STRAIGHT AS A DIE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 58, 9 March 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

STRAIGHT AS A DIE.

Mrs EDWAKD KENNARD.

Author of "A Real Good Thfrg

Killed in the Open;" " The Qirl

in the Brown Habit;" etc,

CHAPTER VII.

A FAMILY PABTY.

When Dulcie entered the dining-room, she found her mother and sisters already seated at table, each one intent upon supplying her own immediate wants, with a line disregard, born of over-familiarity, for those of her neighbour. An occasional ' Pass the salt, please,' or ' Give me the butter,' were tho only sounds, save those of steady mastication, that broke, the silence. Ethel was bending her long, white neck over a poached esrg, which she was demolishing with evident relish, for, despite her ethereal appearance, she possessed a remarkably healthy appetite, and thoroughly appreciated the pleasures of gastronomy. Marian had just accounted for a goodly round of toast, Charlotte stirring her tea with an air of superior complacency ; whilst Mrs Shepperton was in the act of devouring a juicy mutton chop. Dulcie's appearance gave the signal for an immediate diversion, greatly to that young lady's discomfiture, for she had hoped to slip in unnoticed. ' Why, Dulcie child 1' exclaimed Mrs Shepperton, in a fretful voice, ' where on earth have you been hiding all this long, sultry afternoon ?' 11 haven't been hiding anywhere,' she answered, sturdily. 'I've been down at the brook with Bob, and it was not a bit too hot there. Indeed, it was quite cool and pleasant under the trees.' 'So I should imagine,' rejoined Mrs Shepperton, severely, ' and pray, may I ask what you were doing in Bob's society again? It appears to me you are never absent from his side, except when with Mademoiselle Virginie, who, I am sure, oupht to take a little better care of her charge than she does.'

' Don'b blame poor old Virginie, mamma. I can't bear her, but it was nob her fault. It happened to b« a half-holiday, or rather 1 gob'through ray lessons this morning, and she did not even know where I had gone to.' ~ ' Then she should. I object fciyoir being so much with that great hulking, d nothing Bob Mornington.1 Dulcie bib her lip and changed colour. She hated this style of conversation.

' I presume,' she replied, with forced composure, • that you have no objection to my meeting Bob? He is my oldest and dearest friend.'

• Hoity toity ! Oldest and dearest friend, indeed ! I suppose he is Charlotte's and Ethel's and Marian's oldest and dearest friend just every bit as much as he is yours. Yet they do nob want to rush off and see Bob Morningfcon at all hours of the day.' o Dulcie's face, as ehe listened to this speech, grew perfectly crimson, while a fierce, defiant light began to spaikle in the dark eyes, whose pupils were large and dilated.

'I don't know what you mean,' she retorted, with an icy frigidity of manner that only too surely betokened an inward volcano.

She was trying hard to keep her temper, if only for the sake of that request she wished, when circumstances were less unfavourable, to proffer, but the endeavour rapidly became more and more difficult. It seemed so mean to sit still and say nothing when Bob was being abused; yet she knew full well that her championship only did his cause more harm than good, and that any attempt at defending the absent was fruitless. 'I'm not so sure of that,' responded Mrs Shepperton coolly. ' And I really wonder, Duicie, how it is you do not recognise the fact of your being too big to allow yourself to get talked about with Bob Mornington.' ' I don't see what my size has got to do with it,' interrupted the girl impatiently. 'If people want to talk, they might have talked years ago.' 'Nonsense!^ Your friendship, or whatever you like' to call it, was all very well when you were boy and girl together; but now that you are a young woman, nearly ready to make, your debut in society, and Bob a young man whose acquaintance, carried beyond a certain point, is likely to prove exceedingly unprofitable and undesirable,' you should be more sensible, and begin to think, like other girls of your age, about a serious settlement in life.' ' I don't want to be settled in life,' cried Dulcie, passionately, unable any longer to control her feelings, ' more especially if that process entails behaving unkindly and ungratefully towards the friend of my childhood. Besides, I can see no good in getting married. Nine people out of ten only squabble and fight, and I would a thousand times sooner remain as I am. Spinsterhood has no terrors for me.' Certainly, with her sweet young face glowing with generous emotion, and the delicate colour deepening: in her soft oheeks, it did not appear likely that it would, or that Dulcie would ever be allowed to join the band of unwooed and unsolicited virgins whose charms have failed to excite competition. • You're a silly little goose.,' returned her mother/disdainfully, « and don't know the least what you're talking about* j while, &a for Bob, he'a very nearly as bad, My eyes are tolerably sharp, and I can see quite well, at the present moment, that ho is* head ever earn In love with you.'

¥h\e\koi inaig'aafei bioed Saaasd ttpiißfeo PdieiS'S tsi§§:

'tW 6»ghtj fiofc id § a y gttoh things', ma&^iSa; sho saii, angrily.. . '£ofr MfcMi'fiatpti Ms' h'eyer §f@keii a Vsfd to ted in his lire ihftfc ati th§ %rdM mights n&b h§m and WS HSfe MS is iiitti, Qfi 3 imVQidnM h&i' Vdim, 't»—t© mej.inaiiitj^ sUch ass^iie»s.-; Em§i§ WdliM ael? Wlltttigk hftte told an untr-afeh, Ati& she iifiuiy beim'sE wb&fr'afie sdMi Bdb'i foridiieps' i§i' haP ggcveiy", ii^e pleastti'd slid fceok in his, ihslv tiiubuo,) &s'*»• patihy and ititerGliftnp.es ef idaas, uh& in 'hof ihnfidctKog h&cl iiltiicrfce attribatfid eiiUi-oly fco friendship..! nnd, if li6i' eyes vety fejj&efcly wero j destined f.o be opened as to iho exact; settMments they oufce^tdtlod ono lot1 the other, Mrs Shopporton imdottbtedly did hey bedfc to ptddplfcafco events. • Bob ttlv/aj'iS was v fool,' said Ebbel, with a sneer.

Mo was no favourite oi the beauty's, Some four or five yeuns ago, she had condea oonded to eofcabii ha mild flirtation.

Somehow the attempt; had failed signally; fche little piotureof paofcoral coquetry on the one side, and of eternal affection on the other, which she bad drawn in her mind's eye, had proved a delusion. Was there over a woman yot free enough from the foibles of her 3ex to forgive or forget a want of responsiveness ?

' Bob is by no means as stupid as you imagine,' said Dulcio hotly. ' Indeed ! Many thanka for so gratifying a piqea of information,' retorted Ethel, with a provoking smile, which annoyed Dulcie to such an extent that for the moment she fe\ti she positively hated that smooth, beautiful face, with its innocentlooking violet eyes and little, straight, clear-cut nose. 'He passed his examinations so brilliantly, didn't he ?'

'Oh!do be quiet! And for goodness' sake, leave poor Bob alone.'

'Do I desire better ? No, no, it nead not put itself into a passion, for I have not the slightest intention of taking its lover away from it. However,' she continued, sarcastically, ' if you take my advice you won't lose your temper about nothing. At this moment, Dulcie, you are looking downright ugly, and a woman should alway-3 be careful of her good looks.'

1 Good looks, indeed ! I believe you live for nothing else.'

' And very proper, too. All men appreciate a well-dressed girl when they see her.'

' Faugh ! Bob does not care two straws what I wear !' asserted Dulcie, imprudently.

' Very likely not. Mr Bob's tastes are by no means refined, and stand sadly in need of cultivation; still I daresay they suit yours well enough.' • The tears started into Dulcie's eyes. All her soul rose up in revolt against Ethel's cruel sarcasms, but she knew by experience how her warm young passions were apt to get worsted when - opposed to the other's contemptuous cynicism; and, with a great effort at self-con : trol, she remained silent, though the heart within her was very sore. Hers was essentially a truthful and outspoken nature, incapable of deceit. Up till this moment she had fully intended asking leave to go with Bob on their expedition of the morrow, bub when she found how hostile both her mother and Ethel were towards the young man, and how they delighted in abusing him in her presence, she resolved to stick to her promise, through thick and thin, and, with or without permission, ride to the kennels at the hour appointed. If she were disobedient, they had driven her into opposition by their lack of sympathy. Argument and reason, she told herself, were thrown away upon people so worldly, narrow-minded, and uncharitable. They could not enter into her feel ings, since their ideas were too utterly op posed. Either Mrs Shepporton could not, would not, or was not capable of comprehending her youngest daughter's disposition, or that it felt cramped and fettered by the narrow grooves of their every-day life. Consequently the girl shut herself up in a proud reserve that passed for stupidity. Her surroundings were so unsympathetic that, finding her confidences were either repulsed or ridiculed, she not unnaturally refrained from making any, and remained as complete a stranger to her mother as if they were no wise allied.

Perhaps such a state of things exists more often in families than is suspected. People live under the same roof, eat at the same board, and even share the same, bedchamber, without knowing any more of the inward workings of eaoh other's minds, of their higher natures or secret yearnings, than if they were total strangers. Few as were the years Dulcie numbered, she already began to feel how blank life is when forced to spend one's days in the society, of uncongenial and illiberal people of alien natures and opposite ideas. CHAPTER VIII. THE TRYSTING PLAGE.

Before long'the meal came to an end, and then Dulcie went and sat by herself in her favourite corner' of the drawing-room, and read a book. She remained thus until it was time to go to bed, then she shook her soft-curled head once or twice, rose with a sigh, and dutifully bestowed upon her mother one of those cold, impassive kisses, when lip meets brow without warmth or enthusiasm, but which are regarded as a mark of affection in closely allied families. In Dulcie's case, this formal observance, owing to long habit, had become a purely conventional task. Mrs Shepperton submitted to the demonstration in silence, immediately passing her pocket-handkerchief over her forehead —an action not lost upon the girl, who was keenly sensitive, and observant of trifles. It roused her wrath anew, so.that directly she found herself alone with Marian, whose room she shared, she gave vent to her pent-up feelings, and exclaimed indignantly :

1 What a shame it is mamma and Echel saying such horrid things of Bob behind his back ! It makes me so angry I hardly know what to do with myself,' and she began pacing up and down the room with rapid strides. ' I shouldn't take the least notice of what they say, if I were you, Dulcie,' responded Marian soothingly. ' It's only mamma's way ; she and Ethel always back each other up.' •It may be mamma's way,' retorted Dulcie, irritably, ' but for all that it's a most unpleasant wny. What good can it possibly do telling stories and running, down your neighbours ? I'm sure poor Bob has never done mamma or Ethel any harm. If he were rich, and they thought anything could be got out of him, they would be as civil as possible. It would be ' dear Air Mornington this' and 'dear Mr Morniugton that.''

'Hush, Dulcie! You really should not talk in this manner,' protested Marian, though in her heart of hearts she thoroughly agreed with every single word her sister had spoken. * 1 am quite sure mamma means well, and has qur interest at heart.'

' What's the use of that when she makes us ho miserable by her conversation ? No, no, Marian, it's useless trying to deceive ourselves, and you know just every bit as well as I do that mamma carea no more about you and me, thinks uo more of our future happiness or ultimate welfare, than If wo did not belong to her, Ethel and Charlotte are her favourites; as for ourselves, we might marry a beast, like Beauty in the fairy tale, if only he were possessed of similar means.' 1 Well,1 returned Marian, playfully, trying to divert into another ohanneU the undercurrent of truth contained in Duleie'rt speech, * the beast did not turn out so badly after all, It ia possible we might do worse even that that.'

• Yes, but think of the risk, Supposing if, instead of turning oat a pi-lnoe iv dia«

imih di '4sy &*# '■■ &ee,u-&y' (fasw \WSM p§B& lie**? Of fe&? te?gtffo.- Y/%4 I- d-SfeS*/ e§»Ufl«gd £hs glrf, mtpsli}g £&ss& ft* &s*wiifeh sterna ptegle up MmirMpg w thzte KGtWy p&g^Sshii^ 8& it'/ W&& .<» isefebew, iiave gofc to Uv& -&kk ih& gmttemsa, and tft&t'@£&t&@ud;ttigms¥ t@h§ kUmroi gome fiimfd io i&© #s3fegife» j atS&?^ brings yo« &M Ugiy, HU&iilus; tt&fe^, Se^feS* uolentf yolonai cv iotc'ing' f& oh and .Kiiyg, ' M&tt&m t ibhaltsy&n mmb Smmii< hilly, fetid nothing could !>3^*Jbiy be srjste becoming,' Ose natumily ivpi^js, *Fecs»iti tno to be t.lio best jadijjG ©f that- 1 Jst3»4 buying a bonnet not for yetx to wser, bt*ft foi; me/ The diilorencc irf Vasfe-rjafet &s vafsß, lit fafifc, a-s out' <Hs«imilarfSyo£ taste.*

1 iDuloie, Dulete !' cried. Marian, l&aghmsr, ' where do you gst &ll these funny ideas from, I wonder?' ' 1 don't know. They come itito cue's head of their own accord/

There was a plight! pause, then Dalcie walked np to her sister, laid her t;ro hands on her shoulders, and, looking her straight in fche face, said earnestly, 'Marian, dear, I hope you and Imay never grow worldly, or get to care for people only because they have got; long purses. Let us try and keep- ourselves uncontttminated if we can and resist such influence to the utmost.'

Marian's eyes filled wifch tears. •We will do our best,' she said, gently, pillowing her head on Dulcie's shoulder. 'Oh! Marian,' cried the other, passion-, ately, ' I don't know what is the matter wiLh me to-night, but you like Bob, don'b you ? You don't call him a fool, like the/ others V

' No, dearest. Bob is a fine, manly young fellow, and I have a very high opinion of him. It's not, his fault being poor, and as for the examinations, why, I believe lots of clever people can't pass them, who do very well later on in life.'

Whereupon the two sisters once more embraced,"feeling a bond of sympathy existed between them, and.'laying their dark curly heads down on the soft pillows, quickly forgot their troubles, real and imaginary,, in the sound sleep of healthy youth._ The next morning proved a particularly trying one to Dulcie. Nothing went right. Her music lesson was one long torment, and the girl raced over the quavers and semi-quavers, curtailed the minims and scamped the crochets, after a fashion that drove-Mademoiselle Virginie feimply distracted.

At last, however, the morning lessons came to an end, and then Dulcie shut up the piano with a joyful bang. A night'a rest had failed to alter her decision, and, thanks very much to the opposition testified against Bob, she was more determined than ever to accompany him on his proposed expedition. Her first visit was to the stables, where, if truth must be told, spent a considerable portion of her time. About two years ago she had caught a bad cold that had affected her general health, and the doctor in attendance strongly recommended horse exercise as a means of strengthening her constitution. It was, thanks to this acceptable and congenial prescription, that Mrs Shepperton, chiefly through the instrumentality of Bob Mornington, had purchased, for the girl's use, a cast-off thorough-bred that had. proved too small for racing purposes.

Dulcie, who loved horses and everything connected with them, was perfectly delighted at the acquisition. Butterfly proved a source of unfailing pleasure to her mistress, and though by no mean 3 a perfect animal, either as regarded temper of conformation, a singular affection existed between the pair. Her studies over, Dulcie, armed with an earthy carrot, freshly pulled from its bed in the kitchen - garden, rushed to pay Butterfly a visit.The mare was a low, lengthy animal, dark chestnut in colour, with not a speck of white anywhere, except one small star in the centre of the forehead. She stood over a good deal with her fore legs, and her feet were long and nurrow, like those of a donkej\ She had a niceish shoulder and forehead, but was slack in the barrel, wanting an extra rib, and running up from the girths like a greyhound ; 'nevertheless, she displayed undeniable quality, as 'her lean well-set-on head, amall pointed ears, full eye, and fine muzzle, capable of drinking out of a tumbler, amply testified. But the expression of her countenance, the frequent irritable striking out of one hind leg, added to a trick she had of seizing the manger between her teeth, showed that she possessed a nervous an 1 fidgety disposition that required quiet handling. Directly Dulcie opened the stable-door, Butterfly welcomed her appearance by giving an impatienb neigh, and began pawing up the litter with her fore feet. Then she made a sudden dash at the carrot, and tried to break off a piece in her mouth. Meanwhile, her mistress said to Bridle,who stood close by, fearful lest the mare might bite, as was sometimes the case, ' I want Butterfly ready by a quarter-past three this afternoon ; I'm going over to the kennels with Mr Mornington to see the hounds fed : and Bridle,' confidently, 'don't say anything about it, please.'

Bridle invariably humoured Dulcie on every occasion. She was his favourite, and the only one of the four girls who took an interest in his profession, talked to him on terms of equality, and understood or cared anything about horses. He comprehended immediately that the proposed expedition was to be kept a profound secret, and would not have thwarted his young lady on any account.

When the afternoon came, Dulcie rushed to her room and scrambled as fast as she could into her neat brown habit, with its little scai'let waistcoat —for she had a great idea of being sporting in her attire, especially when on horseback.

Now, it so happened fchafc for the last two*-, or three days Butterfly had done nothing" but lightwalking exercise, and consequently •was extremely fresh. Therefore, directly she felt Dulcie's weight, light as it was, beginning to press upon her loins, she arched her back, tossed up her head, and, with a squeal like a pig, bounded high into the air, executing a series of bucks and kicks that would have proved excessively disconcerting to a less practised horsewoman. Bub Dulcie possessed the courage of youth, and sitting quite tight, with the small of her back well in, and her elbows to her side, she shortened the reins, spoke playfully to the mare, patted her on the neck, and titen, conscious she had no time to loee, set off down the drive at a sharp trot. As Dulcie drew nearer the trysting place, her foolish little heart began to flutter in a manner it had never done hitherto. She had endeavoured to be very hraTe, and had repudiated her mother's assertions with scorn, but she could not forget that Bob Mornington had been publicly called her lover. Such things, however lightly one .may try to treat them, cannofcfailta make an impression, and already they war© beginning to bear fruits. Doubts and hesitations filled her mind. She almost wished she had stopped at home and nob yielded to temptation. Butterfly gave a big buck as they emerged from between the lodge gates, and turning swiftly round a sharp earner entered the road beyond.

Then in a moment all her fears were dispelled, for there, at the end of the lane, under the shade of a leafy green, eheafcnufc, sitbing his horse like &n ecfttesfcrfan statae, and every now and again bitwtg &fe a«w% ho had pkek'ed and idly hold in. his hand, was Bob.

('To U Qentinuact &» WedmdayJ