Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 4

whether Sir William was at home, with sarcastic emphasis on the title, which smelt t

aring, a friend of hers, who knew her and

said the squire, and

was permitted to follow Mrs. Lovell, and the squire and his brother settled to conversation; beginning upon gout. Sir William had recently had a touch of the family complaint, and spoke of it in te

o anything with

I shall," Sir W

I tell

point is, what wi

ride wild jackasses. T

f Sir William's smile caug

ean to do with

r, "to have him married

he wi

r William raise

ovell,

es you th

her an offer. Don

othing of

remember what I told you at Fairly-and then Mrs. Lovell's going to have him-as he thinks; but, by George, it str

nder a delusion, in bot

ll

es you th

Edward

turally as an

is my son you a

ort I'm drinking; s

glass, and Sir Willia

ds or he don't spend. It's not the question whether he gets into debt, but whether he does mischief with what he spends. If Algy's a bad f

g?" Sir Willia

; but I don't like to see a man like that broken up. Algy, I said before, 's a bad fish. Hang me, if I think he'd have behaved like

e privately, because my name's Blancove, and I'm the father of my son, and he fancies Algy's the man. Why? he saw Algy at the theatre in London with this girl of his;-we were all young fellows once!

it," said Sir W

the decanter and

it from

the less induce

'When you leave off thinking for him, he'll go to the first handy villain-and that's the devil.' And he's done it. But, here's the difference. He goes himself; he don't send another. I'll tell you what: if you don't know about Mr. Ned's tricks, you ought. And you ought to make him marry the girl, and be off to New Zealand, or any of the upside-down places, where he might begin by farming, and soon, with his abilities, be cock o' the walk. He would, perhaps, be sending us a le

. Nor do I now. At least," he struck out

at he was doing whe

rtly at my

ort. That was Mr. Ned's business. Upon my soul, I'm sorry for old Fleming. I'm told he takes it to heart. It's d

probably unknown to you," Sir William observed, after bestowing a considerate smile

r intellect, had heard as good as no

one to me. You're satisfied; that's clear; and I'm some hundred of p

say tha

ood thing for he

uld be

ing for he

g for him, l

an pay h

s silent, and

t hand on the reins. That'

ood by Mrs. Lovell's chair, in the drawing-room. He held a l

e soul of truth, Per

that; but whether you

ho would live

ing to give you the letter. I wish you simply to ask yourself now, whether you are satisfied at m

eans, hors du commun; and can be natural. It is natural. I was convinced he was a noble fellow, before

t you are partly the s

a woman, and want it al

om his hand, and stood like one who is submitting

ou," Mrs. Lovell murmured. "I

ced up, blushing. "Am I not ma

t meaning any, to a man who is in lo

wall-they are thrown from an object, and are monstrous distortions of it. That is why

and then have shown her, as by a sudden light, that she had lost herself, and reduced her to feel the stre

I was not aware how great a compliment it would be to

something mo

her eyes and read, w

re the c

ever she can, and takes his hand and holds it. I see where the blow has struck her: it has killed her pride; and Rhoda is almost all pride. I suppose she thinks our plan is the best. She has not said she does, and does not mention her sister. She is going to die, or she turns nun, or marries a gentleman. I shall never get her. She will not forgive me for bringing this news to her. I told you how she coloured, the first day I came; which has all gone now. She just opens her lips to me. You remember Corporal Thwaites-you caught his horse, when he had his foot near wrenched off, goin

ue," was Mrs. Lovell

he journey. Luckily, Rhoda has saved enough with her pennies and two- pences. Ever since I left the farm, it has been i

dies are from theirs. That's the question. What is the meaning of your 'not being able to leave her for a day, for fear she should fall under other influences'? Then, I copy your words, you say, 'She is all things to everybody, and cannot help it.' In that

raised her eyes abruptly fro

ry freely with you

"I warned you when y

was scarcely wise to write other than pla

class?"

nfair. I have the honour of seeing you daily, because you cannot trust me out of your sight? What is there ine

you command my e

think me

s tone of voice queried in

e said, and her f

ou mak

ou torm

ic? Are you not making one

n, s

kn

do nothing

most unknowingly. She was simply a sweet instrument for those who could play on it, and therein lay her mighty fascination. Robert's blunt advice tha

nation," he said. "

k of me as a

ere younger. Hush! you did not deserve that. Judge of yourself as you will; but I know now what my feelings were

hand to him, but w

ou must give it to some one. You

ou know it then?" she said slowly; b

all women should owe a direct allegiance. Co

so, if you thought o

tle depends upon the person. Are you

se me one to

ing a bas

surance of my knowledge

not love

e him,

aware

writing ca

told him

rehension,

act with your concurrence, or knowledge

you question me

I mean to be

uivered as from a blow, and

knew me. This i

e mine? Why is

ay, because I resp

ind you have n

r w

pise, look at the pit. Yes; you will be mine! Half my love of my country and my profession is love of you. Margaret is fire in my blood. I used to pray for opportunities, that Mar

ell, and she suppressed

her face bloodless. "H

rc

cold water on his heat o

e flash of a mirror, he beheld her bony, worn, sordid, unacceptable. But h

five hundred a year, extraneous, and in additi

silence was like a gro

aying, "Have you

stonishing. He complained in his heart mere

ision, he replied, "A

sed a soft

ive or six thousand pounds. When my father dies, he may pos

she affecting to weep sympathetically

nd she had recovered the natural feminine key of her voice. "I am mercenary, you

right to know,

rrible; but it was nec

that you

ly to say-be as merciful in

th a thrill of dismay that he felt the rus

t our expenditure will be by that standard. It's comparative poverty; but-but you can have some luxuries. You can have a car

luxuries. I could live with you on a subaltern's pay. I can't marry you

ontempt of the utterance brou

u have not to learn

to his pride, required a healing medic

ne and vindictive humours-went on humming, "Ah! h'm-m-m! Soh!" said in the doorway to some one behind him: "And if you have lost your key, and Algernon is aw

dressing his son, who was fresh from Paris, and not,