The Black Patch

filled with that curiosity which led her grandmother Eve to eat apples, but hitherto Alpenny had declined to admit her. Now the door of the dungeon was open, and Alpenny, standing before it, beck

his dress tend to improve his appearance, for it was a shepherd's-plaid suit cut in the style of the early fifties, when he had been young, and presumably something of a dandy. In spite of the antiquity of the clothes, there was

r white dress, with her beautiful face shaded by a coarse straw hat, she appeared the embodiment

screech of a peacock, as he pointed to the o

; in another stood a pile of tin boxes which reached quite to the roof. A paraffin lamp dangled by brass chains from a somewhat smoky ceiling; and at the far end of the carriage, in front of a dilapidated bookcase, was an oil stove, crudely set on a sheet of galvanised tin. A ragged carpet, disorderly in colour and much faded, covered the floor; and there were only two chairs, one before the desk, and another beside it, probably for the use of cl

strange speech, and looked much the same as he always did--cold, unsympathetic, and cunning as an old monkey. In the dungeon Beatrice bloomed like a rose, while Alpenny resembled a cold, clammy toad, uncanny and re

the usurer, examining his visitor's face

ped, doubting if sh

girls think of such

fenced. "I have no chance of marrying, fat

e with Jerry Snow; and I credit you with too

announced Beatrice coldly, and kept

wedding Thirst. And how do th

r business, a

is giggling sister, and very soon h

u mean by t

the claw of a bird of preys as he looked like. "Why, I mean, m

Beatrice, her blood running cold

stepfather coolly. "He is not for you, and y

he girl's outraged womanhood revolted. "I understand that you mean

? Why not 'fat

father of mine, and

gether, with the croak of a hungry raven. "I brought y

. "I know well what you have done,"

s grat

thing, save that you married my mother an

nothing," sn

ays that

othing to your mother--at all events, concerning you

that," said Beatr

e fed and clothed you, and ed

id that

y heart. This is the return you make, by giving me sauce! But you had better take care,

ry to have been a burden to you, and for what you have done I thank you; bu

er, touched on his tendere

rness or as a companion. Come, father," she went on coaxingly, "you

Beatrice. Just like your mother--oh,

alone!" said Beatrice impatie

der a beautiful tomb I got second-ha

your life, Mr. Alpenny," sa

r with glittering eyes. "You are mistaken, chi

other

weary manner. Then he burst out unexpectedly: "I wish I had never set eyes o

dead,

g look on the girl's face that he was saying more than was wise, he halted, stuttered, and sat down again abruptly, moving the papers with trembling hands. "Leave the past alone," h

not treated her as he should have done; and between them there was no feeling in common. Yet he was old, and, after all,

nd more,

hink he must indeed be near the borders o

the hungry, and clothe the naked? Remember, you ha

power, money is love, money is joy and life and hope and comfort to me. No! I keep my money until I die, and then----" He cast a nervous look round, only to burst out again with greater vehemence. "Why do you talk of death? I am str

"Durban will look after me. Still, you might let m

won

die, I'll

ence!" said Alp

latives who w

nd where she has gone I don't exactly know. Sh

poor and came from where you k

nd hea

t one; it's in

an's keeping, which i

and rose. "You asked me to see you," she said,

mself from a fit of musing. "Yes

hough it were the most natural thing in the world. "You

ulder nervously. "I don't want to, but I may: one never knows, do they? Yo

t is very good of you to take so mu

d army officer, and a handsome man of fifty,

g! And suppo

and well off. He is coming down on Saturday to see you. This is Wednesday, so you will have time to t

mper. "Must I indeed?" said she, flashin

atr

ht to make any arrangements about my marriage without consulting me. You are neit

h to be lef

ther do so, than marry a man of fif

be a pauper sooner than you expec

as you could for me: you have

n to her feet--and faced her in a black fury, the m

hall

ictory. But if Alpenny had an iron will, Beatrice had youth and outraged womanhoo

Ruck--really I do," h

hy

t was evidently a lie, so glibly did it slip out.

and can teach. At the worst I can becom

marry Ma

oolish of yo

ff suddenly--"I don't mean that. Who would kill a poor old man such as I am?

e for m

Vivian Paslow: no denial--I can see he is the

at," flamed out Beatrice. "As to ma

ot dare to go against me. I can ruin him. He----" At this moment there came a sh

is th

her pocket. As Alpenny turned round with the telegram and no very pleasant expression of countenance, she felt that she would at least be able to see Vivian Paslow on that evening without arousing the suspicions of her stepfather. It was unlikely that any one would come that night, and he would not miss the key, which she could

said Alpenny. "He is coming down on

ve the place

and accept him also. If you don't, I'

oldly enough, "Mr. Paslow is able to look after himself. I decline

leave The Camp, or if you refuse Ruck as your husband, Vivian Paslow will reap the rew

What crimes could the man she loved have committed? Almost before she could collec

is afternoon?" asked the servant. "You shou

ied with an effort. "I

w did he send the telegram, to which he

hat this wire is a

epaid, missy. How

y from The Camp all the afternoon, yet had contrived t