The Black Patch

and was there still, with the door locked as usual. Twice and thrice did Durban call him to the midday meal, but he declined to come out. Beatrice had therefore eaten alone, and was now enjoying a

reason for the quarrel, and Alpenny would not; so Beatrice was forced to searc

ty and price, but the spotlessly clean look of the room--if it could be called so--made up for the marked want of luxury. Beatrice herself wore a white muslin, with cream-hued ribbons, therefore no discordant colour broke the Arctic tone of the parlour. Only through the open door could be seen the brilliant tints of th

ches' Oak, and there ask him bluntly what he had said or done to make stepfather so furious. Having settled this in her own mind, she lay back in the deep chair, sipping her coffee, and allowing her th

and other reasons, would not engage a nurse. For two years the old servant had tenderly cared for the orphan, and it was a great pain to him when Alpenny placed the little Beatrice in charge of a Brighton lady, called Miss Shallow. The spinster was in reduced circumstances, and apparently under Alpenny's

not anxious to be bothered, and having little love for his stepdaughter, whom he regarded as an encumbrance, visited Miss Shallow more rarely, and even when he did, took scant notice of the tall and beautiful girl, who had been instructed to call him "father." This she did unwillingly enough, as there was always an a

house and kitchen; while the remaining three were in a rusty, ruinous state, almost buried in rank grass and coarse vegetation. And it was a wet day, too, when the girl, grieving for her dear friend, came to view her future home, so that everything was drippi

the place a paradise, and how Nature could solace the sorrow of the girl for the loss of her guardian. Having obtained unwilling consent from Alpenny, the kind-hearted servant painted and repaired the ruined carriages, and turning one into a dainty bedroom, made the remaining

s, the pond with its magnificent water-lilies, the many winding paths, and the mossy nooks which afforded cool retreats on hot days, were all the work of herself and Durban. No millionaire could have created a more delightful spot than had these two by their indefatigable industry and eye for the picturesque. A portion of the wood Beatrice left to Nature, so that

the place, and ruled her husband, her son, "her" parish---as she called it--and her friends with a rod of iron. But for this aggressive despotism, Mr. Snow might have called at The Camp; but the vicaress ordered her vicar not to waste his time in visiting a girl who rarely came to church, and who occupied what the lady described as "a degraded position." On the several occasions upon which Mrs. Snow had met the usurer's daughter, she had behaved disagreeably, and had never said a kind word. Yet Mrs. Snow called he

es he would pay her marked attentions, and frequently seemed to be on the verge of a proposal; then he would draw back, shun her society, and turn as chilly as an Arctic winter, for no known reason. Beatrice fancied that it might be her relationship to Alpenny that caused this young gentleman of old descent to draw back; and then, again, she felt sure that he was above such a mean spirit. Moreover--and this might be his excuse--Vivian was but an impoverished country squire, and might hesitate to conduct a wife to the half-ruinous Grange. Had he only known how gladly Beatrice would have shared his bread and ch

ken by surprise; but now she began to question the propriety of her proposed action. She was a modest girl, and occupied a difficult position, so it was scarcely the thing to meet a young gentleman on a romantic summer night, and under a romantic tree. But her curiosity was extremely strong. She wished to know why Alpenny had grown so white and had appeared so terrified when Paslow pronounced f

ce at the door, and she looked

t he was about to withdraw, she recalled her scattered thoughts and made him pause, with a que

foreign way, and banished all emotion f

red to be startl

missy,

know the

ur father's con

t you have been with him for

y-four yea

me the exact tim

shoulders. "You nev

embered that she and Durban had talked but little about the past

know, missy. She marr

n about a

, mi

four-and-twenty years; so it seems, Durban, that you first cam

sy; I remained

re my mother

at of a wax doll for all the exp

w all about

very little. You have never asked about

Paslow's remark about the Black Patch, whatever that may be,

s I replied, I do not know the rea

said Beatrice, ex

one knee he imprinted a reverential kiss on the small white hand: "I love you with all my heart, mi

u will h

and rose to his feet with a light bound, strangely out

of the li

gained to a narrow woodland path, which arrived, after devious windings, at the cross-roads. Alpenny's clients usually entered from the lane, but were always dismissed through the--so to speak--secret path. The miser

want the k

key. After his admission that he knew nothing, she had no reason to think that he would raise any objections; but the thought came uninvited, and she obeyed it. Wishing to tell the truth, and yet keep Dur

ned. "To young Mr. Sno

ge this evening at six, to see Miss

ow for some reason, and will not let you go. Besides,

ther would object, therefore I wish to slip out of the smal

y, missy; but the way to Conv

oon is out, and there will be

like me to

gone alone, but since the Grange was now her goal, and not the Wi

it will grow dark. Besides, people may not be about, and

d; and th

" Durban grinned and nodded, and then was about to go away, when he suddenly stopp

angry with you, Du

ve Mr. Pas

She knew that whatever she said to her fai

es he l

so--I am not sure," was her faint

arer. "Does he love a

and sent a flaming glance towards

, does he love any one

in his face. Yet he--yet he--oh!" she broke off, unwilling to remark upon Paslow's strange, wavering wooing, to a servant, even though

oves my missy, he can never be fond of other women; but if he plays you false, mis

f unpleasant on occasions, and, from the look on his face, she f

we will go to the Grange this

he will place some obstacle in the way,

e his wife, you shal

y fath

l say n

r. Alpenny takes an i

g your marriage, missy. You shal

ised

he were unwilling to be questioned. Beatrice began to think that there was some mystery conn