CHAPTER XXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 357, 6 April 1889, Page 4

CHAPTER XXIV.

KEELING THE WAY. As the days wonfc by, it would be difficult to describe the state of moral dejection and • perplexity into which Dulcie fell. Two ( antagonistic forces were warring within ! her, struggling each in turn to assume the ascendency. The girl wan in that curious mental condition when, desiring heart and soul to avoid the committal of error, she instinctively telt the impossibility of not eventually succumbing to temptation ; for Bob had only to lilt up his little finger for her to fall down and worship. She could not help this state of things. It was stronger than herself ; stronger than usage, custom, and reason all combined. In the meantime, however, she was not called upon to adopt any definite line of action. Two days after Mr Denvei's dinner party she had received a short note from Bob saying he was going away on a visit, and should be absent a week, if not more. ' You might write me a line, Dulcie, just to say how you are getting on,' concluded the letter. But hitherto— although it cost her many a struggle to do to — with a violent efiort at virtue, she had refrained from acceding to his request. Meanwhile, Mrs Shepperfcon, by all the severity of which she was capable, made her realise, in a hundred petty way&, the disgrace into which she bad fallen. New rules were invented, fresh prohibitions enforced, all calculated to curtail Dulcie's i liberty and check her freedom of action. As may be imagined, Dulcie chafed indignantly at these restrictions, whose object was to place every possible difficulty in the way of her meeting Bob Mornington. But what she resented more than all was not being allowed to take her usual rides on Butterfly. Hitherto, she had constantly ridden out alone, but now, on a sudden, Mrs Shepperton grew extremely particular, and declared * it was not the thing for young > ladies to go careeiing about by themselves ' all over the country without any suitable escort.' Yet no sooner did she hear of Bob's absence from home than her views on the subject underwent a strange modification. 'After all, child,' she said, at the end of a week, during which no Bob had appeared, 'it seems a pity not t ) go for your rides as usual, especially since they do you so much good.' So Dulcie went. Id was in immense relief to get awa}* all by herself, and leave the shrill voices and perpetual lectures behind. She thoroughly enjojed riding through the quiet shady lanes, whose meeting trees were just beginning to turn red and yellow in the sunshine, and whose slender gieen glasses bowed lowly before the gentle breeze. The peace and beauty of nature never failed to soothe the girl's troubled spirit. A real good gallop over Witherly Common would send her home full of fresh hope and renewed capacity of endurance. The air felt so bracing, the sky was &o blue and ! pure, the birds sang so merrily, and the sun tinged every surrounding object with such a golden halo, that, with Butterfly bounding like an india-rubber ball beneath her, it was impossible to feel wholly unhappy. During these equestrian expeditions Dulcie's great fear always consisted in the possibility of coming across. Mr Denver ; for ever since her adventure in the garden she entertained a perfect horror of finding herself alone again in his society. Nevertheless, she had seen him frequently in the presence of others, for either under pretence of playing la»n-tenDis — at which game he cut a miserable figure — or else of indulging in afternoon tea, he and Lord Pushington continually rode, drove, or walked over to Milnacot Lodge ; so that a certain intimacy between the parties was rapidly becoming established. Things were in this state when, one day, the two gentlemen appeared at Milnacat Lodge. ' What do you think, Mrs Shepperton ?' exclaimed his lordship, as joyously as if he were a girl in her teens, and had never been to a party in his life, ' I've bean talking the matter over with Denver this morning, and I have nearly — well, I may almost say that I haye — persuaded him to give a ball, and invite the whole county. A man in his position is more or less bound to entertain his poorer neighbours. Don't you agree with me, young ladies ?' ' Agree with you ? I should think we did,' chimed in Ethel, enthusiastically. During the above conversation, Mrs Denver had approached Mrs Shepperton's side, and said in a low voice : ' Tell me, do you think this proposed ball is likely to fall flat ? Such an old friend as yourself can surely give good advice, and I don't mind confiding to you the exact position of atlairs.' 'You are very kind, 1 murmured Mrs Shepperton, feeling flattered by hi& confidence. 'Of course,' he went on, 'it's no use blinking one's eye to the fact that I have a certain amount of leeway to make up. Lord Pushington, as you perceive, has entered into the affair con amove; but he does not quite understand all the circumstances of the case ; neither do I wish to enter into minute particulars. But you, Mrs Shepperton, who appear on such excellent terms with the county, and know nearly every one in it ' The lady blinked, looked intensely gratified, and smiled most affably. * — You, I say, ean — and I feel sure will tell me without rev^erve whether— if I send invitationa for a ball — people are likely to accept them or not ?' Thus seriously consulted, Mrs Shepperton deliberated for a few seconds. Mr Denver watched her with increasing displeasure and suspicion. ' Well !' he urged, impatiently. 'lam waiting for an answer — yes or no. Do you think people will accept or not ? That is what I want to know. She shuffled and equivocated under the searching gaze of those powerful eyes, much as an insect wriggles under the unwelcome pressure of a pair of human fingers. • Really, Mr Denver, I hardly know what to say.' 'You mean,' he broke in irritably, ' that, if I choose to go into the highway& and byways, all the small fry will flock to my house, but that the yood county families will stay away.' And the grey eyes flashed so angrily, as Mr Denver finished speaking, that Mrs Shepperton felt excessively uncomfortable. 'Indeed, my dear Mr Denver,' she exclaimed, toying nervously with her gold watch-chain, ' you have entirely mistaken my meaning.' 'I admit that the situation is a little complicated.' ' Yes, but not very. Let's take a practical view of things. Suppose this ball

proves a bit of an experiment, don't you consider ib one worth making ? Ifc is for you, not for me, to weigh the pros and cont> ; but, for my part, I think tho former outbalance the latter vory considerably.' Mrs Shepperton was by no means deficient in that species of low cunning which, in ita dealings with certain natures, often answers the purpose of genuine ability, and in so couching her argument she succeeded in making a considerable impression on Mr Denver. Oi course,' she continued, 'it is quite possible a few of bhe old fogies may decline your invitations : bub what does that matter ? What you i-eally want are plenty ot picfcty girls and young dancing men. I Pub the two together, and bhe thing is just as certain to be a success as that you and I are standing talking here at the present moment.' Lord Pushingpfcon happened to overhear the concluding po v tion of this speech. ' Hear, hear !' he observed. And, bowing gallantly, l With such a galaxy of beauty as is represented by Milnacot Lodge, any festivity would prove successful. Come, Denver, old man, we must be going.' ' Nob until one favour has been accorded,' said bliafcarenbleman, amiably. 'You must promise me, Mrs Shepperton, to bring Miss Dulcie.' ' Oh, yes, certainly : Dulcie will be only too delighted.' *