THE NOVELIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 39

THE NOVELIST.

would move the Address, and peopb were interested in Frank Hallett as a coming Minister. There is no tiresome grating in front of the ladies' gallery in colonial Houses of Parliament, and any member who chose to look up might have easily recognised the stolid features of Lady Garfit and the placid pink and white prettiness of her daughter, and just behind they might have seen Ina Gages delicate, rather pensive face, Miss Minnie Pryde's black eyea and brunette complexion, and Elsie Valliant's more distinguished beauty. Both Blake and Frank Hallett did look up, and Elsie noted the different bearing of the two men, each of whom was to make his maiden effort in that assembly. Frank was evidently nervous— grave, absorbed, and ■hiding embarrassment under a mask of reserve. Blake was indifferent, unconcerned, always giviDg a sense of latent power, always with a certain kingliness of bearing, and at the same time a certain dare-devilry of which Elsie was keenly conscious. It seemed to her that his eyes sought hers, and that his face changed ever so slightly when their glances met. Her heart was beating strangely. She gave a violent start when Frank Hallett's voice sounded behind her. " Are you quite comfortable ? " he askad. " Yes, quite, thank you," she answered. " I am afraid you find it rather dull up here," 'he said, " and it will be a few minutes yet before we get to my part of the business." " You are looking rather pale. Are you nervous?" " . « Horribly nervous. lam >ick with nervousness."

" But that won't last." " No," he said, " once I begin I shall get on well enough. It's the interval of waiting that sets my nerves going. It's like lying in the trenches, you know, before the enemy have come up. Now I must get back to my place." He ran downstairs. He had hardly settled into his place when the Speaker began to read the speech which the Governor had-dclivered that morning. . The instant the reading was done Halletb got on hia legs and set himself to his task of moving the reply to the Address. Elsie went through a moment of breathless anxiety while he was standing, waiting before he spoke, and then she heard his voice, and felt reassured. After a minute or two of nervousness Hallett went on with his speech composedly and well. Elsie did not care very much about the substance of the speech, but it Eesmed to her to be well composed, and was delivered with the flaency which only just stopped short of being monotonous. It went over a great variety of topics, to whioh she paid little attention, but she could hear that it was received with great favour on Hallett's side of the House, and with respectful attention on the other. She was glad to find that there were no ironical cheera or bursts of interruption, not, perhaps, quite realising that a speech which escapes from these tributes of opposition is seldom a speech likely to make a name for the orator. Halletb satdown amid very cordial applause from the House in general. She could see that. Everyone was glad to find the young man doing well in his first attempt, and she felt all but delighted at the result. He had cer - talnly not failed. On the contrary, he had evidently succeeded. It was exactly what she' had expected of him, and she was content with him. Perhaps she could have wished for something a little more dazzling, something thrilling, like that speech she had heard from the verandah of the, hotel at Goondi, of vhich she had been able to catch only the voice, not the words. Bab still to wish that Hallett should bo dazzling would be to wish that Hallett were not Halletti, only somebody else. Then a rou^h and mumbling voice was heard, and she became aware that somebody was seconding Hallett's motion. This was a poor and scrambling performance, and had only the merit of being quickly done. Then the Speaker put the que3tion, and then the leader of the Opposition spoke. Mr Torbolton made a severe attack on the policy of the Government on all its lines. The girl could recognise by tho sound and movement of the House that the attack was a heavy one and told severely. Then there was a reply from the Ministerial side, delivered by Mr Leeke, the Minister for Mines, into whose shoes it was said Frank Hallett was to step, and she waa getting into rather a drowsy condition when suddenly the Ministerial speech came to an end, and in an instant she heard again the voice that had thrilled her at Goondi. She saw that a new speaker had arisen from the Opposition side, and bending eagerly forward, she recognised the face and figure of Blake, and in another five minutes the girl had learned for the first time in her life the difference between a born debater and a man who makes a good speech. Blake's voice sometimes fell to such subtle modulations that it seemed to caress the listening ear, and at other times rarg out with the vibrating strength of passion, or hissed with the scornful tone of sarcasm. The assembly whioh had listened with such patient approval to Hallett went wild over Blake. From the Ministerial side there came angry interruptions and contradictions.

From the bench of the Opposition came bursts of enbhusiastic cheers and shouts of delighted laughter. She hardly knew what ie was all about, but she knew well enough that it was a vivid and pitiless attack upon the policy of the Government, and that the Ministers seemed to quail under its effect.

Some member standing in tbe ladies' gallery said to Lady Horace when Blake sat down : " Well, now, Lady Horace, whether we like ib or whebher we don't, I think we must call that a great speech."

Sir James GarfTc rose at once, thus paying the quite unusual tribute to Mr Blake's speech by rising at that period of the evening to reply to a new mamber. When the Premier began bis speech, Elsie's interest in the debate collapsed. Lord Horace, who was in the men's gallery, separated from that in which his wife and Elsie sat, leaned excitedly over the railing. " I say, Elsie, Blake's stnnnin'. I wish it was our man. In the face of that there's no use in consolin' ourselves with the reflection that dear Frank is safe and respectable." A little later Elsie knew almost without turning round that Blake had come into the gallery, and was* behind her. She turned to him in her quick impulsive Way, and said : " Oh, why didn't you tell me you could speak like that?" " Did I do it well, really ? " " Ye?, splendidly," she said. "Tbe House felt it. I never heard a real speech before." "I am glad of that," he said, quietly, bending over her—" glad, that is, that you were pleased. I wanted to please you " There was a short interval, in which the House emptied, and the party in the ladies' gallery went out and snatched a sort of dinner at an hotel not fat' off. After they came back the debate droned dully on. Blake came up again and lingered in the gallery. Most of the time he talked in whispers to Elsie, and more than once Lady Garfib turned angrily and frowned on him. It was now 9 o'clock. " I am sorry," said Blake, " that there is no terrace here, where I can ask you to come and have coffee." "No terrace 1 " repeated Ina, vaguely. Lord Horace, who had caught the remark, looked annoyed. "Blake means tha terrace of the House of Commons. Don't ask Waveryng what it means, or he will think I have married a " "An Australian girl, who doesn't know anything about your fashionable London life," put in Elsie, hotlf. "You had better prepare Lord and Lady Waveryng, Horace, for the depth of barbarism they'll be plunged in here, otherwise they mightn't survive the shock of an introduction to Ina and me." " When do the WaveryDgs- arrive 1 " asked Blake. " Lady Stukeley told me at the openin' today that she had heard from my sister, and that they would very likely be here for the May ball They are goin' to stay at Government House," said Lord Horace a little sulkily. He was annoyed because Lady Stukeley had not taken quite kindly to Ina, and that was Elsie's fault, for Lady Garfit had prejudiced the lady of Government House against these forward Australian belles. Elsie gob up. At that moment Frank Hallett entered the gallery. She turned to him. "What is going to happen* ? lam tired; I want to get back. Ina is tired, too. If Horace likes to stay, I dare say somebody will see us acrossthe river." "I Swish I could," exclaimed Hallett, " but Leeke is going to speak— l ought not to leave the House." " Since I am not so anxious to hear Mr Leeke, Lady Horace, please let me take you to Fermoy's," said Blake. 9 Lord Horace announced his intention of going to the club. It was Frank Hallett who escorted Ina down the stairs. She turned her pale face to his with a sisterly smile. "Frank, I haven't had an opportunity of saying a word. You did speak splendidly." " Thank you, Ina ; you don't mind me calling you Ina just once, do you? I feel horribly down to-night. I'm nowhere beside Blake ; he is the coming man." 11 Is it Elsie who has vexed you, Frank 1 " 11 Ob, no, nob Elsie ; not at least any more than usual. Bat she has altered somehow lately. Don't you see ib ? " "Yes, I see it. Bat Elsie was always capricious." " You know I care for Elsie more than for anyone in this world, Ina." " Yes, I know that." " I'm not jealous of Blake — not in the ordinary way. I have been keeping myself a little aloof from Elsie lately on purpose. She has given me her promise thai; if her prince, as she puts it, doesn't come along within a year, she will marry me" 11 Ah I Elsie's prince 1 " Ina laughed nervously. "Ins, a horrible fear has 6tmck me these last days. Suppose that Blake should turn out to be Elsie's prince ? " "Oh 1 no, no," Ina cried. " I cannot bear that man. There's something about him ; I can't describe the feeling he gives me. He is not true." 11 He is good looking, and he is a gentleman ; and I believe, judging from his speech to-night and the effect ib has had, that he will very soon make a mark. I don't know anything against him. Why shouldn't she marry him? If she is in love with him I Bhall not put myself forward — I shall not stand in the way. I shall wish her happiness with all my heart, and I shall always remain her friend." " And yet you said that you had a horrible fear. You can't help feeling as I do about Mr Blake." " Ah ! " Frank cried, "I am human, and I love her. It's because of that that I want her to have her chance, and Blake, too. I won't let myself think ill of him if I can help, but a fellow is a man after all, Ina." They went out into the night. Minnie Pryde came beside Lady Horace. " I know that you two anyhow won't be talking sentiment," she said. " I saw pretty soon that I had better make myself scarce, as far as the other two are concerned." Ina and Frank both laughed discordantly. " Oh, I forgot," cried Miss Pryde. " Don't mind me, Mr Hallatb; and, look here, oughtn't you to go back and listen to Mr Leeke ? He had gob up just as we left." Hallett bade good-night to Ina, and paused for a moment to shake hands with Elsie. It seemed to him that she and Blake were lingering a good deal behind,

" Good-night, lJ Elsie said sweetly, "ana please when you geb into the Ministry sco ' that I have a place at the opening." They bad gob out of the lighted space round the House of Assembly, and were walking down a dim street bordered with houses and gardens, which led to the ferry. On one side lay the Botanical Gardens. At the end of the road the? had left, and beyond tbe House of Assembly, were the great gate 3of Government House with their flaring lamps. The heavy fragrance of datura blossomsweighted the air. Ina and Minnie Pryde walked on alone. " Won't you take my arm ? " said Blake. She put her hand within his arm, and they 1 walked on for a few moments in silence. He pub his hand out and touched h,er cloak. Are you sure that you are warm enough ? The nights are baginning to be cold." "Yes," said Elsie. There was an odd restrained tenderness in his manner which set , her pulses tingling. " Did you miss me to-day 7" he"asked suddenly. " Yes," she answered. "But you had your usual crowd— your verandah reception ; you didn't want me ? " Elsie did not reply for a minute. "It was too early for my verandah reception," she said coldly. " No," she exclaimed presently, in a hard tone, " I didn't wanb you in the least. Ib was a day off, you know. I wasn't playing bhe game. I hadn't got to be thinking all the time of the next move." 11 The next move," he said seriously ; " what is ib to be? We have gathered chuckiechuokies and sab on the boathouse stops, and danced, and sat out, and ridden, and done all the usual things that belong to the game of flirtation. There remains only one yet of the minor experiences." " The minor experiences ? " 11 The experiences which belong to the initiatory stage of flirtation. I have found you perfectly charming— horribly dangerous. I confess it." ' Elsie turned her soft face towards him, and their eyes met. He could see by the faint light of a growing moon that she blushed. " Yes, horribly dangerous.," he repeated. "What is the other experience?" she asked. " A row by moonlight. I should prefer ib with you alone, but I suppose the proprieties forbid. Shall ib be Lady Horace or Miss Pryde who chaperons us ? " I will go for a row wibh you the next time you corns ,in the evening. lam glad you warned me that it is part of the game." Taey had reached the ferry steps. Miss Minnie Pryda called a fairly musical " O-o-ver." The plash of the oars sounded nearer and nearer as the boat approached. Blake stepped on to the bow, and held out hishand to each of the ladies. One or two otherswere crossing as well. The stern was filled, and he took his seat in tbe bows. Several of the passengers were from Fermoy's,. and knew Lady Horace and her sister. The talk fell on the evening's debate. Mr Anderson, one of the young men, praised Hallett's speech. "I tell you what it is though, Lady Horace," exclaimed another, "that chap Blake beat him into fibs. I say, can you tell me who he is ? They call him Monte Christo. He ohucks half-sovereigns to the railway porters, and rides thoroughbreds fib for a king." " Ob, hush 1 " murmured Ina faintly, and turned the conversation with some rapid question. Blake had probably nob heard the remark— at least so Elsie imagined. He sab still in the bow, looking like a Monte Christo indeed, only his eyes were tenderer surely than those of Damas's hero. ' Elsie's young bosom flattered. At last she was in the land of romance. And yet there was" a ' dim terror in the background vof her maidenly satisfaction— a terror of unknown forces which might at any moment break from their chain. '{ ' , When they had got out of the boat and mounted the ferry hill, there was a halt. Fermoy's lay in one direction, Riverside in another. Ib was only a little walk to Riverside, and the sisters had often gone across the paddock alone. To-night loa seemed particularly anxious that Elsie should wait at Fermoy's for Lord Horace to escort her. " Then I might wait all night,'' said Miss Valliant. " No, thank you, Ina, I shall go straight home, and' you get to your bed." " You will let me see you to your gate," said Blake in a low tone. Mr Anderson stepped forward, entreating that he might be the favoured escort. Minnie Pryde, who lived quite at the end of the Point, had secured her own particular swain, who was also a lodger at Fermoy's. "No," said Elsie firmly; "Me Blake is \ going to take me, and you, please) look after . my sister. Good-night, Ina. Good-night, Minnie. Ina, I shall come down to-morrow and see how we are going to the Garfib's.",., The Garfib dance was to take place oa the morrow. Eisie and Blake were alone in the softsceated night. Many of the eucalyptus in the paddock had been left standing. Elsie said that they made her think of the Bash and' of the Luya. " And perhaps of your futura homo," said Blake. "Perhaps," said Elsie coldly. "If it is going to be my fate to marry a bushman." "Da you know what your fate OBght to be ? " said Blake. " You should marry a rich man, who would take you to Europe and place you in a position to which your beauty entitles you. You should have everything that the world can give to a beautiful woman. You should be caressed, flattered, fSted, adorned, surrounded by every luxury, and set in a fitting frame." " Thank you," said Elsie. " You draw pleasant picture.'' " Bab that' r will not be your fate," Bla went on. " You will marry Frank Hallett another. You will never rise above the lev of prosperous Australian Philistinism. V will never taste the finest aroma of roman and of enjoyment. You will never know th fascination of danger. You will never e& periance the subtle emotions which maku one day better worth living than a lifetime." " Have you gone through all this ? " "In part. Life has always been for me a drama. I started wibh the intention of geb ting all I oould out of it. I think I have sucoeeded pretty well, though ib has been , as much bad as good, I don't care in the least about life as life. Bat, as I told you