VERY HARD CASH.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND."

CHAPTER IX.

JULIA took Mr. Hardie's note and read it:
"Madam, I have received a very juvenile
letter from my son, by which I learn he
has formed a sudden attachment to your
daughter. He tells me, however, at the same
time, that you await my concurrence before
giving your consent. I appreciate your delicacy;
and it is with considerable regret I now write to
inform you this match is out of the question. I
have thought it due to you to communicate this
to yourself and without delay, and feel sure that
you will, under the circumstances, discountenance
my son's further visits at your house.
"I am,
"Madam,
"With sincere respect,
"Your faithful servant,
"RICHARD HARDIE."

Julia read this letter, and re-read it in silence.
It was an anxious moment to the mother.

"Shall our pride be less than this parvenu's?"
she faltered. " Tell me yourself, what ought we
to do?"

"What we ought to do is, never to let the
name of Hardie be mentioned again in this
house."

This reply was very comforting to Mrs. Dodd.

"Shall I write to him, or do you feel strong
enough?"

"I feel that, if I do, I may affront him. He
had no right to pretend that his father would
consent. You write, and then we shall not lose
our dignity though we are insulted."

"I feel so weary, mamma. Life seems ended."

"I could have loved him well. And now show
me how to tear him out of my heart; or what
will become of me?"

While Mrs. Dodd wrote to Alfred Hardie,
Julia sank down and laid her head on her
mother's knees. The note was shown her; she
approved it languidly. A long and sad conversation
followed; and, after kissing her mother
and clinging to her, she went to bed chilly and
listless, but did not shed a single tear. Her
young heart was benumbed by the unexpected
blow.

Next morning early, Alfred Hardie started
gaily to spend the day at Albion Villa. Not a
hundred yards from the gate he met Sarah, with
Mrs. Dodd's letter, enclosing a copy of his
father's to her. Mrs. Dodd here reminded him
that his visits had been encouraged only upon a
misapprehension of his father's sentiments; for
which misapprehension he was in some degree
to blame: not that she meant to reproach him
on that score, especially at this unhappy moment:
no, she rather blamed herself for listening to
the sanguine voice of youth; but the error
must now be repaired. She and Julia would
always wish him well, and esteem him, provided
he made no further attempt to compromise a
young lady who could not be his wife. The note
concluded thus:

"Individually I think I have some right to
count on your manly and gentlemanly feeling to
hold no communication with my daughter, and
not in any way to attract her attention, under
the present circumstances.
"I am,
"Dear Mr. Alfred Hardie,
"With many regrets at the pain I fear
"I am giving you,
"Your sincere friend and well-wisher,
"LUCY DODD."

Alfred on reading this letter literally staggered:
but proud and sensitive, as well as loving, he
manned himself to hide his wound from Sarah,
whose black eyes were bent on him in merciless
scrutiny. He said doggedly, though tremulously,
"Very well !" then turned quickly on his heel,
and went slowly home. Mrs. Dodd, with well-feigned
indifference, questioned Sarah privately :
the girl's account of the abrupt way in which he
had received the missive, added to her anxiety.
She warned the servants that no one was at
home to Mr. Alfred Hardie.

Two days elapsed, and then she received a
letter from him. Poor fellow, it was the eleventh.
He had written and torn up ten.

"Dear Mrs. Dodd, I have gained some victories
in my life; but not one without two defeats