ough to slay a fatted
calf, would never have given the shin-bone of it to a prodigal like
Jasper, even had he been her own penitent son, instead of a graceless
step-nephew. Therefore, as all civilisation proceeds westward, Jasper
turned his face from the east; and had no more idea of recrossing Temple
Bar in search of fortune, friends, or kindred, than a modern Welshman
would dream of a pilgrimage to Asian shores to re-embrace those distant
relatives whom Hu Gadarn left behind him countless centuries ago, when
that mythical chief conducted his faithful Cymrians over the Hazy Sea to
this happy island of Honey.

[Mel Ynnys--Isle of Honey. One of the poetic names given to England
in the language of the ancient Britons.]

Two days after his rencontre with Arabella in the Green Park, the
_soi-disant_ Hammond having, in the interim, learned that Darrell was
immensely rich, and that Matilda was his only surviving child, did not
fail to find himself in the Green Park again--and again--and again!

Arabella, of course, felt how wrong it was to allow him to accost her,
and walk by one side of her while Miss Darrell was on the other. But she
felt, also, as if it would be much more wrong to slip out and meet him
alone. Not for worlds would she again have placed herself in such peril.
To refuse to meet him at all?--she had not strength enough for that! Her
joy at seeing him was so immense. And nothing could be more respectful
than Jasper's manner and conversation. Whatever of warmer and more
impassioned sentiment was exchanged between them passed in notes. Jasper
had suggested to Arabella to represent him to Matilda as some near
relation. But Arabella refused all such disguise. Her sole claim to
self-respect was in considering him solemnly engaged to her--the man she
was to marry.

And, after the second time they thus met, she said to Matilda, who had
not questioned her by a word-by a look: "I was to be married to that
gentleman before my father died; we are to be married as soon as we have
something to live upon."

Matilda made some commonplace but kindly rejoinder. And thus she became
raised into Arabella's confidence, so far as that confidence could be
given, without betraying Jasper's real name or one darker memory in
herself. Luxury, indeed, it was to Arabella to find, at last, some one
to whom she could speak of that betrothal in which her whole future was
invested--of that affection which was her heart's sheet-ancho