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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER V。
Little worked hard。 He studied night and day。 In five years he became
a lecturer； then a professor。
He soared as high as the clouds； he dipped as low as the cellars of the
London poor。 He analyzed the London fog； and found it two parts smoke；
one disease； one unmentionable abominations。 He published a pamphlet；
which was violently attacked。 Then he knew he had done something。
But he had not forgotten Caroline。 He was walking one day in the
Zoological Gardens and he came upon a pretty picture；flesh and blood
too。
Lady Caroline feeding buns to the bears！ An exquisite thrill passed
through his veins。 She turned her sweet face and their eyes met。 They
recollected their first meeting seven years before； but it was his turn to be
shy and timid。 Wonderful power of age and sex！ She met him with perfect
self…possession。
〃Well meant； but indigestible I fear〃 （he alluded to the buns）。
〃A clever person like yourself can easily correct that〃 （she； the
slyboots； was thinking of something else）。
In a few moments they were chatting gayly。 Little eagerly descanted
upon the different animals； she listened with delicious interest。 An hour
glided delightfully away。
After this sunshine； clouds。
To them suddenly entered Mr。 Raby and a handsome young man。 The
gentlemen bowed stiffly and looked vicious；as they felt。 The lady of this
quartette smiled amiably； as she did not feel。
〃Looking at your ancestors； I suppose；〃 said Mr。 Raby； pointing to the
monkeys； 〃we will not disturb you。 Come。〃 And he led Caroline away。
Little was heart…sick。 He dared not follow them。 But an hour later he
saw something which filled his heart with bliss unspeakable。
Lady Caroline； with a divine smile on her face； feeding the monkeys！
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VI。
Encouraged by love； Little worked hard upon his new flying…machine。
His labors were lightened by talking of the beloved one with her French
maid Therese； whom he had discreetly bribed。 Mademoiselle Therese was
venal； like all her class； but in this instance I fear she was not bribed by
British gold。 Strange as it may seem to the British mind； it was British
genius； British eloquence； British thought； that brought her to the feet of
this young savan。
〃I believe；〃 said Lady Caroline； one day； interrupting her maid in a
glowing eulogium upon the skill of 〃M。 Leetell；〃〃I believe you are in
love with this Professor。〃 A quick flush crossed the olive cheek of Therese；
which Lady Caroline afterward remembered。
The eventful day of trial came。 The public were gathered； impatient
and scornful as the pigheaded public are apt to be。 In the open area a long
cylindrical balloon； in shape like a Bologna sausage； swayed above the
machine； from which； like some enormous bird caught in a net； it tried to
free itself。 A heavy rope held it fast to the ground。
Little was waiting for the ballast； when his eye caught Lady Caroline's
among the spectators。 The glance was appealing。 In a moment he was at
her side。
〃I should like so much to get into the machine；〃 said the arch…
hypocrite； demurely。
〃Are you engaged to marry young Raby；〃 said Little； bluntly。
〃As you please；〃 she said with a courtesy； 〃do I take this as a refusal？〃
Little was a gentleman。 He lifted her and her lapdog into the car。
〃How nice！ it won't go off？〃
〃No； the rope is strong； and the ballast is not yet in。〃
A report like a pistol； a cry from the spectators； a thousand hands
stretched to grasp the parted rope； and the balloon darted upward。
Only one hand of that thousand caught the rope；Little's！ But in the
same instant the horror…stricken spectators saw him whirled from his feet
and borne upward； still clinging to the rope； into space。
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VII。*
* The right of dramatization of this and succeeding chapters is
reserved by the writer。
Lady Caroline fainted。 The cold watery nose of her dog on her cheek
brought her to herself。 She dared not look over the edge of the car； she
dared not look up to the bellying monster above her； bearing her to death。
She threw herself on the bottom of the car； and embraced the only living
thing spared her；the poodle。 Then she cried。 Then a clear voice came
apparently out of the circumambient air：
〃May I trouble you to look at the barometer？〃
She put her head over the car。 Little was hanging at the end of a long
rope。 She put her head back again。
In another moment he saw her perplexed； blushing face over the edge；…
…blissful sight。
〃O； please don't think of coming up！ Stay there； do！〃
Little stayed。 Of course she could make nothing out of the barometer；
and said so。 Little smiled。
〃Will you kindly send it down to me？〃
But she had no string or cord。 Finally she said； 〃Wait a moment。〃
Little waited。 This time her face did not appear。 The barometer came
slowly down at the end ofa stay…lace。
The barometer showed a frightful elevation。 Little looked up at the
valve and said nothing。 Presently he heard a sigh。 Then a sob。 Then； rather
sharply；
〃Why don't you do something？〃
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CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER VIII。
Little came up the rope hand over hand。 Lady Caroline crouched in
the farther side of the car。 Fido； the poodle； whined。 〃Poor thing；〃 said
Lady Caroline； 〃it's hungry。〃
〃Do you wish to save the dog？〃 said Little。
〃Yes。〃
〃Give me your parasol。〃
She handed Little a good…sized affair of lace and silk and whalebone。
（None of your 〃sunshades。〃） Little examined its ribs carefully。
〃Give me the dog。〃
Lady Caroline hurriedly slipped a note under the dog's collar； and
passed over her pet。
Little tied the dog to the handle of the parasol and launched them both
into space。 The next moment they were slowly； but tranquilly；