FACING THE WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12425, 20 April 1926, Page 4

FACING THE WORLD

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

DOMESTIC STORY OF ATTRACTIVE INTEREST

BY

FLORENCE HOPE,

Author"of “The Trials of Madge Moberley,” “Paying the Penalty/* “The Lordship of Love,” “Against the Wind,” &c., &c.

[COPYRIGHT]

CHAPTER i-x.-i.o3iD HAHER&HAM. “If she suits you as a secretary why bother about her being younger than you imagined her to be, Gilbert. 1 never heard of such nonsense as your idea of sending Miss Lorrimer about her business just because she is young and pretty, instead of old and plain. Really, there is no satisfying you men, you are all alike. There’s Jack now declares , that lie must go back to town about seme business or other that he says he lias neglected, and you send for me to complain of having been deliberately deceived by me, anu it was all for your own comfort and happiness. Really, I havo no patience with you,” and most certainly she hadn't, for Geraldine HaveJock flung down a book on the oak table with a bang, pushed her chair back with a screech over the polished floor, yet knowing that every sound jarred .upon her brother’s sensitive ears. “Geraldine I can’t you understand ? Can you not for once try and put yourself in my position. I am blind, dependent upon the woman most with me to brighten my existence. I wanted a mid-dle-aged or even elderly woman as my secretary, and believed that I had such a one. I was cruelly deceived; this young girl has taken a position that she ought not to have accepted, and you have allowed her to do so. She has made herself almost necessary to mo, has brought sunshine into my darkness, cheers me as I never believed it possible to be cheered, but is it right that she should stay? Ask yourself the question, and answer me frankly, truthfully.” Gilbert Havelock’s manner was 'full of anxiety, he was so helpless, never had he felt his affliction so much as he did now when he made the discovery that he had been deceived. He knew that if Miss Lorrimer left him now she would leave a blank in his days that could never be filled, he would long for her to return, yet if he allowed her to stay — well, there was danger ” "What does it matter, Gilbert?, Do let things be, this girl suits you, and. she suits me too, she is happy here, and you would send her out into the world again to seek another home. She has told me how difficult it was for her, how- 6he and her sister answered advertisement after advertisement, and that her sister actually had to accept a post in a music shop. Would you send this girl to do the same? She is fit for better things. This life suits her; but bow long might it not be before she found such, another situation? It would be cruel to send her away, I think. You say she has made -herself almost necessary to you; then’ by all means let her stay. You need not think of any danger to her; a girl does not think of a blind man to whom she is secretary ns she would of any other man, and I daresay you appear to her quite old, ancl certainly not eligible/’ said Geraldine, callously. She did ’not see how her brother winced, or that his hands were clenched upon his knee. “That’s true,” he said, huskily, then to himself, “the danger is only to myself.” “Can I go now? Have you done lecturing me, I want to see if I can make Jack alter his mind about going to town.Shall I send Miss Lorrimer to you for the usual reading?”- said Geraldine, lightly, as she rose to leave her brother, relieved that the interview was over. But ho shook his head, he did not want his secretary with him just then. He wanted time to think'over things, so Geraldine flounced out of the room in her careless way, caring nothing for the pain of mind she left behind her.

Scarcely had she- gone, however, when Mab came to the open window that reached to the grpund. She had not spoken alone with Mr Havelock since he had cried at her that it was cruel to deceive him, and that was the day before. She had troubled over it dreadfully, for his words had hurt, and now she had come to tell him that she had deceived him in another matter, that she was one of the Lorrimers of Old Hall, the former occupants and owners of the place. She would deceive him no more, no, not in the smallest - thing, it had been cowarly and cruel, and her conscience smote her, her heart ached for him in his blindness. "Mr Havelock!” She called to him softly, and there was a tremor in her voice that hie keen ear instantly detected. “Are you at the window, Miss Lorrimer?” he an§wei*ed. “Yes, may I speak to you?” “Como in. Close it, will you? The other is open at the end of the room.” No one could enter by the alcove window, so they would be free from interruption. He listened to her light step, such a girlish footfall over the polished floor, how could ho have thought of her as. elderly? Well, he knew the ttuth now and could act accordingly. “Sit down; now wliat is it you want

to speak with mo about, eh?” He was going to try to take on himeelf the role of a man who 4 might be a father to the young girl, it would be easier then for them both, though he was scarcely old enough to act such a part. He heard her soft skirts crush into a low basket chair, and a little tremulous sigh or rather perhaps a gasp of breathlessness. She was nerovus then, poor little girl, there was no need to be; be was not vexed with her, only with Geraldine. “Mr Havelock,” she repeated, “I—l have come to ask your forgiveness, I am sorry, it was your sister’s wish, oh, I don’t want to lay the fault upon her, I was wrong to consent to the concealment of my youthfulness, but tho temptation was so great. Can’t you understand—to come back to the old home —the home I liqd loved so dearly, that it was agony to leave it ” Her voice broke, he knew that she was crying and wanted to comfort her, but dared not. “I don’t think I understand, will you try to explain?” Your homo did you say?”* “Yes, we lived here, Old Hall belonged to my father. You are surprised? Yet I did not hide my name, and thought you or your sister would have questioned me about it, but you did not, and so I just went on without speaking. I am Mabel Lorrimer, the 6quire’s youngest daughter, and we lived here. It is the only home I have ever known, and when there came this chance of returning to it I snatched at it—and came. I want you to try and forgive me before I go—l can’t bear that you should be anrgy with me, Mr Havelock.” Then it was that he got up from his chair and gtopecl to her side. He could not leave her alone any longer. This little girl who had dared to come back to her old home in the capacity of secretary to himself because sno yearned so for the old place, he could understand that, and feel for her. He laid his hand on her shoulder as ho bent over her. “Don’t go away, please don’t. It would make things so much worse for me. If you can bear to stay, stay, for I don’t know what I should do without you. I mean that you have become eyes to me, and I should miss you very, very much. You have not been cruel, but kind to come, and I want you to tell me that you will stay and, try whilst you are here to feel at home as you used to, if that be possible. Will you try?” Mab was biting her lips to keep back the tears that choked in her throat. She wanted to say so much, and could say nothing, but with her loving impetuousness she turned her head a little, and bent it down ancl let her cheek rest for a moment on the hand upon her shoulder. It was a little act of gratitude only, and he knew it was, but nevertheless lie drew a sharp breath and gently drew his hand away. “Then you will stay, and we will say no more about this, but just go on the san^e —you as my reader and amenuensis, I as ” “My master,” she whispered; then in a still lower tone. “Maestro,” she breathed. She did not know how she was trying him —how difficult it was for him not to give her some sign of tenderness. “Master and pupil, then,” he said in an ordinary voice that was a little unsteady in spite of his effort. “I can teach you many things in spit® of my being blind and helpless, so X will accept the position of 'Maestro/ That shall be your name for nie if you choose when we are together teaching one another.” She brightened and laughed softly, and the clouds seemed to pass. He was no longer vexed with her; she was forgiven, and he wanted her to stay and not to go as she had suggested, with a palpitating fear lest he should take her at her word. He let her read to him then, and went back to his seat, and he actually found fault with her for the pronunciation of one or two words. He was taking the part of the tutor truly, for they squabbled over a difference of obinion, and it was all delightful, and Die feeling of restraint had gone. . They wore more at ease w.itli one another than they had ever been before, and when Mab left her master she was so happy in her heart that she went whistling out of *he room, and ran up the wide stairs as if there were no such thing as trouble in the world. She had even for the moment forgotten her sister, and was enveloped in her own joyousness. She had become necessary to Mr Havelock, for he had said that she was sight to him, and she was how glad! Then as she reached the bend in the stairs she lingered, for the sound of a motor-car came swiftly up the avenue and stopped, and a servant hurried out to usher in a visitor who gave the name of “Lord Hamershain.” (To he Continued.)