Edith.

Otago Witness, Issue 1500, 14 August 1880, Page 25

Edith.

By A. M. M.

Chapter XIV. " As others see -us." HILE Edith and Reginald Hearn were making their own troubles, and Edith, at least, was thinking there were few in such a cruel position as herself, the world, remarkable to relate, went on as usual. Some of Reginald Hearn's friends were surprised when they heard in what a very sudden manner he had left them. Among these were the Greys. Chatty little Mrs Grey talked to her husband and Mortimer about it in the most determined manner. She did not believe his father had suddenly made up his mind to have Reginald with him. Either Reginald had known of it for a long time, and it was not so sudden and unexpected a summons as he made out that it was, or — and she thought the latter most likely — it was just an invention altogether ; though why he should not have waited until the OliveB 5 ball took place was incomprehensible. ' It is not as if he were like you, Mortimer, and did not care for such things. I know he quite looked forward to going. And no wonder. Brenda is so pretty, and anyone can see they are as good as engaged. I wonder if she knows yet. I don'fc believe she does know. Do you?' ' I have no doubt she knows, if she is engaged to him, aa you seem to think likely,' was Mortimer's quiet answer. At first he had not thought of Brenda in connection with Hearn's leaving so suddenly ; but, after one or two conversations having the same drift as the present, he felt sure she must have had something to do with it. Had he proposed, and had Brenda treated his proposition with quiet scorn and contempt because he was unable to keep a wife, and had Hearn therefore left the fair siren in sudden auger, which would soon cool down ? If so, Hearn would be back in a week or two, perhaps in time for the ball on the thirty-first. ' You know I do not really think she is engaged to him, any more than she is engaged to you,' was Mrs Grey's next random sentence. Mortimer almost started, bit] his] lip, and was silent. ' But what I do believe is : either they have had a quarrel, or else he has proposed, and Mr Olive will not hear of it, bo Brenda has told him he can go. You know she is one of those girls who will do anything to please her father, and I don't believe would any longer care for a man if her parents were to make her see that she would be quite poor, and that they would not help her if she did what they did not want her to. You know I like Brenda very, very much, but I must say she is rather selfish.' 'Is she?' Mortimer knew better than she did how cold and selfish Brenda had more than once seemed to him, but yet he was neither going to blame or defend her, if his sister-in-law choose to do the latter. ' Why, you never seem to have noticed how she always thinks of herself firat, and how she imagines she is more important . than anyone else in the world.' ' Unfortunately, that is one of the bad effects of the school she has been reared in. You cannot expect her to be different. "Why, everything is done, by one and all around her, to natter her selflove, and make her think herself the most important personage that can be. ' ' Yes, if she had been poor, Brenda might have been a little different, but I do not think she would have been much altered from what she is now. It is not that she means to be selfish, but that it is part of her nature. In fact, I really believe she tries to be very good to every one ; and, after all, there is something

very nice about her. Even you, Mor* timer, can hardly help admiring her singing and playing.' Mortimer did not say the truth, which was that he so admired the singer and player herself that he really almost forgot how she did sing or play. He only remarked : ' Wants a little more expression, does it not, Rosie? Otherwise it would be perfect.' Mrs Grey was silent awhile. Then she remarked : ' Is she not a contrast to Edith Halford?' Her husband, who had been up till now most diligently studying a paper, suddenly broke in with : ' Why, Rosie, Brenda Olive ia not to be compared to Edith. A man who falls in love with Brenda will have to go down on his knees to her, and then she won't be satisfied unless he allows her to put her heel on his neck. After that, she'll laugh triumphantly, and allow him to kiss her, and say, " Only don't disarrange my hair, Augustus," or aome such name.' Mortimer could not help smiling, whilst Frank's wife laughed outright, at the idea of anyone giving Brenda a chance to treat them so. Frank went on : ' When some one proposes to Edith, it will be quite a different affair. She will be half afraid and half pleased at the good fortune — ' ' Good fortune, indeed ! ' Mrs Grey's face wore a look of the utmost contempt at the idea. ' You won't allow me to finish, Rosie j I was going to say the good fortune of the lover.' ' No, you were not,' said his wife, defiantly. ' You were about to say the good fortune which had come to her, that she should have a chance of giving up her liberty to be a slave to some horrid man, simply because he tells her he is in love with her, and she believes him. That is just like all men. They think a woman is lucky if she can only get married. Edith is far better off as she ia than if she were tied to some horrible creature who was no better than other men.' * What a tirade ! What is the last thing I have done to vex you ? ' ' Nothing.' Mrs Grey looked straight over her husband's shoulder, and into space, as she replied. ' I'm certain I have, because you always begin about men being such idiota or brutes whenever I have chanced to do something you do not .quite like. Now I want to know what I have done 1 ' * I told you before, my dear, that you have done nothing you. meant to vex me* I should be very foolish indeed if I troubled myself about all you say. Whoever? gets Edith without a farthing will be a luckier man than the one who geta Brenda, with all her money, because, though Bhe is a dear nice girl, she. would stand no nonsense, and as soon as he began to behave stupidly — as men cannot help doing— Brenda would be like an iceberg. Then she would twist him round her little finger, and rule him ever afterwards.' * What a dreadful character you are giving your friend, Rosie. Enough to terrify her most ardent admirer.' Mortimer's grave face relaxed into a smile, perhaps half bitter, as he said it. * No, it wouldn't. He would not believe me— or, if he did believe, would think that though Brenda might be strong to rule, still he would be stronger. Or he might think he would like to be ruled by such a pretty girl.' ' The last is the most likely. You know, before a man is married, what others deem faults in the woman he lovea are to him only graces, or maybe peculiarities ; but if peculiarities which jar on his feelings, they will vanish j if pleasing peculiarities, he hopes she will never discard, but always retain them, so that every little may help to keep her in his eyes different from the women around her— in fact, that she mayjstand above all, and apart from all other women, on that pedestal to which hia love has raised her image. Many men would glory in being ruled by a woman who was worthy to rule them.' Mortimer spoke gravely, as if thinking deeply, and Mrs Grey's mocking smile faded, leaving her face nearly as serioua as his own. She did not believe that any man would care to be ruled by a woman, and she wondered if Mortimer himself had ever, before his wretched marriage, fancied such a thing, and, if so, why he married a woman whom he could never have looked up to, but one whom he must always treat with the utmost forbearance in order to retain even a semblance of home peace. * A woman who is worthy to rule her husband is just the very one who will not try to do it,' remarked Frank. # 'If Brenda Clive ever marries, and tries to do so, her trying will only prove that she is totally unfit for the task she has undertaken.' * Well, Frank,' replied his wife, ' I think women ought to rule by love, and by virtue of their being the weaker.' ' Of course I think so too, dear, and so does Mortimer. Are you going out today?' ' Yes. Mortimer and I are going to see the Halfords this afternoon. lam going to get Edith to come up this evening. If you see Brenda in town, tell her to be sure and come to see me. Say I am longing to have a little chat with her, but don't on any account mention young Hearn's name, because if they do care for eaoh other, and anything haj gone

wrong, she is sure not to come. Frank Grey took his departure, promising faithfully to remember what his wife had said ,; and Eosie went about her household duties, leaving Mortimer alone to think over what, they had been talking of. A good many random words from his sister-in-law had stung him keenly, and yet he knew they were true. He had known all along that Brenda was vain, inordinately fond of conquest and love of power, and that,' if it suited her purpose, she would be the very one to do all she could, and would exert all her arts and graces to fascinate a man, so as to_ keep him in her power, and govern him in anything which she thought it worth while to take so much trouble about. Still,' although Mortimer Grey knew in his own heart that such was the case, it had been very galling for him to hear anyone else gay so. Perhaps' few things vex us more, and cause us more uneasiness, than to hear anyone else echo views which we hold, and which we do not wish to hold, but which, deep down in our own hearts, half smother them as we may, are thereliving' beliefs, to torment us when we find another who believes the same, and does not scruple to speak out his belief. His sister-in-law he thought rather shallow, and that she even should know Brenda as he^ried to think she could not be, but as he really did think she was, was irritating. He did not want to be in love with Brenda, but it had gone so far that he knew he was ; and as he had cared so very little for any other woman, he was in danger of making himself wretched by the tormenting love he felt for her. It is not a simple thing to love a beautiful woman when, if you exert your will in what you feel is the right direction, it must be to keep from loving her. None, save those who have done so, know how hard and bitter it is to feel not only that we receive no love in return, but that the object of our love and adoration is not that Bweet loveable being which we delight in picturing her. * If I could only win her,' was the gist of all' Mortimer Grey's reflections. ' But what (chance have I against one so young and fascinating as Hearn is. Why, all men (even Elphinstone) like him, because he is always so sociable and happy, and bo bright and cheerful. And what wonder then if she should care for him ? He does not seem to care for her much, and at one time I fancied he was going to fall in love with little Edith Halford, who would make him a far more suitable wife than Brenda ever could be.' Thus in his self-love, or whatever we may call it, Mortimer, though he knew he was not fascinating, as Eeginald Hearn' was, yet fully believed he was really the fittest to be Brenda's husband, whatever she might chance to think on the subject. Edith Halford meanwhile felt very miserable, and, when Mortimer and Mrs Grey came to see her in the afternoon, was uncommonly glad to accept her kind invitation for passing the evening away from home, so that she might have something to divert her thoughts from what was troubling her. Mr Halford had no more idea that Edith or Hearn cared for each other than he had that the moon was made of green cheese. Somehow it nearly always is so. The more a man has of book cleverness— bybotfk cleverness 1 mean that cleverness which deep reading will give one— the less does he know of the cares and anxieties, and the motives by which those around him are governed. Mr Halford was no exception to the general rule— if anything, he was an exaggerated sample of it. So it came to pass that what with the evident care her mother and Lucy took to banish his name from conversation, and the persistence with which, if anything reminded him of Hearn, Mr Halford would talk about him, and would even persevere in talking to Edith about him, she ,was rather perplexed, and that any change, however slight, was welcomed, with delight. As she was walking with Mrs Grey and Mortimer, who but Elphinstone should come along. He was riding, but directly he came up to th.m dismounted, and led his horse. He gave Edith a look of admiration, which she hardly noticed, and after salutations she walked on in front with Mortimer, leaving Elphinstone to talk to Mrs Grey. ' When did you last flee Miss Olive 1 ' was Mrs Grey's first question ; and when Elphinstone replied that he had seen her yesterday evening, she soon obtained from him the information she wished for. Brenda did know of Hearn's going away so suddenly, and when Elphinstone told her. She had seemed perplexed and florrVt « Of course, Mrs Grey, Miss Olive did not mean' me to see that she cared, but for more than once she let the mask slip, and I saw what was beneath.' * Do you think he cares for her 1 Elphinstone thought a moment before he answered : « Yes, I believe he does,sor at least for her money.' 1 1 don't believe it is her money, Mrs Grey indignantly replied. ' That is so very unlike Mr Hearn. If he does care for her, it is herself, and not the money. He never cares for money.' 1 1 beg l,eavo to differ from your Jast .statement, Mrs Grey. I think I know Hearn as well as most people do. You will allow that I do, will you not % ' * I suppose you do ; but I don't see .why that makes it necessary for you to run him down now he is away,' was the F@luota.nt reply,

And then, for fear of seeming too plain and outspoken in her language, she went on laughingly : ' Mr Hearn is a special friend of mine, and so is Brenda Clive ; and for both their sakes I should be very sorry to think he was making love to her because it happens that when she marries she will have some money. So you must not think me rude and outspoken, will you, Mr Elphinstone ? ' ' I think you are most chivalrous in the behalf of your absent friends,' said Elphinstone, in his half-sneering way. 1 Very few are so lucky as to have such a champion as you are. ' ' Unlucky, you mean, don't you 1 ' 'Why?' ' Because I cause them both to be blamed for what they would never think of doing.' ' Excuse me ; but do you mind saying what it is I blame them for, and what they would never do ? ' ' No, I don't in the least mind saying what it is. Mr Hearn would never try to marry anyone for their money — " ' No, not anyone. But Miss Olive and her money together are too attractive to be resisted. But I am interrupting you.' ' Don't mention it.' ' But really, I beg yourfpardon, Mrs Grey. What were you going to say when I stopped you ? ' * Why, that Brenda is far too proud, she has too much spirit, to allow anyone to marry her for her money ; and if that was what Mr Hearn had been trying to do, she would soon have given him the cold shoulder.' f But supposing she cared for him, what then 1 ' ' What ! without his first caring for her?' ' Yes,' replied Elphinstone. * She would not do such a thing.' 'Why not?' 1 Beeauae girls, except in novela, do not do such things, at least not often, and Brenda won't give her heart without a deal of wooing.' ' Yes/and whilst wooing her a man can remember that it is in reality the money which he is trying for, and yet make it seem that he cares for nothing but her own self. He can do this without raising a doubt in her mind but that he cares for her on her own account, and for no other attendant good- fortune which an alliance with her would bring to him.' 1 Mr Elphinstone^ you have a wretchedly poor opinion of everyone.' 'No, not so very bad, because it is true.' * Then that makes it all the worse. If it were otherwise — which, mind, I say it is— it would not so much matter your running down everyone in that way. But although it can't nearly always be true that people are actuated by suoh bad motives as you impute to them, yet you yourself seem fully to believe that, if anything, they are worse than you make them out to be.' Elphinstone laughed, and his laugh grated on fiosie Grey's ears. He replied : ' You have not seen as much of the world as I have.' ' I don't want to, if it makes one so distrustful of everyone else.' Mortimer, who had been walking with Edith, now stopped until Elphinstone and Mrs Grey oame up, and then they all walked on together, and conversation became general. To he continued— Commenced in No. 1494.)