condensed novels-第2部分

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and　embraced　the　only　living　thing　spared　her；the　poodle。　　Then
she　cried。　　Then　a　clear　voice　came　apparently　out　of　the
circumambient　air：

〃May　I　trouble　you　to　look　at　the　barometer？〃

She　put　her　head　over　the　car。　　Little　was　hanging　at　the　end　of　a
long　rope。　　She　put　her　head　back　again。

In　another　moment　he　saw　her　perplexed；　blushing　face　over　the
edge；blissful　sight。

〃O；　please　don't　think　of　coming　up！　　Stay　there；　do！〃

Little　stayed。　　Of　course　she　could　make　nothing　out　of　the
barometer；　and　said　so。　　Little　smiled。

〃Will　you　kindly　send　it　down　to　me？〃

But　she　had　no　string　or　cord。　　Finally　she　said；　〃Wait　a　moment。〃

Little　waited。　　This　time　her　face　did　not　appear。　　The　barometer
came　slowly　down　at　the　end　ofa　stay…lace。

The　barometer　showed　a　frightful　elevation。　　Little　looked　up　at
the　valve　and　said　nothing。　　Presently　he　heard　a　sigh。　　Then　a
sob。　　Then；　rather　sharply；

〃Why　don't　you　do　something？〃


CHAPTER　VIII。


Little　came　up　the　rope　hand　over　hand。　　Lady　Caroline　crouched　in
the　farther　side　of　the　car。　　Fido；　the　poodle；　whined。　　〃Poor
thing；〃　said　Lady　Caroline；　〃it's　hungry。〃

〃Do　you　wish　to　save　the　dog？〃　said　Little。

〃Yes。〃

〃Give　me　your　parasol。〃

She　handed　Little　a　good…sized　affair　of　lace　and　silk　and
whalebone。　　（None　of　your　〃sunshades。〃）　　Little　examined　its　ribs
carefully。

〃Give　me　the　dog。〃

Lady　Caroline　hurriedly　slipped　a　note　under　the　dog's　collar；　and
passed　over　her　pet。

Little　tied　the　dog　to　the　handle　of　the　parasol　and　launched　them
both　into　space。　　The　next　moment　they　were　slowly；　but　tranquilly；
sailing　to　the　earth。

〃A　parasol　and　a　parachute　are　distinct；　but　not　different。　　Be　not
alarmed；　he　will　get　his　dinner　at　some　farm…house。〃

〃Where　are　we　now？〃

〃That　opaque　spot　you　see　is　London　fog。　　Those　twin　clouds　are
North　and　South　America。　　Jerusalem　and　Madagascar　are　those　specks
to　the　right。〃

Lady　Caroline　moved　nearer；　she　was　becoming　interested。　　Then　she
recalled　herself　and　said　freezingly；　〃How　are　we　going　to
descend？〃

〃By　opening　the　valve。〃

〃Why　don't　you　open　it　then？〃

〃BECAUSE　THE　VALVE…STRING　IS　BROKEN！〃


CHAPTER　IX。


Lady　Caroline　fainted。　　When　she　revived　it　was　dark。　　They　were
apparently　cleaving　their　way　through　a　solid　block　of　black
marble。　　She　moaned　and　shuddered。

〃I　wish　we　had　a　light。〃

〃I　have　no　lucifers；〃　said　Little。　　〃I　observe；　however；　that　you
wear　a　necklace　of　amber。　　Amber　under　certain　conditions　becomes
highly　electrical。　　Permit　me。〃

He　took　the　amber　necklace　and　rubbed　it　briskly。　　Then　he　asked
her　to　present　her　knuckle　to　the　gem。　　A　bright　spark　was　the
result。　　This　was　repeated　for　some　hours。　　The　light　was　not
brilliant；　but　it　was　enough　for　the　purposes　of　propriety；　and
satisfied　the　delicately　minded　girl。

Suddenly　there　was　a　tearing；　hissing　noise　and　a　smell　of　gas。
Little　looked　up　and　turned　pale。　　The　balloon；　at　what　I　shall
call　the　pointed　end　of　the　Bologna　sausage；　was　evidently　bursting
from　increased　pressure。　　The　gas　was　escaping；　and　already　they
were　beginning　to　descend。　　Little　was　resigned　but　firm。

〃If　the　silk　gives　way；　then　we　are　lost。　　Unfortunately　I　have　no
rope　nor　material　for　binding　it。〃

The　woman's　instinct　had　arrived　at　the　same　conclusion　sooner　than
the　man's　reason。　　But　she　was　hesitating　over　a　detail。

〃Will　you　go　down　the　rope　for　a　moment？〃　she　said；　with　a　sweet
smile。

Little　went　down。　　Presently　she　called　to　him。　　She　held　something
in　her　hand；a　wonderful　invention　of　the　seventeenth　century；
improved　and　perfected　in　this：　a　pyramid　of　sixteen　circular　hoops
of　light　yet　strong　steel；　attached　to　each　other　by　cloth　bands。

With　a　cry　of　joy　Little　seized　them；　climbed　to　the　balloon；　and
fitted　the　elastic　hoops　over　its　conical　end。　　Then　he　returned　to
the　car。

〃We　are　saved。〃

Lady　Caroline；　blushing；　gathered　her　slim　but　antique　drapery
against　the　other　end　of　the　car。


CHAPTER　X。


They　were　slowly　descending。　　Presently　Lady　Caroline　distinguished
the　outlines　of　Raby　Hall。　　〃I　think　I　will　get　out　here；〃　she
said。

Little　anchored　the　balloon　and　prepared　to　follow　her。

〃Not　so；　my　friend；〃　she　said；　with　an　arch　smile。　　〃We　must　not　be
seen　together。　　People　might　talk。　　Farewell。〃

Little　sprang　again　into　the　balloon　and　sped　away　to　America。　　He
came　down　in　California；　oddly　enough　in　front　of　Hardin's　door；　at
Dutch　Flat。　　Hardin　was　just　examining　a　specimen　of　ore。

〃You　are　a　scientist；　can　you　tell　me　if　that　is　worth　anything？〃
he　said；　handing　it　to　Little。

Little　held　it　to　the　light。　　〃It　contains　ninety　per　cent　of
silver。〃

Hardin　embraced　him。　　〃Can　I　do　anything　for　you；　and　why　are　you
here？〃

Little　told　his　story。　　Hardin　asked　to　see　the　rope。　　Then　he
examined　it　carefully。

〃Ah；　this　was　cut；　not　broken！〃

〃With　a　knife？〃　asked　Little。

〃No。　　Observe　both　sides　are　equally　indented。　　It　was　done　with　a
SCISSORS！〃

〃Just　Heaven！〃　gasped　Little。　　〃Therese！〃


CHAPTER　XI。


Little　returned　to　London。　　Passing　through　London　one　day　he　met　a
dog…fancier。　　〃Buy　a　nice　poodle；　sir？〃

Something　in　the　animal　attracted　his　attention。　　〃Fido！〃　he
gasped。

The　dog　yelped。

Little　bought　him。　　On　taking　off　his　collar　a　piece　of　paper
rustled　to　the　floor。　　He　knew　the　handwriting　and　kissed　it。　　It
ran：


〃TO　THE　HON。　AUGUSTUS　RABYI　cannot　marry　you。　　If　I　marry　any
one〃　（sly　puss）　〃it　will　be　the　man　who　has　twice　saved　my　life；
Professor　Little。

〃CAROLINE　COVENTRY。〃


And　she　did。



LOTHAW；

OR；

THE　ADVENTURES　OF　A　YOUNG　GENTLEMAN　IN　SEARCH　OF　A　RELIGION。

BY　MR。　BENJAMINS。


CHAPTER　I。


〃I　remember　him　a　little　boy；〃　said　the　Duchess。　　〃His　mother　was　a
dear　friend　of　mine；　you　know　she　was　one　of　my　bridesmaids。〃

〃And　you　have　never　seen　him　since；　mamma？〃　asked　the　oldest
married　daughter；　who　did　not　look　a　day　older　than　her　mother。

〃Never；　he　was　an　orphan　shortly　after。　　I　have　often　reproached
myself；　but　it　is　so　difficult　to　see　boys。〃

This　simple　yet　first…class　conversation　existed　in　the　morning…
room　of　Plusham；　where　the　mistress　of　the　palatial　mansion　sat
involved　in　the　sacred　privacy　of　a　circle　of　her　married
daughters。　　One　dexterously　applied　golden　knitting…needles　to　the
fabrication　of　a　purse　of　floss　silk　of　the　rarest　texture；　which
none　who　knew　the　almost　fabulous　wealth　of　the　Duke　would　believe
was　ever　destined　to　hold　in　its　silken　meshes　a　less　sum　than
L1；000；000；　another　adorned　a　slipper　exclusively　with　seed　pearls；
a　third　emblazoned　a　page　with　rare　pigments　and　the　finest　quality
of　gold　leaf。　　Beautiful　forms　leaned　over　frames　glowing　with
embroidery；　and　beautiful　frames　leaned　over　forms　inlaid　with
mother…of…pearl。　　Others；　more　remote；　occasionally　burst　into
melody　as　they　tried　the　passages　of　a　new　and　exclusive　air　given
to　them　in　MS。　by　some　titled　and　devoted　friend；　for　the　private
use　of　the　aristocracy　alone；　and　absolutely　prohibited　for
publication。

The　Duchess；　herself　the　superlative　of　beauty；　wealth；　and
position；　was　married　to　the　highest　noble　in　the　Three　Kingdoms。
Those　who　talked　about　such　matters　said　that　their　progeny　were
exactly　like　their　parents；a　peculiarity　of　the　aristocratic　and
wealthy。　　They　all　looked　like　brothers　and　sisters；　except　their
parents；　who；　such　was　their　purity　of　blood；　the　perfection　of
their　manners；　and　the　opulence　of　their　condition；　might　have　been
taken　for　their　own　children's　elder　son　and　daughter。　　The
daughters；　with　one　exception；　were　all　married　to　the　highest
nobles　in　the　land。　　That　exception　was　the　Lady　Coriander；　who；
there　being　no　vacancy　above　a　marquis　and　a　rental　of　L1；000；000；
waited。　　Gathered　around　the　refined　and　sacred　circle　of　their
breakfast…table；　with　their　glittering　coronets；　which；　in　filial
respect　to　their　father's　Tory　instincts　and　their　mother's
Ritualistic　tastes；　they　always　wore　on　their　regal　brows；　the
effect　was　dazzling　as　it　was　refined。　　It　was　this　peculiarity　and
their　strong　family　resemblance　which　led　their　brother…in…law；　the
good…humored　St。　Addlegourd；　to　say　that；　〃'Pon　my　soul；　you　know；
the　whole　precious　mob　looked　like　a　ghastly　pack　of　court　cards；
you　know。〃　　St。　Addlegourd　was　a　radical。　　Having　a　rent…roll　of
L15；000；000；　and　belonging　to　one　of　the　oldest　families　in
Britain；　he　could　afford　to　be。

〃Mamma；　I've　just　dropped　a　pearl；〃　said　the　Lady　Coriander；
bending　over　the　Persian　hearthrug。

〃From　your　lips；　sweet　friend；〃　said　Lothaw；　who　came　of　age　and
entered　the　room　at　the　same　moment。

〃No；　from　my　work。　　It　was　a　very　valuable　pearl；　mamma；　papa　gave
Isaacs　and　Sons　L50；000　for　the　two。〃

〃Ah；　indeed；〃　said　the　Duchess；　languidly　rising；　〃let　us　go　to
luncheon。〃

〃But　your　Grace；〃　interposed　Lothaw；　who　was　still　quite　young；　and
had　dropped　on　all…fours　on　the　carpet　in　search　of　the　missing
gem；　〃consider　the　value〃

〃Dear　friend；〃　interposed　the　Duchess；　with　infinite　tact；　gently
lifting　him　by　the　tails　of　his　dress…coat；　〃I　am　waiting　for　your
arm。〃


CHAPTER　II。


Lothaw　was　immensely　rich。　　The　possessor　of　seventeen　castles；
fifteen　villas；　nine　shooting…boxes；　and　seven　town　houses；　he　had
other　estates　of　which　he　had　not　even　heard。

Everybody　at　Plusham　played　croquet；　and　none　badly。　　Next　to　their
purity　of　blood　and　great　wealth；　the　family　were　famous　for　this
accomplishment。　　Yet　Lothaw　soon　tired　of　the　game；　and　after
seriously　damaging　his　aristocratically　large　foot　in　an　attempt　to
〃tight　croquet〃　the　Lady　Aniseed's　ball；　he　limped　away　to　join　the
Duchess。

〃I'm　going　to　the　hennery；〃　she　said。

〃Let　me　go　with　you；　I　dearly　love　fowlsbroiled；〃　he　added；
thoughtfully。

〃The　Duke　gave　Lady　Montairy　some　large　Cochins　the　other　day；〃
continued　the　Duchess；　changing　the　subject　with　delicate　tact。


　　　　　　　　〃Lady　Montairy；
　　　　　　　　　Quite　contrairy；
　　　　　How　do　your　cochins　grow？〃


sang　Lothaw　gayly。

The　Duchess　looked　shocked。　　After　a　prolonged　silence；　Lothaw
abruptly　and　gravely　said：

〃If　you　please