Nell of Shorne Mills

"I've met with reverses lately," said Drake; "and I'm poorer than I was

a--er--little while ago."

Mrs. Lorton drew herself up a little, and her expression grew less

complaisant.

"Indeed?" she said interrogatively.

"Yes," he went on quietly. "I am quite aware that Nell deserves----Perhaps

I'd better tell you the income we shall have to get along on."

He mentioned the sum which the remnant of his fortune would produce,

and, though it was much smaller than Mrs. Lorton had expected, it was

large enough to cause her countenance to relax something of its

stiffness.

"It is not a large income," she said. "And I cannot but remember that

Eleanor, though she is not a Wolfer by birth, is connected with the

family; and that, if she were taken up by them, she might--one never

knows what may happen under favorable circumstances. A season in London

with my people----"

Drake nodded.

"I know," he said, "Nell is worthy of the best, and no doubt if she were

in London I should stand a poor chance; but it's my luck that she isn't,

you see. And"--his voice dropped--"and I'm conceited enough to believe

that she cares for me; and I don't suppose my poverty will make any

difference. Heaven knows, I wish I were rich, for her sake!"

"Well, we must make the best of it," said the good lady. "After all,

money isn't everything." She spoke as if she were suffering from the

burden of a million. "True hearts are more than coronets. I must write

and tell my cousin, Lord Wolfer."

"I wouldn't! I mean, is it necessary--at any rate, just yet?" said

Drake. It was just possible that Lord Wolfer might interest himself

sufficiently to ask questions; he might, indeed, connect "Drake Vernon"

with the two first names of Viscount Selbie. And Drake--well, this was

the first bit of romance in his life, and he clung to it. The idea of

marrying Nell, of marrying her as plain "Drake Vernon," down on his

luck, was sweet to him. He could tell her after the wedding, when they

were too far away to suffer from the fuss which Mrs. Lorton would

inevitably make over the revelation.

"You see, we shall have to be married very quietly; and I'm thinking of

spending some time abroad, on the Continent--Nell will like to see a

foreign city or two--and, do you think it's worth while troubling your

people?"