skirt with me, and send the cap and wand to my lodgings, No. 40, William Street, Lowndes Square, before four o'clock." "Let Judith just mend the tear," said Mr. Jacobs, highly pleased with his morning's work; " and at any time I shall be most happy to attend to your order or that of any of your friends." "Thank you, Jacobs; I won't trouble you further. Tell Samuel to run for a hansomoh, there's one passing the door; hail it." The cab was hailed, and the two friends, delighted with their morning's walk, were driven off to King Street. "While breakfast is preparing," said Northam, "I will go upstairs and get my writing case." "Stay," said Charley. "We must not throw away a chance; some disinterested witness ought to be present at the dénouement, or that arch fiend of a Priestess will declare that we have got up a conspiracy against her. Couldn't you send to the Rag' for O'Hara ; he is generally there about this hour." "I will, if you like, write to him a few lines at once, but he would be looked upon as an interested witness. My proctor, Tinsley, is to be here at half-past eleven, and would, I am sure, be delighted to help us, free from charge, for he is a most liberal fellow. By the way, will you meet him at dinner to-day at the Army and Navy; seven sharp, as he has work to do at night?" "I shall be very happy to meet him," responded Chesterford, who certainly on that occasion had well earned his breakfast and dinner. Shortly after breakfast, while the two were enjoying their cigarettes, Mr. Tinsley was announced, and the case laid before him. Calling for pen, paper, and sealing wax, the whole affair was conducted in the most businesslike manner; the writing-case was opened, the piece of the dress taken out which infolded an artificial rose Sophia Clifford had worn the evening of the masquerade; the piece was found to match the skirt, and the whole was packed up and sealed in the presence of the three witnesses, who also signed a document detailing all particulars of the transaction. Mr. Tinsley, who to his great legal abilities added caution, requested time to consider what steps had better be taken to expose Miss Melvill. CHAPTER XV. What nothing earthly gives, or can destroy ; РОРЕ. How truly does Joseph Alexander Segur write on woman's love: "Let us examine love, its delirium, its wanderings, its excesses, its tenderness, its devotion, the contrariety of ideas which it inspires; let us compare its effects with the heart of women, such as Nature has formed them, not such as the distractions of the world frequently present them to us; and we shall inevitably conclude that love is made for them, and that they are made for love. Women are born to love us, to console us under hardships; we to love them, and to protect them against every danger." Now if ever there was a woman born to love, to console a man under hardships, it was Margaret Hovingham; if ever there was a man less capable of protecting a woman against every danger it was Francis Hovingham. Never was there so unselfish a being as Margaret; during her whole life every sacri fice she made was so accordant with her feelings that she laid aside all consideration of herself, and entirely devoted herself to promote the happiness of others. Occupied with the concerns of her house and loving the husband of her choice, she inspired the esteem of all who came within the circle of her acquaintance. Unhappily, as it has already been proved, she was united to a man whose early licentious habits had blunted his finer feelings, and made him callous to the charms of that sex which has created the felicity of all ages, a sex adored by youth, esteemed by mature age, respected and cherished by the old, who still cling to the hope that it will afford a charm, and consolation to their last moments. |