Evan Harrington -- Volume 3

sweetly inquired the direction to the village post. With the renowned gallantry of his nation, he offered to accompany her, but presently, with a

d, and he fell into an awkward silent march at her side, looking so like the v

rry Jocelyn, the ve

his friends, that he was, but

ed my brother had an equal ability. Brought up in the Court of Portugal, he

o?' aske

ment. Your sweet sister's friend.

' said Harry, in

ion was 'Hawington,' adding, 'That was my brother. I am

ed Harry. 'Dash it

us. The dear Queen of Portugal often remarked it, and in her it was a compliment to me, for she thought

lent him her eyes for that purpose; eyes that had a liquid glow under the dove-like drooping lids. It was a principle of hers, pampering our poor sex with swinish solids or the lightest ambro

om the founts, 'you must accord me the favour to tell me all about yourself, for I have heard mu

h. 'My uncle Melville goes on about you tremendously-makes his w

said the Countess, meditatively. 'But not

clever you oug

Countess. 'The idea, I think

what I hear, he didn't

aid veraci

I am but a woman-I am not to be "backed

me,' was Harry

a man, and talk to me of your doings. In

him give her his arm. He stuc

our: 'and please do not look irresolute and awkward-It is not necessary,' she added. 'There!'; and she settled her fin

the subsequent chiding clashed in his elated soul, and caused him to deem himself one of the blest suddenly overhauled by an inspecting angel and

ed on his arm wit

k well,'

ne straightene

will very soon learn how to give your arm to a lady. I have hopes of you. Of your friends, from whom I have ruthlessly dragged you, I have not much. Am I personally

nd Laxley, Lord Laxley's son, heir to the title; the other's

n divorcing you from your associates for a few minutes. I think I shall make a scholar of you in one or

cried

hat however grovelling his undirected tastes, he is too truly noble to plume himself upon the reputation they have procured him. Why did I defend you? Women, you know, do not shrink from Don Jua

iskness. He stopped, and murmured boorishl

entirely control. Keenly sensible to humour as the Countess was, her face sidled up to his immovably sweet. Harry looked, and loo

ure; quietly watched him bob between tugg

ing very much, for what protection is a

ly dame who tells them bewitchingly, she is alone and defenceless, with pit

found words-a sign of cl

s

look after you better

tly, and then allowed her

t the sheep, it i

the drama of Little Red Riding Hood very prettily, and t

have you to be, Mr. Harry?' she aske

you wouldn't have me,' the you

with gentle ejaculations on the beauty of the deer that ranged the park of Beckley Court, the

'And this most magnific

ho is led hither to res

bother,' he answered,

e property, you know.

Rose's g

ed the Countess

that drew him from his shamefacedness. 'It goes to Juley Bonner, or to Rosey; it's a toss-up which. If I'd stuck up to J

Harry let loose a delighted 'Ha! ha !' as at a fine stroke o

ly. 'I don't know any girl. I don

he might the better act his monitress, she desired to hear the pedigree of the esta

r that Beckley Court was bought by his grandfather Bon

much on that

lamation. 'I imagined Beckley Court

gly remarked tha

with your Elburne blood. Let me see-oil! That, I con

it!' cried Har

he grocer's side,

ken down. 'One ranks wit

ocer. When I beheld my brother bow to you, and that your only return was to stare

and there was your brother, and another fellow -as thorough an upstart as I ever met, and infernally impudent. He got drinking, and wanted to fight us. Now I see it! You

xclaimed the Counte

n to smell a rat then, but Laxley won't give up the tailor. He's as proud as Lucifer. He wanted to

They were now in the village street,

shed to succour his wretched companion. Anywhere-it matters not to him what!-he allies himself with miserable

hly: 'I can read your thoughts. You are dying

viously been quite empty of express

I tell

s,

somebod

hen?' was his disc

not ma

's married isn't in love w

cried, holding the seal of the letter

is it?' Har

o you? Remember!' she laughed lightly. 'He already assume

ally tell me?

of the letter in

legance: the bewildering condes

you know: but I should

rr

everly concealing plebeian 'Cogglesby,' and the

elief at the sight of 'Mrs.' written on a le

l demand a boon of you, Mr.

uch trifling and many exaggerations of the boon in question, he heard that she had selected him

should sit beside a solitary lady for so shor

sit and listen to that fool of a Parsley: again assuring her, and with real earn

't been there for

t his escort would bring her in Beckley, an

s took care to be late, so that all eyes beheld her s

to Mr. Parsley's discourse. In her heart this lady really thought her confessed daily sins forgiven her by the recovery of the lost sheep to Mr. Parsley's fold. The results of this s