Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)

us sullenness of the preceding day, and on the effect it most have had on Mattie; half the night, Mattie in her room had pondered on the strangen

the ears of a dying man, and scarcely owned till then unto herself? She had not come there with any sinister design of winning, by force as it were, a place in Sidney Hinch

ogether once more, and see them happy at each other's side. For an instant she had not thought that she was "good enough" for Sidney Hinchford; she who had been an outcast from society, an object of suspicion to the police, a beggar, and a thief! No matter tha

of distrust to her best friends-why not to the neighbours who watched them about the streets and talked about them?

ey's presence, without exercising much courtesy in the effort. Ann Packet had opened the street-door, and looked inclined to shut it again, had n

. Master left word that you were never to

e's M

d Ann. "Just step in this

When my daughter comes in, tell her where I am

andle of the door, an

ing, Mr. H

e of a man who had worried him to death with h

u h

close to the table, and confronting Sidney. "I suppos

so," was th

daughter

t wasn't

ed-wh

iends, those who have won upo

ther side to your confounded obstinacy?

The remembrance of a dear father of my own would not lead m

en, in telling her that it

You though

r an in

re with yo

on't please say that my M

No, she had not sai

olish idea of doing you good, and no po

st you

d Mr. Gray, sharply;

you. But this i

ts he said, "Mr. Gray, I have been forgiving you all the past torture for th

bbi

away from many deep and bitter things. I was turning against myself, my life, my God, in th

t his nails in his turn, and looked steadily at the

-there!" and Mr. Gray looked as tho

true father if you don't value the sterling gold in Mattie's character. Pure go

ginning to pace the room, as he had paced it, preaching meanwhile

sked Sidney, after bearing with th

going to speak to

put up with more now; for Mattie's sake I'll even listen to a sermon, if you'll gi

e, as well as Mattie

-anything

ve. The task of reformation still unperformed-per

act

E

ts as well as living sinners,

such a subject! But we sha

w, you will let me of

r. Gray, severely, "therefore do not give way t

you-tha

of justice-fairness of what is

it, fr

back my d

acious answer than he got. If you wish her to return with you-why, she mu

uade her to re

happy w

ur father

There was right on hers, too, for she had made a solemn promise to a dying man, and sh

o

arm is she

fancy people think of her being in this house?-her a stranger to you by blood, and you so young! Sir, she has risked her ch

ieve it?" a

l-I

t of a very few for whose goo

we should care for the wor

lse one. You, a minister, te

-how aggravating y

. And we must study the world after all-you're right enough. Poor

of it-and sh

n a brighter world than this. Well," he add

d to you-I am going to

. Sidney held the minister's tightly in h

e is but the one old friend of the past whom I care to know is by my side, and in whom I can trust. Remember

alousy vanished completely-he was proud in his

til we go away, th

ay!-wh

foreign station, where the benighted require stirring words, and the preacher is expected to be continually stirr

care to le

tion to do good-to make amends

!-y

od, but Sidney heard but little of his argument, and was engrossed by thoughts of the change coming unto him again, and to which he could

he ejaculat

ng parting!" he exclaimed, as he rose in an excited ma

no-but very

r to his heart then, and the tears welled into his eyes at this

again-over and over again, patiently, and not in an

he think?" looki

swered fo

are, Mattie-to keep house together after this fashion. For your sake, I

ld go when you wis

h it,

y we

ly to do well. Mattie, for ever after this understand that I cannot do utterly without

haps," with a blush, "it was scarcely right to come. But," evincing here her old rebellious spirit, with a suddenness t

and afraid of Mattie talking herself into a change of mind; "so it's

eady when yo

t twelve. You see I was sure that you

against you-do

ping. The cab at the same time rattled up to the door, and Ann Packet-with red and swollen eyes also, if she could h

as time for her to go, when this faithful but dull-witted woman saw through the veil which she believed had hidden her true heart from every one on earth.

it was best to promote it. He had faith in me, and I have endeavoured to deserve it, a

u will not desert me wholly?-

p strong, and make up your mind about that business-and-and not th

by her presence. In the cab she struggled for awhile with her f

I see the end to

nd to this? No

yes-I

ainder of the journey; and Mattie, ashamed of her t