A Blot on the Scutcheon

an hurrying across the hall, carrying the great silver loving-cup, which had be

th junketings an' drunkenness, gamblin' an' boxin', with balls an' such like now to top all-no wonder the timber in Barham w

ependants of Berrington, found no place in the hearts of the merrymakers, who cr

heen of satin and silk, vivid colouring with stately setting, long mirrors ref

llant figure, too, in coat of mauve velvet with white satin knee-breeches and buckled shoes, broidered waistcoat and fine lac

ed coy as he bowed before their dainty owners, and tongues which, under other circums

rom town. Persons of fashion, these latter, at whom the country

le Conyers looked up reproachfully into

nger, sir," said she

in town, Mist

r of worldly wisdom. "Gambling, drinking, duelling, and p

mast

et now, I suppose, like Morry and Lord

flowered silk, with its soft pink kerchief and laces, Gabrielle l

I love the country. It

u go to

s-nece

essa

ot be baulked of her scolding, since past

er went

r dark curls

apron-strings that you must follow a

is t

ttle, her soft hazel

softly, "what I mean? Nay!

t," she

honour went

A

s reme

d y

the idol my grandfather wors

him-old S

es wer

him-and p

s arm as the band str

ad me throug

bow

ly dance-too stately for some of the younger b

y side with Marcel Trou

as handsome as he was sour and strait-laced; a sui

m's glance was not

too on occasion, it seemed, whilst Gab

At least so Gabrielle declared, as her partner led her down th

ockery near, proved an ideal halting-place, whilst moonlight was good

rom dreamland to look into the dark face upturned to meet

it is t

he whisper stirred her pulses a

ng is

mmer is

gather many alone. See how one

growing bolder, or more desperate,

it away,

had been

here to pluck the thorns away, so tha

with me to Barham woods to gather the honeysuckle that grows there. It is sweet,

thus frightening her with the passion which he needs mu

hat he might say, and, wo

the sedges?" she whispered. "It sets me dre

ords stole like soothing m

uskily, "and only one. Yet when I

nded, smiling as she turn

are

it so ill a fancy, then, that

that I would n

see it too.

, mistress, for tongue of mine could never te

ying her hand on his

frankness of a child. "For when you say your pretty speeches

ous, he was

of his which rang with suppressed feeling, "to plu

, smiling at a pictu

yes chall

to do, that takes you awa

a shar

ore sternly. "Pray G

rge

ou reminded me y

ittle over the

other

ur of Ber

apped the gravel

ur ever co

ave her knight p

place," she declared boldly;

and rather," he said softly,

ton Hall," she replied pi

wn, I warrant. Yet my fathe

nds stay at the Hall.

t forget the

forget wha

raising the white hand which lay again

had seemed before that the world was empty save

ght have been cons

neered. "But I fear, madam,

ith immens

hand to my coach, sir

aughed shortly be

nt role to fill-and a safe one,"

ew himself

me ready enough to fill a

toyed with a ribb

at?" he

anners to blata

sometimes, and I have heard that a Be

o listen to too ma

her, whilst Michael's eyes were ab

r words to follow were inte

n," she said, with a calmness and severity which were, alas! betrayed by a t

g her his arm, which she

ord," he muttered behind h

grinned s

petticoats before," he drawled aloud; but in a low t

ed Gabrielle sharply

ght the winning of a country mouse like to be easy work, since past experience had told h

r tastes; and my lord, half in love by reas

life was to act as a political firebrand, but who did not find

ht Marcel

familiarly. "Come, come. We drink well, we sing very well, but we do nee

rdship

them then?"

t chu

heep-dog that barks, barks, always barks. But the shephaird of this no

wly towards the house, from which the last coach had rolled away, l

bespierre, a shining ligh

ngton was not