The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-14

q
bit of mistake, or she did. Anyway
happen to know that she'll conc like n
bird, md that seemed tn satisfy him.
So. wired off for you both Mt once.
Why, my dear girl" he broke or,
you're rot vexed about 1t, surcly.r for
We're had hidden her face and was weep
ing bitterly.
'No-no, not Mt all. You go away a
overwrought," interposed, Mrs. Jock,
hastily s'She'll be oil right in five
minutes if she's not worried. I'll take
her upstairs presently"
Vere was soon soothcd into quiet
ness again, and then Mrs. Jock took
her up to the pretty room which the
jocks own.
And after this Lumlcy was desperate
ly i'll. For many days the doctors came
and went. Two fresh nurses arrived,
and Mrs Jock was almost beside herself
with anxiety and fear. She and Jock
certainly stuck to their friend bravely
They never left him-day and night
one or other of them was always with
him, seeing that every thing that could
be done for him was done. And We're
well, poor girl, she, wretched and al
most dead with anxiety and want of
sleep, spent the long and weary days
wandering in and out of the rooms with
no reasonable and legitimate occupa-
ton excepting the answers of notes and
kilograms, which came in by shoals
from morning till night. She, too, saw
good many people who called to in
quire for him and insisted upon seeing
some one not quite a servant. She was
generally believed to be his amanuen-
Sis, and people-ladies especially-won-
dered that the painter should have SO
young lady in that capacity.
One day came q Mrs. Hope, hand
some widow; and Blackwood, weary of
her importantly for information, told
her that Mr.. and Mrs. Airiie had been
staying in the house for several days,
and that perhaps Mrs. Airlie would see
her.
'Oh! in that case" said the lady with
renewed interest, 81 will come in. Mrs.
| Airlie is sure to come down to see me.
I'm so very anxious about Mr.. Lumley."
Now it happened that if Blackwood
had hatred and a lonthing for any
human being on earth that person was
Mrs. Hope. He knew, nobody better,
| that Mrs. Hope had every intention if
| such thing were possible of becoming
mistress of the lovely house in st.
Johns wood, and Blackwood had not
unreasonable desire that such an event
| should not come about. lie had no OBJ
! lection to his masters being married.
/ indeed | think, on the whole, Black
wood preferred n married master to n
single one, as that did away with the
necessity of housekeeper, class of
| person for whom he had no love-but
the idea of his master as the husband
of Mrs. Hope was to Blacllwood tanta-
mount to the certainty of his having to
look out for another billet. He there
fore ushered the lady into the little
morning-room where Miss Nugent was
sitting, and betook himself away to in
stitute inquiries of the authorities
above.
'Miss Nugent," exclaimed Mrs. Hope,
in incredulous tones, '.you herev
Miss Nugent got up and held out her
hand. "How do you do?" she said,
quietly. tsp
II am very much surprised" replied
the lady, promptly. 81 never was more
surprised in my life. l understood from
Blacllwood that Mr.. and Mrs. Airlie
were staying here"
She spoke in tone and with a Sig
nificance which sent the blood rushing
into the girls pale face. "Mr. and Mrs.
Airlie are staying here" she replied,
with quiet civility.
sob! really-well, it rs we'll! Where
is Mrs. Airlie? will go to her at
once"
81 don't think you had better do
that" said We're, very firmly-'because
she is sitting with Mr.. Lumley"
"Well"-and Mrs. Hope drew herself
up and looked at the girl as if to say
that there was no reason why she
should not go to Mrs. Jock, neverthe-
less.
Il don't think" said We're, patiently,
that you quite understand how very
i'll, dangerously i'll, Mr. Lumley is. No
one is allowed to see him at all-indeed,
he would probably not know you if you
did see him."
Mrs. Hope became suddenly dignified.
My dear Miss Nugent," she said,
you don't seem to understand the
terms upon which Mr.. Lumley and
are"
mo, DON'T" returned We're, simply.
"If anybody can be allowed to see
him, surely I am that person." Mrs.
Hope continued.
81 don't think So" said We're, who
scarcely understood her.
mo? Then-but no, it is not neces-
sary that should explain myself to
you. will make it very clear to Mrs.
| Airlie when she comes down."
"N1rs Hope don't Won thinl. bod