CHAPTER XIII. THE LETTER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 272, 13 June 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XIII. THE LETTER.

Tt wtirt Monday morning—the day following thai in which our frionds left the Bernards' comfortable, establishment. Mrs* Langley determined not ' to lob the grass grow under her feet ' in such a cause, had lost no time, and \vas> now closeted with Mr Turner in that gentleman*? office. ' f ijave culled, Mr Turner,' she mid, ' i» \ the interest, of some h-iond* of mine with nterence to n Mr Berwick -Mr Astlej Berwick- - who is staying in town, f belie\ c you leeeived a letter from Mi Puoadlcy respecting him ; may F see it V' k i shall be most happy to show it to you, Mr.s Langley. .Vt the same time lot vnc caution >ou that >ou are playing with edged tools' said Mr Turner. 'Pray explain, Mr Tuinei, 1 <«aid Mr.s Langlcv. ' Why, I thought everyone knew ahout this young scamp •, his stor\ is in everyone's mouth. Have you not heard ifcV' ' I heard s-omothing, and also lead miuiothing in the paper.-, but all i« not true that ■we lead and hear,' said Mr- Langle\. • I urn ahaid in (his instance I here can be no doubt,' rejoined Mr Turner. ' Vet Imps to, indeed vciy Kkek jou are riylit,' Mrs Lau»le> .said, but she did not mean what htj did prci^ly ; ' howc\er, be that as> it may, I should \er\, much like to bee ( hi -j letter." 'You shall. M>rs Langle\,' said Mr Turner, ringing the bell. 'Ask Mr JDakin to step ( his way, plea.-c Mr Tod,' said lie to the clerk. Mr Dakin entered, bowing to Mrs Langley. 'Oh, Dakin, ju^t fUch me that letter of Mr Broadlcy's referring to Mi Berwick, will ) ou please ''.' Dakin left the room and .speedily returned, bringing with him Mr Bioadlej'*s letter- -the let'ci. Mr Turner just glanced through it and handed it to Mrs Langley. 'Ha\eyou any objection to my making a eo})y of this, Mr Turner v «he asked, when fche had read it. 'Certainly not,' he said. lHny from his scat : * take my chair, or shall \ do it for you ?' • Ko, thanks 1 will do it. I fan read my os\n writing be.st.' ifere Mrs J.an^lfy looked suddenly at Mr J)akin and in his f;»ee read unmistakable hatred and malice. Such a s-cow I was there '. -She made a mental note of thib and proceeded to take the copy, Inning done which fche ro.se to leave, thanking Mr Turner for his eourte^y and saying that ' there seemed no doubt that what she had heard w a* true. She now felt that ;-ho was in a position to do Aatle\ g(iod fcer\ice, and she revoked to let no opportunity slip. That evening she had a com citation w ith her husband on the rsuhjeet, and entirely won him ovei to her ot ihinking, i\\n> securing one nune fiiend, and no mean one, for As-tley. Wju>n he had heard all Mrs Langley had to tell him, and had carefully ptru^ed the copy-letter, he said, ' What an infernal .shame ! I can searcel> give Turner eiodifc foi 1 behaving in such a way to tlie young fellow. What could have pos-e-*-ed him ' With mi eh credentials too !' 'Oh, said Mi? L-uiglcy, 'that honid Dakin is at the bottom ot it all. You should haw seen the malignant scowl on hi* taco, which at thj l)c-l of times is not }>iepo.ssu.-«bing; it showed me at once that he is no friend ot Mi Bei wick. 'Hut how in Lhe world can it att'ect Dakin, whether Berwick it or not?" «aid Mr Langlej. ''Tis hard to say,' leplied his wife, ' but Mr Beiwick is a t'.u- better- looking man than Dakin, and Mr Turner has a daughter, you know. * 'Oh! I sec," biitlij -aid Mi Lanjjley, shrugging his shouldei>. ' And,' continued Mrs Langley, 'it might ' no» altogether suit Mr Dakin's purjioses to lune Mr Bevwiek on an intimate footing with the Turneis.' ' What a shame '. However," said Mr 1/anglev, good-naturedly, ' we will do what we can for Berwick; and if we cant imfc him on a proper footing it will be stiange. , I will tee Turner and have a talk with him.' ' That's right, dear ; I uu- ■* tire you uouhl see the injustice of t lie i hing ut a glance. I wish poor Lue> s\tre rid of that horrid Dakin. lam sure she doen not K)\e him, and to be married to that jealous, contemptible fellow will be .1 life ot misery to her. Cannot -nmething l>c done to present, it?" * Wtll. 1 don't know about that. But \e.s! happ\ thought! If I can manage to talk Turner round about Berwick, it is just possible he will see Dakin in a true light, and f am *mc no one would regret it if they split." ' And J am ?mio I should think you the deaie.-t, kindest, best hubby in the world if brought about this happy result,' .said Mrs Langley, affectionately, lor Jove was e^ er green with (his worthy couple who had weathered many storms together. ' How soon will you see about it?' ' Well, J may not have time in the morning, but the \cry first opportunity I have I will see Turner. In the meantime I shall drop a few hints, and you can ask Berwick and Escombe to dinner on — say Thursday, and get some good people to meet them. 1 will take care he is not insulted in our i house. Will this do, dear ?' j 'Indeed, yes, admirably.' And so it was arranged. An invitation was sent to our friends which they gladly accepted. And now let us take a look at them.