CHAPTER II.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 36, 3 September 1903, Page 23

CHAPTER 11.

Four years ago, on just such a day as this, Madge had armed at Redwood Manor, where dwelt her aunt and two cousins, both girls, and older than herself. Mrs. Redwood was an intensely selfish -woman, having but two interests in life — her own comfort and the marrying of her daughters to wealth and position. The man was but a very trivial detail He might be anything, from an idiot to a savant, prouded he cither had ,or was likely to have, a handle to his name, and his banking account was satisfactory. So far her efforts to get her daughters off her hands had been unsuccessful, though she had pursued her end with an energy worthy of a better cause.

Stella and Maud were their mother reproduced. They were stylish to a degree, could play, sing, dance and ride well , weie iir.st-class tennis players. They could talk scandal in the most approved ' afternoon-tea ' style, and were replete with small talk. In fact, they were splendidly veneered But the more solid branches of th,eir education, especially that training of mind and heart which alone makes the true woman, had been sadly neglected To Mrs Redwood's disticss, her girls were too fond of flirting for their own matrimonial good.

To say that Madge's surroundings were uncongenial is a mild way of stating things. Added to this, her aunt and cousins treated her advent as a species of intrusion Her nobleness and culture were such a \ivid contrast to their emptiness and frivolity that they could not but feel her superiority. And, as is usual with persons of their temperament, because she was superior they cordially disliked her, and did not trouble to hide the fact This feeling only grew stronger as time passed on. And wh'en at the beginning of this season, Mrs. Redwood vefry reluctantly introduced her niece into society, the furore her beauty, talent, and charm of manner caused, made them wildly jealous. Society had not gone mad with admiration when they were launched upon its changing waves What could people see in this unassuming little cousin of theirs ? Had she been an heiress she might have understood it, but though Madge had an income sufficient for her needs, no one could call her wealthy.

a v + u \u hl « w , as not aIL Some little time before Madge's debut the Redwood girls had met, at the de Brownson's ball, Mr. Gerald Stirling, a tall, handsome man of about seven and twenty, who, as time went on, had apparently fallen victim to Maud's bewitching glances Mrs Redwood, careful mamma as she was, took the earliest opportunity of enquiring into the eligibility of this new gallant. He proved to be all that even she could dea irc Immensely wealthy, and-though it was not genelally known, and she told only Maud-only the uncertain veais of an aged grand-uncle stood between him and the title and estates of Lord Rothwell. How her heart or what served her for that most maligned organ, swelled with hope and pride as she imagined Maud Lady Rothwell ! If only that was an accomplished fact, she would not have lived her life in vain. ' The best-laid schemes of men (or womep) and mice, Oft gang agley.' • '

In the beginning of the season Mr. Stirling was absent on the Continent. The first gathering honored by his presence after his return was the Hornsby's tennis party. The Redwoods believed him to be still abroad and Maud, suffering from a severe cold, remained at home. Mrs. Redwood, Stella, and Madge were there. Madge looked bewitching in a pale blue dress and picturesque white hat. And to Mrs. Redwood's chagrin, Gerald Stirling was evidently very much bewitched. There had been a complete round of gaieties since then, and to Mrs. Redwood's watchful eyes, it was only too plain that the hoped-for prize was fast slipping through her fingers. Poor Maud had been completely deserted infa\orof her cousin. The rage and jealousy of mamma and daughter knew no bounds, and in every possible way they showed her their displeasure^. Madge, simple child that she was— could not imagine what she had done to make them so much more than usually cutting towards her. She thought nothing of Gerald beyond the fact that he was a pleasant companion, and talked a great deal more sense than the majority of men with whom she came in contact. She was ignorant of her aunt's designs upon his bachelorhood. Mrs. Redwood had made up her mind that she must say something to Madge. She could not stand quietly by and see all her plans wrecked in this manner, and all by a chit of a girl, to whom, in a moment of weakness, she had given shelter. Truly, she had nursed a viper in her bosom.

While waiting an opportunity to speak her mind to Aladge, a thunderbolt descended which so altered the course of events that there was no longer any need to speak.