LOVE, THE TYRANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 3 (Supplement)

LOVE, THE TYRANT.

, BY CHABLES GARYICE, Author of "The Shadow of Her Life," "A Heritage of Hate," " Nell of Shorne Mills." . "Heart for Heart," "By Devious Ways," " Just A Girl,".'.' On Love's Altar," " Queen Kate," " The Oat cast cf the Family," "She Trusted Him," " Once in a Life," " Better Than Life," Etc., Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XI. Now, while Esther was walking through the wood with Jack and Nettie of the embarrassing remarks, the chestnut had raced homewards with about as much regard to the unfortunate man on his back as if he were a fly. Mr. Selby Layton clung on to the mane like grim death, but, all the same, was nearly flung over the horse's head as.it tore into the stable-yard and stopped suddenly at the door of its own stall. Giles and some of the stable-helps rushed to Mr. Selby Layton's assistance, and he got down and stood surveying the hateful animal with mingled fear and rage. He was bathed in perspiration which trickled in a muddy channel down his hot face; his collar had come undone, his neckscarf was all awry, and he was trembling with fright and exhaustion ; indeed, he was such a pitiable-looking object that even Giles, full of contempt as he was, could scarcely refrain from compassionating him. " That horse is a vicious animal, and extremely dangerous," said Mr. Layton, when he could speak. "He bolted with me, and would have broken my neck if I hadn't been able to hold on." Giles was too well-trained a servant to show his contempt. " Very sorry, sir; never know 'im bolt before; he is rather free, but he only wants a little managing. Where's Miss Vancourt, sir? I hope she's safe." Selby Layton had been too much occupied in thinking of his own safety to bestow a thought upon Esther; and he looke% round, as if he expected to see her immediately behind him. - " Oh, yes," he stammered, " she was just behind me. Her horse was quite quiet." " Miss Vancourt is just coming through the wood, sir," said one of the stablemen. " She is walking." Selby Layton would have given a great deal to have been able to avoid Esther's eye, or any eye, in his present condition ; but that was not possible; so he went to meet her, buttoning his collar, setting his tie straight, and trying to mop himself into a semblance of coolness.

He was still full of inward rage, and selfreproach. He had been an awful fool to venture upon a horse when he knew so little about riding; the whole business was most unfortunate ; for Selby Layton was too clever not to know that nothing is more disastrous for a man than to appear ridiculous in the eyes of a woman. Why hadn't he been content to confine himself to his singing and playing and other " parlour tricks," and left the noble art of horsemanship to commoner men ?

As he crossed the lawn he saw that Esther was not alone, and the fact that her companion was that " impudent fellow" from the farm, as Selby Layton called him, did not tend to make him more cheerful but he smoothed the nasty twist from his lips and assumed an expression of tender anxiety as he drew near. Esther did not see him for a moment, for she was talking and laughing with Nettie, and seemed quite absorbed in the child; and she looked up as Selby Layton appeared as if she had quite forgotten how they had parted. "I do hope you are not hurt!" he exclaimed, anxiously. " Oh, not in the least," replied Esther. Were you hurt?" " Oh, no," said Selby Layton, with a beautiful air of confidence. "My horse bolted; but, though I had him in hand all the time, I thought it better to ride home, in case he should startle your mare. I hope he did not?"

" I don't know," said Esther. " She was going very fast, and I lost all control over her, and I suppose I should have come off but Mr. Gordon happened to be riding near and he caught her and took charge of me." This was gall and wormwood to Selby Layton; but he smiled sweetly and nodded quite pleasantly to Jack. "That was very fortunate," he remarked; " though the mare is so quiet that I don't suppose anything would have happened." Jack stood, with that impassive countenance which he could assume when it suited him, and did not contradict Mr. Layton. "I think we'll go back now, Nettie," he said; but Nettie met the suggestion with a distinct negative. "I don't want to go back," she said. "I want to see the peacocks on the tewace the pretty lady's been telling us about." Esther blushed slightly at this candid tribute to her personal appearance, and, with a laugh, said: " Better bring her on to the terrace. Mr. Gordon ; she won't be happy if you don't." " I'm afraid not," said Jack, severely. " Nettie's getting spoiled. But you wait, young lady, till you're quite clear of the measles, you'll find you won't have your own way quite as much !" Nettie laughed incredulously and hugged his neck a little tighter. " I ain't afwaid," she said.

They walked across the lawn to the terrace, and Nettie gave a little- cry of delight as she saw the peacocks basking in the sun. " Put her down on one of the seats, Mr. Gordon," said Esther; "you must be tired with carrying her so far." " I am worn out," said Jack, with a mock groan. " What a story!" exclaimed Nettie, indignantly. "He tarries me ever so much farver than this every evening; don't you, Jack."'

The " Jack" sounded strange to Esther, but very pleasantly, as it was uttered by the child's sweet and loving voice. " Now you can see the peacocks and the flowers," she said; " and I wonder whether you'd like a glass of milk and some cake? I suppose she. may have it?" to Jack. "Oh, yes," he said, cheerfully; "she is eating all day, like a little pig." At this moment Palmer came from the house in his stately fashion, and presented a letter to Selby Layton, who was looking at the child with a sweet smile that masked his disgust and annoyance at the whole business. He took the letter, and with a murmured request for permission, opened it. For a moment, as he read it, the smile fled from his face, which grew pale, notwithstanding his heat. "It's of no consequence," he said, casually ; " but perhaps I'd better answer it by this post. I shall just have time." "Do by all means," said Esther. "Will you please send out some milk and cake, Palmer?" When Selby Layton had gone into the house, she seated herself by Nettie, drawing the child towards her and carefully wrapping the shawl round her. Jack stood by them for a moment, then he began to feel himself in the way. "I want a word with Giles, Miss Vancourt," he said. "I'll go clown to the stables and come back for Nettie presently." "Very well," said Esther, with 'a laugh. "I think you'd make a very good nurse, Mr. Gordon." .Jack thought of the many weeks he had nursed his chum, this girl's brother, and smiled rather gravely, but said nothing. He went down to the stable and found Giles and his satellites gathered round the chestnut. Giles had been expressing himself with a freedom which he had not permitted himself in Mr. Layton's presence. "What's the matter with the chestnut, Giles?" asked Jack. Giles touched his cap, as he always did instinctively when he met Jack, and swore under his breath. "There ain't anythink the matter with him; but there soon will be if he's allowed to have his way like this," he said. "Any horse would be spoilt as was allowed to rampage round the country as he pleases. Next time he goes out he'll want to do the same thing. It's a wonder the gentleman didn't break his neck. It ain't for me to make remarks about my betters, but I do call it cheek for a gent to get on a horse when he can't ride no more than a new-born baby; and I wasn't much better than a blessed infant to let him go; for I saw how it was when he got up. And where's the mare, I should like to know?" The mare's at the farm all right; you'd better send down for her," said Jack. " Put the saddle on the chestnut again, will you?" Giles obeyed at once, though it was scarcely the place for the foreman of the home farm

to give orders to Miss Vancourt's servants. But the saddle was put on and the stirrups adjusted to Jack's long legs, and he got on the chestnut. The horse had had a rare good time with its late rider, and it was under the impression that it might have another with the present one; but it discovered its mistake in less than a minute and a-half.

He reared and jumped in a fashion which would have sent Mr. Selby Layton flying, but only caused Jack's knees to press inwards with a force which nearly drove the breath out of the astonished chestnut. Jack took him out of the stable-yard and into the park, let him go quietly for a while, then put him to his top speed and kept him at it long after the chestnut had had enough. "You ought to be able to jump, my friend," he said: "let's see." He put the horse at the iron railing, and though the animal refused twice Jack got him over the third time; and he jumped him backwards and forwards until the astonished chestnut was heartily sick and disgusted ; then Jack rode him. back at a sweet and sober trot.

Giles and his merry men had watched the performance with feelings of profound satisfaction and admiration.

" That's what I call riding," said Giles "Never saw a better seat. And he rides like a gentleman, too. I know the difference, mind you! Some of you chaps can stick on right enough, but you've none of you got that style. Wherever he learnt riding it was a jolly good school, and he was a jolly good scholar. Not a bad horse, Mr. Gordon?" he said, as Jack rode up. " He'd suit you down to the ground." Jack nodded and suppressed a sigh; and it flashed across his mind, with a strange sense of unrealty, that not only the chest-, nut but every horse in the stable belonged to him.

"He's quiet enough, and won't give you any trouble now," he said. " I should give him a basin of gruel to-night after this bucketing." "I will, sir," said Giles. And, instinctively again, he touched his cap. A couple of footmen brought out the milk and cake for Nettie. It would not have been a very hard task for one; but everything was done in a stately fashion at the Towers ; and Esther had at first been somewhat bothered and worried by the number of servants which surrounded her and their devoted though silent attention; but she was getting used to it by this time, and it did not now surprise her or make her uncomfortable when two men in the rich but chaste Vancourt livery appeared when one would have been sufficent. They brought the cake and milk on heavy salvers of solid silver, and placed them on a rustic table which they dragged forward for the purpose, then retired with the impassive countenance which they would have worn if Miss Vancourt had ordered them to dance a jig. Esther held the glass and broke up the cake, and as Nettie ate and drank she talked as children will. !

" Jack's a very tind man," she remarked. Very, I should say," assented Esther. "But ought you to call him 'Jack,' Nettie? His name is Gordon."

" Yes, I know," said Nettie; " but he told me to tall him Jack, and I like it better than Mister Gordon. Mother said I wasn't to tall him 'Jack,' becos, though he's dadda's foreman, he's a gentleman. What is a gentleman ?"

At this question, which has puzzled the world ever since the word was invented, Esther was rather " flummuxed," as Jack himself would have said; for who shall say what a gentleman is? Bub she knew that she would have to answer the question, and she did her level best.

" A gentleman, Nettie,' she said, ' is one who is very brave and very true and very gentle; who will never do anything he is ashamed of."

Nettie thought this over for a minute or two as she munched her cake.

"Then I'm sure Jack's a gentleman," she said, " because he's very brave. He stopped father's horse, and father said he might have been tilled; then he 'urt himself with a axe that day he went with you to see the trees; his shirt was all over blood—"

Esther started, a.id the colour rushed to her face. In an instant she remembered how her axe had met something in its backward stroke ; she had thought it was the branch of a tree; had she struck him? She said nothing, and Nettie went on :

" And one day I saw a handkerchief sticking out of his waistcoat—a tiny ickle handkerchief ; and that was all over blood; so he must have 'urt hisself again, and said nothing about it." The colour deepened on Esthers face. She remembered that she had thrown her blood-stained handkerchief away. Was it possible that Mr. Jack Gordon had gone back and picked it up and was carrying it about him? For a moment the thought was strangely sweet to her ; then she remembered the difference between them—between the man who was the foreman of her home farm, and had been little better than a tramp, and herself, the mistress of Vancourt. She tried to feel proud and full of resentment at his strange conduct; but, somehow or other, there was a warm feeling at her heart which puzzled and worried her. " Then he is very gentle," said Nettie. " He tarries me for ever so long, and it's as cumfy as if I was in —more cumfy; and when he speaks to me his voice is soft, like mother's when she talks to the chickens. And what was the other? He tinks of others? Well, so does Jack. The other day Georcrie —that's father's man— 'urt 'is 'and, and Jack went and did 'is work for 'im. And Jack won't tell a lie. I 'eard 'im tell father that all the things about the farm were old-fashioned and no use, and if that he was father he'd ask Miss Vancourt —that's youto buy a lot of new things; and father said that Sir Richard wouldn't have new things, and that he —that's fatherhad always said they was all right. And Jack said that if he was the farmer he wouldn't tell a darned lie like that." " You shouldn't say ' darned,' Nettie, dear," said Esther. "Is it a wicked word?" asked Nettie, open-eyed. " I don't tink it can be, 'cos I astinctly heard Jack say it. But don't you tink Jack's a gentleman, Miss Vancourt?" " Yes, I think he is," said Esther, in a low tone of voice. At this moment Miss Worcester came out from a room in the west wing. " My dear Esther, have you been riding?" she exclaimed.' And who is that jumping the park railings? The horse seems dreadfully wild, and I shouldn't be surprised if there was an accident. Who is this little girl?" "Nettie Martin," replied Esther. She got up and went to the end of the terrace from whence Miss Worcester had come, and from that point saw Jack, deeming himself quite unseen, riding the chestnut. She leant against the balustrade and watched him. Quite ignorant of any observant eye, Jack was taking the chestnut over the railings again and again, and, as he rode like a Mexican or an Australian—there are no better riders sight was a pretty one, to say the least of it, and Esther looked on with a sense of admiration. Horse and rider seemed one, and the man was the epitome of grace as he sat the fiery horse. The child's words, innocently spoken, recurred to her. According to her own formula, the man was a gentleman. But he was only her foreman of the home farm, and he had no right to conceal the fact that she had struck him with the axe, no right to carry her blood-stained handkerchief about. She summoned all her pride to her aid. The man must be checked, snubbed. She went back to Nettie and Miss Worcester, who had already struck up a friendship, for Miss Worcester, with all her dignity and sense of position, had taken to the candid and confiding mite. "It is Mr. Gordon," said Esther. " Dear me!" said Miss Worcester, disapprovingly, " I thought it was a gentleman —some visitor." They sat with the child between them, and presently Jack came back, looking quite cool, as if he had only been strolling about the stable-yard. He raised his hat to Miss Worcester. " I'll take Nettie now, Miss Vancourt," he said. Esther inclined her head coldly, and drew the shawl about Nettie, and Jack picked her up in his arms. As he did so, she was attracted by the pictures in the hall which she could see through the open door. "What pretty pickshers!" she said. "I want to see them!" "Not now; another time!" said Jack. " I must get back; I'm late already." His tone surprised Miss Worcester and stirred Esther's pride. " Of i course you shall see them, Nettie," she said. " Bring her into the hall, please, Mr. Gordon." With an imperceptible shrug of his shoulders, Jack followed the ladies into the hall, and Nettie gazed round her with a mixture of childish awe and delight.

"What a boofnl place!" she exclaimed. "I didn't think there was so many pickshers in the whole world! And look at those funny men in iron!" She meant the figures in armour. " And what a lot of books! What's that big thing up there with the pipes?" \ "That's} an organ, Nettie," said Esther. "Come and see these still funnier little men in this cabinet."

She opened the door and took out some carved Indian figures and showed them to her but Nettie found the pictures more attractive, and ordered Jack to take her nearer to them. \

"Who is .feat big man with the great boots and a sword?" she asked. "S " That's Sir Randolph Vancourt," he said. "He fought with that sword for the king, and lost his lifetdoing it. That pretty lady next him was his wife. I think her name was Isabel. While her husband was at the wars she stayed aft home, here at the Towers, and did a little fighting on her own account. The moat was full of water then, and she shut the doors and kept the people, who were fighting against the king, outside. She wore that helmet and breastplate you see up there. That, gentleman in the wig wasl forget his name—but he fought for King George ; with hit) tongue. They called him the Eloquent Vaticourt, which means that he could jaw the hind leg off a donkey; and that little boy with the coat ever so much too long for him, was his son. He was famous, too; he wrote a lot of books; they are all in the library, and nobody reads them now." . \ "How clever you are; what a lot you know, Jack! remarked Nettie, admiringly. Jack's river of information dried up suddenly, and he glanced over his shoulder apprehensively. Esther was standing staring at him with surprise and curiosity, but he only lost his head for a moment. " Oh, you'll be able to read all about it, when you're older, in the ' Guide to Vancourt Towers,' price sixpence." \ " You appear to have read it, Mr. Gordon," said Esther. t "Yes; it's very interesting," said Jack, unblushingly; he had never set eyes on it. " There are a great many more pictures upstairs in the corrider," said Esther. " You must come and see them all, Nettie. I'll "drive Toby over for you some day, and very soon. Would you like to take a piece of cake home with you?" \ Nettie held out her hand; but it was im- ' possible for her to hold the cake and x keep her shawl closed. " I'll put it in my pocket," said Jack; ' and he did so as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Thank Miss Vancourt, Nettie, for her great kindness." " Tank you, Miss Vancourt, for your gate tfeidness," said the child. 'Esther came forward and kissed her, and in doing so the soft tendrils of her dark hair almost touched Jack's cheek. The blood flamed in his face for a moment, a moment only; but he kept his eyes steadily in front of him and his voice was quite calm as he said, " Good morning, ladies," and strode out. "A very singular young man," remarked Miss Worcester. " A little too brusque and self-confident to please me. He doesn't appear to quite—— his position; but there must be a great deal of good in him, or that sweet little thing wouldn't be so fond of him." Esther laughed as she looked after the pair rather absently. " I do believe that idea is an utter fallacy, aunt. Dogs and children often take to the most worthless of human beings; look at Bill Sykes' dog, for instance !" " Oh, I shouldn't say Mr. Gordon was at all like Bill Sykes," said Miss Worcester, who always took things literally. " Where is Mr. Selby Lay ton? The bell rang some time ago." At that moment Mr. Selby Layton was in his room changing; but he was performing the operation in a very preoccupied fashion, and every now and then he glanced distastefully, and with a moody brow, at the crumpled letter which- Palmer had brought him on .the terrace, and which now lay open on the dressing-table. It was a very short one, and ran thus: " Dear Sir, There are no letters to-day; but last evening a gentleman, if I may call him so, called and asked for you. He was very much put out when lie heard that you weren't in London, and asked for your address ; but I did not give it to him because he was intoxicated, leastways screwed, and did not seem a gentleman. He swore at mo dreadful. He would not leave his name, but said ho would call in a couple of days' lime, and I was to write to you. He was a tall man, very dark, with a black moustache and an insolent way. He asked me for a drink, but I said it was locked —Your obedient servant, Willi Levett."

As his eyes rested on. this note, which came from his rooms in Claremont-street, and was written by his valet, Selby Layton's face drew darker and the twist of his lip positively ugly; and when, having dressed, he tore the note into fragments, he muttered "Curse him!" with a vindictiveness which few of his numerous friends would have deemed Mr. Selby Layton capable of. His smile was as sweet as ever as he went down to the ladies, but it was more than a little sad.

" I am sorry to say that I shall have to go up to town to-morrow," he said. " But, indeed, I have made a very long stay, and I am sure you will be glad to get rid of me."

"We shall be dreadfully dull after you have gone;" she said. "We shall miss the music so much. I hope it is not unpleasant business which has called you away" "Oh, no," said Mr. Selby Layton. "It is only a small matter, but it needs my personal attention, and I am partly consoled for leaving the. Towers by the thought that I may begin the execution of the commission you have honoured me with." He added this in a lower tone, intended only for Esther's ears; and she smiled at him gratefully. Mr. Selby Layton made himself very plea-s-ant these last hours of his first visit to the Towers, and not only to Esther, but to both ladies. He talked with Miss Worcester on all her favourite topics, and, when he was alone with Esther, discussed her secret plan for benefiting the Vancourt family as if the project were as close to his heart as to hers. He hung about Esther all the evening, and he sang some of his prettiest songs in a voice of melting tenderness ; and every now and then he glanced towards her with a wistful, devoted expression in his blue eyes which meant unutterable things. But, as it, happened, Esther did not catch one of these glances for as she listened to the flood of melody which would have made Selby Liyton's fortune on the operatic stage she was thinking of Mr. Gordon— all persons in the world. She was recalling the way in which he had ridden up to her and so skilfully saved her from what might have been a serious accident ; of his gentleness with the child whose love he had so evidently won; of his wonderful self-possession; and, more than all else, of the strange fact, which Nettie had innocently disclosed, that he carried her blood-stained handkerchief about him. Why did he do it? It was very disrespectful of him. He had no right to keep her handkerchief. Should she ask him for it? No; she could scarcely do that, and, after all, it didn't matter; Martin would get well presently and this strange Mr. Gordon would leave the place. She sighed and murmured: " Thank you! Very beautiful!" as Mr. Selby Layton finished his last ravishing song, find Miss Worcester gathered up her knitting as a sign that it was time for bed. She left Esther and Selby Layton alone for a moment or two, and he drew near to the girl and looked down at her pensively and sighed.

It was too soon for him to speak yet; something about Esther warned him to be careful; but there was so much at stake that he thought he must venture upon at least a hint.

" I cannot tell you how happv I have been at the Towers, Miss Vancourt," he said, his voice like a flute; "or with what sorrow I leave it. This has been the happiest time of my life; and I shall think of it as I sit in my lonely chambers recalling the delightful hours I have spent here." "It's very kind of you to say so," said Esther. "I am sure we shall miss you very much, and I am very glad that you've not found it very dull. We hope that you will come down again." "I may have something to tell you about the Vancourt people," he said. " Perhaps you will let me bring my report." He took the hand she held out to him and half raised it to his lips ; but no man had ever touched Esther's cheek or hand, and, with a little touch of colour in her ivory face, she drew her hand away. Mr. Selby Layton's smile remained sweet until he had reached his room, then it fled and his lips took on their nasty twist. "Proud as the very devil, and cold as a stone!" he muttered. " I'll pay her back in her own coin some day!"

(To be continued on Wednesday, ne** 3