THE

SECOND MRS. TILLOTSON.

BT THE AUTHOR OF "NEVER FORGOTTEN."

BOOK III.

CHAPTER VIII. A NEW PROJECT.

"O NO," she said; "it is better as it is. She
would perhaps be found to come too often.
Would you mind staying a moment, as I want
to speak to you?"

A little wondering, he sat down, and said
kindly, and with warmth, "What is it? Tell
me now. This is what I like."

She coughed again in the same odd way.
"I am not well," she went on, "and I do not
get better. Somehow, the air of this place
does not suit me. Even the doctor says that
the winter that is coming on will be severe;
and I assure you I do not want to make much
of a trifle (and you can ask uncle, for he told
him so too), but he says I ought to go to
some warm climate for the winter. I feel great
pain sometimes, indeed I do."

He started up. "Good Heavens! why was
I not told this before? Surely you must have
known that anything you wished would be done,
and that——"

"Anything I wished! No, I did not know
that" she said, almost scornfully.

He looked at her. "What does this mean?
What wrong has been done to you? Explain
it now, and have done with it for ever!"

She grew cold in a moment. "What I mean
is," she said, "I want to go away. As I say,
my chest is very weak indeed, and I am sure
would not bear the coming winter. It is not
much to ask. I would not say so, only the
doctor says so. I would not, indeed."

"Of course," said he. "Why not? Your
life before everything. Surely you'll do me
the justice to say I would do anything you
should require. Where would you wish we
should go—to Nice? Just at this moment I
have a serious affair on hand, but in a
fortnight——"

"0," she said, "don't be alarmed. I shall
inconvenience no one. You could not leave
business. I am not so selfish as to require
it. Dear Miss Diamond will come with me, and
darling nunkey, if I ask him. He will be
delighted, I know."

"I can go in ten days," said he, reflecting.
"I am sure I can manage it."

"Then I shall stay here for the winter," she
said. "I would not have the duty put on me
of breaking up your business. I am sure the
doctor is only an alarmist. I shall do very
well, I know, and am quite strong enough."

"Just as you please," said he, with a sigh;
"all I can say is, and I say so most earnestly
and truthfully, I will do anything that will suit
your wishes. Use me in any way you wish."

"Then I wish to go away to Mentone for
the winter," she said, hastily, "and to go with
—with Miss Diamond and nunkey, and I don't
want to interfere with your business."

"Very well," he said; "then I shall make no
opposition, and help you in every way. Of
course I must not stand in the way of your
health. Still, perhaps a little later I can join
you."

"After your business is done?" she
answered, in the same tone; "no, no, you must
stay here, and have the full benefit of my absence!"

He looked at her again with an almost pitying
expression, said not a word more, then turned
hastily and left the room. That night was
indeed the crisis, and ended all. She had clung
to the faint hope that even now, when she
spoke so plainly, he might understand all,
confess, and make the handsomest amende he
could, while he, thoroughly mystified, and
giving up all protest as hopeless, went down
silently to his task. For a few moments he
was repeating to himself, "A mistake—a
miserable, wretched mistake from the beginning!"
Then was gradually absorbed into his old work
once more.

The next time that Captain Diamond came
she ran to him. "Nunkey, I want you to do
something for me—for your own child. You
know what the doctor said, and—and—I want
you to come a long journey with me—all across
France to that place."

A little start passed through the captain's
figure as he heard this proposal. He almost
"winced;" but in a second his soft grey eye
lighted up, and he said, with assumed enjoyment,
"To be sure, my dear."

"O, how kind! how good! how generous!"
she said. "Indeed you must not go! And I
am very selfish to ask you, and I know you are
only doing this for me."

"Ah, you little monkey," he said, patting