kissed her on either cheek. After that prefatory act of endearment, he made his inquiries. What extraordinary co

red; “and having nobody to go to but my god

cried S

maid to keep

you have acquaintances among

ces — yes.

r approve of wha

ant me a fav

— if

my answering yo

gest of all resolutions which is founded on a keen sense of wrong. She looked older than her age: what she might be ten years hence, she was now. Sir Giles understood her. He got u

had another quarrel,” he s

eny it,” s

s to b

ly. “The woman is

father tel

old, last birthday — and told me that I could do

back again,

n’t k

face, telling its story of disaster and struggle in ea

hat means; I know what you have done to offend your father. My nephew has asked

aspect revived. “Yes,” she said, sadly and

What the devil is your objec

most in the same words. I made him angry when I tried t

went on. “Isn’t he affectionate? and kindhearted? and hono

his kindness some of the happiest days of my sad life, and I

’s true,

rd of it

xcuse for you. I hate perversity in a

,” she said gently;

expressed. The secret sorrow of her life, which wa

on’t tell me the reason why, because your sweet temper shrinks from making me angry.

sank a little; her hands clasped themselves on her lap; the obstinate resignation wh

determined no

abond yet. Go where he may, into the vilest places and among the lowest people, he carrie

ast. She roused herse

hristians enough to discover. He has friends who can still appreciate him — your nephew, Arthur Mountjoy, is one of them. Oh, I know it by Arthur’s letters to me! Blame Lord Harry as you may, I tell you he has the capacity for repentance in him, and one day — when it is too late, I dare say — he will show it. I can never

evoted defence of the man, to an easy and fa

him to hold to the hope of Hugh’s marriage, even after his nephew had been refused for the second time. His headstrong goddaughter had come to visit him of her own accord. She had not forgotten the days of her childhood, when he had some influence over her — when she had found him kinder to her than her father had ever been. Sir Giles saw that he had tak

rdoon, Iris, you ar

vitation — and then annoyed him by asking a

ly: “I have heard nothing. Wh

to me, which reports that he has joined the secret society — nothing better than a

e returned from the police-office. He announced that a Serg