Chapter XIX.

Otago Witness, Issue 2275, 7 October 1897, Page 41

Chapter XIX.

A Spiteful Woman. N tbe very same day a little scene was being enacted, at the office of Chrissie's trustee, Mr Firme, at whose place of business Lady Lenham had just called.. " I am determined to trace out who she is, defiant little chit ! " thought her ladyship, her mind reverting to' Chrisi-ie, and hiding her rancour under a smiling exterior, while opening her business with gentle words, modulated so well as to throw the lawyer at first off bis guard. Mr Firme , bad received her with much courtesy. " I have come to you, Mr Firme," began she, with a soft sigh of assumed feeling, •• because of the interest I take in your charming young client or ward, Obristabel Hanwortb, whom I met at Lady Farleigh's. Unfortunately she did not reciprocate tbe friendliness I had for her from the moment that we met, owing, I am afraid, to an unfortunate remark about her father which I was making to Lady Fareleigb, and which the sensitive girl overheard. Tbe fact is, I do wish to discover, for her own sake, whether Mi- Hanworth is dead or alive. Is he living, Mr Firme 1 "

" You will excuse me asking your ladyship how this matter concerns you ? " said the lawyer, fixing on bis questioner his keen grey eyes.

"Ob, certainly," replied Lady Lenham with gentle intonation and ready wit. ".LoDg ago I knew Mr Hanworth personally, and am aware of all that sad business of his harried secret marriage with one of the daughters of Mr Branford, and of her death abroad, and I presume this Miss Christabel is the child of a second marriage contracted by Mr Hanworth."

"No ; in this last supposition your ladyship is mistaken, I believe," rejoined Mr Firme. " But allow me to say that I was not aware anyone excepting myself and Mr Male (the gentleman in whose family Miss Hanworth grew up) was cognisant of Mr Hanworth's marriage with Miss Branford and of the circumstances attending it." " The world is ignorant of it, Mr Firme, but the immediate friends of Mr Branford knew

all'about it-, and I was one of them. So that you may speak opeDly to me," said Lady Lenbam persuasively.

"Pardon me, I do not quite understand what it is that your ladyship wishes to know," remarked the lawyer.

"It is in Miss Hanworth's interests that I seek to discover if her father is still living and who it was he married as hi 9 second wife," answered ahe.

" I am not sure whether her father is still living," replied Mr Firme. " His daughter j has a very modest provision — enough to preserve her from want — and you must again pardon me for spying that I see no possible good to Mi«s Hanworth in reverting to early days. My impression is that Mr Hanworth is liviDg somewhere abroad— he may even have married again, for aught I know; but that is not my provicce to inquire." " But the girl's mother — who is she ? Wpuld not her family befriend this youthful child of hers ? Is the mother dead too ? " asked Lady Lenham hastily. Mr Firme gave a quick glance at his visitor — keen and scrutinising — and then said : " Your ladyship is not aware of all the circflmstances, I perceive, and I don'c see that I have the right to divulge them ; so that, really, I must ask to be excused from discussing the matter. There are some things better left alone." 11 Undoubtedly ! " exclaimed her ladyship, betraying a little of the impatience she felt. "So there is a mystery, then ? But one does not live till my age without being able to divine wbafc it is ! Miss Hanworth is illegitimate, I suppose, hence your reluctance to mention her mother's family." " Let me beg of your ladyship to be careful in speakiDg of the youDg lady as illegitimate, as it might involve law proceedings and — unpleasantness," observed Mr Firme blandly. "When I undertook to manage this young lady's modest portion it waß decided in her interests, as I then believed, that silence should be maintained on one or two points; but that does not justify the conclusion that she is illegitimate."

" Almost ! " responded the visitor with warmth, and with a very disagreeabla smile. " IE there was no second marriage, and Miss Hanworth is the daughter of the Mr Hanworth we are discussing, then she is not legitimately born 1 "

" She certainly is the daughter of the gentleman whose existence, or non-existence, your ladyship has brought under discussion," replied the lawyer ; and then he also smiled in a manner which irritated Lady Lenham in no small degree.

" I don't think you can gainsay my line of argument, Mr Firme," exclaimed she warmly. " I will not attempt to do bo, madam," rejoined he. "Is there anything else you wish to ask me 1 Excuse me for reminding yon that lam a busy man." «

"Oh 1 certainly. And you must count this as a professional visit, if you please. I had no intention of taxirig your time and attention so long except professionally. Now, having explained this much, may I revert to Miss Hanworth'e parentage, and will you (for her good, I assure you) enlighten me as to her mother's status in society ? " " Most assuredly not, madam," rejoined the lawyer with decision. "Family affairs entrusted to ns for the good of our clients may not be divulged. I thank you for your wish to offer me a fee, but I must decline it." And here the gentleman bowed and rose from his chair, as if to intimate that the interview was terminated.

Lady Lenham rose also, irate, disdainful. With overweening arrogance she burst forth in a few parting words : "Of one thing, Mr Firme, you have at least informed me. There is something to hide with regard to Miss Hanworth's birth — and something to hide means something disgraceful. This knowledge I carry away with me; nor shall I engage to be quite so reticent in the matter as you. Good morning." A.nd she swept ont of the room, the lawyer hastening to open the door for her exit, while remarking in a trenchant tone, "Ycu are right, Lady Lenham ; there is something to hide, but it is not anything disgraceful." As her ladyship swept downstairs the lawyer looked after her with disdain.

" She is & pretty specimen of high birth and gentle lineage, in truth," hs muttered. " A more tmgentle, unloving woman I have never encountered. Bat let her take care ho 17 ahe elves rein to her harsh tongue, for

I will protect that sweet girl, Chrißtabsl Hanworth, from her venom." And with this resolve he took down a " Peerage " and turned over the leaves, muttering : " Lenham 1 Lenham I Her husband was a viscount by what her card saya."

And as he continued his search her ladyship was indulging her inward anger. "To dare to treat me so cavalierly 1 Bnt I shall not scruple to tell the title— not I ! Ob, I see how it was now 1 "

Poor woman I she was very, very far from seeing how things really were. When she did see it was too late.

Meantime Mr Firme, "'Peerage " in hand, was f canning one of its pages with knit brow and parted lips. A sudden flush bad mounted to bis brow, and he presently looked up with a triumphant expression in his eyes.

"Ha 1 ha I It is a case of ' the biter being bit 1 ' " chuckled he. • " What was my lady thinking of to venture so much 1 But they have kept her in the dark concerning one point, that is claar I I will enlighten her, then, according to her wish." Reaching oat his hand he rang his bail, which was, promptly answered by the office boy P , , I "Green," said he, "go* to Lady Lenbam's i town house, 26 Lenham Square, and find out! IE her ladyship is remaining in London for a - day or two., 1 arid be quick about it."

" Vies, sir 1 " rejoined Green, vanishing on bis errand, which he accomplished without too much loss of time, as he merely had a game at pitch and toss with an acquaintance whom he met and finished an exciting narrative of Bhipwreck and murder on the high seas, which he kept in bis pocket for some such convenient moment as the present.

" Her ladyship is at her town 'ouse, sir," said Green, returning, "and she stays till Saturday."

" And to-day is Tuesday I " muttered Mr Firme, passing hia hand over his brow. " Here, Green 1 '" added he, calling to the vanishing urchin, " I shall want you to take a note in a few minutes to Lenham Square."

"Ye?, ski" replied the boy, delighted at this additional prospect cf liberty. "

Mr Firme then seized his pen, and wrote the following letter: —

"Mr Firme presents his compliments to the Viscountess Lenham, and begs to inform her ladyship that a very unexpected occurrence releases him (with respect to Lady Lsnham) from hia obligation of Bilence concerning Miss Hanworth's parentage, and which, owing to Lady Lenbam'd inquiries of to-day, Mr Firme has decided to communicate to her, should she still desire it, and will favour him with a call at his office either this afternoon after 4 o'clock or to-morrow morning at 11."

" You will ask if there is any reply," said Mr Firme as he gave the letter to" the boy Green.

" All "right,, sir," rejoined Green, sKhd this time he began- a new story and played a game of dominoes before returning to the office.

" My lady will be here at 4, sir," was the message which Green (refreshed by his wayBide amusements) brought back.

" Ob, very well I " And then the lawyer bent his mind to ordinary business, but that his coming interview with Lady Lenham was not an unpleasing one to look forward to the expression on his face betrayed.

At 4 o'clock, punctual to a moment, her ladyship was. ushered in by Green, and Mr Firme was awaiting her. She swept across* the floor more haughtily than ever, scarcely bendiDg her proud head to the lawyer's salutation. She bad changed her I dresß for one worn at a Oourt garden party the previous year, and she evidently expected to overwhelm the man of business with her rank and fashion.

"So you have thought better of it, Mr Firme 1 " began she as she accepted the chair he hastened to wheel forward. "Well, you are wise I It is better to have me as a friend than as an enemy."

The gentleman smiled, and again his visitor experienced a sharp irritation of mind.

"We lawyers, madam," said he, in a measured, even tone — " we lawyers are accustomed to go our way and do our work without considering friends or enemies. But our duty to our clients is our guide, or we should be unworthy to hold the position in which we are placed. But to our business. The question between us is, I believe, that of Miss Ohristabel Hanworlh's parentage 1"

" Yep, that is the point on which I desire information," replied she with hauteur.

" And, fortunately, I can now speak plainly, madam. When you called on mo this morning I was unable, through my own ignorance on a certain point, to do so."

" Well, I am all attention," cried the lady impatiently as he paused.

" Here are the facts then, Lady Lenharo," pursued Mr Firme. "I will not auk your motive in seeking to assure yonrself of them ; a lady in your exalted position would naturally scorn to do bo from other than an exalted one. So to my tale. Miss Hanworth's father, it seems, you were once acquainted with. I will not here inquire how that acquaintanceship was brought about."

" He was a tutor in a friend's family," interrupted she sharply.

" Yes, that was so. But now with regard to Miss Hanworth's mother. She was veiy young when she consented to marry this Mr Hanworth "

" Who had been married before," again interrupted his listener.

" IE so, it did not transpire," remarked the lawyer with his even smile.

41 It must have transpired later on, then I " exclaimed the lady proudly. "At any rate Mr Hanworth married the lady who became Miss Hanworth's mother," rejoined Mr Firme. " And you declared a few hours ago that there was no second marriage," cried she. " But pray go on." " Before I caff do that I must ask your ladyship i£ this ' Peerage ' I have here is correct in putting down your own Christian name as Geraldine Frances ? "

" Quite correct. But what bas that to do with it? " said she with an air of haughty surprise.

" We are coming to that, madam," he answered, fixing bin eyes keenly upon her. " Before you married Lord Lenham you were a Miss Branford ? " "Certainly," she replied, with avaguefeel-

ing of wonder— wonder which was merging into uneasiness.

" Well, then, madam, theracan be no reasott why I should not speak plainly to you on ft subject in which you are so closely interested. Miss Hansworth's mother was your own sister, Miss Celandine Branford, before she became Mrs Hanworth, and you are Miss Christabel's own aunt."

There was a dead silence ; the blow had struck so directly that the defiant woman waß laid low by its stroke, and could not, for the moment, make head against it. What I the girl she had disdained, whom she had Injured, whom she bad a thousand times called " A Little Nobody J " was of her own kith and kin? Had she the right to tell the wor|d that she was the niece of the Viscountess Lenham, the near connection of the wealthy Branford family, who had lefc her to make her way through the world alone ? Ah, they had, save for that pittance of £50 a year which the man before her had wruDg out of them as a bare provision for the little orphaned child. " But — but," faltered Bhe in a smothered voi c.- pitiably c-rastfjllen — "but there w« no child by that marriage. • My misguided sister died, abroad." .. ■ " ; "True— but not childJeßß., Your mother wished to keep the mesalliance secret when, she had lost her daughter. Tbe child was pat oat to nurse. When its fattier went' to India (as he then did), be urged his wife's family to do something fot his baby girl; whom he could not take with, him, and they reluctantly consented, on condition that she should bo entirely given up into their hands. Then he went abroad, and has been lost Bight of." "And I never heard this — never. My mother assured me that Celandine left no children. I was young, too, when she married. I was kept in the dark purposely," murmured Lady Lenham. "It was Mrs Br&nford'e fixed resolve to bury her young daughter's unfortunate marriage in oblivion. She would have sent the child to a oonvent, but I (who was applied to to arrange matters with Mr Hanworth) insisted that, beicg pf English nationality, it should be reared in some English home and have some modest provision secured to it. My representations were forcible enough to ensure that the sum of £1000 should be settled on tbe child, who, however, was to be kept in the dark concerning her mother's family. And I, deeming anything better for tha little orphan than to be penniless — I consented to keep silence till she was grown up. The time seems come, however, when I ought to speak." "Oh 1 no, no, no ! " beiought her ladyship. "To what etfd would you speak ? We — we cannot own Miss Hanworth as a relative—it would only give rise to painful feelings to acquaint her that she was my aiece." - 11 It should not do so, Lady Lenham. You should welcome within your' luxarious home so yourg and fair a relative — fit to be welcomed anywhere," "said the lawyer sternly. " I cannot— l- will not recaive her! " cri«d Lady Lenham. " She has not been brought lup among us. She will be happier as sue | is." " Would you be happier, Lady Lenham, to be left unacknowledged by your kindred I were you in the place of your niece 1 " retorted the lawyer. " You would be departing from the pledge of silence you gave to my family were you tp speak now," cried her ladyship. " Miss Hanworth was provided for, as you yourself advised, on condition that you should cover up that unfortunate marriage of my young sister. You have no right to speak." " Pardon roe ; I pledged myself to divulge" nothing till Miss Hanworth was grown up, and not then unless I saw reason to do co. Such* a reason may occur. It would undoubtedly, should a slur be cast on the youcg lady's birth," concluded Mr Firme ; "or if the gentleman she may marry questioned me concerning her family." Lady Lenham rose abruptly. " There is no question of her marriage just yet, surely 1 " she said. " Not that I am informed, Lady Lenham. But you cannot suppose tbat the hand of so lovely a girl will not be sought by someone." " At any rate you will be silent unless either of these ' reasons ' alluded to occurs ? " persisted she. ' ' " Yes — at present, madame." And with this conditional promise Bhe was forced to. depart, bitterly regretful of her own malevolence. " If I bad never come to this hateful man to seek out tbat girl's parentage I should not have pul myself into his power," thought she. " But if I play my cards well I may win yejb. I will send him some game — I will invite him to my country place, and get round him {in tbat way. Perhaps we can yet hide the affair from Mrs Grundy." . ' Thus comforting herself, she regained her carriage, not foreseeing that a time was marching on when far worse than anything she had feared was to be declared in the light of day.