Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

236 RAVENSHOE.
her, and do what I can for her. We must pull through it together
somehow."
" She had better go from here. She is too good for this hole.
I must make provision for her to live with you."
" Not one halfpenny, my lord. She has lived too long in dependence and disgrace already. We will pull through together
alone."
Lord Welter said nothing, but he determined that Charles
should not have his way in this respect.
Charles continued, " When I came into this room to-night I
came to quarrel with you. You have not allowed me to do so,
and I thank you for it." Here he paused, and then went on in a
lower voice, " I think you are sorry, Welter; are you not? I
am sure you are sorry. I am sure you would n't have done it if
you had foreseen the consequences, eh?"
Lord Welter's coarse under-lip shook for half a second, and
his big chest heaved once; but he said nothing.
" Only think another time; that is all. Now do me a favor;
make me a promise."
"I have made it."
"Don't tell any human soul you have seen me. If you do,
you will only entail a new disguise and a new hiding on me.
You have promised."
" On my honor."
"If you keep your promise, I can stay where I am. How
is - Lady Ascot? "
"Well. Nursing my father."
"Is he ill? "
"Had a fit the day before yesterday. I heard this morning
from them. He is much better, and will get over it."
"Have you heard anything from Ravenshoe? "
"Not a word. Lord Saltire and General Mainwaring are
both with my father, in London. Grandma won't see either me
or Adelaide. Do you know that she has been moving heaven
and earth to find you?"
"Good soul! I won't be found, though. Now, good night! "
And he went. If any one had told him three months before
that he would have been locked in the same room with a man
who had done him such irreparable injury, and have left it at the
end of half an hour with a quiet " good night," he would most
likely have beaten that man there and then. But he was getting
tamed very fast. Ay, he was already getting more than tamed;
he was in a fair way to get broken-hearted.
" I will not see her to-night, sir," he said to Hornby, whom he
found with his head resting on the table; "I will come to-morrow
and prepare her for leaving this house. You are to see her the
day after to-morrow; but without hope, remember."