ancy wicker-work. And this
basket, those nearest her could see, held nothing else than a mass of
wild roses, all with the thorns carefully removed from the stems, and
set in a bed of moss and sweetbrier leaves. It was such a bouquet,
surely, as had never been presented to a bride before--if, indeed, it
was, intended for the bride.

That was soon to be seen. The great organ was still pealing out
Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March' (Mr. Tom had offered to give 10 pounds to
the poor-box of the choir if the choristers would play instead the
Swedish 'Bring home the bride so fair!')--(forgetting that there were
two brides, and that Edith was dark) when the first of the bridal
procession came along, Edith and her husband and her bridesmaids. Then
came Nan. As she was passing, the fresh-coloured wench timidly stepped
forward and offered her the basket of wild roses. Nan stopped; glanced
at her, and recognised her; and then, to the wonder of the crowd, they
saw the young bride take the basket with her trembling white-gloved
fingers, while the other hand was boldly put forward to shake hands
with the country lass. Singing Sal was greatly taken aback; but she
took Nan's hand for the briefest second, and managed to say something
quite incoherent about 'long life and happiness, Miss--I beg your
pardon, Miss--Ma'am;' and then the gleaming procession passed on.

Nan was very proud of that basket of wild flowers. She would not part
with it. She had it placed before her on the table when all the people
had assembled and sat down. And perhaps there was one there who,
looking alternately at the bright-eyed bride who sat beside him, and at
that basket of wild roses, red, and white, and pink, and whitish-red
and whitish-pink, may have said to himself that there was no red one
there half so red as her lips, and no white one half so white as her
clear and shining soul.

FINIS.

THE PUPIL OF AURELIUS

BY

WILLIAM BLACK

AUTHOR OF 'MACLEOD OF DARE,' 'SUNRISE,' ETC.

NEW EDITION

LONDON

MACMILLAN AND CO.

1882

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. A Blow Faced
II. Alone in London
III. A Fellow-sufferer
IV. A Resolve
V. Treasure Trove
VI. The End of the Episode

CHAPTER I.

A BLOW FACED.

On a Sunday morning in the early part of November 1878 a stranger
arrived at Euston Square, and passed from the gloom of the station into
the brighter air of the London streets, ther