CHAPTER XXVIII.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14095, 29 December 1909, Page 5

CHAPTER XXVIII.

"DO YOU BELIEVE ME NOWP"

When the solicitor was gone Cedric did not return to his work. His brain was seething. The affairs of the nation must wait to-day as far as he was concerned; his own affairs were so much more interesting. For an hour he walked up and down his. room like a caged panther, looking at his watch every few minutes. Lord Warrender was out, and had announced his intention of returning at one. It still wanted a' quarter to one. The young man had grown hollow-eyed and almost haggard with intensity of impatience before the door opened and the statesman came in. He was in haste, arid wanted an. important letter written at once. He began to dictate while drawing off his (gloves, and Cedric, frantic as he was to get away, had 1 to sit down and concentrate his mind on what he was doing. Perhaps it was the greatest effort which had ever been asked of his brain, and when it was done he looked quite white — so white that Lord Warrender noticed him. "Aren't you feeling well?" "It isn't that'," replied Cedric. "I've had rather startling news this morning, and I am very anxious to see my. wife at once. I was going to ask, when you came in, if you could kindly spare me for an hour?" "Of course," said his cousin. "Why didn't you say so before? You needn't come back this afternoon if there is anything to keep you. I can manage with FitageraW." "I am awfully obliged!" said Cedric, with quite disproportionate gratitude. In three minutes he was in a hansom; in six more he had sprung out at their own door in Hill Street, and let himself in with his latch key. He found her in the drawing room alone. She was not reading or writing or working. She seemed to have been walking about, as he had been walking nbout Belprave Square, when he opened the door, for she stood at the window, with her back to it, and looked at him. "Has Mr. Magnus been here, Violet?" "Yes." "Then you knowP" "Why are you home so early P" she asked in A haxd voiise. . ' j

"Did you think I could wait till the evening — to-day i^That is as cruel a thing as you hai^fevtir said to mcl" "Cruel?" He approached- her. She was pale, but he aid not think she had been crying. Sh© watched him with a strange expression. Closer he came, and closer. He heard her breathing and looked into her eyes. "Are you very miserable at the loss of your money ?" "No." "tfou don't care at all?" "Do you?" "1 am glad," he said, "if it doesn't trouble you."i She wus beginning to tremble. "'ihen so am II But how shall we live.:-" "Don't you think it possible for a man to support his wife on eight hundred a year? „I am sure you will be such a clever housekeeper that we shali be quite comfortable.'' . "i shall be a drag on youl" "Good heavens," ho said, "What a word for it 1 isn't' this the happiest day of my life?" - "The happiesti day of your life!" she murmured, tremulously. "Violet, do you beliove me now?" "I must," she. said"Oh, my dear, xtzn you forgive mo those days I insulted -you, tor the mouths i havei loved and suffered since?" "How can I help it?" she said. He put out hip arms and took her and kissed her on the lips. "Do you love me as you loved me at first?" "No," she said. "Better than at first!" ■ Then it came, the breakdown, the weeping, and she clung to him while a very storm shook- her to the scul. "I have been so; hard to you — so hard," she sobbed. "Oh Cedric, I have been so hard- to you! "Hu^h," he said.- "It wasn't your fault. How were tyou to know ? And you have so much mpre to forgive than I." "I was unjust, cruel!" "It was natural 'you should doubt me. What else hadd any right to expect!" . \ "I don't know hdwtyou can kiss me." "I can," he said) with a brief return of his old light-hearted gaiety. "See!" And he kissed her; cheeks, her hair, her hands; uttering fevery endearment he could think of, < and asking her why she cried since they wkre both so. happy. But his voice wafr husky, and if he had been a woman h& would have been crying too.