CHAPTER III.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8156, 2 November 1904, Page 4

CHAPTER 111.

So Phabe closed her Pandora's bos, feeling perfectly certain, that no hope lay at v-e bottom of it. She found the winter surprisingly long; ani the autumn^ visit* d-Ull; but, as the sprins: days lengthened, h«?r spirits rose, and she longed for I^wnlon — d«ar, noisy London — where, amongst the careless, happy crowds, it wa» alwaye sible that one might mejet someone that one knew. '. .. . ■■ . ■ •i "Your picture is to be exhibited, you

know," Lady Middleton said to her as they drove from. 'Euston to G-rosvenor Gardens. " I hope it will be a success—that ihe hasn'b gone on working at it in that den at> Fulham. We must ask him to dinner directly we arrive." "Will he come?" said Phoebe, doubt- " My dear, of course he -will, if we send your father to bring him." The wound in Phoebe's heart had heated, but it had left a scar. In the weeks that followed, she found that it had learnt an expectant attitude and grown used to disappointment.' With a great effort she trod | the dull round of social duties, anxiously careful that her mother should see no change in her, and so April lengthened into May, and the climax of the long winter came unexpectedly — as so often happens. , Phcebe was riding diown the Row alone, in the early morning, with the groom fol- ! lowing her, and her ©yes arrested by the blaze of colour in the bedo. She said to herself, with almost passionate insistence, that there was sitill so much to enjoy, when, suddenly, a child with a perambulator made i a run out of the aide-walk, and caused | Tommy to start and swerve. He threw back nis head, and galloped off, with at frightened snort, but Phoebe had 'him well in hand, and she had all her wits about her. She guided him down the ride, whilst ..ut pace quickened, and people began to Btand and stare, and to shout out directions as he flew past. It was exhilarating whilst she kept that sense of mastery, but, in a few minutes, she knew that he had got beyond her control, ana was thundering down upon the Albert Gate, and the great overwhelming sea of traffic outside. All the world round her seemed' deadly quiet as she leant back, with her hands twisted in the reins, and pulled steadily, with all her strength. She felt her hat go, and her foot swing free of the stirrup, her breath came in heavy pants, and a sickening sense of helplessness possessed her, when she was conscious of another thud beside the thunder of Tommy's hoofs, and a. voice on her right hand spoke in quick, decided accents. "Hold on, Miss Middleton — he is tiring now — give a jerk to the rein — solkeep him to the left — get him past the gate." She could not turn her head, but she knew the horseman beside her was pressing up againet Tommy, and bearing to the left. They were past the Albert Gate, and his pace was slackening. A man's hand was on her saddle, and she watched it, as it crept down, and seized the curb. Tommy snorted and shivered, and tried to shake it off, but it was quite useless, and gradually he fell back' into a canter, and stopped! Phoebe knew perfectly well whose hand it was that was on the curb, but she was too tired to speak. Her own hands fell j slackly from the reins, and she swayed forward, clutching at the pommel. In a minute she heard the quick, imperative tones again. "Don't be nonsenical, Phcebe! Gather up your reins, and let us get out of the crowd ; ~you had better ride home, and ! Tommy will behave like a lamb." He was standing beside her, smiling into her dazed eyes, holding her tired hands in both of his. Someone had come panting up with her hat — a policeman had brought a glass of water* — people were talking and gesticulating round her. With a tremendous effort, she fixed on her hat, and gathered up the reins in her shaking hands.' ' He looked at her narrowly for a minute, and then he mounted and rode beside her. , " You always were a plucky girl," he said. "Tommy mustn't think he has got the better o! you/ " You will come with me? It ib you, is it not? Where did you come from?" " I have been out of town. I only came back last night. I saw the little beast with the perambulator, but I was afraid of frightening Tommy if I came up behind, so 1 rode across, and cut him' off. Never mind about it now — just keep him clear of the traffic Here were are ! Now you may faint or do anything you like." " But I don't want to faint," said Phcebe, brightly. As Mr Erie lifted her down, he looked at her, in a serious and perplexed manner. " Surely you have the most brilliant smile in the world, Phcebe," he said, and- stood for a minute, looking at her. Twice 'he had made the same slip, unnoticed, but Phcebe recalled it, sitting in her room, and looking at her dishevelled image in the glass. " Pbosbe, my dear," she said to herself ."you have wasted a whole long winter in regrets! The main forgot— what a humiliating confession — and yet there is a spice of humour in it too . and the fact of the matter is, Phcebe, that he loves you still !"