r phrase? A judge
and a jury have settled that."

"They settled it as you would settle it, by refusing to hear me."

"Have I refused to hear you?" said Helen. "What do I care for steamboats
and captains? If I stay here to all eternity, I'll know from your own
lips and your own face whether you are a felon or a martyr. It is no
phrase, papa. He is a felon or a martyr; and I am a most unfortunate
girl, or else a base, disloyal one."

"Fiddle-dee," said General Rolleston, angrily. Then, looking at his
watch: "I give you five minutes to humbug us in--if you can."

Robert Penfold sighed patiently. But from that moment he ignored General
Rolleston and looked to Helen only. And she fixed her eyes upon his face
with a tenacity and an intensity of observation that surpassed anything
he had ever seen in his life. It dazzled him; but it did not dismay him.

"Miss Rolleston," said he, "my history can be told in the time my
prejudiced judge allows me. I am a clergyman, and a private tutor at
Oxford. One of my pupils was--Arthur Wardlaw. I took an interest in him
because my father, Michael Penfold, was in Wardlaw's employ. This Arthur
Wardlaw had a talent for mimicry; he mimicked one of the college officers
publicly and offensively, and was about to be expelled, and that would
have ruined his immediate prospects; for his father is just, but stern. I
fought hard for him, and, being myself popular with the authorities, I
got him off. He was grateful, or seemed to be, and we became greater
friends than ever. We confided in each other. He told me he was in debt
in Oxford, and much alarmed lest it should reach his father's ears, and
lose him the promised partnership. I told him I was desirous to buy a
small living near Oxford which was then vacant; but I had only saved 400
pounds, and the price was 1,000 pounds; I had no means of raising the
balance. Then he said, 'Borrow 2,000 pounds of my father; give me
fourteen hundred of it, and take your own time to repay the 600 pounds. I
shall be my father's partner in a month or two,' said he; 'you can pay us
back by instalments.' I thought this very kind of him. I did not want the
living for myself, but to give my dear father certain comforts and
country air every week; he needed it; he was born in the country. Well, I
came to London about this business; and a stranger called on me, and said
he came from Mr. Arthur Wardlaw, who was not well enough to come himself.
He produced a note of hand