Chapter VII. Sir Dick.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 41

Chapter VII. Sir Dick.

TANMOBE returned from town "by tJie tilgbt train, but when he came down to breakfast there was a blond upon bis brow. Bis sister-in-law saw that something bad annoyedlnra, bat she was too discreet to make any comment*, "We fcad Dick Probya here .again yesterday," she said

presently. " Again.?" replied Sbanmore, with an odd inflection in his voice. " Yes. I tell Balle she must have mads a conquest of him/ answered Lady Stanmore, smiling and locking at Belle. Then Stanmore alao looked at "her, but Belle did not seem very well pleased.

" I wish you would not say such stupid things. Aunt Lucy/ Efhe said, and her face flushed. "A young man cannot speak to one civilly ~but some nonsense or other is said about it; 1

"That is quits true," remarked Stanmore.

"My dear," said Lady Stanmore saroastioally, " do not let my innocent little remark distress you or put you out of temper. It is merely a way Dick Probyn has ; every^new face he sees is that of a goddess, tout bis infatuation does not last."

• >Y Wh*t a oonsolation for the* goddess ! answered Belle with % laugh and a. little toss other pretty "head. "One for you, Lucy," said .Stanniore. " Bat what did Dick come tibont 1 " be oontinuefl. "To pat us off going to Harefcto lnnoh to-dky?"

"Oh no;" replied Belle smiling. " He oame expressly to remina na of Ma invitation." "Attentive boy!" sneered Stanmore. "Well, Hiss Wayland.jou will see .a remarkably handsome woman at Hursts Ladj Prribyh makes age«eem "beantlfal, which net many "women oan do."

Stanmore did not look at his sister-in-law as lie said this, bnt somehow Lady Stanmore felt that he would have liked to have done so. She was, moreover, a woman who hated to hear the good looks of another woman praised by a man.

■*• I did not know you were such a devoted admirer of Lady Probyn/' she said spitefully. "I thought jon admired another style of woman. 1 '

il Everyone must admire Lady Probyn/' answered Stanmore curtly; and he rose from the table and went to the window, and stood looking out on the misty lawn. Ho was out of sorbs ; he had a headache ; and somehow he could not help thinking how fresh and fair Belle Wayland looked. "lam too old and too battered for her," he thought gloomily,; "I suppose a lad of Dick Probyn's age would be more to Tier taste. The grime of the past clings to a man of mine.*'

Some of the .grime was clinging to him at this moment. He was fresh from a far from pleasant interview in town ; he was realising, perhaps, that the life he fcad led was sure to leave its trace behind.

But presently with an impatient sigh he dismissed the idea from his mind. He turned sharply round and addressed Belle.

" What are you going to do this morning, MiBB Waylana?'" he asked. "Would you like a xideT'

« Belle can't go out to rifle this morning, Jack," flaid Lady Stanmore, looking up from her newspaper. "We have to itarb for Herat at half -past 12, ana it's no use her going there tired to begin with."

Stanmore shrugged his shoulders. "Just as it pleases you," he answered. "Well, lf co one ©toe-will, X shall go out fora

«hort ride. My complexion," be added, with A short, rather harsh laugh, " wants freshening up a bit before 1 present myself to the beautiful Lady Probyn, whatever yours and Hiss Waylana's may do. So for the present, good-bye." "~ "Be sure you are baok in time," cried Lady Staamore just as he was disappearing from the room.

" All right," he answered, and after he was gone Lady Stanmore looked aoross the table at Belle.

" Jaok is in one of his tempers this morning," she said, " though, to do him justice, he has not an attack very often. And then, all men have their tempers— and women too,, for that matter."

"I suppose so," replied Belle indifferently ; and then boo rose and left the morning room, going out presently into the still gardens, and we can guess to whom her thoughts wandered. It was Hugh. Hugh, always Hugb ! Her love was in its youth, and the bloom and beauty of the spring-time -oast a halo around it. There were none of the shadows and fears of later years; none of the wearing donbts which take the freshness from many a fair oheek in the weary hours of absence and anxiety. Belle believed that Hugh Gilbert really loved her, and she did not fear that he would change. ? I will go to India," Bhe thought f oftly, and she tried to picture in the misty autumnal English garden the life in the strange gorgeous land of which she had heard Hugh Gilbert talk mo often. " Bnt I shall be with hi»," and aba smiled. This was enough for her girlish heart — this thought smoothed all difficulties., all dangers. Tbe mental vista before her lay wrappsd in a baza of love.

Presently she heard someone tapping sharply inside one of the windows of the house, and, looking np, saw it was her Aunt Luoy. Ludy Stanmore beckoned to her to go in, and when Belie went Lady Stanmore wanted to know what she \ras going to wear at Lady Probyn's lunch party. "Oh 1 I never thought of it,* answered Belle. "Anything will do, I suppose ? "

** No, I wish you to look particularly well to-day," said Lady Sfcanmore, looking at her critically. "Let me see, that blue velvet with otter suits your complexion. Wear that, and the hat to matob."

" Bnt why do you want me to look wall to-day 7 " asked Belle, smiling. " Because there are two highly eligible men to be present, my dear," answered Lady Stanmore, also smiling.

"But eligible men are nothing to me. Aunt Luoy, did mother ever tell you that I am engstged to Hugh Gilbert?" added Belle with sudden gravity. " She told me there tad been .some nonsense between you and some young man in the avmy, but that it was an utterly hopeless affair, as lie hasn't a penny, and he li&b gone out to India."

Belle's charming face flushed.

" Mother may say what she pleases/ she said, " but it is cot utterly hopeless. He Ms gone out to India certainly, but in a year, when he gets his company, be will either come home for me or I shall go out to him." "I am very sorry to hear this, Belle," answered Lady Stanmore slowly; "sorry forjou, and yet more for the young man. He has no money, I am told, and you will have next to none, even when your mother dies, and she won't die for many a long year. On what do you mean to live then 7 "

11 He has his pay, and in India "

"His pay ! Why, my dear child, his pay will scarcely keep bis head above water when he has only Jbilm*alf to keep, let alone a wife, and probable family. A man cannot marry on his pay either in India or anywhere else. In India you have double pay certainly, but more than double expenses. I knew a poor girl who did what you are thinking of doing. She married her cousin on his pay and went out to India, end in two years she oamelwme to die— worn out, she told m* herself, by debts; worries, .and a detestable climate. Take her as a warning, JBelle." " I, too, can come home to die," answered Belle, with quivering lips, "but I will die true to Hugh Gilbert/ Lady Stanmore slightly shrugged her shoulders.

" Wilful yonng woman I " flhe eaid. " Well, at all events I hope you won't come home to die; we don't want to lose you quit* yet, Belle. But in «pite of your devotion to this young man, I suppose yon do cot wish to look ugly to-day V . Belle began smiling a,gain. " Wot particularly," she answered. , "Wear trie blue velvet costume, thea. And is it not a blessing yonr mother really can't go; shewauld have only grumbled all the time." " I am afraid she is really in pain." "Possibly; but so are many others. I think it so selfish of people to be always talking .about their ailments when no one cares one pin for them except their heirs." And Lady .Stanmore laughed. "Oh, AnntLuoyl" " As a rnle, I mean ; but there are exceptions to every rnle. I have no doubt at this moment that if your young man's — I forget, his name— oh, yes— Mr Hagb Gilbert's little finger ached you would spend sleepless hours of anxiety and alarm. Such i» calflove, my dear ; but luckily it soon ends ! " "But there is a better kind of love than I calf-love, which does not end— true love," , answered Belle with spirit. " Comfort yourself with the delusion, but a delusion you will find it," said Lady Stan- ! more, smiling and shaking her head. " But surely we have talked enough about love, calf or otherwise, this morning. Make yourself look as prstty as you can, my dear, in spite of ill your love, and remember that we start from here at half -past 12." " Very well, aunt," replied Belle, and she left the room. But she did not return to the ■ misty gardens— she went to her own room and sat down, thinking of the old theme.

"Aunt Lucy does not understand," she thought, " bnt I do. There are better things than wealth or a big name; but all the same I wish either Hugb or I were rioh."

She sighed a little wistfully, but presently roused herself and began dressing to go to Lady Probyn's. She looked at herself with some natural pleasure as she did so. -What a gift she had 1 She charmed without effort ; her beauty was a passport to every, heart that envy sad cot dolled. And. when the pluo velvet with Its cfcfcer

trimmings was donned, Belle made a fair pictnre. She sighed again, however, when she remembered it was, not paid for. Many of her things, indeed, were not paid for, as Mrs Wayland was always lamenting her want of means, and yet insisted that Belle should appear well dressed. It was not pleasant, but what oould the girl do 7 "You must marry a rich husband," she had been told until she was weary of hearing it. But after she saw Hugh Gilbert's face the idea of a rich husband quite vanished from her mind.

Presently she went downstairs, and in the hall she met Stanmore, looking all the fresher for his ride. He had not seen the blue velvet costume before, and he at once noticed and admired it.

" You look charming," he said, and Belle laughed a little ooquettishly. "I have had such a lecture from Aunt Luoy on the subject of looks," she answered, " that I have puc on vdj best frock."

" Never mind Aunt Lucy's leotures," continued Stanmore, still with his eyes fixed on Belle's charming figure and face. " You have no need even to put on your best frock 3 Nature has done more for you than dress ever will."

" That ia quite a pretty speech, Lord Stanmore."

"As a rule I don't make them ; but I must be quick about improving my appearance, or Aunt Luoy will be giving me a lecture, too."-

He laughed and ran up the staircase as he spoke, and presently Lady Stanmore came down and joined Belle, dressed as usual to perfection. " I met Jack going to change his dress, w *he said pleasantly, " and he stopped to tell me that you looked perfect. There, I hope yon are flattered? And Jack, who as a rule has a fault to find with every woman's appearatfoe." "I am highly flattered," answered Belle, smiling. "You certainly do look well/ continued Lady Stanmore, looking at Belle. " That shade of blue exactly suits your complexion. Your dress must have cost a pretty penny, my dear." Belle blushed deeply. " I don't know what it ooit/' she said.

" Oh, I suppose it is not paid for t Tour mother, I must toy, has very enlarged ideas on the sabjeot of debt."

" I hate debt," exclaimed Belle quickly. "I am afraid if you marry your young man you'll have to get used to it. But never mind, Belle ; debts or .no debts, one has to get through life somehow ; only debts make one uncomfortable." " Of course they do." At this moment Stanmoro came into the room, the door of which was standing open. " What makes yon uncomfortable, Lucy 1 " he asked. ,

"Debts, Jack ; Belle and I were just die-* casting tbe .subject," answered Lady Stanmore.

" I was accustomed to them for so. many years," aaid Stanmore with a little laugh, " that I got quite used to them. I miss them now, I think, out of my life." " You don't expect us to believe you. But < come, it is time we were off ; the carriage has been round 10 minutes, and Lady Probyn with all her perfections may not like waiting for her lunch — at least, I don't." Saying this, Lady Stanmore led the way to the carriage, and presently they were drivr ing down tbe long avenue of changing trees. They were famous these trees, with their great brown, gnarled trunks and stretching j boughs, which met over, and seemed to dwarf, the roadway beneath. j " Poor Stanmore was very proud of the. avenne," said Lady Stanmore, contemplatively looking around. " The present poor Stanmore is also— ln a nay," answered Stanmore, smiling. "JBut I always think trees are lather unpleasant ! companions; they ateuv to me to be per- j petually reminding as of our brief existence. 'We codded and waved our green boughs over your father's head, and well nod and wave them over your son's — if you have one that is,' they keep for ever telling us with their duocb tongues. Over marriages and funerals they are equally jolly." " Really, Jack, you make me creep; why talk of unpleasant things i " jaid Lady Stantoon with a little affected shiver.

"My dear Luoy, I thought I was talking philosophically — for the benefit of JSiBS Wayland." ••Why for my benefits" asked Belle, amuoed. "To remind you of fleetirg time. Make the most of it, Miss Wayland, it soon goes.". " But we cannot always make the most of it," said Bella. .

"That is quite true; we are always waiting for or wanting something out of our reach."

11 And if you get it you're soon tired of it," remarked Lady Stanmore; "at least I think men are."

" And women, of course, sever tire," soofEed Stanmore.

" Oh, yes, we do. Belle here will tire of her pretty oostume in a month." "Leave it to me then, Miss Wayland/' said Stanmore. " I'll always keep it, always remember "

"What, Jack?" asked Lady Stanmore, with a little laugh. " How charming its wearer looked when first saw it. The perfume of the rose wil always oling to it." Both Lady Stanmore and Belle laughed heartily at this. " Really, Jack, that is too sentimental ! " said Lady Stanmore. "Most likely an oldolothee woman and not you will get it, ac I know Mrs Wayland sometimgs deals with these people." " Introduce me to the favoured old clothes woman then, Luoy, and it shall not remain long in her possession. I will give Jaer anything ahe asks," " Jack, I must call you to order. I cannot allow any more such frivolous conversation. What will Lady Probya think If you talk such nonsense before her % "

Stanmore laughed. • . " I'll promise to talk •eofe.tbea," bp laid. " Bat that blue velvet is bewildering to the senses of a mortal man," i

And Id tbis strain Stanmor* continued £hg, whole drive uattl they Beared the .prey "old entrance to the grounds -of Hurst Hall. The stone work iru time-worn, and the massive iron gate* of beautiful bat ancient design.

The whole place, indeed, had an old-world look ; even tbe trim flower beds and the carefully clipped yew hedges. Ail but the young master. Sir Diok was standing bareheaded on the broad terraced steps ia front of th» , house to receive bis guests, and as the) carriage drova up be ran down to welooraa them. Tbe October breiza was blowing back his bright brown hair, and his blue eyes were shining with pleasure and excitement.

" Welcome to Hurst," he half whispered to ' Belle as he handed her out of the carriage. But Stanmoro heard that whisper and taw the eager look on the young man's face, and his own equanimity was not improved. - But he made no sign of this. He followed his sister-in-law and Belle into the charming, low,, old-fashioned drawing room, where Lady Probyn, looking beantifnl with her enow-white hair and gentle face, oordially welcomed them. "Mother, this is"—— ! "Miss Wayland, I am sure," said Ladjr Probyn, holding out her shapely hand at Dick's unfortunate stammer stopped m*fl utterance. "I am very pleased to see you." she added. "My boy here," and she looked smilingly at Diok, " has talked to me about ' yon." "And we .have talked to her about you, Lady Probyn," said Stanmore, "and I am ' sure she will not be disappointed!" " Ah, Stanmore, you always say pretty ' things I" answered Lady Pxobyn, with that - charming smile of hers In which still - lingered the subtle shade of sadness whioh ' never quite left .her face. '- [ Then again .she , looked thoughtfully at Belle.' She was wondering if thu fair girl were really her boy's true love. And during the hours that followed she tnonght more than onoe that it mnst be so. Sir Diok devoted himself to Bella, aad Stanmore was too much a man of the world tolnterf ere with him. It was but natural that the two young people of the party ahyuldbp together, and Stanmore talked to the laditf ' with well-bred ease and composure. Bat all the same he was very glad whan the visit came to an end, and during the drive homewards he was by no means livaly.

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