"
"Good, then the future lies clear before you. And now you can return to
Mrs. Willet. I will see her presently, and make all arrangements for
your comfort."
Honoria curtseyed to her benefactor, and left the room in silence. Her
every gesture and her every tone were those of a lady. Sir Oswald
looked after her with wonder, as she disappeared from the apartment.
The landlady of the "Star" was very much surprised when Sir Oswald
Eversleigh requested her to keep the ballad-singer in her charge for a
week, and to purchase for her a simple but thoroughly complete
wardrobe.
"And now," said Sir Oswald, "I confide her to you for a week, Mrs.
Willet, at the end of which time I hope her wardrobe will be ready. I
will write you a cheque for--say fifty pounds. If that is not enough,
you can have more."
"Lor' bless you, Sir Oswald, it's more than enough to set her up like a
duchess, in a manner of speaking," answered the landlady; and then,
seeing Sir Oswald had no more to say to her, she curtseyed and
withdrew.
Sir Oswald Eversleigh's carriage was at the door of the "Star" at noon;
and at ten minutes after twelve the baronet was on his way back to
town.
He visited a great many West-end boarding-schools before he found one
that satisfied him in every particular. Had his _protegee_ been his
daughter, or his affianced wife, he could not have been more difficult
to please.
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