Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)

nine. Ann Packet almost shouted with alarm at the sight of the

been in such a dreadful way about him, Mattie.

stead. He will

the handle of the parlour-door and entered. S

's t

tie. May

hour! Come in, if y

ld attitude that Mattie knew so well now. She shuddered at the change in him-the wreck of manhood

approaching, "I have com

's to listen patiently to that horrible father of yours

live here, and take care of you as a dear brother who r

lf, Mattie-fit compa

st of compan

ust n

a grand hope, sir!-of making this home a different place to you. Why, I c

r?" asked Sid

him. Oh! Mr. Sidney, for a little while, before you h

t pleading, but he was shut away from light, and sceptical

not No to this, why, stay until you tire of me, a

terly w

now-don't

like you before, sir, and bo

'sir' me?

-you take your father's pl

ason-I wonder

r false, mattered little to him then. A new suspicion seized him afte

r father's to preach to me thr

ld you why

but that promis

t, when I was very young-when I was a stray!-that it should never swerve from those who had befriended me.

d said you did no

e, but it was a lie that saved me from the prison-from th

to know how soon you will tire of me, or I shall tire of you

es

God help you wi

athom his thoughts, or understand them. He had spent a month of horrible isolation, and it had seemed long years to him-years in which he had aged and grown grey perhaps, it was more likely than not. He felt like an old man, with whom the world was a weary resting-place; and he was despondent enough to wish to die, and end th

e a time when he would be his dear old self again. When the day was over, her own troubles began. In her own room, she thought of the father whom she had abandoned-of his loneliness, left behind at his work in that front top room, which had been home to her. She was not sorry that she had left him, for there was an old promise, an old love for Sidney, to buoy her up; but she was very, very sorry that they had parted in anger, and that her father had resented a step in which his Christian charity sho

her father would believe that she loved him none the less for the step which she had taken-she who would have been more happy had he consented thereto-and hoping for the better days when she could return and take once more her place beside him. She had also asked in her letter that her box might be sent her, and he had considered that request as the one object of her writing, and responded to it by the transmission of the box and its contents, keeping back all evidence of his own trouble and anger. She had chosen her lot in life, he t

ns in his power he turned his thoughts away from Mattie. When the thought was too strong for him, he connected her with the wrong that she h

h the stormy scene which cut the friendship adrift; of stereotyping the last impression-generally the false one-and connecting that with him and her for ever afterwards. Think of the virtu

ciate the kindness and self-denial that had brought her there, gladdened his home, and made his heart lighter. He could take pleasure in speaking with her of the old times, of his father, of his early days in Suffolk Street-in hearing her read to him, in being led into an argument with her, which promoted

the remaining senses, which make amends for the deprivation of one faculty. He neither heard better, nor was

nd folk," he said; "your voice startles me

empted to bring the subject round to Harriet-Harriet, who was true to him yet, she believed-but the su

y; "now let us talk of the business which you think of setting me up in

upon the chances of opening a shop with the residue of the money which Sidney had saved before his illness-what shop it should be, and how it should be attended! He had only one reason for delaying the prosecution o

dney Hinchford, bank clerk, who had hoped to make a great name in the city. Well, it is commerce still, and I shall

settle your mind to one business? Every

lied; "I want to make sure of the most suitable,

ness in which Mr. Wesden made mone

ng now?" he asked

for yesterday's toug

uld I chop up a sheep without personal dam

g the road in the direction of the house, Mattie had seen Harriet Wesden.

ou been here?" H

at I would do my best for him left beh

!-no. Why

re-exceeding my duty to my neighbour, and outr

much malice in his heart against me, as to r

to him. Presently he will come round, and judge all th

glad o

as turned out for the be

," was her

ghts of Harriet Wesden;-what she regretted, and what she rejoiced at,

et. Think of the affliction that has befallen him,

uld not have loved me all the better, and striven all the harder to render my trouble less heavy to be

-he is a poor man, and may be poo

ve given up all thought of him, as he has given up all t

hope so,

nge my mind, and scarcely knowing what that mind wa

the conversation by asking after her father's health-Harriet's own health, which wa

and how is Sidney in health,

have said that his

im now, and deserve to be nothing, let me see him again! I am going into the count

l! You are not glad that it

our place-I have a right to b

l hi

arlour with an imperious hand. Harriet shrank fr

-I

addened by the past belief that you loved Maurice Darcy-if you do not shrink to unite your fate with his, and

rmured Harriet; "that

, taking care of him and rendering him happy! A

s of his reply to me," said Harriet.

"I do not understand what true love i

ooked at Mattie, who was flushed and agitated. For the first time i

ll be ruled by what he says to

rong, she turned the handle of the parlour door, and ente