A QUESTION OF QUALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 72, 27 March 1899, Page 6

A QUESTION OF QUALITY.

A. Ikwrtands.)

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP-

TERS,

Lady Alicia Baillie assists a friend—Mr fidward Loftus—to get into Parliament. She is very indifferent to her relations, While her daughter, Anne-called Nancy —is devotedly attached to her father, Mr Baillie, a brewer, rather beneath his wife in rank. Lady Alicia's mother. Lady Kingsberry, conies to vlßit at Summer Lodge; and invites her travelling companion, Mr Peter Callard, to call upon her. Mr Baillie, without consulting his wife, rescues his dead Sister', child, Bettine Sylvester, from the stage, and desires har to make her home at Summer Lodge. Chapters HI. and IV.—Lady Alicia is flflttremely angry with her husband for Venturing to introduce hia niece into tfaelr house without her consent. The lonely girl arrives whilst a big dinnerparty Is going on, ahd Nancy slips away and conceals thel new cou. in in her gratidtnother's rooms. Bettine, without a oaflg of sorrow, decides that for the future 3hd is totally separated from her drunken, shiftless father, the actor, James Sylvester.

CHAPTER V.

Bettine Sylvester went to rest that first night of the new life under her Uncle's roof in what might be termed a«Warlike spirit. 'Her brief interview With Lady Kingsberry had Served to rouse her determination to its fullest extent, and to arm her to fight all that stood in her path. She was nntouched by Nancy's gentle and whplehearted welcome, though, indeed, had Bhe paused to reflect, she might truly have conceded that, had she been in Kaney's place* she would have viewed the advent of ft girl like herself with anything but pleasant feelings. Bettine had resented Lady Kingsberry's in&aner most sharply. From her uncle she had received kind words, heartfelt in their kindness, and there could be no doubt that Nancy seconded her father in hi_ kindness most loyally; but Bettine was quickly brought face to face, after she had exchanged a few words with J,ady Kingsberry, with the fact that her uncle and his daughter did not reign alone at Summer Lodge. Of course, she knew a good deal about Lady Alicia, Her mother had made a confidant of Bettine from her earliest childhood, ahd Joan Sylvester, despite her brother's proud love and faith in her,hadnotbßen a Wise Or a particularly just woiaatf. She had been always a spoilt creature, and when she had become James Sylvester's Wife, _he had contracted the marriage more out of the spirit of contradiction that had always ruled her, than for any other reason. Her repentance had b«en bitter enough, and she not hesitated to make this fact patent to her husband himself on every occasion, and to Bettine, when the little child bad grown sufficiently intelligent to grasp all her mother said to her. That-Mrs Sylvester had never carried her woes openly to her family rose from that kind of sullen obstinacy that many people call pride, Joan Sylvester had no desire to let this family know she had realised her folly so completely; moreover, sh?.:s. as cohtin .wgfeia^would. receive little sym-t>athf-#»m iter hard-headed kinßf oik. Th^riFF'oiiS *Who would tfaVe^n tender with her was her brother Ralph, and he,was cut off! from her in a great measure by his marriage. Bettine ,had grown up learning to bate Lady Alicia Biillie by slow degrees, as her toother did, just as she grew up imbued With the idea of her father's utter worthlessneSs, and that in her Uncle Ralph she Would always find a friend. , Balph Baillie Would indeed hate Been painfully astonished could the absolute truth of his sister's marriage bate been set before him. He had, as we know, made it his business to keep an eye on that sister's life as far aa was possible during -the past many years, and he had arrived, as we know, also at the conclusion that his first bad opifiioft of James Sylvester had been only too well founded, and that if ever a man merited the name of >eotihdrel,' that man was his sister's husband. But Baiph had never once come in direct contact with James Sylvester. He judged the man absolutely from an outside and yet a prejudiced standpoint. He Was resolved that no good thing cOUld Come from such a creature; and when Sylvester had drifted aimlessly from a briefless practide as a barrister to the doubtful environments of a stage existence, Nancy's father had been filled with a bitter contempt for the man who had first mined his sister's Chance of happiness, and now was, according to his views, covering her with disgrace. There ■was no one to tell Ralph Baillie that the marriage that was considered SO fatal to Joan Sylvester had been doubly fatal to her husband. In the hands of another woman, the character of James Sylvester, marred though it ivas by many terribly weak spots, might have been turned into wider, better channels. Assuredly a loving, practical womanly influence, could have stood between the man and his worst failing, but Bettine's mother was far from being that influence. She had had that most destructive of all gifts—a nagging tongue; and it was her tongue that drove Sylvester to drink, and all its fatal accompaniments. She had offered no objection io her husband turning himself into an actor, for he was able to earn far more money oh the stage than he would have earned elsewhere; but though She took this money eagerly, she never ceased to gird at the source itrom whence it came. And yet James Sylvester loved her, Bettine knew that, just aS Well a| she kbeW how dearly she had been treasured in her, father's heart; but her mother's nature and influence had been t6O strongly at Work since her earliest childhood to allow of, this knowledge to move more beneficially in her heart. The girl had inherited that nature in a much greater degree than Joan herself, possessed. ; She despised her father—not be* cause he Was a drunkard, or because he tuade his living on the stage, but because he. openify turned from his proper social place SUd Scoffed at his family connections. The love of the wdrid'a high places, the desire to stand high herself in

that world, was the dominant note in Bettine's character, and she considered her mother had been really Illused, only because she had never been forced by hear husband into the position a Sylvester should have claimed by right. Bettine herself placed all her ambitious plans for the future on the fact that she was a member of that family her father pretended to despise, and this was the feeling that was uppermost in her mind as she was left finally alone in the charming bedroom that Nancy had prepared for her. She utterly misinterpreted Lady Kingsberry's attitude towards herself. She imagined that Lady Alicia's mother had attempted to read her a homily on the grandeur and importance of Lady Alicia herself, ahd she did the Countess a great wrong; for, whatever other faults she possesed, Nancy's grandmother had not even the rudiments of a snob in her composition. She had certainly been less genial with Bettine than She was With most people, but Lady Kingsberry had been, as we know, taken utterly aback by the sight of the new comer's beauty, and her loving thougnt for Nancy brought a touch of coldness into her manner.

Bettine, resenting this coldness, had adopted an air of hauteur that sat ill oh one who was practically a dependent on charity, and after a brief conversation the young ahd the old women had parted with feelings of mutual dislike and irritation.

Bettine Was not averse, however, to starting her new career in a fighting spirit. The unfortunate experience that Peter Callard's treachery had forced upon her, had done illimitable injury td the: girl's already hardened nature. She was prepared to find a foe in every friend, she doubted everything and everybody, and she would be merciless in her resolve to put herself above;. and-before all the rest of

the world. - Nancy had gone away from Bettine's room a little sadly. She had been so generous in her ready offering of affection to her cousin, but Bettine (the first feeling of shyness and constraint cbnqUered) did Wot give back much evidence of affection. There was, indeed, in her manner, in her voice, in her whole bearing, a distinct element of that hardness and coldness that had always hurt NanCy in her mother. Bettine's arrival, awkward as it had been, had passed over smoothly, thanks altogether to Lady Kingsberry's efforts. She had been so amusing those five or six minutes of delay before dinner was announced, that Lady Alicia was given no good opportunity to remark Nancy's ab' sence.,, The girt came back hurriedly, just itt time to receive her mother's orders that Mr Callard was to take her into dinner, and Peter caught the sound of a fluttering sigh as Nancy put her hand obediently through his arm. He Was himself in no mood for chattering, and was grateful to his companion for being silent. That name of Bettine, Spoken So unexpectedly, and linked so closely with this family, had given him a most unpleasant shock. Truly she had not spoken very wrongly when she had told him She had other and higher social views for herself! The irony of life Struck him for the first time as he sat listening for once impatiently and irritably to Lady Kingsberry's bright clear voice (he had been plaeedrfis she desired, next to hor at table), retailing all sorts of amusing fiction about her many friends; Only an.hour or so ago he had been pitying Bettihe, and yet hurrying away ffroni the mere suggestion Of coming in contact with her; and now he was actually under the same roof with her, and- he Was an uninvited guest in a house where she was a relation and an inmate. . t was at least a relief to find that there was1 no prospect of her coming d oWnirtairS that evening; In a roundabout sort, of way, he had. probed Nancy, and beard that her cousin was gone to her room. 'She has had a long journey, perhaps,' Peter hazarded, and Nancy coloured faintly as she answered truth* fully she did not know. She was, in truth, quite in the dark about all concerning Bettine, save those few broad facts her. father had given her; when they had'beeu alone together before dinner; and Balph Baillie had i made no mention of the theatrical company, or Bettine's share in it. He had touched only On. his love for his sister, on James Sylvester's many iniquities, and on Bettine's absolute loneliness, and it had been in no half-hearted fashion that Nancy had gone to greet this other girl. After dinner the Countess had whispered to Nancy her itttentldU Of going upstairs and interviewing the new comer, and Nancy had given her grandmother a glance of Warm gratitude, i Her anty was to talk the usual platitudes td Lady Alicia's guests, to hear; the usual parochial complaints ! from the vicar's wife, and to listen to enthusiastic admiration of Edward Loftus from his delighted mother and sisters. '-' , .

Lady Kingsberry had not been long away, and Nancy's sympathy read in ah instant .that something had ruffled her grandmother. Lady, Kingsberry, hbwever, avoided the cornet where Nancy Was Sitting; she took a chair by thG fire, and chatted instead to good, dull, motherly Mrs Loftus, whose simple mind was divided between a strong inclination to be shocked at the Countess's smart evening dress, and to embrace Lady Kingsberry2 for' all the kind things- She Said about 'dear^ darling Eddie.' As for Lady Alicia, the dinner party soothed her in a sense. She moved about among her usual guests m her usual regal fashion, and derived tonight a new sensation of satisfaetibu from the knowledge expressed so openly, that she reigned among these people at least With aft undisputed , sovereignty. The homage offered to her in 6tm* motion with the successful result of the election, and the gratitude Edward Loftus poured upon her, gradually worked away the roUgh edges of her irritation. She was a trifle mbre gracious in her manner^ with Peter Callard after dinner and when at his friend's eager request Mr Callard sat down to the piano and played for about half an hour, Lady Alicia s&id ! a few honest words of thanks.

To Nancy the muSic was a revela* tion; she had never heard Stich piay* ing before, and She delighted EdWard Loftus by her enthusiasm. 'Didn't I always tell yoU that fete* Was the cleverest all-round chap one could hope to meet in a day's march?' he inquired, exultantly. Nancy smiled. ... 'You never told me he Was a musk elan,' she .said; 'it is a great surprise. Se doesn't look as if he even under-* stood music or cared for it in the least.' .••'' •-■-..■' , .- • Her appreciation was very pleasant to P eter, semehow. The mere the thought of Bettine pressed itself upon

him, the more charm he found in this gentle grey-eyed cousin of hers. Nahcy did not have much conversation \Vith Mr Callard, however. When the ttieri had come upstairs the Countess had captured him again. Nancy had flitted about from one to another till Edward LoftUs had drawn the girl away into a corner for a few minutes' private chat.

'Look here, Nancy, you are going to tell me what is wrong?' he said, very firmly. ...... T am not sure that anything is wrong,' Nancy answered him. "There may be some difficulty, but -—•' Then she explained the situation and Edward Loftus frowned a little as he heard. ;

'And have you seen your cousin? Do you like her? Is she nice?' he asked. ;.'..

'She is beautiful,' Nancy said, warjnly. 'I fancy she must be just exactly like her mother. Dad was telling me to-night that my Aunt Joan was quite lovely. Doesn't it seem sad to think I should never have seen her, Edward, never even heard of her all these years?' :£. 'Oh, I don't know. I'm not so jolly fond of relations, myself,' Mr LoftuS said, candidly. 1 could do quite easily .without some Of my numerous uncles and aunts. I always tell Peter he is a lucky chap in that respect. But look here, Nancy, yoft know if there's aiiything I can do in this business yob will be sure and tell me, won't you? I might be of some use. Of course, it would have been easier if your COUsin had been a boy instead Of a girl; but, even as it is—•' .-,' Nancy then smiied at him, half mischievously. . : 'Now that ybu are a member of Parliament, you will of course be able to do a great deal,' she said, in her demure fashion; 'but now I must leave you, Edward; mother is looking over.here. She must want me.' Nancy WOuld have been considerably amazed could'she have, known that t of herself and Edward Lbf. tus sitting together so confidentially was affording Lady Alicia an unusual amount of satisfaction. The friendship between Nancy, and the young man had always been an Undoubted fact, but Lady Alicia had some time ago commenced to desire more than friendship, and in this she had felt he? girl, up to the present moment, had not been prepared to satisfy her. Those few moments, therefore, of quiet, half-whispered conference between the two, was the nearest approach to that warmer, less flippant bond that she intended should exist between Nancy and young Lof* tvs, and it pleased Lady Alicia exceedingly. . Nancy knew nothing of this, of course, but she was c©nscidus that the biting sharpness of her mother's vexation was lifted as the evening progressed, and at this realisation the girl' 3 spirits rose for her father's Sake.

'And perhaps, when mother has seen Bettine, she Will be more kind about her altogether,' she Said to herself. Nancy, however, was not happy till her mother had been made aware that Bettine had already arrived; her honest soul fretted at the faintest suggestion of deceit. As her grandmother had undertaken to make known this fact to Lady Alicia when everybody had gone, She was fain to do nothing. 'Leave it to me,' the Countess had •,«ai&'lb-Aer way. 'If Alicia makes a fuss, % can manage her better than anybody else'—a truth that Natiey certainly would not contradict. She was glad When the evening came to a close at last, and there was a weary look in her pretty eyes as she said 'Good-night' to Mr Callard. 'I cannot thank you for your music,, she said to him } 'tnere are some things that cannot be properly put into words. I hope I shall hear you again, Mr Callard.' Peter answered her in his most studied courtly fashion. In every way Nancy appealed to: him; nix. had evei!y attribute he considered desirable and charming in a woman, and „if ndt beautifUl she' was cek-tainly - most attractive. Her close relationship with •the Countess- of Kingsberry Was not the least attractive point about her. •Ih the World in which he was noW beginning to move Callard had known long ago that old Lady Kingsberry, in spite of her free tongue and little eccentricities, was recognised as a social power. He clung very closely to j his friendship with the Countess. Already through her influence he had progressed upwards, and sp long as he retained her favour he felt he might Climb high indeed. A resentful anger against fate crept into his thoughts as he held Nancy's slim hand in hiS. By What evil luck should it have come to pass that Bettine Sylvester should have become linked in ties so close with this one particular family? WaS the question that anger forced upon him; and then it was followed by the Other question that haa been pricking and annoyiug him all the evening. How should he act in regard to Bettine? He was more or lass bound to come to some conclusion On this point, for having been introduced into Ladjf Alicia's home circle, his name (especially with the Couhtees ofl the Spot) would be in her ears before many more hours had sped-away* To leave Northchester Without risking any chance Of coming in contact with the girl, would have been, Of course, Peter's easiest plan, had he felt assured she would have known nothing of his coming and going; but as this Was impossible to reckon Upon, he set aside the thought of a hurried departure to -town. Me always preferred to see for himseif the extent of the difficulty before him, ahd .he pre* f erred to meet Bettine, disagreeable as the meeting must be, and l^fi'hijf attitude at ohde, in fact, as he was making, his, adieu to Nancy, a sudden inspiration came to him. '1 should be delighted to play to you, Miss Baillie, to-morrow, before my return to town, if Lady Alicia would permit me to call. 1 suppose we shall all meet at Edward's lunv cheofi party? 1 had intended running back quite early to my business, but Ted Will not hear of it, sol am at your disposal either mdrning or afternoon. I should much like, Peter added, deliberately, 'to haVe the pleasure of meeting your cousin, Miss Sylvester, once again, i hope she has hot for-' gotten me* I used to go td h«s* con* vent school at odd times, to be en* abled to write out news of her to her father, SO I daresay she Will not have Utterly forgotten me,' , 'How curious you should know Bettine!' tfaaey said; 'she is for the moment a stranger to all of us; but;' the girl added gently, 'that Will nOt last very long, for this is to be her home in the future*' 'It is a fit h6me for so beautiful a creature,' Mr Cailard, said, with & slightly inscrutable smile; and theiu he bowed and passed autbf thfc room, weft satisfied with his mbve. ,f •It is always best te play the first card,' he mused to himself, 'and how-

ever milch evil MisS Bettine may be harbouring in her heart against me, I believe 1 may stake enough on her common sense, at least, not to be so rash-as to throw discredit on herself in this particular moment of her life. And there would be a disagreeable element, at least, in any attempt she might make to prejudice people against me. Yes, it was a wise move, a very wise move, and I need hardly have let. myself- be so disturbed, for I 'am surely strong enough to fight even so unusual and self-determined a creature as Bettine Sylvester! nous verrons!'

(To be CoiiSinued.)