give you the money, and you can go and
make the bets before they get to a different price."

"All right, sir, I will," said the footman excitedly. "Beg pardon,
sir," he continued, as the door closed and they stood together in the
elaborately-furnished hall. "Yes, Orthur, what is it?"

"Could you oblige me with half-a-crown, sir, till I get my wages?"

"Humph! Well, my lad, I do make it a rule never to lend money, but
seeing that it is you, Orthur, a lad that I can trust--"

"Oh, yes, sir, you may trust me."

"I will let you have the money."

"Thank ye, sir, and I'll go at once."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A FATAL ATTRACTION.

"You, Isabel dear!" cried Laura one day, as the visitor whom she had
looked upon as a sister was shown into the room.

"Yes, dear, I felt obliged to come. Don't, pray don't be ashamed of me
and think me weak," pleaded the poor girl, as they embraced and then sat
down together upon the couch.

"How can you say such things!" cried Laura, warmly, as she passed her
arm about her friend's waist.

"Because I feel that I deserve it, dear. I know how weak and foolish I
am. I have been watching for an hour till I saw him go out."

"You have been watching, Bel?"

"Yes, dear; from a brougham with the blinds partly drawn down. We are
in town now. Papa says I must have a change, and we are staying here
for a few days before they take me over to Paris. Laura dear, I was
obliged to come. Don't betray me, please, to anyone. They would be so
angry if they knew, and say that I was shameless. I suppose I am, dear,
but I hope you can sympathise with me a little."

"Not a little, Bel dear," cried Laura, warmly, and Isabel flung her arms
about her friend's neck, buried her face in her breast and sobbed
violently for a few minutes before she raised her thin white face and
said quite calmly, with a piteous smile on her lip--

"There, I told you how weak I was. I feel so much better now. I would
have given anything for days and days to cry like that, but I could not.
My head has been hot, and my brain seemed dry and burnt up. Now I can
talk. But tell me, is--is he likely to come back?"

"No," said Laura, shaking her head. "He will not be back till night,
and even if he did return he would not come here, but go straight to his
room and shut himself in."

"Has--has he told you anything?"

"No, dear; he hardly ever speaks either to me or aunt. He did say that
he was kept away to attend an