The Second Dandy Chater

er Hall, seemed to declare, deceitfully enough, the next morning, that wi

ing his eyes upon the luxuries about him, awoke as gradually to a remembrance of his new position; looked at it lazily and comfo

few weeks, in a narrow berth aboard an evil-smelling sailing vessel, with a scarcity of blankets, and no pillows worth mentioning, this"-he looke

pearance-coming softly into the room, and regarding his master with some surprise. Philip Chater, quick to t

e. Put me out some things-you know what I want; I don't want to be bothered about it-and get my b

owards the bed. The expression of his face was such an astonished one, that Ph

ry, with something very like the f

d emphatically, being determined to brave t

composure, and walked through into the adjoining b

l by the horns, and plunge among the people I shall have to meet as rapidly as possible. Well, if they single me out as a lost sheep, and call me publicly to re

ough made for him, Philip went down to breakfast in an improved frame of mind. After breakfast, when he lounged out into t

eet him; came within a foot or two-sniffed at him suspiciously-and then fled, barking furiously. Turning, in som

chained up." Turning away, and re?ntering the house, he said softly to himself-"The mor

e venturing inside; and it was perhaps as well that he did so. Fortunately for himself, he came face to face, just inside the porch, with an ancient man, who appeared to act as a sort of verger or beadle; and who was so much astonished at his appearance, and stepped so hurriedly backwards, that he almost tripped himself up in the f

egation, he discovered that his eyes, passing over the top of the pew were on a level with certain other eyes-gentle and simple-which were hurriedly withdrawn on meeting his own. Moreover, immediately on the opposite side of the aisle in which his parlour-like pew was situated, was another pew, in which stood a young girl-very ne

er pair, near at hand-a black pair, looking at him, he thought with something of sullenness-something of pleading. This second pair of eyes were mischievous-daring-wilful-kittenish-what you will; and they were low

I knew what it was all about. Dandy-my poor brother-you're at the

re pew and its single occupant; and who preached, in a queer quavering old voice, on love, and charity, and all the sweeter thing

stonishment, every one else sat still too. Worse than all, the wh

the door of the pew was softly opened, and the ancient man who had ushered him into it, stood bowing, and obviously waiting for him to come out. I

every one of which seemed to be turned in his direction; and every face, instead of being,

ly, than he had ever thought before, within the same short space of time. And then

r face, rose to her full height-(and she was taller than the average of women)-and stepped out into the aisle beside him. Quite mechanically, and scarcely

his shoulder, Philip could see the people emerging from the porch, and breaking up into groups, and evid

te content to walk on beside him, in silence, until this moment) a

r-have you nothi

people he felt that this must be the Margaret Barnshaw whose letter he had read-the letter in which she promised to marry Dandy Chater. But, not being sure

grew grave, and, as he thought, more tender even than before;

th a heartache-oh-ever so many times. But-from to-day, we'll change all that; from to-day, we'll begin afresh. That

he letter; unless the late Dandy Chater had made proposals, of

tood that," he said.

et-when I told you you should have your answer definitely? Do you r

forgotten which one you refer to." Philip Chater

have ever been before; you shall find me changed from to-nig

d on his arm, and with her eyes looking so trustfully and confidingly into his, had heard those words, of repentance, and hope, and well-meaning, however lightly said, from the lips of a man she would

it, Dandy dear

the truth, in that instance at least

ere, quite suddenly, she stopped, and held out both her hands to him. Very gravely-and, it must be said, with a growing anxi

th. But you have sworn to me that those old tales, about you-you and Patience Miller-forgive me; I promised never to mention the subject again; but I must-I must-you have told me that all that story was mere malicious gossip. As Heaven is m

t to Bamberton-the girl whom Dandy Chater was to have married, and who failed, after all, to accompany him to London. But, for all that, he had a double reason for setting her doubts at rest, and for speaking clearly and without fear.

empt the name, and was relieved to observe no start of surprise on her part. "I have h

day afresh. Perhaps-who knows?"-she laughed happily, and came a little nearer to him-"perhaps I've helped to

kissed him on the lips. Then, as if half ashamed of what she had done, she released her

ents, in a bewildered fashion; then, presently, sat

I thought this was to be a mere question of money; a matter of 'the king is dead-long live the king!' but when it comes to lying steadily to a woman, it's another business altogether. Yet, what am I to do?" He sat up, and stared hopelessly before him. "

nd upwards, he saw, first of all, a very trim little pair of shoes-a gay little Sunday frock-a remarkably neat waist-and so up to a mischievous face, shaded by a wid

teen was imperious, and she was evidently not a person

ted that, to be accosted in this fashion by a young lady, of whose name he was entirely ignorant, was enough to try the stoutest nerves. However, remembering al

the matter

ely. "I've watched you, since you walked out of church-and I know why you went there-for the first time since you were christened, I should thin

you, I'm very sorry-I mean-I ought not to have done it. In fact, there are a lot of things I've done in the past-and I've left them behind. You're a very pretty girl-and I'm qu

t would break. Hastily consigning the late Dandy Chater's love-affairs to a region where cynics assert they have their birth, he retraced his steps, and r

know I've been a brute-or, at

me; you'd better go away; you'd better not be seen with me

ked Philip, glancing

sobbing, but he caugh

the deuce

arry, of course-your servant.