DISINHEKITED 3

“I am sorry you put it in that way, sir. My choice is made. I am engaged to this young lady, and shall certainly marry her. I trust that when your present anger has sub-

sided you will recognize that my honour was involved in the

matter, and that even if I wished it I could not, without showing myself to be a downright cad, draw back.”

And so Gregory Hartley married the girl of his choice. She had for some time refused to allow him to sacrifice him-

self; but when she found that he was as determined as his

father, and absolutely refused to release her from the engage- ment, she had given way, and had, after a quiet marriage, accompanied him to London. There he had endeavoured

to get literary work, but had found it much harder than he had expected. The market was overcrowded, and they had moved from comfortable lodgings into small rooms, and so

step by step had come to the attic in Lupus Street. He was doing a little better now, and had hopes that ere long he would begin to make his way steadily up. But the anxiety had told on his wife. Never very strong, she had developed

a short, hard cough, and he had drawn upon his scanty re-

serves to consult a specialist.

“ There is undoubtedly lung trouble,” the latter said. “ If you can manage it, I should say that she ought certainly to

be taken to a warm climate. The damage is not extensive

as yet, and it is probable that under favourable circumstances

she might shake it off; but I fear that if she continues to

live in London her chances are not great.”

This Gregory felt was almost equivalent to a death-sen-

tence, and he had begun to consult the advertisements in the

papers for some post abroad. He had, unknown to her, ap-

plied for several situations, but without success. When he

first read the advertisement that morning, he had hardly

thought of applying for the situation. His pride revolted

at the idea of becoming a mere messenger; but his wife^s

cough had decided him.

What did it matter, so that he could save her life? ‘‘I