Cursed by a Fortune

y keep your love for me yet awhile," he said meaningly. "Let's leave love out of the question till we can pay our way and have something to spare, instead of having no income at all but what comes from consols."

"But Pierce--"

"That will do. You're a dear little goose. We must want the Queen's Crown from the Tower because it's pretty."

"Now you're talking nonsense, Pierce," she said, firmly, and she held his arm tightly between her little hands. "You can't deny it, sir. You fell in love with her from the first."

"Jenny, my child," he said quietly. "I promised our father I would be an honorable man and a gentleman."

"And so you would have been, without promising."

"I hope so. Then now listen to me; never speak to me in this way again."

"I will," she cried flushing. "Answer me this; would it be acting like an honorable man to let that sweet angel of a girl marry Claud Wilton?"

"What!" he cried, starting, and gazing at his sister intently. "Her own cousin?