Novelist.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2561, 8 December 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Novelist.

[all higiits reserved.] TWICE~TRIED, BY ANNIE S. SWAN, Author of "Aldersyde," " Carlowrie," " Across Her Path," " Sundered Hearts," lie, &c. CHAPTER ll.—(Continued). There was a wide contrast —something of incongruity alrnost--be-tween them. Robert Angus looked his thirty years to the full, and there were positively some grey hairs in the short pointed beard which was so becoming to his style of face. Beside him Amy Burnett looked a perfect child, and yet it was understood that some day they would be husband and wife. Surely both had made a mistake.

"Is James in 2" he asked, at length, recovering with a start. " Yes. Shall I ring and ask Sarah to request him to come down?" asked A my, sarcastically, and with her small hand on the bell-rope. " Not yet. What is the matter with you, Amy ?"

" Nothing. But what is the matter with you 1 Do you know you are perfectly horrid 1 I just hate you, Robert Angus !" " No, you don't," responded he with a smile; "at least, I don't hate you." Then he stooped and kissed her again, but still the puckers in her brow remained.

" Yes, I do, and it's Jim you come to see, why do you pretend it's me ? I'm sure I don't want you. There are plenty other men in the world besides you ; plenty nicer ones, two."

" Don't be so foolish, dear. I know I am a bear, but I feel troubled about something, so you must excuse me."

" Was that what kept you so late?" " Oh, no. I left just after dinner, but I met Miss Laurence in the High-street, and, as it was so dark and stormy, I walked back with her to the Manse."

" 01), indeed. You could just have waited and walked home with her again. Don't imagine I would have cared," said Amy, hotly. Her temper was up now, and she was as jealous as could be,

" What are you saying, Amy 1" queried Eobert Angus, in no little astonishment. Accustomed as he was to his sweetheart's whims and caprices, she surpassed herself to night.

" Saying 1 Just that if you prefer Joan Laurence's company to mine, you needn't come any more to the Thorn," said Amy, jumping to her feet.

Robert Angus stepped to one side, put his arm about her, and drew her very close to him. 11 You are a silly thing, Amy. Somebody has been teasing you, and putting up your small temper. Well my pet, ajn I the kind of man to come one woman and like anothe/l>etter ? You ought to have more faith in me than that."

"So I have," sobbed Amy, remorsefully. " But Joan is so Cleveland grand, and knows so much more than me; and then I believe she cares for you, and " " Amy !" Never in her life had Amy Burnett heard her lover speak in such a tone. " Well, it's quite true, I'm " She got no further, for a stern hand was laid on her lips. " For shame, Amy ; Joan Laurence is your friend and mine, and she is a woman from whom both of us might take a lesson," he said, sharply. " You are not my sweettempered, bright-eyed darling tonight at all. Ido not know what kind of a little Tartar I have got in her place."

Amy wept afresh, and Robert was obliged to sooth away her tears, though inwardly much annoyed. He felt rather irritable himself, and in his mind there was a strange prevision of coming trouble. " I'm very sorry, Robert. I know I am perfectly horrid," sobbed Amy. " I'm sure I don't mean to say anything nasty about Joan."

" Let us leave Miss Laurence alone, clear," said Robert, with quiet authority. "If Jim is in, I think we had better go upstairs. I am afraid we will only be very disagreeable to each other if we remain here."

" You can go up yourself, then," Amy said, petulantly, and somewhat to her astonishment, he took her at her word, and walked out of the room.

He hesitated a moment in the lobby, feeling much more inclined to go home than join the family circle. However, reflecting on Jim's disappointment if he left without seeing him, he proceeded upstairs, and entered the drawing-room with the unceremonious ease of a privi-

legod visitor. James jumped from the piano at sight of him. Robert nodded to him, pulled the curly hair of a small urchin poring over his lesson-book, and went round to Mrs. Burnett's chair. " Good evening, Mrs. Burnett. I hope I see you well to-night," he said pleasantly. " Well, sir, how are you 1" he added, returning heartly Mr. Burnett's hand-shake.

Then he took the chair Jim set for him, and the circle closed about him, and the talk began to How pleasantly, as it always did when Robert came.

" Run up and tell Amy Mr. Angus is here, dear," said Mrs Burnett, turning after a little to her second daughter.

"I saw her downstairs, Mrs Bur. nett," said .Robert, quickly, where" at Jim elevated his eyebrows and grinned a comical grin. Amy elected not to appear again that night, though she did not disdain to peep over the balustrade for the last glance of her lover when he was going away. There was a temporary lull in the storm outside and Jim escorted his friend half way home. The Thorn was quite two miles from the town, and it was a dreary walk, especially of a stormy winter's night. "I say, Angus, what's up with you to-night 1 Are you not well ?" Jim asked after they had walked a hundred yards in silence. " You're awfully quiet. " Yes; I'm well enough," responded Robert briefly. " I suppose you and Amy have had a tiff," continued Jim, with his own charming candour. " You needn't mind ; she'll be sorry enough to-morrow. Girls always go on in that way." "Do they ?" queried Robert, in no little amazement. "What do you know about it ?" " Oh, well, I've heard and read a good deal about love, you know," laughed Jim, " though I'm thankful to say I've never been in it." " Time enough yet, my boy,'? said Robert, gravely. "I really think you shouldn't come any further, Jim, the roads are so bad." " I see you don't want me ; you are out of sorts," said Jim, candidly. " Well, good night. Hope you'll be all right next time we meet." James Burnett was wont to say often that from that night Robert Angus was a changed man.

CHAPTER lll.—The New Mem beu or the Household.

It had been an uncomfortable, unsociable meal. Mr Angus bad done his best to keep up the conversation, and had been affable and talkative far beyond his wont. It was necessary, perhaps; for Robert did not appear to be in the most amiable of moods, and was certainly not conspicuously courteous to the guest at his father's table. That however, did not at all discompose Mr Rolfe Ransoine ; quite the reverse? he seemed to enjoy it. He had arrived at Auchengiay that afternoon, Mr Angus having driven him in from Strathblane, where he had been on business. Of late Mr Angus' business calls at Strathblane had been numerous and pressing. People were beginning to remark upon the frequent appearance of bis horse and trap in the neighbouring town, and to " put two and two together " as the saying goes. And when the news got abroad that Rolfe Ransome was coming to fill Jamie Douglas' place in the bank there were many wise head-shakings, many satisfied " I told you so's" and a great deal of excited waiting for the issue of events —all quite undreamed of by those most interested. The new Lank clerk was a very different perform from what Robert Angus anticipated. He had expected to see a raw, youthful-looking lad, such as Douglas and he himself had been when they entered upon similar positions in the bank, but, lo! the new importation was an exceedingly smart and very foppish young man, with the assurance and conceit of twice his years.

He was undeniably handsome; but his was au empty face, possessing the beauty of form and feature, but sadly lacking in that of expression. He made himself very much at home in the house of his employer —so much so, that Robert Angus was infinitely disgusted, and took a dis'ike to him at once. That need scarcely bo wondered at, for if ever two men contrasted widely, and were utterly antagonistic in uature

and habit, these two were Robert Angus and Rolfe Ransome. He seemed to accept his place at his employer's table as if it were his perfect right, and instead of being shy or reticent, as might have been expected of him under the circumstances, he had a charming flow of talk, which, however, did not fall very agreeably on at least one of his listeners' ears.

'• Have you, ah—much society here?" he enquired, with a smile, which aggravated Robert Angus almost beyond endurance.

" Yes, we have some very nice families in Auchengray, small though it is," Mr Angus hastened to reply. " You have heard me speak of the Burnetts. Robert, you must take Mr Ransome to the Thorn, and introduce him. It is the very place for a young fellow to pass a happy evening. I have often heard you say so."

" Mr Ransome's predecessor was not on visiting terms at the Thorn, I think," Eobert said in his quietest tones; and the expression on his face conveyed a finer sarcasm than his words. Mr Angus looked decidedly uncomfortable. " No, no, of course not," he said, hastily. " But I thought I explained to you, Robert, that Mr Ransome conies here on a very different footing. He is a gentleman's son. His father was a captain in the navy."

" If a man can't stand on his own legs, and make a position for himself, independent of his father, he does not deserve the name of a mau," Robert said in the same quiet tones, and glancing very expressively at the face opposite him. Mr Ruiie Rausome did not seem at all put out, however, but continued to eat his dinner with continued relish. But he hoard and felt the scorn with which Robert Angus regarded him, and made a note of it for future consideration.

11 1 should imagine Auchengray to be rather a slow place," he said, presently. " Strathblaue is bad enough ; but I should say this would be a degree worse. I wonder you have stayed so long in it," he added to Robert.

" I have never thought it slow ; possibly because I am slow myself," said Robert, with a, slight smile. " You will luive some difliculty in supporting existence here, Mr Raiir some."

"Ah, I darosay it will do in the meantime. Isabel won't care for it, I doubt," said Rolfe, looking straight across tho table to Mr Angus. That gentleman coloured slightly, and thero was an uncomfortable pause. Robert devoted himself to his pudding; if he wondered at the speech he made no sign. Mr Angus hastened, to change the subject by referring to some bank business, and the slight constraint passed off. Rolfe Ransonie took advantage of his employer's invitatation to help himself from the decanter, and took more spirits than that gentleman approved of. " Have you any engagement for to-night, Robert ?" Mr Angus asked, cutting the dessert short by rising and pushing back his chair. "Nothing particular," Robert answered carelessly. " Are- you going to the Thorn ?" his father asked, pointedly. " Yes," answered Robert, briefly. " I shall be much obliged if you will take Mr Ransorae with you. Tell Mrs Burnett who he is. I think she knows Mrs Colquhoun." " All right," said Robert, briefly as before. " Well, if you are ready, Mr Ransome, we will go."

Mr Ransome nodded, emptied his "lass, and signified his readiness to go. So the twain stepped out together into the bright starlight, and turned their faces down the street. " Got a light, eh f asked Ransoine, producing his cigar case. "No, I don't smoke." " Eh, you don't ? I wonder at that. Nice old cove, your governor !" said Ransome, affably. " Sir !" Nothing could exceed the hauteur with which Robert Angus uttered the monosyllable. Ransome saw that he had overstepped the mark, and that Robert Angus would not brook much familiarity on so short an acquaintance. "No offence meant," he said, apologetically. " Any pretty girls in this place, eh V " I don't know. If there are any, doubtless, you will soon discover them," said Robert, drily. " Have you had any experience of bank business, Mr Ransome 1"

" Not. Don't suppose its hard work, though. A fellow must do something for a living, I suppose. It's a shame of a fellow's governor to bring up a fellow like a gentleman, and then shuffle off without leaving him a copper to bless himself with. Isn't it, now ?"

" Yes, especially if a fellow has no desire to work for his own living," Robert answered, in his dry fashion.

" Don't believe much in work myself. Neither does Isabel, She's a degree worse than me," said Ransomo, serenely. " It's in the blood, I believe : the governor was a lazy old chap, too. Hulloa ! is this the place 1 Is it swells we're going to see ?"

" No ; this is the lihrl of Beaulcy's pln.ee, We are going to his factor's house," said Robert, and relapsed into .silence. There was not another word spoken till they turned aside from the avenue, and ciossed the

park to the Thorn. The upper windows were lighted as usual, for the Burnetts always sat in the drawingroom in the evening. The front door was open, and Jim was enjoying his cigarette on tho step, and watching for his friend. When he heard the sound of approaching footsteps hestepped across the lawn to meet him.

"That you, Angus?" he called out, cheerily. " Hullo, who's with you 1"

" The new member of our household. Mr Ransome—Mr James Burnett," said Robert. " Are you alone to-night ?" " Yes; very glad to meet you, Mr Ransome. Come away both of you. We'd better go straight upstairs. They're all there as usual." Robert nodded, and the trio proceeded to the drawing room. At sight of the stranger with Robert Mrs Burnett rose from her chair.

"This is Mr Ransome, our new clerk, Mrs Burnett. I have brought him at my father's express desire," Robert said, with a very curious expression, aud then walked over to Amy's side. He would make no more introductions that night. Mrs Burnett was surprised ; nevertheless, she received the young man kindly, and offering him a chair by her side, began to talk to him in her own frank, motherly manner. " Can we go downstairs, Amy 1" Robert whispered, bending over her chair.

But Amy was too curious, and too interested in the handsome ssranger, to retire from the drawing-room yet.

" Papa is in the study, and there are no lamps in. the dining-room," she said. " Wait till papa comes up. Do tell me something about Mr Ransome, Robert. Why didn't you introduce him specially to me V

'•' Because I did not choose," said Robert, coolly. "If I had had my way, he should never have been here at all."

"Oh, why not? lam sure if he is as nice as he looks, he will be quite an acquisition to society in Atichengray."

"lam afraid Mrs Burnett will not be quite of your opinion, Amy. She has not been accustomed to receive the bank clerk into her family circle hitherto."

" Dear me, how horrible you are," exclaimed Amy. " I believe you are jealous of him, he is so much handsomer than you. I never saw such lovely eyes."

Amy looked up coquettishly into her lover's face, but her words had not quite the effect she had expected, for he only smiled his most aggravating smile, but did not seem at all chagrined.

" I am sorry for your sake that I am so much inferior in personal charms to Mr Rolfe Ransome."

" And what a pretty name he has," pursued Amy. "It is quite musical. I always thought Robert an ugly name, and when it is joined on to Angus it is simply hideous." Robert Angus turned from his sweetheart's chair, and went over to the sofa where Charlie was poring over his Euclid.

" Well, old chap," he said pleasantly, " how are you getting on 1 Can J help you 1" The lad looked up gratefully, and in a few minutes both were absorbed in the problem.

More amazed than she cared to show, Amy crossed the room to her mother's side, and was then duly introduced to the stranger. In three minutes she was chatting gaily and freely to him as if she had known him. all her life, but he coquetting, if it was meant to annoy Robert, did not appear to do so, for he never once glanced towards them. Amy Burnett was a born coquette. She would flirt with her own brother if no more eligible person could be found, and here was a glorious opportunity to exercise her charms on a handsome young man—a stranger too !—and strangers were as welcome in Auchengray as the flowers in May. Then, how delightful to provoke Robert Angus, to make him jealous, and to punish him for his grumpiness! Verily, Amy Burnett was in the zenith of her delight to-night. Mrs Burnett listened to her daughter's chatter and Ransome's flattery in rather a nervous frame of mind, glancing sometimes at Robert

Angus to see whether he was listening ; but lie seemed absorbed by Charley, and his Euclid. She was relieved presently by the entrance of her husband, who received the stranger affably enough. Mr Burnett was always affable, and had the reputation of being the most goodnatured man in Auchengray. As the evening wore on, and Robert still remained perfectly indifferent and neglectful of Amy, she began to feel a little uneasy. Of late her lover had displayed less inclination to bear with her coquetting and silly selfish ways; and she feared her power over hiui was on the wane. Now, this idea was not at all pleasant to Amy Burnett. She had won Robert Angus away from all the ladies of Auchengray, any of whom would very gladly stand in her shoes ; and it would not do to let him slip away from her ; to give the disappointed ones the chance to say that though she won him she could not keep him. At half-past nine the supper tray was brought in. Robert Angus had a little claret and a biscuit, and again Rolfe Ran some took spirits.

"Tell mo who Mr Kansnme, is. Robert," whispered Mia Burnett,

when she had a chance of a word away from the others. " His name is familiar, and his face too. Does he belong to this country-side ?"

" You know Mrs Colquhoun, of Strathblane, Mrs Burnett ?" " Oh yes, of course ; I know now. He must be her nephew ; the son of her only sister, who married the captain ? How stupid I am ! He is his mother's living image. I am not very favourably impressed with him."

" Nor I, Mrs Burnett; but possibly he may improve on acquaintance," said Robert. "Well, we must be going. You must set the example, aud teach young Ransome to keep elders' hours. I fear he has not been accustomed to them hitherto.

" It's a queer idea of your father's to have him in the house ; but no doubt it is for Mrs Colquhoun's sake. Well, must you go? I am very angry with Amy to-night, Robert." "Don't be, Mrs Burnett. She seems to be enjoying herself," Robert said, quietly ; but Mrs Burnett knew that ho was not well pleased, and inwardly determined to talkseriously to her wayward child. When Amy saw her lover moving to go, she rose and purposely retired to the oriel window, and began to toy with the fern on the little table.

" Good-night,/ ho said, courteously but coldly, coming last of all to her, and offering his hand as lie had done to the others.

" Why are you so stiff and horrid to-night ?" she asked, in a low, pettish voice. "We have never had a minute to ourselves, and I had ever so many things to say to you." "They must wait now. It was not my fault, Amy," he said, in the same cold, quiet tones. "Are you very vexed with me, Robert ?" she asked then, lifting lovely, beseeching eyes to his face. It was just such.a look which had swept aside his bettor judgment a year ago, and made him utter the irrevocable words which bound him in honour to a woman who would never make him kappy; but now thoy had lost their charm.

'•' You know best whether I havo a right to be, Amy. lam growingtired of this nonsense. I endeavour to be kind and considerate to you, and I think it not too much to expect like treatment at your hands. If you think you have made a mistake, tell ine so. It will be better for us both."

"Oh, Robert?" The wistful, childish eyes filled with tears, touched him in spite of himself. She was wayward, indeed ; but then she was so very, very young ! He must be gentle with her yet. " I don't mean to hurt you, dear. It is my love for you which makes the thing hurt. Well, we can't say any more with so many eyes on us. Will you meet me to-morrow right at the old bridge at seven, and we can have a long talk V '' Yes, yes," she said quickly and the sun shone again in the sweet eyes, and the white fingers returned the pressure of the strong hand grasping them with loving earnestness. Rolfe Ransome had not been unobservant of this little scene, and he was not slow to draw his own interferences therefrom.

" Nice family that," he said, rather patronisingly, when they were walking across the park. " Nice little girl, too ; regular flirt, though. There's some fun in her. Don't you think so, eh 1" Robert Angus bit his lip.

" Kindly reserve your comments upon my friends, Mr Ransome. They are neither agreeable to me nor creditable to yourself," he said, in his most cutting tones. " What a mighty prig you are ! Talk of good taste. Do you call your treatment to me gentlemanly 1 You couldn't behave worse to me though I were a cad—by Jove, you couldn't!"

Robert Angus held his peace, though certain uncomplimentary words were burning on his lips. But, after all, it was scarcely worth his while to bandy words with Mr Rolfe Ransome.

"I know how the land lies, Mr Robert Angus, and I'll be even with you, you bet I will," Mr Ransome whispered within himself ; and he kept his word. (To be continued.)