ore moderation.

Cecil often thought of her dream, when Du Meresq was transformed into
Fane, and how singularly it had been realized. Certainly adventitious
circumstances were averse to that first love of hers, for, however much
appearances were against him, the lock of hair which had decided her
destiny was no love token of Du Meresq's. It had been consigned to him by
a dying friend, who besought him to write the news to his betrothed, and
restore to her the lock of hair she had given him.

When Du Meresq had sent this letter off, he found he had omitted
enclosing the tress, but they were then just going into action, and he
had placed it inside his tunic.

After long years Cecil met this girl, who had been faithful to the memory
of her Crimean hero. Once she spoke of him to Mrs. Fane, mentioning the
circumstance of the omission of the lock when Du Meresq's letter had
conveyed to her the fatal news. Little did she think how her companion
had guarded and hated this _souvenir_. Cecil glanced sharply at the
other's hair, harsher and more wiry now, and intersected with silvery
threads, still it was like enough to satisfy her of the identity without
the confirmatory cry of surprise with which the poor woman received it
from her hands. Had she known this earlier, I think Cecil would have
clung to her ideal, and never married, but by this time Fane and herself
were--well as happy together as other people. Time's "effacing finger"
had prepared the way, and since the birth of her only son, Cecil's heart
was vitalized by a second passion, as strong though different to the
first. So we may leave her, and see how our other heroine ultimately
fares before dropping the curtain.

Dutton went to sea once again, but, as his ship was only cruising in the
Mediterranean, Bluebell was able to meet him at the different ports they
stopped at, and did not at all dislike the changeful variety of the life.
However, Lord Bromley found he could not do without her, so, after that
one cruise, Harry retired from the navy, and they lived chiefly at "The
Towers," where a numerous family was born.

At last Lord Bromley died at a great age, and it was found that he had
left Bromley Towers to their eldest boy, Theodore. To the Duttons was
bequeathed a small estate worth three thousand a year. So after all Harry
never inherited "The Towers," nor Bluebell either.

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's Bluebell, by Mrs. George Croft Huddleston