MYSTERY of MANOR HOUSE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 9 December 1936, Page 22

MYSTERY of MANOR HOUSE

CHAPTER VL — (Continued.) "Father," cVied Ethel, as Mrs v Drayton, turned to go. "Marjory will stay night, won't she?" "Oh, yes," insisted Mrs. Drayton. "The little thing cannot' go out again this evening. Tell them, dear, that it will be wiser for her to remain here." "Very well, love," replied Mr. Drayton, "I'll arrange it all right"; and after hastily kissing his wife hurried away, and Mrs. Drayton and Ethel began to take off Marjory's wet garments. Marjory ' opened sleepy eyes and looked about her, and was bewildered for the moment at finding herself in a strange room. "Where's the wicked uncle-man?" she asked dreamily. "What, darling?" said Mrs. Drayton, drawing off Marjory's wet boots. ',1 was a Babes in the Woods, quite lost and I was going -to die when the big gentleman found me. I thought that he was a wicked uncle-man, but he wasn't after all." "That was father, Marjory," said Ethel, kneeling down and taking hold of one of Marjory's hands. Marjory looiced at Ethel, and then, turning shy, hid her face against Mrs. Drayton's shoulder. "Don't be too sudden, Ethel dear," said Mrs. Drayton quietly. "She is scarcely awake yet."

"See, Marjory," she continued, "your feet are so cold that I am going to put them in nice warm water"; and Mrs. Drayton carried her into the kitchen, where the maid had prepared a footbath. Ethel followed, trying hard to keep quiet a little longer.

Very soon Marjory, feeling- warmer and more wakeful, began to look about her, but she made no attempt to leave Mrs. Drayton's knee.

It was like having mother back again, to feel those loving arms around her. .She laughed when they put on her feet a pair of Ethel's stockings; the slippers, amused her, it was funny to see th«m sticking out so far at the- Ijeel. Gradually she grew merry, and was quite content when she heard that Mr.

> HOLIDAY ADVENTURE

Drayton had gone clown to the Manor House to tell Lena. Marjory's secret thought was that Lena would lie rather glad, because this was an opportunity to become acquainted with the nice looking boy. Mr. Drayton came in, declaring that he was famished.: As she heard his voice and lieprd him enter the kitchen, Marjory clung to Mrs. Drayton and hid her face again, for the sight of him brought back to her mind dark fields and loneliness; but Mr. Drayton quickly dismissed her fears by Lis cheery kindness. He insisted on carrying Marjory into the sitting-room on his back. The big • slippers fell off on the way, and Ethel laughingly picked tliem up. , When Marjory asked if he had seen Lena, lie replied that he had, and that it was arranged for her to stay the night with Ethel. Content with this reply, and no longer shy, Marjory laughed and chattered as much as anyone. The evening passed vqry rapidly and pleasantly. Marjory scarcely knew which she liked best—Mr. Drayton, Ethel, or Mrs. Drayton. She felt as if she had known them for quite a long time. Now she could tell Lena what nice people they were, and if their cottage was smaller that the Manor Howe, it was really very pretty. She only wished that Lena was with lier to see for herself. When the girls had gone to bed, Ethel said, "I don't wonder you didn't meet Lena this afternoon. She came up here." "Did she?" asked Marjory, surprised. "Did you see her ?". J "I saw her and talked to her," said Ethel guardedly. "You di'd!" cried Marjory, and her thoughts flew to the boy. "Then —" she began. "Then what?" asked Ethel. "Nothing." replied Marjory, who did hot wish to betray, Lena's weakness. "Was she nice?" she asked. "She looked nice;'" Ethel answered, evading a direct reply. "We had a long talk." . - • ."Oh. I am glad," cried Marjory delighted. "Then we are all friends now. I "thought that Lena would be cross at me being here to-night, but I didn t know, you see."

"No," replied Ethel, who had not said a \vord about the real state of affairs between her and Lena. She knew that Lena was mortally offended, and she also judged from Mr. Drayton's manner at tea-time that she was further annoyed by Marjory's visit; but, not wishing to upset Marjory, she said nothing. "Perhaps," suggested Marjory. "Lena will come and fetch me in tlje morning." "I—l don't suppose she will," replied Ethel, "We made no arrangements for to-morrow." "Well, I know what would be nice," said Marjory, timidly. \ "What?" asked Ethel. "Why, you come and have tea with us." "With you and Lena?" "Yes—will you? It would be awfully nice." "It would be great fun," said .Ethel, mischievously. "Do you really ask me? To-morrow." "Why, yes, of course," returned Marjory innocently. "How funny you arc!" "I'm not funny. It's the tea that will be funny." "The tea?" repeated Marjory sleepily. "Oh, you dear little Marjory!" cried Ethel. "I don't mind the tea —I mean the coming to tea." "But you will come?" urged Marjory. ■ not at all understanding what Ethel ' meant. "Oil yes, I shall eome," replied Ethel; but Marjory scarcely heard her for she was fact asleep and dreaming of the ■ morrow. Marjory hastened home imme'diately breakfast was over, full of gleeful excitement. She had never been parted from Lena before, and she was nil impatience to see her again and tell her all that had happened. Lena, too. was impatient for Marjory's return, but hers was angry impatience. At vthe Manor House they had all been very anxious about Marjory, though Lena, feeling a little guilty, insisted to .Tanc that, she was safe somewhere. But Jane could not be so easily comforted. and she was out in the dark road, looking anxiously up and down, when Mr. Drayton appeared. He saw .lane. and. guessing her anxiety, he called out to .her that Marjory was safe. Then, coming up to her, he explained what had happened, and said that it would be better if Marjory stayed the night at the cottage. There was no objection to this in Jane's mind —indeed," it seemed very wise. If Marjory safe, that was all that mattered. Asking Mr. Drayton to wait a moment, she said that she would just run in and tell Miss Lena. But Lena needed no telling. She was standing at the open door. and had heard most of what had passed, and at the mention of Marjory's stayinsr at the cottage, Lena's anxiety was lost in anger. "Tell the man." she called, "we are very much obliged, hut Miss Marjory must come home to-night." (To be continued next Wednesday.)