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〃no；〃 answered his mother with a placid expression in her face。 〃he has not yet revealed his real name。 i think it is quite romantic of him。 he is probably a member of the aristocracy。〃
james vane bit his lip。 〃watch over sibyl； mother；〃 he cried； 〃watch over her。〃
〃my son； you distress me very much。 sibyl is always under my special care。 of course； if this gentleman is wealthy； there is no reason why she should not contract an alliance with him。 i trust he is one of the aristocracy。 he has all the appearance of it； i must say。 it might be a most brilliant marriage for sibyl。 they would make a charming couple。 his good looks are really quite remarkable； everybody notices them。〃
the lad muttered something to himself and drummed on the window…pane with his coarse fingers。 he had just turned round to say something when the door opened and sibyl ran in。
〃how serious you both are！〃 she cried。 〃what is the matter？〃
〃nothing；〃 he answered。 〃i suppose one must be serious sometimes。 good…bye； mother； i will have my dinner at five oclock。 everything is packed； except my shirts； so you need not trouble。〃
〃good…bye； my son；〃 she answered with a bow of strained stateliness。
she was extremely annoyed at the tone he had adopted with her； and there was something in his look that had made her feel afraid。
〃kiss me； mother；〃 said the girl。 her flowerlike lips touched the withered cheek and warmed its frost。
〃my child！ my child！〃 cried mrs。 vane； looking up to the ceiling in search of an imaginary gallery。
〃e； sibyl；〃 said her brother impatiently。 he hated his mothers affectations。
they went out into the flickering； wind…blown sunlight and strolled down the dreary euston road。 the passersby glanced in wonder at the sullen heavy youth who； in coarse； ill…fitting clothes； was in the pany of such a graceful； refined…looking girl。 he was like a mon gardener walking with a rose。
jim frowned from time to time when he caught the inquisitive glance of some stranger。 he had that dislike of being stared at； which es on geniuses late in life and never leaves the monplace。 sibyl； however； was quite unconscious of the effect she was producing。 her love was trembling in laughter on her lips。 she was thinking of prince charming； and； that she might think of him all the more； she did not talk of him； but prattled on about the ship in which jim was going to sail； about the gold he was certain to find； about the wonderful heiress whose life he was to save from the wicked； red…shirted bushrangers。 for he was not to remain a sailor； or a supercargo； or whatever he was going to be。 oh； no！ a sailors existence was dreadful。 fancy being cooped up in a horrid ship； with the hoarse； hump…backed waves trying to get in； and a black wind blowing the masts down and tearing the sails into long screaming ribands！ he was to leave the vessel at melbourne； bid a polite good…bye to the captain； and go off at once to the gold…fields。 before a week was over he was to e across a large nugget of pure gold； the largest nugget that had ever been discovered； and bring it down to the coast in a waggon guarded by six mounted policemen。 the bushrangers were to attack them three times； and be defeated with immense slaughter。 or； no。 he was not to go to the gold…fields at all。 they were horrid places； where men got intoxicated； and shot each other in bar…rooms； and used bad language。 he was to be a nice sheep…farmer； and one evening； as he was riding home； he was to see the beautiful heiress being carried off by a robber on a black horse； and give chase； and rescue her。 of course； she would fall in love with him； and he with her； and they would get married； and e home； and live in an immense house in london。 yes； there were delightful things in store for him。 but he must be very good； and not lose his temper； or spend his money foolishly。 she was only a year older than he was； but she knew so much more of life。 he must be sure； also； to write to her by every mail； and to say his prayers each night before he went to sleep。 god was very good； and would watch over him。 she would pray for him； too； and in a few years he would e back quite rich and happy。
the lad listened sulkily to her and made no answer。 he was heart…sick at leaving home。
yet it was not this alone that made him gloomy and morose。 inexperienced though he was； he had still a strong sense of the danger of sibyls position。 this young dandy who was making love to her could mean her no good。 he was a gentleman； and he hated him for that； hated him through some curious race…instinct for which he could not account； and which for that reason was all the more dominant within him。 he was conscious also of the shallowness and vanity of his mothers nature； and in that saw infinite peril for sibyl and sibyls happiness。 children begin by loving their parents； as they grow older they judge them； sometimes they forgive them。
his mother！ he had something on his mind to ask of her； something that he had brooded on for many months of silence。 a chance phrase that he had heard at the theatre； a whispered sneer that had reached his ears one night as he waited at the stage…door； had set loose a train of horrible thoughts。 he remembered it as if it had been the lash of a hunting…crop across his face。 his brows knit together into a wedgelike furrow； and with a twitch of pain he bit his underlip。
〃you are not listening to a word i am saying； jim；〃 cried sibyl； 〃and i am making the most delightful plans for your future。 do say something。〃
〃what do you want me to say？〃
〃oh！ that you will be a good boy and not forget us；〃 she answered； smiling at him。
he shrugged his shoulders。 〃you are more likely to forget me than i am to forget you； sibyl。〃
she flushed。 〃what do you mean； jim？〃 she asked。
〃you have a new friend； i hear。 who is he？ why have you not told me about him？ he means you no good。〃
〃stop； jim！〃 she exclaimed。 〃you must not say anything against him。 i love him。〃
〃why； you dont even know his name；〃 answered the lad。 〃who is he？ i have a right to know。〃
〃he is called prince charming。 dont you like the name。 oh！ you silly boy！ you should never forget it。 if you only saw him； yo