"Gentlemen," said Mr. Hervey, "this is no time for private quarrels;

and, Captain, here is a fellow with a note for you. It is my Lady

Capel's footman, and he says he comes in urgent speed."

Hyde glanced at the message. "It is a last command, Mr. Harvey; and I

must beg you to say what is proper for my honour to Lord Paget. Lady

Capel is at the death-point, and to her requests I am first bounden."

It was raining hard when he left the club, a most dreary night in the

city. The coach rattled through the muddy streets, and brought, as it

went along, many a bored, heavy countenance to the steaming windows, to

watch and to wonder at its pace. Lady Capel had been death-stricken

while at whist, and she had not been removed from the parlour in which

she had been playing her last game. She was stretched upon a sofa in the

midst of the deserted tables, yet covered with scattered cards and

half-emptied tea-cups. Only Lady Suffolk and a physician were with her;

though the corridor was full of terrified, curious servants, gloating

not unkindly over such a bit of sensation in their prosaic lives.

At this hour it was evident that, above everything in the world, the old

lady had loved the wild extravagant grandson, whose debts she had paid

over and over, and whom she had for years alternately petted and

scolded.

"O Dick," she whispered, "I've got to die! We all have. I've had a good

time, Dick."

"Shall I go for cousin Harold? I can bring him in an hour."

"No, no. I want no priests; no better than we are, Dick. Harold is a

proud sinner; Lord, what a proud sinner he is!" Then, with a glint of

her usual temper, "He'd snub the twelve apostles if he met them without

mitres. No priests, Dick. It is you I want. I have left you eight

thousand pounds--all I could save, Dick. Everything goes back to William

now; but the eight thousand pounds is yours. Arabella is witness to it.

Dick, Dick, you will think of me sometimes?"

And Hyde kissed her fondly. Ugly, heartless, sinful, she might be to

others; but to him she had been a double mother. "I'll never forget

you," he answered; "never, grandmother."

"I know what the town will say: 'Well, well, old Lady Capel has gone to

her deserts at last.' Don't mind them, Dick. Let them talk. They will

have to go too; it's the old round--meat and mirth, and then to

bed--a--long--sleep."




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