The Beautiful Wretch; The Pupil of Aurelius; and The Four Macnicols

thing unusual was about to take place. The sleepy old mansion was all astir, a big fire blazed in the fireplace of the hall, and even the long corridor, which was in effect a p

ord King, was a hale old man of over seventy, with a smoothly-shaven face grown red with exposure to the weather, silvery short-cropped hair, and fine, impressive features. His old college friend, the Rev. Mr. Lynnton, was a smaller

emed much agitated in spite of his outwardly firm demeanour. 'It will

ightly, great as the pain must be to yourself. It is the young man's last cha

rried her. She might have ruined him in pocket, as

ong the walls; he seemed scarc

ng now, Vicar. Oh, I deserve it. My pride has bee

it ought to nerve a man to be worthy of those who have gone before him. Nor have I ever thought that your f

Kingscourt, whether knights or commoners, have been gen

y requite you yet by his conduct for the tremendous sacrifice you and Mrs. King are ma

nd I trust in God that something may yet come of it; but if not-if this last appeal to him produces nothing mo

?' his friend

of it now; we must

he rumbling of carriage wheels o

lower and agitated voice, 'Vicar, do you think my poor wife will-will have

yman seemed embarras

nd King, pull yourself together. You are welcoming

s. At the same moment a lady came along from the corridor; a tall, elderly woman, with a pale, sweet face, quite white hair done up in old-fashioned little curls, and with

oice, so that every one could hear. 'Alfred will be pleased to see you again, aft

. King; he was always a handsome lad,' said th

is brother Frank, lighter also in hair and eyes. At this first glance one scarcely noticed that his

fe, mo

n or nineteen, though in fact she was five-and-twenty; and in her tight-fitting ulster and plain gray hat

man took this new v

issed her first on one cheek and then on the other. 'But you must be tired with your lon

r we thought you might be hungry after your journey. So don't take too much time in dressing, my dear; we ar

puzzled, a little amused, but not at all shy.

usband said to her la

dressing for dinner one evening since we were married, except the night the vicarage took fire. But I suppose young men are n

ittle table where the tea-things were, and continued talking in the kindliest way to her new guest

, anxious-eyed little woman, who was obviously alarmed, and talked much to assure those around her that she was quite at ease.

d nice and neat than ever in this black silk dress with old lace

d the old white-haired lady, introduc

, and the big foldin

in Mrs. Alfred. It is a welcome home, you know. A

oned dining-room, which was a blaze of candles, and gave her the seat at his righ

the other side, m

, very prettily, out o

t pleased to sit wher

face, and she seemed to have grown sensible of the

reat deal of attention from the old gentleman next her, and had many kind things said to her by his wife. But Mrs. Alfred's face grew more and more strange. She seemed depressed and troubled-timid at the same time and self-conscious; once or twice her lips were tremulous. And then all at once she rose, and q

fool of yourself. G

a tenderness and compassion not altoge

you looked tired, my dear. We wil

t was best for the bygone Kings of Kingscourt and any Kings of Kingscourt there might be. He would pay off his son's debts once more. These two would be content to remain f

tations that had shaken the old silver-haired dame gave place to a quiescence that was in

ed by this sudden noise was the butler, a young man who had inherited the position from his father. He jumped up, hastily donned some clothes, and carried a light along to the room, wisely

ying prone on the floor. He pushed forward his candle, and to his horror

hat has happe

y; and then she put her hand to the side of her

n, but he was startled. She did not talk

ake him some brandy? I hope he isn'

for more than an hour. Where's the brandy? Why don'

brandy and water in a tumbler; he coaxed her to go upstairs; he assisted her up; and then, having put her q

same, the old father and mother began to grow very uneasy. Mrs. Alfred was too unwell to appear next day, nor would she see any one. She wanted brandy, however, to keep he

wealth of the Rothschilds she'd run through it in a fortnight; and then her first trick would be to cut me. Oh, I know her; she's not a bad sort; but she's be

dered some brandy an

ayed out. I've had my turn. Well, now, if you'll clear off my debts this time, and start me free with 5000 pounds-giving it in trust to somebody-so that I can have my 200 pounds

calmly, but also with a s

t. But is there no

If you want to save Kingsc

d y

an't complain. Sooner

States and try my

y've just made F

y, all the same. Fellows can't

our debts n

a was brought in, which

old of me. I should fancy they could all be

will be a heavy ch

nd of thing, don't let him get it into his head that I am jealous of him, or that he has supplanted me. Frank is a fine ch

t for some time, a

es

black eye. Let's get her out of the house without the servants seeing her-this

as grave for his years; and he was more manly in figure, somehow, and certainly browner of face, than when we last saw him at Bellagio, on Lake Como; but as he sailed pas