Page:Ethel Churchill 3.pdf/283

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ETHEL CHURCHILL.
281


"Well," continued she, "there is a good deal of truth in what you say; so, what will you give me?"

The man named about a tithe of the value of the article; her countenance fell as she said, in a hollow whisper, "I suppose I must take it!"

The pawnbroker took the locket, carefully put it aside, slowly counted out the money, still more slowly filled up the small printed ticket, and then passed money and card into Lavinia's hand, to whose impatient temper the delay had seemed interminable. She hurried off, and the door was closed; and, bolt after bolt, drawn after her. The rain poured in torrents, and she was wet through before she arrived at the door of the small inn in the city, which was her destination.

"I must dry myself," said she, approaching the kitchen fire, "before I go into his room."

She took off her cloak, wrung the rain from her long and dripping hair; and, while doing so, caught sight of herself in the small piece