CHAPTER IX.-CONSIDERATIONS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10058, 27 July 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER IX.-CONSIDERATIONS.

The vicar being shrewd and sharpsighted, h»d seen from the first Ba all's admiration for Aline, and with feelings of satisfaction had watched that admiri lion kindle to love. Readily recognising his nephew's Kindness of heart, simplicity, affectionate disposition, and freedom from vice, he liked him heartily, and considered Aljns would be moat fortunate in gainl^iog Buoh a man for her husband. .Moreover, from faots wbioh Bazil inadvertently communicated to his ancle, the latter gained some idea of ■ hu great wealth ; and though this fact tut slightly influenced hip judgment of Bazil. as a man or a son-in-law, he immediately realised that Aline, worldly eelfish.and ambitions, would be much awayea by snob, a consideration. _i_-- ' Wow, the Eeverend Mr Jarratt had foe some time olosely watched his daughter, and saw with regret that she •neither returned nor appreciated Bazil'a affeotion; but that Bhe merely flirted ' with him as she would with any other man under like cirenmstances. Striving ' to- bide his disappointment and displeasure, he remained silent for come time, hoping that she might chaoge, that Basil's persistent attentions, generosity, and devotion would waken her heart, and fearful of interfering lest such an act might hinder rather than help the end he desired. ' ' But m time passed and Aline gave no sign ~of reciprocating Basil's love, her ' father determined that he would speak te tier on the subjeot, and if he could not Induce her to estimate h»r oousin at his proper worth, he would at least Insist on her dropping a flirtation which raised hopes only to disappoint them. The opportunity he had for some time waited came when one morning, Bazil baring set out with the curate for the P 'golf link saonie three miles ■ distant. The vicar had been ia bis study half an hour, reading at first, thei walkiDg bapknards and forwards, in his effort to master his impatience, when the daor . opened and Aline made her appearance. •'What is UP" she asked abruptly, bat without betraying any interest in '. ; what. he might have to say. : ' "'V-Shnt ihe door and sit down," he . replied, sharply. She obeyed with an air of indolence, Beating herself on the side of a chair, her arms leaning on Us back, her 'eyes gazing ont of the window, her bearing thoroughly aggravating her father. "I must ask yon to listen to me," be said, 'endeavouring to command his temper,' which her manner sorely tried. "I am listening," she answered, without moving. t* Then please turn round." She Bssnmed a fresh position scarcely ' less expressive of her indifference. " What I have to say is serious." he : began, dropping into the chair before ~ his desk and facing bis daughter. "Basil loves you." "Has he told you so?" she asked — V-oalmly, with little show of concern. " No," the vicar answered. "Norhashetoldme." "Bat neither you nor I can doubt - the fact." "WellP" she inquired, raieiog her sweeping brows, Interrogatively, "I consider he would make an ex* oellent husband, and when he proposes, as T dare say be soon will, 1 hepe you will accept him." c" I have always felt yon were anxious to get rid of me," she answered in the time calm manner. '?. Aline, you bave no grounds for making such an assertion," jier father burst out angrily. ■' It I wish you to marry, him Ub because I have your Interests at heart. Why will you always ezaiperate me ?" "''l hardly know; I sappose it's because you unconsciously irritate me," sbe, replied, meditatively." "Bazil is in every way desirable. He is, good natnred— — " ' " Now that I have always thought a damning phrase." .. "I with you would be more careful of your words. He is tolerant, which might suit you better " t\ " But I don't love him," Aline interrupted. L"And he is the owner of immense Weiltlu" ; ."Immense wealth," sbe repeated, laying emphasis on the words, and showing some interest in the conversation for the first time. "I knew he . was fairly well off, but " / " I had no idea myself until a few days ago bow much bia uncle, his father's brother, left him." . " How much ?" she asked eagerly. .: ." Close upon a million all told." i Her bine protruding eyes were filled with astonishment. "What, Bazil a millionaire}" she said inorednlously, as leant forward. ': "Very nearly," responded the vloar, satisfied with the effeot he had prodoftJl upon his daughter's worldly itti&L "I should never have thought it, fiever/' she exclaimed, not having yet recovered her astonishment, or had time-to face the possibilities which this statement presented. " No. He is simple in his tastoa, and nnaffeoted in his manner; nothiDg of the braggart, the ooxoomb, or the mountebank about him," remaiked the vicar, emphasising the last word. ' Aline knew to whom her father Jndireotly referred, but did not resent

big words as Bhe wouia have done upon another occasion j they had the effect however, of recalling tho past to her mind, and uuoonsoiously she sighed. " But apart from all considerations of his wealth," remarked the vicar, quietly and impressively, "T know no man in whom I would more readily place jour future." "Almost a millionaire, murmured Aline. "Are youßure?" | " That is what he Rive me to understand, and I believe him implicitly. Bat he has qualities whloh are more estimable than riches. He ia honest, gentle, straightforward, manly, and affectionate." '• I kDOW he Is all jon say," she said, already disposed to look more favorably on B&zil than before. 11 Then what more 3o you want ? " "It's hard to name the attraction which draws and binds ub to those we love, but whatever it may he it Is wanting inhlm— so far as lam concerned, she remarked. " That's romanoe. If you honour him now " " But I don't. I have never honoared aDy one. Perhaps that's a aefeot in my nature," she answered. The vioar strummed his lingers on the desk impatiently. "If you like him now," he began, amending his sentence, " and no one can help liking him, you are sure to love him later whi-n you can better judge of his character. J, who know the wrrld, tell you he is a man in a thousand." ... , "But another out of the thousand might please me betier." "The chanoa of yonr life is now before yon, suoh a chance as faw girls get, and a obance whioh no girl In her aenses would let p»sb," remarked the vicar, overlooking her last remark. " Perlaps." "Tbink over what I have said, and come to a decision. If yoa believe you cannot honestly aocept the offer he is «nre to make, one euoh as may never ome again In your life, if you really are determined to refuse blm, then I inBist on your not flirting with or making a fool of bim any longer," said the vicar earnestly. Without a reply AUne rose to end the interview, her mind absorbed in contemplating the ohoice Bhe knew she would Boon be called upon to make ; and without further words, being unwilling to disturb the impression he knew.himself to have made, her father let her pass from the room. All that day Aline thought out the tituntion and set it clearly before her. • She did t«t love this mau who loved her Bt ail. There was no possibility she.conßldered of the poet ever asking her to become his wife, a position whioh she felt sure Bazil would soon rcqnest her to hold towards him. If she did not accept It she might remain single all her days, now that men were bo slow and bo reluotant 'to marry, and the thought of passing her lie in single blesßedpeßß was terrible to her. •Even if she did marry eventually she might be as indifferent to her husband as sho was now to her cousin, for she thought she could never again feel the same affection for any man as she did f.rpenharvan. And then that husband would not in all probability be as rioh ai 8a7.i1. If only the poet could exohange places with tho Australian. Were sbe beloved and enriched by Ansalein then earth would become a paradise to her. Why was not Bazil different? Why ould she not feel attraoted by him 1 Why was not her fate shaped for her according to her desires p It must be terrible, she considered, to belong to a man for whom she did not care ; to be bound to bim by a tie there was no breaking, »aye by forcing him to take proceedings in the Divorce Court. Marriage was surely a mistake for a man, and if ahe were a man — and ob, how heartily she wished she were — she would never bind herself to anyono, wonld never marry. Bat being a woman the case worn a very different complexion. Marriage had n thousand advantages for a woman ; and if she refused Basil ahe might remain shut up in this village as a hen in a coop. When he left, the place would certainly seem duller. The monotony of her day g would become more unendurable than ever ; her prying, gossiping, censorious neighbours more hateful ; her beauty would gradually fade, her emotions would starve, despair would knaw her heart. On the other hand, as the wife of a man of wealth, she oould see. the world for which she panted, expand ber nature, taste the joys of life, indulge every caprice— bat always with him boside her she wonld never reign complete monarch of herself. Men who after long years of toil, competition, and self-denial had attained wealth, freedom, position, had no doubt often regarded with envy women, who at one swoop, without effort or trouble, had gained suoh adrantagesby marriage. A smile, a pressure of the band, a word, true or false, and a penniless girl becomes a rich wife. But the sacrifice is often there though unseen and unsuspected by her dearest friends — a sacrifice beside whloh days and nights, and months and years of weary labour, heavy care, and constant denial are as nought ; for saoh things have ultimately brongbt the man an escape from servitude much less galling- than marriage must beoome to an unloving wife. Aline recognised the vexations and likewise saw the advantages which ber marriage with Bszil would bring her ; to one or the other sbe could not olose her eyes. If she were strong willed and desirous of independence she was also ambitious and a lover of luxury. The choioa aeemed terribly difficult to make, and yet It must soon be made. Would she say yes or no when he asked her to become his wife ?