CHAPTER XI.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, 3 December 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER XI.

TO r.KKJIITOX. Su:iXA\uf unused to late hours and lato suppers. %sxt morning she found herself less bri^k Iksn was her wont ; and so' having despatched Janie Wygram on certain errands doyrjj in tho Chelsea direction, she thought she would take a longer walk than usual, and gc round by Hyde Park on her way to Lancaster Gate. And very soon the fresh air revived Her. It was one of ihose sudden spt ing-like days that occasionally show themselves; m March ; a bland eotjh wind was blowing; the Serpentine sva° shimmering in silver ; the pale brown roads dividing the level biearithf of greensward looked pleasant enough in the warm su alight : and every leafless branch of the elms and maple? was defined sharp and black against the blue sky. There was a kind of happy murmur all around, and a look of life and animation amongst the nondescript crowd. Carriages rolled by with their occupants wrapped in their ; winter furs ; nurf-einaids were chatting as they pushed before them the somnolent perambulator ; charming young horsewomen were walking side by side, and perchance exchanging confidences about the last night's ball ; children were calling, j dogs scampering, sparrows twittering; everywhere there wa3 life, and motion, and sound— and it was a sound as of gladness, somehow. And, of course, Sabina thought of the poor young fellow who was shut out from all this, and kept a clo-^e prisoner there ; and her heart was filled with pity for him ; and half unconsoiou c lyshc walked as quickly as she could, so a^ to gh c him as >-oon as possible the solace of her companionship. It is true— though she did not hko to confess it to herself -that she had begun to .suspect of late that he was not quite &o grateful for her society, and her efftnts to amuse him, as he might be. He seemed to be very well content with the sporting papers, and with the les< oflicious conversation of the professional mu^e. Perhaps, then, fche — that is, Sabina — bored him POJQewhat ? Perhaps he did not want to be bothered with the formality of talking to a young lady? Perhaps lie might even consider her a little bit of a nuisance ? Sabina did not like to dwell on these questions ; because they sounded like pique ; and, of oouyse, it did not matter to her whether he was grateful for her volunteered companionship or not. On this morning she found him in very gay spirits indeed ; a number of things contributing. First of all, Schiller had won the Shipley Hall Handicap on the previous Tuesday, and Mr Fred Foster was now in ample funds : but this she know, for she had been the gainer by that victory of ten pounds. Then, again, the horse that Ije ha.d. backed for the Lincolnshire Handicap, at 20 to 1 against, had quite suddenly risen in popular estimation and was now first favourite, at 100 to 12 ; and here was a fine opportunity for a little business I But the chief and glorious news was that the doctor had consented to his removal ; and arrangements were now being made for his being conveyed to Brighton. " Do you know Brighton, Miss Zembra ?" he said^ eagerly. " Oh, I do, I can tell you ; I know it" just down to the ground. I shan't want for amusement. You see I'll j have rooms in the King's Road ; they're i not dear just now, and I can be wheeled out to the end of the West Pier like the other cripples, and read the papers, and listen to the band. Then there's a telegraph office at the foot of the pier if one wants to do a little business. Then there's the tennis court ; they'll let mo look on, 1 suppose. Then the billiard-rooms, but I suppose they wouldn't like my hearse brought in there. When I can sport about in a bath chair, however, I know one shop where I shall be welcome enough. And, then, the fellows I know are always running down to Brighton — to the Old Ship ; I sSould hear what was going on ; they %von't leave me out in the cold. Tin not likely to be tempted like the ordinary stay-at-home backer,' to try a system *' "A system?" she said, with inquiring eyebrows. " Well, a system is a machine for making it certain that you drop your money— that's all," he explained. "But why hhoulcl I bore you with such things— you don't understand. And you seem a bit tired this morning, Mis.s Zembra." She told him something of the festivities of the night before ; and said that, though they were mild enough, she was not used to them, and confessed to being a trifle fagged. •'That kind of thing would not suit mo at all," he said, frankly. " I liko to keep myself fit all the way round — fit for a steeplechase course, or a thousand up at billiards, or a pigeon shoot or anything. No>v I'll tell you the kind of feast I like - a bKeakfast at Jem Reids -Reid, the trainer, you know. Well, now, that is the prettiest thing that I have any acquaintance with ; Mrs Reid, buxom and fresh as a daisy, at the head of tho table; an excellent breakfast ; fried soles done to a turn ; bacon crisp and hot from the fender, a devilled kidney or two, and the best coffee in the world. Then as you're for going ahead, you may chance to glanco out of the window, and there is a string of horses

marching past on their way to the heath, and jusb as like as nob you'll hear Mrs Reid say, * Well, I for one don't object to seeing the touts coming aboub ; it shows they think we have some horses worth watching.' After a breakfast like that, I'm fit for the day ; I can do without anything else all day long ; thero's never any l sinking ' bothers me." "You ought to be very thankful you have such a constitution," Sabina said ; she could not help noticing- the clearness of his complexion, whero the sun-tan still lingered, and also the brilliant liquidness of Ins eyes, which were like those of a schoolboy in the briskest of health. "It's jusb luck," said he, in his usual paturnine fashion. " I happened to be born like that ! I might have been one of those miserable devils who can't go on for a couple of hours without a sherry and bitters. I don't bkme them, bub I'd rather be as I am. " "And when do you go to Brighton?" Sabina asked ; ifc occurred to her then that the house would become strangely empty and uninteresting when he was gone. " As soon as my catafalque is gotieady," he said, with cheerful good humour. " And I shall be precious glad to get there. Not entirely on my own account — I'm afraid you mubt think me an awfully selfish brute, don't you "!—no, it's partly on account of the Mater. You see, as soon as I can date •my letters from Brighton, she will bo convinced that nothing very serious has happened. I have been mortally afraid of tho c'id lady turning up in London, and getting alarmed when bhe found I wasn't in Burysbixjet. As for my father. I suppose he's disappointed that I haven't broken my neck. Ho has been prophesying these dozeu years back that that would be the eudiof me ; and people like their prophecies to OQjgae off, you know." "Ibihas been bad enough as it is/ eaid Sabina, " but I am sure yoa have borne your imprisonment so far with very great courage. Most men would have fretted and complained, and found the forced idleness almost unendurable, I hope you will never have such an experience again ; bub I must say you make an admirable patient." Now, surely, here was an opportunity for him to show hmiself a little grateful to the young lady wh.o had given him so much of her time and attention. It could have been easily done ; nay, was there not almost an invitation in what she had said ? But he did not seem to take it that way. He humorously remarked that he hoped sooti to be about again, but that he would bake care not to challenge John Roberts, jun., to play 3,000 up for a considerable time to come. There were one or two questions of some delicacy arose ere he could take his departure for Brighton. " You know, Miss Zembra," he said, in his usual mattei -of-fact way, " J am quite aware that your people have wished me at Jericho e\er since I came into the house ; and I don't wish to be indebted to people who wif>h me at Jericho ; at the same time I should be sorry to oiiend you by offering to pay for my board. " 1 "Please, we will not speak of it," said Sabina. " It'b an awkward time of the year —if T could send them some game " He saw that he only vexed her, and he dropped the subject, privately reserving to himself the right of bountifully tipping the servants, for he was in ample funds at the moment. Sabina, on her side, found herself quite unable to induce either her father or Lady Zembra to say a woul of farewell to their unbidden and unwelcome guest. She represented to them what a gross discoiutosy this would be to a man who was distinctly a gentleman ; and thab even common humanity demanded that they should be well-disposed to one who had suffered injury through a member of the family. But no ; Hir Anthony, when he had said a thing, stuck to it ; and lie had declared he would have nothing whatsoever to do with this sti'anger, and Lady Zembra was only too glad to escape from bother by following the example of her lord. Sabina tried to make some little explanation and apology to Mr Fred Foster himself ; but that young gentleman only laughed good-naturedly, said he understood the whole situation, and that, in their position, he would have been precisely in the &arne state of mind. Both Janie Wygram and Sabina went to Victoria Station to see him off, and it was then thab Janie saw him for bhe firsb time. " He does nob seem much of an invalid," said Janie, aside, observing his sun-browned complexion and clear blue eyes, "Poor fellow," Sabina said; "jusb imagine what io must be for one who has led so active a life to be chained down like that. And the doctor says it may be months before he can walk about. I have never seen anyone so patient and cheerful." "1 should have thought he was quicktempered by the colour of his hair : carroty curls always go with a short temper," said Janie, who had not forgotten her grudge against this luckless young man, However, Sabina did not reply to this remark ; for she had to step into the carriage to bid Mr Foster good-bye. " You won't forget to leb me know how you get on at Brighton ?" said she. " Why should I bother you ?" he said. " Bub I particularly wish to know, and as often as ib is convenient," she persisted. " You can't imagine how glad I shall be when I hear that you are getting about again, and shaking off the last traces of thab dreadful accident. " " Oh, very well," said he. "Bub don't you bother about me. I shall soon be skipping about again like a two-year-S old." | " Good-bye," she said, and she gave him her hand. "Good-bye, Miss Zembra,"' said he, and he added : " You know you've been awfully kind to me. I wish I knew how to repay you. If you were a man, I could." " Indeed ?" ehe said lightly, for she guessed there was some small joke in his mind. "Yes, I could. I'd advise you to put every penny you have in the world on Cherry Blossom for tho Grand National." The tram was already moving ; she had to step quickly back ; and then she waved her hand to him from the platform. "Poor fellow," she said, almost to herself, "half of his cheerfulness is only pretence. He feels ib more than he would have anyone think." And Janie looked at her, with a curious glance ; then they burned and left the station together, and in silence. ( To be continued.)