CHAPTER XXXIII. A CONFESSION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 361, 20 April 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXIII. A CONFESSION.

Next morning, when Dulcie had finished her studies, Mrs Shepperton opened the drawing-room door, and said, 'Come here, child ; I want to speak to you for a few minutes before you go out.' With a sudden palpitation of the heart, Dulcie complied. She could half guets the purport of this private conference, an-1 was prepared to meet the coming ordeal ; for that it would prove one she felt certain, not only from her mother's fussy and important manner, but also from various little signs \vas not slow in deciphering. She 3tood in the centre of the room, awaiting Mrs Shepperton's communication. 1 You had better &it down,' said her mother, shortly. ' I've a good deal to say.' The tone of voice inspired awe, and, reluctantly dragging a chair forwards, she obeyed in silence. A momentary pause ensued, then Mrs Shepperton &aid, "eyeing her daughter keenly • ' Are you aware, Dulcie, that Mr Denver called here yesterday afternoon ?' 1 Oh, indee_d ?' said the girl, indifferently. IHe honours our humble abode so frequently that I presume there was nothing very unusual in such a visit.' ' Ahem ! I should have thought you could have guessed the reason of his coming better than most people. However, we all know none are so blind as those who won't sec' ' What is there to see?' inquired Dulcie, j innocently, though she turned as red as a full-blown rose. 1 Don't you know that he came to ask my consent to his courtship?' 'Oh, really! did he?' 'Yes, and, men don't like being pla3ed fast and loose with. 5 'I suppose not,' said, Dulcie, slowly; ' but Mr Denver surely cannot complain, since he got his atiswer last night.' 'So he informed jne. He said that you had refused him,' returned Mrs Shepperton, bitterly. ' Then for once he spoke the truth — an exception to bis general rule.' i 'Ohj Dulcie! .What could have inj duced you to commit such a terrible" act of foll ( y ?' , 'That entirely depends upon what constitutes folly. People's opinions are apt to vary on" that pom t. ' [ ' Nonsense, child I In such an instance as this, how js it possible for any difference of opinion to exist ? When a man is rolling in wealth, .possessing nobody knows how many hundreds, and thousands a-year ; has l f a beautiful place ip the country ( and, a mag1 nificont house in town"; any number of

horses, ' carriages; and *serva f n tH, -'beside having a secured position, and the entree into high society, what more can any girl in the ordinary, enjoyment of her faculties expect, demand or want?' ' \Vhy, 3 returned Duicie, defiantly — for there was a worldiness a bout 'her mother's arguments which roused a strong sense of opposition within her— * she can want a good many things. To begin with, she can want a man not old enough to be her own father, and dissimilar in evsry thought and feeling ; a man who has exhausted most sensations and wearied of most pleasures — one who is a snob and toady, and whose chief thought- is self. She can want,' Duicie went on impetuously,' 'somebody with a kind good heart, and a nice disposition, and then, having found these things, she may be foolish enough to pace them before mere worldly advantages.' 1 You are talking downright nonsense, Duicie,' retorted Mrs Shepperten, trying hard to keep down a growing feeling of irritation ; ' chimerical notions, picked up goodness knows where. Are you quite incapable of distinguishing the difference between real life and romance ? Will romance take you comtortably through the world, do you suppose, and provide so many legs of mutton and rounds of beef? Will it pay the houeerent, or the weekly bills, or stop the mouths of half-starved, equaling childron ?' Duicie listened uneasily. She began to perceive the diift of her mother's remarks. 'Do yyoyou — you — my mother, wish me to marry such a man as Mr Denver?' she asked, in tones of horror - stricken in- j credulity. ' Would you seriously like to see me his wife ?' Thero wa^ a touch of innocent reproach about the question which struck home. 1 Yes, most certainly,' returned Mrs Shepperton, tartly, ' Why not? I should be a born fool otherwise. Why, half the mothers in the county would give their eyes to have s>uch a chance for their daughbeis.' ' That's no matter. Would you ?' looking Mrs Shepperton full in the face. ' Have I not told you so once ?' pettishly. Then at last Duicie understood the state of the case. ' What i' she cried, with a sudden sentiment of repugnance stealing over her. 'In spite of Mr Denver's past hi&tory — which don't deceive yourself by thinking I am not acquainted with — in spite of his conduct towards his first wife, and of everything that you know and everybody knows to his disadvantage ? Oh ! mamma ' — bitterly — 'your moial standard must indeed be low, or your care for our happiness slight, if you can wi&h us to ally ourselves with such men as these men,' waxing warm, * who have nothing to recommend them — no honour, no fame, no good name — nothing but money. Are we to be sold, like so many Circassian slaves, to the highest bidder ? I cannot, will not believe it possible, and therefoie ask, in all solemnity — do — you — wish — that — l — should become — Dennis Denver's wife?' There was a silence, during which Mrs Shepperton wriggled uneasily under the searching gaze of Dulcie's indignant orbs 5 Yes,' she said, sullenly, 'I do wish it, and in so wishing only wish your good. You have no right to talk to me in such a way. What, pray, do you know *of the world ? As for Mr Denver, he is no worse than his neighbours, and when people possess handsome fortunes the past is soon forgotten. Money contrives to varnish over many an ugly blot.' 'And yet,' objected the girl, gravely, 1 despite all that, the varnish is apt to crack occasionally, and to display the unsightly marks beneath the surface.' 'You are getting out of your depth, child. Mankind resembles a stick cut from the hedgerows. If you elect to go on waiting and waiting until you discover an absolutely faultless specimen, you may remain till the end of time without finding what you seek. Whereas, if only you will be content to put up with a few little crookednesses and inequalities, you may lieht upon an exceedingly useful and serviceable article, quite fitted to answer every reasonable requiiement. Depend upon it, Duicie,' she wtnt on. with unconscious philosophy, ' tho poople who are not burdened with very lofty views are tho ones who extract the most enjoyment from life.' ' But suppose,' argued the girl — feoling that some flaw existed in this specious reasoning, 'that I don't need to wait indefinitely formy perfect stick, but have already found a stronger and straighter one than my fondest hopes looked forward to ? Such being the caso, is it necessary to discuss the matter any further? Can we not leave things as they aie ?' ' No. Mr Denver, not unreasonably, expects some definite answer.' ' How can ho do that, &ince he has already had one ?' ' I have undertaken to send him a reply in the course of the next few days. What is that reply to be — Yes or No ?' 1 T wonder you deem it necessary to ask tho question after what has passed between us.' • I mu3t be the best judge of its necessity,' said Mrs Shepperton, coldly. ' Well then, no !' cried Dulcio, indignantly. 'A hundied thousand times no ! Why "can't Mr Denver take his refusal like a gentleman, and leave me in pea^ ? what is the use of asking a third party to intercede on his behalf?' • Because,' and Mrs Shepperton rose from her seat, and, thoroughly roused by this demand, laced her daughter like an infuriated turkey-cock, while her red cheeks and throat swelled with rierco resentment, 'because you are a little romantic fool wi o does not know what is good for her.' ' Well,' interrupted Duicie, calmly, 'and what then ?' ' What then ?' screamed the other in reply. ' Why you will live to repent having thrown away such a chance, that's all. Do you imagine, you little goose, that your youth will last for ever? Not it! Make hay while the sun shines, girl, and remember I have too many daughters for any single one to stand in the way of the others.' The^discussion on either side was getting a little heated. ' I'm not standing in anybody's way,' said Duicie, stubbornly. • Yes, you are — at least, you will, be if you don't profit by the present opportunity.' • And what if I don't want, it ? What if I have had the only chance I cared for,. and accepted it?' Mrs Shepperton's persistence had overstepped the limits of Dulcie's patience at last, and she cast caution to the winds. ' Duicie,' said her mother, in a peremptory voice of command; ' you have thrown outa variety of mysterious hints. Either you mean something" by them or you do not, and I insist upon an immediate explanation.' • By all means,' responded the girl, turning: a trifle pale, but speaking not one whit less resolutely than did' Mrs Shepperton herself. ' Know then that lam engaged to - Bob Mornington, and have promised to become his wife as soon as he is in a position to keep me.'