CHAPTER II.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8104, 1 September 1904, Page 4

CHAPTER 11.

Eunice drove on slowly, until, about an ! hour after she had left the faim, she reached the outskirts of the little town, of TedbuTy. Driving past the quaint old market, and leaving behind her several gabled houses she drew up before a dwelling which stood a little apart from its fellows, and which was distmgu' s H e(J by a weather-beat-en gneen front door, whereon hung a knocker of polished brass, surmounted by a realistic devil's head. Here the girl stepped down with a little bag in her hand. Knotting the reins, she laid them over Peggy's back, and patted the oW pony gently. V " Home, Peggy !" she f?aid, and the intelligent creature, ' with an assenting toss of

her head, turned round, and was soon trotting leisurely homeward. • Eunice made her way over the snowy flags, and, lifting the- knocker, ga,ve three short taps. A trim maid admitted faer, and a moment later, Miss Priscilla and 'Miss'Mary Gooch were in the hall to welcome her. "Come in at once out of the cold, dear,' pleaded Miss Prbcilla, as she drew her visitor into the sittin^-Toom. "We had hoped ; you would be earlier." Eunice murmured an apology, then with difficulty repressed a start, as the lamplight revealed to her the two little ladies, each clad in a wonderful rustling black brocade, I richly besprent with large purple flowers. i Bo small were the sisters, and so aggressive the pattern of the fabric, that a single flower and its foliage could scarcely be accommodated in the space between their 1 shoulders. And above these dazzling spleni dours appeared two gentle, old-fashioned mousey little faces, eadh somewhat obscured by the glories of a much be-ribboned cap. The effect was stupendous, i "I see that you are looking at our i dresses, dear," said Miss Priscilla, with ! modest pride. " They were George's present; and we were anxious to wear th«mi to-night out of compliment to him. Vim didn't think of the yellow silk V hesitatingly. Eunice smiled. "It would, have extinguished me altogether, I fea-r, ' she said; "I must save it for some grand ball." Unfastening the clasp at her throat, she threw back >her cape, revealing the dainty grey and white dress. Miss Priscilla gazed at her admiringly. " You alwaya look so sweet, my dear," she said, "and those violets " Eunice started, and flushed deeply. She had forgotten to remove. Gabriel's gift. She put up her hand instinctively, then slowly withdrew it. I The sisters escorted her upstairs, and left her in the bed-chamber they had prepared for her. A few moments later she joined them in the parlour. Each sister had by her a stout grey stocking, half knitted, but the pins lay idle. Miss Mary declared herself to be " all of a flutter." and proved the fact by bustling backwards and forwards from room to room, hovering round the tea-table, with its dainty china and silver, and. rich store of good things j toasting the unimaginably hideous woolwork slippers which had been so lovingly perpetrated for the expected George. At last, after a. seemingly endless period of waiting, the bell rang— and in another , second the two old ladies were in the hall, while Eunice followed at a little distance. The entrance — the greetings — the tearful" embraces of the little ladi?s all parsed like a dream, and Eunice was conscious of a bearded face that brushed her own, as her lover stooped to kiss her. The world had indeed dealt kindly with George Goocb. There he stood, stalwart, ruddy and prosperous. His clothes were ostentatiously new; there was a massive gold chain across his waistcoat, and a huge signet ring upon his little finger. Wa general air of success and conscious wellbeing was rather overpowering ; Eunice felt asNf she were standing in a full blaze of unshaded gaslight. The first few moments passed in a tumult of eager questions and answers between brothers and sisters, Eunice standing silent the while. Then George was borne off upstairs, and after,, he had removed the dust of travel, he was called down to partake of a Fumptuous tea, to which he did full justice. As soon as the meal was over, the four withdrew into the best parlour, and then the sisters, acting in unison, in a spirit of heroic self-sacrifice previously agreed upon, prepared to. go. " You and Eunice must have much to say to one another, George," said Miss Priscilla,; "we will lea.ye you awhile together." Then, followed by Mias Mary, she left the room; Eunice looked at George. Geofse looked at Eunice. Then he got up from his seat, and crossine the room took his place upon the sofa at her side. "There's time for many changes in ten years, Eunice." he began, plavine somewhat nervously with his watch-chain. "There is, indeed," said Eunice, mechanically. "You've changed less than I expected," he went on; "you're prettier "—with a critical, half -approving clance, und*r which Eunice sat, cold and still— " but you're just as quiet and plain in your style as ever. But we'll soon change all that, once we have you out in Melbourne." Eunice looked up. Had George met her eyes, he might have not altogether liked their expression. "I'm a rich man now," he continued, and I'd like my wife to do me credit. Why, there's Larking,' a fellow I know oub there ; he declares he owes half his success to Mrs L. Fine, tall,, dressy woman she is ; latest Paris fashions— all paid for, and : Larking lets 'em know it." j "Indeed?"; was all Eunice's reply. ' ; "She'll be a good friend for you," continued George — "put you up to lots of, little ! social dodges, and show you how to do the thing in style. You'll queen it with the best of them after a few months." He went on quite happily, entirely oblivious of the one-sided nature of the conversation, while Eunice grew hot, and cold, and miserable, and longed desperately for Miss Priscilla and Miss Mary to come back. She wa's just beginning to feel that she could not bear it any longer, wtoen there j

was a little Ftudie-d fumbling at the doorhandK and Miss - Mary and Miss Priscilla, wmiling apologetically, re-entered the room. "It is getting lat<s Eunice, dear, ' said Miss Mary, "and we think George must feel tired after his journey, bhall we say good night?" Then the sisters escorted the girl up to bed As soon as she was alone, Eunice flungi herself down by the fire, staring before ber "with hard, unseeing eyes. She lay there, motionless and silent, until the red glow became dim, and the dying embers tinkled one by one on the -hearth, fading into chill blackness. Then she gave a little shiver, and sat up, pillowing her head upon her hand. As yet she would not allow herself to think or to face the future. She would be brave— she would— here her hand came into contact with something ,cool and soft. She started, and with a swift movement drew from her neck the' little bunch of violets. Then a strong shudder ran. through her, and pressing the flowers against her ]ips, she broke into a passion of fruitless tears. ,«,.,„, " Gabriel !" she cried. Gabriel !