CHAPTER LXXXIX.
" NOT TO CONDEMN, BUT TO SAVE." That was a very peaceful and happy, if quiet, summer at Leigh Towers. Aftor the close of the London season and the marriage of Edna, Lady Burton camo to Violet, and though nothing was said about it, as by a tacit understanding, there she romained, for Captain Gore and Anna had set up a, pleasant little home of their own. Little Rupert was running all about, was filling the home with his laughter and his prattle, and Violet found a world of joy in his insti action, feeling she was accomplishing wonders when she taught him tho names of things. Lady Grace Churchill came for a visit, bringing a woe Violet Churchill, two montns old ; and when Rupert kissed this infant's closed pink hands, and tried to poke his fingers in her wide black eyes, her mamma did not scruple to build air castles, to be inhabited by these two babes when they had grown up and were man and wife. Violet said nothing. " I declare, Violet," said the merry Lady Churchill, '• why don't you amuse yourself by plans like mine, all love and roses and wedding favours ?" " To play with love is to play with edged tools," &aid Violec. " Come, child, don,t you believe in love ?" "Indeed I do," said Violet, earnestly— "in love undying, faithful, and true— ' Douglas love ;' but that is, to me, a love too deep; sacred, precious to be carelessly spoken of." " You'll have to speak of it, and think of it, too, when there is a family of children 'growing up,' said Grace, with wondrous matronly airs. "And be sure, my little cherub,'" she added, kissing her black-eyed doll, " your mamma never will be one of those cold wretches — 4 " O'd and formal, fitted to a protty part With a little hoard of maxims, preaching down a daughter's heart.' She looked at Violet, with a smile. "How grave you are! What are you thinking of ?%>? %> " Well, pardon me, Grace ; Lord Alwold comes to-morrow, and I am thinking, of something I have to say to him." " Violet, you quaint little angel ! Who I ever would have expected you to become such a woman of business ?" Yes, Alwold was coming, and Violet had serious woids to say to him. Alas for the wife who must blush, and apologise, and frame excuses over her husband's grave ! All the Leigh affairs had been looked into at last, and it was seen what enormous sums Lord Leigh had, since his marriage, cast into that bottomless pit of gambling. Hard as he had striven during life to hide his crying vices from the world, and keep befoie men an undeserved fair name, his evil habits must come out like ghouls to mock and gibber above his tomb. It was this thought, and the thought that her son must grow up to a sullied name, and to condemn his father's memory, that brought from the eyes of the little countess a rain of tears, when next day she and Lord Alwold, and Mr Storms and the steward, were consulting together in the library. Then she controlled herself. "What I want is," she said, "that all the-e deficiencies may be made good, and o\ cry thing made right, so that no one shall ever know that tilings were so wrong, that my boy shall never hear his father spoken against." ""If we raise such a sum by a mortgage on tho estate," said Mr Storms, "it will take most of the income to clear it off, and we shall come short for needed improvements." " And I do not want that," said Violet ; " for when Rupert is of age to age to know, I want him to see the best kept, most liberally administered estate in England. I want him to have ever before his eyes a good landlord and happy tenants. When he is of age I want him to find all his affairs in such oider that he shall feel that he had the wisest, kindest, most exemplary father in the world. What will become of him, if he cannot regard his father in that way ?" " There is certainly a long minority to nurse the estate in," said Lord Alwold, comfortingly. " And there is all my income — every penny of it. I do not want any money. I will live here very plainly ; I will reduce expenses just as much as I can, in justice to the servants ; they must nofc be made homeless. Just tell me how I can reduce the expenses, and give you a large margin of income to make all good, and protect Norman's memory. " The three men looked at each other, with moist eyes. He had been a bad man, and a bad husband, but what noble faithfulness and unselfishness she showed toward him ! Then a light came to Violet's face. "Why cannot I advance all this money and let it come back, just as the estate can bear it ?" "There are your trustees— the whole must be known to them : and that you wish to avoid. If they make the loan then they must know," said Mr Storms. " But the trustees are Unclo Ainslie and my uncle Lord Montressor ; he hates business, and leaves all to Uncle Henry. I can make Uncle Henry promise never to tell this sad affair. I will go to London and see him to-morrow. "Take Mr Storms along to show him that tho security is good," said Lord Alwold. And so nextmorning the widowed heiresscountess went to hot, dusty, deserted London, taking grim, matter-of-fact Mr Storms for her sole attendant. She went, intent on rescuing from dishonour the name she wore so sadly. Henry Ainslie was nearly dumb with Henry Ainslie was nearly dumb with amazement when his niece came tohis count, ing-room and begged for a private interview " Dear uncle, said Violet, taking hi 3 hand, when they were alone, and laying her cheek against his shoulder, ' • I come to you for help and advice ; and first you must promise never, never to tell what I shall say to you to-day." " I may need to," said Mr Aiuslie, doubtully. " But you will not, and must never, never. Not to aunt, nor my Uncle Montressor, nor anyone must it be told. I confide only in you. Will you promise ?" " Yes," said Uncle Ainslie, Very much flattered.
"'lt; is a trouble growing.' out of my marriage," said Violet. " Ld6> not wish to pain, you, uncle, but you know you. did ; greatly urge me, that marriage." "I know I did, and to- my, girl,, I was wrong, I have seen since, if other people . have not* that you were a very unhappy little, wojaaan. But it is ended/ " The marrirge, yes; but the trouble, no,, unless you help me. Nowy Uncle ■ Hcnr.y,,, liaton patiently." And tho little countess told her story. "Do jon mean to say he has devastated tho immense sum he got with you .at your marriage ?" cried the banker. " That went to pay debts — he married me for that," said poor Violet. "And got. tlnough with about as. much. How long is it since you were married, Violet.?" 1 "A little over three years,*' faltered 'Violet. " Hoaven and earth !" cried the scandalised financier, " if he had lived three years longer you would all have been beggars.-" Violet laid her hand on his lips. " Undo, I come, not to condemn, bvit to save his reputation." " And how do you propose to do it ?" Violot told her plan, and had Mr Storms oxplain the business part thereof. *' You "will make this loan in my behalf ; uncle ; and Lord Montressor never interests himself to inquire -he only signs as you* wish." " Which is both wicked and lazy, if -he is an earl," said Ainslie. " Never mind, it comes in well jnst now," replied Violet. ' ' And you really mean to keep out of scelety, and economise year after year fon this man's sake '(" " And Rupert's, you know," said .Violet gently. " Buried alive at Loigh Towers !" " But Lady Burton will bury herself with me."
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Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 May 1887, Page 6 (Supplement)
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1,348CHAPTER LXXXIX. Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 May 1887, Page 6 (Supplement)
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