HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3185, 10 May 1909, Page 2

HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

CHAPTER V.-Continued. "He is coming,'' murmured Ambra, unconsciously speaking aloud. She knew that if she obeyed the wishes of her dead father she should become the wife of Laurence Haydon; and she trembled with mingled sensations—hope, fear, and awe of his superiority—till a shrinking sense that she was not like girls who had been differently reared made her start from her seat and meditate flight. But Wilfred Stuart divined what was passing in her mind, and came to her aid. Taking in his the little hand that was alternately hot and cold, he drew her back to her chair and stood so as to shield her from observation till she had regained her courage and could meet her fate, in the &hape of Laurence Haydon, with outward composure.

CHAPTER VI AN UNFORTUNATE RECOGNITION. Gratified by Laurence's eager preference of her society to an hour solus over her excellent wines, Lady Marcia came up-stairs, talking and laughing with unusual vivacity. Close behind ber cams Miss Braysby, an elderely young lady, who had accompanied Ambra to England. She had made a third at the dinner-table, but being a wary damsel she had modestly refrained from speaking except when spoken to, and submitted to be as nearly ignored as a well-bred woman could ignore anyone at her own dinnertable. Lady Marcia's whole attention was centered on Laurence. Th's bronzed and bearded man, whose gaiety and good-humour never seemed to flag, had stirred her sluggish nature into new life. As sh listened lo him she was mentally asking if there were any reason why she—-still young and goodlooking—should condemn herself to perpetual widowhood. "You will stay in London for some weeks, if not longer," she was saying, as she entered the room. "1 mean to claim the iJuasure of introducing !you everywhere. How I shall be envied such a lion! And how I shall enjoy talking to my frtencs about your delightful novel!" "I Leg'pardon," said Laurence, considerably mystified. "Isn t it a novel?" asked he ladyshij, seeing she had made a mistake. "But no, of course it isn't. Oh, my atrocious stupidity! I remember now quite well; it was a descripton of your travels you publisncd. Ah, what an awful exciting chapter that was in which you rede to the summit of the something-or-other burning mountain in a sledge drawn by the dear little hardy Eskimo dogs! JBut wasn't it dogs, after all? And did you go to the North Pole or was ic —was it' New Zealand? Dear me, I haven't mixed up your journal with some other traveller's, have I?" Ambra though nothing could have been more gentlemanly than the courtesy with which Laurence rectified her ladj ship's blunder, and si e was listenii g to their conversation and admirii g the tact and goodhumour with which he" took his share in it, when Wilfred Stuart diew attention to her.

It was a trying moment for tie bashful girl, who dreaded lest 1 e should detest her for the efforts made by their parents to force her upon him, but her pride helped her (o conceal her agitation; indeed, it gave a veiy becoming touch qf hauteur to her manner. She was evidently no ordinary girl, to be wooed or left as ha Dieased, and Laurence imparted a little additional reverence to his always fascinating demeanour wh'le ne expressed his pleasure at meeting a young lady to whom his father was so very much attached. Lady Marcia w,as not accustomed to play a second part, and soon drew the conversation back to her own concerns, but not before Miss Braysby, by dropping a large book and then screaming affectedly, had caused herself to be remembered and introduced to the distinguished traveller, as in an audibly whisper sh« called Laurence. While that gentleman was chatting with his hostess and Ambra, and keeping both of them amused and interested, Miss Braysby sidled closer to Wilfred Stuart, who was examining some remarkably beautiful photographs, and contrived to enter into conversation with him. By dint of some clever manoeuvring she had attached herself to General Haydon some short time before he left India, whither she had gone to marry an unfortunate youth whose civil speeches she had coustrued into a declaration of love. Drive-n to desperation when tie learned that she was on her way to join him, he married a pretty widow, and had sailed with his bride for San .Francisco, when Miss Braysby landed. Believing h«r to have been cruelly deserted, the general befriended her generously, quite unconscious that she designed to marry him unless some better chance turned up. "Of course, vou know my sad story?" she observed presently. "I dare say the dear general has often

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

[ talked to you of me—poor, blighted | Lollie, as he likes to call me." I With a sigh that heaved a pair of very bony shoulders draped in green gauze, Miss Braysby laid her head on one side, and pensively contemplated the toe of her slipper; while Wilfred contemplated her, and marvelled how she could sueeze her waist in to so small a circle and yet live. "I ain.almost a stranger to General Hsydon,'" lie told her. "Except by repute, and through his son, I did not know him till to-day." "How nice—how very nice!" exclaimed Miss Braysby; but of what it was apropos he could not telK "I see that I need not hesitate to ask you to advise us. You will always do that, will you not? You see, dear Ambra and I," she explained, in answer to his questioning look, "we are quite like sisters; it I were to listen to her we should wear the same dresses and ornaments, only it is too romantic, isn't it? But do you think we are too young?" As Miss Braysby, in spite of false hair, false teeth, and false complexion, looked at least thirty eight, Wilfred did not know how to reply so he contented himself with repeating her last words. "Too young, Miss Braysby?" "Then you do think so. I was afraid you would; and yefc I do so detest elderly people. It's very naughty of me," she added penitently, "and I know Ambra and I are very heedless and giddy!" "Have you known her long?" interposed Wilfred. "Who? Ambra? Oh, no; but we are most fondly attached to each other. My sad story has drawn torrents of tears from her eyes. But you don't answer me, Mr Stuart; and, as you are a clergyman, you know, I shall quite deperd on you." "I am not sure that I comprehen your question, Miss Braysby." "No? I wanted you to decide whether it will really be necessaiy for Ambra and me to have some cross old woman to chaperon us —to go wherever we go, and call us to order whenever we are mischievous and giggle too loudly.'J Graceful, dignified Ambra, over whose pure face not an expression played that was not feminine and modest! Giggl.ng! Shades of all the gorgons! Wilfred knew not whether to laugh or frown. "General Haydon's ward looks as she might be trusted never to her position I" he said dryly. "She and I always thjok alike," murmured Miss Braysby, "and the general considers Lady Marcia will be sufficient; but don't ycu agree with me, Mr Stuart, that her ladyship is a little—just a lit.le —n>.t exactly loud —but " [TO BE CONTINUED. 1