In the Year of Jubilee

uous wrath had an ill

s his father, and, as to his future conduct, a total disregard of the domestic restraints which he had hitherto accepted. In a day or two he sat down and wrote his father a long letter, of small merit as a composition, and otherwise illustrating the profitless nature of the education for which Stephen Lord had hopefully paid. It began with a declaration of rights. He was a man; he could no longer submit to childish trammel

ivered by post, Mr.

usual, he had to ring the bell two or three times before any one came; the lively notes of a piano sounded from the drawing-room, intimating, no doubt,

he gloom supplied Horace with a suggestion at which he laughed to hi

d some one from th

?-I've come to see Fanny. I did

e'd better li

come forward, and strike a match. Remains of dinner

. He had a dull, depressed look, and m

to the mark. But it's n

ll?-We haven't seen

sure.-Nobody can depe

reary look about the room. 'The table ought to h

ervants,' mut

ants,' was Peache

trembling with amorous anticipation. But minutes went by; his impatience grew intole

ark, there's

stake. She was seized a

l hit you as hard as I can, I w

in a note that Horace di

! I know you've done s

, and that the room might remain shado

ight the gas, I

any matches

er have anything. I thought

oom some one was singing 'The Maid of the Mill.' It came to an end, and there sounded voices, which the tormented listener strove

. 'I've had to unfasten my things, and pu

before her, lim

ldn't you come into the drawin

d the young man, whe

see for

e walked round the table to look at herself in the mirror o

d, seating herself on the arm of an ea

h the gov'nor about my independence. I showed him that I mean

level, poisoned him with the desires excited by her presence. And he knew his baseness; he was not ignorant of the girl's ignobl

luck,' said Fanny, swinging o

ou haven't do

ng to stay out

,' Horace answered

ill you take

d lodging were no expense to him; he provided his own clothing, but, with this exception, had

like.-"Dorothy

erned; no second year graduate of the pavement could have preserved a completer equanimity; it did not appear that her pulse quickened ever so slightly, nor had her eyel

do love y

layfully o

told the old

e to do anything for us. Would it make any difference? There are

ith subsidy; Horace, in a large, vague way, had hinted that assurance long ago. Fanny's disinclination to plight her trot

people?' she

educated people

myself. There isn't a bit of hurry, dear boy. Wait a b

as much of me

ed up and took a spoonful of swee

e so

mething more to tell you.

n to recount the story of his meeting with Mrs. Damerel, whom he had now seen for the second time. Fanny's curiosity, instantly awakened, g

t to say a word to an

But you're quite sure s

be my mother,

wholly set at rest, but she m

her,' Horace pursued. 'She'd introduce you at once to fashio

was the jud

money, and who knows wh

ueer thing,' mu

hat. We must keep it

't told an

!' Horace l

he door; a servant appeared to clear the table

oom. There's nobody particular. Only

ed woman, with fingers much bejewelled. Until a year or two ago she had adorned the private bar of a public-house kept by her husband; retired from this honourable post, she now devoted herself to society and the domestic virtues. The other guest, Mrs. Murch by name, proclaimed herself, at a glance, of less prosperous condition, though no less sumptuous

wn at the piano, rattled a prelude, and

be happy, I vow. It's just a week to-day Since my S

n serious vocal powers, remarked that c

f you would only take pains with it.

, after entreaty, consented. Her eyes turned upward, her fat figure rolling from side to side, he

spared this mad regret, This hendless striv

ace glanced at Fanny, who, however, seemed absor

rewe and Beatrice French. Crewe smoked a cigar placidly; Beatrice was laying bef

rike you?' she

re clever enough to carry it through. And I shouldn'

ith money,' C

lp in other ways? Pract

age merit in the money-making line. What

public must sup

mpany? You'd find difficulties. Now what you want to start is a-let us call it the South London Dress Supply Associ

ware o

ise a thous

could-if

een ten and twelve hundred replies, but don't be staggered; go through them carefully, and select a shop that's well situated, and doing a respectable trade. Get hold of these people, and induce them to make changes in their business to suit your idea. Then blaze away with circulars, headed "South London Fashion Club;" send them round the whole district, addressed to women. Every idiot of them will, at all events, come and look at the shop; that can be depended upon; in itself no bad advertisement. Arrange to have a special department-special entrance,

was growi

wait for its benefa

you like me to sketch you o

t if you like. You won

hat do you

ness,' Miss. Fren

iendship. Got a match?' He laug

get you one

ellow. I'll think

ent for several minutes. When she

the shop on my own ac

l enough. A little

an get Fanny

ll young Lord hav

rned up his toes, and left the boy a tidy sum. But he won't just yet. I've told Fanny tha

hed business. Of course, you can change the name if you like; and t

s. How if they got hold of my idea

ap. If I can introduce you to the right people, and get you safely st

e it to Bulloc

ret just yet, but I'm go

look in the gloom, and Crewe nodded,

got?' Miss. French

al is here.' He touched his

ed at him again, and

had more b

ing his cigar, but

lied impartiall

trice hastened to add. 'It w

idea. But there

se, Beatric

nk the same about

chap to knuckle under to my wife; and there isn't one woman in a thousand, if she gave her husband a start, could help reminding him of it. It's the wrong way about. Let women be as independent as they like as l

laughed s

ll see.-When do yo

tmas. End of Sep

h a good deal from

dded and

for me?' said Beatrice, with a ret

l be advised of progress. Of co

ou charge for all

-don't you

orward on his toes, a

s. It'll be time for by-by