For Honour's Sake.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7953, 31 January 1906, Page 2

For Honour's Sake.

CHAPTER XVll—(Continued). "You have a vast command of -pretty speeches," said Ivjaida. courteaying, and suppressing the reply that was on her tongue—"l may return the compliment" lest it. should seem too much like irony; for certainly she did not expect to meet Captain Stewart iu his own house. "The occasion is inspiring," he answered, thinking oitterly of the retort Maida might have given —and didn't. His own keen perceptions gavo him many a back handed stab.

"Have you and l J auline," turning to his wife, "been discussing your gowns for the private view?"

"You think women talk about nothing but dress," said Pauline, carelessly.

"They generally do, don't they?" returned Stewart, moro to Maida than to hia wife, and he seated himself by the former's side. "1 thought you above repeating worn-out libels," suid Maida, gravely. "One for mo! But 1 don't assert that men's talk is auy more edifying jou know." "You had better not I" exclaimed Maida defiantly. "We were talking about the ball on Thursday," said Pauline. "And the gowns, of course 1" said Stewart, sotto voice, with a knowing look at Maida. "Why .didn't you own it frankly?" "I had nothing to own, sir." "Then Pauline, alone, was guilty. I beg your pardon," courteously to his wife, as he saw that she was about to speak. "Mrs Westmore tells m«," said Pdulioe, that Mrs Davenant and Miss Verner are.'invited. Do they know Mrs Mlllington?" Poor Pauline! Understanding the man she had to deal with about as much as a ohimney sweep might understand a symphony of Beethoven; always imaginingconcealment where none was intended, and laying traps for self betrayal, which traps would have been perfectly useless had concealment been intended; Esric Stewart's muscles were far •too well under control, his brain too quick and subtle to be startled intc* revelations. He could have smiled at the trick were it not all so pitiful, so ' ineffably mean and •contemptible. "They will know her, on Thursday evening," he replied, In the most matter-of-fact way "and I -shall be able to introduce them to you." This was carrying the war int-j the enemy's country with a vengeance. But Pauline, too, had plenty of self-oommafld, • a power which comes much more easily to such as she than to sensitive, sympathetic people. So' she-said smiling: "Ob, I shall be delighted! I am awfully curious to see Mas Verner. Yon are certain, then, that they are going?" "Quite certain," said he, laughing, "since I had the pleasure of taking them the cards on Friday. Are you satisfied ?" H * "Yes," she replied, taking the oue but inwardly bewildered by frank admission where Bhe had expected skilful evasion. He had been to The Ferns, then, on Friday, as well as on Wednesday, and made no seoret of it. Were these bis tautios to compel bis wife's recognition of the girl be chose to lore, and so avert scandal from her? Very well, she said within herself, she could work bis own I tactics against him. Maida secretly hoped my lady would have herj nose thoroughly put out of joint by ! the new beauty. She caught ap the ; second's pause after that monosyllable of Pauline's and began to talk of other people who were to be at the ball, and so tho chat went until Maida rose to go. Stewart accompanied her to her carriage, and did not return to the drawingroom. Not that Pauline would have said anything about Claude; he knew the game she meant to play as well as if she had told him, and she thought she was hiding it so cunningly ! CHAPTER XVIII. AT MRS MILUINGTON'S BALL. The carda for Mrs Millington's ball were the first fruits—and very ] early the fruit was—of a valuable j acquaintance. From this untold benefits would follow, to say nothing of other favours from the same source which might be confidently looked for. It certainly would not, argued the Davenants, be worth while to quarrel with Captain Stewart, for Basil Tollemache or anyone else. If he expected a reward from Claude ho would find out bis mistake, and he could not undo the past. Certainly they took no account of any possible injury to Claude's peace. \ "I*don't see why Claude shouldn't wear p coronet," said Julia to her .husband, while he was dressing for the ball. Sho spoke in French which the maid iu attendance did not understand. "I hear the Marquis of DufHeld will be present to-night; he's a brilliant catch." "But I'm afraid Claude would laugh at him. She is taller than he is." "Claude never does see the force of worldly advantages," said Mrs Davenant, frowning. "She is wildly romantic. Well, she'll have to make up her mind before the season is over. We have tried her in Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Rome and all in vain. London is her last chance. The girl forgets that she owes us something." "Ibe girl" at that moment was not thinking of ttje debt she "owed" her guardians, or] of dukes or mart quieee, /or even of the ball its'elf; ah* had been to - so many. 'She was thinking with a vague dreamy sort of happiness, of meeting Captain Stewart again, oi the promised

(To be Continued)

By Berttna M. Clay. Author of " Wife in Name Only," sf Wedded and Parted," "Dora Thome," "A. Queen Ainoiif/ Women," (( A True Maf/dalene," etc., etc.,

waltzes with him. She would not see much of him, naturally; there would be so many claimants on his attention; but he would be present, and sho would dance wilh him. And when tho maid went into rapturos over her gown it flashed i jto Claude's mind that Esric Stewart would think ol it.

She did not care to eclipse other women: sho did not mind how many people copied her gowns: they were woloome. Nor, as a rule, did she care to plea&e, even by her dross. Bht to-night sho did, though not iu the plural number. "My dear," was Julia's comment, when Claude appeared before her, "you'll make no end of conquests, and I don't know what, Mrs Stewart will say to you. You quite throw her into the shade." "How happy that will make me!" said Claude with ironical gravity. "And how about other beauties?" # "Nonsense I There isn't a girl in London to compare with you. Here comes Stephens to announce the carriage."

Claude Verner's entrance into the fast-filling rooms created nu small sensation. All the men wanted to be introduced to her, and to dance with her. Kival relies regarded her as a distinct danger to them.

The women, generally, admired her dress as something "quite too lovely," and wondered who had made it. An artist ,had surely designed it for its perfect blending and contrast of oolours, its iudescribable fall and flow of draperies. But Claude was used to homage and admiration. It had not reached below the surface of her nature when she first began to discover that she had the power which belongs to beauty and charin.