CHAPTER XXXI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2066, 3 October 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXI.

A " SOCII TV " HOMB. Lady Wm i>i:r-\i: was reading a letter that ccemod to pivc her some Hatifcfaction. 'When it waa finished she placed it on the table. Floou fit onco knocked it down ; Castor and Pollux commenced to fight over it ; the countees looked on with a dreamy smile. " I am not quite euro," the said, "that my little pets must hare (hat letter. It is /rom my daughter, Lady Gertrude; she returns this week." It was a pretty home picture— tho light, beautiful room waa flooded with bunlight, the air was warm with the odor of flowers ; ther« wan a musical ripple from the little fountain that stood in. the midst of the white hyacinth?. The countess, in her costly morningwrapper, with her pretty, picturesque headdress of white Mechlin lace, lay on her favorite couch ; Ailie, looking the very ideal of youth and fair loveliness, Hat reading to her. There had been many interruptions — a cup of fragrant cocoa, such an the countess dearly loved ; then letters, and this one letter had pleared the haughty, dainty lady. She bad grown ho accustomed to Ailie that she Bpoke out most of her thoughts quite frankly before her. " I Em plad Gertudo it rsturning," she said ; " Flohs is very fond of her, and sho is really kind to him. We shall have time for morg reading if she takes the dogs from you." Ailus never could remember quite what was raid, out she pleaded that none of the duties which were so pleasant to her might be taken from her. Lady Waldrove smiled ai she answered ; then, looking with eyes of been, curious oriticiim at her, she said : . " Your hands are trembling, Miss Derwent. How strangely you seem to unnerve yourself at times. Why should you tremble because my daughter, Lady Gertrude Carsdale, is coming home? Do you know that although I like you, you aro rather incomprehensible." The beautiful eyes raided to hers had in them a mute entreaty. She would fain have Mid, " Lad/'Qertruae ii my husband's sister,

ami fcr his sake I wai.t to win her Ime;" his she dare not utter Mch word". Rr n i-ncw ( that thia coming b^me of L-idy fbitrivi ■ w.'.<3 important to hf r ; much niii;ht drpr i;l on her Hkinp, and Aflie wti olrcjuly tLiLkin;; ho.v fihr ccu'd best win that liking. The day arrived when the My fbo Intl co Ion;; deeired to see cima bonur. Hho wbr reading a French rommce to the count rss when tho carringc drove up to the do jr. S'-ie . rose instinctively from her ecat, thinking, , with her usual delicate pen^ of rijrht, thus the first interview between mother ai 1 dau^i ter, after such a long absence, should be private. "Where Are you going?" rslicd the countes 1 , a« she laid down her book. Ailie blushed, at though she had bern detected in something wrong. " My dear Msss Ddrwent," said the countess, languidly, " never think for yourpelf ; it is an inoonvenient and rather exhausting custom. You do not suppose that L-i ly Gertrude would dream of rushing into my room btf jro her travelling-dress was changed, do 30U? I should not pardon such a breach of etiquette." "I did not think at all," rrp'ied Ailio, humbly. "When my daughter ha<? attended to her toilet, she will see me. She may even wait until the dressing bell rings ; even then you need not absent yourself. If I wish you to leave me, I shall not fail to tell you se." There was nothing for it but to resume the book ; but while she read mechanically, she was wondering what kind of mother and daughter were these, so near, yet so far apart who cared so little for each other thit, after bo many weeks of abience, the daughter did not rush into her mother's presence. And there came to her a sudden sinking et the heart as she saw and imagined the fact that, after all, the lives ot such people were not regulated by their affections. If Lidy Waldrove exacted bo much ceremony, and cared to receive so little afleotion from her daughter, what would her daughter-in-law expaot or receive ' She read mechanically, the shadows deepening on her face and in her heart. Love was to have played euch an important p«t in hfr little drama, and now it seemed *> her that love had no hold on these people— they simply ignored it. An hour later she heard tha rustle of silk, and then a gentle touch at the door. ' Cumo in," said the countess, languidly. Then Lady Gertrude entered the room. Ailie looked at her with admiration. She was not what tho world would call a beautiful woman, but she had a beautiful figure, fine dark (yes, lino dark hair, and a beautiful mouth ; ehe waa patrioan from the orown of her proud head to her pretty, arched foot— high-bred, elegant, with a sauve grace of manner. Ailin almost devoured her with hor eager glance. Lidy Gertrude went gently to her mother's couoh ; they touched each other's hand* with a gentle, cold touch, then Lady Gertrude laid her lips for half a moment on her mother's brow. Ailie thought of the hour's kissing and oarressing that followed her mother's absence from them, and wondered. " You are looking well, Gertrude," said tho countess "I am well, mamma, I thank you," waa the reply. Then Floss began to bark ; Castor and Pollux followed suit. " Your little friends are pleased to see me, mamma," said Lidy Gertrude. Then the countoea, turning languidly to her daughter, rvd : " Thia is Miss Derwent, my companion. I wrote to you about her." Ailie blushed as two beautiful dark eyes, so like Vivian'a looked into her own. Lndy Gertrude did not hold out her hand, but sho I bowed, with a kindly smile, and Ailie said to herself that in time she would win her liking, then she would have one friend secured at least. The arrival of Lady Gertrude made some little difference to her — she was no longer the sole companion of tho countess. Poor Ailie ! the more time she passed with those two ladief, the more she listened to their conversation, the more hopeless she grew. They talked over everyone they knew, who married well or badly, who was rich, who was honored ; but in all their conversations no one ever heard the word " love." If, indeed, any love-match came on the tnpi*, it was covered with ridicule, laughed at, treated with the ntmost contempt ; the people who had contracted it were looked upon, at the very least, as harmless lunatica — not vicious, merely harmless. Lore itself was ignored, never mentioned income, title, diamonds, rent-roll, oastles— all these were continually taken into account ; love never. Ailie could picture the fine satire in tho face of Lady Waldrove at the bare idea of love. They were speaking one day of a very dictant relative of the earl's ; Lady Gertrude had met him in London, and was pleased with him. She was telling her mother about him. •• He was worth knowing once," said the counters, " I Admit ; " but ho has lo3t himself by hit) foolish marriage." " Whom did he marry ? " asked Lady Gertrude. " A nobody— the daughter of some country parson— a girl without fortune or conneotion. He might have made himself by a good marriage—he loat himself. Do not lose your time, Gertrude, in speaking of him." "But, mamma, his wife is a lady." " My dearest child," replied the countess, languidly, "in these days a butcher's wife, a house-maid, a poor, struggling dressmaker, calls herself a lady. Do not waste your time, Gertrudt ; I shall never invite him here." And Ailie, listening, thought to herself what chance had she. The other girl of whom they were speaking was a minister's daughter, and in her simplicity she had always thought that quite a patent of nebility. What could, or what would they say to a dancing master's daughter? If they only knew I How little hope shere was for her, after all. A.B day by day sho listened, her hope 1 ? seemed, in some vaguo way, to grow fainter , it waß all the world, the vain, cold, cruel world; it was all M&ramon, nothing else— they ignored love. The honor for which the boy-heir had sacrificed so much was for them but a sound; so her hopes grew fainter. Thero was no room for love in these stately patrician walls— no room. " We must havo come visitors, mamma," said Lady Gertiude, one morning; "I have never seen the Abbey look moru beautiful. I told you that the Pierponts were coming for August." The countess sighed. " I have never seen anything like that beautiful Lady Ethel," iho mid. " She is the loveliest woman in EDgland, without exception ; and how strange it seem 3, Gertrude, that, with all those brilliant offers, she has never married." Lady Gertrude smiled significantly. ' I have my own opinion, mamma, and if it be as I think, it is not strange at all. ' Lady Waldrove seemed to understand. She raised her eyebrows. " That was the desiro of my heart," sho said ; "but he waa provokiDply stupid," Ailie listened with a henit aching, she hardly kne> why, with bitt<r pain. Who was eiip, this brilliant Lidy Ethel ? and what was fl'^e comiog for ?