CHAPTER XXXII.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1218, 30 January 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE BREAKING OF THE STORM.

It was Isabel Hyde, and Isabel only, who foresaw the storm that was brooding and nigh to break over this peaceful, luxurious home. She felt the electricity Bur-charging the moral air. It tingled in all her veins. She realised that the end of her planning was drawing near ; was it now to lose or win ?

How small thing might turn the scales against her. If Lord Castlemaine should begin his explanation with hia wife by telling her, quietly, the true character of Colonel Lennox, or if Gertrude should show sufficient common sense to quietly ask. the grounds of any disapprobation he might express for the colonel, then, for Isabel, all would be lost ; for Isabel knew well that if once Gertrude realised what were the scandals concerning Colonel Lennox, her whole soul would be full oi sorrow, shame, and self-reproach that she had ever received him on a friendly footing. Once let Gertrude see the error which Bhe had committed in accepting friendly attentions from one whom she did not thoroughly well know, and whom her husband did not know, and she was so upright and of *nch tender conscience that she would retrieve her brief folly by being more docile and tender than she ever had been to her husband.

Isabel also knew that her own empire over Lady Castlemaine, and with it her social privileges as a member of her family circle, would be gone the instant Gertrude learned that Isabel knew, concealed, endured the vices of the Zulu hero. How often had Isabel congratulated herself that Lady Craven had been obliged to spend that season at Bath, for the waters, instead of at London, where her presence would have been the social safety of Lady Castlemaine. And now all these advantages, all these efforts, were " put at the touch " to win or lose all. She must say yet a few more potent words, instill a few more angry, jealous thoughts, arm Gertrude yet more against her husband before she left them altogether. Resolute in this course, she ignored the fact that, for the Sret time, Lord Caetlemaine was finding her presence disagreeable, and wishing her at least in her own room. Breaking into the lively chat and jest, she held her place until Gertrude declared herself tired and about to go to her apartment.

" Horrors ! how late, and we might, for once, have been repairing our beauty by an early sleep 1 " cried Isabel, slipping her arm through that of Gertrude. " Good-night, Lord Castlemaine ! "

Slowly Bhe and her cruelly betrayed friend moved np the wide staircase. Isabel laughed a little, and said, in her soft, clear tone :

" Well 1 It was as I said, was it not. Lord Castlemaine could not find it in his heart to be over-courteous. I saw Lennox felt it, poor fellow 1 but what could he expect ? It is always so, the self-made man and the grandee are at natural swords' points." " What do you mean ? I saw nothing. Was not Rudolph polite to him ? " " Polite, my dear ? I thought he would take the oaptain by the neok and throw him from the box I Still he was as polite as he knows how to be to anyone that he really dislikes. Strange what influence politics exert on men." " I really cannot understand you." " And you did not see how Lord Castlemaine scarcely answered Colonel Lennox when he spoke ; how be fairly demanded his seat ? How stiffly he bowed at parting ? The colonel felt it, for he is a proud man, and really values your friendship, which he sees he must lose." They were at the door of Lady Castlemaine's dressing-room. "And why should he lose it ? " demanded Gertrude, in a hard tone. Isabel entered by her side. " Because Lord Castlemaine will so ordain it. Well, my love, you have all the amenities of being Lady Castlemaine, and you must valiantly accept the difficulties." She looked around the luxuriantly furnished apartment. The amenities, as yon call them," said Lady Castlemaine, sharply, " I have always had — they are part of my life ; but the difficulties, I, as* a reasonable being, shall not accept so easily. I never sold myself or my freedom." "But you voluntarily accepted a fetter," said Isabel, lightly touching the heavy gold wedding-ring on her friend's lovely hand. " In English law, my dear Gertrude, this little circlet oan lengthen and grow weighty into a chain of any known dimensions. There was a tap at the door, and Lord Castlemaine entered. Already his wife's heart was burning with fires carefully lighted by her most false and cruel friend. She welcomed her husband, but rather coldly. " Oh, do you want anything, Rudolph? " _ " Yes ; I wish to speak with you a little, if Miss Hyde will excuse me. Thus dismissed, Isabel could only say " good-night." " Your lady will ring when she wants you» Fanny," said Lord Castlemaine, in his eager impatience, to the maid, who had come to wait on her mistress. Gertrude had dropped into a large chair* She looked about haughtily, and said, in a curt tone : ",Why do you dismiss my maid? I said I was tired." "Gertrude," cried Lord Castlemaine, unable to contain himself, the instant they were left alone, " how came that man in my box." "Whatman?" said Gertrude, obstinately, further angered by the " my box." " Colonel Lennox." cried Lord Castlemaine, angrily. " Who else was there that I could mean? Did he go there to see you, or Miss Hyde?" In an ordinary temper, Gertrude would honestly have said, "Both."' But now she retorted, icily : "To see me, I suppose. Why not ? Have I not a right to know the most famous man now in London ?" " The most infamous 1" cried Lord Castlemaine. " I had no idea that yon knew him at all, and I find him sitting by your side, in full view of that crowded house." " Castlemaine jealousy," thought Gertrude, in whom the insinuations of Isabel had done fatal work. " And why not in view of the whole house ? Am I likely to be ashamed of a friend ? For my part, I admire heroes. And he waited especially to meet you, Rudolph; He has tried again and again to see you ; and I must say, you gave him a cold greeting— hardly such as one gentleman would give another." "One gentleman and another, Gertrude? Do xpu place me on the level of such a man as Lennox ?" " I cannoc see why not. I think one of her majesty's finest officers, one to whom the Queen herself gave the Cross, one who has performed such feats of valor that every one praises, can be placed on the level of a Castlemaine. Pedigree is not everything, Rudolph, and I thought it a compliment, even to you, when a famous man like Colonel Lennox came here to make your acquaintance." " He came here?" said Castlemaine, fairly stunned, as one revelation succeeded another. His wife, whom he deemed of such lofty purity of such nnbending integrity, ignoring and glossing over the enormous sins of Lennox ! " Yes he came here, to afternoon tea, and you did not come," " Wlfen ?" demanded Lord Castlemaine, in a white heat. " Oh,- several weeks ago. How can I remember just when ?" (To be Continued,