h him if I had known how. But what could you
expect? I never saw my mother; I never knew a home; I was bred up
at a French school, where if one was not a Roman Catholic there was
not a shred of religion going. I married after my first ball.
Nobody taught me anything; but I could not help having brains, so I
read and caught the tone of the day, and made my own line, while he
went on his."

"And now there is a greater work for you to do, since you have
learnt to do it."

"Ah! learnt too late. When habits are confirmed, and home station
forfeited--What is there left for him or my poor boys to do?"

"A colony perhaps--"

"Damaged goods," she said, smiling sadly.

"Then are you going?"

"As soon as I have seen this fever out, and can dispose of the
things here. I have just been to Moy's office to see about getting
rid of the lease."

"Is Mr. Moy come home?"

"Yes. Have you not heard?"

"What?--Not the fever?"

"No. Worse I should say. Gussie has gone off and got married to
Harry Simmonds."

"The man at the training stables?"

"Yes. They put up their banns at the Union at Brighton, and were
married by the Registrar, then went off to Paris. They say it will
kill her mother. The man is a scoundrel, who played Bob false, and
won largely by that mare. And the girl has had the cheek to write
to me," said Mrs. Duncombe, warming into her old phraseology--"to
_me_!--to thank me for opportunities of meeting, and to tell me she
has followed up the teaching of last year."

"What--the rights of women?"

"Ay. This is a civil marriage--not mocking her with antiquated
servile vows," she says. "Ah, well, it was my doing, I suppose.
Clio Tallboys held forth in private, I believe, to poor Gussie, on
theories that were mere talk in her, but which this poor girl has
taken in earnest."

"Very sad earnest she may find it, I fear. Can I do anything for
you?" as they reached the gate of Aucuba Villa.

"No, thank you, unless to get the house off my hands."

"You are alone. Will you not come and spend the evening with us?"

"That is very kind, but I have too much to do, and besides, Sister
Margaret is coming to spend the night with me."

"I am glad to hear it."

"Yes, Mr. Charnock, I trust I have learnt something in this spell of
work. I've not been for nothing in such scenes with those Sisters
and young Bowater. I'm more ignorant than half the poor things that
I've heard talk of their faith and hope; but