CHAPTER III. —MEPHISTOPHELES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2497, 22 January 1902, Page 64

CH APTER III. —MEPHISTOPHELES.

"You look pale, my deai," said Colonel Cheverle} . 'I did not sleep very well, papa," replied his daughter. It was true, and she took her s-e^t at the breakfast table — it was the next morning — with less than her usual spirit. Perhaps the scene in the consei vatory last night had upset hei ; perhaps she had other c-auses for depression known on.'y to herself. Carew gazed at hpr with a lover's anxiety, and murmured something intended for 'her ear alone. Sir George Dalbiac took no notice of her whatever. He was quite himself again, and looked as immovable as

a rock. Mrs Wilder, a suspicious- blonde with a daughter of eighteen at school in France, bioke a pavse. "Jo think, "' she said, sentimentally, "that we shall be alone at this time to-morrow !" "And that you will be talking us over with a fresh relay of guests the day after, "' eaid Sir George. "Pathetic, isn't it?"' "Oh, you cynic !" said Mrs Wilder. "I know you mean that for a compliment, dear lady, so I will thank you," replied Dalbiac, bowing with hi& hands upon his heart. Mrs Wilder laughed archly, then she sighed afl'eetedl\. "Oh, how can I summon up a smile when my dear ruby is gone !"' Wilder grunted. "No, it isn't much of a joke. Two thousand pounds melted into thin air !"' "Don't let us talk about it any more, for goodness' sake," said his wife, with sudden irritability, and bad lines developed round her eyes and mouth. "It' 6 a sickening business. The police are perfect fools."' "Why don't you send for a man from Scotland Yard?" asked Saville. '"What is the use?" said Mrs Wilder. "Oh. I tell you that lam sick of it ! The thing's gone, and I shall never see it back, and there's an end of it." "I think," said Herr yon Keller smoothly, "that you are wonderful, my dear Mrs Wilder. I have admired youi courage and resignation from the first." Mrs Wilder changed the conversation, and by-and-bye the private omnibus came round to take the Cheverleys and Saville to the station. They were returning to London ; the others went different ways. Mrs Wilder shook handu warmly with the two men, and her lips just touched the girl's cheek. "Good-bye. Hilda," she said "Oh, don't thank me ' lam glad you have had a pleasant time. Of course we are always delighted to have you." She came to the doorstep to watch them off with a rather peculiai smile, faint, not over-pleasant, on her bps. She pietendecl to be very fond of Hilda, who was a distant connection. She had reached the age when it is necessary for a woman who thinks herself good-looking and goes in for conquest to gush over handsome gills in 01 dei to avoid the imputation of jealousy. It was her pose to patronise girls, and "be kind to ' Hilda. Really they had little 111 common with each other. The sunlight on her unprotected head

was not becoming ; it revealed the colourless mots of her golden hair and the fine ciow's-feet lound her eyes She waved her hand in response to the colonel's parting salute, and turned away to find Sir George Dalbiac beside her. "Isn't she handsome !"' he said. "So fie»h, so young!"' The lips of the woman w ho was neither fie^h nor young, and lived only foi the admiration of men, curled scornfully. "'Handsome' is scaicely the word I should apply to Hilda," fehe leplied. "Perhaps not," said Sir George. "I should have said lovely — delicious. She lias the inimitable distinction of being able to make all other women look faded and old without being pronounced herself.'' For a ma a of the world it seemed a peculiarly tactless remark. Mr: Wilder turned pink, then sh P turned white. The corners of her mouth deepened, and she smiled horribly. "I did not know that you admired her so much," she said. "Yes, she is very pretty. Nevertheless, I snould not envy Saville Carew if I were you !" \She swept away without waiting for an ansnei, and Dalbiac pointed his, moustache, enjoying himself hugely. "Hial 3Vi»m4A wJi bj^gjejojc _£BS.JCilß.

told himself. "But what do I care? She will hate Hilda too !"