L I B RARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVLR.SITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
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 Return this book on or before the 
 Latest Date stamped below. 
 
 University of Illinois Library 
 
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 nijn o ft id 
 
 AUGO^W 
 
 NOV (f 2 1990 
 
 m 2 ^^ '^ 
 
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 L161— H41
 
 MARRIED OR SINGLE? 
 
 BY 
 
 B. M. CROKER 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 DIANA BARRINGTON," *'a FAMILY LIKENESS," ETC. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON 
 
 CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY 
 
 1895
 
 ?23 
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. The PuriL-TEACHER ... ... 1 
 
 II. No News ... ... ... 23 
 
 III. The Bkeaking-up Dance ... ... 41 
 
 IV. The Last Train ... ... 67 
 
 V. Expelled ... ... ... 89 
 
 VI. "Poverty comes in at the Door" 102 
 
 VII. A Telegram for Miss West ... 117 
 
 VIII. Not Married after All ... 135 
 
 IX. Bargaining ... ... ... 157 
 
 X. Mrs. Kane becomes Affectionate 167 
 
 XI. Change of Air and Scene ... 190 
 
 XII. "She will do!" ... ... 205 
 
 XIII. Mr. West's Wishes ... ... 224
 
 MARRIED OR SINGLE? 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 THE PUPIL-TEACHEE, 
 
 MRS. AND THE MISSES HARPER, 
 
 SELECT ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 FOB 
 
 YOUlSra LADIES. 
 
 The above, engraved in bold characters 
 on a highly-polished brass plate, may be 
 read on the gate of an imposing mansion 
 situated in the far-spreading subm'bs of 
 Riverside, one of the principal mercantile 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 2 Married or Single ? 
 
 towns in England. '•'- Harperton " is a 
 solid and secluded residence, standing in 
 its own grounds (of two acres, one perch). 
 It is planned to resemble a country house 
 of some pretensions, but the symmetry 
 of its proportions is spoiled by a long, low 
 building jutting out at the side, that may 
 be taken for anything from a stable to 
 a billiard-room, but is, in fact, the scene 
 of Mrs. Harper's scholastic labours, 
 erected at her own cost — in other words, 
 the schoolroom. This apartment is 
 illuminated by six windows, the lower 
 halves of which are, of course, of muffled 
 glass. The floor is carpeted here and 
 there, as it were, in squares or plots, and 
 in the midst of each square there is a 
 desk and a comfortable cushioned chair. 
 These indicate the localities of the various 
 classes. The schoolroom walls are 
 covered with maps, book-cases, lists of
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 3 
 
 rules, and practising hours, and lined 
 with narrow desks and benches. A worn 
 piano, a prim, white-faced clock, and a 
 high wire fender comprise most of the 
 furniture — ornamental and otherwise ; 
 unless we include the two young ladies 
 who are sitting at one of the far desks, 
 making the most of their time whilst 
 the boarders are out for their usual walk. 
 One of these damsels has mendaciously 
 pleaded ear-ache in order to escape the 
 hateful daily promenade. The other — 
 that nondescript character, a pupil- 
 teacher — is fulfilling a part of her duties, 
 and diligently darning the ^4ittle ones' " 
 stockings, whilst her companion, with 
 both elbows on the desk, and both hands 
 in her ruffled hair, watches her and talks. 
 ^' This must be perfectly awfal for you, 
 Maddie dear," she was saying. ^^ Don't 
 you loathe it all, and wish you could run
 
 4 Married or Single ? 
 
 away ? I should, if I were in your 
 shoes." 
 
 ^^Ean away! What nonsense, Flo! 
 Where could I run to, even supposing 
 such an insane idea had entered my head, 
 which it never has done ? You forget 
 that I have no friends in England ; and, 
 after all, I am not such an object of pity 
 as you seem to imagine," darning steadily 
 all the time. 
 
 ^^ If you are not, I should like to know 
 who is ! " demanded her schoolfellow, 
 emphatically. ^^ You are one day at the 
 top of the tree, the head of the first class, 
 the best pupil Herr Kroot ever had, 
 adored by the Harpies" — here Miss 
 Blewitt alluded to her respected instruc- 
 tress and daughters — ^^ always exquisitely 
 dressed, with heaps of pocket-money, 
 sleeping in the best room, allowed a fire 
 in winter, every extra — claret and cofi'ee
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 5 
 
 — and I don't know ivhat ! Affcer years 
 and years of this style of thing, and when 
 you are seventeen, and almost finished, 
 your father suddenly stops supplies, you 
 are not paid for for three whole terms, 
 and the hateful Harpies make you into 
 a regular drudge — a pupil-teacher, a 
 nursery governess, a servant ! You sleep 
 in the attic with those odious little 
 Smiths — wash, dress, and teach them; 
 you go messages to the shops, and even 
 into Eiverside — you, who were never 
 allowed to stir one yard alone ; you mend 
 and darn and teach." 
 
 She paused, not from lack of words, 
 but from want of breath. 
 
 "And a very good thing that I can do 
 something to pay for my living," re- 
 marked the other, with composure. " If 
 I could not sew and mend and teach, 
 what would become of me, I should be
 
 6 Married or Single ? 
 
 glad to know ? I could scarcely expect 
 the Harpers to go on keeping me at their 
 own expense ; and now I take the fifth 
 class, the little ones' music, and I save 
 a servant for those Indian children, I 
 work for my bread — and I am worth 
 it." 
 
 ^^I should rather think you were," re- 
 joined her listener, sarcastically. ^^ You 
 are worth a hundred a year to them as 
 teacher, besides being dressmaker and 
 nursery-maid. It makes me wild — I feel 
 quite crazy — when I see all that they get 
 out of you, early and late, and the shame- 
 ful way they treat you 1 Once upon a 
 time you were ^ darling Madeline ' — their 
 'dear, bright-faced girl,' their 'model 
 pupil,' now you are ' Madeline West,' or 
 'Miss West,' and you are 'slow,' 'awk- 
 ward,' 'lazy,' and 'impertinent.' Oh 
 dear me 1 dear me ! sometimes I feel as if
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 7 
 
 I should like to fly at Miss Selina and 
 bite a piece out of her, I am so savage." 
 
 '^ I hope to goodness you will restrain 
 your feelings/' said Madeline, with a 
 smile, as she threaded a long needleful of 
 black wool, and Qpmmenced on a gaping 
 heel. ^ ^ The Harpers are only human, after 
 all ! It was very hard on them, my father 
 having failed ; and all my music-lessons, 
 and painting, and singing, and German, 
 for two terms, had to be paid for out of 
 their own pockets. Signer Squaletti 
 charges half a guinea an hour. Then 
 there were my clothes. I feel hot all 
 over when I remember the quantity of 
 money I laid out, believing that it would 
 be all settled, as usual, by father's cheque 
 at Christmas. There was that white 
 dress for the breaking-up party " 
 
 *^ In which you made such an im- 
 pression on the Wolfertons' friend, young
 
 8 Married or Single? 
 
 Mr. Wynne," interrupted Florence, with 
 a meaning nudge. ^' Oh yes, I remember 
 the white dress ! " 
 
 '^ Don't, Flo ! Your elbow is like a 
 knife," expostulated her friend, with 
 some discernible increase of colour. 
 ''As to Mr. Wynne, what you say is 
 nonsense, and you know Mrs. Harper 
 forbids us to speak of — of — such things." 
 
 '' I know that Mrs. Harper was most 
 uneasy in her mind when she saw him 
 dancing four times with you running — 
 yes, dance after dance — and she came up 
 and introduced him to Julia Flowers' 
 two red-haired sisters, and said that 
 gentlemen were so scarce, and her girls 
 were not outj and all that sort of rubbish ; 
 and she sent him down to supper with 
 old Mrs. Browne, and she sent you to 
 bed because you looked pale ! Oh yes, 
 I saw it all — all. I saw that Mr. Wynne
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 9 
 
 never danced again, but stood with, his 
 back to the wall for the rest of the even- 
 ing, looking as cross as two sticks. Yery 
 likely he would never have given you a 
 thought, if you had not been so plainly 
 and openly banished : absence makes the 
 heart grow fonder ! Mrs. Harper put 
 the idea into his head by making such 
 a stupid fuss — and she has only herself 
 to thank. He sent you those flowers, 
 he came to our church, and Miss Selina 
 took it all to herself — the ridiculous old 
 cat ! As if he would look at her ! She 
 closed on the flowers : much good may 
 they do her! " 
 
 *'Now, Flo, how do you know that 
 they were not for her?" asked her 
 companion with a smile. ^^But, don't 
 let us talk about them. It is an old 
 story." 
 
 *' But I will talk about them," persisted
 
 lo Married or Single? 
 
 Flo, angrily. *' I'll talk about your nice 
 green tailor-made, and your winter coat 
 trimmed with fur, and your opera cloak, 
 and your white dress — the white dress, 
 which they took away from you ! " 
 
 ^^Well, they had paid for them, you 
 see," rejoined Madeline quietly. '^ I am 
 glad they did take them — I owe them 
 the less." 
 
 ^^ Thank goodness your gloves and 
 boots were too small," continued Flo, in 
 a tone of fervent congratulation, ^' other- 
 wise they would have gone also. They 
 are rather different from the Harpers' 
 chaussure, which is of the canal-boat 
 type and size. Now I know what 
 pedestrians mean when they talk of 
 ^ covering ' miles of ground." 
 
 ^^ Well, my dear excited Flo, they did 
 not make their own feet," said the other 
 coolly.
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 1 1 
 
 '^ How philosophical you are becoming!. 
 Quite an old head on young shoulders! 
 Who made their tempers, I should be 
 glad to know? — or their tongues ? Thank 
 goodness, this is my last half ! Good- 
 bye to early rising, lectures, scoldings, 
 resurrection pies, milk and water, and 
 rice puddings. Good-bye to Harperton 
 — penitentiary and prison. Good-bye to 
 Harpies, and hurrah for home!" — 
 throwing, as she spoke, a dictionary up 
 to the ceiling ; failing to catch which, it 
 fell open, face downwards, with a bang. 
 
 ''That is May's dictionary, Flo," 
 remonstrated the other. ''You will not 
 improve ifcs poor back." 
 
 "If you stay here long, Madeline, you 
 will certainly become just as preaching 
 and particular as one of the Harpies 
 themselves. You are tremendously 
 sobered as it is. Who would think, to
 
 1 2 Married or Single ? 
 
 look at you darning away so industriously, 
 that this time last year you were the 
 queen and moving spirit of the school ; 
 always getting up charades, dances, and 
 concerts, and carrying your point on 
 every question, and figuratively snapping 
 your fingers at the Harpies if they 
 interfered with your schemes — which, to 
 do them justice, was very seldom ! 'Ah ! 
 my poor Maddie, since then what a 
 change has come o'er the spirit of your 
 dream! It is terrible. If you had 
 always been a pupil-teacher it would be 
 another matter, or if you had gone to 
 another school, where no one knew that 
 you had fallen from your high estate ; 
 but here, the scene of your triumphs, to 
 make the descent to the very foot of the 
 ladder, is — is frightful. I often wonder 
 how you can bear it so well." 
 
 ^'I often wonder too," said Madeline
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 13 
 
 shortly, winking her tears back with a 
 great effort. ^^ You are not going the 
 best way to work to help me to endure 
 my lot, Flo, raking up all these things. 
 Bad or good, I must submit. I have no 
 alternative — nowhere to go, until my 
 father comes home. The best thing I 
 can do is to be patient, and try and 
 repay the Harpers for some of the 
 money they have expended on me." 
 
 *^ Eepay them ! " echoed Miss Blewitt^ 
 scornfully. ^'They made a very good 
 thing out of you for nine years — large 
 profits and quick returns. Now, although 
 your father has not sent his usual remit- 
 tance — is not that the word ? — and they 
 have heard that he is in business diffi- 
 culties, yet I think they might have 
 given you a little more law — a longer day. 
 They might have exercised some patience. 
 You have not heard of your father for
 
 14 Married or Single? 
 
 more than a year, have you ? " she added 
 bhmtly. 
 
 '^ No, not for sixteen months," answered 
 the pupil-teacher. 
 
 ^^But even if he were dead," proceeded 
 Mo, with a fine disregard of her friend's 
 feelings, and an open defiance of the laws 
 of good breeding, such as is occasionally 
 to be found in girls of her age, ^^ you 
 could not honestly pretend to be very 
 much cut up ! You ha.ve not seen him 
 since you were a small child. You left 
 Australia when you were seven years old. 
 He is a stranger to you." 
 
 ^'A stranger, certainly, in one way; 
 but still he is my father, and I have a 
 presentiment that we shall meet again, 
 and before long," rolling up a pair of 
 stockings as she spoke, and averting 
 her eyes from her outspoken school- 
 fellow.
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 15 
 
 ^^Pooh! I don't believe in presenti- 
 ments. I had a presentiment that 
 father was going to give me a cart and 
 cob last holidays, and it ended in smoke. 
 If your father had been in the land of the 
 living, surely you would have heard. I 
 know I am saying this very baldly and 
 plainly, but there is no use in beating 
 about the bush — is there ? You must 
 face the position sooner or later." 
 
 ^'You mean the position of being an 
 orphan?" said Madeline, tremulously. 
 '^ But I refuse to accept that until I have 
 not one grain of hope left. It is easy for 
 you, who have your father and mother 
 ^nd five brothers at home, to talk in this 
 way. Kemember, I have only one re- 
 lation in the world, and when I lose him 
 I lose all." 
 
 ^^ Well, all I can say is, that I hope 
 your presentiment will turn out better
 
 1 6 Married or Single ? 
 
 than mine ! Oh, here are the girls coming 
 back ! " she exclaimed peevishly, as a 
 long file of figures appeared, passing the 
 windows two and two. ^' What a bore 
 they are ! They seem to have only been 
 out a quarter of an hour, and here they 
 come marching in, disturbing our nice 
 comfortable little talk." 
 
 Florence Blewitt, who so successfully 
 practised the art of plain speaking and 
 trampling on other people's susceptibili- 
 ties — people were welcome to trample on 
 hers, she declared ; she had none — was a 
 short, squarely-built girl of sixteen, with 
 a sharp nose, thick brown hair, intelli- 
 gent grey eyes, and a very dark skin — a 
 skin that betrayed no soupcon of foreign 
 blood, but was, nevertheless, more brown 
 than white. She was brusque, eccentric, 
 clever, and indolent. Florence could — • 
 if she would — but she so seldom would.
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 17 
 
 She preferred the ease of an iiudisturbed 
 seat at the very bottom of the class to 
 ambitions battlings and feverish strivings 
 for the first place. She was the spoiled 
 only daughter of a wealthy merchant and 
 shipowner, and, being deferred to and 
 made much of at home, was disposed to 
 be both arbitrary and independent at 
 school. Moreover, she was selfish, which 
 is not a taking trait in a young woman's 
 character, and was anything but a popular 
 idol. She would borrow readily, but 
 hated to lend ; and the only thing with 
 which she was generous was her advice ; 
 the sole present she was ever known to 
 make was her opinion — gratis. Few 
 were honoured by her liking, and if she 
 had a friend at Harperton, it was the 
 girl who sat beside her, conscientiously 
 mending a basketful of most hopeless- 
 looking stockings. 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 1 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 ^^ I wonder what your fate will be, 
 Maddie ? " said Flo, staring at her medi- 
 tatively, and studying her delicate profile, 
 her pencilled eyebrows, her shining hair. 
 
 '^ I wonder too," echoed Madeline, with 
 a profound sigh. 
 
 Madeline West had been born in Mel- 
 bourne, and sent home at the age of 
 seven to Mrs. Harper's establishment, 
 where she had remained for ten years. 
 From a skinny, elf-like, wildly excitable 
 child, she had grown up into an ex- 
 tremely pretty girl, with what the draw- 
 ing-master termed ^^ wonderful colouring." 
 Her hair, eyebrows, and lashes were 
 dark, her eyes two shades lighter, but it 
 was in her complexion and the exquisite 
 modelling of her head and features that 
 her chief beauty lay. Her head was 
 small, and beautifully set upon her 
 shoulders; her skin was of creamy
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 19 
 
 fairness, with a faint shade of carmine 
 in her cheeks — a colour so deHcate that 
 it went and came at a look or word. 
 She was tall, slight, and wonderfully 
 graceful ; full of vivacity, activity, versa- 
 tility and resource, ready to throw her- 
 self warmly into any scheme for amuse- 
 ment or mischief — that was to say, 
 twelve months previously. She was by 
 far the most striking-looking and admired 
 of Mrs. Harper's forty boarders, and, not- 
 withstanding this drawback to feminine 
 goodwill, was a great favourite with 
 pupils, teachers, and servants. Her 
 popularity had even survived that ter- 
 rible test of altered circumstances — that 
 dire fall from the wealthy Australian 
 heiress to the unpaid slavey of the 
 establishment. She changed, of course, 
 her ringing laugh and her happy air; 
 her merry repartee and snatches of songs
 
 20 Married or Single? 
 
 had disappeared with the pretty frocks 
 and hats and shoes which she had loved 
 so welL She was developing a staid, 
 grown-up manner, according to her 
 fellow-pupils; she held back from their 
 advances — abdicated of her own accord, 
 and her place as queen of the school was 
 filled, after a decent interregnum, by a 
 rich Cockney, who was as lavish of her 
 shillings, as she was frugal in the matter 
 of h's, and who, according to Flo Blewitt^ 
 was ^'a harmless, good-natured, vulgar, 
 poor creature." 
 
 It must not be supposed that Madeline 
 West did not keenly feel her altered 
 position. Many a bitter tear she shed in 
 secret ; many a sleepless hour she lay 
 awake, when all her companions — with 
 only to-morrow's lessons on their minds — 
 were slumbering peacefully in the arms 
 of Morpheus. Every small indignity.
 
 The Pupil-teacher. 21 
 
 every slighting speech and sharp glance 
 entered as an iron into her soul, but she 
 made no remonstrance or reply; her 
 swiftly changing colour was the sole 
 index to her feelings, and what were a 
 school-girl's — a pauper school- girl's — feel- 
 ings to Mrs. Harper ? To tell the truth, 
 Madeline had never asserted herself even 
 in her days of sunshine. She never 
 could face an unpleasant situation; she 
 put aside a crisis with a laugh or a gay 
 word; her sensitive, luxurious nature 
 shrank instinctively from all unpleasant 
 things. She was a moral coward, though 
 no one suspected it. 
 
 The present clouds on her sky had 
 brought out, in an unexpected manner, 
 unexpected depths in her character. 
 Madeline, the humble semi-nursemaid, 
 was an industrious, prudent, self-possessed 
 person, who laboured gravely, doggedly
 
 2 2 Married or Single ? 
 
 from morning to night, a totally different 
 girl to the extravagant, generous, easy- 
 going Madeline, the butterfly who had 
 fluttered the happy hours away for nine 
 whole years. She was now at another 
 seminary. Adversity is said to be an 
 excellent school, and ofi'ers a fine test of 
 character. Anomalous as it sounds, Made- 
 line West had risen to the state of life 
 into which she h.d,di fallen.
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 NO NEWS. 
 
 Theee months had passed, and still no 
 sign or token from Mr. Robert West. 
 How anxiously his daughter's eyes 
 followed Miss Selina's skinny fingers, as 
 they dealt out the letters every morning 
 during breakfast time — these letters 
 having previously been thoroughly turned 
 over, examined, felt, and even smelt j by 
 that lady and her relatives. It was 
 always the same in answer to Madeline's 
 unspoken appeal. ^' No, nothing for you, 
 Madeline," or, ^^No letter yet. Miss 
 West," according to the frame of mind
 
 24 Married or Single ? 
 
 in which Miss Sehna found herself. And 
 then Mrs. Harper, who was seated behind 
 an immense cojDper tea apparatus, would 
 peer round it, with her keen little eyes 
 and bobbing grey curls, and shake her head 
 at the pupil-teacher, in a manner which 
 signified that she did not approve of her 
 at all! As if poor Madeline was not 
 sick with hope deferred, and wild with 
 a frenzied desire to get away and never 
 pass another night under that lady's roof- 
 tree ; only there was one big hut^ one 
 immense drawback to her own most eager 
 wishes, she had nowhere else to go. 
 
 The Miss Harpers, who were fully 
 alive to Madeline's value, were by no 
 means equally anxious for her departure. 
 She corrected exercises, ruled copy- 
 books, relieved them of several dis- 
 tasteful duties, and took the little ones' 
 music — an agonizing ordeal. She really
 
 No News. 25 
 
 did as much as any two paid teachers, 
 and — an ecstatic fact — for nothing ! 
 Moreover, they had the delicious sen- 
 sation that they were performing a 
 charitable action all the time, and looked 
 primly self-conscious and benevolent 
 when their friends exclaimed: '^How 
 good of you, you dear, kind. Christian 
 people, to keep that unfortunate Austra- 
 lian girl! " 
 
 Miss Selina, who was forty, with a 
 complexion like that of a wax doll who 
 has been left lying in the sun, would sigh 
 softly and murmur the word " duty," 
 when perhaps at that very moment the 
 unfortunate Australian was fulfilling the 
 least agreeable of hers — putting those 
 fretful, ungovernable, sickly little Anglo- 
 Indians to bed — and to sleep. 
 
 They v/ere too young for school 
 routine; spoiled, fractious, disobedient,
 
 26 Married or Single? 
 
 and mischievous, thej were Madeline's 
 almost entire charge. Happy Madeline ! 
 It is winter when we once more enter 
 the schoolroom at Harperfcon, a bitterly 
 cold day, and the small fire behind the 
 wire screen does not half heat that great 
 bare apartment, with its numerous doors 
 and windows. Those at a distance are 
 ^^out in the cold" indeed, for a double 
 file of girls is gathered closely round the 
 fender, talking four at a time, and 
 making noise enough for a rookery. 
 This is the half-hour after tea, and 
 exclusively their own ; they are in- 
 demnifying themselves for many hours 
 of silence and French — which almost 
 amounts to the same thing. Their 
 speech is vigorous and unpolished, for 
 no teacher is present except Madeline 
 —if teacher she can be called. She is 
 standing at a remote desk, mounting
 
 No News. 27 
 
 a drawing by the light of a cheap little 
 hand-lamp. The gas is never turned on 
 in the schoolroom until half-past six, 
 because the twilight is so delightful (so 
 economical they meant), quoth the 
 thrifty Miss Harpers. 
 
 The coals, which have been angrily 
 stirred up, throw a good blaze, and 
 reveal the faces and figures of the fire- 
 worshippers assembled round' the screen, 
 especially the face and figure of Isabella 
 Jones, the present reigning potentate. 
 She has hitched herself up on the edge of 
 the fire-guard, holding on there by tho 
 mantelpiece, and from this elevated posi- 
 tion is dispensing law, wit, snubs, and 
 patronage. She is very tall and thin, 
 stoops a good deal, and is the proprietor 
 of a tip-tilted nose, a pair of quick little 
 brown eyes, and millions of freckles. 
 She is also the proprietor of a quantity
 
 2 8 Married or Single? 
 
 of pretty dresses, of unlimited pocket- 
 money, a vast amount of self-esteem, and 
 the largest and reddest hands in the room. 
 
 Mrs. Harper's seminary is only intended 
 for the offspring of wealthy folk. Izzie's 
 father has made his pile in margarine, 
 and has desired that his daughter may 
 have the best of everything — every ac- 
 complishment, every extra, just like a 
 duchess. Izzie has, accordingly, a sepa- 
 rate bedroom, and lessons from the most 
 expensive masters ; nevertheless, she is 
 far — oh ! very far — from being like a 
 duchess. Her education was begun too 
 late ; she is naturally dull. 
 
 ^^ I say, girls," she is screaming sociably, 
 ^^ isn't it grand to think that in ten days 
 more we shall all be at 'ome ? 
 
 " ' Tliis day fortnight, Avhere shall I he ? 
 Not in this academee, 
 Eating scrape and drinking tea. 
 This day fortnight, where shall I he ? ' "
 
 No News. 29 
 
 She chanted iu a sing-song voice, more 
 or less through her nose. 
 
 ''And there is the breaking-up dance," 
 put in one of her satellites; ''I don't 
 want to go home till that is over." 
 
 '' Gracious ! I should hope not. What 
 fun it will be," exclaimed Miss Jones.. 
 '' I hope there will be lots of men this 
 time. I 'inted as much to Miss Selina, 
 What is the use of going to the expense 
 of supper, and us all getting new dresses, 
 just for the day boarders ? That's what 
 /say." 
 
 ''What good, indeed!" put in Flo, 
 sarcastically, as she elbowed her way to 
 the very middle of the fire. " But pray 
 do not make yourselves unhappy about 
 the expense of the supper, my dear young 
 friends. It will not concern us. I heard 
 Mrs. Harper telling mademoiselle that 
 they did not intend to have the girls in
 
 30 Married or Single? 
 
 on this occasion, gobbling up the ices 
 and confectionery, like so many locusts." 
 
 *^ I did not know that locusts went in 
 for confectionery," remarked Isabella, 
 with a sniff of scorn. 
 
 ^^ This marvellous discovery in natural 
 history was Mrs. Harper's, not mine," 
 said Flo, with swelling dignity. *^ How- 
 ever, the meaning is plain. We are not 
 to sup. We are to 'ave " — mimicking 
 her schoolfellow — ^'buns and egg-sand- 
 wiches 'anded round in the schoolroom, 
 whilst the company are carousing down- 
 stairs." 
 
 The ^^ take-off" was entirely lost on 
 Isabella, who was far too much impressed 
 with the intelligence to be alive to Flo's 
 impertinence. A dead silence followed 
 this disagreeable announcement, which 
 was at length broken by Miss Jones, who, 
 sliding from the top of the screen in the
 
 No News. 31 
 
 excitement of the moment, shrilly ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 '^Well, I declare! I won't stand it! 
 I shall tell Mrs. H. so to her face. 
 Why, our parents pay for the supper ! 
 Locusts, indeed ! My father pays hand- 
 somely for extras and everything, break- 
 ing-up party and all ; and to be put off 
 with a bun ! I think I see myself — I 
 just do! Why" — warming with her 
 theme — ^^ supper is 'alf the fun! There 
 are the crackers and mottoes and jokes, 
 and every one taken down by a gentle- 
 man, arm-in-arm. I'll go to supper for 
 one, and stay up to the last. I did not 
 get my new pink dress just to dance 
 with girls, and eat an Qgg sandwich and 
 go to bed. Bather not. Leave it to 
 me, girls" — looking round on her com- 
 panions with an air of friendly encourage- 
 ment — ^'I shall have a word with Miss
 
 3 2 Married or Single ? 
 
 Selina. We shall all go to supper, or 
 Isabella Joues will know the reason 
 why." 
 
 ^' Oh, you dear, good Izzy ! " cried twa 
 voices simultaneously. And one con- 
 tinued, " You know you can do anything 
 with Snappy, and iiyoic ask, it will be all 
 right. But about partners, I am afraid 
 they will be few and far between ; Snappy 
 and Miss Harper keep the best for them- 
 selves and their friends. Anything is 
 good enough for the girls. Last time I 
 was thankful to dance all night with a 
 little boy in a jacket ; however, it was a 
 shade better than sitting-out." 
 
 *' There are the Wolfertons," observed 
 Flo, ^'and they generally bring two or 
 three men. Last year there was Mr. 
 Wynne, who was tremendously struck 
 with Madeline." Then raising her voice, 
 ** Maddie, do you remember Mr. Wynne ?
 
 No News. 33 
 
 Come over here, and let us see if you are 
 blushing." 
 
 ''Mr. Wynne, Fred Wolferton's 
 friend!" cried Isabella, with great ani- 
 mation. '' He is a barrister, and, of course, 
 without a penny to jingle on a milestone 
 — poor as Job. My father don't approve 
 of my getting to know these paupers. 
 You know I'm an heiress" — giggling — 
 '' and father says " 
 
 '' Oh never mind your father ! " broke in 
 Flo, rudely. '' You need not be alarmed ; 
 Mr. Wynne won't look at you as long as 
 MadeHne is in the room — and perhaps he 
 may not come. Who else are invited — 
 the Sangsters, the Wallers, the Eays ? " 
 
 ''All common sort of people," remarked 
 the grand- daughter of a baron. "Very 
 worthy in their luay, and well enough 
 for a girls' school breaking-up; but I 
 should not dream of knowing them at 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 34 Married or Single ? 
 
 home, or of bowing if I met them any- 
 where ; " and she threw up her chin, and 
 looked about her superciliously. 
 
 No one combated this dire announce- 
 ment ; they were all a little in awe of 
 Miss De Ville and her ancestors — espe- 
 cially of the one who had fought in 
 Palestine — and they were silent and im- 
 pressed, being young. At length a word 
 was whispered, which quickly set every 
 tongue wagging. That magic word was 
 ^^ dress." What were they all going to 
 wear? One lacked new shoes, another 
 gloves ; a fan was lent — in prospect— in 
 return for good offices in the hair-dress- 
 ing line. Amidst this gabble, Isabella's 
 piercing voice was heard high and shrill 
 above all, describing the body of her new 
 pink dress. Madeline had joined the 
 crowd, looking white and cold — and no 
 wonder.
 
 No News. 35 
 
 ^' Keep away your fingers, my dear, if 
 they are sticky," said Flo ; ^' and, by the 
 way, what are you going to adorn your- 
 self in ? Your white dress was taken by 
 the Harpies, as most unsuitable to you 
 now." 
 
 "I have nothing but my black cash- 
 mere," she returned, *^ and this " — hold- 
 ing out a shabby serge sleeve. 
 
 ^^ They really must give you some- 
 thing ! " cried Isabella, impressively, ^^if 
 only for the look of the thing. For the 
 credit of the establishment, they can't 
 have you appear like an old rag-picker." 
 
 Madeline coloured vividly. ^^I don't 
 mind giving you a dress myself, if you 
 will take it." 
 
 *^ Now, I call that a French compli- 
 ment, Isabella Jones," remarked Flo, 
 with her usual candour, ^^ and you know it. 
 If Madeline has to wear the old black, so
 
 36 Married or Single? 
 
 much the worse ; but, whatever she wears, 
 she will always look a — ladtj,''^ accom- 
 panying the remark with a glance at 
 Miss Jones that gave it point and sig- 
 nificance, and made that young person 
 feel that it would be a pleasure to take 
 the big ink-bottle off the chimney-piece, 
 and fling it at Florence Blewitt's solid, 
 square-looking head. 
 
 ^^ You need not trouble about my dress, 
 Flo, nor need I," said Madeline, trying to 
 find room on the top of the screen for her 
 benumbed fingers. '^ Miss Selina told 
 me this morning to practise up my dance 
 music. I am to play " 
 
 *^ Oh, what a shame!" chorused half 
 a dozen voices. ^^ Saving the usual 
 piano player, and a guinea — the skin- 
 flints ! " 
 
 But human nature is human nature, 
 and not a few of these fair creatures felt
 
 No News. 37 
 
 a conviction that Madeline and her pretty 
 face were best at the piano — turned 
 towards the wall — and that it was only 
 fair to give others a chance, meaning 
 their sweet, unsophisticated selves. They 
 had a very distinct vision of the benefit 
 that would accrue to them as a result 
 of this economical arrangement on the 
 part of the Harpers. 
 
 '' But what will Mr. Wynne do T ' in- 
 quired Miss De Ville, with the corners of 
 her mouth drawn down. 
 
 She was a tall, pale, sandy-haired girl, 
 with white lashes, and a scornful counte- 
 nance. Madeline's eyes flashed. She 
 was on the point of answering, but the 
 words were taken out of her mouth by 
 Flo, who replied — 
 
 ''He will dance with you instead, my 
 dear." 
 
 ''You know we are not allowed to
 
 3 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 talk about gentlemen," put in a prim 
 girl, with very prominent teeth and a 
 painfully stiff white collar. 
 
 '' Bosh ! " exclaimed Isabella. ^' I'll 
 talk of whom / please, from the old gentle- 
 man upwards. I'll talk of Mr. Wynne, 
 Mr. Wolferton, Mr. Lancy, Mr. Sangster, 
 Mr. Summers, Mr. Ferraby, Mr. Arm- 
 strong ' ' 
 
 ^^ Young ladies!'' said an awful voice 
 that made them all start, and fall away 
 from the fender like a flock of frightened 
 sheep. ^^ What vulgarity is this? How 
 often have I told you that I highly dis- 
 approve of such conversation ! It will 
 come to this, I see" — looking severely 
 around — ^^ you will have no half-hour 
 after tea if you cannot be trusted. I 
 am exceedingly displeased and shocked, 
 especially" — seizing on her scapegoat — 
 "with you, Madeline West. You are
 
 No News. 39 
 
 old enough to know better, and to have 
 some influence; and to find you in the 
 very middle of all this unladylike chatter, 
 discussing gentlemen, is really too odious. 
 A girl in your position might have a little 
 decency and self-respect. I am ex- 
 tremely disgusted with you. Now go ; 
 it is quite time the little Smiths were in 
 bed. How is it that you have always to 
 be reminded of your duties?" she con- 
 cluded venomously. 
 
 Madeline opened her mouth to speak. 
 
 '^No answer: vou know the rule. 
 Now, young ladies, light the gas, and 
 get to your work." 
 
 A great commotion and bustle ensued. 
 Exit Madeline, trying vainly to keep back 
 her tears, and with a burning sense of 
 injustice in her breast. Indeed, for once, 
 she forgot herself, and slammed the door 
 — not violently, but still with a decided
 
 40 Married or Single ? 
 
 touch of temper. It was a foolish im- 
 pulse, foolishly indulged. 
 
 She was called back, and imperatively 
 desired to '^remember who she was, and 
 to walk out of the room quietly, and close 
 the door after her in a ladylike and 
 becoming manner." 
 
 So even this slight safety-valve for her 
 feelings was denied to her, and she left 
 the apartment for a second time com- 
 pletely crushed.
 
 ( 41 j 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 THE BKEAKING-UP DANCE. 
 
 The great day of breaking-np dawned 
 at last. What preparations were made ! 
 A cartload of hired chairs for the 
 company was the first arrival; then a 
 consignment of glass and crockery, 
 baskets of hot-house flowers from the 
 friends of wealthy pupils, and finally, in 
 a confectioner's van — the supper ! Mrs. 
 Harper, her cap askew, her curls bristling, 
 was nearly crazy with excitement and 
 fuss. The Misses Harper were busy, 
 important, and dangerous to accost. The 
 girls, from an early tea, had retired
 
 42 Married or Single ? 
 
 upstairs to indulge in the next best 
 amusement to dancing — dressing. Oh, 
 with what leisurely enjoyment were 
 heads tired, white dresses donned, and 
 gloves drawn on ! How often was the 
 following artful query put with an artless 
 air : — 
 
 ^^You are looking awfully nice, dear! 
 Now, tell me candidly, what do you think 
 
 Madeline had no trouble with her 
 toilette. The black high-necked day-gown, 
 with a white fichu and lace ruffles, was 
 all the embellishment within her power ; 
 but she was in much request, and very 
 busy dressing and decorating her more 
 fortunate schoolfellows. The bell rang. 
 Down they all trooped, conscious, con- 
 ceited, coquettish, or careless, and filed 
 past Miss Selina, who held a full-dress 
 inspection in the hall — Miss Selina,
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 43 
 
 whose face was flushed to the hue of 
 her new crimson silk, flushed to a shade 
 that set pearl powder at defiance, and 
 scorned the application of Eowland's 
 Kalydor. The young ladies passed 
 muster creditably — with some few ex- 
 ceptions, such as ^' Minnie, your dress 
 is too short;" *^ Fanny, those flowers 
 are frightful!" ^^Jocelyn, where did 
 you get such horrible gloves ? " The 
 bevy of fair creatures passed into the 
 schoolroom, where, on a raised platform, 
 were seats for the chorus, two pianos, 
 a harmonium — in short, all the prepara- 
 tions for a concert, the one drawback 
 to the young ladies' absolute felicity — 
 that is to say, those young ladies who 
 were compelled to perform, and who 
 now awaited the audience in a kind of 
 cold shiver, with clammy hands and 
 quickly pulsing hearts. Presently Herr
 
 44 Married or Single ? 
 
 Kroot arrived in elaborate evening dress, 
 frilled sMrt, white gloves, and an immense 
 accession of dignity, and talked and 
 scolded, commanded and encouraged, his 
 miserable pupils. Much as they dreaded 
 the audience, they were trebly afraid of 
 him, and dared not break down with 
 his eye upon them, his hand turning over 
 the leaves, his low *^ counting" in their 
 ears. The large room filled soon, and 
 filled fast, with day boarders, their friends, 
 parents, a few outsiders, and the Misses 
 Harper's own circle-^chiefly clerical. 
 There was quite a notable sprinkling of 
 the sterner sex, for Mrs. Harper's 
 establishment was reported to include 
 some beauties. Very nice, indeed, the 
 young people looked from the body of 
 the concert hall, so young and fresh 
 and fair in their simple white dresses, 
 with their downcast eyes — that noted
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 45 
 
 everything all the same. Among other 
 facts, they noted the arrival of all the 
 Wolfertons and Mr. Wynne, whose 
 presence on the occasion Miss Selina 
 attributed solely to her own attractions. 
 She was fourteen years older than him, 
 but what of that ? He was old for his 
 age, and she was young for hers. She 
 flattered herself that in a becoming 
 dress, by lamplight, or behind a spotted 
 veil, she did not look a day more than 
 seven and twenty. By all accounts 
 Mr. Wynne was a briefless barrister (but 
 then Selina' s share of the family stocking 
 was by no means contemptible), he had 
 the reputation of being clever, and would 
 ^^ get on " of course. The Wolfertons 
 declared that he was highly thought of as 
 a rising man, and of fine old family — but 
 poor. Strange that he should come to 
 the breaking-up this year too — ^^made
 
 46 Married or Single ? 
 
 quite a point of it," Amy Wolferton had 
 whispered, and Amy had looked as if 
 she would have liked to have added 
 more. 
 
 As he pressed her hand, and she 
 glanced at him from under her scanty 
 eyelashes, a delicious conviction assured 
 Miss Selina that he had not forgotten 
 her — their charming walk from church, 
 or the little picnic party, at which he 
 had sat beside her, and when the second 
 supply of plates had failed, and with 
 regard to the remains of some cold 
 chicken, said in the most marked manner, 
 ^' Miss Selina, will you permit me to lay 
 my bones beside yours?" What was 
 this but a proposal? Certainly in a 
 novel form, unquestionably it meant that 
 they would share the same grave. It was 
 a distinct invitation to the family vault 
 of the blue-blooded Wynnes. How
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 47 
 
 agreeable he was — these barristers always 
 were ! How good-looking ! What a 
 contrast to Mr. Murphy, the red-haired 
 Irish curate, on whom, with his loud, 
 rich brogue, her sister Letitia had built 
 her hopes matrimonial (N. B. and it had 
 been building on a quicksand), casting a 
 contemptuous glance at the well-oiled 
 red he?.d to her left. 
 
 These complacent reflections were 
 chasing each other through the good 
 lady's brain as she sat in the attitude 
 of solicitous attention during the opening 
 cantata. A shrewd, keen, calculating 
 woman with regard to every-day matters, 
 such as school accounts, butchers' bills, 
 extras, and with a lynx eye for the fail- 
 ings and shortcomings of her flock, but 
 where vanity whispered, and a possible 
 (or impossible) husband loomed on her 
 horizon, Miss Selina was a completely
 
 48 Married or Single ? 
 
 different character, and an absolute fool, 
 as giddy, as credulous, as feather-headed 
 as any of the young ladies meekly facing 
 her behind these sheets of music — nay, 
 worse, for has not every one heard the 
 proverb — *^ There is no fool like an old 
 one " ? Far-seeing, crafty girls were clever 
 enough to discover Miss Selina's weak 
 side, and to use their discovery to their 
 own advantage. They plied her with 
 compliments, ludicrously inappro]3riate. 
 They called her *' their own beautiful 
 Miss Selina," hinted that she had only to 
 come, to be seen, and to conquer, etc., the 
 result being that these wise young virgins 
 were frequently invited to tea in the 
 drawing-room, to supper in Mrs. Harper's 
 own private refectory, were taken to 
 concerts, were ^'let off" on various 
 occasions, and laughed at " Old Selina " 
 (or Snappy) in their sleeve ; called her a
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 49 
 
 ridiculous goose, as ugly as sin, and as 
 vain as a peacock. It is necessary to y 
 reveal the younger Miss Harper in her 
 true colours in order to explain how a 
 woman in her position could imagine 
 for a moment that a young man would 
 fall in love with her elderly charms, in 
 spite of the overwhelming advantages 
 possessed by at least twenty young rivals 
 — ^her own pupils. She had long regarded 
 the girls en masse as her natural 
 enemies, not as pretty creatures of from 
 sixteen to eighteen years of age, with 
 bright eyes, brilliant complexions, and 
 angelic dispositions ! She ticketed them 
 in her own mind as disagreeable female 
 children, with loud voices, voracious 
 appetites, and sly ways. Nevertheless, 
 she was reluctantly aware, that Made- 
 line could be no longer considered a 
 child, that some people considered her 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 50 Married or Single ? 
 
 appearance pleasing! She stared hard 
 at her now, where her black dress made 
 a sort of blot among the snowy gowns of 
 the first trebles. What a colour ! was she 
 rouged? She looked just like a doll. 
 Doll or no doll, Miss Selina made a 
 mental note that she should not be of 
 the happy band who were going in to 
 supper. She might be getting ideas into 
 her mind — foolish ideas. People perhaps 
 would notice her, as they had done 
 last year, and turn her giddy head. The 
 cantata came to a satisfactory conclusion. 
 A fierce, tempestuous bravura, performed 
 with desperate energy by a long-fingered 
 young lady, succeeded it. Poor girl ! 
 she was trembling with terror as she 
 sat down. What with the audience 
 before her, and Herr Kroot behind her, 
 she occupied the proverbial situation of 
 being between the devil and the deep
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 5 1 
 
 sea, and played with a courage that was 
 absolutely reckless. 
 
 The bravura was followed by a duet, 
 the duet by a violin solo, then one or 
 two songs. With regard to the last of 
 these, the miserable performer found 
 her feelings quite too overpowering, and 
 after some gurgling in the throat, and 
 sniffing in her handkerchief, she collapsed 
 into floods of tears, and was briskly 
 hustled into the background and hidden 
 behind the others, whilst, at a moment's 
 notice, Madeline West was commanded 
 to take her place and step into the gap. 
 
 Poor Madeline ! It had not been in- 
 tended that she should perform. She 
 had no friends among the audience; no 
 complacent relations to clap their hands 
 and look proud and important. When 
 the last words of ^^ A Finland Love Song " 
 had died away in silence — a silence 
 
 UNIVERSiTY OF ILUNUi^i
 
 5 2 Married or Single ? 
 
 caused by surprise and emotion — tliere 
 was a pause of a full minute, and then a 
 tremendous hurricane of applause burst 
 forth. Ladies winked away unaccustomed 
 tears, and clapped in a manner that was 
 trying to their new ten-button gloves ; 
 their hearts were moved for the moment ; 
 some chord had been touched by that 
 fresh young voice, by those sympathetic 
 words, a chord that vibrated, and woke 
 up old memories of the days when they 
 were young — those days so sad, so sweet, 
 that were no more. 
 
 The men encored tumultuouslyj not 
 only because the singer had a lovely 
 voice, and sang from her very heart, but — 
 oh, well, because men will be men, and 
 because the girl in black was uncom- 
 monly pretty. ^' Auld Eobin Gray " was 
 vociferously commanded, but the fair 
 vocalist was adamant ; she only curtseyed
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 53 
 
 timidly, and curtseyed again. No one 
 but herself had seen Miss Selina's 
 emphatic shake of the head, as she met 
 her cold grey eye in that 'kittle look 
 across the crowd." No, there was to be 
 no encore. 
 
 After the concert, the room was cleared 
 for dancing, and Madeline took up her 
 post at the best (the drawing-room) piano 
 and played first a set of lancers, to set 
 every one going, and to polish off the 
 dowagers and duty dances, and then a 
 waltz — and yet another waltz. It was 
 very dull work for her. She was placed 
 with her back to the company, and could 
 neither see nor be seen — which was 
 precisely what Miss Selina had intended ; 
 but the pretty singer was not to be so 
 easily concealed. More than one would- 
 be partner vainly begged for an intro- 
 duction. More than one crafty young
 
 54 Married or Single ? 
 
 man pleaded fatigue, and halted long in 
 the neighbourhood of the piano, where 
 he could obtain a good view of the 
 charming pianiste. After the third waltz, 
 played by Madeline's weary fingers, 
 Mr. Wynne approached, and said, as she 
 stood up selecting the next piece on the 
 programme — 
 
 '^ Miss West, we have all to thank you 
 for your capital playing," holding out 
 his hand as he spoke. ^^ And now I hope 
 you will give me the pleasure of this 
 dance ? " She touched his hand timidly, 
 and shook her head. ^* Oh ! I beg your 
 pardon!" he exclaimed, with a quick 
 glance at her black dress. *^ Let me, at 
 least, take you to the tea-room. You 
 must want some refreshment after your 
 exertions." 
 
 *^ No, thank you very much," she 
 answered, once more seating herself at
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 55 
 
 the instrument. ^* I have had my 
 tea!" 
 
 ^* You don't mean to say that you are 
 going to play again ? " he asked in a 
 tone of indignant astonishment. 
 
 *^ Yes, I am going to play all the 
 evening," she replied, turning over the 
 leaves and finding the place, with a 
 considerably heightened colour. 
 
 ^' But last year you danced all the 
 evening. What does it mean ? " 
 
 '^ It means, Mr. Wynne, that I was 
 then one of the boarders ; now, I am 
 only a pupil- teacher. Circumstances are 
 changed; it is my duty to play — and," 
 faltering slightly, '^I like it." 
 
 '^I find it difiicult to believe that. 
 Miss West," he exclaimed; ^'but I 
 suppose I must endeavour to do so. 
 Will you permit me to turn over the 
 leaves ? "
 
 56 Married or Single? 
 
 '^No, no!" she protested eagerly; 
 '^ on no account. You must dance." 
 
 ^^ ^ Je n'en vois pas la necessite,' " he 
 quoted, seating himself deliberately as he 
 spoke. ^' I am afraid you have lost a 
 relative," he continued, in a lower voice. 
 ^^ Your father ? " 
 
 ^^ I have in one sense," now striking 
 up another waltz. *' My father has not 
 been heard of for a whole year and a 
 half. When last he wrote he had lost 
 a great deal of money. He was always 
 a speculator. He has never written 
 since " She paused expressively. 
 
 ''And have you no friend or relation 
 in this country? " 
 
 '' No, none that I have any claim 
 upon. I have been at school here since 
 I was seven years old." 
 
 '' And, good heavens ! you don't mean 
 to tell me that you have no resource but 
 to remain on here as pupil-teacher ? "
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 57 
 
 ^^ No other. You see I have no home 
 in this country. I had one long ago in 
 Melbourne — the only one I ever knew." 
 
 " Do you remember it ? " he asked 
 rather abstractedly. 
 
 *^ Yes, I remember the big white 
 house and the bright, sunny climate." 
 
 ^^ Has your father never come home to 
 see you all these years ? " 
 
 '^ Never ! I'm afraid — I'm afraid " 
 
 She paused, unable to articulate, but 
 her fingers still played steadily on. 
 
 '^ Tm afraid," he said in a low voice, 
 bending forward, ^^ that you are not 
 happy here," contrasting rapidly in his 
 own mind the brilliant figure she had 
 made last year, as the belle of the even- 
 ing, the cynosure of all eyes, to what 
 she now appeared, the poor piano-playing 
 drudge, not so much as rewarded with 
 a ^^ thank you," and dressed in a gown
 
 5 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 that even he could see was shabby and 
 old-fashioned. 
 
 '' Oh, Mr. Wynne ! " said a sprightly 
 staccato voice at his elbow. ^^ Oh ! j'ou 
 naughty man ! Why are jou not 
 dancing ? Come away ; I cannot have 
 you distracting Miss West's attention, 
 you dreadful person ! We are going to 
 have another set of lancers, and you shall 
 be my partner." 
 
 With this heavy bribe, he was sum- 
 marily detached from his post by the 
 piano, and carried off by the triumphant 
 Miss Selina (swearing to himself, de- 
 spite a smiling countenance). Madeline 
 played and played, until she felt that her 
 fingers had no feeling, and were just as 
 stiff and mechanical as the teeth in a 
 musical-box. At length supper released 
 her. She stood up, half expectant, as the 
 others flocked past two and two, each
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 59 
 
 happy girl provided with a cavaHer — 
 beaming, giggling, blushing, as the case 
 might be ! Whilst she waited, a bony, 
 much-beringed hand was laid heavily 
 upon her shoulder, and she beheld Miss 
 Selina, who had arrested Mr. Wynne. 
 
 *^ Madeline, my dear," she whispered, 
 *^ I am sorry there is no room for you. 
 I'll send you out a sandwich, or some- 
 thing." And then she passed on, leaving 
 poor Madeline alone in that big empty 
 room, with a lump in her throat and 
 tears in her eyes. 
 
 Miss West was occasionally foolish 
 enough to cut off her nose to spite her 
 face, and she indignantly declined the 
 subsequent sandwich brought in on a 
 plate by the sympathetic parlourmaid, 
 who vowed *'it was a shame," but met 
 with no encouragement to relieve her 
 mind further on the subject.
 
 6o Married or Single ? 
 
 Madeline knew that she clared not go 
 to bed. She had still to play — '*it was 
 in the bond." So she had not even that 
 small comfort; nor might she, as yet, 
 indulge herself in the further luxury of a 
 thoroughly good cry. 
 
 ^'What a difference money makes! " 
 she said to herself bitterly. ^^ What a 
 contrast between this night and last 
 year! Who would have believed — I, 
 least of all — that that night twelve 
 months I should be sitting here alone? 
 However, I don't suppose," she added, 
 half aloud, with a catch in her voice, 
 '^ that any one misses me." 
 
 In this supposition she was wrong. 
 Many people missed the girl in black, 
 who had sung the song of the concert, 
 who had played unremittingly all the 
 evening, and who had such a shabby 
 dress, and such a sweetly pretty face !
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 6i 
 
 Not a few of Mrs. Harper's guests, 
 who were eating her good things and 
 sipping her champagne, were registering 
 a black mark against her all the same, 
 and thinking that they would be sorry 
 if any friend of theirs had to fill the post 
 of her present ^^ pupil-teacher." 
 
 Mr. Wynne dissembled — as they used 
 to say in good old melodramas — and was 
 most agreeable to his partner. Miss 
 Selina, but inwardly he was raging. 
 With professional cleverness he drew 
 her out, and cross-examined her with 
 regard to Miss West, and she — her 
 tongue unloosened by two glasses of 
 champagne, her vanity stimulated by his 
 attentions (to her plate) — was completely 
 off her guard, and as easily turned inside- 
 out as any quaking witness at the Old 
 Bailey. 
 
 She expounded eloquently on Mr.
 
 62 Married or Single? 
 
 West's enormities, the vast sums ex- 
 pended on his daughter, the fact that 
 "but for them she would be friendless 
 and homeless — probably begging from 
 door to door. The wretched swindler was 
 dead, the girl had no relatives or friends, 
 
 and only for their charity " Here 
 
 she paused impressively, expecting Mr. 
 Wynne to fill up the blank, with some 
 neat and appropriate speech ; but, for 
 once, she was doomed to disappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 ^' Only for your charity she would be a 
 governess, would she not ? " he remarked 
 carelessly. ^* With such musical talents 
 she is sure of a lucrative situation — a 
 hundred or so a year. But, of course, 
 under your roof she has all that she can 
 wish for — a happy home, among her old 
 companions — and any one can see with 
 half an eye that Mrs. Harper is a mother
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 63 
 
 to her," lie concluded with immovable 
 features. 
 
 Miss Selina started and became of a yet 
 richer shade of crimson. This idea of a 
 governess, at one hundred pounds a year, 
 was something entirely novel. The girl 
 was clever and accomplished! Was 
 Mr. Wynne speaking ironically, when 
 he alluded to a mother's care and a 
 happy home ? Impossible ! His face 
 was as unmoved, his eyes as smiling, 
 his manner as sociable and friendly as 
 usual. It was a wild, foolish idea, and 
 she immediately dismissed it from her 
 mind, and plunged into a discussion on 
 platonic friendships — and a second help- 
 ing of a most excellent truffle. 
 
 Mr. Wynne managed to have a few 
 words with Mrs. Wolferton after sup- 
 per. He stated his case concisely, 
 pointed out Miss West, and strongly
 
 64 Married or Single ? 
 
 commended her to the kind lady's notice. 
 Mrs. Wolferton was the mother of Fred 
 (Mr. Wynne's schoolfellow, college friend, 
 and chum), and was very fond of Lau- 
 rence, whom she had known from the 
 time when he was an audacious boy in 
 jacket upwards. As she listened to the 
 sorry history of pretty Miss West, her 
 motherly heart was touched, and she im- 
 mediately begged to be introduced to her. 
 ^^ Kemembered her well," she declared, 
 ^^ from last year. Hoped she would come 
 and see her during the holidays." And, 
 finally, being a woman who believed in 
 deeds as well as wordsj took off her 
 gloves, removed a jingling bracelet, and 
 seated herself at the piano for the re- 
 mainder of the night, in spite of Mrs. 
 Harper's horrified face and excited ex- 
 postulations, saying pleasantly to Made- 
 line, ^^ Now, my dear, my dancing days
 
 The Breaking-up Dance. 65 
 
 are over ; yours are just beginning. Go 
 and dance, Laurence ; Miss West has 
 not danced a step this evening." 
 
 The hint was superfluous. Already 
 Laurence and Miss West were at the 
 other end of the room, and akeady a very 
 portentous frown had settled deep on Miss 
 Selina's brow; but it availed nothing. 
 The two offenders w^ere dauntless. 
 
 Mr. Wynne was a capital partner. He 
 introduced Madeline to various others, 
 who voted the girl in black quite the 
 prettiest they had seen for months, and 
 who were the more eager to make her 
 acquaintance, and to dance with her, 
 from seeing that their attentions were 
 palpably displeasing to the Harper family. 
 Madeline danced until the end of the 
 evening, although Miss Selina had hissed 
 into her ear, as she stood near her, *' You 
 are a bold, pushing, unladylike girl." 
 
 ¥0L. T. F
 
 66 Married or Single ? 
 
 She knew she would have to pay 
 dearly for these present delights on the 
 morrow, and was resolved to drain the 
 cnp of pleasure — yes, to the very dregs ! 
 She looked supremely lovely, if slightly 
 defiant; the exercise of dancing had made 
 her eyes brighter, her colour deeper* 
 Mr. Wynne told himself that she was the 
 prettiest — ay, and the nicest — girl he 
 had ever met in the whole course of his 
 life ; but he must not lose his head — no^ 
 a briefless barrister could not afford to 
 fall in love with a penniless pupil-teacher I
 
 i 67 ) 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 THE LAST TRAIN. 
 
 The holidays commenced. The young 
 ladies went north, south, east, and west 
 to their several homes, and Madeline 
 had the whole big schoolroom, and the 
 much-disputed fire, absolutely to herself. 
 She was monarch of all she surveyed, 
 but she was nearly as lonely as Kobinson 
 Crusoe on the desert island. The Miss 
 Harpers were not covetous of her com- 
 pany; nor was she ever bidden to the 
 friendly luncheons or the merry little 
 suppers which repeatedly took place. She, 
 on these occasions, enjoyed (?) a plate of
 
 68 Married or Single? 
 
 cold meat, or bread and butter, and a glass 
 of water in the privacy of the schoolroom. 
 There was no necessity, the Miss Harpers 
 averred, to introduce her to their friends. 
 It would be a mistake to spoil her ; she 
 was quite conceited enough. But Mrs. 
 Wolferton had no such scruples : she 
 called, she wrote, she persevered, she 
 carried her point. She insisted on 
 having Miss West to spend an occa- 
 sional day with her. What a contrast to 
 the schoolroom at Harperton House that 
 dainty drawing-room, with its mirrors, 
 pictures, easy - chairs, Persian carpets, 
 exotic flowers, and genial Mrs. Wolferton 
 knitting and talking and begging her 
 ^' to make herself at home." Then there 
 was a tempting luncheon, a drive, a 
 sociable dinner — which included Fred 
 Wolferton, Mr. Wynne, and one or two 
 others — finally, music and round games,
 
 The Last Train. 69 
 
 in the midst of which would come the 
 disagreeable announcement — '^ A servant 
 for Miss West, if you please." Fred 
 Wolferton and Mr. Wynne invariably 
 escorted her home all the same, leaving 
 her on Mrs. Harper's spotless doorstep ; 
 but not coming in, nor making any move 
 in that direction — as Miss Selina angrily 
 remarked from behind the drawing-room 
 blind. Miss Selina had become very 
 ^^ cold " in her manner to Madeline — in 
 fact, she was more than cold : she w^as 
 actually and actively hostile — and glared 
 at the unlucky pupil-teacher as if she 
 were some kind of poisonous domestic 
 reptile she had nourished in her bosom. 
 Mrs. Wolferton's praise, Mrs. Wolferton's 
 partiality for Miss West, did not please 
 her ; but, happily, the old lady was going 
 away to the south of France to escape 
 the east winds, and when she returned
 
 yo Married or Single ? 
 
 she would probably have forgotten lier 
 passing fancy ! Miss Selina was good 
 enough to judge others by her own 
 standard. 
 
 One day there came tickets for the 
 Theatre Eoyal at Eiverside, for Mrs. and 
 the Misses Harper, and Miss West : with 
 Mr. Fred Wolferton's compliments. He 
 had not left home — and Mr. Wynne was 
 still his guest. 
 
 *' To go, or not to go?" that was a 
 question which was debated with great 
 spirit in Mrs. Harper's own bedroom. 
 They were only too willing to accept 
 with pleasure ; but what about that girl — 
 must they take her also ? There was no 
 other alternative. If she had only a 
 slight cold, or even a sty on her eye ; 
 but, unfortunately, she was never better 
 in her life. They had no excuse beyond 
 their own disinclination ; go she must.
 
 The Last Train. 71 
 
 Very grudgingly they broke the news to 
 MadeHne, as she sat over a slacked-down 
 fire in the schoolroom, dividing her 
 thoughts between a child's story-book 
 and Mr. Wynne— needless to ask which 
 had the largest share. She could not help 
 thinking a good deal of Mr. Wynne. It 
 was wrong, it was foolish ! Miss Selina 
 would have declared that it was indeli- 
 cate ! Probably he never gave her a 
 second thought. Her cheeks grew hot at 
 the idea ; but an inward voice whispered 
 another tale. If he did not think of her, 
 why did he always monopolize her at 
 Mrs. Wolferton's, usurping Fred's place 
 at the piano, why sit beside her at cards ? 
 Why had he begged permission to keep a 
 flower? Why had he hinted that only 
 for his poverty he would marry — or, at 
 least, ask some girl to marry him — a 
 girl who had no home ? Who could that
 
 72 Married or Single? 
 
 be ? Dare she breathe, even to her 
 inmost soul, that the girl's name was 
 MadeHne West ? If he had not thought 
 of her, why did he tell her so much about 
 himself, his dead father and mother, his 
 rich, high, and mighty relations : rela- 
 tions who looked upon empty pockets as 
 a crime; but who patronized him, asked 
 him to dinner, and hinted that if he were 
 to place himself on the cotton or soap 
 markets, where heiresses were plentiful, 
 he might, on the strength of his con- 
 nections and his pedigree, secure one of 
 these young ladies, and perhaps fifty 
 thousand pounds ! 
 
 But these suggestions he had not 
 taken in good part, quite between our- 
 selves ; and, equally between ourselves, 
 he asked himself what his grand relations 
 would say if they knew he was head- 
 over-ears in love wdth a pretty little
 
 The Last Train. 75 
 
 pupil-teacher — a perfect lady, certainly, 
 and not unworthy to bear the name of 
 Wynne, but absolutely without sixpence ? 
 The poor child liked him too — he was 
 sure of it. He could not offer her a 
 decent home — could not presume to 
 suppose that what was barely sufficient 
 for one would afford a comfortable main- 
 tenance for two. Best leave her, if he 
 could, in maiden meditation fancy free — - 
 leave her for some luckier fellow, leave 
 his heart in her unconscious keeping. 
 This visit to the theatre was to be posi- 
 tively the last meeting he would allow 
 himself; and then for his dismal, solitary 
 old chambers in the Temple, and work. 
 Plenty of work is an excellent and heal- 
 ing medicine for any affection of a senti- 
 mental nature, so he had read, so he had 
 been assured, and now he was about to 
 test its efficacy.
 
 74 Married or Single ? 
 
 The great evening came. With hot 
 and trembling fingers Madeline made her 
 modest toilet, donned her hat and cape, 
 and awaited the rest of the party in the 
 hall in a state of feverish suspense. She 
 had rarely been inside a theatre in her life, 
 and her heart was fluttering with happy 
 anticipation. What a night this would 
 be to look back upon ! Henry Irving 
 she had often longed to see, and now she 
 was going to witness The Lyons Mail in 
 company with Mr. Wynne. Oh, it was 
 too much pleasure to be squeezed into 
 one evening. If it could but be spread 
 over three or four days, instead of being 
 all compressed into two or three hours 1 
 
 ^' Madeline ! " said a sharp voice, that 
 startled her from her delightful medi- 
 tations, ''just come into the drawing- 
 room for a moment. I wish to speak to 
 you!" leading the way into that dull
 
 The Last Train. 75 
 
 apartment, lit at present by one dim 
 gas-burner, and innocent of such extrava- 
 gance as a fire. ^^ I wish to speak to 
 you," seriously repeated Miss Selina, 
 ^' about the preposterous way you are 
 going on with Mr. Wynne ! You are 
 really quite shameless ! " 
 
 '^What have I done, Miss Selina? 
 What do you mean ? " she asked, breath- 
 less with horror. 
 
 ^^ What have you not done ? Flirted 
 with him, run after him to Mrs. Wolfer- 
 ton's, made yourself the talk of the 
 whole place. Even the very servants 
 have remarked it. Don't imagine for one 
 moment that he thinks of you as any- 
 thing but a silly chit of a schoolgirl, who 
 is head-over-ears in love with him, and 
 whom he finds it amusing to draw out, 
 and laugh at afterwards with Mr. Fred 
 Wolferton."
 
 76 Married or Single? 
 
 '^ Miss Selina ! " cried Madeline, stung 
 to the quick, turning white as death, and 
 grasping the back of a chair for support, 
 as she stammered passionately. ^^How 
 dare you? How dare you say such 
 things ? You know they are not true. I 
 went to Mrs. Wolferton's because she 
 was kind — because she asked me. I 
 never ran after Mr. Wynne — never ! " 
 
 ^^ And pray what are you doing to- 
 night?" with grim, ironical interro- 
 gation. 
 
 *' If you think that I am running after 
 him in going to the theatre, I can easily 
 remain at home. I " — (oh, w^hat a 
 wrench was this ! but her pride was 
 roused) — '^will stay at home," removing 
 her hat as she spoke. '^ The matter is 
 easily settled." 
 
 Not so easily as she supposed, for at 
 this moment the sound of loud, cheery,
 
 The Last Train. 77 
 
 masculine voices in the hall broke in 
 upon them. The door was flung wide ; 
 enter Fred Wolferfcon, Mr. Murphy — 
 (hush ! you must not tell the bishop !) 
 an elderly escort for Mrs. Harper; last, 
 not least, Mr. Wynne. And although 
 Madeline, with considerable embarrass- 
 ment, firmly and positively assured every 
 one that ^^ she was not going," as she 
 €Ould offer no sane reason for her sudden 
 announcement, and was unquestionably 
 dressed for the theatre, public opinion 
 and public clamour carried the day. 
 
 She replaced her hat, in answer to an 
 impatient signal from Miss Selina, and 
 went ; but the gilt had been removed 
 from the gingerbread, and all the way in 
 the train — they were ten miles from 
 Kiverside — she was pale and silent, and 
 pointedly avoided Mr. Wynne, to Miss 
 Selina's great content. However, Mr.
 
 7 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 Wynne declined to be avoided. He 
 ignored Miss Selina's hints, and the 
 vacant place next to her, which she 
 patted invitingly, as much as to say, 
 ^^ Come and sit here, and be happy!" 
 and seated himself at the other side of 
 Madeline, whose eyes were straying 
 over the theatre, and who, once the 
 overture commenced, began to realize 
 that she was enjoying herself extremely^ 
 and would not allow Miss Selina's 
 dreadful insinuations to spoil her whole 
 evening. 
 
 Miss Selina, with tightly compressed 
 lips and an angry glare in her little grey 
 eyes, was aware that she had been publicly 
 slighted. What is that line about ^^ A 
 woman scorned?" She felt capable of 
 anything. Her rage against Mr. Wynne 
 was as hot and as consuming as her bitter 
 jealousy of Madeline West. Well, they
 
 The Last Train. 79 
 
 should suffer for their intolerable be- 
 haviour, as she called it, meaning the 
 simple fact of their sitting together, talk- 
 ing with much animation between the 
 acts, and looking supremely happy. Yes, 
 her feelings must have immediate relief. 
 She would find a way to punish them; 
 and, as she sat silent, her eyes fixed upon 
 the drop scene, she was revolving a 
 portentous plan in her own mind — a 
 scheme that would rid her of her ex- 
 pupil, and avenge her on the rising bar- 
 rister by one swift blow — a scheme that 
 would not be for the benefit of the 
 smihng young couple — no, quite the 
 reverse. 
 
 The orchestra was playing a wild Polish 
 dance, its burthen full of sadness, despair, 
 and weird, fantastic chords at one period; 
 at another gaily frolicsome, and full of 
 outbursts of mad mirth — an air that
 
 'So Married or Single? 
 
 exercised a strange influence upon them, 
 especially on Madeline, in lier present 
 state of liiglily strung nerves, and re- 
 pressed mental excitement. She drank 
 in that wild melody; it haunted her as 
 long as she lived. When heard among 
 other scenes, it always recalled this 
 night — this momentous night, the very 
 crisis of her existence. She gazed at 
 the stage, at the big, red, mysterious 
 curtain, the bent figures in the orchestra, 
 the florally ornamented theatre, the gay 
 company, with fans and opera-glasses, 
 and asked herself, ^* Was it all real ? " 
 
 At last the play was over ; the actors 
 had been called before the footlights and 
 vociferously applauded, and had bowed 
 themselves away. And now people began 
 to move, to look about for cloaks and 
 wraps and overcoats, and to hurry off, as 
 if the place was on fire ! The crowd was
 
 The Last Train. 8i 
 
 great. Outside it was snowing hard, and 
 inside the crush was almost suffocating. 
 
 '' I'll look after you, Miss West," said 
 Mr. Wynne, eagerly, as they found a 
 footing in the passage among hundreds 
 of the recent audience. 
 
 *« Very well. Be sure you do ! " put in 
 Miss Selina, with unwonted briskness, 
 '^ We are certain to get separated. Look 
 here, Madeline " — lowering her voice 
 suddenly — ^^ meet us at the bottom of the 
 station steps. Yoic know the place. Mind 
 you are not late ; it's the last train ! " 
 
 And with this injunction on her lips, 
 she was borne away in the crowd, in her 
 smart, pink opera mantle — once the pro- 
 perty of the rich Miss West — and soon 
 lost to sight. 
 
 ^^ Let us wait until the rush is over, 
 and take it quietly," said Wynne, strug- 
 gling vainly to look at his watch. ^^ We 
 
 VOL. T. G
 
 82 Married or Single? 
 
 will get a hansom, and be at the station 
 in no time — before them, ten to one — 
 for they are a large party." 
 
 Inwardly he marvelled at Miss Selina's 
 arrangement. He was not aware that 
 she had her reasons — well-thought-out 
 plans — and he was too well satisfied to 
 question the matter. After a little, when 
 the crush had lessened, he made his way 
 down to the portico, secured a hansom, 
 and drove with his charge to the place 
 of rendezvous, the foot of the steps — a 
 covered entry, luckily, for the snow was 
 falling thick and fast. They waited — it 
 was bitterly cold — a chill little wind rose, 
 and sobbed and wailed round them. Five 
 minutes, and no one came to meet them. 
 Ten minutes ! still no one, and the hurry- 
 ing crowd that had passed up had now 
 entirely ceased. 
 
 ^' I hope they have not come to grief I "
 
 The Last Train. 83 
 
 said Wynne. And, suddenly looking at 
 his watch, he added, '^ I'll tell you what 
 — we can't wait any longer, or we will 
 miss our train. We must run for it as 
 it is," springing quickly up the steps. 
 
 Too late ! Too late ! The red light 
 of the last train to Streambridge was just 
 disappearing into the big tunnel. What 
 was to be done ? He stood for a moment 
 irresolute. Yes; it was the last train, 
 and it was gone. A cab was the first 
 idea. Leaving Madeline, who was be- 
 numbed with waiting, and a good deal 
 frightened, he hurried to the cab-rank. 
 It was empty and void. He waylaid a 
 passing cabby, and told him the state of 
 the case. 
 
 ^*Ten miles in deep snow! Couldn't 
 be done, sir, at no price." 
 
 The same story was repeated elsewhere. 
 There was nothing for it but to go back
 
 84 Married or Single ? 
 
 to Madeline, who was now shivering 
 over the dying fire in the ladies' waiting- 
 room. 
 
 ^^Well?" she asked, raising her face 
 expectantly. 
 
 '^No cah to be had," he rejoined, with 
 assumed sangfroid. 
 
 '^No cab to be had!" she repeated, 
 her eyes darkening and dilating with 
 horror. ^^ Oh, Mr. Wynne, can we 
 walk?" Mad project! 
 
 **No. I fancy the best thing will be 
 to stop here all night — I mean at the 
 Eailway Hotel — and go on by the first 
 train in the morning. I will go to the 
 landlady and ask her to look after you, 
 and I will find quarters elsewhere. It 
 will be all right," he continued reassur- 
 ingly. ^^ Are you certain that Miss 
 Selina said the foot of the steps?" he 
 asked, as if struck by an afterthought.
 
 The Last Train. 85 
 
 ^^Yes; quite certain/' resolutely. 
 
 ''Here ! " he called to a sleepy porter. 
 *'Did you see a party looking for people 
 by the last train — three ladies and three 
 gentlemen ? " 
 
 '^Yes, sir; stout old party and two 
 elderly ladies " — (oh, ye gods 1 if the Miss 
 Harpers had heard him !) — " three gents. 
 They came by the West Street entrance ; 
 they did seem looking — that is, the gents 
 was — but one of the ladies said you were 
 all right, and bundled the whole pack 
 into a carriage. She seemed in a terrible 
 flurry." 
 
 ** Well, we can do no good by waiting 
 here,'' said Wynne, at length. *' Come 
 along, there is nothing to be frightened 
 at, Miss West." (Miss West was cry- 
 ing quietly, and very much alarmed 
 indeed.) '^You will be back in time 
 for breakfast. It was all an accident —
 
 86 Married or Single ? 
 
 a misunderstanding, and if there is any 
 one to blame, or to be blamed, you must 
 blame me,'' 
 
 '^1 know they will be awfully angry," 
 said Madeline, turning her white face to 
 his. *'I don't know ivhat they will 
 say!" 
 
 '^Not angry, when I have explained 
 everything to their entire satisfaction. 
 I will go security thptt you will not get 
 into any trouble. I will see Mrs. Harper 
 myself." 
 
 And, really, half an hour later, as 
 Madeline sat with her feet on the fender 
 of a luxurious bedroom in the Eailway 
 Hotel — a magnificent apartment to her 
 benighted eyes — with a hot coal fire 
 before her, and a cup of steaming coffee 
 in her hand, she began to cheer up, and 
 to take a brighter view of the situation. 
 What harm was it, after all? Missing
 
 The Last Train. 87 
 
 a train — nothing so very dreadful. She 
 would only get a scolding, at the worst. 
 Alas ! she was but too well accustomed 
 to scoldings ! 
 
 But Laurence Wynne, as he fought 
 his way to another hotel through the 
 soft, spongy snow, with the collar of his 
 coat turned up, and his head bent against 
 the stinging sleet, looked graver than he 
 had done when he was talking to his late 
 companion. It was an exceedingly awk- 
 ward business, and he had an uncomfort- 
 able conviction that Miss Selina was at 
 the bottom of the situation. She had 
 sent them to one entrance, and arrived 
 at the other herself ; had requested them 
 to wait — and miss the train. There had 
 been an expression in her eye that was 
 distinctly hostile, as he had suddenly 
 encountered it over the top of her fan. 
 Selina Harper meant mischief — had laid
 
 88 Married or Single? 
 
 a neat little trap into which he had 
 artlessly tumbled. ''However," he said 
 to himself, as he entered the coffee-room 
 of a palatial hotel, ''half the evils in 
 the world are those which have never 
 happened. No doubt the worst of the 
 adventure would merely resolve itself 
 into a bad quarter of an hour — for him — 
 with Mrs. Harper.''
 
 ( 89 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 EXrELLED. 
 
 The next morning, leaving Madeline at 
 the station to follow by a later train, 
 Mr. Wynne called at Harperton, in order 
 to have a little explanation. The maid's 
 face (she was an old maid) looked por- 
 tentously solemn as she opened the door; 
 and — oh ! ominous objects ! — two good- 
 sized basket trunks, and a bonnet-box, 
 stood waiting in the hall. As he glanced 
 at them in passing, some one came out 
 through a door just behind him, and 
 said, in a biting tone — 
 
 **Dear me! I am surprised to see
 
 go Married or Single ? 
 
 Mr. Wynne under the circumstances ; 
 but, as lie is here, perhaps he can give 
 an address for Miss West's boxes ? " 
 
 ''May I ask what you mean. Miss 
 SeHna?" he said, turning to confront 
 her the instant the drawing-room door 
 was closed. 
 
 ''I mean," she replied, flushing to a 
 dull brick colour, '' that after her esca- 
 pade of last evening, Miss West never 
 enters this house again — a young lady 
 who stayed out all night ! " she con- 
 cluded with a wild, dramatic gesture. 
 
 ''But, you know, that was not her 
 fault. Miss Selina. We waited exactly 
 where you told us — at the bottom of the 
 steps — and so missed the train. I could 
 not get a cab, though I did my utmost, 
 the snow was too deep. I left Miss West 
 at the Eailway Hotel and brought her 
 from there this mornin.£>\ She "
 
 Expelled. 91 
 
 " Oh," interrupted his listener, throw- 
 ing up both hands, ^'pray spare me the 
 details ! It is nothing to me whom she 
 was with, or where she went. We have 
 quite done with her. It was a planned 
 thing between you, no doubt." ^ 
 
 "Miss Selina," cried Mr. Wynne, 
 ^'your sex protects you! A man dared 
 not say what you have permitted your- 
 self to utter, and do not in your own 
 heart believe. Am I to understand that 
 Ibecause, through waiting for you, by your 
 own express direction. Miss West lost 
 her only train home last night, and was 
 obliged to remain in Eiverside, you 
 would blast her reputation, and thrust 
 her out of doors? " 
 
 "You are!" she returned, defiantly, 
 looking him full in the face with her 
 oold, cruel, little eyes. 
 
 "And may I ask what is to become
 
 92 Married or Single? 
 
 of the young lady?" he inquired, with 
 a forced calmness that was ominous 
 enough. 
 
 ^' Nay," shrugging her shoulders, ^^that 
 is a matter between her and you." Then 
 she added, with an evil smile, ^' She need 
 not refer to us for a character." 
 
 *^ Perhaps your mother will be more 
 lenient," he said, making a great effort 
 to restrain his temper. ^' Kemember that 
 Miss West has no home and no friends. 
 Can I see Mrs. Harper ? " 
 
 "I am speaking for my mother," she 
 answered sharply. ^' She refuses to see 
 the girl, or allow her inside our door. 
 There is no use in your persisting — it 
 is waste of time. We are not rich, but, 
 at any rate," choking with excitement, 
 ^^ we have always been respectable ! " 
 
 ^^I am delighted to hear it," he re- 
 plied, making a low, ironical bow; ^^ and
 
 Expelled. 93 
 
 as there is nothing further, to be said, I 
 will wish you good morning." 
 
 ^^ Good morning ! " replied Miss Selina, 
 ringing the bell, and curtseying simul- 
 taneously. ^^ You will be pleased to 
 remove Miss "West's boxes at once, and 
 inform her that letters from her will be 
 returned unopened" — thereby securing 
 the last shot, and the last w^ord. And 
 Mr. Wynne walked out of the house in 
 a bewildered and confused state of mind, 
 outwardly cool, but in reality at boiling 
 point. 
 
 He had not proceeded far when he 
 met Madeline coming towards him, with 
 a terrified and expectant face. Now 
 was the moment for action. His senses 
 were stung to alertness, his mind cleared 
 of misgivings; he made a desperate re- 
 solve. She was thrust out homeless 
 and alone in the wide, wide world !
 
 94 Married or Single ? 
 
 She should share his home, such as it 
 was; it was better than none. She 
 should, an she would, be his wife — and 
 rich in love if in nothing else. Prudence 
 had hitherto sealed his lips — for her 
 sake chiefly. Now that she had no 
 resources, no place open to receive her, 
 he could and would speak. 
 
 The first thing he did was to hail 
 a cab, and despatch the man straight 
 back to Harperton for Miss West's 
 luggage, desiring him to bring it to the 
 station. 
 
 <« Why, what does it mean ? Are they 
 so very angry ? " she asked with blanched 
 cheeks. *^ Oh, you don't mean that 
 they are sending me away ? " For she 
 noticed that Mr. Wynne looked un- 
 usually pale and grave. 
 
 'VCome down here with me," leading 
 her into some public gardens that they
 
 Expelled. 95 
 
 were passing, ^' and I will tell you all 
 about it." 
 
 The gardens were miserably wintry* 
 Snow lay on the ground, a couple of boys 
 were snowballing, some starving red- 
 wings fluttered across the path, a granite- 
 grey sky lowered overhead. Surely it 
 was the last place on God's earth in 
 which to relate a love tale ; and the girl 
 herself, what a picture of misery ! Oh ! 
 thought the young man, if Mrs. Wolferton 
 had but been at home — but, alas ! she was 
 abroad — she would have been a true friend 
 to this poor forlorn child. Madeline was, 
 of course, wearing her evening dress, 
 such as it was — at any rate, it was 
 thin. A shabby little plush opera cloak 
 barely covered her perishing neck and 
 arms. Over this was drawn a meagre 
 black cape. On her head she wore a sun- 
 burnt sailor hat ; in her frozen, mittened
 
 96 Married or Single ? 
 
 hand she held a fan ; her face was pinched 
 with cold, and white with anxiety. No 
 lovely lady-fair was here to woo this 
 bleak January forenoon. And what of 
 ambition — the stern, jealous mistress to 
 whom he was pledged ? 
 
 " They are very angry, senselessly 
 angry," began the young man. " They 
 won't take you back again, and have 
 actually packed your boxes ready for 
 removal. However, when one door shuts, 
 another opens. There is a home ready 
 for you, Madeline. Can you guess where 
 it is?" 
 
 She gazed at Mr. Wynne, and stood 
 perfectly still and very white, with her 
 thin, sensitive lips tightly pressed 
 together, and made no reply. 
 
 *'You know that it is my home," he 
 continued eagerly. '^ I need not tell you 
 that I love you, and so well do I love you,
 
 Expelled. 97 
 
 that until now I have never dared even 
 to whisper my love. I am poor, I have 
 my way to make as yet, it may be a life 
 of struggling poverty. Can you share it 
 — will you venture, Madeline ? " 
 
 The girl stepped back a pace, and 
 suddenly sat down upon an iron garden 
 bench, still silent, and covered her face 
 with her mittened hands. 
 
 **Will you not answer me!" he pleaded. 
 He dared not remove her hands, or offer 
 her a caress. The snowballing had ceased; 
 the present scene in real life attracted 
 the two boys, who had drawn near. The 
 lady was sick, or looked like it. 
 
 *'You do not mean it," she faltered. 
 *'I know you are very, very kind, but I 
 cannot accept your pity, for that is what 
 it comes to." 
 
 ^^I solemnly declare to you that it is 
 not," he rejoined with emphasis; ^^but 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 98 Married or Single? 
 
 even if it were, have yon not heard that 
 pity is akin to love ? " 
 
 ^'It is utterly impossible," she said 
 slowly. ^'You are speaking out of the 
 goodness of your heart, on the impulse 
 of the moment. This time yesterday, 
 tell me honestly," raising her lovely eyes 
 to his, ^^ had you any intention of — of — of 
 this?" 
 
 '' To be truthful, then, I had not." 
 
 ^* There, you see, that is enough. There 
 is your answer," with a quick little gesture. 
 
 '^ No, no, hear me out. It was on your 
 account that I held my tongue. If I had 
 had a decent income I would have spoken 
 to you long ago ; but I felt that I had no 
 right to remove you from Mrs. Harper's 
 care without having a comfortable home 
 to offer you. I meant to work very 
 hard and to return next year. Now all 
 has been changed. Circumstances alter
 
 Expelled. 99 
 
 cases. I ask you now, Madeline, will 
 you be afraid to begin with me at the 
 bottom of the ladder — something tells me 
 that I shall reach the top ? " 
 
 " I shall only be a dead weight and 
 a burden," she replied in a broken voice. 
 She was relenting. Her own heart was an 
 eloquent advocate for Mr. Wynne. 
 
 ^^What will your relations say when 
 they hear that you wish to marry a 
 portionless girl, a — beggar?" she mur- 
 mured tremulously. 
 
 ^^ They will say nothing that can aJBfect 
 us. I am independent. I have no claims 
 on them, and they have no right to 
 dictate to me. By the time they hear 
 the news, we shall, I hope, be married. 
 We have nothing to wait for, and the 
 sooner you have a home of your own the 
 better. I wish I had a sister or some 
 near relative that I could take you to,
 
 loo Married or Single? 
 
 but I am almost as miicli alone in tho 
 world as you are." 
 
 In the end Mr. Wynne prevailed — was 
 not talking his trade ? — and Madeline 
 West walked out of that wintry white 
 garden his affianced wife. 
 
 Eash young man ! Eash young woman I 
 One would have thought that they had 
 the wealth of Croesus, the full consent 
 and warmest wishes of tribes of wealthy 
 relations, to look at their faces as they 
 passed through the gates side by side. 
 
 Miss West did not feel the snow soaking 
 through her thin walking shoes. No^ 
 she was treading on air — had thrown all 
 doubts and misgivings to the winds, and 
 was prepared to make the most of this 
 heaven-sent period. She was about to 
 enter on a new and happy life, believing 
 that, although a poor man's wife, her path 
 would be strewn with roses.
 
 Expelled. loi 
 
 She had about as mucli practical ex- 
 perience of household cares — the value 
 of pounds, shillings, and pence — as one 
 of the children in the third class at 
 Harperton. As for Laurence Wynne, 
 Madeline was his, Madeline was an angel, 
 young, unspoiled, and unsophisticated, 
 with modest wishes, and a firm faith in 
 him. Their future was before them ! It 
 was !
 
 102 Married or Single? 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 '^POVEETY COMES IN AT THE DOOE.'^ 
 
 In a very short time Madeline West was 
 Madeline Wynne. She was married at a 
 little old cliurcli in the City, with no 
 other witnesses than the verger and the 
 clerk ; and Mr. and Mrs. Wynne spent a 
 week in Paris ere they set up house- 
 keeping, in modest lodgings not far from 
 the Temple, and from which, by leaning- 
 well out of the drawing-room window, 
 and nearly dislocating your neck, you 
 could obtain a glimpse of the Thames 
 Embankment. 
 
 The good old days, when Traddles and
 
 Poverty. 103 
 
 Sophy lived in chambers, and entertained 
 half a dozen of ^' the dear girls," were no 
 more. Mr. Wynne was obliged to set 
 up his little tent outside the venerable 
 precincts, in the second floor front of 
 Solferino Place. To Madeline it was a 
 palace, because it was her very own. 
 Here she might poke the fire, alter the 
 arrangement of the furniture, pile on 
 coals, order tea at any time, and go out 
 and come in as she pleased. She could 
 scarcely realize such liberty ! Neither 
 could she realize her wedding-ring, and 
 she frequently stared for a moment in 
 doubt when she heard herself called 
 ^^Mrs. Wynne." 
 
 Laurence was not so poor as she 
 imagined, for he hired a piano, bought 
 her songs, flowers, and — oh ! joy — three 
 such pretty new dresses ; he took her to 
 the theatres, for walks in the parks (when
 
 1 04 Married or Single ? 
 
 he had time), he showed her most of 
 the sights of London— St. Paul's, West- 
 minster Abbey, the National Gallery, and 
 the Tower. 
 
 He was even extravagant in one hne. 
 He laid out for her a reckless amount 
 of shillings and half-crowns on literary 
 papers, magazines, and books. Laurence 
 was fond of reading; she was not, and she 
 little knew how she startled him when she 
 exclaimed, ^' Besides all the other hateful 
 things you have delivered me from, 
 Laurence, you have delivered me from 
 hoolis I I never wish to open one again ! " 
 
 Now Laurence had been looking for- 
 ward to introducing his pretty Madeline 
 to all the great masters in English lite- 
 rature, to hearing her fresh comments, to 
 sharing her raptures, to comparing first 
 impressions, favourite pieces, favourite 
 characters ; in short, to opening for this
 
 Poverty. 105 
 
 girl of eighteen the portals of a new 
 world. Alas! it soon became evident 
 that Madeline had an absolute lack of 
 literary taste. She had a taste for music, 
 for flowers ; a marvellous taste in colours, 
 and in dress; but for reading, as he under- 
 stood it, not an atom. (At first he had 
 had visions of reading her some sketches 
 and articles of his own, but soon changed 
 his mind, and kept his MS. in his writing- 
 desk.) He read aloud well, and selected, 
 as he believed, gems ; but, unfortunately, 
 Mrs. Wynne preferred paste ! 
 
 Lamb's essays were ^' quite too awfully 
 dry." Wordsworth was ten times worse 
 — she could hardly stifle her yawns. 
 And even when he was reading " Silas 
 Marner," and, as he considered, George 
 Eliot's masterpiece, he noticed that 
 Madeline was shyly perusing the adver- 
 tisements in a ladies' newspaper. She
 
 io6 Married or Single? 
 
 looked so nonplussed and unhappy if he 
 paused and suddenly asked her, ^^ If that 
 was not fine ? and how such and such a 
 passage struck her? " 
 
 At length he relinquished his efforts. It 
 was time, when Madeline, with a pretty 
 pout, said, ^^ My dear Laurence, I might 
 as well be at school ; you are just talking 
 like Mr. Falk, our professor of English 
 literature. Such an ugly little mummy." 
 
 ^^ And to whom you never listened? " 
 
 ^^Not I; and I never could remember 
 names, periods, or dates. You must 
 make the best of me. In some ways you 
 will find that I am hopelessly stupid." 
 
 In spite of these tiresome readings,^ 
 Madeline was thoroughly happy ; there 
 was not one single drawback, not one 
 little cloud on her sky, if we except an 
 occasionally heavy magazine article to 
 which she was oblisfed to lend her ears.
 
 Poverty. 107 
 
 And Laurence was happy too. It was 
 delightful to come home those dark, wet 
 nights, and find a kiss, a blazing fire, and 
 his pretty Madeline awaiting him. She 
 was always smiling, always so ready to 
 see the comic side of everything, a veri- 
 table sunbeam in that drawing-room. 
 
 ^' Who would be a bachelor ? " he asked 
 himself contemptuously, as he watched 
 her flitting to and fro after dinner, pull- 
 ing up his armchair and filling his pipe. 
 If he had one little arriere fensee, it was 
 this, that she would not alivays give him 
 mutton chops, and a wish that her ideas 
 of a menu Avere a little more expansive. 
 
 Nevertheless he was perfectly content. 
 He had an incentive to work hard now, 
 and he did work. He was getting known 
 in a small way. He had the gift of 
 oratory, of what is known as legal tact, a 
 
 handsome presence, and the power — given
 
 io8 Married or Single? 
 
 to so few — of swaying men's minds with 
 his eloquence, as the flame of a candle in 
 the wind. But, then, he was only twenty- 
 eight — a mere boy in the eyes of the 
 ancient profession, where a man begins to 
 make a start about fifty. Still Laurence 
 Wynne had his foot on the lower rung of 
 the ladder. More than one shrewd solici- 
 tor had noted him. His luck had turned ; 
 his marriage had brought him good for- 
 tune, though it had scared away all his 
 relations, and he had completely dropped 
 out of society. 
 
 But this fool's Paradise was not to last 
 — it never does. The angel that opened 
 the gate, and drove the foolish pair out 
 into the everyday, hard, stony world was 
 typhoid fever. 
 
 The hot summer succeeding their mar- 
 riage was a trying one, and in the sultry 
 September days typhoid fever laid hold
 
 Poverty. log 
 
 on many victims, among others on the 
 hard-working young barrister — seized him 
 with a death-hke grip, flung him on a 
 sick bed, and kept him there for months. 
 
 The fever was so difficult to shake off,, 
 and it had brought so many other ills 
 in its train. Finances were low — as they 
 are sure to be when the bread-winner ia 
 idle. Doctors' bills and chemists' bills- 
 were mounting up, as well as the 
 butcher's and baker's, not to speak of 
 the landlady's little account. 
 
 All the burden now lay upon one pair 
 of young shoulders — Madeline's ; and, ta 
 quote a homely but expressive phrase, 
 she absolutely did not know where to 
 turn. She had neither money nor friends. 
 Her husband had no capital ; his slender 
 fortune had been invested in his educa- 
 tion and profession. And as to his 
 friends and his distant connections,.
 
 no Married or Single ? 
 
 they had disowned him. When they had 
 heard of what they were good enough to 
 call ^'his low marriage with a teacher in 
 a school/' they had washed their hands 
 of him with wonderful unanimity. 
 Society had lost sight of him for months; 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wynne had no acquaint- 
 ances. Poor Madeline was in terrible 
 straits, but her courage rose with the 
 occasion; she was brave and energetic, 
 and did not sit down with her hands 
 before her and cry. 
 
 A schoolfellow of her husband's (another 
 young barrister) came to see her and 
 him, and gave help in the shape of 
 advice, which for once was valuable. 
 They moved to the top story — the attics. 
 (That was a step of which their landlady 
 highly approved.) And he procured some 
 law copying for Madeline — who wrote a 
 clear, neat hand — which brought in a few
 
 Poverty. Ill 
 
 shillings, and kept the actual wolf from 
 the door. He sent fish, grapes, and other 
 little delicacies to the invalid, and was in 
 truth that rara avis — a friend in need. 
 
 He considered that Wynne had be- 
 haved like a madman in marrying on 
 nothing ; but certainly the girl was an 
 immense temptation — so young, so 
 pretty — such eyes he had never seen — so 
 unsophisticated and fresh, and yet pos- 
 sessing excellent sense and an elastic 
 and dauntless spirit. Here for once was 
 an instance in which poverty had not 
 thrust love out of the window. Strange, 
 but true, their reverses had only served 
 to draw the Wynnes more closely to- 
 gether. They afforded a refreshing study 
 to Mr. Jessop, who was a cynic and a 
 philosopher in a small way, and who 
 sneered and snarled and marvelled. 
 Things had not even come to the worst
 
 112 Married or Single ? 
 
 with these unfortunate people, not until 
 a third was added to the establishment 
 in the shape of a Master Wynne, who 
 puckered up his wrinkled red face, thrust 
 his creasy fists into his eyes, and made 
 hideous grimaces at the world in which 
 he found himself — and in which, to tell 
 the truth, he was not particularly wanted, 
 except by his mother, to whom he was 
 not only welcome, but, in her partial eyes, 
 a little household god ! 
 
 His father, who was slowly recovering 
 — an emaciated spectre of what he had 
 been — ^was dubious with regard to the 
 striking resemblance to himself, and 
 frequently wondered in his inmost soul, 
 as to what was to be the future of his 
 son and heir? How was he to be fed, 
 clothed, and educated ? Dismal echoes 
 answered, '^ How ? " for the Wynnes 
 were now desperately poor.
 
 Poverty. 113 
 
 I mean by this, that Mr. Wynne's 
 watch had long been ticketed in a pawn- 
 broker's window, that Madeline's one 
 little brooch had gone the same way; 
 also — oh, breathe it not ! — her best gown 
 and hat ; also Mr. Wynne's top coat and 
 evening dress clothes ; that the invalid 
 alone tasted meat — and in scanty por- 
 tions — Madeline telling many clever fibs 
 with regard to her own dinner. Her 
 inexhaustible spirits and vivacity seemed 
 to sustain her — that, and a little bread 
 and tea. 
 
 The one person who was well-to-do 
 was the baby. He was clothed in a 
 beautiful cloak and hood — Mr. Jessop's 
 gifts — purchased, with many blushes, by 
 that keen-eyed, close-shaven gentleman^ 
 and presented with pride to his godson 
 and namesake. More than once Made- 
 line's mental eye had seen these 
 
 VOL. T. I
 
 114 Married or Single? 
 
 sumptuous garments smuggled away to 
 the pawnbroker's round the corner, but 
 she fought hard with the idea, and 
 had sternly kept it at bay — as yet. 
 Their circumstances were, indeed, all but 
 desperate, when one evening Mr. Jessop 
 came thundering up the stairs, newspaper 
 in hand, and panted out, as he threw 
 himself into the nearest chair and took 
 off his hat — 
 
 ^^ I say, Mrs. Wynne, what was your 
 name before you were married ? " 
 
 *^ My name," she echoed, looking 
 blankly at him, for she was trying to 
 keep the baby quiet and to do some 
 copying simultaneously — vain and ex- 
 asperating task — '^ was West — Madeline 
 West." 
 
 ^* Ah ! I thought so ! " he cried 
 triumphantly, clearing his throat and 
 unfolding his paper with a flourish.
 
 Poverty. 115 
 
 ^'Then just listen to this: — ^Madeline 
 West. — If this should meet the eye of 
 Madeline Sidney West, she is earnestly 
 implored to communicate with Mrs. H. 
 of H. House, at oncC; when she will hear 
 of something greatly to her advantage.' 
 Now what do you think of that ? ^* he 
 demanded of his friend, who, drawn up 
 near a handful of cinders, had been 
 poring over a law book. *^ Looks like 
 a legacy, doesn't it ? " 
 
 ** Too good to be true, I'm afraid. 
 Eh, Madeline ? " 
 
 Madeline turned her face alternately 
 on the two men. A faint colour had 
 invaded her thin, white cheeks, and her 
 eyes brightened as she said — 
 
 it Tiiej-Q is 220 harm in answering the 
 notice ; it may mean something." 
 
 «« Why, of course it does," cried Mr. 
 Jessop, emphatically. '^ Get a pen, give
 
 1 1 6 Married or Single ? 
 
 me the infant, and write a line now, and 
 rU post it." 
 
 And Madeline accordingly sat down 
 and wrote to Mrs. Harper on the spot, 
 whilst her companions watched her in 
 silence. 
 
 ^^Dear Mes. Harper, 
 
 *' I have seen your notice in 
 the Times of to-day. My address is — 2,, 
 Solferino Place, Westminster. 
 ^^ Yours truly, 
 
 ^^M. W." 
 
 She was so accustomed to sign merely 
 her initials, and was so flurried between 
 anticipation, anxiety, excitement, and 
 the screams of the baby, that she never 
 had the presence of mind to write her 
 full name, and on this slight omission, 
 this one little cog, turned a most im- 
 portant factor in her future career.
 
 ( 117 ) 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 A TELEGRAM FOR MISS WEST. 
 
 The very morning after Madeline liad 
 despatched her letter, a telegram was 
 handed in for Miss West, 2, Solferino 
 Place. The landlady herself mounted, 
 breathless, to the attics, with the tan- 
 coloured envelope in her hand, 
 
 '^I was just for sending it away, Mrs. 
 Wynne," she gasped, surveying her with 
 an inquiring eye; ^^ but it came into my 
 mind as I'd show it to you on the 
 chance." 
 
 '* Thank you ; it is for me," rejoined 
 her lodger, hastily tearing it open and
 
 1 1 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 running her eyes over it. As she read^ 
 she became crimson with amazement 
 and agitation. ^'Come at once — to-day 
 if possible. News of your father. — From 
 Mrs. Harper, Streambridge," was the 
 message. 
 
 '^But it's for Miss West, and you've 
 gone and opened it!" exclaimed the 
 landlady, suspiciously. ^^ How is that, 
 eh ? I never would have supposed — no, 
 never," folding her arms belligerently, 
 *^ as you wasn't on the square ; and as 
 I've alius kep' a respectable 'ouse, I 
 couldn't think " 
 
 ^^ You need not think, Mrs. Kane ; you 
 need not alarm yourself about the matter, 
 it is all quite right. I am Mrs. Wynne, 
 but I was Miss West once upon a time. 
 The sender of the message does not know 
 that I am married," interrupted Made- 
 line, speaking with studied composure —
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 119 
 
 though her heart was beating fearfully, 
 fast. 
 
 Insolent as Mrs. Kane was, she dared 
 not quarrel with her. Her roof covered 
 them on sufferance. Were she to thrust 
 them forth, where were they to go ? 
 They were entirely at her mercy, for they 
 owed her money ; and latterly she had 
 been inclined to take out a large amount 
 of interest in rude insolence, biting gibes, 
 and unpleasant hints with regard to 
 *' paupers a coming and settling down on 
 poor, honest, hard-working people — 
 paupers as could afford dress, and 
 theatres, and pianos once, and saved 
 nothing for a rainy day 1 " 
 
 Paupers — impecunious people like the 
 Wynnes, especially Mrs. Wynne, who 
 bore the brunt of these encounters — 
 could not afford to stand on their dignity, 
 and be independent and '^ move on."
 
 I20 Married or Single? 
 
 They must submit humbly ; but it was 
 insufferably galling — as galling to Made- 
 line as Miss Selina's yoke, that had 
 pressed upon her so sorely but one little 
 year ago. 
 
 Who but herself knew with what 
 deprecating eyes and voice she had 
 pleaded with her impatient landlady for 
 a little time, how humbly she ventured 
 to ask for coals, how stealthily she 
 crept up and down stairs, carrying baby, 
 and doing her own miserable errands, 
 making her presence as unobtrusive as 
 possible, for fear of offending her hostess's 
 threatening eyes. 
 
 The hostess's threatening eyes were 
 fixed upon her now, with a look that was 
 an insult, as she listened to her hurried 
 explanation with a down-drawn lip. 
 
 ** Oh, well, I suppose, as I know no 
 better, I must believe you," and with
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 121 
 
 a noisy sniff that intimated quite the 
 reverse, Mrs. Kane glared once round 
 their squalid sitting-room, to see if any- 
 thing were broken or missing, or the 
 valuable property damaged in any way ; 
 and, failing to discover the smallest 
 pretext for complaint, passed out of the 
 apartment with a heavy and aggressive 
 strut, and banged the door behind her. 
 
 Madeline lost not a second in rushing 
 to the invalid with the great news, and 
 placing the slip of pink paper in his 
 hand. 
 
 ^^ There is something at last ! I feel 
 that a change is coming ; these terrible 
 days cannot — cannot go on for ever. I 
 believe my father is alive, and coming 
 home ! What do you think, Laurence ? " 
 she asked, and her voice trembled. 
 
 Laurence, still holding the telegram in 
 his thin, transparent hand, gazed at his
 
 12 2 Married or Single ? 
 
 wife for some seconds in silence. How 
 changed she was, he thought, with a pang 
 of self-reproach. She was shabby — 
 very genteelly shabby. Her black dress 
 was all mended and pieced, her face was 
 haggard, her eyes sunken, their look 
 eager, anxions, almost desperate. 
 
 An intelligent spectator wonld have 
 declared that she was obviously half- 
 starved, and so she was. But how 
 furiously she would have disclaimed such 
 a pronouncement. She would rather 
 have died than have admitted that truth. 
 As long as Laurence had meat once a 
 day, as long as baby had milk, she did 
 very well on anything, and anything may 
 mean almost nothing — it is an elastic 
 word. Meanwhile, Laurence had been 
 telling himself that he had been a 
 culpable wretch to marry Madeline West. 
 What would he say to her father when
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 123 
 
 he placed his daughter in his arms — a 
 "daughter in all but rags, with a face 
 pinched with famine, without a friend, 
 without a penny, and weighted with a 
 dying husband and a peculiarly ill- 
 tempered baby ? 
 
 How much better would it have been 
 if he had curbed his foolish fancy — 
 nipped it in the bud, and left Madeline 
 to her fate. Why had he not wired to- 
 Mrs. Wolferton ? What would her father 
 say ? Would he cast her off ? 
 
 Madeline had hinted that, as well as 
 she could judge her father from his 
 letters, he was fond of show and style 
 and great people. He wished her to 
 dance and sing and play well, and to 
 speak French; but he had never said a 
 word about literature, or the English 
 classics, or what Laurence called ^' the 
 higher education of women." On the
 
 124 Married or Single? 
 
 other hand, he hoped that she would 
 always make acquaintance with girls 
 her equals, or even superiors, and never 
 lower herself hy school-friendships that 
 it would be impossible for him to recog- 
 nize. Madeline had once innocently 
 repeated this to her husband verbatim, 
 and it came vividly before him now. 
 Madeline had done more than form a 
 friendship of which her aspiring parent 
 would disapprove, a friendship that could 
 be slipped out of like an old glove. 
 Here she was tied for life to a poor man, 
 whose only career seemed likely to be 
 that of an invalid — a stone round her 
 neck as long as he lived. 
 
 He had but faint hopes of his own 
 recovery; everything was against it. 
 He knew that this could not be helped, 
 xind he was very patient. If he had good 
 wine, wholesome delicacies to tempt his
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 125 
 
 appetite, instead of gruesome scraps of 
 stale, ill-cooked meat and poisonous port 
 at a shilling ; if he could have a change 
 to pure, invigorating air, he might yet 
 have a chance. And he knew that he 
 might as well long for the moon — for the 
 entire firmament ! 
 
 '^ What is to be done, Laurence ? ' ' asked 
 Madeline, rather surprised at his long 
 silence. '^ What do you think of it ? " 
 
 *' You must go, of course," he returned 
 at last. " Go to-day." 
 
 ** To-day ! My dear Laurence, what 
 are you thinking of?" sitting down 
 on a rush chair as she spoke, and staring 
 at him in amazement. " Where is the 
 money to come from ? Look here," pro- 
 ducing a shabby little purse, with a brass 
 clasp, and turning out the pitiably small 
 contents, " all I possess is two and. 
 ssvenpence."
 
 126 Married or Single? 
 
 *^ Still you must go, Maddie, b}^ liook 
 or crook; mucli may depend on it. A 
 return third-class " 
 
 ^^ A return third-class would be twenty- 
 two shillings — one pound two," she in- 
 terrupted. ^^And, besides, I could not 
 go in this," looking down at her gown; 
 '^ now," appealingly, ^^ could I ? " 
 
 *^No, you could not," he replied, with 
 a little flush on his pale face. ^^And you 
 must get something out. To get some- 
 thing out something else must go in. 
 And," speaking with an effort, ^'I never 
 thought to part with them, but they could 
 not go in a better cause. I mean," wiping 
 his damp forehead, ^^my mother's minia- 
 ture and my father's medals. The minia- 
 ture is framed in seed pearls; the back 
 is gold — it ought to fetch a couple of 
 pounds. It's in my desk, Maddie, in a 
 little morocco case." There were other
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 127 
 
 things in his desk — neatly - copied - out 
 manuscripts. These, alas ! were value- 
 less — he had proved them. *'Take it, 
 my dear, and welcome ; and the medals 
 — they will fetch a few shilHngs." 
 
 ^^ Oh, Laurence," suddenly kneeling 
 down beside him, ^^I don't like to ! Must 
 I really ? I know you think so much of 
 them. They are the only relics you 
 possess. No, no ; I really can't ! " 
 
 "Yes, you can, and you shall," said 
 the sick man, with sudden decision. 
 "Here, at last, is an opening for you, 
 my poor Maddie. Something tells me 
 that your father is alive — is coming 
 home rich. You are his only child, his 
 heiress. You will be looked after and 
 cherished when I am gone. Yes, my 
 dear, it will be best for you in the end. 
 It was most wicked of me to marry you. 
 I see it all now, only too plainly. I
 
 12 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 had put by nothing for such a strait^ 
 and I had no wealthy friends. But I 
 never dreamt that it would come to this,. 
 Maddie; believe me, I never did. Forgive 
 me ! " he urged, and tears, born of weak- 
 ness and remorse, stood in his hollow eyes. 
 
 '^ Laurence ! " she interrupted, at- 
 tempting to place her hand on his mouth. 
 
 ^^I should have walked home in the 
 snow that night ; I should have taken 
 you to the Wolfertons' house, and tele- 
 graphed for her ; I should have gone to 
 the parish clergyman — done anything but 
 what I did, and which led to my dragging 
 you into such a pit as this!" with an 
 inclusive wave of his hand and a glance 
 round the mean little attic. "But it 
 won't be for long now," he added in a 
 lower voice. 
 
 *^ Oh, Laurence," she almost screamed 
 as she seized his arm, "why are you
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 129 
 
 telling me such terrible things, when we 
 have a little gleam of hope at last ? It 
 is cruel — cruel of you. You couldn't 
 mean that, after all we have gone 
 through together — that when we are 
 approaching smooth water — you — you 
 would leave me ! ' ' 
 
 And here she suddenly broke down 
 and burst into tears, for, alas ! she had 
 an agonizing inward conviction that 
 there was truth in what he said. How 
 pale and thin and wasted he looked ! 
 No one would recognize him who had 
 seen him last year, with his shorn 
 head, gaunt cheekbones, and sunken 
 eyes ; and she had a heart - breaking 
 feeling that it was not mere actual 
 illness, nor the dregs of that terrible 
 fever, that were to blame for this, but 
 that cruel, pitiless, ferocious wolf called 
 WANT. He was dying of the lack of mere 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 130 Married or Single? 
 
 necessaries, and she, miserable woman, 
 was powerless to procure them ; and for 
 this she laid down her head and wept as 
 if her heart would burst — her passion- 
 ate sobbing fairly frightened Laurence. 
 Madeline's tears were rarely seen; Made- 
 line was always bright, cheery, almost 
 gay, at the very worst of times ; and now 
 came a reaction, and she was weeping 
 as he had never seen any one weep before. 
 *^ Don't, Maddie, don't," he whispered, 
 feebly stroking her hair; ^'you will be 
 better without me, though you don't 
 think so now. You are young — only 
 nineteen — many bright days may be in 
 store for you. I will leave you con- 
 tentedly, if your father has come home. 
 The greatest horror I have ever known 
 will be lifted from my mind. You 
 don't know, dearest, what torments have 
 racked me as I lay awake through
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 131 
 
 the long, dark niglits, listening to the 
 blocks striking hour after hour, and 
 wondering what would become of you? 
 Now Providence has answered the ques- 
 tion; your father will give you and the 
 <3hild a home. There, Maddie, there, 
 don't; I can't bear to see you cry like 
 
 this ; and I — I may get over it, and 
 
 And now, you see, you have awakened 
 the baby ! " as a shrill, querulous cry from 
 the next room interrupted what he was 
 about to say. 
 
 The maternal instinct thus roused, he 
 hoped that her tears would cease, as he 
 was powerless to arrest them. And 
 Madeline completely broken down — 
 Madeline, who was always so brave, who 
 had come out in a new light under the 
 scorching flames of the furnace of afflic- 
 tion — was a sight that completely un- 
 manned him.
 
 132 Married or Single ? 
 
 Madeline hastily dried her eye^, 
 strangled her sobs, took her shrieking 
 offspring out of his cradle, and gave him 
 his midday bottle — an operation which 
 appeased his appetite and soothed his 
 feehngs. Then she came back to her 
 husband with the child in her arms, and 
 said in a husky voice, ^^ If you had 
 change of air, good food, properly cooked, 
 fruit, wine, and the little delicacies all 
 sick people require, you would get well 
 — I know you would. Promise me, 
 promise that you will try to get better ! 
 Promise me that you will wish to get 
 better, Laurence," she continued tremu- 
 lously, ^^for — for our sake." 
 
 '^I can promise that, at any rate, 
 Maddie," he answered with a dim smile ; 
 ** but you know the old proverb about 
 wishes." 
 
 ''And you know that while there's
 
 A Telegram for Miss West. 133 
 
 life there's liope," she answered quickly. 
 *' I have hope ; yoii must have hope too ! 
 And now I am going out, you will have 
 to mind baby," placing the white bundle 
 beside his father, who eyed his charge 
 dubiously, as it stared at him stolidly, 
 thumb in mouth. 
 
 Madeline hurriedly put on her hat and 
 jacket, and, taking a key, unlocked a 
 brass -bound desk, and, after a little 
 search, drew out the morocco case. ^^Is 
 this it?" she asked, holding it up. 
 ^^ This is what you mean ? " 
 
 A nod assured her that it was. 
 
 *^You would like to look at it once 
 more," she said, gently laying it in his 
 hand. ^^ I don't know how to take it. 
 You are so like her, too," looking down 
 at the little oval miniature of a pretty, 
 spirited girl with dark eyes and dark 
 hair, and seeing her husband's gaze fixed
 
 134 Married or Single? 
 
 greedily on tlie portrait. '' You were so 
 fond of her, Laurence." 
 
 '^ Not more than I am of you, Maddie,'* 
 he answered, closing the case with a de- 
 cisive snap. '^ And my father's medals," 
 he said, as he held them up, and looked 
 at them wistfully. *^Well, they will 
 fetch a few shillings, and they go in a 
 good cause. Here, take them, my dear^ 
 and go, and don't be long." 
 
 Needless to add this formula. Wa& 
 she ever long ? But time passed very 
 slowly w^hen Madeline was absent from 
 those two poor attics which were called 
 home.
 
 135 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 NOT MAKEIED AFTER ALL. 
 
 ''He has not awoke since, has he?" 
 asked the anxious mother, as, fully an 
 hour later, she reappeared with a bundle 
 and a basket. '^No" — with a sigh of 
 relief — ''I see he is sound," laying down 
 her load as she spoke. '' And now to 
 begin at the very beginning, and to tell 
 you everything, Laurence," opening the 
 basket and producing a bottle. ''Here 
 is some good port wine ; IVe carried it 
 most carefully, so as not to shake it. 
 You must have a glass at once — that is 
 to be the beginning."
 
 136 Married or Single? 
 
 '' Oh, Maddie, what extravagance ! 
 When you " 
 
 *'Hush! please to listen," exhibiting 
 as she spoke a bunch of grapes, six fresh 
 ®ggs, a jar of Bovril, and a packet of 
 biscuits from her seemingly inexhaustible 
 store, and laying them on the table. 
 
 *^ Then you are not going ! " exclaimed 
 her husband, in a tone of deep dis- 
 approval. 
 
 ^^ Oh yes, I am," she answered 
 promptly, now opening the bundle, and 
 shaking out a dress that she had pawned, 
 and regarding it with an expression that 
 showed it was an old and favourite friend. 
 ^^ Here is an A B C guide. I go to-night 
 when I have left you comfortable, and 
 baby asleep. Mrs. Kane's niece has 
 promised to look after you to-morrow, 
 and to-morrow night I return, all being 
 well."
 
 Not Married after All. 137 
 
 ^^ Then they gave you a good price for 
 the miniature and the medals." 
 
 '* Price 1 " she echoed indignantly. 
 ^^ They turned the miniature over and 
 over, and sneered at it, and said they 
 had no sale for such like ; but they could 
 not say that it wasn't real gold and pearls, 
 and they gave me eighteen shillings, and 
 said it was more than it was worth, and 
 ten shillings on the medals. Medals are 
 a drug in the market." ^ 
 
 *' Then how — where did you get 
 money for your journey ? " asked her 
 husband, in a tone of amazement bor- 
 dering on impatience. 
 
 '^ See here ! " holding up both her bare 
 hands. Very pretty hands they were, 
 but now a little coarse from hard work. 
 *^ Do you miss anything, Laurence ? " 
 colouring guiltily. 
 
 ** Yes, your — wedding-ring — and
 
 138 Married or Single ? 
 
 keeper," after a moment's pause — a pause 
 of incredulity. 
 
 '^You won't be angry with me, dear, 
 will you?" she said coaxingly, coming 
 and kneeling beside him. ^^ It makes no 
 real difference, does it ? Please — x^lease 
 don't be vexed ; but I got a sovereign on 
 them, and they are the first things I 
 shall redeem. You must have nourishing 
 food, even if I had to steal it ; and I 
 would steal for you!" she added, pas- 
 sionately. ''I shall only take a single 
 ticket — third class. Mrs. Harper will 
 surely lend me a few poimds, and I will 
 be able to leave ten shillings for you to 
 go on with." 
 
 *'How can I be angry with you, 
 Maddie ? " he replied. *^ It is all my 
 fault — the fault of my rashness, thought- 
 lessness, selfishness — that you have had to 
 do this, my poor child ! Oh, that snowy
 
 Not Married after All. 139 
 
 night was a bad one for you ! I ought 
 to have left you, and walked back." 
 
 ** Such nonsense ! " cried his wife, 
 whose spirits were rising. ^' I won't hear 
 you say such things ! It's a long lane 
 that has no turning. I think — oh, I 
 believe and pray — that I do see the end 
 of ours ! And now there is a nice roast 
 chicken for your dinner. I left it with 
 Mrs. Kane downstairs. She asked me if 
 I had come in for a fortune ? A fortune, 
 indeed! It was only three and three- 
 pence, but I told her that I believed that 
 I had. Oh dear, oh dear, I hope my 
 words will come true ! " 
 
 ***** 
 
 Madeline's packing was represented by 
 changing her dress ; her preparations 
 were confined to brushing, rubbing, and 
 hiking her hat, mending her gloves, 
 which, like the typical landlady, ^' had
 
 140 Married or Single? 
 
 seen better days," and to washing and get- 
 ting up a pair of cuffs with her own hands. 
 
 ''You look quite smart, Maddie," said 
 Laurence, as she completed her toilet, 
 and came and showed herself to him. 
 
 '' Yes ; I don't look so very, very poor, 
 do I?" 
 
 *'No-o," rather dubiously. Then he 
 added, with a smile, '' No one who looks 
 at your face will think of your clothes ; 
 and, indeed, Maddie, it is not fit that such 
 a pretty girl as you are should be travel- 
 ling alone, and third class, such a long 
 journey." 
 
 '' Kubbish ! rubbish ! rubbish ! " she 
 answered emphatically. '' I'll wear a 
 veil, if that will please you ; and, indeed, 
 no one will notice me. If they do, they 
 will think I am some poor girl going to 
 a situation. You think every one must 
 admire what you thought pretty, you
 
 Not Married after All. 141 
 
 stupid Laurence ; but I heard Mrs. Kane 
 saying the other day that I'd grown 
 ^ awfully plain.' And it's not my face 
 Mrs. Harper will notice — you may be 
 certain of that ! " 
 
 Ten minutes later she had kissed the- 
 sleeping baby, taken leave of Laurence, 
 given many whispered directions to Mrs. 
 Kane's niece, and a whole half-sovereign 
 from her little fund; and then, with a 
 beating heart, started on foot for a distant 
 terminus. No, she would not take even 
 a twopenny fare in a 'bus ; she must save 
 every penny, and she would have plenty 
 of rest in the train. And so she had, of 
 a sort, on the hard, upright seat of a 
 crowded third-class carriage for eight 
 mortal hours. There is not much repose 
 in such a situation, nor much sleep to be 
 obtained ; and the train roared along 
 through the inky black night, and tore-
 
 142 Married or Single ? 
 
 through small stations with a shriek of 
 oontempt that shook them to their foun- 
 dations, and nearly shook the teeth of 
 the unhappy third-class passengers out of 
 their heads. After a whole night's travel- 
 ling of this uneasy description, Madeline 
 arrived at her destination — Kiverside — 
 and quickly alighted on the platform. One 
 trouble was spared her — luggage. 
 
 She went and washed her face and 
 hands, arranged her hair, shook o£P some 
 of the dust in the waiting-room, in- 
 vested fourpence in a bun and cup of 
 coffee, and felt herself sufficiently fortified 
 to encounter Mrs. Harper — but not Miss 
 Selina. Another journey by rail, a short 
 walk, and she found herself once more 
 on the familiar doorstep of Harperton 
 House, and rang timidly. 
 
 A strange maid (who knew not the 
 delinquencies of Miss West) opened the
 
 Not Married after All. 143 
 
 door, and was evidently surprised to 
 behold such an early visitor. 
 
 She informed her that Mrs. Harper was 
 not down yet, nor Miss Harper, and 
 showed her into the drawing-room, which 
 was in process of being dusted. Here she 
 waited for some time, whilst a sound of 
 hasty footsteps and voices was very audible 
 above her head. She looked around the 
 room, and felt as if she had only quitted 
 it yesterday. And oh ! what a gap there 
 was in her life between the last time she 
 stood there, listening to Miss Selina's 
 spiteful remonstrances, and now ! But 
 the room was precisely the same. There 
 was the best piano, on which she had had 
 many a music-lesson. There was Alice 
 Burns' big coloured-chalk drawing, Amy 
 Watson's two water-colours; Florence 
 Blewitt's brass work, and Isabella Jones's 
 photograph screen — all votive offerings to
 
 144 Married or Single ? 
 
 the Harper family, and advertisements ta 
 pupils' relatives who came to make in- 
 quiries about the school. 
 
 Presently the door opened, and Miss 
 Harper — if we may dare to say so — 
 burst into the room. 
 
 '^ Oh, Madeline ! " she exclaimed, ^' so 
 it's you. She only said a young lady. 
 How more than thankful I am to see 
 you ! " shaking hands as she spoke, and 
 looking into her face with eager scrutiny. 
 ** You are thin — very thin ; but thin or 
 fat, you are welcome back. Come up at 
 once to my mother's room ; she is dress- 
 ing. She does not come down early now^ 
 and she wants to see you " (here was an 
 honour). ^' Come, the girls are all in the 
 schoolroom. The breakfast-bell will be 
 rung in ten minutes," turning to lead the 
 way. Then she paused for a moment, 
 with the handle in her hand. ^ ' You have-
 
 Not Married after All. 145 
 
 heard about Selina? " she asked, with a 
 red spot on either cheek, and a spark in 
 either eye. *^ What ! Have you not 
 heard ? " she added hurriedly. 
 
 Miss Sehna ! It was not of Miss Selina 
 Madeline had come to hear ; and she shook 
 her head and answered, ''No; is she dead?'* 
 
 "Dead! She's married. She married 
 nearly a year ago," returned her sister, im- 
 pressively, '' Mr. Murphy, the red-haired 
 curate. She — she behaved atrociously. 
 Don't mention her to my mother, nor 
 ask about her, on any account. "We 
 don't speak," flinging the door wide as 
 she gasped out the last sentence. 
 
 All the reply Madeline made was 
 " Indeed ! " But nevertheless she felt a 
 very lively satisfaction to hear that her 
 old enemy was no longer an inmate of 
 Harperton, and had gone away, like 
 herself, in disgrace. 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 146 Married or Single ? 
 
 ^^You will find my mother rather 
 changed/' whispered Miss Harper, as she 
 rapidly preceded her upstairs. ^' She's 
 had a slight stroke. All the troubles and 
 annoyance about Selina were enough to 
 kill her, and she is not what she was. 
 She never comes down till the afternoon ; 
 but take no notice." 
 
 '^ Madeline ! " cried the old lady, as 
 Madeline entered her room and beheld 
 her propped up in bed, in her best day 
 cap. *' This is too good to be true ! I 
 scarcely expected it, though I have 
 advertised every day in the Times, Come 
 here, my dear, and kiss me" — tendering 
 a withered cheek. The old lady's mind 
 was certainly affected, thought her late 
 pupil. That she who had been so 
 ignominiously cast out should be thus 
 welcomed back, and with kisses, was 
 scarcely credible, unless viewed from the
 
 Not Married after All. 147 
 
 idea that Mrs. Harper had become 
 imbecile in the meanwhile. But no, the 
 reason of this astonishing change from 
 the frost of neglect to the sun of welcome 
 — affectionate welcome — was a very potent 
 one indeed. It was nothing less than 
 the prospect of a large sum of money. 
 
 Since Madeline had been banished, 
 nothing had gone well. Her place had 
 been taken by a governess who had 
 actually required a salary, as well as 
 civility, and had been a great encum- 
 brance and expense. Then came Selina's 
 wicked tampering with her sister's sweet- 
 heart, a heart-burning scandal, family 
 linen sent to the public wash, and a 
 serious falling off in the school. Things 
 were going badly. Every step was down 
 hill — one girl leaving after another, and 
 there were many vacant places at the 
 long dinner-table.
 
 148 Married or Single ? 
 
 At last came a letter — from Mr. West 
 of all people ! enclosing a large draft on 
 his bankers, and announcing his return 
 a wealthy and successful man. The draft 
 was to pay for two years' schooling, with 
 interest up to date ; but for a whole year 
 Miss West had been elsewhere ! How 
 could they honestly claim these badly- 
 wanted pounds? They had banished 
 the man's daughter, and the money must 
 be restored. 
 
 Viewed now — in a softer light, through 
 a golden atmosphere — Madeline's deeds 
 were excusable. The poor girl had been 
 Selina's victim, and therefore more to 
 be pitied than blamed. Madeline must 
 be sought and, if possible, discovered and 
 reinstated as if there had been no hiatus, 
 as if nothing disagreeable had occurred. 
 And we have seen the '^ state of life " in 
 which Madeline had been found.
 
 Not Married after All. 149 
 
 '^ Letitia, do yon go down now, and 
 presently send np a nice breakfast for 
 two — two fresh eggs — whilst I have a talk 
 with dear Madeline." Thus the old lady, 
 who still held the reins of authority, 
 although she had lost the use of her 
 right hand; and Letitia, having previously 
 rehearsed the whole ''talk" with her 
 mother, and fearing that ''too many 
 €Ooks might spoil the broth," departed 
 with meek obedience. 
 
 "Take off your hat and jacket, my 
 love, and make yourself at home. I am 
 sure you will not be surprised to hear — 
 yes, put them on the ottoman — that your 
 father is alive and well, and returning an 
 mmensely " — dwelling lovingly on the 
 word — "rich man." 
 
 Madeline's heart bounded into her 
 mouth, her face became like flame. So 
 her presentiment had come true !
 
 150 Married or Single? 
 
 ^' Ah ! I see you are surprised, darling : 
 so were we when we got his letter, a 
 week ago. Here, bring me that case, 
 the green one on the little table, and I'll 
 read it to you at once — or you may read 
 it yourself if you like, Madeline." 
 
 Madeline did as requested, picked out 
 a foreign letter in a well-known hand, 
 and sat down to peruse it beside Mrs, 
 Harper's bed. That lady, having assumed 
 her spectacles for the nonce, scanned 
 her late pupil's face with keen intent- 
 ness. 
 
 This is what the letter said : — 
 
 " Royal Kangaroo Club, 
 
 " Collins Street, Melbourne. 
 
 **My dear Mes. Haeper, 
 
 *^ After such a long silence, 
 
 you will be surprised to see my writing, 
 
 but here I am. I am afraid Madeline has 
 
 been rather uneasy about me — and^
 
 Not Married after All. 151 
 
 indeed, no wonder. I met with some 
 terrible losses in bank shares two years 
 ago : nearly the whole of my life's earnings 
 were engulphed in an unparalleled finan- 
 cial catastrophe. The anxiety and trouble 
 all but killed me — threw me into a fever, 
 from the effects of which I was laid up 
 for months — many months, and when I 
 again put my shoulder to the wheel I 
 was determined not to write home until 
 I was as rich a man as ever. I knew that 
 you, who had had the care of Madeline 
 since she was seven, would trust me, and 
 everything would go on as usual. I had 
 always been such punctual pay, you 
 would give me time for once. I am now, 
 I am glad to say, a wealthy man. Some 
 lots of land I bought years ago have 
 turned up trumps — in short, gold. I am 
 not going to speculate again, but am 
 returning home a millionaire, and Maddie
 
 152 Married or Single ? 
 
 shall keep house in London, and hold up 
 her head among the best. Stray bits of 
 news have drifted to my ears. I heard 
 a foolish story about some beggarly 
 barrister or curate and her. A school- 
 girl wrote it to her brother; but I am 
 certain it was only girls' tittle-tattle. 
 Surely you would never allow my heiress 
 to play the fool ! If she did, she knows 
 very well that I would disown her. I 
 am a fond father in my way, and a good 
 father, as you can testify, but I'll have 
 no pauper fortune-hunters, or puling love 
 affairs. A hint from you to Madeline, 
 that at the least nonsense of that sort 
 I marry again, and let her please herself, 
 will be, at any rate, a stitch in time. 
 She has had a good education. She can 
 earn her bread ; but I know it is not 
 necessary to continue this subject. You 
 are a sensible woman ; Madeline is a
 
 Not Married after All. 153 
 
 sensible girl, if she is my daughter. And 
 I have great views for her, very great 
 viev^s. I shall follow this letter in about 
 six weeks' time, and will write again 
 before I leave. I shall come by the 
 Ophir, Orient Line, and you and Maddie 
 can meet me in Plymouth. I enclose a 
 draft on my agents for six hundred 
 pounds, five hundred for Maddie' s school- 
 ing and outfit for two years, and the 
 balance for pocket-money and a few new 
 frocks, so that she may be smart when 
 her old daddie comes home." 
 
 Madeline paused, and shook the letter. 
 No, no draft fluttered out. 
 
 ^^I have banked it," put in Mrs. 
 Harper, precipitately, who had been 
 scrutinizing every change in the girl's 
 face. ^^ It is quite safe." 
 
 '^And now I must wind up, hoping 
 soon to see Madeline, and with love to
 
 154 Married or Single? 
 
 her and compliments to yourself and 
 daughters, especially the lively Miss 
 Selina. 
 
 '^ Yours faithfully, 
 
 '^KoBEET West." 
 
 "Well, Madeline, tell me what you 
 think of that?" demanded Mrs. Harper, 
 wiping her glasses. 
 
 "I — I — am very glad of course," she 
 returned, her brain and ideas in a whirl; 
 but now fully comprehending the cause 
 of Mrs. Harper's blandishments and 
 welcome. 
 
 ** We are so sorry, love, that we were 
 so hasty about Mr. Wynne. It was 
 entirely Selina's doing, I do assure you. 
 I am most thankful to see — especially 
 after your father's letter — that you did 
 not marry him after all ! " 
 
 '^Nct marry him," echoed the girl,
 
 Not Married after All. 155 
 
 colouring vividly. *^ What do you 
 mean ? " 
 
 *^I see you are not married by your 
 hand," pointing a long finger at Made- 
 line's ringless member. ^'Is not that 
 sufficient proof? " she asked sharply. 
 
 Madeline was suddenly aware that she 
 was at a crisis— a great moral crisis — in 
 her life, when she must take action at once, 
 an action that meant much. Her father's 
 letter, Mrs. Harper's conclusion, her own 
 dire want, all prompted the quick de- 
 cision made on the instant. She would 
 for the present temporise — at least till she 
 had met her father, told him her story 
 in her own way, and accomplished a full 
 pardon. To declare noiu that she was a 
 wife would be ruin — ruin to her, death 
 to Laurence, for of course her father 
 would cut her off with a shilling. She 
 w^as aware that he had very strong
 
 156 Married or Single? 
 
 prejudices, a grotesque adoration for rank 
 and success, and a corresponding ablior- 
 rence of those who were poor, needy, 
 and obscure ; also that he was a man of 
 his word. This she had gleaned out in 
 Australia when but seven years of age. 
 They had lived in a splendid mansion in 
 Toorak, the most fashionable suburb of 
 Melbourne, and an elderly reduced 
 Englishwoman had been her governess. 
 But because she had permitted her to 
 play with some children whose father 
 was in difficulties, who was socially 
 ostracised, she had been discharged at a 
 week's notice, and Madeline had been 
 despatched to England. Her father was 
 peculiar — yes. In a second her mind 
 was resolved, and, with hands that shook 
 as she folded up the crackling foreign 
 notepaper, she reassumed the character 
 of Miss West !
 
 ( 157 ) 
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 BARGAINING. 
 
 '^You see, my love," proceeded Mrs. 
 Harper, in a smooth, insinuating tone, 
 ^^it is not every one who would take 
 you back under the circumstances;'^ 
 and she paused, and peered at the girl 
 over her spectacles with a significant 
 air. (The circumstances of five hundred 
 pounds, thought her listener bitterly.) 
 ^^ Will you give me your word of honour 
 that you have not been doing anything — 
 unbecoming — anything that — that — 
 would reflect on your reputation? My 
 dear, you need not look so red and
 
 158 Married or Single ? 
 
 indignant. I'm only an old woman. I 
 mean no offence." 
 
 ^'I have done nothing to be ashamed 
 of, or which I shall ever blush for or 
 regret," rejoined Madeline, impressively; 
 '' and to that I can give my word of 
 honour. But, Mrs. Harper, you ask 
 strange questions — and I am no longer 
 at school." 
 
 '* Well, well, my dear — well, well; we 
 did hear that you were in the mantle 
 department at Marshall and Snelgrove's. 
 I believe there are ladies in these estab- 
 lishments ; " and then she added craftily, 
 ^* You have such a nice, tall, slight figure 
 — for trying on things. You were always so 
 graceful, and had such taking manners ! " 
 
 '^I was not there, Mrs. Harper," re- 
 turned Madeline ; ^^ and I cannot tell you 
 where I was, beyond that I lived with 
 a friend, and that I was very poor."
 
 Bargaining. 159 
 
 '^A friend, at Solferino Place?'' 
 quickly. 
 
 '*Yes" — with visible reluctance — '^at 
 Solferino Place. And now what do you 
 want with me, Mrs. Harper ? " she asked, 
 with unexpected boldness. 
 
 ''Well, I wish" — clearing her throat 
 — '' and so does Letitia, to let bygones 
 be bygones ; to allow your father to find 
 you here, as if you had never been away ; 
 to hush up your escapade — for though, 
 of course, I believe you — it might sound 
 a little curious to him. No one knows 
 why you left, excepting Selina — Mrs. 
 Murphy. It happened in the holidays. 
 These girls are a new set, and have 
 never heard of you ; and, even if they 
 had, they would not meet Mr. West, as 
 he arrives during the Easter term. Do 
 you agree to this ? " 
 
 ''Yes," replied Madeline, with sudden
 
 i6o Married or Single? 
 
 pallor, but a steady voice, '^ I agree ; 
 it will be best." 
 
 *^ That is arranged, then," said the 
 old diplomatist, briskly. "And, now, 
 what about the money? — what about 
 that ? Shall we keep the ^yq hundred 
 pounds, and give you the balance ? " 
 
 In former days Madeline would have 
 assented to this proposition at once ; but 
 now her heart beat tumultuously as she 
 thought of Laurence and the baby. She 
 must secure all she could for their sakes, 
 and, feeling desperately nervous, she 
 replied — 
 
 " No, I can't quite see that, Mrs. 
 Harper. To one year's payment and 
 interest you are, of course, entitled ; but 
 the second year I worked for my living 
 — worked very hard indeed. You can 
 scarcely expect to take two hundred 
 pounds, as well as my services — gratis."
 
 Bargaining. 1 6 1 
 
 But Mrs. Harper had expected it confi- 
 dently, and this unlooked-for opposition 
 was a blow. Madeline was not as nice 
 as she used to be, and she must really 
 put some searching questions to her 
 respecting her absence, if she was going 
 to be so horribly grasping about money ; 
 and Madeline, blushing for very shame 
 as she bargained with this old female 
 Shylock, reluctantly yielded one hundred 
 pounds for the year she had been pupil- 
 teacher. It was money versus character 
 — and a character is expensive. 
 
 Mrs. Harper, on her part, undertook 
 to arrange Madeline's past very com- 
 pletely, and Madeline felt that it must 
 be veiled from her father for the present 
 — at any rate, until Laurence was better, 
 and able to resume work and a foothold 
 on existence. 
 
 She had assured him yesterday that she 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 1 62 Married or Single? 
 
 would steal for him if necessary. Was 
 not this as bad, she asked herself, bar- 
 gaining and chaffering thus over her 
 father's money, and dividing it with the 
 greedy old creature at her side ? How- 
 ever, she was to have one hundred and 
 eighty pounds for her share. Oh, riches ! 
 Oh, what could she not do with that 
 sum? 
 
 She was to return to her friends at 
 Solferino Place for three weeks — (she 
 had struggled and battled fiercely for 
 this concession, and carried the day) — 
 was then to return to Harperton, and be 
 subsequently escorted to Plymouth by 
 Miss Harper, who would personally re- 
 store her to her father's arms. 
 
 After the morning's exciting business, 
 Madeline was wearied, flushed, and had 
 a sphtting headache. She was not sorry 
 to share Mrs. Harper's excellent tea, and
 
 Bargaining. 163 
 
 to be allowed to take off her dress and 
 go and lie down in a spare room upstairs 
 — a room once full, but now empty — 
 and there she had a long think; and, 
 being completely worn out, a long, long 
 sleep. 
 
 After dinner — early dinner — she went 
 out with Miss Harper, and the money — 
 her share — was paid to her without delay. 
 She had stipulated for this. Could it be 
 possible that it was she, Madeline Wynne, 
 who stood opposite to the cashier's desk 
 cramming notes and sovereigns into her 
 sixpenny purse ? As they pursued their 
 walk, Madeline recognized a few old faces, 
 and many old places. She purchased a new 
 hat, which she put on in the shop ; and 
 she heard, to her relief, that the Wolfer- 
 tons had left, and gone to live abroad. 
 Some former schoolfellows, now grown 
 up — no young plant grows quicker than
 
 1 64 Married or Single ? 
 
 a schoolgirl — recognized and accosted 
 her. These had been day-boarders. 
 They mentally remarked that she had 
 turned out very different to what they 
 expected, and that she looked much older 
 than her age. '^ She was staying at Mrs. 
 Harper's, was she ? " 
 
 Before they had time to ask the hundred 
 and one questions with which they were 
 charged, Miss Harper prudently hur- 
 ried her pupil away, saying, as she did 
 so — 
 
 ^^ Least said, soonest mended, my dear. 
 It's well you had on your new hat ! 
 Now you had better get some gloves." 
 
 She was not quite as keen about the 
 money as her mother, and was inclined — 
 nay, anxious — to be amiable. Madeline 
 West, the great Australian heiress, had 
 possibilities in her power. She was re- 
 solved to be friendly with her, and to
 
 Bargaining. 165 
 
 r-einstate her at once as the favourite 
 pupil of former days, burying in oblivion 
 the teacher interlude. 
 
 The girls Madeline had met walked on 
 disappointed, saying to one another — 
 
 *^ Fancy that being Maddie West! 
 How awful she looks ! So seedy, and so 
 thin and careworn ; and she is barely my 
 age — in fact, she is a week younger ! " 
 
 *^And so frightfully shabby," put in 
 -another. 
 
 *^ Did you see her dress — all creases ? " 
 
 *' And her gloves ! " (The gloves were 
 apparently beyond description.) 
 
 *^A11 the same. Miss Harper was 
 making a great fuss — a great deal of her. 
 It was ' dear ' this, and ^ love ' that. She 
 is never affectionate for nothing. I know 
 the old boa-constrictor so well. Perhaps 
 Maddie has been left a fortune ? " haz- 
 arded the sharpest of the party.
 
 1 66 Married or Single? 
 
 '^ Her dress and jacket looked ex- 
 tremely like it," sneered number one. 
 '^As to her hat, I saw it in at Mason's 
 this morning — I noticed it particularly, 
 marked eleven and ninepence. That 
 looks like being an heiress ! Oh, very 
 much so, indeed ! " 
 
 The price of the hat settled the ques- 
 tion !
 
 ( i67 ) 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MRS. KANE BECOMES AFFECTIONATE. 
 
 Mrs. Harper would not hear of Madeline 
 returning to London by night. No, it 
 was a most shocking idea, and not to be 
 entertained. She must remain until the 
 next day at least, " and travel properly," 
 which meant that Miss Harper herself 
 conducted the heiress to Eiverside, and 
 saw her off by the morning express, first 
 class. It was in vain that Madeline 
 protested that such precautions were 
 quite unnecessary. She was anxious to 
 save her fare, and return third ; for, even 
 with such wealth as one hundred and
 
 1 68 Married or Single? 
 
 eighty pounds, every shilling would be 
 required. But her voice was silenced. 
 Miss Harper carried the day, took her 
 late pupil to the station, gave her into 
 the charge of the guard, and even went 
 so far as to present her with a two- 
 shilling novel, to wile away the journey 
 (an attention that she hoped would bear 
 fruit by-and-by). But Madeline did not 
 need it ; her own thoughts were sufficient 
 to absorb her whole attention as she 
 travelled rapidly homeward. She was 
 sensible of some disquieting pangs when 
 she thought of Laurence. Would he be 
 angry when he heard that his wife had 
 once more assumed her maiden name, 
 and pretended that she was still Madeline 
 West ? 
 
 No, no ; he must forgive her, when 
 there was so much at stake. Her hand 
 closed involuntarily on her purse, that
 
 Mrs. Kane. 169 
 
 precious purse which contained the first 
 payment for the fraud, she had been 
 compelled to practise. About five o'clock 
 that evening Madeline's quick foot was 
 once more heard ascending the stairs, 
 and with hasty fingers she opened the 
 sitting-room door, and rushed into her 
 husband's presence. He was up and 
 dressed — (at all but the worst of times 
 he would insist on dragging himself out 
 of bed and dressing) — seated at her 
 table, laboriously doing some copying, 
 with slow and shaky fingers. 
 
 It should here be stated, in justice to 
 Mrs. Harper, that she had passed Made- 
 line under the harrow of searching in- 
 quiries, and elicited the intelligence that 
 she made her livelihood by law copying, 
 and she was satisfied that it was a re- 
 spectable employment. 
 
 *^Ahl" exclaimed the astute dame,
 
 lyo Married or Single? 
 
 ''I suppose Mr. Wynne put that bit of 
 work in your way, did he?" Fortunately 
 for her new rdle, Madeline could truthfully 
 reply ^^ No," for it was not Laurence 
 who had been the means of procuring this 
 employment, such as it was, but Mr» 
 Jessop. 
 
 '^You will give me your permanent 
 address, Madeline," said Mrs. Harper, 
 austerely. ^' That must be thoroughly 
 understood." 
 
 '^But you have it already, Mrs. 
 Harper." 
 
 *^Have you lodged there long?" she 
 asked, feeling confident that no well- 
 known counsel at the bar could outdo 
 her in crafty questions. 
 
 *^ Fourteen months," said her pupil,, 
 rather shortly. 
 
 ^' Then you must have been j)retty 
 comfortable ? "
 
 Mrs. Kane. 171 
 
 To wliich Madeline evasively replied 
 that she had been quite happy. (No 
 thanks to Mrs. Kane.) 
 
 And Mrs. Harper was satisfied. She 
 had found out all she wished to know. 
 MadeHne's past was as clear as daylight 
 now ! Was it ? 
 
 And now behold Madeline at home 
 once more, flushed with excitement, 
 exhilarated by the change, by the money 
 in her purse, and with her bright eyes, 
 bright colour, and new hat, making quite 
 a cheerful and brilliant appearance before 
 the amazed and languid invalid. 
 
 He was looking very ill to-day. These 
 close stifling rooms and sleepless nights 
 were gradually sapping his scanty stock 
 of vitality. 
 
 *'Baby is asleep," she said, glancing 
 eagerly into the cradle. ^^ And now I 
 am going to tell you all about it," taking
 
 172 Married or Single ? 
 
 off her hat and gloves, and pushing aside 
 her husband's writing materials, filling 
 him up a glass of port, fetching a biscuit, 
 and taking a seat opposite to him, all 
 within the space of three minutes. 
 
 '^You have good news, Maddie, I 
 see," he remarked as he looked at her, 
 and noticed her condition of suppressed 
 excitement, and her sparkling eyes. 
 
 '^ Good ? — news, yes ; and money ! " 
 pulling out her purse and displaying thick 
 rolls of Bank of England notes, and some 
 shining sovereigns. ^* Oh, Laurence dear, 
 I feel so happy, all but in one little corner 
 of my conscience, and I'm afraid you'll 
 be angry with me — about something — 
 that is the one drawback ! I don't know 
 how to begin to tell you — best begin with 
 the worst. I've gone back to being 
 Madeline West once more; they don't 
 know that I am married."
 
 Mrs. Kane. 173 
 
 "Madeline!" lie ejaculated sternly. 
 " You are not in earnest." 
 
 "Now, dear, don't; don't speak till 
 you hear all. You know how I left, 
 how I travelled with the price of my 
 rings. I arrived, was shown up into Mrs. 
 Harper's own room — where, in old times, 
 girls were sent for to have bad news 
 broken to them. She has had a stroke. 
 Miss Selina is married, and Mr. Murphy 
 is gone. The school is going down. So 
 when Mrs. Harper had a letter from my 
 father, enclosing five hundred pounds 
 for two years' expenses, and one hundred 
 for me for pocket-money, it was a most; 
 welcome surprise, and they were anxious 
 to find me, of course" — pausing for a 
 second to take breath. "Don't inter-^ 
 rupt me, yet,'' she pleaded, with out- 
 stretched hands. " Mrs. Harper gave 
 me papa's letter to read. He had lost
 
 1 74 Married or Single ? 
 
 money, lie had been ill for a long time, 
 lie had no wish to write until he was 
 again a rich man. Now he is a million- 
 aire, and is coming home immediately, 
 expecting to find me still at the Harpers', 
 and still Miss West. I am to be a great 
 heiress, I am to keep his house ; and, 
 Laurence dear, he had heard a hint of 
 you, I know it was that detestable 
 gossip, Maggie Wilkinson. She had a 
 cousin in an office in Melbourne, and 
 used to write him volumes. And, oh, 
 he says dreadful things — I mean my 
 father — if I marry a poor man, as he 
 has such — such — views. That was the 
 word; and if I disappoint him, I am to 
 be turned from his door penniless, to 
 earn my own bread ! " 
 
 *^As you are doing now," observed 
 her listener bitterly. 
 
 ^'Yes!" with a gesture of despair;
 
 Mrs. Kane. 175 
 
 ^^biit what is it — for you and me and 
 baby — what are nine shiUings a week? 
 Then Mrs. Harper exclaimed, with great 
 relief, ^ I see you are not married ! ' 
 pointing to my hand; and it all came 
 into my mind like a flash. I did not 
 say I was not married, I uttered no actual 
 untruth ; but I allowed her to think 
 so. The temptation was too great ; there 
 was the wealth for the taking — money 
 that would bring you health. I said I 
 would steal for you, Laurence ; but it 
 was not stealing, it was, in a sense, my 
 own money, intended for my use. Are 
 you very angry with me for what I have 
 done, dear ? " she wound up rather 
 timidly. 
 
 *^No, Madeline. I see you could not 
 help yourself, poor child, with starvation 
 staring you in the face, and a sick 
 husband and infant to support! Your
 
 176 Married or Single? 
 
 father has views for you, has he? I 
 wonder how this view" — indicating him- 
 self and the cradle — ^' would strike him. 
 As far as I am concerned, it won't 
 be for long, and your father will forgive 
 you ; but the child Maddie — on his 
 
 account your marriage " 
 
 ^^ Laurence!" she almost screamed, 
 ^' don't! Do you think the child would 
 make up for you? Am I not doing all 
 this for you — acting a part, clothing 
 myself in deceit, for you — only for you ? 
 Do not tell me that it is all to go for 
 nothing ! If I thought that, I would 
 give it up at once. My sole object is 
 to gain time, and money, until you are 
 yourself once more, and able to earn our 
 living at your profession. Then, having 
 done all to smooth the way, I shall 
 confess my marriage to my father. If 
 he renounces me, I shall still have you^
 
 Mrs. Kane. 177 
 
 and yoii will have me. But, without this 
 money to go on with, to get the best 
 advice, plenty of nourishment, and change 
 of air, I don't know what I should do ? '* 
 And she surveyed him with a pair of 
 truly tragic eyes. ''It has come to me 
 like a reprieve to a condemned criminal. 
 Say, Laurence, that I have done right. 
 Oh, please, say it ! " putting out her 
 hands, with a pretty begging gesture. 
 
 '' No, dearest Maddie, I cannot say 
 that ; but I will say that, under the 
 circumstances, it was a great, an almost 
 irresistible temptation." 
 
 '* Then, at least, say you are not angry 
 with me." 
 
 '' I can say no to that from the bottom 
 of my heart. How can I be angry, when 
 I myself am the cause — when it has all 
 been done for me .^ The only thing is, 
 that there maybe difficulties later on," 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 178 Married or Single ? 
 
 looking into the future with his practical 
 lawyer's eye. ^^ There may be difficulties 
 ■and a desperate entanglement in store 
 for you, my pretty, reckless Maddie. You 
 know the lines — 
 
 " ' Oh, what a tangled web we weave, 
 When once we practise to deceive.' " 
 
 ^' At any rate, I shall make the best 
 of my web," said his wife, springing up. 
 ^^I am going to take Mr. Jessop into 
 my confidence." 
 
 *^Are you? Well, I suppose it will 
 be best." 
 
 ^^ Yes, of course it will; I am going to 
 write to him now. The very first doctor 
 in London is to come and see you ; and, 
 as soon as you can be moved, you go 
 into the country — that I insist upon." 
 
 *' I go into the country, do I ? " with 
 a grim smile. He was saying to himself, 
 as he looked at her eager anxious face,
 
 Mrs. Kane. 179 
 
 that the only country he would ever go 
 into now would be down to the old 
 burying-place of the Wynne family. At 
 least his relations could not refuse him 
 admission there, or close that door — the 
 door of the family vault — in his face. 
 
 And when he was at rest, under the 
 walls of the old grey church, Madeline, 
 as a widow, would be as much her father's 
 heiress and housekeeper as if she had 
 never been a wife. In fact, her days of 
 misfortune would enhance her domestic 
 worth, at least she had learnt the value 
 of money! As for himself, he was 
 reduced to such a low ebb, mentally and 
 physically, that death would be a release. 
 To return to life — with a capital L — and 
 to take up his heavy load, and plod on 
 and on like an omnibus horse, was not 
 ^n alluring prospect. Madeline's future 
 was safe, and he would rather be under
 
 i8o Married or Single? 
 
 the green sod, with all the dead and 
 gone Wynnes — when, after life's fitful 
 fever, they slept well. 
 
 It will be seen from this that Mr. 
 Wynne was in a bad way — too weak, too 
 hopeless, even to care to struggle back to 
 health. But Madeline had now sufficient 
 energy for two. Hope pervaded her 
 young veins, decision and prompt action 
 were its outcome, and money was power* 
 
 In the first place, she scribbled a hasty 
 note to Mr. Jessop, and begged him to 
 call on them that evening without fail. 
 This she despatched by a little boy, 
 paying a precious sixpence to save time. 
 Then she descended like a whirlwind 
 upon Mrs. Kane, and begged to see her 
 for a moment alone. She had made a 
 bold resolve — there was no alternative. 
 She was about to take Mrs. Kane — the 
 insolent, the red-faced, the incredulous —
 
 Mrs. Kane. i8i 
 
 into her confidence. She had Hobson's 
 choice, and, in fact, was at her wits' end. 
 Supposing inquiries were made, supposing 
 Mrs. Harper wrote and asked awkward 
 questions, and who so ready to answer 
 them — unless previously prepared, pre- 
 viously bribed, previously flattered, by 
 being let into the secret — as Mrs. Kane ? 
 
 ^^ Mrs. Kane," said Madeline, knocking 
 at that lady's door, the door of her own 
 sanctum, ^^ I have something to say to 
 you in private." 
 
 ** Bless me, Mrs. Wynne, how white 
 your face is! " exclaimed the other tartly, 
 having been just about to sit down 
 to her supper — tripe and bottled stout. 
 ^^ Whatever is the matter now? Not 
 the bailiffs — that I do hope." 
 
 '^No, no, no; quite the contrary." 
 Then, struck by a happy thought, ^^ How 
 much do we owe you, Mrs. Kane ? "
 
 1 82 Married or Single? 
 
 '^Ah, owe me!" rather staggered. 
 *^ Let's see, thirteen weeks, at ten 
 shillings, is six pounds ten; then the 
 
 coal Here," making a raid on a 
 
 rickety writing-table, '^ I have it all 
 down," searching among some papers. 
 ^* Yes, here it is. Coal, one pound one, 
 kindling wood, matches, postage on a 
 parcel — total, eight pounds, thirteen and 
 sevenpence-halfpenny. Are you going 
 to settle it ? " she asked briskly. 
 
 " Yes, I am," re]3lied Madeline, noTV 
 drawing out her full, her overflowing 
 purse. What courage, what confidence 
 were conferred by the very feel of its 
 contents ! Mrs. Kane gazed at it with 
 eyes as distended as those of a bull frog, 
 and with her mouth half- open. ^* A 
 ten-pound note, Mrs. Kane." And Mrs. 
 Wynne tendered one as she spoke. 
 ^^So I see," in a milder key. ^^'11
 
 Mrs. Kane. 183 
 
 get you change, and, though I says it as 
 shouldn't, it's not everybody, you know 
 yourself, who would have " 
 
 *' Yes, quite true, I know all that 
 already, thank you, Mrs. Kane. Never 
 mind the change just now, it can go 
 towards the milk bill. What I wanted 
 to speak to you about is to tell you a 
 family secret — which concerns me." 
 
 *'A family secret! Laws, Mrs. 
 Wynne ! " suddenly seating herself with 
 a plunge, and looking at her lodger with 
 a countenance of gratified anticipation, 
 ^^ whatever can it be ? " 
 
 ** Promise, on your solemn word of 
 honour, not to tell any one." 
 
 ^^ Oh, I'm as safe as a church ; no one 
 will get anything out of me " — mentally 
 resolving to tell her niece and husband 
 without any churlish delay — '^ unless it's 
 something not on the square."
 
 184 Married or Single? 
 
 ^^ It is quite on the square ; you need 
 not fear. Once I was a Miss West." 
 
 ^^ So you told me," nodding her head. 
 
 '^ I was at school near Eiverside for 
 a good many years. My father is an 
 Australian merchant — very rich." 
 
 ^^ Oh, indeed ! " in a comfortable tone. 
 
 ^^ But for two years he had not been 
 heard of, we thought that he was dead, 
 and I became a teacher at school. Mr. 
 Wynne saw me there, and paid me atten- 
 tion, which displeased Mrs. Harper very 
 much. I was sent away, and we were 
 married. We have been here ever 
 since." 
 
 ^^ So you have," agreed Mrs. Kane, as 
 much as to say, ^' And it's highly to your 
 credit ! " 
 
 *^ Well, now my father has written at 
 last; he is coming home, immensely rich. 
 He has not heard of my marriage."
 
 Mrs. Kane. 185 
 
 '^Laws, you don't say so ! " in a tone 
 of admiration and astonishment. 
 
 ^^No one has heard of it, you see. I 
 had no friends. And if my father knew 
 that I had married a poor man, he would 
 he dreadfully angry — at least at first. I 
 went down to Mrs. Harper's ; she showed 
 me his letter. She thinks I am not 
 married, for," holding up her hare left 
 hand, '^I pawned my rings to pay my 
 railway fare." 
 
 '' Oh, my goodness ! Did you really, 
 now ? " 
 
 ^' And she took it for granted that I 
 was still Miss West. I confessed nothing. 
 I told her I had lived here for fourteen 
 months, that I worked at law stationery, 
 and was very poor, and she was apparently 
 satisfied; but, all the same, I firmly 
 believe she will write and ask you all 
 about me. Neither she nor my father
 
 1 8 6 Married or Single ? 
 
 must know of my marriage — yet. And 
 now, are you quite prepared ? I am Miss 
 West, you know, who has lived with you 
 since last January year. You under- 
 stand, Mrs. Kane ? " 
 
 ^' Oh yes!" with an expressive wink. 
 ^^ A nice, quiet, respectable young lady — - 
 never going nowhere, keeping no com- 
 pany, and I only wishes I had a dozen 
 like her. I'll give it her all pat, you be 
 quite certain," said her landlady, rubbing 
 her bare fat arms with the liveliest 
 delight at her own role in the piece. 
 *' But how about Mr. Wynne and the 
 baby? " she asked slyly. 
 
 ^' You need not mention them. It will 
 be all right later on, when I see my 
 father and prepare him, you know. But 
 now I am obliged to keep him in the 
 dark. Mrs. Harper would not have given 
 me my money, had she known. It's
 
 Mrs. Kane. 187 
 
 only for a short time that I am forced ta 
 resume my old name, and I assure you, 
 Mrs. Kane, that it's not very pleasant." 
 
 ^^Ay, well now, I think it's rather a 
 joke — something like a play at the 
 Adelphi, where in the end the father 
 comes in and blesses the young couple, 
 and they all live together, happy as sand- 
 boys, ever after. That will be your case, 
 you'll see ! " emphatically. 
 
 '^ I hope so, but I doubt it," returned 
 her lodger. ^^ I will be content if my 
 husband recovers his health. Money is 
 nothing in comparison to health." 
 
 *^Ay, may be so; but money is a 
 great comfort all the same," said Mrs. 
 Kane, squeezing the note affectionately 
 in her hand, and wondering how many 
 more of the same quality were in Mrs. 
 Wynne's purse — *' a great comfort ! " 
 
 ^^Well then, now you know all, Mrs.
 
 1 88 Married or Single? 
 
 Kane," said the other, rising, '^I can 
 depend on you ? Yon will be our friend 
 in this matter, and, believe me, you will 
 foe no loser." 
 
 '^Certainly you can't say fairer nor that, 
 -can you, ma'am ? — though, as far as I'm 
 <3oncerned, I'm always delighted to oblige 
 a lady for nothing, and I always fancied 
 you from the first time I saw you in the 
 hall, and you knocked over that pot of 
 musk, and so Maria will tell you. As for 
 the secret, wild horses would not tear it 
 from me ; and I'm that interested in you, 
 as I couldn't express to you, and alius 
 was — you ask Maria — ^just as if you was 
 my own daughter. I can't say fairer 
 nor that, can I? " 
 
 And opening the door with a wide 
 flourish, she waved Madeline through, 
 who, rather staggered by this unexpected 
 compliment, passed quickly into the
 
 Mrs. Kane. 189 
 
 lobby, and with a farewell nod, hurried 
 back to her family in the upper regions, 
 and set about preparing tea. She also 
 made preparations for the expected visit 
 of their chief ^ counsellor, Mr. Henry^ 
 Jessop.
 
 I go Married or Single? 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 CHANGE OF AIR AND SCENE. 
 
 Me. Jessop duly arrived, and found, to 
 his amazement, that his fish and fruit 
 had been forestalled; and there were 
 other and yet greater surprises in store 
 for him. 
 
 He listened to Madeline's plainly told 
 tale, with his glass rigidly screwed into 
 his eye, his mouth pinched up as if he 
 had an unusually intricate '^ case " under 
 his consideration. 
 
 He never once interrupted her, until 
 she brought her recital to an end, and 
 she, in the heat and haste of her narrative,
 
 change of Air and Scene. 191 
 
 had permitted him to know more of their 
 poverty than he had dreamt of. 
 
 The Wynnes were as proud as they 
 were poor ; the extremity of their straits 
 was kept for their own exchisive ex- 
 perience. Mr. Jessop gave an involuntary 
 little gasp as he listened to the revelation 
 about the pawnbroker, the history of the 
 miniature, and medals, and rings. 
 
 '^ By the way, I am going to redeem 
 them the first thing to-morrow!" said 
 Madeline hurriedly. 
 
 ^*No, no, no, my dear Mrs. Wynne; 
 such places for you are simply out of 
 the question. I will go," protested Mr. 
 Jessop, who had never been inside such 
 an institution in his life. 
 
 *' No, certainly not ; they know me quite 
 well at Cohen's, and you are a stranger. 
 I don't mind one bit, as it will be for the 
 last time ; and why should it be more out
 
 ig2 Married or Single? 
 
 of tlie question noto, than yesterday ? 
 Does money make such a difference in a 
 few hours ? " (Money sometimes makes 
 a difference in a few minutes.) 
 
 ^ « ^ ^ « 
 
 On the whole, Mr. Jessop approved. 
 The scheme was rash, romantic, risky; 
 but it was the only plan he could see for 
 the present. 
 
 Mrs. Wynne must take her father in 
 hand, and talk him over. ^^ He did not 
 think she would have much trouble," he 
 added consolingly, as he looked at her 
 pretty, animated face ; and he told himself 
 that the old fellow must have indeed a 
 rocky heart if he could resist that. And 
 now for business, for action, for a council 
 of war. 
 
 In a quarter of an hour it was all 
 settled, so unanimous were Madeline 
 and Mr. Jessop.
 
 Change of Air and Scene. 193 
 
 A great doctor, whose speciality was 
 low fever, was to be summoned the next 
 morning. If he consented, Mr. Jessop 
 was to come in the afternoon with a very, 
 very easy brougham, and take the invalid 
 at once to Waterloo station, and by rail 
 and carriage to a farm house that he knew 
 of, about fifty miles from London, where 
 there was pure air, pure milk, and every 
 incentive to health. The baby and Made- 
 line were to follow the next day, after 
 everything had been packed up and stored 
 with Mrs. Kane, who was now amenable 
 to anything, and amiable to imbecility. 
 
 The prescribed journey did take place 
 by luxurious and easy stages, and actually 
 the next night Mr. Wynne passed under 
 the red- tiled roof of the farm in Hampshire. 
 He was worn out by fatigue, and slept 
 well — slept till the crowing of the cocks 
 and the lowing of the cows had announced, 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 1 94 Married or Single ? 
 
 long previously, that the day was com- 
 menced for them. He sat in a lattice- 
 paned sitting-room, looking into a sunny 
 old-fashioned garden (filled in summer 
 with hollyhocks, sunflowers, roses, and 
 lavender, and many sweet-scented flowers 
 well beloved of bees), and felt better 
 already, and made an excellent early 
 dinner, although his portly hostess 
 declared, as she carried the dishes into 
 the kitchen, ^^ that the poor sick gentle- 
 man — and ay, deary me, he do look bad — 
 had no more appetite than a canary ! *' 
 
 The sick gentleman's wife and baby 
 appeared on the scene in the course of 
 the afternoon, ^^ a rare tall, pretty young 
 lady she were," quoth the farm folk. A 
 country girl took charge of the infant, 
 who, as long as he had plenty of milk in 
 his bottle, and that bottle in his clutch, 
 was fairly peaceable and contented with
 
 Change of Air and Scene. 195 
 
 things in general; and was much taken 
 with Mrs. Holt's cap frills, with her bright 
 tin dishes on the kitchen shelves, and with 
 various other new and strange objects. 
 
 Madeline was thankful to get into the 
 peaceful country, with its placid green 
 fields and budding hedges ; to live in 
 Farmer Holt's old red-roofed house, with 
 the clipped yew trees in the sunny 
 garden, and the big pool at the foot of 
 it overshadowed by elder trees. Thank- 
 ful to enjoy this haven of rest, away from 
 murky London, with its roar of hurrying 
 existence and deafening street traffic that 
 never seemed to cease, night or day, in 
 the neighbourhood of Solferino Place. 
 
 Here the lusty crowing of rival cocks, 
 the lowing of cows, the noise of the 
 churn were the only sounds that broke a 
 silence that was as impressive as it was 
 refreshing. All things have an end.
 
 196 Married or Single? 
 
 Madeline's three weeks' leave soon came 
 to a conclusion; and she most reluct- 
 antly tore herself away from the farm, 
 the evening before she was due at 
 Harperton. How happy she was here t 
 Why must she go ? " 
 
 Laurence was better, a great deal 
 better. He walked in the garden, leaning 
 on her arm at first, then in the lanes with 
 no support but his stick. He was more 
 hopeful, more like his former self — he 
 was actually engaged in tying flies for 
 Farmer Holt, as Madeline watched him 
 wistfully, with her chin on her hand. 
 She loved the farm itself — the farmer's 
 wife (kind Mrs. Holt, with a heart to 
 match her ample person). The sweet 
 little chickens, and ducks, and calves, 
 and foals, were all delightful to Madeline, 
 who, active as ever, had helped to feed 
 the former, learned to make butter, to
 
 Change of Air and Scene. 197 
 
 make griddle-cakes, to milk, and was on 
 foot from six in the morning until nine 
 o'clock at night, and had recovered the 
 look of youth and well-being which had 
 so long been taissing from her appearance. 
 
 The farmer himself was to drive her to 
 the station in his dog-cart, and she and 
 Laurence strolled down the lane together 
 to say a few last words ere they parted — 
 for how long ? 
 
 Laurence was hopeful now, and 
 Madeline was tearfully despondent. He 
 was recovering, and felt more self- 
 reUance every day. He would soon, 
 please God, be back at work. 
 
 ^^ I don't know what has come over 
 me, Laurence," said his wife, as they 
 came to the gate and a full stop. '^ I feel 
 so low, so depressed, something tells me 
 that I shall not see you again for ages,'' 
 her eyes filling with tears. ** And I feel
 
 198 Married or Single? 
 
 so nervous about meeting papa," and her 
 lips quivered as she spoke. 
 
 ^^ Nonsense, Maddie ! you must never 
 meet trouble half way. Your father 
 cannot but be pleased with you, and 
 w^hen you tell him about me " 
 
 *^ Oh, but I won't, I dare not at first," 
 she interrupted hastily. '^ It all comes 
 back to me now. The days in that big 
 house in Toorak, and how I used to be 
 afraid when I heard his voice in the 
 entrance-hall — his voice when he was 
 angry. I used to run away and hide 
 under a bed f" 
 
 *^ Nevertheless you must tell him, all 
 the same ; you are not a child now. And 
 when you point out to him that his silence- 
 for two years and a half left you to a 
 certain extent your own mistress, and 
 that your unlucky marriage was the 
 result of the reins being thrown on your 
 neck "
 
 Change of Air and Scene. 199 
 
 *^Now, Laurence!" putting lier hand 
 on his arm, ^^ you know I won't listen 
 to that; and if the worst comes to the 
 worst, I can run away again! " 
 
 ^^ So you can; and I think in another 
 fortnight I shall be fit for — for harness. 
 Jessop says " 
 
 '^ If Mr. Jessop say anything so wicked, 
 he and I will quarrel!" exclaimed 
 Madeline indignantly. ^' You are not to 
 do anything for three months ; there is 
 plenty of money left yet." 
 
 ^^Yes; but, Maddie," producing some 
 notes, *^ you know you can't appear before 
 your father like that," pointing to her 
 dress. ''You will need a couple of 
 decent gowns ; and I don't think much 
 of that hat. You must take forty 
 pounds, without any nonsense, you know." 
 
 ''No, I won't," pushing it away im- 
 patiently. " I don't require it."
 
 2 00 Married or Single? 
 
 ^'But yoii do, and must take it, and 
 do as I desire you — goodness knows it's 
 little enougli ! Promise me to spend 
 every farthing on yourself. You ought 
 to be respectably dressed when you meet 
 your father. Where is your common 
 sense ? And naturally he will ask — 
 Where is the hundred pounds he gave 
 you for new frocks ? Eemember, Maddie, 
 if he is very angry, you can always come 
 back to me" — kissing her. ^^And now 
 that I am not so down on my luck, I feel 
 anxious to work for you, and the sooner 
 the better; and the sooner you return 
 the better. Here is Holt," as the farmer, 
 driving a slashing long-tailed colt, came 
 quickly round the corner into view. 
 *^ He is driving that crazy four-year-old ! 
 I hope he will take care of you. Mind 
 you leave her there safely, farmer," as 
 his nimble wife climbed up into the lofty
 
 change of Air and Scene. 201 
 
 dog-cart. *^ Good-bye, Maddie ; be sure 
 you write to-morrow." Stepping aside 
 as they dashed through the gate, car- 
 ried forward by the impatient chest- 
 nut. 
 
 Madeline looked back, and waved her 
 handkerchief. Yes, he was still standing 
 gazing after them, even when they had 
 gone quite a distance ; finally she applied 
 the handkerchief to her eyes. 
 
 "Now, don't take on so, ma'am," 
 murmured the farmer, his eyes fixed on 
 the colt's quivering ears. "We'll take 
 good care of him ! He is a real nice 
 young gentleman ; and as to baby, I 
 don't see how the missus will ever part 
 with him. You cheer up ! Ain't you 
 a-going to meet your father ? " 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Holt," she faltered; "but 
 I may as well tell you that he has not 
 seen me for more than twelve years. He
 
 202 Married or Single? 
 
 — I — we thought he was dead. He does- 
 not know that I am married ! " 
 
 ** Oh, great gooseberries!" ejaculated 
 her listener emphatically. ^^What a 
 taking he'll be in ! " 
 
 ^' No, and he is not to know just yet. 
 I am Miss West, not Mrs. "Wynne, until 
 I have paved the way. I've told your 
 wife all about it ; she knows." 
 
 " I don't see what your father can have 
 to say agin Mr. Wynne?" said Holt 
 stoutly. ^'He is a gentleman. The 
 king himself is no more." 
 
 ^^ Ah, yes ; but he has no money," 
 sighed Madeline. 
 
 ^' Maybe he has brains; and them does 
 just as well. Don't let your father come 
 between you — you know the Bible says^ 
 ' As ' " 
 
 '* Mr. Holt!" she exclaimed, flushing 
 indignantly, ^^ do you think I would
 
 change of Air and Scene. 203 
 
 ever desert Lanrence ? No, not for fifty 
 fathers. No, not if my father came all 
 the way from London on his knees, 
 would I ever give up Laurence and baby, 
 or forget them for one single hour ! " 
 
 " Nay, I'm sure you wouldn't, excuse 
 me, ma'am. But, you see, your father's 
 very rich, and you are just wonderful 
 pretty, and when the old gent — meaning 
 no offence — has you living in a kind of 
 palace, with servants, and carriages and 
 'osses, and tricked out in dress and 
 jewels, and every one pushing and jostling 
 one another to tell you what a grand 
 and beautiful lady you be — why, maybe, 
 then you won't be so keen for coming 
 back ; you know it would be only human 
 nature — at least," coolly correcting him- 
 self — '' woman's natur." 
 
 '' Well, Mr. Holt," she returned 
 rather stiffly, ^'time will tell. I cannot
 
 204 Married or Single ? 
 
 say more than that," uuinfcentionally 
 quoting from Mrs. Kane. ''I know my- 
 self that I shall come back, and soon. Ee- 
 member," stopping when she had jumped 
 down, and holding his bony hand tightly 
 in both of hers, ^^ remember," she re- 
 peated, looking up into his honest rugged 
 face, with dim and wistful eyes, ^^I leave 
 them in your charge. Don't let Laurence 
 overtire himself — don't let him walk too 
 far. Don't let the baby have a halfpenny 
 to play with again — or the toasting-fork. 
 And, oh, I must go ! Eemember, above 
 all, that I shall soon return." 
 
 Exit Miss West, running to take her 
 ticket and claim her luggage ; and 
 Farmer Holt, fearing the effect of the 
 train, for the first time, on his rampant 
 colt, prudently turned his head back 
 towards the cool green lanes without 
 any dangerous delay.
 
 ( ^o5 ) 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 *^SHE WILL DO ! '* 
 
 Madeline, having arrived in London, 
 drove direct to No. 2, and spent one 
 more night under Mrs. Kane's roof, 
 where she was received with open arms, 
 and proudly shown a letter marked, 
 ^^ Private and confidential," and signed 
 by the neat and respectable signature of 
 '^Letitia Harper." 
 
 ''/ answered her! Ay, my word, 
 that I did ! " cried Mrs. Kane triumph- 
 antly. " She'll not come poking her 
 nose after you again. I knew Miss West 
 for a long time, I said, and nothing to
 
 2o6 Married or Single? 
 
 her discredit. She was a most excellent, 
 reliable young lady — who kept herself to 
 herself: and should I mention as Miss 
 Harper had kindly referred to me ? 
 That wor a poser, I can tell you ! Back 
 came a letter telhng me on no account to 
 say a word to Miss West, and enclosing 
 a postal order for ten shillings for my 
 trouble ! That was a rare joke ! the 
 trouble was a pleasure. And how is 
 Mr. Wynne ? and how is the dear baby ? " 
 continued Mrs. Kane, whose speech and 
 affection were alike at high tide. 
 
 It was evident to Madeline herself 
 "that she must get some new clothes. 
 She was not even wearing out the 
 remains of her trousseau — never having 
 had one. What would her father say to 
 her faded cotton, and still more shabby 
 serge ? Even the eleven- and-ninepenny 
 hat was no^ passe. Knowing, as he did,
 
 '^She will do!" 207 
 
 too, that she had the means to dress 
 differently! She must spend money on 
 her wardrobe without delay. Accord- 
 ingly, after breakfast, she sallied forth, 
 and went to a first-class establishment 
 where a great sale was in its first frenzy. 
 Here, among a mob of well-dressed ladies, 
 she struggled for standing room, and 
 waited for attendance, and saw dress after 
 dress on which she had set her heart 
 snatched away and sold. After patient 
 endurance of heat, tempers, rudeness, 
 and unblushing selfishness, she secured 
 the attention of a harassed girl, who per- 
 haps feeling that she was even such an 
 one as herself, assisted her to choose a 
 neat covert coating, a tailor-made coat and 
 skirt — a model costume of cre^pon^ with 
 immense sleeves and a profusion of jet and 
 black satin trimmings, also a black gauze 
 evening gown — a once- exquisite garment,
 
 2o8 Married or Single? 
 
 but now shockingly tumbled by ruthless 
 hands, though it was a ^^ Paris pattern." 
 
 These, with a smart silk blouse, a 
 picture-hat, a cape, shoes, handkerchiefs, 
 veils, and gloves, swallowed up twenty- 
 five pounds. Then she returned with 
 her parcels in a hansom, displayed the 
 contents (by request) to Mrs. Kane, and 
 spent her evening in altering the bodices 
 and packing her trunk : it was not very 
 full. It did not need any one to come 
 and sit on the top and press the lock 
 together. Next morning she was en 
 route to Eiverside, and that same 
 evening in Mrs. Harper's arms ! 
 
 Mrs. Harper and her daughter were 
 delighted to see her. The house was 
 empty; the girls had gone home for 
 the Easter holidays, and they would be 
 very cosy and comfortable. They asked 
 many veiled and clever questions anent
 
 ^^She will do!" 209 
 
 her money. What had she done with 
 it? Surely she had not spent it all? 
 How much was the tailor-made ? How 
 much was the black ? But she gave 
 them no satisfactory answer. That was 
 her affair, and not in the bond ! 
 
 Days passed, and yet no sign of Mr. 
 West, and Mrs. Harper was becoming 
 a little impatient and irritable. Could 
 he mean to disappear for a second time ? 
 What was she to think ? 
 
 Meanwhile Madeline wrote to the 
 farm daily, posting the letters herself. 
 Here is one of them as a specimen : — 
 
 " My dear Laurence, 
 
 ^'No news yet. So glad to get 
 your letters. I call for them every day. 
 It looks funny to see nothing but W. on 
 the envelope, but it would never do to 
 put West, much less Wynne. It makes 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 2IO Married or Single? 
 
 me very happy to hear that yoii and bcaby 
 are getting on so well and are making the 
 best of this lovely weather. How I wish 
 I was back with you — ten — fifty times 
 a day — strolling about the lanes and 
 fields among the lambs and primroses, 
 instead of being cooped up here, in this 
 hot, dusty suburb. You must not do 
 too much ! How dare you walk to the 
 top of Brownwood Hill ! It is just four 
 times too far. How could the Holts 
 allow you to be so foolish ? But I'm 
 afraid you don't mind tliem. You ask 
 what / am doing ? I am trying l;ard to 
 make believe that I am Madeline West 
 once more. Don't be shocked, my dear 
 Laurence, but at times I succeed admir- 
 ably, especially when I sit down to an 
 hour's practising on the schoolroom 
 piano. I am getting up my music and 
 singing again, and working very hard,
 
 "She will do!" 211 
 
 -SO that my father won't be disaj)pointed 
 as far as my voice is concerned. I have 
 looked over the new books that the 
 girls had last half in the first class — 
 horrible essays and lectures and scientific 
 articles — about the glacial periods, and 
 shooting stars, such as I abhor, and you 
 love ; but I know that I ought to read 
 up, for I am a shameful ignoramus. I, 
 however, enjoy rubbing up my French, 
 and have devoured several most delicious 
 books by Gyp. Miss Harper lent them 
 to me. She said, now that I had left 
 school, I might read them. I asked her 
 — just to see how she would look — if she 
 had any of Emile Zola's. I had heard 
 so much of them. She nearly fainted, 
 and said, ^ My dear, you must never even 
 mention that man's 7iame ! ' I have 
 learnt to dress my hair in the new style. 
 I've gone shopping with Miss Harper,
 
 212 Married or Single ? 
 
 Altogether I've been very busy, and 
 when I sit in my old place at meal- 
 times, and stare at the familiar wall- 
 paper, and familiar cups and saucers^ 
 and when I listen to the Harpers' well- 
 known little sayings and turns of speech, 
 when I look out of the windows, or sit 
 alone in the schoolroom, as I used 
 formerly to do in holiday times, I 
 honestly declare that I feel as if all 
 about you was a dream, and that I 
 cannot bring myself to realize that I 
 have ever left school at all. You see 
 I am naturally a very adaptable creature ; 
 I drop into a groove at once, and accom- 
 modate myself to circumstances. For 
 instance, Mr. Holt said I was born to 
 be a farmer's wife ! I have lived here for 
 so many, many years that I fall straight 
 back into my old place. Then I rouse 
 up and go off to the post-office, when
 
 ^^She will do!" 213 
 
 the second post is due, and receive one 
 of your welcome letters ; and I know that 
 I am not dreaming, but that I am actually 
 married. Oh, Laurence, I sometimes look 
 at the Harpers and say to myself — 
 If they knew ! I wish that this waiting 
 was over ! I wish my father would come ! 
 This delay makes me so nervous and so 
 jumpy. It's like sitting in a dentist's 
 drawing-room ! I sincerely hope that an- 
 ticipation will prove to be the worst part 
 of the business. Miss Harper is coming. 
 I hear her heavy step ! No — I breathe 
 again. Only fancy, she asked me yester- 
 day, with one of her old sharp looks, 
 ivJiom I was always writing to ? and I was 
 fortunate to have so many friends — such 
 wonderful correspondents ! With a kind 
 of sneer, then, she said, * I'm going out, 
 and I may as well post your letter,' but 
 I need not tell you that I declined her
 
 214 Married or Single? 
 
 amiable offer, and posted it myself. Yoi^ 
 say that baby screams at night, and 
 must be consigned to an outhouse, if 
 he continues to make night hideous. 
 How inhuman of you, Laurence, to write- 
 such horrid things, even in joke ! Do- 
 you think he could possibly be missing 
 me^ or is this a foolish idea with respect 
 to an infant of five months old? Ask 
 Mrs. Holt to feel his gums. Perhaps it 
 is a tooth? And now good-bye, with 
 many kisses to him, and kind remem- 
 brances to the Holts. 
 
 '^ I am, your loving wife, 
 
 '' M. ^Yr 
 
 Very shortly after this letter was 
 despatched Mrs. Harper received a tele- 
 gram from the agents to say that the 
 OpMr was expected at Plymouth the 
 next afternoon.
 
 ^^She will do!" 215 
 
 What a fuss ensued, what rushing 
 and running and packing, and caUing 
 for twine and kiggage labels, and leather 
 straps and sandwiches on the part of 
 an excited spinster, who was enchanted 
 at the prospect of a jaunt down to 
 Devonshire — all expenses paid. Once 
 fairly off, and away from her own familiar 
 beat, she was little better than a child. 
 It was not Miss Harper who looked 
 after Madeline, but Madeline who took 
 care of her. At every big station she 
 was seized with a panic, and called out, 
 *' Porter, where are we now ? How long- 
 do we stop ? Do we change ? Is the 
 luggage all right?" Her fussy flight 
 to the refreshment-rooms, and frantic 
 dashes back to the carriage — usually the 
 wrong one — was amusing to her fellow- 
 travellers, but not to Madeline ; and, 
 besides this, her shrill and constant chatter
 
 2 1 6 Married or Single ? 
 
 about ^^your father," ^' I do hope the 
 Ophir won't be late," ^^ she is a splendid 
 steamer, 10,000-horse power," ^'and I hope 
 they have had a good passage," made 
 her former pupil feel a keen desire 
 to say something cross, knowing that 
 Miss Harper imagined that she was 
 impressing the other inmates of the 
 carriage, but in reality was making her- 
 self supremely ridiculous. 
 
 Madeline was thankful when they were 
 safely housed (luggage and all) in the 
 best hotel in Plymouth. Miss Harper 
 had only forgotten her umbrella in the 
 train, and lost a considerable share of her 
 temper in consequence, but a good dinner 
 and a good night's rest made this all 
 right, and she wore a smiling face as she 
 and her charge and many other people 
 went down the next morning to board 
 the newly- arrived Orient Liner Opliir,
 
 "She will do!" 217 
 
 To a stranger it was a most bewilder- 
 ing scene, and Miss Harper and Madeline 
 stared about them helplessly; but of 
 course the new arrivals were readily 
 singled out by the passengers, and Mr. 
 West had no hesitation whatever in 
 promptly selecting the prettiest girl who 
 had come up the side as his own 
 daughter. 
 
 It would have been a severe blow to 
 his penetration and self-esteem had he 
 been wrong, but it so happened that he 
 was right. 
 
 And now, before introducing him to 
 Madeline, let us pause and take a little 
 sketch of Kobert West, millionaire, who 
 had made considerable capital out of 
 the fact, and taken the lead socially 
 during the recent voyage, from whist and 
 deck-quoits to the usual complimentary 
 letter to the captain. He is a man of
 
 2 1 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 fifty-five, or a little more, short, spare^ 
 clapper, with a thin face, hair between fair 
 and grey, quick bright hazel eyes, a care- 
 fully trimmed short beard, and waxed 
 moustache. There are a good many deep 
 wrinkles about his eyes, and when he 
 raises his cap he no longer looks (as he 
 does otherwise, and at a short distance) 
 a man of five and thirty, but his full 
 age, for w^e perceive that his head is as 
 bald as a billiard ball. (N.B. — His 
 photographs are invariably taken in his 
 hat.) He is dressed in the most approved 
 manner, and by the best tailor in Mel- 
 bourne ; a fat little nugget hangs from 
 his watch-chain ; a perennial smile adorns 
 his face, although he has a singularly 
 hard and suspicious eye. His history 
 and antecedents may be summed up in 
 a few sentences : His father, an Eng- 
 lish yeoman of a respectable old stock;.
 
 ^^She will do!" 219 
 
 committed forgery, and was transported to 
 Port Philip in 1823 ; lie got a ticket-of- 
 leave, acquired land, squatted, married in 
 Port Philip, now Victoria. His success 
 was fitful, owing to drought, scab, and 
 the many other evils to which an Aus- 
 tralian settler is heir. However, he gave- 
 his son a fairly good education in Eng- 
 land. He desired him to make a figure 
 as a gentleman. To this end he pinched 
 and struggled and scraped, and finally sent 
 Eobert down to Melbourne with a certain 
 sum of money, and a stern determination 
 to grapple with and conquer fortune. 
 Privately Eobert despised his horny- 
 handed old father, the ex-convict. He 
 hated a squatter's life — loathed dingoes, 
 dampers, buck-jumpers, and wool, and he- 
 soon fell into a comfortable berth in a 
 land - agent's office, and being steady,, 
 capable, hard-headed (and hard-hearted),.
 
 2 20 Married or Single? 
 
 prospered rapidly; in his young days 
 eyerything in Melbourne was of Tropical 
 growth. 
 
 He married a veritable hot-honse 
 flower — his employer's only daughter — a 
 pretty, indolent, excitable, extravagant 
 creature, with French blood in her veins, 
 who carried him up a dozen rungs of the 
 social ladder, and brought him a fortune. 
 Her house — in Toorak — her splendid 
 dresses, entertainments, and equipages 
 were the talk and envy of her neigh- 
 bours and sex; she was in with the 
 Govermnent House set, and she lived 
 in an incessant roimd of gaiety, a truly 
 brilliant butterfly. 
 
 After six years of married life, she died 
 of consumption ; and her widower was 
 not inconsolable. He kept on the big 
 house, he frequented his club, he heaped 
 up riches, he gambled with selections
 
 "She will do!" 221 
 
 as others do with cards ; he was not 
 behind -hand in the great land boom 
 which led to that saturnalia of wild 
 speculation which demoralized the entire 
 community. Suburban lands were forced 
 up to enormous prices — a thousand times 
 their value ; people bought properties in 
 the morning and sold them in the after- 
 noon at an advance of thousands of 
 pounds. New suburbs, new banks, new 
 tenements sprang up like mushrooms,, 
 under the influence of adventurous build- 
 ing societies, and every one was making 
 an enormous fortune — on paper. 
 
 When the gigantic bubble burst, the 
 consequences were terrible, involving the 
 ruin of thousands. Eobert West had 
 seen that the crash must come, but be- 
 lieved that he would escape. He tempted 
 fortune too rashly. Just a few more 
 thousands, and he would sell out ; but
 
 222 Married or Single ? 
 
 liis greed was his bane. He had not 
 time to stand from under when the 
 whole card house toppled over and his 
 fortunes fell. 
 
 He was left almost penniless : the 
 banks had collapsed, land and estate was 
 unsaleable. He was at his wits' end. He 
 ■seriously contemplated suicide, but after 
 all decided to see the thing out — that is, 
 his own life. He went to Sydney; he 
 kept his head above water ; he looked 
 :about keenly for a plank of security, and 
 providence — luck — threw him one. Land 
 he had taken with grumbling reluctance 
 as part payment of an ancient debt — 
 land he had never been within five 
 hundred miles of — proved to be a portion 
 of the celebrated Waikatoo gold mines. 
 He was figuratively and literally on the 
 spot at once ; his old trade stood to him. 
 He traded, and sold, and realized, keeping
 
 "She will do!" 223 
 
 a certain number of shares, and then 
 turned his back on greater Britain for 
 ever, intending to enjoy life, and to end 
 his days in Britain the less. Money was 
 his dear and respected friend ; he loved it 
 with every fibre of his little shrivelled 
 heart. Ambition was his ruling passion, 
 and rank his idol. To rank he would 
 abase himself, and grovel in the gutter ; 
 to rank he intends to be allied before he 
 is much older — if not in his own proper 
 person, he will at least be the father-in- 
 law of a peer. Money for the attain- 
 ment of this honour was no object ; and 
 as his sharp, eager eyes fell on the pretty 
 frightened face that was looking diffi- 
 dently round the many groups standing 
 on the deck of the steamer, he told him- 
 self, with a thrill of ecstasy, ^^That if 
 that girl in the black hat is Madeline — 
 by Jove ! she will do ! "
 
 2 24 Married or Single? 
 
 CHAPTEK XIII. 
 
 ME. west's wishes 
 
 Standing close to Mr. West — or, rather, 
 Mr. West had attached himself to him 
 — was his favourite fellow-traveller, a 
 young and somewhat impecunious noble- 
 man — Lord Anthony Foster — the son of 
 a duke, whose pedigree was much longer 
 than his purse, and one of a large family. 
 Most of this family were already estab- 
 lished in life, and had repaired their 
 shattered fortunes by a prudent and 
 wealthy marriage ; but Lord Tony, as he 
 was called, preferred his liberty. He was 
 fond of sport and travelling, and was
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 225 
 
 postponing the evil day (as lie considered 
 it) which, alas ! must sooner or later 
 overtake him, for his private fortune was 
 small. His elder brother, the present 
 duke, was close-fisted, and his personal 
 expenses, do as he would, invariably ex- 
 ceeded his expectations — it is a little 
 way they have with many people — and 
 although he had no extravagant tastes 
 (so he declared), yet he was liberal, and 
 liked to *^do things comfortably." In 
 his appearance no one would suspect that 
 the blood of a hundred earls ran in his 
 veins ; in fact (low be it whispered), he 
 was a rather common-looking young man 
 — short, square, with a turned-up nose, 
 wide nostrils, a wide mouth, and a faint 
 light moustache ; his complexion was 
 tanned to mahogany, but a pair of 
 merry blue eyes, and an open, good- 
 humoured countenance made up for 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 2 2 6 Married or Single ? 
 
 many deficiencies. He was not a ladies* 
 man, but popular with men ; not at all 
 clever, but ever ready to laugh at other 
 folk's good things, and his own mistakes 
 — shrewd enough, too ; a capital shot, an 
 untiring angler, an enterprising traveller, 
 and, according to his own account, an 
 unparalleled sleeper. He had no pro- 
 fession, no ties, no landed estates to look 
 after — the world was his landed estate — 
 and he was now returning from a long 
 tour of inspection in Japan and Australia. 
 Lord Tony had met Mr. West in 
 Sydney society, and Mr. West had taken 
 an immense fancy to him, and had 
 privately arranged the date of his own 
 departure so as to secure the young lord 
 as a fellow-passenger. He had also shared 
 his cabin. In this unaffected young man, 
 with a pleasant, hearty manner, and a 
 large connection in the peerage, he saw
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 227 
 
 a link to upper circles, and a ready ladder 
 for his nimble and ambitious foot. 
 
 Mr. West was determined to get into 
 society, to enjoy bis money, to be in the 
 swim, and to make a splasb ! He bad 
 obtained one or two good introductions 
 to merchant princes, and be bad 
 cemented a fast friendship with Lord 
 Tony. Friendships grow quickly at sea, 
 though these same friendships frequently 
 languish and fade on shore. He had 
 frequently and pointedly alluded to ^*his 
 only child," ^^ his daughter," ^^his Httle 
 heiress;" he had displayed with pride 
 the photograph of a very charming girl 
 in her early teens; he had thrown out 
 hints, that if she married to please liim — 
 a nice, unaffected, well-connected young 
 fellow, who would give her a coronet on 
 her handkerchief — the money to spend and 
 keep up her position would be his affair.
 
 2 2 8 Married or Single ? 
 
 Lord Tony's married brothers and 
 sisters were continually and clamorously 
 urging heiresses upon his notice ; it 
 was ^'his only chance," they assured 
 him. ^* He must marry money." 
 If this pretty girl now speaking to 
 West, with visible trepidation and 
 becomingly heightened colour, was the 
 heiress he was always swaggering about 
 and dragging into his conversation, 
 Lord Tony told himself, as he took his 
 cigarette out of his mouth and blew 
 away a cloud of smoke, ^' that, by George 1 
 he might do worse." And so he might. 
 Presently he was formally introduced to 
 the young lady and her companion, and 
 Mr. West, who was metaphorically 
 carried off his feet by Madeline's un- 
 expected grace, was in a condition of 
 rampant satisfaction. She would go down. 
 She would take anywhere ; and actually,
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 229 
 
 for a few lofty seconds, lie scorned a 
 mere lord, and saw a wreath of strawberry 
 leaves resting on her pretty dark hair. 
 
 Miss Harper was not slow to read 
 the signs of the times — to interpret 
 the expression of the millionaire's grow- 
 ing complacency : he found Madeline 
 prettier than he had anticipated ; he 
 was greatly pleased ; and she immediately 
 improved the occasion, and mm-mured 
 a few well-timed words into his ear about 
 ^^ dearest Madeline's air of distinction, 
 her exquisitely shaped head, her vivacity, 
 her remarkable beauty; fitted to adorn 
 any sphere ; always a favourite pupil ; 
 a most accomplished, popular girl;" 
 whilst Madeline gravely answered Lord 
 Anthony's blunt questions. He was the 
 first lord she had ever spoken to, and 
 as far as she could judge, neither for- 
 midable nor imposing.
 
 230 Married or Single ? 
 
 After a little she found herself being 
 led up and presented to the captain and 
 to several of the passengers, with a look 
 and tone that told even Madeline, who 
 had a very humble opinion of herself, 
 that her father was exceedingly proud of 
 her ! 
 
 Oh, if he would only be kind — only be 
 good to her ! if her pretty face, that he 
 appeared to value so much, would but 
 open the door of his heart, and admit 
 her and Laurence and his grandchild ! 
 But it would not. Do not think it, 
 simple Madeline ; it will only admit you 
 in company with a peer of the realm. 
 
 After much fuss and bustle, Mr. West 
 and his party disembarked. Never in all 
 her life had Madeline been so much 
 stared at. And she was not merely looked 
 at curiously — as a pretty girl who had 
 never seen her father since she was a
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 231 
 
 child — she was doubly interesting as 
 a great heiress, and a very marketable 
 young person. She was not sorry to 
 make her escape, and was conducted 
 down the gangway in a kind of triumphal 
 procession, led by her exultant parent, 
 her arm on his, whilst Miss Harper 
 followed, leaning on Lord Anthony — who 
 was to be Mr. West's guest at his hotel — 
 and I have no hesitation in afiSrming 
 that this was the happiest moment of 
 Miss Harper's life, if it was not that of 
 her pupil's (as to this latter I cannot 
 speak with certainty). Arm-in-arm with 
 a lord ! What would people say at home 
 when she went back ? Her heart already 
 beat high with anticipation of the sensa- 
 tion she would produce upon the minds 
 of her particular circle. If one of them 
 could only see her ! But there is always 
 an ^^if."
 
 232 Married or Single ? 
 
 Mr. West was rather indisposed after 
 his voyage. He could not sleep, he de- 
 clared ; he missed the engines ; and he 
 remained at Plymouth for a few days. 
 So did Lord Anthony, who was in no 
 particular hurry. Miss Harper had 
 reluctantly taken leave, and returned 
 to Harperton, endowed with a valuable 
 present ''for all her kindness to Made- 
 line," quoth Mr. West, as he presented it 
 with considerable pomp, and this offering 
 she graciously and modestly accepted — 
 yes, without the quivering of an eyelid, 
 much less the ghost of a blush ! Perhaps, 
 so crooked are some people's ideas, she 
 had brought herself to believe that she 
 had been kind to Madeline — and, indeed, 
 she had never been as hard as Miss 
 Selina. She would have liked to have 
 remained at this luxurious hotel a few 
 days longer. Everything was done en
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 233 
 
 prince, A carriage and pair, a really smart 
 turn-out (cockades and all), took them for 
 a delightful drive. There were excursions 
 to Mount Edgecumbe, promenades on 
 the Hoe. Plymouth was gay, the weather 
 was magnificent. Lord Anthony Foster 
 of the party — and so amusing ! Miss 
 Harper was easily amused — sometimes. 
 She threw out one or two hints to Mr. 
 West to the effect that she was ex- 
 cessively comfortable, that this little 
 visit was quite too delightful — an oasis 
 in her existence ; that mamma was not 
 lonely — in short, that she dreaded parting 
 with her dearest pupil ; but nevertheless 
 she had to go. Mr. West was ruthless, 
 he was blunt; he was, moreover, wonder- 
 fully keen at interpreting other people's 
 motives. He perfectly understood Miss 
 Harper. She was, no doubt, very much 
 at her ease ; but he owed her nothing.
 
 2 34 Married or Single? 
 
 She had been amply paid ; she had had 
 his girl for twelve years, and could afford 
 to part with her young charge. 
 
 Moreover, Miss Harper did not belong 
 to the class of people he particularly 
 wished to cultivate — that was sufficient — 
 and he smilingly sped the parting guest, 
 after a four days' visit. During those 
 four days Madeline had been installed as 
 mistress of her father's establishment, and 
 was endeavouring to accustom herself to 
 her new rdle. Everything was deferred 
 to her, the ordering of dinner, the order- 
 ing of carriages, and of various items that 
 meant a considerable outlay. She took 
 up her position at once with a composure 
 that astonished her school - mistress. 
 She stared at Madeline in amazement, 
 as she sat at the head of the table in her 
 new black gauze, and comported herself as 
 though she had occupied the post for years.
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 235 
 
 In about a week's time, the Wests 
 (still accompanied by Lord Anthony) 
 went to London, staying at the Metropole 
 Hotel; and here Mr. West, who was a 
 brisk man of action, and resolved to lose 
 not an hour in enjoying his money and 
 realizing his plans, set about house- 
 hunting, con amore, assuring delighted 
 house agents that price was no con- 
 sideration — what he sought was size, 
 style, and situation. 
 
 Under these favourable circumstances, 
 he soon discovered what he required. A 
 superb mansion in Belgrave Square, with 
 large suites of reception rooms, twenty 
 bedrooms, hot and cold water, electric 
 light, speaking-tubes, stabling for twelve 
 horses, and, in short, to quote the adver- 
 tisement, ^'with everything desirable for 
 a nobleman's or gentleman's family." It 
 had just been vacated by a marquis.
 
 236 Married or Single? 
 
 whicli made it still more desirable to 
 Mr. West. If not near the rose, the 
 rose had lived there ! Indeed, to tell 
 the happy truth, a duke resided next 
 door, and an ambassador round the 
 corner. So far so good. The next 
 thing was to be neighbourly. Then 
 there was the business of furnishing — of 
 course regardless of cost. Days and 
 days were spent, selecting, measuring, 
 matching, and discussing at one of the 
 most fashionable upholsterers in town, 
 and the result was most satisfactory, 
 most magnificent, and most expensive. 
 There was a dining-room hung with 
 ancestors — Charles Surface's, perhaps — 
 but certainly not Mr. West's. A full- 
 length portrait of his father in prison 
 dress would have been a startling novelty; 
 there was an ante-room in turquoise blue, 
 a drawing-room in yellow and white, and
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 237 
 
 a boudoir in rose and pearl-colour brocade. 
 Of the delights of these apartments, of 
 the paintings, statuary, bronzes, and 
 Chinese curios, of the old silver and 
 china and ivory work, and pianos and 
 Persian carpets, it would take a book to 
 catalogue. 
 
 As for Madeline, accustomed, as we 
 know, to four Windsor chairs, two tables, 
 a shabby rag of Kidderminster carpet, 
 and a horsehair sofa with a lame leg, 
 her brain was giddy as she endeavoured 
 to regilize that she was to be mistress of 
 these treasures, and to preside over this 
 palatial establishment. Carriages and 
 horses found places in stables and coach- 
 houses ; a troop of well-trained servants 
 populated the house. There was a 
 stately lady housekeeper, a French chef, 
 a French maid for Madeline, three foot- 
 men in mulberry and silver buttons, and
 
 238 Married or Single ? 
 
 a butler whom one might have mis- 
 taken for a dean, and whose deport- 
 ment and dignity were of such propor- 
 tions as to overawe all timid natures, 
 and of very high value in his master's 
 eyes. 
 
 Madeline shrank from her lady's maid^ 
 but she was a necessity — noblesse oblige. 
 She did not wish the sharp-eyed Paris- 
 ienne to spy out the nakedness of the 
 land, as far as her own wardrobe was 
 concerned, and was at many a shift to 
 postpone her arrival until she had 
 garments more befitting her background 
 and her father's purse. Indeed he had 
 not been pleased with her gowns, " they 
 looked cheap," he had remarked with a 
 frown. 
 
 '^Is that all you have, Madeline, that 
 black thing?" he asked rather querulously 
 one evening, as they stood in the drawing-^
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 239 
 
 room awaiting Lord Anthony, and a 
 friend. 
 
 " Yes, papa ; and it is nearly new," slie 
 said in a tone of deprecation. ^^It does 
 very well for the present, and I must 
 wear it out." 
 
 ^MVear out! Stuff and nonsense!" 
 irritably. ^^ One would think you had a 
 shingle loose. I really sometimes fancy, 
 when I hear you talking of the price of 
 this and that, and so on, and economi/, 
 that you have known what it is to be 
 poor — poor as Job ! Whereas, by George ! 
 you have never known what it is to want 
 for a single thing ever since you were 
 born. You have as much idea of poverty 
 as your prize black poodle has ! " 
 
 Had she ? Had she not known what 
 it was to frequent pawnshops, to battle 
 with wolfish want, to experience not 
 merely the pleasures of a healthy appetite,
 
 240 Married or Single ? 
 
 but the actual pangs of painful hunger. 
 Oh, had she not known what it was to 
 be poor ! She gave a little half-choked 
 nervous laugh, and carefully avoided her 
 father's interrogative eyes. 
 
 ^^I'll give you a cheque to-morrow," 
 he resumed, ^*and do go to some good 
 dressmaker, and get yourself some smart 
 clothes. Lady Eachel, Lord Tony's 
 sister, is going to call, ask her to take 
 you to some first-class place, and choose 
 half a dozen gowns. I really mean it ; 
 and put this thing," flicking her fifty- 
 shilHng costume with a contemptuous 
 finger and thumb, *^ behind the fire. You 
 are not like your mother; she made the 
 money fly. However, she was always 
 well turned out. I don't want you to ruin 
 me ; but there is a medium in all things. 
 What is the good of a daughter who is a 
 beauty if she won't set herself off? "
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 241 
 
 ^^ Do you really think me pretty, 
 father ? " she asked, rather timidly. 
 
 '< Why, of course I do ! We shall 
 have you setting the fashions and figuring 
 in the papers, and painted full life-size, 
 when you have more assurance, and 
 know how to make the most of yourself. 
 Kememher this," now giving his collar a 
 chuck, and speaking with sudden gravity, 
 ^^that when you marry" — Madeline 
 blushed — ''when you marry, I say," 
 noticing this blush, '' you must go into 
 the peerage, nothing else would suit me, 
 never forget that. Now that you know 
 my views, there can be no misunder- 
 standings later on. Never send a com- 
 moner to ask for my consent." 
 
 '' But, father," she ventured boldly, 
 now raising her eyes to his, that sur- 
 veyed her like two little fiery brown 
 beads, ''supposing that I loved a poor 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 242 Married or Single ? 
 
 man, what then? How would it be 
 then?" 
 
 ^^ Folly!" he almost yelled. ^^ Poor 
 man. Poor devil ! Love ! rot and 
 nonsense, bred from reading trashy 
 novels. Love a poor man ! Do yon 
 want to drive me mad ? Never mention 
 it, never think of it, if I am to keep 
 my senses." And he began to pace 
 about. 
 
 ^^But," she answered resolutely, press- 
 ing her fan very hard into the palm of 
 her trembling hand, *^ supposing that I 
 did ? Why should I not ? — you married 
 my mother for love." 
 
 ^' Not a bit of it," he rejoined emphati- 
 cally, ^* I liked her, admired her ; she was 
 very pretty, and had blue blood — foreign 
 blood — in her veins, but she was a good 
 match. She had a fine fortune, she was 
 in the best set. Her father took me
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 243 
 
 into partnership. I was a rising man — 
 and — er — I know all about love; /have 
 been through the mill ! Ha, ha, it's bad 
 while it lasts, but it does not last ! The 
 woman I loved was a little ghi from 
 Tasmania, without a copper. She 
 tempted me mightily, but I knew I might 
 just as well cut my throat at once. No, 
 I married for good and sensible reasons, 
 and one word will do as well as ten. If 
 you ever make a low marriage, a love 
 match with a pauper, or throw yourself 
 and your beauty and your accomplish- 
 ments, and all I've done for you, and all 
 my hopes away, I solemnly declare to 
 you that I shall not hesitate to turn you 
 penniless into the street. I swear I will 
 do it, and never own you again. You 
 might go and die in the poor-house, and 
 I'd never raise a finger to save you from 
 a pauper's funeral."
 
 244 Married or Single ? 
 
 He spoke very fast, his voice uneven 
 and vibrating with passion, his face livid 
 at the mere idea of his schemes being 
 foiled. He was terribly in earnest; his 
 very look made Madeline quail. She 
 trembled and turned pale, as she thought 
 of poor Laurence. 
 
 " It's not much I ask you to do for 
 me, is it, Maddie, after all IVe done for 
 you ? " he continued in a softer key. 
 *^I have my ambitions, like other men, 
 and all my ambition is for you. Give 
 up all thoughts of your lover — that is, 
 if you have one — and be an obedient 
 daughter. It's not so much to do for 
 me, after all." 
 
 Was it not ? Little he knew ! 
 
 '^Promise me one thing, Madeline," 
 he continued once more, breathing in 
 hard gasps, and seizing her ice-cold hand 
 in his hot dry grip.
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 245 
 
 '* What is that, father ? " she asked in 
 a whisper. 
 
 '^That you will never marry without 
 my consent, and never listen to a com- 
 moner. Will you promise me this ? 
 Can you promise this ? " 
 
 '^Yes, father, I can," she answered, 
 steadily looking him full in the eyes, 
 with a countenance as white as marble. 
 
 '^ On your honour, Madeline ? " 
 
 ^^ On my honour !'' she echoed in a 
 curious, mechanical voice. 
 
 «<Yery well, then," inwardly both re- 
 lieved and delighted ; ^^ that is what I 
 call a model daughter. You shall have 
 a prize. I will get you some diamonds 
 to-morrow that will open people's eyes; 
 no trumpery little half-set, but a necklet, 
 tiara, and brooches. I saw a parure 
 to-day, old family jewels. Hard up — 
 selling off; one goes up, another comes
 
 246 Married or Single ? 
 
 down, like a see-saw. It's our turn 
 now! You shall wear stones that will 
 make people blink — diamonds that will 
 be the talk of London. If folks say they 
 are too handsome for an unmarried girl, 
 that is our affair, and a coronet will mend 
 that. You have a head that will carry 
 one well. Your mother's blue blood 
 shows. You shall pick and choose, too. 
 Lord Anthony may think " 
 
 *^ Lord Anthony Foster and Sir Felix 
 Gibbs," said a sonorous voice. 
 
 And what Lord Anthony might think 
 was never divulged to Madeline ; Mr. 
 West, with great presence of mind, 
 springing with one supreme mental leap 
 from family matters to social cour- 
 tesies. 
 
 The dinner was perfect, served at a 
 round table. The floral decorations were 
 exquisite ; attendance, menu, wines were
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 247 
 
 everything that could be desired. The 
 gentlemen talked a good deal — talked of 
 the turf, the prospect of the moors, of the 
 latest failure in the city, and the latest 
 play, and perhaps did not notice how 
 very little the young hostess contributed 
 to the conversation. She was absent 
 in mind, if present in the body ; but she 
 smiled, and looked pretty, and that was 
 sufficient. She was beholding with her 
 mental eye a very different menage^ far 
 beyond the silver centre-pieces, pines, 
 maiden-hair ferns and orchids, far beyond 
 the powdered footmen, with their dainty 
 dishes and French entrees. 
 
 We know what she saw. A cosy farm 
 parlour, with red-tiled floor, a round table 
 spread with a clean coarse cloth, decor- 
 ated by a blue mug, filled with migno- 
 nette and sweet pea, black-handled knives 
 and forks, willow-pattern delf plates, a
 
 248 Married or Single ? 
 
 young man eating his frugal dinner alone, 
 and opposite to him an empty chair — her 
 chair. She saw in another room a 
 curious old wooden cradle, with a pointed 
 half-roof, which had rocked many a Holt 
 in its day. Inside it lay a child that 
 was not a Holt, a child of a different 
 type, a child with black lashes, and a 
 feeding-bottle in its vicinity. (Now, Mrs. 
 Holt's progeny had never been brought 
 up by hand.) Her baby ! Oh, if papa 
 were only to know ! she thought, and 
 the idea pierced her heart like a knife, 
 as she looked across at him, where he 
 sat smiling, conversational, and unsus- 
 picious. He would turn her out now 
 this very instant into the square, were 
 he to catch a glimpse of those two living 
 pictures. He w^as unusually animated on 
 the subject of some shooting he had heard 
 of, and he had two attentive and, shall we
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 249 
 
 confess it, personally interested listeners 
 — listeners who had rosy visions of shoot- 
 ing the grouse on those very moors, as 
 Mr. West's guests. 
 
 So, for awhile, Madeline was left to 
 her own thoughts, and they travelled 
 back to her earliest married days, the 
 pleasant little sitting-room on the first 
 floor at No. 2, the bright fires, bright 
 flowers, new music, and cosy dinners 
 (the mutton-chop period), when all her 
 world was bounded by Laurence. Was 
 it not still the case ? Alas, no ! The 
 bald-headed gentleman opposite, who 
 was haranguing about ^^ drives and bags," 
 held a bond on her happiness. He had 
 to be studied, obeyed, and — deceived ! 
 Would she be able to play her part ? 
 Would she break down ? When he 
 looked at her, as he had done that 
 evening, her heart failed her. She felt
 
 250 Married or Single? 
 
 almost compelled to sink at his feet 
 and tell him all. It was well she had 
 restrained herself. She resolved to save 
 for a rainy day some of the money he 
 was to give her on the morrow. Yes, 
 the clouds were beginning to gather, even 
 now. 
 
 Oh, what a wicked wretch she felt at 
 times ! But why had cruel fate pushed her 
 into such a corner ? Why was her father 
 so worldly and ambitious ? Why had 
 she failed to put forward Laurence's plea, 
 his own long absence and silence, and 
 thus excuse herself once for all? Easy 
 to say this now, when that desperate 
 moment was over — it is always so easy 
 to say these things afterwards ! She had 
 given her father a solemn promise (and 
 oh, what a hollow promise it was !), and 
 she was to receive her reward in dia- 
 monds of the first water — diamonds that
 
 Mr. West's Wishes. 251 
 
 would blind the ordinary and unaccus- 
 tomed eye ! 
 
 Presently she rose, and made her way 
 slowly to her great state drawing-rooms, 
 and as she sipped her coffee she thought 
 of Laurence, and wondered what he was 
 doing, and when she dared to see him, 
 to write ? Poor Laurence ! how seedy 
 his clothes were ; and how much his long 
 illness had altered his looks. With his 
 hollow cheeks and cropped head (his 
 head had been shaved), none of his 
 former friends would recognize him. 
 Then her thoughts wandered to her 
 diamonds. She stood up and surveyed 
 herself in the long mirror, and smiled 
 back slightly at her own tall, graceful 
 reflection. Diamonds always looked well 
 in dark hair. She was but little more 
 than nineteen, and had the natural femi- 
 nine instinct for adornment. She smiled
 
 252 Married or Single ? 
 
 still more radiantly ; and what do we hear 
 her saying in a whisper, and with a rapid 
 stealthy glance round the room ? It is 
 this : ^^ I wonder how you will look in a 
 diamond tiara, Mrs. Wynne ? " 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, 
 LONDON AND BECCLES. 
 
 11^