CHAPTER II.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 181, 4 December 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER 11.

" DO YOU TRULY LOVE?" " Mi*s Ainslir its never engaged to you, my lady,'" said the footman, " though she is refused to all others this morning " Too impatient to sit down, Lady Burton walked about the drawing-room for a inornent or two. TLc owner had no titles, and the mistre a s of the hou a c was but of homely taste; but by grace of unlimited money, it was one of the finest drawing-rooms in London, a 9 became the dwelling of a prince of finance. In a moment Violet's maid entered. " Would you come up to Miss Ainelie's boudoir, my lady ? She is anxious to see you, but cannot come down." Lady Burton went up the well-known stair, and the maid threw open the door of th 9 heiress's boudoir. The most fashionable mantua-maker in London, and her three chief assistants, were in possession. liich satins, =ilkp, laces, velvets, tissues, exquisite fabrics of every kind, lay on sofas, tables, and chairs, and gleamed and shimmered in open willow baskets. Mrs Ainelie's maid, the maid of the three or four little Mias Ainslies yet in the nursery, the nurs ry governess, proved into now service, stood, placed like pictures in good light, while over their arms choice draperies fell in cas cades of glow and sheen. Leaning back in a erreat stuffed chair, her eye glasses in hand, her face illuminated with pride and interest, sat the portly, kindly figure of Mrs Ainslie, the banker's wife. In the centre of the room, and the cynosure of all eyes, was a charming, dainty ghl figure, with white dimpled arms statue a que!y folded, all clad from shoulders to toe in the white of a cambric dressing jacket and her white petticoat, with its multitudinoag lace frills, while before her knelt Madame Eamhni, the modiste, holding against her " subject" ample folda of silk and lace, a mass that looked like the curled and crested foam-bright waves of the sea. | In half-un dress, standing to be draped andtltted, bare necked, bare-armed, pensive, eileDt. lo«t as in some curious maze, this was she, Violet Ainslie— the great heiress — the orphan holder of burdensome millions, doomed to be her curse. The opening of the boudoir-door drew the girl from her fancies with a atart, She held out her hand. " I am a prisoner rfrs modes," she said. " Mra Ain^lie cams forward, her usual heartiness intensified by her honest regard and as hone a t awo for Lady Burton ; model of high-bred womanhood, and priestess of polite life, and the gate of which Mrs Ainslie stood unadmitted, but within which bho had cent hor niece by marriage, Violet, granddaughter of the Earl ot Montrecser, under Lady Burton's chaperoraj,e. "So good of you, Lady Burton, to come to us. Violet wad to go to you as soon as Madame Lmnbini released her. Bufc you see now we are so hurried in our preparations " Meanwhile two small, tremulous hands had seized upon Lady Burton, and held her fast, with a nervous, almost despairing clasp. Hor right hand thus imprisonod, Lady Burton smiled, and was obliged to offer her left hand to Mrs Ainslie, who accepted it with ardour. " I see," said Lady Burton, looking about, " that it is true." " Oh, yep, quite true !" said Mrs Ainslie, with open delight. Lady Burton turned a clear, steadfast, searching eye on Violet's flushing face. Beautiful in every particular Violet's strong part lay in her eyes, if one could appreciate them. Clear as those of a child, wideopened, quick to fill with teare, a light hazel, with large pupils, long black lashea, and full one moment of startled surprise, the next of innocent joy turned into soft demand as they looked for approval to faces she loved and always with a remarkably straightforward, earnest gaze— where was the man, Lady Burton had often thought, worthy of the best glances of those young, matchless, blessed brown eyes ? " Let me go instantly, madame !" cried Violet. "I have chosen enough for you to begin on. lam tired. Kate, a dreasingwrap." Mrs Ainalie was in consternation ; she could have gone on selecting dresses indefinitely. But since the hour Violet had croßEed her uncle's threshold her word had been the law of the house. Her aunt resigned herself as usual. Kate threw a down-trimmed robe over the young lady's shoulders ; and Violet, still holding Lady

Burton's hand, drew her into her dr«. °Bingroom, and, the instant the door wag <-hut, : threw herself with a burst of tears upon the bosom of her friend. Lady Burton, folding the girl in her arms, allowed this emotion to have its way. Presently Violet recovered heraelf, pushed back the moist ripples of brown hair from her forehead, and a smile flashed through her tears, liko the sun through summer rain. " Forgive mo ! You always look so motherly to me, that it ia in your presence, I givo way." " Lot me be motherly, "said Lady Burton, leading her to a divan and holding her j clasped in her arm. " I loved your mother. . To-day I come to you in her name. May I speak, and w ill you answer freely ?" •'Indeed, yes." " Are these tears sorrow or excitement?" l< 1 think -excitement," said Violet, with a fascinating little smile. " My child, do you truly love the man you are to marry ?" Violet locked and unlocked her pink fingers, as she said, with a pathetic droop of her mouth, and her straight look : " Lady Burton, I do not know." Such an answer before an announced engagement would havo roused Lady Burton to vigorous protest. Now another course waß needful. " Violet., do you love this man beyond all others? Is he more pleasing to you than other men ? "Lady Burton, you know I have seen almost nothing of men. I caw no men until I came here three years ago — few pirce until this season ; and then, oh, I have been taught to suspect them all ! I have refused ten ; ten who hardly knew me i It was too dreaiful !" "Violet, are you sure you so much prefer this man to others, that he will always be your preference ?" "Lady Burton," said Violet, erecting her pretty head, "I should never fail of my duty !" " Bear with me while Isoarch your heart. We human baings are so weak beyond our dream that sometimes we are betrayed by ourselves before we are aware. Is it a joy, a content, to think of spending your life with Lord Leigh ? The years of our life may be many and long. While youth is glowing, while maturity ripens, while age comes on, will you be content to spend your life in the shadow of this man's love, and within the circle of hie arm ?" 11 1 suppose so," eaid Violet, hesitatingly, and with a troublod look, "I have as yet | thought of it only in this way. I shall be safe in my own home, and no longer the golden apple of conflict between the Ainsliea and Montress'ora, My poor, kind aunt will not longer be victimised and tortured by the Montressor aunts on my behalf, my undo will no longer assure me that he is getting grey in caring for my dreadful millions. I will no longer be pursued for my millions, and having old men and young, good and bad - men I hardly know by sight —flinging themselves at my feet, and proteat they desire only my love, and to hear Uncle Henry say solemnly, 'Another, Violet !' just as if I were the boldest coquette ; and aunt reply, with a groan, ' Poor dear, what can you expect ?' '' " Yes, my child, 1 understand. This is a little evil picture, that comes linked with your great fortune. But do you love your chosen husband enough to yield to his wishes ; to prefer his wishes to your own, to seek first his comfort ? To make his comfoit the Btudy of your life, as heretofore your own comfort has been ?" " Must I do all that?" said Violet, innocently. "These expectations and plans seem natural to real love." " Perhaps they will come in time?" suggested Violet. " Love can and does grow if cherished. But let me warn you, uear, that no woman, not even an unloved wife, is so unhappy, as an unloving wife. Love and eelf sacrifice bring their own consolations. I see no comfort for the wife who does not love." " Perhaps Ido love Lord Leigh ; he is very — nice," said Violet, meditatively, but the tone made Lady Burton's heart sink with fear ; while the girl added quickly, " And really, he is, 1 think, very fond of me. He has asked me three times " " Fond of you !" cried Lady Burton, " could any man in all his senses be less than fond of ?uch an innocent, winsome creature a? you, Violet ?" " You see, he iR 80 rich, I feel as if he can love me for myself," eaid Violet, with aflush. " He cannot be fortune-hunting." "You poor dear child !" " I wieh I hadn't any money ! I wish I were a nursery governess," cried Violet, in a passion of tears ; " then I'd know if I were loved. My aunt and undo urged, and said here 1 might be sure. Poor aunt, if I stay single after her girls come out, I'd keep all suitors away from them, she tears. Oh, it is too dreadful ! But I respect Lord Leigh. I like him ; and when I get u-»ed to the idea, I think, Lady Burton, lam capable of loving." " My darling, you were born to love — warmly." "But, if I found he had deceived me — not loved me for myself — oh, how unutterably I should hate him, or any one." Lady Burton trembled at the girl's tone and her pallor. '' It is not likely in this caee. But, Violet, do delay this marriage." " No, no ; it is too late. I cannot endure this life, No, I must take my risk now, before I am hunted to death."