THE IDEAL WOMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14294, 14 February 1910, Page 3

THE IDEAL WOMAN.

BY ROBERT BARE, Author of " The Face and the Mask," " The Mutable Many," " From Whose Bourne." ■ "The Strong Arm." "The Countess Teltla," " A "Woman Intervenes," '* Stranleigh's Millions," " Cardillac,"' etc.

PUBLISHED BY. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

[COPYRIGHT.] SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.' ■ The Marquess of M'.-rlvalc is in quest of the Ideal' Woman—the only occupation, he overs, that is worth while to a man who does not need to work for Mr living. The Marchioness,- his mother, is anxious that he shall make a match with Lady Dorothy Sinclair, and she decides to convene a house " party for the purpose 01 bringing about- the marriage upon which her heart is set. She discusses the- arrangements with the Marquess, and he astounds her by saying he will have nothing to do with Lndy Dorothv, and that she had better marry Lord John, her second son, to Lady Dorothy, if she is really anxious to have , her as a daughter-in-law.. In her anger, the Marchioness sends for Margaret Elmer, her secretary, and learns that, without leave, she lias gone off with a stranger to the village. CHAPTER 111. The Marquess of Men vale rose to his feet. Mother and son stood for a moment looking at one another. It was the mother who spoke first, and her words were uttered with decided firmness. "I shall be interested to know," she said, "what explanation Margaret Elmer gives of this. Her absence without leave asked or given was bad enough, but to march oil to tho village with a stranger, . who : her ofrn remark showed, was not a fit and proper person to enter the castle, is an action that will require" "I venture to suggest,' interrupted the young man, " that this is a matter concerning Miss Elmer herself, and even if it were not, I should, prefer nothing said about it. The malice of that black-eyed little firebrand was only too evident." " Rupert, if there was malice on the part of the maid, it is due to Margaret Elmer hereelf that ■ such malice should be exposed." • " Oh, nonsense! .. I am quite certain that Margaret's promenade to the village with this unknown young man is an excursion of the most innocent description." "In that case, my son, Margaret Elmer should be glad of the opportunity for explanation which I shall give her.'- " I'd much rather you said nothing about it, mother. It is really none of our affair. Margaret's position in this household is even at best somewhat an embarrassing one. She is related to our famih-. but so distant; ly, as you remarked, that the tie does not count. She is nevertheless ,in"a position of dependence, being at the bsck and call of anyone who wishes service from her, yet she is not a servant, and the servants, knowing she is not exactly treated like an equal by us, dislike ; her because she will not consort with them. I rather fancy that Margaret is of a sensitive nature, and probably feels somewhat acutely her position ol unclassified servitude, so I hope you will not make her position more uncomfortable than it is by asking questions about: that man 'of mystery with whom she went ofl to the post office, and who will, no doubt prove to be quite a commonplace, innocent person." " If you are so confident of that, Rupert; why should you object to my asking a few questions to. satisfy myself, for I am not so sure as you are that everything is as ii should be." I" Before her son could reply, if he intended to. do so, Margaret, Elmer walked into thf j library from the direction of what Ruperi called her business office. "Oh, by the way, Margaret," cried the marquess, "shall you be very busy fron: now on?" ' ' - /'That will depend on what my ladj wishes me to do," replied Margaret, quietly locking not at the smiling young man, bul at ! the frowning old woman. - • " I have a few words to sav to Miss El mer," proclaimed the marchioness, wit! militant definiteness. " When she has an swered my questions she will be at liberty for the rest of the day." . • " Very well," said the young marquess with evident uneasiness. "I will wait it the reference-room." He 'usually called it Margaret's busines! office, but probably thought 1 on this oc casion to soften his mother by using th< term she invariably employed. "No," said his mother, with decision "I ask you to remain here. You .heard th< charge, therefore I wish you to hear th< answer." . .. .. 1 ' ' " 'The charge?" . whispered Margaret, ii tones scarcely audible. . - * "Oh!" cried th«j marquess, impatiently " it isn't a charge at all, Margaret merely an uncalled-for observation by an ijnpuden servant, because you went off to the village with someone , whom she did not know." "The charge," corrected the marchioness with icy exactness, " was that a young mar called upon you, and his visit caused yoi such agitation that you told him in th< maid's hearing that he had no right to comi to the castle. He insisted you must listei to him, and appeared to possess some powe compelling you to do so. You- were si much, perturbed that, although Peters stoo( there, ready to convey the letters to th< post, as was his duty, you forgot v to giv them to him, and carried them to the vil lage yourself." .v\ ;' - • • " I did not forget Peters," said Margaret but I invited the young man to walk witi me to the post office ' so, that ho one -inigh overhear. out conversation;"■ " Oh, indeed! Who was this young man and what was his business in my houseV" . ;iV "I am sorry,. Lady Merivale, that I can not tell you. .' ' " You mean you .will not?" " Yes, Lady Merivale,. that is a more ac curate way of putting it. But in si: months, or.a year at furthest, I may b< able to explain the mutter fully. You wil then understand why I cannot speak now and I am quite confident you will approvt of everything I have said and done,". - " If your actions are so blameless,-Mis; Elmer, what harm will follow if you tel me now?" "I have already said that I will not ex plain at present." • ' , ' ■ " Really! Do you quite fathom the con sequences of that refusal T'. "I believe I do, Lasy Merivale. Walk ing back from the village I determined t< resign my place here should you be dis pleased at my reticence,"' v. : , " I think, my girl, you don't know whei you are well off, I gave you a position ii this household when your father died, leaving you penniless. I admit your industry ,and your willingness to make yourself use ful, but I imagine you will find it. not si easy to obtain a similar position, with a: good a salary as I pay you." 1 C "Lady Merivale, you force me to tel you that I am offered a similar post in Lon don." ! . tJ „ • "At what remuneration ( "I would rather not say, if you please." " How very secretive you have become Are you offered more or less in London thai I give you?" " More." " How much.more?" * "Three times. as much." "Then the truth, I daresay, is that thi crisis has been created so that there ma; be an excuse for-leaving me." "Oh, come now, mother,"., cried Rupert who during this conversation had been fid geting about among the books, " do be fair There is no / crisis, and if there were one it would not be of Margaret's creation. Th kind of crisis I foresee, mother, is fujancia —the sort of thing they enjoy in the ..city." .''What do you mean?" demanded hi mother, sternly. ' ' " I mean, my dear mother, that the .me tropolis is trying to outbid us, and ou pride of race must be such that we.cannb allow these commercial people to filch fror us what we desire for ourselves.": • "I am sure, my son, I have not th slightest idea what you are talking about."

"I am talking about the question, or, rather, tho monetary crisis, that has become disclosed during this conversation. ,To put it as we used to do at school, Miss .Elmer here is paid a certain monthly sum, which we will designate as x. The Marchioness of Merivale pays to Margaret Elmer, for value received, the sum of x. Very well, London steps up, and says to Margaret Elmer: 'I will give you .ox. Now the valiant Marquess of Merivale . moves forward into the fray and, like the dutiful son* he is, stands by his mother. He says to Margaret Elmer: '. My mothw pays you x, I will pay you 2x—total, ox. Miss Elmer, I have great pleasure in offering you a salary three times greater than that which you have been receiving. I admit it would have been much more gracious on the part of-the house of Merivale to have 'made this advance without having its hands forced by London. Still, we always were a penurious race, and, after all, it is better late than never." Margaret Elmer turned upon the young marquess eyes of protest and reproach. " I had no intention of mentioning the offer made to me from London, I cannot accept your money." ; "Of course you hadn't, and of course you will. An : increased amount of salary is the easiest thing in the world to accept. You try it, and you'll find it requires no effort at all." " Lord- Merivale," said the girl, earnestly,. "I am quite content with the position I occupy in this house, and with the remuneration I receive, so long as her ladyship, the marchioness, is satisfied with my • work." v > " Really, Margaret, a sensible girl like you must know you are talking nonsense. There is no such thing as a contented person in this world. I receive £40,000 a year, and wish it was £50,000. The fellow who gets 50 is unhappy because it isn't. 100, and thus w$ go. Now, mademoiselle, ; listen to me: hear wisdom from the foun-tain-head. From this moment my mother is entitled to one-third of your time, 'while I am entitled to two-thirds. Mother has already had more than her third to-day, , and at the present moment is encroaching on my time. I now command you to retire to the business office, where I will join you in it few moments. I find myself con,fronted with various notty points of procedure upon which I wisn your advice and assistance." Stretching out his arm he pointed to the t door, and melodramatically thundered, the word " Go!" , Margaret Elmer, however, did not move, but said to the marchioness: " Did you wish to say anything further to me?" "No." • " I am very sorry, Lady Merivale, that I am unable to explain the incident of this morning, but I assure you that when the time comes that I may speak you will approve of everything I have done." You said so "before," replied the elder lady, in tones very far from confident. " You may go now. Miss Elmer. I shall have no further need of you to-day." Margaret Elmer bowed, turned without a word, parted the heavy curtains, and disappeared from tho library. Tho marchioness stood with frowning brow, listening intently until she heard a distant door close, then she turned upon her son. (To be continued daily.)