uided people who would call this logic: but Rosa said it was equivocating, and urged him so warmly that at last he burst out, "Who can go on forever saying 'No,' to the only creature h

do certain domestic work as well. So Mrs. St

nd crowed; she even crowed to Lady Cicely Treherne, to whose influence, and not to brougham's, every one o

, felt more sanguine, and buoyed as he was by the conscio

ough he withheld the name, retaining only the title, got the literary wedge in for him at once: and in due course he became a p

eginald Falcon, was dismissed from his club, for marking high cards on the back with his nail. This stopped his remaining resource-borrowing: so he got more and more

osed marriage to Miss Dale, in a charming le

ratitude, and his other virtues had not stood in the way,

uld marry a man that could make a decent livelihood; and if she was to run away with HIM, why they'd starve together. The farmer was resolute, and spoke very loud, like one that expects opposition, and comes prepared to quarrel. Instead of that, this artful rogue addressed him with deep respect and an affected veneration, that quite puzzled the old man; a

ace. "Painter! that is

rade going. There are gentlemen ma

. Stop a bit. What be ye going

ot houses. Figu

ere a signboard. They are the best paid, our way: but, Lord bless ye, THEY

ed surprise, "Bless me; I forgot. I have no palette, no canvas, no colo

lend ye the things, though, if you h

lofty smile; and the

e dealers to whom he took them declined them; one advised the ge

entleman painter: "but it has got lo

le, and yet unlike men and women, especially about the face. One thing,

., his tongue. By wheedling and underselling-for he only charged a pound for the painted canvas-he contrived to liv

ake his hat off to her, with an air of profound respect, and ask permission to take her portrait. Generally he met a prompt rebuff; but if the fair was so unlucky as to hesitate a single mo

the pictures, and paid for them; others declined them with fury as soon as they were finished. These he took back with a piteous sigh, that sometimes extracted half a crown. Then he painted o

the struggling artist, and the true lover, who wins his bride by pati

er, and eggs to London. Being genuine, they sold like wildfire. Observing that, she extended her operations, by buying of other farmers, and forwarding to Lo

said he; "but it must not

ave Dick

is rathe

, father, and minds e

as ever a cow was of a ca

s, to open the little shop, and start the business. She advertised pure milk, and challenged scientific analysis of everything she sold. This came of her bei

nd this challenge brought him down on Phoebe Dale. He told her he was a physician, and

She gave him every facility, and he applied those simple tests w

told her so; and gazed at Phoe

my belief half the children that die here are perished with watered milk. Well, sir, we shan't ha

eloquent features. She blushed a little at so fixed a regard. The

r sending them home to you in this big town, as some do, I can't

d Staines: "I wi

you won't be offended, sir; but

my order at hom

his was only her third day, told Dick that was one of the ri

ticklar,

s like a jewel. Such an eye I never saw

y, and even that sort of vague jealousy that fires at bare praise. "I should like to see this phenomenon," said she. "You

e came back he found her conversing with Phoebe, as if they were old friends, an

"What a good creature!" said she. "And how clever! To think of her sett

home, and send the flour up in bushel bags. "These assassins, the bakers," said he, "are putting copper into the flour now, as well as alum

, and handed the money to Phoebe, when she came for it. She worked for it in Esse

be enlarged it, for which there were great capabilities, and made herself a pretty little parlor, and there she and Dick sat to Falcon for their portraits; here, too, she hung his rejected landscapes. They were fair in her eyes; what matt

her-at least she saw no reason to doubt it. He came to see her every evening, and seemed devoted to he

ure; for she saw she had hit on a good vein of business, and should soon be in

populo, at a certain hour every morning. This made a new sensation. At other t

eler or two as to whether she was quite alone, that she was engaged to be married to a gentleman. "But he is not rich, ma'am," said Phoebe plaintively; "he has had trouble: obliged to work for his livi

osa warmly. "I'll sit for

but having made the promise, she kept clear of the place for some days, ho

, she said to Mrs. Staines, "Oh, ma'am, I am glad you are come. I have something I should like to show you." She took her into the parlor, and made her sit down: then she opened a drawer, and

hat a

ou, and some money; so my one gave him credit, and when the letter came with that postmark, he counted on a five-pound note; but the letter only said he had

d Rosa gave a little coo of sympath

and brought it away; for, after all-don't you think, ma'am, it is very strang

e. He could not

it up in my fingers, it doesn't feel

. May I take it home, and show it my husband?

ould be obliged

creature we have our flour and milk and things of. She is engaged, and he is a painter. Oh, such daubs! He painted a friend, and the frie

on this angle, where the stone has got polished by rubbing against oth

. Oh, can it be? Oh, you good, cold-blooded Christie!-Poor

thought it was a diamond. Let me weigh

n a few minutes, and said, "Yes. It is just three t

ou pos

ake my e

is it

and pear-shaped, and I see no flaw: I don't think y

ds! It is worth thr

re than a hundred

! It is worth a hund

ted 'the diamond.' Show me how to crystalliz

I prefer to gladden hearts: and I wil

that opportunity to finish

off to Ph

lcon, in her little parlor. "Who is that, I

curtain which had been drawn across the

get out." And he rushed out at the door le

ment Mrs. Staines tapped at the little door, then

l troubled and confused by

are ill, go to him and nobody else-by the refraction, and the angle, and its being three times and a h

O

.) Two teacups? Was that him? I have driven him away. I am

said Phoebe, trembling. "

nks. Kiss me; t

ay

Oh dear, what nice things good luck and happi

and as gay as a lark, pointing slyly at the door, and making faces to Phoebe that she knew he was th

ating on the face and drinking the accents of the only woman he had ever really loved,

said, my dear? It is a diamond; it is worth a hundred and fifty pou

to know her.

deal put out at t

by surprise,

I thought you were cured. I th

it wasn't the man's fault if an old sweetheart had run into the room, and given him a start.

and consented, and of co

ome to him, and must no longer expect to be immortalized for one po

oebe, "they will pay no more

ve to go unpainted

Now, be ruled by me: go on just as you are. Sell the diamond, and give me the money to keep for you. Why, you might add a little to it, and so would I, till we made it up two hundred pounds. And if you coul

set up my studio, and make enough to keep us both. So give me the stone, if you please. I shall take it ro

ifty pounds yet, you didn't fall into temptation. Do pray let me keep it for you; or

or mine?" sa

dear; you

se." And he almost for

er this piece of good luck, for

grace to console her, and assure her

show," said

did

esently his visits ceased. She knew what that meant: he was living like a gentlem

ef. The line on her high forehead deepened; and at night she sat with her hands b

I am aweary of my life. And to think that, but

d her neck, and gave her his rough but honest sympathy. Dick's rare affectio

o him one night, "I wi

to be i

er, and sweetheart, and all, to him; and to be left l

rtly. You say the word, and I'll

e than harm a hair of his head. You must nev

ME, Ph

o dandle on my knee and gloat upon, till he spent his money, and came back to me. That's why I said I wished I was his wife. Oh! why does God fill a poor woman's bosom with love, and nothing to spend it on but a stone; for sure his heart must be one. If I had only something that would let me always love it, a little tod

, and made him some white wine whey very hot. In the morning he got up, and said he was better; but after breakfast

kind of spasm in the throat that l

arest surgeon. He did not hurry, and poor Dick

o disease of the heart, is there? Give h

and now he used to spring off the bed with a cry of terror when they came; an

at doctor, the best that could be had for money. One sent her east a mile, another west, and she was almost distracted, when who should drive up but Dr. and Mrs. Stain

-stairs. She told him in a few agitated words how Dick had been taken, and all the symp

nt up. He lost not a moment, but opene

felt his hands, and said, with the grave,

, doctor, save

ot. Yes, I might save him, if you have the courage: open

doctor! It will kill h

n his face. It ga

he only

nd it is flying

O

ed out h

it. I trust to you an

nees, and bowed h

got Dick down on his stomach, with his face over the bedside. Some blood ran, but not

bellows, duly cleansed, were gently applied to the aperture in the windpipe, an

pocket-book, wrote a hasty direction to an able surgeo

nippers, with which he could reach the glottis, and snip it. But they consulted, and thought it wiser to continue the surer method; and so a

and the terror and the joy did he

moned to the farm, and arrived only just in time t

s executor. Phoebe and Dick were left fifteen hundred pounds a

ebe was to be parted from a bad man, an

, she turned faint, and only her health and b

had but listened to him more when he was alive to advise me, I should not sit here now, si

ultural machines, and stores, and even stock; and to see her pinching the beasts' ribs to find their condi

he master of a good vessel; for it was no trifle to take out hor

shrewdly, at wholesale houses in the city, for cash, and would have b

Dick most, she never mentioned Falcon; yet he learned from t

ear. Dick was

ne out there," he said; "and

red, but s

, and asking herself, sick at heart, could she ever really leave England, when the door ope

hen sank down again, trembling,

o run away from me!

ald," said

our fine l

" she said softly, without t

ry time I leave you I learn to love you more. I

often thought you MUST find that o

go to the Cape, and leave me all alone in the world, with nob

s ruin-poor Dick, that really loves me; and he lay a-dying here, and the good doctor and me-God bless him-we brought him back from the grave. Ah, you little know what

I have thrown away the truest heart, the sweete

began t

" she murmured through her tears; "if you

ngland, and go

ake a deser

to leave your side. I'll never look at any ot

uns to shoot; and me and Dick would do all the work for you. But there are others here you can't leave for me. Well, then, good-by, dear. In Africa, or here, I shall always love you; and

He kneeled at her knees, and took her hand, and k

n; and presently he heard Dick's voice outside, so he got up

less you want me to die at yo

pped out by

ad back against the wall. "Why, Phoebe," said he, "wha

e felt her all li

tever is the matter? I

t speak for

ng for which my male reader may not be pr

k-forg

what

else kill me: I

, I forgive you. Now

go. For

n't

t. Forg

eve that vagabond has been h

ick! you are young and stout-hearted; take all the things over, and make your fortune out there, and leave your poor foolish si

board by now, and all the gear. It's my belief a good hiding is all you want, to bring you to you

n. "No, not if I am dragged to the ship by the hair of my

ive," said poor Dick ruefully. And dow

t-sick, wretched to the core; but

t have been foreseen, yet it

hoebe, you are right. I owe it to your long and faithful affection to make a sacrifice for you. I will go to Afr

unprepared for this, that they c

, and it was a sight to see amazement, doubt, hope, an

real?"

Phoebe; and I will make you a g

e him at his word, Phoebe; and if he ill-uses y

im?" said Phoebe. "You h

best day's work you ever did, going out in the ship with me. You don't know how happy a loving wife can make her husband. I'll pet you out there as man was never petted. And besides, it isn't for life; Dick and me will soon make a fortune out there, and then I'll bring you home, and see you spend it any way you like but one. Oh, how I love you! do you love me a little? I worship the ground you walk on. I adore every hair of y

how long will

hs, sir,

r seedy-to go to Africa with? Why, I shall disgrace you on board the ship.

k, "I don't see any harm in that

stairs to Phoebe, and say, "He wants three

, he'd desert me at the water's edge. Oh, God help me, how I love him! God forgive me, how I mistrust him! Good Dick! kind Dick! say we have suits of clothe

ress, I u

d Di

you snap this here good, kind D

him. Then I'm not myself. Forgive my h

o me your love is precious like cold veal, an

ha, h

n laugh no

ha,

of that music, t

but go and

the Cape; but Phoebe has got a box full of suits, and I made her prom

, is it?" said

ade no

l drew her down the river about thirty miles, then cast off, and left her to the south-east

; but they soon dried. She was demurely happy, watching her prize, a

ooking out for a good bargain in land. Reginald was mounted on an English horse, and allowed to zigz

st enjoyed himself finely. He admitted as much. Says he, one evening to his wife, who sat by him

e maternal gesture with which she drew her pet's head to her q