Lady Marjorie's Love

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 30 April 1913, Page 2

Lady Marjorie's Love

(OUR SERIAL

By Carl Swerdna Author of "To th« Uttermoit Fwtlvmg," "A Mere Ceremony," "A Fight for Honour," Eto.

CHAPTER XXX.—Continued. "Wasn't it put <m for me, Marjoric?" asked Harrington. "Of course it was! You don't think it was for Mr Chadburn? I wanted you to see me look nice for once. And you do like it? I'm so glad, because I've got heaps of white frocks! That's a good thing, isn't it?"

there was nothing to thank him for, certainly not! It had given him nothing but pleasure that she and hor daughter had remained at Castle Marling as long as they had found convenient. He hoped—. Here he was interrupted, and his hope cut short.

"A very good thing—if they aro all as pretty as this." "Oh, they are not —that isn't what I meant! I—l mean that I shan't want to buy any new ones for ever so long." "I see. That is very considerate, certainly." "Of course it is!" she laughed, twisting the same button that she had twisted earlier in the day. "Oh, I've been thinking, you know —I've been doing lots of thinking upstairs! I'm going to be careful —awfully careful — and not buy anything new for ages." She looked up, smiling. "You know, don't you? Because, dear, I know that we are going to be poor." "And you don't mind it?"

"My stepdaughter, Mr Chadburn!" Fenella. making the correction, was sweet but emphatic. "Marjorie is merely the daughter of Lord Marlingford's first wife. Oh, pray don't apologise.—quite natural that you should have, forgotten! Have you ■seen her isince your arrival? Yes? Then I presume you have heard tho nowrs? T hope you are pleased? Personally, and to speak quite'franklv, I consider her a most fortunate girl!" "Indeed?" To the two standing smiling and unseen in the huge recess of the window, Mr Chadburn's voice, so pleasant in its full bluff eheeriness, sounded a little queer. "I confess I am a little surprised to hear it, your ladyship."

"Mind it? I don't mind anything! You know I don't!" She sighed. "I wish J knew how to do more, though—l wish I..were cleverer.. Oh, dear, I'm not particularly useful,-I'm afraid, and if you were to ask Fenella she'd tell you that I wasn't particularly ornamental, either!" "Fenella. may go to—may proceed to her destination as soon as she pleases! What has tbecome of her> by the way? Packing?" "I suppose so. I haven't caught a glimpse of her since she went sailing off this morning, and I don't. want to. Wasn't she crabby? I wish she would stay upstairs all the evening—she and the dowager, both—but that's too much to hope for. She is sure to come creaking downstairs presently, if only to gush to Mr Chadburn."

"I suppose she will. What was he saying to you just now?" "Saying? I don't wonder you ask!" She was indignantly crimson again instantly. "I think the poor old gentleman must be a little bit crazy, Gerard —I do, really! He actually told me that it was a thousand pities that I was engaged to you, and that I should do a great deal better to marry his horrid son! And lie said there was nothing he would like better than to see mo do it!" . "Did he? Flattering at anv rate!" "Flattering? I call it simply atrocious! And when I reminded him | that ,his son was engaged already he I actually laughed and said that was nothing—it could easily be broken off. ' Fancy that! And I had thought he was so nice and had begun to like him so much!" "It sounds as though he had .begun to like vou so much, doesn't it, dear?" * -, "Perhaps it does! But J don't at all thank him for the compliment!" She looked up with an air of injured remonstrance. "And he told me his son was worth two of you! There! And when we both know that his son's a perfect donkey!" ."Exactly! At the same time I must .say that I've no precise'remembrance of..haying -said «o." '"' rf Dh;' well, if you didn't really say it, you meant it —it's all the same!" She laughed. "It ig strange how odd fathers are, aren't they? I dare say he thinks he is all night. Bother his son! ]. don't want to see him—l shall try to get away from here tomorrow before he comas. Did you know he would be here then?" "Yes, I knew that much. So you won't even wait to see the poor fellow?" "No—why should I? I should only hate him if I did see him!" said the girl conclusively. She looked up at him with eyes .sparkling with tender mischief. "And what else do you think Mr Ghadbum said? Guess!" .Quite beyond me. What?" "That girls changed their minds sometimes, and that I had better give you a hint not to make too sure of me. Arc you sure of me?" He certainly should have been on the face of the evidence, and the white frock got crushed recklessly. *He would have staked Castle Marling itself twice over upon her love and truth when he felt the tender clinging of her arms about his neck, and he whispered as much between the kisses. Then a creak and a rustle became audible, and they half started apart, scenting the countess. The countess it was, hut she did not see them. Magnificent in sweeping crape robes and dainty trifle of a widow's cap, she appeared at the foot j of the stairs and hesitated under the lamp, the light of which was strong now in the fast-gathering gloom. Would she turn in their direction. Marjorie squeezed Barrington's sleeve, and hut for his arm round her he might have sought refuge in the curtain again. But the countess did not turn. She uttered a pleased exclamation, and made a quick movement forward, and they knew, with rather heartless relief, that her ladyship had descended, upon Mr Chadburn, j "Poor old boy! SKe has got him !" j Barrington remarked,'in an. irrever-; ent whisper. ! "Yes. Won't she gush!" said Marjorie, in another. j The countess certainly did gush. • She was ; voluble, effusive, grateful, complimentary; in short, altogether charming—for those that liked it. Whether Mr Chadburn liked it or not, was best known to himself; he stood his ground manfully, and politely made a.s little of her ladyship's eloquence as he could. He had been delighted to oblige Lady Marlingford, he said, very pleased indeed, but

"On account of the difference in position, I presume " said the countess. "Oh, my dear Mr Chadbum, surely a man like yourself must long ago have abandoned those antiquated notions! lam proud for my own part to say that I am entirely free from mere class prejudices. Marjorie is'well born—to use the cant phrase -—but she has not a penny, and really, between ourselves, she is nothing in particular in any way. In my opinion she has no claims whatever to make a better match, and I am very glad she had the common sense to accept it. It ifi a most fortunate thing, and I repeat that I consider her a very lucky girl. And Mr Barrmgton is really such, a charming young man!" Barrington choked at this climax; only hi s hand across her mouth kept Marjorie quiet, Mr Chadbwrn gave a slrbrt laugh. "I am glad your ladyship thinks so. He is a very lucky yourg man. at any rate!" said he bluff lv. "You thinb so?" - A tincture of acidity bega.n to mingle with her ladyship's sweetness. "Ah, be luu- been raving to you about the child, no doubt! Quite natural; he is really very much in love with her. I only hope it may last, for I can't pretend to flatter myself that Marjorie is likely to make a good wife for a poor man; she is sadlv unpractical and useless poor child!" "Is she? I dare say—l dare sav! Well, Lady Marlingford. we mustn't expect too much of a young creature like that you know. She's very pretty and a good loving little girl. I'm sure, and Ivhe's' most uncommonly fond of her sweetheart—-which is what T like to see. And as for him—well, if lie's the mat. [ take him for, he's more than willing to make that do." "He's a dear!' Marjorie whispered enthusiastically in the window. "I'm sorry I snapped at him just now."

"Oil. for the present, of course!" assented the countess, with the most nmiabioi readiness. "It was the futt're I was thinking of. Lovers are pr.n-whially foolish creatures, we all know. I trust it will turn out happily for boMi then sakes, lam sure. By the way, since we are speakin.e of the subject,, may I ask, Mr Chadburn, if you. have yet seen the dow.agor countess?" "I have not yet had the pleasure." Mr Chad burn's" fa-ce, resolutely more honest than hi s words, plainly showed that to see the dowager would he the reverse of a pleasure. "I presume,' he said "that I may conclude why you ask the question. Lady Marlingford. I understand that Lady Marjorie's engagement to my agent does not meet with her ladyship's approval r" "Appi rival? Oh, my clear Mr. Chadburn, she is really most absurd about it!" The oountes s gave <a shrug of indulgently amused resignation. "She is very old. and one is bound to be indulgent with her, but she has all those very old-fashioned notions, you know! Indeed, there wag 'iiiite, a scene to-day —most amusing—but v ou will have heard of it. no doubt: 1 She considers Mr Barrington's poposal to Marjorie as nothing less than an audacity—so absurd when, one remembers the girl's position, as I have again and again represented to he- It is really no business of yours, I am aware, but she is so odd, and Iroally fear it i s only likely, that she may quite insist upon an interview with you." (To be Continued.)