After All;

good , and was it impossible for them ever to meet again ? Oh ! the agony of the moment ! Merrisslope saw all this , ancl with a fiendish gleam in his eyes he clenched his teeth and dragged Olivia ( holding out her arms imploringly to Humberton whose face lit up with momentary joy ) out of the box away from the exciting scene . Humberton s face had now flushed with anger as he hastily rushed from his side round the theatre in pursuit of Olivia , and Merrisslope . The

latter quickly carried the now inanimate form of Olivia out into the street , jumped with her into a cab , instructing the Jehu , to drive with all speed to Manville Villa . This was the work of a few moments ; ancl when Humberton arrived , nothing was to be seen , and the distant rattle of wheels alone told him that he hacl been baffled , and pursuit was useless .

Merrisslope , meanwhile , thanked his stars he hacl got over that difficulty , and applied restoratives to Olivia . When she slowly opened her wondering eyes in the madly chasing vehicle , he endeavoured to soothe her with all his former ardour , and in tones of apology for his rough action ; but as soon as recollection ' s flash revealed the past few moments to her mind ; she refused to be comforted , and burst into a flood of tears . Thus they reached the house of Mr . Phane , where Merrisslope explained the circumstances ; with his own

colouring . Matters hacl reached a orisis . Olivia retired with her trembling mother , and Mr . Phane angrily ancl excitedly conferred with Merrisslope . In the end he advised him to stay away a few days until Olivia was prepared to see him again . Much as it pained him , he felt that the happiness of all rested with her , and he must persuade her to follow out his wishes , even against his own , for the good of all . The next day anger got the better of his curiosity , and he threw a letter from Humberton to Olivia into the lire iino ] 3 ened . In a moment he was sorry for the act , but it was irretrievable .

Olivia now shrank from her impending marriage with Merrisslope , ancl it was not until Mr . Phane hacl stammeringTy , beseechingly told her his whole position , and how the happiness of her mother ancl all were concerned in it , that she consented to sacrifice herself . It was not without much struggling with himself that Mr . Phane had brought himself to this resolve , ancl he repeatedl y blamed himself for thus jeopardising the happiness of his clear

and onl y daughter . But what could he do ? And , besides , she could not marry the scapegrace Humberton , ancl Merrisslope would make her a good husband he felt sure . So the marriage date was brought still nearer . Mrs . Phane was miserable ; she could not understand it at all , and Olivia could not tell her . Oh ! that all might soon be right . Again poor Olivia tried to forget Humberton ancl to love the man whom

she was so soon to weel . Again Merrisslope escorted her to interesting si ghts , anxious to divert her mind until the day when she should be his for ever . He took her to the art ancl science wonders of the South Kensington Museum , and related the history of all the marvels to be found there . She was more moved , out of herself- and her troubles by the Royal Academy , amidst whose ueouuiui

representations sue iotincl much or sympathy ; and she lert . Burlington House touched with the sad pathos of many of its stories , and convinced that there were some trials worse to bear than her own . Merrisslope reminded her that this immense picture show was originated by the grotesque Hogarth . Then to William the Conqueror ' s tragic Tower of London , a cluster of famous structures , or group of houses , warehouses , barracks , armouries and towerswith its dismal dungeonslittering armourand funny

, , , g , beef-eaters . " Perhaps that wonderful storehouse of literature , science , ancl art , that magnificent institution , the lottery-bought British Museum , interested her more , with its antiquities , prints , maps , books , drawings , sculptures , and natural curiosities . The chief depository of the nation ' s pictures , the -National Gallery , was also visited . Very interesting was that noble Tudor M 2