LADY CAREW’S SECRET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12643, 31 December 1926, Page 20

LADY CAREW’S SECRET

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY

ANNIE HAYNES.

Anther of "The Manor Tragedy,” "The Tale of Lady Hannah, "Lent Lilie*,” “Pamela’* Cousin*,” “A Pawn of Chance, &c., &c. [COP Y R I CH T.]

CHAPTER XVIII. “How awfully good of you to come!” Lady Palmer went forward witn- outstretched hands. “I hardly dared to’ expect you, and yet there was ho one else I could appeal to, and. 1 stood so sorely in need of help. What is a podr little woman like me to do with all the lawyers against one.” . Sir Anthony Carew stood • holding her hands somewhat embarrassed. “Ah, well .you f know, Sybil, that anything i' chn -'do to help you ——” “You are always more than kind,” Lady Palmer said gratefully, as she sank into one of the big easy chairs by the Window, and motioned him to / tue other. Slie had. left the Wiltons rather suddenly in the end, summoned up to town to a conference with her lawyers, and. Wince interviews seemed inevitable,- sue: had. decided to take a suite of rooms. at the Imperial Hotel for a week .or two until matters were more settled. An urgent appeal from her for personal help hrfd coincided with a growing restlessness on Sir Anthony s part, and he had hurried up to-town for, a week-end, on the pre-test-of giving her counsel. As he sat there, however, his thoughts were not with Lady Palmer, and . the thousand and one airs and graces she-was assuming for his benefit, ' they were back at Heron’s Carew witm Judith. He could no.t but be aivare that as far as anything she had yet related, there seemed but scant need for- Sybil to have summoned him to London, but she spoke as if an -interview with her lawyer were imperative. HO had been there perhaps ha)f-an-j U xir when, door of the outer loom sprang open, and voices became audible’ outside. . Lady Palmer sprang to her feet. “I told them that f was not at home, that I oould not see anyone. Oh!” —after listening a moment—“l had quite forgotten. It. is Charlotte, she did speak of coming in, and l did not stop her, for I knew it would be such a pleasure to her to see you again. And really, she has such a head - for business—so unlikq poor little me.” • Surely never two sisters were more unliEe: Mrs Dawson was tall, sinu-ous-looking, with a complexion so dark as to' suggest a mixture of foreign blood, and curious light eyes that contrasted oddly with* her black hair and swarthy skin. She came into the room with her graceful languid an. and to Sir Anthony’s annoyance, .he saw that she wak followed by another visitor, a middle-aged woman with a pleasant rosy face, which somehow gave him a strange sense of familiarity. Mrs Dawson kissed her sister affectionately. “I have only a few minutes to spare, Sybil, for I am on my way to a meeting at the St. Clery Nertell’s Mrs Rankin is going with me, so I brought her in. You remember for, don’t you? But who is this? easing at Sir Anthony with wide-open eyes. “Not —surely not —Anthony Am 1 so much alteredCarew asked, smiling in spite of himself. I should have known you anywhere, Charlotte.” _ “Well, I don’t know,” Mrs Dawson rtplied, sitting down and looking at him. “You are-ulder, of course, we all are v> • with -an affected little laugh. “But you look troubled, worried your very eyes' nrq- altered —anxious.” “An active imagination,” Sir An- ■ thonj, tattghed. “\Vhat should I havo to worry me?”, , _ “Indeed, I don’t know,” Mrs Dawson answered with a little sigh as if giving* up the subject. “You have everything a man can have, it seems to me, a beautiful home, a large income; a lovely wife. Oh! How strange that you should be here to-day, and that I should happen to bring Mrs Rankin in.” “Why strange?” Sir . Anthony inquired 'in his leisurely fashion. Mrs - Dawson looked- a little em'■barrassed. • ’ “Oh, it is only that Mrs Rankm is Ern old friend of your wife’s. But .perhaps I ought- not. to have spoken,” as • Sir Anthqny looked surprised, and a decided shade of annoyance crossed Mrs Rankin’s pleasant face. “A friend of my wife’s,” Sir Anthony- repeated in . a puzzled tone, then - /his face cleared. “Why," that is how it -i«, your face seemed familiar directly 1 saw it. I have seen your photograph in Judith’s album. Of course, now I ■ recollect, my wife was with you before she came to Heron’s Carew, was she not?” - " Mrs Rankin’s pleasant comely face vas still darkened by vexation. She . made , an obvious effort to respond to Sir, Anthony’s smile. “Yes; Lady • Carew was ill and unable to give away the nrizf-5 at the Wembley Show, she was- so- frightfully disappointed that I ' bad bard work to console her.” “What?” Sir Anthony looked across . in some surprise. “Is it possible that Miss Rankin was at Wembley Show? , -Why did she not come over to Heron’s . Carew ? I am sure my wife would have . been delighted to see her.” .. “Silly child, so I told her,” Lady Palmer agreed. . “Oh, Sophie was .not m the neigh.Jmurhpod very long,” Mrs Rankin said

hurriedly. “She stayed for a few days at Marchfield Vicarage with 'the Canon’s sister, but I know she had a good many engagements. I daresay she had no time to get over to Heron's Carc.f, kind of you as it is to think of it, Sir Anthony. Another time perhaps ” “Another time she must certainly come,” Sir Anthony said decidedly. “You must let us know when she is in the neighbourhood, please, Mrs Rankin.” “Thank you, you are very kind,” Mrs Rankm returned in a distinctly non-committal tone. “Oh, dear Mrs Rankin, I don’t think it was altogether want of time,” Lady Palmer said plaintively. “I Lady F aimer said plaintively. “I gathered from Miss Rankin that you had told her she was not to go to Heron’s Carew, unless Judith spoke to her first, or something of that sort. That was why the poor child was so disappointed not to see her at the show.” It did not escape Lady Palmer’s eyes that as she spoke one of Mrs Rankin’s black-gloved hands suddenly tightened itself upon the arm of her chair, that there was a certain momentary compression of her lips. She did not answer for a moment, -then die looked at Sir Anthony, a lurking shadow in her blue eyes, though her lips were smiling. “As yoti have said so much. Lady Palmer, I think I must explain. To tell the truth, though perhaps 1 ought not to say it, we have felt a little hurt, both Canon Rankin and myself, that lady Carew had, taken absolutely no notice ] of us since her marriage. I would not have Sophie thrusting herself upon her, and therefore I told Mrs May that, much as Sophie might wish it, 1 would rather she did not go over.” Sir Anthony looked embarrassed. “I am sure there is some mistake, proliably a letter has miscarried, or Judith may have called, and your servants may have forgotten to tell you. in any case I am sure Judith would never forget her old friends; it would not be like her. I have always heard her apeak of your family in terms of warm affection, and I am sure she will be delighted to hear I have met you, and will look forward to renewing your acquaintance.” “You are very kind. I think myself it is probable that there is some mistake,” Mrs Rankin returned. There was a slight relaxing of her features, she drew a tiny breath of relief, and pnt her handkerchief to her lips for a moment, as Sir Anthony turned to speak to Mrs Dawson. Lady Palmer crossed over and took the chair next Mrs Rankin, her soft black gown falling in graceful folds round her slim figure. “I want your girl to dine with me one day this week,” she began in her sweet caressing tone. “I have a youngi cousin in town, and though of course I can’t do any real entertaining just now, I I thought I might give the two a little I dinner, and perhap6 some music afterwards. Your girl sings, doesn’t she?”

“In ah amateurish way, still it is useful in the parish sometimes,” Mrs Rankin replied. Lady Palmer’s eyes watched her from beneath their lids. What was it the woman was afraid of? she asked herself. What brought that look, of being on the defensive on her face directly Judith’s name was mentioned? Why did she turn pale and shiver when Sir Anthony was speaking to her? She leaned forward a little in her chair. “I am going to try and make Miss Rankin as fond of me as she is of my cousin, Lady Carew.” Mrs Rankin’s face stiffened instantly. “It is exceedingly kind of you.” “Now which day can she come?” said Lady Palmer. . “Let me see — Thursday or Friday will suit me best. Which wohld she prefer, do you think?”. Mrs Rankin shook her head. “I am afraid neither day is possible. On Thursday we are all dining out, and on Friday she is having a friend from the country to spend the day with her.” Lady Palmer’s eyes narrowed. “Next week then. Of course I’-am not going out now, so I am comparatively free. Which day shall we say?” “Oh, next week.” Mrs Rankin was sitting bolt upright now, "her hands in their black kid gloves were folded in her lap. “Next week.” She went on. “Sophie will be away from home. I am sorry to say. Lady Palmer. She is going down to stay with some cousins in the Isle of Wight.” “1 am so sorry,” Lady Palmer said gently, as Mrs Dawson rose, and Mrs Rankin, with an air of relief, followed her example. “Well, X must hope to be more fortunate another time.” She gave Mrs Rankin one of her- flashing smiles as she spoke. The smile was still lingering. round her lips when. Sir Anthony having escorted the visitors to their carriage, she lay back in her chair and awaited his return. “So Sophie knows,” she murmured beneath her breath. “Sophie knows at least enough to put me on the track. Ah. well 1 I think I shall manage an interview with Sophie before very long, and then Lady Carew may look out.” (To be continued.)