A QUESTION OF QUALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 78, 4 April 1899, Page 9

A QUESTION OF QUALITY.

•JfUy'-M-rs'^Sffle*--.^ Rowlands.)

CHAPTER X. *

Nancy's feeling that J-ord Kingsberry's unexpected arrival would bring a touch pf relief into the strained and uncomfortable atmosphere of her home was fully realised. Everyone seemed pleased to see the young man, much to' his own astonishment. Aunt Alicia actually kissed me, by Jove!' he said with a grin to his grandmother when he was alone with her. 'I have pot recovered the attack yet. Ql4 Lady Kingsberry looked with eyes pf sincere, affection on the handsome ypung scapegrace, standing with his back to the fire, 'Every evil thing has ats use at some time or other,' she told him. *Ypur useful time has arrived now. 'What's up, then, Grannie ?' inquired the earl, tersely. 'It will be a funny state of things if I am to be found of some good after having been treated as a black sheep all these years. Is anything wrong with the brewery? Or has that young prig Hubert come a cropper? I thought Nancy looked thin and worried, but as I know something about Aunt Alicia's sweet temper, I set it down to that.' In a few sharp words the countess sketched the events of the last weeks to her grandson, and he listened with interest and amusement too. 'You mean to tell me that that girl had the pluck to walk in here and bounce Aunt Alicia out of gear in this way? Well, I like her for that, I must confess; but it seems extraordinary all the same. I suppose she took the wind so cleverly out of Aunt Alicia's sails that whatever after feelings may have come her ladyship was powerless to change her attitude. She must be making it pretty agreeable for Uncle Ralph, by Jove!' Lord Kingsberry said with a laugh. .__ _ 'A_icja will revert tp her pld selt as soon as this young woman is out of the hpuse,' his grandmother said confidently. 'I mean to carry Nancy away with me when I go. The child needs a thorough change. But, npw, Nisei, you have to tell me all about yourself. Ypu look,' the pld lady said "slowly, eyeing him shrewdly, yon look, tg quote one of your own phrases, "full of heaps." You are never going to tell me you have actually tumbled on lu<?k at last-, 'That's just about it, Grannie Won nearly four thousand over the Grand ; National. X had the straight tip for the outsider, and backed it for all I was worth. A pal of yours, by the way, put me on to this. He knows a thing or two worth knowing, I can tell y°'You n_ean»Peter Callard,- cried the countess delightedly; 'and if you have Won l am safe too, for Peter told me he shO-ld put me a little on a horse he fancied strongly fpr the big race at "Liverpool, 1 - i■■'.•.,:.■:.;< r.'.i-. : - i .. £_. d Kingsberry looked at his grandmother with merry eye-. He was distinctly a handsome young man, though his features were irregular'and nia •«§s»; ftetpyed the secret jof #> maw late hours - and, too many. brandies, a-_SU*odas, Jt.was a4aee, moreover* in which -weakness ami selfishness were strongly represented. Young as it was, it had lines traced round the eyes and lips that would BHjyer be smoothed away. Nevertheless Ihgei Lord Kingsberry was classed undoubtedly as a handsome man. -His face wore its pleasantest expression when his grey eyes sparkled with nnschief and his white even teeth showed in a smile, ~ _3pn't you think you are a disgraceful old rip, Grannie?' he. asked, with impe-tinent affection, 'Now is the time when you ought to be setting a good example, instead of which-— %cave my iniquities alone, and come to your own,' said the Countess quietly, though her eyes twinkled, too. Eor a moment she pretended to look eevere, and then with a merry laugh, continued: 'Tell me about the race. Where did you meet Peter? and isnt he a clever man?' she asked, in her animated way. # 'Did he tell you I was yery fond of him?' ' - ' 'He is much too discreet, laugnea ' the Earl, 'Young Clydesdale introduced US- Of course I have heard about him a. lot; he's a jolly, lucky chap, Grannie.' •I don't believe in luck without some brains, although since* you have tumbled on your feet a little, it is another case of an exception proving the rule. Now, tell me quickly, for we shall be late for dinner if we don't hurry up. This money—will it set you straight, Nigel? I know perfectly well you have been in some new sort of difficulty lately, so you need not trouble to invent anything. Four thousand is «. big sum, and would go a good long way with a lot of folk,' the old lady said drily, as she put aside the paper $be was reading and rose to her feet; 'but I don't suppose you will have found it any too much to settle up (comfortably.' j#rd Kingsberry laughed again, and phowed his white teeth. 'Lord love you, Grannie!', he exclaimed, .'it: would take several four thousands to settle me up comfortably, I am a sinking fund, you know —■a kind of national debt. Of qourse, this is a nice little bit of ready to go on with, and you shall have half of it, if you like; but as for -putting me straight ——' . The Countess frowned slightly, and cave a sigh- ' How does the money go with you, Nigel?' she asked.. 'Do you happen to jtnow what you have managed to get through since you came into the title, and what the-^ —' 'I have ho talent for statistics,' the ypnng wap interpolated blandly; then, dipping n.s coat-tails from under tag, arms, and moving away from the |pj, he kissed his grandmother " «j|eQtJonately. 'Don't worry yourself about me, dear, old thing, fm all right- I came 4Q*wa,*"t° see you. Your last letter was

'so doldrummy. I thought you must Ibe really bad thjs time; and as I know the sight of me is like a tonic to you, ! why, I gave up any amount of sport in town,-and here I am.'

The Countess looked mollified. 'I have been worrying about you a bit, Nigel,' she confessed. 'You are an awful bad lot, but I cannot help caring just a wee scrap for you, only —-'

Lord Kingsberry put his hand over her mouth, with another of his merry laughs. 'Now, no more of that, Grannie, and I must fly into -my evening clothes, or Aunt Alicia will never embrace me again, I suppose Loftus, the lover, will be on the scene to-night. He is in a bad way, poor chap; never saw a Johnnie more in love! But I must say the girl is handsome enough if one can swallpw her red hair, which ain't my style.'

T never knew that 3tyle made much difference to you,' retorted Lady Kingsberry. 'You -change often enough in all conscience."

The young man paused at the door to send' her a parting smile and roguish wink, and then he disappeared, and the old lady heard him whistling briskly to.himself as he walked down the corridpr. She smiled faintly as she rang for her maid, but there came a little anxious look after the smile. He was more of a trouble to her than she would have openly confessed- In honour of her grandson's arrival, she was going down to din 1 ncr, the first time she had left her room for a week. Her irritation over Bettine's engagement had had time to evaporate a little, although the remembrance of Nancy's pale cheeks troubled her still. She had not arrived at any good conclusion about the girl's feelings where Edward Loftus was concerned, but whether the friendship that had existed between the two had had augrht of deeper affection on Nancy's part or not, she felt sure the knowledge of his engagement was one that had given to Nancy as it had given to herself feelings of sharp regret, and a sense of insecurity for his future. Moreover, Lady Kingsberry was shrewd enough to realise that Nancy shared with her father in the mortification and disappointment that had followed on his act of giving his sister's child a place in his home. Matters could not have been more painful for two such simple honest natures as Ralph Baillie's and Nancy's had the newcomer been subjected to Lady Alicia's biting disapproval than it was under existing circumstances, and Dady Kingsberry, was honest in her sympathy with them both. She greeted Nancy with a warm kiss as the girl came in on her way downstairs to see if she were needed for any little thing.

-'Oh. I am going down to dinner tonight, as Nigel is here. I am tired of being an invalid, You look weary, Anpe^-did you ride tpo far?'

Nancy spread her small hands to the fire.

'I went to Clinton Cote,' she said; and then she was silent a mpment, and the old lady watched her, knowing gpinething more was to come. ♦Grannie,' Nancy said, turning round suddenly, a colour flashing into her pale cheeks, and making her very pretty to look at, 'I want to ask your advice. I want to know '

'What is it, child? Speak up, Has Hubert written for another .loan?. If so,' you must let rae arrange matters this time.'; '• ■' . - .*..,,

'It is not Hubert,' Nancy answered. 'I wanted to' ask you if you think I should do harm rather than good, if I spoke to Bettine. I believe she might understand things a little better if I„ or someone, were to put them clearly before her.'

• *What things?' asked the Countess. • 'I have come back so unhappy about poor Mrs Loftus. They are all turning Out from the old home. Oh! they did not complain, on the contrary, they say they are glad to go; but it seems so sad. And,' Nancy added this in a low voice, 'and I am sure it is all so needless, Bettine will,never be content to live at Clinton Cole all the year round; they might just as well stay there,' Lady Kingsberry answered this speech prpmptly, yet not without tenderness. 'My dear,' she said, 'you must say nothing, I see with your eyes and feel to a great extent with ycur feelings; but to mix in such a matter is put of the question. Bettine is of a nature to go to extremes if opposed, and if Edward Loftus is not strong enough to arrange the position pleasantly for ail parties, then no outside person can dp it.'

'Still!' Nancy said, looking white again and deeply troubled, 'there ig a sort of responsibility resting on us, Grannie, in this. • Bettine is pur kinswoman, and Edward has met her in my father's house. What she does reflects on us too.'

To this the Countess said, 'Bosh!' in hpr ___ost emphatic manner. 'What Bettine does will reflect on her alone. You are hypersensitive, Anne. B© very sure that you are powerless to do anything, and since the Loftus people take the matter so sensibly, follow suit and do the same. You have asked me for my counsel and here you have it. Now give me your arm,we will go down together, Nigel tells me your mother received him quite graciously. We must be thankful for small mercies, and to know that A)icja is amiable is a very great thing.' i*,

Bettine was coming down the corridor as they emerged from the room.

She had a sort of radiance about her; her eyes were full pf light, and her usually pale face was warm with colour. She carried a large leathern case in her hand.

'I was cpming to show you these,' she said to Nancy, with all the glee of a child. 'Look what Edward has brought me. Are they not lovely?'

She opened the case and let the lamplight flash on a set of jewelled stars With a necklet and small tiara of brilliants standing out in the, upper part of the case.

Lady Kingsberry had a kesn love fpr jewels. At this moment she fprgot she had avoided Bettine for a whole : week. 'My dear, they are princely,' she cried. 'Come into my room and let me look at th^ra properly. Dear me, why cannot I be young and meet an Edward like yours?' She slipped, her hand f-Phi Nancy's arm, and the girl stole away unnoticed, whilst the Countess and Bettine went hack into the room and had a dress rehearsal with i_e different ornaments.

'Put tbeip on, I want to see the effect,' was the old lady's command; and nothing loth, Bettine starred,the fjpnt pf her naodest black bodiqe with brilliants, set'the crown on her rich hair, and encircled her throat with the exquisite chain of diamonds, •I .look beautiful,' she cried, quite as innocently as though she were making- a discovery. 'You are a very fine bird, my dear,' Lady Kingsberry said, in her dry way. •but fine feathers aid you as much* as they would an ugly duckling. Yes, you look beautiful, and you are a very fortunate young woman.' Bettine laughed contentedly,, and looked from one jain-or to the other,

Each glass gave back to her the reflection pf a splendour that was sweetness itself to her ambitious heart.

'Shall I keep them on?' she asked the old la/ly,-and as she was speaking there came a knock at the door, and Lord Kingsberry entei'ea unceremoniously.

'Grannie, I brought you these,' he began, and then he paused, and his eyes gazed with undisguised admiration at the girl in front of him. Bettine's appearance startled him sharply. The borrowed radiance of the jewels suddenly gave her her full value in his eyes. Downstairs she had worn her hat and coat, and though she had impressed him by her height and colouring, he had not imagined her to be what she now was revealed to be.

The Countess, looking at himi caught the expression of his eyes and frowned sharply; but at the same time a great relief rushed through her. that her grandson had not come in contact with this most dangerous ypung woman when she had been free.

'Ypu can run away, Nigel,' she said, briskly, 'Bettine and I are very busy. We are. rehearsing for the future.'

Lord Kingsberry muttered an excuse, and putting down the packet he was carrying, went out, and, shut the door. Bettine took the tiara from her head with a touch of heightened colour. 'After all I can hardly turn myself into a raree show in this way. I forgot we had a guest to dinner tonight. These things are out of place with such a gown.'

As she packed away the jewels in their velvet nest che glanced up at Lady Kingsberry. 'So that is your wicked grandson?. He looks very harmless. Just a good-natured boy. I am quite disappointed in him. I have heard such a bad character of Lord Kingsberry that I have expected to see a sort of Mephistopheles.'

'Nigel can provide you with as much wickedness as you like, although he has brown hair and grey eyes,' the old lady said, with a curious tone in her voice. 'Are you going to show your treasures to your uncle, Bettine?'

'To Lady Alicia? certainly,' Bettine answered, evenly. 'I don't think they would interest Uncle Ralph.' She smiled a little smile to herself; she quite understood the Countess' change of tone. It roused a little mischief in her.

'You seem to be very sure that Alicia will be pleased to see your betrothed's gifts,' said Lady Kingsberry, a trifle tartly. It was beginning to annoy her, this pose on Bettine's part Of doing what she liked with Nancy's mother.

Bettine looked at her with the smile lingering on her lips. . 'Dear Lady Kingsberry, you know just as well as I do that Lady Alicia in her heart not only hates and detests me, but that she is furious about my engagement. She will seem pleased, nevertheless, to look at these diamonds, it is all part of the role she has set herself to play while I am in her house. W rait till lam gone,' Bettine added, with a significant laugh, and with that the girl went out of the room and carried her jewels bac]_ to her own apartment, and Lady Kingsberry went down the stairs feeling irritated, amused, and perplexed. Certainly Bettine was a new experience for her, and she liked alLnew things; ,but at the same time, for all her worldlinesa, there was something preeminently human and lovable in the old lady's nature, and this sometimes -rebelled against the strange creature whom fate had thrust so suddenly and prominently--into her daughter's household. She admired frankness as a rule, but she felt unequal to cope with Bettine's yery straightforward way of speaking, 'Well,' she said to herself, 'there is a law of compensation in all things! A girl like this can turn the head of most ordinary men, and for all his faults and follies 1 should break my heart if Nigel were to be caught by this sort of woman. I am thankful beyond measure the boy has not been down here till now.' She gave a keen glance around as she entered the drawing-room. Edward Loftus, flushed and. happy, was on the hearth-rug talking to Nancy, and Lord Kingsberry was at the piano strumming an accompaniment to a popular song. He had a pretty tenor voice, and Eady Kingsberry always declared, complacently, he inherited this from her. Neither Bettine nor Lady Alicia was present. - __"'•-'-•'_ , 'Grannie, come and sing the chorus, was the. command issued . from the piano. The old lady stood smoothing the curly brown head, as she followed his directions. 'We want a banjo!' cried Lord Kingsberry, in his gay, boyish manner. 'Nance, haven't you got a banjo? Then we would have a real chorus, and Grannie should, do a walk round In the proper nigger fashion.' Nancy came over to the piano smiling faintly- Bettine had come in, and she and her fiancee were standing together. It was evident she was saying something very pretty to the ypung man. The memory of poor Mrs Loftus' troubled," yet brave face pf the afternoon haunted Is alley's eyes. 'We will go to Northchester and get a banjo to-morrow, Nigel,' she said, as lightly as she could. Lord Kingsberry banged a chord on the piano. 'Oh, to-morrow I must be up and off again,' he cried, as. he sang another verse of his song. Bettine turned and looked across at him. 'What a pretty voice Lord Kingsberry has,' she said to her lover, quite audibly, and of course Edward Loftus agreed. , The young map. at the piano heard the words, and the colour mounted to his face. His grandmother and Nancy were standing behind him and did not see this little sign, but Bettine's eyes were still looking at, him, and Bettine's eyes were very sharp.

(To be Continued.)