CHAPTER VII.-(Continued).

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2212, 11 September 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VII.-(Continued).

"NID'S ADVICE." There could be no doubt about it, Herbert Morant must do something-. If it had not been for Nid it is odds he would have decided ou emigration—realising his capital and trying" his luck in Australia or New Zealand ; buc he could not make up his mind to lose all hope of winning Nid for his wife. His visits had been frequent to the cottage by the Regent's Park of late, and though he paw but little of the master of the house, Mrs Foxboroutfh always received him quite graciously, and "Nid with the Bunniest of smtlea. She tyrannised over him in the prettiest way, was always giving him petty commissions, such as procuring her a song, some flowers, a new book, or else 'the correct version of a little bit of theatrical gossip." and Herbert Morant kissed his silken chain of servitude metaphorically, and exulted that he was bound to the wheels of the child enchantress's chario t. He -wished to marry this girl, and had fair reason to suppose that neither a'he herself nor her mother would be averse to such a proposal on his part — true, uhe was very young, only sweet seventeen, but girls have been 'wooed and married and a' at that agre many times. Now, what was he to do ? If he had embarked in any profession when he first came to L< indon, and stuck to it, he. would have now been probably making 1 an income that, joined to what he had of his own, would have enabled him to offer any girl a modest home. He had made a fool of himself, but it was no use tearing his hoar over that ; the question was what T/as ho to set his hand to? At twenty -eight a man can hardly be said not to- have a career still before him. He f-moked on, avid »tjl! the problem seemed no nearer of solutior i. •Confound it,' he exclaim' ?d, 'dear, old Phil Soames used to say at Cambridge — •A man with average abilii y and education, if he has only energy can always get his living. Don't you beli eve lie can't — its only want of detorminal iou that prevents him. Ho goes abo ut asking for something to do instead of tolling people what he wants to do, and a< iking them to

givo him a start.' Haug it— what is it I want to do ? and I can only answer vaguely something to got a living out of. Dear, old Phil, I wouder where he is now. He nsed to talk so plucky about getting bis living, but I fancy his bread wa« pretty well buttered,all the same, and he has not had much occasion to trouble himself on that score.' Heigho, I dou't get on with this cursed conundrum— How I'm to make a respectable living— it's the toughest double acrostic ever was taokled. I think I'll go up to the cottage and talk it over with Mrs Foxborough. She's a shrewd practical woman." Arrived at the cottage he was shown into the pretty drawing-room, which he found tenanted by Nid only. •Mamma's out,' she said, as she greeted him with a smile, 'no you will have to put up with me for the present.' • That is a fate most men would resign themselves to with much satisfaction ; but I do want to see your mother all the same.' ' Nothing eanier ; you will only have to wait a little. I don't suppose it will be very long before she is in. It has one drawback, for you will be expected to entertain me.' ' I can't say I feel much like entertaining anybody ; the fact is I have got into a scrape, Nid.' 1 lam awfully sorry ; but do— do you think you ought to call me Nid?' asked the girl, with a demure hesitation irresistibly coquettish. ' Certainly ; doesn't everybody who knows you really well call you Nid ?' [ Didn't your godfathers and godmothers on ydur baptism give ) ou this name ?' replied Morant. 1 No, hir, they did not. I was christened Nydia Foxborough, but what are these ?' she continued, as^erbert extracted from his pockets a tmull parcel and an envelope. ' This is the broken fan you gave me, I hope now duly repaired ; and that is a box for Covont Gaiden next Friday. Your mother promised to take you if I succeeded in getting a box, and I triumphed.' ' Oh, how good ot you ! Ah, yes, Mr Morant I think I must be Nid to you.' 1 You mercenary little lady ; wan there ever such a case of bribery seen, I wonder ?' Don't laugh at me— how dare yon ? what girl in her teons wouldn't overlook being called by her Christian name in a man who brought her an opera box ? But what is the scrape you have got into ; nothing very bad, is it ?' ' No, I havo only been spending more money than I ought.' 1 ' Why get this opera box, then ? It is very kind of you, but suiely it is only spending more money again.' If Nid had never known what it was to want money she was not used to lavish expenditure either. Her mother was an excellent manager, .md made their income go a long way while living comfoitably,butNid was not onaoruxroined to hear the expression, 'they coaldu't afford it.' 'Oh, that makes no difference, and it will give you a pleasure ; and I should never count loss much in that case. It isn't the money part of the scrape. I can pay my way out of that, but the thing is I must really get to work and do something for my living.' 'Surely there's no great hardship in that,' rejoined the girl, who was wont to see most both of the women and men with whom she came in contact earn their bread, and who looked forward to doing it herself in another year or two. ' No, certainly not ; but you will hardly believe it, Nid, th.it great hulking fellow, as I am, upon my word I don't know ho«v to pet about it. There was a do 4 ir old friend of mine who used always to .say that any man with tolerable brains, a fair education and" energy could earn a decent living-.' I Would you^think it very presumptuous in me if I offered you advice?' said Nid, timidly. •No'.^ What is it.' I 1 think if I wore you I would consult that friend.' 'Eureka. You don't know what that i«, but it's equivalent to the very thiug in this easel What a clever little girl it is ! Look here. Nid, I'll follow your advice, and you .••hall keep my secret. It would be very sweet to think th.it I owed my start in life to you, darling.' 'Mr Morant!' 1 Well, I allow I hadn't the right to call you that yet, but I hope to have some of these days. Ask your mother if I nriy come to your box at Covent Garden on Friday. I shall not wait to see her now — I found such a shrewd adviser in her place.' ' Come and dine with us, and escort us properly. The brougham has a back {.eat, and I'll see mamma sends you an invitation.' * Thanks ; that will bo delightful. Good-bye, and God bless you, darling I ,' added Herbert as he shook hands, and this time Nid only laughed as she held up a chiding forefinger. If there was not an engagement between these young people they had at all events arrived at a tacit understanding.