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النشر الإلكتروني

LONDON

RODERSON AND TUXFORD, PRINTERS

265, STRAND.

INDEX.

NOVELS, ROMANCES, TALES, &c.

Bush Life in Australia, A Year of: Arranged by LEAVES FOR THE LITTLE ONES-

Elizabeth Townbridge: 202, 262

Correspondents, Answers to: 56, 112, 168, 224, 280,

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Knitted Pattern for Counterpanes: 109

Knitted Opera Hood: 276

Lace Edging: 223

Neck-tie or Lappet; 223

Captain Kid: By Caddie Coleman : 165
Ida's Flowers: By Andersen: 210
Making up: By Virginia F. Townsend: 271
The Muleteer By Nettie Carlyle: 97

The Rose-Bearers: By Lily Shorthouse: 40
The Silly Shepherdess: 99

The Two Ducks: 325

What happened: By Grace Greenwood: 269
Leaves from my Mediterranean Journal: By a Naval
Chaplain 38, 101, 153, 199, 317

:

Letters, &c., of Lord Byron : 10, 72, 123, 179, 235,
291

LIBRARY TABLE-

Art of Dressing Well: 49

Circle of Light: By H. P. Malet: 103

Her Majesty's Tower: By Hepworth Dixon: 213
Merry Tales for Little Folks: 50
Owen Meredith: 48

Periodicals: 159, 214, 272

Poor Letter H: By the Hon. Henry H.: 273
Shakesperian Gems: By the Chevalier de Cha-
telain : 159

Madame de la Roche: 182

Midnight Watch, The: By a Detective Officer: 75

Names, A Chapter on: By D. H. Jacques: 14
New Music: 160, 214

Niece, The, of Justice Humphreys: By Virginia F.
Townsend: 293

Paris; and Life there in 1861: By H. T. Tucker-
man: 82, 136

Paris Correspondent, Our: 46, 94, 162 220, 267
Pet By John Churchill Brenan : 250
Printing, The Origin of: 100

Raymond (Translated from the French): 333

Star Pattern for Couvrettes, or Antimacassars: Rings and Precious Stones: 328

168

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Roman Catacombs, The: By James W. Wali: 5

Shakspeare's Brutus: By Henry T. Lee: 320

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Moonlight and Memory: By Benjamin E. Taylor : 55 Mutual Forbearance; Cowper: 111

Past, The: By F. E. W.: 299

Pearl Ring, The: By H. P. Malet: 100

Retrospection, A: By Ida Afton: 212

Sisters: By Ada Trevanion: 9

Southern Cross, The; or, Life's Ocean Journey: By
Mary Wheeler: 237

Spring Longings: By M. W.: 245
Stanzas on Hope: 188

The End: By Elizabeth Townbridge: 27
To T. W.: By M. B.: 188

Train, The Early By R. E. Thackeray: 261
Trial, The: 74

True Love: By Elizabeth Townbridge: 245
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Visitations-A Sonnet: By Mrs. Newton Crosland: 206

Word, A, in Season: By Frederick Rule: 74 Workers, The Two: 188

Mistresses and Maids (A Matrimonial Dialogne): By Wraith, The: By Ada Trevanion: 66

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CHAP. LI.

DARLISTON.

IRON IN THE FURNACE.

Following on the track of a man who was searching for a place that never existed, Mr. Merton Brown's pursuit had been attended with many difficulties; and, when at last he felt tolerably sure of coming up with Grant, he found they had crossed on the road. He had arrived at Darliston just as the doctor was leaving, and heard from him how critical was the state of the unhappy young man. I narrated the circumstances attending his return. Alice disclaimed merit in encountering him, saying it was a chance, but we both agreed that her presence and firm regard had restrained him in his evident purpose.

Requiring the assistance of Mrs. Barncliffe, who for the last two nights had been sleeping at my house, I asked Mr. Brown if he would object to taking up his quarters at Fairclough while it was expedient I remained at Darliston. He was quite willing while no better way of usefulness appeared; and, as I told him at parting, it was great comfort to us to know he wae at hand, and would give us all the information that could be had from the police. So far we only knew that Witham was evidently doing his best to elude pursuit in Dublin.

The only door to the room in which Grant lay opened from Mrs. Cargill's little room; and, bringing an arm-chair from the parlour I there took up my post for the night. Will Harper, also, was in attendance, but I did not think it needful for him to keep awake. He took possession of the settle in the "house," or servants' hall, adjoining, and I only had need to disturb him once. Grant slept till near midnight, when he awoke moaning from pain. At first he seemed scarce sensible as to what evil had befallen him. Then memory came back; weak, ailing, and still scarcely free from the effects of the narcotic, he seemed sinking under the heavy burden of sorrow, self-reproach, and shame. I did my best then to soothe and comfort him. There was little I could think to say likely to have much effect, but perhaps merely

having some one near him who had the will to cheer his oppressed spirit, had some tendency to allay his misery. He again slept.

Towards six in the morning I had difficulty in keeping awake. He lay still, so that I did not at once perceive that he was again conscious, When I looked at his face I could tell his mind had been busy, and he began questioning me about many things: What had been done when we discovered Helen was gone? How far suspicion had fallen upon him? I told him the truth about these matters; mentioned how he had been watched, and who had gone in pursuit of him.

I did not feel certain how far I might with safety speak of Mr. Mainwaring; and when he adverted to my mention of his servant, and questioned why I suspected he could be concerned, I only said he was absent from the Rood Farm. I was talking still with him when Dr. Crutchley came-at about seven o'clock. He expressed himself better satisfied with the state of his patient; and, Grant consenting to the attendance of Mrs. Barncliffe, I went to my bed-room to take rest.

me.

I slept, and might have slept longer, but about noon was roused by a light touch, and saw Alice bending over "Wake up, nurse," she said; "I am sorry to disturb you, but I think you are wanted in your patient's room."

"Is he worse?" I said, starting up.

"I am afraid he is likely to be, if he is not already: his father is here; of course we did not think of opposing his desire to be shown into his son's room; but Mrs Cargill is frightened about it."

"Did you tell him how dangerous Dr. Crutchley thinks his son's state is?"

"Yes, but Nanny says she is sure he will not forbear blaming him. She is very desirous you should take command of the sick-room, and turn him out if necessary!"

"Turn hin, out! I should think so, if he has not judgment and temper enough to forbear reproaches towards one in so critical a condition !"

I made a very hasty arrangement of my

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disordered toilette, and ran down. Already I could hear a loud-raised voice from the direction of Grant's room. Oh, how angry I felt; the man was actually storming!

Grant had half raised himself on his left arm, and was facing his father with knit brow and down-cast eyes. The bitter words of accusation spoken were true enough; it would not be said at first that they were exaggerated. Grant had brought disgrace on his own house, had requited kindness with ingratitude, turned ruffian where he was most bound to guard from outrage.

I tried to stem the torrent; to make myself heard; but taking me probably for some hired nurse-I have seen many look far more ladylike than it is probable I did at the time-he seemed to resent my interference as if I were counsel for the defendant; and proceeded with renewed violence to taunt Grant with his connection with the Black Band; almost intimating that he might have had a hand in the burglary. In fact, I had now a specimen of what a Wainwright could be in a towering passion.

I could not stop him. I took a chair and placed myself at the bedside between the two, and spoke to Grant. "Bear it patiently," I said, "it is part of your punishment." He raised his eyes to mine and sank back on the pillow.

What a relief it was to see Merton Brown at the door! His appearance had more power with the visitor than mine: he stopped.

"Do you know what you are doing?" Merton asked him, in a tone of displeased astonishment.

"I can't help it: he must hear what he has done."

"In the right time; but now he is not in a condition to offer vindication."

"Vindication! scoundrelism?"

Who can vindicate such

"It is neither time nor place for speaking of what has occurred. Mrs. Gainsborough, we will leave you to your charge. Come into the parlour, sir."

Mr. George Wainwright did not dispute the tone of authority in which he spoke he turned abruptly on his heel and closed the door-as no invalid's door should be closed.

I drew the coverlet from Grant's face. I found he was shivering and convulsed. He partly raised himself again. "Did you hear what he said?" he asked. "It was very true, was it not? only what did he mean about the Black Band? He don't think-you don't think what she once said had anything in it? You don't suspect Witham was that sort of villain? He is a gentleman in some sort, is he not? He behaved like a knave to me, but he must-why don't you speak, Mrs. Gainsborough ?"

"You know, I suppose," I said, "that Witham was arrested on suspicion of connection with this affair. No case was found against him, and he was liberated next day. My hopes for Helen do not rest on any idea of his forbearance, or sense of what is expected

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"Arden Mainwaring; Helen's husband." 'Mainwaring! Has he that much in him? Does he care to save her from Witham ?" "Care? Oh, you have done him injustice. You do not know how truly he loves her.”

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'He married her for her money-for that only. He took the money before he was allowed to take her. That did not look much like love."

"No; Mr. Wainwright proposed the marriage to him, and circumstances for which he was not entirely responsible made him accept the offer. But he was not insensible to what was due to Helen from the first, and now he loves her he loves her well, nobly, as she deserves to be loved!"

"Leave me; leave me by myself awhile."

"No, Grant; I should not feel happy_in leaving you; I will sit with_you_till Dr. Crutchley comes, he will not be long."

"Mrs. Gainsborough, I loved Helen as truly, as strongly, as any man could love her. I never loved any but her. There is nothing I would not have attempted to win her love. The very depth of wickedness to which I have fallen should prove to you that I love her-no man ever loved as I have loved her!"

"Oh, Grant, according as a man is, so is he capable of loving. You loved her with all the headlong force of a strong untutored nature; but such love could not in itself have sufficed to make Helen happy, even if she had never seen, never loved, another. You thought of yourself rather than her throughout. You would have sacrificed all the world to win her love: you would not sacrifice your own wishes to preserve her happiness. Knowing that her heart was given to another-knowing even that she was married, you yet were deaf to her prayers."

He groaned aloud. "Yes," he said, "I know I was deaf to her prayers; I curse myself for it, and now, he-villain he must be, but not so bad as is thought; you do not think it?"

He watched my face with intense eagerness, as I sat silent before him. I could not deny my conviction of what Witham was; but, desiring to soothe him, I presently said "Whatever he is I have no doubt he will not be suffered to move a step unwatched a London detective accompanies Mr. Mainwaring in the pursuit, and the police in Ireland are on the alert."

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"You would not wish me to believe that the matter is worse than it is? No; you said nothing to me about the Black Band until my father did. It is so. I believe it. I have given her over to a pack of felons!"

He started up, but pain and weakness forced him back upon his bed, and, turning his face on the pillow, he wept convulsively It was fearful to me to witness a suffering I had so little

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