CHAPTER LIX.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2093, 5 December 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER LIX.

" TOT 7 IUVT, CRGKMJT MISJUDGED MR." Lady Gertrude Cwadale could not rest. No one coald have been moro indignant than eho when she first discovered vrhat she boneally believed to be the young girl's guilt ; it was •omething astounding to hpr, a* the notion of >in or shame Always ia to a refined woman, a well-bred woman. She was at first inclined to be very covers, and Raid cruel words to the pale, trembling girl ) but when iho bod been for some time with her —when the had watched her, had liitened to her, had keenly criticised •very look and every word— thero came to her a certain eonriotion that the girl was quifco innocent, although she could not reconcile her innoconce with tbo appearances that wero 'io greatly against b?T. Her heart \v«s touched with pity ; she followed Ailie to her room. " Have jon a mother living, Miss Derwent ?" ■he asked, {gently; and Ailio answered : 11 Yea." "Then," the laid, " I advise you strongly to go to her, and tell her nil about thin unfortunate affair. Lady Waldrovo has been rather severe with you, but it is no wonde?. I tell yon honestly that ray firet feuling was on* of intense anger against you, ono o! unmitigated disgust ; bnt thnt now I have the conviction that you could givo na some explanation, if yoa would. Is it 10, Mifs Derwent ?" " I cannot ipeak, Lady Gertrude ; I cannot excuse myself. I can only say, for every good and kindly thought that yon have of mo, may the great and merciful God bless you I" For the first time since tbo firnt shock of the accusations brought against her, she put off the ohain that hung round her neck — the •lender, goldcd chain to which was attached the golden wedding-ring. The very touch of it seemed to comfort her ; they were all mis. taken, all wrong — here waa her wedding-ring — she was his wife. Tha very thought gave her courage ; it nerved her with fresh strength, it gave her moro fortitude for suifering. Bhe wm hit wife 1 they could insult, mistake, jeer .her as they would, Bhe was bis wifp, at leant until the law separated them. "I advise you for v the be«t," said Lady Gertrude. "Go home to your mother ; she will be your belt friend. And, Mirs Derwent" — here the face of the earl's daughter flunhod hotly, t> crimson flush that seemed to burn her face — " MiM Derwentr, lam older than you I know more of the world ; believe me, even if my brother, Lord Carsdale, has talked non•eme to you, you must not believe him. You have * fair, attractive face of your own, and, perhaps, admiring that, he bai paid you ft few idle compliments; bat, Mms Derwent, you ■>a«t oot Dtli«T« him."

How she lonp»>d to vindicate liim, to cry out that he had ii3f d no idle w*rd tn hpr, hut that he hurt raariifd hrr, fo that r.'v-r ;• ptaishould rept on her fair nance; yft she w compelled to listen to it all without a word of reply. "You ought to know and understand, at your age, that gentlemen are apt to loso tb( ir better t-enne when a ptotty eirl corals in their way ; but ray dear lliss Derwent, Ood ha* given to that pretty girl the iuftinct, the sense, and the pradftsco to take oaro of lipwH. How you ooitld hare imagined my brother meant anything, I cannot tell— you have ecch good mnto in other thin;:?." " I oannot explain, Lady Gertrude; I can only thank you for thinking kindly of me." " You muat know," protested Lady G«r|. rnde, " that when a man of my brother's rank «eems to admire a girl in yours, he never means to mnko he* his wife. It is not in the order of things that uaoh unequal marriage? should bo made. It means — liaten to no— it means eimply hor ruin, ' " LitmcHay jnit one thing, Lady Gertrude," pleaded Alice, " and that is, I honestly beliove your brother, Lord Carsdole, to bo one o£ the best and noblest men that ever lived. Will yon always remember that instead of layinp anything to his chargo, as Lady Waldrove seemi to think, instead o! accusing, I malic this declaration to you most solemnly, that I think him the best man who evfr lived. •' I will remember," snid Lady Gertrude. Then ehe quitted the room, for one of the maids had come in to pack. Lady Qprtrudr was ill at oaea ; then ehe reproaohed herself for beirg foolish There could be no loyal or «oneible reason why the giil should have gone at tbnt hour of night, to her brother* room. " My pity for her misleads me," thought the fail's daughter, " and yet she hat not a guilty law." She stood in the drawing-room when Lady EtM entered. " Is tbia true what I hear ? " asked the heireed. "And L»dy Gertrude, taming euddenly round to her, e^id : " What ia it, Ethel ? " " My mr.id tells roe that Mies Derwent has he A newa from home, and ia compelled io return there at once. Is it true ? " " Thcro muat be some truth in it, for she in busy packing, said Lady Gertrude. "I am vary sorry. I like that young girl. Ooce 6r twice I have fancied her menner rather Btrange, but sho is so amiablo and good-tempered, alwayi ready and willing to oblige every one. I hardly like to ask a qnestion that may teem rude, but aro her friends in a comfortable position, do youfhink. Sudden sickness in a house i« so terrible." " You are very kind, Ethol, but there is no need for jou to think of anything of the kind. Mamma will take care that Miss Derwent is comfortable." " I am oorry she is goiDg," said the beautiful hphecia ; and then she .began to Bpoak of Lord Caradalo'a absence, and how long it would last. "Thank IleavGn," said Lady Gertrude, " that she bai not the least idea of anything that has happened." There carao A maid to say that Lady Gertrude vena wanted, and when Lady Gertrude followed after, it was to ccc Ailie dressed, and waiting tor hey. She looked almost in alarm at the whito beautiful faoo— so silent, so wan, bo unearthly. A great coil of golden brown hair hod fallen down and lay over the grey travelling cloak ; before Lady Gertrude spoke Bbc took it in her hand— a piece of conde beension marvellous in the call's proud daughter. She fastened it under the close travelling hat, and Ailio muynured some words of thnnlts. Then Lady Gertrude was confident that although appearances were so much against the girl, they were susceptible of exIr.pnution. It was certain that Lady Gertrude did not believe her guilty. Ailie raised her clear, lustrous eyes to the (arc of L^dy Gertrude ; there was something wistful and pathetic tn them — something which the earl's daughter never forgot. " L'uly Gertrude," »he said, " I am quite ready to go now, but I should like tn ask one favor from you. May I neo Lady Waldrove again for ono minutn ? She need not speak to me, but I have something to say to her, which, if I do not say will haunt ma." "I do not think Lady .Waldrove would be quite willing to sco you again. Sho* was quite ill with annoyance." " Let mo go to her, " pleaded Ailie. " Even if she b? angry at first that which I have to cay to her will please nor, I beliere, no that ebe will forget her anßer." "It ia a risk," said Lady Gortruds. " Still if yon really wish it " " I do," oried Ailio, eagerly. "It would be the greatest favour that any ono could grant me." " Follow me, then," said Lady Gertrude. She led the way to Lady Waldrove's room. " The only plan is to take my mother by storm," ehu thought. "If I at»k her convent she will not give it to me." She pntcre'l the room. " M.imina," ahe aaid, " Mias Darwent has something of importance to say to you, so T htvc brought her here " "Itaaily, Gcrtrudo," began the countess, Lnt f-he stopped abruptly as hoi' eyes fell on the vhi'c, pure, beautiful face of Alice Derwent. She was a kocn woman in her way, and she knew well that there wan no guilt hidden by that face. One might have just us well have called tho sun dark, and the moon discoloured. It was clear, transparent, pure &H the face of an angel. " I had hoped," she eaid, peevishly, " that I had seen tho last of Miss Der want. Why am I to bo annoyed again ?" "Ltidy Waldrovo," said Ailie, "I have something to lay that I think will pleaee you. I should h|ye said it when I was here bnfore, but I warieo bewildered. Will you kindly haten to m# ? " " I hays bo alternative," said the countess, ungraciously. '• What is it ? " '■ Ailie folded her hands, and laid them on the table before her— little whito hands that trembled so that any one might have pitied her. Hhe looked up at Ludy Waldroye. " I will not intrude ono moment on you, ' eheeeid; "only let mo tell ydu this, and I pray you remember it when I am gone—remcmbcx'UibL I say distinctly there does not Hvb in this world a man more loyal aud honorable than Lord Carsdale." " I know it," «aid the oountem, proudly ; " yon need not have told mo that." " You muat have doubted it," said Ailio, ciilmly, " when you said that I had brought disj'raco on your house." j "It wan you I doubted," said tho oounteHS, " not ray eon." " Ho much the belter," said Ailie, calmly. " I wirth to add this also, Lady Waldrove— that your son has never made love to me, and that, still more, ho does not love. Another thin^ — I bblieve honestly that if I wero tho only woman living in tho wido world, still he wonld not love me.". The countess looked quito triumphant. " That means," Bhe said, " that it was not my son who x£n after you, but you who ran after my pon. It iv just as I suspected ; utill I am glad you have had tho gruco to clear him. I piftauuie that you have no rnoio to add, MidH Derwtnt ?" • "No," replied Ailie, "not ono word more " ' Then you will oblige me by leaving me. My nerves are quite unstrung by this sudden and shooking occurrence. Pray leavo me." Ailie looked up at hor for one moment.

" Lirly Wtlnrove," i'h»- Rt»id, "you hfivo oruolly impjudr/d me; >on hnve been very hard, vcrv -uvrp, nrd v:n nil! ntssr know in this wfil.l my jii-tjfio'iUon. I have HSivod you fiithluily tnd .v>.li ; wll yr.n not one kind word to ms beforo I go ? for ~nq shall nsver meet ai?ain." " I hsvo no kind word to aay," replied the countoes. " I yrieh yon no harm, and I aha'l do you no harm ; more Iban that you oannot expei^. Tbfl kindest word I can t*y to you h, I nm woll oontcnt that you b»To had the onrdor to oletr my con's character from tho itr/»ifi nafc/ng on it. Oood-by, Mjbb Derwent," ' Good-bye, Lady WaldroTo," said Ailic; and theje came to neither of tbom any thought, as to whon Or how they should meet agnin.