CHAPTER XI—MARGARET SCORES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 71

CHAPTER XI—MARGARET SCORES.

Heseltine had a box for the theatre that evening, and called for Lady Dashwell and Margaret at 8.30. Margaret, who had a habit of punctuality, was ready, and while they waited for Lady Dashwell, wlio was always five minutes late, he watched his fiancee putting on her gloves, and noticed her satin smooth neck and arms, the perfect contour of her figure in it& low corsage, the sheen of her hair. There was a certain thoughtfulness, mingled with tenderness, in his gaze which did not escape Margaret. "What '■& it?"' she asked quietly. "You are so beautiful, beloved." "Is that all?" "I love everything about you —even to that little silky curl on your beautiful brow and your pink naile. And if I were blind and couldn't see you, I should love your voice and the swish of your gowns and the scent you use! And if I were deaf as well as blind, I should still know you were there and reach out for you." She looked at him a moment and offered him her lip 6. "Thank you, dear; you pay very nice compliments." "Nothing shall ever come between us," he said, kissing her. She knew then tihat something unpleasant about her had been said to him, as she had suspected, but she asked no questions. When the gloves were on, and he had buttened them for her, she gave him a note to Tead which she had just received from Mrs Wynstanley. Dearest Margaret,—l was so pleased j to get your note, and am answering it at once, as you see. I was a little offended at your not coming jo speak to me, but, of sourse, I quite understand now. It will be delightful t< have an opportunity of talking over old times with you, especially as we are returning' to India, alas! at the end of the week. May I come on Thursday, as I shall be too busy on Friday? With fondest love,-^-Yenre always, jrixie Wynetanley. "I like a woman who underlines every other word in her letters," said Heseltine unkindly. "After all, I think I have an engagement* for Thursday!" "No, you haven't," said Margaret, laughing. "I decline to let you off." Nevertheless, he was fated not to 'i^et the gushing Trixie. On Thursday morning came another note from her, by hand this' time. An alteration in her husband's plans necessitated their departure from London earlier than they had intended; they^were leaving for Marseilles, in fact, by this evening's boat-train. With infinite regret she would be obliged to forego the pleasure of meeting dearest Margaret again. "I am rather sorry," said Margaret, pensively, "although., to be frank, I had ■ nearly forgotten her." "Such is woman's friendship," commented Heseltine. "My dear fellow, we were only chilt dren. Girls change so much between 17 I or 13 and four-and-twenty that I daresay we should scarcely have known each ' other." * i A couple of days later they happened I to meet Mrs Barrington at Lady Goole's. They could scarcely cut her at such close quarters and in her sister's house. Besides, she was one of the family to whioh Margaret proposed to belong. So i Margaret accepted the hand Blanche ' proffered first with superior duplicity, and Heseltine was civil. But Mrs Barrington had not forgotten or forgiven the other night, and presently unsheathed i the claws in her velvet paw 6. I "And so Mrs Wynstanley has gone back to India?" she remarked. ''I believe so," said Margaret. "And you didn't ccc her after all, of course !" i "Xo-" "I suppose you were afraid she would not remember you," said the fair Blanche. "People change so much in six or seven year 3, don't they?"' ! "Yes, one does change at that age—l was saying so to Aubrey," said Margaret, with aer eves calmly fixe"! on the enemy, and a little smile playing over her lips. * '"But I don't think Mrs Wynstanley would have a.ny difficulty in recognising me, and I am sure I should know her anywhere. She was coining to lunch on Thursday, but left unexpectedly two days earlier than she had intended." "Oh, you asked her to lunch !"' paid , Mrs Barrington. and her eve-brows arched sceptically. "What a pity she couldn't come. So disappointing for you. I suppose it will *be years before she returns to England again?" "Probably." "I happened to meet her in "Repent street on Wedm>«dav."' remarked Mrs Barrington, nonchalantly, "but bhe *aid j nothing about your invitation; in fact. I \ thought she was rather cold when I menI tioned vnur name', as though she were . offended." I Margaret looked across at Heseltine, still with that little smile, and his eves signalled back indignation and sympathy. "That's quite a mistake,' he said, decidedly. "She is not at all offended. I caw the note in which she accepted Maraaret's invitation, and als-o the note explaining her sudden departure, and they were both as gushing as a schoolgirl's." I ''Oh !" said Blanche, trying to hide her chagrin ; "then my impression was ■wrong." I "Yes," said Heseltine, grimly, "quite wrong I"

Slie did not look at him, and she would not give Margaret Yule the satisfaction of showing sbe felt the smart rap over febe knuckles he had given her. She emiled pleasantly, and changed the conversation. But she smarted as she had smarted few times in her life,, and she hated Margaret still more for this little triumph her own hand had prepared. "I don't care," she thought. "There is something wrong. Nobody — nobody could persuade me this woman is not an adventuress, and, cunning as she is, her day of exposure "will come!"