A Devotee

il faut savoir

the Pierpoints, 'I do not expect absolute perfection in my fellow-creatures, but it appeared t

swered

ntroduced Sibyl to many of our friends and neighbours, as this was her first public appearance since her marriage, and I

re off, to introduce his wife, and, though he had not shown any surprise at her non-appearance and Doll's, he had at last been obliged to retire to the men's cloak-room and

t perceiving that he was offering an explanation which did not cove

te well when she went to the ball last night. She is very delicate

oll. He had seen, as he saw everything, Doll's

envious persons with a small vocabulary call lying. That little had been used up the night before. Yet, perhaps, if he had been aware that Mr. Loftus had seen

ftus w

Sibyl's husband'-he saw Doll wince-'but I

was no

e came over Mr. Loftus's face. He pau

sses me to do so. But I am pushing on the repairs everywhere; and I am rebuilding Greenfields and Springlands from the g

be certain that it would never under any circumstances be reopened. But as he looked at the plans, and Mr. Loftus pointed out the new well and the various advantages of the desi

e, who did not find out for years afterwards that it was irrevoc

cottages with any certainty until there is an easier means of access to them. My father always intended to make a road there. I only hope,' he said at last, letting the map fly back into a roll, 'that I shall live to pay for all I am doing, but I can't pa

perhaps, after all, Sibyl might still marry Doll some day. How

d Mr. Loftus to himself, as he went up

, without any of the preliminary struggles by which a strong constitution or a strong will staves off the advance of illness. She gave way entirely and at once, and the night afte

ping her husband down the valley towards the death which at last became the one goal of all their longing, and which had receded before them with every toiling step towards it, till they had both wept together because he c

sympathetic nature as it does an obtuse and selfish one. And his lonely existence had not brought him into contact with

s room at night in his long gray dressing-gown, to administer the food or medicine which the nurse put into his hand. His patience and his kindness did not flag, but it seemed to Lady Pierpoint as if at this eleventh hour they should not have been d

ed, and was found pacing in the rose-garden oblivious of everything excep

d endeavoured to bring about this marriage she had been selfishl

t about the house again, wan and feebl