HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3184, 8 May 1909, Page 2

HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

CHAPTER V.—Continued. J Wilfred Stuart had found his embassy a tedious one. It; was true j that her ladyship's nephew approved the change from her House to the hotel; but Mrs Mactavish took the tone of an injured woman, dilating I upon the unpardonable treatment she was receiving from Lady ; Mar"ia, as long as Mr Stuart would consent to listen. At last he made his escape, dressed, and went to keep his appointment, bidding the servant who admitted hjm to say nothing to her ladyship respecting hi 3 arrival till he could himself make his explanations and excuses. He was ushered into the drawingroom, which was brilliant with lights and flowers. In the perfumed atmosphere, so delightfully uniike the dull, dusky, and but half-furnished apartments he occupied in a suburban street, he began to pace slowiy to and fro, his chin on his breast, his hands behind him. Wilfred Stuart could not boast of the finely chiseled features and commanding presence of his friend, Laurence Haydon; he was too spare, and his shoulders had a scholarly stoop, the results of much study. His hair was beginning to be a little tnin at the temples, and this eyes were slightly sunken; yet his pale, thoughtful face was one that always inspired confidence; it was j the face of a good man; one who had endured many trials and come through them victorious. i

Although he lived in a dull, undesirable lodging, and denied himself every, luxury that he might have more to spare for his poor parishioners, he had an intense love of the beautiful. He felt quite a boyish enjoyment in pacing noiselessly along the mossy carpet of Lady Marcia's drawing-room and inhaling the scent of a lovely stephanotis standing: on an occasional ?able. Twice he crossed the floor with his delighted eyes fixed on the plant, but the third time they fell on something fairer still. Half sitting, half lying on a couch, her chin supported on her clasped hands, her form nearly hidden in fluffy shawls that looked like "snowdrifts, he saw a young girl who was amusedly watching him. Although the form of introduction had been performed in such haste that he had scarcely seen the ladies named to him, as he handed thera into the carnage, he Knew that this must be the general's ward, that daughter of one of his comrades in arms and a Hindu princess-, whom he destined to be the wife of Laurence. Ambra arose as soon as she saw herself discovered. Closely immured in the zenana woman's apartments during the life of h?r mother, she was not yet sufficiently accustomed to male society to converse with the ordinary self-possession of an English girl, and her efforts to appear at ease made her seem stiff and cold. But, though Wilfred Stuart was ill-? versed in the little trifles that the fair sex find so enchanting, there was a touch of reverence in his manner tc all women, young or eld, good, bad, or inaifferenc, that always set them at their ease; and, not a little to her own astonishment, the shy Ambra soon found herself talking to him without the slightest embarrassment. She was undoubtedly a very charming young creature. ? mn iCv she had '"•■' _,, -,. *««» h _« ™ Qih f

.«««w«Wfl her supple form, ffltSßSely Mat* fiair> and the almtintt- j SMgeo! W&s that had something JJPpefiftWftft in their gfenew; trat, She not ■ the olivo afyfa. of ■ .t3te East Indian. Xn complexWffr> ias in. Wstes, she was English. r . It is true that "the. stiria of the Orient, and the txtreme seclusion to which Hindu.customs had condemned her, had robbed Ambra's delicate skin of the rosy bloom it had possessed in her childhood, but her \ father had watched over her too carefully to let her lose her health by ' failing into the indolent habits of her mother's aountry women. While outwardly respecting her prejudices, the major had taken good care of his little daughter. If her cheek had the -'creamy tinge of the white rose instead of the damask, it was far removed from the waxen pallor of disease. Very few of those who saw her glide across a room with' languid grace, or sit with her ayah at her feet, rarely lifting her eyes -from her aware that beneath that quiet exterior she hid

energies as yet undeveloped. Moreover, Ambra was 'neither ignorant nor timid. For years she had been educated by a clever Parisian. A Iready she was a bold horsewoman, and had seized the opportunity of residing for a few weeks on the borders of a lake to learn to row and swim, both of which she did fearlessly. She had felt too much confused by the hurry and hustle of the journey, she told Mr Stuart, to be able to join her hostess at dinner; hut had found it very enjoyable to sit quiitly itt the drawing-room, resting. ""And quizzirjp; me? 1 am a very boy in my hive 'of flower..; and all else that is anourous -n:(\ beautiful," said Wili'iod, brcMkuifr a spray off the ])iant and bringing it to Ambra; "hut you, who come from a country of e/ji-jreous colourings and e::qui.--it.> perfumes, may think these p:,it< blossoms insipid?" "On tho contravy, I would .all our Jmlhm v/;:\lr!io!' vivid hue-; jo--»V ,-r.r,-..i.?..

BY HENRIETTA B. KUTHVEN. Author of "His Second Love," " Corydon's Infatuation," " Daring Doim," " An Unlucky Legacy," Etc., Etc.

[landscapes,'' she answered eagerly. "But why do I say yours instead of ours I, too, am English, and I want to learn all the habits and customs of my countrywomen as rapidly as I can. I seem to feel my deficiencies more keenly already!" " 'Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever,' " quoted Wil- ; fred; and the young lady blushed as well as smiled, turning the conversation, however, from herself to her guardian. "I love General Haydon dearly; he has been kind to me from my childhood. I was delighted when I heard that his son is here; he has been so anxious to see him." "You know Laurence?" The slightest possible tinge of colour stole cheeks. "Not yet. I have heard his father speak of him and describe him frequently; and his books are so interesting that I almost know them by heart. Is he—will he " ™ In very pretty confusion she furled arid unfurled her fan; but presently raised her lovely dark eyes to Wilfred's, and took him into her confidence. "Is it very foolish of me to hope that Mr Haydon will —lika me? His father has always prophesied that we shall be great friends; but now that we are on the point of meeting, the knowledge of my many imperfections is so overpowering that I am very much inclined to run away and hide myself!". "My dear young lady, Laurence would be the first to tell you that he himself is not perfect!" .Wilfred assured her. "But h= is one of the cleverest of men as well as the bravest!" she insisted. "Think how widely he has travelled; there is scarcely a European capital that he ! has not visited, nor a danger that he has not dared! He is.a hero, while l—ah! what am I?—only a half educated, brainless girl. If he talks to me I shall be ready to weep? with shame because I know so little!" Wilfred Stuart smiled; but it was rather sadly. The innocent adoration with which this unexperienced girl was' investing the yet unknown Laurence with the noblest attributes would have amused him if he ' had not felt that it mierht endanger her peace of mind. He was tempted to warn her not to give her young heart away before she had tested the worth of her idol; but Laurence was his friend and he wrs silent. Before they could resume their conversation the opening of the doors and the hum of voices warned them that Lady Marcia and her guests had risen from the table and were ascending the stairs. [TO BE CONTINi/ED."!