THE WAY OF THE WORLD.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 1521, 5 July 1898, Page 2

THE WAY OF THE WORLD.

AN AUSTRALIAN NOVEL.

By GROSVENOR BUNSTER.

SYNOPSIS. The story introduces us to the heroine (Alice Harrington), who has obtaiued a remunerative situation as governess, through the aid of the Rev. Mr. Rogers, in honor of which her friend, Ethel Lafleur, determines on giving the household a picnio to Brighton beach. Tkey are aooompanied by Willie (Alice's brother) and an efferVß3Cent Frenchman, named Mbns. Biron, and his wife. While there they meet a Mr. Gordon, a resident, to whose cottage they adjourn, to whom, however, Ethel Lafleur expresses a great aversion.

part m. "Three,* answered the clergyman. " They have been trained in the paths of rectitude and religion. I don't know—l really do not know—any young ladies who appear to me to be what young ladies ought to be. Cabman, stop. We will alight here, Miss Harrington." And Mr. Rogers, with lofty dignity, helped the governess out ©f the cab.

They had alighted before a grim and sour-looking iron gate. Two buttresses of bluestone stood on either side of the entrance, surmounted by a couple of illtempered looking bronze lions. A stiff and methodical hedge surrounded the fence ; the •ihrubs and trees were as carefully trimmed as a "gaol-bird's" hair. The garden was laid out with all the formality and severe accuracy of the Dutch school. Looking at it you were inspired at once by a conviction that it faithfully represented the character of the owners. Alice, albeit, in her innocence she believed all that Mr. Rogers told her, could not help being influenced by some such feeling. Nor was this lessened by the appearance of the house itself. It was one of those "straight up and down" edifices which always remind one of a monastery, gaol, or reformatory. It was built of bluestone, Surrounded by a severe kind of verandah which was flagged with stones that were painfully clean. Its windows were square tnd serious-looking ; and the very curtaius iirhich were seen through them were of a ■Respondent hue and melancholy temperament. All these matters have an effect ipon the most indifferent and least sensitive. Upon Alice, the whole gloomy picture fell like a blow.

The Rev. Mr. Rogers, however, seemed to regard the mansion with extreme satisfaction. As he approached it he cocked his head in the air. and walked a3 though inspired by some new and sudden inspiration of dignity. The manner in which he rang the house bell testified to his sense of the importance of the Hardeastle family so self congratulary it was, and withal so humbly appreciative.

A pert with a pretty face, but an affected air, answered the bell, and, recognising Mr. Rogers, informed that gentleman that he was expected, This seemed to afford the clergyman infinite gratification, which he displayed by glancing at Alice, clearing his throat, and walking into the hall with an air of great satisfaction. The girl threw open the door, and bade them enter the drawing-room. I£ the nouse without impressed Alice with sadness, its aspect, as shown in the arrange ment of the room into which she had entered was not calculated to gladden her. It was furnished with a severe attention to proprieties. A grim looking piano stood at one end. A round table was placed in the centre of the apartment so surely in the centre that one might reasonably conclude that accurate measurement had been resorted to when arranging its position. A number of theological - looking chairs were placed around the room, and the floor was covered by a sad colored carpet. Over the mantleshelf hung oil paintings—the portrait of a stout and pompos-looking gentleman—while other pictures of a scriptural bearing were arranged upon the walls. The Rev. Mr. Rogers drew attention to the portrait. "My excellent friend, Hardeastle," he •whispered in a reverent tone. "An admirable likeness, as you will say when you be" hold my excellent friend. Ah, Mrs. Hard castle, and how are you, my dear lady ?" This remark was addressed to a stout, looking lajcly, who now entered the room. A lady, not without some attraction in her face, but evidently a lady by reason of the creator of ladies and gentlemen, the "immortal dollar."

"This,"said the clergyman, after he had pressed the lady's hand. "This is Miss Harrington, the young—ahem—person re" speeding whom I wrote to you." Mrs. Hardcastle looked at the girl, who arose, and stood before her. "Ahem," she said, in an audible whisper. " Very young, but she looks respectable and intelligent, dear Mr, Rogers, My dean how do you do ?" There was something cordial and motherly in Mrs. Hardcastle's manner and speech, which fell like a light upon the dull weariness by which Alice's sensitive nature had been inspired by the app.earance of her new home. At least she reflected, "I shall find,this lady kind and considerate." She looked up with a smile as she answered Mrs. Hardcastle's salutation.

"My letter," said the clergyman, "Informed you of the engagement of this young —ahem—person." "Oh, Rogers, I'm only thankful that you've got a pariently respectable young lady. I 'ope, my dear, that we shall get on well together. I'm sure I like the looks of you."

" You are very kind to say so," said the girl somewhat surprised at tho lady's peculiar vernacular. •' I shall do all in my power to merit your approval." " Ahem," interjected Mr. Roger?, "No dpubt, no doubt. These matters are proved by time. Perhaps, Mrs. Hardcastle, you will introduce your charming children to their instructress.'

Mrs. Hardcastle rang the bell, and directed the servant who jjanswered the summons to send the young ladies to her ; and they presently appeared. Mrs. Hardcastle presented them in the order of their ages. M iss Blanche Hardcastle, aged fifteen years, was a tall well-built girl with black eyes, and a profusion of dark curly hair. The expression of her face was, as Alice thought one of defiance, mingled with some curiosity. Miss Amy, the second pupil, was also dark—her face, however, being pensive and more refined in its expression. She was slight and pale and looked delicate. The third girl was a hoydenish creature with red hair and a brilliant complexion. She retired behind the mother's chair, and with a finger in her mouth regarded the governess as she najtht some curious animal.

"Ihese are my cherubs, Miss Hairing. ! ton," exclaimed the mother, looking with pride upon her offspring. •' Thcy'ro good gals, my dear, and I'm sure you'll love 'em very much. My dears, perhaps you'll show Miss Harrington her room, and then bring her down to lunch. We're old-fashioned people, Miss Harrington. We breakfasts at 7, has a snack at 11, dines at 2, teas at 6, suppers at 9, prayers and to Vol. As Hardeastle says, Mr. Rogers, there's nothin like system." Mr. Rogers bowed. He was quite of Mr. Hardcastle's opinion in this regard, as, indeed, he was quite of Mr. Hardcastle's opinion in all matters. Mr. Hardeastle was a most wealthy, and, therefore, most estimable person. It was to Mr. Hardeastle, and such as he, that Mr. Rogers addressed his Sabbath homilies. For Mr. Rogers judged by results. In the successful man he recognised the inevitable result of merit. He could not understand merit in a poor person. There must be something radically wrong, he considered, in a man who could not escape from the ruck in the race ior life. All this argued that the Rev. Mr. Rogers was in no wise subject to those spurious charitable emotions which so seriously interfere with the logic of life as practised by most men. In, a word, Mr. Rogers' great inspiration was duty, as he argued that those who did their duty by themselves never failed to make plenty of money, and, consequently, secure the applause and respect of society. Admirable Mr. Rogers ! " I'm very pleased, my dear Mr. Rogers," said Mrs. Hardeastle, as the girls left the room. " I'm sure we should be very grateful to you for your exertions in this matter." " Not a word my dear madam," responded the parson, with a gesture of deprecation. " I have done nothing more than my duty. It was my duty to secure, in the person to whom your children was to be committed, a lady of good breeding and education—a lady ( moreover, whose antecedents were beyond suspicion, and who was prepared to submit to me the highest testimonials as to character and ability. Miss Harrington has satisfied me on all these matters."

"She is an orphan, I think you said." "She is," replied the clergyman. '"She has a brother, who is sick. It became necessary for her to bring him to some warmer climate than that of England, in order that he might have some chance of recovery. She came to Victoria, bringing with her letters of introduction to sevcra' highly respectable families resident here — ahem ? All of whom have spoken in the highest terms of her." " Poor gal," said the lady. I'll do all I can to make her comfortable." "By all means, Mrs. Hardeastle," answered the parson, iu a warning voice. "Doso by all means. At the same time, I trust that you will not forget that she is a dependant. My experience of the world, .has taught me that it is most unwise, most impolite, to permit too great familiarity on the part of one's depeudauts—ahem—towards the employers. It is the duty of the latter, madam, to keep the former iu their place," and the rev. gentleman looked severely virtuous. Meanwhile, Alice was conducted to her bedroom. It was a pretty, cheery chamber, on the second floor ; the windows looking out upon a garden. The girl's modest trunk had already been brought into the room. A buuch of flowers was placed upou the toilet table ; and a few books and pictures hung upon the walls. Alice was mightily pleased, and said so. " I thought you might like flowers, Miss," said Amy, the second girl, in a timid voice. "And so I plucked these for you this morning." Alice bent down and kissed the girl. The eldest looked on with a supercilious expression ; thj youngest with a surprised air.

"Law," exclaimed the latter—"Miss Webstsr, she was our last teacher, you know—she never kissed us, did she, Amy ? But then she was old, and ugly, and wore false teeth, aud "

' There, there," cried Alice, "pray, don't tell me any more. Perhaps you will now show me the schoolroom ':"

"Oh yes, cried the hoyden, "but then you know, we don't commence today. Ma said so. Oh ? I shan't do any studies today, you know." Alice looked afc the girl, and read in the flushed cheeks and defiant eyes that she, for one, was a young lady with whom she was likely to have some trouble. The elder girl laughed as she turned and led the way from the schoolroom. It was Amy who stole her little hand into Alice's and passed downstairs in her company. As they were going down, the youngest Miss Hardcastle slid past them on the bannisters, alighting with a " whoop" on the hall floor. Then she looked up with an impudent air at the governess.

" Is that one of your amusements ?" asked Alice gravely. "Oh, yes, but that's nothing. Is it Amy? You should see me climb the great pear tree, s '' and the monkey kicked up her legs and dashed into her mother's presence. " Playful creature," said the good lady. " Such sperits, Mr. Rogers. But come, you will take some refreshment with us," and she led the way to the luncheon room. The lady's notions of some refreshment was of a very substantial kind. A round of beef, a tongue, some cold chicken, and bread and cheese —these were some of the delicacies which met the eye and gladdened the heart of Mr. Rogers. 'I he parson was a gentleman of robust health and good digestion, and he was, therefore, keenly alive to the demands of appetite. The knife and fork he played on. The present occasion elicited exclamations of wonder from the youngest pupil. " My," cried the young lady when with her governess, " Ain't he got a pecker, miss ?"

Decidedly, thought the governess, for the twentieth time ; this is a young lady who will give me some trouble, and, indeed, she soon found that her anticipations were correct. Nor was her trouble confined to dealing with this young lady. She found that the elder girl was obstinate, reserved and conceited. The young lady evidently entertained an idea that it was beneath her dignity to submit herself to the tuition of one who was little older than herself. Albiet, she was as iguoraut a girl us oue might meet in a twelve mouths search. Moreover, she was one of those precocious damsels of which the colonies are so prolific; and had already a love affair on hand with a pimply youth who resided in the neighbourhood. Further she was given to devouring the contents of novels of the amatory order—books supplied by the youth in question and surreptitiously perused by the young lady long after the rest of the household slum.bered. Altogether, tho eldest Miss Hardcastle was a young lady of Very promising order. It will be seen then that poor Alice had no Hjjhfc task before her. Nor was this

/ lightened by the pai-ents of her pupils. Mrs Hirdcastle, easy and good-natured, was one of those mothers who can bolieve no ill of their offspring, and Alice early discovered that she must not rely upon any support or countenance from her in dealing with her pupils' defects of disposition or education. As for Mr. Hardeastle, that gentleman hardly deigned to notioe that such a person as his governess existed. He was one of those people who are Interested in nothing to which gold does not adhere. A governess was to him a creature to be hired, and so long as ho paid her wages he did not trouble himself with any reflection as to there being a possibility of there existing something still due to her and still unpaid. Thus, then, was Alice situated. Let us leave her awhile to battle her way, while we turn to anothar picture of my social panorama. It wag some three weeks after Mr. Gordon's meeting with Alice that lie once more met Ethel Lafleur. She was looking in at a window of a printscller's shop in Collins-street, and did not observe him till he spoke. Then she turned round with a quick start and flushed, and then grew pale He smiled. " One would think I were some terrible monster," said he, "instead of a very presentable young gentleman. You seem to dread my presence so much. Come, Ethel, tell me now, why is this ?" She smiled scornfully and answered. ''There can be no need to tell you that which is well known to you. You know that I have bitter cause to hate you." "And you do?" he asked, with a mocking smile. "God help me," she murmured. "I can't help it. I try hard to do so, George." And her large eyes filled with sudden light and her lips trembled. Still he smiled. " Come," said he iu a winning voice, " let us take a stroll together. I want to have a long talk with you." " I can give you half an hour," she replied. "No more, for lam busy to-day." "Indeed." " Yes, I have accepted an engagement at the Royal." You !" he cried, with real surprise. " I," she answered. "Do you see any. thing to amuse you in the matter. I told you long ago that I intended to become an actress." " True," he replied, as they walked slowly up Collins-street; " but I did not heed you. To become an actress on the stage one must, as the sailors say, crawl on board through the hawse pipes. You must commence at the beginning, Ethel." "So others have told me. But lam more ambitious. People say there i 3 no Royal Road to excellence. I deny that. Just as you can make a fortune by a coup in the market, so may I if I have the genius to pass over the drudgery of my business. An actress, like a poet, is born, not made." " If you can persuade managers to think with you, I dare say you may carry the day."^ " Well," she answered quietly, " bo far I have. I appear in a fortnight." "As what?" "Leah." "He looked quickly at her. Then he broke into a scornful laugh, as he cried, "A suggestive character, Ethel ?" " Very," she answered. "It is one, at any rate, which I think I understand, and can illustrate. But enough of my business. What is it you wish to speak to me about ?" And as she spoke, she glanced keenly at him. He knew that she did so; albeit he strove to appear easy and unconcerned. But, for perhaps the first time in his life, Mr. George Gordon found himself disco nposed. He laughed constrainedly. " What a matter of fact little devil you are," said he. " I want to talk to you of a multitude of things. First tell me how is your little friend ? What is her name ? For the life of me I forget ! —Miss— Hardington Hammerton ! Tush ! My memory fails me." "So does your truth," she answered, as B he looked at him steadily. " You remember her name perfectly." " Yen are complimentary," said he. "I declare to you I have forgotten her name. Ah, I remember now, 'Harrington.' Yes, Miss Harrington. Well, Ethel, the straightforward and ill-natured, condescend to tell me how your friend is?" "I believe she is well." " Believe ?" "Yes; I have not seen her for a fortnight,." " You have quarrelled, possibly?" "No." " How comes it, then, that you have not seen her for a fortnight?" " Upon my word," she answered with some heat, "I can't recognise your right to put these questions. Miss Harrington is not in town."

"My dear Ethel," said Mr. Gordon, in a conciliatory tone, " Why are you 60 ill-tempered. I only ask after your friend in all courteous feeling. Besides, I like her—so far as I can judge of her character and disposition." " Faith," she said, " those are qualities in which I did not reckon you took an interest."

" Come, come," said he, bitiug his lip and evidently nettled. " You have no right to be so abrupt with me. Where is your little friend living?" ■•-.'" ' They had entered the Fitzroy Gaideus by this time. Ethel sat down on one of the benches, and Mr. Gordon took a seat beside her. As he put thi3 question to her he affected to be indifferent as to the answer. Ethel, watching him keenly, read in the slight flush upoa his cheek, aud the overstrained affectation of nonchalance in his manner, that he was strangely eager to learn news of Alice. As this knowledge came to her a fierce light lit up her eyes. She closed her lips hard aud frowned. But she did not answer him.

" Come," said he, laughing, " tell me, Ethel." Then he looked at her aud saw how angry she was. «' Pooh ! you silly girl, I believe you are jealous," as he attempted to take her hand. She snatched it away with violence. "Jealous!" she said, bitterly—" well, what if I am. What if I acknowledge that the curse of my love for you is for ever eating at my heart, mocking my hopes, blasting my young life. What !" she continued, with growing excitement, "if I say that, while I curse you beyond all in the world ! You know all this as well as I can tell you—aye, better. And then you jeer at me, and mock me, and talk of my jealousy. I know you to'be a villain, George", but I had not deemed that you were a coward." He bad risen from the bench and stood before her, playing with his walkingstick with the pebbles on the path. A smile sat on his handsome face and hovered round his mouth • a mocking smile that. I think, well-nigh drove the woman to frenzy. For she paused suddenly and'clenching Tier gloved hand, struck it upon the bench in sudden passion. He laughed.