Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 1

t single trees spotting the distant green slopes. From Queen Anne's Farm you could read the hour by the stretching of their shadows. Squire Blancove, who lived there, was an iras

d be the terrific, curse-begetting twinge in his foot; but, as he said, he was a man who stuck to his habits. It was over his Port that he had quarrelled with his rector on the subject of hopeful Algernon, and the system he adopted with that young man. This incident has something to do with Rhoda's story, for it was the reason why Mrs. Lovell went to Wrexby Church, the spirit of that la

of sport while he nursed his leg, the unfortunate gentleman had to be up and away to Fenhurst every Sunday morning, or who woul

r guests, listening, gloved and bonneted, to the bells of Wrexby, West of the hills, and of Fenhurst, Northeast. The squire

uty and good!" murmured Mrs.

out his enemy, "you're going to th

lied Mrs. Lovell, swe

d him so entertaining? Has he

or more." Mrs. Lovell assumed an

you were

she corrected him. "But, for that matter, an

t," said the squire; "t

o with him before

dered a carria

ry honourab

I contrived to keep you

erness, taking his hands, and fixing the swimming blue of her soft eyes upon him

woman's audacity with a frown; "Tis my duty to set an example," he sa

le," rejoined the exquisite wid

all, the world with her when she is self-contained, and holds her place;

, trying his wife first. Then

us will you take?" he asked

iting, and will be as devout as possib

going in to Wrexby, sir! Oh, go, by all means, and I shan't

mile. "You have to bear the sins of your rec

slight strain on the intellects of the assemblage relaxed, and ordinary topics were discussed. The carriages came round to the door; gloves, parasols, and scent-bottles were securely grasped; whereupon the squire, stand

nting a most harmonious aspect in the lovely landscape, reclined in the carriage as if, like the sweet summer air, she too were quieted by those holy

of the youth, and an attraction. Her smile was the richest flattery he could feel; the richer, perhaps, from his feeling it to be a thing

, and no chance of an increase. He'll tell me I've got a salary. A salary! Goo

nsation," said the lady, and he receiv

ise the lank white

that were seen;" and her dainty hand was withdrawn. "Now,

t to call them 'loves.

h, am I not? Only, my dear Algy, don't go too far. Rustic beauties a

ank," sai

there is not absolutely wasted. Wha

lly honest, or he might half break it some fine day, if he chose to cut and run. She's got a sister, pret

sically drew him on.

At least, she is

air; haz

ou guess,

able. That Yankee betting man 'guesses,'

reckoning goes wrong. I'm safe for next Spring, that's

emple

Nail as well. But I'm quite safe on Templemore;

ainst you, if he does a

ted Algernon, in h

ke it-? to make it?"-She played prettily as a mistress teasing her lap-dog to jump for a morsel;

I shouldn't like to

rt of your risk. I fear I am lucky, which is ruinous. We will settle that, by-an

e one very lon

sigh when we're talking of business, if you'll take me for a guide.

r. He's proud of his nieces; shows them and then hide

name

hli

dahlias-dahlias of all colours. And the portrait of

my chambers," A

ed to be at the Bank when fair Dahlia paid her visi

hat Edward's defection from Mrs. Lovell's sway had deprive

in some scrape,

" the lady as

ar

this hot weather. It's enough to lead me to drea

ngo!" he adopted a less compromising interjection; "Ne

not a line to wrinkle her smooth soft features. For one sharp instant her fa

at be when we none of us

his affair by putting together a lot of little incidents and adding them up. First, I believe he was at the Bank when that fair girl was seen there. Secondly, from the description the fellows give of her, I should take her to be the original of th

Algernon for one lo

carlet. "How did this Rhoda, with her absurd name, think of meeting you to tell you such stuff?

f nonsense in her. I first met her in town, as I stated, at the Bank; just on the steps, and we r

their hands, my cousin

that she's married. It's certain she has. She's a blunt sort of girl; not one to lie, not even for a sist

ver such an act of folly? He would call it an offence against common sense, and have no mercy for

d. "It mayn't be true. I hope it isn't. But Ned has a madness for fair

vell thus blushingly hinted at the lesser

id Algernon; and with meanin

eddened. She touche

stn't forsake h

he right sort of wo

n something disastrous to him. The touch of Mrs. Lovell's hand made him forget Rhoda in a twin

finger, and in the energy of pain he dashed the brooch to her feet, with immediate outcries of violent disgust at himself and exclamations for pardon. He picked up the brooch. It was open. A strange, discoloured, folded s

ed it, and thrust

door: "Mention nothing of this to a soul

she was smiling in h