Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)

a young man, fresh from foreign travel, was wandering in the outskirts of Peckham one February night. A man who had crossed deserts, climbed mou

om kingdom to kingdom, until even novelty had palled upon him, and he had returned back to his father and his father's business. During this long holiday he had thought much of

igure which had repelled all excuse, on the night he reached his one and thirtieth year; he could

had miscarried-amongst them the missive which had told him of his uncle's death and

e of his father that Sidney was in good hands contented him; he must judge for himself. He had the Hinchford impetus to proceed at once straightforwardly to work; he was a man who was sorry for the harm he had done in his life-one of those comfortable souls, who are always sorry afterwards!-a loose liver, with a

Life such as his had wearied him of late; men of his own class had sworn eternal amity, and then laughed at him when his back was turned; men of a grade inferior had toadied him, cringed to him, sponged upon him; women had flattered him for his wealth's sake, not loved him for his o

om his father's lips. He had a great deal to say to Sidney; he had not entered into any explanations in that letter which Sidney had coolly re

strayed into a "new neighbourhood"-a place always famous for its intricacies-and he floundered about new streets, and half-finished streets,

nd had resolved to enlist the next nondescript in his service, be his terms whatever his rapacity dictated. But the next nondescript was a woman, and he was baffled again. A young woman in a gr

g for Park Place. Will you oblige me, Miss, by

t as you ca

" he said quickly, seeing his auditor recoil, and make preparations f

ntently towards him for an instant

in Park Place?" wa

f the business of G

his cousi

es. How did y

ed it-th

ss," he said. "Yes, I am his

, his partne

ind

t your father, some years ago, to a sta

retentive

is not likely that I sho

y n

the answer, cold and cutting as the east win

have

r side; after a few mom

ou want wi

m anxious to see

pain-why expose him to needles

be considered an intrusion, Mi

eason why you s

s relati

y; "I know all your history, and all the harm y

ou, Miss!" he r

here is no knowing where it may end, Mr. Hinchf

that-how was

ts for her. I kept her secret after her return, and, therefore, could not give my employer

I had no idea of all the harm my folly-my villainy, if you will

n't c

erciful or

ve that you are sorry, if you

More than ever, I am reso

y we

k pace, Maurice a little discomfited, and wit

fter some moments' sil

is w

nd s

es

d, let me say, if his means

o ask him that-to se

it is one of

en," cried Mattie; "spa

iliation

worked with him in your office, professed to be his friend, should have fathomed that part of his character, at least, whi

l not tal

'll not

" said Maurice; "

st men, striving to do good, and detesting cunning and disgui

Phew! how

ty in all this dispraise and plain-speaking. A brusque young woman this, whose character interested him

aters of opposition against him did not affect him much. Mattie's energetic advice puzzled him, certainly; she spoke warmly in Sidney's cause-as if she were interested in him, and had a right to take his part-was there any reason for that brisk attack upon him, save her own outraged dignity at the slander which, by hi

spoke

before a shop already closed for the n

es

good here-you

ut I am of a di

well

tter the object of immense attraction from the round-eyed, open-mouthed serving-maid. Events flowed on so regularly and monotonously in that

her father was sitting over his work. He lo

Sidney,

s own

must be prepared to see him,

y asked, a little irrelevantly

f old faces would not have betrayed him in this instance. Here was the man to whom he had administered a fugitive lecture in the dead of night at Ashford railway station, once more before him; here was a chance of touching the heart of a most incorrigible sinner-a sinner worthy of

le of the parlour door a