WYLDER'S HAJVD.
165
will say this — she is quite free for me. Only, of course
I don't decline to fulfil my part whenever at liberty.
In the meantime, I return the miniature, with her hair in
it, which I constantly wore about me since I got it. But
I have no right to it any longer, till I know her decision.
Don't be too hard on me, dear Chelford. It is a very old
lark has got me into this present vexation. In the mean-
time, I wish to make it quite clear what I mean. Not
being able by any endeavor " — (here a nautical phrase
scratched out, and "endeavor " substituted) — "of mine
to be up to time, and as these are P. P. affairs I must
only forfeit. I mean. I am at the lady's disposal, either to
fulfil my engagement the earliest day I can, or to be
turned adrift. That is all I can say.
"In more trouble than you suppose, I remain, dear
Chelford, yours, whatever you may think, faithfully,"
"Mark Wylder."
 
CHAPTER XXIX.
nCW MARK WYLDKR'S DISAPPEARANCE AFFECTED HIS
FRIENDS.
Lady Chelford's wrath was now turned anew upon
Wylder — and the inconvenience of having no visible ob-
ject on which to expend it was once more painfully felt.
Railing at Mark Wylder was, alas! beating the air. The
most crushing invective was — thanks to his adroit mys-
tification — simply a soliloquy. Poor Lady Chelford,
who loved to give the ingenious youngsters of both sexes,
when occasion invited, a piece of her mind was here —
absolutely tongue-tied! If it had been possible to tell