CHAPTER XLII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 290, 15 August 1888, Page 5

CHAPTER XLII.

MlhblNO DIAMONDS'. The Countess of Mortlake av lived at j Strathspey Towers about a week after Ihe earl had left ' The Firs ;' ;md as lie was yet feeble from the effects of his illness, and the summer was pretty well advanced, it was decided that they should all make a journey across to Ravcnswold, an old country house belonging to the countess, and situated aw.iy up amid the Scottish hills in the neighbourhood of Perth. 'I must lookup my property," laughed the old dowager, ' arei s?ee what it's worth : I won't have you two young peoplo squandering it.' Sir Bayaid lironipton, who was also back at the Towers again, bowed pleat-anbly, but Lady Pearl shrank away, with a pained look on her face, which was gi owing \ciy white and thin. ' I haven't visited the old place for ages,' continued the countess, ' and I suppose it is out of lepaiv ; but the breeze up there is line, and Lady Margueiite looks feeble as well as her father. So let's get icad) , and start at once. What do you say, Lady Neville V Lady Neville made no objection whatever. She never did to any pioject suggested by the dowager : and the gentlemen favouierd the visit, as the shooting at Ravenswold was celebrated. The point being settled, Lady Neville went to give some directions in lega/cl to preparations, and the countess and Lady Marguerite icpaired to a little boudoir, where the latter always spent her leisiue hour?. ' I suppose you're all going to the ball at Lislewood to-night?' said the dowager, seating herself comfortably in a gretb velvet chair, and drawing out her gold snuff-box. ' Why, yes, of course,' responded Pearl. ' The young lord of Lislewood comes of age to-day, and the ball is in honour of the occasion. 'Tis dieadfully warm, but as Sir Ralph is one of papa's best friends, I suppose we shall have to go.' 'Oh, well,' said the countess, who, despite her age and wi inkles, was still passionately devoted to all manner of gayety, 1 the dancing will be on the srieeu, and ie will be pleasant enough, no doubt. "What shall you w ear, Marguerite ?' ' My white tulle, Aunt Neville,' she said, ' with natural flowers.' 'Fiddlesticks! you won't do any such thing! The white tulle will do with blue silk, and 1 ye brought jou some rare old lace, and you shall wear jour diamonds. Why not be brilli-int, a girl with your beauty and prospects? What makes you go dull. Marguerite ?' 1 1 don't think I'm quite well,' falleied Pearl, averting her face, while her eyes tilled with tears. 'Ah, it- is the heat, and this vile Northumberland atmospheie,' continued the countess, tapping her snutT-box ; ' I always did detest Northumberland ! But the Scottish breeze will brace you up : you won't know yourself when you've been at Ravenswold a week. And Pearl, when are we going to have the wedding ?' The poor little girl started as if a bullet had struck her. 'Come now," cried the dowager, eyeing her sh:u ply over her goggles, 'what's the matter? You're the richest woman I know, and you'll hu\e a& handsome a man for your husband as there is in England ! Why not marry at once ? 1 nc\ er did fancy delays in anything. I say, Lady Newlle,' she continued, as that stately matron entered, 'I was just suggesting to I'eail heie, that we have the wedding at once. What do you say V Lady Ne\ille glanced at her niece, but Peail kept her face a\erted. 'Maigueiite is \oung,' she said, ' but a^ the maniage "involves no sepaiation, T think it would be quite as well to ha\e it over — I don't like long engagement's. ' ' Nor 1," cut in the countes->. ' Lefc'a sec ' Of couisc Strathspey will want hei man ied here ; he would think the maiiiage illegal if it took place any wheie else : she'll have to pass her bridal night in that ghostly crimson chamber !' Lady Neville nodded smilingly. * Well,' continued the counter, ' we shall want her mairied befoie we letuin to London. 'Twill be better for her to enter upon the next season as a bride, much better. .Say then, we spend July and August at Ravenswold, and come down here and have the wedding about the first of November, and gob back to London for the Christmas festivities. Will that do ?' ' I think so,' Lady Neville replied, ' if we can make our arrangements.' 'Of course we can. Theie won't be so much to do — Marguerite's irov^iaa 1 shall order from Paris — -and Strathspey will have to fit up a little here. We'll have a grand wedding, and give the tenantiy a least. Then Brompton and Maiguerite can go to Rome for the winter, and we can go down to London. Speak to Strathspey, Lady INeville, and let him arrange ib.' Marguerite stood like a statue, hei white face averted, her blue eyes stai in sr into \ucancy, her slender hand^ locked. ' I wonder if it is necessary to have any of the jewels leseb?' remarked the dowager, rattling her jewelled cane, and taking supreme delight in all the details of preparation. ' Marguerite, bring the jewel case here, and leb me look at them — you'll wear the diamonds to-nighb.' ' The case is in the iron safe,' said Lady Neville; 'ib has nob been remo\ed since Lord Strathspey was ill at the ' Firs.' Here is the key. Marguerite, you had better fetch ib yourself ; your father never sends servants to the safe. 1 Marguerite took the key, and left the room with a white, set face, and wide blue eves. ' Lady Neville,' nodded the dowager, the moment she had gone, ' we're going to have trouble with that child ; if we don't get this marriage over soon 'twill never be consummated, bhab's all !' 4 Marguerite is so obedient, and has been so carefully brained,' suggested her ladyship. 'No matter ; we shall have trouble ; I see ib in her eyes ! Mark my "words ; and let's get the affair over as soon as possible. If she does nob marry Brompton, she will nob get my fortune.' The entrance of Lady Marguerite barred further discussion on the subject. She brought the jewel-ease, and placed ib before the countess. She unlocked it, and throw open the lid. ' These diamonds are so rare,' she began, lifting them in her fingers. Then she paused suddenly, and the next instant a cry of horror broke from her lips. Such a cry, it fairly curdled the blood in Lady Neville's veins ! • Heavens !' she ejaculated, ' the diamonds are gone !' Lady Neville started in amazement, so did Marguerite. There lay the handsome settings, but every precious stone had been

j removed. The old woman grew livid in her i iury. ' Who has done this ?' she cried, rattling her cane from Jiide to side ; f answer me that, Lady Neville !" Lady Neville drew herself up haughtily. 1 ITow bhould I know ?' she baid ; 'am I antwerablc for the work of a burglar ?' 1 Marguerite, ring for your father.' Marguerite obeyed in siloncc. but- with a look of positive relief in her eyes. Tho earl came, and stood in wordless uma/c. Then he went to tho bafe md examined it. Nothing else had been touched. All the Strathspey valuables, plate, and jewels, and ornaments of value, that went, according to the entail, from one heir to another, wero safe and untouched ; only Marguerite's diamonds, the diamonds given her by tho Counters of Moitlakc, -were gone. ' They were Avoith a fortune, ' bewailed Ihe dowager: v the queen on her bhionc hadn't better diamonds than mine.' Lord Stiathspcy and bidy Ne\ illo looked at each other in pallid conetei nation. ' [t is hi-, work,' gapped the eail, with white lips. ' I'm mivo of it, and I'll disow n him lor it, by my boul, I will !'