Chapter XXV.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4255, 6 July 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

Chapter XXV.

|T was a clear, frosty day when Dr. I Grey drove Elsie back to the Vicarage. She was in high spirits, although she knew that the pretty cottage beside the church stood empty, and no tall figure would be standing at the gate to see her pass. Frank was gone ; but the love-light in his eyes still made sunshine in Elsie's heart, and she could not be sad.

Dr. Grey looked down upon the fair, suiiling face beside him, and watched the dreamy light in her eyes with genuine compassion.

" Miss Elsie," he said, " does our friendship wan-ant my offerinc you a little advice ? "

Elsie glanced up saucily; but the doctor's gravity checked the merry retort upon her lips. " Indeed, Dr. Grey," she replied, quietly, "I should think it only another proof of your kindness."

" I wonder if you at all realise that a serious trial lies before you?" he said, kindly.

"A trial!" echoed E,lsie, looking up startled ; then her eyes fell, and she coloured slightly. "I suppose you mean the suspense?" she said, softly. "Partly," replied the doctor. "Suspense is always trying, but this will not affect you so deeply as some people, because you are naturally hopeful." « 11 What do you mean then ? " asked Elsie.

" I mean that you must be prepared to hear your friend spoken evil of — 'miversally condemned. And you must jry not to think people who so judge him unkind and^hard." "Universally condemned!" cried Elsie, after a pause of utter astonishment. " Dr. Grey, you must be mistaken. He 1* so popular in Brookvale. The people •11 Jore hiui— -and they have cause; for V) «&t *U U& lais«re.tinie in carrying

out schemes for their benefit or pleasure; whereas Sam "

"Thought only of his own pleasure. Yes, that is true ; nor is it likely that a child like you Bhould know how fickle public opinion may be — and is !

An habitation giddy and unsure Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart. Here and there you may find one who remembers past kindness ; but, as a rule, it is 'out of eight, out of mind' — or worse."

" Then I shall hate them for their ingratitude ! " cried Elsie, passionately. " They are mean, sordid time-servers, and so I shall tell them."

" No, you will not," said the little doctor, coolly. " You will consider, on the contrary, that the majority of our fellowcreatures do not trouble their brains much. They believe what they hear, and especially what they hear from one they love and respect. You must remember that the case lies — as far as the public understand it — between Mr. Dodd and Frank Arniitage. Mr. Sam has nothing todowithit."

"He has everything to do with it!" cried Elsie, angrily. " Ah ! so you think ; bnt, my dear gii-1, can you expect that of other people ? Let me set the case before you clearly, as it appeals to an outsider; and you will then understand how Mr. Armitage may be judged guilty by those who are neither mean nor self-interested."

"Elsie smiled and shook her head.

"Hare you any more advice for me, doctor ? " she asked. "I am not always in such a submissive mood, remember." "So you recommend me to make bay while the sun shines ? " laughed the doctor. "No, I think my Budget of wisdom has expended itself. On the whole, you are a good child, and not likely to sit in a corner twiddling your thumbs, and doing the 'worm i' the bud ' style of thing. You and I agree pretty well, I fancy, on the subject of practical usefulness and energy. Do you remember what old Carlyle says: ' Work is the grand cure of all the maladies and miseries that beset mankind ; honest work, which you intend getting •done'? No half-and-half measuresreal work."

" I like that," said Elsie, looking up brightly. "Dr. Grey, you have been very kind to me ; your advice shall not be thrown away." The good little doctor wae not alone in his anxiety about Elsie. That afternoon Mr. Vere surprised his daughter Mary by walking into her room at an hour usually devoted to study. "Mary, my dear," he said, "I wish to caution you about our dear little Elsie. She returns to-day, you know."

"We are quite ready for her, father," replied Mary, looking surprised; "and if one may judge by her letters, I think she must be really strong again."

"Ah ! I am not thinking of her health just now," returned Mr. Vere, running his thin fingers through his hair in a disturbed manner. "The fact is, my dear, I have reason to believe that Elsie cares for Frank Armitage. He made no secret of bis love for her, and I have very little doubt that his affection is returned."

" How dreadful ! " cried Mary ; " but I hope you may be mistaken. Her illness, you know, was caused by that unbappy engagement. She would not have become so excited about Mr. Armitage's wickedness if she had not been ill at the time "

"My dear," returned her father, "I wish you would not speak in that manner of Frank Armitage. I have told you before that I believe him innocent. He has been cruelly ill-used, poor fellow! Be that as it may, however, it is a sad affair for Elsie. Take care that she hears nothing that will wound her."

"She shall hear nothing to distress her from me," said Mary, earnestly; "but, oh dear ! I hope it is not true. A hundred times a day she will be hurt. Think of Betty's tongue— and Bertie ! "

"Ah ! Bertie," repeated Mr. Vere, uneasily. " I am anxious about that boy, Mary; he is growing quite a prig; he thinks himself infallible. I have had some conversation with him about Armitage, and really he took me to task, and laid down the law in a manner which was perfectly ridiculous. The lad is being ruined."

Mary's reply was prevented by tk arrival of Elsie and her escort.

" Well, Betty ! " cried Dr. Grey, cheerily. "Have you forgiven me yet for carrying off your pet lamb ? " " 1 bears no malice, sir, and I hope you doesn't," said Betty, beaming with delight. "Eh ! but it's grand to see her wi' roses in her cheeks oncet more! You're main clever, Dr. Grey, I allow that ; but I'm thinking you might ha' cured her wi'out clipping her hair off."

" We'll save that to fight about next time I come, Betty," be answered, laughing. " Good-bye, Miss Elsie ! we shall miss you at Beecham Lodge."

Followed by thanks, messages, and laughter, the good doctor drove away, leaving Elsie surrounded by smiling faces, and looking little like the love-lorn damsel Mary feared to see. . "Oh, how good it is to be at home again," cried Elsie, looking round with delighted eyes. " The -very chairs and tables look like dear old friends."

"We are so glad to see you, Elsie," said Netty, dancing about in rapturous delight. "It feels like a year since you went away."

Elsie laughed, and kissed the bright, happy little face.

" You have not fared badly, Miss Nettie," she said, "if one may judge by appearances."

" No," said Mary, smiling ; "it is rather good her putting on airs of bereavement. Elsie, you will be entertained to see what an alliance has been formed between Nettie and father. She spends most of her time in the study."

" What do you find to amuse you there, child p " asked Elsie ; " are you not very dull in the study ? " " Oh, no," replied Nettie, gaily ; " I have so much to do, you see. 1 polish the glasses for the migrostope, and I look out pictures in the books for Mr. Vere, and — and — lots of things. I like being there, Elsie; he tells me stories about the creatures in the books. I know all about the warrior ants, who go out to battle in great armies ; and the honey ants, who make themselves into round bottles to hold their honey ; and the white ants, who build great houses — so big they look like hills. Oh! I couldn't tell you how many wonderful sorts of ants there are in the study."

Elsie and Mary laughed heartily; " The child is quite enthusiastic ! " cried Elsie. " This is amusing ; we shall have her setting up a 'migrostope' of her own if we don t take care. Really, the house will not hold two entomological geniuses. What will become of Betty ? " At present no reference had beeh made to Frank Armitage ; but Elsie was not to escape.

" How delightful it is to be at home ! " she repeated, as they all gathered round the table. " Betty, I have not seen such cakes as those since I went away.'' " Happen not," answered Betty, with proud confidence; "I'm not like some fo}ka as make things haphazard, and

1 never knows how they're going to turn out. Once good, always good — that's my motter." "I wish your motto held good for people as well as cakes, Betty," remarked Bertie, laughing. "Look at Frank Armitage! who would have expected him to turn out as he has? They've gone now, however, I am thankful to say. A good riddance ! " " You shouldn't speak so light, Master Bertie," said Betty, senteuliously, " but tak' it to heart as a warning of the wickedness of the world. That there young man had the best o' mothers, and) has been brought up as pious as need to be; yet you see for yoursen how the devil's got hold on him." " Betty," cried Mary, in desperation, "do bring me some more hot water ;i this is nearly cold." Betty was in too good v temper to rebel, but she wondered "whativer had) come to Miss Mary," as she took the) maligned hot water back to the kitchen., Bertie made a laughing comment upon Betty's sermoD, but no one took any notice of him. Mr. Vere anil* Mary were too much distressed atf what had been said, and the obvious' effect upon poor Elsie. They had seen 1 , her sudden flush and quick look of pain' at Bertie, and watched her face whiten , during Betty's homily. Nothing could! j be dove except to cover her agitation by as much ordinary talk as they couldj muster; and as neither of them were remarkable for presence of mind, the meal, which had begun so merrily, was) decidedly triste before its close. Bertie," finding no one willing to amuse him,' made short work of his tea and departed.! Elsie, too, was not long before she' found an excuse for leaving the table," and sought the shelter of her room. "Mary, did you notice?" exclaimed Mr. Vete, as the door closed behind her. " Yes," sighed Mary, " I am afraid you were right." "This must not happen again," said Mr. Vere, with kindling eyes ; "the poor child will have enough to bear one nay and another, without having daggers thrust at her in her own home." "They did not know, remember," said gentle Mary. "Do you think I had better speak to Betty ? " 4< l suppose you must," he answered, irresolutely ; " could you give her a hint without mentioning Elsie's name ? Say I did not approve, eh ? " "1 will do my best," she replied, nervously ; " but it is generally the best policy to trust Betty out and out. She will not pay any attention if she thinks it is only a whim." "Do as you think best, dear," said her father ; " but do not mention your sister if you can help it. I cannot tell you what pain it is to me to think of her aa the object of vulgar pity or gossip." Mr. Vere need not have been afraid. Betty's exterior was rough, but her heart was sound, and in such a case as this her instinct was^as delicate andrefined as that of any lady. Mary found," as she expected, that nothing was to be; gained by beating about the bush. She] was obliged to tell the story as far as shei knew it, and Betty listened in dismay.) She said very little to Mary, but when* j she was left alone she covered her facd with her apron, and sat rocking herself to and f i*o, moaning and muttering. ) I "My lamb! my lamb! Eh! but f ( had my doubts when '00 took on aboutj th' forgery ! I had my doubts, but JO hoped it were nowt but fever fancies] That it should be such a good foij nought ! My poor little lass ! Eh ! bu<j gels ought to be shut up i' 'sylums, out of harm's way! And Betty can do nowt but look on ! " j Betty, at least, could be silent; but whether Bertie would prove as easy td manage Mr. Vere greatly doubted. ! Truth to tell, he would gladly hava shifted the task on to Mary's shoulder, birt as she seemed to take it for granted that he would speak to him, he hai-dly liked ,to suggest it. Bertie had been very inJ tractable of late, and Mr. Vere was be^ j ginning to feel that he had sma'l influence over him. He listened with f rownj ing impatience to his father's delicat<{ hints, and half-veiled confidences. I, must be remembered that he really believed Frank guilty, and conseJ quently felt bitterly enraged at liin daring to express a love for Elsie ; and that she should return it was simply I unbearable. He considered his father.! conduct throughout the whole affair ti j have been weak, culpably weak ! If hi I advice had been listened to, this woultj ! never have happened. • "Do you mean that there is an en-t gagement ? " he asked, angrily. ; " Certainly not," answered his father] "but there is undoubtedly a mutual understanding." " A distinction without a difference, ]j should say,'' returned Bertie, sententiously. In spite of his annoyance, Mi-. Vere ronld not avoifl n trl^n'" nnmseniPTi*. at the " man of the world " air assumed by Mr. Bertie. I " I cannot see what opportunity there has been for a mutual understanding," continued the youthful censor ; " they never met after her engagement to Sam. ! was broken off." I "He had an interview with her at Beecham," returned Mr. Vere. I " What ! he went to see her actually ! " cried Bertie, wild with anger; "what rascally conduct! what impudence! " "Gently, gently, Bertie," said hi 3 father, quietly; "you are very sweeping in your judgment of ' what you know nothing about. He was perfectly straightforward in the "matter, and concealed nothing from me. Ido not blame him; in his place I should have done the same thing." " Father, how can you put yourself on a level with that fellow, that blackguard, : who ought to be in gaol at this moment r " • j '• Listen to me, Bertie," said Mr. Vere, aroused, at length, to unusual sternness. ' ,'* I forbid you to speak of Frank Armitage in that manner. You, at fifteen, consider yourself to be a better judge of | the case than I, who happen to be not only your father, but thirty-five years your senior. Let that pass. I cannot make you see what you choose to shut your eyes against; but I do insist upon obedience as far as speech is concerned. Think what your wisdom chooses, but remember that neither in the house nor out of it, will I allow yoii to utter a word against a young man I consider far your superior in every way. And I insist upon your behaving towards your sister in a kW^ and tfinsiderate manner." ' IX •[continued, elsewhjb*.]

His Error. HE: "Just one, please." She-. "What good will that do ? You'll want another." He (eagerly) : " No, I won't. I promise you." She : " Then jou can't hate it." A Suggestion. A Last Eefuge. — Fiery Anarchist : " But if France and England and America close their doors against us, where will we go ?". Plain American: "Go to work."— Chicago Tribune. '. She : " There is no fun in being married or engaged." He : " But when is there fun] then?" She; "When you aro anticipate ineboth." PrP r j