CHAPTER XVI. BACK TO THE OLD LIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 371, 25 May 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XVI. BACK TO THE OLD LIFE.

An hour afterwards, Dulcie was lying on the sofa in her own room at Grosvenor Square. She knew that henceforth escape . was impossible ; that she nad indeed precluded it by the promise she had made. She was weary of the struggle. Circumstances were too strong to contend against ; i they had overwhelmed her, and now a curious torpor stupefied every sense, bring- . ing with it a merciful derxdening of active pain. Otherwise her mind must have given way under the strain put upon it. What was the use of striving against the Inevitable ? If it were God's will to inflict such trials upon her, she must endeavour to bear them resignedly. It was not given to many to be liappy in this world, and even lovo had an element of selfishness in it, seeing that it tended to shut out larger views. She.could fancy by degrees, perhaps many, many years hence, when her hair £rew white and her face wrinkled, that youth's strong passions might die away, leaving a subdued and steady calm in theu- place. But not yet, not yefc — only in the far-off future. Now, her whole being thrilled at the very thought of Bob. She closed her eyes wearily, in a vain endeavour to annihilate thought, and when once more she reopened them her husband was standing close to her side. Her heart stirred uneasily, for she feared a stormy interview ; but Mr Denver's present policy was to conciliate rather than to intimidate. Whether he rendered her life happy or unhappy was a matter of supreme indifference to him ; but when it became a question of setting the tongues of that narrow societyworld which he worshipped a- wagging, then an arrow sped home which penetrated into the joint? of his armour. Unfortunately, folks had already begun to talk, and the only efficacious mode of putting a stop to the disagreeable rumours current was to appear in public with Dulcis. The following day a grand fete was to take place at Hurlingham, and long ago he had invited several friends to dine with him on that occasion. If only Dulcie could be induced to appear at this fete, in company with her two sisters, all reports of a rupture would be most effectually contradicted. There only existed one real difficulty, the difficulty of overcoming Dulcie's objections. Therefore he said in tones of well-feigned anxiety : ' Flow are you feeling now ? Any better ?' ' Yes, thank you,' she answered, greatly rolieved by the amiability of this address ; I'm a little lazy, that's all.' ' Capital ! Do you think you'll be quite right again by to-morrow ?' ' What is it you want ?' she asked suspiciously, knowing that the question did not proceed from disinterested solicitude. ' I want you to come to Hurlingham with me, Dulcie. They are going to have a big day there, and I've made arrangements to stay and dine with a party. ' She gave him no immediate answer, for she shrank from the idea of so soon meeting a crowd of curious busybodies, and of having to talk, jest, laugh, gesticulate, and conjure up a hypocritical interest in polo and limelight after the scenes she had just passed through. 'Do you really wish me to come, Dennis ?' she said in a low voice. ' Yes. I have particular reasons for desiring your presence.' After all, if it pleased him, what did her own private feelings matter. All power of resistance and spirit of opposition had vanished ; she was too utterly crushed for contention. ' Very well !' she said, after a pause. 'If it pleases you, I will come.' He smiled approvingly, and, emboldened by his success, immediately proceeded to proffer another request. ' I suppose,* he said, hurriedly, « you've no objection to — to Ethel's being of the party ? Your own good sense must surely tell you, Dulcie, that, if only for the sake of appearances, we cannot afford to quarrel.' He could consider appearances fast enough, though he could not consider his wife's most natural feelings. She, however, felt past minding these things any longer. A curious moral revolution was going on within her. ' No,' she answered, coldly. *I don't object. 1 shall never object again.' • That's first-rato ! You'll come to your senses in time, I do believe.' And then, giving her a familiar tap on the shoulder which she endured with passive frigidity, he departed, feeling extremely

satisfied with fche results of this delicate and somewhat hazardous interview. Accordingly he descended into his pri/ate study, in order to make every arrangement for the morrow. Now some months ago Lord Pushington had peisuaded his friend that every fashionable man about town shouM drive a coach. In consequence of this advice Mr Denver had forthwith purchased a brand-new drag with red wheels, and such a splendid team of matched bays as filled all the London dealers with envy. The next thing to learn was to drive these spirited steeds, which Mr Denver soon discovered was by no means po easy. Once more adopting his friend's suggestions, he took lessons of a professional Jehu, until at length he was able to drive cautiously round the Park, when he considered his education complete. lie now determined on taking his party down to Hurlingham in style. To arrive with a coach, his wife seated beside him, would impress the public mind far more strongly than appearing in an ordinary barouche. He had never yet driven his horse's so long a journey, but his confidence in himself was unbounded. Consequently, at the appointed time, the coach came round to the door. The party consisted of his wife and two pisters-in-law, young Lord llasper, a Mr and Mrs Maurice Fanphaw, and an odd man or two. After an inexplicable delay, during which Mr Denver fumbled with the reins, and vainly tried to twist the lash of the whip artistically round its stick, they eventually started and reached their destination in safety. Mr Denver was in high spirits, and insisted in marching Dulcie up and down the lawn in the most persevering manner. She penetrated his motives without much difficulty and thoroughly despised them. The chatter, the bust'e, and crowd jarred horribly upon her nerves. How slowly the lime passed, and how deadly wearisome was the entertainment ! And yet, when she looked around, people seemed to be enjoying themselves after a fashion. The girls and young married women were flirting, the dowagers gossiping, whilst the men strolled about arm-in-arm with that habitual aspect of high-bred boredom which an Englishman considers it his duty to assume in connection with such mild pleasures. Why could she not be like these ? After dinner a move was made, and the party sauntered towards the garden. Slowly the stately yellow moon glided out from behind a bank of nebulous cloud, casting a silvery sheen upon the flowing river, whose broad bosom seemed to swell in response to its gentle rays. Low leafmusic rustled in the air, pleasant, dreamy music, which kept up a soft accompaniment to that band ; whilst ever and anon the clear sound of rippling laughter came borne upon the cool evening breeze. The heart within her grew big, her eyes began to glisten. Two great tears rolled silently down her cheeks. " 1 What ! star-gazing, all by yourself ? that's very wrong !' said a jolly "voice by her side ; and, turning round with a start, she perceived young Lord Rasper peering at her through the darkness, while his countenance wore its usual cheery, goodtempered, and unintellectual expression. •Do you call it wrong ?' she answered. 1 I'm particularly fond of star-gazing and mooning, if the word be allowable.' ' Mooning rhymes with spooning,' observed Lord Rasper, quite irrelevantly. 1 The one is highly suggestive of the other. ' Yes, and silly goes with billy. Allow me to congratulate you on your poetic talent, my lord.' Lord Rasper turned very red in the face and promptly changed the conversation.- It might have suited some women, but it evidently did not suit her., , ' Are you going to Goodwood ?', he asked, caressingly fingering an edolescent, moustache. 'No, I don't think so.' ' Do get Denver to take you on the coach, and let's make up a regular jolly party. It would bo awfully nice !' She looked at him half in envy, half in pity. What a child he seemed, to be sure ! Just as she herself had been once ; and yet the time might come when he too would lose the freshness of youth. • I'm afraid we can't possibly manage it this year,' she said, with a sudden rising in the throat. 'Mr Denver-may possibly go tn gar con, but I wish to get back home.' 'Oh ! but you're just the one we want. We can't let jou off so easily. Sharpshooter's going to run. You" remember Sharpshooter, don't you? He's the best two-year-old out, and quite at the top of the tree.' • Indeed !' 'Yes,' continued Lord Rasper, eloquently, perfectly happy now he was able to enlarge on his favourite topic ; • I presume you are aware how Sharpshooter is bred, are you not? • Really,' mumbled Dulcie, apologetically, ' it's very stupid of me ; but I—l'mI — I'm not quite sure.' 'Never mind, Mrs Denver, I can tell you. He's by Franc-tireur out of Archeress; Archeress by Tomtit out of a Mignonette mare, who combined the celebrated Touchstone and Birdcatcher strains. ' ' Why, Lord Rasper, you are a regular walking Ruff's Guide !' ' After that,' went on his lordship, glibly, ' Sharpshooter scored two big wins during the Ascot week, which performance stamped him as quite first-class. I backed him heavily only last week, and you mark my words, by the time he starts he'll be first favourite, or all but.' ' Will he ?' Something in the tone of her voice induced him to stop short, whilst a disagreeable impression stole over his mind that she was not as deeply interested in the conversation as he had imagined. Her head was turned from him so that he could only jusfc see the delicate outline of her small pink ear and waxen throat against the dark background of bushes. ' I beg your pardon,' he said, flushing up to the roots of his hair ; ' I'm afraid I've been boring you most awfully with all this stupid racing talk.' She seemed so far removed from this good-natured, red-faced, empty-headed little Lord Rasper, that she might have been a creature belonging to a completely different world. 4 It'sall my fault, Lord Rasper. I'm afraid I'm terribly stupid, but I don't f6el very bright to-night, and my head aches so badly that it makes me quite silly.' * Can't I fetch you a glass of water ? I'm a most awful brute for not having noticed before now that you were seedy. But it's just like me, Mrs Denver. I always was a dull, stupid fellow at the best.' The confession contained such a touch of honesty and artlessness that, in her turn, she. felt ashamed of having so ill appreciated his conversational efforts. They might not be very profound or very sympathetic to her moral state at the present moment, bufe at least they were kindly meant. ' Don't be vexed with yourself,' she said, courteously, ' and please, by all means, go cm talking. I like sitting still and listening. Tell me what weight Sharpshooter carries ?' When at length they rose from their ' ?«ats his affections were >, pretty equally . • divided between the beautiful Mrs Denver and the attractions of the turf. , , • • ( To be continued. J