CHAPTER XVII AT MR LANGLLY'S.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 274, 20 June 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XVII AT MR LANGLLY'S.

0\ the Thursday following the e\enls above recorded, Berwick and E^combc went to dine with Mr Langley. Siv o clock was that gentleman 'b dinner houj. and fit five minute^ before that hour our friends vcic fehown into the drawing-room, where they were giaciously received by Mrs Langley. A>tloy was presented to Mr Langley and the various guests who were present, with whom we have nothing to do now. The dinner went ofl capitally, as all Mr Langley's dinners did. Astlcy was well satisfied with his part in the entertainment, as the charming Mis'* Langley hod fallen to his lot. Always sparkling and gay, thi^ evening she surpi issed herself. >She was determined to mak< i , Astley hapy)y if it lay in her power, and A i-stley was not past being comforted. Tlu ;y were a \vcll-matched couple, ,-md Aat ley was sorry when the iadiefa rose from tl ie table. The gentlemen had not sab long over their wine before Mr Langley r<ose from his

scat and took a chair next to Mr Turner. Thoy talked in a low tone for a' few minutes *, then Mr Langley again changed his seat, this time for one near Abtley. Bonming with satisfaction, he told our hero that Mr Turner was desirous of renewing his acquaintance with him, and had commissioned him to inquire if he would accept an apology for the manner in which he had boon received on a former occasion. 'It is very good of you, Mi Uuigloy,' said Anfcley, 'to interest yourself in my behalf : pray accept my host thanks, and do not think me ungracious if 1 do not appear so anxious as I possibly ought- to bo to lenou an acquaintance that began so painhilly. If you a^mc mo that Mr Turner thoioug'hly believes me and aNo -and (his move particularly - m> good old tiiend, Mr liroadky, h\ whom 1 was introduced, then, Mr Langley, 1 shall be happy to lenew the acquaintance, but not till then.' 4 It is so, foi Mr Turner ha* )Us.t as-urnl me that he is, lioiribly a^h.'imcd oi hiuiscli, anil that he can .see plainly that he was | b.imboo/led into acttntr as he did. And he \vn>, believe me, Mr Berwick. Th.it 1 man met of hi-, a mean cur, was (lie emi.-o of all the m>soliiet. * ' Hut J do not e\en know his managt t. j How could he possibly be iuteiested m in- ! |Ui ing me [ ' 1 cannot !>,u anything about that. l»ul ', are \ou -ati-lied about, Si r Tin net ' It mj, i will go and tell him. I know lie is anxious about it ' I will go with \ou. Mi Lant:le\.' So tviyinti, Astlej followed his host to wheie Mi Tmnci .~-a(. Mi Turner instantly km*, and extended hi-> hand, -aymg in a \oiro loud enough ioi all in the room to heai him ' 1 tiu-t, Mi Berwick, you will accept m\ apology foi my despicable conduct to\ou the othei day. i shall not attempt t<> omUh 1 mj^ft, a« I feel that I cannot I uade a b«|r mistake, and .tin tiul\ -on\.' ' S t \y«^»iore, my deal sn, ! -aid A-tley, pies-omyW i Turner's hand: 'I icgiet, c\ eeedmur/ that t hoi o -.hould haw; bicn am nu-undei-tanding ; but. as Mi Langley a— -me- me that you aie tul'\ snti-hed about me now, it doe- not mattei, doe--it >: A.> A.stle) *aid tins -dm- it ' he uu-ed (us e\e- to Mr Turner- with a sweet e\ j piessiou that .seemed iom), ' i do not tcel inut now that \mi hiist me' Tills was how Mr Tinner it. id it. Have you new i . dcai icadei, been moved almost to tt\u- l>\ the expie— ion ot ex ex looking mtu xoui own, feeling as you looked into them thai sou looked into a -out ' A-tley took a chau be-u(e Mi Tin net. They t.dkcd logt-tliei and became \ei\ friendly. | ' N'ou must come to m> liou-e, Mi l'»"i wick,' -aid t ho woithj lit t lo num. 'We shall b»* tuil> glad to -co SOU. \ M luuc j met my daughlei, I luvn. The wicked j little pu-- -tolci maich on me. i • Yes, i had the plea-im> ot meeLint; Mi-s j Tuinti at Mi iSuinaid- the olhei <ki\.'! -aid Astlcy. ! 1 is, we didn't know she wa- going to moot >ou. though ; and had I known it at the tune, I should ha\c pieveuted het going. Uut Lhat is l ill changed now, Mi Ueiuiek. When will )on come ' Come and ha\e a bit ot diunei with us -ome da\ . we aic plain people, but. we will ti\ to make }ou comfoi table. ' 'Thanks, Mi Turner: \ou .ire \ci\ kind 1 shall be mo-t hapjn .I am sine 4 L Lad better consult. Mis Tumei in-t, but tome u[> .-omc evening in the meantime, )oa mil be sine to lind some of u- in, will \ou '' 'C'eitaiulv, i shall be delighted. [ 'Thai's all light then. ISow. don t wait (to be asked again,' said the ho-pitable nieichant, 'and biing Eseombe with son ll<, used often to diop in, but we h,i\c lost sight ot him l.itcl) .' I'm aft aid \on will ha\oto blaim me for that. ' Oh, 1 -cc ' and I like him none the lc-- [ tin it iMiickllow, Ivscombe \\elLha\c yon au\ plans foi the lutuie v ' 'Xn : nothing fixed. I have lu>d some talk with Iw'ombe about )oiiuti;_> him, but I havetiot made up m\ mind. l>\-theb\, I max as well ask \our advice on ihe mattei. It 1-* no seen t, th.i» M-combo hn- been look- ' i ii f_ out *"oi n [iaitru;i. He -a\'s 1 sh.tll salt him 'all to pieces. Hut J have doubt'- , I ,ua fiiliuly mexpei leneed in <dl maUeironupctcd \\ith a station, and 1 know \ei \ In tie of Un mini; ) tell } him tin-, but he s.n-s it does not matter. , that 1 -Inll soon pick up all i lequnc to I know Then, 'i<^,iin. I cannot put s ( > mm ii n«'iii"\ into the ( oncei n a- he at his| (old me he icquncd with a paitner, bid h<> -ays he < m auanire all that; that he docs not want mones Wh.it I am afiaid ot i- that hi- fiu nd-hip loi me is lihudtoldiny turn J h,i\f' toliJ him that I -hould decirli nothing until 1 had taken advice about it hat do \ oil think ' 1 Well, 1 haidk know ; >oti couldn r be with a beltei man than IL-combe, who is thoionglih sound all tlnough. but unlc-s \oui ta-tes be in that duection 1 should ad \ I^-0 sou fo -tick lo meieantile bu-uu 1 --,' s.ud Mi Tin in i. ' f)o you think \on w ould hk" ,i -t.'ition life*' Oi coin-c with Kscombc thcic would be no haufship oi i ou^hing it His place i v made, and his toi {.unc, too, I -hould say ' \ i-, I know ; J think 1 should like it aiJ Huh', s;ud A^tle\'. ' Hut th.it i- not o\.ictJ> th(> point, as 1 look at it What 1 am afiaid of i-, ( hae by joining him J am doing him an injustice, with m\ ku k of evpeiiemo and want of Milheient capital 1 should like lo go in on equal tcims.' ' \ cs,' r-aid Mi Turner with a smile, ' I have no doubt you would, but, you need he a rich man to do tint, or 1 am much mistaken. I'll tell you what, if you like to come tuitud (o my oflice in ihe morning and give me some insight into yonv afl.iiis — you need not be more explicit than yon like- 1 will give you the very best advice in my powci. h, is a chance you should not' ligjiily throw away, and one that vciy tew young fellows meet with in the colony or anywheic ehc, as fai us I know . Will you do it 'W'dh pleasure, Mr Turner, and 1 am vciy much obliged to you,' said Astlcy So thc-e two, who began theiv acqvruntuucc.so stiangly, became good hiends.