Page 289 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

the sound of voices in the garden, and it appeared to him
that someone near at hand was sobbing and crying. Softly
stepping on the broad verandah, he saw, on the grass-plot,
two persons, an old man and a young girl. The sobbing pro-
ceeded from the old man.
‘‘Deed, miss, it’s the truth, on my soul. I’ve but jest come
back to yez this morning. O my! but it’s a cruel trick to play
an ould man.’
He was a white-haired old fellow, in a grey suit of con-
vict frieze, and stood leaning with one veiny hand upon the
pedestal of a vase of roses.
‘But it is your own fault, Danny; we all warned you against
her,’ said the young girl softly. ‘Sure ye did. But oh! how did
I think it, miss? ‘Tis the second time she served me so.’
‘How long was it this time, Danny?’
‘Six months, miss. She said I was a drunkard, and beat
her. Beat her, God help me!’ stretching forth two trembling
hands. ‘And they believed her, o’ course. Now, when I kem
back, there’s me little place all thrampled by the boys, and
she’s away wid a ship’s captain, saving your presence, miss,
dhrinking in the ‘George the Fourth’. O my, but it’s hard on
an old man!’ and he fell to sobbing again.
The girl sighed. ‘I can do nothing for you, Danny. I dare
say you can work about the garden as you did before. I’ll
speak to the Major when he comes home.’
Danny, lifting his bleared eyes to thank her, caught sight
of Mr. Meekin, and saluted abruptly. Miss Vickers turned,
and Mr. Meekin, bowing his apologies, became conscious
that the young lady was about seventeen years of age, that

For the Term of His Natural Life