The sun., 1893-11-09
CHAPTER m-(Continued.l

"Steady!" exclaimed Mrs. Jack, nam-
ng up at him. why, good heavens
above, Mr.. Lilly, do you think I'm not
steady and serious and sad enoughg
Do you think I'm jokingT"
Apparently he did, for he was smiling
and nC,dding and half closing his google
eyes, as if in enjoyment of some piece
pf humor.
BELL, it is no use your ranting, my
aear," said Mrs. Lilly in her unmoved
voice. "You know very we'll that you
eould cure all this bother IN the twink
ing of an eye You have but to say
The word ana get rid of all your money
troubles together"
Bell Shrank back in her chair, and a
weary, despondent look came over her
bright young face. You mean, If /
were to consent to the arrangement you
proposed" she said, slowly.
'The best arrangement possible for
my grandchild," said Mrs. Lilly. You
and she come and live in Percival
House as part of our family. You are
rent free and board free. The child is
brought up in proper way-and l
must say, Bell, that it would be be-
coming and respectable for you at your
age, instead of living in lodging by
yourself, with no experienced person to
control you."
Mrs Jack was pondering, with her
face buried in her hands.
1t seems hard to give up the bit Of a
home have" she said at length, look
Ing up piteously. II have been used to
be mistress, you see, Mrs. Lilly. My
darling husband was so indulgent to me
always"
A tear ran down her cheek, and fell
and glistened on the rusty black Grape
of her sleeve.
Il should have thought you would
have considered your child before your
SELF" said Mrs. Lilly, eoldly.
80 do! You don't imagine haven't
thought of my precious pet? But
just on her accOunt-she is used to her
liberty. She toddles about in the fields
all day when it's fine, and at home
there is not a corner in all the house
shn may not go into. She is welcome,
everywhere; and then, above all, there
is Biddy. | think it would break the
child's heart to part from Biddy. She
is so fond of her And, Mr.. Lilly, you
told me before, wouldn't consent"
'Mr. Lilly would not consent to have
Biddy in Percival House." put in the
gentleman, finishing the last sip Of his
cool drink and rising from his chair.
mo, that he would not! No Irish need
apply, eh? No paddywhacks. By-bye,
Bell. My love to Hopsy." And Mr..
Lilly walked away to his Office, BEAM
ing and jocular.
Mrs. Jack sat with her hands in her
lap and the tears streaming down her
cheeks. Il don't know what to do,"
she said, looking wistfully at her moth
er-in-laW.
DO as tell you, of course" replied
Mrs. Lilly, undoubtingly. Take ad-
vantage of the opportunity while you
have it. wouldn't answer for Mr..
Lilly being willing to receive you if
there if there is much more of this
stiIly-shally." .
"Do you think be has quite made up
his mind not, to allow me anything?"
Quite; You may put that idea out
TT seems so unreasonable. He gave
when we didn't want it half so much"
Mr.. Lilly is master of his own
actions, Bell"
''AVauld y9u-would you give me
little more time to consider the pro
posalT'
You have had a year TO consider it,
Bell. l remember broached the sub
ject to you full twelvemonth lgo"
"Yes; but then thought / would try
to live on my income. 1 didn't know
how far it would 60"
you have tried and you have failed.
You are no manager, Bell. You haven't
the least idea of economy. You waste
a great deal Of money in buying use
less trash for your little girl. I've no
H0ubt you are robbed and cheated right
and left"
II don't believe anybody robs me. I
am sure, certain, positive that Biddy
does not; nor yet my landlady."
''Ha! l accTse nobody by name. 1
snould consider it sinful. But it is
quite certain that you don't understand
how to make the most Of a shilling.
You are very thoughtless. You have
no more experience in some matters
than child Of six years old"
Thus, and much more, said Mrs.
Lilly. She went on Ilttering the most
unpleasant truths with a perfectly in
different face dnd n in 2 perfectly in
different voice.
Fruths!' Yes; poor Mrs Jack ac-
tlaaWledgea TO herself that there was a
great deal Of fFHth iA what her m6tIeg-
i1l-law said. But 1t was n9t, fIle less
hard to bear on that account. She
took her leave, with a promise to give
a final answer to Mrs. Lilly's PROPOSE
ton by the end of the week.
Il suppose" she faltered, you don't
thii1tt-dG you think that Mr.. Lilly
could be persuaded to let Biddy come
with us? She is such a good creature,
and an excellent servant; and there
would have to be some sort of nurse
paid for the child, and I'm sure you
coH5dIft fHd q better I would pay
Biddy myself, tQt.it Of my own money,
if Mr.. Lilly would l8t her stay with
Popsy."
Il am quite sure Mr.. Lilly wouldn't
allow it, Bell. Won't you come up
stairs agaa1 to Emma? She is at home
1 hear the piaf1o.a
"N-no, thank you; / think not. My
eyes are red, and | don't want Emma
e see that / have been cFyingy" said
"Oh! don't tfiatg Emma would no
tice it. But do as you like. Geadsby"
Mrs. Jack drew down her veil and
walked back along the High street.
Her pace was as quick as ever. She
WaAte4 to get home and "think things
over" That is hoW she phrased it in
her own mind. But what she was
longing for at the bottom Of her heart
was to hug her little girl and cry over
her. ''&
There she goes againr' exclaimed
Mrs Hogg, from behind the ledger.
II declare It's disgusting. T4at woman
does nothing but fly abeat UP and
down the High street from morning till
night. / should think she had ought to
have something else to do than gad-
ding about all day, and her a widow
with lies nIst Mourning on her back
CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Jack lived in q queer lite nook
of street leading nowhither, and
bounded at an end by high garden
wall The other end opened out of a
s,f IxnIxE lxrI. s,t,