LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6184, 12 March 1888, Page 1

LITERATURE.

FORGING THE FETTERS.

[Bt Mbs Alexander.] Author of "The Wooing O't," " Her Dearest Foe," &c, &c. [ail bights reserved.] Chapter IT. Confident as Morton waa in his powers of pleasing, in hia superiority in looks, youth, knowledge of the world, and general attractiveness, to the grim soldier, who had somehow made a place for himself in their party, it caused him no little uneasiness to observe that his society was not nn- . acceptable to Mrs Pane. It was absurd to suppose he could be a rival, or, if he were, a formidable rival. In truth, Sir Frederic Morton's affairs ■were in a desperate condition ; not only was he in love with Mrs Fane after the headstrong fashion natural to him, but hia chief hope of retrieving his fortunes lay in his chance of appropriating hers. Hitherto he had felt himself compelled to play a waiting game, but now events were pressing. He must lose no time in persuading her to give him a conditional promise, and commence that suit for a divorce, in which she waa certain to succeed. It was impossible that she could be indifferent to him. 16 suited her intolerable pride to fence herself round with Platonic affections, but let things only come to a crisis, and she would soon make up her mind. He must have a. consultation with his ally, Mrs Bayley. However, as a sort -of acknowledgment of the money he had won from Carrington, he felt obliged to introduce him at Mrs Fane's unceremonious "at homes." Here he was silent and unobtrusive enough, but as he sat with half-closed eyes, lulled by sweet Bounds, when Mrs Fane and Miss Onslow played or sang, he was watching with keen observation the aspect of the society into which he had been unexpectedly thrown. Violet Onslow, he decided, was an ordinary young lady — less sharp and more kindly than the generality. Mrs Bayley — somehow he did not take to that frank and lively widow — " not to be trusted," was the verdict of his instincts ; bnt Sir Frederic Morton excited his strong aversion as he watched his graceful sympathetic manner, and noticed, with a bitterness that surprised himself, the confidential tone existing between him and Mrs Fane. He knew all her songs and which suited her best; he was full of reminiscences of little adventures at Naples and retxontres at Borne ; and though there was profound and pleasant repose in Mrs Fane's way of speaking to him, might not that arise from too complete a mutual understanding ? Was it possible a woman so long separated from her husband would be proof against the sustained attentions, flatteries, and arts of bo accomplished and good-look-ing a man P Yet she ought to be true to herself, if not to the husband who deserted her. One had a right to expect a high standard in women— even while he thought so, a wave of indignation swept over his heart, as Mrs Fane raised her eyes to Morton's, with a smile so sweet, so confiding, that Carrington could have put her in a penitentiary on the spot. Still, he had an ingrained sense of justice, and told himself the next moment that had he been the recipient of such a glance he could amply forgive the infidelity. Nevertheless, the dangers surrounding co attractive a woman were too clearly visible. He longed for the power to baniah Morton, whom he suspected of being a gambler and scamp. It was too bad of any man to have deserted such a woman, when she must have been a mere girl. What had her life been since P He would watch and try to discover if she were true and high-minded, or a merely frivolous lightly-conducted coquette. Brooding over these ideas he was almost startled by Mxb Bayley, who brought herself and her knitting to a seat beside him. "I suspect I have roused you from a pleasant ' doze,' " she said, smiling benignly on him. 1 " Far from it ; I have been enjoying the duet Mrs Fane and Miss Onslow have just sang— l was keenly awake." " So you are the reverse of the weasels— they sleep on dit with their eyes open, and you wake with your eyes shut." . "The latter is least fatiguing." "Ah! people learn to be very indolent in India. You have been a long time in India have you not, Colonel Carrington ? " " Yob, a long time." "It must be very pleasant to find yourself in England— l should say Great Britain — again." " I have no objection to. Great Britain, but I am not over-joyed." "Ah! some people grow enamoured of India, and find the restraints of English society intolerable." "I assure you we are stiff enough in India/ "Indeed, I fancied everything was a3 i free as air ! lam sure the accounts Frank j Bayley, a nephew of mine, who was for some time at a station on the frontier, I forget the name of the place, the stories he tells about the * goings on ' of the men, and women, too, for that matter are enough to turn your hair grey — mine has become a shade or two whiter since I listened to him." " Frank Bayley ?" repeated Carrington, looking at her with unusual attention. "Is he a doctor?" "Yea, in the Indian service. Did you know Mm V " I have met him," a slight frown contracting his brow. " Yes; he is a very clever fellow," said i Mrs Bayley, picking up a Btitch with much dexterity, and continuing the conversation in an imperative kind of whisper, as Miss Onslow began to play a dreamy nocturne. "A very clever fellow. He is not going back to India ; he is going to practice at Huddersfield. Ah! what queer experiences he has had!" "He seems to have been communicative," said Carrington, with a tinge of contempt. "Tome, yes. You see we had a sort of professional intimacy. After I lost my poor husband, having no ties, I turned hospital nurse, and was able in that way to do a little good. I was fortunately in the same hotel with Mrs Fane, when she had that frightful attack of Roman fever — through which I nuraed her — about two years ago. We have stuck to each other ever since. Poor dear ! Her life has been cruelly spoilt. That wretch of a husband of - hers, I don't know what he deserves ! You Bhould hear Frank Bayley's account of him !" No answer. Carrington, his eyes fixed on the ground, Mb brows sternly knit in a frown, prompted no doubt by righteous wrath, was pulling his long moustaches. ■ After waiting in vain for a reply, Mrs Bayley recommenced : "Do you think of making any stay here ?" Still no answer. He seemed lost in thought, and then, as though he did not hoar her, suddenly rose and crossed to where Hr 3 Fane was sitting in her favourite window. The chair beside her was tenanted only by a little pert black Pomeranian dog. "This is a little beauty," eaid Carrington, lifting it and taking its place, while he stroked the little creature, who seemed quite happy oh his knee.

" The little beauty ia mine," criect Mra Bayley, "and used to be a good, obedient little dog — my one possession — but Mra Fano has bewitched • Midge,' and now he »9 so spoiled that he cares for no one else. She quite ruins him, even gets up at unearthly iiooxs "fco take him out beforebreakiaifcV ,H«e J& rsiS'atte'fl courier ftroughfc

in some letters, and Mrs Bayley Boon became absorbed in hers. Though. Morton stole many, impatient glances towards Carrington andiiis hostess, good breeding forbade him to break in upon their virtual i6te-&-tete, and so he ! kept himself usefully employed, as he' imagined, by getting up a flirtation with Miss Onslow, rather to that young lady's astonishment. "I suppose it is a great pleasure to you to sing ? " said Carrington rather abruptly, and looking at Mrs Fane in the peculiar, searching, sombre way that always impressed her so much. "I am fond of singing, certainly, but why do you think so ?" " Because you put yßur heart into it, or seem to do so, and, for the pleasure you bestow, seeming suffices." " (That is a polite way of sayaner I do not feel at all." "I did not mean it, and I would rather believe you do feel." " Why ? To insure my suffering ?" " God knows, no! Must you suffer because you feel ?" "I suppose, to sensitive people, sorrow is more sorrowful and joy more joyful than to ordinary men and women. Ido not think I am peculiarly sensitive , my life has been tranquil enough." But a quick, half-suppressed sigh belied her words. "You are fond of doga, Colonel Carrington ?" "Yes, I had a lot of dogs about me always in India. One was a special friend ; I brought him home with me. He would have died of grief if I had left him behind." " And you thought of that ? So much consideration is surely rare in a man." "Isit ? Have women much more unselfishness than men .?" "They have the credit of unselfishness. I suppose it is some accident o£ constitution." Carrington was silent for a moment, and then said, "Isolation tends to foster selfishness, at least. I have been a good deal in remote, lonely stations, and " "You have, contrary to your nature, grown a selfish man," interrupted Mrs Fane, playfully. "Not contrary to my nature, I fear," he answered, smiling. Then Mrs Fane grew silent, but she was an admirable listener, and Carrington was unusually moved to speak. He was not smoothly fluent like Morton, but there was force and earnestness in his abrupt, unstudied sentences, that had a charm of their own for the rather spoiled and somewhat blasd woman of the world to whom they were addressed. At length Carrington, to Sir Frederic's infinite relief, rose to take leave. Some talk ensued of a proposed expedition to a castle and some cares at a little distance, and then as Mrs Fane appeared to think that Morton was going too, he felt obliged to retire. " For my part, I cannot understand what you all see in that Colonel Carrington to take a fancy to ! He has nothing to say for himself, and he is as proud and stiff a3 he can be ! So different from Sir Frederic, who really has birth and position ! " cried Mrs Bayley, a3 soon as she found herself alone with Mrs Fane. " I rather suspect he is a nobody ; he is remarkably reticent about his family, which is not ÜBual if there is anything' to boast of." Mra Pane smiled. "I could never imagine Colonel Carrington boasting, and pray remember I have more sympathy with ' nobodies than you can possibly have." "My dear Mtb Fane, I did not deserve that little sting. You well know that if nature had not made you a perfect gentlewoman, no amount of filthy lucre, nor even the pressure of my miserable poverty, would have induced me to throw in my lot with you. I could not endure the .bore of being with an ill-bred or a purse-proud person, but you know my independence.". "I do, Mrs Bayley, and lam much gratified by your flattering opinion ; but really I had no intention of stinging." "I forgive you," said Mrs Bayley, laughing ; " but I reiterate my opinion , that Colonel Carrington is not thoroughbred, or he would not treat me with such, scant ceremony. Oh, don't be afraid to laugh. I daresay you think me an exacting old woman ; but a man's conduct to a person in the position he imagines I hold, iB a very good test. He fancies, I daresay, that you $ay me." | "No doubt he thinks I ought. Nor do I Bee why you should decline." "No, no, I never will accept a salary. 'Freedom and independence' is my motto, and equality is the soul of friendship. Why I should you pay for what is a pleasure to me to give ?" "Well, as you please; and so goodnight. My head aches a little. I shall be glad to be in darkness." But though Mrs Fane soon dismissed her maid and put out the lights, she did not go to bed. She sat long in an extremely easy chair, musing vaguely, first with a slight smile on Mrs Bayley's independence, and remembering, not in any niggardly spirit, but with a certain sense of humour, that during the years in which she had given a salary of a hundred pounds to a Jady for whom she had a sincere regard, her general expenses were considerably lesß than during the Bayley rdgime. This was merely a passing thought. The young grass-widow was truly liberal, but, though from indolence or some reluctance of the heart to avail itself of its comrade intellect, shrewdness, she was often taken in with her eyes open. Thus in a way Bhe saw through the , lively, impulsive Mrs Bayley, and recognised that her independence was a sham. Nevertheless she imagined her sincere in her shamming, that she herself believed in her own assumptions. Her depreciation of Colonel Carrington did that gentleman no injury in Mrs Fane's estimation; in fact, it did not recur to her mind. Yet she thought a good deal of him. He puzzled her. She had been used to admiration; to the most overt and troublesome devotion ; and that he should seek her with perseverance, carefully masked as ib was, did not surprise or move her. But why was it that his watchful eyes only expressed scrutiny, not untinged with disapprobation or distrust ? Why should he, a stranger, approach her with preconceived prejudices, certainly not in her favour ? Some one must have spoken against her, but who ? She would try and fiad out. Though she had often been imprudent, she had never knowingly hurt anyone, or deserved enmity. Perhaps after all it was only Colonel Carrington's way of looking at people and things. He would probably smile and look pleasant oftener if he knew hSw much better he looked. Certainly when silent and thoughtful he looked rugged and stern enough. " I wonder how old he is. Thirty-eight or forty,- I am sure. There! Why should I trouble my head about him." " Yes, Sir Frederic is very nice to Mrs Bayley. Why is he trying to persuade Violet Onslow that he is in love with her ? I hope she will not listen to him. He would not make a good husband to a girl of her simple character. Why, it is halfpast eleven ! If the morning is fine I will have a stroll on the sands and frame quite a new set of resolutions for my , future conduct and pursuits. I am too Belfindulgent—too fond of pleasure."