HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3218, 16 June 1909, Page 2

HER SILE N CE JUSTIFIED.

BY HENRIETTA B. EUTHVEN. Author of "Hl3 Second Love," " Corydon's Infatuation/' " Daring Doia," " An Unlucky Legacy," Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XXV.-Continued. "You girl! I declare you havejbut to wish andjiave !" drawled the pretty widow. "I remember c-iiee teasing the admiral to give me —give me—now, how provoking to Ivive such a memory! Positively I cannot recollect what it was I wanted. It must have been a grand piano, or perhaps it was a sealskin coat, for they were just coming into i fushion, or—or something else; but I know he stamped his foot and called me an unreasonable woman. Yes, I I think it was on that occasion. Now, was it on that occasion?" "It doesn't signify very much, does it, dear Lady Marcia?" queried Miss Braysby sweetly. "If you are not too much absorbed in your reminiscences we might order the barouche and take Lois to that German in Bond Street." "Another of your professors?" Lois demanded. "My love, no only a tailor. You must have a habit." "Yes; she must have a habit," echoed Lady Marcia. "But I never drive twice in one day, and it will save trouble to consult Kudolphine. 1 believe I have already written to madame about something else 1 meant to discuss with her. My dreadful memory! What could it have been?" "New gowns for me?" asked Lois abruptly. "Yes, and you fell'asleep over the note you were writing and then your dog: tore it up." "Naughty Fido to get your loving mistress into trouble!" exclaimed Lady Marcia lazily. "I suppose I must atone for his naughtiness and mine. We will go to-morrow positively to madame, and have a long clay's shopping besides." "I hate shopping," said Lois; "and Nurse May gets me what I want without any bother. She shall buy me a habit this afternoon," "But, my precious one," interposed Miss Braysby, "a riding-habit is an article that cannot be purchased ready made like a dre3sing-gown. Headfern's must measure you for one. The general would never forgive us,if you were not fashionably arrayed." 2 "But who will ride with you?" she was asking the next moment. "You cannot go alone." "She will only go out in the park early," said Lady Marcia, "and a man in attendance will be sufficient." Lois' heart gave a great leap. Would Hal Dartford be commissioned to take charge of her as vvtll as her mare, and give her her first lessons in riding? But Miss Braysby was speaking. "I am so grieved that I did not bring my habits from India. I had two of the most becoming ones imaginable, made for me when I went out to have all my. sweetest hopes crushed into oblivion by the perfidy—but do not let us speak of it—l wish I had not sold them before I came horn a." "The hopes?" asked Lady Marcia, who could never resist a chance of giving a sly thrust at the romantic spinster, who went on as if she had not heard the interruption: you and I could have had such delightful rides together." "On one horse, like the gipsy boys in the forest?" queried Lois scornfully. "No, thank you." "Don't make a jest of my ar.xiety to oblige you, precious one! You will feel so awfully timid when you have your first mount." "Who?—me! Haven't I ridden a score of times without saddle or bridle, and never been throwi." but once?" "Possibly, love; but one does not call that graceful and ladylike riding. 1 should like you to see my style—l have often been complimented on it. We must inquire whether the general has a horse in his stables that will carry a lady. I wish our darling Am bra were here. She always helped me out of my little difficulties. I know she would insist on Headfern measuring me at the same time with you." Lois chose to be deaf to the hint, and Lady Marcia laughed maliciously, completing the diplomatic Lollie's discomfiture by saying: "I used to ride before my marriage. Perhaps it would have a good ! effect on my figure if 1 were to take it up again. Then I could inquire if has a horse to suit me, and if Mr Haydon would join us we could have a charming little riding trio—-Lois, and he, and 1." "I suppose you know, why Miss Braysby is so fond of you that »he cannot bear you out of her sight?" .her ladyship observed to Lois, when the sound of the dressing hurried the spinster away to her toilet. "She means to marry your father." But the answer was not what she anticipated. "Let her if she likes. It would be pleasanter if she did, because then she would not pester me with her caresses and attentions." "You are an odd child! You remind me of——" But as Lady Marcia could not remember of whom she was reminded, she did not finish her sentence.

CHAPTER XXVI

A STORM IMPENDING

Firmly resolved not to be accompanied by either of these ladies, Lois made no further allusions to riding or

driving in their hearing; and when Miss Braysby said that if Headfern's charges were nut extortionate, and if any one would lend her a few pounds, she thought she would commit the extravagance of ordering a ridingcostume, the impetuous girl tossed the contents of her purse to a beggar, that she might be able to declare with truth that she had nothing to lend. Through Nurse May's agency she contrived to interview the habitmaker without Miss Braysby being aware that he was n the house. Her orders were given with a promptitude extraordinary in a woman, especially a young one. She waved away the patterns he would have displayed. "Thank you, sir, but I'd rather not look at them; they'd only muddle me. You know what would suit me better than I do. Only mind, I must have my habit exactly like the one Queen Alexandra wears." The man looked puzzled. "Beg pardon, ma'am, but you forget that her majesty has not taken horse exercise, 1 am sorry to say, for over a year." "I suppose there's not much differ ence?" said Lois hesitatingly. "You'll let it be as nearly like the queen's as I can have it?" With a promise that the habit should be made after the most approved fashion, and that she should also be equestrienne—hat, gloves, etc.—the tailor took his leave, and Lois went to drive her grandfather for the first time in the pretty victoria he had placed at her disposal. General Haydon was gratified to find the young girl so affectionately desirous to have his companionship, pledging herself in all sincerity to attend to every injunction of the careful nurse. But he sighed, too, that the son whom he had always idolized should have held suddenly aloof ever since Ambra went to Maidstone, leaving him to be dependent, both for care and society, on comparative stangers. It was Hal Dartford who led the infirm old soldier down-stairs, assisted him to his seat, and so arranged his cushions that he could recline at -his ease. And Lois might only requite him by one murmured "Thank you." She. who ought to have boldly said to the general, "This is the brave youth who saved me from drowning!" now sat in mute distress, despising herself for her cowardice, yet afraid to speak lest her championship should do him irretrievable injury". I TO BE CONTINUED.!