The Rake's Progress

meet them at the lodge,

due," smiled Marius, looking at h

essham unfurled her pink pa

return to

o my rose garden, it will pass the time, a

glow through the rosy silk of Miss Chressham's parasol on to her bare brown head and white dress; Marius Lyndwood was very exqu

you of late?" asked M

g Brereton's," answered Marius half shyly. "I spoke of it t

the thick daisi

to a large amount, and said he had arranged a captain

alrous soul," sa

s flu

he crimson deepened in his cheeks. "I was passionate with

lake, and their bright dresses were reflec

h spoke

house and because you and my lady made it clear that you

h this talk of his sac

iss Chressham; "this marriage hath saved

the water's edge that Marius str

arry, and 'tis usually an heiress; the thing is done every day; many might have

r parasol and turned keen ey

us, because she had a hundred thousand pounds t

e Earl," sai

ad you

terru

need to mend them in this way; take it as you will, my lord is a rake

ye have no cause to speak; your romance lies open to you-my lord has pai

ed in a soft

n, 'tis not entirely fo

ay have the chance to win this la

For indeed I want little else but that

, myrtles, laurels and oleanders; Susannah's skirt trailing over the fal

itten to yo

be returning to London till September, and, of cou

re of her?" br

e," he

knowing

ugh of myrtles

spoke to her twice; the first time we said so little! the second time I gave her my

ss Chressham in a hushed way, "it mus

nto the garden, he followed, and they stood

mean, cousin?

rns and leaves and shook a hug

her, and won her, and are as happy as you dreamed, remember

sing against the rose bushes; Marius l

hich of these flowers do you think the ne

and her fingers fondled

Marius-my lady will be cold with fear, but she might have been sour o

ed Marius uneasily. "Her people ha

as the matter really only interested him obliquely he would have had it taken for granted and put aside; he would have preferr

for her-at first," she said. "I am very curious to see her. Lavinia

irous to please h

pulent bush bearing roses r

to like me,"

she was making too much of it; he could

"Why do you want

answered with a

," she said; "I wish to like her b

stem, never heeding the thor

-he would scarcely have made a love match." Marius was boyishly pompous. "We hear the lady has qualities, is as desirab

over the gorgeous bloo

ent for two; well, no doubt

of a subject she disdained to discus

o now," she added;

He glanced at his watch. "Yes, they ar

nks of her own home-coming, I know-a triumphal arch, villagers lining the

agitation. As Marius parted from her by the lake she laughed nervously, and w

is eager joy in life as to survey the content of a loving dog; an

ssed. She considered him likely enough to come across his fate earl

f a rake in him. Honest and brave he wa

tely, considering his wife. Miss Lavinia Hilton, daughter of merch

a wonder all credulity strained at. He, so fastidious, asking for wit as well as beauty, breed as well as grac

ed, not even glanced at-to contemplate it

and looked at the two long-stemmed roses she car

un. On the terrace in front bloomed peonies and Turks' caps, the stone vases held trailing masses of geraniums, scarlet

, reached to the fountains and the lake where the white swans glittered, and as she near

Chressham was that this equipage was not belonging to the new Countess. She had seen it last y

own, but, quicker than they, Rose Ly

had a note of relief; he pulled off

at his face, and her he

y lady?" as

forced

Marius to the gate; he

he coach door. My lord held it op

Lavinia,"

was extremely young and quite pretty; her

usannah!" sa

ervous curtsey, and st

ck ribbons, had the effect not of elegance, but of i

but 'tis difficult to say so without a set speech,

vely fixed on her from under

ered Lady Lyndwood, with ne

alf-way up the steps. He did not look at his wife, nor she at him. Susa

gued," she ventured,

ery fat

n the doorway stood the dowager Cou

her own choice, she could n

weet as Rose described you, and I cannot say more." She kissed her. "Forg

isengaged

ou, madam,

arius?" ask

t you," replied Susannah. "

y for a second; her baited glance turned wit

k with the jolting of the co

er Countess had swept her up the shining o

n followed him. She still held the two red roses, and as he seated him

set off the grace and fineness of his figure as the high black stock relieved the weary pallor of his face. At the corne

r cousin, Rose Lyndwood, h

tairs,

arius missed

his grey e

" he said, in a

ssham threw as

g up to the table. "What hav

that?" he demanded

ered. "Don't you suppose I can

on the table, as if his nerves we

ooking away. "What did I expect

r granted. She n

and crossed to

Mar

y; you have tha

nxious and tender as s

ion," said my lord. "Otherwise it wa

expression,

" she cried. "You w

is pocket and filled it

ld myself!"

n she first saw his expression; but before she

dear"-he smiled-"and I suppose I am a little tired, too, of sitting st

" replied Susannah, but her m

ess Agath

inia seems exhausted. I have sent her woman to her, and she wishes t

she spoke of, so naturally and gra

turned to

rius," he said sho

humour," remar

d Susannah

reflection of her frail charming p

in a coach with that girl! And Rose of al

lanced at her in

think of he

style, a little sullen, I think. Of course, quite pretty behind a bourgeo

tling to find the shallow judgme

tly, "what does it matter?

oney," finished Mis

e Countess raised her brows; she th

is commission, and his happy future," continu

his own wife; he is so different from Marius." Then she gave the younger woman a sudden pleading look

ot say anything, nor was it necessary. The C

atured coquette feels in seeing another woman make the least of herself. "La! She will neve

herself from depths

ha. I think he will be in the w