'TIS A HUNDRED YEARS SINCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9919, 27 December 1897, Page 7

'TIS A HUNDRED YEARS SINCE.

The Lady's Realm. The sun was shining brightly at Tunbridge Wells one day, Fomewhere in the autumn of the year 1797; it streamed in upon a remarkably pretty young lady, who was seated in the front parlour of a certain house facing the common. She was engaged in mending a picco of old lace, which occupation, however, did not by any means absorb her attpntion, as from time to time she got up »nd looked anxiously from the window, evidently on the tip-toe of expectation for sonic one. At last eho threw down her work with a cry of delight. A young lady, dressed in the height of the prevailing fashion, was seen ascending the front path between tho quaintly clipped phrubs. The new-comor -vaved her hand and a minute later entered the fruiit rloor, which, in the guileless fashion ©f the place, opened from the outside. Another Benond brought her to the parlour. The young ladies embraced with enthusiasm, whilst tho visitor cried,— •■ My dearest Clarinda, your letter has thrown mc into such a commotion, you have no idea !" "I felt sure you would fly to mc whenever you received tho news of my great discovery. I am dying to show him to you." •'Of course I am dying to see him ; but may I ask who he is ?" " Lydia," exclaimed her friend, with a world of reproacli and surprise, "you cannot have read my letter." ■' I never said I had, my love." ««But surely you said you had received a letter from mc ." "I did receivo a letter, but " "Don't tell mc, Lydia, you have lost it!" " You seem vastly discomposed, my dear. I do not know if this will reassure you"— producing a letter from her reticule. " 'Tis in your hand without doubt. But listen : «Lady Elinor Pierpoint presents her compli* ment s to'—mark—'Sir John Darnley.' Mercy, child ! You have gone as white as a lily." Clarinda looked the picture of despair. «• Lydia, the letter I wrote to you must have {/one to him, as his has come to you." Then covering her face with her hands, Clarinda moaned out, " Oh, I shall die of Bbatne." "Clarinda," said her friend soothingly, *• be calm and tell mc what has happened." •■I see now how I must have done it, Lydia. Grandmamma made mc write an ' invitation to him, and gave mc all this lace to mend, so I could not get out to tell you about it." ■■ My dear girl 1 • Him,' • her,' «it * !—* do try to be a little more lucid. First of all, is he Sir John Darnley ? " _~._, ■• Why, of course he is," said Clarinda, lifting a tear-stained face in wonder. "Well, who is he, where is he, what is he?? " That was just what I wrote you in my letter, Lydia. I had only a Bhort time before found out that Sir John Darnley is the name of my hero, he who saved mc from the mad bull last May. How often we have wished that we could find out his name !" 1% " My dear child, this is amazingly interest* §,' ing. Does her ladyship know about it?" *} " Oh, not for tho world, Lydia 1 But is it ' not strange ? He turns out to be the son of an old friend of hers; as I told you, she 'ordered mc to write him an invitation this morning in her name, asking him to come and see her. Alas !"—here Clarinda sank again into deep dejection—" I had pleasure then in writing to him, even in Lady Elinor'e name. Now I shall never be able to look him in the face." *, You must explain a little more, Clarinda. I cannot understand." "Don't you see? When Grandmamma told mc I must mend all that lace for her, I was in such despair at not being able to get out to give you my news, that I began to write to yon ; then she wanted to know I what I was writing, and I was in such a fright that sho would insist on reading your tetter that I sealed both the notes up in a hurry. I suppose I must have reversed the t addresses." '■ How maddening.' But Clarinda, this Sir John Darnley ('tis a sweet name !) should be a gentleman. He will see the letter is meant for a lady ; he will never read it." " If I could only think that! But he cannot fail to see the first words—his own name and some foolish, fond raptures. Oh, it makes mc tingle all over only to think of them." " Come, lot us think this out," said Lydiawith a judicial air. "How long has be been at the Wells t" "I believe he rode down from London, yesterday with some friends. 1 was walking out beside grandmamma's wheel-chair when a party of gentlemen passed, who looked as if they had been on the road. Pink was with us, and you know she knows everyone; she remarked to her ladyship that the gentleman in the blue suit faced with silver was Sir John Darnley, the young Derbyshire baronet. You may judge of my feelings when I recognised in this well-known gentleman ray gallant preserver—for though I had only seen him once for a short time, his are features one could never forget." " Wait a minute," cried Lydia. "Is Sir John tall, with very bine eyes, and wears his own black hair?' "You have seen him, Lydia I" _ " Dressed in a dark blue riding suit, with silver lace—of course I have seen him. It might have struok mc at onoe. I met him •hotit so hour ago walking towards the Pantiles. Now tell mc, where are hie | Jroomsf "They are somewhere Mount Pleasant Way." " Your note must have been delivered about half an hour after mine, so the probability is that he has not received it yet." This with a considering air. j "Well, Lydia, what of that! Of what are you thinking!" " I am thinking that yon must send and gat that letter back at once." j ••Get it baokl" cried Clarinda joyfully, j How clever you are, Lydia! But," doubtfully, "-can it be managed V "Quite easily I think, if you are quick— hot goodness! who is this enterinß the gfcter* "_ a > Lydia, it is he 1" gasped Clarinda. , Ho has received the note—he is coming j I to tell grandmamma 1 I shall faint!" 'Nonsense, child—don't you see he comes v. th ° Section °* the town ? Believe ) we, he has not been to his rooms yet. Most! wkely he has seen Lady Elinor's name in the visitor's list and has come to pa v his respects. Listen I He is coming in. .Sow is your tune. As soon as he is Bhown upstairs, send *-*tty to his rooms. You can say the I is here and waits for the note." Oh, Lydia," whispered Clarinda, as they heard the visitor parleying without, "would W* that be wrong? Besides, he will not •**y* Her ladyahip is out." * But he is staying," triumphed Lydia in •O undertone ; "he is being shown up to A *"?*. ror Lady Elinor. Now be quick, be \ .««*, my dear child. Send Patty off at *••«*•• Don't lose a moment, you little goose." Lydia was quite* in a twitter of anxious generalship. ! 4 w »y went Clarinda, breathless with •xatement, leaving Lydia anxiously watch--OR the front door. In a very few minutes she returned and. threw herself into a chair. "Oh, how shall I contain myself till Patty returns t" "She is- safely off, then? I hope yon in* Wructed her carefully." " 0 .-».. I hope I did, I do hope I did. Sir **n 's in the withdrawing-room. Tis as you ~*>ug-.t; ho is awaiting grandmamma's reN nL»*i *^** , *-' i*» ~* B "**- *•*•* moa ' s *rodaciotis ' '-j-* eß P er *te ills, my love, desperate jemedies," said Lydia, whose spirits seemed ■J rise as the situation became more-com-piicabed. " I feel positively as if I were the wmhdante to the heroine m a genteel comedy." "It is all very well for the confidante, --•ydia, but——" " Pooh !—nonsense, chHd: don't tell mc Jou would rather be the confidante than the neroine—-and with such a hero, too ! One that can run a mad bull through in the winkling of an eye in the most gallant •nanner in the world." "Run a mad boil through?" expostulated " Well, child, what did he do ? I am sure you have often told mc that he saved your hfe at the risk of his own." ! " So he did, Lydia, but Listen 1 What is that ?" fttty were both _U UW-tiasw J

"It sounds," said Lydia, "as if your gentleman were coming downstairs. He has got tired of waiting very soon." " Oh, Lydia, how dreadful! He will meet Patty on the way." Again the friends listened intently. The steps paused at the parlour door. Then came a tap. " Good heavens ! " cried Lydia, in a stage whisper. "He is coming in here." " Oh, what shall I do ? " from Clarinda. Again a tap, louder this time. "Say' Come in,'" in a peremptory whisper from Lydia. "Come in"—scarcely audible; but the door opened, and a young man of very " elegant appearance "stood in the doorway. " I trust, madam," he said, with a bow, " that you will excuse my intrusion ; but I have waited some time." Then, all of a sudden, he paused, " Can it be possible," he cried advancing towards Clarinda with outstretched hand. "Do I not see before mc the heroine of the mad bull ? What a charming encounter !—what a happy accident!" Then, with great solicitation, " I trust, madam, you have sustained no injury from the alarm you must have suffered ? But I need not ask. I can see for myself that you are in perfect health." "Oh, no; I assure you I feel no evil effect," repliod Clarinda, blushing with confusion, " thanks to your bravery, sir, in standing between mc and danger." Here a deprecatory wave of the hand from the gentleman. "Indeed, I must thank you again—l would if I could—my grandmother will be much grieved that she should miss you—l expect her ladyship every minute, But if you are in haste " " Oh, for the matter of that," cried Sir John, " I am in no such great hurry—that is, if I do not intrude ? " with a polite bow towards Lydia. "If I had but guessed the identity of the Miss Grey whom the footman told mc was in the front parlour I should have ventured to present myself at once; but when he said ' Miss Grey,' I figured to myself some ancient gentlewoman, probably tame companion to Lady Elinor. The moral, you will say, is plain, but I vow the punishment was near being monstrous heavy. But, Miss Grey, I must present myself in form. I believe, from what you say, we shall turn out to be cousins of some sort. Lady Elinor is second cousin to my mother ; you are grand-daughter to Lady Elinor. lam son to my mother—John Darnley, at your service," with a sweeping bow. " Now pray present mc to this young lady, who, I dare swear, will prove to be anothor cousin." Clarinda, who was becoming more composed, presented Miss Lydia Wardlaw. The lady and gentleman exchanged bow and curtsey with becoming gravity, and Clarinda admitted that Sir John bad been right in so far that Lydia and she were cousins in the first degree, to which he gallantly responded that on seeing the lady he had at once felt that mysterious affinity ever known to exist between people of kindred blood. Tho party had been so pre-occupied by this elegant exchange of compliments that Patty had entered unobserved, and was standing before Sir John, holding a letter towards him. What is this ?" he cried in surprise. " A letter for mc ?" Lydia tried to save the situation, but her signals to Patty were not understood ; and Clarinda had no better luck, though she eagerly stretched out her hand, and tried to grasp, and, if possible, cover the fatal letter. But she was too late. Sir John had read his name. "'Tis strange," said he, taking it from Patty, "but the girl is right; this is addressed to mc." "It is a mistake," gasped Clarinda ; "it is indeed !" " A mistake," and Sir John glanced inquiringly round. " May I not look inside to see ?" ** Oh, not for anything must you look inside !" cried Clarinda, in anguish. Sir John was more and more puzzled. "'Tis without doubt directed to mc," he said, "and in a lady's hand. A most elegant piece of penwomanship, too," with a look towards Clarinda. " Madam, you blush ;if I were suspicious I should guess " "Oh, Sir John, do not guess, but* give mc the letter ! "As a gentleman," said Lydia, with the coolness of a strategist, "I am sure Sir John Darnley will take the Word of two ladies that this letter was nob meant for him." " Ladies, I crave your pardon. My conduct has been unpardonable. I yield the letter without a word ;' and he handed it to Clarinda with a regretful sigh. "Oh, a thousand times thanks;" and Clarinda seized tho letter. "Burn it, burn it!" whispered Lydia excitedly. "The dowager is upon us." Almost simultaneously the door opened, and Clarinda threw the disputed missive on to the fire, where unfortunately it alighted on a piece of black, charred wood, and remained in a painfully prominent position, quite injured. Lady Elinor stood in the doorway, towering and awful. "Hey-day, young ladies 1 You seem all in a flutter. What is that letter lying on the fire, Pink ?" to her maid. " Pick it up, and give it to mc." Then, looking round, Lady Elinor became aware of the presence of Sir John Darnley. " What 1 Sir John Darnley, can this be you ? Why, of course, I should know you anywhere to be your mother's son. You have come in person, I imppose, to answer my note." Sir John bowed low and professed himself delighted to see her ladyship looking so* well, his eye all the time on the letter, which Pink, after dusting carefully, had handed to her mistress. "Mercy on us," cried Lady Elinor, "if this is not the very invitation I bade Clarinda write you this morning! And never opened 1 How is this, Sir John ? " Sir John hastened to say, though a trifle , lamely, that having called before its delivery the young ladies had given him her lady- | ship's message, so he had not deemed it necessary to read tbe note, which he understood was merely formal. | " Hum, hum," said Lady Elinor, looking I round suspiciously, " I thought I saw Patty go out with the note—l conclude, Sir John, you accept my invitation. The day and hour I name are quite convenient to you ? " " Oh, quite so," replied Sir John, stealing an inquiring look towards the young ladies. Fortunately, Clarinda caught the meaning of the appeal. "I understood from Sir John, grandmamma," she said, "that Friday next, at seven, would suit him perfectly," " You should always let gentlemen answer for themselves, child," said the old lady, still fingering the note thoughtfully. "With your leave, Sir John," she continued. " I think you should have kept my note, all the same. Twould have served to remind you of your promise. Young men forgetful when old women invite them oue to a dish of tea and a gossip. Oh, yon may protest, but I know it is so. Now I think |of it, I shall just look at the note. I never examined it this morning to see if Clarinda had writ as I told her." Black despair seized upon Clarinda. Where, oh ! wiiere should she hide herself ? Then, in a far-off way, she heard Sir John l-say,— I "Your ladyship must excuse mc. The letter is mine, and if anyone is to break the seal I claim the right to do it." "Well, well," replied Lady Elinor, who was getting tired of the discussion, " have your way," and she gave him the note. " Since you will come, that is all I want. But come upstairs. I have something to say to you, if you can spare mc a moment. Why on earth they showed you into this little den I cannot think !" " If your ladyship leads I will follow," said Sir John, with a glance behind bim at Clarinda; and as it was obvious that Lady Elinor's progress up the stair was a slow and stately one, he turned towards the young ladies, holding out the long-contested letter, while he whispered softly to Clarinda, "The prize is yours again, Miss Grey. You will admit that I am the soul of honour; but you owe mc an explanation. To-night at the rooms I shall claim it, and -if not then—well, I shall have you at my mercy on Friday: Friday at seven, of course." With a smile of malice, and " Twill be hard to wait," he hastened after Lady Elinor. In a second the fatal note was in a blaze. Clarinda would not permit her cousin to look at it even for a moment. "Safe ! BafeV*'«he cried, as it turned to black ashes. " All the same," remarked Lydia, " I don't mind wagering you my best set of garnets to this old bobbin that he will know i all about it some day soon. .Lady Darnley I will UU him." I H-Oiov Bn