CHAPTER V.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 79

CHAPTER V.

LLEN returned from the journay to Ealtng tired and depressed. It had been practically decided that she would take the two tin}'- little rooms which she had seen. She had put on a very ljrave air to deceive Mrs Chadwick whilst the arrangements

were in progress, but in truth her heart sank as she pictured herself alone in a tiny little house in an ugly little street. She dragged herself up to her room, careful to keep back the tears till she was alone ; she was tired, but she could not eleep ; everything to her looked co grey, co dreary. She was tempted in this moment to try to get into communication with some of her father's scattered relations, to put her pride into her pocket and to ask for help. "Daddy never refused any one who came to him in trouble," she said to herself; "surely I have the right to expect some consideration from . those whom he helped?' 5 But always against this there arose $he insuperable difficulty of assimilating her- proud spirit with those to whom she ■would be indebted ; moreover,, her experience with Her' aunt had taught her a bitter lesson ; therefore, bleak and friendless as the future looked, she must still fight on single-handed. Had her father only lived long enough to have set his affairs in order, Ellen's plight would have J?een very different; but death had been far fronT his thoughts that day he had ridden forth 50 well and handsome, and in such good spirits J Whilst' she lay trying to frame some kind of definite scheme Ellen was all unconscious that she was being discussed^ ]

Varley had. left Lord Norchester early. The young man had changed his plans. After the dinner the thought of music hall or theatre had bored him ; instead he resolved upon having a spin into the country in his motor, and had tried to induce Varley to accompany him, but the other man had shaken his head. "I have a certain value for my neck," he said, "and, moreover, if you want me to sea about your business I'll set to work this very night." He had not taken Norchester into his confidence, nor had he said anything about Ellen Milner beyond the fact that he knew of some one whom he imagined might be able and willing to take up the duties required of her, and could go and stay at Wynche with Lady Norchester ; indeed, after they had separated he was just a little dubious as to whether he would be doing a wise thing for Ellen if he brought this suggested engagement to her- notice. Perhaps more from what. Chadwick had left unsaid than what had b-e«n told. Varley had guessed at what was actually passing with Ellen. She would scarcely have been likely to have stayed with these people in so humble a manner if things had not been very bad with her. He found Mrs Chadwick more communicative than Chadwick. In fact, Ellen's former maid confessed that she was a good bit bothered. I "There isn't anything in the world I wouldn't do for Miss Ell-en," she said : j "but. then, I'm no use. and she is so set on doing something for herself. She might stay here, but it don't seem right to me that she should be here. I don't believe Sir Patrick would bs pleased at that, sir. But then, again, I don't like letting her go and leave us and go somewhere by herself, though she has just upon settled to do this." "There are no relations, then?" Varley asker ; "no one who has a right to look after her?" Mrs Chadwick told him that it appeared there were no people belonging to Ellen to whom she could go. "She's just been living along with an aunt of hers, sir. since poor Sir Patrick died ; but she had an awful time, and ran away. That's why she came here to me." "I have an idea that I can help her," Varley said. "I should be very much obliged if you will arrange that Miss Milner will see me if possible to-morrow. I am afraid it will have to be early." "Oh ! Miss Ellen she's: always up very early, sir ; she's been going out for a walk before breakfast these last few mornings. Yes, sir, you are welcome to have our sitting room with pleasure, and I'll tell Miss Ellen. I'm sure," said Mrs Ohadwick earnestly, "both me and Chadwick would he awful glad if ' there was any way you could see as would help Miss Ellen, sir. She's got all her father's pluck ; but it's different to have spirit when you're riding to hounds and to have the same spirit to fight the hard things she's got to fight, isn't it, sir?" "les, it is quite different," said Varkv. The arranged interview took place the next morning at 9 oclock. A certain little excitement ,has put eoroe colour injto Ellen's cheeks, and though she was payer and thinner and had grown graver in manner, he could traoe quite a near resemblance now to the little Ellen Milner he had watched so often in the hunting field. "I do hope, Miss Milner," Varley said, "you won't think it intrusive of me to ask you to see me ; but I have been having a little chat about you with Mrs Cnadwick, and from what she tells me I—lI — I believe you can be of great assistance to me." Ellen opened her eyes at this, and smiled. "Is there anything I jan do for anybody?" she asked. And Varley smiled back at her. "Yes ; there are many things that you can do. I have a sort of idea that you would like to live in the country." Her face lit up, and her eyes glowed. '"Oh. anywhere that is not a town," •■ho said. 'I used to laugh in the old days when daddj uesd to say he could not trealhe in Loncon ; but I understand it now. I have a dream," she added, 'I should like to live in a tiny, little cottage on a moor. L should n*ver lie lonely. The streets, the people, the narrowness of j the life here depress me. If there i? anyI thing you want me to do in the country, 1 Mr Vadey, I will do it." I "That is a brave promise," said Varley ; "and happily I tan claim it without ! compunction. I do want you to go into ,the country. I want you to take up certain duties with a friend of mine. She is a very beautiful young woman; but owing 1 to certain circumstances in her youth she has not had those advantage which are common to most women in the position v hich she holds. You would be a secietary. companion, even a governess." Ellen looked at him thoughtfully. "I believe I might be abie to teach very 'itle children," she said; "but, oh! I have such a lot to learn myself, Mr Varley." '•No diplomas are needed for the work which you would have to do. It is more an influence which is required, come one who instinctively would help to set little troubles tight. 1 am very anxious to find a proper person, and I feel convinced you would be most successful." Ellen did not speak at once^ idien she said: "You have taken my breath away ; it doesn't seem possible that anything so delightful fchould come to me so easily.' 1 Varley hesitated a moment, find then he said : "Ah ! but you mustn't run away with the idea that there will be no d.'ffculties, nothing disagreeable. In fact, were it not that you have told me yourself that you must earn your living, I should hesitate to propose this engagement to you, because whilst it has much to recommend it, it may also have much that will try you. Your pupil, as I may call her, I is altogether an easy ggnjft&j. the is

very passionate. You will Tequire an infi- ' nite amount of tact. At the same time you will have freedom, you will have rooms at your disposal ; there -will be a horse for you to ride ; slose at hand there is a moor where you can go and dream. The country round -jid about is most beautiful." "Oh ! T am grateful to you,"' Ellen exclaimed. "I feel as if you have put new life into me ! Thank you a thousand tim.es, Mr Varley." Just for an instant she seemed to flash back into the happy light-hearted child he remembered so well. HeT gratitude touched him with a sense of pathos. As he held out his hand he said with a faint smile : "Don't thank me too much — perhaps after all you will find the difficulties greater even than 1 imagine them to be. At any rate, I hope things may go pleasantly, and if your experience at Wynche proves itself to* be Impossible — well, "then, I f.hall hope, Miss Milner, for your father's sake, that you will Jet me try again to be of some little service." As he was turning away he said: ''Oh! we have aot discussed the subject- of money ! Will you leave that in my hands?" With a blush Ellen agreed, and he went away with the understanding that he would go into the arrangements iinmsdiately, and that :n: n all probability she would be leaving for the country in a couple of days' time at tho latest. Lord Norchester paid him a visit at his ofsce that morning, and discussed certain matters which he wished to settle before going abroad. He made his arrangements in such a sombre way and w'th so rouch deliberation that Varley exclaimed at one point: , , • "My dear Harry you *re not going away for ever!" One never knows what may happen," JLord Norchester answered, 'so I want to leave matters in ship-shape order, and, look here, old chap, I do hope you won't mind looking after things in general for me. I am afraid I am going to give you an awful lot of trouble, but you are the only person I know who can handle a iiiuculty with great delicacy and tact." And he gave a. little sigh : "There is nire to be something of 3 difficult nature cropping up." Varley was ilent .a minute 01 two, then he said : "I suppose your decision is made but you know, Harry, I must protest once again. I don't think you are doing quite the right thing. I am perfectly welt aware that you must have heaps of things to make your path rough, but then, on the other hand, you have so many things which in the opinion of most people make life desirable." - Just a little angrily the young man answered him. "I have told you, Dicn, i' am going as much for Miriam's sake as mv own. I j give you my word of honour it is quite impossible for us to go on as we are now. You know a little about ue£, so you ought to understand. Sh© has "taken this craze to hs alone, and to go in for study, and all that sort of thing ; so the best thing I can do is to make myself scarce for a time &t least. By the way," he added, "'you said last night you thought you knew tha very per?on to go down to Wynche. Do you think you will be able to arrange that?" "Yes," said Varley, "I think I shall be able to arrange it. I know of a girl who I believe may be of great use to Lady Norchester " "A girl !" said Lord Norchester quickly, "1 should have thought Miriam ought to have had someone a little older, a woman of the world." But Varley shook his head. "No ; L have a ,?ort of idea that this j girl will just bring the kind of influence into 3-our wife's life which she now lacks. At any rate, it is only 3.n experiment, Hiid we can but try it. Are you going down to Wynche again?'' The young man shook his head. "No ; I have brought up all my traps ; I am not taking too much, you know, because 1 mean to motor across Europe. I am going without any plan, but I ratbar expect to pick up yoimg Darrell en I'oute, and he may have some scheme sketched out." "You've seen your mother?" Norchester noclded his head. "Yes, I am going to say good-bye this afternoon. She is a little bit cut up ; mother takes things so hardly. Of course, I have been an awful disappointment to her. I know that. Evelyn has promised to cheer her up. Evelyn's an awfully good foit!" Richard Varley smiled faintly at this description of Lady Evelyn Wvnche, who was by common repute one of the prettiest and most charming girls in societ)' at the moment. "I often think," said Lord Norche=ter as he got up to go, "that if mother hadn't been co jolly hard and so down on me things might have been a little different." "It is always eaiy," said Varley, "to find excuses for our own weaknesses in discovering the weaknesses of others." The young man looked at him with a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Don't preach. Dick," he said. Then they gripped hands. "Now you're going to look after everything for me, and I shall keep you In touch with my movements as far aa I possibly can. If I am wanted, of course I'll come back as quickly as possible." They parted with this, and Richard Varley «-ent back to his work — that is to say. he went back to the table, and 3at down and tried to work ; but the current of thought roused by 'his kinsman's visit carried him far away from the dry .routine of hia lawyer's duties. He had a yearning to be able to stand and smooth out things for Norchester. The young man appealed to him almost as pathetically as Ellen Milner had ; in fact, he was not quite sure whether there was aot more pathos attached to the future of Henry^ Earl of Norchesteri tha,n there..

was in' the future of the girl wno at this moment seemed without a friend in all the world.