CHAPTER XXIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 240, 4 February 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXIII.

However, as it turned out, Fred Foster returned from his visit to Yorkshire in the most radiant good humour ; his Doncaster speculations had turned out very well indeed ; and not only did he faithfully pay back to Sabina every farthing that he owed her, but also promised that after settlingday she should have twenty-five pounds t° be devoted entirely to her charitable enterprises. Nay more ; he said that as he did not expect to be away from town again till the Newmarket Second October Meeting he would go with her on her rounds and see how she was getting" along ; and he | thought he would begin by having a littlo serious conversation with a certain nonworking man down Hammersmith way about whom she had told him, and who was neglecting his wife and family in a shameless fashion. "Or don't you think that a thundering good licking would knock the laziness out of him ?" he asked, cheerfully. "I don't know," said Sabina. "But I am afraid it would not look well if I had to go to the police-court to bail out my husband. What would Mr Bridge think of me ? And, you know, he is very good to me. 1 can always have an officer of the court with me, if I want to make any enquiries " "Oh, I am going to be your officer of the court," he said, gaily, " and we'll begin tomorrow morning. In the meantime we're going to have a little celebration of our good luck this evening. Captaiu Raby has «fone up to the Bristol to order a bit of dinner— just the four of us, you know — Raby, and Johnny Russell, and you, and I » ' l Please leave me out, Fred," she said at once, " Why ?" •* Oh, welL, I should simply be in the way. You don't want a woman at a man's dinnerparty of that kind. It would look ridiculous. Besides, you will have your own affairs to talk over. I shall do very well here ; I find no difficulty in passing my tame." " Oh, nonsense !" he exclaimed. " Why, the whole thing has been got up to please you. It was Rabys proposal, and I expressly accepted the invitation for you. Look ridiculous ?— why, it will be in a private room ; we shall be quite by ourselve?. Come, Sabie, don't be a kill-joy just as things are looking a little brighter." " Oh, very well,'' she said, good-naturedly. *' But I believe you would make a merrier party without me. " *' Do j't you think anything of the kind," he said. 4< You're not one of the straightlaced ones. And if you knew how glad I shall be to have a bit of decent dinner— to take the Doncaster taste out of my mouth. Perhaps you yourself wouldn't like to live on ham sandwiches, and pork pies, and buUer-'-Jotch?" Sabina (lid not answer this question ; for .she had to go and smarten herself up somewhat. Very much rather would she have .stayed nt home; but she was pleased to see her husband in such high spirits; and she certainly had no wish to play the part of kill-joy. Indeed, she made herself as neat as possible ; she would do him credit. Nor did Sabina's presence seem to act as any damper ac the modest Hfcble festivities that took place at the Bristol Hotel. All three of her companions appeared to be highly pleased with the result of their Yorkshire trip ; even the vacant-eyed Johnny Russell, whose flabby and cleanshaven face was a little more flushed than usual, ceased to be voiceless, and was nebulou&ly anxious to interest Sabina in one or two topics, not connected with the turf. It was Captain Raby who kept the cooler ] ?ad ; but to make up for that he seemed benb on encouraging Fred Foster's outbursts of gaiety ; and, of course, as host, it was hid duty to pass the wino. " You don't know, Mrs Foster," said he, ■with that familiar stare that invariably caused Sahiaa to lower her eyes, " you don't know what your husband did for us down I hero in the north. He was quite a blessing to us. After this week he ought to be called The Infallible " " Why, that is the name of my paper !" Fred Foster cried at once. " Didn't you know I was going to publish a racing newspaper ': Just you wait and you'll see, And of coui&e I'm going to run the business of sporting prophet as well— here, Johnny, lend me your pencil, and we'll get out bhc manifesto : we're all in it, you know, for I never desert my friends." The apathetic young man detached a raas&hc gold pencil from his watch-guard and handed it over ; and for some little time Mr Foster was engaged in the throes of literary composition, while Captain Raby considerately endeavoured to amuse Sabina. At last the back of the mwiu was pretty well filled ; and then Mr Foster read out his address to the public : " Mr Fukd Foster, proprietor of ' The Infallible,'and sporting telegraphist. Mr Foster mar now confidently appeal to the racing public for their continued support, as la's marvellous and continued success beats all provious ■records (sec my last year's Cesarcwitch week, and the brilliant feat of placing tho first, second, and third, for tho Two Thousand. Derby, and St. Leger). A special number of •The Infallible,' devoted to the Middle Park Plate, is now ready : and for the nominal sum of ft\c shillings, will be supplied to all applicants, along with subsequent issues to end of season Finals. Newmarket FiiVAi.s. Mr Fred Foster, having just returned from a professional visit to the chief training centres, is prepared to give sound and reliable advice on al! the great races yet to be run ; but would especially adviso his patrons to secure final telegrams for the Newmarket Meeting at the trifling outlay of one sovereign for the week. Mr Fred Foster is above the arts of the ordinary prophet ; scorns to advertise himself by newspaper puffing : and obtains his information without chicanery. Address, Mr Fred Foster, No. -, Strand, W.C." "There, now: how's that?" he asked, regarding the paper with some pride. " I think • God Save the Queen ' should come in at the end," observed Mr Russell. " Let's have a drink over it, anyway. Pass the champagne, Raby. And here's the health of Squire Tipton— may his shadow never grow less !" They had lit their cigars by this time {with many apologies to Mrs Foster), and th^n coffee came in, and there was a period of comparative repose —Fred Foster sipping maraschino and occasionally hazarding a remark to Johnny Russell about the probable starters at Lichfield and Manchester j Mr Russell listening in a vacuous silence, and also sipping raarashcino ; _ Captain Raby entirely devoting his cbnverSation to Sabina, if that, can be called conversation \vhich was chiefly a series of stories, more ]'ess discreditable* about .very distinuished pebple. Mr Fred Foster began to this slow.

"Look hei % o»" he said, " we< oan'ttalk, horses all the evening.", "I quite agree with you," said Captain Raby instantly. " I propose we go and get a private box at the — " said ho, naming a well- known music-hall. "Wo can smoke just as well there ; and there's always something going on. There are those children on the bicycles — very pretty that is. And Kate Tremayne — well, it's rather early for her yet, but she'll be on by-andbye — and she's always fun. What do you .say ?" He addressed Captain Raby ; that gentleman was regarding .Sabina with a look in which there was a little affected surprise and amusement. "Oh, that is not for me to decide," said he, gravoly. "It is for Mrs Foster to say whether she would like to go." It was a kind of challenge. A hundred times would sho rather have gono back home, and busied horself with her own affairs ; but that half - scornful look of Captain Rabys had annoyed her ; and she said at once : • Of course I will go, Fred, if you want me to go with you. But wouldn't you rather go by 3'ourselves ?" " Oh, no, no," the phlegmatic young man said, with unusual warmth. "I'm afraid wo can't get a domino and mask for you, Mrs Foster," said Captain Raby, smiling in his saturnine fashion. " And yet they would be useful if they were allowed. I don't think you would care to be seen at the -" Taking no heed of him, sho calmly awaited her hu3band's decision ; and he said forthwith, and rathor impatiently, "Of oourse you won't be seen ! We'll put you in a corner of a box — there's a curtain —of 00111*86 you won't be seen. And don't you believe all that's said against music-halls by people who have never been noar them. There's sometimes very good music. And anyway it passes an hour — and — and you can smoke— and — and Kate Tremayne — well, if she isn't funny enough for anything " "We shall have Mrs Foster's opinion of Miss Tremayne by - and - bye," observed Captain Raby ; and the tone in which he spoke more than ever determined Sabina that sho would make the besfc of everything she saw or heard in that music-hall, Miss Tremayne included. And yet it was a hard task ; for anything more contemptiblo— anything more insulting to the commonest intelligence — than the amusement provided in this place of entertainment it would be impossible to imagine. The mean knowingness, the swagger, the vulgar braggadocio with which the performers appealed to their audience were a sorry thing to see and hear ; and indeed Sabina, safely ensconced in the corner there, and looking abroad over that mass of young men, and lads, and young women too, all drinking in this wretched stuff, was moved far more to pity than to any sort of disdain. When the person on the stage— a big, overweighted, crapulous- looking creature he was, with a head like an unboiled haggis, in-knees, and an enormous paunch — sang his famous song of "Englishmen — one to ten," those white-faced, narrow-chested, gin-bemused boys took up the chorus with him : — " We've fought before ; we'll fltjht again; We'll Bwoep the land ; we'll swoop the main ; We're Englishmen, And one to ton We'll stand and bid the world como on." " Poor wretches," Sabina said, half to herself, " there's not much fighting stuff in them." However, there was really little that was offensive in this blatant pseudo-patriotism ; it was during subsequent perfoi'mances that Sabina's face fell, and she began bitterly to regret having, from a passing wish to defend her husband, ever come to such a place at all. Moreover, he had left her now. Just as Miss Rosa Lee had finished her favourite song of " Tandem Tommy " (Miss Lee appeared in a Newmarket coat of yellow satin, with enormous brass buttons, a jockey's cap on her head, and a coachingwhip in her hand ; and here also the audience aided with the well-known refrain — " And the chorus girl she kisses me, As we spin along the road ") and was retiring from the stage amid loud applause, there was a tapping at the door of the box. The next moment there appeared a gentleman in evening dress, with a large diamond in his shirt-front, and a very shiny hat. It was clear that he had not expected to find a lady in the box, for the moment he caught sight of Sabina he said, "Oh, I beg your pardon," and was about to retire. "Come along, Morgan," Fred Foster said at once. " Let me introduce you to my wife— Mr Mor«anfci." Mr Morgan ti gracefully removed his shin y hat, showing the diamonds on his fingers the while ; out he seemed a little bit disconcerted, and still inclined to withdraw. " Do you want to see me, old man ?" Fred Foster asked, getting up from his seat. "If you can spare me a couple of minutes." \Vhen they had gone away together, Captain Raby said to Sabina, with his peculiar smile : — "I suppose you don't know who that was who had the pleasure of being introduced to you just now? That is Mr Morganti, the manager of this establishment. Mr Morganti is a very important person ; and his acquaintance is esteemed a high honour by many people. I am told that the young ladies who are engaged to perform here become very affable when you are introduced to them by Mr Morganti ; and that they will condescend to drink a little champagne, and even bring their husbands to join in, that if, when they've got one ; and you may perhaps be allowed to drive the whole family-party out to Richmond of a Sunday. _ They will entertain you certainly, if their wit lacks a little refinement." > " I dare say there are as honest and well-intentioned people amongst them as among any other class," Sabina said, coldly. "Intentions? Oh, yes. Their intentions are all right, I suppose. Their manners are a little— well, affable. I should not wonder if at this very moment Miss Kosa Lee was begging your husband to give her a good thing for the Cesarewitch. They're very fond of racing, the people about music-halls. Miss Kate Tremayne, who is about due now, was married to Jim Older, the jockey, Was married ; Jim got out of that engagement, luckily ; and Miss Tremayne is free to let her fancies roam. I am informed she is a very lively young person. ' Sabina's heart was hot within her with vexation ; but she was too proud to show her anger. And how could she forbid him to talk to her ? And what escape was there tor her? Her husband was away. The phlegmatic Russell was wholly engrossed with the stage, staring vacuously at the successive performers, to the neglect of his brandy ana soda. Moreover, had she not herself to blame ? ' Had she not come of her own accord into this polluted atmosphere ? However, she obtained' a temporary respite; for now Miss Tremayne appeared,; and Miss Tremayne' was so popular a favourite that even Captain Rabyconde-' scended to bestow fr little' attention on her. She was attired in all kinds of cheap finery j her name was Bank Holiday Ann ; she was supposed to be a maidservant set free for a-

jollification on Hanipetead Heath ; and, She proceeded— in a vdic'e about as musical a* a saw — to describe phe adventures of herself and her companions, there and elsewhere. As these inducted the getting drunk of the whole party, their being locked; up for the night, and their appearance before the magistrate the next morning, there was no lack of incident ; while the long spoken passages, delivered in a rapid jargon of Cockney accent and Cockney slang, seemed to tind much favour with the audience, who also heartily joined in the chorus : — "Bank Holiday Annie. Bank Holiday Ann, Up the Heath, And down the Hoath, And round the Heath she ran. When the p'loeceman copt her, She f?ot him one on tho eye ; O Annio, I'll toll your mother, Oflo. Annie, flo!" But the idiotcy of this performance was refinement itself, compared with the " humour " of the leering cad who followed, whose vilo inuendoes were so obvious that even Captain Raby had to talk rapidly to Sabina about all kinds of things to distract her notice. Probably, if Sabina had understood she would have been a little bit thankful ; but his attentions to her seemed now to have reached the height of persecution ; and as the atmosphere and surroundings and associations of the place were grown quite insufferable, she could only impatiently ask herself when her hua- i band was coming to take her away. At last she said :—: — " Captain Raby, I wish to go. Do you think you could find my husband ?" "Well," said he, blandly, "I am not a habitue here ; I understand that Mr Morganti has a private room somewhere, where he keeps excellent cigars and spirits ; but I have not thehonour of bhee?U?'eeitito it. No doubt your husband is amusing himself well enough. Don't you thiiik you had better stay ? It ought to interost you especially to study the kind of amusements that are popular with tho masses of people. Can't I get you something— some coffee ?" Sabina was rathor paler about the lips than usual. "Mr Russell !" she said. "I beg your pardon ?" the younger man said, turning round at once. Then she drew back ; she had no wish to be left alone with Captain Raby, and he, noticing her hesitation, instantly rose. "Oh, if you really wish to have your husband found, I will do my best," he said ; and he put on his crush-hat and left the box, In a few minutes he returned with Fred Foster, who was in a gay mood. "Well, what have you all been doing? You're not going yet, Sabie? I've been transacting a little business with my noble friend, Morgy '! " Was Miss Tremayne a party to the transaction ?' asked Captain Raby, with a glance at Sabina. "Kate Tremayno is a rattling clever girl— that's what I call her. All London has got hold of that chorus. She'll make a pot of money in the provinces. Do you really want to go, Sabie !" " Yes." " Then we'll all go," said Johnny Russell, rising. " I've had enough, for one." At the front door, when the cab was called up, she was for parting with these two acquaintances with a polite bow ; but both of them insisted on shaking hands with her, which ceramony she performed with a marked coldness. As soon as they were in the hansom, and were driving away, Fred Foster said to her :—: — " Well, what's the matter now ?" " It is of no consequence." " Come, out with it ! I saw you had got on your hisrh tragedy air. I guessed as much from "what Raby said." " You have no right to ask me to meet a man like that," Sabina was stung into saying. "His conduct, his mannor, is insufferable. And as for that place where we have been, why did you allow me to go there? You knew what it was—l did not." " You said you wanted to go." " I said I would go if you wished me to go ; I wanted to show them that what was right for you was right for me ; do you think I would stand by and have Captain Raby openly sneering at you ? But you needn't have taken me to such a place, for all that." '•Oh, you're one of the impossible ones," said he, but with perfect good-humour. " I know what has set your back up— the appearance in that box opposite of the gorgeous creature in green velvet and diamonds. Well, her get-up was striking, I admit ; and so was her yellow hair, and her fan ; but you know you can't compel everybody to tone down their appearance. Besides, I made certain you coalcln't see the woman at all." " I did not see any such person," Sabina said with absolute truth. "Then what's the matter? There was some very good singing. That sketch of Kate Tremayne's was awfully clever— a3 like the tiling as could be ; it was too like for me indeed : 1 couldn't follow half what she said. Low comedy, of course, but still comedy ; and a precious deal nearer real life than tho comedy of the regular stage. I didn't see anything to object to in the formance." "Perhaps you were otherwise occupied," sho said. " You did not consider how pleasant it was for me to sit in that box and have Captain Raby suggesting that you were at the time making bets with the women behind the stage." " Raby will have his joke," he answered, cheerfully. "He was simply roaring when he came and told me of the expression that had come over your face. And what there was to offend you I am sure I can't imagine." Indeed, he was bent on laughing off the whole affair ; and when they had got home, and when he had donned his dressing-gown and slippers, and lit a cigar, and mixed some whisky and water, and drawn his chair in towards the lire, he proceeded to remonstrate with her, but in a perfectly friendly and pleasant way, about her cultivation of impossible ideals and standards of conduct. "The trouble with you, Sabie, is simply this," he observed, " that you are a great deal too good for this wretched and sinful world."