A Perilous Secret

t intervals. The observant girl saw he had something on his mi

thing,"

, nothing escapes my eye. Come,

Mary. Tha

st. I take an i

ou for s

troubles from me, we are

ar

nythin

l you, and yet I don't like. Well, then, if I must, it is that dear

said she. "Well, she is young and beautiful an

I c

ou can, if

can't

y n

you g

N

r girl. As opposite to her

ry to Julia," she said. "I pity her opposi

er for me; of course I mean

as she is

like dark girls. It was a dark girl tha

A

e hate the

the bru

whole

nk you in the name of

and you converte

o the b

tion is serious. You, whose eye nothing escape

, Walter," said Mary, whose

re. It is my heaven to see you and to hear you speak. Whether you are grave or gay, saucy or tender, it is all one charm, one witchcraft. I want you for my wife, and my c

her head drooped slowly upon his shoulder, and her arm went round his neck, and the tremor of her yielding frame an

could be so eloquent as this? He just held her to his

mean to be a wicked girl if I can help. This is an age of wicked young ladies. I soon found that out in the newspapers; that and science are the

lter. "Leave it to me. We must be

o you, dear, if tha

just temporizing a little,

"With all my heart. I'll temporiz

e too long for m

ngs by halves," s

orizing" was doing things by halves; but he let her have the last word.

ed; they must hear it too; and now Walter had spoken out like a man, and Mary had replied like a wo

ason soon appeared. She was in a passion. She was always tall, but now she seemed lofty, and to combine the supple panther with the erect peacock in her ireful march. Such a fine woman as Jul

, Miss Clifford?" sa

" (very

e of any

r turned: "You are a good creature: why should I be rude to yo

friend

pt him. Well, let him go. I dare say somebody else-hum-and Uncle Clifford has told me more than once

was

d by any of you. Of course it was,

er there was a little ra

and Woman i

Fitzroy to his duty, Walter begged leave to mediate, if possible, an

for not making Uncle Clifford invite him. As if I could! I should be ashamed to propose such a thing. The truth is, he is a l

ant him

is very k

d I must make him stay somehow. Now

he is eaten up with it;

on him a little. Would there be any great harm if I were to say that nobody can see you wi

ent. She blushed, and la

he; "and it is the truth

es me I will turn round

ve wi

. This was a turn h

couldn't, sir?"

mit the power of beauty

tery. I could cajole a

hos

us creature, and I will

to the D

"So there!" She took him round the neck with b

went straight to the Dun Cow. He found young Fitzroy sitting rather disconsolate, a

stiffly that

ity!" sai

be m-much m-missed," sa

people who w

n't kno

sh. I am afraid you are mortified, and I must say, justly mortified, at the coolness my fath

" said Percy

reverse-he is

a g-g-g

hey are sure to be a little mercenary for their children. Now you know Miss Clifford is a beauty who would ado

rath. "I understand, and it's a-bom-inable. I th-t

ou and I. My father will be always at me, and I shall not be able to insist on your prior claim; he will say you have abandoned it. Julia will tak

ir, you are a

thing she would do would be to make me love her, whether I chose or no. She wouldn't give me a voice in the matter. She would flatter me

cried Percy,

her say once she could make

he made me. I had an awful p-p-prejudice

e to such a trial. St

ly. We came in with the C-Conquest, and are respected in our c-count

cuisine i

-bomin

tion. Perhaps that is what leads to these little quarrels. It will amuse you to repair the crib and restore the lawn. Why, there is a brook runs through it-it isn't every lawn has that-and there used to be water-lilies floating, and peonies nodding down at them from the bank: a paradise. She adores flowers, you know. Wh

"When can I have the p

ot. Julia is so near. What are those? Playing-cards. What do you play? 'Patience,' al

cards were for pistol practice. He

that loads your pisto

I tell

hree years, rent ￡5 a year: which was a good bargain for both parties, since Percy was sure to lay out a thousand p

once and gave him possession, and, to do the little fellow justi

it the same night, and h

er all about it. She hung upon him, and gazed admiringly

he gate, "Mary," said he

th you j

in Wa

You are too

nd white by turns

t be more discreet. I have just heard that you and that young man are looked upon as engaged lovers. They say

apa, and a

She ought to be a

distress; "why, what objection

, but every objection to i

, papa. I sup

seek yo

not say s

ve never deceived m

you reject him he will be v

there are reasons why I can not consen

easons,

gh to say that Colonel Clifford has other views for his son, and I have other views fo

? Oh, why did you not warn me in time? Then I could have obeyed you easily. Now it will cost me the happiness o

ht all chance of happiness was gone forever,

sum he had obtained by a crime was dearer to him than all his m

yourself. I am not angry with you. I ought to have watche

bing, and he sent

first time in all these years I

at, sir, if

courting that child, an

I have not done that. She nev

, you never

no more th

er observed it

n the first to see it, if he had been in your place." This sudden thrust made Ba

und fault with, Easton,"

, after fourteen yea

" said the woman, doggedly.

ay for. Then let by-gones be by-gones; but just

ly; it is wisest and best for all; and I can'

an to defy

d. I'll go there this very day, if you please. I'm as true to you as I can be, sir. For I see by Miss Mary crying so you have spoken to her, and so now she is safe to come to me for comfort; and if she does, I shall take her part, you may be sure, for I love her like my own child." Here the dogged voice

ed a moment

e that? Surely, after all these years, you wil

t them forever. I wonder at you, a gentleman, and in business all your life, yet

s were nearly all packed, an

k and the horses," said

inished packing, in came Mary in violent distress. "What, is it true?

even for stout-hea

n her box sobbing violently, Mary infolded in her a

bitter for the first time. "He breaks my heart, and send

"you are wrong. He does not sen

me! then you don't kn

our father has been very good to me, and I am his debtor. I must not stay here and help you to thwart him-that would be un

so himself

idn't tell yo

N

his reasons well; his reasons why you should not marry Walte

oh, you dear

st to part. I'm going to my sister Gilbert this after

t a friend to advise or console me till Mr. Hop

hands upon her knees and

d you go to Mr. Hope i

ould not hav

. Do you think I am blind? He loves me better than my own father does; and it is not a young man's love; it is an angel's. Not cry to him when I am in the deep waters of affliction? I could not write of such a thing to him for blushing, but the moment he returns I shall find some way to

tenderly; "and pray don't excite yourself

is gone. I must not defy my father, and I will not break poor Walter's heart-the truest heart that ever beat. Not tell dear

under her breath, and loo

ked Mary, fixing her eyes with prod

' means anything," said Mrs

. "With such a face as

my business to

um

Hope shal