The Unclassed

s glancing up and down the pages of a ledger, a telegram was delivered to him. It was from a hospita

hope of recovery, declined to mention any name. The stubborn independence which had supported her through these long years asserted itself again, as a reaction after her fruitless appeal; at moments she felt that she could die with her lips closed, and let what might happen to her child. But when she at le

at once hastily summoned back. He stood by the bedside, his hands behind his back, his face set in a hard gaze upon the pale features on the pillow. Opposite to him stood the medical man, and a screen placed around the bed shut them off from th

han the occasion seemed to warrant. Arrived at certain cross-ways, Mr. Woodstock paused. His eyes were turned downwards; he did not seem dubious of his way, so much as in hesitation as to a choice of directio

, and the landlad

ived here, I be

ut she's in the orspital at

child

is,

ill you? In some r

ness, she showed him into her own parlour. Then she summoned Ida from upstairs, and, the

rew back a little. There were both fear and di

aid Mr. Woodstock, looking down up

," was Id

at the hospital. Y

t he ought to have made this announcement with something more of preparation. Ida's eyes were fixed upon his face, and seemed expanding as they gazed; her lips had parted; she was the image of sudden dread. H

ornament on the mantelpiece. He heard the sobs forcibly che

e less hard. "I was a friend of your mother's, and I'll do

n surprise, tempere

said, "why did you want to take me away

t," said Abraham roughly. "Go and pu

firmly. "I don't w

ing to do with it. You

though time were repeating itself, and he was once m

id no

ome?" asked Mr.

t to," was I

and you're old enough to see what it means. You can either come with me and be well ca

with you, I'll stay

y we

an air, stepped from the room,

impatient tenderness which her face inspired failed before the recollection of her stubbornness. She had matched her will with his, as bad an omen as well could be. What was the child to him, or he to her? He did not feel capable of trying to make her like him; what good in renewing the old conflicts and upsetting the position of freedom he had attained? Doubtless she inherited a fatal disposition. In his mind l

ouse, Mrs. Ledward bounced i

do you mean by refusing a offer like th

astonishment. "My father died when I

l, you have been a little wooden-head. What made yo

n't k

'd like to know? You don't expect me to keep you, I s'pose. Tell me at once where the gen

ther is dead; and now mother's dead, and I'm alone."