Eve's Ransom

itory bell-clang. Amid a press of homeward-going workfolk, Hilliard clambered to a place on the top and lit his pipe. He did not look the same man

dily passing from the region of main streets and great edifices into a squalid district of factories and workshops and crowded by-ways. At Aston Church the young man alighted, and walked rapidly for five minute

d was answered by a girl

in? Just tell

r a brief delay he received permission to go upstairs, where the door of a sitting-room stood open. Within was a

ted you

me back. Well

on. This little girl was his niece, the child of his elder brother, who had died three years ago. The poorly furnished room and her own attire proved that Mrs. Hilliard had but nar

ding him askance, as if in apprehension. A letter from her, in which she merely said she wished to

emarked aside to her, as he

ll tell you

bed. During her absence the visitor sat brooding, a peculiar half-smile on

rother-in-law, much as he might

very serious to ta

All right

much afraid I sh

ng man

I can take a goo

f the chair, and as he looked at her,

ry strange to

adventure I've had this afternoon.

your stor

l you. I met that scoundrel Dengate, and-

aid it? O

re that I understand the reptile, but he seems to have given me this because I abused him. I hurt his vanity, and he couldn't resist th

ir with boyish glee, and only just caug

ful!" cried

me. I'm very glad he didn't try. It was in the train, and I know very

ice, how

e money; and hal

you have given me. Besi

's t

sh in her cheeks, and began to guess its e

im?" was his

e moved aside from the line of his gaze. "

ends. Who i

w little but the name, one Ezra Marr; he was turned forty, a widower without children, and belonged to a class of small employers of labour known in Birmingham as "little mast

was reflecting, "I couldn't go on being a burden on

Is that the real

y she in

one of the re

class, a vigorous and go-ahead fellow, she would be better mated than in the former instance. He felt sorry for his little niece, but there

ng a wise thing. And half this mone

tap at the door. Mrs. Hilliard, after leaving the

hought I should like you to meet

choice of the frail and timid little widow, and hoped upon marriage would follow no repentance. A friendly conversation between

explaining the circumstances. "You know what Maurice

ake hands with. And if my view goes for anything, Emily won't take a penny of what you're offering her. I should think it wrong and mean. It is about time-t

. A couple of hundred pounds shall be put aside for t

at her future husband, but M

he fact is, I want her to grow up looking to me as her father, and getting all she has from me only. O

ood that any insistence would only disturb the harmony of the oc

lthy rags, his face hideously bandaged, before him on the pavement a little heap of matchboxes; this creature kept uttering a meaningless sing-song, either idiot jabber, or calculated to excite attention and pity; it sounded so

earth. And round about it, in so vast a circumference that it was only detected by the wandering eye, spread a softly radiant halo. This vision did not long occupy h