, so that the prospect was not cheering. But on this night the faded crimson curtains were drawn, the fire was lighted, and a round table in the middle of the apartment was spread for supper. On one side a door led to Leonard's bedroom, on the

Duke Street," said Brendon, stretching

ain, putting the shade on the lamp. "I am pick

erial," growled Brendo

at the clock. "We must have supper first. After that,

rly hours he

asked me particularly

rted, and looked h

know, but

d thing that you re

ght Mrs. Jersey wants the house to be considered respectable, and therefore asked me to retire early. Perha

world," retorted Brendon, wi

Have som

s plate. "Because I don't like the hou

e here, then?" asked Train, p

n the style of Dickens, and t

you know

en fastened his eyes on his plate. "I l

Train, "what an ex

e must live

dn't like M

not her

was h

e mother's side. That

ce of his friend, musingly. "I never kne

ing at all about m

met you three years ago at Mrs. Ward's ho

ith one another. Well, Train," George pushed back his chair and wiped his mo

Train, rather bewildered. "

ow what he had to say, was on the point of joining him. But he was yet hungry, so could not bring himself to

ered him to the top of his bent. They praised him to his face, sneered at him behind his back; ate his meat, borrowed his money, and kept him in a fools' paradise regarding human nature. Poor Leonard thought that all women were angels, and all men good fellows with a

o lost by the opening. But George was well able to hold his own, and none could say that he benefited pecuniarily by the trust and confidence which Leonard reposed in him. To avert all suspicion of this sort he had refused to become Train's

es at which Brendon was a welcome guest. But for the most part George preferred to live alone with his pipe and his books. He was writing a novel, and hoped to make a successful career as a literary man. But as he was barely thirty years of age, and had been settled only five years in Lond

his way, Train. I know you are a kind-hearted man, and although you talk very

George. Anything you tell

o," he continued, "I wish you t

and if y

ficient. I'll repay you wh

s. "Are you coming i

o you know why I suggested this hous

in my lite

re selfish one, connected--" George sat up to finish the

id not know what to say for the moment. "I t

r d

she kn

e Brendon, or

?" Train was more

don't know that I ca

annoyed. "T

n; "quite so." He paused and drew hard at hi

u consider me worthy of your confid

ed him on the knee. "No, old m

what

replied George, looki

old maid was telling the cards?" asked

not wish you to mention

l, she's a pretty girl, and

Brendon, "considering the f

Ward is certainly

ved Brendon. He glanced affectionately at the

her before yo

" Brendon examined his pipe again--

feet. "My dear chap,

ard wants her daughter to make a good marriage. George Brendo

r daughter to mar

that if I become Lord Derrington when t

sly and stared. "I don

ell," explained Brendon. "Lord

he never

ayed, was my mother's father. He was called Lockwood. D

rd Derrington when he has a grand

er's brother, and my father was th

Derrington dies

iculty is that I have

. "Here's a mystery," he said, staring

and I'll

"We have a quarter of an hour," he said, "but I t

she wants. I wish to conciliate her. She is the onl

e was something queer

t I had better tell y

said; "no, wait! I want to know before you begin wh

on who looked puzzled.

nected it with some d

n she set eyes on it

Ward know M

ows nothing

Ward who gave you

I was at af

made such a spectacle of herself," said Leon

of singing, and lived here. She--I am talking of my mother--was very beautiful, and also became famous as a singer at concerts. The son of Lo

came to l

s maid, remember--as my nurse, and we went to Monte Carlo. I am afraid my poor father was a bit of a scamp. He was at all ev

at the marriag

ar I had better go on as I started. My father went to San Remo,

Mrs. J

rward to college. My grandfather died, but there was just enough money to finish my education. The house was sold, and by a curious coincidence Mrs. Jersey took it as a boarding establishment. Where she got the money I don't know. Bu

ame of yo

some passionate Italian lover. My grandfather Lockwood was so angry at the way in which his daughter had been treated that he never stood up for m

oes she

ted, and can prove that my birth is legit

not speak to

ind," said Brendon. "She has never seen me since I was a sm

yourself Brendo

the marriage, and refused to do anything for me. My grandfather Lockwood gave me his own name, and I was called George Lockwood for many a long

hat re

. Perhaps it

ngton, and if such an old Tartar feels remor

my guardian, the offered sum, and continued at school. When I left to go to college I changed my name so that Lord Derrington should not have the chance of insulting me further or of knowing who I was. M

aw in you some liken

ith my father, even though she was only a lady's maid. But

e kept silent a

to speak out," he said; "that is why I wish you to lend m

woman like Mrs. Jersey would not part

possession of the estates. But at present

romance. Then he saw an obstacle. "George," he said, "even if you prove tha

are entailed, and must come to me when he dies, and, of course, the title is mine, too, when he is done

speak to her

ean to be the husband of Dorothy Ward, and my only cha

ss Ward cares muc

s a most determined woman, with an iron will. She will make her daughter do as she is bid, and will sell her to the highest bidder. As Lord Derrington's

ng as he did so. He was much interested in Brendon's story, but th

l put out the lamp," s

either hand. "I'll see you to your virtuous

key carpet. Entering from the sitting-room, George saw that the be

own the candles, "Is the furnitu

wall and opposite the window. "The mirror in that used to frighten me as a little chap. It looked so ghostly in the moonlight. Humph! it's years and years since I sl

need not smash your yellow holly by leaving

y put it into my coat, and there it shall remain. The b

tter?" asked T

door of the sitting-room, which stood half open. "Not a word," he murmur

tsteps coming along the passage, which was on the other side of the wall against which stood the wardrobe. The footsteps paused at the sitting-room door. They heard this open, and scarcely dared to breathe. So

the dark," h

Jersey?" as

She came to see i

y shoul

old woman. Get to bed, Leonard. You can light you

t's absurd to be treated like a couple of s

n, pushing him to the door. "Get to bed, an

nd listened again. There was no return of the footsteps, so he slipped into bed with

ype="