The Datchet Diamonds

was about to fail in still another something he had undertaken. She loitered near the gates of the pi

that the night was raw and damp. To add to the discomfort of her position, just inside the gates of Brighton pier is not the most agreeable place for a woman to have to wait at nigh

tes more, and then, if h

hrough the turnstile. With a feeling of no inconsiderable relief sh

've come at last! Bu

ve been

anner there was something odd. But, as a wise woman in her ge

ination to speak. Miss Strong, however, excused him. She understood the cause of his silence--or thought she did. Her heart was

so s

if her words h

or

ll about

as an obvious fact that he was startled. He stood stock st

out it? What--wh

is surprise. "My dear Cyril, yo

per

he sta

ad every edition, and of course

n? Oh!--of co

e had meant something altogether different. He took off his hat to wipe his brow, although the night was very

bear, they would have risen. As you were good enough to say last nig

o sorry

e use of b

almost rude. But s

t ver

erroneously enough, that in the girl's tone there was something besides sympathy, that there was contempt as well--contempt for him as for a luckless, helpless creature who was an utter and entire failure.

ad; as regards the Eries it is abo

ated and

ow it was working. "Cyril, is there any good news t

ng that he had said anything at all. Bu

it possible that, very shortly, I may find myself in possessi

Do you m

ncredulity sp

be quite accurate, it is possible, nay, probable, that before very long I shall be the poss

! Two hundred and fifty

doesn't it? I hope that it wil

stand. Is it a new specula

the fact. "A peculiar kind. Its peculiarity consists in this, that, though I may not be able to lay

the speculation? Is it

n that I have kept a secret from you; you will

s tone caught her ear. S

mean that there is a reasonable prospect

sonable prospect, there

hat you have l

sy, don't ask me any more questions now. Trust me! I tell you that in

anding the night before--looking towards the Worthing lights. Each seemed

I am s

that you

rry for what I

hat is the particular o

en she spoke it was as if, in s

I don't know what made me say it. I did not mean it. I thought of it all night; I have been thinking o

that I should not g

ar, while her eyes looked towards the Worthing lights. "I think that perhaps it w

ped her arms wit

ou me

t there is my little fortune, with which we must start afresh, both of us togeth

n passion. "Will you come with me to t

if you make

if I make m

st thing that a man can see. And tears came into her eyes. And sh

ll be my people, and thy God, my God; where thou diest, will I die, and there will I

geration; at any rate, he turned away, as if som

don't want a

it is so long as it's a wedding. And"--again her voice sank, and again s

ady to marry me

wil

a month we wi

h were in somebody else's Gladstone bag. Her thoughts wandered through Elysian fields. It

brought him back from what seemed to

, and let's t

sidered for a few seconds, seeming to hesitate. She perceived tha

n't mind our t

as a little surly

lding something more than her own in most circumstances in which she might find herself placed, with most, if not all, of the sentiment which is supposed to be a feminine attribute knocked out of her. She was not bad-looking; dressed well, with a suggestion of masculinity; wore pince-nez, and did whatsoever it pleased her to do. Differing though they did from each other in so many respects, she and Daisy Strong had been the friends of years. When Mrs. Strong had died, and Daisy was left alone, Miss Wentworth h

e which had just come in. Miss Strong, desiring to avoid the preliminary skirmishing which experience had taught her was apt to

good news--at least I

oss-examining sort of look--then a

te good news with Mr. Paxton. The p

ther relish the lady's words. She burst out with the news of which she spo

oing to b

yed a possibly intent

oing to b

vating you are! Cyr

rth resumed

emark. If, however, any one should invite me to comment on the subject, I trust that I shall be

iss Wentworth's side, resting h

you give us your

t removing her glance from off

so, if you want it, I will give you

How unkind

aight in the face. Tears were in the young lady's eyes, but Mis

ainst her will. I have yet to learn in what respect Mr. Paxton--who, I gladly admit, is personally a most charming gentleman--is qualified to marry even a kitchen-maid. Permit me to finish. You told me last night that Mr. Paxton was going a bull on Eries; that if they fell one he would be ruined. In the course of the day they have fallen more t

marry him, even

y, if you wished to, shouldn't you marry a crossing-sweep? I don't know. But, on the other han

not a cros

ven that trade at

d. "As it happens, you are quite wrong. It is true that Cyril lost by Eries, but he has more than made up

was a remarkable man. My confidence in him is beginning to be more than justif

Cyril, al

ds, Mr. Paxton evinced a degree of resentment wh

ause it happened to be feminine. But since, Daisy, you appear to be anxious that Miss Wentworth should be as satisfied on the subject of my prospects and position as you yourself are, I will do the best I c

ean to say, Mr. Paxton, that you have lost one fortu

d

you would put me in the w

ty is qualified to do anything she pleases with

n. "You understand, Mr. Paxton, very well how it is. Daisy is a lonely child. She belongs to the order of women who were in fashion before the commercial instinct became ingrained in the feminine constitution. She wants lo

n less than a fortnight, to prove myself the possessor of possibly somethi

h figures warm one's blood. One will almost begin to wo

rnest. His cheeks flushed. His eyes flamed fire. He stood up, so beside himself with rage tha

ny woman. But when you charge me with dishonesty it is too much, even from you to me. You take advantage of your

hite face, looked f

think. Tell him, Charlie, that

worth surveyed the angry man

dly knows what to think. Surely, when a man shows such heat and such violence in resenting what only a distorted imaginat

ch in argument--or, for the matter of that, in retort either--for this clear-sighted lady. He felt that, if he was not careful, he would go too far; that he had bet

more need, or can, be said. I have the honou

On the contrary, she retained her cooln

ring the bell, Daisy, or will y

was not a look of love, and followed Mr. Paxton, who already had vanis

d. If I had had the least suspicion of anything o

empted to wear, an air

this occasion, however, she has gone too far. I will never, willingly, darken her do

t what you thought she did--she couldn't be so absurd! It's a way she has of talking;

, my dear Daisy, which gives her the impu

Do you think that I could love you without the absolute certainty of knowing you to be a man of blameless honour? I don't suppose you are an angel--I'm not one either, though perhaps you mightn't think it, sir! And I take it for granted that you hav

m one--it made Mr. Pax

you, da

red, and he

to-morrow night to tell

ort only failed--he had to wince. He co

darling--o

you're p

I'll be punctua