A Woman-Hater

and a thronging round

tes toward Ashmead. "Make haste, please," she whispered; then put on her gloves deliberately, while Ashmead

sideration, and a sort of courteous respect for the person saluted, coupled with a certain dignity, and then she looked wistfully at her a moment. I believe she would have spoken to her if she had been alone; but Miss Mait

le; and the Klosking, who was not a forward woman, did not yield to her i

izard. He joined her. "There she is

aid, gloomily, "Well, no. Half cured now. Seen the lo

ked, timidly, if they ought not to make some inqu

another table," said Vizard, ironicall

Maitland faced a glass and

rm with unusual energy, and almost dragged her aside. "The idea of sending Harrin

opening them wide.

Mr. Severne is not in this

so mysterious," faltered

least said is s

and ever so much cleverer. Tell

get home, the

the only chance now was the dining-room. "No," sai

on the players; but the ladies were taciturn, and brought him to a stand. "Ah," thoug

st her alacrity, and would, I verily believe, have shunned a te'te-'a-te'te if she could; but there was a slight paleness in Zoe's cheek, and a compression of the lips, which told her plainly that youn

don't warn an orphan girl. She flew at me like a bull-dog before your brother: she said I was twenty-five, and I only own to twenty-three. And, after all, what could I say? for I do fe

"So please speak p

ou say

r mind consequences;

n, eh? and

things. Tell me the truth, pleasant o

le bit. But there-I'm in for it. I have said too much, or too little

but was not so much sh

ut after a while she said, with som

not quite b

he prefer?" asked Z

fear her so? This is where you seem all in the dark.

Abs

rd, rather than call

so he

ling-table the moment

She came in

arge mirror in

piteously. But she recovered herself, and s

ul as men," sai

n together? He is subject to bleeding at the nose. It i

ly, "he is not subject t

ou know that? What righ

" said Fanny, a

lf unwilling. However, she looked down, and said, in a very peculiar tone, "Here is the h

ed. She did not even take up the handkerchief. "

N

been in his r

the kind!

ma

ave her half a crown to

the corner. Her woman's eye fastened instantly on these. "Silk?" said she, and held it up to the light. "No. Hair!-golden hair. It is hers!

e not blind now. You have seen more t

. She was too deeply shocked. She went, feebly, and sa

aid she, almost crying, "I never tel

egm. Her hands began to work. "What sh

cried Fanny. "After all, it is you

why?-why? What

land thinks he is after money; an

the proud beauty, and lifted

uld look things in the face. Is t

poor. Her kind of tale

But perhaps she wastes it. Sh

id Zoe, wildly; "I will

ell, unless we tell him that she h

him go. Oh, I am wretched-I am wretched!" She lifted

distress, and knelt to

ith the wind. "Dear Zoe," said she, "it is deeper than

d mystery that torment me. Oh, w

ise you; I can only tell you what I should do in your place. I should make up my mind at once

up! What

know this old sweetheart of his has won three thousand pounds at least, for I noted her winnings. Diamond cut diamond, my dear. He is concealing from y

love! I cal

you to decide, Zoe. I do wish you had never seen the man. He is n

ard on him. You

yes and fight against it. After all, you know you are mistress

, Fanny, you

I do like you, Zoe Vizard, better than any other woman in the world. That is not saying very much; my taste is for men. I think them go

irginal impulse, hid her burning face

of time, and then said

scarce audibly, "Ac

surprised at this conclusion of the struggle. She said, with a certain al

go and make an

l do your business, but it shall be in your hearing. Then you can interfere, if you

evailed on to sponge her tearful eyes and co

acking; and she had not been gone long, when Fanny

of Mr. Severne, are

tly, preparing for battle

, I am," said she; "devoted. But he has a weakne

It is his one fault. Most

e were to refuse to go with us tomorrow-

he has given me

his won such a lot of money, he will want to stop; and if he does not stop, he will go awa

? What was hi

ch was

y pou

s place. Indeed, I have a project; I want him to rusticate a few months at our place, while I set my lawyer to look into his affairs a

this. "Well!" said she, "when you gentlemen fall in love

e, and said, "Well, as to the other thing-you leave it to me. Let us understa

N

be taken to Engl

es

ful to you for your c

n, if y

nion for the rest of the tour, eh?-my d

ough a poor girl, and her little game, li

mson to see her noble brother manipulated by this

place in her mind, and pride fou

red, Zoe looked very gloomy; so Fanny asked, rather sharpl

. Oh, Fanny, I begin to

t I ought to have expected. You were there. You had only

and I am very unhappy. I am losing my self-re

ive yourself, and don't torment yourself. All your trouble, we shall le

w of matters, she kisse

ly closed her

l till past eleven o'clock, an