Lady Rose's Daughter

each fresh carriage drove up; while in the inner vestibule, which was well screened from the view of th

hats were removed, and the tall, s

nd to tell you how she is. She would not like her old friends to be alarmed. Would you come in for a moment? There is a fi

hough appealing to him, as a relati

an, after perhaps a moment's hesi

Miss Le Breton, turning to the gro

of the situation fought with the consciousness of its dangers. As soon as Mo

ou goest, I may go. But I feel like a boy robbing a hen-roost. Let me intr

urned General Fergus's bow, "you are both so ma

m, and the General was respl

royalty." said Montresor.

looked round the room, an

fore. What are we doing here? Is it a party? Why shouldn't it be? Me

e, who had followed Dr. Meredith into the room. As Montresor spoke, however, she came forward, and in a French which was a joy to the ea

to the Duchess. "He hates us like poison. But if you haven't already aske

then his eyes passed to the tall and slender lady who had addressed him in such perfect French, and to the little Duchess in her flutter of lace and satin, the turn of her small neck, and the blaze

rth to the Duchess, his mind the while instincti

elaborately informing h

on a Wednesday evening," he said, with a sudden touch of feeling wh

en quickly threw

y. Meanwhile, may we sit down, mademoiselle? Ten minutes? And, upo

otmen entered with trays containing

Mademoiselle Le Breton implored

ip, looking first at Montresor and then at Delafield. The group lau

five minutes Mademoiselle Le Breton was leading it as usual. A brilliant French book had recently appeared dealing with certain points of the Egyptian question in a manner so interesting, supple, and apparently impartial tha

cabinet minister, relinquished the half-disdainful reserve with which he had entered, and took pains. He drew the man

lle Le Breton, and often wondered how the deuce Lady Henry had ever discovered such an interesting and delightful person to fill such an uncomfortable position. But this Frenchman challenged and excited him. He, too, began to talk French, and soon the whole room was talking it, with an advanta

ing all that she ought to have remembered, whispered, rapturously, in his ear, "Isn't she enchanting--Julie--to-night?" That gentleman made no answ

official or the English statesman, were avoided with a skill that no one realized till each separate rock was safely passed. Presently Montresor looked from her to Du Bartas with a grin. The Frenchman's eyes were round with astonishment. Julie had been saying the lightest but the wisest things; she had been touching incidents and personalities known only to the initiated with a re

inx. He seems to have been telling her all the secrets. I think I'll stop it. Even s

o the front--it was like a change of dancers in the ballet--while she rested, no less charming as a liste

th, the Frenchman, Warkworth, and General Fergus were discussing a grand review which had been held the day before. Delafield had moved round to the back of Julie's chair, and she was talking to him, while all the time her eyes were on General Fergus and her brain was pu

talking eagerly, while Montresor, looking outward into the room, his great black head bent a little towards his companion, was putting sharp little questions from time to time, with as few words as might be

she, too, was to be encouraged to talk about Warkworth. The General was, of course, intimately 'acquainted with his professional record; but there were certain additional Indian opinions--a few incidents in the young man's earlier career, including, especially, a shooting expedition of much daring in the very district to which the important Mokembe mission

the field. Yet here he sat, relaxed, courteous, kind, trusting his companions simply, as it was his

re was a voi

ought to clear out. It mu

His expression--of doubt or discomfort--recalled

, a sound struck on her ea

s that?"

s heard in

afield saw her turn pale. But before she or he could

ontresor, springing to

s. She was deathly pale, and her fierce eyes blazed upon the scene before her. Within the bright, fire-lit room t

fell, of course, upon the one

Flora! But we thought you

at Julie--"have held my reception for me. I am enormously obliged. You have also"--she looked at the coff

r I cannot ask you to remain with me longer. The hour is late, and I am--as you

n them, challenging

r went u

ntroduce to you M. du Bartas,

ality and her social chivalry, Lady

, I will pursue it when I am better able to profit by it. To-morrow I

barrassed than he had ever been in his life. "Perme

monsieur, you

again appr

ploringly, "how this has happe

n them all--"I should not have told my butler to make my excuses. As it is, I must beg you to allow me to bid you good-night. Jacob, will you kindly get the Duc

d her again, in rea

Lady H

t a word. So did the Duchess, whimpering, her hand in Delafield's arm. As she passed Jul

" she cried,

y Henry

w," she said. "As far as I am concerned,

alked past her. As he came to the spot where Julie Le Breton stood, that lady made a sudden, im

she said, brokenly

t. He did not see that Lady Henry was watching them with eagerness,

ulie w

said, hurriedly. "I beg

puzzled expression. Then he held out his ha

Lady Henry will soon be herself again. Shall I

night to this unlawful hostess, whose plight he understood no more than his own, his mouth twitched with repressed laughter. But Dr. Meredith did not laugh. He pressed Juli

ly, in a low voice; "this is the end. Re

lie lifted her eyes. Only Jacob D

emember that he had spoken--that he had bade her farewell. A strange pang convulsed her. She sc

d affairs, I will ask it. You and Evelyn Crowborough have meddled a goo

b hesitated, then quietly took his departure. He threw Julie a look of anxious appe

h composure, though by now even

re, I am not to-night, as you see, in a condition to say it. So--when you came up to say good-night to me--you had d

. She made her dry lips a

ut very simply. A few people came in to inquire after

smiled in

y at the lights and the chairs--"gives you the lie. You had planned it all with Hutton, who has become

-morrow you will allow

" said Lady Henry, her white lips twi

ade an uncertain step forwar

do with it. What was

to see the

prevaricate. The Duchess w

e fl

arrived first; that

d the whole affair. You have used

th a great effort she walked towards the fireplace, recovered her gloves and han

at no one else would have borne. I have devoted myself to you and your interests, and you h

ry nodde

, "I was not able to take your roman

ould with me. A little indulgence, and I should have been your devoted slave. But you chose to humiliate and crush me; and in return, to protect myself

other," said Lady Henry, with a l

One of the sticks slipped a little on the polished floor. Julie, w

me! Don't c

th and balance. Then she resumed he

tric lights," said Lady

was burning. Lady Henry, with great difficulty,

ie, in an agony. "You will kill yo

tism. "Dixon is in my room, where I bade her remain. You should have thought of the consequences of thi

h she had been struck, and

ned the corner of the staircase, and could therefore be no longer seen from b

led. She saw Jacob Delafield,

d on the banister of the stairs against whic

her hand. She felt his own tremble, an

r her. "Try not to give way. Yo

and they both listened to the sounds above them in the

would rather die. Perhaps I have killed her. And

of feeling--of sharp a

is, and when at last the sounds had died

servant," he said, in a queer, muffl

e had taken her in his arms, she could hardly have resisted. But he did not attempt to conquer more than her hand. He stoo

re she moved away, he s

a little note from her. Your home must be with her till we can all settle what is best. You know very well

yn I will come to see her, at any rate, as soo

. The thought that she must spend yet another night under the roof of this old woman who hated her filled her