Nell of Shorne Mills

As chance--there is no such thing, of course--would have it, Lady Luce

was changing maids at this time.

Burden, armed with her most excellent and fully deserved "character,"

applied for and obtained the situation.

She ought to have been thankful for her escape, and happy and contented

in a service which, though very different from that of Lady Wolfer's,

was good enough. But Burden had lost her heart; and when one has lost

one's heart, happiness is impossible.

She longed for a sight, just a sight, of her good-looking Ted; and one

day, while the Turfleighs were stopping at Brighton, her heart's desire

was gratified.

She saw her handsome Ted on the pier. He was, if anything, handsomer

than ever, was beautifully dressed--quite the gentleman, in fact, and

though Burden had fully intended to just bow and pass on, she stopped

and talked to him. Cupid slipped round her the chains from which she had

so nearly freed herself, and----The woman who goes back to a man is

indeed completely lost.

They met every day; but alas, alas! Ted no longer spoke of marriage; and

his influence over the woman who loved him unwisely and too well, grew

in proportion to her devotion and helplessness.

She soon learned that the man to whom she had given herself was a

criminal, one of a skillful gang of burglars. But it was too late to

draw back; too late even to refuse to help him.

It was Burden who clung to the man in hiding behind the park gate.

"What made you hurry so, old girl?" he said soothingly, and putting his

arm round her. "What's your fear?"

"Oh, Ted, Ted!" she gasped. "It's so dark----"

"All the better," he said coolly. "Less chance of any one seeing you."

"But some one saw you as you were standing by the window. It was Miss

Lorton--they called out--they may have suspicions."

"Don't you worry," he said. "They only thought it was some one after one

of the girls. And it was the truth, wasn't it? What a frightened little

thing it is! You'd be scared by your own shadow!"

"I am! I am, Ted!" said the unhappy girl. "I start at the slightest

noise; and I'm so--so nervous, that I expect Lady Lucille to send me

away every day."

The man frowned.

"She mustn't do that," he said, half angrily. "I can't have that; it

would be precious awkward just now! That would spoil all our plans."