"The Marrying of Manette."

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 April 1935, Page 7

"The Marrying of Manette."

(COPYElG*i^S£^fc PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL J. ; '

BY MAY WYNNE. *' ‘ (Author of “Henry of Navarre,” “Gwennola,” “The Barn,” etc).

CHAPTER HI (Continued). Anford peered into the darkness. “No use going after him,” he grumbled. “‘A passing tramp no doubt, or some poor fellow who has lost his way. I won’t risk leaving you stranded. _ There was a note of perturbation m his voice, and Marietto wondered whether that “passing tramp” suggested anyone to his mind —some hanger-on whom he would have liked to send summarily about his business. It was not the sort of walk to encourage conversation, and Mariette was glad when they reached home. “Do come in,” she invited, and have a second tea. lam sure my Aunt would wish it.” But Captain Anford was not to be persuaded. “I have one or two jobs I must see to ” he replied. “See you to-morrow _a,Hl— ” he hesitated. “I’m awfully glad you are coming along to lunch, he added. “Vivienne must find country life hideously dull after India, and she is not a sportswoman —nor, between ourselves—does Sussex Society approve of her. There is a good deal of ancient history about, and Vi is decidedly ho r " ed. You’ll cheer her up I’m sure. She needs a friend, some one young and alive.” ’ , , Mariette pondered over the words as she went indoors. Captain Anford had practically echoed liis sister-in-law s words about her need of a friend,, and Mariette recalled the angry speech Sir Neville had been making as she entered the snuggery. “I wonder,” she thought, “if they don’t hit it off; and, if that’s,the trouble, whether tliero is any one else.” Aunt Agnes was in the hall -presiding over a neglected tea-table. She greeted her niece with some show of relief. “I was thinking of sending Lane out. with lantern and Tinker complete,” she smiled. “I suppose Mr Scott kept you in the hope of the fog lifting—vain hope in these parts.” Mariette laughed, tossed her coat over the back of a chair and came towards the fire. “No,” she replied, “I did not wait in the studio: in fact I had almost reached the village when Captain Anford’s car knocked me clean into a puddle of water, and he took’me back to the Court to be cleaned up and given tea.”

She was looking at her aunt as she spoke, and was surprised at her change of expression. The smile had disappeared and a hard —almost grim look took its place.

“I am sorry,” she replied, briefly. “I should not wish you to visit at the Court.”

Mariette opened wide eyes of astonishment.

“Not visit at the Court?” she echoed. “Why ever not? Sir Neville told mo Dad was onei of his closest friends in the long ago and he wished he had known we were located at St. Ives. Lady Anford is sweet —so pretty and friendly; she said she had not seen much of you, so wants' me to be friends instead. Of course, she is a lot younger than her husband and —well! I am going to luncheon there to-morrow ; ” The hard look intensified on Miss Carstone’s face, and her hands played nervously with the knitting on her lap.

“I do not wish you to accept any such invitation, Marietta,” she repeated. '‘l do not wish you to have any intercourse with the Anfords. I do not forbid it —you are not a child but, if my wishes have any influence over you, you will obey.” “But I don’t see any reason,.” protested Mariette vehemently. “If you will give me a reason and it is a good one, I will do as you wish; but if it is only some antiquated family quarrel T call it most unfair. Lad,y Anford does not know—or care for —Sussex Society. She wants a friend, and she asked me to go and see her.” Miss Carstone frowned'; she was evidently disappointed. “I consider it impertinent,” she said in her blunt way, “for you to ask for a reason when my request was plain and straightforward. You may be sure I consider the reason sufficient, but I shall not satisfy your curiosity. I have given you the option of refusing my request, and if you do refuse I must make it clear to you that though you are free to go to the Court I shall not welcome the Anfords here. You understand?”

She did not wait for response but, taking up her knitting, 'marched off—-stony-eved and disapproving. Mariette remained by the hall fire, distinctly rebellious. For the first time she was ready to criticise the elder woman.

“Wo shan’t hit it off if she behaves like that,” she muttered. “I am not going to be bullied or treated like a child. There can’t be any real reason for her not visiting the Court, or the Anford’s would not have been so friendly. I shall go there to-morrow and after that I can decide whether or no I do as Aunt savs. I—well! I’ve not made up my mind yet about Lady Anford.”

Sho did not ask herself whether she was so undecided in her opinion of Captain Jack! . CHAPTER IV.

“So you have come, my dear.” Lady Anford rose from the sofa where _ sho had been lying and pulled Mariette down beside her. She was wearing the daintiest of pink silk negligees, and looked younger and prettier than she had done yesterday. Mariette laughed, glancing approvingly round the dainty boudoir to which she had been shown.

“Of course I came,” she replied. “You asked me to, and I accepted.” “So you did,” retorted her hostess, “but all the same I had my Moots. ’ Thero was the .aunt to bo taken into consideration. She is not too friendly, you see.”

“Yes,” agreed Marietto slowly. “I do see, but I don’t understand! Aunt Agnes was quite aggressive and did not wish mo to come to-day. Why is it?”

Lady Anford shrugged her shoulders and reached out for a box of cigarettes.

“You smoke, of course?” she said. “And oh, about the aunt? I really can’t tell you! I knew her slightly in the days of lang syne, but I was a very small child. Sho was engaged then to Neville—or shall I say they ‘walked

out’ together? Later, ho married me, but that is no reason why Miss Garstone should strike us off her visiting list. No matter—let us talk of something else. I rest hero till luncheon, then we will go out and see the gardens —if you like. Thank goodness the fog has vanished.” Mariette looked out of the window. What a view' it. was over matchless gardens towards paddock and woods 1 . A figure had come into sight which she recognised as that of Captain Jack as she called him to herself. Lady Anford raised herself on an elbow and followed the direction of her gaze. “Jack is an awfully, good sort,.” she said with a lightning glance at Mariette, “quite the family peacemaker when I and my old man have a few words. If ever you contemplate marriage, my dear, make sure the man 1s 1 good-tempered —it is an absolute essential. ” Mariette looked curiously at the speaker. For a new acquaintance, Lady Anford was very outspoken, and yet she herself was a sufficiently good reader of character to guess the reason. “I should never have thought Sir Neville bad tempered,” she said, so frankly that the other laughed. “I never said he was,” she retorted, “but don’t blush, for you have led the way to confession. Ho is bad tempered, horribly so, and my nerves won’t stand it. Like all men, he is curious, too, and I—well! I have a contrary and perverse little imp within me which urges me to provoke that curiosity. Hence the family jars and the need for peacemakers. Also —heigho! poor old Neville has a real grouse. Ho longs for children and I shall never give him any. It is hard luck, of course from liis point of view, but for myself I should find kiddies an insufferable bore. ’ ’

“I should have thought they would be an amusement and a big interest,” said Mariette. “You must be dull sometimes as you don’t care for society.”

“Society!” Lady Anford flung away her cigarette with a petulant gesture. “What sort of society is there in such a hole? I tell you the only amusement I could possibly get out of Sussexworthies —Rippleford in particular — would be to gather them all together to a fete and shock them horribly.”

Mariette had to laugh —her companion spoke so viciously,- her face screwed up into a comical yrhnaee.

“That sounds spiteful,” she commented. “I hope I shall never have to be victimised by the ‘worthies.’ I suppose out in India you had a. very gay time.” Lady Anford sighed. “Gay?” she echoed. “Yes, it was gay. I had friends there, too; friends who helped me to forget my worries and troubles. We just crammed one gaiety on the top of another; there was no time to think. Here—oh, my dear! it is nightmare. You must help me. Mariette., will you promise to help me when I need help—and one day you shall know my secret?”

The sudden note of passionate appeal was very startling. Lady Anford was no longer bored—or mocking. She was sitting up very straight, her cheeks had paled under their rouge, her eyes were haunted by some secret tragedy. Mariette felt her heart beating quickly, she was confused yet pitying, taken unawares. And so, hardly realising what she was saying, sho made answer. “I promise—of course I will promise to help in any way I can.”

The tense look died from the other’s face and she smiled, taking Mariette’s hand and drawing her close to kiss her.

“You dear —you perfect dear!” she whispered. “I knew as soon as I saw you, you would bo a friend. You were so discreet yesterday—in fact you acted perfectly. You don’t know what joy you are giving to a poor, sad little soul. I—l’ve, been sleeping abominably lately, and I’m getting more nervy every day. Neville sees nothing—understands nothing. Jack is better —he is glad you have come, he quite fell in love with you yesterday. Don’t blush, Mariette, and don’t let the Aunt put you off coming here. You must call me Vivienne, and when I am cured of my innate selfishness I shall want to know all about you.” Mariette was still trembling; this new friend took her breath away. If this was the result of an hour’s conversation what wild confidences would sho not have to listen to later! It was a relief to hear the gong sound for luncheon, and Lady Anford in pretended panic rang for her maid and hastily donned her dress.

“Come on, my dear,” she said, taking Mariette’s hand. “Neville is out and Jack will be grumbling because I have monopolised you. What a mercy it is that Marden . House is on the ’phone. I shall risk the aunt’s severe snubbing and ring you up whenever I want a gossip, which I warn you mil be very often.”

Captain Jack was waiting for them in the dining-room. He smiled his greeting to Mariette, and as they sat down to lunch asked if she were game for a round of golf in the afternoon. Lady Anford struck in at once. “Do have pity on him, Mariette,” she urged. “I have a headache and shall lie down. Wo can soo the grounds any time, and when you come again we must plan something really exciting like a matinee in town or a motor run to Brighton. Neville hates motoring and I have been too limp lately to go out with Jack. We are now going to reverse the old saying and prove that three is the best of company.” Mariette smiled. She was young and keen, and the programme sounded attractive.

“I have only been to three matinees in my life,” sho confessed, “and my visits to London were limited to two occasions. It will bo topping to motor up all that way —I feel quite dissipated already.” (To be continued.)