who puts his trust in a woman.

Late that evening a lady, in a black veil, knocked at No.--Gloucester
Place, and asked to see Mrs. Haughton on urgent business. She was
admitted. She remained but five minutes.

The next day when, "gay as a bridegroom prancing to his bride," Jasper
Losely presented himself at the widow's door, the servant placed in his
hand a packet, and informed him bluffly that Mrs. Haughton had gone
out of town. Jasper with difficulty suppressed his rage, opened the
packet,--his own letters returned, with these words, "Sir, your name
is not Courtenay Smith. If you trouble me again, I shall apply to the
police." Never from female hand had Jasper Losely's pride received such
a slap on its face. He was literally stunned. Mechanically he hastened
to Arabella Crane; and having no longer any object in concealment, but,
on the contrary, a most urgent craving for sympathy, he poured forth his
indignation and wrongs. No mother could be more consolatory than Mrs.
Crane. She soothed, she flattered, she gave him an excellent dinner;
after which, she made him so comfortable, what with an easy-chair and
complimentary converse, that, when Jasper rose late to return to his
lodging, he said, "After all, if I had been ugly and stupid, and of
a weakly constitution, I should have been of a very domestic turn of
mind."

CHAPTER XIV.

No author ever drew a character consistent to human nature, but what
he was forced to ascribe to it many inconsistencies.

Whether moved by that pathetic speech of Jasper's, or by some other
impulse not less feminine, Arabella Crane seemed suddenly to conceive
the laudable and arduous design of reforming that portentous sinner. She
had some distant relations in London, whom she very rarely troubled with
a visit, and who, had she wanted anything from them, would have shut
their doors in her face; but as, on the contrary, she was well off,
single, and might leave her money to whom she pleased, the distant
relations were always warm in manner, and prodigal in their offers of
service. The next day she repaired to one of these kinsfolk,--a person
in a large way of business,--and returned home with two great books in
white sheepskin. And when Losely looked in to dine, she said, in the
suavest tones a tender mother can address to an amiable truant, "Jasper,
you have great abilities; at the gaming-table abilities are evidently
useless: your forte is calculation; you were always very q