"What
do you think, Tinker?"
"I should think she was rather inexperienced," said Hildebrand Anne,
with admirable judgment.
"Solomon, va!" said Lord Crosland, clutching the boy's ribs, and
drawing from him a sudden yell.
"Well, come along; we have a hard day's work before us," said Sir
Tancred; and the two of them rose and strolled off towards the Temple
of Fortune.
They left Tinker sitting still and thoughtful, the prey of a case of
conscience. He knew the story of his father's marriage, his separation
from his wife by the action of Lady Beauleigh and Sir Everard. He had
been trained to detest them, and to believe any revenge on them a mere
act of justice. But his dead mother was but a shadowy figure to him,
and this girl was very charming, and sweet, and kind, for he had had a
long talk with her one evening, and she had shared a box of chocolates
with him. Did those chocolates constitute the tie of bread and salt
between them which his father had taught him was so binding? He wished
to help the girl, therefore he made up his mind that they did. With a
sigh of satisfaction he rose, sauntered up to the absorbed lovers, and
began to parade up and down before them. His nearness put something of
a check on the eloquence of Mr.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129