Nell of Shorne Mills

Drake's announcement was received with amazed silence for a moment; then

Dick flung up his piece of bread behind his back, caught it dexterously,

and burst out with: "See the conquering hero comes! Hurrah! Nell--Nell! Don't run away! Wait

for the congratulations of your devoted brother!"

But Nell had fled to her room, and, on pretense of chivying her, Dick

discreetly withdrew, leaving Drake to the inevitable interview with Mrs.

Lorton.

"I'm sure I don't know what to say," she murmured. "It is so unexpected,

so quite unlooked for. It is like a bolt out of the green----" She meant

blue, but had got the colors mixed. "I had no idea that you had any

serious intentions!"

Then she remembered that she had to play the part of guardian, and

endeavored to fill the rôle with the dignity due to a lady of her

exalted birth.

"I need not say that I--er--congratulate you, Mr. Vernon. Eleanor is

a--er--dear girl; she has been the comfort and consolation of my life,

and--er--the parting with her will be a great--a very great--trial.

Pardon my emotion!" She snuffed into a handkerchief, and wiped her eyes

with a delicate touch or two. "But I should not dream of standing in the

way of her happiness. No! If she has made her heart's choice, I shall

not attempt to dissuade her. And I feel that she has chosen wisely. Of

course, my dear Mr. Vernon, though we have had the pleasure of your

presence with us for some time, we do not--er--know----"

Drake winced slightly. Should he tell her the truth? Should he say, "My

name's Drake Vernon, right enough, but I happen to be Lord Selbie?"

But he shrank from the avowal, the confession. He knew that it would

call forth quite a torrent of amazement and self-satisfaction; that he

would be asked why he had concealed his full name and rank--and

to-night, of all nights, he felt unequal to the scene which would most

certainly follow the confession.

"I will tell you all--I can," he said, with a pause before the last

words which, fortunately for him, Mrs. Lorton was top excited to notice.

"I'm afraid Nell hasn't made a very wise choice. I'm not worthy of her;

but that goes without saying; no man alive is. But even in the usual

acceptation of the term, I'm not what is called a good match."

Mrs. Lorton looked blank and rather puzzled as she thought of the

diamond bracelet and the three horses.

"I--we--er--imagined that you were well off," she said.