THE HEIRESS OF EGREMONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6422, 17 June 1882, Page 2

THE HEIRESS OF EGREMONT.

BY MRF. HARRIET LEWIS. s Author of "The House of Sccrots," "Amber tho Adopted," Ac. C CHAPTER XIV. i " Fair all tlic pageant—ltut now passing f .ir Thc slender form which lav on conch of Jml! 1 O'er her white bosom Btraved h«r h ■ zt-1 hair, I'alc her dear cheek, a- if for love she pined." ScOIT. 1 TnE haunted rooms, to which admission had 1 been denied to her guests by Lady Kgremont, presented a scene of mystery to which we will now introduce the reader. 1 The closed rooms were three in number, arranged en suite, and were approached through an ante-chamber hung with faded tapestry, and furnished in a style common to first-class dwellings of a century since. The inner chambers comprised a small drawingroom, ouce the Lady Jasmine's bower, a bed room opening from it, and another sinal room, suitable for a lady's boudoir. Contrary to the general supposition, no dust lay thickly upon the floors and furniture, no desolation reigned there, no ghostly presence filled those rooms with sighs and waitings. Instead, the closed chambers were like a fairy's bower. Entering the drawing-room through the dreary antechamber, a lovely scene was preseuted to the view. The floor was covered witli a Persian carpet over a thick matting, and the Oriental flowers stood up from tho thick pall iu life-like luxuriance, giving forth under the pressure of the foot a delicious fragrance. The walls were hung with a fine satin paper, which served admirably as a background for the many gem-like pictures, and a chandelier depended from theeentie of the ceiling. The furniture comprised cushions, couches, faxUeuiis, inlaid tables, &c., and all looked fresh and bright, showing that considerable care had been bestowed upon them. The bedroom was a dainty little retreat, filled up with pure white, with laco drapery to tho low French bed, and the linen was as white and fresh as if just put upon it, and had a delicate lavender scent. The third chamber was the gem of the collection. This window was not boarded as were those of the drawing-room, I ut was curtained with silk and lace, which almost concealed the green rush shutters underneath them. These shutters were in folds, and between these latter the sunlight came in, lighting up the room with a pleasant radiance. There was a fire in a small grate opposite the window. The vails of this room were hung with blue silk of a lovely shade, which fell in folds to the floor, just meeting the edge of the eastern carpet. There were pictures framed in gilt, none of them large, but all of them pourtraying exquisite snatches of Bcenery, bits of sunset skies, a section of tropical forest, or something similar, affording food for thought beyond faultlessness of execution. A small piano, so arranged that tho musician could educe from it the softest and sweetest of music, stood in one corner. Behind it was a gold inlaid guitar, with blue ribbon to pass round the neck of the performer. In another corner was a small easel i with a partially finished painting upon it, rei presenting Cleopatra binding tlie asp about her arm. A small, richly carved bookcase, ! filled with the choicest works, stood at one i side, and near it was a richly inlaid work- ' table, laden with canvas. Berlin wools, 1 strips of embroidery, and other evidences of feminine employment, the whole crowned , by a tiny gold thimble. Another table supported a portfolio of choice engravings and a collection of well executed drawings. ; Upon a couch of dusk-gold, by the window I lay the priestess oi this beautiful temple, the | owner of all this luxury. She was the be- ! ing known as the Spectre of Egremont. She r looked angelic and ethereal enough to seem ; indeed a visitant from another world. Her [ long bronze hair, unbound from its fillet, r strayed over her shoulders, and in the 1 mingled firelight and sunlight looked like ; pure gold ; her pure, pale face was unearthly r in its beauty, and her eyes, now gazing t dreamily into the fire, ware more than ever ' glorious in their lustre and loveliness, r Yet that she was no spirit was evinced by her gentle respiration, aud by the low ' breathed sigh that now and then escaped her | lips. She had been reading "Childe i Harold," and the small green and gold I volume was still clasped in lier hand, upon ■ which sparkled the quaintly-set jems which ; had attracted Lord Ashcroft's attention. t She was engaged in that favourite occupa- | tion of the young, weaving day-dreams, and ■ that hers were pleasant, even while slightly r tinctured with melancholy, was apparent by ! the smiles that succeeded her faint sighs. The apartments of Lord aud Lady Egremont were situated directly beneath these "haunted rooms,"and a private staircase led j from her ladyship's dressing-room to the anter chamber of the closed suite. > While the mysterious young girl was thus ' reclining in her pretty retreat, Toplift > asceuded the private stairs, came through 1 the anteroom and the larger apartment ' and entered her presence. Tho. woman apJ peared to be in an excellent humour, and held I up her hand, in which she clasped a small I leathern case, with something of triumph in ' her air. | Taking possession of an easy-chair, she [ said pleasantly, " Dreaming as usual, Lady I Aimee. Are you thinking what you shall do ' to-day, -whether you will paint, or draw, or ' play aud sing, or embroider those pretty white velvet slippers ?" • "I have not been thinking of any of those i things, nurse," answered the young girl, in [ tones as sad and musical as the voice of au .-Kolian harp. "I've been reading ' Clnlde i Harold,' and that made me think what a i riddle life is. I should so love to see those j countries I've been reading about. I wish I . could sail down between ' those banks of the : Rhine,' and see those storied castles—" ' "But you can't," interrupted Toplift, "and your vain wishes can only harm you. I Make up your mind to make thebestof vour . lot. I am sure it is pleasant enough. Half ; the in the world would give anj'thing \ to be in yonr place." " Even at the cost of their liberty ?" [ ' ~i indeed. \\ hat is liberty worth if one s life must be spent in the coul and storm, i ill fed and worse clothed ? 1 ;un shut up here r nearly as much as you are, but I am thank- ' ful and grateful instead of n ; piniug. It is happiness to me to have such a home after t my early life." : " Hut yon were free then ?"' ! * * es, 1 was free, Aimee, if freedom cont sists 1:1 earning one s own bi-'.-ad, and being i turned awa v at tile eapi ice of one's employer. ; lint- 1 l..und ir. a hard life. 1 never ha'd a ; liali-penny at the end of the \oar, for I must . dress well, and if I had been taken ill I must ! go to a hospital. How I longed for a per- [ mancnt home then ! Heaven only knows the temptation I had—" She paused abruptly, as if she had uncon- ■ sctously drifted upon a painful subject. The next moment she continued : "Lady Egremont took compassion upon me—l wa's a governess in the family of one of her relatives - and oQered mc a situation as your Governess and nurse. That was sixteen vears ago, nearly." " And I am sixteen now." \ es you are sixteen now. I came here when the heiress was about two years old aud you were a tiny infant. You are two years younger than she. But I was talkin" of your enviable lot. You ought to be the happiest girl in the world, my pet. What is there you can wish for that you have not ? "Agreatdeal," answered Aimce, wistfully. " Do you suppose, nurse, that I will be shut up here always ?" "I don t know. You must ask Lady Egremont. You know if there is anything you \n ould like to have you have only to mention it. "I cannot have whatlwant — mv freedom," sighed the young prisoner, lettiii" fall her book. '' But we won't talk about it. What have you in your hand, nurse Toplift lifted the leathern ease from licr I lap, and drew nearer her youthful mistress. "It's a present my lady just gave mc, my | pet, she said, opening it" 4t See there !" bhe displayed the garnet set which Lady Ijgromont had given her, ami the Lady Aimee ■ praised its beauty sufiiciently to please her governess, who tried on the jewels before the long mirror, declaring that they must have been purchased for her, aud that she had always thought them too simple and inexpensive for Lady Kgremont, "She was very good to give them to von, Dorcas," said Aimce. Toplift shrugged her shoulders'. " Good !" she sail], "So she was—good to herself! Vou see, Lady Aimce, my lady iravo me a , , downright scolding yesterday, and beg.-'-n it again this morning, and I wouldn't stand it. X told her so. L said, here have I been faithful to you all these years, and at the first remissness you find fault and blame me. i I said, I will not endure it. Then her lady- : ship that she had not meant to hurt my feelings, but only to make me more ; careful for the future, and she gave me this set which I have always w.iuted. HcrJ&dy- 1 ship is very kind when she likes to be." j The governess resumed her seat opposite .

the mirror, and regarded the reSection of newly acquired treasures. ne " I supposed she blamed vou rm account?" >ou on my " Yes, on your account, Lady Aimce nr ord and my la.iy are both very aaarv Z account of your visit, to Lord AsHcroft?' room." -Mucrott a " Is his name Lord Ashcroft ?" internmM the maiden, musingly. - F a "Yes. Lionel, Lord Ashcroft-that's hi. name. My lady docsnt know for certain that he saw you, and I wish you'd tell her hp was asleep if she asks you—" "I shall never tell a falsehood," iiL r rupted the Lady Aimce, proudly. "Of course not. But you might let hp ladyship think so, without saying it in E « many words." " I will not act a falsehood." Tlic woman frowned, but her young charfplooked at her with such a serenely resolute I expression that she forced a smile and said " Well, Lady Aimce, have your own way' I can stand scoldings, I think. And nioat likely his lordship thought you a ghost. So no harm has been doue. But you must not escape from these rooms again. My la<l T said that you were seen in tl-ie corridor last evening by her nephew, and that there ij danger to us all if you venture out again." "The gentleman that ran into his room and locked the door 011 seeing me is her nephew then, and my cousin ?" inquired the maiden' " Yes J he is Lyle Indor. But I've tomething else to tell, ily lord saw the boatkeeper last night, and learned of jour mad freak the other evening, when you lighted that coloured Chinese lantern, and stood at the window. Ho was in adreadful ragewith me about it. Lord Ashcroft and the boatman saw you. My lord says it mjist not occur again. Unless you promise not to venture out of these rooms again, I shall be obliged to lock you into your bedroom." "So sure as you attempt such a thing Dorcas," said the little lady, a bright scarlet flush burning suddenly in her clear cheeks and her voice trembling with indignation' "I will tell mamma that you hare gotinto the habit of taking opium, aud are no longer trustworthy." " (Jli, you won't do that, Lady Aimce, my pretty pet!" cried the governess, in an agony of fear, "her ladyship would never forgive me. Haven't I been good and tender to you all your life ? Haven't I loved you like my. self I Have I often been harsh to you!" The little maiden appeared to reflcct. Toplift had indeed been very good and kind to her all her life, aud she was attached to her in return. She made a reply_to that effect. "Then you won't tell of me. I'm sure you won't. Opium is such a comfort to me. The doctor ordered it—he did, indeed, along while ago." . _ "Very well, Dorcas, I will make a compromise with you. You shall gratify yourself, and I will gratify myself, if I can.". From this decision the Lady Aimee could not be swerved, and her governess finally relinquished the attempt. 1 • My Lady will be up to see you thi« evening, Lady Aimee," she said after a. pause. "If she should scold you for your late imprudence, I know you will not betray i me." "Did you say his name is Lionel!" in. ; quired the maiden, irrelevantly. " Whose? Oh, Lord Ashcroft's! Yes, . his name is Lionel." "It's a beautiful name!" mused Aimee,. looking into the fire, and pressing her dainty f cheek more heavily upon her pillow. " He [ is very handsome. I think he is a thousand . times handsomer than any picture I have, i Everybody must love him." "t'b, I dare say everybody who knows , him does love him," replied Toplift, some. , what puzzled by the mode and manner of her \ young mistress. "He speaks kindly to- , every one, and he is as rich as any lord has I need to be ; and he is haedsome." "His eyes were so beautiful 1 ." said the Lady Aimee, dreamily. "When he looked \ at me for that minute it seemed to me that [ I was looking iuto the heart of one of those ' r pansies, such as are in the flower-pot yonder- , And his hair, Dorcas, was so very fair—yet: '. not too fair. He has a spirited face—" ■ "But what of it, my pet?" cried the governess, uneasily. " What is it to you or [ me how Lord Ashcroft looks ?" The maiden started as though she had beea ' rudely aroused from a dream, and a soft flush, ? like the faint pink iuner tint of a sea-shell, crept into her cheeks, and her dusky eyes 1 dropped with a sweet confusion she had 1 never before experienced. "I don't know that he is anything to me, " Dorcas," she answered, "but he looked so 1 brave aud grand—just as if he could have " done those uoble deeds that Sir Walter ' Scott's heroes did." r "I presume he might; the Ashcrolts are- " a brave race. But his looks or his deeds are 5 nothing to you nor me. His lordship has I come to Egremont to visit the Lady Alexina, " to whom he is betrothed." The pink flush died out of the sweet young 3 face of Aimee, and her eyes showed a slightly troubled expression; but her serenity was 1 not disturbed. She murmured, softly, "He ' is to wed the Lady Alexina ! It seems tome she lias everything, Dorcas. She is free J to do as she likes. You spoke ouce of her ' horse. How delightful it mu;>t be to ride in 1 the fresh air, through the wood and plantations ! And Kgremont belongs to her; and 2 now she is going to have Lord Ashcroft for a ' husband!" ' Toplitt bent over her jewels for some mo- ' ments iu silence, as it plauning a r';ply, and finally she said, " You are murmuring against Providence, Lady Aimee.- Some have one lot 5 and some have another. You have been ec--1 happy and couteuted all your life, that it 1 seems strange to hear you complain now. I : hope you don't envy the Lady Alexina 5' 1 "No, I think I don't envy her advantages* : I never saw her, Dorcas. Is she very beautiful ?" 1 "V ery ; yetnot so beautiful as you,, my pet." " Do you think me beautiful?" asked the young girl, innocently, full of artless pleasure " at the compliment. ■ "Certainly. You have rare beauty and ! loveliness, Lady Aimee. The Lady Alexina cannot compare with you; yet she is very . queenly, anil will be much admired when she ' goes to court as Lady Ashcroft. She is darker than you, and her hair is black, not '' bronze like yours, aud her cheeks hure more colour in them." ' "I wish I could seo her!" murmured the maiden. ■ " Perhaps she would love mc, anu bo my sister." " You can never see her to speak to her; but if you want to catch a glimpse of her, I I dare say you can do so now. She is gone sailing with Lord Ashcroft and Mr. Indor. ' Lady Aimee sprang up lightly from the Indian couch ou which she had been reclin- ' ing, and her hands flattered eagerly anions the folds of the shutters. By drawing a cord : two or three of the folds were drawn together, leaving quite a space, free as a loop-nOiC, through which the maiden might make her observations. She hastened to avail herself of it, her face aud person being fully screened from the scrutiny of any one upon the sea. "I see the yacht, Dorcas!" she cried, . joyfully, alter a minute's survey of the waters. "There are four, yes, five persons in it; but I cannot see their faces. Please , give me the glass." The governess took up from a bracket ail i ivory-mounted sea-glass, and handed itto the Lady Aimce, who adjusted it and then looked long aud earnestly through it. ; "I can't sec them," she said, at last, p".t- ------■ ting down her glass; " the sail interrupts my view. But I saw a fair, handsome lady—" . " The Lady Lorean Ashcroft—Lord croft's sister. Only she is not handsome. "She looked good, Dorcas. And I saw the boatman—the same I have seen 50 often. They are going up the coast now. Perhaps when they return I shall see them better. She proceeded to pile up the cushions upon the couch, and when she had formed a throne suilieiently higil f° r her purpose, she mounted it, and restmied her observations -with unwearied patieuce. .. "I should like to go with them, Dorcas! she said, suddenly. "Do you think! shall have to remain shut up here always ?' " I don't know." "I should like so much to wander in the wardens you have described to me, Dorcas. It must be pleasant to pluck the flowers from their beds in the earth, or see them growing, so full of colours and so healthy, as some of those mamma brings me. They fade and die in that dark drawing-room, for they don't like the lamp-light. I wombr sometimes in the night, when you arc asleep, what I could ever have done to be condemned to such an imprisonment, from the very hour of my birth, too. It would almostseem that 1 had no right to be born." Instead of replying, Toplift arose and went into the drawing-room, lighted the chandelier, and seated herself to the perusal of a i new novel, which had been already read by : the Lady Aimee. She was soon so absorbed iu its contents as to quite forget her yonng. !■ charge, aud the maiden resumed her daydreaming. She watched the yacht until it had passed beyond the range of her vision, and kept her . eyes fixed upon the spot at which it had dis-

; ~~3£sdnntil,some time later, it reappeared. ' ThC she applied herself to studying the tea of the excursionists through her i « There was now nothing to obstruct f r view and the features of the Lady Alexin* were fully revealed to her. She „,j,i ~v on see the haughty character of the "heiress' countenance, and she felt chilled by U '''l don't think I could lovelier," she murmured; " and I don't think she would love "she next regarded Lylc Indor ; but his face ! ■was too mild and effeminate to look brave - iand spirited, so she looked at Lord Ashcroffc, with a sudden blush, and an involuntary • •shyness of manner. She gazed at him long and earnestly, -smiling in sympathy when lie gesticulated, uttering a cry ot fer.r when he changed his ■seat 'and bestowing npon him continually an admiring glance that would have delighted his lordship could he but have beheld it. When the yacht had again passed out of • sight, the excursionists nearing home, the Lady Aimee dropped her glass, sank down -upon the couch, and gave herself up to pleasant thoughts. ."Lionel!" she murmured, softly. "I • wonder if he has forgotten me. I wonder if - le thinks kindly of me. He must know that. lam not the ghost of Lady Jasmine. I must tell him I am not, some time, but I will be very careful not to betray mamma's secret. Lionel! How sweetly it sounds! Dear Lionel!" As she linked his lordsliips name.to the Aiidetirinc cpitlict, she looked around her, fearing that Toplift had heard her, and then • buried her blushiug face in the pillow* {To bo continued.]