A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10532, 19 January 1912, Page 2

A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

OUR SERIAL.

By Mrs De Winter! Baker, Author of "The Sin of Protege.," >tt*

CHAPTER ll—Continued. "Our castle is certainly not an old one," he answered. "Whether it contains secrets I could not say—J hayo ,u»ver hoard of any. ou see, I don v livo much down in Cornwall. My moxbor own ovc-rything p yct-fhe terms of mv fatlherWilt left it so. 1 J»» mere v a sort of pensioner on her boun?y aVprcsent. That is why 1 have m> rooms in London and como and go a,s " With this explanation lie changed ' the subject and kept his pretty companion amused with a variety ot top- | . ca till the end of the journey. In iflio vard outside Bickleigh Sta- ( tioi . a smart, 'high, dogcart w;ith " ! "St-groomed mare was waiting in fho cliai"-e of a small groom. | "Ah! they have sent the dogcart! , announced Sis Erie, his face lighting "'And I see the brougham oyer there too. I suppose that is intended j S, you Yes, that is Grace Omer's , sour face staring out. "Tell me, who is Grace Omer? askcd Lrttice timidly. "Wliy has slxe a S °ln tlTbustle of alighting and claiming the various trunks the young man only found time to whisper in the girl s j ea "T«ke my advice-give her a wide I berth. I've never liked. nor trustea ' her But my mother thinks a great ''was all he said, but it was Quite enough to make Lettuce glanco once more ft the sour face, wondering ShJ would be her lot totravel.with it insklo the brougham. Sir Eric, howeve settled the matter by coining toward the brougham, his hands full of h %lod SSnoon, Oiner.'' he said careSy. "Just look after these Siingt Miss Lascdleß is coming with m Scf oSlyes gleamed detot-

ly '«.Hor ladvship's orders were that. 1 j was to bring Miss Lascelles along in the brougham," she said pointedly. "Olu perhaps I had better go then .» began Lettice, but was stopped by a look from Sir' Eric. It had comSand in it, and she dared not.rebel. '"Nonsense!" he said « littte impatiently. "What on earth does it matter how Miss Lascelles gets to the oastle so long .as she gets there Hurry on Omer, and tell mother that I am carry ins out her instructions and looking after my companion. Now, Miss. Las- ! celles, jump up, if you ?»«*»:, .. a I Without further ado he helped the li<dit, agile girl to the seat beside lam. "Grace Omer's iace darkened still more, but she managed to oreserve her composure, and drove off toward the j ' "I am afraid I've made an enemy of Lady Trevellan's attendant,'' said Let tice, rather nervously. Sir Eric waited for the brougham to get well ahead. ' '.'Miss Lascelles," he said, bending toward her, "don't be frightened by Omer and her bW>k looks, please, Ihe woman thinks far tt,o much of herself. As a matter if fact, as far as I can make out; she seems to rule the roost down here. Every time I've come down to pav a visit to my mother, l have noticed "that Omer seems to have some marvellous power over a hold, I might say. I have never been able to discover, the reason of this, and imv mother either laughs or ignores I niy suggestions. But keep your eyes I open, and you will, I fancy, see for« yourself what I mean. ( ' Ho relapsed into silence. Then, sud-, denlv remembering that he was keepI in« the horse standing there, he motioned to the groom to clamber up be2nd in the dogcart, and .set the mare going down the winding, shady lane. Lettice, for her part, was not a little surprised at tihe note of that j her handsome young guardian s words , had struck. A few minutes drive and they were out of t'he shade into the i sunshine. . . . - . "There! that is your first view ot Trevellan Oastle," Sir Eno. abruptly ! broke in upon her thoughts, pointing ahead of him with the whap. j ! ''Do von .see the towers/ My mother's chambers are all up in the turret ; chambers. It's a *ni of hers. All that part of the house is given up to lie" and 1 myself do not know all the rooms that are up there. Lettice gazed forward with fascinated eyes at the noble prospect before her. . r I "Oh, how interesting! She said, "perhaps the castle is haunted and j yiur mother will not tell you. t has been my greatest ambition to live in n. haunted house." "I fear wo shall not 1* able to satisfy your ambition, Miss Lascelles replied the young man with a smile. , "At least no ghost has ever walked in Trevellan Castle to my knowledge. Now isn't this a beautiful view of the bay, with the castle perched on the j cliff above like an eagle?" j Well might the enthusiastic young baronet be proud of the inheritance of J bis forefathers. In the rays of the setting sun the magnificent old castle stood out sharply from a background of hazy blue sky, while in the valley below could bo seen a glorious panorama of ripe wheat and verdant field. "How perfectly exquisite!' 'said Lettice softly, clapping her hands in childish ecstasy. "I have never Keen anything more beautiful, even on the Rhine. And to think that this lovely place will be yours some day!" <<y os —it is something to look forward to, certainly, Miss Lascelles. My father was devoted to the place, bxit lie died eighteen years ago, When I jv-as a youngster. I hardly remember poor old dad. In fact, I have often regretted that I never had a father's care."

Whatever tlio thoughts were that dhased each other through Letticc's

active mind as they drove along in the golder. evening, she kept t'hem to herself. Perhaps sJio was thinking that Si, V.y'a could have, boon improved up"ii v.' \ .-\ I'vJHM-'r. example and tuii::■•». Certainly she found him good to look upon, with clear, honest eyes and an open expression. His wellshaped head, set so well on broad tthioulders, was surely the head of a clever, thoughtful man. .Si.:; Kric helped his graceful companion to alight when they reached the castle. "Perhaps you had better wait for .Grace Omer now," he said with some reluctance. "If my mother lias ordained that she shall usher you into her presence, I won't upset the arrangement. Will you wait in the lha.ll ? Tllio brougham wall be coming by the ! Jong ro.'.d. I brought you through the lane to show you the best view." With'a smile of thanks Lettice composed herself to wait in the oak-pan-elled hall, that ran the whole depth of the building, but was shut away at the farther end by a handsome, carved screen, guarding the entrance to a private chapel where daily service was SieHcta How much she would have to learn of the ins and outs of the beautiful old home, Lettdce mused. Her thoughts i now reverted to Lady Trevellan's letter, in which she mentioned punctuality and strict observance of the rules of the household. She felt a trifle loneIly, standing there by herself, for Sir Eric was talking to' the groom on the drive outside. ■■•■-■■ She was startled to hear a soft, purling voice at her elbow. A clean-shav-en, heavy-jowled man, the chaplain and librarian of the castle, accosted her. "You are the new secretary, a<re you not?" he asked, with a servile smile. "Are you waiting for permission to see her ladyship? I think I can grant *' " He made as though to conduct Lettice upstairs himself. There was, however, somethin- in his manner the young garl did not like. A cunning look in -his closest eyes that peered from be- | neath dark, shaggy brows, sent a cold shudder through her . "Thank you. Ido not think I need trouble you. I am waiting for Lady Trevellan's attendant." As Lettice :spoke Sir Eric came into the hall. ' "How d'ye do, Jason?" ho inquired carelessly. "How goes everything in the castle?" "Excellently well, I thank you, Sir Eric," replied the chaplain, washing his liands with invisible soap and .water. "I was just offering ttf : t&ke 'this young lady to her ladyship. You know I have the entree to her room at-all tiur.es." | A frown-contracted-Sir Eric's brow. i He made no secret of the suspicion J and dislike with which lie had always regarded Mark Jason." I "Do not trouble, please," i,vas Ms I cool retort. "Grace Omer has ,rej ceived her orders. Ah, there's the j .brougham. Now, Miss Lascelles, I

must leave you for a while. But I hope to see you at dinner. Au revoir, and tlharik yoii for a delightful journey down."

CHAPTER 111. LADY TREVELLAN RECEIVES HER SECRETARY. "IMs way, miss." There was nothing in the least pleasant or conciliatory u\ Grace Omer's words, and Lettaee, following meekly behind, wondered at the woman's lack of ordinary courtesy. She felt very much as if she were in disgrace. Was this stem-faced woman going to tell of her for not driving back in the brougham? And what punishment would bo meted out to her for this first infringement of rules? Grace Omer hurried up the numerous stairs Avitlh such speed that Lattice was fain to protest. She was out of breath. "Stop a moment, please," she said. "You go so quickly." Omer stopped and looked critically at the girl. "Have you a weak heart, miss?" she asked ironically. "Certainly not!" Lettice r s reply was inclined to he indignant. "At the same timo it is a long pull up all these stairs." "You'll get used to it," came the answer in biting tones. "You'll have to fly like the wind when my lady rings the bell. She'll teaeh. you to he smart." Lettico gave a little gasp of surprise at this fresh display of bad manners on tblie part of Lady TreveUan's attendant, but deemed it wisest to offer no response. (To be Continued.)