Chapter XXXI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2218, 3 September 1896, Page 41

Chapter XXXI.

A Spray of Heather. A few more quiet days passed, and Gilbert began to gam strength rapidly. He saw Bslle each day, but not a word passed between them that the whole household might not have listened to. By a tacit bnt mutual consent they spoke not of the past nor future. What that future had in store for them they could not tell — they allowed the present to suffice. He came downstairs each afternoon, bat after three or four more days he made his appearance one morning. Belle, as usual, was alone. Stanmore and Sir John Lee bad gone to shoot on the moors at Glenwrath, but were to return at dinner time, and yonng Marchmont was to acoompany them back. Balle. was sitting in the breakfast room shortly after they had started, when the door opened, and to her surprise Gilbert entered. " You I " she aaid, starting to her feet and holding out her hand. " Yes," answered Gilbert, " the morning is so fine that I defied the nurse and all her predictions of evil and insisted on getting up, and I think if you will I might venture out of doors for a few minutes."

Bat before Belle could reply a portentous knock was heard outside, and a moment later the nuraa walked in with wrath on her taow.

" I cannot be answerable for this, Captain Gilbert-," she began. , "Of coarse you are not answerable," said Gilbert, smiling, "since I came down against your positive commands." "Bat what will be the consequences 1l1 l continued Janet Mackay : " you will be thrown back ; you will probably faint, and the doctors will blame me and say I am incompetent." " I promise you that the doctors shall not blame yon," answered Gilbert, still smiling. - " I will tell them that you had a wilful man ; for a patient, who would not do what you told him." "Then you never will get better," said Janet, holding up her hands. " I mean to try, nevertheless," reported Gilbert good-naturedly ; and without another word the nurse disappeared, and Gilbert and Belle looked at each other and laughed. "What a funny woman Bhe is I" said Belle. ' " Bnt really a good creature, only she takes , a dismal view of everything. However, I mean to have my own way, and if yon will go with me I should like to walk up and down - the terrace for a few minutes." " Of course I will go with you, if you are sure it will do you no harm." "I am quite sure ; I feel a sort of new life In me to-day, and the air will do me good." ; A few minutes later t\iey were on the . terrace outside. In the air was all the fresh- - ness of the morning, the freshness of the hills. It brought a faint tinge of colour, to : Gilbert's pale, dark face, and gave* vigour to - his frame. He looked at Bslle, and a wate f j of deep tenderness swept over his' heart. " Belle,"he eaid,' almost tremulously. • " Yes," ehe answered, lookiog up with her I bright hazal eyes in bis face. ' " When lam gone " "Ob, do not speak of it I" interrupted Belle excitedly. " I cannot bear to think of it. 1 will not 1 " Hugh Gilbert made no answer. He, too, could not bear to think of it — this parting ; which seemed like the end of life to both. ' They were silent for the next few minutes, but the deepest and strongest emotions were surging in their hearts. "It seems like fate," at length said Gilbert. " Let us leave it to fate, then," answered ; Bslle, in a low, concentrated voice. "Bat for your sake" continued Gilbert, . Bat here he paused, for as some momen< > tons wordi were about to • pats his lips the pony carriage from Glenwrath was seen by both approaching the house, and Gilbert did not speak what be meant to say. . "Here are the Marohmont*," said Belle quickly. , "So I see," answered Gilbert, *nd they turned and walked along the terrace to meet their visitors.' The two lively girle jumped lightly out of . their pretty pony obaise before they reached * them, and advanced with outstretched ; bands. ' , 1 "You outl . Well, this is delightful," .- exclaimed Helen Marchmont, addretiutcg ■ Gilbert with genuine pleasure in her. voice and manner. " My first outing." he replied, smilingly. "lam so pleasea," she answered.. " And, dearest Lady Stan more, do' you know what I we have come for 7 " she added now, looking at Belle. ' ' ' " Well, what have you come for 1 " asked Beile. "To ran away with you. We will take no excuse. We promised Jim that we should take you" back with us, as we are going to have lunch out on the moors with the mon. Now you muet not say no." "I am afraid" began Belle, but Miss Marchmont interrupted her. " No,- you mmt nob be afraid you cannot go," sbe said; " Captain Gilbert, you make her go." s " You had better go, I think," said Hugh Gilbert, looking at Belle. Belle hey tated ; she did not wish to go ; . she did not wish to leave Gilbert, but she was half afraid to refuse. "It will be such fan," continued Miss , Marohmont. "Jim has got another Cambridge friend staying with us ; so we have five men, and with Lord Stanmore and Sir John Lee we will have seven. Mother and ' Mrs Seymour -will join us too; so it will ba quite a picnic. I only wish you could go also, Oaptain Gilbert." ■ - "I fear that would be impossible," raid • Gilbert/; "in fact I know my- narse would • lock -me up if I attempted it. I have had a row with 'her already this morning." > : ' " Is, phe so, 1 dreadful? How horrible ta . have a nurse. 1 ' " Sometimes very necessary, though. • But' I must not grumble ; I am get ting well fast' now." " And then you have to come to u»," continued Miss Marchmont. *' And when you come we shall have our real picnic, and Lady Stanmore will come too." "Yes," answered Gilbert, and again he looked at Belle. " But we cannot let you escape to-tlay — we really cannot," went on Mies Marchmont, again adressing Bslle. "They will all be so disappointed if you do not come. Our new man has heard the others raving about you, so he is absolutely dying to see you." It ended in Belle being periuaded against her will to accompany the Misses Marcbmont to the moors. And something in Gilbert's manner, in his looks, made her tLink that he wished her to go. " Very well, I will," she said at leegtfa. " But we had better see you safely indoors first," she added, glancing at Gilbert. " Miss Janet Mackay will see after me," lie answered, smiling. "I am momentarily expecting her." The girls laughed, and finally carried off Belle in triumph. But she looked back twice to the terrace where Gilbert was still leaning as they drove away. " Certainly Gilbert is very good-looking," said Helen Marchmont., "He has such wellcut features, he can stand illness or anything else." " He looks very delicate, I think," answered Belle. " Ob, he'll soon pick up ; I wish he could have come to-day. He's the best-looking man after all that we have got." In this lively style of conversation Miad Marohmont talked the whole way to the .Glenwrath Moors. Their wild beauty possessed do attractions tor her, bub the brown? coated, stalwart youne f DQitsmen tfceift 3&

they bad already commenood lunoh when the Wty from Strathearn appeared. All t;he Vowg men sprang to their feat as Belle and the twp girls drew near the spot whore lunch Vai going on. But Stanmore did not. He Wai half-ljing at Mrs Seymour* feet, Belle Noticed, who was seated on a grey granite fatting boulder with a plaid over it. Bat when Belle actually joined the party he too roes, and made a step forward to meet her. "So the young ladles hare persuaded yon to come?" he paid, "Jon remember Mrs Seymour," he added. " Oh, yes," answered Btlle, and she held out her hand to Mrs Seymour, who now also lose. She made some remark about the beauty i of the scenery and the day, with her great eyes fixed the while on 66116*81800, as though to read her very soul. Belle replied courteously and quietly, and was turning away when Helen Marcbmont hurried up. "You see, we've brought her, Lord Stanmore," she said. " And who do you think we nearly brought too ?— Captain Gilbert." "Gilbert?" answered Stanmore in a surprised tone. " Did you see him 1 " " Oh, yet ; he was oat walking on the terrace with Lady Stanmore when we arrived at Sbrathearn." :" Ah," Said Stanmore, and for a moment he glanced at Belle's face, who was conscious that, a flniih rose tit her very brow. But he made no further remark on the subject. He resumed his seat on the heather at Mrs Seymour's ieet, and went on with bis luncheon, while Jim'Marcbmoqt procured, a plaid for Belle to sit on, and attended to her during the rest of the meal. 41 1 am sa glad dear old Gilbert feels well enough to be out," be Bald. "He promised to t>ome to üb, you know, as soon as he could." " This is the first day he has been out," answered Belle, " and it was against his puree's orders." " Oh, but if he's able to get into the air he. irill soon be all right. He's pulled himself together wonderfully well considering, don't fpu think?" " I hope so," said Belle, bat her tone was not very bright. At this moment, however, Helen Marchpont brought up their " new young man," rs she called him, to be presented to .Belle, ftnd the conversation about Gilbert naturally ceased. Me Benson was a young Cambridge man, lively and agreeable, and a friend of Jim Marchmont, and he did his best to please the pretty Lady Stanmore, of whom he had beard so much, and whose acquaintance he was very proud to make. But though Belle chatted to him and railed, she was not thinking of his pleasant words. Her mind was at Stratbearn, and she still seemed to see before her the pale ' dark face whose features she knew so well. But Mr Benson did not know this, and he Battered himself during the afternoon that be was making a very agreeable impression pn.Lady Stanmore. The sportsmen, indeed, ' gave up their guns for the rest of the. day, and .everyone declared they enjoyed themselves. Only Belle felt weary, and was glad when • the time came for the party to separate. But Stanmore had a word to say to her in private as they we're retarding to the Lodge. " So," he Baid, " Captain Gilbert was out to-day, Belle, was he 1 " "Yeß, for a few minutes only," answered Belle. . • " In that cafe he had better be thinking of paying bis visit to Glen wrath presently," continued Stanmore. "It isn't exactly the thing, you know, Belle, for you to be wanderIng about alone with him." He said nothing more, and Belle made no reply, but during the evening be suggested something of the same kind to Jim March- - monr, which that quick-witted young, man instantly understood, and acted on. " Do you know, my dear fellow," he said' to Gilbert before he retired for the night, " I think you are well enough to come to us Bow 1 " "I am not np to much yet,"*an»wered Gilbert. "Not, lam afraid, to mix with all your lively party."- . " Ob, but you can just be as quiet as you like at Glenwratb^' oontinued Marchmont; "and mother, you know, is there to look after you, and you can, of course, bring your nurse, and all that Rort of thing. And to tell you the truth, Gilbert," added Marchmont,. half in jest, half in earnest, " I believe my lord, here is getting a- bit jealous of. you and bis pretty wife." A sudden flush dyed Gilbert's pale face scarlet as he listened to these words. 4 " What folly ?" belaid hoarsely. " It isn't all folly," answered- Jim Marohpaont " Take my advice, dear old chappie, And come to us to-morrow, and don't get into any trouble here. Lady Stanmore is too charming a woman for a youßg man like you to .be so constantly thrown with." ■ These words' cost Gilbert a sleepless night. But during tbe*long, restless boms he made op his mind at once to leave Strathearn. " I can do nothing else in honour," he told himself. " Marchmont would not have said (bat without cause. If it kills m« I mast go." He put it out of his power to change his jnind' early next morning by writing and sending down a note to Stanmore to thank ' him for his great hospitality, but telling him at the same time that as his leave was limited he thought he ought now to pay his promised visit to-Glenwratb before he left Scotland, and he therefore proposed to accompany bis friend Marchmont there on his return. Stanmore received this note from one of the servants at breakfast, and after he had read it he looked across the table at Jim Marchmont. " So your friend Captain Gilbert is leaving us 1 " he said. " Yes," answered Marchmont, " I persuaded him last night to go to Glenwrath with me to-day, and we shall be all so glad to have him." . These words gave Belle— who was sitting fct the table — a sudden Bhock She grew pale, her breath came short, and her hands trembled, and Stanmore looked at her for a moment in genuine surprise. He had never seen her moved thus before, and a vague suspicion in an instant flashed across his mind. Could this have been the man she had cared for long ago — the man who had made her pold to all others? . He glanced at her more than' once during and «&w that she was still aeitatad.

But he made no sign of having noticed this He .sent np a message by a servant after the meal was over that he should like to see Captain Gilbert to say good-bye to him before he started for the moors if it would be convenient for Captain Gilbert to receive him. But Janet Maokay, who was in the act of dressing Gilbert's wound when the message was reoeived. upstairs, said it was impossible at preient for Captain Gilbert to see anyone. " Ob, very well," said Stanmore, when he heard this. " Tou tell him, Marchmont, will you," he added, " that I am sorry he is leaving, but I daresay we shall see him again at Glenwrath before he leaves Scotland." " I'll tell him," answered Jim Marcbmont, " and of course you will see him again at Glenwrath before he leaves Scotland. I hope he'll get an extension of leave on account of his wound, and be with us for Christmas at Marchmont. I'll not go out with you on the moors to-day," he oontinued, "but drive Gilbert quietly over to Glenwrath this morning." Belle, who heard all this, never spoke, and presently Stanmore and Sir John Lee started with the keepers and the dogs. Marchmont ran up to Gilbert's room, and Belle, who was pale and trembling, was alone. But not for long. Presently the door opened, and Gilbert, who was also very pale and greatly agitated, entered the room. "You have heard" h« began. "Y«s," eald Belle, almost below her breatb. - . , "It ia t better that I should go," continued Gilbert, taking her hand, and looking with his grey eyes in her face, " I shall see you again, of course; this is not our parting, Belle." . " You are' not fit to go," answered Belle, " Marchmont gave me to, understand that Lord Stanmore wished it — I have no choice;" And Belle knew this to be true. They stood there with clasped bands and hearts wrung with pain. The last few days had drawn them closer ; it seemed now to them impossible to part. And yet they must. Gilbert could not remain any longer under Lord Stanmore's roof, and Belle was bound to do so ; bound by the false vows she had been led to make, and for which a woman's lying words alone were answerable. Presently Marchmont's voioe, raised in a higher tone than usual, was heard in the hall outside, giving some directions to the servants. And the hands fell apart of the two who stood silent, tearless, in this mute crUis of their lives. Then Marchmont entered the room, and addressed Belle .* " Lady Stanmore," he said, " may I order the brougham to drive Gilbert over to Glenwrath, as that female attendant of his and her belongings I am afraid could not be poußibly packed up in the pony chaise 1 " " Of course," answered Belle, still in the same husky voioe, as if her emotions were choking her. " , " She is in a frightful rage at my taking him away," continued Marchmont trying to speak as lightly and carelessly ac he could, though he was really far from' being at his ease. ."But my mother won't be defrauded of Gilbert any longer,' she says ; and she's a good old woman, and you may be sure he will be well taken care of." "Yes," said Belle, and then she turned away. She went to her own room, and stood looking vaguely out on the misty loch. Could she bear this false life any longer 1 she was asking herself ; this living lie ? A sort of loathing came over her as to her fate ; a rebellion of hatred she could not conquer. ' Then by-and-bye she heard the brougham come round from the stables, and- the removal of luggage on the stairs. Some heather that she had worn the night before was standing in a vase on the table, and she took a spray of this in her cold hand and left .the room. She was going to bid her guest good-bye — before the others, to say farewell. In the hall Nurse Mackay wae standing, with indignation written in every feature of her comely face. And the moment she caw Belle she hurried up to her. "My lady, this is an. unheard-of thing," she said in a lond, shrill voice. " Only out for the first time yesterday for five minutes, and then unfit to go ; and now to be driven miles over a rough, road to. a strange house and room ! Mr Marcbmont may take the consequences — I won't." • Belle could find no words to answer herj and in another moment Marchmont and Gilbert appeared from the breakfast room, and Janet Mackay was forced to be silent. " Well, we are just off, Lady Stanmore," eaid Marcbmont cheerfully ; " but come over and see mother to-morrow,' and I'm sure you will find our invalid here properly taken care of." A loud groan proceeded from the nurse's lips as she listened to these words. " Impossible I " she muttered portentously. " Jolted on a rough road— shaken ! " " I do not know how to thank you," said Gilbert, in a low, faltering voice, now advancing towards Belle, and holding out his hand. 'She opened her. lips to speak some commonplace words, but she could not, She put the bit of heather in his hand, and looked in hia face, and that was all. Then Marchmont put bis band through Gilbert's arm, and drew him away. " Come, dear old fellow, let us be off," he said ; " all this standing about is not good for, you. Now, nurse, get into the brougham, and your patient and I will follow you." With another groan Nurse Mackay obeyed him ; but Gilbert's footsteps slightly tottered as Marchmont led him from the house. In another moment or two they W6re gone, and Belle stood and watched them go with a white face and parted lips. Gilbert looked back just as the carriage drove away, and tbeir eyes met. In his band be held the spray of heather she had given bim, and a strarjge thought came into his heart. "It shall lie on my breast after I am dead," he whispered to his soul ; and be kept his word. ; (To be eontinued.y