Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: "I will send Dr. Duncan at once." "Thanks," Nigel answered, again examining his father with anxious eyes.] Nigel Browning BY AGNES GIBERNE AUTHOR OF "LIFE-TANGLES," "WON AT LAST," ETC. ETC. LONDON JOHN F. SHAW AND CO. 48 PATERNOSTER ROW CONTENTS CHAP. I. FROM ROUND THE WORLD II. THE DAUGHTERS OF THE HOUSE III. ETHEL IV. FULVIA'S RESOLVE V. IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT VI. DRAGGING HOURS VII. TO GO, OR NOT TO GO? VIII. FIRE AND WATER IX. WHISPERINGS X. TOM'S SPECIMENS XI. "THE WORLD FORGETTING" XII. NOTA BENE! XIII. "WILL NEVER MARRY HER!" XIV. SOMETHING WRONG—BUT WHAT? XV. FULVIA'S EXPECTATIONS XVI. ANTIQUITIES XVII. HE AND SHE XVIII. AGED TWENTY-ONE XIX. THE MONEY! XX. AN UTTER TANGLE XXI. COMPOUND UMBELS AND BLUE EYES XXII. THE BREAKING STORM XXIII. A STRANGE INTERVIEW XXIV. WOULD SHE? COULD SHE? XXV. SWEET MAY-TIDE XXVI. THE LOST "N. B." XXVII. IN SUDDEN PERIL XXVIII. THOU OR I! XXIX. BORNE DOWNWARD XXX. NOT I, BUT THOU XXXI. NIGEL'S LOVE NIGEL BROWNING CHAPTER I FROM ROUND THE WORLD "But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks!" • • • • • • • • "It is my lady: Oh it is my love! Oh that she knew she were!"—_Romeo and Juliet._ "HERE, I want this luggage taken—Hallo, Pollard! You're the man for me." "Mr. Nigel Browning!" ejaculated the porter addressed, a huge individual six feet three in height, and massive in frame, with a large face, resplendently good-humoured. He had been heaving great trunks and packing-cases out of the van, tossing one upon another, as a girl might heap together a pile of band-boxes. Now the train passed on groaning dismally after the fashion of these modern behemoths; and the platform crowd began to disperse. It was past nine o'clock on a chilly autumn evening: not the kind of evening which might tempt anybody to linger under the flaring gas-lights, dimmed by fogginess. Pollard, in full career across the platform, brought up his truck with a jerk on hearing his own name, then plucked at his cap with an air of delight. "Mr. Nigel Browning!" he exclaimed. "To be sure. Whom else would you take me for? Shake hands, Pollard. I've been round the world since I saw you last." The man's hard palm closed with a grip round the fingers held out to him. "And you ain't changed, Mr. Nigel. No need for to ask that, though. If you was, you wouldn't be a-shaking hands with me here, like to old days. And the niggers ain't got hold of you, nor none of they cannibals neither."