PROBATION: A TALK OF THE LANCASHIRE, COTTON FAMINE;

By MISS JESSIE FOTfIERGIIiIi, '> \ Author-of "Healey,'' "Aldvth," "The\Fir6

Violin," :otc,

CHAPTER IV.

ADRIENNE. Hove ray lady;Bheia vary.fatr;. ........ Her brow U wan, and bound by simple hair; Her spirit aits aloof j andlhlgh, ■• " . l(! . .■!-• But glances from her tender eyb, . . /silii In Bwoetnoga drooping!?. '..'■ '. j " Myi.es left the: house,' arid,' traversing: &*}s,. sideways, found himself presently in f steep' hilly street' which lie descended,,,' arriving' at. last at a sort of square, through the''middle of which ran the Than'se, anil'oh Myi.Sldes^ofj which were rows of shops. Then, 'walking on a hundred yards or so, he emerged in another Still larger open space, opposite a large ana beautiful building, which in its delicate and multiform Gothic tracery and noble dimensions, with the springing-gilded. spire-leaping aloft at last, offered a startling contrast to its.sordid surroundings—theshabby; low houses, narrow streets, and grimy factories, which crowded round as near as they dared.' The river here made a bend, and passed Hid front of the Town ■■ Hall. A' kiud'of boulevard' ha'd'be'eh made,-, planted, \yith trees; aud , immediately, across the river, fronting the Town Hall, was a ' house standing in a garden.divided ■by the river from the road. It was,a fine, old, hpuse of redbrick, which had no, doubt., originally ■ been "in the country." ..There-, was a look of stateliness and substance, about it; the brick" was relieved -by haudspfwi ..Stone riiullions,, copings, and chimmey stacks. . ■ . . ■ . : The trees I'Mdubeeii' stunted by smoke,»but' they lived yet. Much ivy,' strong and tenai cious from advanced ageI,'1 ,' 'clung' about it. Thje1' grounds were thoroughly well ;kept. .Tlie pqi'-r terres'were blazing with.the. passionate glob ing colours of the summer flowers ;p the win- ' dows were glazed:: with sheets'of plate' glass. Here and there a bow had been thrown! put; Behind were extensive stables and, outhouses. It was, though • dingy, and< miscellaneous iii architecture, a fine imposing old mansion.; it instantly caught.the stranger's eye,' and was known from infancy to every, inhabitant of Thanshope as well' as the old church' on the lull behind the Town Hill, !or as the 'great co-operative stores on another hill at the other side of the town. ' ■ ' To-night Myles looked more earnestly than usual at this old house. It was called." The' Oakenrod," and was the property of Sebas-. , tian Mallory, tenanted during his absence by, that stately dame, his mother. ~. ' • "There it is !" said Myles within himself. " Cumbering the ground—keptiike-a palace for a fellow who doesen't care two j straws for Again he shrugged his shoulders, and turned somewhat abruptly to the left, making for one ' of the side doors of the Town Hall. He went in, and ran up a great many flights of stone steps, past corridors and branching passages, till he could go no higher, for. the excellent reason that he was at the top of the building, rushing open the glass door,-which swung to behind him, Myles found himself in the holy of holies—the library. A door b the right led into the reading room, and thither he di rected hissteps; It was a large, lofty handsome, room, with many tables and chairs, and plenty of pens, ink, and newspapers, and periodicals scattered about. When Myles entered, the • room was almost empty. ~pne.or two men : reading newspapers, and at one' table in a window sat a girl, who had a great book open' before her, but > whose i eyes';' were' at./that", moment intently fixed upon the old house, the , Oakenrod, which lay directly,beneath..,:j-: •" Myles, searching about; found a number of the •'Westminister Review,"-! and-took it to his accustomed place, at the table next to where the girl sat. He noticed no one to the right, or left of him—not even her who was. almost the only > lady visitor who' ever entered ■ the reading room..' '~ , : . ,'.\ „. ' ; . She was already a familiar figure to his eyes. For some months past he had seen her nearly «very evening, sitting at the' same table, even at the same, side ofjjhat ; table, ,>vith i , a book—generally some large and 'weighty' volume —open before her, -and a small, thick | notebook, in which she wrote extracts orabv stracts of what she read. ■,■■■■■:.■ . ' Myles knew quite well the tall, slim figure, the two dresses which she alternately wpre-r-' one a soft, flowing, black one ; another soft ; and flowing too, of a blue so dark as to be nearly black. He knew that the lines of her dresses flowed gracefully, and were agreeable •to the eye. He knew, too*' the little black fishu which which she usually wore—a sort of. apology for a mantle, which she never dis carded on the hottest days'; the modestly-• shaped white -straw hat, avith its carefully, preserved black lace scarf, ntid bunch of dafc. sies at one side, which hat she always, ended'; in taking bflf after she had sat there ten minutes or so. She had a pale, clear, fair com plexion, bright,' warm chestnut hair, 'and a face which, not conventionally beautify! , in. outline, was full to overflowing of thesubtler, more bewitching charm of a beautiful spirit., It—her face—had a youthful softness of out line, not full, but not thin, with a .charming roundedchin, meltinginto the full[white throat; a mouth whose lines attracted irresistibly, spI.' good, so spiritual, were their curves ;■ an in^ significant, but well-cut nose; a pair of. large • luminous, expressive eyes, .which in, some favourable lights might appear grey, buf' an impartial observer must inevitably .have confessed h.ul a shade of green in them. ;: •" Myles and this young lady had sat at neigh bouring tables in the, public reading room almost every evening throughput the spring and summer months of that year. Whenever Myles came into the room he had found- the young lady there; he could not, of cptirse, tell whether she camewhenhejras nottthere. - Conversation, in the reading room wa's against the rules; but, " conversation'";'is an abstract noun of considerable indefiniteness, and one to which different minds may.attatcli different meanings. A few; words exchanged,' of greeting or courtesy could scarcely have come under the head of" cbriyersation," br.if it did, the rules were infringed every day. A little remark as one passed-thepapertoi the other— fifty little things ! might have been said (and were said by some frequenters of the room) without in the least disturbing thVp.eade of the studious. .. '.','■'■ ",,■■'. >;'i :.. •.;'.[ But between Myles and his neighbour,those words had never been spoken. They had never exchanged a syllable'-^Mylcs' because of certain British, workmanlike shyness, and a general sense that she belonged, despite the simplicity of her ' appearance, manner, and atlirc, to the class of " fine ladies," whom he disliked and distrusted—the class which, was typified for him in the person of Mrs .Mallory of the Oakenrod—and of ■ivhom he' had the idea that they were silly, pretty, 'useless, expensive things, good for nothing but-to spend a mans money, and make him miserable with their tricks and ontics—and break, his heart if he were fool enough to give it into their keeping—incapable of taking any part in the serious things of life. That was,his opinion of "ladies." For'the women of his own class he had a hearty respect and admira tion. They could', earn, wages, thejr could work.; they. did not. meddle with things but of their'sdhere.; i they had a. distinct. use .ami purpose; he never uttered ah ill wovd'^q [Or'of any one of them, .':,,, V '. . •'V.-.'-.'• '.* He Had never spoken to' his neighbour

because he was shy, and did not know how to begin a conversation; but he would have scorned to own it; he would have said : .. "Spealctb" her"! .Why should f speak toiler ? I've nothing'thatil Wjant to^ say^to Her." ''■'■ '"; i\ M Wi \ H ■■■ Which would have been.untrue, fot, thej:e. was,, such intelligence,-spch'sympathy in her^, face, that he many a tirjie caught himself, 0n.4 reading tony striking passage, wondering tavhaqjfj she would think of it if sha had read-it. \ '? '■-She had- never spoken-tci him, because—why_.>; —because well, what did it matter ?—possibly .because she was a.little .more..sensible..than,, most girls, and felt no wish to speak unless she had something to say. ,|. ■:'/j !' V, They met without sign of recognition. He wbuTd'take his place,-she-hersr-She"always had some bopk, under her arm,,for which she had stopped, t,o ask'the libravfari' on ljer way in,, and they \Yp,uld pften pas's, a cpup,le'_ bf hpurs almost .Wfthpui a ,wbr,d'or a .Jook. '.She, read earnestjyandhard^tiotas'ifslie read for pleasure,,, butfor,>york with a purpose. ?riydtely,'Myles; .was' ; mightily .pupled to know ,'.>yhat'she'could be , reading, or rather, with what object she read what she did. 7 Qn.ce, he had been^uite excited,' (silently) tp.'^ee' her pßfing. over a musical scoi'e reading:it;as if it '.were a book. , One of the, specialities of the Thanshope Free Library was ; its musical '"departmeni, which ~was "phly^. stocked both in scores and.in, tfeatises on music ' and musician^. ' ~■,'"'] . ,;. ■~',"•,,, , ■■„ ■*, During the summer the room was generally . nearly empty, tijhe peopb/were : ptherwis.e'" employed, so lliat.often, riot more'tlmij half a dozen reader's:wefc.to'be found.in all the large airy. room —sometimes Myles "/and the 1 studious .unknown .^reading-gfrl." ; were all : alone there.'', ■','■, ~.,,-.,; ■; .... Myles'opened his review, and; his eye, ieU upon an article on 'the governing classes, which instantly caught his attefHtpn'.' , In the hope of : finding | some ,fpllles''And i ', weaknesses of 'the , goveriiins ' ~classL;s ,sharply',.'castigated' lie,, settled^umself'witli. pleased expuctaUon'tb his,.' boot.. ' ; ■■ , . ~ , ,',,, . : ..- , ■■■jjViii Half aij.ho.ur passed," One,bv,pneme o^her' OQpupaiits of "the .room walked away; , The, workmi'n an.d the young, lady were left,; albiie, '\ 'together.' $he looked every npw.an'd'ffieri put !of the window, tier'note 'taking 'did not seem ' ■to ilp\y so smoothly ,as usual. ''.Siiread open, oh !the table bcfore"h'er; she- had a fine edition,, ;of the V'jugU'eS,"p.'f ppinetiico Scarlatti,, ; whicli she studied,'', a .little now and : theny;, ,'but. offener looked out thrbugli .the' window.; !NoW, .'from ,that \ymdpw she had, a ( tolerably , Uvide. prospect, 'and immediately, beneath'her '■■ eyes,was tlie .handspme/pW red,' brick house, with it's flower beds,' and its lawn's, smooth.and green, and, well watered—a.rural fastness in, the midst of 'the dusty town. ■,:i',-',' '.'; ■ There' was silehce that was almost solemn in the big'room, \yhich was 'growing. dusk;, it was sohigh and. airy, and so isolated; 'raised' ' far above the town and'its troubles, the din hiislied ; the rolling vehicles and the passing throng dwarfed; and silence like a garment overalj. : , . . . ■•• t' * As chimes brokes that silence,, and eight o'clock strtick,1 the girl, with 'a "sigh, turned resolutely away from the outside'prospect, and . applied herself again to her score. \. ■, MyleS, half roused by the chiming, half pleased with a particularly hard hit at the governing classes, which especially took his fancy, raised his head at this moment, and his , eyes, without any thought of his neighbour. It' is, a gesture whicli everyone makes some times in reading. Smiling with satisfactipn at as what struck him, as a masterly, argument, Myles let his eyes fall upon her. , ' She, too, was looking up, not at him, ,but. !past'h'im. Her eyes were turned towards the door' and quick as thought' there passed a subtle, inexplicable flash of dislike, tempered j with alarm, across her face. She made a ' movement'as if to rise—as.if to escape, 'then sat down again, with a flush; mo>e of annoy an'ce'thanxohf<lsibn,r mantling in her' cheeks. .Then, bending/to: her bopk,. she seemed, to I make softie' effort to keep her eyes .firmly , fixed upiri it. ■ • • : This little bit of by-play roused Myles at tention;1 He turned his head towards the door whicli was behind him, and lie saW how it was opened^ arid a man came into the room. A gentleman ?' he speculated, as he first saw the figure in the obscure background. The visitor; gradually approached, and Myles, staring unceremoniously at him, experienced a feeling of surprise, disgust, and sudden enlightenment, as to the cause of the young lady's distur . bance. I:'.' ' ' ","'. .' ~;.,'.-, i The newcomer was a'young man with a somewhat high colour; dark hair and eyes', a fill), beardless face, and a coarse animal mouth.. He was 'well, even' foppishly' dressed, and bore the outward stamp of a person to whom moriey is'riotr a;-subject of painful study or con sideration. . But, as Myles knew, he was not sterling cbin. 'His'taariner even of entering that rooni'was less than second-rate; .confi dence'became a swagger was nVetamofphorised into self-consciousness. The expression of his face' was' bold and vulgar. ' Perhaps no' greater or more telling contrast could have been found than that between the workman' in his': work-a-day it ess and the would-be dandy in his gloved, perfumed, over dressed vulgarity. " ' , ''", ' This person carafe forward; his. eyes feu upon Myles; he removed them. ' A work man—a pertpn nbt demanding his' attention, bne'bf, the"" fellahs "who came to the read-' ing rbom's.; :' '' ''' " . ~, ' •','.,■ "Nevertheless he seated himself at Myles s table and1 drew ' a'"Daily' News" towards him, without speaking 'and;without removing hil hat. Myles glanced at the young lady without letting her'see (hat he did so; her eyes were fastened upon the page before her,1 but he had studied ' her expressions,, arid knew^that she was not reading. "Now I should,like to know," speculated Myles inwardly,' "what you may want here, Mr Fredrick Spencley."., ■ •' <} '•'- ■ . He had recognised the wan—the son of a rich manufacturer, of Thanshope,. who had earned his fortune as a Radical, and was living in state nowi as a. Conservative, and a supporter of the aristocracy, Church, State, and landed' gentry interest. His son, as Myles was well aware,- had assuredly not visited the ! reading room lifor ■ purposes of mental instruction;.'!!", . .(nisi i"'. ', • .-< -■_■■'■'■ li Myles apparently! applied himself again to his book; i but.the argument had lost its charms for . him. He had < not known until now hbw lively was : the interest he had: taken .in his graceful*young neighbour.I. Placing, his book so asto shield his face, but yet so'that'he bould'observe what was going on, he said to himself: ' -:' "i ■' •' ;i " I ',>'•'>'•- '■ ■','!'

" I'mi .glad I didn^t goavvay- ten .minutes

ago; 1' JK'iur.liiirt .-".:■;•..-■'■•.' i;. ~'•■■■, ■ '■' ■: After bestowing a ivery short and scant meed of attention upon the M Daily 'News" Mr ■Spenceley I cast -ihis<«jres around him.' Myles -watched him, and sawtheHeistirely impudence of;the- stare witli. which he favoured the young Jady, and his .'ears began to tingle. He —my. poor-,Myles—was of a' fiery tempera ment; could, not endure! to ...see' even .a 'fine ■lady " ' insulted . ;without i cause, ■. and was dangerously ready to take up the cudgels for the-unprotected or ill-used.v ■■ • • ■ "Jibeg.,your.pardon,'.'iisaid Mr Frederick Spenceley, leaning towards the girl. '' Do you 'want that paper; f):i Mo '.;..:■ ' ■'" .; Ho stretched his hand tbwards. a newspaper Avhich lay upon, tlie, table.at whichshe sat, but he was looking at her with a stare, perhaps intended for.one: ..of gallant admiration,, but which, from .the .unfortunate '"nature of the beast" succeeded only in being imperti nent. ■!J .'■ "■■ . ' ■Without looking.at him,, she raised her ■elbow from the paper ion. which it had rested, • and; contihuedj,. or .seemed to Continue,, her reading... ;.•>■■ „','., '■.■;, !. " You"don't, want: it?'..he said, with

what may have been meant for a winning smile. , "Ko," came like a little icicle from her : lPMyles with hifticiaty sat siiU ; bu|ma&fog |an /ffoi-t, contitjuedi quiet, itliough •JvatchlHg ujfgame with |a deeper, interest than before. M \ >, \'■ >\ mThe 'twilight had-grown almqstin darkness; b'f this|time. The fiattendan^ perhaps not, knowing, that anyone^ras in the'roorn, had not.J yebJighEeid the gass. A... JA...&-- .'£—■-' Mr Spenceley took the paper but without even, pretending. to. Jpok at it, said in a tone of ._ under-bred badinage : r]'! Isn't, \t' jfa,&er dark tof^iS "readirigMiss—;

• She raised her eyes this-time and caught those ]of the speaker; fixed ,full,«pon. her-" Her own , werqiirj^fantiy.jayerfecL witli.an .expression, of I cold, and disgust,, and;she,,made no reply. v , ~ /: .,, ~ , ■■.-■< ', >v>Wij >t\ \>i ~'f,l assure you its,,very, bad for the : oyes to. reafl.by.'t,his halflight-i—very trying., ...Hadn't L htyiet .tell, (he,, fellah, 'tq,, ligf)t the, ;gas ? .1 am , ; sura you; will ispqil, yqur, .eyes, and that; womd. ; : bei ,a. ~pityj" with a winning simper; :which.,: made JVtylfis's., fist clench; witb an intense desire,, j to dp jhim,some ;l\oi;cible', violence. '.'Don't you, reajly think .I 'had.better," ,}\c' pursued, -ev^-'j deptlybent up<?n, mjjkipg her speak.,.^t last,he ; si\cp«ef}ed,.,? t ,; ivm U -n.i., i..!,L;A (10 *?jit !",JBe good, : finqugh,,tp ; jmniljpur_ o\yn l ,bnsi- i ,' ness,^without, addressing,,pie,','.,said she, in : a ~ i vqice, ,^luch,,t|iougiit ityle.'s,..was.sufficient ,to,; i hay?,rebuffed ,t|ie cur tl)at eyef iCfllled',, i itself by {he •. name p,f'(map. _ , . ~ viiilfiuife sAXjth"that' she,quietly,;b'y ..slightly altering , ahV,po?itjo)},,of her ~cl},T.ir,. turned her • bapk . up.pi) I^lr SpeDceicy^.whib,,her profile, witli.i frovy|ii)ig hvow, and. indignantly,, cpmpressed ,j lips was.plainly,visjble to Myles. . ; .',: it\,'<

Mr , Spenceley.laughed, ..npf sq musically,. as,.i,lady-killer should.be able.to.Jaugh,, and remarked-:-,, •■,{•■■■''' -.'i-mi.;!- \f '<n !: . ,".I;feul jtiipy l^Uifiss^o.preventj.^^oungi,, lafly.f^om.spDU'ing her eyes, ,and—rr:'; t■ ■:, ■i . i iSteadyiiig hjs ,vp.i,ce;, : with. some 'difficjilty \ intosomethin? like indiff^t^nce, Myles: turned-

tqihjm, ,and jSa.i,d %tn<>lii i .•>!.■ >iiv/ -'','.'.' ■-"> " Don t you know>,that tallung.is.torbidden f ;here^''i • ■■•"•■!. !'■■ ~ <p . :'■ ' ■■■'■'■ ';u:<liiii!-J | ,'Shs lflo ; k;wluoh,he;reqeiYed.iaansv^er|.niade;. ihiin smile,, despite, his -.inner,,indignatiop.y MBiSpepßgiayi contemplated'him with a, stare,: jwhjfch 'unfortunately; not .so regal as ; it. [ might,- •have .bepn ; : then-raising a- single eye-.t glass herstuck.it,.into.ipne,,eye,[;a_pd._:surv4yed ! i ithe.auilaciousi speaker anew,' ,as, if his wonder ; I at-what had occurred could n.ever,bp sufficiently,., satisfied,!! -iii:. !:• , l.nii ,jh<iw .. :>i;:i i/'WiiU iynhi>miiKl l ,yah..p,wj* .business, and leave gentleman to mind they-aws ?", he atl&st;^ drawkd out,, with;magnificent disdain,-,, r,Ur, n lif.WjiPh I seethe-gentleman; I|S.haUibe,quite:, ready.toileaye;him tO:inin.i,h,is.psvu..business,"<i was the placid retort. .'"ln the meantime,.as:: the young lady wishes to read, and Iwish:tpi read, and you ;disturb us with your chatter, perhaps you will .kindly, hold; your tongue."- r Here'Mr Speneeley resolved upon a master-., stroke. .-Turning '.lii§,',broadcloth-clad back., upon Myies,' he tiltel his,cliair'back' so.as to.^ seetheyou'uglady,better,'and inquired : '.' "Do you knp>y tlie fellah, Miss—a-—-?", , Before she coiild reply (supposing that, she . had' any intention pf v replying)! Myles, had ', leaned a little forward, and tapped Mr, Spence-;. ley on the shoulder. , VVItU a. great start,, quite , disproportionate, to "the '.' circumstances,: . latter brought his chair .to' its normal position, again. Myles'saw. the start and stifled: a smile../,..,",!. ..." ..'. i--':;-.,i -.-ii': i ■■- ''Excuse me, my good sir,, J.don t reraem«,; ber, ever to have seen you J.ere,before, so-per-. haps you w.oji't .mind showing..mc.your.ticket, —,1 mqan your member's ticket —pthenyise—" ~; Will yo.u hpld your tongue ?'■ retorted the otherj in a tpne of scornful exasperation. : . 'i':Nb," ..xeplieil'.'.Myles. [<?,l(',~ypa.'<y&, any, right.' to be hete,,,sh<)>v ,me your, .ticket,,,an^ . hqldyour tongue, acpording to rules ; ; if,y6u haven't that riglit, walk out at once." . : , . 'Al can tell yah, yah ,ddn't I seem,,to .know who yah speaking, to," , observed, Mr, Spencely,., apparently .. Jpst. ; in_, astonishment.,, 'i Are yah one.oC'the. authorities here?."/.r , ~,"Oh yes! I know you,",said.Myles, : saw that the young Jady was now watching the . dispute with undisguised interest. ~f And;pm| that much of an authpi;ity that I .can, prevent: you ,from disturbing arid .annoying, peppie.,! Once for all, wi|l you show meypar carf of,.ad-, missiou?" . '.; i ti ■■ ■ ••■ ■■'-- "- > i.i " '.'No,! wpn't"; ~ ~ s. ~,.■ ; . I, ~■ ryl f'Then youjl ;excuse,! my going,,to .the librarian and .telling him, you are. here : without, right-r-uniess,ypu.prefer to,.save that.trov.blej to me, and ten shillings to yourself,, by, walking yourself off now,,this, moment,;, said Myles, whq beganto find a, delicious, piquancy in rthe' sensation of dealing /thu^; siijnmar^y ;with, a, person of ■ - the, qpnsideration '.of ; .Frederick Speijceley. It was an ignoble feeling,,and we allha,ve ignoble feelings .sometimes,,,or, what is the meaning of the constant injunctions to bear Mid forbear which we xeceive.ftora different sources?,. ~ ,>".; , . -; -,'r,. ■ ni iiisliw' i "Haw! Wha-at,?" ~•■.. ./:, rt j i-mUiU "The fine for' using this. room ..without belonging to'it is ten,.shillings^, ( . Therefs another; fine foe talking, and disturbing people, tpo," said Myles, who had neyer.jlpst, his look of perfect ease and,calmness, and ; >yho d|4 not for. a. moment: remove his eyes s , from, the others face. ~ ['J i!i ■ m hiiii ■'•,'<• hnil *Jli •'!>■■ 1 Mr ~Speneeley did.not appear.;t« like !the mention'Of:fines. ; IJis face fell; ,his,hand in voluntarily sought his. pocket: rib "Hi: m {ii •>&] "iTejvder.jn, that ..direction,, poor fellow! thought (Myles :to himsielf. : I ; :„..,', „■" Confounded radical place this.-! observed Mr Speneeley. ,":Nol; fit for a gentleman,to. live in."-. '.;. i,l .: ilil ■■•• i -jdl ■. ■' ' •■■ f'Kotwhen, they have o.nly, been gentlemen since i 'the I last. general election," ,sajdt Myles politely. , " I quite agree with ,y,pu."..^, _ . pi {J.welli I'shall]go,andseewhat,the librarian says to all this," saidMr-iSpenceley, by ;j way of covering his retreat; and then, after a pro longed ] sWe' se' tHe:igirr iri" the : window, hat'irJtfa^|i'ii>not"isovJauntily.f«asiifle- Had entered.'' insumwiiU-"'li|l;i' il ',"'" <£? ' ■;'' ! Myles picked up his: book again.1 yThfegirl watched her tor-mehtor, unti|: tlie noiseless-doo* had swung'to'bbhind(hini}!and;'she.haa<seen his shadow' pass towards--the I stairs. (- Myles feigned to read; but he: could not! help seeing how she trembled as; she sat tHerei l*oii tdsuh ■He did not speakto her: ■> Something^he knew i not -what-^lifeld him! back; a But >ihre suddenly: felt' a light-toucliiupoiiihisarm,; and looking niV^w the young lady standingteside

■i"Do you think he. is really' gone?" she asked, scarcely above Her breath. .-.■!■: :.'•' *'Ohyes'!: That'sort of'cur sllnksoff when you stoop for a stone/with his tail between his legs: 'It's only when he has his kennel weU behind hint that he turns upon you and snaps," replied Myles. with homely, if expressive, meta phor. • ' ■ ■ : ' She drew a long breath, raised her head again, and; said, with a; mixture of.dignity ami gentleness which' appealed intensely to his strongest feelings of. admiration. — _ A ■ "i cannot tell you how much I am obliged to you'!" ' ' ' "■':_ ■ : .. ■", Don't mention it miss, "said he ; and it was odd that while Mr Spenceley's "miss, made every; rightminded person pant to knock him down and pound him well, Myles s "miss" was riot ill the faintest degree offen "Vbu spoke as if you knew who he is. .■: Do you?" she added. ■ . ■ ; ' :• > t» ■ ''Oh yqs !! He's well enough known ; he's the only son of that Spenceley who has the big factories down at Lower Place— <! Bargaining Jack they call him." ;,■•■,,,' ''] '.' ,';';'.> ' ." Oh i I know who you mean. PoQr man! How I pity him for having such a son I"

"Had you ever seen him before?" asked Myles, confirmed in his impression that she was not a native of Thanshope, and finding -conversation easier than he had expected! ,'■>', '■:•, *| '■'. m fi _ "il, have seat him several times lately. 1,-i seenWalways to', be meeting him.,, Once J§ thought he hadiifollowed, me, arid alien 1, ---thought hbw absurd to" imagine such a thing • ■'.■:,. but he must have done1 at all |the same." I V # M M \if Mylcs'j. had had inexplicable while" she'"spoke"'He haS known her so long without a voice, that now, when he heard it, she seemed to become a •stranger again ; ' and" yeinqta stranger. She had a sweet low voice, clear ahd'perfetrating, and she spoke with an accent.thau had something ..npUlufte^English^ "Wwtouid haykbeen dfficult^to Mylesi:in hisI'ignorance; ' impdssib'le'^td!say;i,n:';vrhat ( thefo'reign'elemeht lay1;' 'but it wif assuredlyl . thefe;"'l When' she (spoke - she looked at him with" fleeting glances which had nothing' insincere In them/ and her face, lighted up anU"became'lo/vely—and itidre than that, 'dis-1;; tinguished,1 spiritual ; the slender figdre-was' balanced■Iwitlv:sucn ' a gra'cefalj'^iiseV'-'the'' de'Hc'dre 'Winds1' >yere t free from -.'all nervous: restlessness..'' Heir chestnut hair'was abundant' and its ' dreisirig' so' simple1 ' and beautiful' aS \ alohS, 'to',"-makeI her;'iimdrkable1. '' Mylds■' ' reaiis 1cdlfh'at;^h'e: was'mostyistmctlya' "'laHy;"-;i bii't.'he' 'fctouia 'hot'make himself' feel; her'to'be-^ either"trivial br''ktupid/::;There ;;ihae'"I beenii nOthing: trivialtt^er'; behaviour.' 'Her treat';' meht'-bf'him" ftatiered his discrimination When ■• he':'rem:embere'cr;her'; late treatment of'•'Mr1; Spencfelejrl1 ■A.t/tha't'i'ime.bf' his life he >ad very wrong"ideasI'bri.'the subject.of gentle-; i midn having mistaken notions 'as to their power and 'character;" but 'fhe best 'part of his nature [ was soothed 'arid^-pleased'iwhienJso'!pe'rfectia'; piece' of refinement a^: '■ thisf: .-yt>uiig ■'■ lafly treatecl him entirely as" a! gejitlemari.: "■•'( '"■'■J' '■" Ahd;'l tha'nli7quagariT;;:Very:rriubhV"'she' added,''sm'ilift'g1 and holdihg' but 'her' hawdyl'/ i 1" MylesIforgot ;'to be1 corlfased !as he'actfepted ; thehaad^o frankly extended, and feltelicbtl- 1 raged1 todo1' .Svhat" he': had' thought' '■ wduld -be riglitfrdm the'tnomehtshe ha'dspfofe'en'tohim.'!; u'l'"aiii very 'Wad to Wyi been'of service;; Mky'rask'howTarybUare'g'oing'?"' ■ ' ■'«■• Td;Blake-3treef,.:if you know At/.'^'V- ' Oii)w ;itwell.l' It'lstdo'faf'forydu-td' go a'lohe, if you will excuse; niy saying, sd.^lt ss; qiiife1 tio'ssible that- fellow''may- be; hangingl abdut yet; .I'll go' r withy tiu, if-ydu will allow; "Oh'('you'are:very kind;"'said \ she,'with visible Teiief.'t *' I cannot refuse though "I''am; sorry to take"yduaway."'•■ •• » '■'■'• ;'-\'" ■'■' "Not at! alt ■ I'can't fasten1 :to itngami'^; said'Myles, sincerely. - ' :'•';-;-' .'■■■'■ ' i ->{ ""Thenjifyda wdUld'be so.'good, I' should1 be vety grateful/said she";- and; :slie! looked so "> relieved, and: 4<y pleaded; that:; Myles felt him self i-ewarded ah hundied-fold'.for the act which-1 had■occufre4;tdhim'as- one'dfsimple civility-^-' '■ naY, of almost obvious necessity.Ji-•':- / a:£j ■They: leftthe T?dwn Hallwheh shehad;=re turned her1 book'io thelibrariatfj and passed' out intb the street, turtiing to the right.:' fi.lw I "Thisistheshortestway, mi»s > "said Myles,. J distracted as to what he should call her, feel ing" mfc" disagreeable* he hardly knew why, but', despite the -wealth of the English language,; havirigno other alternative than a bold' "TypU; ■■' 'She relieved his mind as if she had-, undent stood his thoughts.'~: ■■'•;•' "' '.' ''/ ■• "lily name 'is Adriehhe' Blisset," she said; i "I should like to know 'yours, af>you!wilMell' it me ?"

" Myles Heywood." '• '•''■■■' ;■■'-■ '; , "I like iN-it is so English, so Lancashire: - '•'lt's not like yours, tßen;" said he. ''It; sounds foreign.'"- : •'■':' ''•" ■' '•■ •'■"' V' 1 ■'' ' ■^Adrienne?- 'Yes;'" that" is-'French'fon Adriana ;'butl proriourice; it in thte 'German' wa y_;Adrißri;he. ,'Dsnt yoU'see?"s ; !''';''_•" !'I never heard such a name—for an English; young'ladyl'^'said'MyleS'Simplyi ■'■ pl r- JiSW".« ■•'» I am'-noc altogether an' Englishwoman;;'! am! half German: I'■ was ■ neVftrirl'England till eighteen: months ago." li" ' • '■' '■ '• "■'■'•'■ ' ■'-_"' , Never;^n'liFntjland jv-.fephoed'1 ;NyleV incredulously.'''"T'heii'yousispeak wEnglish amazingly1 ;*ell;!.^" ;-' 11:': ~. '"' iv ' :!';'-,»f>':; Adrienne laughed; and- Myles asked-: <':!•' 'll; 'i" How do Iyou;like England, now that yoat arewit?v wT .•-•»si»iiil^a•»/» i;'' '-'p;* .;"i:.d6 no.t'kno^ EngtandJ- J' only --.knoW Thanshope?, and I^catih'pts'ay-^that I do likeat much-^-ifyou wilt ejccuse Jhe;'' ' ■ 1 "«l-'«JJ j-"Gh,'we don't expect Everyone to like' our town," said Myles,-magnanimausly.'^/Ut'is a-i-ough sort' of place, I: fancy. ' And I 'should not think you would like it ;eitheri 'YouaTe not like most of, the:ladies hereI. '-> ' ■-■■"< 'rl' :J-; .:.••>^6«">'i'"' ..•r>(i!../i.f-!.<i-,!;.vi.: "■■- ! ,■ "There isn't'anothet-ladyin the place who would come t6" the aS'you Aa>' ififtw iCii-.v >>:iin.i:f[i uvm-. Imiii ,;bv>ul.!ivr

'Mndeedi I^--'':•;■•' •V™* • "'They are'too; fine,'! suppose," said'he, contemptuously. !»-''<^l; l .::• :i. ■■>■'■ ' ">'■ <• > ■i-'.'Too'tine?!i>-- ''-i! •■"■•■ ■■'•''"• ••<■■-'■ ' '',' V 1" | ift Ah; ■; We ■ have * > lot ot ■! fine ladies here; There's Mail Spenceley, mother of that fellow : whor^as''annoying yoff this-evening, but' she's i not so1 fine, .certainly poor i thing 1 '- But there : s | her daughter; iMyles shrugged-;his shoulders ' a«d'turningKisi'eyes-to;ne!Wen.iI u--J '" ;;;' j ;:.».'ls she very ■fin*;!"'-'; ■•■' ; '}'■''■ ;' Ji.i >•.'• "C !r:l .;,.'* Whenever I; see'her she is as fine as 'fine ' cati be:;' ■ but perhaps she'lias 'some excuse ;fo'r ; its,i forishiaiisvery handsome.iatidshehasiakmd , face'tooi' i One would Wondei-how she Coaldbe , that fellow's; sister.' Then there's Mts: Shuttle worthiiihalthas,'the grand"yellow carriage..; but'she-isibettet-'than sbmebfjthe'ni; andsh'e ; ldofcs'<ill,'pbor;thirig.''.So!perhaps her-finery \ only gives iher very little coinforf."^ ,; - ', i i.t'lt seemsto me that you'have an excuse for \ theni all," said MissßHsseti ■-":•' ■■'■• :'■"' ''i' : t I'Perhkps I haVe-^for ■' all but idne--the •■ prbudest'andnthe fin&t'of'!the,wliole'lot,;!il/d | it-ather; have ariy of themr than h-er-^dnd,that's ; MrsMalloryofthe:-Oakenro'd^';i Kiuhtuo'iii ■ ;<<Mrs;Mali— -)"■ began Adrienne, quickly, ■ and then stopped'"abruptly. ■<'Do you know j - heir ?"i she axU&ed'.i'H-! >TtL-Atr,li Ur ir/iiwAf* ' ".-"il knV>w't!hiS) ihuchof her,1 that'l Work in : their /{factory,1 and she comes looking .rotund ; inow-aridlhenv-bbhafvingasifshe thought that I, and the factories, and the town, and^'tHe world in general, .Were'-made for her pleasure j and service. ;Oh, she,'s fi prqud-insolent ;yoman;'"Mrs "Matlpry': ,'ali; the -Maltorys, . are1 ''proud an-'insolent.- Tf would do:them . 'good toi;be'rhumMed,.. l Ua;'l t hpp i^p^i^^ I !bk*".'- . J\.' ";';'(.;'• ,', -> Inj- li I •c!yh>!*(il '> ' ?'"ph,!',n6\y .cah.ypu, be So|/.^itte^ .algainst ; ■ Jthw7ySafdsW/ I^\irsjioctj (?-'.'',,ujli•'",,,,', j ■ ''; i(No, I'm not, bitter i' but : T don't like'to'see ' people like that'giyingthemselyesairs, looking ( Jias';'if Hlie wpflirs prosperity^depended^pbn ■'fteif'.continumg'to^^ayoux it'by .liying|'ih',it, ■ '^Hen'!', anyone^,knows." 'that if -''they. ..had ; tfcir'b'r^d.jo!earn'theyco|brdn't doit. .lipce 1 justice." • .!,,.,' '; 1, 1,, J. : ..,: ~,,! ... .., I ■ '^'Justice, and'|a; little' gerierbsity >yitli it, :said she.I',gently,' stniliiig,in,.what' ajppeaved' to ; 'Myles'a very attractive manned. i. .' i ''/;''Weafein;ißlak'eJtrep^said'^ j Jway<ibWeturn?"^''^ '~.'.'",'...',,"'" , ; ,'\< \ :','> ". Tojth'e'right,j)lease.'' Myuncle's:house is r at the very end of tlie street!" . "The erid.?'^ It mlist bejoiiely)" "observedj Myles.,',". ';,;,. .'. :.:' -■ . ",.;,.■■ .,■ | '"'Yesi,it l 'is > . I 'rather../.'He lives '.." "'Stonegate.'!".-echoed Myles. •,J irye often' ' wondered'who lived there, and never knew.: 'Why, it is part of the Mallprys' property he said: "suddenly. '.', . „■', ■','.'■ ■(■■,' , ~';';' ,: j ' "Yes; I believe it is," she replied com-j posed ly.. "My uncle lias lived there "for''ten; years now." ".,, .. ', ,: •. . .;■ ': ...... • /There was a'little pause.and, then .Myles '"'"'ybuittilji.. excuse me^fiut t.Fdori'i., really, "hink.1 it/'is.fit'for'yo'iit?' 'ff&K fi^i,},]

long way of an evening, especially now that it gets dark 90 soon, and after what has happened to-night." "I .suppose I shall,have to give it up. Luckily I am nearly at the endof my taskASo I shall try'to finish* it." " \"■ S| " Your reMing,"*he said enquiringly, /v} " Yes..;, rtferences-for my uncle's book. yHe . is writing a'took about art and^ development \of civilisation he ijitpo infirm to go, to th^ '^himselF, aa,4 I \ like i/going.'.' therej have '\kea reading: up -music^for him alfe ''summer'.I*1 '*' -*•—»--*--* V«y^

" Oh, that's it!" said Myles, in a tone which -betrayed • ingeniously,- -enoughy™ that^he-had—. thought often and deeply upon the subject. " Yes, that is it. I must really try to go a few times more, because those books may not "'b'FreTn6v?a7rom^ ndtneed tp.go any more." .• -~ - ;'<<;;} ."But'-you' have-hbt been' here1' lorig/J'ott■ ! said?" saidMytes. " ' " '-" " •■',J»'-r rf'.No. Ojiiy-. eighteen months, since^myv father; died abroad,, and my uncle asked me to * ' ! come and live here with him else I should have ' had no-home." ; ","..,". ~.."™T ■ 'She'spokV'Hvith' a "quietness amounting'ltp[., i sadness^' ahd'Myles felt sure there was sadness 1 irifter lifeythough she sboke'so"cheerfully.:'>-.'•: Q i " Were-you" Sprry'or glad- to'cdme1 toT England?" ; he.venturedtoask.,i ... :yrs:.\t- jr i "Oh, sorry. .JEvery:.association'frhad'.wittt i it \yas7unpleasant 1,/"whereas..l had.hxd.rnanyr ; pleasures at 10 different'time's'" abroad.; and/it \». f so cold, and dull, and- triste here." - — ,'l' For iaiiybhe'/thatihas no' friends— —'Mhe'j 'began:-'-'1 ■"" ■ -!" :|'; •-•-''■ ■-■■'•: -•■■>'"■■ •■' ■'-■. '^ i .".Like_ me," she said. ','.-_ .. ! -f.'.lti ,mustbe- lather- dull.; Here' isyouri place, I think."- ■"■'■ '•""' -'■'" ''A\[ A .^:' v ■* y . "Yes," said Adrienne, pausing with Her..' hand.onthe latchof theigate. ;•"'! wouldask^ you to come in, only it would' disturb 'my uncle so-~nch;-."'ButHE-«halh-see™"you"-agarnr~andr another evening I.hope you. will come in^yill : yjm'-^'V,.;-,-','-. -u'.V'i*'..'^.'i'..lv!">./,>.r,.- l .f',«y?,-, •>M Youlare very \kind,"i. said Myles,- .secretly-. I feeling immensely flattered at the invLtatiOnV " If it wouldn'fr-be-intruding^-—;*• "Not at all. I should like to know what i yfSu'tnink about dii^6r\fwp tilings^ 'J, knovt^ i you think, by the frookYl have seen'you read:' I ing, and I have a burning curiosity to know I what you think." I Mylest suggested that^his subjects,^-work, i wages, politics—might not be very interesting j to a young lady. "It depends sofmU'etr upon the kind of I young lady, I think," said she, smiling. "Well, good night';'' I'am obliged _ffityj_\ kindness." : With a graceful inclination, of .the .head, she i was gone —had' passed swiftly up tne walk, j opened the"dobr,<andentered'the house, i'j^'i !\ i ..Myles, stood .for some time ■■,■ on^' the 'spot ■ '■ where, she, hadleft' him,.staring at the house. ' ■■ HeI'looked' at'if well.' ' ''*St6nega'te,':Bia'k'e : street;" The'whole of Blake-street was -part' ! of.Jthe Mallorys* 1 property -—Sebastian Mallows t j property;j to which[h,e had, toiled not, ' neithqf ; ha,d he jipun.;..but it :had come to him,., apd,->yas his : to,dflas he would with. ..... ~,. -~,. . Blake-sfrqet was ,a lpngstreet,, composed,! 1 for about half ibilength, of smallish,houses, in ■w;hich lived, quiet, :Steady, .proper people. Several ,of .the 'doorplates bore, the. indications. of,^dressmakers,;, there ; were,, two dentists;, ay veterinary- surgeon', and ariundertaker, , ...The • rest, wero. quiet,-,dull, dingy looking, private' residences,- „| j, , ~:,'.., ,:-,. ,j , |/,, j; j [J_ , Beyond a certain point- all thjs changed. Blake.^streetp, became, a,,.mere; confu'siori of . pasteboard,; .ferraces, 1 ha.lf-finished.bouses,] single strips of houses, and general disorder and ,c{iaosrr-a; ;brjck, and. plaster abominaf ipnj of 1 desolation,, | j And tiron catne ,a lonely stretch' pf street,; quite without, houses, with an unfinished j fqptpath on ; .either. side, ; .,skir(ing .a waste ,p£ ' wljiat realty had, been, heath, and was npw.little. ; else. Some' tufts' of heather migjtf ;be.jfpunct growing there -in their; season,..and the air that blew oyer it was sharp and keen. ' 'Across this 'corn thonone 'mightyet,he!lights' of the. town, dim^ou'tlines. of faetpne^'"')atfdt' churches; and masses'' of buildirigs'-—the": tßr> juous'lines of' light creeping' tip 'steep/striefe 9,' rid lariesi.f^nd the .'indict/pet "Outlines '.of.rth'e' ieft;sidg;pf th^rp^d slbpd One solitary ,hpfee,'ir» I a moderately-sized gardeh-^the' ''stphegate-^-; wherf'Ad.riepije'nyea''^ ah''p'ld'?tiduse,; of 'stqhe, j .square^ solidly ' built," and,'' of moderately ,lafge,'pr6por r itions.'.', 'It,-was contemporary with Sakerirbd; and Had' been built by spme far-back,' jdiad^n'o gone'Mallpfy',l,(they, 'were lords of the' manpt pf,',Than.shppe) as,' a'j'dpwer. hpuse.'' In':'tHe garden ,t^(ie' trees, were'.shriyelled'^ur^;''the flpWe'r' ; ' b?4s*, yrhe ''' adorned'!' with,l ppihing tjuta few'evergr'e'en bjishes,'and.the grask was hot^kept'agj'waSj the -gras^'in.'the'.&kehnid -garden.,,':-"!.',"'.'.' 7' v,. .'A .i 'AA'^A'AA'A'."^,. .^^ehind the house was the lonely looking V»]s,te of heath or' corrimor* which,was but; of "Siebastian Mellory's'jurisdiction.'; 'and in'froiit Aiiow^»all/j with', a-;wicket,^^gate in it^ bounded 1 ' <^e.g^en! '';?r^'.tlie]'wi^et to "the ; 'rloor, ■ >,yas a,)S^gect'iwalk, I ralsed [ '.a,iU.t^ ! j:rass;jj6rder[9r^^ ! 'tbje'dpbr two \ymdpws | on; the .second', storey I ; jfiye wjri^ows.' ■ shutters of the lower win i i dpws" wprp ( ir-loserj-^tjie \yrible face of the jipuse : ' 'pr^serjte,d '^.b'iankj'starii^jyoid.;, ( tfU'^t'TEtSt i styles, looking'^^in'tehtly upwar^s^saiy',^'lijlnt appearin ohe.of.the.luppeir'^yfhdbws^^Md^^ ,sfiactowpassithe blind mu^tbe Adhetihe's ; roprn'.',.'.Then'lie.^l^c'ed at^the''surroundings . ; ,pfjhe,^pusV.",r t " '..,',;[,.,'.":. :,';'",'..',',, ''4ZCL i; ": .',"., fc[ lciriely place ,enpugh,", '_,_'e- decided • l ;>Y'i!th^'liiinselJ',;. .''l!m .giarl'l cSmej-Koffle i If that, blackguard had been at the s I 'to..follow her,!' Thope he doesn't ' [ ' tnow, where "she Uvesj, jt, hardl^ lppks'as,3f haVe'chosen the'pUbHc .■ * I ,'jllbrary to molest her.in, ''I'dpn't: "believe, that : m this,.street anybii^' 'would '. ' "hearlier,; i if j tijeyrdid,Jtftesr*re. a pbbr'lotjr -1 ' jtailorsi, and'^pmeni.and'j'pptnecaries.' Th^y s \ 'wouldn't know"a wornanfs' scijea'rning from a I'catTs. .miaulifig..; A.] A_,A>. ',.'.',',', , ; ','i;. *„--[* 1 j y'A.\ "lt's ,a';iiastyplace,"' j 'rie muttered' figain to iv ; r fiimself, lingering upaccouii tab/y,,: reluctant to ■ ;gp.', '.'.ii Jpb^.'a's if,'there .were a bllgttt, of a ni J.curse,,or | sbmetliing',up'on,it.", ••'." ' .J,','-_ d : ,^..^V'|a^t^e,tpre'hiih^if l away t .and tog^'nis t ;£qpe.fras VKr'.V^o'rfk'':/i-iiiuoo'iiif c J in-yit ii'.vij) Jutj; ,'Ay :>iim oiiii;-> mO .&A « I ,(W.,a) "y'./rai-GH'APTER'V. «1,- illW ot h , » ! ",;, . A tende™6B^show's thronghheriooei'*,' 111 •"'' " 'AndVlike the morning's glt-V,'. <' •"'" , Hints a Ml'dfty below." ■}'■ v.W'?nn>i it : u I\IyLES; .'walked' h6nie;'not'in'the "kihd.qf ' '■.'dream'"pi'Oper fdr' a'iiero -tinder, the'cirbum :e ! !'stancesi'''bu't' thlnkirig/veiy'ildbldly !and''-'v^ry ig! ""cßhiiectediy'during..his'pretty'long walk,'-;-frOm n f ".'the erid rjf ;Blake^street,tb,,,his:'house!'ori',''the t, "'Tpvyhfield, chiefly^^of-wrtat'had''happened "that d evetting. ' He' ithought: of Adrienne,-^of "all ;e i 'those sufrifner months of silehc'e,''arid then/of i the'sudden''4u'ick acquaintance." ■"•aval " ' ::1"'" She's '"certainly' different ' from-; other 0 ; people,"'he' Said to himself; and 'in that ! * 'in'itter' he wa^ right, if he meant; that she 'was hi 'not like the; ordinary Tharisnope lad^! But i " r the ordinary, Tharishope lady had, not'been is ! :; brought' u^i as Adrienne; Blisset had beeri, djid ! JMyles did''not'know.then what patient .•dj ''' Struggles \Vithsorrow"irid poverty and adverse j '"circumstances''had'made her >vhatshe: 'i|yas. ;- ;At pn'eJ and 'twenty she'had lived; in -^mimy j 'ia'hds,'' and.her:;mind 'na'd'cr>nie, 'in,;'.coritact :n' with many other minds, often minds of afar v.| 'from common order.' Very few English girls in id; Ker cla^ss have had that,experience a,t that age ! ]•' w6uld those, who wish a girl to-be n- ''lrinocerit and'happy'.desire such; experience en' for her, if. it had .to be paid for with stich a ! . heavy ' guerdoii"'of sorrow and suffering 'as esj 'Adrienne: hadpaidfor. hers. '' 'f' '[ i'1 1 '" Myles know nothing of thai, he only saWthe llyf ''diffe'rencei' He felt "a curiosity abbtit lier, int " leaded ■ivSthf spme d'dmiration. He ".admired 1 t> jTJii /__ !!;v -'iJ'-V 'flVi.I-j. Jfjii ■• V(i; r-.IU B:ii'

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, AUGUST 20, 1880.

2