CHAPTER XXXII.

Clutha Leader, Volume XII, Issue 597, 25 December 1885, Page 7

CHAPTER XXXII.

A WEARING STRUGGLE. God help me in my grievous need, """God help i_e in my inward pain ; ■Which cannot ask for pity's meeds, Which has no license to complain. — Cuvrer Bell. Later on Blanche Vereker and her .brother went to the station together, and as the train drew up opposite to them, Blanche was rewarded by ; seeing the anxious haggard lines fade away from a face at one of the windows, and give place to a look of pleased surprise. * Well, Fane, have you transacted your -business ¥ she asked, as they all walked home slowly. together, and after Mountnessing had received his due of sympathy. 'Yes, and as it concerns you entirely, .I'll tell you all about it.' ' Concerns me V — well, and Mountnessing a little, too, perhaps. I haven't said much to you about your health lately, Blanche, as I saw any allusions to the subject always seemed to pain you, but don't imagine that it ever ceased, for one moment, to give me the greatest anxiety. At las 6 I could stand it no longer, and to-day I've been to your old family doctor, and to your mother, and we've arranged it all between us. You and your mother, Blanche, will accompany Mountnessing on his yachting trip in the Mediterranean — that's to say if you don't object, my dear fellow 1' « Object! I should think not! Why, it's the very thing I've been trying to persuade her to do this afternoon, and I meant to suggest it to you the very first moment we were alone together.' ' But won't you come, Fane ¥ 1 No, I can't, Blanche — not just yet, , at least. I went to the Horse Guards to see if my leave could be managed, _»ut there's a new cavalry drill under j consideration, and they required me to J serve on the commission. It will pro- j bably last six weeks, but I shall join ] you at the cud of that time. What j were your plans, Mountnegaingf ♦Well, the yacht was lying up on the mud at Southampton three days ago, but they're hard at work on her now, and they'll be ready in another ten days or so ; but the sooner we start for the sunny south the better for all parties, and then we can join her at Marseilles, or Naples, or any of those places as soon as she gets round.' ' All right Thank God tftat plan's settled !' said Fane, with a longing at his heart for the next two mouths to be over.