THE NOVELIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 37

THE NOVELIST.

By N. Z.

BLUEBEARD'S CHAMBER.

(Written for the Otago Witness.)

Chapter IX. The Aftermath. T was only what she expected— iiideed, it was the blackmail she usually paid after any recreation, to find Julia awaiting her in a state of suffering resignation. The light faded from her face. Had she been doing very wrong ? On her music days she never returned until 4 o'clock, and was sometimes detained later. It certainly was half after 8 now, and if she had been thoughtful she might have sent Julia a telegram telling her she should not return as early as usual. She wished she had; but would it have made any difference 1 Upon her entrance Miss Dale murmurs in lamentable tones, " I've been dreadfully anxious about you ever since 5 o'clock." " I'm really very sorry, Julia ; I ought to have sent a message or something, but I didn't think of it, and I've spent such a pleasant day." " I think you would have enjoyed it none the less if you had had a little consideration for others." "Did you have a pleasant drive anywhere 1 " " As pleasant as a solitary drive can be." " Did you get Mr Forester's note ? " " Yes. Most inconsiderate I To make an appointment— a business appointment— and then postpone it without giving any particular reason." " But, Julia, he had a particular reason. I suppose he ought to prefer driving me out to sitting in a dusty office, even for the pleasure of meeting you." j ".Driving you out I Where have you been 1 I thought the Greens or some of those wretched people you manage to be familiar with had persuaded you to stay, Driving with Mr Forester, and at this time of night ! Where did you meet him ? All pre-arranged, and your sister sent off in an opposite direction—a scandalous proceeding! What will become of your reputation 1 Where did you meet him 1 " " Meet him ! " Frances, brave as she was, felt strongly inclined to fib ; but dismissing the unworthy impulse she answered, " In his own house — in hfe own study." "Where? Had anyone else told me I' would not have believed it for an instant. Do you mean to tell me you have been visiting at his house alone? Common deoency would forbid such an act. What must his sisters think ? What must he think 1 " Frances, who had been a very dove all day looked just now an ill-tempered little cat, and felt one. She was aware that she could not easily justify her conduct. She mutters, "It is of no consequence what they think." "What could have taken you to his house?" ♦ I wislfed to see him, and had no other opportunity." "So to make one, you outraged every womanly feeling. I am appalled. What could have been your pretext?" "That is my business," says Frances firmly. " Oh, Francie ! Francie, how you try me. What a return you make for all my care 1 Julia burst into tears. Being accustomed to such displays of affection, Frances sometimes wishes that her sister were less " fond," and strengthens her determination not to marry until there is less danger of being subjected to them. " Misguided child I You little consider the way in which such an action may affect your future life." " Fiddlesticks," ejaculates Frances, and she feels so wet-blanketed that she positively wishes that she had never had that delightful day. . Why was she always to be so heavily taxed for every scrap of enjoyment ? And feeling most righteously indignant she marched off. Encountering Nipps on the landing, she broke into smiles once more. " Did you have a good time, miss 1 " asks the maid. How did she divine Frances bad been 1 having an "outing ? " " Oh, such a delightful day. I drove " " You drove, miss I " with eyes of wonder. " That is, Mr Forester drove me nearly to Rochester, and we spent the day with the dearest, prettiest old lady in the loveliest cottage you ever saw. I have enjoyed myself." ' . "My l And you look that bright and beautiful yerself! The missus have been adriving too this afternoon." 41 Didn't shß go this morning 1 " " No ; she told the young man she couldn't be ready till 2, and he came about half after." Frances felt new cause for annoyance, but said nothing. " Betty, Betty," calls Miss Dale from below. ! She never condescends to call the little maid by the only name she possesses. " Good night, Nipps. Run away ; Miss Dale is calling. Wake me at 5 to-morrow morning. Chapter X. Another Visit to No. 2. Now, reposing on her homely couch, Frances doesn't think of sleeping, but lies arranging and contriving. What "heaps" she must do, and must begin by rising desperately early to-morrow. What a romantic story ! What a beautiful picture ! Donald's face exactly ! What a lovely girl 1 Who was she ? With such thoughts sweet sleep soon blended pleasant dreams. Half-past 7 was striking when Frances awoke. Provoking 1 Shehad fully intended to have written pages, or finished her big picture, or gone on with the little one ; and now she would only be in time for breakfast. It would never do. It was streaming with sleety rain, and worst of all,'she does not feel inclined for any work whatever, and the unpalatable task of apologising to the Smiths and Greens lay ahead of her; and Julia no doubt would have an awful headache— aod altogether life had put on its

neutral tint again. So much depen3ed upon her energy, and that day she had none. To make matters more uncomfortable, in the afternoon, the rain having abated, visitors made their appearance in a covered carriage — none others than the " Misses Forester." Frances positively trembled. She never felt at ease in the presence of these paragon "Misses," educated as they had been in the very "highest manner," and "finished" in Paris; while she, poor little Cinderella that she was, had, like Josh Billings' bottle-nosed whale, picked up her mental sustenance " mostly where she could find it." This afternoon they were vastly gracious. Perhaps they noticed her embarrassment. Becoming aware of this, feminine pride comes to her help, her nervousnesssubsides, and presently she is talking sensibly and entertainingly, if somewhat formally. Julia appears before they leave very languid and suffering. After many expressions of sympathy on their part, they invite her and Frances to tea on Thursday evening. They would be quite by themselves (as if they might nob have known that, thought Frances) ; they must " come early and bring their music;" and all the pretty compliments of such invitations were gone through. That evening, I grieve to say, Frances did nothing but console herself by reading Thackeray. On the afore-named Thursday a brougham stopped before No. 9 Cairn street, at the ridiculously early hour of 4. Frances, to i whom such an arrival was not altogether unforeseen, was sitting painting in a high state of preparedness. Dressed in her simple best frock, with perhaps a fuller disposition of lace at the wrists and .throat; a fresh ribbon, too, may have given her the gala appearance she wore. She was sitting ! smiling to herself as she busily sketched (for she had regained her accustomed active mood in the last few days). Donald came stalking in unannounced, and she could not help thinking how much nicer it would be if he were just going to stay in the usual way. She shrank from meeting his sisters. ~ She felt absolutely awkward when under the scrutiny of Miss Forester, and utterly unable to express herself intelligibly with Miss Annie as auditor. They were admirable persons, accomplished, well-bred, with all young-lady-school breeding. They could not possibly shock anyone by eccentricity of word or deed ; they were perfecly correct and really amiable; yet truth to tell, Frances couldn't bear them. She could not say why, exactly. They were very nice. Yes, but how unlike Donald 1 She took no notice of him upon his entrance, and he without remonstrances, says peremptorily, " Eun away at once and put on your hat. You're fearfully late. I'm tired of waiting for you." 11 What fibs 1 I know you've come straight from the club, and could hardly tear yourself away from the Indian mail." " You're wrong this time. I've come from Covent Gardens. I've been talking to a pretty girl." " You have, have you ? I hope your conversation was improving." "It was. I gave her hints upon arranging her bouquets. I believe she'll follow them too. She looked quite grateful." " Conceit 1" " Are you ready ? " 11 No, I should think not. You may compose yourself. Julia has only commenced to dress. Besides, your sisters are not expecting us for hours yet." * Wrong again. I left them panting for your society." * "Fibs!" " I haven't told them anything yet, Francie." "Afraid?" " Not exactly, but I want some fun first. They were greatly alarmed, that I would not stay at home this evening. Do you know what they said 1 " " They did not both say the same thing, I suppose, stupid 1" "Well, what Annie said ? "— ( green Donald, that is just what Frances wanted to discover). " ' Now, Donald, whatever you do, be sure you are at home this evening ; the Dales are coming ' " (Annie had really said " those people," but we must translate sometimes), " and that child will not like it. We cannot draw ter out at all; she reserves all her conversational powers for you — she wakes up when you appear." Frances blushed, not altogether well pleased. Had she really revealed so much I It was no matter now, fortunately. She merely grimaces and requests Donald to move out of her light. Whereupon Donald (oh, he could be rude sometimes) came even more -into her light, snatched the pencils out of her hand, and before she could resist was waltzing her round and round the room, endangering every breakable in it. Frances exclaimed wildly, "Oh, Julia's china jars! Julia's jars ! " expecting to send them crashing to earth in another instant. "Now," said Donald, putting her out of the door, "will you go and put- on your bonnet ? " - " Oh, you are a toad," was the response, as he insists upon a most exorbitant impost I before she can obtain her release, I "Go like a good child, and bring Juliado." She obeys, and before long reappears with her sister, ready to " launch forth," as she says. She had remarked to Julia as they came down stairs that Donald had not yet told his sisters of his engagement, and she i asked her to make no reference to it. Miss Dale thought it most singular. Why was it to be kept a secret? Was Mr Forester ashamed of the connection, she would like to know? Which kindly suggestion of course had a soothing effect upon Frances. It was months since the Dales had been entertained at Great Murdoch street. Invitations thereto seldom exceeded twice a year — once to their annual Christmas party and once in the informal mode of the present occasion. - Upon approaching the house it appeared larger, squarer, more bolt upright, more precise than ever. Its aspect waa never prepossessing to Frances. Yet the great parlour in which tea was set this evening was handsomely furnished, cheerfully lighted, and quite a riotous fire leapt in the grate. Nevertheless Frances felt overawed by the house more by the sisters, and most of all by the Functionary who came in and out with an eye, she thought, always upon her. She pictured herself the mistress of that house Was it possible? Of the Functionary I

Impossible ! She would say, " Go," and hd would not ; " Oome," and he'd do the othetf thing. She was sure of it. She discerned that he was the only person in the house who had divined her connection with his master. Perhaps it had never before struck Donald so forcibly that his home-life was dull. Anyhow he felt to-night more than ever impatient of any obstacle in the way of a desirable change. He was reasoning within himself upon the question all the time he was briskly criticising a sea piece of Stanfield's. Ha thought he had never seen Francie to such disadvantage— dull and listless. Certainly the girls vere refrigerators. Why couldn't they be genial to such a sweet little creature, especially when she seems depressed? Donald never cared less for his sisters than upon that evening. Yet, what had they done 1 " Their best to be agreeable to a girl who was not of their kind," as they said: "for whom they had no partiality " ; and instead of being pleasant they were patronising, That is the way new bonds sever the old During the evening Frances must play and sing; which she did to the best of her ability, Miss Forester encouraging her by telling her that the song she had chosen waa just the simple kind of little ditty she used to prefer when she first .took lessons, and gave Frances reason to hope that one day she would try a duet with her. Frances smiling an odd little smile of her own disclaimed any ability to attain to such harmonic heights. Then the sisters rendered a German part song, and one or two in Italian. Frances didn't understand either language, and had heard all the ditties on each of her former visits. Her sufferings would have been somewhat mitigated had she been aware that those accomplished young ladies might as well have warbled in high Dutch, as they were unable to translate a word that they sang with such infinite expression. Poor little vain Frances within was working a bitter envious thought— "l£ I could ha\e had their advantages." And those albums ! Was it possible that Miss Annie really thought she had neves seen them before, or did she practise the harmless fiction in utter paucity of amusement ? Frances meekly took the most unwieldy, and turning it over read with dry, voiceless comment the original poetry and " sentiments " it contained. Presently another visitor was announced J a gentleman of foreign appearance. Forester greeted him with surprise and evident delight, and almost before he could pay hifl compliments to the sisters he introduced him to Francie. She had never seen him before, but there was that in his face which sent the conviction home to her heart that, he was a good man — a very good man indeed. She liked him on the spot, and brightened at once. As he clasped her hand his glance was almost that of recognition, and he immediately sent one of inquiry to Donald. Strange, this man divines who she is upon meeting her. She is no longer silent or constrained. What genial influence has unloosed her tongue? In a few minutes she is chatting and laughing perfectly at her ease. Donald listens charmed. He thinks her conversation brilliant, her repartees piquant, her sallies witty ; he only puts in an occasional word, satisfied to listsn and smile. This clever little creature is his personal property, and that of her own free will. Good 1 No wonder he is on such good terms with himself. .The sisters are notfperfectlj sure that it is correct that the youngest lady of the circle should monopolise all the conversation, and that with a strange gentleman. They drop a remark now and again not always relevant, but just to assert the fact; that they, too, have read and thought. Once, Frances, catching Miss Forester's eye fixed upon her with an expression of disapprobation, met it with steadfast glance, and if that worthy lady could have diviped its significance it would have conveyed much useEul information ; probably she found it like her German songs, too difficult to do into English. Paul Mprette was a scientific man, and when incidentally touching upon spectrum analysis was much interested to find his little acquaintance well informed upon the subject— thoroughly interested in its revelations. Then the sisters could hardly f orbeau open sarcasm. They exchange meaning looks. What affectation 1 That chit, who had never been to school, discussing subjects they had never dreamt of, and that to an old acquaintance of their own. It was more than ludicrous— it was disgusting 1 But the agreeable foreigner did not appear to think so ; and on taking his leave (which he did before the rest) he expressed the hope that he might have the distinguished honour of renewing their acquaintance at no very distant time. Whereupon Donald answers for her, " You shall indeed, at the Hermitage." What can Donald mean ? .thinks . his sisters. Frances adds enthusiastically, "Oh, yes, I shall be charmed— charmed." When he had gone she did not relapse into her former apathy ; the consciousness that she had pleased Forester had tho-* 1 roughly roused her, and now, regardless of the " Refrigerators," she turns upon Donald —went for him. "What a nice man, Don Mr Forester I Good, true, delightful J " "He is all that, as I know very well; good, true, delightful, and — married, I'm thankful to add." " Ah, I'm sorry," in a tone of well-feigned ! disappointment. " Married 1 What a pity J He is just the kind of man I could marry." It were impossible to pourfcray the expression of horror and disgust visible upon the countenance of those sisters. It was not lost upon Frances. "You look shocked," she said, still addressing Forester, « but it is perfectly true There are some men I'd rather be shot than marry— some I'd rather be burnt. Then again there are some I would marry rather than be burnt or shot." ' Miss Dale moves uneasily, saying in her suavest tones, "Frances has one of her exaggerative moods on. She gets so excited after a little lively conversation." - " Indeed," remark the sisters in unison. " How very peculiar." Donald actually encourages the minx by saying, " Which class do I belong to 1 " "To the second. Burning or shooting would be preferable." " I don't believe it. If sentence were given Be burnt or take Donald Forester, I believe you'd accept the alternative,"

•" I might— when I felt the fire." The Misses Forester, rendered speechless by ttois bare-faced flirtation, content themselves by darting scathing glances at the abandoned pair, and to prevent further disorders ring hastily for the supper tray. Whereupon Donald is so extravagantly lunatic as to say, " I never take supper ; I. don't relish your cups of cocoa ; neither does Miss Frances. While you are imbibing nightmare, I will take her to the library to have a look at my new specimens." *• May 1 1 " Francie asked, turning toward Miss Forester in an unaffected, childish manner she could use when she wished to conciliate. " Oh, certainly 1 " responded that lady in the most frosty accents. Noticing the expression of extreme rigour upon her countenance, Donald — always impulsive—caught Francie's hand, and putting an arm round her said gently : "Don't look so shocked, Harriet. This dear girl has promised to be my wife. I don't know why I didn't tell you before, but the oontract isn't of very longstanding." Then before she could recover from her astonishment he whisked Francie ofE, almost carrying her away. In the library she felt at home. It was, she thought, the only pleasant room in the house. , " You have put your foot in it this time," she remarks, as Forester closes the door. " Oh, never mind them. I've given them something to talk about. I was determined to have five minutes of you to myself in spite of fate." Meanwhile the trio in the pailour by no means enjoyed themselves equally. Miss Dale affirmed and reaffirmed that she had never been so perturbed in her life. In " society," the society she had been used to, she thought to herself, such a thing couldn't have happened. In what dreadful taste 1 No wonder the Misses Forester were so amazed and annoyed ; it was only human so to be. They would never after that regard Frances as they might have done had it been broken to them differently.