26 files changed, 69692 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/30333-0.txt b/30333-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..955b012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9665 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30333 ***
+
+ DADDY'S GIRL
+
+ BY L. T. MEADE
+
+ Author of "A Very Naughty Girl," "Polly, A New Fashioned
+ Girl," "Palace Beautiful," "Sweet Girl Graduate,"
+ "World of Girls," etc., etc.
+
+ "Suffer the little children to come unto me."
+
+ A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
+ 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DADDY'S GIRL. _Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+DADDY'S GIRL.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.
+
+The occasion was an important one, and the Angel's rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.
+
+"Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?" thought the Angel to
+herself.
+
+A box of wild flowers, which had come up from the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow," she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.
+
+"What do you want, Sibyl? Don't disturb me now," said this individual.
+
+"It is only just for a moment," replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady's writing-pad.
+
+"Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?" she said.
+
+"Oh, don't worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he'll be so annoyed if he doesn't hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme."
+
+The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.
+
+"They'll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed," thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty," she repeated softly under her
+breath, "but father likes me anyhow." She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?
+
+"Do I look pretty?" she said at last, dancing back to the governess's
+side.
+
+Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.
+
+"Do I look pretty?" repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.
+
+"You are a very vain little girl," said Miss Winstead. "I won't tell
+you whether you look pretty or not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don't interrupt me any
+more."
+
+"There's the gong, I'm off," cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.
+
+"I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am," thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. "Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too."
+
+Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath--
+
+"It's not wrong, 'cos it's mother. Mother couldn't do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could"; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother's voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.
+
+"It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus," Sibyl would say, "and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don't think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It's for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don't like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?"
+
+Jesus never made any audible response to the child's query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.
+
+As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother's kisses being softest and her mother's eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.
+
+Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.
+
+Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.
+
+"The child should go to the mother for love and petting," she would
+say. "Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her."
+
+It was Sibyl's father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.
+
+"You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,"
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.
+
+"Oh, yes, father," answered the Angel, "but, you see, I wasn't born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn't it? You're perfect
+and I am not. I can't help the way I was born, can I, father?"
+
+"No; no one is perfect, darling," replied the father.
+
+"You are," answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+"You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I'll
+try to please you, father, so don't knit up your forehead."
+
+Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father's brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.
+
+"Same as if you was an old man," she said: "but you're perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you," and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.
+
+On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.
+
+"I should not like the child to know about it," was his reflection;
+"but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.
+
+"Here I come," she cried, "here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me." She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl's waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.
+
+"What a fairy-like little girl this is!" he cried.
+
+"You are Spring come to cheer us up."
+
+"I am glad," whispered Sibyl; "but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother."
+
+Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.
+
+"Father says I am Spring, look at me," she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.
+
+"Something is fretting my ownest mother," she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother's soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father's side.
+
+Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.
+
+It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother's objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.
+
+"I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now," she said on this occasion. "She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father."
+
+"You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl," said her mother
+from the other end of the table.
+
+"Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear," said the father. "What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?"
+
+"Spelling, as usual," said Sibyl briefly, "but more special 'cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty."
+
+"Hush!" said the mother again.
+
+Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.
+
+"My dear," he said, addressing his wife, "do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the person----"
+
+"I beg of you, Philip," interrupted the mother, "not to speak of the
+child's teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks."
+
+"It's 'cos they're both so perfect," thought Sibyl, "but it's hard on
+me not to be able to 'splain things. If I can't, what is to be done?"
+
+She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.
+
+The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.
+
+"Is it nice?" she inquired.
+
+"Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?"
+
+"No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you're a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog."
+
+"My dear Sibyl," cried the mother, "I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!"
+
+"Let us turn the subject," said the father.
+
+Sibyl turned it with a will.
+
+"I 'spect I ought to 'fess to you," she said. "I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I'm not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?"
+
+"You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?" was the answer.
+
+"I don't think I'd much care," said Sibyl, with a smile. "You'd know
+what I meant, wouldn't you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same," she added, "I'll spell right if you wish it--I mean,
+I'll try."
+
+"That's a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?"
+
+"When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be best for her to do
+so in private?" said the mother again.
+
+"But this is private," said Mr. Ogilvie, "only her father and mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.
+
+"I washed my doll's clothes, although nurse told me not," continued
+Sibyl, "and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I _would_ open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn't to blame--Watson wasn't."
+
+The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.
+
+"Father," whispered Sibyl, "do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, and----"
+
+"Hush! hush!" said Mr. Ogilvie, "go on with your confessions."
+
+"They're rather sad, aren't they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn't do one right thing to-day 'cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don't mind a bit being naughty. I wouldn't be a
+flabby good girl for all the world."
+
+"Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?" said her father.
+
+Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good--perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:
+
+"I'll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus."
+
+"That is right," said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.
+
+The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.
+
+"Good-night, little Spring," said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.
+
+She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered--
+
+"Is it 'cos I'm a wicked girl you're sad?"
+
+"No," he answered, "you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world."
+
+"Oh, no, father," answered Sibyl, "that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn't like to be too good, 'cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.
+
+"You spoil that child," said the wife, "but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don't pretend to be a good mother, but I don't talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things."
+
+"I wish you would leave the child alone," said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; "she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going."
+
+"I would much rather you did not."
+
+"I am sorry." Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. "I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way."
+
+"It is impossible for me to accompany you."
+
+"I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child."
+
+"Sibyl! No, I do not wish it."
+
+"I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday."
+
+Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.
+
+"You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present," he said. "You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline."
+
+"I am going," said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.
+
+"Is that your last word?" he inquired.
+
+"It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me."
+
+"Nor you to please me, Mildred," he was about to say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, "There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable."
+
+"And what is that?" she asked.
+
+"The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us--Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?"
+
+"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," was Mrs. Ogilvie's
+flippant remark. "But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive."
+
+"Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart."
+
+"And it sickened me," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don't wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful _debut_ in
+Society, all in due course."
+
+"With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage," added the husband,
+bitterly.
+
+"I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl," was his
+wife's answer, "and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.
+
+Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.
+
+The postman's ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.
+
+Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.
+
+"It is the child," he thought. "She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this"--he touched the letter with
+his hand--"I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred's extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet--I
+don't care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl's and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me."
+
+He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl's nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.
+
+Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child's bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.
+
+"Good-night, little darling," said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.
+
+"Oh, father, is that you?" she cried in a voice of rapture.
+
+"Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night."
+
+"You are good, you never forget," said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. "I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?"
+
+"Not for worlds," it was the man's first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. "Of course, dear," he said.
+
+Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father's neck.
+
+"Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day," she began, "and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, 'cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.
+
+"Now, father, you're pleased," continued the little girl. "It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don't want to be better,
+but I'll try hard if it pleases you."
+
+"Yes, Sibyl, try hard," said her father, "try very hard to be good.
+Don't let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you." Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.
+
+"He's fretted; it's just 'cos the world is so wicked, and 'cos I'm not
+as good as I ought to be," thought the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.
+
+Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR GRAYLEIGH,--
+
+     "Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+     before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+     am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+     have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+     assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+     been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+     more suited for your purpose.
+
+               "Yours sincerely,
+                    "PHILIP OGILVIE."
+
+It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.
+
+His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.
+
+"What," he cried, "up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed."
+
+He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.
+
+"I am so glad you have come back, Phil," she said. "I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company."
+
+Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment's pause he said in a sullen
+tone--
+
+"Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up."
+
+"What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren't you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?"
+
+"Come into my smoking-room," he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.
+
+"This will make a great difference in our position," she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.
+
+"What do you mean by our position?" he said.
+
+"You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last."
+
+"And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?"
+
+"It is impossible; impossible to manage," she said, petulantly.
+
+"It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles"--he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. "Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it--that
+is, in moderation."
+
+"Ah! I knew you had accepted," she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. "Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public."
+
+"You know, perhaps, what all this means?" said Ogilvie, after a pause.
+
+"Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?"
+
+"Don't dare to mention the child's name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine."
+
+"Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me," she answered. "I declare I
+am getting sleepy." Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.
+
+"It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh's offer----"
+
+"If! But you have done so, of course you have."
+
+"If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets."
+
+"As usual, you taunt me," she said, "but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?"
+
+"The letter has come."
+
+"You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?"
+
+"I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine."
+
+"Philip!" His wife's voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.
+
+"You cannot be speaking the truth," she said.
+
+"My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed."
+
+She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.
+
+"I hate you," she said; "go your own way in the future," and she left
+him standing silent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.
+
+"I am much more like a boy than a girl," she thought, "and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I'll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn't care so very much whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can't be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother."
+
+So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.
+
+Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.
+
+"Don't forget me while you are away, little woman," he said, "and look
+after mother, won't you?"
+
+"She won't need me to look after her, she's quite, quite perfect,"
+said Sibyl; "but I'm going to watch her, and try to copy her."
+
+"Child, don't do that," said the man.
+
+"Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?"
+
+"Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven."
+
+"Well, my home is right down here on earth," said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. "I'll have a real jolly time away, I 'spect."
+
+"I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father's sake, and
+don't forget to pray for me."
+
+"I will, I will," said the child; "I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good."
+
+"Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman."
+
+That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.
+
+Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl's secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.
+
+She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl's things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.
+
+"You are to go to tea in the schoolroom," she said. "There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock."
+
+It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.
+
+"It's a beautiful dress," she said; "you are wearing money now."
+
+"Money," said Sibyl, "what do you mean?"
+
+"This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don't spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire."
+
+"I don't understand," said Sibyl; "I wish it wasn't a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?"
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show."
+
+"If you speak again in that tone of my mother I'll slap you," said
+Sibyl.
+
+"Highty-tighty!" said the nurse; "your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in."
+
+"And so do you," answered Sibyl. "If mother is good you are not, and
+I'm not, so we both must be broke in; but I've got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?"
+
+"That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say."
+
+"Then we _has_ something in common," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+"I'm a handful, too. I'm off to the schoolroom."
+
+"There never was such a child," thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; "she's not shy, and she's as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she's a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master's
+child, but her mother's! Dear me, I'm often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect."
+
+Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room--Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh's children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.
+
+"Oh, you're the little girl," said Mabel, who was twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.
+
+"Yes, I _are_ the little girl," said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.
+
+"Where is my place?" she said. "Is it laid for me? I am the visitor."
+
+Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.
+
+"Sit down," he said; "you had better sit there, near Mabel; she's
+pouring out tea. She's the boss, you know."
+
+"What's a boss?" said Sibyl.
+
+"You must be a silly not to know what a boss is."
+
+"I aren't no more silly than you are," said Sibyl. "May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I'll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can't answer me. What's a--what's a--oh, I'll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don't talk to me too much
+while I'm eating, or I'll spill jam on my money frock."
+
+"You are a very queer little girl," said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.
+
+"What a silly you are," said Gus. "What did you put on that thing
+for? We don't want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, and----"
+
+"Climb trees! Oh," cried Sibyl, "are you that sort? Then I'm your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I'm a hoyden--do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to 'em quick, for I'm your
+girl."
+
+Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.
+
+"You are very queer," she said. "I don't know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes--we are quite ladylike and good, but we don't wear
+grand frocks either. Can't you take that thing off?"
+
+"I wish I could. I hate it myself."
+
+"Well, ask your servant to change it."
+
+"But my nurse hasn't brought a single shabby frock with me."
+
+"Are all your frocks as grand as that?"
+
+"Some of 'em grander."
+
+"We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks," said Freda.
+
+"Oh, do!" said Sibyl; "that will be lovely."
+
+"We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, so you may as well
+put it on," continued Freda.
+
+Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. "It's a great comfort coming
+down to this place," she said finally, "'cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It's mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers."
+
+"But isn't Philip Ogilvie your father?" said Gus.
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie," corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.
+
+"Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He's not perfect."
+
+Sibyl's face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:
+
+"Father didn't know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man's name was Halkett. I'm always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say 'Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he's not too scrupulous.' Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means--oh, you needn't stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head--it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, as your father isn't scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn't hesitate to act wrong."
+
+Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.
+
+"What have you done that for, you little beggar?" he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.
+
+"To teach you not to tell lies," answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. "But I won't shed them," thought the
+child, "not for worlds."
+
+Sibyl's action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl's side
+and touched her on her arm.
+
+"Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you," she said; "we didn't
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won't you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?"
+
+"And I'll never say a word against your father again," said Gus.
+
+"You had better not," answered Sibyl. "No, I won't shake hands; I
+won't make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I'd like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl's white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.
+
+"You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock," said Freda in
+conclusion. "Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting."
+
+Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus's cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.
+
+"What a noise those children make," said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.
+
+"How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.
+
+"I have three," he replied; "they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died"--he sighed
+as he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years'
+standing--"I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child's beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.
+
+"I see four little figures dancing about among those trees," said
+Lord Grayleigh. "We will see them all together."
+
+They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.
+
+Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother's side.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," she cried, "I'm so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It's lovely to sit up there."
+
+Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.
+
+"What do you mean, Sibyl," she said, "by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you."
+
+Sibyl turned first red and then white.
+
+"Is that Lord Grayleigh?" she whispered.
+
+"Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you."
+
+"I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I--may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. "Do let her speak," he said; "she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in _deshabille_. What is
+it, little woman?"
+
+"It's that I don't want to shake hands with you--never, _never_!"
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.
+
+"I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,"
+she said. "What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?" Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. "I fear it is her father's doing," she continued, "he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock."
+
+"I don't think your nurse is to blame," said Lord Grayleigh. "I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps' frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me."
+
+"Oh, you can never account for Sibyl's whims," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "it
+is all her father's fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you."
+
+"I should be very proud of that child if I were you," answered Lord
+Grayleigh. "She has a particularly frank, fine face."
+
+"Oh, she is handsome enough," answered Mrs. Ogilvie. "But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect--could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to."
+
+"Don't scold her, poor little thing," said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. "For my part," he continued, "I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?"
+
+"I do know it," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. "Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind."
+
+"He is a strange fellow," answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; "but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of course----"
+
+"Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?"
+
+"I don't know that I can explain. Money is not everything--at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband's scruples"--Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive--"even your
+husband's scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances--we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.
+
+When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.
+
+"Money _is_ everything," she thought, "whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses."
+
+She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.
+
+With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.
+
+Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?
+
+"May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?" There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie's
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone--
+
+"Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you."
+
+Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.
+
+Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.
+
+"Now you'll kiss me," she said; "now you're pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I'm beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me."
+
+"Get up, Sib, and don't be absurd," said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.
+
+"Really," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don't mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired."
+
+"But Mummy--Mumsy!"
+
+"Don't call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don't like
+abbreviations."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.
+
+"Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name."
+
+"Sacred name!" said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. "Oh yes, I won't call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely."
+
+"Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing."
+
+"Oh, mother darling, I didn't mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums--I mean, mother--I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.
+
+"Come here," she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl's lips. "Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively."
+
+"Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?"
+
+"Look at me. Are you attending?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?"
+
+"Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem."
+
+"That sounds very nice," thought Sibyl to herself. "Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I'll listen."
+
+"I wish," continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, "I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl."
+
+"Poses!" cried Sibyl; "what's poses?"
+
+"Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?"
+
+"Oh, mother! it meant----" Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother's speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.
+
+"Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go."
+
+"But, mother! one minute first, please--please."
+
+"Go, Sibyl, obey me."
+
+"It was 'cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against my----"
+
+"Go, Sibyl, I won't listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant."
+
+"I am going," said the child, "but I cannot be----"
+
+"Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go."
+
+Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.
+
+"I don't understand," she said to herself. "Perhaps I wasn't quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don't know. I think
+I'll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn't--of course it's all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me 'splain things. I wish I hadn't a pain
+here." Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.
+
+"It's 'cos of father I feel so bad, it's 'cos they told lies of
+father." She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.
+
+"And mother would not even let me 'splain," thought the child.
+
+"Hullo!" cried a gay voice; "hullo! and what's the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?" And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.
+
+"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "aren't we fine! I say! you'll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join."
+
+"I can't, Gus," replied Sibyl.
+
+"Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I don't feel like playing games."
+
+"You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?"
+
+"No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I'll come by-and-by."
+
+"Somebody wasn't square with her," thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+"Queer little girl! But I like her all the same."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Sibyl's conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.
+
+At last the children's hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl's shoulder.
+
+"I am pleased with you," she said; "you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now."
+
+"Will you come and see me, Mumsy--mother, I mean--before you go to
+bed?"
+
+"Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly."
+
+Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.
+
+"That is such an absurd custom," she said; "I must break her of it."
+
+"Break your little girl of what?" he asked. "She is a beautiful
+child," he added. "I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter."
+
+"I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman," replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, "and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date."
+
+"I don't know," answered Mr. Rochester; "if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it." As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl's
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.
+
+Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.
+
+"Won't you come to the schoolroom now?" asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.
+
+"No; mother said I was to go to bed," answered Sibyl.
+
+"How proper and good you have turned," cried Mabel.
+
+"Good-night," said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse's cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.
+
+"What is it, pet?" nurse said. "Is anything the matter?"
+
+"No," answered Sibyl. "Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?"
+
+"Sakes alive!" cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, "to be sure, my darling," she answered. "I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I'll fetch it for you, dearie."
+
+"Thank you," replied Sibyl.
+
+Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl's hands.
+
+"Now, my little darling," said nurse, "you look quite white. You'll
+just read a verse or two, and then you'll go off to your bed."
+
+"I want to find a special verse," said Sibyl. "When I have read it I
+will go to bed." She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.
+
+"What's fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?"
+
+"I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night."
+
+"What is it, dear?"
+
+"'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, love," answered nurse promptly, "that's in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear."
+
+"But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?" asked the
+puzzled old woman; "there's some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There's a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.'
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put."
+
+"There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible," said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. "Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it's not that I'm
+thinking of, it's the one you found about 'God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.' It seems to 'splain things."
+
+"What things, dear?"
+
+"Why, about mother. Nursie, isn't my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?"
+
+"Oh, my goodness me, no!" exclaimed the woman under her breath. "I
+wouldn't remark it, my dear," she said aloud.
+
+"That's 'cos you know so very little. You can't never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, and I'm not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now."
+
+Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.
+
+"Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother," said Sibyl, "and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy."
+
+Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.
+
+On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"I failed to understand your letter," he said, "and have come to you
+for an explanation."
+
+Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.
+
+"I thought my meaning plain enough," he replied, "but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?"
+
+"For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton."
+
+"But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?" queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.
+
+"I see," cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang
+to his feet. "I have regarded you as my friend for some time,
+Grayleigh, and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with--you know what it means--a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn't it?"
+
+"Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world--our world I mean--consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill--a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation."
+
+"Your emendation of that old proverb may be _fin de siècle_, but it
+does not suit my notions," muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.
+
+Grayleigh looked keenly at him.
+
+"You will be sorry for this," he said; "it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that."
+
+"And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; but----"
+
+"What is the matter with you?" said Lord Grayleigh; "you never were so
+scrupulous."
+
+"I don't know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you a----"
+
+"We need not enter into that," said Grayleigh, rising; "you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the _pros_ and _cons_. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand."
+
+"And it is that which at once tempts and repels me," said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, "How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?"
+
+"Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners."
+
+"Sibyl is peculiar," said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl's wore at intervals.
+
+"She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie."
+
+"Not at all," answered Ogilvie; "I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely."
+
+"Well, to turn to the present matter," said Lord Grayleigh; "you will
+reconsider your refusal?"
+
+"I would rather not."
+
+"But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so."
+
+"There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me," said
+Ogilvie; "it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve me from temptation. But suppose I were to--to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?"
+
+"They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely."
+
+Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.
+
+"I will assume," he said, "that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won't take a refusal now."
+
+Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.
+
+Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to "Philip Ogilvie, Esq.," in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter's name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.
+
+Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "DADDY DEAR,--Here's a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+     kiss. I will put sum more at the end of the letter. Pleas
+     kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+     hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+     home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+     more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+     said she wasn't purfect but she is, isn't she father? I miss
+     you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+     me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+     never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+     for having gived you to me father. Your SIBYL."
+
+     "Father, what does 'scroopolus' mean? I want to know
+     speshul.--SIB."
+
+The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well--he had seen them coming for a long time--the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler's bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.
+
+"I am unworthy of my little Angel," he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. "And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame," he cried; "she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl's
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!"
+
+He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.
+
+"Shall I risk it?" he said to himself. "Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems _bona fide_ enough. It it is _bona fide_, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other," and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh's offer.
+
+Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.
+
+"I am sorry to seem to force your hand," that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, "but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday."
+
+A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and--turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.
+
+As these thoughts flashed before his mind he forgot that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.
+
+"Bring me brandy, and be quick," said Ogilvie.
+
+The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.
+
+After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife's extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother's death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate--not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl's needs and her mother's fancied necessities, Ogilvie's
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.
+
+"I must do something better than that for my little daughter," thought
+the man. "I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl's sake."
+
+But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.
+
+He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.
+
+"When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest," thought the man. "I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought."
+
+He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.
+
+As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.
+
+Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.
+
+He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor's consulting room.
+
+Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.
+
+"My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?"
+
+"Something of the kind," said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty--he was all right.
+
+Rashleigh asked him a few questions.
+
+"I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly," said Ogilvie, "and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home."
+
+"How large a sum do you propose to insure for?" asked the doctor.
+
+"I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart."
+
+Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor's hands.
+
+Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.
+
+"Well?" said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. "It's all right, I
+suppose."
+
+"It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination," was Rashleigh's
+answer. "You'll hear all in good time."
+
+"But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know."
+
+"When do you propose to go to Australia?"
+
+"I may not go at all. In fact if----" Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. "If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go."
+
+"But suppose it is not all right?"
+
+"Then I sail on Saturday."
+
+"I may as well tell you the truth," said Rashleigh; "you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Heart," said Rashleigh.
+
+"Heart! Mine? Not affected?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Seriously?"
+
+"It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful."
+
+"Does this mean that I----" Ogilvie dropped into a chair. "Rashleigh,"
+he said suddenly, "I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable--a very measurable distance of the end."
+
+"Describe your sensations," said Rashleigh.
+
+Ogilvie did so.
+
+"Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively."
+
+"Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?"
+
+"I fear not."
+
+"Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening."
+
+"Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart."
+
+"But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot."
+
+"You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end."
+
+"Just what was said to my father, who did not live for years and
+years," answered the man. "I won't keep you any longer, Rashleigh."
+
+He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, "Doomed."
+
+He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.
+
+"You don't look well, Mr. Ogilvie."
+
+"Never mind about my looks, Harrison," replied Ogilvie. "I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention."
+
+"Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don't look well."
+
+"Looks are nothing," replied Ogilvie. "I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie's subservience to his chief's wishes, he should
+turn restive.
+
+"That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable," thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.
+
+He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.
+
+"Hullo!" said Lord Grayleigh; "come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself."
+
+Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, "I'm not going
+to account for myself to you," but she remembered her mother's
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.
+
+"If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can," she thought.
+
+So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.
+
+"We were chasing Sib," they said; "she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us."
+
+"And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all," was Grayleigh's
+response. "Sibyl has long legs for her age."
+
+Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.
+
+"I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?"
+
+This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl's soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.
+
+"Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog's," thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.
+
+"You and I will walk by ourselves for a little," he said. "Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments."
+
+Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl's point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be "not good," and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be "not good."
+
+Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.
+
+"We will sit here and talk, shall we?" he said.
+
+"Yes, shall us?" replied Sibyl.
+
+Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.
+
+"I 'spect I'm rather short for my age," she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.
+
+"Why, how old are you?" he asked.
+
+"Quite old," she replied gravely; "I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back."
+
+"You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head," he replied,
+looking at her gravely.
+
+She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.
+
+"You called me away from the other children 'cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn't you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?"
+
+"Of course he is."
+
+"Did he ask about me?"
+
+"Yes, he asked me how you were."
+
+"And what did you say?"
+
+"I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite."
+
+Sibyl's eyes began to dance.
+
+"What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?" asked Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Of you," answered Sibyl with promptitude.
+
+"Come, that's very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?"
+
+"May I?" said Sibyl with great eagerness. "Do you really, truly mean
+it?"
+
+"I certainly mean it."
+
+"You won't tell--mother?"
+
+"I won't tell--mother," said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.
+
+Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.
+
+"I am glad," she said with emphasis. "I don't want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It's
+most 'portant that I should speak to you, and if you will promise----"
+
+"I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it."
+
+"You won't like it," said Sibyl.
+
+"You must leave me to judge of that."
+
+"I am going to be fwightfully rude."
+
+"Indeed! that is highly diverting."
+
+"I don't know what diverting is, but it will hurt you."
+
+"I believe I can survive the pain."
+
+Sibyl looked full at him then.
+
+"Are you laughing at me?" she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.
+
+"I would not dream of doing so."
+
+The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh's eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl's father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.
+
+"Speak away, little girl," he said, "I promise not to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father."
+
+"Thank you for saying that, but it isn't true; for father's perfect,
+and I'm not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies."
+
+"Indeed!" said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. "Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords."
+
+"I don't understand what that means," said Sibyl.
+
+"For a duel; you have heard of a duel?"
+
+"Oh, in history, of course," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, "and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man."
+
+"Do you really want to run a sword through me?"
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.
+
+"Come," said Lord Grayleigh, "it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?"
+
+"About my father."
+
+"Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand."
+
+"I will try and 'splain. I didn't know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies."
+
+"Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know."
+
+"I want to."
+
+"Fire away then."
+
+"You told someone--I don't know the name--you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus."
+
+"Indeed," said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. "I told
+somebody--that is diverting."
+
+"It's not diverting," said Sibyl, "it's cruel, it's mean, it's wrong;
+it's lies--black lies. Now you know."
+
+"But whom did I tell?"
+
+"Somebody, and somebody told me--I'm not going to tell who told me."
+
+"Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?"
+
+"I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn't act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so."
+
+"Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl."
+
+"He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect."
+
+The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.
+
+"And mother is perfect, too," she said, turning and facing him.
+
+Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.
+
+"Oh, no," he said.
+
+"So you don't wonder that I hate you," continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. "It's 'cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you."
+
+"Listen now, little girl." Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.
+
+"Don't shrink away, don't turn from me," he said; "I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that little girls
+don't understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down _good_ fellow."
+
+"The best in all the world?" queried Sibyl.
+
+"I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father."
+
+"And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father's quite
+perfect?"
+
+"Men like myself don't care to own themselves in the wrong," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and the fact is--listen, you queer little mortal--I don't
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any."
+
+"You have met my father and my mother."
+
+"Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me."
+
+"Would he?" said the child. She looked wistful and interested. "There
+are lots of things I want to be 'splained to me," she said. Then,
+after a moment--"I'll think whether I'll be friends with you, and
+I'll let you know, may be to-morrow."
+
+As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.
+
+"Poor little maid!" he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl's words had affected
+him.
+
+"The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful," was his
+inward thought; "it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won't
+affect the public as Ogilvie's report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl's faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl."
+
+These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.
+
+"What am I," he said to himself, "to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?" And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"Come in and sit down," he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+"It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter."
+
+"Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly."
+
+"I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly."
+
+"I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don't wonder that I should ask you the question."
+
+"She has a very great respect for you," said Lord Grayleigh; "it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl's had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.
+
+Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.
+
+"Your little girl has the highest opinion of you," he repeated; "the
+very highest."
+
+"And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense," said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. "You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am"--she
+smiled--"charming."
+
+"You are that, undoubtedly," said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.
+
+"I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don't want to be. Sibyl's
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+utmost----"
+
+"You are doing what?" said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.
+
+"To open her eyes."
+
+"I would not if I were you," he said, gravely; "it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal."
+
+"What are you talking about now?"
+
+"I don't often read my Bible," he continued, "but, of course, I did as
+a boy--most boys do. My mother was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book."
+
+"You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before."
+
+"I must tell it to you. 'Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.'"
+
+"How unpleasant," said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, "and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?"
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+"What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?"
+
+"I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes."
+
+"Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?"
+
+"Precisely."
+
+"Has he promised?"
+
+"Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it."
+
+"What does assaying the mine mean?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.
+
+"To assay a mine means to find out accurately what it contains," said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie's conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone's gaze at that instant.
+
+"Nevertheless," he continued, after a pause, "your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse."
+
+"He will be a madman if he does," cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.
+
+"According to Sibyl's light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience."
+
+"Philip's conscience!" said the wife, with a sneer; "what next?"
+
+"It appears to me," said Lord Grayleigh, "that he has an active one."
+
+"It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug."
+
+"Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband's
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it more----"
+
+"I really will not stay here to be lectured," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered."
+
+"And I cannot answer it, for I do not know."
+
+"But you think he will?"
+
+"That is my impression."
+
+"You can, at least, tell me what occurred."
+
+"I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland."
+
+"To go where?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.
+
+"As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?"
+
+"I didn't know."
+
+"Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares."
+
+"What do you mean by being paid well?"
+
+"He will have his expenses, and something over."
+
+"Something over! that is a very elastic term."
+
+"In your husband's case it will mean thousands."
+
+"Oh, I see; and then the shares?"
+
+"The shares will practically make him a rich man."
+
+"Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line." She turned to leave the summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.
+
+"If I were you," he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, "if I were you, upon my honor, I'd leave him
+alone."
+
+"Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?"
+
+"Very well," said Lord Grayleigh; "I only ventured to make a
+suggestion."
+
+She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:
+
+"I never found you so disagreeable before." She then left the
+summer-house.
+
+Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.
+
+"May I speak to you?" he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.
+
+She ran to his side at once.
+
+"Don't you want to send your father a letter by this post?"
+
+"Yes, of course; is there time?"
+
+"I will make time; go into the house and write to him."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"He would like to hear from you."
+
+"Do you want me to say anything special?"
+
+"Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all." And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl's letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie's was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.
+
+The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.
+
+On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie's plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl's was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie's was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother's, then the child's. Sibyl's
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:--
+
+     MY DEAR OGILVIE,
+
+     Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+     only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+     unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+     yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+     day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+     with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+     to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+     longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+     hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann & Co.
+
+               Yours sincerely,
+                    GRAYLEIGH.
+
+Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.
+
+"I did not want to go there," he thought. "I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me--what he pays will be Sibyl's, the provision for her future. But I
+don't want to see the child--until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn't want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable."
+
+He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.
+
+"If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound," he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh's verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh's letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.
+
+He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.
+
+This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.
+
+"He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her."
+
+"But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!"
+
+"That is exactly as her father pleases," replied Lord Grayleigh. "I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.
+
+As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.
+
+"Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss," she thought; "but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him."
+
+She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.
+
+Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.
+
+"Well, Mildred, and how are you?" said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.
+
+"Quite well," she replied. "Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don't look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?"
+
+"I am all right," he answered shortly. "I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?"
+
+"I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you."
+
+"And"--Ogilvie glanced to right and left--"the child?"
+
+"She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?"
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage," continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband's arm.
+
+Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie's intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.
+
+"It is good of you," pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. "I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and--and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go."
+
+"Debts, you mean," said Ogilvie, bluntly. "I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will be----"
+
+"Oh, Phil!" Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned very white.
+
+"I will speak about them before I leave," he continued. "Now I must
+find Grayleigh."
+
+"Is it true that you are going on Saturday?"
+
+"Quite true."
+
+"Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order."
+
+"I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week."
+
+"If you really don't want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here."
+
+"I don't want you," he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.
+
+"Sibyl will be delighted to see you," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way."
+
+"That reminds me," said Ogilvie. "I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me."
+
+"Of what?"
+
+"I do not wish her to be told."
+
+"Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric."
+
+"I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia."
+
+"What, never?"
+
+"She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, you understand? I won't go at all if you tell her."
+
+"Oh, of course, I understand," said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+"but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?"
+
+"I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband's arm.
+
+"You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?"
+
+"You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy."
+
+"My bills! but I really----"
+
+"We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go."
+
+"Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?"
+
+"They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work."
+
+"Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!"
+
+The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.
+
+"There is Lord Grayleigh," he said. "I must go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid." He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.
+
+"There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?"
+
+"No," she began, then she hesitated.
+
+"What more?"
+
+"A trinket, it took my fancy--a diamond cross--you noticed it. I could
+not resist it."
+
+"How much?" said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.
+
+"Two thousand pounds."
+
+"Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don't keep me."
+
+He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.
+
+"This is good," said the nobleman. "I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see."
+
+"Shall we go into the house?" said Ogilvie; "I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday."
+
+"You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course."
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Now listen, Ogilvie," said Lord Grayleigh, as they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, "you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up."
+
+"Can I? I thought the die was cast."
+
+"The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I _could_ get Atherton to
+take your place even now."
+
+"Even now?" echoed Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I"--Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl's face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie's face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man's whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.
+
+"I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want," he said,
+with emphasis.
+
+Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.
+
+"The time for discussing the thing is over," he said. "I will
+go--and--do _as you wish_. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down."
+
+"What do you mean by the price down?"
+
+"I want money."
+
+"Of course, you shall have it."
+
+"I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create."
+
+"How much more?" Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order."
+
+"Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is--I will confide
+in you so far--my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her."
+
+"I know your child," said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; "she
+is out of the common."
+
+A spasm of pain crossed the father's face.
+
+"She is," he answered slowly. "I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)--if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter."
+
+"I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,"
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, "What you wish shall be done."
+
+The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh's private
+account.
+
+"This clinches matters," he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.
+
+"You will see Spielmann for all the rest," was Grayleigh's answer;
+"and now, if you must catch the train----"
+
+"Yes, I must; good-by."
+
+Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.
+
+"Have you seen your wife?" he asked. "Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?"
+
+"No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station."
+
+Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.
+
+"Daddy, daddy!" she cried.
+
+He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.
+
+"Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!"
+
+But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.
+
+"I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie," said Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.
+
+"But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come," said Sibyl.
+
+"I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together."
+
+"Oh, 'licious!" cried Sibyl, "more than 'licious; but what will mother
+say?"
+
+"Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick."
+
+In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie's arm was tight round Sibyl's waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.
+
+"There's something troubling him, he likes having me near him,"
+thought the child. "I wouldn't let him see that he's squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world."
+
+The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.
+
+"We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then," he thought. "I won't tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something." Then the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.
+
+"Wait for the child," he said to the servant, "and take her back
+carefully to the house."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the man, touching his hat.
+
+Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.
+
+"I have my ticket," he said, "we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes."
+
+"Three whole precious minutes," repeated Sibyl. "What is it, father?"
+
+"I am thinking of something," he said.
+
+"What?" asked the girl.
+
+"For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world."
+
+"Father! why, so we are," she cried. "Mother's not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"You don't look quite well, dear father."
+
+"I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don't come to little girls."
+
+"Of course they don't, father, but when I'm a woman I'll have them.
+I'll take them instead of you."
+
+"Now listen, my darling."
+
+"Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, _very_ solemn; I know you when you're in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don't you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?"
+
+"Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?"
+
+"Mayn't I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there's no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I'd like to go back with you, wouldn't it be fun! Couldn't you take
+me?"
+
+"I could, of course," said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.
+
+"No, Sib," he said, "you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone."
+
+"Of course not," she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.
+
+"It would have been nice all the same," said Ogilvie. "Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling."
+
+She flung her arms tightly round his neck.
+
+"Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again--of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that I----"
+
+"Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!"
+
+"That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?"
+
+"For you and Lord Jesus Christ," she answered softly.
+
+"Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here's my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by."
+
+"I'll see you again very, very soon, father?"
+
+"Very soon," answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.
+
+"Anybody come to meet you, Miss?"
+
+"No, thank you," she answered with dignity; "I was seeing my father
+off to town; there's my twap waiting outside."
+
+The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.
+
+Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh's feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father's face which puzzled her.
+
+"He ought to have me at home with him," she thought. "I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he's mostly not well. He's beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he's mostly not well when he does it. I
+'spect he's nearer Lord Jesus when he's not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don't want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him."
+
+Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.
+
+"My dear Sibyl, where _have_ you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute."
+
+The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother's angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.
+
+"I didn't do anything naughty, really, Mummy," she said. "Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He's off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap."
+
+"Don't say twap, sound your 'r'--trap."
+
+"Tw-rap," struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.
+
+"And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick."
+
+"Oh, 'licious," said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.
+
+"You must make me quite my prettiest self," she said to the nurse;
+"you must do your very best, 'cos mother----"
+
+"What about your mother now, missy?"
+
+"'Cos mother's just a little----Oh, nothing," said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.
+
+"She likes me best when I'm pretty," continued the child; "but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, I can't say I did."
+
+"He talked to me in a most pwivate way," continued Sibyl. "He told me
+most 'portant things, and I promised him, Nursie--I promised him that
+I'd----Oh, no! I won't tell you. Perhaps I won't be able to keep my
+promise, and then you'd----Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don't be
+'quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+'quisitiveness; but you aren't to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed."
+
+"What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?"
+
+"About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn't; it shows how little they know. It's 'cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don't understand perfect people. But
+there's the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie."
+
+Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.
+
+Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband's
+departure, although she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Presently," said Lady Helen, "when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you'll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take your----"
+
+But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.
+
+"What ship do you mean?" said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, "the ship that is
+going to take my--my what?"
+
+"Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?" interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.
+
+"But this ship was going out," said Sibyl. "Never mind, I 'spect it's
+a secret; there's lots of 'em floating round to-day. I've got some
+'portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don't blush no more."
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.
+
+"When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible," he said; "but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer."
+
+Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.
+
+Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester's eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen's fair face.
+
+He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband's letter.
+
+"Well," she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; "he is
+off, it is a _fait accompli_. Do you know, I am relieved."
+
+"Are you?" he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man's
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.
+
+"Really," she said with an impatient movement, "I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her."
+
+"But without succeeding," interrupted Jim Rochester. "I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now," he added, "and I never saw a
+nicer little girl."
+
+"Oh, that is what strangers always say," replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, "and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter."
+
+"I am glad you feel it," said Rochester.
+
+"Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day."
+
+"Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie," said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, "I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don't
+think I ever met a sweeter child."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.
+
+"There you go," she said. "Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers."
+
+As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.
+
+"The annoying part of this letter," she said, "is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don't think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent----Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don't you play with your companions?" For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.
+
+"I thought--I thought," she began; "I thought, mother, that I heard
+you----" her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.
+
+"It's not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a--a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?"
+
+"I said nothing of the sort," replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, "nothing of the sort; go and
+play."
+
+Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.
+
+"It's wicked for good people to tell lies, isn't it?" she said then,
+slowly.
+
+"Wicked," cried her mother; "it's shamefully wicked."
+
+"And you are good, mother, you don't ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course." She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.
+
+"I wish things would be 'splained to me," she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. "There are more and more
+things every day want 'splaining. I certainly did hear her say it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said 'in his
+absence.' Oh, what can it mean?"
+
+The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.
+
+"What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl," he said.
+"Is anything the matter?"
+
+Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.
+
+"I want to ask you a question," she said.
+
+"You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+called----"
+
+"Sibyl," said the child, beginning to laugh; "if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?"
+
+Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.
+
+"What would you like best in the world?"
+
+"Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week--we are going home this day week."
+
+"And what will you have when you go home?"
+
+"Father's kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me."
+
+"Well," said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father's kisses, "we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?"
+
+"I know," said Sibyl, laughing, "a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn't afford it. Oh, I do want a pony."
+
+"You shall have one," said Lord Grayleigh; "it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl."
+
+"Do you really think I am good?"
+
+"Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all."
+
+"Wouldn't father like to hear you. It's wonderful how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see--oh, but you shan't
+look." She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. "But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone."
+
+"Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like," said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.
+
+"It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail," said Sibyl; "and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother's side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I'd like a riding habit like mother's, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can't 'ford one for me, but you'll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won't you?"
+
+"I'll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit," said Lord
+Grayleigh. "I'll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?"
+
+[Illustration: "A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?"
+asked Sibyl.--Page 123. _Daddy's Girl._]
+
+"I don't mind what sort my darling pony is," answered the child. "I
+only want to have it. Oh, you are nice. I began by not liking you,
+but I like you awfully now. You are very nice, indeed."
+
+"And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably."
+
+"There are lots of nice people in the world," said Sibyl. "It's a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn't never tell a
+lie, could she?"
+
+"Oh, it's the feminine gender," said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.
+
+"It's a she," said Sibyl; "could she; could she?"
+
+"A perfect person could not, little girl."
+
+"Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you," said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.
+
+"It's all right," she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. "It's all right; I got a fright, but there wasn't a word of
+it true. Come, let's play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy."
+
+In a week's time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.
+
+"You don't know what father is," she said, looking full up into
+Rochester's eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.
+
+"I have had a good time here," she said, "very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there's no place for me like my own,
+own home. It's 'cos of father."
+
+"Yes," said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father's absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.
+
+"It is at night that my father is the most perfect of all," she said.
+"I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I'm
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else."
+
+"But your mother?" stammered Rochester. He was about to add, "She
+would go to your room, would she not?" when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.
+
+"Oh, you're thinking about my perfect mother, too," said Sibyl. "Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon--you have heard of
+him, haven't you?"
+
+Rochester nodded.
+
+"He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just 'splained about my mother.
+It's really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat'rally like father's way best.
+Mother's way is the goodest for me, p'waps. Don't you think mother's
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"Seems to me," said Sibyl, "I'm always looking for Lady Helen when I'm
+with you. Is it 'cos you're so desperate fond of her?"
+
+"Don't you like her yourself?" said the young man, reddening visibly.
+
+"Like her? I like her just awfully. She's the most 'licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?"
+
+"Well, I can't honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so."
+
+"Do," said Sibyl; "ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to hear
+about him. Now come along and let's find her."
+
+So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester's face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little _distrait_. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith--
+
+"Cheer up, won't you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run."
+
+"Don't talk like that," said Rochester in a voice of pain.
+
+"Don't what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, 'It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, 'cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.' Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,"
+said the young man.
+
+"But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don't know how you look when you
+look at her, oh--ever so eager, same as I look when father's in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she's as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by--good-by."
+
+Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.
+
+The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.
+
+"It is my present to you," said Lord Grayleigh, "and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," said Sibyl, "I don't want _everyone_ to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but--don't please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I'll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good."
+
+"Well, I won't," said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.
+
+"I 'spect father will write you a most loving letter about this," said
+Sibyl. "Won't he be 'sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?"
+
+"Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school."
+
+"Oh, I never go to school," said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. "I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that--oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn't suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It's
+all right, isn't it?"
+
+"So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him."
+
+"Father will tell me a name. I won't let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. Rochester for me--oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen--good-by."
+
+They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.
+
+Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.
+
+"Sit back in your seat and don't chatter," she said, "you disturb
+other people."
+
+The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl's own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.
+
+"Mother," she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, "I'm
+'proving, aren't I?"
+
+"Proving, what do you mean?"
+
+"_Im_proving, mother."
+
+"I can't say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days."
+
+"Oh!" said the child, "oh!"
+
+Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.
+
+"It's 'cos of father," she said; "he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I _have_ tried, _haven't_ you noticed it, mother? Won't you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?"
+
+"Don't worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead."
+
+"And to please father and Lord Jesus."
+
+"Yes, yes, child."
+
+"And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?"
+
+"We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it."
+
+"Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything--the pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would 'ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?"
+
+"Hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+The old gentleman buried himself in _The Times_ in order not to hear
+Sibyl's distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.
+
+"Take up your book and stop talking," said Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.
+
+"But it don't matter," she said to herself; "when I see father, he'll
+understand."
+
+They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.
+
+"Mother, may I ask John if father's likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P'waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?"
+
+"No, sit still, you do fidget so."
+
+"I'll try to be quiet, mother; it's only 'cos I'm so incited."
+
+"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, "what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if--as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny."
+
+Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother's.
+
+"What are you doing that for?"
+
+"'Cos I thought I'd rub you the right way," said Sibyl. "You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren't you, just now,
+mother?"
+
+"Don't be so ridiculous." Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.
+
+They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.
+
+"Father, father!" she called. "I'm back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are--Sibyl. I'm home again, father. The Angel is home again, father."
+
+She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.
+
+"She does not know yet," whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. "I am going into the
+library; don't tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.
+
+"I can't see father anywhere," she said: "I 'spect he's not back yet."
+
+"Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead."
+
+Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that Mr. Ogilvie's absence had
+not been alluded to in the child's presence.
+
+Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.
+
+"I am back, and I am going to be good," she said. "I really, truly am;
+aren't you glad to see me?"
+
+"Yes, Sibyl."
+
+"Go upstairs now, Sibyl," said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child's heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.
+
+"Well, never mind," she said to herself, "he can't help it, the
+darling; but he'll be back soon," and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "this is all most unpleasant."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the governess.
+
+"Why, this whim of my husband's. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion."
+
+"Oh, I don't quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,"
+said Miss Winstead; "he has peculiar ideas, that's all."
+
+"We need not discuss that point," said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. "We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland."
+
+"I?" said Miss Winstead; "I would really rather----"
+
+"I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy--any toy she fancies. Here's a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted."
+
+"Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father," interrupted Miss
+Winstead.
+
+"Well, for goodness' sake, don't make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months--that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that _I_ am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he'll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead--do it!"
+
+"When?" asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.
+
+"Oh, when you please, only don't worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won't see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don't I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?"
+
+"But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl."
+
+"Don't you know? Say that her father has gone--oh, by the way, there's
+a letter for her. I really don't know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?"
+
+"I still suffer very badly with my head," said Miss Winstead, "but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl."
+
+"I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be obliged----"
+
+"Oh, you need not go on," said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. "I know my duty. I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her."
+
+"No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable," said the mother. "Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don't forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir."
+
+Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.
+
+"Coward!" she said, under her breath.
+
+"I wish I was well out of this," thought the governess. "The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love."
+
+Miss Winstead's schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie's manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.
+
+Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.
+
+"Cook made these for Miss Sibyl," she said. "Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?"
+
+"No," said Miss Winstead; "and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like."
+
+"I wouldn't be in your shoes for a deal, Miss," replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.
+
+Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.
+
+"Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What's the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?"
+
+"I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl."
+
+"I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn't you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That's the way Nurse's
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?"
+
+"No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I'm thankful to say."
+
+"And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?"
+
+"All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss."
+
+"Don't make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea," said her governess.
+
+Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with--
+
+"I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?"
+
+"Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,"
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson's sweetheart.
+
+Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants' hall.
+
+"Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats 'em," she cried.
+"Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you're a-keeping company with. It's wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have."
+
+"That she have truly," said the cook, "and I'll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It's but to
+look at her to see how loving she is," continued the good woman. "How
+she'll live without the master beats me. The missus ain't worthy of
+her."
+
+This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant's mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants' hall.
+
+Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.
+
+"It's nearly five o'clock," she said, "father is sure to be in at six,
+don't you think so, Miss Winstead?"
+
+"He often doesn't come home till seven," answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you, Winnie dear," said Sibyl--this was
+her pet name for the governess; "you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said 'a
+shaking,' and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea."
+
+"Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes."
+
+"It is such a fine evening, that perhaps----"
+
+"No, no, I don't want to go."
+
+"But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop."
+
+This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.
+
+"How much money?" she asked in a tentative voice.
+
+"Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign."
+
+"Twenty shillings," said Sibyl, "I could get a lovely doll's house for
+that. But I think sometimes I am getting tired of my dolls. It's so
+stupid of 'em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll's house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it's a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am _very_ fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren't you, Winnie? Don't you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don't you like him?"
+
+"I don't know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear."
+
+"Have you been trying to 'prove yourself very much while I was away?"
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.
+
+"Prove myself?"
+
+"I can never say that whole word. _Im_prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?"
+
+"I always try, Sibyl."
+
+"Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you _are_ 'proved, you're
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you're sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I'll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman's to buy the doll's house. He is poor, and he'll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss 'em. Some children are _so_ careless. Yes, I'll go with you,
+and then we'll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He'll know that I'll be wanting him."
+
+"Sibyl, I have something to tell you."
+
+"What?"
+
+There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead's voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.
+
+"What is it?" said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.
+
+"It is something that will pain you, dear."
+
+"Oh!" said Sibyl, "go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don't like to be kept in 'spense."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night."
+
+Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.
+
+"I can bear it," she said; "go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?"
+
+"Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next."
+
+"Go on; I am bearing it," said Sibyl.
+
+She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.
+
+"It's a great shock, but I am bearing it," she said again. "_When_
+will I see him?"
+
+Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.
+
+"Child," she said, "don't look like that."
+
+"I'm looking no special way; I'm only bearing up. Is father dead?"
+
+"No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months."
+
+"A few months," said Sibyl. "He's not dead?" She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.
+
+"It's the little shots that hurt most," she said after a pause. "I
+wouldn't have felt it, if you had said he was dead."
+
+"Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won't be back by six."
+
+"Yes, I'll go out with you."
+
+She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.
+
+"I'd rather she cried and screamed; I'd rather she rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I'd rather she did anything than take it like that,"
+thought the governess.
+
+Sibyl went straight into the nursery.
+
+"Nursie," she said, "my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn't it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk."
+
+"Oh, my darling," said nursie, "this has hurt you horribly."
+
+"Don't," said Sibyl, "don't be sympathisy." She pushed nurse's
+detaining hand away.
+
+"It's the little shots that tell," she repeated. "I wouldn't have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse."
+
+She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.
+
+"Was it mother said you was to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then mother did tell me a----" Sibyl left off abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.
+
+"I hear you have got a pony," said Miss Winstead.
+
+"I don't want to talk about my pony, please," interrupted Sibyl. "Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in."
+
+"But why may we not talk about your pony?"
+
+"I don't want to ride my pony now."
+
+Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.
+
+"You have walked quite far enough to-night," she said, "you look very
+white."
+
+"I'm not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop."
+
+"A good idea," said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. "We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy."
+
+"Well, this is the turning, come along," said Sibyl.
+
+"But why should we go to Holman's, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street."
+
+"I'd much rather go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child's. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Holman," she said; "I hope I find you quite well."
+
+"Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health," replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.
+
+"I am glad of that," answered Sibyl. "I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?"
+
+"You thought a doll's house," interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.
+
+"Oh, it don't matter about that," said Sibyl, looking gravely back at
+her; "I mean it don't matter now. Mr. Holman, what's the most dusty of
+your toys, what's the most scratched, what's the toy that none of the
+other children would like?"
+
+"I have a whole heap of 'em," said Holman, shaking his head sadly.
+
+"That he have, poor dear," here interrupted Mrs. Holman. "How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn't buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It's because our shop is in a back
+street."
+
+"Oh, but it's a very nice street," said Sibyl; "it's retired, isn't
+it? Well, I'll buy twenty shillings' worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down."
+
+Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.
+
+"Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman," said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.
+
+"What ails her?" said Holman. "She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don't like her looks a bit."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months' time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress's dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.
+
+"Mother," said Sibyl.
+
+"What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly."
+
+"Please, mother, I can't sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don't know what it is, but it's worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I 'spect I'm lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?"
+
+"Oh dear, how you tremble," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn't you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?"
+
+"But, mother, that wouldn't have done me any good."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"They wouldn't be you. I'll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother."
+
+"Of course you may, child, but please don't disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep."
+
+Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.
+
+"Why don't you shut your eyes and go to sleep?" asked her mother.
+
+"I can't, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling," replied
+Sibyl.
+
+"What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl's.
+Sibyl's little hand was cold.
+
+"May I come quite close to you, mother?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+The next instant she was lying in her mother's arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.
+
+"Oh, now that's better," said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother's clasp.
+
+"I am much better," she said; "I didn't understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter."
+
+"Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?" asked her mother.
+
+"Not much; there's not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It's very hard, but I
+'spect I'll do it; I 'spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It's such a long, long way off."
+
+"For a most excellent reason," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit--we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring us----"
+
+"What?" asked the child. "What has he gone for?"
+
+"My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of _money_, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money."
+
+"No, I am not," said Sibyl. "I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is."
+
+"Who in the world is Mr. Holman?"
+
+"He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I can't 'splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money."
+
+"Plenty of money," echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; "that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we'll be rich."
+
+"Rich?" said Sibyl, "rich?" She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.
+
+"Is it nice, being rich?" she asked.
+
+"Of course it is."
+
+"But what does it do?"
+
+"Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks."
+
+"But I am more comfy in my common frocks."
+
+"Well, it gives you your nice food."
+
+"I don't care nothing about food."
+
+"It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, and----"
+
+"Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony."
+
+"Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness."
+
+"Do you think so?" said Sibyl. "And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?"
+
+"Very much indeed; I like the good things of life."
+
+"I'll try and understand," said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Nursie," said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, "mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we'll be very rich."
+
+"Um," replied nurse, with a grunt, "do she?"
+
+"Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It's very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has 'splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn't understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don't matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is."
+
+"Yes, dear," said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl's stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman's chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse's movements with close interest.
+
+"Why do you wear spectacles?" she asked suddenly.
+
+"Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain't as young as I was."
+
+"What does 'not as young as you was' mean?"
+
+"What I say, my dear."
+
+"I notice," said Sibyl, thoughtfully, "that all very, very old people
+say they're not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles 'cos
+you're not as young as you was, and 'cos you can't see as well as you
+did."
+
+"That's about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses."
+
+"Then I'm glad we're going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+'splain why I am glad," continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. "When our gold
+comes, nursie, you'll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses 'cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we'll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There's poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn't paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there's a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely _swampy_ sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there and they spend their money, and there's
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It's just 'cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn't it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won't come into his nice, quiet _back_ street. I
+like back streets, don't you, nursie? It's horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+"It's the way of the world, dear," answered nurse; "the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It's a cruel way, but it's the way the world has got."
+
+"Then I hate the world," said Sibyl. "My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn't
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?"
+
+"Oh, my love, there'd be a lot of things _He'd_ have to change if He
+came back; but don't ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don't get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you're looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see."
+
+"But I am perfectly well," answered Sibyl, "I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me 'rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I'll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he'll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won't have to wipe away her tears any more."
+
+Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath--
+
+"Bless her! the darling she is!"
+
+Smartly dressed, as was her mother's wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.
+
+"Oh, I am glad to see you," she said. "Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?"
+
+"I am very glad to see you," replied the young man; "but I did call to
+see your mother."
+
+"Well, come to the drawing-room, I'll entertain you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester--_nice_ Mr. Rochester."
+
+Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.
+
+Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.
+
+"Well?" she said.
+
+"Why do you say that?" he asked, in some confusion.
+
+"I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it."
+
+"Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things," answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.
+
+"Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+'splaining to me about rich people. It's most 'portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn't it, Mr. Rochester? It's the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn't it?"
+
+"That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?"
+
+Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, "Why, mother," but she
+checked herself. A cloud took some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.
+
+"When my own father comes back again we'll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you'll make," she said, "dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we'll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can."
+
+"What are shares?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich."
+
+"It's very puzzling," said Sibyl. "And it depends on father?"
+
+"Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don't you understand, it all depends on him."
+
+"It's _very_ puzzling," said Sibyl again. "Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I think so," he answered earnestly. "I shall buy several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me."
+
+"And you will be happy?"
+
+"Very happy if she says 'yes.' But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else."
+
+"You may trust me," said Sibyl, "I never tell things I'm told not to
+tell. You can't think what wonderful 'portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you'll be glad to be
+rich?"
+
+"Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife," he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.
+
+Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.
+
+"When father comes back he'll christen my pony," she said, "but no one
+else shall. I won't give it no name till he comes back."
+
+She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony's back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.
+
+Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.
+
+"It is very hot this morning," said the governess.
+
+"Oh, that don't matter," replied Sibyl. "Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?"
+
+"No," answered Miss Winstead, "I cannot say it is."
+
+"Full of thoughts, you know."
+
+"No," replied the governess again. "Don't turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly."
+
+Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead's instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said suddenly, "I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly 'portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?"
+
+"We shan't have time," replied Miss Winstead.
+
+"Oh, but I want to go," said Sibyl, knitting her brows, "don't let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans."
+
+"I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon."
+
+"Mother going into the country, what for?"
+
+"I cannot tell you, it is not my affair."
+
+"That means that you know, but you won't tell."
+
+"You can put it in that way if you like. I won't tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool."
+
+Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.
+
+"I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up," thought the little girl. "I don't like it, not a bit."
+
+Presently she slipped her hand through her governess's arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice--
+
+"Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can't think how 'portant it is."
+
+"I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again." Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.
+
+"We must hurry home," she said; "I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast."
+
+They left the Park, and came back in time for lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.
+
+"Why isn't Mr. Rochester here?" said the little girl at last.
+
+"He could not stay," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?"
+
+"He is nice, he is very nice," said the child; "he and Lady Helen--oh,
+more than nice. I like 'em very much, don't you, mother?"
+
+"Yes, dear." Mrs. Ogilvie got up. "Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening."
+
+"Good-by, mother dear."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.
+
+"Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, not at all."
+
+"I wonder if you're awfully hungry, Watson?"
+
+"Why so, Miss?"
+
+"Because it's time for the servants' dinner."
+
+"Well, Miss, I'm going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring."
+
+Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.
+
+"You couldn't, p'waps," said the little girl, knitting her brows, "you
+couldn't, p'waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?"
+
+"Where do you want to go, Miss?"
+
+"I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don't you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys."
+
+"I have heard of him from you, Miss."
+
+"It's most 'portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out."
+
+Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.
+
+"If you're very quick, Miss," he said, "I'll do it."
+
+"You are good," said Sibyl. "Do you know, Watson, that you're a very
+nice man--you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let's go; do
+let's be quick."
+
+A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman's
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.
+
+"Watson," said the little girl, "you can stand in the doorway. It's
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen."
+
+"No, Miss, I won't."
+
+Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance--when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.
+
+"Dear! dear!" she said; "I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I've splendid news for you."
+
+"What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn't send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. 'Tain't fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear."
+
+"But I like them," said the child; "I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly."
+
+"Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way."
+
+"Don't think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated--as though I were your little friend."
+
+"Which you are, darling--which you are."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn't know what to do with it. You
+said, 'Money ought to make money,' and you didn't know how your
+hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to 'splain it to me, and I tried to understand."
+
+"It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day."
+
+"Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?"
+
+"Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money."
+
+"Oh, I understand that," answered the child.
+
+"And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank."
+
+"It's there still, is it?" said Sibyl, her eyes shining.
+
+"Yes, dear."
+
+"Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?"
+
+"Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?" said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father's gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to----Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you'll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That's what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn't. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Bless you, darling," said Mrs. Holman, "so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting."
+
+"It's awfully exciting, isn't it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You'll be rich, and I'll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He'll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You'll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then."
+
+Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman's eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.
+
+"Come, Watson," she said, "you'll have a splendid appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.
+
+"My husband is not prepared to buy a place now," she said in
+conclusion, "but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market."
+
+The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie's heart, did come in the agent's way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+_distrait_ and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.
+
+This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.
+
+"It is the very best place of its kind in the market," she wrote. "It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.
+
+"It will be yours when father comes home," she said to the child.
+
+Sibyl skipped about madly.
+
+"It's just too 'licious!" she said. "Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn't it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don't you love Him very, very much, mother?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.
+
+"We can have a bazaar here," she said, "a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know."
+
+"Big-wigs?" said Sibyl, "what are they?"
+
+"People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale."
+
+"I don't understand, mother," answered Sibyl. "Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn't it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I'd like very much to send it to my ownest father."
+
+"Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him."
+
+"It's heart won't be dead," said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.
+
+"What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?" said nurse.
+
+"At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can't think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day."
+
+"H'm!" said nurse.
+
+"Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don't like it," said the child. "But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don't quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and--and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the _big-wigs_ are
+coming to it. Isn't it a funny word! perhaps you don't know what
+big-wigs are, but I do."
+
+Nurse laughed.
+
+"Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about."
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.
+
+"I don't want to lose the place," she said. "My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision."
+
+"If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear," replied
+the lawyer, "I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say--well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid."
+
+"Can you really?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.
+
+"At the worst it could be taken off your hands," he answered; "but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects"--he paused
+and looked thoughtful. "I can lend you the money if you wish it," he
+said then abruptly.
+
+"The money to enable me to pay a deposit?" she said.
+
+"Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October."
+
+"My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree," she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment's pause she
+spoke.
+
+"I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don't know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back."
+
+"I have plenty of funds to meet this loan," thought the lawyer. "I am
+safe so far." Aloud he said, "Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow."
+
+"This clinches the matter," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately."
+
+The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.
+
+"A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life," she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.
+
+On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.
+
+"You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow," she said. "I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o'clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river."
+
+Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.
+
+"It's the most darling, lovely place," she said; "nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours."
+
+"When our ship comes in, it will be ours," said Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.
+
+When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.
+
+"Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?" he asked.
+
+"What rumors?" Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. "I know nothing whatever
+about business," she said, testily, "I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England."
+
+"Of course it has not. Ogilvie's report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it."
+
+"Not a word, not a word," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent."
+
+"Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine," said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.
+
+"You will find cigars in that box," she said. "No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me."
+
+"Oh, do let her stay," earnestly pleaded the young man, "she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before."
+
+"Well, as you please, but don't spoil her," said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.
+
+"I have a lot of things to ask you," she said; "I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?"
+
+"It is extremely difficult for me to explain," said Rochester, "but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people."
+
+"What's subscribed?"
+
+"Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?"
+
+"Yes, whoever they may be. I don't know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred."
+
+"Oh, that's very nice," said Sibyl; "I seem to understand, and yet I
+don't understand."
+
+"You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don't
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men."
+
+"And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?" said Sibyl.
+
+"He will say it if the gold is there."
+
+"And if it is not?"
+
+"Then he will tell the truth."
+
+"Of course," said Sibyl, proudly. "My father couldn't tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn't it, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I should say quite impossible," replied Rochester firmly.
+
+"You are awfully nice, you know," she said; "you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then."
+
+"So they will," replied Rochester.
+
+"And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn't the new
+place got a lovely name--Silverbel?"
+
+"It sounds very pretty, Sibyl."
+
+"And you will come to-morrow and see it, won't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will bring Lady Helen?"
+
+"Your mother will bring Lady Helen."
+
+"It's all the same," replied Sibyl. "Oh, I am so glad."
+
+She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.
+
+Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:
+
+     "DARLINGIST FATHER,--Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+     the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+     rich. Here's the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+     father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+     Sibyl. It's hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+     morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+     morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+     It's most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+     It's most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+     full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+     here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+     father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don't know
+     how portant it is. It's cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+     and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+     spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+     and I mustn't tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+     Oh, it is portant.
+
+               "Your lovin
+                    "SIBYL."
+
+"He'll understand," thought Sibyl; "he's wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he'll quite know what I mean by the 'heart of the
+rose,'" and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.
+
+The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until--but that
+refers to another part of the story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.
+
+It was now the heart of a glorious summer--such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.
+
+Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother's side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.
+
+Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.
+
+"Here you both is!" she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.
+
+"You do look nice," said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, "and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him."
+
+"Who is Watson?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"Don't you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in _dear_ Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I 'spect they'll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don't know how fond I am of Watson; he's a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here's the carriage. Let's all get in.
+Aren't you both glad you're coming, and coming together, both of you
+_together_, to visit Silverbel. It's a 'licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let's
+all get into the carriage."
+
+Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+_enfant terrible_. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.
+
+"I had meant to put it off until my husband returned," she remarked
+finally, "but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris & Liberty to furnish the
+place, and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately."
+
+"Oh, yes," cried Sibyl, "you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?"
+
+"If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall," replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.
+
+They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.
+
+"There they go!" cried the child.
+
+"There who go, Sibyl?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"The one who wants to marry the other," replied Sibyl. "Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren't you awfully
+incited?"
+
+"You are a very silly, rude little girl," replied the mother. "You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+don't take even the slightest notice when they return."
+
+"Aren't I to speak to them?" asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.
+
+"Of course, but you are not to say anything special."
+
+"Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?"
+
+"No; don't be such a little goose."
+
+"I always notice," replied Sibyl, softly, "that when _quite_ strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can't I say
+anything more--more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they'd like it. I thought they'd like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it."
+
+"About it?"
+
+"Their love, mother, their love for--for each other."
+
+"Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?"
+
+"Me, mother," said Sibyl.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.
+
+"You are a most ridiculous little girl," she said. "Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?"
+
+"You has put it plain, mother," replied Sibyl. "I think I do. Now,
+let's look at the flowers."
+
+"I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,"
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?"
+
+"It's lovely!" replied Sibyl.
+
+"I am devoted to the country," continued the mother; "there is no
+place like the country for me."
+
+"So I think, too," replied Sibyl. "I love the country. We'll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won't we, mother?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead."
+
+"Now you are talking in your silly way again," replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+"You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman."
+
+"But, mother, why aren't they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father's mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It's very puzzling, and yet I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!"
+
+The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.
+
+Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.
+
+"What rhyme?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"I know it all, shall I say it to you?" cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:--
+
+     "One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,
+     Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,
+     Six _he_ loves, seven _she_ loves, eight they both love,
+       Nine he comes, ten he tarries,
+       Eleven he woos, twelve he marries."
+
+Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that "twelve he marries," she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.
+
+"I knew _you'd_ have luck," she said. Then she caught her mother's
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.
+
+"Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon," said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie's suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.
+
+Rochester sprang to his feet.
+
+"I can easily get a boat," he said; "I'll go and consult with mine
+host."
+
+He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment's
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.
+
+"Is that why our house is called Silverbel?" asked Sibyl. "Is it 'cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and 'cos it is _belle_,
+French for beautiful?"
+
+"Perhaps so," answered the mother with a smile.
+
+The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.
+
+"What a pity we must go back to London," said Sibyl. "I don't think I
+ever had such a lovely day before."
+
+"We shall soon be back here," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town."
+
+"That will be lovely," said Sibyl. "Oh, won't my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!"
+
+When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.
+
+"This came for you, madam, in your absence," he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:
+
+"Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.
+
+"I hope there is nothing wrong?" asked Rochester.
+
+"Nothing at all," she replied. "Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don't stare in that rude way."
+
+The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.
+
+Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and _distrait_. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?" whispered Sibyl.
+
+"No, Sibyl; I am quite happy."
+
+"Then you are thinking very hard?"
+
+"I often think."
+
+"I do so want you to be awfully happy."
+
+"I know you do, and I think I shall be."
+
+"Then that is right. _Twelve he marries_. Wasn't it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn't it luck?"
+
+"Yes; but hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl's hands, and stroked it fondly.
+
+"Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?" asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.
+
+"No," he answered; "she is quite naughty about that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you."
+
+"You ought to," said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; "it would do him
+good. It's an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, 'A burnt child dreads the
+fire,' or 'Marry in haste, repent at leisure,' or----"
+
+"Oh, that will do, Sibyl." Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.
+
+"Well," said Sibyl, "perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It's like having more sugar. The 'home truth'
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can't swallow it _without_ the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: 'Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,' and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren't
+there, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter," cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; "you talk the most utter nonsense," and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.
+
+The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.
+
+"Tiresome man!" she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.
+
+"Well," she said, "why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?"
+
+"You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"I have never heard of _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"But City men know it," replied Mr. Acland, "and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.
+
+"How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms," she said.
+"What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word."
+
+"He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right," replied
+Acland. "There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now."
+
+"This is very disturbing," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband's report
+likely to reach England?"
+
+"Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months' time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie's report."
+
+"Won't you stay and have some supper?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+"I have said already that I do not understand these things."
+
+"I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of £2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place."
+
+"No other place will suit me except Silverbel," she answered.
+
+"I strongly recommend you not to buy it now."
+
+"And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?"
+
+"Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October."
+
+"Then pray don't let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland."
+
+Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.
+
+"I thought it only fair to tell you," he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:
+
+"What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.
+
+Sibyl's room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.
+
+Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child's sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl's father came back.
+
+"For Jim," continued Lady Helen, "will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along."
+
+Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.
+
+"Of course, it is full of gold, quite full," thought the child; "but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it."
+
+She began to count the days now to her father's return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.
+
+Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child's
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river's edge.
+
+The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.
+
+The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.
+
+Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.
+
+"We have had no cable yet from your husband," he said, "and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious."
+
+"Oh, pray don't croak," was Mrs. Ogilvie's response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.
+
+"You are a bird of ill-omen," she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.
+
+He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.
+
+"When people are perfectly happy and know nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?" she continued. "I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one."
+
+"That is my own impression," said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; "but don't
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October."
+
+"Oh! Philip will be back before then," answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. "Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?"
+
+Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.
+
+"Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?" she asked.
+
+"We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again."
+
+"Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!"
+
+Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.
+
+"Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you," she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. "I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful."
+
+A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.
+
+"Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"Oh, some time, but not at present," replied Sibyl. "I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn't Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?"
+
+"Charming," replied Grayleigh. "Is your mother in, little woman?"
+
+"I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?"
+
+"I don't know, I will tell you presently."
+
+Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh's. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.
+
+"Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,"
+she said.
+
+"Because you have got a pretty new place?"
+
+"No, no, nothing of that sort. It's 'cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he'll
+come. I'm always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn't it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?"
+
+Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.
+
+[Illustration: "Shall I find mother for you?" asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.--Page 208. _Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Shall I find mother for you?" she said. "Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You're a big-wig,
+aren't you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they were people in a _good social position_.
+I remember the words so well 'cos I couldn't understand 'em, but when
+I asked Miss Winstead to 'splain, she said mother meant ladies and
+gentlemen, and when I asked her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen
+was, she said people who behaved nicely. Now isn't it all very
+puzzling, 'cos the person who I think behaves nicest of all is our
+footman, Watson. He has lovely manners and splendid impulses; and
+perhaps the next nicest is dear Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop
+in a back street. But when I asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman
+were big-wigs, she said I spoked awful nonsense. What do you think,
+Lord Grayleigh? Please do try to 'splain."
+
+Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl's long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.
+
+"A big-wig is quite an ugly word," he said, "but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life."
+
+"You haven't 'splained a bit," said the little girl. "Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?"
+
+"I will answer that question after I have seen your mother."
+
+Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.
+
+"He doesn't look quite happy," she thought; "I'm sorry he is coming
+to take up mother's time. Mother promised, and it's most 'portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It's on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+'portant. Oh, I do hope she won't forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can't. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I'd go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert'nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I'll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can't come, she must."
+
+Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.
+
+"You didn't hear by the last mail?" was Lord Grayleigh's query.
+
+"No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence."
+
+"He is probably up country," was Lord Grayleigh's answer. "I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you."
+
+"I have not heard," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?"
+
+"Oh, quite charming," said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.
+
+"I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase," continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+"Indeed!" Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.
+
+"Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit," continued
+the lady, "but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won't he?" Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge," he replied,
+oracularly. "Don't be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters."
+
+"Perhaps," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. "By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons."
+
+"Certainly," he answered; "at what date is the bazaar to be held?"
+
+She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.
+
+"I shall stay in town to-night," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat."
+
+Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.
+
+She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott's old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener's boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.
+
+Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan's cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.
+
+Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan's cottage. They were to start about six
+o'clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.
+
+The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.
+
+"Well, Missy," said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into the
+soil; "don't stand just there, Missy, you'll get the earth all over
+you."
+
+Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.
+
+"How is Dan?" she asked, after a pause.
+
+"A-wrastling with his pain," answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.
+
+"Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?" asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.
+
+"Is he expecting you, Missy?" answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. "Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit 'em or not? You said you'd go, Missy, and Dan he's
+counting the minutes."
+
+"Of course I'll go," replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+_distrait_. Then she added, "I will go if I possibly can."
+
+"I didn't know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, 'I'll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.' Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit."
+
+Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.
+
+"Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful," she said, "I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly."
+
+"But why, Missy? What's up? I don't like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting."
+
+"Mr. Scott, I'm awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can't
+go."
+
+Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.
+
+"You promised you'd go," he said then slowly.
+
+"I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn't take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?"
+
+"I could not," answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child's opinion, almost venomous vigor.
+
+"Besides," he added, "it wouldn't be the same. It's you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I'd keep my word to
+the poor. It's a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there's God's curse on them as do."
+
+Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.
+
+"Lord Jesus wouldn't curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him," she thought; but, all the same, the old man's words
+seemed to chill her.
+
+"I'll do my very best," she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:
+
+"I wouldn't disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He's
+a-counting of the minutes."
+
+A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.
+
+"I could take the apples," he said to himself; "I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don't see why the quality shouldn't keep their word,
+and I'm due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She's a rare fine little 'un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she'll take him the apples."
+
+So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.
+
+Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl's own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.
+
+"Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?"
+
+"Is your head any better?" asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.
+
+"No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea."
+
+Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.
+
+Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.
+
+"It don't matter about my tea," she said to herself. "Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it's all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother's horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples."
+
+The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.
+
+"It's awful to neglect the poor," she said to herself. "Old Scott was
+very solemn. He's a good man, is Scott, he's a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it's
+wonderful what he finds in them--the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said 'Read your Psalms and you'll know. Don't the Psalms
+for the day say "the Lord of glory thundereth"?' and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It's wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn't say a thing if it wasn't true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn't like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan _will_ be waiting and watching.
+A little girl whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I'll get the apples ready."
+
+Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.
+
+"This will tempt dear little Dan," she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.
+
+"Ben! Ben! Ben!" called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.
+
+"Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!" she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.
+
+"I could ride him alone," thought Sibyl; "it is only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long--that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I'll go. It's too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him."
+
+Just then a voice at the stable door said--
+
+"Hullo! I say!" and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.
+
+"Oh, Johnson," she said eagerly, "I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple."
+
+"What is it, Miss?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can't you?"
+
+"I guess I can," answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.
+
+"Want to ride?" he said. "Who's a-goin' with yer?"
+
+"No one, I am going alone."
+
+Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.
+
+"I say," he cried, "them's good, I like apples."
+
+"You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off."
+
+Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl's intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony's back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.
+
+"It don't matter about putting on my habit," said Sibyl. "It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can't I, Johnson?"
+
+"If you like, Miss," answered Johnson.
+
+"I think I will, really, Johnson," said Sibyl in that confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.
+
+"I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house."
+
+"Oh, is that it?" answered Johnson.
+
+"Yes, that's it; they don't understand. No one understands in the
+house how 'portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?"
+
+Johnson scratched his head.
+
+"I guess not!" he said.
+
+"If I don't take them, he'll fret and fret," said Sibyl; "and he'll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn't it so, Johnson? You understand, don't you?"
+
+"A bit, perhaps, Missy."
+
+"Well, I am very much obliged to you," said the little girl. "Here's
+two apples, real beauties, and here's my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him."
+
+Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.
+
+Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.
+
+"I am so glad I did it," she thought; "it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I'll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he'll
+understand. I'll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She'll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she'll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she'll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she'll say afterward, 'I'm sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.' I am doing right,
+aren't I, Lord Jesus?" and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.
+
+The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o'clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:
+
+"Are you in, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.
+
+"Ah! it's you, Missy, at last," she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. "Has you brought the
+apples?" she cried. "You are very late, Missy. Oh, I'm obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?"
+
+"You can send it to-morrow, please," answered Sibyl.
+
+"And you ain't a-coming in? The lad's expecting you."
+
+"I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn't able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I'll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won't make him an out-and-out
+promise, 'cos if you make a promise to the poor and don't keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don't quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+[Illustration: An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.--Page 224.
+_Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Oh, don't I," answered Mrs. Scott. "It's a pity you can't come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain't no time to be
+a-visiting of you. That's him calling out, Missy; you wait a
+minute, and I'll find out what he wants."
+
+Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.
+
+"Quiet, darling; quiet, pet," said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.
+
+Presently Mrs. Scott came back.
+
+"Dan's obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He 'opes you'll
+come another day."
+
+"I wish, I do wish I could come in now," said Sibyl wistfully; "but I
+just daren't. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott."
+
+"Oh, that," answered Mrs. Scott, "but you ain't no call to know."
+
+"But I'd like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+"There are all sorts," replied Mrs. Scott. "Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter'ble until he died. It's my
+belief he haunts the churchyard now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter'ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life."
+
+"Well, I really must be going now," said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+"Good-by; tell Dan I'll try hard to come and see him to-morrow."
+
+She turned the pony's head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.
+
+"She's a gloomy sort," thought the child, "she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don't take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don't like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to 'splain what a curse was. I 'spect I'm a very queer
+girl, and I didn't really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn't go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I'll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won't be about. I shouldn't like to see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we'll soon be back home
+again."
+
+Sibyl lightly touched the pony's ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.
+
+Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.
+
+"A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet," said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.
+
+Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession.
+She would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless
+Micah Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the
+next instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children's shouts were the final straw.
+
+"Not quite so fast, darling," cried Sibyl; "a little slower, pet."
+
+But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called--
+
+"Hullo! Stop, for goodness' sake; don't turn the corner. Stop! Stop!"
+
+Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+On a certain morning in the middle of July the _Gaika_ with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.
+
+A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.
+
+"Well, Ogilvie," he cried, "we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?"
+
+"I cannot quite tell," answered Ogilvie. "It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned."
+
+"You don't look too well," said his friend. "Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?"
+
+"I do not expect letters," was Ogilvie's answer; "there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel."
+
+Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.
+
+"And yet I am doing it for her," he muttered to himself. "I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me--that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again."
+
+He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly--
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?"
+
+He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.
+
+"That is my name," replied Ogilvie; "and yours?"
+
+"I am Messrs. Spielmann's agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage."
+
+"Pretty well," answered Ogilvie; "but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?"
+
+"At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?"
+
+"As you please," said Ogilvie. "Will you wait here? I will return
+soon."
+
+Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.
+
+"That is quite to my desire," said Ogilvie. "I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine."
+
+"If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right," answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. "I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the _Townville_ to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant's Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report."
+
+"And how long will all this take?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month."
+
+"You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?"
+
+"Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago."
+
+"And what is your personal opinion?"
+
+"There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton."
+
+"So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?"
+
+"Yes, one shaft."
+
+"Any result?"
+
+"That is what your opinion is needed to decide," said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.
+
+Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.
+
+"I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me," he said.
+
+Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.
+
+"Why did they send him out?" he muttered. "Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same."
+
+"I shall make my own pile out of this," he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.
+
+The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.
+
+Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.
+
+"Here we are," said Rycroft, "here lies the gold." He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. "Here is our overseer's hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don't mind
+sharing it with me."
+
+"Not in the least," replied Ogilvie. "We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek."
+
+Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh's
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.
+
+"Time enough for repentance in another world," he muttered under his
+breath. "All I have to do at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward," he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+"the downhill slope is never difficult."
+
+The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman's camp was about a hundred yards distant.
+
+As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.
+
+"But the child--the child!" he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.
+
+When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight's work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.
+
+Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.
+
+"Nevertheless, I believe he will," was Rycroft's final comment;
+"men of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he'll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn't break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man."
+
+Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.
+
+After a little over a fortnight's hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.
+
+"There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie," said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. "For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that"--he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.
+
+"After that?" said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.
+
+Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.
+
+"You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,"
+said Ogilvie.
+
+"I see no help for it," replied Rycroft. "We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail."
+
+"I shall take the report back with me," said Ogilvie.
+
+"Better not," answered his companion, "best trust Her Majesty's mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it." As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.
+
+"Let us pack our traps," said Ogilvie, rising.
+
+"The sooner we get out of this the better."
+
+The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward--the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.
+
+"If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months," thought the man;
+"the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know."
+
+The report was a plausible and highly colored one.
+
+It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.
+
+They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.
+
+"I shall take the next mail home," said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.
+
+"Sign first," replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.
+
+"Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning," continued Ogilvie. "The _Sahara_
+sails to-morrow at noon?"
+
+"I believe so; but sign, won't you?"
+
+Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.
+
+"I shall take a berth on board at once," he said.
+
+"All right, old chap, but sign first."
+
+Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.
+
+"What is wrong," asked Rycroft; "are you ill?"
+
+"I suffer from this sort of thing now and then," replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. "Brandy, please."
+
+Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.
+
+"You look ghastly," he said; "drink."
+
+Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.
+
+"Now sign," said Rycroft again.
+
+"Where is the pen?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+He was all too anxious now to take the fatal plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie's.
+
+"Now our work is done," cried Rycroft, "and Her Majesty's mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers."
+
+"This will set matters right," said Ogilvie. "Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself."
+
+"Her Majesty's mail would be best," answered Rycroft. "You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.
+
+Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, "Come
+in," and a messenger entered with a cablegram.
+
+"For Mr. Ogilvie," he said.
+
+"From Grayleigh, of course," said Rycroft, "how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside," he continued to the messenger.
+
+The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.
+
+Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:--
+
+     _"Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+     at once."_
+
+"So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie's fall,"
+thought Rycroft. "Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through."
+
+Without an instant's hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.
+
+"No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it," he said; "here is money--you can keep the change."
+
+The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.
+
+Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.
+
+"Looks like death," muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie's collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.
+
+"Still living," he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.
+
+"What has happened?" he said, looking round him in a dazed way. "Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London."
+
+"Yes, old fellow, don't speak for a moment."
+
+"I must get back at once; the child----"
+
+"All right, you shall go in the _Sahara_ to-morrow."
+
+"But the document," said Ogilvie, "it--isn't needed; I want it back."
+
+"Don't trouble about it now."
+
+Ogilvie staggered to his feet.
+
+"You don't understand. I did it because--because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back."
+
+"Too late," said Rycroft, then. "That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.
+
+"I am quite cosy there," she said to herself, "for father's perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am."
+
+Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.
+
+There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl's chamber by this title.
+
+From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment's
+delay.
+
+But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child's eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.
+
+"I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father's hand and
+the look in his face," she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said on one of these occasions, "I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father's heart every night, that's why I don't disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short."
+
+Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.
+
+But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother's heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl's comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor's orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.
+
+There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the _Sahara_, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor's orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.
+
+"Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her," the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.
+
+But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie's feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl's state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.
+
+"Doctors are so often mistaken," she said, "I don't believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother's heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child."
+
+The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient's face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.
+
+Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl's weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.
+
+"I won't have the curse of the poor, I did my best," said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.
+
+"Yes, you did your best, dearie," he replied. His voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.
+
+"The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss," he said
+then, "the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever."
+
+Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:
+
+"I like old Scott, he's a very religious man."
+
+"That he is, darling," replied nurse.
+
+"Seems to me I'm getting religious too," continued Sibyl. "It's 'cos
+of Lord Jesus, I 'spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night."
+
+The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl's recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.
+
+"The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others," thought Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.
+
+"It will be doing such a good work," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. "I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity."
+
+In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter's room.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, "Come and kiss
+me, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.
+
+"My little white rose," she said, "you must get some color back into
+your cheeks."
+
+"Oh, color don't matter," replied Sibyl. "I'm just as happy without
+it."
+
+"But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?"
+
+"Yes, Mummy."
+
+"And you like lying here in your pretty window?"
+
+"Yes, mother darling."
+
+"You are not weary of lying so still?"
+
+Sibyl laughed.
+
+"It is funny," she said, "I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don't want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress."
+
+"What a splendid idea, Sib!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you shall dress some
+dolls for mother's bazaar."
+
+"Are you going to have it after all?" cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. "Are the big-wigs coming?"
+
+"Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy--Lord Grayleigh and the rest."
+
+"I like Lord Grayleigh," replied Sibyl. "I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.
+
+"My dear little girl," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little."
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment's pause she said:
+
+"Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything--it will
+be fun."
+
+Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said, "I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better."
+
+"Do you think so?" replied Miss Winstead shortly.
+
+"I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast--I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar."
+
+"The bazaar!" echoed Miss Winstead. "Surely you don't mean to have it
+here?"
+
+"Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month."
+
+"I would not, if I were you," said Miss Winstead slowly. "You know
+what the doctors have said."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.
+
+"I don't believe a single word of what they say," she retorted with
+some passion. "The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th."
+
+"You forget," said Miss Winstead slowly, "the _Sahara_ is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for--for what he has to see."
+
+"I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don't
+understand what you mean by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don't croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon--there is a great deal to see about."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie's cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.
+
+Ogilvie's cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.
+
+Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: "From the tone of
+Ogilvie's cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,"
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, "to be rich and also honest at the same
+time." He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.
+
+On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,
+
+     "You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+     Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."
+
+"But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible."
+
+He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.
+
+     "I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
+     correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+     shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+     know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+     present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+     Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+     dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+     moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+     sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+     blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+     burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+     hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+     papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+     we see you at Silverbel the better.
+
+               "With kind regards, I remain,
+                    "Yours sincerely,
+                         "MILDRED OGILVIE.
+
+     "P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+     has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+     you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+     I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
+     her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+     her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+     had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+     and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+     the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+     proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+     she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+     you her love if she knew I was writing."
+
+Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-read
+the postscript.
+
+After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.
+
+"I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," was
+Grayleigh's direction.
+
+He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.
+
+"Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"
+
+"I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?"
+
+"Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."
+
+"So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?"
+
+"I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't return
+by the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then."
+
+Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him--both her hands extended.
+
+"How good of you, how more than good of you," she said. "This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person."
+
+"I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?"
+
+"Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, and----"
+
+"Can I see her?"
+
+"Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.
+
+"One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you," she said, in a playful
+voice.
+
+Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,
+
+"Rest assured that I will come." He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.
+
+"I am sorry to see you like this," he said. "What has happened to you,
+my little girl?"
+
+"Oh, nothing much," answered Sibyl, "I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?"
+
+"Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?"
+
+"Beautiful," replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child's grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.
+
+"I will come back again, presently," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls."
+
+"Nursie is dressing them," replied Sibyl in a weak voice--the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. "It somehow
+tires me to work. I 'spect I'm not very strong, but I'll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful."
+
+"Well, I'll come back soon; you mustn't tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs."
+
+"I must return to town by the next train," said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.
+
+"Lord Grayleigh has come," she said. "He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation."
+
+"Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie," said both ladies.
+
+"Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don't think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have."
+
+The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl's room.
+
+Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.
+
+"I am so glad you have come," said the little girl; "there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?"
+
+"I had a cablegram from him not long ago."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea."
+
+"I understand," said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" said Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?"
+
+"My dear child," said Lord Grayleigh, "what do you know about it?"
+
+"I know all about it," answered Sybil. "I am deeply interested,
+deeply."
+
+"Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father's message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full."
+
+"Up to the tip top?"
+
+"Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don't let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you."
+
+"You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit," said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.
+
+"Do you greatly mind if I _don't_ talk about it?" she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. "It makes me feel----"
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"I don't know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don't like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know."
+
+"We won't talk of it," said Lord Grayleigh; "what shall I do to amuse
+you?"
+
+"Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold."
+
+"I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good."
+
+"I am delighted," said Sibyl. "It's awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn't
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don't know all He has done for me!
+Don't you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"Who, Sibyl?"
+
+"My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ."
+
+Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child's eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.
+
+"Now," she continued, after a pause, "dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich."
+
+"Mr. and Mrs. Holman," said Lord Grayleigh; "who are they?"
+
+"They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I'll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You'll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You'll be quite sure to remember
+her?"
+
+"Quite sure, Sibyl."
+
+"Hadn't you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?"
+
+"In my pocket."
+
+"Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine."
+
+Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.
+
+"What do you wish me to say?" he inquired.
+
+"Put it this way," said Sibyl eagerly, "then you won't forget. Some of
+the gold in the----"
+
+"Lombard Deeps Mine," supplied Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine," repeated Sibyl, "to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put _dear_ Mr. and Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl."
+
+"Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico."
+
+The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"That is nice," she said, "that will make them happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and 'cos the children won't
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don't like
+some children a bit."
+
+"I am glad you're pleased about the Holmans, little woman."
+
+"Of course I am, and aren't you. Don't you like to make people happy?"
+
+Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.
+
+"Have you any other notes for this book?" he said.
+
+"Of course I have. There's the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I'm under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry _so_
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there's gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book 'Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,' will you, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"I have entered it," said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.
+
+"And mother, of course," continued Sibyl, "wants lots of money, and
+there's my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I'd like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is."
+
+"Don't you? How funny; he is our footman. I'm awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don't you think it's very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?"
+
+"I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go."
+
+"But you won't forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won't forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?"
+
+"No, I'll be certain to remember every single one of them."
+
+"Then that's all right, and you'll come to darling mother's bazaar?"
+
+"I'll come."
+
+"I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.
+
+"I don't like the child's look," he wrote; "I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can."
+
+It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"If you cannot come to the bazaar," she wrote to Lady Helen, "it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester."
+
+Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh's letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl's room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.
+
+Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.
+
+"Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow," she said, "but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You'll come and see me very, very often, won't you?"
+
+"Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me."
+
+"Oh, you are sweet," answered the child, "and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother's splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn't it dear of
+her?"
+
+"Well, I am interested in the bazaar," said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie's noble action.
+
+"It is so inciting all about it," continued the little girl, "and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn't mother pretty, isn't she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel--but then she is an angel, isn't she, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. "You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself," she said; "let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say."
+
+"Stories?" said Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, I will tell you stories."
+
+"Thank you; I do love 'em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have not seen him lately."
+
+"You'll be married to him soon, I know you will."
+
+"We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you."
+
+"It's odd how weak my voice has grown," said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+"Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn't. Nursie did 'em. There's one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can't put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?"
+
+"I should like to," replied Lady Helen; "I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls."
+
+"The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There's plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can."
+
+Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.
+
+"It rests me to have you in the room," said the child, "you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name."
+
+"What is that, Sibyl?"
+
+"She calls it the Chamber of Peace--isn't it sweet of her?"
+
+"The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room," answered Lady
+Helen.
+
+"I do wish Mr. Rochester was here," was Sibyl's next remark.
+
+"He will come to the bazaar, dear."
+
+"And then, perhaps, I'll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I'd like to say."
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I'm
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think--I
+wouldn't like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I'm going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly's, but real ones, and if I have them I might----"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don't know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father's heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won't it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn't know, darling mother
+doesn't guess, and I wouldn't tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I'm going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, 'Poor
+lamb, she'll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.'
+I shouldn't like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"No, darling, I don't think I should."
+
+"Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn't like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he'll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go."
+
+Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.
+
+"So you must marry Mr. Rochester," she continued, "for you both love
+each other so very much."
+
+"That is quite true," replied Lady Helen.
+
+Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. "The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold," she said, in an excited voice. "I
+know--Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you'll think of me, won't you?"
+
+"I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now--see! the
+angel doll is finished."
+
+"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. "Do take it down to mother. She's
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window--do go at once."
+
+Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.
+
+The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.
+
+"Sibyl sent you this," said Lady Helen.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.
+
+"Oh, lay it down anywhere, please," she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.
+
+"Please, Mrs. Ogilvie," she said, "you must take an interest in it."
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie's
+attention.
+
+"You must take a great interest in this doll," she continued. "Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, I----"
+
+"Oh, what is it now," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way." She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen's agitated
+face.
+
+"I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl," continued Lady Helen, "and I
+am very--more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for--I
+think----"
+
+"You think what? Oh, please don't begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden."
+
+"But have you had the very best advice for her?"
+
+"I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion."
+
+"But what is Sir Henry Powell's opinion?"
+
+"Don't ask me. I don't believe in doctors. The child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time."
+
+"Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think," replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.
+
+"I never knew anyone so gloomy," she said, "and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen."
+
+"Well, at least take the doll--the child is looking at you," said Lady
+Helen. "Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now."
+
+"Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling." Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.
+
+It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the _Sahara_ kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl's accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child's room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl's
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.
+
+If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.
+
+"He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best," she said to
+herself. "It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests."
+
+As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.
+
+"Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them," she remembered. "I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake."
+
+But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.
+
+"As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening," she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.
+
+According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.
+
+Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother's great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.
+
+It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.
+
+"You know the place, I presume?" he said.
+
+"Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar."
+
+As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.
+
+"Go as fast as you can," he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.
+
+"A rum visitor," he thought; "wonder what he's coming for. Don't look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this."
+
+Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter--but did his little daughter still live? Was Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.
+
+When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.
+
+"No, sir," replied the driver, "it's all right. There ain't but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie."
+
+"Then Sibyl must have got well again," thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.
+
+The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature's own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, Phil!" she cried, with a little start. She was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.
+
+"Why, Phil!" she said again. "Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn't you send me a telegram?"
+
+"I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?"
+
+"Oh, much the same--I mean she is going on quite, _quite_ nicely."
+
+"And what is this?"
+
+Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.
+
+"What is all this?" he repeated.
+
+"My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn't it?
+Oh, by the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?"
+
+"Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?"
+
+"I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil."
+
+"I want to know more of Sibyl." Here the husband caught the wife's
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. "No matter about other
+things at present," he said sternly. "How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?"
+
+"Well, I really don't think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do."
+
+But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.
+
+"_Where_ is the child?" he repeated again.
+
+"Don't look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely."
+
+"But is she injured? Can she walk?"
+
+"What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually--at least, I think so."
+
+"What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?"
+
+As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie's attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.
+
+"I will see the child in a minute," he said; "nothing else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, _what do the doctors
+say_?"
+
+Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie's pretty, dark eyes.
+
+"Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all."
+
+"You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?"
+
+"The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell."
+
+"Good God, that man!" said Ogilvie, starting back. "Then she must have
+been badly hurt?"
+
+"She was badly hurt."
+
+"Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing."
+
+"They--they--of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly."
+
+"Speak!" was his only response.
+
+"They said at the time--of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it."
+
+"Speak!" This one expression came from Ogilvie's lips almost with a
+hiss.
+
+"Well, they said at the time that--oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case was----"
+
+"Hopeless?" asked the man between his white lips.
+
+"They certainly _said_ it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!"
+
+He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.
+
+"You knew it, and you could have that going on?" he said. "Go back to
+your bazaar."
+
+"I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind."
+
+"You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+_that_? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them."
+
+He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.
+
+"I am a martyr in a good cause," she said to herself; "but it is
+bitterly hard when one's husband does not understand one."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father's arms
+at night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear
+his voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.
+
+Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.
+
+For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor's verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? The look on the child's
+face was answer enough to her father.
+
+Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.
+
+The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.
+
+"This cuts him to the heart," he said; "I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again."
+
+"Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!" said the wife. "My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack--nervous fever, the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by."
+
+Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.
+
+Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to _think_ that it had any part in Ogilvie's curious
+unwillingness to see him.
+
+At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.
+
+But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength
+of his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.
+
+But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.
+
+But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.
+
+On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl's room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.
+
+"Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!" said little Sibyl.
+"Come and kiss me, darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.
+
+"Don't tire her," said Ogilvie; "if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which seemed to say: "And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child." But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife's eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.
+
+Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Ogilvie, "will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone."
+
+His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.
+
+"I shall soon be back, my little love," he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.
+
+"Isn't it wonderful," she said, turning to her governess, "how perfect
+they both are! I don't know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can't help it, but I like father's way best."
+
+"I should think you did," replied Miss Winstead. "Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?"
+
+"Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead," answered Sibyl.
+
+"Then what shall I read?"
+
+"I don't think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?"
+
+"You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?"
+
+"Perhaps so; I don't quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it's most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It's about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem _is_ so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won't ask you to read about it, 'cos I like father's way of reading
+best; but it's all most wonderful and beautiful."
+
+The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.
+
+The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.
+
+"Now, Mildred," he said, "I wish to understand--God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you--but I must clearly understand
+what this means."
+
+"What it means?" she repeated. "Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it's very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+may----"
+
+"Hush!" said the man.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.
+
+"I refuse to allow Sibyl's name to enter into this matter," he said.
+"You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don't care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of _this_?" As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.
+
+"Silverbel!" she cried; "but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?"
+
+"Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.
+
+"Why, we have bought Silverbel," she cried; "you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then,
+of course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and
+I am so happy about it."
+
+"Rich!" he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.
+
+"Mildred," he said slowly, "do you realize--do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?"
+
+"Nonsense," she answered, starting back.
+
+"The child is dying," repeated Ogilvie, "and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man's happiness, _goes out_.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance means----"
+
+"What?" she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.
+
+"Restitution," he replied; "all the restitution that lies in my
+power."
+
+"You--you terrify me," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?"
+
+"Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred--oh, yes, you knew it
+well enough--that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you _knew_--yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it--that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless."
+
+"Worthless!" she cried, "impossible!"
+
+"Worthless," he repeated.
+
+"Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you."
+
+"I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight."
+
+"But, but," she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, "if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?"
+
+"It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?"
+
+"Do I understand?" she replied. "No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures."
+
+"Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune--it would be easy, for there is enough gold
+in the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman's tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and _lose our souls_.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won't. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.
+
+"What you say can't be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy."
+
+"How?" he asked.
+
+"Don't do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it."
+
+He came up to her and took both her hands.
+
+"Is it worth evil?" he asked.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Is anything under the sun worth evil?" She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father's.
+
+"I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you," he said. "Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don't tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon."
+
+"Don't hurry, father darling," replied Sibyl "'cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here."
+
+He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.
+
+"One moment, Phil," she called, "where are you going?"
+
+"To town."
+
+"To do what?"
+
+"To do what I said," he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.
+
+He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began
+to weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.
+
+"What fearful creatures men with consciences are," moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"What can I do for you?" said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.
+
+"If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?"
+
+"That is my name."
+
+"We know you," continued the old woman, "by the likeness to your
+little daughter."
+
+The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.
+
+"May I inquire your names?" he asked.
+
+"Holman, sir," said the woman. "This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie's illness, and we couldn't rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly 'opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn't mind if we asked."
+
+"By no means," answered Ogilvie. "Any friends of Sibyl's, any real
+friends, are of interest to me."
+
+He paused and looked into the old woman's face.
+
+"She's better, ain't she, dear lamb?" asked Mrs. Holman.
+
+Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.
+
+Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand.
+
+"What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?"
+
+"We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response.
+
+"Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always."
+
+"Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again.
+
+He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.
+
+"Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl.
+
+"What is it, dear?" asked the governess.
+
+Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice now
+arrested her attention.
+
+"Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come."
+
+"Who have come, dear?"
+
+"The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do."
+
+"But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself."
+
+"What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans."
+
+"Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.
+
+"Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high and
+clear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child."
+
+"If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?"
+
+"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief."
+
+"But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.
+
+"Sibyl certainly does wish to see you," said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. "I think, Mrs. Ogilvie," she added, "it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly," continued Miss Winstead, "and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm."
+
+"Oh, yes, we'll speak cheerfully," said Holman; "we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, "My opinion is
+never taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child's father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done you will
+have to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.
+
+"The day is improving," she thought. She glanced up at the sky. "It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that."
+
+So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.
+
+Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.
+
+"You must be prepared for a very great change," said Miss Winstead,
+"but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her."
+
+Miss Winstead's own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.
+
+"Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?" said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl's
+soft white hands. "Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?"
+
+"How do you do, Mrs. Holman?" said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; "and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won't you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won't you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both."
+
+"Eh! but you look sweet," said Mrs. Holman.
+
+Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own--a child who died when young--and she had sat by that dying
+child's bed and never once given expression to her feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?
+
+"It is nice to look at you, dearie," she repeated, "and what a pretty
+room you have, my love."
+
+"Everything is beautiful," said little Sibyl, "everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much."
+
+"To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you."
+
+"Whisper," said Sibyl, "bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?"
+
+"Yes, darling, but we won't talk of money now."
+
+"Only," said Sibyl, "when the gold comes from the mine _you'll_ be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman's in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You'll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys." She paused
+here and her little face turned white.
+
+"You must not talk any more, dearie," said Mrs. Holman. "It's all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well."
+
+"I am getting well," answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.
+
+"You know," she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, "that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won't forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?"
+
+"We will never forget you, dearie," said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.
+
+"Come, Holman," she said.
+
+"If I might," said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, "if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie's hand afore I go."
+
+"Oh, indeed, you may," said Sibyl.
+
+A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.
+
+"Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I'm thinking," said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.
+
+"Queer woman, the mother," said Holman. "We'll get back to town, wife;
+I'm wonderful upset."
+
+"We'll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children," said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and
+was admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:
+
+"It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact."
+
+Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.
+
+He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh's club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.
+
+    "Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the
+    Lombard Deeps."
+
+He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.
+
+Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend's face, he
+started and said:
+
+"My dear fellow, you don't look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down."
+
+"I have a good deal to try me," said Ogilvie; "please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?"
+
+"Of her accident?" exclaimed Acland; "yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago--she had a fall from her pony?"
+
+"She had."
+
+"Take a chair, won't you, Ogilvie?"
+
+Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:
+
+"I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie's note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken."
+
+"You are mistaken," replied Ogilvie; "but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?"
+
+"Certainly," said Acland.
+
+A clerk entered the room. "Leave us," said Acland to the man, "and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie," he
+added as the clerk withdrew, "I am quite at your service."
+
+"Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel."
+
+"Yes, the place where your wife is now staying."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don't blame me, Ogilvie?"
+
+"I don't blame you--I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser."
+
+"Not really!" cried Mr. Acland. "The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man."
+
+"On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper."
+
+"No!" cried Mr. Acland; "but the report of the Lombard Deeps----"
+
+"Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife--nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?"
+
+"You can do so, of course," replied Acland. "I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back."
+
+"It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once."
+
+"Very well."
+
+Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.
+
+"You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this," he said, as he
+stood up. "You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time."
+
+"I know another man only too anxious to purchase," said Acland; "but I
+am deeply sorry for you--your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure."
+
+"Yes, quite a failure. I won't detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently."
+
+Ogilvie went from the lawyer's house straight to his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.
+
+"I am the master," said Ogilvie; "let me in, please."
+
+The man stood aside.
+
+"Has a telegram come for me?"
+
+"Yes, sir, five minutes ago."
+
+Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.
+
+     "Meeting of directors at one o'clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+     Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+     wish. GRAYLEIGH."
+
+Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.
+
+"I shall sleep here to-night," Ogilvie said, "and shall be back in the
+course of the evening."
+
+He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.
+
+Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.
+
+"I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland," he
+said, "and I then placed, with a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank."
+
+"A large sum, Ogilvie--ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Yes, ten thousand pounds," repeated Ogilvie. "I want to withdraw the
+money."
+
+"It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it."
+
+"I thought it only fair to give you a few hours' notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o'clock."
+
+"Do you wish to take it in a cheque?"
+
+"I think not, I should prefer notes." Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.
+
+At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.
+
+He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.
+
+Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.
+
+"By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life," he thought. "I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is angry with him. My God is
+angry--the pains of hell take hold of me."
+
+He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the following day, shortly before one o'clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.
+
+Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.
+
+"Gentlemen," he began, "although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it."
+
+Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.
+
+Lord Grayleigh proceeded: "This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned
+to England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you."
+
+Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.
+
+"This report," he said in conclusion, "is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London."
+
+As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh's audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers' reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh's clear voice was lost.
+
+When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.
+
+Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.
+
+"Don't open it now," he said in a low voice, "it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it."
+
+He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.
+
+Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.
+
+Ogilvie's attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.
+
+"We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie," he said. "In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room."
+
+"It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,"
+said a director from the far end of the table. "I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent."
+
+"Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?" said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.
+
+Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.
+
+"I have come here to-day," he said, "to speak for a moment"--his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on--"to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of that----"
+
+"Sit down," said Grayleigh's voice behind him. "You must be mad.
+Remember yourself." He laid his hand on Ogilvie's arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.
+
+"I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,"
+he continued. "This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+_false as hell_."
+
+"False?" echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. "Impossible!"
+
+"It is false," continued Ogilvie. "I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world."
+
+As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.
+
+This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.
+
+"I have no excuse to offer," continued Ogilvie, "and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say."
+
+He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.
+
+"What is the meaning of it all?" said one, going up to Grayleigh;
+"you are chairman, and you ought to know."
+
+Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.
+
+"This must be a brief madness," he said; "there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him."
+
+The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.
+
+"One moment first," said Grayleigh.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"An explanation."
+
+"I gave it upstairs."
+
+"You are mad--you are mad."
+
+"On the contrary, I believe that I am sane--sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now."
+
+"What packet was that you gave me?"
+
+"Your money back."
+
+"The ten thousand pounds?"
+
+"Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters."
+
+"Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child's accident?"
+
+"It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions."
+
+As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh's detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.
+
+As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment's conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.
+
+"He fell, and I caused him to fall," thought Lord Grayleigh. "In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over."
+
+Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.
+
+"I saw Ogilvie just now," he said, "and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky."
+
+"At least the widows and orphans won't be ruined," said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. "Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this."
+
+"We must do so advisedly," was Grayleigh's remark; "remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the
+ears of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine."
+
+"And what of Ogilvie himself?" said an angry-looking man. "Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?"
+
+One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie's story
+too prominently into the light of day.
+
+"It may reflect on ourselves," said one or two. "It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter."
+
+Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.
+
+"If I were you, gentlemen," he said, moodily, "I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+"Philip!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o'clock that afternoon, "I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland."
+
+Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.
+
+"How strangely tired and worn you look," she replied; "what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right."
+
+"You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last."
+
+He gave a hollow laugh.
+
+"I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience," he continued; "that is something to live for."
+
+"Have you done anything rash, Philip?"
+
+"I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?"
+
+"He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?"
+
+"Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up."
+
+Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.
+
+"It cannot be," she cried, "we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit."
+
+"That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don't keep me
+now."
+
+She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl's door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.
+
+"The bitterness of death lies before me," he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for
+God demanded something more of the man--he must open the eyes of
+the child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.
+
+Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.
+
+"Leave us for a little, nurse," said Ogilvie.
+
+She went away at once.
+
+Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl's hands.
+
+"You have been a long time away, father," said the child.
+
+"I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do."
+
+"Business, father?"
+
+"Yes, dearest, important business."
+
+"You don't look well," said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.
+
+"I have had a hard time," said the man, "and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life."
+
+"To me, father? The hardest task of your life?"
+
+"Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you."
+
+"Something bad?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Something very bad."
+
+Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame,
+as though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.
+
+"I am very sorry," she said. "I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?"
+
+"Let me hold your hand," he said. "It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then."
+
+She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.
+
+"At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me."
+
+"I don't understand," said the child.
+
+"I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time."
+
+"Still I do not understand," repeated Sibyl.
+
+"Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes."
+
+"Oh, we were happy!" said the child.
+
+"Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain."
+
+"I wish you would try and 'splain, all the same," said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.
+
+"I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you."
+
+"It's only 'cos of you yourself," she murmured.
+
+"Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?"
+
+"Oh, yes." She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. "I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!"
+
+Her voice grew quite animated.
+
+"Any special people, dearest?"
+
+"So many," she replied. "I told Lord Grayleigh, and he put their
+names in his note-book. There's Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold."
+
+"The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name."
+
+"They came, father. I love 'em so much; and there's Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It's a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, 'cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it's all right."
+
+"No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine."
+
+"But you sent a cablegram."
+
+"I did."
+
+"And you said it was there."
+
+"I did."
+
+She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.
+
+"You said it?"
+
+"I did worse," said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. "I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there."
+
+"Why did you do it, father?"
+
+"Because I was a scoundrel."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"A bad man."
+
+"No," said the child, "no, you was always my most perfect----"
+
+"You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now."
+
+"Then you are sorry?"
+
+"I have repented," he cried; "my God, I have repented," and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child's sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.
+
+Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.
+
+"She is so holy, so heavenly herself," he murmured; "is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her."
+
+The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.
+
+"And so you was never perfect?" she said.
+
+"Never."
+
+"And was mother never perfect?"
+
+"Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done."
+
+The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl's face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother's words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:
+
+"And Lord Jesus, isn't He perfect?"
+
+Ogilvie started when he heard her words.
+
+"Aye, He is perfect," he answered, "you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire."
+
+She smiled very faintly.
+
+"Why did He come into the world?" was her next question.
+
+"Don't you know that old story? Has no one told you?"
+
+"Won't you tell me now, father?"
+
+"The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners."
+
+"Sinners," repeated Sibyl, "'cos He loved 'em?"
+
+"Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?"
+
+"I 'spect not," she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.
+
+"Then He loves _you_," she said, after a moment. "He came from heaven
+'cos of you."
+
+"It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me."
+
+"Don't speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you."
+
+He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.
+
+"Father!" There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.
+
+"Kneel down, father," said Sibyl.
+
+He knelt.
+
+Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.
+
+"I am loving you so much," she said, "same as Jesus loves you, I
+think."
+
+Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.
+
+"It is all right," she continued, "I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you."
+
+"But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?" he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.
+
+"Seems to me I love you more'n ever" was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.
+
+But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.
+
+"Why," cried Sibyl, "it's Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me." She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.
+
+"Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus," she whispered. "Oh, take me." She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.
+
+"Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him."
+
+The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.
+
+It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.
+
+The next instant all was cold and lonely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him--her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze--her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.
+
+He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.
+
+He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.
+
+He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.
+
+She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.
+
+For Sibyl's sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child's education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.
+
+As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance--one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.
+
+Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl's name after
+her death.
+
+But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.
+
+These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.
+
+                         [THE END.]
+
+
+
+
+A. L. Burt's Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,
+52-58 Duane Street, New York
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+
+=Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.= By LEWIS CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story."--=New York Express.=
+
+
+=Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.= By LEWIS
+CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations."--=Boston Express.=
+
+
+=Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Joan's Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.= By ALICE CORKRAN.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.= By C. A. JONES.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"An unusually good children's story."--=Glasgow Herald.=
+
+
+=The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers."--=Cleveland Times.=
+
+
+=Jan of the Windmill.= A Story of the Plains. By MRS. J. H. EWING.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy."--=Academy.=
+
+
+=A Sweet Girl Graduate.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.
+
+"One of this popular author's best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes."--=Providence Journal.=
+
+
+=Six to Sixteen=: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of 'Six
+to Sixteen.' The book is one which would enrich any girl's book
+shelf."--=St. James' Gazette.=
+
+
+=The Palace Beautiful=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the 'Palace Beautiful' for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls."--=New York
+Recorder.=
+
+
+=A World of Girls=: The Story of a School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl's book shelf."--=Boston Home Journal.=
+
+
+=The Lady of the Forest=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story is written in the author's well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author's customary grace and
+spirit."--=Boston Times.=
+
+
+=At the Back of the North Wind.= By GEORGE MACDONALD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald's earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers."--=Philadelphia Times.=
+
+
+=The Water Babies=: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature."--=New York Tribune.=
+
+
+=Our Bessie.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit."--=The Teachers'
+Aid.=
+
+
+=Wild Kitty.= A Story of Middleton School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Kitty is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season."--=The
+Academy.=
+
+
+=A Young Mutineer.= A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of Mrs. Meade's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Sue and I.= By MRS. O'REILLY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75
+cents.
+
+"A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun."--=Athenæum.=
+
+
+=The Princess and the Goblin.= A Fairy Story. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Pythia's Pupils:= A Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best."--=Teachers' Aid.=
+
+
+=A Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only
+bright and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching."--=Courier.=
+
+
+=The Sleepy King.= A Fairy Tale. By AUBREY HOPWOOD AND SEYMOUR HICKS.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Two Little Waifs.= By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's delightful story of 'Two Little Waifs' will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Toyland.= By EDITH KING HALL. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect."--=Boston Courier.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Wallypug land.= By G. E. FARROW. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense."--=Toronto Mail.=
+
+
+=Fussbudget's Folks.= A Story for Young Girls. By ANNA F. BURNHAM.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters."--=Congregationalist.=
+
+
+=Mixed Pickles.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. E. M. FIELD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind."--=Good
+Literature.=
+
+
+=Miss Mouse and Her Boys.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. MOLESWORTH.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat."--=The Beacon.=
+
+
+=Gilly Flower.= A Story for Girls. By the author of "Miss Toosey's
+Mission." 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind."--=Literary World.=
+
+
+=The Chaplet of Pearls=; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By
+CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season."--=Guardian.=
+
+
+=Naughty Miss Bunny=: Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents."--=Land and Water.=
+
+
+=Meg's Friend.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Averil.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic."--=World.=
+
+
+=Aunt Diana.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Little Sunshine's Holiday=: A Picture from Life. By MISS MULOCK.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people."--=Gazette.=
+
+
+=Esther's Charge.= A Story for Girls. By ELLEN EVERETT GREEN. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl's
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Fairy Land of Science.= By ARABELLA B. BUCKLEY. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children."--=Daily News.=
+
+
+=Merle's Crusade.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author's stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written."--=Journal.=
+
+
+=Birdie:= A Tale of Child Life. By H. L. CHILDE-PEMBERTON. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years."--=New York
+Express.=
+
+=The Days of Bruce:= A Story from Scottish History. By GRACE AGUILAR.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar's stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading."--=Boston Beacon.=
+
+
+=Three Bright Girls:= A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E.
+ARMSTRONG. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls."--=Standard.=
+
+
+=Giannetta:= A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season."--=The Academy.=
+
+
+=Margery Merton's Girlhood.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Under False Colors:= A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=Down the Snow Stairs=; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By ALICE
+CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps--a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's
+Progress."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=The Tapestry Room=: A Child's Romance. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people."--=Athenæum, London.=
+
+
+=Little Miss Peggy:= Only a Nursery Story. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+Mrs. Molesworth's children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.
+
+
+=Polly=: A New Fashioned Girl. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.
+
+
+=One of a Covey.= By the author of "Miss Toosey's Mission." 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This 'Covey' consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens' pen."--=LITERARY
+WORLD.=
+
+
+=The Little Princess of Tower Hill.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it--which is much
+better than crying for it--it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls."--=Boston Advertiser.=
+
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, =A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.=
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter's
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author's words and intent.
+
+2. In the advertising pages at the end of this book, the names of
+books and reviewers were set in bold type-face; this is indicated by
+a = at the beginning and end of the words in bold.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30333 ***
diff --git a/30333-8.txt b/30333-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c768dbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,10057 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Daddy's Girl
+
+Author: L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30333]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ DADDY'S GIRL
+
+ BY L. T. MEADE
+
+ Author of "A Very Naughty Girl," "Polly, A New Fashioned
+ Girl," "Palace Beautiful," "Sweet Girl Graduate,"
+ "World of Girls," etc., etc.
+
+ "Suffer the little children to come unto me."
+
+ A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
+ 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DADDY'S GIRL. _Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+DADDY'S GIRL.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.
+
+The occasion was an important one, and the Angel's rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.
+
+"Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?" thought the Angel to
+herself.
+
+A box of wild flowers, which had come up from the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow," she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.
+
+"What do you want, Sibyl? Don't disturb me now," said this individual.
+
+"It is only just for a moment," replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady's writing-pad.
+
+"Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?" she said.
+
+"Oh, don't worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he'll be so annoyed if he doesn't hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme."
+
+The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.
+
+"They'll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed," thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty," she repeated softly under her
+breath, "but father likes me anyhow." She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?
+
+"Do I look pretty?" she said at last, dancing back to the governess's
+side.
+
+Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.
+
+"Do I look pretty?" repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.
+
+"You are a very vain little girl," said Miss Winstead. "I won't tell
+you whether you look pretty or not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don't interrupt me any
+more."
+
+"There's the gong, I'm off," cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.
+
+"I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am," thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. "Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too."
+
+Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath--
+
+"It's not wrong, 'cos it's mother. Mother couldn't do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could"; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother's voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.
+
+"It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus," Sibyl would say, "and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don't think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It's for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don't like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?"
+
+Jesus never made any audible response to the child's query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.
+
+As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother's kisses being softest and her mother's eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.
+
+Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.
+
+Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.
+
+"The child should go to the mother for love and petting," she would
+say. "Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her."
+
+It was Sibyl's father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.
+
+"You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,"
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.
+
+"Oh, yes, father," answered the Angel, "but, you see, I wasn't born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn't it? You're perfect
+and I am not. I can't help the way I was born, can I, father?"
+
+"No; no one is perfect, darling," replied the father.
+
+"You are," answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+"You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I'll
+try to please you, father, so don't knit up your forehead."
+
+Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father's brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.
+
+"Same as if you was an old man," she said: "but you're perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you," and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.
+
+On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.
+
+"I should not like the child to know about it," was his reflection;
+"but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.
+
+"Here I come," she cried, "here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me." She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl's waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.
+
+"What a fairy-like little girl this is!" he cried.
+
+"You are Spring come to cheer us up."
+
+"I am glad," whispered Sibyl; "but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother."
+
+Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.
+
+"Father says I am Spring, look at me," she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.
+
+"Something is fretting my ownest mother," she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother's soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father's side.
+
+Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.
+
+It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother's objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.
+
+"I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now," she said on this occasion. "She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father."
+
+"You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl," said her mother
+from the other end of the table.
+
+"Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear," said the father. "What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?"
+
+"Spelling, as usual," said Sibyl briefly, "but more special 'cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty."
+
+"Hush!" said the mother again.
+
+Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.
+
+"My dear," he said, addressing his wife, "do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the person----"
+
+"I beg of you, Philip," interrupted the mother, "not to speak of the
+child's teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks."
+
+"It's 'cos they're both so perfect," thought Sibyl, "but it's hard on
+me not to be able to 'splain things. If I can't, what is to be done?"
+
+She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.
+
+The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.
+
+"Is it nice?" she inquired.
+
+"Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?"
+
+"No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you're a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog."
+
+"My dear Sibyl," cried the mother, "I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!"
+
+"Let us turn the subject," said the father.
+
+Sibyl turned it with a will.
+
+"I 'spect I ought to 'fess to you," she said. "I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I'm not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?"
+
+"You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?" was the answer.
+
+"I don't think I'd much care," said Sibyl, with a smile. "You'd know
+what I meant, wouldn't you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same," she added, "I'll spell right if you wish it--I mean,
+I'll try."
+
+"That's a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?"
+
+"When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be best for her to do
+so in private?" said the mother again.
+
+"But this is private," said Mr. Ogilvie, "only her father and mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.
+
+"I washed my doll's clothes, although nurse told me not," continued
+Sibyl, "and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I _would_ open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn't to blame--Watson wasn't."
+
+The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.
+
+"Father," whispered Sibyl, "do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, and----"
+
+"Hush! hush!" said Mr. Ogilvie, "go on with your confessions."
+
+"They're rather sad, aren't they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn't do one right thing to-day 'cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don't mind a bit being naughty. I wouldn't be a
+flabby good girl for all the world."
+
+"Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?" said her father.
+
+Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good--perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:
+
+"I'll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus."
+
+"That is right," said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.
+
+The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.
+
+"Good-night, little Spring," said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.
+
+She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered--
+
+"Is it 'cos I'm a wicked girl you're sad?"
+
+"No," he answered, "you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world."
+
+"Oh, no, father," answered Sibyl, "that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn't like to be too good, 'cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.
+
+"You spoil that child," said the wife, "but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don't pretend to be a good mother, but I don't talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things."
+
+"I wish you would leave the child alone," said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; "she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going."
+
+"I would much rather you did not."
+
+"I am sorry." Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. "I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way."
+
+"It is impossible for me to accompany you."
+
+"I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child."
+
+"Sibyl! No, I do not wish it."
+
+"I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday."
+
+Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.
+
+"You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present," he said. "You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline."
+
+"I am going," said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.
+
+"Is that your last word?" he inquired.
+
+"It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me."
+
+"Nor you to please me, Mildred," he was about to say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, "There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable."
+
+"And what is that?" she asked.
+
+"The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us--Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?"
+
+"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," was Mrs. Ogilvie's
+flippant remark. "But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive."
+
+"Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart."
+
+"And it sickened me," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don't wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful _debut_ in
+Society, all in due course."
+
+"With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage," added the husband,
+bitterly.
+
+"I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl," was his
+wife's answer, "and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.
+
+Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.
+
+The postman's ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.
+
+Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.
+
+"It is the child," he thought. "She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this"--he touched the letter with
+his hand--"I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred's extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet--I
+don't care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl's and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me."
+
+He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl's nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.
+
+Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child's bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.
+
+"Good-night, little darling," said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.
+
+"Oh, father, is that you?" she cried in a voice of rapture.
+
+"Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night."
+
+"You are good, you never forget," said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. "I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?"
+
+"Not for worlds," it was the man's first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. "Of course, dear," he said.
+
+Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father's neck.
+
+"Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day," she began, "and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, 'cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.
+
+"Now, father, you're pleased," continued the little girl. "It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don't want to be better,
+but I'll try hard if it pleases you."
+
+"Yes, Sibyl, try hard," said her father, "try very hard to be good.
+Don't let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you." Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.
+
+"He's fretted; it's just 'cos the world is so wicked, and 'cos I'm not
+as good as I ought to be," thought the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.
+
+Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR GRAYLEIGH,--
+
+     "Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+     before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+     am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+     have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+     assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+     been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+     more suited for your purpose.
+
+               "Yours sincerely,
+                    "PHILIP OGILVIE."
+
+It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.
+
+His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.
+
+"What," he cried, "up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed."
+
+He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.
+
+"I am so glad you have come back, Phil," she said. "I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company."
+
+Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment's pause he said in a sullen
+tone--
+
+"Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up."
+
+"What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren't you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?"
+
+"Come into my smoking-room," he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.
+
+"This will make a great difference in our position," she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.
+
+"What do you mean by our position?" he said.
+
+"You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last."
+
+"And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?"
+
+"It is impossible; impossible to manage," she said, petulantly.
+
+"It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles"--he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. "Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it--that
+is, in moderation."
+
+"Ah! I knew you had accepted," she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. "Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public."
+
+"You know, perhaps, what all this means?" said Ogilvie, after a pause.
+
+"Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?"
+
+"Don't dare to mention the child's name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine."
+
+"Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me," she answered. "I declare I
+am getting sleepy." Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.
+
+"It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh's offer----"
+
+"If! But you have done so, of course you have."
+
+"If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets."
+
+"As usual, you taunt me," she said, "but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?"
+
+"The letter has come."
+
+"You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?"
+
+"I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine."
+
+"Philip!" His wife's voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.
+
+"You cannot be speaking the truth," she said.
+
+"My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed."
+
+She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.
+
+"I hate you," she said; "go your own way in the future," and she left
+him standing silent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.
+
+"I am much more like a boy than a girl," she thought, "and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I'll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn't care so very much whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can't be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother."
+
+So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.
+
+Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.
+
+"Don't forget me while you are away, little woman," he said, "and look
+after mother, won't you?"
+
+"She won't need me to look after her, she's quite, quite perfect,"
+said Sibyl; "but I'm going to watch her, and try to copy her."
+
+"Child, don't do that," said the man.
+
+"Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?"
+
+"Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven."
+
+"Well, my home is right down here on earth," said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. "I'll have a real jolly time away, I 'spect."
+
+"I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father's sake, and
+don't forget to pray for me."
+
+"I will, I will," said the child; "I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good."
+
+"Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman."
+
+That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.
+
+Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl's secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.
+
+She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl's things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.
+
+"You are to go to tea in the schoolroom," she said. "There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock."
+
+It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.
+
+"It's a beautiful dress," she said; "you are wearing money now."
+
+"Money," said Sibyl, "what do you mean?"
+
+"This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don't spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire."
+
+"I don't understand," said Sibyl; "I wish it wasn't a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?"
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show."
+
+"If you speak again in that tone of my mother I'll slap you," said
+Sibyl.
+
+"Highty-tighty!" said the nurse; "your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in."
+
+"And so do you," answered Sibyl. "If mother is good you are not, and
+I'm not, so we both must be broke in; but I've got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?"
+
+"That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say."
+
+"Then we _has_ something in common," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+"I'm a handful, too. I'm off to the schoolroom."
+
+"There never was such a child," thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; "she's not shy, and she's as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she's a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master's
+child, but her mother's! Dear me, I'm often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect."
+
+Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room--Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh's children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.
+
+"Oh, you're the little girl," said Mabel, who was twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.
+
+"Yes, I _are_ the little girl," said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.
+
+"Where is my place?" she said. "Is it laid for me? I am the visitor."
+
+Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.
+
+"Sit down," he said; "you had better sit there, near Mabel; she's
+pouring out tea. She's the boss, you know."
+
+"What's a boss?" said Sibyl.
+
+"You must be a silly not to know what a boss is."
+
+"I aren't no more silly than you are," said Sibyl. "May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I'll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can't answer me. What's a--what's a--oh, I'll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don't talk to me too much
+while I'm eating, or I'll spill jam on my money frock."
+
+"You are a very queer little girl," said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.
+
+"What a silly you are," said Gus. "What did you put on that thing
+for? We don't want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, and----"
+
+"Climb trees! Oh," cried Sibyl, "are you that sort? Then I'm your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I'm a hoyden--do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to 'em quick, for I'm your
+girl."
+
+Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.
+
+"You are very queer," she said. "I don't know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes--we are quite ladylike and good, but we don't wear
+grand frocks either. Can't you take that thing off?"
+
+"I wish I could. I hate it myself."
+
+"Well, ask your servant to change it."
+
+"But my nurse hasn't brought a single shabby frock with me."
+
+"Are all your frocks as grand as that?"
+
+"Some of 'em grander."
+
+"We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks," said Freda.
+
+"Oh, do!" said Sibyl; "that will be lovely."
+
+"We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, so you may as well
+put it on," continued Freda.
+
+Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. "It's a great comfort coming
+down to this place," she said finally, "'cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It's mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers."
+
+"But isn't Philip Ogilvie your father?" said Gus.
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie," corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.
+
+"Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He's not perfect."
+
+Sibyl's face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:
+
+"Father didn't know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man's name was Halkett. I'm always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say 'Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he's not too scrupulous.' Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means--oh, you needn't stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head--it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, as your father isn't scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn't hesitate to act wrong."
+
+Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.
+
+"What have you done that for, you little beggar?" he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.
+
+"To teach you not to tell lies," answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. "But I won't shed them," thought the
+child, "not for worlds."
+
+Sibyl's action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl's side
+and touched her on her arm.
+
+"Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you," she said; "we didn't
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won't you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?"
+
+"And I'll never say a word against your father again," said Gus.
+
+"You had better not," answered Sibyl. "No, I won't shake hands; I
+won't make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I'd like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl's white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.
+
+"You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock," said Freda in
+conclusion. "Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting."
+
+Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus's cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.
+
+"What a noise those children make," said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.
+
+"How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.
+
+"I have three," he replied; "they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died"--he sighed
+as he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years'
+standing--"I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child's beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.
+
+"I see four little figures dancing about among those trees," said
+Lord Grayleigh. "We will see them all together."
+
+They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.
+
+Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother's side.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," she cried, "I'm so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It's lovely to sit up there."
+
+Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.
+
+"What do you mean, Sibyl," she said, "by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you."
+
+Sibyl turned first red and then white.
+
+"Is that Lord Grayleigh?" she whispered.
+
+"Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you."
+
+"I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I--may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. "Do let her speak," he said; "she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in _deshabille_. What is
+it, little woman?"
+
+"It's that I don't want to shake hands with you--never, _never_!"
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.
+
+"I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,"
+she said. "What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?" Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. "I fear it is her father's doing," she continued, "he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock."
+
+"I don't think your nurse is to blame," said Lord Grayleigh. "I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps' frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me."
+
+"Oh, you can never account for Sibyl's whims," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "it
+is all her father's fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you."
+
+"I should be very proud of that child if I were you," answered Lord
+Grayleigh. "She has a particularly frank, fine face."
+
+"Oh, she is handsome enough," answered Mrs. Ogilvie. "But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect--could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to."
+
+"Don't scold her, poor little thing," said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. "For my part," he continued, "I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?"
+
+"I do know it," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. "Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind."
+
+"He is a strange fellow," answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; "but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of course----"
+
+"Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?"
+
+"I don't know that I can explain. Money is not everything--at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband's scruples"--Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive--"even your
+husband's scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances--we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.
+
+When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.
+
+"Money _is_ everything," she thought, "whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses."
+
+She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.
+
+With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.
+
+Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?
+
+"May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?" There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie's
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone--
+
+"Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you."
+
+Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.
+
+Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.
+
+"Now you'll kiss me," she said; "now you're pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I'm beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me."
+
+"Get up, Sib, and don't be absurd," said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.
+
+"Really," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don't mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired."
+
+"But Mummy--Mumsy!"
+
+"Don't call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don't like
+abbreviations."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.
+
+"Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name."
+
+"Sacred name!" said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. "Oh yes, I won't call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely."
+
+"Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing."
+
+"Oh, mother darling, I didn't mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums--I mean, mother--I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.
+
+"Come here," she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl's lips. "Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively."
+
+"Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?"
+
+"Look at me. Are you attending?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?"
+
+"Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem."
+
+"That sounds very nice," thought Sibyl to herself. "Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I'll listen."
+
+"I wish," continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, "I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl."
+
+"Poses!" cried Sibyl; "what's poses?"
+
+"Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?"
+
+"Oh, mother! it meant----" Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother's speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.
+
+"Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go."
+
+"But, mother! one minute first, please--please."
+
+"Go, Sibyl, obey me."
+
+"It was 'cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against my----"
+
+"Go, Sibyl, I won't listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant."
+
+"I am going," said the child, "but I cannot be----"
+
+"Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go."
+
+Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.
+
+"I don't understand," she said to herself. "Perhaps I wasn't quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don't know. I think
+I'll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn't--of course it's all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me 'splain things. I wish I hadn't a pain
+here." Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.
+
+"It's 'cos of father I feel so bad, it's 'cos they told lies of
+father." She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.
+
+"And mother would not even let me 'splain," thought the child.
+
+"Hullo!" cried a gay voice; "hullo! and what's the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?" And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.
+
+"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "aren't we fine! I say! you'll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join."
+
+"I can't, Gus," replied Sibyl.
+
+"Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I don't feel like playing games."
+
+"You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?"
+
+"No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I'll come by-and-by."
+
+"Somebody wasn't square with her," thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+"Queer little girl! But I like her all the same."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Sibyl's conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.
+
+At last the children's hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl's shoulder.
+
+"I am pleased with you," she said; "you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now."
+
+"Will you come and see me, Mumsy--mother, I mean--before you go to
+bed?"
+
+"Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly."
+
+Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.
+
+"That is such an absurd custom," she said; "I must break her of it."
+
+"Break your little girl of what?" he asked. "She is a beautiful
+child," he added. "I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter."
+
+"I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman," replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, "and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date."
+
+"I don't know," answered Mr. Rochester; "if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it." As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl's
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.
+
+Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.
+
+"Won't you come to the schoolroom now?" asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.
+
+"No; mother said I was to go to bed," answered Sibyl.
+
+"How proper and good you have turned," cried Mabel.
+
+"Good-night," said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse's cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.
+
+"What is it, pet?" nurse said. "Is anything the matter?"
+
+"No," answered Sibyl. "Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?"
+
+"Sakes alive!" cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, "to be sure, my darling," she answered. "I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I'll fetch it for you, dearie."
+
+"Thank you," replied Sibyl.
+
+Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl's hands.
+
+"Now, my little darling," said nurse, "you look quite white. You'll
+just read a verse or two, and then you'll go off to your bed."
+
+"I want to find a special verse," said Sibyl. "When I have read it I
+will go to bed." She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.
+
+"What's fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?"
+
+"I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night."
+
+"What is it, dear?"
+
+"'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, love," answered nurse promptly, "that's in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear."
+
+"But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?" asked the
+puzzled old woman; "there's some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There's a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.'
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put."
+
+"There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible," said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. "Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it's not that I'm
+thinking of, it's the one you found about 'God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.' It seems to 'splain things."
+
+"What things, dear?"
+
+"Why, about mother. Nursie, isn't my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?"
+
+"Oh, my goodness me, no!" exclaimed the woman under her breath. "I
+wouldn't remark it, my dear," she said aloud.
+
+"That's 'cos you know so very little. You can't never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, and I'm not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now."
+
+Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.
+
+"Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother," said Sibyl, "and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy."
+
+Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.
+
+On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"I failed to understand your letter," he said, "and have come to you
+for an explanation."
+
+Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.
+
+"I thought my meaning plain enough," he replied, "but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?"
+
+"For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton."
+
+"But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?" queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.
+
+"I see," cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang
+to his feet. "I have regarded you as my friend for some time,
+Grayleigh, and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with--you know what it means--a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn't it?"
+
+"Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world--our world I mean--consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill--a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation."
+
+"Your emendation of that old proverb may be _fin de siècle_, but it
+does not suit my notions," muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.
+
+Grayleigh looked keenly at him.
+
+"You will be sorry for this," he said; "it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that."
+
+"And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; but----"
+
+"What is the matter with you?" said Lord Grayleigh; "you never were so
+scrupulous."
+
+"I don't know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you a----"
+
+"We need not enter into that," said Grayleigh, rising; "you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the _pros_ and _cons_. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand."
+
+"And it is that which at once tempts and repels me," said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, "How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?"
+
+"Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners."
+
+"Sibyl is peculiar," said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl's wore at intervals.
+
+"She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie."
+
+"Not at all," answered Ogilvie; "I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely."
+
+"Well, to turn to the present matter," said Lord Grayleigh; "you will
+reconsider your refusal?"
+
+"I would rather not."
+
+"But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so."
+
+"There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me," said
+Ogilvie; "it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve me from temptation. But suppose I were to--to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?"
+
+"They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely."
+
+Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.
+
+"I will assume," he said, "that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won't take a refusal now."
+
+Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.
+
+Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to "Philip Ogilvie, Esq.," in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter's name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.
+
+Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "DADDY DEAR,--Here's a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+     kiss. I will put sum more at the end of the letter. Pleas
+     kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+     hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+     home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+     more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+     said she wasn't purfect but she is, isn't she father? I miss
+     you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+     me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+     never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+     for having gived you to me father. Your SIBYL."
+
+     "Father, what does 'scroopolus' mean? I want to know
+     speshul.--SIB."
+
+The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well--he had seen them coming for a long time--the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler's bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.
+
+"I am unworthy of my little Angel," he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. "And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame," he cried; "she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl's
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!"
+
+He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.
+
+"Shall I risk it?" he said to himself. "Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems _bona fide_ enough. It it is _bona fide_, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other," and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh's offer.
+
+Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.
+
+"I am sorry to seem to force your hand," that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, "but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday."
+
+A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and--turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.
+
+As these thoughts flashed before his mind he forgot that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.
+
+"Bring me brandy, and be quick," said Ogilvie.
+
+The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.
+
+After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife's extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother's death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate--not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl's needs and her mother's fancied necessities, Ogilvie's
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.
+
+"I must do something better than that for my little daughter," thought
+the man. "I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl's sake."
+
+But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.
+
+He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.
+
+"When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest," thought the man. "I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought."
+
+He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.
+
+As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.
+
+Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.
+
+He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor's consulting room.
+
+Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.
+
+"My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?"
+
+"Something of the kind," said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty--he was all right.
+
+Rashleigh asked him a few questions.
+
+"I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly," said Ogilvie, "and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home."
+
+"How large a sum do you propose to insure for?" asked the doctor.
+
+"I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart."
+
+Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor's hands.
+
+Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.
+
+"Well?" said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. "It's all right, I
+suppose."
+
+"It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination," was Rashleigh's
+answer. "You'll hear all in good time."
+
+"But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know."
+
+"When do you propose to go to Australia?"
+
+"I may not go at all. In fact if----" Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. "If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go."
+
+"But suppose it is not all right?"
+
+"Then I sail on Saturday."
+
+"I may as well tell you the truth," said Rashleigh; "you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Heart," said Rashleigh.
+
+"Heart! Mine? Not affected?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Seriously?"
+
+"It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful."
+
+"Does this mean that I----" Ogilvie dropped into a chair. "Rashleigh,"
+he said suddenly, "I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable--a very measurable distance of the end."
+
+"Describe your sensations," said Rashleigh.
+
+Ogilvie did so.
+
+"Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively."
+
+"Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?"
+
+"I fear not."
+
+"Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening."
+
+"Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart."
+
+"But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot."
+
+"You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end."
+
+"Just what was said to my father, who did not live for years and
+years," answered the man. "I won't keep you any longer, Rashleigh."
+
+He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, "Doomed."
+
+He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.
+
+"You don't look well, Mr. Ogilvie."
+
+"Never mind about my looks, Harrison," replied Ogilvie. "I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention."
+
+"Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don't look well."
+
+"Looks are nothing," replied Ogilvie. "I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie's subservience to his chief's wishes, he should
+turn restive.
+
+"That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable," thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.
+
+He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.
+
+"Hullo!" said Lord Grayleigh; "come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself."
+
+Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, "I'm not going
+to account for myself to you," but she remembered her mother's
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.
+
+"If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can," she thought.
+
+So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.
+
+"We were chasing Sib," they said; "she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us."
+
+"And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all," was Grayleigh's
+response. "Sibyl has long legs for her age."
+
+Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.
+
+"I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?"
+
+This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl's soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.
+
+"Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog's," thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.
+
+"You and I will walk by ourselves for a little," he said. "Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments."
+
+Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl's point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be "not good," and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be "not good."
+
+Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.
+
+"We will sit here and talk, shall we?" he said.
+
+"Yes, shall us?" replied Sibyl.
+
+Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.
+
+"I 'spect I'm rather short for my age," she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.
+
+"Why, how old are you?" he asked.
+
+"Quite old," she replied gravely; "I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back."
+
+"You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head," he replied,
+looking at her gravely.
+
+She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.
+
+"You called me away from the other children 'cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn't you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?"
+
+"Of course he is."
+
+"Did he ask about me?"
+
+"Yes, he asked me how you were."
+
+"And what did you say?"
+
+"I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite."
+
+Sibyl's eyes began to dance.
+
+"What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?" asked Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Of you," answered Sibyl with promptitude.
+
+"Come, that's very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?"
+
+"May I?" said Sibyl with great eagerness. "Do you really, truly mean
+it?"
+
+"I certainly mean it."
+
+"You won't tell--mother?"
+
+"I won't tell--mother," said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.
+
+Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.
+
+"I am glad," she said with emphasis. "I don't want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It's
+most 'portant that I should speak to you, and if you will promise----"
+
+"I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it."
+
+"You won't like it," said Sibyl.
+
+"You must leave me to judge of that."
+
+"I am going to be fwightfully rude."
+
+"Indeed! that is highly diverting."
+
+"I don't know what diverting is, but it will hurt you."
+
+"I believe I can survive the pain."
+
+Sibyl looked full at him then.
+
+"Are you laughing at me?" she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.
+
+"I would not dream of doing so."
+
+The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh's eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl's father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.
+
+"Speak away, little girl," he said, "I promise not to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father."
+
+"Thank you for saying that, but it isn't true; for father's perfect,
+and I'm not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies."
+
+"Indeed!" said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. "Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords."
+
+"I don't understand what that means," said Sibyl.
+
+"For a duel; you have heard of a duel?"
+
+"Oh, in history, of course," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, "and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man."
+
+"Do you really want to run a sword through me?"
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.
+
+"Come," said Lord Grayleigh, "it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?"
+
+"About my father."
+
+"Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand."
+
+"I will try and 'splain. I didn't know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies."
+
+"Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know."
+
+"I want to."
+
+"Fire away then."
+
+"You told someone--I don't know the name--you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus."
+
+"Indeed," said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. "I told
+somebody--that is diverting."
+
+"It's not diverting," said Sibyl, "it's cruel, it's mean, it's wrong;
+it's lies--black lies. Now you know."
+
+"But whom did I tell?"
+
+"Somebody, and somebody told me--I'm not going to tell who told me."
+
+"Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?"
+
+"I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn't act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so."
+
+"Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl."
+
+"He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect."
+
+The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.
+
+"And mother is perfect, too," she said, turning and facing him.
+
+Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.
+
+"Oh, no," he said.
+
+"So you don't wonder that I hate you," continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. "It's 'cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you."
+
+"Listen now, little girl." Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.
+
+"Don't shrink away, don't turn from me," he said; "I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that little girls
+don't understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down _good_ fellow."
+
+"The best in all the world?" queried Sibyl.
+
+"I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father."
+
+"And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father's quite
+perfect?"
+
+"Men like myself don't care to own themselves in the wrong," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and the fact is--listen, you queer little mortal--I don't
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any."
+
+"You have met my father and my mother."
+
+"Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me."
+
+"Would he?" said the child. She looked wistful and interested. "There
+are lots of things I want to be 'splained to me," she said. Then,
+after a moment--"I'll think whether I'll be friends with you, and
+I'll let you know, may be to-morrow."
+
+As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.
+
+"Poor little maid!" he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl's words had affected
+him.
+
+"The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful," was his
+inward thought; "it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won't
+affect the public as Ogilvie's report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl's faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl."
+
+These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.
+
+"What am I," he said to himself, "to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?" And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"Come in and sit down," he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+"It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter."
+
+"Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly."
+
+"I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly."
+
+"I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don't wonder that I should ask you the question."
+
+"She has a very great respect for you," said Lord Grayleigh; "it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl's had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.
+
+Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.
+
+"Your little girl has the highest opinion of you," he repeated; "the
+very highest."
+
+"And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense," said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. "You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am"--she
+smiled--"charming."
+
+"You are that, undoubtedly," said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.
+
+"I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don't want to be. Sibyl's
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+utmost----"
+
+"You are doing what?" said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.
+
+"To open her eyes."
+
+"I would not if I were you," he said, gravely; "it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal."
+
+"What are you talking about now?"
+
+"I don't often read my Bible," he continued, "but, of course, I did as
+a boy--most boys do. My mother was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book."
+
+"You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before."
+
+"I must tell it to you. 'Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.'"
+
+"How unpleasant," said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, "and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?"
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+"What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?"
+
+"I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes."
+
+"Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?"
+
+"Precisely."
+
+"Has he promised?"
+
+"Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it."
+
+"What does assaying the mine mean?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.
+
+"To assay a mine means to find out accurately what it contains," said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie's conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone's gaze at that instant.
+
+"Nevertheless," he continued, after a pause, "your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse."
+
+"He will be a madman if he does," cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.
+
+"According to Sibyl's light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience."
+
+"Philip's conscience!" said the wife, with a sneer; "what next?"
+
+"It appears to me," said Lord Grayleigh, "that he has an active one."
+
+"It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug."
+
+"Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband's
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it more----"
+
+"I really will not stay here to be lectured," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered."
+
+"And I cannot answer it, for I do not know."
+
+"But you think he will?"
+
+"That is my impression."
+
+"You can, at least, tell me what occurred."
+
+"I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland."
+
+"To go where?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.
+
+"As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?"
+
+"I didn't know."
+
+"Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares."
+
+"What do you mean by being paid well?"
+
+"He will have his expenses, and something over."
+
+"Something over! that is a very elastic term."
+
+"In your husband's case it will mean thousands."
+
+"Oh, I see; and then the shares?"
+
+"The shares will practically make him a rich man."
+
+"Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line." She turned to leave the summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.
+
+"If I were you," he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, "if I were you, upon my honor, I'd leave him
+alone."
+
+"Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?"
+
+"Very well," said Lord Grayleigh; "I only ventured to make a
+suggestion."
+
+She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:
+
+"I never found you so disagreeable before." She then left the
+summer-house.
+
+Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.
+
+"May I speak to you?" he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.
+
+She ran to his side at once.
+
+"Don't you want to send your father a letter by this post?"
+
+"Yes, of course; is there time?"
+
+"I will make time; go into the house and write to him."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"He would like to hear from you."
+
+"Do you want me to say anything special?"
+
+"Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all." And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl's letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie's was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.
+
+The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.
+
+On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie's plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl's was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie's was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother's, then the child's. Sibyl's
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:--
+
+     MY DEAR OGILVIE,
+
+     Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+     only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+     unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+     yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+     day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+     with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+     to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+     longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+     hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann & Co.
+
+               Yours sincerely,
+                    GRAYLEIGH.
+
+Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.
+
+"I did not want to go there," he thought. "I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me--what he pays will be Sibyl's, the provision for her future. But I
+don't want to see the child--until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn't want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable."
+
+He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.
+
+"If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound," he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh's verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh's letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.
+
+He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.
+
+This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.
+
+"He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her."
+
+"But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!"
+
+"That is exactly as her father pleases," replied Lord Grayleigh. "I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.
+
+As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.
+
+"Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss," she thought; "but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him."
+
+She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.
+
+Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.
+
+"Well, Mildred, and how are you?" said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.
+
+"Quite well," she replied. "Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don't look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?"
+
+"I am all right," he answered shortly. "I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?"
+
+"I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you."
+
+"And"--Ogilvie glanced to right and left--"the child?"
+
+"She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?"
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage," continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband's arm.
+
+Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie's intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.
+
+"It is good of you," pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. "I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and--and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go."
+
+"Debts, you mean," said Ogilvie, bluntly. "I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will be----"
+
+"Oh, Phil!" Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned very white.
+
+"I will speak about them before I leave," he continued. "Now I must
+find Grayleigh."
+
+"Is it true that you are going on Saturday?"
+
+"Quite true."
+
+"Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order."
+
+"I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week."
+
+"If you really don't want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here."
+
+"I don't want you," he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.
+
+"Sibyl will be delighted to see you," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way."
+
+"That reminds me," said Ogilvie. "I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me."
+
+"Of what?"
+
+"I do not wish her to be told."
+
+"Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric."
+
+"I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia."
+
+"What, never?"
+
+"She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, you understand? I won't go at all if you tell her."
+
+"Oh, of course, I understand," said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+"but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?"
+
+"I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband's arm.
+
+"You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?"
+
+"You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy."
+
+"My bills! but I really----"
+
+"We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go."
+
+"Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?"
+
+"They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work."
+
+"Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!"
+
+The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.
+
+"There is Lord Grayleigh," he said. "I must go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid." He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.
+
+"There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?"
+
+"No," she began, then she hesitated.
+
+"What more?"
+
+"A trinket, it took my fancy--a diamond cross--you noticed it. I could
+not resist it."
+
+"How much?" said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.
+
+"Two thousand pounds."
+
+"Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don't keep me."
+
+He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.
+
+"This is good," said the nobleman. "I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see."
+
+"Shall we go into the house?" said Ogilvie; "I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday."
+
+"You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course."
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Now listen, Ogilvie," said Lord Grayleigh, as they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, "you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up."
+
+"Can I? I thought the die was cast."
+
+"The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I _could_ get Atherton to
+take your place even now."
+
+"Even now?" echoed Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I"--Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl's face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie's face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man's whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.
+
+"I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want," he said,
+with emphasis.
+
+Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.
+
+"The time for discussing the thing is over," he said. "I will
+go--and--do _as you wish_. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down."
+
+"What do you mean by the price down?"
+
+"I want money."
+
+"Of course, you shall have it."
+
+"I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create."
+
+"How much more?" Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order."
+
+"Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is--I will confide
+in you so far--my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her."
+
+"I know your child," said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; "she
+is out of the common."
+
+A spasm of pain crossed the father's face.
+
+"She is," he answered slowly. "I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)--if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter."
+
+"I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,"
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, "What you wish shall be done."
+
+The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh's private
+account.
+
+"This clinches matters," he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.
+
+"You will see Spielmann for all the rest," was Grayleigh's answer;
+"and now, if you must catch the train----"
+
+"Yes, I must; good-by."
+
+Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.
+
+"Have you seen your wife?" he asked. "Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?"
+
+"No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station."
+
+Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.
+
+"Daddy, daddy!" she cried.
+
+He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.
+
+"Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!"
+
+But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.
+
+"I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie," said Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.
+
+"But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come," said Sibyl.
+
+"I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together."
+
+"Oh, 'licious!" cried Sibyl, "more than 'licious; but what will mother
+say?"
+
+"Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick."
+
+In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie's arm was tight round Sibyl's waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.
+
+"There's something troubling him, he likes having me near him,"
+thought the child. "I wouldn't let him see that he's squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world."
+
+The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.
+
+"We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then," he thought. "I won't tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something." Then the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.
+
+"Wait for the child," he said to the servant, "and take her back
+carefully to the house."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the man, touching his hat.
+
+Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.
+
+"I have my ticket," he said, "we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes."
+
+"Three whole precious minutes," repeated Sibyl. "What is it, father?"
+
+"I am thinking of something," he said.
+
+"What?" asked the girl.
+
+"For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world."
+
+"Father! why, so we are," she cried. "Mother's not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"You don't look quite well, dear father."
+
+"I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don't come to little girls."
+
+"Of course they don't, father, but when I'm a woman I'll have them.
+I'll take them instead of you."
+
+"Now listen, my darling."
+
+"Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, _very_ solemn; I know you when you're in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don't you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?"
+
+"Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?"
+
+"Mayn't I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there's no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I'd like to go back with you, wouldn't it be fun! Couldn't you take
+me?"
+
+"I could, of course," said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.
+
+"No, Sib," he said, "you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone."
+
+"Of course not," she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.
+
+"It would have been nice all the same," said Ogilvie. "Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling."
+
+She flung her arms tightly round his neck.
+
+"Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again--of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that I----"
+
+"Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!"
+
+"That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?"
+
+"For you and Lord Jesus Christ," she answered softly.
+
+"Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here's my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by."
+
+"I'll see you again very, very soon, father?"
+
+"Very soon," answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.
+
+"Anybody come to meet you, Miss?"
+
+"No, thank you," she answered with dignity; "I was seeing my father
+off to town; there's my twap waiting outside."
+
+The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.
+
+Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh's feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father's face which puzzled her.
+
+"He ought to have me at home with him," she thought. "I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he's mostly not well. He's beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he's mostly not well when he does it. I
+'spect he's nearer Lord Jesus when he's not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don't want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him."
+
+Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.
+
+"My dear Sibyl, where _have_ you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute."
+
+The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother's angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.
+
+"I didn't do anything naughty, really, Mummy," she said. "Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He's off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap."
+
+"Don't say twap, sound your 'r'--trap."
+
+"Tw-rap," struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.
+
+"And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick."
+
+"Oh, 'licious," said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.
+
+"You must make me quite my prettiest self," she said to the nurse;
+"you must do your very best, 'cos mother----"
+
+"What about your mother now, missy?"
+
+"'Cos mother's just a little----Oh, nothing," said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.
+
+"She likes me best when I'm pretty," continued the child; "but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, I can't say I did."
+
+"He talked to me in a most pwivate way," continued Sibyl. "He told me
+most 'portant things, and I promised him, Nursie--I promised him that
+I'd----Oh, no! I won't tell you. Perhaps I won't be able to keep my
+promise, and then you'd----Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don't be
+'quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+'quisitiveness; but you aren't to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed."
+
+"What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?"
+
+"About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn't; it shows how little they know. It's 'cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don't understand perfect people. But
+there's the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie."
+
+Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.
+
+Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband's
+departure, although she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Presently," said Lady Helen, "when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you'll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take your----"
+
+But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.
+
+"What ship do you mean?" said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, "the ship that is
+going to take my--my what?"
+
+"Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?" interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.
+
+"But this ship was going out," said Sibyl. "Never mind, I 'spect it's
+a secret; there's lots of 'em floating round to-day. I've got some
+'portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don't blush no more."
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.
+
+"When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible," he said; "but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer."
+
+Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.
+
+Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester's eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen's fair face.
+
+He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband's letter.
+
+"Well," she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; "he is
+off, it is a _fait accompli_. Do you know, I am relieved."
+
+"Are you?" he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man's
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.
+
+"Really," she said with an impatient movement, "I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her."
+
+"But without succeeding," interrupted Jim Rochester. "I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now," he added, "and I never saw a
+nicer little girl."
+
+"Oh, that is what strangers always say," replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, "and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter."
+
+"I am glad you feel it," said Rochester.
+
+"Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day."
+
+"Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie," said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, "I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don't
+think I ever met a sweeter child."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.
+
+"There you go," she said. "Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers."
+
+As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.
+
+"The annoying part of this letter," she said, "is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don't think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent----Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don't you play with your companions?" For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.
+
+"I thought--I thought," she began; "I thought, mother, that I heard
+you----" her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.
+
+"It's not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a--a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?"
+
+"I said nothing of the sort," replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, "nothing of the sort; go and
+play."
+
+Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.
+
+"It's wicked for good people to tell lies, isn't it?" she said then,
+slowly.
+
+"Wicked," cried her mother; "it's shamefully wicked."
+
+"And you are good, mother, you don't ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course." She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.
+
+"I wish things would be 'splained to me," she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. "There are more and more
+things every day want 'splaining. I certainly did hear her say it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said 'in his
+absence.' Oh, what can it mean?"
+
+The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.
+
+"What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl," he said.
+"Is anything the matter?"
+
+Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.
+
+"I want to ask you a question," she said.
+
+"You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+called----"
+
+"Sibyl," said the child, beginning to laugh; "if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?"
+
+Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.
+
+"What would you like best in the world?"
+
+"Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week--we are going home this day week."
+
+"And what will you have when you go home?"
+
+"Father's kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me."
+
+"Well," said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father's kisses, "we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?"
+
+"I know," said Sibyl, laughing, "a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn't afford it. Oh, I do want a pony."
+
+"You shall have one," said Lord Grayleigh; "it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl."
+
+"Do you really think I am good?"
+
+"Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all."
+
+"Wouldn't father like to hear you. It's wonderful how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see--oh, but you shan't
+look." She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. "But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone."
+
+"Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like," said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.
+
+"It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail," said Sibyl; "and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother's side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I'd like a riding habit like mother's, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can't 'ford one for me, but you'll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won't you?"
+
+"I'll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit," said Lord
+Grayleigh. "I'll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?"
+
+[Illustration: "A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?"
+asked Sibyl.--Page 123. _Daddy's Girl._]
+
+"I don't mind what sort my darling pony is," answered the child. "I
+only want to have it. Oh, you are nice. I began by not liking you,
+but I like you awfully now. You are very nice, indeed."
+
+"And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably."
+
+"There are lots of nice people in the world," said Sibyl. "It's a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn't never tell a
+lie, could she?"
+
+"Oh, it's the feminine gender," said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.
+
+"It's a she," said Sibyl; "could she; could she?"
+
+"A perfect person could not, little girl."
+
+"Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you," said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.
+
+"It's all right," she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. "It's all right; I got a fright, but there wasn't a word of
+it true. Come, let's play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy."
+
+In a week's time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.
+
+"You don't know what father is," she said, looking full up into
+Rochester's eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.
+
+"I have had a good time here," she said, "very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there's no place for me like my own,
+own home. It's 'cos of father."
+
+"Yes," said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father's absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.
+
+"It is at night that my father is the most perfect of all," she said.
+"I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I'm
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else."
+
+"But your mother?" stammered Rochester. He was about to add, "She
+would go to your room, would she not?" when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.
+
+"Oh, you're thinking about my perfect mother, too," said Sibyl. "Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon--you have heard of
+him, haven't you?"
+
+Rochester nodded.
+
+"He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just 'splained about my mother.
+It's really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat'rally like father's way best.
+Mother's way is the goodest for me, p'waps. Don't you think mother's
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"Seems to me," said Sibyl, "I'm always looking for Lady Helen when I'm
+with you. Is it 'cos you're so desperate fond of her?"
+
+"Don't you like her yourself?" said the young man, reddening visibly.
+
+"Like her? I like her just awfully. She's the most 'licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?"
+
+"Well, I can't honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so."
+
+"Do," said Sibyl; "ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to hear
+about him. Now come along and let's find her."
+
+So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester's face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little _distrait_. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith--
+
+"Cheer up, won't you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run."
+
+"Don't talk like that," said Rochester in a voice of pain.
+
+"Don't what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, 'It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, 'cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.' Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,"
+said the young man.
+
+"But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don't know how you look when you
+look at her, oh--ever so eager, same as I look when father's in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she's as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by--good-by."
+
+Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.
+
+The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.
+
+"It is my present to you," said Lord Grayleigh, "and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," said Sibyl, "I don't want _everyone_ to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but--don't please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I'll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good."
+
+"Well, I won't," said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.
+
+"I 'spect father will write you a most loving letter about this," said
+Sibyl. "Won't he be 'sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?"
+
+"Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school."
+
+"Oh, I never go to school," said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. "I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that--oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn't suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It's
+all right, isn't it?"
+
+"So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him."
+
+"Father will tell me a name. I won't let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. Rochester for me--oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen--good-by."
+
+They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.
+
+Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.
+
+"Sit back in your seat and don't chatter," she said, "you disturb
+other people."
+
+The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl's own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.
+
+"Mother," she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, "I'm
+'proving, aren't I?"
+
+"Proving, what do you mean?"
+
+"_Im_proving, mother."
+
+"I can't say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days."
+
+"Oh!" said the child, "oh!"
+
+Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.
+
+"It's 'cos of father," she said; "he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I _have_ tried, _haven't_ you noticed it, mother? Won't you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?"
+
+"Don't worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead."
+
+"And to please father and Lord Jesus."
+
+"Yes, yes, child."
+
+"And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?"
+
+"We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it."
+
+"Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything--the pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would 'ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?"
+
+"Hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+The old gentleman buried himself in _The Times_ in order not to hear
+Sibyl's distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.
+
+"Take up your book and stop talking," said Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.
+
+"But it don't matter," she said to herself; "when I see father, he'll
+understand."
+
+They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.
+
+"Mother, may I ask John if father's likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P'waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?"
+
+"No, sit still, you do fidget so."
+
+"I'll try to be quiet, mother; it's only 'cos I'm so incited."
+
+"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, "what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if--as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny."
+
+Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother's.
+
+"What are you doing that for?"
+
+"'Cos I thought I'd rub you the right way," said Sibyl. "You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren't you, just now,
+mother?"
+
+"Don't be so ridiculous." Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.
+
+They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.
+
+"Father, father!" she called. "I'm back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are--Sibyl. I'm home again, father. The Angel is home again, father."
+
+She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.
+
+"She does not know yet," whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. "I am going into the
+library; don't tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.
+
+"I can't see father anywhere," she said: "I 'spect he's not back yet."
+
+"Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead."
+
+Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that Mr. Ogilvie's absence had
+not been alluded to in the child's presence.
+
+Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.
+
+"I am back, and I am going to be good," she said. "I really, truly am;
+aren't you glad to see me?"
+
+"Yes, Sibyl."
+
+"Go upstairs now, Sibyl," said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child's heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.
+
+"Well, never mind," she said to herself, "he can't help it, the
+darling; but he'll be back soon," and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "this is all most unpleasant."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the governess.
+
+"Why, this whim of my husband's. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion."
+
+"Oh, I don't quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,"
+said Miss Winstead; "he has peculiar ideas, that's all."
+
+"We need not discuss that point," said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. "We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland."
+
+"I?" said Miss Winstead; "I would really rather----"
+
+"I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy--any toy she fancies. Here's a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted."
+
+"Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father," interrupted Miss
+Winstead.
+
+"Well, for goodness' sake, don't make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months--that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that _I_ am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he'll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead--do it!"
+
+"When?" asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.
+
+"Oh, when you please, only don't worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won't see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don't I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?"
+
+"But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl."
+
+"Don't you know? Say that her father has gone--oh, by the way, there's
+a letter for her. I really don't know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?"
+
+"I still suffer very badly with my head," said Miss Winstead, "but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl."
+
+"I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be obliged----"
+
+"Oh, you need not go on," said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. "I know my duty. I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her."
+
+"No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable," said the mother. "Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don't forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir."
+
+Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.
+
+"Coward!" she said, under her breath.
+
+"I wish I was well out of this," thought the governess. "The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love."
+
+Miss Winstead's schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie's manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.
+
+Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.
+
+"Cook made these for Miss Sibyl," she said. "Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?"
+
+"No," said Miss Winstead; "and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like."
+
+"I wouldn't be in your shoes for a deal, Miss," replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.
+
+Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.
+
+"Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What's the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?"
+
+"I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl."
+
+"I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn't you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That's the way Nurse's
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?"
+
+"No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I'm thankful to say."
+
+"And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?"
+
+"All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss."
+
+"Don't make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea," said her governess.
+
+Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with--
+
+"I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?"
+
+"Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,"
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson's sweetheart.
+
+Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants' hall.
+
+"Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats 'em," she cried.
+"Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you're a-keeping company with. It's wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have."
+
+"That she have truly," said the cook, "and I'll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It's but to
+look at her to see how loving she is," continued the good woman. "How
+she'll live without the master beats me. The missus ain't worthy of
+her."
+
+This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant's mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants' hall.
+
+Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.
+
+"It's nearly five o'clock," she said, "father is sure to be in at six,
+don't you think so, Miss Winstead?"
+
+"He often doesn't come home till seven," answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you, Winnie dear," said Sibyl--this was
+her pet name for the governess; "you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said 'a
+shaking,' and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea."
+
+"Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes."
+
+"It is such a fine evening, that perhaps----"
+
+"No, no, I don't want to go."
+
+"But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop."
+
+This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.
+
+"How much money?" she asked in a tentative voice.
+
+"Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign."
+
+"Twenty shillings," said Sibyl, "I could get a lovely doll's house for
+that. But I think sometimes I am getting tired of my dolls. It's so
+stupid of 'em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll's house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it's a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am _very_ fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren't you, Winnie? Don't you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don't you like him?"
+
+"I don't know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear."
+
+"Have you been trying to 'prove yourself very much while I was away?"
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.
+
+"Prove myself?"
+
+"I can never say that whole word. _Im_prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?"
+
+"I always try, Sibyl."
+
+"Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you _are_ 'proved, you're
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you're sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I'll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman's to buy the doll's house. He is poor, and he'll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss 'em. Some children are _so_ careless. Yes, I'll go with you,
+and then we'll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He'll know that I'll be wanting him."
+
+"Sibyl, I have something to tell you."
+
+"What?"
+
+There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead's voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.
+
+"What is it?" said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.
+
+"It is something that will pain you, dear."
+
+"Oh!" said Sibyl, "go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don't like to be kept in 'spense."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night."
+
+Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.
+
+"I can bear it," she said; "go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?"
+
+"Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next."
+
+"Go on; I am bearing it," said Sibyl.
+
+She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.
+
+"It's a great shock, but I am bearing it," she said again. "_When_
+will I see him?"
+
+Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.
+
+"Child," she said, "don't look like that."
+
+"I'm looking no special way; I'm only bearing up. Is father dead?"
+
+"No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months."
+
+"A few months," said Sibyl. "He's not dead?" She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.
+
+"It's the little shots that hurt most," she said after a pause. "I
+wouldn't have felt it, if you had said he was dead."
+
+"Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won't be back by six."
+
+"Yes, I'll go out with you."
+
+She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.
+
+"I'd rather she cried and screamed; I'd rather she rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I'd rather she did anything than take it like that,"
+thought the governess.
+
+Sibyl went straight into the nursery.
+
+"Nursie," she said, "my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn't it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk."
+
+"Oh, my darling," said nursie, "this has hurt you horribly."
+
+"Don't," said Sibyl, "don't be sympathisy." She pushed nurse's
+detaining hand away.
+
+"It's the little shots that tell," she repeated. "I wouldn't have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse."
+
+She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.
+
+"Was it mother said you was to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then mother did tell me a----" Sibyl left off abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.
+
+"I hear you have got a pony," said Miss Winstead.
+
+"I don't want to talk about my pony, please," interrupted Sibyl. "Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in."
+
+"But why may we not talk about your pony?"
+
+"I don't want to ride my pony now."
+
+Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.
+
+"You have walked quite far enough to-night," she said, "you look very
+white."
+
+"I'm not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop."
+
+"A good idea," said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. "We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy."
+
+"Well, this is the turning, come along," said Sibyl.
+
+"But why should we go to Holman's, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street."
+
+"I'd much rather go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child's. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Holman," she said; "I hope I find you quite well."
+
+"Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health," replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.
+
+"I am glad of that," answered Sibyl. "I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?"
+
+"You thought a doll's house," interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.
+
+"Oh, it don't matter about that," said Sibyl, looking gravely back at
+her; "I mean it don't matter now. Mr. Holman, what's the most dusty of
+your toys, what's the most scratched, what's the toy that none of the
+other children would like?"
+
+"I have a whole heap of 'em," said Holman, shaking his head sadly.
+
+"That he have, poor dear," here interrupted Mrs. Holman. "How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn't buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It's because our shop is in a back
+street."
+
+"Oh, but it's a very nice street," said Sibyl; "it's retired, isn't
+it? Well, I'll buy twenty shillings' worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down."
+
+Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.
+
+"Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman," said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.
+
+"What ails her?" said Holman. "She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don't like her looks a bit."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months' time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress's dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.
+
+"Mother," said Sibyl.
+
+"What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly."
+
+"Please, mother, I can't sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don't know what it is, but it's worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I 'spect I'm lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?"
+
+"Oh dear, how you tremble," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn't you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?"
+
+"But, mother, that wouldn't have done me any good."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"They wouldn't be you. I'll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother."
+
+"Of course you may, child, but please don't disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep."
+
+Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.
+
+"Why don't you shut your eyes and go to sleep?" asked her mother.
+
+"I can't, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling," replied
+Sibyl.
+
+"What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl's.
+Sibyl's little hand was cold.
+
+"May I come quite close to you, mother?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+The next instant she was lying in her mother's arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.
+
+"Oh, now that's better," said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother's clasp.
+
+"I am much better," she said; "I didn't understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter."
+
+"Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?" asked her mother.
+
+"Not much; there's not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It's very hard, but I
+'spect I'll do it; I 'spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It's such a long, long way off."
+
+"For a most excellent reason," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit--we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring us----"
+
+"What?" asked the child. "What has he gone for?"
+
+"My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of _money_, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money."
+
+"No, I am not," said Sibyl. "I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is."
+
+"Who in the world is Mr. Holman?"
+
+"He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I can't 'splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money."
+
+"Plenty of money," echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; "that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we'll be rich."
+
+"Rich?" said Sibyl, "rich?" She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.
+
+"Is it nice, being rich?" she asked.
+
+"Of course it is."
+
+"But what does it do?"
+
+"Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks."
+
+"But I am more comfy in my common frocks."
+
+"Well, it gives you your nice food."
+
+"I don't care nothing about food."
+
+"It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, and----"
+
+"Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony."
+
+"Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness."
+
+"Do you think so?" said Sibyl. "And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?"
+
+"Very much indeed; I like the good things of life."
+
+"I'll try and understand," said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Nursie," said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, "mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we'll be very rich."
+
+"Um," replied nurse, with a grunt, "do she?"
+
+"Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It's very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has 'splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn't understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don't matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is."
+
+"Yes, dear," said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl's stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman's chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse's movements with close interest.
+
+"Why do you wear spectacles?" she asked suddenly.
+
+"Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain't as young as I was."
+
+"What does 'not as young as you was' mean?"
+
+"What I say, my dear."
+
+"I notice," said Sibyl, thoughtfully, "that all very, very old people
+say they're not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles 'cos
+you're not as young as you was, and 'cos you can't see as well as you
+did."
+
+"That's about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses."
+
+"Then I'm glad we're going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+'splain why I am glad," continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. "When our gold
+comes, nursie, you'll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses 'cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we'll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There's poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn't paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there's a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely _swampy_ sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there and they spend their money, and there's
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It's just 'cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn't it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won't come into his nice, quiet _back_ street. I
+like back streets, don't you, nursie? It's horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+"It's the way of the world, dear," answered nurse; "the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It's a cruel way, but it's the way the world has got."
+
+"Then I hate the world," said Sibyl. "My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn't
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?"
+
+"Oh, my love, there'd be a lot of things _He'd_ have to change if He
+came back; but don't ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don't get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you're looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see."
+
+"But I am perfectly well," answered Sibyl, "I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me 'rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I'll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he'll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won't have to wipe away her tears any more."
+
+Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath--
+
+"Bless her! the darling she is!"
+
+Smartly dressed, as was her mother's wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.
+
+"Oh, I am glad to see you," she said. "Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?"
+
+"I am very glad to see you," replied the young man; "but I did call to
+see your mother."
+
+"Well, come to the drawing-room, I'll entertain you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester--_nice_ Mr. Rochester."
+
+Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.
+
+Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.
+
+"Well?" she said.
+
+"Why do you say that?" he asked, in some confusion.
+
+"I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it."
+
+"Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things," answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.
+
+"Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+'splaining to me about rich people. It's most 'portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn't it, Mr. Rochester? It's the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn't it?"
+
+"That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?"
+
+Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, "Why, mother," but she
+checked herself. A cloud took some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.
+
+"When my own father comes back again we'll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you'll make," she said, "dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we'll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can."
+
+"What are shares?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich."
+
+"It's very puzzling," said Sibyl. "And it depends on father?"
+
+"Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don't you understand, it all depends on him."
+
+"It's _very_ puzzling," said Sibyl again. "Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I think so," he answered earnestly. "I shall buy several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me."
+
+"And you will be happy?"
+
+"Very happy if she says 'yes.' But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else."
+
+"You may trust me," said Sibyl, "I never tell things I'm told not to
+tell. You can't think what wonderful 'portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you'll be glad to be
+rich?"
+
+"Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife," he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.
+
+Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.
+
+"When father comes back he'll christen my pony," she said, "but no one
+else shall. I won't give it no name till he comes back."
+
+She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony's back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.
+
+Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.
+
+"It is very hot this morning," said the governess.
+
+"Oh, that don't matter," replied Sibyl. "Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?"
+
+"No," answered Miss Winstead, "I cannot say it is."
+
+"Full of thoughts, you know."
+
+"No," replied the governess again. "Don't turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly."
+
+Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead's instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said suddenly, "I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly 'portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?"
+
+"We shan't have time," replied Miss Winstead.
+
+"Oh, but I want to go," said Sibyl, knitting her brows, "don't let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans."
+
+"I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon."
+
+"Mother going into the country, what for?"
+
+"I cannot tell you, it is not my affair."
+
+"That means that you know, but you won't tell."
+
+"You can put it in that way if you like. I won't tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool."
+
+Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.
+
+"I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up," thought the little girl. "I don't like it, not a bit."
+
+Presently she slipped her hand through her governess's arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice--
+
+"Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can't think how 'portant it is."
+
+"I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again." Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.
+
+"We must hurry home," she said; "I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast."
+
+They left the Park, and came back in time for lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.
+
+"Why isn't Mr. Rochester here?" said the little girl at last.
+
+"He could not stay," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?"
+
+"He is nice, he is very nice," said the child; "he and Lady Helen--oh,
+more than nice. I like 'em very much, don't you, mother?"
+
+"Yes, dear." Mrs. Ogilvie got up. "Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening."
+
+"Good-by, mother dear."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.
+
+"Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, not at all."
+
+"I wonder if you're awfully hungry, Watson?"
+
+"Why so, Miss?"
+
+"Because it's time for the servants' dinner."
+
+"Well, Miss, I'm going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring."
+
+Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.
+
+"You couldn't, p'waps," said the little girl, knitting her brows, "you
+couldn't, p'waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?"
+
+"Where do you want to go, Miss?"
+
+"I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don't you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys."
+
+"I have heard of him from you, Miss."
+
+"It's most 'portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out."
+
+Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.
+
+"If you're very quick, Miss," he said, "I'll do it."
+
+"You are good," said Sibyl. "Do you know, Watson, that you're a very
+nice man--you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let's go; do
+let's be quick."
+
+A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman's
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.
+
+"Watson," said the little girl, "you can stand in the doorway. It's
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen."
+
+"No, Miss, I won't."
+
+Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance--when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.
+
+"Dear! dear!" she said; "I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I've splendid news for you."
+
+"What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn't send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. 'Tain't fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear."
+
+"But I like them," said the child; "I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly."
+
+"Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way."
+
+"Don't think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated--as though I were your little friend."
+
+"Which you are, darling--which you are."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn't know what to do with it. You
+said, 'Money ought to make money,' and you didn't know how your
+hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to 'splain it to me, and I tried to understand."
+
+"It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day."
+
+"Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?"
+
+"Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money."
+
+"Oh, I understand that," answered the child.
+
+"And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank."
+
+"It's there still, is it?" said Sibyl, her eyes shining.
+
+"Yes, dear."
+
+"Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?"
+
+"Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?" said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father's gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to----Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you'll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That's what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn't. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Bless you, darling," said Mrs. Holman, "so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting."
+
+"It's awfully exciting, isn't it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You'll be rich, and I'll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He'll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You'll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then."
+
+Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman's eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.
+
+"Come, Watson," she said, "you'll have a splendid appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.
+
+"My husband is not prepared to buy a place now," she said in
+conclusion, "but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market."
+
+The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie's heart, did come in the agent's way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+_distrait_ and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.
+
+This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.
+
+"It is the very best place of its kind in the market," she wrote. "It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.
+
+"It will be yours when father comes home," she said to the child.
+
+Sibyl skipped about madly.
+
+"It's just too 'licious!" she said. "Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn't it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don't you love Him very, very much, mother?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.
+
+"We can have a bazaar here," she said, "a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know."
+
+"Big-wigs?" said Sibyl, "what are they?"
+
+"People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale."
+
+"I don't understand, mother," answered Sibyl. "Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn't it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I'd like very much to send it to my ownest father."
+
+"Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him."
+
+"It's heart won't be dead," said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.
+
+"What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?" said nurse.
+
+"At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can't think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day."
+
+"H'm!" said nurse.
+
+"Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don't like it," said the child. "But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don't quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and--and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the _big-wigs_ are
+coming to it. Isn't it a funny word! perhaps you don't know what
+big-wigs are, but I do."
+
+Nurse laughed.
+
+"Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about."
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.
+
+"I don't want to lose the place," she said. "My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision."
+
+"If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear," replied
+the lawyer, "I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say--well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid."
+
+"Can you really?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.
+
+"At the worst it could be taken off your hands," he answered; "but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects"--he paused
+and looked thoughtful. "I can lend you the money if you wish it," he
+said then abruptly.
+
+"The money to enable me to pay a deposit?" she said.
+
+"Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October."
+
+"My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree," she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment's pause she
+spoke.
+
+"I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don't know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back."
+
+"I have plenty of funds to meet this loan," thought the lawyer. "I am
+safe so far." Aloud he said, "Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow."
+
+"This clinches the matter," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately."
+
+The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.
+
+"A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life," she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.
+
+On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.
+
+"You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow," she said. "I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o'clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river."
+
+Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.
+
+"It's the most darling, lovely place," she said; "nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours."
+
+"When our ship comes in, it will be ours," said Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.
+
+When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.
+
+"Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?" he asked.
+
+"What rumors?" Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. "I know nothing whatever
+about business," she said, testily, "I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England."
+
+"Of course it has not. Ogilvie's report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it."
+
+"Not a word, not a word," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent."
+
+"Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine," said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.
+
+"You will find cigars in that box," she said. "No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me."
+
+"Oh, do let her stay," earnestly pleaded the young man, "she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before."
+
+"Well, as you please, but don't spoil her," said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.
+
+"I have a lot of things to ask you," she said; "I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?"
+
+"It is extremely difficult for me to explain," said Rochester, "but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people."
+
+"What's subscribed?"
+
+"Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?"
+
+"Yes, whoever they may be. I don't know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred."
+
+"Oh, that's very nice," said Sibyl; "I seem to understand, and yet I
+don't understand."
+
+"You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don't
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men."
+
+"And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?" said Sibyl.
+
+"He will say it if the gold is there."
+
+"And if it is not?"
+
+"Then he will tell the truth."
+
+"Of course," said Sibyl, proudly. "My father couldn't tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn't it, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I should say quite impossible," replied Rochester firmly.
+
+"You are awfully nice, you know," she said; "you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then."
+
+"So they will," replied Rochester.
+
+"And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn't the new
+place got a lovely name--Silverbel?"
+
+"It sounds very pretty, Sibyl."
+
+"And you will come to-morrow and see it, won't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will bring Lady Helen?"
+
+"Your mother will bring Lady Helen."
+
+"It's all the same," replied Sibyl. "Oh, I am so glad."
+
+She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.
+
+Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:
+
+     "DARLINGIST FATHER,--Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+     the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+     rich. Here's the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+     father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+     Sibyl. It's hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+     morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+     morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+     It's most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+     It's most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+     full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+     here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+     father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don't know
+     how portant it is. It's cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+     and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+     spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+     and I mustn't tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+     Oh, it is portant.
+
+               "Your lovin
+                    "SIBYL."
+
+"He'll understand," thought Sibyl; "he's wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he'll quite know what I mean by the 'heart of the
+rose,'" and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.
+
+The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until--but that
+refers to another part of the story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.
+
+It was now the heart of a glorious summer--such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.
+
+Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother's side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.
+
+Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.
+
+"Here you both is!" she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.
+
+"You do look nice," said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, "and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him."
+
+"Who is Watson?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"Don't you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in _dear_ Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I 'spect they'll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don't know how fond I am of Watson; he's a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here's the carriage. Let's all get in.
+Aren't you both glad you're coming, and coming together, both of you
+_together_, to visit Silverbel. It's a 'licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let's
+all get into the carriage."
+
+Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+_enfant terrible_. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.
+
+"I had meant to put it off until my husband returned," she remarked
+finally, "but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris & Liberty to furnish the
+place, and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately."
+
+"Oh, yes," cried Sibyl, "you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?"
+
+"If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall," replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.
+
+They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.
+
+"There they go!" cried the child.
+
+"There who go, Sibyl?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"The one who wants to marry the other," replied Sibyl. "Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren't you awfully
+incited?"
+
+"You are a very silly, rude little girl," replied the mother. "You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+don't take even the slightest notice when they return."
+
+"Aren't I to speak to them?" asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.
+
+"Of course, but you are not to say anything special."
+
+"Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?"
+
+"No; don't be such a little goose."
+
+"I always notice," replied Sibyl, softly, "that when _quite_ strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can't I say
+anything more--more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they'd like it. I thought they'd like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it."
+
+"About it?"
+
+"Their love, mother, their love for--for each other."
+
+"Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?"
+
+"Me, mother," said Sibyl.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.
+
+"You are a most ridiculous little girl," she said. "Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?"
+
+"You has put it plain, mother," replied Sibyl. "I think I do. Now,
+let's look at the flowers."
+
+"I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,"
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?"
+
+"It's lovely!" replied Sibyl.
+
+"I am devoted to the country," continued the mother; "there is no
+place like the country for me."
+
+"So I think, too," replied Sibyl. "I love the country. We'll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won't we, mother?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead."
+
+"Now you are talking in your silly way again," replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+"You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman."
+
+"But, mother, why aren't they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father's mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It's very puzzling, and yet I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!"
+
+The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.
+
+Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.
+
+"What rhyme?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"I know it all, shall I say it to you?" cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:--
+
+     "One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,
+     Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,
+     Six _he_ loves, seven _she_ loves, eight they both love,
+       Nine he comes, ten he tarries,
+       Eleven he woos, twelve he marries."
+
+Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that "twelve he marries," she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.
+
+"I knew _you'd_ have luck," she said. Then she caught her mother's
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.
+
+"Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon," said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie's suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.
+
+Rochester sprang to his feet.
+
+"I can easily get a boat," he said; "I'll go and consult with mine
+host."
+
+He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment's
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.
+
+"Is that why our house is called Silverbel?" asked Sibyl. "Is it 'cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and 'cos it is _belle_,
+French for beautiful?"
+
+"Perhaps so," answered the mother with a smile.
+
+The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.
+
+"What a pity we must go back to London," said Sibyl. "I don't think I
+ever had such a lovely day before."
+
+"We shall soon be back here," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town."
+
+"That will be lovely," said Sibyl. "Oh, won't my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!"
+
+When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.
+
+"This came for you, madam, in your absence," he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:
+
+"Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.
+
+"I hope there is nothing wrong?" asked Rochester.
+
+"Nothing at all," she replied. "Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don't stare in that rude way."
+
+The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.
+
+Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and _distrait_. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?" whispered Sibyl.
+
+"No, Sibyl; I am quite happy."
+
+"Then you are thinking very hard?"
+
+"I often think."
+
+"I do so want you to be awfully happy."
+
+"I know you do, and I think I shall be."
+
+"Then that is right. _Twelve he marries_. Wasn't it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn't it luck?"
+
+"Yes; but hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl's hands, and stroked it fondly.
+
+"Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?" asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.
+
+"No," he answered; "she is quite naughty about that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you."
+
+"You ought to," said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; "it would do him
+good. It's an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, 'A burnt child dreads the
+fire,' or 'Marry in haste, repent at leisure,' or----"
+
+"Oh, that will do, Sibyl." Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.
+
+"Well," said Sibyl, "perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It's like having more sugar. The 'home truth'
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can't swallow it _without_ the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: 'Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,' and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren't
+there, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter," cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; "you talk the most utter nonsense," and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.
+
+The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.
+
+"Tiresome man!" she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.
+
+"Well," she said, "why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?"
+
+"You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"I have never heard of _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"But City men know it," replied Mr. Acland, "and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.
+
+"How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms," she said.
+"What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word."
+
+"He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right," replied
+Acland. "There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now."
+
+"This is very disturbing," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband's report
+likely to reach England?"
+
+"Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months' time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie's report."
+
+"Won't you stay and have some supper?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+"I have said already that I do not understand these things."
+
+"I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of £2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place."
+
+"No other place will suit me except Silverbel," she answered.
+
+"I strongly recommend you not to buy it now."
+
+"And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?"
+
+"Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October."
+
+"Then pray don't let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland."
+
+Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.
+
+"I thought it only fair to tell you," he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:
+
+"What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.
+
+Sibyl's room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.
+
+Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child's sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl's father came back.
+
+"For Jim," continued Lady Helen, "will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along."
+
+Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.
+
+"Of course, it is full of gold, quite full," thought the child; "but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it."
+
+She began to count the days now to her father's return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.
+
+Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child's
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river's edge.
+
+The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.
+
+The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.
+
+Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.
+
+"We have had no cable yet from your husband," he said, "and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious."
+
+"Oh, pray don't croak," was Mrs. Ogilvie's response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.
+
+"You are a bird of ill-omen," she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.
+
+He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.
+
+"When people are perfectly happy and know nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?" she continued. "I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one."
+
+"That is my own impression," said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; "but don't
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October."
+
+"Oh! Philip will be back before then," answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. "Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?"
+
+Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.
+
+"Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?" she asked.
+
+"We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again."
+
+"Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!"
+
+Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.
+
+"Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you," she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. "I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful."
+
+A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.
+
+"Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"Oh, some time, but not at present," replied Sibyl. "I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn't Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?"
+
+"Charming," replied Grayleigh. "Is your mother in, little woman?"
+
+"I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?"
+
+"I don't know, I will tell you presently."
+
+Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh's. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.
+
+"Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,"
+she said.
+
+"Because you have got a pretty new place?"
+
+"No, no, nothing of that sort. It's 'cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he'll
+come. I'm always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn't it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?"
+
+Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.
+
+[Illustration: "Shall I find mother for you?" asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.--Page 208. _Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Shall I find mother for you?" she said. "Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You're a big-wig,
+aren't you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they were people in a _good social position_.
+I remember the words so well 'cos I couldn't understand 'em, but when
+I asked Miss Winstead to 'splain, she said mother meant ladies and
+gentlemen, and when I asked her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen
+was, she said people who behaved nicely. Now isn't it all very
+puzzling, 'cos the person who I think behaves nicest of all is our
+footman, Watson. He has lovely manners and splendid impulses; and
+perhaps the next nicest is dear Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop
+in a back street. But when I asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman
+were big-wigs, she said I spoked awful nonsense. What do you think,
+Lord Grayleigh? Please do try to 'splain."
+
+Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl's long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.
+
+"A big-wig is quite an ugly word," he said, "but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life."
+
+"You haven't 'splained a bit," said the little girl. "Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?"
+
+"I will answer that question after I have seen your mother."
+
+Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.
+
+"He doesn't look quite happy," she thought; "I'm sorry he is coming
+to take up mother's time. Mother promised, and it's most 'portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It's on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+'portant. Oh, I do hope she won't forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can't. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I'd go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert'nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I'll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can't come, she must."
+
+Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.
+
+"You didn't hear by the last mail?" was Lord Grayleigh's query.
+
+"No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence."
+
+"He is probably up country," was Lord Grayleigh's answer. "I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you."
+
+"I have not heard," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?"
+
+"Oh, quite charming," said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.
+
+"I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase," continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+"Indeed!" Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.
+
+"Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit," continued
+the lady, "but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won't he?" Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge," he replied,
+oracularly. "Don't be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters."
+
+"Perhaps," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. "By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons."
+
+"Certainly," he answered; "at what date is the bazaar to be held?"
+
+She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.
+
+"I shall stay in town to-night," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat."
+
+Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.
+
+She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott's old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener's boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.
+
+Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan's cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.
+
+Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan's cottage. They were to start about six
+o'clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.
+
+The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.
+
+"Well, Missy," said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into the
+soil; "don't stand just there, Missy, you'll get the earth all over
+you."
+
+Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.
+
+"How is Dan?" she asked, after a pause.
+
+"A-wrastling with his pain," answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.
+
+"Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?" asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.
+
+"Is he expecting you, Missy?" answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. "Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit 'em or not? You said you'd go, Missy, and Dan he's
+counting the minutes."
+
+"Of course I'll go," replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+_distrait_. Then she added, "I will go if I possibly can."
+
+"I didn't know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, 'I'll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.' Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit."
+
+Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.
+
+"Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful," she said, "I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly."
+
+"But why, Missy? What's up? I don't like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting."
+
+"Mr. Scott, I'm awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can't
+go."
+
+Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.
+
+"You promised you'd go," he said then slowly.
+
+"I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn't take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?"
+
+"I could not," answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child's opinion, almost venomous vigor.
+
+"Besides," he added, "it wouldn't be the same. It's you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I'd keep my word to
+the poor. It's a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there's God's curse on them as do."
+
+Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.
+
+"Lord Jesus wouldn't curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him," she thought; but, all the same, the old man's words
+seemed to chill her.
+
+"I'll do my very best," she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:
+
+"I wouldn't disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He's
+a-counting of the minutes."
+
+A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.
+
+"I could take the apples," he said to himself; "I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don't see why the quality shouldn't keep their word,
+and I'm due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She's a rare fine little 'un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she'll take him the apples."
+
+So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.
+
+Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl's own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.
+
+"Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?"
+
+"Is your head any better?" asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.
+
+"No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea."
+
+Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.
+
+Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.
+
+"It don't matter about my tea," she said to herself. "Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it's all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother's horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples."
+
+The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.
+
+"It's awful to neglect the poor," she said to herself. "Old Scott was
+very solemn. He's a good man, is Scott, he's a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it's
+wonderful what he finds in them--the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said 'Read your Psalms and you'll know. Don't the Psalms
+for the day say "the Lord of glory thundereth"?' and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It's wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn't say a thing if it wasn't true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn't like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan _will_ be waiting and watching.
+A little girl whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I'll get the apples ready."
+
+Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.
+
+"This will tempt dear little Dan," she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.
+
+"Ben! Ben! Ben!" called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.
+
+"Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!" she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.
+
+"I could ride him alone," thought Sibyl; "it is only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long--that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I'll go. It's too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him."
+
+Just then a voice at the stable door said--
+
+"Hullo! I say!" and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.
+
+"Oh, Johnson," she said eagerly, "I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple."
+
+"What is it, Miss?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can't you?"
+
+"I guess I can," answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.
+
+"Want to ride?" he said. "Who's a-goin' with yer?"
+
+"No one, I am going alone."
+
+Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.
+
+"I say," he cried, "them's good, I like apples."
+
+"You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off."
+
+Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl's intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony's back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.
+
+"It don't matter about putting on my habit," said Sibyl. "It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can't I, Johnson?"
+
+"If you like, Miss," answered Johnson.
+
+"I think I will, really, Johnson," said Sibyl in that confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.
+
+"I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house."
+
+"Oh, is that it?" answered Johnson.
+
+"Yes, that's it; they don't understand. No one understands in the
+house how 'portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?"
+
+Johnson scratched his head.
+
+"I guess not!" he said.
+
+"If I don't take them, he'll fret and fret," said Sibyl; "and he'll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn't it so, Johnson? You understand, don't you?"
+
+"A bit, perhaps, Missy."
+
+"Well, I am very much obliged to you," said the little girl. "Here's
+two apples, real beauties, and here's my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him."
+
+Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.
+
+Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.
+
+"I am so glad I did it," she thought; "it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I'll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he'll
+understand. I'll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She'll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she'll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she'll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she'll say afterward, 'I'm sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.' I am doing right,
+aren't I, Lord Jesus?" and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.
+
+The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o'clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:
+
+"Are you in, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.
+
+"Ah! it's you, Missy, at last," she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. "Has you brought the
+apples?" she cried. "You are very late, Missy. Oh, I'm obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?"
+
+"You can send it to-morrow, please," answered Sibyl.
+
+"And you ain't a-coming in? The lad's expecting you."
+
+"I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn't able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I'll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won't make him an out-and-out
+promise, 'cos if you make a promise to the poor and don't keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don't quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+[Illustration: An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.--Page 224.
+_Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Oh, don't I," answered Mrs. Scott. "It's a pity you can't come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain't no time to be
+a-visiting of you. That's him calling out, Missy; you wait a
+minute, and I'll find out what he wants."
+
+Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.
+
+"Quiet, darling; quiet, pet," said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.
+
+Presently Mrs. Scott came back.
+
+"Dan's obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He 'opes you'll
+come another day."
+
+"I wish, I do wish I could come in now," said Sibyl wistfully; "but I
+just daren't. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott."
+
+"Oh, that," answered Mrs. Scott, "but you ain't no call to know."
+
+"But I'd like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+"There are all sorts," replied Mrs. Scott. "Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter'ble until he died. It's my
+belief he haunts the churchyard now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter'ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life."
+
+"Well, I really must be going now," said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+"Good-by; tell Dan I'll try hard to come and see him to-morrow."
+
+She turned the pony's head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.
+
+"She's a gloomy sort," thought the child, "she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don't take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don't like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to 'splain what a curse was. I 'spect I'm a very queer
+girl, and I didn't really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn't go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I'll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won't be about. I shouldn't like to see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we'll soon be back home
+again."
+
+Sibyl lightly touched the pony's ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.
+
+Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.
+
+"A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet," said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.
+
+Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession.
+She would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless
+Micah Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the
+next instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children's shouts were the final straw.
+
+"Not quite so fast, darling," cried Sibyl; "a little slower, pet."
+
+But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called--
+
+"Hullo! Stop, for goodness' sake; don't turn the corner. Stop! Stop!"
+
+Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+On a certain morning in the middle of July the _Gaika_ with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.
+
+A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.
+
+"Well, Ogilvie," he cried, "we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?"
+
+"I cannot quite tell," answered Ogilvie. "It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned."
+
+"You don't look too well," said his friend. "Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?"
+
+"I do not expect letters," was Ogilvie's answer; "there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel."
+
+Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.
+
+"And yet I am doing it for her," he muttered to himself. "I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me--that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again."
+
+He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly--
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?"
+
+He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.
+
+"That is my name," replied Ogilvie; "and yours?"
+
+"I am Messrs. Spielmann's agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage."
+
+"Pretty well," answered Ogilvie; "but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?"
+
+"At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?"
+
+"As you please," said Ogilvie. "Will you wait here? I will return
+soon."
+
+Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.
+
+"That is quite to my desire," said Ogilvie. "I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine."
+
+"If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right," answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. "I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the _Townville_ to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant's Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report."
+
+"And how long will all this take?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month."
+
+"You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?"
+
+"Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago."
+
+"And what is your personal opinion?"
+
+"There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton."
+
+"So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?"
+
+"Yes, one shaft."
+
+"Any result?"
+
+"That is what your opinion is needed to decide," said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.
+
+Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.
+
+"I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me," he said.
+
+Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.
+
+"Why did they send him out?" he muttered. "Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same."
+
+"I shall make my own pile out of this," he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.
+
+The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.
+
+Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.
+
+"Here we are," said Rycroft, "here lies the gold." He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. "Here is our overseer's hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don't mind
+sharing it with me."
+
+"Not in the least," replied Ogilvie. "We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek."
+
+Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh's
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.
+
+"Time enough for repentance in another world," he muttered under his
+breath. "All I have to do at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward," he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+"the downhill slope is never difficult."
+
+The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman's camp was about a hundred yards distant.
+
+As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.
+
+"But the child--the child!" he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.
+
+When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight's work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.
+
+Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.
+
+"Nevertheless, I believe he will," was Rycroft's final comment;
+"men of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he'll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn't break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man."
+
+Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.
+
+After a little over a fortnight's hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.
+
+"There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie," said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. "For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that"--he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.
+
+"After that?" said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.
+
+Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.
+
+"You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,"
+said Ogilvie.
+
+"I see no help for it," replied Rycroft. "We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail."
+
+"I shall take the report back with me," said Ogilvie.
+
+"Better not," answered his companion, "best trust Her Majesty's mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it." As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.
+
+"Let us pack our traps," said Ogilvie, rising.
+
+"The sooner we get out of this the better."
+
+The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward--the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.
+
+"If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months," thought the man;
+"the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know."
+
+The report was a plausible and highly colored one.
+
+It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.
+
+They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.
+
+"I shall take the next mail home," said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.
+
+"Sign first," replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.
+
+"Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning," continued Ogilvie. "The _Sahara_
+sails to-morrow at noon?"
+
+"I believe so; but sign, won't you?"
+
+Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.
+
+"I shall take a berth on board at once," he said.
+
+"All right, old chap, but sign first."
+
+Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.
+
+"What is wrong," asked Rycroft; "are you ill?"
+
+"I suffer from this sort of thing now and then," replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. "Brandy, please."
+
+Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.
+
+"You look ghastly," he said; "drink."
+
+Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.
+
+"Now sign," said Rycroft again.
+
+"Where is the pen?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+He was all too anxious now to take the fatal plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie's.
+
+"Now our work is done," cried Rycroft, "and Her Majesty's mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers."
+
+"This will set matters right," said Ogilvie. "Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself."
+
+"Her Majesty's mail would be best," answered Rycroft. "You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.
+
+Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, "Come
+in," and a messenger entered with a cablegram.
+
+"For Mr. Ogilvie," he said.
+
+"From Grayleigh, of course," said Rycroft, "how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside," he continued to the messenger.
+
+The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.
+
+Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:--
+
+     _"Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+     at once."_
+
+"So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie's fall,"
+thought Rycroft. "Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through."
+
+Without an instant's hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.
+
+"No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it," he said; "here is money--you can keep the change."
+
+The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.
+
+Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.
+
+"Looks like death," muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie's collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.
+
+"Still living," he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.
+
+"What has happened?" he said, looking round him in a dazed way. "Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London."
+
+"Yes, old fellow, don't speak for a moment."
+
+"I must get back at once; the child----"
+
+"All right, you shall go in the _Sahara_ to-morrow."
+
+"But the document," said Ogilvie, "it--isn't needed; I want it back."
+
+"Don't trouble about it now."
+
+Ogilvie staggered to his feet.
+
+"You don't understand. I did it because--because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back."
+
+"Too late," said Rycroft, then. "That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.
+
+"I am quite cosy there," she said to herself, "for father's perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am."
+
+Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.
+
+There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl's chamber by this title.
+
+From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment's
+delay.
+
+But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child's eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.
+
+"I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father's hand and
+the look in his face," she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said on one of these occasions, "I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father's heart every night, that's why I don't disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short."
+
+Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.
+
+But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother's heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl's comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor's orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.
+
+There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the _Sahara_, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor's orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.
+
+"Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her," the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.
+
+But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie's feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl's state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.
+
+"Doctors are so often mistaken," she said, "I don't believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother's heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child."
+
+The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient's face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.
+
+Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl's weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.
+
+"I won't have the curse of the poor, I did my best," said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.
+
+"Yes, you did your best, dearie," he replied. His voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.
+
+"The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss," he said
+then, "the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever."
+
+Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:
+
+"I like old Scott, he's a very religious man."
+
+"That he is, darling," replied nurse.
+
+"Seems to me I'm getting religious too," continued Sibyl. "It's 'cos
+of Lord Jesus, I 'spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night."
+
+The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl's recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.
+
+"The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others," thought Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.
+
+"It will be doing such a good work," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. "I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity."
+
+In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter's room.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, "Come and kiss
+me, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.
+
+"My little white rose," she said, "you must get some color back into
+your cheeks."
+
+"Oh, color don't matter," replied Sibyl. "I'm just as happy without
+it."
+
+"But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?"
+
+"Yes, Mummy."
+
+"And you like lying here in your pretty window?"
+
+"Yes, mother darling."
+
+"You are not weary of lying so still?"
+
+Sibyl laughed.
+
+"It is funny," she said, "I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don't want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress."
+
+"What a splendid idea, Sib!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you shall dress some
+dolls for mother's bazaar."
+
+"Are you going to have it after all?" cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. "Are the big-wigs coming?"
+
+"Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy--Lord Grayleigh and the rest."
+
+"I like Lord Grayleigh," replied Sibyl. "I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.
+
+"My dear little girl," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little."
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment's pause she said:
+
+"Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything--it will
+be fun."
+
+Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said, "I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better."
+
+"Do you think so?" replied Miss Winstead shortly.
+
+"I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast--I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar."
+
+"The bazaar!" echoed Miss Winstead. "Surely you don't mean to have it
+here?"
+
+"Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month."
+
+"I would not, if I were you," said Miss Winstead slowly. "You know
+what the doctors have said."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.
+
+"I don't believe a single word of what they say," she retorted with
+some passion. "The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th."
+
+"You forget," said Miss Winstead slowly, "the _Sahara_ is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for--for what he has to see."
+
+"I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don't
+understand what you mean by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don't croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon--there is a great deal to see about."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie's cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.
+
+Ogilvie's cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.
+
+Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: "From the tone of
+Ogilvie's cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,"
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, "to be rich and also honest at the same
+time." He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.
+
+On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,
+
+     "You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+     Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."
+
+"But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible."
+
+He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.
+
+     "I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
+     correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+     shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+     know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+     present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+     Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+     dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+     moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+     sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+     blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+     burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+     hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+     papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+     we see you at Silverbel the better.
+
+               "With kind regards, I remain,
+                    "Yours sincerely,
+                         "MILDRED OGILVIE.
+
+     "P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+     has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+     you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+     I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
+     her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+     her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+     had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+     and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+     the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+     proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+     she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+     you her love if she knew I was writing."
+
+Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-read
+the postscript.
+
+After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.
+
+"I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," was
+Grayleigh's direction.
+
+He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.
+
+"Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"
+
+"I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?"
+
+"Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."
+
+"So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?"
+
+"I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't return
+by the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then."
+
+Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him--both her hands extended.
+
+"How good of you, how more than good of you," she said. "This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person."
+
+"I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?"
+
+"Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, and----"
+
+"Can I see her?"
+
+"Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.
+
+"One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you," she said, in a playful
+voice.
+
+Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,
+
+"Rest assured that I will come." He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.
+
+"I am sorry to see you like this," he said. "What has happened to you,
+my little girl?"
+
+"Oh, nothing much," answered Sibyl, "I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?"
+
+"Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?"
+
+"Beautiful," replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child's grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.
+
+"I will come back again, presently," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls."
+
+"Nursie is dressing them," replied Sibyl in a weak voice--the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. "It somehow
+tires me to work. I 'spect I'm not very strong, but I'll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful."
+
+"Well, I'll come back soon; you mustn't tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs."
+
+"I must return to town by the next train," said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.
+
+"Lord Grayleigh has come," she said. "He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation."
+
+"Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie," said both ladies.
+
+"Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don't think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have."
+
+The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl's room.
+
+Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.
+
+"I am so glad you have come," said the little girl; "there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?"
+
+"I had a cablegram from him not long ago."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea."
+
+"I understand," said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" said Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?"
+
+"My dear child," said Lord Grayleigh, "what do you know about it?"
+
+"I know all about it," answered Sybil. "I am deeply interested,
+deeply."
+
+"Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father's message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full."
+
+"Up to the tip top?"
+
+"Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don't let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you."
+
+"You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit," said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.
+
+"Do you greatly mind if I _don't_ talk about it?" she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. "It makes me feel----"
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"I don't know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don't like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know."
+
+"We won't talk of it," said Lord Grayleigh; "what shall I do to amuse
+you?"
+
+"Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold."
+
+"I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good."
+
+"I am delighted," said Sibyl. "It's awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn't
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don't know all He has done for me!
+Don't you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"Who, Sibyl?"
+
+"My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ."
+
+Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child's eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.
+
+"Now," she continued, after a pause, "dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich."
+
+"Mr. and Mrs. Holman," said Lord Grayleigh; "who are they?"
+
+"They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I'll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You'll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You'll be quite sure to remember
+her?"
+
+"Quite sure, Sibyl."
+
+"Hadn't you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?"
+
+"In my pocket."
+
+"Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine."
+
+Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.
+
+"What do you wish me to say?" he inquired.
+
+"Put it this way," said Sibyl eagerly, "then you won't forget. Some of
+the gold in the----"
+
+"Lombard Deeps Mine," supplied Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine," repeated Sibyl, "to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put _dear_ Mr. and Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl."
+
+"Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico."
+
+The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"That is nice," she said, "that will make them happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and 'cos the children won't
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don't like
+some children a bit."
+
+"I am glad you're pleased about the Holmans, little woman."
+
+"Of course I am, and aren't you. Don't you like to make people happy?"
+
+Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.
+
+"Have you any other notes for this book?" he said.
+
+"Of course I have. There's the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I'm under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry _so_
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there's gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book 'Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,' will you, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"I have entered it," said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.
+
+"And mother, of course," continued Sibyl, "wants lots of money, and
+there's my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I'd like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is."
+
+"Don't you? How funny; he is our footman. I'm awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don't you think it's very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?"
+
+"I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go."
+
+"But you won't forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won't forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?"
+
+"No, I'll be certain to remember every single one of them."
+
+"Then that's all right, and you'll come to darling mother's bazaar?"
+
+"I'll come."
+
+"I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.
+
+"I don't like the child's look," he wrote; "I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can."
+
+It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"If you cannot come to the bazaar," she wrote to Lady Helen, "it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester."
+
+Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh's letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl's room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.
+
+Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.
+
+"Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow," she said, "but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You'll come and see me very, very often, won't you?"
+
+"Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me."
+
+"Oh, you are sweet," answered the child, "and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother's splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn't it dear of
+her?"
+
+"Well, I am interested in the bazaar," said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie's noble action.
+
+"It is so inciting all about it," continued the little girl, "and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn't mother pretty, isn't she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel--but then she is an angel, isn't she, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. "You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself," she said; "let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say."
+
+"Stories?" said Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, I will tell you stories."
+
+"Thank you; I do love 'em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have not seen him lately."
+
+"You'll be married to him soon, I know you will."
+
+"We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you."
+
+"It's odd how weak my voice has grown," said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+"Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn't. Nursie did 'em. There's one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can't put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?"
+
+"I should like to," replied Lady Helen; "I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls."
+
+"The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There's plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can."
+
+Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.
+
+"It rests me to have you in the room," said the child, "you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name."
+
+"What is that, Sibyl?"
+
+"She calls it the Chamber of Peace--isn't it sweet of her?"
+
+"The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room," answered Lady
+Helen.
+
+"I do wish Mr. Rochester was here," was Sibyl's next remark.
+
+"He will come to the bazaar, dear."
+
+"And then, perhaps, I'll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I'd like to say."
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I'm
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think--I
+wouldn't like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I'm going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly's, but real ones, and if I have them I might----"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don't know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father's heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won't it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn't know, darling mother
+doesn't guess, and I wouldn't tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I'm going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, 'Poor
+lamb, she'll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.'
+I shouldn't like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"No, darling, I don't think I should."
+
+"Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn't like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he'll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go."
+
+Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.
+
+"So you must marry Mr. Rochester," she continued, "for you both love
+each other so very much."
+
+"That is quite true," replied Lady Helen.
+
+Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. "The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold," she said, in an excited voice. "I
+know--Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you'll think of me, won't you?"
+
+"I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now--see! the
+angel doll is finished."
+
+"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. "Do take it down to mother. She's
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window--do go at once."
+
+Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.
+
+The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.
+
+"Sibyl sent you this," said Lady Helen.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.
+
+"Oh, lay it down anywhere, please," she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.
+
+"Please, Mrs. Ogilvie," she said, "you must take an interest in it."
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie's
+attention.
+
+"You must take a great interest in this doll," she continued. "Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, I----"
+
+"Oh, what is it now," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way." She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen's agitated
+face.
+
+"I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl," continued Lady Helen, "and I
+am very--more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for--I
+think----"
+
+"You think what? Oh, please don't begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden."
+
+"But have you had the very best advice for her?"
+
+"I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion."
+
+"But what is Sir Henry Powell's opinion?"
+
+"Don't ask me. I don't believe in doctors. The child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time."
+
+"Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think," replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.
+
+"I never knew anyone so gloomy," she said, "and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen."
+
+"Well, at least take the doll--the child is looking at you," said Lady
+Helen. "Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now."
+
+"Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling." Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.
+
+It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the _Sahara_ kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl's accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child's room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl's
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.
+
+If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.
+
+"He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best," she said to
+herself. "It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests."
+
+As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.
+
+"Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them," she remembered. "I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake."
+
+But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.
+
+"As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening," she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.
+
+According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.
+
+Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother's great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.
+
+It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.
+
+"You know the place, I presume?" he said.
+
+"Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar."
+
+As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.
+
+"Go as fast as you can," he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.
+
+"A rum visitor," he thought; "wonder what he's coming for. Don't look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this."
+
+Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter--but did his little daughter still live? Was Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.
+
+When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.
+
+"No, sir," replied the driver, "it's all right. There ain't but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie."
+
+"Then Sibyl must have got well again," thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.
+
+The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature's own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, Phil!" she cried, with a little start. She was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.
+
+"Why, Phil!" she said again. "Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn't you send me a telegram?"
+
+"I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?"
+
+"Oh, much the same--I mean she is going on quite, _quite_ nicely."
+
+"And what is this?"
+
+Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.
+
+"What is all this?" he repeated.
+
+"My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn't it?
+Oh, by the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?"
+
+"Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?"
+
+"I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil."
+
+"I want to know more of Sibyl." Here the husband caught the wife's
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. "No matter about other
+things at present," he said sternly. "How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?"
+
+"Well, I really don't think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do."
+
+But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.
+
+"_Where_ is the child?" he repeated again.
+
+"Don't look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely."
+
+"But is she injured? Can she walk?"
+
+"What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually--at least, I think so."
+
+"What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?"
+
+As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie's attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.
+
+"I will see the child in a minute," he said; "nothing else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, _what do the doctors
+say_?"
+
+Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie's pretty, dark eyes.
+
+"Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all."
+
+"You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?"
+
+"The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell."
+
+"Good God, that man!" said Ogilvie, starting back. "Then she must have
+been badly hurt?"
+
+"She was badly hurt."
+
+"Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing."
+
+"They--they--of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly."
+
+"Speak!" was his only response.
+
+"They said at the time--of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it."
+
+"Speak!" This one expression came from Ogilvie's lips almost with a
+hiss.
+
+"Well, they said at the time that--oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case was----"
+
+"Hopeless?" asked the man between his white lips.
+
+"They certainly _said_ it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!"
+
+He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.
+
+"You knew it, and you could have that going on?" he said. "Go back to
+your bazaar."
+
+"I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind."
+
+"You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+_that_? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them."
+
+He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.
+
+"I am a martyr in a good cause," she said to herself; "but it is
+bitterly hard when one's husband does not understand one."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father's arms
+at night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear
+his voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.
+
+Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.
+
+For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor's verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? The look on the child's
+face was answer enough to her father.
+
+Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.
+
+The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.
+
+"This cuts him to the heart," he said; "I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again."
+
+"Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!" said the wife. "My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack--nervous fever, the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by."
+
+Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.
+
+Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to _think_ that it had any part in Ogilvie's curious
+unwillingness to see him.
+
+At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.
+
+But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength
+of his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.
+
+But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.
+
+But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.
+
+On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl's room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.
+
+"Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!" said little Sibyl.
+"Come and kiss me, darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.
+
+"Don't tire her," said Ogilvie; "if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which seemed to say: "And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child." But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife's eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.
+
+Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Ogilvie, "will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone."
+
+His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.
+
+"I shall soon be back, my little love," he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.
+
+"Isn't it wonderful," she said, turning to her governess, "how perfect
+they both are! I don't know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can't help it, but I like father's way best."
+
+"I should think you did," replied Miss Winstead. "Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?"
+
+"Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead," answered Sibyl.
+
+"Then what shall I read?"
+
+"I don't think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?"
+
+"You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?"
+
+"Perhaps so; I don't quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it's most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It's about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem _is_ so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won't ask you to read about it, 'cos I like father's way of reading
+best; but it's all most wonderful and beautiful."
+
+The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.
+
+The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.
+
+"Now, Mildred," he said, "I wish to understand--God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you--but I must clearly understand
+what this means."
+
+"What it means?" she repeated. "Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it's very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+may----"
+
+"Hush!" said the man.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.
+
+"I refuse to allow Sibyl's name to enter into this matter," he said.
+"You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don't care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of _this_?" As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.
+
+"Silverbel!" she cried; "but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?"
+
+"Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.
+
+"Why, we have bought Silverbel," she cried; "you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then,
+of course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and
+I am so happy about it."
+
+"Rich!" he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.
+
+"Mildred," he said slowly, "do you realize--do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?"
+
+"Nonsense," she answered, starting back.
+
+"The child is dying," repeated Ogilvie, "and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man's happiness, _goes out_.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance means----"
+
+"What?" she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.
+
+"Restitution," he replied; "all the restitution that lies in my
+power."
+
+"You--you terrify me," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?"
+
+"Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred--oh, yes, you knew it
+well enough--that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you _knew_--yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it--that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless."
+
+"Worthless!" she cried, "impossible!"
+
+"Worthless," he repeated.
+
+"Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you."
+
+"I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight."
+
+"But, but," she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, "if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?"
+
+"It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?"
+
+"Do I understand?" she replied. "No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures."
+
+"Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune--it would be easy, for there is enough gold
+in the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman's tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and _lose our souls_.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won't. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.
+
+"What you say can't be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy."
+
+"How?" he asked.
+
+"Don't do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it."
+
+He came up to her and took both her hands.
+
+"Is it worth evil?" he asked.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Is anything under the sun worth evil?" She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father's.
+
+"I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you," he said. "Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don't tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon."
+
+"Don't hurry, father darling," replied Sibyl "'cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here."
+
+He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.
+
+"One moment, Phil," she called, "where are you going?"
+
+"To town."
+
+"To do what?"
+
+"To do what I said," he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.
+
+He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began
+to weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.
+
+"What fearful creatures men with consciences are," moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"What can I do for you?" said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.
+
+"If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?"
+
+"That is my name."
+
+"We know you," continued the old woman, "by the likeness to your
+little daughter."
+
+The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.
+
+"May I inquire your names?" he asked.
+
+"Holman, sir," said the woman. "This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie's illness, and we couldn't rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly 'opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn't mind if we asked."
+
+"By no means," answered Ogilvie. "Any friends of Sibyl's, any real
+friends, are of interest to me."
+
+He paused and looked into the old woman's face.
+
+"She's better, ain't she, dear lamb?" asked Mrs. Holman.
+
+Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.
+
+Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand.
+
+"What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?"
+
+"We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response.
+
+"Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always."
+
+"Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again.
+
+He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.
+
+"Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl.
+
+"What is it, dear?" asked the governess.
+
+Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice now
+arrested her attention.
+
+"Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come."
+
+"Who have come, dear?"
+
+"The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do."
+
+"But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself."
+
+"What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans."
+
+"Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.
+
+"Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high and
+clear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child."
+
+"If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?"
+
+"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief."
+
+"But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.
+
+"Sibyl certainly does wish to see you," said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. "I think, Mrs. Ogilvie," she added, "it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly," continued Miss Winstead, "and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm."
+
+"Oh, yes, we'll speak cheerfully," said Holman; "we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, "My opinion is
+never taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child's father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done you will
+have to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.
+
+"The day is improving," she thought. She glanced up at the sky. "It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that."
+
+So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.
+
+Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.
+
+"You must be prepared for a very great change," said Miss Winstead,
+"but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her."
+
+Miss Winstead's own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.
+
+"Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?" said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl's
+soft white hands. "Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?"
+
+"How do you do, Mrs. Holman?" said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; "and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won't you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won't you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both."
+
+"Eh! but you look sweet," said Mrs. Holman.
+
+Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own--a child who died when young--and she had sat by that dying
+child's bed and never once given expression to her feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?
+
+"It is nice to look at you, dearie," she repeated, "and what a pretty
+room you have, my love."
+
+"Everything is beautiful," said little Sibyl, "everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much."
+
+"To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you."
+
+"Whisper," said Sibyl, "bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?"
+
+"Yes, darling, but we won't talk of money now."
+
+"Only," said Sibyl, "when the gold comes from the mine _you'll_ be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman's in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You'll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys." She paused
+here and her little face turned white.
+
+"You must not talk any more, dearie," said Mrs. Holman. "It's all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well."
+
+"I am getting well," answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.
+
+"You know," she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, "that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won't forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?"
+
+"We will never forget you, dearie," said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.
+
+"Come, Holman," she said.
+
+"If I might," said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, "if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie's hand afore I go."
+
+"Oh, indeed, you may," said Sibyl.
+
+A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.
+
+"Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I'm thinking," said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.
+
+"Queer woman, the mother," said Holman. "We'll get back to town, wife;
+I'm wonderful upset."
+
+"We'll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children," said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and
+was admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:
+
+"It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact."
+
+Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.
+
+He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh's club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.
+
+    "Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the
+    Lombard Deeps."
+
+He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.
+
+Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend's face, he
+started and said:
+
+"My dear fellow, you don't look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down."
+
+"I have a good deal to try me," said Ogilvie; "please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?"
+
+"Of her accident?" exclaimed Acland; "yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago--she had a fall from her pony?"
+
+"She had."
+
+"Take a chair, won't you, Ogilvie?"
+
+Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:
+
+"I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie's note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken."
+
+"You are mistaken," replied Ogilvie; "but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?"
+
+"Certainly," said Acland.
+
+A clerk entered the room. "Leave us," said Acland to the man, "and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie," he
+added as the clerk withdrew, "I am quite at your service."
+
+"Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel."
+
+"Yes, the place where your wife is now staying."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don't blame me, Ogilvie?"
+
+"I don't blame you--I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser."
+
+"Not really!" cried Mr. Acland. "The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man."
+
+"On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper."
+
+"No!" cried Mr. Acland; "but the report of the Lombard Deeps----"
+
+"Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife--nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?"
+
+"You can do so, of course," replied Acland. "I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back."
+
+"It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once."
+
+"Very well."
+
+Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.
+
+"You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this," he said, as he
+stood up. "You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time."
+
+"I know another man only too anxious to purchase," said Acland; "but I
+am deeply sorry for you--your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure."
+
+"Yes, quite a failure. I won't detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently."
+
+Ogilvie went from the lawyer's house straight to his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.
+
+"I am the master," said Ogilvie; "let me in, please."
+
+The man stood aside.
+
+"Has a telegram come for me?"
+
+"Yes, sir, five minutes ago."
+
+Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.
+
+     "Meeting of directors at one o'clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+     Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+     wish. GRAYLEIGH."
+
+Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.
+
+"I shall sleep here to-night," Ogilvie said, "and shall be back in the
+course of the evening."
+
+He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.
+
+Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.
+
+"I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland," he
+said, "and I then placed, with a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank."
+
+"A large sum, Ogilvie--ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Yes, ten thousand pounds," repeated Ogilvie. "I want to withdraw the
+money."
+
+"It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it."
+
+"I thought it only fair to give you a few hours' notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o'clock."
+
+"Do you wish to take it in a cheque?"
+
+"I think not, I should prefer notes." Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.
+
+At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.
+
+He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.
+
+Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.
+
+"By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life," he thought. "I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is angry with him. My God is
+angry--the pains of hell take hold of me."
+
+He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the following day, shortly before one o'clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.
+
+Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.
+
+"Gentlemen," he began, "although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it."
+
+Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.
+
+Lord Grayleigh proceeded: "This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned
+to England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you."
+
+Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.
+
+"This report," he said in conclusion, "is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London."
+
+As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh's audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers' reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh's clear voice was lost.
+
+When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.
+
+Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.
+
+"Don't open it now," he said in a low voice, "it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it."
+
+He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.
+
+Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.
+
+Ogilvie's attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.
+
+"We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie," he said. "In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room."
+
+"It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,"
+said a director from the far end of the table. "I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent."
+
+"Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?" said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.
+
+Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.
+
+"I have come here to-day," he said, "to speak for a moment"--his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on--"to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of that----"
+
+"Sit down," said Grayleigh's voice behind him. "You must be mad.
+Remember yourself." He laid his hand on Ogilvie's arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.
+
+"I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,"
+he continued. "This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+_false as hell_."
+
+"False?" echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. "Impossible!"
+
+"It is false," continued Ogilvie. "I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world."
+
+As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.
+
+This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.
+
+"I have no excuse to offer," continued Ogilvie, "and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say."
+
+He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.
+
+"What is the meaning of it all?" said one, going up to Grayleigh;
+"you are chairman, and you ought to know."
+
+Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.
+
+"This must be a brief madness," he said; "there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him."
+
+The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.
+
+"One moment first," said Grayleigh.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"An explanation."
+
+"I gave it upstairs."
+
+"You are mad--you are mad."
+
+"On the contrary, I believe that I am sane--sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now."
+
+"What packet was that you gave me?"
+
+"Your money back."
+
+"The ten thousand pounds?"
+
+"Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters."
+
+"Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child's accident?"
+
+"It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions."
+
+As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh's detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.
+
+As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment's conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.
+
+"He fell, and I caused him to fall," thought Lord Grayleigh. "In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over."
+
+Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.
+
+"I saw Ogilvie just now," he said, "and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky."
+
+"At least the widows and orphans won't be ruined," said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. "Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this."
+
+"We must do so advisedly," was Grayleigh's remark; "remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the
+ears of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine."
+
+"And what of Ogilvie himself?" said an angry-looking man. "Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?"
+
+One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie's story
+too prominently into the light of day.
+
+"It may reflect on ourselves," said one or two. "It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter."
+
+Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.
+
+"If I were you, gentlemen," he said, moodily, "I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+"Philip!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o'clock that afternoon, "I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland."
+
+Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.
+
+"How strangely tired and worn you look," she replied; "what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right."
+
+"You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last."
+
+He gave a hollow laugh.
+
+"I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience," he continued; "that is something to live for."
+
+"Have you done anything rash, Philip?"
+
+"I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?"
+
+"He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?"
+
+"Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up."
+
+Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.
+
+"It cannot be," she cried, "we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit."
+
+"That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don't keep me
+now."
+
+She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl's door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.
+
+"The bitterness of death lies before me," he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for
+God demanded something more of the man--he must open the eyes of
+the child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.
+
+Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.
+
+"Leave us for a little, nurse," said Ogilvie.
+
+She went away at once.
+
+Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl's hands.
+
+"You have been a long time away, father," said the child.
+
+"I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do."
+
+"Business, father?"
+
+"Yes, dearest, important business."
+
+"You don't look well," said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.
+
+"I have had a hard time," said the man, "and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life."
+
+"To me, father? The hardest task of your life?"
+
+"Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you."
+
+"Something bad?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Something very bad."
+
+Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame,
+as though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.
+
+"I am very sorry," she said. "I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?"
+
+"Let me hold your hand," he said. "It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then."
+
+She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.
+
+"At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me."
+
+"I don't understand," said the child.
+
+"I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time."
+
+"Still I do not understand," repeated Sibyl.
+
+"Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes."
+
+"Oh, we were happy!" said the child.
+
+"Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain."
+
+"I wish you would try and 'splain, all the same," said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.
+
+"I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you."
+
+"It's only 'cos of you yourself," she murmured.
+
+"Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?"
+
+"Oh, yes." She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. "I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!"
+
+Her voice grew quite animated.
+
+"Any special people, dearest?"
+
+"So many," she replied. "I told Lord Grayleigh, and he put their
+names in his note-book. There's Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold."
+
+"The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name."
+
+"They came, father. I love 'em so much; and there's Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It's a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, 'cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it's all right."
+
+"No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine."
+
+"But you sent a cablegram."
+
+"I did."
+
+"And you said it was there."
+
+"I did."
+
+She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.
+
+"You said it?"
+
+"I did worse," said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. "I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there."
+
+"Why did you do it, father?"
+
+"Because I was a scoundrel."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"A bad man."
+
+"No," said the child, "no, you was always my most perfect----"
+
+"You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now."
+
+"Then you are sorry?"
+
+"I have repented," he cried; "my God, I have repented," and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child's sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.
+
+Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.
+
+"She is so holy, so heavenly herself," he murmured; "is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her."
+
+The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.
+
+"And so you was never perfect?" she said.
+
+"Never."
+
+"And was mother never perfect?"
+
+"Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done."
+
+The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl's face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother's words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:
+
+"And Lord Jesus, isn't He perfect?"
+
+Ogilvie started when he heard her words.
+
+"Aye, He is perfect," he answered, "you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire."
+
+She smiled very faintly.
+
+"Why did He come into the world?" was her next question.
+
+"Don't you know that old story? Has no one told you?"
+
+"Won't you tell me now, father?"
+
+"The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners."
+
+"Sinners," repeated Sibyl, "'cos He loved 'em?"
+
+"Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?"
+
+"I 'spect not," she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.
+
+"Then He loves _you_," she said, after a moment. "He came from heaven
+'cos of you."
+
+"It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me."
+
+"Don't speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you."
+
+He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.
+
+"Father!" There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.
+
+"Kneel down, father," said Sibyl.
+
+He knelt.
+
+Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.
+
+"I am loving you so much," she said, "same as Jesus loves you, I
+think."
+
+Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.
+
+"It is all right," she continued, "I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you."
+
+"But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?" he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.
+
+"Seems to me I love you more'n ever" was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.
+
+But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.
+
+"Why," cried Sibyl, "it's Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me." She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.
+
+"Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus," she whispered. "Oh, take me." She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.
+
+"Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him."
+
+The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.
+
+It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.
+
+The next instant all was cold and lonely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him--her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze--her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.
+
+He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.
+
+He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.
+
+He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.
+
+She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.
+
+For Sibyl's sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child's education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.
+
+As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance--one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.
+
+Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl's name after
+her death.
+
+But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.
+
+These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.
+
+                         [THE END.]
+
+
+
+
+A. L. Burt's Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,
+52-58 Duane Street, New York
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+
+=Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.= By LEWIS CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story."--=New York Express.=
+
+
+=Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.= By LEWIS
+CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations."--=Boston Express.=
+
+
+=Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Joan's Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.= By ALICE CORKRAN.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.= By C. A. JONES.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"An unusually good children's story."--=Glasgow Herald.=
+
+
+=The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers."--=Cleveland Times.=
+
+
+=Jan of the Windmill.= A Story of the Plains. By MRS. J. H. EWING.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy."--=Academy.=
+
+
+=A Sweet Girl Graduate.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.
+
+"One of this popular author's best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes."--=Providence Journal.=
+
+
+=Six to Sixteen=: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of 'Six
+to Sixteen.' The book is one which would enrich any girl's book
+shelf."--=St. James' Gazette.=
+
+
+=The Palace Beautiful=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the 'Palace Beautiful' for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls."--=New York
+Recorder.=
+
+
+=A World of Girls=: The Story of a School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl's book shelf."--=Boston Home Journal.=
+
+
+=The Lady of the Forest=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story is written in the author's well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author's customary grace and
+spirit."--=Boston Times.=
+
+
+=At the Back of the North Wind.= By GEORGE MACDONALD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald's earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers."--=Philadelphia Times.=
+
+
+=The Water Babies=: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature."--=New York Tribune.=
+
+
+=Our Bessie.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit."--=The Teachers'
+Aid.=
+
+
+=Wild Kitty.= A Story of Middleton School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Kitty is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season."--=The
+Academy.=
+
+
+=A Young Mutineer.= A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of Mrs. Meade's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Sue and I.= By MRS. O'REILLY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75
+cents.
+
+"A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun."--=Athenæum.=
+
+
+=The Princess and the Goblin.= A Fairy Story. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Pythia's Pupils:= A Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best."--=Teachers' Aid.=
+
+
+=A Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only
+bright and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching."--=Courier.=
+
+
+=The Sleepy King.= A Fairy Tale. By AUBREY HOPWOOD AND SEYMOUR HICKS.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Two Little Waifs.= By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's delightful story of 'Two Little Waifs' will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Toyland.= By EDITH KING HALL. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect."--=Boston Courier.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Wallypug land.= By G. E. FARROW. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense."--=Toronto Mail.=
+
+
+=Fussbudget's Folks.= A Story for Young Girls. By ANNA F. BURNHAM.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters."--=Congregationalist.=
+
+
+=Mixed Pickles.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. E. M. FIELD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind."--=Good
+Literature.=
+
+
+=Miss Mouse and Her Boys.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. MOLESWORTH.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat."--=The Beacon.=
+
+
+=Gilly Flower.= A Story for Girls. By the author of "Miss Toosey's
+Mission." 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind."--=Literary World.=
+
+
+=The Chaplet of Pearls=; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By
+CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season."--=Guardian.=
+
+
+=Naughty Miss Bunny=: Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents."--=Land and Water.=
+
+
+=Meg's Friend.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Averil.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic."--=World.=
+
+
+=Aunt Diana.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Little Sunshine's Holiday=: A Picture from Life. By MISS MULOCK.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people."--=Gazette.=
+
+
+=Esther's Charge.= A Story for Girls. By ELLEN EVERETT GREEN. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl's
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Fairy Land of Science.= By ARABELLA B. BUCKLEY. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children."--=Daily News.=
+
+
+=Merle's Crusade.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author's stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written."--=Journal.=
+
+
+=Birdie:= A Tale of Child Life. By H. L. CHILDE-PEMBERTON. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years."--=New York
+Express.=
+
+=The Days of Bruce:= A Story from Scottish History. By GRACE AGUILAR.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar's stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading."--=Boston Beacon.=
+
+
+=Three Bright Girls:= A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E.
+ARMSTRONG. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls."--=Standard.=
+
+
+=Giannetta:= A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season."--=The Academy.=
+
+
+=Margery Merton's Girlhood.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Under False Colors:= A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=Down the Snow Stairs=; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By ALICE
+CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps--a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's
+Progress."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=The Tapestry Room=: A Child's Romance. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people."--=Athenæum, London.=
+
+
+=Little Miss Peggy:= Only a Nursery Story. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+Mrs. Molesworth's children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.
+
+
+=Polly=: A New Fashioned Girl. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.
+
+
+=One of a Covey.= By the author of "Miss Toosey's Mission." 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This 'Covey' consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens' pen."--=LITERARY
+WORLD.=
+
+
+=The Little Princess of Tower Hill.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it--which is much
+better than crying for it--it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls."--=Boston Advertiser.=
+
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, =A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.=
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter's
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author's words and intent.
+
+2. In the advertising pages at the end of this book, the names of
+books and reviewers were set in bold type-face; this is indicated by
+a = at the beginning and end of the words in bold.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+***** This file should be named 30333-8.txt or 30333-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/3/30333/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/30333-8.zip b/30333-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3353dfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-8.zip
diff --git a/30333-h.zip b/30333-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64a2a72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h.zip
diff --git a/30333-h/30333-h.htm b/30333-h/30333-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..401a2fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h/30333-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,9684 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+    p {  margin-top: .75em;
+         text-align: justify;
+         margin-bottom: .75em;
+         }
+    h1,h2,h3 {
+         text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+         clear: both;
+         }
+    td  {vertical-align: top;}
+
+    hr.large          {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.medium         {width: 45%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.small          {width: 15%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;}
+
+    div.centered {text-align:center;} /*work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */
+    div.centered table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;} /* work around for IE problem part 2 */
+
+    body{margin-left: 10%;
+         margin-right: 10%;
+         font-size: 108%;}
+
+    .pagenum  { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+            /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+                position: absolute;
+                left: 92%;
+                font-size: smaller;
+                text-align: right;
+              } /* page numbers */
+
+    .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;}
+
+    .bbox     {border: none;}
+    .centerbox {width: 22em;         /* heading box */
+                margin: 0 auto;
+                text-align: center;}
+    .centerbox2 {width: 25em;         /* heading box */
+                margin: 0 auto;
+                text-align: center;}
+
+    .center   {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    .n        {text-indent: 0.75em;}
+
+    .caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+    .jpg      {border: solid 2px;}
+    .figcenter   {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+    .smallgap    {margin-top: 1.5em;}
+    .gap         {margin-top: 5em;}
+    .mediumgap   {margin-top: 2em;}
+    .poem             {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;}
+    .poem br          {display: none;}
+    .poem .stanza     {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+    .poem span.i0     {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i4     {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30333 ***</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 439px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="439" height="500" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h1>DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL</h1>
+
+<p class="gap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h2>BY L. T. MEADE</h2>
+
+<p class="center">Author of &ldquo;A Very Naughty Girl,&rdquo; &ldquo;Polly, A New Fashioned<br />
+Girl,&rdquo; &ldquo;Palace Beautiful,&rdquo; &ldquo;Sweet Girl Graduate,&rdquo;<br />
+&ldquo;World of Girls,&rdquo; etc., etc.</p>
+
+<p class="mediumgap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">&ldquo;Suffer the little children to come unto me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p class="mediumgap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS</h3>
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">52-58 Duane Street, New York.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 309px;">
+<img src="images/illus1.jpg" class="jpg smallgap" width="309" height="498" alt="DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL. Frontispiece." title="" />
+<span class="caption">DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL. <i>Frontispiece.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Contents</span></h2>
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" width="50%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4" summary="CONTENTS">
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#DADDYS_GIRL">CHAPTER I.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td>
+<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr></table></div>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="DADDYS_GIRL" id="DADDYS_GIRL"></a>DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL.</h2>
+
+<hr class="small" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<p>Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.</p>
+
+<p>The occasion was an important one, and the Angel&rsquo;s rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?&rdquo; thought the Angel to
+herself.</p>
+
+<p>A box of wild flowers, which had come up from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow,&rdquo; she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you want, Sibyl? Don&rsquo;t disturb me now,&rdquo; said this individual.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is only just for a moment,&rdquo; replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady&rsquo;s writing-pad.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he&rsquo;ll be so annoyed if he doesn&rsquo;t hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed,&rdquo; thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother likes me when I am pretty,&rdquo; she repeated softly under her
+breath, &ldquo;but father likes me anyhow.&rdquo; She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do I look pretty?&rdquo; she said at last, dancing back to the governess&rsquo;s
+side.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do I look pretty?&rdquo; repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a very vain little girl,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell
+you whether you look pretty or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don&rsquo;t interrupt me any
+more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s the gong, I&rsquo;m off,&rdquo; cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am,&rdquo; thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. &ldquo;Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not wrong, &rsquo;cos it&rsquo;s mother. Mother couldn&rsquo;t do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could&rdquo;; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus,&rdquo; Sibyl would say, &ldquo;and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don&rsquo;t think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It&rsquo;s for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don&rsquo;t like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Jesus never made any audible response to the child&rsquo;s query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.</p>
+
+<p>As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother&rsquo;s kisses being softest and her mother&rsquo;s eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.</p>
+
+<p>Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The child should go to the mother for love and petting,&rdquo; she would
+say. &ldquo;Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It was Sibyl&rsquo;s father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,&rdquo;
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, father,&rdquo; answered the Angel, &ldquo;but, you see, I wasn&rsquo;t born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn&rsquo;t it? You&rsquo;re perfect
+and I am not. I can&rsquo;t help the way I was born, can I, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;No; no one is perfect, darling,&rdquo; replied the father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are,&rdquo; answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+&ldquo;You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I&rsquo;ll
+try to please you, father, so don&rsquo;t knit up your forehead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father&rsquo;s brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Same as if you was an old man,&rdquo; she said: &ldquo;but you&rsquo;re perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you,&rdquo; and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.</p>
+
+<p>On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should not like the child to know about it,&rdquo; was his reflection;
+&ldquo;but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here I come,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me.&rdquo; She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl&rsquo;s waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a fairy-like little girl this is!&rdquo; he cried.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are Spring come to cheer us up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad,&rdquo; whispered Sibyl; &ldquo;but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father says I am Spring, look at me,&rdquo; she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something is fretting my ownest mother,&rdquo; she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother&rsquo;s soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father&rsquo;s side.</p>
+
+<p>Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.</p>
+
+<p>It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother&rsquo;s objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now,&rdquo; she said on this occasion. &ldquo;She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl,&rdquo; said her mother
+from the other end of the table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear,&rdquo; said the father. &ldquo;What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Spelling, as usual,&rdquo; said Sibyl briefly, &ldquo;but more special &rsquo;cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush!&rdquo; said the mother again.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear,&rdquo; he said, addressing his wife, &ldquo;do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">person&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I beg of you, Philip,&rdquo; interrupted the mother, &ldquo;not to speak of the
+child&rsquo;s teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos they&rsquo;re both so perfect,&rdquo; thought Sibyl, &ldquo;but it&rsquo;s hard on
+me not to be able to &rsquo;splain things. If I can&rsquo;t, what is to be done?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.</p>
+
+<p>The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it nice?&rdquo; she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you&rsquo;re a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Sibyl,&rdquo; cried the mother, &ldquo;I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us turn the subject,&rdquo; said the father.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl turned it with a will.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect I ought to &rsquo;fess to you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I&rsquo;m not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?&rdquo; was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;d much care,&rdquo; said Sibyl, with a smile. &ldquo;You&rsquo;d know
+what I meant, wouldn&rsquo;t you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll spell right if you wish it&mdash;I mean,
+I&rsquo;ll try.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>best for her to do
+so in private?&rdquo; said the mother again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But this is private,&rdquo; said Mr. Ogilvie, &ldquo;only her father and mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I washed my doll&rsquo;s clothes, although nurse told me not,&rdquo; continued
+Sibyl, &ldquo;and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I <i>would</i> open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn&rsquo;t to blame&mdash;Watson wasn&rsquo;t.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father,&rdquo; whispered Sibyl, &ldquo;do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush! hush!&rdquo; said Mr. Ogilvie, &ldquo;go on with your confessions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re rather sad, aren&rsquo;t they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn&rsquo;t do one right thing to-day &rsquo;cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don&rsquo;t mind a bit being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>naughty. I wouldn&rsquo;t be a
+flabby good girl for all the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?&rdquo; said her father.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good&mdash;perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is right,&rdquo; said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-night, little Spring,&rdquo; said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.</p>
+
+<p>She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it &rsquo;cos I&rsquo;m a wicked girl you&rsquo;re sad?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Oh, no, father,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, &ldquo;that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn&rsquo;t like to be too good, &rsquo;cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You spoil that child,&rdquo; said the wife, &ldquo;but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don&rsquo;t pretend to be a good mother, but I don&rsquo;t talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish you would leave the child alone,&rdquo; said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; &ldquo;she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would much rather you did not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. &ldquo;I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is impossible for me to accompany you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl! No, I do not wish it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that your last word?&rdquo; he inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nor you to please me, Mildred,&rdquo; he was about to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, &ldquo;There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what is that?&rdquo; she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us&mdash;Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,&rdquo; was Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+flippant remark. &ldquo;But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And it sickened me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don&rsquo;t wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful <i>debut</i> in
+Society, all in due course.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage,&rdquo; added the husband,
+bitterly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl,&rdquo; was his
+wife&rsquo;s answer, &ldquo;and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.</p>
+
+<p>The postman&rsquo;s ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is the child,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this&rdquo;&mdash;he touched the letter with
+his hand&mdash;&ldquo;I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred&rsquo;s extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet&mdash;I
+don&rsquo;t care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl&rsquo;s and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl&rsquo;s nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child&rsquo;s bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-night, little darling,&rdquo; said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, father, is that you?&rdquo; she cried in a voice of rapture.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You are good, you never forget,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. &ldquo;I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not for worlds,&rdquo; it was the man&rsquo;s first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. &ldquo;Of course, dear,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father&rsquo;s neck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day,&rdquo; she began, &ldquo;and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, &rsquo;cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, father, you&rsquo;re pleased,&rdquo; continued the little girl. &ldquo;It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don&rsquo;t want to be better,
+but I&rsquo;ll try hard if it pleases you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sibyl, try hard,&rdquo; said her father, &ldquo;try very hard to be good.
+Don&rsquo;t let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you.&rdquo; Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s fretted; it&rsquo;s just &rsquo;cos the world is so wicked, and &rsquo;cos I&rsquo;m not
+as good as I ought to be,&rdquo; thought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">My Dear Grayleigh</span>,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+more suited for your purpose.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">&ldquo;Yours sincerely,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Philip Ogilvie</span>.&rdquo;</span></p></div>
+
+<p>It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.</p>
+
+<p>His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad you have come back, Phil,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment&rsquo;s pause he said in a sullen
+tone&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren&rsquo;t you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come into my smoking-room,&rdquo; he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This will make a great difference in our position,&rdquo; she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean by our position?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is impossible; impossible to manage,&rdquo; she said, petulantly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles&rdquo;&mdash;he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. &ldquo;Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it&mdash;that
+is, in moderation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ah! I knew you had accepted,&rdquo; she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. &ldquo;Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know, perhaps, what all this means?&rdquo; said Ogilvie, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t dare to mention the child&rsquo;s name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;I declare I
+am getting sleepy.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh&rsquo;s <span style="white-space: nowrap;">offer&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If! But you have done so, of course you have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As usual, you taunt me,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The letter has come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip!&rdquo; His wife&rsquo;s voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You cannot be speaking the truth,&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hate you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;go your own way in the future,&rdquo; and she left
+him standing silent.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<p>Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am much more like a boy than a girl,&rdquo; she thought, &ldquo;and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I&rsquo;ll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn&rsquo;t care so very much <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can&rsquo;t be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t forget me while you are away, little woman,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and look
+after mother, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She won&rsquo;t need me to look after her, she&rsquo;s quite, quite perfect,&rdquo;
+said Sibyl; &ldquo;but I&rsquo;m going to watch her, and try to copy her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Child, don&rsquo;t do that,&rdquo; said the man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Well, my home is right down here on earth,&rdquo; said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have a real jolly time away, I &rsquo;spect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father&rsquo;s sake, and
+don&rsquo;t forget to pray for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will, I will,&rdquo; said the child; &ldquo;I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl&rsquo;s secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.</p>
+
+<p>She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are to go to tea in the schoolroom,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a beautiful dress,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;you are wearing money now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Money,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;what do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don&rsquo;t spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;I wish it wasn&rsquo;t a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you speak again in that tone of my mother I&rsquo;ll slap you,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Highty-tighty!&rdquo; said the nurse; &ldquo;your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so do you,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;If mother <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>is good you are not, and
+I&rsquo;m not, so we both must be broke in; but I&rsquo;ve got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then we <i>has</i> something in common,&rdquo; said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a handful, too. I&rsquo;m off to the schoolroom.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There never was such a child,&rdquo; thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; &ldquo;she&rsquo;s not shy, and she&rsquo;s as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she&rsquo;s a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master&rsquo;s
+child, but her mother&rsquo;s! Dear me, I&rsquo;m often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room&mdash;Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;re the little girl,&rdquo; said Mabel, who was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I <i>are</i> the little girl,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is my place?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Is it laid for me? I am the visitor.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;you had better sit there, near Mabel; she&rsquo;s
+pouring out tea. She&rsquo;s the boss, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s a boss?&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must be a silly not to know what a boss is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I aren&rsquo;t no more silly than you are,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I&rsquo;ll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can&rsquo;t answer me. What&rsquo;s a&mdash;what&rsquo;s a&mdash;oh, I&rsquo;ll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don&rsquo;t talk to me too much
+while I&rsquo;m eating, or I&rsquo;ll spill jam on my money frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a very queer little girl,&rdquo; said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a silly you are,&rdquo; said Gus. &ldquo;What did you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>put on that thing
+for? We don&rsquo;t want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Climb trees! Oh,&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;are you that sort? Then I&rsquo;m your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I&rsquo;m a hoyden&mdash;do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to &rsquo;em quick, for I&rsquo;m your
+girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are very queer,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes&mdash;we are quite ladylike and good, but we don&rsquo;t wear
+grand frocks either. Can&rsquo;t you take that thing off?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish I could. I hate it myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, ask your servant to change it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But my nurse hasn&rsquo;t brought a single shabby frock with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are all your frocks as grand as that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Some of &rsquo;em grander.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks,&rdquo; said Freda.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, do!&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;that will be lovely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>so you may as well
+put it on,&rdquo; continued Freda.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great comfort coming
+down to this place,&rdquo; she said finally, &ldquo;&rsquo;cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But isn&rsquo;t Philip Ogilvie your father?&rdquo; said Gus.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo; corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He&rsquo;s not perfect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father didn&rsquo;t know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man&rsquo;s name was Halkett. I&rsquo;m always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say &lsquo;Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he&rsquo;s not too scrupulous.&rsquo; Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means&mdash;oh, you needn&rsquo;t stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head&mdash;it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>as your father isn&rsquo;t scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn&rsquo;t hesitate to act wrong.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What have you done that for, you little beggar?&rdquo; he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To teach you not to tell lies,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. &ldquo;But I won&rsquo;t shed them,&rdquo; thought the
+child, &ldquo;not for worlds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl&rsquo;s side
+and touched her on her arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;we didn&rsquo;t
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won&rsquo;t you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I&rsquo;ll never say a word against your father again,&rdquo; said Gus.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You had better not,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;No, I won&rsquo;t shake hands; I
+won&rsquo;t make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I&rsquo;d like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<p>It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl&rsquo;s white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock,&rdquo; said Freda in
+conclusion. &ldquo;Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus&rsquo;s cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a noise those children make,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have three,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died&rdquo;&mdash;he sighed as
+he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years&rsquo;
+standing&mdash;&ldquo;I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child&rsquo;s beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see four little figures dancing about among <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>those trees,&rdquo; said
+Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;We will see them all together.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother&rsquo;s side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Mummy,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It&rsquo;s lovely to sit up there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean, Sibyl,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl turned first red and then white.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo; she whispered.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I&mdash;may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. &ldquo;Do let her speak,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in <i>deshabille</i>. What is
+it, little woman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s that I don&rsquo;t want to shake hands with you&mdash;never, <i>never</i>!&rdquo;
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,&rdquo;
+she said. &ldquo;What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?&rdquo; Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. &ldquo;I fear it is her father&rsquo;s doing,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think your nurse is to blame,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps&rsquo; frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you can never account for Sibyl&rsquo;s whims,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;it
+is all her father&rsquo;s fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should be very proud of that child if I were you,&rdquo; answered Lord
+Grayleigh. &ldquo;She has a particularly frank, fine face.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, she is handsome enough,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect&mdash;could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t scold her, poor little thing,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. &ldquo;For my part,&rdquo; he continued, &ldquo;I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do know it,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. &ldquo;Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is a strange fellow,&rdquo; answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; &ldquo;but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of <span style="white-space: nowrap;">course&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I can explain. Money is not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>everything&mdash;at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband&rsquo;s scruples&rdquo;&mdash;Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive&mdash;&ldquo;even your
+husband&rsquo;s scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances&mdash;we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.</p>
+
+<p>When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Money <i>is</i> everything,&rdquo; she thought, &ldquo;whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.</p>
+
+<p>With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?&rdquo; There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now you&rsquo;ll kiss me,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;now you&rsquo;re pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I&rsquo;m beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Get up, Sib, and don&rsquo;t be absurd,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don&rsquo;t mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But Mummy&mdash;Mumsy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don&rsquo;t like
+abbreviations.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sacred name!&rdquo; said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. &ldquo;Oh yes, I won&rsquo;t call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, mother darling, I didn&rsquo;t mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums&mdash;I mean, mother&mdash;I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come here,&rdquo; she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl&rsquo;s lips. &ldquo;Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Look at me. Are you attending?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That sounds very nice,&rdquo; thought Sibyl to herself. &ldquo;Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I&rsquo;ll listen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish,&rdquo; continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, &ldquo;I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Poses!&rdquo; cried Sibyl; &ldquo;what&rsquo;s poses?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, mother! it meant&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother&rsquo;s speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, mother! one minute first, please&mdash;please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go, Sibyl, obey me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was &rsquo;cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against <span style="white-space: nowrap;">my&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go, Sibyl, I won&rsquo;t listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going,&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;but I cannot <span style="white-space: nowrap;">be&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; she said to herself. &ldquo;Perhaps I wasn&rsquo;t quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don&rsquo;t know. I think
+I&rsquo;ll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn&rsquo;t&mdash;of course it&rsquo;s all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me &rsquo;splain things. I wish I hadn&rsquo;t a pain
+here.&rdquo; Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos of father I feel so bad, it&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos they told lies of
+father.&rdquo; She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And mother would not even let me &rsquo;splain,&rdquo; thought the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; cried a gay voice; &ldquo;hullo! and what&rsquo;s the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?&rdquo; And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I say!&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;aren&rsquo;t we fine! I say! you&rsquo;ll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t, Gus,&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, what&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel like playing games.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I&rsquo;ll come by-and-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Somebody wasn&rsquo;t square with her,&rdquo; thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+&ldquo;Queer little girl! But I like her all the same.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.</p>
+
+<p>At last the children&rsquo;s hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl&rsquo;s shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am pleased with you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will you come and see me, Mumsy&mdash;mother, I mean&mdash;before you go to
+bed?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is such an absurd custom,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I must break her of it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Break your little girl of what?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;She is a beautiful
+child,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman,&rdquo; replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, &ldquo;and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; answered Mr. Rochester; &ldquo;if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it.&rdquo; As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl&rsquo;s
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p><p>Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you come to the schoolroom now?&rdquo; asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; mother said I was to go to bed,&rdquo; answered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How proper and good you have turned,&rdquo; cried Mabel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-night,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse&rsquo;s cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, pet?&rdquo; nurse said. &ldquo;Is anything the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sakes alive!&rdquo; cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, &ldquo;to be sure, my darling,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I&rsquo;ll fetch it for you, dearie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl&rsquo;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my little darling,&rdquo; said nurse, &ldquo;you look quite white. You&rsquo;ll
+just read a verse or two, and then you&rsquo;ll go off to your bed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to find a special verse,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;When I have read it I
+will go to bed.&rdquo; She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, love,&rdquo; answered nurse promptly, &ldquo;that&rsquo;s in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?&rdquo; asked the
+puzzled old woman; &ldquo;there&rsquo;s some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There&rsquo;s a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, &lsquo;Children, obey your parents in the Lord.&rsquo;
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. &ldquo;Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it&rsquo;s not that I&rsquo;m
+thinking of, it&rsquo;s the one you found about &lsquo;God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.&rsquo; It seems to &rsquo;splain things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What things, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, about mother. Nursie, isn&rsquo;t my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my goodness me, no!&rdquo; exclaimed the woman under her breath. &ldquo;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t remark it, my dear,&rdquo; she said aloud.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos you know so very little. You can&rsquo;t never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>and I&rsquo;m not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I failed to understand your letter,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and have come to you
+for an explanation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought my meaning plain enough,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?&rdquo; queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see,&rdquo; cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang to
+his feet. &ldquo;I have regarded you as my friend for some time, Grayleigh,
+and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with&mdash;you know what it means&mdash;a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world&mdash;our world I mean&mdash;consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill&mdash;a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your emendation of that old proverb may be <i>fin de si&egrave;cle</i>, but it
+does not suit my notions,&rdquo; muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh looked keenly at him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will be sorry for this,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">but&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is the matter with you?&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;you never were so
+scrupulous.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you <span style="white-space: nowrap;">a&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We need not enter into that,&rdquo; said Grayleigh, rising; &ldquo;you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the <i>pros</i> and <i>cons</i>. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And it is that which at once tempts and repels me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, &ldquo;How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl is peculiar,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl&rsquo;s wore at intervals.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not at all,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie; &ldquo;I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, to turn to the present matter,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;you will
+reconsider your refusal?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would rather not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me,&rdquo; said
+Ogilvie; &ldquo;it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>me from temptation. But suppose I were to&mdash;to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will assume,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won&rsquo;t take a refusal now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to &ldquo;Philip Ogilvie, Esq.,&rdquo; in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter&rsquo;s name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Daddy Dear</span>,&mdash;Here&rsquo;s a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+kiss. I will put sum more at the end of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>the letter. Pleas
+kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+said she wasn&rsquo;t purfect but she is, isn&rsquo;t she father? I miss
+you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+for having gived you to me father. Your <span class="smcap">Sibyl</span>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father, what does &lsquo;scroopolus&rsquo; mean? I want to know
+speshul.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Sib</span>.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well&mdash;he had seen them coming for a long time&mdash;the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler&rsquo;s bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am unworthy of my little Angel,&rdquo; he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. &ldquo;And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl&rsquo;s
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Shall I risk it?&rdquo; he said to himself. &ldquo;Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems <i>bona fide</i> enough. It it is <i>bona fide</i>, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other,&rdquo; and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s offer.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to seem to force your hand,&rdquo; that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, &ldquo;but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and&mdash;turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.</p>
+
+<p>As these thoughts flashed before his mind he for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>got that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bring me brandy, and be quick,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.</p>
+
+<p>After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife&rsquo;s extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother&rsquo;s death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate&mdash;not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl&rsquo;s needs and her mother&rsquo;s fancied necessities, Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must do something better than that for my little daughter,&rdquo; thought
+the man. &ldquo;I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl&rsquo;s sake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.</p>
+
+<p>He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest,&rdquo; thought the man. &ldquo;I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p><p>He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.</p>
+
+<p>Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.</p>
+
+<p>He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor&rsquo;s consulting room.</p>
+
+<p>Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Something of the kind,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty&mdash;he was all right.</p>
+
+<p>Rashleigh asked him a few questions.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, &ldquo;and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How large a sum do you propose to insure for?&rdquo; asked the doctor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor&rsquo;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well?&rdquo; said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right, I
+suppose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination,&rdquo; was Rashleigh&rsquo;s
+answer. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll hear all in good time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When do you propose to go to Australia?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may not go at all. In fact if&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. &ldquo;If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But suppose it is not all right?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I sail on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may as well tell you the truth,&rdquo; said Rashleigh; &ldquo;you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Heart,&rdquo; said Rashleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Heart! Mine? Not affected?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seriously?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Does this mean that <span style="white-space: nowrap;">I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span> Ogilvie dropped into a chair. &ldquo;Rashleigh,&rdquo;
+he said suddenly, &ldquo;I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable&mdash;a very measurable distance of the end.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Describe your sensations,&rdquo; said Rashleigh.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie did so.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Just what was said to my father, who did not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>live for years and
+years,&rdquo; answered the man. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t keep you any longer, Rashleigh.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, &ldquo;Doomed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look well, Mr. Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never mind about my looks, Harrison,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie. &ldquo;I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don&rsquo;t look well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Looks are nothing,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie. &ldquo;I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<p>On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie&rsquo;s subservience to his chief&rsquo;s wishes, he should
+turn restive.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable,&rdquo; thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.</p>
+
+<p>He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to
+account for myself to you,&rdquo; but she remembered her mother&rsquo;s
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can,&rdquo; she thought.</p>
+
+<p>So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We were chasing Sib,&rdquo; they said; &ldquo;she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all,&rdquo; was Grayleigh&rsquo;s
+response. &ldquo;Sibyl has long legs for her age.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl&rsquo;s soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog&rsquo;s,&rdquo; thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You and I will walk by ourselves for a little,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl&rsquo;s point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be &ldquo;not good,&rdquo; and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be &ldquo;not good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will sit here and talk, shall we?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, shall us?&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m rather short for my age,&rdquo; she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, how old are you?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Quite old,&rdquo; she replied gravely; &ldquo;I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head,&rdquo; he replied,
+looking at her gravely.</p>
+
+<p>She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You called me away from the other children &rsquo;cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn&rsquo;t you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course he is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did he ask about me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, he asked me how you were.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what did you say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s eyes began to dance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?&rdquo; asked Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of you,&rdquo; answered Sibyl with promptitude.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, that&rsquo;s very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I?&rdquo; said Sibyl with great eagerness. &ldquo;Do you really, truly mean
+it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I certainly mean it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You won&rsquo;t tell&mdash;mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell&mdash;mother,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad,&rdquo; she said with emphasis. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It&rsquo;s
+most &rsquo;portant that I should speak to you, and if you will <span style="white-space: nowrap;">promise&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You won&rsquo;t like it,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must leave me to judge of that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going to be fwightfully rude.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed! that is highly diverting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what diverting is, but it will hurt you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe I can survive the pain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked full at him then.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you laughing at me?&rdquo; she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not dream of doing so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl&rsquo;s father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Speak away, little girl,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I promise not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you for saying that, but it isn&rsquo;t true; for father&rsquo;s perfect,
+and I&rsquo;m not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. &ldquo;Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand what that means,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For a duel; you have heard of a duel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, in history, of course,&rdquo; said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, &ldquo;and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you really want to run a sword through me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About my father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I will try and &rsquo;splain. I didn&rsquo;t know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fire away then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You told someone&mdash;I don&rsquo;t know the name&mdash;you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. &ldquo;I told
+somebody&mdash;that is diverting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not diverting,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s cruel, it&rsquo;s mean, it&rsquo;s wrong;
+it&rsquo;s lies&mdash;black lies. Now you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But whom did I tell?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Somebody, and somebody told me&mdash;I&rsquo;m not going to tell who told me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn&rsquo;t act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And mother is perfect, too,&rdquo; she said, turning and facing him.</p>
+
+<p>Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you don&rsquo;t wonder that I hate you,&rdquo; continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Listen now, little girl.&rdquo; Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t shrink away, don&rsquo;t turn from me,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>little girls
+don&rsquo;t understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down <i>good</i> fellow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The best in all the world?&rdquo; queried Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father&rsquo;s quite
+perfect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Men like myself don&rsquo;t care to own themselves in the wrong,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh, &ldquo;and the fact is&mdash;listen, you queer little mortal&mdash;I don&rsquo;t
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have met my father and my mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Would he?&rdquo; said the child. She looked wistful and interested. &ldquo;There
+are lots of things I want to be &rsquo;splained to me,&rdquo; she said. Then,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>after a moment&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll think whether I&rsquo;ll be friends with you, and
+I&rsquo;ll let you know, may be to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Poor little maid!&rdquo; he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl&rsquo;s words had affected
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful,&rdquo; was his
+inward thought; &ldquo;it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won&rsquo;t
+affect the public as Ogilvie&rsquo;s report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl&rsquo;s faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What am I,&rdquo; he said to himself, &ldquo;to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?&rdquo; And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come in and sit down,&rdquo; he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+&ldquo;It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don&rsquo;t wonder that I should ask you the question.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She has a very great respect for you,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl&rsquo;s had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p><p>Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your little girl has the highest opinion of you,&rdquo; he repeated; &ldquo;the
+very highest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. &ldquo;You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am&rdquo;&mdash;she
+smiled&mdash;&ldquo;charming.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are that, undoubtedly,&rdquo; said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don&rsquo;t want to be. Sibyl&rsquo;s
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">utmost&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are doing what?&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To open her eyes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not if I were you,&rdquo; he said, gravely; &ldquo;it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you talking about now?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t often read my Bible,&rdquo; he continued, &ldquo;but, of course, I did as
+a boy&mdash;most boys do. My mother <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must tell it to you. &lsquo;Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How unpleasant,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, &ldquo;and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;With pleasure.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Precisely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has he promised?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does assaying the mine mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To assay a mine means to find out accurately <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>what it contains,&rdquo; said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone&rsquo;s gaze at that instant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; he continued, after a pause, &ldquo;your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will be a madman if he does,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;According to Sibyl&rsquo;s light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip&rsquo;s conscience!&rdquo; said the wife, with a sneer; &ldquo;what next?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It appears to me,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;that he has an active one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband&rsquo;s
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it <span style="white-space: nowrap;">more&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I really will not stay here to be lectured,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I cannot answer it, for I do not know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you think he will?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my impression.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can, at least, tell me what occurred.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To go where?&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean by being paid well?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will have his expenses, and something over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something over! that is a very elastic term.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;In your husband&rsquo;s case it will mean thousands.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I see; and then the shares?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The shares will practically make him a rich man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line.&rdquo; She turned to leave the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I were you,&rdquo; he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, &ldquo;if I were you, upon my honor, I&rsquo;d leave him
+alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;I only ventured to make a
+suggestion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never found you so disagreeable before.&rdquo; She then left the
+summer-house.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I speak to you?&rdquo; he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.</p>
+
+<p>She ran to his side at once.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you want to send your father a letter by this post?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, of course; is there time?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will make time; go into the house and write to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But why?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He would like to hear from you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you want me to say anything special?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all.&rdquo; And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl&rsquo;s letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.</p>
+
+<p>The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie&rsquo;s plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl&rsquo;s was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother&rsquo;s, then the child&rsquo;s. Sibyl&rsquo;s
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<p>The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Dear Ogilvie</span>,</p>
+
+<p>Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann &amp; Co.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">Yours sincerely,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;"><span class="smcap">Grayleigh.</span></span></p></div>
+
+<p>Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did not want to go there,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me&mdash;what he pays will be Sibyl&rsquo;s, the provision for her future. But I
+don&rsquo;t want to see the child&mdash;until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn&rsquo;t want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound,&rdquo; he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh&rsquo;s verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh&rsquo;s letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.</p>
+
+<p>He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p><p>This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh, &ldquo;and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is exactly as her father pleases,&rdquo; replied Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.</p>
+
+<p>As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss,&rdquo; she thought; &ldquo;but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Mildred, and how are you?&rdquo; said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite well,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don&rsquo;t look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am all right,&rdquo; he answered shortly. &ldquo;I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And&rdquo;&mdash;Ogilvie glanced to right and left&mdash;&ldquo;the child?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband&rsquo;s arm.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p><p>Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie&rsquo;s intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is good of you,&rdquo; pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. &ldquo;I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and&mdash;and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Debts, you mean,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, bluntly. &ldquo;I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will <span style="white-space: nowrap;">be&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Phil!&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s face turned very white.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will speak about them before I leave,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;Now I must
+find Grayleigh.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it true that you are going on Saturday?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite true.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you really don&rsquo;t want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want you,&rdquo; he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl will be delighted to see you,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That reminds me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not wish her to be told.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, never?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>you understand? I won&rsquo;t go at all if you tell her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, of course, I understand,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+&ldquo;but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband&rsquo;s arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My bills! but I <span style="white-space: nowrap;">really&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is Lord Grayleigh,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I must <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid.&rdquo; He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; she began, then she hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What more?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A trinket, it took my fancy&mdash;a diamond cross&mdash;you noticed it. I could
+not resist it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much?&rdquo; said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Two thousand pounds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don&rsquo;t keep me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is good,&rdquo; said the nobleman. &ldquo;I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall we go into the house?&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That depends.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now listen, Ogilvie,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, &ldquo;you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can I? I thought the die was cast.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I <i>could</i> get Atherton to
+take your place even now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even now?&rdquo; echoed Philip Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I&rdquo;&mdash;Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl&rsquo;s face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie&rsquo;s face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man&rsquo;s whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want,&rdquo; he said,
+with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The time for discussing the thing is over,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I will
+go&mdash;and&mdash;do <i>as you wish</i>. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What do you mean by the price down?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, you shall have it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much more?&rdquo; Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is&mdash;I will confide
+in you so far&mdash;my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know your child,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; &ldquo;she
+is out of the common.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A spasm of pain crossed the father&rsquo;s face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is,&rdquo; he answered slowly. &ldquo;I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)&mdash;if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,&rdquo;
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, &ldquo;What you wish shall be done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s private
+account.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This clinches matters,&rdquo; he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will see Spielmann for all the rest,&rdquo; was Grayleigh&rsquo;s answer;
+&ldquo;and now, if you must catch the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">train&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I must; good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Have you seen your wife?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Daddy, daddy!&rdquo; she cried.</p>
+
+<p>He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie,&rdquo; said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, &rsquo;licious!&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;more than &rsquo;licious; but what will mother
+say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie&rsquo;s arm was tight round Sibyl&rsquo;s waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s something troubling him, he likes having me near him,&rdquo;
+thought the child. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t let him see that he&rsquo;s squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something.&rdquo; Then <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wait for the child,&rdquo; he said to the servant, &ldquo;and take her back
+carefully to the house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir,&rdquo; answered the man, touching his hat.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have my ticket,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Three whole precious minutes,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl. &ldquo;What is it, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am thinking of something,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo; asked the girl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father! why, so we are,&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;Mother&rsquo;s not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look quite well, dear father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don&rsquo;t come to little girls.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course they don&rsquo;t, father, but when I&rsquo;m a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>woman I&rsquo;ll have them.
+I&rsquo;ll take them instead of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now listen, my darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, <i>very</i> solemn; I know you when you&rsquo;re in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don&rsquo;t you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mayn&rsquo;t I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there&rsquo;s no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I&rsquo;d like to go back with you, wouldn&rsquo;t it be fun! Couldn&rsquo;t you take
+me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could, of course,&rdquo; said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sib,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course not,&rdquo; she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would have been nice all the same,&rdquo; said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Ogilvie. &ldquo;Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She flung her arms tightly round his neck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again&mdash;of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that <span style="white-space: nowrap;">I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For you and Lord Jesus Christ,&rdquo; she answered softly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here&rsquo;s my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll see you again very, very soon, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very soon,&rdquo; answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Anybody come to meet you, Miss?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, thank you,&rdquo; she answered with dignity; &ldquo;I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>was seeing my father
+off to town; there&rsquo;s my twap waiting outside.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father&rsquo;s face which puzzled her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He ought to have me at home with him,&rdquo; she thought. &ldquo;I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he&rsquo;s mostly not well. He&rsquo;s beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he&rsquo;s mostly not well when he does it. I
+&rsquo;spect he&rsquo;s nearer Lord Jesus when he&rsquo;s not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don&rsquo;t want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Sibyl, where <i>have</i> you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother&rsquo;s angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t do anything naughty, really, Mummy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He&rsquo;s off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t say twap, sound your &lsquo;r&rsquo;&mdash;trap.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tw-rap,&rdquo; struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, &rsquo;licious,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must make me quite my prettiest self,&rdquo; she said to the nurse;
+&ldquo;you must do your very best, &rsquo;cos <span style="white-space: nowrap;">mother&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What about your mother now, missy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cos mother&rsquo;s just a little&mdash;&mdash;Oh, nothing,&rdquo; said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She likes me best when I&rsquo;m pretty,&rdquo; continued the child; &ldquo;but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss Sibyl, I can&rsquo;t say I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He talked to me in a most pwivate way,&rdquo; continued Sibyl. &ldquo;He told me
+most &rsquo;portant things, and I promised him, Nursie&mdash;I promised him that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>I&rsquo;d&mdash;&mdash;Oh, no! I won&rsquo;t tell you. Perhaps I won&rsquo;t be able to keep my
+promise, and then you&rsquo;d&mdash;&mdash;Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don&rsquo;t be
+&rsquo;quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+&rsquo;quisitiveness; but you aren&rsquo;t to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn&rsquo;t; it shows how little they know. It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don&rsquo;t understand perfect people. But
+there&rsquo;s the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband&rsquo;s
+departure, although <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Presently,&rdquo; said Lady Helen, &ldquo;when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you&rsquo;ll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take <span style="white-space: nowrap;">your&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What ship do you mean?&rdquo; said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, &ldquo;the ship that is
+going to take my&mdash;my what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But this ship was going out,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Never mind, I &rsquo;spect it&rsquo;s
+a secret; there&rsquo;s lots of &rsquo;em floating <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>round to-day. I&rsquo;ve got some
+&rsquo;portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don&rsquo;t blush no more.&rdquo;
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<p>Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.</p>
+
+<p>Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester&rsquo;s eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen&rsquo;s fair face.</p>
+
+<p>He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband&rsquo;s letter.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; &ldquo;he is
+off, it is a <i>fait accompli</i>. Do you know, I am relieved.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you?&rdquo; he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man&rsquo;s
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really,&rdquo; she said with an impatient movement, &ldquo;I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But without succeeding,&rdquo; interrupted Jim Rochester. &ldquo;I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;and I never saw a
+nicer little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that is what strangers always say,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, &ldquo;and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad you feel it,&rdquo; said Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, &ldquo;I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don&rsquo;t
+think I ever met a sweeter child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There you go,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The annoying part of this letter,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don&rsquo;t think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent&mdash;&mdash;Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don&rsquo;t you play with your companions?&rdquo; For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I thought&mdash;I thought,&rdquo; she began; &ldquo;I thought, mother, that I heard
+you&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a&mdash;a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I said nothing of the sort,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, &ldquo;nothing of the sort; go and
+play.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s wicked for good people to tell lies, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo; she said then,
+slowly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wicked,&rdquo; cried her mother; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s shamefully wicked.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you are good, mother, you don&rsquo;t ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course.&rdquo; She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish things would be &rsquo;splained to me,&rdquo; she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. &ldquo;There are more and more
+things every day want &rsquo;splaining. I certainly did hear her say <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said &lsquo;in his
+absence.&rsquo; Oh, what can it mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl,&rdquo; he said.
+&ldquo;Is anything the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to ask you a question,&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">called&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl,&rdquo; said the child, beginning to laugh; &ldquo;if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What would you like best in the world?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week&mdash;we are going home this day week.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what will you have when you go home?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father&rsquo;s kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father&rsquo;s kisses, &ldquo;we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said Sibyl, laughing, &ldquo;a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn&rsquo;t afford it. Oh, I do want a pony.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall have one,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you really think I am good?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wouldn&rsquo;t father like to hear you. It&rsquo;s wonderful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see&mdash;oh, but you shan&rsquo;t
+look.&rdquo; She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. &ldquo;But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother&rsquo;s side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I&rsquo;d like a riding habit like mother&rsquo;s, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can&rsquo;t &rsquo;ford one for me, but you&rsquo;ll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 306px;">
+<img src="images/illus2.jpg" class="jpg smallgap" width="306" height="500" alt="&ldquo;A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?&rdquo;
+asked Sibyl.&mdash;Page 123. Daddy&rsquo;s Girl." title="" />
+<span class="caption">&ldquo;A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?&rdquo;
+asked Sibyl.&mdash;Page <a href="#Page_123">123.</a> <i>Daddy&rsquo;s Girl.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t mind what sort my darling pony is,&rdquo; answered the child. &ldquo;I
+only want to have it. Oh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>you are nice. I began by not liking you, but I like you awfully now.
+You are very nice, indeed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There are lots of nice people in the world,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn&rsquo;t never tell a
+lie, could she?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, it&rsquo;s the feminine gender,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a she,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;could she; could she?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A perfect person could not, little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right; I got a fright, but there wasn&rsquo;t a word of
+it true. Come, let&rsquo;s play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In a week&rsquo;s time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what father is,&rdquo; she said, looking full up into
+Rochester&rsquo;s eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have had a good time here,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there&rsquo;s no place for me like my own,
+own home. It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos of father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father&rsquo;s absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is at night that my father is the most perfect <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>of all,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I&rsquo;m
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But your mother?&rdquo; stammered Rochester. He was about to add, &ldquo;She
+would go to your room, would she not?&rdquo; when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;re thinking about my perfect mother, too,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon&mdash;you have heard of
+him, haven&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rochester nodded.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just &rsquo;splained about my mother.
+It&rsquo;s really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat&rsquo;rally like father&rsquo;s way best.
+Mother&rsquo;s way is the goodest for me, p&rsquo;waps. Don&rsquo;t you think mother&rsquo;s
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seems to me,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m always looking for Lady Helen when I&rsquo;m
+with you. Is it &rsquo;cos you&rsquo;re so desperate fond of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you like her yourself?&rdquo; said the young man, reddening visibly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Like her? I like her just awfully. She&rsquo;s the most &rsquo;licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I can&rsquo;t honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>hear
+about him. Now come along and let&rsquo;s find her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester&rsquo;s face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little <i>distrait</i>. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Cheer up, won&rsquo;t you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk like that,&rdquo; said Rochester in a voice of pain.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, &lsquo;It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, &rsquo;cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.&rsquo; Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,&rdquo;
+said the young man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don&rsquo;t know how you look when you
+look at her, oh&mdash;ever so eager, same as I look when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>father&rsquo;s in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she&rsquo;s as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by&mdash;good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.</p>
+
+<p>The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is my present to you,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh dear, oh dear,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want <i>everyone</i> to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but&mdash;don&rsquo;t please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I&rsquo;ll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Well, I won&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect father will write you a most loving letter about this,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl. &ldquo;Won&rsquo;t he be &rsquo;sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I never go to school,&rdquo; said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. &ldquo;I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that&mdash;oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn&rsquo;t suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It&rsquo;s
+all right, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father will tell me a name. I won&rsquo;t let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>Rochester for me&mdash;oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen&mdash;good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sit back in your seat and don&rsquo;t chatter,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you disturb
+other people.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl&rsquo;s own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother,&rdquo; she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+&rsquo;proving, aren&rsquo;t I?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Proving, what do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;<i>Im</i>proving, mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;oh!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos of father,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I <i>have</i> tried, <i>haven&rsquo;t</i> you noticed it, mother? Won&rsquo;t you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And to please father and Lord Jesus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, yes, child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything&mdash;the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would &rsquo;ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush, don&rsquo;t talk so loud.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The old gentleman buried himself in <i>The Times</i> in order not to hear
+Sibyl&rsquo;s distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take up your book and stop talking,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But it don&rsquo;t matter,&rdquo; she said to herself; &ldquo;when I see father, he&rsquo;ll
+understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother, may I ask John if father&rsquo;s likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P&rsquo;waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sit still, you do fidget so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try to be quiet, mother; it&rsquo;s only &rsquo;cos I&rsquo;m so incited.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, dear,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, &ldquo;what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if&mdash;as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother&rsquo;s.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you doing that for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cos I thought I&rsquo;d rub you the right way,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren&rsquo;t you, just now,
+mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be so ridiculous.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.</p>
+
+<p>They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father, father!&rdquo; she called. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are&mdash;Sibyl. I&rsquo;m home <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>again, father. The Angel is home again, father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She does not know yet,&rdquo; whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;I am going into the
+library; don&rsquo;t tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t see father anywhere,&rdquo; she said: &ldquo;I &rsquo;spect he&rsquo;s not back yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>Mr. Ogilvie&rsquo;s absence had
+not been alluded to in the child&rsquo;s presence.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am back, and I am going to be good,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I really, truly am;
+aren&rsquo;t you glad to see me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go upstairs now, Sibyl,&rdquo; said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child&rsquo;s heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, never mind,&rdquo; she said to herself, &ldquo;he can&rsquo;t help it, the
+darling; but he&rsquo;ll be back soon,&rdquo; and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;this is all most unpleasant.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo; asked the governess.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, this whim of my husband&rsquo;s. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I don&rsquo;t quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,&rdquo;
+said Miss Winstead; &ldquo;he has peculiar ideas, that&rsquo;s all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We need not discuss that point,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. &ldquo;We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I?&rdquo; said Miss Winstead; &ldquo;I would really <span style="white-space: nowrap;">rather&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy&mdash;any toy she fancies. Here&rsquo;s a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father,&rdquo; interrupted Miss
+Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, for goodness&rsquo; sake, don&rsquo;t make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months&mdash;that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that <i>I</i> am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he&rsquo;ll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead&mdash;do it!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When?&rdquo; asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, when you please, only don&rsquo;t worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won&rsquo;t see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don&rsquo;t I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know? Say that her father has gone&mdash;oh, by the way, there&rsquo;s
+a letter for her. I really don&rsquo;t know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I still suffer very badly with my head,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead, &ldquo;but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be <span style="white-space: nowrap;">obliged&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you need not go on,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. &ldquo;I know my duty. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable,&rdquo; said the mother. &ldquo;Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don&rsquo;t forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Coward!&rdquo; she said, under her breath.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish I was well out of this,&rdquo; thought the governess. &ldquo;The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p><p>Miss Winstead&rsquo;s schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie&rsquo;s manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Cook made these for Miss Sibyl,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead; &ldquo;and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t be in your shoes for a deal, Miss,&rdquo; replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p><p>Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What&rsquo;s the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn&rsquo;t you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That&rsquo;s the way Nurse&rsquo;s
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I&rsquo;m thankful to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea,&rdquo; said her governess.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,&rdquo;
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson&rsquo;s sweetheart.</p>
+
+<p>Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants&rsquo; hall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats &rsquo;em,&rdquo; she cried.
+&ldquo;Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you&rsquo;re a-keeping company with. It&rsquo;s wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That she have truly,&rdquo; said the cook, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;ll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It&rsquo;s but to
+look at her to see how loving she is,&rdquo; continued the good woman. &ldquo;How
+she&rsquo;ll live without the master beats me. The missus ain&rsquo;t worthy of
+her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant&rsquo;s mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants&rsquo; hall.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nearly five o&rsquo;clock,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;father is sure to be in at six,
+don&rsquo;t you think so, Miss Winstead?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He often doesn&rsquo;t come home till seven,&rdquo; answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, what&rsquo;s the matter with you, Winnie dear,&rdquo; said Sibyl&mdash;this was
+her pet name for the governess; &ldquo;you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said &lsquo;a
+shaking,&rsquo; and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I couldn&rsquo;t, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is such a fine evening, that <span style="white-space: nowrap;">perhaps&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no, I don&rsquo;t want to go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much money?&rdquo; she asked in a tentative voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Twenty shillings,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I could get a lovely doll&rsquo;s house for
+that. But I think sometimes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>I am getting tired of my dolls. It&rsquo;s so
+stupid of &rsquo;em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll&rsquo;s house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it&rsquo;s a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am <i>very</i> fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren&rsquo;t you, Winnie? Don&rsquo;t you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don&rsquo;t you like him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you been trying to &rsquo;prove yourself very much while I was away?&rdquo;
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Prove myself?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can never say that whole word. <i>Im</i>prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I always try, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you <i>are</i> &rsquo;proved, you&rsquo;re
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you&rsquo;re sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I&rsquo;ll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman&rsquo;s to buy the doll&rsquo;s house. He is poor, and he&rsquo;ll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> &rsquo;em. Some children are <i>so</i> careless. Yes, I&rsquo;ll go with you,
+and then we&rsquo;ll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He&rsquo;ll know that I&rsquo;ll be wanting him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl, I have something to tell you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead&rsquo;s voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is something that will pain you, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don&rsquo;t like to be kept in &rsquo;spense.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can bear it,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go on; I am bearing it,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great shock, but I am bearing it,&rdquo; she said again. &ldquo;<i>When</i>
+will I see him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Child,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t look like that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking no special way; I&rsquo;m only bearing up. Is father dead?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A few months,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not dead?&rdquo; She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the little shots that hurt most,&rdquo; she said after a pause. &ldquo;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t have felt it, if you had said he was dead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won&rsquo;t be back by six.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I&rsquo;ll go out with you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather she cried and screamed; I&rsquo;d rather she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I&rsquo;d rather she did anything than take it like that,&rdquo;
+thought the governess.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl went straight into the nursery.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nursie,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn&rsquo;t it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my darling,&rdquo; said nursie, &ldquo;this has hurt you horribly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t be sympathisy.&rdquo; She pushed nurse&rsquo;s
+detaining hand away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the little shots that tell,&rdquo; she repeated. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I&rsquo;m not going to cry, I&rsquo;m not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Was it mother said you was to tell me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then mother did tell me a&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Sibyl left off <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hear you have got a pony,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to talk about my pony, please,&rdquo; interrupted Sibyl. &ldquo;Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why may we not talk about your pony?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to ride my pony now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have walked quite far enough to-night,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you look very
+white.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A good idea,&rdquo; said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. &ldquo;We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, this is the turning, come along,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But why should we go to Holman&rsquo;s, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d much rather go to Mr. Holman&rsquo;s.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child&rsquo;s. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How do you do, Mr. Holman,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I hope I find you quite well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health,&rdquo; replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad of that,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You thought a doll&rsquo;s house,&rdquo; interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, it don&rsquo;t matter about that,&rdquo; said Sibyl, looking <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>gravely back at
+her; &ldquo;I mean it don&rsquo;t matter now. Mr. Holman, what&rsquo;s the most dusty of
+your toys, what&rsquo;s the most scratched, what&rsquo;s the toy that none of the
+other children would like?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a whole heap of &rsquo;em,&rdquo; said Holman, shaking his head sadly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That he have, poor dear,&rdquo; here interrupted Mrs. Holman. &ldquo;How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn&rsquo;t buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It&rsquo;s because our shop is in a back
+street.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, but it&rsquo;s a very nice street,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s retired, isn&rsquo;t
+it? Well, I&rsquo;ll buy twenty shillings&rsquo; worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What ails her?&rdquo; said Holman. &ldquo;She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don&rsquo;t like her looks a bit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months&rsquo; time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress&rsquo;s dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please, mother, I can&rsquo;t sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don&rsquo;t know what it is, but it&rsquo;s worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh dear, how you tremble,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn&rsquo;t you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, mother, that wouldn&rsquo;t have done me any good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They wouldn&rsquo;t be you. I&rsquo;ll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you may, child, but please don&rsquo;t disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you shut your eyes and go to sleep?&rdquo; asked her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling,&rdquo; replied
+Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl&rsquo;s.
+Sibyl&rsquo;s little hand was cold.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I come quite close to you, mother?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes, darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The next instant she was lying in her mother&rsquo;s arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, now that&rsquo;s better,&rdquo; said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother&rsquo;s clasp.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am much better,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?&rdquo; asked her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not much; there&rsquo;s not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It&rsquo;s very hard, but I
+&rsquo;spect I&rsquo;ll do it; I &rsquo;spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It&rsquo;s such a long, long way off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For a most excellent reason,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit&mdash;we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring <span style="white-space: nowrap;">us&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo; asked the child. &ldquo;What has he gone for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of <i>money</i>, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I am not,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who in the world is Mr. Holman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t &rsquo;splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Plenty of money,&rdquo; echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we&rsquo;ll be rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Rich?&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;rich?&rdquo; She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it nice, being rich?&rdquo; she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But what does it do?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I am more comfy in my common frocks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, it gives you your nice food.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care nothing about food.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think so?&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very much indeed; I like the good things of life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try and understand,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nursie,&rdquo; said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, &ldquo;mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we&rsquo;ll be very rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Um,&rdquo; replied nurse, with a grunt, &ldquo;do she?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It&rsquo;s very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has &rsquo;splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn&rsquo;t understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don&rsquo;t matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear,&rdquo; said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl&rsquo;s stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman&rsquo;s chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse&rsquo;s movements with close interest.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Why do you wear spectacles?&rdquo; she asked suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain&rsquo;t as young as I was.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does &lsquo;not as young as you was&rsquo; mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What I say, my dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I notice,&rdquo; said Sibyl, thoughtfully, &ldquo;that all very, very old people
+say they&rsquo;re not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles &rsquo;cos
+you&rsquo;re not as young as you was, and &rsquo;cos you can&rsquo;t see as well as you
+did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I&rsquo;m glad we&rsquo;re going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+&rsquo;splain why I am glad,&rdquo; continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. &ldquo;When our gold
+comes, nursie, you&rsquo;ll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses &rsquo;cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we&rsquo;ll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There&rsquo;s poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn&rsquo;t paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there&rsquo;s a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely <i>swampy</i> sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>and they spend their money, and there&rsquo;s
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It&rsquo;s just &rsquo;cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn&rsquo;t it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won&rsquo;t come into his nice, quiet <i>back</i> street. I
+like back streets, don&rsquo;t you, nursie? It&rsquo;s horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman&rsquo;s.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the way of the world, dear,&rdquo; answered nurse; &ldquo;the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It&rsquo;s a cruel way, but it&rsquo;s the way the world has got.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I hate the world,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn&rsquo;t
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my love, there&rsquo;d be a lot of things <i>He&rsquo;d</i> have to change if He
+came back; but don&rsquo;t ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don&rsquo;t get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you&rsquo;re looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I am perfectly well,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, &ldquo;I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>&rsquo;rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I&rsquo;ll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he&rsquo;ll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won&rsquo;t have to wipe away her tears any more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bless her! the darling she is!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Smartly dressed, as was her mother&rsquo;s wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I am glad to see you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am very glad to see you,&rdquo; replied the young man; &ldquo;but I did call to
+see your mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, come to the drawing-room, I&rsquo;ll entertain <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester&mdash;<i>nice</i> Mr. Rochester.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you say that?&rdquo; he asked, in some confusion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things,&rdquo; answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+&rsquo;splaining to me about rich people. It&rsquo;s most &rsquo;portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn&rsquo;t it, Mr. Rochester? It&rsquo;s the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, &ldquo;Why, mother,&rdquo; but she
+checked herself. A cloud took <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When my own father comes back again we&rsquo;ll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you&rsquo;ll make,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we&rsquo;ll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are shares?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very puzzling,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;And it depends on father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don&rsquo;t you understand, it all depends on him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s <i>very</i> puzzling,&rdquo; said Sibyl again. &ldquo;Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think so,&rdquo; he answered earnestly. &ldquo;I shall buy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you will be happy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very happy if she says &lsquo;yes.&rsquo; But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may trust me,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I never tell things I&rsquo;m told not to
+tell. You can&rsquo;t think what wonderful &rsquo;portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you&rsquo;ll be glad to be
+rich?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife,&rdquo; he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When father comes back he&rsquo;ll christen my pony,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but no one
+else shall. I won&rsquo;t give it no name till he comes back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony&rsquo;s back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p><p>Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is very hot this morning,&rdquo; said the governess.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that don&rsquo;t matter,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered Miss Winstead, &ldquo;I cannot say it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Full of thoughts, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied the governess again. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead&rsquo;s instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; she said suddenly, &ldquo;I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly &rsquo;portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We shan&rsquo;t have time,&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, but I want to go,&rdquo; said Sibyl, knitting her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>brows, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother going into the country, what for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot tell you, it is not my affair.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That means that you know, but you won&rsquo;t tell.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can put it in that way if you like. I won&rsquo;t tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up,&rdquo; thought the little girl. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like it, not a bit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Presently she slipped her hand through her governess&rsquo;s arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can&rsquo;t think how &rsquo;portant it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again.&rdquo; Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must hurry home,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They left the Park, and came back in time for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why isn&rsquo;t Mr. Rochester here?&rdquo; said the little girl at last.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He could not stay,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is nice, he is very nice,&rdquo; said the child; &ldquo;he and Lady Helen&mdash;oh,
+more than nice. I like &rsquo;em very much, don&rsquo;t you, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie got up. &ldquo;Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-by, mother dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss Sibyl, not at all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wonder if you&rsquo;re awfully hungry, Watson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Why so, Miss?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because it&rsquo;s time for the servants&rsquo; dinner.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Miss, I&rsquo;m going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You couldn&rsquo;t, p&rsquo;waps,&rdquo; said the little girl, knitting her brows, &ldquo;you
+couldn&rsquo;t, p&rsquo;waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where do you want to go, Miss?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don&rsquo;t you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have heard of him from you, Miss.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s most &rsquo;portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re very quick, Miss,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are good,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Do you know, Watson, that you&rsquo;re a very
+nice man&mdash;you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let&rsquo;s go; do
+let&rsquo;s be quick.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman&rsquo;s
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Watson,&rdquo; said the little girl, &ldquo;you can stand in the doorway. It&rsquo;s
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss, I won&rsquo;t.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance&mdash;when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Dear! dear!&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I&rsquo;ve splendid news for you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn&rsquo;t send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I like them,&rdquo; said the child; &ldquo;I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated&mdash;as though I were your little friend.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Which you are, darling&mdash;which you are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn&rsquo;t know what to do with it. You
+said, &lsquo;Money ought to make money,&rsquo; and you didn&rsquo;t know how your
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to &rsquo;splain it to me, and I tried to understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I understand that,&rdquo; answered the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s there still, is it?&rdquo; said Sibyl, her eyes shining.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father&rsquo;s gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to&mdash;&mdash;Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you&rsquo;ll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That&rsquo;s what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn&rsquo;t. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bless you, darling,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, &ldquo;so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s awfully exciting, isn&rsquo;t it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You&rsquo;ll be rich, and I&rsquo;ll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He&rsquo;ll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You&rsquo;ll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman&rsquo;s eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Watson,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you&rsquo;ll have a splendid <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<p>About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My husband is not prepared to buy a place now,&rdquo; she said in
+conclusion, &ldquo;but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s heart, did come in the agent&rsquo;s way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>of Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+<i>distrait</i> and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.</p>
+
+<p>This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is the very best place of its kind in the market,&rdquo; she wrote. &ldquo;It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be yours when father comes home,&rdquo; she said to the child.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped about madly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just too &rsquo;licious!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn&rsquo;t <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don&rsquo;t you love Him very, very much, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We can have a bazaar here,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Big-wigs?&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;what are they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand, mother,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn&rsquo;t it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I&rsquo;d like very much to send it to my ownest father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s heart won&rsquo;t be dead,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?&rdquo; said nurse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can&rsquo;t think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;H&rsquo;m!&rdquo; said nurse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don&rsquo;t like it,&rdquo; said the child. &ldquo;But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don&rsquo;t quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and&mdash;and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the <i>big-wigs</i> are
+coming <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>to it. Isn&rsquo;t it a funny word! perhaps you don&rsquo;t know what
+big-wigs are, but I do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Nurse laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to lose the place,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear,&rdquo; replied
+the lawyer, &ldquo;I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say&mdash;well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can you really?&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the worst it could be taken off your hands,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects&rdquo;&mdash;he paused
+and looked thoughtful. &ldquo;I can lend you the money if you wish it,&rdquo; he
+said then abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The money to enable me to pay a deposit?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree,&rdquo; she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment&rsquo;s pause she
+spoke.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don&rsquo;t know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have plenty of funds to meet this loan,&rdquo; thought the lawyer. &ldquo;I am
+safe so far.&rdquo; Aloud he said, &ldquo;Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This clinches the matter,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life,&rdquo; she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o&rsquo;clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the most darling, lovely place,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When our ship comes in, it will be ours,&rdquo; said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.</p>
+
+<p>When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What rumors?&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. &ldquo;I know nothing whatever
+about business,&rdquo; she said, testily, &ldquo;I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course it has not. Ogilvie&rsquo;s report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not a word, not a word,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine,&rdquo; said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will find cigars in that box,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, do let her stay,&rdquo; earnestly pleaded the young man, &ldquo;she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, as you please, but don&rsquo;t spoil her,&rdquo; said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a lot of things to ask you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is extremely difficult for me to explain,&rdquo; said Rochester, &ldquo;but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s subscribed?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, whoever they may be. I don&rsquo;t know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s very nice,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;I seem to understand, and yet I
+don&rsquo;t understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don&rsquo;t
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will say it if the gold is there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And if it is not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then he will tell the truth.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; said Sibyl, proudly. &ldquo;My father couldn&rsquo;t tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn&rsquo;t it, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I should say quite impossible,&rdquo; replied Rochester firmly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are awfully nice, you know,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So they will,&rdquo; replied Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn&rsquo;t the new
+place got a lovely name&mdash;Silverbel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It sounds very pretty, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you will come to-morrow and see it, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you will bring Lady Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your mother will bring Lady Helen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all the same,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;Oh, I am so glad.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Darlingist Father</span>,&mdash;Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+rich. Here&rsquo;s the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+Sibyl. It&rsquo;s hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+It&rsquo;s most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+It&rsquo;s most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don&rsquo;t know
+how portant it is. It&rsquo;s cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+and I mustn&rsquo;t tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+Oh, it is portant.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">&ldquo;Your lovin</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Sibyl</span>.&rdquo;</span></p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll understand,&rdquo; thought Sibyl; &ldquo;he&rsquo;s wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he&rsquo;ll quite know what I mean by the &lsquo;heart of the
+rose,&rsquo;&rdquo; and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.</p>
+
+<p>The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until&mdash;but that
+refers to another part of the story.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<p>The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.</p>
+
+<p>It was now the heart of a glorious summer&mdash;such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother&rsquo;s side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here you both is!&rdquo; she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p><p>Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You do look nice,&rdquo; said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, &ldquo;and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who is Watson?&rdquo; asked Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in <i>dear</i> Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I &rsquo;spect they&rsquo;ll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don&rsquo;t know how fond I am of Watson; he&rsquo;s a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here&rsquo;s the carriage. Let&rsquo;s all get in.
+Aren&rsquo;t you both glad you&rsquo;re <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>coming, and coming together, both of you
+<i>together</i>, to visit Silverbel. It&rsquo;s a &rsquo;licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let&rsquo;s
+all get into the carriage.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+<i>enfant terrible</i>. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had meant to put it off until my husband returned,&rdquo; she remarked
+finally, &ldquo;but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris &amp; Liberty to furnish the
+place, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall,&rdquo; replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.</p>
+
+<p>They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There they go!&rdquo; cried the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There who go, Sibyl?&rdquo; asked Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The one who wants to marry the other,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren&rsquo;t you awfully
+incited?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a very silly, rude little girl,&rdquo; replied the mother. &ldquo;You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>don&rsquo;t take even the slightest notice when they return.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Aren&rsquo;t I to speak to them?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, but you are not to say anything special.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; don&rsquo;t be such a little goose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I always notice,&rdquo; replied Sibyl, softly, &ldquo;that when <i>quite</i> strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can&rsquo;t I say
+anything more&mdash;more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they&rsquo;d like it. I thought they&rsquo;d like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Their love, mother, their love for&mdash;for each other.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Me, mother,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a most ridiculous little girl,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You has put it plain, mother,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I think I do. Now,
+let&rsquo;s look at the flowers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,&rdquo;
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s lovely!&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am devoted to the country,&rdquo; continued the mother; &ldquo;there is no
+place like the country for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I think, too,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I love the country. We&rsquo;ll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won&rsquo;t we, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now you are talking in your silly way again,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+&ldquo;You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, mother, why aren&rsquo;t they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father&rsquo;s mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It&rsquo;s very puzzling, and yet <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What rhyme?&rdquo; asked Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know it all, shall I say it to you?&rdquo; cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="centerbox bbox"><p>&ldquo;One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,<br />
+Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,<br />
+Six <i>he</i> loves, seven <i>she</i> loves, eight they both love,<br />
+Nine he comes, ten he tarries,<br />
+Eleven he woos, twelve he marries.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that &ldquo;twelve he marries,&rdquo; she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I knew <i>you&rsquo;d</i> have luck,&rdquo; she said. Then she caught her mother&rsquo;s
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon,&rdquo; said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.</p>
+
+<p>Rochester sprang to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can easily get a boat,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll go and consult with mine
+host.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment&rsquo;s
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that why our house is called Silverbel?&rdquo; asked Sibyl. &ldquo;Is it &rsquo;cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and &rsquo;cos it is <i>belle</i>,
+French for beautiful?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps so,&rdquo; answered the mother with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a pity we must go back to London,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I
+ever had such a lovely day before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;We shall soon be back here,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That will be lovely,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Oh, won&rsquo;t my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This came for you, madam, in your absence,&rdquo; he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope there is nothing wrong?&rdquo; asked Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing at all,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don&rsquo;t stare in that rude way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p><p>The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and <i>distrait</i>. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?&rdquo; whispered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sibyl; I am quite happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you are thinking very hard?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I often think.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do so want you to be awfully happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know you do, and I think I shall be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then that is right. <i>Twelve he marries</i>. Wasn&rsquo;t it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn&rsquo;t it luck?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; but hush, don&rsquo;t talk so loud.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl&rsquo;s hands, and stroked it fondly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?&rdquo; asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;she is quite naughty about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You ought to,&rdquo; said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; &ldquo;it would do him
+good. It&rsquo;s an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, &lsquo;A burnt child dreads the
+fire,&rsquo; or &lsquo;Marry in haste, repent at leisure,&rsquo; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">or&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that will do, Sibyl.&rdquo; Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It&rsquo;s like having more sugar. The &lsquo;home truth&rsquo;
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can&rsquo;t swallow it <i>without</i> the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: &lsquo;Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,&rsquo; and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren&rsquo;t
+there, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter,&rdquo; cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; &ldquo;you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>talk the most utter nonsense,&rdquo; and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.</p>
+
+<p>The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tiresome man!&rdquo; she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in <i>The Financial Enquirer</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have never heard of <i>The Financial Enquirer</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But City men know it,&rdquo; replied Mr. Acland, &ldquo;and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right,&rdquo; replied
+Acland. &ldquo;There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is very disturbing,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband&rsquo;s report
+likely to reach England?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months&rsquo; time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie&rsquo;s report.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you stay and have some supper?&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+&ldquo;I have said already that I do not understand these things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of &pound;2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No other place will suit me except Silverbel,&rdquo; she answered.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I strongly recommend you not to buy it now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then pray don&rsquo;t let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought it only fair to tell you,&rdquo; he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<p>It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child&rsquo;s sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl&rsquo;s father came back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For Jim,&rdquo; continued Lady Helen, &ldquo;will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, it is full of gold, quite full,&rdquo; thought the child; &ldquo;but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She began to count the days now to her father&rsquo;s return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child&rsquo;s
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river&rsquo;s edge.</p>
+
+<p>The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We have had no cable yet from your husband,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, pray don&rsquo;t croak,&rdquo; was Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a bird of ill-omen,&rdquo; she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.</p>
+
+<p>He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When people are perfectly happy and know <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?&rdquo; she continued. &ldquo;I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my own impression,&rdquo; said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; &ldquo;but don&rsquo;t
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! Philip will be back before then,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. &ldquo;Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?&rdquo; she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you,&rdquo; she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. &ldquo;I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, some time, but not at present,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>&ldquo;I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn&rsquo;t Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Charming,&rdquo; replied Grayleigh. &ldquo;Is your mother in, little woman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know, I will tell you presently.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,&rdquo;
+she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because you have got a pretty new place?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no, nothing of that sort. It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he&rsquo;ll
+come. I&rsquo;m always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn&rsquo;t it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 307px;">
+<img src="images/illus3.jpg" class="jpg smallgap" width="307" height="500" alt="&ldquo;Shall I find mother for you?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.&mdash;Page 208. Daddy&rsquo;s Girl." title="" />
+<span class="caption">&ldquo;Shall I find mother for you?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.&mdash;Page <a href="#Page_208">208</a>. <i>Daddy&rsquo;s Girl.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall I find mother for you?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You&rsquo;re a big-wig,
+aren&rsquo;t you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>were people in a <i>good social position</i>. I remember the words so well
+&rsquo;cos I couldn&rsquo;t understand &rsquo;em, but when I asked Miss Winstead to
+&rsquo;splain, she said mother meant ladies and gentlemen, and when I asked
+her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen was, she said people who
+behaved nicely. Now isn&rsquo;t it all very puzzling, &rsquo;cos the person who I
+think behaves nicest of all is our footman, Watson. He has lovely
+manners and splendid impulses; and perhaps the next nicest is dear
+Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop in a back street. But when I
+asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman were big-wigs, she said I
+spoked awful nonsense. What do you think, Lord Grayleigh? Please do
+try to &rsquo;splain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl&rsquo;s long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A big-wig is quite an ugly word,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You haven&rsquo;t &rsquo;splained a bit,&rdquo; said the little girl. &ldquo;Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will answer that question after I have seen your mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t look quite happy,&rdquo; she thought; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>sorry he is coming
+to take up mother&rsquo;s time. Mother promised, and it&rsquo;s most &rsquo;portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It&rsquo;s on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+&rsquo;portant. Oh, I do hope she won&rsquo;t forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can&rsquo;t. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I&rsquo;d go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert&rsquo;nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I&rsquo;ll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can&rsquo;t come, she must.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t hear by the last mail?&rdquo; was Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s query.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is probably up country,&rdquo; was Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s answer. &ldquo;I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not heard,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, quite charming,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase,&rdquo; continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit,&rdquo; continued
+the lady, &ldquo;but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won&rsquo;t he?&rdquo; Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge,&rdquo; he replied,
+oracularly. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. &ldquo;By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;at what date is the bazaar to be held?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p><p>She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall stay in town to-night,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.</p>
+
+<p>She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott&rsquo;s old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener&rsquo;s boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan&rsquo;s cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan&rsquo;s cottage. They were to start about six
+o&rsquo;clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.</p>
+
+<p>The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Missy,&rdquo; said old Scott as he dug his spade <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>deep down into the
+soil; &ldquo;don&rsquo;t stand just there, Missy, you&rsquo;ll get the earth all over
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How is Dan?&rdquo; she asked, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A-wrastling with his pain,&rdquo; answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?&rdquo; asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is he expecting you, Missy?&rdquo; answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. &ldquo;Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit &rsquo;em or not? You said you&rsquo;d go, Missy, and Dan he&rsquo;s
+counting the minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I&rsquo;ll go,&rdquo; replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+<i>distrait</i>. Then she added, &ldquo;I will go if I possibly can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.&rsquo; Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why, Missy? What&rsquo;s up? I don&rsquo;t like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Scott, I&rsquo;m awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can&rsquo;t
+go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You promised you&rsquo;d go,&rdquo; he said then slowly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn&rsquo;t take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could not,&rdquo; answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child&rsquo;s opinion, almost venomous vigor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Besides,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;it wouldn&rsquo;t be the same. It&rsquo;s you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I&rsquo;d keep my word to
+the poor. It&rsquo;s a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there&rsquo;s God&rsquo;s curse on them as do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lord Jesus wouldn&rsquo;t curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him,&rdquo; she thought; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>but, all the same, the old man&rsquo;s words
+seemed to chill her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do my very best,&rdquo; she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He&rsquo;s
+a-counting of the minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could take the apples,&rdquo; he said to himself; &ldquo;I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don&rsquo;t see why the quality shouldn&rsquo;t keep their word,
+and I&rsquo;m due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She&rsquo;s a rare fine little &rsquo;un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she&rsquo;ll take him the apples.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<p>She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl&rsquo;s own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is your head any better?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p><p>Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t matter about my tea,&rdquo; she said to herself. &ldquo;Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it&rsquo;s all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother&rsquo;s horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s awful to neglect the poor,&rdquo; she said to herself. &ldquo;Old Scott was
+very solemn. He&rsquo;s a good man, is Scott, he&rsquo;s a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it&rsquo;s
+wonderful what he finds in them&mdash;the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said &lsquo;Read your Psalms and you&rsquo;ll know. Don&rsquo;t the Psalms
+for the day say &ldquo;the Lord of glory thundereth&rdquo;?&rsquo; and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It&rsquo;s wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn&rsquo;t say a thing if it wasn&rsquo;t true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn&rsquo;t like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan <i>will</i> be waiting and watching.
+A little girl <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I&rsquo;ll get the apples ready.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This will tempt dear little Dan,&rdquo; she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ben! Ben! Ben!&rdquo; called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!&rdquo; she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could ride him alone,&rdquo; thought Sibyl; &ldquo;it is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long&mdash;that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I&rsquo;ll go. It&rsquo;s too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Just then a voice at the stable door said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo! I say!&rdquo; and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Johnson,&rdquo; she said eagerly, &ldquo;I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, Miss?&rdquo; asked Johnson.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I guess I can,&rdquo; answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Want to ride?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Who&rsquo;s a-goin&rsquo; with yer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No one, I am going alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I say,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;them&rsquo;s good, I like apples.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl&rsquo;s intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony&rsquo;s back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t matter about putting on my habit,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can&rsquo;t I, Johnson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you like, Miss,&rdquo; answered Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think I will, really, Johnson,&rdquo; said Sibyl in that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, is that it?&rdquo; answered Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, that&rsquo;s it; they don&rsquo;t understand. No one understands in the
+house how &rsquo;portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson scratched his head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I guess not!&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I don&rsquo;t take them, he&rsquo;ll fret and fret,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;and he&rsquo;ll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn&rsquo;t it so, Johnson? You understand, don&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A bit, perhaps, Missy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am very much obliged to you,&rdquo; said the little girl. &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s
+two apples, real beauties, and here&rsquo;s my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad I did it,&rdquo; she thought; &ldquo;it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I&rsquo;ll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he&rsquo;ll
+understand. I&rsquo;ll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She&rsquo;ll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she&rsquo;ll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she&rsquo;ll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she&rsquo;ll say afterward, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.&rsquo; I am doing right,
+aren&rsquo;t I, Lord Jesus?&rdquo; and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.</p>
+
+<p>The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o&rsquo;clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Are you in, Mrs. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ah! it&rsquo;s you, Missy, at last,&rdquo; she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. &ldquo;Has you brought the
+apples?&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;You are very late, Missy. Oh, I&rsquo;m obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can send it to-morrow, please,&rdquo; answered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you ain&rsquo;t a-coming in? The lad&rsquo;s expecting you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn&rsquo;t able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I&rsquo;ll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won&rsquo;t make him an out-and-out
+promise, &rsquo;cos if you make a promise to the poor and don&rsquo;t keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don&rsquo;t quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;">
+<img src="images/illus4.jpg" class="smallgap jpg" width="314" height="500" alt="An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.&mdash;Page 224.
+Daddy&rsquo;s Girl." title="" />
+<span class="caption">An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.&mdash;Page <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.
+<i>Daddy&rsquo;s Girl.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t I,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Scott. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a pity you can&rsquo;t come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain&rsquo;t no time to be
+a-visiting of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>you. That&rsquo;s him calling out, Missy; you wait a minute, and I&rsquo;ll find
+out what he wants.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quiet, darling; quiet, pet,&rdquo; said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Mrs. Scott came back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Dan&rsquo;s obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He &rsquo;opes you&rsquo;ll
+come another day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish, I do wish I could come in now,&rdquo; said Sibyl wistfully; &ldquo;but I
+just daren&rsquo;t. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Scott, &ldquo;but you ain&rsquo;t no call to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I&rsquo;d like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There are all sorts,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Scott. &ldquo;Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter&rsquo;ble until he died. It&rsquo;s my
+belief he haunts the churchyard <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter&rsquo;ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I really must be going now,&rdquo; said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+&ldquo;Good-by; tell Dan I&rsquo;ll try hard to come and see him to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She turned the pony&rsquo;s head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a gloomy sort,&rdquo; thought the child, &ldquo;she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don&rsquo;t take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don&rsquo;t like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to &rsquo;splain what a curse was. I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m a very queer
+girl, and I didn&rsquo;t really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn&rsquo;t go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I&rsquo;ll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won&rsquo;t be about. I shouldn&rsquo;t like to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we&rsquo;ll soon be back home
+again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl lightly touched the pony&rsquo;s ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet,&rdquo; said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession. She
+would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless Micah
+Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the next
+instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children&rsquo;s shouts were the final straw.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not quite so fast, darling,&rdquo; cried Sibyl; &ldquo;a little slower, pet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo! Stop, for goodness&rsquo; sake; don&rsquo;t turn the corner. Stop! Stop!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<p>On a certain morning in the middle of July the <i>Gaika</i> with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.</p>
+
+<p>A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Ogilvie,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot quite tell,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie. &ldquo;It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look too well,&rdquo; said his friend. &ldquo;Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not expect letters,&rdquo; was Ogilvie&rsquo;s answer; &ldquo;there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And yet I am doing it for her,&rdquo; he muttered to himself. &ldquo;I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me&mdash;that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my name,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie; &ldquo;and yours?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am Messrs. Spielmann&rsquo;s agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pretty well,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie; &ldquo;but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As you please,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;Will you wait here? I will return
+soon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is quite to my desire,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right,&rdquo; answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. &ldquo;I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the <i>Townville</i> to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant&rsquo;s Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And how long will all this take?&rdquo; asked Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what is your personal opinion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, one shaft.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Any result?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is what your opinion is needed to decide,&rdquo; said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did they send him out?&rdquo; he muttered. &ldquo;Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall make my own pile out of this,&rdquo; he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.</p>
+
+<p>The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.</p>
+
+<p>Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here we are,&rdquo; said Rycroft, &ldquo;here lies the gold.&rdquo; He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. &ldquo;Here is our overseer&rsquo;s hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don&rsquo;t mind
+sharing it with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not in the least,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie. &ldquo;We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Time enough for repentance in another world,&rdquo; he muttered under his
+breath. &ldquo;All I have to do <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward,&rdquo; he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+&ldquo;the downhill slope is never difficult.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman&rsquo;s camp was about a hundred yards distant.</p>
+
+<p>As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But the child&mdash;the child!&rdquo; he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.</p>
+
+<p>When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight&rsquo;s work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nevertheless, I believe he will,&rdquo; was Rycroft&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>final comment; &ldquo;men
+of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he&rsquo;ll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn&rsquo;t break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.</p>
+
+<p>After a little over a fortnight&rsquo;s hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo; said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. &ldquo;For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that&rdquo;&mdash;he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;After that?&rdquo; said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,&rdquo;
+said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see no help for it,&rdquo; replied Rycroft. &ldquo;We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall take the report back with me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Better not,&rdquo; answered his companion, &ldquo;best trust Her Majesty&rsquo;s mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it.&rdquo; As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us pack our traps,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, rising.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The sooner we get out of this the better.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward&mdash;the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months,&rdquo; thought the man;
+&ldquo;the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The report was a plausible and highly colored one.</p>
+
+<p>It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.</p>
+
+<p>They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall take the next mail home,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sign first,&rdquo; replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning,&rdquo; continued Ogilvie. &ldquo;The <i>Sahara</i>
+sails to-morrow at noon?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe so; but sign, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall take a berth on board at once,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, old chap, but sign first.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is wrong,&rdquo; asked Rycroft; &ldquo;are you ill?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I suffer from this sort of thing now and then,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. &ldquo;Brandy, please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You look ghastly,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;drink.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now sign,&rdquo; said Rycroft again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is the pen?&rdquo; asked Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>He was all too anxious now to take the fatal <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie&rsquo;s.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now our work is done,&rdquo; cried Rycroft, &ldquo;and Her Majesty&rsquo;s mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This will set matters right,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Her Majesty&rsquo;s mail would be best,&rdquo; answered Rycroft. &ldquo;You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way.&rdquo; As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.</p>
+
+<p>Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, &ldquo;Come
+in,&rdquo; and a messenger entered with a cablegram.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;From Grayleigh, of course,&rdquo; said Rycroft, &ldquo;how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside,&rdquo; he continued to the messenger.</p>
+
+<p>The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>&ldquo;Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+at once.&rdquo;</i></p></div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie&rsquo;s fall,&rdquo;
+thought Rycroft. &ldquo;Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Without an instant&rsquo;s hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;here is money&mdash;you can keep the change.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p><p>The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Looks like death,&rdquo; muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie&rsquo;s collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Still living,&rdquo; he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What has happened?&rdquo; he said, looking round him in a dazed way. &ldquo;Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, old fellow, don&rsquo;t speak for a moment.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must get back at once; the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">child&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, you shall go in the <i>Sahara</i> to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But the document,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, &ldquo;it&mdash;isn&rsquo;t needed; I want it back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t trouble about it now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie staggered to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t understand. I did it because&mdash;because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Too late,&rdquo; said Rycroft, then. &ldquo;That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<p>There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am quite cosy there,&rdquo; she said to herself, &ldquo;for father&rsquo;s perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p><p>There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl&rsquo;s chamber by this title.</p>
+
+<p>From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment&rsquo;s
+delay.</p>
+
+<p>But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child&rsquo;s eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father&rsquo;s hand and
+the look in his face,&rdquo; she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; she said on one of these occasions, &ldquo;I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father&rsquo;s heart every night, that&rsquo;s why I don&rsquo;t disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.</p>
+
+<p>But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother&rsquo;s heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl&rsquo;s comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor&rsquo;s orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.</p>
+
+<p>There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the <i>Sahara</i>, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her,&rdquo; the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.</p>
+
+<p>But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl&rsquo;s state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Doctors are so often mistaken,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother&rsquo;s heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient&rsquo;s face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.</p>
+
+<p>Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl&rsquo;s weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t have the curse of the poor, I did my best,&rdquo; said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, you did your best, dearie,&rdquo; he replied. His <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss,&rdquo; he said
+then, &ldquo;the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I like old Scott, he&rsquo;s a very religious man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That he is, darling,&rdquo; replied nurse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seems to me I&rsquo;m getting religious too,&rdquo; continued Sibyl. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos
+of Lord Jesus, I &rsquo;spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl&rsquo;s recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others,&rdquo; thought Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be doing such a good work,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. &ldquo;I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter&rsquo;s room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Mummy,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, &ldquo;Come and kiss
+me, Mummy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My little white rose,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you must get some color back into
+your cheeks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, color don&rsquo;t matter,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just as happy without
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Mummy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you like lying here in your pretty window?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, mother darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are not weary of lying so still?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is funny,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don&rsquo;t want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a splendid idea, Sib!&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;you shall dress some
+dolls for mother&rsquo;s bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you going to have it after all?&rdquo; cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. &ldquo;Are the big-wigs coming?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy&mdash;Lord Grayleigh and the rest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I like Lord Grayleigh,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear little girl,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment&rsquo;s pause she said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything&mdash;it will
+be fun.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think so?&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead shortly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast&mdash;I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The bazaar!&rdquo; echoed Miss Winstead. &ldquo;Surely you don&rsquo;t mean to have it
+here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not, if I were you,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead slowly. &ldquo;You know
+what the doctors have said.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe a single word of what they say,&rdquo; she retorted with
+some passion. &ldquo;The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You forget,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead slowly, &ldquo;the <i>Sahara</i> is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for&mdash;for what he has to see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don&rsquo;t
+understand what you mean <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don&rsquo;t croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon&mdash;there is a great deal to see about.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie&rsquo;s cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie&rsquo;s cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: &ldquo;From the tone of
+Ogilvie&rsquo;s cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,&rdquo;
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, &ldquo;to be rich and also honest at the same
+time.&rdquo; He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.</p>
+
+<p>On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">My Dear Lord Grayleigh</span>,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I <i>had</i> forgotten it,&rdquo; muttered Grayleigh to himself. &ldquo;That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p><p>He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;I was obliged to postpone the original date,&rdquo; continued his
+correspondent, &ldquo;but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+we see you at Silverbel the better.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">&ldquo;With kind regards, I remain,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">&ldquo;Yours sincerely,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 19em;">&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Mildred Ogilvie</span>.</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;P.S.&mdash;By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+I never did approve of the child&rsquo;s riding, particularly in
+her father&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+you her love if she knew I was writing.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s letter and re-read
+the postscript.</p>
+
+<p>After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round,&rdquo; was
+Grayleigh&rsquo;s direction.</p>
+
+<p>He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where are you going, father?&rdquo; called out Freda. &ldquo;You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think so, Freda. By the way, have you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has she?&rdquo; replied Freda. &ldquo;I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So do I!&rdquo; said Gus, coming up, &ldquo;she&rsquo;s the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl&mdash;quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don&rsquo;t return
+by the last train to-night, I&rsquo;ll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him&mdash;both her hands extended.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How good of you, how more than good of you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can I see her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you,&rdquo; she said, in a playful
+voice.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Rest assured that I will come.&rdquo; He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to see you like this,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;What has happened to you,
+my little girl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, nothing much,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, &ldquo;I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Beautiful,&rdquo; replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child&rsquo;s grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will come back again, presently,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nursie is dressing them,&rdquo; replied Sibyl in a weak voice&mdash;the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. &ldquo;It somehow
+tires me to work. I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m not very strong, but I&rsquo;ll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;ll come back soon; you mustn&rsquo;t tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must return to town by the next train,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lord Grayleigh has come,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; said both ladies.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don&rsquo;t think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl&rsquo;s room.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad you have come,&rdquo; said the little girl; &ldquo;there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had a cablegram from him not long ago.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I understand,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you thinking about?&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear child,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;what do you know about it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I know all about it,&rdquo; answered Sybil. &ldquo;I am deeply interested,
+deeply.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father&rsquo;s message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Up to the tip top?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don&rsquo;t let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you greatly mind if I <i>don&rsquo;t</i> talk about it?&rdquo; she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. &ldquo;It makes me <span style="white-space: nowrap;">feel&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don&rsquo;t like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We won&rsquo;t talk of it,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;what shall I do to amuse
+you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am delighted,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn&rsquo;t
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don&rsquo;t know all He has done for me!
+Don&rsquo;t you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child&rsquo;s eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; she continued, after a pause, &ldquo;dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. and Mrs. Holman,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;who are they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I&rsquo;ll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You&rsquo;ll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You&rsquo;ll be quite sure to remember
+her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite sure, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hadn&rsquo;t you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;In my pocket.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you wish me to say?&rdquo; he inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Put it this way,&rdquo; said Sibyl eagerly, &ldquo;then you won&rsquo;t forget. Some of
+the gold in <span style="white-space: nowrap;">the&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lombard Deeps Mine,&rdquo; supplied Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl, &ldquo;to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put <i>dear</i> Mr. and Mrs. Holman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is nice,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;that will make them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and &rsquo;cos the children won&rsquo;t
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don&rsquo;t like
+some children a bit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad you&rsquo;re pleased about the Holmans, little woman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I am, and aren&rsquo;t you. Don&rsquo;t you like to make people happy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you any other notes for this book?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I have. There&rsquo;s the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I&rsquo;m under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry <i>so</i>
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there&rsquo;s gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book &lsquo;Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,&rsquo; will you, Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have entered it,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And mother, of course,&rdquo; continued Sibyl, &ldquo;wants lots of money, and
+there&rsquo;s my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I&rsquo;d like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you? How funny; he is our footman. I&rsquo;m awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don&rsquo;t you think it&rsquo;s very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you won&rsquo;t forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won&rsquo;t forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I&rsquo;ll be certain to remember every single one of them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then that&rsquo;s all right, and you&rsquo;ll come to darling mother&rsquo;s bazaar?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+<p>A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like the child&rsquo;s look,&rdquo; he wrote; &ldquo;I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you cannot come to the bazaar,&rdquo; she wrote to Lady Helen, &ldquo;it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p><p>Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl&rsquo;s room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You&rsquo;ll come and see me very, very often, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Oh, you are sweet,&rdquo; answered the child, &ldquo;and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother&rsquo;s splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn&rsquo;t it dear of
+her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am interested in the bazaar,&rdquo; said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s noble action.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is so inciting all about it,&rdquo; continued the little girl, &ldquo;and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn&rsquo;t mother pretty, isn&rsquo;t she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel&mdash;but then she is an angel, isn&rsquo;t she, Lady
+Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. &ldquo;You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stories?&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I will tell you stories.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you; I do love &rsquo;em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not seen him lately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll be married to him soon, I know you will.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s odd how weak my voice has grown,&rdquo; said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+&ldquo;Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn&rsquo;t. Nursie did &rsquo;em. There&rsquo;s one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can&rsquo;t put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should like to,&rdquo; replied Lady Helen; &ldquo;I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There&rsquo;s plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It rests me to have you in the room,&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is that, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She calls it the Chamber of Peace&mdash;isn&rsquo;t it sweet of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room,&rdquo; answered Lady
+Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do wish Mr. Rochester was here,&rdquo; was Sibyl&rsquo;s next remark.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will come to the bazaar, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And then, perhaps, I&rsquo;ll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I&rsquo;d like to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I&rsquo;m
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think&mdash;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I&rsquo;m going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly&rsquo;s, but real ones, and if I have them I <span style="white-space: nowrap;">might&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don&rsquo;t know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father&rsquo;s heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won&rsquo;t it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn&rsquo;t know, darling mother
+doesn&rsquo;t guess, and I wouldn&rsquo;t tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I&rsquo;m going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, &lsquo;Poor
+lamb, she&rsquo;ll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.&rsquo;
+I shouldn&rsquo;t like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, darling, I don&rsquo;t think I should.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn&rsquo;t like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he&rsquo;ll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you must marry Mr. Rochester,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;for you both love
+each other so very much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is quite true,&rdquo; replied Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. &ldquo;The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold,&rdquo; she said, in an excited voice. &ldquo;I
+know&mdash;Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you&rsquo;ll think of me, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now&mdash;see! the
+angel doll is finished.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Oh, isn&rsquo;t it lovely?&rdquo; said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. &ldquo;Do take it down to mother. She&rsquo;s
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window&mdash;do go at once.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl sent you this,&rdquo; said Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, lay it down anywhere, please,&rdquo; she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you must take <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>an interest in it.&rdquo;
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+attention.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must take a great interest in this doll,&rdquo; she continued. &ldquo;Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, what is it now,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way.&rdquo; She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen&rsquo;s agitated
+face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl,&rdquo; continued Lady Helen, &ldquo;and I
+am very&mdash;more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for&mdash;I
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">think&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You think what? Oh, please don&rsquo;t begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But have you had the very best advice for her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But what is Sir Henry Powell&rsquo;s opinion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t ask me. I don&rsquo;t believe in doctors. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think,&rdquo; replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never knew anyone so gloomy,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, at least take the doll&mdash;the child is looking at you,&rdquo; said Lady
+Helen. &ldquo;Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.</p>
+
+<p>It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the <i>Sahara</i> kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl&rsquo;s accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child&rsquo;s room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl&rsquo;s
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p><p>If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best,&rdquo; she said to
+herself. &ldquo;It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them,&rdquo; she remembered. &ldquo;I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p><p>But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening,&rdquo; she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.</p>
+
+<p>According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother&rsquo;s great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.</p>
+
+<p>It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know the place, I presume?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go as fast as you can,&rdquo; he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A rum visitor,&rdquo; he thought; &ldquo;wonder what he&rsquo;s coming for. Don&rsquo;t look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter&mdash;but did his little daughter still live? Was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.</p>
+
+<p>When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sir,&rdquo; replied the driver, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s all right. There ain&rsquo;t but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then Sibyl must have got well again,&rdquo; thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.</p>
+
+<p>The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature&rsquo;s own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Phil!&rdquo; she cried, with a little start. She <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, Phil!&rdquo; she said again. &ldquo;Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn&rsquo;t you send me a telegram?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, much the same&mdash;I mean she is going on quite, <i>quite</i> nicely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what is this?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is all this?&rdquo; he repeated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn&rsquo;t it?
+Oh, by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to know more of Sibyl.&rdquo; Here the husband caught the wife&rsquo;s
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. &ldquo;No matter about other
+things at present,&rdquo; he said sternly. &ldquo;How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I really don&rsquo;t think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;<i>Where</i> is the child?&rdquo; he repeated again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But is she injured? Can she walk?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually&mdash;at least, I think so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie&rsquo;s attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will see the child in a minute,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;nothing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, <i>what do the doctors
+say</i>?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s pretty, dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good God, that man!&rdquo; said Ogilvie, starting back. &ldquo;Then she must have
+been badly hurt?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She was badly hurt.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They&mdash;they&mdash;of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Speak!&rdquo; was his only response.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They said at the time&mdash;of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Speak!&rdquo; This one expression came from Ogilvie&rsquo;s lips almost with a
+hiss.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, they said at the time that&mdash;oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case <span style="white-space: nowrap;">was&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hopeless?&rdquo; asked the man between his white lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They certainly <i>said</i> it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You knew it, and you could have that going on?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Go back to
+your bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+<i>that</i>? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am a martyr in a good cause,&rdquo; she said to herself; &ldquo;but it is
+bitterly hard when one&rsquo;s husband does not understand one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+<p>This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father&rsquo;s arms at
+night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear his
+voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.</p>
+
+<p>Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.</p>
+
+<p>For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor&rsquo;s verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>The look on the child&rsquo;s
+face was answer enough to her father.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.</p>
+
+<p>The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This cuts him to the heart,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!&rdquo; said the wife. &ldquo;My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack&mdash;nervous fever, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to <i>think</i> that it had any part in Ogilvie&rsquo;s curious
+unwillingness to see him.</p>
+
+<p>At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.</p>
+
+<p>But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength of
+his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.</p>
+
+<p>But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.</p>
+
+<p>But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl&rsquo;s room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!&rdquo; said little Sibyl.
+&ldquo;Come and kiss me, darling mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t tire her,&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>seemed to say: &ldquo;And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child.&rdquo; But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife&rsquo;s eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, &ldquo;will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall soon be back, my little love,&rdquo; he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Isn&rsquo;t it wonderful,&rdquo; she said, turning to her governess, &ldquo;how perfect
+they both are! I don&rsquo;t know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can&rsquo;t help it, but I like father&rsquo;s way best.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should think you did,&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>&ldquo;Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead,&rdquo; answered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then what shall I read?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps so; I don&rsquo;t quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it&rsquo;s most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It&rsquo;s about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem <i>is</i> so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won&rsquo;t ask you to read about it, &rsquo;cos I like father&rsquo;s way of reading
+best; but it&rsquo;s all most wonderful and beautiful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.</p>
+
+<p>The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, Mildred,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I wish to understand&mdash;God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you&mdash;but I must clearly understand
+what this means.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What it means?&rdquo; she repeated. &ldquo;Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it&rsquo;s very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">may&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush!&rdquo; said the man.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I refuse to allow Sibyl&rsquo;s name to enter into this matter,&rdquo; he said.
+&ldquo;You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don&rsquo;t care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of <i>this</i>?&rdquo; As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Silverbel!&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, we have bought Silverbel,&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then, of
+course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and I
+am so happy about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Rich!&rdquo; he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mildred,&rdquo; he said slowly, &ldquo;do you realize&mdash;do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nonsense,&rdquo; she answered, starting back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The child is dying,&rdquo; repeated Ogilvie, &ldquo;and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man&rsquo;s happiness, <i>goes out</i>.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance <span style="white-space: nowrap;">means&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo; she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Restitution,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;all the restitution that lies in my
+power.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&mdash;you terrify me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred&mdash;oh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>yes, you knew it
+well enough&mdash;that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you <i>knew</i>&mdash;yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it&mdash;that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Worthless!&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;impossible!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Worthless,&rdquo; he repeated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, but,&rdquo; she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, &ldquo;if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Do I understand?&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune&mdash;it would be easy, for there is enough gold in
+the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman&rsquo;s tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and <i>lose our souls</i>.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won&rsquo;t. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What you say can&rsquo;t be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p><p>He came up to her and took both her hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it worth evil?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is anything under the sun worth evil?&rdquo; She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father&rsquo;s.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don&rsquo;t tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t hurry, father darling,&rdquo; replied Sibyl &ldquo;&rsquo;cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One moment, Phil,&rdquo; she called, &ldquo;where are you going?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To town.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To do what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;To do what I said,&rdquo; he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.</p>
+
+<p>He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began to
+weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What fearful creatures men with consciences are,&rdquo; moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I beg your pardon, sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What can I do for you?&rdquo; said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;We know you,&rdquo; continued the old woman, &ldquo;by the likeness to your
+little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I inquire your names?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Holman, sir,&rdquo; said the woman. &ldquo;This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie&rsquo;s illness, and we couldn&rsquo;t rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly &rsquo;opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn&rsquo;t mind if we asked.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;By no means,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie. &ldquo;Any friends of Sibyl&rsquo;s, any real
+friends, are of interest to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He paused and looked into the old woman&rsquo;s face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s better, ain&rsquo;t she, dear lamb?&rdquo; asked Mrs. Holman.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Holman caught her husband&rsquo;s hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do it mean, John?&rdquo; she asked, &ldquo;what do it mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We had best go to the house and find out,&rdquo; was Holman&rsquo;s response.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, we had best,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Holman; &ldquo;but, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come to the house and let&rsquo;s find out,&rdquo; said Holman again.</p>
+
+<p>He took his old wife&rsquo;s hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead!&rdquo; cried little Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, dear?&rdquo; asked the governess.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl&rsquo;s voice now
+arrested her attention.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who have come, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear,&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my good people,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s voice, raised high and
+clear, &ldquo;you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper&rsquo;s entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. &ldquo;Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Dear me!&rdquo; cried Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>does not get back her health&mdash;the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if the little lady wishes?&rdquo; began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl certainly does wish to see you,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. &ldquo;I think, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly,&rdquo; continued Miss Winstead, &ldquo;and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, we&rsquo;ll speak cheerfully,&rdquo; said Holman; &ldquo;we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, &ldquo;My opinion is never
+taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child&rsquo;s father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>you will have
+to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The day is improving,&rdquo; she thought. She glanced up at the sky. &ldquo;It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must be prepared for a very great change,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead,
+&ldquo;but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p><p>Miss Winstead&rsquo;s own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl&rsquo;s
+soft white hands. &ldquo;Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How do you do, Mrs. Holman?&rdquo; said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; &ldquo;and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won&rsquo;t you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won&rsquo;t you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Eh! but you look sweet,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own&mdash;a child who died when young&mdash;and she had sat by that dying
+child&rsquo;s bed and never once given expression to her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is nice to look at you, dearie,&rdquo; she repeated, &ldquo;and what a pretty
+room you have, my love.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Everything is beautiful,&rdquo; said little Sibyl, &ldquo;everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Whisper,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, darling, but we won&rsquo;t talk of money now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Only,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;when the gold comes from the mine <i>you&rsquo;ll</i> be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman&rsquo;s in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You&rsquo;ll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys.&rdquo; She paused
+here and her little face turned white.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must not talk any more, dearie,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am getting well,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You know,&rdquo; she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, &ldquo;that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won&rsquo;t forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will never forget you, dearie,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Holman,&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I might,&rdquo; said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, &ldquo;if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie&rsquo;s hand afore I go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, indeed, you may,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I&rsquo;m thinking,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Queer woman, the mother,&rdquo; said Holman. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll get back to town, wife;
+I&rsquo;m wonderful upset.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and was
+admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.</p>
+
+<p>He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh&rsquo;s club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the Lombard
+Deeps.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.</p>
+
+<p>Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend&rsquo;s face, he
+started and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear fellow, you don&rsquo;t look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a good deal to try me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of her accident?&rdquo; exclaimed Acland; &ldquo;yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago&mdash;she had a fall from her pony?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;She had.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take a chair, won&rsquo;t you, Ogilvie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are mistaken,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie; &ldquo;but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; said Acland.</p>
+
+<p>A clerk entered the room. &ldquo;Leave us,&rdquo; said Acland to the man, &ldquo;and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie,&rdquo; he
+added as the clerk withdrew, &ldquo;I am quite at your service.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, the place where your wife is now staying.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Exactly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don&rsquo;t blame me, Ogilvie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t blame you&mdash;I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not really!&rdquo; cried Mr. Acland. &ldquo;The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No!&rdquo; cried Mr. Acland; &ldquo;but the report of the Lombard <span style="white-space: nowrap;">Deeps&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife&mdash;nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can do so, of course,&rdquo; replied Acland. &ldquo;I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this,&rdquo; he said, as he
+stood up. &ldquo;You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know another man only too anxious to purchase,&rdquo; said Acland; &ldquo;but I
+am deeply sorry for you&mdash;your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, quite a failure. I won&rsquo;t detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went from the lawyer&rsquo;s house straight to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am the master,&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;let me in, please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man stood aside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has a telegram come for me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir, five minutes ago.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;Meeting of directors at one o&rsquo;clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+wish. <span class="smcap">GRAYLEIGH</span>.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall sleep here to-night,&rdquo; Ogilvie said, &ldquo;and shall be back in the
+course of the evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland,&rdquo; he
+said, &ldquo;and I then placed, with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A large sum, Ogilvie&mdash;ten thousand pounds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, ten thousand pounds,&rdquo; repeated Ogilvie. &ldquo;I want to withdraw the
+money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought it only fair to give you a few hours&rsquo; notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o&rsquo;clock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you wish to take it in a cheque?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think not, I should prefer notes.&rdquo; Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.</p>
+
+<p>At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.</p>
+
+<p>He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>angry with him. My God is
+angry&mdash;the pains of hell take hold of me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>On the following day, shortly before one o&rsquo;clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.</p>
+
+<p>Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gentlemen,&rdquo; he began, &ldquo;although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh proceeded: &ldquo;This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned to
+England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This report,&rdquo; he said in conclusion, &ldquo;is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers&rsquo; reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s clear voice was lost.</p>
+
+<p>When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t open it now,&rdquo; he said in a low voice, &ldquo;it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p><p>He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie&rsquo;s attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo;
+said a director from the far end of the table. &ldquo;I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?&rdquo; said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p><p>Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have come here to-day,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;to speak for a moment&rdquo;&mdash;his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on&mdash;&ldquo;to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of <span style="white-space: nowrap;">that&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; said Grayleigh&rsquo;s voice behind him. &ldquo;You must be mad.
+Remember yourself.&rdquo; He laid his hand on Ogilvie&rsquo;s arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,&rdquo;
+he continued. &ldquo;This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+<i>false as hell</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;False?&rdquo; echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. &ldquo;Impossible!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is false,&rdquo; continued Ogilvie. &ldquo;I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span>work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.</p>
+
+<p>This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no excuse to offer,&rdquo; continued Ogilvie, &ldquo;and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is the meaning of it all?&rdquo; said one, going <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>up to Grayleigh;
+&ldquo;you are chairman, and you ought to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This must be a brief madness,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One moment first,&rdquo; said Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you want?&rdquo; asked Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;An explanation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I gave it upstairs.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are mad&mdash;you are mad.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;On the contrary, I believe that I am sane&mdash;sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What packet was that you gave me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your money back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The ten thousand pounds?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child&rsquo;s accident?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh&rsquo;s detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.</p>
+
+<p>As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment&rsquo;s conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He fell, and I caused him to fall,&rdquo; thought Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p><p>Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I saw Ogilvie just now,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At least the widows and orphans won&rsquo;t be ruined,&rdquo; said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. &ldquo;Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must do so advisedly,&rdquo; was Grayleigh&rsquo;s remark; &ldquo;remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the ears
+of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what of Ogilvie himself?&rdquo; said an angry-looking man. &ldquo;Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie&rsquo;s story
+too prominently into the light of day.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It may reflect on ourselves,&rdquo; said one or two. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>&ldquo;It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I were you, gentlemen,&rdquo; he said, moodily, &ldquo;I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip!&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o&rsquo;clock that afternoon, &ldquo;I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How strangely tired and worn you look,&rdquo; she replied; &ldquo;what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He gave a hollow laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience,&rdquo; he continued; &ldquo;that is something to live for.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you done anything rash, Philip?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It cannot be,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don&rsquo;t keep me
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl&rsquo;s door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The bitterness of death lies before me,&rdquo; he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for God
+demanded something more of the man&mdash;he must <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>open the eyes of the
+child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.</p>
+
+<p>Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Leave us for a little, nurse,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>She went away at once.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl&rsquo;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have been a long time away, father,&rdquo; said the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Business, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dearest, important business.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look well,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have had a hard time,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To me, father? The hardest task of your life?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something bad?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something very bad.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame, as
+though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am very sorry,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me hold your hand,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; said the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Still I do not understand,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, we were happy!&rdquo; said the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish you would try and &rsquo;splain, all the same,&rdquo; said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only &rsquo;cos of you yourself,&rdquo; she murmured.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes.&rdquo; She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. &ldquo;I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her voice grew quite animated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Any special people, dearest?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So many,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;I told Lord Grayleigh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>and he put their
+names in his note-book. There&rsquo;s Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They came, father. I love &rsquo;em so much; and there&rsquo;s Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It&rsquo;s a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, &rsquo;cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it&rsquo;s all right.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you sent a cablegram.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you said it was there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You said it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did worse,&rdquo; said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. &ldquo;I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did you do it, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because I was a scoundrel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A bad man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;no, you was always my most <span style="white-space: nowrap;">perfect&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you are sorry?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have repented,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;my God, I have repented,&rdquo; and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child&rsquo;s sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is so holy, so heavenly herself,&rdquo; he murmured; &ldquo;is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so you was never perfect?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And was mother never perfect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl&rsquo;s face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother&rsquo;s words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And Lord Jesus, isn&rsquo;t He perfect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie started when he heard her words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Aye, He is perfect,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p><p>She smiled very faintly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did He come into the world?&rdquo; was her next question.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know that old story? Has no one told you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you tell me now, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sinners,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl, &ldquo;&rsquo;cos He loved &rsquo;em?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect not,&rdquo; she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then He loves <i>you</i>,&rdquo; she said, after a moment. &ldquo;He came from heaven
+&rsquo;cos of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father!&rdquo; There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span>amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Kneel down, father,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>He knelt.</p>
+
+<p>Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am loving you so much,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;same as Jesus loves you, I
+think.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is all right,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?&rdquo; he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seems to me I love you more&rsquo;n ever&rdquo; was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.</p>
+
+<p>But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Why,&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me.&rdquo; She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus,&rdquo; she whispered. &ldquo;Oh, take me.&rdquo; She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.</p>
+
+<p>The next instant all was cold and lonely.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+<p>There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him&mdash;her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze&mdash;her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span>all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.</p>
+
+<p>He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.</p>
+
+<p>He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.</p>
+
+<p>She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.</p>
+
+<p>For Sibyl&rsquo;s sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child&rsquo;s education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span>to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.</p>
+
+<p>As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance&mdash;one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl&rsquo;s name after
+her death.</p>
+
+<p>But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span></p><p>These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.</p>
+
+<h3>[THE END.]</h3>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<div class="centerbox2 bbox"><h2>A. L. Burt&rsquo;s Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,<br />
+52-58 Duane Street, New York</h2>
+
+<p><b>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Alice&rsquo;s Adventures in Wonderland.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lewis Carroll.</span> 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York Express.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lewis
+Carroll</span>. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Express.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Little Lucy&rsquo;s Wonderful Globe.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge.</span> 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Spectator.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Joan&rsquo;s Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran.</span>
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. A. Jones.</span>
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;An unusually good children&rsquo;s story.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Glasgow Herald.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Dove in the Eagle&rsquo;s Nest.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge.</span> 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Cleveland Times.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Jan of the Windmill.</b> A Story of the Plains. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. J. H. Ewing.</span> 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Academy.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of this popular author&rsquo;s best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Providence Journal.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Six to Sixteen</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of &lsquo;Six
+to Sixteen.&rsquo; The book is one which would enrich any girl&rsquo;s book
+shelf.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>St. James&rsquo; Gazette.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Palace Beautiful</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the &lsquo;Palace Beautiful&rsquo; for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York
+Recorder.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>A World of Girls</b>: The Story of a School. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl&rsquo;s book shelf.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Home Journal.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Lady of the Forest</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This story is written in the author&rsquo;s well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author&rsquo;s customary grace and
+spirit.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Times.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>At the Back of the North Wind.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald&rsquo;s earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Philadelphia Times.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Water Babies</b>: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By <span class="smcap">Charles Kingsley</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York Tribune.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Our Bessie.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Teachers&rsquo;
+Aid.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Wild Kitty.</b> A Story of Middleton School. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Kitty is a true heroine&mdash;warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The
+Academy.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>A Young Mutineer.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of Mrs. Meade&rsquo;s charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Spectator.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Sue and I.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. O&rsquo;Reilly</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;Athen&aelig;um</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>The Princess and the Goblin.</b> A Fairy Story. By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Pythia&rsquo;s Pupils:</b> A Story of a School. By <span class="smcap">Eva Hartner</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Teachers&rsquo; Aid</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>A Story of a Short Life.</b> By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only bright
+and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Courier</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>The Sleepy King.</b> A Fairy Tale. By <span class="smcap">Aubrey Hopwood and Seymour Hicks</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Two Little Waifs.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Molesworth&rsquo;s delightful story of &lsquo;Two Little Waifs&rsquo; will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York
+Tribune</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Adventures in Toyland.</b> By <span class="smcap">Edith King Hall</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Courier</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Adventures in Wallypug land.</b> By G. E. <span class="smcap">Farrow</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Toronto Mail</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Fussbudget&rsquo;s Folks.</b> A Story for Young Girls. By <span class="smcap">Anna F. Burnham</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Congregationalist</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Mixed Pickles.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. E. M. Field</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Good Literature.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Miss Mouse and Her Boys.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Molesworth&rsquo;s books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Beacon.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Gilly Flower.</b> A Story for Girls. By the author of &ldquo;Miss Toosey&rsquo;s
+Mission.&rdquo; 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Literary World.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Chaplet of Pearls</b>; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By <span class="smcap">Charlotte
+M. Yonge</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Guardian.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Naughty Miss Bunny</b>: Her Tricks and Troubles. By <span class="smcap">Clara Mulholland</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Land and Water.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Meg&rsquo;s Friend.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of Miss Corkran&rsquo;s charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Spectator.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Averil.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature&mdash;piquant, tender, and true&mdash;and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>World.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Aunt Diana.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Little Sunshine&rsquo;s Holiday</b>: A Picture from Life. By <span class="smcap">Miss Mulock</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Gazette.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Esther&rsquo;s Charge.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Ellen Everett Green</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl&rsquo;s
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York
+Tribune.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Fairy Land of Science.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arabella B. Buckley</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Daily News.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Merle&rsquo;s Crusade.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author&rsquo;s stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Journal.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Birdie:</b> A Tale of Child Life. By <span class="smcap">H. L. Childe-Pemberton</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York Express.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Days of Bruce:</b> A Story from Scottish History. By <span class="smcap">Grace Aguilar</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar&rsquo;s stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Beacon.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Three Bright Girls:</b> A Story of Chance and Mischance. By <span class="smcap">Annie E.
+Armstrong</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Standard.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Giannetta:</b> A Girl&rsquo;s Story of Herself. By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine&mdash;warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Academy.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Margery Merton&rsquo;s Girlhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Under False Colors:</b> A Story from Two Girls&rsquo; Lives. By <span class="smcap">Sarah Doudney</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories&mdash;pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Christian Leader.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Down the Snow Stairs</b>; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By <span class="smcap">Alice
+Corkran</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps&mdash;a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim&rsquo;s
+Progress.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Christian Leader.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Tapestry Room</b>: A Child&rsquo;s Romance. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Athen&aelig;um, London.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Little Miss Peggy:</b> Only a Nursery Story. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">Mrs. Molesworth&rsquo;s children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.</p>
+
+<p><b>Polly</b>: A New Fashioned Girl. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.</p>
+
+<p><b>One of a Covey.</b> By the author of &ldquo;Miss Toosey&rsquo;s Mission.&rdquo; 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This &lsquo;Covey&rsquo; consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens&rsquo; pen.&rdquo;&mdash;<span class="smcap"><b>Literary
+World.</b></span></p>
+
+<p><b>The Little Princess of Tower Hill.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it&mdash;which is much
+better than crying for it&mdash;it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Advertiser.</b></p>
+
+<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, <b>A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</b></p></div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Transcriber&rsquo;s Notes:</span></h3>
+
+<p>1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter&rsquo;s
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author&rsquo;s words and intent.</p>
+
+<p>2. The original of this book did not have a Table of Contents; one has been
+added for the reader&#8217;s convenience.</p>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30333 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/30333-h/images/cover.jpg b/30333-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5a2a15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/30333-h/images/illus1.jpg b/30333-h/images/illus1.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6abd2ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h/images/illus1.jpg
diff --git a/30333-h/images/illus2.jpg b/30333-h/images/illus2.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16ca152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h/images/illus2.jpg
diff --git a/30333-h/images/illus3.jpg b/30333-h/images/illus3.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eff74d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h/images/illus3.jpg
diff --git a/30333-h/images/illus4.jpg b/30333-h/images/illus4.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31075a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333-h/images/illus4.jpg
diff --git a/30333.txt b/30333.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..594c68d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,10057 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Daddy's Girl
+
+Author: L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30333]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ DADDY'S GIRL
+
+ BY L. T. MEADE
+
+ Author of "A Very Naughty Girl," "Polly, A New Fashioned
+ Girl," "Palace Beautiful," "Sweet Girl Graduate,"
+ "World of Girls," etc., etc.
+
+ "Suffer the little children to come unto me."
+
+ A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
+ 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DADDY'S GIRL. _Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+DADDY'S GIRL.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.
+
+The occasion was an important one, and the Angel's rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.
+
+"Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?" thought the Angel to
+herself.
+
+A box of wild flowers, which had come up from the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow," she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.
+
+"What do you want, Sibyl? Don't disturb me now," said this individual.
+
+"It is only just for a moment," replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady's writing-pad.
+
+"Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?" she said.
+
+"Oh, don't worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he'll be so annoyed if he doesn't hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme."
+
+The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.
+
+"They'll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed," thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty," she repeated softly under her
+breath, "but father likes me anyhow." She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?
+
+"Do I look pretty?" she said at last, dancing back to the governess's
+side.
+
+Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.
+
+"Do I look pretty?" repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.
+
+"You are a very vain little girl," said Miss Winstead. "I won't tell
+you whether you look pretty or not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don't interrupt me any
+more."
+
+"There's the gong, I'm off," cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.
+
+"I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am," thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. "Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too."
+
+Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath--
+
+"It's not wrong, 'cos it's mother. Mother couldn't do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could"; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother's voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.
+
+"It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus," Sibyl would say, "and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don't think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It's for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don't like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?"
+
+Jesus never made any audible response to the child's query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.
+
+As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother's kisses being softest and her mother's eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.
+
+Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.
+
+Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.
+
+"The child should go to the mother for love and petting," she would
+say. "Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her."
+
+It was Sibyl's father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.
+
+"You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,"
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.
+
+"Oh, yes, father," answered the Angel, "but, you see, I wasn't born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn't it? You're perfect
+and I am not. I can't help the way I was born, can I, father?"
+
+"No; no one is perfect, darling," replied the father.
+
+"You are," answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+"You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I'll
+try to please you, father, so don't knit up your forehead."
+
+Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father's brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.
+
+"Same as if you was an old man," she said: "but you're perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you," and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.
+
+On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.
+
+"I should not like the child to know about it," was his reflection;
+"but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.
+
+"Here I come," she cried, "here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me." She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl's waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.
+
+"What a fairy-like little girl this is!" he cried.
+
+"You are Spring come to cheer us up."
+
+"I am glad," whispered Sibyl; "but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother."
+
+Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.
+
+"Father says I am Spring, look at me," she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.
+
+"Something is fretting my ownest mother," she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother's soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father's side.
+
+Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.
+
+It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother's objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.
+
+"I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now," she said on this occasion. "She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father."
+
+"You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl," said her mother
+from the other end of the table.
+
+"Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear," said the father. "What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?"
+
+"Spelling, as usual," said Sibyl briefly, "but more special 'cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty."
+
+"Hush!" said the mother again.
+
+Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.
+
+"My dear," he said, addressing his wife, "do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the person----"
+
+"I beg of you, Philip," interrupted the mother, "not to speak of the
+child's teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks."
+
+"It's 'cos they're both so perfect," thought Sibyl, "but it's hard on
+me not to be able to 'splain things. If I can't, what is to be done?"
+
+She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.
+
+The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.
+
+"Is it nice?" she inquired.
+
+"Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?"
+
+"No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you're a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog."
+
+"My dear Sibyl," cried the mother, "I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!"
+
+"Let us turn the subject," said the father.
+
+Sibyl turned it with a will.
+
+"I 'spect I ought to 'fess to you," she said. "I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I'm not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?"
+
+"You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?" was the answer.
+
+"I don't think I'd much care," said Sibyl, with a smile. "You'd know
+what I meant, wouldn't you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same," she added, "I'll spell right if you wish it--I mean,
+I'll try."
+
+"That's a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?"
+
+"When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be best for her to do
+so in private?" said the mother again.
+
+"But this is private," said Mr. Ogilvie, "only her father and mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.
+
+"I washed my doll's clothes, although nurse told me not," continued
+Sibyl, "and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I _would_ open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn't to blame--Watson wasn't."
+
+The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.
+
+"Father," whispered Sibyl, "do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, and----"
+
+"Hush! hush!" said Mr. Ogilvie, "go on with your confessions."
+
+"They're rather sad, aren't they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn't do one right thing to-day 'cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don't mind a bit being naughty. I wouldn't be a
+flabby good girl for all the world."
+
+"Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?" said her father.
+
+Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good--perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:
+
+"I'll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus."
+
+"That is right," said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.
+
+The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.
+
+"Good-night, little Spring," said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.
+
+She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered--
+
+"Is it 'cos I'm a wicked girl you're sad?"
+
+"No," he answered, "you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world."
+
+"Oh, no, father," answered Sibyl, "that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn't like to be too good, 'cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.
+
+"You spoil that child," said the wife, "but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don't pretend to be a good mother, but I don't talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things."
+
+"I wish you would leave the child alone," said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; "she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going."
+
+"I would much rather you did not."
+
+"I am sorry." Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. "I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way."
+
+"It is impossible for me to accompany you."
+
+"I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child."
+
+"Sibyl! No, I do not wish it."
+
+"I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday."
+
+Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.
+
+"You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present," he said. "You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline."
+
+"I am going," said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.
+
+"Is that your last word?" he inquired.
+
+"It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me."
+
+"Nor you to please me, Mildred," he was about to say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, "There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable."
+
+"And what is that?" she asked.
+
+"The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us--Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?"
+
+"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," was Mrs. Ogilvie's
+flippant remark. "But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive."
+
+"Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart."
+
+"And it sickened me," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don't wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful _debut_ in
+Society, all in due course."
+
+"With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage," added the husband,
+bitterly.
+
+"I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl," was his
+wife's answer, "and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.
+
+Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.
+
+The postman's ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.
+
+Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.
+
+"It is the child," he thought. "She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this"--he touched the letter with
+his hand--"I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred's extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet--I
+don't care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl's and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me."
+
+He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl's nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.
+
+Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child's bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.
+
+"Good-night, little darling," said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.
+
+"Oh, father, is that you?" she cried in a voice of rapture.
+
+"Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night."
+
+"You are good, you never forget," said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. "I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?"
+
+"Not for worlds," it was the man's first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. "Of course, dear," he said.
+
+Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father's neck.
+
+"Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day," she began, "and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, 'cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.
+
+"Now, father, you're pleased," continued the little girl. "It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don't want to be better,
+but I'll try hard if it pleases you."
+
+"Yes, Sibyl, try hard," said her father, "try very hard to be good.
+Don't let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you." Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.
+
+"He's fretted; it's just 'cos the world is so wicked, and 'cos I'm not
+as good as I ought to be," thought the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.
+
+Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR GRAYLEIGH,--
+
+     "Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+     before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+     am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+     have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+     assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+     been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+     more suited for your purpose.
+
+               "Yours sincerely,
+                    "PHILIP OGILVIE."
+
+It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.
+
+His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.
+
+"What," he cried, "up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed."
+
+He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.
+
+"I am so glad you have come back, Phil," she said. "I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company."
+
+Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment's pause he said in a sullen
+tone--
+
+"Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up."
+
+"What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren't you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?"
+
+"Come into my smoking-room," he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.
+
+"This will make a great difference in our position," she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.
+
+"What do you mean by our position?" he said.
+
+"You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last."
+
+"And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?"
+
+"It is impossible; impossible to manage," she said, petulantly.
+
+"It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles"--he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. "Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it--that
+is, in moderation."
+
+"Ah! I knew you had accepted," she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. "Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public."
+
+"You know, perhaps, what all this means?" said Ogilvie, after a pause.
+
+"Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?"
+
+"Don't dare to mention the child's name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine."
+
+"Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me," she answered. "I declare I
+am getting sleepy." Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.
+
+"It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh's offer----"
+
+"If! But you have done so, of course you have."
+
+"If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets."
+
+"As usual, you taunt me," she said, "but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?"
+
+"The letter has come."
+
+"You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?"
+
+"I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine."
+
+"Philip!" His wife's voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.
+
+"You cannot be speaking the truth," she said.
+
+"My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed."
+
+She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.
+
+"I hate you," she said; "go your own way in the future," and she left
+him standing silent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.
+
+"I am much more like a boy than a girl," she thought, "and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I'll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn't care so very much whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can't be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother."
+
+So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.
+
+Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.
+
+"Don't forget me while you are away, little woman," he said, "and look
+after mother, won't you?"
+
+"She won't need me to look after her, she's quite, quite perfect,"
+said Sibyl; "but I'm going to watch her, and try to copy her."
+
+"Child, don't do that," said the man.
+
+"Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?"
+
+"Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven."
+
+"Well, my home is right down here on earth," said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. "I'll have a real jolly time away, I 'spect."
+
+"I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father's sake, and
+don't forget to pray for me."
+
+"I will, I will," said the child; "I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good."
+
+"Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman."
+
+That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.
+
+Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl's secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.
+
+She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl's things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.
+
+"You are to go to tea in the schoolroom," she said. "There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock."
+
+It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.
+
+"It's a beautiful dress," she said; "you are wearing money now."
+
+"Money," said Sibyl, "what do you mean?"
+
+"This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don't spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire."
+
+"I don't understand," said Sibyl; "I wish it wasn't a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?"
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show."
+
+"If you speak again in that tone of my mother I'll slap you," said
+Sibyl.
+
+"Highty-tighty!" said the nurse; "your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in."
+
+"And so do you," answered Sibyl. "If mother is good you are not, and
+I'm not, so we both must be broke in; but I've got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?"
+
+"That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say."
+
+"Then we _has_ something in common," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+"I'm a handful, too. I'm off to the schoolroom."
+
+"There never was such a child," thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; "she's not shy, and she's as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she's a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master's
+child, but her mother's! Dear me, I'm often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect."
+
+Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room--Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh's children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.
+
+"Oh, you're the little girl," said Mabel, who was twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.
+
+"Yes, I _are_ the little girl," said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.
+
+"Where is my place?" she said. "Is it laid for me? I am the visitor."
+
+Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.
+
+"Sit down," he said; "you had better sit there, near Mabel; she's
+pouring out tea. She's the boss, you know."
+
+"What's a boss?" said Sibyl.
+
+"You must be a silly not to know what a boss is."
+
+"I aren't no more silly than you are," said Sibyl. "May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I'll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can't answer me. What's a--what's a--oh, I'll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don't talk to me too much
+while I'm eating, or I'll spill jam on my money frock."
+
+"You are a very queer little girl," said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.
+
+"What a silly you are," said Gus. "What did you put on that thing
+for? We don't want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, and----"
+
+"Climb trees! Oh," cried Sibyl, "are you that sort? Then I'm your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I'm a hoyden--do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to 'em quick, for I'm your
+girl."
+
+Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.
+
+"You are very queer," she said. "I don't know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes--we are quite ladylike and good, but we don't wear
+grand frocks either. Can't you take that thing off?"
+
+"I wish I could. I hate it myself."
+
+"Well, ask your servant to change it."
+
+"But my nurse hasn't brought a single shabby frock with me."
+
+"Are all your frocks as grand as that?"
+
+"Some of 'em grander."
+
+"We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks," said Freda.
+
+"Oh, do!" said Sibyl; "that will be lovely."
+
+"We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, so you may as well
+put it on," continued Freda.
+
+Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. "It's a great comfort coming
+down to this place," she said finally, "'cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It's mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers."
+
+"But isn't Philip Ogilvie your father?" said Gus.
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie," corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.
+
+"Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He's not perfect."
+
+Sibyl's face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:
+
+"Father didn't know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man's name was Halkett. I'm always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say 'Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he's not too scrupulous.' Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means--oh, you needn't stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head--it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, as your father isn't scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn't hesitate to act wrong."
+
+Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.
+
+"What have you done that for, you little beggar?" he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.
+
+"To teach you not to tell lies," answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. "But I won't shed them," thought the
+child, "not for worlds."
+
+Sibyl's action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl's side
+and touched her on her arm.
+
+"Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you," she said; "we didn't
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won't you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?"
+
+"And I'll never say a word against your father again," said Gus.
+
+"You had better not," answered Sibyl. "No, I won't shake hands; I
+won't make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I'd like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl's white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.
+
+"You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock," said Freda in
+conclusion. "Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting."
+
+Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus's cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.
+
+"What a noise those children make," said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.
+
+"How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.
+
+"I have three," he replied; "they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died"--he sighed
+as he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years'
+standing--"I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child's beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.
+
+"I see four little figures dancing about among those trees," said
+Lord Grayleigh. "We will see them all together."
+
+They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.
+
+Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother's side.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," she cried, "I'm so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It's lovely to sit up there."
+
+Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.
+
+"What do you mean, Sibyl," she said, "by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you."
+
+Sibyl turned first red and then white.
+
+"Is that Lord Grayleigh?" she whispered.
+
+"Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you."
+
+"I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I--may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. "Do let her speak," he said; "she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in _deshabille_. What is
+it, little woman?"
+
+"It's that I don't want to shake hands with you--never, _never_!"
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.
+
+"I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,"
+she said. "What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?" Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. "I fear it is her father's doing," she continued, "he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock."
+
+"I don't think your nurse is to blame," said Lord Grayleigh. "I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps' frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me."
+
+"Oh, you can never account for Sibyl's whims," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "it
+is all her father's fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you."
+
+"I should be very proud of that child if I were you," answered Lord
+Grayleigh. "She has a particularly frank, fine face."
+
+"Oh, she is handsome enough," answered Mrs. Ogilvie. "But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect--could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to."
+
+"Don't scold her, poor little thing," said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. "For my part," he continued, "I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?"
+
+"I do know it," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. "Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind."
+
+"He is a strange fellow," answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; "but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of course----"
+
+"Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?"
+
+"I don't know that I can explain. Money is not everything--at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband's scruples"--Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive--"even your
+husband's scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances--we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.
+
+When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.
+
+"Money _is_ everything," she thought, "whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses."
+
+She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.
+
+With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.
+
+Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?
+
+"May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?" There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie's
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone--
+
+"Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you."
+
+Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.
+
+Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.
+
+"Now you'll kiss me," she said; "now you're pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I'm beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me."
+
+"Get up, Sib, and don't be absurd," said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.
+
+"Really," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don't mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired."
+
+"But Mummy--Mumsy!"
+
+"Don't call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don't like
+abbreviations."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.
+
+"Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name."
+
+"Sacred name!" said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. "Oh yes, I won't call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely."
+
+"Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing."
+
+"Oh, mother darling, I didn't mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums--I mean, mother--I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.
+
+"Come here," she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl's lips. "Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively."
+
+"Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?"
+
+"Look at me. Are you attending?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?"
+
+"Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem."
+
+"That sounds very nice," thought Sibyl to herself. "Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I'll listen."
+
+"I wish," continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, "I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl."
+
+"Poses!" cried Sibyl; "what's poses?"
+
+"Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?"
+
+"Oh, mother! it meant----" Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother's speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.
+
+"Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go."
+
+"But, mother! one minute first, please--please."
+
+"Go, Sibyl, obey me."
+
+"It was 'cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against my----"
+
+"Go, Sibyl, I won't listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant."
+
+"I am going," said the child, "but I cannot be----"
+
+"Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go."
+
+Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.
+
+"I don't understand," she said to herself. "Perhaps I wasn't quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don't know. I think
+I'll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn't--of course it's all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me 'splain things. I wish I hadn't a pain
+here." Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.
+
+"It's 'cos of father I feel so bad, it's 'cos they told lies of
+father." She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.
+
+"And mother would not even let me 'splain," thought the child.
+
+"Hullo!" cried a gay voice; "hullo! and what's the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?" And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.
+
+"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "aren't we fine! I say! you'll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join."
+
+"I can't, Gus," replied Sibyl.
+
+"Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I don't feel like playing games."
+
+"You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?"
+
+"No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I'll come by-and-by."
+
+"Somebody wasn't square with her," thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+"Queer little girl! But I like her all the same."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Sibyl's conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.
+
+At last the children's hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl's shoulder.
+
+"I am pleased with you," she said; "you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now."
+
+"Will you come and see me, Mumsy--mother, I mean--before you go to
+bed?"
+
+"Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly."
+
+Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.
+
+"That is such an absurd custom," she said; "I must break her of it."
+
+"Break your little girl of what?" he asked. "She is a beautiful
+child," he added. "I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter."
+
+"I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman," replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, "and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date."
+
+"I don't know," answered Mr. Rochester; "if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it." As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl's
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.
+
+Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.
+
+"Won't you come to the schoolroom now?" asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.
+
+"No; mother said I was to go to bed," answered Sibyl.
+
+"How proper and good you have turned," cried Mabel.
+
+"Good-night," said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse's cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.
+
+"What is it, pet?" nurse said. "Is anything the matter?"
+
+"No," answered Sibyl. "Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?"
+
+"Sakes alive!" cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, "to be sure, my darling," she answered. "I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I'll fetch it for you, dearie."
+
+"Thank you," replied Sibyl.
+
+Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl's hands.
+
+"Now, my little darling," said nurse, "you look quite white. You'll
+just read a verse or two, and then you'll go off to your bed."
+
+"I want to find a special verse," said Sibyl. "When I have read it I
+will go to bed." She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.
+
+"What's fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?"
+
+"I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night."
+
+"What is it, dear?"
+
+"'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, love," answered nurse promptly, "that's in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear."
+
+"But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?" asked the
+puzzled old woman; "there's some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There's a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.'
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put."
+
+"There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible," said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. "Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it's not that I'm
+thinking of, it's the one you found about 'God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.' It seems to 'splain things."
+
+"What things, dear?"
+
+"Why, about mother. Nursie, isn't my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?"
+
+"Oh, my goodness me, no!" exclaimed the woman under her breath. "I
+wouldn't remark it, my dear," she said aloud.
+
+"That's 'cos you know so very little. You can't never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, and I'm not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now."
+
+Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.
+
+"Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother," said Sibyl, "and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy."
+
+Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.
+
+On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"I failed to understand your letter," he said, "and have come to you
+for an explanation."
+
+Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.
+
+"I thought my meaning plain enough," he replied, "but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?"
+
+"For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton."
+
+"But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?" queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.
+
+"I see," cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang
+to his feet. "I have regarded you as my friend for some time,
+Grayleigh, and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with--you know what it means--a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn't it?"
+
+"Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world--our world I mean--consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill--a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation."
+
+"Your emendation of that old proverb may be _fin de siecle_, but it
+does not suit my notions," muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.
+
+Grayleigh looked keenly at him.
+
+"You will be sorry for this," he said; "it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that."
+
+"And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; but----"
+
+"What is the matter with you?" said Lord Grayleigh; "you never were so
+scrupulous."
+
+"I don't know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you a----"
+
+"We need not enter into that," said Grayleigh, rising; "you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the _pros_ and _cons_. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand."
+
+"And it is that which at once tempts and repels me," said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, "How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?"
+
+"Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners."
+
+"Sibyl is peculiar," said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl's wore at intervals.
+
+"She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie."
+
+"Not at all," answered Ogilvie; "I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely."
+
+"Well, to turn to the present matter," said Lord Grayleigh; "you will
+reconsider your refusal?"
+
+"I would rather not."
+
+"But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so."
+
+"There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me," said
+Ogilvie; "it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve me from temptation. But suppose I were to--to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?"
+
+"They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely."
+
+Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.
+
+"I will assume," he said, "that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won't take a refusal now."
+
+Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.
+
+Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to "Philip Ogilvie, Esq.," in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter's name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.
+
+Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "DADDY DEAR,--Here's a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+     kiss. I will put sum more at the end of the letter. Pleas
+     kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+     hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+     home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+     more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+     said she wasn't purfect but she is, isn't she father? I miss
+     you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+     me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+     never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+     for having gived you to me father. Your SIBYL."
+
+     "Father, what does 'scroopolus' mean? I want to know
+     speshul.--SIB."
+
+The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well--he had seen them coming for a long time--the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler's bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.
+
+"I am unworthy of my little Angel," he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. "And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame," he cried; "she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl's
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!"
+
+He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.
+
+"Shall I risk it?" he said to himself. "Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems _bona fide_ enough. It it is _bona fide_, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other," and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh's offer.
+
+Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.
+
+"I am sorry to seem to force your hand," that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, "but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday."
+
+A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and--turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.
+
+As these thoughts flashed before his mind he forgot that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.
+
+"Bring me brandy, and be quick," said Ogilvie.
+
+The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.
+
+After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife's extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother's death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate--not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl's needs and her mother's fancied necessities, Ogilvie's
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.
+
+"I must do something better than that for my little daughter," thought
+the man. "I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl's sake."
+
+But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.
+
+He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.
+
+"When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest," thought the man. "I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought."
+
+He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.
+
+As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.
+
+Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.
+
+He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor's consulting room.
+
+Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.
+
+"My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?"
+
+"Something of the kind," said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty--he was all right.
+
+Rashleigh asked him a few questions.
+
+"I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly," said Ogilvie, "and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home."
+
+"How large a sum do you propose to insure for?" asked the doctor.
+
+"I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart."
+
+Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor's hands.
+
+Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.
+
+"Well?" said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. "It's all right, I
+suppose."
+
+"It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination," was Rashleigh's
+answer. "You'll hear all in good time."
+
+"But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know."
+
+"When do you propose to go to Australia?"
+
+"I may not go at all. In fact if----" Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. "If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go."
+
+"But suppose it is not all right?"
+
+"Then I sail on Saturday."
+
+"I may as well tell you the truth," said Rashleigh; "you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Heart," said Rashleigh.
+
+"Heart! Mine? Not affected?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Seriously?"
+
+"It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful."
+
+"Does this mean that I----" Ogilvie dropped into a chair. "Rashleigh,"
+he said suddenly, "I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable--a very measurable distance of the end."
+
+"Describe your sensations," said Rashleigh.
+
+Ogilvie did so.
+
+"Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively."
+
+"Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?"
+
+"I fear not."
+
+"Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening."
+
+"Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart."
+
+"But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot."
+
+"You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end."
+
+"Just what was said to my father, who did not live for years and
+years," answered the man. "I won't keep you any longer, Rashleigh."
+
+He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, "Doomed."
+
+He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.
+
+"You don't look well, Mr. Ogilvie."
+
+"Never mind about my looks, Harrison," replied Ogilvie. "I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention."
+
+"Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don't look well."
+
+"Looks are nothing," replied Ogilvie. "I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie's subservience to his chief's wishes, he should
+turn restive.
+
+"That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable," thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.
+
+He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.
+
+"Hullo!" said Lord Grayleigh; "come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself."
+
+Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, "I'm not going
+to account for myself to you," but she remembered her mother's
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.
+
+"If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can," she thought.
+
+So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.
+
+"We were chasing Sib," they said; "she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us."
+
+"And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all," was Grayleigh's
+response. "Sibyl has long legs for her age."
+
+Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.
+
+"I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?"
+
+This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl's soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.
+
+"Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog's," thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.
+
+"You and I will walk by ourselves for a little," he said. "Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments."
+
+Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl's point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be "not good," and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be "not good."
+
+Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.
+
+"We will sit here and talk, shall we?" he said.
+
+"Yes, shall us?" replied Sibyl.
+
+Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.
+
+"I 'spect I'm rather short for my age," she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.
+
+"Why, how old are you?" he asked.
+
+"Quite old," she replied gravely; "I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back."
+
+"You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head," he replied,
+looking at her gravely.
+
+She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.
+
+"You called me away from the other children 'cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn't you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?"
+
+"Of course he is."
+
+"Did he ask about me?"
+
+"Yes, he asked me how you were."
+
+"And what did you say?"
+
+"I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite."
+
+Sibyl's eyes began to dance.
+
+"What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?" asked Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Of you," answered Sibyl with promptitude.
+
+"Come, that's very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?"
+
+"May I?" said Sibyl with great eagerness. "Do you really, truly mean
+it?"
+
+"I certainly mean it."
+
+"You won't tell--mother?"
+
+"I won't tell--mother," said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.
+
+Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.
+
+"I am glad," she said with emphasis. "I don't want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It's
+most 'portant that I should speak to you, and if you will promise----"
+
+"I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it."
+
+"You won't like it," said Sibyl.
+
+"You must leave me to judge of that."
+
+"I am going to be fwightfully rude."
+
+"Indeed! that is highly diverting."
+
+"I don't know what diverting is, but it will hurt you."
+
+"I believe I can survive the pain."
+
+Sibyl looked full at him then.
+
+"Are you laughing at me?" she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.
+
+"I would not dream of doing so."
+
+The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh's eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl's father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.
+
+"Speak away, little girl," he said, "I promise not to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father."
+
+"Thank you for saying that, but it isn't true; for father's perfect,
+and I'm not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies."
+
+"Indeed!" said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. "Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords."
+
+"I don't understand what that means," said Sibyl.
+
+"For a duel; you have heard of a duel?"
+
+"Oh, in history, of course," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, "and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man."
+
+"Do you really want to run a sword through me?"
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.
+
+"Come," said Lord Grayleigh, "it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?"
+
+"About my father."
+
+"Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand."
+
+"I will try and 'splain. I didn't know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies."
+
+"Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know."
+
+"I want to."
+
+"Fire away then."
+
+"You told someone--I don't know the name--you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus."
+
+"Indeed," said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. "I told
+somebody--that is diverting."
+
+"It's not diverting," said Sibyl, "it's cruel, it's mean, it's wrong;
+it's lies--black lies. Now you know."
+
+"But whom did I tell?"
+
+"Somebody, and somebody told me--I'm not going to tell who told me."
+
+"Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?"
+
+"I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn't act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so."
+
+"Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl."
+
+"He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect."
+
+The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.
+
+"And mother is perfect, too," she said, turning and facing him.
+
+Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.
+
+"Oh, no," he said.
+
+"So you don't wonder that I hate you," continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. "It's 'cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you."
+
+"Listen now, little girl." Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.
+
+"Don't shrink away, don't turn from me," he said; "I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that little girls
+don't understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down _good_ fellow."
+
+"The best in all the world?" queried Sibyl.
+
+"I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father."
+
+"And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father's quite
+perfect?"
+
+"Men like myself don't care to own themselves in the wrong," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and the fact is--listen, you queer little mortal--I don't
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any."
+
+"You have met my father and my mother."
+
+"Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me."
+
+"Would he?" said the child. She looked wistful and interested. "There
+are lots of things I want to be 'splained to me," she said. Then,
+after a moment--"I'll think whether I'll be friends with you, and
+I'll let you know, may be to-morrow."
+
+As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.
+
+"Poor little maid!" he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl's words had affected
+him.
+
+"The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful," was his
+inward thought; "it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won't
+affect the public as Ogilvie's report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl's faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl."
+
+These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.
+
+"What am I," he said to himself, "to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?" And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"Come in and sit down," he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+"It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter."
+
+"Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly."
+
+"I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly."
+
+"I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don't wonder that I should ask you the question."
+
+"She has a very great respect for you," said Lord Grayleigh; "it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl's had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.
+
+Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.
+
+"Your little girl has the highest opinion of you," he repeated; "the
+very highest."
+
+"And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense," said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. "You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am"--she
+smiled--"charming."
+
+"You are that, undoubtedly," said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.
+
+"I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don't want to be. Sibyl's
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+utmost----"
+
+"You are doing what?" said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.
+
+"To open her eyes."
+
+"I would not if I were you," he said, gravely; "it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal."
+
+"What are you talking about now?"
+
+"I don't often read my Bible," he continued, "but, of course, I did as
+a boy--most boys do. My mother was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book."
+
+"You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before."
+
+"I must tell it to you. 'Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.'"
+
+"How unpleasant," said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, "and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?"
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+"What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?"
+
+"I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes."
+
+"Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?"
+
+"Precisely."
+
+"Has he promised?"
+
+"Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it."
+
+"What does assaying the mine mean?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.
+
+"To assay a mine means to find out accurately what it contains," said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie's conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone's gaze at that instant.
+
+"Nevertheless," he continued, after a pause, "your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse."
+
+"He will be a madman if he does," cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.
+
+"According to Sibyl's light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience."
+
+"Philip's conscience!" said the wife, with a sneer; "what next?"
+
+"It appears to me," said Lord Grayleigh, "that he has an active one."
+
+"It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug."
+
+"Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband's
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it more----"
+
+"I really will not stay here to be lectured," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered."
+
+"And I cannot answer it, for I do not know."
+
+"But you think he will?"
+
+"That is my impression."
+
+"You can, at least, tell me what occurred."
+
+"I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland."
+
+"To go where?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.
+
+"As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?"
+
+"I didn't know."
+
+"Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares."
+
+"What do you mean by being paid well?"
+
+"He will have his expenses, and something over."
+
+"Something over! that is a very elastic term."
+
+"In your husband's case it will mean thousands."
+
+"Oh, I see; and then the shares?"
+
+"The shares will practically make him a rich man."
+
+"Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line." She turned to leave the summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.
+
+"If I were you," he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, "if I were you, upon my honor, I'd leave him
+alone."
+
+"Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?"
+
+"Very well," said Lord Grayleigh; "I only ventured to make a
+suggestion."
+
+She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:
+
+"I never found you so disagreeable before." She then left the
+summer-house.
+
+Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.
+
+"May I speak to you?" he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.
+
+She ran to his side at once.
+
+"Don't you want to send your father a letter by this post?"
+
+"Yes, of course; is there time?"
+
+"I will make time; go into the house and write to him."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"He would like to hear from you."
+
+"Do you want me to say anything special?"
+
+"Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all." And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl's letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie's was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.
+
+The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.
+
+On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie's plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl's was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie's was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother's, then the child's. Sibyl's
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:--
+
+     MY DEAR OGILVIE,
+
+     Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+     only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+     unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+     yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+     day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+     with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+     to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+     longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+     hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann & Co.
+
+               Yours sincerely,
+                    GRAYLEIGH.
+
+Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.
+
+"I did not want to go there," he thought. "I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me--what he pays will be Sibyl's, the provision for her future. But I
+don't want to see the child--until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn't want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable."
+
+He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.
+
+"If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound," he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh's verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh's letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.
+
+He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.
+
+This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.
+
+"He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her."
+
+"But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!"
+
+"That is exactly as her father pleases," replied Lord Grayleigh. "I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.
+
+As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.
+
+"Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss," she thought; "but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him."
+
+She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.
+
+Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.
+
+"Well, Mildred, and how are you?" said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.
+
+"Quite well," she replied. "Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don't look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?"
+
+"I am all right," he answered shortly. "I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?"
+
+"I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you."
+
+"And"--Ogilvie glanced to right and left--"the child?"
+
+"She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?"
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage," continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband's arm.
+
+Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie's intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.
+
+"It is good of you," pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. "I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and--and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go."
+
+"Debts, you mean," said Ogilvie, bluntly. "I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will be----"
+
+"Oh, Phil!" Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned very white.
+
+"I will speak about them before I leave," he continued. "Now I must
+find Grayleigh."
+
+"Is it true that you are going on Saturday?"
+
+"Quite true."
+
+"Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order."
+
+"I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week."
+
+"If you really don't want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here."
+
+"I don't want you," he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.
+
+"Sibyl will be delighted to see you," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way."
+
+"That reminds me," said Ogilvie. "I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me."
+
+"Of what?"
+
+"I do not wish her to be told."
+
+"Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric."
+
+"I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia."
+
+"What, never?"
+
+"She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, you understand? I won't go at all if you tell her."
+
+"Oh, of course, I understand," said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+"but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?"
+
+"I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband's arm.
+
+"You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?"
+
+"You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy."
+
+"My bills! but I really----"
+
+"We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go."
+
+"Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?"
+
+"They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work."
+
+"Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!"
+
+The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.
+
+"There is Lord Grayleigh," he said. "I must go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid." He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.
+
+"There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?"
+
+"No," she began, then she hesitated.
+
+"What more?"
+
+"A trinket, it took my fancy--a diamond cross--you noticed it. I could
+not resist it."
+
+"How much?" said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.
+
+"Two thousand pounds."
+
+"Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don't keep me."
+
+He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.
+
+"This is good," said the nobleman. "I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see."
+
+"Shall we go into the house?" said Ogilvie; "I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday."
+
+"You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course."
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Now listen, Ogilvie," said Lord Grayleigh, as they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, "you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up."
+
+"Can I? I thought the die was cast."
+
+"The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I _could_ get Atherton to
+take your place even now."
+
+"Even now?" echoed Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I"--Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl's face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie's face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man's whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.
+
+"I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want," he said,
+with emphasis.
+
+Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.
+
+"The time for discussing the thing is over," he said. "I will
+go--and--do _as you wish_. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down."
+
+"What do you mean by the price down?"
+
+"I want money."
+
+"Of course, you shall have it."
+
+"I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create."
+
+"How much more?" Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order."
+
+"Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is--I will confide
+in you so far--my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her."
+
+"I know your child," said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; "she
+is out of the common."
+
+A spasm of pain crossed the father's face.
+
+"She is," he answered slowly. "I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)--if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter."
+
+"I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,"
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, "What you wish shall be done."
+
+The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh's private
+account.
+
+"This clinches matters," he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.
+
+"You will see Spielmann for all the rest," was Grayleigh's answer;
+"and now, if you must catch the train----"
+
+"Yes, I must; good-by."
+
+Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.
+
+"Have you seen your wife?" he asked. "Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?"
+
+"No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station."
+
+Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.
+
+"Daddy, daddy!" she cried.
+
+He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.
+
+"Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!"
+
+But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.
+
+"I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie," said Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.
+
+"But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come," said Sibyl.
+
+"I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together."
+
+"Oh, 'licious!" cried Sibyl, "more than 'licious; but what will mother
+say?"
+
+"Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick."
+
+In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie's arm was tight round Sibyl's waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.
+
+"There's something troubling him, he likes having me near him,"
+thought the child. "I wouldn't let him see that he's squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world."
+
+The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.
+
+"We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then," he thought. "I won't tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something." Then the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.
+
+"Wait for the child," he said to the servant, "and take her back
+carefully to the house."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the man, touching his hat.
+
+Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.
+
+"I have my ticket," he said, "we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes."
+
+"Three whole precious minutes," repeated Sibyl. "What is it, father?"
+
+"I am thinking of something," he said.
+
+"What?" asked the girl.
+
+"For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world."
+
+"Father! why, so we are," she cried. "Mother's not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"You don't look quite well, dear father."
+
+"I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don't come to little girls."
+
+"Of course they don't, father, but when I'm a woman I'll have them.
+I'll take them instead of you."
+
+"Now listen, my darling."
+
+"Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, _very_ solemn; I know you when you're in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don't you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?"
+
+"Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?"
+
+"Mayn't I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there's no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I'd like to go back with you, wouldn't it be fun! Couldn't you take
+me?"
+
+"I could, of course," said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.
+
+"No, Sib," he said, "you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone."
+
+"Of course not," she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.
+
+"It would have been nice all the same," said Ogilvie. "Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling."
+
+She flung her arms tightly round his neck.
+
+"Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again--of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that I----"
+
+"Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!"
+
+"That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?"
+
+"For you and Lord Jesus Christ," she answered softly.
+
+"Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here's my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by."
+
+"I'll see you again very, very soon, father?"
+
+"Very soon," answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.
+
+"Anybody come to meet you, Miss?"
+
+"No, thank you," she answered with dignity; "I was seeing my father
+off to town; there's my twap waiting outside."
+
+The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.
+
+Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh's feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father's face which puzzled her.
+
+"He ought to have me at home with him," she thought. "I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he's mostly not well. He's beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he's mostly not well when he does it. I
+'spect he's nearer Lord Jesus when he's not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don't want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him."
+
+Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.
+
+"My dear Sibyl, where _have_ you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute."
+
+The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother's angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.
+
+"I didn't do anything naughty, really, Mummy," she said. "Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He's off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap."
+
+"Don't say twap, sound your 'r'--trap."
+
+"Tw-rap," struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.
+
+"And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick."
+
+"Oh, 'licious," said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.
+
+"You must make me quite my prettiest self," she said to the nurse;
+"you must do your very best, 'cos mother----"
+
+"What about your mother now, missy?"
+
+"'Cos mother's just a little----Oh, nothing," said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.
+
+"She likes me best when I'm pretty," continued the child; "but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, I can't say I did."
+
+"He talked to me in a most pwivate way," continued Sibyl. "He told me
+most 'portant things, and I promised him, Nursie--I promised him that
+I'd----Oh, no! I won't tell you. Perhaps I won't be able to keep my
+promise, and then you'd----Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don't be
+'quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+'quisitiveness; but you aren't to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed."
+
+"What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?"
+
+"About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn't; it shows how little they know. It's 'cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don't understand perfect people. But
+there's the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie."
+
+Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.
+
+Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband's
+departure, although she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Presently," said Lady Helen, "when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you'll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take your----"
+
+But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.
+
+"What ship do you mean?" said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, "the ship that is
+going to take my--my what?"
+
+"Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?" interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.
+
+"But this ship was going out," said Sibyl. "Never mind, I 'spect it's
+a secret; there's lots of 'em floating round to-day. I've got some
+'portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don't blush no more."
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.
+
+"When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible," he said; "but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer."
+
+Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.
+
+Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester's eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen's fair face.
+
+He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband's letter.
+
+"Well," she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; "he is
+off, it is a _fait accompli_. Do you know, I am relieved."
+
+"Are you?" he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man's
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.
+
+"Really," she said with an impatient movement, "I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her."
+
+"But without succeeding," interrupted Jim Rochester. "I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now," he added, "and I never saw a
+nicer little girl."
+
+"Oh, that is what strangers always say," replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, "and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter."
+
+"I am glad you feel it," said Rochester.
+
+"Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day."
+
+"Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie," said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, "I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don't
+think I ever met a sweeter child."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.
+
+"There you go," she said. "Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers."
+
+As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.
+
+"The annoying part of this letter," she said, "is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don't think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent----Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don't you play with your companions?" For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.
+
+"I thought--I thought," she began; "I thought, mother, that I heard
+you----" her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.
+
+"It's not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a--a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?"
+
+"I said nothing of the sort," replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, "nothing of the sort; go and
+play."
+
+Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.
+
+"It's wicked for good people to tell lies, isn't it?" she said then,
+slowly.
+
+"Wicked," cried her mother; "it's shamefully wicked."
+
+"And you are good, mother, you don't ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course." She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.
+
+"I wish things would be 'splained to me," she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. "There are more and more
+things every day want 'splaining. I certainly did hear her say it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said 'in his
+absence.' Oh, what can it mean?"
+
+The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.
+
+"What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl," he said.
+"Is anything the matter?"
+
+Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.
+
+"I want to ask you a question," she said.
+
+"You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+called----"
+
+"Sibyl," said the child, beginning to laugh; "if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?"
+
+Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.
+
+"What would you like best in the world?"
+
+"Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week--we are going home this day week."
+
+"And what will you have when you go home?"
+
+"Father's kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me."
+
+"Well," said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father's kisses, "we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?"
+
+"I know," said Sibyl, laughing, "a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn't afford it. Oh, I do want a pony."
+
+"You shall have one," said Lord Grayleigh; "it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl."
+
+"Do you really think I am good?"
+
+"Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all."
+
+"Wouldn't father like to hear you. It's wonderful how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see--oh, but you shan't
+look." She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. "But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone."
+
+"Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like," said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.
+
+"It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail," said Sibyl; "and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother's side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I'd like a riding habit like mother's, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can't 'ford one for me, but you'll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won't you?"
+
+"I'll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit," said Lord
+Grayleigh. "I'll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?"
+
+[Illustration: "A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?"
+asked Sibyl.--Page 123. _Daddy's Girl._]
+
+"I don't mind what sort my darling pony is," answered the child. "I
+only want to have it. Oh, you are nice. I began by not liking you,
+but I like you awfully now. You are very nice, indeed."
+
+"And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably."
+
+"There are lots of nice people in the world," said Sibyl. "It's a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn't never tell a
+lie, could she?"
+
+"Oh, it's the feminine gender," said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.
+
+"It's a she," said Sibyl; "could she; could she?"
+
+"A perfect person could not, little girl."
+
+"Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you," said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.
+
+"It's all right," she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. "It's all right; I got a fright, but there wasn't a word of
+it true. Come, let's play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy."
+
+In a week's time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.
+
+"You don't know what father is," she said, looking full up into
+Rochester's eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.
+
+"I have had a good time here," she said, "very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there's no place for me like my own,
+own home. It's 'cos of father."
+
+"Yes," said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father's absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.
+
+"It is at night that my father is the most perfect of all," she said.
+"I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I'm
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else."
+
+"But your mother?" stammered Rochester. He was about to add, "She
+would go to your room, would she not?" when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.
+
+"Oh, you're thinking about my perfect mother, too," said Sibyl. "Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon--you have heard of
+him, haven't you?"
+
+Rochester nodded.
+
+"He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just 'splained about my mother.
+It's really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat'rally like father's way best.
+Mother's way is the goodest for me, p'waps. Don't you think mother's
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"Seems to me," said Sibyl, "I'm always looking for Lady Helen when I'm
+with you. Is it 'cos you're so desperate fond of her?"
+
+"Don't you like her yourself?" said the young man, reddening visibly.
+
+"Like her? I like her just awfully. She's the most 'licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?"
+
+"Well, I can't honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so."
+
+"Do," said Sibyl; "ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to hear
+about him. Now come along and let's find her."
+
+So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester's face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little _distrait_. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith--
+
+"Cheer up, won't you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run."
+
+"Don't talk like that," said Rochester in a voice of pain.
+
+"Don't what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, 'It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, 'cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.' Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,"
+said the young man.
+
+"But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don't know how you look when you
+look at her, oh--ever so eager, same as I look when father's in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she's as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by--good-by."
+
+Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.
+
+The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.
+
+"It is my present to you," said Lord Grayleigh, "and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," said Sibyl, "I don't want _everyone_ to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but--don't please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I'll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good."
+
+"Well, I won't," said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.
+
+"I 'spect father will write you a most loving letter about this," said
+Sibyl. "Won't he be 'sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?"
+
+"Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school."
+
+"Oh, I never go to school," said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. "I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that--oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn't suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It's
+all right, isn't it?"
+
+"So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him."
+
+"Father will tell me a name. I won't let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. Rochester for me--oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen--good-by."
+
+They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.
+
+Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.
+
+"Sit back in your seat and don't chatter," she said, "you disturb
+other people."
+
+The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl's own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.
+
+"Mother," she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, "I'm
+'proving, aren't I?"
+
+"Proving, what do you mean?"
+
+"_Im_proving, mother."
+
+"I can't say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days."
+
+"Oh!" said the child, "oh!"
+
+Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.
+
+"It's 'cos of father," she said; "he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I _have_ tried, _haven't_ you noticed it, mother? Won't you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?"
+
+"Don't worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead."
+
+"And to please father and Lord Jesus."
+
+"Yes, yes, child."
+
+"And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?"
+
+"We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it."
+
+"Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything--the pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would 'ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?"
+
+"Hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+The old gentleman buried himself in _The Times_ in order not to hear
+Sibyl's distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.
+
+"Take up your book and stop talking," said Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.
+
+"But it don't matter," she said to herself; "when I see father, he'll
+understand."
+
+They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.
+
+"Mother, may I ask John if father's likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P'waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?"
+
+"No, sit still, you do fidget so."
+
+"I'll try to be quiet, mother; it's only 'cos I'm so incited."
+
+"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, "what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if--as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny."
+
+Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother's.
+
+"What are you doing that for?"
+
+"'Cos I thought I'd rub you the right way," said Sibyl. "You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren't you, just now,
+mother?"
+
+"Don't be so ridiculous." Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.
+
+They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.
+
+"Father, father!" she called. "I'm back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are--Sibyl. I'm home again, father. The Angel is home again, father."
+
+She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.
+
+"She does not know yet," whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. "I am going into the
+library; don't tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.
+
+"I can't see father anywhere," she said: "I 'spect he's not back yet."
+
+"Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead."
+
+Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that Mr. Ogilvie's absence had
+not been alluded to in the child's presence.
+
+Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.
+
+"I am back, and I am going to be good," she said. "I really, truly am;
+aren't you glad to see me?"
+
+"Yes, Sibyl."
+
+"Go upstairs now, Sibyl," said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child's heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.
+
+"Well, never mind," she said to herself, "he can't help it, the
+darling; but he'll be back soon," and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "this is all most unpleasant."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the governess.
+
+"Why, this whim of my husband's. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion."
+
+"Oh, I don't quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,"
+said Miss Winstead; "he has peculiar ideas, that's all."
+
+"We need not discuss that point," said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. "We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland."
+
+"I?" said Miss Winstead; "I would really rather----"
+
+"I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy--any toy she fancies. Here's a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted."
+
+"Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father," interrupted Miss
+Winstead.
+
+"Well, for goodness' sake, don't make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months--that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that _I_ am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he'll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead--do it!"
+
+"When?" asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.
+
+"Oh, when you please, only don't worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won't see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don't I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?"
+
+"But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl."
+
+"Don't you know? Say that her father has gone--oh, by the way, there's
+a letter for her. I really don't know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?"
+
+"I still suffer very badly with my head," said Miss Winstead, "but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl."
+
+"I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be obliged----"
+
+"Oh, you need not go on," said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. "I know my duty. I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her."
+
+"No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable," said the mother. "Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don't forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir."
+
+Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.
+
+"Coward!" she said, under her breath.
+
+"I wish I was well out of this," thought the governess. "The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love."
+
+Miss Winstead's schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie's manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.
+
+Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.
+
+"Cook made these for Miss Sibyl," she said. "Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?"
+
+"No," said Miss Winstead; "and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like."
+
+"I wouldn't be in your shoes for a deal, Miss," replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.
+
+Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.
+
+"Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What's the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?"
+
+"I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl."
+
+"I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn't you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That's the way Nurse's
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?"
+
+"No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I'm thankful to say."
+
+"And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?"
+
+"All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss."
+
+"Don't make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea," said her governess.
+
+Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with--
+
+"I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?"
+
+"Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,"
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson's sweetheart.
+
+Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants' hall.
+
+"Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats 'em," she cried.
+"Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you're a-keeping company with. It's wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have."
+
+"That she have truly," said the cook, "and I'll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It's but to
+look at her to see how loving she is," continued the good woman. "How
+she'll live without the master beats me. The missus ain't worthy of
+her."
+
+This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant's mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants' hall.
+
+Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.
+
+"It's nearly five o'clock," she said, "father is sure to be in at six,
+don't you think so, Miss Winstead?"
+
+"He often doesn't come home till seven," answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you, Winnie dear," said Sibyl--this was
+her pet name for the governess; "you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said 'a
+shaking,' and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea."
+
+"Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes."
+
+"It is such a fine evening, that perhaps----"
+
+"No, no, I don't want to go."
+
+"But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop."
+
+This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.
+
+"How much money?" she asked in a tentative voice.
+
+"Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign."
+
+"Twenty shillings," said Sibyl, "I could get a lovely doll's house for
+that. But I think sometimes I am getting tired of my dolls. It's so
+stupid of 'em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll's house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it's a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am _very_ fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren't you, Winnie? Don't you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don't you like him?"
+
+"I don't know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear."
+
+"Have you been trying to 'prove yourself very much while I was away?"
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.
+
+"Prove myself?"
+
+"I can never say that whole word. _Im_prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?"
+
+"I always try, Sibyl."
+
+"Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you _are_ 'proved, you're
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you're sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I'll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman's to buy the doll's house. He is poor, and he'll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss 'em. Some children are _so_ careless. Yes, I'll go with you,
+and then we'll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He'll know that I'll be wanting him."
+
+"Sibyl, I have something to tell you."
+
+"What?"
+
+There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead's voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.
+
+"What is it?" said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.
+
+"It is something that will pain you, dear."
+
+"Oh!" said Sibyl, "go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don't like to be kept in 'spense."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night."
+
+Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.
+
+"I can bear it," she said; "go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?"
+
+"Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next."
+
+"Go on; I am bearing it," said Sibyl.
+
+She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.
+
+"It's a great shock, but I am bearing it," she said again. "_When_
+will I see him?"
+
+Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.
+
+"Child," she said, "don't look like that."
+
+"I'm looking no special way; I'm only bearing up. Is father dead?"
+
+"No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months."
+
+"A few months," said Sibyl. "He's not dead?" She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.
+
+"It's the little shots that hurt most," she said after a pause. "I
+wouldn't have felt it, if you had said he was dead."
+
+"Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won't be back by six."
+
+"Yes, I'll go out with you."
+
+She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.
+
+"I'd rather she cried and screamed; I'd rather she rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I'd rather she did anything than take it like that,"
+thought the governess.
+
+Sibyl went straight into the nursery.
+
+"Nursie," she said, "my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn't it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk."
+
+"Oh, my darling," said nursie, "this has hurt you horribly."
+
+"Don't," said Sibyl, "don't be sympathisy." She pushed nurse's
+detaining hand away.
+
+"It's the little shots that tell," she repeated. "I wouldn't have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse."
+
+She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.
+
+"Was it mother said you was to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then mother did tell me a----" Sibyl left off abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.
+
+"I hear you have got a pony," said Miss Winstead.
+
+"I don't want to talk about my pony, please," interrupted Sibyl. "Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in."
+
+"But why may we not talk about your pony?"
+
+"I don't want to ride my pony now."
+
+Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.
+
+"You have walked quite far enough to-night," she said, "you look very
+white."
+
+"I'm not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop."
+
+"A good idea," said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. "We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy."
+
+"Well, this is the turning, come along," said Sibyl.
+
+"But why should we go to Holman's, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street."
+
+"I'd much rather go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child's. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Holman," she said; "I hope I find you quite well."
+
+"Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health," replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.
+
+"I am glad of that," answered Sibyl. "I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?"
+
+"You thought a doll's house," interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.
+
+"Oh, it don't matter about that," said Sibyl, looking gravely back at
+her; "I mean it don't matter now. Mr. Holman, what's the most dusty of
+your toys, what's the most scratched, what's the toy that none of the
+other children would like?"
+
+"I have a whole heap of 'em," said Holman, shaking his head sadly.
+
+"That he have, poor dear," here interrupted Mrs. Holman. "How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn't buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It's because our shop is in a back
+street."
+
+"Oh, but it's a very nice street," said Sibyl; "it's retired, isn't
+it? Well, I'll buy twenty shillings' worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down."
+
+Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.
+
+"Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman," said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.
+
+"What ails her?" said Holman. "She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don't like her looks a bit."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months' time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress's dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.
+
+"Mother," said Sibyl.
+
+"What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly."
+
+"Please, mother, I can't sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don't know what it is, but it's worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I 'spect I'm lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?"
+
+"Oh dear, how you tremble," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn't you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?"
+
+"But, mother, that wouldn't have done me any good."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"They wouldn't be you. I'll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother."
+
+"Of course you may, child, but please don't disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep."
+
+Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.
+
+"Why don't you shut your eyes and go to sleep?" asked her mother.
+
+"I can't, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling," replied
+Sibyl.
+
+"What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl's.
+Sibyl's little hand was cold.
+
+"May I come quite close to you, mother?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+The next instant she was lying in her mother's arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.
+
+"Oh, now that's better," said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother's clasp.
+
+"I am much better," she said; "I didn't understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter."
+
+"Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?" asked her mother.
+
+"Not much; there's not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It's very hard, but I
+'spect I'll do it; I 'spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It's such a long, long way off."
+
+"For a most excellent reason," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit--we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring us----"
+
+"What?" asked the child. "What has he gone for?"
+
+"My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of _money_, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money."
+
+"No, I am not," said Sibyl. "I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is."
+
+"Who in the world is Mr. Holman?"
+
+"He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I can't 'splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money."
+
+"Plenty of money," echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; "that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we'll be rich."
+
+"Rich?" said Sibyl, "rich?" She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.
+
+"Is it nice, being rich?" she asked.
+
+"Of course it is."
+
+"But what does it do?"
+
+"Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks."
+
+"But I am more comfy in my common frocks."
+
+"Well, it gives you your nice food."
+
+"I don't care nothing about food."
+
+"It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, and----"
+
+"Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony."
+
+"Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness."
+
+"Do you think so?" said Sibyl. "And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?"
+
+"Very much indeed; I like the good things of life."
+
+"I'll try and understand," said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Nursie," said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, "mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we'll be very rich."
+
+"Um," replied nurse, with a grunt, "do she?"
+
+"Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It's very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has 'splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn't understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don't matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is."
+
+"Yes, dear," said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl's stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman's chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse's movements with close interest.
+
+"Why do you wear spectacles?" she asked suddenly.
+
+"Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain't as young as I was."
+
+"What does 'not as young as you was' mean?"
+
+"What I say, my dear."
+
+"I notice," said Sibyl, thoughtfully, "that all very, very old people
+say they're not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles 'cos
+you're not as young as you was, and 'cos you can't see as well as you
+did."
+
+"That's about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses."
+
+"Then I'm glad we're going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+'splain why I am glad," continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. "When our gold
+comes, nursie, you'll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses 'cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we'll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There's poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn't paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there's a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely _swampy_ sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there and they spend their money, and there's
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It's just 'cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn't it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won't come into his nice, quiet _back_ street. I
+like back streets, don't you, nursie? It's horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+"It's the way of the world, dear," answered nurse; "the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It's a cruel way, but it's the way the world has got."
+
+"Then I hate the world," said Sibyl. "My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn't
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?"
+
+"Oh, my love, there'd be a lot of things _He'd_ have to change if He
+came back; but don't ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don't get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you're looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see."
+
+"But I am perfectly well," answered Sibyl, "I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me 'rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I'll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he'll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won't have to wipe away her tears any more."
+
+Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath--
+
+"Bless her! the darling she is!"
+
+Smartly dressed, as was her mother's wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.
+
+"Oh, I am glad to see you," she said. "Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?"
+
+"I am very glad to see you," replied the young man; "but I did call to
+see your mother."
+
+"Well, come to the drawing-room, I'll entertain you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester--_nice_ Mr. Rochester."
+
+Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.
+
+Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.
+
+"Well?" she said.
+
+"Why do you say that?" he asked, in some confusion.
+
+"I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it."
+
+"Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things," answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.
+
+"Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+'splaining to me about rich people. It's most 'portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn't it, Mr. Rochester? It's the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn't it?"
+
+"That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?"
+
+Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, "Why, mother," but she
+checked herself. A cloud took some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.
+
+"When my own father comes back again we'll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you'll make," she said, "dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we'll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can."
+
+"What are shares?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich."
+
+"It's very puzzling," said Sibyl. "And it depends on father?"
+
+"Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don't you understand, it all depends on him."
+
+"It's _very_ puzzling," said Sibyl again. "Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I think so," he answered earnestly. "I shall buy several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me."
+
+"And you will be happy?"
+
+"Very happy if she says 'yes.' But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else."
+
+"You may trust me," said Sibyl, "I never tell things I'm told not to
+tell. You can't think what wonderful 'portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you'll be glad to be
+rich?"
+
+"Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife," he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.
+
+Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.
+
+"When father comes back he'll christen my pony," she said, "but no one
+else shall. I won't give it no name till he comes back."
+
+She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony's back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.
+
+Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.
+
+"It is very hot this morning," said the governess.
+
+"Oh, that don't matter," replied Sibyl. "Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?"
+
+"No," answered Miss Winstead, "I cannot say it is."
+
+"Full of thoughts, you know."
+
+"No," replied the governess again. "Don't turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly."
+
+Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead's instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said suddenly, "I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly 'portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?"
+
+"We shan't have time," replied Miss Winstead.
+
+"Oh, but I want to go," said Sibyl, knitting her brows, "don't let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans."
+
+"I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon."
+
+"Mother going into the country, what for?"
+
+"I cannot tell you, it is not my affair."
+
+"That means that you know, but you won't tell."
+
+"You can put it in that way if you like. I won't tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool."
+
+Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.
+
+"I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up," thought the little girl. "I don't like it, not a bit."
+
+Presently she slipped her hand through her governess's arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice--
+
+"Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can't think how 'portant it is."
+
+"I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again." Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.
+
+"We must hurry home," she said; "I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast."
+
+They left the Park, and came back in time for lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.
+
+"Why isn't Mr. Rochester here?" said the little girl at last.
+
+"He could not stay," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?"
+
+"He is nice, he is very nice," said the child; "he and Lady Helen--oh,
+more than nice. I like 'em very much, don't you, mother?"
+
+"Yes, dear." Mrs. Ogilvie got up. "Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening."
+
+"Good-by, mother dear."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.
+
+"Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, not at all."
+
+"I wonder if you're awfully hungry, Watson?"
+
+"Why so, Miss?"
+
+"Because it's time for the servants' dinner."
+
+"Well, Miss, I'm going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring."
+
+Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.
+
+"You couldn't, p'waps," said the little girl, knitting her brows, "you
+couldn't, p'waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?"
+
+"Where do you want to go, Miss?"
+
+"I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don't you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys."
+
+"I have heard of him from you, Miss."
+
+"It's most 'portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out."
+
+Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.
+
+"If you're very quick, Miss," he said, "I'll do it."
+
+"You are good," said Sibyl. "Do you know, Watson, that you're a very
+nice man--you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let's go; do
+let's be quick."
+
+A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman's
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.
+
+"Watson," said the little girl, "you can stand in the doorway. It's
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen."
+
+"No, Miss, I won't."
+
+Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance--when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.
+
+"Dear! dear!" she said; "I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I've splendid news for you."
+
+"What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn't send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. 'Tain't fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear."
+
+"But I like them," said the child; "I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly."
+
+"Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way."
+
+"Don't think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated--as though I were your little friend."
+
+"Which you are, darling--which you are."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn't know what to do with it. You
+said, 'Money ought to make money,' and you didn't know how your
+hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to 'splain it to me, and I tried to understand."
+
+"It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day."
+
+"Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?"
+
+"Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money."
+
+"Oh, I understand that," answered the child.
+
+"And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank."
+
+"It's there still, is it?" said Sibyl, her eyes shining.
+
+"Yes, dear."
+
+"Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?"
+
+"Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?" said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father's gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to----Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you'll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That's what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn't. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Bless you, darling," said Mrs. Holman, "so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting."
+
+"It's awfully exciting, isn't it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You'll be rich, and I'll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He'll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You'll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then."
+
+Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman's eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.
+
+"Come, Watson," she said, "you'll have a splendid appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.
+
+"My husband is not prepared to buy a place now," she said in
+conclusion, "but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market."
+
+The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie's heart, did come in the agent's way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+_distrait_ and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.
+
+This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.
+
+"It is the very best place of its kind in the market," she wrote. "It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.
+
+"It will be yours when father comes home," she said to the child.
+
+Sibyl skipped about madly.
+
+"It's just too 'licious!" she said. "Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn't it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don't you love Him very, very much, mother?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.
+
+"We can have a bazaar here," she said, "a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know."
+
+"Big-wigs?" said Sibyl, "what are they?"
+
+"People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale."
+
+"I don't understand, mother," answered Sibyl. "Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn't it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I'd like very much to send it to my ownest father."
+
+"Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him."
+
+"It's heart won't be dead," said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.
+
+"What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?" said nurse.
+
+"At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can't think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day."
+
+"H'm!" said nurse.
+
+"Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don't like it," said the child. "But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don't quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and--and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the _big-wigs_ are
+coming to it. Isn't it a funny word! perhaps you don't know what
+big-wigs are, but I do."
+
+Nurse laughed.
+
+"Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about."
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.
+
+"I don't want to lose the place," she said. "My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision."
+
+"If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear," replied
+the lawyer, "I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say--well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid."
+
+"Can you really?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.
+
+"At the worst it could be taken off your hands," he answered; "but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects"--he paused
+and looked thoughtful. "I can lend you the money if you wish it," he
+said then abruptly.
+
+"The money to enable me to pay a deposit?" she said.
+
+"Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October."
+
+"My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree," she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment's pause she
+spoke.
+
+"I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don't know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back."
+
+"I have plenty of funds to meet this loan," thought the lawyer. "I am
+safe so far." Aloud he said, "Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow."
+
+"This clinches the matter," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately."
+
+The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.
+
+"A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life," she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.
+
+On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.
+
+"You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow," she said. "I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o'clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river."
+
+Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.
+
+"It's the most darling, lovely place," she said; "nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours."
+
+"When our ship comes in, it will be ours," said Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.
+
+When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.
+
+"Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?" he asked.
+
+"What rumors?" Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. "I know nothing whatever
+about business," she said, testily, "I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England."
+
+"Of course it has not. Ogilvie's report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it."
+
+"Not a word, not a word," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent."
+
+"Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine," said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.
+
+"You will find cigars in that box," she said. "No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me."
+
+"Oh, do let her stay," earnestly pleaded the young man, "she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before."
+
+"Well, as you please, but don't spoil her," said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.
+
+"I have a lot of things to ask you," she said; "I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?"
+
+"It is extremely difficult for me to explain," said Rochester, "but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people."
+
+"What's subscribed?"
+
+"Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?"
+
+"Yes, whoever they may be. I don't know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred."
+
+"Oh, that's very nice," said Sibyl; "I seem to understand, and yet I
+don't understand."
+
+"You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don't
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men."
+
+"And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?" said Sibyl.
+
+"He will say it if the gold is there."
+
+"And if it is not?"
+
+"Then he will tell the truth."
+
+"Of course," said Sibyl, proudly. "My father couldn't tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn't it, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I should say quite impossible," replied Rochester firmly.
+
+"You are awfully nice, you know," she said; "you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then."
+
+"So they will," replied Rochester.
+
+"And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn't the new
+place got a lovely name--Silverbel?"
+
+"It sounds very pretty, Sibyl."
+
+"And you will come to-morrow and see it, won't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will bring Lady Helen?"
+
+"Your mother will bring Lady Helen."
+
+"It's all the same," replied Sibyl. "Oh, I am so glad."
+
+She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.
+
+Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:
+
+     "DARLINGIST FATHER,--Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+     the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+     rich. Here's the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+     father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+     Sibyl. It's hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+     morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+     morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+     It's most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+     It's most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+     full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+     here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+     father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don't know
+     how portant it is. It's cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+     and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+     spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+     and I mustn't tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+     Oh, it is portant.
+
+               "Your lovin
+                    "SIBYL."
+
+"He'll understand," thought Sibyl; "he's wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he'll quite know what I mean by the 'heart of the
+rose,'" and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.
+
+The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until--but that
+refers to another part of the story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.
+
+It was now the heart of a glorious summer--such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.
+
+Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother's side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.
+
+Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.
+
+"Here you both is!" she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.
+
+"You do look nice," said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, "and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him."
+
+"Who is Watson?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"Don't you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in _dear_ Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I 'spect they'll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don't know how fond I am of Watson; he's a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here's the carriage. Let's all get in.
+Aren't you both glad you're coming, and coming together, both of you
+_together_, to visit Silverbel. It's a 'licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let's
+all get into the carriage."
+
+Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+_enfant terrible_. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.
+
+"I had meant to put it off until my husband returned," she remarked
+finally, "but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris & Liberty to furnish the
+place, and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately."
+
+"Oh, yes," cried Sibyl, "you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?"
+
+"If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall," replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.
+
+They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.
+
+"There they go!" cried the child.
+
+"There who go, Sibyl?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"The one who wants to marry the other," replied Sibyl. "Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren't you awfully
+incited?"
+
+"You are a very silly, rude little girl," replied the mother. "You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+don't take even the slightest notice when they return."
+
+"Aren't I to speak to them?" asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.
+
+"Of course, but you are not to say anything special."
+
+"Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?"
+
+"No; don't be such a little goose."
+
+"I always notice," replied Sibyl, softly, "that when _quite_ strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can't I say
+anything more--more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they'd like it. I thought they'd like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it."
+
+"About it?"
+
+"Their love, mother, their love for--for each other."
+
+"Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?"
+
+"Me, mother," said Sibyl.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.
+
+"You are a most ridiculous little girl," she said. "Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?"
+
+"You has put it plain, mother," replied Sibyl. "I think I do. Now,
+let's look at the flowers."
+
+"I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,"
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?"
+
+"It's lovely!" replied Sibyl.
+
+"I am devoted to the country," continued the mother; "there is no
+place like the country for me."
+
+"So I think, too," replied Sibyl. "I love the country. We'll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won't we, mother?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead."
+
+"Now you are talking in your silly way again," replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+"You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman."
+
+"But, mother, why aren't they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father's mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It's very puzzling, and yet I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!"
+
+The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.
+
+Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.
+
+"What rhyme?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"I know it all, shall I say it to you?" cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:--
+
+     "One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,
+     Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,
+     Six _he_ loves, seven _she_ loves, eight they both love,
+       Nine he comes, ten he tarries,
+       Eleven he woos, twelve he marries."
+
+Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that "twelve he marries," she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.
+
+"I knew _you'd_ have luck," she said. Then she caught her mother's
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.
+
+"Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon," said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie's suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.
+
+Rochester sprang to his feet.
+
+"I can easily get a boat," he said; "I'll go and consult with mine
+host."
+
+He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment's
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.
+
+"Is that why our house is called Silverbel?" asked Sibyl. "Is it 'cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and 'cos it is _belle_,
+French for beautiful?"
+
+"Perhaps so," answered the mother with a smile.
+
+The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.
+
+"What a pity we must go back to London," said Sibyl. "I don't think I
+ever had such a lovely day before."
+
+"We shall soon be back here," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town."
+
+"That will be lovely," said Sibyl. "Oh, won't my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!"
+
+When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.
+
+"This came for you, madam, in your absence," he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:
+
+"Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.
+
+"I hope there is nothing wrong?" asked Rochester.
+
+"Nothing at all," she replied. "Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don't stare in that rude way."
+
+The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.
+
+Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and _distrait_. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?" whispered Sibyl.
+
+"No, Sibyl; I am quite happy."
+
+"Then you are thinking very hard?"
+
+"I often think."
+
+"I do so want you to be awfully happy."
+
+"I know you do, and I think I shall be."
+
+"Then that is right. _Twelve he marries_. Wasn't it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn't it luck?"
+
+"Yes; but hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl's hands, and stroked it fondly.
+
+"Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?" asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.
+
+"No," he answered; "she is quite naughty about that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you."
+
+"You ought to," said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; "it would do him
+good. It's an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, 'A burnt child dreads the
+fire,' or 'Marry in haste, repent at leisure,' or----"
+
+"Oh, that will do, Sibyl." Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.
+
+"Well," said Sibyl, "perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It's like having more sugar. The 'home truth'
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can't swallow it _without_ the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: 'Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,' and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren't
+there, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter," cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; "you talk the most utter nonsense," and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.
+
+The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.
+
+"Tiresome man!" she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.
+
+"Well," she said, "why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?"
+
+"You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"I have never heard of _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"But City men know it," replied Mr. Acland, "and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.
+
+"How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms," she said.
+"What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word."
+
+"He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right," replied
+Acland. "There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now."
+
+"This is very disturbing," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband's report
+likely to reach England?"
+
+"Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months' time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie's report."
+
+"Won't you stay and have some supper?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+"I have said already that I do not understand these things."
+
+"I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of L2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place."
+
+"No other place will suit me except Silverbel," she answered.
+
+"I strongly recommend you not to buy it now."
+
+"And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?"
+
+"Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October."
+
+"Then pray don't let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland."
+
+Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.
+
+"I thought it only fair to tell you," he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:
+
+"What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.
+
+Sibyl's room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.
+
+Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child's sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl's father came back.
+
+"For Jim," continued Lady Helen, "will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along."
+
+Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.
+
+"Of course, it is full of gold, quite full," thought the child; "but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it."
+
+She began to count the days now to her father's return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.
+
+Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child's
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river's edge.
+
+The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.
+
+The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.
+
+Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.
+
+"We have had no cable yet from your husband," he said, "and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious."
+
+"Oh, pray don't croak," was Mrs. Ogilvie's response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.
+
+"You are a bird of ill-omen," she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.
+
+He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.
+
+"When people are perfectly happy and know nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?" she continued. "I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one."
+
+"That is my own impression," said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; "but don't
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October."
+
+"Oh! Philip will be back before then," answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. "Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?"
+
+Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.
+
+"Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?" she asked.
+
+"We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again."
+
+"Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!"
+
+Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.
+
+"Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you," she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. "I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful."
+
+A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.
+
+"Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"Oh, some time, but not at present," replied Sibyl. "I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn't Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?"
+
+"Charming," replied Grayleigh. "Is your mother in, little woman?"
+
+"I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?"
+
+"I don't know, I will tell you presently."
+
+Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh's. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.
+
+"Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,"
+she said.
+
+"Because you have got a pretty new place?"
+
+"No, no, nothing of that sort. It's 'cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he'll
+come. I'm always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn't it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?"
+
+Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.
+
+[Illustration: "Shall I find mother for you?" asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.--Page 208. _Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Shall I find mother for you?" she said. "Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You're a big-wig,
+aren't you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they were people in a _good social position_.
+I remember the words so well 'cos I couldn't understand 'em, but when
+I asked Miss Winstead to 'splain, she said mother meant ladies and
+gentlemen, and when I asked her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen
+was, she said people who behaved nicely. Now isn't it all very
+puzzling, 'cos the person who I think behaves nicest of all is our
+footman, Watson. He has lovely manners and splendid impulses; and
+perhaps the next nicest is dear Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop
+in a back street. But when I asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman
+were big-wigs, she said I spoked awful nonsense. What do you think,
+Lord Grayleigh? Please do try to 'splain."
+
+Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl's long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.
+
+"A big-wig is quite an ugly word," he said, "but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life."
+
+"You haven't 'splained a bit," said the little girl. "Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?"
+
+"I will answer that question after I have seen your mother."
+
+Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.
+
+"He doesn't look quite happy," she thought; "I'm sorry he is coming
+to take up mother's time. Mother promised, and it's most 'portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It's on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+'portant. Oh, I do hope she won't forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can't. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I'd go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert'nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I'll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can't come, she must."
+
+Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.
+
+"You didn't hear by the last mail?" was Lord Grayleigh's query.
+
+"No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence."
+
+"He is probably up country," was Lord Grayleigh's answer. "I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you."
+
+"I have not heard," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?"
+
+"Oh, quite charming," said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.
+
+"I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase," continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+"Indeed!" Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.
+
+"Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit," continued
+the lady, "but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won't he?" Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge," he replied,
+oracularly. "Don't be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters."
+
+"Perhaps," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. "By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons."
+
+"Certainly," he answered; "at what date is the bazaar to be held?"
+
+She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.
+
+"I shall stay in town to-night," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat."
+
+Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.
+
+She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott's old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener's boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.
+
+Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan's cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.
+
+Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan's cottage. They were to start about six
+o'clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.
+
+The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.
+
+"Well, Missy," said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into the
+soil; "don't stand just there, Missy, you'll get the earth all over
+you."
+
+Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.
+
+"How is Dan?" she asked, after a pause.
+
+"A-wrastling with his pain," answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.
+
+"Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?" asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.
+
+"Is he expecting you, Missy?" answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. "Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit 'em or not? You said you'd go, Missy, and Dan he's
+counting the minutes."
+
+"Of course I'll go," replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+_distrait_. Then she added, "I will go if I possibly can."
+
+"I didn't know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, 'I'll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.' Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit."
+
+Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.
+
+"Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful," she said, "I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly."
+
+"But why, Missy? What's up? I don't like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting."
+
+"Mr. Scott, I'm awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can't
+go."
+
+Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.
+
+"You promised you'd go," he said then slowly.
+
+"I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn't take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?"
+
+"I could not," answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child's opinion, almost venomous vigor.
+
+"Besides," he added, "it wouldn't be the same. It's you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I'd keep my word to
+the poor. It's a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there's God's curse on them as do."
+
+Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.
+
+"Lord Jesus wouldn't curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him," she thought; but, all the same, the old man's words
+seemed to chill her.
+
+"I'll do my very best," she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:
+
+"I wouldn't disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He's
+a-counting of the minutes."
+
+A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.
+
+"I could take the apples," he said to himself; "I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don't see why the quality shouldn't keep their word,
+and I'm due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She's a rare fine little 'un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she'll take him the apples."
+
+So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.
+
+Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl's own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.
+
+"Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?"
+
+"Is your head any better?" asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.
+
+"No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea."
+
+Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.
+
+Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.
+
+"It don't matter about my tea," she said to herself. "Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it's all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother's horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples."
+
+The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.
+
+"It's awful to neglect the poor," she said to herself. "Old Scott was
+very solemn. He's a good man, is Scott, he's a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it's
+wonderful what he finds in them--the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said 'Read your Psalms and you'll know. Don't the Psalms
+for the day say "the Lord of glory thundereth"?' and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It's wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn't say a thing if it wasn't true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn't like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan _will_ be waiting and watching.
+A little girl whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I'll get the apples ready."
+
+Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.
+
+"This will tempt dear little Dan," she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.
+
+"Ben! Ben! Ben!" called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.
+
+"Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!" she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.
+
+"I could ride him alone," thought Sibyl; "it is only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long--that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I'll go. It's too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him."
+
+Just then a voice at the stable door said--
+
+"Hullo! I say!" and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.
+
+"Oh, Johnson," she said eagerly, "I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple."
+
+"What is it, Miss?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can't you?"
+
+"I guess I can," answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.
+
+"Want to ride?" he said. "Who's a-goin' with yer?"
+
+"No one, I am going alone."
+
+Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.
+
+"I say," he cried, "them's good, I like apples."
+
+"You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off."
+
+Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl's intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony's back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.
+
+"It don't matter about putting on my habit," said Sibyl. "It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can't I, Johnson?"
+
+"If you like, Miss," answered Johnson.
+
+"I think I will, really, Johnson," said Sibyl in that confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.
+
+"I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house."
+
+"Oh, is that it?" answered Johnson.
+
+"Yes, that's it; they don't understand. No one understands in the
+house how 'portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?"
+
+Johnson scratched his head.
+
+"I guess not!" he said.
+
+"If I don't take them, he'll fret and fret," said Sibyl; "and he'll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn't it so, Johnson? You understand, don't you?"
+
+"A bit, perhaps, Missy."
+
+"Well, I am very much obliged to you," said the little girl. "Here's
+two apples, real beauties, and here's my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him."
+
+Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.
+
+Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.
+
+"I am so glad I did it," she thought; "it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I'll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he'll
+understand. I'll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She'll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she'll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she'll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she'll say afterward, 'I'm sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.' I am doing right,
+aren't I, Lord Jesus?" and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.
+
+The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o'clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:
+
+"Are you in, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.
+
+"Ah! it's you, Missy, at last," she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. "Has you brought the
+apples?" she cried. "You are very late, Missy. Oh, I'm obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?"
+
+"You can send it to-morrow, please," answered Sibyl.
+
+"And you ain't a-coming in? The lad's expecting you."
+
+"I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn't able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I'll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won't make him an out-and-out
+promise, 'cos if you make a promise to the poor and don't keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don't quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+[Illustration: An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.--Page 224.
+_Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Oh, don't I," answered Mrs. Scott. "It's a pity you can't come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain't no time to be
+a-visiting of you. That's him calling out, Missy; you wait a
+minute, and I'll find out what he wants."
+
+Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.
+
+"Quiet, darling; quiet, pet," said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.
+
+Presently Mrs. Scott came back.
+
+"Dan's obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He 'opes you'll
+come another day."
+
+"I wish, I do wish I could come in now," said Sibyl wistfully; "but I
+just daren't. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott."
+
+"Oh, that," answered Mrs. Scott, "but you ain't no call to know."
+
+"But I'd like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+"There are all sorts," replied Mrs. Scott. "Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter'ble until he died. It's my
+belief he haunts the churchyard now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter'ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life."
+
+"Well, I really must be going now," said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+"Good-by; tell Dan I'll try hard to come and see him to-morrow."
+
+She turned the pony's head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.
+
+"She's a gloomy sort," thought the child, "she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don't take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don't like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to 'splain what a curse was. I 'spect I'm a very queer
+girl, and I didn't really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn't go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I'll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won't be about. I shouldn't like to see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we'll soon be back home
+again."
+
+Sibyl lightly touched the pony's ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.
+
+Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.
+
+"A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet," said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.
+
+Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession.
+She would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless
+Micah Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the
+next instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children's shouts were the final straw.
+
+"Not quite so fast, darling," cried Sibyl; "a little slower, pet."
+
+But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called--
+
+"Hullo! Stop, for goodness' sake; don't turn the corner. Stop! Stop!"
+
+Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+On a certain morning in the middle of July the _Gaika_ with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.
+
+A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.
+
+"Well, Ogilvie," he cried, "we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?"
+
+"I cannot quite tell," answered Ogilvie. "It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned."
+
+"You don't look too well," said his friend. "Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?"
+
+"I do not expect letters," was Ogilvie's answer; "there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel."
+
+Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.
+
+"And yet I am doing it for her," he muttered to himself. "I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me--that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again."
+
+He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly--
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?"
+
+He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.
+
+"That is my name," replied Ogilvie; "and yours?"
+
+"I am Messrs. Spielmann's agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage."
+
+"Pretty well," answered Ogilvie; "but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?"
+
+"At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?"
+
+"As you please," said Ogilvie. "Will you wait here? I will return
+soon."
+
+Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.
+
+"That is quite to my desire," said Ogilvie. "I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine."
+
+"If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right," answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. "I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the _Townville_ to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant's Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report."
+
+"And how long will all this take?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month."
+
+"You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?"
+
+"Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago."
+
+"And what is your personal opinion?"
+
+"There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton."
+
+"So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?"
+
+"Yes, one shaft."
+
+"Any result?"
+
+"That is what your opinion is needed to decide," said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.
+
+Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.
+
+"I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me," he said.
+
+Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.
+
+"Why did they send him out?" he muttered. "Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same."
+
+"I shall make my own pile out of this," he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.
+
+The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.
+
+Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.
+
+"Here we are," said Rycroft, "here lies the gold." He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. "Here is our overseer's hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don't mind
+sharing it with me."
+
+"Not in the least," replied Ogilvie. "We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek."
+
+Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh's
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.
+
+"Time enough for repentance in another world," he muttered under his
+breath. "All I have to do at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward," he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+"the downhill slope is never difficult."
+
+The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman's camp was about a hundred yards distant.
+
+As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.
+
+"But the child--the child!" he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.
+
+When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight's work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.
+
+Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.
+
+"Nevertheless, I believe he will," was Rycroft's final comment;
+"men of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he'll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn't break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man."
+
+Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.
+
+After a little over a fortnight's hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.
+
+"There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie," said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. "For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that"--he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.
+
+"After that?" said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.
+
+Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.
+
+"You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,"
+said Ogilvie.
+
+"I see no help for it," replied Rycroft. "We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail."
+
+"I shall take the report back with me," said Ogilvie.
+
+"Better not," answered his companion, "best trust Her Majesty's mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it." As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.
+
+"Let us pack our traps," said Ogilvie, rising.
+
+"The sooner we get out of this the better."
+
+The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward--the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.
+
+"If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months," thought the man;
+"the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know."
+
+The report was a plausible and highly colored one.
+
+It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.
+
+They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.
+
+"I shall take the next mail home," said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.
+
+"Sign first," replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.
+
+"Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning," continued Ogilvie. "The _Sahara_
+sails to-morrow at noon?"
+
+"I believe so; but sign, won't you?"
+
+Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.
+
+"I shall take a berth on board at once," he said.
+
+"All right, old chap, but sign first."
+
+Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.
+
+"What is wrong," asked Rycroft; "are you ill?"
+
+"I suffer from this sort of thing now and then," replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. "Brandy, please."
+
+Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.
+
+"You look ghastly," he said; "drink."
+
+Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.
+
+"Now sign," said Rycroft again.
+
+"Where is the pen?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+He was all too anxious now to take the fatal plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie's.
+
+"Now our work is done," cried Rycroft, "and Her Majesty's mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers."
+
+"This will set matters right," said Ogilvie. "Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself."
+
+"Her Majesty's mail would be best," answered Rycroft. "You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.
+
+Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, "Come
+in," and a messenger entered with a cablegram.
+
+"For Mr. Ogilvie," he said.
+
+"From Grayleigh, of course," said Rycroft, "how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside," he continued to the messenger.
+
+The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.
+
+Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:--
+
+     _"Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+     at once."_
+
+"So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie's fall,"
+thought Rycroft. "Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through."
+
+Without an instant's hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.
+
+"No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it," he said; "here is money--you can keep the change."
+
+The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.
+
+Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.
+
+"Looks like death," muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie's collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.
+
+"Still living," he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.
+
+"What has happened?" he said, looking round him in a dazed way. "Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London."
+
+"Yes, old fellow, don't speak for a moment."
+
+"I must get back at once; the child----"
+
+"All right, you shall go in the _Sahara_ to-morrow."
+
+"But the document," said Ogilvie, "it--isn't needed; I want it back."
+
+"Don't trouble about it now."
+
+Ogilvie staggered to his feet.
+
+"You don't understand. I did it because--because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back."
+
+"Too late," said Rycroft, then. "That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.
+
+"I am quite cosy there," she said to herself, "for father's perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am."
+
+Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.
+
+There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl's chamber by this title.
+
+From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment's
+delay.
+
+But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child's eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.
+
+"I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father's hand and
+the look in his face," she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said on one of these occasions, "I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father's heart every night, that's why I don't disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short."
+
+Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.
+
+But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother's heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl's comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor's orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.
+
+There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the _Sahara_, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor's orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.
+
+"Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her," the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.
+
+But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie's feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl's state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.
+
+"Doctors are so often mistaken," she said, "I don't believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother's heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child."
+
+The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient's face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.
+
+Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl's weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.
+
+"I won't have the curse of the poor, I did my best," said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.
+
+"Yes, you did your best, dearie," he replied. His voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.
+
+"The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss," he said
+then, "the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever."
+
+Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:
+
+"I like old Scott, he's a very religious man."
+
+"That he is, darling," replied nurse.
+
+"Seems to me I'm getting religious too," continued Sibyl. "It's 'cos
+of Lord Jesus, I 'spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night."
+
+The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl's recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.
+
+"The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others," thought Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.
+
+"It will be doing such a good work," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. "I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity."
+
+In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter's room.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, "Come and kiss
+me, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.
+
+"My little white rose," she said, "you must get some color back into
+your cheeks."
+
+"Oh, color don't matter," replied Sibyl. "I'm just as happy without
+it."
+
+"But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?"
+
+"Yes, Mummy."
+
+"And you like lying here in your pretty window?"
+
+"Yes, mother darling."
+
+"You are not weary of lying so still?"
+
+Sibyl laughed.
+
+"It is funny," she said, "I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don't want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress."
+
+"What a splendid idea, Sib!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you shall dress some
+dolls for mother's bazaar."
+
+"Are you going to have it after all?" cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. "Are the big-wigs coming?"
+
+"Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy--Lord Grayleigh and the rest."
+
+"I like Lord Grayleigh," replied Sibyl. "I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.
+
+"My dear little girl," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little."
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment's pause she said:
+
+"Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything--it will
+be fun."
+
+Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said, "I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better."
+
+"Do you think so?" replied Miss Winstead shortly.
+
+"I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast--I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar."
+
+"The bazaar!" echoed Miss Winstead. "Surely you don't mean to have it
+here?"
+
+"Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month."
+
+"I would not, if I were you," said Miss Winstead slowly. "You know
+what the doctors have said."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.
+
+"I don't believe a single word of what they say," she retorted with
+some passion. "The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th."
+
+"You forget," said Miss Winstead slowly, "the _Sahara_ is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for--for what he has to see."
+
+"I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don't
+understand what you mean by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don't croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon--there is a great deal to see about."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie's cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.
+
+Ogilvie's cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.
+
+Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: "From the tone of
+Ogilvie's cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,"
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, "to be rich and also honest at the same
+time." He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.
+
+On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,
+
+     "You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+     Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."
+
+"But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible."
+
+He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.
+
+     "I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
+     correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+     shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+     know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+     present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+     Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+     dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+     moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+     sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+     blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+     burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+     hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+     papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+     we see you at Silverbel the better.
+
+               "With kind regards, I remain,
+                    "Yours sincerely,
+                         "MILDRED OGILVIE.
+
+     "P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+     has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+     you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+     I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
+     her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+     her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+     had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+     and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+     the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+     proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+     she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+     you her love if she knew I was writing."
+
+Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-read
+the postscript.
+
+After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.
+
+"I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," was
+Grayleigh's direction.
+
+He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.
+
+"Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"
+
+"I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?"
+
+"Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."
+
+"So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?"
+
+"I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't return
+by the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then."
+
+Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him--both her hands extended.
+
+"How good of you, how more than good of you," she said. "This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person."
+
+"I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?"
+
+"Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, and----"
+
+"Can I see her?"
+
+"Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.
+
+"One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you," she said, in a playful
+voice.
+
+Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,
+
+"Rest assured that I will come." He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.
+
+"I am sorry to see you like this," he said. "What has happened to you,
+my little girl?"
+
+"Oh, nothing much," answered Sibyl, "I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?"
+
+"Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?"
+
+"Beautiful," replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child's grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.
+
+"I will come back again, presently," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls."
+
+"Nursie is dressing them," replied Sibyl in a weak voice--the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. "It somehow
+tires me to work. I 'spect I'm not very strong, but I'll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful."
+
+"Well, I'll come back soon; you mustn't tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs."
+
+"I must return to town by the next train," said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.
+
+"Lord Grayleigh has come," she said. "He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation."
+
+"Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie," said both ladies.
+
+"Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don't think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have."
+
+The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl's room.
+
+Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.
+
+"I am so glad you have come," said the little girl; "there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?"
+
+"I had a cablegram from him not long ago."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea."
+
+"I understand," said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" said Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?"
+
+"My dear child," said Lord Grayleigh, "what do you know about it?"
+
+"I know all about it," answered Sybil. "I am deeply interested,
+deeply."
+
+"Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father's message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full."
+
+"Up to the tip top?"
+
+"Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don't let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you."
+
+"You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit," said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.
+
+"Do you greatly mind if I _don't_ talk about it?" she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. "It makes me feel----"
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"I don't know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don't like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know."
+
+"We won't talk of it," said Lord Grayleigh; "what shall I do to amuse
+you?"
+
+"Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold."
+
+"I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good."
+
+"I am delighted," said Sibyl. "It's awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn't
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don't know all He has done for me!
+Don't you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"Who, Sibyl?"
+
+"My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ."
+
+Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child's eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.
+
+"Now," she continued, after a pause, "dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich."
+
+"Mr. and Mrs. Holman," said Lord Grayleigh; "who are they?"
+
+"They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I'll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You'll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You'll be quite sure to remember
+her?"
+
+"Quite sure, Sibyl."
+
+"Hadn't you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?"
+
+"In my pocket."
+
+"Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine."
+
+Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.
+
+"What do you wish me to say?" he inquired.
+
+"Put it this way," said Sibyl eagerly, "then you won't forget. Some of
+the gold in the----"
+
+"Lombard Deeps Mine," supplied Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine," repeated Sibyl, "to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put _dear_ Mr. and Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl."
+
+"Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico."
+
+The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"That is nice," she said, "that will make them happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and 'cos the children won't
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don't like
+some children a bit."
+
+"I am glad you're pleased about the Holmans, little woman."
+
+"Of course I am, and aren't you. Don't you like to make people happy?"
+
+Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.
+
+"Have you any other notes for this book?" he said.
+
+"Of course I have. There's the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I'm under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry _so_
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there's gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book 'Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,' will you, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"I have entered it," said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.
+
+"And mother, of course," continued Sibyl, "wants lots of money, and
+there's my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I'd like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is."
+
+"Don't you? How funny; he is our footman. I'm awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don't you think it's very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?"
+
+"I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go."
+
+"But you won't forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won't forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?"
+
+"No, I'll be certain to remember every single one of them."
+
+"Then that's all right, and you'll come to darling mother's bazaar?"
+
+"I'll come."
+
+"I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.
+
+"I don't like the child's look," he wrote; "I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can."
+
+It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"If you cannot come to the bazaar," she wrote to Lady Helen, "it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester."
+
+Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh's letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl's room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.
+
+Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.
+
+"Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow," she said, "but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You'll come and see me very, very often, won't you?"
+
+"Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me."
+
+"Oh, you are sweet," answered the child, "and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother's splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn't it dear of
+her?"
+
+"Well, I am interested in the bazaar," said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie's noble action.
+
+"It is so inciting all about it," continued the little girl, "and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn't mother pretty, isn't she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel--but then she is an angel, isn't she, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. "You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself," she said; "let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say."
+
+"Stories?" said Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, I will tell you stories."
+
+"Thank you; I do love 'em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have not seen him lately."
+
+"You'll be married to him soon, I know you will."
+
+"We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you."
+
+"It's odd how weak my voice has grown," said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+"Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn't. Nursie did 'em. There's one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can't put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?"
+
+"I should like to," replied Lady Helen; "I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls."
+
+"The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There's plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can."
+
+Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.
+
+"It rests me to have you in the room," said the child, "you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name."
+
+"What is that, Sibyl?"
+
+"She calls it the Chamber of Peace--isn't it sweet of her?"
+
+"The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room," answered Lady
+Helen.
+
+"I do wish Mr. Rochester was here," was Sibyl's next remark.
+
+"He will come to the bazaar, dear."
+
+"And then, perhaps, I'll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I'd like to say."
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I'm
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think--I
+wouldn't like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I'm going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly's, but real ones, and if I have them I might----"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don't know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father's heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won't it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn't know, darling mother
+doesn't guess, and I wouldn't tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I'm going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, 'Poor
+lamb, she'll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.'
+I shouldn't like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"No, darling, I don't think I should."
+
+"Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn't like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he'll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go."
+
+Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.
+
+"So you must marry Mr. Rochester," she continued, "for you both love
+each other so very much."
+
+"That is quite true," replied Lady Helen.
+
+Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. "The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold," she said, in an excited voice. "I
+know--Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you'll think of me, won't you?"
+
+"I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now--see! the
+angel doll is finished."
+
+"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. "Do take it down to mother. She's
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window--do go at once."
+
+Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.
+
+The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.
+
+"Sibyl sent you this," said Lady Helen.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.
+
+"Oh, lay it down anywhere, please," she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.
+
+"Please, Mrs. Ogilvie," she said, "you must take an interest in it."
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie's
+attention.
+
+"You must take a great interest in this doll," she continued. "Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, I----"
+
+"Oh, what is it now," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way." She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen's agitated
+face.
+
+"I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl," continued Lady Helen, "and I
+am very--more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for--I
+think----"
+
+"You think what? Oh, please don't begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden."
+
+"But have you had the very best advice for her?"
+
+"I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion."
+
+"But what is Sir Henry Powell's opinion?"
+
+"Don't ask me. I don't believe in doctors. The child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time."
+
+"Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think," replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.
+
+"I never knew anyone so gloomy," she said, "and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen."
+
+"Well, at least take the doll--the child is looking at you," said Lady
+Helen. "Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now."
+
+"Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling." Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.
+
+It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the _Sahara_ kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl's accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child's room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl's
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.
+
+If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.
+
+"He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best," she said to
+herself. "It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests."
+
+As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.
+
+"Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them," she remembered. "I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake."
+
+But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.
+
+"As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening," she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.
+
+According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.
+
+Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother's great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.
+
+It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.
+
+"You know the place, I presume?" he said.
+
+"Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar."
+
+As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.
+
+"Go as fast as you can," he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.
+
+"A rum visitor," he thought; "wonder what he's coming for. Don't look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this."
+
+Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter--but did his little daughter still live? Was Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.
+
+When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.
+
+"No, sir," replied the driver, "it's all right. There ain't but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie."
+
+"Then Sibyl must have got well again," thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.
+
+The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature's own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, Phil!" she cried, with a little start. She was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.
+
+"Why, Phil!" she said again. "Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn't you send me a telegram?"
+
+"I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?"
+
+"Oh, much the same--I mean she is going on quite, _quite_ nicely."
+
+"And what is this?"
+
+Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.
+
+"What is all this?" he repeated.
+
+"My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn't it?
+Oh, by the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?"
+
+"Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?"
+
+"I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil."
+
+"I want to know more of Sibyl." Here the husband caught the wife's
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. "No matter about other
+things at present," he said sternly. "How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?"
+
+"Well, I really don't think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do."
+
+But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.
+
+"_Where_ is the child?" he repeated again.
+
+"Don't look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely."
+
+"But is she injured? Can she walk?"
+
+"What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually--at least, I think so."
+
+"What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?"
+
+As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie's attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.
+
+"I will see the child in a minute," he said; "nothing else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, _what do the doctors
+say_?"
+
+Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie's pretty, dark eyes.
+
+"Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all."
+
+"You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?"
+
+"The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell."
+
+"Good God, that man!" said Ogilvie, starting back. "Then she must have
+been badly hurt?"
+
+"She was badly hurt."
+
+"Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing."
+
+"They--they--of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly."
+
+"Speak!" was his only response.
+
+"They said at the time--of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it."
+
+"Speak!" This one expression came from Ogilvie's lips almost with a
+hiss.
+
+"Well, they said at the time that--oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case was----"
+
+"Hopeless?" asked the man between his white lips.
+
+"They certainly _said_ it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!"
+
+He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.
+
+"You knew it, and you could have that going on?" he said. "Go back to
+your bazaar."
+
+"I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind."
+
+"You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+_that_? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them."
+
+He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.
+
+"I am a martyr in a good cause," she said to herself; "but it is
+bitterly hard when one's husband does not understand one."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father's arms
+at night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear
+his voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.
+
+Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.
+
+For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor's verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? The look on the child's
+face was answer enough to her father.
+
+Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.
+
+The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.
+
+"This cuts him to the heart," he said; "I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again."
+
+"Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!" said the wife. "My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack--nervous fever, the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by."
+
+Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.
+
+Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to _think_ that it had any part in Ogilvie's curious
+unwillingness to see him.
+
+At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.
+
+But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength
+of his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.
+
+But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.
+
+But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.
+
+On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl's room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.
+
+"Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!" said little Sibyl.
+"Come and kiss me, darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.
+
+"Don't tire her," said Ogilvie; "if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which seemed to say: "And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child." But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife's eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.
+
+Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Ogilvie, "will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone."
+
+His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.
+
+"I shall soon be back, my little love," he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.
+
+"Isn't it wonderful," she said, turning to her governess, "how perfect
+they both are! I don't know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can't help it, but I like father's way best."
+
+"I should think you did," replied Miss Winstead. "Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?"
+
+"Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead," answered Sibyl.
+
+"Then what shall I read?"
+
+"I don't think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?"
+
+"You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?"
+
+"Perhaps so; I don't quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it's most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It's about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem _is_ so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won't ask you to read about it, 'cos I like father's way of reading
+best; but it's all most wonderful and beautiful."
+
+The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.
+
+The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.
+
+"Now, Mildred," he said, "I wish to understand--God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you--but I must clearly understand
+what this means."
+
+"What it means?" she repeated. "Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it's very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+may----"
+
+"Hush!" said the man.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.
+
+"I refuse to allow Sibyl's name to enter into this matter," he said.
+"You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don't care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of _this_?" As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.
+
+"Silverbel!" she cried; "but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?"
+
+"Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.
+
+"Why, we have bought Silverbel," she cried; "you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then,
+of course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and
+I am so happy about it."
+
+"Rich!" he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.
+
+"Mildred," he said slowly, "do you realize--do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?"
+
+"Nonsense," she answered, starting back.
+
+"The child is dying," repeated Ogilvie, "and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man's happiness, _goes out_.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance means----"
+
+"What?" she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.
+
+"Restitution," he replied; "all the restitution that lies in my
+power."
+
+"You--you terrify me," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?"
+
+"Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred--oh, yes, you knew it
+well enough--that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you _knew_--yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it--that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless."
+
+"Worthless!" she cried, "impossible!"
+
+"Worthless," he repeated.
+
+"Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you."
+
+"I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight."
+
+"But, but," she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, "if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?"
+
+"It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?"
+
+"Do I understand?" she replied. "No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures."
+
+"Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune--it would be easy, for there is enough gold
+in the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman's tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and _lose our souls_.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won't. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.
+
+"What you say can't be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy."
+
+"How?" he asked.
+
+"Don't do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it."
+
+He came up to her and took both her hands.
+
+"Is it worth evil?" he asked.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Is anything under the sun worth evil?" She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father's.
+
+"I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you," he said. "Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don't tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon."
+
+"Don't hurry, father darling," replied Sibyl "'cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here."
+
+He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.
+
+"One moment, Phil," she called, "where are you going?"
+
+"To town."
+
+"To do what?"
+
+"To do what I said," he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.
+
+He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began
+to weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.
+
+"What fearful creatures men with consciences are," moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"What can I do for you?" said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.
+
+"If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?"
+
+"That is my name."
+
+"We know you," continued the old woman, "by the likeness to your
+little daughter."
+
+The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.
+
+"May I inquire your names?" he asked.
+
+"Holman, sir," said the woman. "This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie's illness, and we couldn't rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly 'opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn't mind if we asked."
+
+"By no means," answered Ogilvie. "Any friends of Sibyl's, any real
+friends, are of interest to me."
+
+He paused and looked into the old woman's face.
+
+"She's better, ain't she, dear lamb?" asked Mrs. Holman.
+
+Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.
+
+Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand.
+
+"What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?"
+
+"We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response.
+
+"Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always."
+
+"Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again.
+
+He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.
+
+"Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl.
+
+"What is it, dear?" asked the governess.
+
+Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice now
+arrested her attention.
+
+"Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come."
+
+"Who have come, dear?"
+
+"The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do."
+
+"But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself."
+
+"What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans."
+
+"Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.
+
+"Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high and
+clear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child."
+
+"If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?"
+
+"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief."
+
+"But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.
+
+"Sibyl certainly does wish to see you," said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. "I think, Mrs. Ogilvie," she added, "it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly," continued Miss Winstead, "and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm."
+
+"Oh, yes, we'll speak cheerfully," said Holman; "we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, "My opinion is
+never taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child's father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done you will
+have to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.
+
+"The day is improving," she thought. She glanced up at the sky. "It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that."
+
+So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.
+
+Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.
+
+"You must be prepared for a very great change," said Miss Winstead,
+"but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her."
+
+Miss Winstead's own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.
+
+"Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?" said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl's
+soft white hands. "Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?"
+
+"How do you do, Mrs. Holman?" said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; "and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won't you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won't you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both."
+
+"Eh! but you look sweet," said Mrs. Holman.
+
+Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own--a child who died when young--and she had sat by that dying
+child's bed and never once given expression to her feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?
+
+"It is nice to look at you, dearie," she repeated, "and what a pretty
+room you have, my love."
+
+"Everything is beautiful," said little Sibyl, "everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much."
+
+"To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you."
+
+"Whisper," said Sibyl, "bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?"
+
+"Yes, darling, but we won't talk of money now."
+
+"Only," said Sibyl, "when the gold comes from the mine _you'll_ be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman's in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You'll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys." She paused
+here and her little face turned white.
+
+"You must not talk any more, dearie," said Mrs. Holman. "It's all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well."
+
+"I am getting well," answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.
+
+"You know," she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, "that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won't forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?"
+
+"We will never forget you, dearie," said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.
+
+"Come, Holman," she said.
+
+"If I might," said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, "if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie's hand afore I go."
+
+"Oh, indeed, you may," said Sibyl.
+
+A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.
+
+"Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I'm thinking," said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.
+
+"Queer woman, the mother," said Holman. "We'll get back to town, wife;
+I'm wonderful upset."
+
+"We'll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children," said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and
+was admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:
+
+"It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact."
+
+Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.
+
+He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh's club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.
+
+    "Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the
+    Lombard Deeps."
+
+He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.
+
+Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend's face, he
+started and said:
+
+"My dear fellow, you don't look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down."
+
+"I have a good deal to try me," said Ogilvie; "please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?"
+
+"Of her accident?" exclaimed Acland; "yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago--she had a fall from her pony?"
+
+"She had."
+
+"Take a chair, won't you, Ogilvie?"
+
+Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:
+
+"I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie's note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken."
+
+"You are mistaken," replied Ogilvie; "but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?"
+
+"Certainly," said Acland.
+
+A clerk entered the room. "Leave us," said Acland to the man, "and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie," he
+added as the clerk withdrew, "I am quite at your service."
+
+"Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel."
+
+"Yes, the place where your wife is now staying."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don't blame me, Ogilvie?"
+
+"I don't blame you--I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser."
+
+"Not really!" cried Mr. Acland. "The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man."
+
+"On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper."
+
+"No!" cried Mr. Acland; "but the report of the Lombard Deeps----"
+
+"Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife--nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?"
+
+"You can do so, of course," replied Acland. "I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back."
+
+"It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once."
+
+"Very well."
+
+Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.
+
+"You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this," he said, as he
+stood up. "You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time."
+
+"I know another man only too anxious to purchase," said Acland; "but I
+am deeply sorry for you--your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure."
+
+"Yes, quite a failure. I won't detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently."
+
+Ogilvie went from the lawyer's house straight to his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.
+
+"I am the master," said Ogilvie; "let me in, please."
+
+The man stood aside.
+
+"Has a telegram come for me?"
+
+"Yes, sir, five minutes ago."
+
+Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.
+
+     "Meeting of directors at one o'clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+     Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+     wish. GRAYLEIGH."
+
+Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.
+
+"I shall sleep here to-night," Ogilvie said, "and shall be back in the
+course of the evening."
+
+He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.
+
+Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.
+
+"I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland," he
+said, "and I then placed, with a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank."
+
+"A large sum, Ogilvie--ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Yes, ten thousand pounds," repeated Ogilvie. "I want to withdraw the
+money."
+
+"It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it."
+
+"I thought it only fair to give you a few hours' notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o'clock."
+
+"Do you wish to take it in a cheque?"
+
+"I think not, I should prefer notes." Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.
+
+At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.
+
+He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.
+
+Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.
+
+"By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life," he thought. "I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is angry with him. My God is
+angry--the pains of hell take hold of me."
+
+He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the following day, shortly before one o'clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.
+
+Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.
+
+"Gentlemen," he began, "although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it."
+
+Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.
+
+Lord Grayleigh proceeded: "This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned
+to England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you."
+
+Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.
+
+"This report," he said in conclusion, "is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London."
+
+As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh's audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers' reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh's clear voice was lost.
+
+When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.
+
+Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.
+
+"Don't open it now," he said in a low voice, "it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it."
+
+He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.
+
+Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.
+
+Ogilvie's attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.
+
+"We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie," he said. "In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room."
+
+"It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,"
+said a director from the far end of the table. "I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent."
+
+"Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?" said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.
+
+Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.
+
+"I have come here to-day," he said, "to speak for a moment"--his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on--"to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of that----"
+
+"Sit down," said Grayleigh's voice behind him. "You must be mad.
+Remember yourself." He laid his hand on Ogilvie's arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.
+
+"I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,"
+he continued. "This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+_false as hell_."
+
+"False?" echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. "Impossible!"
+
+"It is false," continued Ogilvie. "I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world."
+
+As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.
+
+This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.
+
+"I have no excuse to offer," continued Ogilvie, "and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say."
+
+He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.
+
+"What is the meaning of it all?" said one, going up to Grayleigh;
+"you are chairman, and you ought to know."
+
+Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.
+
+"This must be a brief madness," he said; "there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him."
+
+The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.
+
+"One moment first," said Grayleigh.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"An explanation."
+
+"I gave it upstairs."
+
+"You are mad--you are mad."
+
+"On the contrary, I believe that I am sane--sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now."
+
+"What packet was that you gave me?"
+
+"Your money back."
+
+"The ten thousand pounds?"
+
+"Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters."
+
+"Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child's accident?"
+
+"It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions."
+
+As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh's detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.
+
+As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment's conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.
+
+"He fell, and I caused him to fall," thought Lord Grayleigh. "In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over."
+
+Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.
+
+"I saw Ogilvie just now," he said, "and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky."
+
+"At least the widows and orphans won't be ruined," said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. "Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this."
+
+"We must do so advisedly," was Grayleigh's remark; "remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the
+ears of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine."
+
+"And what of Ogilvie himself?" said an angry-looking man. "Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?"
+
+One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie's story
+too prominently into the light of day.
+
+"It may reflect on ourselves," said one or two. "It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter."
+
+Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.
+
+"If I were you, gentlemen," he said, moodily, "I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+"Philip!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o'clock that afternoon, "I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland."
+
+Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.
+
+"How strangely tired and worn you look," she replied; "what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right."
+
+"You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last."
+
+He gave a hollow laugh.
+
+"I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience," he continued; "that is something to live for."
+
+"Have you done anything rash, Philip?"
+
+"I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?"
+
+"He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?"
+
+"Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up."
+
+Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.
+
+"It cannot be," she cried, "we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit."
+
+"That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don't keep me
+now."
+
+She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl's door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.
+
+"The bitterness of death lies before me," he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for
+God demanded something more of the man--he must open the eyes of
+the child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.
+
+Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.
+
+"Leave us for a little, nurse," said Ogilvie.
+
+She went away at once.
+
+Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl's hands.
+
+"You have been a long time away, father," said the child.
+
+"I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do."
+
+"Business, father?"
+
+"Yes, dearest, important business."
+
+"You don't look well," said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.
+
+"I have had a hard time," said the man, "and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life."
+
+"To me, father? The hardest task of your life?"
+
+"Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you."
+
+"Something bad?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Something very bad."
+
+Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame,
+as though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.
+
+"I am very sorry," she said. "I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?"
+
+"Let me hold your hand," he said. "It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then."
+
+She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.
+
+"At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me."
+
+"I don't understand," said the child.
+
+"I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time."
+
+"Still I do not understand," repeated Sibyl.
+
+"Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes."
+
+"Oh, we were happy!" said the child.
+
+"Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain."
+
+"I wish you would try and 'splain, all the same," said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.
+
+"I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you."
+
+"It's only 'cos of you yourself," she murmured.
+
+"Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?"
+
+"Oh, yes." She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. "I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!"
+
+Her voice grew quite animated.
+
+"Any special people, dearest?"
+
+"So many," she replied. "I told Lord Grayleigh, and he put their
+names in his note-book. There's Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold."
+
+"The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name."
+
+"They came, father. I love 'em so much; and there's Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It's a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, 'cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it's all right."
+
+"No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine."
+
+"But you sent a cablegram."
+
+"I did."
+
+"And you said it was there."
+
+"I did."
+
+She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.
+
+"You said it?"
+
+"I did worse," said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. "I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there."
+
+"Why did you do it, father?"
+
+"Because I was a scoundrel."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"A bad man."
+
+"No," said the child, "no, you was always my most perfect----"
+
+"You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now."
+
+"Then you are sorry?"
+
+"I have repented," he cried; "my God, I have repented," and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child's sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.
+
+Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.
+
+"She is so holy, so heavenly herself," he murmured; "is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her."
+
+The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.
+
+"And so you was never perfect?" she said.
+
+"Never."
+
+"And was mother never perfect?"
+
+"Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done."
+
+The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl's face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother's words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:
+
+"And Lord Jesus, isn't He perfect?"
+
+Ogilvie started when he heard her words.
+
+"Aye, He is perfect," he answered, "you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire."
+
+She smiled very faintly.
+
+"Why did He come into the world?" was her next question.
+
+"Don't you know that old story? Has no one told you?"
+
+"Won't you tell me now, father?"
+
+"The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners."
+
+"Sinners," repeated Sibyl, "'cos He loved 'em?"
+
+"Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?"
+
+"I 'spect not," she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.
+
+"Then He loves _you_," she said, after a moment. "He came from heaven
+'cos of you."
+
+"It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me."
+
+"Don't speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you."
+
+He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.
+
+"Father!" There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.
+
+"Kneel down, father," said Sibyl.
+
+He knelt.
+
+Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.
+
+"I am loving you so much," she said, "same as Jesus loves you, I
+think."
+
+Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.
+
+"It is all right," she continued, "I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you."
+
+"But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?" he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.
+
+"Seems to me I love you more'n ever" was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.
+
+But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.
+
+"Why," cried Sibyl, "it's Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me." She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.
+
+"Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus," she whispered. "Oh, take me." She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.
+
+"Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him."
+
+The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.
+
+It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.
+
+The next instant all was cold and lonely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him--her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze--her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.
+
+He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.
+
+He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.
+
+He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.
+
+She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.
+
+For Sibyl's sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child's education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.
+
+As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance--one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.
+
+Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl's name after
+her death.
+
+But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.
+
+These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.
+
+                         [THE END.]
+
+
+
+
+A. L. Burt's Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,
+52-58 Duane Street, New York
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+
+=Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.= By LEWIS CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story."--=New York Express.=
+
+
+=Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.= By LEWIS
+CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations."--=Boston Express.=
+
+
+=Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Joan's Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.= By ALICE CORKRAN.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.= By C. A. JONES.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"An unusually good children's story."--=Glasgow Herald.=
+
+
+=The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers."--=Cleveland Times.=
+
+
+=Jan of the Windmill.= A Story of the Plains. By MRS. J. H. EWING.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy."--=Academy.=
+
+
+=A Sweet Girl Graduate.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.
+
+"One of this popular author's best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes."--=Providence Journal.=
+
+
+=Six to Sixteen=: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of 'Six
+to Sixteen.' The book is one which would enrich any girl's book
+shelf."--=St. James' Gazette.=
+
+
+=The Palace Beautiful=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the 'Palace Beautiful' for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls."--=New York
+Recorder.=
+
+
+=A World of Girls=: The Story of a School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl's book shelf."--=Boston Home Journal.=
+
+
+=The Lady of the Forest=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story is written in the author's well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author's customary grace and
+spirit."--=Boston Times.=
+
+
+=At the Back of the North Wind.= By GEORGE MACDONALD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald's earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers."--=Philadelphia Times.=
+
+
+=The Water Babies=: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature."--=New York Tribune.=
+
+
+=Our Bessie.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit."--=The Teachers'
+Aid.=
+
+
+=Wild Kitty.= A Story of Middleton School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Kitty is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season."--=The
+Academy.=
+
+
+=A Young Mutineer.= A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of Mrs. Meade's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Sue and I.= By MRS. O'REILLY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75
+cents.
+
+"A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun."--=Athenaeum.=
+
+
+=The Princess and the Goblin.= A Fairy Story. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Pythia's Pupils:= A Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best."--=Teachers' Aid.=
+
+
+=A Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only
+bright and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching."--=Courier.=
+
+
+=The Sleepy King.= A Fairy Tale. By AUBREY HOPWOOD AND SEYMOUR HICKS.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Two Little Waifs.= By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's delightful story of 'Two Little Waifs' will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Toyland.= By EDITH KING HALL. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect."--=Boston Courier.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Wallypug land.= By G. E. FARROW. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense."--=Toronto Mail.=
+
+
+=Fussbudget's Folks.= A Story for Young Girls. By ANNA F. BURNHAM.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters."--=Congregationalist.=
+
+
+=Mixed Pickles.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. E. M. FIELD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind."--=Good
+Literature.=
+
+
+=Miss Mouse and Her Boys.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. MOLESWORTH.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat."--=The Beacon.=
+
+
+=Gilly Flower.= A Story for Girls. By the author of "Miss Toosey's
+Mission." 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind."--=Literary World.=
+
+
+=The Chaplet of Pearls=; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By
+CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season."--=Guardian.=
+
+
+=Naughty Miss Bunny=: Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents."--=Land and Water.=
+
+
+=Meg's Friend.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Averil.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic."--=World.=
+
+
+=Aunt Diana.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Little Sunshine's Holiday=: A Picture from Life. By MISS MULOCK.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people."--=Gazette.=
+
+
+=Esther's Charge.= A Story for Girls. By ELLEN EVERETT GREEN. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl's
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Fairy Land of Science.= By ARABELLA B. BUCKLEY. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children."--=Daily News.=
+
+
+=Merle's Crusade.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author's stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written."--=Journal.=
+
+
+=Birdie:= A Tale of Child Life. By H. L. CHILDE-PEMBERTON. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years."--=New York
+Express.=
+
+=The Days of Bruce:= A Story from Scottish History. By GRACE AGUILAR.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar's stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading."--=Boston Beacon.=
+
+
+=Three Bright Girls:= A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E.
+ARMSTRONG. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls."--=Standard.=
+
+
+=Giannetta:= A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season."--=The Academy.=
+
+
+=Margery Merton's Girlhood.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Under False Colors:= A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=Down the Snow Stairs=; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By ALICE
+CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps--a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's
+Progress."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=The Tapestry Room=: A Child's Romance. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people."--=Athenaeum, London.=
+
+
+=Little Miss Peggy:= Only a Nursery Story. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+Mrs. Molesworth's children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.
+
+
+=Polly=: A New Fashioned Girl. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.
+
+
+=One of a Covey.= By the author of "Miss Toosey's Mission." 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This 'Covey' consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens' pen."--=LITERARY
+WORLD.=
+
+
+=The Little Princess of Tower Hill.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it--which is much
+better than crying for it--it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls."--=Boston Advertiser.=
+
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, =A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.=
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter's
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author's words and intent.
+
+2. In the advertising pages at the end of this book, the names of
+books and reviewers were set in bold type-face; this is indicated by
+a = at the beginning and end of the words in bold.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+***** This file should be named 30333.txt or 30333.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/3/30333/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/30333.zip b/30333.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9468477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30333.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0078a28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #30333 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30333)
diff --git a/old/30333-8.txt b/old/30333-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c768dbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,10057 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Daddy's Girl
+
+Author: L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30333]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ DADDY'S GIRL
+
+ BY L. T. MEADE
+
+ Author of "A Very Naughty Girl," "Polly, A New Fashioned
+ Girl," "Palace Beautiful," "Sweet Girl Graduate,"
+ "World of Girls," etc., etc.
+
+ "Suffer the little children to come unto me."
+
+ A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
+ 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DADDY'S GIRL. _Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+DADDY'S GIRL.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.
+
+The occasion was an important one, and the Angel's rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.
+
+"Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?" thought the Angel to
+herself.
+
+A box of wild flowers, which had come up from the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow," she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.
+
+"What do you want, Sibyl? Don't disturb me now," said this individual.
+
+"It is only just for a moment," replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady's writing-pad.
+
+"Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?" she said.
+
+"Oh, don't worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he'll be so annoyed if he doesn't hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme."
+
+The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.
+
+"They'll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed," thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty," she repeated softly under her
+breath, "but father likes me anyhow." She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?
+
+"Do I look pretty?" she said at last, dancing back to the governess's
+side.
+
+Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.
+
+"Do I look pretty?" repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.
+
+"You are a very vain little girl," said Miss Winstead. "I won't tell
+you whether you look pretty or not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don't interrupt me any
+more."
+
+"There's the gong, I'm off," cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.
+
+"I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am," thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. "Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too."
+
+Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath--
+
+"It's not wrong, 'cos it's mother. Mother couldn't do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could"; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother's voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.
+
+"It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus," Sibyl would say, "and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don't think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It's for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don't like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?"
+
+Jesus never made any audible response to the child's query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.
+
+As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother's kisses being softest and her mother's eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.
+
+Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.
+
+Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.
+
+"The child should go to the mother for love and petting," she would
+say. "Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her."
+
+It was Sibyl's father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.
+
+"You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,"
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.
+
+"Oh, yes, father," answered the Angel, "but, you see, I wasn't born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn't it? You're perfect
+and I am not. I can't help the way I was born, can I, father?"
+
+"No; no one is perfect, darling," replied the father.
+
+"You are," answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+"You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I'll
+try to please you, father, so don't knit up your forehead."
+
+Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father's brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.
+
+"Same as if you was an old man," she said: "but you're perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you," and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.
+
+On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.
+
+"I should not like the child to know about it," was his reflection;
+"but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.
+
+"Here I come," she cried, "here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me." She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl's waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.
+
+"What a fairy-like little girl this is!" he cried.
+
+"You are Spring come to cheer us up."
+
+"I am glad," whispered Sibyl; "but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother."
+
+Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.
+
+"Father says I am Spring, look at me," she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.
+
+"Something is fretting my ownest mother," she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother's soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father's side.
+
+Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.
+
+It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother's objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.
+
+"I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now," she said on this occasion. "She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father."
+
+"You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl," said her mother
+from the other end of the table.
+
+"Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear," said the father. "What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?"
+
+"Spelling, as usual," said Sibyl briefly, "but more special 'cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty."
+
+"Hush!" said the mother again.
+
+Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.
+
+"My dear," he said, addressing his wife, "do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the person----"
+
+"I beg of you, Philip," interrupted the mother, "not to speak of the
+child's teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks."
+
+"It's 'cos they're both so perfect," thought Sibyl, "but it's hard on
+me not to be able to 'splain things. If I can't, what is to be done?"
+
+She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.
+
+The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.
+
+"Is it nice?" she inquired.
+
+"Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?"
+
+"No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you're a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog."
+
+"My dear Sibyl," cried the mother, "I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!"
+
+"Let us turn the subject," said the father.
+
+Sibyl turned it with a will.
+
+"I 'spect I ought to 'fess to you," she said. "I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I'm not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?"
+
+"You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?" was the answer.
+
+"I don't think I'd much care," said Sibyl, with a smile. "You'd know
+what I meant, wouldn't you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same," she added, "I'll spell right if you wish it--I mean,
+I'll try."
+
+"That's a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?"
+
+"When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be best for her to do
+so in private?" said the mother again.
+
+"But this is private," said Mr. Ogilvie, "only her father and mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.
+
+"I washed my doll's clothes, although nurse told me not," continued
+Sibyl, "and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I _would_ open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn't to blame--Watson wasn't."
+
+The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.
+
+"Father," whispered Sibyl, "do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, and----"
+
+"Hush! hush!" said Mr. Ogilvie, "go on with your confessions."
+
+"They're rather sad, aren't they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn't do one right thing to-day 'cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don't mind a bit being naughty. I wouldn't be a
+flabby good girl for all the world."
+
+"Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?" said her father.
+
+Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good--perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:
+
+"I'll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus."
+
+"That is right," said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.
+
+The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.
+
+"Good-night, little Spring," said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.
+
+She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered--
+
+"Is it 'cos I'm a wicked girl you're sad?"
+
+"No," he answered, "you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world."
+
+"Oh, no, father," answered Sibyl, "that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn't like to be too good, 'cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.
+
+"You spoil that child," said the wife, "but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don't pretend to be a good mother, but I don't talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things."
+
+"I wish you would leave the child alone," said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; "she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going."
+
+"I would much rather you did not."
+
+"I am sorry." Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. "I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way."
+
+"It is impossible for me to accompany you."
+
+"I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child."
+
+"Sibyl! No, I do not wish it."
+
+"I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday."
+
+Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.
+
+"You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present," he said. "You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline."
+
+"I am going," said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.
+
+"Is that your last word?" he inquired.
+
+"It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me."
+
+"Nor you to please me, Mildred," he was about to say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, "There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable."
+
+"And what is that?" she asked.
+
+"The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us--Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?"
+
+"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," was Mrs. Ogilvie's
+flippant remark. "But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive."
+
+"Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart."
+
+"And it sickened me," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don't wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful _debut_ in
+Society, all in due course."
+
+"With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage," added the husband,
+bitterly.
+
+"I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl," was his
+wife's answer, "and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.
+
+Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.
+
+The postman's ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.
+
+Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.
+
+"It is the child," he thought. "She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this"--he touched the letter with
+his hand--"I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred's extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet--I
+don't care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl's and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me."
+
+He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl's nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.
+
+Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child's bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.
+
+"Good-night, little darling," said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.
+
+"Oh, father, is that you?" she cried in a voice of rapture.
+
+"Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night."
+
+"You are good, you never forget," said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. "I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?"
+
+"Not for worlds," it was the man's first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. "Of course, dear," he said.
+
+Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father's neck.
+
+"Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day," she began, "and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, 'cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.
+
+"Now, father, you're pleased," continued the little girl. "It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don't want to be better,
+but I'll try hard if it pleases you."
+
+"Yes, Sibyl, try hard," said her father, "try very hard to be good.
+Don't let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you." Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.
+
+"He's fretted; it's just 'cos the world is so wicked, and 'cos I'm not
+as good as I ought to be," thought the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.
+
+Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR GRAYLEIGH,--
+
+     "Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+     before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+     am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+     have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+     assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+     been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+     more suited for your purpose.
+
+               "Yours sincerely,
+                    "PHILIP OGILVIE."
+
+It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.
+
+His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.
+
+"What," he cried, "up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed."
+
+He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.
+
+"I am so glad you have come back, Phil," she said. "I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company."
+
+Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment's pause he said in a sullen
+tone--
+
+"Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up."
+
+"What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren't you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?"
+
+"Come into my smoking-room," he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.
+
+"This will make a great difference in our position," she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.
+
+"What do you mean by our position?" he said.
+
+"You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last."
+
+"And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?"
+
+"It is impossible; impossible to manage," she said, petulantly.
+
+"It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles"--he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. "Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it--that
+is, in moderation."
+
+"Ah! I knew you had accepted," she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. "Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public."
+
+"You know, perhaps, what all this means?" said Ogilvie, after a pause.
+
+"Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?"
+
+"Don't dare to mention the child's name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine."
+
+"Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me," she answered. "I declare I
+am getting sleepy." Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.
+
+"It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh's offer----"
+
+"If! But you have done so, of course you have."
+
+"If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets."
+
+"As usual, you taunt me," she said, "but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?"
+
+"The letter has come."
+
+"You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?"
+
+"I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine."
+
+"Philip!" His wife's voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.
+
+"You cannot be speaking the truth," she said.
+
+"My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed."
+
+She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.
+
+"I hate you," she said; "go your own way in the future," and she left
+him standing silent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.
+
+"I am much more like a boy than a girl," she thought, "and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I'll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn't care so very much whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can't be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother."
+
+So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.
+
+Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.
+
+"Don't forget me while you are away, little woman," he said, "and look
+after mother, won't you?"
+
+"She won't need me to look after her, she's quite, quite perfect,"
+said Sibyl; "but I'm going to watch her, and try to copy her."
+
+"Child, don't do that," said the man.
+
+"Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?"
+
+"Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven."
+
+"Well, my home is right down here on earth," said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. "I'll have a real jolly time away, I 'spect."
+
+"I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father's sake, and
+don't forget to pray for me."
+
+"I will, I will," said the child; "I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good."
+
+"Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman."
+
+That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.
+
+Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl's secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.
+
+She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl's things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.
+
+"You are to go to tea in the schoolroom," she said. "There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock."
+
+It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.
+
+"It's a beautiful dress," she said; "you are wearing money now."
+
+"Money," said Sibyl, "what do you mean?"
+
+"This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don't spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire."
+
+"I don't understand," said Sibyl; "I wish it wasn't a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?"
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show."
+
+"If you speak again in that tone of my mother I'll slap you," said
+Sibyl.
+
+"Highty-tighty!" said the nurse; "your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in."
+
+"And so do you," answered Sibyl. "If mother is good you are not, and
+I'm not, so we both must be broke in; but I've got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?"
+
+"That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say."
+
+"Then we _has_ something in common," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+"I'm a handful, too. I'm off to the schoolroom."
+
+"There never was such a child," thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; "she's not shy, and she's as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she's a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master's
+child, but her mother's! Dear me, I'm often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect."
+
+Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room--Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh's children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.
+
+"Oh, you're the little girl," said Mabel, who was twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.
+
+"Yes, I _are_ the little girl," said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.
+
+"Where is my place?" she said. "Is it laid for me? I am the visitor."
+
+Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.
+
+"Sit down," he said; "you had better sit there, near Mabel; she's
+pouring out tea. She's the boss, you know."
+
+"What's a boss?" said Sibyl.
+
+"You must be a silly not to know what a boss is."
+
+"I aren't no more silly than you are," said Sibyl. "May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I'll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can't answer me. What's a--what's a--oh, I'll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don't talk to me too much
+while I'm eating, or I'll spill jam on my money frock."
+
+"You are a very queer little girl," said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.
+
+"What a silly you are," said Gus. "What did you put on that thing
+for? We don't want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, and----"
+
+"Climb trees! Oh," cried Sibyl, "are you that sort? Then I'm your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I'm a hoyden--do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to 'em quick, for I'm your
+girl."
+
+Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.
+
+"You are very queer," she said. "I don't know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes--we are quite ladylike and good, but we don't wear
+grand frocks either. Can't you take that thing off?"
+
+"I wish I could. I hate it myself."
+
+"Well, ask your servant to change it."
+
+"But my nurse hasn't brought a single shabby frock with me."
+
+"Are all your frocks as grand as that?"
+
+"Some of 'em grander."
+
+"We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks," said Freda.
+
+"Oh, do!" said Sibyl; "that will be lovely."
+
+"We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, so you may as well
+put it on," continued Freda.
+
+Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. "It's a great comfort coming
+down to this place," she said finally, "'cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It's mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers."
+
+"But isn't Philip Ogilvie your father?" said Gus.
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie," corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.
+
+"Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He's not perfect."
+
+Sibyl's face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:
+
+"Father didn't know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man's name was Halkett. I'm always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say 'Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he's not too scrupulous.' Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means--oh, you needn't stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head--it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, as your father isn't scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn't hesitate to act wrong."
+
+Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.
+
+"What have you done that for, you little beggar?" he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.
+
+"To teach you not to tell lies," answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. "But I won't shed them," thought the
+child, "not for worlds."
+
+Sibyl's action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl's side
+and touched her on her arm.
+
+"Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you," she said; "we didn't
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won't you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?"
+
+"And I'll never say a word against your father again," said Gus.
+
+"You had better not," answered Sibyl. "No, I won't shake hands; I
+won't make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I'd like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl's white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.
+
+"You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock," said Freda in
+conclusion. "Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting."
+
+Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus's cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.
+
+"What a noise those children make," said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.
+
+"How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.
+
+"I have three," he replied; "they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died"--he sighed
+as he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years'
+standing--"I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child's beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.
+
+"I see four little figures dancing about among those trees," said
+Lord Grayleigh. "We will see them all together."
+
+They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.
+
+Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother's side.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," she cried, "I'm so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It's lovely to sit up there."
+
+Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.
+
+"What do you mean, Sibyl," she said, "by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you."
+
+Sibyl turned first red and then white.
+
+"Is that Lord Grayleigh?" she whispered.
+
+"Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you."
+
+"I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I--may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. "Do let her speak," he said; "she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in _deshabille_. What is
+it, little woman?"
+
+"It's that I don't want to shake hands with you--never, _never_!"
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.
+
+"I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,"
+she said. "What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?" Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. "I fear it is her father's doing," she continued, "he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock."
+
+"I don't think your nurse is to blame," said Lord Grayleigh. "I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps' frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me."
+
+"Oh, you can never account for Sibyl's whims," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "it
+is all her father's fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you."
+
+"I should be very proud of that child if I were you," answered Lord
+Grayleigh. "She has a particularly frank, fine face."
+
+"Oh, she is handsome enough," answered Mrs. Ogilvie. "But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect--could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to."
+
+"Don't scold her, poor little thing," said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. "For my part," he continued, "I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?"
+
+"I do know it," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. "Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind."
+
+"He is a strange fellow," answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; "but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of course----"
+
+"Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?"
+
+"I don't know that I can explain. Money is not everything--at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband's scruples"--Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive--"even your
+husband's scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances--we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.
+
+When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.
+
+"Money _is_ everything," she thought, "whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses."
+
+She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.
+
+With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.
+
+Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?
+
+"May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?" There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie's
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone--
+
+"Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you."
+
+Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.
+
+Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.
+
+"Now you'll kiss me," she said; "now you're pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I'm beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me."
+
+"Get up, Sib, and don't be absurd," said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.
+
+"Really," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don't mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired."
+
+"But Mummy--Mumsy!"
+
+"Don't call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don't like
+abbreviations."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.
+
+"Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name."
+
+"Sacred name!" said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. "Oh yes, I won't call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely."
+
+"Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing."
+
+"Oh, mother darling, I didn't mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums--I mean, mother--I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.
+
+"Come here," she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl's lips. "Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively."
+
+"Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?"
+
+"Look at me. Are you attending?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?"
+
+"Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem."
+
+"That sounds very nice," thought Sibyl to herself. "Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I'll listen."
+
+"I wish," continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, "I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl."
+
+"Poses!" cried Sibyl; "what's poses?"
+
+"Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?"
+
+"Oh, mother! it meant----" Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother's speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.
+
+"Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go."
+
+"But, mother! one minute first, please--please."
+
+"Go, Sibyl, obey me."
+
+"It was 'cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against my----"
+
+"Go, Sibyl, I won't listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant."
+
+"I am going," said the child, "but I cannot be----"
+
+"Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go."
+
+Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.
+
+"I don't understand," she said to herself. "Perhaps I wasn't quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don't know. I think
+I'll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn't--of course it's all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me 'splain things. I wish I hadn't a pain
+here." Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.
+
+"It's 'cos of father I feel so bad, it's 'cos they told lies of
+father." She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.
+
+"And mother would not even let me 'splain," thought the child.
+
+"Hullo!" cried a gay voice; "hullo! and what's the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?" And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.
+
+"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "aren't we fine! I say! you'll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join."
+
+"I can't, Gus," replied Sibyl.
+
+"Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I don't feel like playing games."
+
+"You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?"
+
+"No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I'll come by-and-by."
+
+"Somebody wasn't square with her," thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+"Queer little girl! But I like her all the same."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Sibyl's conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.
+
+At last the children's hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl's shoulder.
+
+"I am pleased with you," she said; "you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now."
+
+"Will you come and see me, Mumsy--mother, I mean--before you go to
+bed?"
+
+"Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly."
+
+Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.
+
+"That is such an absurd custom," she said; "I must break her of it."
+
+"Break your little girl of what?" he asked. "She is a beautiful
+child," he added. "I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter."
+
+"I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman," replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, "and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date."
+
+"I don't know," answered Mr. Rochester; "if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it." As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl's
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.
+
+Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.
+
+"Won't you come to the schoolroom now?" asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.
+
+"No; mother said I was to go to bed," answered Sibyl.
+
+"How proper and good you have turned," cried Mabel.
+
+"Good-night," said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse's cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.
+
+"What is it, pet?" nurse said. "Is anything the matter?"
+
+"No," answered Sibyl. "Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?"
+
+"Sakes alive!" cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, "to be sure, my darling," she answered. "I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I'll fetch it for you, dearie."
+
+"Thank you," replied Sibyl.
+
+Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl's hands.
+
+"Now, my little darling," said nurse, "you look quite white. You'll
+just read a verse or two, and then you'll go off to your bed."
+
+"I want to find a special verse," said Sibyl. "When I have read it I
+will go to bed." She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.
+
+"What's fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?"
+
+"I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night."
+
+"What is it, dear?"
+
+"'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, love," answered nurse promptly, "that's in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear."
+
+"But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?" asked the
+puzzled old woman; "there's some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There's a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.'
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put."
+
+"There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible," said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. "Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it's not that I'm
+thinking of, it's the one you found about 'God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.' It seems to 'splain things."
+
+"What things, dear?"
+
+"Why, about mother. Nursie, isn't my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?"
+
+"Oh, my goodness me, no!" exclaimed the woman under her breath. "I
+wouldn't remark it, my dear," she said aloud.
+
+"That's 'cos you know so very little. You can't never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, and I'm not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now."
+
+Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.
+
+"Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother," said Sibyl, "and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy."
+
+Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.
+
+On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"I failed to understand your letter," he said, "and have come to you
+for an explanation."
+
+Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.
+
+"I thought my meaning plain enough," he replied, "but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?"
+
+"For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton."
+
+"But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?" queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.
+
+"I see," cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang
+to his feet. "I have regarded you as my friend for some time,
+Grayleigh, and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with--you know what it means--a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn't it?"
+
+"Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world--our world I mean--consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill--a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation."
+
+"Your emendation of that old proverb may be _fin de siècle_, but it
+does not suit my notions," muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.
+
+Grayleigh looked keenly at him.
+
+"You will be sorry for this," he said; "it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that."
+
+"And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; but----"
+
+"What is the matter with you?" said Lord Grayleigh; "you never were so
+scrupulous."
+
+"I don't know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you a----"
+
+"We need not enter into that," said Grayleigh, rising; "you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the _pros_ and _cons_. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand."
+
+"And it is that which at once tempts and repels me," said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, "How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?"
+
+"Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners."
+
+"Sibyl is peculiar," said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl's wore at intervals.
+
+"She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie."
+
+"Not at all," answered Ogilvie; "I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely."
+
+"Well, to turn to the present matter," said Lord Grayleigh; "you will
+reconsider your refusal?"
+
+"I would rather not."
+
+"But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so."
+
+"There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me," said
+Ogilvie; "it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve me from temptation. But suppose I were to--to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?"
+
+"They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely."
+
+Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.
+
+"I will assume," he said, "that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won't take a refusal now."
+
+Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.
+
+Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to "Philip Ogilvie, Esq.," in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter's name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.
+
+Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "DADDY DEAR,--Here's a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+     kiss. I will put sum more at the end of the letter. Pleas
+     kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+     hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+     home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+     more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+     said she wasn't purfect but she is, isn't she father? I miss
+     you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+     me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+     never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+     for having gived you to me father. Your SIBYL."
+
+     "Father, what does 'scroopolus' mean? I want to know
+     speshul.--SIB."
+
+The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well--he had seen them coming for a long time--the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler's bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.
+
+"I am unworthy of my little Angel," he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. "And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame," he cried; "she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl's
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!"
+
+He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.
+
+"Shall I risk it?" he said to himself. "Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems _bona fide_ enough. It it is _bona fide_, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other," and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh's offer.
+
+Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.
+
+"I am sorry to seem to force your hand," that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, "but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday."
+
+A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and--turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.
+
+As these thoughts flashed before his mind he forgot that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.
+
+"Bring me brandy, and be quick," said Ogilvie.
+
+The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.
+
+After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife's extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother's death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate--not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl's needs and her mother's fancied necessities, Ogilvie's
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.
+
+"I must do something better than that for my little daughter," thought
+the man. "I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl's sake."
+
+But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.
+
+He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.
+
+"When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest," thought the man. "I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought."
+
+He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.
+
+As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.
+
+Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.
+
+He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor's consulting room.
+
+Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.
+
+"My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?"
+
+"Something of the kind," said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty--he was all right.
+
+Rashleigh asked him a few questions.
+
+"I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly," said Ogilvie, "and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home."
+
+"How large a sum do you propose to insure for?" asked the doctor.
+
+"I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart."
+
+Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor's hands.
+
+Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.
+
+"Well?" said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. "It's all right, I
+suppose."
+
+"It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination," was Rashleigh's
+answer. "You'll hear all in good time."
+
+"But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know."
+
+"When do you propose to go to Australia?"
+
+"I may not go at all. In fact if----" Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. "If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go."
+
+"But suppose it is not all right?"
+
+"Then I sail on Saturday."
+
+"I may as well tell you the truth," said Rashleigh; "you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Heart," said Rashleigh.
+
+"Heart! Mine? Not affected?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Seriously?"
+
+"It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful."
+
+"Does this mean that I----" Ogilvie dropped into a chair. "Rashleigh,"
+he said suddenly, "I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable--a very measurable distance of the end."
+
+"Describe your sensations," said Rashleigh.
+
+Ogilvie did so.
+
+"Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively."
+
+"Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?"
+
+"I fear not."
+
+"Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening."
+
+"Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart."
+
+"But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot."
+
+"You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end."
+
+"Just what was said to my father, who did not live for years and
+years," answered the man. "I won't keep you any longer, Rashleigh."
+
+He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, "Doomed."
+
+He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.
+
+"You don't look well, Mr. Ogilvie."
+
+"Never mind about my looks, Harrison," replied Ogilvie. "I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention."
+
+"Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don't look well."
+
+"Looks are nothing," replied Ogilvie. "I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie's subservience to his chief's wishes, he should
+turn restive.
+
+"That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable," thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.
+
+He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.
+
+"Hullo!" said Lord Grayleigh; "come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself."
+
+Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, "I'm not going
+to account for myself to you," but she remembered her mother's
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.
+
+"If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can," she thought.
+
+So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.
+
+"We were chasing Sib," they said; "she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us."
+
+"And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all," was Grayleigh's
+response. "Sibyl has long legs for her age."
+
+Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.
+
+"I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?"
+
+This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl's soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.
+
+"Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog's," thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.
+
+"You and I will walk by ourselves for a little," he said. "Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments."
+
+Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl's point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be "not good," and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be "not good."
+
+Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.
+
+"We will sit here and talk, shall we?" he said.
+
+"Yes, shall us?" replied Sibyl.
+
+Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.
+
+"I 'spect I'm rather short for my age," she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.
+
+"Why, how old are you?" he asked.
+
+"Quite old," she replied gravely; "I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back."
+
+"You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head," he replied,
+looking at her gravely.
+
+She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.
+
+"You called me away from the other children 'cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn't you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?"
+
+"Of course he is."
+
+"Did he ask about me?"
+
+"Yes, he asked me how you were."
+
+"And what did you say?"
+
+"I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite."
+
+Sibyl's eyes began to dance.
+
+"What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?" asked Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Of you," answered Sibyl with promptitude.
+
+"Come, that's very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?"
+
+"May I?" said Sibyl with great eagerness. "Do you really, truly mean
+it?"
+
+"I certainly mean it."
+
+"You won't tell--mother?"
+
+"I won't tell--mother," said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.
+
+Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.
+
+"I am glad," she said with emphasis. "I don't want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It's
+most 'portant that I should speak to you, and if you will promise----"
+
+"I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it."
+
+"You won't like it," said Sibyl.
+
+"You must leave me to judge of that."
+
+"I am going to be fwightfully rude."
+
+"Indeed! that is highly diverting."
+
+"I don't know what diverting is, but it will hurt you."
+
+"I believe I can survive the pain."
+
+Sibyl looked full at him then.
+
+"Are you laughing at me?" she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.
+
+"I would not dream of doing so."
+
+The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh's eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl's father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.
+
+"Speak away, little girl," he said, "I promise not to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father."
+
+"Thank you for saying that, but it isn't true; for father's perfect,
+and I'm not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies."
+
+"Indeed!" said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. "Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords."
+
+"I don't understand what that means," said Sibyl.
+
+"For a duel; you have heard of a duel?"
+
+"Oh, in history, of course," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, "and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man."
+
+"Do you really want to run a sword through me?"
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.
+
+"Come," said Lord Grayleigh, "it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?"
+
+"About my father."
+
+"Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand."
+
+"I will try and 'splain. I didn't know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies."
+
+"Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know."
+
+"I want to."
+
+"Fire away then."
+
+"You told someone--I don't know the name--you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus."
+
+"Indeed," said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. "I told
+somebody--that is diverting."
+
+"It's not diverting," said Sibyl, "it's cruel, it's mean, it's wrong;
+it's lies--black lies. Now you know."
+
+"But whom did I tell?"
+
+"Somebody, and somebody told me--I'm not going to tell who told me."
+
+"Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?"
+
+"I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn't act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so."
+
+"Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl."
+
+"He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect."
+
+The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.
+
+"And mother is perfect, too," she said, turning and facing him.
+
+Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.
+
+"Oh, no," he said.
+
+"So you don't wonder that I hate you," continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. "It's 'cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you."
+
+"Listen now, little girl." Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.
+
+"Don't shrink away, don't turn from me," he said; "I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that little girls
+don't understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down _good_ fellow."
+
+"The best in all the world?" queried Sibyl.
+
+"I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father."
+
+"And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father's quite
+perfect?"
+
+"Men like myself don't care to own themselves in the wrong," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and the fact is--listen, you queer little mortal--I don't
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any."
+
+"You have met my father and my mother."
+
+"Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me."
+
+"Would he?" said the child. She looked wistful and interested. "There
+are lots of things I want to be 'splained to me," she said. Then,
+after a moment--"I'll think whether I'll be friends with you, and
+I'll let you know, may be to-morrow."
+
+As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.
+
+"Poor little maid!" he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl's words had affected
+him.
+
+"The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful," was his
+inward thought; "it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won't
+affect the public as Ogilvie's report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl's faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl."
+
+These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.
+
+"What am I," he said to himself, "to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?" And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"Come in and sit down," he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+"It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter."
+
+"Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly."
+
+"I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly."
+
+"I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don't wonder that I should ask you the question."
+
+"She has a very great respect for you," said Lord Grayleigh; "it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl's had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.
+
+Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.
+
+"Your little girl has the highest opinion of you," he repeated; "the
+very highest."
+
+"And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense," said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. "You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am"--she
+smiled--"charming."
+
+"You are that, undoubtedly," said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.
+
+"I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don't want to be. Sibyl's
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+utmost----"
+
+"You are doing what?" said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.
+
+"To open her eyes."
+
+"I would not if I were you," he said, gravely; "it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal."
+
+"What are you talking about now?"
+
+"I don't often read my Bible," he continued, "but, of course, I did as
+a boy--most boys do. My mother was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book."
+
+"You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before."
+
+"I must tell it to you. 'Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.'"
+
+"How unpleasant," said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, "and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?"
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+"What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?"
+
+"I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes."
+
+"Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?"
+
+"Precisely."
+
+"Has he promised?"
+
+"Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it."
+
+"What does assaying the mine mean?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.
+
+"To assay a mine means to find out accurately what it contains," said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie's conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone's gaze at that instant.
+
+"Nevertheless," he continued, after a pause, "your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse."
+
+"He will be a madman if he does," cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.
+
+"According to Sibyl's light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience."
+
+"Philip's conscience!" said the wife, with a sneer; "what next?"
+
+"It appears to me," said Lord Grayleigh, "that he has an active one."
+
+"It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug."
+
+"Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband's
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it more----"
+
+"I really will not stay here to be lectured," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered."
+
+"And I cannot answer it, for I do not know."
+
+"But you think he will?"
+
+"That is my impression."
+
+"You can, at least, tell me what occurred."
+
+"I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland."
+
+"To go where?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.
+
+"As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?"
+
+"I didn't know."
+
+"Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares."
+
+"What do you mean by being paid well?"
+
+"He will have his expenses, and something over."
+
+"Something over! that is a very elastic term."
+
+"In your husband's case it will mean thousands."
+
+"Oh, I see; and then the shares?"
+
+"The shares will practically make him a rich man."
+
+"Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line." She turned to leave the summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.
+
+"If I were you," he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, "if I were you, upon my honor, I'd leave him
+alone."
+
+"Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?"
+
+"Very well," said Lord Grayleigh; "I only ventured to make a
+suggestion."
+
+She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:
+
+"I never found you so disagreeable before." She then left the
+summer-house.
+
+Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.
+
+"May I speak to you?" he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.
+
+She ran to his side at once.
+
+"Don't you want to send your father a letter by this post?"
+
+"Yes, of course; is there time?"
+
+"I will make time; go into the house and write to him."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"He would like to hear from you."
+
+"Do you want me to say anything special?"
+
+"Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all." And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl's letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie's was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.
+
+The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.
+
+On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie's plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl's was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie's was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother's, then the child's. Sibyl's
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:--
+
+     MY DEAR OGILVIE,
+
+     Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+     only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+     unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+     yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+     day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+     with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+     to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+     longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+     hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann & Co.
+
+               Yours sincerely,
+                    GRAYLEIGH.
+
+Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.
+
+"I did not want to go there," he thought. "I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me--what he pays will be Sibyl's, the provision for her future. But I
+don't want to see the child--until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn't want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable."
+
+He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.
+
+"If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound," he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh's verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh's letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.
+
+He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.
+
+This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.
+
+"He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her."
+
+"But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!"
+
+"That is exactly as her father pleases," replied Lord Grayleigh. "I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.
+
+As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.
+
+"Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss," she thought; "but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him."
+
+She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.
+
+Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.
+
+"Well, Mildred, and how are you?" said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.
+
+"Quite well," she replied. "Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don't look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?"
+
+"I am all right," he answered shortly. "I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?"
+
+"I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you."
+
+"And"--Ogilvie glanced to right and left--"the child?"
+
+"She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?"
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage," continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband's arm.
+
+Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie's intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.
+
+"It is good of you," pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. "I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and--and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go."
+
+"Debts, you mean," said Ogilvie, bluntly. "I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will be----"
+
+"Oh, Phil!" Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned very white.
+
+"I will speak about them before I leave," he continued. "Now I must
+find Grayleigh."
+
+"Is it true that you are going on Saturday?"
+
+"Quite true."
+
+"Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order."
+
+"I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week."
+
+"If you really don't want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here."
+
+"I don't want you," he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.
+
+"Sibyl will be delighted to see you," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way."
+
+"That reminds me," said Ogilvie. "I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me."
+
+"Of what?"
+
+"I do not wish her to be told."
+
+"Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric."
+
+"I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia."
+
+"What, never?"
+
+"She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, you understand? I won't go at all if you tell her."
+
+"Oh, of course, I understand," said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+"but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?"
+
+"I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband's arm.
+
+"You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?"
+
+"You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy."
+
+"My bills! but I really----"
+
+"We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go."
+
+"Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?"
+
+"They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work."
+
+"Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!"
+
+The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.
+
+"There is Lord Grayleigh," he said. "I must go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid." He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.
+
+"There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?"
+
+"No," she began, then she hesitated.
+
+"What more?"
+
+"A trinket, it took my fancy--a diamond cross--you noticed it. I could
+not resist it."
+
+"How much?" said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.
+
+"Two thousand pounds."
+
+"Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don't keep me."
+
+He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.
+
+"This is good," said the nobleman. "I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see."
+
+"Shall we go into the house?" said Ogilvie; "I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday."
+
+"You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course."
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Now listen, Ogilvie," said Lord Grayleigh, as they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, "you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up."
+
+"Can I? I thought the die was cast."
+
+"The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I _could_ get Atherton to
+take your place even now."
+
+"Even now?" echoed Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I"--Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl's face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie's face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man's whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.
+
+"I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want," he said,
+with emphasis.
+
+Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.
+
+"The time for discussing the thing is over," he said. "I will
+go--and--do _as you wish_. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down."
+
+"What do you mean by the price down?"
+
+"I want money."
+
+"Of course, you shall have it."
+
+"I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create."
+
+"How much more?" Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order."
+
+"Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is--I will confide
+in you so far--my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her."
+
+"I know your child," said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; "she
+is out of the common."
+
+A spasm of pain crossed the father's face.
+
+"She is," he answered slowly. "I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)--if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter."
+
+"I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,"
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, "What you wish shall be done."
+
+The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh's private
+account.
+
+"This clinches matters," he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.
+
+"You will see Spielmann for all the rest," was Grayleigh's answer;
+"and now, if you must catch the train----"
+
+"Yes, I must; good-by."
+
+Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.
+
+"Have you seen your wife?" he asked. "Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?"
+
+"No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station."
+
+Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.
+
+"Daddy, daddy!" she cried.
+
+He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.
+
+"Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!"
+
+But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.
+
+"I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie," said Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.
+
+"But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come," said Sibyl.
+
+"I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together."
+
+"Oh, 'licious!" cried Sibyl, "more than 'licious; but what will mother
+say?"
+
+"Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick."
+
+In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie's arm was tight round Sibyl's waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.
+
+"There's something troubling him, he likes having me near him,"
+thought the child. "I wouldn't let him see that he's squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world."
+
+The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.
+
+"We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then," he thought. "I won't tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something." Then the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.
+
+"Wait for the child," he said to the servant, "and take her back
+carefully to the house."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the man, touching his hat.
+
+Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.
+
+"I have my ticket," he said, "we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes."
+
+"Three whole precious minutes," repeated Sibyl. "What is it, father?"
+
+"I am thinking of something," he said.
+
+"What?" asked the girl.
+
+"For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world."
+
+"Father! why, so we are," she cried. "Mother's not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"You don't look quite well, dear father."
+
+"I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don't come to little girls."
+
+"Of course they don't, father, but when I'm a woman I'll have them.
+I'll take them instead of you."
+
+"Now listen, my darling."
+
+"Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, _very_ solemn; I know you when you're in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don't you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?"
+
+"Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?"
+
+"Mayn't I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there's no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I'd like to go back with you, wouldn't it be fun! Couldn't you take
+me?"
+
+"I could, of course," said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.
+
+"No, Sib," he said, "you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone."
+
+"Of course not," she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.
+
+"It would have been nice all the same," said Ogilvie. "Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling."
+
+She flung her arms tightly round his neck.
+
+"Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again--of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that I----"
+
+"Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!"
+
+"That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?"
+
+"For you and Lord Jesus Christ," she answered softly.
+
+"Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here's my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by."
+
+"I'll see you again very, very soon, father?"
+
+"Very soon," answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.
+
+"Anybody come to meet you, Miss?"
+
+"No, thank you," she answered with dignity; "I was seeing my father
+off to town; there's my twap waiting outside."
+
+The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.
+
+Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh's feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father's face which puzzled her.
+
+"He ought to have me at home with him," she thought. "I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he's mostly not well. He's beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he's mostly not well when he does it. I
+'spect he's nearer Lord Jesus when he's not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don't want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him."
+
+Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.
+
+"My dear Sibyl, where _have_ you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute."
+
+The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother's angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.
+
+"I didn't do anything naughty, really, Mummy," she said. "Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He's off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap."
+
+"Don't say twap, sound your 'r'--trap."
+
+"Tw-rap," struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.
+
+"And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick."
+
+"Oh, 'licious," said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.
+
+"You must make me quite my prettiest self," she said to the nurse;
+"you must do your very best, 'cos mother----"
+
+"What about your mother now, missy?"
+
+"'Cos mother's just a little----Oh, nothing," said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.
+
+"She likes me best when I'm pretty," continued the child; "but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, I can't say I did."
+
+"He talked to me in a most pwivate way," continued Sibyl. "He told me
+most 'portant things, and I promised him, Nursie--I promised him that
+I'd----Oh, no! I won't tell you. Perhaps I won't be able to keep my
+promise, and then you'd----Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don't be
+'quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+'quisitiveness; but you aren't to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed."
+
+"What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?"
+
+"About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn't; it shows how little they know. It's 'cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don't understand perfect people. But
+there's the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie."
+
+Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.
+
+Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband's
+departure, although she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Presently," said Lady Helen, "when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you'll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take your----"
+
+But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.
+
+"What ship do you mean?" said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, "the ship that is
+going to take my--my what?"
+
+"Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?" interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.
+
+"But this ship was going out," said Sibyl. "Never mind, I 'spect it's
+a secret; there's lots of 'em floating round to-day. I've got some
+'portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don't blush no more."
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.
+
+"When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible," he said; "but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer."
+
+Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.
+
+Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester's eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen's fair face.
+
+He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband's letter.
+
+"Well," she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; "he is
+off, it is a _fait accompli_. Do you know, I am relieved."
+
+"Are you?" he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man's
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.
+
+"Really," she said with an impatient movement, "I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her."
+
+"But without succeeding," interrupted Jim Rochester. "I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now," he added, "and I never saw a
+nicer little girl."
+
+"Oh, that is what strangers always say," replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, "and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter."
+
+"I am glad you feel it," said Rochester.
+
+"Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day."
+
+"Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie," said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, "I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don't
+think I ever met a sweeter child."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.
+
+"There you go," she said. "Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers."
+
+As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.
+
+"The annoying part of this letter," she said, "is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don't think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent----Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don't you play with your companions?" For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.
+
+"I thought--I thought," she began; "I thought, mother, that I heard
+you----" her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.
+
+"It's not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a--a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?"
+
+"I said nothing of the sort," replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, "nothing of the sort; go and
+play."
+
+Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.
+
+"It's wicked for good people to tell lies, isn't it?" she said then,
+slowly.
+
+"Wicked," cried her mother; "it's shamefully wicked."
+
+"And you are good, mother, you don't ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course." She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.
+
+"I wish things would be 'splained to me," she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. "There are more and more
+things every day want 'splaining. I certainly did hear her say it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said 'in his
+absence.' Oh, what can it mean?"
+
+The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.
+
+"What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl," he said.
+"Is anything the matter?"
+
+Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.
+
+"I want to ask you a question," she said.
+
+"You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+called----"
+
+"Sibyl," said the child, beginning to laugh; "if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?"
+
+Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.
+
+"What would you like best in the world?"
+
+"Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week--we are going home this day week."
+
+"And what will you have when you go home?"
+
+"Father's kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me."
+
+"Well," said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father's kisses, "we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?"
+
+"I know," said Sibyl, laughing, "a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn't afford it. Oh, I do want a pony."
+
+"You shall have one," said Lord Grayleigh; "it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl."
+
+"Do you really think I am good?"
+
+"Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all."
+
+"Wouldn't father like to hear you. It's wonderful how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see--oh, but you shan't
+look." She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. "But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone."
+
+"Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like," said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.
+
+"It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail," said Sibyl; "and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother's side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I'd like a riding habit like mother's, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can't 'ford one for me, but you'll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won't you?"
+
+"I'll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit," said Lord
+Grayleigh. "I'll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?"
+
+[Illustration: "A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?"
+asked Sibyl.--Page 123. _Daddy's Girl._]
+
+"I don't mind what sort my darling pony is," answered the child. "I
+only want to have it. Oh, you are nice. I began by not liking you,
+but I like you awfully now. You are very nice, indeed."
+
+"And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably."
+
+"There are lots of nice people in the world," said Sibyl. "It's a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn't never tell a
+lie, could she?"
+
+"Oh, it's the feminine gender," said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.
+
+"It's a she," said Sibyl; "could she; could she?"
+
+"A perfect person could not, little girl."
+
+"Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you," said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.
+
+"It's all right," she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. "It's all right; I got a fright, but there wasn't a word of
+it true. Come, let's play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy."
+
+In a week's time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.
+
+"You don't know what father is," she said, looking full up into
+Rochester's eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.
+
+"I have had a good time here," she said, "very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there's no place for me like my own,
+own home. It's 'cos of father."
+
+"Yes," said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father's absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.
+
+"It is at night that my father is the most perfect of all," she said.
+"I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I'm
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else."
+
+"But your mother?" stammered Rochester. He was about to add, "She
+would go to your room, would she not?" when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.
+
+"Oh, you're thinking about my perfect mother, too," said Sibyl. "Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon--you have heard of
+him, haven't you?"
+
+Rochester nodded.
+
+"He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just 'splained about my mother.
+It's really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat'rally like father's way best.
+Mother's way is the goodest for me, p'waps. Don't you think mother's
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"Seems to me," said Sibyl, "I'm always looking for Lady Helen when I'm
+with you. Is it 'cos you're so desperate fond of her?"
+
+"Don't you like her yourself?" said the young man, reddening visibly.
+
+"Like her? I like her just awfully. She's the most 'licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?"
+
+"Well, I can't honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so."
+
+"Do," said Sibyl; "ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to hear
+about him. Now come along and let's find her."
+
+So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester's face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little _distrait_. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith--
+
+"Cheer up, won't you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run."
+
+"Don't talk like that," said Rochester in a voice of pain.
+
+"Don't what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, 'It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, 'cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.' Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,"
+said the young man.
+
+"But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don't know how you look when you
+look at her, oh--ever so eager, same as I look when father's in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she's as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by--good-by."
+
+Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.
+
+The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.
+
+"It is my present to you," said Lord Grayleigh, "and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," said Sibyl, "I don't want _everyone_ to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but--don't please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I'll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good."
+
+"Well, I won't," said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.
+
+"I 'spect father will write you a most loving letter about this," said
+Sibyl. "Won't he be 'sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?"
+
+"Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school."
+
+"Oh, I never go to school," said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. "I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that--oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn't suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It's
+all right, isn't it?"
+
+"So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him."
+
+"Father will tell me a name. I won't let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. Rochester for me--oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen--good-by."
+
+They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.
+
+Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.
+
+"Sit back in your seat and don't chatter," she said, "you disturb
+other people."
+
+The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl's own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.
+
+"Mother," she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, "I'm
+'proving, aren't I?"
+
+"Proving, what do you mean?"
+
+"_Im_proving, mother."
+
+"I can't say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days."
+
+"Oh!" said the child, "oh!"
+
+Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.
+
+"It's 'cos of father," she said; "he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I _have_ tried, _haven't_ you noticed it, mother? Won't you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?"
+
+"Don't worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead."
+
+"And to please father and Lord Jesus."
+
+"Yes, yes, child."
+
+"And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?"
+
+"We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it."
+
+"Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything--the pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would 'ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?"
+
+"Hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+The old gentleman buried himself in _The Times_ in order not to hear
+Sibyl's distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.
+
+"Take up your book and stop talking," said Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.
+
+"But it don't matter," she said to herself; "when I see father, he'll
+understand."
+
+They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.
+
+"Mother, may I ask John if father's likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P'waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?"
+
+"No, sit still, you do fidget so."
+
+"I'll try to be quiet, mother; it's only 'cos I'm so incited."
+
+"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, "what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if--as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny."
+
+Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother's.
+
+"What are you doing that for?"
+
+"'Cos I thought I'd rub you the right way," said Sibyl. "You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren't you, just now,
+mother?"
+
+"Don't be so ridiculous." Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.
+
+They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.
+
+"Father, father!" she called. "I'm back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are--Sibyl. I'm home again, father. The Angel is home again, father."
+
+She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.
+
+"She does not know yet," whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. "I am going into the
+library; don't tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.
+
+"I can't see father anywhere," she said: "I 'spect he's not back yet."
+
+"Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead."
+
+Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that Mr. Ogilvie's absence had
+not been alluded to in the child's presence.
+
+Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.
+
+"I am back, and I am going to be good," she said. "I really, truly am;
+aren't you glad to see me?"
+
+"Yes, Sibyl."
+
+"Go upstairs now, Sibyl," said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child's heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.
+
+"Well, never mind," she said to herself, "he can't help it, the
+darling; but he'll be back soon," and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "this is all most unpleasant."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the governess.
+
+"Why, this whim of my husband's. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion."
+
+"Oh, I don't quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,"
+said Miss Winstead; "he has peculiar ideas, that's all."
+
+"We need not discuss that point," said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. "We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland."
+
+"I?" said Miss Winstead; "I would really rather----"
+
+"I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy--any toy she fancies. Here's a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted."
+
+"Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father," interrupted Miss
+Winstead.
+
+"Well, for goodness' sake, don't make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months--that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that _I_ am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he'll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead--do it!"
+
+"When?" asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.
+
+"Oh, when you please, only don't worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won't see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don't I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?"
+
+"But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl."
+
+"Don't you know? Say that her father has gone--oh, by the way, there's
+a letter for her. I really don't know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?"
+
+"I still suffer very badly with my head," said Miss Winstead, "but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl."
+
+"I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be obliged----"
+
+"Oh, you need not go on," said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. "I know my duty. I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her."
+
+"No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable," said the mother. "Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don't forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir."
+
+Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.
+
+"Coward!" she said, under her breath.
+
+"I wish I was well out of this," thought the governess. "The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love."
+
+Miss Winstead's schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie's manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.
+
+Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.
+
+"Cook made these for Miss Sibyl," she said. "Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?"
+
+"No," said Miss Winstead; "and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like."
+
+"I wouldn't be in your shoes for a deal, Miss," replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.
+
+Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.
+
+"Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What's the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?"
+
+"I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl."
+
+"I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn't you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That's the way Nurse's
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?"
+
+"No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I'm thankful to say."
+
+"And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?"
+
+"All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss."
+
+"Don't make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea," said her governess.
+
+Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with--
+
+"I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?"
+
+"Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,"
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson's sweetheart.
+
+Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants' hall.
+
+"Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats 'em," she cried.
+"Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you're a-keeping company with. It's wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have."
+
+"That she have truly," said the cook, "and I'll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It's but to
+look at her to see how loving she is," continued the good woman. "How
+she'll live without the master beats me. The missus ain't worthy of
+her."
+
+This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant's mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants' hall.
+
+Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.
+
+"It's nearly five o'clock," she said, "father is sure to be in at six,
+don't you think so, Miss Winstead?"
+
+"He often doesn't come home till seven," answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you, Winnie dear," said Sibyl--this was
+her pet name for the governess; "you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said 'a
+shaking,' and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea."
+
+"Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes."
+
+"It is such a fine evening, that perhaps----"
+
+"No, no, I don't want to go."
+
+"But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop."
+
+This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.
+
+"How much money?" she asked in a tentative voice.
+
+"Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign."
+
+"Twenty shillings," said Sibyl, "I could get a lovely doll's house for
+that. But I think sometimes I am getting tired of my dolls. It's so
+stupid of 'em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll's house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it's a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am _very_ fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren't you, Winnie? Don't you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don't you like him?"
+
+"I don't know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear."
+
+"Have you been trying to 'prove yourself very much while I was away?"
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.
+
+"Prove myself?"
+
+"I can never say that whole word. _Im_prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?"
+
+"I always try, Sibyl."
+
+"Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you _are_ 'proved, you're
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you're sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I'll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman's to buy the doll's house. He is poor, and he'll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss 'em. Some children are _so_ careless. Yes, I'll go with you,
+and then we'll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He'll know that I'll be wanting him."
+
+"Sibyl, I have something to tell you."
+
+"What?"
+
+There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead's voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.
+
+"What is it?" said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.
+
+"It is something that will pain you, dear."
+
+"Oh!" said Sibyl, "go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don't like to be kept in 'spense."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night."
+
+Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.
+
+"I can bear it," she said; "go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?"
+
+"Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next."
+
+"Go on; I am bearing it," said Sibyl.
+
+She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.
+
+"It's a great shock, but I am bearing it," she said again. "_When_
+will I see him?"
+
+Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.
+
+"Child," she said, "don't look like that."
+
+"I'm looking no special way; I'm only bearing up. Is father dead?"
+
+"No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months."
+
+"A few months," said Sibyl. "He's not dead?" She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.
+
+"It's the little shots that hurt most," she said after a pause. "I
+wouldn't have felt it, if you had said he was dead."
+
+"Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won't be back by six."
+
+"Yes, I'll go out with you."
+
+She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.
+
+"I'd rather she cried and screamed; I'd rather she rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I'd rather she did anything than take it like that,"
+thought the governess.
+
+Sibyl went straight into the nursery.
+
+"Nursie," she said, "my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn't it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk."
+
+"Oh, my darling," said nursie, "this has hurt you horribly."
+
+"Don't," said Sibyl, "don't be sympathisy." She pushed nurse's
+detaining hand away.
+
+"It's the little shots that tell," she repeated. "I wouldn't have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse."
+
+She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.
+
+"Was it mother said you was to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then mother did tell me a----" Sibyl left off abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.
+
+"I hear you have got a pony," said Miss Winstead.
+
+"I don't want to talk about my pony, please," interrupted Sibyl. "Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in."
+
+"But why may we not talk about your pony?"
+
+"I don't want to ride my pony now."
+
+Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.
+
+"You have walked quite far enough to-night," she said, "you look very
+white."
+
+"I'm not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop."
+
+"A good idea," said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. "We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy."
+
+"Well, this is the turning, come along," said Sibyl.
+
+"But why should we go to Holman's, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street."
+
+"I'd much rather go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child's. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Holman," she said; "I hope I find you quite well."
+
+"Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health," replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.
+
+"I am glad of that," answered Sibyl. "I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?"
+
+"You thought a doll's house," interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.
+
+"Oh, it don't matter about that," said Sibyl, looking gravely back at
+her; "I mean it don't matter now. Mr. Holman, what's the most dusty of
+your toys, what's the most scratched, what's the toy that none of the
+other children would like?"
+
+"I have a whole heap of 'em," said Holman, shaking his head sadly.
+
+"That he have, poor dear," here interrupted Mrs. Holman. "How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn't buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It's because our shop is in a back
+street."
+
+"Oh, but it's a very nice street," said Sibyl; "it's retired, isn't
+it? Well, I'll buy twenty shillings' worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down."
+
+Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.
+
+"Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman," said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.
+
+"What ails her?" said Holman. "She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don't like her looks a bit."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months' time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress's dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.
+
+"Mother," said Sibyl.
+
+"What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly."
+
+"Please, mother, I can't sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don't know what it is, but it's worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I 'spect I'm lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?"
+
+"Oh dear, how you tremble," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn't you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?"
+
+"But, mother, that wouldn't have done me any good."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"They wouldn't be you. I'll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother."
+
+"Of course you may, child, but please don't disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep."
+
+Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.
+
+"Why don't you shut your eyes and go to sleep?" asked her mother.
+
+"I can't, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling," replied
+Sibyl.
+
+"What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl's.
+Sibyl's little hand was cold.
+
+"May I come quite close to you, mother?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+The next instant she was lying in her mother's arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.
+
+"Oh, now that's better," said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother's clasp.
+
+"I am much better," she said; "I didn't understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter."
+
+"Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?" asked her mother.
+
+"Not much; there's not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It's very hard, but I
+'spect I'll do it; I 'spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It's such a long, long way off."
+
+"For a most excellent reason," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit--we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring us----"
+
+"What?" asked the child. "What has he gone for?"
+
+"My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of _money_, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money."
+
+"No, I am not," said Sibyl. "I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is."
+
+"Who in the world is Mr. Holman?"
+
+"He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I can't 'splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money."
+
+"Plenty of money," echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; "that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we'll be rich."
+
+"Rich?" said Sibyl, "rich?" She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.
+
+"Is it nice, being rich?" she asked.
+
+"Of course it is."
+
+"But what does it do?"
+
+"Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks."
+
+"But I am more comfy in my common frocks."
+
+"Well, it gives you your nice food."
+
+"I don't care nothing about food."
+
+"It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, and----"
+
+"Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony."
+
+"Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness."
+
+"Do you think so?" said Sibyl. "And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?"
+
+"Very much indeed; I like the good things of life."
+
+"I'll try and understand," said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Nursie," said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, "mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we'll be very rich."
+
+"Um," replied nurse, with a grunt, "do she?"
+
+"Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It's very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has 'splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn't understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don't matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is."
+
+"Yes, dear," said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl's stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman's chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse's movements with close interest.
+
+"Why do you wear spectacles?" she asked suddenly.
+
+"Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain't as young as I was."
+
+"What does 'not as young as you was' mean?"
+
+"What I say, my dear."
+
+"I notice," said Sibyl, thoughtfully, "that all very, very old people
+say they're not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles 'cos
+you're not as young as you was, and 'cos you can't see as well as you
+did."
+
+"That's about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses."
+
+"Then I'm glad we're going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+'splain why I am glad," continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. "When our gold
+comes, nursie, you'll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses 'cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we'll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There's poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn't paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there's a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely _swampy_ sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there and they spend their money, and there's
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It's just 'cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn't it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won't come into his nice, quiet _back_ street. I
+like back streets, don't you, nursie? It's horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+"It's the way of the world, dear," answered nurse; "the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It's a cruel way, but it's the way the world has got."
+
+"Then I hate the world," said Sibyl. "My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn't
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?"
+
+"Oh, my love, there'd be a lot of things _He'd_ have to change if He
+came back; but don't ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don't get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you're looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see."
+
+"But I am perfectly well," answered Sibyl, "I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me 'rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I'll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he'll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won't have to wipe away her tears any more."
+
+Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath--
+
+"Bless her! the darling she is!"
+
+Smartly dressed, as was her mother's wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.
+
+"Oh, I am glad to see you," she said. "Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?"
+
+"I am very glad to see you," replied the young man; "but I did call to
+see your mother."
+
+"Well, come to the drawing-room, I'll entertain you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester--_nice_ Mr. Rochester."
+
+Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.
+
+Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.
+
+"Well?" she said.
+
+"Why do you say that?" he asked, in some confusion.
+
+"I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it."
+
+"Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things," answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.
+
+"Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+'splaining to me about rich people. It's most 'portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn't it, Mr. Rochester? It's the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn't it?"
+
+"That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?"
+
+Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, "Why, mother," but she
+checked herself. A cloud took some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.
+
+"When my own father comes back again we'll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you'll make," she said, "dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we'll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can."
+
+"What are shares?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich."
+
+"It's very puzzling," said Sibyl. "And it depends on father?"
+
+"Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don't you understand, it all depends on him."
+
+"It's _very_ puzzling," said Sibyl again. "Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I think so," he answered earnestly. "I shall buy several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me."
+
+"And you will be happy?"
+
+"Very happy if she says 'yes.' But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else."
+
+"You may trust me," said Sibyl, "I never tell things I'm told not to
+tell. You can't think what wonderful 'portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you'll be glad to be
+rich?"
+
+"Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife," he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.
+
+Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.
+
+"When father comes back he'll christen my pony," she said, "but no one
+else shall. I won't give it no name till he comes back."
+
+She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony's back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.
+
+Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.
+
+"It is very hot this morning," said the governess.
+
+"Oh, that don't matter," replied Sibyl. "Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?"
+
+"No," answered Miss Winstead, "I cannot say it is."
+
+"Full of thoughts, you know."
+
+"No," replied the governess again. "Don't turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly."
+
+Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead's instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said suddenly, "I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly 'portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?"
+
+"We shan't have time," replied Miss Winstead.
+
+"Oh, but I want to go," said Sibyl, knitting her brows, "don't let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans."
+
+"I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon."
+
+"Mother going into the country, what for?"
+
+"I cannot tell you, it is not my affair."
+
+"That means that you know, but you won't tell."
+
+"You can put it in that way if you like. I won't tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool."
+
+Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.
+
+"I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up," thought the little girl. "I don't like it, not a bit."
+
+Presently she slipped her hand through her governess's arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice--
+
+"Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can't think how 'portant it is."
+
+"I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again." Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.
+
+"We must hurry home," she said; "I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast."
+
+They left the Park, and came back in time for lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.
+
+"Why isn't Mr. Rochester here?" said the little girl at last.
+
+"He could not stay," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?"
+
+"He is nice, he is very nice," said the child; "he and Lady Helen--oh,
+more than nice. I like 'em very much, don't you, mother?"
+
+"Yes, dear." Mrs. Ogilvie got up. "Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening."
+
+"Good-by, mother dear."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.
+
+"Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, not at all."
+
+"I wonder if you're awfully hungry, Watson?"
+
+"Why so, Miss?"
+
+"Because it's time for the servants' dinner."
+
+"Well, Miss, I'm going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring."
+
+Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.
+
+"You couldn't, p'waps," said the little girl, knitting her brows, "you
+couldn't, p'waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?"
+
+"Where do you want to go, Miss?"
+
+"I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don't you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys."
+
+"I have heard of him from you, Miss."
+
+"It's most 'portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out."
+
+Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.
+
+"If you're very quick, Miss," he said, "I'll do it."
+
+"You are good," said Sibyl. "Do you know, Watson, that you're a very
+nice man--you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let's go; do
+let's be quick."
+
+A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman's
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.
+
+"Watson," said the little girl, "you can stand in the doorway. It's
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen."
+
+"No, Miss, I won't."
+
+Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance--when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.
+
+"Dear! dear!" she said; "I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I've splendid news for you."
+
+"What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn't send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. 'Tain't fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear."
+
+"But I like them," said the child; "I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly."
+
+"Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way."
+
+"Don't think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated--as though I were your little friend."
+
+"Which you are, darling--which you are."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn't know what to do with it. You
+said, 'Money ought to make money,' and you didn't know how your
+hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to 'splain it to me, and I tried to understand."
+
+"It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day."
+
+"Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?"
+
+"Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money."
+
+"Oh, I understand that," answered the child.
+
+"And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank."
+
+"It's there still, is it?" said Sibyl, her eyes shining.
+
+"Yes, dear."
+
+"Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?"
+
+"Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?" said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father's gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to----Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you'll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That's what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn't. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Bless you, darling," said Mrs. Holman, "so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting."
+
+"It's awfully exciting, isn't it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You'll be rich, and I'll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He'll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You'll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then."
+
+Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman's eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.
+
+"Come, Watson," she said, "you'll have a splendid appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.
+
+"My husband is not prepared to buy a place now," she said in
+conclusion, "but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market."
+
+The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie's heart, did come in the agent's way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+_distrait_ and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.
+
+This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.
+
+"It is the very best place of its kind in the market," she wrote. "It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.
+
+"It will be yours when father comes home," she said to the child.
+
+Sibyl skipped about madly.
+
+"It's just too 'licious!" she said. "Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn't it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don't you love Him very, very much, mother?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.
+
+"We can have a bazaar here," she said, "a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know."
+
+"Big-wigs?" said Sibyl, "what are they?"
+
+"People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale."
+
+"I don't understand, mother," answered Sibyl. "Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn't it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I'd like very much to send it to my ownest father."
+
+"Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him."
+
+"It's heart won't be dead," said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.
+
+"What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?" said nurse.
+
+"At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can't think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day."
+
+"H'm!" said nurse.
+
+"Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don't like it," said the child. "But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don't quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and--and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the _big-wigs_ are
+coming to it. Isn't it a funny word! perhaps you don't know what
+big-wigs are, but I do."
+
+Nurse laughed.
+
+"Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about."
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.
+
+"I don't want to lose the place," she said. "My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision."
+
+"If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear," replied
+the lawyer, "I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say--well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid."
+
+"Can you really?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.
+
+"At the worst it could be taken off your hands," he answered; "but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects"--he paused
+and looked thoughtful. "I can lend you the money if you wish it," he
+said then abruptly.
+
+"The money to enable me to pay a deposit?" she said.
+
+"Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October."
+
+"My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree," she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment's pause she
+spoke.
+
+"I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don't know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back."
+
+"I have plenty of funds to meet this loan," thought the lawyer. "I am
+safe so far." Aloud he said, "Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow."
+
+"This clinches the matter," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately."
+
+The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.
+
+"A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life," she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.
+
+On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.
+
+"You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow," she said. "I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o'clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river."
+
+Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.
+
+"It's the most darling, lovely place," she said; "nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours."
+
+"When our ship comes in, it will be ours," said Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.
+
+When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.
+
+"Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?" he asked.
+
+"What rumors?" Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. "I know nothing whatever
+about business," she said, testily, "I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England."
+
+"Of course it has not. Ogilvie's report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it."
+
+"Not a word, not a word," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent."
+
+"Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine," said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.
+
+"You will find cigars in that box," she said. "No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me."
+
+"Oh, do let her stay," earnestly pleaded the young man, "she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before."
+
+"Well, as you please, but don't spoil her," said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.
+
+"I have a lot of things to ask you," she said; "I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?"
+
+"It is extremely difficult for me to explain," said Rochester, "but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people."
+
+"What's subscribed?"
+
+"Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?"
+
+"Yes, whoever they may be. I don't know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred."
+
+"Oh, that's very nice," said Sibyl; "I seem to understand, and yet I
+don't understand."
+
+"You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don't
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men."
+
+"And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?" said Sibyl.
+
+"He will say it if the gold is there."
+
+"And if it is not?"
+
+"Then he will tell the truth."
+
+"Of course," said Sibyl, proudly. "My father couldn't tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn't it, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I should say quite impossible," replied Rochester firmly.
+
+"You are awfully nice, you know," she said; "you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then."
+
+"So they will," replied Rochester.
+
+"And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn't the new
+place got a lovely name--Silverbel?"
+
+"It sounds very pretty, Sibyl."
+
+"And you will come to-morrow and see it, won't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will bring Lady Helen?"
+
+"Your mother will bring Lady Helen."
+
+"It's all the same," replied Sibyl. "Oh, I am so glad."
+
+She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.
+
+Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:
+
+     "DARLINGIST FATHER,--Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+     the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+     rich. Here's the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+     father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+     Sibyl. It's hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+     morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+     morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+     It's most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+     It's most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+     full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+     here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+     father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don't know
+     how portant it is. It's cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+     and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+     spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+     and I mustn't tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+     Oh, it is portant.
+
+               "Your lovin
+                    "SIBYL."
+
+"He'll understand," thought Sibyl; "he's wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he'll quite know what I mean by the 'heart of the
+rose,'" and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.
+
+The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until--but that
+refers to another part of the story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.
+
+It was now the heart of a glorious summer--such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.
+
+Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother's side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.
+
+Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.
+
+"Here you both is!" she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.
+
+"You do look nice," said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, "and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him."
+
+"Who is Watson?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"Don't you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in _dear_ Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I 'spect they'll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don't know how fond I am of Watson; he's a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here's the carriage. Let's all get in.
+Aren't you both glad you're coming, and coming together, both of you
+_together_, to visit Silverbel. It's a 'licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let's
+all get into the carriage."
+
+Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+_enfant terrible_. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.
+
+"I had meant to put it off until my husband returned," she remarked
+finally, "but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris & Liberty to furnish the
+place, and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately."
+
+"Oh, yes," cried Sibyl, "you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?"
+
+"If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall," replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.
+
+They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.
+
+"There they go!" cried the child.
+
+"There who go, Sibyl?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"The one who wants to marry the other," replied Sibyl. "Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren't you awfully
+incited?"
+
+"You are a very silly, rude little girl," replied the mother. "You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+don't take even the slightest notice when they return."
+
+"Aren't I to speak to them?" asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.
+
+"Of course, but you are not to say anything special."
+
+"Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?"
+
+"No; don't be such a little goose."
+
+"I always notice," replied Sibyl, softly, "that when _quite_ strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can't I say
+anything more--more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they'd like it. I thought they'd like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it."
+
+"About it?"
+
+"Their love, mother, their love for--for each other."
+
+"Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?"
+
+"Me, mother," said Sibyl.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.
+
+"You are a most ridiculous little girl," she said. "Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?"
+
+"You has put it plain, mother," replied Sibyl. "I think I do. Now,
+let's look at the flowers."
+
+"I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,"
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?"
+
+"It's lovely!" replied Sibyl.
+
+"I am devoted to the country," continued the mother; "there is no
+place like the country for me."
+
+"So I think, too," replied Sibyl. "I love the country. We'll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won't we, mother?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead."
+
+"Now you are talking in your silly way again," replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+"You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman."
+
+"But, mother, why aren't they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father's mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It's very puzzling, and yet I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!"
+
+The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.
+
+Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.
+
+"What rhyme?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"I know it all, shall I say it to you?" cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:--
+
+     "One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,
+     Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,
+     Six _he_ loves, seven _she_ loves, eight they both love,
+       Nine he comes, ten he tarries,
+       Eleven he woos, twelve he marries."
+
+Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that "twelve he marries," she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.
+
+"I knew _you'd_ have luck," she said. Then she caught her mother's
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.
+
+"Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon," said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie's suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.
+
+Rochester sprang to his feet.
+
+"I can easily get a boat," he said; "I'll go and consult with mine
+host."
+
+He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment's
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.
+
+"Is that why our house is called Silverbel?" asked Sibyl. "Is it 'cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and 'cos it is _belle_,
+French for beautiful?"
+
+"Perhaps so," answered the mother with a smile.
+
+The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.
+
+"What a pity we must go back to London," said Sibyl. "I don't think I
+ever had such a lovely day before."
+
+"We shall soon be back here," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town."
+
+"That will be lovely," said Sibyl. "Oh, won't my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!"
+
+When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.
+
+"This came for you, madam, in your absence," he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:
+
+"Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.
+
+"I hope there is nothing wrong?" asked Rochester.
+
+"Nothing at all," she replied. "Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don't stare in that rude way."
+
+The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.
+
+Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and _distrait_. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?" whispered Sibyl.
+
+"No, Sibyl; I am quite happy."
+
+"Then you are thinking very hard?"
+
+"I often think."
+
+"I do so want you to be awfully happy."
+
+"I know you do, and I think I shall be."
+
+"Then that is right. _Twelve he marries_. Wasn't it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn't it luck?"
+
+"Yes; but hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl's hands, and stroked it fondly.
+
+"Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?" asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.
+
+"No," he answered; "she is quite naughty about that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you."
+
+"You ought to," said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; "it would do him
+good. It's an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, 'A burnt child dreads the
+fire,' or 'Marry in haste, repent at leisure,' or----"
+
+"Oh, that will do, Sibyl." Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.
+
+"Well," said Sibyl, "perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It's like having more sugar. The 'home truth'
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can't swallow it _without_ the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: 'Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,' and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren't
+there, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter," cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; "you talk the most utter nonsense," and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.
+
+The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.
+
+"Tiresome man!" she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.
+
+"Well," she said, "why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?"
+
+"You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"I have never heard of _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"But City men know it," replied Mr. Acland, "and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.
+
+"How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms," she said.
+"What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word."
+
+"He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right," replied
+Acland. "There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now."
+
+"This is very disturbing," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband's report
+likely to reach England?"
+
+"Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months' time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie's report."
+
+"Won't you stay and have some supper?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+"I have said already that I do not understand these things."
+
+"I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of £2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place."
+
+"No other place will suit me except Silverbel," she answered.
+
+"I strongly recommend you not to buy it now."
+
+"And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?"
+
+"Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October."
+
+"Then pray don't let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland."
+
+Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.
+
+"I thought it only fair to tell you," he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:
+
+"What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.
+
+Sibyl's room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.
+
+Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child's sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl's father came back.
+
+"For Jim," continued Lady Helen, "will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along."
+
+Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.
+
+"Of course, it is full of gold, quite full," thought the child; "but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it."
+
+She began to count the days now to her father's return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.
+
+Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child's
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river's edge.
+
+The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.
+
+The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.
+
+Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.
+
+"We have had no cable yet from your husband," he said, "and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious."
+
+"Oh, pray don't croak," was Mrs. Ogilvie's response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.
+
+"You are a bird of ill-omen," she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.
+
+He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.
+
+"When people are perfectly happy and know nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?" she continued. "I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one."
+
+"That is my own impression," said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; "but don't
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October."
+
+"Oh! Philip will be back before then," answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. "Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?"
+
+Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.
+
+"Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?" she asked.
+
+"We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again."
+
+"Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!"
+
+Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.
+
+"Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you," she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. "I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful."
+
+A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.
+
+"Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"Oh, some time, but not at present," replied Sibyl. "I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn't Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?"
+
+"Charming," replied Grayleigh. "Is your mother in, little woman?"
+
+"I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?"
+
+"I don't know, I will tell you presently."
+
+Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh's. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.
+
+"Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,"
+she said.
+
+"Because you have got a pretty new place?"
+
+"No, no, nothing of that sort. It's 'cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he'll
+come. I'm always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn't it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?"
+
+Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.
+
+[Illustration: "Shall I find mother for you?" asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.--Page 208. _Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Shall I find mother for you?" she said. "Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You're a big-wig,
+aren't you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they were people in a _good social position_.
+I remember the words so well 'cos I couldn't understand 'em, but when
+I asked Miss Winstead to 'splain, she said mother meant ladies and
+gentlemen, and when I asked her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen
+was, she said people who behaved nicely. Now isn't it all very
+puzzling, 'cos the person who I think behaves nicest of all is our
+footman, Watson. He has lovely manners and splendid impulses; and
+perhaps the next nicest is dear Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop
+in a back street. But when I asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman
+were big-wigs, she said I spoked awful nonsense. What do you think,
+Lord Grayleigh? Please do try to 'splain."
+
+Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl's long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.
+
+"A big-wig is quite an ugly word," he said, "but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life."
+
+"You haven't 'splained a bit," said the little girl. "Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?"
+
+"I will answer that question after I have seen your mother."
+
+Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.
+
+"He doesn't look quite happy," she thought; "I'm sorry he is coming
+to take up mother's time. Mother promised, and it's most 'portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It's on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+'portant. Oh, I do hope she won't forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can't. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I'd go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert'nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I'll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can't come, she must."
+
+Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.
+
+"You didn't hear by the last mail?" was Lord Grayleigh's query.
+
+"No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence."
+
+"He is probably up country," was Lord Grayleigh's answer. "I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you."
+
+"I have not heard," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?"
+
+"Oh, quite charming," said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.
+
+"I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase," continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+"Indeed!" Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.
+
+"Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit," continued
+the lady, "but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won't he?" Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge," he replied,
+oracularly. "Don't be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters."
+
+"Perhaps," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. "By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons."
+
+"Certainly," he answered; "at what date is the bazaar to be held?"
+
+She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.
+
+"I shall stay in town to-night," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat."
+
+Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.
+
+She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott's old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener's boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.
+
+Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan's cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.
+
+Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan's cottage. They were to start about six
+o'clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.
+
+The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.
+
+"Well, Missy," said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into the
+soil; "don't stand just there, Missy, you'll get the earth all over
+you."
+
+Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.
+
+"How is Dan?" she asked, after a pause.
+
+"A-wrastling with his pain," answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.
+
+"Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?" asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.
+
+"Is he expecting you, Missy?" answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. "Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit 'em or not? You said you'd go, Missy, and Dan he's
+counting the minutes."
+
+"Of course I'll go," replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+_distrait_. Then she added, "I will go if I possibly can."
+
+"I didn't know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, 'I'll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.' Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit."
+
+Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.
+
+"Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful," she said, "I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly."
+
+"But why, Missy? What's up? I don't like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting."
+
+"Mr. Scott, I'm awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can't
+go."
+
+Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.
+
+"You promised you'd go," he said then slowly.
+
+"I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn't take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?"
+
+"I could not," answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child's opinion, almost venomous vigor.
+
+"Besides," he added, "it wouldn't be the same. It's you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I'd keep my word to
+the poor. It's a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there's God's curse on them as do."
+
+Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.
+
+"Lord Jesus wouldn't curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him," she thought; but, all the same, the old man's words
+seemed to chill her.
+
+"I'll do my very best," she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:
+
+"I wouldn't disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He's
+a-counting of the minutes."
+
+A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.
+
+"I could take the apples," he said to himself; "I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don't see why the quality shouldn't keep their word,
+and I'm due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She's a rare fine little 'un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she'll take him the apples."
+
+So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.
+
+Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl's own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.
+
+"Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?"
+
+"Is your head any better?" asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.
+
+"No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea."
+
+Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.
+
+Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.
+
+"It don't matter about my tea," she said to herself. "Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it's all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother's horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples."
+
+The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.
+
+"It's awful to neglect the poor," she said to herself. "Old Scott was
+very solemn. He's a good man, is Scott, he's a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it's
+wonderful what he finds in them--the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said 'Read your Psalms and you'll know. Don't the Psalms
+for the day say "the Lord of glory thundereth"?' and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It's wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn't say a thing if it wasn't true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn't like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan _will_ be waiting and watching.
+A little girl whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I'll get the apples ready."
+
+Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.
+
+"This will tempt dear little Dan," she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.
+
+"Ben! Ben! Ben!" called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.
+
+"Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!" she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.
+
+"I could ride him alone," thought Sibyl; "it is only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long--that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I'll go. It's too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him."
+
+Just then a voice at the stable door said--
+
+"Hullo! I say!" and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.
+
+"Oh, Johnson," she said eagerly, "I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple."
+
+"What is it, Miss?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can't you?"
+
+"I guess I can," answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.
+
+"Want to ride?" he said. "Who's a-goin' with yer?"
+
+"No one, I am going alone."
+
+Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.
+
+"I say," he cried, "them's good, I like apples."
+
+"You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off."
+
+Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl's intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony's back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.
+
+"It don't matter about putting on my habit," said Sibyl. "It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can't I, Johnson?"
+
+"If you like, Miss," answered Johnson.
+
+"I think I will, really, Johnson," said Sibyl in that confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.
+
+"I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house."
+
+"Oh, is that it?" answered Johnson.
+
+"Yes, that's it; they don't understand. No one understands in the
+house how 'portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?"
+
+Johnson scratched his head.
+
+"I guess not!" he said.
+
+"If I don't take them, he'll fret and fret," said Sibyl; "and he'll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn't it so, Johnson? You understand, don't you?"
+
+"A bit, perhaps, Missy."
+
+"Well, I am very much obliged to you," said the little girl. "Here's
+two apples, real beauties, and here's my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him."
+
+Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.
+
+Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.
+
+"I am so glad I did it," she thought; "it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I'll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he'll
+understand. I'll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She'll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she'll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she'll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she'll say afterward, 'I'm sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.' I am doing right,
+aren't I, Lord Jesus?" and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.
+
+The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o'clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:
+
+"Are you in, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.
+
+"Ah! it's you, Missy, at last," she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. "Has you brought the
+apples?" she cried. "You are very late, Missy. Oh, I'm obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?"
+
+"You can send it to-morrow, please," answered Sibyl.
+
+"And you ain't a-coming in? The lad's expecting you."
+
+"I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn't able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I'll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won't make him an out-and-out
+promise, 'cos if you make a promise to the poor and don't keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don't quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+[Illustration: An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.--Page 224.
+_Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Oh, don't I," answered Mrs. Scott. "It's a pity you can't come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain't no time to be
+a-visiting of you. That's him calling out, Missy; you wait a
+minute, and I'll find out what he wants."
+
+Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.
+
+"Quiet, darling; quiet, pet," said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.
+
+Presently Mrs. Scott came back.
+
+"Dan's obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He 'opes you'll
+come another day."
+
+"I wish, I do wish I could come in now," said Sibyl wistfully; "but I
+just daren't. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott."
+
+"Oh, that," answered Mrs. Scott, "but you ain't no call to know."
+
+"But I'd like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+"There are all sorts," replied Mrs. Scott. "Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter'ble until he died. It's my
+belief he haunts the churchyard now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter'ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life."
+
+"Well, I really must be going now," said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+"Good-by; tell Dan I'll try hard to come and see him to-morrow."
+
+She turned the pony's head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.
+
+"She's a gloomy sort," thought the child, "she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don't take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don't like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to 'splain what a curse was. I 'spect I'm a very queer
+girl, and I didn't really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn't go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I'll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won't be about. I shouldn't like to see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we'll soon be back home
+again."
+
+Sibyl lightly touched the pony's ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.
+
+Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.
+
+"A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet," said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.
+
+Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession.
+She would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless
+Micah Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the
+next instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children's shouts were the final straw.
+
+"Not quite so fast, darling," cried Sibyl; "a little slower, pet."
+
+But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called--
+
+"Hullo! Stop, for goodness' sake; don't turn the corner. Stop! Stop!"
+
+Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+On a certain morning in the middle of July the _Gaika_ with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.
+
+A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.
+
+"Well, Ogilvie," he cried, "we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?"
+
+"I cannot quite tell," answered Ogilvie. "It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned."
+
+"You don't look too well," said his friend. "Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?"
+
+"I do not expect letters," was Ogilvie's answer; "there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel."
+
+Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.
+
+"And yet I am doing it for her," he muttered to himself. "I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me--that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again."
+
+He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly--
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?"
+
+He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.
+
+"That is my name," replied Ogilvie; "and yours?"
+
+"I am Messrs. Spielmann's agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage."
+
+"Pretty well," answered Ogilvie; "but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?"
+
+"At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?"
+
+"As you please," said Ogilvie. "Will you wait here? I will return
+soon."
+
+Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.
+
+"That is quite to my desire," said Ogilvie. "I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine."
+
+"If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right," answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. "I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the _Townville_ to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant's Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report."
+
+"And how long will all this take?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month."
+
+"You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?"
+
+"Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago."
+
+"And what is your personal opinion?"
+
+"There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton."
+
+"So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?"
+
+"Yes, one shaft."
+
+"Any result?"
+
+"That is what your opinion is needed to decide," said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.
+
+Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.
+
+"I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me," he said.
+
+Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.
+
+"Why did they send him out?" he muttered. "Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same."
+
+"I shall make my own pile out of this," he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.
+
+The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.
+
+Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.
+
+"Here we are," said Rycroft, "here lies the gold." He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. "Here is our overseer's hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don't mind
+sharing it with me."
+
+"Not in the least," replied Ogilvie. "We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek."
+
+Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh's
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.
+
+"Time enough for repentance in another world," he muttered under his
+breath. "All I have to do at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward," he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+"the downhill slope is never difficult."
+
+The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman's camp was about a hundred yards distant.
+
+As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.
+
+"But the child--the child!" he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.
+
+When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight's work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.
+
+Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.
+
+"Nevertheless, I believe he will," was Rycroft's final comment;
+"men of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he'll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn't break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man."
+
+Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.
+
+After a little over a fortnight's hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.
+
+"There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie," said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. "For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that"--he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.
+
+"After that?" said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.
+
+Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.
+
+"You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,"
+said Ogilvie.
+
+"I see no help for it," replied Rycroft. "We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail."
+
+"I shall take the report back with me," said Ogilvie.
+
+"Better not," answered his companion, "best trust Her Majesty's mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it." As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.
+
+"Let us pack our traps," said Ogilvie, rising.
+
+"The sooner we get out of this the better."
+
+The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward--the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.
+
+"If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months," thought the man;
+"the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know."
+
+The report was a plausible and highly colored one.
+
+It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.
+
+They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.
+
+"I shall take the next mail home," said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.
+
+"Sign first," replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.
+
+"Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning," continued Ogilvie. "The _Sahara_
+sails to-morrow at noon?"
+
+"I believe so; but sign, won't you?"
+
+Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.
+
+"I shall take a berth on board at once," he said.
+
+"All right, old chap, but sign first."
+
+Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.
+
+"What is wrong," asked Rycroft; "are you ill?"
+
+"I suffer from this sort of thing now and then," replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. "Brandy, please."
+
+Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.
+
+"You look ghastly," he said; "drink."
+
+Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.
+
+"Now sign," said Rycroft again.
+
+"Where is the pen?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+He was all too anxious now to take the fatal plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie's.
+
+"Now our work is done," cried Rycroft, "and Her Majesty's mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers."
+
+"This will set matters right," said Ogilvie. "Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself."
+
+"Her Majesty's mail would be best," answered Rycroft. "You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.
+
+Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, "Come
+in," and a messenger entered with a cablegram.
+
+"For Mr. Ogilvie," he said.
+
+"From Grayleigh, of course," said Rycroft, "how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside," he continued to the messenger.
+
+The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.
+
+Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:--
+
+     _"Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+     at once."_
+
+"So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie's fall,"
+thought Rycroft. "Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through."
+
+Without an instant's hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.
+
+"No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it," he said; "here is money--you can keep the change."
+
+The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.
+
+Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.
+
+"Looks like death," muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie's collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.
+
+"Still living," he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.
+
+"What has happened?" he said, looking round him in a dazed way. "Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London."
+
+"Yes, old fellow, don't speak for a moment."
+
+"I must get back at once; the child----"
+
+"All right, you shall go in the _Sahara_ to-morrow."
+
+"But the document," said Ogilvie, "it--isn't needed; I want it back."
+
+"Don't trouble about it now."
+
+Ogilvie staggered to his feet.
+
+"You don't understand. I did it because--because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back."
+
+"Too late," said Rycroft, then. "That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.
+
+"I am quite cosy there," she said to herself, "for father's perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am."
+
+Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.
+
+There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl's chamber by this title.
+
+From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment's
+delay.
+
+But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child's eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.
+
+"I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father's hand and
+the look in his face," she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said on one of these occasions, "I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father's heart every night, that's why I don't disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short."
+
+Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.
+
+But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother's heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl's comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor's orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.
+
+There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the _Sahara_, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor's orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.
+
+"Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her," the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.
+
+But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie's feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl's state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.
+
+"Doctors are so often mistaken," she said, "I don't believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother's heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child."
+
+The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient's face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.
+
+Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl's weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.
+
+"I won't have the curse of the poor, I did my best," said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.
+
+"Yes, you did your best, dearie," he replied. His voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.
+
+"The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss," he said
+then, "the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever."
+
+Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:
+
+"I like old Scott, he's a very religious man."
+
+"That he is, darling," replied nurse.
+
+"Seems to me I'm getting religious too," continued Sibyl. "It's 'cos
+of Lord Jesus, I 'spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night."
+
+The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl's recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.
+
+"The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others," thought Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.
+
+"It will be doing such a good work," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. "I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity."
+
+In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter's room.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, "Come and kiss
+me, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.
+
+"My little white rose," she said, "you must get some color back into
+your cheeks."
+
+"Oh, color don't matter," replied Sibyl. "I'm just as happy without
+it."
+
+"But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?"
+
+"Yes, Mummy."
+
+"And you like lying here in your pretty window?"
+
+"Yes, mother darling."
+
+"You are not weary of lying so still?"
+
+Sibyl laughed.
+
+"It is funny," she said, "I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don't want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress."
+
+"What a splendid idea, Sib!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you shall dress some
+dolls for mother's bazaar."
+
+"Are you going to have it after all?" cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. "Are the big-wigs coming?"
+
+"Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy--Lord Grayleigh and the rest."
+
+"I like Lord Grayleigh," replied Sibyl. "I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.
+
+"My dear little girl," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little."
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment's pause she said:
+
+"Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything--it will
+be fun."
+
+Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said, "I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better."
+
+"Do you think so?" replied Miss Winstead shortly.
+
+"I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast--I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar."
+
+"The bazaar!" echoed Miss Winstead. "Surely you don't mean to have it
+here?"
+
+"Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month."
+
+"I would not, if I were you," said Miss Winstead slowly. "You know
+what the doctors have said."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.
+
+"I don't believe a single word of what they say," she retorted with
+some passion. "The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th."
+
+"You forget," said Miss Winstead slowly, "the _Sahara_ is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for--for what he has to see."
+
+"I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don't
+understand what you mean by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don't croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon--there is a great deal to see about."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie's cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.
+
+Ogilvie's cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.
+
+Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: "From the tone of
+Ogilvie's cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,"
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, "to be rich and also honest at the same
+time." He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.
+
+On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,
+
+     "You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+     Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."
+
+"But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible."
+
+He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.
+
+     "I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
+     correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+     shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+     know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+     present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+     Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+     dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+     moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+     sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+     blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+     burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+     hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+     papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+     we see you at Silverbel the better.
+
+               "With kind regards, I remain,
+                    "Yours sincerely,
+                         "MILDRED OGILVIE.
+
+     "P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+     has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+     you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+     I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
+     her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+     her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+     had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+     and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+     the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+     proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+     she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+     you her love if she knew I was writing."
+
+Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-read
+the postscript.
+
+After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.
+
+"I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," was
+Grayleigh's direction.
+
+He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.
+
+"Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"
+
+"I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?"
+
+"Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."
+
+"So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?"
+
+"I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't return
+by the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then."
+
+Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him--both her hands extended.
+
+"How good of you, how more than good of you," she said. "This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person."
+
+"I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?"
+
+"Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, and----"
+
+"Can I see her?"
+
+"Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.
+
+"One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you," she said, in a playful
+voice.
+
+Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,
+
+"Rest assured that I will come." He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.
+
+"I am sorry to see you like this," he said. "What has happened to you,
+my little girl?"
+
+"Oh, nothing much," answered Sibyl, "I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?"
+
+"Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?"
+
+"Beautiful," replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child's grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.
+
+"I will come back again, presently," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls."
+
+"Nursie is dressing them," replied Sibyl in a weak voice--the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. "It somehow
+tires me to work. I 'spect I'm not very strong, but I'll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful."
+
+"Well, I'll come back soon; you mustn't tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs."
+
+"I must return to town by the next train," said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.
+
+"Lord Grayleigh has come," she said. "He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation."
+
+"Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie," said both ladies.
+
+"Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don't think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have."
+
+The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl's room.
+
+Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.
+
+"I am so glad you have come," said the little girl; "there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?"
+
+"I had a cablegram from him not long ago."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea."
+
+"I understand," said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" said Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?"
+
+"My dear child," said Lord Grayleigh, "what do you know about it?"
+
+"I know all about it," answered Sybil. "I am deeply interested,
+deeply."
+
+"Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father's message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full."
+
+"Up to the tip top?"
+
+"Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don't let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you."
+
+"You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit," said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.
+
+"Do you greatly mind if I _don't_ talk about it?" she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. "It makes me feel----"
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"I don't know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don't like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know."
+
+"We won't talk of it," said Lord Grayleigh; "what shall I do to amuse
+you?"
+
+"Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold."
+
+"I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good."
+
+"I am delighted," said Sibyl. "It's awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn't
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don't know all He has done for me!
+Don't you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"Who, Sibyl?"
+
+"My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ."
+
+Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child's eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.
+
+"Now," she continued, after a pause, "dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich."
+
+"Mr. and Mrs. Holman," said Lord Grayleigh; "who are they?"
+
+"They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I'll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You'll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You'll be quite sure to remember
+her?"
+
+"Quite sure, Sibyl."
+
+"Hadn't you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?"
+
+"In my pocket."
+
+"Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine."
+
+Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.
+
+"What do you wish me to say?" he inquired.
+
+"Put it this way," said Sibyl eagerly, "then you won't forget. Some of
+the gold in the----"
+
+"Lombard Deeps Mine," supplied Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine," repeated Sibyl, "to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put _dear_ Mr. and Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl."
+
+"Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico."
+
+The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"That is nice," she said, "that will make them happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and 'cos the children won't
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don't like
+some children a bit."
+
+"I am glad you're pleased about the Holmans, little woman."
+
+"Of course I am, and aren't you. Don't you like to make people happy?"
+
+Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.
+
+"Have you any other notes for this book?" he said.
+
+"Of course I have. There's the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I'm under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry _so_
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there's gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book 'Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,' will you, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"I have entered it," said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.
+
+"And mother, of course," continued Sibyl, "wants lots of money, and
+there's my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I'd like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is."
+
+"Don't you? How funny; he is our footman. I'm awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don't you think it's very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?"
+
+"I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go."
+
+"But you won't forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won't forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?"
+
+"No, I'll be certain to remember every single one of them."
+
+"Then that's all right, and you'll come to darling mother's bazaar?"
+
+"I'll come."
+
+"I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.
+
+"I don't like the child's look," he wrote; "I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can."
+
+It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"If you cannot come to the bazaar," she wrote to Lady Helen, "it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester."
+
+Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh's letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl's room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.
+
+Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.
+
+"Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow," she said, "but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You'll come and see me very, very often, won't you?"
+
+"Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me."
+
+"Oh, you are sweet," answered the child, "and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother's splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn't it dear of
+her?"
+
+"Well, I am interested in the bazaar," said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie's noble action.
+
+"It is so inciting all about it," continued the little girl, "and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn't mother pretty, isn't she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel--but then she is an angel, isn't she, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. "You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself," she said; "let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say."
+
+"Stories?" said Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, I will tell you stories."
+
+"Thank you; I do love 'em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have not seen him lately."
+
+"You'll be married to him soon, I know you will."
+
+"We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you."
+
+"It's odd how weak my voice has grown," said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+"Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn't. Nursie did 'em. There's one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can't put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?"
+
+"I should like to," replied Lady Helen; "I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls."
+
+"The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There's plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can."
+
+Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.
+
+"It rests me to have you in the room," said the child, "you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name."
+
+"What is that, Sibyl?"
+
+"She calls it the Chamber of Peace--isn't it sweet of her?"
+
+"The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room," answered Lady
+Helen.
+
+"I do wish Mr. Rochester was here," was Sibyl's next remark.
+
+"He will come to the bazaar, dear."
+
+"And then, perhaps, I'll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I'd like to say."
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I'm
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think--I
+wouldn't like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I'm going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly's, but real ones, and if I have them I might----"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don't know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father's heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won't it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn't know, darling mother
+doesn't guess, and I wouldn't tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I'm going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, 'Poor
+lamb, she'll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.'
+I shouldn't like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"No, darling, I don't think I should."
+
+"Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn't like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he'll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go."
+
+Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.
+
+"So you must marry Mr. Rochester," she continued, "for you both love
+each other so very much."
+
+"That is quite true," replied Lady Helen.
+
+Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. "The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold," she said, in an excited voice. "I
+know--Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you'll think of me, won't you?"
+
+"I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now--see! the
+angel doll is finished."
+
+"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. "Do take it down to mother. She's
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window--do go at once."
+
+Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.
+
+The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.
+
+"Sibyl sent you this," said Lady Helen.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.
+
+"Oh, lay it down anywhere, please," she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.
+
+"Please, Mrs. Ogilvie," she said, "you must take an interest in it."
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie's
+attention.
+
+"You must take a great interest in this doll," she continued. "Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, I----"
+
+"Oh, what is it now," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way." She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen's agitated
+face.
+
+"I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl," continued Lady Helen, "and I
+am very--more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for--I
+think----"
+
+"You think what? Oh, please don't begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden."
+
+"But have you had the very best advice for her?"
+
+"I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion."
+
+"But what is Sir Henry Powell's opinion?"
+
+"Don't ask me. I don't believe in doctors. The child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time."
+
+"Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think," replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.
+
+"I never knew anyone so gloomy," she said, "and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen."
+
+"Well, at least take the doll--the child is looking at you," said Lady
+Helen. "Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now."
+
+"Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling." Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.
+
+It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the _Sahara_ kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl's accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child's room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl's
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.
+
+If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.
+
+"He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best," she said to
+herself. "It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests."
+
+As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.
+
+"Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them," she remembered. "I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake."
+
+But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.
+
+"As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening," she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.
+
+According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.
+
+Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother's great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.
+
+It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.
+
+"You know the place, I presume?" he said.
+
+"Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar."
+
+As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.
+
+"Go as fast as you can," he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.
+
+"A rum visitor," he thought; "wonder what he's coming for. Don't look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this."
+
+Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter--but did his little daughter still live? Was Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.
+
+When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.
+
+"No, sir," replied the driver, "it's all right. There ain't but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie."
+
+"Then Sibyl must have got well again," thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.
+
+The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature's own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, Phil!" she cried, with a little start. She was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.
+
+"Why, Phil!" she said again. "Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn't you send me a telegram?"
+
+"I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?"
+
+"Oh, much the same--I mean she is going on quite, _quite_ nicely."
+
+"And what is this?"
+
+Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.
+
+"What is all this?" he repeated.
+
+"My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn't it?
+Oh, by the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?"
+
+"Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?"
+
+"I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil."
+
+"I want to know more of Sibyl." Here the husband caught the wife's
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. "No matter about other
+things at present," he said sternly. "How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?"
+
+"Well, I really don't think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do."
+
+But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.
+
+"_Where_ is the child?" he repeated again.
+
+"Don't look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely."
+
+"But is she injured? Can she walk?"
+
+"What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually--at least, I think so."
+
+"What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?"
+
+As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie's attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.
+
+"I will see the child in a minute," he said; "nothing else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, _what do the doctors
+say_?"
+
+Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie's pretty, dark eyes.
+
+"Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all."
+
+"You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?"
+
+"The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell."
+
+"Good God, that man!" said Ogilvie, starting back. "Then she must have
+been badly hurt?"
+
+"She was badly hurt."
+
+"Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing."
+
+"They--they--of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly."
+
+"Speak!" was his only response.
+
+"They said at the time--of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it."
+
+"Speak!" This one expression came from Ogilvie's lips almost with a
+hiss.
+
+"Well, they said at the time that--oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case was----"
+
+"Hopeless?" asked the man between his white lips.
+
+"They certainly _said_ it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!"
+
+He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.
+
+"You knew it, and you could have that going on?" he said. "Go back to
+your bazaar."
+
+"I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind."
+
+"You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+_that_? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them."
+
+He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.
+
+"I am a martyr in a good cause," she said to herself; "but it is
+bitterly hard when one's husband does not understand one."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father's arms
+at night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear
+his voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.
+
+Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.
+
+For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor's verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? The look on the child's
+face was answer enough to her father.
+
+Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.
+
+The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.
+
+"This cuts him to the heart," he said; "I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again."
+
+"Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!" said the wife. "My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack--nervous fever, the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by."
+
+Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.
+
+Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to _think_ that it had any part in Ogilvie's curious
+unwillingness to see him.
+
+At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.
+
+But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength
+of his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.
+
+But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.
+
+But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.
+
+On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl's room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.
+
+"Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!" said little Sibyl.
+"Come and kiss me, darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.
+
+"Don't tire her," said Ogilvie; "if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which seemed to say: "And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child." But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife's eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.
+
+Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Ogilvie, "will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone."
+
+His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.
+
+"I shall soon be back, my little love," he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.
+
+"Isn't it wonderful," she said, turning to her governess, "how perfect
+they both are! I don't know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can't help it, but I like father's way best."
+
+"I should think you did," replied Miss Winstead. "Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?"
+
+"Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead," answered Sibyl.
+
+"Then what shall I read?"
+
+"I don't think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?"
+
+"You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?"
+
+"Perhaps so; I don't quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it's most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It's about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem _is_ so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won't ask you to read about it, 'cos I like father's way of reading
+best; but it's all most wonderful and beautiful."
+
+The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.
+
+The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.
+
+"Now, Mildred," he said, "I wish to understand--God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you--but I must clearly understand
+what this means."
+
+"What it means?" she repeated. "Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it's very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+may----"
+
+"Hush!" said the man.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.
+
+"I refuse to allow Sibyl's name to enter into this matter," he said.
+"You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don't care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of _this_?" As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.
+
+"Silverbel!" she cried; "but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?"
+
+"Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.
+
+"Why, we have bought Silverbel," she cried; "you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then,
+of course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and
+I am so happy about it."
+
+"Rich!" he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.
+
+"Mildred," he said slowly, "do you realize--do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?"
+
+"Nonsense," she answered, starting back.
+
+"The child is dying," repeated Ogilvie, "and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man's happiness, _goes out_.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance means----"
+
+"What?" she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.
+
+"Restitution," he replied; "all the restitution that lies in my
+power."
+
+"You--you terrify me," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?"
+
+"Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred--oh, yes, you knew it
+well enough--that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you _knew_--yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it--that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless."
+
+"Worthless!" she cried, "impossible!"
+
+"Worthless," he repeated.
+
+"Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you."
+
+"I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight."
+
+"But, but," she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, "if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?"
+
+"It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?"
+
+"Do I understand?" she replied. "No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures."
+
+"Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune--it would be easy, for there is enough gold
+in the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman's tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and _lose our souls_.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won't. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.
+
+"What you say can't be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy."
+
+"How?" he asked.
+
+"Don't do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it."
+
+He came up to her and took both her hands.
+
+"Is it worth evil?" he asked.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Is anything under the sun worth evil?" She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father's.
+
+"I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you," he said. "Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don't tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon."
+
+"Don't hurry, father darling," replied Sibyl "'cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here."
+
+He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.
+
+"One moment, Phil," she called, "where are you going?"
+
+"To town."
+
+"To do what?"
+
+"To do what I said," he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.
+
+He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began
+to weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.
+
+"What fearful creatures men with consciences are," moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"What can I do for you?" said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.
+
+"If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?"
+
+"That is my name."
+
+"We know you," continued the old woman, "by the likeness to your
+little daughter."
+
+The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.
+
+"May I inquire your names?" he asked.
+
+"Holman, sir," said the woman. "This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie's illness, and we couldn't rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly 'opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn't mind if we asked."
+
+"By no means," answered Ogilvie. "Any friends of Sibyl's, any real
+friends, are of interest to me."
+
+He paused and looked into the old woman's face.
+
+"She's better, ain't she, dear lamb?" asked Mrs. Holman.
+
+Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.
+
+Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand.
+
+"What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?"
+
+"We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response.
+
+"Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always."
+
+"Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again.
+
+He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.
+
+"Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl.
+
+"What is it, dear?" asked the governess.
+
+Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice now
+arrested her attention.
+
+"Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come."
+
+"Who have come, dear?"
+
+"The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do."
+
+"But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself."
+
+"What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans."
+
+"Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.
+
+"Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high and
+clear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child."
+
+"If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?"
+
+"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief."
+
+"But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.
+
+"Sibyl certainly does wish to see you," said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. "I think, Mrs. Ogilvie," she added, "it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly," continued Miss Winstead, "and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm."
+
+"Oh, yes, we'll speak cheerfully," said Holman; "we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, "My opinion is
+never taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child's father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done you will
+have to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.
+
+"The day is improving," she thought. She glanced up at the sky. "It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that."
+
+So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.
+
+Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.
+
+"You must be prepared for a very great change," said Miss Winstead,
+"but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her."
+
+Miss Winstead's own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.
+
+"Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?" said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl's
+soft white hands. "Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?"
+
+"How do you do, Mrs. Holman?" said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; "and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won't you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won't you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both."
+
+"Eh! but you look sweet," said Mrs. Holman.
+
+Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own--a child who died when young--and she had sat by that dying
+child's bed and never once given expression to her feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?
+
+"It is nice to look at you, dearie," she repeated, "and what a pretty
+room you have, my love."
+
+"Everything is beautiful," said little Sibyl, "everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much."
+
+"To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you."
+
+"Whisper," said Sibyl, "bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?"
+
+"Yes, darling, but we won't talk of money now."
+
+"Only," said Sibyl, "when the gold comes from the mine _you'll_ be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman's in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You'll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys." She paused
+here and her little face turned white.
+
+"You must not talk any more, dearie," said Mrs. Holman. "It's all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well."
+
+"I am getting well," answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.
+
+"You know," she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, "that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won't forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?"
+
+"We will never forget you, dearie," said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.
+
+"Come, Holman," she said.
+
+"If I might," said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, "if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie's hand afore I go."
+
+"Oh, indeed, you may," said Sibyl.
+
+A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.
+
+"Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I'm thinking," said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.
+
+"Queer woman, the mother," said Holman. "We'll get back to town, wife;
+I'm wonderful upset."
+
+"We'll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children," said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and
+was admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:
+
+"It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact."
+
+Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.
+
+He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh's club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.
+
+    "Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the
+    Lombard Deeps."
+
+He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.
+
+Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend's face, he
+started and said:
+
+"My dear fellow, you don't look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down."
+
+"I have a good deal to try me," said Ogilvie; "please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?"
+
+"Of her accident?" exclaimed Acland; "yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago--she had a fall from her pony?"
+
+"She had."
+
+"Take a chair, won't you, Ogilvie?"
+
+Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:
+
+"I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie's note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken."
+
+"You are mistaken," replied Ogilvie; "but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?"
+
+"Certainly," said Acland.
+
+A clerk entered the room. "Leave us," said Acland to the man, "and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie," he
+added as the clerk withdrew, "I am quite at your service."
+
+"Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel."
+
+"Yes, the place where your wife is now staying."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don't blame me, Ogilvie?"
+
+"I don't blame you--I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser."
+
+"Not really!" cried Mr. Acland. "The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man."
+
+"On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper."
+
+"No!" cried Mr. Acland; "but the report of the Lombard Deeps----"
+
+"Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife--nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?"
+
+"You can do so, of course," replied Acland. "I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back."
+
+"It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once."
+
+"Very well."
+
+Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.
+
+"You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this," he said, as he
+stood up. "You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time."
+
+"I know another man only too anxious to purchase," said Acland; "but I
+am deeply sorry for you--your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure."
+
+"Yes, quite a failure. I won't detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently."
+
+Ogilvie went from the lawyer's house straight to his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.
+
+"I am the master," said Ogilvie; "let me in, please."
+
+The man stood aside.
+
+"Has a telegram come for me?"
+
+"Yes, sir, five minutes ago."
+
+Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.
+
+     "Meeting of directors at one o'clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+     Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+     wish. GRAYLEIGH."
+
+Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.
+
+"I shall sleep here to-night," Ogilvie said, "and shall be back in the
+course of the evening."
+
+He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.
+
+Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.
+
+"I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland," he
+said, "and I then placed, with a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank."
+
+"A large sum, Ogilvie--ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Yes, ten thousand pounds," repeated Ogilvie. "I want to withdraw the
+money."
+
+"It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it."
+
+"I thought it only fair to give you a few hours' notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o'clock."
+
+"Do you wish to take it in a cheque?"
+
+"I think not, I should prefer notes." Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.
+
+At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.
+
+He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.
+
+Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.
+
+"By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life," he thought. "I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is angry with him. My God is
+angry--the pains of hell take hold of me."
+
+He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the following day, shortly before one o'clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.
+
+Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.
+
+"Gentlemen," he began, "although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it."
+
+Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.
+
+Lord Grayleigh proceeded: "This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned
+to England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you."
+
+Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.
+
+"This report," he said in conclusion, "is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London."
+
+As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh's audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers' reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh's clear voice was lost.
+
+When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.
+
+Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.
+
+"Don't open it now," he said in a low voice, "it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it."
+
+He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.
+
+Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.
+
+Ogilvie's attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.
+
+"We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie," he said. "In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room."
+
+"It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,"
+said a director from the far end of the table. "I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent."
+
+"Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?" said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.
+
+Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.
+
+"I have come here to-day," he said, "to speak for a moment"--his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on--"to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of that----"
+
+"Sit down," said Grayleigh's voice behind him. "You must be mad.
+Remember yourself." He laid his hand on Ogilvie's arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.
+
+"I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,"
+he continued. "This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+_false as hell_."
+
+"False?" echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. "Impossible!"
+
+"It is false," continued Ogilvie. "I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world."
+
+As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.
+
+This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.
+
+"I have no excuse to offer," continued Ogilvie, "and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say."
+
+He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.
+
+"What is the meaning of it all?" said one, going up to Grayleigh;
+"you are chairman, and you ought to know."
+
+Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.
+
+"This must be a brief madness," he said; "there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him."
+
+The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.
+
+"One moment first," said Grayleigh.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"An explanation."
+
+"I gave it upstairs."
+
+"You are mad--you are mad."
+
+"On the contrary, I believe that I am sane--sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now."
+
+"What packet was that you gave me?"
+
+"Your money back."
+
+"The ten thousand pounds?"
+
+"Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters."
+
+"Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child's accident?"
+
+"It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions."
+
+As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh's detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.
+
+As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment's conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.
+
+"He fell, and I caused him to fall," thought Lord Grayleigh. "In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over."
+
+Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.
+
+"I saw Ogilvie just now," he said, "and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky."
+
+"At least the widows and orphans won't be ruined," said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. "Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this."
+
+"We must do so advisedly," was Grayleigh's remark; "remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the
+ears of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine."
+
+"And what of Ogilvie himself?" said an angry-looking man. "Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?"
+
+One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie's story
+too prominently into the light of day.
+
+"It may reflect on ourselves," said one or two. "It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter."
+
+Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.
+
+"If I were you, gentlemen," he said, moodily, "I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+"Philip!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o'clock that afternoon, "I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland."
+
+Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.
+
+"How strangely tired and worn you look," she replied; "what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right."
+
+"You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last."
+
+He gave a hollow laugh.
+
+"I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience," he continued; "that is something to live for."
+
+"Have you done anything rash, Philip?"
+
+"I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?"
+
+"He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?"
+
+"Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up."
+
+Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.
+
+"It cannot be," she cried, "we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit."
+
+"That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don't keep me
+now."
+
+She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl's door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.
+
+"The bitterness of death lies before me," he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for
+God demanded something more of the man--he must open the eyes of
+the child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.
+
+Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.
+
+"Leave us for a little, nurse," said Ogilvie.
+
+She went away at once.
+
+Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl's hands.
+
+"You have been a long time away, father," said the child.
+
+"I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do."
+
+"Business, father?"
+
+"Yes, dearest, important business."
+
+"You don't look well," said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.
+
+"I have had a hard time," said the man, "and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life."
+
+"To me, father? The hardest task of your life?"
+
+"Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you."
+
+"Something bad?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Something very bad."
+
+Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame,
+as though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.
+
+"I am very sorry," she said. "I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?"
+
+"Let me hold your hand," he said. "It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then."
+
+She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.
+
+"At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me."
+
+"I don't understand," said the child.
+
+"I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time."
+
+"Still I do not understand," repeated Sibyl.
+
+"Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes."
+
+"Oh, we were happy!" said the child.
+
+"Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain."
+
+"I wish you would try and 'splain, all the same," said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.
+
+"I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you."
+
+"It's only 'cos of you yourself," she murmured.
+
+"Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?"
+
+"Oh, yes." She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. "I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!"
+
+Her voice grew quite animated.
+
+"Any special people, dearest?"
+
+"So many," she replied. "I told Lord Grayleigh, and he put their
+names in his note-book. There's Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold."
+
+"The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name."
+
+"They came, father. I love 'em so much; and there's Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It's a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, 'cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it's all right."
+
+"No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine."
+
+"But you sent a cablegram."
+
+"I did."
+
+"And you said it was there."
+
+"I did."
+
+She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.
+
+"You said it?"
+
+"I did worse," said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. "I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there."
+
+"Why did you do it, father?"
+
+"Because I was a scoundrel."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"A bad man."
+
+"No," said the child, "no, you was always my most perfect----"
+
+"You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now."
+
+"Then you are sorry?"
+
+"I have repented," he cried; "my God, I have repented," and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child's sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.
+
+Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.
+
+"She is so holy, so heavenly herself," he murmured; "is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her."
+
+The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.
+
+"And so you was never perfect?" she said.
+
+"Never."
+
+"And was mother never perfect?"
+
+"Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done."
+
+The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl's face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother's words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:
+
+"And Lord Jesus, isn't He perfect?"
+
+Ogilvie started when he heard her words.
+
+"Aye, He is perfect," he answered, "you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire."
+
+She smiled very faintly.
+
+"Why did He come into the world?" was her next question.
+
+"Don't you know that old story? Has no one told you?"
+
+"Won't you tell me now, father?"
+
+"The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners."
+
+"Sinners," repeated Sibyl, "'cos He loved 'em?"
+
+"Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?"
+
+"I 'spect not," she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.
+
+"Then He loves _you_," she said, after a moment. "He came from heaven
+'cos of you."
+
+"It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me."
+
+"Don't speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you."
+
+He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.
+
+"Father!" There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.
+
+"Kneel down, father," said Sibyl.
+
+He knelt.
+
+Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.
+
+"I am loving you so much," she said, "same as Jesus loves you, I
+think."
+
+Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.
+
+"It is all right," she continued, "I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you."
+
+"But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?" he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.
+
+"Seems to me I love you more'n ever" was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.
+
+But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.
+
+"Why," cried Sibyl, "it's Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me." She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.
+
+"Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus," she whispered. "Oh, take me." She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.
+
+"Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him."
+
+The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.
+
+It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.
+
+The next instant all was cold and lonely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him--her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze--her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.
+
+He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.
+
+He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.
+
+He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.
+
+She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.
+
+For Sibyl's sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child's education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.
+
+As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance--one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.
+
+Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl's name after
+her death.
+
+But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.
+
+These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.
+
+                         [THE END.]
+
+
+
+
+A. L. Burt's Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,
+52-58 Duane Street, New York
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+
+=Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.= By LEWIS CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story."--=New York Express.=
+
+
+=Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.= By LEWIS
+CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations."--=Boston Express.=
+
+
+=Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Joan's Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.= By ALICE CORKRAN.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.= By C. A. JONES.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"An unusually good children's story."--=Glasgow Herald.=
+
+
+=The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers."--=Cleveland Times.=
+
+
+=Jan of the Windmill.= A Story of the Plains. By MRS. J. H. EWING.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy."--=Academy.=
+
+
+=A Sweet Girl Graduate.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.
+
+"One of this popular author's best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes."--=Providence Journal.=
+
+
+=Six to Sixteen=: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of 'Six
+to Sixteen.' The book is one which would enrich any girl's book
+shelf."--=St. James' Gazette.=
+
+
+=The Palace Beautiful=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the 'Palace Beautiful' for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls."--=New York
+Recorder.=
+
+
+=A World of Girls=: The Story of a School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl's book shelf."--=Boston Home Journal.=
+
+
+=The Lady of the Forest=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story is written in the author's well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author's customary grace and
+spirit."--=Boston Times.=
+
+
+=At the Back of the North Wind.= By GEORGE MACDONALD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald's earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers."--=Philadelphia Times.=
+
+
+=The Water Babies=: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature."--=New York Tribune.=
+
+
+=Our Bessie.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit."--=The Teachers'
+Aid.=
+
+
+=Wild Kitty.= A Story of Middleton School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Kitty is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season."--=The
+Academy.=
+
+
+=A Young Mutineer.= A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of Mrs. Meade's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Sue and I.= By MRS. O'REILLY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75
+cents.
+
+"A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun."--=Athenæum.=
+
+
+=The Princess and the Goblin.= A Fairy Story. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Pythia's Pupils:= A Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best."--=Teachers' Aid.=
+
+
+=A Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only
+bright and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching."--=Courier.=
+
+
+=The Sleepy King.= A Fairy Tale. By AUBREY HOPWOOD AND SEYMOUR HICKS.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Two Little Waifs.= By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's delightful story of 'Two Little Waifs' will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Toyland.= By EDITH KING HALL. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect."--=Boston Courier.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Wallypug land.= By G. E. FARROW. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense."--=Toronto Mail.=
+
+
+=Fussbudget's Folks.= A Story for Young Girls. By ANNA F. BURNHAM.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters."--=Congregationalist.=
+
+
+=Mixed Pickles.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. E. M. FIELD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind."--=Good
+Literature.=
+
+
+=Miss Mouse and Her Boys.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. MOLESWORTH.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat."--=The Beacon.=
+
+
+=Gilly Flower.= A Story for Girls. By the author of "Miss Toosey's
+Mission." 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind."--=Literary World.=
+
+
+=The Chaplet of Pearls=; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By
+CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season."--=Guardian.=
+
+
+=Naughty Miss Bunny=: Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents."--=Land and Water.=
+
+
+=Meg's Friend.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Averil.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic."--=World.=
+
+
+=Aunt Diana.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Little Sunshine's Holiday=: A Picture from Life. By MISS MULOCK.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people."--=Gazette.=
+
+
+=Esther's Charge.= A Story for Girls. By ELLEN EVERETT GREEN. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl's
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Fairy Land of Science.= By ARABELLA B. BUCKLEY. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children."--=Daily News.=
+
+
+=Merle's Crusade.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author's stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written."--=Journal.=
+
+
+=Birdie:= A Tale of Child Life. By H. L. CHILDE-PEMBERTON. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years."--=New York
+Express.=
+
+=The Days of Bruce:= A Story from Scottish History. By GRACE AGUILAR.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar's stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading."--=Boston Beacon.=
+
+
+=Three Bright Girls:= A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E.
+ARMSTRONG. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls."--=Standard.=
+
+
+=Giannetta:= A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season."--=The Academy.=
+
+
+=Margery Merton's Girlhood.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Under False Colors:= A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=Down the Snow Stairs=; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By ALICE
+CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps--a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's
+Progress."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=The Tapestry Room=: A Child's Romance. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people."--=Athenæum, London.=
+
+
+=Little Miss Peggy:= Only a Nursery Story. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+Mrs. Molesworth's children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.
+
+
+=Polly=: A New Fashioned Girl. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.
+
+
+=One of a Covey.= By the author of "Miss Toosey's Mission." 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This 'Covey' consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens' pen."--=LITERARY
+WORLD.=
+
+
+=The Little Princess of Tower Hill.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it--which is much
+better than crying for it--it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls."--=Boston Advertiser.=
+
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, =A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.=
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter's
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author's words and intent.
+
+2. In the advertising pages at the end of this book, the names of
+books and reviewers were set in bold type-face; this is indicated by
+a = at the beginning and end of the words in bold.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+***** This file should be named 30333-8.txt or 30333-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/3/30333/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/old/30333-8.zip b/old/30333-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3353dfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-8.zip
diff --git a/old/30333-h.zip b/old/30333-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64a2a72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h.zip
diff --git a/old/30333-h/30333-h.htm b/old/30333-h/30333-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1855f95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h/30333-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,10099 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+    p {  margin-top: .75em;
+         text-align: justify;
+         margin-bottom: .75em;
+         }
+    h1,h2,h3 {
+         text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+         clear: both;
+         }
+    td  {vertical-align: top;}
+
+    hr.large          {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.medium         {width: 45%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+    hr.small          {width: 15%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;}
+
+    div.centered {text-align:center;} /*work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */
+    div.centered table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;} /* work around for IE problem part 2 */
+
+    body{margin-left: 10%;
+         margin-right: 10%;
+         font-size: 108%;}
+
+    .pagenum  { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+            /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+                position: absolute;
+                left: 92%;
+                font-size: smaller;
+                text-align: right;
+              } /* page numbers */
+
+    .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;}
+
+    .bbox     {border: none;}
+    .centerbox {width: 22em;         /* heading box */
+                margin: 0 auto;
+                text-align: center;}
+    .centerbox2 {width: 25em;         /* heading box */
+                margin: 0 auto;
+                text-align: center;}
+
+    .center   {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    .n        {text-indent: 0.75em;}
+
+    .caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+    .jpg      {border: solid 2px;}
+    .figcenter   {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+    .smallgap    {margin-top: 1.5em;}
+    .gap         {margin-top: 5em;}
+    .mediumgap   {margin-top: 2em;}
+    .poem             {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;}
+    .poem br          {display: none;}
+    .poem .stanza     {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+    .poem span.i0     {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i4     {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Daddy's Girl
+
+Author: L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30333]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 439px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="439" height="500" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h1>DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL</h1>
+
+<p class="gap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h2>BY L. T. MEADE</h2>
+
+<p class="center">Author of &ldquo;A Very Naughty Girl,&rdquo; &ldquo;Polly, A New Fashioned<br />
+Girl,&rdquo; &ldquo;Palace Beautiful,&rdquo; &ldquo;Sweet Girl Graduate,&rdquo;<br />
+&ldquo;World of Girls,&rdquo; etc., etc.</p>
+
+<p class="mediumgap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">&ldquo;Suffer the little children to come unto me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p class="mediumgap">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS</h3>
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">52-58 Duane Street, New York.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 309px;">
+<img src="images/illus1.jpg" class="jpg smallgap" width="309" height="498" alt="DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL. Frontispiece." title="" />
+<span class="caption">DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL. <i>Frontispiece.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Contents</span></h2>
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" width="50%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4" summary="CONTENTS">
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#DADDYS_GIRL">CHAPTER I.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td>
+<td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td>
+<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr></table></div>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="DADDYS_GIRL" id="DADDYS_GIRL"></a>DADDY&rsquo;S GIRL.</h2>
+
+<hr class="small" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<p>Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.</p>
+
+<p>The occasion was an important one, and the Angel&rsquo;s rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?&rdquo; thought the Angel to
+herself.</p>
+
+<p>A box of wild flowers, which had come up from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow,&rdquo; she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you want, Sibyl? Don&rsquo;t disturb me now,&rdquo; said this individual.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is only just for a moment,&rdquo; replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady&rsquo;s writing-pad.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he&rsquo;ll be so annoyed if he doesn&rsquo;t hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed,&rdquo; thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother likes me when I am pretty,&rdquo; she repeated softly under her
+breath, &ldquo;but father likes me anyhow.&rdquo; She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do I look pretty?&rdquo; she said at last, dancing back to the governess&rsquo;s
+side.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do I look pretty?&rdquo; repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a very vain little girl,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell
+you whether you look pretty or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don&rsquo;t interrupt me any
+more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s the gong, I&rsquo;m off,&rdquo; cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am,&rdquo; thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. &ldquo;Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not wrong, &rsquo;cos it&rsquo;s mother. Mother couldn&rsquo;t do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could&rdquo;; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus,&rdquo; Sibyl would say, &ldquo;and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don&rsquo;t think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It&rsquo;s for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don&rsquo;t like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Jesus never made any audible response to the child&rsquo;s query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.</p>
+
+<p>As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother&rsquo;s kisses being softest and her mother&rsquo;s eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.</p>
+
+<p>Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The child should go to the mother for love and petting,&rdquo; she would
+say. &ldquo;Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It was Sibyl&rsquo;s father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,&rdquo;
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, father,&rdquo; answered the Angel, &ldquo;but, you see, I wasn&rsquo;t born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn&rsquo;t it? You&rsquo;re perfect
+and I am not. I can&rsquo;t help the way I was born, can I, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;No; no one is perfect, darling,&rdquo; replied the father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are,&rdquo; answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+&ldquo;You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I&rsquo;ll
+try to please you, father, so don&rsquo;t knit up your forehead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father&rsquo;s brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Same as if you was an old man,&rdquo; she said: &ldquo;but you&rsquo;re perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you,&rdquo; and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.</p>
+
+<p>On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should not like the child to know about it,&rdquo; was his reflection;
+&ldquo;but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here I come,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me.&rdquo; She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl&rsquo;s waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a fairy-like little girl this is!&rdquo; he cried.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are Spring come to cheer us up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad,&rdquo; whispered Sibyl; &ldquo;but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father says I am Spring, look at me,&rdquo; she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something is fretting my ownest mother,&rdquo; she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother&rsquo;s soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father&rsquo;s side.</p>
+
+<p>Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.</p>
+
+<p>It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother&rsquo;s objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now,&rdquo; she said on this occasion. &ldquo;She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl,&rdquo; said her mother
+from the other end of the table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear,&rdquo; said the father. &ldquo;What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Spelling, as usual,&rdquo; said Sibyl briefly, &ldquo;but more special &rsquo;cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush!&rdquo; said the mother again.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear,&rdquo; he said, addressing his wife, &ldquo;do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">person&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I beg of you, Philip,&rdquo; interrupted the mother, &ldquo;not to speak of the
+child&rsquo;s teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos they&rsquo;re both so perfect,&rdquo; thought Sibyl, &ldquo;but it&rsquo;s hard on
+me not to be able to &rsquo;splain things. If I can&rsquo;t, what is to be done?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.</p>
+
+<p>The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it nice?&rdquo; she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you&rsquo;re a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Sibyl,&rdquo; cried the mother, &ldquo;I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us turn the subject,&rdquo; said the father.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl turned it with a will.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect I ought to &rsquo;fess to you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I&rsquo;m not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?&rdquo; was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;d much care,&rdquo; said Sibyl, with a smile. &ldquo;You&rsquo;d know
+what I meant, wouldn&rsquo;t you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll spell right if you wish it&mdash;I mean,
+I&rsquo;ll try.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>best for her to do
+so in private?&rdquo; said the mother again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But this is private,&rdquo; said Mr. Ogilvie, &ldquo;only her father and mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I washed my doll&rsquo;s clothes, although nurse told me not,&rdquo; continued
+Sibyl, &ldquo;and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I <i>would</i> open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn&rsquo;t to blame&mdash;Watson wasn&rsquo;t.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father,&rdquo; whispered Sibyl, &ldquo;do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush! hush!&rdquo; said Mr. Ogilvie, &ldquo;go on with your confessions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re rather sad, aren&rsquo;t they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn&rsquo;t do one right thing to-day &rsquo;cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don&rsquo;t mind a bit being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>naughty. I wouldn&rsquo;t be a
+flabby good girl for all the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?&rdquo; said her father.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good&mdash;perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is right,&rdquo; said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-night, little Spring,&rdquo; said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.</p>
+
+<p>She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it &rsquo;cos I&rsquo;m a wicked girl you&rsquo;re sad?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Oh, no, father,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, &ldquo;that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn&rsquo;t like to be too good, &rsquo;cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You spoil that child,&rdquo; said the wife, &ldquo;but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don&rsquo;t pretend to be a good mother, but I don&rsquo;t talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish you would leave the child alone,&rdquo; said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; &ldquo;she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would much rather you did not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. &ldquo;I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is impossible for me to accompany you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl! No, I do not wish it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that your last word?&rdquo; he inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nor you to please me, Mildred,&rdquo; he was about to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, &ldquo;There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what is that?&rdquo; she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us&mdash;Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,&rdquo; was Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+flippant remark. &ldquo;But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And it sickened me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don&rsquo;t wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful <i>debut</i> in
+Society, all in due course.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage,&rdquo; added the husband,
+bitterly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl,&rdquo; was his
+wife&rsquo;s answer, &ldquo;and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.</p>
+
+<p>The postman&rsquo;s ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is the child,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this&rdquo;&mdash;he touched the letter with
+his hand&mdash;&ldquo;I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred&rsquo;s extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet&mdash;I
+don&rsquo;t care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl&rsquo;s and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl&rsquo;s nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child&rsquo;s bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-night, little darling,&rdquo; said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, father, is that you?&rdquo; she cried in a voice of rapture.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You are good, you never forget,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. &ldquo;I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not for worlds,&rdquo; it was the man&rsquo;s first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. &ldquo;Of course, dear,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father&rsquo;s neck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day,&rdquo; she began, &ldquo;and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, &rsquo;cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, father, you&rsquo;re pleased,&rdquo; continued the little girl. &ldquo;It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don&rsquo;t want to be better,
+but I&rsquo;ll try hard if it pleases you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sibyl, try hard,&rdquo; said her father, &ldquo;try very hard to be good.
+Don&rsquo;t let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you.&rdquo; Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s fretted; it&rsquo;s just &rsquo;cos the world is so wicked, and &rsquo;cos I&rsquo;m not
+as good as I ought to be,&rdquo; thought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">My Dear Grayleigh</span>,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+more suited for your purpose.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">&ldquo;Yours sincerely,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Philip Ogilvie</span>.&rdquo;</span></p></div>
+
+<p>It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.</p>
+
+<p>His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad you have come back, Phil,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment&rsquo;s pause he said in a sullen
+tone&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren&rsquo;t you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come into my smoking-room,&rdquo; he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This will make a great difference in our position,&rdquo; she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean by our position?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is impossible; impossible to manage,&rdquo; she said, petulantly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles&rdquo;&mdash;he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. &ldquo;Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it&mdash;that
+is, in moderation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ah! I knew you had accepted,&rdquo; she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. &ldquo;Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know, perhaps, what all this means?&rdquo; said Ogilvie, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t dare to mention the child&rsquo;s name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;I declare I
+am getting sleepy.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh&rsquo;s <span style="white-space: nowrap;">offer&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If! But you have done so, of course you have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As usual, you taunt me,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The letter has come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip!&rdquo; His wife&rsquo;s voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You cannot be speaking the truth,&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hate you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;go your own way in the future,&rdquo; and she left
+him standing silent.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<p>Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am much more like a boy than a girl,&rdquo; she thought, &ldquo;and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I&rsquo;ll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn&rsquo;t care so very much <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can&rsquo;t be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t forget me while you are away, little woman,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and look
+after mother, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She won&rsquo;t need me to look after her, she&rsquo;s quite, quite perfect,&rdquo;
+said Sibyl; &ldquo;but I&rsquo;m going to watch her, and try to copy her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Child, don&rsquo;t do that,&rdquo; said the man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Well, my home is right down here on earth,&rdquo; said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have a real jolly time away, I &rsquo;spect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father&rsquo;s sake, and
+don&rsquo;t forget to pray for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will, I will,&rdquo; said the child; &ldquo;I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl&rsquo;s secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.</p>
+
+<p>She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are to go to tea in the schoolroom,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a beautiful dress,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;you are wearing money now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Money,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;what do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don&rsquo;t spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;I wish it wasn&rsquo;t a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you speak again in that tone of my mother I&rsquo;ll slap you,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Highty-tighty!&rdquo; said the nurse; &ldquo;your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so do you,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;If mother <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>is good you are not, and
+I&rsquo;m not, so we both must be broke in; but I&rsquo;ve got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then we <i>has</i> something in common,&rdquo; said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a handful, too. I&rsquo;m off to the schoolroom.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There never was such a child,&rdquo; thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; &ldquo;she&rsquo;s not shy, and she&rsquo;s as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she&rsquo;s a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master&rsquo;s
+child, but her mother&rsquo;s! Dear me, I&rsquo;m often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room&mdash;Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;re the little girl,&rdquo; said Mabel, who was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I <i>are</i> the little girl,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is my place?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Is it laid for me? I am the visitor.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;you had better sit there, near Mabel; she&rsquo;s
+pouring out tea. She&rsquo;s the boss, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s a boss?&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must be a silly not to know what a boss is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I aren&rsquo;t no more silly than you are,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I&rsquo;ll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can&rsquo;t answer me. What&rsquo;s a&mdash;what&rsquo;s a&mdash;oh, I&rsquo;ll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don&rsquo;t talk to me too much
+while I&rsquo;m eating, or I&rsquo;ll spill jam on my money frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a very queer little girl,&rdquo; said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a silly you are,&rdquo; said Gus. &ldquo;What did you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>put on that thing
+for? We don&rsquo;t want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Climb trees! Oh,&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;are you that sort? Then I&rsquo;m your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I&rsquo;m a hoyden&mdash;do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to &rsquo;em quick, for I&rsquo;m your
+girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are very queer,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes&mdash;we are quite ladylike and good, but we don&rsquo;t wear
+grand frocks either. Can&rsquo;t you take that thing off?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish I could. I hate it myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, ask your servant to change it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But my nurse hasn&rsquo;t brought a single shabby frock with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are all your frocks as grand as that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Some of &rsquo;em grander.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks,&rdquo; said Freda.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, do!&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;that will be lovely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>so you may as well
+put it on,&rdquo; continued Freda.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great comfort coming
+down to this place,&rdquo; she said finally, &ldquo;&rsquo;cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But isn&rsquo;t Philip Ogilvie your father?&rdquo; said Gus.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo; corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He&rsquo;s not perfect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father didn&rsquo;t know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man&rsquo;s name was Halkett. I&rsquo;m always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say &lsquo;Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he&rsquo;s not too scrupulous.&rsquo; Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means&mdash;oh, you needn&rsquo;t stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head&mdash;it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>as your father isn&rsquo;t scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn&rsquo;t hesitate to act wrong.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What have you done that for, you little beggar?&rdquo; he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To teach you not to tell lies,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. &ldquo;But I won&rsquo;t shed them,&rdquo; thought the
+child, &ldquo;not for worlds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl&rsquo;s side
+and touched her on her arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;we didn&rsquo;t
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won&rsquo;t you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I&rsquo;ll never say a word against your father again,&rdquo; said Gus.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You had better not,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;No, I won&rsquo;t shake hands; I
+won&rsquo;t make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I&rsquo;d like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<p>It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl&rsquo;s white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock,&rdquo; said Freda in
+conclusion. &ldquo;Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus&rsquo;s cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a noise those children make,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have three,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died&rdquo;&mdash;he sighed as
+he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years&rsquo;
+standing&mdash;&ldquo;I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child&rsquo;s beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see four little figures dancing about among <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>those trees,&rdquo; said
+Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;We will see them all together.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother&rsquo;s side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Mummy,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It&rsquo;s lovely to sit up there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean, Sibyl,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl turned first red and then white.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo; she whispered.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I&mdash;may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. &ldquo;Do let her speak,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in <i>deshabille</i>. What is
+it, little woman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s that I don&rsquo;t want to shake hands with you&mdash;never, <i>never</i>!&rdquo;
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,&rdquo;
+she said. &ldquo;What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?&rdquo; Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. &ldquo;I fear it is her father&rsquo;s doing,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think your nurse is to blame,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps&rsquo; frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you can never account for Sibyl&rsquo;s whims,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;it
+is all her father&rsquo;s fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should be very proud of that child if I were you,&rdquo; answered Lord
+Grayleigh. &ldquo;She has a particularly frank, fine face.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, she is handsome enough,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect&mdash;could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t scold her, poor little thing,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. &ldquo;For my part,&rdquo; he continued, &ldquo;I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do know it,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. &ldquo;Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is a strange fellow,&rdquo; answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; &ldquo;but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of <span style="white-space: nowrap;">course&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I can explain. Money is not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>everything&mdash;at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband&rsquo;s scruples&rdquo;&mdash;Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive&mdash;&ldquo;even your
+husband&rsquo;s scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances&mdash;we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.</p>
+
+<p>When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Money <i>is</i> everything,&rdquo; she thought, &ldquo;whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.</p>
+
+<p>With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?&rdquo; There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now you&rsquo;ll kiss me,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;now you&rsquo;re pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I&rsquo;m beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Get up, Sib, and don&rsquo;t be absurd,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don&rsquo;t mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But Mummy&mdash;Mumsy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don&rsquo;t like
+abbreviations.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sacred name!&rdquo; said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. &ldquo;Oh yes, I won&rsquo;t call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, mother darling, I didn&rsquo;t mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums&mdash;I mean, mother&mdash;I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come here,&rdquo; she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl&rsquo;s lips. &ldquo;Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Look at me. Are you attending?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That sounds very nice,&rdquo; thought Sibyl to herself. &ldquo;Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I&rsquo;ll listen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish,&rdquo; continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, &ldquo;I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Poses!&rdquo; cried Sibyl; &ldquo;what&rsquo;s poses?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, mother! it meant&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother&rsquo;s speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, mother! one minute first, please&mdash;please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go, Sibyl, obey me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was &rsquo;cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against <span style="white-space: nowrap;">my&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go, Sibyl, I won&rsquo;t listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going,&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;but I cannot <span style="white-space: nowrap;">be&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; she said to herself. &ldquo;Perhaps I wasn&rsquo;t quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don&rsquo;t know. I think
+I&rsquo;ll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn&rsquo;t&mdash;of course it&rsquo;s all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me &rsquo;splain things. I wish I hadn&rsquo;t a pain
+here.&rdquo; Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos of father I feel so bad, it&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos they told lies of
+father.&rdquo; She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And mother would not even let me &rsquo;splain,&rdquo; thought the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; cried a gay voice; &ldquo;hullo! and what&rsquo;s the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?&rdquo; And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I say!&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;aren&rsquo;t we fine! I say! you&rsquo;ll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t, Gus,&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, what&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel like playing games.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I&rsquo;ll come by-and-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Somebody wasn&rsquo;t square with her,&rdquo; thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+&ldquo;Queer little girl! But I like her all the same.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.</p>
+
+<p>At last the children&rsquo;s hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl&rsquo;s shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am pleased with you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will you come and see me, Mumsy&mdash;mother, I mean&mdash;before you go to
+bed?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is such an absurd custom,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I must break her of it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Break your little girl of what?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;She is a beautiful
+child,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman,&rdquo; replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, &ldquo;and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; answered Mr. Rochester; &ldquo;if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it.&rdquo; As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl&rsquo;s
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p><p>Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you come to the schoolroom now?&rdquo; asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; mother said I was to go to bed,&rdquo; answered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How proper and good you have turned,&rdquo; cried Mabel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-night,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse&rsquo;s cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, pet?&rdquo; nurse said. &ldquo;Is anything the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sakes alive!&rdquo; cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, &ldquo;to be sure, my darling,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I&rsquo;ll fetch it for you, dearie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl&rsquo;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my little darling,&rdquo; said nurse, &ldquo;you look quite white. You&rsquo;ll
+just read a verse or two, and then you&rsquo;ll go off to your bed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to find a special verse,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;When I have read it I
+will go to bed.&rdquo; She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, love,&rdquo; answered nurse promptly, &ldquo;that&rsquo;s in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?&rdquo; asked the
+puzzled old woman; &ldquo;there&rsquo;s some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There&rsquo;s a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, &lsquo;Children, obey your parents in the Lord.&rsquo;
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. &ldquo;Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it&rsquo;s not that I&rsquo;m
+thinking of, it&rsquo;s the one you found about &lsquo;God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.&rsquo; It seems to &rsquo;splain things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What things, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, about mother. Nursie, isn&rsquo;t my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my goodness me, no!&rdquo; exclaimed the woman under her breath. &ldquo;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t remark it, my dear,&rdquo; she said aloud.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos you know so very little. You can&rsquo;t never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>and I&rsquo;m not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I failed to understand your letter,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and have come to you
+for an explanation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought my meaning plain enough,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?&rdquo; queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see,&rdquo; cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang to
+his feet. &ldquo;I have regarded you as my friend for some time, Grayleigh,
+and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with&mdash;you know what it means&mdash;a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world&mdash;our world I mean&mdash;consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill&mdash;a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your emendation of that old proverb may be <i>fin de si&egrave;cle</i>, but it
+does not suit my notions,&rdquo; muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh looked keenly at him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will be sorry for this,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">but&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is the matter with you?&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;you never were so
+scrupulous.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you <span style="white-space: nowrap;">a&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We need not enter into that,&rdquo; said Grayleigh, rising; &ldquo;you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the <i>pros</i> and <i>cons</i>. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And it is that which at once tempts and repels me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, &ldquo;How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl is peculiar,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl&rsquo;s wore at intervals.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not at all,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie; &ldquo;I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, to turn to the present matter,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;you will
+reconsider your refusal?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would rather not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me,&rdquo; said
+Ogilvie; &ldquo;it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>me from temptation. But suppose I were to&mdash;to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will assume,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won&rsquo;t take a refusal now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to &ldquo;Philip Ogilvie, Esq.,&rdquo; in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter&rsquo;s name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Daddy Dear</span>,&mdash;Here&rsquo;s a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+kiss. I will put sum more at the end of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>the letter. Pleas
+kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+said she wasn&rsquo;t purfect but she is, isn&rsquo;t she father? I miss
+you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+for having gived you to me father. Your <span class="smcap">Sibyl</span>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father, what does &lsquo;scroopolus&rsquo; mean? I want to know
+speshul.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Sib</span>.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well&mdash;he had seen them coming for a long time&mdash;the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler&rsquo;s bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am unworthy of my little Angel,&rdquo; he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. &ldquo;And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl&rsquo;s
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Shall I risk it?&rdquo; he said to himself. &ldquo;Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems <i>bona fide</i> enough. It it is <i>bona fide</i>, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other,&rdquo; and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s offer.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to seem to force your hand,&rdquo; that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, &ldquo;but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and&mdash;turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.</p>
+
+<p>As these thoughts flashed before his mind he for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>got that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bring me brandy, and be quick,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.</p>
+
+<p>After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife&rsquo;s extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother&rsquo;s death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate&mdash;not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl&rsquo;s needs and her mother&rsquo;s fancied necessities, Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must do something better than that for my little daughter,&rdquo; thought
+the man. &ldquo;I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl&rsquo;s sake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.</p>
+
+<p>He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest,&rdquo; thought the man. &ldquo;I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p><p>He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.</p>
+
+<p>Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.</p>
+
+<p>He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor&rsquo;s consulting room.</p>
+
+<p>Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Something of the kind,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty&mdash;he was all right.</p>
+
+<p>Rashleigh asked him a few questions.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, &ldquo;and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How large a sum do you propose to insure for?&rdquo; asked the doctor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor&rsquo;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well?&rdquo; said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right, I
+suppose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination,&rdquo; was Rashleigh&rsquo;s
+answer. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll hear all in good time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When do you propose to go to Australia?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may not go at all. In fact if&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. &ldquo;If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But suppose it is not all right?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I sail on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may as well tell you the truth,&rdquo; said Rashleigh; &ldquo;you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Heart,&rdquo; said Rashleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Heart! Mine? Not affected?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seriously?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Does this mean that <span style="white-space: nowrap;">I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span> Ogilvie dropped into a chair. &ldquo;Rashleigh,&rdquo;
+he said suddenly, &ldquo;I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable&mdash;a very measurable distance of the end.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Describe your sensations,&rdquo; said Rashleigh.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie did so.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear not.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Just what was said to my father, who did not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>live for years and
+years,&rdquo; answered the man. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t keep you any longer, Rashleigh.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, &ldquo;Doomed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look well, Mr. Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never mind about my looks, Harrison,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie. &ldquo;I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don&rsquo;t look well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Looks are nothing,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie. &ldquo;I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<p>On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie&rsquo;s subservience to his chief&rsquo;s wishes, he should
+turn restive.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable,&rdquo; thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.</p>
+
+<p>He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo!&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to
+account for myself to you,&rdquo; but she remembered her mother&rsquo;s
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can,&rdquo; she thought.</p>
+
+<p>So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We were chasing Sib,&rdquo; they said; &ldquo;she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all,&rdquo; was Grayleigh&rsquo;s
+response. &ldquo;Sibyl has long legs for her age.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl&rsquo;s soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog&rsquo;s,&rdquo; thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You and I will walk by ourselves for a little,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl&rsquo;s point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be &ldquo;not good,&rdquo; and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be &ldquo;not good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will sit here and talk, shall we?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, shall us?&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m rather short for my age,&rdquo; she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, how old are you?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Quite old,&rdquo; she replied gravely; &ldquo;I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head,&rdquo; he replied,
+looking at her gravely.</p>
+
+<p>She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You called me away from the other children &rsquo;cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn&rsquo;t you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course he is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did he ask about me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, he asked me how you were.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what did you say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s eyes began to dance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?&rdquo; asked Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of you,&rdquo; answered Sibyl with promptitude.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, that&rsquo;s very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I?&rdquo; said Sibyl with great eagerness. &ldquo;Do you really, truly mean
+it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I certainly mean it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You won&rsquo;t tell&mdash;mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell&mdash;mother,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad,&rdquo; she said with emphasis. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It&rsquo;s
+most &rsquo;portant that I should speak to you, and if you will <span style="white-space: nowrap;">promise&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You won&rsquo;t like it,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must leave me to judge of that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going to be fwightfully rude.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed! that is highly diverting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what diverting is, but it will hurt you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe I can survive the pain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked full at him then.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you laughing at me?&rdquo; she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not dream of doing so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl&rsquo;s father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Speak away, little girl,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I promise not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you for saying that, but it isn&rsquo;t true; for father&rsquo;s perfect,
+and I&rsquo;m not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. &ldquo;Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand what that means,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For a duel; you have heard of a duel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, in history, of course,&rdquo; said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, &ldquo;and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you really want to run a sword through me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About my father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I will try and &rsquo;splain. I didn&rsquo;t know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fire away then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You told someone&mdash;I don&rsquo;t know the name&mdash;you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. &ldquo;I told
+somebody&mdash;that is diverting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not diverting,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s cruel, it&rsquo;s mean, it&rsquo;s wrong;
+it&rsquo;s lies&mdash;black lies. Now you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But whom did I tell?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Somebody, and somebody told me&mdash;I&rsquo;m not going to tell who told me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn&rsquo;t act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And mother is perfect, too,&rdquo; she said, turning and facing him.</p>
+
+<p>Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you don&rsquo;t wonder that I hate you,&rdquo; continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Listen now, little girl.&rdquo; Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t shrink away, don&rsquo;t turn from me,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>little girls
+don&rsquo;t understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down <i>good</i> fellow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The best in all the world?&rdquo; queried Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father&rsquo;s quite
+perfect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Men like myself don&rsquo;t care to own themselves in the wrong,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh, &ldquo;and the fact is&mdash;listen, you queer little mortal&mdash;I don&rsquo;t
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have met my father and my mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Would he?&rdquo; said the child. She looked wistful and interested. &ldquo;There
+are lots of things I want to be &rsquo;splained to me,&rdquo; she said. Then,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>after a moment&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll think whether I&rsquo;ll be friends with you, and
+I&rsquo;ll let you know, may be to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Poor little maid!&rdquo; he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl&rsquo;s words had affected
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful,&rdquo; was his
+inward thought; &ldquo;it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won&rsquo;t
+affect the public as Ogilvie&rsquo;s report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl&rsquo;s faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What am I,&rdquo; he said to himself, &ldquo;to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?&rdquo; And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come in and sit down,&rdquo; he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+&ldquo;It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don&rsquo;t wonder that I should ask you the question.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She has a very great respect for you,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl&rsquo;s had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p><p>Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your little girl has the highest opinion of you,&rdquo; he repeated; &ldquo;the
+very highest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. &ldquo;You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am&rdquo;&mdash;she
+smiled&mdash;&ldquo;charming.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are that, undoubtedly,&rdquo; said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don&rsquo;t want to be. Sibyl&rsquo;s
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">utmost&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are doing what?&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To open her eyes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not if I were you,&rdquo; he said, gravely; &ldquo;it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you talking about now?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t often read my Bible,&rdquo; he continued, &ldquo;but, of course, I did as
+a boy&mdash;most boys do. My mother <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must tell it to you. &lsquo;Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How unpleasant,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, &ldquo;and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;With pleasure.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Precisely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has he promised?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does assaying the mine mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To assay a mine means to find out accurately <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>what it contains,&rdquo; said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone&rsquo;s gaze at that instant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; he continued, after a pause, &ldquo;your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will be a madman if he does,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;According to Sibyl&rsquo;s light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip&rsquo;s conscience!&rdquo; said the wife, with a sneer; &ldquo;what next?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It appears to me,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;that he has an active one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband&rsquo;s
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it <span style="white-space: nowrap;">more&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I really will not stay here to be lectured,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I cannot answer it, for I do not know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you think he will?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my impression.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can, at least, tell me what occurred.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To go where?&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean by being paid well?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will have his expenses, and something over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something over! that is a very elastic term.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;In your husband&rsquo;s case it will mean thousands.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I see; and then the shares?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The shares will practically make him a rich man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line.&rdquo; She turned to leave the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I were you,&rdquo; he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, &ldquo;if I were you, upon my honor, I&rsquo;d leave him
+alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;I only ventured to make a
+suggestion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never found you so disagreeable before.&rdquo; She then left the
+summer-house.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I speak to you?&rdquo; he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.</p>
+
+<p>She ran to his side at once.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you want to send your father a letter by this post?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, of course; is there time?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will make time; go into the house and write to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But why?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He would like to hear from you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you want me to say anything special?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all.&rdquo; And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl&rsquo;s letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.</p>
+
+<p>The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie&rsquo;s plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl&rsquo;s was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother&rsquo;s, then the child&rsquo;s. Sibyl&rsquo;s
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<p>The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Dear Ogilvie</span>,</p>
+
+<p>Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann &amp; Co.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">Yours sincerely,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;"><span class="smcap">Grayleigh.</span></span></p></div>
+
+<p>Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did not want to go there,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me&mdash;what he pays will be Sibyl&rsquo;s, the provision for her future. But I
+don&rsquo;t want to see the child&mdash;until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn&rsquo;t want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound,&rdquo; he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh&rsquo;s verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh&rsquo;s letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.</p>
+
+<p>He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p><p>This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh, &ldquo;and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is exactly as her father pleases,&rdquo; replied Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.</p>
+
+<p>As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss,&rdquo; she thought; &ldquo;but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Mildred, and how are you?&rdquo; said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite well,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don&rsquo;t look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am all right,&rdquo; he answered shortly. &ldquo;I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And&rdquo;&mdash;Ogilvie glanced to right and left&mdash;&ldquo;the child?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband&rsquo;s arm.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p><p>Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie&rsquo;s intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is good of you,&rdquo; pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. &ldquo;I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and&mdash;and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Debts, you mean,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, bluntly. &ldquo;I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will <span style="white-space: nowrap;">be&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Phil!&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s face turned very white.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will speak about them before I leave,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;Now I must
+find Grayleigh.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it true that you are going on Saturday?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite true.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you really don&rsquo;t want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want you,&rdquo; he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl will be delighted to see you,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That reminds me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not wish her to be told.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, never?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>you understand? I won&rsquo;t go at all if you tell her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, of course, I understand,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+&ldquo;but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband&rsquo;s arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My bills! but I <span style="white-space: nowrap;">really&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is Lord Grayleigh,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I must <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid.&rdquo; He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; she began, then she hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What more?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A trinket, it took my fancy&mdash;a diamond cross&mdash;you noticed it. I could
+not resist it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much?&rdquo; said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Two thousand pounds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don&rsquo;t keep me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is good,&rdquo; said the nobleman. &ldquo;I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall we go into the house?&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That depends.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now listen, Ogilvie,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, &ldquo;you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can I? I thought the die was cast.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I <i>could</i> get Atherton to
+take your place even now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even now?&rdquo; echoed Philip Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I&rdquo;&mdash;Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl&rsquo;s face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie&rsquo;s face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man&rsquo;s whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want,&rdquo; he said,
+with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The time for discussing the thing is over,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I will
+go&mdash;and&mdash;do <i>as you wish</i>. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What do you mean by the price down?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, you shall have it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much more?&rdquo; Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is&mdash;I will confide
+in you so far&mdash;my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know your child,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; &ldquo;she
+is out of the common.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A spasm of pain crossed the father&rsquo;s face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is,&rdquo; he answered slowly. &ldquo;I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)&mdash;if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,&rdquo;
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, &ldquo;What you wish shall be done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s private
+account.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This clinches matters,&rdquo; he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will see Spielmann for all the rest,&rdquo; was Grayleigh&rsquo;s answer;
+&ldquo;and now, if you must catch the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">train&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I must; good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Have you seen your wife?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Daddy, daddy!&rdquo; she cried.</p>
+
+<p>He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie,&rdquo; said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, &rsquo;licious!&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;more than &rsquo;licious; but what will mother
+say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie&rsquo;s arm was tight round Sibyl&rsquo;s waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s something troubling him, he likes having me near him,&rdquo;
+thought the child. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t let him see that he&rsquo;s squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something.&rdquo; Then <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wait for the child,&rdquo; he said to the servant, &ldquo;and take her back
+carefully to the house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir,&rdquo; answered the man, touching his hat.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have my ticket,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Three whole precious minutes,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl. &ldquo;What is it, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am thinking of something,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo; asked the girl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father! why, so we are,&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;Mother&rsquo;s not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look quite well, dear father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don&rsquo;t come to little girls.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course they don&rsquo;t, father, but when I&rsquo;m a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>woman I&rsquo;ll have them.
+I&rsquo;ll take them instead of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now listen, my darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, <i>very</i> solemn; I know you when you&rsquo;re in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don&rsquo;t you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mayn&rsquo;t I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there&rsquo;s no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I&rsquo;d like to go back with you, wouldn&rsquo;t it be fun! Couldn&rsquo;t you take
+me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could, of course,&rdquo; said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sib,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course not,&rdquo; she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would have been nice all the same,&rdquo; said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Ogilvie. &ldquo;Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She flung her arms tightly round his neck.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again&mdash;of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that <span style="white-space: nowrap;">I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For you and Lord Jesus Christ,&rdquo; she answered softly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here&rsquo;s my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll see you again very, very soon, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very soon,&rdquo; answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Anybody come to meet you, Miss?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, thank you,&rdquo; she answered with dignity; &ldquo;I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>was seeing my father
+off to town; there&rsquo;s my twap waiting outside.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father&rsquo;s face which puzzled her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He ought to have me at home with him,&rdquo; she thought. &ldquo;I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he&rsquo;s mostly not well. He&rsquo;s beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he&rsquo;s mostly not well when he does it. I
+&rsquo;spect he&rsquo;s nearer Lord Jesus when he&rsquo;s not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don&rsquo;t want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Sibyl, where <i>have</i> you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother&rsquo;s angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t do anything naughty, really, Mummy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He&rsquo;s off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t say twap, sound your &lsquo;r&rsquo;&mdash;trap.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tw-rap,&rdquo; struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, &rsquo;licious,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must make me quite my prettiest self,&rdquo; she said to the nurse;
+&ldquo;you must do your very best, &rsquo;cos <span style="white-space: nowrap;">mother&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What about your mother now, missy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cos mother&rsquo;s just a little&mdash;&mdash;Oh, nothing,&rdquo; said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She likes me best when I&rsquo;m pretty,&rdquo; continued the child; &ldquo;but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss Sibyl, I can&rsquo;t say I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He talked to me in a most pwivate way,&rdquo; continued Sibyl. &ldquo;He told me
+most &rsquo;portant things, and I promised him, Nursie&mdash;I promised him that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>I&rsquo;d&mdash;&mdash;Oh, no! I won&rsquo;t tell you. Perhaps I won&rsquo;t be able to keep my
+promise, and then you&rsquo;d&mdash;&mdash;Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don&rsquo;t be
+&rsquo;quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+&rsquo;quisitiveness; but you aren&rsquo;t to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn&rsquo;t; it shows how little they know. It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don&rsquo;t understand perfect people. But
+there&rsquo;s the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband&rsquo;s
+departure, although <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Presently,&rdquo; said Lady Helen, &ldquo;when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you&rsquo;ll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take <span style="white-space: nowrap;">your&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What ship do you mean?&rdquo; said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, &ldquo;the ship that is
+going to take my&mdash;my what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But this ship was going out,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Never mind, I &rsquo;spect it&rsquo;s
+a secret; there&rsquo;s lots of &rsquo;em floating <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>round to-day. I&rsquo;ve got some
+&rsquo;portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don&rsquo;t blush no more.&rdquo;
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<p>Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.</p>
+
+<p>Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester&rsquo;s eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen&rsquo;s fair face.</p>
+
+<p>He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband&rsquo;s letter.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; &ldquo;he is
+off, it is a <i>fait accompli</i>. Do you know, I am relieved.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you?&rdquo; he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man&rsquo;s
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really,&rdquo; she said with an impatient movement, &ldquo;I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But without succeeding,&rdquo; interrupted Jim Rochester. &ldquo;I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;and I never saw a
+nicer little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that is what strangers always say,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, &ldquo;and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad you feel it,&rdquo; said Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, &ldquo;I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don&rsquo;t
+think I ever met a sweeter child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There you go,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The annoying part of this letter,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don&rsquo;t think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent&mdash;&mdash;Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don&rsquo;t you play with your companions?&rdquo; For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I thought&mdash;I thought,&rdquo; she began; &ldquo;I thought, mother, that I heard
+you&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a&mdash;a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I said nothing of the sort,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, &ldquo;nothing of the sort; go and
+play.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s wicked for good people to tell lies, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo; she said then,
+slowly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wicked,&rdquo; cried her mother; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s shamefully wicked.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you are good, mother, you don&rsquo;t ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course.&rdquo; She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish things would be &rsquo;splained to me,&rdquo; she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. &ldquo;There are more and more
+things every day want &rsquo;splaining. I certainly did hear her say <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said &lsquo;in his
+absence.&rsquo; Oh, what can it mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl,&rdquo; he said.
+&ldquo;Is anything the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to ask you a question,&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">called&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl,&rdquo; said the child, beginning to laugh; &ldquo;if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What would you like best in the world?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week&mdash;we are going home this day week.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what will you have when you go home?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father&rsquo;s kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father&rsquo;s kisses, &ldquo;we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said Sibyl, laughing, &ldquo;a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn&rsquo;t afford it. Oh, I do want a pony.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall have one,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you really think I am good?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Wouldn&rsquo;t father like to hear you. It&rsquo;s wonderful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see&mdash;oh, but you shan&rsquo;t
+look.&rdquo; She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. &ldquo;But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother&rsquo;s side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I&rsquo;d like a riding habit like mother&rsquo;s, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can&rsquo;t &rsquo;ford one for me, but you&rsquo;ll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit,&rdquo; said Lord
+Grayleigh. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 306px;">
+<img src="images/illus2.jpg" class="jpg smallgap" width="306" height="500" alt="&ldquo;A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?&rdquo;
+asked Sibyl.&mdash;Page 123. Daddy&rsquo;s Girl." title="" />
+<span class="caption">&ldquo;A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?&rdquo;
+asked Sibyl.&mdash;Page <a href="#Page_123">123.</a> <i>Daddy&rsquo;s Girl.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t mind what sort my darling pony is,&rdquo; answered the child. &ldquo;I
+only want to have it. Oh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>you are nice. I began by not liking you, but I like you awfully now.
+You are very nice, indeed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There are lots of nice people in the world,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn&rsquo;t never tell a
+lie, could she?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, it&rsquo;s the feminine gender,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a she,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;could she; could she?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A perfect person could not, little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right; I got a fright, but there wasn&rsquo;t a word of
+it true. Come, let&rsquo;s play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In a week&rsquo;s time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what father is,&rdquo; she said, looking full up into
+Rochester&rsquo;s eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have had a good time here,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there&rsquo;s no place for me like my own,
+own home. It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos of father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father&rsquo;s absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is at night that my father is the most perfect <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>of all,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I&rsquo;m
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But your mother?&rdquo; stammered Rochester. He was about to add, &ldquo;She
+would go to your room, would she not?&rdquo; when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;re thinking about my perfect mother, too,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon&mdash;you have heard of
+him, haven&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rochester nodded.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just &rsquo;splained about my mother.
+It&rsquo;s really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat&rsquo;rally like father&rsquo;s way best.
+Mother&rsquo;s way is the goodest for me, p&rsquo;waps. Don&rsquo;t you think mother&rsquo;s
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seems to me,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m always looking for Lady Helen when I&rsquo;m
+with you. Is it &rsquo;cos you&rsquo;re so desperate fond of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you like her yourself?&rdquo; said the young man, reddening visibly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Like her? I like her just awfully. She&rsquo;s the most &rsquo;licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I can&rsquo;t honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>hear
+about him. Now come along and let&rsquo;s find her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester&rsquo;s face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little <i>distrait</i>. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Cheer up, won&rsquo;t you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk like that,&rdquo; said Rochester in a voice of pain.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, &lsquo;It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, &rsquo;cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.&rsquo; Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,&rdquo;
+said the young man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don&rsquo;t know how you look when you
+look at her, oh&mdash;ever so eager, same as I look when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>father&rsquo;s in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she&rsquo;s as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by&mdash;good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.</p>
+
+<p>The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is my present to you,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh dear, oh dear,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want <i>everyone</i> to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but&mdash;don&rsquo;t please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I&rsquo;ll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Well, I won&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect father will write you a most loving letter about this,&rdquo; said
+Sibyl. &ldquo;Won&rsquo;t he be &rsquo;sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I never go to school,&rdquo; said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. &ldquo;I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that&mdash;oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn&rsquo;t suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It&rsquo;s
+all right, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father will tell me a name. I won&rsquo;t let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>Rochester for me&mdash;oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen&mdash;good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sit back in your seat and don&rsquo;t chatter,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you disturb
+other people.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl&rsquo;s own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother,&rdquo; she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+&rsquo;proving, aren&rsquo;t I?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Proving, what do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;<i>Im</i>proving, mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;oh!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos of father,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I <i>have</i> tried, <i>haven&rsquo;t</i> you noticed it, mother? Won&rsquo;t you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And to please father and Lord Jesus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, yes, child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything&mdash;the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would &rsquo;ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush, don&rsquo;t talk so loud.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The old gentleman buried himself in <i>The Times</i> in order not to hear
+Sibyl&rsquo;s distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take up your book and stop talking,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But it don&rsquo;t matter,&rdquo; she said to herself; &ldquo;when I see father, he&rsquo;ll
+understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother, may I ask John if father&rsquo;s likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P&rsquo;waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sit still, you do fidget so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try to be quiet, mother; it&rsquo;s only &rsquo;cos I&rsquo;m so incited.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, dear,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, &ldquo;what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if&mdash;as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother&rsquo;s.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you doing that for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&rsquo;Cos I thought I&rsquo;d rub you the right way,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren&rsquo;t you, just now,
+mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be so ridiculous.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.</p>
+
+<p>They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father, father!&rdquo; she called. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are&mdash;Sibyl. I&rsquo;m home <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>again, father. The Angel is home again, father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She does not know yet,&rdquo; whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;I am going into the
+library; don&rsquo;t tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t see father anywhere,&rdquo; she said: &ldquo;I &rsquo;spect he&rsquo;s not back yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>Mr. Ogilvie&rsquo;s absence had
+not been alluded to in the child&rsquo;s presence.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am back, and I am going to be good,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I really, truly am;
+aren&rsquo;t you glad to see me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go upstairs now, Sibyl,&rdquo; said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child&rsquo;s heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, never mind,&rdquo; she said to herself, &ldquo;he can&rsquo;t help it, the
+darling; but he&rsquo;ll be back soon,&rdquo; and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;this is all most unpleasant.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo; asked the governess.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, this whim of my husband&rsquo;s. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I don&rsquo;t quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,&rdquo;
+said Miss Winstead; &ldquo;he has peculiar ideas, that&rsquo;s all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We need not discuss that point,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. &ldquo;We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I?&rdquo; said Miss Winstead; &ldquo;I would really <span style="white-space: nowrap;">rather&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy&mdash;any toy she fancies. Here&rsquo;s a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father,&rdquo; interrupted Miss
+Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, for goodness&rsquo; sake, don&rsquo;t make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months&mdash;that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that <i>I</i> am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he&rsquo;ll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead&mdash;do it!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When?&rdquo; asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, when you please, only don&rsquo;t worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won&rsquo;t see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don&rsquo;t I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know? Say that her father has gone&mdash;oh, by the way, there&rsquo;s
+a letter for her. I really don&rsquo;t know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I still suffer very badly with my head,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead, &ldquo;but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be <span style="white-space: nowrap;">obliged&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you need not go on,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. &ldquo;I know my duty. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable,&rdquo; said the mother. &ldquo;Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don&rsquo;t forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Coward!&rdquo; she said, under her breath.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish I was well out of this,&rdquo; thought the governess. &ldquo;The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p><p>Miss Winstead&rsquo;s schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie&rsquo;s manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Cook made these for Miss Sibyl,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead; &ldquo;and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t be in your shoes for a deal, Miss,&rdquo; replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p><p>Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What&rsquo;s the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn&rsquo;t you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That&rsquo;s the way Nurse&rsquo;s
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I&rsquo;m thankful to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea,&rdquo; said her governess.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,&rdquo;
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson&rsquo;s sweetheart.</p>
+
+<p>Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants&rsquo; hall.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats &rsquo;em,&rdquo; she cried.
+&ldquo;Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you&rsquo;re a-keeping company with. It&rsquo;s wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That she have truly,&rdquo; said the cook, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;ll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It&rsquo;s but to
+look at her to see how loving she is,&rdquo; continued the good woman. &ldquo;How
+she&rsquo;ll live without the master beats me. The missus ain&rsquo;t worthy of
+her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant&rsquo;s mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants&rsquo; hall.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nearly five o&rsquo;clock,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;father is sure to be in at six,
+don&rsquo;t you think so, Miss Winstead?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He often doesn&rsquo;t come home till seven,&rdquo; answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, what&rsquo;s the matter with you, Winnie dear,&rdquo; said Sibyl&mdash;this was
+her pet name for the governess; &ldquo;you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said &lsquo;a
+shaking,&rsquo; and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I couldn&rsquo;t, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is such a fine evening, that <span style="white-space: nowrap;">perhaps&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no, I don&rsquo;t want to go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How much money?&rdquo; she asked in a tentative voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Twenty shillings,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I could get a lovely doll&rsquo;s house for
+that. But I think sometimes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>I am getting tired of my dolls. It&rsquo;s so
+stupid of &rsquo;em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll&rsquo;s house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it&rsquo;s a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am <i>very</i> fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren&rsquo;t you, Winnie? Don&rsquo;t you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don&rsquo;t you like him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you been trying to &rsquo;prove yourself very much while I was away?&rdquo;
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Prove myself?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can never say that whole word. <i>Im</i>prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I always try, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you <i>are</i> &rsquo;proved, you&rsquo;re
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you&rsquo;re sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I&rsquo;ll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman&rsquo;s to buy the doll&rsquo;s house. He is poor, and he&rsquo;ll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> &rsquo;em. Some children are <i>so</i> careless. Yes, I&rsquo;ll go with you,
+and then we&rsquo;ll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He&rsquo;ll know that I&rsquo;ll be wanting him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl, I have something to tell you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead&rsquo;s voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is something that will pain you, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don&rsquo;t like to be kept in &rsquo;spense.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can bear it,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go on; I am bearing it,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great shock, but I am bearing it,&rdquo; she said again. &ldquo;<i>When</i>
+will I see him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Child,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t look like that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking no special way; I&rsquo;m only bearing up. Is father dead?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A few months,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not dead?&rdquo; She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the little shots that hurt most,&rdquo; she said after a pause. &ldquo;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t have felt it, if you had said he was dead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won&rsquo;t be back by six.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I&rsquo;ll go out with you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather she cried and screamed; I&rsquo;d rather she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I&rsquo;d rather she did anything than take it like that,&rdquo;
+thought the governess.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl went straight into the nursery.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nursie,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn&rsquo;t it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my darling,&rdquo; said nursie, &ldquo;this has hurt you horribly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t be sympathisy.&rdquo; She pushed nurse&rsquo;s
+detaining hand away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the little shots that tell,&rdquo; she repeated. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I&rsquo;m not going to cry, I&rsquo;m not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Was it mother said you was to tell me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then mother did tell me a&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Sibyl left off <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hear you have got a pony,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to talk about my pony, please,&rdquo; interrupted Sibyl. &ldquo;Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why may we not talk about your pony?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to ride my pony now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have walked quite far enough to-night,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you look very
+white.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A good idea,&rdquo; said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. &ldquo;We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, this is the turning, come along,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But why should we go to Holman&rsquo;s, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d much rather go to Mr. Holman&rsquo;s.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child&rsquo;s. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How do you do, Mr. Holman,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I hope I find you quite well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health,&rdquo; replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad of that,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You thought a doll&rsquo;s house,&rdquo; interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, it don&rsquo;t matter about that,&rdquo; said Sibyl, looking <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>gravely back at
+her; &ldquo;I mean it don&rsquo;t matter now. Mr. Holman, what&rsquo;s the most dusty of
+your toys, what&rsquo;s the most scratched, what&rsquo;s the toy that none of the
+other children would like?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a whole heap of &rsquo;em,&rdquo; said Holman, shaking his head sadly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That he have, poor dear,&rdquo; here interrupted Mrs. Holman. &ldquo;How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn&rsquo;t buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It&rsquo;s because our shop is in a back
+street.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, but it&rsquo;s a very nice street,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s retired, isn&rsquo;t
+it? Well, I&rsquo;ll buy twenty shillings&rsquo; worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What ails her?&rdquo; said Holman. &ldquo;She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don&rsquo;t like her looks a bit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months&rsquo; time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress&rsquo;s dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please, mother, I can&rsquo;t sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don&rsquo;t know what it is, but it&rsquo;s worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh dear, how you tremble,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn&rsquo;t you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, mother, that wouldn&rsquo;t have done me any good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They wouldn&rsquo;t be you. I&rsquo;ll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you may, child, but please don&rsquo;t disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you shut your eyes and go to sleep?&rdquo; asked her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling,&rdquo; replied
+Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl&rsquo;s.
+Sibyl&rsquo;s little hand was cold.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I come quite close to you, mother?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes, darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The next instant she was lying in her mother&rsquo;s arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, now that&rsquo;s better,&rdquo; said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother&rsquo;s clasp.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am much better,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?&rdquo; asked her mother.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not much; there&rsquo;s not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It&rsquo;s very hard, but I
+&rsquo;spect I&rsquo;ll do it; I &rsquo;spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It&rsquo;s such a long, long way off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For a most excellent reason,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit&mdash;we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring <span style="white-space: nowrap;">us&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo; asked the child. &ldquo;What has he gone for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of <i>money</i>, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I am not,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who in the world is Mr. Holman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t &rsquo;splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Plenty of money,&rdquo; echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we&rsquo;ll be rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Rich?&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;rich?&rdquo; She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it nice, being rich?&rdquo; she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But what does it do?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I am more comfy in my common frocks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, it gives you your nice food.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care nothing about food.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think so?&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very much indeed; I like the good things of life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try and understand,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nursie,&rdquo; said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, &ldquo;mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we&rsquo;ll be very rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Um,&rdquo; replied nurse, with a grunt, &ldquo;do she?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It&rsquo;s very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has &rsquo;splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn&rsquo;t understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don&rsquo;t matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear,&rdquo; said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl&rsquo;s stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman&rsquo;s chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse&rsquo;s movements with close interest.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Why do you wear spectacles?&rdquo; she asked suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain&rsquo;t as young as I was.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does &lsquo;not as young as you was&rsquo; mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What I say, my dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I notice,&rdquo; said Sibyl, thoughtfully, &ldquo;that all very, very old people
+say they&rsquo;re not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles &rsquo;cos
+you&rsquo;re not as young as you was, and &rsquo;cos you can&rsquo;t see as well as you
+did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I&rsquo;m glad we&rsquo;re going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+&rsquo;splain why I am glad,&rdquo; continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. &ldquo;When our gold
+comes, nursie, you&rsquo;ll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses &rsquo;cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we&rsquo;ll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There&rsquo;s poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn&rsquo;t paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there&rsquo;s a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely <i>swampy</i> sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>and they spend their money, and there&rsquo;s
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It&rsquo;s just &rsquo;cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn&rsquo;t it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won&rsquo;t come into his nice, quiet <i>back</i> street. I
+like back streets, don&rsquo;t you, nursie? It&rsquo;s horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman&rsquo;s.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the way of the world, dear,&rdquo; answered nurse; &ldquo;the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It&rsquo;s a cruel way, but it&rsquo;s the way the world has got.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I hate the world,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn&rsquo;t
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my love, there&rsquo;d be a lot of things <i>He&rsquo;d</i> have to change if He
+came back; but don&rsquo;t ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don&rsquo;t get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you&rsquo;re looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I am perfectly well,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, &ldquo;I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>&rsquo;rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I&rsquo;ll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he&rsquo;ll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won&rsquo;t have to wipe away her tears any more.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bless her! the darling she is!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Smartly dressed, as was her mother&rsquo;s wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I am glad to see you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am very glad to see you,&rdquo; replied the young man; &ldquo;but I did call to
+see your mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, come to the drawing-room, I&rsquo;ll entertain <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester&mdash;<i>nice</i> Mr. Rochester.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you say that?&rdquo; he asked, in some confusion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things,&rdquo; answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+&rsquo;splaining to me about rich people. It&rsquo;s most &rsquo;portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn&rsquo;t it, Mr. Rochester? It&rsquo;s the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, &ldquo;Why, mother,&rdquo; but she
+checked herself. A cloud took <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When my own father comes back again we&rsquo;ll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you&rsquo;ll make,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we&rsquo;ll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are shares?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very puzzling,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;And it depends on father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don&rsquo;t you understand, it all depends on him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s <i>very</i> puzzling,&rdquo; said Sibyl again. &ldquo;Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think so,&rdquo; he answered earnestly. &ldquo;I shall buy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you will be happy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very happy if she says &lsquo;yes.&rsquo; But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may trust me,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;I never tell things I&rsquo;m told not to
+tell. You can&rsquo;t think what wonderful &rsquo;portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you&rsquo;ll be glad to be
+rich?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife,&rdquo; he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When father comes back he&rsquo;ll christen my pony,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but no one
+else shall. I won&rsquo;t give it no name till he comes back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony&rsquo;s back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p><p>Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is very hot this morning,&rdquo; said the governess.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that don&rsquo;t matter,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered Miss Winstead, &ldquo;I cannot say it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Full of thoughts, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied the governess again. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead&rsquo;s instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; she said suddenly, &ldquo;I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly &rsquo;portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We shan&rsquo;t have time,&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, but I want to go,&rdquo; said Sibyl, knitting her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>brows, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mother going into the country, what for?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot tell you, it is not my affair.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That means that you know, but you won&rsquo;t tell.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can put it in that way if you like. I won&rsquo;t tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up,&rdquo; thought the little girl. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like it, not a bit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Presently she slipped her hand through her governess&rsquo;s arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can&rsquo;t think how &rsquo;portant it is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again.&rdquo; Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must hurry home,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They left the Park, and came back in time for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why isn&rsquo;t Mr. Rochester here?&rdquo; said the little girl at last.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He could not stay,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is nice, he is very nice,&rdquo; said the child; &ldquo;he and Lady Helen&mdash;oh,
+more than nice. I like &rsquo;em very much, don&rsquo;t you, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie got up. &ldquo;Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good-by, mother dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss Sibyl, not at all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wonder if you&rsquo;re awfully hungry, Watson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Why so, Miss?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because it&rsquo;s time for the servants&rsquo; dinner.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Miss, I&rsquo;m going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You couldn&rsquo;t, p&rsquo;waps,&rdquo; said the little girl, knitting her brows, &ldquo;you
+couldn&rsquo;t, p&rsquo;waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where do you want to go, Miss?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don&rsquo;t you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have heard of him from you, Miss.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s most &rsquo;portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re very quick, Miss,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are good,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Do you know, Watson, that you&rsquo;re a very
+nice man&mdash;you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let&rsquo;s go; do
+let&rsquo;s be quick.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman&rsquo;s
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Watson,&rdquo; said the little girl, &ldquo;you can stand in the doorway. It&rsquo;s
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Miss, I won&rsquo;t.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance&mdash;when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Dear! dear!&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I&rsquo;ve splendid news for you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn&rsquo;t send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. &rsquo;Tain&rsquo;t fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I like them,&rdquo; said the child; &ldquo;I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated&mdash;as though I were your little friend.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Which you are, darling&mdash;which you are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn&rsquo;t know what to do with it. You
+said, &lsquo;Money ought to make money,&rsquo; and you didn&rsquo;t know how your
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to &rsquo;splain it to me, and I tried to understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I understand that,&rdquo; answered the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s there still, is it?&rdquo; said Sibyl, her eyes shining.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father&rsquo;s gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to&mdash;&mdash;Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you&rsquo;ll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That&rsquo;s what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn&rsquo;t. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bless you, darling,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, &ldquo;so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s awfully exciting, isn&rsquo;t it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You&rsquo;ll be rich, and I&rsquo;ll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He&rsquo;ll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You&rsquo;ll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman&rsquo;s eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Watson,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you&rsquo;ll have a splendid <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<p>About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My husband is not prepared to buy a place now,&rdquo; she said in
+conclusion, &ldquo;but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s heart, did come in the agent&rsquo;s way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>of Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+<i>distrait</i> and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.</p>
+
+<p>This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is the very best place of its kind in the market,&rdquo; she wrote. &ldquo;It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be yours when father comes home,&rdquo; she said to the child.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped about madly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just too &rsquo;licious!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn&rsquo;t <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don&rsquo;t you love Him very, very much, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We can have a bazaar here,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Big-wigs?&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;what are they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand, mother,&rdquo; answered Sibyl. &ldquo;Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn&rsquo;t it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I&rsquo;d like very much to send it to my ownest father.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s heart won&rsquo;t be dead,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?&rdquo; said nurse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can&rsquo;t think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;H&rsquo;m!&rdquo; said nurse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don&rsquo;t like it,&rdquo; said the child. &ldquo;But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don&rsquo;t quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and&mdash;and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the <i>big-wigs</i> are
+coming <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>to it. Isn&rsquo;t it a funny word! perhaps you don&rsquo;t know what
+big-wigs are, but I do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Nurse laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to lose the place,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear,&rdquo; replied
+the lawyer, &ldquo;I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say&mdash;well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can you really?&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the worst it could be taken off your hands,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects&rdquo;&mdash;he paused
+and looked thoughtful. &ldquo;I can lend you the money if you wish it,&rdquo; he
+said then abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The money to enable me to pay a deposit?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree,&rdquo; she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment&rsquo;s pause she
+spoke.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don&rsquo;t know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have plenty of funds to meet this loan,&rdquo; thought the lawyer. &ldquo;I am
+safe so far.&rdquo; Aloud he said, &ldquo;Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This clinches the matter,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life,&rdquo; she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o&rsquo;clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the most darling, lovely place,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When our ship comes in, it will be ours,&rdquo; said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.</p>
+
+<p>When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What rumors?&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. &ldquo;I know nothing whatever
+about business,&rdquo; she said, testily, &ldquo;I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course it has not. Ogilvie&rsquo;s report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not a word, not a word,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine,&rdquo; said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will find cigars in that box,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, do let her stay,&rdquo; earnestly pleaded the young man, &ldquo;she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, as you please, but don&rsquo;t spoil her,&rdquo; said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a lot of things to ask you,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is extremely difficult for me to explain,&rdquo; said Rochester, &ldquo;but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s subscribed?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, whoever they may be. I don&rsquo;t know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s very nice,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;I seem to understand, and yet I
+don&rsquo;t understand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don&rsquo;t
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will say it if the gold is there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And if it is not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then he will tell the truth.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; said Sibyl, proudly. &ldquo;My father couldn&rsquo;t tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn&rsquo;t it, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I should say quite impossible,&rdquo; replied Rochester firmly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are awfully nice, you know,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So they will,&rdquo; replied Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn&rsquo;t the new
+place got a lovely name&mdash;Silverbel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It sounds very pretty, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you will come to-morrow and see it, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you will bring Lady Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your mother will bring Lady Helen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all the same,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;Oh, I am so glad.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Darlingist Father</span>,&mdash;Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+rich. Here&rsquo;s the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+Sibyl. It&rsquo;s hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+It&rsquo;s most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+It&rsquo;s most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don&rsquo;t know
+how portant it is. It&rsquo;s cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+and I mustn&rsquo;t tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+Oh, it is portant.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">&ldquo;Your lovin</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Sibyl</span>.&rdquo;</span></p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll understand,&rdquo; thought Sibyl; &ldquo;he&rsquo;s wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he&rsquo;ll quite know what I mean by the &lsquo;heart of the
+rose,&rsquo;&rdquo; and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.</p>
+
+<p>The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until&mdash;but that
+refers to another part of the story.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<p>The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.</p>
+
+<p>It was now the heart of a glorious summer&mdash;such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother&rsquo;s side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here you both is!&rdquo; she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p><p>Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You do look nice,&rdquo; said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, &ldquo;and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who is Watson?&rdquo; asked Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in <i>dear</i> Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I &rsquo;spect they&rsquo;ll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don&rsquo;t know how fond I am of Watson; he&rsquo;s a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here&rsquo;s the carriage. Let&rsquo;s all get in.
+Aren&rsquo;t you both glad you&rsquo;re <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>coming, and coming together, both of you
+<i>together</i>, to visit Silverbel. It&rsquo;s a &rsquo;licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let&rsquo;s
+all get into the carriage.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+<i>enfant terrible</i>. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had meant to put it off until my husband returned,&rdquo; she remarked
+finally, &ldquo;but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris &amp; Liberty to furnish the
+place, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall,&rdquo; replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.</p>
+
+<p>They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There they go!&rdquo; cried the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There who go, Sibyl?&rdquo; asked Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The one who wants to marry the other,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren&rsquo;t you awfully
+incited?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a very silly, rude little girl,&rdquo; replied the mother. &ldquo;You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>don&rsquo;t take even the slightest notice when they return.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Aren&rsquo;t I to speak to them?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, but you are not to say anything special.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; don&rsquo;t be such a little goose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I always notice,&rdquo; replied Sibyl, softly, &ldquo;that when <i>quite</i> strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can&rsquo;t I say
+anything more&mdash;more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they&rsquo;d like it. I thought they&rsquo;d like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Their love, mother, their love for&mdash;for each other.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Me, mother,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a most ridiculous little girl,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You has put it plain, mother,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I think I do. Now,
+let&rsquo;s look at the flowers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,&rdquo;
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s lovely!&rdquo; replied Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am devoted to the country,&rdquo; continued the mother; &ldquo;there is no
+place like the country for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I think, too,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I love the country. We&rsquo;ll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won&rsquo;t we, mother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now you are talking in your silly way again,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+&ldquo;You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, mother, why aren&rsquo;t they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father&rsquo;s mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It&rsquo;s very puzzling, and yet <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What rhyme?&rdquo; asked Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know it all, shall I say it to you?&rdquo; cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="centerbox bbox"><p>&ldquo;One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,<br />
+Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,<br />
+Six <i>he</i> loves, seven <i>she</i> loves, eight they both love,<br />
+Nine he comes, ten he tarries,<br />
+Eleven he woos, twelve he marries.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that &ldquo;twelve he marries,&rdquo; she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I knew <i>you&rsquo;d</i> have luck,&rdquo; she said. Then she caught her mother&rsquo;s
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon,&rdquo; said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.</p>
+
+<p>Rochester sprang to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can easily get a boat,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll go and consult with mine
+host.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment&rsquo;s
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is that why our house is called Silverbel?&rdquo; asked Sibyl. &ldquo;Is it &rsquo;cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and &rsquo;cos it is <i>belle</i>,
+French for beautiful?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps so,&rdquo; answered the mother with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a pity we must go back to London,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I
+ever had such a lovely day before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;We shall soon be back here,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That will be lovely,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;Oh, won&rsquo;t my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This came for you, madam, in your absence,&rdquo; he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope there is nothing wrong?&rdquo; asked Rochester.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nothing at all,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don&rsquo;t stare in that rude way.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p><p>The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and <i>distrait</i>. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?&rdquo; whispered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sibyl; I am quite happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you are thinking very hard?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I often think.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do so want you to be awfully happy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know you do, and I think I shall be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then that is right. <i>Twelve he marries</i>. Wasn&rsquo;t it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn&rsquo;t it luck?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; but hush, don&rsquo;t talk so loud.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl&rsquo;s hands, and stroked it fondly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?&rdquo; asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;she is quite naughty about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You ought to,&rdquo; said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; &ldquo;it would do him
+good. It&rsquo;s an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, &lsquo;A burnt child dreads the
+fire,&rsquo; or &lsquo;Marry in haste, repent at leisure,&rsquo; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">or&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that will do, Sibyl.&rdquo; Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It&rsquo;s like having more sugar. The &lsquo;home truth&rsquo;
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can&rsquo;t swallow it <i>without</i> the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: &lsquo;Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,&rsquo; and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren&rsquo;t
+there, Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter,&rdquo; cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; &ldquo;you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>talk the most utter nonsense,&rdquo; and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.</p>
+
+<p>The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tiresome man!&rdquo; she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in <i>The Financial Enquirer</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have never heard of <i>The Financial Enquirer</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But City men know it,&rdquo; replied Mr. Acland, &ldquo;and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right,&rdquo; replied
+Acland. &ldquo;There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is very disturbing,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband&rsquo;s report
+likely to reach England?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months&rsquo; time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie&rsquo;s report.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you stay and have some supper?&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+&ldquo;I have said already that I do not understand these things.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of &pound;2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No other place will suit me except Silverbel,&rdquo; she answered.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I strongly recommend you not to buy it now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then pray don&rsquo;t let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought it only fair to tell you,&rdquo; he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<p>It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl&rsquo;s room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child&rsquo;s sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl&rsquo;s father came back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For Jim,&rdquo; continued Lady Helen, &ldquo;will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course, it is full of gold, quite full,&rdquo; thought the child; &ldquo;but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She began to count the days now to her father&rsquo;s return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child&rsquo;s
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river&rsquo;s edge.</p>
+
+<p>The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We have had no cable yet from your husband,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, pray don&rsquo;t croak,&rdquo; was Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are a bird of ill-omen,&rdquo; she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.</p>
+
+<p>He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When people are perfectly happy and know <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?&rdquo; she continued. &ldquo;I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my own impression,&rdquo; said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; &ldquo;but don&rsquo;t
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! Philip will be back before then,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. &ldquo;Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?&rdquo; she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you,&rdquo; she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. &ldquo;I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, some time, but not at present,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>&ldquo;I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn&rsquo;t Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Charming,&rdquo; replied Grayleigh. &ldquo;Is your mother in, little woman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know, I will tell you presently.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,&rdquo;
+she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because you have got a pretty new place?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, no, nothing of that sort. It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he&rsquo;ll
+come. I&rsquo;m always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn&rsquo;t it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 307px;">
+<img src="images/illus3.jpg" class="jpg smallgap" width="307" height="500" alt="&ldquo;Shall I find mother for you?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.&mdash;Page 208. Daddy&rsquo;s Girl." title="" />
+<span class="caption">&ldquo;Shall I find mother for you?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.&mdash;Page <a href="#Page_208">208</a>. <i>Daddy&rsquo;s Girl.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Shall I find mother for you?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You&rsquo;re a big-wig,
+aren&rsquo;t you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>were people in a <i>good social position</i>. I remember the words so well
+&rsquo;cos I couldn&rsquo;t understand &rsquo;em, but when I asked Miss Winstead to
+&rsquo;splain, she said mother meant ladies and gentlemen, and when I asked
+her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen was, she said people who
+behaved nicely. Now isn&rsquo;t it all very puzzling, &rsquo;cos the person who I
+think behaves nicest of all is our footman, Watson. He has lovely
+manners and splendid impulses; and perhaps the next nicest is dear
+Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop in a back street. But when I
+asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman were big-wigs, she said I
+spoked awful nonsense. What do you think, Lord Grayleigh? Please do
+try to &rsquo;splain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl&rsquo;s long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A big-wig is quite an ugly word,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You haven&rsquo;t &rsquo;splained a bit,&rdquo; said the little girl. &ldquo;Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will answer that question after I have seen your mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t look quite happy,&rdquo; she thought; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>sorry he is coming
+to take up mother&rsquo;s time. Mother promised, and it&rsquo;s most &rsquo;portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It&rsquo;s on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+&rsquo;portant. Oh, I do hope she won&rsquo;t forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can&rsquo;t. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I&rsquo;d go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert&rsquo;nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I&rsquo;ll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can&rsquo;t come, she must.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t hear by the last mail?&rdquo; was Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s query.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is probably up country,&rdquo; was Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s answer. &ldquo;I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not heard,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, quite charming,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase,&rdquo; continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit,&rdquo; continued
+the lady, &ldquo;but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won&rsquo;t he?&rdquo; Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge,&rdquo; he replied,
+oracularly. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. &ldquo;By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; he answered; &ldquo;at what date is the bazaar to be held?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p><p>She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall stay in town to-night,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.</p>
+
+<p>She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott&rsquo;s old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener&rsquo;s boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan&rsquo;s cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan&rsquo;s cottage. They were to start about six
+o&rsquo;clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.</p>
+
+<p>The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Missy,&rdquo; said old Scott as he dug his spade <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>deep down into the
+soil; &ldquo;don&rsquo;t stand just there, Missy, you&rsquo;ll get the earth all over
+you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How is Dan?&rdquo; she asked, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A-wrastling with his pain,&rdquo; answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?&rdquo; asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is he expecting you, Missy?&rdquo; answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. &ldquo;Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit &rsquo;em or not? You said you&rsquo;d go, Missy, and Dan he&rsquo;s
+counting the minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I&rsquo;ll go,&rdquo; replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+<i>distrait</i>. Then she added, &ldquo;I will go if I possibly can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.&rsquo; Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why, Missy? What&rsquo;s up? I don&rsquo;t like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. Scott, I&rsquo;m awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can&rsquo;t
+go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You promised you&rsquo;d go,&rdquo; he said then slowly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn&rsquo;t take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could not,&rdquo; answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child&rsquo;s opinion, almost venomous vigor.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Besides,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;it wouldn&rsquo;t be the same. It&rsquo;s you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I&rsquo;d keep my word to
+the poor. It&rsquo;s a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there&rsquo;s God&rsquo;s curse on them as do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lord Jesus wouldn&rsquo;t curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him,&rdquo; she thought; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>but, all the same, the old man&rsquo;s words
+seemed to chill her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll do my very best,&rdquo; she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He&rsquo;s
+a-counting of the minutes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could take the apples,&rdquo; he said to himself; &ldquo;I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don&rsquo;t see why the quality shouldn&rsquo;t keep their word,
+and I&rsquo;m due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She&rsquo;s a rare fine little &rsquo;un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she&rsquo;ll take him the apples.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<p>She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl&rsquo;s own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is your head any better?&rdquo; asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p><p>Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t matter about my tea,&rdquo; she said to herself. &ldquo;Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it&rsquo;s all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother&rsquo;s horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s awful to neglect the poor,&rdquo; she said to herself. &ldquo;Old Scott was
+very solemn. He&rsquo;s a good man, is Scott, he&rsquo;s a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it&rsquo;s
+wonderful what he finds in them&mdash;the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said &lsquo;Read your Psalms and you&rsquo;ll know. Don&rsquo;t the Psalms
+for the day say &ldquo;the Lord of glory thundereth&rdquo;?&rsquo; and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It&rsquo;s wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn&rsquo;t say a thing if it wasn&rsquo;t true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn&rsquo;t like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan <i>will</i> be waiting and watching.
+A little girl <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I&rsquo;ll get the apples ready.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This will tempt dear little Dan,&rdquo; she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ben! Ben! Ben!&rdquo; called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!&rdquo; she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I could ride him alone,&rdquo; thought Sibyl; &ldquo;it is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long&mdash;that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I&rsquo;ll go. It&rsquo;s too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Just then a voice at the stable door said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo! I say!&rdquo; and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Johnson,&rdquo; she said eagerly, &ldquo;I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, Miss?&rdquo; asked Johnson.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I guess I can,&rdquo; answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Want to ride?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Who&rsquo;s a-goin&rsquo; with yer?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No one, I am going alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I say,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;them&rsquo;s good, I like apples.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl&rsquo;s intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony&rsquo;s back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It don&rsquo;t matter about putting on my habit,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can&rsquo;t I, Johnson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you like, Miss,&rdquo; answered Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think I will, really, Johnson,&rdquo; said Sibyl in that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, is that it?&rdquo; answered Johnson.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, that&rsquo;s it; they don&rsquo;t understand. No one understands in the
+house how &rsquo;portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson scratched his head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I guess not!&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I don&rsquo;t take them, he&rsquo;ll fret and fret,&rdquo; said Sibyl; &ldquo;and he&rsquo;ll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn&rsquo;t it so, Johnson? You understand, don&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A bit, perhaps, Missy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am very much obliged to you,&rdquo; said the little girl. &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s
+two apples, real beauties, and here&rsquo;s my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad I did it,&rdquo; she thought; &ldquo;it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I&rsquo;ll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he&rsquo;ll
+understand. I&rsquo;ll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She&rsquo;ll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she&rsquo;ll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she&rsquo;ll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she&rsquo;ll say afterward, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.&rsquo; I am doing right,
+aren&rsquo;t I, Lord Jesus?&rdquo; and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.</p>
+
+<p>The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o&rsquo;clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Are you in, Mrs. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ah! it&rsquo;s you, Missy, at last,&rdquo; she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. &ldquo;Has you brought the
+apples?&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;You are very late, Missy. Oh, I&rsquo;m obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can send it to-morrow, please,&rdquo; answered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you ain&rsquo;t a-coming in? The lad&rsquo;s expecting you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn&rsquo;t able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I&rsquo;ll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won&rsquo;t make him an out-and-out
+promise, &rsquo;cos if you make a promise to the poor and don&rsquo;t keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don&rsquo;t quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 314px;">
+<img src="images/illus4.jpg" class="smallgap jpg" width="314" height="500" alt="An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.&mdash;Page 224.
+Daddy&rsquo;s Girl." title="" />
+<span class="caption">An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.&mdash;Page <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.
+<i>Daddy&rsquo;s Girl.</i></span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t I,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Scott. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a pity you can&rsquo;t come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain&rsquo;t no time to be
+a-visiting of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>you. That&rsquo;s him calling out, Missy; you wait a minute, and I&rsquo;ll find
+out what he wants.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quiet, darling; quiet, pet,&rdquo; said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Mrs. Scott came back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Dan&rsquo;s obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He &rsquo;opes you&rsquo;ll
+come another day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish, I do wish I could come in now,&rdquo; said Sibyl wistfully; &ldquo;but I
+just daren&rsquo;t. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Scott, &ldquo;but you ain&rsquo;t no call to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I&rsquo;d like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There are all sorts,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Scott. &ldquo;Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter&rsquo;ble until he died. It&rsquo;s my
+belief he haunts the churchyard <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter&rsquo;ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I really must be going now,&rdquo; said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+&ldquo;Good-by; tell Dan I&rsquo;ll try hard to come and see him to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She turned the pony&rsquo;s head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a gloomy sort,&rdquo; thought the child, &ldquo;she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don&rsquo;t take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don&rsquo;t like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to &rsquo;splain what a curse was. I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m a very queer
+girl, and I didn&rsquo;t really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn&rsquo;t go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I&rsquo;ll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won&rsquo;t be about. I shouldn&rsquo;t like to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we&rsquo;ll soon be back home
+again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl lightly touched the pony&rsquo;s ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet,&rdquo; said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession. She
+would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless Micah
+Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the next
+instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children&rsquo;s shouts were the final straw.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not quite so fast, darling,&rdquo; cried Sibyl; &ldquo;a little slower, pet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hullo! Stop, for goodness&rsquo; sake; don&rsquo;t turn the corner. Stop! Stop!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<p>On a certain morning in the middle of July the <i>Gaika</i> with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.</p>
+
+<p>A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Ogilvie,&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot quite tell,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie. &ldquo;It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look too well,&rdquo; said his friend. &ldquo;Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do not expect letters,&rdquo; was Ogilvie&rsquo;s answer; &ldquo;there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And yet I am doing it for her,&rdquo; he muttered to himself. &ldquo;I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me&mdash;that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my name,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie; &ldquo;and yours?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am Messrs. Spielmann&rsquo;s agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Pretty well,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie; &ldquo;but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As you please,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;Will you wait here? I will return
+soon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is quite to my desire,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right,&rdquo; answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. &ldquo;I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the <i>Townville</i> to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant&rsquo;s Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And how long will all this take?&rdquo; asked Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what is your personal opinion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, one shaft.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Any result?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is what your opinion is needed to decide,&rdquo; said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did they send him out?&rdquo; he muttered. &ldquo;Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall make my own pile out of this,&rdquo; he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.</p>
+
+<p>The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.</p>
+
+<p>Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here we are,&rdquo; said Rycroft, &ldquo;here lies the gold.&rdquo; He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. &ldquo;Here is our overseer&rsquo;s hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don&rsquo;t mind
+sharing it with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not in the least,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie. &ldquo;We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Time enough for repentance in another world,&rdquo; he muttered under his
+breath. &ldquo;All I have to do <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward,&rdquo; he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+&ldquo;the downhill slope is never difficult.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman&rsquo;s camp was about a hundred yards distant.</p>
+
+<p>As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But the child&mdash;the child!&rdquo; he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.</p>
+
+<p>When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight&rsquo;s work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nevertheless, I believe he will,&rdquo; was Rycroft&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>final comment; &ldquo;men
+of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he&rsquo;ll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn&rsquo;t break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.</p>
+
+<p>After a little over a fortnight&rsquo;s hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo; said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. &ldquo;For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that&rdquo;&mdash;he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;After that?&rdquo; said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,&rdquo;
+said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see no help for it,&rdquo; replied Rycroft. &ldquo;We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall take the report back with me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Better not,&rdquo; answered his companion, &ldquo;best trust Her Majesty&rsquo;s mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it.&rdquo; As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us pack our traps,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, rising.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The sooner we get out of this the better.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward&mdash;the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months,&rdquo; thought the man;
+&ldquo;the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The report was a plausible and highly colored one.</p>
+
+<p>It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.</p>
+
+<p>They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall take the next mail home,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Sign first,&rdquo; replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning,&rdquo; continued Ogilvie. &ldquo;The <i>Sahara</i>
+sails to-morrow at noon?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe so; but sign, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall take a berth on board at once,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, old chap, but sign first.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is wrong,&rdquo; asked Rycroft; &ldquo;are you ill?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I suffer from this sort of thing now and then,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. &ldquo;Brandy, please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You look ghastly,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;drink.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now sign,&rdquo; said Rycroft again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is the pen?&rdquo; asked Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>He was all too anxious now to take the fatal <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie&rsquo;s.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now our work is done,&rdquo; cried Rycroft, &ldquo;and Her Majesty&rsquo;s mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This will set matters right,&rdquo; said Ogilvie. &ldquo;Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Her Majesty&rsquo;s mail would be best,&rdquo; answered Rycroft. &ldquo;You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way.&rdquo; As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.</p>
+
+<p>Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, &ldquo;Come
+in,&rdquo; and a messenger entered with a cablegram.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;For Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;From Grayleigh, of course,&rdquo; said Rycroft, &ldquo;how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside,&rdquo; he continued to the messenger.</p>
+
+<p>The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>&ldquo;Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+at once.&rdquo;</i></p></div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie&rsquo;s fall,&rdquo;
+thought Rycroft. &ldquo;Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Without an instant&rsquo;s hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;here is money&mdash;you can keep the change.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p><p>The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.</p>
+
+<p>Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Looks like death,&rdquo; muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie&rsquo;s collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Still living,&rdquo; he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What has happened?&rdquo; he said, looking round him in a dazed way. &ldquo;Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, old fellow, don&rsquo;t speak for a moment.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must get back at once; the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">child&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, you shall go in the <i>Sahara</i> to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But the document,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, &ldquo;it&mdash;isn&rsquo;t needed; I want it back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t trouble about it now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie staggered to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t understand. I did it because&mdash;because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Too late,&rdquo; said Rycroft, then. &ldquo;That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<p>There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am quite cosy there,&rdquo; she said to herself, &ldquo;for father&rsquo;s perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p><p>There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl&rsquo;s chamber by this title.</p>
+
+<p>From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment&rsquo;s
+delay.</p>
+
+<p>But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child&rsquo;s eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father&rsquo;s hand and
+the look in his face,&rdquo; she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; she said on one of these occasions, &ldquo;I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father&rsquo;s heart every night, that&rsquo;s why I don&rsquo;t disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.</p>
+
+<p>But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother&rsquo;s heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl&rsquo;s comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor&rsquo;s orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.</p>
+
+<p>There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the <i>Sahara</i>, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her,&rdquo; the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.</p>
+
+<p>But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl&rsquo;s state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Doctors are so often mistaken,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother&rsquo;s heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient&rsquo;s face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.</p>
+
+<p>Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl&rsquo;s weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t have the curse of the poor, I did my best,&rdquo; said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, you did your best, dearie,&rdquo; he replied. His <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss,&rdquo; he said
+then, &ldquo;the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I like old Scott, he&rsquo;s a very religious man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That he is, darling,&rdquo; replied nurse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seems to me I&rsquo;m getting religious too,&rdquo; continued Sibyl. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s &rsquo;cos
+of Lord Jesus, I &rsquo;spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl&rsquo;s recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others,&rdquo; thought Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It will be doing such a good work,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. &ldquo;I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter&rsquo;s room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Mummy,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, &ldquo;Come and kiss
+me, Mummy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My little white rose,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you must get some color back into
+your cheeks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, color don&rsquo;t matter,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just as happy without
+it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, Mummy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you like lying here in your pretty window?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, mother darling.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are not weary of lying so still?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is funny,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don&rsquo;t want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a splendid idea, Sib!&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;you shall dress some
+dolls for mother&rsquo;s bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you going to have it after all?&rdquo; cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. &ldquo;Are the big-wigs coming?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy&mdash;Lord Grayleigh and the rest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I like Lord Grayleigh,&rdquo; replied Sibyl. &ldquo;I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear little girl,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment&rsquo;s pause she said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything&mdash;it will
+be fun.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you think so?&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead shortly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast&mdash;I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The bazaar!&rdquo; echoed Miss Winstead. &ldquo;Surely you don&rsquo;t mean to have it
+here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I would not, if I were you,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead slowly. &ldquo;You know
+what the doctors have said.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe a single word of what they say,&rdquo; she retorted with
+some passion. &ldquo;The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You forget,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead slowly, &ldquo;the <i>Sahara</i> is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for&mdash;for what he has to see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don&rsquo;t
+understand what you mean <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don&rsquo;t croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon&mdash;there is a great deal to see about.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie&rsquo;s cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie&rsquo;s cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: &ldquo;From the tone of
+Ogilvie&rsquo;s cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,&rdquo;
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, &ldquo;to be rich and also honest at the same
+time.&rdquo; He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.</p>
+
+<p>On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">My Dear Lord Grayleigh</span>,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I <i>had</i> forgotten it,&rdquo; muttered Grayleigh to himself. &ldquo;That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p><p>He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;I was obliged to postpone the original date,&rdquo; continued his
+correspondent, &ldquo;but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+we see you at Silverbel the better.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 15em;">&ldquo;With kind regards, I remain,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">&ldquo;Yours sincerely,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 19em;">&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Mildred Ogilvie</span>.</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;P.S.&mdash;By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+I never did approve of the child&rsquo;s riding, particularly in
+her father&rsquo;s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+you her love if she knew I was writing.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s letter and re-read
+the postscript.</p>
+
+<p>After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round,&rdquo; was
+Grayleigh&rsquo;s direction.</p>
+
+<p>He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where are you going, father?&rdquo; called out Freda. &ldquo;You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think so, Freda. By the way, have you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has she?&rdquo; replied Freda. &ldquo;I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So do I!&rdquo; said Gus, coming up, &ldquo;she&rsquo;s the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl&mdash;quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don&rsquo;t return
+by the last train to-night, I&rsquo;ll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him&mdash;both her hands extended.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How good of you, how more than good of you,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Can I see her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you,&rdquo; she said, in a playful
+voice.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Rest assured that I will come.&rdquo; He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry to see you like this,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;What has happened to you,
+my little girl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, nothing much,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, &ldquo;I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Beautiful,&rdquo; replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child&rsquo;s grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will come back again, presently,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie. &ldquo;By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nursie is dressing them,&rdquo; replied Sibyl in a weak voice&mdash;the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. &ldquo;It somehow
+tires me to work. I &rsquo;spect I&rsquo;m not very strong, but I&rsquo;ll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;ll come back soon; you mustn&rsquo;t tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must return to town by the next train,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lord Grayleigh has come,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; said both ladies.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don&rsquo;t think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl&rsquo;s room.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad you have come,&rdquo; said the little girl; &ldquo;there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had a cablegram from him not long ago.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I understand,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you thinking about?&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear child,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, &ldquo;what do you know about it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I know all about it,&rdquo; answered Sybil. &ldquo;I am deeply interested,
+deeply.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father&rsquo;s message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Up to the tip top?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don&rsquo;t let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you greatly mind if I <i>don&rsquo;t</i> talk about it?&rdquo; she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. &ldquo;It makes me <span style="white-space: nowrap;">feel&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don&rsquo;t like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We won&rsquo;t talk of it,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;what shall I do to amuse
+you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am delighted,&rdquo; said Sibyl. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn&rsquo;t
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don&rsquo;t know all He has done for me!
+Don&rsquo;t you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child&rsquo;s eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now,&rdquo; she continued, after a pause, &ldquo;dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mr. and Mrs. Holman,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh; &ldquo;who are they?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I&rsquo;ll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You&rsquo;ll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You&rsquo;ll be quite sure to remember
+her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Quite sure, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hadn&rsquo;t you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;In my pocket.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you wish me to say?&rdquo; he inquired.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Put it this way,&rdquo; said Sibyl eagerly, &ldquo;then you won&rsquo;t forget. Some of
+the gold in <span style="white-space: nowrap;">the&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Lombard Deeps Mine,&rdquo; supplied Lord Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl, &ldquo;to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put <i>dear</i> Mr. and Mrs. Holman?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is nice,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;that will make them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and &rsquo;cos the children won&rsquo;t
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don&rsquo;t like
+some children a bit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am glad you&rsquo;re pleased about the Holmans, little woman.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I am, and aren&rsquo;t you. Don&rsquo;t you like to make people happy?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you any other notes for this book?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I have. There&rsquo;s the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I&rsquo;m under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry <i>so</i>
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there&rsquo;s gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book &lsquo;Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,&rsquo; will you, Lord Grayleigh?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have entered it,&rdquo; said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And mother, of course,&rdquo; continued Sibyl, &ldquo;wants lots of money, and
+there&rsquo;s my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I&rsquo;d like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you? How funny; he is our footman. I&rsquo;m awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don&rsquo;t you think it&rsquo;s very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you won&rsquo;t forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won&rsquo;t forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, I&rsquo;ll be certain to remember every single one of them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then that&rsquo;s all right, and you&rsquo;ll come to darling mother&rsquo;s bazaar?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+<p>A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like the child&rsquo;s look,&rdquo; he wrote; &ldquo;I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you cannot come to the bazaar,&rdquo; she wrote to Lady Helen, &ldquo;it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p><p>Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl&rsquo;s room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You&rsquo;ll come and see me very, very often, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Oh, you are sweet,&rdquo; answered the child, &ldquo;and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother&rsquo;s splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn&rsquo;t it dear of
+her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I am interested in the bazaar,&rdquo; said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s noble action.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is so inciting all about it,&rdquo; continued the little girl, &ldquo;and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn&rsquo;t mother pretty, isn&rsquo;t she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel&mdash;but then she is an angel, isn&rsquo;t she, Lady
+Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. &ldquo;You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stories?&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I will tell you stories.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you; I do love &rsquo;em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not seen him lately.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll be married to him soon, I know you will.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s odd how weak my voice has grown,&rdquo; said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+&ldquo;Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn&rsquo;t. Nursie did &rsquo;em. There&rsquo;s one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can&rsquo;t put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should like to,&rdquo; replied Lady Helen; &ldquo;I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There&rsquo;s plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It rests me to have you in the room,&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is that, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She calls it the Chamber of Peace&mdash;isn&rsquo;t it sweet of her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room,&rdquo; answered Lady
+Helen.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I do wish Mr. Rochester was here,&rdquo; was Sibyl&rsquo;s next remark.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will come to the bazaar, dear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And then, perhaps, I&rsquo;ll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I&rsquo;d like to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I&rsquo;m
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think&mdash;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I&rsquo;m going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly&rsquo;s, but real ones, and if I have them I <span style="white-space: nowrap;">might&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What, darling?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don&rsquo;t know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father&rsquo;s heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won&rsquo;t it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn&rsquo;t know, darling mother
+doesn&rsquo;t guess, and I wouldn&rsquo;t tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I&rsquo;m going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, &lsquo;Poor
+lamb, she&rsquo;ll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.&rsquo;
+I shouldn&rsquo;t like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, darling, I don&rsquo;t think I should.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn&rsquo;t like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he&rsquo;ll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So you must marry Mr. Rochester,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;for you both love
+each other so very much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is quite true,&rdquo; replied Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. &ldquo;The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold,&rdquo; she said, in an excited voice. &ldquo;I
+know&mdash;Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you&rsquo;ll think of me, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now&mdash;see! the
+angel doll is finished.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Oh, isn&rsquo;t it lovely?&rdquo; said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. &ldquo;Do take it down to mother. She&rsquo;s
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window&mdash;do go at once.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl sent you this,&rdquo; said Lady Helen.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, lay it down anywhere, please,&rdquo; she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you must take <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>an interest in it.&rdquo;
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s
+attention.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must take a great interest in this doll,&rdquo; she continued. &ldquo;Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, <span style="white-space: nowrap;">I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, what is it now,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, &ldquo;what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way.&rdquo; She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen&rsquo;s agitated
+face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl,&rdquo; continued Lady Helen, &ldquo;and I
+am very&mdash;more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for&mdash;I
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">think&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You think what? Oh, please don&rsquo;t begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But have you had the very best advice for her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But what is Sir Henry Powell&rsquo;s opinion?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t ask me. I don&rsquo;t believe in doctors. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think,&rdquo; replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never knew anyone so gloomy,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, at least take the doll&mdash;the child is looking at you,&rdquo; said Lady
+Helen. &ldquo;Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling.&rdquo; Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.</p>
+
+<p>It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the <i>Sahara</i> kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl&rsquo;s accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child&rsquo;s room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl&rsquo;s
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p><p>If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best,&rdquo; she said to
+herself. &ldquo;It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them,&rdquo; she remembered. &ldquo;I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p><p>But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening,&rdquo; she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.</p>
+
+<p>According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother&rsquo;s great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.</p>
+
+<p>It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know the place, I presume?&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go as fast as you can,&rdquo; he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A rum visitor,&rdquo; he thought; &ldquo;wonder what he&rsquo;s coming for. Don&rsquo;t look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter&mdash;but did his little daughter still live? Was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.</p>
+
+<p>When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sir,&rdquo; replied the driver, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s all right. There ain&rsquo;t but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then Sibyl must have got well again,&rdquo; thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.</p>
+
+<p>The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature&rsquo;s own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Phil!&rdquo; she cried, with a little start. She <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, Phil!&rdquo; she said again. &ldquo;Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn&rsquo;t you send me a telegram?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, much the same&mdash;I mean she is going on quite, <i>quite</i> nicely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what is this?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is all this?&rdquo; he repeated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn&rsquo;t it?
+Oh, by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I want to know more of Sibyl.&rdquo; Here the husband caught the wife&rsquo;s
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. &ldquo;No matter about other
+things at present,&rdquo; he said sternly. &ldquo;How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I really don&rsquo;t think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;<i>Where</i> is the child?&rdquo; he repeated again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But is she injured? Can she walk?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually&mdash;at least, I think so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie&rsquo;s attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will see the child in a minute,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;nothing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, <i>what do the doctors
+say</i>?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s pretty, dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good God, that man!&rdquo; said Ogilvie, starting back. &ldquo;Then she must have
+been badly hurt?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She was badly hurt.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They&mdash;they&mdash;of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Speak!&rdquo; was his only response.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They said at the time&mdash;of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Speak!&rdquo; This one expression came from Ogilvie&rsquo;s lips almost with a
+hiss.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, they said at the time that&mdash;oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case <span style="white-space: nowrap;">was&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hopeless?&rdquo; asked the man between his white lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They certainly <i>said</i> it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You knew it, and you could have that going on?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Go back to
+your bazaar.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+<i>that</i>? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am a martyr in a good cause,&rdquo; she said to herself; &ldquo;but it is
+bitterly hard when one&rsquo;s husband does not understand one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+<p>This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father&rsquo;s arms at
+night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear his
+voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.</p>
+
+<p>Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.</p>
+
+<p>For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor&rsquo;s verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>The look on the child&rsquo;s
+face was answer enough to her father.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.</p>
+
+<p>The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This cuts him to the heart,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!&rdquo; said the wife. &ldquo;My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack&mdash;nervous fever, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to <i>think</i> that it had any part in Ogilvie&rsquo;s curious
+unwillingness to see him.</p>
+
+<p>At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.</p>
+
+<p>But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength of
+his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.</p>
+
+<p>But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.</p>
+
+<p>But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl&rsquo;s room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!&rdquo; said little Sibyl.
+&ldquo;Come and kiss me, darling mother.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t tire her,&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>seemed to say: &ldquo;And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child.&rdquo; But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife&rsquo;s eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead,&rdquo; said Ogilvie, &ldquo;will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall soon be back, my little love,&rdquo; he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Isn&rsquo;t it wonderful,&rdquo; she said, turning to her governess, &ldquo;how perfect
+they both are! I don&rsquo;t know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can&rsquo;t help it, but I like father&rsquo;s way best.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should think you did,&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>&ldquo;Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead,&rdquo; answered Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then what shall I read?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps so; I don&rsquo;t quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it&rsquo;s most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It&rsquo;s about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem <i>is</i> so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won&rsquo;t ask you to read about it, &rsquo;cos I like father&rsquo;s way of reading
+best; but it&rsquo;s all most wonderful and beautiful.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.</p>
+
+<p>The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, Mildred,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I wish to understand&mdash;God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you&mdash;but I must clearly understand
+what this means.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What it means?&rdquo; she repeated. &ldquo;Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it&rsquo;s very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+<span style="white-space: nowrap;">may&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush!&rdquo; said the man.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;I refuse to allow Sibyl&rsquo;s name to enter into this matter,&rdquo; he said.
+&ldquo;You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don&rsquo;t care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of <i>this</i>?&rdquo; As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Silverbel!&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, we have bought Silverbel,&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then, of
+course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and I
+am so happy about it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Rich!&rdquo; he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Mildred,&rdquo; he said slowly, &ldquo;do you realize&mdash;do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nonsense,&rdquo; she answered, starting back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The child is dying,&rdquo; repeated Ogilvie, &ldquo;and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man&rsquo;s happiness, <i>goes out</i>.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance <span style="white-space: nowrap;">means&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What?&rdquo; she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Restitution,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;all the restitution that lies in my
+power.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&mdash;you terrify me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred&mdash;oh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>yes, you knew it
+well enough&mdash;that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you <i>knew</i>&mdash;yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it&mdash;that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Worthless!&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;impossible!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Worthless,&rdquo; he repeated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But, but,&rdquo; she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, &ldquo;if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Do I understand?&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune&mdash;it would be easy, for there is enough gold in
+the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman&rsquo;s tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and <i>lose our souls</i>.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won&rsquo;t. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What you say can&rsquo;t be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p><p>He came up to her and took both her hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it worth evil?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is anything under the sun worth evil?&rdquo; She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father&rsquo;s.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don&rsquo;t tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t hurry, father darling,&rdquo; replied Sibyl &ldquo;&rsquo;cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One moment, Phil,&rdquo; she called, &ldquo;where are you going?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To town.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To do what?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;To do what I said,&rdquo; he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.</p>
+
+<p>He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began to
+weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What fearful creatures men with consciences are,&rdquo; moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I beg your pardon, sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What can I do for you?&rdquo; said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is my name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;We know you,&rdquo; continued the old woman, &ldquo;by the likeness to your
+little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I inquire your names?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Holman, sir,&rdquo; said the woman. &ldquo;This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie&rsquo;s illness, and we couldn&rsquo;t rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly &rsquo;opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn&rsquo;t mind if we asked.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;By no means,&rdquo; answered Ogilvie. &ldquo;Any friends of Sibyl&rsquo;s, any real
+friends, are of interest to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He paused and looked into the old woman&rsquo;s face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s better, ain&rsquo;t she, dear lamb?&rdquo; asked Mrs. Holman.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Holman caught her husband&rsquo;s hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do it mean, John?&rdquo; she asked, &ldquo;what do it mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We had best go to the house and find out,&rdquo; was Holman&rsquo;s response.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, we had best,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Holman; &ldquo;but, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come to the house and let&rsquo;s find out,&rdquo; said Holman again.</p>
+
+<p>He took his old wife&rsquo;s hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss Winstead!&rdquo; cried little Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is it, dear?&rdquo; asked the governess.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl&rsquo;s voice now
+arrested her attention.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Who have come, dear?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dear,&rdquo; replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, my good people,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s voice, raised high and
+clear, &ldquo;you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper&rsquo;s entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. &ldquo;Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Dear me!&rdquo; cried Mrs. Ogilvie; &ldquo;I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>does not get back her health&mdash;the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But if the little lady wishes?&rdquo; began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sibyl certainly does wish to see you,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. &ldquo;I think, Mrs. Ogilvie,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly,&rdquo; continued Miss Winstead, &ldquo;and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, we&rsquo;ll speak cheerfully,&rdquo; said Holman; &ldquo;we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, &ldquo;My opinion is never
+taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child&rsquo;s father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>you will have
+to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The day is improving,&rdquo; she thought. She glanced up at the sky. &ldquo;It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must be prepared for a very great change,&rdquo; said Miss Winstead,
+&ldquo;but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p><p>Miss Winstead&rsquo;s own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl&rsquo;s
+soft white hands. &ldquo;Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How do you do, Mrs. Holman?&rdquo; said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; &ldquo;and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won&rsquo;t you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won&rsquo;t you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Eh! but you look sweet,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own&mdash;a child who died when young&mdash;and she had sat by that dying
+child&rsquo;s bed and never once given expression to her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is nice to look at you, dearie,&rdquo; she repeated, &ldquo;and what a pretty
+room you have, my love.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Everything is beautiful,&rdquo; said little Sibyl, &ldquo;everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Whisper,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, darling, but we won&rsquo;t talk of money now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Only,&rdquo; said Sibyl, &ldquo;when the gold comes from the mine <i>you&rsquo;ll</i> be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman&rsquo;s in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You&rsquo;ll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys.&rdquo; She paused
+here and her little face turned white.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must not talk any more, dearie,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am getting well,&rdquo; answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;You know,&rdquo; she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, &ldquo;that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won&rsquo;t forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We will never forget you, dearie,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Come, Holman,&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I might,&rdquo; said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, &ldquo;if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie&rsquo;s hand afore I go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, indeed, you may,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I&rsquo;m thinking,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Queer woman, the mother,&rdquo; said Holman. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll get back to town, wife;
+I&rsquo;m wonderful upset.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children,&rdquo; said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and was
+admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.</p>
+
+<p>He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh&rsquo;s club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the Lombard
+Deeps.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.</p>
+
+<p>Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend&rsquo;s face, he
+started and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear fellow, you don&rsquo;t look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a good deal to try me,&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of her accident?&rdquo; exclaimed Acland; &ldquo;yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago&mdash;she had a fall from her pony?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;She had.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take a chair, won&rsquo;t you, Ogilvie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie&rsquo;s note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are mistaken,&rdquo; replied Ogilvie; &ldquo;but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; said Acland.</p>
+
+<p>A clerk entered the room. &ldquo;Leave us,&rdquo; said Acland to the man, &ldquo;and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie,&rdquo; he
+added as the clerk withdrew, &ldquo;I am quite at your service.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, the place where your wife is now staying.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Exactly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don&rsquo;t blame me, Ogilvie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t blame you&mdash;I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not really!&rdquo; cried Mr. Acland. &ldquo;The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No!&rdquo; cried Mr. Acland; &ldquo;but the report of the Lombard <span style="white-space: nowrap;">Deeps&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife&mdash;nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You can do so, of course,&rdquo; replied Acland. &ldquo;I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this,&rdquo; he said, as he
+stood up. &ldquo;You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know another man only too anxious to purchase,&rdquo; said Acland; &ldquo;but I
+am deeply sorry for you&mdash;your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, quite a failure. I won&rsquo;t detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie went from the lawyer&rsquo;s house straight to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am the master,&rdquo; said Ogilvie; &ldquo;let me in, please.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man stood aside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has a telegram come for me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir, five minutes ago.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;Meeting of directors at one o&rsquo;clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+wish. <span class="smcap">GRAYLEIGH</span>.&rdquo;</p></div>
+
+<p>Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall sleep here to-night,&rdquo; Ogilvie said, &ldquo;and shall be back in the
+course of the evening.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland,&rdquo; he
+said, &ldquo;and I then placed, with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A large sum, Ogilvie&mdash;ten thousand pounds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, ten thousand pounds,&rdquo; repeated Ogilvie. &ldquo;I want to withdraw the
+money.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought it only fair to give you a few hours&rsquo; notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o&rsquo;clock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you wish to take it in a cheque?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think not, I should prefer notes.&rdquo; Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.</p>
+
+<p>At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.</p>
+
+<p>He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life,&rdquo; he thought. &ldquo;I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>angry with him. My God is
+angry&mdash;the pains of hell take hold of me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.</p>
+
+<hr class="medium" />
+
+<p>On the following day, shortly before one o&rsquo;clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.</p>
+
+<p>Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gentlemen,&rdquo; he began, &ldquo;although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh proceeded: &ldquo;This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned to
+England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This report,&rdquo; he said in conclusion, &ldquo;is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers&rsquo; reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh&rsquo;s clear voice was lost.</p>
+
+<p>When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.</p>
+
+<p>Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t open it now,&rdquo; he said in a low voice, &ldquo;it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p><p>He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie&rsquo;s attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,&rdquo;
+said a director from the far end of the table. &ldquo;I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?&rdquo; said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p><p>Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have come here to-day,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;to speak for a moment&rdquo;&mdash;his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on&mdash;&ldquo;to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of <span style="white-space: nowrap;">that&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; said Grayleigh&rsquo;s voice behind him. &ldquo;You must be mad.
+Remember yourself.&rdquo; He laid his hand on Ogilvie&rsquo;s arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,&rdquo;
+he continued. &ldquo;This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+<i>false as hell</i>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;False?&rdquo; echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. &ldquo;Impossible!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is false,&rdquo; continued Ogilvie. &ldquo;I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span>work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.</p>
+
+<p>This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have no excuse to offer,&rdquo; continued Ogilvie, &ldquo;and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What is the meaning of it all?&rdquo; said one, going <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>up to Grayleigh;
+&ldquo;you are chairman, and you ought to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This must be a brief madness,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One moment first,&rdquo; said Grayleigh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you want?&rdquo; asked Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;An explanation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I gave it upstairs.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are mad&mdash;you are mad.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;On the contrary, I believe that I am sane&mdash;sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What packet was that you gave me?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your money back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The ten thousand pounds?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child&rsquo;s accident?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh&rsquo;s detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.</p>
+
+<p>As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment&rsquo;s conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He fell, and I caused him to fall,&rdquo; thought Lord Grayleigh. &ldquo;In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p><p>Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I saw Ogilvie just now,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At least the widows and orphans won&rsquo;t be ruined,&rdquo; said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. &ldquo;Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must do so advisedly,&rdquo; was Grayleigh&rsquo;s remark; &ldquo;remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the ears
+of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what of Ogilvie himself?&rdquo; said an angry-looking man. &ldquo;Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie&rsquo;s story
+too prominently into the light of day.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It may reflect on ourselves,&rdquo; said one or two. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>&ldquo;It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If I were you, gentlemen,&rdquo; he said, moodily, &ldquo;I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Philip!&rdquo; said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o&rsquo;clock that afternoon, &ldquo;I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How strangely tired and worn you look,&rdquo; she replied; &ldquo;what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He gave a hollow laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience,&rdquo; he continued; &ldquo;that is something to live for.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you done anything rash, Philip?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It cannot be,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don&rsquo;t keep me
+now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl&rsquo;s door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The bitterness of death lies before me,&rdquo; he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for God
+demanded something more of the man&mdash;he must <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>open the eyes of the
+child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.</p>
+
+<p>Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Leave us for a little, nurse,&rdquo; said Ogilvie.</p>
+
+<p>She went away at once.</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl&rsquo;s hands.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have been a long time away, father,&rdquo; said the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Business, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, dearest, important business.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t look well,&rdquo; said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have had a hard time,&rdquo; said the man, &ldquo;and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To me, father? The hardest task of your life?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something bad?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Something very bad.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame, as
+though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am very sorry,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me hold your hand,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; said the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Still I do not understand,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, we were happy!&rdquo; said the child.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wish you would try and &rsquo;splain, all the same,&rdquo; said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s only &rsquo;cos of you yourself,&rdquo; she murmured.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes.&rdquo; She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. &ldquo;I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Her voice grew quite animated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Any special people, dearest?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So many,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;I told Lord Grayleigh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>and he put their
+names in his note-book. There&rsquo;s Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They came, father. I love &rsquo;em so much; and there&rsquo;s Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It&rsquo;s a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, &rsquo;cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it&rsquo;s all right.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you sent a cablegram.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you said it was there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You said it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did worse,&rdquo; said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. &ldquo;I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did you do it, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because I was a scoundrel.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo; asked Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A bad man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said the child, &ldquo;no, you was always my most <span style="white-space: nowrap;">perfect&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you are sorry?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have repented,&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;my God, I have repented,&rdquo; and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child&rsquo;s sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.</p>
+
+<p>Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She is so holy, so heavenly herself,&rdquo; he murmured; &ldquo;is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And so you was never perfect?&rdquo; she said.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And was mother never perfect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl&rsquo;s face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother&rsquo;s words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And Lord Jesus, isn&rsquo;t He perfect?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Ogilvie started when he heard her words.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Aye, He is perfect,&rdquo; he answered, &ldquo;you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p><p>She smiled very faintly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did He come into the world?&rdquo; was her next question.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know that old story? Has no one told you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you tell me now, father?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sinners,&rdquo; repeated Sibyl, &ldquo;&rsquo;cos He loved &rsquo;em?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I &rsquo;spect not,&rdquo; she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then He loves <i>you</i>,&rdquo; she said, after a moment. &ldquo;He came from heaven
+&rsquo;cos of you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Father!&rdquo; There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span>amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Kneel down, father,&rdquo; said Sibyl.</p>
+
+<p>He knelt.</p>
+
+<p>Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am loving you so much,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;same as Jesus loves you, I
+think.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is all right,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?&rdquo; he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Seems to me I love you more&rsquo;n ever&rdquo; was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.</p>
+
+<p>But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span></p><p>&ldquo;Why,&rdquo; cried Sibyl, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me.&rdquo; She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus,&rdquo; she whispered. &ldquo;Oh, take me.&rdquo; She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.</p>
+
+<p>The next instant all was cold and lonely.</p>
+
+<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+<p>There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him&mdash;her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze&mdash;her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span>all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.</p>
+
+<p>He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.</p>
+
+<p>He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.</p>
+
+<p>She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.</p>
+
+<p>For Sibyl&rsquo;s sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child&rsquo;s education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span>to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.</p>
+
+<p>As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance&mdash;one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.</p>
+
+<p>Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl&rsquo;s name after
+her death.</p>
+
+<p>But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span></p><p>These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.</p>
+
+<h3>[THE END.]</h3>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<div class="centerbox2 bbox"><h2>A. L. Burt&rsquo;s Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,<br />
+52-58 Duane Street, New York</h2>
+
+<p><b>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Alice&rsquo;s Adventures in Wonderland.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lewis Carroll.</span> 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York Express.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lewis
+Carroll</span>. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Express.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Little Lucy&rsquo;s Wonderful Globe.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge.</span> 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Spectator.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Joan&rsquo;s Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran.</span>
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. A. Jones.</span>
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;An unusually good children&rsquo;s story.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Glasgow Herald.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Dove in the Eagle&rsquo;s Nest.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge.</span> 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Cleveland Times.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Jan of the Windmill.</b> A Story of the Plains. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. J. H. Ewing.</span> 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Academy.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of this popular author&rsquo;s best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Providence Journal.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Six to Sixteen</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of &lsquo;Six
+to Sixteen.&rsquo; The book is one which would enrich any girl&rsquo;s book
+shelf.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>St. James&rsquo; Gazette.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Palace Beautiful</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the &lsquo;Palace Beautiful&rsquo; for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York
+Recorder.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>A World of Girls</b>: The Story of a School. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl&rsquo;s book shelf.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Home Journal.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Lady of the Forest</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This story is written in the author&rsquo;s well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author&rsquo;s customary grace and
+spirit.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Times.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>At the Back of the North Wind.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald&rsquo;s earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Philadelphia Times.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Water Babies</b>: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By <span class="smcap">Charles Kingsley</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York Tribune.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Our Bessie.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Teachers&rsquo;
+Aid.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Wild Kitty.</b> A Story of Middleton School. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Kitty is a true heroine&mdash;warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The
+Academy.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>A Young Mutineer.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of Mrs. Meade&rsquo;s charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Spectator.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Sue and I.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. O&rsquo;Reilly</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun.&rdquo;<b>&mdash;Athen&aelig;um</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>The Princess and the Goblin.</b> A Fairy Story. By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Pythia&rsquo;s Pupils:</b> A Story of a School. By <span class="smcap">Eva Hartner</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Teachers&rsquo; Aid</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>A Story of a Short Life.</b> By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only bright
+and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Courier</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>The Sleepy King.</b> A Fairy Tale. By <span class="smcap">Aubrey Hopwood and Seymour Hicks</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Two Little Waifs.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Molesworth&rsquo;s delightful story of &lsquo;Two Little Waifs&rsquo; will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York
+Tribune</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Adventures in Toyland.</b> By <span class="smcap">Edith King Hall</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Courier</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Adventures in Wallypug land.</b> By G. E. <span class="smcap">Farrow</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Toronto Mail</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Fussbudget&rsquo;s Folks.</b> A Story for Young Girls. By <span class="smcap">Anna F. Burnham</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Congregationalist</b>.</p>
+
+<p><b>Mixed Pickles.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. E. M. Field</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Good Literature.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Miss Mouse and Her Boys.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Molesworth&rsquo;s books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Beacon.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Gilly Flower.</b> A Story for Girls. By the author of &ldquo;Miss Toosey&rsquo;s
+Mission.&rdquo; 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Literary World.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Chaplet of Pearls</b>; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By <span class="smcap">Charlotte
+M. Yonge</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Guardian.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Naughty Miss Bunny</b>: Her Tricks and Troubles. By <span class="smcap">Clara Mulholland</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Land and Water.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Meg&rsquo;s Friend.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;One of Miss Corkran&rsquo;s charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Spectator.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Averil.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature&mdash;piquant, tender, and true&mdash;and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>World.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Aunt Diana.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Little Sunshine&rsquo;s Holiday</b>: A Picture from Life. By <span class="smcap">Miss Mulock</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Gazette.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Esther&rsquo;s Charge.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class="smcap">Ellen Everett Green</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl&rsquo;s
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York
+Tribune.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Fairy Land of Science.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arabella B. Buckley</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Daily News.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Merle&rsquo;s Crusade.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author&rsquo;s stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Journal.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Birdie:</b> A Tale of Child Life. By <span class="smcap">H. L. Childe-Pemberton</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>New York Express.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Days of Bruce:</b> A Story from Scottish History. By <span class="smcap">Grace Aguilar</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar&rsquo;s stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Beacon.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Three Bright Girls:</b> A Story of Chance and Mischance. By <span class="smcap">Annie E.
+Armstrong</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Standard.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Giannetta:</b> A Girl&rsquo;s Story of Herself. By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine&mdash;warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>The Academy.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Margery Merton&rsquo;s Girlhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Saturday Review.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Under False Colors:</b> A Story from Two Girls&rsquo; Lives. By <span class="smcap">Sarah Doudney</span>.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories&mdash;pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Christian Leader.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Down the Snow Stairs</b>; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By <span class="smcap">Alice
+Corkran</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps&mdash;a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim&rsquo;s
+Progress.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Christian Leader.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>The Tapestry Room</b>: A Child&rsquo;s Romance. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Athen&aelig;um, London.</b></p>
+
+<p><b>Little Miss Peggy:</b> Only a Nursery Story. By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Molesworth</span>. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">Mrs. Molesworth&rsquo;s children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.</p>
+
+<p><b>Polly</b>: A New Fashioned Girl. By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.</p>
+
+<p class="n">Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.</p>
+
+<p><b>One of a Covey.</b> By the author of &ldquo;Miss Toosey&rsquo;s Mission.&rdquo; 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This &lsquo;Covey&rsquo; consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens&rsquo; pen.&rdquo;&mdash;<span class="smcap"><b>Literary
+World.</b></span></p>
+
+<p><b>The Little Princess of Tower Hill.</b> By <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.</p>
+
+<p class="n">&ldquo;This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it&mdash;which is much
+better than crying for it&mdash;it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls.&rdquo;&mdash;<b>Boston Advertiser.</b></p>
+
+<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, <b>A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</b></p></div>
+
+<hr class="large" />
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Transcriber&rsquo;s Notes:</span></h3>
+
+<p>1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter&rsquo;s
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author&rsquo;s words and intent.</p>
+
+<p>2. The original of this book did not have a Table of Contents; one has been
+added for the reader&#8217;s convenience.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+***** This file should be named 30333-h.htm or 30333-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/3/30333/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/old/30333-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/30333-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5a2a15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/old/30333-h/images/illus1.jpg b/old/30333-h/images/illus1.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6abd2ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h/images/illus1.jpg
diff --git a/old/30333-h/images/illus2.jpg b/old/30333-h/images/illus2.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16ca152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h/images/illus2.jpg
diff --git a/old/30333-h/images/illus3.jpg b/old/30333-h/images/illus3.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eff74d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h/images/illus3.jpg
diff --git a/old/30333-h/images/illus4.jpg b/old/30333-h/images/illus4.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31075a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333-h/images/illus4.jpg
diff --git a/old/30333.txt b/old/30333.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..594c68d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,10057 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Daddy's Girl
+
+Author: L. T. Meade
+
+Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30333]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ DADDY'S GIRL
+
+ BY L. T. MEADE
+
+ Author of "A Very Naughty Girl," "Polly, A New Fashioned
+ Girl," "Palace Beautiful," "Sweet Girl Graduate,"
+ "World of Girls," etc., etc.
+
+ "Suffer the little children to come unto me."
+
+ A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
+ 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DADDY'S GIRL. _Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+DADDY'S GIRL.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Philip Ogilvie and his pretty wife were quarrelling, as their custom
+was, in the drawing-room of the great house in Belgrave Square, but
+the Angel in the nursery upstairs knew nothing at all about that. She
+was eight years old, and was, at that critical moment when her father
+and mother were having words which might embitter all their lives, and
+perhaps sever them for ever, unconsciously and happily decorating
+herself before the nursery looking-glass.
+
+The occasion was an important one, and the Angel's rosebud lips were
+pursed up in her anxiety, and her dark, pretty brows were somewhat
+raised, and her very blue eyes were fixed on her own charming little
+reflection.
+
+"Shall it be buttercups, or daisies, or both?" thought the Angel to
+herself.
+
+A box of wild flowers, which had come up from the country that day,
+lay handy. There were violets and primroses, and quantities of
+buttercups and daisies, amongst these treasures.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty, father likes me anyhow," she
+thought, and then she stood and contemplated herself, and pensively
+took up a bunch of daisies and held them against her small, slightly
+flushed cheek, and then tried the effect of the buttercups in her
+golden brown hair. By-and-by, she skipped away from the looking-glass,
+and ran up to a tall, somewhat austere lady, who was seated at a round
+table, writing busily.
+
+"What do you want, Sibyl? Don't disturb me now," said this individual.
+
+"It is only just for a moment," replied the Angel, knitting her brows,
+and standing in such a position that she excluded all light from
+falling on the severe-looking lady's writing-pad.
+
+"Which is the prettiest, buttercups or daisies, or the two twisted up
+together?" she said.
+
+"Oh, don't worry me, child, I want to catch this post. My brother is
+very ill, and he'll be so annoyed if he doesn't hear from me. Did you
+say buttercups and daisies mixed? Yes, of course, mix them, that is
+the old nursery rhyme."
+
+The little Sibyl stamped a small foot encased in a red shoe with an
+impatient movement, and turned once more to contemplate herself in
+the glass. Miss Winstead, the governess, resumed her letter, and a
+clock on the mantelpiece struck out seven silvery chimes.
+
+"They'll be going in to dinner; I must be very quick indeed," thought
+the child. She began to pull out the flowers, to arrange them in
+little groups, and presently, by the aid of numerous pins, to deck her
+small person.
+
+"Mother likes me when I am pretty," she repeated softly under her
+breath, "but father likes me anyhow." She thought over this somewhat
+curious problem. Why should father like her anyhow? Why should mother
+only kiss her and pet her when she was downright pretty?
+
+"Do I look pretty?" she said at last, dancing back to the governess's
+side.
+
+Miss Winstead dropped her pen and looked up at the radiant little
+figure. She had contrived to tie some of the wild flowers together,
+and had encircled them round her white forehead, and mixed them in her
+flowing locks, and here, there, and everywhere on her white dress were
+bunches of buttercups and daisies, with a few violets thrown in.
+
+"Do I look pretty?" repeated Sibyl Ogilvie.
+
+"You are a very vain little girl," said Miss Winstead. "I won't tell
+you whether you look pretty or not, you ought not to think of your
+looks. God does not like people who think whether they are pretty or
+not. He likes humble-minded little girls. Now don't interrupt me any
+more."
+
+"There's the gong, I'm off," cried Sibyl. She kissed her hand to Miss
+Winstead, her face all alight with happiness.
+
+"I know I am pretty, she always talks like that when I am," thought
+the child, who had a very keen insight into character. "Mother will
+kiss me to-night, I am so glad. I wonder if Jesus Christ thinks me
+pretty, too."
+
+Sibyl Ogilvie, aged eight, had a theology of her own. It was extremely
+simple, and had no perplexing elements about it. There were three
+persons who were absolutely perfect. Jesus Christ Who lived in heaven,
+but Who saw everything that took place on earth, and her own father
+and mother. No one else was absolutely without sin, but these three
+were. It was a most comfortable doctrine, and it sustained her little
+heart through some perplexing passages in her small life. She used to
+shut her eyes when her mother frowned, and say softly under her
+breath--
+
+"It's not wrong, 'cos it's mother. Mother couldn't do nothing wrong,
+no more than Jesus could"; and she used to stop her ears when her
+mother's voice, sharp and passionate, rang across the room. Something
+was trying mother dreadfully, but mother had a right to be angry; she
+was not sinful, like nurse, when she got into her tantrums. As to
+father, he was never cross. He did look tired and disturbed sometimes.
+It must be because he was sorry for the rest of the world. Yes, father
+and mother were perfection. It was a great support to know this. It
+was a very great honor to have been born their little girl. Every
+morning when Sibyl knelt to pray, and every evening when she offered
+up her nightly petitions, she thanked God most earnestly for having
+given her as parents those two perfect people known to the world as
+Philip Ogilvie and his wife.
+
+"It was so awfully kind of you, Jesus," Sibyl would say, "and I must
+try to grow up as nearly good as I can, because of You and father and
+mother. I must try not to be cross, and I must try not to be vain, and
+I must try to love my lessons. I don't think I am really vain, Jesus.
+It is just because my mother likes me best when I am pretty that I
+want to be pretty. It's for no other reason, really and truly; but I
+don't like lessons, particularly spelling lessons. I cannot pretend I
+do. Can I?"
+
+Jesus never made any audible response to the child's query, but she
+often felt a little tug at her heart which caused her to fly to her
+spelling-book and learn one or two difficult words with frantic zeal.
+
+As she ran downstairs now, she reflected over the problem of her
+mother's kisses being softest and her mother's eyes kindest when her
+own eyes were bright and her little figure radiant; and she also
+thought of the other problem, of her grave-eyed father always loving
+her, no matter whether her frock was torn, her hair untidy, or her
+little face smudged.
+
+Because of her cherubic face, Sibyl had been called the Angel when
+quite a baby, and somehow the name stuck to her, particularly on the
+lips of her father. It is true she had a sparkling face and soft
+features and blue eyes; but she was, when all is said and done, a
+somewhat worldly little angel, and had, both in the opinions of Miss
+Winstead and nurse, as many faults as could well be packed into the
+breast of one small child. Both admitted that Sibyl had a very loving
+heart, but she was fearless, headstrong, at times even defiant, and
+was very naughty and idle over her lessons.
+
+Miss Winstead was fond of taking complaints of Sibyl to Mrs. Ogilvie,
+and she was fond, also, of hoping against hope that these complaints
+would lead to satisfactory results; but, as a matter of fact, Mrs.
+Ogilvie never troubled herself about them. She was the sort of woman
+who took the lives of others with absolute unconcern; her own life
+absorbed every thought and every feeling. Anything that added to her
+own comfort was esteemed; anything that worried her was shut as much
+as possible out of sight. She was fond of Sibyl in her careless way.
+There were moments when she was proud of the pretty and attractive
+child, but she had not the slightest idea of attempting to mould her
+character, nor of becoming her instructress. One of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+favorite theories was that mothers should not educate their children.
+
+"The child should go to the mother for love and petting," she would
+say. "Miss Winstead may complain of the darling as much as she
+pleases, but need not suppose that I shall scold her."
+
+It was Sibyl's father, after all, who now and then spoke to her about
+her unworthy conduct.
+
+"You are called the Angel, and you must try to act up to your name,"
+he said on one of these occasions, fixing his own dark-grey eyes on
+the little girl.
+
+"Oh, yes, father," answered the Angel, "but, you see, I wasn't born
+that way, same as you was. It seems a pity, doesn't it? You're perfect
+and I am not. I can't help the way I was born, can I, father?"
+
+"No; no one is perfect, darling," replied the father.
+
+"You are," answered the Angel, and she gave her head a defiant toss.
+"You and my mother and my beautiful Lord Jesus up in heaven. But I'll
+try to please you, father, so don't knit up your forehead."
+
+Sibyl as she spoke laid her soft hand on her father's brow and tried
+to smooth out some wrinkles.
+
+"Same as if you was an old man," she said: "but you're perfect,
+perfect, and I love you, I love you," and she encircled his neck with
+her soft arms and pressed many kisses on his face.
+
+On these occasions Philip Ogilvie felt uncomfortable, for he was a man
+with many passions and beset with infirmities, and at the time when
+Sibyl praised him most, when she uttered her charming, confident
+words, and raised her eyes full of absolute faith to his, he was
+thinking with a strange acute pain at his heart of a transaction which
+he might undertake and of a temptation which he knew well was soon to
+be presented to him.
+
+"I should not like the child to know about it," was his reflection;
+"but all the same, if I do it, if I fall, it will be for her sake, for
+hers alone."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+Sibyl skipped down to the drawing-room with her spirits brimful of
+happiness. She opened the door wide and danced in.
+
+"Here I come," she cried, "here I come, buttercups and daisies and
+violets and me." She looked from one parent to the other, held out her
+flowing short skirts with each dimpled hand, and danced across the
+room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had tears in her eyes; she had just come to the
+sentimental part of her quarrel. At sight of the child she rose
+hastily, and walked to the window. Philip Ogilvie went down the room,
+put both his hands around Sibyl's waist, and lifted her to a level
+with his shoulders.
+
+"What a fairy-like little girl this is!" he cried.
+
+"You are Spring come to cheer us up."
+
+"I am glad," whispered Sibyl; "but let me down, please, father, I want
+to kiss mother."
+
+Mr. Ogilvie dropped her to the ground. She ran up to her mother.
+
+"Father says I am Spring, look at me," she said, and she gazed into
+the beautiful, somewhat sullen face of her parent.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hoped that Sibyl would not notice her tears, but
+Sibyl, gentle as she looked, had the eyes of a hawk.
+
+"Something is fretting my ownest mother," she whispered under her
+breath, and then she took her mother's soft hand and covered it with
+kisses. After kissing it, she patted it, and then she returned to her
+father's side.
+
+Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Ogilvie knew why, but as soon as Sibyl entered
+the room it seemed ridiculous for them to quarrel. Mrs. Ogilvie turned
+with an effort, said something kind to her husband, he responded
+courteously, then the dinner gong sounded, and the three entered the
+dining-room.
+
+It was one of the customs of the house that Sibyl, when they dined
+alone, should always sit with her parents during this hour. Mrs.
+Ogilvie objected to the plan, urging that it was very bad for the
+child. But Ogilvie thought otherwise, and notwithstanding all the
+mother's objections the point was carried. A high chair was placed for
+Sibyl next her father, and she occupied it evening after evening,
+nibbling a biscuit from the dessert, and airing her views in a
+complacent way on every possible subject under the sun.
+
+"I call Miss Winstead crosspatch now," she said on this occasion. "She
+is more cranky than you think. She is, really, truly, father."
+
+"You must not talk against your governess, Sibyl," said her mother
+from the other end of the table.
+
+"Oh, let her speak out to us, my dear," said the father. "What was
+Miss Winstead cross about to-day, Sibyl?"
+
+"Spelling, as usual," said Sibyl briefly, "but more special 'cos Lord
+Jesus made me pretty."
+
+"Hush!" said the mother again.
+
+Sibyl glanced at her father. There was a twinkle of amusement in his
+eyes which he could scarcely keep back.
+
+"My dear," he said, addressing his wife, "do you think Miss Winstead
+is just the person----"
+
+"I beg of you, Philip," interrupted the mother, "not to speak of the
+child's teacher before her face. Sibyl, I forbid you to make unkind
+remarks."
+
+"It's 'cos they're both so perfect," thought Sibyl, "but it's hard on
+me not to be able to 'splain things. If I can't, what is to be done?"
+
+She munched her biscuit sorrowfully, and looked with steadfast eyes
+across the room. She supposed she would have to endure Miss Winstead,
+crosspatch as she was, and she did not enjoy the task which mother and
+Lord Jesus had set her.
+
+The footman was in the act of helping Mr. Ogilvie to champagne, and
+Sibyl paused in her thoughts to watch the frothy wine as it filled
+the glass.
+
+"Is it nice?" she inquired.
+
+"Very nice, Sibyl. Would you like to taste it?"
+
+"No, thank you, father. Nurse says if you drink wine when you're a
+little girl, you grow up to be drunk as a hog."
+
+"My dear Sibyl," cried the mother, "I really must speak to nurse. What
+a disgraceful thing to say!"
+
+"Let us turn the subject," said the father.
+
+Sibyl turned it with a will.
+
+"I 'spect I ought to 'fess to you," she said. "I was cross myself
+to-day. Seems to me I'm not getting a bit perfect. I stamped my foot
+when Miss Winstead made me write all my spelling over again. Father,
+is it necessary for a little girl to spell long words?"
+
+"You would not like to put wrong spelling into your letters to me,
+would you?" was the answer.
+
+"I don't think I'd much care," said Sibyl, with a smile. "You'd know
+what I meant, wouldn't you, whether I spelt the words right or not?
+All the same," she added, "I'll spell right if you wish it--I mean,
+I'll try."
+
+"That's a good girl. Now tell me what else you did naughty?"
+
+"When Sibyl talks about her sins, would it not be best for her to do
+so in private?" said the mother again.
+
+"But this is private," said Mr. Ogilvie, "only her father and mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced at a footman who stood not far off, and who was
+in vain endeavoring to suppress a smile.
+
+"I washed my doll's clothes, although nurse told me not," continued
+Sibyl, "and I made a mess in the night nursery. I spilt the water and
+wetted my pinny, and I _would_ open the window, although it was
+raining. I ran downstairs, too, and asked Watson to give me a macaroon
+biscuit. He wasn't to blame--Watson wasn't."
+
+The unfortunate footman whose name was now introduced hastily turned
+his back, but his ears looked very red as he arranged some glasses on
+the sideboard.
+
+"Father," whispered Sibyl, "do you know that Watson has got a
+sweetheart, and----"
+
+"Hush! hush!" said Mr. Ogilvie, "go on with your confessions."
+
+"They're rather sad, aren't they, father? Now I come to think of it,
+they are very, very sad. I didn't do one right thing to-day 'cept to
+make myself pretty. Miss Winstead was so angry, and so was nurse, but
+when I am with them I don't mind a bit being naughty. I wouldn't be a
+flabby good girl for all the world."
+
+"Oh, Angel, what is to become of you?" said her father.
+
+Sibyl looked full at him, her eyes sparkled, then a curious change
+came into them. He was good--perfect; it was lovely to think of it,
+but she felt sure that she could never be perfect like that. All the
+same, she did not want to pain him. She slipped her small hand into
+his, and presently she whispered:
+
+"I'll do anything in all the world to please you and mother and Lord
+Jesus."
+
+"That is right," said the father, who gave a swift thought at the
+moment to the temptation which he knew was already on its way, and
+which he would never yield to but for the sake of the child.
+
+The rest of the dinner proceeded without many more remarks, and
+immediately afterwards Sibyl kissed both her parents and went
+upstairs.
+
+"Good-night, little Spring," said her father, and there was a note of
+pain in his voice.
+
+She gave him an earnest hug, and then she whispered--
+
+"Is it 'cos I'm a wicked girl you're sad?"
+
+"No," he answered, "you are not wicked, my darling; you are the best,
+the sweetest in all the world."
+
+"Oh, no, father," answered Sibyl, "that is not true. I am not the best
+nor the sweetest, and I wouldn't like to be too good, 'cept for you.
+Good-night, darling father."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie returned to the drawing-room.
+
+"You spoil that child," said the wife, "but it is on a par with
+everything else you do. You have no perception of what is right. I
+don't pretend to be a good mother, but I don't talk nonsense to Sibyl.
+She ought not to speak about nurse and governess before servants, and
+it is disgraceful of her to drag the footman and his concerns into the
+conversation at dinner. She ought not, also, to boast about doing
+naughty things."
+
+"I wish you would leave the child alone," said Ogilvie in an annoyed
+voice; "she is good enough for me, little pet, and I would not have
+her altered for the world. But now, Mildred, to return to our cause of
+dissension before dinner, we must get this matter arranged. What do
+you mean to do about your invitation to Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going."
+
+"I would much rather you did not."
+
+"I am sorry." Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders. "I am willing to
+please you in all reasonable matters; this is unreasonable, therefore
+I shall take my own way."
+
+"It is impossible for me to accompany you."
+
+"I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child."
+
+"Sibyl! No, I do not wish it."
+
+"I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and
+I will go down on Saturday."
+
+Ogilvie, who had been seated, now rose, and went to the window. He
+looked out with a dreary expression on his face.
+
+"You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not
+to go to Grayleigh Manor at present," he said. "You can easily write
+to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I
+cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline."
+
+"I am going," said Mrs. Ogilvie. Her eyes, which were large and dark,
+flashed with defiance. Ogilvie looked at her with a frown between his
+brows.
+
+"Is that your last word?" he inquired.
+
+"It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and
+disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything
+to please me."
+
+"Nor you to please me, Mildred," he was about to say, but he
+restrained himself. After a pause he said gently, "There is one thing
+that makes the situation almost unbearable."
+
+"And what is that?" she asked.
+
+"The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us--Mildred,
+she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are
+opened?"
+
+"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," was Mrs. Ogilvie's
+flippant remark. "But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You
+make her morbid and sensitive."
+
+"Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank,
+healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would
+not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that
+perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart."
+
+"And it sickened me," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You do everything in your
+power to make her eccentric. Now, I don't wish to have an eccentric
+daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good
+while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way
+remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful _debut_ in
+Society, all in due course."
+
+"With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage," added the husband,
+bitterly.
+
+"I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl," was his
+wife's answer, "and I mean to begin it when we get to Grayleigh
+Manor."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had hardly finished her words before an angry bang at the
+drawing-room door told her that her husband had left her.
+
+Ogilvie went to his smoking-room at the other end of the hall. There
+he paced restlessly up and down. His temples were beating, and the
+pain at his heart was growing worse.
+
+The postman's ring was heard, and the footman, Watson, entered with a
+letter.
+
+Ogilvie had expected this letter, and he knew what its purport would
+be. He only glanced at the writing, threw it on the table near, and
+resumed his walk up and down.
+
+"It is the child," he thought. "She perplexes me and she tempts me.
+Never was there a sweeter decoy duck to the verge of ruin. Poor little
+innocent white Angel! Her attitude toward her mother and me is
+sometimes almost maddening. Mildred wants to take that little innocent
+life and mould it after her own fashion. But, after all, am I any
+better than Mildred? If I yield to this"--he touched the letter with
+his hand--"I shall sweep in gold, and all money anxieties will be laid
+to rest. Little Sib will be rich by-and-by. This is a big thing, and
+if I do it I shall see my way to clearing off those debts which
+Mildred's extravagance, and doubtless my own inclination, have caused
+me to accumulate. Whatever happens Sibyl will be all right; and yet--I
+don't care for wealth, but Mildred does, and the child will be better
+for money. Money presents a shield between a sensitive heart like
+Sibyl's and the world. Yes, I am tempted. Sibyl tempts me."
+
+He thrust the letter into a drawer, locked the drawer, put the key in
+his pocket, and ran up to Sibyl's nursery. She was asleep, and there
+was no one else in the room. The blinds were down at the windows, and
+the nursery, pretty, dainty, sweet, and fresh, was in shadow.
+
+Ogilvie stepped softly across the room, and drew up the blind. The
+moonlight now came in, and shed a silver bar of light across the
+child's bed. Sibyl lay with her golden hair half covering the pillow,
+her hands and arms flung outside the bedclothes.
+
+"Good-night, little darling," said her father. He bent over her, and
+pressed a light kiss upon her cheek. Feather touch as it was, it
+aroused the child. She opened her big blue eyes.
+
+"Oh, father, is that you?" she cried in a voice of rapture.
+
+"Yes, it is I. I came to wish you good-night."
+
+"You are good, you never forget," said Sibyl. She clasped her arms
+round his neck. "I went to bed without saying my prayers. May I say
+them now to you?"
+
+"Not for worlds," it was the man's first impulse to remark, but he
+checked himself. "Of course, dear," he said.
+
+Sibyl raised herself to a kneeling posture. She clasped her soft arms
+round her father's neck.
+
+"Pray God forgive me for being naughty to-day," she began, "and pray
+God make me better to-morrow, 'cos it will please my darlingest father
+and mother; and I thank you, God, so much for making them good, very
+good, and without sin. Pray God forgive Sibyl, and try to make her
+better.
+
+"Now, father, you're pleased," continued the little girl. "It was very
+hard to say that, because really, truly, I don't want to be better,
+but I'll try hard if it pleases you."
+
+"Yes, Sibyl, try hard," said her father, "try very hard to be good.
+Don't let goodness go. Grasp it tight with both hands and never let it
+go. So may God indeed help you." Ogilvie said these words in a
+strained voice. Then he covered her up in bed, drew down the blinds,
+and left her.
+
+"He's fretted; it's just 'cos the world is so wicked, and 'cos I'm not
+as good as I ought to be," thought the child. A moment later she had
+fallen asleep with a smile on her face.
+
+Ogilvie went to his club. There he wrote a short letter. It ran as
+follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR GRAYLEIGH,--
+
+     "Your offer was not unexpected. I thought it over even
+     before it came, and I have considered it since. Although I
+     am fully aware of the money advantages it holds out to me I
+     have decided to decline it. Frankly, I cannot undertake to
+     assay the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine, although your offer has
+     been a great temptation. No doubt you will find another man
+     more suited for your purpose.
+
+               "Yours sincerely,
+                    "PHILIP OGILVIE."
+
+It was between one and two that same night that Ogilvie let himself in
+with his latchkey.
+
+His wife had been to one or two receptions, and had not yet gone to
+bed. She was standing in the hall, looking radiant as he had seldom
+seen her. She was dressed beautifully, and her hair and neck were
+covered with diamonds.
+
+"What," he cried, "up still, Mildred? You ought to be in bed."
+
+He did not give her any glance of admiration, beautiful as she
+appeared. He shivered slightly with a movement which she did not
+notice as she stood before him, the lamplight falling all over her
+lovely dress and figure.
+
+"I am so glad you have come back, Phil," she said. "I shall sleep
+better now that I have seen you. I hear that Lord Grayleigh has
+offered you the post of engineer on the board of the Lombard Deeps
+Mine Company."
+
+Ogilvie did not answer. After a moment's pause he said in a sullen
+tone--
+
+"Had you not better go to bed? It is much too late for you to be up."
+
+"What does that matter? I am far too excited to sleep, and it is wrong
+of you to keep things of moment from your wife. This offer means a
+large addition to our income. Why, Phil, Phil, we can buy a country
+place now; we can do, oh! so many things. We can pay those terrible
+debts that worry you. What is the matter? Aren't you pleased? Why do
+you frown at me? And you are pale, are you ill?"
+
+"Come into my smoking-room," he said, gravely. He took her hand and,
+drawing her in, switched on the electric light. Then he turned his
+wife round and looked full at her.
+
+"This will make a great difference in our position," she said. Her
+eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were flushed, her pearly teeth showed
+between her parted lips.
+
+"What do you mean by our position?" he said.
+
+"You know perfectly well that we have not money enough to keep up this
+house; it is a struggle from first to last."
+
+"And yet I earn close on six thousand a year, Mildred. Have you never
+considered that you are the person who makes it a struggle?"
+
+"It is impossible; impossible to manage," she said, petulantly.
+
+"It is, when you buy all these worthless baubles"--he touched her
+diamonds, and then he started away from her. "Why you should saddle
+yourself and me with debts almost impossible to meet for the sake of
+these is beyond my comprehension; but if you really do want a fresh
+toy in the way of an ornament to-morrow you have but to order it--that
+is, in moderation."
+
+"Ah! I knew you had accepted," she said, making a quick dancing
+movement with her small feet. "Now I am happy; we can have a place if
+possible on the river. I have always longed to live close to the
+Thames. It is most unfashionable not to have a country seat, and the
+child will be well off by-and-by. I was told to-night by a City man
+who is to be one of the directors of the new company, that if you are
+clever you can make a cool forty thousand pounds out of this business.
+He says your name is essential to float the thing with the public."
+
+"You know, perhaps, what all this means?" said Ogilvie, after a pause.
+
+"Why do you speak in that tone, quite with the Sibyl air?"
+
+"Don't dare to mention the child's name at a moment like this. I just
+wish to tell you, Mildred, in a few words, what it would mean to the
+world at large if I assayed the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine."
+
+"Oh, your business terms do so puzzle me," she answered. "I declare I
+am getting sleepy." Mrs. Ogilvie yawned slightly.
+
+"It would be better if you went to bed, but as you are here I shall
+put your mind at rest. If I accepted Grayleigh's offer----"
+
+"If! But you have done so, of course you have."
+
+"If I do, my name as engineer to the company will cause many people to
+buy shares. Now, Mildred, I am not sure of the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine. I know more about this business than I can explain to you, and
+you have a tongue, and women cannot keep secrets."
+
+"As usual, you taunt me," she said, "but what does that matter? I
+could bear even an insult from you to-night, I am so excited and so
+pleased. I believe in the Lombard Deeps Gold Mine. I intend to put
+all the money I can lay hold of into it. Of course you will assay the
+Lombard Deeps? I never could make out what assaying meant, but it
+seems to be a way of raking in gold, and I was told to-night by Mr.
+Halkett that you are the most trusted assayer in London. Has the
+letter come yet? Has Lord Grayleigh yet offered you the post?"
+
+"The letter has come."
+
+"You would make thousands a year out of it. Phil, oh, Phil, how happy
+I am! You have replied, have you not?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Then why do you keep me in suspense? It is settled. What are you so
+glum about?"
+
+"I have declined the offer. I cannot assay the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine."
+
+"Philip!" His wife's voice was at first incredulous, then it rose into
+a scream.
+
+"You cannot be speaking the truth," she said.
+
+"My answer is posted. I am not too scrupulous about small things, but
+I draw the line at a matter of that sort. Go to bed."
+
+She did not speak for a moment, her face turned pale, then she went
+close up to him.
+
+"I hate you," she said; "go your own way in the future," and she left
+him standing silent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Sibyl and her mother went to Grayleigh Manor on the following
+Saturday. Sibyl was wild with excitement. Nurse was going, of course,
+to look after her, but Miss Winstead was to remain at home. Sibyl felt
+that she could manage nurse, but there were moments when Miss Winstead
+was a little obstinate. She would have a delightful time now in the
+country with her perfect mother. Of course, there was the pain of
+parting with father, who was just as perfect, if not a little more so.
+In her heart of hearts Sibyl felt that she understood her father, and
+that there were times when she did not quite understand her mother;
+but, never mind, her mother was the perfection of all feminine beauty
+and loveliness, and grace and goodness, and her father was the
+perfection of all masculine goodness and nobility of character. Sibyl
+in her heart of hearts wished that she had been born a boy.
+
+"I am much more like a boy than a girl," she thought, "and that is why
+I understand father so well. But it will be lovely going to the
+country with mother, my ownest mother. I expect I'll have great fun;
+and, as mother doesn't care so very much whether I am perfect or not,
+perhaps I can be a little naughty on my own account. That will be
+lovely. I can't be really naughty with father, it is impossible;
+father is so very tall up, and has such grand thoughts about things;
+but I can with mother."
+
+So Sibyl watched the packing of her dainty frocks and gay sashes and
+pretty ribbons, and then ran down to the smoking-room to kiss and hug
+her father.
+
+Ogilvie was very grave and silent, and did not say a word, nor draw
+her out in any way, and her mother was out most of the time either
+paying calls or shopping, and at last the day dawned when they were to
+go away. Ogilvie had kissed Sibyl with great passion the night before.
+
+"Don't forget me while you are away, little woman," he said, "and look
+after mother, won't you?"
+
+"She won't need me to look after her, she's quite, quite perfect,"
+said Sibyl; "but I'm going to watch her, and try to copy her."
+
+"Child, don't do that," said the man.
+
+"Not copy my ownest mother? What do you mean, father?"
+
+"Well, well, darling, God will look after you, I do believe. You are
+not far from Him, are you, Sib? You know we call you the Angel. Angels
+are supposed to have their home in heaven."
+
+"Well, my home is right down here on earth," said Sibyl in a very
+contented tone. "I'll have a real jolly time away, I 'spect."
+
+"I hope there will be some nice little boys and girls there with whom
+you can play; and go to bed early, Sib, just for father's sake, and
+don't forget to pray for me."
+
+"I will, I will," said the child; "I always thank God for you because
+he made you so beautiful and good."
+
+"Well, I am busy now; go to bed, little woman."
+
+That was the last Sibyl saw of her father before she went away, for he
+did not go to see his wife and daughter off, and Mrs. Ogilvie looked
+decidedly cross as they stepped into the train. But they soon found
+themselves at Grayleigh Manor.
+
+Sibyl and her nurse were hurried off to the nursery regions, very much
+to the little girl's secret indignation, and Mrs. Ogilvie seemed to be
+swept into a crowd of people who all surrounded her and talked eagerly
+and laughed noisily. Sibyl gave them a keen glance out of those very
+blue eyes, and in her heart of hearts thought they were a poor lot.
+
+She and nurse had two nice rooms set apart for their own special use,
+a sitting-room and a sleeping-room, and nurse proceeded to unpack the
+little girl's things, and then to dress her in one of her prettiest
+frocks.
+
+"You are to go to tea in the schoolroom," she said. "There are two or
+three other children there, and I hope you will be very good, Miss
+Sibyl, and not spoil this beautiful frock."
+
+It was a white cashmere frock, very much embroidered and surrounded by
+little frills and soft laces, and, while absolutely simple and quite
+suited to the little girl, was really a wonder of expense and art.
+
+"It's a beautiful dress," she said; "you are wearing money now."
+
+"Money," said Sibyl, "what do you mean?"
+
+"This frock is money; you look very nice in it. Be sure, now, you
+don't spot it. It would be wicked, just as if you were throwing
+sovereigns into the fire."
+
+"I don't understand," said Sibyl; "I wish it wasn't a grand frock. Did
+you bring any of my common, common frocks, nursie?"
+
+"I should think not, indeed. Your fine lady mother would be angry if
+she saw you looking a show."
+
+"If you speak again in that tone of my mother I'll slap you," said
+Sibyl.
+
+"Highty-tighty!" said the nurse; "your spirit is almost past bearing.
+You need to be broke in."
+
+"And so do you," answered Sibyl. "If mother is good you are not, and
+I'm not, so we both must be broke in; but I've got a bit of a temper.
+I know that. Nursie, when you were a little girl did you have a bit of
+a temper of your own?"
+
+"That I did. I was a handful, my mother used to say."
+
+"Then we _has_ something in common," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling.
+"I'm a handful, too. I'm off to the schoolroom."
+
+"There never was such a child," thought the woman as Sibyl dashed
+away, banging the door after her; "she's not shy, and she's as sweet
+as sweet can be, and yet she's a handful of spirit, of uppishness and
+contrariness. Well, God bless her, whatever she is. How did that
+heartless mother come by her? I can understand her being the master's
+child, but her mother's! Dear me, I'm often sorry when I think how
+mistook the poor little thing is in that woman she thinks so perfect."
+
+Sibyl, quite happy, her heart beating high with excitement, poked her
+radiant little face round the schoolroom door. There were three
+children already in the room--Mabel, Gus, and Freda St. Claire. They
+were Lord Grayleigh's children, and were handsome, and well cared for,
+and now looked with curiosity at Sibyl.
+
+"Oh, you're the little girl," said Mabel, who was twelve years of
+age. She raised her voice in a languid tone.
+
+"Yes, I _are_ the little girl," said Sibyl. She came forward with
+bold, confident steps, and looked at the tea table.
+
+"Where is my place?" she said. "Is it laid for me? I am the visitor."
+
+Gus, aged ten, who had been somewhat inclined to sulk when Sibyl
+appeared, now smiled, and pulled out a chair.
+
+"Sit down," he said; "you had better sit there, near Mabel; she's
+pouring out tea. She's the boss, you know."
+
+"What's a boss?" said Sibyl.
+
+"You must be a silly not to know what a boss is."
+
+"I aren't no more silly than you are," said Sibyl. "May I have some
+bread and butter and jam? I'll ask you some things about town, and
+perhaps you can't answer me. What's a--what's a--oh, I'll think of
+something real slangy presently; but please don't talk to me too much
+while I'm eating, or I'll spill jam on my money frock."
+
+"You are a very queer little girl," said Mabel; but she looked at her
+now with favor. A child who could talk like Sibyl was likely to be an
+acquisition.
+
+"What a silly you are," said Gus. "What did you put on that thing
+for? We don't want frilled and laced-up frocks, we want frocks that
+girls can wear to climb trees in, and----"
+
+"Climb trees! Oh," cried Sibyl, "are you that sort? Then I'm your
+girl. Oh, I am glad! My ownest father would be pleased. He likes me to
+be brave. I'm a hoyden--do you know what a hoyden is? If you want to
+have a few big larks while I am here, see to 'em quick, for I'm your
+girl."
+
+Gus burst into a roar of laughter, and Mabel smiled.
+
+"You are very queer," she said. "I don't know whether our governess
+will like our being with you. You seem to use strange words. We never
+get into scrapes--we are quite ladylike and good, but we don't wear
+grand frocks either. Can't you take that thing off?"
+
+"I wish I could. I hate it myself."
+
+"Well, ask your servant to change it."
+
+"But my nurse hasn't brought a single shabby frock with me."
+
+"Are all your frocks as grand as that?"
+
+"Some of 'em grander."
+
+"We might lend her one of our own brown holland frocks," said Freda.
+
+"Oh, do!" said Sibyl; "that will be lovely."
+
+"We are going to do some climbing this afternoon, so you may as well
+put it on," continued Freda.
+
+Sibyl clapped her hands with delight. "It's a great comfort coming
+down to this place," she said finally, "'cos I can give way a little;
+but with my father and mother I have to keep myself in."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"It's mostly on account of my most perfect of fathers."
+
+"But isn't Philip Ogilvie your father?" said Gus.
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie," corrected Sibyl, in a very proud tone.
+
+"Oh, fudge! I heard father call him Philip Ogilvie. He's not perfect."
+
+Sibyl's face turned white; she looked full at Gus. Gus, not observing
+the expression in her eyes, continued, in a glib and easy tone:
+
+"Father didn't know I was there; he was talking to another man. I
+think the man's name was Halkett. I'm always great at remembering
+names, and I heard him say 'Philip Ogilvie will do what we want. When
+it comes to the point he's not too scrupulous.' Yes, scrupulous was
+the word, and I ran away and looked it out in the dictionary, and it
+means--oh, you needn't stare at me as if your eyes were starting out
+of your head--it means a person who hesitates from fear of acting
+wrongly. Now, as your father isn't scrupulous, that means that he
+doesn't hesitate to act wrong."
+
+Sibyl with one swift, unerring bang struck Gus a sharp blow across the
+cheek.
+
+"What have you done that for, you little beggar?" he said, his eyes
+flashing fire.
+
+"To teach you not to tell lies," answered Sibyl. She turned, went up
+the room, and stood by the window. Her heart was bursting, and tears
+were scorching her eyeballs. "But I won't shed them," thought the
+child, "not for worlds."
+
+Sibyl's action was so unexpected that there was a silence in the room
+for a few moments, but presently Freda stole softly to Sibyl's side
+and touched her on her arm.
+
+"Gus is sorry he said anything to hurt you," she said; "we didn't
+understand that you would feel it as you do, but we are all sorry, and
+we like you all the better for it. Won't you shake hands with Gus and
+be friends?"
+
+"And I'll never say a word against your father again," said Gus.
+
+"You had better not," answered Sibyl. "No, I won't shake hands; I
+won't make friends with you till I know something more about you. But
+I'd like to climb trees, and to get into a holland frock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+It was great fun getting into the holland frock, more particularly
+when it was discovered to be too short, and also very dirty. It had a
+great ink-stain in front, and the sleeves were tight and showed a good
+bit of Sibyl's white arms. She looked at herself in the glass and
+danced about in her excitement.
+
+"You can have this old sailor hat to match the frock," said Freda in
+conclusion. "Now no one will say you are too fine. Come out now, Gus
+and the others are waiting."
+
+Yes, the sun shone once more for Sibyl, and she forgot for a time
+Gus's cruel words about her father. He was most attentive to her now,
+and initiated her into the mystery of climbing. Screams of laughter
+followed her valiant efforts to ascend the leafy heights of certain
+beech trees which grew not far from the house. This laughter attracted
+the attention of a lady and gentleman who were pacing the leafy alley
+not far away.
+
+"What a noise those children make," said Lord Grayleigh to his
+companion.
+
+"How many children have you, Lord Grayleigh?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie. She
+looked full at him as she spoke.
+
+"I have three," he replied; "they are great scamps, and never for a
+single moment fit to be seen. Since their mother died"--he sighed
+as he uttered these words, he was a widower of over two years'
+standing--"I have kept them more or less with myself. There is no harm
+in them, although they are pickles. Come, I will introduce you to
+them. That reminds me, I have not yet seen your own little daughter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was very proud of Sibyl, but only when she looked her
+best. The mother now contemplated, with a feeling of satisfaction, the
+nice dresses which she had secured for the child before she came into
+the country. No one could look more lovely than this little daughter
+of hers, when dressed suitably, so abundant was her golden brown hair,
+and so blue were her eyes, so straight the little features, so soft
+the curves of the rosy lips. It is true those blue eyes had an
+expression in them which never in this world could Mrs. Ogilvie
+understand, nevertheless, the child's beauty was apparent to the most
+superficial observer; and Mrs. Ogilvie turned and accompanied Lord
+Grayleigh in the direction of the merry sounds willingly enough.
+
+"I see four little figures dancing about among those trees," said
+Lord Grayleigh. "We will see them all together."
+
+They turned down a side walk, and came face to face with Sibyl
+herself. Now, at that instant the little girl certainly did not look
+at her best. The holland frock, short and shabby, had a great rent
+above the knee, her soft cheek was scratched and bleeding slightly,
+and there was a smudge across her forehead.
+
+Sibyl, quite unconscious of these defects, flew to her mother's side.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," she cried, "I'm so happy. Gus has been teaching me to
+climb. Do you see that beech tree? I climbed as far as the second
+branch, and Gus said I did it splendid. It's lovely to sit up there."
+
+Sibyl did not even notice Lord Grayleigh, who stood and watched this
+little scene with an amused face. Mrs. Ogilvie was by no means
+pleased.
+
+"What do you mean, Sibyl," she said, "by wearing that disgraceful
+frock? Why did nurse put it into your trunk? And you know I do not
+wish you to climb trees. You are an extremely naughty girl. No, Lord
+Grayleigh, I will not introduce my little daughter to you now. When
+you are properly dressed, Sibyl, and know how to behave yourself, you
+shall have the honor of shaking hands with Lord Grayleigh. Go into
+the house, now, I am ashamed of you."
+
+Sibyl turned first red and then white.
+
+"Is that Lord Grayleigh?" she whispered.
+
+"Yes, my dear, but I shall not answer any of your other questions at
+present. I am extremely displeased with you."
+
+"I am sorry you are angry, mother; but may I--may I say one thing,
+just one, afore I go?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was about to hustle the child off, when Lord Grayleigh
+interfered. "Do let her speak," he said; "she looks a most charming
+little maid. For my part I like children best in _deshabille_. What is
+it, little woman?"
+
+"It's that I don't want to shake hands with you--never, _never_!"
+answered Sibyl, and she turned her back on the astonished nobleman,
+and marched off in the direction of the house.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to apologize.
+
+"I am terribly ashamed of Sibyl, she is the most extraordinary child,"
+she said. "What can have possessed her to put on that frock, and why
+did she speak to you in that strange, rude way?" Here Mrs. Ogilvie
+uttered a sigh. "I fear it is her father's doing," she continued, "he
+makes her most eccentric. I do hope you will overlook her naughty
+words. The moment I go into the house I shall speak to her, and also
+to nurse for allowing her to wear that disgraceful frock."
+
+"I don't think your nurse is to blame," said Lord Grayleigh. "I have a
+keen eye for dress, and have a memory of that special frock. It
+happens to possess a green stain in the back which I am not likely to
+forget. I think my Freda wore it a good deal last summer, and I
+remember the occasion when the green stain was indelibly fixed upon
+it. You must know, Mrs. Ogilvie, that my three children are imps, and
+it was the impiest of the imps' frocks your little girl happened to be
+wearing. But what a handsome little creature she is! A splendid face.
+How I have come to fall under her displeasure, however, is a mystery
+to me."
+
+"Oh, you can never account for Sibyl's whims," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "it
+is all her father's fault. It is a great trial to me, I assure you."
+
+"I should be very proud of that child if I were you," answered Lord
+Grayleigh. "She has a particularly frank, fine face."
+
+"Oh, she is handsome enough," answered Mrs. Ogilvie. "But what she
+will grow up to, heaven only knows. She has the strangest ideas on all
+sorts of subjects. She absolutely believes that her father and I are
+perfect--could you credit it? At the same time she is a very naughty
+child herself. I will go into the house, now, and give her a talking
+to."
+
+"Don't scold her, poor little thing," said Lord Grayleigh. He was a
+kind-hearted man in the main. "For my part," he continued, "I like
+naughty children; I must force her confidence presently. She has quite
+roused my curiosity. But now, Mrs. Ogilvie, to turn to other matters,
+what can we do to persuade your husband to alter his mind? You know,
+of course, that I have asked him to assay the Lombard Deeps Mine?"
+
+"I do know it," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, the color flushing into her
+face. "Philip is too extraordinary at times. For my part, I really do
+not know how to thank you; please believe that I am altogether on your
+side. If only we could persuade that eccentric husband of mine to
+change his mind."
+
+"He is a strange fellow," answered Lord Grayleigh slowly; "but, do you
+know, I think all the more of him for a letter I received a few days
+ago. At the same time, it will be prejudicial to our interests if he
+should not act as engineer in this new undertaking. He is the one man
+the public absolutely trusts, and of course----"
+
+"Why do you think more of him for refusing an advantageous offer?"
+
+"I don't know that I can explain. Money is not everything--at least,
+to some people. Shall we go into the house? I need not say that I am
+glad you are on our side, and doubtless your husband's scruples"--Lord
+Grayleigh laid the slightest emphasis on the word, and made it, even
+to the obtuse ears of his hearer, sound offensive--"even your
+husband's scruples of conscience may be overcome by judicious
+management. A wife can do much on occasions of this sort, and also a
+friend. He and I are more than acquaintances--we are friends. I have a
+hearty liking for Ogilvie. It is a disappointment not to have him
+here, but I hope to have the pleasure of lunching with him on Monday.
+Trust me to do what I can to further your interests and his own on
+that occasion. Now shall we go into the house? You will like to rest
+before dinner."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie often liked to affect weariness, it suited her peculiar
+style of beauty to look languid. She went slowly to her room. Her
+maid, Hortense, helped her to take off her travelling dress, and to
+put on a teagown before she lay down on the sofa. She then told the
+girl to leave her.
+
+When alone Mrs. Ogilvie thought rapidly and deeply. What was the
+matter with Philip? What did Lord Grayleigh mean by talking of
+scruples? But she was not going to worry her head on that subject.
+Philip must not be quixotic, he must accept the good things the gods
+sent him. Additional wealth would add so immensely to their happiness.
+
+"Money _is_ everything," she thought, "whatever Lord Grayleigh may
+say. Those who refuse it are fools, and worse. Lord Grayleigh and I
+must bring Philip to his senses."
+
+She moved restlessly on her sofa, and looked across the comfortable
+room.
+
+With a little more wealth she could hold her own with her friends and
+acquaintances, and present a good figure in that world of society
+which was her one idea of heaven. Above all things, debts, which came
+between her and perfect bliss, could be cleared off. Her creditors
+would not wait for payment much longer, but if Philip assayed the new
+mine, he would be handsomely paid for his pains, and all her own cares
+would take to themselves wings and fly away. Why did he hesitate? How
+tiresome he was! Surely his life had not been so immaculate up to the
+present that he should hesitate thus when the golden opportunity to
+secure a vast fortune arrived.
+
+Ogilvie came of one of the best old families across the border, and
+had a modest competence of his own handed down to him from a long line
+of honorable ancestors. He had also inherited a certain code which he
+could not easily forget. He called it a code of honor, and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, alas! did not understand it. She reflected over the
+situation now, and grew restless. If Philip was really such a goose as
+to refuse his present chance, she would never forgive him. She would
+bring up to him continually the golden opportunity he had let slip,
+and weary his very soul. She was the sort of soft, pretty woman who
+could nag a man to the verge of distraction. She knew that inestimable
+art to perfection. She felt, as she lay on the sofa and toyed with the
+ribbons of her pretty and expensive teagown, that she had her weapons
+ready to hand. Then, with an irritated flash, she thought of the
+child. Of course the child was nice, handsome, and her own; Sibyl was
+very lucky to have at least one parent who would not spoil her. But
+was she not being spoiled? Were there not some things intolerable
+about her?
+
+"May I come in, Mumsy, or are you too tired?" There was something in
+the quality of the voice at the door which caused Mrs. Ogilvie's
+callous heart to beat quicker for a moment, then she said in an
+irritated tone--
+
+"Oh, come in, of course; I want to speak to you."
+
+Sibyl entered. Nurse had changed her holland frock, and dressed the
+little girl in pale pink silk. The dress was very unsuitable, but it
+became the radiant little face and bright, large eyes, and pathetic,
+sweet mouth, to perfection.
+
+Sibyl ran up to her mother, and, dropping on one knee by her side,
+looked up into her face.
+
+"Now you'll kiss me," she said; "now you're pleased with your own
+Sibyl. I am pretty, I'm beautiful, and you, darling mother, will kiss
+me."
+
+"Get up, Sib, and don't be absurd," said Mrs. Ogilvie; but as she
+spoke a warm light came into her eyes, for the child was fascinating,
+and just in the mood to appeal most to her mother.
+
+"Really," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you do look nice in that dress, it fits
+you very well. Turn round, and let me see how it is made at the back.
+Ah! I told Mademoiselle Leroe to make it in that style; that little
+watteau back is so very becoming to small girls. Turn round now
+slowly, and let me get the side view. Yes, it is a pretty dress; be
+sure you don't mess it. You are to come down with the other children
+to dessert. You had better go now, I am tired."
+
+"But Mummy--Mumsy!"
+
+"Don't call me Mummy or Mumsy, say mother. I don't like
+abbreviations."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl, knitting her brows.
+
+"Mummy or Mumsy are abbreviations of a very sacred name."
+
+"Sacred name!" said Sibyl, in a thoughtful tone. "Oh yes, I won't call
+you anything but mother. Mother is most lovely."
+
+"Well, I hope you will be a good child, and not annoy me as you have
+been doing."
+
+"Oh, mother darling, I didn't mean to vex you, but it was such a
+temptation, you know. You were never, never tempted, were you, mother?
+You are made so perfect that you cannot understand what temptation
+means. I did so long to climb the trees, and I knew you would not like
+me spoil my pretty frock, and Freda lent me the brown holland. When I
+saw you, Mums--I mean, mother--I forgot about everything else but just
+that I had climbed a tree, and that I had been brave, although for a
+minute I felt a scrap giddy, and I wanted to tell you about what I had
+done, my ownest, most darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie sprang suddenly to her feet.
+
+"Come here," she said. There was a sharpness in her tone which
+arrested the words on Sibyl's lips. "Look at me, take my hand, look
+steadily into my face. I have just five minutes to spare, and I wish
+to say something very grave and important, and you must listen
+attentively."
+
+"Oh, yes, mother, I am listening; what is it?"
+
+"Look at me. Are you attending?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. Mother, Freda says she will give me a Persian
+kitten; the Persian cat has two, such beauties, snow-white. May I have
+one, mother?"
+
+"Attend to me, and stop talking. You think a great deal of me, your
+mother, and you call me perfect. Now show that you put me in high
+esteem."
+
+"That sounds very nice," thought Sibyl to herself. "Mother is just in
+her most beautiful humor. Of course I'll listen."
+
+"I wish," continued the mother, and she turned slightly away from the
+child as she spoke, "I wish you to stop all that nonsense about your
+father and me. I wish you to understand that we are not perfect,
+either of us; we are just everyday, ordinary sort of people. As we
+happen to be your father and mother, you must obey us and do what we
+wish; but you make yourself, and us also, ridiculous when you talk as
+you do. I am perfectly sick of your poses, Sibyl."
+
+"Poses!" cried Sibyl; "what's poses?"
+
+"Oh, you are too tiresome; ask nurse to explain, or Miss Winstead,
+when you go home. Miss Winstead, if she is wise, will tell you that
+you must just turn round and go the other way. You must obey me, of
+course, and understand that I know the right way to train you; but you
+are not to talk of me as though I were an angel. I am nothing of the
+kind. I am an ordinary woman, with ordinary feelings and ordinary
+faults, and I wish you to be an ordinary little girl. I am very angry
+with you for your great rudeness to Lord Grayleigh. What did it mean?"
+
+"Oh, mother! it meant----" Sibyl swallowed something in her throat.
+Her mother's speech was unintelligible; it hurt her, she did not
+exactly know why, but this last remark was an opening.
+
+"Mother, I am glad you spoke of it. I could not, really and truly,
+help it."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense. Now go away. Hortense is coming to dress me for
+dinner. Go."
+
+"But, mother! one minute first, please--please."
+
+"Go, Sibyl, obey me."
+
+"It was 'cos Lord Grayleigh spoke against my----"
+
+"Go, Sibyl, I won't listen to another word. I shall punish you
+severely if you do not obey me this instant."
+
+"I am going," said the child, "but I cannot be----"
+
+"Go. You are coming down to dessert to-night, and you are to speak
+properly to Lord Grayleigh. Those are my orders. Now go."
+
+Hortense came in at that moment. She entered with that slight whirl
+which she generally affected, and which she considered truly Parisian.
+Somehow, in some fashion, Sibyl felt herself swept out of the room.
+She stood for a moment in the passage. There was a long glass at the
+further end, and it reflected a pink-robed little figure. The cheeks
+had lost their usual tender bloom, and the eyes had a bewildered
+expression. Sibyl rubbed her hands across them.
+
+"I don't understand," she said to herself. "Perhaps I wasn't quite
+pretty enough, perhaps that was the reason, but I don't know. I think
+I'll go to my new nursery and sit down and think of father. Oh, I wish
+mother hadn't--of course it's all right, and I am a silly girl, and I
+get worser, not better, every day, and mother knows what is best for
+me; but she might have let me 'splain things. I wish I hadn't a pain
+here." Sibyl touched her breast with a pathetic gesture.
+
+"It's 'cos of father I feel so bad, it's 'cos they told lies of
+father." She turned very slowly with the most mournful droop of her
+head in the direction of the apartment set aside for nurse and
+herself. She had thought much of this visit, and now this very first
+afternoon a blow had come. Her mother had told her to do a hard thing.
+She, Sibyl, was to be polite to Lord Grayleigh; she was to be polite
+to that dreadful, smiling man, with the fair hair and the keen eyes,
+who had spoken against her father. It was unfair, it was dreadful, to
+expect this of her.
+
+"And mother would not even let me 'splain," thought the child.
+
+"Hullo!" cried a gay voice; "hullo! and what's the matter with little
+Miss Beauty?" And Sibyl raised her eyes, with a start, to encounter
+the keen, frank, admiring gaze of Gus.
+
+"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed, "aren't we fine! I say! you'll knock Freda
+and Mabel into next week, if you go on at this rate. But, come to the
+schoolroom; we want a game, and you can join."
+
+"I can't, Gus," replied Sibyl.
+
+"Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I don't feel like playing games."
+
+"You are quite white about the gills. I say! has anybody hurt you?"
+
+"No, not exactly, Gus; but I want to be alone. I'll come by-and-by."
+
+"Somebody wasn't square with her," thought Gus, as Sibyl turned away.
+"Queer little girl! But I like her all the same."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Sibyl's conduct was exemplary at dessert. She was quiet, she was
+modest, she was extremely polite. When spoken to she answered in the
+most correct manner. When guests smiled at her, she gave them a set
+smile in return. She accepted just that portion of the dessert which
+her mother most wished her to eat, eschewing unwholesome sweets, and
+partaking mostly of grapes. Especially was she polite to Lord
+Grayleigh, who called her to his side, and even put his arm round her
+waist. He wondered afterwards why she shivered when he did this. But
+she stood upright as a dart, and looked him full in the face with
+those extraordinary eyes of hers.
+
+At last the children's hour, as it was called, came to an end, and the
+four went round kissing and shaking hands with the different guests.
+Mrs. Ogilvie put her hand for an instant on Sibyl's shoulder.
+
+"I am pleased with you," she said; "you behaved very nicely. Go to bed
+now."
+
+"Will you come and see me, Mumsy--mother, I mean--before you go to
+bed?"
+
+"Oh no, child, nonsense! you must be asleep hours before then. No,
+this is good-night. Now go quietly."
+
+Sibyl did go quietly. Mrs. Ogilvie turned to her neighbor.
+
+"That is such an absurd custom," she said; "I must break her of it."
+
+"Break your little girl of what?" he asked. "She is a beautiful
+child," he added. "I congratulate you on having such a charming
+daughter."
+
+"I have no doubt she will make a very pretty woman," replied Mrs.
+Ogilvie, "and I trust she will have a successful career; but what I
+was alluding to now was her insane wish that I should go and say
+good-night to her. Her father spoils that child dreadfully. He insists
+on her staying up to our late dinner, which in itself is quite against
+all my principles, and then will go up to her room every evening when
+he happens to be at home. She lies awake for him at night, and they
+talk sentiment to each other. Very bad, is it not; quite out of date."
+
+"I don't know," answered Mr. Rochester; "if it is an old custom it
+seems to me it has good in it." As he spoke he thought again of the
+eager little face, the pathetic soft eyes, the pleading in the voice.
+Until within this last half-hour he had not known of Sibyl's
+existence; but from this instant she was to come into his heart and
+bear fruit.
+
+Meanwhile the child went straight to her room.
+
+"Won't you come to the schoolroom now?" asked Gus in a tone of
+remonstrance.
+
+"No; mother said I was to go to bed," answered Sibyl.
+
+"How proper and good you have turned," cried Mabel.
+
+"Good-night," said Sibyl. She could be quite dignified when she
+pleased. She allowed the girls to kiss her, and she shook hands with
+Gus, and felt grown-up, and, on the whole, notwithstanding the
+unsatisfied feeling at her heart, rather pleased with herself. She
+entered the room she called the nursery, and it looked cheerful and
+bright. Old nurse had had the fire lit, and was sitting by it. A
+kettle steamed on the hob, and nurse's cup and saucer and teapot, and
+some bread and butter and cakes, were spread on the table. But as
+Sibyl came in the sense of satisfaction which she had felt for a
+moment or two dropped away from her like a mantle, and she only knew
+that the ache at her heart was worse than ever. She sat down quietly,
+and did not speak, but gazed fixedly into the fire.
+
+"What is it, pet?" nurse said. "Is anything the matter?"
+
+"No," answered Sibyl. "Nursie, can I read the Bible a bit?"
+
+"Sakes alive!" cried nurse, for Sibyl had never been remarkable for
+any religious tendency, "to be sure, my darling," she answered. "I
+never go from home without my precious Bible. It is the one my mother
+gave me when I was a little girl. I'll fetch it for you, dearie."
+
+"Thank you," replied Sibyl.
+
+Nurse returned, and the much-read, much-worn Bible was placed
+reverently in Sibyl's hands.
+
+"Now, my little darling," said nurse, "you look quite white. You'll
+just read a verse or two, and then you'll go off to your bed."
+
+"I want to find a special verse," said Sibyl. "When I have read it I
+will go to bed." She knitted her brows and turned the pages in a
+puzzled, anxious way.
+
+"What's fretting you, dear? I know the Bible, so to speak, from end to
+end. Can old nursie help you in any way?"
+
+"I know the verse is somewhere, but I cannot find the place. I
+remember reading it, and it has come back to me to-night."
+
+"What is it, dear?"
+
+"'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, love," answered nurse promptly, "that's in the Epistle of
+St. James, fourth chapter, sixth verse. I learned the whole of the
+Epistle for my mother when I was young, and I have never forgotten a
+word of it. Here it is, dear."
+
+"But what are you fretting your head over that verse for?" asked the
+puzzled old woman; "there's some that I could find for you a deal more
+suitable to little ladies like yourself. There's a beautiful verse,
+for instance, which says, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.'
+That means all those in charge of you, dear, nurses and governesses
+and all. I heard its meaning explained once very clear, and that was
+how it was put."
+
+"There is not a bit about nurses and governesses in the Bible," said
+Sibyl, who had no idea of being imposed upon, although she was in
+trouble. "Never mind that other verse now, nursie, it's not that I'm
+thinking of, it's the one you found about 'God resisteth the proud,
+and giveth grace to the humble.' It seems to 'splain things."
+
+"What things, dear?"
+
+"Why, about mother. Nursie, isn't my mother quite the very humblest
+woman in all the world?"
+
+"Oh, my goodness me, no!" exclaimed the woman under her breath. "I
+wouldn't remark it, my dear," she said aloud.
+
+"That's 'cos you know so very little. You can't never guess what my
+ownest mother said to me to-day, and I'm not going to tell you, only
+that verse comforts me, and I understand now."
+
+Sibyl got up and asked nurse to take off her pink frock. She felt
+quite cheerful and happy again. She knelt down in her white nightdress
+and said her prayers. She always prayed for her father and mother in a
+peculiar way. She never asked God to give them anything, they had
+already got all that heart could wish. They were beautiful in person,
+they were lovely in character, they were perfect in soul. She could
+only thank God for them. So she thanked God now as usual.
+
+"Thank You, Jesus, for giving me father and mother," said Sibyl, "and
+in especial for making my mother just so truly perfect that she is
+humble. She does not like me to think too much of her. It is because
+she is humble, and You give grace to the humble. It is a great comfort
+to me, Jesus, to know that, because I could not quite understand my
+mother afore dinner. Good-night, Jesus, I am going to sleep now; I am
+quite happy."
+
+Sibyl got into bed, closed her eyes, and was soon sound asleep.
+
+On the following Monday Lord Grayleigh went to town, and there he had
+a rather important interview with Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"I failed to understand your letter," he said, "and have come to you
+for an explanation."
+
+Ogilvie was looking worried and anxious.
+
+"I thought my meaning plain enough," he replied, "but as you are here,
+I will answer you; and first, I want to put a question to you. Why do
+you wish me to be the assayer?"
+
+"For many reasons; amongst others, because I wish to do you a good
+turn. For your position you are not too well off. This will mean
+several thousands a year to you, if the vein is as rich as we hope it
+will be. The alluvial we know is rich. It has washed at five ounces to
+the ton."
+
+"But if there should not happen to be a rich vein beneath?" queried
+Ogilvie, and as he spoke he watched his companion narrowly.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shrugged his shoulders. The action was significant.
+
+"I see," cried Ogilvie. He was silent for a moment, then he sprang
+to his feet. "I have regarded you as my friend for some time,
+Grayleigh, and there have been moments when I have been proud of your
+acquaintanceship, but in the name of all that is honorable, and all
+that is virtuous, why will you mix up a pretended act of benevolence
+to me with--you know what it means--a fraudulent scheme? You are
+determined that there shall be a rich vein below the surface. In
+plain words, if there is not, you want a false assay of the Lombard
+Deeps. That is the plain English of it, isn't it?"
+
+"Pooh! my dear Ogilvie, you use harsh words. Fraudulent! What does the
+world--our world I mean--consist of? Those who make money, and those
+who lose it. It is a great competition of skill--a mere duel of wits.
+All is fair in love, war, and speculation."
+
+"Your emendation of that old proverb may be _fin de siecle_, but it
+does not suit my notions," muttered Ogilvie, sitting down again.
+
+Grayleigh looked keenly at him.
+
+"You will be sorry for this," he said; "it means much to you. You
+would be quite safe, you know that."
+
+"And what of the poor country parson, the widow, the mechanic? I grant
+they are fools; but----"
+
+"What is the matter with you?" said Lord Grayleigh; "you never were so
+scrupulous."
+
+"I don't know that I am scrupulous now. I shall be very glad to assay
+the mine for you, if I may give you a----"
+
+"We need not enter into that," said Grayleigh, rising; "you have
+already put matters into words which had better never have been
+uttered. I will ask you to reconsider this: it is a task too
+important to decline without weighing all the _pros_ and _cons_. You
+shall have big pay for your services; big pay, you understand."
+
+"And it is that which at once tempts and repels me," said Ogilvie.
+Then he paused, and said abruptly, "How is Sibyl? Have you seen much
+of her?"
+
+"Your little daughter? I saw her twice. Once, when she was very dirty,
+and rather rude to me, and a second time, when she was the perfection
+of politeness and good manners."
+
+"Sibyl is peculiar," said Ogilvie, and his eyes gleamed with a flash
+of the same light in them which Sibyl's wore at intervals.
+
+"She is a handsome child, it is a pity she is your only one, Ogilvie."
+
+"Not at all," answered Ogilvie; "I never wish for another, she
+satisfies me completely."
+
+"Well, to turn to the present matter," said Lord Grayleigh; "you will
+reconsider your refusal?"
+
+"I would rather not."
+
+"But if I as a personal favor beg you to do so."
+
+"There is not the slightest doubt that the pay tempts me," said
+Ogilvie; "it would be a kindness on your part to close the matter now
+finally, to relieve me from temptation. But suppose I were to--to
+yield, what would the shareholders say?"
+
+"They would be managed. The shareholders will expect to pay the
+engineer who assays the mine for them handsomely."
+
+Ogilvie stood in a dubious attitude, Grayleigh went up and laid his
+hand on his shoulder.
+
+"I will assume," he said, "that you get over scruples which after all
+may have no foundation, for the mine may be all that we wish it to be.
+What I want to suggest is this. Someone must go to Australia to assay
+the Lombard Deeps. If you will not take the post we must get someone
+else to step into your shoes. The new claim was discovered by the
+merest accident, and the reports state it to be one of the richest
+that has ever been panned out. Of course that is as it may be. We will
+present you, if you give a good assay, with five hundred shares in the
+new syndicate. You can wait until the shares go up, and then sell out.
+You will clear thousands of pounds. We will also pay your expenses and
+compensate you handsomely for the loss of your time. This is Monday;
+we want you to start on Saturday. Give me your decision on Wednesday
+morning. I won't take a refusal now."
+
+Ogilvie was silent; his face was very white, and his lips were
+compressed together. Soon afterward the two men parted.
+
+Lord Grayleigh returned to Grayleigh Manor by a late train, and
+Ogilvie went back to his empty house. Amongst other letters which
+awaited him was one with a big blot on the envelope. This blot was
+surrounded by a circle in red ink, and was evidently of great moment
+to the writer. The letter was addressed to "Philip Ogilvie, Esq.," in
+a square, firm, childish hand, and the great blot stood a little away
+from the final Esquire. It gave the envelope an altogether striking
+and unusual appearance. The flap was sealed with violet wax, and had
+an impression on it which spelt Sibyl. Ogilvie, when he received this
+letter, took it up tenderly, looked at the blot on the cover of the
+envelope, glanced behind him in a shamefaced way, pressed his lips to
+the violet seal which contained his little daughter's name, then
+sitting down in his chair, he opened the envelope.
+
+Sibyl was very good at expressing her feelings in words, but as yet
+she was a poor scribe, and her orthography left much to be desired.
+Her letter was somewhat short, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "DADDY DEAR,--Here's a blot to begin, and the blot means a
+     kiss. I will put sum more at the end of the letter. Pleas
+     kiss all the kisses for they com from the verry botom of my
+     hart. I have tried Daddy to be good cos of you sinse I left
+     home, but I am afraid I have been rather norty. Mother gets
+     more purfect evry day. She is bewtiful and humbel. Mother
+     said she wasn't purfect but she is, isn't she father? I miss
+     you awful, speshul at nights, cos mother thinks its good for
+     me not to lie awake for her to come and kiss me. But you
+     never think that and you always com, and I thank God so much
+     for having gived you to me father. Your SIBYL."
+
+     "Father, what does 'scroopolus' mean? I want to know
+     speshul.--SIB."
+
+The letter finished with many of these strange irregular blots, which
+Ogilvie kissed tenderly, and then folded up the badly-spelt little
+epistle, and slipped it into his pocket-book. Then he drew his chair
+forward to where his big desk stood, and, leaning his elbows on it,
+passed his hands through his thick, short hair. He was puzzled as he
+had never been in all his life before. Should he go, or should he
+stay? Should he yield to temptation, and become rich and prosperous,
+or should he retain his honor, and face the consequences? He knew
+well--he had seen them coming for a long time--the consequences he was
+about to face would not be pleasant. They spelt very little short of
+ruin. He suddenly opened a drawer, and took from its depths a sheaf of
+accounts which different tradespeople had sent in to his wife. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was hopelessly reckless and extravagant. Money in her hand was
+like water; it flowed away as she touched it. Her jeweler's bill alone
+amounted to thousands of pounds. If Ogilvie accepted the offer now
+made to him he might satisfy these pressing creditors, and not deprive
+Sibyl of her chance of an income by-and-by. Sibyl! As the thought of
+her face came to him, he groaned inwardly. He wished sometimes that
+God had never given him such a treasure.
+
+"I am unworthy of my little Angel," he said to himself. Then he
+started up and began to pace the room. "And yet I would not be without
+her for all the wealth in the world, for all the greatness and all the
+fame," he cried; "she is more to me than everything else on earth. If
+ever she finds out what I really am, I believe I shall go raving mad.
+I must keep a straight front, must keep as clean as I can for Sibyl's
+sake. O God, help me to be worthy of her!"
+
+He read the badly-spelt, childish letter once again, and then he
+thrust the bills out of sight and thought of other liabilities which
+he himself had incurred, till his thoughts returned to the tempting
+offer made to him.
+
+"Shall I risk it?" he said to himself. "Shall I risk the chance of the
+mine being really good, and go to Australia and see if it is as rich
+as the prospectuses claim it to be. But suppose it is not? Well, in
+that case I am bound to make it appear so. Five ounces of gold to
+every ton; it seems _bona fide_ enough. It it is _bona fide_, why
+should not I have my share of the wealth? It is as legitimate a way of
+earning money as any other," and he swerved again in the direction of
+Lord Grayleigh's offer.
+
+Lord Grayleigh had given him until Wednesday to decide.
+
+"I am sorry to seem to force your hand," that nobleman had said to him
+at parting, "but if you distinctly refuse we must send another man,
+and whoever goes must start on Saturday."
+
+A trip to Australia, how he would enjoy it! To be quite away from
+London and his present conventional life. The only pain was the
+thought of parting with Sibyl. But he would do his business quickly,
+and come back and clasp her in his arms, and kiss her again and look
+into her eyes and--turn round; yes, he would turn short round and
+choose the right path, and be what she really thought him, a good man.
+In a very small degree, he would be the sort of man his child imagined
+him.
+
+As these thoughts flashed before his mind he forgot that dinner was
+cooling in the dining-room, that he himself had eaten nothing for some
+hours, and that a curious faintness which he had experienced once or
+twice before had stolen over him. He did not like it nor quite
+understand it. He rose, crossed the room, and was about to ring the
+bell when a sudden spasm of most acute pain passed like a knife
+through his chest. He was in such agony that for a moment he was
+unable to stir. The sharpness of the pain soon went off, and he sank
+into a chair faint and trembling. He was now well enough to ring his
+bell. He did so, and the footman appeared.
+
+"Bring me brandy, and be quick," said Ogilvie.
+
+The man started when he saw his face. He soon returned with the
+stimulant, which Ogilvie drank off. The agony in his chest subsided by
+degrees, and he was able to go into the dining-room and even to eat.
+He had never before had such terrible and severe pain, and now he was
+haunted by the memory of his father, who had died suddenly of acute
+disease of the heart.
+
+After dinner he went, as usual, to his club, where he met a friend
+whom he liked. They chatted about many things, and the fears and
+apprehensions of the puzzled man dropped gradually from him. It was
+past midnight when Ogilvie returned home. He had now forgotten all
+about the pain in his chest. It had completely passed away. He felt
+as well and vigorous as ever. In the night, however, he slept badly,
+had tiresome dreams, and was much haunted by the thought of his child.
+If by any chance he were to die now! If, for instance, he died on his
+way to Australia, he would leave Sibyl badly provided for. A good deal
+of his private means had already been swallowed up by his own and his
+wife's extravagant living, and what was left of it had been settled
+absolutely on his wife at the time of their marriage. Although, of
+course, this money at her mother's death would revert to Sibyl, he had
+a presentiment, which he knew was founded on a firm basis, that Mrs.
+Ogilvie might be careless, inconsiderate--not kind, in the true sense
+of the word, to the little girl. If it came to be a tussle between
+Sibyl's needs and her mother's fancied necessities, Ogilvie's
+intuitions told him truly that Sibyl would go to the wall.
+
+"I must do something better than that for my little daughter," thought
+the man. "I will not go to Australia until I have decided that point.
+If I go, I shall make terms, and it will be for Sibyl's sake."
+
+But again that uncomfortable, tiresome conscience of his began to
+speak; and that conscience told him that if he went to Australia for
+the purpose of blinding the eyes of possible shareholders in London,
+he would in reality be doing the very worst possible thing for his
+child.
+
+He tossed about between one temptation and another for the remainder
+of the night, and arose in the morning unrefreshed. As he was
+dressing, however, a thought came to him which he hailed as a possible
+relief. Why not do the right thing right from the beginning; tell
+Grayleigh that the proposed commission to visit Australia was
+altogether distasteful to him; that he washed his hands of the great
+new syndicate; that they might sweep in their gold, but he would have
+nothing to say to it? At the same time he might insure his life for
+ten thousand pounds. It would be a heavy interest to pay, no doubt,
+and they would probably have to live in a smaller house, and he and
+his wife would have to put down their expenses in various ways, but he
+would have the comfort of knowing that whatever happened Sibyl would
+not be without means of subsistence.
+
+"When I have done that, and absolutely provided for her future, I
+shall have a great sense of rest," thought the man. "I will go and see
+Dr. Rashleigh, of the Crown and Life Insurance Company, as soon as
+ever I get to the City. That is a happy thought."
+
+He smiled cheerfully to himself, ran downstairs, and ate a hearty
+breakfast. A letter from his wife lay upon his plate. He did not even
+open it. He thrust it into his pocket and went off to the City,
+telling his servant as he did so that he would be back to dinner.
+
+As soon as he got to his office he read his letters, gave his clerks
+directions, and went at once to see Dr. Rashleigh, of the Insurance
+Company.
+
+Rashleigh happened to be one of his special friends, and he knew his
+hours. It was a little unusual to expect him to examine him for an
+insurance without an appointment; but he believed, in view of his
+possible visit to Australia, that Rashleigh would be willing to
+overlook ceremony.
+
+He arrived at the office, saw one of the clerks downstairs, heard that
+Rashleigh was in and would soon be disengaged, and presently was shown
+into the doctor's consulting room.
+
+Rashleigh was a grey-haired man of about sixty years of age. He spent
+a couple of hours every day in the consulting room of the Crown and
+Life Insurance Company. He rose now, and extended his hand with
+pleasure when Ogilvie appeared.
+
+"My dear Ogilvie, and what do you want with me? Have you at last
+listened to my entreaties that you should insure your life in a
+first-class office?"
+
+"Something of the kind," said Ogilvie, forcing a smile, for again that
+agony which had come over him yesterday assailed him. He knew that his
+heart was throbbing faintly, and he remembered once more that his
+father had died of heart disease. Oh, it was all nonsense; of course
+he had nothing to fear. He was a man in his prime, not much over
+thirty--he was all right.
+
+Rashleigh asked him a few questions.
+
+"I may have to go to Australia rather suddenly," said Ogilvie, "and I
+should like first to insure my life. I want to settle the money on my
+child before I leave home."
+
+"How large a sum do you propose to insure for?" asked the doctor.
+
+"I have given the particulars to the clerk downstairs. I should like
+to insure for ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Well, I daresay that can be managed. You are an excellent client, and
+quite a young man. Now just let me sound your lungs, and listen to
+your heart."
+
+Ogilvie removed his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed himself
+in the doctor's hands.
+
+Dr. Rashleigh made his examination without comment, slowly and
+carefully. At last it was over.
+
+"Well?" said Ogilvie, just glancing at him. "It's all right, I
+suppose."
+
+"It is not the custom for a doctor at an insurance office to tell his
+patient anything about the result of the examination," was Rashleigh's
+answer. "You'll hear all in good time."
+
+"But there really is no time to lose, and you are an old friend. You
+look grave. If it cannot be done, of course it cannot, but I should
+like to know."
+
+"When do you propose to go to Australia?"
+
+"I may not go at all. In fact if----" Ogilvie suddenly leaned against
+the table. Once again he felt faint and giddy. "If this is all right,
+I shall probably not go."
+
+"But suppose it is not all right?"
+
+"Then I sail on Saturday."
+
+"I may as well tell you the truth," said Rashleigh; "you are a brave
+man. My dear fellow, the office cannot insure you."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Heart," said Rashleigh.
+
+"Heart! Mine? Not affected?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Seriously?"
+
+"It is hard to answer that question. The heart is a strange organ, and
+capable of a vast amount of resuscitation; nevertheless, in your case
+the symptoms are grave; the aortic valve is affected. It behooves you
+to be very careful."
+
+"Does this mean that I----" Ogilvie dropped into a chair. "Rashleigh,"
+he said suddenly, "I had a horrible attack last night. I forgot it
+this morning when I came to you, but it was horrible while it lasted.
+I thought myself, during those moments of torture, within a
+measurable--a very measurable distance of the end."
+
+"Describe your sensations," said Rashleigh.
+
+Ogilvie did so.
+
+"Now, my dear fellow, I have a word to say. This insurance cannot be
+done. But, for yourself, you must avoid excitement. I should like to
+prescribe a course of living for you. I have studied the heart
+extensively."
+
+"Will nothing put me straight? Cure me, I mean?"
+
+"I fear not."
+
+"Well, good-by, Rashleigh; I will call round to see you some evening."
+
+"Do. I should like you to have the advice of a specialist, Anderson,
+the greatest man in town on the heart."
+
+"But where is the use? If you cannot cure me, he cannot."
+
+"You may live for years and years, and die of something else in the
+end."
+
+"Just what was said to my father, who did not live for years and
+years," answered the man. "I won't keep you any longer, Rashleigh."
+
+He left the office and went down into the street. As he crossed the
+Poultry and got once more into the neighborhood of his own office, one
+word kept ringing in his ears, "Doomed."
+
+He arrived at his office and saw his head clerk.
+
+"You don't look well, Mr. Ogilvie."
+
+"Never mind about my looks, Harrison," replied Ogilvie. "I have a
+great deal to do, and need your best attention."
+
+"Certainly, sir; but, all the same, you don't look well."
+
+"Looks are nothing," replied Ogilvie. "I shall soon be all right.
+Harrison, I am off to Australia on Saturday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+On that same Tuesday Lord Grayleigh spent a rather anxious day. For
+many reasons it would never do for him to press Ogilvie, and yet if
+Ogilvie declined to go to Queensland matters might not go quite
+smoothly with the new Syndicate. He was the most trusted and eminent
+mine assayer in London, and had before now done useful work for
+Grayleigh, who was chairman of several other companies. Up to the
+present Grayleigh, a thoroughly worldly and hard-headed man of
+business, had made use of Ogilvie entirely to his own benefit and
+satisfaction. It was distinctly unpleasant to him, therefore, to find
+that just at the most crucial moment in his career, when everything
+depended on Ogilvie's subservience to his chief's wishes, he should
+turn restive.
+
+"That sort of man with a conscience is intolerable," thought Lord
+Grayleigh, and then he wondered what further lever he might bring to
+bear in order to get Ogilvie to consent to the Australian visit.
+
+He was thinking these thoughts, pacing up and down alone in a retired
+part of the grounds, when he heard shrill screams of childish
+laughter, and the next moment Sibyl, in one of her white frocks, the
+flounces badly torn, her hat off and hair in wild disorder, rushed
+past. She was closely followed by Freda, Mabel and Gus being not far
+behind.
+
+"Hullo!" said Lord Grayleigh; "come here, little woman, and account
+for yourself."
+
+Sibyl paused in her mad career. She longed to say, "I'm not going
+to account for myself to you," but she remembered her mother's
+injunction. She had been on her very best behavior all Sunday, Monday,
+and up to now on Tuesday, but her fit of goodness was coming to an
+end. She was in the mood to be obstreperous, naughty, and wilful; but
+the thought of her mother, who was so gently following in the path of
+the humble, restrained her.
+
+"If mother, who is an angel, a perfect angel, can think herself
+naughty and yet wish me to be good, I ought to help her by being as
+good as I possibly can," she thought.
+
+So she stopped and looked at Lord Grayleigh with the wistful, puzzled
+expression which at once repelled and attracted him. His own daughters
+also drew up, panting.
+
+"We were chasing Sib," they said; "she challenged us. She said that,
+although she does live in town, she could beat us."
+
+"And it looked uncommonly like it when I saw you all," was Grayleigh's
+response. "Sibyl has long legs for her age."
+
+Sibyl looked down at the members in question, and put on a charming
+pout. Grayleigh laughed, and going up to her side, laid his hand on
+her shoulder.
+
+"I saw your father yesterday. Shall I tell you about him?"
+
+This, indeed, was a powerful bait. Sibyl's soft lips trembled
+slightly. The wistful look in her eyes became appealing.
+
+"Pathetic eyes, more pathetic than any dog's," thought Lord Grayleigh.
+He took her hand.
+
+"You and I will walk by ourselves for a little," he said. "Run away,
+children. Sibyl will join you in a few moments."
+
+Sibyl, as if mesmerized, now accompanied Lord Grayleigh. She disliked
+her present position immensely, and yet she wondered if it was given
+to her by Lord Jesus, as a special opportunity which she was on no
+account to neglect. Should she tell Lord Grayleigh what she really
+thought of him? But for her mother she would not have hesitated for a
+moment, but that mother had been very kind to her during the last two
+days, and Sibyl had enjoyed studying her character from a new point of
+view. Mother was polite to people, even though they were not quite
+perfect. Mother always looked sweet and tidy and ladylike, and
+beautifully dressed. Mother never romped, nor tore her clothes, nor
+climbed trees. It was an uninteresting life from Sibyl's point of
+view, and yet, perhaps, it was the right life. Up to the present the
+child had never seriously thought of her own conduct at all. She
+accepted the fact with placidity that she herself was not good. It was
+rather interesting to be "not good," and yet to live in the house with
+two perfectly angelic beings. It seemed to make their goodness all the
+whiter. At the present moment she longed earnestly to be "not good."
+
+Lord Grayleigh, holding her hand, advanced in the direction of a
+summer-house.
+
+"We will sit here and talk, shall we?" he said.
+
+"Yes, shall us?" replied Sibyl.
+
+Lord Grayleigh smiled; he placed himself in a comfortable chair, and
+motioned Sibyl to take another. She drew a similar chair forward,
+placed it opposite to her host, and sat on it. It was a high chair,
+and her feet did not reach the ground.
+
+"I 'spect I'm rather short for my age," she said, looking down and
+speaking in a tone of apology.
+
+"Why, how old are you?" he asked.
+
+"Quite old," she replied gravely; "I was eight at five minutes past
+seven Monday fortnight back."
+
+"You certainly have a vast weight of years on your head," he replied,
+looking at her gravely.
+
+She did not see the sarcasm, she was thinking of something else.
+Suddenly she looked him full in the face.
+
+"You called me away from the other children 'cos you wanted to speak
+about father, didn't you? Please tell me all about him. Is he quite
+well?"
+
+"Of course he is."
+
+"Did he ask about me?"
+
+"Yes, he asked me how you were."
+
+"And what did you say?"
+
+"I replied, with truth, that I had twice had the pleasure of seeing
+you; once when you were very rude to me, once when you were equally
+polite."
+
+Sibyl's eyes began to dance.
+
+"What are you thinking of, eight-year-old?" asked Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Of you," answered Sibyl with promptitude.
+
+"Come, that's very interesting; what about me? Now, be quite frank and
+tell me why you were rude to me the first time we met?"
+
+"May I?" said Sibyl with great eagerness. "Do you really, truly mean
+it?"
+
+"I certainly mean it."
+
+"You won't tell--mother?"
+
+"I won't tell--mother," said Lord Grayleigh, mimicking her manner.
+
+Sibyl gave a long, deep sigh.
+
+"I am glad," she said with emphasis. "I don't want my ownest mother to
+be hurt. She tries so hard, and she is so beautiful and perfect. It's
+most 'portant that I should speak to you, and if you will promise----"
+
+"I have promised; whatever you say shall be secret. Now, out with it."
+
+"You won't like it," said Sibyl.
+
+"You must leave me to judge of that."
+
+"I am going to be fwightfully rude."
+
+"Indeed! that is highly diverting."
+
+"I don't know what diverting is, but it will hurt you."
+
+"I believe I can survive the pain."
+
+Sibyl looked full at him then.
+
+"Are you laughing at me?" she said, and she jumped down from her high
+chair.
+
+"I would not dream of doing so."
+
+The curious amused expression died out of Lord Grayleigh's eyes. He
+somehow felt that he was confronting Sibyl's father with all those
+unpleasant new scruples in full force.
+
+"Speak away, little girl," he said, "I promise not to laugh. I will
+listen to you with respect. You are an uncommon child, very like your
+father."
+
+"Thank you for saying that, but it isn't true; for father's perfect,
+and I'm not. I will tell you now why I was rude, and why I am going to
+be rude again, monstrous rude. It is because you told lies."
+
+"Indeed!" said Lord Grayleigh, pretending to be shocked. "Do you know
+that that is a shocking accusation? If a man, for instance, had said
+that sort of thing to another man a few years back, it would have been
+a case for swords."
+
+"I don't understand what that means," said Sibyl.
+
+"For a duel; you have heard of a duel?"
+
+"Oh, in history, of course," said Sibyl, her eyes sparkling, "and one
+man kills another man. They run swords through each other until one of
+them gets killed dead. I wish I was a man."
+
+"Do you really want to run a sword through me?"
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this; she shut her lips firmly, her eyes
+ablaze.
+
+"Come," said Lord Grayleigh, "it is unfair to accuse a man and not to
+prove your accusation. What lies have I told?"
+
+"About my father."
+
+"Hullo! I suppose I am stupid, but I fail to understand."
+
+"I will try and 'splain. I didn't know that you was stupid, but you do
+tell lies."
+
+"Well, go on; you are putting it rather straight, you know."
+
+"I want to."
+
+"Fire away then."
+
+"You told someone--I don't know the name--you told somebody that my
+father was unscroopolus."
+
+"Indeed," said Lord Grayleigh. He colored, and looked uneasy. "I told
+somebody--that is diverting."
+
+"It's not diverting," said Sibyl, "it's cruel, it's mean, it's wrong;
+it's lies--black lies. Now you know."
+
+"But whom did I tell?"
+
+"Somebody, and somebody told me--I'm not going to tell who told me."
+
+"Even suppose I did say anything of the sort, what do you know about
+that word?"
+
+"I found it out. An unscroopolus person is a person who doesn't act
+right. Do you know that my father never did wrong, never from the time
+he was borned? My father is quite perfect, God made him so."
+
+"Your father is a very nice fellow, Sibyl."
+
+"He is much better than nice, he is perfect; he never did anything
+wrong. He is perfect, same as Lord Jesus is perfect."
+
+The little girl looked straight out into the summer landscape. Her
+lips trembled, on each cheek there flushed a crimson rose.
+
+Lord Grayleigh shuffled his feet. Had anyone in all the world told him
+that he would have listened quietly, and with a sense of respect, to
+such a story as he was now hearing, he would have roared with
+laughter. But he was not at all inclined to laugh now that he found
+himself face to face with Sibyl.
+
+"And mother is perfect, too," she said, turning and facing him.
+
+Then he did laugh; he laughed aloud.
+
+"Oh, no," he said.
+
+"So you don't wonder that I hate you," continued Sibyl, taking no
+notice of that last remark. "It's 'cos you like to tell lies about
+good people. My father is perfect, and you called him unscroopolus. No
+wonder I hate you."
+
+"Listen now, little girl." Lord Grayleigh took the hot, trembling
+hand, and drew the child to his side.
+
+"Don't shrink away, don't turn from me," he said; "I am not so bad as
+you make me out. If I did make use of such an expression, I have
+forgotten it. Men of the world say lots of things that little girls
+don't understand. Little girls of eight years old, if they are to grow
+up nice and good, and self-respecting, must take the world on trust.
+So you must take me on trust, and believe that even if I did say what
+you accuse me of saying, I still have a great respect for your father.
+I think him a right down _good_ fellow."
+
+"The best in all the world?" queried Sibyl.
+
+"I am sure at least of one thing, that no little girl ever had a
+fonder father."
+
+"And you own up you told a lie? You do own up that father's quite
+perfect?"
+
+"Men like myself don't care to own themselves in the wrong," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and the fact is--listen, you queer little mortal--I don't
+like perfect people. It is true that I have never met any."
+
+"You have met my father and my mother."
+
+"Come, Sibyl, shall we make a compromise? I like you, I want you to
+like me. Forget that I said what I myself have forgotten, and believe
+that I have a very great respect for your father. Come, if he were
+here, he would ask you to be friendly with me."
+
+"Would he?" said the child. She looked wistful and interested. "There
+are lots of things I want to be 'splained to me," she said. Then,
+after a moment--"I'll think whether I'll be friends with you, and
+I'll let you know, may be to-morrow."
+
+As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
+ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
+ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
+from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
+her games.
+
+"Poor little maid!" he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
+silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl's words had affected
+him.
+
+"The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful," was his
+inward thought; "it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
+Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
+Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won't
+affect the public as Ogilvie's report would, but he has never yet been
+troubled by conscience, and Sibyl's faith will be unshaken. It is
+worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
+like Sibyl."
+
+These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.
+
+"What am I," he said to himself, "to have my way disturbed by the
+words of a mere child?" And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
+silk dress, and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"Come in and sit down," he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
+"It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
+of a conversation with your little daughter."
+
+"Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly."
+
+"I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
+behaved charmingly."
+
+"I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
+don't wonder that I should ask you the question."
+
+"She has a very great respect for you," said Lord Grayleigh; "it makes
+me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
+and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
+hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
+white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
+across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
+with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl's had made
+acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
+and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.
+
+Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
+understand, noticed the difference in the glance of the child and the
+woman.
+
+"Your little girl has the highest opinion of you," he repeated; "the
+very highest."
+
+"And I wish she would not talk or think such nonsense," said Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in a burst of irritation. "You know well that I am not what
+Sibyl thinks me. I am an ordinary, everyday woman. I hope I am"--she
+smiled--"charming."
+
+"You are that, undoubtedly," said the nobleman, slightly bowing his
+head.
+
+"I hope I am what a man most likes in a woman, agreeable, charming,
+and fairly amiable; but I am no saint, and I don't want to be. Sibyl's
+attitude towards me is therefore most irritating, and I am doing my
+utmost----"
+
+"You are doing what?" said Lord Grayleigh. He rose, and stood by the
+summer-house door.
+
+"To open her eyes."
+
+"I would not if I were you," he said, gravely; "it is not often that a
+child has her faith. To shake it means a great deal."
+
+"What are you talking about now?"
+
+"I don't often read my Bible," he continued, "but, of course, I did as
+a boy--most boys do. My mother was a good woman. I am thinking of
+something said in that Holy Book."
+
+"You are quite serious; I never knew you in this mood before."
+
+"I must tell it to you. 'Whosoever shall offend one of these little
+ones, it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
+he were cast into the depths of the sea.'"
+
+"How unpleasant," said Mrs. Ogilvie, after a pause, "and I rather fail
+to see the connection. Shall we change the subject?"
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+"What arrangement did you make with Philip yesterday?"
+
+"I made no absolute arrangement, but I think he will do according to
+your wishes."
+
+"Then he will assay the mine, act as the engineer to the company?"
+
+"Precisely."
+
+"Has he promised?"
+
+"Not yet, but my impression is that he will do it."
+
+"What does assaying the mine mean?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie knitted her pretty dark brows, and looked as inquisitive
+and childish at that moment as Sibyl herself.
+
+"To assay a mine means to find out accurately what it contains," said
+Lord Grayleigh. Once again his eyes turned away from his questioner.
+He had very little respect for Mrs. Ogilvie's conscience, but he did
+not want to meet anyone's gaze at that instant.
+
+"Nevertheless," he continued, after a pause, "your husband has not
+definitely promised, and it is on the cards that he may refuse."
+
+"He will be a madman if he does," cried Mrs. Ogilvie, and she stamped
+her pretty foot impatiently.
+
+"According to Sibyl's light, he will be the reverse of that; but then,
+Sibyl, and your husband also, believe in such a thing as conscience."
+
+"Philip's conscience!" said the wife, with a sneer; "what next?"
+
+"It appears to me," said Lord Grayleigh, "that he has an active one."
+
+"It has come to life very quickly, then. This is mere humbug."
+
+"Let me speak. To be frank with you, I respect your husband's
+conscience; and, perhaps, if you respected it more----"
+
+"I really will not stay here to be lectured," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "It
+is to your advantage, doubtless, that Philip should do something for
+you; it must be to your advantage, for you are going to pay him well.
+Will he do it, or will he not? That is the question I want answered."
+
+"And I cannot answer it, for I do not know."
+
+"But you think he will?"
+
+"That is my impression."
+
+"You can, at least, tell me what occurred."
+
+"I can give you an outline of what occurred. I made him an offer to go
+to Queensland."
+
+"To go where?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, looking slightly startled.
+
+"As the mine happens to be in Queensland, how can he assay it in
+England?"
+
+"I didn't know."
+
+"Yes, if he does anything, he must go to Queensland. He must see the
+mine or mines himself; his personal report is essential. He will be
+paid well, and will receive a large number of shares."
+
+"What do you mean by being paid well?"
+
+"He will have his expenses, and something over."
+
+"Something over! that is a very elastic term."
+
+"In your husband's case it will mean thousands."
+
+"Oh, I see; and then the shares?"
+
+"The shares will practically make him a rich man."
+
+"Then of course he will consent. I will go at once, and send him a
+line." She turned to leave the summer-house. Lord Grayleigh followed
+her. He laid his hand for an instant on her slim arm.
+
+"If I were you," he said, and there was an unwonted tremble in his
+voice as he spoke, "if I were you, upon my honor, I'd leave him
+alone."
+
+"Leave him alone now? Why should not the wife influence the husband
+for his own good?"
+
+"Very well," said Lord Grayleigh; "I only ventured to make a
+suggestion."
+
+She looked at him in a puzzled way, raised her brows, and said:
+
+"I never found you so disagreeable before." She then left the
+summer-house.
+
+Lord Grayleigh stood still for a moment, then, with quick strides, he
+went in the direction of the shrubbery. Sibyl, hot, excited,
+breathless after her game, did not even see him. He called her and she
+stopped.
+
+"May I speak to you?" he said. He had the courteous manner to her
+which he did not vouch-safe to many of his gay lady acquaintances.
+
+She ran to his side at once.
+
+"Don't you want to send your father a letter by this post?"
+
+"Yes, of course; is there time?"
+
+"I will make time; go into the house and write to him."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"He would like to hear from you."
+
+"Do you want me to say anything special?"
+
+"Nothing special; write to him from your heart, that is all." And then
+Lord Grayleigh turned away in the direction of his stables. He ordered
+the groom to saddle his favorite horse, and was soon careering across
+country. Sibyl's letter to her father was short, badly spelt, and
+brimful of love. Mrs. Ogilvie's was also short, and brimful of
+worldliness.
+
+The two letters, each as wide as the poles apart in spirit and in
+intention, met in the post-box, and were each carried as rapidly as
+mail trains could take them to the metropolis.
+
+On the next morning these letters lay beside Philip Ogilvie's plate at
+breakfast. Sibyl's was well blotted and sealed with her favorite
+violet seal. Mrs. Ogilvie's was trim, neat, and without a blemish.
+Ogilvie read them both, first the mother's, then the child's. Sibyl's
+was almost all kisses: hardly any words, just blots and kisses.
+Ogilvie did not press his lips to the kisses this time. He read the
+letter quickly, thrust it into his pocket, and once more turned his
+attention to what his wife had said. He smiled sarcastically as he
+read. The evening before he had written Lord Grayleigh accepting the
+proffered engagement. The die was cast.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+The following letter reached Philip Ogilvie late that same evening:--
+
+     MY DEAR OGILVIE,
+
+     Your decision is naturally all that can be desired, and I
+     only hope you may never live to regret it. I have, most
+     unfortunately, given my ankle a bad sprain. I had a fall
+     yesterday when out riding, and am obliged to lie up for a
+     day or two. There is much that I should wish to talk over
+     with you before you go to Queensland. Can you come down here
+     to-morrow by the first train? I will not detain you an hour
+     longer than I can help. All other arrangements are in the
+     hands of my agents, Messrs. Spielmann & Co.
+
+               Yours sincerely,
+                    GRAYLEIGH.
+
+Ogilvie read this letter quickly. He knit his brow as he did so. It
+annoyed him a good deal.
+
+"I did not want to go there," he thought. "I am doing this principally
+for the sake of the child. I can arrange all financial matters through
+Spielmann. Grayleigh wants this thing done; I alone can do it to his
+satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the public. He must pay
+me--what he pays will be Sibyl's, the provision for her future. But I
+don't want to see the child--until all this dirty work is over. If I
+come back things may be altered. God only knows what may have
+occurred. The mine may be all right, there may be deliverance, but I
+didn't want to see her before I go. It is possible that I may not be
+able to keep my composure. There are a hundred things which make an
+interview between the child and me undesirable."
+
+He thought and thought, and at last rose from his chair and began to
+pace the room. He had not suffered from his heart since his interview
+with Dr. Rashleigh. He gave it but scant consideration now.
+
+"If I have a fatal disease it behooves me to act as if I were
+absolutely sound," he said to himself. And he had so acted after the
+first shock of Rashleigh's verdict had passed off. But he did not like
+the thought of seeing Sibyl. Still, Grayleigh's letter could not be
+lightly disregarded. If Grayleigh wished to see him and could not come
+to town, it was essential that he should go to him.
+
+He rang his bell and sent off a telegram to the effect that he would
+arrive at Grayleigh Manor at an early hour on the following day.
+
+This telegram Lord Grayleigh showed to Mrs. Ogilvie before she went to
+bed that night.
+
+"He has consented to go, as of course you are well aware," said Lord
+Grayleigh, "and he comes here to see me to-morrow. But I would not say
+anything about his departure for Queensland to your little daughter,
+until after his visit. He may have something to say in the matter. Let
+him, if he wishes it, be the one to break it to her."
+
+"But why should not the child know? How ridiculous you are!"
+
+"That is exactly as her father pleases," replied Lord Grayleigh. "I
+have a kind of intuition that he may want to tell her himself. Anyhow,
+I trust you will oblige me in the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie pouted. She was not enjoying herself as much at Grayleigh
+Manor as she had expected, and, somehow or other, she felt that she
+was in disgrace. This was by no means an agreeable sensation. She
+wondered why she was not in higher spirits. To visit Australia
+nowadays was a mere nothing. Her husband would be back again, a rich
+man, in six months at the farthest. During those six months she
+herself might have a good time. There were several country houses
+where she might visit. Her visiting list was already nearly full. She
+would take Sibyl with her, although Sibyl sometimes was the reverse
+of comforting; but it looked effective to see the handsome mother and
+the beautiful child together, and Sibyl, when she did not go too far,
+said very pathetic and pretty things about her. Oh yes, she and her
+little daughter would have a good time, while the husband and father
+was earning money for them in Australia: while the husband and father
+was raking in gold, they might really enjoy themselves.
+
+As she thought of this, Mrs. Ogilvie felt so light-hearted that she
+could have skipped. Those debts which had weighed so on what she was
+pleased to call her conscience, would be liquidated once and for all,
+and in the future she would have plenty of money. It was the be-all of
+existence to her feeble soul. She would have it in abundance in the
+time which lay before her.
+
+"Philip is a wise man. It was very silly of him to hesitate and make a
+fuss," she thought; "but he has decided wisely, as I knew he would. I
+shall give him a kiss when I see him, and tell him that I am quite
+pleased with him."
+
+She went to bed, therefore, cheerful, and the next morning put on her
+very prettiest dress in order to meet her husband.
+
+Ogilvie walked from the little station, which was only half a mile
+away. Mrs. Ogilvie, going slowly up the avenue, saw him coming to
+meet her. She stood under the shade of a great overhanging beech tree,
+and waited until he appeared.
+
+"Well, Mildred, and how are you?" said her husband. He took her hand,
+and, bending forward, brushed the lightest of kisses against her
+cheek.
+
+"Quite well," she replied. "Is not the day pleasant? I am so glad
+about everything, Phil. But you don't look quite the thing yourself.
+Have you taken cold or suffered from one of those nasty rheumatic
+attacks?"
+
+"I am all right," he answered shortly. "I have a very few moments to
+be here, as I want to catch the 12.30 back. Do you know if Lord
+Grayleigh is anywhere to be found?"
+
+"I saw him half an hour ago. I think you will find him in the
+smoking-room. He is expecting you."
+
+"And"--Ogilvie glanced to right and left--"the child?"
+
+"She is with the other children. Shall I send her to you?"
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"It is so nice of you to go, Phil; it will do you no end of good. You
+will enjoy your voyage," continued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning now and
+laying her hand on her husband's arm.
+
+Mr. Rochester, who was quite a young man himself, and was deeply
+occupied at this time with thoughts of love and marriage, happened to
+see the pair as they sauntered by together. He knew nothing, of
+course, of Ogilvie's intended visit to Australia, nor was he in any
+sense of the word behind the scenes. On the contrary, he thought that
+Mrs. Ogilvie and her husband made a perfect picture of beautiful love
+between husband and wife.
+
+"It is good of you," pursued Mrs. Ogilvie, turning once more to her
+husband. "I am greatly obliged. I am more than obliged, I am relieved
+and--and satisfied. We shall have a happy life together when you come
+back. There are, of course, little matters we ought to talk over
+before we go."
+
+"Debts, you mean," said Ogilvie, bluntly. "I opened your bills in your
+absence. They will be----"
+
+"Oh, Phil!" Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned very white.
+
+"I will speak about them before I leave," he continued. "Now I must
+find Grayleigh."
+
+"Is it true that you are going on Saturday?"
+
+"Quite true."
+
+"Had I not better return to town with you? There will be several
+things to put in order."
+
+"I can write to you, Mildred. Now that you are here you had better
+stay here. The change will be good for you. You need not return to
+the house in town before next week."
+
+"If you really don't want me, I am certainly enjoying myself here."
+
+"I don't want you," he replied, but as he spoke his grey eyes looked
+wistful. He turned for an instant and glanced at her. He noted the
+sunny, lovely hair, the agile, youthful, rounded figure. Once he had
+loved her passionately.
+
+"Sibyl will be delighted to see you," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "She has
+been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both
+friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way."
+
+"That reminds me," said Ogilvie. "I shall see Sibyl before I leave;
+but that reminds me."
+
+"Of what?"
+
+"I do not wish her to be told."
+
+"Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric."
+
+"I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one
+hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I
+am going to Australia."
+
+"What, never?"
+
+"She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to
+her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until
+she gets home, you understand? I won't go at all if you tell her."
+
+"Oh, of course, I understand," said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
+"but why should not the child hear what really is good tidings?"
+
+"I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must
+see Lord Grayleigh immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clutched her husband's arm.
+
+"You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?"
+
+"You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful.
+My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills
+are terribly heavy."
+
+"My bills! but I really----"
+
+"We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go."
+
+"Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?"
+
+"They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of
+the reward for taking up this loathsome work."
+
+"Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!"
+
+The husband and wife walked slower and slower. Ogilvie saw Grayleigh
+standing on the steps.
+
+"There is Lord Grayleigh," he said. "I must go at once. Yes, the
+bills will be paid." He laid his hand for a moment on her shoulder.
+
+"There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?"
+
+"No," she began, then she hesitated.
+
+"What more?"
+
+"A trinket, it took my fancy--a diamond cross--you noticed it. I could
+not resist it."
+
+"How much?" said the man. His face was very stern and white, and there
+was a blue look round his lips.
+
+"Two thousand pounds."
+
+"Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now
+don't keep me."
+
+He strode past her and went up to where Lord Grayleigh was waiting for
+him.
+
+"This is good," said the nobleman. "I am very sorry I could not come
+to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping,
+as you see."
+
+"Shall we go into the house?" said Ogilvie; "I want to get this thing
+over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday."
+
+"You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your
+report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course."
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Now listen, Ogilvie," said Lord Grayleigh, as they both entered the
+study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair, "you either do this
+thing properly or you decline it, you give it up."
+
+"Can I? I thought the die was cast."
+
+"The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I _could_ get Atherton to
+take your place even now."
+
+"Even now?" echoed Philip Ogilvie.
+
+"Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I"--Lord Grayleigh
+had a flashing memory of Sibyl's face and the look in her eyes, when
+she spoke of her perfect father. Then he glanced at the man who,
+silent and with suppressed suffering in his face, stood before him.
+The irresolution in Ogilvie's face took something from its character,
+and seemed to lower the man's whole nature. Lord Grayleigh shivered;
+then the uncomfortable sensation which the memory of Sibyl gave him
+passed away.
+
+"I shall regret it extremely if you cannot do what I want," he said,
+with emphasis.
+
+Ogilvie had a quick sensation of momentary relief. His wife owed
+another two thousand pounds. It would be bankruptcy, ruin if he did
+not go. He stood up.
+
+"The time for discussing the thing is over," he said. "I will
+go--and--do _as you wish_. The only thing to put straight is the price
+down."
+
+"What do you mean by the price down?"
+
+"I want money."
+
+"Of course, you shall have it."
+
+"I want more than my expenses, and something to cover the loss to my
+business which my absence may create."
+
+"How much more?" Lord Grayleigh looked at him anxiously.
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash now, to be placed to my credit in my
+bank."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds in cash! That is a big order."
+
+"Not too big for what you require me to do. You make hundreds of
+thousands by me eventually; what is one ten thousand? It will relieve
+my mind and set a certain matter straight. The fact is--I will confide
+in you so far--my own pecuniary affairs are anything but flourishing.
+I have had some calls to meet. What little property I own is settled
+on my wife. You know that a man cannot interfere with his marriage
+settlements. I have one child. I want to make a special provision for
+her."
+
+"I know your child," said Lord Grayleigh, in a very grave tone; "she
+is out of the common."
+
+A spasm of pain crossed the father's face.
+
+"She is," he answered slowly. "I wish to make a provision for her. If
+I die (I may die, we are all mortal; I am going to a distant place;
+possibilities in favor of death are ten per cent. greater than if I
+remain at home)--if I die, this will be hers. It will comfort me, and
+make it absolutely impossible for me to go back. You understand that
+sometimes a miserable starved voice within me speaks. I allude to the
+voice of conscience. However much it clamors, I cannot listen to it
+when that sum of money lies in the bank to my credit, with my last
+will and testament leaving it eventually to my daughter."
+
+"I would not give your daughter such a portion, if I were you,"
+thought Lord Grayleigh, but he did not say the words aloud. He said
+instead, "What you wish shall be done."
+
+The two men talked a little longer together. Certain necessary
+arrangements were concluded, and Ogilvie bore in his pocket before he
+left a check for ten thousand pounds on Lord Grayleigh's private
+account.
+
+"This clinches matters," he said, and he gave a significant glance at
+Grayleigh.
+
+"You will see Spielmann for all the rest," was Grayleigh's answer;
+"and now, if you must catch the train----"
+
+"Yes, I must; good-by."
+
+Lord Grayleigh walked with him as far as the porch.
+
+"Have you seen your wife?" he asked. "Can we not induce you to wait
+for the next train and stay to lunch?"
+
+"No, thanks; it is impossible. Oh, I see you have sent for the
+dog-cart; I will drive to the station."
+
+Just then Sibyl, Gus and Freda appeared in view. Sibyl was extremely
+dirty. She had been climbing trees to good effect that morning, and
+there was a rent in front of her dress and even a very apparent hole
+in one of her stockings. She and Gus were arguing somewhat fiercely,
+and the cap she wore was pushed back, and her golden hair was all in a
+tangle. Suddenly she raised her eyes, caught sight of her father, and,
+with a shout something between a whoop and a cry, flung herself into
+his arms.
+
+"Daddy, daddy!" she cried.
+
+He clasped her tightly to his breast. He did not notice the shabby
+dress nor the torn stocking; he only saw the eager little face, the
+eyes brimful with love; he only felt the beating of the warm, warm
+heart.
+
+"Why, dad, now I shall be happy. Where are you, Gus? Gus, this is
+father; Gus, come here!"
+
+But at a nod from Lord Grayleigh both Gus and Freda had vanished round
+the corner.
+
+"I will say good-by, if you must go, Ogilvie," said Grayleigh. He
+took his hand, gave it a sympathetic squeeze, and went into the house.
+
+"But must you go, father? Why, you have only just come," said Sibyl.
+
+"I must, my darling, I must catch the next train; there is not ten
+minutes. Jump on the dog-cart, and we will drive to the station
+together."
+
+"Oh, 'licious!" cried Sibyl, "more than 'licious; but what will mother
+say?"
+
+"Never mind, the coachman will bring you back. Jump up, quick."
+
+In another instant Sibyl was seated between her father and the
+coachman. The spirited mare dashed forward, and they bowled down the
+avenue. Ogilvie's arm was tight round Sibyl's waist, he was hugging
+her to him, squeezing her almost painfully tight. She gasped a little,
+drew in her breath, and then resolved to bear it.
+
+"There's something troubling him, he likes having me near him,"
+thought the child. "I wouldn't let him see that he's squeezing me up a
+bit too tight for all the world."
+
+The mare seemed to fly over the ground. Ogilvie was glad.
+
+"We shall have a minute or two at the station. I can speak to her
+then," he thought. "I won't tell her that I am going, but I can say
+something." Then the station appeared in view, and the mare was
+pulled up with a jerk; Ogilvie jumped to his feet, and lifted Sibyl to
+the ground.
+
+"Wait for the child," he said to the servant, "and take her back
+carefully to the house."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the man, touching his hat.
+
+Ogilvie went into the little station, and Sibyl accompanied him.
+
+"I have my ticket," he said, "we have three minutes to spare, three
+whole precious minutes."
+
+"Three whole precious minutes," repeated Sibyl. "What is it, father?"
+
+"I am thinking of something," he said.
+
+"What?" asked the girl.
+
+"For these three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds, you and I
+are to all intents and purposes alone in the world."
+
+"Father! why, so we are," she cried. "Mother's not here, we are all
+alone. Nothing matters, does it, when we are alone together?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"You don't look quite well, dear father."
+
+"I have been having some suffering lately, and am worried about
+things, those sort of things that don't come to little girls."
+
+"Of course they don't, father, but when I'm a woman I'll have them.
+I'll take them instead of you."
+
+"Now listen, my darling."
+
+"Father, before you speak ... I know you are going to say something
+very, _very_ solemn; I know you when you're in your solemn moments; I
+like you best of all then. You seem like Jesus Christ then. Don't you
+feel like Jesus Christ, father?"
+
+"Never, Sib, never; but the time is going by, the train is signalled.
+My dearest, what is it?"
+
+"Mayn't I go back to town with you? I like the country, I like Gus and
+Freda and Mabel, but there is no place like your study in the evening,
+and there's no place like my bedroom at night when you come into it.
+I'd like to go back with you, wouldn't it be fun! Couldn't you take
+me?"
+
+"I could, of course," said the man, and just for a moment he wavered.
+It would be nice to have her in the house, all by herself, for the
+next two or three days, but he put the thought from him as if it were
+a temptation.
+
+"No, Sib," he said, "you must go back to your mother; it would not be
+at all right to leave your mother alone."
+
+"Of course not," she answered promptly, and she gave a sigh which was
+scarcely a sigh.
+
+"It would have been nice all the same," said Ogilvie. "Ah! there is
+my train; kiss me, darling."
+
+She flung her arms tightly round his neck.
+
+"Sibyl, just promise before I leave you that you will be a good girl,
+that you will make goodness the first thing in life. If, for instance,
+we were never to meet again--of course we shall, thousands of times,
+but just suppose, for the sake of saying it, that we did not, I should
+like to know that my little girl put goodness first. There is nothing
+else worth the while in life. Cling on to it, Sibyl, cling tight hold
+to it. Never forget that I----"
+
+"Yes, father, I will cling to it. Yes, father!"
+
+"That I wish it. You would do a great deal for me?"
+
+"For you and Lord Jesus Christ," she answered softly.
+
+"Then I wish this, remember, and whatever happens, whatever you hear,
+remember you promised. Now here's my train, stand back. Good-by,
+little woman, good-by."
+
+"I'll see you again very, very soon, father?"
+
+"Very soon," answered the man. He jumped into the carriage, the train
+puffed out of the station. A porter came up to Sibyl and spoke to her.
+
+"Anybody come to meet you, Miss?"
+
+"No, thank you," she answered with dignity; "I was seeing my father
+off to town; there's my twap waiting outside."
+
+The man smiled, and the little girl went gravely out of the station.
+
+Sibyl went back to Lord Grayleigh's feeling perplexed. There was an
+expression about her father's face which puzzled her.
+
+"He ought to have me at home with him," she thought. "I have seen him
+like this now and then, and he's mostly not well. He's beautiful when
+he talks as he did to-day, but he's mostly not well when he does it. I
+'spect he's nearer Lord Jesus when he's not well, that must be it. My
+most perfect father wants me to be good; I don't want to be good a
+bit, but I must, to please him."
+
+Just then a somewhat shrill and petulant voice called the child.
+
+"My dear Sibyl, where _have_ you been? What are you doing on the
+dog-cart? How unladylike. Jump down this minute."
+
+The man pulled up the mare, and Sibyl jumped to the ground. She met
+her mother's angry face with a smile which she tried hard to make
+sweet.
+
+"I didn't do anything naughty, really, Mummy," she said. "Father took
+me to the station to say good-by. He's off back to town, and he took
+me with him, and I came back on the twap."
+
+"Don't say twap, sound your 'r'--trap."
+
+"Tw-rap," struggled Sibyl over the difficult word.
+
+"And now you are to go into the house and ask Nurse to put on your
+best dress. I am going to take you to a garden party, immediately
+after lunch. Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen Douglas are coming with us.
+Be quick."
+
+"Oh, 'licious," said Sibyl. She rushed into the house, and up to the
+nursery. Nurse was there waiting to deck her in silk and lace and
+feathers. The little girl submitted to her toilet, and now took a vast
+interest in it.
+
+"You must make me quite my prettiest self," she said to the nurse;
+"you must do your very best, 'cos mother----"
+
+"What about your mother now, missy?"
+
+"'Cos mother's just a little----Oh, nothing," said Sibyl, pulling
+herself up short.
+
+"She likes me best when I'm pretty," continued the child; "but father
+likes me always. Nursie, do you know that my ownest father came down
+here to-day, and that I dwove to the station to see him off? Did you
+know it?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, I can't say I did."
+
+"He talked to me in a most pwivate way," continued Sibyl. "He told me
+most 'portant things, and I promised him, Nursie--I promised him that
+I'd----Oh, no! I won't tell you. Perhaps I won't be able to keep my
+promise, and then you'd----Nothing, Nursie, nothing; don't be
+'quisitive. I can see in your face that you are all bursting with
+'quisitiveness; but you aren't to know. I am going to a party with my
+own mother after lunch, and Lady Helen is coming, and Mr. Rochester. I
+like them both very much indeed. Lady Helen told me stories last
+night. She put her arm round my waist, and she talked to me; and I
+told her some things, too, and she laughed."
+
+"What did you tell her, Miss Sibyl?"
+
+"About my father and mother. She laughed quite funnily. I wish people
+wouldn't; it shows how little they know. It's 'cos they are so far
+from being perfect that they don't understand perfect people. But
+there's the lunch gong. Yes, I do look very nice. Good-by, Nursie."
+
+Sibyl ran downstairs. The children always appeared at this meal, and
+she took her accustomed place at the table. Very soon afterwards, she,
+her mother, Lady Helen, and Mr. Rochester, started for a place about
+ten miles off, where an afternoon reception was being given.
+
+Sibyl felt inclined to be talkative, and Mrs. Ogilvie, partly because
+she had a sore feeling in her heart with regard to her husband's
+departure, although she would not acknowledge it, was inclined to be
+snappish. She pulled the little girl up several times, and at last
+Sibyl subsided in her seat, and looked out straight before her. It was
+then that Lady Helen once more put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Presently," said Lady Helen, "when the guests are all engaged, you
+and I will slip out by ourselves, and I will show you one of the most
+beautiful views in all England. We climb a winding path, and we
+suddenly come out quite above all the trees, and we look around us;
+and when we get there, you'll be able to see the blue sea in the
+distance, and the ships, one of which is going to take your----"
+
+But just then Mrs. Ogilvie gave Helen Douglas so severe a push with
+her foot, that she stopped, and got very red.
+
+"What ship do you mean?" said Sibyl, surprised at the sudden break in
+the conversation, and now intensely interested, "the ship that is
+going to take my--my what?"
+
+"Did you never hear the old saying, that you must wait until your ship
+comes home?" interrupted Mr. Rochester, smiling at the child, and
+looking at Lady Helen, who had not got over her start and confusion.
+
+"But this ship was going out," said Sibyl. "Never mind, I 'spect it's
+a secret; there's lots of 'em floating round to-day. I've got some
+'portant ones of my own. Never mind, Lady Helen, don't blush no more."
+She patted Lady Helen in a patronizing way on her hand, and the whole
+party laughed; the tension was, for the time, removed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+Ogilvie made a will leaving the ten thousand pounds which Lord
+Grayleigh had given him absolutely to Sibyl for her sole use and
+benefit. He also made all other preparations for his absence from
+home, and started for Queensland on Saturday. He wrote to his wife on
+the night before he left England, repeating his injunction that on no
+account was Sibyl to be yet told of his departure.
+
+"When she absolutely must learn it, break it to her in the tenderest
+way possible," he said; "but as Grayleigh has kindly invited you both
+to stay on at Grayleigh Manor for another week, you may as well do so,
+and while there I want the child to be happy. The country air and the
+companionship of other children are doing her a great deal of good. I
+never saw her look better than I did the other day. I should also be
+extremely glad, Mildred, if on your return to town you would arrange
+to send Sibyl to a nice day-school, where she could have companions. I
+have nothing to say against Miss Winstead, but I think the child would
+be better, less old-fashioned, and might place us more on the pedestal
+which we really ought to occupy, if she had other children to talk to
+and exchange thoughts with. Try to act, my dear wife, as I would like
+in this particular, I beg of you. Also when you have to let my darling
+know that I am away, you will find a letter for her in my left-hand
+top drawer in my study table. Give it to her, and do not ask to see
+it. It is just a little private communication from her father, and for
+her eyes alone. Be sure, also, you tell her that, all being well, I
+hope to be back in England by the end of the summer."
+
+Ogilvie added some more words to his letter, and Mrs. Ogilvie received
+it on Saturday morning. She read it over carelessly, and then turned
+to Jim Rochester who stood near. During her visit to Grayleigh Manor
+she had got to know this young man very well, and to like him
+extremely. He was good-looking, pleasant to talk to, well informed,
+and with genial, hearty views of life. He had been well brought up,
+and his principles were firm and unshaken. His notion of living was to
+do right on every possible occasion, to turn from the wrong with
+horror, to have faith in God, to keep religion well in view, and as
+far as in him lay to love his neighbor better than himself.
+
+Rochester, it may be frankly stated, had some time ago lost his heart
+to Lady Helen Douglas, who, on her part, to all appearance returned
+his affection. Nothing had yet, however, been said between the pair,
+although Rochester's eyes proclaimed his secret whenever they rested
+on Lady Helen's fair face.
+
+He watched Mrs. Ogilvie now with a sudden interest as she folded up
+her husband's letter.
+
+"Well," she said, turning to him and uttering a quick sigh; "he is
+off, it is a _fait accompli_. Do you know, I am relieved."
+
+"Are you?" he answered. He looked at her almost wistfully. He himself
+was sorry for Ogilvie, he did not know why. He was, of course, aware
+that he was going to Queensland to assay the Lombard Deeps, for the
+talk of the great new gold mine had already reached his ears. He knew
+that Ogilvie, moreover, looked pale, ill at ease, and worried. He
+supposed that this uneasiness and want of alacrity in carrying a very
+pleasurable business to a successful issue was caused by the man's
+great attachment to his wife and child. Mrs. Ogilvie must also be
+sorry when she remembered that it would be many months before she saw
+him again. But there was no sorrow now in the soft eyes which met his,
+nothing but a look of distinct annoyance.
+
+"Really," she said with an impatient movement, "I must confide in some
+one, and why not in you, Mr. Rochester, as well as another? I have
+already told you that my husband is absolutely silly about that
+child. From her birth he has done all that man could do to spoil her."
+
+"But without succeeding," interrupted Jim Rochester. "I am quite
+friendly with your little Sibyl now," he added, "and I never saw a
+nicer little girl."
+
+"Oh, that is what strangers always say," replied Mrs. Ogilvie,
+shrugging her shoulders, "and the child is nice, I am not denying it
+for a moment, but she would be nicer if she were not simply ruined. He
+wants her to live in an impossible world, without any contradictions
+or even the smallest pain. You will scarcely believe it, but he would
+not allow me, the other day, to tell her such a very simple, ordinary
+thing as that he was going to Queensland on business, and now, in his
+letter, he still begs of me to keep it a secret from her. She is not
+to know anything about his absence until she returns to London,
+because, forsooth, the extra week she is to spend in the country would
+not do her so much good if she were fretting. Why should Sibyl fret?
+Surely it is not worse for her than for me; not nearly as bad, for
+that matter."
+
+"I am glad you feel it," said Rochester.
+
+"Feel it? What a strange remark! Did you think I was heartless? Of
+course I feel it, but I am not going to be silly or sentimental over
+the matter. Philip is a very lucky man to have this business to do. I
+would not be so foolish as to keep him at home; but he is ruining that
+child, ruining her. She gets more spoilt and intolerable every day."
+
+"Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie," said Lady Helen, who came upon the scene
+at that moment, "I heard you talking of your little daughter. I don't
+think I ever met a sweeter child."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie threw up her hands in protest.
+
+"There you go," she said. "Mr. Rochester has been saying almost the
+very same words, Lady Helen. Now let me tell you that Sibyl is not
+your child; no one can be more charming to strangers."
+
+As Mrs. Ogilvie spoke she walked a few steps away; then she turned and
+resumed her conversation.
+
+"The annoying part of this letter," she said, "is that Philip has
+written a private communication to Sibyl, and when she hears of his
+absence she is to be given this letter, and I am not even to see it. I
+don't think I shall give it to her; I really must now take the
+management of the child into my own hands. Her father will be
+absent----Oh, there you are, Sibyl. What are you doing, loitering
+about near windows? Why don't you play with your companions?" For
+Sibyl had burst in by the open window, looking breathless.
+
+"I thought--I thought," she began; "I thought, mother, that I heard
+you----" her face was strangely white, and her wide-open eyes looked
+almost wild in expression.
+
+"It's not true, of course; but I thought I heard you say something
+about father, and a--a letter I was to have in his absence. Did you
+say it, mother?"
+
+"I said nothing of the sort," replied Mrs. Ogilvie, flushing red, and
+almost pushing Sibyl from the room, "nothing of the sort; go and
+play."
+
+Sibyl gave her an earnest and very penetrating look. She did not
+glance either at Mr. Rochester or Lady Helen.
+
+"It's wicked for good people to tell lies, isn't it?" she said then,
+slowly.
+
+"Wicked," cried her mother; "it's shamefully wicked."
+
+"And you are good, mother, you don't ever tell lies; I believe you,
+mother, of course." She turned and went out of the room. As she went
+slowly in the direction of the field where the other children were
+taking turns to ride bareback one of the horses, her thoughts were
+very puzzled.
+
+"I wish things would be 'splained to me," she said, half aloud, and
+she pushed back her curls from her forehead. "There are more and more
+things every day want 'splaining. I certainly did hear her say it. I
+heard them all talking, and Lady Helen said something, and Mr.
+Rochester said something, and mother said that father wished me not to
+know, and I was to have a letter, and then mother said 'in his
+absence.' Oh, what can it mean?"
+
+The other children shouted to her from the field, but she was in no
+mood to join them, and just then Lord Grayleigh, who was pacing up and
+down his favorite walk, called her to his side.
+
+"What a puzzled expression you are wearing, my little girl," he said.
+"Is anything the matter?"
+
+Sibyl skipped up to him. Some of the cloud left her face. Perhaps he
+could put things straight for her.
+
+"I want to ask you a question," she said.
+
+"You are always asking questions. Now ask me something really nice;
+but first, I have something to say. I am in a very giving mood this
+morning. Sometimes I am in a saving mood, and would not give so much
+as a brass farthing to anybody, but I am in the other sort of mood
+to-day. I am in the mood to give a little golden-haired girl
+called----"
+
+"Sibyl," said the child, beginning to laugh; "if she is golden-haired
+it must be me. What is it you want to give me?"
+
+Her attention was immediately arrested; her eyes shone and her lips
+smiled.
+
+"What would you like best in the world?"
+
+"Oh, best in the whole world? But I cannot have that, not for a
+week--we are going home this day week."
+
+"And what will you have when you go home?"
+
+"Father's kiss every night. He always comes up, Lord Grayleigh, and
+tucks me in bed, and he kisses me, and we have a cozy talk. He never
+misses, never, when he is at home. I am lonesome here, Lord Grayleigh,
+because mother does not think it good for me that she should come; she
+would if she thought it good for me."
+
+"Well," said Lord Grayleigh, who for some reason did not feel quite
+comfortable as Sibyl talked of her father's kisses, "we must find
+something for you, not quite the best thing of all. What would be the
+next best?"
+
+"I know," said Sibyl, laughing, "a Shetland pony; oh, I do want one so
+badly. Mother sometimes rides in the Park, and I do so long to go with
+her, but she said we couldn't afford it. Oh, I do want a pony."
+
+"You shall have one," said Lord Grayleigh; "it shall be my present to
+a very good, charming little girl."
+
+"Do you really think I am good?"
+
+"Good? Excellent; you are a pattern to us all."
+
+"Wouldn't father like to hear you. It's wonderful how he talked to me
+about being good. I am not really good, you know; but I mean to try.
+If you were to look into my heart, you would see--oh, but you shan't
+look." She started back, clasped her hands, and laughed. "But when
+father looks next, he shall see, oh, a white heart with all the
+naughtiness gone."
+
+"Tell me exactly what sort of pony you would like," said Lord
+Grayleigh, who thought it desirable to turn the conversation.
+
+"It must have a long mane, and not too short a tail," said Sibyl; "and
+be sure you give me the very nicest, newest sort of side-saddle, same
+as mother has herself, for mother's side-saddle is very comfy. Oh, and
+I'd like a riding habit like mother's, too. Mother will be sure to say
+she can't 'ford one for me, but you'll give me one if you give me the
+pony and the side-saddle, won't you?"
+
+"I'll give you the pony and the side-saddle, and the habit," said Lord
+Grayleigh. "I'll choose the pony to-morrow, and bring him back with
+me. I am going to Lyndhurst, in the New Forest, where they are going
+to have a big horse fair. You will not mind having a New Forest pony
+instead of a Shetland?"
+
+[Illustration: "A perfect person could not tell a lie, could she?"
+asked Sibyl.--Page 123. _Daddy's Girl._]
+
+"I don't mind what sort my darling pony is," answered the child. "I
+only want to have it. Oh, you are nice. I began by not liking you,
+but I like you awfully now. You are very nice, indeed."
+
+"And so are you. It seems to me we suit each other admirably."
+
+"There are lots of nice people in the world," said Sibyl. "It's a very
+pleasant place. There are two quite perfect, and there are others very
+nice; you and Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen. But, oh, Lord Grayleigh, I
+know now what I wanted to say. A perfect person couldn't never tell a
+lie, could she?"
+
+"Oh, it's the feminine gender," said Lord Grayleigh softly, under his
+breath.
+
+"It's a she," said Sibyl; "could she; could she?"
+
+"A perfect person could not, little girl."
+
+"Now you have made me so happy that I am going to kiss you," said
+Sibyl. She made a spring forward, flung her arms round his neck, and
+kissed him twice on his rough cheek. The next instant she had vanished
+out of sight and joined her companions.
+
+"It's all right," she said to Gus, who looked at her in some
+amazement. "It's all right; I got a fright, but there wasn't a word of
+it true. Come, let's play. Oh, do you know your father is going to
+give me a pony? I am so happy."
+
+In a week's time Mrs. Ogilvie and Sibyl returned to town. Sibyl was
+intensely joyful on this occasion, and confided in everyone what a
+happy night she would have.
+
+"You don't know what father is," she said, looking full up into
+Rochester's eyes. He was standing on the terrace, and the little girl
+went and stood by his side. Sibyl was in her most confiding mood. She
+considered Lord Grayleigh, Mr. Rochester, Lady Helen, and the children
+were all her special friends. It was impossible to doubt their entire
+sympathy and absolute ability to rejoice in her joy.
+
+"I have had a good time here," she said, "very good. Lord Grayleigh
+has been nice; I began by not liking him, but I like him now, and I
+like you awfully, but after all there's no place for me like my own,
+own home. It's 'cos of father."
+
+"Yes," said Rochester. He looked anxiously, as Sibyl spoke, towards
+the house. Everyone at Grayleigh Manor now knew that Sibyl was not to
+be told of her father's absence during her visit. No one approved of
+this course, although no one felt quite towards it with the same sense
+of irritation that Mrs. Ogilvie herself did. Rochester wished at this
+instant that Lord Grayleigh or someone else would appear. He wanted
+anything to cause a diversion, but Sibyl, in happy ignorance of his
+sentiments, talked on.
+
+"It is at night that my father is the most perfect of all," she said.
+"I wish you could see him when he comes into my room. I am in bed, you
+know, lying down flat on my back, and mostly thinking about the
+angels. I do that a lot at night, I have no time in the day; I think
+of the angels, and Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven, and then father
+comes in. He opens the door soft, and he treads on tiptoe for fear I'm
+asleep, as if I could be! And then he kisses me, and I think in the
+whole of heaven there can never be an angel so good and beautiful as
+he is, and he says something to me which keeps me strong until the
+next night, when he says something else."
+
+"But your mother?" stammered Rochester. He was about to add, "She
+would go to your room, would she not?" when he remembered that she
+herself had told him that nothing would induce her to adopt so
+pernicious a course.
+
+"Oh, you're thinking about my perfect mother, too," said Sibyl. "Yes,
+she is perfect, but there are different sorts in the world. My own
+mother thinks it is not good for me to lie awake at night and think of
+the angels and wait for father. She thinks that I ought to bear the
+yoke in my youth. Solomon, the wise King Solomon--you have heard of
+him, haven't you?"
+
+Rochester nodded.
+
+"He wrote that verse about bearing the yoke when you are young. I
+learnt it a week ago, and I felt it just 'splained about my mother.
+It's really very brave of mother; but, you see, father thinks
+different, and, of course, I nat'rally like father's way best.
+Mother's way is the goodest for me, p'waps. Don't you think mother's
+way is the goodest for me, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I dare say it is good for you, Sibyl. Now, shall we go and find Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"Seems to me," said Sibyl, "I'm always looking for Lady Helen when I'm
+with you. Is it 'cos you're so desperate fond of her?"
+
+"Don't you like her yourself?" said the young man, reddening visibly.
+
+"Like her? I like her just awfully. She's the most 'licious person to
+tell stories I ever comed across in all my borned days. She tells
+every sort of story about giants and fairies and adventures, and
+stories of little girls just like me. Does she tell you stories about
+men just like you, and is that why you like to be with her?"
+
+"Well, I can't honestly say that she has ever yet told me a story, but
+I will ask her to do so."
+
+"Do," said Sibyl; "ask her to tell you a story about a man like
+yourself. Make him rather pwoper and stiff and shy, and let him blush
+sometimes. You do, you know you do. Maybe it will do you good to hear
+about him. Now come along and let's find her."
+
+So Sibyl and Rochester hunted all over the place for Lady Helen, and
+when they found her not, for she had gone to the nearest village on a
+commission with one of the children, Rochester's face looked somewhat
+grave, and his answers to the child were a little _distrait_. Sibyl
+said to him in a tone of absolute sympathy and good faith--
+
+"Cheer up, won't you? She is quite certain to marry you in the long
+run."
+
+"Don't talk like that," said Rochester in a voice of pain.
+
+"Don't what? You do want to marry Lady Helen. I heard mother say so
+yesterday. I heard her say so to Hortense. Hortense was brushing her
+hair, and mother said, 'It would be a good match on the whole for Lady
+Helen, 'cos she is as poor as a church mouse, and Jim Rochester has
+money.' Is my darling Lady Helen as poor as a church mouse, and have
+you lots of money, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have money, but not lots. You ought not to repeat what you hear,"
+said the young man.
+
+"But why? I thought everybody knew. You are always trying to make her
+marry you, I see it in your eyes; you don't know how you look when you
+look at her, oh--ever so eager, same as I look when father's in the
+room and he is not talking to me. I hope you will marry her, more
+especial if she's as poor as a church mouse. I never knew why mice
+were poor, nor why mother said it, but she did. Oh, and there is
+mother, I must fly to her; good-by--good-by."
+
+Rochester concealed his feelings as best he could, and hurried
+immediately into a distant part of the grounds, where he cogitated
+over what Sibyl, in her childish, way, had revealed.
+
+The pony had been purchased, and Sibyl had ridden it once. It was a
+bright bay with a white star on its forehead. It was a well-groomed,
+well-trained little animal, and Lord Grayleigh had given Sibyl her
+first riding lesson, and had shown her how to hold the reins, and how
+to sit on her saddle, and the riding habit had come from town, and the
+saddle was the newest and most comfortable that money could buy.
+
+"It is my present to you," said Lord Grayleigh, "and remember when you
+ride it that you are going to be a good girl."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," said Sibyl, "I don't want _everyone_ to tell me
+that I am to be a good girl. If it was father; but--don't please, Lord
+Grayleigh; I'll do a badness if you talk to me any more about being so
+good."
+
+"Well, I won't," said Lord Grayleigh, laughing.
+
+"I 'spect father will write you a most loving letter about this," said
+Sibyl. "Won't he be 'sprised? And did you tell mother about me having
+a ride every morning?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And did you speak to her about the food for my pony all being paid
+for?"
+
+"Yes, everything is arranged. Your pony shall be the best cared for in
+all London, and you shall ride him every day for half-an-hour before
+you go to school."
+
+"Oh, I never go to school," said Sibyl in a sorrowful voice. "I have a
+Miss Winstead to teach me. She is the sort that--oh, well, no matter;
+she means all right, poor thing. She wants the money, so of course she
+has to stay. She doesn't suit me a bit, but she wants the money. It's
+all right, isn't it?"
+
+"So it seems, little girl; and now here is the carriage, and the pony
+has gone off to London already, and will be ready to take you on his
+back to-morrow morning. Be sure you think of a nice name for him."
+
+"Father will tell me a name. I won't let anybody else christen my
+ownest pony. Good-by, Lord Grayleigh. I like you very much. Say
+good-by to Mr. Rochester for me--oh, and there is Lady Helen;
+good-by, Lady Helen--good-by."
+
+They all kissed Sibyl when they parted from her, and everyone was
+sorry at seeing the last of her bright little face, and many
+conjectures went forth with regard to the trouble that was before the
+child when she got to London. One and all thought that Ogilvie had
+behaved cruelly, and that his wife was somewhat silly to have yielded
+to him.
+
+Sibyl went up to town in the highest spirits. She chatted so much on
+the road that her mother at last told her to hold her tongue.
+
+"Sit back in your seat and don't chatter," she said, "you disturb
+other people."
+
+The other people in the carriage consisted of a very old gentleman and
+a small boy of Sibyl's own age. The small boy smiled at Sibyl and she
+smiled back, and if her mother had permitted it would have chatted to
+him in a moment of her hopes and longings; but, when mother put on
+that look, Sibyl knew that she must restrain her emotions, and she sat
+back in her seat, and thought about the children who bore the yoke in
+their youth, and how good it was for them, and how rapidly she was
+growing into the sort of little girl her father most liked.
+
+"Mother," she said, as they got towards the end of the journey, "I'm
+'proving, aren't I?"
+
+"Proving, what do you mean?"
+
+"_Im_proving, mother."
+
+"I can't say that I see it, Sibyl; you have been very troublesome for
+the last few days."
+
+"Oh!" said the child, "oh!"
+
+Sibyl changed seats from the one opposite, and nestled up close to her
+mother, she tucked her hand inside her arm, and then began to talk in
+a loud, buzzing whisper.
+
+"It's 'cos of father," she said; "he begged me so earnest to be a good
+girl, and I _have_ tried, _haven't_ you noticed it, mother? Won't you
+tell him when we get home that I have tried?"
+
+"Don't worry me, Sibyl, you know my views. I want you to be just a
+sensible, good child, without any of those high-flown notions. When we
+return to town you must make up for your long holiday. You must do
+your lessons with extreme care, and try to please Miss Winstead."
+
+"And to please father and Lord Jesus."
+
+"Yes, yes, child."
+
+"And to have a ride every morning on my darling pony?"
+
+"We will try and manage that. Lord Grayleigh has been almost silly
+over that pony; I doubt whether it is wise for you to have it."
+
+"Oh, mother, he did say he would buy everything--the pony, the
+saddle, the habit, and he would 'ford the food, too. You have not got
+to pay out any money, mother, have you?"
+
+"Hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+The old gentleman buried himself in _The Times_ in order not to hear
+Sibyl's distressed voice, and the little boy stared out of the window
+and got very red.
+
+"Take up your book and stop talking," said Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+Sibyl took up a book which she already knew by heart, and kept back a
+sorrowful sigh.
+
+"But it don't matter," she said to herself; "when I see father, he'll
+understand."
+
+They got to town, where a carriage was waiting for them. Sibyl could
+scarcely restrain her eagerness.
+
+"Mother, may I ask John if father's likely to be at home? Sometimes he
+comes home earlier than usual. P'waps he came home to lunch and is
+waiting for us. Can I call out to John through the window, mother?"
+
+"No, sit still, you do fidget so."
+
+"I'll try to be quiet, mother; it's only 'cos I'm so incited."
+
+"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself, "what an awful evening I am
+likely to have! When the silly child really finds out that her father
+has gone, she will burst into hysterics, or do something else absurd.
+I really wish it had been my luck to marry a husband with a grain of
+sense. I wonder if I had better tell her now. No, I really cannot.
+Miss Winstead must do it. Miss Winstead has been having a nice
+holiday, with no fuss or worry of any sort, and it is quite fair that
+she should bear the burden of this. But why it should be regarded as a
+burden or a trial is a puzzle. Philip goes on a sort of pleasure
+expedition to Queensland, and the affair is treated almost as if--as
+if it were a death. It is positively uncanny."
+
+Sibyl noticed that her mother was silent, and that she looked worried.
+Presently she stretched out her hand and stroked her mother's.
+
+"What are you doing that for?"
+
+"'Cos I thought I'd rub you the right way," said Sibyl. "You are like
+a poor cat when it is rubbed the wrong way, aren't you, just now,
+mother?"
+
+"Don't be so ridiculous." Mrs. Ogilvie snatched her hand away.
+
+They soon reached the house. The footman, Watson, sprang down and
+lowered the steps. Sibyl bounded out and flew into the hall.
+
+"Father, father!" she called. "I'm back. Are you in, father? Here I
+are--Sibyl. I'm home again, father. The Angel is home again, father."
+
+She did not often call herself the Angel, the name seemed to have more
+or less slipped out of sight, but she did on this occasion, and she
+threw back her pretty head and looked up the wide staircase, as if any
+moment she might see her father hurrying down to meet her.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned to one of the servants, who was watching the child
+in astonishment.
+
+"She does not know yet," whispered Mrs. Ogilvie. "I am going into the
+library; don't tell her anything, pray, but send Miss Winstead to me
+immediately."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie entered the library. Sibyl danced in after her.
+
+"I can't see father anywhere," she said: "I 'spect he's not back yet."
+
+"Of course he is not back so early. Now run upstairs and ask Nurse to
+make you ready for tea. Leave me, I have something to say to Miss
+Winstead."
+
+Miss Winstead appeared at that moment. She had enjoyed her holiday,
+and looked the better for it. Though she understood Sibyl very little,
+yet at this moment she gazed at the child almost with alarm, for Mrs.
+Ogilvie had written to her telling her that Mr. Ogilvie's absence had
+not been alluded to in the child's presence.
+
+Sibyl rushed to her and kissed her.
+
+"I am back, and I am going to be good," she said. "I really, truly am;
+aren't you glad to see me?"
+
+"Yes, Sibyl."
+
+"Go upstairs now, Sibyl," said her mother. Sibyl obeyed somewhat
+unwillingly, some of the laughter went out of her eyes, and a little
+of the excitement faded from her heart. She went up the wide stairs
+slowly, very slowly. Even now she hoped that it might be possible for
+her father to appear, turning the angle of the winding stairs, coming
+out of one of the rooms. He always had such a bright face, there was
+an eagerness about it. He was tall and rather slender, and that bright
+look in his eyes always caused the child's heart to leap; then his
+mouth could wear such a beautiful smile. It did not smile for many
+people, but it always did for Sibyl. She wanted to see him, oh, so
+badly, so badly.
+
+"Well, never mind," she said to herself, "he can't help it, the
+darling; but he'll be back soon," and she tripped into her nursery and
+sat down; but she did not ask Nurse any questions, she was too busy
+with her own thoughts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "this is all most unpleasant."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the governess.
+
+"Why, this whim of my husband's. He has been away for over a week, and
+the child imagines that he is still in London, that he will return at
+any instant and spoil her, after his usual injudicious fashion."
+
+"Oh, I don't quite think that Mr. Ogilvie spoils your little Sibyl,"
+said Miss Winstead; "he has peculiar ideas, that's all."
+
+"We need not discuss that point," said Mrs. Ogilvie in an irritated
+tone. "We are back later than I thought, and I have to dine out
+to-night. I want you, Miss Winstead, to break the tidings to the child
+that her father has gone to Queensland."
+
+"I?" said Miss Winstead; "I would really rather----"
+
+"I fear your likes or dislikes with regard to the matter cannot be
+considered. I cannot tell her, because I should not do it properly;
+and also, a more serious reason, I really have not the time. You can
+give Sibyl a treat, if you like, afterwards. Take her out for a walk
+in the Park after tea, she always likes that; and you can take her to
+a shop and buy her a new toy--any toy she fancies. Here's a sovereign;
+you can go as far as that, you ought to get her something quite
+handsome for that; and you might ask the little Leicesters next door
+to come to tea to-morrow. There are a hundred ways in which the mind
+of a child can be diverted."
+
+"Not the mind of Sibyl with regard to her father," interrupted Miss
+Winstead.
+
+"Well, for goodness' sake, don't make too much of it. You know how
+peculiar he is, and how peculiar she is. Just tell her that he has
+gone away for a couple of months--that he has gone on an expedition
+which means money, and that _I_ am pleased about it, that he has done
+it for my sake and for her sake. Tell her he'll be back before the
+summer is over. You can put it any way you like, only do it, Miss
+Winstead--do it!"
+
+"When?" asked Miss Winstead. She turned very pale, and leant one hand
+on the table.
+
+"Oh, when you please, only don't worry me. You had better take her off
+my hands at once. Just tell her that I am tired and have a headache,
+and won't see her until the morning; I really must lie down, and
+Hortense must bathe my forehead. If I don't I shall look a perfect
+wreck to-night, and it is going to be a big dinner; I have been
+anxious for some time to go. And afterwards there is a reception at
+the Chinese Embassy; I am going there also. Please ask Watson, on your
+way through the hall, to have tea sent to my boudoir. And now you
+quite understand?"
+
+"But, please, say exactly what I am to tell your little girl."
+
+"Don't you know? Say that her father has gone--oh, by the way, there's
+a letter for her. I really don't know that she ought to have it. Her
+father is sure to have said something terribly injudicious, but
+perhaps you had better give it to her. You might give it to her when
+you are telling her, and tell her to read it by-and-by, and not to be
+silly, but to be sensible. That is my message to her. Now pray go,
+Miss Winstead. Are you better? Have you had a nice time while we were
+away?"
+
+"I still suffer very badly with my head," said Miss Winstead, "but the
+quiet has done me good. Yes, I will try and do my best. I saw Mr.
+Ogilvie the day he left; he did not look well, and seemed sorrowful.
+He asked me to be kind to Sibyl."
+
+"I sincerely trust you are kind to the child; if I thought you did not
+treat her with sympathy and understanding I should be obliged----"
+
+"Oh, you need not go on," said Miss Winstead, coloring, and looking
+annoyed. "I know my duty. I am not a woman with very large
+sympathies, or perhaps very wide views, but I try to do my duty; I
+shall certainly do my utmost for your dear little daughter. There is
+something very lovable about her, although sometimes I fear I do not
+quite understand her."
+
+"No one seems to understand Sibyl, and yet everyone thinks her
+lovable," said the mother. "Well, give her my love; tell her I will
+ride with her in the morning. She has had a present of a pony, quite a
+ridiculous present; Lord Grayleigh was determined to give it to her.
+He took an immense fancy to the child, and put the gift in such a way
+that it would not have been wise to refuse. Don't forget, when you see
+Watson, to tell him to bring tea to my boudoir."
+
+Miss Winstead slowly left the room. She was a very quiet woman, about
+thirty-five years of age. She had a stolid manner, and, as she said
+herself, was a little narrow and a little old-fashioned, but she was
+troubled now. She did not like the task set her. As she went upstairs
+she muttered a solitary word.
+
+"Coward!" she said, under her breath.
+
+"I wish I was well out of this," thought the governess. "The child is
+not an ordinary one, and the love she bears her father is not an
+ordinary love."
+
+Miss Winstead's schoolroom looked its brightest and best. The days
+were growing quite long now, and flowers were plentiful. A large
+basket of flowers had been sent from Grayleigh Manor that morning, and
+Miss Winstead had secured some of the prettiest for her schoolroom.
+She had decorated the tea-table and the mantelpiece, but with a pain
+at her heart, for she was all the time wondering if Sibyl knew or did
+not know. She could not quite understand from Ogilvie's manner whether
+she knew or not. He was very reserved about her just at the last, he
+evidently did not like to talk of her.
+
+Miss Winstead entered the schoolroom. She sat down for a moment near
+the open window. The day was still in its prime. She looked at the
+clock. The under-housemaid, who had the charge of the schoolroom tea,
+now came in with the tray. She laid the cloth and spread the
+tea-things. There was a plate of little queen-cakes for Sibyl.
+
+"Cook made these for Miss Sibyl," she said. "Does she know yet, Miss
+Winstead, that the master has gone?"
+
+"No," said Miss Winstead; "and I have got to tell her, Anne, and it is
+a task I anything but like."
+
+"I wouldn't be in your shoes for a deal, Miss," replied Anne, in a
+sympathetic voice.
+
+Just then a light, childish step was heard in the passage, and Sibyl
+burst into the room.
+
+"Here I am. Oh, I am so glad tea is ready. What's the hour, please,
+Miss Winstead? How are you, Anne; is your toothache better?"
+
+"I have not had any toothache to mention since you left, Miss Sibyl."
+
+"I am glad to hear that. You used to suffer awful pain, didn't you?
+Did you go to Mr. Robbs, the dentist, and did he put your head between
+his knees and tug and tug to get the tooth out? That's the way Nurse's
+teeth were taken out when she was a little girl. She told me all about
+it. Did Mr. Robbs pull your tooth out that way, Anne?"
+
+"No, Miss, the tooth is better and in my head, I'm thankful to say."
+
+"And how is cook? How are her sneezing fits?"
+
+"All the servants are very well, I thank you, Miss."
+
+"Don't make any more enquiries now, Sibyl, sit down and begin your
+tea," said her governess.
+
+Sibyl made an effort to suppress the words which were bubbling to her
+lips. Anne had reached the door, when she burst out with--
+
+"I do just want to ask one more question. How is Watson, Anne, and how
+is his sweetheart? Has she been kinder to him lately?"
+
+"Sibyl, I refuse to allow you to ask any further questions,"
+interrupted Miss Winstead. She was so nervous and perplexed at the
+task before her that she was glad even to be able to find fault with
+the child. It was really reprehensible of any child to take an
+interest in Watson's sweetheart.
+
+Anne, smiling however, and feeling also inclined to cry, left the
+room. She ran down to the servants' hall.
+
+"Of all the blessed angel children, Miss Sibyl beats 'em," she cried.
+"Not one of us has she forgot; dear lamb, even to my tooth and your
+sneezing fits, cook; and Watson, most special did she inquire for Mary
+Porter, the girl you're a-keeping company with. It's wonderful what a
+tender heart she do have."
+
+"That she have truly," said the cook, "and I'll make her some more
+queen-cakes to-morrow, and ice them for her, that I will. It's but to
+look at her to see how loving she is," continued the good woman. "How
+she'll live without the master beats me. The missus ain't worthy of
+her."
+
+This remark was followed by a sort of groan which proceeded from each
+servant's mouth. It was evident that Mrs. Ogilvie was not popular in
+the servants' hall.
+
+Sibyl meanwhile was enjoying her tea.
+
+"It's nearly five o'clock," she said, "father is sure to be in at six,
+don't you think so, Miss Winstead?"
+
+"He often doesn't come home till seven," answered Miss Winstead in a
+guilty voice, her hand shaking as she raised the teapot.
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you, Winnie dear," said Sibyl--this was
+her pet name for the governess; "you have got a sort of palsy, you
+ought to see a doctor. I asked Nurse what palsy was, and she said 'a
+shaking,' and you are all shaking. How funny the teapot looks when
+your hand is bobbing so. Do, Winnie, let me pour out tea."
+
+"Not to-night. I was thinking that after tea you and I might go for a
+little walk."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't, really, truly; I must wait in till father comes."
+
+"It is such a fine evening, that perhaps----"
+
+"No, no, I don't want to go."
+
+"But your mother has given me money; you are to buy anything you
+please at the toy-shop."
+
+This was a very great temptation, for Sibyl adored toys.
+
+"How much money?" she asked in a tentative voice.
+
+"Well, a good deal, a whole sovereign."
+
+"Twenty shillings," said Sibyl, "I could get a lovely doll's house for
+that. But I think sometimes I am getting tired of my dolls. It's so
+stupid of 'em not to talk, and never to cry, and not to feel pain or
+love. But, on the whole, I suppose I should like a new doll's house,
+and there was a beauty at the toy-shop for twenty shillings. It was
+there at Christmas-time. I expect it's a little dusty now, but I dare
+say Mr. Holman would let me have it cheap. I am _very_ fond of Mr.
+Holman, aren't you, Winnie? Don't you love him very, very much? He has
+such kind, sorrowful eyes. Don't you like him?"
+
+"I don't know that I do, Sibyl. Come, finish your tea, my dear."
+
+"Have you been trying to 'prove yourself very much while I was away?"
+said Sibyl, looking at her now in a puzzled way.
+
+"Prove myself?"
+
+"I can never say that whole word. _Im_prove is what I mean. Have you
+been trying?"
+
+"I always try, Sibyl."
+
+"Then I think Lord Jesus is helping you, for you _are_ 'proved, you're
+quite sympathisy. I like you when you're sympathisy. Yes, I have
+finished my tea, and, if you wish it, I'll go out just as far as Mr.
+Holman's to buy the doll's house. He is poor, and he'll be real glad
+to sell it. He has often told me how little money he makes by the
+toys, and how they lose their freshness and get dusty, and children
+toss 'em. Some children are _so_ careless. Yes, I'll go with you,
+and then we'll come straight home. Father will be back certain
+to-night at six. He'll know that I'll be wanting him."
+
+"Sibyl, I have something to tell you."
+
+"What?"
+
+There was a tremulous note in Miss Winstead's voice which arrested the
+gay, careless chatter. The child looked at her governess. That deep,
+comprehensive, strange look visited her eyes. Miss Winstead got up
+hastily and walked to the window, then she returned to her seat.
+
+"What is it?" said Sibyl, still seated at the tea-table, but turning
+round and watching her governess.
+
+"It is something that will pain you, dear."
+
+"Oh!" said Sibyl, "go on, please. Out with it! plump it out! as Gus
+would say. Be quick. I don't like to be kept in 'spense."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, that you will not see your father to-night."
+
+Sibyl jumped up just as if someone had shot her. She stood quite still
+for a moment, and a shiver went through her little frame; then she
+went up to Miss Winstead.
+
+"I can bear it," she said; "go on. Shall I see father to-morrow?"
+
+"Not to-morrow, nor the next day, nor the next."
+
+"Go on; I am bearing it," said Sibyl.
+
+She stood absolutely upright, white as a sheet, her eyes queerly
+dilated, but her lips firm.
+
+"It's a great shock, but I am bearing it," she said again. "_When_
+will I see him?"
+
+Miss Winstead turned now and looked at her.
+
+"Child," she said, "don't look like that."
+
+"I'm looking no special way; I'm only bearing up. Is father dead?"
+
+"No; no, my dear. No, my poor little darling. Oh, you ought to have
+been told; but he did not wish it. It was his wish that you should
+have a happy time in the country. He has gone to Queensland; he will
+be back in a few months."
+
+"A few months," said Sibyl. "He's not dead?" She sat down listlessly
+on the window seat. She heaved a great sigh.
+
+"It's the little shots that hurt most," she said after a pause. "I
+wouldn't have felt it, if you had said he was dead."
+
+"Come out, Sibyl, you know now he won't be back by six."
+
+"Yes, I'll go out with you."
+
+She turned and walked very gravely out of the room.
+
+"I'd rather she cried and screamed; I'd rather she rushed at me and
+tried to hurt me; I'd rather she did anything than take it like that,"
+thought the governess.
+
+Sibyl went straight into the nursery.
+
+"Nursie," she said, "my father has gone. He is in Queensland; he did
+not wish me to be told, but I have been told now. He is coming back in
+a few months. A few months is like for ever, isn't it, nursie? I am
+going out with Miss Winstead for a walk."
+
+"Oh, my darling," said nursie, "this has hurt you horribly."
+
+"Don't," said Sibyl, "don't be sympathisy." She pushed nurse's
+detaining hand away.
+
+"It's the little shots that tell," she repeated. "I wouldn't have felt
+anything if it had been a big, big bang; if he had been dead, I mean,
+but I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to let anybody think that I
+care anything at all. Give me my hat and gloves and jacket, please,
+nurse."
+
+She went to Miss Winstead, put her hand in hers, and the two went
+downstairs. When they got into the street Sibyl looked full at her,
+and asked her one question.
+
+"Was it mother said you was to tell me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then mother did tell me a----" Sibyl left off abruptly, her poor
+little face quivered. The suffering in her eyes was so keen that Miss
+Winstead did not dare to meet them. They went for a walk in the park,
+and Sibyl talked in her most proper style, but she did not say any of
+the nice, queer, interesting things she was, as a rule, noted for.
+Instead, she told Miss Winstead dry, uninteresting little facts, with
+regard to her visit to the country.
+
+"I hear you have got a pony," said Miss Winstead.
+
+"I don't want to talk about my pony, please," interrupted Sibyl. "Let
+me tell you just what were the most perfect views near the place we
+were in."
+
+"But why may we not talk about your pony?"
+
+"I don't want to ride my pony now."
+
+Miss Winstead was alarmed about the child.
+
+"You have walked quite far enough to-night," she said, "you look very
+white."
+
+"I'm not a scrap tired, I never felt better in my life. Do let us go
+to the toy-shop."
+
+"A good idea," said the governess, much cheered to find Sibyl, in her
+opinion, human after all. "We will certainly go there and will choose
+a beautiful toy."
+
+"Well, this is the turning, come along," said Sibyl.
+
+"But why should we go to Holman's, there is a splendid toy-shop in
+this street."
+
+"I'd much rather go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+Miss Winstead did not expostulate any further. Presently they reached
+the shabby little shop. Mr. Holman, the owner of the shop, was a
+special friend of the child's. He had once or twice, charmed by her
+sympathetic way, confided some of his griefs to her. He found it, he
+told her, extremely difficult to make the toy-shop pay; and Sibyl, in
+consequence, considered it her bounden duty to spend every half-penny
+she could spare at this special shop. She entered now, went straight
+up to the counter and held out her hand.
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Holman," she said; "I hope I find you quite well."
+
+"Thank you, Missy; I am in the enjoyment of good health," replied the
+shopman, flushing with pleasure and grasping the little hand.
+
+"I am glad of that," answered Sibyl. "I have come, Mr. Holman, to buy
+a big thing, it will do your shop a lot of good. I am going to spend
+twenty shillings in your shop. What would you like me to buy?"
+
+"You thought a doll's house," interrupted Miss Winstead, who stood
+behind the child.
+
+"Oh, it don't matter about that," said Sibyl, looking gravely back at
+her; "I mean it don't matter now. Mr. Holman, what's the most dusty of
+your toys, what's the most scratched, what's the toy that none of the
+other children would like?"
+
+"I have a whole heap of 'em," said Holman, shaking his head sadly.
+
+"That he have, poor dear," here interrupted Mrs. Holman. "How do you
+do, Missy, we are both glad to see you back again; we have had a dull
+season, very dull, and the children, they didn't buy half the toys
+they ought to at Christmas time. It's because our shop is in a back
+street."
+
+"Oh, but it's a very nice street," said Sibyl; "it's retired, isn't
+it? Well, I'll buy twenty shillings' worth of the most dusty of the
+toys, and please send them home to-morrow. Please, Miss Winstead, put
+the money down."
+
+Miss Winstead laid a sovereign on the counter.
+
+"Good-by, Mr. Holman; good-by, Mrs. Holman," said Sibyl. She shook
+hands solemnly with the old pair, and then went out of the shop.
+
+"What ails her?" said Holman. "She looks as if something had died
+inside her. I don't like her looks a bit."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie enjoyed herself very much that evening. Her friends were
+glad to see her back. They were full of just the pleasant sympathy
+which she liked best to receive. She must be lonely without her
+husband. When would he return? When she said in a few months' time,
+they congratulated her, and asked her how she had enjoyed herself at
+Grayleigh Manor. In short, there was that sort of fuss made about her
+which most appealed to her fancy. She forgot all about Sibyl. She
+looked at other women of her acquaintance, and thought that when her
+husband came home she would wear just as dazzling gems and just as
+beautiful dresses, and she, too, might talk about her country place,
+and invite her friends down to this rural retreat at Whitsuntide, and
+make up a nice house-party in the autumn, and again in the winter. Oh,
+yes, the world with its fascinations was stealing more and more into
+her heart, and she had no room for the best of all. She forgot her
+lonely child during these hours.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie returned from a fashionable reception between twelve and
+one in the morning. Hortense was up and tired. She could scarcely
+conceal her yawns as she unstitched the diamonds which she had sewn on
+her mistress's dress earlier in the evening, and put away the
+different jewels. At last, however, her duties were over, and she went
+away to her room.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie got into bed, and closing her eyes, prepared to doze off
+into delicious slumber. She was pleasantly tired, and no more. As she
+sank into repose, the house in the country and the guests who would
+fill it mingled with her dreams. Suddenly she heard a clear voice in
+her ears. It awoke her with a sort of shock. She raised herself on her
+elbow, and saw her little daughter standing in her white nightdress by
+the bedside.
+
+"Mother," said Sibyl.
+
+"What are you doing there, Sibyl? Go back to bed directly."
+
+"Please, mother, I can't sleep. I have got a sort of up-and-down and
+round-and-round feeling. I don't know what it is, but it's worse when
+I put my head on my pillow. I 'spect I'm lonesome, mother. Mother, I
+really, truly, am going to be sensible, and I know all about father;
+but may I get into your bed just at the other side. I will lie as
+still as a mouse; may I, mother?"
+
+"Oh dear, how you tremble," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "how more than annoying
+this is! You certainly are not a sensible child at the present moment.
+If you felt so strange and nervous, why didn't you ask Nurse or Miss
+Winstead to sleep in the room with you?"
+
+"But, mother, that wouldn't have done me any good."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"They wouldn't be you. I'll be quite happy if I can get into bed
+alongside of you, mother."
+
+"Of course you may, child, but please don't disturb me. I am very
+tired, and want to sleep."
+
+Sibyl ran round to the other side of the bed, slipped in, and lay as
+quiet as a mouse.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie curled up comfortably, arranged her pillows, and closed
+her eyes. She was very sleepy, but what was the matter with her? She
+could not lose herself in unconsciousness. Was the perfectly still
+little figure by her side exercising some queer power over her,
+drawing something not often stirred within her heart to the surface?
+She turned at last and looked at the child. Sibyl was lying on her
+back with her eyes wide open.
+
+"Why don't you shut your eyes and go to sleep?" asked her mother.
+
+"I can't, on account of the round-and-roundness feeling," replied
+Sibyl.
+
+"What a funny little thing you are. Here, give me your hand."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie stretched out her own warm hand and took one of Sibyl's.
+Sibyl's little hand was cold.
+
+"May I come quite close to you, mother?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, darling."
+
+The next instant she was lying in her mother's arms. Her mother
+clasped her close to her breast and kissed her many times.
+
+"Oh, now that's better," said the child with a sob. It was the first
+attempt at a sob which had come from her lips. She nestled cosily
+within her mother's clasp.
+
+"I am much better," she said; "I didn't understand, but I understand
+now. I got his letter."
+
+"Must we talk about it to-night, Sibyl?" asked her mother.
+
+"Not much; there's not much to say, is there? He said I was to be good
+and to obey you. I was to be good all the time. It's very hard, but I
+'spect I'll do it; I 'spect Lord Jesus will help me. Mother, why has
+father gone to Queensland? It's such a long, long way off."
+
+"For a most excellent reason," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "You really are
+showing a great deal of sense, Sibyl. I never knew you more sensible
+about anything. I was afraid you would cry and make scenes and be
+naughty, and make yourself quite ill; that would have been a most
+silly, affected sort of thing to do. Your father has gone away just on
+a visit--we will call it that. He will be back before the summer is
+over, and when he comes back he will bring us----"
+
+"What?" asked the child. "What has he gone for?"
+
+"My dear child, he has gone on most important business. He will bring
+us back a great deal of _money_, Sibyl. You are too young yet to
+understand about money."
+
+"No, I am not," said Sibyl. "I know that when people have not much
+money they are sorrowful. Poor Mr. Holman is."
+
+"Who in the world is Mr. Holman?"
+
+"He sells the toys in the back street near our house. I am very much
+obliged to you, mother, for that sovereign. Mr. Holman is going to
+send me some dusty toys to-morrow."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I can't 'splain, Mr. Holman understands. But, mother, I thought we
+had plenty of money."
+
+"Plenty of money," echoed Mrs. Ogilvie; "that shows what a very silly
+little child you are. We have nothing like enough. When your father
+comes back we'll be rich."
+
+"Rich?" said Sibyl, "rich?" She did not say another word for a long
+time. Her mother really thought she had dropped asleep. In about half
+an hour, however, Sibyl spoke.
+
+"Is it nice, being rich?" she asked.
+
+"Of course it is."
+
+"But what does it do?"
+
+"Do? It does everything. It gives you all your pretty frocks."
+
+"But I am more comfy in my common frocks."
+
+"Well, it gives you your nice food."
+
+"I don't care nothing about food."
+
+"It gives you your comfortable home, your pony, and----"
+
+"Lord Grayleigh gave me my pony."
+
+"Child, I cannot explain. It makes all the difference between comfort
+and discomfort, between sorrow and happiness."
+
+"Do you think so?" said Sibyl. "And father has gone away to give me a
+nice house, and pretty clothes, and all the other things between being
+comfy and discomfy; and you want to be rich very much, do you,
+mother?"
+
+"Very much indeed; I like the good things of life."
+
+"I'll try and understand," said Sibyl. She turned wearily on her
+pillow, and the next instant sleep had visited the perplexed little
+brain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+"Nursie," said Sibyl, two months after the events related in the last
+chapter, "mother says that when my ownest father comes back again
+we'll be very rich."
+
+"Um," replied nurse, with a grunt, "do she?"
+
+"Why do you speak in that sort of voice, nursie? It's very nice to be
+rich. I have been having long talks with mother, and she has 'splained
+things. It means a great deal to be rich. I am so glad that my father
+is coming back a very, very rich man. I didn't understand at first. I
+thought to be rich just meant to have lots of money, and big, big
+houses, and heaps of bags of sweeties, and toys and ponies, and, oh,
+the kind of things that don't matter a bit. But now I know what to be
+rich really is."
+
+"Yes, dear," said nurse. She was seated in the old nursery close to
+the window. She was mending some of Sibyl's stockings. A little pile
+of neatly mended pairs lay on the table, and there was a frock which
+also wanted a darn reclining on the back of the old woman's chair.
+Sibyl broke off and watched her nurse's movements with close interest.
+
+"Why do you wear spectacles?" she asked suddenly.
+
+"Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain't as young as I was."
+
+"What does 'not as young as you was' mean?"
+
+"What I say, my dear."
+
+"I notice," said Sibyl, thoughtfully, "that all very, very old people
+say they're not as young as they was, and so you wear spectacles 'cos
+you're not as young as you was, and 'cos you can't see as well as you
+did."
+
+"That's about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a
+naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on
+my glasses."
+
+"Then I'm glad we're going to be rich; it will be quite easy to
+'splain why I am glad," continued Sibyl, thoughtfully. "When our gold
+comes, nursie, you'll never have to do no more darning, and you need
+never wear your glasses 'cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we'll do
+such a lot when we are rich. There's poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to
+him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn't paying, not a
+bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry.
+She told me there's a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big
+lovely _swampy_ sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the
+customers. They go in there and they spend their money, and there's
+none left for poor Mr. Holman. It's just 'cos he lives in Greek
+Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn't it
+perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to
+have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls
+back again. But they won't come into his nice, quiet _back_ street. I
+like back streets, don't you, nursie? It's horrid of the boys and
+girls not to go to Mr. Holman's."
+
+"It's the way of the world, dear," answered nurse; "the world always
+goes with the prosperous people. Them that are struggling the world
+leaves behind. It's a cruel way, but it's the way the world has got."
+
+"Then I hate the world," said Sibyl. "My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn't
+allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?"
+
+"Oh, my love, there'd be a lot of things _He'd_ have to change if He
+came back; but don't ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out
+with your governess. You don't get half enough of the air, to my way
+of thinking; you're looking peaky, and not what the master would like
+to see."
+
+"But I am perfectly well," answered Sibyl, "I never felt better in all
+my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father
+gave me 'rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one
+of them was that I was to keep well, so I'll go for a walk if you
+think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father
+comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a
+lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he'll be quite happy and
+smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the
+pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear,
+darling Mrs. Holman won't have to wipe away her tears any more."
+
+Sibyl skipped out of the room, and nurse said several times under her
+breath--
+
+"Bless her! the darling she is!"
+
+Smartly dressed, as was her mother's wish, the little girl now ran
+downstairs. Miss Winstead was not ready. Sibyl waited for her in the
+hall. She felt elated and pleased, and just at that moment a servant
+crossed the spacious hall, and opened the hall door. Standing on the
+steps was Mr. Rochester. Sibyl uttered a great whoop when she saw him,
+rushed forward, and seized him by the hand.
+
+"Oh, I am glad to see you," she said. "Have you come to see me, or to
+see mother?"
+
+"I am very glad to see you," replied the young man; "but I did call to
+see your mother."
+
+"Well, come to the drawing-room, I'll entertain you till mother
+comes. Go upstairs, please, Watson, and tell mother that Mr. Rochester
+is here. Be sure you say Mr. Rochester--_nice_ Mr. Rochester."
+
+Watson smiled, as he often did when Sibyl addressed him, and nice Mr.
+Rochester and the little girl disappeared into the drawing-room.
+
+Sibyl shut the door, took his hand, and looked earnestly into his
+face.
+
+"Well?" she said.
+
+"Why do you say that?" he asked, in some confusion.
+
+"I was only wondering if Lady Helen had done it."
+
+"Really, Sibyl, you say very queer things," answered Rochester. He sat
+down on a chair.
+
+"Oh, you know you are awfully fond of her, and you want her to marry
+you, and I want her to marry you because I like you. You are very
+nice, very nice indeed, and you are rich, you know. Mother has been
+'splaining to me about rich people. It's most 'portant that everybody
+should be rich, isn't it, Mr. Rochester? It's the only way to be
+truly, truly happy, isn't it?"
+
+"That it is not, Sibyl. Who has been putting such an idea into your
+head?"
+
+Sibyl looked at him, and was about to say, "Why, mother," but she
+checked herself. A cloud took some of the brightness out of her eyes.
+She looked puzzled for a moment, then she laughed.
+
+"When my own father comes back again we'll all be rich people. I hope
+when you are very, very rich you'll make," she said, "dear Lady Helen
+happy. I am very glad, now, my father went to Australia. It gave me
+dreadful pain at the time, but when he comes back we'll all be rich.
+What has he gone about; do you know, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Something about a gold mine. Your father is a great engineer, and his
+opinion with regard to the mine will be of the utmost value. If he
+says it is a good mine, with a lot of gold in it, then the British
+public will buy shares. They will buy shares as fast as ever they
+can."
+
+"What are shares?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"It is difficult to explain. Shares mean a little bit of the gold out
+of the mine, and these people will buy them in order to become rich."
+
+"It's very puzzling," said Sibyl. "And it depends on father?"
+
+"Yes, because if he says there is not much gold in the mine, then no
+one will buy shares. Don't you understand, it all depends on him."
+
+"It's _very_ puzzling," said Sibyl again. "Are you going to buy
+shares, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I think so," he answered earnestly. "I shall buy several shares, I
+think, and if I do I shall be rich enough to ask Lady Helen to marry
+me."
+
+"And you will be happy?"
+
+"Very happy if she says 'yes.' But, Sibyl, this is a great secret
+between you and me, you must never tell it to anyone else."
+
+"You may trust me," said Sibyl, "I never tell things I'm told not to
+tell. You can't think what wonderful 'portant things father has told
+me, and I never, never speak of them again. Then you'll be glad to be
+rich?"
+
+"Yes, because I shall be happy if Lady Helen is my wife," he answered,
+and just then Mrs. Ogilvie came into the room.
+
+Sibyl and Miss Winstead went out for their daily exercise. Sibyl had
+already ridden the pony in the morning. It was a nameless pony.
+Nothing would induce her to give it a title.
+
+"When father comes back he'll christen my pony," she said, "but no one
+else shall. I won't give it no name till he comes back."
+
+She enjoyed her rides on the brisk little pony's back. She was rapidly
+becoming a good horsewoman. When her mother did not accompany her the
+redoubtable Watson followed his little mistress, and the exercise did
+the child good, and helped to bring a faint color to her cheeks.
+
+Now she and Miss Winstead walked slowly down the shady side of the
+street. Sibyl was pondering over many things.
+
+"It is very hot this morning," said the governess.
+
+"Oh, that don't matter," replied Sibyl. "Miss Winstead, is your head
+sometimes so full that it seems as if it would burst?"
+
+"No," answered Miss Winstead, "I cannot say it is."
+
+"Full of thoughts, you know."
+
+"No," replied the governess again. "Don't turn in your toes, Sibyl,
+walk straight, turn your toes out a little, so; keep step with me.
+Little ladies ought to walk properly."
+
+Sibyl took great pains to follow Miss Winstead's instructions. She was
+always taking great pains now. A wonderful lot of her naughtiness and
+daringness had left her. She was trying to be good. It was extremely
+irksome, but when she succeeded she felt a great glow of pleasure, for
+she believed herself near to her father.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said suddenly, "I have been thinking of
+something. It is most terribly 'portant. Would you greatly mind if we
+went to see the Holmans before we go back?"
+
+"We shan't have time," replied Miss Winstead.
+
+"Oh, but I want to go," said Sibyl, knitting her brows, "don't let us
+go into the stupid Park, do come to the Holmans."
+
+"I cannot do it, Sibyl, it is impossible. We must be back rather early
+for lunch to-day, as your mother is going into the country this
+afternoon."
+
+"Mother going into the country, what for?"
+
+"I cannot tell you, it is not my affair."
+
+"That means that you know, but you won't tell."
+
+"You can put it in that way if you like. I won't tell. Now come into
+the Park, we can sit on one of the chairs under the trees and keep
+cool."
+
+Sibyl obeyed unwillingly. She felt, as she said afterwards, as if Miss
+Winstead had rubbed her the wrong way.
+
+"I am like a pussy-cat when its fur is rubbed quite the wrong side
+up," thought the little girl. "I don't like it, not a bit."
+
+Presently she slipped her hand through her governess's arm, and said
+in a coaxing voice--
+
+"Do come home through Greek Street; I do want just to say one word to
+Mr. Holman, you can't think how 'portant it is."
+
+"I cannot, Sibyl; you must not ask me again." Here Miss Winstead took
+out her watch.
+
+"We must hurry home," she said; "I had not the least idea the time was
+going so fast."
+
+They left the Park, and came back in time for lunch. During lunch
+both Mrs. Ogilvie and her little daughter were very silent. Sibyl was
+thinking of the Holmans, and how more than important it was that she
+should see them soon, and Mrs. Ogilvie had another thought in her
+head, a thought which caused her eyes to dance with pleasure.
+
+"Why isn't Mr. Rochester here?" said the little girl at last.
+
+"He could not stay," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "You and he are great
+friends, are you not, Sib?"
+
+"He is nice, he is very nice," said the child; "he and Lady Helen--oh,
+more than nice. I like 'em very much, don't you, mother?"
+
+"Yes, dear." Mrs. Ogilvie got up. "Good-by, Sibyl, I shall be back
+late this evening."
+
+"Good-by, mother dear."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. Miss Winstead, having finished her lunch,
+desired Sibyl to be quick with hers, and then to follow her to the
+schoolroom. There was no one in the room now but Sibyl and the
+footman, Watson. Watson began to remove the things. Sibyl played with
+a biscuit. Suddenly she looked full up at the young man.
+
+"Are you tired after your ride this morning Watson?"
+
+"No, Miss Sibyl, not at all."
+
+"I wonder if you're awfully hungry, Watson?"
+
+"Why so, Miss?"
+
+"Because it's time for the servants' dinner."
+
+"Well, Miss, I'm going down to the hall presently, when I shall have
+my appetite satisfied, thank you all the same for inquiring."
+
+Watson greatly enjoyed having a private chat with Sibyl.
+
+"You couldn't, p'waps," said the little girl, knitting her brows, "you
+couldn't, p'waps, come a short way down the street with me afore you
+begin your dinner?"
+
+"Where do you want to go, Miss?"
+
+"I want to see Mr. Holman; you know Mr. Holman, don't you, Watson? He
+is the dear, kind, nice, sorrowful man who keeps the dusty toys."
+
+"I have heard of him from you, Miss."
+
+"It's most 'portant that I should see him and his wife, and if you
+walked behind me, mother would not be very angry. Would you come,
+Watson? You might just put on your hat and come at once. I have not
+taken off my hat and coat. We can do it and be back afore Miss
+Winstead finds out."
+
+Watson looked out of the window. He saw Mrs Ogilvie at that moment go
+down the steps, closing the door behind her. She walked away in the
+direction of the nearest railway station. She held a dainty parasol
+over her head. He turned to where the eager little face of Sibyl was
+watching him.
+
+"If you're very quick, Miss," he said, "I'll do it."
+
+"You are good," said Sibyl. "Do you know, Watson, that you're a very
+nice man--you have very good impulses, I mean. I heard father once say
+of a man who dined here that he had good impulses, and I think he had
+a look of you; and you have very good impulses, too. Now let's go; do
+let's be quick."
+
+A moment later the footman and the child were in the street. Sibyl
+walked on in front, and Watson a couple of feet behind her. Holman's
+shop was fortunately not far off, and they soon entered it.
+
+"Watson," said the little girl, "you can stand in the doorway. It's
+very private, what I has to say to the Holmans; you must on no account
+listen."
+
+"No, Miss, I won't."
+
+Sibyl now entered the shop. Mrs. Holman was alone there. She was
+attending in the shop while her husband was eating his dinner. She
+looked very sad, and, as Sibyl expressed it afterwards, rusty. There
+were days when Mrs. Holman did present that appearance--when her cap
+seemed to want dusting and her collar to want freshness. Her black
+dress, too, looked a little worn. Sibyl was very, very sorry for her
+when she saw her in this dress.
+
+"Dear! dear!" she said; "I am glad I came. You look as if you wanted
+cheering up. Mrs. Holman, I've splendid news for you."
+
+"What is that, my dear little lady? That you have got money to buy
+another toy? But Mr. Holman said only as late as last night that he
+wouldn't send you another worn-out toy not for nobody. 'Tain't fair,
+my love. It seems like playing on your generosity, my dear."
+
+"But I like them," said the child; "I do really, truly. I paint them
+up with the paints in my paint-box and make them look as good as new.
+They are much more interesting than perfect toys, they are truly."
+
+"Well, dear, your mother would not like it if she know we treated you
+in what my husband says is a shabby way."
+
+"Don't think any more about that now, Mrs. Holman. You both treat me
+as I love to be treated--as though I were your little friend."
+
+"Which you are, darling--which you are."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Holman, I must hurry; I must tell you my good news. Do you
+remember telling me last week that you had a hundred pounds put away
+in the Savings Bank, and that you didn't know what to do with it. You
+said, 'Money ought to make money,' and you didn't know how your
+hundred pounds would make money. It was such a funny speech, and you
+tried to 'splain it to me, and I tried to understand."
+
+"It was silly of my husband and me to talk of it before you, Missy. It
+is true we have got a hundred pounds. It is a nest-egg against a rainy
+day."
+
+"Now again you are talking funnily; a nest-egg against a rainy day?"
+
+"Against a time of trouble when we may want to spend the money."
+
+"Oh, I understand that," answered the child.
+
+"And I had it well invested, but the money was paid back, and there
+was nothing for it but to pop it into the Post Office Savings Bank."
+
+"It's there still, is it?" said Sibyl, her eyes shining.
+
+"Yes, dear."
+
+"Well, now, what do you say to buying bits of gold with it?"
+
+"Bits of gold with our hundred pounds?" said Mrs. Holman, staring at
+Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, that is exactly what I mean; bits of gold. You will be able to
+if you keep it long enough. If you promise to keep that money safe you
+may be able to buy great lumps of gold out of my father's gold mine.
+My father has gone to Australia to----Oh, I must not tell you, for it
+really is an awful, awful secret; but, anyhow, when he comes back
+you'll be able to make a lot of money out of your money, to buy heaps
+of bits of gold. Will you promise to keep that hundred pounds till
+father comes home? That's what I came about, to ask you to promise,
+and Watson came with me because Miss Winstead wouldn't. Will you
+promise, dear Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Bless you, darling," said Mrs. Holman, "so that is why your father
+has gone away. It do sound exciting."
+
+"It's awfully exciting, isn't it? We shall all be so rich. Mother said
+so, and mother ought to know. You'll be rich, and I'll be rich, and
+dear, dear nursie will be rich, and even Watson. Watson has got such
+good impulses. He'll be rich, too, and he shall marry the girl he is
+fond of; and there is a friend of mine, he wants to marry another
+girl, and they shall be rich and they shall marry. Oh, nobody need be
+sorrowful any more. Everybody will be quite happy when father comes
+back. You'll be able to have your shop in Palace Road, and oh, be sure
+you keep that hundred pounds till then."
+
+Sibyl did not wait for Mrs. Holman to make any further remark. Mrs.
+Holman's eyes looked bright and excited; the child dashed out of the
+shop.
+
+"Come, Watson," she said, "you'll have a splendid appetite for your
+dinner, and you have done a very good deed. You have denied yourself,
+Watson, and made a sorrowful woman happy. What do you think of that?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+About this time Mrs. Ogilvie was subjected to a somewhat severe form
+of temptation. It had been one of the biggest dreams of her life to
+possess a country place. She had never been satisfied with the fact
+that she and her husband must live in town except when they went to
+lodgings at the seaside, or were on visits to their friends. She
+wanted to have their own country place to go to just when she pleased,
+a place where she could invite her friends whenever the whim seized
+her. In an evil moment, almost immediately after Ogilvie had gone to
+Australia, she had visited a house agent and told him some of her
+desires.
+
+"My husband is not prepared to buy a place now," she said in
+conclusion, "but he soon will be in a position to do so, and I want
+you to look round for me and tell me if anything nice happens to come
+into the market."
+
+The agent had replied that he would be sure to let his client know if
+anything suitable came his way. Very soon places, apparently quite to
+Mrs. Ogilvie's heart, did come in the agent's way, and then somehow,
+in some fashion, other house agents got wind of Mrs. Ogilvie's
+desire, and now scarcely a post came that did not bring her most
+tempting prospectuses with regard to country places. There was one in
+particular which so exactly pleased her that she became quite
+_distrait_ and restless except when she was talking of it. She went to
+see this special place several times. It was on the Thames just above
+Richmond. The grounds sloped down to the water. The house itself was
+built in a low, rambling, eccentric fashion. It covered a considerable
+extent of ground; there were several gardens, and they were all nicely
+kept and were bright with flowers, and had many overhanging trees. The
+house itself, too, had every modern comfort. There were many bedrooms
+and several fine reception rooms, and there were tennis and croquet
+lawns in the grounds, all smooth as velvet and perfectly level. There
+were also kitchen-gardens, and some acres of land, as yet undevoted to
+any special purpose, at the back of the house. It was just the sort of
+place which a man who was in a nice position in society might be glad
+to own. Its late owner had given it the somewhat eccentric title of
+Silverbel, and certainly the place was as bright and charming as its
+name.
+
+This desirable little property was to be obtained, with its
+surrounding acres, for the modest sum of twenty thousand pounds, and
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so fascinated by the thought of being mistress of
+Silverbel, on the lovely winding River Thames, that she wrote to her
+husband on the subject.
+
+"It is the very best place of its kind in the market," she wrote. "It
+was sold to its present owner for thirty thousand pounds, but he is
+obliged to live abroad and is anxious to sell it, and would give it
+for twenty thousand. I want you, when you receive this, to wire to me
+to carry on negotiations in your absence. I have already consulted our
+lawyer, Mr. Acland. He says the house is drained, and the air of the
+place would be just the kind to suit Sibyl. She would enjoy so much
+her row on the river, and all our friends would like it. With the
+money you must now have at your disposal you can surely gratify me
+with regard to Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had, of course, not yet received any answer to her
+letter, but she visited Silverbel twice a week, and took Sibyl also to
+see the beautiful place.
+
+"It will be yours when father comes home," she said to the child.
+
+Sibyl skipped about madly.
+
+"It's just too 'licious!" she said. "Is this one of the things God
+gives us because we are rich? Isn't it kind of Lord Jesus to make us
+rich? Don't you love Him very, very much, mother?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie always turned aside when Sibyl spoke to her about her
+love for the Lord Jesus. Not that she considered herself by any means
+an irreligious woman. She went to church always once, and sometimes
+twice on Sunday. She subscribed to any number of charities, and as the
+little girl now spoke her eyes became full of a soft light.
+
+"We can have a bazaar here," she said, "a bazaar for the Home for
+Incurables at Watleigh. Lady Severn was talking to me about it last
+night, and said how terribly it needed funds. Sibyl, when father comes
+back we will have a great big bazaar here at lovely Silverbel, and a
+marquee on the lawn, and we will ask all the most charitable people in
+London to take stalls; some of the big-wigs, you know."
+
+"Big-wigs?" said Sibyl, "what are they?"
+
+"People, my dear child, who are high up in the social scale."
+
+"I don't understand, mother," answered Sibyl. "Oh, do look at this
+rose, did you ever see such a perfect beauty? May I pick it, mother?
+It is just perfect, isn't it, not quite full out and yet not a bud.
+I'd like very much to send it to my ownest father."
+
+"Silly child! Yes, of course you may pick it, but it will be dead long
+before it reaches him."
+
+"It's heart won't be dead," said Sibyl. She did not know why she made
+the latter remark. She often did say things which she but half
+understood. She carefully picked the rose and fastened it into the
+front of her white dress. When she returned to town that evening she
+put the rose in water and looked at it with affectionate interest.
+
+"What a pretty flower! Where did my darling get it?" said nurse.
+
+"At Silverbel, the beautiful, beautiful place that father is going to
+buy when he is rich. You can't think how good mother is growing,
+nursie; she is getting better and better every day."
+
+"H'm!" said nurse.
+
+"Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I
+don't like it," said the child. "But I must tell you about Silverbel.
+Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don't quite know what
+she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is
+almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it
+will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and
+you, darling nursie, quite rich, and--and others quite rich. We are
+going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the _big-wigs_ are
+coming to it. Isn't it a funny word! perhaps you don't know what
+big-wigs are, but I do."
+
+Nurse laughed.
+
+"Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great
+deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing
+about."
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her
+lawyer.
+
+"I don't want to lose the place," she said. "My husband is safe to be
+satisfied with my decision."
+
+"If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds
+for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear," replied
+the lawyer, "I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand
+pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at
+least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further
+arrange that you may go into possession, say--well, any time you like
+after the deposit money is paid."
+
+"Can you really?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost
+passionate in their eagerness.
+
+"At the worst it could be taken off your hands," he answered; "but
+doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to
+complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that
+this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does
+not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects"--he paused
+and looked thoughtful. "I can lend you the money if you wish it," he
+said then abruptly.
+
+"The money to enable me to pay a deposit?" she said.
+
+"Yes; two thousand pounds; I believe the owners will take that on
+condition that the purchase is completed, say, in October."
+
+"My husband will be back by then. I have a great mind to agree," she
+said. She almost trembled in her eagerness. After a moment's pause she
+spoke.
+
+"I will accept your offer, Mr. Acland. I don't know where to go in
+August and September, and Silverbel will be the very place. Mr.
+Ogilvie will thank you most heartily for your generous trust in us
+both when he comes back."
+
+"I have plenty of funds to meet this loan," thought the lawyer. "I am
+safe so far." Aloud he said, "Then I will go and see the owners
+to-morrow."
+
+"This clinches the matter," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I will begin ordering
+the furniture immediately."
+
+The lawyer and the lady had a little further conversation, and then
+Mrs. Ogilvie dressed and went out to dine, and told many of her
+friends of her golden dreams.
+
+"A place in the country, a place like Silverbel, has always been the
+longing of my life," she said, and she looked pathetic and almost
+ethereal, as she spoke, and as though nothing pleased her more than a
+ramble through country lanes with buttercups and daisies within reach.
+
+On the following Sunday, Rochester happened to lunch with Mrs. Ogilvie
+and her little daughter. Mrs. Ogilvie talked during the entire meal of
+the beautiful place which was soon to be hers.
+
+"You shall come with Sibyl and me to see it to-morrow," she said. "I
+will ask Lady Helen to come, too. I will send her a note by messenger.
+We might meet at Victoria Station at eleven o'clock, and go to
+Silverbel and have lunch at the little inn on the river."
+
+Rochester agreed somewhat eagerly. His eyes brightened. He looked at
+Sibyl, who gave him a meaning, affectionate, sympathetic glance. She
+would enjoy very much seeing the lovers wandering through beautiful
+Silverbel side by side.
+
+"It's the most darling, lovely place," she said; "nobody knows how
+beautiful it is. I do hope it will soon be ours."
+
+"When our ship comes in, it will be ours," said Mrs. Ogilvie, and she
+laughed merrily and looked full of happiness.
+
+When the servants left the room, however, Rochester bent forward and
+said something to Mrs. Ogilvie which did not please that good lady
+quite so much.
+
+"Have you heard the rumors with regard to the Lombard Deeps Gold
+Mine?" he asked.
+
+"What rumors?" Mrs. Ogilvie looked anxious. "I know nothing whatever
+about business," she said, testily, "I leave all that absolutely to my
+husband. I know that he considers the mine an excellent one, but his
+full report cannot yet have reached England."
+
+"Of course it has not. Ogilvie's report in full cannot come to hand
+for another six weeks. I allude now to a paragraph in one of the great
+financial papers, in which the mine is somewhat depreciated, the gold
+being said to be much less to the ton than was originally supposed,
+and the strata somewhat shallow, and terminating abruptly. Doubtless
+there is no truth in it."
+
+"Not a word, not a word," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "but I make a point of
+being absolutely ignorant with regard to gold mines. I consider it
+positively wrong of a woman to mix herself up in such masculine
+matters. All the sweet femininity of character must depart if such
+knowledge is carried to any extent."
+
+"Lady Helen knows about all these sort of things, and yet I think she
+is quite feminine," said Rochester; and then he colored faintly and
+looked at Sibyl, whose eyes danced with fun.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie slowly rose from the table.
+
+"You will find cigars in that box," she said. "No, Sibyl, you are not
+to stay with Mr. Rochester; come to the drawing-room with me."
+
+"Oh, do let her stay," earnestly pleaded the young man, "she has often
+sat with me while I smoked before."
+
+"Well, as you please, but don't spoil her," said the mother. She left
+the room, and Sibyl curled herself up luxuriously in a deep armchair
+near Mr. Rochester.
+
+"I have a lot of things to ask you," she said; "I am not going to be
+like my ownest mother, I am going to be like Lady Helen. I want to
+understand about the gold mine. I want to understand why, if you give
+your money to a certain thing, you get back little bits of gold. Can
+you make the gold into sovereigns, is that what happens?"
+
+"It is extremely difficult for me to explain," said Rochester, "but I
+think the matter lies in a nutshell. If your father gives a good
+report of the mine there will be a great deal of money subscribed, as
+it is called, by different people."
+
+"What's subscribed?"
+
+"Well, given. You know what it means when people ask your mother to
+subscribe to a charity?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know quite well; and Mr. and Mrs. Holman, they may
+subscribe, may they?"
+
+"Yes, whoever they may be. I don't know Mr. and Mrs. Holman, but of
+course they may intend to subscribe, and other people will do the
+same, and if we give, say, a hundred pounds we shall get back perhaps
+one hundred and fifty, perhaps two hundred."
+
+"Oh, that's very nice," said Sibyl; "I seem to understand, and yet I
+don't understand."
+
+"You understand enough, my dear little girl, quite enough. Don't
+puzzle your poor little brain. Your mother is right, these are matters
+for men."
+
+"And you are quite certain that my father will say that the beautiful
+mine is full of gold?" said Sibyl.
+
+"He will say it if the gold is there."
+
+"And if it is not?"
+
+"Then he will tell the truth."
+
+"Of course," said Sibyl, proudly. "My father couldn't tell a lie if he
+was even to try. It would be impossible, wouldn't it, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I should say quite impossible," replied Rochester firmly.
+
+"You are awfully nice, you know," she said; "you are nice enough even
+for Lady Helen. I do hope father will find the mine full up to the
+brim with gold. Such a lot of people will be happy then."
+
+"So they will," replied Rochester.
+
+"And darlingest mother can have the beautiful place. Hasn't the new
+place got a lovely name--Silverbel?"
+
+"It sounds very pretty, Sibyl."
+
+"And you will come to-morrow and see it, won't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will bring Lady Helen?"
+
+"Your mother will bring Lady Helen."
+
+"It's all the same," replied Sibyl. "Oh, I am so glad."
+
+She talked a little longer, and then went upstairs.
+
+Miss Winstead often spent Sunday with her friends. She was not in the
+schoolroom now as Sibyl entered. Sibyl thought this was a golden
+opportunity to write to her father. She sat down and prepared to write
+a letter. This was always a somewhat laborious task. Her thoughts
+flowed freely enough, but her hand could not wield the pen quite quick
+enough for the eager thoughts, nor was her spelling perfect, nor her
+written thoughts quite so much to the point as her spoken ones.
+Nevertheless, it was full time for her father to hear from her, and
+she had a great deal to say. She took a sheet of paper, dipped her pen
+in the ink, and began:
+
+     "DARLINGIST FATHER,--Yesterday I picked a rose at Silverbel,
+     the place that mother wants us to have when you com bak
+     rich. Here's the rose for you. Pwaps it will be withered,
+     father, but its hart will be alive. Kiss it and think of
+     Sibyl. It's hart is like my hart, and my hart thinks of you
+     morning, noon, and night, evry night, father, and evry
+     morning, and allways, allways during the hole of the day.
+     It's most portant, father, that you should come back rich.
+     It's most solum nesesarey. I do so hope the mine will be
+     full up to the brim with gold, for if it is a lot of people
+     here will be made happy. Have you found the mine yet,
+     father, and is it ful to the brim of gold? You don't know
+     how portant it is. It's cos of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, father,
+     and their dusty broken toys, and cos of nursie and her
+     spectakles, and cos of one who wants to marry another one,
+     and I mustn't tell names, and cos of the big-wigs, father.
+     Oh, it is portant.
+
+               "Your lovin
+                    "SIBYL."
+
+"He'll understand," thought Sibyl; "he's wonderful for seeing right
+through a thing, and he'll quite know what I mean by the 'heart of the
+rose,'" and she kissed the rose passionately and put it inside the
+letter, and nurse directed the letter for her, and it was dropped into
+the pillar-box that same night.
+
+The letter was not read by the one it was intended for until--but that
+refers to another part of the story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+The next day was a glorious one, and Lady Helen, Mr. Rochester, Mrs.
+Ogilvie, and Sibyl all met at Victoria Station in time to catch the
+11.20 train to Richmond, the nearest station to Silverbel. There a
+carriage was to meet them, to take them to the house. They were to
+lunch at a small inn close by, and afterwards have a row on the river;
+altogether a very delightful day was planned.
+
+It was now the heart of a glorious summer--such a summer as does not
+often visit England. The sky was cloudless; the sun shone, but the
+great heat was tempered by a soft, delicious breeze.
+
+Sibyl, all in white, with a white shady hat making her little face
+even more lovely than usual, stood by her mother's side, close to a
+first-class carriage, to await the arrival of the other two.
+
+Lady Helen and Rochester were seen walking slowly down the platform.
+Sibyl gave one of her gleeful shouts, and ran to meet them.
+
+"Here you both is!" she said, and she looked full up at Lady Helen,
+with such a charming glance of mingled affection and understanding,
+that Lady Helen blushed, in spite of herself.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas was a very nice-looking girl, not exactly pretty,
+but her gray eyes were capable of many shades of emotion. They were
+large, and full of intelligence. Her complexion was almost colorless.
+She had a slim, graceful figure. Her jet-black hair, which she wore
+softly coiled round her head, was also thick and beautiful. Sibyl used
+to like to touch that hair, and loved very much to nestle up close to
+the graceful figure, and take shy peeps into the depths of the eyes
+which seemed to hold secrets.
+
+"You do look nice," said Sibyl, speaking in a semi-whisper, but in a
+tone of great ecstasy, "and so does Mr. Rochester. Do you know, I
+always call him nice Mr. Rochester. Watson is so interested in him."
+
+"Who is Watson?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"Don't you know, he is our footman. He is very nice, too; he is full
+of impulses, and they are all good. I expect the reason he is so
+awfully interested in _dear_ Mr. Rochester is because they are both
+having love affairs. You know, Watson has a girl, too, he is awfully
+fond of; I 'spect they'll marry when father comes back with all the
+gold. You don't know how fond I am of Watson; he's a very great,
+special friend of mine. Now here's the carriage. Let's all get in.
+Aren't you both glad you're coming, and coming together, both of you
+_together_, to visit Silverbel. It's a 'licious place; there are all
+kinds of little private walks and shrubberies, and seats for two under
+trees. Two that want to be alone can be alone at Silverbel. Now let's
+all get into the carriage."
+
+Poor Rochester and Lady Helen at that moment thought Sibyl almost an
+_enfant terrible_. However, there was no help for it. She would have
+her say, and her words were bright and her interest of the keenest. It
+mattered nothing at all to her that passers-by turned to look and
+smiled in an amused way.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was in an excellent humor. All the way down she talked to
+Lady Helen of the bazaar which she had already arranged was to take
+place at Silverbel during the last week in August.
+
+"I had meant to put it off until my husband returned," she remarked
+finally, "but on reflection that seemed a pity, for he is scarcely
+likely to be back before the end of October, and by then it would be
+too late; and, besides, the poor dear Home for Incurables needs its
+funds, and why should it languish when we are all anxious, more than
+anxious, to be charitable? Mr. Acland, my lawyer, is going to pay a
+deposit on the price of the estate, so I can enter into possession
+almost immediately. I am going to get Morris & Liberty to furnish the
+place, and I shall send down servants next week. But about the
+bazaar. I mean it to be perfect in every way. The stalls are to be
+held by unmarried titled ladies. Your services, Lady Helen, must be
+secured immediately."
+
+"Oh, yes," cried Sibyl, "you are to have a most beautiful stall, a
+flower stall: what do you say?"
+
+"If I have a stall I will certainly choose a flower stall," replied
+Lady Helen, and she smiled at Sibyl, and patted her hand.
+
+They soon arrived at Richmond, and got into the carriage which was
+waiting for them, and drove to Silverbel. They had lunch at the inn as
+arranged, and then they wandered about the grounds, and presently
+Sibyl had her wish, for Rochester and Lady Helen strolled away from
+her mother and herself, and walked down a shady path to the right of
+the house.
+
+"There they go!" cried the child.
+
+"There who go, Sibyl?" asked Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"The one who wants to marry the other," replied Sibyl. "Hush, mother,
+we are not to know, we are to be quite blind. Aren't you awfully
+incited?"
+
+"You are a very silly, rude little girl," replied the mother. "You
+must not make the sort of remarks you are always making to Mr.
+Rochester and Lady Helen. Such remarks are in very bad form. Now,
+don't take even the slightest notice when they return."
+
+"Aren't I to speak to them?" asked Sibyl, raising her eyes in wonder.
+
+"Of course, but you are not to say anything special."
+
+"Oh, nothing special. Am I to talk about the weather?"
+
+"No; don't be such a little goose."
+
+"I always notice," replied Sibyl, softly, "that when _quite_ strangers
+meet, they talk about the weather. I thought that was why. Can't I say
+anything more--more as if they were my very dear old friends? I
+thought they'd like it. I thought they'd like to know that there was
+one here who understanded all about it."
+
+"About it?"
+
+"Their love, mother, their love for--for each other."
+
+"Who may the one be who is supposed to understand?"
+
+"Me, mother," said Sibyl.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie burst into a ringing laugh.
+
+"You are a most ridiculous little girl," she said. "Now, listen; you
+are not to take any notice when they come back. They are not engaged;
+perhaps they never will be. Anyhow, you will make yourself an
+intensely disagreeable child if you make such remarks as you have
+already made. Do you understand?"
+
+"You has put it plain, mother," replied Sibyl. "I think I do. Now,
+let's look at the flowers."
+
+"I have ordered the landlord of the inn to serve tea on the lawn,"
+continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Is it not nice to feel that we are going to
+have tea on our own lawn, Sibyl?"
+
+"It's lovely!" replied Sibyl.
+
+"I am devoted to the country," continued the mother; "there is no
+place like the country for me."
+
+"So I think, too," replied Sibyl. "I love the country. We'll have all
+the very poorest people down here, won't we, mother?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"All the people who want to be made happy; Mr. and Mrs. Holman, and
+the other faded old people in the almshouses that I went to see one
+time with Miss Winstead."
+
+"Now you are talking in your silly way again," replied Mrs. Ogilvie.
+"You make me quite cross when you talk of that old couple, Mr. and
+Mrs. Holman."
+
+"But, mother, why aren't they to be rich if we are to be rich? Do you
+know that Mrs. Holman is saving up her money to buy some of the gold
+out of father's mine. She expects to get two hundred pounds instead of
+one. It's very puzzling, and yet I seem to understand. Oh, here comes
+Mr. Landlord with the tea-things. How inciting!"
+
+The table was spread, and cake, bread and butter, and fruit provided.
+Lady Helen and Rochester came back. They both looked a little
+conscious and a little afraid of Sibyl, but as she turned her back on
+them the moment they appeared, and pretended to be intensely busy
+picking a bouquet of flowers, they took their courage in their hands
+and came forward and joined in the general conversation.
+
+Lady Helen elected to pour out tea, and was extremely cheerful,
+although she could not help reddening when Sibyl brought her a very
+large marguerite daisy, and asked her to pull off the petals and see
+whether the rhyme came right.
+
+"What rhyme?" asked Lady Helen.
+
+"I know it all, shall I say it to you?" cried Sibyl. She began to pull
+off the different petals, and to repeat in a childish sing-song
+voice:--
+
+     "One he loves, two he loves, three he loves they say,
+     Four he loves with all his heart, five he casts away,
+     Six _he_ loves, seven _she_ loves, eight they both love,
+       Nine he comes, ten he tarries,
+       Eleven he woos, twelve he marries."
+
+Sibyl repeated this nonsense with extreme gusto, and when the final
+petal on the large daisy proclaimed that "twelve he marries," she
+flung the stalk at Rochester and laughed gaily.
+
+"I knew _you'd_ have luck," she said. Then she caught her mother's
+warning eye and colored painfully, thus making the situation, if
+possible, a little more awkward.
+
+"Suppose we go for a row on the river this lovely afternoon," said
+Lady Helen, starting up restlessly. She had talked of the coming
+bazaar, and had wandered through the rooms at Silverbel, and had
+listened to Mrs. Ogilvie's suggestions with regard to furniture and
+different arrangements until she was almost tired of the subject.
+
+Rochester sprang to his feet.
+
+"I can easily get a boat," he said; "I'll go and consult with mine
+host."
+
+He sauntered across the grounds, and Sibyl, after a moment's
+hesitation, followed him. A boat was soon procured, and they all found
+themselves on the shining silver Thames.
+
+"Is that why our house is called Silverbel?" asked Sibyl. "Is it 'cos
+we can see the silver shine of the river, and 'cos it is _belle_,
+French for beautiful?"
+
+"Perhaps so," answered the mother with a smile.
+
+The evening came on, the heat of the day was over, the sun faded.
+
+"What a pity we must go back to London," said Sibyl. "I don't think I
+ever had such a lovely day before."
+
+"We shall soon be back here," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "I shall see about
+furnishing next week at the latest, and we can come down whenever we
+are tired of town."
+
+"That will be lovely," said Sibyl. "Oh, won't my pony love cantering
+over the roads here!"
+
+When they landed at the little quay just outside the inn, the landlord
+came down to meet them. He held a telegram in his hand.
+
+"This came for you, madam, in your absence," he said, and he gave the
+telegram to Mrs. Ogilvie. She tore it open. It was from her lawyer,
+Mr. Acland, and ran as follows:
+
+"Ominous rumors with regard to Lombard Deeps have reached me. Better
+not go any further at present with the purchase of Silverbel."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face turned pale. She looked up and met the fixed stare
+of her little daughter and of Rochester. Lady Helen had turned away.
+She was leaning over the rails of the little garden and looking down
+into the swiftly flowing river.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie's face grew hard. She crushed up the telegram in her
+hand.
+
+"I hope there is nothing wrong?" asked Rochester.
+
+"Nothing at all," she replied. "Yes, we will come here next week.
+Sibyl, don't stare in that rude way."
+
+The return journey was not as lively as that happy one in the morning.
+
+Sibyl felt through her sensitive little frame that her mother was
+worried about something. Rochester also looked anxious. Lady Helen
+alone seemed unconscious and _distrait_. When the child nestled up to
+her she put her arm round her waist.
+
+"Are you sad about anything, darling Lady Helen?" whispered Sibyl.
+
+"No, Sibyl; I am quite happy."
+
+"Then you are thinking very hard?"
+
+"I often think."
+
+"I do so want you to be awfully happy."
+
+"I know you do, and I think I shall be."
+
+"Then that is right. _Twelve he marries_. Wasn't it sweet of the
+marguerite daisy to give Mr. Rochester just the right petal at the
+end; wasn't it luck?"
+
+"Yes; but hush, don't talk so loud."
+
+Mr. Rochester now changed his seat, and came opposite to where Lady
+Helen and the child had placed themselves. He did not talk to Lady
+Helen, but he looked at her several times. Presently he took one of
+Sibyl's hands, and stroked it fondly.
+
+"Does Lady Helen tell you beautiful stories too?" asked Sibyl,
+suddenly.
+
+"No," he answered; "she is quite naughty about that. She never tells
+me the charming stories she tells you."
+
+"You ought to," said Sibyl, looking at her earnestly; "it would do him
+good. It's an awfully nice way, if you want to give a person a home
+truth, to put it into a story. Nurse told me about that, and I
+remembered it ever since. She used to put her home truths into
+proverbs when I was quite young, such as, 'A burnt child dreads the
+fire,' or 'Marry in haste, repent at leisure,' or----"
+
+"Oh, that will do, Sibyl." Lady Helen spoke; there was almost a
+piteous appeal in the words.
+
+"Well," said Sibyl, "perhaps it is better to put home truths into
+stories, not proverbs. It's like having more sugar. The 'home truth'
+is the pill, and when it is sugared all over you can swallow it. You
+can't swallow it _without_ the sugar, can you? Nursie begins her
+stories like this: 'Miss Sibyl, once upon a time I knew a little
+girl,' and then she tells me all about a horrid girl, and I know the
+horrid girl is me. I am incited, of course, but very, very soon I get
+down to the pill. Now, I am sure, Mr. Rochester, there are some things
+you ought to be told, there are some things you do wrong, aren't
+there, Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"Oh, Sibyl, do stop that ceaseless chatter," cried her mother from the
+other end of the carriage; "you talk the most utter nonsense," and
+Sibyl for once was effectually silenced.
+
+The party broke up at Victoria Station, and Mrs. Ogilvie and her
+little daughter drove home. As soon as ever they arrived there Watson
+informed Mrs. Ogilvie that Mr. Acland was waiting to see her in the
+library.
+
+"Tiresome man!" she muttered, but she went to see him at once. The
+electric light was on; the room reminded her uncomfortably of her
+husband. He spent a great deal of time in his library, more than a
+very happy married man would have done. She had often found him there
+with a perplexed brow, and a heart full of anxiety. She had found him
+there, too, in his rare moments of exultation and happiness. She would
+have preferred to see the lawyer in any room but this.
+
+"Well," she said, "why did you send me that ridiculous telegram?"
+
+"You would not be surprised if you had read the article which appeared
+to-day in _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"I have never heard of _The Financial Enquirer_."
+
+"But City men know it," replied Mr. Acland, "and to a great extent it
+governs the market. It is one of our leading financial papers. The
+rumors it alludes to may be untrue, but they will influence the
+subscriptions made by the public to the share capital. In fact, with
+so ominous an article coming from so first-rate a source, nothing but
+a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
+table.
+
+"How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms," she said.
+"What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
+would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
+word."
+
+"He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
+that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right," replied
+Acland. "There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
+report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
+first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
+sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
+whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now."
+
+"This is very disturbing," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "I have had a long,
+tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband's report
+likely to reach England?"
+
+"Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
+months' time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
+are just in a waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
+the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
+extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie's report."
+
+"Won't you stay and have some supper?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
+"I have said already that I do not understand these things."
+
+"I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
+know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
+ready to pay a deposit for you of L2,000 on the price of the estate,
+which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
+arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
+best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
+he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
+to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
+moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
+decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
+place."
+
+"No other place will suit me except Silverbel," she answered.
+
+"I strongly recommend you not to buy it now."
+
+"And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
+course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
+paid?"
+
+"Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
+October."
+
+"Then pray don't let the matter be disturbed again. I shall order
+furniture immediately. You are quite a raven, a croaker of bad news,
+Mr. Acland."
+
+Mr. Acland raised his hand in deprecation.
+
+"I thought it only fair to tell you," he answered, and the next moment
+he left the house. As he did so, he uttered a solitary remark:
+
+"What a fool that woman is! I pity Ogilvie."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+It was the last week in July when Mrs. Ogilvie took possession of
+Silverbel. She had ordered furniture in her usual reckless fashion,
+going to the different shops where she knew she could obtain credit.
+The house, already beautiful, looked quite lovely when decorated by
+the skilful hands which arranged draperies and put furniture into the
+most advantageous positions.
+
+Sibyl's room, just over the front porch, was really worthy of her. It
+was a bower of whiteness and innocence. It had lattice windows which
+looked out on to the lovely grounds. Climbing roses peeped in through
+the narrow panes, and sent their sweet fragrance to greet the child
+when the windows were open and she put her head out.
+
+Sibyl thought more than ever of her father as she took possession of
+the lovely room at Silverbel. What a beautiful world it was! and what
+a happy little girl she, Sibyl, thought herself in possessing such
+perfect parents. Her prayers became now passionate thanks. She had got
+so much that it seemed unkind to ask Lord Jesus for one thing more. Of
+course, He was making the mine full of gold, and He was making her
+father very, very rich, and everyone, everyone she knew was soon to be
+happy.
+
+Lady Helen Douglas came to stay at Silverbel, and this seemed to give
+an added touch to the child's sense of enjoyment, for Lady Helen had
+at last, in a shy half whisper, told the eager little listener that
+she did love Mr. Rochester, and, further, that they were only waiting
+to proclaim their engagement to the world until the happy time when
+Sibyl's father came back.
+
+"For Jim," continued Lady Helen, "will take shares in the Lombard
+Deeps, and as soon as ever he does this we can afford to marry. But
+you must not speak of this, Sibyl. I have only confided in you because
+you have been our very good friend all along."
+
+Sibyl longed to write off at once to her father to hurry up matters
+with regard to the gold mine.
+
+"Of course, it is full of gold, quite full," thought the child; "but I
+hope father will write, or, better still, come home quickly and tell
+us all about it."
+
+She began to count the days now to her father's return, and was
+altogether in such a happy mood that it was delightful to be in her
+presence or to see her joyful face.
+
+Sibyl was nearly beside herself with delight at having exchanged her
+dull town life for this happy country one. She quickly made friends
+with the poor people in the nearest village, who were all attracted by
+her bright ways and pretty face. Her mother also gave her a small part
+of the garden to do what she liked with, and when she was not digging
+industriously, or riding her pony, or talking to Lady Helen, or
+engaged in her lessons, she followed her mother about like a faithful
+little dog.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was so pleased and contented with her purchase that she
+was wonderfully amiable. She often now sat in the long evenings with
+Sibyl by her side, and listened without impatience to the child's
+rhapsodies about her father. Mrs. Ogilvie would also be glad when
+Philip returned. But just now her thought of all thoughts was centred
+on the bazaar. This bazaar was to clinch her position as a country
+lady. All the neighbors round were expected to attend, and already she
+was busy drawing up programmes of the coming festivities, and
+arranging with a great firm in London for the special marquee, which
+was to grace her lawn right down to the river's edge.
+
+The bazaar was expected to last for quite three days, and, during that
+time, a spirited band would play, and there would be various
+entertainments of all sorts and descriptions. Little boats, with
+colored flags and awnings, were to be in requisition on the brink of
+the river, and people should pay heavily for the privilege of
+occupying these boats.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie clapped her hands almost childishly when this last
+brilliant idea came to her, and Sibyl thought that it was worthy of
+mother, and entered into the scheme with childish enthusiasm.
+
+The third week in August was finally decided as the best week for the
+bazaar, and those friends who were not going abroad promised to stay
+at Silverbel for the occasion.
+
+Some weeks after Mrs. Ogilvie had taken possession of Silverbel, Mr.
+Acland called to see her.
+
+"We have had no cable yet from your husband," he said, "and the rumors
+continue to be ominous. I wish with all my heart we could silence
+them. I, myself, believe in the Lombard Deeps, for Grayleigh is the
+last man to lend his name or become chairman of a company which has
+not brilliant prospects; but I can see that even he is a little
+anxious."
+
+"Oh, pray don't croak," was Mrs. Ogilvie's response and then she once
+again likened Mr. Acland to the raven.
+
+"You are a bird of ill-omen," she said, shaking her finger playfully
+in his face.
+
+He frowned as she addressed him; he could not see the witticism of her
+remark.
+
+"When people are perfectly happy and know nothing whatever with
+regard to business, what is the good of coming and telling these
+dismalities?" she continued. "I am nothing but a poor little feminine
+creature, trying to do good, and to make myself happy in an innocent
+way. Why will you come and croak? I know Philip quite well enough to
+be certain that he would not have set foot on this expedition if he
+had not been satisfied in advance that the mine was a good one."
+
+"That is my own impression," said Mr. Acland, thoughtfully; "but don't
+forget you are expected to complete the purchase of Silverbel by the
+end of October."
+
+"Oh! Philip will be back before then," answered Mrs. Ogilvie in a
+light and cheerful tone. "Any day now we may get a cablegram. Well,
+sweetheart, and what are you doing here?"
+
+Sibyl had entered the room, and was leaning against the window frame.
+
+"Any day we may expect what to happen, mother darling?" she asked.
+
+"We may expect a cable from father to say he is coming back again."
+
+"Oh! do you think so? Oh, I am so happy!"
+
+Sibyl skipped lightly out of the room. She ran across the sunny,
+radiant garden, and presently found herself in a sort of wilderness
+which she had appropriated, and where she played at all sorts of
+solitary games. In that wilderness she imagined herself at times a
+lonely traveler, at other times a merchant carrying goodly pearls, at
+other times a bandit engaged in feats of plunder. All possible scenes
+in history or imagination that she understood did the child try to
+enact in the wilderness. But she went there now with no intention of
+posing in any imaginary part. She went there because her heart was
+full.
+
+"Oh, Lord Jesus, it is so beautiful of you," she said, and she looked
+up as she spoke full at the blue sky. "I can scarcely believe that my
+ownest father will very soon be back again; it is quite too
+beautiful."
+
+A few days after this, and toward the end of the first week in August,
+Sibyl was one day playing as usual in the grounds when the sound of
+carriage wheels attracted her attention. She ran down to see who was
+arriving, and a shout of delight came from her when she saw Lord
+Grayleigh coming down the drive. He called the coachman to stop and
+put out his head.
+
+"Jump into the carriage, Sib, I have not seen you for some time. When
+are you going to pay me another visit at Grayleigh Manor?"
+
+"Oh, some time, but not at present," replied Sibyl. "I am too happy
+with mother here to think of going away. Isn't Silverbel sweet, Lord
+Grayleigh?"
+
+"Charming," replied Grayleigh. "Is your mother in, little woman?"
+
+"I think so. She is very incited about the bazaar. Are you coming to
+the bazaar?"
+
+"I don't know, I will tell you presently."
+
+Sibyl laid her little hand in Lord Grayleigh's. He gave it a squeeze,
+and she clasped it confidingly.
+
+"Do you know that I am so monstrous happy I scarcely know what to do,"
+she said.
+
+"Because you have got a pretty new place?"
+
+"No, no, nothing of that sort. It's 'cos father is coming back afore
+long! He will cable, whatever that means, and soon afterward he'll
+come. I'm always thanking Lord Jesus about it. Isn't it good of Him to
+send my ownest father back so soon?"
+
+Lord Grayleigh made no answer, unless an uneasy movement of his feet
+signified a sense of discomfort. The carriage drew up at the porch and
+he alighted. Sibyl skipped out after him.
+
+[Illustration: "Shall I find mother for you?" asked Sibyl, leading
+Lord Grayleigh across the lawn.--Page 208. _Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Shall I find mother for you?" she said. "Oh, there she is on the
+lawn. Darlingest mother, she can think of nothing at present but the
+bazaar, when all the big-wigs are to be present. You're a big-wig,
+aren't you? I asked nurse what big-wigs were, and she said people with
+handles. Mother said they were people in a _good social position_.
+I remember the words so well 'cos I couldn't understand 'em, but when
+I asked Miss Winstead to 'splain, she said mother meant ladies and
+gentlemen, and when I asked her to tell me what ladies and gentlemen
+was, she said people who behaved nicely. Now isn't it all very
+puzzling, 'cos the person who I think behaves nicest of all is our
+footman, Watson. He has lovely manners and splendid impulses; and
+perhaps the next nicest is dear Mrs. Holman, and she keeps a toy-shop
+in a back street. But when I asked mother if Watson and Mrs. Holman
+were big-wigs, she said I spoked awful nonsense. What do you think,
+Lord Grayleigh? Please do try to 'splain."
+
+Lord Grayleigh had laughed during Sibyl's long speech. He now laid his
+hand on her arm.
+
+"A big-wig is quite an ugly word," he said, "but a lady or a
+gentleman, you will find them in all ranks of life."
+
+"You haven't 'splained a bit," said the little girl. "Mother wants
+big-wigs at her bazaar; you are one, so will you come?"
+
+"I will answer that question after I have seen your mother."
+
+Lord Grayleigh crossed the lawn, and Sibyl, feeling dissatisfied,
+turned away.
+
+"He doesn't look quite happy," she thought; "I'm sorry he is coming
+to take up mother's time. Mother promised, and it's most 'portant, to
+ride with me this evening. It's on account of poor Dan Scott it is so
+'portant. Oh, I do hope she won't forget. Perhaps Miss Winstead would
+come if mother can't. I promised poor Dan a basket of apples, and also
+that I'd go and sit with him, and mother said he should cert'nly have
+the apples, and that she and I would ride over with them. He broke his
+arm a week ago, poor fellow! poor little Dan! I'll go and find Miss
+Winstead. If mother can't come, she must."
+
+Sibyl ran off in search of her governess, and Lord Grayleigh and Mrs.
+Ogilvie, in deep conversation, paced up and down the lawn.
+
+"You didn't hear by the last mail?" was Lord Grayleigh's query.
+
+"No, I have not heard for two mails. I cannot account for his
+silence."
+
+"He is probably up country," was Lord Grayleigh's answer. "I thought
+before cabling that I would come and inquire of you."
+
+"I have not heard," replied Mrs. Ogilvie. "Of course things are all
+right, and Philip was never much of a correspondent. It probably
+means, Lord Grayleigh, that he has completed his report, and is coming
+back. I shall be glad, for I want him to be here some time before
+October, in order to see about paying the rest of the money for our
+new place. What do you think of Silverbel?"
+
+"Oh, quite charming," said Lord Grayleigh, in that kind of tone which
+clearly implied that he was not thinking about his answer.
+
+"I am anxious, of course, to complete the purchase," continued Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+"Indeed!" Lord Grayleigh raised his brows.
+
+"Mr. Acland lent me two thousand pounds to pay the deposit," continued
+the lady, "but we must complete by the end of October. When my husband
+comes back rich, he will be able to do so. He will come back rich,
+won't he?" Here she looked up appealingly at Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"He will come back rich, or we shall have the deluge," he replied,
+oracularly. "Don't be uneasy. As you have not heard I shall cable. I
+shall wire to Brisbane, which I fancy is his headquarters."
+
+"Perhaps," answered Mrs. Ogilvie, in an abstracted tone. "By the way,
+if you are going back to town, may I make use of your carriage? There
+are several things I want to order for my bazaar. It is to be in about
+a fortnight now. You will remember that you are one of the patrons."
+
+"Certainly," he answered; "at what date is the bazaar to be held?"
+
+She named the arranged date, and he entered it in a gold-mounted
+engagement book.
+
+"I shall stay in town to-night," continued Mrs. Ogilvie. "Just wait
+for me a moment, and I will get on my hat."
+
+Soon afterward the two were driving back to the railway station. Mrs.
+Ogilvie had forgotten all about her engagement to Sibyl. Sibyl saw her
+go off with a feeling of deep disappointment, for Miss Winstead had a
+headache, and declined to ride with the little girl. Dan Scott must
+wait in vain for his apples. But should he wait? Sibyl wondered.
+
+She went down in a discontented way to a distant part of the grounds.
+She was not feeling at all happy now. It was all very well to have a
+heart bubbling over with good-nature and kindly impulses; but when
+those impulses were flung back on herself, then the little girl felt
+that latent naughtiness which was certainly an integral part of her
+character. She saw Dan Scott's old grandfather digging weeds in the
+back garden. Dan Scott was one of the gardener's boys. He was a
+bright, cheery-faced little fellow, with sloe-black eyes and
+tight-curling hair, and a winsome smile and white teeth. Sibyl had
+made friends with him at once, and when he ceased to appear on the
+scenes a week back, she was full of consternation, for Dan had fallen
+from a tree, and broken his arm rather badly. He had been feverish
+also, and could not come to attend to his usual work. His old
+grandfather had at first rated the lad for having got into this
+trouble, but then he had pitied him.
+
+Sibyl the day before had promised old Scott that she and her mother
+would ride to Dan's cottage and present him with a basket of early
+apples. There were some ripening now on the trees, long in shape,
+golden in color, and full of delicious juice.
+
+Sibyl had investigated these apples on her own account, and pronounced
+them very good, and had thought that a basket of the fruit would
+delight Dan. She had spoken to her mother on the subject, and her
+mother, in the height of good-humor, had promised that the apples
+should be gathered, and the little girl and she would ride down a
+lovely country lane to Dan's cottage. They were to start about six
+o'clock, would ride under the shade of some spreading beech trees, and
+come back in the cool of the evening.
+
+The whole plan was delightful, and Sibyl had been thinking about it
+all day. Now her mother had gone off to town, and most clearly had
+forgotten her promise to the child.
+
+"Well, Missy," said old Scott as he dug his spade deep down into the
+soil; "don't stand just there, Missy, you'll get the earth all over
+you."
+
+Sibyl moved to a respectful distance.
+
+"How is Dan?" she asked, after a pause.
+
+"A-wrastling with his pain," answered Scott, a frown coming between
+his brows.
+
+"Is he expecting me and mother with the beautiful apples?" asked
+Sibyl, in a somewhat anxious tone.
+
+"Is he expecting you, Missy?" answered the old man, raising his
+beetling brows and fixing his black eyes on the child. "Is he
+a-counting the hours? Do ducks swim, Missy, and do little sick boys
+a-smothered up in bed in small close rooms want apples and little
+ladies to visit 'em or not? You said you'd go, Missy, and Dan he's
+counting the minutes."
+
+"Of course I'll go," replied Sibyl, but she looked anxious and
+_distrait_. Then she added, "I will go if I possibly can."
+
+"I didn't know there was any doubt about it, Missy, and I tell you Dan
+is counting the minutes. Last thing he said afore I went out this
+morning was, 'I'll see little Missy to-day, and she is to bring me a
+basket of apples.' Seems to me he thinks a sight more of you than the
+fruit."
+
+Sibyl turned pale as Scott continued to speak in an impressive voice.
+
+"Dear, dear, it is quite dreadful," she said, "I could cry about it, I
+could really, truly."
+
+"But why, Missy? What's up? I don't like to see a little lady like you
+a-fretting."
+
+"Mr. Scott, I'm awfully, awfully sorry; I am terribly afraid I can't
+go."
+
+Old Scott ceased to delve the ground. He leant on the top of his spade
+and looked full at the child. His sunken eyes seemed to burn into
+hers.
+
+"You promised you'd go," he said then slowly.
+
+"I did, I certainly did, but mother was to have gone with me, and she
+has had to go to town about the bazaar. I suppose you couldn't take
+back the apples with you when you go home to-night, Mr. Scott?"
+
+"I could not," answered the old man. He began to dig with lusty and,
+in the child's opinion, almost venomous vigor.
+
+"Besides," he added, "it wouldn't be the same. It's you he wants to
+see as much as the fruit. If I was a little lady I'd keep my word to
+the poor. It's a dangerous thing to break your word to the poor;
+there's God's curse on them as do."
+
+Sibyl seemed to shrink into herself. She looked up at the sky.
+
+"Lord Jesus wouldn't curse a little girl like me, a little girl who
+loves Him," she thought; but, all the same, the old man's words
+seemed to chill her.
+
+"I'll do my very best," she said, and she went slowly across the
+garden. Old Scott called after her:
+
+"I wouldn't disappoint the little lad if I was you, Missy. He's
+a-counting of the minutes."
+
+A clock in the stable yard struck five. Old Scott continued to watch
+Sibyl as she walked away.
+
+"I could take the apples," he said to himself; "I could if I had a
+mind to, but I don't see why the quality shouldn't keep their word,
+and I'm due to speak at the Mission Hall this evening. Little Miss
+should know afore she makes promises. She's a rare fine little 'un,
+though, for all that. I never see a straighter face, eyes that could
+look through you. Dear little Missy! Dan thinks a precious sight of
+her. I expect somehow she'll take him the apples."
+
+So old Scott went on murmuring to himself, sometimes breaking off to
+sing a song, and Sibyl returned to the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+She walked slowly, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was thinking
+harder than she had ever thought before in the whole course of her
+short life. When she reached the parting of the ways which led in one
+direction to the sunny, pretty front entrance, and in the other to the
+stables, she paused again to consider.
+
+Miss Winstead was standing in the new schoolroom window. It was a
+lovely room, furnished with just as much taste as Sibyl's own bedroom.
+Miss Winstead put her head out, and called the child.
+
+"Tea is ready, you had better come in. What are you doing there?"
+
+"Is your head any better?" asked Sibyl, a ghost of a hope stealing
+into her voice.
+
+"No, I am sorry to say it is much worse. I am going to my room to lie
+down. Nurse will give you your tea."
+
+Sibyl did not make any answer. Miss Winstead, supposing that she was
+going into the house, went to her own room. She locked her door, lay
+down on her bed, and applied aromatic vinegar to her forehead.
+
+Sibyl turned in the direction of the stables.
+
+"It don't matter about my tea," she said to herself. "Nursie will
+think I am with Miss Winstead, and Miss Winstead will think I am with
+nurse; it's all right. I wonder if Ben would ride mother's horse with
+me; but the first thing is to get the apples."
+
+The thought of what she was about to do, and how she would coax Ben,
+the stable boy, to ride with her cheered her a little.
+
+"It's awful to neglect the poor," she said to herself. "Old Scott was
+very solemn. He's a good man, is Scott, he's a very religious man, he
+knows his Bible beautiful. He does everything by the Psalms; it's
+wonderful what he finds in them--the weather and everything else. I
+asked him before the storm came yesterday if we was going to have
+rain, and he said 'Read your Psalms and you'll know. Don't the Psalms
+for the day say "the Lord of glory thundereth"?' and he looked at a
+black cloud that was coming up in the sky, and sure enough we had a
+big thunderstorm. It's wonderful what a religious man is old Scott,
+and what a lot he knows. He wouldn't say a thing if it wasn't true. I
+suppose God does curse those who neglect the poor. I shouldn't like to
+be cursed, and I did promise, and Dan _will_ be waiting and watching.
+A little girl whom Jesus loves ought to keep her promise. Well,
+anyhow, I'll get the apples ready."
+
+Sibyl rushed into the house by a side entrance, secured a basket and
+entered the orchard. There she made a careful and wise selection. She
+filled the basket with the golden green fruit, and arranged it
+artistically with apple-leaves.
+
+"This will tempt dear little Dan," she said to herself. There were a
+few greengages just beginning to come to perfection on a tree near.
+Sibyl picked several to add to her pile of tempting fruit, and then
+she went in the direction of the stables. Ben was nowhere about. She
+called his name, he did not answer. He was generally to be found in
+the yard at this hour. It was more than provoking.
+
+"Ben! Ben! Ben!" called the child. Her clear voice sounded through the
+empty air. There came a gentle whinny in response.
+
+"Oh, my darling Nameless Pony!" she thought. She burst open the stable
+door, and the next instant stood in the loose box beside the pony. The
+creature knew her and loved her. He pushed out his head and begged for
+a caress. Sibyl selected the smallest apple from the basket and gave
+it to her pony. The nameless pony munched with right good will.
+
+"I could ride him alone," thought Sibyl; "it is only two or three
+miles away, and I know the road, and mother, though she may be angry
+when she hears, will soon forgive me. Mother never keeps angry very
+long--that is one of the beautiful things about her. I do really
+think I will go by my lone self. I made a promise. Mother made a
+promise too, but then she forgets. I really do think I'll go. It's too
+awful to remember your promise to the poor, and then to break it. I
+wonder if I could saddle pony? Pony, darling, will you stay very quiet
+while I try to put your saddle on? I have seen Ben do it so often, and
+one day I coaxed him to let me help him."
+
+Just then a voice at the stable door said--
+
+"Hullo! I say!" and Sibyl, starting violently, turned her head and saw
+a rough-headed lad of the name of Johnson, who sometimes assisted old
+Scott in the garden. Sibyl was not very fond of Johnson. She took an
+interest in him, of course, as she did in all human beings, but he was
+not fascinating like little Dan Scott, and he had not a religious way
+with him like old Scott; nevertheless, she was glad to see him now.
+
+"Oh, Johnson," she said eagerly, "I want you to do something for me so
+badly. If you will do it I will give you an apple."
+
+"What is it, Miss?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Will you saddle my pony for me? You can, can't you?"
+
+"I guess I can," answered Johnson. He spoke laconically.
+
+"Want to ride?" he said. "Who's a-goin' with yer?"
+
+"No one, I am going alone."
+
+Johnson made no remark. He looked at the basket of apples.
+
+"I say," he cried, "them's good, I like apples."
+
+"You shall have two, Johnson; oh, and I have a penny in my pocket as
+well. Now please saddle the pony very fast, for I want to be off."
+
+Johnson did not see anything remarkable in Sibyl's intended ride. He
+knew nothing about little Missy. As far as his knowledge went it was
+quite the habit for little ladies to ride by themselves. Of course he
+would get the pony ready for her, so he lifted down the pretty new
+side-saddle from its place on the wall, and arranged it on the forest
+pony's back. The pony turned his large gentle eyes, and looked from
+Johnson to the child.
+
+"It don't matter about putting on my habit," said Sibyl. "It will take
+such a lot of time, I can go just as I am, can't I, Johnson?"
+
+"If you like, Miss," answered Johnson.
+
+"I think I will, really, Johnson," said Sibyl in that confiding way
+which fascinated all mankind, and made rough-headed Johnson her slave
+for ever.
+
+"I might be caught, you know, if I went back to the house."
+
+"Oh, is that it?" answered Johnson.
+
+"Yes, that's it; they don't understand. No one understands in the
+house how 'portant it is for me to go. I have to take the apples to
+Dan Scott. I promised, you know, and it would not be right to break my
+promise, would it, Johnson?"
+
+Johnson scratched his head.
+
+"I guess not!" he said.
+
+"If I don't take them, he'll fret and fret," said Sibyl; "and he'll
+never trust me again; and the curse of God is on them that neglect the
+poor. Isn't it so, Johnson? You understand, don't you?"
+
+"A bit, perhaps, Missy."
+
+"Well, I am very much obliged to you," said the little girl. "Here's
+two apples, real beauties, and here's my new penny. Now, please lead
+pony out, and help me to mount him."
+
+Johnson did so. The hoofs of the forest pony clattered loudly on the
+cobble stones of the yard. Johnson led the pony to the entrance of a
+green lane which ran at the back of Silverbel. Here the little girl
+mounted. She jumped lightly into her seat. She was like a feather on
+the back of the forest pony. Johnson arranged her skirts according to
+her satisfaction, and, with her long legs dangling, her head erect,
+and the reins in her hands, she started forward. The basket was
+securely fastened; and the pony, well pleased at having a little
+exercise, for he had been in his stable for nearly two days, started
+off at a gentle canter.
+
+Sibyl soon left Silverbel behind her. She cantered down the pretty
+country road, enjoying herself vastly.
+
+"I am so glad I did it," she thought; "it was brave of me. I will tell
+my ownest father when he comes back. I'll tell him there was no one to
+go with me, and I had to do it in order to keep my promise, and he'll
+understand. I'll have to tell darling mother, too, to-night. She'll be
+angry, for mother thinks it is good for me to bear the yoke in my
+youth, and she'll be vexed with me for going alone, but I know she'll
+forgive me afterward. Perhaps she'll say afterward, 'I'm sorry I
+forgot, but you did right, Sibyl, you did right.' I am doing right,
+aren't I, Lord Jesus?" and again she raised her eyes, confident and
+happy, to the evening sky.
+
+The heat of the day was going over; it was now long past six o'clock.
+Presently she reached the small cottage where the sick boy lived. She
+there reined in her pony, and called aloud:
+
+"Are you in, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+A peevish-looking old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill falling round her face, appeared in the rose-covered porch
+of the tiny cottage.
+
+"Ah! it's you, Missy, at last," she said, and she trotted down as well
+as her lameness would let her to the gate. "Has you brought the
+apples?" she cried. "You are very late, Missy. Oh, I'm obligated, of
+course, and I thank you heartily, Miss. Will you wait for the basket,
+or shall I send it by Scott to-morrow?"
+
+"You can send it to-morrow, please," answered Sibyl.
+
+"And you ain't a-coming in? The lad's expecting you."
+
+"I am afraid I cannot, not to-night. Mother wasn't able to come with
+me. Tell Dan that I brought him his apples, and I'll come and see him
+to-morrow if I possibly can. Tell him I won't make him an out-and-out
+promise, 'cos if you make a promise to the poor and don't keep it,
+Lord Jesus is angry, and you get cursed. I don't quite know what
+cursed means, do you, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+[Illustration: An old woman wearing a bedgown, and with a cap with a
+large frill, appeared in the porch of the tiny cottage.--Page 224.
+_Daddy's Girl_.]
+
+"Oh, don't I," answered Mrs. Scott. "It's a pity you can't come in,
+Missy. There, Danny, keep quiet; the little lady ain't no time to be
+a-visiting of you. That's him calling out, Missy; you wait a
+minute, and I'll find out what he wants."
+
+Mrs. Scott hobbled back to the house, and the pony chafed restlessly
+at the delay.
+
+"Quiet, darling; quiet, pet," said Sibyl to her favorite, patting him
+on his arched neck.
+
+Presently Mrs. Scott came back.
+
+"Dan's obligated for the apples, Miss, but he thinks a sight more of a
+talk with you than of any apples that ever growed. He 'opes you'll
+come another day."
+
+"I wish, I do wish I could come in now," said Sibyl wistfully; "but I
+just daren't. You see, I have not even my riding habit on, I was so
+afraid someone would stop me from coming at all. Give Danny my love.
+But you have not told me yet what a curse means, Mrs. Scott."
+
+"Oh, that," answered Mrs. Scott, "but you ain't no call to know."
+
+"But I'd like to. I hate hearing things without understanding. What is
+a curse, Mrs. Scott?"
+
+"There are all sorts," replied Mrs. Scott. "Once I knowed a man, and
+he had a curse on him, and he dwindled and dwindled, and got smaller
+and thinner and poorer, until nothing would nourish him, no food nor
+drink nor nothing, and he shrunk up ter'ble until he died. It's my
+belief he haunts the churchyard now. No one likes to go there in the
+evening. The name of the man was Micah Sorrel. He was the most ter'ble
+example of a curse I ever comed acrost in my life."
+
+"Well, I really must be going now," said Sibyl with a little shiver.
+"Good-by; tell Dan I'll try hard to come and see him to-morrow."
+
+She turned the pony's head and cantered down the lane. She did not
+consider Mrs. Scott a specially nice old woman.
+
+"She's a gloomy sort," thought the child, "she takes a gloomy view. I
+like people who don't take gloomy views best. Perhaps she is something
+like old Scott; having lived with him so long as his wife, perhaps
+they have got to think things the same way. Old Scott looked very
+solemn when he said that it was a terrible thing to have the curse of
+the poor. I wonder what Micah Sorrel did. I am sorry she told me about
+him, I don't like the story. But there, why should I blame Mrs. Scott,
+for I asked her to 'splain what a curse was. I 'spect I'm a very queer
+girl, and I didn't really keep my whole word. I said positive and
+plain that I would take a basket of apples to Dan, and go and sit with
+him. I did take the apples, but I didn't go in and sit with him. Oh,
+dear, I'll have to go back by the churchyard. I hope Micah Sorrel
+won't be about. I shouldn't like to see him, he must be shrunk up so
+awful by now. Come along, pony darling, we'll soon be back home
+again."
+
+Sibyl lightly touched the pony's ears with a tiny whip which Lord
+Grayleigh had given her. He whisked his head indignantly at the motion
+and broke into a trot, the trot became a canter, and the canter a
+gallop.
+
+Sibyl laughed aloud in her enjoyment. They were now close to the
+churchyard. The sun was getting near the horizon, but still there was
+plenty of light.
+
+"A little faster, as we are passing the churchyard, pony pet," said
+Sybil, and she bent towards her steed and again touched him, nothing
+more than a feather touch, on his arched neck. But pony was spirited,
+and had endured too much stabling, and was panting for exercise; and,
+just at that moment, turning abruptly round a corner came a man waving
+a red flag. He was followed by a procession of school children, all
+shouting and racing. The churchyard was in full view.
+
+Sibyl laughed with a sense of relief when she saw the procession.
+She would not be alone as she passed the churchyard, and doubtless
+Micah Sorrel would be all too wise to make his appearance, but the
+next instant she gave a cry of alarm, for the pony first swerved
+violently, and then rushed off at full gallop. The red flag had
+startled him, and the children's shouts were the final straw.
+
+"Not quite so fast, darling," cried Sibyl; "a little slower, pet."
+
+But pet and darling was past all remonstrances on the part of his
+little mistress. He flew on, having clearly made up his mind to run
+away from the red flag and the shouting children to the other end of
+the earth. In vain Sibyl jerked the reins and pulled and pulled. Her
+small face was white as death; her little arms seemed almost wrenched
+from their sockets. She kept her seat bravely. Someone driving a
+dog-cart was coming to meet her. A voice called--
+
+"Hullo! Stop, for goodness' sake; don't turn the corner. Stop! Stop!"
+
+Sibyl heard the voice. She looked wildly ahead. She had no more power
+to stop the nameless pony than the earth has power to pause as it
+turns on its axis. The next instant the corner was reached; all seemed
+safe, when, with a sudden movement, the pony dashed madly forward, and
+Sibyl felt herself falling, she did not know where. There was an
+instant of intense and violent pain, stars shone before her eyes, and
+then everything was lost in blessed unconsciousness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+On a certain morning in the middle of July the _Gaika_ with Ogilvie on
+board entered the Brisbane River. He had risen early, as was his
+custom, and was now standing on deck. The lascars were still busy
+washing the deck. He went past them, and leaning over the taffrail
+watched the banks of low-lying mangroves which grew on either side of
+the river. The sun had just risen, and transformed the scene. Ogilvie
+raised his hat, and pushed the hair from his brow. His face had
+considerably altered, it looked worn and old. His physical health had
+not improved, notwithstanding the supposed benefit of a long sea
+voyage.
+
+A man whose friendship he had made on board, and whose name was
+Harding, came up just then, and spoke to him.
+
+"Well, Ogilvie," he cried, "we part very soon, but I trust we may meet
+again. I shall be returning to England in about three months from now.
+When do you propose to go back?"
+
+"I cannot quite tell," answered Ogilvie. "It depends on how soon my
+work is over; the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned."
+
+"You don't look too well," said his friend. "Can I get anything for
+you, fetch your letters, or anything of that sort?"
+
+"I do not expect letters," was Ogilvie's answer; "there may be one or
+two cables. I shall find out at the hotel."
+
+Harding said something further. Ogilvie replied in an abstracted
+manner. He was thinking of Sibyl. It seemed to him that the little
+figure was near him, and the little spirit strangely in touch with his
+own. Of all people in the world she was the one he cared least to give
+his thoughts to just at that moment.
+
+"And yet I am doing it for her," he muttered to himself. "I must go
+through with it; but while I am about it I want to forget her. My work
+lies before me--that dastardly work which is to stain my character and
+blemish my honor; but there is no going back now. Sibyl was unprovided
+for, and I have an affection of the heart which may end my days at any
+moment. For her sake I had no other course open to me. Now I shall not
+allow my conscience to speak again."
+
+He made an effort to pull himself together, and as the big liner
+gradually neared the quay, he spoke in cheerful tones to his
+fellow-passengers. Just as he passed down the gangway, and landed on
+the quay, he heard a voice exclaim suddenly--
+
+"Mr. Ogilvie, I believe?"
+
+He turned, and saw a small, dapper-looking man, in white drill and a
+cabbage-tree hat, standing by his side.
+
+"That is my name," replied Ogilvie; "and yours?"
+
+"I am Messrs. Spielmann's agent, and my name is Rycroft. I had
+instructions to meet you, and guessed who you were from the
+description given to me. I hope you had a good voyage."
+
+"Pretty well," answered Ogilvie; "but I must get my luggage together.
+Where are you staying?"
+
+"At the Waharoo Hotel. I took the liberty to book you a room. Shall we
+go up soon and discuss business; we have no time to lose?"
+
+"As you please," said Ogilvie. "Will you wait here? I will return
+soon."
+
+Within half an hour the two men were driving in the direction of the
+hotel. Rycroft had engaged a bedroom and private sitting-room for
+Ogilvie. He ordered lunch, and, after they had eaten, suggested that
+they should plunge at once into business.
+
+"That is quite to my desire," said Ogilvie. "I want to get what is
+necessary through, in order to return home as soon as possible. It was
+inconvenient my leaving England just now, but Lord Grayleigh made it a
+condition that I should not delay an hour in examining the mine."
+
+"If he wishes to take up this claim, he is right," answered Rycroft,
+in a grave voice. "I may as well say at once, Mr. Ogilvie, that your
+coming out is the greatest possible relief to us all. The syndicate
+ought to do well, and your name on the report is a guarantee of
+success. My proposal is that we should discuss matters a little
+to-day, and start early to-morrow by the _Townville_ to Rockhampton.
+We can then go by rail to Grant's Creek Station, which is only eight
+miles from the mine. There we can do our business, and finally return
+here to draw up the report."
+
+"And how long will all this take?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"If we are lucky, we ought to be back here within a month."
+
+"You have been over the mine, of course, yourself, Mr. Rycroft?"
+
+"Yes; I only returned to Brisbane a week ago."
+
+"And what is your personal opinion?"
+
+"There is, beyond doubt, alluvial gold. It is a bit refractory, but
+the washings panned out from five to six ounces to the ton."
+
+"So I was told in England; but, about the vein underneath? Alluvial is
+not dependable as a continuance. It is the vein we want to strike.
+Have you bored?"
+
+"Yes, one shaft."
+
+"Any result?"
+
+"That is what your opinion is needed to decide," said his companion.
+As Rycroft spoke, the corners of his mouth hardened, and he looked
+fixedly at Ogilvie. He knew perfectly well why Ogilvie had come from
+England to assay the mine, and this last question took him somewhat by
+surprise.
+
+Ogilvie was silent. After a moment he jumped up impatiently.
+
+"I may as well inquire for any letters or cables that are waiting for
+me," he said.
+
+Rycroft lit his pipe and went out. He had never seen Philip Ogilvie
+before, and was surprised at his general appearance, and also at his
+manner.
+
+"Why did they send him out?" he muttered. "Sensitive, and with a
+conscience: not the sort of man to care to do dirty work; but perhaps
+Grayleigh was right. If I am not much mistaken, he will do it all the
+same."
+
+"I shall make my own pile out of this," he thought. He returned to the
+hotel later on, and the two men spent the evening in anxious
+consultation. The next day they started for Rockhampton, and late in
+the afternoon of the fourth day reached their destination.
+
+The mine lay in a valley which had once been the bed of some
+prehistoric river, but was now reduced to a tiny creek. On either
+side towered the twin Lombard peaks, from which the mine was to take
+its name. For a mile on either side of the creek the country was
+fairly open, being dotted with clumps of briggalow throwing their dark
+shadows across the plain.
+
+Beyond them, where the slope became steep, the dense scrub began. This
+clothed the two lofty peaks to their summits. The spot was a
+beautiful one, and up to the present had been scarcely desecrated by
+the hand of man.
+
+"Here we are," said Rycroft, "here lies the gold." He pointed to the
+bed of the creek. "Here is our overseer's hut, and he has engaged men
+for our purpose. This is our hut, Ogilvie. I hope you don't mind
+sharing it with me."
+
+"Not in the least," replied Ogilvie. "We shall not begin operations
+until the morning, shall we? I should like to walk up the creek."
+
+Rycroft made a cheerful answer, and Ogilvie started off alone. He
+scarcely knew why he wished to take this solitary walk, for he knew
+well that the die was cast. When he had accepted Lord Grayleigh's
+check for ten thousand pounds he had burnt his boats, and there was no
+going back.
+
+"Time enough for repentance in another world," he muttered under his
+breath. "All I have to do at present is to stifle thought. It ought
+not to be difficult to go forward," he muttered, with a bitter smile,
+"the downhill slope is never difficult."
+
+The work of boring was to commence on the following morning, and the
+camp was made close to the water hole beneath some tall gum trees.
+Rycroft, who was well used to camping, prepared supper for the two.
+The foreman's camp was about a hundred yards distant.
+
+As Ogilvie lay down to sleep that night he had a brief, sharp attack
+of the agony which had caused him alarm a couple of months ago. It
+reminded him in forcible language that his own time on earth was in
+all probability brief; but, far from feeling distressed on this
+account, he hugged the knowledge to his heart that he had provided for
+Sibyl, and that she at least would never want. During the night which
+followed, however, he could not sleep. Spectre after spectre of his
+past life rose up before him in the gloom. He saw now that ever since
+his marriage the way had been paved for this final act of crime. The
+extravagances which his wife had committed, and which he himself had
+not put down with a firm hand, had led to further extravagances on his
+part. They had lived from the first beyond their means. Money
+difficulties had always dogged his footsteps, and now the only way
+out was by a deed of sin which might ruin thousands.
+
+"But the child--the child!" he thought; something very like a sob rose
+to his lips. Toward morning, however, he forced his thoughts into
+other channels, drew his blanket tightly round him, and fell into a
+long, deep sleep.
+
+When he awoke the foreman and his men were already busy. They began to
+bore through the alluvial deposit in several directions, and Ogilvie
+and Rycroft spent their entire time in directing these operations. It
+would be over a fortnight's work at least before Ogilvie could come to
+any absolute decision as to the true value of the mine. Day after day
+went quickly by, and the more often he inspected the ore submitted to
+him the more certain was Ogilvie that the supposed rich veins were a
+myth. He said little as he performed his daily task, and Rycroft
+watched his face with anxiety.
+
+Rycroft was a hard-headed man, troubled by no qualms of conscience,
+anxious to enrich himself, and rather pleased than otherwise at the
+thought of fooling thousands of speculators in many parts of the
+world. The only thing that caused him fear was the possibility that
+when the instant came, Ogilvie would not take the final leap.
+
+"Nevertheless, I believe he will," was Rycroft's final comment;
+"men of his sort go down deeper and fall more desperately than
+harder-headed fellows like myself. When a man has a conscience his
+fall is worse, if he does fall, than if he had none. But why does a
+man like Ogilvie undertake this sort of work? He must have a motive
+hidden from any of us. Oh, he'll tumble safe enough when the moment
+comes, but if he doesn't break his heart in that fall, I am much
+mistaken in my man."
+
+Four shafts had been cut and levels driven in many directions with
+disappointing results. It was soon all too plain that the ores were
+practically valueless, though the commencement of each lode looked
+fairly promising.
+
+After a little over a fortnight's hard work it was decided that it was
+useless to proceed.
+
+"There is nothing more to be done, Mr. Ogilvie," said Rycroft, as the
+two men sat over their supper together. "For six months the alluvial
+will yield about six ounces to the ton. After that"--he paused and
+looked full at the grim, silent face of the man opposite him.
+
+"After that?" said Ogilvie. He compressed his lips the moment he
+uttered the words.
+
+Rycroft jerked his thumb significantly over his left shoulder by way
+of answer.
+
+"You mean that we must see this butchery of the innocents through,"
+said Ogilvie.
+
+"I see no help for it," replied Rycroft. "We will start back to
+Brisbane to-morrow, and when we get there draw up the report; I had
+better attend to that part of the business, of course under your
+superintendence. We must both sign it. But first had we not better
+cable to Grayleigh? He must have expected to hear from us before now.
+He can lay our cable before the directors, and then things can be put
+in train; the report can follow by the first mail."
+
+"I shall take the report back with me," said Ogilvie.
+
+"Better not," answered his companion, "best trust Her Majesty's mails.
+It might so happen that you would lose it." As Rycroft spoke a crafty
+look came into his eyes.
+
+"Let us pack our traps," said Ogilvie, rising.
+
+"The sooner we get out of this the better."
+
+The next morning early they left the solitude, the neighborhood of the
+lofty peaks and the desecrated earth beneath. They reached Brisbane in
+about four days, and put up once more at the Waharoo Hotel. There the
+real business for which all this preparation had been made commenced.
+Rycroft was a past master in drawing up reports of mines, and Ogilvie
+now helped him with a will. He found a strange pleasure in doing his
+work as carefully as possible. He no longer suffered from qualms of
+conscience. The mine would work really well for six months. During
+that time the promoters would make their fortunes. Afterward--the
+deluge. But that mattered very little to Ogilvie in his present state
+of mind.
+
+"If I suffer as I have done lately from this troublesome heart of mine
+I shall have gone to my account before six months," thought the man;
+"the child will be provided for, and no one will ever know."
+
+The report was a plausible and highly colored one.
+
+It was lengthy in detail, and prophesied a brilliant future for
+Lombard Deeps. Ogilvie and Rycroft, both assayers of knowledge and
+experience, declared that they had carefully examined the lodes, that
+they had struck four veins of rich ore yielding, after crushing, an
+average of six ounces to the ton, and that the extent and richness of
+the ore was practically unlimited.
+
+They spent several days over this document, and at last it was
+finished.
+
+"I shall take the next mail home," said Ogilvie, standing up after he
+had read his own words for the twentieth time.
+
+"Sign first," replied Rycroft. He pushed the paper across to Ogilvie.
+
+"Yes, I shall go to-morrow morning," continued Ogilvie. "The _Sahara_
+sails to-morrow at noon?"
+
+"I believe so; but sign, won't you?"
+
+Ogilvie took up his pen; he held it suspended as he looked again at
+his companion.
+
+"I shall take a berth on board at once," he said.
+
+"All right, old chap, but sign first."
+
+Ogilvie was about to put his signature to the bottom of the document,
+when suddenly, without the least warning, a strange giddiness,
+followed by intolerable pain, seized him. It passed off, leaving him
+very faint. He raised his hand to his brow and looked around him in a
+dazed way.
+
+"What is wrong," asked Rycroft; "are you ill?"
+
+"I suffer from this sort of thing now and then," replied Ogilvie,
+bringing out his words in short gasps. "Brandy, please."
+
+Rycroft sprang to a side table, poured out a glass of brandy, and
+brought it to Ogilvie.
+
+"You look ghastly," he said; "drink."
+
+Ogilvie raised the stimulant to his lips. He took a few sips, and the
+color returned to his face.
+
+"Now sign," said Rycroft again.
+
+"Where is the pen?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+He was all too anxious now to take the fatal plunge. His signature,
+firm and bold, was put to the document. He pushed it from him and
+stood up. Rycroft hastily added his beneath that of Ogilvie's.
+
+"Now our work is done," cried Rycroft, "and Her Majesty's mail does
+the rest. By the way, I cabled a brilliant report an hour back.
+Grayleigh seemed anxious. There have been ominous reports in some of
+the London papers."
+
+"This will set matters right," said Ogilvie. "Put it in an envelope.
+If I sail to-morrow, I may as well take it myself."
+
+"Her Majesty's mail would be best," answered Rycroft. "You can see
+Grayleigh almost as soon as he gets the report. Remember, I am
+responsible for it as well as you, and it would be best for it to go
+in the ordinary way." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, took the
+document and folded it up.
+
+Just at this moment there came a tap at the door. Rycroft cried, "Come
+in," and a messenger entered with a cablegram.
+
+"For Mr. Ogilvie," he said.
+
+"From Grayleigh, of course," said Rycroft, "how impatient he gets!
+Wait outside," he continued to the messenger.
+
+The man withdrew, and Ogilvie slowly opened the telegram. Rycroft
+watched him as he read. He read slowly, and with no apparent change of
+feature. The message was short, but when his eyes had travelled to
+the end, he read from the beginning right through again. Then, without
+the slightest warning, and without even uttering a groan, the flimsy
+paper fluttered from his hand, he tumbled forward, and lay in an
+unconscious heap on the floor.
+
+Rycroft ran to him. He took a certain interest in Ogilvie, but above
+all things on earth at that moment he wanted to get the document which
+contained the false report safely into the post. Before he attempted
+to restore the stricken man, he took up the cablegram and read the
+contents. It ran as follows:--
+
+     _"Sibyl has had bad fall from pony. Case hopeless. Come home
+     at once."_
+
+"So Sibyl, whoever Sibyl may be, is at the bottom of Ogilvie's fall,"
+thought Rycroft. "Poor chap! he has got a fearful shock. Best make all
+safe. I must see things through."
+
+Without an instant's hesitation Rycroft took the already signed
+document, thrust it into an envelope, directed it in full and stamped
+it. Then he went to the telegraph messenger who was still waiting
+outside.
+
+"No answer to the cable, but take this at once to the post-office and
+register it," he said; "here is money--you can keep the change."
+
+The man departed on his errand, carrying the signed document.
+
+Rycroft now bent over Ogilvie. There was a slightly blue tinge round
+his lips, but the rest of his face was white and drawn.
+
+"Looks like death," muttered Rycroft. He unfastened Ogilvie's collar
+and thrust his hand beneath his shirt. He felt the faint, very faint
+beat of the heart.
+
+"Still living," he murmured, with a sigh of relief. He applied the
+usual restoratives. In a few moments Ogilvie opened his eyes.
+
+"What has happened?" he said, looking round him in a dazed way. "Oh, I
+remember, I had a message from London."
+
+"Yes, old fellow, don't speak for a moment."
+
+"I must get back at once; the child----"
+
+"All right, you shall go in the _Sahara_ to-morrow."
+
+"But the document," said Ogilvie, "it--isn't needed; I want it back."
+
+"Don't trouble about it now."
+
+Ogilvie staggered to his feet.
+
+"You don't understand. I did it because--because of one who will not
+need it. I want it back."
+
+"Too late," said Rycroft, then. "That document is already in the post.
+Come, you must pull yourself together for the sake of Sibyl, whoever
+she is."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+There was a pretty white room at Silverbel in which lay a patient
+child. She lay flat on her back just as she had lain ever since the
+accident. Her bed was moved into the wide bay window, and from there
+she could look out at the lovely garden and at the shining Thames just
+beyond. From where she lay she could also see the pleasure boats and
+the steamers crowded with people as they went up and down the busy
+river, and it seemed to her that her thoughts followed those boats
+which went toward the sea. It seemed to her further that her spirit
+entered one of the great ships at the mouth of the Thames and crossed
+in it the boundless deep, and found a lonely man at the other side of
+the world into whose heart she crept.
+
+"I am quite cosy there," she said to herself, "for father's perfect
+heart is big enough to hold me, however much I suffer, and however sad
+I am."
+
+Not that Sibyl was sad, nor did she suffer. After the first shock she
+had no pain of any sort, and there never was a more tranquil little
+face than hers as it lay on its daintily frilled pillow and looked out
+at the shining river.
+
+There was no part of the beautiful house half so beautiful as the room
+given up to her use. It might well and aptly be called the Chamber of
+Peace. Indeed, Miss Winstead, who was given to sentimentalities and
+had a poetic turn of mind, had called Sibyl's chamber by this title.
+
+From the very first the child never murmured. She who had been so
+active, like a butterfly in her dancing motion, in her ceaseless
+grace, lay on her couch uncomplaining. And as to pain, she had
+scarcely any, and what little she had grew less day by day. The great
+specialist from London said that this was the worst symptom of the
+case, and established the fact beyond doubt that the spine was fatally
+injured. It was a question of time. How long a time no one could quite
+tell, but the great doctors shook their heads over the child, and an
+urgent cablegram was sent to Ogilvie to hurry home without a moment's
+delay.
+
+But, though all her friends knew it, no one told Sibyl herself that
+she might never walk again nor dance over the smoothly kept lawns, nor
+mount the nameless pony, nor carry apples to Dan Scott. In her
+presence people thought it their duty to be cheerful, and she was
+always cheerful herself. After the first week or so, during which she
+was more or less stunned and her head felt strangely heavy, she liked
+to talk and laugh and ask questions. As far as her active little
+brain went there was but little difference in her, except that now her
+voice was low, and sometimes it was difficult to follow the rapid,
+eager words. But the child's eyes were quite as clear and beautiful as
+ever, and more than ever now there visited them that strange, far-away
+look and that quick, comprehending gaze.
+
+"I want nothing on earth but father, the touch of father's hand and
+the look in his face," she said several times; and then invariably her
+own eyes would follow the steamers and the boats as they went down the
+river toward the sea, and she would smile as the remembrance of the
+big ships came to her.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said on one of these occasions, "I go in my own
+special big ship every night across the sea to father. I sleep in
+father's heart every night, that's why I don't disturb you, and why
+the hours seem so short."
+
+Miss Winstead had long ceased to scold Sibyl, and nurse was now never
+cross to the little girl, and Mrs. Ogilvie was to all appearance the
+most tender, devoted mother on earth. When the child had been brought
+back after her accident Mrs. Ogilvie had not yet returned from town.
+She had meant to spend the night at the house in Belgrave Square. An
+urgent message, however, summoned her, and she arrived at Silverbel
+about midnight. She lost all self-control when she saw the beautiful
+unconscious child, and went into such violent hysterics that the
+doctors had to take her from the room.
+
+But this state of grief passed, and she was able, as she said to
+herself, to crush her mother's heart in her breast and superintend
+everything for Sibyl's comfort. It was Mrs. Ogilvie herself who, by
+the doctor's orders, sent off the cablegram which her husband received
+at the very moment of his fall from the paths of honor. It was she who
+worded it, and she thought of nothing at that moment but the child who
+was dying in the beautiful house. For the time she quite forgot her
+dreams of wealth and of greatness and of worldly pleasure. Nay, more,
+she felt just then that she could give up everything if only Sibyl
+might be saved. Mrs. Ogilvie also blamed herself very bitterly for
+forgetting her promise to the child. She was indeed quite inconsolable
+for several days, and at last had a nervous attack and was obliged to
+retire to her bed.
+
+There came an answering cable from Ogilvie to say that he was starting
+on board the _Sahara_, and would be in England as quickly as the great
+liner could bring him across the ocean. But by the doctor's orders
+the news that her father was coming back to her was not told to Sibyl.
+
+"Something may detain him; at any rate the suspense will be bad for
+her," the doctors said, and as she did not fret, and seemed quite
+contented with the strange fancy that she crossed the sea at night to
+lie in his arms, there was no need to give her any anxiety with regard
+to the matter.
+
+But as the days went on Mrs. Ogilvie's feelings, gradually but surely,
+underwent a sort of revulsion. For the first week she was frantic,
+ill, nervous, full of intense self-reproach. But during the second
+week, when Sibyl's state of health assumed a new phase, when she
+ceased to moan in her sleep, and to look troubled, and only lay very
+still and white, Mrs. Ogilvie took it into her head that after all the
+doctors had exaggerated the symptoms. The child was by no means so ill
+as they said. She went round to her different friends and aired these
+views. When they came to see her she aired them still further.
+
+"Doctors are so often mistaken," she said, "I don't believe for a
+single instant that the dear little thing will not be quite as well as
+ever in a short time. I should not be the least surprised if she were
+able to walk by the time Philip comes back. I do sincerely hope such
+will be the case, for Philip makes such a ridiculous fuss about her,
+and will go through all the apprehension and misery which nearly
+wrecked my mother's heart. He will believe everything those doctors
+have said of the child."
+
+The neighbors, glad to see Mrs. Ogilvie cheerful once more, rather
+agreed with her in these views, that is, all who did not go to see
+Sibyl. But those who went into her white room and looked at the sweet
+patient's face shook their heads when they came out again. It was
+those neighbors who had not seen the child who quoted instances of
+doctors who were mistaken in their diagnoses, and Mrs. Ogilvie derived
+great pleasure and hope from their conversation.
+
+Gradually, but surely, the household settled down into its new life.
+The Chamber of Peace in the midst of the house diffused a peaceful
+atmosphere everywhere else. Sibyl's weak little laugh was a sound to
+treasure up and remember, and her words were still full of fun, and
+her eyes often brimmed over with laughter. No one ever denied her
+anything now. She could see whoever she fancied, even to old Scott,
+who hobbled upstairs in his stockings, and came on tiptoe into the
+room, and stood silently at the foot of the white bed.
+
+"I won't have the curse of the poor, I did my best," said Sibyl,
+looking full at the old man.
+
+"Yes, you did your best, dearie," he replied. His voice was husky,
+and he turned his head aside and looked out of the window and coughed
+in a discreet manner. He was shocked at the change in the radiant
+little face, but he would not allow his emotion to get the better of
+him.
+
+"The blessing of the poor rests on you, dear little Miss," he said
+then, "the blessing of the poor and the fatherless. It was a
+fatherless lad you tried to comfort. God bless you for ever and ever."
+
+Sibyl smiled when he said this, and then she gazed full at him in that
+solemn comprehending way which often characterized her. When he went
+out of the room she lay silent for a time; then she turned to nurse
+and said with emphasis:
+
+"I like old Scott, he's a very religious man."
+
+"That he is, darling," replied nurse.
+
+"Seems to me I'm getting religious too," continued Sibyl. "It's 'cos
+of Lord Jesus, I 'spect. He is kind to me, is Lord Jesus. He takes me
+to father every night."
+
+The days went by, and Mrs. Ogilvie, who was recovering her normal
+spirits hour by hour, now made up her mind that Sibyl's recovery was
+merely a question of time, that she would soon be as well as ever, and
+as this was the case, surely it seemed a sad pity that the bazaar,
+which had been postponed, should not take place.
+
+"The bazaar will amuse the child, besides doing a great deal of good
+to others," thought Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+No sooner had this idea come to her, than she found her
+engagement-book, and looked up several items. The bazaar had of course
+been postponed from the original date, but it would be easy to have it
+on the 24th of September. The 24th was in all respects a suitable
+date, and those people who had not gone abroad or to Scotland would be
+glad to spend a week in the beautiful country house. It was such a sad
+pity, thought Mrs. Ogilvie, not to use the new furniture to the best
+advantage, not to sleep in the new beds, not to make use of all the
+accessories which had cost so much money, or rather which had cost so
+many debts, for not a scrap of the furniture was paid for, and the
+house itself was only held on sufferance.
+
+"It will be doing such a good work," said Mrs. Ogilvie to herself. "I
+shall be not only entertaining my friends and amusing dear little
+Sibyl, but I shall be collecting money for an excellent charity."
+
+In the highest spirits she ran upstairs and burst into her little
+daughter's room.
+
+"Oh, Mummy," said Sibyl. She smiled and said faintly, "Come and kiss
+me, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was all in white and looked very young and girlish and
+pretty. She tripped up to the child, bent over her and kissed her.
+
+"My little white rose," she said, "you must get some color back into
+your cheeks."
+
+"Oh, color don't matter," replied Sibyl. "I'm just as happy without
+it."
+
+"But you are quite out of pain, my little darling?"
+
+"Yes, Mummy."
+
+"And you like lying here in your pretty window?"
+
+"Yes, mother darling."
+
+"You are not weary of lying so still?"
+
+Sibyl laughed.
+
+"It is funny," she said, "I never thought I could lie so very still. I
+used to get a fidgety sort of pain all down me if I stayed still more
+than a minute at a time, but now I don't want to walk. My legs are too
+heavy. I feel heavy all down my legs and up to the middle of my back,
+but that is all. See, Mummy, how nicely I can move my hands. Nursie is
+going to give me some dolls to dress."
+
+"What a splendid idea, Sib!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, "you shall dress some
+dolls for mother's bazaar."
+
+"Are you going to have it after all?" cried Sibyl, her eyes
+brightening. "Are the big-wigs coming?"
+
+"Yes, pet, and you shall help me. You shall dress pretty little dolls
+which the big-wigs shall buy--Lord Grayleigh and the rest."
+
+"I like Lord Grayleigh," replied Sibyl. "I am glad you are going to
+have the bazaar, Mummy."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie laughed with glee. She seated herself in a comfortable
+rocking chair near the window and chatted volubly. Sibyl was really a
+wonderfully intelligent child. It was delightful to talk to her. There
+was no narrowness about Sibyl. She had quite a breadth of view and of
+comprehension for her tender years.
+
+"My dear little girl," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "I am so glad you like the
+idea. Perhaps by the day of the bazaar you will be well enough to come
+downstairs and even to walk a little."
+
+Sibyl made no answer to this. After a moment's pause she said:
+
+"Do have the bazaar and let all the big-wigs come. I can watch them
+from my bed. I can look out of the window and see everything--it will
+be fun."
+
+Soon afterward Mrs. Ogilvie left the room. She met Miss Winstead on
+the stairs.
+
+"Miss Winstead," she said, "I have just been sitting with the child.
+She seems much better."
+
+"Do you think so?" replied Miss Winstead shortly.
+
+"I do. Why do you stare at me in that disapproving manner? You really
+are all most unnatural. Who should know of the health of her child if
+her own mother does not? The little darling is recovering fast--I
+have just been having a most interesting talk with her. She would like
+me to have the bazaar."
+
+"The bazaar!" echoed Miss Winstead. "Surely you don't mean to have it
+here?"
+
+"Yes, here. The child is greatly interested. She would like me to have
+it, and I am going to send out invitations at once. It will be held on
+the 24th and 25th of the month."
+
+"I would not, if I were you," said Miss Winstead slowly. "You know
+what the doctors have said."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie first turned white, and then her face grew red and angry.
+
+"I don't believe a single word of what they say," she retorted with
+some passion. "The child looks better every day. What the dear little
+thing wants is rousing. The bazaar will do her no end of good. Mark my
+words, Miss Winstead, we shall have Sibyl on her feet again by the
+24th."
+
+"You forget," said Miss Winstead slowly, "the _Sahara_ is due in
+England about that date. Mr. Ogilvie will be back. He will not be
+prepared for--for what he has to see."
+
+"I know quite well that my husband will return about then, but I don't
+understand what you mean by saying that he will not be prepared.
+There will be nothing but joyful tidings to give him. The child nearly
+herself and the bazaar at its height. Delightful! Now pray, my good
+creature, don't croak any more; I must rush up to town this
+afternoon--there is a great deal to see about."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+Lord Grayleigh was so anxious about the Syndicate that he would not go
+to Scotland for the shooting as usual. Later on he would attend to his
+pleasures, but not now. Later on when Ogilvie had returned, and the
+company was finally floated, and the shares taken up, he would relax
+his efforts, but just at present he was engaged over the biggest thing
+of his life. He was cheerful, however, and full of hope. He even
+thanked Providence for having aided all his exertions. So blinded was
+he by the glare of avarice and the desire for adding wealth to wealth
+that Ogilvie's cablegram set every anxiety at rest. He even believed
+that the mine was as full of gold as the cablegram seemed to indicate.
+Yes, everything was going well. The Lombard Deeps Company would be
+floated in a short time, the Board of Directors was complete.
+
+Ogilvie's cablegram was shown to a few of the longest-headed men in
+the financial world, and his report was anxiously looked for. Rumors
+carefully worded got by degrees into the public press, the ominous
+whispers were absolutely silenced: all, in short, was ripe for action.
+Nothing definite, however, could be done until the full report of the
+mine arrived.
+
+Lord Grayleigh was fond of saying to himself: "From the tone of
+Ogilvie's cablegram the mine must be all that we desire, the ore rich,
+the veins good, the extent of the wealth unlimited. It will be nice,"
+Lord Grayleigh reflected, "to be rich and also honest at the same
+time." He was a man with many kindly impulses, but he had never been
+much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
+forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
+children, and enjoyed life generally.
+
+On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
+from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--
+
+     "MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,
+
+     "You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
+     Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."
+
+"But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That woman
+is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
+hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
+play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
+is contemptible."
+
+He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.
+
+     "I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
+     correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
+     shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
+     know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
+     present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
+     Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
+     dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
+     moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
+     sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
+     blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
+     burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
+     hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
+     papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
+     we see you at Silverbel the better.
+
+               "With kind regards, I remain,
+                    "Yours sincerely,
+                         "MILDRED OGILVIE.
+
+     "P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
+     has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
+     you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
+     I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
+     her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
+     her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
+     had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
+     and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
+     the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
+     proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
+     she is still, of course, confined to her bed. She would send
+     you her love if she knew I was writing."
+
+Lord Grayleigh let this letter drop on to the table beside him. He sat
+quite still for a moment, then he lit a cigarette and began to pace
+the room. After a pause he took up Mrs. Ogilvie's letter and re-read
+the postscript.
+
+After having read it a second time he rang his bell sharply. A servant
+appeared.
+
+"I am going to town by the next train; have the trap round," was
+Grayleigh's direction.
+
+He did go to town by the next train, his children seeing him off.
+
+"Where are you going, father?" called out Freda. "You promised you
+would take us for a long, long drive this afternoon. Oh, this is
+disappointing. Are you coming back at all to-night?"
+
+"I don't think so, Freda. By the way, have you heard that your little
+friend Sibyl has met with an accident?"
+
+"Has she?" replied Freda. "I am very sorry. I like Sibyl very much."
+
+"So do I!" said Gus, coming up, "she's the best sort of girl I ever
+came across, not like an ordinary girl--quite plucky, you know. What
+sort of accident did she have, father?"
+
+"I don't know; I am going to see. I am afraid it has something to do
+with the pony I gave her. Well, good-by, youngsters; if I don't return
+by the last train to-night, I'll be back early to-morrow, and we can
+have our drive then."
+
+Lord Grayleigh drove at once to Victoria Station, and took the next
+train to Richmond. It was a two-mile drive from there to Silverbel. He
+arrived at Silverbel between five and six in the afternoon. Mrs.
+Ogilvie was pacing about her garden, talking to two ladies who had
+come to call on her. When she saw Lord Grayleigh driving up the
+avenue, she uttered a cry of delight, apologized to her friends, and
+ran to meet him--both her hands extended.
+
+"How good of you, how more than good of you," she said. "This is just
+what I might have expected from you, Lord Grayleigh. You received my
+letter and you have come to answer it in person."
+
+"I have come, as you say, to answer it in person. How is Sibyl?"
+
+"Oh, better. I mean she is about the same, but she really is going on
+very nicely. She does not suffer the slightest pain, and----"
+
+"Can I see her?"
+
+"Of course you can. I will take you to her. Dear little thing, she
+will be quite delighted, you are a prime favorite of hers. But first,
+what about the bazaar? Ah, naughty man! you need not think you are
+going to get out of it, for you are, as Sibyl says, one of the
+big-wigs. We cannot do without big-wigs at our bazaar."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Ogilvie, I will come if I can. I cannot distinctly promise
+at the present moment, for I may possibly have to go to Scotland; but
+the chances are that I shall be at Grayleigh Manor, and if so I can
+come."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie was walking with Lord Grayleigh down one of the corridors
+which led to the Chamber of Peace while this conversation was going
+on. As he uttered the last words she flung open the door.
+
+"One of the big-wigs, Sibyl, come to see you," she said, in a playful
+voice.
+
+Lord Grayleigh saw a white little face with very blue eyes turned
+eagerly in his direction. He did not know why, but as he looked at the
+child something clutched at his heart with a strange fear. He turned
+to Mrs. Ogilvie and said,
+
+"Rest assured that I will come." He then went over, bent toward Sibyl
+and took her little white hand.
+
+"I am sorry to see you like this," he said. "What has happened to you,
+my little girl?"
+
+"Oh, nothing much," answered Sibyl, "I just had a fall, but I am quite
+all right now and I am awfully happy. Did you really come to see me?
+It is good of you. May I talk to Lord Grayleigh all by myself, mother
+darling?"
+
+"Certainly, dear. Lord Grayleigh, you cannot imagine how we spoil this
+little woman now that she is lying on her back. I suppose it is
+because she is so good and patient. She never murmurs, and she enjoys
+herself vastly. Is not this a pretty room?"
+
+"Beautiful," replied Lord Grayleigh, in an abstracted tone. He sank
+into a chair near the window, and glanced out at the smoothly kept
+lawn, at the flower-beds with their gay colors, and at the silver
+Thames flowing rapidly by. Then he looked again at the child. The
+child's grave eyes were fixed on his face; there was a faint smile
+round the lips but the eyes were very solemn.
+
+"I will come back again, presently," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "By the way,
+Sib darling, Lord Grayleigh is coming to our bazaar, the bazaar for
+which you are dressing dolls."
+
+"Nursie is dressing them," replied Sibyl in a weak voice--the mother
+did not notice how weak it was, but Lord Grayleigh did. "It somehow
+tires me to work. I 'spect I'm not very strong, but I'll be better
+perhaps to-morrow. Nursie is dressing them, and they are quite
+beautiful."
+
+"Well, I'll come back soon; you mustn't tire her, Lord Grayleigh, and
+you and I have a great deal to talk over when you do come downstairs."
+
+"I must return to town by the next train," said Lord Grayleigh; but
+Mrs. Ogilvie did not hear him. She went quickly away to join the
+friends who were waiting for her in the sunny garden.
+
+"Lord Grayleigh has come," she said. "He is quite devoted to Sibyl; he
+is sitting with her for a few minutes; the child worships him.
+Afterward he and I must have a rather business-like conversation."
+
+"Then we will go, dear Mrs. Ogilvie," said both ladies.
+
+"Thank you, dear friends; I hope you don't think I am sending you
+away, but it is always my custom to speak plainly. Lord Grayleigh will
+be our principal patron at the bazaar, and naturally I have much to
+consult him about. I will drive over to-morrow to see you, Mrs. Le
+Strange, and we can discuss still further the sort of stall you will
+have."
+
+The ladies took their leave, and Mrs. Ogilvie paced up and down in
+front of the house. She was restless, and presently a slight sense of
+disappointment stole over her, for Lord Grayleigh was staying an
+unconscionably long time in Sibyl's room.
+
+Sibyl and he were having what he said afterward was quite a straight
+talk.
+
+"I am so glad you have come," said the little girl; "there are some
+things you can tell me that no one else can. Have you heard from
+father lately?"
+
+"I had a cablegram from him not long ago."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"The same as a telegram; a cablegram is a message that comes across
+the sea."
+
+"I understand," said Sibyl. She thought of her pretty fancy of the
+phantom ships that took her night after night to the breast of her
+father.
+
+"What are you thinking about?" said Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Oh, about father, of course. When he sent you that message did he
+tell you there was much gold in the mine?"
+
+"My dear child," said Lord Grayleigh, "what do you know about it?"
+
+"I know all about it," answered Sybil. "I am deeply interested,
+deeply."
+
+"Well, my dear little girl, to judge from your father's message, the
+mine is full of gold, quite full."
+
+"Up to the tip top?"
+
+"Yes, you can express it in that way if you like, up to the tip top
+and down, nobody knows how deep, full of beautiful yellow gold, but
+don't let us talk of these things any more. Tell me how you really
+fell, and what that naughty pony did to you."
+
+"You must not scold my darling nameless pony, it was not his fault a
+bit," said Sibyl. She turned first red and then whiter than usual.
+
+"Do you greatly mind if I _don't_ talk about it?" she asked in a voice
+of sweet apology. "It makes me feel----"
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"I don't know, only I get the up and down and round and round feel. It
+was the feel I had when pony sprang; he seemed to spring into the air,
+and I fell and fell and fell. I don't like to get the feel back, it is
+so very round and round, you know."
+
+"We won't talk of it," said Lord Grayleigh; "what shall I do to amuse
+you?"
+
+"Tell me more about father and the mine full of gold."
+
+"I have only just had the one cablegram, Sib, in which he merely
+stated that the news with regard to the mine was good."
+
+"I am delighted," said Sibyl. "It's awfully good of Lord Jesus. Do you
+know that I have been asking Lord Jesus to pile up the gold in the
+mine. He can do anything, you know, and He has done it, you see. Isn't
+it sweet and dear of Him? Oh, you don't know all He has done for me!
+Don't you love Him very much indeed, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"Who, Sibyl?"
+
+"My Lord Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ."
+
+Lord Grayleigh bent and picked up a book which had fallen on the
+carpet. He turned the conversation. The child's eyes, very grave and
+very blue, watched him. She did not say anything further, but she
+seemed to read the thought he wished to hide. He stood up, then he sat
+down again. Sibyl had that innate tact which is born in some natures,
+and always knew where to pause in her probings and questionings.
+
+"Now," she continued, after a pause, "dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman will be
+rich."
+
+"Mr. and Mrs. Holman," said Lord Grayleigh; "who are they?"
+
+"They are my very own most special friends. They keep a toy-shop in
+Greek Street, a back street near our house. Mrs. Holman is going to
+buy a lot of gold out of the mine. I'll send her a letter to tell her
+that she can buy it quick. You'll be sure to keep some of the gold for
+Mrs. Holman, she is a dear old woman. You'll be quite sure to remember
+her?"
+
+"Quite sure, Sibyl."
+
+"Hadn't you better make a note of it? Father always makes notes when
+he wants to remember things. Have you got a note-book?"
+
+"In my pocket."
+
+"Please take it out and put down about Mrs. Holman and the gold out of
+the mine."
+
+Lord Grayleigh produced a small note-book.
+
+"What do you wish me to say?" he inquired.
+
+"Put it this way," said Sibyl eagerly, "then you won't forget. Some of
+the gold in the----"
+
+"Lombard Deeps Mine," supplied Lord Grayleigh.
+
+"Some of the gold in the Lombard Deeps Mine," repeated Sibyl, "to be
+kept special for dear Mr. and Mrs. Holman. Did you put that? Did you
+put _dear_ Mr. and Mrs. Holman?"
+
+"Just exactly as you have worded it, Sibyl."
+
+"Her address is number ten, Greek Street, Pimlico."
+
+The address being further added, Sibyl gave a sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"That is nice," she said, "that will make them happy. Mrs. Holman has
+cried so often because of the dusty toys, and 'cos the children won't
+come to her shop to buy. Some children are very mean; I don't like
+some children a bit."
+
+"I am glad you're pleased about the Holmans, little woman."
+
+"Of course I am, and aren't you. Don't you like to make people happy?"
+
+Again Lord Grayleigh moved restlessly.
+
+"Have you any other notes for this book?" he said.
+
+"Of course I have. There's the one who wants to marry the other one.
+I'm under a vow not to mention names, but they want to marry _so_
+badly, and they will in double quick time if there's gold in the mine.
+Will you put in your note-book 'Gold to be kept for the one who wants
+to marry the other,' will you, Lord Grayleigh?"
+
+"I have entered it," said Lord Grayleigh, suppressing a smile.
+
+"And mother, of course," continued Sibyl, "wants lots of money, and
+there's my nurse, her eyes are failing, she would like enough gold to
+keep her from mending stockings or doing any more fine darning, and
+I'd like Watson to have some. Do you know, Lord Grayleigh, that Watson
+is engaged to be married? He is really, truly."
+
+"I am afraid, Sibyl, I do not know who Watson is."
+
+"Don't you? How funny; he is our footman. I'm awfully fond of him. He
+is full of the best impulses, is Watson, and he is engaged to a very
+nice girl in the cookery line. Don't you think it's very sensible of
+Watson to engage himself to a girl in the cookery line?"
+
+"I think it is thoroughly sensible, but now I must really go."
+
+"But you won't forget all the messages? You have put them all down in
+your note-book. You won't forget any of the people who want gold out
+of the Lombard Deeps?"
+
+"No, I'll be certain to remember every single one of them."
+
+"Then that's all right, and you'll come to darling mother's bazaar?"
+
+"I'll come."
+
+"I am so glad. You do make me happy. I like big-wigs awfully."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+A few days before the bazaar Lady Helen Douglas arrived at Silverbel.
+She had returned from Scotland on purpose. A letter from Lord
+Grayleigh induced her to do so. He wrote to Lady Helen immediately
+after seeing Sibyl.
+
+"I don't like the child's look," he wrote; "I have not the least idea
+what the doctors have said of her, but when I spoke on the subject to
+her mother, she shirked it. There is not the least doubt that Mrs.
+Ogilvie can never see a quarter of an inch beyond her own selfish
+fancies. It strikes me very forcibly that the child is in a precarious
+state. I can never forgive myself, for she met with the accident on
+the pony I gave her. She likes you; go to her if you can."
+
+It so happened that by the very same post there had come an urgent
+appeal from Mrs. Ogilvie.
+
+"If you cannot come to the bazaar," she wrote to Lady Helen, "it will
+be a failure. Come you must. Your presence is essential, because you
+are pretty and well born, and you will also act as a lure to another
+person who can help me in various ways. I, of course, allude to our
+mutual friend, Jim Rochester."
+
+Now Lady Helen, even with the attraction of seeing Mr. Rochester so
+soon again, would not have put off a series of visits which she was
+about to make, had not Lord Grayleigh's letter decided her. She
+therefore arrived at Silverbel on the 22d of September, and was
+quickly conducted to Sibyl's room. She had not seen Sibyl for a couple
+of months. When last they had met, the child had been radiant with
+health and spirits. She was radiant still, but that quick impulsive
+life had been toned down to utter quiet. The lower part of the little
+body was paralyzed, the paralysis was creeping gradually up and up. It
+was but a question of time for the loving little heart to be still for
+ever.
+
+Sibyl cried with delight when she saw Lady Helen.
+
+"Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow," she said, "but Lord
+Grayleigh does not come until the day of the bazaar, so you are quite
+the first. You'll come and see me very, very often, won't you?"
+
+"Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see
+you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh
+wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me,
+little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me."
+
+"Oh, you are sweet," answered the child, "and I do, indeed I do love
+you. But you ought to have come for the bazaar as well as for me. It
+is darling mother's splendid work of charity. She wants to help a lot
+of little sick children and sick grown up people: isn't it dear of
+her?"
+
+"Well, I am interested in the bazaar," said Lady Helen, ignoring the
+subject of Mrs. Ogilvie's noble action.
+
+"It is so inciting all about it," continued the little girl, "and I
+can see the marquee quite splendidly from here, and mother flitting
+about. Isn't mother pretty, isn't she quite sweet? She is going to
+have the most lovely dress for the bazaar, a sort of silvery white;
+she will look like an angel--but then she is an angel, isn't she, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+Lady Helen bent and kissed Sibyl on her soft forehead. "You must not
+talk too much and tire yourself," she said; "let me talk to you. I
+have plenty of nice things to say."
+
+"Stories?" said Sibyl.
+
+"Yes, I will tell you stories."
+
+"Thank you; I do love 'em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?"
+
+"I have not seen him lately."
+
+"You'll be married to him soon, I know you will."
+
+"We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to
+amuse you."
+
+"It's odd how weak my voice has grown," said Sibyl, with a laugh.
+"Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do
+feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I
+couldn't. Nursie did 'em. There's one big beautiful doll with wings;
+Nurse made the wings, but she can't put them on right; will you put
+them on proper, Lady Helen?"
+
+"I should like to," replied Lady Helen; "I have a natural aptitude for
+dressing dolls."
+
+"The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out
+and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on
+properly. There's plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make
+the doll as like an angel as you can."
+
+Lady Helen commenced her pretty work. Sibyl watched her, not caring to
+talk much now, for Lady Helen seemed too busy to answer.
+
+"It rests me to have you in the room," said the child, "you are like
+this room. Do you know Miss Winstead has given it such a funny name."
+
+"What is that, Sibyl?"
+
+"She calls it the Chamber of Peace--isn't it sweet of her?"
+
+"The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room," answered Lady
+Helen.
+
+"I do wish Mr. Rochester was here," was Sibyl's next remark.
+
+"He will come to the bazaar, dear."
+
+"And then, perhaps, I'll see him. I want to see him soon, I have
+something I'd like to say."
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I'm
+tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think--I
+wouldn't like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I
+do fancy that, perhaps, I'm going to have wings, too, not like
+dolly's, but real ones, and if I have them I might----"
+
+"What, darling?"
+
+"Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don't know how I want to be
+close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father's heart I
+should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being
+in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will
+be lovely to fly up, won't it, for perhaps some day I might get tired
+of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn't know, darling mother
+doesn't guess, and I wouldn't tell her for all the wide world, for she
+thinks I'm going to get quite well again, but one night, when she
+thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, 'Poor
+lamb, she'll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.'
+I shouldn't like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady
+Helen?"
+
+"No, darling, I don't think I should."
+
+"Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn't like it either. Of course I
+want to see father again, but whatever happens he'll understand. Only
+if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy
+before I go."
+
+Lady Helen had great difficulty in keeping back her tears, for Sibyl
+spoke in a perfectly calm, contented, almost matter-of-fact voice
+which brought intense conviction with it.
+
+"So you must marry Mr. Rochester," she continued, "for you both love
+each other so very much."
+
+"That is quite true," replied Lady Helen.
+
+Sibyl looked at her with dilated, smiling eyes. "The Lombard Deeps
+Mine is full to the brim with gold," she said, in an excited voice. "I
+know--Lord Grayleigh told me. He has it all wrote down in his
+pocket-book, and you and Mr. Rochester are to have your share. When
+you are both very, very happy you'll think of me, won't you?"
+
+"I can never forget you, my dear little girl. Kiss me, now--see! the
+angel doll is finished."
+
+"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said the child, her attention immediately
+distracted by this new interest. "Do take it down to mother. She's
+dressing the stall where the dolls are to be sold; ask her to put the
+angel doll at the head of all the other dolls. Take it to mother now.
+I can watch from my window--do go at once."
+
+Lady Helen was glad of an excuse to leave the room. When she got into
+the corridor outside she stopped for a moment, put her handkerchief to
+her eyes, made a struggle to subdue her emotion, and then ran
+downstairs.
+
+The great marquee was already erected on the lawn, and many of the
+stall-holders were arranging their stalls and giving directions to
+different workmen. Mrs. Ogilvie was flitting eagerly about. She was in
+the highest spirits, and looked young and charming.
+
+"Sibyl sent you this," said Lady Helen.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie glanced for a moment at the angel doll.
+
+"Oh, lay it down anywhere, please," she said in a negative tone. But
+Lady Helen thought of the sweet blue eyes looking down on this scene
+from the Chamber of Peace. She was not going to put the angel doll
+down anywhere.
+
+"Please, Mrs. Ogilvie," she said, "you must take an interest in it."
+There was something in her tone which arrested even Mrs. Ogilvie's
+attention.
+
+"You must take a great interest in this doll," she continued. "Little
+Sibyl thinks so much of it. Forgive me, Mrs. Ogilvie, I----"
+
+"Oh, what is it now," said Mrs. Ogilvie, "what can be the matter?
+Really everyone who goes near Sibyl acts in the most extraordinary
+way." She looked petulantly, as she spoke, into Lady Helen's agitated
+face.
+
+"I cannot help thinking much of Sibyl," continued Lady Helen, "and I
+am very--more than anxious about her. I am terribly grieved, for--I
+think----"
+
+"You think what? Oh, please don't begin to be gloomy now. You have
+only seen Sibyl for the first time since her accident. She is very
+much better than she was at first. You cannot expect her to look quite
+well all of a sudden."
+
+"But have you had the very best advice for her?"
+
+"I should rather think so. We had Sir Henry Powell down twice.
+Everything has been done that could be done. It is merely a question
+of time and rest. Time and rest will effect a perfect cure; at least,
+that is my opinion."
+
+"But what is Sir Henry Powell's opinion?"
+
+"Don't ask me. I don't believe in doctors. The child is getting
+better, I see it with my own eyes. It is merely a question of time."
+
+"Sibyl is getting well, but not in the way you think," replied Lady
+Helen. She said the words with significance, and Mrs. Ogilvie felt her
+heart throb for a moment with a sudden wild pain, but the next instant
+she laughed.
+
+"I never knew anyone so gloomy," she said, "and you come to me with
+your queer remarks just when I am distracted about the great bazaar. I
+am almost sorry I asked you here, Lady Helen."
+
+"Well, at least take the doll--the child is looking at you," said Lady
+Helen. "Kiss your hand to her; look pleased even if you are not
+interested, and give me a promise, that I may take to her, that the
+angel doll shall stand at the head of the doll stall. The child wishes
+it; do not deny her wishes now."
+
+"Oh, take her any message you like, only leave me, please, for the
+present. Ah, there she is, little darling." Mrs. Ogilvie took the
+angel doll in her hand, and blew a couple of kisses to Sibyl. Sibyl
+smiled down at her from the Chamber of Peace. Very soon afterward Lady
+Helen returned to her little friend.
+
+It was on the first day of the bazaar when all the big-wigs had
+arrived, when the fun was at its height, when the bands were playing
+merrily, and the little pleasure skiffs were floating up and down the
+shining waters of the Thames, when flocks of visitors from all the
+neighborhood round were crowding in and out of the marquee, and people
+were talking and laughing merrily, and Mrs. Ogilvie in her silvery
+white dress was looking more beautiful than she had ever looked before
+in her life, that a tired, old-looking man appeared on the scene.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie half expected that her husband would come back on the day
+of the bazaar, for if the _Sahara_ kept to her dates she would make
+her appearance in the Tilbury Docks in the early morning of that day.
+Mrs. Ogilvie hoped that her husband would get off, and take a quick
+train to Richmond, and arrive in time for her to have a nice straight
+talk with him, and explain to him about Sibyl's accident, and tell him
+what was expected of him. She was anxious to see him before anyone
+else did, for those who went in and out of the child's room were so
+blind, so persistent in their fears with regard to the little girl's
+ultimate recovery; if Mrs. Ogilvie could only get Philip to herself,
+she would assure him that the instincts of motherhood never really
+failed, that her own instincts assured her that the great doctors were
+wrong, and she herself was right. The child was slowly but gradually
+returning to the paths of health and strength.
+
+If only Ogilvie came back in good time his wife would explain these
+matters to him, and tell him not to make a fool of himself about the
+child, and beg of him to help her in this great, this auspicious
+occasion of her life.
+
+"He will look very nice when he is dressed in his, best," she said to
+herself. "It will complete my success in the county if I have him
+standing by my side at the door of the marquee to receive our
+distinguished guests."
+
+As this thought came her eyes sparkled, and she got her maid to dress
+her in the most becoming way, and she further reflected that when they
+had a moment to be alone the husband and wife could talk of the
+wonderful golden treasures which Ogilvie was bringing back with him
+from the other side of the world. Perhaps he had thought much of her,
+his dear Mildred, while he had been away.
+
+"Men of that sort often think much more of their wives when they are
+parted from them," she remembered. "I have read stories to that
+effect. I dare say Philip is as much in love with me as he ever was.
+He used to be devoted to me when first we were married. There was
+nothing good enough for me then. Perhaps he has brought me back some
+jewels of greater value than I possess; I will gladly wear them for
+his sake."
+
+But notwithstanding all her dreams and thoughts of her husband,
+Ogilvie did not come back to his loving wife in the early hours of the
+first day of the bazaar. Neither was there any message or telegram
+from him. In spite of herself, Mrs. Ogilvie now grew a little fretful.
+
+"As he has not come in time to receive our guests, if I knew where to
+telegraph, I would wire to him not to come now until the evening," she
+thought. But she did not know where to telegraph, and the numerous
+duties of the bazaar occupied each moment of her time.
+
+According to his promise Lord Grayleigh was present, and there were
+other titled people walking about the grounds, and Lady Helen as a
+stall-holder was invaluable.
+
+Sibyl had asked to have her white couch drawn nearer than ever to the
+window, and from time to time she peeped out and saw the guests
+flitting about the lawns and thought of her mother's great happiness
+and wonderful goodness. The band played ravishing music, mostly dance
+music, and the day, although it was late in the season, was such a
+perfect one that the feet of the buyers and sellers alike almost kept
+time to the festive strains.
+
+It was on this scene that Ogilvie appeared. During his voyage home he
+had gone through almost every imaginable torture, and, as he reached
+Silverbel, he felt that the limit of his patience was almost reached.
+He knew, because she had sent him a cable to that effect, that his
+wife was staying in a country place, a place on the banks of the
+Thames. She had told him further that the nearest station to Silverbel
+was Richmond. Accordingly he had gone to Richmond, jumped into the
+first cab he could find, and desired the man to drive to Silverbel.
+
+"You know the place, I presume?" he said.
+
+"Silverbel, sir, certainly sir; it is there they are having the big
+bazaar."
+
+As the man spoke he looked askance for a moment at the occupant of his
+cab, for Ogilvie was travel-stained and dusty. He looked like one in a
+terrible hurry. There was an expression in his gray eyes which the
+driver did not care to meet.
+
+"Go as fast as you can," he said briefly, and then the man whipped up
+his horse and proceeded over the dusty roads.
+
+"A rum visitor," he thought; "wonder what he's coming for. Don't look
+the sort that that fine young lady would put up with on a day like
+this."
+
+Ogilvie within the cab, however, saw nothing. He was only conscious of
+the fact that he was drawing nearer and nearer to the house where his
+little daughter--but did his little daughter still live? Was Sibyl
+alive? That was the thought of all thoughts, the desire of all
+desires, which must soon be answered yea or nay.
+
+When the tired-out and stricken man heard the strains of the band, he
+did rouse himself, however, and began dimly to wonder if, after all,
+he had come to the wrong house. Were there two houses called
+Silverbel, and had the man taken him to the wrong one? He pulled up
+the cab to inquire.
+
+"No, sir," replied the driver, "it's all right. There ain't but one
+place named Silverbel here, and this is the place, sir. The lady is
+giving a big bazaar and her name is Mrs. Ogilvie."
+
+"Then Sibyl must have got well again," thought Ogilvie to himself. And
+just for an instant the heavy weight at his breast seemed to lift. He
+paid his fare, told the man to take his luggage round to the back
+entrance, and jumped out of the cab.
+
+The man obeyed him, and Ogilvie, just as he was, stepped across the
+lawn. He had the air of one who was neither a visitor nor yet a
+stranger. He walked with quick, short strides straight before him and
+presently he came full upon his wife in her silvery dress. A large
+white hat trimmed with pink roses reposed on her head. There were
+nature's own pink roses on her cheeks and smiles in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, Phil!" she cried, with a little start. She was quite clever
+enough to hide her secret dismay at his arriving thus, and at such a
+moment. She dropped some things she was carrying and ran toward him
+with her pretty hands outstretched.
+
+"Why, Phil!" she said again. "Oh, you naughty man, so you have come
+back. But why didn't you send me a telegram?"
+
+"I had not time, Mildred; I thought my own presence was best. How is
+the child?"
+
+"Oh, much the same--I mean she is going on quite, _quite_ nicely."
+
+"And what is this?"
+
+Ogilvie motioned with his hand as he spoke in the direction of the
+crowd of people, the marquee, and the band. The music of the band
+seemed to get on his brain and hurt him.
+
+"What is all this?" he repeated.
+
+"My dear Phil, my dear unpractical husband, this is a bazaar! Have you
+never heard of a bazaar before? A bazaar for the Cottage Hospital at
+Watleigh, the Home for Incurables; such a useful charity, Phil, and so
+much needed. The poor things are wanting funds dreadfully; they have
+got into debt, and something must be done to relieve them Think of all
+the dear little children in those wards, Phil; the Sisters have been
+obliged to refuse several cases lately. It is most pathetic, isn't it?
+Oh, by the way, Lord Grayleigh is here; you will be glad to see him?"
+
+"Presently, not now. How did you say Sibyl was?"
+
+"I told you a moment ago. You can go and see her when you have changed
+your things. I wish you would go away at once to your room and get
+into some other clothes. There are no end of people you ought to meet.
+How strange you look, Phil."
+
+"I want to know more of Sibyl." Here the husband caught the wife's
+dainty wrist and drew her a little aside. "No matter about other
+things at present," he said sternly. "How is Sibyl? Remember, I have
+heard no particulars; I have heard nothing since I got your cable. How
+is she? Is there much the matter?"
+
+"Well, I really don't think there is, but perhaps Lady Helen will tell
+you. Shall I send her to you? I really am so busy just now. You know I
+am selling, myself, at the principal stall. Oh, do go into the house,
+you naughty dear; do go to your own room and change your things! I
+expected you early this morning, and Watson has put out some of your
+wardrobe. Watson will attend on you if you will ring for him. You will
+find there is a special dressing room for you on the first floor. Go,
+dear, do."
+
+But Ogilvie now hold both her hands. His own were not too clean; they
+were soiled by the dust of his rapid journey. He gripped her wrists
+tightly.
+
+"_Where_ is the child?" he repeated again.
+
+"Don't look at me like that, you quite frighten me. The child, she is
+in her room; she is going on nicely."
+
+"But is she injured? Can she walk?"
+
+"What could you expect? She cannot walk yet, but she is getting better
+gradually--at least, I think so."
+
+"What you think is nothing, less than nothing. What do the doctors
+say?"
+
+As Ogilvie was speaking he drew his wife gradually but surely away
+from the fashionably dressed people and the big-wigs who were too
+polite to stare, but who were all the time devoured with curiosity. It
+began to be whispered in the crowd that Ogilvie had returned, and that
+his wife and he were looking at certain matters from different points
+of view. There were several men and women present, who, although they
+encouraged Mrs. Ogilvie to have the bazaar, nevertheless thought her a
+heartless woman, and these people now were rather rejoicing in
+Ogilvie's attitude. He did not look like a person who could be trifled
+with. He drew his wife toward the shrubbery.
+
+"I will see the child in a minute," he said; "nothing else matters.
+She is ill, unable to walk, lying down. I want to hear full
+particulars. If you will not tell them to me, I will send for the
+doctor. The question I wish answered is this, _what do the doctors
+say_?"
+
+Tears filled Mrs. Ogilvie's pretty, dark eyes.
+
+"Really, Phil, you are too cruel. After these weeks of anxiety, which
+only a mother can understand, you speak to me in that tone, just as if
+the dear little creature were nothing to me at all."
+
+"You can cry, Mildred, as much as you please, and you can talk all the
+sentimental stuff that best appeals to you, but answer my question
+now. What do the doctors say, and what doctors has she seen?"
+
+"The local doctor here, our own special doctor in town, and the great
+specialist, Sir Henry Powell."
+
+"Good God, that man!" said Ogilvie, starting back. "Then she must have
+been badly hurt?"
+
+"She was badly hurt."
+
+"Well, what did the doctors say? Give me their verdict. I insist upon
+knowing."
+
+"They--they--of course, they are wrong, Phil. You are hurting me; I
+wish you would not hold my hands so tightly."
+
+"Speak!" was his only response.
+
+"They said at the time--of course they were mistaken, doctors often
+are. You cannot imagine how many diagnoses of theirs have been proved
+to be wrong. Yes, I learned that queer word; I did not understand it
+at first. Now I know all about it."
+
+"Speak!" This one expression came from Ogilvie's lips almost with a
+hiss.
+
+"Well, they said at the time that--oh, Phil, you kill me when you look
+at me like that! They said the case was----"
+
+"Hopeless?" asked the man between his white lips.
+
+"They certainly _said_ it. But, Phil; oh, Phil, dear, they are wrong!"
+
+He let her hands go with a sudden jerk. She almost fell.
+
+"You knew it, and you could have that going on?" he said. "Go back to
+your bazaar."
+
+"I certainly will. I think you are terribly unkind."
+
+"You can have those people here, and that band playing, when you know
+_that_? Well, if such scenes give you pleasure at such a time, go and
+enjoy them."
+
+He strode into the house. She looked after his retreating figure; then
+she took out her daintily laced handkerchief, applied it to her eyes,
+and went back to her duties.
+
+"I am a martyr in a good cause," she said to herself; "but it is
+bitterly hard when one's husband does not understand one."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+This was better than the phantom ship. This was peace, joy, and
+absolute delight. Sibyl need not now only lie in her father's arms
+at night and in her dreams. She could look into his face and hear
+his voice and touch his hand at all hours, day and night.
+
+Her gladness was so real and beautiful that it pervaded the entire
+room, and in her presence Ogilvie scarcely felt pain. He held her
+little hand and sat by her side, and at times when she was utterly
+weary he even managed to raise her in his arms and pace the room with
+her, and lay her back again on her bed without hurting her, and he
+talked cheerfully in her presence, and smiled and even joked with her,
+and they were gay together with a sort of tender gaiety which had
+never been theirs in the old times. At night, especially, he was her
+best comforter and her kindest and most tender nurse.
+
+For the first two days after his return Ogilvie scarcely left Sibyl.
+During all that time he asked no questions of outsiders. He did not
+even inquire for the doctor's verdict. Where was the good of asking a
+question which could only receive one answer? The look on the child's
+face was answer enough to her father.
+
+Meanwhile, outside in the grounds, the bazaar went on. The marquee was
+full of guests, the band played cheerily, the notable people from all
+the country round arrived in carriages, and bought the pretty things
+from the different stall-holders and went away again.
+
+The weather was balmy, soft and warm, and the little skiffs with their
+gay flags did a large trade on the river. Lord Grayleigh was one of
+the guests, returning to town, it is true, at night, but coming back
+again early in the morning. He heard that Ogilvie had returned and was
+naturally anxious to see him, but Ogilvie sent word that he could not
+see anyone just then. Grayleigh understood. He shook his head when
+Mrs. Ogilvie herself brought him the message.
+
+"This cuts him to the heart," he said; "I doubt if he will ever be the
+same man again."
+
+"Oh, Lord Grayleigh, what nonsense!" said the wife. "My dear husband
+was always eccentric, but as Sibyl recovers so will he recover his
+equanimity. It is a great shock to him, of course, to see her as she
+is now, dear little soul. But I cannot tell you how bad I was at
+first; indeed, I was in bed for nearly a week. I had a sort of nervous
+attack--nervous fever, the doctor said. But I got over it. I know now
+so assuredly that the darling child is getting well that I am never
+unhappy about her. Philip will be just the same by-and-by."
+
+Grayleigh made no reply. He gave Mrs. Ogilvie one of his queer
+glances, turned on his heel and whistled softly to himself. He
+muttered under his breath that some women were poor creatures, and he
+was sorry for Ogilvie, yes, very sorry.
+
+Grayleigh was also anxious with regard to another matter, but that
+anxiety he managed so effectually to smother that he would not even
+allow himself to _think_ that it had any part in Ogilvie's curious
+unwillingness to see him.
+
+At this time it is doubtful whether Ogilvie did refuse to see
+Grayleigh in any way on account of the mine, for during those two days
+he had eyes, ears, thoughts, and heart for no one but Sibyl. When
+anyone else entered her room he invariably went out, but he quickly
+returned, smiling as he did so, and generally carrying in his hand
+some treasure which he had brought for her across the seas. He would
+then draw his chair near the little, white bed and talk to her in
+light and cheerful strains, telling her wonderful things he had seen
+during his voyage, of the sunsets at sea, of a marvelous rainbow which
+once spanned the sky from east to west, and of many curious mirages
+which he had witnessed. He always talked to the child of nature,
+knowing how she understood nature, and those things which are the
+special heritage of the innocent of the earth, and she was as happy
+during those two peaceful days as it was ever the lot of little mortal
+to be.
+
+But, in particular, when Mrs. Ogilvie entered the sick room did
+Ogilvie go out. He had during those two days not a single word of
+private talk with his wife. To Miss Winstead he was always polite and
+tolerant; to nurse he was more than polite, he was kind, and to Sibyl
+he was all in all, everything that father could be, everything that
+love could imagine. He kept himself, his wounded conscience, his
+fears, his heavy burden of sin in abeyance for the sake of the
+fast-fleeting little life, because he willed, with all the strength
+of his nature, to give the child every comfort that lay in his power
+during her last moments.
+
+But the peaceful days could not last long. They came to an end with
+the big bazaar. The band ceased to play on the lawn, the pleasure
+boats ceased to ply up and down the Thames, the lovely Indian summer
+passed into duller weather, the equinoctial gales visited the land,
+and Ogilvie knew that he must brace himself for something he had long
+made up his mind to accomplish. He must pass out of this time of
+quiet into a time of storm. He had known from the first that he must
+do this, but until the bazaar came to an end, by a sort of tacit
+consent, neither the child nor the man talked of the gold mine.
+
+But now the guests having gone, even Lady Helen Douglas and Lord
+Grayleigh having left the house, Ogilvie knew that he must act.
+
+On the morning of the third day after his return Mrs. Ogilvie entered
+Sibyl's room. She came in quietly looking pale and at the same time
+jubilant. The result of the bazaar was a large check which was to be
+sent off that day to the Home for Incurables at Watleigh. Mrs. Ogilvie
+felt herself a very good and charitable woman indeed. She wore her
+very prettiest dress and had smiles in her dark eyes.
+
+"Oh! my ownest darling mother, how sweet you look!" said little Sibyl.
+"Come and kiss me, darling mother."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie had to bend forward to catch the failing voice. She asked
+the child what she said. Sibyl feebly repeated her words.
+
+"Don't tire her," said Ogilvie; "if you cannot hear, be satisfied to
+guess. The child wishes you to kiss her."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie turned on her husband a look of reproach. There was an
+expression in her eyes which seemed to say: "And you think that I, a
+mother, do not understand my own child." But Ogilvie would not meet
+his wife's eyes. He walked to one of the windows and looked out. The
+little, white couch had been moved a trifle out of the window now that
+the weather was getting chilly, and a screen was put up to protect the
+child from any draught.
+
+Ogilvie stood and looked across the garden. Where the marquee had
+stood the grass was already turning yellow, there were wisps of straw
+about; the scene without seemed to him to be full with desolation.
+Suddenly he turned, walked to the fireplace, and stirred the fire into
+a blaze. At that moment Miss Winstead entered the room.
+
+"Miss Winstead," said Ogilvie, "will you sit with Sibyl for a short
+time? Mildred, I should like a word with you alone."
+
+His voice was cheerful, but quite firm. He went up to Sibyl and kissed
+her.
+
+"I shall soon be back, my little love," he said, and she kissed him
+and smiled, and watched both parents as they went out of the room.
+
+"Isn't it wonderful," she said, turning to her governess, "how perfect
+they both are! I don't know which is most perfect; only, of course I
+can't help it, but I like father's way best."
+
+"I should think you did," replied Miss Winstead. "Shall I go on
+reading you the new fairy tale, Sibyl?"
+
+"Not to-day, thank you, Miss Winstead," answered Sibyl.
+
+"Then what shall I read?"
+
+"I don't think anything, just now. Father has been reading the most
+beautiful inciting things about a saint called John, who wrote a story
+about the New Jerusalem. Did you ever read it?"
+
+"You mean a story out of the Bible, from the Book of Revelation?"
+
+"Perhaps so; I don't quite know what part of the Bible. Oh, it's most
+wonderful inciting, and father reads so splendid. It's about what
+happens to people when their wings are grown long. Did you never read
+about it, Miss Winstead? The New Jerusalem _is_ so lovely, with
+streets paved with gold, same as the gold in the gold mine, you know,
+and gates all made of big pearls, each gate one big whole pearl. I
+won't ask you to read about it, 'cos I like father's way of reading
+best; but it's all most wonderful and beautiful."
+
+The child lay with a smile on her face. She could see a little way
+across the garden from where she lay.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie and his wife had gone downstairs. When they reached
+the wide central hall, he asked her to accompany him into a room
+which was meant to be a library. It looked out toward the back of the
+house, and was not quite in the same absolute order as the other
+beautiful rooms were in. Ogilvie perhaps chose it for that reason.
+
+The moment they had both got into the room he closed the door, and
+turned and faced his wife.
+
+"Now, Mildred," he said, "I wish to understand--God knows I am the
+last person who ought to reproach you--but I must clearly understand
+what this means."
+
+"What it means?" she repeated. "Why do you speak in that tone? Oh,
+it's very fine to say you do not mean to reproach me, but your eyes
+and the tone of your voice reproach me. You have been very cruel to
+me, Philip, these last two days. What I have suffered, God only knows.
+I have gone through the most fearful strain; I, alone, unaided by you,
+have had to keep the bazaar going, to entertain our distinguished
+guests, to be here, there, and everywhere, but, thank goodness, we did
+collect a nice little sum for the Home for Incurables. I wonder,
+Philip, when you think of your own dear little daughter, and what she
+may----"
+
+"Hush!" said the man.
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie paused in her rapid flow of words, and looked at him with
+interrogation in her eyes.
+
+"I refuse to allow Sibyl's name to enter into this matter," he said.
+"You did what you did, God knows with what motive. I don't care, and I
+do not mean to inquire. The question I have now to ask is, what is the
+meaning of _this_?" As he spoke he waved his hand round the room, and
+then pointed to the grounds outside.
+
+"Silverbel!" she cried; "but I wrote to you and told you the place was
+in the market. I even sent you a cablegram. Oh, of course, I forgot,
+you rushed away from Brisbane in a hurry. You received the other
+cablegram about little Sibyl?"
+
+"Yes, I received the other cablegram, and, as you say, I rushed home.
+But why are you here? Have you taken the house for the season, or
+what?"
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie gave an excited scream, ending off in a laugh.
+
+"Why, we have bought Silverbel," she cried; "you are, you must be
+pleased. Mr. Acland lent me enough money for the first deposit, and
+you have just come back in time, my dear Phil, to pay the final sum
+due at the end of October, eighteen thousand pounds. Quite a trifle
+compared to the fortune you must have brought back with you. Then,
+of course, there is also the furniture to be paid for, but the
+tradespeople are quite willing to wait. We are rich, dear Phil, and
+I am so happy about it."
+
+"Rich!" he answered. He did not say another word for a moment, then he
+went slowly up to his wife, and took her hand.
+
+"Mildred," he said slowly, "do you realize--do you at all realize the
+fact that the child is dying?"
+
+"Nonsense," she answered, starting back.
+
+"The child is dying," repeated Ogilvie, "and when the child dies, any
+motive that I ever had for amassing gold, or any of those things which
+are considered essential to the worldly man's happiness, _goes out_.
+After the child is taken, I have no desire to live as a wealthy man,
+as a man of society, as a man of means. Life to me is reduced to the
+smallest possible modicum of interest. When I went to Queensland, I
+went there because I wished to secure money for the child. I did
+bitter wrong, and God is punishing me, but I sinned for her sake.... I
+now repent of my sin, and repentance means----"
+
+"What?" she asked, looking at him with round, dilated eyes.
+
+"Restitution," he replied; "all the restitution that lies in my
+power."
+
+"You--you terrify me," said Mrs. Ogilvie; "what are you talking about?
+Restitution! What have you to give back?"
+
+"Listen, and I will explain. You knew, Mildred--oh, yes, you knew it
+well enough--that I went to Australia on no honorable mission. You did
+not care to inquire, you hid yourself behind a veil of pretended
+ignorance; but you _knew_--yes, you did, and you dare not deny
+it--that I went to Queensland to commit a crime. It would implicate
+others if I were to explain things more fully. I will not implicate
+others, I will stand alone now, in this bitter moment when the fruit
+of my sin is brought home to me. I will bear the responsibility of my
+own sin. I will not drag anybody else down in my fall, but it is
+sufficient for you to know, Mildred, that the Lombard Deeps Mine as a
+speculation is worthless."
+
+"Worthless!" she cried, "impossible!"
+
+"Worthless," he repeated.
+
+"Then why, why did you send a cablegram to say the mine was full of
+gold? Lord Grayleigh told me he had received such a message from you."
+
+"I told a dastardly lie, which I am about to put straight."
+
+"But, but," she began, her lips white, her eyes shining, "if you do
+not explain away your lie (oh, Phil, it is such an ugly word), if you
+do not explain it away, could not the company be floated?"
+
+"It could, and the directors could reap a fortune by means of it. Do
+you understand, Mildred, what that implies?"
+
+"Do I understand?" she replied. "No, I was always a poor little woman
+who had no head for figures."
+
+"Nevertheless you will, I think, take it in when I explain. You are
+not quite so stupid as you make yourself out. The directors and I
+could make a fortune--it would be easy, for there is enough gold
+in the mine to last for at least six months, and the public are
+credulous, and can be taken in. We should make our fortunes out of the
+widows and orphans, out of the savings of the poor clerks, and from
+the clergyman's tiny stipend. We could sweep in their little earnings,
+and aggrandize our own wealth and importance, and _lose our souls_.
+Yes, Mildred, we could, but we won't. I shall prevent that. I have a
+task before me which will save this foulest crime from being
+committed."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie dropped into a chair; she burst into hysterical weeping.
+
+"What you say can't be true, Phil. Oh, Phil, darling, do have mercy."
+
+"How?" he asked.
+
+"Don't do anything so mad, so rash. You always had such a queer,
+troublesome sort of conscience. Phil, I cannot stand poverty, I cannot
+stand being dragged down; I must have this place; I have set my heart
+on it."
+
+He came up to her and took both her hands.
+
+"Is it worth evil?" he asked.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Is anything under the sun worth evil?" She made no answer. He dropped
+her hands and left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+Ogilvie went up to Sibyl. Suffering and love had taught him many
+lessons, amongst others those of absolute self-control. His face was
+smiling and calm as he crossed the room, bent over the child and
+kissed her. Those blue eyes of hers, always so full of penetration and
+of knowledge, which was not all this earth, could detect no sorrow in
+her father's.
+
+"I must go to town, I shall be away for as short a time as possible.
+As soon as I come back I will come to you," he said. "Look after her,
+please, Miss Winstead. If you cannot remain in the room, send nurse.
+Now, don't tire yourself, my little love. Remember that father will be
+back very soon."
+
+"Don't hurry, father darling," replied Sibyl "'cos I am quite happy
+thinking about you, even if you are not here."
+
+He went away, ran downstairs, put on his hat and went out. His wife
+was standing in the porch.
+
+"One moment, Phil," she called, "where are you going?"
+
+"To town."
+
+"To do what?"
+
+"To do what I said," he answered, and he gave her a strange look,
+which frightened her, and caused her to fall back against the wall.
+
+He disappeared down the avenue, she sank into a chair and began
+to weep. She was thoroughly miserable and frightened. Philip had
+returned, but all pleasant golden dreams were shattered, for although
+he had sent a cablegram to Lord Grayleigh, saying that all was well,
+better than well, his conscience was speaking to him, that troublesome
+terrible conscience of his, and he was about to destroy his own work.
+
+"What fearful creatures men with consciences are," moaned Mrs.
+Ogilvie.
+
+Meanwhile Ogilvie walked quickly up the avenue. Just at the gates he
+met an old couple who were coming in. They were a queer-looking old
+pair, dressed in old-fashioned style. Ogilvie did not know them, but
+the woman paused when she saw him, came forward, dropped a curtsey and
+said:
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir."
+
+"What can I do for you?" said Ogilvie. He tried to speak courteously,
+but this delay, and the presence of the old couple whose names he did
+not even know, irritated him.
+
+"If you please, sir, you are Mr. Ogilvie?"
+
+"That is my name."
+
+"We know you," continued the old woman, "by the likeness to your
+little daughter."
+
+The mention of Sibyl caused Ogilvie now to regard them more
+attentively.
+
+"May I inquire your names?" he asked.
+
+"Holman, sir," said the woman. "This is my husband, sir. We heard only
+yesterday of dear little Missie's illness, and we couldn't rest until
+we came to enquire after her. We greatly 'opes, sir, that the dear
+little lamb is better. We thought you wouldn't mind if we asked."
+
+"By no means," answered Ogilvie. "Any friends of Sibyl's, any real
+friends, are of interest to me."
+
+He paused and looked into the old woman's face.
+
+"She's better, ain't she, dear lamb?" asked Mrs. Holman.
+
+Ogilvie shook his head; it was a quick movement, his face was very
+white, his lips opened but no words came. The next instant he had
+hurried down the road, leaving the old pair looking after him.
+
+Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand.
+
+"What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?"
+
+"We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response.
+
+"Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it that
+it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I
+always said it, John, always."
+
+"Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again.
+
+He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down
+the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the
+pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as
+they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber
+of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes
+which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them.
+
+"Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl.
+
+"What is it, dear?" asked the governess.
+
+Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss
+Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been
+falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice now
+arrested her attention.
+
+"Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come."
+
+"Who have come, dear?"
+
+"The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I
+should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please
+do."
+
+"But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself."
+
+"What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please
+let me see the Holmans."
+
+"Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went
+downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself
+listening to an animated conversation.
+
+"Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high and
+clear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The
+child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you
+say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you
+refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, but
+you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child."
+
+"If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming
+forward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the
+avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see
+her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk
+with her?"
+
+"Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child another
+bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the
+darling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which she
+is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I
+wish you would go back to town and not make mischief."
+
+"But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice,
+tears trembling on her eyelids.
+
+"Sibyl certainly does wish to see you," said Miss Winstead in a grave
+voice. "I think, Mrs. Ogilvie," she added, "it would be a pity to
+refuse her. I happen to know Mr. and Mrs. Holman pretty well, and I do
+not think they will injure dear little Sibyl. If you will both promise
+to come upstairs quietly," continued Miss Winstead, "and not express
+sorrow when you see her, for she is much changed, and will endeavor to
+speak cheerfully, you will do her good, not harm."
+
+"Oh, yes, we'll speak cheerfully," said Holman; "we know the ways of
+dear little Miss. If so be that she would see us, it would be a great
+gratification, Madam, and we will give you our word that we will not
+injure your little daughter."
+
+"Very well," said Mrs. Ogilvie, waving her hand, "My opinion is
+never taken in this house, nor my wishes consulted. I pass the
+responsibility on to you, Miss Winstead. When the child's father
+returns and finds that you have acted as you have done you will
+have to answer to him. I wash my hands of the matter."
+
+Mrs. Ogilvie went out on to the lawn.
+
+"The day is improving," she thought. She glanced up at the sky. "It
+certainly is miserable at home, and every one talks nonsense about
+Sibyl. I shall really take a drive and go and see the Le Stranges. I
+cannot stand the gloom of the house. The dear child is getting better
+fast, there is not the least doubt of it, and why Phil should talk as
+he does, and in particular why he should speak as if we were paupers,
+is past bearing. Lose Silverbel! I certainly will not submit to that."
+
+So the much aggrieved wife went round in the direction of the stables,
+gave orders that the pony trap was to be got ready for her, and soon
+afterward was on her way to the Le Stranges. By the time she reached
+that gay and somewhat festive household, she herself was as merry and
+hopeful as usual.
+
+Meantime Miss Winstead took the Holmans upstairs.
+
+"You must be prepared for a very great change," said Miss Winstead,
+"but you will not show her that you notice it. She is very sweet and
+very happy, and I do not think anyone need be over-sorry about her."
+
+Miss Winstead's own voice trembled. The next moment she opened the
+door of the Chamber of Peace, and the old-fashioned pair from whom
+Sibyl had bought so many dusty toys stood before her.
+
+"Eh, my little love, and how are you, dearie?" said Mrs. Holman. She
+went forward, dropped on her knees by the bed, and took one of Sibyl's
+soft white hands. "Eh, dearie, and what can Mrs. Holman do for you?"
+
+"How do you do, Mrs. Holman?" said Sibyl, in her weak, but perfectly
+clear voice; "and how do you do, Mr. Holman? How very kind of you both
+to come to see me. Do you know I love you very much. I think of you so
+often. Won't you come to the other side of the bed, Mr. Holman, and
+won't you take a chair? My voice is apt to get tired if I talk too
+loud. I am very glad to see you both."
+
+"Eh! but you look sweet," said Mrs. Holman.
+
+Mr. Holman now took his big handkerchief and blew his nose violently.
+After that precautionary act he felt better, as he expressed it, and
+no longer in danger of giving way. But Mrs. Holman never for a single
+instant thought of giving way. She had once, long ago, had a child of
+her own--a child who died when young--and she had sat by that dying
+child's bed and never once given expression to her feelings. So why
+should she now grieve little Sibyl by showing undue sorrow?
+
+"It is nice to look at you, dearie," she repeated, "and what a pretty
+room you have, my love."
+
+"Everything is beautiful," said little Sibyl, "everything in all the
+world, and I love you so much."
+
+"To be sure, darling, and so do Holman and I love you."
+
+"Whisper," said Sibyl, "bend a little nearer, my voice gets so very
+tired. Have you kept your hundred pounds quite safe?"
+
+"Yes, darling, but we won't talk of money now."
+
+"Only," said Sibyl, "when the gold comes from the mine _you'll_ be all
+right. Lord Grayleigh has wrote your name and Mr. Holman's in his
+note-book, and he has promised that you are to get some of the gold.
+You'll be able to have the shop in Buckingham Palace Road, and the
+children will come to you and buy your beautiful toys." She paused
+here and her little face turned white.
+
+"You must not talk any more, dearie," said Mrs. Holman. "It's all
+right about the gold and everything else. All we want is for you to
+get well."
+
+"I am getting well," answered Sibyl, but as she said the words a
+curious expression came into her eyes.
+
+"You know," she said, as Mrs. Holman rose and took her hand before she
+went away, "that when we have wings we fly. I think my wings are
+coming; but oh, I love you, and you won't forget me when you have your
+big shop in Buckingham Palace Road?"
+
+"We will never forget you, dearie," said Mrs. Holman, and then she
+stooped and kissed the child.
+
+"Come, Holman," she said.
+
+"If I might," said old Holman, straightening himself and looking very
+solemn, "if I might have the great privilege of kissing little
+Missie's hand afore I go."
+
+"Oh, indeed, you may," said Sibyl.
+
+A moment later the old pair were seen going slowly down the avenue.
+
+"Blessed darling, her wings are very near, I'm thinking," said Mrs.
+Holman. She was sobbing now, although she had not sobbed in the sick
+room.
+
+"Queer woman, the mother," said Holman. "We'll get back to town, wife;
+I'm wonderful upset."
+
+"We'll never sell no more of the dusty toys to no other little
+children," said Mrs. Holman, and she wept behind her handkerchief.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+Ogilvie went straight to town. When he arrived at Victoria he took a
+hansom and drove to the house of the great doctor who had last seen
+Sibyl. Sir Henry Powell was at home. Ogilvie sent in his card and
+was admitted almost immediately into his presence. He asked a few
+questions, they were straight and to the point, and to the point did
+the specialist reply. His last words were:
+
+"It is a question of time; but the end may come at any moment. There
+never was any hope from the beginning. From the first it was a matter
+of days and weeks, I did not know when I first saw your little
+daughter that she could live even as long as she has done, but the
+injury to the spine was low down, which doubtless accounts for this
+fact."
+
+Ogilvie bowed, offered a fee, which Sir Henry refused, and left the
+house. Although he had just received the blow which he expected to
+receive, he felt strangely quiet, his troublesome heart was not
+troublesome any longer. There was no excitement whatever about him; he
+had never felt so calm in all his life before. He knew well that, as
+far as earthly success and earthly hope and earthly joy went, he was
+coming to the end of the ways. He knew that he had strength for the
+task which lay before him.
+
+He went to the nearest telegraph office and sent three telegrams to
+Lord Grayleigh. He pre-paid the answers of each, sending one to
+Grayleigh's club, another to his house in town, and another to
+Grayleigh Manor. The contents of each were identical.
+
+    "Wire immediately the next meeting of the directors of the
+    Lombard Deeps."
+
+He gave as the address to which the reply was to be sent his own house
+in Belgrave Square.
+
+Having done this he paid a visit to his solicitor, Mr. Acland. Acland
+did not know that he had come back, and was unfeignedly glad to see
+him, but when he observed the expression on his friend's face, he
+started and said:
+
+"My dear fellow, you don't look the better for your trip; I am sorry
+to see you so broken down."
+
+"I have a good deal to try me," said Ogilvie; "please do not discuss
+my looks. It does not matter whether I am ill or well. I have much to
+do and must do my work quickly. You have heard, of course, about the
+child?"
+
+"Of her accident?" exclaimed Acland; "yes, her mother wrote to me some
+time ago--she had a fall from her pony?"
+
+"She had."
+
+"Take a chair, won't you, Ogilvie?"
+
+Ogilvie dropped into one. Acland looked at him and then said, slowly:
+
+"I judged from Mrs. Ogilvie's note that there was nothing serious the
+matter. I hope I am not mistaken."
+
+"You are mistaken," replied Ogilvie; "but I cannot quite bear to
+discuss this matter. Shall we enter at once on the real object of my
+visit?"
+
+"Certainly," said Acland.
+
+A clerk entered the room. "Leave us," said Acland to the man, "and say
+to any inquirers that I am particularly engaged. Now, Ogilvie," he
+added as the clerk withdrew, "I am quite at your service."
+
+"Thank you. There is a little business which has just come to my ears,
+and which I wish to arrange quickly. My wife tells me that she has
+borrowed two thousand pounds from you in order to pay a deposit on the
+place on the Thames called Silverbel."
+
+"Yes, the place where your wife is now staying."
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I hope you approve of Silverbel, Ogilvie; it is really cheap at the
+price; and, of course, everyone knows that you have returned a very
+rich man. It would have been pleasanter for me had you been at home
+when the purchase was made, but Mrs. Ogilvie was insistent. She had
+taken a strong fancy to the place. There were several other less
+expensive country places in the market, but the only one which would
+please her was Silverbel. I cabled to you, but got no reply. Your wife
+implored me to act, and I lent her the deposit. The purchase must be
+completed at the end of October, in about a month from now. I hope you
+don't blame me, Ogilvie?"
+
+"I don't blame you--I understand my wife. It would have been difficult
+to refuse her. Of course, had you done so matters might have been a
+little easier for me now. As it is, I will pay you back the deposit. I
+have my cheque-book with me."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I should like to write a cheque for you now. I must get this matter
+put straight, and, Acland, you must find another purchaser."
+
+"Not really!" cried Mr. Acland. "The place is beautiful, and cheap at
+the price, and you have come back a rich man."
+
+"On the contrary, I have returned to England practically a pauper."
+
+"No!" cried Mr. Acland; "but the report of the Lombard Deeps----"
+
+"Hush, you will know all soon. It is sufficient for you at present to
+receive the news in all confidence that I am a ruined man. Not that it
+matters. There will be a trifle for my wife--nothing else concerns me.
+May I fill in this cheque?"
+
+"You can do so, of course," replied Acland. "I shall receive the money
+in full sooner or later from the other purchaser, and then you can
+have it back."
+
+"It would be a satisfaction to me, however, to pay you the deposit you
+lent my wife at once."
+
+"Very well."
+
+Ogilvie filled in a cheque for two thousand pounds.
+
+"You had better see Mrs. Ogilvie with regard to this," he said, as he
+stood up. "You transacted the business with her, and you must break to
+her what I have already done, but what I fear she fails to believe,
+that the purchase cannot possibly go on. It will not be in my power,
+Acland, to complete it, even if I should be alive at the time."
+
+"I know another man only too anxious to purchase," said Acland; "but I
+am deeply sorry for you--your child so ill, your own mission to
+Queensland a failure."
+
+"Yes, quite a failure. I won't detain you any longer now. I may need
+your services again presently."
+
+Ogilvie went from the lawyer's house straight to his own in Belgrave
+Square. It was in the hands of a caretaker. A seedy-looking man in a
+rusty black coat opened the door. He did not know Ogilvie.
+
+"I am the master," said Ogilvie; "let me in, please."
+
+The man stood aside.
+
+"Has a telegram come for me?"
+
+"Yes, sir, five minutes ago."
+
+Ogilvie tore it open, and read the contents.
+
+     "Meeting of directors at one o'clock to-morrow, at Cannon
+     Street Hotel. Not necessary for you to be present unless you
+     wish. GRAYLEIGH."
+
+Ogilvie crushed up the telegram, and turned to the man.
+
+"I shall sleep here to-night," Ogilvie said, "and shall be back in the
+course of the evening."
+
+He then went to his bank. It was within half-an-hour of closing. He
+saw one of the managers who happened to be a friend of his. The
+manager welcomed him back with effusion, and then made the usual
+remark about his changed appearance.
+
+Ogilvie put his troublesome questions aside.
+
+"I had an interview with you just before I went to Queensland," he
+said, "and I then placed, with a special note for your instructions
+in case anything happened to me, a sum of money in the bank."
+
+"A large sum, Ogilvie--ten thousand pounds."
+
+"Yes, ten thousand pounds," repeated Ogilvie. "I want to withdraw the
+money."
+
+"It is a considerable sum to withdraw at once, but as it is not on
+deposit you can have it."
+
+"I thought it only fair to give you a few hours' notice. I shall call
+for it to-morrow about ten o'clock."
+
+"Do you wish to take it in a cheque?"
+
+"I think not, I should prefer notes." Ogilvie added a few more words,
+and then went back to his own house.
+
+At last everything was in train. He uttered a sigh of relief. The
+house looked gloomy and dismantled, but for that very reason it suited
+his feelings. Some of the furniture had been removed to Silverbel, and
+the place was dusty. His study in particular looked forbidding, some
+ashes from the last fire ever made there still remained in the grate.
+He wondered if anyone had ever entered the study since he last sat
+there and struggled with temptation and yielded to it.
+
+He went up to his own room, which had been hastily prepared for him,
+and looked around him in a forlorn way. He then quickly mounted
+another flight of stairs, and found himself at last in the room where
+his little daughter used to sleep. The moment he entered this room he
+was conscious of a sensation of comfort. The worldliness of all the
+rest of the house fell away in this sweet, simply furnished chamber.
+He sat down near the little empty bed, pressed his hand over his eyes,
+and gave himself up to thought.
+
+Nobody knew how long he sat there. The caretaker and his wife took no
+notice. They were busy down in the kitchen. It mattered nothing at all
+to them whether Ogilvie were in the house or not. He breathed a
+conscious sigh of relief. He was glad to be alone, and the spirit of
+his little daughter seemed close to him. He had something hard to go
+through, and terrible agony would be his as he accomplished his task.
+He knew that he should have to walk through fire, and the fire would
+not be brief nor quickly over. Step by step his wounded feet must
+tread. By no other road was there redemption. He did not shirk the
+inevitable. On the contrary, his mind was made up.
+
+"By no other road can I clasp her hand in the Eternity which lies
+beyond this present life," he thought. "I deserve the pain and the
+shame, I deserve all. There are times when a man comes face to face
+with God. It is fearful when his God is angry with him. My God is
+angry--the pains of hell take hold of me."
+
+He walked to the window and looked out. It is doubtful if he saw much.
+Suddenly beside the little empty bed he fell on his knees, buried his
+face in his hands and a sob rose to his throat.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the following day, shortly before one o'clock, the directors of the
+Lombard Deeps Company assembled in one of the big rooms of the Cannon
+Street Hotel. Lord Grayleigh, the Chairman, had not yet arrived. The
+rest of the directors sat around a long, green baize table and talked
+eagerly one to the other. They formed a notable gathering, including
+many of the astutest financiers in the city. As they sat and waited
+for Grayleigh to appear, they eagerly discussed the prospects of the
+new venture. While they talked their spirits rose, and had any outside
+spectator been present he would have guessed that they had already
+made up their minds to an enormous success.
+
+Just on the stroke of one Grayleigh, carrying a roll of documents in
+his hand, entered the room. There was a lull in the conversation as he
+nodded to one and another of his acquaintances, went quickly up the
+room and took his seat at the head of the table. Here he arranged his
+papers and held a short consultation with the secretary, a tall man of
+about fifty years of age. There was a short pause and then Lord
+Grayleigh rose to his feet.
+
+"Gentlemen," he began, "although, as you know, I have been and am
+still chairman of several companies, I can say without hesitation that
+never have I presided at a meeting of the directors of any company
+before which had such brilliant prospects. It is my firm conviction,
+and I hope to impress you all with a similar feeling, that the Lombard
+Deeps Mining Company has a great career before it."
+
+Expressions of satisfaction rose from one or two present.
+
+Lord Grayleigh proceeded: "This I can frankly say is largely due to
+our having secured the services of Mr. Philip Ogilvie as our assayer,
+but I regret to have to tell you all that, although he has returned
+to England, he is not likely to be present to-day. A very serious
+domestic calamity which ought to claim your deepest sympathy is the
+cause of his absence, but his report in detail I shall now have the
+pleasure of submitting to you."
+
+Here Lord Grayleigh took up the document which had been signed by
+Ogilvie and Rycroft at the Waharoo Hotel at Brisbane. He proceeded to
+read it aloud, emphasizing the words which spoke of the value of the
+veins of gold beneath the alluvial deposit.
+
+"This report," he said in conclusion, "is vouched for by the
+signatures of my friend Ogilvie and also by James Rycroft, who is
+nearly as well known in Queensland as Ogilvie is in London."
+
+As detail after detail of the brilliantly worded document which
+Ogilvie and Rycroft had compounded with such skill, fell upon the ears
+of Lord Grayleigh's audience, satisfaction not unmixed with avarice
+lit up the eyes of many. Accustomed as most of these men were to
+assayers' reports, what they now listened to unfeignedly astonished
+them. There was a great silence in the room, and not the slightest
+word from Lord Grayleigh's clear voice was lost.
+
+When he had finished he laid the document on the table and was just
+about, as he expressed it, to proceed to business when a movement at
+the door caused all to turn their heads. Ogilvie had unexpectedly
+entered the room.
+
+Cries of welcome greeted him and many hands were stretched out. He
+contented himself, however, with bowing slightly, and going up the
+room handed Lord Grayleigh a packet.
+
+"Don't open it now," he said in a low voice, "it is for yourself, and
+carries its own explanation with it."
+
+He then turned and faced the directors. There was something about his
+demeanor and an indescribable look on his face, which caused the
+murmurs of applause to die away and silence once more to fill the
+room.
+
+Lord Grayleigh slipped the small packet into his pocket and also rose
+to his feet.
+
+Ogilvie's attitude and manner disturbed him. A sensation as though of
+coming calamity seemed to weigh the air. Lord Grayleigh was the first
+to speak.
+
+"We are all glad to welcome you back, Ogilvie," he said. "In more
+senses than one we are pleased that you are able to be present just
+now. I have just been reading your report to these gentlemen. I had
+finished it when you entered the room."
+
+"It is an admirable and brilliant account of the mine, Mr. Ogilvie,"
+said a director from the far end of the table. "I congratulate you not
+only on the good news it contains, but on the excellent manner in
+which you have put details together. The Lombard Deeps will be the
+best thing in the market, and we shall not need for capital to work
+the mine to the fullest extent."
+
+"Will you permit me to look at my report for a moment, Lord
+Grayleigh?" said Ogilvie, in a grave tone.
+
+Grayleigh gave it to him. Ogilvie took it in his hand.
+
+"I have come here to-day," he said, "to speak for a moment"--his voice
+was husky; he cleared his throat, and went on--"to perform a painful
+business, to set wrong right. I am prepared, gentlemen, for your
+opprobrium. You think well of me now, you will not do so long. I have
+come here to speak to you of that----"
+
+"Sit down," said Grayleigh's voice behind him. "You must be mad.
+Remember yourself." He laid his hand on Ogilvie's arm. Ogilvie shook
+it off.
+
+"I can tell you, gentlemen, what I have come to say in a few words,"
+he continued. "This report which I drew up, and which I signed, is as
+_false as hell_."
+
+"False?" echoed a voice in the distance, a thin voice from a
+foreign-looking man. "Impossible!"
+
+"It is false," continued Ogilvie. "I wrote the report and I ought to
+know. I spent three weeks at the Lombard Deeps Mine. There were no
+rich veins of gold; there was a certain alluvial deposit, which for a
+time, a few months, might yield five ounces to the ton. I wrote the
+report for a motive which no longer exists. God Himself smote me for
+my infamous work. Gentlemen, you can do with me exactly as you think
+fit, but this report, signed by me, shall never go before the world."
+
+As he said the last words he hastily tore away his own signature,
+crushed it in his hands and, crossing the room, threw it into a small
+fire which was burning in the grate.
+
+This action was the signal for great excitement on the part of most of
+the directors. Others poured out floods of questions. Lord Grayleigh
+alone remained quietly seated in his chair, but his face was white,
+and for the time he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing.
+
+"I have no excuse to offer," continued Ogilvie, "and I refuse to
+inculpate anyone with myself in this matter. This was my own concern;
+I thought out the report, I worded it, I signed it. Rycroft was more
+or less my tool. In the moment of my so-called victory God smote me.
+You can do with me just as you please, but the Lombard Deeps Company
+must collapse. I have nothing further to say."
+
+He left the room, dropping the now worthless document on to the table
+as he did so. No one interrupted him or prevented his exit. As his
+footsteps died away on the stairs the discomfited and astonished
+directors looked one at the other.
+
+"What is the meaning of it all?" said one, going up to Grayleigh;
+"you are chairman, and you ought to know."
+
+Grayleigh shook himself and stood up.
+
+"This must be a brief madness," he said; "there is no other way to
+account for it. Ogilvie, of all men under the sun! Gentlemen, you know
+his character, you know what his name was worth as our engineer, but
+there is one other thing you do not know. The poor fellow has a child,
+only one, to whom he is devoted. I heard this morning that the child
+is dying. Under such circumstances his mind may have been unhinged.
+Let me follow him. I will return after I have said a word to him."
+
+The chairman left the room, ran quickly downstairs and out into the
+street. Ogilvie had hailed a hansom and was getting into it.
+
+"One moment first," said Grayleigh.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Ogilvie.
+
+"An explanation."
+
+"I gave it upstairs."
+
+"You are mad--you are mad."
+
+"On the contrary, I believe that I am sane--sane at last. I grant you
+I was mad when I signed the report, but I am sane now."
+
+"What packet was that you gave me?"
+
+"Your money back."
+
+"The ten thousand pounds?"
+
+"Yes; I did not want it. I have delivered my soul, and nothing else
+matters."
+
+"Tell me at least one thing. Is this strange action on your part owing
+to the child's accident?"
+
+"It is. I was going headlong down to hell, but God, through her, has
+pulled me up short. Gold is utterly valueless to me now. The child is
+dying, and I cannot part with her for all eternity. You can draw your
+own conclusions."
+
+As Ogilvie spoke he shook Grayleigh's detaining hand from his arm. The
+chairman of the Lombard Deeps Company stood still for a moment, then
+returned to the directors.
+
+As Grayleigh walked slowly upstairs he had a moment's conflict with
+his own conscience. In one thing at least Ogilvie was generous. He had
+not dragged Lord Grayleigh to the earth in his own fall. The affair of
+the ten thousand pounds was known to no one else.
+
+"He fell, and I caused him to fall," thought Lord Grayleigh. "In the
+moment of his fall, if I were even half a man, I would stand by him
+and acknowledge my share in the matter. But no; where would be the
+use? I cannot drag my children through the mire. Poor Ogilvie is
+losing his child, and for him practically life is over."
+
+Grayleigh re-entered the room where the directors waited for him.
+
+"I saw Ogilvie just now," he said, "and he sticks to his story. I
+fear, too, that I was wrong in my conjecture with regard to his
+madness. He must have had a temporary madness when he drew up and
+signed the false report. I suppose we ought to consider ourselves
+lucky."
+
+"At least the widows and orphans won't be ruined," said one of the
+directors, a thin-faced anxious-looking man. "Well, of course, Lord
+Grayleigh, we must all wash our hands of this."
+
+"We must do so advisedly," was Grayleigh's remark; "remember, we have
+gone far. Remember, the cablegram was not kept too secret, and the
+knowledge of the excellent report sent by Ogilvie has got to the
+ears of one or two city editors. He must give out that there was a
+misunderstanding as to the value of the mine."
+
+"And what of Ogilvie himself?" said an angry-looking man. "Such
+infamous conduct requires stringent measures. Do you gentlemen share
+my views?"
+
+One or two did, but most protested against dragging Ogilvie's story
+too prominently into the light of day.
+
+"It may reflect on ourselves," said one or two. "It is just possible
+there may be some people who will not believe that he was alone in
+this matter."
+
+Lord Grayleigh was the last to speak.
+
+"If I were you, gentlemen," he said, moodily, "I would leave Ogilvie
+to his God."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+"Philip!" said Mrs. Ogilvie, as he re-entered pretty Silverbel about
+four o'clock that afternoon, "I have just had an extraordinary
+telegram from our lawyer, Mr. Acland."
+
+Ogilvie looked full at her but did not speak.
+
+"How strangely tired and worn you look," she replied; "what can be the
+matter with you? Sometimes, when I think of you and the extraordinary
+way in which you are acting, I come to the conclusion that your brain
+cannot be right."
+
+"You are wrong there, Mildred. There was a time when not only my brain
+but all my moral qualities were affected, but I believe these things
+are put right at last."
+
+He gave a hollow laugh.
+
+"I am enjoying, for the first time for many months, the applause of an
+approving conscience," he continued; "that is something to live for."
+
+"Have you done anything rash, Philip?"
+
+"I have done something which my conscience justifies. Now, what about
+the telegram from Acland?"
+
+"He is coming here this evening to have a talk with me. What can he
+have to say?"
+
+"Doubtless his visit is accounted for by an interview I had with him
+yesterday. I asked him to explain matters to you, as you and he
+conducted the business with regard to this place together. Mildred,
+Silverbel must be given up."
+
+Her face grew red with passion, she felt inclined to stamp her foot.
+
+"It cannot be," she cried, "we have already paid two thousand pounds
+deposit."
+
+"That money was returned by me to Acland yesterday. He has doubtless
+heard of another purchaser. It will be a lucky thing for us, Mildred,
+if he takes the furniture as well as the place. Pray don't keep me
+now."
+
+She gave a sharp cry and flung herself into a chair. Ogilvie paused as
+if to speak to her, then changed his mind and went slowly upstairs. On
+the landing outside Sibyl's door he paused for a moment, struggling
+with himself.
+
+"The bitterness of death lies before me," he muttered, for he knew
+that difficult as was the task which he had accomplished that morning
+at the Cannon Street Hotel, terrible as was the moment when he stood
+before his fellow men and branded himself as a felon, these things
+were nothing, nothing at all to that which now lay before him, for
+God demanded something more of the man--he must open the eyes of
+the child who worshipped him. The thought of this awful task almost
+paralyzed him; his heart beat with heavy throbs and the moisture stood
+on his forehead. One look at Sibyl, however, lying whiter and sweeter
+than ever in her little bed, restored to him that marvellous
+self-control which love alone can give.
+
+Nurse was in the room, and it was evident that nurse had been having a
+bout of crying. Her eyelids were red. She turned when she saw her
+master, went up to him and shook her head.
+
+"Leave us for a little, nurse," said Ogilvie.
+
+She went away at once.
+
+Ogilvie now approached the bed, dropped into a chair and took one of
+Sibyl's hands.
+
+"You have been a long time away, father," said the child.
+
+"I have, my darling, I had a great deal to do."
+
+"Business, father?"
+
+"Yes, dearest, important business."
+
+"You don't look well," said Sibyl. She gazed at him, apprehensively,
+her blue eyes opened wide, and a spasm of pain flitted across her
+brow.
+
+"I have had a hard time," said the man, "and now, my little girl, I
+have come to you, to you, my dearest, to perform the hardest task of
+my life."
+
+"To me, father? The hardest task of your life?"
+
+"Yes, my little daughter, I have something to say to you."
+
+"Something bad?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"Something very bad."
+
+Sibyl shut her eyes for a minute, then she opened them and looked
+steadily at her father, her childish lips became slightly compressed,
+it was as if a world of strength suddenly entered her little frame,
+as though, dying as she was, she was bracing herself to endure.
+
+"I am very sorry," she said. "I love you so much. What is it,
+darlingest father?"
+
+"Let me hold your hand," he said. "It will be easier for me to tell
+you something then."
+
+She gave it to him. He clasped it in both of his, bent forward, and
+began to speak.
+
+"At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your
+accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so
+terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me."
+
+"I don't understand," said the child.
+
+"I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I
+wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to
+you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I
+had a terrible time."
+
+"Still I do not understand," repeated Sibyl.
+
+"Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a
+temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy
+together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open
+your eyes."
+
+"Oh, we were happy!" said the child.
+
+"Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy.
+I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew
+that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to
+storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the
+agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain."
+
+"I wish you would try and 'splain, all the same," said Sibyl, in a
+weak, very weak voice.
+
+"I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you."
+
+"It's only 'cos of you yourself," she murmured.
+
+"Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard
+Deeps Mine?"
+
+"Oh, yes." She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to
+speak more cheerfully. "I have thought of it, the mine full, full of
+gold, and all the people so happy!"
+
+Her voice grew quite animated.
+
+"Any special people, dearest?"
+
+"So many," she replied. "I told Lord Grayleigh, and he put their
+names in his note-book. There's Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who
+keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some
+of the gold."
+
+"The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans?
+Yes, I remember they told me that was their name."
+
+"They came, father. I love 'em so much; and there's Mr. Rochester and
+Lady Helen, they want to marry. It's a secret, but you may know. And
+nurse, she wants some of the gold, 'cos her eyes ache, and you sent a
+cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it's all right."
+
+"No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine."
+
+"But you sent a cablegram."
+
+"I did."
+
+"And you said it was there."
+
+"I did."
+
+She paused and looked at him; her eyes grew full of pain; the pain
+reached agony point.
+
+"You said it?"
+
+"I did worse," said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his
+chest, and looked down at her. "I did worse, and to tell you is my
+punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of
+the mine, a false account, false as my false heart was, Sibyl, and I
+signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not
+there."
+
+"Why did you do it, father?"
+
+"Because I was a scoundrel."
+
+"What's that?" asked Sibyl.
+
+"A bad man."
+
+"No," said the child, "no, you was always my most perfect----"
+
+"You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to
+Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I
+went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the
+sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which
+could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there
+is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now."
+
+"Then you are sorry?"
+
+"I have repented," he cried; "my God, I have repented," and he fell on
+his knees and covered his face. For the child's sake he kept back the
+sobs which rose to his throat.
+
+Sibyl looked at the bent head, at the dark hair already sprinkled with
+gray. She lay quite still, there was not the slightest doubt that the
+shock was great. Ogilvie waited, longing, wondering if the little
+hand would touch his head, if the child would forgive him.
+
+"She is so holy, so heavenly herself," he murmured; "is it possible
+that she can forgive? It must be a cruel shock to her."
+
+The little, white hand did not touch him. There was complete stillness
+in the room. At last he raised his eyes and looked at her. She looked
+steadily back at him.
+
+"And so you was never perfect?" she said.
+
+"Never."
+
+"And was mother never perfect?"
+
+"Not as you think of perfection, Sibyl, but we need not talk of her
+now. I have sinned far more deeply than your poor mother has ever
+done."
+
+The puzzled expression grew deeper on Sibyl's face. An old memory of
+her mother returned to her. She saw again the scene, and recalled her
+mother's words, the words she had overheard, and which the mother had
+denied. She was quite still for a full moment, the little clock on the
+mantelpiece ticked loudly, then she said slowly:
+
+"And Lord Jesus, isn't He perfect?"
+
+Ogilvie started when he heard her words.
+
+"Aye, He is perfect," he answered, "you are safe in trusting to Him.
+He is all that your dreams and all that your longings desire."
+
+She smiled very faintly.
+
+"Why did He come into the world?" was her next question.
+
+"Don't you know that old story? Has no one told you?"
+
+"Won't you tell me now, father?"
+
+"The old story was that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners."
+
+"Sinners," repeated Sibyl, "'cos He loved 'em?"
+
+"Would He have done that for anything else, do you think?"
+
+"I 'spect not," she replied, and again the faint smile filled her
+eyes.
+
+"Then He loves _you_," she said, after a moment. "He came from heaven
+'cos of you."
+
+"It seems like it, my little girl, and yet I cannot bring myself to
+believe that He can love me."
+
+"Don't speak to me, father, for a minute; go away, and look out of the
+window, and come back when I call you."
+
+He rose at once, crossed the room, and stood looking out. In a short
+time the feeble voice called him back.
+
+"Father!" There was a change in the face, the look of pain had
+vanished, the sweet eyes were as peaceful as ever, and more clearly
+than ever did that amazing knowledge and comprehension fill them,
+which never belonged to this earth.
+
+"Kneel down, father," said Sibyl.
+
+He knelt.
+
+Now she laid her little hand in his, and now she smiled at him, and
+now, as if she were strong and well again, she stroked his hand with
+her other hand, and at last she feebly raised the hand and pressed it
+to her lips.
+
+"I am loving you so much," she said, "same as Jesus loves you, I
+think."
+
+Then Ogilvie did give a sob. He checked it as it rose to his throat.
+
+"It is all right," she continued, "I love you. Jesus is perfect ...
+and He loves you."
+
+"But do you, Sibyl, really love me the same as ever?" he asked, and
+there was a note of incredulity in his voice.
+
+"Seems to me I love you more'n ever" was her answer, and the next
+instant her soft arms encircled his neck, and he felt her kisses on
+his cheek.
+
+But suddenly, without warning, there came a change. There was a catch
+in the eager, quick breath, the arms relaxed their hold, the little
+head fell back on the pillow, the face almost rosy a moment back was
+now white, but the eyes were radiant and full of a wonderful,
+astonished light.
+
+"Why," cried Sibyl, "it's Lord Jesus! He has come. He is here, looking
+at me." She gazed toward the foot of the bed, her eyes were raised
+slightly upward each moment the ecstatic expression grew and grew in
+their depths.
+
+"Oh, my beautiful Lord Jesus," she whispered. "Oh, take me." She tried
+to raise her arms and her eyes were fixed on a vision which Ogilvie
+could not see. There was just an instant of absolute stillness, then
+the clear voice spoke again.
+
+"Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, but first, afore we go, kiss father, and
+tell him you love him."
+
+The eager lips were still, but the light, too wonderful for this
+mortal life, continued to fill the eyes.
+
+It seemed to Ogilvie that great wings encircled him, that he was
+wrapped in an infinite peace. Then it seemed also as if a kiss sweet
+beyond all sweetness brushed his lips.
+
+The next instant all was cold and lonely.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+There is such a thing in life as turning straight round and going the
+other way. This was what happened to Philip Ogilvie after the death of
+Sibyl. All his life hitherto he had been on the downward plane. He was
+now decidedly on the upward. The upward path was difficult, and his
+feet were tired and his spirits sore, and often he faltered and
+flagged and almost stopped, but he never once went back. He turned no
+look toward the easy way which leads to destruction, for at the top of
+the path which he was now climbing, he ever and always saw his child
+waiting for him, nor did he feel even here on earth that his spirit
+was really far from hers. Her influence still surrounded him--her
+voice spoke to him in the summer breeze--her face looked at him out of
+the flowers, and her smile met him in the sunshine.
+
+He had a rough time to go through, but he endured everything for her
+sake. By degrees his worldly affairs were put into some sort of order,
+and so far as his friends and society went he vanished from view. But
+none of these things mattered to him now. He was living on earth, it
+is true; but all the ordinary earth desires had died within him. The
+spiritual life, however, did not die. Day by day it grew stronger and
+braver; so it came to pass that his sympathies, instead of dwindling
+and becoming small and narrow, widened, until once more he loved and
+once more he hoped.
+
+He became very tolerant for others now, and especially was he tolerant
+to his wife.
+
+He bore with her small ways, pitied her grief, admitted to himself
+that there were limits in her nature which no power could alter, and
+did his best to make her happy.
+
+She mourned and grieved and grieved and mourned for that which meant
+nothing at all to him, but he was patient with her, and she owned to
+herself that she loved him more in his adversity than she had done in
+his prosperity.
+
+For Sibyl's sake, too, Ogilvie roused himself to do what he could for
+her special friends. There was a tiny fund which he had once put aside
+for his child's education, and this he now spent in starting a shop
+for the Holmans in Buckingham Palace Road. He made them a present of
+the shop, and helped them to stock it with fresh toys. The old pair
+did well there, they prospered and their trade was good, but they
+never forgot Sibyl, and their favorite talk in the evenings as they
+sat side by side together was to revive memories of the little, old
+shop and the child who used to buy the dusty toys.
+
+As to Lord Grayleigh, Philip Ogilvie and he never met after that day
+outside the Cannon Street Hotel. The fact is, a gulf divided them; for
+although both men to a great extent repented of what they had done,
+yet there was a wide difference in their repentance--one had acted
+with the full courage of his convictions, the other still led a life
+of honor before his fellow-men, but his heart was not straight with
+God.
+
+Grayleigh and Ogilvie, therefore, with the knowledge that each knew
+the innermost motives of the other, could not meet nor be friends.
+Nevertheless Sibyl had influenced Grayleigh. For her sake he ceased to
+be chairman of several somewhat shady companies, and lived more than
+he had done before in his own place, Grayleigh Manor, and surrounded
+by his children. He was scarcely heard to mention Sibyl's name after
+her death.
+
+But amongst his treasures he still keeps that little old note-book in
+which she begged of him to enter her special wishes, and so much
+affected was he in his heart of hearts, by her childish words, that he
+used his utmost influence and got a good diplomatic appointment for
+Rochester, thus enabling him and Lady Helen to marry, although not by
+the means which Sibyl had suggested.
+
+These things happened a few years ago, and Ogilvie is still alive,
+but, although he lives still on earth, he also waits on the verge of
+life, knowing that at any hour, any moment, day or night, the message
+may come for him to go, and in his dreams he believes that the first
+to meet him at the Gates will be the child he loves.
+
+                         [THE END.]
+
+
+
+
+A. L. Burt's Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers,
+52-58 Duane Street, New York
+
+
+BOOKS FOR GIRLS
+
+
+=Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.= By LEWIS CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 42
+illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"From first to last, almost without exception, this story is
+delightfully droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the
+story."--=New York Express.=
+
+
+=Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.= By LEWIS
+CARROLL. 12mo, cloth, 50 illustrations, price 75 cents.
+
+"A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny
+both in text and illustrations."--=Boston Express.=
+
+
+=Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for
+pleasant instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the
+subtlety with which lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to
+children, and perhaps to their seniors as well."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Joan's Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.= By ALICE CORKRAN.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Count Up the Sunny Days: A Story for Girls and Boys.= By C. A. JONES.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"An unusually good children's story."--=Glasgow Herald.=
+
+
+=The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.= By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in
+genius, but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high
+and noble purpose. We know of few modern writers whose works may be so
+safely commended as hers."--=Cleveland Times.=
+
+
+=Jan of the Windmill.= A Story of the Plains. By MRS. J. H. EWING.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Never has Mrs. Ewing published a more charming volume, and that is
+saying a very great deal. From the first to the last the book
+overflows with the strange knowledge of child-nature which so rarely
+survives childhood; and moreover, with inexhaustible quiet humor,
+which is never anything but innocent and well-bred, never priggish,
+and never clumsy."--=Academy.=
+
+
+=A Sweet Girl Graduate.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price $1.00.
+
+"One of this popular author's best. The characters are well imagined
+and drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does
+not flag until the end too quickly comes."--=Providence Journal.=
+
+
+=Six to Sixteen=: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is no doubt as to the good quality and attractiveness of 'Six
+to Sixteen.' The book is one which would enrich any girl's book
+shelf."--=St. James' Gazette.=
+
+
+=The Palace Beautiful=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade
+in this country will be delighted with the 'Palace Beautiful' for more
+reasons than one. It is a charming book for girls."--=New York
+Recorder.=
+
+
+=A World of Girls=: The Story of a School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It
+will afford pure delight to numerous readers. This book should be on
+every girl's book shelf."--=Boston Home Journal.=
+
+
+=The Lady of the Forest=: A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story is written in the author's well-known, fresh and easy
+style. All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well-written
+story. It is told with the author's customary grace and
+spirit."--=Boston Times.=
+
+
+=At the Back of the North Wind.= By GEORGE MACDONALD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr.
+Macdonald's earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome
+fairy story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most
+delightful volume for young readers."--=Philadelphia Times.=
+
+
+=The Water Babies=: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in
+his description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in
+the luxuriant wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a
+poetical nature."--=New York Tribune.=
+
+
+=Our Bessie.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of the most entertaining stories of the season, full of vigorous
+action, and strong in character-painting. Elder girls will be charmed
+with it, and adults may read its pages with profit."--=The Teachers'
+Aid.=
+
+
+=Wild Kitty.= A Story of Middleton School. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Kitty is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all
+good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of
+humanity. One of the most attractive gift books of the season."--=The
+Academy.=
+
+
+=A Young Mutineer.= A Story for Girls. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"One of Mrs. Meade's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple
+and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first
+among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Sue and I.= By MRS. O'REILLY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75
+cents.
+
+"A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as
+fun."--=Athenaeum.=
+
+
+=The Princess and the Goblin.= A Fairy Story. By GEORGE MACDONALD.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"If a child once begins this book, it will get so deeply interested in
+it that when bedtime comes it will altogether forget the moral, and
+will weary its parents with importunities for just a few minutes more
+to see how everything ends."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Pythia's Pupils:= A Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"This story of the doings of several bright school girls is sure to
+interest girl readers. Among many good stories for girls this is
+undoubtedly one of the very best."--=Teachers' Aid.=
+
+
+=A Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The book is one we can heartily recommend, for it is not only
+bright and interesting, but also pure and healthy in tone and
+teaching."--=Courier.=
+
+
+=The Sleepy King.= A Fairy Tale. By AUBREY HOPWOOD AND SEYMOUR HICKS.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Wonderful as the adventures of Bluebell are, it must be admitted that
+they are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented.
+Altogether this is an excellent story for girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Two Little Waifs.= By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's delightful story of 'Two Little Waifs' will charm
+all the small people who find it in their stockings. It relates the
+adventures of two lovable English children lost in Paris, and is just
+wonderful enough to pleasantly wring the youthful heart."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Toyland.= By EDITH KING HALL. 12mo, cloth, illustrated,
+price 75 cents.
+
+"The author is such a bright, cheery writer, that her stories are
+always acceptable to all who are not confirmed cynics, and her record
+of the adventures is as entertaining and enjoyable as we might
+expect."--=Boston Courier.=
+
+
+=Adventures in Wallypug land.= By G. E. FARROW. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"These adventures are simply inimitable, and will delight boys and
+girls of mature age, as well as their juniors. No happier combination
+of author and artist than this volume presents could be found to
+furnish healthy amusement to the young folks. The book is an artistic
+one in every sense."--=Toronto Mail.=
+
+
+=Fussbudget's Folks.= A Story for Young Girls. By ANNA F. BURNHAM.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Mrs. Burnham has a rare gift for composing stories for children. With
+a light, yet forcible touch, she paints sweet and artless, yet natural
+and strong, characters."--=Congregationalist.=
+
+
+=Mixed Pickles.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. E. M. FIELD. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"It is, in its way, a little classic, of which the real beauty and
+pathos can hardly be appreciated by young people. It is not too much
+to say of the story that it is perfect of its kind."--=Good
+Literature.=
+
+
+=Miss Mouse and Her Boys.= A Story for Girls. By MRS. MOLESWORTH.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 Cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth's books are cheery, wholesome, and particularly well
+adapted to refined life. It is safe to add that she is the best
+English prose writer for children. A new volume from Mrs. Molesworth
+is always a treat."--=The Beacon.=
+
+
+=Gilly Flower.= A Story for Girls. By the author of "Miss Toosey's
+Mission." 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Jill is a little guardian angel to three lively brothers who tease
+and play with her.... Her unconscious goodness brings right thoughts
+and resolves to several persons who come into contact with her. There
+is no goodiness in this tale, but its influence is of the best
+kind."--=Literary World.=
+
+
+=The Chaplet of Pearls=; or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By
+CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. It is one of the best books
+of the season."--=Guardian.=
+
+
+=Naughty Miss Bunny=: Her Tricks and Troubles. By CLARA MULHOLLAND.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit the
+book from their list of juvenile presents."--=Land and Water.=
+
+
+=Meg's Friend.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"One of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that
+simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the
+first among writers for young people."--=The Spectator.=
+
+
+=Averil.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"A charming story for young folks. Averil is a delightful
+creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are
+perfectly realistic."--=World.=
+
+
+=Aunt Diana.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last.
+This is, both in its intention and the way the story is told, one of
+the best books of its kind which has come before us this
+year."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Little Sunshine's Holiday=: A Picture from Life. By MISS MULOCK.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is a pretty narrative of child life, describing the simple
+doings and sayings of a very charming and rather precocious child.
+This is a delightful book for young people."--=Gazette.=
+
+
+=Esther's Charge.= A Story for Girls. By ELLEN EVERETT GREEN. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"... This is a story showing in a charming way how one little girl's
+jealousy and bad temper were conquered; one of the best, most
+suggestive and improving of the Christmas juveniles."--=New York
+Tribune.=
+
+
+=Fairy Land of Science.= By ARABELLA B. BUCKLEY. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"We can highly recommend it; not only for the valuable information it
+gives on the special subjects to which it is dedicated, but also as a
+book teaching natural sciences in an interesting way. A fascinating
+little volume, which will make friends in every household in which
+there are children."--=Daily News.=
+
+
+=Merle's Crusade.= By ROSA N. CAREY. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price
+$1.00.
+
+"Among the books for young people we have seen nothing more unique
+than this book. Like all of this author's stories it will please young
+readers by the very attractive and charming style in which it is
+written."--=Journal.=
+
+
+=Birdie:= A Tale of Child Life. By H. L. CHILDE-PEMBERTON. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it
+that makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of
+children at play which charmed his earlier years."--=New York
+Express.=
+
+=The Days of Bruce:= A Story from Scottish History. By GRACE AGUILAR.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of
+Grace Aguilar's stories which cannot fail to win the interest and
+admiration of every lover of good reading."--=Boston Beacon.=
+
+
+=Three Bright Girls:= A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E.
+ARMSTRONG. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The charm of the story lies in the cheery helpfulness of spirit
+developed in the girls by their changed circumstances; while the
+author finds a pleasant ending to all their happy makeshifts. The
+story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended as a
+present for girls."--=Standard.=
+
+
+=Giannetta:= A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true
+heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women
+nowadays are, largely touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The
+illustrations are unusually good. One of the most attractive gift
+books of the season."--=The Academy.=
+
+
+=Margery Merton's Girlhood.= By ALICE CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her
+father to the care of an elderly aunt residing near Paris. The
+accounts of the various persons who have an after influence on the
+story are singularly vivid. There is a subtle attraction about the
+book which will make it a great favorite with thoughtful
+girls."--=Saturday Review.=
+
+
+=Under False Colors:= A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY.
+12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure
+in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out
+plots; but we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this
+book."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=Down the Snow Stairs=; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By ALICE
+CORKRAN. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our
+table this one stands out facile princeps--a gem of the first water,
+bearing upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All
+is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream
+appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's
+Progress."--=Christian Leader.=
+
+
+=The Tapestry Room=: A Child's Romance. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of
+children; and she has done good service in giving us this charming
+juvenile which will delight the young people."--=Athenaeum, London.=
+
+
+=Little Miss Peggy:= Only a Nursery Story. By MRS. MOLESWORTH. 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+Mrs. Molesworth's children are finished studies. A joyous earnest
+spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy is unbounded. She loves
+them with her whole heart, while she lays bare their little minds, and
+expresses their foibles, their faults, their virtues, their inward
+struggles, their conception of duty, and their instinctive knowledge
+of the right and wrong of things. She knows their characters, she
+understands their wants, and she desires to help them.
+
+
+=Polly=: A New Fashioned Girl. By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price $1.00.
+
+Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade as a writer
+of stories for young girls. Her characters are living beings of flesh
+and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. Into the trials and
+crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader enters at once with zest
+and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. Meade always writes with a high moral
+purpose, her lessons of life, purity and nobility of character are
+rather inculcated by example than intruded as sermons.
+
+
+=One of a Covey.= By the author of "Miss Toosey's Mission." 12mo,
+cloth, illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up
+readers may enjoy it as much as children. This 'Covey' consists of the
+twelve children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge out of which is chosen
+a little girl to be adopted by a spoiled, fine lady. We have rarely
+read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. One of the
+chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens' pen."--=LITERARY
+WORLD.=
+
+
+=The Little Princess of Tower Hill.= By L. T. MEADE. 12mo, cloth,
+illustrated, price 75 cents.
+
+"This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty
+as a pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more
+attractive to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and
+fair pictures; and while children will rejoice over it--which is much
+better than crying for it--it is a book that can be read with pleasure
+even by older boys and girls."--=Boston Advertiser.=
+
+
+For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
+the publisher, =A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.=
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+1. Minor changes have been made to correct obvious typesetter's
+errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the
+author's words and intent.
+
+2. In the advertising pages at the end of this book, the names of
+books and reviewers were set in bold type-face; this is indicated by
+a = at the beginning and end of the words in bold.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Daddy's Girl, by L. T. Meade
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY'S GIRL ***
+
+***** This file should be named 30333.txt or 30333.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/3/30333/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, D Alexander and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/old/30333.zip b/old/30333.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9468477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/30333.zip