HIS ONE MISTAKE.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1699, 26 June 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

HIS ONE MISTAKE.

* By BERTHA M. CLAY.

IRovelist.

CHAPTE R IX.—(Con ti nc i: : >.) “Yon never understand,” waa the quick retort. But Mrs. Derwent held up her hands. “Hush, my dears—no quarrelling; they are coming in. What ia be like, I wonder ?” The door opened, and Alice, pale with emotion, pale with fear and oread, yet looking inexpressibly beautiful in her rich travelling dress, entered first. She waa followed by a gentleman—they recognised that fact at once—a gentleman with the “ grand air ” that belongs to men of noble birth. His features woe clear-out, firm, and proud, his eyes dark and bright, his lips proudly delicate, his face filled with the eager hope, the impetuosity of youth—an aristocrat, a white-handed gentleman, as Hettie phrased it. And the apparition struck every one dumb. Frank was the first to recover himself. With the candor of bis age, he said; “My word, Alice, you have married a swell." Then the family recovered itself, and from each one present came a murmured rebuke. “ You are not angry with me, mamma 2” said Alice, dinging her arms round her mother's neck. Angry, indeed, with that beautiful, elegantly dressed lady I Mrs. Derwent quite shuddered at the thought. .She had prepared a little lecture on filial duty ; but who dare lecture the wife of that superb-looking man ? “I am not angry, my dear, only anxious,” she replied, desirous of conciliating her son-in-law. “ You are very young to be married.” “ Gentlemen like young wives,” interrupted Hettie, while John Derwent held out his band to Lord Carsdale. It was not a very clean hand, nor where the nails very daintily trimmed. “ Yon are kindly welcome, sir,” he said, “ and I hope my daughter makes a good wife.” The speech was not a very eloquent one, but it was honest, and its earnest tone pleased Lord Carsdale. He shook hands with the dancing-master, who, having seen a very superb diamond ring on the finger of his son-in-law, collapsed and said no more. Then Mrs. Derwent came forward; something of bet old manner returned to her when she found herself again in the presence of a gentleman. Alice was pleased; bet mother spoke nicely, and the horror that had gathered on her husband’s face left it.

Then there came a pause—horrible while it lasted; a feeling of wretchedness and constraint came over them all. Mrs. Derwent broke it by suggesting a cup of tea. Lord Caradala looked helplessly around. The bare idea of eating and drinking there I His notion of picturesque poverty had died at once; the idea of patronage did not long survive it. Who could patronise such a man as the dancing master ! John Derwent took heart of grace.

“ Try a cup of tea, Mr. Nelson,” he said; “ we have some very nice sausages—they ate home made—you may rely on them.” “ Thank you, ” said Lord Carsdale, etiilly.

"If you would like a little drop of something stronger than tea, sir, having travelled so far ? " suggested John Derwent.

Lord Carsdale felt almost inclined to be angry, but when he raised his eyes he met the imploring gaze of Alice; the beautiful face, with its expression of wistful pain, was raised to his, and his hnmot suddenly changed—he could not be cross; they were her people, and, as he had married her, he must not complain. The humor of the situation grew upon him; he, the heir of Boseneath, invited to dine upon tea and sausages, with a faint prospect of something stronger than tea 1 He laughed—it was impossible to help it.

Outspoken Hettie said, in her frank way : “lam glad to hear you laugh; you looked eo solemn and stately, I thought perhaps you did not know how.”

1 Hush, Hettie I ” cried Alice. But Lord Carsdale only laughed again. “ I shall hope to show you, Miss Hettie,” he replied, “ that I not only know how to laugh myself, but that I can make, others laugh.” ” I am sure of it,” she said. But her accent was so dubious, he did not know whether the words were meant as a compliment or not. Then the grand tea business began, and, although he had resolved upon taking everything in the best-natured manner possible, it became rather too much for him. The great heat of the room, the steam of hot tea, the rosy, flushed faces, the strong odor of frying —it was an atmosphere such as the heir of Eoaeneath had never breathed before. He bote it aa long as he could, Alice watching his face anxiously. The dancing-master did his best to entertain him, and talked about trade in Eudeawell—to all of which Lord Carsdale listened, his chief feeling being one of intense pity for his beautiful young wife.

Then he could bear it no longer; he rose, saying that he would leave Ailie with her iiienda while he looked round. And it waa with a feeling of relief that his wife t aw him depart. CHAPTER X. An Old Man Cheered, Lord Carsdale drew a long sigh of relief aa he went once more into the fresh air. “Howhorriblel” he aaid, "bow unbear-

but I cum"! possibly ruiKiiu there fur the I will go and engage rooms at the M« an .'.'hi!,: the three ladies gathered round A'.cf. Kmgin.g to bear the detail). I was in surprised, Alice,” said her motlv-r ; “ I never was more surprised in all my life, i) i you know, my dear, I said to mysti? that it was a punishment from It.iwn that I had run away from my hj. m; 1 to be married, and that now you had dime the same. I hope you are very happy.” 1 Yea, mamma,” said the girl, quietly, “I am v-ry happy.” “ I see,” said Hettie, “ you are growing quite a tin;' lady. I do not like very fine ladies. Alice, I hope, now that you are married yourself, you will do your duty by your sisters, and help us to find good husbands.” '• Speak for yourself, Hettie,” said pretty

Ife-'P. “I do sp‘ ak for myself, and I mean every word that I say. I should like a good husband, one who would buy me plenty of dresses, and would never nsk mo to work. I .-ay what I think, Dose ; and I maintain that, now Alice las the sense to secure a husband for herself, she should invite us to her house, and do the same for us.” “ I have no house,” said Alice. Hettie's face fell. “No louse ? But you will have—you must have. Your husband has plenty of money, to judge from his looks." “ Yes,” said Alice, “he has plenty I think." “Think! Do you not know?” cried Hettie. “ Have you never asked him ?” “ Never,” was the brief reply. “My word I Listen to that, mamma. She has never asked her husband what he was worth. All his airs and graces would not frighten me.” “ I ara not frightened,” said Alice. “ I know he is rich. It does not matter to me what he has.” “Hettie, child,” said her mother, “pray do not interfere ; remember your sister is a married woman now.jand we must treat her with respect.” "I shall never respect my own sisters, mamma, you may be sure of that,” said Hettie ; “at least I mean I shall never give in to them. Being married does not make such a wonderful difference at all. I look quite as happy as Alice, with all her great marriage. “ I suppose, my dear," said Mrs. Derwent, “ that you met with this gentleman in Germany. It seems very strange. You are quite sure that you are properly married ?” “ Oh, yes, mamma,” replied Alice, with a deep blush ; “lam quite certain of it—there is no mistake.” “ That is right, my love. Your father did say that he should question Mr. Nelson about it; but really he seems so high and mighty I should be quite afraid.” Alice bent down and kissed her mother. “I should not like you to do that,” she said; it would distress me very much indeed. Take my word for it, mamma, that there is no mistake about; my husband was quite as anxious aa ever you could be." *• lam glad to hear it. You look very well, Alice, my love, and very beautiful. You are just what I was myself as a girl. What is your husband—does he follow any trade or profession ?” “ No, mamma; he has means of his own,” was the modest reply, while to herself she thought what will they say when they know that be is an earl’s son ? The rest of the time was spent in describing the presents brought from Paris, with Alice’s beautiful trousseau. “You are a lucky girl,” cried Hettie, as she folded up a rich gray silk trimmed with silver fringe; “ you are fortunate. I wish I were in your place. He must love you very dearly, this Mr. Nelson, to have bought you so many things.” “ If they knew,” thought poor Alice again, “ that he had married me, as he says, to save my honor, and himself from reproach, what would they say?” She gladdened Hettie’s heart by giving her a pretty bracelet; but that young person’s curiosity was aroused. “When shall you have a home, Alice? Where are you going to live ? You have been on what people call ‘ the honeymoon,’ I suppose ? What nonsense it is. Where are you going to live?” “ Mr. Nelson’s plana are all unsettled ; he talks of going abroad,” replied Alice. “ I should not let him. If I had a handsome husband like that I should keep him at home,” said Hettie. Then the little conclave was broken up. Lord Caredale returned. The little, dark, dirty house seemed to look dark and dirtier when he stood in it. The dancing-master awaited him with some common, strong cigars and a bottle of rum. “ I hope, sir,” he said, “ you will give me the pleasure of your company for an hour or two while the ladies are out of the way. Try a cigar, sir; and this is real Jamaica, old and strong.” Lord Catsdale shuddered. “ Thank you,” he said; “ I never smoke, and I do not like strong liquors.” " Nor do I hold with them as a rule, sir, but this is the exception—my eldest daughter returns home, and I may say my favorite daughter too, air.” There was such genuine emotion in his voice that again Lord Carsdale’s heart was touched. “ Poor little man,” he said to himself, “ it is an event in his life—he shall enjoy himself, I declare that I am sorry for him.” So he entered into the spirit of the scene, to the little danoing-master’s keen delight. “ I think,” he said, “ I will change my mind and join you, Mr. Derwent.” Then the dancing-master was truly happy. It was all horrible to Lord Carsdale, but he persevered. If he had married Alice for love, he might have found it unendurable —as it was, be said to himself it was all for honor’s sake. He grew interested, too, in the story of John Derwent’s life—its troubles, trials, perplexities, etc.—the horrible uncertainty that he was in as to how he should, aa he phrased it, make both ends meet. Lord Catsdale grew interested. “It is like a fight,” he said—“like a struggle, this life of yours.” “Yes,” said John Derwent, “and a very heavy struggle it is, too.” Then Lord Carsdale gladdened hia heart. “ I told Ailie, Mr. Derwent,” he began, “ that I should do something to help you. Just at present it will not be very much, afterward it will be more. At present I shall allow you a hundred a year, and in time to come I will make it more. Ido not like the idea of my wife’s father being in constant distress.” Then he looked up in amaze, for John Derwent was standing before him, his face perfectly white with emotion, his lips quivering as he spoke: “ You will do what, sir ? You will give me a hundred a year? You really mean it—it is not a jest?” “ A jest 7 Certainly not; it would be a sorry jest to deceive you so. It is but a trifle—why should it agitate you so greatly 7 I will make it more in the time to come.” “ A whole hundred a year I" said the dancing-master. “ Why, sir, you cannot tell, you do not know, what this is to me and Lord Carsdale found his band seized and covered with hot kisses and tears. “ God

loess i .« p’li'iiimi hands that have come to the help of mo <mtl ntiue ! ” he said Lord Cars.livn wa.s dupply t- u;;hr j d. “ I never thought, Fir,” sobbed John Derwent, “ that G >il would be so good to mo.” Then the ladies, an the honest little danoingrnaattr called thorn, came in, and the tete atetr ended. From that hour Lord Cirsdalo lilted his wile’s father better than any other member of the family. He lilted Hose, bat Harriet and Frank were terrible. For the listless, complaining mother ho felt profound pity, but no great liking. There was some little murmuring when the young husband announced his intention of staying at the hotel. John Derwent agreed. “ You ara right, air.” he said; “our house is not lit for you.” Mrs Derwent merely said “ she was afraid that tire neighbors would think it very strange. Hettie murmured loudly. “We are not good enough for you now, I suppose,” she said to Alice; “ but if over I get married and came heme to see my mother I shall stay at her house, even should I marry a duke.”

“ Dukes are not so common,” cried Frank, who spent the whole of his life in a species of guerrilla warfare with Hettie, and never missed any chance of annoying her. Eose was the only one who kissed Alice, and said: “ You will be far more at home there than here, my darling.” It was lata in the evening before they could get away from Cecil street, and then, when they had been accommodated with the best room at the Eudeswell Arms, Alice looked timidly in her husband’s face. “ Have you been much annoyed?” she said. “I have been quite afraid to look at you—it was all so dreadful. I know it, yet I cannot feel ashamed of them ; they arc all my own people. It must have seemed so strange to you.” “It was a phase in life,” he replied. “I may say, candidly, that I should not like too much of it. But, Ailie, your father in an honest man, and he has had great difficulties.” Ho never forgot tho beautiful light that came over her face.

“Do you really think, Vivian,” she asked, that you will be able to tolerate them ? I am so thankful. I thought you wonld hate them all, and that, hating them, you would dislike me.”

“ I could never dislike you, Ailie. I tell you quite frankly, dear, I should not care to see very much of your family ; but that is not likely to happen.” “ You will tolerate them,” she said, “ but never like them really 7” " I shall never give you any reason for saying so,” said the young husband, while to himself he admitted that between his friends and hers the difference was so great they might almost belong to different worlds. That same evening it was all over Eudeswell that John Derwent’s eldest daughter had married a gentleman, whom she had first met in Germany, and that they were staying at the Eudeswell Arms. While, that same evening, John Derwent was so elated that he wrote to the doctor.

“ I know you have never liked me, Doctor Wallis,” his letter ran; “and perhaps you are tight. I could not keep your sister like a lady, and I ought not to have married her, but I am quite sure you will be pleased to hear about our daughter Alice. It appears jthat she met some rioh gentleman when she was abroad, who fell in love with her, and who has married her. She did very wrong, though, in running away from your house. She came, with her husband, to see us, and her husband, Mr. Nelson, is, I think, the nicest gentlemen I ever met. He was not afraid to shake hands with me; he called mine an honest hand. Poor as I am, 1 thought more of that shake of the hand than I do of the hundred a year he has so generously settled upon me.” And that letter set the doctor’s mind completely at rest. His niece’s marriage was nothing to him ; provided she had not inveigled one of hia pupils, and so placed him in jeopardy.

CHAPTEE XI. A sister’s advice. “ They are my people, Vivian ; and though they may not be the same kind that you ara accustomed to, still I love them.” “I should be sorry if you did not love them, Ailie—family ties are the strongest in the world. Mind, I have nothing to say against them, not one word. Your father is a good, honest, simple-minded man; I respeot him—indeed, I rather like him than not; but there oan be nothing in common between us, and I still think that the best plan will be to keen our secret faithfully.” This little conversation took place in consequence of Ailie’s having asked her husband if she might tell her parents, not her sisters, the truth about her marriage. She did not like the concealment, and it could not matter, she argued, they would never speak of it. Lord Carsdale was unwilling. If they knew his true name and title, he argued, it would lead to many unpleasant things ; besides which, it would not be fair to the doctor; he would lose all his reputation if it were once known that a pupil of hia had married in that fashion.

"We cheated him, Ailie,” said the young husband, laughingly; “ but he must not suffer for it. No ; I think that it must be as we arranged—we must keep our secret; and, Ailie, I will spend a few days here with you, then I must go home. You will like to stay with your friends while I am away.” She looked much depressed at the thought of his going; but whatever changes come over Ailie’s face, the last idea that entered Lord Carsdale’s mind was that love for him so changed it. There ara some men who make honor their ideal and their idol—he was one.

“ Ours was such a peculiar marriage,” he continued; “one might call it a marriage from honor, not from love. Peculiar cases give rise to peculiar effects.”

Ailie looked at him wistfully. He did not see the pain in those beautiful eyes, or the quiver on the sweet lips, aa she said : “ Honor —-yes, you have sacrificed much for honor. Will love never have anything to do with it 7 ” He looked up in wonder.

“ Will you ever love me, do you mean 7 I cannot tell, Ailie; it is a vague speculation. I am sure of one thing, wo shall ail be good comrades and good friends,” he replied. She turned away in anguish too deep for words. The probability that he might love her never seemed to enter his mind. She saw it, and knew her fate.

So it was arranged that they should remain for three days at the Eudcswcll Arms hotel, then the young husband was to join his friends, leaving hia wife with Levs, He did his beat during that time to win the good opinion of Alice's friends ; but, as he himself had expressed it, there was nothing in common between them. Hettie proclaimed open war against him. He was all very well, said Hettie ; he might bo as rich as he liked ; but, for her part, she liked sonic one who seemed to undeM&nd the world was made for others as well as themselves ; v,hi!a Frank publicly avowed him a ’aughty swell. “ Ho looks at me as it he knew I hud to black my own shoes,” cried Frank. ‘‘You need not blacken his character, if you do your own slices,’' retmtal Hettie, who could not refiain from contradiction, even when she cordially agreed with the speaker.

E i.-e, on tne cu urary, liiwA him. Sue, perhaps, more than the others, suspected some my.«t<-<-.v in her sister’s marrwgge; she fat sar« that Mr. Nelson was a man of noble bitth He was different to themselves aa a Malay differs from a fait Saxon.

“ Am! we arc all well-born,” thought pretty Eose; “at least on my mother’s side.” Hettie was piqued and annoyed because her sister's hmiund had gone to a hotel; because ha constantly refused all their invitations to dinner and to tea.

“ We arc not grand enough for him,” she would say; “he wants French dishes and Spanish wine. Mamma’s greatest idea of a feast is roast pork.” She was bitterly annoyed, too, when Lord Carsdale invited tho whole family to a grand dinner at the hotel, to which Mrs. Derwent went with all the remnants of finery she could collect—among other things, a pair of light kid gloves that had not one whole finger between them. “ I would rather go with clean hands and no gloves,” said Hettie scornfully, “ than amuse Mr. Nelson with such gloves as those.”

“ You are a bad, ungrateful girl. I know what is duo to society,” said Mrs. Derwent, with the air of a martyr, “ and I shall do my duty.” The whole family reached the hotel soon after the appointed time, rather flushed with the struggle, but conscious of looking their bast. Frank wore an injured appearance, in consequence of having been requested to go in a pair of his father’s dancing-pumps.

“ Aa though a man could not have shoes of his own,” he remarked, more than once. That dinner was a source of great offence to Hettie. She was quite sure that Mi. Nelson had ordered French dishes because he knew they could not pronounce the names. Indeed, Hettie was so fiercely sarcastic, so abrupt, so purposely vulgar, that it was a relief to most of them when the dinner was ended. Even then she was not content; she followed Alice to her room.

“ So, Mrs. Nelson, this elegant young husband of yours leaves us to-morrow, I understand?”

“ Yes : he goes to-morrow,” said Alice,

“Do you feel quite sure that ho will return ?’’ she asked, sneeringly. “ Sometimes when those fine birds fly away, they never come back again." “Hettie,” asked the young wife, sadly, “do you not like my husband? ”

“ No; Ido not. He uses scent and talks languidly ; Ido not care for such men. Besides, he looks down on us all; you may think he does not, but I see it in a hundred ways. I shall not cry when ho goes.” Alice raised her fair face; she laid her warm, soft hands in her sister’s.

“Now, Hettie,” she said, “look at my hand; could you wound it a hundred times each hour with the point of a sharp sword 7 ” “No,” said Hettie; “you know that. I may talk, but I would not hurt you." “ Yet each time you say one word against my husband, Hettie, you plunge a dagger in my heart, the pain of which is sharper far than any wound you could inflict. If you love me, Hettie, try to love him.” Hettie was a little touched by the pleading words, but it was not her way to show it. She turned sharply to her sister. “ You make a great fuss about loving him, Alice,” she said, " but I am sure he does not love you so very much. Mamma said the other evening that, for a love marriage, it was the queerest she had ever seen.” Alice recoiled, as though some one had struck her a terrible blow.

“Did she—did mamma say so? lam so sorry ! Why, what made her say it 7 ” Hettie looked quite important at having something to tell which was worth telling; she tossed her head high in the air, as though she would say, “ See, I can tell you something you do not know.” “Mamma said it, Alice. I heard her tell papa how strange it was that Mr. Nelson never kissed you when he went in and out; that ho never asked you to go out with him ; that he did not seem to care much about your society; he never calls you my love or my darling; and ma says that even now pa does that,”

Hettie paused, having spoken so rapidly she could say no more. The shocked, white look on her sister’s face was a tribute to her powers of oratory. “ Did mamma say that, Hettie ? ” said the poor young wife. “lam so sorry; I did not know people spoke of me in that way. I shall never feel at ease again.” “ I do not see what there is to turn so pale about, Alice, unless it may be that you love him and he does not love you quite so much.” It was so terribly near tho truth, this random shot, that Alice recoiled afresh.

“ Hov? very touchy you are,” said Hettie; “ you make one afraid to speak.” “You need never be afraid to speak to me, Hettie ; but if you wish to be kind, you will say nothing against my husband.” Hettie was moved by the sweet, patient voice.

“ I promise you one thing,” she said; “I will not say one word more than I oan possibly help, and I will treat him aa though he were made of wax or honey, and a word would break him. Alice, lam the younger sister, but I really believe I could give you some very sensible advice.”

“ I shall be glad of it,” said the beautiful young wife, sadly. “ What is it 7 " “ It is just this, my dear; Enjoy your life as much as you can, but never set your heart on a man ; if you do, you will have nothing in the world but vanity and vexation of spirit. From my little bit of experience, I should say, expect stability from a weathercock, heat from the North Pole, light from night, rather than love, constancy, and fidelity from a man.” “ Hettie, how shocking 7 ” cried Alice. “ Yes, very shocking, but most certainly truo._ The shocking part of the business does not lie with me; I am only giving you a rough little bit of sense. Take my advice, Alice—never waste your trust, your love, and all your thoughts by day, all your dreams by night, on any one man, because there is not one worth it.”

“But what of my husband, Hettie?” she asked, trying to smile. “How am I to help loving him ? ”

“ Well, you please yourself. I tell you that it is wasted, and you will find it out some day.”

She had found it out already, as she knew in the bitterness of her heart; but she was so staunch and so true, she would rather have died than that any one should know hers was a marriage of honor, not of love.

“ You are all much mistaken, Hettie,” she said, with quiet dignity. “In our house, unfortunately, I know it is the custom to speak out brusquely—to profess great hatred or great liking. My husband belongs to that class who know how to keep their feelings under their control, and do not ‘ wear their hearts upon their sleeves, for daws to peck at,’ ” “ Thank you, Alice; lam not a daw.” “ You need not be offended, Hettie; it is only a quotation ; and the young wife turned wearily aw.qy. It must indeed be patent to all men that he did not love her, if her mother had spoken like that,

Betorning home late that evening, after a oapital game at pod, Lord Carsdale saw that hia wife’s face was very pale, and her eyes bore traces of tears, “ What is the matter Ailie ? ” he asked abruptly. He could never endure tears in a

woman, «nd that ibis woman, to preserve whom Ic lad sacrificed so much, should shed them, amazed him. “ What is tho matter ? ” ho repealed. “ Nothing, Vivian, but that I felt dull.” “Dull, with all your friends about you I ” he cried, in amaze. “ Why, I thought you were tho happiest of the happy. Ido my boat to make you so.” “ You are very good to me,” she said, gratefully. “ Then, Ailie, do not cry. I think if one thing in this world irritates a man more than another, it is to tee his wife cry.” “ Then you shall never be irritated, Vivian,” she said ; and be smiled, with content. “I am going at noon to morrow, Ailie,” he said, “you had better begin your arrangements for remaining at home.”

CHAPTEE XII.

THE PARTING “Do not write to me, Ailie, until I have written to you," said the young husband. He was standing in the little parlor at Ceoilstreet, making his adieus, the lamily grouped at a respectable distance, Frank wondering whether he would get tho long-expected tip or not. Alice was only anxious over one thing —that his farewell to her should be one which should do away with the impression that he did not love her. The carriage ordered to toke him to the station was at the door, and in bis heart of hearts Lord Carsdale was secretly longing for the time of departure. He was tired of the small, gloomy, dirty house, with its uncomfortable ways and its petty, miserable ooonoomiea ; ho was tired of the careless scraping of the violin, tho ceaseless rustling of feet. Every hour seemed to make Eudeswell and all its belongings more and more intolerable; yet he did not repent what ha had done—it was for honor’s sake. What would he not do for honor ? Indeed, the raoro tiresome and annoying Eudeswell became, the greater hero he. He was light of heart because he was going, and it did not occur to him that his wife’s sweet face was pale with tho pain of loosing him.

, /The desire of Frank’s heart was accomplished. Mr. Nelson tipped him so generously that he could not recover himself. Hettie was less virulent than usual. Eose was really sorry to lose her handsome, courtly brother-in-law. Both parents felt that it would be a relief when he was gone, and there was no further need for keeping up appearances. The great strain of always seeming to be a little better off than they really were tired them. Lord Carsdale had said "good-bye” to them, and stood now talking to hia wife. “ How long shall you be away ?” she asked; and he answered her that it was impossible to tell, that all depended on hia commission. “ I hope you will have a safe journey,” she said, looking at him with wistful eyes, longing for ono kind, loving word; noting, with keenest pain, the pleased, bright face, the delight he felt at going. “ You will be so pleased to see your own friends again,” sho said, sadly. Then she thought she might venture on a word. “ You will remember, Vivian, that the truest friend you have in tho world, the most grateful one, is myself.” “You ate very good, Ailie,” he said. “ Goodby, my dear.” He spoke lightly, carelessly, holding out his hand with a good-natured smile, without the least trace of pain, regret, or emotion. “ Good-bye; try to enjoy yourself as much as you can,” he continued. And Ailie saw Hettie’s eyes fixed on her. That emboldened her to do what she never could have done without. She raised her fair, sweet face to her husband, for him to kiss it. As she did so the crimson flush seemed to burn it, and the beautiful eyes dropped until the white lids covered them. Lord Carsdale both looked and felt surprised. She was so shy and timid, this sweet unloved wife of his—that she should, as it were seek a caress from him, filled him with wonder; he did not understand the why and the wherefore ; but, with that same look of half-amused wonder in his eyes, he bent down and kissed the sweet upturned face. “It was a woman’s way,” he thought to himself, and the next moment he forgot all about it.

Sho turned away, her whole heart leaving her and going out to him; then the next moment he was gone. “ Most handsomely, my dear, I am sure, has ho behaved,” said Mrs. Derwent, whose English was apt to be slightly involved. “It is only natural that you should repine a little; but he will soon be back again—young husbands do not like being parted from their wives.”

“I never hold with it myself,” said the dancing-master, “ but in this ease it cannot be helped.” They both looked in wonder when Alice turned her beautiful, colorless face to them, it was so full of fear, so weary; all the mother’s heart awoke in Mrs. Derwent.

“ You will like to be by yourself for a time, my dear,” sho said; “go to your room, no one shall trouble you; I know what it is, although your papa never was compelled to leave me.”

Only too thankful for escape, Alice went to her room and fastened the door; it was something to be able to weep there alone, to think of this great wonder of her life—her marriage. Ah 1 would the time ever come when the marriage begun in honor would end in love?

“ He looked so surprised when I held up my face to him,” she thought to herself, “ as though I had forgotten that kissing was no part of good comradeship. I could not help it, with Hettie’s eyes fixed on me, watching whether he was sorry to leave me or not. Oh 1 my love, shall you ever love me for my own sake, and because I love you so deeply and so dearly? I would give all my life waiting for hia love, if even, in dying, he would say that he had learned to care for me at last—content to die if he would smile and kiss me in dying. But I will be patient; the old German proverb says, ‘ Patience wins all’ I will be patient as death itself, waiting for the love that will surely one day be mine.” {To he continued,)