THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9613, 6 October 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTER IV. —Continued. At this bit of coquetry Lord Harconrt frowned, and in less than an hour he had written another letter to Dugald Probyn, urging him to hasten his visit, as "now was the very time fur enjoying the scenery around Harcourt Towers *' Company was gradually gathering at the Towers; there was now no need that the two girls should escort each other to dinner, for gentlemen were plenty, and Lord Thomas had always some grand dame to whom to give his arm. But when the party chanced to he rambling through the grounds, riding on horseback, or sit ting on the balcony enjoying the moonlight, Lord Thomas, with a grave hut interested air, was to be found beside Pauline. , Her voice had a strange fascination for him, half pleasure, half pain; he discussed with her the books that she read, suggested topics arid authors to her attention; explained to her political Questions, talked of foreign lands where she had travelled. He made her in a measure his confidante concerning Lady Lina. "I wi3h," he said, "that Lina had some of your depth and strength. I live in terror lest she should do some rash, unforgivable thing that would part her from us all." "Children," said Pauline, with that premature thouhgtfulness which was her marked characteristic, "should never be able to do that. The depth of forgiveness in the parent should be as profound as the death of error in the child."

"ttven the mercy of God finds a I limit," said Lord 1 homas. j "God," replied Pauline, "I cannot look en his culprit as the parent can on his, and says 'doubtless this tendi ency to evil is an inheritance from myself.' How does the parent know what bent of evil in his child may not have come from hnnself? It seems to me that parental responsibility never ends." ''You have oe<?n learning lessons from my mother's book." "I never talked with Lady Astraea about this." ''Then you must have had a very noble mother yourself." Pauline shivered a little, and was silent. "You are young to be left an orphan," said Lord Thomas. Still silence, .her face a little averted. Lord Harcourt regarded her earnestly Then he said, as one forced by regret to speak: "I knew once a woman very like you, but a mist or a darkness hung over me always as I regarded her, and at last it was cleared away—but only by the hand of death. How blind are some of us who think we see!" It was while thesa two were discussing such staid themes that Mrs Vilthorpe said one day to the Dowager Astraea: "My lady, how would you like to step down and out from your position as mistress of Harcourt Towers, making room for your ward?" At these words Lady Astraea looked involuntarily toward her son and her guest. She remarked more than an ordinary interest on Lord Harcourt's face, and real affection shining in Pauline's eyes, and. while she made no reply to Mrs Vilthorpe she felt a sudden sinking of heart. Lady Astraea did not believe in unequal marriages: therefore not in. a marriage of a man with a girl younx enough to be his daughter. She was not without pride and she would have been distressed beyond measure to have her son marry a woman without a name. There had been a time when Lady Astraea's justice, her womanly principle had arisen superior to her pride —when she had said "the honor of a Harcourt is dearer than his lineage: it is better to marry a beggar than to lie; the sneer of man is easier to endure than the wrath of God." She had said this, stooped her pride to a sacrifice, and found it—too late. "I will endeavour now to be ir.time," said Lady Astraea. She went into Pauline's sittingroom, that very evening, intending to lead the conversation in a man ner to discover the girl's heart, when she heard Pauline in the dressing room talking to Lina. • "My dear Lina, why will you , distress your father by accepting j Mr Brii.kham's attentions?" "Brinkham needs forming—a little training such as I give him will enable him hereafter to shine in society, and to get himself a wife such as will do credit to the family." "You are not responsible for Mr Brinkham's training." "He has in him the makings of a fine fellow," said Lina. "At present he is more notable at a fox> hunt than in a parlor; still, I may turn him tnto an Adonis by great care. And then the joy, the delight of seeing Aunt Vilthorp's gloom her grieving envy at the bishop's ill succes. "All that, if were in your place, would not iepay me for vexing such a father," said Pauline. "I should think you would ba so fond ot him, and so proud of him, too, Lina, that you wculd try and please him; you would be sure then to do right." "Thank you fur giving such good advice," said LadyAatraea, entering.

by duncan McGregor

Author of "Kennedy's Foe," 'Tshinael Keformo "A Game of Three/' "Edna's Peril," Etc, etc.

j "I am glad that you think so we]] of J my son." j "Surely," said Pauline, flushing, I "it can make no difference to Lord j Harcourt nor to be any benefit to | him, that I think well of him"—she j looked about; Ladv Lina had es- ■ eaped—"but. oh, Lady Astraea, , sometimes it seems to me so hard j that I did not have just such a father." She fixed her honest eyes on her old friend's face. "I feel in mysalf such a capacity > for my family pride, and for all these I good things that come of an assured posicion. I dare speak to you, for you know whom I have been deceived, and have lost what thought that I had. What an opportunity has Lady Lina, and how little she regards it. But don't think I am condemning her, for I feel sure she has a very strong nature and a loving heart." "Strong and headstrong," said Lady Astraea, "her father wishes she were more like you. He shows you, for him, unusual kindness." "I fetl just like an imposter," said Pauline, "when he thinks I am your relation, and I am not. Perhaps you had better tell him." "And why?" asked Lady Astraea, looking at her closely. "Because he is kind, and advises me, and acts just like a father to me, because I am your ward, and he likes grave g-i'rJs, and I am grave Perhaps he would not wish to act so to a nobody." "Never fear," said Lady Astraea; "we Harcourts are not snobs; we can afford to esteem people for their own sake." Lady Astraea was wise in her generation; she felt sure that she was not mistaken in Pauline's feeling—it had no element of love-mak-ing in it. But then there was her son; she must discover his meaning in his kindness. She found opportunity for this in Upcoming of Allan Bird. The lawyer remained two days. "I am glad he came," said Lord Harcourt to his mother. "1 always ; liked him, and have wished him ! down; but yet I don't quite under- 1 stand what brought him just now." "I thif)ksJit was Pauline," said ' Lady Astraea. i "Ah! he is her trustee. Nothing; wrong in her affairs?" > ',Oh, to; but I fancy il; was a softer reason. The old bachelor is ] very much pleased with Pauline— j he wishes he were younger, for her sake." | "Goodness, mother! But he is nut young. Don't countenance such a sacrifice; he is old enough to be her father." j "At the same time he could give ' her a handsome establishment, and leave her a large property." "Outrageous considerations to marry on," cried Lord Harcourt. "I, for one. would set myseif entirely against it." "You seem quite interested in her." "Indeed I do. I never saw a young girl who pleased me so well, j 1 often wish Heaven had given me such a daughter. She is less bewitching than Lina, but more , beautiful. Lina lacks pride ard dignity, and Pauline has both. Lome, | mother, we must find her a better match than old Bird. A young member of Parliament, with great in- : terest for a ..wife to be a snurer | in, that is what she wants. Such we shall find her." i I TO BE CONTINUED.~| I