THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9640, 4 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTEtt XL—Continued

"I told her exactly what I thought!" cried Mrs Vilthorpe', in a rage. "I told her a y< ting lady should not render her co: cuct liable to .such interpretation. But she is a girl utterly without moue&ty or discre tion, and she has resolved not to be driven away," "Driven away!" shouted Lord Harcourt, tuo angry to consider his tones; "she shall not go away—l shall forbid it. But for your part, Mrs Vilthorpe; if it is your intention to continue tnus interfering in my family affairs, I shall find little pleasure in your society.'" "Do not fear thai. I shall remain," cried Mrs Vihhjrpe; "1 had rather live in honourable seclusion than in a home which seems bound, in the indiscretion of its daughter and the blindiiLai i,f its head, to become a spectacle to all the titled homes of Britain. I wish it to be understood that I Lave here to-morrow for Baden Baden." Mrs Vilthorpe swept upstairs. Lord Harcourt sat aghast at this sudden and fierce domestic storm. Just outside his window, on the soundless turf, his lovely daughter executed a lovely pas seul. Lady Liria had tripped around to this side of the house to see if she could discern her Italian teacher coming up alojg the vin-yard rows. She had come within healing when her father cried, "Madam! Mrs Vilthorpe!" and, without knowing what the quarrel was about, she gloried in that there was a quprrel at all, and, seeing her way clear to being free of her most dreaded duena, she kept up her dance until her teacher came to give her lessen. After a time Airs Vilthorpe concluded tj go aud see if the lesson were enaed. She remarked to herself that to the last she would watch over her dead enter's child. Her poodle preceded her on the stairs; said poodle got undtr hir lady's feet, and we grive to aay, that it so goaded Mrs Vilthorpe in her distracted state of mi..d that she kicked him. Insult was what the pooale could not endure. The beast flew to the edge of the unbanistered stair to bark, yelp' and menace; unhappily just on a level with the littu- urute's wrathful muzzle went the wig of the departing Italian teacher. Poodle nipped it straightwa\, and utf it came, wig, spectacles, paten and beard, all fastened together; and, as poodle dropped the trophy with a hcwl of terror, Mrj Vn.horue'a awful orbs were fixed on the surly black head, the bright black eyes, at'd shapely chin of Gran it to Marie Arriano!

Thus amazingly transformed under thd very eves of his enemy, there was nothing for Granitto to do but go, and accordingly he went, But Mrs Vilthorpe was not the only personwho beheld the change. Lord Harcourt had sent to request Miss Percy to come to his study, and was standing at the door to await her. Lina had slowly followed her teacher from the parlour, and Lady Astraea had followed Lina, and these three saw the poodle's victory. Granitto vanished, and Mrs Vilthorpe lifted her spoils like a conqueror in the arena. "Lady Lina Harcourt" said Lord Thomas, with great solemnity, "will you be kind enough to go to your room and remain there until I send for you. Mother, I would like to see you—and, oh, thank fortune, here is Miss Percy ! Miss Percy, come here." Mrs Vilthorpe returned to her room with her nose in the air. Lord Harcourt paced his room in some agitation.

"Miss Percy," he said, "I understand from Mrs Vilthorpe that she has Deen making some very uncalled for and unfounded remarks on the subject of your remaining in my house. I hope that I may hear from your own lips that you do not consider those remarks worthy of consideration, and that you will take no action consequent upon them." "My lord," said Pauline, looking bravely into Lord Harcourt's eyes, "I am sure that there was no foundation for what Mrs Vilthorpe said, and yet I have concluded that it is beat for me to return to London as soon as I can find proper company." "My dear Miss Percy! That would be to deprive my mother of her most agreeable society, and my daughter of her safest companion! I cannot consent to your leaving us. 1 shall feel sure that you are influenced by Mrs VHthorpe's absurd ideas." "Lord Harcourt." said Pauline, blushing hotly, "there are other reasons that influence me. Believe me,.

BY DUNCAN McGKEGOE < Aiahor of "Kennedy's Foe," '•lshmnel Reforme "A Game of Three," "Edna's Peril," Etc., etc.

I am grateful for your kindness." "I wish I could feel that there were cause for gratitude, and then I might beg you to give me a token of gratefulness. You have just seen this most disgraceful affair in our hall, and cannot be blind to the fact that my daughter has been party to a deception, and has received an acquaintance in disguise. Knowing the folly, if you remain you may protect her from herself. If you go, what am Ito do? I find her in danger from one cause in England, and from another cause here." "I am sure, my lord, she meant nothing but mere amusement, and' to circumvent her aunt, whose espionage vexes her. But how can I remain, if remaining I am responsible for Ladv Ltna?" "You will not be responsible, but you will be her safeguard. As to leaving us, prove hy remaining that you are not influenced ny Mrs Viltnorpe's ridiculous suspicions. In this world, my dear young lady, we are to guard ourselves from even an appearance of evil, and yet we cannot hope entirely to be hidden from the strife of tongues." Pauline looked down uneasily. To go would be to disoblige her best and only friends, and might be construed into giving credence to Mrs Vilthorpe's suggestions about Lord Harcourt. As lor Dugaid Piobyn, she j could conquer wbat she secretly de-! nominated a "foolishness" about him, as well by fighting as by flying. "Come," said Lady Astraea, "I will be answerable for Miss Percy after a little further conversation with her. And now, my dear, after half an hour, will you send Lady Lina here to us?"

But while Lady Astraea and Lord Thomas discusaed the enormities of Lady Lina's conduct, the discomfited Granitto departed through the vine rows, and the woman who was working at a lace pillow in the house of the farmer saw the Italian teacher who had come into the gate an old man depart a young man. She laid aside her work, and wandering out among the vines, presently encountered the vine dresser's boy, an astute youngster, and asked for him who was the old man who at eleven o'clock daily viaited the villa, and for what the went. "He is °an Italian who goes to the villa to instruct those barbarians who only speak English how to converse in the only tongue worth using." "And pray who does this man teach at the villa? if you know " "If I know! Illustrious lady, how could I fail to know when I have nothing on earth but a few grapes, a goat, and my neighbour's business to attend to? He goes to teach a young lady." "And does he teach both young ladies? There are two at the villa." "Now, signora, my accurate acqauintance with what goes on in the world .comes into use; he teaches but one young lady, because the aged signora, who has all that heart could wish, has yet seen fit to indulge in poor health—a luxury of the rich—and one young lady does to take lesbons, since she must read to and console her venerable grandmama." "Ah," said the lace worker, returning to her room, "then he has a lover. I begin to think that things are going pretty well."

Mrs Vilchorpe hsd left Italy; Granitto Marie Arriano was banished from Villa Pazzi. and had disappeared entirely trom the neighbourhood—at least so Lord Thomas fancied—and Dugaid Probyn had heard no hint of Lady Lina's escap.ide. "And why was this such a dreadful thing?" said Lady Lina, seating herself on Pauline's lap, and patting her friend's cheek with her soft little hands. "Pauline, you look like a Daniel come to judgment! What is there so unpardonable in hoodwinking such a spy as Aunt Vilthorpe?" "Consider, too, the fact of practising such a deception and receiving disguised visits from a mere passing acquaintance. It cannot be, Lina, that you care for this man, when you could have such a lover as Dugaid Probyn?" and Pauline sighed. "I don't want him for my lover," said Lina, "he's too sedate. Life with,him would be too dignitied and commonplace to have any attractions. I'd rather be a bandit's w'fe, and live in a cave. But don't fear about Arriano, he is to be a priest." "Lina," said Pauline, looking steadily at the pretty downcast face, and veiled blue eyes of her friend, "do you care for Arriano?'" Lady Lina looked straight in Pauline's face, and said, promptly: ITO BE CONTINUED.]