CHAPTER XXX.—A NEW HOPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 63

CHAPTER XXX.— A NEW HOPE.

It seemed to Phyllis that fche would was made anew : the intolerable weight of shame was lifted from her shoulders. Keith had not only giren her the best of himself, but the best of her father. The barrier that had' loomed so high between them was after all a phantom barrier. Keith had met and conquered the difficulties which had seemed to divide them before ever he had met her. She felt a stirring of that new life of youth which Miss Julia had foretold; she had sat in the shadow in silence, but she wanted to share her joy.

The Misses Julia and Joan had evidently been discussing her, for they left off tailking as she went in. Tiheir conversation had a wider range thasi six months agio, but it still circled tiheir niece. Site oame in with her hair bright and curling from the rain and an unusual colour in her cheeks. Certainly the visits to Queen Anne's Gate brightemed her and did! her good !

The ladies- made room for her at the fire, but Phyllis ohose the rug at their feet, and nursed her knee. Her face- was wonderfully soft arad womanly, and her lips were curved with a haJf smile.

"Nell left to-day?" queried Miss Joan, taking the initiative. Both sisters could! see by Phyllis's manner that something had ocourr-ed, and were impatient to start the conversation, knowing by experience that when once started it wa3 likely to lead in the direction of Phyllis's thoughts.

Phyllis nodded.

"She, of oourse, felt going keenly?" murmured Miss Julia. "She is one of the sensitive temperament which makes the meeting with strangers an ordeal. But you found the German girls charming, did you not, my love? and so probably will Nell." "I found them beasts," declared Phyllis, with emphasis, "as they probably found me, and I made it my British duty to despise and persecute them with every British prejudice; and they returned my hatred with interest. I vary, soon found that a girl without money and friends is likely to be stubbed. But Nell is sure to be a favourite ; she sees nobody's imperfections but hex 1 own, and I was full of personal grievances atnd repulsions and bitternesses!" Miss Julia pattod the hand upon her knee soothingly. She regretted the turn the conversation had taien ; 'but to-night there was no bitterness in Phyllis's tone. "1 was a sort of female I^hmaelite in. those days; I

? had to fight for what ether girls had by ri<rht,'' she we.it on. "'Every fi landless girl in a iavge school knows v. hat that means: the m 'ok'mt patronage cf the richer smdl older girls, the sermons from tho superiors o;i the duly and almogvitian and application and Iho need of cultivation of all tho gi.acca that shall best fit you for that future sphere of mecknoss and usefulness which :s tbe I portioinJe.?^ girl's destiny I"

"My low: !"

"Let me, darling — let n;e say it!" xufeeci) tiro girl ; "jv.^r to-night. I!, i? 1 not only I' who suffered it, kal what many another girl suffers who has nc home, no protectors, no individual part in life, and if. part only of a m.'iohine. Because of that isolation I became possessed of the passion for my indiv.dr.ai part, where 1 could will, and execute, and choose, on whioh I couidl stamp mypoli. I <.haJi prize it, dears, my, pan — my own individual pan, in life! ft can ne-Yer seem small — not if the happiness and well-being of another h concerned " Mns Joun put down her knitting. "Sister " die began anxiously, bufc Phyllis went on.

"You, dear aunts, have "shown mo how. large unimportant things may be made to appear. Take five small rooms, as Me Neville would say. people them with two small ladies with limited incomes and large sympathies; add taste contentment, a new lavender silk, and a party once in 20 years — and what have we? — unqualified happiness!'" declared Phyllis.

"My dear love " began Miss Julia,, with tears in her eyes, but was silenced by PhvL'is.

"How you taik ' You must sit quiet and listen to i»e. If in those far-off lonely days I had knuwn thero was this little flafc in one of the four corners of the- globe I should have made my escape by the window and have arrived her© in my nightdress. As it was, I used to lie awake and look up at the stars shining through the bars of the dormitory windojv and plan to run away "

Miss Joan sniffed audibly. "Were they so unkind to you, dear love?" asked Mis* Julia fiercely.

''Unkind? Nc, never unkind. They were kind 1 in a mechan'cal way,'' responded Phyllis. "Kind by rule, as meal were stated times, and prayers, and lessons, and exorcises. But I wanted something in- ' con-equeiit, undeserved', like ihe other girls had. When hampers came from their homes I r ©fused a share, pretending to despise their contents. I didn't want thn cake and fruit because it was good to eat. 1 wanted to have somebody whose pleasure it was to send me some. I could have given il all away proudly, because I'd the risrht to it."

"If we had 'known, sister!"

Miss Julia and Miss Joan gazed at each other with a look that meant they would have made it the. business of their life to send that hamper. "I hated those girls with tho hampers— unreasonably." continued Phyllis. "They were good, generous girls: if only a packet; the size of a pill box liad come to me I _ could have forgiven them. 1 should myself have been a person of consequence. But the pill-box never' came — and I wouldn't be patronised. I went on pretending I despised sentiment, and formed! no intimate friendships. Then one day dad came, and I was free."

"It is all so long 1 ago; need you speak of it?" asked Miss Julia tremulously. She. dreaded the denunciation Which she feared 1 would follow.

"Yes," continued Phyllis, ''we must speak of it to-night, in justice to dad. Keith ha 3 given me back as a realit3- my best knowledge of him."

"Keith?"' both ladies exclaimed. Then PhylMs told them. Told them, too, thafe he had not left her as uncared for as shethought, having left her to the care of Keith Carew.

Their talk was late that night. The ladies «4kd so much to say about those permanent qualities of character which go so much farther to make 'married happiness than personal attractions.

"But," i'aid Phyllis, "do nor think I have abandoned my ambitions — my personal ambitions — because I am not to do battle with the world alone. Keith shall not have an incompetent wife — so you will be kept busy, my dears, for years to com© teaching me housekeeping. I mean to know things — among others, first, how to buy the dinner, then how to cook it !"

"But, my dear, you are a wonderful shopper," Miss Joan reminded her.

Phyllis laughed. Her conjuring tricks had never been found out. But Keith's establishment must be managed on a firmer basis.

The portionless girl pondered ways and means in secret just as earnestly as she had done on he-r first advent at the flat. Her clothes would wear out, and her wardrobe need replenishing before long. Then, later, there would be he* wedding outfit. She could not draw upon th© splender resources of her aunts, and it was improbable that Mrs '-Neville would accept her a a paid 1 companion where she desired her presencw as a guest.

Mrs Neville received' the announcement of Phyllis's engagement with an amused shrug.

"There is nothing to be said aga.insfc Dr Keith,'" she- declared, "but I had other views for her. However, • I don't intend her to altogether escape mo. It will be several years before Keihk Oarew cam marry, and the poor child must see something- of society meanwhile."

Mrs Neville had not allowed her husband's cousins to sink back into seclusion. After paying their duty call, which was an. occasion of little less ceremony than th» party itself, the gentle ladies would have! sunk back once more into oblivion, quite satisfied with the attention, they had received, finding recurring pleasure in discussing and re-discussing the, famous party from evory possible point o£ view ; but a. new sensation was afforded! them by the appearance cf Mrs Neville's*, carriage at their door, and Mrs Neville herself come to call. As the spring advanced it was not an uncommon thing foi* the carriage to be sent to take the ladies for a drive in tho park, occasions which necessitated the most careful dressing, and) the sisters, leaning back in unaccustomed) and luxurious ease, made acquaintance with, fox-gotten scenes of brightness, their sweei? old faces flushing a delicate pink with pleasure as they were driven round and round the Row in the full enjoyment of the consequeonee and dignity imparted by n. private carriage.

"Whenever they posted a personage with whom and whose history they were nob acquainted — especially a royal personage — they were peisuaded thsl it" was their dutjft to vead. tliat uers.on.aeo un. This reading 11 ,

occupied so many of theiir evening hours and proved such a delightful entertainment that Emerson was laid aside, -with little chance of renewed study. The marriages and intermarriages of the Royal Family, t<he relationships and connections of the foreign houses became an entrancing study. To pass a princess in the park, one of a brilliant crowd, was an event they were indisposed to dismiss till every atom of enjoy•ment had been extracted : the shape of the dear lady's bonnet, the exact tint of heliotrope which she wore, the abaa-in of her smile, and her parasol, all equally afforded discussion. Their long habits of economy Would not permit the waste of a sensation. I -_ Keith, in his new re'ationship, held an ! important position in the small household. "Quite son-like," Miss Julia declared, and though the ceremony of the dinner was not repeated — tabooed by Phyllis as "too much fag" — his company to supper on Sunday was looked upon as an institution. These suppers became known as "Phyllis's masterpieces." At them were tested her latest dishes; her salads were a feature, for humouring the cooking idea, Mrs Neville had an opportunity of presenting the ladies with choice vegetables and fruit, the "spring lettuces" in this instance- being garnished! with spring chickens, and a luscious cucumber acoonrpamied with fresh-water salmon. These delicate devices for the replenishment of the larder passed off very well, especially at Mrs Neville was constantly asking contra, favours which di&Drived the ladies of their niece. . Unless on Sundays Phyllis saw very little cf Keith. _He was working hard ; his partnership with the eminent doctor was but a small one, little mcire than tKe countenance oi a well-known name — there was his practice to work np. But more than once already Dr Knight had turned patients over to him, expressing satisfaction at the result. . Keith was established in a flat quite near to Queen Anne's Gate. The imposing' brass plate and knocker and the handsomely furnished oonisultijQg rooms gave quite the apipearance of prosperity, but there was a ■ mystery of unfurnished rooms behind, known 'to Phyllis and tc the man servant. When . these rooms were furnished it would mean that the practice -was an established fact, and' Phyllfe's wedding day at harad. But" meanwhile there was the daily problem for cogitation how to make two ends meet? - One evening Phyllis was alone in the flat pondering much, a<s she had' pondered on., the first days of her arrival. Her aunts iiad* gone for a stroll in the. gloaming, and she was not expeting Keith, so that she was rather surprised when the door bell rang, and more surprised still to find Mr Neville, the visitor.' He had nrat called at the flat since the momentous evening he came to claim lundred. - Phyllis apologised for the absence of the elder 1 ladies. "My visit is chiefly to you," said Mr Neville, "and I am not sorry to find you alone..'!- He seated himself . opposite to Phyllis by the window, while ike wondered' what his business could be. He seemed arather ait a loss how to proceed for a moment, tben he said: _ "You are, perhaps, aware that youir father invested certain money saved from the Hardeastle failure?" I Phyllis flushed, then grew pale : she could | never hear unmoved any allusion to the ole« trouble. "'"Thoee investments have proved successful T»yond anticipations," added; Mr Neville. Then he -went on to explain that Nell, being the next of kin, inherited by Percy JohnBaairß will^a sum c(srjespond'in»g to that which Harry Hardcastle had originally lost.Phyllis caught her breath. "It is good of you to come and tell me this,' 1 she said, in a low tone. "You know, you understand, what it has meant to me ix> feel that my father caused " Her voice broke, and Mr Neville, feeling tho tension, said, hurriedly-: "The terms of your father's will proTided that, should the investments realise more than the original Hardcastle loss, what was over and above was to be divided among surviving members of the family." "My aunts,"- oried Phyllis. "Oh, Cousin Gordon, " is there anything for them?" Mr Neville had assumed a quiet business air. Bub Phyllis was excited and eager. It was evident to the man that his answer was of vital importance. "There is a hundred pounds a year each for them." Phyllis clasped her hands with a gesture that reminded him of Nell. Joy chased the_ disquiet from her face. "Tell me — did! my father leave this ■ Jnoney?" — , "Yes. But the restitution is greater than their loss." "Can thai be?" asked Phyllis. "Think of at — all these years slighted and rejected ! For all these years of renunciation and deprivation what can atone?" Mr Neville smiled. "We must not call them poor," he said. "In their sweet journey through life they found that miracle — happiness." He eaid it so eadly that Phyllis wondered. He had fame, and riches, and power — what more could he desire? "Child," he added, "you have wished for independence. You are gratified. You, by your father's wiH — you are placed beyond at." "But how can that be, when my father made no mention of me?" "Not directly, but as one of the survivors you share. He expected evidently that the investments would realise more than the original loss, and by a division of the surplus among surviving relatives made provision for you." "Keith," said Phyllis the next time she alone "with him, "Mr Neville said a *" Curious ■thing about my aunts — that they {had realised the miracle, 'happiness.' They have never been clever, never beautiful — they have not even been strong-minded. Even their accomplishments have had no j force; they have never aspired beyond a j cß*tain height, nor endured below a cer- j tain, depth; they hay& never held the reins of circumstance, nor made conditions, but tiave trotted along in harness to destiny, meek and submissive, broken in and curbed

to a narrow path-!" —"Is it," asked Keith, "that they have loved uncommonly?" "Since I was quite a child," continued •Phyllis, not answering, "I had thought the chief happiness was accomplishment" — Keith noted the past tense, and fhe> ton« of regret— "but I suppose I am only a commonplace girl, nob brave enough nor great enough to sacrifice everything for an ideal." "For that," responded Keith, "I owe you a debt, dear, being a commonplace man. I'm getting a wife ' not too wise and good for 'human nature's daily round.' " The geniuses have set bright stars of art in our sky, upon which a man may gaze and leara intellectual s,n& spiritual lessons. But

for one whose fight is with the physical, with the actual faofcs of life, he has little time for star-gazing. The stars have use — high use, but down on earth we want our loving and capable little women who can make the gruel and mustard poultices.''

(To be continued.)