AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10582, 13 March 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL,

By VIOLET M> FLINN,

Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Profit?" "Verena."

"By Devious Paths," Etc

CHAPTER ll—Continued

"[ don't know about Hermionc; she isn't 'out' you see, and your parties are such big affairs, Fluff. It would be different if you had plenty of time to look after her, 'but you are so popular yourself, that " Ho made a diplomatic pause. "Henmionc and I have another plan calculated to turn grandmother's wig white-. Draw up Flnffie and become a conspirator." To treat Lady Flora as their eontemporary was to enlist her at once, yet she looked unusually sober as she grasped the new idea.' "Mamma, will dio of rage if she gets wind of it! 1 really don't think Hospitals aro such smelly places, and there aro fevers and horrid things. Besides every paper will get hold of it!" "I thought of calling myself Miss March!' Hermione said. Her aunt looked perplexedly from one to the other; her small senses invariably deserted her in a crisis. "It sounds awful; I really don't know." "We'll think it all over!' Ludvvorth said. "She is not going to-night, you know. But we can't do without you and Tommy you know!" —patting her shoulder soothingly. "We've &ot to keep Gertrude in Scotland till we 'have come to a conclusion, or nothing will prevent her. from telling grandmother!" "She always was a beast!" Flora said vigorously. "I'm sure all I suffered when 1 was a girl, originated through her jealousy."

"W:hen Tom kissed you under the willow tree, eh? Oh,,you were a nice couple, I'll be bouud," "It was very nice," she said, but some of the old pain camo back to her faded eyes. "What brutes tliey.were! Oh, Hermione, I think I will help you just to pay mother a little back' for what I owe her!" She stared at her niece reminiscently. "Isn't it funny how we all have kicked against roamma? and Marmaduke, Alicia and Honora —how they fought!—and now vou!" 1 "

"Aunt Honora got her way, at all events!"

"Yes. She .was the really brave one and the boys bolted. And Alicia " She sighed 'heavily. Her face grew a little strained under her rouge. It was not often that she permitted herself to look back upon the past. It was a foolish idea to get concerning fluffy-minded Flora who lived in the joy of the present, but the duko had always the impression that in the ibygone past there lurked a bogey of whoso existence, real or imaginary, and known only to (herself, she was desperately afraid.

CHAPTERIH

In spite of the unwonted dissipations of theatre going, sightseeing, and res. taurant dinners, Hermione's desire for hospital life did not weaken', and Ludworth tfoxtnd himself impelled to do what she wished and to exert himself on her behalf. Sir Thomas, who had at first been utterly incredulous over the matter, suddenly veered round and heartily supported the. girl. "I'll help Hermione just to'spite the old lady for the miserable life that sho led my poor-old Fluffie!' he said. "It seems to me Jack, that I will never be able to atone for all that dear angel suffered through me. And anyway, I will not stand by and see another, young woman's life spoilt just for an old woman's lust of power. You give Hermione iher head, my lad. You need have no fear; she'll run straight and-be none the worse for it. And a gay old time the duchess will have when, she back! By jovo, I'd like to see her face when she hears what has been goir>£ on." When Ludworth did rouse himself to act he .invariably displayed somewhat surprising energy, and having committed himself s<s far, he-did .not fail Hermione. In an incredibly short time the necessary arrangements were made and Miss March was accepted as a probationer at the Northport Children's Hospital, .-in which the nurse she knew was acting as sister to the ward; Her identity was known to Sister Allan ahmb, and she was a woman who coiild-bo trusted to keep her own counsel. The overhauling of the drainage system of Ludiworth House was the excuse for Hermione's departure. The girl looked upon the* idea as a master stroke, and Ludworth took credit to himself for his brilliancy. . ' . Hermione spent the last night m town with the Blaggs. Ludworth was going to Northport to see her in, as ho put it. It was a duty Fluffio would not perform. "I do wish you were not going," she said to Hermione when she went to' her room to bid her good-bye the next morning. "I think it is silly, but I suppose you know your own business best." She pushed her Jace-trimmed pillows into easier position and stared wonderingly at her niece. "You could havo such a good time if you stayed with me, and lots of fun. You won't get any fun in the hospital, Hermione. All the doctors are sure to be taarried." The girl drew herself up a little. "I am engaged ito Ludworth," slio said stiffly, then relented. After all, Fluff had only spoken after her lights, .and she meant to bo very kind. Sho stooped and laid her fresh young cheek against the small face under the coquettish mob cap. Fluff's bedroom and herself were harmonious iu'decoration and colouring, but it all seemed very theatrical and nvholl v -artificial when

Hermiono in the flush of her youth stood 'beside t-ho gilt bed and the flowered brocado curtains.-

I "Good-bye, dear. Thank you very much!" she said gently. "Yes, I will J come 'to you if I don't like it. Good- ! bye. Let me hear all about your good times." Flora dabbed her eyes with htr handkerchief. She was easily moved to tears or smiles. "It reminds mo so of poor Alicia!'' she said, rather inoonsequently. " J lt.it dreadful morning. She camo and said good-bye just as you do." Hermiono paused to smile. "You mean Aunt Honor a," she cor reoted. "It was aunt Alicia who died." Fluff shrank down into her billows.

I "Yes, yes, of course I meant Henora,' she said agitatedly. Hernno'ie carried away with her the ro.:iienibranqp'of the small .withered face peering out of its nest of luxury \vith ~ide, nervous eyes of apprehension. Neither Hermione nor Ludworth retained any very clear recollection of the journey to Nonthport. The girl was too excited, too overstrung to be conscious of more t'han the almost incredible reality of the proceeding, i Now and again, Ludwonth, looking at her quiet face as she glanced at the magazines w.ith which lie had provided j her, or watched the passing scenery with eyes that were more intent on an inward vision, felt almost irritated ly her calm passivity. For his own pait he felt foolishly nervous , and fidgefcv, and would .have almost been glad had Hermiono suddenly announced her intention of returning home. It was no fear of his grandmothers wrath prayed upon him; perlups no one was more indifferent to that than ihe was. It was rather a nervous dread of what the result might be to Hermiono herself. It was an experiment begun idly, almost as a joke; for.the.,.first time ; he realised fh;ib it might Save serious and -fer-Jattthiag consequences. Their first, view of Northport was not' inspiriting. The city lay under a pall I of damp, white fog, out of whoso vet, j wreathy mists came a hideous clamour I of street gongs and motor horns, with I a never-ceasing chorus of whistles and ' sirens from the. broad estuary v here the ferry boats, shrieking feverishly, crept cautiously under the sterns of the ocean-going liners, calling aloud in sonorous, ear-piercing blasts that way might be cleared for them. The fog was less dense as their i'ourwheeler crawled from the lower-lying city to the outskirts in which the children's infirmary was situated. When they reached the brick building the glow of light from every window and the cheerful stream of the warmth and colour that streamed from the open doors gave Ludwort'i the first feeling of satisfaction he had experienced since thej' 'had left London. Not even the crescendo a 'id diminuendo of children's cries and si.bs that were to be heard every time a ward j door was opened or shut ou the galleries that surrounded the wide entrance hall could wholly dissipate the sensation. ..... "Do they keep on yelling like this all the time?' :he asked Sister Allan os sho preceded him up the wide, shallow, white staircase that wound upwards, and she smiled as she answered : "Jt is tho 'hour between tei and bed and they are always fractious then. But wo never notice it-; we grow so accustomed to it. I suppose strange? s do find it rather trying." Now and again a ward door opened us they passed, and they had glimpses of long, wide rooms with highly polished'floors, rows of beds, scarlet-jacketed ?.'kl flowers of every hue, and ail" air of "exquisite cleanliness almost painful in its purity. Hermiono caught her breath quickly —■there was an unusual glow in her pale, cheeks —her eyes shone. She looked strikingly beautiful as sho passed along* with her slow, graceful step. Sister Allan did not wonder that the two men who came out of ward as they passed looked a t her with unusual interest. "Two of our doctors, she said. "One is Mr Hadwen, the house surgeon ; tho other is Mr llaywarde, one of the visiting surgeons. We are very proud of him, lie is so clevei. They had tea in the sitting room. ~ a , very small place, only separated from tho ward by a very few paces. Ludworth fat insecurely on a wicker chair, drank tea from a Japanese cup, and wondered if the bread and butter really did taste of disinfectants. Herliiione seemed oblivious of every shortcoming as sho carried 011 an eagei conversation with Sister Allan, asking a score of questions with the zeal ot a novice. Once again he felt the mconI gruity ofH'lio whole proceeding, bub lie ' was comforted when lie saw the hum-: ourous light on Sister Allan's features now and again. She had shown so ' much tact in her attitude "so far .that he felt with relief that " Hermione might safely be left under her wing. (To be continued.)