An Eye for an Eye

Nev

John Walker would assuredly be a good clergyman at all points, though perhaps a little dull in his sermons. Yet almost all Johns have been Jacks, and Jack, in point of respectability, is the very reverse of John. How it is, or when it is, that the Jacks become re-Johned, and go back to the original and excellent name given to them by their godfathers and godmothers, nobody ever knows. Jack Neville, probably through some foolish fondne

his head, with large dark eyebrows. He wore his black hair very short, and had no beard whatever. His features were hard, and on one cheek he had a cicatrice, the remains of some misfortune that had happened to him in his boyhood. But in spite of his ugliness,-for he was ugly, there was

he have been

cleverest. I could never ha

n why he should be the yo

well educated gentleman, and Lord Scroope was almost proud of his relatives. For the first week the affair between Fred Neville and Miss Mellerby really seemed to make progress. She was not a girl given to flirting,-not prone to outward demonstrations of partiality for a young man; but she never withdrew herself f

As to Sophie Mellerby, her visit was elastic. She was there for a purpose, and might remain all the winter if the purpose could be so served. For the first fortnight Lady Scroope thought that the affair was progressing well. Fred hunted three days a week, and was occasionally away from home,-going to dine with a regiment at

n an improper sense. The idea of a young man making it "all square" with a young woman was repulsive, but the idea of this young man making it "all square" with this young woman was so much more repulsive, and the misery to her was so intensely heightened by the unconcern disp

an a goo

on. It's impossible. I'm quite sure your brother understands his

etty girl should not return the feeling, without any disgrace to his brother, Fred could not understand.

, Fred, that you yourself seemed to be,

at, and I like her amazingly. If she were Jack's wife,

k in such a way. What right can your brother have to think o

tle touch of anger,-already discounting h

ellerby would give his daughter to an officer in the Engin

g anything for anybody at present. I may die before my uncle. Nothi

thing in it at all," said La

t I saw something coming up, and as it seemed to be the most natural thing in the world, I m

d-if you'

h, aunt? I never shall ask her; and if I did, she wouldn't have me.

, and understood well the power which young people have over old people. She knew that she couldn't quarrel with Fred Neville, even if she would. He was the heir, and in a very few years would be the owner of everything. In order to keep him straight, to save him from debts, to protect him from money-lenders, and to secure the family standing and property till he should have made things stable by having a wife and heir of his own, all manner of indulgence mus

on such a subject. Surely Sophie herself knew better what she was about! How would she,-she, Lady Scroope,-answer it to Lady Sophia, if Sophie should go back to Mellerby from her house, engaged to a younger brother who had nothing but a commission in the Engineers? Soph

on the day but one following, thus curtailing his promised three weeks by

nd I promised when I got leave that I wouldn't throw him over. You

dly need the

, I will when the year is over. I have told the fellows that I shall stay till next

y Mary thought that if Mr. Neville's quarters could be moved from Ennis, it would be very expedient for many reasons. She knew that enquiries had been made for him and that he was engaged to dine on a certain day with Father Marty the priest. Father

rl. "But what can I do?" said the old man. "Young men will form these acqua

he was married to a girl of whom we only kno

black. "I don't think that h

but if he should become en

ng a great deal about you. I have little else to think of now. I should tak

my regiment

be here, and learn the circumstances of the property before it becomes yo

nished manliness which his brother possessed; but he could be as obstinate as any Neville,-as obstinate as his father had been, or his uncle. And in this matter he had arguments which his uncle could hardly answer on the spur of the moment. No doubt he could sell out in proper cours

re should be no quarrel. As yet there was no ground for quarrelling,-and by any quarrel the injury to him would be much greater than any that could befall the heir. He stood for a moment and then he spo

so;-I

ft to me to see you pr

e I were not to marry at all! Sometimes I think

ally bound by every duty to God and man to make no marriage that wil

Neville proudly. From this the Earl took s

one, on that same afternoon, Jack Neville asked Sophie Mellerby to be his wife. She refused him,-with all the courtesy she kn