CHAPTER V.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 182, 11 December 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER Y.

" YOU MUST TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES." After this outburst Violet was quiet, while Lady Burton stood in painful silence. Then once again the lady took courage to epeak. " I can, I will be good," she said. "God bleßB you," murmured Lady Burton, clasping the unhappy girl in her arms. « • I know you will. " " I will tell you my trouble," eaid Violet with a cob, " and I will be guided by you,'

You know I have always had a fear, a terrible iear of marrying a fortune- 'ninter, of being married for my money, not for love. I accepted Lord Leigh beoauae I believed that, he could not have any base motive in asking for my hand. Lady Burton, within this last hour I- have found that I hove married not only a man who takes me solely for my money, but he is doubly fake in that he forsakes, for my money, one whom he loves. "Violet!" " I assure you it is true." "Somo cruel, officious, jealous scandalmonger has told you a falsehood. Ido not belie vo this is true." " Suppose it were true— what should I do then ?" " The only thing left you to do, my poor child, would be to act the part of a good wife— to try and win the love of your hua band, and raako him love and esteem you for the lovely qualities that he sees daily in you. You aie still his wife, whether he man ied you for a good motivo or a bad one ; whether he loves another or yourself. Neither God nor man, for either plea, would release you from your marriage vow." "Violet, the yeprs of your free, happy girlhood Ho behind you. Your womanhood has begun. It has opened, I know not how, in tempest and misery. You have been the idol of your family, always indulged, petted You havo many virtues ; but also your life has made you something wilful and jealous. Now, will you allcw these traits to master you, to make yon wretched and grave, until they perhaps make you criminal ; or will you rise up nobly to do your duty, to trample temptations and your faults under foot, and be a true, brave, noble, longsufforing woman? Remember, though we cannot always be happy, by God's help we can always bo good." Slowly Violet's contracted brow relaxed. She drew a deep breath. She looked at her friend ; her beautiful eyes were full of tears. "It is done," said Violet, rising to her feet. "My heart is broken— my life is uearh— joy has passed into bitterness. I might have known that no one could love me for myself ! It is my fate. The only man who pretended to love me, not knowing I was &n heiress, abandoned me without regret or explanation." . "Violet, what is thia? You, child, so young, so guarded, had you ever a lover ?" " I thought I had," e«id Violet, forlornly ; "but ho amused himself with making love to use, and left me without a word ! Since that was in him, I am glad he went, for I loved him, Lady Burton — and I think ix, would be harder to feel yourself deceived into inariiage by one you love yet who does not love you. I have only professed for Lord Leigh a liking that I hoped would grow to love under a good, disinterested man's affection I am denied that ; and now I must livo as well as I can, with a wronged, lonely heart." "Poor Violet, poor little girl!" cried Lady Burton, hoi heart overwhelmed with sorrow, as she kissed the pale, cold bride, whose life had grown so cad and dark. "Take courage," she whispered ; "things will be easier and better than they seem." "!Never!" said Violet; "lor this man, who does not love me— who has lied to me at the altar — I must leave the friends and relatives who in their way really love me ; I must leave my hopes, my dreams that I have had, like other girls, and I must go even away from England alone. Oh, Lady Burton, can anything be more forlorn ?" "My dear child, consider that whatever you have heard — and I cannot conceive how you heard any such stories — may be untrue. Lord Leigh may be a good man, sadly misrepresented. Do not steel your heart against him who is now your protector, your nearest friend." They heard Mrs Ainslie's voice in the hall " There is my aunt coming to hurry me away," said Violet. "Oh, Lady Burton, is there a girl in England more desolate?" She gathered all her strength of body and mind, and rose to go to her dressing-room. But a few steps made, she returned and flung herself into Lady Burton's arms. " Save me from my "fate !" " Believe me, your fate will be less hard than you anticipate. You exaggerate this, Violet. Courage, child !" She moved again slowly ; then stood still. Lady Burton, with a sinking heart, seized her hand, and firmly led her to the dress-ing-room "You are lovelier than ever, darling," erie 1 Grace Fanshaw, as she buttoned the last button of her pearl-grey glovee, and Violet stood in her grey travelling dress, her little grey velvet cape knotted together with rose satin ribbons, the matched hat with its long curled plume, looped up at one side, and a cluster of pink roses resting on the chestnut hair, and lending colour to the dimpled cheek. One last hope of reprieve seerred to rise in the mind of the new Lady Leigh. She beckoned her aunt and Lady Buiton into the next room, and closed the door. Then 3he laid her hand on Mrs Aidslie's aim, suying : '' Aunt, it seems to me that I cannot go away with Lord T eigh. Is it impossible for me to stay here ?" " Indeed it is, child, quite impos&ible.'' j "Or to go with you to the St. James? Or with Kate to any of my own houses? Or a^ay with Lady Burton ?" "Oh, Violet, it is all impossible ! What do \ou mean by behaving in thia way?" ciied poor Mrs Ainslie, bursting into tears. " Your Montresaor relations will say it is all because the Ainslies brought you up. it will be a reproach on me, and will be remembered against your two cousins next year, when the poor darlings come out. Oh, why do you treat me so, Violer, when I have tried to be a mother to you ?" At Mrs Ainslie's words and weeping, Violet seemed routed to some compunction. She hung her head. "Ib i* true," she said ; " I have no right to trouble other people in my misery." " You are leaving your husband quite out of the question, whereas he is the chief one to be consulted, Lady Leigh," said Lady Burton, firmly. At the new name Violet started. " My husband ! And I belong to him ?" iJ Most certainly." 11 And he ia to dispose of me ?" " Yes, Violet ; that is truly the case." " I should like to speak to Lord Leigh." Mrs Ainslie, glad to be relieved of responsibility, called Lord Leigh, and at last bride and bridegroom were alone. Lord Leigh seemed as one on his guard. "My lord," said Violet, " I have made a terrible mistake. The day may come when I ehall be stronger to bear it ; now I ask your mercy, your forbearance — and I have a right to ask it. In your heart you know what that right is." "What is it you wish, Lady Leigh? Speak clearly." " Lord Leigh," said Violet, with a tremulous lip. "cannot I possible remain in England— cannot I go to one of my homes, with my maid, and remain there quite alone, awr.y from every one ? It is true, lam your wife, but cannot we part, now and for ever, quietly ?" " What do you mean ?" cried Lord Leigh, with a flash of fierceness. "Do you wish to make me the laughing-stock of all England?" " Better that- than utterly miberable," said Violet, gloomily.