Deeply regretted by her sorrowing Husband.




CHAPTER VI.

ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE OUT OF THE WORLD.


When they returned to Lansdowne Cottage they found the old man had not
yet come in, so they walked down to the beach to look for him. After a
brief search they found him, sitting upon a heap of pebbles, reading a
newspaper and eating filberts. The little boy was at some distance from
his grandfather, digging in the sand with a wooden spade. The crape
round the old man's shabby hat, and the child's poor little black frock,
went to George's heart. Go where he would he met fresh confirmation of
this great grief of his life. His wife was dead.

"Mr. Maldon," he said, as he approached his father-in-law.

The old man looked up, and, dropping his newspaper, rose from the
pebbles with a ceremonious bow. His faded light hair was tinged with
gray; he had a pinched hook nose; watery blue eyes, and an
irresolute-looking mouth; he wore his shabby dress with an affectation
of foppish gentility; an eye-glass dangled over his closely buttoned-up
waistcoat, and he carried a cane in his ungloved hand.

"Great Heaven!" cried George, "don't you know me?"