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lc; N.ole?Ls??e ot In ?l;;it the called her nornerig room,
eueWieS, and heri thre- caicaulnlons ere her children,
Ifarry LIlly,' and ,Ireddy-not that ieb wantell any
othelr comlianion, for he halid l' n idea thit lthese three
,?c:ie thile pricilcal| inllciilnici Of tlhe globe. .1lo uiedl to
!be en good deal in-.Iove:wlth hicr lhusbaldl some years
Ilefnre, and thoagh noteve hereltimlen co:ild occuso lier
of Ibelig nncything leas thln on a ectionte nid devoted
tt?fe?it is to he. feared tihat her Iiai of the head
of, thle family ?led reolvedlt.lhemelves Iito the one
iil-tmlirbtant fact'that he was oioply tihe "elillren'oi
ap a." , .
Now. (eorge, Noble himselfl was i 'vipellcl-heated,
eovingi gcagoing, hun liac id; end if the llonght coiet,
tilmes o;trlude 'Itself `with provokling pIeristencr
into Iles tiol.t: ihat lie hadl llnvccl second ;idilo
to a nmortifylig estent in his cwn hIouse evir
ine ithe aerrival of the balcies, hle was much LI
too gobtod, a fatier to glvc the IleIi rec1oc in ilis
Ilelrt, lie ewisliced thit Flora could give hin It iilttle
nmore cerasonil Otlention at tinico; ile couhlc like to tii;ec
Ile- to the thelatre or n concert sonllcliocia-,-to both of
clil: h lie litked to go iinimelf, inow culi thei ; or, f :lii:!:
tlnt spllecie of eltlerteienilllcl, lie woul, cciil Ihcve eicc nl
grcateful if alet conll have found thiu to ric-cl to htinc :t1
iholr or tcn in thle eceniilng ic ee uc cCd to doi, or li-,teli
while hie read.
Iluit Flora cics too btusy or perorCCLlci I, or Lillly's
ilrtc liad to bh finishe., Iharry wciuilol cllliroidcrld
collars, or rreddy htid ci new tooth comilihic Bai, wa
ctee41 Ipoor darlillg !
(elorge, who Wl an iii icroulcil.lr kciciccricn, cind haWl
plenty oh mnlllcv, o::rg;ctc.l Iliorl. cc ll ccc cllil.r[crci-?; bait
Ilor.i toced lirer 1ccd vcil lnforcccl hic, Wilh 091ciic6
indilgccc; ol?ci, ll oclc' n c iolher couldllc Icrlere!)y tenl cand
resc lior ther ii oe lilnije-c. (Georgc arecccptel the rebcuke
mehl:ly,cic :ilticllorrlow !ge:ol hlcat it wouldl bIe lcllreboclable
tc l(ici i faull wlthl Ili otlicer for too great devotion to lher
dtilea.
It tils way (ieorge igot ilto lihe Ihalit of takling hil
nticllcellecccl tilloac: I, liclltlccllpci illVitliocc c.till cameO
nlrilc d.r.lc :a Il ccitcr of forml, to MIr. illrl Acni. Pioblo, it
'lci Uii lltclclllctoo I lithait i(lrnc's iocc dlutica pre\'riited
Icer frocm gcoiig into rocily. cnll (icorgo coon celsre to
itere thc icalte-. 11lc'hbn invitatciocs c cec tchat c 10 wicilcd
to :c;I c', tic: drcsrcel ccci sint occt, clcl I'loria eldoni
c-ercl diccigli Cc"to;cl licc lce Ilo h Ill cjclc u hs eeldilnl.
litlitc:i were like Lthic, alclc l hIcrri bt yn for c evcrl ysorli
whlinl ]Flora waLu first. intrwice-d Ito youlr notice.ll . As8 she
alct iitco \ol? in tihe olnllcllli?g.roomicl- tlhiogli why It wccL
cacllrn 10lccc ng-roon" wouie ild . cci\eicc l Ihlrdi to ed llainc,
for ic. Oicic-re ciigh;it briave bIcn foiccI in ii miiceilci, cicoi,
nillcl cvccitlfc, ruin, rnlittlill ue, I.(iL :it illilililglh--hie c?lti
thue childlrel nlicclio I l nice dolcti tic Iclircte.
ilill-i cllc lo I tel door, clld nllo ll?cod-.-
"Mro. Williamiroli, who b-ggerl Idalr. Noble wouldn't
t.cicid cnii cicecoicoiy with her,"
Illre, NoiNlo cli-thhl, iii cnn tindertone, ii hlait
icoclldccih c WliII clay lt onici, cllid Ic-:vo hler ill pcce tCd
Slaiid Io hec r icc ou-lcc ohl." '.'hiinI tuCiling to I'Ellii, ilh
told IcT- to lilhow tlre huly into thie icorienli;-rcolll,
Irn. Willcicaio eri icno inc, rustling Inc n ceharicng
toilht, Shi was youncg clil preltty, too, n(c for c ollei
reliroci lirc. Noble feoll piovukci ec rilo icesw licr. It
wouhdc lihv een diclllclt to lay why, for rie wai niuce
Icretlier heliselfi, ild uho earerdl to lliko any ilcoiblc to cvilioc
.t-lhe fne; cI itcct ad ilcld clicllrcely hlvo brco Icralcliltl of licr
preitty drceo, for c, Noible pirolfcossecdl to tldoslllon olec.
Firs. C1'illnlnieon taledor of very c jllecb t ic nder the liln,
oxcelit bchblce. Of thenl'chil dl ilnot criclcci blrlcico nile
hlid clciii, llcd cwani labibIoliIly iglillrllllt of Iei cinbjoct. If
cie haid ildil a icliglo wordl to cly blcouti iI, illc would cicr
toicily levc fnhdl It. Jlct As ioe roco to go, rie cal, with
tlllnxlpetI tlit denlellnc :
c Yoell kllow We ave Ict g:re:t ell -Ie tllei ocon--even
you ll nt ihavoe heard ocf her, Iltholcgli ,you iever go oiut,
be;ilileo Mdlr. Noblc iic licr illrct loerotec nAdmnirer."
Plc-, Noble'll hieeft oc?io A bocundc l cth ilougih cni olcclil
micichicline weroe cticieivhoro nirri, ccciii had ichrged righl
hilo i. 'rhi eololcerhlccird up ii ier CIeii, Aiid lcle
IncLswoloe, i No, c i c had lot hcaclerd of thie young lady
who was illo li "
"c otl yoiler; Ialadt :cc cll --ca wilorc--Mli. Doveroitx.
iow funny thllat eMr. Nioble hid nioeer inm:io-lci c lir-
hi wcll!llccrc su l nticnciror ; rcally, if it wae her hInsbacl?,ii
d.,., At., ke.
Mirs. Noble o crcely hoard tier, aud aisircered hier
alieus; In vcocry ,licn-eoltel Iciiirllce. toier Ilcalrcl ctcc oii
lire. George, the arcoieit cdlriiecr O1 inothlcr wonlllc-
Geonlce, Ied (' eorg, dlevcting iinmelfl to ct rival, while
rio sinncit r lic o tilkinllg cru of clii? locio ccliii reariig
Iin lcihlren--cne\er icoll, to p1rly, theatie, olleri, nliy
chere-llt for yfe ra mllc ini n ai dticgoiinco dlruldgo of her.
nrlf. 'e (cllid cl't rellet hlow nminch sie wacs to biino
tlllt it cclo cic i;ccd ilyov George lind trlveni , ycarn a lgon,
to lre'evnllt ier Ircni obnorlcii lng erolf ic holicehold
alfairc that lie woould c glidlty have hired nervanto to
ouidlic to. No; I her tlirt ncd odly lthcouglt wOs to ?ea
tli'TSc e hwn l oi terlallls er htlsbalod firocc lier, cncl to
win hhnm bacli to llit lIafl w cllegic\co.
lcarry, obsercicng hs icllollor'n cllbitraction, got ip a
liveloy quiarel \wlih Lilly, ciii tumbl ed lier lhair, whlllo
I'relly igot t tChic wiaer ic thle cahhc-nal bau?ili, dabbled
Illlindcilli icc it, IIud \it lts best lciw emlrohhlldrcei dclero,
Iaincicicl nilcther fIaw int ierccellc? d ile c\c.as golig over in
licer cild 11the lint of her party ldreicio, cellcl cere cll
olcl-faclshionlrc , ncl locidlcg tuhat ile lilcit hIave rolo ir11o
ollce. Frclddy tumblodl oTff l cliail, icldl crs left foe
Ellcici--ciwho clhlliccd to cono itn jiuct lhrn--(o Iick ciiU
nlld coio^. Iln, he chlitlrenc begaci to thhilck tle weorld wacc
clciincl to an cnd ; Alin wiien JIlleon And cool: retiredI to
rest hint ililghl thlie firler coniiliLdedI to ttic dLIgllnltiry oc
the iltelcec tlihat "1coercas eulo nunclllotlililcig lriblu h:id
Ihlcipctl cd to luicsun" Iwalrmi o wice c lio told h:r i Mie
Lilly hcl gone to bed \itlli a lieadaclhel and Milier
iFrcldy was Iloarce from dabblincg in lhe \waer, the iclcl
loust ciid-
SOh, lonsenlcrn! there's inthlinig cthe clcctcr wilth
tlieli.,"
Onc lihe elt dlay, howcever, Mire. oblle wcin co far
cltrllcrd to Ihercelf ac to allow thce iusual corn of cliii for
iher fflc?licg. At tlhe camio ti?ilo slie conlri\el to Ie(c- cc
lrcetly ilcirlc lookout oil hcr itisblndl ; ic c nll hii e quclicllcld
helm cclth cilchicictblo Skill cbout Apea. Iictsvrcu.-, cccll
cicnicilll! el to llcicc o Icici tllk of lir. li tllloligllit Ie
seeclccl conif?clcli, cnlcci hIc cerhy ally htrll Inurie el
chucinnli lic roegard to tlhe Ily's ict? nllcrcnco tCici \cais lt
alcl cilrciveseay.
It wan cenouglh--Filoa \wns fInrloualy jealoui.
Ic thie colicone of tic crck, tivo erdls of Invltatilon
can?e to lieo Nobllce.
Are you lgohg out tonlcorro\ nilght, (teirgo P"
'Flora cleo 1, wlti more carrlenasces thnn she feolt.
ci h's, I thik ti; 11c; Ill dcc into Glan0t'o for tcn hocr
or two," wnc tlhe li.aeiprll llng An eriicc. ira. Noble only
oblerced ltllnlt Ihe dli no ac : hec r ito Ig with Iih Wilth
Iti; ltier biillolic hO thought: ii 0, of conirce--nic Ira to be
Cillco c
Sh1c Jaldl ciothiltg, but nico resolind Co ltend the G rat'a
partr, Mee. tranct Weta nll old frlend, ind it iw\old clcl
1oo0 to nrconge to go therm alone- for tto had no initertioo
of going with George. Sho wao not lon,; behind him,
hiwerr. FiShe just onaited to oce timhe chlldrle tucketl irto
beld and Ifot ?.lee;r, nol for tile tirsnt timer it ire o-e-an chit.
attired ererll to eveni:'g dr!.er, anrd milel to oce that tle
glae. didt notl re:lct theo lfgure f t dowld,
SGeorge Noble wo-c, i'lh c, 'rol noelrht IlIrcnte?6:L ill ilre.
Den'reun, but the intere-rt vl!.o of a onry r-uptrlicial
churacter, rtthrogll ill-natured rtoln hle:d nelee ten:rter:.
tatut it. She cito litely ctnod )right, and r re r-ero I to
like him. She litteuee ,ith oerept. nttetion hlceu he
rlol:e; r he bet rolree oil him ong und tender glanclut fr irn
her r-reot rink eyec-; nd the rlere to him il Imv,
er-cot, crtliet-rtltlta turleS. Georgre hted for ;o lor,:
felt hihntdtl a nt-rtleitty i n iset houtoe that lIra
mniourllne va:ity v:to touched to filld thtt other
wotenrr founrd Iriti intert tring, eve-t ttou'gl hris
wifec no loniger rcreed to thinkl: r. lie rwa grate
ful to iore. DevertuI fIr nutting hit Let I lthit,elf of o?ro
ltr c lteteee anlrl hie erho-erd hii;?,rtititudlre by adlmirtion.
Flora ccateitcd this little play, nld :or tart achned ntorely
tre ad1, rthe feared, lot her tu! bandh , by i:llr win; him
to go nm:rtantly into recitety tritne. At last 'lle t-lalmrd
herself, trntd her oelf-rtcprecheis oetc bitter. Gecgrge htd
just terigtled Mrs. l)teertet. to a partntet alto clrtIt .d
trer, tnd ntoot I eatchtitt hrr dtetder, sylph-like f,,it
wthirltthg h hrutgh tie ttiett. tlor.t was trare r etth r, i
troo-not l ithiourttutort of eluctaultttehuirt-li -da;h
he etnid to Itrit.f :
" Sie irll't o:ctty a 1bit. She heas o:rly ryes,:ll'l ,1l.1'H ·
-ul fiegure, r without an orunce of lersh oil it."
T1ears cpraog to Iher eye,, but tire ihel trhem itack
braveh,.
,1 Wlo in thiut very itottdttullte womr l?" wo e pl-.:eettty
askedl it (ittorge'r hiltitlg; It t ohat ro recr w Ie w ever al,
Iter cc'es off hMr?n,. Ic\tcrcu. Slit can't t te jearous. :;ire's
o hudre I tinter hcnd tomer."
'rhec questiou passced roull to rreroal pcolple It fore it
nas ant'-erted. At ittt Ia .ay t epict :
' Oth,thait ti Mr. Nole -Ctorrge Noble's rife '"
Noblh'o wifer? It titttt'ilile? Jy le hlc't, an porio.t
beaUto ! I 'ilM t cart it c et in t th,,t Jiltle balthk-yt-ed
wridow when hlint a: rrich a wife of hisi owni
Georrge'n ears ting!-ld tile mro.vd taw.ty lntil ll:ed
,rountd for hii wifet. It was tonlr, tirme b,i fore ie
rerogn-td hert ; i .rdt then-icould that be Flt.t .t ? 'fliit
netal-loottittio womnr , in black velvet, with -etrek -tld rnt
oi rllot, i- d tlut;ry hailr pilied up like a t ro-rll on lop of
hee litte head. lice fate on as to fresh no Ia rost ; her
chtek ats round as a ireilob. Shre lookedr like girl n'onll
nide-r f w-oret nmetcey Ier ownr :ge, but who worer- \worn,
nalowr, and Irollow--cyo:l writh fariioablho revelry.'
George made llis rway to Iher tido as qtietly os tne
could trove.
11 You Ihere, darling? " Ine ait. " I antm llllatte -I
thoughlt you Ihated etuch gtatherilng."
" Well, ill a teneral rway I do ; but I thlink it is right
to go out occasionally, just to eeo thow the worrt tur-s
round."
" Well, you ocr It is turnitng rounld Iher qnclte lively.
Will you favour me with a mnltor I shall tccnt It oan
honour ?"
But a wife tlllstln't daiue with Iter ownt Ihulblndd.'"
" She certainly nltttott walt'r , witltrany one ,.Ise, wlhen
hes t my wife. nAd thnu, you know, no one will tceogulso
you ."
At lieo clotped her waist, anrd euporttId Iher to the
lovely outic of the Strnuoo wrnltenses George whispered i
"i nnr eo grlI you came, darling. Yon are altogether
the nha tli?tlttt WortltlltU in tlhe roomr-."
SDo you reanlly nthinko no ?" alid Filora delighted.
tn I Inorrw no-I'll challecngeo ny man that doubtso it."
George oano oO devotetd thutt half-a-dozen peopleo
cutnel I him of carrying on a despernate flirtation witht
Ilir own wife. ie positiverly forgot MIrs. Ioevereuo's
,xistence, arid cotutitltct n dtreadful Ibreachn of etirqnetto
by tInking IFlorn into sRpper.
lMrs. Noble found tthat she coultl rtill enjoy a party,
lnltl eoe it rourrid datce, without tnecessarily neglereting
ler chilrcu ore or ving thelt tecn, nd tohe speedlily decided
to aceonlotuty Gicorgoe in future when he went into eociety
tor lntllltnelorlr iastt r?ell as to offer Iilnt no Imur?ch hiome
ettertainurretr thant Ine woultd willilgly nnay there. Whllen
they bhde! their hostess goottd-ni:,ht Floran and Gorggo
went Ironoe in tile otme trtrriat!e ; utl it he dill tlleh
her rornd ari l and r iss her orowy shoulder, surely it
wot, nttitedy's btuilcess. Ilo felt olte moreo that tllo
belonute.l to hlilr, anid a nlat mnay do as heo rill with nlit
own.
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