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Jun 16, 1859.]

THE QUEEN OF THE ARENA.

57

But to return. She took his hand in hers, say “ Put her on the box, she can’t see her,” sug ing : “ Bill, I don’t think I shall go round any gested some one : it was pushed to where the child more.” stood, and then the mother said : “Don’t say so, lass, it’ll be all right when the “ Mary, I’m going away.” doctor comes.” “ O, mother, where to ?” “ No, Bill ; I feel better, but something tells

me I’ve put on the togs for the last time.” “ No, lass, no !” was all the utterance he could

find.

“ Don’t say so!”

After a pause, she said : “ Bill, you recollect

that London chap with the French name, that came down to the Doncaster races ?” “ O, yes, I know,” said the man, half angrily,

as if wishing to avoid the subject. “ Well, you know you said that time that you thought there was something between me and him.” “Well, I know it,” said the man, “but don’t think of that now ; ;don’t trouble about that now.”

“ But I must, Bill. I think I’m dying, Bill, dear, and I should like you to think of me when l’m gone, as I am truly, Bill.”

The man made no answer. “ Bill,” said the woman, with increasing vehe mence of manner, “ do you believe I’d tell you a lie now ?” No answer still. “ Bill I Do you think I’d tell you a lie now?” said she, as though her life depended on his answer. “ No, no, lass,” said he at last, “I don’t think

you’d tell a lie any time——but now—--” and he hesitated. “ Where’s Jenny ?” interrupted the woman. ’ ’ Here,” said one of the youngest women, stand ing up, so that she might be seen. “What do you want ?” “Jenny, you’ll find the key of the green trunk in the china mug with ’ Nelly’ on it. I wish you’d look in the box, and get me my old Bible on .” The girl found the key, and asked where the box was. “ O dear, I forgot, it’s under me,” said the

“But before I go, I want you to see me and

father friends again.” The child stared with won der; but the woman, not heading her, continued :

“ Bill, dear, have you got the paper off the Bible ? Well, open it at the New Testament.” “Here one of you women find it. Jenny, will you ?” said the man. Jenny did it, and gave it back. “ Now, Bill, raise me up a little.” “ O, never mind,” said he, “ I know you’ll get hurt.” She only looked a repetition of her request; and then taking the open book from his hands, said: “ Bill, dear, you know you said there was some thing wrong between that London chap and me. I told you at the time there was not, and you didn’t believe me, though you didn’t say so ; and you don’t believe it now,” she said, with increased energy. “Now, Bill, hear me swear that, as I

believe I’m a dying woman, there was nothing between us, and this child’s your own, as much as

Mary, there, is. ” She kissed the book, and said : “ Do you believe me now ?” “Yes, yes,” said the man, “I do, I do !” as

though some spell over him had broken.

“ I do,

Nell, I do! 0, Nell! what a fool I’ve been, and what a coward not to believe it before ! O, Nell !

forgive me, forgive me, I’ve done you wrong !” The woman raised herself by a great eflbrt, to reach his hand, and kissing it, said: “ I do, BilL

I knew you’d do me justice some day.” “ O, Nell, it’s not too late—not too late ! You’ll

get better, and we’ll be as happy as we were before this.” The woman only drew his head to her, and kissed him; while he, roused, kissed her again

woman. and again. “ You do believe me, “ There, never mind,” said he, “I don’t want dear ?” “O, forgive me, Nell! O, forgive any fuss about it. ” “ O, Bill, dear, I wish you’d lift me up a little, the only words he could find in the and pull it out. You can put the broken chair newly found trust. “ Bill’s wanted,” shouted some one under to keep me up then.” “No, never mind,” said he, “ it’ll pain you so.” “ Old Whip’s called you three times.”

don’t you, me !” were rush of his at the door.

“ O, Bill, dear, I don’t mind, I wish you would.” He did it at last; and, after some trouble and a

“Here’s the white, Bill,” said Jenny, “you want touching ;” and she brought it, and stood

few suppressed groans, the box was pulled out to

with the lamp while he painted out the traces of tears on his cheeks in front of a broken looking g lass. “The red will do, Bill; go on, or you’ll have

the middle of the floor, opened, and there, wrapped

up in paper and neatly hid, was the Bible ; the paper greasy, from contact with disused head dresses, garlands, bands, and other small accesso ries of the dress of the Queen of the Arena. They gave it to the woman, who soon asked, “ Where’s

him in here, and she won’t like that.” Bill went out, and the doctor arrived a few minutes afterwards. He was a short, stout, good

Mary ?”

humoured-looking man, with a brisk way of speak ing, that at once secured obedience.

“ O, she is here now,” said one of the women ;

“ Now, then,” said he, “ what’s amiss ? I could and a girl about five came running in: she had only been performing the part of a little fairy in make nothing of that fellow you sent after me. the just-finished scene ; her wand was still in her Ah !” said he, altering his tone as his eyes, grow hand, and the gauze wings on her shoulders ; she ing used to the light, took in the woman’s face on took them off, laid down the silvered stick, and came to the bed.

“ Mary, dear, are you there ?” “ Yes, mother, I’m just done, and the people clapped so when Julia took me on her shoulder.”

the bed.

“What do they call you?” turning to the youngest of the assembled women. “ Jenny, sir.”