CHAPTER VLIII. [The Right of Translation is Reserved.]

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 254, 11 April 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER VLIII.

[The Right of Translation is Reserved.]

F\Kh\\ Klili WOlilN , Yt.rihis^as ;i delicate and dillieulL task that Junio had undertaken. She could not forgot that on Walter Lindsays return from America he had told her plainly enough thai: any iclalions'hip between .Sabina, and himself should be just as Sabina wished i(, to he, and that lie would be content M it h that, nor seek lor anything moie. Also, in i his' latter time ot bumble, his kindness tow <mK Sabina, though it h.id been giea and olniou-aud assiduous, hai ben lather the kindness of an ailecMonate biolhei 01 intimate mend ;h-iiiiuii» the n^hi. to do tilings ior hei a- a ma LI l r of couw r rh(ue had hem iruk ot tin.- .-ni-ilnrucss ot a liner about him. lude> dthe iv had b"c n atniletoo much authotit\. But perhaps the occasion did not peinutot uws studious letincmenl- ot mannei ; and Sal>ma, at leasi. as ,1-mie knew, had taken no oflenee. Howexei, duiinu the bnet |ourney to Bin toid Bridge, the inoic -lame looked at the main object, oi her -olt imposed mission, the le-- she liked ll She began to '4iou \ei v uneomloi talile It was t 10 j^ioat ,i lcspunsibjlity. At List --and wilhacon--~K.let.ible -en-e of loliet— -she te-ohed to thiow it o\ei altogetht r : she would stiiely deliver Sabina s uun^c; and that, she knew, would be welcome. Aecoiding!\ , when -lie t cache, d tin 1 hotel, and lound that, land-as had ;diead\ uoiie oil to Inswoik, she made no -eniplc about, sending loi him ; -he <_;tu -sod that he would not lebent tho ml ci 1 upt ion In the n.eauuuu -he lugan to look lound the-e bachelor quaiteis, with not a little cuno>it\. She halt e\ pouted to lmd some poitiait 01 photogi.iph ot Sahma i,\en -omc -h<j;ht pen^d ili.ihiiijj — but thurwanolhinLT of the kind. Appaienth he had biou^ht down with him tew things be)ond what he needed tor hi- daih toil. A \olume of Yolksliedet stood at the open piano ; and theie weio -ome 100-e -heet- ot music on the top. llatdh any book- weie about: and theio weie no ncw-papei-. Two huge poitoho- in <i eoi net no doubt contained the bulk ot his dt.iwin^-. and -lv did not pie-ume to open the-t , but on the mantt lpiece- -abo\ c the pipes and match bo\e- and v.ink ol imitation — •mrl al-o at the back ol the piano sseie a numlxi of moie in le-s ii.u<;h -ketehe-, which -he puuieded to examine with eon-idi table inteie-i, ioi -ho wotideied what he could tind in -ueh a place .it such a time ot the >eai. And it hki) be .-aid that .Janie had had long enough tiaimng in the ait-woild to applet late certain qualities a- di.-inict f i urn thenuie choice of a -abject Incomplete a- mu-l ot the-e diawnigs weie, she could -cc how e\er\wheie tile panitoi oi them showed hnn-elf ea-y master of his o\\ n methed : -he umlei stood tiuir lctieeme. then •-implicit \, tlicit letinemcin -. ointnl ot [)Li\ei-ti}' Ol whim 01 trick. Foi the tine .uti-t dotiiot seek to a-tonish : In- woik has re-ei \•» <md lepo-e; it demands study, patient t , companion-hip: it i- not tor those who ehoo-e to tun a- the} tead. The Cook's tourist who darts thiou^h \"«'tuce has no time fot Titian"- "Assumption; 1 but piobably he ha- in his po.;ket a numl>ei ot the ll /'»/// Jounittl j)(>)ii Rin . '' and e\ei) one know- w hat a <jay and -matt ])iece oi eoloui is oidin.mh to be found on the outet pa'^e of thai lnteiu^ting 1 putt. ■lame was standing there in the mom, and wi-hin^- that Phil v ould ior a hi tie whik foi-ake hi- mysterious and alle<j;oiic<vl \n^.in-to paint tor hei a sei le- of nan--cutits at the outer woild that she. could hanir up m Ik i own loom (that, he could i\o -o, at least in a mea-ire, -he neu-i doubted: tot what fimuc-pamter's wife e\er bche\t(l hei husband incapable ot painting landscipe ?) when Waltei Lmd-as made hi- appearance. " Pray foi^ive me tor disfinbint; >ou," -he s-fiid. " But 1 have a mes-a^e fiom Sabie ' She thought that would make all thin^ r i smooth. "Oh, but 1 am delighted to weir omen \i=itor — my iirsfc .-ince 1 came here. Won't \ou sit down X hope the message is nothing seiious." " Oh, no, not, at all. She wanted me to send you a note, but 1 thought. 1 mi^ht come alony; and tell >ou — the distance is so j-hot't Sobie'^ me^^fipc was this - she ■would like to see you for a iew minutes an) time you could make it convenient. The fact i- ] bhe knows low kind \oa ha\c Ik en to hei all thiouj^k this ton lblc trouble, and wants to thank you — .he want- to assure jou >\\u is not un^iateful— and -,o will come and see her v " " h is quite unnec e-sjiry," he -aid. " If 1 can be ot any -en ice to hei, f will <^o at once, and at ti moment's notice, but not. for a tulle of this 1 kind. She has other things to think 01. Tell hei the message she has sent through you is enough- -and more than enough." " But, Mr Lindsay, you don't, understand !" Janie cried. " Sabie is going away!" Theie was a sudden lump in Janie's throat. Almost she was on the point of bkuting out .some incoherent appeal — " Mr Lindsay, arc you in love with her still '' — will you keep Sabie from going away fiom all of us V" But she collected herself. She had resolved to abstain from any such dangerous inberfeience. She had merely to give him Sabina'b message. <l <!oin<, r away" ho lopeated \aguel\. " Yes, 1 supposed that would come ; and it will be better ior her. Where is she. going V" "Away down to Buckinghamshire to live with old Mr Foster -and we shall never hco her again !" .lanio said, " Fancy her, alone there, with that old ma^n for hei only company. Now, it she would only come to Kensington Square, when 1 her friends could see her, and take her about u little, and keep her from thinking. Oi if she should come to live with us, that would be best, of all ; for I could look after her from morning till night ; and Phil would be delighted —I shouldn't wonder it she sat to him, for she ib so awfully good-natured, and that would be better for his work than having those scraggy creatures about. You might come to fee us then, Mr Lindsay," Janie added, looking up rather wistfully, for she had been thinking of what evenings they might have together, she, and Phil, and Sabina, and Lindsay, when all this time ot sorrow had gone by. "Oh, she is going down into Buckinghamshire?" he said, thoughtfully. "Well, I think that is very wise. She will be bettor alone for a while. It' is too soon to think of her going amongst friends. When does she go ?" "AJtaost immediately," said Janie, who wa& disappointed that he took Sabina's cle-

parUivo in this matter-of-fact way. "As &oon us aho can leave 1,1 ie house in pioper charge— J think she is waiting to hear from someone. But she is very leserved about all her nriangemeuts, and of course one docs not wish to ay on y lier with questions at such a time. She my* she is tired. Ludeod, she is quite worn out, mentally and physically ; and so listless : she <loes not bccm to caie what happens to her." ''That will all come right," he .said. " She lia.s a strong physique. Nature will woik its own em c." " This is the fust time she has shown any interest in anything outside that churchyatd," .Janie said, " 1 moan in her anxiety that you should lciunvshe wasgratetnl to you ior all you had done tor her." Janie looked at him with almost appealing 1 eve. 0 . But he meiely said-- " I'lcase tell hci not to bother about {.hat. I understand perleclly. Her message through you is enough more than enough. 1 ' '■ Mi Lindsay, Sabina asks to conic and see hei , }ou an; not going to ret use 14 Oh, if }on put it that way, certainly not. I will come and see her, it wishi s. 1 onl> meant that it was not win I h while hot hemig about such a 111 1 ail* ' "She doe- not eonsidei it .i Inlle Of course," added .lanie, with a hi lie hesitation, " f had liopi d it you came along, that \ou would help me to peiMi.ide h due not, to go away into Buekmghamshii ■. It scein-> .i pit\ she should hci-ell horn hei liiend», )usl when she stands m most need ot them. And she has sulleied .i gieat deal during these past, yen - -1 llnnk ' !»■ y v ould Ik* willing to tiy to make it up to hei a little. It seemed to me thai we might tiy to get her to look moie like th> Snbie we Used to know." " Time ma} do that - but not am ot us, ' he said. "Couldn't one help' mk! tin laithlul .lanie "Hut, ot collide, it it is ymi opinion that she should go aw, in. theie is uoinoieto be said. i thouuht \mi would li.ni hi en the In -4 to ask hoi to-t.iv. "I think hei ow n instinct is i ight , lv said " -\nd it l-n't as it she weie going aw as to -ome (ii-tant counlis, im\ii to ictutn hotsu (ki\ \ou willlmd Sabina in London again, when -he will l>e bet lei .tble lot.ue ' the -} mpat hy ot h lends '• And w ill 3 on be 1 hei c, then ' ' •' Oh, most hkel\. Wh\ not • Witn a 111 tie si(_^ti ,J,inie i hm 1 to go ' When -hall I conn; aluny to si c hei '" Ik a-ked. " Whatmoi time is most lomenienl. This i vnmg " \es.' " \ ci} well. I mil then, uood h}e." 44 Oh. but \ou must not go like that,' s'tul he "If tins l.sii I a Scotch hou-e, this is a Scotchman s lodgings. Let me see 1 can t ollei sou tea oi wine at (hishoui ol lheda\ -and 1 ha\eni an} c outuctioiis He was looking louud the loom. " Oh, }es, this will clo," he nikl, and he fetched one ot iht bit, poittohos and ihuw it open on t he table " Take a -ketch with urn, ( hopse one toi voui-elf ■' Mi Lindsay, 1 <\innot, refill} !'" Janie piotesled " The\ aie too . alnable. " \on mibt not leave t'nc ])l.ue ompt}h.inded. .J.iMie hesitated. She could &cc that these dialings were much moie impoitaiit ,im\ ! Implied studies than those Umg about the loom j "Will, to tell }im tin truth, >aid she "1 was wi-lim'4 Ijefoio > o\i i ,uiic in that l'hil i onlfl make me siiiii' landsfapcsketetii^s foi m\ own lit tie loom at home -thatwonld meet one's eyes i \ci\ nioinmg- andalwajs witii a tit -h delight and it I weie totell \on w hich ot all tLoM) beaut imi tinni;- it was that elm tiy proxoked m> en\} »Slu went lo the piano, and selected one of the diaw ings theie. It was u Mmpie little study of e\ ening light awan^laie n\ tho we-('iv hea\ei^: tint lepcatcd m a wet load : between, a stup ol du^k} hill, with a black w ooil at its base 44 Tint one." he -aid. ••Then is not nun, h in that. But it, w ill do to beuin the little collection toi }oui boudon Ti'H Masiei lMnl io le\x Lontiibutions.illaiound ; and tin n we v, ill ha\e <i consult, i J . ion -omc da\ about haxing llum tiamed m a S( I It's lie got a eoupk ot pit te- ot bond and made up a small pai eel toi hei ; and then he aeeoin pa nit d her to the dooi . w lieie with lenew iml thanks to him, she 1( tt l>nt .lanie would ha\ c been pleased it, wi-teid ot this beautiful little gem ot a A\atei -i olour, she had taken with hei some assinanee oi hope tint that evening he was coming along to S.ibina to let him provide toi hei, at least, a safe and happy home. It waslati) than lv had mrended when hei cached Witstead, tor he had walked, and theie weie soinetw llight elk cts that, had caused him to hngci by the way. lie had com inceel hinw li t h.it it \\a- without )>"i tin bation that he was abo\»t to bul tarewill to Sabma. As she would piobaMv be in a nei ous, and depic-sed. and emot lonal siale, it Uib iiLcessjn} foi him to have plent\ ot lnmncf-son his sl(|e.s 1( |e. He should make the I p.utinu"cas} toi hei ; ai> 1 would lakeciM to cut shoi t tin- toi mal business ot thaulo gi\ inti. \\ hen he enteied thi' loom Sabma nw- to j receive him, and canto tomaul .i --t, |> oi I two, Theie weie sudden te.u- in hei e^es; she g'i\e him a tiemhhng hand; slie could not, speak. But, happily -Janie was thtMe ; and piesent'ly, when he had taken a seat, he and Jaine lound them--el\es talking about all kinds ol nulilleient things, and amouu-t othei.s of the little pieluio, for cair\ing oil which Janie \\atv "iow making abundant/ apologies. "But that is one ol the piivdeges ot a ])aintei," he said. •' li only his tiiend> think the thing ■worth hanging up, it serves to recall him to then riemoiy now and again, when he may be half a win Id away. Lfc is pin chafing lcmcmbranee at a cheap I rate." " I don't know about the cheapness of the rate." said .lanie. " I know 1 hil will be horribly angry with me for h.iung robbed yon of such a beautiful sketch." " Hut sometimes one doesn't need any ' such help to the lnomoiy,'" Sabiua said, in rather a low voice. .lanie now said she would go and a-k Mis Keid to let them have some ten. She did &o ; but she did not come back. She went into the dining-room, and lit a candle and sat down there -with her heart beating a little. Just as she Iclt a look of fright passed into Sabina's eyes ; but that was for the briefest second ; she scorned to netve herself for this interview. Why? he asked himself. He had no wish foi any formal expression of thanks. 41 Mr Lindsay," she sud, with her eyes cast down, " Janie- says she toM you why T wanted you to come here this evening " ''And 1 told her how unnecessary ifc was," he said, interrupting her. " 1 sec you arc embarrassed at this moment. Why should that be so? These thingn are better understood than expressed. What mortal creature could be so inhuman as not, to do what little he could at such a time ? It is not worth speaking about." " Ah, do nob say so !" she exclaimed, and for a moment she looked up and regarded him with her soft and gentle griet-woin eyes. "I will never forget it — never — never — through all the years 1 may live— and my gratitudo to you will be always the same, and will remain ever with me, even if 1 am not allowed to call you friend. " '

He was ania/.ed and bewildered. " Why, what do you mean ?" he cried. I " Tlicrc was something else J meant to have told you," she said, with a tired look on her face. "I have been trying all tho afi-einooi) to bring mysclt to it beloio £oin# away. \>\\i i cannot do Lt. Jain not very stinni" 1 just, now — and- — and " Her hands 101 l listlessly in her lap. " I am sure I would not ask you to toll me anything that wotdd cause you pain," he wild. "It i had known th'-ie wai» any possibility ot .such a thinj.<; I would not ha\e coiiu 1 hoie Lln-> o\onin^." " But you will have to he told," .she sud, with a fuithorelloil. "Iwillwutc. J will wnto lo .);inie. She will e:\pknii to you. And 1 think .lame will toiejvo mo. lhi\> _>on won't. \on aic a man ; you will take a, man s view. And tin.-- is all 1 ask ol you - when you Imd how weak, anil foolish, and WJcketl I have boon --when you "-ay that I j am no lonijoi lit to In. called youi Menu — " " I ne\ei will, so help me (Jod !' ho said ; bul she went < n unheeding : " ,\ll I a-k is this, that though we should ne\er meet again in this woild, or, it we should met I well, perhaps^ on would pass mo by a- a -Itauuc) -hut what I ask i^, that if o\ei you should think ol me, you will believe lh.it I ha\e not ceased, that J ne\cr will cease, io lemembei ,\ouv uoodnes,to me .it the daike.sl time ot my hie. llci lips quhen d ioi a moment. As lor ] him, he was stticken dumb Somi' wdd fancy Hashed through his luain thai he woidd ask hei it '-lie did not know Uui'u his \ ( iy ( \is(eiH'c was hei s, to be done \\ llh as -he chose; that laitli m the beauty and nobiht\ of he) w omaiihood w a- as necessn y (o him a 1 - sunlight and the sk>es ol liluui ; thai, no nuttu what mii idw s oi suitt < louble- nnu,hl be -ui loiinding hei, lie was nady to take Ihm b\ ihe hand, and le.ul her home, as -is(i i , oi h icnd, or w ile. lint how was he to speak woid- ol lo\ c, with the ti t -h mane ht.t li, lmiwc -till ph siil to himind' \\a-that the ( omloi the could otici to the b> i> II inolhei ' hhe wa- -afi m the -anetity ot he! Ihou^h !u^ In ail- bled lor her " \i'\' mh wlt h an aiisentiiu, ''I ha\( b.en tookiii^ a( !l <\eiv U.I) : and 1 am pi i pat ed io> that . .unl dc^-i ivu lt. \ou will s,i\ thai i (Ictitud \ou, and thai I .m ci ptc d all \oui kiudii' -- undu \,\\^ pie U ncf. .lanit w ill uiidi t -taud a little— the teuoi I was in when m\ daihiiy va-- taken ill-— how th.'iikiul I \\,i to .intone who would help nu I haduoiuu' loihiuk — I ( ned onl\ loi the .--.lxlll^ ot \\\\ little bn> -> life - " lleie -^h( bioke down alLouethei : and (|iiu kl\ lo^c .md went liotn the loom. \\ hen sho letuined, a liltle tune t hen a f tei , he ' Oi eovn -c I e.iuuot liiui'jfine wh.it \ou nie.vii ; and 1 don t pie^ toi tm \ e\|)iana t ion. lam content to wait beiau-e i know that nothing you can sty will alter the 10lalions between ym and me. Ot that I am .1^ (eitam as tliat i am hue at ihi^ moment. How can I h.t\ c ;in> tlun<4 totoio;i\e 01 tooMlionk. eit'iei ' It \» unpo-*l ble— 'ind tin lv w.ii s>iel) a thii)'_ r which I s,i\ afM'U l> im|tos>»iblc -do \ou think that the iitdiftm 11' of a woman l>) a man i-> h." -<ht 1 than the judgment ol anotliei woman I don t think so J think \ou would Imd a man (jiule a-- foi^i\ri^ .is a woman. 01 com thai i«« all m the an. You ha\e no toi jneue^s to seek fiom me — it i-i out ol tlu 1 <|Ui-tion I'>ut when )ou ■>p« ak ol riicnd-lup, th.it is di(leie:i(. I hope, a^ lonu, a^> you and I 'iv ab\e, that at le.i^t will 1 \i--t betwetii u-^ Xothmir nia\ an-e to -how the mc.isuie el it " A^ it \ ou had not pi om d that .ill eady ' ' she -aid '• iiut then H 1-, ami al>\,i\- will be. I pled<_ii \ou ni\ won! and d\\ h.iud ' ! lie -tietehed out his hand to Ihm , *-1k ' took it, aril, -toopino hi 1 lu.kl, touched it w ith hei bp- "( I oil ble-s \ou ioi what \ou ha\e ilone 101 111 xin 111} tune (it a^on\, -he ni.uiaued to sa\ " And dn not toilet w 'tat I ha\e pied (fed vm no mattei what \ou m.i^ wnle to .lame." w a- his an-wei. Ml- field 1 ami 111 'uih (iv- tea lluni:-: and .l.nne lollow ed Thin t.dk wa-. Ihu ll\ about Sabi i.i - jioiuji aua\, the join m \ down to Mi-Miid>"i .in. 1 -o ioith. .lam-■-howeil him <i «,ood pencil wlmh Sabma was sioino to 'i!\e a- a -oinenn to Mi-. 1!< id (w ho had (luls lelu-ed the o|] ( 1 ot ,t pie ent m mon> \ following tin in-tiue tioiis o* In 1 m.i-tei). and Lind-a\. a- he bade b\< i,o tlu-i, two tiiend-, and w a- -etlinu toi tli to ictuin lo hi- i-uhtai) lod'ji'i'4, could hudls help tellictim; that the old Si otcli hoii-i keepi r wa- to be the luck\ and piob-ibh mdilieient-- ow u lot a trinket wlmh hi would ha\e \alued at a thousand pounds and mou , it Sabm 1 had j^nen it to him ot hei ow n tiei .leeoid