CHAPTER VIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 349, 9 March 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER VIII.

THE TRVhTING- TLACE. Before long the meal came to an end, and then Dulcie went and sab by herself in her favourite corner of the drawing-ioom, and lead a book. She remained thus until ib was time to go to bed, then she shook her soft-curled head once or twice, ro.<e with a sigh, and dutifully bestowed upon her mother one of those cold, impassive kisses, when lip meets biow without warmth or enthusiasm, but which are regarded as a mark of affection in closely allied families. In Dulcie's case, this formal observance, owing to long habit, had become a purely conventional task. Mrs Shepperton submitted to the demonstration in silence, immediately passing her pocket-handkerchief over her forehead — an action nob lost upon the gill, who was keenly sensitive, and observant of trifles. It roused her wrath anew, so that directly she found herself alone with Marian, whose room she shared, she gave vent to her pent-up feelings, and exclaimed indignantly : ' What a shame it is mamma and Ethel saying such horrid things of Bob behind his back ! Ib makes me so angry 1 haidly know what to do with myself,' and she began pacing up and down the room with rapid strides. 'I shouldn't take the least notice of what they say, if I were you, Duloie,' responded Maiian soothingly. 'It's only mamma's way ; she and Ethel always back each other up.' 'Ib may be mamma's way,' retorted Dulcie, irritably, ' but for all that it's a most unpleasant wny. What good can it possibly do telling stories and running down your -neighbours ? I'm sure poor Bob has never done mamma or Ethel any harm. If he were lich, and they thought anything could be gob out of him, they would be as civil as possible. It would he ' dear Mr Mornington this ' and 'dear Mr Morning-ton that." •Hush, Uulcie ! You really should not talk in this manner,' protested Marian, though in her heart of hearts she thoroughly agreed with every single word her sister had spoken. ' 1 am quite sure mamma means well, and has our interest ab hearb.' ' Whab's bhe use of bhat when she makes us so miserable by her conversation ? No, no, Marian, it's useless trying bo deceive ourselves, and you know just every bit as well as I do that mamma cares no more about you and mo, thinks no more of our future happiness or ultimate welfare, than if we did not belong to her. Ethel and Charlotto are her favourites ; as for ourselves, we might marry a beast, like Beauty in the fairy talo, if only he were possessed of similar means.' ' Well,' returned Marian, playfully, trying to divert into another channel the under-current of truth contained in Dulcie'd speech, ' the beast did not turn out so badly after all. Ib is cossible we might do worse even that that.' 'Yes, but think of the risk. Supposing if, instead of turning out a princo in disguise, he had proved nothing but a very savage, grumpy beast, who showed his teeth all day long ? Beo,uby then would have seen cause, in all < probability, to repent her of her bargain. What I detest,' continued the girl, stopping short in her. perambulations, ' is this calculating spirit ; w hich sums people up according to fcheir worldly possessions, as if,' with a gesture of youthful disdain, ' they counted for anything. After^ all we, nob our mothers, have got to live with the 'gentlemen, and theretoTebught surely to be allowed someaharo in the selection ,• at least' so ib appears to me. It's like going' mto 0 a shop and trying on a bonnet. The Woman brings you an ugly, ill-fibbing thing, insisb's nolens volens on forcing ib on your head, and says, 'Madam, ib suits you most beautifully, and nobbing could possibly be more becoming.' One naturally replies, 'Permit me to be the best judge of that. I intend buying g. bonnet not for you to wear, but for me.' 'The difference, is, -vast — just -as vast, in fact, 'as our dissimilarity of taste.'

' Dulcie, Dulcie !' cried Marian, laughing, ' where do you get all these funny ideus from, I wonder ?' * I don'b know. They come into ones' head of their own accord.' There was a slight pause, then Dulcie walked up to her sister, laid her two hands on her shoulders, and, looking her straight in the face, soid earnestly, ' Marian, dear, I hope you and I may never grow worldly, or get to care for people only because they have got long purses. Let us try and keep ourselves uncontaminated if we can and resist such influence to the utmo3t.' Marian's eyes filled with tears. 'Wo will do our best,' she said, gently, pillowing her head on Dulcie's shoulder. 'Oh! Marian,' cried the other, passionately, ' I don't know what is the matter with me to-night, but you like Bob, don't you V You don't call him a fool, like the others ?' ' No, dearest. Bob is a fine, manly young fellow, and I have a very high opinion of him. It's not his fault being poor, and as for the examinations, why, I believe lots of clever people can't pass them, who do very well later on in life' Whereupon the two si&ters once more embraced, feeling a bond of sympathy existed between them, and, laying their dark curly heads down on the soft pillows, quickly forgot their troubles, real and imaginary, in the sound sleep of healthy youth. The next morning proved a particularly trying one to Dulcie. Nothing went right. Her music lesson was one long torment, and the girl raced over the quavers and semi-quavers, curtailed die minims and scamped the crochets, after a fashion that drove Mademoiselle Virginie simply distracted. Ao last, however, the morning lessons came to an end, and then Dulcie shut up the piano with a joyful bang. A night's rest had failed to alter her decision, and, thanks very much to the opposition testified again&b Bob, she was more determined than ever to accompany him on his proposed expedition. Her first visit was to the stables, where, if truth must be told, spent a considerable portion of her time. About two years ago she had caught a bad cold that had affected her general health, and the doctor in attendance strongly recommended horse exercise as a means of strengthening her constitution. It was, thanks to this acceptable and congenial prescription, that Mrs Shepperton, chiefly through the instrumentality of Bob Mornington, had purchased, for the girl's use, a cast-off thorough bred that had proved too small for racing purposes. Dulcie, who loved horses and everything connected with -them, was perfectly delighted at the acquisition. Butterfly proved a source of unfailing pleasure to her mistress, and though by no means a perfect animal, either as regarded temper or conformation, a singular aflection existed between the pair. Her studies over, Dulcie, armed with an earthy carrot, freshly pulled from its bed in the kitchen - garden, rushed to pay Butterfly a visit. The mare was a low, lengthy animal, dark chestnut in colour, with nob a speck of white anywhere, except one small" star in the centre of the forehead. She stood over a good deal with her fore legs, and her feet were long and narrow, like those of a donkey. She had a niceish shoulder and forehead, but was slack in the baijrel, wanting an extra rib," and running up from t>he girths like a greyhound ; "nevertheless, she displayed undeniable quality, as 'her lean well-set on head, small pointed eais, full eye, and fine muzzle, capable of drinking out of a tumbler, amply testified. But the expression of her countenance, the frequent irritable striking out of one hind leg, added to a trick &he had of seizing the manger between her teeth, showed that she possessed a nervous and fidgety disposition that required quiet handling. Direplly Dulcie opened the .stable-door, Butterfly welcomed her appearance by giving an impatient neigh, and began pawing up the litter with her fore feet. Then she made a sudden dash at the carrot, and tried to break off a pieqe in 'her mouth. Meanwhile, her mifctress said to Bi idle, who stood close by, tearful lest the mare might bite, as was sometimes the case, ' I want Butterfly ready by a quarter - past thlee this afternoon ; I'm going oxer to the kennels with Mr Mornington to see the hounds fed ; and Bridle,' confidently, 'don t say anything about it, please.' Bridle invariably humoured Dulcie on every occasion. She was his fa\ourite, and the only one of the lour girls who took an intere&b in his profession, talked to him on terms of equality, and understood or cared anything about horses. He comprehended immediately that the proposed expedition was to be kept a profound seevet, and would nob have thwarted his young ladj' on any account. When the afternoon came, Dulcie rushed to her room and scrambled as fast as she could into her neat brown habib, with its little scarlet waistcoat — for she had a great idea of being sporbinar in her attire, especially when on horseback. Now, it so happened that for the last two or three days Butterfly had done nothing bub lightwalking exercise, and consequently was extremely fresh. Therefore, directly she felt Dulcie's weight, light as it was, beginning to press upon her loins, she arched her back, tossed up her head, and, with a squeal like a pig, bounded high into the air, executing a series of bucks and kicks that would have proved excessively disconcerting to a less practised horsewoman. But Dulcie possessed the courage of youth, and sitting quite tight, with the small of her back well in, and her elbows to her side, she shortened the reins, spoke playfully to the mare, patted her on the neck, and then, conscious she had no time to lose, set off down the drive at a sharp trot. As Dulcie drew nearer the trysting place, her foolish little heart began to flutter in a manner it had never done hitherto. She had endeavoured to be "\ery brave, and had repudiated her mother's assertions with scorn, but she could not forget that Bob Mornington had been publicly called her lover. Such things, however lightly one may try to treat them, cannot fail to make an impression, and already they were beginning to bear fruits. Doubts and hesitations filled her mind. She almost wished she had stopped at home and riot yielded to temptation. Butterfly gave a big buck as they emeiged from between the lodge gates, and burning swiftly round a sharp corner entered the road beyond. Then in a moment all her fears were dispelled, for there, at the end of the lane, under the shade of a leafy green chestnut, sitting his horse like an equestrian statue, and every now and again biting" at a twig he had plucked and idly held in his" hand, was Bob.

(To be. Continued. )

What queer ["names some public-houses bear ! There is one in Worcestershire called "The Abraham's Bosom." "The Pickled Egg" is the name of another inn. But perhaps the best, or worst, of all names is that of an inn, in the neighbourhood of Dublin, "Dew Drop Inn" (do drop in.) l 5 Help Me Through the World " is the sign of a St. Nots (Hunt's) hostelry.