HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3206, 4 June 1909, Page 2

HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

CHAPTER XIX. WARD AND GUARDIAN. At the sound of Ambra Neville's voice Lois unlocked her door. She had donned the line linen prepared for her by Nurse May, and over all she wore the pink chnmber | robe but not with the same feeling of exultation it had evoked on the previous day. The image her glass presented was no longer satisfactory.She could not twist her hair with the skill of Nurse May; it persisted in falling on her shoulders in untidy masses, and she had discovered that her sunburned skin and uncared-for hands were thrown into greater prominence by the bright rose colour of her gay robe. ."I can't make myself look like you, though I've been trying ever so long," she frankly admitted, as she gazed at her visitor. "I'd put on my new gown—it's more sober; but then it would never do to wear every day a thing that cost such a lot of money." "But I want you to look your best," she was told with eagerness. "I have come to take you to General Haydon. Pray wear the dress you mentioned, and if you will not ooject I will arrange your hair for you." "What's he like?" asked Lois, as the warm-hearted Ambra hovered about her, anxious that she should make a favourable impression, and by so doing forward the reconciliation between father and son that Ambra was striving to bring about. "Who? The general? He was a very fine old man till the sufferings occasioned by his wound reduced and aged him sadly." "But is he like his son?" Ambra considered awhile before replying. "Personally, the likeness is not striking, but in voice and manner they resemble eaih other very much." "Then I don'L care to see him," was the startling reply. "I don't wibh for any more relations. I've had enough to put up with from that father of mine! Did I want him to come and find me? Have I asked him tu make a lady of me? It may be my duty to obey him in all things, as Mr Stuart says it is, but he needn't make it harder by looking at me and talking at me as if I was poison!" "Dear Lois, you misconstrue your father's very natural vexation that you have not been more carefully educated," Ambra assured her, saying what she herstlt believed. "He loves you clearly. Are you not the child whom for years he has mourned as dead? And has he not brought you to us, that we may assist him in making you happy? As for the general, he is the best of men, and it would grieve him very much if he had any conception that yo.u are prejudicing yourself against him." Ambra was right; Lois had no sneers, no adverse criticism, to fear from General Haydon He regarded her as a cruelly injured individual to whom he, as well as his son, must endeavour to atone for all the years of neglect to which she had been condemned by Laurence's indifference and his own ignorance of her existence. He was prepared to be kind and indulgent to this grandchild of his, no matter how she looked or behaved —whether she were ugly or pretty, well-principled, or as vicious as ignorant; still, he flattered himself that she would be both fair and lovable, and was ready to take her to his heart. Her mother must have been charming, or Laurence would not have rushed into marriage. Her mother's name was Daisy, and might not her offspring be a veritable Marguerite—a wee, modest flower, such as the poet tells us are but too often born to blush unseen and waste their fragrance in seclusion? He was surprised, though not disagreeably so, when a young Dianatall, statesque, and beautiful, in spite of sunburn and awkwardness —was led to his bedside; and if it gave him a shock when she greeted him m the broadest Hampshire dialect, he' had, too much courtesy and consideration for the feelings of others to let it be seen. With such solemn tenderness was she kissed and blessed that poor, rebellious Lois was overwhelmed, and ere long was on her knees beside him, hiding her face in the bedclothes, that she might weep aofter tears than she has ever shed before. While Ambra was hesitating whether to go or stay—whether to console the weeper, or let her alone—the general decided it for her. "tfou may safely leave us, my dear. We are learning to understand each other already. And take this letter with you; it is from-'Mr Eiston, the only relation you have in England. You will see by what he says that he an 3 his wife are very anxious to know you, and propose that you should spend a few weeks with them, at their house in Kent. It is a pleasant county, and your cousins are pleasant people." "Possibly!" and Ambra grew red and white by turns, as she twisted the letter round her trembling fingers. "I believe I have heard papu speak of the Elstons, but lamin no hurry to make their acquaintance." "I am sorry for that!" said her guardian, with unusual gravity.

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

("I should like you to accept their invitation." "I would rather—much rather—hear you say that you cannot spare me!" cried the young lady wistfully. But the genera) was infleixbe. "I may not study my own wishes when your interests are at stake. My dear Ambra, you must let me accept Mr Elston's invitation, for you. Nurse shall write a note for me to sign to-day." Suddenly the gentle Ambra flashed into resentment. "Have you so litte faith in me that you send ine away? Could you not trust me to obey you even though I think you harsh in your ; decisions?" Ths general's lip quivered. "You are a good girl, Ambra, and I know that I can rely on you; but do not, blame me if I seek to save you the pain of being continually entreated to set my wishes at naught" "Laurence would never stoop to tempt me to do that!" she cried indignantly. "He knows that by my I father's will I am under your author- | ity, and that I ahull always respect it—always!" General Haydon sighed. It was pitiful to see how firmly she still believed in the sincerity of this shifty, prevaricating son of his. Would that he could share her faith! Unwilling to grieve her by avowing how thoroughly he had learned to dis trust Laurence, he changed his ground. "My little ward, I will not ask you to leave us on your own account. You are a soldier's daughter and have learned to respect orders. It shall be for my sake and Laurence's. I must do my duty as your guardian, and this will involve quarrelling with my only son if he attempts to woo you." Ambra was seriously distressed. She could not bear the idea of being sent into banishment, yet to be the cause of strife between the two she loved moat fondly would be horrible! "I will obey you, sir, no matter what it costs me," she faltered. "When do you bid me go to the Elstons?" "I will tell them to expect you tomorrow, and that they must be prepared to let me reclaim you at the earliest moment I am able to do so." "That will not be," thought Ambra sadly, "till Laurence has either gone a vay or consented to give me up But he will never do that! He will be true, as patient, as I shall be, and when lam of age, not even the general's too nice sense of honour need keep us apart." jflk |TO BE CONTINUED.] ,p^^ Many persons tind themselves ail r ected with a persistent cougli after ;-.n attack of influenza. As this ;">ugh can bo promptly cured by the use of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, it should not be allowed to run oa until in becomes troublesome. For sale .by all chemists and storekeepers. For Children's Hacking Coughs a night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure l/fi and 2/6.