A HERITAGE OF HATE

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 33, 8 February 1910, Page 8

A HERITAGE OF HATE

BY CHARLES GARVICE, Author of 'Th!' Marquis," "Lome," "A Modern Juliet," "By Devious Ways," etc

CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued.) County families are exclusive and par-ti--a:ar. They kn"\v very little—most' of thrm nothing—of this new Earl of Rot- :■!!. and ;hey—\w!i. waited. ]!u; Lord Hatherloy came forward, as a f. ,1 "! out of the machine, and invited the county to meet the new oar! at dinner, at Hatherley Court. "We must stand by him, Molly," he said to Lady Mary. "It is the least we enn do. We know more of him than anyone eNe does, and I tlunk you will .t_nv;> with nir- that what we know is favourable lo him. We'll introduce him." s<. Lnr.l Hatherley cnlled what may bt> (ip-i-rifoej as a gathering of the clans, a: v. Irrh the new Earl of Ration was to hi , make known to hi.s neighbours and fellow-countrymen: and, so curious were they, scarcely a refusal was sent to the invitation. It was in.leed a great gathering. No or.i" who line- not know tii ■ country lord and -uiirc can appreciate the significance of .-iiv-a :i function as that which was held at Hatherley Manor. There were the Karl and ( ountess of Downshire; i.if Dowager Duchess of Lathrom, with the young duke and duchess; Viscount l'arodcl: sir Gilbert and Lady Bryan — in a word, the county was fully re-prr-ented. Ralph the earl was rather nervous 35 he ,-irt-ssed for this great party. He knew that i;. %va> to lie his initiation to the society in which he was now to take a leading part: and he knew that some of lii'i-e who would be present would nor, !>e lenient in their criiici-m, as was the srood-natured Lord Hatherley. He ■would ho the mark of every curious eye fixed up'in him with the scrutiny which the county aristocrat bestows upon all claimants i'o social position. They would mark how he dressed and moved and talked and spoke: even his manner of eating and drinking would not escape their attention; and like most men who have risen from '"the pavement." as the j-'rorvh say. to an exalted position, he w? = painfuMy. morbidly conscious of the difference between his upbringing and manners and those of the men and women with whom, by right oi birth, he should be Oα an equality. But he had been an actor, and he concealed bis nervousness from Pa-rkins, ]n- valet, fairly well. Only once did he give himself away, and that was when, in .i moment of extreme depression, as he reflected upon the ordeal before him, he ,-j.UI in a would-be casual way: "In this part of the country do you give yo::r riirh; or left arm to the lady, Parkin*? It's not of much consequence, of course, but the custom varies in difieren: countries." Parkins, who was a perfect-mannered youth, did not permit his respectful gravity to relax for a single instant, as he replied: ""The right, my lord." Ralph's heart sank: for he remembered thai iie had given Lady Mary his left on the occasion of the dinner the other night; and Parkins, who was as acute as he was well-mannered, added, with quiet respect: "Hut I've seen gentlemen offer the lift, my lord. Lord Fortield always used to do so; his lordship was absentminded."' Kaiph nodded, and drew a breath of relief. "And —cr —it is usual here to remain standing at, the table till the ladies have taken their places, I suppose, Parkins?" "Ye?, my lord; it is generally done." '"Ah. yes; thanks. I've spent so much of my time—er—abroad, that I've forgotten."" ""Quite so, my lord; very natural," said L/ie discreet valet. "You will have your lavender gloves, my lord?" "Yes—yes —thanks. iXow, shall I put them on? It's—it's warm." With undisturbed gravity and respect, Parkins gave the required tip. "It is warm, my lord. Too warm to year them; and no doubt your lordship yill carry them in your hand." "Yes. I shall. Is Che brougham ready?" Parkins knew that to drive, especially in a brougham, would be a mistake. "The brougham, my lord?" he said, almost reverentially. "I am sorry: 1 did Hot order it, thinking your lordship would prefer to walk—s o short a distance." "Ah. yes; I think I will walk," said Ralph, languidly, as if tne matter were of no con-s-equen.ee. "By the way, I shan't yrear that morning-suit again—the dark on- , —and you can have it."

"Thank you very much, my lord," said Parkin?, gratefully, and congratulating •himself upon having got an exceedingly "Warm berth.

Ralph fought hard with his nervous Bess as he walked across the park to the Manor. After all, he was as good aa, in many instances better than, most

people who were going to stare at and criticise him. "\\ hat had he to fear?

But lie -was rather pale, and his eyelids 'drooped as he was announced and he entered the crowded room.

He knew by the semi-silence, the pause in the conversation, as he entered, that they had been talking about him; but in reality there was no cause for his suspicion and fear. They were men and TTomen of birth and breeding, and had no" been discussing him ill-naturedly; indeed, they had been listening to Lord Hatherley's favourable, almost enthusiastic, description of the new earl.

"■You can't help liking him," Lord Hat'herley had been saying; "especially when you remember that he must have had a rough time of it, and that he has to fight against a nitural prejudice. I think he will be a gTeat acquisition—Oh, here he ii." And he went forward to meet' him wirh an encouraging smile and a "How do you do, Ratton! Looking for Mary? She's over therp amongst that group of ladies. Let mc introduce you to your neighbours." Kalph went up te greet las hostess end Lord llatherley made the introductions in hi* pleasant and genial way; and tiie new earl found himself plunged into the ordeal.

He drew a long breath of relief after a moment or tivo; for he found that the orde.il was not so terrible as he had expected. They all seemed ready to be iriendiv: and Lady ilary herself, though grave and cold, was gentle in her reserve, as became the daughter of the house and hostess.

He was relieved of the intensest part ci the strain, but he was extremely careful, contending himself with speaking little, and almost limiting himself fo £n~vrering the usual questions; and his apparently modest demeanour made a favouraole impression. "Ho is really quite good-looking," remarked the dowager duchess as he left her side. "But then he is a Eatton, you see! I wonder if there ever was a farnilv in which the members were all so fckToured in the matter of looks? This

young man reminds mc of his unele s the last earl—poor fellow!"

Ralph was nearly the last to arrive, but just before the dinner hour a young man entered whom the butler announced as Mr. .Edward Bryan. He was a handsome young fellow, with bright eyes and fair, crisp hair, which, though if was cut to the usual shortness, broke in small waves on his forehead and temple. His eyes were not only bright, but extremely pleasant ones, and they wandered over the brilliant company in an eager search. Presently they rested on Lady Mary, and with a smile which made his face good to look upon, he made straight for her as if there were no one else in the room.

"How do you do. Lady Mary?" he said in a clear, eager voice. Sue was talking to Lady Bryan and one or two oclfer ladies, and she started at tue sound of his voice, and regarded him with a mixture of pleasure and surprise, as if she were rather startled. '"Edward!" she exclaimed; then she be. came rosy red and laughed shyly, and just a little nervously. "I didn't know " '"Why. Edward, when did you come back?" exclaimed Lauy Bryan. •"Just now, mother," he said. "May 1 kiss her, Lady Mary? It's bad form, 1 know; but I haven't seen her for so lonfr."' He put his arm round his mother and kissed her, and did it so naturally and unaffectedly that the spectators smiled with sympathy. "But—but you were not' coming until to-morrow!" said Lady Bryan. "The vessel arrived six hours before we expected her to do so," he explained, "and 1 came on at once." '"But—Edward, my dear " "Yes, I know, mother! I have no to be here; but when I found that you had come to dinner at the Manor, 1 thought I would venture to follow you. I'd just time to dress, and none to send for an invitation. Of course, 1 know I am an intruder, and it's just possible that Lord Hatherley will have mc chucked out—l beg your pardon, Lady Mary; I do, indeed —but 1 thought I'd risk it. How j do you do, Lord riatherley? May 1 stay, or shall 1 go away again? Please forgive mc and let mc stay?" Lord Hatherley laughed as he shook the young man by the hand. "'l'll forgive you. my dear boy," he said. "But neither Mary nor I would have done so, if you hadn't come; eh, Mary?" The colour was still trying to fight its way into Mary's cheeks, and her eyes were rather downcast as she smiled an assent; she could forgive this frank, bright-eyed young man for coming uninvited, but she found it hard to forgive herself for the terrible blunder of calling him by his Christian name. As if he understood her embarrassment, he turned to greet those near him; and presently Lord Hatherley caught him by the shoulder, and said:

"Edward, you don't know Lord Ratton vet."

Edward swung round in his alert fashion, the graceful and easy facility of the man whose every muscle had been well trained, and he and the earl faced each other. The bright eyes scanned Ralph's face for an instant, as if their owner were ready and willing to make friends; but something in the dark, almost black eyes of Ralph the earl quelled the amiable inclination; and, with a certain restraint, which pained him, he held out his hand, and said:

"I was told I should meet Lord Ratton here, sir; I am very glad."

"And I am very glad to meet any friend of Lord Hatherley," said Ralph.

Both men spoke pleasantly, but the contrast between their voices were remarkable. Edward Bryan's was clear and frank, and naturally melodious; Ralph the earl's was artificial, and marred by that peculiar tone which be l longs to the voice of the self-conscious man who is always keeping a watch upon himself, alway-s on guard.

While the two young men were looking at each other with that strange premonition of dislike which is as inexplicable as it is instinctive, the butler announced dinner.

The young duke took Mary in, but Ralph found himself near her; and though he knew that he should devote himself to the lady beside him, he watched Lady Mary out of the corners of his eyes; and he noticed that a subtle change had come over her. Hitherto, he had only seen her reserved—always gentle and sweet—but certainly reserved and rather cold, at any rate towards himself; but to-night the colour came and went in her lovely face, her eyes shone with a light which he had never seen in them before, a brightness which added to her loveliness; though she performed her part of hostess with infinite grace and ease, there was a little flutter in her voice, and her smile came and went like gleams of sunshine in an April sky. Looking round furtively, as he answered the questions of Lady Downshire, he asked himself what was the cause of this change; and suddenly he caught a glance ■which, perhaps unconsciously, Mary gave to the bright-faced Edward , Bryan, saw Bryan's glance meet hers, and hers withdrawn quickly. Ralph's face, as he watched them covertly, grew dark, and the ugly twist came to his nether lip. Who was this young fellow—a mere nobody, a son of a mere baronet—whose presence had power to -work so great a change in Lady Mary's mood and manner?

"Mr. Bryan—the gentleman opposite —seems to have only just arrived, from come-where," he lid to Lady Downshire. "Do tou . ioit him?"

Lady Downshire stared at him; then apologised, with a smile, for her surprise.

'"Oh, I beg your pardon, of course, you —well, you have only just arrived, so to speak, haven't you?" she said, with the frankness for which her ladyship was famous, "or you'd know him. Edward Bryan is Sir Gilbert's second son — poor boy!"

•Why is he 'poor boy , ?" asked Ralph glancing under his half-lowered lids at the young man who was talking and laughing light-heartedly with the lady on his left, and, indeed, with all near him.

"Well, he's the second son, d'ye see?" explained Lady Downshire. "The first, of course, will come into the estate, and beyond ihe estate the poor Bryans have nothing. Oh, it's no secret, Lord Ratton. Indeed, you will find that all our circumstanc«s and financial conditions are as well known as—ac the age of the queen. Being the second eon, and without prospects, Edward has had to go out and ifight the world. He has 6«en to the colonies; though which colony and what ibe has been doing I don't

know. What do our boys do in the colonies, Lord Ration?"

"Break s-tone, mend roads, drive milk carts, and live like —like common labourers, I believe," said Ralph, with a covert sneer, as he looked across the table at the splendid young fellow.

"Really?" said the countess, also looking at Edward Bryan. "Well, it doesn't seem to hurt them. At any rate, it hasn't hurt him. He may have lived like a common labourer, but he has also lived like a gentleman, I'm sure. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, certainly," assented Ralph, hastily, and with a spasm of hate for the outspoken great lady, -who turned away from him and addressed her neighbour on her left. -.

All through the dinner EdwaTd Bryan talked and laughed with the ease of the well-bred youth who is at home with his company, and Ralph watched him with envy and the unwilling admiration -which cometh before hate. He himself spoke but little until the ladies had gone; then a couple of glasses of the Hatherley port and some encouragement from Lord Hatherley broke down his guard, so to speak, and he let himself go a. little. The men had moved up towards Lord Hat.herley's end of the table, and Edward Bryan, as if to atone for his coolness at their introducton,, took a. chair next Ralph and got into conversation with him. (To be continued daily.)