CHAPTER XXXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXVI.

i hSCXniISL I'TAJiS'GES. So you want me to make love for you, do you, Beifcie V' paid Mrs Bernard, as with Escombo she strolled lei&urely along- tho winding path. 'Nay, dear Mrs Bernard, I do not wi&h you'to do that, but if you would tell her how I am placed with repaid to Flora, at least — oh ' Mt& Bernaid, do help me. I don't kno« how to speak to her about it, it is such a horrid bunnies .' ' Poor fellow !' exclaimed Mrs Bernard, smiling. 'It is rather awkward ; I admit. But really, Bei tie, I think if I were you I should toll her my&elf— she won't eat you !' ' No. she won't eat me I know, but oh, bother ! 1 never lelt so awkward in my lite. Mis Bernard, you re illy must help.' ' Tliere ! Bertie ! Did you not &cc !' ' No — what ?' ' Did you not see Eva go into the house with a basket of (lowers? Now, take my advice — you know I generally advise well. Follow her into the dtawing-room, where she io almost bnre to go, and asbibt her to an ango her flowers, and if you want any help after that — well, 1 will give it you, though you wo »'d deserve it. Go !' Fully an hour after this conversation in the garden, Mr* Bernard entered the draw-ing-room. Tliere were the flowers, some still in the basket, some .scattered on the table. She adxanced, her eyes glittering with mischief, and there in the alcove beheld Eva supported by Escombe'n aim, her fair head re«tiner£>n his breast, while he stioked her glossy hair. Mrs Bernard might have retired unseen, but the spirit of mischief was too strong within her. She said — 'Do you want any help V Then, as they turned, blushing, towards her, ' Oh, I beg your pardon, Eva. Bertie &aid he wanted help just now.' ' J have found it, thank you, dear fiiend,' said Escombe ; ' peimit me to introduce the futuie Mrs E&combe,' and he drew Eva towards their friend, who took the poor, happy, blushing, lovely creature in her arms and kissed her again and again. ' You darling child !' she said presently, ' 1 am so glad. You may leave us, Beifcie ; we can do wiohout him for a little while, can't we, dear ?' Eva raised her pretty head and smiled at E^combe so sweetly as to thi ill the happy tellow through and through with delight. It is a remarkable fact that Eva used exactly the same words to Mrs Bernard as her sister had in the morning spoken to Astley. 1 Oh ! Mrs Bernard, I am so happy, bo happy. 1 When Astley was returning from town he was met by E&combe, who grasped his hand, crying : ■ 'Congratulaie me, old boy. lam the happiest fellow in the world.' ' Doubtful !' .drily observed his friend with a smile, 'but&inceyou believe thatyou are so, accept my congratulations by all means. Seriously though, my dear fellow, what news have you ? ; 'Cannot you guess, A&tley? Do you not know what 'I had set my heart on — the dearec-t wi-h of my life ?' J ' Oh ! now I begin to un do stand - you are likely to become a family connection, is that it?' asked Astley, who knew very well what his friend meant. ' You have hit it, my boy, and I Give you credit for a vast amount of discernment. ' You do ? Now, really ! Dear old fellow, I am very glad. We shall then truly be brothers, as wo have always been at heart.' ' I was frightfully timid, Astley, at the outset, and actually consulted Mrs Bernaid as to the best way of approaching the s>ub ject. 1 asked her to tell Eva about Flora — my sister, you know — as I had scruples about touching on so delicate a subject ; however. I seized a favourable opportunity i and plunged headlong, got through it ail right somehow and - here I am, engaged to the best creature in the world ' ' Oh, '.you are, are you ? Well, I suppose it ib all right f r you to think so, but 1 have my own ideas about " t^e best creature in the world," and, though I have a very high opinion of and a great regard, for Eva, still" I cannot admit thnt she is superior to Florence. Suppose you say, Bertie, '-one of the best creatures in the world. M ' ' Oh, yes, if you like, old boy. Wo shan't quarrel about it, shall wo V • >, 1 trust not, I am sure,' said Astley, leaning from his horbe and placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, ' but, tell me, Bertie, how did you get over the difficult part of tho business— the allusion to Ashtord and— *and — ' ' 'And my sister! Oh, I got over it all right ; blifc for the life of mo I can't re-

collect one half of what I said. Anyhow, the dear little woman was very good about it, and said she should not blame me for the faults— if fau'-ts there were— of my sister. Wo did not talk much on that subject, you may be sure. I have no doubt Mrs Ber nard will say all I have left unsaid. You see it was rather awkward for me. ' ' You are right, old follow— a job I should not have liked at all. What a blessing it is all over— this terrible scandal — and how strange the way it lias been 'cleared up ! Had I been anywhero but in street when that unfortunate girl mot with her accident, or had anyone else picked her up, the chances are the affair would never haA'e been put right, for these people — Jenkyn and his wife— were living under an alias, and might never have been found. Certainly the follow might have confessed, but then again, even it he had we might not have heaid of it — it would have depended much upon' Avho were round him at the time, for I think the wife would scarcely have had courage to come forward. Wa° ifc accident or Providence that brought me in contact with poor Carrie? [am much inclined to think the latter, for see the happy lesults. By that carriage turning over and my picking her up &he t is saved, body and t>oul Yos, she has quite given up her old disreputable manner of living and is now a now creature, full of generous impulses. By-the-by, I hope to see her soon a respectablo married woman. ' ' Indeed ?' said Escombe, interest? ' Yes,' continued A.s.tley, ' 1 find she has a lover, a steady, haiclwoiking iaithful fellow, who came from England in the same boat with her and to whom she was to have beon majried ; but that bo «*? fellow, Dakin, tempted her with hip iniornal otters and ruined her. She told me her faithful lover had tried again and again to lead her from the life she has been living, desiiing to make her his wife, but she has always rejected his offers.' ' Dear me. what an interesting case,' said Ebcombc. ' What kind of life had she led in England T 'She ha& been a music-hall singer — oiiginally a milliner, wronged and deserted. She .saved sufficient money during her musicball caieer — though but poorly paid — to go into business with out heie, and came out in an immigiant vewcl. Ib is an interesting case, and 1 will tell you more about her another time. Meanwhile, I mean to do my utmost) to promote her welfare.' ' And, A&tley, if I can help, you know I will,' said Escombe heartily. ' I am sure of that, old boy — but here we are," said Astlcy as they entered the gates. ( To be Continued. )