AFTER RELEASE.
OUR SERIAL.
By VIOLET M. FLINN, Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Profit?" "Veranu." "By Devious Paths," Etc.
CHAPTER IX—Continued
But it was not for some time that Lndwortli had reason to' think that Miss Edleyhad spoken sincerely. Yet ho cancelled his intended visit to Cu-yn-hams, greatly to his valet's annoyance, and refused many invitations that, in ordinary circumstances lie would have been glad to acept. He was tired of the round of selfish pleasure when it was far more likely that he could become a public benefactor in bringing Miss Grainier"out as a singer. 'The claims of philanthropy were surely paramount to the gratification of idle pleasure. Ho was a regular attendant at the various metings in connection with St. Clement's. But Eldyt'h was suffering witJi a severe cold, ai:d he did not see her. Ho was almost beginning to despair when one night at the close of a rehearsal Connie Edley passed in front of him as he stood in attendance on Miss Louisa. "GoCd-nigiht, your grace,' she said, ' and .added in a whisper: "One o'clock] to-morrow, corner of Trafalgar Square ! —it's her birthday." ' . . I
CHAPTER X.
"If'only I could add a -wasted year or two to these months!' Herimone sighed, as she rolled bandages with quick, dexterous fingers. Miss Allan smiled.
'Make the most of what ye yet may spend,' she counselled. "It's an extraordinary knack you have for the work. You would have ben wasted if you had been a son instead of a daughter.' "It seems to run in the family. I suppose because my ancestors were sudh fighters. Aunt Flora told me once that her sister who died used to spend all her play time in doctoring animals and her dolls, so clearly it must be a 'hereditary instinct." "It seems like it. Mr Rawarde says ■he never wavered in his choice of a profession. _His mother did not want j Hum to take it up. now did von enjoy ! last night's dinner?" . A little colour came into Hermione's face. "Very much. Did you?" "•Well, I never care much for a dinner party; waste of time, I call it. Besides, it is always my luck to get a bore who won't let me talk. Fortunately, we came to loggerheads at once over the suffrage; the man lost his temper and sulked all the rest of the 'time. I was so relieved. You went in with Mr Rawarde, didn't you? I was so amused, because you never seem •to dissociate with him from the ward." Hermione laughed. "He refused to talk 'shop' and said he know nothing''that was not nonsensical. He wtas very amusing, and—interesting." "His nonsense ■is ■ worth nipre than most men's sense. lam gkd you got on well. I wanted you to see Kim away from hospital and home, for he is welt ~ worth ''knowing.' " '.-.>.: -■■•• ■■•::& .For the first time Hermione found ;herself in agreement with her oil that point.' 'She was spending a good deal |of her off time at.the Square, for both Gwenda and her grandmother demanded it, and in'that love-laden atmosphere, that ideal home life, her starved affections and repressed nature found all that they had lacked. Sun- | ned by Mrs .Rawarde?s and thawed by G.wenda's love, her real mature expand- | ed and grew to its perfect development.
•It troubled her little that she did not often see Mr Rawarde. Now and again they met in the hall; once or twice lie had appeared at tea in the nursery, very much to Ghvcnda's surprised delight*. Men did not enter into Hermione's range of vision; the"'seoluded life and the knowledge that her future was arranged had always kepi, her from the dreams and vague imaginings that so many girls know, She had also a curious humility that influenced her more than she know. Men were of no real interest to her; therefore she could not be of any interest to them. Mr Rawarde was* to her a surgeon, and that alone, and her own •Attitude was a .humble one. She could never, lose the sense,'even in. his own house, that he was on the heights to ulhic'h she would never ascend, and it was not until the dinner party given by Sister Allan's friends who had 'taken her up,', also with kindly friendliness, that she actually came'mto contact with him on terms of equality. He had arrived a little late, to " find that Miss Maroh had created a small | sensation, and very envious looks had [ followed him when he offered her his I arm to take her to dinner. It was the I first time the majority of the guests had met her, and in evening dress Hermione'shone out as a bright particular star among a number of lesser lights. Her beauty, her air, her voice, all were alike in striking contrast to the.other women, and Rawarde told Ihimself that, attractive as she was "in her sombre, outdoor unoiforan, and the pale blue print, and the white cap and apron, she was at her best, and in her right place- as she was now.. He had the recollection of a vision of gracldusness, of a charming manner, and a quick, cultivated mind, remaining pleasantly with him when he was looking over his notes for the clay's work. The morning was dull, a grey sky liumg overhead, the leafless trees "n the garden glistened with moisture, and now and again, came a faint, muffled boom from some steamer's foghorn as she mado her way up or down tho •river. Rawarde did not notice tilio gloom and depression as acutely as was usual with him. He felt unusual-
ly content and well- attuned, as ;f some soothing influence had .surrounded him. When he went to pay his customary visit to his mother before going out lie went up the broad staircase two steps at a time, whistling like a schoolboy.
Mrs Jiawarde's bedroom was as attractive, in a way, as was her drawing room. It bore the impress of her own I personality in the dainty French fur I iiitare, witli its light draperies and ornamentation. '.PJio bed had been made for Marie Antoinette and the Petit Trianon,and its delicately embroidered curtains and coverlet had sheltered that ill-fated queen in the diays of her butterfly happines. The room was a glitter of the palest pink and silver, witih lovely, creamy ivory mdllowed by time. There were bow's filled with palo mauve orchids on gilt and porphyry tables ,and there was a pleasant fragrance in the atmosphere from .the fire of pine wood. Everything luad the delicate freshness and exquisite daintiness that Rawarde had always associated witih- his mother from his'earliest days. He could never remember a time, even in their darkesthours, when, she had .not been herself, unspoiled by her circumstances. Even in cheap, frowsy, lodgings, begrimed with the dirt of weeks of neglect, she had always kept her daintines unimpaired. He saw her as she had been. The degree only had changed, but not the "condition.
Sho looked up smilingly as he entered the room't and her eyes filled with welcoming love as he bent over hel- - kissed the soft lips.
"How pretty you look, mater," and sine laughed and coloured like a girl. "You remind me of a miniature of a Dresden shepherdess downstairs. How did you know a, lace night cap would be so becoming ?" And he touched the soft white hair beneath it with tender fingers. "Dearest, you must not waste your flatteries on'an old woman,' she answered. "Move the chocolate tr,ay, dear, and sit down. I like to see my big boy sitting there just as he used to when he could hardly climb up on the bed." "There was not so much grandeur to Ik> disturbed then as now," he said, as he did what was requested. "How did' you sleep? I am afraid you did not had a good night's rest; your eyes look tit;ed."
"I.was ,a little wakeful," she confessed, bxit would n.pt continue the subject. "Yes, L feel perfectly well, dearest. Tell me about the dinner party. How did Hemy look?" - "Nearly as pretty as you do," he answered". lHie.ro. was just a-.perceptible change'in his maimer, a litle constraint. that only one-wfoolpvetl liim as shedid would have noticed. "Oh, she made quite .a sensation —stood out lilo a swan, among geese! You know wha fc a plain set of women tlhere always is at McKinieys' ? She seemed like a Venus, among the Amazon.." "McKinleys^are ..excellent people, tmV only Muxg^^^ belong to them. Hennidno is of.ahdtb> er class: f ' •'• ' ' '
. .'.'Mater, your aristocratic prejudices are out of date." Her delicate little nose wrinkled. "I have yet to learn that univers.il brotherhood is greatly to be desired," sflie said dryly. "No one will ever persuade me that a.cart horse is as attractive as a racer: Wlio took her m to dinner.?--' "I did,' he answered. A little flash lit up the pretty blue eyes. "Aral how did you liko herr", slip demanded. "You know that I have said neither you nor she know each; other.': "Well, I'll admit that I never understood your strong admiration for ■her. She is'extremely clever in the ward, and I have never seen a lovelier girl, but I thought she was extremely cold and —or—rather uuintellectual"—-Mrs Ttawarde raised her brows—"until last night. She was not shy or stand-offish as usual, and I"—he smiled at her—, "I confess myself a convert. I think she is decidedly attractive." ".She is one of the most attractive and charming girls I have ever met,' Mrs B.aiwarde said, with decision. ''l am not given to sudden fancies, as you know, Basil, but I love that girl. She reminds me of —of my girlhood. She belongs to my own people." "I wonder who she is?" he aid, half musingly, as he pleated the silken frill of the coverlet with great precision. "Ellen knows, I believe, but will not tell. I dare say she is really nobody, but —-" "My dear, you cannot hide good breeding—-even in a villain." There was' a little - hardness in the- delicate j tones. "I have not the lea«'fc idea who she is, and have not troubled to find out. She has not told me, not lx>cause she is of a secretive nature, but simply because it has never entered my mind thafc I am interested enough in'h'er to want to know. She must lra\e led a very lonely, repressed life, and she has learned to live in herself. It ].< pitiful, I think. I love to see her with Gwenda.'\ (To he continued.)
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10593, 27 March 1912, Page 2
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1,761AFTER RELEASE. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10593, 27 March 1912, Page 2
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