CHAPTER VII.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 185, 17 August 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VII.

Netta sat by Sholto at dinner, and tarried o_t a running fire of questions, repartee and chaff. There was no opportunity for him to speak to any one else. Mrs Fane had come -down stairs for the first time since her accident, and she also was in a lively mood; therefore the dinner did _iot Jack gaiety.

Bettie was quieter than usual, though she roused herself now ami then to talk to Lord Chanford, who, seated by her side, talked to her, but looked across the table at Mrs Peter.

In the drawing room, Netta /insisted on Sholto's singing, and offered to play his accompaniments. If she had not been so sure that .Sholto careel for her as much as he cared for any one she would have noticed that he did not consent to sing with his usual readiness. But Netta was quite satisfied with herself and the world in general, and there was no love beyond cousinly affection to open her eyes to Sholto's indifference to her. She induced Sholto to sing' song after song, playing his accompaniments with the delightful certainty that she was pleasing him.

Lord Chanford was not enjoying his evening; he had taken a chair by Mrs Peter, prepared to entertain her, as he had done on the evening before, but Mrs Peter had begged him to leave hei* and talk to Bettie.

"Forgive me," she said, sweetly, "but I always take a nap after dinner. Go and talk to Miss Lysle; she is over there, in the window seat, half hidden by the curtains."

And Lord Chanford had to go. He liked Bettie very much; but Mrs Peter's beauty "knocked him over," as he himself would have expressed it. She was the attraction that had drawn him to accept Sholto's half hearted invitation; her beauty attracted him, and her-sleepy indolence attracted him still more.

"None of your clever women for me," he said once, in the smokingroom, to his chosen friend. "I like a silent woman, who doesn't always want to-be chattering."

In Bella Fane he thought he had found his ideal. And now that he was ready to make, himself agreeable., he was'coolly waved to one side. He was Bulky for a short time; but Bettie did not want him to talk. She also had her thoughts, and he could see Mrs Peter's lovely profile and shining head irom where he sat.

"Isn't she lovely?" he said, at last. Bettie's eyes were on Netta, however, and nobody could call Netta lovely. She was pretty, joßy looking, but not lovely.

"Do you think so?" she returned, doubtfully-

"She is perfect. I have never seen teuch features and complexion toge.t_er. Does she always wear black?" "Oh, it is Mrs Peter you mean!" Bet\ie said. "Yes, she always wears blac>\; she is beautiful, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

' "Is.that a match, Sholto?" said Netta \o her cousin,' indicating- Lord Chanford and Bettie. "What?"

"How Obtuse you are, dear cousin! Lord Chanford. and Bettie. It would be a splendid thing for her if it were so.'"

"I am sure I do not know. Confound this music! t cannot get it into the ' case."

Netta looked up, surprised at her cousin's bad tempered tone. "Give it to ma; I will put it in order for you," she said, laughing, and taking the music f_om him. "We ought -to settle what play we will have for •the theatricals," she continued, as £he sorted the music. "Yes, we ought. : Miss Lysle, Bella, Chanford, come and consult about the theatricals. We must settle what play we are to have, and when the performance shall take place. Let me see—there are three ladies and two men. What can you recommend, Miss Lysle?" \ "I—l —perhaps I ought not to act. There are Peter's lessons, and Do you think I might, Mrs Fane?" Mrs Fane, satisfied at. seeing Lord Chanford at Bettie's side, and knowing that her son would interfere if she Tefused permission to Beitie to act, gave a gracious assent. "Lord Chanford tells me that you act -'well, Miss Lysle. It would be a great pity if you did not he'.p them." | "We could not get on withomt you," k Sholto declared. "Now, what do you ■■eeotmnend?"

I.Tiere are so many plays."

"I know the very thing!" said Lord Chanford. " 'Uncle's Will' for the first piece, and 'Poor Pillicoddy' for the second. You and I have acted together in 'Uncle Will,' Miss Lysle, and, though I says it who shouldn't, it was a grand success. Fane, you can be the old man in that, and Pillicoddy in the second play. Mrs Peter Fane, you must take a part in 'Poor Pillicoddy.' It is of no use your saying- you cannot learn the part; you must. Miss Vavasour, you shall have a cheeky servant's part."

For the next few days every one played at cross-purposes. Lord Chanford wished to talk to Mrs Peter, and was handed over to Bettie; Sholto wished to talk to Bettie, and had to put up with Netta. She and Mrs Fane were the only two who were satisfied with things. Mrs Peter had her doubts as to how matters were progress ing. She knew -that Lord Chanford only talked to Bettie because he was not allowed to talk to her, and she caught Sholto looking at Peter's governess with an expression in his eyes wliich no one could mistake. Were she and Mrs Fane fighting a losing game? She was not sure, but she was afraid so.

Meanwhile the theatricals progressed finely. Every evening rehearsals took place, and Sholto would fidget and bite his lip with impatience during "Uncle Will," in which he had to look on at love-makng scenes between Lord Chanford and Bettie. All the membe_s of the small company were good, for amateurs. The only approach to a failure was Mrs Peter, who said truly that she was not born to act. She was too graceful to be stiff; but she was always Mrs Peter Fane, and never the person she was supposed to be representing.

"Sholto, I am getting so nervous!" "Do not think of it, Netta, and you will be all right."

"I have forgotten every word of my part, and I have lost my book." "You knew it yesterday; you will remember it when you have to beSin*" ...

"Fane, I cannot find my wig." "Where is the rouge, Lord Chanford? Mrs Peter Faue wants it." "When are we to draw the curtains. sir?" Such inquiries and demands were flying about behind the scenes at the dress rehearsal to which the Legh Place tenants and their wives aud daughters were asked.

"The room is nearly full; it must be time to begin," said Bettie, peeping between the drop curtains. "Here is a glass of champagne for you. Miss Ly9.le." "Thank you. Have you given Netta some? She is nervous, as it is nearly her first time of acting. I have been so many times before the public that I am quite at my ea<se.' "Your hand is shaking all the same," said Sholto, smiling^ as he took Hie glass from her. "Yes; but that is nothing." And Bettie turned to look through the slit in the curtain again. How pretty the soft brown curls at the back of her neck were! How "fetching" she looked in the pretty evening dress she wore for her part in "Uncle Will."

"The fattest man I have ever seen has just come in," said Bettie, confused by Sholto Fane's silent scrutiny, and anxious to break the silence.

'It must be old "Willis

"His wife and daughter are nearly as fat as he is," Bettie whispered, laughing. "Look at the bird in the girl's hair. Isn't it magnificent?" Sholto's face was nearer to Bettie's than there was any occasion for, and he was whispering more softly than was quite necessary. They were alone on the stage: the others were putting on the last touches of powder and

rouge. Bettie dropped the curtain and turned away, but not before she had caught a look in Sholto's eyes which set her pulses throbbing madly. What did he mean by it?

"I must see what the others are doing; it is quite time to begin," she said, confusedly.

Sholto stopped her. "Miss Lysle, I "he began; and then Lord Chanford and Mrs Peter stepped upon the stage. Sholto moved away, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "confound."

"You are not acting so well as usual, Miss Lysle," said Lord Chanford, at the end of the first act. Bettie Was acting mechanically. She Was thinking of Sholto's look and words. What had he meant by them? If Mrs Peter had not entered the room and interrupted him, what would he have said? She must avoid being alone with him for the future. After what Netta had told her of her intentions, to take Sholto from her would be a treachery to her friend. No; Netta. should have her chance, and Bettie would not spoil it. Afterward, when Netta was gone—well, then

The thought sent a thrill through the girl. But until then Sholto should, be kept at a distance, never looked at, rarely spoken to. She put an unusual amount of empressement into her manner to Lord Chanford, appealed to him for advice, kept him at her side, played off all her small coquetries upon him, until Sholto was wild with rage, and turned for consolation to his cousin Netta, who thought triumphantly that she was progressing.

At the end of the second evening's performance Sholto was raging. He was confident that Bettie was a flirt of the deepest dye-a heartless, fast girl. Such a contrast to kind, good-hearted little .Netta! Bettie ■ might have laughed with glee when she was alone; Sholto showed his temper so openly. He was angry with all the world, and was nearly rude to his mother when she irritated him rather more than usual.

The ball was to take place a week after the theatricals, but no one except Netta had mentioned it to Bet-

tie. Mrs Fane and Mrs Peter were discreetly silent. On the clay before the ball Sholto went to the schoolroom for Peter to go for a walk with'him; and the fire] looked so cheerful, tlie chair by Bettie's side so tempting-, that, somehow! Sholto found himself sitting- in it, talking' warmly to the "abominable; ii.rt," who fur Hie time forgot her part of keeping him at a distance. Bettic had been reading to Peter from a book with pictures in it, and the little l:oy wished to have every picture fully explained. The book was lying between Bettie and Sholto, their heads were very close together; Peter, on Sholto's knees, was laughing with delight, when the door opened and Mrs Pane entered the room. Sholto was the only one of the three who was unmoved. Peter sprang off his uncle's knee, and Bettie, blushing n deep crimson, pushed her chair away from Sholto's. "I thought you were out, Miss Lysle. Sholto. the steward is waitingto see you," Mrs Fane said, colflly, Sholto rose lazily. "That man always comes when he is not wanted. Miss Lysle, if you and Peter are going out, I will accompany you. if I may," he said, lv"lt is much too late for Peter to dream of going out, and, I should think, for Miss Lysle also," Mrs Fane said, sourly, with a vicious look at Bettie. "Yes; 1 shall not go out now. Thank you very much, Mr Pane." And Bettie looked at Sholto with a smile which he carried in his mind for the rest of the day. CHAPTER VIII. The next morning Bettie received an intimation that Mrs Pane wished to speak to her. "I do not think you quite equal to teaching my little grandson, Miss Lysle," the old lady said, rather nervously, when the girl went to her. "In that case, of course I will go." Bettie answered, with rather a haughty air. "Perhaps it would be the better way; and—and, Miss Lysle, I think there will be girls enough without you this evening. Dancing men are scarce in the country." Bettie bowed. She was quite aware of Mrs Pane's fears about Sholto. "When do you wish me to leave here?" "As soon as it is convenient for you, Miss Lysle."' "Any time is convenient for me; I can "always go to my cousins'." "In that case, perhaps the day after to-morrow would not be too soon." Bettie gasped. She had not expected quite such hurry, but she was too proud to demur. -The day after to-morrow. I must write to my cousins to tell them." ".Miss Lysle, perhaps you would not mention to any one that you are leaving us. Peter will worry us so if he hears of it." Bettie smiled, and looked straight into Mrs Pane's eyes. "1 will not lei Beter know," she said, with emphasis on the boy's name. . , . For the first time since she had been at Legh Place, dinner was s_nt to Bettie in the schoolroom. Teter had been carried off to. bed,* aud she ate it, or pretended to eat it, alone. Surely some would notice her absence from the dinner-table and inquire where she was. Shu had dressed for dinner, not knowing that she was to have a lonely meal in the schoolroom. : There were footsteps on the stairs; some one was coming, but it was only Netta. -Doesn't my dress look lovely V" Netta said, turning slowly before Bettie, so that she might see the effect of the voluminous 'tulle skirts. "Yes, very." "I am sorry you are not coming down; but there are so many girls, and so few dancing men. Besides, you have been to numberless trails, have you not?"

"A good many." "You will not mind missing this one, then?" Bettie ditd mind very much, but she could _iot tell Netta. that she would rather have missed all the dances she Had ever been to than this one.

Netta went off in excitement, as the first carriage rolled by the window, and Bettie knew that hope was over. Sholto could not come now; he would be receiving his guests. (

She went to her room, and took out her prettiest frock. It was prettier than Netta's, 'she thought. Would} she look as nice in it as Netta looked in hers? There was nothing to do; why should she not try the dress on ? She had never worn it.

The frock was perfection; it fitted like a glove. Then she put on shoes, gloves, fan —everything, to the ornament in her hair.

From her room she wandered to the schoolroom. There was a better light from the lamps than the candles of her apartment gave. She drew a chair before the mantelpiece, and got upon it, so that she might see herself in the long glass. How nice she looked, and there was no one to see her! Downstairs they were dancing, talking, flirting; nobody thought of the little governess crying her eyes out upstairs. Bettie wiped away her tears angrily. How silly she was! Just because she could not go to a danee —she who, as Netta had said, had been to so many danees-»-dances in comparison with which this was but a small affair!

She turned to jump off the chair, and saw Sholto Fane standing in the doorway, gazing at her. Sue remained motionless. How much had he seen? Had he seen her tears? .What a fool he might think her—got up in that ridiculous fashion, staring at herself in the glass.

"I am glad to see that you are coming down, Miss Lysle," Sholto said, moving toward the chair on which Bettie still stood. "My mother told me you were not, but I am glad to see she was wrong."

"But I am not," Bettie replied, with an irrepressible sob.

"You can change your mind and come down, now that you. are fully dressed. Lord Chanford has asked for you several times."

"I should like to come, but—but Mrs Fane said I must not."

"My mother?'' in a not over-pleased tone. "You must have misunderstood her. Anyhow, you can come down, Think of Lord Chanford's misery."

"I do not suppose Lord Chansoncares. It would not matter if hi did, but he does not."

"Are you not going to get. down from that chair, Miss Lysle?" Sholto :-.aid, smiling.

"J. suppose so." And Be! lie jumped lo the door, pretending not to see his proffered hand.

'-.Vow, Miss Lysle, come along. All the good dancers will have filled their programmes if we arc not qui-k." "1 —I would rather not," Lottie faltered, looking down. "Why not?" "Your mother would be angry, and "I will account to my mother," haughtily. "I would rather not." "After putting on this pretty dress, you will allow it to 'waste its sweetness on the desert air'!" "I—l am quite happy here." "I suppose you were crying from happiness whim I came in?" Bettie blushed, and maintained a guilty silence. "If nothing else can move you, think oi poor Lord Chanford!" "Why do you talk about Lord Chanford?", Bettie said, shrugging her shoulders, pettishly. "It does not matter to me in the slightest degree what he thinks or feels." "Is that true." eagerly. "Of course it is true. Why should I say it. if it were not true?" "My mother said he was in love with you." "Lord Chanford in love with me!" with a clear, ringing laugh."lie is a .;/.at friend of mine, and he used to he an admirer before I losl my money; but, of course, he ceased then to be anything but a friend." "You seem to have a poor opinion of him." Bettie looked up with an expression of simple astonishment. "No, I have not," she said, "but, of course, when 1 became poor, he could not be the same." "Do you judge all men like that?" Sholto said, gravely. "No, no," looking confusedly into the fire; "I only Lord Chanford is like tha.t, you know. But he never cared for nic, really. He only followed •me because 1 was the fashion," she concluded, with an arch glance and a , smile. "Come downstairs now." "No, I am not coming," Bettie answered, decidedly. "Mrs Fane would not like it. and 1 do not want to leave i : behind me a bad impression." "Leave behind you! What do you , mean?" "There; 1' have said more than I ought! T half promised your mother lo say nothing about it; but " "Yon will tell me?" Sholto said, decisively. "I am leaving here the day after toi ruonow." I She looked up at him as she spoke, .'and a pang shot through her heart. (Had she been wrong after nil. Did Ihe not can- for her? He took the .jn.ws of her departure very calmly. J "Where are you going?" "1 shall go to my cousins' until I lean find a new .situation." | There was a short silence, which , Bettie broke, with a laugh that she ; | flattered herself was natural. ! "You really ought to go;your guests 'will miss you." she said. "You will not come?" "No. You must not think me very : foolish for putting on this dress. I , wanted to fancy myself as T was be- : fore I became poor, and had nothing :to do. It was dismal here, and I want- • ed to pass the time." i '"Would you j, not like to see the guests downstairs?" "Yes, 1 should. I mean to look from the gallery when you all go in to supper." "I shall show you a splendid pla-ce from which to see every one. Come 1 with me." Bettie followed him through the long narrow passages. "I am afraid your dress will get ' dusty," he said, as they paused before , a panel in the wain^cotted' wall. "Never mind; I do not suppose I , shall ever want it," Bettie answered, with a sigh. . "It is much too pretty to be spoiled. I will fetch you a wrap." Before she could stop him he was off, ■ returning a few minutes later with a > shawl, which he wrapped carefully ' around her. i "Now," he said, "yo"'ll s-*e th» nlacp where we used to hide Cavaliers in i the Cromwell times." He touched a spring, and the panel 1 flew up, showing a ■ small, square room. "Be careful! There is a small step. i Don't you hear the band? We are • above the ballroom, and this"— i touching the wall —"is the gr«a* picture that hangs over the fireplace. I will push this a little on one side, ' and you can see straight down into the ballroom."

"But suppose some one looks up?" "No one can see you. The heavy frame 01 tin.- picture prevents any one from noticing that it has been moved a little."

He pushed it as he spoke, and the brilliant light from the ballroom flashed through the opening between the frame and the wall.

"I shall shut this panel, in case any one should come along the corridor."

But Bettie was not listening; she was gazing down into the ballroom.

"It is like fairyland," she murmured

Wth her experience of many balls, she thought she had never seen one to equal this for beauty; perhaps she had never looked upon one with similar feelings to' those which she experienced now, standing there in the narrow, dusty, dark little room, with Sholto behind her. "How beautiful Mrs Peter Fane looks to-night." "Yes." "She is the most beautiful woman down there." "Yes, down there," with a slight accent ou the last two words.

"Lord Chanford is talking very earnestly to her. I believe he is really very much struck with her."

Bettie spoke hurriedly; she had suddenly realised that she was alone with Mr Fane, almost touching him. There was' danger in silence. She chatted on, hardly knowing what she was saying; but Sholto gave no answers, and a pause came at length in Bettie's talk. She leaned a little farther out, pretending that she wished to see a little more of the ballroom, but only conscious that Sholto's breath was stirring her hair, and that his arm was resting against the wall very close to her shoulder. "You really ought to go down. They will be missing you," Bettie said, at last, turning her head. The light fell upon one side of her face, showing the delicacy of its outline, the soft brown eyes, the tender

lips, the whiteness of neck, and the roundness of arm. Sholto's head was iv shadow, but his heavy breathing warned Bettie. that, if she were not careful, hei- promise to herself would be broken. "I must be going," she said nervously; but her words and movements brought out what she had "Will you marry mo?" Sholto said, in a husky whisper. And Bettie forgot everything — Netta, Mrs Fane, Mrs Peter—everything, save that the man she loved had asked her to be his wife.

"Yes,"' she answered, * I will." "Oh, rapture!" he exclaimed, pressing her to his heart in a warm embrace.

"You will not say anything to your mother until 1 am gone:" Bettie said, ten minutes later, when the first wild transport was past. "Why not?" "She will be so angry with me." "No, she will no*,. Yfou are going to be mistress here, and, 1 am sorry to say it of my mother, but when she discovers that she will know that her best policy is to make friands v-ith you.' "After all, it is quite right that she should be angry, i am only a governess; you might have done so much better."

"I am the best judge of thar." said Sholto, laughing. "You vain girl, you know that, if you made up your "mind, you might marry whom yon liked."' Bettie laughed. "Do you think I might?" she said, softly. "Mr Fane—-Sholto, T mean— you must go down to your guests." "You will conic, too." "No. I am'not coming," she replied. And Sholto's most persuasive words \ failed to induce her to change her I mind.

Bettie held up her face, in obedience to her lover's request for a last kiss, and then, having secured his promise not to tell his mother of their engagement, she weut back to the schoolroom fire.

How happy she was! No more troubles! No more cares! Sholto Fane was a strong man in every sense of the word, and his wife would be well sheltered from the world's hard blows.' Only one thought troubled her • \ella. ' Whnl w.uil I Net la say when she heard what had happened? Would she think her old school friend had been treacherous? She must be told that night. Bel tic changed her dress, putting on her dressing-gown, and went to Netta's room to wait for her friend.

"You, Bettie!" cried Netta, astonished to see Bettie seated before her bedroom fire. "1 have come to tell you something," Bettie said, nervously. "What is it?" Netta was before her «____., taking (he withered flowers from her bodice, and letting' down her elaborately-dres-sed hair. "1 You will not be angry with nic, Netta'."' "You dear old thing! Why should 1 lie angry with yon?" "1 am engaged to Mr Fane," Bettie blurted out; but she did not look at Netta as she spoke. "Engaged to Sholto?" j There was nothing but pure astonishment hi Netta's tone.

"Yes, lam engaged to him. He proposed to me to-night, and I accepted him. I am so sorry. Netta; but I could not help it' when he asked me. I forgot you and everything else. ' I was so happy!" in a. soft tone.

"1 think it was very mean indeed of you, never to tell me, when I told you about my liking Sholto. I think it was horrid of you, Bettie Lvsle."

"There was nothing to tell yoiu. Netta! I did not know that he eared for me, and I have hardly spoken to hjim since you came here. Indeed, indeed, I have not!"

Netta was too angry to listen to excuses.

"You ought to have told me," she 'voeated, stubbornly. *

**I am sorry. Do forgive me, Netta. It will take so aiuch from my happiness if you think I have been horrid and treacherous to you."

"If I had not told you of my designs on Sholto I should not have minded a bit," said Netta, brushing her hair augrily. ' "Netta, do forgive me!" Bettie whispered, taking Netta's hand. Netta smiled.

"How angry Aunt Margaret will be!" Suddenly her laugh rang out. She turned and kissed Bettie.

"There, I forgive you! How delightFully funny it must'have seemed to you when I told you about Sholto and myself! You have h*een a sly young woman to keep the fact so well hidden. To tell you the truth, my dear, I have been thinking for some days that I was playing a rather hopeless ?ame, and to-night I was sure of it. Sholto missed two dances with me. By the by, I suppose he was with you 1 hen—the wretch! How I will chaff him! But, Bettie, I am quite consoled. There was such a nice man at the dance, a Mr Vivian, and he danced heaps of dances with me. I can con-o-ratulate you, Bettie, with a light heart, and I look forward to some fun with Aunt Margaret and Bella."

(To be continued.)