IN WIG AND GOWN.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2084, 24 June 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

IN WIG AND GOWN.

Lady Hayward was expected every minute at Hayward castle, and the great entrance door stood wide open, spite of the cold. There were three or four men servants standing in the hall, while the old gray headed butler took up his position on the steps. Lord Hayward came and stood by him a few seconds at a time, and listened for the wheels, and then went back and fidgeted about the hall whistling to himself. Evidently he was very uneasy about something or other. Nobody supposed for a moment that that something or other was connected with Lady Hayward ; she had never given him a moment's uneasiness. She was the most precise and perfect of women, always in the right and fully aware of the fact, and Lord Hayward, who was a good fellow, accustomed to regard himself ns not overburdened with brains, was very anxious to talk to her about something that worried him.

The house party was a large one ; in fact, the oastle was full. But everybody was upstairs, the first dressing bell having rung. If Lady Hayward was much longer there would be no time to speak to her before dinner. Why, queried Lord Hayward crossly, were the down trains on that confounded line always late ? Lady Hayward had been to London to see her lawyers about some urgent business, and leaving Lord Hayward to entertain the guests during her short absence, had gone alone or rather with her maid. She had stayed the night in town, in order to bring with her a new dress for a ball which was to be given at the castle the following evening. At last the carriage drove up to the door, driven very fast, for the coachman knew it was late. The first person who emerged from it was an exceedingly quiet looking, well dressed young woman—the maid evidently. She quickly disappeared and was followed by Lady Hayward, who instantly seized her husband’s arm and began to scold him, no matter about what—probably because the train was late. She scolded in the most ladylike way; her voice was clear and slightly shrill; she herself was like a pretty doll just out of a band box ; always dressed according to the latest Paris fashion, always perfectly neat and in order and quite aware of her own good looks; in manners and morals absolute perfection, and quite aware of that, too.

“ I want to speak to you," said Lord Hayward, “ before you dress; there’s just time." He followed her up to her dressing room, where tea was waiting on a table by the fire. Lady Hayward's maid had just put an easy wrapper temptingly ready, and was busy getting out a dinner dress for her mistress. “ I will ring for yon in a few minutes, Taylor," said Lady Hayward; “ and the perfectly trained servant vanished at once. " I wonder whether it’s that girl, after all 1” exclaimed Lord Hayward ; “ yet it seems almost impossible.” “ Don’t talk enigmas,” said Lady Hayward, imperiously—“ there isn’t time. What is the matter, dear?"

She was pouring out her tea as she spoke, and now began to sip it. “ More things have disappeared,” said Lord Hayward, in a low voice, “ and this time it's worse. The old duchess has lost a big diamond ring, and your sister’s diamond necklace is gone.” Lady Hayward put down her ten.

“ Vernon, this is awful,” she said. “ What are wo to do ! Who can it be f It’s absurd to talk about Taylor ; she was with mo in town.”

11 Ab, but we can’t tell exactly what time the things were taken; she may have got rid of them in London. It was when, you took her to town with you that your diamond broach went.”

“So it was,” said Lady Hayward. “ But that makes no difference. The broach was taken while we were away. Besides, the thing is absurd. Taylor is above suspicion, I know the girl so well. Why, Vernon, she went with me through France and Italy when I joined yon in Home, and we were always together, and 1 used to talk to her a great deal. She Is a very superior girl. No, it would be most unjust to suspect Taylor." 11 Well, there’s nooneelse,” said Lord Hayward, dejectedly, “ except poor little Rose Mannering.” “ Poor little Rose Mannering ” was the governess who took charge of their one little girl. “ Absurd!” said Lady Hayward. And so it was, on the face of it. They knew Rose Mannering’s family well. She was a lady, and little more than a child. A silence followed, during which both looked into the fire for inspiration. All the servants in the house were born of families who had been for generations on the estate. The idea of suspecting any of them was too painful. Taylor was the only exception, and she had been with Lady Hayward two years. “ I begin to believe,” said Lady Hayward, “ that it is one of our guests.” “ Good heavens, Kate, what an idea 1”

“ Can you suggest anything else “ No, I can’t. There’s some infernal deviltry at work, but beat my brains as I will, I can't see where it comes from." “I tell you what we must do Vernon," said Lady Hayward, decisively. “ We must be very careful not to frighten anyone and keep our own counsel. Ride over to the town early to-morrow morning, and telegraph to Scotland Yard for a detective to come down disguised to the ball. There will be so many people the servants won’t have time to notice

liim. He must stop on as a visitor I'll he finds out something.” That will do!” exclaimed Hayward.

‘Now go,” said Lady Hayward, ringing the bell for Taylor; “I must drew at once."

As he went out he met the maid in the doorway, and gave her a more curious look than usual. The result was only to giro up his idea as preposterous. She had a very gentle, good face; her soft brown hair, brushed smoothly over her carp, gave it an almost Puritanic look. Lady Hayward had made something of a friend of her. and the girl had never presumed in the least upon it, hut had always retained her subdued, sweet manner.

Lady Hay ward scrutinized her, too, during the process of dressing, but she shrank from the thoughts in her own mind. She had grown fond of her treasure of a maid, and felt ashamed of herself for her quickly suppressed suspicions. Early next morning the telegram was sent to Scotland Yard by Lord Hayward, who rode over alone to send it, and wailed for the answer. The reply seemed to please him, and he rode back in good spirits to a late breakfast. He even faced, with moderate cheerfulness, Lady Hayward's eldest sister, who was in a frightful state about her necklace. This lady was one of his pet aversions; she was not pretty or clever, like his wife, but she was more irreproachable, more moral, more perfect, and she was an old maid. Probably she was the only person in the world of whom Lady Hayward was afraid. Miss Collette was a severe censor in all things, and kept her eyeglass well fixed on her younger sister, who had an important position to fill before rhe world.^ At present Miss Collette was very angry because she did not know what was being done about the thefts, and she held that she ought to have been one of the council. Hut Laly Hayward was obstinate ; she bad found out before that the exemplary Cecilia could not hold her tongue. This extreme discretion having been observed. Iho Scotland Yard detective arrived, as a visitor, and no one paid any particular attention to him. He was very quiet, and adopted the character of the man who docs not dance, or talk, or do anything,-and it answered admirably. A number of other men with superb shirt fronts hungabout thedourways and looked bored ; Mr. Hawk was admirably gotten up for the purpose, and had only to mingle with these others and look as bored ns they.) Lady Hayward was delighted at this excellent ertacement of himself, and kept her eye on him with great interest. She managed to speak to him very late, when the party was breaking up. He had discovered nothing so far—not even a “ clue ’’—and she went to bed disappointed. Visitors at Hayward Castle breakfasted, of course, at any time during the morning, but the family and household always assembled to morning prayers at a quarter to nine, and breakfast formally began directly afterward. Mr. Hawk had learned this, and was in the breakfast room early—the only guest present. No one else turned up but Lord and Lady Hayward themselves, Rose Mannering, who always appeared with her charge at this time, and the servants. Even Miss Collette was too tired to come down, though no one was stricter, theoretically, on the subject of family prayers. How grateful was Lady Hayward, half an hour afterwards, that her sister bad been late that morning I The servants all came In, led by the butler and the stately housekeeper, and Lord Hayward read prayers. Mr. Hawk sat very quietly in the shadow of a curtain.

With all decorum the servants filed out again, and Mr. Hawk did not move. The moment the door closed on the last of them he leaned over to Lord Hayward. “ My Lord," he said, “ may the men servants watch the window of this room outside for a few minutes ? Don’t ask me to explain —there’s no time to lose." Thr old butler came in that moment, carrying a silver coffee pot. Lord Hayward gave the order.

“ And tell them to keep their eyes open,' continued Mr. Hawk. “ Wc’vc got to deal with the lightest pair of heels in the kingdom.”

Lady Hayward listened and looked, hei heart in her mouth. What was coming next .'

“ Your ladpship,” went on Mr. Hawk. “ may I send for your maid ? ” Lord Hayward rang instantly. “ Why should you suspect her ? ’’ protcaUd Lady Hayward. “ She is a most superior girl. She has travelled with me and I know her well. No suspicion must fall on her unless you have proof.” Mr. Hawk rose and went anxiously to the door. The order had been given but scarcely a moment had elapsed. “ Do you expect her to come in less than a moment ?" asked Lady Hayward, a little crossly. Just then Taylor appeared at the door ; the butler was behind her. She came in and the door was shut, the butler remaining outside. At the first glance Lady Haywood bid seen a curious look on the girl’s face—one she had never seen there before. But immediately she was herself again, and now she stood before Lord and Lady Hayward and the detective, perfectly quiet, without n quiver on her face. “John," said Mr. Hawk, "this is really very wrong of you ; it is an infamous trick to have played. For two years you've been wanted, and I knew you weren’t out of the country ; but I’d no idea you could be doing such a thing as this.” While he spoke, Mr.’llawk had approached Taylor and put a pair of handcuffs on her. There had been a little by-play first; Tavh r had scanned the windows and instantly saw they were guarded. “ So the game's up I” she said sullenly. “ Yes, my lady's maid, to the tune of fourteen years," answered Mr. Hawk. “What does it mean?” cried Lady Hayward; “ I can't understand.

Mr. Hawk snatched the dainty little I’aiislan cap and the smooth brown wig from Taylor’s head and flung them on the floor. In an instant the gentle girl's face became a man's, smooth and malleable as wax. It was not nice to look at just now. The head was covered with a dark, very, very short growth of hair.

Lady Hayward uttered a shriek and fell back into her chair.

” I'll take him off,” said Mr. Hawk. - I t’s too much for her ladyship.” “Mr, Hawk ! Mr. Hawk '.’’cried poor Lady Hayward, 11 put on his wig and take him away as a woman 1 I’ll give you anything—anything, if you’ll do that.” Mr. Hawk seemed suddenly to understand.

“Your ladyship may depend on me,” he said, solemnly, and he put the wig and cap on again with the greatest solemnity. “ Vernon,” exclaimed Lady Hayward hysterically the moment the door was shut, “ promise you’ll keep the secret—don’t tell any one—don’t tell Cecilia. Vernon, arc you a brute ? I believe you are laughing 1”