CHAPTER XII.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 183, 18 December 1886, Page 12

CHAPTER XII.

" THE EVIL OENIDS OV YOUK LIKE." TnE various musoume of Paris, with thoir collections of treasures were very attractivo to the boauty -loving Violet, vvho hod travelled so littlo. Left to heivolf for tho greater part of her days, aho wont from one point of interest to another, trying to forget her sorrows by occupying her mind- j She was one day standing beforo some exquisite examples of oriental embroidorv, when a lady, drawing noar to look at the same specimens, said in u friondly fono : " Vory boautiful, aie they not ?" " Lovely i" cri6d Violet, ''charming it must be to do such work one's rfelf Whonever I buy any, I think how much more I should enjoy it, if I made it." " You aro fond of doing work ?" " Very ; but I know how to do but littlo." '* Why do you not learn this kind, if you like it ? " I thought it was only done bv those wondorful pooplo in the Ba^t. Veu, I should like it. I have a deal of time on my hands, and Ido not enjoy doing nothing I like to bo employod. i cannob sit hours at tho piano, making music for mypolf tilono ; and I have but little genius for [painting or drawing." j "If you wish to learn this oriental work, and will accept instructions, I shall ho glad to teach you lam now in Paris, making my living by giving ledfons. I have been a governess for some yoars in England. Shall I send you my rocommendutions? If you wish leeeons, it would really bo a favour to me to learn of you. I suppose it soema odd to a pereon in your circumstancos, that any one should bo anxious to earn a few pounds ?" "Oh, I should liko tG learn indeed 1 should !" cried Violet, her benovolont nature aroused by this half appeal fiom a woman but a few years older than herself, and exceedingly lady like in speech and up pearance. " Would you come to ray hotels and teach me ?" '• With pleasure." " Thore is ray card. Come tomorrow about eleven o'clock. Will you bring all the material ? I should not know what to got. How many leseons will I need ? I shall not bo hero moi'o than a fortnight longer." " Six or eight will be enough for a person of taste. You will learn readily. Which of the styles do you prefer ?" After a little more chat they parted, Violet already feeling an interest in tho stranger. The next day Lord Leigh had gnno out immediately after their ten o'clock breakfast, and Violet did not expect to see him again until evening. Shortly after eleven she was seated in her boudoir, with her new acquaintance, busily at work over an embroidery fiarne, when Lord Leigh hastily entered. He atopped abruptly, and his face darkened as his eyes fell on tho embroidery teacher, who after ono awift look kept her glance fixed on her patterns. " Lady Leigh, I wish to speak to you. I have come for you." He swept back the portiere with hid arm, for Violet to pass into the adjoining bodroom. Then he closed the door, and said, hurriedly : " I wish you to get ready quickly to go to Sevres, to stay until to morrow evening. You will wish to make some purchases there. Lady and her friend will accompany us. Make haste, please." He had his oyes fixed scrutinizingly on her. " Very well ; 1 will go and speak to this lady, who is teaching me a new embroidery." "Pshaw ! No, send Kate. Kate, go tell that person that your lady is engaged ; ehe is going from Paris on a trip. Now, Violet, make ready. Where are your things ? Wear that navy-blue silk, and the hat with the pink ostrich tips, as you did yesterday. I like that combination. It gives you style. Why do you not look ap your things ?" " Kate will do that I don't; know any thing about it. I will be ready by the time you have made your own preparations," eaid Violet-, quietly. " Here, Kate," cried Lord Leigh, to the returning maid. "Get your lady ready as speedily as you can, and then put up what things she needs, and come out to Sevres with Thomas this evening." After thiß order Lord Leigh withdrew, but instead of going to hia dressing-room, ho paced up and down before his wife's door as one on guard. Violet was a littlo irritatod by such a summary dismissal of her instructress and disposition of her time. She was accustomed to be consulted with deference. If her friends had had views and plans different from her own, they had thwarted her in Becret, as her grandmother had done, and only long after had she become aware of it. Usually Violet was the little autocrat of the household. And now this man, who had only law and not love to support his claim, ordered her about as if he were her master Still the matter was a trifle, and she told hereelf that she must learn to endure adverse trifles pleasantly. How readily would she have gone at the call of one she really loved, who really loved her. The thought of this urged her to greater outer complacency to her husband, since her rule was "to be good." But why must be associate Lady Clare Montreesor with all their entertainments. She did not keep Lord Leigh waiting long, and he gave her his arm to go downstairs, and glanced about as if warning off intruders, as the groom throw open the door of the barouche. But once in the carriage, his gathering wrath broke forth His tone was low, but concentrated indignation. "Violet, where did you pick up that person who was in your boudoir ?" 4 ' It is a lady named Misa Hope. She is an English gov6rnees ; but just now she gives lessona in fancy work, and I engaged her to teach me embroidery." " And where did you pick her up?" " I met her at the museum yesterday." *' I declare, if you are a married woman, you need a chaperon as much as if you were a child of fifteen, just out of your schoolroom " " Why do you speak so to me !" cried Violet, in anger, " Because you deserve it. The idea of a Countess of Leigh making an intimate of any stranger that she picks up in a museum." " I do not make an intimate," said Violet, hotly. Then ehe stopped, and blushed, for ehe realized that in some way Miss Hope had led her on to talk in a free and friendly strain, both at the museum and that morning in her boudoir. She certainly had made the acquaintance very easily. And she had never thought of the suggested recommendations. No doubt she had been childishly rash. She might have repented had Lord Leigh been wise enough to leave her to her own reflections. But he went on. " Adventurer is written on the woman's face. People of that fatamp are lull of lies and gossip, and go about to deceive and

make trouble, and fasten themselvoa liko vampires on rich 3'oung women, such as you," " What !" cried Violet. "Even atoachor of embroidery follows mo for my fortune ?" "Certainly; it is tho first thing ono thinks of about you. You will be the prey of tbo public i£ you ate so approachablo. I wh you not to make acquaint,. ancoa oxcepC thrso <hat I introduce to you." " Yon mean to be a tyrant, then?" " Has not that always boeu tho rule with you ? Did your aunt allow you to take up with stiangen?

Oeitninlynor. And lam quite ,is much Interested in your welfaio. Ido not like that woman's looks. I forbid you to havo any thing more so do with her." " I must tinish my le-sons," said Violot. "Of somo other teacher. Not of hei. Romcmbor, that >omi£, and inexperienced, ;y>d evidently carelef-b, as you are, if you fall in with people in this way, you will como upon sonieKviKJenius of your hfo, who will ruin yon, Here we aie at tho MontreeEors. I will go in after Lady Clare and her trioijri. Lot u« drop this matter. And romomber, Lady LeiVh — =cc that wdmaa m more " He ran up tho steps of the hotel where the Montrcssors wero, and kit Violet alone in the carriage. She waa deeply hurt and offended. Authority had never before borne on her in this way. He interfered with her, ho was to choose her acquaintance down to ths humblest. And chief of all he ehoso Claic Montieeeor, who had never been congenial to her. " Why had not Clare prone on tn Norway, a p she talked so freely of doinjr? Wna phe staying in Paris all on Lord Leigh's account? And still among all her musings rang the word r " You will meet the Evil Genius of your life." Would Bhe. Indeed, yes ; tho unconscious and fated Violet had mot hor in this very woman, thi-unaesami-ns, eoftly spoken Mis 3 Hope, and well did Lord Leigh know it. (Tohe Continued.)