CHAPTER LXXXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 204, 21 May 1887, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

" CRUEL, CRUEL TUB WORDS I SAID." That night, when Edna had dismissed her maid and was seabed in a low chair before the fire in her dressing room, Violet came to her. Her brown hair, freed from the widow's cap, fell in all its beautiful abundance over her shoulders, and her long black dressing gown made her look more slender and childish than ever. " lam glad, she said, " that youv maid is gone, and that you have no light bu.t the lire. I want to talk to you." Edna, without reply, took her hand and stroked it. „ " May I speak to you of Alwold, Edna ? " No,'' said Edna, " not of him." 14 But I must. Bear with me, my loved Edna. You know that my life has been sacrificed to a mistake and an unkind interference. Ido not mean ever to refer to it acain. I wish forever to for get what tears iliave shed, what heartaches I have suffered. But my own Edna, I cannot endure the thought of such mistakes for you. Edna, do you still love Alwold ?" " I am not changeable, Violet," said Edna, looking at her friend between a smile and a tear. " Darling Edna," said Violet, in her most caressing tone, " surely you will not be so unkind as to leave me alone here to receivo Lord Alwold." "And you, my dearest, will not urge such a plea as that when you ki\ow perfectly well that Captain Gore and his wife are to be here bofore Lord Alwold can possibly reach here to-morrow." " You know it is not for my own pake I am speaking. I feel sure if you two were to meet the old good terms would at once be established between you. Tho happiness of you both is at stake. Oh, it is a sad thing to part true lovers, my Edna. " "Urge me no more,'' said Edna. "I cannot see him ; all my peace, my dignity, my womanly self-respect are at stake. I ■ know if I met him I could not so command myself, but some look or tone must show that my heart is his. You know, Violet, how many there would be to say the poor rector's child was seeking Alwold for his lofty rank, and loved the title rather than the man. I cannot lay myself open to any such suspicion by throwing myself in his way. All is ended between us." " But there is no mistake between you, I am sure." " It is not for me to right it," said Edna, and the leaping firelight showed her lovely blue eyes full of tears. " And now listen to me, Violet, promise me that you will not speak of me - to him." "I cannot do that, I should break tho promise," *aid Violet ; '' everything would recall you. and I could hardly avoid mentioning your name." "At' least promise me that you will not inquire into the trouble between us." " Yes, I can promise that. Ido not know Alwold well enough to intrude on his piivato affairs." Rufc Violefc believed that slie knew wliafc the trouble was, and sho set her loving heart and earnest mind at work to try and | find a way to right the wrong done by her dead husband. The next day Edna went to her cousin near Hackney. Her going from the Towers was as a light withdrawn. For the hour or two before Captain Gore and his bride came Violet felt utterly desolate, and even the jolly captain and Anna, happy and blushing, just come from the fortnight in ! Paris, which had succeeded their wedding, could not make up to Violet for the lobs of Edna. "Gore and I mean to be perfectly devoted to you, Violet," said Anna. "Wo Avill stay and go just as you wish. We aie the happiest people in the world, and wo owe it all to you, for mamma would never j have consented bub for your persuasion." Lord Alwold arrived just in time to dress for dinner. After dinner his little ward was brought to tho drawing-room, and then Lord Alwold had a long talk with Violet about tho estates, and how they should be conducted during the little earl's minorityViolet was eager to know what waa her duty in regard to improvements and benevolence, and would Lord Alwold study the steward closely, and advise her as to his qualifications, both as a man of business and a philanthropist. " I feel that I know the tenants, and have some right ideas about their good," said Violefc, "for two years ago Lady Burton and I spent an autumn here together, and she taught me much out of her experience. And now this autumn I have been doing what I can, and our people are all very good and friendly." " I never saw anyone like Miss Haviland for going among people and saying just the right thing. I can't begin with her there, Violefc," spoke up Anna. " When will she be back ?" asked Gore. " I don't know," said Violet. " Such a pity she could not have stayed twenty-four hours later so Aye could have seen her," said Gore. And then, of course, the marquis could not but know that Edna had fled to avoid meeting him. " If you lament her so much," said Anna to her husband, " perhaps Violet will show you the picture she has of her on her dress-ing-table, painted on ivory, cabinet size — sweetest thing I ever saw. Do, please, Violet; ring for it." Violet thought she must let events take their course. She rang for the picture and handed it to Anna, who summoned Gore to admire it with her. Then Anna said : "We must not be selfish. Lord Alwold, you would like to look at it ? too, I am sure," and she set up the picture on a table before him. Then sne and the captain wandered to the other end of the room, and began a private chat with each other. Violet was seated on a low chair near the fire that leaped in ths grate. Her black robes fell heavily about ncr, her white cap made the one strong point of light, as with her lovely child-like face turned aside, she watched Alwold while ho studied the por- , trait. She could not doubt that he loved Edna deeply still,' when she saw how pale he grew, and how a mist swept over his eyes, and a look of longing end despair settled over his handsomo face. He turned and caught her gaze. He strove to speak uidiflerently. '•Miss Haviland has been keeping you company?" he said, coming and leaning his elbow on the jade mantel, and looking i down at the countess.

"Yes. I cannot tell you- what she has been to me. I think ours is such a love as Tennyson celebrated in 'In Memoriara,' more than the lovo of kindred. And yet, do you know, once I had the deepest and most unreasonable aversion towards Edna." " Ah ?" said the marquis, softly. " Yes. But it was all owing to a mistake. No one could be angry with Edna, nor condemn her, except as under a mistake, because she is the most perfect creatitre on earth. Well, I mistook her, and disliked her, and refused to meet her, and she returned me good for evil, and love for hate, and saved me for myself, and if I have been strong at all and have done my duty, It is all owing to Edna." " She [is fortunate in having so warm a friend," said the marquis. " Would you imagine rate of a jealous nature. Lord Ahvold ?" "I do not know. But if you are, I think I could sympathise with the infirmity, as I possess it." "It leads us into many mistakes, and often causes us to destroy our own happiness and the happiness of others, and to condoinn the innocent," said Violet, quietly, and then turned the conversation to business channels. The next morning, before breakfast, Lord Alwold was strolling abaut in the park, when he came upon a little rustic seat under a beech tree, and there lay an open book, and on it a kerchief and a withered cluster of pansies. The handkerchief had Edna's name on it. She had inadvertently left the things there some thirty-six hours before. The book was Tennyson's Fooms, and Lord Alwold read : "Cruel, cruel, the words I said. Cruelly came they back to-day, # ' You arc too slight and fickle,' I said. To trouble the heart of Edwin Gray.