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CHAPTER XI.

A FRIEND IN NEED.Rose Lancaster had never looked

prettier than that Sunday night, as she

ripped into church, a soft ruffle of fur etting off the delicate fair face, a large

velvet hat resting on the golden hair.Dixon, with a proud air of possession,walked in behind her, and, seating himselat her side, proved his proprietorship bproducing her Prayer-book from hispocket, and finding all her places for her hroughout the service. When Rose daredo lift her head and look about her, she

gave a sigh of relief to see that Tom was

not present.

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"I dare say he thought I should like ibest if he stayed away," she thought. Shewas thankful that the question of her

marriage was decided and well decided.

The moon had risen when the serviceended. There was a group of people

collected outside the church-gatediscussing the village gossip before thedispersed to their several homes.

Dixon pulled Rose's arm through hisown, and, not allowing her to linger for amoment, led her off. They did not either ohem notice that a man with a hat well

pulled over his eyes followed them aome little distance; and not until the

village was left behind, and the pair hadurned into the road, which, with many a

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wind, led up to the Court, did he attempo lessen the space which separated them.

Then, as unconsciously Rose and Dixo

walked more slowly, Tom quickened histeps, and was alongside of them beforehey realized his presence. He pushed

back his hat; and Rose broke into amothered cry of alarm as the moonlighell upon the haggard face and wild eyes

of her rejected lover, and she clung theighter to Dixon's arm.

Tom's laugh was not pleasant to listeno. "You asked for my company, Rose, but

you don't seem best pleased now I'vecome," he said; "but, pleased or not, I'llwalk with you to-night, and say a thing or wo it's right for you to hear before we

part company for good."

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he's got hold of," he stuttered.

"I didn't lose my place for being so

drunk that it took the parson the best par of the night to see me home, did I?"neered Dixon.

"No, you didn't. But Rose shall hear nowwho plotted to make me drunk that night,and who informed against me next day. Itwas you, you sly, sneaking scamp!denyt if you dare? If it comes to character

who's got the better one, you or I? No macan throw a dirty, dishonest trick at me!And you! Who squares the corn-merchant?Who cooks every bill that goes into theCourt? Don't I know it? Have I livednearly a year under the same roof thacovered you, without finding out prett

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well how you've managed to feather your nest so as to make it fine enough for thepretty bird you've caught; and if I'd chose

o round on you when you got me turnedout, where would you be now, I'd like toknow? You would not be coachman at theCourt."

Dixon had turned livid with rage, bukept his head.

"You are a poor, drunken fool, and don'tknow what you are saying, or I'd make yowallow your words."

"You wouldn't! I could prove them!"went on Tom, choking with passion. "Andas you've cheated in work, you've cheatedn love. You've cheated me, and you've

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cheated that one as followed you sobbinand crying from the place where you lascame from, and who you'd promised

aithful to marry, and who you'd walkedwith for three years and more. I had thetory from the woman where I lodge. The

girl spent the night there, and she waspretty nigh broken-hearted. She'd even goher wedding-gown."

Dixon sprang across the road like aiger, and gave Tom such a swinging box

on the ear that, for a moment, he reeledagain. And then, all the devil in Tom wasoosed, and he leaped on his foe, grippin

him by the throat until every vein in hisorehead stood out in blue knots. The

action was so unexpected and so rapid

hat Dixon found it impossible to free

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himself. The men swayed to and fro ieach other's embrace, finally fallinheavily together with a sickening thud

upon the road. Tom was uppermost, andpicked himself up with a rather ghastlmile, but Dixon lay there rigid and

motionless.

"Get up!" said Tom, poking him with theoe of his boot. "You won't be so ready tonterfere with me another time." But Dixo

did not stir.

Rose, who had tried to stop the quarrelby every artifice in her power, knelt downby the side of her lover. And suddenly acry so shrill, so despairing, broke the air,hat Tom's heart stood still and the bloodroze in his veins.

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"Tom! Tom!you wicked man, you'vekilled him!" she shrieked.

And Tom, sobered by the cry, andealizing in all its horror the meaning ohe words, turned like guilty Cain andled. There was but one place for hi

now: the riverthe river, and the end of itall. He was making for it straight, flyinby the nearest cut across the fields,eaping ditches, scrambling throug

hedges, regardless of the brambles thacored his face and hands. Like a hare

hunted by the hounds he fled; away frohis own guilty action, away from thewoman he loved, to the river which wouldweep him swiftly, painlessly to rest andorgetfulness. But would it? He had

tumbled accidentally into the path whic

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ed towards the cottage where he lodged,and turned his head as he ran to take oneast glance at the light which glimmered i

he window. He could see the river now;he was nearing the brink. There was buone field between him and it, when hebecame conscious of a pursuing step.Somebody was already on his scent. Thequestion now was whether he should dieby his own act, or be delivered over to theerrible hands of justice; and at thahought Tom redoubled his speed to

outstrip his pursuer. It was a desperateace, for his strength was nearly spent. His

ong fast had told upon him, and theictitious power of the spirit he hadwallowed had passed away. His breath

was coming in quick, short gasps. His foo

caught in a tussock of grass, and he fell

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Before he could regain hisfeet, a hand was on his collar.

"Let me go! Let me go!" he cried,truggling desperately in the hands of his

capturer. "If I've killed him I'm ready to

die too. You can't do more than hang me!One more moment and I'd have been in theiver. Let me go, I say!"

"I shall not let you go; you are either mad or drunkincapable of taking care oyourself," said a low, clear voice; andTom was lifted to a standing posture byhe rector's strong arms.

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When Dixon had called late on Saturda

night to ask the rector to put up his bannson the morrow, Mr. Curzon's thoughtslew straight to Tom. So this was the end

of his love-story, poor fellow! and he

eared that it would go hardly with the lad.

"Maybe he will come to see me to-morrow. And, if not, I will see him," hehad said.

He had noticed with satisfaction thaTom was in his accustomed place onSunday morning, and did not see him slipout of church after the publishing of thebanns; but on Sunday night he missed him,and, the minute service was ended, he se

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off for the cottage where he lodged. Hehad reached the field-path which led to it,when he heard the sound of footsteps tha

tumbled in their running, and, pausing toook round, he saw a figure, which he did

not immediately recognize in themoonlight as Tom's, dashing across thepathway in the direction of the river.Almost before he knew what he was doinhe rector gave chase, for he felt the ma

meant mischief: a conviction which grewnto certainty as he gained upon theunaway, and recognized him as the man

whom he sought.

Tom attempted no further resistance,and, from his incoherent utterances, Mr.Curzon presently gathered what had

occurred.

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"And you ran off and left Rose with her dead lover? I could not have believed youch a coward, Tom!" he said, unable to

keep back the indignation and scorn heelt. "This is no place for you and me; we

must go back at once, and see if anythincan be done."

Nothing was said as the two hastenedback to the spot where Dixon was lef ying; but, to the utter astonishment o

both, when they arrived there, Rose andDixon had gone.

"Either some vehicle has driven bwhich has conveyed Dixon to the Court, or he was, by God's mercy, only stunned,"aid the rector. "We'll go on and find out."

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Tom made no answer, but followed theector's lead. In a kind of dumb despair heelt he was walking to meet his fate. The

made their way first to the stables, anxiousnot to give the alarm at the house until theknew the extent of the mischief. The usualorderly quiet prevailed, and, in responseo the rector's knock, the groom, who had

played such a faithless part by Rose,appeared.

"Is Dixon in? Can I see him for amoment?" asked Mr. Curzon, guardedly.

"He came in, sir, about a quarter of anhour since, but he's gone straight up tobed. He'd a nasty falldid not know quitehow he'd done it, slipped up on his heel,he said, and fell on the back of his head.

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Rose Lancaster was with him, and seemederrible cut up about it, said he lay like a

dead thing; and she would never have go

him home if it had not been that a car drove by and gave 'em both a lift."

"Thank you. Tell Dixon that I'll come

ound in the morning to see how he is."

"We need do nothing more to-night; your worst fear is not realized," he said, as heand Tom turned towards home. "Now youwill come back to supper with me, and wewill trace your sin to its very root, pleaseGod. You've had a warning that I think yoare not likely to forget."

But Tom, in the sudden relief from thehorrible fear that he had inadvertentl

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aken the life of a fellow creature, hadbroken into a passion of sobs, sheddinuch tears as a man sheds but once in a

ifetimescalding tears of bitter epentance and shame.

He and Mr. Curzon sat talking far into

he night, and Tom told the story truly,keeping nothing back.

"You've let drink and passion get theupper hand, Tom. You have put the love oa woman before the love of God, andyou've come near to wrecking your lifeand hers in consequence. It would nohave mended matters if you had hurriedyourself into another world to which yohave given so little thought, would it? Iwas a mad, wicked thought! a thought o

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he devil's own suggestion; but you areaved for the beginning of a better life, a

new life in new surroundings."

Tom glanced up quickly. "Not inTasmania," he said. "The squire won'tend me, after this."

"You'll tell him about it, then," repliedMr. Curzon, with a heart-throb ohanksgiving that Tom was ready to face

out the consequences of his action.

"Oh yes; I shall tell him. He might hear iany way, but I'd rather tell him myself."

"Very good. Now you had better gohome to bed, and, if you have never said aeal prayer before, you will say one to-

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was Rose herselfa crumpleddishevelled Rose, whose toilet gaveevidence of hurry, and whose eyes were

ed with weeping.

"Oh, sir, I've come because I didn'tknow what to do. We're all in dreadful

rouble!Dixon's gone!"

"Not dead!" cried the rector in horror.

"Oh no; he's run away. And oh, it's cruel,cruel! to have used me like this," saidRose, her sobs bursting out afresh.

"I wonder what has made him do it? Hashe left no note behind him?"

"Not a linenor a message for me,"eplied Rose. "Only a scrawl in pencil

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ndignation. It had not occurred to her toblame herself in any way; she felt rather ihe position of the ill-used heroine of a

ragedy in real life.

"Then you think I ought to tell," she saida little sulkily.

"I certainly think your mistress ought toknow exactly what happened. You neednot tell any one else, that I know of."

So Rose returned to the Court greatlcrestfallen; and her account of the quarrel,and Tom's vague threats about Dixon'scharacter, put Mrs. Webster on to the rightclue as to the causes of his sudden flight.He was found to have been guilty oepeated acts of dishonesty, so cleverly

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concealed that, but for the fear that Tomwould report him, he might have gone oor years longer, respected and trusted by

his employers. As the time seemed ripeor flight, however, he had taken with hihe change of a big cheque that Mrs.

Webster had given him to cash on theSaturday, and which he had told her gliblyhat he could not get cashed until the

Monday. Each fresh revelation filled Rosewith misery and shame; and, behind all,was the one fact that she had kept toherself: the memory of Tom's mention ohat other girl that Dixon had jiltedthe

crowning taunt which had hurried Dixonto showing fight.

"And it must have been true, or it would

not have made him so angry," thought

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Rose.

It was a bitter pill for the vain little thin

o swallow: the conviction that she had allalong occupied the second place iDixon's affections, and that he had cast her away, like that other girl, without any

compunction. Tom would not have done it;and at the remembrance of him Rose'seyes filled with tears. Rose was returninrom the village, whither she had beeent on a message, and she shivered aittle as she passed the scene of the las

night's disaster; and her alarm foundexpression in a little cry when she sawTom Burney standing there, too, and yethere was nothing to terrify her in the

deprecating glance of his troubled eyes.

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"Rose," he said, stretching out his hands,I don't wonder that you hate the sight o

me, but you can afford to speak kindly to

me for this once? God knows I'm sorr enough for what I've done, heart sorry. Icame here to look at the place again,where I nearly killed a man, just to let iburn in so that I mayn't forget."

"Butbutyou can't have heard thahe's not much hurt even? that he's run awaand taken a lot of money that does nobelong to him?"

"Oh yes," said Tom, drearily. "But thatdoes not alter things; I can't forget that Inearly killed himand myself."

"Oh, Tom, not that! not that!" cried Rose,

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or the first time pierced by a pang of keeemorse.

"Yes. I should have drowned myself iMr. Curzon had not stopped me," saidTom, simply. "I was mad, I think, withmisery and drink."

Then Rose understood the full meaninof the rector's words that morning.

"I did not mean to try and see you beforewent away," went on Tom, brokenly;

but I'm glad of the chance to ask your orgiveness for the hurt I might have doneo the man you wished to marry."

"Oh don't! please don't talk like that!"aid Rose, Tom's utter self-abasement and

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humility rousing all her better nature.Don't you see that it's you who ought toorgive me for the cruel way I've treated

you; and if you'd died, Tom, and mywickedness had killed you, how could Ihave ever lifted up my head again? I seenow how wicked I've been. I wanted tomarry Dixon because he promised to giveme everything I liked: a pretty house and aittle servant, and pretty clothes andhings. It was not because I loved hi

best."

Tom threw back his head with a littlecry.

"Rose," he said, coming a step nearer.Rose, my dear; it can't hurt to tell me

now. In two days I'm going away for good

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and all. I have told the squire all about it,and he is going to overlook it and send meacross the seas just the same as if nothin

had happened; but when I'm gone, it wouldmake me happy to know that you had ever oved me just a little bit."

"I do," said Rose. "I think I've loved yoall the time."

Tom drew a long breath, but did notattempt to come closer.

"Thank you," he said, with an odd thrilln his voice. "I'll go away and think of it.t will help me to be good, for I'll have ary at that, Rose, my dear. I'll keep clear ohe drink; I'm going up to the rector to-

night to tell him I'm ready to sign. He

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asked me to do it before; and don't I wish Ihad listened to him! But now I'll do iwithout the asking."

There was some difference in Tom thatRose felt but could not define, somenfluence over him that was stronger tha

her own. She had been conscious beforehat she had but to speak and he would tr

his utmost to carry out her whim; but to-day, miserable as he was, oppressed byhe weight of sin, she felt respect for a

certain strength of purpose that seemeddeveloped in him. Mr. Curzon was right;he had chosen the wrong man. Never hadhe valued Tom's love as she did now

when she was just about to lose it.

"Then you are going directly?" she

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almost whispered.

"Yes; I leave here the day after to-

morrow, and I sail in about a fortnight.The squire thought the sooner I was out ohe way the better."

"Shall you ever come back?"

"I don't know."

"Nor ever write?" asked Rose, with aob in her throat.

"That's as may be; I'd write to one who

cared."

"I care. Write to me, please?"

She was looking at him with pleadin

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eyes, but he would not trust himself toeturn her glance.

"Rose," he said, "there's not the womanow that I would ask to be my wife. I'guilty, before God, of two black sins; butf He gives me time to live it down and

earn a clean name again"

"He will! He will!" said Rose. "And,Tom, it does not matter if it's years, I'llwait." And then she put her arms round hisneck and kissed him.

His face was ashen grey; his arms achedwith the longing to return her embrace andhold her close to his heart, but he let her go.

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"Before God, Rose, my darling, I'll liveworthy of your kiss! Maybe it won't beong before I dare return it."

The next instant he was gone, not darino look back at her.

CHAPTER XII.

KITTY'S CHRISTMASTREE.

"The Websters are off to London, Paul,"

aid Sally, about two days after Tom's

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departure.

Paul started at the sudden mention of the

name.

"I did not think they intended to go toown until after the New Year. Mrs.

Webster dilates largely upon theuperiority of a Christmas in the countr

versus a Christmas in London; but, Iuppose, it is as sincere as most of her tatements?"

"I think May has had more to do with ihan her mother. She says Mrs. Webster

has fussed a good deal over Dixon's flight,he trusted him so thoroughly. And Mayhinks it will be easier to get a good

coachman in London, and that it will take

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off her mother's thoughts from aunpleasant subject. She now has visions oDixon's return in company with an armed

body of burglars, and prophesiescheerfully that they will all be found deadn their beds one morning, and that the

house will be ransacked."

Paul laughed. "Under the circumstancesMiss Webster is wise to remove her orcibly to London," he said. But he

privately conjectured that May's realeason for flight lay in her desire to ge

away from himself. "Has anything beeheard of Dixon?" he went on.

"Nothing. I don't think any very keeearch has been made for him. Mrs.

Webster declares that she would far rather

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ose her money than appear in a court oaw, or have her name bandied about inhe papers. I think, Paul, that if yo

approve I shall be off to London, too,when the New Year comes."

"In what capacity?" asked Paul,

esignedly. "As a sister or something?"

"Oh dear, no; you know I've alwayswanted to join one of those settlements ogirls at the East End, who work under themanagement of Miss Grant. She wrote aittle while ago to tell me she would have

a vacancy in the settlement soon after Christmas. My work would lie chieflamongst factory girls, getting up statisticsabout their hours of work and their housing, and my play would be recreatio

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evenings with them."

"But this is what you have always talked

of doing. I expected you to take up quitedifferent lines now: to district visit, andake classes on Sundays, under the

guidance and supervision of the rector."

"I don't feel the least fitted for it; I knowvery little about it. Mr. Curzon thinks itwould be a great pity for me to abandohe work to which I feel myself drawn. Iike life in London far better than in the

country."

"I quite agree with you," interposedPaul.

"And I think that my change of opinio

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about religious things will help, rather han hinder me in my work," continued

Sally, with a slight effort.

"Let us hope it may," said Paul, in a tonehat implied a doubt on the subject.Anyway, I wish you to follow your own

plan of life. I think women ought to be asree as men to choose what they will do.

But"with a glance from the window"Miss Kitty's carriage stops the way. Imust go and see what she wants."

"Why, Kitty," he began, almost before hehad reached the gate, "I thought you hadorgotten all about me! It is days, almos

weeks, I think, since you've paid me acall."

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"It's because it has rained nearly ever day and I've not been out at all; and thereare such a lot of things I want to ask yo

about."

Paul was Kitty's referee on ever ubject. "What is the first, I wonder?" he

aid, smiling down at her.

"Bend down, please, Mr. Paul. It's aecret."

And Paul brought his ear to a level witKitty's mouth.

"Do boys like Noah's Arks?"

Paul straightened himself with a burst oaughter.

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"I thought you would know. Nurse saidyou'd be sure to know," Kitty said, muchnjured by his untimely mirth.

"It's just because I don't that I aaughing," said Paul, whose remembrance

of childhood was unconnected with an

criptural game. That he should beolemnly consulted about one seemed

extremely ludicrous.

"Then you did not have one?"

"No, I did not."

"I suppose it won't do, after all," saidKitty, dejectedly. "And it's a real beauty;t cost half a crown."

"Really! That's a big price. I should

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hink it might do for any one. After all, anark might come in handy soon, if we aregoing to have a flood. Who's the happ

boy?"

"Oh, you are shouting!" cried Kitty,warningly. "And it's a secret."

"I beg your pardon," said Paul,penitently. "Shall I look in and give anopinion?"

"Yes; you and Sally, too. Perhaps youwould come to tea with me this afternoon?Daddy is gone to a Congress, or he couldhave told me everything."

"Yes, we will comeSally and I."

"And then I can tell you all about it, for

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urse knows but has promised not to tell."

"We will try to be as trustworthy as

urse," Paul said with a reassuring nod.

So, over tea and toast, after three falseguesses on Paul and Sally's part, Kitt

divulged her tremendous secret, whicurned out to be that daddy had promisedhat when she was ten years old shehould give a Christmas-tree party to

every child in Rudham from ten years andunder, and the whole responsibility ochoosing the presents and assorting thehould devolve upon her. For months past

Kitty had been making out her list of thechildren she would have to invite, rather bewildering the villagers by her feverisanxiety to discover the ages of their

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offspring; but the choosing of suitablepresents for her guests was a far moredifficult task. A large box of toys had

arrived, by her father's order, from aneighbouring town, from which Kittcould make a selection; she had spent onewhole day poring over them. Girls wereeasy enough to please, but boys' tasteswere quite a different matter. So Nursehad finally suggested that Mr. Lessinghould be taken into confidence. Happily,

by the afternoon he had grasped thegravity of the situation, and he discussedhe varying merits of tops, marbles,

horses, and carts as earnestly as eveKitty could desire. He still felt a lurkindesire to laugh when he saw the Noah'sArk, which cost half a crown, set apart i

a place by itself on Kitty's couch. Fro

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Kitty looked from Paul to Sally witdistress on her face.

"Of course," she said, a little petulantly.But you said there might be anotherandhere can't be, daddy says."

"Of course there can't," said Paul, a littlehurriedly, feeling it scarcely fair to make aoke to such a sensitive little girl.

"Look here! I'm writing a ticket for Tommy Baird, and I shall tuck it under theelephant's trunk. Do you think he will holdt fast?"

"Then it will do, after all," said Kitty,greatly relieved.

But when Paul and Sally were gone, and

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all the excitement and joy of the tea-party,and the allotting of her presents, was over,Kitty's mind reverted to the flood. Mr.

Paul had meant something which he wouldnot explain to her. Whilst the perplexinghought was still in her mind, she heard

her father's latchkey turn in the lock of theront door, and he popped his head intohe room where she lay with a merr augh.

"I'm home, Kitty. I'll be down in aminute, but I must get my things off first. Is raining cats and dogs."

The words confirmed Kitty's worsears. That is how it must have rained

before that first great flood, when thewaters crept up and up, and the people

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irst climbed the hills, until the waterseached them there; and at last there was

nothing to be seen anywhere but a waste

of water and one little ark that floated ohe top. By the time Mr. Curzon came andeated himself by her side, Kitty's eyes

were round with the terror of the picturehat her too vivid imagination had painted.

Her father, quick to read each passingemotion on the face that was dearest tohim in the whole world, stooped dowand kissed her.

"My little Kitty is in one of her rightened moods. She must tell me all

about it."

"It's the flood," Kitty whispered.

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"What flood, darling?"

"Mr. Paul said we might have one."

"Did he? He must have meant that theiver might overflow its banks; and

perhaps it will after such a wet season."

"But it would drown us all."

"Not a bit of it. The cottages near the

iver might have some water in them; buunless it were something quiteunprecedented, the water would not get tohe upper floor of any houseand

certainly won't come near us or the churcand schools, so you may dismiss your fear of a flood. You ought not to have had itanyway, because God has promised that

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Mr. Curzon smiled and stroked Kitty'shead.

"That is more than I can say, darling.Although your Christmas tree seems suca big thing to you, it is only a little one;and if it were put off it would be a

disappointment to you, but not a trouble,you see."

Kitty was silenced but not satisfied, andeach night added a postscript to her prayers that the flood, if it was to come,hould not occur before her Christmasree. It was to be held in the school-roo

on Christmas Eve. The secret hadexploded now, for the invitations wereout, each one written by Kitty herself, andpersonally delivered in the course of her

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unavailing. The "Lord that dwelt on high"did not seem to have listened. She tried tonerve herself to bear the tidings whic

urse conveyed in as cheerful a tone ashe could assume.

"Miss Kitty, my dear, what do you think

has happened? The waters are out, and theiver is turned into a great big lake, andhe houses are standing out of it like little

dots. It all looks so funny; shall I lift yoout to see?"

But Kitty had buried her head under theclothes, and was sobbing quietly toherself. No mention was made of theChristmas tree in her prayers that morning,and the prayers themselves were ver perfunctory indeedsaid more from the

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orce of habit than because she had anaith in their efficacy. True, the rain had

ceased now, but what was the good of that

now the flood had come? And the worst ot was that she could not talk this matter

out to daddy; he would think her dreadfully wicked. So it was a ver white-faced Kitty that presented herself ahe breakfast-table, and she received her ather's assurance that her tree should no

be abandoned, but only delayed, with awatery, quivering smile.

"And I shall be so busy all the morning,"went on Mr. Curzon, cheerfully. "You see,ots of the cottages are cut off fro

communication with the outside world,and the children will be hungry and

wanting their breakfasts and dinners; so I

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must be off to see what I can do with cartsor boats, according to the depth of thewater."

This was rather exciting; and Kitty spenher morning with her chair drawn close tohe window, which commanded the best

view of the village, and saw carts drawby pairs of horses splashing along to someof the cottages. And to one cottage,tanding alone in a low-lying field, sheaw a boat making its way; she was

almost sure that the man who rowed it washer friend Mr. Paul. Later in the morninghe paid her a visit, with a red colour in hisace and a cheery ring in his voice.

"I could not get up before, Kitty. Wehave had such a lot to do, Sally and I,

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aking round supplies to the people whoare flooded. Everybody is in quite goodpiritsindeed, some of the children are

hinking it first-rate fun."

At the mention of the children Kittbroke down helplessly, and sobbed aloud.

"Dear me! And I have had such a lot owater all the morning, I did not expect ahower-bath here. What time do yo

expect Sally and me? How long will iake to light up that blessed tree?"

Kitty uncovered one eye; Mr. Paul mustbe dreaming.

"I can't have it, you see."

"Who said so? Sally and I have bee

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planning all the morning how we shallorder out all my waggons, and go roundand fetch your guestsonly you must no

have the tree too late, or else we mighose our way in taking them home again."

Kitty's joy could only find expressions i

ncoherent exclamations of delight.

"It's wonderfully kind of you," said theector, who appeared at that moment, and

gradually gathered from Kitty what Paulproposed to do.

"It seems a pity the thing should be puoff," Paul answered a little awkwardly.

Perhaps no act of the squire's won sucuniversal approbation as the spirited

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manner in which he carried through MissKitty's tree.

"You would not have thought as he wasone to care about the little ones," saidMrs. Macdonald to Sally.

"And I don't think, honestly, that he is,"Sally answered"with the exception oKitty Curzon; his devotion to her isomething quite astonishing."

The tree had been, happily, trimmed theday before, and nothing thereforeemained but for the guests to appear. One

or two had to be fetched in a boat, and thecottage in the field had a special voyage totself. There was a little child there tha

was a particular friend of Kitty's.

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So Jenny, wrapped up so that only her eyes were visible, was handed out; andPaul rowed her across the field tha

eparated her from dry land, popping her nto a cart that waited on the far side.

Sally, meanwhile, was at the school

arranging the children as they arrived,whilst Kitty's carriage was drawn upclose to the tree, which was veiled under a sheet. Jenny Weldon was the last toarrive, and, when duly uncloaked, wasgiven a place close to Kitty.

Then followed the lighting of the tree;and the dancing eyes of the childrewatched the process with untold delight.Joining hands they walked round it singina quaint old Christmas carol, led by the

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ector's strong sonorous voice; and finallcame the distribution of the presents.

Paul, as he stood quietly at the back ohe room, thought the scene a pretty one. I

was a beautiful tradition, that of the ChrisChild; he could have almost wished i

rue.

"It has come to an endI think it haseally come to an end," the rector said.But, stay, I find some little things tucked

away at the very bottom of the tree; andhere upon the labels are written 'MissLessing' and 'Mr. Lessing.' That is quite ast should be, for to whom do we owe theact of your all being here to-night but tohe squire, who planned and carried i

out?"

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And as a penknife was handed to Paul,here were cheers ringing in his ears for

him and for Sally, who had a pen with her

name on it.

"It was really very jolly of you, Kitty,"aid Paul, making his way to her.

"Weren't you surprised?" said Kitty,oyfully. "Daddy said you would be; and Iold him where to hide them so that Sallhould not see them. And, oh!"with aong-drawn sigh"I've never been so

happy in my life. Daddy says I must thanyou ever so much, dear Mr. Paul."

Paul stooped and kissed the pretty,lushed face. "It's been great fun, Kitty;

you've nothing to thank me for. It is my

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irst Christmas tree, and I shall take greacare of my penknife."

It was seven o'clock before Sally andPaul regained the quietness and peace oheir lodging, for it took some time to

deliver all the little ones to their several

homes.

"It's wonderful what surroundings willdo for one. I've felt as if I were a curateo-day; but it is Kitty who drove me to it.

Her despair this morning was almosragic," Paul said.

How little he knew that that night Kittwas thanking God for her happy day, andor the special help He had sent her to

carry through her tree.

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"Pray bless dear Mr. Paul!"

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CALL OF GOD.

With the dawn of the New Year therewas an outbreak of fever in Rudham, theafter-effect of the flood, which, although iubsided almost as quickly as it rose, lef he houses which it had invaded damp and

many of the drains blocked. Paul, as hewent his rounds, condemned some of the

cottages as insanitary, and determined that

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another spring should see new ones begun higher, healthier situationsif, at least,

he could by any means raise the requisite

unds. He was constantly brought intocontact with the rector, who busiedhimself amongst his sick people morning,noon, and night.

"Bless you!" said Mrs. Weldon, whenPaul had been looking round her premises,and heard with some astonishment theound of a strong, clear voice singing ihe bedroom above, "that's only Mr.

Curzon singing hymns to my little Jenny,who's proper bad with the fever. She musthave been sickening with it that night asyou fetched her to the tree. Mr. Curzoneems like a parson, and doctor, and

nurse, all in one. He come'd here late las

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eported.

Paul met the rector one morning and

tayed to congratulate him on the fact thahe fever seemed to have run its course,hat there had been no death from it durinhe last few days, and apparently no fres

cases.

"Poor little Jenny Weldon passed awayhis morning; I was with her when she

died," said the rector. Then came a longpause, and he cleared his throat. "My Kittwas the last case; she was pronounced tohave the fever last night."

"Kitty!" echoed Paul, with a face almosas white as Mr. Curzon's own. "GoodHeavens! and I was the double-dyed idio

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who brought that child Jenny Weldon tohe treat. Kitty probably caught it fro

her."

"That is quite impossible to decide,"aid Mr. Curzon, with a sad little smile;the outbreak has been almos

imultaneous. But Kitty's life is in God'sHands."

Paul turned away with an impatienexclamation; he had no word of comfort tooffer, for he had but little hope that a childo delicate as Kitty would recover.

"If Sally could help in the nursing of her,or I in fetching any delicacy the childcould fancy, you know we are ready tohelp," he said.

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hey said

"That's little Miss Kitty gone home."

It was the phrase Mrs. Macdonald usedas she brought in the breakfast for Pauland Sally that morning, and the tears ra

down her cheeks as she said it.

"There may be some mistake, Mrs.Macdonald," said Paul, gently. "There are

other children ill in the place besidesKitty."

"No, sir; it's true enough. My John got up

n the dark and went to ask for her; and heaw the nurse, who told him she was

dying then. She could not last the hour."

"And the rector?" inquired Sally, who

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So it was the rector who carried up thelowers to the room where Kitty lay, and

placed the wreath at her feet; and the

arums framed the sweet, smiling face, andhe card with its message of love was laid

upon her breast, with the murmured prayer hat the one who loved Kitty might learn toove Kitty's God.

All the villagers that were able attendedKitty's funeral two days later, drawn thereby love and sympathy. Paul was there witSally, sitting down in the belfry, close tohe spot where Kitty's carriage had bee

placed upon the only other occasion whePaul had attended a service in Rudhachurch.

"If there is any meaning at all in the

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oved Kitty as devotedly as any mother.The door behind Paul was gently pushedopen after the service had begun, and he

was vividly conscious of the presence ohe woman he loved the best in the world

May Webster. She was dressed inblack, and sank upon her knees by Sally'side. The intense sympathy of her

expression made her look more beautifulhan ever, giving the touch of softness that

her features sometimes lacked. Throughouhe service the rector's brave, strong voice

never faltered, and it rose and fell with theothers in Psalm and hymn. He seemed, for

he time being, borne aloft upon the wingsof faith and love; but when, the serviceended, Paul made his way back to thechurch to fetch his hat, which he had

accidently left behind him, he caught a

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glimpse of a white-robed figure prostratebefore the altar, and the frame wasconvulsed with sobs. Nature must have

her way; and not even the rector could aonce bring his will into perfecubmission with the will of God. His

darling was taken from his sight, and hisheart was aching over the dreary yearshat might intervene before he could see

her again. There was a lump in Paul'shroat as he noiselessly left the church.

May and Sally waited for him.

"It's heart-breaking," said May, puttingher hand into his. "I was bound to come."

"You return to London to-night, Iuppose? You will come and have tea

with us on your way, won't you?" said

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Sally, eagerly.

"I will come to tea. But I am not goin

back at present; I told mother I should stadown here for a little while, until all thisrouble had passed away; it cannot beight that we should be doing nothing to

help. I only wish I had come in time to seehat little girl alive again."

Sally had moved away to help to arrangehe flowers on the newly-filled-in grave,

and Paul stood a little apart by May's side.

"I'm sorry for every one," said May. "Its almost enough to kill Mr. Curzon. And I

have thought of you too; I was sorry for he loss of your one friend."

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But I've brought Rose Lancaster with me,and the servants who are left in charge camanage for us; and, as for carriages it will

do me good to walk for a little bit."

Paul left the talk almost entirely to thewo girls; it was enough for him to sit and

watch the play of May's beautiful features,and hear the sound of her voice. Whacould this sudden return of hers mean, hewondered? Was it a passing whim, or wast? He left even the though

unfinished, and called himself apresumptuous fool!

The next morning he received a noterom the rector asking him to call.

"There is a matter of extreme importance

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hat I cannot decide until I have seen you,o will you kindly look in this evening?"

he wrote.

Paul found him in his study, and noticedhat the handsome face was thinner, andhe dark lines under the eyes betrayed the

uffering through which he had passed.

"I wanted you to come for maneasons," he said, pushing an easy-chair

near to the fire. "To thank you, first of all,or the kindness you have poured on m

Kitty from the day of your coming untilnow. There are not many men who wouldhave taken so much trouble about adelicate little girl."

"You need not thank me," Paul answered

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with tears in his eyes. "She was a friend Ihall sorely miss."

"And there is this letter I wish to showyou," continued the rector, not daring toalk further of Kitty.

It was a letter from the Bishop of thediocese, suggesting that Mr. Curzonhould accept the living of Norrington, a

populous town some thirty miles away. Inmoney value it was less than Rudham, buthe needs of the place are great," wrotehe Bishop. "You are in the heyday of your trength, and I believe you to be the maor the place. Unless there be any ver

urgent reason for your refusing to move, Igreatly wish you to undertake it."

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Mr. Curzon's face twitched a little. "Ohno; she was the brightest, healthiest littlechild you have ever seen; and then she

was dropped. And the girl who droppedher did not tell any one about it for monthsafternot until the child's back began togrow out."

"How did you find it out at last?" askedPaul, deeply interested.

"The girl came of her own accord toconfess it. She was pretty well heart-broken when she discovered that Kittwas injured for life."

"I would never have forgiven her!" saidPaul, bitterly.

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"Yes, you would. You would have donemuch as I did, I expect; I let her work ouher repentance. She is the nurse who has

devoted herself to Kitty like a mother, andwho mourns for her like one, too. We cannever be separated; where I go she willgo. And now she has not Kitty she willhelp me to look after some of the sicchildren in my parish."

"So you have decided to go?"

"Yes; I think I have scarcely a choice inhe matter."

The Vicar was not one to keep hispeople long in ignorance of a decisiowhich affected both him and them soargely, and, on the following Sunday

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morning, he told them in a few words thahe must leave them.

"Dear people," he said, "the decisiohas been sharp and sudden, and the pain ot still lingers in my heart as I talk to yoo-day; but I dare not have it otherwise

est, in hesitating, my will should cross thewill of God, for, as soldiers must obey thecommand of their captain, nor ask theeason why, so I, Christ's soldier andervant, must be ready at His Word to

pass on to where the battle is most fierce,and where, maybe, the army needseinforcement. Shall I be less brave tha

Abraham, who, at the call of God, lef home and kindred to settle in a strangeand amongst an alien people? Dear

riends, as clearly as God's message came

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o Abraham in those far-off days, it haseemed to come to me, telling me to leavehe home and people that I love, and to go,

work for Him in another part of Hisvineyard. Therefore I obey."

There were tears on the upturned faces

hat listened, and, when the people left thechurch, there was an almost universalwail of lamentation. But reticent naturesike the Macdonalds could find no relien words; they walked silently side bide with tears in their eyes and an untold

aching in their hearts.

"Life won't be the same again, John; wehan't get another like the good man," said

Mrs. Macdonald, as they neared home.

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"No," said John, slowly. "But if he don'tmake a fuss about it, no more won't we;he's sure about the call, and he dursn'

disobey. But now we'll save for thecollectin'!"

"What collectin'?"

"They'll make him a present. They areure to make him a present; and we'll beeady when they call," said John.

But, with all his brave words, John'sdinner was pushed away untouched, andhis broad back was turned resolutely tohis wife so that she might not guess that hewas crying!

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CHAPTER XIV.

A CHANGE OF MIND.

Three months later Paul Lessing stood,one morning in March, with his handshrust deep into his pockets, looking out o

his sitting-room window. His eyes restedon the little plot of ground before him,with its borders of snowdrops andcrocuses, and the road beyond, alonwhich the village children in their scarlecloaks hurried to school: a narrowboundary to a narrow life, he told himsel

and lonely, since Sally had left him a

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n the village until the trouble and distress,brought by the fever, had passed away,had returned to London; and it was little

enough that Paul had seen of her whilshe had been there. And that very day Paul

had received a letter from Mrs. Webster o tell him that at Michaelmas she wishedo vacate the Court, which she now kep

on as a yearly tenant.

"It cannot matter to me," Paul said tohimself. "In many ways, of course, it is thebest thing that could happen." And yet heound himself thinking of nothing but the

utter desolation of Rudham, when May'sbright presence should be removed frot, when he could no longer hope for a

passing glimpse of her in the street.

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confusion. "It's bad enough to lose MissSally, but John and I won't knowourselves when you've gone too."

"It won't be for very long," said Paul,good-humouredly, grateful to discover thatanybody would miss him, and careful to

uppress the fact that he was dull.

Arrived in London the stir and bustle ohe streets was as refreshing to him as

water to a thirsty man, and to find himselonce more amongst his fellows in the club,where many a man greeted him with ariendly nod, was simply delightful, Oneriend asked him to dinner that night,

another made an appointment for the plaon the night following; his presence wasdemanded at an important political

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discovered her proper vocation.

The last day of his London visit had

come, and, late in the afternoon, Paulound himself walking down Park Lane;

and he hesitated for a moment, when hecame to the house which he knew to be the

Websters, wondering whether he wouldcall and answer Mrs. Webster's note inperson. That, at any rate, would be theostensible reason for his visit; he scarcelcared to admit that it was the longing for aight of May's face that made it impossibleor him to pass the door. In another minute

he had mounted the steps and rung the bell,and was handed into a room crammedwith peoplesociety people, all talkinociety gossip over their tea. Many o

hem bestowed a passing glance upon Paul

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back to the drawing-room. She wasalking with that brilliant, rapid fluenc

which had marked the earlier stages o

heir acquaintance; but at sight of him shecoloured and stretched out her hand witunmistakable cordiality.

"This is indeed an unexpected honour,"he said, letting her other guests move on,

and taking up her own position by Paul. "Ihould not have thought wild horses

would have dragged you to a tea-fight."

"And they would not have done," Paulanswered, with a laugh, "had I known thauch a thing was in process; but, findin

myself in London, I came to call in answer o a note of your mother's."

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A professional singer at the far end ohe room rose preparatory to singing, and

May gave an impatient little exclamation.

"Come into the conservatory and talk;'m tired of all these people. You bring a

whiff of country air with you."

As she spoke she led the way towardswo easy-chairs, placed by the fountain ihe middle of the conservatory, and,inking into one herself, she motioned

Paul to the other. From the half-open door of the drawing-room came the confusedmurmur of voices, dominated by the tenor oloist; but to Paul that society lifeeemed miles distant. He was enfolded b

a sense of enchantment: for him, at thamoment, there was but two people in the

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worldhimself and May. To speak wouldbe to break the brief spell of enjoyment,o he sat silent and content.

"We are wasting the time; I brought youhere to talk," said May, turning towardshim with a smile. "How do things fare a

Rudham now Mr. Curzon has gone?"

"Badly; there is a sense of flatness. Heembodied the life of the village in a waone could not believe unless one had livedhere. I've seen a lot of him in the last few

months; we were fairly driven into eacother's society."

"How do you get on together?"

"To know Curzon intimately goes

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halfway towards converting one to hisway of thinking," said Paul, slowly.

May looked up quickly.

"I don't mean that I am fully prepared toaccept his opinions, but I have modified

my views concerning them," Paul went on.A man like Curzon, and his enormous

power for good, cannot be ignored. Hiscreed, which makes him what he is, musbe reckoned with as a motive-force in theworld. I said to myself at one time that,tarting from opposite poles, he and I

worked for the same endthe good of theace. But where I seem only to scratch theurface, he gets below it. Look at Burney,or example. I believed I had made a ma

of him by restoring his self-respect and

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giving him a fresh chanceby trustinhim, in fact. It did well enough for a time,but then he broke out worse than ever.

Then, from what Tom told me, Curzontepped in, saved him from suicide, andaved him from himself; and has give

him, apparently, some principle to live byhat will turn him into a fine character ye

at any rate, I get excellent accounts ohim."

"I did not know he had tried to killhimself," said May; "perhaps that is whahas sobered poor Rose Lancaster soeffectually. She told me the other day thathe would marry no one but Tom. By the

way, what brought you to London?"

"Mixed motives. Sheer dulness for one

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"I don't understand what you are talkinof! Who is going to throw you over?"

"Your mother has written to say that shewishes to leave at Michaelmas. Her letter was my excuse for calling."

May did not answer for a minute; shewas busily pondering what her mother'season could have been for arriving at this

decision without consulting her. It mightbe that the relations between themselvesand the Blands being somewhat strained,he had thought it wise to go somewhere

else, orand here May's heart quickenedts beatingit might be that she feared aival in Paul Lessing.

"I hope you are sorry to lose us," she

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aid.

"Am I to tell the conventional falsehood

or the truth?" Paul asked.

"The truth, of course; we have notudied conventionality much, have we?"

"Then I am unfeignedly glad," said Paul,deliberately.

May had turned rather white. "You don'tmince matters certainly."

"No, I don't; but I prefer solitude to

iving perpetually within sight ounattainable happiness. Our friendship isdestroyed, you remember; you admitted asmuch once. I cannot pretend that you arean ordinary acquaintance, and, therefore,

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o have you taken out of my reach is reallhe best thing that could happen to me."

"And you have left any wish I might haveabout it outside your calculation," saidMay.

"It cannot signify to you where you live.You will amuse yourself wherever youare."

"It signifies considerably; as I likeRudham, at present, better than any placen the world."

Paul broke into an incredulous laugh.

"I suppose it would be an impertinenceo ask your reason for this unaccountable

preference?"

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"It is a simple one: you live there," saidMay, with averted face.

Paul sprang to his feet and stood beforeMay with arms folded, and looked dowat her with eyes that literally burned.

"May!" he said hoarsely, "if it is a joket is a cruel one."

"Oh, it's true that you have grow

tupid!" cried May, between laughter andears. "It is no joke to have to tell you thahave changed my mind. I love you better

han all the world besides."

With an incoherent cry Paul clasped her o his breast.

"My darling! my darling!" he said, after

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he rapture of that first moment, "I am noworthy, and the sacrifice on your side isoo great. I had no right ever to ask you to

marry me. What will the world say of me?could wish that you had no fortune"

"Oh, nonsense! you were groaning for

want of it just now. It is my own, to do aslike with; and I shall have a lot more,

ome day, unless mother disinherits me."

"Which reminds me that I have to faceher," said Paul, rather ruefully.

"I think you had better go at once," saidMay, with merry decision, "and leavemother to me. I don't pretend she will liket; but she may consent, as she has bee

grievously worried by the fear that I was

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going to be an old maidand so I shouldhave bee