CHAPTER X. LADY MELROSS GAINS AN ALLY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 125, 24 October 1885, Page 6

CHAPTER X. LADY MELROSS GAINS AN ALLY.

Absorbed in their own emotions, neither Lady Melrosa nor the lovers had noticed the appearance of Robert Hood upon the scene. He had swung back the portieres just in time to see Lady Melross snatch Lillis from Chesney's embrace and hear the words that followed. Those word 8 were scarcely spoken when his voice Btartei them to a knowledge of his presence. Pale with jealous rage and hatred of the wrongod man before him, he loosed the fierce grasp fastened upon the portieres and stepped forward. " What Lady Melross cannot do, the Earl of Langdon can," he said, assuming an exprepfion of polite regret. " Lillis shall suffar no such indignity under my roof. She was like a daughter to my haples3 father. She is like a sister to me. Chesney, I ask your pardon, but—" Cyril checked him scornfully. "Do you think," he cried, " it needs more than Lady Melross's declaration to keep me from your house ? I assure you it does not. Lady Melross," turning his proud gaze to her ladyship's face, " while Lillie remains a minor I yield and trust because itisaboundenduty." He turned to Lillis and hurriedly caught her hand to his lips. " Heaven bless you, Lillisl he murmured ; " with Heaven I leave you." His voice failed as he met the girl s lovelit, anguished eyes, and, wringing her hand in a last clasp, he bowed silently to Lady Melross, and left the room. Robert Hood, swelling with secret exultation, followed. " Finis I" Haid Lady Melross, coldly. LilHs looked up at her. "Why," she exclaimed, hoarsely, reproachfully, why " needlessly insult? We shall not be with the earl." "You are wrong. We shall be. "Mamma, you cannot mean it. After my rejection !" In her pain and mortification, the girl dropped into a chair. "ft is tho earl's wish and it is mine," answered Lady Melross,eying her composedly. "Immediately on the departure of the guests I sought an interview with him. The result was that he refused putnghUo accept my resignation, and insisted on increasing my stipend to the amount of one hundred pounds. As I happen to be gifted with common sense, I adopted his opinion of the matter. Consequently we remain with him indefinitely." . , Lillis made no reply, but, dropping her head, buried her face within her handjj.

One by one tbe teard stole through her slender flowers and fell Lady Melross watohed her a moment wilb darkly -frowning brow, and then silently left ncr to herself. Better so!" she thought, "Let her ory it out. Girls must pet-force be fools for a time. I was one myself once." The crash of wheels without, and Hood's returning step from the porch, broke upon her thought. He looked into the drawing-room, as he passed through the hall, and seeing her, went in. „..,» "Well," he exclaimed, his black eyes glowing with malice and triumph, "you have rid me of a very dangerous rival. It is a most auspicious beginning. But," a shade of anxiety clouding his face, " you are sure, Lady Melross, Lillis has no suspicion of our ultimate purpose ? Sho believes I have renounced all thoughts of making her CounLady Melrosa half smiled, tess of Langdon ?" " Your adoption of her as a sister ought to banish any lingering distrust on that point. However, set your mind at rest," she added, more gravely. " Lillis suspeots no more than Chesney." " Where is she ? Can Igo to her ?" asked Hood, eagerly. " Certainly not," returned Lady Melross, with decision. " I left her there ' —a slight motion indicating the further room—" crying her eyes out. Let her alone, Robert, and after this gust has blown over, quietly render youraelfnecessary to her happiness." She looked after him as he went away in unwilling obedience, and for a moment the mother's heart rose Buperior to the mother's ambition. " I hope he will be good to her and make her happy," she thought. The next instant she smiled in Beif contempt. "Happy !" she muttered. "Of what am I thinking? Happiness is not in life. The question is, will she be better off with boundless wealth and a coronet than without? I answer, yes ! That settles it. She must wear the coronet and accept the wealth I" But her heart had softened. She slowly retraced her steps to the little room. Lillis had dried her tears and was standing at the window, her whole attitude expressive of the deepest dejection " My child !" said Lady Melross, gently. Lillis turned. Lady Melross stood still, paralysed by a sudden fear. Standing there in the pale, cold rays of the setting sun, the girl looked so wan and ethereal. What if she should die ? Habits, nature, and age were, for the moment, obliterated. With all the swiftness of youth, with all the fervour of the most impassioned, she sprang to the girl and caught her to her breast. "My child) My child!" she cried, " whatever you do, never doubt your mother's love ! You are the apple of her eye, the all in all of her life 1" Equally touched and surprised at this unprecedented outburst, Lillis cried, brokenly, as she returned the lavish caresses : "Then you relent, mamma? You will make me happy by—" Lady Melross laid her finger gently on the quivering lips. " I may seem cruel now, dear," she said. " I think only of your best welfare. How could it be otherwise? Trust me, Lillis, and— obey me !" Her usual uncompromising tone struck through those two last words, and at the same time struck hope dead in Lillis's heart. Feeling the uselessness of further entreaties, the girl turned silently away. As she neared the door by which she was about to leave the room, Lady Melross, touched again, hastened after her and, dropping a light hand on her shoulder, said gently, but firmly : "I do well, Lillis. Try to see it so. I would sec are you a brilliant future, free from the cares and annoyances which have darkened my life." " I will try to forgive you, mamma," said the girl. With that answer, and a glance of sad reproach, she opened the door and went out. On reaching the great hall, she suddenly paused. The dash of a vehicle, bowling rapidly up to the Abbey, had caught her ear and hushed her breath. " Can he have returned ? Has something awful happened ?" she thought, crossing her hands against her heart in sickening dread. , „ While she stood thus, intently looking and listening, the ponderous knocker sounded a peremptory summons that brought the porter in hot haste.