CHAPTER XLVIII.—Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13425, 16 March 1907, Page 6

CHAPTER XLVlll.— Continued.

Froda' said lno moro. li' anything had passed between Ernest and his cousin at Grasslands he would not, of course, betray her, even to his sister; and probably the duchess thought Ei*nest's marriage would do more than anything else to cure the girl of . her infatuation. And presently Ernest went to the dulse.

'" Bring him back with you to the drawing-room" said Freda, who thought it best to leave the two men alone just at first. The duke was so absorbed over bis specimens that he did not hear the knock at the study door, and Ernest opened it noiselessly and stood contemplating the bending figure for a minute with a half-amused, but wholly loving smile on his lips. "Dear old Edendale!" he thought, "how happy he is among his 'fronds' and things 1 But what an odd sort oi happiness. Then aloud, moving a step forward : "Edendale!" The duke started and looked up; then down went even his adored " roots," and he sprang up and grasped the hand of his brother-in-law in both his own. " My dear boy! here you are at last! When did you come?" " Some little time ago, but I have been chattering with Freda, and , now I am come to disturb you." , "Disturb me! You know you never do that, Ernest. Sit down! Where have you been? What have you been doing?* " Well, that's what I have come to tell you," said Eraest, seating himself on the edge of the table. "I have been in Rome, and I have been after furnishing you with a sister-in-law.*' 1 . "Ernest! But — but — if you're not jesthig-^-who is it?" *

" I never, better deserved my name than now, Edendale. You know her name — Margherita St. Lys." The duke looked troubled and perplexed, and sank into his chair again. "Yes, I know her name," he said, slowly. " I don't mix much with the world, but I heard things that made me fear you cared for her." "Fear! Ah! not that word, Edendale," said the younger man, almost passionately. "You don't know her. SII9 will make you love her — you cannot help it. Freda has told me to bring her down to-morrow. She is ready to open her arms to my wife, and you will be also, Bernard."

If Ernest had married a barmaid his sister and her husband would certainly have tried to reconcile themselves to the match ; at any rate they would not have discarded him.

The duke now lifted his head and stretched out his hand.

"Forgive mo, Ernest," he said. "You're right; I don't know anything about her, only I heard sho was rather Bohemian, and I have old-fashioned ideas ; but,! ought to know you wouldn't marry a woman you couldn't utterly trust. I know Madame • St. Lys is gently born ; and if Freda is ready to love her she must be worthy of, it. I hope she'll make you very happy, Ernest."

'• There is no doubt of that," said the other in a low voice, returning his brother's clasp. "Thanks, Edendale; you're very good to me." "Good to you! How, my boy?" "Well," said Ernest; "you would rather I had lost my Tieart to a woman more in my own ♦ set ' ; but I don't think you'll keep that opinion when you know Margherita. lam prejudiced, you think, because I am her lover. Then I'll say no more; you shall judge." " I am anxious to have the opportunity," said the duke, smiling. " You will have it speedily, Edendalo; now go and wash the mould off your hands and join us in the drawingroom. Those were Freda's orders." "So I must obey, eh? Well, Ido so willingly ; ospocially since you are come, and .with such news. I want to hoar more about your Italian sweetheart." ' " Very well. I'll promise not to bore you with rhapsodies; you know that isn't my style. I wish Margherita were more of a botanist for your sake ; but I can't recommend her in that respect. She loves flowers just as I do, as things of beauty, but she has no scientific knowledge of them." " All the better for you," said the duke, rising. "You will be two ignoramuses together, so neither can rebuke the other; and she won't be lpokingi into hedges,' when you want her to admire the sky or the trees." Ernest laughed. "That's true." said he. "Now.f bundle away these grubby old ferns and com© upstairs." With which parting snot he went out and rejoined his sister in the drawingroom.