MARIETTA'S MARRIAGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9739, 29 May 1897, Page 7

MARIETTA'S MARRIAGE.

By W. E. Norris,

CHAPTER XV.— Stbahan* Displays a

FSESH ACCOMPLISHM-NT.

That ladies in Mrs Mallet's condition of health are apt to be capricious, and that their caprices should always, if possible, be humoured, is said to be an understood thing amongst persons of experience. Lionel remembered to have heard this, and was consequently not surprised when his wife expressed a strong desire to leave London forthwith.

" That can be easily managed," he told her, with ready acquiescence, " we'll telegraph to Ludwortk and say they may expect you the day after to-morrow, if you like. They won't want more thau one clear day, I suppose, to get things straight." "And you ? " Marietta asked. " Will you be able to move so soon ? "

Lionel's face fell ; he had not gathered that it would be required of him to abandon his parliamentary work at a somewhat critical period of the session. " Well, not just at present, I'm afraid," he answered. "Of course, if it came to that, I might get a pair; but I'd a good deal rather not. It would be something like scratching one's horse immediately after he had gone up several points in the betting, you see." "Would it? Why?" "Oh, I don't mean to say that that speech of. mine which you found so wearisome, -was a triumph of oratory ; still, such as it was, it has made a considerable difference in my political prospects, and if I were to chuck the whole thing now, without giving any valid reason, I should probably have to wait a long time for another chance. Besides, I have a good many other matters to attend to which I couldu't very well leave at a moment's notice."

"Ami to be sent down to Ludworth all by myself, then?" Marietta asked. "Oh, I hope not. I was thinking thab perhaps your father would consent to go with you. But if the fascinations of London are too much for him, I am sure.pranny and Betty would be delighted to keep you company. And in a few weeks'time I shall be free, most likely." Marietta looked so ill-pleased that he added hastily, " However, if you insist, I'll find some means of doing as you wish. Would it be possible to make a compromise, and postpone our departure—say, for another fortnight ? " Marietta replied that that would be, possible, no doubt, but that she would prefer to get out of the hot,. stuffy atmosphere of London at once, even if she had to go alone. She was a little, not to say a good deal, disappointed; for it did not seem to her unreasonable to ask what she considered a very trifling sacrifice of her husband; but she assured him that she insisted upon nothing, and would not for the world put him to inconvenience. - indeed, was he to know that during the past twenty-four hours she had formed certain admirable resolutions, that it was not only from the material atmosphere of London that she was eager to escape, and that she had taken herself severely to task for an infidelity which could scarcely be said to have passed as yet out of the early embryo stage 1 "I have it in mc to be suoh an excellent, loving wife,'' she thought;.." but I can see that I shall never be met half-way, and when one is left to one's own devices, like this—" She did not end a sentence to which her father could, perhaps, have supplied a conclusion ; but her devices for the time beins" were, at events, unexceptionable, and the Colonel lent himself unhesitatingly to the furtherance of them. In Colonel Vigne's opinion, there were numerous objections to his quartering himself upon his son-in-law in Arlington Street; but be saw no reason at all why he should not accompany his daughter to Ludworth, where there would be no fine birds in fine feathers to look askance at a retired Austrian officer, and where he might even venture to assume that he would be of some use. So the father and daughter abruptly forsook the scene of the latter's social successes, and Lady Gosport, who had secured Marietta's promise of singing at her next concert, .was pardonably incensed.

" So much for gratitude !" she exclaimed. " That woman owes everything to mc - if I hadn't introduced her last season, where would she have been ? And now she throws mc over with a cool note to say that she is sick of London ! As if One shirked one's duties because one was sick of them I"

" I never should have thought, if you hadn't told mc," said Lord Gosport, to whom this indignant apostrophe was addressed, " that it was a duty to squall aloud to several hundred people, not one of whom really wanted to listen. But cheer up, you can get another one."

" I cannot!" returned Lady Gosport, pettishly ; " she has the only voice of that kind that there is. I think it is most inconsiderate and impertinent of her, and I shall make a point of telling Lionel so the next time I see him."

No such speech waa made to Lionel, to whom, in troth, it would not have been a very safe speech to make. Even-tempered though he was, he certainly would not have permitted anybody to describe his wife as impertinent, nOr did Lady Gosport venture to take so great a liberty. She merely remarked plaintively, when she met him, that her concert had been spoilt by the desertion of the chief performer: to which he replied that he was very sorry, bnt that it was a question of health.

There was not muck the matter with Marietta's health; and if there had been, her grandmother-i α-law would have been the woman to set it right. So, at least, Lady Man* Haiste*d, who lost no time in inviting herself to Lnd worth, boldly affirmed. Lady Maria was agreeably excited by the news which had beea transmitted to her; she was evidently under the impression, that it behoved her to take charge of the interesting object of her solicitude, and she hastened to say that, although it had beea a little inconvenient to her to leave home at that particular juncture, she was prepared to stay any reasonable length of time m her grandson's hooee.

"I have brought Betty-with mc, yoa sec 1 she explained, "so I shall be able to keep an eye upon you both—which. seems to be the principal "duty marked ont forme just HOW." And then she proceeded to lay down certain rales of daily lite and conduct, suitable to circumstances upon which. she could speak with authority ; whereat Marietta, sileutlv laid back her ears. Betty, who was a good deal less obtuse, took aa early opportunity of s«ying reassuringly : "Don't mm- granuy; she'll give no tronble. You want to get rid of her, of course, and I'll manage that for you in a day or two, it you can't manage it for yourself. In fact, to tell yon the truth, that was why I allowed her to inflict mc upon you. Nothing would have prevented her from coming, and I foresaw that there might be difficulty in speeding the parting guest. I wonder whether you woidd mind asking papa to dine and sleep. He will accept an invitation, for I know he wants to look at Lionel's foals : but he would die rathftr than ask for one, and forty-eight hours may be regarded as the outside limit of his stay. Then you will be able to blow kisses out at our backs."

"I don't want to see your retreating back," answered Marietta ; for indeed she liked the girl and was .aware that Betty had been her friend during a critical period. "Couldn't you remain for a time after the others leave ? "

Betty nodded. " Thank you," said she; " yes, I dare say that might be worked, if my old man doesn't object. And it's only fair to admit that he isn't given to raising objections, poor dear! If I ever marry I shall select some juvenile reproduction of him, for there never was an easier creature to live - with. Lionel runs him a good second, don't you think so ? '*' It could not be denied that Lionel was an easy person to live with ; so Marietta assented, though with' a -pental reservation. Qualities which may be admirable in a father or a father-in-law are not necessarily those which ona covets in a husband, and the distinction between generous liberality and unflattering imli-'erence has always been a rather difficult one to define.

To Lord Middlewood's demeanour towards his daughter-in-law, however, no exception could possibly be taken. He arrived, a fendays later, in response-;-to the suggested invitation, and made himself so courteous and pleasant to her, as well as to Colonel Vigne, that they would both fain have induced him to prolong Itis stay. ' Bat that he declined o do.

"Nowadays," said lie. with a smile, "I am always either ill or just going to be ill, and I have a haunting dread of being seized with my last malady under somebody else's roof. Consequently, I think I had' better get back home, now that I have had the pleasures of seeing you and the foals. I meant to have tried that bay cob which Lionel undertook to break in for mc ; but the stud groom has the impudence to say that he isn't fit for v w"e to ride yet. Such are the iusnlts to which one is made to submit in one's old age ! Betty, lam sure, would jump on to the little;- brute's back as soon as look at him."

It was only in consideration of a solemn promise on Betty's part to attempt no such enterprise that she was permitted to do as she wished and remain-where she was. By means of what diplomatic pressure Lady Maria was persuaded that her son ought,not to bo left quite alone, and that it was her duty to accompany him to Middlewood, did not transpire; but the' old lady departed when he did with many apologies and repeated assurances that a telegram would at any moment insure her prompt reappearance.

"And now," said Betty to the Colonel, with whom Bhe had struck up an alliance, " what shall we do to-muse Marietta ? - She strikes mc as being a little down in the mouth. I suppose she wouldn't care about potting rabbits with a rook-rifle, would she? Because I've got one with mc." Colonel Vigrife doubted whether, she would. He himself, however, was not averse to the proposed form of amusement, and .he made capital, practice from the terrace with Betty's weapon, -while the 'two ladies lboke- on.' Other m.ethoasof«; passing the time, which, if not 1 highly exciting, 'sufficed for the purpose, were discovered ; the weathei* was perfect, and day followed day, without weariness or impatience on the part of the three people who got on very comfortably together. Marietta did not avail herself o| Lionel's epistolary permission to ask -tfybody she liked to stay with her. Indeed", she would have been puzzled to name/ 4iiy person'whose presence she desired, and jt was with an annoyed ejaculation that she heard from him, one morning, of the impending advent of an unexpected guest. "Mr Strahan is coming here to-day" she announced to her companions at the break-fast-table. "He has been to Manchester on business, Lionel says, and he proposes to pay us a flying visit on his way back to London. One doesn't quite see why 1"...'-, "Who is Mr Strahan,- when he is at home ?" Betty inquired, "Is he a bore ?" "No ; he isn't that. When he is at home, he is an Australian I suppose ; though I am riot sure that he regards Australia as his permanent home. At present he is working very busily on behalf of his colony with the great people here. You will probably b'ke hira, and I should think he would hardly stay more than a couple of nights," concluded Marietta, after a pause. For her own part'she was not disposed to give Mr Strahan a very warm reception, notwithstanding the terms of renewed amity upon which they had last met. There was something about all his proceedings that moved her to antagonism, to the adoption of a defensive attitude, which might or might not be superfluous. At any rate, she could see no reason why a busy man should branch off the main line from Manchester ta "-London, in.order to halt at Ludworth, and she thought her husband might have' consulted her before giving an unnecessary "rivitation. Nevertheless, the frigidity with which Strahan was greeted on his arrival soon thawed beneath the dharhi of his manner— a charm to which neither Betty nor Colonel Vigne was insensible, and which consisted, perhaps, rather in the contagion of his high spirits than in any visible effort to achieve social conquests. Moreover, he was able to give a plausible explanation of this intrusion. " Your husband made mc promise and swear to bring him back a full and particular account of your health, Mrs Mallet," he said. "We were all very sorry to hear that you had not been feeling wfell before you left London ; but I think 1 unay conscientiously report that country air has set you up. * I was also instructed to ride a cob which, _ understand, is being broken in for Lord Middlewood, and to warrant him quiet and tractable, if I can."

" You won't be able to do that," observed Betty, shaking her head. " I mean, I doubt your being able to warrant him quiet. As for riding him— well, can you ride ?" Strahan smiled. " Oh, yes, I think so," he answered modestly ; "I won't be so bold aa to say that you would think so. But lam a light weight, as yon see, and I have had a considerable experience of fails; so if the cob gets rid of mc, I shall not be left upon Mrs Mallet's hands with any broken bones, 1 hope." * * If you don't mind," said Betty demurely, " I should rather like to go out with you tomorrow and—and see the fun. I'm not allowed to mount such wild animals as the cob myself ; but there is a solemn old mare in the stables who will carry mc, and who will take care to give you as wide a berth as yon can want."

This request was willingly granted, and after breakfast, the next morning, Marietta watched the couple setting forth on an expedition which promised to be enlivened by exciting incidents. For the cob was very fresh, and if he did not succeed, in bucking his rider out of the saddle the moment that he felt the grass under him, that was probably because Mr Strahan was not at his first experience of backers, '-'X

"Isnt it horribly dangerous f aaked Marietta. twaing apprehensively to her father.

The Coloael laughed and shook his head. " It might be for old fellows like mc and Lord Middlewood," he answered, " because we should be tired oat at the end of half an hour ; hat that young i&an seems, to be wiry and in good condition. He site well, too. I dare say he can do & good many things more difficult than riding a young horse. \ There is a pluck about him ana an energy which I adraire; although I am not quite sure that I should choose nim for a friend." "Why do you my that V asked Marietta quickly, "Upon my word, my dear, I cant t*ll you," the Colonel confessed; "I have no aort of right to say it. Bat he was talking' to mc laet night about hie Schemes, and, somehow or other, he gave mc the itnpresiwa <rf being rather more clev«r town

scrupulous. WeU, to be sure, that is the case with most prominent men. from Prime Ministers downwards j it's a necessary condition of success perhaps. I suppose, as you said nothing about it, there is no harm m his riding out with Miss Betty and without a chaperon. In my young days that wouldn't have-been allowed, you kuow." Marietta did not think that there was much danger of Mc Strahan's laying siege to the affections of Lord Middlewood's daughter, although when Betty came in to luncheon, her companion having gone up stairs to divest himself of his riding attire, she declared in so many words that he was a man after her own heart. "No swagger about him," she said, " nut a genuine workman. That little brute gave him any amount of trouble at first, and he understood exactly what to do. Deoidcdly I shall cultivate Mr Strahan. Lionel has asked him to come down for the grouseshooting, he tells mc." Strahan himself made very light of the achievement with which he was credited. The horse was perfectly good-tempered, he said ; only high-spirited and rather inclined to. be wilful:

"Ho isn't exactly what you could call an old gentleman's cob yet; but he very soon will be. All he wants is a little management. I only wish Mr Sit-well and Mr Hicks were as easy to manage ! " In the course of the afternoon, Marietta, being left aloue with him for a. few minutes, took occasion to inquire whether he had found those two eminent personages recalcitrant, to which he replied with a laugh : " Oh. not more so than was to be anticipated. I am asking a good deal of them, you see, and Rome wasn't built in a day. They are as civil as possible to mc ; so that I have nothing personally to complain of, aud I rather enjoy a tew difficulties. It is very evident, though, that I shall not be able to leave the Old Country again yet a while."

" Do you regret that ?" " Well, no," he answered musingly, after a brief hesitation ; " I don't regret it. For some reasons I am glad. May I say that you are one reason 5" Marietta frowned slightly. It sounded a somewhat impertinent thing to say ; yet to show that she thought it so would bo almost equivalent to paying him a higher compliment than she cared to pay him. * " You are very kind," was the would-be chilling rejoinder which finally commended itself to her.

" Oh, one must speak the truth sometimes. •I have made a great many new acquaintances since I have been back in England ; but you are the only one to whom I have felt drawn by—well, I suppose there is no other expression for it but natural affinity. It is rather bad luck that you should also be the only one who seems to regard mc with a sort of natural antipathy, isn't it ?" " I have no feeling of the sort," Marietta declared. " The last time that you accused rae of disliking you, I told you what it was in you that Ido not quite like. But really it is of no consequence." "Of none to you, perhaps; but it is of some consequence to mc. Well, I must try to be less self-seeking ; fori suppose that is what you mean. All the same, a man must be rich if he is to practise universal benevolence. lam afraid I shall never get beyond either hating or despising my enemies and loving my friends." He was silent for a moment, and then resumed abruptly: "Mallet asked mc to run down for a week in August. May I accept the invitation, if I can find time ?" "May you!" echoed Betty, who drew near at this moment and caught his last words; "I should rather think you might! If Marietta won't have you, we'll put you up at Middlewood. Indeed, you will all have to come to Middlewood then ;-for there are no grouse hereabouts." "In that case," observed Marietta, laughing, "it doesn't rest with mc to answer Yes or No." (To be continued.) \