The Trespasser, Volume 2

n Captain Maudsley had an accident. It would prevent him riding to hounds again, and at his suggestion, backed by Lord Dunfolly and Lord Dargan, Gaston became Master of the Hounds. His grandfather

ston for many a day; he thought of it sometimes as he rod

to steady himself-yet he had looked into menacing rifle-barrels more than once without a tremor. It was clear, on the face of it, that Delia and her mother should be his companions in the Park, and not this grave little half-breed; but, somehow, it got on his nerves. He hesitated for days before he could cast the die against Jacques. It had b

ble even to himself tha

nconsciously: "W

gination; and imagination is at the root of much that passes for love. Gaston was approached at Lord Dargan's house by the Premier himself. It was suggested that he should stand for a constituency in the Conservative interest. Lord Faramond, hims

at he would only be a bu

ramond

know when to impose it, and you have the pleasure of feeling that your fingers move a great machine, the greatest in the world-yes the very

afraid of the

m, drummed it "My greatest need- one t

game, should think myself on the corner of th

t carry de

ed. "No

d down at

mond paused, abstracted, then added: "But not through yo

kind of dream, went down to Westminster, lunched with Lord Faramond, and was introduced to the House. The Ladies G

e cause of the half-breeds. He was pale, but firm, and looked striking. His eyes went slowly round the House, and he began in a low, clear, deliberate voice, which got attention at once. The first sentence was, however, a surprise to every one, and not the leas

The iconoclasm proceeded. He had one or two fixed ideas in his mind, simple principles on social questions of which he had spoken to his leader, and he never wavered from the sight of them, though he had yet to state them. The Premier sat, head cocked, with an ironica

em, apart from his argument or its bearing on the previous debate. Lord Faramond heard the occasional murmurs of approval and smiled. Then there came a striking silence, for Gaston paused. He looked towards the Ladies Gallery. As if in a dream-for his brain was working with clear, painful power-he saw, not Delia nor her mother,

ions the testimony of his few principles, and to buttress them on every side with apposite observations, naive, pungent. Presently there came a poignant edge to his trailing tones. After giving th

British Parliament-" when some angry

ick eye fou

leman asked that of another in King Charles's Parli

rned the pu

on s

the honourable g

with satisfaction, tossed a whimsical look down the line of

did he get it?" q

rail," replied Lord F

her's hand with delight; in the Strangers Ga

Gaston!" she said, in a whisper heard only by the woman sittin

ell's Commonwealth, and then incisively traced the social development onwards. It was the work of a man with a

e was never loud, rather concentrated, resonant. It dropped suddenly to a tone of persuasiveness and conciliati

the house to

r for Burton-Halsey, "but he hasn't an

ke it Lamb!" urg

ord Faramond turned round to him. Another member made way and Gaston leaned

chain you-to th

on s

hought pru

emy hath s

the Ladies Gallery. De

was

ady Dargan, and Delia to come. He had had congratulations in the Hous

o bad,

that way," Ian Belward continued, "but to what good? Bless you, th

ction from the nervous

ess, vanity, and drudgery. It's only the swells-Derby, Gladstone, and the fe

insta

l, I'm ready. I want you. Paris, too, is waiting, and a good cuisine in a cheery m

for Mrs. Gasgo

ss of proprieties, h

er in Gaston's eyes,

-luck to you! I'm sorry, though, for that cuisine in Paris, and the gran

e least deceived. His uncle added presently, "

g their praises, but, somehow, of all the fresh experiences he had had in England, this, the w

t mischief are you at n

have you tamed our lion, and how sweetly d

you ought most to be decent.-I wish I knew you

at their fireside." He

st

nse, and Delia

wish a place in t

ve-spoiled, and spend the rest of your time

my credit. I'll have but one mistress only

ue to an

ld has s

! You cou

hs-my biggest thing. You will say m

ture I have thought of those women! A thing cannot be good

said that to me

tly: that did not

'd have made you a good husband. You are

elward, don't try to say clever things. And r

hy co

goyne sat in her bedroom wondering at Gaston's abstraction during the drive hom

ggestive. After a little while Gaston rose to the temper of his host. Already the scene in the Commons wa

d do was to disappear for the time. Be unexpected-that was the key to notoriety. Delia Gasgoyne? Well, as Gaston had said, they were to meet in th

tly, at last: "I wil

he

thirty-s

y studio in Paris within t

t is

ht to-morrow morning. You w

and Br

ary." Ian's brow

tely ne

ou can get a better valet in

llon on a Parisian valet. Bes

Cadet, you're a wonderful fellow

n; things must fit me.

! What a smash-up there'll be! The romantic, the barbaric overl

was seeing two pictures. The tomb of Sir Gaston in the little church at Ridl

ITOR'S B

eart, loves t

o fit in; thin

the root of much t

et live is