EVER KNEW."
XXVII. LADY ALBURY'S LETTER.
XXVIII. MISS DOCIMER.
XXIX. AT MERLE PARK. NO. 1.
XXX. AT MERLE PARK. NO. 2.
XXXI. THE DIAMOND NECKLACE.
XXXII. TOM'S DESPAIR.
XXXIII. ISADORE HAMEL IN LOMBARD STREET.
XXXIV. "I NEVER THREATENED TO TURN YOU OUT."
XXXV. TOM TRINGLE SENDS A CHALLENGE.
XXXVI. TOM TRINGLE GETS AN ANSWER.
XXXVII. GERTRUDE IS UNSUCCESSFUL.
XXXVIII. FRANK HOUSTON IS PENITENT.
XXXIX. CAPTAIN BATSBY.
XL. AUNT EMMELINE'S NEW PROPOSITION.
XLI. "A COLD PROSPECT!"
XLII. ANOTHER DUEL.
XLIII. ONCE MORE!

AYALA'S ANGEL.

CHAPTER XXIII.

STALHAM PARK.

On the day fixed Ayala went down to Stalham. A few days before she
started there came to her a letter, or rather an envelope, from her
uncle Sir Thomas, enclosing a cheque for L20. The Tringle women had
heard that Ayala had been asked to Stalham, and had mentioned the
visit disparagingly before Sir Thomas. "I think it very wrong of my
poor brother," said Lady Tringle. "She can't have a shilling even to
get herself gloves." This had an effect which had not been intended,
and Sir Thomas sent the cheque for L20. Then Ayala felt not only that
the heavens were opened to her but that the sweetest zephyrs were
blowing her on upon her course. Thoughts as to gloves had disturbed
her, and as to some shoes which were wanting, and especially as to
a pretty hat for winter wear. Now she could get hat and shoes and
gloves, and pay her fare, and go down to Stalham with money in her
pocket. Before going she wrote a very pretty note to her Uncle Tom.

On her arrival she was made much of by everyone. Lady Albury called
her the caged bird, and congratulated her on her escape from the
bars. Sir Harry asked her whether she could ride to hounds. Nina
gave her a thousand kisses. But perhaps her greatest delight was
in finding that Jonathan Stubbs was at Albury. She had become so
intimate with the Colonel that she regarded him quite like an old
friend; and when a girl has a male friend, though he may be much less
loved, or not loved at all, he is always more pleasant, or at any
rate more piquant, than a female friend. As for love with Colonel
Stubbs that was quite out of the question. She was sure that he would
never fall in love with herself. His manner to her was altogether
unlike that of a lover. A lover would be smooth, soft, poetic,
and flattering. He was always a littl