Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 5

showed no sign that he expected the approach of any one. As mute and unremonstrant as a fallen tree, nearly as insensible, his eyes half closed, and his hands lying open, the great figure

as unaware that he had been waiting, and only knew that th

r; Robert is bringing

come," he

rm as they passed the doorway, and then

to his heart made him look more sternly than he felt; but he had to rid himself of one terrible question before he satisfi

an hones

," said

was looking

ise in a murmur, but

ection grew in them. He threw up his head, and

er against her

her and daughter- the unutterable communion of such a meeting-filled their ears. Grief held aloof as much as joy. Neither joy

undid her hands from him, and led

.?" Mr. Fl

underst

and will

y be, the man who was her husband now had righted her at last,

ing deceive

; upon m

ere," the farmer

e said. "Dahlia is going down home wit

home we've got. We ma

the station now. He'll

s reckon on a slow man

comes

ms here for a little time; his landlady is a kind woman,

on Monday evening," Rob

rust me, M

hesitated; "eh, Robert, there seems a something upon us all. There's a something to be done, is there? But if I've got my flesh and blood, and none can s

the farm look up again, if Ga

He's a rare old man. Is

ul secret, that old man

aithfulnes

most men in that

stomed to the common observation of things, that the faces and voices around him were different

t trouble her with any questions. Do not let any questions be asked

ng to remember. She wears a cap, and her hair's cut off l

d a brain fever. That makes her very weak, and every one must be silent at home. Father, stop the sale of the farm, for Rober

far thought, "There's money

ishing easy at heart, though if I must sell, and do sell, I shan't help thinking of my father, and his father, and the father before him- mayhap, and in most likelihood, artfuller men 'n me-for what they was born to

pped away fro

ear. "Had a bit of a disagree

s throat. "Ay, th

us, at

t tell, y

lt-not my girl's

an swear

ow she's always near her blessed mother. Perhaps the women 'll want to take refreshment, if we may so far m

the ordinary modes of killing. She could walk and still support herself, though the ordeal she had gone through this day was such as few women could have traversed. T

d before him in the half light, the ravage of a past storm was visible on

ps down at Wrexby," said Robert:

"They have not been unkind. They have spoken abo

u forgi

y cannot h

to master some compreh

we to reso

e money promis

g off his wife at

said it. He shall not say that we have deceived him. I

ot have told

ill not let my

where you will get the m

it," Rhoda

sale of

to hurt

was it I never insisted on seeing the man before-! I did think of asking, but fancied- -a lot of things; that you didn't wis

give him

" as if she had taken hea

vestry? For years that man has considered me his deadly enemy, because I punished him once. What

ought to know what wickedness there is in the world.

w that I'm

N

like the truth. There's the sting. Set me adrift, and I

any fault. This man was so respectful; he sat modestly in the room when I saw him last night-last night, was it? I thought, 'he has

uch a man. He has saved my sister from one as bad-who offered it to be rid of her. Oh, men!-you heard that?

s is what made me cry out when I looked on that man, and knew it was he who had come to be Dahlia's husband. He'll be torture to her. The man's temper, his habits-but you may well say you are ignorant of us men. Keep so. What I do with all

money." Rhoda

er, containing Master Gammon's and Mrs. Sumfit's rival savings, which they had presented to Dahlia, in the belief that her husband was under a clou

Robert, "we mi

little help

curing tools, with which he split first the box which proved to be Mrs. Sumfit's, for it contained, amid six gold sovereigns and mu

t love to he

ed to nine pounds, three

se written his word. It was discovered on the blank space of a bit of newspaper, and looked much as if a fat lobworm had plunged hims

plem

reached the sum of one pound, seventeen shillings. There were a number of farthings of Queen Anne's reign

was in

him," she whispered. The smaller gif

ards in separate papers, which he stowed into one box, and fixed

ever. They save me from impiety. They help me, as if God had answered my prayer. Poor pennies! and the old man not knowing where his days may end! He gives all-he must have true faith in Providence. May it come back to him multiplied a thousand fold! While I have strength to work, the bread I earn shall be shared with him.

an creature's struggling will, as Rhoda had not hesitated to do with Dahlia, and to command her actions, and accept all imminent responsibilities; not quailing with any outcry, or abandonment of strength, when the shock of that revelation in the vestry came violently on her. Rhoda, seeing there that it was a brute, and not a man, into whose hand she had perilously forced her sister's, stood steadying her nerves to act promptly with advant

y to him," he said, hal

ay," sai

a promise from

the instant he cared to, and a promise wo

ating whether he could possibly convey an idea

much. He has saved her from the perils of temptation. He shall be paid for it. To

d then we shall need all our strength and cunning. My dear, it would be the death of Dahlia. You've

g her off, Robert?" R

life heard of. He's not the worst sinner, scoundrel as he is. Poor girl! poor soul! a hard lot for women in this world

to comprehend why it was that her hand was merely a hand, and no