Croesus' Widow.

Otago Witness, Issue 1598, 8 July 1882, Page 25

Croesus' Widow.

Br Dora Russell.

Author of 'Footprints in tho Snow,' 'The Vicar'b Governess,' &c, &c. Chapter V.

«EFORE the interview between Lord Seaforth and ' Miss Nellie' ended, Lord Seaforth had persuaded her to forgive him for having deceived her, or rather allowed her to deceive herself about his name. The error into which she had fallen was' veiy easily accounted for. One morning ' Miss Nellie ' and her- dog, a handsome collie, were crossing, the road-way near St. George s Hospital, when the unfortunate collie was knocked down and run over by a hansom cab. The young man seated in the cab heard the girl's shriek as she saw what had happened, and he at onco jumped l out, and carried it to its young, mistress, who forgetting everything but her favourite's -sufferings, knelt down on the pavement, and laid the poor brute's head tenderly in her lap., , . 'lamsovery, very sorry,' said the young man (Lord Seaforth), ,'but I fear the dog is done for,. and if you will allow me I'll get him taken away, and put an end to him at once. Then the girl (Miss Nellie) looked up indignantly and Lord Seaforth saw how pretty she ''Do you mean to take him away to be killed?' said 'Miss Nellie.' 'Kill my poor, poor man,' (and Bh&i«nce more bent over the injured dog, who lookod up in her face, and tried to lick her hand) 'because he is hurt? You shall not do that, sir 1 I, will never leave Wallp.ce, and he shall never leave me whilst he is alive.? „ _ , a , ■ / I am truly sorry,' again said Lord Seaforth. Shall I caliacab, then,! and .drive you homo with your dog?' . . ' , 'If you will do that I shall be very inuqh ' obliged,' answered the girl, who was beginning to be' aware that she was fast becoming the centre of a crowd. . So, Lord Seaforth called a four-wheeled cab, and poor Wallace was lifted into it, ■and held partlyin 'Miss Nellie's' arms, and partly mLord Seaforth's, until they reached the small house in a small street near Regent's Park, where * Miss Nellie ' informed Lord Seaforth that her father, Major Blythe, then lived. . Nellie got out of the cab, and ran into the house first to break the news of the dog s accident to her father. * For he is blind,' she said to Lord Seaforth, * and that, of course, makes us love him, and think'of him more.' • Lord Seaforth smiled a grim smile afe the situation he found himself in, after the girl left him. Sitting in a cab, nursing a strange dog ! But he felt repaid when ' Miss Nellie reappeared, leading her blind father by the hand. ■ 4 This is my father, Major Blythe,' said IS ellie. * I— l do not know your name— but he has been so kind to dear Wallace, father.' 'My name is Seaforth,' answered Lord beaforth, getting out of the cab and smiling. I am glad to make the acquaintance of Major Blythe— for I,- too, am a soldier.' ' Thank you for your kindness to my litfclo girl,' said Major Blythe, ' and to the poor dog, .who is an old and faithful friend to us all. Will you come in— Mr— or are you Captain Seaforth? 1 . , 4 1 1 hold a captain's commission, answered Lord Seaforth, looking with some interest at tho .blind Major. - H,e saw, a tall, grey-haired man, with a noble face, and an expression of almost touching resignation. This' was the pretty girl's father, then— the. pretty girl who, when.Lord Seaforth looked, round for her, was lifting out her injured dog from the cab, and speaking to it .in '•tones of sympathising endearment. They carried it together (Lord Seaforth and Nellie) into the msagrely-furnished parlour close to the house door, and Nellie went down on her knees and made poor Wallace a bed w£th .a simple graca that the young man could not but admire.

She was pretty—not a regular beauty though, with perfect features— but it was a face with a charm. Modest, innocent, and gweet, with bright, light, curly, ruffled hair, and & fair,. smooth, fresh, rosy, girlish skin. * She ia a little rosebud,' thought Lord Seaforth, and as he assisted her to make the dog's bed, he determined not to lose sight of ' Miss Nellie.'

' Let me bring you a " vet " to see Wallace,' he said. ' I know a very clever fellow who belongs to us, and he'll do what he can for the * dog.' - Lord Seaforth brought the ' vet,' and Wallace was nursed and tended until he was ' the happiest dog alive,' Seaforth told Nellie. Seaforth came very often to inquire after the dog, and sat in the little parlour and talked to the blind Major, and looked at the golden head of ' Miss Nellie.'

He called her 'Miss Nollie' in these days. She was the Major's youngest daughter, and Miss Blythe— Margaret, tho eldest— was from home. Seaforth soon learnt all the little simple family history. Major Blythe had been in an Infantry regiment, and his sight hadlseen affec- ,. (Ed by a sunstroke in India. Then he had left tUP regular army and had become m adjutout

'to a militia corps. But he gradually grew blind. They were terrible hours, he told Lord Seaforth in his simplo way, when he first knew that his sight was doomed. ' She was my little comforter,' he said, softly, laying his hand on Nellie's fair, ruffled s curly hair, and the girl looked up and put her arms round her blind father's neck. ' I said I would be his spectacles !' she said, trying to speak lightly, but Seaforth saw her blue eyes grow moist, and the next moment she dashed away a tear. A very tender love existed between the father and daughter. Major Blythe admit ed to Seaforth that sho was his darling, though ' Margaret, my eldest daughter, is a most excellent, > clever woman,' the old soldier told his visitor ; ' but then, Margaret is ten years older than Nellie, and so, naturally, Nellie is the spoilt darling of the household.' ' The spoilt darling of the household,' however, showed very few signs of being spoilt. She was a bright, sweet, unselfish girl, with a little hot temper perhaps sometimes, but the moment it was over it was gone for ever. No one ever saw a frown or a sulky look on Nellie Blythe's fair face. 'She is like. the sunshine,' said her fond father, and soon Seaforth did not care to tell or think how much he thought of Nellie Bl .y. fcho ' Their acquaintance went on very smoothly, and pleasantly at first. Then Margaret Blythe returned home, and she shook her head and 1 lookod very grave when she heard about ' Oap-i tain Seaforth.' j 'It is unwise to allow him to come here,; father,' she said to the Major. 'Heis in the Guards, you say, and altogether an unsuitable; acquaintance for Nellie.' Margaret Blythe was quite different in appearance to Nellie, but she also Was good-look-ing. She was tall and dark, and very deter-i mined, and she was a professional artist, and an illustrator of books wnen she could get employment. During her meritorious struggles (for the Blythes were very poor) Margaret had made the acquaintance of W. D. Vyner, the painter. The woman usually so cold and self 7. contained was not cold to the handsome artist! She admired him, and she grew fond and proud of him. Vyner was lonely, and not particularly happy, and he liked and respected Margaret Blythe, and he had drifted into an engagement with her. They had been engaged six months when he saw again the face of his first love at the Academy— when he heard that Nora Tre!lawn was free— that rich John Trelawn was dead, and that all his great wealth had come to his young widow. vyner had once met Lord Seaforth at the Blythe's and had been introduced to him as 'Captain Seaforth.' But Seaforth only went very rarely to the Blythe's house now. Margaret had given him to udderstand that he was nbt a very welcome visitbr to her, and Seaforth (perhaps gladly) had taken • advantage Of this intimation to induce his friend Nellie to meet him unknown to her sister. They had met each other, and walked together many and n&any a time before Lord Seaforth had been urged by his mother to think of Nora Trelawn, before his own overwhelming embarrassments' had often made him resolve to break with sweet •Nellie Blythe. ' But this was not an easy thing to the^ .young man's heart. His wild and reckless life had grown wearisome to him, and the women oji whom he had wasted his substance had palled upon him, but it was too late. Lord Seaforth was a ruined man, and what Lady Seaforth had told him was but too true. Unles he .mairied a woman with a great fortune, his career was ended, and yet still he did not care to break sweet Nellie s heart. , , For he believed that the girl lored him. He,r soft, innocent eyes had betrayed this a hundred times, and though no binding words had absolutely passed between them, Seaforth knew that in honour he was bound to Nellie Blythe. i Chapter VI. ' ; Margaret. t ; He did not accompany her home after he had told'her that his real name was Murray, Viscount Seaforth, and that he was little better than a beggar. He left her at the Metropolitan Railway Station, which was almost close to the street in which Major Blythe lived, and then Nellie went on thoughtfully to her father's The street door was opened as she approached it, and her eldest sister stood there looking anxiously out. ' Nellie, where have you been ? she said. ' How late are you !' „»,„. ' Only sitting in the park, answered Nellie, while the tell-tale colour flushed through her fair skin, 1 'Tis too late for a young girl like you to sit in the park alone,' answered Margarep. ' Have you brought in father's paper ?' ' Oh !— l've forgotten !' .exclaimed Nellie, in real distress. ' ' It is thoughtless and unkind of you,' said Margaret, * when he has so few pleasures, and he has asked for it twice. I should have gone for it myself, but I dare not leave Hatton in the house alone for fear she sets it on ffre.' ' I will run and get the paper now, Margaret.' 1 No^ I will get it ; but, Nellie, come inhere ; I have got something to tell you.' And the elder sister drew the younger one into a little back room, and closed tho door behind them.^ * Walter Vyner has been here,' began Margarotj ' and ho has just been telling me a shameful thing, Nellie.' , ' 1 What has he been telling you ? ' said Nellie quickly. 'That Captain Seaforth, whom you and my father think so much of, is actually not Captain Seaforth,' continued Margaret. ' Walter saw him at the private view at the Academy to-day with a lady whom he knew long ago, and this lady was with Lady Seaforth, and the man who has passed himself off here as Captain Seaforth is really Lord Seaforth ! I call it exceedingly wsulttog to us.' ■ For a moment Nellie was silent. Her delicate skin flushed, and her lips trembled j then she said sharply, almoajb defiantly— ' Yes, I know.' ' You knew, absolutely know, that a man was coming to your father's house under q, fajse title and never told it ! Then I'm ashamed of you ' exclaimed Margaret, very angrily. ' 'Very well, you can be ashamed, retorted KTellie, her quick temper asserting itself. ' When did he let you know this ; said Margaret, Boorwfjolly. 'After he was found out to-day, I suppose, when he knew it was no use trying to deceive us any linger ? Nellie bit hor lips and did not ,speak. # ' Can you not see through his motives for this?' proceeded Margaret. 'He meant to amuse himself with a silly girl, and when any1 thing serious might be expected to come of it he intended to vanish ! There is, indeed, no 1 Captain Seaforth, and Lord Seaforth has throughout acted in a most ungentleinanly manner. 5 . 'The mistake arose through me,' said JNellie. ' When he came hero first, and you know how that happened, 1 said I do not know your name, and he simply said " My name is Seaforth," and it is "Seaforth." What deception was there in that ? Perhaps he did not care to tell us he was a lord when we were living in a little house like this. It was from delicacy of feel* ing, Margaret, not jEvum any wish tp a^ive,

Then father said, was he Mr or Captain Seaforth, never, of course, guessing his real rank, and ho said "I hold a Captain's commission, and he does hold a Captain's commission. There ! What Ho did he tell ? You are unjust, Margaret, and I think Mr Vynor need not have come hero to make mischief. Nellie had talked till she was quite hot and red. She stood there facing her sister and defending her lover with sparkling eyes and quivering lip, a truo type of womanhood ! Ine man had erred, and the woman having herself forgiven him, would not permit another to disparage him. , , ' It is all very fine to talk thus,' again con> menced Margaret, but at this point her words were interrupted by an unkempt red head (on which was perched a very funny-looking cap) being thrust into the door. 'Miss Blythe, please, master's howling tor his papers,' said the owner of the head and the 4 What an expression, Hatton ! Why do you use such words as howling?' said Margaret, it right? 'asked Hatton, and she put the thumb of her left hand on her hip, and stood looking contemplatively at her mistress. She was a most comical figure ! All angles, oven the eyes being oblique of vision. She was the only hand-maidon of the Blythe family,; and Margaret tried in vain to make hor presentable She insisted for one thing on calling her ' Hatton ' though ' Becky ' had been the name that this waif of the streets had gone by since her cradle in the dust pan. „ ,, r • But,' Margaret Blythe had told her, 'in all good families the female servants bear thensurnames.' ' ' . ' ' And this is a " good family ! " said Beckys with a sly look in the oblique eyes. 'OhJ please, Miss, I didn't know it r Margaret could not help smiling at this, but still she insisted upon ' Becky ' being called Hatton, but the change of name did not change the girl. ' Hatton ' remained hopelessly comical and absurd-looking, and was a constant eyesore to Margaret's artistic tastos. But Hatton knew how to work. ' I've been at it ever since I was put down,' she once told Nellie, ' and my legs got that bowed with being put down and working too soon, that they've kept that way inclined all their life.' This odd-looking damsel, , then, now stood looking at the sisters with her thumb upon her hip. / What have I to say to master, Miss, when he yells out again for the papers ? ' she said presently. ' Say I will get them for him ; Miss Nellie has forgotten them,' answered Margaret. And Miss Nellie took advantage of this break in the discussion with her sister, and as Hatton turned to leave the room she left it also, and went tp seek her blind father. j ' Father, I have been so naughty,' she said, going up to the Major and slipping her little hand into his ; 'I forgot to get your papers.' ' Well, my little girl, never mind ; Hatton will get me one-, and then you'll read it to me,' he answered, stroking her small hand. 1 And father, have you heard— has Margaret told you what a stupid mistake we have both made? ' And the Major felt the small hand twitch. 1 < ' No, darling, I've' hardly seen Margaret today. Vyner has been' here, and she has been , talking to him.' \ 'I know— well, it seems father, we ,have made such a silly mistake. Don't you remember the first time — when Wallace was hurt, you know — how we asked 'somebody his name, and he said it was Seaforth ?' ' 'Yes, darling, of course— Captain Seaforth I .' ' He never said Captain Seaforth,' continued Nellie. 'He just said ' Seaforth,' and that he held a captain's 1 commission. Well, he is Seaforth, and he does hold a captain's commission — but father, he has another title, too — and he told me this to-day.' 'Have you seen Captain Seaforth to-day, Nellie ?' asked the Major, with just a shade Of anxiety in his tone. ' Yes, I met him, and he said he had something to tell me,' answered Nellie bravely, 'and what do you think this something is, father? He is really Lord Seaforth.' I • Lord Seaforth !' repeated the Major, ' you, indeed, surprise me, Nellie.' ' Yes, isn't it a surprise ?' said Nellie, trying to speak lightly. 'We have been entertaining, not an angel, but a lord unawares, it seems, ] And Margaret has been so stupid about it, father ! She has been scolding me, and talking all sorts of nonsense, just as if he could have had any motive for deceiving us— it is so silly of Margaret.' The Major was silent for a moment or two, then he said— * ' I wish this young man had told us this before, Nellie.' ' But why, father ? Isn't he just the same ? He is a gentleman, and you are a gentleman. What matters it whether he is Captain or Lord Seaforth?' ' The world would say it was a good deal of matter, Nellie. Rank, like money, makes a distinct difference of class. It was not right of Lord Seaforth to allow us to go on calling him 1 Captain Seaforth. 1 ' J '•Now, father, you aro just as horrid as Margaret,' said the ' spoilt darling of the house- j hold,' and sho put her arm fondly round her ■ kind father's neck. ' Don't you begin scolding too, dear old man, or I'll have a fine life between you ! Promiso mo one thing, father, when he — when Lord Soaforth comes — that you will be quite kind to him, for you must not forget how kind, ho has been to vs — and to the dear old doggio too !' and Nellie stroked the lame collie's head, for Wallace was sitting as usual at his master's feet, looking up with his soft, wistful, brown eyes, into that noble patient face.

CHAPrEfi VII. The Old Love.

Walter Vyner kept his promise, and went to call upon his old love, Nora Trelawn, a few days; after he had met her at the private view at the Academy. Nora Trelawn was very rich, and she was also a woman of taste; and lately she had taken some pleasure and interest in the. furnishing an 4 adornment of her house ; aiifl Vyner saw all this, as lie stood a moment or two alone in her drawing-room, and he saw also on the soft tinted walls two pictures of his qwn, which had been purchased through a dealer, and for which Nora had given a great prico. ' Vyner stood still, looking at his pictures thoughtfully, as we sometimes look at our own work. Perhaps he was not thinking only of Jlis pictures— a dark-eyed girl, in the hazy ijaeadows jn the even-tide, wasstandingshadowlike before hiju, also, in his mental vision. But his contemplation of the real and the ideal, was speedily interrupted. A lady not knowing he was thei'e now entered the rooni, and sat down on the first couch she came to, panting and fanning herself. Vyner turned round and looked at her. It was Lady Stainbrooke, Nora's aunt ; Lady Stainbrooke, a' little browner and more wrinkled than she was five years ago, but otherwise not much altered. Vyner knew her again at once. He remembered at that moment the lie she had told Nora— the lie.which had parted him ixm $c giri be loved,

He made a slight movement, and Lady Stainbrooke looked up and saw him. _ 'Is that you, Mr Vyncr ?' she said, He is locking after Nora's money,' she thought. Vyner bowed a cold and stately bow, but the old lady held out a withered hand, and looked at Vyner with involuntary admiration. What had the five years done for the handsome painter ? His face was darker and graver, but he was handsome still. The sharply-cut features, tho bright grey eyes, were unchanged, but the expression of tho classic mouth was altered. The enthusiasm, the passion of youth, had passed away, and a calm, almost a proud look of composure had replaced them. The • man had gone into tho arena, and fought and, conquered. W. D. Vyner's -name was known now all over Europe, and as Lady Stainbrooke looked at him admiringly, with her sharp" brown eyes, she remembered this. j ' So,' she said, smiling and still fanning her-J self, 'you are a great man now, Mr Vyner— well, I prophesied yo\i would be, long ago, if you remember ?' Vyner, who was a hater of shams, answered,' with more abruptness than politeness. ' I thought it was exactly the other way,. Lady Stainbrooke ?' he said. , The old lady laughed and showed her yellow, teeth. • i 'Ah,' she said, 'I recollect that day, Mr Vyner, when you fancied I was speaking about* one of your pictures to my niece, Nora, but hx reality I was alluding to some other artist. To? be sure, it seems liko yesterday, and yet it's, five or six years ago, for it was just at the timo> when 1 Nora was first engaged to poor, dear] John Trelawn.' You will have heard, I sup| pose, that he 'is dead, , and that he has left a great fortune to' Nora ? Ah— all tho men'ars after her .now, Mr Vyner!' and theoldladj^ laughed ag^in, enjoying her delicate little stab.< vyner made no answer. He stood looking at Lady Stainbrooke with a half-scornhil smiled for he knew that ho at least could not be ao? c'used of seeking Nora for her money. ' I do not blame people in the least,' com tinued Lady Stainbrooke in her jaunty, rather humorous way, ' for paying court to the rich, for they are so much pleasantei- aquaintance6 than the poor ! One can never be quite sure indeed that a poor friend isn't going to ask for the loan of a five-pound note. And then the wealthy have so much 'in their power— even you great artists, Mr Vyner, want patrons, you know !' 'Yes,' answered Vyner, bitterly, 'we sell our work, Lady Stainbrooke, as you ladies sell your faces.' Lady Stainbrooke nodded her head and fanned herself more vigorously than ever. > 'Not bad,' she said, approvingly. 'So we do sell our faces, Mr Vyner, and therefore beauty is a great gift. Where should I .have been now, I wonder, if I had not been a pretty girl— though perhaps you are surprised to hear I ever was? And where would Nora have been if she had not sold her face to poor, dear John Treelawn'?. She would not have had young Lord Soaforth at her feet, as she has now, I promise you ! '■ 'She might have been a happier woman, said Vyner, gravely, and as he spoke the room door opened, and Nora herself walked in. , _ There was a glad light in her eyes, and a pink flush in her soft cheeks, >as she held out her hand frankly and cordially, # ;■ ' I am glad to see you, Mr Vyner,' she said. « I— l-^iave.been expecting you" to call.' < '-I intended to come yesterday/ said Vyner, ' but a man's time is not always his own.' , • ■ ' A lady in the way, eh, Mr, Vyner,?' asked Lady Stainbrooke. ■ - .. > ; ■ 1 y You ■ are ' fond /of 1 inventing ladies for ■my benefit, it seems, Lady Stainbrooke,' answereti Vyner, very grimly. '< ■ > , Lady Stainbrooke: looked up at this sharply, and glanced from Nora . to Vyner. She know or rather guessed 1 at that moment that sorae sort of explanation must have passed between them before John Trelawn's death, but sqe was too shrewd to remark upon this. „ ~, ' '.I have beon complimenting Mr Vyner on his success,my dear,' Bhe said, turning to Nora.^ 'Yes,' said Nora; 'I have been pleased— and proud.' Her voice faltered a little as she uttered the two last words, and she cast down her dark eyes ; and Vyner's voice also showed some emotion when he spoke. ' I see,' be said, smiling, and with a sort of gesture towards his pictures hanging on the wall, ' that you have been one of the patrons whom Lady Stainbrooke has just been telling mo that we artists are obliged to court.' ' Ah, Mr Vyner, Mr Vyner, that is a little too bad !' laughed Lady Stainbrooke, with a slightly forced laugh, for she did not wish to offend her rich niece Nora. ' I said nothing of the kind, my dear, but I see, I see !' And Lady Stainbrooke nodded her head after her usual fashion. ' Well, what do you see, aunt ?' asked Nora. 'Mr Vyner is too great a man now to like my little innocent jests— ah, yes, that is just the way— success is very trying, Mr Vyner. \ ' Do you mean to tho temper, Lady Stainbrooke ?' asked Wyner. 'To the temper and the disposition,' answered her ladyship agreeably. 'It requires a strong head not to bo turned by adulation.' ' 'Mine has had no chanco of being turned then,' said Vyner. * Ah, ah, so you tell us,' said Lady Stainbrooke, ' but perhaps, wo know better. Nora, my love, don't you oxpoct Lady Seaforth this afternoon?' ' - ' She said something about coming in to see the now pattern I got at the Art School yosterday,' replied Nora. ' But it is no matter,' she added indifferently. r If I am in the way——' said Vyner rising, and understanding Lady Stainbrooke's hint.'But you are not in the way,' said Nora, softly, and she looked smilingly at tho painter. ' I am glad of that,' he answered, ' for it; is pleasant to see tho face of an old friend.' ' And a patron, too 1' said JLady Stainbrooke, with a little scoffing laugh. She was a worldly old woman this, and put little trust in men, and less in women. She knew the world, she thought, and the hearts of those who live in it, but she measured these hearts by her own narrow gauge. It was but natural that she should suppose that Walter Vyner had come to court Nora for her wealth, for she spent a good deal of time in courting Nora herself. There are feelings and motives ! that Lady Stainbrooke did not understand, and, therefore, she did not believe in them. She understood, however (as we have seen), the power of money, and she esteemed it above all , earthly, or, alas, heavenly things ! But Vyner was not afraid pf Lady Stain? brooke's .sharp tongue. He stood there looking at his old friend, and he was not thinking of her as a wealthy widow, but as the bright girl he had loved long years ago. The shadow pf these years, which at onetime had changed Nora's face so much, at this moment seemed quite passed away, She also was thinking of her maiden days, and of the lover to whom she had given hor young heart. And this lover was before her new— no chill of poverty to part them now — nothing to pa i- t them, thought Nora Trelawn, as she smiled softly and looked on Vyner's face. But presently Vyner gave a short impatient sigh, a jerk almost of the grandly shaped head, A Hiejnory had flitted across hiij mind, A-

woman, good, true, and handsome: handsome, and yet without the nameless charm 'Whiqn makes true' beauty, had risen before his mental vision, and stood there cold and shadow-like bef ore Nora. To this woman he was bound, in honour he remembered, and so he averted his eyes from the' sweet attractive face of his first, nay his only love. ' x . ' Nora noticed his change. of, expression, but she never thought of any other woman in the way. , , '; ' Is this good?' she said smiling,' and'pointing to a costly vase which she recently had putchased. ' I am never quite sure you know Mr Vyncr whether my taste is good'br bad.' Again Vyner thought of Margaret Blythe a 8 Nora said these simple words. Margaret Was quite sure about her taste. '. She thought 'she had the best taste in the worldj 'and was fond of announcing this, and [giving very decided i advice upon all occasions. * A little girl I once knew,' said Vyner, with an involuntary ring of tenderness in his voice, ' used to have a very'pretty taste of her own* if I remember right in the way of dressed and bonnets, &c, and that is I think the best criterion of a woman's taste. I hate an ill-dressed woman I' ' ''''," " l 'Quite right, Mr Vyner,' said old'Eady Stainbrooke, blinking behind her glasses^, 'n well-dressed woman always looks well*— but ah !— ah 1 , it costs money.' And she sighed, and moved her lean, wrinkled hands, for she . was very avaricious/ and hated to open hex purse-strings ey.en'for hor own adornment. J ' ,' At this moment an exceedingly .welPdressed woman was ushered into Nora's drawing-r'ooin. This was her next door neighbour, Lady'£feaforth, who, in 'the /interest of her dongas now very attentive to Nora. ( ' '.'".' r But sho forwarded this interest so gracefully, and with such well-bred ease.' that Nora'tfduid not, help liking' her, Lady, Seaforth .Was,' a handsome woman, with all the' advantages' ef high caste to add to her attractions. The dust of the earth came not near her, and the stock from which she sprang for generatians' had been unmarred by labour. She was a haughty woman, but she .wanted money, and' so she bowed her proud 'head and went to Nora's. Nora .personally she rather liked, but Lady Stainbrooke wa3 an eye-sore and an obstruction, the patrician dame decided, whenever she contemplated Nora's marriage with her son. She sometimes affected (still in her patrician way) the society of people of talent. They were gifted, she thought, and so they ought to be cultivated. But in her heart Bhe looked down upon the giants towering above their fellows, unless blue blood ran through their veins. Her grace and culture of manners/however, prevented this being visible. ; ' I am pleased to make Mr 1 Vyner's acquaintance,' she said, when Nora had presented the painter to her. ' I have long' known and ad' mired his work.' ' " " ;%>; %> Vyner bowed, and took the compliment y'sy quietly. He was passed the stage when praiseis so sweet, and recognition 'dearer than''tfie breath of life. He had his pride, tooj btit not the pride of birth, yet of his birthright. .Ho had not been born with a great name, but with the genious to make p.n. He was greater than Alice Elizabeth, Viscountess Seaforth^ whatever her .ladyship might think.'. Alice Eliza* beth, Viscountess Seaforth, would iiie and be buried, and have her title., engraved ' on her gravestone, 'and there would"- be an end of ,hdr ; but Vyner's hand had carved a name that would not die and done work that wpiild' live. &s long as his canvas hung together, .'','* '•->•'" So he did not bow very humbly to' r my lady. But my lady was very 'gracious.', Mr \Vyner must dine with her koine day, soon, I 'die said, and again Vyner botfed,' a)i<j 'wpndfe'ffe'd'if he would meet his old friend, His'dErk-eyed Nora, at Lady Seaforth's. ' ,' ' " . " ' ' * '\. ; " , .Then he went away, and the| linage of. his ,dark-eyed Nora went with'him, '' "' •■ '' " 1 'She is. 'my 1111 11' 1 Eve,' he said, ftatring backwards and forwards in his studio with'hislon'g'.Htrideg, as 'the daylight faded. ' ' God 1 made! her f brme just as .He made' the first wohian.ipr;'tKa n fi)rst m^n. She is 1 part of tne',' and yet'se^ are 'separated—ay, I know it well, by a, prpnWe 1 'cannot break.-'' . ' ''■ ' '''j.' ' '" • Yet that night 'he commenced ,a 'picture — it was .his Eve as she stood in the''Wafbro6ke meadows long ago, in her bright mai&etilitfpd, before the shadbws had fallen ,upon Her fae'ei - (To be continued.) „,, " ' '' /M