Pearl of Pearl Island

ff Fortune had slammed the door in his face, and White-handed Hop

ng their heads despondently, and the gorgeous masses of hy

e, and he might catch glimpse of her. But she was n

n Gate. But the door was still closed in his face, and he longed

stage at all events, he felt that the written wor

to watch the fluttering heart-signals in her sweet face and learn from them more than all the words in the world could tell. Letters were, at

make his footing somewhat surer be

stop there unresolved. Either the precious cargo must be brought safely into port o

xley mansion by assault and insist on seeing Miss Brandt. Besides, that mi

ress that which was in him without saying too much too soon,-which should delicately hint his regrets at this sudden c

to know that he knew of her call at Phillimore Gardens. It was surely but a friendly act

k and paper, before he succeeded in producing a letter in any degree to his liki

er in her eyes or in her face, the words she would send him in reply would surely afford his quickene

e wr

t regret, in which I dare to hope you may participate, that our dear old friend had been summoned to

is such a tower of strength to all who seek her help that she is not likel

ond its apparent magnitude. The hours I have spent at her house have been among the brightest o

or some little time, I would beg of you to bear

C. G

upon it as an overstepping of the li

overlook the things he would so dearly

nnecessary liberty, and cold at that? He did not think

these doubts came back upon him with tenfold force, and his sl

n the morning. Would she answer it at once?

ng. An answer delayed would without doubt mean that she was pondering his words and reading between t

a publisher of excellent standing that he would not decline to look over the manuscript of his next book if he was open to an

e letters in the world, to him when th

oment it arrived. For how should he wander abroad, in gloomy-blazing streets or deso

er knocking cheerfully at every door but

ed his letter wrongly? It was not easy t

monstrously delivered twenty years after date. What earthly good would that letter be delivered when he was forty-seven and Margaret Brandt somewh

and crude to him. He feared at each word to come upon the one that might have offended her. But no word, no phrase, nothing even of a

lling his tired brains for reasons w

re, to call at Lady Elspeth's house. But, of course,

him next morning by his landlady's surprised

ny years and he was still always Mr. John to her,-"Have you

t day credited him with it, and suggested remedies and pre

f his feelings, but, truly, his spirits were none

quaintance in this fashion. He believed he knew her well enough to know that, even if she had any fault to find w

ed it, or, for some good reason o

here. Possibly he might come across Margaret in the neighbourhood.

ertive moral rectitude. He was strongly tempted to call and ask for Miss Brandt, but it was only ten o'clock in the morning, and t

r from his wife, was satisfactory as far as it went, but pointed to a protracted stay. And then, with stern resolution, up to Baker Street and away by train to Chesham, for a l

peful frame of mind. Every sparrow twittered hope. The thrushes and young blackbirds fluted it melodiously. It was impossible to remain unhopeful in such goodly company

he would trust no precarious and problematical post-office. He would drop hi

ll and see Margaret himself, and learn from her own eyes and face and lips how matters stood, a

an wait unmurmuringly on dying Hope till the last breath is gone, then silently take up her burden and go on her way-or, if the strain has been too great, fold quiet hands on quiet heart and follow her dead hopes into the liv

ret again was to be li

this, he would call

e would beard Jeremiah Pixley in his den in Lincoln's Inn, state cl

law, though he had his own doubts as to whether he would find himse

e wr

he information of our dear friend Lady Elspeth's sudden summon

fear that my letter has somehow miscarried-probably through some over

r journey in safety and without undue discomfort. But Lady Assynt's

uch as I do. All who enjoyed Lady Elspeth's frie

ionally elsewhere. When one has not the habit of readily making new frien

C. G

o was assured of its delivery. But two days passed in waning hope, and the