he nape of the neck, I'd have shaken you into
shoestrings, for I know well what you are at--saying soft speeches
to Blanche as if that were not settled long ago. But no matter,
Bessie will not need attention from her relatives much longer if I
can have my way. I do not mind telling _you_ that I intend to make
her Lady Trevellian, if she will be that. But meantime your mother
ought to take her in charge and not leave her here alone. The thing
is impossible, and I have no idea that butterfly of a Daisy will
come back at once. I shall not ask Bessie _now_ to be my wife, but
in a week or two, I shall do so, and will then report success. I
think Jerrold is hard hit, too; but I mean to get the start of him.
I need not tell you that, notwithstanding I am so disgusted with
you, I shall be glad to see you at Trevellian Castle whenever you
choose to come. I cannot get accustomed to my change of fortune, and
I am so sorry poor Hal is dead.

"Yours truly, JACK."

The next day Jack left Stoneleigh, as it was necessary for him to be at
the castle, he said, alluding for the first time to his new home.

"Yes," Bessie replied, looking up at him with the first smile he had
seen upon her face since her father died, "you are _Sir Jack_ now. I had
scarcely thought of it before, or remembered to give you your title."

"Don't remember it now," he said, with a look of deep pain in his eyes
and a tremor in his voice, "Believe me, I'd give worlds to bring poor
Hal back to life again, and you do not know what anguish I endured
during the few moments I held him in my arms and knew that he was dying.
Just an instant before and he had bandied some light jest with me, and I
had thought how handsome he was with that bright, winning smile, which
death froze so soon upon his lips. It was awful, and the castle seems to
be so gloomy without him."

"Is that young girl there still?" Bessie asked, and he replied:

"Yes, Flossie Meredith, the sweetest, prettiest little wild Irish girl
you ever saw; but she cannot stay, you know."

"Why not?" Bessie asked, and he replied.

"Mrs. Grundy will not let her live there alone with me. Hal was her
cousin, but I am no kin to her, and so she must go back to Ireland,
which she hates, unless--Bessie," he cried, impulsively, then checked
himself as he saw the startled look in her eyes, and added, quite
calmly: "You and Flossie would be the best of friends,