Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 1

a distant object, they scarcel

d words, a principle. Those who can persuade themselves that they are fighting for a principle, fight strenuously, and maybe reckoned upon to overmatch combatants on behalf of a miserable small coin; so the cabman went away discomfited. He used such bad language that Rhoda had no pity for him, and hearing her uncle style it "the London tongue," she thought dispiritedly of Dahlia's having had to listen to it through so long a season. Dahlia was not at home; but Mrs. Wicklow, Anthony's landlady, undertook to make Rhoda comfortable, which oper

girls up here," said Anthony;

nished. By-and-by the landlady's daughter returned home alone, saying, with a dreadful laugh, that Dahlia had sent her for her Bible; but she would give no explanation of the singular mission which had been entrusted to her, and she showed no willingness to attempt to fulfil it, merely repeating, "Her Bible!

I call it hypocritical, the idea of mentioning the Bible. Now, if

's Bible," int

ocent as you, my dear. You'll get you to bed. You're a dear, m

s chamber, bidding her sleep speedily, or that when her si

?" said Rhoda; feeling less at home

who had hailed a cab for her at the station, had a nice voice. He was fair. "I am dark," came a spontaneous reflection. She undressed, and half dozing over her beating heart in bed, heard the street door open, and leaped to think that her sister approached, jumping up in her bed to give ear to the door and the stairs, that were conducting her joy to her: but she quickly recomposed herself, and feigned sleep, for the delight of revel

a woman; she's a perfect brunette; and the nose I used to laugh at suits her face and those black, thick eyebrow

speaking, low and almost awful to her, la

ave thought of such things? Perhaps heaven does look after us and interfere. What will become of me? Oh, you pretty innocent in y

nding over her now, but she was a

strength. What can I do? How could I take mother's Bible, and run from my pretty one, who expects me, and dre

he cold anguish of senseless sympathy held her still frost-bound. All at once she heard the window open.

cried

was insta

ll after it had struck, and the room seemed to spin and hum. It was to her but anot