, 1884-12-21

Morningi No books: no idle, listless hours
for me to-day. Plenty to do. plenty to think
about; all sorts OF arrangements to make.
Farewell 70 my moody. sullen life. Fare
well to my aimless, selfish existence. Hence
forward l should ave something worth liv-
ing for-worth dying for, II needs bel Phil
ippa was coming to me to-day; coming in
grief, 1t is true; coming as a sister comes to
n brother. Ali after all tho weary, weary
waiting, l shall see hor to-day-to-morrow,
every day. If a mans devotion, homage,
worship and respect can in her own eyes
reinstate my queen, / shall soma day SEQ the
bloom come back to her check, the bright
smile play once more round her mouth, the
dark eyes again eloquent with happy
thoughts. And then-and theni what
should l care for the world or its sneersi To
whom. save myself, should 1 be answerablel
Then / might whisper in her ear: Sweet,
let the past vanish from our lives as a
dream. Let happiness date from today
Although Philippa would grace my poor
cottage for one night only. 1 had a thousand
| preparations to make for her comfort For
t~unately l had a spare room, and, moreover,
a furnished one. Not that l should have
troubled, when l went into ny seclusion.
about such "a superfiuity rs n guest chamber;
but as it happened | had bought the house
and furniture complete, 50 could offer my
welcome guest fair accommodation for tho
night.
l summoned my solid man. l told him
that my sister was coming on a visit TO me:
that she would sleep here tonight, but that
most likely we should go away tomorrow.
He could stay and look after the house until
l returned or sent him instructions what to
do with IL William manifested no surprise.
Had l told him to mike preparations for
the coming OF my wife and five children he
would have considered it all a part of the
days work, and would have done his best to
meet my requirements
He set to work in his imperturbable, me-
thodical, but handy way 10 get Philippa's
room in trim As soon as this was done,
and the neglected hambe made cosy and
warm-looking, l told him to borrow a horse
and cart somewhere. and fetch the luggage
| from Mrs. Wilson's He was to mention no
names; simply to say that he had come for
the luggage, and to ask If the lady had any
message to send.
Then | sat down in the room which my
love would occupy and unused upon the
strange but unhappy chance which was
bringing her beneath my roof. l wished
that | had an enchanter's wand to turn the
humble garniture of the chamber into sur
roundings meet for my queenly Philippe
/ wished that l had, at least, flowers with
which l could dock her resting place; for 1
remembered how p~assionately she loved
flowers. Alasl had not seen a flower for
months.
Then drew cut Sir Mervyn Ferrand's
letter, read it again and again, and cursed
the writer in my heart.
William was away about two hours; then
he made his appearance with somo boxes.
/ was delighted TO see these tangible signs
that Philippa meant to keep her promise.
TIL that moment l had been troubled by
something like the doubt that after all she
might, upon calm reflection, rescind the
resolution formed in her excitement. Now
her coming seemed to a certainty.
Nevertheless, William brought no mes
sage; so there was nothing for me to do but
wait patiently until she chose to cross my
threshold.
Although my pleasing labors of love were
ended, l was not left idle. There was
another task to be done to-day. / set my
teeth and sat down. thinking quietly as to
the way in which it might DO best per-
formed. Tonight / meant to stand face 10
face with that black-heartel scoundrel
known as Sir Mervyn FoFrandi
l consulted the tinu table. His iatter
named nc particular hour; but saw that II
ha carried out his expressed intention OF
being here tonight, there was but one train
by which he could cons; there was but one
way from Roding to the house at which
Phiippa hal been staying. He meant to