The Hoyden

were concerned, and perhaps-- He does not exactly say it to himself in so many words, but he feels a certain dread of the moment when he shall be alone-a prey to thought. What if he should regre

the exuberance of her triumph and her s

asm over my engagement to a girl

ita! Dearest Maur

ur opinion of her. I beg to say, however, I do not share it. Badly as I shall come out of

would use to an acute sufferer. "It is very noble of you, Maurice

hers," says he s

e bent upon

ice, why run away with things? Of course she was charmed, enchanted, fl

t," says Ma

h an innocent creature," substitutes she. "But for all that, I shall consider how great is the sacrif

tired of the old name

ems to me to be

nks of this evening's work, of his permitting this child to marry him, and give him her wealth-for nothing-nothing! What can he give her in return? An old

ays he. "

arest boy, what

. She refuses to l

f his life-that he hates the mother who bore him. Her delight in his engagement is odious to him; it seems to fan his rage against her. What has she ever done for him, what

with me?" says Lady Rylt

ale face flu

lly; you should be

he present. Afterwards, when that girl has married him, she will remember to some

doubt it was a mere girlish fancy, a distaste," playfully, "to the terrible mamma-in-law of fiction. Such monsters do not e

u desi

ur little fiancée, and say I am so charmed, so delighted! And tell her I should like her to come to

d mounts to his brow. What a diabolical thought-to receiv

nding prettily to cower before him. "What a

says he, his passion carrying him beyond all bounds;

ns back in her

your father when he was in his most amusing moods. There, go; kiss Tita for me." Rylton turns to the door, his very soul on fire with rage. Just

*

o a state of control, with so much success that, when he comes face to face with Miss Knollys, he seems to her as self-possessed as usual. He had

ys he, sto

eturns sh

have

?" curiously. The very

ent; surely sh

Who? M

o-

truth com

she says

head; word

g," says Margaret,

talking toget

did i

e said

thi

were you ta

to marry no man wh

e to a girl who, as far as you knew, was not

inly. It was I w

d w

ss Knollys almost compels his gaze. "If you are going to marry this young girl, t

t a tone! You

onest anxiety. "I mean this!" She takes a step

e, with affected lightness; bu

" says his cousin, layin

e it," says he, frowni

y from her, f

ed him. But even as he leaves her he looks b

Bolton before me; that is as it should be. She

nd as if a little surprised at herself. Suddenly she breaks into a more immediate feeling. "Oh, Maurice, love her too! Try, try to

ts a queer

vant a dog?'

*

ghts; but now she turns backward. She feels as if she wants something. Perhaps she finds it-unconsciously, howev

urbed!" says C

rk colour. There is nothing very special about him; he is not, strictly spea

et. "My cousin has confide

may not hea

I have hinted, a sort of secr

hear it

oft and silk, "I should like you to hear it, b

ive you everything

elf, but for another; for two others, in fact. You know how fond I am of Maurice, and lately I have contracted quite a romantic, for me"

rming

mere child; and Maurice has proposed to her, and she

s on

! His,

"I thought-I imagined-I had heard that Rylton was enga

Well, yes, no doubt she is beautiful, bu

his marrying the

ul glance at him that certainly is not deserved. Has he not served her

do that, however

ce to do? I am so dreadfully unhappy

ngs except those that concern yourself. Your

makes a lit

ank?" says he. "Margaret," in

rises imp

help me," says she,

ret, h

o! What is

lowly down