Lady Rose's Daughter

cene with Lady Henry, and she was busy with various household affairs. A small hamper of flowers, newly arrived from Lady

Henry's cook-housekeeper had but just left the room after delivering an urgent st

tor Hugo, Alfred de Musset, Mazzini, Leopardi, together with the poets and novelists of revolutionary Russia or Polish nationalism or Irish rebellion--which had been the favorite reading of both Lady Rose and her lover. They were but a hundred in all; but for Julie Le Breton they stood for the bridge by which, at will, memory and dreamful pity might carry her back into that vanished life she had once shared with her parents--those strange beings, so calm and yet so passionate in their beliefs,

vernment, and a recent brilliant study of English policy in Egypt--both of them with the name "Richard J. Montresor" on the title-page. The last number of Dr. Meredith's paper, The New Ramble

notes, and prepared a few checks for Lady Henry's signature. When this was done the two dach

said, pointing to the window--"raining! So there! Ei

nglish diplomat on a visit to Egypt, a man on whom the eyes of Europe were at that moment fixed. That he should write to a woman at all, on the subjects of the letter, involved a compliment hors ligne; that he should write with this ease, this abandonment, was indeed remarkable. Julie f

d took up an envelope which had lain beneath it. From this--again with a look round her--she half drew out a photograph. The grizzled head and spectacled eyes of Dr. Meredith emerged. Julie's expression soften

eems, are commodities for which you have no use. So be it. But if you refuse to let me serve you, when the time comes, in such way

their envelope. But she raised the whole to her lips, and pressed it there, while her eyes, as they slowly filled with tears, travelled--unseeing--to the wintry street beyond the wind

no one whose life is dependent on a daily letter can hear that common sound without a thrill. Then sh

ved triptych, and, after listening a moment to the sounds in the house, she opened its closed d

re of fine French work, and they represented a man and woman, both handsome, young, and of a remarkable distinction of aspect. The faces, nevertheless, hardly gave ple

was already reposing there. Julie slipped the letter of the morning inside the elastic band which held the packet; then she closed and locked the doors, returning the key to its place in her dress. Both the lock

task when there was a sudden noise

ce, subdued to a laughing

shell-pink face emerging from a masterly stud

e old butler, who was Miss Le Breton's very good friend,

p-stairs, holding my skirts. Wasn't it heroic of me to put my poor little head into the lion's den like this? But when I got your letter this morning s

e Duchess sat down beside her, holding

ing--I believe you've been

ulie, smiling. "Lady Henry says

her hands in amazement. "

But, Evelyn,

in her chair and fixed a pair of very blue

n for a time, I mustn't provoke her any more.

ivil or agreeable. How has sh

ooked u

to have a fire in my bedroom last night

chess

me much about it in your letter. But, Julie"--her voice

. A bitterness cr

yself. I was provoked i

ght it was all your fault that he propose

aid Julie, half smiling. "But since--N

t. Affronted,

lie, but her thoughts were far away. And presently

it myself, Julie. I

But--we sh

n looked up w

ason," said the Duch

elafield;" and Julie emphasized the words with a shrug which was al

n, Julie"--she paused, and at last added, na?vely, as she laid her

o instruct me," said Julie, caressing the hands. "But I must choose

How odd!" said the Duchess

There's the same quality in him that there is in Lady Henry--something that beats you dow

hands above her head. The gesture was all strength

t her with eyes that

ch an odd piece of

e tu

stions you asked me a

fect

They were thought so quaint and sweet--unlike other people--and the girl so lovely, in a sort of gossamer way. And who do you think was always about

ack the flower-basket. Her back was towards the Duchess. Afte

would be a c

million in coal-mines alone, besides land. Has Capt

never ment

ted, her eyes stil

s anybody else. They don't look money, as the City men do--that's w

er. But the little lady's face showed the flutter of on

woman, Lady Froswick. I was very clever with Freddie about that living; and I've talked to Mr. Mo

She had a romantic affection for Julie, an

as always pale, and the D

so k

ything in the world for th

evening he was here, he saved me from Lady Henry--twice. He's alone in the world, too, which attracts me.

Julie, you're a darling--but you'r

miled f

sometimes, that I have a litt

e of her hands and pr

cut myself in little bits to please you.... Well, I only hope, when he's marr

y rate, it was brusquely withdrawn, and Julie walke

, "from any one. Well, now, Evelyn, you understa

e where she could watch the face and movements of Mademoiselle Le Breton. "Julie, I want so much to talk

existence had rained gold and flowers since her cradle, had enwrapped the hard facts of bread-and-butte

, her upraised face and Paris hat well matched by the gay poinsettias,

some," said

't be bothered with any

t Dr. Meredith has offered me wor

ss opened

you can do anything you want to do. And

s what you mean," said Julie, smiling. But i

d to herself, "Since I came in

u're horri

e contracte

, do you think--how much self-respec

ble how much he has. There are always a few houses he keeps in his own hands. If Lady Henry does

ing inflections of a c

t," she said, finally, with a brusq

flushed an

ood-bye, Julie, you darling!... Oh, by-the-way, what an idiot I am! Here am I forgetting the chief thing I

e, starting a little. "I wond

said the Duchess, laughing. "Then

go and

rrow morning. We've got to make it up, Freddie says; so the sooner it's over, the better. Say all the civil

face was very still, but her eyes shone, her teeth pressed her lip. Uncon

aid, to herself.

as it happened, had inclu

r the house nor the son of the house is very much to my liking. But I hear that he has gone back

y almost with effusion. "It will be very dull," she said. "My sister-in-law makes a desert and calls it so

to the Duchess, as she and Julie were on

feet, and look at you through my glasses as though I had never seen you before. On Thursday I leave a French book; on Friday I send the baby to see her

more solid social comfort, such as befits people untroubled by the certainty that the world is looking on. The guests of Bruton Street laughed, as well-bred people should, at the estimation in which Lady Henry's salon was held, by those especially who did

however, better off than they had been--investments had recovered--and Lady Hubert's temper was once more placid, as Providence had meant it to be. During the coming season it was her firm intention to marry he

since her marriage, one of the chief favorites of fashion. She had been brought up in the depths of the country, and married at eighteen. After six years she was not in the least tired of her popularity or its penalties. All the life in her dainty person, her glanc

ved not long after his goddaughter, found her the centre first of a body-guard of cousins, including among them apparently a great many handsome young me

She was talking with many people, and, as usual, he could not help watching her. Never yet had he seen her wide, black eyes more vivid than they were to-night. Now, as on his first sight of her, he

bert's parties! One gray-haired veteran after another recalled himself to her attention, got his few minutes with her, and passed on smiling. Certain high officials, too, were no less friendly. Her court, it seemed to him, was mainly composed of the middle-aged; to-night, at any rate, she left the young to the Du

elf. "About nine-and-twenty?...

f miniatures that belonged to Lady Hubert. English family history was one of his hobbies, and he was far better acquainted with the Delafield statesmen, and the Delafield beauties of t

em, and he was led on through a series of drawing-rooms, now ne

y had been sitting. Captain Warkworth stood still.

rt's miniatures. That lady with the muff"--she pointed to the case which occupied a conspicuous

gentleman, forgetting the miniatures and ende

th, looking at his watch. "I told a man

th Miss Le Breton

and critical conversation was somehow borne in upon Sir Wilfrid. But kind and e

get on?" he asked his

ared in Mademoisell

y Henry has

agine she will regret

w pin-pricks were her desert! That she should defend her own secrets was, as Delafield had said, legit

rl; at the fine but old-fashioned necklace of pearls and diamonds--no doubt her mother's--which clasped her singularly slender throat. At any rate, she sho

, as his hansom carried him away from Rutland Gate.