Nobelist.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2283, 26 February 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Nobelist.

HARD TO WIN: THE STORY OF STRANGE LIVES BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN, Author of " Ship Ahoy," " Dutch the Dives," " The Foundry Belie," &c. The Story: IB6o.—Strange Lives. [All Rights Reserved.] CHAPTER XVI. HOW LORD ANTHONY FETCHED HIS HANDKERCHIEF. John Huish made up his mind that he •would behave honourably, and he called several times more at Portland Place till it became evident that there was no proepecf, of his being admitted. He saw the •carriage .twice in the park, and bowed, to obtain a cold recognition from her ladyship' the first time, the cut direct :from her the second time, and an agonised look from Qlare, by whose side was seated, and he now knew that itbe young 1 wife was back home from the 'Continent. ' As you please, Lady Denver,' he said, :and then he stared, for a heavy-looking ■well-dressed man came up, nodded familiarly, said 'How do?' and then Smiled and gave him a peculiar look and jpassed on. ' That's the second time this week,' muttered Huish, angrily, VI must stop this.' He stopped short, leaning over the railß and watching the carriage as it was pulled up, and a fashionably-dressed gentleman went up to the door and stood -talking for some considerable time. 'My rival, I suppose. Sir Orantley Wilters, then, is to be the happy man. Here, come along, Joby; it is time to take to stratagem. I wonder what has of Tom.' The next day a special message was «ent to Dr. Stonor, Lady Denver imploring him to come directly, as Clare ■was so ill that she was growing uneasy. ' Humph !' said the doctor, ' poor girl. But she must wait her turn.' He hurried through his interviews with his regular patients, and reached Portland 'Place just as lunch was going in ; but it ■was put back while Lady Denver took 'him into the drawing-room where Clare ■was seated. 'Ah, my dear!' he exclaimed in his ■cheery way, ' why, I say, what's the .matter?' ' He sat talking to her some little time, wrote a prescription and then rose. • There, Lady Denver,' he said ; ' that is all I can do. Give her change and peace of njind and she will soon be ■well.' 'Indeed, doctor,' cried her ladyship, * she shall have everything she can wish for. As to peace of mind, -why what is there to disturb it? It is our peace of

mind that suffers. Poor Sir Grantley Wilters is half distracted about her.'

lls ho ?' said the doctor, bluntly. 4 Why what has it got to do with him ?' 4 Hush, doctor ! Fie!' exclaimed her ladyship, smilintr. 'There you are making somebody blush. It is too bad.' Clare darted an indignant glance at her mother, and with flaming cheeks and eyes full of tears left the room. 'Poor girl, she is so hysterical,' said ladyship. 4 Ah, these young girls, these young girls ! Of course you will stay to lunch, doctor?' ' Yes,' he said shortly, ' I intended to. I'm precious hungry, and you've put mo 02fc of my usual course.' ' I'm so sorry,' said her ladyship ; ' but it was so good of you to come. How is that dear eccentric Lord Robert ? Have you seen him lately P' 'Saw him yesterday,' said the doctor. 'Just as usual.' 'So peculiar, but so good,' said her ladyship, 'It seems so strange to have such a relative.' 'Humph! you'll have just such another soon, and I shall have another strange patient.' ' What do you mean, doctor ?' 'I mean that dear Sir Grantley Wilters, who is in suoh trouble about that child. Bah! I shall open a full-blown lunatic asylum.' ' And be the first patient yourself,' said her ladyship sotto voce, as the door j opened and Lord Anthony came toddling into the room. 'Ah, doctor,' he said, 'deuced glad to see you. Did you hear my leg was threatening again ?' ' No,'said tho doctor, shaking hands. ' We must have a consultation.' ' And forbid so many good things, doctor,' said her ladyship, with asperity. ' But, my dear, I—l—l'm pretty Rearly starved,' remonstrated the old gentleman. 4 It's poverty of blood, I'm sure.' 'Well, come, and have a good lunch,' said the doctor. ' I'll see that you have nothing to disagree with you.' 4 Thank yon, doctor, thank you,' said the old gentleman, as the gong began to p sound and they went down, Ren fee and her husband coming out of another room with Tryphie Wilder, Tom, and Captain Garland. The young wife saluted Doctor Stonor very affectionately, and they were soon gathered round the table, Clare joining them, looking now quite composed. 'I remember when I was a boy,' said Lord Anthony, suddenly. ' Yes, my love,' said her ladyship, stiffly; ' but you've told us that before. ' Have I, my dear ?' said his lordship, looking troubled, and then there was a little pause. ' 1 may have a glass of hock, may I not, doctor ?' said Lord Anthony, as the luncheon went on. 'Eh ? Yes. I say, what's your name, bring me the hock, some seltzer and a glass,' said the doctor to Robins. 'Yes, my dear,' he contihued to Ren<3e, ' I would rather any day go to the Tyrol than along the beaten track through the Alps,' The butler brought the hock and seltzer, and a large, tumbler, into which such a liberal portion of wine was poured that Lady Denver looked horrified, and the old gentleman chuckled and squeezed Clare's hand under the table. 'Is not that too much, doctor,' whispered her ladyship. 'Eh ? Much ? oh no. Do him good,' said the doctor, filling up the glass with seltzer. ' There, take that to his lordship,' ' I say, father,' said Tom, giving her ladyship a malignant grin. I watched the quantities. I'll mix your hock for you in future.' The lurfcheon went od, the doctor chatting merrily, and both ReDfS; and Clare seeming l to jrrow less cold and inanimate, while his lord.ship became, under the influence of so strong a dose of medicine, quite garrulous. '1 say, doctor,' he said, chuckling; ' did—did you hear that deuced good story about Lady Grace Moray ?' ' No,' said the doctor; ' what was it ?' 1 ' Capital story, tmd quite true, he, be, be!' chuckled the old gentleman. 4 She—she—she—begad, she was dis- , appointed of one fellow, and—and—and, damme if she didn't run off with the butler.' ' Anthony,' exclaimed her ladyship, austerely, ' I am glad that the servants are not in the room,' 4 It's—it's—it's a fact, my dear,' said the old gentleman, wiping his eyes. ( 'Bolted with him, she did, and—and— and, damme, I forgot how it all ended. I j say, Tom, my boy, how —how—how the deuce did that affair end ?' 4 Got married, and made a fool pf her- | self,' said Tom' sharply, 'Do people always make fools of them- ( selves who marry, Tom ?' said Tryphie in | a low voice. J ' Always,' ho whispered back, 'if they marry people chosen for them in place and those thoy love.' ' I must request, Anthony, my dear, j that you do not tell such stories as that before your daughters. They are loathsome and repulsive. Lady Grace Moray . comes from a very low type of family. Her grandfather married a butterman's , daughter, or something 1 of that kind. . They have no breeding.' 'I—l—think I left my handkerchief in the drawing-room,' said his lordship, 1 rising. 1 ' Why not ring, Anthony, my love ?' ( said her ladyship. 1 ' No, no, no, I would rather fetch it £ myself,' said his lordship, who left the 1 room, and then toddled back to where, on a tray, the remains of a tongue stood in i company with an empty vegetable dish or two. I

There was a great piece too, with the point quite six inches long lying detached, for the doctor's arm was vigorous and he cut the tongue quite through. Such a chance was not every day offered, and it would' not only make a couple or three pleasant snacks when his lordship was hungry, but it would keep.

Ha listened; all was still, and cautiously advancing he secured the piece of dry firm tongue, when he started as if electrified. Robin's cough was heard on the stairs, and his lordship dabbed the delicacy down in the nearest place, and turned towards the door as the butler appeared in the way. ' What game's he up to, now ?' said the butler to himself, as, with his memory reminding him of the trouble he had to sponge and brush the tail of the old gentleman's coat, which used to be found matted with gummy gravies and sauces, so that the pocket linings had had to be several times replaced, he opened the dining-room door.

' I—l—l think I left my handkerchief upstairs, Robins,' said his lordship, and he toddled in again and re-took his place. The luncheon ended, the party rose and stood chattering about the room, Captain Garland crossing to R,en<se, who bowed coldly and went to her brother, while the doctor was in earnest conversation with Clare and her ladyship.

'Nothing at all,' he said firmly, 'but low spirits from mental causes, and these are matters for which mothers and fathers must prescribe.'

' It's—it's—doosid hard to be so short of money, said his lordship to himself as he was left alone, and then thinking of the tongue, be tried to get to the door, but a look from her ladyship sent him back. It's—it's doosid hard. I shall ha veto go to little Tryphie again. He, he, he! her ladyship don't know,' he chuckled,' Ive—l've left her five thousand

in my will, bless her. I wish she'd buy me some more Bath buns.' He crossed to where the bright little girl was standing, and she advanced to him directly. ' Can you lend me another five shillings, Tryphie?' he whispered. ' Yes uncle,' she replied, nodding and smiling. ' I'll get it and put it under the china dog on the right hand cabinet.' ' That's right, my dear ; it's—it's—it's so doosid awkward to be short, and I don't like to ask her ladyship.' ' Well, I must go,' said the doctor, loudly. 'Good-bye all. Good-bye my dears,' he continued to Clare and R<snee. Then he pinched Tryphie's cheek, shook hands with the old man, and was goue. 'So clever, Captain Garland,' said her ladyship, ' that we look over his rough, eccentric ways. I believe that I should not have been here now if it had not been for his skill.' 'Thend—n the doctor,' said Tom to himself, for he was in a very unfiilial

mood. ' Oh, by the way,' said the gentleman spoken of, as he came hurriedly, back, sending the door open so that it banged upon a.chair, 'Clare, my dear, you are only to take that medicine when you feel low.'

As he spoke he hitched on his light overcoat that he had left in the hall, and then, fishing in one of the pockets for his gloves, he brought out the piece of tongue. • Oh, bless my soul!' muttered his lordship; and he toddled towards the window. ' What the dickens is this f cried the doctor, holding it out, and putting up his double eyeglass. ' Tongue, by jingo ! Is this one of your tricks, Master Tom ?' 'No,' roared Tom, as he burst out laughing, and followed hi 3 father to the window, where the old gentleman was nervously looking out. Tin so sorry,' said her ladyship, quivering with indignation. 'It must have been one of the servants, or the cat, or an accident.' ' Well,' said the doctor, solemnly, ' I'll swear I didn't steal it. I might perhaps have pocketed something good, but I hadn't got this coat on.' ' Pray, say no more, doctor,' said her ladyship. Robins bring a plate and take this away.' 'Yes, my lady,' said the butler, who was waiting in the hall to show the doctor out j and he made matters worse by advancing with a stately march, taking a plate and silver fork from the sideboard, and the piece of tongue from the doctor's fingers with the fork ; and then deftly thrusting it off with his thumb ou to the plate, he marched out with it, the ladies all bursting into busy conversation to cover his retreat. Then the doctor went, and a general

ascent towards the drawing room was commenced, his lordship hanging back, and Tom stopping to try and avert the storm. 'Such idiotic—such disgraceful proceedings, Anthony,' exclaimed her ladyship, closing the dining-room door. ' There, that will do, mother,' said Tom, quietly. ' Lookers-on see most of the game.' 'What do you mean, sir?' said her ladyship. ' Why this,' said Tom, savagely. ' There, don't faint; because if you do I shan't stop and attend to you.' ' If I only dared to face her like my son Tom,' said his lordship to himself, ' damme, he's as brave as a little lion, my son Tom.' ' Tom, your language is most disgraceful,' said her ladyship, haughtily. ' That's what everybody thinks when something is said that they don't like. Now look here, mother ; I don't mean to 'stand by any more and see the old man bullied.' 'Bless him, I am proud of that boy,' thought his lordship. ' Damme, he's little, but he's a man. ' Tom !' cried her ladyship. 'I don't say it was not stupid of the gov'nor to go and take that piece of tongue, and put it in the wrong po.-ket.' ' But, my dear boy, I' — ' Hold your tongue, gov'nor,' cried Tom. 'It was stupid and idiotic of him, perhaps, but not one half so stupid and idiotic as some things I see done here.' ' Tom, I do not know what you mean,' cried her ladyship. ' Well, I mean this. It was idiotic to marry Renee to Frank Morrison, and ten times more idiotic to bring her and Capt. Garland together now.' ' Such low thoughts, Tom !' cried her ladyship. 'They are an insult to your mother and sisters.' ' Are they ?' said Tom. ' Why the black-muzzled cad is always speaking smoothly to her. Then it : s as idiotic to send poor old Jack Huish adrift, and try and bring things to an understanding between Clare and that hospital dummy, Wilters.' ' Your language, Tom, is frightful,' cried her ladyship, whose voice was rising in spite of herself. 'Hospital dummy !' 'So he is ; I could drive my fist right through his tottering carcase.' ' I wish—l wish—l wish I could pat him on the back,' muttered Lord Anthony. ' He's as brave as a lion.' ' Sir Grantly Wilters has my consent to pay his addresses to your sister,' said her ladyship with dignity ; ' and as for your disgusting remarks about Captain Garland, he comes here with my consent to see your cousin Tryphie, for whom be will be an excellent parti.' 'An excellent corpse,' cried Tom in a rage, for, damme, I'll shoot him on his wedding morning before he shall have her.'

' You will have to leave home, Tom, and live in chambers,' said her ladyship. ' You grow too low for society.' ' What, and let you have your own way here, mother ! No, hang it, that you shan't. You may stop my allowance, but I stop here: so don't look blank, dad.'

' Don't speak angrily to your mamma, my dear boy,' said Lord Anthony. ' All right, gov'nor.' 'As to your friend and companion, John Huish, whom you brought to this house, and who pretended, like an impostor as he is, to have good expectations'—

' He never did anything of the kind," said Tom. •He always said he hadn't a rap.'

'Such a person ought never to have been brought near your sweet, pureminded sisters,' continued her ladyship, ' I found out that he was an impostor, and now I hear that he is a contemptible blackleg and swindler.' ' What!' roared Tom. ' That he has been expelled from one club as a defaulter.' ' It's a lie! cried Tom, wrath fully. ' And his name posted in another club as a cheat and blackleg. He was found out with false cards.' ' Who told you tHat ?' ' I learned it from Sir Grantley Wilters,' said her ladyship calmly. ' Then Sir Grantley Wilters is a confounded liar !' cried Tom ; but her ladyship had sailed out of the room, and on looking round he found his father missing. Tom walked off to the lavatory, where he came upon his father sitting on a box, busily spreading a biscuit with some mysterious condiment which he dug out of a pot with a paper knife. ' Poor old Jack !' said Tom, not heeding his father's occupation, "He's the aoul of honour; a regular trump, Look

here, gov'nor,' he cried, turning sharply on the old man, trembling. ' I can't bear it.'

' I'm not going to bully you, gov'nor,' saied Tom, laying his hands on the old man's shoulders affectionately ; 'but are you going to stand up for your rights or are you not ? Look here, — that tongue !' ' Yes, my boy, I did take it—l own it. I thought I might be hungry to-morrow.' 'Then why not ring and order that pompous old fizzle, Robins, to bring you up something to eat.' ' I daren't, by dear boy, I daren't.

Her ladyship has given such strict orders to the servants, and I feel so humiliated when they refuse me.' 1 Of course you do, gov'nor,' said Tom, with the tears standing in his eyes. 'It's too bad ; but come, come, gov'nor. I'm not afraid of mamina, and I'm not nearly so big as your are.' ' No, my boy,' whimpered the old man, with a piteous look upon his face, ' I look bigger than I am, but it isn't all real: there's a deal of padding, Tom, and that's no good. That tailor fellow said I must have a lot of filling out ; ' He drew out his pocket-hankerchief to wipe away a weak tear, while Tom looked at him, half sorry, half amused, laughing at length outright as the poor old man smeared something brown and sticky across his face. 1 Why, gov'nor,' he said,reproachfully, as something round and brown and flat fell upon the carpet. ' It's only a veal cutlet, my son,' said the old man, piteously, as he stoppod and picked it up before wiping his face. ' You see I didn't know then that I should get that , piece of tongue. The doctor must have taken it away.' ' Oh, gov'nor, gov'nor !' cried Tom. . 'Don't scold me, my dear boy,' pleaded the old man. ' I am so padded out. There's much less of me when my coat's off. But I'm nothing to what your dear mamma is. Thin ! The way she makes up is a gross impostnre. If you only knew what I know, Tom, you'd be astonished.' ' I know quite enough,' growled Tom, 'and wouldn't care if she were not so false inside.' ' Don't say that, Tom, my boy. She's a wonderful woman and means all for the best.' "* ' But my dear old gov'nor,' said Tom, ' this is all so very weak of you.' ' Well, it is, Tom, my boy; but, damme, my son, I'm not so weak as your uncle Kobert. I don't shut myself up and see no one, and spend my time sowing like a woman.'

' Poor old uncle ; he forbade me to go near the place again.' ' I'll make it up for you, next time I go, Tom, my boy. Rob's a dear good fellow at heart, and he likes you. I tell hiir how you stick up for me.'

'Been lately, dad?' said Tom, taking up a napkin and removing a little tomato sauce from his parent's brow.

'No, my boy—no, my boy; I don't like to go often, because we don't see him, and, damme, I can't sit still and hear a voice coming out of a hole iti the wall and do nothing but find fault with my lady.' 'No, gov'nor, it isn't pleasant,' said Tom, 'There, good-bye. You go up ana sit up in the drawing room, and watch over Keneti and Clare like a lion. And you will try and be more firm ?' I will, Tom, my boy, I will, said the old man. There, you shall see. Going out ?' ' Yes, gov'nor, I want to hunt out John Huish. I haven't seen.him for an age. He's always away somewhere.' 1 Give my kind regards, Tom. He's a fine fellow. Damme, I like John Huish. So does your uncle.' 'Yes; uncle likes him better than he does me,' said Tom. 1 No, no, my dear boy ; only your uncle doesn't like j'ou to ask for money.' ' Humph !' said Tom. 'I say, gov'nor, though, why don't you go there oftener ?' • Well, you see, my dear boy,' said the old man, turning away, ' he does talk so about her ladyship, and it hurts me. Then, too, I'm afraid he thinks me wrak.' 'Nonsense, dad,' cried Tom; 'but, I say, what's that in your pocket?' ' Oh, nothing, my son, nothing,' said the old man, in a confused way, as Tom pounced upon his pocket and dragged out something in a d'oyley. ' Why, bless my soul,' he cried, in a surprised tone of voice, as he raised his glasses to his eyes, ' if it isn't a pasty.' ' Yes, gov'nor, and you've been sitting on it. Now, I say, gov'nor, that is weak. Pah ! why it smell-! of eau-de-Cologne from your handkerchief. You couldn't eat that.' ' I'm afraid I couldn't, mydear boy,' said the old gentleman, wrinkling up his forehead. ' Gov'nor, you're incorrigible,' cried Tom. ' Only this morning, Robins told me in confidence that you had borrowed five shillings of him, and I had to give it him back, leaving myself without a shilling. Hang me, if you do such things as this again, if I don't tell the old lady.' ' No, no, my boy, pray don't,' said the old gentleman, anxiously, 'and I'll never do so any more." 'Till next time, gov'nor,' said Tom, sharply. ' Gov'nor, you're afraid of the servants, and you are always stealing something.' ' I—l—l am rather afraid of Robins,' faltered the old man, gently; ' and that big footman rather looks at me; but Tom, my boy, it ought not to be stealing for me to take my own things.' ' Well, I suppose not, gov'nor, but it really is absurd to see you send a chicken bone flying across a drawintr-jcoom when you take out your handkerchief, and your coat-tails stiff with gravy.' 'It is, my son,' said the old man, hastily ; ' but about John Huish. I like him, Tom.' ' And so do I, father. He's my friend, and I'll stick to him, too.' He said the latter words in the hall, as he put on his hat and took his stick, making an offer as if he would like to smash Captain Garland's glossy headpiece, but he refrained. 'No,' he said,' I should be as childish as the gov'nor, and Tryphie would be sure to know.' As the door closed upon him, Lord Anthony came out of the lavatory and met Robins the butler and a footman, coming to clear away the lunch things. Lord Anthony looked up and down and then took the pompous butler by the button. ' Robins,' he said, ' if her ladyship does not object, I shall not wear my second dress suit any more.' 1 Thank you, my lord,' said the butler with dignity. ' And Robins,' added his lordship, in a hurried whisper; 1 what did you do with that piece of tongue

CHAPTER XVII. BY SPECIAL MESSENGER. LacTy Denver was going l out for a drive one afternoon, and intended to take both her daughters with her, but Clare excused herself on the plea of a bad headache, and Ren<Se went alone, the gentlemen having g'one off to their clubs except Lord Anthony, who sat by his child in the drawing-room, and talked to her for a time, ending by selecting - a comfortable chair and going off fast asleep. He had not been asleep five minutes beforo Clare hoard a bit of a disturbance,

and directly after there was a scratching at tho drawing-room door. Clare started and listened, with the colour coining and going in her cheeks, when the scratching was repeated, and on her opening tho door, Joby trotted in, looked at her, gave liis tail a wag to the right and a wag to tho left, when, catching sight of Lord Anthony, his canine nature got tho better of him, and trotting up to tho easy chair, he sniffed two or three times at his lordship's pocket, and then laid his massive jowl upon the old man's knee. Clare trembled as she watched the dog, and her face was flaming, but she dared not move.

( The old gentleman half woke up, and s realised the fact of the dog being there, [j for he pat out his thin, white hand, p patted the great head, and rubbed Joby's ears, muttering softly, ' Good dog, then ; t poor old fellow,' and then went off fast [ asleep. 1 Joby pushed his head a little farther 1 up, and then had another sniff at the [ pocket. After this, giving his lordship up for a bad job, or roused to a sense of duty, j he : trotted over to Clare,'laid "His head in ! her lap, and stared up at her with his great eyes. . It seemed n. shame to be so lavish of [ such sweet kisses, and on' a dog's forehead ; but, all the same, Clare bestowed therri there, and the ugly dog blinked ; and snuffled and whined softly. Suddenly a thought seemed to strike Clare though, and her little fingers began to busy themselves about the dog's collar, to tremble visibly, and at last with a faint cry of joy she detached a note , folded in a very small compass and fitted in a little pocket of leather, the colour of the dog's skin. Trembling with eagerness she was about to open it, when the door was , opened and Robins entered to announce— ' Sir Grantley Wilters.' Clare turned from crimson to white, and Joby crept slowly under the couch, resenting and offer made by the butler to drive him out by such n display of white teeth that the pompous domestic said to himself that the dog might stay as long as he liked, for it wasn't his place to turn him out. Sir Grantley's costume wns faultless, for he was a fortune to his tradespeople : the tightest of co:its and gloves, the shiniest of boots, and the choicest' of " button-holes," displayed in a tiny glass of water pinned in the fold of his coat, as he came in, hat and cane in one hand and a little toy terrier in the other—one of those unpleasantly diminutive creatures whose legs seem as if they are not safe, and whose foreheads and eyes indicate water on the brain. ' Ah, Miss Clare 1 Delighted to find you alone," said the baronet, advancing and extinguishing the dog with his hat, so as to leave liis tightly-gloved hand free to salute the lady. " lam not alone," said Clare quietly, and she pointed to a chair. " No, to be sure ; Lord Authony. Asltep ! Well, I really thought you were alone, don't you know.' ' Papa often comes and sits with me now,''said Clare, ' Quite well ?' ' Except a headache,' said Clare. ' Sorry—very,' said the baronet, hunting for his glass, which was now hanging between his shoulders. ' Bad things, headaches, very. Should go for a walk.' ' I preferred staying at homo this afternoon,'said Clare. ' Did you, though !"' said Sir Grantley. "Sorry about the headache, though. Always take brandy and soda for headache, I do, don't you know. By the way, Miss Clare,' he continued, taking his hat ofF the little dosr as if he were performing a conjuring trick. ' I bought this little dog- in Regent-street just now. Will you accept it from me P 'Oh, thank you, no,' said Clare. * I'm sure mamma would not approve of my accepting such a present.' ' Oh, yes, I asked her yesterday, don't you know, and she said you'd be most happy. Very nice specimen, not often found so small. May I set it down P ' Oh. certainljsaid Clare, colouring with annoyance ; and evidently very glad to get rid of the little animal, the baronet set it down and it began to make a tour of the room. ' Don't be nervous about accepting presents from me,' said Sir Grantley, because I shall bring you a great many.' . 'I beg you will not, Sir Grantley,' said Clare, flushing. ' You must really by now be quite sure that such attentions are distasteful to me.' 'Not used to them, you know,'said the baronet smiling, ' but I have her ladyship's full permission, and we shall understand each other in time. Old gentleman sleeps well.' ' Papa is getting old, and his health is feeble,' said Clare, rather indignantly. ' ' Yes, very,' said the baronet. ' I don't want to be a bore, but I've said so little to you, Clare, about our future.' ' Our future ?' cried Clare. ' Yes. It's all settled. I proposed down at Hurst, and thought it was all over ; but her ladyship kindly tells me that I may hope.' ( ' Sir Grantley Wilters,' said Clare, rising, 'lam not of course ignorant of j what mamma's wishes are, but let nje tell you as a gentleman that this subject ; is very distasteful to me, and that I can 1 never, never think otherwise of you than I do now.' : 'Oh, yes, you will,' said Sir Grantley, j in a most unruffled manner. 'You are very young, don't you know. Think ] different by and by. Bad job this about ; poor Huish.' , Clare started, and her eyes dilated slightly. j ' Thought he was a decent fellow once, j but he's regularly going to the dogs.' j 'Mr Huish is a friend of mine, Sir ] Grantley—a very dear friend of mine,' •, cried Clare, crushing the stiff paper of the note she held in her hand. ' Say was, my dear Clare,' said Sir Grantley, making pokes at the pearl but- , tons on his patent leather boots with his walking cane. 'Poor fellow! Was all j right once, but he's hopelessly gone now .' ' I will not believe it,' cried Clare, in- 1 dignantly. 'It is cruel and ungentle- 1 manly of you to try to blacken Mr Huish thus when he is not preseut.' 1 'Cruel perhaps, but kind,' said Sir c Grantley; ■ ' ungentlemanly, no.' He drew himself up slightly as he spoke, j ' More ungentlemanly to let such a man £ again address the lady who is to be my ] wife while she was in ignorance of his } true character.'

' Sir Grantley, I will not believe anything against Mr Huish," cried Glare with spirit. 'Not till yon have proved it, my clear child. I don't want to pain you, but I know that the thoughts of John Huish have kept you from listening to me. Now, my deor Clare, if I were out of the race, you could not marry a man who is posted now at three clubs as a gambler, a blackleg, and a swindler.' ' Sir Grantley Wilters,' cried Clare, with her head thrown back, ' these are cruel calumnies. John Huish is a gentleman, and the soul of honour. I shall tell him your words.' ' I shall be very glad to retract them and apologise.' said the baronet calmly ; and then he busied himself in fixing his glass, for the little toy terrier had suddenly made a dead set at one end of the sofa, when from beneath the chintz cover, there peered out one very large prominent and peculiar eye, which kept blinking at the terrier in the calmest manner, its owner never attempting to move in spite

of the angry demonstrations of the new comer. At last its demonstrations became so loud that not seeing the great eye himself, the baronet rose, and drove the terrier into the back drawing room and closed the door. 'A little new to the place, don't you know,'he said. "There, I'm going now. Clare, I did not mean to blacken Mr Huiah's character, but ask your brother to enquire. Sorry for any man to go to the bad. Gone regularly. Good-day." He took Clare's hand and kissed the tips of her fingers, while she was too much agitated to< resist. Then backing to the door he bowed, kissed his glove and was gone. 'Oh, this is monstrous !'cried Clare, in anguished tones, when she remembered the note and opened it hastily to read a few lines full of manly love and respect, and as she read of her lover's determination never to give her up, her pure young heart grew stronger in its faith. 'I knew it was false,' she exclaimed, proudly! ' How dare he calumniate him like that!' Then, going to a writing tabie she glanced at Lord Anthony, saw that he stiH slept, and, blushing at her duplicity, she ivrote a note, folded it so that it would go in the tiny leather pocket, and called the dog in a low voice.

He came out directly, and laid his great head in her lap, while the note was securely placed in its receptacle. ' Now go to your master, good dog,' she cried, kissing him once more, and at the word " master" Joby started to the door and looked back, while Clare followed and opened it, when the dog trotted down stairs and settled himself under the porter's chair in the hall till the door was opened, when he trotted off to Dukestreet, St. James's "Ah, Clare, my pet," he said. "I have been sitting here with my eyes closed. Yes papa, did you hear what Sir Grantley Wilters said ? 'No, m# child. Has—has—he been here ?" ' Yes, dear." ' Then I suppose I must have been quiteasleep." Yes, papa; for quite an hour. Papa dear." ' Yes my love. ' I cannot rest happy with any secret from you,' said the girl, with averted head, and her cheeks burning for shame at the clandestine correspondence she was carrying l on. ' That's right my darling,' said the old man, patting the soft fair and smoothing it over her forehead. ' Papa dear,' she continued, after a long pause, during which alio fought hard to nerve herself for what she had to say. 'Yes, my child. There, you're not afraid of me.' ' Oh, no, dear,' she cried, drawing his arm around her neck, and holding his hand with both hers to her throbbing bosom. ' Papa, I'm afraid—' ' Afraid, my dear ?' 'Afraid that I love Mr Huish very dearly. She hid her face upon the withered old hand, and the burning blood crimsoned her soft white neck at this avowal. 'Well—well—well, he—he—he !' chuckled the old man. ' I—l—l don't see any-' thing so very shocking in that, Clary. John Huish is a doosid fine fellow, and I like him very much indeed.' ' Oh, papa, papa,' cried Clare, joyfully : and she turned, flung her arms round his neck, and hid her face in his bosom. ' Yes, Clary,' he continued, ' He's a gentleman, and a man of honour, though he's poor.' ' Thank God—thank God!' murmured Clare, as the words made her heart throb with joy. ' His father was a gentleman, too, and a man of honour though a bit wild. Ho was my junior at Eton, but your uncle Robert and he were great friends. I—l —I like John Huish, and though I should hale the man who tried to rob me of my little pet here, I don't think I should be very hard on John Huish. ' Yap—yap—yap !' came from the back drawing-room, and the old gentleman looked inquiringly at his child. ' It is a pet dog,' said Clare, contemptuously, ' that Sir Grantley Wilters has brought as a present for me. ' Don't have it, my dear,' said the old gentleman, eagerly. ' I wouldn't. He's a miserable screw of a fellow, that Wilters, I don't like him, and her ladyship's always trying to bring him forward. ' She'll be wanting to make him marry you next.' ' Didn't you know, papa ?' cried Clare. ' Know, my darling ? know what ?' ■He has proposed to mamma for my hand.' ' Then—then—then,' oried the old roan, indignantly, 1 he—he—he shan't have it. If my Clary is to be nurse to any man, she shall be nurse to me. He—don't want a wife.' The old man shook his head angrily, and then patted and caressed the fair young girl who clung to him for protection. What his protection was worth he showed directly after, when a carriage stopped at the door, and her ladyship's trumpet tones were heard soon after on the stairs. ' Clary, my darling,' he said, 'here's her ladyship. I—l think I'll slip off this way down to my study.' And he went out by one door, timing himself carefully, as her ladyship came in at the other, and began praising the 'lovely' little pet dog which Sir Grantely had left, to which the little brute replied by snapping at her fiercely as she approached. her hand. All the same though it had to make friends with her ladyship, who adopted it from the next day, Clare stubbornly refusing to have anything to do with the black and tan specimen of the canine race wrought by the ' fancy' in filigree.

(To be continued)