CHAPTER XL1X.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 259, 28 April 1888, Page 3

C HAPTER XLIX.

IN DVKKNI.ss. It was nu>ic than a. year after the-e occurrences, and ii «iiM)ii (he morning of the Private View v)t the liojal Academy, Uuil Sabina was m London, and in a 100 m in Janie'- house, dressing to uo out. In tact, :-'ie was already dio.ss.od : but Jamo was. an a— iduous and officious tirewoman, and would hatdh let hei beloved Sabio out of her hands. Again she would put straight the bonnet strin<r- beneath {lie chin, and adjust the bit of a \eil : and then .-lie had lo fasten on, under Ihe throat, a little bouquet of violet^ that had been pie-ented ,by I\!r Philip. ' I'll •show them something." -aid Janie. ' Show whom V' her % i-itor asked. • The people at the Aeadein.v 1 -uppo-e there will be Mi— -, ami Mi.-' , and the Swiss- Ameiican $>irl, what"- her name? But I'm not afraid — not a hit. I>o joii know. »Sabie. I do believe black mi it- you better th:ui anything : and that's ju^t a love of a bonnet ' And T wi-h you could -cc for youisplt how perfectly \om dies? IHs — 1 mean when you walk • no credit io them eithei : it ought to be easy enough to titatiuuie like youi-. Oh, there will lie plent> of nne gowns there, no doubt : they can always attract attention that way: that's what 1 ua.- faying to Phil tins- mornIr.g. "The} may have as line die-sesa-ever thej please : but where is the one that will show a iigtne like our Sabie'-? 1 'I thought we were going to -cc the pietiues?" S-vbina said, innocently. ' Until the afternoon ; then it"« the j)cople. ell get all the -tooping and crowding and won} ing into corner- over and done : and then you'll have nothing to do but &ee and be seen." ' For an arti-t's wife. Janie,' her friend said, ' you don't ?eem to be going to this ' Private View in a proper frame of mind." ' I bee a good man)* pictures in the course of the year,' said Janie, as she stepped back a pace or two .-o that she could scan Sabiim from heud to foot. The result of this examination a\ a.- ob\ iously satisfactory. • Yes. They ma\ have dresses a« stylish a-» ever they can make them, but 1 know who will be (lie mos" distinguished-looking woman iv that crowd. Come along. It's too bad of Phil not top ire up one morning, but he.- very bu.-y. he'll come along as soon as he can in the attei noon. And mind you. Sabie. \ou mustn't let am of the people take you away. You're going with tit : mind.' 1 My dear child, 1 hardh know a human beinir in London now ! 1 don't suppose there will be a soul in the place who will re member me. 'And a good job too,' said .Janie, stubbornly , '"fot 1 >\ant >ou all to myself." They got into the hansom that was awaiting them. Jt was a summer-like morning : even here in London the air was quite sweeG and balmy. The\ had a pleasant dri\e in by Kensington (hardens and Piccadilly; and eventually reached Puulington House a few miiiute< aftei eleven. Aa they entered the ve-tibule. .lanie knew ihat her heait \\a- beating a little moie quickly than u-ual. She had not heard fiom Walter Lind-ay 101 a very long time : and, indeed, had every- leason to believe that he was still abroad : but once or twice the fancy had struck her that perhaps he might in some unexpected way tin n up at this Private View. And the very first thing she did on receh ing a catalogue from one ot the attendants was to turn quickly to the list of exhibitors at the end of the lit f Je volume. It had alwnjs been Lindsays custom to -end ma w ater-colour to the Acadeim exhibition, ehieHy for the sake of obtaining admission on Varnishing Day. which is an excellent day for going round the galleries. But to Janie' s -urprise she found that this year his name wa» absent from the list. She said no word, however. She kept her di--appointment and her anxious surmise- to herself. They had a good -teady two hours" work at the pictures : and then Janie marched her charge into the luncheon room and } secured a couple of seat-. For Jauie was | host now. and gave herself aiis in const-- i quence. Sabina >\a- - a vi-itor fiom the country, who hardly knew the ways of the town ; and so had to be taken about and shown things, and treated when occa sion served, and petted always Janie confessed to ber.-elf that she could not understand men. There -washer husband, who might have been all that morning goin^; about with the prettiest woman in the place, discussing the pictures with her. and talking to her a- much as ever he chose, and who might at this \ cry moment have been seated at this table making meny with them in the modest fashion allowed by the Academy : and instead of that, he must needs keep labouring away at hif- allegoiical and hungry virgins. Ko matter : there was the one faithful soul. She had Sabie all to herself. And she was very happy and very confident. They might produce what striking costumes they chose : she would say. 'Oh, get au ay with your purchased finery ; look at my Beautiful One.' Theic came along a tall good-looking young fellow, whom Sabina seemed to recognise, though .she could not recollect where she had seen him. He shook hands with Janie. and bowed to hor companion. ' i had the pleasure of meeting you one night at Me Lindsays, two or three years ago." he said, seeing that she looked pulled : and then she had a vairue remembrance of this being a young Associate \ %\ho made one of a pretty group of lads and lasse- gatheied round the piano and singing glees. ' He turned to Janie. 'By the way, have you heard anything of Walter of lateV 'No, Il^e not," she vaid, reddening a little a-> she looked up - for she did not mention Lindsays 1 name before Sabina more than she could help. ' I have only his New York address ; and as he hasn't, answered my last letter, I have no idea where he is. J must write again : for there may have been some mistake.' ' I heard the other dav — T forgot who it was who told me—that there was something Avrong with his eyes.' ' What ?' she said, looking up again. ' I hope it is something of no importance,' he -,aid. ' But for a landscape painter to have his eyes go wrong that's pretty bad luck. Jt's a serious 1 thing for anybodybub for a landscape painter ' Janie looked a little bewildered and frightened. 'Now i remember,' she said, rather breathlessly, ' that the last letter 1 had from him was written in such a curious way— not like his ordinary handwriting. And it was very abort too : whereas he used to write long, letters, if he had been

silent for sonic time. Only lie did not say a word about anything being wrong with his eyes ' ' Vorhap- it is a mistake/ he said. ' These lepoitt. do get into circulation and arc cxaggcialed at, they pa*& along-. ' He talked to \\ev a few moments further about various inattets : but her eyes were grave and absent. Whon he left she. did not bring 1 up Walter Lindsays name again. Luncheon o\er, they leturned to the pictures, und t > the crowd, that was now sensibly increasing in numbcis. The atrernoon passed without- incident- - excepting that Sabina oneounlered iier ( Uthei in t,hi- -slow-moving assemblage. He came along bland, smiling- and loftily gracious, as usual uoddmsjr to (hi- side or that, a.- lie retog'nised pome one sufiu'iontjy du-tinguisho'-J to merit so much ot notice. •Sabina he-itated. They had not met since the time he went' down to Wm-tead. She did not aivaneo low aids him, noi did '-he a\oid him : .-he elood just a little bit withdrawn, so that he could tieat her a^ iie chose passinu on without recognition, if so u plunged liim And yet she looked timidh at him. *ll«i.'* -aid he, a- if -he wen- mudc m>_ie oidinai \ acquaintance. " How de do '/ How do do ':' Ho oi'ered her a eoii[>le ot iingei-: but he seaieely bestowed a look on hei : bis Jihur c «,i^ tar ahead o* lii n, picking out the "jivai. ot the kind wl l It whom it please i him to know that lie was on Mich excellent term- And then he went on again, ot course taking- no heeU ot Janie, who ua.not a diMinouished per.-onag-e. Philip l>iexel Dad aunw! in due cou>.-p ; •mil Jani'p took the hr^l oppoitunit\ -he could lind — Sabina happen"d to be engaged in comei-atum with s.ome who knew her —'o -ny to bet husband, and rathei anxiou-i\ - - ' l'lul, do \ou leniembei tlie last letter w e '•;ul troin Waltoi Lindsay •' • What about it v> 'Ho \ou remembei anything peculiar about (he handw titmg "'' ' Ko " ' They -a\ tbeie's so.nelhing wiong w ith his eye^L'ht,' said Janie, in an undeibone. 'Ye-, T icmember hi-- saying" Irs eyes sometimes bothered him a little." 'Oh, he opoke to you about it "'" •Jauie -aid, eagerly. • Yes : I think i( \va> when iie wa-jitst back horn America - theie wa- t-oine talkinii about >ea \oyage>-, and lie of the glaie of the water." " Hut it wa- nothing -»enou- '' -he «aid. ' Oh. no ; not. at all." ' What a frightl got : -aid -lame, halt to her-elf : but at thi- moment Sabina ieturned to them, and -o no turthei mention was made ot Walter Lindsav. Now it was. for thi- Piiwite Yww that .Sabina piolonjjed her \ i-.it: eon^efiuently there w<i- but the one moic evening toi these thiee to together before hoi -return to £$ik kinyhcunshhe. It wa-a \ evy enjoyable evening, novel thele-s : for the ione-talked-of tour in Scotland that Philip and hi- wile had been niomising-them-el\es. >ear after yeai had now been definitely h\ed for the following month; anc 7 tliev had very neai 1> pei^uadeil S.ibina to go w ith them a- theii crue-t ; -o that now fheie Avas nothing for it but to put a bii; map on the dining- -loom table, and dibcu--voutet, and indulge in all kind- ut imaginary sight- and plea-meg -lanie'- miml urn mostly on mountains and remote island&et amid lonely mm-* : hui hu-band wa*> in terested more in themedia'xal aichiteetuie. and iuin-. and leg-end- and tiaditioiib And he declaroil tliai, wherovei el-e they might go, the\ must visit the Biae.- of Yairow ; toi he had mi.he notion of stealing a subject our ot Hamilton ot Hangour'n [)athctic li.dlad . and he wanted to -cc what the neighbourhood \va- like. It i- to be gue--ed that it wa- not the youthful lover. in '!m iobt— of oieen." that w,i- in Tbili})'- rntnd noi \el the cruel -laughter done on Van ow"- bank-. The-c thintrs were hatdh mhi-wa\ : moie like!\ he wa- tlunkmy oi a -inf_rle tentale tiguie. dim and \ i*ionar\ , with a face grown white withgiief, and e_\es hollow and haunted with dc-paii. "Return, return 0 mournful, mournful lumiU*. Return, and dn tliy useless sorrow ; Thy lover liceds nought ot thj biglib . lie lies a ( orpse on tlie Bi'aob ot Yarrow.' Then behind this solitary iiguie a lialisn^ge^>ted landscape— \ ague and grey and shadowy — a darkened river — the fatal bank where she "tint hei loser, lo\er dear '— and beyond these the low - lying hill-, sombre under the heavy sky, find icccding into a my-tetious gloom. ' Sabic," said Janie, the nest moming, at the dooi of the cab. ' make it a definite ' W.-.'" 'T cannot : you arc leally too kind,' was Sabina's answer. • I -hould be dreadfully in the \wi). 'Two'- company: three-? none." If it wa- a lun down tv Hiighton, that might be all right ; but a long tiavellmrr thionjrh Scotland ' And then thuo\pensc : youne 1 married people like you shouldn't dream of biich extravagances.' ' Then you deliberately mean to spoil in}' vidit to Scotland f said Janie. ' What can you mean ?' • You know well enough. It ban been promi,-ed me all along that when we went to Scotland, you should come with me ; and what else did 1 think of '! It's not the old abbeys I care tor ; it's having you with us. And now you delibeuiteiy day no. A=> for the expense — well, if Phil says he can aflbrd it, and easily afford, it, 1 suppose that is enoxish ' And I never expected to hear you. : Sabie, talk n» if you weie too proud to I accept a small kindnes- from u^: it isn't like you to talk like that — as between you and me. 1 ' You goose, 1 never said anything; of the kind," Sabina answered her, good naiuiedly. • Well, 1 will think over it. And it I can bring myself to inflict feucli trouble on you, then 1 will go as your maid, and you will let me travel third-clat-s. " ' Yes. J think that would do very well,' • lanio said., gravely. 'Only, lam afraid, in that case. Phil would very soon lofsake the mistress for the maid. He would be too much in the thhd-class compartment. Now, Sabie, before you qo — a definite " Yes !" ' ' Really, 1 cannot, Janie, dear ; but I will let you know — I must sec how old Mr Foster likes it.' ' Within a fortnight yon will let me know ?' ' Yes certainly, 'And then you will at once come up to town, and stay with u& for a week, and get your travelling things ready V ' 1 am afraid if 1 do go. I shall have to do with what I have.' ' Ah, but you'll come and see, Sabie !' her friend said, beseechingly. ' And we'll go to the Scotch place in .Regent-street. Oh, shouldn't I like to see you in a long grey 'ulster, find a Tain o' Shantcr— at Euston Square Station — walking* up and down t/he platform. You would look so comfortable in it ; and it would suityour tall figure, too. Sabie. I'm going to give you that for your birthday present.' ' \Yliat nonsense ! But good-bye, Janie, good -bye — tell the man to look .sharp, or I shall miss my train.' Ji'or several clays thereafter,- Janie oxpocted every morning to hear from Misfsenden : but no message came, aud she thought J>l)c jnubt write again and urge Sabie to give her conbeuL. llowcvei', something" now occurred that changed the whole situation of affairs.

One morning sho and liov husband were seated at break fa -t when a lotto i* was brous'ht to her. It was a bulky lotter, and addressed in a schoolboy's hand ; ,«ho had nearly tin own it into tho fireplace, in the ii ritatinn naturally begotten by (.he receipt of a ciioulur Nevertheless, she mechanically opened tho envelope, and glanced at tho contents.. Presently bhe tnrno I to the sienabuio : it was v Walter Lindsay she saw there, but not in his handwriting. ' Oh, Phil, svhab's this?' sho cried. She beg-an again at the (ii sb page, and road rapidly and broal hlossly. llor busbund was looking- at her with some ama/cmom. Presently ho saw her lip-, begin to quiver: Mien her eye*, lillecl with tears; then >he rose. 1 Read it, I'hil. 1- I unn'l,' she said, and turned and quiokly le r t the room. Vet- this \\ 'is no piteous eotnnuuik'ation lh.it lie Wiit! asked to glance through ; on t lie contrary, it \uis written with an abundance of good humour. Lindsay apologised, to begin \\ it.li, for not having an^sverod h"i liit-trtT long- b< tore ; the i;u I being that it had been lorwarded iron! Ken Voile to l>laee to place, until it had linally i cached him in the ' Kingdom oi (Julio «ay ' Then he went on : ''tlic) bay the wounded hare crawls home to die. Well, it is not quite as bad ah that with me . bub when I teU you thai my eyesight lias gone iiom bad to woi >c, so thiit. now nil i can tell is the dilfeience betwixt night and clay, you will uudcisUmd that it was but natural 1 should come back (o the old huniliai pl.iee wlu'ie 1 can imagine my mh iounding». it 1 cannot, tee them. And teall^ I am \ cry comfoi table, and lead a pleasant enough life. The lad who wiibos thu-'o lines to jou is a fchurp-o\ ed tellow, with an admirable acquaintance with e\ciy bird and beast you may meet on a morning walk: and an eager spoi ts-inuu, too, horn firing at uibbits, which he neser hits, to guddlinu trout in tho l)iim.s: and lamas much interested in his pettormance as- if they wore m> own. 1 base myself tried a little Hy-Ks-hing, with moie oi lcs& success. ; bute\pecblo be moicat homeiu trolling w ith the phantom-min nov, it 1 can come across & ome good-natuied fellow who ha.s <i .salmon-lock. Then 1 ha\e book.s and newspapers read to me ; and there is no lack of. j tobacco: and then we lia\e long walks j round the coast, or up on the hill-sides, and in) companion (ells- me how n:any bird-> , theiaweio m the cos cy thai got up atom feet, oi what kind ot ships they aic that are parsing:, .uid hosv far he thinks the li<>ii/,on i-> oil. So \on see 1 ha\u a good excuse for a life of ingloiiotis ease, and I base but little ii<;ht to complain: thing*. might hase been a <jood deal harder to beai And as icgard- the operation they speak ot at .some future time, I am trying to prepare my.-elf for the worst This daikne?>- came upon me by -low degrees, so that I got usetl to it in a niea-uie : and I can look forward to a life-lone: continuance ot it without much disma> Thcie sveic one or two things, in the way of my wo\K, I had thoui^ht to lnise attt>ni)jted -that is the only reilection that does tioubli me a little at limes; but I don't know that I should base clone any bettei than 1 had done before ; and what 1 haxc done must now sprak toi ilselt For one tJnnp-, tho cutic- ma\ now look on me a^ a dead man : and they always %a\ nice thing- about you after you arc dead. • ThU is a scry egoti-tical lettei : but 1 thought _>ou Asould hki 1 to know evactlj boss the case stands ssith me; ami it any one should ask about me, you will be able to -ay that 1 am not at all gis'en oser to black moods ofdospau. And if you only knesv hosv I long toi new.- of any irieml.3 in whom jon <m\i\ 1 are mutually interested, I am -ure rhat of your kindness >ou would ->end me a line. 1 would have written to _> on betoie. to beu that new - ol you : but have been tiying hard to vet (]uitc thoiouohl> accustoiiicd to mv [>Osition and cir cunistancc.s, -so a- tv wutein a fan ly con tented way. And I think Jam content. 1 know I shall be moi c than content when you send me sonic bit of new-. The smallest things told to me aie hill of inteie.-t — that i.heie are yellow mai-h lnaiitoldt. in the ditch b> the io:id-side- that a hawk is hosorin» hitrh in the air — that a blue kin«lishei has just dai ted up the stream— or that a small ss'hite rabbit is lymy a>leep in the -un, just out-ide tho parental bunow — all these little things aie of the keenest interest, .ioi they are &o many mcs.sages from the great? world of life and liirhb and colour that is all aiound me, and that 1 ma3'nc\"(-i sec again. So you may imagine what news from friends niiiht be. Did I «-uy that J would ha\e written before, but that I waited until I was quite used to my mi it nuidings > Tell Philip that if they should a.s.k about me at the Arts Club, he ma.\ say that I am not repining- oser much." Thc-e wei c the poitincnt passage* : and JanieV hu.sba.nd had ju.si finished them when the returned to the loom, her c\es' red with crying. 'He is putting- a Aery biusc face on it, said he. ' But anyone can feel there is more than is set down here.' ' Oh. it is terrible — it is tcruble,' bhe s?iid, ss'ith a bit of a returning sob. ' I'hil, what ai c you going to do '!' ' Well, ss r e s.hall be in Scotland anyway ; don t you think we ought to go and see him V' 'All. 1 thought you would -a^ that 1 ' Janio evclaimcd, and thoie was a .soft gleam of pride and gratitude in her teai -tilled eyes. ' And then as for Sabie V' She hesitated for but a moment ; and it was herself who boldly made the answer ' Well, if Sabie refuses to go to Scotland how -sho is not the woman I took hei for.'