A WOMAN'S HEART

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 157, 5 July 1899, Page 6

A WOMAN'S HEART

By MRS EFFIE ADELAIDE

ROWLANDS.

CHAPTER IX. (Continued.)

i Learn had returned to Croomehurst, and her mother, fully conscious of being regarded as a social failure by her grandmother and by the world at large, and the realisation of this had embittered her not a little. The result of her visit to London was to awaken within Learn Greatorex a spirit of defiant ambition —a sort of scornful de- : termination to redeem her character in her grandmother's eyes and find | herself a position that would place 1 her forever beyond the attack of criticism or commiseration. This determination it was that had called into clearer and more definite form the hopes and thoughts and suggestions that had always existed vaguely in her mind where Basil ]'"othergill had been concerned, though nothing had taken firm root or grown into a fixed determination until the evening before, when she had seen Basil's face with an utterly I new look upon it bent downwards to ■ a woman as young and far more lovely than herself. ■ IL had, in fact, been the certainty of ; Sir Basil's, absolute indifference and ; heart-wholeness that had allowed Learns intentions towards him to : have remained so long undefined. She ' had felt unconsciously that there was mo need of alarm or haste. Miss Greatorex had a sort of coni temptous tolerance for the rest of the young people scattered about her mother's home, not excluding Beatrice Somerset, although there was a far nearer approach to a friendship between Learn and Beatrice than With any of the others. ! Molly Fothergill admired Lady ! Gertrude's handsome daughter imi mensely, and, as has been shown in her thoughts, she had half sketched out the possibilty of a marriage between Basil and this girl. In her inmost heart, however, Molly confessed sometimes to herself she did not find any great sympathetic attraction in Learn, and though she I admired her so sincerely she was not | half as fond of Miss Greatorex as she j was of sunny Beatrice or several of the many other girls she called her friends. As for Learn, she was inclined to be i a little harsh in her judgment of MolI ly. She determined that, as Basils j sister and mistress of the big house, I Molly should have comported herself j with more dignity, more austerity j even; that a line ought to have been ! more clearly drawn between Miss Yothergill and the other young women of Croomehurst, herself alono excepted, and the honour and glory of Croome Hall upheld in a prouder and more regal fashion. To see Molly scampering about the place like a wild creature on her pet pony, or going for long walking excursions writh half a dozen of the neighbouring- girls, was something that ought not to have been, in Learns estimation. It was all very well for Beatrice Somerset, who, for all her prettiness, was, socially speaking, a nobody; but for Miss Fothergill, of Croome Hall, it was distinctly not well. The sort of supercilious tolerance which Learn extended to the inhabitants of Croomehurst generally was not by any means assumed. She was honest in regarding them as so many middle-class people, and although she had by force of circumstances to make her life among them, that was by no means a reason, in her eyes, why she or her mother should allow themselves to be intimate with their neighbours. Indeed, with the exception of the big house, the Somersets, and once or twice a year at the Vicarage, neither Lady Gertrude nor Miss Greatorex visited any of the houses. As for regarding- the numerous young women in the light of probable or dangerous rivals where Basil Fothergill was concerned, the mere suggestion would have been, to Learn, absolutely ridiculous. Sir Basil had evidently no eyes or appreciation for the many really pretty faces that surrounded his residence, except, perhaps, for bright, happy-looking Bee Somerset; but j Learn had never had any misgivings where Bee was concerned, for she happened to know that there was a barrier existing which wouild never permit Captain Somerset's darling to become Basil Fothergill's wife, even had he desired such a marriage with all his heart. The man standing- by Miss Greatorex's chair on this particular evening- was this barrier personified. Learn knew that, for all her sauciness and innocent coquetry, Bee loved this quiet, grave, almost middle-aged doctor of Croomehurst with all the wealth and fervour of her budding Woman's heart. 'Bee is getting- piiite poetical,' Miss Greatorex said, just turning her head towards her companion, as Miss Somerset gave forth that eloquent tribute of admiration for the Croome Hall guest. 'I had no idea she coujd talk so well before.' 'She had a good subject for her eloquence,' Jasper Wyllie made answer,* a touch of something like enthusiasm in his voice. Learn caught herself froWnirfg. 'Then you have met this very beautiful young person already, Dr. Wyllie?' she said questionably. 'I went to Cfoome by appointment late this afternon. Miss Fothergill was anxious I should see her friend and discover whether the journey had fatigued her very much. I confess,' Dr. Wyllie added, 'I should have hardly cared about giving- Mrs Seaton my permission to travel so soon after her long- illness, but she is very young-, and though delicate, I should say her constitution is good, so perhaps no harm will come of her fatigue.' There was a gleam of light in Miss Greatorex's dark eyes, and her cheeks had a sudden touch of colour. 'Oh! so Bee's prodigy is a married woman. That is very interesting, but I fear it will be a disappointment to you Croomehuo"si bachelors.' Dr. Wyllie laughed; '

'Oh, I dare say we shall be able to survive it, although, to take a leaf out of Miss Somerset's book, I must say I have rarely seen a more lovely face than Mrs Seaton's. It is not only that she is definitely beautiful, but there is an intense sweetness in the expression, a look of a pure and noble soul in those big blue eyes.'

i Learn laughed her own particular i lauigh, which was too well bred to express much amusement. The man's enthusiasm annoyed her, although since she had heard that Justina was a married woman she had not the same annoyance as that which had come before. Still this reiterated assurance of Mrs Seaton's loveliness, added to the fact that her own eyes : iiad had proof that the rumour was I only too well founded, was not pleasing to Learn. It was sufficiently aggravating that another woman had j appeared in the place she had considered it her right to fill as a close and confidential friend to Molly ! Fothergill; and, however much mari lied this new woman might be, the j constant sound of praise that was i meted out to her was almost an ! offence to Learn Greatorex's prouid, j arrogant heart. 'I must make haste to see this won- ! derful young- person,' she said as she I rose to go. 'It is not often one has the chance to meet with a really beautiful woman.' Beatrice Somerset, seeing her rise, I flew across the room. | 'lN Tot going so soon, Learn!' she ! cried. 'I have not had two words i with you. Must you go? It is very i early, and I half expect • Molly and j Sir Basil may look in for a moment. i I had a few words sent down from1 j the hall to say they would both come j after dinner if Mrs Seaton was well , enough for Molly to leave. Oh! ' don't go just yet; they will be. disi appointed if they don't see you here, | Learn.' ! It was not easy even for Miss Great- \ orex to • resist Beatrice Somerset's : pretty manner, and Learn was 'about ito grant a gracious consent to this ! pleading just as the door was opened ' and Basil Fotherg-ill's tall, command- | ing figure entered the room. A touch jof colour came into Learns cheeks ! and lingered there at sight of him. i She resumed her seat and opened hsr j fan, waving it to and fro slowly. | Dr. Wyllie had gone from her side, i but Sir Basil had no sooner spoken a ! few words of greeting to his ruddyi faced host and pretty little hostess ! than he made his way toward Miss ■ Greatorex. j He always had an indistinct sense !of pleasure in being with Learn; the , girl's dignity impressed him, and he , had an honest admiration for her handi some presence. To-night Learn in ! her well-made black gown, with that I diamond star flashing- and gleaming 'on her brow, had a sort of queenlii ness about her which inspired ad- , miration and respect. j 'I hare a message for you, Miss ! Greatorex,' Sir Basil said, as he drew I up a chair and put his big frame into j it. 'Molly sends you her love, and, iif you have nothing better to do, will } you come and partake of luncheon with us to-morrow? I believe Molly has no end of things she wishes to i exhibit for your approbation and criticism.' 'I shall be cliarmed to lunch,' Learn said, smiling faintly,-and looking- ex- ! ceedingly attractive as she did so. |in fact, in this moment, with that I shadow of warm colour on her ! cheeks, she had a touch of real beauty about her. 'Molly is not with you, this evening, Sir Basil.' 'No, she did not like to leave Justina—Mrs Seaton, I mean. Our guest if still, I am sorry to say, very much of an invalid.' 'The air of Croomehurst will do her good, T hope. It is certainly very health-giving. Mother declares she is another creature since she has lived here.' Learn was moving her fan to and fro still in that same slow, languorous fashion; her voice was conventionally courteous but cold. 'It certainly is beautiful air,' Sir Basil agreed, 'and I hope from my heart it will do as much for Mrs Seaton as it has for Lady Gertrude. I fear, however, it will be a long time before she will be able to consider herself ■ well, much more robust and strong' Miss Greatorex closed her fan. 'Is your friend related to the Monck-Seatons?' she asked. 'I am intimate with a good many of that family, so perhaps —' Sir Basil took urp the subject rather hurriedly, she thought. 'Oh, no! Justina has no connection with that branch of Seatons. She would tell you herself she has no very high social standing, Miss Greatorex; but if this be the case, she can most assuredly claim to be a lady in the truest sense of the word both in birth and breeding. I have known her when she was a little fairy of a, child. Her father,' Sir Basil added, in explanation, 'was my tutor and my earliest, most beloved friend. I think that Richard North was as nearly perfect as it is possible for a human being to be.' His enthusiasm of this dead man was, for some reason or other, disagreeable for Learn to hear. She was, Without having known it very clearly, up to now possessed of an extremely jealous nature, and Justina Seaton had already succeeded, even though they Lad not yet met, in rousing this sort of resentful jealousy in Miss Greatorex's feelings toward her to a really marvellous extent. 'It must be very pleasant for you to have so valued a friend staying with you as your guest, Sir Basil,' she remarked, in answer to his last speech, and then she laughed. 'I am afraid Croomehuirst is going to indulge in 1 some jealousy where Mrs Seaton is concerned. Molly is so popular, you know, Sir Basil, and up to now we have one and all imagined her to belong to us in a sort of way. Now that Mrs Seaton has come—' 'It will make no difference in the world —none. I only hope you will all be as kind to Justina, and give her as bountifully of your friendship as you give to my little sister.' • Learn rose from her chair. 'I must go now,' she said. She had almost an impatient sort of dislike to Basil Fothergill this evening. She was beginning to be bored with so much conversation about this girl, whom she felt instinctively, yet suirely, she should dislike most heartily. 'I shall see you to-morrow,' she added, with a faint smile, as he rose, too, and moved with her to the door. 'Molly will have to come and spend a long hour soon with my mother, or there will be great disappointment. Please tell her so. Yes, Bee, dear, I must go now. Don't look so gloomy; one would think you were never going to see me again.'

Learn Greatorex submitted in a languid, graceful manner to be kissed by her pretty, young hostess. There was no doubt of the genuineness of Beatrice Somerset's affection for her proud, undemonstrative friend. Bee admired Learn immensely. She was attracted chiefly to Miss Greatorex because the latter possessed ju^t those very qualities which she herself lacked. Bee was not clever, not very thoughtful, not proud or dignified. Learn she considered to be her superior in every sense of the word, and it was only natural that Bee Somerset should be a little vain of Ihe partiality which Lady Gertrude and her handsome daughter showed ior her own pretty self. Apart from all this, too, there was not quite consciously defined, perhaps, in Bee's mind a sort of pity for the girl whom yhe admired so much —a sense of regret that Learns life was not, and never wouild be, the same as her own bright, happy one. There was a great deal of grandeur and dignity in Lady Gertrude Greatorex's house, but there was no warmth or gladness, as it were, and although Bee knew this was owing as much to Learns uncongenial nature as to her mother's, still the other girl did not withhold lier pity on that account —rather did she give it the more. Deep down in her heart Beatrice was cherishing a hope for Learns future —a hope that should mean happiness and brightness and a constant pleasure in life; and this hope was centred on Basil Fothergill. Beatrice, however, said nothing definite, even to herself, about this thought and hope, but she encouraged it all the same. She never lost an opportunity of putting Learns charms before Sir Basil—not heavily, cr with a purpose in her words, but gently, prettily, lightly, as befitted all that came from her. To-night after Basil returned from putting Miss Greatorex into the large roomy barouche in which Lady Gertrude was wont to take her daily drives, Beatrice was full of admiring words for 'The room always seems to me to have a sort of void when Learn goes,' ahe said to him, warmly. 'Did she not look splendid to-night? There is real)}' something regal about Learn Greatorex.' 'She is certainly very handsome,' Sir Basil agreed, just as warmly, but vhere ■was no flush on his face or little awkwardness or shyness about him as he spoke Learns name, such. as came over Jasper Wyllie's rugged face when Beatrice Somerset smiled up at him or flashed some pretty pertness at his gravity, as she danced hither and thither. Bee noticed this fact, of course, in Sir Basil's manner, but it did not carry much weight against that little scheme she was cherishing in her heart. Every man was not so foolish as Jasper Wyllies she would have declared saucily had she been asked to speak outright on this subject. Then Bee would most certainly have blushed a rosy red. for, despite this sauciness and deprecation of him, Jasper Wyllie and his 'foolishness' were exceedingly dear to her. (To be Continued.)