The Solitary Farm

iewing her late brother's lawyer, who had his office in Cade Lane. She said very little to Bella when she returned, and on her part Bella did not ask questions. Had she been

ver was so anxiously lamenting the continued abs

nk that Cyril had passed out of her life for ever. But something told her that in spite of her unjust accusations he still loved her, and would return. Meantime, there was nothing for it but to

the Little Bethel, and heard him preach, but he did not seek a private interview with her. Even when he delivered his sermons he sedulously avoided her eye, so she deemed that he was ashamed of the wild way in which he had talked. What struck her most about the young man was his wan looks. He seemed to be thinner than e

urned home on the second Sunday through the rap

ut his sermons," retorted the girl. "As

ing about it," said M

ied Bella quietly; "and Mr. Pence h

at way

onder how he would like to suffer the condemnation

is possible where he is concerned," cried Mrs. C

d make allowance for t

views uncompromisingly. "The good shall go to he

d Bella neatly; "but the Sermon

dy, removing her hat and placing it on the kitch

inely-marked eye-b

s about to say, "my house. I didn't tell you before, as I have a kind heart, but it is time we u

rself now," said Bella

her aunt brusquely; "He

s over," said Bella, her eyes growing hard with anger. "Y

y and bounc

e, and it is my pleasure that y

t is burnt and the--" Mrs. Coppersley was about to pass into the scullery where the one small servant, over whom she t

spered Bella fiercely. "I shall not wait another minute

ards the kitchen door, "If you will have it, you

usly, as she saw the small servant peeping round the corner; "

am about to say," snapped Mrs. Coppersl

was rosy and her eyes were as black as her hair. She did not look uncomely, but there was something coarse and plebeian in her appearance. Although she was in mourning for her late brothe

them since they were down, and the cerulean atmosphere was almost religious in its feeling. Bella, ever sensitive to the unseen, in spite of her ignorance of psychic phenomenon felt the

aid pettishly, "and he doesn't like

t wait," said Bella dryl

tone, miss; you know he is the

t. However, we need converse only for a few minutes. I und

stout knees. "It is," she said, glancing round the vari-coloured room with great pride. "The house

she believed her to be telling the truth. "And what is left to me

ter-of-fact way. "Jabez asked me to look after you

you mean to say that my father has left

y late husband died he left me a good sum. Jabez borrowed this and added it to his own, so that he might buy Bleacres. I agreed, but only on condition that Jabez should leave me the whole property when he die

gasped Bella, utt

I am a Christian woman, and wish to obey Jabez's request. He left yo

thing else?" aske

rned her aunt complacent

a flushed cheek.

tty spite on one who could not retaliate. "Oh, I'm a liar, am I?" she said

one way or another you have persuaded my father into leaving you what is rightfully mine. B

he scoffed in a coarse voice; "you won't find any flaw in it, as I was careful that it sho

ive me the income. That, at lea

lently, "and the will is plain enough. Jabez did right to leave the money to me, and not to a chi

are you

it. I mean Mr. Lister, as he calls himself, tho

no right t

s; and as you depend entirely on me, miss, I order you to give

or anyone but Cyril," said Bella in icy to

very right. This house is mine, and the food you eat is mine. If I turned you out you would have to starve,

ew nothing of

owards the round table in the centre of the room-"there's a photograph of him, and in

gly on the table. Doubtless Mrs. Coppersley would have destroyed the portrait, but that Bella secured it before the good

igate whom your father hated," roared Mrs. Coppersley, her red face

cally, and feeling quite cool. "Mr. Lister is not a

out her cheeks ludicrously; "me, when Henry says that I am the best woman in the

ay, laughed right out. "Even a lady must

ave my house," pant

shall stay here, as I say, and shall receive polite treatment. I

ely. "The will stands good in law. I have made sure of that by consulting Mr. Timson, w

o, Aunt

you don't stay here to spoil my

re a bully, and a petty tyrant. While my father was alive you cringed to him because you were afraid. Now that you think you have the whip hand of me, you vent your spite on one whom you think cannot retaliate. If I had the money, you would cringe to me;

ike all bullies, she was a coward, and knew well that if it were known how she had ousted Bella from her rightful inheritance, that she would be unpopular. As Mrs. Coppersley liked to be popular, and hoped, by means of

Bella," she said in quieter to

rything your own way. Now I mean to look into things for myself. You can go now, and entertai

ey feebly, for her late rage had exhausted her, and she d

!" said Bella, without raising her voice, an

oroughly cowed and beaten, in spite of her better position, she slowly r

onfide in him, for even if he had been present the terms on which they had parted forbade confidences. There was Dora Ankers, the school-mistress certainly-a good friend, but a bad adviser, as she knew very little of the world. An

still, stiff stalks of the corn, for there was no wind, she could see the gaudy red of the scarecrow coat. The mere glint of the violent hue made her head ache, and she returned to the middle of the room to walk up and down wearily thinking of what was best to be done in the circu

y of Granny Tunks, and she felt a sudden thrill of dread as she saw that a black man actually had come to the Manor-house. For one moment, the negro and the fair, young girl looked steadfastly at one another, she

sked, in guttural tones, b

ose of a dog. Bella had never seen so huge and strong a man, but in spite of his formidable appearance, his dark eyes had a kindly look in their depths, and his movements were extremely gentle. Apparently his bark was worse than his bite, though his uncivilised looks were enough to awe the boldest. Plainly but roughly dre

er silence, as was apparent from the frown whic

eplied, finding her tongue with some diffi

came here two weeks and some days ago, more o

I do not even know his na

ph in the silver frame, which still stood on the table. With a guttural cry of delight, he cau

ce with a scared look.

, into the breast pocket of his tweed coat. "He is here! I sha

replied m

and Captain H

ed again, and st

at he wanted?" demanded t

anted," said Bella faintly; "yo

ter," was Durgo's reply. "Perhaps Cap

ham is dead,

click. "Dead!" he repeated. "Ah-aha-aha;

es. "I don't believe that Cyril ki

ella stretched a helpless hand to stay him, but, lightly vaulting out of doors, he disappeared in a moment. She rushed to the window and sa

lf, shivering. "Granny must know what it all mean