d. "You'll probably have to
lend dad money, and I shall be looked upon as the fairy child who has
restored the family fortunes."

Sir Timothy leaned a little towards her.

"Last of all," he said, and this time his voice was not quite so steady,
"are you really sure that you care for me, dear, because I have loved
you so long, and I have wanted love so badly, and it is so hard to
believe--"

It was the moment, it seemed to her, for which she had prayed. She was
in his arms, tired no longer, with all the splendid fire of life in her
love-lit eyes and throbbing pulses. Around them the bees were humming,
and a soft summer breeze shook the roses and brought little wafts of
perfume from the carnation bed.

"There is nothing in life," Lady Cynthia murmured brokenly, "so
wonderful as this."

Francis and Margaret came out from the house, the former carrying a
silver tray. They had spent a considerable time over their task, but
Lady Cynthia and Sir Timothy were still absent. Hedges followed them, a
little worried.

"Shall I ring the gong, madam?" he asked Margaret. "Cook has taken such
pains with her omelette."

"I think you had better, Hedges," Margaret assented.

The gong rang out--and rang again. Presently Lady Cynthia and Sir
Timothy appeared upon the bridge and crossed the lawn. They were walking
a little apart. Lady Cynthia was looking down at some roses which she
had gathered. Sir Timothy's unconcern seemed a trifle overdone. Margaret
laughed very softly.

"A stepmother, Francis!" she whispered. "Just fancy Cynthia as a
stepmother!"

End of Project Gutenberg's The Evil Shepherd, by E. Phillips Oppenheim

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EVIL SHEPHERD ***

***** This file should be named 5753.txt or 5753.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/5/7/5/5753/

Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer

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 con