"I must accustom myself to speak to him.

I will begin to-day.

Take me to him--but don't let him touch me!" Nugent disengaged himself from Oscar--whose unfitness to help us through our difficulties was too manifest to be mistaken--as he saw us approaching.

He pointed to the low wall in front of the house, and motioned to his brother to wait there out of the way before Lucilla could speak to him again.

The wisdom of this proceeding was not long in asserting itself.